It's a Winter Wonderland – by Darlin
A/N – With all the snow we had I thought it might be fun to play with that so I started handwriting little stories at work to keep me from being bored. Some are very brief such as the first one with Emma and Scott, they're also different time lines, most before Logan's death, some after that, some early years and of course there's RoLo. Oh, and I loved Wolverine and the X-Men so quite a few of the stories are based on that. Having given up comics it was the only graphic novel I picked up and it was so much fun. Because of some of the absurdity in that comic book though I doubt it was many people's favorite comic book and doubt there's a desire for fan fiction with the characters but I LOVED that comic and wish more would write about the characters. So enough gushing. I'll end by saying that I can't say all the stories are brilliant but quite a few of them made me happy and I hope some of them brighten your day too.
-xox-
Polar Bears
"Y'all're crazy! That ain't no way ta celebrate the first day of the year!" Rogue said as she and Remy watched Logan and Ororo leave.
"Hmm, ya know, maybe he ain't as crazy as we t'ink," Remy commented thoughtfully.
"This is crazy isn't it?" Ororo said to Logan.
"Why? It's fun. Besides it's a tradition."
"Maybe in your country but not in mine."
Peter came running after them.
"No one else up fer it but you?" Logan asked the big guy.
"Nyet, spaseeba, just us three," Peter replied with a shake of his handsome head.
Logan chuckled although he'd kind of wanted to be alone with Ororo. The three of them walked down to the lake in the freezing cold weather and once there they started taking off their clothes.
"We are crazy," Ororo laughed.
"You look beautiful," Logan complimented her when she had stripped down to her bikini.
He was in his swimming trunks and shivering a little. He suddenly grabbed her, tossed her easily over his shoulder then ran, despite her screams, straight for the lake.
"Wait for me comrades!" Peter called as he shook off his pants.
"Logan!" Ororo shrieked but he was already plunging into the icy cold water.
When Logan finally rose to the surface, because adamantium can weigh a fellow down, he found her laughing at him so he shook his head at her. Water went everywhere but mostly in her face. She laughed again, splashing him. Unexpectedly they were both splashed with a huge wave of water as Peter dove into the lake.
"Brrrrr! It's freezin'! Last one out buys the beer t'night!" Logan challenged.
They all raced out of the water, Peter, bigger and slower, coming in last. He grinned at Logan's ribbing. He didn't mind. The beer was good in America. They handed him a towel while they dried each other off.
"That was fun," Peter said but Logan and Ororo didn't hear him. They were wrapped in each others arms, Logan shivering but happy to be holding Ororo.
"Happy New Year, darlin'," he whispered before kissing her.
Headmistress
"I've never seen anyone enjoy snow more than you, Idie," Quentin remarked.
"I really love it!" Idie squealed joyfully as she caught snowflakes gently falling all around them.
"I think it's wet and cold and not terribly nice," Broo said.
They were walking with their headmistress, Storm. She'd felt exercise in the fresh air was paramount for children and so she'd started them on a regiment of morning constitutionals.
"I want to punch the snow," Kid gladiator said out of the blue as he was wont to do. "Miss Munroe can we find something solid that fights back or can I go punch . . ?"
"No, Kubark, no," Ororo cut him off already knowing what the fight happy son of Gladiator was going to request. "Nature Girl, please share the Bamf's, and Eye Boy don't dawdle. It's not exercise if you don't put a little effort into it."
"Can I just pretend to be here and go back to bed?" Quentin muttered, hoping his Bamf would take the hint and bamf him out of his misery.
"No, Quentin but after our walk you can report to my office and we'll discuss the detention I'll be assigning you."
"But I didn't do anything!"
Ororo chuckled.
"Ooo, ooo! Miss Munroe is playing you!" Glob Herman laughed.
"Since when does Miss Munroe make jokes?" Evan asked curiously.
"Maybe she's happy Wolverine's dead," Quentin muttered.
""I heard that, Quire. Detention after school for an hour," Ororo announced. "And pick up your pace."
"Damn."
"And no cussing."
"Isn't it beautiful?" Idie said as it began to snow harder.
"You can't punch it," Kid Gladiator muttered.
