AN: (Press down arrow to skip forward to story ;) Here is a story that I wrote a looooonnnnngggg while ago and have just felt the sudden strong urge to revamp. So, I'm posting the chapters as I edit them and I hope that you guys will provide some feedback on what you like, what you don't, and suggestions for character and happenings. Please ;) I would totally appreciate it.

As for a summary, this is a Logan/OFC story. Probably not very surprising. But it should be entertaining because Logan is a wolverine, and 'Pat' is a feline. :D What can I say - Opposites attract! Again not so surprising but hell, I'm not trying to be original, I'm just having fun! This story is post XMen II, and Rated M for later situations - YaY!

So here is the prologue, we start off with the ending scene of X-Men II...

Prologue: 'Out of Order'

"I'm leaving." Logan stood in Xavier's office, dressed in his usual jeans, shirt, and leather jacket. The Professor turned from the window and studied Logan; the mutant of indeterminable age was unreadable, his face a practiced mask. Charles knew he was in pain over the loss of Jean Grey, he'd seen them both struggling with the affection neither were willing to give, each for their own reasons. Jean wouldn't betray Scott, still loving him as one always loves their first, and Logan wouldn't allow himself to be hurt.

"We need you here, Logan...Especially with our recent loss..." It had been a risk to even allude to Jean, but Logan seemed unmoved. "I can't stop you, but I would ask you to stay." Xavier said in his usual calm and reasoning voice.

"Sorry, but the answer is no." Logan said stiffly, there was no malice or menace, simply determination. "I'm sure you'll find someone else to..." a muscle tightened in his jaw, partially concealed by his sideburns, as he wouldn't allow himself to say the words. "I'm not going to stick around and wait my turn for Magneto or the next lunatic who thinks my 'talents' might be of use to him to come calling." These words were tinged with anger.

Charles understood this. Hadn't he experienced being manipulated himself? He'd nearly killed every mutant on earth under Jason's control, another mutant being deceived - by his own father no less. He also understood the underlying resentment in Logan's voice, he too had lost someone he loved; Jean had been like a daughter to him. So he remained gentle as he said, "We can't live in fear, Logan, and together, we're stronger than when we are apart -"

"I was doin' just fine till I came here." Logan cut in gruffly. But that was a lie; since he'd come to Xavier's School for the Gifted he'd been happier than any other time he could remember. Before he'd been nothing, just a shell of a human being, more like the animal that Colonel Stryker had tried to make him to be. He'd had nothing, felt nothing, cared about nothing, feared nothing. Since being one of the X-Men, he'd felt human. However, he couldn't exclude the pain from the equation. Losing Jean, the only person he'd come close to...That was too much, he couldn't take that - he wouldn't. "I'll be leaving in the morning." he said decisively, the heat having left his voice a husk of sound. He turned and walked out of the office, his steps heavy.

- - -

The next morning, Logan was back in Xavier's office, along with Summers and the Professor himself. Scott kept his eyes turned to the window and Logan was sure that even if he didn't have laser-shooting orbs in those sockets of his, he'd still be sporting a pair of dark sunglasses to hide the tears he must have been holding. The sun was bright and the gardens verdant, but neither of the three men were enjoying the beautiful day.

"You know..." Xavier broke the silence, his voice reflective, "even when Jean was a student...she was always hesitant about her powers. Always lookin to others. Feeling that in some way she was left behind."

Scott swallowed back the bitter irony of those words, his throat burning, dry. "Do you think -" he paused, "Could we have done more to save her?" He had to know, even if the answer was one that would haunt him for the rest of his life, just like the question had haunted him during the night, depriving him of sleep.

"In the past, she may have let us." Xavier said.

"There had to be another way." Logan couldn't keep the pain out of his voice, just like he couldn't keep it out of his adamantium encased heart. "Why did she leave the plane?" he asked for the thousandth time.

"Because she made a choice." Xavier's words hung in the air. But nothing more could be said as a knock sounded on the door. Knowing who it was, and that he was running late, Xavier called, "Yes, come on in."

As the children filed into the study, Scott and Logan took their cue, leaving. But Logan had to tell Scott something before he left, "Hey...Hey." Scott finally stopped, and Logan could tell that it was an effort. But even as he waited, Scott refused to look at him, Logan didn't blame him. "Listen, she did make a choice..." it hurt to say the next words, but he wasn't that selfish, he'd have wanted to know, if... "It was you."

Scott paused, soaking in the words, and then, taking a breath, he continued on his way.

Logan paused for a moment, glancing back into the study/classroom where Xavier was conducting a literature class and then towards the door. Jean had made a choice, and so had he. Grabbing his bag that sat in the hall, he left.