Author's note: Here it is. The Sequel to Changes. I hope you enjoy it as much as you did its Prequel. Have fun reading it and please review: )
The Sequel has two parts. Both are connected with each other and tell the whole story, while each single part also completes a story on its own. Confusing, I know. But you'll see! The first part of it has the title Darkness, while the second part is called Covenant (up to now! I might change it. It depends on what I come up with in the future. ; ) ). Enjoy!
Changes Sequel – I. Darkness Part 1
It was a beautiful, but also calm Sunday morning. The mansion was slowly dipped into soft sunlight, while the rich colors of the garden developed its beauty completely. Not a single mark was left of the heavy battle which had taken place four years ago. Despite some light encounters with the Brotherhood, the tension between both groups wasn't as strong as in the past. Mostly because of Magneto's fear of the Phoenix and simply because he had trouble to find new mutants for his group after what had happened. It wasn't the only thing that had changed…
Peter and Kitty had become a couple shortly after the incident and married two months ago, while Ororo's and Kurt's wedding had taken place three years ago. Their daughter Talia Josephine or short TJ, who inherited her father's look completely except for the tail, was now three years old and the best friend of Rachel, the three year old daughter of Logan and Jean. Nevertheless, the happiness of the others wasn't meant for everyone. Even if they had a now five year old daughter together, Rogue and Bobby split; mostly because of a new addition to the team: Remy LeBeau. Together they lived apart from the mansion in a small apartment, since Rogue had found work in the city after leaving school. Her former classmates on the contrary still lived in the institute and were either visiting a college or working somewhere nearby.
Inside the large house, most mutants were still asleep. But only most…
Logan and Jean were cuddled up to each other and fast asleep as all of a sudden the door was opened quickly and two dark haired children jumped onto the bed. "Daddy, wake up!" Lily demanded and Logan sighed heavily while pulling a face because of the rough interruption. Still, he didn't even think about obeying. He wanted to stay in this nice warm bed with this even nicer body and soft skin close to his. "Come on, you promised!"
Jean pulled the sheet closer and heaved a deep sigh. "Your kids are awake…," she said sleepily and buried her head in the pillow again, whereas his daughter, still sitting on her father's hip, pulled on his sheet violently.
"They're your kids till breakfast," he growled and felt how Lily began to shake him, while Jack grabbed his pillow.
"Dad, come on!" the boy begged and made a face while he pulled on it.
"You said it, Daddy!" Lily added insistently and pouted.
Logan slowly opened his hazel eyes a bit and looked right into their puppy-dog faces. "Fine, I'll get up," he finally mumbled half asleep just to bury his head in the pillow.
"Yeah!" both kids cheered and stormed out of the room again to get their backpacks, which they'd already prepared the evening before.
Logan yawned and stretched before he slowly set up a bit, still completely drunk of sleep. "They must have gotten this from you!" he grunted before he pulled the sheets aside. After he got dressed in his casual jeans, shirt and leather jacket, he bent over the bed and placed a kiss on his wife's cheek. "Ya really not coming?" he asked her softly and pulled a strand out of her face gently.
Jean smiled slightly and opened her eyes a bit. "Still have work to do," she replied tiredly. "And someone has to watch Rachel as long as she's still sick." Her voice was thick from her drunk feeling, since the twins had woken her from a very deep slumber.
"Dad!" a voice demanded aloud and he closed his eyes sighing. His sensitive ears were already vibrating like hell and he was glad that they were the only ones living in that part of the mansion. By now, his kids would have easily woken up every student on the corridor, if Charles hadn't given them the west wing as their wedding gift.
"Sometimes, I'd like to know where the OFF-button is…," he grunted and took his bag from the ground.
"No, you don't!" Jean said smiling and already missed the warmth next to her. Shivering, she pulled her legs close.
"Right, I don't!" Logan replied smirking and his eyes softened as she pulled his pillow close to snuggle up against it in the next second. "See ya later!"
"Be careful!" she mumbled and he knew that she'd be fast asleep soon.
Following his twins, who rather ran than walked, to the garage, he handed each of them their helmets before he pulled his bike to the outside. Looking up into the red heaven he was glad that the early May morning was surprisingly warm again. For nearly a week they had unusual warm and beautiful weather. He was sure that as soon as the sun had risen it would become hot once more. "Got everything?" he asked his kids and both only nodded quickly. He knew they only wanted him to start and not ask any stupid questions. "Good." Logan put his own helmet on before he lifted Jack up, placing him behind himself and afterwards Lily, who now sat in front of him. "Hold on tight!" he demanded and waited until Jack's small hands were wrapped tightly around his waist. Lily took a hold of the handlebars. Checking once more that his kids were safe and fine, Logan started the engine and drove down the driveway towards the gate.
Hours later, Jean walked down the staircase with Rachel on her arm. The girl, who looked exactly like a small version of her mother, clung to her and rested her head on her shoulder. Reaching the kitchen, the woman smiled at her friends, who were already gathered in the room for breakfast.
"Morning!" she greeted them and sat her girl down on a chair to get her medicine.
"Morning," Ororo said back smiling and put down a small plate in front of her own daughter.
"All alone?" Hank asked her since they were used to Logan and Jean appearing together with their kids. "It's so quiet here. How come that I don't see your twins running around, huh?"
Jean giggled while she administered Rachel a spoon with a red liquid. Making a face, the girl pushed her hand away after swallowing it. "Sorry, sweety, but it's necessary," the grown up excused and placed a kiss on the girl's forehead. "Logan promised them to go swimming with them in the morning."
Scott looked up from the newspaper he was reading. "Oh, then it was them I heard."
"You heard them!" she asked him in surprise. "Well, they were loud but not that loud that you could have heard them on the other side of the building…" At least she hoped so. She knew what her children were capable of…
"Except he suddenly has your husband's hearing abilities!" Hank winked and Scott laughed.
"No, I was in the kitchen and heard them," he explained and laid the paper away. "So, they gave him a hard time, huh?"
"Well, if jumping on the bed and pulling sheets or pillows away count, then yes," she smiled while she placed a plate and cup in front of Rachel. Pouring her some tea she began to take a piece of bread out of the basket and prepared it for her. The girl watched her mother tiredly and coughed heavily.
"Still not better?" Ororo asked worriedly and gave her a look.
"Well, the fever is gone, but she still has a cold," Jean explained and watched her daughter eating slowly. Gently, she stroked over her head before she sat down next to her. She was glad that Rachel was feeling a bit better by now. It had been a hard time for both parents to switch between teaching and taking care of their youngest wile keeping the twins happy. She was more than glad to have Logan on her side.
"When will Logan be back?" Hank asked her and sipped on his coffee.
She shrugged. "You know the twins. The more they can stay in the water the happier they are."
"I wonder where they got that from, Scott said and nodded towards Kurt when he entered. "Morning Kurt!"
"Hallo," the mutant said and kissed his wife tenderly, before he placed a kiss on his daughters head and sat down next to her.
"Dad, I wanna go swimming," TJ said immediately and looked at him with her big yellow eyes. "Can we go?"
"Honey, you can't even swim, yet," Ororo said and put her cup away. "We can go to the pool later if you want." The girl pouted. "Don't make that face now. What's wrong with the pool?"
"Isa makes me wet," the girl protested and climbed onto her father's lap.
"But Isabella will go to her mommy today," Kurt explained softly and put a strand of her black hair back.
"Right, so she can't be around to tease you."
Still, it wasn't enough to calm the girl. "The pool's bowling…"
"You mean boring, honey," Kurt corrected her and smiled softly.
Ororo sighed and turned towards Jean. "Where does Logan take the kids every time? Do you know that?"
Jean swallowed her coffee before she answered. "There is a lake in a small wood nearby. Not many people know it, so it's more private there. But don't ask me how to get there!" She shook her head. Even if she'd been there before several times, it was always a miracle to her how he found back every time again.
