Chapter 5
~Three months later~
Rogue was lying on her bed with
her eyes close, and both hands on her growing tummy. Since that night she came
back from New Orleans, she barely left her room. The only thing that she would
ever seem to leave for was the usage of the bathroom, and see Hank for her
doctor appointments. For the most part, she stayed in bed re-living the last
time she saw him. "Dere is no us" as the words repeated in her head
again.
"Rogue, can I come
in?" asked a very worried Orroro as she knocked on the door.
Rogue didn't reply. She didn't
want to talk or see anyone, ever.
"Rogue, please, are you
okay? If you're not going to answer me, I'm going to take it as an okay to come
in." Orroro said with a lot of concern in her voice.
Rogue still didn't reply.
"That's it, I'm coming
in." Orroro warned, as she opened the door and saw Rogue lying on the bed.
She went and sat at the chair beside her. Rogue looked so tired, but more
importantly her face had sorrow, heartbreak, and pain written all over it. Orroro
never found out what happened the night Rogue went to see Remy in New Orleans. Hell,
the X-Men didn't even find out Rogue was pregnant until a month ago when she
actually came down to dinner for once, but left right after when she announced
she was two months pregnant. All anyone really knew was that Gambit was
probably not going to come back, and Rogue will most likely wind up being a
single mother. Orroro's heart almost broke in half, seeing Rogue like this. Rogue
was always the strong and cautious one. She never allowed anyone to get close
to her, in part because of her powers, but mostly because she was scared of
what love can do to a her, and from the look of things, Rogue's worst fear came
true.
"Rogue, how about we go
for a walk? It's very nice outside, and I'm sure it will do the baby good for
you to be out and about." Orroro suggested.
Rogue turned her back to
Orroro, with her eyes still close, and still refusing to reply.
"Please, Rogue, the whole
house have been so worried about you. I don't know what happened between you
and Remy and frankly, it's none of my business, but I refuse to let you
endanger yourself and your child by drowning yourself in your misery for the
next six months. Please, snap out of this, child, or you'll never be able to
get out of this hole of pain and self-pity that you've dug for yourself. Let us
help you and the beautiful child that's growing with in you." Orroro
pleaded, knowing that if this doesn't get through to Rogue, nothing will.
After a few minutes, Rogue
turned around to face Orroro. She saw all the concern and worry that her friend
had in her eyes. Rogue almost couldn't believe that it was all because of her. She
finally realized that someone cares, and she was not alone in this mess she's
gotten herself into. There was a way out.
"Orroro, Ah'm so scared,
sugah. Ah'm jus' so scared." Rogue whispered as tears started rolling down
her eyes.
"Child, there's nothing to
fear. I'm here to help you. No matter what you will always have your friends
who will stand by and support you. We won't let you go through this alone. You
just have to trust us." Orroro said genuinely.
"What if mah chil' hates
meh? Ah drove it's daddy away. Mah baby will never have a normal life with a
momma and daddy, and it's all because of meh. Ah don' even know how ah'll ever
be able to look at mah chil' and not feel guilty about what ah did. This wasn'
supposed to happen to meh. Ah'm the last person who should raise a chil'. For a
girl who can't even be touched, what were the chances that ah'm the one who
will have a chil'? Orroro, ah can't do this." Rogue cried.
"Rogue, we're all here to
help you. Do not worry. Nobody will let you go through this alone. There's so
much strength and love in you. You have this incredible being growing inside of
you, living because of you, depending on you because you are it's mother. That
has to mean something, Rogue. You were meant for this, and the heavens wouldn't
throw something like this at you, if they knew you couldn't do it. You just
have to believe in yourself." Orroro said with the flair of wisdom she
always exerted.
Rogue looked into Orroro's
gentle truthful eyes, and finally came to the realization that the chances of
Remy coming back is slim to none, her child might never have the most ideal
family, her child will most likely become a mutant, but what did it all matter?
She was going to try her best to be the loving mother she, herself, never had. That's
all she can do, and that's all that this little being inside of her expects out
of her.
"Ah think the lil' one and
ah are going to take you up on your offer or the walk now." Rogue said, as
she got up and onto her feet.
"I'm glad to hear. Let's
go out and enjoy the beautiful sunshine." Orroro said. She put an arm
around Rogue, showing her support, as they walk out of the door.
* * *
~ Four months later~
Rogue was down in the medlab
for her doctor's appointment with Dr. Hank McCoy. Her was stomach was huge now,
and by the way she was eating, she wouldn't have expected otherwise. She
giggled thinking about the latest craving she had, gummi worms, blue cheese,
and anchovies on top of a huge pizza. Most of the X-Men lost their appetite and
left the kitchen when they saw what she was having for lunch.
"Rogue, my favorite
pregnant patient. How are you and the young one doing?" Hank asked as he
greeted her.
"Jus' fine, sugah. Jus'
fine." Rogue replied happily.
"Glad to hear that. Seeing
what you ate at lunch, I almost thought otherwise. I underestimated you though.
Let's just say your stomach is much stronger than mine." Hank said
heartily as he started the usual check-up.
"Hank, Ah can lift over
ten thousand tons, Ah'm sure mah stomach could handle a little candy, cheese
and fishies. Strange that the baby would want somethin' like that though."
Rogue stated with amusement.
