Silver Moon, Grey Rose

Wolverine wandered under the opaque black sky filled with its dotted diamonds and sheer, round pearly lights. He pulled his black and yellow mask away from his angled face and stood within a clearing inside the pine wooded forest. The night wind blew softly against the thickness of his hair and his tight, rough skin. He leaned his head back slightly and closed his eyes while letting the glow of the silvery moon beams evade his clay toned face.

The thoughts in his mind at wanting to ring Cyclops's neck and killing him instantly escaped him. Instead his mind rested on images of Katrina, of Ebony. For the longest time he knew nothing about her or had gotten the slightest chance at befriending her. Within just one night their indifferences towards each other transformed into a full fledged night of endless lust and passion. It was also in that night he decided to help her and thus he transfered a slight portion of his healing abilities into her bloodstream; which also instantly cured the cut he sliced across the palm of her hand.

Their night together soothed his essence. He felt happy and free after they placed their clothes back onto themselves and left the room to speak with Storm and Cyclops, but that feeling was just as quickly erased at Cyclops's gutsy desicion in kicking him out of the X-MEN. The only explanation Cyclops was able to demonstrate to Wolverine at his decision was because of the fact that maybe Wolverine still felt emotionally attached; loving, towards Jean Grey.

His feelings for Jean had lingered within his heart for years, and yet his love for Katrina had blossomed anew. He hated to admit that maybe he had loved them both. It was hard to discard either one of them.

Jean was so kind, graceful, and intelligent; her hair fell like overlapping red rose petals to the small of her back and her eyes were like glistening sapphires. He loved her the moment he laid eyes on her and to learn that she was promised to that chump, Cyclops, angered him and a jealousy struck his heart more so than any moment throughout his existance. She was faithful to him, however, and he respected that, but in secret he still loved her and sometimes when they were alone, he could not stop himself from expressing in words his love for her. Sometimes he caught a glimpse of a slight blush to her cheek or neck, but never more than a thank you did he receive.

Then there was Katrina, or Ebony. He prefered to call her Ebony; her long strands of silken hair fell straight down the sides of her face and her back like black waterfalls, her eyes twinkled like midnight skies, her skin was so tender and fragile, and yet her mutant powers could change this beauty into a vicious beast. Luckily, his generous gift to her would also help her in controlling that monstrous passion to kill and to wander the earth like a lone creature.

Her past made him feel terrible for the way he had once treated her so unfairly and it also opened his eyes and allowed him to see that she truly was more like him than he wanted to notice. His mind had been so focused on his feelings for Jean that he completly overlooked this one good chance for himself to be with the lost and lonely, Katrina Blake.

His powerful senses knew she would no longer be barren. He knew she would give life once more and it was also to be his. He didn't know why, or care to logically break down any reasons as to why, but unlike his feelings towards the women of his past where he felt as though he were protecting them by leaving them or protecting himself from any of them hurting him in the end, he never feared that from Ebony, at least not in the way he feared of the others.

As the lonely winds blew wearily against his face and hair, he inhaled deeply and then exhaled as if cleansing himself of all of his past events that changed him into the brutal monster he had become for over 200 long years. He was going to put things right. He was going to challenge Cyclops and regain his trust and place back into the X-MEN and finally be there for someone else for a change rather than just fending and thinking of only himself. Jean would just be a friend and he and Ebony will bring a great, new warrior into the world.

"Cyclops—you're not going to win." his blades snapped from his knuckles and gleamed under the moonlight.

Meanwhile, at the care facility, Storm remained true to her word and stayed with Ebony until she awakened.

The sleeping young woman slightly winced in her slumber, and then she winced again. Her eyes fluttered open; her long fluffy black lashes lifted from the dip of her cheek and raised to the curve of her brow. As her vision stabalized and she was able to clearly see the angelic vision of Storm, she slowly felt herself sitting up from the stack of pillows behind her and rubbing her eyes.

"Storm, what happened?" everything suddenly came back to her. Her breath quickened as she glanced everywhere around the room searching for Wolverine. "Where is he? Where is Wolverine? Please tell me that what Cyclops commanded hasn't actually come through?"

Storm nodded . "I am afraid so, child." she answered. "Wolverine has been gone for hours, just as long as you have been dreaming away. I tried to convince Cyclops that this was not the right way, but he is full of anger and will not listen. I am sorry. There is nothing I or anyone else can do unless Professer Xavier returns."

"Then maybe we should contact him and let him know what happened!" Ebony sat up from the bed even further; her feet finally touched the floor after a full, dreamless night.

"Cyclops forbids it and I refuse to provoke his anger any further. We must lay low until Xavier says otherwise and you will do wise by listening to his commands." Storm approached Ebony as the angry young girl stood from the single bed and aimed for the door. "And besides—you would do wise by listening to me when I say that acting upon your emotions at this time will not do your child any good either."

Ebony stopped; her back still faced Storm for a moment and allowing the span of silence to linger for a few moments longer.

The narrow of her brows and the glistening of her eyes caused her to relive the moment of happiness she held when she was pregnant a year ago with her son. A hand gently lain above her womb as she turned and stared at Storm as if she were truly a heavenly vision who has granted her another chance for happiness.

"My child?-But my records—my physical..."

"Wolverine is to thank, my dear." Storm advanced and rested her hands upon Ebony's shoulders. "It is a rare kindness indeed what he has done for you. His ability to heal—he has given you a small taste of it. You and Wolverine will be parents soon. I congragulate you, Ebony."

Ebony tilted her head downwards to look upon her stomach, to glance upon the X shaped scar over her once empty womb where her precious baby had been removed so mercilessly. As she lifted the white hospital gown slightly, she noticed instantly—her scars were gone as if the cruel murder of her son had never happened. She traced the imaginary X with her trembling fingers and tried so desperatly not to cry. Storm smiled and watched Ebony's face and eyes look to the light after she had been imprisoned so by the darkness for so long.

"I'm pregnant!" Ebony whispered in a joyous tone. "With my Wolverine!"

Storm nodded and gave Ebony a reasurring embrace. "I beleive in him, my friend. I truly beleive he will return to you and your child. Have faith, Katrina—your life is only just begining."

And as Ebony left the care facilities and traveled down the halls with much an inner rejoicing of her heart; she went from being a tragic and destroyed human being with no hope for the future—to blooming in full; a rose of another color.