Something Strange Something New
Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel or its characters. I own my only my characters. This is a work of fiction. I make no money from it. Enjoy and review.
Chapter 4
Ororo was livid and didn't want to speak to Xavier much less look at him. She was so angry she barely spoke to anyone at all. Peter and Kitten were in her room helping her carry down some of her things that she would need for the next three months. Logan she noted had looked stunned. Maybe even shell shocked. Just by the way his face had contorted before her very eyes as she had fled the office. That was over six and a half hours ago. The last thing she overheard was Logan asking Charles.
"Did you lose your mind while you were dead?"
Ororo wondered the same thing as she wiped away tears of anger. She had fought to keep the weather calm as silent tears fell. She noted the solemn looks that crossed the faces of the students as they loaded the pickup truck. Peter and Kitty placed the last of her trunks in the back. Peter helped Ororo take the seat between them as Geri, Marie along with Jubilee and other students watched them drive off towards the new boathouse.
Logan had already gone on to Harry's since he had only one bag and wanted Remy to allow him a couple of stiff ones. Right after Charles had laid down the law for the two of them and their behavior towards one another. Logan took off. He had Remy in tow. Ororo still couldn't believe that for next three months she and Logan were to reside together at the boathouse as roommates.
The whole idea was insane to her. Charles wanted them to try and get along. To better serve as an example to the students that problems could be worked out. Worked out? Between her and Logan? Was he on an alternate world as well. Ororo thought he was mad. Logan did also apparently. His face had dropped.
His racing out of the mansion with Remy in his truck proved that he too thought Charles had gone mad. Maybe it was the brain dead twin instead? Ororo didn't know and she didn't care at this point. This was madness. This was therapy taken to a level even Ororo didn't want.
She didn't want to be alone in a house with Logan. It was bad enough in the mansion. He always got the drop on her. It rattled her nerves when he did that. The dumbass. But Charles wanted this. He insisted upon it. He wanted results. They had to keep a log of their interactions that had to show progress in their strained relationship as teammates. There had to be a communication between the two. The professor kept saying nothing can be resolved if you don't speak. Ororo had to roll her eyes. He was serious.
Xavier had insisted that at least once a week they had to sit down for one hour and talk without shouting, fighting or storming off. Then write down a daily progress report of how they were getting along. Then each month for the three months Hank and he would show up to have a two-hour session with them to see how things were going. Ororo had nearly died.
Both Logan and Ororo had stared at Charles as if he were mad. The whole idea was crazy. The two of them confined to a house alone together. No way. It could not be allowed to ever happen. Ororo had started to protest as Logan did but one mental command and both were rendered speechless by Xavier. Whose whole demeanor had turned dark and angry in an instant. He had stated that if neither of them did what he was ordering them to do they would have to leave the X-men forever.
That had made them both see he was very serious. Ororo knew Charles was doing this as a last resort and that the decision was not an easy one so she was going to suck it in and survive this. But as Kitty and Peter hugged her and left in the pick up truck headed back towards the mansion dread hit her.
Ororo felt like she did when she had left Cairo as a child. She was barely ten back then but the feeling was still fresh in her mind. She had gotten off a plane in this country. She found herself looking around at an airport teaming with people. There were families everywhere.
People greeting one another. Happy smiling faces. Ororo had watched them all as she silently went through the terminal and all she felt was very much alone.
Logan was seated in Harry's downing one beer after another. Remy sat beside him, still with his hand wrapped. He was watching as Logan tried to drown his uneasiness in beer. Finally Remy had enough.
"Ya gonna feel that even with ya healing factor homie." Logan glared at him. Never stopping his drinking.
"You talking Cajun? I hear you can put away more then me but you ain't got a healing factor." Logan went on to another beer as he motioned for Harry to keep them coming. Remy smirked.
"I know my Stormy scares you Logan but I always thought the great Wolverine could face anything, even a little woman like my Stormy." Logan only grunted before he spoke.
"Well you ain't had the pleasure of having your Stormy give you looks that just tell ya to drop off the face of the earth and she means it." Remy laughed out loud. That caused Logan to glare at him.
"Mon dieu homie. We got a lot to talk about. I never tell you about the time Stormy tried to fry me when I first met her in New Orleans or the time she did shoot me out of one of her tornadoes because I did something she no like. Logan order Remy a drink. We gonna be here all night." Logan looked at Remy like the river rat was nuts but signaled for Harry to line up a bottle for him.
By the time Logan was dropped off at the boathouse, it wasn't by Remy, and it was near daybreak. Harry had to call the mansion. Peter had to drive both men to their places of residence. Thanks to Logan's healing factor being stalled by his non-stop drink fest with a very drunk Remy. Neither man was in any shape to drive.
Harry was stumped when the normally stoned faced Logan had ordered eight bottles of his best stuff to be lined up on the counter with six shot glasses. He wanted each bottle poured until they were emptied. Harry was flabbergasted by the request. Logan never drank like that. Even after the deaths at the school.
