'It's not THAT cold…'
SHIVER…
'Okay, maybe it's PRETTY cold…'
SHIVER…
'I can't deny it! I'M FREEZING MY ASS OFF!'
Logan rolled his eyes at the wide Puppy-Dog Eyes she was giving him, and put an arm around her shoulders to pull her to his side.
A smile crossed her face, and Alina snuggled against him.
"WARM…"
"An' yer freezin'…"
"So together, we're WARM. See? It works!"
"Fer ya…"
"I know what'll warm you up…"
"Oh, really?"
Quirking an eyebrow at the small girl, he was a bit surprised when she hopped up on her tiptoes and kissed him soundly.
"Better?" She purred, clearly sounding like a satisfied kitten.
"A bit…"
He smirked, wrapping an arm around her waist and lifting her off her feet with ease.
"But maybe I need more…"
"You're getting greedy, aren't you?" She teased, obliging.
"I can't help it…Yer addicting, babe."
Rolling her eyes, Alina still snuggled up to his chest, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.
"You'll say anything for a kiss…"
"Not ANYTHING…"
"You once told me you'd put on a thong for me."
"…I was desperate!"
"Oh, really? I couldn't tell!"
Her cheeky grin stayed in place, and she wrapped her legs around his waist.
"Still, I won't hold you to it…its great enough without the thong…"
Logan sighed with relief as he continued walking towards their destination, thanking God that Alina actually let it go…
"Would you mind carrying me?" She wondered, carefully swinging her hips as her hood fell.
"Oh, alright…"
Grinning, she morphed into a cat, cuddling in her winter clothes and almost falling asleep.
"Comfy?"
She nodded, ears laying back and eyes closing.
They were close to Alkali Lake, and Alina personally wasn't there to see it.
She was only there because Logan was, and because she felt he needed support.
They'd been traveling together nearly two years, and she'd learned to not push for answers with him.
The more she learned, and the more he learned in return, had caused them to be irrevocably intertwined.
Not to say they really MINDED…
Logan had found someone to make him smile and look forward to the future, and Alina had found someone to protect her and make her feel worthwhile.
Through their travels, she'd also picked up some nice tidbits of information on mutant 'power levels'.
During her 'interrogations' with some mutants, she'd found out she was a class five, the highest rank.
After feeling proud of that fact, she'd decided to keep under the radar from now on.
The government would LOVE to get their hands on a powerful, one-of-a-kind mutant shape-shifter…
After all, even considering Mystique, she was the only mutant known that could change into animals.
Hearing the news himself once she'd come back, Logan had said it just made her all the more special…
Maybe not in those exact words, but she already learned how to speak 'Logan'…
Though now that she thought about it, he might have just said it for the sex afterwards…
Shaken from her half-dream, Alina looked around at the slightly broken-down dam wall.
Slipping out of his arms and hitting the snow as an arctic wolf, she shook her fur out.
Logan slipped her clothes into his bag, and her ears cocked forward, nose twitching as another wolf came out through a broken door.
The two canines carefully approached each other, sniffing noses carefully before the other tried to tower over her.
Growling, Changeling stood to her full height, black fur shimmering silver as it bristled.
After asserting her dominance, she asked in wolf's tongue about what the dam wall was like on the other side.
The male wolf nodded, and Alina looked back at Logan before motioning with her head for him to follow.
Trotting inside, she looked around at the ruins in silence before gazing up at her partner.
He was silent, most likely disappointed, and she whimpered softly before nudging his hand.
Moon-pale eyes tried to convey her sympathy and support, and she followed him back out.
"We're goin' back."
Knowing what he meant by 'back', Alina almost smiled as she trotted after him.
'I almost can't wait…'
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Do you think they'll like her?"
"Who wouldn't like 'er?"
"I know, but they might not like that we-."
"Everything's gonna be fine, babe. Trust me."
"Yeah…Maybe you're right…"
"Maybe?"
"Name how many times you've been right."
"…Seven."
"And how many times have you been wrong?"
"…"
"I'm glad you see my point."
"Just open the damn door…"
"Well, my hands are kinda full…"
"…FINE…"
As the door opened, revealing Alina's rather victorious smile and Logan's irritated expression, the younger of the pair shifted a bundle in her arms before stepping inside.
Moving a pack from her opposite shoulder to the floor, the shape-shifter looked around a moment at the silent front room.
"Hey, everybody!! I'm HOME!!"
Squeals of joy erupted from the top of the stairs and the hallway, so she handed the bundle to Logan before the children bolted for her.
"ALLIE!!!"
"AH!"
She was bowled over by at least twenty kids that were bigger than she remembered them being nearly two years ago.
"Okay, okay! I love you guys, too! Can I get up now?"
They were all chattering a mile a minute, and Alina stood up as she tried to quiet them.
"Logan? Allie?"
Both looked down the hallway, and smiled at the sight of Rogue, who had Sugar beside her.
"Hey, Rogue. Aren't you gonna say hi?"
The younger girl and the husky mix seemed to brighten at the realization that the two had finally returned.
With this realization came the hugs…
Rogue hugged Logan first, who managed to maneuver the bundle, and Sugar almost tackled Alina.
After the teen hugged her old roommate as well, the group looked at the bundle that the morpher took back into her arms curiously.
"What's that, Allie?"
The young children kept asking the same question, and Alina calmed them, crouching down.
"No touching, but I'll show you."
They crowded around her, and she pulled back some of the soft brown fabric to reveal a small baby's face.
"It's a baby girl."
The little girl yawned soundlessly, opening large moon eyes as Alina lovingly rubbed the dark brown hair on her head.
Rogue understood it first, and her eyes widened in surprise.
"You had a baby, Allie?"
Everyone's eyes turned wide, seeing the similarities as Alina grinned.
"Yeah…This is little Hope."
Everyone was congratulating her, and she seemed especially happy, looking up at her mate with bright eyes.
"What's all the noise about?"
The group looked up the stairs, seeing Jean and Storm.
"Allie? Logan?"
They seemed just as happy to see them, but paused when they saw the little baby in her arms.
Seeing their surprise, Alina almost hid behind Logan, smiling sheepishly.
"We can explain?"