Disclaimer: Yep, I don't own X-Men. Any version of it. I don't even own Logan *sigh*. I don't own squat... Ooh, wait, I do own Emma. She's mine, mine, ALL MINE! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA *cough*. Sorry. Oh yeah, I also own Adam. But I don't like him.

A/N: If you haven't read "A New Arrival", you might want to. Because anything that's explained in that one, I'm not gonna re-hash here. This takes place after 'The HeX Factor' and a little during 'Day of Reckoning' (one). As usual, anything between //these// is a thought, and anything in these is a telepathic message. WARNING: There's mush in this chapter, towards the end, please forgive me, I promise the rest will be better =] Okay? Okay. On with the fic!



The car roared up the drive. It was old and dirty from its travels, but well looked-after. It slowed as it entered the large gates, eventually parking near the large front steps of the mansion. She exited the car, clad in her usual attire of jeans and a short-sleeved black top. Her blonde hair - now long enough to brush her shoulders - was tied back, no longer obscuring the scar on her right cheek. It was in the shape of a cross, and had originally been burned into her flesh. Presently it was slightly red, like a healing week-old cut.

She didn't shut the door immediately behind her, but held it open. A dark shape - not yet visible in the night - leapt out and looked around. Its dark eyes reflected the light from the windows of the building. Gathering her duffelbag from the boot [A/N: For you Americans, this is the trunk] of the car, she started towards the stairs.

The animal didn't move. The woman sighed and stopped. "Come on. I'll look after you, don't worry."

Reluctantly, it slunk to her side, following her as she ascended the stairs, into the light.

She didn't knock on the door, entering with a confidant air of someone returning home. In a way, she was. Although she had spent less time at the institute than she had anywhere else, it was home to her. And she felt good to be back.

Emma Marko didn't enter stealthily, but the three teenagers in the room were more engrossed in the television than their surroundings. "You know, that stuff is going to rot your brains..."

Instantaneously, three heads swiveled (almost demonically in the case of Kitty, who was sitting fully facing the screen) to look at her.

"Emma! You're back!" The enthusiastic girl leapt up and swept the older woman into a hug.

"Hi Kitty," she said, delicately extracting herself from her grip. She smiled at Kurt and Scott. "How's things?"

"Oh you know, the usual. School, training, kicking Magneto's arse and destroying his asteroid." Scott smiled at her.

"Yeah, so I heard. Never a boring moment in this place."

"Oh my god! You brought a *dog*?! He's so cute!" Emma blanched slightly as Kitty gushed. Scott and Kurt stifled their laughter.

"Uh, Kitty..." She grabbed the girl's hand as she reached out to pat the animal. "I wouldn't do that. He's not a dog; he's a wolf. And he's a little highly strung. Oh, he won't hurt you," She explained at the girl's look of fear. "I just don't want to have to spend half the night looking for him in the woods." Emma smiled. "His name is Adam."

She bent down and smiled at him. "Hi Adam, I'm Kitty. And that's Scott, and -"

"Kitty, it's a *dog* - " Kurt glanced at Emma, "uh, wolf. It can't understand you."

She stuck her tongue out at the furred mutant. "*That's* Kurt."

Emma watched her carefully, as she slowly and gently stroked along Adam's black coat. He didn't move from her side, nor did he seem too comfortable at the other's petting. "Kitty, I don't suppose you could find him something to eat? I'm sure he's hungry after the long drive."

She left and Emma flopped tiredly down on the vacant couch, closing her tired eyes. Adam followed at her heel.

"So vhat took you so long? You've been gone for months! Logan's been murder..."

She chuckled. "Ahh Kurt, how I've missed your concern for my well-being."

"Oh man, I could show you some training bruises..."

"Keep talking Elf, and you'll have a few more." Emma's eyes flicked open just in time to catch a priceless look of fear on Kurt's face as Logan entered the room.

"Uh, I think it's my bedtime." Kurt vanished, leaving behind his trademark whiff of brimstone. Logan looked at Emma and smiled.

They all remained where they were for a moment, but Kitty broke the stillness and silence by bounding in with the requested food. "It's leftovers from dinner, I hope it's okay."

"I'm sure it'll be fine. But I think I'd better feed him in the kitchen." She relieved Kitty of the plate of food and made for the aforementioned room, Adam hot on her heels, and Logan just a second behind.

**********

"I don't know if Charles is gonna like you bringin' a dog in." Logan watched Emma place the plate on the floor. Adam sniffed at it gingerly, looked at Emma, then began to carefully eat. "Though he doesn't act like any dog I've ever seen."

She leaned against the counter. "That's because he's a wolf. He's very well behaved, and not dangerous. And my uncle is probably asleep now, so it'll have to wait until morning." She considered Wolverine's powerful form, standing opposite her. "I thought everyone would be asleep."

He answered her hidden question. "I was." A slight smile played upon his lips. "But you woke me up." There was a second of tense silence and stillness. "I could smell you a mile away."

"Smell me?" She raised an eyebrow, incredulous to his claim. Logan's dark eyes stared into her green ones, and Emma felt her heart jump, her breath catch.

He nodded slowly and took a step towards her, close but not touching. "Like chocolate..." He reached his hand up and traced a line down her right arm, shoulder to wrist, with his fingertips. Emma could feel her skin tingling at his touch. "And vanilla..." He was so close she could feel the heat radiating from his body. He leant down slightly, his lips close to hers; his voice deep and filled with desire. "And coffee..."

Her eyes slid closed as his lips touched hers, and her whole body came alive with happiness and pleasure. Emma wrapped her arms around his neck, overwhelmed by the joy she felt in reuniting with Logan after so many months.