Usually he drank but would sit until he sobered up enough to drive. His sobering never took too long so long as he cut out the drinking for a while. But tonight he'd gone damn near feral when Harry wanted to stop him. He drank down ten bottles of Harry's best imported whiskey. That had set the alarm bells ringing in Harry's head. He was on the phone fast when the two very drunk men wanted to leave. He had managed to swipe the trucks keys before the two realized they were missing.
That gave him time for the big Russian guy to come get them. He was coming back later tomorrow for the other truck no doubt with that young blond fellow who always looked like he was thinking. That Kid looked like ice wouldn't melt on his head. The Russian guy had to carry them both out of the now empty bar. Neither one could walk much less stand correctly from the drink fest. That left poor Remy to have to deal with a very tired and angry Rouge who was waiting for her wayward boyfriend with Kitty standing by her side.
Ororo was fast asleep. She didn't even hear Logan or Peter as he carried the three hundred pound dead weight and dumped him in his bed. Thanks to Ororo's bedroom being the top floor master. It was as quiet as the grave to her. Logan's room was on the second floor and another master. She never heard a sound. Sleeping peacefully in her room.
Charles had ordered a house that came with three stories. It was a three bedroom three and a half bath home. It shocked Ororo when she went exploring the home to find out how beautiful and nice it was. Very modern but comfortable. The home came with two master bedrooms. One on the second floor and one on the third. The guest room also sat on the second floor. Peter and Kitty had been with Ro when she had picked the third floor room.
She had fallen in love with the balcony and skylight. Her balcony boasted a large area with table and chairs. She even had a lounge chair to relax in. She loved it. Ororo had immediately placed several large potted trees out as well. Even filling her room with plants also. The entire home was nice. It had been made with green products and had solar panels and wind turbines. Ororo was impressed. She liked the bamboo floors and doors. The brightness of the home felt like the outdoors.
Peter made a point of placing her plants where she wanted them. Kitty thought the white sheer curtains looked like what Ororo would have picked out. The shades were sun blockers but were made from recycled material. Even the walk in fridge worked on natural air flow from an outside air vent. Ororo was amazed and very pleased. Charles had gone all out.
The home would be perfect except for the fact that she had to share it with Logan. Still it was stunning. A home anyone would want. It reeked of a perfect place for a family needing one. The house even sat like it was waiting for a family. That's when Ororo remembered it was supposed to be a home for Jean and Scott.
Years ago the two had spoken about remodeling the boathouse and living there. They had planned on getting married. All this was before Logan of course. He had come into their little bubble of love like a big bad pinhead. Popping the happy twosome into fighting him off. Jean had been confused but flattered by Logan's attentions. Scott wasn't.
Never would Jean understand what she meant to him or really who she remained him of. Her face, her hair, her eyes were all Rose to Logan. Ro didn't know that. She just knew he meddled in her friend's happiness. Ororo shook her head. That past was gone. No Jean now just Scott. All alone now.
The professor had informed her that she could still see Scott but the visits had to be logged. Once Scott improved upon his awakening then he would be allowed to visit Ororo at the boathouse with an escort. Charles was still leery of how Scott would react to Logan once he learned of how Jean had to die. Ororo wasn't looking forward to that either.
She was pleased that each floor had balconies and happy that her view of the lake was so amazing. The air was wonderful and the feeling of peace that floated her senses amazed her as she breathed in the view. In fact Ororo had made herself a small dinner since Logan was nowhere in sight. After a long bath she had gone to bed. She was delighted that Charles had the walk in fridge stuffed with food. Many were her favorite dishes.
She didn't hear Peter as he put Logan to bed and left the house. She wasn't aware of Logan until she awoke that morning and heard his loud snores as she passed the second floor landing. The sounds were deafening coming from his room. He was loud and no doubt reliving some nightmare from his past. Ororo despite being concerned chose to ignore it as she went to make herself breakfast. Logan would have to fight his own demons.
Logan awoke in a bolt, falling out of the unfamiliar bed as he did so. Ororo heard the loud thump of his body hitting the wooden floor.
'Great he's up.' she thought as she finished washing her bowl and went outside with her tea. She really didn't want to deal with The Wolverine. She calmly slide the expanding patio door shut as she sat out on the deck of the boathouse. She sipped her tea quietly as her cell phone buzzed.
The man known as the deadly Wolverine found himself in a state he hadn't been in, in quite some time. Hung over and hurting. His healing factor had tried to kick in last night. He some what remembered that he had kept ordering Harry to keep his six drink baseline full. Six shot glasses full to overflowing with 90% Proof Whiskey. Harry kept a hidden stash for his favorite customers. Logan held his head the healing factor had been slowed down to a crawl.
