A/N: Seeing as how I am planning on being away from my laptop for about a week or so, I decided to update a bit earlier than anticipated. I made this chapter a bit shorter than I normally would but the next chapter will be quite long ^_^. I am trying to get back into the spirit of updating. I don't want years to go by anymore. Enjoy my dark twisted fantasies.

Chapter theme song: 'I need a doctor' by: Eminem ft. Skylar Grey and Dr. Dre

Logan

"What is it, kitty?"

"The Brotherhood will attack us upfront?"

"Don't doubt it for a second, Bub." I paused and took a small sip of my coffee. As usual it was stale and lukewarm. The damn coffee in the break room was always stale and lukewarm because some people, Scott-Pretty-Boy-Summers, tend to make it too damn early in the morning before anyone has a chance to wash the must off their balls. "The professor said to be ready for anything and everything. That means even the newbie freshmen need to get their act right and get in some serious trainin'."

Kurt raised his hand. "Uhm, professor Logan, should we be concerned? Magneto is a force to be reckoned with and we are drastically outnumbered." A small wave of chatter erupted from scared-pantless students- mostly freshman. I rolled my eyes. " Should we be the least bit concerned?

"Kurt, do me a favor."

"Yes?"

"Shut up. The Brotherhood has jacksh- I mean nothing on us, alright?" I closed my eyes and rubbed my temples. I had a migraine something serious and it was not even noon. I detested the fact the old guy made me combat instructor. He said, and I quote: "You are carnal; kids now days need that animalistic instinct to come out in battle. Teach them that." Yeah, right. These kids are soft as goddamn marshmallows and second guess their instincts. I can't teach Darwinism 101. "Anymore stupid questions?"

There was silence. I was relieved. "Good. Now grab a sparin' partner and get ready to learn hand-to-hand combat. Using your God-given mutant abilities only gets you so far during battle. A true warrior knows how to use their fists as lethal weapons."

I watched silently as the small hoard of students paired and suited up for the day's combat lessons. I was supposed to be teaching this course with Scott-Pretty-Boy-Summers but I could not last ten minutes with that kiss ass. Always by the book and calling for strategy. There is nothing strategic about saving your own ass in the heat of the moment. Scott would resort to some mantra he had recently learned in one of his nerd books to diffuse the situation. I, on the latter, would let the sons-of-bitches meet good ol' Betsy and Martha. We differ in teaching methods, but also in personality. He is air and I am fire. Day and Night. Given the chance, I'd gut the poor fish if it wasn't for those weapons of mass destruction he called eye sockets. Even personality and teaching methodology aside, he and I could not be in a room for more than a few seconds; unless the old guy wanted to risk his institute have some major cosmetic repairs done as result. Ever since he found out about my on and off affair with Jean, we have allowed mass tension to build up between the two of us as a last ditch effort to avoid conflict. The moment has yet to present itself, but when it does WW3 couldn't compare to the showdown that would take place.

"Hurry it up ya' sissies!" I roared, making my way to the door to meet an amused Charles Xavier. "I ain't got all damn day!"

"You sure are great with children, Logan."

I scoffed and flipped the old man the bird. He chuckled and entered the classroom, earning delighted greetings from my students. I groaned and followed. "Hello students. I hope Professor Logan is being nice to you all." He turned to look at me. I remained stoic. "He can be…difficult from time to time but give him a chance."

"Got that right." I heard Jubilee retort, earning a group laugh. I rolled my eyes and took out one of the cigars I had in my pocket, digging through the other to find my spare lighter. I lit it and whispered some type of profanity back in that direction before earning another round of laughter. Damn kids.

"I do not want to take away from your combat training because we are at the brink of war."

"Are we safe here, professor?" Angel asked. "Should we call the other assembly of X-men?"

"It has already been taken care of, Angel. This is the safest place on the planet I can guarantee you that. The X-men in South America, Asia, and Europe remain on stand-by just in case an all-out war erupts between the Brotherhood and the X-men. We far outnumber the Brotherhood as far as recruits go but as far as the soldiers they do have, they are well-trained, seasoned mutants and we do not want to risk any casualties. Training is more imperative than before and I need every eye, ear, and mind alert. Understood?"

