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Something Strange Something New
Chapter 6
Friday morning came early. Logan was up and in the kitchen. Ro was coming downstairs. He had her tea on the counter waiting on her. She greeted him warmly.
"Good morning Logan." He was drinking some coffee before speaking.
"Morning Ro. Remy's on his way. Seems the mansion likes us to eat our breakfast with them now." Ororo smirked.
"That's only because this is a busy week. The school year is ending and tonight is the party. I have to help Moira, Geri and everyone else with the preparations for tonight. You do know about the after party downtown right?" Logan grinned. Since Scott's return and that first weekend. He and Ro were getting along great. He liked living in this home with her. It seemed she did too
"There was no way for me to forget. Hank kept reminding me, then Peter then Bobby. Even Marie came by the gym to make sure I had my tux for tonight." Ororo laughed.
She was picking up her tote bag. She had her end of semester notebooks inside. Her last class was next Friday and it was a tradition that the teachers at Xavier's gave their students end of the year gifts. Ororo had to make sure her order was in today. Hank would have Geri pick up the small pocket gifts each teacher gave their students next week.
"Well I know from Moira that Charles picked a very posh setting for tonight's after party. He wants us all to know how much we mean to him. It's always been Charles' way. He likes to let us know how much he loves and cares for us."
Logan smirked as he rinsed out his cup.
"Like that ain't hard to tell. He never lets up about how important we all are to him. I think since Chuck came back to us he's making it his mission to let us know how much he cares about us." Ororo stared at Logan.
"Can you blame him? He did nearly die like poor Scott. We're just blessed to have them both back. I am so grateful to the Goddess for giving me back them both."
Logan noted the wistful sound to Ororo's voice. She was glad and happy to have them both back. She didn't feel alone anymore. It still ate at him that he had not been there for her before. He knew that was never going to happen again. She drank her tea smiling. She looked at him.
"Thank you for making my tea. You always get it right. That is amazing because no one not even Jean could do that." Logan grinned.
"Just shows that I can pay attention." He stared at her eyes. She looked a little nervous then the honk of Remy's jeep was heard. They both headed for the door. Logan held it open for Ororo.
Ororo and Logan were both seated in Remy's jeep as he grinned like a cat at both of them.
"What's with you Cajun?" Logan asked. Ororo just arched an eyebrow at him. She was seated in the back seat. Logan sat upfront with Remy. The jeep was open air. Remy gave Ororo a please don't be angry look.
"Chere, I ask you now to forgive your padat for not telling you earlier." Ororo stared and eyed Remy harder.
"What are you apologizing about brother?" Remy grinned.
"Last night I asked Marie to be my wife and she said yes." Logan and Ororo were stunned speechless for all of three minutes. Ororo regained her senses first.
"Oh Remy I'm so happy for you. Now you two can be the family I know you always wanted to be." Ororo reached over and kissed his cheek. Logan sat with his arms folded and eyed Remy.
Both Ororo and Remy glanced at Logan. Ororo squeezed her eyes shut and Remy gulped ready for Logan's outburst.
"So ya finally decided to make an honest woman out of her? Took you long enough Gumbo." Logan extended his hand for a hardy handshake then he good naturedly smacked Remy hard on his shoulder, nearing making Remy lose control of the jeep.
Ororo had to cover her mouth to hide her smile and need to laugh. The two men looked so uncomfortable but she sensed both were pleased Logan took it so well and Remy had done the right thing.
Since the inhibitor was made by Hank for Rouge and Kurt. Mainly to hide his appearance to non-mutants. Their lives had improved greatly. Kurt was back in Germany studying at the seminary. Rouge had been freed to take her relationship to the next level.
All this had occurred over the last two years. Remy and Rouge had saw no need to get married then, much to Logan's disapproval. He may not have been Marie's father but he sure acted the part.
