"Logan… can Ah ask you something? Something serious."
"Serious? Four more days, tops, and I'll be back. Can't it wait 'til then?"
"No. I mean, it could I guess, but it's just…"
Something in Marie's tone must have gotten to him; he knew her well.
"Alright, sure, just hang on a minute." He either covered the phone, or pulled it away, perhaps both. The next part of his conversation was muffled. "I'm heading out to take this... better behave, or else… why do you care?" He growled at whoever he was talking to. "It's my wife, and none of your business, so just eat your pancakes, kid." She giggled a little at the last part. She wondered how young the woman even really had to be for Logan to deem her 'kid'. It didn't take much for him to dub someone that anymore, not since a few more of his memories had surfaced. A few more moments passed before he spoke to her again. "Alright, I'm listening, Darlin."
She took a deep breath.
"Well, see, Ah've been thinking lately…"
"Oh boy." He cut in, teasing.
"Oh, shut up. Ah'm being serious. Ah've been thinking and Ah was wondering what your thoughts are on, well, maybe…maybe having a baby."
Silence. All she could hear on the other end was the slight breeze creating a static sound and a few cars passing by, telling her that he was outside.
"Logan? You still there? Please say something."
"Yeah." He heaved a sigh, the hesitant tone to his voice unfamiliar to her. "I'm still here. Is, ah, there any particular reason why you had to ask me this now?"
"Ah just want an answer, that's all. Had some time to think here on my own, so Ah got to wonderin."
"Is it just 'cause of Yellow? It is, ain't it?"
She didn't respond immediately, so he kept going, the hesitant tone to his voice being replaced by a gruff edge.
"Look, Marie, Jubes and Remy… I mean, you know things are a little different with us."
She grimaced to spite the fact that he couldn't see her.
"What do you mean a little different?"
"Having a kid would mean, I don't know, settling, wouldn't it? No going out. No… oh, I don't even know. No more road trips. I know you wanted to head up to Alaska next time."
"Would that be so bad, though? I think it would be worth giving up a few things."
"I just… you know what Hank said about my healing – our healing factors. We got plenty of time here, Marie. Right now… do you really think either of us would make the best parents?"
For some reason, that really hit a nerve.
"Funny thing, Logan, up until yah said that Ah was pretty sure yah would make a great daddy. Thought maybe you'd be willin to settle a little for me by now. Guess Ah was wrong."
"Now, Darlin, wait just a minute, don't go getting the wrong idea…"
"Wrong idea? You just told me flat out that you don't want kids."
"I never said I didn't want..." Desperation seeped into his voice, probably because he could hear how upset she was getting. "We've got a good thing going, just the two of us. Why'd you have to bring this up now?"
"Nothin." She snapped, and she could feel hot, angry tears building up. Tears? She wasn't usually one to cry much. "No reason. Just forget it. Bye, Logan."
"Don't…"
She hung up even as she could hear him yelling for her not to.
The tears spilled over, and she caught one on her finger as it slid slowly down her cheek.
Yeah, Marie, she thought to herself sulkily, that's called hormones. Mood swings. Whether Logan was ready or not, she was pregnant.
She was starting to get the feeling this wouldn't end quite as well as she'd first hoped.
More than a thousand miles away, sitting outside a plain little diner off a dusty road in the middle of Oklahoma of all places, saddled with the task of bringing a feisty mutant kid back because Ororo would be angry if he didn't, Logan's mood was worsening by the minute.
He was tempted to forget the kid. God forbid Ororo Munroe should not get what she wanted for once. He was more worried about Marie and where he'd be sleeping when he finally did get back.
Something about the tone of Marie's voice had him on edge. Why would she get so upset over something that they could just as easily address later on, face to face? Why ask him right then? It didn't make sense unless…
His eyes widened as the Wolverine started pacing restlessly in its cage in his mind. He needed to get back to Marie. He needed to get back to his mate, now.
He resisted the sudden urge to throw the phone on the ground and then stomp on it; Ororo wouldn't be happy if he did that, either.
He stalked back into the diner and over to the young woman sitting in the booth far off in the corner. She sensed something was off, could probably smell his rage, and stood up to meet him. She was a tiny thing all around, short and small boned, but also curvy. She was also, he knew from recent experience, tough as nails for being so young. Well-toned muscles rippled beneath any visible skin when she moved. She easily exuded the same 'back off' vibe that he, and any mutant like them, tended to give off.