XXX
Lily shrieked as she ran into the cold wet again. Laughing she covered her face when her brother squirted a great amount of water into her face. "Jack!" she protested and ran after him, but he was quicker and dived. Looking around, she waited for him to reappear as he suddenly grabbed her from behind and pulled her underwater. Gasping for air, she reached the surface again after a moment and pouted. "That wasn't nice!" The boy shrugged and gave her a grin before he dived once more. Running out of the water, Lily ran towards her father who was watching them while he rested against a tree. "Daddy!" she cried and jumped into his arms.
"What's wrong pumpkin?" he asked and looked into her hazel eyes which were so much like his own, before he pulled a wet strand of her dark brown hair behind her ear.
"Jack's mean to me!" she pouted and looked at her brother who was only grinning at her from afar. "He knows that I don't like to be pulled underwater…"
Chuckling, Logan placed her down before he whispered something into her ear. Giggling, the girl nodded and ran towards her brother again. Splashing water at him, she laughed as he suddenly shrieked when Logan grabbed him from behind and raised him up. "So, you're teasing you sister, pal?" he asked, while the boy tried to get free laughing. "That ain't nice, ya know…" Smirking at him, the grown up threw him a bit into the air and watched how his son landed in the cold wet.
Swimming to the surface, while he heard his sister laughing, Jack pulled a face. "Dad!"
"What?" Logan gave back smirking, before he watched his son coming closer. "Payday, huh?"
"You bet!" Jack said and splashed water at him, before he tried to pull his father off his feet. "Lil', come on, help me!" he cried. Giggling, the girl jumped on the back of her father and wrapped her arms around him tightly. Pulling at him from all sides, Logan sighed playfully.
"'Kay, I give up," he said, but not with a grin on his face. Quickly, he had grabbed his shrieking kids and dived with them underwater.
Looking at his watch a bit later he noticed that it was time to go back home. The hardest job was now to get the twins out of the water, he knew that. Both loved the cold liquid so much that it was nearly impossible to make them go out of it once they were in. Calling out their names, he waited until both looked towards him before he beckoned them to come over. "Come on, time to go!" he said and immediately saw how they began to pout. "You can swim in the pool more later," Logan tried to sooth them and handed each of his kids a towel. Watching them while he got dressed he packed their things together before the twins finally came over. Smirking he watched how Jack dried his dark unruly short hair which stuck up into every direction, while Lily combed through her shoulder length, surprisingly straight hair which had the same color than her brothers. It was really a miracle to him how both kids were so much like him, but only Lily had inherited her mother's hair while Jack had a hard time to tame his. Waiting until both had gotten their backpacks, he handed them their helmets again and soon they were back on the streets.
XXX
"So, when did Logan and you plan to leave?" Ororo asked Jean and put the dishes together whereas the red head was putting down her daughter to the ground.
Jean shrugged and handed her girl a glass with warm tea. "I don't even know what he has planned for today," she answered honestly. Logan surprised her each year one day after the twins' birthday with something new. They'd agreed to celebrate their wedding anniversary a day later after, since both wanted to concentrate on the twins' birthday only on that day. So one year they'd went on a trip to New York and stayed over night in a hotel, another year they'd went to see a movie and have dinner afterwards… This year she had no clue what he would come up with this time. Looking at the clock on the wall, which showed almost 10 a.m. she knew that he probably was on his way back already.
"It's still a miracle to me," Hank grinned and pulled Rachel, his godchild, up into his strong arms while the girl immediately began to play with his fur, "that he hasn't forgotten your anniversary once! I would have bet he would forget it at least one time…"
Jean smiled at him. "Sorry to disappoint you!" She reached over a dish cloth to Ororo before both women began to washing up. "It really okay for the two of you to watch over them until we get back?"
"Of course!" Hank replied and smiled at Rachel before he turned towards Jean again. "The twins can be little monsters but at least they listen to us and this angel here never teases me, right?" he asked the girl in his arms and Rachel nodded.
"Right!"
"So my kids are little monsters, huh?" the red head asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Blame their father for it," the blue mutant went on teasing her. "His strong genes are coming through within them. There are mostly like little whirlwinds and run around chasing each other. And I bet they don't have this feral side from you!" He winked at her.
Ororo had to laugh. "You're still pissed because Jack surprised you last winter with the whole bunch of snow he had dropped on your head from the balcony. And because Lily had taken a picture from it and had hung it up in the kitchen." She heard Jean giggling. "You really looked like a big blue snowman on it, Hank! I wished one of the kids had had a carrot back then!"
"As I said, little monsters!" the man replied and pulled a face as the sound of a bike echoed through the room. "And here they come!"
It didn't take long and the sound of little footsteps could be heard in the corridor. Jean glanced over to the door and waited for one of her children to appear. Just as she had put a plate down, Lily ran around the corner and nearly bumped into her mother. "Not so fast!" the red head immediately said and watch how Jack barely managed to stop behind his sister. Still, she had to smirk. Hank was right… Since she had never been so wild when she'd been a child it was absolutely obvious who was responsible for it.
"Sorry," the girl said grinning and sat down on a stool, while her brother had already taken a seat.
Jean could only shake her head and sighed. Handing both a plate and a glass she still waited for Logan to show up. "So, you had fun?"
"Jack pulled me underwater!" Lily told her and pulled a face while looking at her brother.
"But I bet your dad came to rescue you, huh?" Hank said smiling and Ororo looked briefly up from the dishes.
"Yeah, he had thrown him into the water."
"You, too," Jack said protesting and gave her a look.
"Hey," a voice suddenly said from the door and both kids turned around. "What did I say about bringing your backpacks upstairs before having breakfast?" Logan cocked an eyebrow at them and pointed towards the corridor. "Come on, off ya go!" Jumping of their stools, the twins headed down the way to the garage where they had left their backpacks. Shaking his head, Logan walked over to Jean and grabbed her waist. Pulling her close he placed a tender kiss on her lips. "Hey."
She smiled up at him. "Hey. Had fun?"
"Yeah," he nodded before he gave his youngest daughter a kiss on the cheek. "Hey pum'kin." Stretching out her small arms, he took her into his and pulled a strand of her long red hair out of her face. "You feeling better?"
"Yeah," Rachel nodded and held on tight to him.
"That's good," Logan said smirking and heard how his twins ran down the stairs back on their way to the kitchen. "I hope you placed them back to were they belong and not just threw them into the living room," he said warningly and watched them closely, but both shook their heads. "I hope so!"
"Hey Logan," Scott suddenly said from the door and looked into the room. "Charles wants to see you!"
"Okay!" Placing another kiss on Rachel's forehead, he put her down before he walked towards the door.
"When do you want to leave later?" Jean asked him quickly and prepared the breakfast for the twins.
Logan shrugged. "Around 6 p.m.?" he asked her and she nodded in agreement. "See ya later!"
XXX
In the meanwhile, Bobby was in his room and packed the last things into the bag for his daughter. "Isa, are you ready?" he called and waited for her to come out of the bathroom. "Your mom will be here any minute and you know that she hates to wait!" Watching how the door opened, a dark blonde haired girl with blue eyes came into view; looking rather unhappy. She pulled her chin-length hair back behind her ears while coming closer. "Want me to do it?" Bobby asked her softly and pulled her onto his lap. He took the elastic band into his hand and worked on her hair quickly. "There you go." Smiling at her, he placed her to the ground again.
"Do you have anything?"
"Yeah, I think so," Isabella replied and looked around, checking if there was really nothing left of her stuff.
"Also Mr. Munchkin?" The girl quickly grabbed a brown teddy from the bed and nodded. Bobby took her bag in one hand and hers in the other before they walked down the corridor and staircase. Nearly reaching the front door, Isabella stopped. "What's wrong?" he asked her worriedly and wrinkled his brows in confusion.
