Logan crept silently into the dark little room. He sat in the chair by the wall watching his boy sleep and wondered about the course of events that led him here. His fingers itched to touch the soft skin and the silky hair but he knew in his gut it would be the wrong thing to do. Remy had flinched at his kiss. Had this then been the last straw? Was the hurt so deep this time that not even Logan’s endless love could save the young thief? Was the boy’s trust in men too damaged to repair? Logan shifted to the edge of the chair and watched the gentle rise and fall of the boy’s chest. At least it was over. Even if the damage was too great to save the relationship the kid was finally free from the ghost’s of his past. Was he willing to give up the boy that easily? Wasn’t this love worth fighting for? Hell Yeah, without a single hesitation but the kid had been fighting so hard for so long now, maybe it was time to step back and let the Cajun decide. What if he decided he couldn’t be with a man again?

It was one in the morning when Logan heard the soft sounds from the bed and knew Remy was waking. He stood and moved close to the bed, the urge to sit was strong but he stayed on his feet. “Remy?” he asked quietly not wanting to startle the young man.
“ Remy, Darlin, wake up.” Remy’s long lashes fluttered a moment then he cracked his eyes open. When he finally focused on the body beside him he sighed heavily and closed his eyes against the tears that filled them. “ I’m sorry I hurt y’ before. Jus’ a reflex.” Logan shifted his weight, “ I know kiddo, no problem.” He sat down finally but made no move to touch the boy. “ How do ya feel?” A stubborn tear left Remy’s eye as he whispered, “Feel so dirty.” Logan couldn’t stop himself, he pulled the slim boy up to his chest and held him tight, rubbing his back, talking in a shaking voice into the silky hair that smelled of soap and blood, “ Hell kid, don’t do this. Don’t beat yourself up.” Remy held tight to his shirt,
“ I did it again. I handed myself over to them. I’m not’in but a whore.” His voice was so quiet, he sounded so defeated. Then without warning he found amazing strength and pushed Logan away.” Don’ touch me, okay? Jus’… I’m dirty, feel so dirty.” Logan’s heart broke when he heard the self-hate in his voice. He could FEEL the self-loathing.
“ Aw, kiddo, you didn’t know-” “ LIKE HELL! I knew EXACTLY what I was doin’ when I let dem shove dere cock’s up my ass! I knew EXACTLY what I was doin’ when I sucked and licked and drank down dere come! I’m a fuckin’ WHORE, have been all my life! GET OUT Logan, jus’ GET OUT! I can’ even stand to have you LOOK at me!” He was crying hard, sobbing between words and Logan couldn’t stand it any longer. He took the boy by his shoulders and shook him hard. “ DAMN IT Remy, LISTEN TO ME! You lost your memory! The bastard took advantage of that!” Remy’s beautiful eyes looked so lost when he turned them toward the older man. He stared into Logan’s eyes waiting to be rescued, as he never was when he was a child. “ I didn’t fight” his voice was tiny, “ I let dem take me, use me like when I was a pup.” Tears ran from his eyes mixing with the snot from his nose. “ Dieu Logan…” Logan pulled him close again and held him tight as the boy sobbed. He kissed the soft hair, rubbed small circles on his back, suddenly he remembered the Empathy. He thought hard about how desperately he loved the boy. About how inconsolable he was when he thought he was dead. He thought about the pure blinding joy he felt when he found out he was alive. Remy shivered in his arms as the intense feelings surrounded him, filled him, erased at least some of the fear and self-hate he was buried under. “ Cher?” Logan continued to hold him tight “I love you. I love you,” he repeated over and over in the young man’s ear. “ Cher, what?” Logan kissed his hair “You’re an Empath Rem. You’re charm is Empathy.” He rocked side to side as he held the young Cajun. “ I’ve been real worried about ya kiddo.” He talked into the soft curls never releasing his hold. Remy had calmed considerably “ Feel so ashamed Logan.  Everybody knows?” Logan continued rocking, comforting the little boy as well as the young man. “ I guess by now, yeah.” Remy buried his head deeper into Logan’s large shoulder. “ Can’ ever look ’em in de eye again. Can’ stand ’em t’inkin’ dat’s all I am, provin’ some o’ dem right.” he whispered. Logan’s hold tightened, “ They know the circumstances Rem. They know what happened to you, what that pervert MADE you do.” Remy started crying again, “ You hate me now? I SO sorry Cher, what if…” He lifted his tear-stained face and looked up into Logan’s eyes again “ Can’ NEVER touch me ’gain Cher. What if I caught somet’in nasty, not gonna take a chance.” He was shaking from fatigue and emotion. Logan stared at him then tucked his head beneath his chin again and kissed his hair. He couldn’t be sick. God couldn’t be that cruel. He hadn’t thought about that, Remy could have been exposed to STD’s, HIV, Legacy… “ No way. I’m never losin’ ya again, yer fine. We’ll just be careful. I can heal from anything, we’ll have ya checked often just in case, catch anything early.” The thought scared him to his very soul. “ I want ya to lay back. How’s yer head, does it still hurt?” Remy didn’t want to stop rocking in the strong arms but he was still sore from his fall down the stairs so he let the large Canadian push him gently back against the pillow. “ Head feels kinda…empty. Cher?” Logan gently rubbed his arms, “ Yeah Darlin?” Remy whispered, “ I’m sorry. Only love you. So sorry.” Logan bent and kissed his beautiful eyes closed, “ Don’t you ever think about it again. In a couple o’ day’s when you’re feelin better I got a real important question to ask ya so I want ya to sleep and get better. I love ya kid. Never doubt that, okay?” Remy nodded and felt for Logan’s strong hand. He held it close to his heart and fell into a peaceful sleep at last.
 