It was strange that her mutation was only just now developing. Hank would have a field day with her, poor kid.
"Come on, kid, we're leaving." He told her gruffly.
"Will you stop callin me kid? Mah names Kris. And yah didn't even eat."
"Not real hungry anymore." He pulled out some cash and threw a few bills onto the table, probably more than was needed, but he figured the poor, sweet little blond who'd been serving them deserved it for all the comments Kris had thrown at her.
"Well, where we headin next then? You been drivin since this mornin. Unless yah wanna give me a go…"
"There's no way I'm putting you behind the wheel of my truck. Get in."
She gave him a growl that would have been frightening to anyone that wasn't him, but got in the truck anyways.
He took out a cigar and lit it before pulling out onto the road again. She glared.
"You got one of those things lit practically twenty-four seven, and yah won't buy me some cigarettes. It ain't fair."
"You're sixteen."
"What does it matter how old Ah am? Ah just got shot a few days ago and somehow didn't die, remember that? Ain't like the smokes are gonna hurt me more than a bullet apparently can't."
"You're too young to be needing things like cigarettes, kid. Start with stuff like that now and it just gets worse from there."
"You aren't mah daddy." She growled at him again, crossing her arms.
"Just drop it." He growled back. She was silent for a moment, startled, although she tried not to look it.
"Sorry. Damn. Who put you in a mood? Yah wife?"
Logan clenched his jaw and didn't answer. This was going to be the longest trip he ever took.
Logan was going to be back in about six hours, and Marie was a big bundle of nerves. She suddenly had more energy than she'd had in weeks. She couldn't sit still.
She cleaned her and Logan's room, which was probably a good thing; it had needed it. She finished up on a painting she'd been working on, a beautiful view of the mansion and the grounds surrounding it. She even cooked dinner for everyone that night – a responsibility shared by all the teachers that she usually avoided.
"Roguey, what is with you? You're being all quiet and sulky. Logan's going to be back, isn't he? You should be all smiles!" Jubilee chased after Marie when dinner was finished. She was headed down the hallway towards her room.
"It's nothing."
"Nothing? Come on, Remy's downstairs." Jubilee pulled her into her and Remy's room.
"We had a fight that's all. Well, sort of. Not really much of a fight, Ah guess. Ah got upset. Ah'm just afraid Ah made him angry."
"I think you're about the only person on this planet he won't get angry at." Jubilee sat down on her bed, one hand coming up to rest on her almost-six-months-pregnant belly.
"Ah wouldn't be so sure. Ah think Ah might've pushed the limit this time."
Jubilee looked like she wasn't quite sure how to answer. A moment passed and Marie turned towards the window nervously when she heard the distinct roar of Logan's truck.
"He's coming now, isn't he? Guess you'll find out soon."
Marie darted out of the room.
"That's a school?" Kris asked, looking awed as they came up on the mansion.
"Yep."
"And yah are sayin the lady who runs this place… she wants me?"
"She sent me all the way down there with some pretty specific instructions. Yeah, she wants you."
He parked the car inside the mansions garage and he got out. She followed suit much more hesitantly, grabbing her bag and looking around in wonderment at all the cars and other vehicles around. She stopped him just before they got to the door, and he turned to look at her. She looked confused and scared and he was suddenly reminded of just how young she was.
"Ah grew up on a farm. A-and Ah nearly killed mah daddy a few weeks ago, and to top that off Ah got shot and Ah'm not dead and Ah know Ah said Ah'd come with yah 'cause yah got me out of there but… that was before yah told me yah were takin me to some kind of boardin school for rich folks."
Logan didn't interrupt, just let her talk, figuring that it was better for her to get it all out now.
"Look, ki- Kris. I'm not stupid enough say I know exactly how you feel, but I think I have an idea. You feel horrible about your father. I know you must be all mixed up about not being dead. And you're probably wondering what kind of monster you're turning into." She stared downwards, not looking at him, and he knew he'd hit the nail on the head. "Trust me. Looks are deceiving. We can help you." She still looked wary and extremely hesitant. He took a breath, knowing what he really needed to do. They'd been traveling together for almost a week. She'd already displayed a certain trust in him just by coming. "I can help you. At least, I'll try."