Scaring poor Remy straight to Ororo's office when Logan wanted to gut the Cajun for not making Marie an honest woman and not just another notch on his belt. Ororo and Logan had argued over this subject too many times. Those times they did speak. Which back then was just shouting matches. They usually terminated when Ororo walked away angry or Logan rode off pissed.
They always ended with her reminding him, how can the pot call the kettle black. Logan was known for his one night only bar women and he usually got in a snit over that. He never brought them to the mansion, but the smell of their cheap perfume wafted from his body and clothes until he showered. It was always apparent where he had been for the night. Ororo even pointed out if Marie was happy just be happy for her.
Ororo grinned. Maybe the fact that she and Logan were civil to one another now and actually sat down every night they returned to the boat house and talked helped. Mostly they talked about what happened at school that day and even about her greenhouse or even the status of his private classes. It was all helping.
In fact last night had been all about the next semester which was to happen in September, three months away. Logan was a good listener and he had several insightful things to add to what she had planned so far for her course. He recommended some surprisingly good books for her to have her students read. Ororo had even thanked him for the ideas and the book referrals.
Logan sat watching as they finally approached the school. He would get Marie alone and talk to her. He wondered if she wasn't getting engaged because Pete and Kitty were. He also wondered if she didn't pressure the Cajun.
He was happy for her sure but he wanted to make sure she was happy and really ready to be with Gumbo for the rest of her life. Logan looked over at the smiling demon eyed mutant as he drove to the schools back door and parked near the kitchen.
Every weekday morning since they moved into the boathouse, like Logan said, Ororo and he were picked up early for breakfast at the school. Mostly to help get things in order for the closing of it in the next couple of weeks. Now just a week more to go. With Scott's return as well as the professor's the school was a little crazy.
Not to mention they had two human teachers who were going out on leave. Ms. Scarbourgh and Mr. MacDonald had met at the school two years ago and married just a year after dating. Now they were expecting and first time father Mr. MacDonald wanted to show his pregnant wife his homeland in Scotland. She in turn would be taking him to her family home in Sumter South Carolina.
The lovely brown skinned beauty and the dark haired handsome Scotsman had fallen in love almost at first site. The school had been abuzz when he had purposed during her sixth period English class. Ororo of course couldn't say no. After all her parents had taken her to her mother's home land when she was a baby herself.
Their looming departure just meant more work for the returning teachers come the fall. Both had been two of the most popular human teachers ever at the school. The children had fallen in love with them both. When they became a couple it was the stuff of romance novels for the female population at the school.
Even Ororo found herself a little envious of the two. It never lasted long because they were just so happy and sweet together. Even Hank would grin watching them together.
The heavy brogue of Mr. MacDonald was always so pronounced when ever was near. It took Hank all of two minutes to conclude early on that the man was smitten. Ororo had even befriended Loretta MacDonald.
She was a true southern lady. Just two inches shorter then Ororo. A figure that was hourglasses shaped to say the least. Loretta always lamented about what she perceived as her large rear end. The males at the school didn't.
She was very attractive with deep dark brown eyes, a curt nose, high cheekbones, full lips and thick curly black hair. Even Logan had stared at her the first day he met her. She in turn didn't seem at all fazed by the feral man. Her main concern had been the students.
She adored them. They adored her and Walter MacDonald seemed to adore her from the moment Hank introduced them. They had arrived just a day apart for their new jobs here. As live in teachers they had no choice but to hang out as the kids say.
Walter was tall with dark black hair and these sea green eyes that caught everything in his class. Plus as Marie put it he worked out a lot and it showed. He was a man who believed in keeping fit. His father had died from overeating, overdrinking and overestimating his ability to live pass the age of fifty-two.
He died from a massive stroke. Walter didn't relish the same fate. He found himself always around Loretta. She made him laugh and smile. She liked keeping fit as well. The two were often seen walking the grounds or jogging together.
