A/N: This chapter was a lot longer than I anticipated. I just... couldn't stop haha. I would like to thank my beta, Kerry, for helping me out. She's awesome. There's some brief language usage and some Logan/OC in this. Hope you enjoy it.

Some years had passed since that day. She'd lost three important people in her life in such a short amount of time. Ororo was now the headmaster of the institute. So when she'd gotten a call from her over the summer about a teaching position, she'd jumped at the opportunity. A lot had changed. She had just been promoted to the public liaison of the newly formed association for the Protection and Equal rights of Mutants and Non-Humans. She was going to be meeting with the new CEO of Stark Industries at the end of the summer to talk about future charity events and possible future investments into the association. Apparently the CEO was touched by all the presentations and talks she'd done since… that day. They were impressed by how much she was trying to repair and mend the bad name that mutants and non-humans had.

She had been living in Massachusetts for school but had moved back to New York, not only to teach at the institute, but to be close to Stark Industries as well. Making her way to the headmaster's office in the institute, she overheard a small commotion.

"Why the hell did you call her back here? You should have left her alone. She was recovering."

"She's one of us Logan. She's also a perfect match to teach our art studios and seminar sessions. That's something we're lacking here. Reading, writing, arithmetic, oh and training these children to defend themselves and the rest of the world, I think a little artistic influence wouldn't hurt. And don't act like you aren't happy she's here."

"I know that. I thought she had some huge gig in the city though. How is she going to do both?"

She chose that moment to poof in. "I can teleport remember? Sorry for eavesdropping."

Ororo smiled widely at her before coming over to give her a huge hug. Ayleah stood at a whopping 5'10" so she was tall enough to rest her head on top of hers as they hugged. "You get your stuff settled into your room?"

"Yes. By the way Logan, I'll be here most of the weekdays and teaching Tuesdays and Thursdays. I'll be at Stark Industries on weekends but also some days during the week. I doubt I'll need to be there every weekend though."

Logan gave her a stern look. "I thought you were going home, like your birth place home."

Giving him an equally serious look she released Ororo to stand right in front of him. "I'm not supposed to go home until I've found what I came here for. You know that."

"I think that's some bullshit too. You had me and everyone here thinking you were a mutant. No, you're pretty much an alien, or rather, a god. A god teaching art history classes to a bunch of kids." Scoffing, he stepped around her to leave but a firm grip on his bicep stopped him. He tried to pull free but her grip tightened.

"Don't test me Logan. I had my reasons. With everything that's happened, not only here but in New Mexico, the last thing I need is heat from back home or another realm. I've been here a long time and I like this planet and the people who live here, mutant and human alike."

"You aren't from the same place that blonde guy's from though right?"

Releasing him and then pulling him into a hug, she snuggled into his chest. "No, I am not. I'm from Vanaheim. Thor is from Asgard. Close, but no. It doesn't matter though. I doubt I'll find what I'm looking for anytime soon so I'll be here for a while."

"What about the other one. The one that gave NYC a beating?"

A look of disgust came over her face. "He hails from Asgard but his place of birth is different."

"Where?"

"Why the sudden interest in realms?'

"Just curious about where my friend's from. So what about him?"

"He's from Jötunheim. He is a frost giant and he was the son of the late ruler there. Odin, the All Father, found him as a baby during the war and raised him as his own. Whatever happened to him from the time I left to when he came to New York is beyond me."

"So I take it, frost giants are bad guys."

Sighing and moving away from his embrace, she made her way over to the sitting area near the windows. "Honestly, I have no qualms with frost giants. My people were involved with the war but… anyways, things have changed. We have some that live with us back home on the winter plains. I guess after what happened with the war and Loki trying to destroy all of Jötunheim with the Bifrost, some decided to leave. They aren't the bad guys, especially now that Laufey isn't in power. But Loki is how you'd say, 'off his fucking rocker'. I thought I knew him. I visited his family a handful of times when I was younger and before I left to come here. That was ages ago. He's obviously changed a lot since then."