Hank breathed a sigh of relief when he entered the lab and found the Canadian and the Cajun huddled up next to each other in the narrow medical bed. He was worried that Remy would stay true to form and push Logan away so that he could bear the whole weight of his hellish experience alone. Luckily for the boy Logan couldn’t be pushed. He toyed with the idea of waking them to eat but they deserved this quiet time; heaven knew they hadn’t had any in a very long time. Hank smiled as he thought about the young Cajun’s reaction to Logan’s Important Question. He felt like a father to the boy in a way, there was just something about him that cried out *Protect Me! *. Maybe it was all tied up in the newly discovered Empathy, maybe it was just that he *needed* to be protected. Whatever it was Hank was thrilled that it looked like everything was finally going to work in the young man’s favor.
 

Two day’s passed before Hank was satisfied that Remy had recovered from his latest ordeal. He suffered a few more nosebleeds and still had a dull headache but he seemed happier than Hank could remember seeing him. Facing the team had been rough, Hank asked them to visit Remy one at a time so it didn’t seem like they were ganging up on him. He was pleasantly surprised by how understanding and supportive they were. He and Logan stayed close by to give the young man moral support when things crashed down and threatened to smother him. Remy was devastated by the reality of what had happened and as much as he pretended that everything was fine now the two men knew it would take a long time to rebuild the boy’s self esteem.