"It tastes okay," Blob Herman said.
"It's dreadfully cold and wet, Idie although I'm glad that it's so exhilarating for you," Broo said.
"That stupid Wolverine, what a sap!" Quentin said, intentionally loud.
Ororo stopped and looked back at the pink haired boy and tried to think of a punishment that would take the Kid Omega permanently out of Kid Omega without inflicting death. But kindhearted Idie took Quentin's hand in hers.
"I know you miss Wolverine too," she whispered.
Quentin looked at her. He didn't say anything but he squeezed her hand. Ororo smiled a sad smile. As Quentin passed by her she rested a hand on his shoulder for a moment.
"Quentin, I've changed my mind about detention," she said before moving on.
Picnic for Two
Ororo spread out a tarp on the snowy ground which she then covered with a thick wool blanket. She opened her picnic basket, pulled out a thermos, opened that and then took a satisfying sip and smiled. From where she sat it truly was post card perfection. Ever since she'd come to America winter had become her favorite season. It also helped that the cold didn't affect her.
"Hey, 'Ro, what in blazes are ya doin'?" Logan hollered as he came plodding out of the woods.
"I could ask you the same my friend," she called back, looking at her watch because Logan kept to a strict routine like clockwork.
When he reached her and looked down at her winter picnic he shook his head. "Was just takin' my usual hike," he said.
"I wish you'd ask me next time."
"Sure, wouldn't mind the company 's long as you keep yer mouth shut. I like the quiet when it snows."
"I do too."
He looked at her and grinned. "So, am I intrudin', darlin'?"
"Not at all. Sit if you like."
"So, havin' a picnic in the snow," he noted as he sat down on the blanket.
"Just a little snack," she replied and pulled out two sandwiches, the larger of which she handed to him.
"Mmmm!" he said when he noticed it was his favorite.
"Drink?" she offered.
"Sure, I guess. It's hot, right?" he said as he rubbed his gloved hands together although he'd noticed that the temperature had started to rise. He was glad she was warming it up but he wondered if they'd end up sitting on a sopping, wet blank.
He noticed she had two mugs as well and when he took the proffered drink he was more than grateful.
"'Ro, you really know how to take care of a man," he said, the hot toddy, full of Irish whiskey, still burning in his throat.
The Perfect Kiss
It was her first kiss, behind the school, behind the bushes all covered in snow. Her nose was red, a little runny, and her eyes tearing. She was in love.
"I-I shouldn't have done that, Kayta," Peter said afterward.
"No, I'm glad you did."
He returned her earnest smile even as he shook his head. "I realize I am much older . . ."
"Sssh, Peter. Don't say anything," she said and threw her arms around him. "It was perfect, this is perfect.
And Peter held her, there behind the school, behind the bushes all covered in snow.
Out in the Cold
"So help me I will kill that man!" Jean raged.
"I wish there was something I could do," Ororo offered sympathetically.
"Grrrrr," Jean growled. And then, "You can open that window for me," she said.
"Uh, okay."
So Ororo opened the window even though it was the beginning of winter. Jean grabbed everything on Scott's dresser and what didn't fall from her arms she tossed out the window.
Ororo looked at the small articles now embedded in the snow. Clothes went flying past her head suddenly and she quickly dodged out of the way. After Jean had thrown every single thing that belonged to Scott out the window and into the snow she leaned out and admired the huge pile with immense satisfaction. Ororo crept out of the room.
Later that day Scott noticed a snow man wearing a pair of his red glasses and several of his shirts tied together to make a makeshift scarf.
"What the . . . ?" he exclaimed, stopping short as he found the rest of his things. And that's how he found out Jean knew about him and Emma.
Revenge Served Cold
"Why does it always have to snow whenever I leave the mansion?" Emma asked no one in particular but since it was just her and Scott, he felt a response was needed. And so he said,
"You shouldn't have let Ororo know how much you hate snow, Em."
A Break
Logan watched Ororo on the sly. Every move was graceful and yet she seemed not to be conscious of it. Unstudied grace, he mused.
"Get a grip," he murmured and turned his attention back to Scott who was droning on about staying alert over the holidays.