"Yes, Professor." We all spoke in unison. It was refreshing to see the old man give a stern talking to every once in a while and not sugar coat the hard, cold facts. The Brotherhood was undoubtedly stronger than the X-men. It was crucial as much training and exercises be put into place to prepare even the smallest of heroes for combat. Magneto never was one to play fair.

"Good." He nodded in agreement. "Good. Now that all the important business in taken care of, I have special news to report; which I why I stopped in this morning before overhearing Kurt's question and professor Logan's much…anticipated remark."

"I aim to please." I headed back over to my desk and grabbed my forgotten cup of pathetic coffee, silently cursing that damn Summers.

"We will be having a special visitor from the X-men: UK division drop by within the next few hours for a few days. This person will be a special guest lecturer in hand-to-hand combat with Professor Logan and be a breath of fresh air to this institute." The professor paused, smiling. I raised an eyebrow. "This person may be a familiar face to some, most of your actually, so please extend yourselves with open arms when she arrives."

"She?"

"Yes, there are many female members of the X-men, despite the name, Spike."

I watched kitty and Jubilee nudge the grumbling youth before excitingly asking who the mystery guest would be. My guess was the kick-ass chick, Afrikaa. I saw the woman in action during an epic battle overseas against Mystique. She was heavily skilled with the machete and a master swordsman. If not Afrikaa, Black Axe's daughter, Eleyna. She was deadly; drastically resembled her father not only physically but skillfully. She may be rather young, but was as lethal as they come.

"Our very own Ororo Monroe will be visiting the university for the next few days and co-instructing the class with Professor Logan. I am sure you all will make Ororo feel much at home."

I spit out my coffee, earning a few quizzical stares. Damn it all! "…Ororo is coming…back?"

Professor Xavier nodded. "Logan, if you and I need to talk in private…"

"Why is she coming back? Why after a goddamn year as she decided to grace us with her presence? She joined the X-men UK division?" So many questions coursed through my mind that I had little time to absorb the fact that the only woman that had the ability to make me feel…human was set to arrive on campus within a few hours. What was I to say to her? Would she even want to see me?

"Logan, you and I will discuss matters on a more personal level a bit later. Until then, you have a class to teach and I have a barbeque to plan for Ororo's arrival."

"We're having a party, professor?" Kitty exclaimed, excited. Everyone was gleefully chatting it up about the upcoming arrival of the legendary Ororo Monroe. She would be a new face to some but most knew her and knew her well. If anything, she was an older sister figure to a lot of the young women in the university and the 'first crush' to a vast majority of the little boys with raging hormones. "Can Rogue and I make a cake for Storm?"

"She always did love our baking, Professor."

He nodded, pleased at the reaction of the young women and men of my class. "You most certainly may. I do not oppose of anything special you may want to bring to the table to help commemorate this special occasion."

"How long will she be staying?"

"Only a few days unfortunately; She and her husband, Black Panther, have confidential X-Men business back in London that need their undying attention. Remember, we are still on the job. "

Husband!? Husband!?

"…Ororo…is married?" I managed to whisper, gaining a even more wondering eyes. "When did this happen?"

The professor had overheard me mumble under my breath and led me out into the hallway for a small breath of air. I silently took a long, well-deserved drag of my forgotten cigar and blew the smoke against a nearby wall. Charles remained silent, observant. He knew about my rendezvous with both Jean and Ororo and knew Ororo's reasoning for leaving so abruptly the way she did. He never said anything about her disappearance, not once. Though I could never fully understand what went on inside Xavier's head half the time, it was uncertain if he blamed me for Storm leaving. Out of all people, it was expected she at least say goodbye to him. He was the closest thing to a father she has had since her folks died back when she was still a young girl. I couldn't help but wonder, did he blame me? Was all of this really my fault? Did Ororo really leave because I couldn't keep it in my pants?

"Logan…"

I cut him off. "Professor, I'm sorry alright. I mucked up…everything." I growled, slamming my fists against the classroom door in a fit of sudden rage. I really did mess things up this time. "I never should have fooled around wit' both Jean and Ro'. Ro' had real love for me and I screwed that up along wit' everything else."

