Epitaph for A Child's Tale

(Please read A Child's Tale first. Thanks and hope you enjoy!)

I don't own marvel or any of the characters, no profit intended.

"O my good Angel, whom God, by His Divine mercy, hath appointed to be my guardian, enlighten and protect me, direct and govern me this day. Amen."

"Where are you!?" Cyclops's tone was authoritative and perhaps a bit irritated as he held up his cell phone after finally receiving a call back from one Remy LeBeau, better known to his teammates as Gambit. There was a pause on the other side during which Scott Summers imagined Gambit's brimstone eyes narrowing and his jaw locked as the Cajun thief contemplated what to say. The leader of the X-Men grew impatient, as was often the case, especially when dealing with their wayward resident Cajun who seemed determined to be just as much of a pain in the ass as Wolverine, and given his recent behavior, far less reliable.

"Time off needs to be requested in person, or at least through verbal communication for Pete's sake, not just scratched on paper and stuck to my door! You are a part of a team Gambit….men and women who depend on you to watch their backs. How can we do that if you go sneaking off into the night like a god damned…"

"Thief?!" Gambit offered through gritted teeth, not bothering to hide the resentment in his voice. Remy listened to the loud sigh coming from a man he might respect as an ally, even follow as a leader, but certainly could not, would not, call a friend, at least not in English. "I did not go sneaking off mon amie…. T'ings came up…. Somet'ing dat required Gambit's immediate attention… 'Sides you was on a date an' I be crazy tah interrupt one of yer rare moment's out just to say au revoir. Dat red head ah yours would 'ave put dis ol' boy in a world of hurt… Don't fuss yo pretty lil' head none mon Captin, Gambit be back soon enough to play solider boy wit you, rest assured." With that Remy hung the phone up and turned it off, cutting off what was sure to be an unnecessary waste of time. He walked back into the sunlit room of a second floor penthouse suite, bringing with him a vibrant red rose plucked from one of the many planters adorning the French Quarter balcony. The always charming mutant sat down on the edge of a queen sized bed and gently placed the flower in the hand of his sleeping beauty whose eyes shifted open as he kissed her cheek.

"Bonjour Madame Godiva…. Even in sleep you be more beautiful den all de stars in de hevens." Remy's voice was a soft purr that caressed the older woman's ears the way his fingers stroked her blotchy brown cheek. From the door way a hospice nurse watched with sad eyes before taking her leave, receiving a nod of thanks, and dismissal from Misure LeBeau, the man who had hired her services almost a year ago when Lady Godiva had taken a turn for the worse.

"Remy….. is dat you child?" Her voice was a mixture of disbelief and hopeful delight. A wide grin decorated her aging face, her lips were thick, and only a few teeth left to call her own. Remy grinned back at the woman he called his Guardian Angel after a night long ago when an alley in New Orleans was painted red with his blood and only a pair of whores where there to save him. Rose had died from an overdose shortly after, but Lady Godiva stuck around, checking in on him and offering the only mothering he would receive until Tantie Mantie got her hands on him.

"Sure 'nough is Mam." The Cajun replied, taking her feeble hand in his and offering a kiss, his ruby eyes full of compassion and sincerity. She looked at him, with big, wet, brown eyes that sparkled even though they were sunken in, her smile never faltering even as she turned her head away to cough into a handkerchief. When she looked back she offered a soft chuckle at his deep frown, bringing her hand up to his strong jaw, smooth shaven for the moment. She looked him over and with her long red nails pinched his cheek and clucked her tongue.

"My, o'my but you are a fine looking young man Remy LeBeau, so tall,…and strong too!" She laughed as she felt his biceps through his trench coat. "Take dis t'ing off an' stay awhile Remy, Godiva wanna hear all 'bout your life as a hero!" She chuckled again as he blushed and rolled his eyes, but did as he was told and removed his coat to hang it in the hall closet. "Your Tanti been by, you know? Twice a week she come see me, bringing her voodoo tonics and what not." She struggled to sit up and Remy was quickly at her side to set up pillows behind her back. "T'ank you child." She sighed, closing her eyes for a moment, her brow furled. Gambit watched her intently, concerned by her body language and obvious physical deterioration.