"Enough of this downer talk." Ororo sat down next to her and draped an arm around her shoulders. "We've got our Leah back. That's all that matters. I don't blame you for hiding and claiming to be a mutant instead of who you really are. I still find it hard to believe that you've been here for as long as you have."

"Yeah well, I still haven't found what I've been searching for. Logan and I went to Spain for a little bit last summer because I thought I was close…"

"Just ended up being a fake though. Sorry about that kiddo." He took the spot free on the other side of her. She was between the two people she cherished the most on this planet. Two mutants. Sure she loved teaching the children here and getting the teenagers ready for going out into the world, but these two, she'd do anything for them. Sighing and placing her head on Logan's shoulder, she looked up into his eyes lovingly.

"It's alright. It wasn't your fault. We could blame that sneaky bastard from the museum though. That chipped necklace looked nothing like my mother's. Your sense of smell is always helpful. Best tracker around." She squeezed him around his middle quickly before a throat clearing was heard. "Whoops."

"You two seem to have some catching up to do. You're all settled in so I'll get in touch with you next week." Ororo moved off the couch and gathered her things from the desk before packing up to go. "I'm going to get some lunch. I'll see you guys later."

As soon as the door was closed, Ayleah reached for Logan's neck and pulled him for a long awaited kiss. It was chaste at first but after his shock had passed, he deepened the kiss and proceeded to push her down onto the couch. Before her shoulders had even reached the cushion, Logan landed face first into the couch. Blinking and then looking around at the now empty room, he heard a giggle floating on the air.

"Now you know how I don't like being pinned down. I do the pinning." Appearing above him, Ayleah landed hard on top of Logan's back, causing the air to rush out of his lungs. "Gotcha'!"

"Jesus woman!" Trying to turn around with her sitting on top of him was oddly hard for him to do. It felt like a car was on top of him, but he knew she was nowhere near that heavy. "Leah, lemme up."

"Nope."

"I thought that…"

"Bedroom. Now." Without giving him a chance to respond, she teleported them both to the room she was using during her stay at the institute. He was muffling something into the pillow so she decided to let him speak. Flipping him over with surprising strength, she leaned down mere inches from his face. "What did you say?"

Huffing and bringing a hand up to push his now-long hair out of his eyes, he glared at her the best he could, though the smile on his lips lightened the hard look he sent at her. "I forgot how rough you can be sometimes." Reaching up and putting his hands behind his head, he leaned up just enough to nuzzle her nose with his own. "I like strong women." He growled at her before grabbing her behind the head and pulling her the small distance needed to connect their lips again.

Hands were everywhere. It truly had been too long since she'd last been with him. Clutching at the flannel shirt he was wearing, her eyes flickered with a purple glow before his shirt vanished from his body. "Whoa!"

"Pants are next… Wolverine." She loved his codename. She whispered it huskily into his ear as her hands drifted down to the top of his pants, slowly slipping under the waistline. "So warm. So smooth." Dipping her head down to his chest, she nuzzled him lovingly. "Fuzzy too."

"Gah… Jesus woman. If you don't take em off, I will! I'm about to…" He was cut off by a firm hand over his mouth and a sharp look from the corner of Ayleah's eyes. She was no longer staring at him but rather at the ceiling near the corner of the room. His muffled question went unanswered with words but was instead returned with a firmer grip applied to his face. He went to grab her hand off his face, but was halted as she swung her head around so fast it looked like a blur.

"Shut it. Someone's in here." He arched a brow at her in question and responded to her with his mind. 'What?'

'I can smell something… off. Can't you smell it?' Inhaling deeply to try and catch whatever odd smell she was picking up, he shook his head slightly. He had the best nose around, if he couldn't scent it, then either there was nothing there to smell or… it was something very bad. Something in the shadows got their attention at the same time.

