Forever and Always Ch 10

Disclaimer: I don't own X-Men:Evolution or it's characters. Just my OC, Molly Callum/Creature and any
original characters/background characters that may pop up from time to time.

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Remy:

The reception started in the dining room without a lot of fanfare. It spilled out into the foyer after clearing out the chairs,
they'd turned the spot into a make-shift dance floor, with the DJ operating near the front doors. Sheryl Crow was playing
and lots of people were out dancing, since the first dance and father daughter dance hadn't happened just yet. Remy was waiting
for something slower to come on, so he and Molly hung back and kept an eye on Erin, who was dancing and playing with the youngest of Jean's cousins. (All redheaded boys and girls.)

"Good wedding, so far," Remy commented.

"So far?" Molly questioned.

"It's not going to feel amazing until I'm slow dancing with you out there," Remy was, as always, charming.

"It's been a while since we've done that," Molly said.

"Actually, the only time we've done that, we weren't a couple then," Remy said. Being a hero on a daily basis didn't
leave much time for dance parties these days.

"You know you're right," Molly smiled, "But we might have our hands full tonight, so we'll see," Molly nodded
to Erin walking up to them.

"I'll make it happen, ma Cherie," Remy said determinedly.

"Molly, I'm thirsty," Erin said.

Molly went and got Erin some punch, meeting up with Kitty.
"You and Remy holding up okay with being, uh, full time parents?"

"Yeah. Erin's a great kid," Molly smiled, "Remy wants to dance later, but I don't know about that.
I think our private time got a little hi-jacked, but she's the cutest hi-jacker ever."

Kitty just nodded, but had a look in her eyes Molly had seen before.
Kitty was planning something.

Molly went back and handed Erin her cup of punch.

Mr. Finley, the Professor's lawyer, came up to them.
"Molly and Remy, how are things going?"

"Fine,"

"Great,"

"The Professor and mister McCoy we're telling me all about Erin. Hello Erin, I'm Jack. It's good to meet you," Jack Finley smiled.

"Hi! It's good to meet you too. You have funny hair," Erin giggled.

"That's what my wife says," Jack said, "Can I talk to you two privately for a minute?"

"Sure," Molly grabbed Kurt, who was dancing in arms reach, "Kurt, watch Erin for a bit? Please?"

"No problem," Kurt nodded, playfully picking up Erin and dancing with her.

Remy led the three of them into the closest downstairs study. They stood around.

"I'll be frank with you," Jack said, "My oldest daughter found out she can't have children last year. Her and her husband have been looking into adoption, but she's nervous. The Professor thinks fostering Erin and eventually adopting her would be a great match."

Molly looked at Remy with concern and a lot of worry. They had gotten to know Jack very well in adopting out baby Dylan, but they'd
never met his daughter. (Thankfully, Mr.Finley had gotten over his fear of being around mutants, so that was a huge improvement.)

"Is she here? Can we meet her?" Molly asked.

"She's here," Jack nodded.

Remy watched Molly consider things. Molly had spent more time with Erin, but Remy would be happy to provide his input.

"I'm sure your daughter is worth it, but I want Erin to be safe. I promised her we'd visit. I just...I want what's best for Erin. She's been through so much. I know she isn't mine and I've only known her a couple days, but she's such a good kid. I wanted to hurt her mom, she was awful," Molly said, "I'm sorry, I don't mean to offend you. I'm, uh, just getting protective again."

"No, I understand. You know I've worked a lot of adoption cases. The foster families all react similarly.
Letting go of a child is hard. They're small people, they're in horrible situations and it's difficult.
I'd be concerned if you weren't protective," Jack said.

"The thing is," Remy interjected, "Erin has only been away from her mom a couple of days. It's going
to be hard adjustment period for her."

"Not entirely," Molly said, "We had a long talk. She's...aware...that her mom didn't treat her right. Said it herself that her mother treated her badly. It broke my heart. I think the hardest part is letting go of the idea that she wants me to be her m-mom," Molly stammered, the first time she'd done so in a while. It was hard to admit. Molly had told Remy earlier about the talk with Erin, otherwise he would've been surprised at the news.

"Kids develop strong attachments in situations like this, but yours is definitely unique. Erin probably has a savior-complex about you," Jack explained, "For now, just come meet my daughter Bianca and see what you think."

They nodded, agreeing to it. Bianca Rosebyrn was in the dining room. She was nearly average build, a little big in the hips, with long blonde hair and green eyes, wearing glasses. Around her thirties in age. Her long dress was cream with pink flowers. Bianca just _looked_ kind, which wasn't something Remy could say about most people.

They exchanged greetings, sitting down. It was significantly quieter in the dining room than it was on the dance floor.
"I know this is a lot to take in," Bianca admitted, her kind voice sounding nervous, "Let me just say, it's so loving that
you took in Erin at all. Most people your age wouldn't want to take on that responsibility with so little experience.
Never married to other people, only dating. That shows me that you and Remy have big hearts and are good for Erin."

"Uh, thank you," Molly said, "So...tell us about yourself."

"I work at the Bayville police station as a forensic scientist. I've been there for almost eleven years, so I don't plan on changing jobs and don't have a job that requires me to move around, so we could give Erin a stable family life. My husband and I have been married six years. He sometimes has to travel for business, but not very often, otherwise he would've been here today. His name is Carlisle. He's the director at the Bronx zoo," Bianca said.