He kind of recalled Harry and Remy, he thinks it was Remy. They were saying that he was on drink number twenty-four or forty-two, he wasn't sure. But damn his body was going to make him pay for it until the blasted healing factor kicked in. Logan felt like he was moving in slow motion as he tried to figure out just where in the hell he was. This wasn't his room and when did he get new furniture? And why the hell did his room have such bright colored walls? He didn't recall having white walls, did he?
Logan nearly crawled as he attempted to pull his rubbery legs up into a standing position but found he had to pull his non-responsive body up onto this high as hell bed. The damn thing was huge. Logan found himself prone and flattened across the bed. He figured it would be best if he just stayed still a while and waited for his healing factor to kick in. His head was still swimming as he laid down. His mouth tasted like sawdust. His head was hurting. He wasn't moving one muscle.
'Yeah, I ain't moving not for a bit.' He though as he felt his head starting to defog and his body beginning to feel normal. Logan slowly ran his hands through his messy hair. Then the sunlight hit his room as the window shade flew up and Logan groaned out loud. The light was blinding.
When the hell did he get a southern exposure to his room? His eyes cleared. This wasn't his room. It was too damned big for one thing. It was white painted walls for another. There looked to be a balcony as well. He sure as hell didn't have a bed the size of the Brooklyn bridge in his room either. He laid his head back down. Oh yeah. This was the boathouse. Chuck was punishing him as an example to the kids. Right and Santa Claus was real.
Logan felt his head pop. It only did that when he sobered up. That was a sensation he hadn't felt in a very long time. He never got this drunk. At least not for years he figured. He rubbed his eyes as he turned onto his back. Ororo had gotten to him. Every time he saw her he felt like some dumb kid. This was no doubt how he was with Rose. He felt elated to be near her. To smell her scent. To watch the sun shine on her hair and skin. She was beautiful and damn he wanted her. It was making him crazy.
She was going crazy whenever he came near her. She hated him. He thought. But he did smell a scent that he couldn't identify when near her at times. It almost smelled like confusion. Ororo confused. That didn't seem right but he did smell it. She had it all over her that day in the greenhouse. He smirked. Maybe the Goddess was feeling something for him too. But she damn sure knew how to hide it. Ororo liked being a closed book.
She wore her emotions deep under her skin. She seldom let down her guard. That day in the greenhouse had been amazing. She shocked him speechless with her tirade. The Goddess didn't lose her cool except for that day. He liked it. He could push her buttons. That was what Remy, was that Remy? Was telling him last night. That Ororo never got really upset unless she really cared. If she didn't she went on with her life like you never existed.
Logan knew now that she knew he existed. She couldn't hide that fact. Now they had to share a small space. This wasn't going to be easy. When he came back from the other Logan's world, he was determined that he would make peace with Ro. Maybe be friends if nothing else. But he got one look at her and the beast inside went berserk. It screamed at him. It was clawing at him to claim it's mate. His head gave him a kick as the last of the alcohol was being cleaned out of his system. Holy hell he was never going to drink like that again.
Ororo was now on the patio and held back a giggle when she realized, from reading her text from Remy, that Logan had been drinking a lot. Remy wanted to know if he was now blind? She laughed out loud as she heard Logan grumbling from his bedroom window about 'Frails needing to be quiet early in the morning.' Ororo smiled as she set out at a brisk pace for a nice walk around the boathouse's many acres of land. Let the great Wolverine sober up and sort out his own mess.
Charles Xavier was laughing his head off as Hank sat at the desk telling him all that Peter had reported after he had to take Logan to the boathouse and put him to bed. He even had to carry poor Remy to his room and put him in bed as well. Charles tried to regain his composure.
"Well it seems my little plan is working. Logan getting that drunk. Stopping his healing factor is major. His being that fearful of staying that close to Ororo speaks volumes." Hank snorted barely keeping his tea from spilling.
"I can well imagine. How upset is the feral man that he has to try to kill himself with whiskey and all because he has to share a home with our lovely Windrider?" Xavier smirked.
"More upset then he's willing to admit. I think this summer will be very interesting. Two people fighting against their future." Hank laughed as he picked up another scone.
"Now Charles you're being very funny and cryptic. This summer will be one I maybe tempted to write about." Charles gave him a questioning look.
"Oh did I forget to mention, I'm writing a fictional work based on the style of soap opera I found gets the highest ratings from Neilson. I figure writing a book that's full of romance fashioned after my favorite soap opera will sell like hotcakes to the lonely women types." Charles looked shocked.
"Henry I never figured you for a sexiest." Hank nearly choked.
"I'm not Charles I assure you. What I am doing is researching the media data that points to the biggest group who purchase tomes like the one I'm currently writing. The demographics point to women aged twenty-five to forty-eight, single, never married and no chance of marrying in the future." Charles sighed.
