To Catch a Fox

Authors Note/Disclaimer:
I do not own the X Men or the fictional universe they live in. This is a work of fan fiction. I’m just borrowing them for my own amusement and yours. I am making no money from this.

Please tell me what you think by posting a review or emailing me at ginevrasn@yahoo.com. Put AFF in the subject line if you do so, so I don’t delete it by mistake. I do not have a beta to proof for me, so don’t be shy.

Thank you for the kind review slickboy444. I hope you enjoy the coming chapters.

Warnings: Sex is dealt with briefly in this chapter, but not graphically. There will be more sex and some violence in later chapters.

Chapter Eight: Truth

Logan resisted the urge to wake the woman sleeping at his side. Her scent continued to pluck at his desire, so he dressed and headed outside to explore. The forest here was beautifully untouched and he lost himself in it for several hours. He was careful to stay within Winter Moon’s borders, uncertain of what reception he might get if he ran into any others of her kind.

Eventually, he tired of exploring and returned. He gathered an armload of firewood along the way. While he could survive the cold, he preferred not to sleep in it.

Winter Moon was awake and moving about the den. Something small was roasting over the fire and there was a jug of warm tea. She smiled at him, but seemed distracted.

“Got some more firewood. What’s cookin’?”

“Rabbit. I have bread here.” She flipped aside a piece of leather to show a stack of the same sort of flat bread he’d seen before. “I will be leaving to hunt soon. This is for you.”

“Thought so.” He added the wood to the gradually diminishing pile along one wall. “Got anythin’ against me going outside after dark?” He’d go stir crazy if he woke up and had to stay inside all night.

“No…But stay near the den. I…will not want company.” She rubbed her palms against her thighs, her agitation growing. “I will return at dawn…”

“I’ll be here.” Logan could see she was itching to leave. The light coming through the entrance was fading quickly. She gave him one more look, then shifted into her fox form and slipped away.

Logan was glad for the food, having worked up quite an appetite. He ate heartily, then took some time to explore the den, curious about how the fox-woman lived. It was a single chamber, relatively large with niches carved into the walls to hold her few belongings. He wondered if she was like Kit and kept several dens here and there.

Before it got much colder, he went outside to relieve himself. The stars were so clear and bright he stayed to watch them for a while, just drinking in the starlight and the cold night air. He could smell snow on the breeze and took a few moments to gather more firewood. The moon hung low and full and he could hear the cries of foxes in the distance. Winter Moon’s scent hung on the breeze and it reminded him pleasantly of their morning’s activities.

When the first snow flakes began to fall, he returned to the den and tended the fire. Then he undressed and burrowed into the sleeping furs. He fell asleep with her scent wrapped around him. He was so deeply asleep he didn’t wake until her naked body slipped beneath the furs to join him…


{Mon dieu. De little she-devil gon’ kill me.}

At the crack of dawn he was startled awake by the girl’s teeth nipping at his neck. He was immediately overwhelmed by her renewed desire and found himself responding with equal ferocity. She seemed even more aggressive and insatiable than before. So much so, he was almost prepared to admit that there could indeed be too much of a good thing. Almost.

There’d been nothing of Kit in her that morning. He was ready to use his charm to send her to sleep when the fox’s urges suddenly receded. She was left frightened and confused and clung to him. He held her like a child and murmured to her in French until she relaxed against him.

“It gon’ be all right little fox. You hush now. Go to sleep.”

“Oh God…I’m losing my mind.” She rested her forehead against his chin. “This can’t be…Can’t be the way this is supposed to be. Can it?”

“It probably jus’ seem dat way, cause it don’ happen before. You mama, she should have explain better.” He hugged her tighter. “How long dis suppose to go on?”

“Three or four days I think…I hope. The full moon…” He felt a wave of anxiety building in her and he immediately squashed it.

“Dis gon’ happen every full moon?” Remy felt uneasy at that. It was unsettling to lose himself like this and frankly, it was physically draining. He was no shape shifter, nor did he have Logan’s healing factor.

“Unless…Until…I…” Her voice trailed off and Remy squashed another trill of anxiety.

“Dis go on ‘til Remy get you wit’ child or de spring come.”

She seemed to collapse against him, arms wrapping around his neck as if begging for reassurance or perhaps forgiveness. He sensed that she was about to start sobbing and squashed that too. He was too tired to deal with that now.

