With the utmost gratitude, I thank you all who have reviewed, followed, and favorited this story. It seriously means a lot and keeps me motivated to continue to pump out chapters! Without further ado, here's chapter two!
Chapter Two
Logan's mutation allows him many beneficial advantages that most mutants lack. Among, of course, his Adamantium claws, his ability to heal has proved itself to be of great worth. Gun shots. Diseases. Hell, he not only survived the detonation itself, but the extreme radiation of the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan. His body's recovery rate has always been up to par.
Yet, with all of that success in mind, his powers were now suddenly faced with a new enemy. Something that they really hadn't dealt with all that much before. A beast that had Logan stumbling around the hallways of the mansion with bloodshot eyes and a weary expression. Had him mumbling unintelligible words of what one might assume is an attempt at soothing at the small, but very vocal, and very unhappy baby in his arms. A monster with a definite, distasteful name. Sleep deprivation.
"C'mon, kid, for the love of Christ go to sleep," Logan almost begs, shifting the wailing infant in his arms. "It's fucking three in the morning. How the hell haven't you tired yourself out?! If you have another mutation that keeps you from sleeping…"
He's too exhausted to even finish his train of thought, resorting instead to rocking his daughter despite how sore his arms feel from this repeated action. The baby had only been at the mansion for a day or so now. And, because he was just that lucky, had been able to get four, maybe five hours of restless sleep at most. But the infant mutant's relentlessness was wearing him down and making him remember why exactly he had never wanted kids in the first place. But here he was, more lifeless than a zombie, trying to hush a child he had only just learned was his.
"Still no success?"
Logan nearly jumps at the unexpected question, miraculously not drawing his claws, for the baby's sake, as he whips around to face none other than Jean Grey herself. She stands before him, sporting a blue robe that falls just passed her knees and a pair of fuzzy, white slippers. Her deep, red hair draping too perfectly over her shoulders for someone who has been sleeping in bed. Not that it mattered. Hell, she could've been swimming in sewage and he'd still find her absolutely breathtaking.
"Logan?"
He immediately snaps back into reality, hoping that the heat that traveled up to his face did not create an evident blush for her to see. Jean merely continues to smile at him, arms crossed over her chest as her gaze flickers down to the baby. While her crying had finally ceased, the infant's small noises maintained the uncertainty of whether or not the wails would restart. Letting out a long, overdue exhale, Logan's gaze meets the telepathic woman giving her a small, tired smirk.
"Shouldn't you be cuddled in bed with Scott, or have you finally had enough of his big boy goggles poking you while you try to sleep?"
Jean's smile doesn't falter as she rolls her eyes. "Clearly you need sleep, usually your jabs are more creative than that." She shakes her head as Logan snorts. "You know, you still haven't picked out a name for her. It's been a few days and she can't be referred to as baby or infant forever. And certainly not X-23."
"Can't decide between Banshee or Tornado Siren," he snorts when Jean gives him a look. "What? I'm not good at these things. I wasn't expecting to be thrown into the role of Mr. Mom. And besides," he looks down at the baby. "Knowing me, I'd probably pick out something stupid and she'll be teased for the rest of her life. Or hate me and kill me. Maybe both."
"Well, I am sure something will come," the telepath says with some assurance. "I know it's so sudden and it's not like knowing you are going to become a parent several months before it happens, but you adjust well to anything better than anyone else I know." She pauses, seemingly thinking for a moment. "...Depending on what said thing is. Okay, you eventually manage to make things work."
He huffs, shrugging his shoulders that feel much heavier than they should. The threat of unconsciousness looms over his head, sleepiness clouding over his thought process. Hell, even the floor was starting to look like an incredibly comfortable place to nap. Jean, now appearing to notice the other mutant's fatigue, gives him a sympathetic look. She holds out her hands and it takes Logan a minute to realize she wants the baby.
"Give me the baby and go get some sleep," she says, continuing before Logan has a chance to rebut. "I'm not asking, I'm telling. And if you try to give me an argument, I'll be forced to use my powers to make you think otherwise."
A moment of silence falls between the two, Jean's stare not leaving Logan's as she waits for a reply. Finally, sighing deeply in defeat, he carefully hands his daughter over to the woman. The telepath smiles, shushing the infant when she starts to fuss. Logan blinks tiredly, seeming to struggle to figure out what to do next.
"Go," Jean says gently, resting a hand on his shoulder. "Before you collapse."
"Wake me up if you need me to take her," he mumbles, words slurring. "Or if you just wanna come hang out in my room. I won't tell Scott if you don't."
Jean gives a snort, shaking her head before nudging him. "Go," she repeats. "I'll take good care of her."
