Author's Note: I'm reposting "Concrete Angel" and "Wings of Despair" as one story. Never thought I'd get back to it, but the new X-23 mini-series comic inspired me to do so. So I'll repost the chapters I had, until I get to the new stuff which I already started writing.

Now this version of the story is slightly different. For one thing, X-23's name will be Laurie, not Amiko. In X-Men: The End comic which takes place 5-15 years after the current X-Men series, they called X-23 Laurie, so I guess that's her official name. Also Amiko is a separate character, and X-23 deserves a name of her own. The second difference is in the dialogue. I'm trying to stay more in-character on some of these even if I fail a lot. Some of the details are also slightly different since I read the X-23 mini-series comic.

Also I know Logan might seem a little too soft in this fic, but cut him a break okay? I mean, he's much warmer in X-Men: Evolution and X-23 is kind of his kid. As you can probably tell, I specialize in sappy angst, so if anyone (or everyone) is out of character, you have my permission to yell at me in the reviews.

Lastly, you guys should remember that this story takes place after the "X-23" episode. "Target X" never happened. Okay that's enough of me, on with the story.

Concrete Angel

By: Silver Spider

Chapter 1

The diner was located right on them edge of the street where the typical suburban middle class merged into the poverty of city dwellers. It was the sort of place where men from all over town collected to watch the latest game, down a few bottles of cheap beer, and play pool. An old song played in the background, but most of the music couldn't be heard over the commotion of the people inside. The crowds were not too rough, but it still wasn't a suitable place for a high-school girl in a mini skirt.

Logan sat at the corner of the bar, casually sipping a half-empty mug of beer, once in a while glancing up at the TV screen. The game was almost over, and a few passes later, the entire bar erupted into cheers as the referee announced the victory of the home team. Logan didn't care, but the man in the seat next to him wore an enormous smile. He got up and paid for his drink, and Logan watched as the man turned his back to him and spoke to an adolescent boy. Judging by the similarity in their appearance, the X-Man guessed that the young man was probably his son. They shared a few words, and the teen walked past Logan in the direction of the lavatory.

"Some game, huh?" the older man turned to Logan.

"Wasn't payin' attention," the mutant shrugged and took another sip of the beer.

"I didn't come here for the game either," the man confessed. "See my son over there just finished high-school and got admitted to New York State university. So we came here to celebrate, maybe play a few games of pool," the man peered at Logan from beneath thick brows. "You got kids?"

He paused and placed the mug of beer on the table. "Yeah," came the reply. "Over ten of 'em. I'm a teacher."

"They a handful?" the man sat back down at the bar.

"More often than not," Logan gave a humorless chuckle, "but they're good kids."

"Well good luck to ya," the man looked over Logan's shoulder at his son who had just emerged from the men's room. "I gotta head out. See ya, man."

Logan watched as the man and his son walked out of the bar and turned a corner down the street. He waited for a moment and lazily circled the rim of the mug with his index finger, then licked off the droplet of beer.

"I know you're there, kid," he didn't bother to look up, "so you might as well come out."

At first nothing happened, but a few seconds later the shadows parted to reveal a fourteen-year-old girl with shoulder length brown hair and moss green eyes. She took a deep breath, then sat down in the seat next to the X-Man. A moment of silence passed between them before she spoke.

"How'd you know?" X-23 asked.

"That stench," Logan tipped the end of his nose. "That's what I smell like after bein' on the road for a while without a shower."

"Oh," the girl colored, though she wasn't sure why.

"Are you hungry?" he tilted his head to look at her, but 23 stubbornly refused to answer. "Come on, kid, you've been missin' for almost three weeks. Usually it doesn't take me this long to track down anyone, but you're very good at disappearin'… almost as good as I am."

"You've been looking for me?" she glanced up at him, and Logan could see the smallest glimmer of hope in her eyes.

"Of coarse," he confirmed. "I thought you knew that. Weren't you runnin' from me?"

"Not you," the girl shook her head. "I was hiding from them."

At first Logan didn't understand, then he realized who she was talking about. "Hydra," he hissed through clenched teeth, and she winced at the name. "They want you back."

"Yes," she closed her eyes and sniffed a bit. "Usually their agents are no match for me, but the operatives… they have ways of getting me back and keeping me in check. I'm better off on my own."

Logan raised an eyebrow. "Do you have a place to stay?"

"No."

"Do you have any money? Any food?" She shook her head. "Then you're not better off," he informed her.

X's eyes narrowed. "You said you'd understand," there was a hint of betrayal in her voice, as she looked him straight in the eyes. "I don't want to go back, Logan."