"Seriously? That's so weird, because Erin loves tigers," Molly smiled, "I mean, it's a funny coincidence."
Remy could tell Molly's guard was coming down.

"That's so cute! Well, The commute is a little hard, but he likes it and we get in free, of course," Bianca smiled.

They got into the other stuff. How Bianca and her husband met in college, both graduating from New York state University, meeting up a few years later and marrying. That they had a good sized house with a big backyard and two dogs, no pool and were in a good neighborhood near schools. That Bianca did things like crochet, dance classes, gym, and book club. Her job didn't allow for a lot of traveling, but she liked to squeeze it in sometimes. Her African-American husband, described as a direct but kind man with a great sense of humor, had some of the same interests, but he also enjoyed playing golf, painting, and going to wine tastings.

Remy considered everything. They were a fairly outgoing couple with good jobs, friends, varied interests, lives outside of work, and a seemingly stable home life. Bianca could teach Erin things and Carlisle sounded like the slightly fun but disciplinary future dad.
They had come out of nowhere, but they wanted a child and Erin needed parents that could take care of her properly, unlike Molly and Remy.

"Well, it was very nice meeting you," Bianca said, "Don't feel pressured to make any decisions yet, okay?
My husband will be back tomorrow and we'll keep talking. This is a big decision for everyone, and we all want
what's best for Erin."

Remy felt Molly's emotions. Sadness, then this overwhelming feeling of relief and happiness for a moment,
then sadness again. They got up from the table and Remy pulled Molly close around the shoulders, trying to
be supportive.

"It was nice meeting you too," Molly said, "We'll, uh, talk again soon."

Remy and Molly went back to the study to talk.

"We don't have to make any decisions right now," Remy said, "I know it's stressful, but they do seem really kind and good.
If anyone could offer a great home for Erin, it's them. We wouldn't worry about her at all if she had them for parents."

"Yeah, you're right," Molly said, "She said what I said. She wants what's best for Erin. Bianca seems like
a really good person. Sh-she'd make an amazing mom for Erin." Molly cried a little and Remy hugged her close.

"Nobody should have to make this decision twice in a lifetime, Molly, but you-we-are doing it again.
We'll take things slow, just like before. No rush. If something really doesn't feel right, we'll know," Remy said.

"But what if child services wants to take her away before we can make a decision?" Molly looked beyond worried.

"We'll go through all the right channels. The Institute isn't a halfway house, but the state knows we're safe for kids to stay here. We'll do whatever we have to. For now, we've got light at the end of the tunnel and that's great. Let's just go back and enjoy what's left of the wedding and put it out of our minds for a while," Remy said.

"Uh-huh," Molly said, "Erin probably needs us back anyway."

They found their way back to the dance floor. Kurt and Kitty we're holding hands in a dance triangle with Erin,
laughing it up and having a good time.

"Hey, uh, we can take Erin back now if you guys want," Molly said.

"No way!" Kitty smirked, "We're taking over babysitting for the rest of the night, you two go enjoy yourselves and have
fun."

"...Thanks," Molly said, taken aback, but happy, "Have a good time, Erin."

Erin nodded happily, then the three of them broke off to another part of the room as
the song changed.

A really slow song started.
"This one's for all the couples in the room. Couples dance only," The DJ said over the microphone, "Couples dance only!"

"Come on, Cherie," Remy smoothly pulled Molly against himself, "You and me will dance the night away. I'll get to admire that dress properly, hold you close...stare into those stunning eyes of yours and enjoy that you're all mine."

They started swaying to the music, getting near the middle of the dance floor.

Molly smiled up at Remy.
"You know, I like staring into your eyes too. They're the most gorgeous ruby-red eyes I've ever seen.-And it wouldn't hurt to be five inches taller right now, because, really, like this, all squished into your chest, I feel three feet tall. It's hard being this small. Why do I have to be so tiny?"

Good, Remy smiled. The awkwardness-no matter how annoyed it made him feel-was at least getting
her mind off their problems. (Although, for lans sakes, he wasn't _that_ big! Likewise, Molly wasn't
ludicrously short, she only felt like it because Remy was significantly taller. And he was staring
at the top of her head, like, all the time.)

"Mmm, _Petite_, you're just not used to us being this _close_ standing up," Remy purred, enjoying the feel of her shorter, attractive body meshed against his taller one, "Just hold onto me. Feel my body, listen to my breathing. It's not weird. It's intimate."

They were quiet, savoring the slow dance, both wanting it to last awhile. Then a faster one came on. Eventually, Molly ditched her shoes, and Remy was glad for that, because it meant she was back at her normal, cute height. He took advantage of moments where they were dancing  a bit away from everyone to bend down and kiss her.

Some of the younger kids were going around snapping pictures of everyone with their phones. When Meggan got to Remy and Molly, Remy snaked one arm around her waist and the other around the front of her shoulders, gripping tight, bent down very close so that his chin touched beside her head. Molly put her hands on his, smiling breathlessly. "You're mine," Remy said into her ear afterwards,
"Never forget that you're the most beautiful woman in the room, with the kindest heart, and I couldn't be prouder of you."