“It gon’ be all right, cher. Remy know de game well ‘nough. You sleep, now.” Then he used his charm one last time to send her to sleep.

There would be some long talks later, sure enough. He was angry. Not with her, but with these damned “people of the forest.” They’d abandoned her to figure this out on her own, and then manipulated her choice of mate. He had no doubt that if “Grandfather” hadn’t intervened, instinct would have driven her to choose one of the “bachelors.” Whatever their reasons, it seemed callous.

“Merde.”

By the third afternoon in the cabin, Remy was looking drawn and haggard. Scott and Jean had ceased their good-natured ribbing and began to worry. It wasn’t just the girl’s physical demands on him; it was the wild and primitive emotions that boiled inside her. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t seem to shield against her. He had to resort more and more to using his charm to get some peace and he knew that would only make it harder for her to trust him.

And he did need her to trust him. They were stuck here for the winter. The snow storm that had hit them two days ago had obliterated all traces of their journey. He feared how Kit would react once this episode passed. He’d been overcome by her primal urges and knew he had frightened her. Jean attempted to help him erect shields, either on himself, or on the girl, but nothing worked. Whether it was Remy’s tendency to scramble telepathy or because the bond with Kit was too deep, the result was the same.

On the fourth afternoon, Remy awoke to find himself alone. He blinked in confusion at the empty depression in the mattress beside him. Something white shone in the dim light and he could see Kit’s leathers hanging from pegs in the wall. He sat up with a groan and reached for his clothes. As he dressed he reached out tentatively with his senses, wondering where and in what state the girl was.

She was close by and her emotions had a brittle, muted feel, with little trace of the morning’s lust. He got the sense she was occupied with something and took the opportunity to use the bathroom and make some attempt at making himself presentable. A quick look in the ancient mirror over the basin showed him the face of a man who’d been on a week-long bender.

“Feel like it, too.” He sighed as he finished up and squared his shoulders before going in search of the girl. He could kill for a shower. This place was beyond primitive.

He found Kit in one of the extra chambers, assembling what looked like a bed. The room was quite warm and her hair was damp. None of them had noticed the second wood stove against one wall or the heavy wooden tub sitting on a brick ledge nearby. Two large pails of water sat simmering on the stove and a third sat in a hollow beneath the tub’s drain spigot.

Kit was dressed in long johns and an old faded shirt. She paused to look at him and pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. She didn’t quite meet his eyes as she spoke.

“Thought you folks might want a bath. Rule is, you gotta drain the tub and refill the buckets for the next one up.” She walked to the stove and held a cautious hand over the water.

“Remy be willing to pay a lot more den dat to get clean.”

“Dirty water goes down the kitchen sink. That little drain in the bathroom won’t handle all this. Anyways, water’s almost hot enough. Told Scott and Jean you’re next.” She picked up the pail from beneath the tub and hefted it, it was full. “Be back in a few.”

She left quickly, leaving him with the distinct impression she didn’t want to talk. Fine with him…That could wait until he was clean. He busied himself with gathering towels, soap and the cleanest clothes he had. Meanwhile Kit returned with a pail full of clean, lukewarm water and dumped it into the tub. Remy took the pail from her and took over the job, eager for the promised bath. She shrugged and left him alone.

While it wasn’t exactly luxurious, Remy enjoyed the bath thoroughly, soaking until the water had become cold and his fingers wrinkled like prunes. When he began draining the tub, Jean was so anxious for her own turn that she used her telekinesis to ferry the buckets of water back and forth faster than he could carry them.

While Jean waited impatiently for the water to heat, Kit returned to finish assembling the bed. Feeling more like himself, Remy offered to help, hoping to get her to talk a little. He could feel her tension so strongly he was beginning to get a headache.

“Who gon’ be sleepin’ in dis one?” Remy held one end of the bed steady as she fastened the rails to it with iron bolts.

“Logan. I expect he’ll be back either tonight or tomorrow morning.”

“If dere a stove in here, why we sleepin’ in de other room?” Remy scowled a little. He hadn’t been truly warm since that last night in town. She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it. She glanced around the room before looking at him again.

“You…um…You still want to sleep with me? You don’t have to. I can fix the other room up, too.” He felt her brittle hold on her emotions start to crack. There was guilt, anxiety, and a little fear in the mix.

“Remy tink dat should be de other way ‘round. You want me in you bed, cher?” He reached a hand to rest on her shoulder. “You don’ be de first to get sick o’ me.” He felt her tense under his touch, but she didn’t pull away.