"I find those demographics unbelievable. I cannot believe that so many healthy, wonderful women have no chance at marriage." Hank sighed.
"I don't make the demographics Charles I'm just using them to my own advantage." Charles shook his head and drank more tea. Moira walked in.
"I heard you two. And those demographics fail to state that the majority of those women are single mothers and or working women. And that most do find relationships but they choose not to marry." Moira sniffed as she spoke this and Charles smiled.
"There now Henry you see, not all demographics can give you all the real facts." Henry snorted.
"Then I dare not give you the one on single men over thirty." Moira snorted as she sat down to her cup of tea.
Ororo was floating on the low range winds around the lake. The days were getting hotter as summer was approaching and Ororo couldn't wait for the summer to fly by. Mainly because she was going to be stuck with Logan in this house. She lightly landed on the opposite side of the river farther away from the new home.
She was dreading going back to that house. Logan was there. The home reminded her of how Jean dreamt of the day she and Scott would be married. How they were going to remake the boathouse into a home for them. Ororo sat down on the grass and laid down. Jean was gone. A comatose Scott was back, as well as the professor. What was going to happen when Scott woke up?
These thoughts were always in the back of her mind. Since they found Scott alive it was the main consuming though she had. What would happen when he woke up? How would he live now without Jean? Her first death had nearly killed him. Would finding out what she had done and to whom cause him to want to join her? Ororo felt her old fears raising up. She didn't want to lose her brother again. They had been close growing up together. She'd missed Scott more then Jean.
He was always on her side. He even let lose a beam at Forge after the bastard had hurt her. Xavier tried to keep Scott from finding Forge but when Ororo had run off to New Orleans after her heartbreak for a rest. Scott tracked Forge down and blasted the man into needing a month in rehab. Ororo was stunned but secretly pleased that her brother beat the crap out of the creep who hurt her. Jean had been furious with Scott, Charles outraged, Hank dumbfounded. Ororo was elated and gave him a welcome home hug and kiss. He loved his sister to a fault. She always loved him for that.
She closed her eyes and basked in the sun baking her skin and feeling wonderful. She was trying not to worry about what was to come knowing the Goddess would take care of it all. She was going to keep the distance between Logan and herself regardless of what Charles wanted. People talked on phones everyday. Even computers. Right now she didn't want to be physically near him. He unsettled her.
Logan was seated under the umbrella of the patio table. Since this morning. He hadn't failed to notice how Ororo stayed away from the house as much as possible. It had been nearly four hours now and she still wasn't back from her riding the winds around the forest area. He picked up on where she was. His ears and nose told him she was alright. He knew she was just avoiding having to be alone with him. Ororo was mad at him. Logan knew she felt like he was just seeing her as some leftover on the table since Jean was gone.
In Ororo's eyes Jean had been Logan's main course. She didn't know about Rose and his messed up memories. Those memories, they had caused him to place the young Jean on some pedestal. Mainly to replace his long dead crush from nearly two centuries ago. Maybe if they could do what the professor ordered them to do each week then maybe she might began to understand him better. Not just think she was a cheap substitute for Jean Grey. Logan sat back in his chair putting his feet up on the table and taking out one of his stogies to smoke. 'Might as well be comfortable.' He thought. He knew Ro was going to take her time getting back.
The sun going down told Ororo she had to get back to the house. Charles would pick a Friday to drop them off at this home. Now she had a whole weekend to spend in the house with Logan. She felt her shoulders droop as she walked partway back to the house. She smelled cooking and noticed smoke in the night sky.
As Ororo approached the house she noticed Logan out by the barbeque. He was cooking some steaks and even tofu burgers. Ororo eyed him as she silently walked towards the patio door. Logan turned and grunted at her.
"I made some tofu burgers. Figured ya would be hungry after riding the winds all day." Ororo was almost too stunned too speak.
How the hell did he know what she liked to eat? Oh right they are the only two people in this house. Why else was the walk in fridge loaded with the favorite foods of the two people made to stay here against their wills. She smiled weakly as she shook her head.
"Thank you Logan. I'll go make some salad, fresh fruit juice and bring your beers." She saw those in the fridge. Charles must have an eye for knowing all the favorite foods of every person in the mansion. He even had Ro's Ben and Jerry's in the freezer section.
Logan watched her walk away. He never said another word. They ate in silence. It wasn't awkward. It seemed to give them both a sense of calm. Ororo figured if they could be like this for the next three months, well maybe they could live through this. Summer was the shortest season. Here anyway.
The dinner was fast and quick for them both. Ororo washed the dishes and Logan dried them. It was awkward at best. Neither one wanted to make any small talk. Ororo kept making sure she didn't get too close to Logan. He was giving her space so as not to crowd her.
When the dishes were done. Ororo muttered a quick good night and rushed to her room. Although she put on the act of walking slowly to her room. Until she hit the third floor landing and took two steps at a time to her room. She exhaled heavily when she closed her bedroom door.
