"Good morning Logan."

"Jean. Glad summer's here?" The pretty red head smiled and rolled her eyes, relief evident in her posture.

"Yes. I don't have to pound Biology into Bobby's head until this fall. I'm looking forward to this vacation. So what do you have planned?" Logan shrugged his shoulders and drank his coffee. She glanced up as he hesitated and looked at her. "What is it?"

"Can I ask you a question?" Jean blinked and sat down, interested.

"Sure."

"You're a girl, right?" She laughed as he sat down beside her.

"The last time I checked, yes, I am of the female species." He growled softly at her amusement. "What is it that you want to know?"

"Where do chicks like to go out to?"

"You mean, on a date?" Logan nodded. "Who's the woman? Do I know her?" Jean asked excitedly, the list of the staff running through her head for the likely candidate.

"Yeah. Where?"

"Oh, right. Well, is she a romantic at heart?" Logan thought for a moment, running through what he knew about Ororo. He realized it wasn't much.

"Not sure." Jean nodded and twirled a fiery lock of hair between her fingers.

"That's okay. Narrows it down. Is she an active person?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, does she like the outdoors?"

"Hell yeah." That fit Ororo to a T.

"Then take her to an outdoor café, then on a walk. Can't go wrong there, and its not overly romantic if that wasn't your intention. Did I help any?" She asked, looking at the clock and standing.

"Yep. Thanks Jeannie."

"No problem. Just tell me how it works out. Gotta go. One more day 'til summer." The wooden door swung back after her departure, leaving Logan to think. Why was he so nervous? He never cared if a woman liked him or not. It wasn't a question. He didn't mean to be cocky, but he was a handsome son of a bitch.

That brought a smile to Logan's face as he sat staring at his cold coffee. She did ask him out, so that means there's some interest in him, but he didn't want to mess it up. Ororo looked like she belonged in restaurants where they change your water every time you take a sip, while he looked like someone should be asking him 'supersize?'. Somehow he'd get through it. Just tell her where they were going.

*

"Good morning Jean." Ororo fairly sang as she stepped out of the elevator. Jean laughed, half riding on her own good mood and Ororo's as they fell in step down the hall.

"What's got you smiling?" The white haired woman smiled and sighed, shrugging.

"Many things. The sun's in the sky, the breeze is blowing, and I'm surrounded by friends. Why shouldn't that make me happy?"

Jean shrugged and shook her head. "No reason at all…OH! I wanted to tell you something!" She placed her hand on Ororo's arm and steered her into an empty classroom. "Guess what?"

"What?" Although they were alone, Jean leaned in conspiratorial like.

"Logan is going to take someone out." Ororo blinked.

"How do you know?"

"Because he asked me where to take her! I don't know yet, but I'm going to find out." Ororo stiffened, and willed herself to relax.

"Well, what did you tell him?" She asked nonchalantly.

"Well he said that the woman is active and likes the outdoors, so I suggested an outdoor café and a walk. There's one by Salem Park, I think it's called Martin's. I loved it, and I'm sure she will too." Jean shook her head. "I wonder who is it…"

"Well…who's on your list?"

"There's Natalie, Diana… Miriam is a bit too old for him…but we're probably all waaay too young for him anyway."

"No one else?"

"No. I don't think he'd be interested in anyone else. Oh, don't forget about the Midnight Water War. Scott and I will be waiting for you. Maybe you can find someone to be on your team. Gotta go." Jean opened the door and left quickly, leaving Ororo with a splitting headache.

He wouldn't be interested in anyone else? What did that mean? She groaned and sat down in the teacher's chair, cradling her head in her hands. What if Logan agreed to the date because he felt sorry for her. Oh that was a nice thought. A pity date. And the sad thing was, it would be the first date in a long, long time.

"Whatcha doing?" Ororo looked up, startled. Logan was standing by the door, looking at her curiously.

"How long have you been standing there?" She asked, flustered as she rose. He shrugged and came in, sitting on the desk close in front of her.

