The song featured in this chapter is "Rewind" by Pillar. Sorry it's taken so long to update. I just haven't been in the mood to type anything. It's coming along though. Enjoy. Again do not own anything to do with the X-Men characters.
Logan's POV
"I was just hoping… it was all in vain, I see that now."
I'd done it again. I was a mess. I wanted to stop her from leavin'; I wanted to tell her everything, I just couldn't seem to find the words. After standing there, staring out the balcony for about five minutes I made my way to the War Room. I didn't want to face them right now, but I really didn't have a choice.
"Where's Cat?"
"She left. No, I don't know where she went. Yes, I screwed up… again. And no, I don't want to talk about it." I answered their questions before they had a chance to ask them. "Oh, and I don't know if or when she'll be back."
"You still haven't told her?"
"No, Rogue, I haven't." I felt like a jerk. I knew what Cat wanted and needed to hear from me and when I'd get around to it, those words wouldn't be a lie. I truly did love her but I just couldn't bring myself to say them.
"Yo' gonna lose her if yo' don' say 'em. Those t'ree words she want's t' hear. Those words I know yo' feel." I looked at Gambit.
"I know, Gumbo, I know."
"Maybe after dis yo' go find her, no?" Wow, the Cajun wasn't trying to kill me this time. I guess he knew I was tearin' myself up for the both of us.
"I wouldn't know where to start."
"Try starting at the beginning." Everyone looked at Hank. The fuzzball had a point. But screw waitin' till the meeting was over… everyone looked at me when I stood up. I grabbed keys to one of the smaller jets… hey, I know how to work the autopilot and it could even take off and land on its own. I made sure that my iPod was in my pocket… yeah I don't generally listen to music but sometimes it's a must and there was one song I knew would work this particular time. I jumped into the jet and plugged in the coordinates for Alkali Lake… the place where it all started.
Cat's POV
I know I'd been sitting on the rock for a while… the sun was slowly setting and the temperature was dropping. I stood up… wow, was I stiff. As I was stretching I thought I heard a jet. I shook the thought off… I was hearing things. All of a sudden the jet got louder and when I turned to face that direction I watched as one of the smaller X-jets landed. How in the world did they find me? As soon as the top opened I was greeted with the most wonderful (well most days it was) scent in the world: nature and cigars. Logan. I turned my back to him which put me facing the lake.
"You know the last time I was here was to save some of the students from the institute and to stop Stryker. This is the place where we lost Jean; the place where the Phoenix was fully released. We almost lost Scott here. The only other memory I have of this place is getting the adamantium. It's not really a positive place for me."
"You think it is for me? The only happy thing about this place is the fact that it was here that I first met you. I really don't even know why I ended up here. How'd you find me?"
"Hank said something about going back to the beginning. I figured this was the place since this is where you and I got started."
"Why did you follow me?"
"I'm not going to let you go again. Those months were torture for me… and probably for everyone else too. I'm pretty sure I didn't say much to anyone and if they asked a question it was answered by a grunt or a growl. I should apologize to the students for the overly harsh training sessions. I think they're still a little sore." I chuckled a little at his last statement. I looked over my shoulder at him and smiled, I don't know what it was but him coming after me this time was something I didn't expect but wished for. "Gawd, Cat, you're beautiful."
Logan's POV
"Gawd, Cat, you're beautiful." When she turned to look at me over her shoulder is was like a painting. The light breeze rustled her hair, blowing her floral scent my way. I can't stand all the perfume most girls wear but Cat, I guess I could understand why she didn't wear the stuff. I do find it interesting that she would choose scented shampoo, conditioner, and soap. But it was a light, floral scent. Cherry blossom… having her scent hit me made me realize how much I missed it. The sun hit her auburn hair just right that it seemed like a glowing gem stone; like garnet. Her eyes were the blue I loved; ice blue, cold but warm at the same time. I closed the distance between us in three strides. I placed my hands gently on her face, looked briefly into her eyes, and then kissed her. I deepened the kiss when she started kissing me back. I was shocked when her tongue made its way into my mouth. I moved one hand to wind in her hair and the other slid around to the small of her back. She wrapped her hands around my waist. I pulled her even closer, deepening the kiss even more. We were a perfect fit. When we finally pulled apart I looked into her eyes… sapphire. "Cat, I…" I was breathless, speechless. Oh, how I loved this woman… now I just had to tell her.
"Logan, I… I'm sorry, I can't." She stepped away from me; her eyes silver.
"Cat, please, wait." I grabbed her wrists gently. "I came here to say something and neither one of us is leavin' till I do. And no interruptions." I didn't let her go until I saw her nod in understanding. She didn't say anything but I could tell that she was uncomfortable. I had plugged my iPod into the jet's sound system and had a remote in my pocket. I pressed play. I knew, even though it was soft, she'd hear it.