"I still have to say bye," she complaint and gave him a look which told him immediately that he should have thought about it himself.
"Sure, sorry!" Bobby excused and smiled at her. "But hurry, okay?"
"Yeah," the girl said and ran off quickly to the kitchen. Arriving there breathlessly, she stopped in the doorway.
"Hey, Isa!" Jack greeted her and dropped off his stool. "What's up?" Curiously, he eyed her wile she held her teddy tight and looked at the others with her big eyes.
"Just wanted to say bye. Mommy's coming to get me," she explained and made a face. She loved to stay at the mansion with her friends. It was much more fun with them than being alone at home.
"Greet you mom from us, will ya?" Ororo told her smiling and the girl nodded. "And Remy of course!"
Looking around with her big blue eyes she pouted. "Where's Logan?"
"I'll show ya, come on!" Jack said and took her by the hand before both ran off.
"Oh, your son already has got a girlfriend?" Scott teased Jean and Hank grinned, too.
"What does his father say about it, huh?" the blue mutant added smirking.
"Ah, stop it!" the red head replied and slapped them with the cloth. "They are five, not fifteen!"
"Uhu," Scott smirked. "Don't forget he has most of his daddy's genes! I know that Jack has girlfriends all over the place."
"Yep, he already has a fan club of his own," Hank nodded. "Not as many members as his dad has, but he comes close to it…"
Jean looked at Ororo for help and the white haired woman playfully gave the men a look. "They are only jealous because Jack is as good looking as his father is and they don't have any girls running after them!"
"Oh, don't let your husband hear that, 'Ro!" the blue mutant teased her with a grin.
XXX
Logan stood in front of Charles desk with his hand buried in his pocket. He was talking to the man for almost 15 minutes now and listened to further instructions. "When does the plane land?" he asked and looked at the picture in his hand.
"She should arrive at 2:24 p.m.," Charles replied.
Logan nodded. Suddenly he looked up and turned as the door was opened. Watching how Jack stood at it, while a little girl ran into his arms, he had barely time to react as she jumped into his arms. "Hey, kid! What's wrong? Time to go?"
Isabella nodded and wrapped her arms around his neck tightly. "I don't wanna go," she said sadly and pulled a face. "I wanna stay here…"
Logan shrugged. "Well, it's your mom's decision, ya know."
Starting to sob, she clung to him again. "But it's boring at home… I don't want this old grandma watching over me when mom and Remy are at work…"
Thinking about it, Logan figured that the old grandma must be Rogue's neighbor. He had met the woman once after he'd brought Isabella back home after they had spend a day out with everyone. He still remembered the sermon she'd given him about leaving a young woman alone with a child because she thought that he was the father. Hearing the sobs of his godchild, he stroked over her back soothingly. "Look," he said calmly and made her look at him, while he wiped away her tears. "It's only a few days and you'll be back, okay?" She nodded after a while. "Good." He placed her to the ground again and met her eyes. "Tell your mom I said hi, will ya?"
"Yeah," Isabella nodded and switched shortly between him and the Professor. "Bye!"
"Bye and greet your mother and Remy also from me," Charles smiled at her kindly.
Watching her leave, Logan turned to his son and gave him a look. "What did I say about doors?"
"Knocking first and waiting for someone to tell you to come in," the boy replied. "Sorry!" Calmly he closed the door behind him and his father only shook his head.
"Reminds me a lot of you," Charles told him and had to smile.
"Whatever," Logan replied and put the picture into a pocket. "Is there anything else?"
His opposite gave him a stern look."Yes, I'm afraid there is…"
XXX
Hours later, Logan was waiting at the front gate of the airport and watched everyone closely who came out of it. By now it was already 30 minutes later than the plane was supposed to land and he only wanted to get back home. He still had to shower and change before taking Jean out for dinner. Looking at the picture again as a woman stepped out of the front gate and looked around searching, he checked once more if it was really her, before he walked towards her. "Mrs. Frost?" he asked her politely and she pulled her sunglasses up a bit; mustering him from head to toe. "Chuck sent me to bring you to the mansion."
She nodded and smiled at him while she took her glasses off. Logan could have sworn that he had never seen so icy blue eyes before in his life. "Then let's go, Mr…?"
"Name's Logan," he only said and took her suitcase and bag. "The car's over there!"
She followed him towards the black car and watched him curiously with a speculative smile on her lips. After she had sat down on the passenger's seat, she offered him her hand smiling. "Call me Emma," she said smiling in a low voice. "So, you're the famous Wolverine, huh? Had I known that the mansion had so good looking man, I might have come earlier."
Logan only cocked an eyebrow at her, while he took notice of her far too short light blue skirt and the also very low cut white top. He made a mental note to kick Charles' butt for being saddled with her until he was back at the mansion. Ignoring the bright smile she gave him, he started the engine and headed back home.
XXX
A few hours later, the X-Men were gathered in Charles' office and looked at the newcomer curiously. While Logan stood in a corner and had his hands buried in his pockets, and desperately tried to ignore the lascivious smile Emma gave him non stop, the others sat on the sofa and stools. Looking at Scott and Hank, Logan could tell that both obviously thought the woman was very interesting. They practically ate her up with her stares. But he also noticed Bobby's weird look.
"I would like to introduce Emma Frost to you," Charles explained and smiled at the woman next to him who raised her hand briefly. "She is a telepath and will be here for quiet a while to help me with new additions to Cerebro and some other things. I hope you welcome her as any other student and guest."
The door was opened and Jean stepped in looking rather stressed. Turning around, she stepped closer until her green eyes met icy-blue ones. Narrowing hers, she tried to remember where she had seen this woman before. Looking at Bobby briefly who only nodded it hit her. "What is she doing here!" she asked coldly and walked over to Logan, who had looked at her frowning. He looked to and fro between Emma and his wife and tried to figure out what was wrong all of a sudden.
"You know her?" he asked her and pulled her close, which Emma noticed with a spiteful look.
"She was one of the mutants who attacked me in the hiding place four years ago. Because of her Dark Phoenix nearly killed everyone!" Giving the white haired woman an angry look, the others turned her heads towards Emma in shock. "She worked for Magneto."
"Right," Emma nodded and crossed her arms while she was glaring at the red head. "I worked for him. And it's not my problem if you can't control your powers, girl!" Growling, Logan stepped forward and placed himself in front of his wife. Even if he got rid of most of his bad habits, he still was overprotective when it came to his family.
"Logan, stop!" Charles immediately intervened. "I know that she worked for Eric."
"Then why do you invite her to our place, huh?" the man asked him angrily and glared at the woman in front of him, who had watched him closely.
"Because you can need my help here," Emma answered simply and put her hands to her hips. "And I'm sorry for the attack. I only followed orders. And not even good ones…"
"Bite me!" Jean hissed and her eyes glowed briefly fiery, but Logan held her back. She could still feel the pain the woman had made her endure back then.
"Jean, please! You gave Mystique another chance, so please try to give her one, too!" Charles suggested and looked at the red head pleadingly. Jean only snorted and walked out of the room; slamming the door shut behind her. The others could only exchange glances, while Logan shook his head and crossed his arms. "Would you try and talk to her please? I don't want any new hostility in here, Logan."
"I'll try," the man replied and gave Emma a short glare. "But I suggest you keep away from her!"
"Gladly!" the woman spat and turned her attention to the Professor again.
XXX
After she had calmed down a bit and took a shower, Jean was in the bedroom and wanted to get dressed for the evening. Hearing the water running in the bathroom, she combed through her chin-length hair which looked exactly the same as before Alkali Lake again. She had gotten tired of just letting it grow and could even convince Logan of it after he had pulled a face for minutes when she'd come back from the hairdresser. She heard him coming out of the room next to their bedroom and smiled up at him when he closed the door after entering.
"Still wrapped in a towel?" he smirked since, he too, was wearing one only right now.