It wasn't lost on her the way Logan kept sneaking long fretful looks at her. If he thought he was being convert he wasn't. She caught him each time. His eyes were boring into her. She felt odd and didn't like it. It reminded her of the alternate world's Logan. She shivered. That man had creeped her out.
Ororo wanted a long bath. She turned on her Bose by her bed and played some Mary . A bath would help her relax. Just one more day and then she would be at the mansion. She could do this. Just ignore the way he stared at her and she would be fine. Ororo huffed. Right. It unnerved her still. He looked like a lost puppy when she said a hasty goodnight and pretty much fled the kitchen. Logan a puppy? Whoa. She was tired.
She prepared her bath and poured in her salts. A long soak and a good sleep and maybe tomorrow would go faster. She removed her clothes and underwear. She could plant a garden or something. Anything to keep Logan at bay. Ororo tied her long hair up in a top knot. Maybe all that beer in the fridge would knock him out. Charles didn't seem to object to it being in the boathouse. Ororo grinned. Maybe she could persuade Moira to bring over some hard whiskey. She stepped into her bath. That would knock him out. She smiled as she sat back in her hot bubbly bath.
Logan sat down in the large leather chair and popped out the footrest. Chuck had done a good job with this home. The lounge area had a wide screen TV and there was no block here on any of Logan's favorite sports channels. All of his fights were uncensored here. There was even surround sound. Logan kept it kind of low. He heard Ro running her bath upstairs. She sometimes fell asleep in her baths.
Ororo was in her room. He glanced up. Correction her bath now and he could watch all the violent blood sports he wanted. He grinned then sighed. Still they barely spoke except for maybe one word sentences. Neither one was comfortable tonight. He couldn't stop staring at her and she couldn't get that deer caught in headlights look outta her eyes when she spotted him staring.
Oh yeah three months of two people trying to steer clear of each other in a house this size was going to be just peachy. He rubbed his head with his cold beer. Ororo was jumpy around him. She sensed what Chuck did. His beast was roaring at him. She had to know. He was fighting to keep it down when ever she was near. Her scent was already all over the house and they'd only been here for less than a day.
Tomorrow was Saturday. Sunday's Ororo always assisted those kids who went to church. She didn't go or even believe in their faith but did take the students to the local church near the school that they liked to attend. He wondered if Chuck had changed that too. Logan sat back and tried to get his head into the fight on the TV in front of him. He looked up at the stairs again. Tomorrow. He was going to make an effort to talk to her tomorrow.
The next morning Ororo awoke to her cell phone ringing. It was Moira.
"Good morning Ororo. I didn't wake you did I?" Ororo grinned despite herself.
"No. I was just getting up." She glanced at the clock. It was early still just after eight. On Saturday's the mansion residents usually slept in until around ten. Ororo frowned.
"Moira is anything wrong?" She could hear Moira clearing her throat.
"Wrong? Why no dear of course not. Everything is fine. I'm only calling because Charles asked me to inform you that tomorrow I'll be taking the kids to church so you don't have to bother. In fact Charles has asked me to do so for the summer." Ororo's face dropped.
"What?" She could barely speak.
"Well due to what Charles has asked of you and Logan. He felt it would be best if I took over your Sunday duties. He stressed that he wanted nothing to interfere with you and Logan's therapy." Ororo was speechless. She couldn't speak until she heard Moira calling her name. She found her voice only it came out a little squeaky.
"Oh no Moira that's not a problem. Of course Charles thinks of everything." Moira sighed before she spoke.
"Sweetie don't fret. Everything will work out fine. Just trust Charles." Ororo was rubbing her head.
"Of course. I will always trust Charles. Thank you Moira for calling me."
"No problem my love. Get some rest and I'll see you on Monday." Ororo sighed deeply.
"Yes you will Goodbye."
"Bye love see you Monday." They both hung up. Moira glared at Charles who looked at his hands. Ororo looked at the phone and laid back down. Two whole days stuck with Logan. Oh Goddess.
By the time she came downstairs a full hour later. The smells of fresh coffee and tea along with eggs, toast and bacon were in the house. Logan had taken it upon himself to cook breakfast. Ororo almost didn't enter the kitchen area but did. Shocked as he greeted her with a good morning.
She looked bewildered that Logan cooked breakfast. She had no idea he even ate breakfast. He always had a beer in the garage most mornings.
Was he smiling. Uhh oh that wasn't good. Ororo went to get a plate as Logan yanked the plate first and set it on the table.
"Figured since I don't need much sleep. I'd just make breakfast for both of us. Ya looked pretty tired last night." She stared for a full minute before speaking.
"Uhh… Yeah I kind of was. Thank you Logan." He smiled again. Ororo looked bewildered as she sat down. He even made her green tea and put the honey and lemon slices in front of her. He knew what she put in her tea? Ororo darted her eyes at him as she prepared her morning fix.