"On the contrary, not so
strange at all for pregnant women. Anyway, I have great news for you." Hank
said with a big smile on his face.
"Well, y'll gonna tell me,
or do ah need to punch it out of yah?" Rogue asked with curiosity and
impatience.
"No, no, no need to punch
me to the moon now. Well, remember how I told you that most likely with your
powers, we will have to deliver your child by way of cesarean section? This
also meant that you will most likely never be able to give your child physical
contact." Hank said.
"Yeah, yeah, ah know
you're my doc, but it still sting a lil when you remind me, Hank." Rogue
responded with her face dropping a bit.
"Well, what I'm about to
show you might lift that smile of yours again." Beast said as he pulled
out a small box, and handed it over to Rogue.
"Beast, you shouldn' have.
Ah didn' even get you anythin'." Rogue said playfully as she opened the
box and stared down at a small silver bracelet. "It's beautiful, Hank. Now,
I feel really bad for not getting you anythin'. Y'll should have told meh, that
we were exchanging presents, sugah." Rogue said in shock of the gift Beast
had just given her, yet not knowing to the full extent of what this gift could
mean to her and her baby's future.
"Rogue, I wish it was as
simple as that, but it's not. Darling, that's going to allow you to touch your
child. As long as you have it on, your powers will remain in tact, and you will
be able to touch anyone you want without fear or hurting them." Dr. McCoy
told her.
"Oh my gawd, this means.,
Hank, this is the most incredible thing anyone has ever done for meh. How does
it work?" Rogue asked still a little in disbelief.
"Well, I managed to get a
hold of one the Genoshan collars. I studied it, modified it, and put the
technology into a compact little bracelet. Rogue, you do know this means, you
will be having a regular normal delivery, with all the pain and ice chips and
what nots, right?" Hank asked knowing full well that she would want
nothing else.
"Ah know, Hank. Oh my
gawd, that's what ah want. Ah'm going to be able to hold mah chil' without fear
of sucking my baby's life source. Ah'll be able to touch!" Rogue exclaimed
as she jumped and gave the big furry beast a well-deserved hug of gratitude. "Thank
you, thank you, THANK YOU!" She screamed.
"Rogue, that was a bit too
much for my poor ears. Well, go and enjoy the rest of the day and your gift. I'm
glad you loved it." Hank replied as he rubbed his poor ears.
Rogue thanked him once more and
left the medlab full of hope for her and her baby's future.
* * *
~One month later~
"THIS HURTS LIKE HELL! GET
THAT BABY OUT OF MEH!!!" Rogue screamed as another big contraction came
and she gripped the unfortunate goddess' hand.
"Rogue, your contractions
are getting closer. It won't be long before the baby comes. Just remember your
breathing." Orroro reminded her, as she tried to get her hand out of
Rogue's grip. It's been five hours, and it was Orroro's turn to sit with Rogue.
Poor Betsy and Kitty, both their hands had swollen up by the time they were
done their round with Rogue. Please let this child come soon, the goddess
silently pleaded.
Rogue let go of Orroro's hand,
as she felt the contraction pass. "Ah'm sorry, 'Ro." She sheepishly
apologized.
"It's alright. I've seen
you do worse." Orroro said as she shook her hand out.
"Poor Betsy, and
Kitty." Rogue said as she let out a little laugh. She was feeling so much
joy right now, being able to deliver her child the normal way and knowing she
will be able to give her child everything a mother could give. Oh, how Remy
would love to be here. He would be so happy that his child was being born into
the world. He did love children, half the time he practically acted like one. Rogue
thought as she smiled at the many instances where Remy would act with a heart
of a child. Maybe I should have told him. Even if he didn't want me, he would
love to be with his child. No, no, this is not the time to think of this. He
would have thought that I'm just using the child to get back together with him.
It's better this way. Just enjoy every moment. Rogue convinced herself.
"'Ro, ah feel another one
coming, get Hank. Ah WANT THIS CHIL' OUT NOW!" Rogue screamed the last
part of her sentence as the contraction came.
"HANK!" Both women
screamed now, Rogue from the pain of the contraction, and Orroro from the pain
of Rogue's grip.
Dr. McCoy entered right on cue.
"Well, let's see what we've got here. Okay, Rogue, I think you're ready to
push."
After what felt like an
eternity to Rogue, she was finally delivering her child. She basked in the pain
of giving birth as she pushed.
"C'mon, Rogue, you can do
it." Orroro encouraged her.
"I see the head, Rogue,
keep pushing. Just one more big one." Hank said as Rogue gave her final
push.
"It's a boy, Rogue. It's a
healthy baby boy." Hank said as he took the baby to clean it up and cut
the umbilical cord.
"Ah have a son? Ah have a
son! 'Ro, ah have a boy." Rogue said with overwhelming delight and joy.
"Yes, you do, and it's a
beautiful boy. I'm going to go tell the others." Orroro said as she took
one look at the baby, and ran up stairs to tell the whole house.
Hank wrapped the child in a
blue blanket, and handed it over to Rogue. Rogue held the baby tight and
observed every little features of his beautiful face. She gave him a kiss on
the forehead, still overcome with joy and love. It was an almost perfect
picture.
"If ah can't give you your father, ah'll give you the only thing of your
father's that y'll always be entitled to, my lil' one. His name." Rogue
whispered to her son.
"Lebeau. Jeremy
Lebeau."