"Well, you didn't give a hint, so I don't know what to wear…," she shrugged and he opened the wardrobe next to their large bed. She watched him searching through her clothes for a while as he finally pulled out a short, tight black dress with a low neckline. Raising an eyebrow at him she took it into her hands and watched how he pulled out a grayish shirt and black pants for himself. "A restaurant?" she asked him and tried to get to know more but he only shrugged smirking. "Oh, come on, Logan…" she begged and wrapped her arms around him from behind. "Don't be such a dick." Hoping that it would convince him a bit, she began to place kisses on his back.
"So, I'm a dick, huh?" he asked her teasingly and turned around to pull her closer. "Actually I thought Cyke was one…" She giggled when he began to tickle her. "Just be patient and see, okay?" He kissed her briefly before he began to get dressed. Smirking he turned his head to catch her watching him after a while. Blushing, Jean was suddenly very occupied with her dress and he had to chuckle. "Baby, you have plenty of time to stare at me from all sides as long as you want later," he told her straight ahead and sent shivers down her spine with his low voice.
After both had finally gotten dressed, they walked over to the kids' rooms. Lily and Jack were occupied with playing a game and looked up after the door was being opened. "We go now," Jean said and they nodded. "I want you to behave and not making trouble, okay?" She bent down and gave them a kiss. "Good night!"
Logan did the same. "Behave!" he said and looked especially at Jack. He knew what his son was capable off. "Sleep well!"
"Have fun!" Lily replied and pulled her wolf closer with which she had played before.
"I'll watch them, dad!" Jack said smirking and heard his father chuckle.
"I believe that," Logan replied and closed the door a bit behind them.
After checking on Rachel who was asleep, both walked down to the kitchen where the whole group was gathered and already eating.
"Time to go?" Hank asked them and received a nod as an answer. "We go upstairs after dinner. Have fun!"
"You mean behave!" Scott said smirking and grinned at the couple.
"Cyke, just shut up, will ya?" Logan grunted and put his arm around Jean's waist. He noticed the look Emma gave them and ignored her. He didn't want Jean's mood to change because of her. "See ya and thanks!" Turning around they disappeared.
Looking at the others, Emma poured new water into her glass. "So, they are a couple?" she asked curiously.
"They are not only a couple they are married," Ororo answered rather chilly without looking at her. She couldn't tell why, but somehow she absolutely disliked her completely.
"Are they?" the woman said innocently and looked at Scott. "Eric never mentioned that."
"Yeah, because he doesn't know. What's it to you anyway?" Mystique replied and glared at the woman. Her eyes kept on watching her since the woman had stepped into the mansion. Somehow she didn't like her either; thinking something was suspicious about her…
"Well, I'm new here, right?" Emma only shrugged and sipped on her water, while she switched her attention to the men.
XXX
Jean smiled and took Logan's hand while sitting in a corner of a restaurant in New York City. "So you remembered it," she said happily and he shrugged playfully.
"Heard someone saying you would like to see it," he teased her and kissed her hand lovingly.
Blushing, she pulled a strand out of her face. She couldn't believe that Logan had taken her to see the Phantom of the Opera first and now they were sitting for over one and a half hour in a romantic small restaurant and kept on flirting with each other. He briefly glanced over to some dancing couples, before he got up and took her hand. "Come on." Following him, her heart was beating strongly when he pulled her close and looked lovingly into her eyes. Dancing with each other slowly, she soon wrapped her hands around his neck and kissed him deeply, before she rested her head against his chest and closed her eyes, still dancing. She was definitely more than happy now. If it was up to her she would freeze this moment forever.
Dancing with each other until far past midnight, they were quiet surprised to see that they were the last ones left in the restaurant. After Logan had paid the bill, he took her hand and they walked over to the river. Slowly walking next to each other, while they held on tight to the other, they didn't say anything. Their eyes were fixed on the Statue of Liberty which was illuminated in front of the beautiful skyline. Stopping, Jean bent over the railing and looked at it lost in thoughts. Slowly, Logan bent over her and pulled her tight while he rested his head on her shoulder. "What are you thinking?" he asked her softly and followed her gaze.
"I don't know," Jean said barely audible and covered his hands with hers; shivering a bit since the night was rather cold. "It only appears to me as if…the thing with Rogue happened in a complete other life, you know. It's so long ago… I just can't believe how much has happened since then."
Thinking about it for a while, Logan shrugged. "For me it's been another life back then…"
Frowning, Jean turned around and looked directly into his eyes which reflected the artificial lights due to his night vision. "What do you mean?"
He pulled her close and pressed his body against hers while stroking her cheek gently. "My real life began with you. Everything before doesn't count for me…"
Smiling, she pulled him down and they got lost in a deep passionate kiss. "Thanks for the evening," she said softly and stroked his cheek softly. Looking into his eyes, she noticed again that something was bothering him. "What's wrong?"
He let go of her and bent over the railing this time while she waited for his reply. His eyes were fixed on the statue again. "Chuck wants me to go on a mission…"
Being shock first, Jean stepped closer with widened eyes. "When? And for how long?" she asked and looked at him from aside. She could tell that he wasn't happy about it either.
"Tomorrow," he answered calmly and met her gaze. "But only for two days. He wants Shiro, Neal and me to check something out in Mexico." Nodding, she looked down sadly. She hated to be separated from him. Not only because she always was worried like hell, she just couldn't stand being without him anymore. "Hey," he said softly and touched her chin gently. "You have two days without me going on your nerves. I'd call this something!" He wobbled his head playfully but still, he was also sad. Giving a brief laugh, she wrapped her arms around him and he pulled her close again. "Maybe I'm back sooner. Who knows…"
"As long as nothing happens to you…," she replied and sniffed while she listened to his heart beat.
"Nothing will happen to me, okay? It's not a dangerous mission."
She nodded and he wiped away her tears. "We should drive back. We have classes tomorrow."
He glanced briefly at his watch. "Yeah…" Kissing her again, he wrapped his arm around her waist and they walked back to their car in silence.
Back home, they thanked Ororo and Hank for watching their children before they checked briefly on them. Wishing each other a good night, their two friends returned to their rooms, while Jean walked over to the bedroom and pulled the zipper of her dress down. Gasping, she bit her lip, when she felt Logan's lips on her neck all of a sudden. Quickly, his foot closed the door, while his hands pulled the dress down. "It's already late," she gasped again and he turned her around, keeping on kissing her.
"It's never too late for this," he replied huskily and laid her down on the bed, whereas he quickly got rid off his clothes. Bending down again, he pulled her left leg up, stroking up and down gently, while his tongue fought with hers softly. Closing her eyes, Jean enjoyed his caressing. Moving up her hip a bit, she helped him to get rid off her pants, just to feel him laying on top of her again in the next second. Biting her lip to suppress a soft moan, her hands entwined in his thick dark her while he kissed his way downwards. Heaving a deep breath, she arched up against him and locked the door mentally at the same time. Since their twins had caught them once, they made sure the door was really closed. Feeling her heart kicking into high gear, Jean began to pant under his kissing and touching. Sometimes, she really wanted to know where he had learned his job. Throwing her head back, she bit her lips once more when he finally let go of her center, just to take care of other sensitive parts again. Looking at him with dazed eyes, which practically burned with lust and desire, she pulled him into another deep kiss and spread her legs. Supporting him with his hands next to her, he didn't break it when he found her entrance and glided into her. Both heaved a very deep and loud breath, before he settled down on her and began to move. Adjusting to his movement, she had to close her eyes as her strong feeling overwhelmed her completely. Feeling their hearts gaining speed constantly, both began to pant and moan softly in passion, still exchanging tender kisses while their hands were entwined. Within, Logan fought against Wolverine who wanted to claim his mate for himself alone. He knew as soon as the animal would take over, the tender love-making, which they were used to add after celebrating their anniversary, would be over and result in simple wild sex. And he didn't want it now. He just loved and enjoyed seeing her react under his soft touches and would definitely not destroy it by giving his berserker full reign. Opening his eyes panting when she clung tighter to him, he knew that she was already close. Tongue kissing her once more, he pulled her leg up a bit and thrust harder just to feel her muscles contract in the next second. It was enough to pull him over the edge, too.