It was a month and three days past the first anniversary of them being together as a couple when Logan finally felt it was the right time to put his plans in motion. “ I need you to wait out here a minute.” Logan said as they stopped outside their bedroom door. Remy cocked his head and looked at him, “Why?” Logan smiled “Just do it okay? Just be a minute.” He leaned in and kissed the thief on the cheek then disappeared into the room. Remy sighed and leaned against the wall. Bobby walked past and started to giggle. “ Have fun.” he sing-songed as he galloped down the stairs. Remy shook his head, he may be three years younger than Bobby but the boy would never age past six it seemed. Remy’s thought’s turned to recent events as they wanted to do these days and he shuddered. He still felt unworthy of Logan’s strong love and devotion. He was a grown man and memories or no he knew how to say no. He shouldn’t have let the monster use him like that. He was startled out of his musing when Logan grabbed his hand. “ Darlin, you okay?” Remy smiled and tugged his hand, “ Sure, why?” Logan pulled him into a soft embrace “ You looked far away.” Remy laid his head on the broad shoulder in front of him. “ Jus’ t’inkin’, can I come in now?” Logan kissed him quick and whispered, “ Yes.” He unwrapped his arms from around his young lover and waited for him to enter. A card table sat in the middle of the floor, on it was a wonderful dinner for two. “ Hank wants you to eat. I want some privacy.” He smiled at Remy and the look made him shiver. The strength of the love and passion were nearly overwhelming. “ Cher, you did dis for me?” Logan took his hand and led him to the table. “ I told ya I had an important question to ask ya.” “ Oui” Remy sat and lifted his glass. Champagne, this was a special occasion. Logan sat across from him and lifted his glass “ To future Hope.” Remy touched his glass and sipped. His trained eyes noticed boxes of varying sizes sitting around the room and a crisp white envelope in the middle of the bed. “ Let’s eat before it gets cold.” Logan smiled, Remy’s eyes darted around the room all through dinner. Logan loved this; it was nearly impossible to hide things from the Cajun. He was after all ranked among the top five thieves in the world. After an hour he gave in and placed the first gift in front of Remy. “ Open it.” Remy smiled at him then nearly dove on the box and opened it. Inside was a perfect Ruby stud. “ Oh Cher…would you?” Logan rose and brushed back the soft hair and carefully slid it in the tiny hole in Remy’s ear. “ I looked for the one he stole. He musta lost it when he crashed your bike.” When Remy looked up at Logan he wore a smile and held another box. “ A kiss’ll get ya a look in this one.” Remy stood and captured his mouth in a soul deep kiss. “ Payment enough?” Logan pulled him close again. When they were both nearly breathless he let Remy go. “ That’ll do.” Remy smiled and opened it slowly. It was a key. His Key! “ My Bike?” Remy asked hopefully. “ Took me this long to get it back together but yep, it’s as good as new.” Remy actually grabbed him and swept him off his feet, no easy task considering the metal that covered his bones and the fact that Remy weighed 180 fully dressed and soaking wet. “ Don’ know what to say…My Bike! Merci Amour!”  Logan chuckled at the excitement that oozed from the boy. He FELT like a child at Christmas. “ Reign in the Empathy Darlin or we’ll never get to the rest of the surprises.” His eyes felt glazed; his mind felt like fireflies surrounded it.
“ Sorry Cher it’s jus’, I never thought I’d see her again.” His smile was like an angel’s his eyes sparkled like sunshine. Logan had to laugh out loud, “ Sometimes you are just too young. Come here and sit down, I got some more stuff to show ya.” He patted the bed beside him and Remy sat. “ More?” Logan looked nervous all of a sudden, Remy felt the sudden rush of uncertainty. “ Cher, what’s wrong?” Remy grabbed his hand and looked him in the eye. “ I got something I want ya to read.” He handed Remy the envelope and looked down at the floor. Remy looked at the envelope a moment then opened it. He read silently then looked at Logan and read through it again. “ I got that while you were missin, do ya know what that is?” Remy swallowed hard, “ Cher, you want dis? You want me?” Logan held his hand and looked into his eyes, “ I wanna have a Ceremony, say something that sounds official. I wanna be in a committed relationship.” Remy just stared at him unable to respond. He sat there, hands clutching the letter, mouth open, blinking in shock. “ Come on kid, yer killin’ me here.” Logan begged. He was getting nervous; he expected… hell he didn’t know what he expected but not this. “ Remy?”  The kid finally came out of his stupor and closed his mouth. Logan reached into a pocket and pulled out another small box. “ I had these made while I was waitin’ for ya to wake up from the coma.” He opened the box to show Remy two simple bands of silver colored metal.
“ They’re made of adamantium. It never breaks or bends. It can’t be cut or melted. It lasts forever. That’s what I want Remy. Forever. With you.” He took one of the rings and slid it onto Remy’s shaking finger then kissed it. “ Do you want to put the other one on me?”  Remy removed the shiny band and kissed it then he slid it onto Logan’s steady hand.
“ You aren’ shakin’.” Remy said softly as he stared at Logan’s hand. “ That’s cause I’ve never been more sure of anything in this world.” He pulled Remy close for a kiss then turned toward the door, “ HE SAID YES!” he screamed and the hall outside their door came alive with cheers.
 