"Not long. What's the matter?" Ororo didn't look at him as she smoothed her hair into what she hoped looked acceptable.

"Nothing."

"Yeah, and I'm a morning person. I can smell it on ya. If you don't want to share, fine by me, but don't give me some bullshit." Logan watched her flicker, and he could tell she was surprised. He smiled a little. She should be surprised more often, she looked beautiful.

"Is this a mercy date?" Ororo asked quietly.

"What?" He looked confused.

"Is this a mercy date."

"A pity date? You mean where a guy will go out with an ugly girl just because he feels sorry for her?" She smiled ruefully.

"Yes."

"I don't see any ugly girl around here."

"You haven't answered my question Logan." Ororo said, crossing her arms. Logan cocked his head and looked her over from the floor up. Wearing a form fitting sundress, his eyes roved over her curves and he chuckled, standing.

"Well darlin', I shouldn't have to." He stood up, their bodies almost touching, and inhaled her scent, an involuntary growl coming from deep in his chest, causing her breath to catch in slight anticipation. Logan's nose followed the feel of Ororo's pulse down her neck, his hands ghosting over her arms. He could smell the desire rolling off of her in waves, and he closed his eyes to try and back away.

Taking a deep breath he stepped back, grinning. "I figured out a place we could go. Someone told me about –"

"How about we just skip going out." Ororo interrupted, knowing where he was going to suggest.

"My kind of girl." Logan smiled as he put his arms around her. Ororo laughed and hit his shoulder playfully.

"No, not that. I want you to be on my team for the water war." He looked confused.

"Water war?"

"Oh yes, I forgot you weren't here last year. Every year on the last day of our teaching year we have a water war. It's usually me, Scott and Jean, and if Charles isn't busy, he joins in. He'll be away at a conference, and I'll definitely be alone. Would you like to help me?" She laughed at his skeptical look.

"Uh…'Ro? Is this just a couple of hours of you three throwing little wimpy water balloons at each other? If it is, then I'll pass." Ororo shook her head.

"Not quite. Yes or no?" She looked at him pleadingly. Logan frowned and tried not to crumble.

"I don't know. That doesn't sound…" He trailed off as Ororo rose on the tips of her toes and planted a soft kiss on his lips.

"If you do this, I'll give you a treat." She offered.

"You know, if you said that at any other time, I would think you're treating me like a pet. Dammit all. Fine. When."

"Midnight. But meet me in my room at eleven forty five."

"Is that where I get my treat?" Logan asked, pulling her to him. One kiss was not enough for that man. She laughed and shook her head.

"That comes later. We have to talk strategy." Ororo looked up as the soft chimes rang through the halls.

"I'm late. See you later Logan." He watched her walk out, his head leaning over slightly without his knowledge. Oh yeah, he couldn't wait to see what his treat was.

*

"What's that Cyclops?" Logan asked as he looked up from tinkering with the other man's bike. A large gun looking thing was slung over the younger man's shoulders, and the weapon wasn't like anything he ever saw before.

"Oh…" Scott laughed, "Nothing." He laughed harder and went through the exit that led to outside, still laughing. Logan raised an eyebrow and shook his head, continuing with his work.

A couple of hours later he was walking down the hall, and noticed Marie crying at the top of the second floor steps. "Hey kid, what's wrong?"

"Ah whole summer!" She wailed, wiping her tears away.

"What?"

"Gone!" Logan's patience started to wear thin. He couldn't speak teenager.

"What's gone?" Marie looked at him as if he was a total idiot.

"Not what, who! Bobby's leaving for the summer. He's not getting back until the week before we start again."

"Is that all?" Logan asked before he realized that was the wrong thing to say. Tears welled up in the girl's pretty brown eyes and she blinked them away quickly, making him feel even more like shit.

"Is that all… well, Ah thought Ah had found someone who cared, but apparently AH was wrong. If you'll excuse me." Marie sniffed and stood. Logan growled and grabbed her gloved wrist, yanking her back down to the step.