Logan filled her plate and served her. He then went and fixed his. Soon he was seated across from her at the table. Ororo couldn't shake the nervous lilt in her stomach. It felt like a knot coiling in her belly. She hoped she could keep down the food.
The eggs were good. He even put in some cheese and the bacon was turkey. Her favorite. That was a shock. Logan ate turkey bacon too. He was eating his food and enjoying it. She sighed. She was a grown-up despite her new look or old one. So she was just going to eat with this man who unnerved her. Oh Goddess. She smiled sweetly and mentioned that the food was good. Logan grinned. He looked less intimidating that way. This was going to be a long weekend. They both sat at the table eating quietly for a while. Finally Logan broke the ice.
"So ya wanna try what Chuck wants us to do today?" Ororo nearly choked. Logan swiftly patted her back gently.
"Thank you." She sputtered out the words as her throat cleared.
"You want to talk now?" She sounded like a canary her voice was so high. Logan looked like he was holding in his laugher.
"Yeah why not. Hell we might as well get started." Ororo's eyes were wider then he had ever seen them before.
"Okay. Where do we start? I really don't know what we're supposed to talk about?" Logan smirked.
"How about what happened when the other Logan was here and we'll work our way to right after the blow-up in the greenhouse and me and you avoiding each other like either one of us has the plague." Ororo swallowed her tea in a gulp. She nearly spite it out after hearing the way Logan phrased their therapy sessions. He did laugh at the odd face she made. She shook her head and despite her brain screaming at her. She laughed at the way he was just cracking up at her. They both quieted down after a while.
"Alright. I'll start with the first weird week at Xavier U on this world and you can tell me about your weird week at the alternate Xavier U on the other world." Ororo sat back as she sipped more tea. Logan grinned. They had made a start.
After four hours of talking and laughing some. They had actually done what Charles had ordered them to do. They talked. It was both strange and liberating to Ororo. It was as if a weight was lifted off her shoulders. Logan too looked relived to tell Ororo all about his past and that of the other Logan's.
They had tip-toed around anything to heavy in their talk fest. Both feeling like that should come later. They did have three months to feel comfortable enough to tell each other their deep dark secrets. But Logan did explain his Jean/Rose obsession. Ororo wasn't too shocked. Logan's immediate attraction to Jean had even stomped Jean as well. Many a night she had disclosed to Ororo that she didn't know why Logan was so drawn to her.
Now Ororo sat in the still empty garden planting some seedlings that Peter had brought over and left in the mud room for Ororo. Logan was out front mowing the large lawn. Ororo was still in awe that they had even sat at the kitchen table and talked like too reasonable adults. The day was sunny and bright. She was still a little disheartened about her Sunday duties being taken from her, but at least she and Logan had made some headway into what Xavier wanted them to do.
She felt a shadow over her as she looked up and saw Logan. He was shirtless and sweaty. His muscles were glistening in the sun. Not an ounce of body fat was on his taunt abs. His arms looked like road maps of how muscle should look but no other man's would look like his did. He stood moping up his perspiration with a large towel.
"Need any help?" Ororo made her eyes focus on his. She was trying to keep her mouth from gaping open when what he said registered.
"You want to help me in the garden?" Logan smirked.
"I did tell ya that I was in Japan for a while. I figured I pretty much picked up caring for plants while I was there." Ororo sat back on her butt with her legs folded under her.
"Well if you don't mind. I could use some help. I need to get the vegetable garden set up over there and I was thinking of adding the fruit trees in that spot." She had pointed out various parts of the large backyard. Logan looked at the way Ororo had planned out the garden.
"Ya got a good eye Ro. I see why the plants love ya so much. Those are the best places to put them." Ororo was stunned but pleased too. Logan did know something about plants. Who knew? She smiled widely at him. No knot this time. He grinned and went to start the veggie garden.
They worked almost until the sun went down. Both were exhausted as Ororo excused herself wanting a hot shower to get the dirt off her body. Logan did the same. She was downstairs before him and started dinner. She knew he liked meat. So she made the pork roll that was in the freezer and some baked potatoes and a green salad to go with them. She had a cold beer ready for him at the table when he came down.
They sat down to eat talking of the plants and how amazing this house was. Logan noted the sad smile Ororo had on her face when he even stated that the house looked like it was made for a family. Ororo told him about Jean and Scott's plans. His face tightened up. Ororo immediately regretted it. Logan after a while spoke.
"I don't know what I'm gonna say to one-eye. I ruined his life chasing after his girl and to top it off I killed her too." Ororo sat stunned for a while before she spoke.
"Logan it wasn't your fault about Jean's death. It had to be done. If not the whole world would have died instead. The entity was out of her control. She couldn't stop it. She needed our help. She needed your help." Logan gave Ororo a wan smile.