Heavily breathing, both exchanged another loving kiss, before he pulled her close, while she unlocked the door again. Stroking through her sweated face, he pulled back a strand and kissed her forehead again. "I love you…," he whispered softly and felt her cuddling up against him smiling satisfied.
"I love you, too," she replied barely audible and it didn't take long until both fell asleep.
XXX
On the next morning, he sat in the kitchen and read the newspaper while sipping on his coffee. Even if his nose caught a now familiar scent, he didn't look up when Emma entered the room. His night had been beautiful, but his sleep had been rather short and the last thing he wanted to endure now was her… Seeing him, she immediately smiled and leant over the counter to give him a good view into her cleavage. "Hi," she poured and heard him sigh.
"Hey…," Logan replied annoyed and turned the paper around to go on reading it.
"What are you doing?"
"Reading!" he said in a tone as if she was brain-dead.
Emma gave a restrained laugh. "I mean all alone. Where's your precious girlfriend?"
Sighing once more, he put the newspaper aside and gave her a look. "My wife has classes."
She nodded while playing with a strand of her hair. "I see… Do you teach, too?"
"Yeah…"
"Which ones?"
Cocking an eyebrow at her, he crossed his arms in front of his chest; looking rather pissed. "PE, Self-defense and Foreign Languages…"
"Quiet a lot…," Emma said impressed. "So, it's you and Jean, huh?" As an answer he only nodded annoyed. Sometimes he asked himself where his beast was when he needed it the most…. "How long are the two of you together?"
"What is this? A questionnaire!" he growled and narrowed his eyes. Even if his patience had become better during his marriage and time with Jean, sometimes even his limits were reached.
"Well, I'm new here and want to get to know you better," she shrugged and went into puppy-dog-eyes mode.
Shaking his head and heaving a deep sigh, he sipped on his coffee once more. "Nearly 6 years."
"And married?"
"4 years."
"And three kids right? Impressive…" She nodded appreciating, even if children were the last thing on this planet that interested her.
Logan only nodded with a blank expression on his face before he looked at the newspaper again. "What else do you want to know?" he asked her uninterested. "Pants sizes?"
She giggled and bit her lip while trying to get a better look at him over the counter. "Well, would you tell me?" she asked innocently and received a look from him.
"What do you think?"
She only smiled. "They already said that you're a bit grumpy sometimes…"
"Then ya already know everything about me…"
"Nah, I doubt that," she purred. "I think you're the most interesting guy here."
"Whatever!" Logan replied briefly and looked up again. "Hey, darlin'."
Jean gave Emma a jealous look after entering the kitchen and directly walked over to him. Not thinking twice, he handed her his coffee. "Between classes coffee?" he asked her smirking and kissed her briefly while she nodded. He already got used to her need of coffee after one class was over. She pretty much was addicted to it. Pulling her close, he forgot about the woman who was watching them closely. Still he noticed Jean's look.
"What does she want?" she asked him mentally and he could tell that she was pissed.
"Nothing, jus keepin' on goin' on my nerves," he replied on the same way and caressed her neck.
Looking at the wall briefly, she stepped back. "You have to go."
Logan frowned and checked his own watch before he sighed. "Right…" He still wasn't used to his teaching duties. Especially not with her close by.
"Which class do you teach now?" Emma asked and received a deadly look from the red head.
"PE…," Logan grunted and rolled his eyes unseen from her.
"Can I watch?"
Jean tightened her grip around her cup but Emma only smiled at her. Noticing it, Logan only shrugged, since he really didn't care if the woman was there or not, before he took his bag into his hand. Switching towards him, Jean kissed him and watched how both left together. Staring at the door in hate, she realized that her short break was over and left, too.
On his way to the gym, Logan didn't say a word. He ignored the woman next to him completely, even if it seemed to be rude to him, but he could feel Jean's inner turmoil raging within his head. He knew that she was angry.
"What are you going to teach them?" he heard Emma asking and glanced briefly at her.
"Baseball."
"Not a man of many words, hm?" she noticed smiling and kept on looking at him from aside.
Suddenly Logan stopped and opened a door to his left. "Wait here!"
"Why?" she asked in confusion and received a look from him.
"Well, I can't teach in my casual stuff, can I?" he grunted and cocked an eyebrow at her, since she bit her lip seductively and scanned him from head to toe.
"Well, I wouldn't mind to come in…"
Turning around without replying anything, he entered the changing stall while Emma's icy-blue eyes were fixed on his buttock smirking.
It didn't take long and he came out wearing black track pants, a white wife-beater and a thin black sweat shirt with a hood over it. Again her eyes scanned him. "You train a lot, don't you?" she noticed.
"Nope!" he only replied and walked towards the gym. Maybe he could get one of the kids to accidentally hit her with a ball!
She laughed briefly and nudged him. "You're lying!"
"No, I'm not!" he hissed and entered the room in which some students were already waiting for him. Looking at them, Logan stopped right in front of the class and checked briefly if anyone was missing. "Okay, listen up! It's Baseball today and we go outside for it. So I want you to take the stuff with ya and we meet on the soccer field. Got that?" They nodded. "Okay, then let's go!" Watching how the kids took the material out of another room he followed them to the soccer field in silence; completely aware of the white haired woman next to him.
XXX
"Jack, you still didn't get it right," Scott noticed and shook his head. He ignored the look the boy gave him with his hazel eyes, and bent forward to explain it again. "Look at the things you've got here," he explained and pointed to the paper he'd prepared late at night. "And then look at the result you have to achieve. The numbers here are wrong."
"No, they ain't wrong!" the boy grunted and crossed his arms in front of his chest.
"Yes, they are!" the grown-up said and looked up at the other younger students who were watching them. "Go on with your work!" he told them bluntly and they obeyed. Looking down on the perfect copy of Wolverine, he heaved a deep sigh. This boy was already as stubborn as his father and he knew that also his sister was like that. But thank God, not as bad as he was. At least not yet… "Look," he tried again a bit calmer while he felt how Jack was seizing him up for a coffin. Yeah, even if he'd doubted it before, but even the look was being inherited by the boy. Genes were really a miracle to him… "…take this exercise for an example. The number you have here and the number you have at the end and then what you have written down in the middle… It's wrong."
"It's not!" Jack protested once more and stared at him as if he was up to bite him any minute.
"Gosh, boy! You're as stubborn as your father, you know that?" Scott said aloud and made Lily look up. Great, now he was in trouble.
"Take this back!" she pouted and put her pen down. And there was the look again…
Groaning in frustration, he ran a hand through his face. Both twins were absolutely fixated on their father and he would bet that it was because of their genes. Rachel was a complete different thing. She didn't only look like her mother, she was also a mother-child. "I'm only trying to explain that your brother here did…"
"I didn't do it wrong," Jack said again aloud and got up. "I…"
"Okay, that's enough. Pack your things and leave!" Scott said angrily and pointed towards the door. "We have a talk with the Professor later about that!" Growling, the boy grabbed his bag and slammed the door shut while his sister pouted. "And if you start next, you can also leave, got that?" he told her and she looked at her paper again angrily.
XXX
"Come on, Luke! You're supposed to hit the ball and not stroke it," Logan called over to the now nearly 11 year old boy who had trouble with the exercise.
"Okay," he replied insecurely and tried it again, but he failed once more.