Logan mumbles something, but it's too quiet and slurred for Jean to comprehend. She watches as he shuffles down the hallway, slightly concerned that at any moment he might collapse and remain unconscious there in the hallway. Something that she knew would be absolutely terrifying for the students of the school to discover when they left their rooms in the morning for breakfast. When Jean feels confident enough that the man made it successfully back to bed, she lets out a small sigh, peering down at the baby cradled in her arms.
"You're in for a wild ride here," she whispers, staring down at the baby. "There is never a dull moment when you're at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. But that's what makes us unique and fun. And in the case of your father...well...that will definitely be something." Jean's mouth curves into a gentle smile as she notices the infant looking up at her, almost as if she could understand her words. "Welcome to your new home, little one."
"I'm sure as hell not wearing that!"
The expression of pure disgust on Logan's face as he glares at the bright pink, floral patterned baby carrier Storm holds up is almost too comical for both her and Jean to bear. Somehow both women had managed to convince their male counterpart to go baby shopping with them. Perhaps it worked because he was too exhausted to argue. Or maybe he was actually beginning to take this seriously. Whatever the case, they were now standing together in one of the many stores they would explore that day inside of the large mall.
"Why not?" Jean presses, clearly enjoying his overreaction to something so trivial. "I think it compliments you nicely. It gives you more of an...approachable look."
"I'd rather have Magneto yank my Adamantium claws out of my ass than go around looking like some pansy," he growls, folding his arms over his chest. "There's a reason car seats and strollers were invented." Logan's eyes flicker over to the infant who stares in return from her new seat. "Sorry, kid, but I'm not wearing a baby backpack."
"Well, it's going into the cart nonetheless," the telepath replies, tossing it into the basket. "Who knows, it might be of use at some point."
Ignoring Logan's frown, Jean began to push the cart, Storm keeping up with her pace as Logan trails behind. He didn't know why the two women couldn't have done this by themselves. It's not like he knows anything about shopping, much less when it comes to kids. But he had let them drag him out under the belief it wouldn't take long. Which, he now realizes, is far from that case.
"It never hit me how many cute outfits were out there for babies," Storm says with a smile, holding up a collection of onesies. "I'm starting to feel baby crazy and I'm not even her mother." She plops them into the cart, her attention drawing to another section. "Look at their nursery section! The bedding options, wall art, decorations…"
"I'm not turning my room into a nursery," Logan interjected. "She can deal with just a crib, it's not like she has an opinion either way."
But some of the items found their way to the shopping cart anyway and Logan, too fed up at this point to argue, just allows it to happen. It's their money that's being wasted. And they couldn't blame him when he went about throwing them away later. He had given them multiple warnings after all. So he lets them do what they want, hoping that perhaps it would make this whole trip end faster.
When Storm and Jean go off to look at something that Logan is sure he mostly likely will not give a damn about, he decides to stay back with the cart, remaining with the baby. He exhales, rubbing the side of his face tiredly. The phrase, "sleeping like a baby" was full of absolute shit. There had been so far no sleep on either his or X-23's part. And yet, while the thought of curling up in one of the nearby cribs somehow sounded appealing, the one who should be wanting the bed for sleeping is watching him intently instead.
"You know, there's this great thing called sleep," he says, eyeing his daughter. "And if you try it for more than several minutes, it's actually really cool." The infant merely blinks and Logan lets out a long sigh. "Christ, I'm talking to a baby, this insomnia thing is messing with my head."
"What a cutie," comes a feminine voice from behind. "Is she yours?"
Turning, Logan sees a woman standing before him. His eyes scan over her, making a mental note of the weird sling she sports that is somehow supporting an infant much larger than his inside. She gives him a friendly smile, taking a step forward to seemingly admire his daughter. A strange feeling of discomfort comes over the mutant as he watches the woman ogling his child. It's a ridiculous feeling he knows, and yet he almost wants to reach forward and yank the cart away from her prying eyes.
"Yeah," the words sounding much harsher than he intended. "She is."
The woman, not appearing to have picked up his tone, continues to smile as she glances down at her own baby before returning her gaze to Logan.
"How many months is she," she asks, her tone sickeningly friendly to the mutant whose lack of sleep left him with an immense feeling of irritation.
"Don't know," he says truthfully.
"Oh," her smile falls slightly, a look of uncertainty crossing her features. "Well," she exclaims, almost seeming to struggle with keeping a pleasant voice. "What's her name? It must be beautiful seeing as she is such a doll!"
"Doesn't have one yet," he answers dryly. "Any other questions?"
The woman places a hand on her infant as if attempting to protect him from Logan. Pressing her lips together, she nods at him without another word, pulling her cart behind her at a rather quick pace. At that moment, Jean and Storm finally return, both carrying god knows what in their arms. Catching a glance at the retreating woman, Storm gives Logan a look of curiosity?