The other teachers were abuzz with the talk of the two always being together. Ororo had been very busy back then. But when they became engaged she helped to plan the party for them.
The wedding took place in Loretta's hometown. Now they were in Scotland, having taken last an early leave to go before the end of the school year. Ororo missed Loretta. She was kind and sweet and could bake a mean sweet potato pie. Ororo and the school had fallen in love with that sweet potato pie.
So being that Ororo and Xavier were anal, plans were being done now so no problems would occur by the first day of school. The MacDonald's were due to return by next year. Charles was planning on building a private home on the side of the mansion just for them and their new addition.
Speaking of anal Logan figured one-eye would be glad for tonight. Along with his private class he had been giving Scott hell with the physical therapy. Pushing the former leader of the X-men so hard he nearly cried on day one.
Logan wanted him to use the muscles that he once took for granted to a point were only a rub down Ororo gave him helped. Then a long steam bath to get the kinks out. For the last two days Ro had been doing them. Hank always had some student with an emergency or a project pop up. Logan didn't like Ro giving one-eye the rubdown. Even if they were like brother and sister as Ro put it.
He knew Jean was gone now and Scott may look like a boy scout but he was still a man. Logan had caught how he eyed Ms. Randall. Her makeover made her look like she should he figured. But to Logan she was still a kid.
Scott on the other hand was free and single. Logan though they'd make a good couple. She was cute, Scott was single. He got out of the jeep. Before Gumbo could get to Ororo to help her down. Logan just picked Ro up and set her down. Causing Ro and Remy to stare as Ro breathed out a stunned.
"Thank you." Making Remy grin while Ororo walked inside. When Geri came to the door to greet her.
"Ororo come inside. You'll never believe the news we've got to tell you." Ororo grinned as she walked in.
"Wanna bet." Remy spoke to Logan as he headed towards the garage.
"Well well Remy knew you be upset, but I never figure maybe ya mad cause ya not there yet with my Stormy." Logan glared at him.
"Ro and I are friends Cajun. We're working out our problems and as you can see it's working so far. As to your two bit analysis as to my being upset. I'm not. I'm gonna speak to Marie later on today. So no worries there at least for me. Why you got something ya don't want me to speak to Marie about?" Remy tilted his head as he looked at Logan.
"Don't play naive with me. I know you like my Stormy. I saw how ya react to Scott having her do his backrubs cause Hank was busy and we all know ya got feelings for her." Logan pulled out a beer from the fridge in the garage
"Yeah, so what. I'm giving Ro time to see if she's developing any for me. I figure I'll wait her out a bit." He drank some beer. Remy grabbed one as well.
"So what if she don't." Logan grinned.
"Then I would know before the rest of ya do." Remy swallowed before asking.
"And just how would you know what Stormy feels or non?" Logan pointed to his hawk shaped nose.
"Cause of this. I ain't feral for nothing. I can smell Rouge all over you. Judging by the scent I'd say she was over the moon about your proposal last night." Remy choked.
"Your nose is nosey homie. Stop smelling me." Logan burst into laughter.
Inside Moira and Geri soon were joined by Jubilee and Kitty. Ororo had taken the air out of their breaking news on the Remy and Marie engagement.
Moira snorted as she made first Ororo's plate and then Jubilee's and Kitty. Lizzie came in for just some Orange juice cause she was thirsty.
The younger students always were fed first. Once she drank, sang her hellos and got her hugs, she was off to go play with some of the other young girls on the play set Ororo had Logan build several years earlier.
"Figures the Cajun would tell you first thing before Marie tells us." Ororo giggled. Eating her French toast and munching on some turkey sausage before she responded.
"Moira Remy is my brother and of course he's going to tell me. He had to pick up Logan and I first thing this morning. He always tells me about major events in his life. We're family. He elected to be the one to pick us up every morning since Charles won't allow us to have one of the cars." Ororo sipped her tea. Moira snorted. Ororo went on.
