Disclaimer:  Still don't own it…  Marvel does.

Chapter 7: Happy Surprises

Ororo stepped out of Hank's office, running a hand through her hair.  Her blue eyes were dazed, slightly out of focus, her face full of shock.  She met Scott and Jean on her way up to her room, saying nothing as she passed them by.  They stood by, confused looks plastered on their faces as they heard the door to Ororo's attic loft close shut, slightly louder than need be. 

Scott turned to his wife.  "What was that all about?"

"I don't know…  She had an appointment with Hank earlier…" Jean stated, not wanting to cross the line between confiding with her husband and betraying Ororo's trust.

"And?"

"That's all I can say.  It's none of my business, or yours for that matter, Scott.  If she decides that she wants to confide in us, she can…  But let her keep her personal life personal."  Jean chided.

"Alright…  But I'm not happy about it."

-

Ororo sat alone on her bed, her eyes staring out into the darkness surrounding her.  She growled as she heard footsteps approaching the door.

"Go away."

"Sorry, chere, can't do dat."  Remy called, opening the door.  He fumbled for a moment before flipping the light switch.  His heart sank as he saw Ororo's face.  Her eyes were red, bloodshot from crying, her cheeks stained with tears.  "What's wrong?  What happened?"

"I'm pregnant."  Ororo stated, bluntly.  She watched Remy's face for any negative emotions, and felt a bit of weight rise off of her shoulders when she saw none.  A smile came to Remy's face.

"You jokin', mon petite neige?  We're havin' a baby?"  Remy asked, sitting down on the bed in front of a shaking Ororo.  She nodded, a smile forming.

"Yes, we are…  Hank said that I'm about a month and a half along."

"Well, dat explains your bein' sick lately."  Remy leaned over, kissing Ororo lightly on the lips.  "Does he know what it is, boy 'r girl?"

"I didn't ask.  I think that it's too early to tell."  Ororo began laughing suddenly, uncontrollably.  Remy sat watching her, an eyebrow raised in question.  After several moments he began to snicker as well.

"Why're we laughin'?"  Remy asked, wiping tears from his eyes.  Ororo shook her head.

"I have no idea."  She giggled.  She ran a hand through Remy's hair, ruffling it slightly.  "I think that I am relieved.  I didn't know how you would take this news…  It kind of puts a stop to our 'lifestyle', Remy.  I don't want to get caught, go to jail.  I don't want to be away from our baby."

"Don't worry, O.  We'll work it out later.  We got plenty of time."  Remy sighed, pulling off his jacket and setting it at the foot of the bed.  His smile seemed to widen.  "We're havin' a baby, mon coeur."

"That we are."

Remy stood up, walking over to his dresser.  He reached down, opening one of the lower drawers, pulling a small package from it.  Ororo quirked her head to the side, a questioning look on her face.

"You know what dat means."

"What does 'dat mean'?"  Ororo asked.

Remy said nothing, walking back over to the bed, standing still in front of Ororo.  After a moment, he bent down onto one knee in front of her.  He unwrapped the brown paper package, revealing a small, black velvet box. 

"Ororo Munroe, will you do me the honor of bein' my wife?"  Remy asked, his face as serious and Ororo had ever seen it.

"My, that's quite a formal way of asking, Remy."  Ororo smiled, her eyes twinkling in the light.  She stood up, lifting Remy to his feet as she did.  She looked up at his face, searching his eyes. 

"Well, will you marry me?"  Remy asked, a nervous quiver to his voice.  He opened the box, revealing a dainty silver ring, a small diamond embedded in the center.

"Are you only asking me because we are pregnant?"  Ororo was surprised by how much the answer meant to her.

"No.  I have been tryin' to ask for about five months now, chere.  Dat's why I've already got the ring."  He ran a hand through his already mussed hair.  "I just didn't know how."

"Well, then.  Yes, I will marry you, Rembrandt LeBeau."  Ororo pulled Remy into a deep kiss.  She finally pulled away when she found that oxygen meant more to her than the kiss.

Remy carefully lifted the ring out of the box, watching as Ororo's eyes widened as the light hit the diamond.

"I'm sorry that the diamond ain't bigger…"

"It is beautiful, Remy.  I love it."  Ororo said, a genuine smile on her glowing face.  She held out her left hand so Remy could place the ring on her finger.  She held it up to the light again, making out the top of a small pattern on the inside of the ring.  She gave Remy a questioning look, pulling the ring off to look at it. 

"Remy, what is-?"  Ororo asked.  The pattern was not a pattern at all, but tiny words, written into the silver.

"Oh, that.  I got it there a long time ago.  I'd completely forgotten about it.  I think my love as rare as any she belied with false compare.  It's from Shakespeare.  Sonnet 130, I t'ink…  I just thought it was fitting…" Remy smiled.

"That is…  I don't know what to say, Remy."  She kissed him lightly on the cheek.  "Thank you."

"I love you, Ororo Munroe."

"And I love you."