"Yeah who better then weapon X to kill ya. It's what Stryker made me for." Ororo just looked at him.
"Stryker didn't make you Logan. Your parents did. He programmed you like a slave or a robot. You had no control over what he made you do. You can't place the blame for your pass only on you. He's the monster that made you do those things. You know that better then anyone." Logan shook his head, rubbing his beefy hands threw his hair.
"Ya don't know Ro. I enjoyed my job for a long time. I was good at killing. The best according to my past. I could kill without mercy and I did. I was the tool Stryker needed to get the job done." Ororo leaned on her arm as she sat at the table.
"You're not his tool now and you haven't been for a while. Logan you are your own man. You had to make a decision that day. All of us X-men did. Jean somewhere deep inside knew that too. She knew there was no one else who could stop her. None of us could get that close. Only you. I think she was counting on that." Logan looked at Ororo's eyes. She was serious. That day was a red letter day for the X-men.
"Yeah ya right." Ororo smiled a small side smile. Logan grunted.
"I think the main thing I'm gonna find out this summer is that somehow someway. Ororo Munroe is always right." He grinned as he said it. Ororo sat up grinning.
"Well if that's all you learn this summer then you have the answers to the universe." Logan looked at Ororo. She was smirking. He had too just watching her. They both laughed.
Sunday morning found Ororo up early despite her lack of duties. She got up took a shower and dressed in a pair of shorts and pheasant blouse. She walked out barefooted to the lake and sat on the lower pier. She let her feet wade in the cool waters. The sun was still just raising. Ororo never noticed Logan as he walked quietly to her carrying two steaming cups.
"Figured ya would needing some strong tea. I hadda a feeling Chuck was gonna take away your Sunday duties. Hell he's got Pete and Bobby trying to fix that old busted up van I've been working on in the back of the garage." Ororo gave Logan a weak smile.
"I guess we really are being punished uhh." Ororo took his offering of green tea and sipped slowly. He had prepared it just right.
"You know Chuck. He's kinda anal for a guy who wants to save the world by doing good deeds. He wants his children and adults to get along. And if ya don't do as he says. He's laying down the law for ya to fellow. I guess my messing up right before he was killed kinda of made him see he's gotta be tougher with us stubborn types." Ororo nearly gagged as she drink her tea.
"You believe I'm stubborn?" Logan drank his coffee and grinned.
"Yep. According to Remy Stubborn is your middle name." Ororo rolled her eyes at him.
"I wouldn't believe everything Remy says you know. He says a lot of things. Most of which are just Remy waxing about anything that suites his fancy. Just ask Marie. She knows him better then I do now." Logan grimaced.
"Don't remind me. I had to come upon them one time when they were in a lip lock. Took three danger room sessions to calm my nerves." Ororo laughed.
"Good grief Logan Marie is like twenty-two now." Logan gave her the eye.
"Doesn't matter to me if she was one hundred and forty-two. She's still a kid to me and Remy is too suave for her. A lot older than her. She's a child compared to him."
Ororo sat staring at him. Logan caught her look.
"What's that look for?" Ororo sipped her tea before answering.
"I do note that you are at least well over several centuries older then me." Logan nearly choked on his coffee. He caught the glint of a smile in Ororo's face as she got up and walked back to the house. He took sometime to clear his throat. Thinking out loud.
"Damn she's got ya there."
By the time noon came. Both were seated in the backyard. Logan had grilled some steaks and fish. Ororo had made a macaroni salad and a plum fruit sorbet. She had a large pitcher of lemonade on the table as Logan drank from one of the cold beers Ororo had brought him. He watched her as she placed the dishes on the table. She was dressed now in a soft yellow colored summer dress with her feet still bare after jogging after their morning chat. She looked good with her hair down. It was billowing in the soft cool breezes she had made to cool off the area and blow the smoke away. Logan was in a pair of jean cut-offs and shirtless. The day was a hot one.
Ororo sat the pitcher down near the salad. The sun was very warm today. No doubt what the summer was promising to be. Hot and humid. She wondered how the kids were faring at the school. Her attention was drawn to Logan who was growling at the grill. His beloved steaks were over heating.
He moved them swiftly to the side of the grill and finished off the fish. Ororo went back inside and gathered the rolls she had made after her shower. Baking was her favorite thing to do. When ever she felt sad. All she had to do was bake. She was still a little upset. She enjoyed driving the kids to church.
Even if she didn't believe in their God she still had her Goddess and she felt bonded with them when they drove to and from the church. The students enjoyed the spirited talks they had about belief and the power of an entity who loved everyone. She had always liked the feeling that connected them to one another. Sundays were special because of that.
Ororo pulled out the now brown and ready biscuits. The biscuits were easy to make. Her cake had taken longer but Logan had been on his grill engrossed with his steaks and pre-seasoning the bluefish. She pulled out the now done chocolate cake layers. Logan would be shocked when he tried her cake. Henry always had seconds. She pulled out the cool frosting and sat everything on the side for later. Her ice cream would go good with the cake.