Logan sighed and walked over to him. "Look," he said and bent down a bit. "Your hands are too high. Take the bat like this. Back's straight, not arched. And your eyes are on the ball. They never leave it. Just concentrate in it. Nothing else matters! Your movement was correct," he explained calmly and got up again. "Try again!" Luke nodded nervously and fixed his eyes on the pitcher once more.
Stepping back to the goal, Logan crossed his arms in front of his chest and watched him. This time, the boy hit the ball and cheered happily. Smirking, the grown up only shook his head. "Don't forget to run, kid!" Realizing it, Luke quickly threw the bat away and began to run as fast as he could.
"You're good," Emma commented and stepped a bit closer. Her blue eyes were fixed on his hazel ones and she lowered her look a bit.
"Whatever…"
She turned completely to him and gave him a bright smile, showing him her unnatural white even teeth. Just as her hand reached out to touch him, he turned his head to the other side.
"Daddy!" he heard Rachel cry and saw her running towards him. Clearly annoyed, since he only had eyes for his kid, Emma crossed her arms and heaved a deep sigh.
"What's wrong, Ray?" he asked worriedly and kneeled down, while the girl threw herself at him.
"Jack said I can't go with Aunt Marie and Remy to the zoo…," she cried and pulled a face. "But I wanna go… I'm fine…"
Logan shook his head and pulled her up, placing a kiss on her cheek. "'f course you can go with'em. Mom said it yesterday, didn't she?" he said calmly and wiped away her tears. Rachel nodded pouting while she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Are you coming with us?"
"No, pum'kin. I still have work to do, ya know." He placed her gently down again and smiled at her. "You go and have fun, okay?"
"'Kay." She hugged him tightly and kissed his cheek.
"Behave and greet the wolves from me."
"Yeah, bye!" The girl ran off and he watched her smirking, being glad that his youngest child could finally go outside again. Even if Jean had only agreed to it after a long discussion and lots of tears of the girl.
"I must say I'm impressed," Emma said while she had watched him the whole time.
"Why?" he asked and cocked any eyebrow at her. If he was telekinetically skilled, there would at least be five baseballs flying her way now…
Smiling, while she tilted her head a bit, she stepped closer and touched his arm. "Hard shell, soft core, hm? I like that!"
"Hm," he grunted and looked at his watch. "Okay, kids, that's it for today! Get the stuff back and have lunch. Class dismissed." Logan walked back with the students and waited until they'd packed everything away. Then he headed for the changing stall again, being happy that it was his last course for today. He only wanted to get back and spent time with Jean. Especially now, since the kids wouldn't be at home for a few hours.
"Do you have a toilet in there?" he heard her asked.
"Sure."
"Mind if I use it?"
Logan only shrugged. "Free country." He got inside and ignored her while she closed the door to the toilet. He pulled the track pants off and put his jeans on again, before he got rid off his sweat shirt.
"You sure you don't train a lot?" she smiled at him, but Logan only rolled his eyes without turning around. Ignoring her, he kept on going packing his things. That woman really was a pain in the ass, he thought snorting. When he turned around to leave, she stood right in front of him with a seductive smile on her lips. Her hand touched his chest while he narrowed his eyes warningly. Running her fingers down, she stepped closer. "You're pretty impressive you know?" she purred and looked briefly down his upper body.
"And you're seven years to late," he grunted sarcastically and watched her shrug.
"Being a girl's husband doesn't mean you can't have fun with a real woman…" she told him bluntly and her eyes began to shine.
He snorted. "Good that I'm not a girl's husband, eh?" Emma only smiled at him lasciviously while her hand kept on stroking down. When she touched his crotch, Logan pushed her away growling. "Keep your fingers off me, girl!" he hissed in a very low growl. He walked past her after giving her a threatening look, but she only returned it with a warning glance of hers.
"I'll win anyway," she said arrogantly and crossed her arms. "I always get what I want…"
Smirking at her Logan opened the door. "Time to learn how t'lose then!" With that he left while she was boiling with anger.
She had been sure that her telepathy had worked. "You'll see what losing means, Wolverine…" she hissed and followed him shortly after.
XXX
In the meanwhile, Jean was standing in front of Charles' desk and looked at Jack briefly, who was still making a pissed face. "What did he do?" she asked tiredly and gave Scott and the Professor a stressed look. She already had a hard day and only wanted to lay down on the sofa.
"I told him that his exercise was wrong and he kept on saying that he did them correctly," Scott explained briefly and she sighed.
"Can I see them?"
Charles watched how she read through the papers quickly after Scott had handed them over. Suddenly she made an angry face. "He did them correctly, Scott!" Smirking, the boy looked at his teacher with a cocked eyebrow.
"No, he…"
"Yes, he did!" she said louder and threw the papers back to him. "In fact he corrected the mistakes you made on page 2 and 3, so his results are correct!"
"What!" the man said and looked at the papers closely. Charles watched him and saw how the man blushed all of a sudden. "Oh God…" Scott only said embarrassed and met the angry stare of the red head in front of him.
Angrily, Jean crossed her arms in front of her chest. She had a more than a bad day and because of him Rogue was still waiting with Remy and the kids for Jack to come out, so that they could finally drive to the zoo. "Honey, you can go. The others are waiting." She kissed him briefly and Jack got up with a last victorious glance at Scott.
"Told ya so," he said with a smirk and left.
"Next time, you throw my son out of your class for nothing and stop him from having fun with his friends, you'll check if it might have been your fault, got that!" she hissed and turned around.
"Jean, I…I'm sorry!" Scott stuttered and winced as she slammed the door shut. As if the mini-Wolverine wasn't enough, he thought. Now also his mother was after his throat. He didn't even dare to imagine when the maxi version of junior showed up in front of his door…
"Scott," Charles shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I have to agree with her."
"I didn't notice this," the man excused and still glanced at the paper.
"Be glad that Logan wasn't here." Everyone knew that Logan hadn't had any sense of humor if someone treated his children wrong. He took the papers out of his opposite's hands and read through them. "It's remarkable…"
"What?" Scott asked confused, still feeling six sharp claws slicing through his neck.
"Jack is five and he's already able to correct something like that."
"Well," the man shrugged. "Jean is very intelligent."
Charles shook his head and put the paper down again. "Not only Jean. If the twins and Rachel inherited both their parents' intelligence, I am pretty sure they can skip classes. Don't forget that they already speak three different languages thanks to Logan. You know how fast they learn."
Thinking about it briefly, Scott nodded. "Hank could test their intelligence. He wanted to do it anyway."
"Well, let Jean calm down first," Charles smiled. "And next time you check your papers first!"
XXX
Upstairs, Logan directly ran into a pissed looking Jean after closing the door. "Where's Mrs. Pretty-face?" she asked him angrily.
Logan shrugged and let his bag fall to the ground before he stretched. "Don't care!" Yawning, he let himself fall backwards onto the bed and gave a satisfied loud grunt. Now he only needed her next to him and he was in paradise…
"Of course not!" Jean replied with a hiss and crossed her arms while she gave him a look. "You can't go around the mansion without hearing songs of praises. You guys really don't think with your heads, do you?"
Cocking an eyebrow, Logan turned his head smirking. "So all men are the same, eh?"
"Precisely! All this she's so attractive, she's so nice, oh my gosh look at her…," Jean spat and sighed while leaning against the wall. Logan only chuckled and closed his eyes. "All men inside this building are completely brain-dead when she's around. Honestly! One look and you guys are right after her pants…."
"So what am I then?" he asked her and rolled over, so that he was laying on his belly now. Supporting himself with his arms, he waited for her to reply, watching her in amusement.
Jean turned around frowning. "Hm?"
"Well, you said all men are after her pants," he shrugged and looked at her. "What am I then?"
"Ah, come on, Logan! Who was she with the whole time through, huh?" she replied pissed and narrowed her eyes. Even thinking about it made her blood boil.
"Yeah, because she sticks to me like a disease," he growled.