He could feel something sharp poking into his face. Looking down he watched in confusion as Ayleah's nails grew longer with sharpened points on the end. Looking up into her face, he looked on in… was it fear? Her clothes changed, along with her hair and everything else. In one moment, the professional woman he had known for years transformed into someone else.

"Off the bed. Now." As soon as she released his face, he scooted to the side of the bed near the window and got to his feet immediately.

"The hell is wrong with you?" Then he smelled it. The air had a charge to it, like a storm was coming. His claws extended on instinct and he growled low in his chest. "I smell 'em." She was still on the bed but her position had changed. She was in a crouching position ready to pounce on whatever was slowly making itself known in the corner of the room. He took a moment to really look at her now that the light from the window was hitting her back. Her hair had gotten longer, as it now fell well past her shoulders. He could see tints of blue and green as the rays from the setting sun fell upon her. Her clothes were all black and her shoes were nowhere in sight. Looking down at her hands that were balled up in the sheets of the bed, he saw that she indeed did have claws. Beautiful fingers tipped with claws painted black. "…the hell Leah…"

"GET DOWN NOW!" She had back flipped of the bed towards him and landed on him with such force that he was pushed to the ground. As his face hit the carpet a loud *boom* resounded through the room. His vision was obscured by the bed but he could see a bright almost blinding light coming from the corner of the room. He tried to lift his head up, but he hand quickly pushed his face back down.

"Lady Ayleah, are you there?"

"Sonovabitch!" She released him the moment she heard the voice. "What the fuck are you doing here? I thought you couldn't come here with the Bifrost being broken and your father does not have the dark magic necessary to send you here."

He picked his head up and finally got a look at who was now in the room with them or almost there with them. The transparent form of a tall muscular man in armor now stood in the center of the room looking at the both of them. His long mane of golden blonde hair was hidden under a silver-winged helmet. He took another step towards them which made Logan nervous. Stepping around Ayleah, he stood ready to strike. "I'd take a step back if I were you bub."

"Who are you? Who is this man Lady Ayleah?"

He took another step forward, completely ignoring Logan's warning. Logan went to lunge towards him. It was then that Logan saw what appeared to be a large hammer held firmly in his right hand. A hammer that was now being raised in his direction. Seeing that the situation was not getting any better, Ayleah stepped in between them both, hands extended at both of them. They both stopped mid-lunge. Logan suspended in the air, while the strange blonde apparition was frozen to the spot balanced perfectly on the balls of his feet.

Looking at Logan briefly, Ayleah smiled sadly before releasing him. "I'm sorry Logan." She turned around to the blonde man, but there was no smile for him. "What do you want Thor?"

"Lady Ayleah. I ask that you make me whole first before I inform you of my presence here. Please."

Huffing indignantly, she swiped her hand at the air in his direction. A moment later he was fully visible to them and apparently free of whatever she had done to immobilize him. He stumbled a bit before gathering himself. He stared at her with piercing blue eyes. He looked angry for only a second before a huge smile broke out over his face. He had reached her and had her in his arms in the air before she even realized it. He was twirling her around as she tried to dislodge his hands from her waist.

"Princess Ayleah! Sweet, sweet Lady Ayleah! I have missed you so. You are as fiery as ever!" He continued to spin her around in his arms, lavishing sweet words and words of affection about missing her as Logan looked on awkwardly beside them.

"What the hell Leah…" It was said barely above a whisper, but she had heard him. Looking over at him, she saw confusion and sadness in his eyes. Placing her hands on Thor's shoulders, she squeezed. Hard.

"Ack. That hurts."

"I know. That was the point. Put me down please." Groaning at the brief discomfort she had caused him, he put her down and rubbed at his shoulder and neck area. Thor looked sheepishly at her as she turned and walked over to Logan.

"Princess, I meant no disrespect. I have not seen you in centuries. I have missed our time together in Asgard."

"I understand that Thor, but I am on Midgard for a purpose, you know that. So why are you here?"

She had made it to Logan and had her arm wrapped around his waist. She had hoped he would return the gesture, but he stood stiffly in her embrace. It made her uneasy.