"Look. I'm sorry. I didn't know you'd be that upset. What's wrong with you anyway?"

"Bobby is going to be gone for two months and three weeks. In that time he can meet some bimbo and fall in love with her. Then what am Ah supposed to do?" She glared at him as if he caused this to happen.

"Why does the girl he might meet have to be a bimbo?"

"If she's not me, she's a bimbo."

"Right. Aren't you going to write letters or shit like that?" he asked, scratching his head and feeling really uncomfortable about the whole topic. It's not like he wanted Bobby's ice hands all over her. But he'd be damned if he didn't want Marie happy.

"Nobody uses snail mail anymore. He's taking his laptop, so Ah'll just email and IM him."

"What's an IM?" Logan held up his hand as the teenager started to answer. "Nevermind. So what's the problem?"

"He won't be here!"

"But he's coming back. It's not like he could go to another school." Marie thought about that.

"That's true. Thanks Logan. Ah guess Ah just needed to realize he was coming back. Thanks." She fairly skipped down the steps as he watched her, not having a clue about what just happened.

"Aww…that's just so sweet." Logan turned quickly, and growled. Jean laughed and closed her classroom door. "It's true."

"Just don't tell anyone. I have a reputation to uphold." She rolled her eyes as he joined her. "So, what's in your hands?" Jean looked down at the large balloon like things she was holding.

"Oh, it's just something for later. From what I heard, you'll find out. It's for the water war."

"I keep hearing about it, but I don't know a damn thing." He walked into the elevator with her, a quiet hum smothering the quiet as it moved quickly.

"You'll see. But each team member has to bring their own supplies. It's really fun, but we're all usually so sore afterwards that we can only think of doing it once a year." The doors slid open, and the metallic surfaces greeted him as they stepped out. It was a quick walk to the med lab, and it was done peacefully, in comfortable silence.

The doors wooshed open and Ororo was already there, looking through a cabinet filled with medications, and on a table close to her, many bags with names on them. "Hey 'Ro. Getting everyone's meds together?" Jean asked as she put down her bundles and went to help.

"Yes. Thought I'd get a jump on it, instead of starting at three o'clock. Did you know allergy medicine accounts for more than half of all of this?" She motioned over the groups of pill bottles. "I don't regret never having experienced allergies."

"Count yourself lucky darlin'. My nose is so sensitive, if I'm around enough pepper, I'll start to sneeze and my eyes'll water up."

"He means he'll begin to cry." Jean said to Ororo in a stage whisper, and the women started to laugh.

"Yeah, keep laughing." He watched the two women work until it was done, happy to while the time away.

*

Logan didn't realize how quiet the house was when it wasn't filled with noisy teenagers. A skeleton staff, Rogue, and Jubilee were the only people in the large school, a comfortable silence blanketing the premises. He looked at his watch and closed his bedroom door, taking the stairs to the fourth floor. Sad to say, he didn't know there was a fourth floor, and when the elevator doors opened, different scents assailed him.

Jasmine and clover, some fern and some cuts of weeping willow. Lilacs and lilies, orchids and roses. It was a veritable garden inside the mansion, and the elevator let him out right in front of a door. Stepping out he caught a whiff of cherry blossom, one of the most delicate scents he had ever smelled, and started to smile.

"Ah, I thought I heard something. Right on time." Ororo smiled as she came into view, lugging a large box.

"What's that?" Logan asked, not really caring. He was staring at what she was wearing. Or more importantly what she wasn't wearing. One of the skimpiest bikini's he had ever seen was almost plastered on the best body he ever witnessed. A pale lavender two piece concealed no flaws or flesh, and Ororo bared enough cleavage to classify her as an illegal weapon. Damn.

"Just some equipment. Can you help me drag it to the table? Then we can talk and work at the same time." She gave him a half excited, half seductive smile…or was it just him. Logan blinked and picked up the box, putting it on the table beside a sink and some empty terra cotta pots. The large sink was filled with almost bursting water balloons, and he picked one up, smirking.

