"Aw, c'mon Jean-Luc, let me go get him. Please?" Emil was almost begging. He had not seen Remy in almost five years and was literally ready to jump at the chance to go to New York to get his cousin.

Jean-Luc smiled at the young man's enthusiasm. He wished he could agree to let Emil travel to New York. He had already decided to get Henri to go, however. It would be better for the Guild if he did. For some reason, Jean-Luc felt uneasy about sending anyone and he didn't know why. But someone had to go. Someone had to get Remy. The tithing was coming up.

In the five years that Remy had been gone, he had contacted only two people associated with the Guild. He called Tante Mattie once a month to give messages to his father and brother, and he called Emil every two months. They knew where he was, but he refused to give them a phone number, so they couldn't contact him when they wanted to.

"I'm sorry, Emil, but I can' let you go. I'm loath to let anyone go, but seein' as t'ough Remy never gave any of us a phone number. I'm sending Henri." Jean-Luc said.

Emil sighed. "Okay." He was disappointed, but he tried to keep telling himself that Remy would be coming home for the tithing and he'd get to see him again for a couple of days. It wouldn't seem nearly long enough, but it would do.

As Henri got ready to go, Emil watched him, a thoughtful expression on his face. Henri noticed the look.

"I'd take you wit' me if I could, kid."

"I know dat, Henri. I jus' keep t'inkin' dat I am gon' get to see him." Emil replied.

"True enough. See you in a few hours."

Four hours later, a car pulled into the driveway of the LeBeau mansion, screeching the tires as it came to a stop.

It took every ounce of self-control Emil possessed, which probably wasn't much to begin with, to keep from jumping up and down like a little kid saying "Remy's here!" over and over until someone told him to shut up. He didn't, though, and he was rather glad of that when Remy walked into the house, kicking the door closed behind himself. He was carrying Henri in his arms.

Mercy paled. "Remy…wh…what…?" she stammered.

Jean-Luc motioned for Remy to put Henri down on the couch. Remy did so and answered Mercy's question.

"De assassins. Dat's what."

"Dey followed him?" Theoren demanded in shock.

Remy almost made a sarcastic remark, but changed his mind. Henri and Theoren were best friends, making jokes would not go over well just then. "Yeah. Neither one of us saw it comin' 'til it was too late. B'fore he died, he told me to take him home, so I did." He looked at Emil. "Can I talk to you for a moment?"

Emil nodded. "Of course. Kitchen?"

Remy followed Emil into the kitchen. "Why did Henri say somet'ing 'bout Bel still bein' alive?"

"Nice to see you too…" Emil muttered, a sad tone in his voice that wasn't just there because Henri was dead. "An' she is alive…she's in a coma…has been for awhile. Marius an' Tante Mattie been lookin' after her."

"Why didn' you ever tell me? She's still my wife, for God's sake!" Remy exclaimed.

Emil sighed wishing he didn't have to have this conversation. "Rem, calm down. I wanted to tell you, but dey wouldn' let me. I'm sorry…"

"Since when you obeyin' de rules, Red?"

"Since never, but I didn' want to have both Jean-Luc an' Marius pissed off at me." Emil admitted. "You're gon' try to save her life, aren' you?"

"Yep. No matter what de cost. I owe her at least dat much after leavin' her on our weddin' day."

"Remy…"

"Don' say it Emil." Remy commanded. He sat down in a chair at the table and pulled out a cigarette. "I won' listen."

"Remy would you jus' t'ink 'bout what you're doin' b'fore you do it? I know dat's a weird t'ing to be comin' outta my mouth, but still." Emil pleaded.

"Emil…I'm sorry…it's somet'ing I have to do. I'll live wit' de consequences when de time comes."

Emil went and stood by the window, staring out into the backyard. He furiously blinked back the tears that were springing to his eyes. He knew what Remy had in mind meant betraying the Guild. He also knew that if Remy did it, he'd end up being excommunicated.

"No matter what happens, Rem, I'll support you." Emil said quietly.

"You sure 'bout dat?"

"Oui."

Remy got up and stood by his cousin. "I missed you too, Red."

Henri's funeral and the tithing fell within a day of each other, the funeral coming first. It was two days after Remy had returned, and in that two days, Remy had spent most of his time with Emil. Once what had happened sunk in, Remy was devastated, grief-stricken, and would only seek consoling from his cousin and best friend.

When both the funeral, to which Marius Boudreaux had dared show his face, much to the annoyance of the thieves, and the tithing, which hadn't been jeopardized thanks to Remy's presence, were over, Remy decided he couldn't wait any longer and put his plan in motion to save Bella Donna.

He refused to share the details with anyone, not even Emil, who wondered just what Remy was up to. He feared the outcome, and hoped Remy would find a way to accomplish what he wanted without losing his position in the Guild.