Bingo. That got her attention. She looked up at him.
"Ah wasn't expectin yah to care beyond bringin me here, yah don't have to say that."
"I know." He replied gently.
"Well. Okay then."
"Now." He said with a gruffer edge to his voice. "Can we go inside already? It's cold out here and I've kept my wife waiting long enough as it is."
She laughed and rolled her eyes as he opened the door and gestured for her to go on ahead. She walked in, looking around with something that he could only describe as a 'deer in the headlights' expression, stopping just before the rec room, staring in at the comfortable couches and large television set up.
He got the feeling the t.v. alone was nicer than anything she'd had back home, where ever home was for her. She hadn't actually told him that yet.
Ororo appeared to have been waiting for them – she came up just as they walked in.
"Logan, welcome home!" She gave him a hug before turning to Kris.
"Right, this is…" Logan turned to the girl.
"Kristine O'Connell, ma'am." Kris spoke for herself. "B-but I prefer Kris." She added quickly.
"Alright, Kris it is then. Why don't we head to my office so we can talk in private?"
Kris glanced at Logan as if she needed his permission.
"I'll come check up on you later, alright kid?"
She nodded and headed off with Ororo.
Marie wasn't in the mansion. Her scent wasn't quite strong enough. He went up and put his bag down in their room – their spotless room, did Marie get bored or something? – and then headed outside, knowing exactly where'd she'd be. He hoped, rather desperately, that she wouldn't be mad at him. He'd had a little time to think about what she'd said.
The thought of having a baby had never occurred to him before, and although he really wasn't sure of whether he'd be so good at being a father... the idea also excited him in a way he couldn't remember ever being excited before.
"Marie? What are you doing out here in the cold?"
She was sitting out near the trees where the garden was, though the trees were bare and the garden's plants dead since it was winter.
"It's supposed to snow." She shrugged. She was bundled up tight in jeans, boots, and a fur lined leather jacket she'd just bought. "Thought Ah'd come out here and watch."
He sat down next to her.
"Listen, about what I said a few days ago… I just wasn't expecting… I mean, you caught me…" He started over a few times, trying to find the right thing to say. Marie chuckled, sounding a bit incredulous.
"Logan, shut up. You sound ridiculous when you get nervous. Ah should be sorry for getting upset over it."
He put and arm around her shoulders, pulling her in close. She seemed to hesitate before leaning in, but then she turned to him, wrapping her arms around him and snuggling up to him.
He buried his face in the crook of her neck and inhaled deeply the wonderful sweet scent that belonged to her and only her – but there was something else. Something strange, though not at all bad.
The Wolverine howled in his head with a sudden sense of joy, the apprehension he'd felt melting away at the realization that it wasn't just an idea.
He pulled back to look at Marie.
"Crazy girl! I knew it! You should've just told me!" And he was grinning, a big, goofy, genuine grin that he just couldn't help.
She looked shocked.
"What, you mean…you're not upset? B-but Ah thought…"
"You took me by surprise, that's all. I mean, a baby…" He stood up, took her hands and pulled her up too, and she put her arms around his neck. He kissed her fiercely before picking her up, cradling her in his arms, and spinning around in a circle.
All she could do was grin and kiss back. Relief and excitement washed over her in strong waves. She was sure she'd never seen Logan this happy, except maybe when they got married. She almost couldn't believe it.
Inside the mansion things were just beginning to settle down for the night. Ororo was taking Kris to her room so she could meet her roommate and get settled; Jubilee and Remy were sharing a sweet little kiss as she slipped in to bed early; Hank had just made it back to his own room for the night.
A strange sound tore through the grounds and was easily heard by everyone in the mansion itself. Most of them wouldn't have recognized the almost wolf-like howl as being human at all. It would have been alarming if not for the strange sense that one got along with it; the sense that whatever made the sound was happy, overjoyed even.
Hank smiled to himself as he settled down for the night with a book to read. It sounded like Marie had just told a certain somebody the good news; the howl was that of a very happy Wolverine.
Sorry this is a shorter chapter. Reviews are great motivation; give me a few and I might update faster. :D
I try to give the characters I create meaningful names. The last name O'Connell means 'strong as a wolf'.