"You told me they wouldn't be wimpy." Ororo sighed and took what looked to be a large gun out of the box, and started loading.

"They aren't." Logan stuck his head in the box, taking out two more gun looking things, examining them.

"What's this?"

"A water gun. Just slightly…modified." She laughed and started loading the next one. "Okay. The Water War is simple. It's like capture the flag, but a bit more vicious. No one ever wants to join us because we play kind of rough."

"I like it rough."

"I'm sure you do. Here." She handed him the largest weapon. "It's bulky but it has a lot of power. Just don't hit anyone in the head. We made that mistake, and Scott didn't wake up for a couple of hours."

"Yeah, right."
"You still don't believe me, do you?"

"It's nothing personal, but this doesn't look like it can do much damage, let alone fire." Ororo nodded and took it back, aiming it at his chest.

"I warned you." She fired, a water balloon firing out of the cannon at one fourth the speed of sound. The small projectile caused Logan to stumble backwards, falling to his butt. "I didn't have it up all the way. Guys we hit on four, girls we hit on three."

"I can see why." Logan laughed, wiping the water out of his eyes. "This might be fun."

*

"Where are they? She said Logan was coming."

"He might have backed out."

"That's not fair. I wanted to nail him a couple of good times. You know, on five."

"We haven't tried five yet."

"Good a time as any, don't you think?" Jean laughed and shook her head. The Danger Room door slid open, and slid shut.

"Is this a good program?"

"The jungle? Yeah…oh crap. She's wearing it again." Scott said gleefully, charging up his weapon.

"What?! The bikini? She- 'Ro, you promised!" Jean stood up, hands on her hips. Ororo smiled up at her and fired, causing her to tumble back to the brush.

"It's quite effective, don't you think?" Scott mused, watching Logan and Ororo run to their post.

"If you drool, I swear you're sleeping on the couch." Jean groaned as she picked up her weapon. "Come on, I put caches of water balloons everywhere, and I want to get to the gauntlet." Scott frowned as he followed his fiancé.

"Ugh, I hate the gauntlet."

*

"That was low."

"Oh please. She would have done the same if she wasn't distracted." Logan looked her up and down, trying to keep his mind on business.

"Well I can see why. What was she talking about you promised?" Ororo laughed as they ducked behind a tree.

"I wore this last year, and Scott wasn't much help. But as you can see, she won't hesitate to stoop to what she called my underhanded tactics to win as well. I have bras with more material than her bathing suit." She pulled him down quickly, and a large wet spot appeared on the side of the 'mountain' they were leaning against.

"If I had known earlier what this place was, you better believe I would have come here." Logan fingered the leaf right in front of his face, amazed at the lifelike feel.

"You're going to have to have an access code then." Ororo commented offhandedly, taking a shot at what looked to be a moving head. The 'head' fell and bounced back, moving along a track. "What in the world?"

"That's pretty smart. That's what the dick was doing earlier." Ororo turned to him quickly.

"What? What was he doing earlier?"

"Three times today he was moving stuff and laughing."

"Traps." She fumed. Logan's face couldn't contain his grin.

*

"Should we split up?" Jean asked as she adjusted the zoom on her binoculars.

"Nah, we don't want to press our luck. Besides, you placed our stashes and I put down the traps. We could easily lose. You see them?"

"No." Jean and Scott were standing on what looked to be a bank, beside a rushing river. They were on elevated land, and could see almost the whole simulated valley.

"Surprise." Jean turned around and was knocked into the river, the red head sputtering as she came to the top.

"I'm going to get you 'Ro!"

"In your dreams Jean!" Ororo waved as her best friend floated out of sight. Scott smirked at her and released his beam, slamming the large, water filled bag out of her slim hand. "That's not fair."

"All's fair in war."

"Then you'll enjoy this." Scott turned around just in time to see Logan set his gun on five, take aim, and fire.