She left the cake layers to cool while she buttered the rolls and bought them out to the table. Logan did a double take when he noted the fresh rolls and smelled them.
"I didn't see any rolls in the fridge." Ororo smirked as she helped him place the steaks and fish on the table.
"Of course not Logan. I made these." Logan looked taken aback.
"I never knew ya baked." Ororo smiled as Logan helped her into her seat.
"Not many people do. I haven't baked in a while. Only Hank noticed when I did. Mainly because I was making about forty dozen cookies when he arrived over two years ago." Logan looked up from fixing their plates.
"I remember that. It was around the time that we lost chuck and jean there was a large batch of cookies in the kitchen. I figured Jubilee or Kitty just went to one of them big box stores and piled up on them. I do recall they were damn good. Couldn't find the box thought." Ororo smirked.
"There wasn't one to find. Back then I think I used about forty-five pounds of flour and God knows how much chocolate. We had cookies in the mansion for at least two weeks. I was amazed they didn't last longer." Ororo cut into the fish. It smelled wonderful. Logan grinned as he tasted one of Ororo amazing mouth watering biscuits.
"I think that's because every time I turned around I often spotted one of the kids or teachers munching on them. Even the headstone guy. He was eating them in one bite. Not too mention they went great with cold beer." Ororo stopped eating her fish with her fork midway to her mouth. She looked at Logan. He smiled.
"Okay you can bake. I gotta say it. Those cookies were amazing and these biscuits will make me fat. Mainly because by morning they'll all be gone." He popped one more into his mouth and reached for two more. Ororo looked at Logan as he chowed down on them and laughed.
It had been two days since Ororo and Logan were banished. The mansion felt oddly empty without them. The professor had assured Hank that starting today they would be back to do their jobs at the school. Even Kitty had felt the need to be her melodramatic self by telling Charles that.
"The gardens were mourning for Ororo. The garage misses Logan." Xavier had called Peter to come get his wayward fiancé as Hank had left laughing wholeheartedly going down to his lab to check on Scott.
Hank had just finished placing another bag of his DNA formula into Scott's Summer's comatose body. Since he had arrived Hank had been feeding his DNA formula into him. It worked on supercharging a person's DNA cells to speed up healing. So far Scott would be his first patient. Remy wouldn't let Hank administer it to him at all. Clawed up hand or not. Hank was just leaving the med lab as Geri came down.
"Well we got everything set for next Friday's party." Hank did a double take nearly straining his neck.
"I though the professor had cancelled that?"
"Nope in fact he insisted that we still have it. Thus it's next Friday now. Anyway he said something about boosting morale for the school." Geri spoke as she adjusted her glasses. Hank snorted as he smiled.
"I think Charles knows more about boosting morale than anyone. Come with me young lady. I believe I have a set of contacts that will help with your eye sight problem. Until we can fix the problem for good." Hank was still working on individualizing his DNA formula for non-mutants. Geri followed Hank to a far corner of the large med lab.
There she was placed into a seat near one of Hank's workstations. He removed her eyeglasses and had her place two clear colored contacts onto her hazel colored eyes. Geri then had to read the eye chart Hank clicked on from the projector as he darkened their area of the lab. Too Geri's amazement she read the entire chart correctly. Hank laughed as he noted the shock written all over Geri's face.
"I read the whole thing… I read the whole thing!" Geri was shouting and jumping up and down with joy. Hank laughed as she hugged him. She was skipping and hopping all over the lab that is until she knocked over a large tray of instruments that caused a loud bang to hit the floor. This caused a sleeping patient to wake up.
"Jean! Stop! Stop now! No!" The voice was Scott Summers. Hank and Geri rushed to the room that adjoined the lab. Inside Scott had shot upright in the bed, tubes still attached to him as he was screaming for Jean to stop. Luckily he had on his temporary goggles.
"You're Killing me Jean! Stop! Please stop!" Hank rushed over and quickly shot Scott with a sedative to calm his nerves. Geri stood by wide-eyed and stunned.
"Geri get Moira and the Professor." She ran from the room using the stairs to get to Charles Xavier. He was at the elevator with Moira. He smiled that serene look at Geri as he spoke.
"No need to run child. I could hear Scott's call like a siren in my head. I'm on my way with Moira now. Please go and rest and we'll all talk shortly."
"Yes professor." Geri barely got out trying to breath.
"Oh and Geri after you've rested have Peter bring Ororo and Logan here from the boathouse. I don't want Ororo using the winds to get here and Logan can't fly. Their emotions will be hectic enough once they find out Scott has rejoined us." Geri just shook her head and hurried away. Moira patted Charles' shoulder as the elevator came and they rode down to the Lab.