He sighed. "Logan, your involvement with both Jean and Ororo had some part in her leaving but it may have been much deeper than what appeared on the surface. She seemed troubled, not just with you."

I scoffed, taking another hit of my cigar. "Professor, I ruined Ro'. I should have gotten the hints when I saw she was hurtin' herself cuz' I was too stupid to see what I was doing to her."

"What are you talking about, Logan?"

I eyed the professor before taking another hit. I breathed in. out. "Ororo was self-mutilating for a bit. I caught her wit' some strange scars on her wrists one evening and she swore it was nothin' so I left it alone. I should have acted sooner. She displayed signs of depression but I thought it was just a phase."

"You knew about Ororo having mental issues and did not report it to me?!" his voice rose a notch, I stepped back. "Logan! How stupid can you be?!"

"I know, I know, alright? I should have said somthin' but I didn't want to believe it. C'mon, would you? The beautiful, talented, intelligent Ororo Monroe resorting to using some makeshift razor to cut herself to relieve stress? That sounds like a fairy tale in my book, Bub."

"That may be so but I would have looked into it, Logan. We take those kind of accusations very seriously. Given the predicament you put her in, I would have found to believe it!"

I got defensive. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Exactly what it said." He moved several inches closer, tapping the foot of my brown leather boots with his stainless steel wheels. "You and your selfishness caused Ororo to resort to mutilating herself and you didn't tell me! She could have killed herself, Logan!"

"I get it, alright!?" I roared, punching the door again with much more vigor and rage. I left a rather large dent and loosened a few hinges. I could hear my class of students crowd against the door but I didn't give a damn. I was becoming frustrated at my own faults. The professor was right and as much as I wanted to convince myself he was wrong, he wasn't. I should have said something. I should have been by her side and been there to aid her when she needed me most. I should have never even put her through that amount of heartache. No wonder Ororo left and married another man…I sure as hell was not worthy.

Xavier grew quiet. A long time passed before either of us spoke again. "Logan…what was going on between you three? Why did things happen the way they did?"

"Because of my own insatiable desires." I ran sweaty hand through my dampened mane and let out a small sigh. "I grew greedy and wanted my cake and eat it too."

"Do you love Ororo? Did you ever love her?"

"Of course I loved Ororo, I still do! The night she went AWOL I sort of told her that I wanted to be with her but needed more time."

"For?"

"I don't know, Professor, damn! Get all the excess sex out of my system I guess. Ororo liked passionate, slow love and Jean craved raw and ravenous. I wanted the best of both worlds, I guess." I took another well-deserved hit of my cigar, extinguishing against the pant leg of my denim jeans shortly after. "I loved Jean and Ro', but Ororo had my heart and she knew it."

I watched the old man let out an uncomfortable cough. I chuckled. "Logan, I was once a young stallion myself. I was not always old and handicapped. I had my fair share of gorgeous women and was once in the same predicament."

I scoffed. " Dirty dog."

He grinned. "We all have our skelatons, Logan. Not even I am exempt; but it is how you choose to deal with it that makes you a man."

"What do you suggest?"

"Ororo will arrive this evening around six. I was going to send either Kitty or Kurt to retrieve her but I want you to go get her." I started to speak but he cut me off with the rising of his hand. He continued. "Talk to her, apologize, make things right. It may not happen overnight but it will lift a weight from your shoulders."

"What if she wants nothing to do with me, Professor? What if I burned that bridge for good?"

"Only she can answer that, Logan. Until then, try and mend the broken bond between you and Ororo. I know she loved you…real love and as a man that has experienced that kind of love that happens only once in a lifetime, it never truly deteriorates. If she truly loves you, she will forgive you."

"I guess…" was my only reply.

"Give it some thought; in the meantime you have a class to teach and judging by the heavy amount of whispering that can be heard through the door, your entire class was eavesdropping on our entire conversation."

"Damn kids!" I yelled. The sounds of feet scurrying away from the room door echoed throughout the small corridor.

Xavier chuckled, maneuvering down the hallway. "Six this evening, Logan. Do not forget."

I couldn't even if I had tried.