“I wouldn’t say I’m sick of you.” She looked away from him and back again, fidgeting under his hand. She looked very small and young at the moment. “I’m not kicking you out. But, I’m not changing rooms. That was always my room. This one was my parents’ room and I just…couldn’t…” She looked around and cleared her throat nervously.

“Good…We gon’ keep each other warm.” He moved his hand a little until he touched her neck and could stroke her cheek with his thumb. “We need to talk, little fox.”

“I…Jean will be wanting her bath. We better finish this up. My room will be warmer with the stove going, you’ll see.” She pulled away and tightened another bolt on the bed frame. Her hands were shaking a little and Remy decided to wait a little longer for that talk. With his help, she finished the job quickly and they left to tell Jean her bath was ready.

Kit managed to avoid being alone with him for the rest of the day. She spent the afternoon checking their supplies and getting Logan’s room prepared. Logan arrived just in time for dinner, unshaven and wild-looking. But, he was in good spirits, chatting amiably over their meal. He talked of all the sights he had seen. He made only the most oblique references to Winter Moon, glancing at Kit covertly to gauge her reaction.

Kit was quiet but didn’t hesitate to respond when they spoke to her. Even Scott was trying to be tactful, avoiding any references to her previous behavior. Slowly, the girl began to relax as the conversation continued.

After dinner, Scott and Jean occupied themselves playing checkers. Logan was eager to make use of the tub and disappeared into the back. Kit helped him clean up the dishes. Then she curled up in a chair with a book, leaving Remy to his own devices. He watched the checkers match for a while. Then he played a few hands of solitaire. When Logan emerged from the back they played a few games of cards. By then Jean and Scott were ready to call it a night and climbed up into the loft.

Logan cleared his throat and glanced at the loft. Then he shot a look at Kit, who seemed absorbed by her book. But, Remy wasn’t fooled. She’d been getting more and more nervous as the night went on. She was stalling.

“Guess it’s time for me ta head ta bed.” The man rose and gave the Cajun a nod. Logan wasn’t fooled either. Remy gathered the cards neatly as the man left. Time for that talk.

“It time for bed, little fox.” He offered her his hand. She closed her book and looked at him for a moment before taking his hand. He pulled her to her feet gently.

“I guess it is.” He could feel the tightening coil of anxiety in her, verging on the edge of being true fear. He could feel it, but he would have to talk to her to find out just what she feared. He was tempted to use his charm again…but that would only delay things. It wouldn’t resolve them.

“Come den.”

He took the book from her and sat it down on a table. He paused to blow out the oil lamps before leading her by the hand to their bedroom. He took with them a lit candle to light the way and set it carefully on the bedside table. He let go of the girl’s hand and pulled the curtain across the door for privacy. When he turned around, she was sitting on the bed watching him anxiously.

“What you so scared of, cher?” He spoke gently and moved slowly to sit down beside her. “We been sharin’ a bed one way or de other since we left town.”

“I…I don’t know…What I remember…What we did…I don’t even know you.” Her voice rose as she tried to name her fears. “I don’t even know me!”

“Hmm…You right. We don’ know each other do we?” He pulled his long legs up so he could rest his elbows on his knees. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

“To tell de truth, you done scare me a bit. Remy don’ like to lose control like dat. And dat not de way he treat a lady.”

“I’m sorry…” He raised a hand to silence her.

“Dis not you fault.”

“I should have realized why I felt the need to bring someone…I’ve never done that before. Ever.”

“You knew, somewhere in de back of your mind maybe. But, you got no reason to ‘spect me to react like dat. Remy don’ either.”

“Yeah, I guess.” She looked down at the bed between them, avoiding his gaze.

“Remy tinking maybe some o’ you family done set us up for dis.”

“Set us up?”

“Oui.”

“They don’t know you, only that you’re not one of them…”

“Dat right. Dey don’ want you to pick one o’ dem. Why?”

“I…Don’t know…” She bit her lip and the fear receded as she thought about his question.

“You talk about you family. De Wyldes. And dat bond you got wit’ de foxes. What dat mean?”

“What does it mean?” She blinked in the dim light and bit her lip. “We…We walk between the world of men and the forest. We…Bring them what they can’t get for themselves and warn them of danger. In return, they protect us, give us things like furs and leathers. And when we change…They are here waiting for us.”