"What was that about?" She asks, Jean also taking notice of the woman before she disappeared. "...Did something happen?"
"Just someone who needed to mind her own damn business," he shrugs, taking note of everything in both of the women's arms. "Are we done or do we have to call Charles and ask to loan money in order to buy this whole place?"
The baby's sleeping, much to her father's relief, when they finally arrive back at the mansion. After Jean turns off the engine, Logan is the first to get out. Quietly, he opens the car door and, surprising for a man of his size and strength, manages to remove the infant seat without any sound whatsoever. He glances down at his daughter, secretly finding the pouty face she's making in her sleep pretty damn adorable.
"Take her inside," Storm whispers, pulling Logan from his train of thought. "Jean and I can start bringing stuff in. We can get Scott or some of the other adults and older students to help if need be."
"You sure?" He asks, looking at both of the women before turning his attention to the many bags that sat in the back. "I can get her inside and then come out to help."
Jean merely shook her head, "We can handle it," she assures him. "Go get her situated before she wakes up."
Logan nods, mumbling a word of thanks as he carefully walks, keeping in mind not to jostle her, up the steps and into the school. He flinches when the sounds of overly excited students meets his ears. It's then he remembers that it's Saturday, Charles always having classes dismissed over the weekend before resuming once more on Mondays.
Cursing to himself, he tries to hurry as best he can to his room before one of the students manages to rouse the baby. Luck thankfully on his side, he makes it into the bedroom and closes the door with a soft click.
Sighing, Logan moves over to his bed and, once more with the utmost care, sets the car seat down on the mattress. Briefly the infant begins to stir causing the older mutant to fall completely still. Once he's sure she isn't going to wake up, he slowly lowers himself beside her, take a much needed sitting break. Momentarily, he closes his eyes, the feeling of complete exhaustion rushing over him relentlessly. To him, taking a nap sounds spectacular. Hell, if he could, he'd even consider going into hibernation like actual wolverines in a heartbeat. Well, perhaps not that far, but his body was craving sleep far more than any other needs.
"You're seriously wearing me out, kid," he murmurs, eyeing the baby as her chest rises and falls with each breath. "Not about to let me catch a break, are you?"
He snorts to himself shaking his head. He was doing it again, talking to the infant as if she could actually understand each word. It's a silly concept, he realizes that, and yet, somewhere in the back of his mind, he actually enjoys speaking to her. She couldn't, and certainly wouldn't be able to comprehend his words for quite awhile, but it's still nice thought. Then there's the added bonus that she can't talk back. But, he wouldn't mind the least bit when she's finally able to.
"To be honest with you, it's been years since I've felt this drained," he continues, looking to his child. "Now that I really think about it, maybe it's been as far back as when I was a kid." He pauses, trying to recall the old memories from centuries before. "Back in Canada where I grew up, my brother-your uncle I guess, Victor, and I would go to our grandparents during the summer. They lived on a cattle ranch and every morning, my grandfather, his name was Joseph, would wake us up bright and early to help out with the livestock and herding the cows from pasture to pasture."
Logan pauses, watching the infant carefully before he's completely sure she's still fast asleep and not rudely awakened by his recollections.
"It was tiresome, especially when Victor didn't do his part. But I couldn't really complain about it, my grandfather would whip us both regardless of who was to blame about the chores not being finished," he exhales, lips forming into a small smile. "But no matter what, even when we were in trouble with our grandfather, my grandmother, Laura, always gave us complete affection. I can't even remember if she even got the slightest displeased with us."
Like a light bulb clicking the instant someone pulls its chain, a thought sparks in Logan's mind. He looks at his daughter, seemingly studying her over like an art student would do when being faced with a historical masterpiece. He smirks, a rather pleased expression coming across his features.
"Laura," he says, playing with the name as if to see if it felt right. "Laura Howlett." He nods to himself, his smile widening as his attention returns to his daughter. "What do you think? Does Laura sound good?"
As if in response, Laura's lips part in such a way that it looks like she's smiling.
"So it's settled," he grins. "Laura Howlett it is."
And just like that, the label of X-23 was completely stripped away, and in its place a strong, well deserved name forever locked into place.
Laura.
Wow...I seriously wasn't expecting this to be so long. But it needed to be of a good length to really get the story started. And for those who are wondering, not for quite awhile, but events from the Logan movie will eventually take place-changed of course seeing as this story changes the course of what have you. It would mean so much if you could take a moment to leave a review/comment, a kudos, heck following, favorite-ing, and bookmarks are very much loved. It seriously gives me the motivation to continue knowing that people are actually, in fact, reading this. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed! Until next time! -Jen