The Ceremony was held at the tiny Chapel at the back of Xavier’s property. It was where the X-Men usually came to bury their fallen teammates. It was a small affair with only the X-Men and their closest friends in attendance. Logan wore a suit but refused the tie Hank tried to make him wear. “ Feel’s like a straight jacket.” He growled and pulled on the shirt collar for the hundredth time. Scott slapped his hands down and cleared his throat as Remy entered. The Cajun walked in and the room fell silent. He was a walking ad for GQ.
 The suit he wore fit him perfectly. His hair was tied back in a loose braid that cascaded down his back with a few strands curling in front of his ears. His long bangs hid his eyes but nothing could hide the deep love and complete happiness that shown from them. He moved with a grace beyond human. It was Logan’s turn to look stupid.  Staring at this perfect vision with his mouth open and his eyes huge. When Remy stood beside him and smiled Logan whispered, “ You look good enough to eat.” Remy blushed and whispered back “ Dat was de idea Cher.” which caused Logan to growl and smile. The door behind the alter opened and the minister appeared. He was a kind old man and had been present for many of the funerals in the past. “ Welcome friends. We are gathered here in this chapel not to mourn and grieve as usual but to rejoice and celebrate.” He looked at Logan who was an old friend then smiled warmly at Remy, “ This is my gift to you. It is my honor and privilege to officiate and bless this union.” Logan and Remy smiled at each other, nothing could make this day more perfect. “ I believe they have written their own vows” he said and stepped back. Logan looked at Remy and cleared his throat, “ I’ll start.” He took Remy’s hands and noticed there wasn’t a hint of a tremor and smiled.
“ I’m not real good with words. I just want you to know that from this day on you will never be alone again. I’ll be there when you’re sick or hurt. I’ll even be there when yer bein’ a pain in the ass. I love ya kid, now and forever.” Remy smiled and cleared his throat trying to remove the huge lump that was stuck there.
“ I will not cry.” He whispered as a tear escaped his eye. “ Much.” He took a deep breath and stared into Logan’s eyes. “ I got a thousand things I want to say, and a thousand more that I could never find the words for if I tried. All I ever knew before was darkness, but you showed me light. All I ever felt was fear and pain, but you showed me peace. I was lost but you fought my demons and found me. You brought me to a place I thought only existed in my dreams. You are my friend, my lover, and my rock. I love you always and forever.”  The minister stepped forward with a smile and looked out at the small group of guest. “If there is anyone here that objects to this union speak now or forever hold your peace.” Not a sound could be heard but the sniffles from Jean and Ororo. His smile widened, “Then I bless this union in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. You have witnessed the joining of two heart‘s and two souls today. Remember this, for it is truly a miracle.” He shook Logan and Remy’s hands and turned them to face their friends, “ I now present for the very first time Logan and Remy, Committed in life and love forever.” Jean squealed and ran to hug them everyone else followed, shaking their hands and slapping their backs. When the Professor approached he handed Remy a note. Remy read it and ran to the exit at the back of the church. Logan started to follow but Charles held his arm.
“ He’s alright. His father is here.” Logan smiled and relaxed. It was the final touch he prayed would be added to this perfect day.

Remy froze when he exited the Church and saw the familiar form in the shadow to the right. “Poppa?” Jean Luc stepped forward and opened his arms; Remy threw himself into them and cried. “ Why de tears Remy? You didn’ expect me to miss de most important day in your life did you?” Remy pulled back and kissed his cheek. “ You’re so busy, never dreamed…” Jean Luc laughed and hugged his son tight. “ Dat Logan can be very persuasive.” Remy smiled, “ Oui, dat he can. Can you stay? We ain’t leavin ’til de morning.” Jean Luc kissed his son, “ Non, I have many enemies and I don’ need dem finding you. I’ll stay for de party. I need to get to know dis man who tamed my boy.” They walked back inside as Jean Luc’s guards stood watch and the day turned into a celebration of hopes and dreams and love.

Two weeks later, rested and relaxed, they returned from a honeymoon where no one could find them. They packed their belongings and moved to a guest cottage on the far side of the lake. It had been the Professor’s gift. This way they could be close in case of an emergency and have the privacy they longed for. In bed that night, after Logan turned out the lights Remy snuggled up close and whispered in his ear, “ You know de only t’ing missin from dis perfect life?” Logan kissed him and started to drift into sleep, “ No, What?” Remy kissed and nuzzled his ear before he purred, “ A little one.”
“ A WHAT?”
 

END

*Notes* I wanted Kurt Wagner to marry them SO BAD but I’m not Catholic and I have no idea what the church’s position on homosexuality is and I didn’t want to offend anyone but…wouldn’t it have been perfect!

 Should there be a little one?