"Besides you know that's there's a great deal of work to be done for the coming semester. Charles has only been back a short time and I have to show him many of the things that we have done and the plans that were made for the school." Moira sat down drinking her coffee.
"Oh please Charles can read your mind faster and get all the information he needs. You two just like doing extra work." Geri grinned as Jubilee jumped in.
"Is that so you don't have to pay any attention to how Wolvie likes to keep all the guys away from you?" Kitty snorted. Ororo nearly choked on her food.
"What!" Ororo was getting pats on her back as Moira, Kitty and Jubilee laughed. Kitty smiled.
"Be honest Ororo you're not dense. You've seen how he's been reacting to your daily back rubs on Mr. Summers." Geri grinned as the realization dawned on her.
"Oh so that's why Hank asked me to do the back rub today. He's tied up in some project and wants me to give Scott the rubdown. He said that Logan would prefer it if I did the back rubs instead of you." Ororo's eyes went wide but she said nothing. Just sat eating her food. Then silently drank her tea. Moira smiled.
"Oh so now the silent treatment." Kitty laughed.
"Admit it you like Logan and you're enjoying his attention even if you may not want to like it." Moira snorted. She caught the faint smile on Ororo's face.
"So that's why you won't talk uhh. You know you're warming up to him." Ororo placed her napkin on her lap after wiping her mouth.
"I have no idea as to what any of you are talking about." Kitty folded her arms exposing her ring finger where her ring hit the sunlight coming from the window just behind Ororo.
"Right. You feel nothing for Logan. That's why he's leaving you alone." Ororo stared into Kitty's eyes.
"He can't leave me alone. Exactly. We room together at the boathouse. We talk now and Logan is a very smart and interesting man." Moira laughed.
"Yes when I saw him bare chested working on one of the cars last night. I though Moira now there's an interesting man." Jubilee started laughing. Moira went on.
"His ruggedly handsome good looks and that body with muscles bulging every where never crossed my mind. Not that I a woman of a certain age would notice anything like a man with jet black hair and dusty dark skin covered in hair." Now Geri and Kitty started giggling. Moira kept a straight face as Ro tried to finish her breakfast.
"A man Whose entire body looks like muscle built on top of muscle. Who could slam dunk the entire British army one handed. No why would I notice him? Why would any women still breathing?" The girls were all laughing except Ro who was trying not to. Then Jubilee interjected.
"Right and who would notice those smoldering gray colored eyes. Even the way he stares at you like he's in heat." Ororo nearly fell out of her seat choking. Geri had to pat her back. Then Kitty spoke again.
"You know I've never seen Logan with pale skin. How does he stay so tanned all year long?" Jubilee spoke up.
"I think Logan has been around for so long that his skin is like leather in color because of it." Moira laughed.
"How ever the man does it, it works. I myself usually don't find hairy men attractive. Or even men so dark looking from the sun but he has just enough coating on that chest that I do find him very attractive. He fits the dark handsome type so well that it's enough to make a woman forget what she does like."
Ororo looked at her stunned. That caused all the women to start laughing as the object of their discussion walked in with Remy right behind him. The men stared at the laughing women. The giggles died down as the whole room got quite. Geri spoke first.
"Well I have to help Hank with some things today and then the party prep. Bye." She was getting up putting her dishes away and flying out the door. Kitty and Jubilee were next.
"Yes Kitty, we promised Marie that we'd help with the party foods and she wants to hit the supermarket today." Remy spoke up.
"Where is my Chere?" Kitty smiled as she and Jubilee headed for the door.
"In with the professor. I think they're having a heartfelt." Remy grinned.
"Ahh I go join my chere then." He pecked Ororo on her cheek as he left following the duo. Moira made to stand when Ororo jumped up with her.
"You haven't finished your breakfast Lass?" Moira smiled evilly. Ororo glared at her. Moira snorted glancing at Logan who was at the stove getting some eggs and ham along with the French toast and sausage.