"From now on we have drills twenty-four seven," Scott said.
"You can't possibly be serious! It's Christmas Eve!" Rogue exploded.
"Twenty-four seven? When will we sleep?" Bobby wanted to know.
"In between drills," Scott replied.
"Depriving us of sleep can hardly be productive, Scott," Ororo said.
Scott eyed her with a grim look. She wasn't even supposed to be there, he thought, with a touch of resentment.
"I expect everyone to adjust," he replied.
Ororo shook her head. "I expect that we will, we always do, however, I do not believe drills all day and all night, especially over the holidays, is feasible. A few perhaps but . . ."
"Right. You made your point, Storm. It isn't actually going to be all day, just be ready twenty-four seven people. Meeting's adjourned," Scott said.
Logan laughed.
"Whew, I thought Slim had officially lost his noggin for a moment there," Hank muttered once he stepped outside the ready room.
"Wouldn't be the first time," Bobby grumbled.
"What would we do without Storm keeping ol' One Eye in check?" Logan asked.
"It was a misunderstanding, nothing more," Ororo said with a wink before walking off.
Logan, Hank and Cain Marko watched her until she disappeared around the corner.
"You two going to drool all day or what?" Bobby asked although he was watching her too.
"Huh? Oh, um, well, Robert what can I say? The lady is lovely."
"True that," Bobby agreed.
"Keep your minds out of the gutter, remember I said to stay alert," Scott said as he started down the corridor.
"Hard to do when the babe's looking so fine," Cain called after him.
"Well, just try!" Scott shot back.
"You don't think Scott likes Ororo do . . . ?" Bobby started but Hank and Logan's laughter brought him up short.
"Scott's got Emma, what more could a man want? Walks around looking like a whore an' probably knows exactly what you want in bed." Logan chuckled.
The others grunted in agreement before going off but Logan stood there deep in thought. He didn't envy Scott. Emma was a handful, more woman than he'd want and less too. Seemed things never really worked out the way you wanted them too. Scott was a widower fornicating with one of their worse enemies turned goody two shoes, something he still didn't buy by the way. And Ororo was married. What was the world coming to?
Snow and more snow prevented them from getting much done that day. It was abnormal even for New York. He suspected Bobby but knew he couldn't actually make it snow. Ororo wouldn't do something like that he was sure and yet he recalled a few times when she had. Scott was ticked off with the weather, ticked off with everything and everyone except maybe Emma. A few fire drills that kept them on their toes was nothing as he'd planned. He gave Bobby a few dirty scowls but Bobby claimed innocence and though Logan didn't want to believe him he could tell for once Bobby actually was innocent.
"It's a wonderful thing – snow, isn't it?"
Logan turned from the window and looked up at Ororo. She looked as mischievous as she had earlier. Odd. She'd come back looking and acting as if everything was fine but her bearing was different now, as if something inside her wasn't right. He suspected the marriage wasn't going as well as she'd led them to believe but it wasn't his place to butt in.
"I . . . I felt a break was required."
"Scott'll have your ass if he finds out."
"Let him."
"'Ro, you doin' all right?"
Cold, blue eyes gazed at him. He immediately raised both hands up, palms out.
"Question withdrawn," he said.
No laughter, not even a hint of a smile. He knew when to back off and did. Her eyes followed his retreat. He was the truest of friends but a lousy boyfriend, ex- boyfriend.
"No, Logan it's me that needs a break, so long as it snows I don't have to go back," she said when he was out of sight.
Hope
It was bitter cold in the cabin. Ororo didn't notice. It was a simple one room structure with a tiny bathroom. She seldom went there because the cabin was Logan's. She'd never thought much of the place but somehow now it seemed the most appropriate place to be.
Logan had been dead for months now. Winter had set in. Life went on. Life always went on. But life with the X-Men was different. She kept counting how many X-Men had died before and then returned to life. It had started with their defeat of the Adversary in Dallas, so that was her and Logan, Betsy, Madeline, Alex, Peter, Rogue, Dazzler, Longshot . . . She kept counting. Kurt was back, Peter back again, Kitty had triumphed over death. Counting kept her sane. Jean of course, Scott. One day Logan too would return again.