"Need anyt'ing chere?... Glass ah water?" Remy asked as he squatted down next to her, careful not to disturb a delicately balanced bouquet with a card that read; "To my Guardian Angle, Love Remy!"

"Water!?... C'mon now child, I ain't dead yet!... Mix me up ah Mint Julep an' one fo' yo'self den come 'ave a chat!" She shooed him off and turned toward the mirror to fix the gold satin scarf covering her bald head. Remy scoffed, but walked through the parlor to the fully stocked bar that lined the rear wall. This apartment was once his, the first place he had ever purchased at the tender age of sixteen, so that he and Belle had some where to be away from the bayou plantations owned by the Guilds. He grabbed two glasses and began to make the drinks, laughing to himself at the way his angel had re-decorated the apartment with bright floral patterns, neon velvet furniture, and what some might call tacky, gold framed self portraits of her posed with jungle cats. It is her apartment now Remy, he reminded himself. After his banishment he saw little point of holding onto the place, so he put it to good use and signed it over to the most deserving woman he could think of, who had just gotten back out of rehab for the third time and was determined to stay clean. He still paid all the bills and had one of his Swiss bank accounts set up for her explicit use, just as he promised her he would do once he had made it as a thief, with or without the Guild's help.

Remy walked back into the room with the drinks and pulled up a chair to sit at Godiva's side.

"Like what ya done wit de place Godiva, tres unique." He hid his smirk behind a sip of his drink.

"Oh please!... I know dat face ah yours!... You may be able to fool others but not dis hustler. I can read men bettah den any tarot deck ever made," Godiva laughed and wacked him on the arm playfully. Taking a sip, she stared at him with a knowing smile; lips pursed tapping her nails on the glass. "Your tanti be de one who tell me all 'bout you joining wit dem other mutants. She say you fightin' de good fight,… an' dat we should be right proud ah you… but it worries her some, me too I suppose." She sighed again putting her glass down. Remy offered her a soft smile and a slight shrug.

"Ain't never gonna 'ave a normal life me…. Always gonna be fighting,… least now I know what side I'm on." Remy took a gulp and felt her squeeze his other hand.

"My poor baby!... You spent your whole childhood fighting….. don't even know how to live no other way…. I was so mad when I heard what de Guilds done to you!... I wanted to put my heel up your Papa's ass!" Her voice rose and she was shaking her head muttering curses under her breath.

"It's okay chere,… don't get you self all riled up. It works out, ehe?" Remy smiled and tried to make light of it when inside he felt his gut tighten.

"It was wrong Remy!... And de people 'round here,…. We knows it!... De streets talk Remy,….. and what dey say?… Dey say Le Diable Blank is our hero,….. He one of our own!... And Jean-Luke knows it!...Dey all do…. De self righteous bastards!... Dose piece o' shit Motha- fuckin'…" Godiva began to cough and Remy instantly sat up straight and took her drink, setting it down and grabbing a wash cloth from a nearby water basin to wipe her face.

"Shhhhh,….. ya gotta take it easy now chere!... just breath!" Remy cooed at the woman as he wiped her brow and grabbed a nearby hand fan for her face.

"My pills… baby…... hand me my pills!" She struggled gasping in between coughs. Remy looked around and spotted a tray of prescription drug bottles and grabbed it quickly. "Dose ones, …. De blue pills." She grabbed the open bottle and hastily ate a small handful, then washed it down with the rest of the Mint Julep. Gambit watched her with unease as she relaxed back into the pillows, eyes shut, breathing heavy with her hand on her heart.

"Godiva,….. ya want me to call de nurse,… or a doctor?" Remy was startled by how weak his voice sounded, like a frightened child watching a parent die. The bed ridden woman shook her head, eyes still closed as she steadied her breathing.

"Naw baby,…. Just mix me up another drink chere!" She let out a struggled sigh, eyes fluttering open. He hesitated for a moment, well aware that mixing alcohol and pain killers is a lethal cocktail, but also knowing that a body like Godiva's had a much higher tolerance for drugs,… and in all reality,…. She was dying, sooner or later didn't matter but her comfort did.

Rising to his feet he grabbed both glasses and hastily made their drinks, swallowing down the swell of emotion rising up with in him. Walking back into the bedroom he stopped short as he watched her light up a joint, the sticky sweet smell unmistakable. She looked up and saw his raised eyebrow.