Taking on a much more serious look, Thor removed his helmet and got down onto one knee in a bowing fashion before placing his right fist over his heart. "By decree of the All-Father and the Queen of Vanaheim, I am to escort you back to Asgard."

"WHAT!?"

Looking up at her with sad eyes, he mouthed 'I'm sorry' before regaining his standing position. "I have no choice old friend. You are needed back home…"

Narrowing her eyes at him maliciously, she backed away from him and Logan. "That's how you got here. My sister used her magic." Shaking her head at him, she chanced a glance at Logan.

"A princess?" His claws retracted before he raised his hands to sink them into his hair. "Leah, what…"

"I'm sorry. So sorry sweetie. I just… I can't explain right now." Looking back at Thor she raised her voice angrily at him. "I am not leaving this realm. I must find my mother's relic. Besides, I am not due to meet with my sister for another Midgardian year. You'll have to drag me back!"

She reached for the windowsill and pushed up the frame. She had one leg out before she heard Thor speak. "They've taken your familiar as a means of insurance Princess. I was against it, but…"

"My sister ordered it."

"Yes, yes she did." With slumped shoulders, Thor walked past Logan to stand beside her by the window. He placed his hand upon her shoulder and squeezed gentler than she had him. "I do not want to have a hand in anything they plan to do to him if you do not return. So please, come along. I promise you I will personally escort you back after everything has been resolved."

Sighing in defeat, she lifted her hand up to meet his upon her shoulder. "Resolved… Very well." Coming back inside, she slowly shut the window. Turning back to Logan, she reached for him but recoiled as he pulled away from her touch. "I am sorry." Reaching for his face, she hastily placed a chaste but loving kiss there before he had a chance to pull away again. As she moved to release him, he grabbed her by the waist.

"Don't go. You don't have to." It was then that he saw her eyes and how different they were. Beautiful eyes the color of amethyst. He had always thought they were brown. He guessed this was how she truly looked. She had always appeared to him as a woman with light brown skin and dark brown hair that barely hit her shoulders. Now, she seemed to glow. Her eyes, her skin, her hair… everything. "I don't care if you're a princess, we were just starting to fix things. I don't love Jean anymore Ayleah! I lo-" Her finger pressed against his lips, halting his words.

"Don't say things you aren't sure of sweetie. I know we were just starting again but, it would have been temporary. Even though you may very well live a long life, you still age. Slower than normal humans, but still. We've been fooling around for a while. I fear you wouldn't have been able to really understand or deal with the real me." She curled her finger under his chin, her nail scratching at his beard appreciatively. "I'm a very… unique person." Her eyes glowed faintly as he stared into them. He couldn't look away. "This is most likely for the best. I'll lift this when I return if I deem it wise to do so." She leaned into him, her lips a mere breath away from his.

His lids were heavy, but he still leaned in for the kiss. "Lift what?"

"This." She pulled his head to hers as she chanted the spell to place a small void about her in his mind. He would remember her, but only as a fleeting thought. A friendly image of her. He would not feel pain or grief at her absence. Pulling away, she caught him as he lost consciousness. Supporting his neck and picking him up behind his legs, she carried him to the bed and laid him there gently. She pulled the covers up around his body and placed a kiss upon his forehead.

"You didn't have to do that. He cared for you."

"I know that, but my life is not meant for him to share. At least not for the amount of time that I would like. He'll be fine. I'll be fine."

"Yes." He nodded in agreement before coming to stand beside her. He placed his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his side. "We must go Ayleah."

"Of course." Walking to the small portal that still resided in the room, she picked up Thor's helmet from the floor and handed it to him. As he joined her at the portal, he took her hand and squeezed it reassuringly. "Can you tell me why I have to go back early?"

He placed his helmet back on with one hand and looked down at her sadly. "It's about my brother…"

As they walked through the portal together, he began telling her as much as he was allowed to about what she was about to face when they reached Asgard.