"No, I was never gonna to turn you in to those SOBs," X-23 frowned and cocked her head. "Bad language, kid. Try not to pick up all of my bad habits," he waved his hand dismissevly. "I want you to come back to the institute with me."

"Why?" she asked with honest curiosity.

"Because I can help you," he replied. "I can protect you from Hydra. I can help you understand yourself better and deal with what you've been through. You would get the chance to be a kid for the first time in your life." She was quiet for a moment, and Logan sighed. "At least think about it, alright? And in the meantime let me get you somethin' to eat."

He ordered two burgers, a plate of French fries, another beer for himself and a soda for X. The girl stared at the food as if it was an alien life-form, then picked up the burger and bit into it. After chewing for a few seconds, she frowned, and Logan nearly burst out laughing when he saw the look on her face.

"What's the matter? You look like you've never had a burger before."

"I haven't," she took another bite. "When I was with them, they provided me with a strict diet of everything my body needed to become stronger. Until a few weeks ago, I've never tasted ordinary human food."

"You mean to tell me, you've never had burgers, pizza, fries, or sodas?" Logan shook his head in mock sympathy. "You've definitely been deprived, kid, but don't worry: with the group back home, you'll learn all that pretty quickly."

"I never said I would return with you," she pointed out, taking a sip of the soda, and made a face at the unusual taste of the drink.

"I know, but give me some credit for tryin', huh?" he rubbed the back of his neck. "To tell you the truth, my reasons for wantin' you to come back with me aren't as noble as I'd like them to sound."

The girl narrowed her eyes at him again. "I will not be used as a weapon, not even by you."

"Ain't what I meant," he replied. "When I told you that I was the closest thing you had to family, I didn't tell you that the arrangement worked both ways. I don't have any relatives that I know of, but I would like it very much if I could consider you family."

At the mention of the word 'family,' X went ridged and her hands began to shake slightly. "I don't know if I can have a family," she whispered. "Every time I saw anyone else like that, it… bad things happened. I don't want to hurt you."

"Let me worry about that," he smiled softly, something that almost never happened. "Come on, kid. What d'ya say? I'll take care of you."

She was silent, then shook her head. "You shouldn't have to. You were right; none of this was your fault. I'm not your responsibility."

"Yes, you are," he insisted. "Maybe you weren't suppos to be, but you are. I'm not gonna turn my back on a fourteen-year-old who's the number one target of internatinal terrorists, when I know I can help you. Believe it or not you do need my help."

"That's not good enough," she turned away from him. "I can take care of myself; you know that. Why do you really want me to return with you?" X knew why, but she wanted to hear it from him.

Logan took a deep breath and swallowed the lump in his throat. After facing, Sabertooth, Mystiqu, Magneto, and Apocalypse, this was the thing that scared him the most. Gathering all his courage, he laid a hand on her shoulder, and X-23 turned her head, but she still refused to look him in the eyes.

"Because when someone askes me if I have any children," X-23 glanced up for a second, "I wanna do more than just list the kids back in the institute. I wanna be able to say that I'm a father, that I have a daughter." The girl's green eyes began to shimmer with moisture, as she held his gaze. "A daughter who I'm very proud of for accomplishin' so much despite the many obstacles that were in her way."

She was trying so hard not to cry. Her breathing was hoarse and erratic, as she desperately attempted to suppress the raging emotions. "I'll go with you," she finally said, her voice hardly above a whisper.

Logan stood, helping her down from the stool. He could see how hard she was trying to keep her emotions under control. He was the only person to see her cry, and he knew full well that she would not be pleased with herself if they got the better of her in a public place. "Come on," he urged gently. "Let's go home."

He lead her out of the bar and to his jeep that was parked just outside. Once they were inside the car, Logan strapped in, then looked at the girl. She was silent, her head bowed and long brown locks covered her face from his view. But weather it was a newly discovered parental instinct or the sharp rise and fall of her shoulders, he could tell that she was fighting a loosing battle with her emotions. Slowly and carefully, he wrapped an arm around her, and this time 23 didn't even try to pull away. Logan held her for several long minutes as her body shook with sobs and feelings once thought to be buried, now violently forcing their way to the surface.

"I don't understand," she spoke between hiccups. "I thought I had this healing power. Why does it still hurt so much?"

Logan gave a short humorless laugh. "Ironic, isn't it?" he whispered, holding her closer. "I've been tryin' to answer that question for countless decades. But where our healing factor fails, maybe we can help each other."

The girl nodded wordlessly and straightened in the car seat, brushing away her tears. Logan pulled back, proud of his accomplishment, and started the car. As they pulled out, 23 glanced up, "Logan, may I… may I consider you 'family?'"

The X-Man smiled and turned his head to face his daughter. "I'd be very disappointed if you didn't."