“You dey eyes and ears outside…” Remy listened to her words. It almost sounded as if she were reciting a lesson. Perhaps she was.

“Yeah. I suppose so.”

“You de only one?”

“I’m the last…” She cleared her throat and looked away.

“Like your papa maybe?” He narrowed his eyes. “Dey send him a woman of de forest to make sure de line don’ die.” He had some experience with arranged liaisons himself. It left a bitter taste in his mouth.

“Mama loved him. But, she was never quite happy living as a…human.” Kit shifted, crossing her legs to sit Indian style, her knees just touching his ankles. He took the innocent touch as a good sign. “After he died, it was too much for her.”

“How old were you, cher?”

“Papa was killed when I was fourteen. Mama stuck it out until I was sixteen.” Her eyes glittered and she cleared her throat. He could sense the old grief. “Mama used to tell me ‘you are too much the fox’ when I would run off into the woods instead of playing with the other kids. Papa would laugh and call me ‘little fox,’ like you do. But she was serious, I think.”

“You don’ talk to her?”

“I’ve run across her scent many times out here, but I haven’t spoken to her since she left me.” Pain, a deep aching hurt, radiated from the girl. Remy shifted a little and resisted the urge to squash it. “She knows where I am. Always has. Since then they’ve all kept their distance, even Gray Mantle.”

“Dis cruel.” She looked up at him, surprised at his assessment. “Maybe Logan know more…But, Remy guessing it dis – dey don’ want you to take de fox as mate ‘cause maybe you don’ go back. You be Winter Fox and not Kit. Dey need Kit. Like dey need your papa.”

“I…” She fell silent as she considered it. “Maybe she was right. Maybe I am too much the fox…” She looked at him again. “There’s no happy ending here…” He felt another pang of hurt from her, but no fear thankfully. He shifted, moving a little closer to her.

“Remy promise to explain ‘bout his wife…And ‘bout Rogue.” He waited for the anger to return, but there was nothing but guilt and hurt coming from the girl, so he continued.

“Remy know ‘bout arrangements. ‘Cause dat how it come to be dat he married. Belle, and I be from families dat always at war wit’ each other. We fall in love de way children do and de adults encourage it. De match was arranged and we get married very young. But not everyone agree…Belle’s brother object and dere a terrible fight. He die and Remy have to leave. Can’t ever go back home. Belle hate me now, but de marriage never ended to keep de peace, more or less.”

“So…This Rogue isn’t your wife?”

“Rogue…No she not my wife.” He laid one hand on her knee, half expecting her to push him away. There was no point in hiding it, sooner or later one of the others would tell her.

“We in love…But, it an on and off again ting…She a mutant too. An' her power…It get in de way…Her touch, it drain de life from you, along wit’ your powers and memory too. Remy got a past and she seen a bit too much of it, to trust him easy.”

“Is this supposed to make me feel better?” He felt her tense a little under his touch, but didn’t push him away.

“Non. But, Remy owe you de truth. We ‘off’ again, right now.”

“But, you’ll probably be getting back together when you leave.” It wasn’t really a question.

“Oui.” He sighed. “Remy don’ plan for dis to be anyting serious…But, dat was before...”

“I might be pregnant…Probably will be by spring unless I leave…” Kit’s voice caught and he could feel she was fighting tears.

“You don’ leave.” He leaned forward to grasp her wrists possessively. Seemed this thing went both ways…He loosened his grip but didn’t let go.

“You didn’t ask for this…You don’t want this…The part of me that’s Kit doesn’t want this either.” She pulled back from him a little, tugging against his grip. When he didn’t let go, her eyes widened a little and some of the fear returned.

“Remy don’ say dat, cher. He never tink about dis before. Don’ dare. Rogue…Don’ tink she can have children. Not wit’ dat power o’ hers.”

“What are you saying?”

“You my mate. You don’ leave me. Not now.” He tugged her forward until he could pull her into his arms. He buried his face in her hair and breathed against her neck. She resisted only briefly before wrapping her arms around his shoulders. “Remy got no blood kin. He adopted. Dis a gift.”

“A gift?”

“Oui.” He began to slowly trail kisses along the curve of her neck.

There would be more talking later. He would have to leave, not just for Rogue and the X Men, but for the safety of Kit and the child. Belle’s anger could be deadly…And he and the X Men had other enemies. But he would return, and they would want for nothing. Years as a Master Thief had left him with far more money than he could ever need.