Disclaimer: God created Stan Lee, and Stan Lee created the X-Men. God saw that this was good. There's no way I'm going up against that.

Author's Note: A Very Merry Christmas to you all!

-X-

Chapter #10: A Christmas Wish
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
- 1 Corinthians 13:13

Remy stared up at the quiet moon. The darkness had come too quickly and still he was alone. He sat on the low wooden fence that outlined the market square. Stretching out before him was the path he prayed she would take. In the distance he could make out the tall steeple of the Church against the blinking stars. His heart thumped to a mismatched rhythm of worry and fear.

Too dark, too fast…

The sun had counted down the time, and now the dark night spread out the threshold of his future. Would she come? He rubbed the back of his neck. Remy had spent the entire day sitting on this fence, contemplating this very question. Around him the world had seemed to swell with Christmas spirit as shoppers and children had hopped about the market, looking for last minute presents and tasting last minute treats. It was Christmas Eve, and he had sat alone on this low, cold fence. The whole day had passed, and still she hadn't come.

Now, alone in the dark, the market empty and quiet with the light coming only from the warm glow peeking through curtained windows, he thought about the Christmas Eves of his past. Each one he had spent alone, tucked away in a dark corner until the morning brought forth another tired day. He remembered how lonely those Christmases were, but the loneliness he felt now was unlike then. This loneliness brought heartbreak and a need for someone to saturate his solitude with love. Her love.

Rogue…

Would she come? He stared out into the vast night, his tired eyes yearning to see her. He hadn't had the courage to say good-bye to her in person. Would he have the courage to live without her? What would that life be like? He couldn't remember a moment not knowing her.

Would she come? His weakness for her had been his undoing. He had never intended to leave a second note for her. But he had to try, to try one last time for her love. For her everything.

Would she come? Suddenly, he heard the sound of the old Church bell. Remy slid off the fence, his mind and body instantly alert. This was it. This was the last time. He squinted into the darkness, the bell thundering with every beat of his heart. It had been this very bell that had led him to her all those months ago. Would it lead her to him now? Midnight had come.

Please… Lord…

And for the first time, Remy prayed.

-X-

Rogue's heart raced as she pushed her way through the night air. Behind her, the Church bells echoed, a soft crescendo of hope and love. The familiar chime bade her farewell, and as tears glistened at the corners of Rogue's eyes, she knew that somewhere in the depths of that old, good Church, she was leaving behind her most precious haven.

It had been difficult to part from her Church family. After dinner, the Reverend Mother had taken her to her room, de-veiled her, and with a loving, maternal hand, dressed her in clothing more appropriate for her future steps into world. Sister Elizabeth had filled her pockets and rucksack with food and snacks, tucking in a few coins here and there for Rogue to find later. Brother Wagner, with a smile on his face and tears in his eyes, had bestowed onto his sister a small gold cross, which Rogue now wore around her neck. They had each whispered wishes in her ear as she stood at the Church gates, and she had looked unto her family with the love and gratitude she felt towards them as she kissed them goodbye. The sound of the Church bells had signaled her forward, and with abated breath, Rogue had taken her first step out of the Church gates - not as Sister Mary Rose of the House of Charity, but as an independent woman named Rogue.

The cool breeze nipped at her cheeks as she ran down the path towards the village lights below. Somewhere in the warmth of the pale glow waited Remy, and Rogue's heart skipped a beat as she thought of his waiting figure at the end of the lane. Her rucksack bounced against her back as she turned down the path, her feet crunching the soft snow below, and her coat flying out behind her. She pulled her cap down securely over her ears, her staggered breathing raspy in the cold air.

The Church bells were slowing, and suddenly fear erupted in the pit of Rogue's stomach. What if she was too late? What if Remy had given up and left? Ignoring the jagged pain in her side, she pushed faster, nearly tripping as she hurried to the lamppost at the end of the lane. She came to a halt, bending forward as she tried to catch her breath.

This was it. This was the gateway to the village Market Square. Rogue looked up and peered into the misty night air. With one hand on the post to steady her shaking figure, and the other hand on her chest to steady her breathing, she squinted as the cold nipped at her flushed cheeks. There was silence in the air, and all through the night, not a creature was stirring. Not even a mouse.

Rogue's bottom lip trembled as she realized that she was alone. Remy was not there. He was not waiting. He was gone.

Rogue took a step forward, her eyes glistening, as she tried to comprehend the stillness of the night. He couldn't have left her. He couldn't have.

She stood with her arms limp at her sides. Her rucksack felt heavy on her back, and the heat that had filled her body as she had hurried to this very spot seeped out of her, ushering in instead the chilling cold. She was alone.

Her breath caught in her throat. She whispered his name. Softly, so that only her aching heart could hear.

And then suddenly, a soft ball of snow pelted the side of her head. She lifted her hand to touch the snow at her ear as she turned towards where it had come.

There, from behind an old oak tree, stepped Remy, his eyes glowing in the moonlight. 'What took you so long, chere?'

'A-Ah'm sorry.' She watched as Remy closed the gap between them, his body now only inches from her. She closed her eyes, inhaling his scent, as he gently brushed the snow from her cap. 'You're here,' she trembled, her heart pounding.

'I a'most t'ought you wouldn't come…' he whispered, his breath warm against her face. 'I a'most gave up.'

'A-Ah'm sorry,' Rogue whispered. It was all she could say. She was beginning to melt.

Remy smiled as he gazed down at her. Her eyes were closed, and he watched as a snowflake came to rest on her long lashes. He bent forward and kissed it. 'Open your eyes,' he whispered, his lips grazing her cheek.

Rogue obliged, and as Remy stared into those emerald eyes, he could feel the warmth of liquid love coursing through his veins. She had come. 'Will you promise to stay by my side forever?'

Rogue smiled, her glowing eyes glistening. 'Is that your Christmas wish?'

Remy shrugged up one shoulder as he ran a hand through his hair. 'I dunno, chere. Do Christmas wishes come true?'

Rogue took one step closer, lifted herself up on her tiptoes, and kissed Remy softly on the mouth. 'Ah promise,' she whispered, as her lips lingered over his. 'They do.' She kissed him longingly, lovingly, for the first time freed of any fear of sin. This was love. This was where she was meant to live. In Remy.

It was snowing now, and as Rogue pulled back, she smiled. 'What now…?'

Remy brushed the snow from his hair, his lips moist, and his heart in a state of complete devotion. 'Not sure… I don't have a home to take you to…'

'That's okay,' Rogue said, placing her hand into his. 'We can make one togeth'a.'

Remy nodded, a lump forming in his throat as he squeezed her hand. 'Right… let's take dis path here, den,' he said, pointing his head towards a fork in the road.

Rogue smiled and nodded as Remy led her from the Market gate. They walked, hand-in-hand, as the snow drifted down around them.

'Oh, wait, before I forget!' Remy halted, and started patting down his coat. Rogue, with one brow raised, watched him curiously. 'Ah, there it is.' He lifted his hand, and as if pulling it out of the night sky, he produced a single, yellow rose. He held it out before her.

'How—'

'Christmas magic, chere.' He watched as she took it from his fingers. Her red cheeks flushed with colour. 'Merry Christmas, Rogue.'

'Merry Christmas, Remy.'

He took her hand and led her out into the moonlit, snow-dusted night. Somewhere in the distance, the Church bell chimed, once, bidding its children a good night.

-X-