"Look high an mighty, I ain't got too much longer on God's green earth so I gonna smoke an' drink until I ain't got a breath left…..Saids it helps wit de pain an' increases my appetite. Now com'ere an help your angle light dis Joint, got one for you too chere!" She winked and pointed to a second one sitting on the night stand. He sighed and walked over to her, setting the drinks down and taking the lighter from her shaking hand as he used his finger to relight the smoldering joint.

"I'll pass on mine chere,… don't wanna take yer medicine away!" He smirked and sat back down picking up his drink.

"Hmmmmph,… suit yo' self honey pie." Godiva eased back into the pillows and with a drink in one hand and a joint in the other she relaxed, letting her tired eyes rest. "Remy, will ya put some music on child; I'd like some Gospel I believe." She sighed taking a toke and then a sip of her drink. Again Remy rose to his feet and found a CD of gospel music to put into the boom box. The sweet sound of Southern Baptist hymns called out as Godiva hummed along and Remy sipped his drink, trying not to feel the icy stab of sorrow piercing his heart.

…

"Hey, any y'all seen Gambit?... I was hoping he'd take me for a ride on that bike of his." Rogue walked out onto the back porch where a number of X-men where relaxing as they watched Jubilee and Night Crawler play basketball.

"We have absolutely NO idea where he is or why!... He just took off sometime last night after we all got back from the mission and left me a note saying he had personal matters to attend to." The frustration was more than apparent in Scott's voice as he shook his head and turned toward the others.

"Honey, I am sure he had a good reason." Jean tried to reassure her husband but he was in no mood.

"If he did he would have said so. He didn't even say when he would be back!" he fumed rising from his chair and leaning against one of the beams on the porch.

"Ya tried calling him?" Rogue's voice was meek as she fidgeted with her gloves feeling both anxious for Remy's sake and slightly miffed herself at his callous disregard for how his behavior effected the team.

"Of course! And after ignoring the call 7 times he finally called back just to say that, 't'ings came up' then hung up the phone before I could ask him anything at all!...It's irresponsible and selfish!... I swear to god he's worse than Logan," Cyclops fumed! His remark received a smirk from Wolverine who was sitting nearby, cigar in his mouth and can of beer in his hand.

"Scott, while I understand your issue with Gambit's behavior….. You must realize that he has other people in his life to whom he feels a degree of responsibility for. His loyalty to the X-Men has not faltered, but the burdens he carried from life before he joined the team are still his to bear." Storm's regal and elegant voice was soft and persuasive without being contradictory, yet still, the team leader fought against it.

"No Storm, you are always making excuses for him but not this time... He is either a part of this team or he's not. If there was an emergency right now and we needed his help how would he know? Turning off his phone is a deliberate fuck you to me and the team!" The others all looked at their leader wide eyed, unaccustomed to hearing him curse.

"Scott!" Jean gasped almost laughing, her surprise apparent.

"Damn, he's pissed!" Bobby chuckled to Warren who nodded with an amused smirk as he sipped a martini.

"You know where he is 'Ro?" Logan inquired as all eyes turned toward the weather goddess who was looking up at the suddenly cloud covered sky with arms crossed. She did not turn her attention toward the question but sighed and closed her eyes.

"Most likely New Orleans." She paused and turned back toward her friends a look of resignation on her face. "He said an old friend needed his help." Ororo sighed.

"Did he say anything else?... Like when he would be back?" Cyclops's voice was incredulous. Storm's face was defiant and her eyes burning sapphires.

"No Scott,…. He did not…. But clearly it is a matter of some importance to him as he has been distracted and sullen all week long, or did you not notice?" Now her voice had become sharp and laced with accusations. "We are not just X-men Cyclops, we are people. Perhaps if you had noticed Remy's restlessness over the past week you might have inquired of him if everything was alright, as I had done. Then you might have known that he had an urgent matter to deal with that he was putting off in order to assist the X-men on our latest mission, one that in the grand scheme of our lives and our goals as X-men, held very little significance." Storm's voice was a steady, quiet thunder that did not need a booming, dramatic crash to illustrate her point. With a practiced calmness she excused herself and entered the mansion just as the sudden cloud cover released its first drops of rain.