"Didn't hear you complaining," she hissed and he saw the anger in her eyes becoming stronger. He had to chuckle and grinned at her. "What!" she asked even more pissed, thinking that he didn't take her seriously. She was completely aware of him being a magnet to woman. It always drove her crazy to see how they looked at him if they were out for a day.
Getting up, he pulled her close and kissed her tenderly. "Perfect example of territorial behavior, darlin'."
"What?" she said and pushed him away a bit.
"Yeah! You're like a lioness that gets pissed that another one of her kind had shit into her territory," he smirked. He loved to see her fighting for him. It always surprised him how bitchy she could become if a woman only tried to talk to him. But nevertheless, he was the same. Wolverine always gave him a hard time if someone looked at his girl.
Gasping, she gave a laugh. "I'm not!" she protested and glared at him.
"You are jealous, baby!"
"I'm pissed because I don't get what everyone wants wither. She's nothing special," Jean spat while he still smiled at her with a knowing look on his face. "I mean…look at her…"
"Yeah," Logan nodded once more. "In other terms…jealous!"
Snorting, she crossed her arms in front of her chest; looking at him challenging. "Well, then tell me, Sherlock!"
He shrugged playfully. "You didn't consider me a man. So how can I tell?"
"You can't tell me that you don't find her attractive, Logan!" Jean shot back a bit louder since she had enough of his games. She knew that he liked women, and liked them a lot.
"Yeah, I can," he told her seriously and put his hands to his hips while he gave her a stern look. "Because I don't find her the merest attractive!" Jean gave him a more than skeptical look. Sighing, he pulled her into a kiss and hoped to convince her somehow. He wanted to have a relaxed time with her and not fight until the kids were back. "Her face is too round," he said and kissed her once more. "Her hips too small," he added just to seal her lips quickly again. Smirking he stroked over her butt; squeezing it a bit. "This one here's much better, too. And you smell and taste better."
Pushing him a bit away, she gave him a look once more. "How come you know how she tastes!" she asked him with a more than visible warning undertone.
"I don't. It's just a guess," he soothed her immediately and kept on stroking and kissing her. "Her legs are too small, her lips too thin, her eyes too icy… Convinced?" he mumbled through his caressing.
Cocking an eyebrow at him while her hands were on his chest, she shook her head. "For not liking her, you know her body pretty well, you know that?"
Logan shrugged and bit his lip. "Okay, in that sense I'm a man, darlin'." Finally, she smiled at him, still shaking her head. At least he admitted it. "And if the others find her attractive, then they just have a bad taste," he said softly and continued his caressing on her neck.
"Or you have," she replied flirtingly, but he shook his head.
"Nope. Heightened senses, baby! They never lie!"
She shrugged playfully. "She's pretty…"
Lowering his head, she shivered when she felt his warm breath on her ear. "And you're beautiful!" She shrieked and giggled when he suddenly pulled her up just to drop her on their bed. "She can never keep up with ya. And besides…," he grinned wolfishly at her. "Your territory is already marked."
"Pig!" she laughed and slapped him jokingly against the chest.
Smirking, he pinned her hands over her head gently, before he cent down a bit. "So, kids ain't here and won't return so soon… What are we gonna do with our free time, huh?" Moving a bit, he lay on top of her again; his lips began to caress her neck once more.
Gasping, she arched up a bit. "I thought we could go swimming together. We haven't gone alone in months," she managed to say while he sent shivers down her spine.
"Here in the pool?" he replied mumbling and switched to the other side of her neck.
"I thought about the lake…"
Getting up with a jump, he helped her up grinning. "So, you want to be all alone with the pig, eh?"
Wrapping her arms around his neck, he pulled her closer. "Wouldn't mind," she said smirking and he kissed her tenderly.
"'Kay, then let's go, darlin'!" Quickly he took his bag into his hand and pulled his training clothes out of it.
"Do we take the bike?" she asked him while getting her stuff from the drawer.
Smirking he stepped behind her. "'f course we do. You wanna sit in the front…or behind me?" Wobbling his eyebrows, she had to laugh. She knew what he was up to.
"You really are a pig, sometimes," she scolded him playfully but he was unimpressed and pulled her close.
"But you like it," he said huskily and she had to grin flirtingly. "And I was only caring."
"Caring?" she asked him skeptically and he smirked wolfishly again.
"Well," Logan shrugged and his hands went lower on her back. "…if you don't want that something…hard…stabs against your pretty butt…sit on the back!"
"Logan!" she gasped giggling and was really glad that the kids weren't around. Blushing a bit, he chuckled and pulled her up after she had packed her stuff into his bag; carrying her laughing form over his shoulder downstairs to the garage.
XXX
In the evening, Scott, Hank and Logan sat with Ororo in the kitchen. Talking about different subjects, Lily suddenly stormed into the room and interrupted them. "Daddy!" she cried and Logan immediately sensed that something must have happened.
"What's wrong?" he asked and got off his stool while the others were watching both closely. If the girl cried, then it always was because of something serious.
"Jack and Isa went into the wood," she told him sobbing.
"What!" he asked aloud angrily and looked at her.
Wincing first, the girl shook her head. "I told them not to go…"
"Which way did they take?" he asked her quickly. "The right or left?" He knew the wood better than anyone else. Also its dangers. It wasn't long ago that he had found out about a deep hole in the ground, which was barely visible.
The girl thought briefly. "The right…"
"Damn it!" Logan cursed and the others watched him walking to the door. "Stay here, kid!"
Nodding, Lily still sobbed. Smiling at her, while Hank and Scott exchanged worried glances since they had no idea what else could happen to the children besides that it was already dark outside, she pulled her godchild up. Clinging to her tightly, Lily looked out of the window.
"I thought Isabella was back home?" Scott said and watched Ororo shaking her head.
"Rogue allowed her to stay here. She got a call early this morning that several kids had caught a virus and the school had to close for a week."
Hank heaved a deep sigh. "Well, I bet they can prepare for a hell of a sermon if he finds them…"
In the meanwhile, Logan had reached the entrance of the wood and immediately turned to his right. Sniffing constantly, he followed the scent of his son and godchild. Despite his anger, his heart was racing in fear. If something happened to them…he didn't even dare to imagine… Narrowing his eyes, he used his nightvision to its extent, while his mind recalled the exact way to the hole. He knew they were there. Jumping over a falling tree he kept on running and followed their sense. It didn't take long and he heard Isabella sobbing loudly. With his heart hammering in his chest, he finally reached them. Quickly checking that the crying girl was fine, he looked around for his son. Bending forward a bit, Logan saw how Jack desperately tried to hold onto the edge of the hole. He wouldn't make it much longer. Just as his son lost the grip and fell backwards screaming, he quickly grabbed him and pulled him up cursing. Sobbing heavily, the boy clung to his father shaking all over in fear. Logan closed his eyes and heaved a deep sigh to calm his heart. If he only had been a second too late…
Looking up into his father's eyes, Jack swallowed hard and stumbled backwards a bit. He had never seen him being so angry before. Logan only gave him a cold look and turned around walking back without saying anything at all.
In the garden, he turned around once more and looked at Isabella's tears strained face. "Get inside!" he growled and the girl nodded, feeling intimidated because of her godfather's angry look. She knew it was better not to say anything. Jack was about to follow her as he felt a hand grabbing him roughly.
Surprised the girl looked at Logan. "What about you?" she asked barely audible.
Looking down on his son, who was quaking because he had never seen his father like this, he narrowed his eyes. "I've got to teach my son a lesson…" Hearing the growl in the grown-ups voice, the boy winced.
XXX
A few minutes later, Isabella entered the kitchen and ran directly into the arms of her angry father. "What has gotten into you?" he yelled at her and she hid behind a stool. "You know perfectly well that you are not allowed to go into the wood alone. You have no business to be on the outside at this hour anyway!"
