I want to personally thank all the people who have given nice reviews and been so patient for this next chapter to be updated. I really appreciate all the encouraging and kinds words and am glad that everyone is liking the story so far…..anyways…onwards to the story….

PS. I'm also going to show a sillier and playful side to Emily…she's been at the mansion towards the middle of this chapter for almost three months now…I think it's safe to be a little more like a silly little girl around the others.

PSS. If the titles kind of weird….my bad…this is the only chapter I couldn't think up one! Writers block on a chapter title….wow…I think I'm writing too much. Lol.

Chapter Ten

A Stormy Tale

Emma Frost glanced up, her lips forming a smirk, as her student scrunched up her nose in concentration. Emily's soft pencil tip scratched across her worksheet, the soft pelting of rain drumming along the arching window sills of the library. It had been over a week since Mystiques 'surprise' visit and all appeared to be holding their breaths as of what the child would act like afterwards. Frost was glad to see Emily was much more resilient than many gave her credit for; all giving silent sighs of relief to see Emily had come back around after some coaxing on several of the X-men's part.

Emily continued working quietly as the morning Friday sessions came to a close; stopping only for a moment to brush her thick strands of curvy raven hair. A glimpse of healing flesh surfaced just above the forehead crease before being hidden back underneath layers of bangs. Frost's jaw tightened at the sight; she among the many who tried daily to track down that slimy Neanderthal. So far…there we no leads.

Emily gently put down her pencil; looking towards the White Queen. The woman grinned her way, asking "You're finished?"

"Yes ma'am." Emily responded politely. Emma nodded at Emily, pulling her lesson plans into her folders, saying "Then you are dismissed for the day."

Emily cracked a small smile at the revelation; she had an hour of free time before lunch. The child fleeting thought of working on her sketchbook, it was only a few pages till finished, but decided against it. Emily really had her third favorite hobby in mind; her eyes gazing hungrily at the sheer amount of books waiting to be cracked open. They teased her till Emily couldn't wait anymore; the worst the grownups could say was no. The raven haired child turned from walking away to look at her teacher, asking "Emma?"

Said female mutant looked up at the child with a friendly grin. Emma responded "Yes, Emily?"

"Are we allowed to touch any of the books?" Emily asked, holding her breath in for the answer. Emma's grin only brightened. She answered "Of course, Emily."

The ten year old flashed a rare, joyish, smile; Emily had thought she'd say no! Any place with books that Emily had ever been too, had forbidden anyone from touching the leather bound objects. Emma had been scooping up her folders in her arms, only to look up to see the rare sight on Emily's face. She instantly felt herself smiling in return. Emma motioned to all the books adding "You see any book you just grab it and read it."

Emma walked past the child, patting her shoulder, and pointed a finger at the ten year old adding "Hank only asks that you return it to its proper place once you're done."

"Okay!" Emily retorted; oblivious to the glee in her tone. The ten year old kept herself from running; managing only a fast paced walk towards the nearest shelf. Emma's face softened at the child's excitement. She held in another smile as Emily suddenly realized something, turning back to her teacher, muttering a quick "Thank you!" before scanning the books on her level. Emma shook her head; quietly leaving the rare smiling Emily in peace. The child did not notice, so excited at the chance to read a brand new book; her thoughts were elsewhere. The ten year old brushed her fingers across the leather binds, gently prying one from the numerous others.

A patch of bright lightening and a roll of thunder played out on the opposite side of the tall windows; causing the ten year old girl to snake her eyes nervously towards the glass. Emily cringed as more thunder rumbled in the distance. Unconsciously she stopped pulling out the book to twirl her golden bracelet. The child hoped very fervidly that the storm would pass before nighttime; the last thing she needed was to have to explain her embarrassing fear.

Emily turned from the storm outside, focusing her attention back on her book. Pulling the rest of it out, the little girl opened the first page, only to immediately be drawn in. The child began walking down the hall, book still in hand, absently keeping an eye out for any wayward walls till she reached the living room. Kurt came out of his nearby room, gazing shyly as the ten year old passed by. He stated quietly "Guttentag, Emily." (Good day, Emily)

"Uh-huh." Emily droned back; still immersed in her adventure. Kurt followed her, shaking his head at the child's distraction. He moved his lanky body till he peered over the child, swiping the open book, up and out from her small hands. Emily frowned, grabbing at air, turning to say indignant "Hey!"

"I hafe read vhile valking down zis hall before." Kurt smarted dryly after grinning at her scowl his way. He closed the book shut, lowering his hand so the child could reach it, adding "Trust me, it is naut a good idea."

As Emily took the book back the furry mutant noticed, with peaked curiosity, he had not seen that book in some time. His tail swished back and forth as Kurt asked "Vhere'd ju get zat book?"

"Emma said it was okay for me to read the books in the library." Emily responded, turning back to walk down the rest of the hallway. Kurt followed, after the same destination, asking curiously "Ju like to read?"

