Disclaimer: The characters are not mine, they belong to Marvel and Marvel alone.

Summary: In this story, Logan has yet to decide whether or not to sign up with the X-men. This is a LoganJean fluffy fic, some Scott bashing ahead (last chance for Cyclops fans to run screaming for the hills).

Category: Teen

Personal Note: This is my first stab at fanfic, so please be as kind as you can possibly be :D


A PLACE CALLED HOME

Logan would be the first to admit that it started out more or less as a game. After all he enjoyed the hunt. He enjoyed the fact, he could tell from his heightened senses, how flustered she became around him. He could tell as soon as he entered the room, that her heart and her breath quickened in his presence. He liked seeing her smile politely, at him and quickly avert her eyes, trying to avoid his.

And to make things more interesting is the fact he got the boyfriend, Scott, all riled up in a big angry ball. He took a quiet delight in sensing "the boy" Scottie, bristle with raw dislike, when he entered the room. Logan had a number of times, deliberately stood closer than necessary to Jean, with "the boy" looking on, baiting him to pick a fight. He did not like pretences and empty polite gestures, and "the boy" Scottie, reeked of it.

Logan began to feel sorry for Jean, for having to put up with "the boy", clearly it was a mismatch, he thought. He began to think may be he could teach her to see the error of her ways by drawing her attention away from "the boy", and chalk it up as an act of kindness on his part. He would be there of course to comfort her, giving her the speech of how it is better to know now she deserved someone better, someone who could draw her out of her shell; someone who would make her light up from the inside.

Logan decided to make his move on the eve of his departure from the Mansion; he had turned down the Professor's offer to join the X-men. He knew where Jean was, because it was a habit of hers to stroll around the Mansion's grounds at the end of the day. He followed the scent of peonies and roses, and it leads him to the furthest corner of the grounds. As soon as he sees her, he immediately picks up on her surprise, and delight in seeing him out here, yet her face does not reflect any of this. Unexpectedly he feels a lurch in his heart, and at a loss for words.

"Out for a smoke Logan?" Jean breaks the awkward silence, and he detects the barest hint of a tremor in her steady voice.

He looks down at his cigar. "Well..."

"Don't worry, I'm sure the Professor wouldn't mind your smoking out here," she walks pass him, her scent filling his senses, tugging at comfortable memories just out of reach.

"I came out here to see you."

Jean stops and turns to look at him. He can hear her heart beating faster, and he can feel his own catching up in rhythm.

"I'm leavin', and I wanted to say goodbye."

She gives him a sad smile. "I hope you find what you are looking for." Jean then proceeds to make her way back to the mansion.

"Jean…" Logan calls back to her, and that is when he hears her voice in his head, gentle but final. I'm with Scott, Logan.