"I'm not that hungry anyway. I need to see how the work is going on in my greenhouse and I need to assist with the party decorations."
Moira laughed as Logan came to the table staring at them both but mostly Ro. He was quiet as he watched her. She was moving fast to empty her plate and cup in the sink before placing them in the dish washer. Then she and Moira waved a hasty good bye to Logan. He snorted as he ate his food laughing to himself. He'd heard every word they'd said even as Remy was talking his ear off in the garage.
'Hell maybe I'll go shirtless more often.' He though as he ate slowly.
The morning flew by quickly and Logan soon found himself working Scott Summers hard in the mansion's indoor pool. By the end of their water session Scott was aching. But he found he was able to walk more with just the light cane to lean on instead of the crutches he'd had three days earlier. Hank's souped-up formula personally designed for Scott's DNA was a wonder drug.
Hank was working on perfecting it for both human and mutant alike. Scott was heaving for a shorter time too Logan noted. His lungs were quickly allowing him to take on more laps. His muscle mass had grown as well. You could see the changes in his body more each day. When Hank had measured him this morning his body muscle had increased by a inch and a half overnight. The results were all music to Hank's ears.
Logan had Scott do weights in the pool by strapping tie on weights to his arms and legs to build more body mass. By next week he figured Scott would look like his old self again. He wasn't as gaunt as he was when they'd found him. Already he was a hell of a lot more fleshed out. Hank was a certified genius. After the pool work-out Logan helped Scott out of the pool. Both men rested seated on the edge of the pool breathing slowly.
"So Logan what's this all about you and Ro living at the boat house together?" Logan flinched and Scott caught it.
"Ya heard about that uhh?" Scott grinned liking the uneasiness on Logan's face.
"Hey this is XU isn't it. There are no secrets here. Every thing that happens here is reported faster then the CIA can gather intelligence." Logan smirked.
"Yeah that's true. So ya no doubt know why. Me and Ro were having some problems due to what ya learned about from Hank and the professor." Scott grinned.
"And to think all that time you spent chasing Jean was just because she looked a lot like this Rose from nearly two centuries ago. Boy Jean would have been stunned. Go figure, you wasted all that time on Jean when you should have been after Ororo." Logan stared stunned at Scott's bluntness causing Scott to laugh.
"Hey just cause I wear goggles doesn't make me blind does it?" Logan looked at Scott then smiled.
"No you're not blind One-eye, that would be me when I first got here." Scott snickered.
"You mean when Ororo and I rescued you and Marie. I remember it was she that put out the fire in your truck that enabled me to get Marie out as you were knocked out by Sabretooth." Logan laughed.
"I vaguely remember that part." Scott laughed.
"Right. Let's find Sabretooth and see if he remembers."
"Yeah let's not." Logan grunted as he wiped down before heading for the showers. Scott smirked. It felt good to watch Logan be uneasy about a woman he couldn't get a handle on.
The day progressed quickly the students, teachers and all the staff going about the day getting training done, having classes outdoors, readying the grand hall for the party, prepping the vast amount of food and drinks. Everyone had a job to do today and it was getting done.
Geri Randall found herself putting up the banner that welcomed both the professor and Scott back into the fold. Bobby was assisting her. Ororo and Moira were dressing up the large cake that Moira had baked for the party tonight before placing it into the walk-in freezer.
Ororo then made sure that Marie and the girls had gotten enough ice cream to go with the cake. Kitty was placing all the toppings such as the cherries, bananas, sprinkles and whipped cream in the self-service area that Geri had prepared for the large buffet tonight.
The foods were going to be both hot and cold with plenty of salads and veggies for those who did not eat meat. The dance floor was being buffed by Peter who made the job go fast as he easily handled the large buffer with no problem. Then Bobby, was put to work frosting the bowls that the punches would be made in. Then making ice cubes in various shapes so that the younger kids would enjoy the funny shapes.