Pulling a face, the girl started to cry aloud. "I'm sorry…"
Angry, her father pointed to the door. "Go into your room! Now!" Sobbing, she lowered her head and walked towards the door.
"Where's Logan? Did he find Jack, too?" Ororo asked her quickly, since all grown ups were worried like hell.
Not daring to look at her father, the girl nodded crying. "He said…he has to teach his son a lesson…" While she leaves quickly before Bobby would yell at her once more, the others exchanged glances. Worried, the white haired woman walked over to the window and looked out. It didn't take long and she caught his sight…
XXX
Logan stood in front of his son with his arms crossed and glared at him, while Jack had his head lowered; not daring to look at him. Trying to calm himself first, the adult heaved a deep breath. Nevertheless, it was useless. "What has gotten into you?" he asked his opposite aloud and Jack winced once more. "I can't even tell you how disappointed I am! How many times did I tell ya that yo're not allowed to go into the woods alone?"
Sobbing, the boy looked up a bit. "I…I only…"
"And not that you go alone," Logan added angrily and not minder calmer. "No, you also had to put Isa into danger!" He really had to come up with all his strength not to give him a slap around the face. He couldn't even express how scared for his son's life he had been…
"I…I only wanted to be a brave as you," Jack explained stuttering between his several sobs.
"This," Logan said and pointed towards the wood. "…had nothing to do with being brave!" Watching how his son looked to the ground again he could only shake his head. "Putting yourself in danger in one thing. But if someone's with ya it's a complete different thing. The two of ya could have been killed out there, do ya know that!"
The boy looked up at him still crying heavily. It was the first time for him that his dad was so mad with him. "But I thought I was like you…and you heal…"
Logan sighed and shook his head before he put his hands to his hips. "Look," he went on calmer and searched for the right words to explain it to Jack. "You ain't like me. Not yet. We don't know which powers the two of you or Rachel have. And if you get hurt, you won't heal like I do. You can even get killed." He met the hazel eyes of his son who had finally stopped sobbing and was listening to him attentively. "What do you think how your mom and I'll feel if something happens to you? You and your sisters are the most important things in our life and you just scared the shit out of me, boy!" For the first time since he had found the kids, his eyes softened a bit. He had been scared to death before and he could still feel the aftereffects of it.
"I sorry," Jack whispered embarrassed, seeing the fear in his father's eyes.
Taking a deep calming breath, Logan bent down. "You're not only responsible for yourself, Jack. You've also a responsibility towards your family and friends, kid. And I'm only brave if I've to be. Being brave has nothing to do with putting yourself and others into danger, got that?"
The boy looked up again, thinking about his words. "So even Wolverine can be scared, huh?"
Despite his still present anger, Logan had to chuckle. Sometimes his boy was too smart and he couldn't be angry with his kids for very long. It was the same with Jean. One look and he got soft. "Yeah, especially if his son doesn't listen and does stupid stuff," he replied. "So, are ya hurt?"
"No…"
Logan nodded and got up again. "Good. Then come on!" Together they walked to the back door in silence and entered the kitchen again. Meeting the worried faces of the others who had hoped that also Jack was fine. "And now, I want ya to go upstairs, shower ad go to bed. Did I make myself clear?" he grunted and gave the boy a stern look. Jack only nodded slowly and left. Waiting until he was gone, Logan heaved a deep sigh when the weight left his shoulders. Stressed, he ran a hand through his face and closed his eyes for a brief moment.
"Is he alright?" Ororo asked him worriedly and received a nod as an answer.
"Yeah…"
Bobby shook his head, being completely pale. "If Marie finds out, she's going to kill me…"
Looking up, Logan gave him a look. "And if Jean finds out, she makes me slice myself into pieces," he growled and emptied his beer in one large gulp.
"Thank God, nothing happened to them…," Ororo gasped and sat down slowly. She, too, had been scared to death. "We really have to be more careful and make sure the kids stay away from the wood."
Logan only nodded. "Where's Lily?"
"Already upstairs," Bobby said. "Hank and Scott took off to make sure that all other students are inside the building."
Ororo glanced at the watch. "You have to go now, haven't you?" she asked her opposite sadly.
"Yeah," Logan replied. He didn't want to leave, especially not now.
"I'll come with you to the hangar," the woman said and walked towards the door.
"Be careful!" Bobby gave Logan a look and patted his shoulder. The man only nodded and left the room.
Walking next to him, Ororo noticed that he suddenly stopped at the door which led to his rooms. "Go ahead!" he told her and she nodded; knowing that he still wanted to say goodbye to his kids. Slowly, while she heard a door closing behind her, she walked down the corridor towards the elevator.
XXX
Pulling at the collar of his new black uniform once more, Logan looked up to the Blackbird. "Ready?" he asked aloud and waited for Sunfire or Thunderbird to reply. It didn't take long and both young men waved at him through the cockpit.
Jean stood right next to Ororo and the Professor, with her arms wrapped around her body. She looked at him sadly when he came closer and embraced her tightly. Even if she knew that it was only for two days, she didn't want him to leave. If he wasn't around she felt so lonely. Taking a deep breath, she let go of him; still holding onto his arms. "Please be careful!" Jean said frightened and met his gaze. Logan smirked shortly before he placed a gently kiss on her lips.
"I will," he replied hoarsely, sharing her feelings. Stroking her cheeks briefly, he turned towards Charles. "I'll give a call as soon as we're there."
The Professor nodded. "Take care!"
The mutant nodded, too, and walked towards the jet as all of a sudden the huge double door opened. A small shadow darted through the legs of the adults, heaving heavy sobs. "Stop, daddy! Please don't go!" Frowning, Logan turned around in surprise and felt his daughter clinging to his legs tightly. "Please don't go!" she begged again crying heartrendingly, while fear echoed in her voice.
He gave Jean a short puzzled look before he took his daughter into his arms. "What's wrong, pum'kin?"
Sobbing even heavier, she nearly chocked him as she wrapped her hands around his neck. "Please," she cried again and wet his neck with her tears. "Don't leave, daddy, please!"
"I'll be back in two days, honey," he tried to calm her and looked at Jean who'd come closer.
"No, don't go!" the girl said again and had to cough as her sobs became to strong. "Please!"
"Lily," Jean said worriedly and laid a hand on her back, while Ororo gave Charles a strange look. The girl had never acted like that if her father or mother went on a mission…
Logan sighed and stroked her back. "Sweety, I've to go," he said again and placed a kiss on her cheek. Jean finally managed to get her away from him, but still she was worried. Gently, Logan stroked her cheek as he'd always done since they were babies and he had to soothe them. "I'll be back in two days, okay?" he asked her softly, but Lily shook her head heavily and pulled a face.
"Please…," she begged again and looked at her father pleadingly, while sobbing harder.
Logan sighed. He hated to see her cry. He could stand a lot but not seeing his wife or kids crying. "When I'm back we all go to the lake again, okay, pum'kin?" he asked her again and gave Jean a last kiss. "I'll call ya!"
Jean nodded and watched him walking up the hatch. Lily buried her face on her mother's neck and began to sob heavily; begging her to hold him back. Walking over to the secured area again, Jean suddenly felt very bad. She couldn't tell what exactly was bothering her… If it was her daughter who behaved so strangely or the thick lump in her throat, which nearly cut off her breath. But she definitely felt a pressure becoming stronger in her chest, when the engines of the Blackbird roared to life and they could hear the room vibrating. Soon, the jet lifted up into the air and disappeared through the opening of the basketball field; leaving Jean staring up at it, while Ororo and Charles watched her still crying daughter worriedly…
Okay, that was the prelude of the sequel. Hope you liked it. Thank you so much for reading the Epilogue of Changes again and for reviewing on it. Please tell me what you think of this one here and what you expect on the future of it. Those of you who still remember the beginning of Chapter 40 might know a bit more than the others. ; ) Just a hint! Hope you enjoyed reading it! Please review!