Cat's POV
This was uncomfortable. I was curious when I saw Logan pull a remote out of his pocket. I heard a click and then music started to play from the jet.
It seems just like yesterday was the first time that I heard you call my name
Since then, so much has changed
I'm still the same man that I was before
Knowing that I can be without anything scares me away from being alone
Now that I know what's going on
I can look back and see you
And I made you wait, as I turned away
"Cat, it has taken me way too long to figure things out. I'm sorry for making you wait. I'm not good at this so please be a little patient."
If I could rewind, watch all my life
Just pass me by, I could see you
If I could rewind, I'd take back the lies
And all those times I hurt you
"I'm so sorry I made you go through everything alone. I'm sorry for not standing up for you against Kayla. I'm sorry I hurt you. I'm sorry I've made you cry over and over again." He was fighting tears. I didn't move; I continued to stand there and I wasn't going to move until he was done.
I don't know if I'll ever know exactly how much that I hurt you
Knowing that hurts me everyday
If I could rewind, I would take it all away
And not make you wait, and I won't walk away
"If I could do it all over again I would never even think about leaving you. I wouldn't have even had to do this because you'd already know how I feel about you." He wasn't fighting the tears anymore. Neither was I. I just wanted him to be done with it now so we could embrace each other and be together like I felt we should. When we were kissing (okay, more like making out) earlier, we were a perfect fit.
If I could rewind, watch all my life
Just pass me by, I could see you
If I could rewind, I'd take back the lies
And all the times I hurt you
I wanna take back all those lies
I wanna take back all those times
I wanna show you in my life that I'm here for you
"I'm not leavin' you again. If you leave, I'll just follow. I'll keep followin' you till you realize that I love you. Cat, I want you. It's not just because you're beautiful and caring… I want you because I love you. Do you hear me? I LOVE YOU, Catarina LeBeau and I will never leave you again. I will never turn my back on you. Deep down, part of me has always loved you. Kayla was my past. I want you to be my present and my future because I love you." At those words the rest of the song faded into the background. Tears were pouring down my face but they were tears of happiness… I still didn't move, still didn't say anything… I needed a moment to make sure that this wasn't a dream.
Logan's POV
"…I want you to be my present and my future because I love you." I got scared when the scent of tears got stronger. She wasn't moving, she wasn't saying anything… my world seemed to stop. Maybe I was too late.
"Logan." In that moment, with that single word I knew her answer. Whatever space had been between us was gone in an instant. "Logan, all you had to say was that you loved me. You didn't have to go through all of this… don't get me wrong, I life romance as much as the next girl, but babe, it just ain't your style." Her eyes were a mix between their normal ice blue and that passionate sapphire. We stood there, just looking into each other's eyes… she's right, romance just ain't me. But… I can do passion. With that thought I claimed her lips with mine and we began the tongue war we had started earlier. I wrapped my arms around her waist and carried her back to the jet, our lips not parting until we climbed in. I set the coordinates for the mansion and off we went. I watched as she tilted her head back and closed her eyes. I reached up to wipe a tear away and as I did she took my hand and placed it on her cheek. She looked over at me and smiled. My heart melted. If there had been any doubt about me being able to be with her for the rest of our lives (which let's face it, will be a very, very, very, very long life) died when she smiled like that.
"I love you, darlin'."
"As I love you, Logan." We sat in comfortable silence, just looking at each other, all the way back to the mansion. When we arrived we were greeted by Scott, Patrick, Gambit, Rogue, and Laura.
"It's about time!" Laura said as Cat and I stepped off the jet holding hands. I wrapped my arm around her waist and she did the same to me.
"Gambit glad t' see his sister happy and home. The Cajun was sending an unspoken message to me: "hurt her again and I'll hurt you."
"Yo' right, Remy, I am home." I could tell that she was looking at me when she said it.
"So am I." I said as I looked at her.
"So… Cat, guess you're not coming back to Ireland with us?"
"I never was, Patrick. Yeah, I was gonna take yo' back but I wasn't gonna stay there forever. Even if Logan hadn't come after me, I was probably going to come back here. I'd been without family for way too long."
"Glad to see you're back and happy, Cat." Scott said.
"Thanks, Scott." Whatever had happened in Africa was forgiven. Well, Cat at least forgave him… I wasn't so sure. I wasn't gonna do anything about it now. I was too happy to think about that.
"Now, if you'll excuse us, we've got things to work out." Cat blushed at me comment… she actually blushed. It was cute.