Finally he made the large ice sculpture. A life size likeness of both Charles and Scott looking very much like they were pleased to be back among their family. Ororo smiled as she looked around the hall. There were human and mutant students and staff working and laughing together. It made the professor's dream seem more real as she placed the many plants around the hall.
The theme was the good ole summertime which Geri though of and all though no period dressing would be done, the hall had an old fashioned fountain in which the ice cream and cake with toppings would be served. The tables and chairs were all made like they would have looked in the early twentieth century.
Ororo loved the draping of white linen fabric that Geri had made into large round roses in the center. With assistance from the girls she had placed the excess material wonderfully over the walls and entrances. The flowered plants made the room seem like an out door park.
A giant gazebo was where the DJ would play. Peter had set up the tall evergreen potted plants for Ororo all around the hall. The smell of the outdoors seemed to cleanse the air in the hall making everyone working inside feel lighter and happier.
The addition of the skylights that Ororo had placed in the hall over a year ago provided a lot of natural sunlight cutting the cost of lighting for the school in half. She now found herself putting lots of ivy all around the upper part of the walls and adding moss with small flowered plants that fit just inside the moss adding a multiple colored appeal to the hall.
By the time they were finished the place looked amazing. Charles found himself watching from the grand balcony up above. Geri had a good eye for what would work in the hall and it looked grand with all the help from the staff and students. He turned his chair out of the hall and summoned Ororo. Her additional space for the green house was finished and he wanted her to see how much bigger it now was.
As Ororo went with the professor's to see her enlarged green house. Logan was seated at the far side of the estate with Marie now gleefully telling him how Remy purposed to her last night.
"I know your still wrapping your head around it Logan. But I love Remy and I know he loves me. Besides it ain't like we're getting married right away. We can be together now thanks to Hank's inhibitor collar. I hear he's making it smaller so that I can wear it as a bracelet or earring." Logan flinched when Marie said together so she smacked him on his arm and kept talking.
"I'm a grown up now you know and Remy makes me feel like a woman. I never felt as secure with Bobby as I do with Remy." Logan grunted sitting with his arms folded across his chest with his stogie hanging out the side of his mouth.
He had let Marie tell him her true feelings about the Cajun's proposal and said little to nothing for the whole hour and a half that they had been out here. Marie was used to Logan's grunts and growls and could interrupt them as either he approved or didn't. So far she was reading his body and temperament as even. Finally Logan spoke.
"So ya really wanna marry that Cajun uhh?" Marie laughed.
"Yes I do, just not right away mind yah. Me and Remy are thinking maybe in two years or so. we want to visit with his family in New Orleans and you know get to see what it is we want first before we get married." Logan grunted again and puffed hard on his cigar as he spoke.
"All right I get it. Ya love him but ya wanna see how the two of you are going to be as a couple first before the long haul. Ya scared a little maybe?" Marie smiled.
"Yeah, maybe. Remy is older and I'm not so worldly as him but I love him and I know he loves me. I just wanna see how we fit first and if we have the same goals in mind." Logan grinned as he tussled Marie's hair getting her to flay her arms about her head trying to fix the mess he made with her hair.
"Alright kid so long as ya know what it is ya want." Marie grinned giving Logan a big hug as Remy walked up on the duo.
"Whoa whoa don't be hugging another man chere, you break Remy's heart." He was grinning as a laughing Rouge jumped up to greet him.
"What other man? I was just hugging Logan." Logan stood up.
"Great and on that note I'm outta here." He began walking towards the mansion several hundred feet away. Remy kissed Rouge then asked her.
"So did you bring up my Stormy?" Marie sighed as Remy hugged her.
"No I didn't. I figure that's one he'll have to figure out for himself. I know Logan and he'll make a move in the right direction. Besides with his nose he can figure out how to do what needs to be done." Remy smiled as they watched Logan heading towards the mansion.