Chapter 1: Ororo

Ororo looked out over the lake from the kitchen window. She smiled before returning to the work in front of her. She was programming the boxes for Logan's big surprise. Designed by Hank, the lightweight boxes were like mini safes and could be used for nearly anything. Tonight, they would be used to share what she hoped was some good news with Logan. Touching her flat stomach, she imagined that her unborn child could feel her touch.

Smiling to herself, memories of their five year marriage filled her mind. She remembered Logan's graduation day and the month long vacation that served as their honeymoon and his graduation present. They'd spent the month traveling all over Canada. Other than their wedding day, she had never seen him as happy as he was they arrived at the home of the people he considered his foster parents. Vernon and Mary Johns, both in their mid-fifties, were still young at heart and moved like they were 10 years younger. Happy to be "home", she and Logan spent nearly two weeks with the Johns, with the promise before they left to make the trip an annual event. The Johns in return would do the same. As they drove away that day, she couldn't help but feel that she had gained another loving family and for an orphan like herself, that was the best thing anyone could give her.

She smiled as she moved around the table, her heart rejoicing at the fact that her little one would have more family that he or she would know what to do with. And for that, she was especially thankful, and letting God know through a quick prayer of thanks. Finishing another box, her thoughts moved to another day early in their marriage when things had taken an interesting turn.

The letter they had been waiting for what seemed like forever had finally arrived. Ororo and Logan took Dominique out on their weekly outing. When they returned home, they took him to their favorite spot near the lake.

"You got a letter today, kiddo," Logan had said, setting the stage.

"Really? What it say?" Dominique asked, looking back at him quizzically from his place near the shore where he was skipping rocks.

"Come and see," he replied, causing Ororo to laugh at his impatient reply as she sat next to him. She knew he was nervous and excited.

"Do I have too?" Dominique whined, effectively drawing from Logan the response he wanted.

"Boy, if you don't," Logan began but stopped when he saw Dominique's smirk, a good imitation of Logan's.

"Gotcha," Dominique told him laughing as he sat beside Ororo on the blanket, cuddling up next to her, making her laugh as she put an arm around him.

"Ro, you betta get ya boy," Logan growled playfully, knowing that Dominique had gotten him good.

"My name is west and I ain't in this mess," she had replied. Feeling the change in the mood, she looked down at Dominique as he silently read the letter. She'd noticed a drop of moisture on the letter and knew that it hadn't rained. She didn't have to wait long to determine the source. Dominique looked up with tears in his eyes.

"Really?" he asked them, "You're really adopting me?"

"Yeah, kiddo."

Dominique, now ten years old, sobbed for the first time in two years since the day he thought they were sending Ororo away. Ororo engulfed the trembling boy in her arms, whispering comforting words to him as Logan joined them, wrapping them both in his arms, completing the circle. After a moment, he moved, and Ororo loosened her embrace so that he could look in their face.

"Thank you," he said, his voice hoarse from crying.

"We love you, Dominique," she whispered before kissing his head as he snuggled down in their shared embrace.

Life for them after that day had never been a dull moment. Nothing like having a rambunctious 10 year old and a 19 year male under the same roof, she remembered thinking on many occasions. One trying to assert his place as the alpha male and the other just being a kid. Either way, there were some days that she didn't think their house would survive.

Their house. Even after five years, she still felt chills when she said the words. They celebrated their first anniversary by moving into their new home. Logan carried her across the threshold of their six bedroom, 6 bath house, complete with a family room, formal dining room, full basement, two car garage and deck that ran the length of the back of the house.

The house, though thought to be a bit much for a small family, served as a home away for their friends as well. So there were times when the house was overflowing with people, especially during major sporting events.

The basement ran the full length of the house and had become out of necessity, the man cave that was shared by her husband and her son. Even with two bedrooms and 2 baths, and ton of open space, it still wasn't enough room for two alphas males.

On one occasion, frustrated, Ororo left them to their devices after trying to make sense of a nonsensical argument the two were having. Throwing up her hands in defeat, she left them at it and after a while, she heard footsteps on the stairs as she stood in the kitchen putting the finishing touch on dinner. They came in without a word and took their places. When asked about the incident, they assured her it had been resolved and since that day, things were calmer.

Getting to her feet, she went over to grab a bottle of water, suddenly thirsty. Taking her seat again, her mind continued its trip down memory lane, this time remembering the couple's first major blow up and the resulting fallout. Like all couples, they had had their ups and downs, though more ups than downs. Their youth coupled with their work had begun to take a toll on them.

Ororo became worried about Logan when he started hanging out at bars at night and coming back home in the wee hours of the morning, with tears in his clothes. After the third time, she confronted him and they had a huge argument with him yelling at her for the very first time. She became so upset that a fierce some waterspout formed over the lake near their home, heading toward it. With some assistance from the Professor, she was able to stop it before it could do much damage.

As expected, the team raced toward the boathouse to see what was wrong. After hearing Ororo's tearful recollection of the events, Anna took it upon herself to confront Logan who lashed out at her. Her new boyfriend Brandis came to her rescue and a fight ensued. It took Remy, Scott, and Jibril to pull the combatants apart. Relationships between the teammates became strained and were so until a mission that went wrong helped to put everything in prospective. After almost losing her life, Ororo was happy when her husband and sister came to her and the discussion they held helped to savage their relationships.

They agreed from that point on to not interfere in the other's relationship, to allow the couple to work out things between the two of them and for those on the outside to just be there when needed. So far, the truce had worked and all seemed right in their world, except for the Anna, Brandis, and Jibril love triangle but that was a thought for another day, she thought, shaking her head at her sister's stubbornness.

Sighing, she looked at her watch and saw that it was time for her to get ready. She said a prayer as she made her way to her bedroom, asking God to help the surprise go off without a hitch.

Days later, when Ororo remembered her prayer, she wondered if God had heard it.