Emily nodded, looking up at Kurt with a crack of a smile, responding "Pirate stories are my favorite."

Kurt's yellow eyes brightened in color. He asked "Vhat kinds hafe ju read?"

Emily shrugged, answering leisurely back "I've only read the younger kids stuff. Sister Rachel said Treasure Island and the others are too 'dirty' for me to read yet."

Kurt nodded; understanding well what the nun meant if the child did not. Seeing an avenue towards getting to know his new found sister better, a way to further break the residual awkwardness between them, Kurt said "Ju know, I hafe my own sctash of pirate books zat someone jur age could read."

Emily's crack of a smile broke to a real one as she stopped at the living room entrance, asking excitedly "You like pirate stories?!"

Kurt smiled wide, his tail flickering, as he proudly flashed his own book he had been holding down the hallway. Emily had sat down on a small easy chair next to the one Kurt eased into. She pointed at his book, saying "I've read that one!"

"Really?" Kurt answered back. Emily nodded, prying open her book. Her older brother glanced at his opened page, then at the ten year old, asking "So zat happens to ze Captain?"

"Read and you'll find out." Emily teased back with a smile. Her ice blues danced with a secret as she teased further "But trust me…you won't expect the ending!"

"AH! Don't taunt me! I'm only on chapter zree!" Kurt countered, shaking his opened book. Emily's smile spread out as her eyes further grew brighter; her look a dead ringer for Logan's smartelec face minus the canines. She taunted with a giggle "Then you don't know about the Captain's 'dastardly' secret!"

Kurt let out a small half huff laugh and asked "How do ju efen know a vord like dastardly?"

Emily's smile stayed in width as she responded cheeky "One of Emma's spelling words for the week."

"Ju know vat it means?" Kurt teased back; the twenty one year old getting more comfortable in talking to his younger sister the more time progressed. Emily quickly rattled off "Dastardly; a word that means wicked and cruel."

Kurt stared at her a little stunned. Emily grinned, smarting dryly "I'm told that I'm smart. What do you think?"

"I zink ju're scpending too much time vith Emma." Kurt rattled back. Emily giggled, burying her face in her book before returning to smooth down the pages to read. Kurt grinned gently back; glancing now and then as he read silently beside his younger sister.

xxx xxxx xxx

"Blondie! That's cheatin!" Emily exclaimed, flabbergasted. She arched to the left from her position on the floor, pushing her chin off the padded pillow she had borrowed from the couch. Bobby smiled wolfishly down at her, smarting "No its not; its improvising."

The small ten year old pushed up more from the floor to glare up at the smug teenager beside her. Kurt had long made his exit after lunch when the duo had started decking it out on screen; Emily, it appeared, being the only person from the Howlett or Darkholme line that appreciated video gaming entrainment. In fact, after Kurt left to check the five o'clock news in his room, it was the first evening in over two weeks that Emily and Bobby had the living room all to themselves before dinner. To which, since the still murky weather outside had ended any chance of outdoor activities, the duo was taking full advantage of the freed up time of the television screen.

Emily placed down her controller and knelt up from her bellied position on the floor. She pointed at the victorious teenager, replying back "We said no boosts! So it's cheatin!"

Bobby grabbed her pointing hand with his left, closing in towards her face playfully, teasing "You're just sore because I can beat you at this game 100% of the time!"

Emily huffed, picking up her pillow on the floor, slamming across Bobby's left side; making the eighteen year old snicker. The child soon toppled to the floor with a giggle as she was pelted in the same way by Bobby. The blonde teenager hit her playfully with the pillow again for good measure and was stunned to see the child's ice blues brightened in a devilish snap. Her eyebrows slowly rose up. Emily began to smile wickedly at the befuddled teen, smarting "So…ya wanna go, bub?"

Bobby set down the pillow warily, replying slowly "Emil…oaf!"

The poor victim was unable to finish his plea for nonviolence before he was tackled at the side by a blur of giggles, and black hair. Bobby's controller flew to the ground as Emily pushed him by both hands to the floor, the bewildered teen falling to his right side onto the open spaced carpet. The teen stared up stunned at the playful roughhousing as Emily got on top of his lanky side and tried to pin his left arm behind his back. She giggled hard at Bobby's face, exclaiming in a breath "Say Uncle!"

The blonde eighteen year old quickly caught on to the game; his stunned look turning ornery. Bobby easily used his body to thrust Emily up off of him, twisting the giggling child on her backside, while trying to keep the tiny and wiggling form from escaping. He barely managed to keep her small little body from squirming out from underneath him, Bobby retorting "You say Uncle!"

"NO!" Emily squealed out; taking in a deep breath before going back on the attack. She used all her experiences with wrestling with Derek and Austin to her advantage; managing to wiggle under Bobby and climb up on his back. Her movements caused the laughing teen to fall to the floor again; Emily climbing up his back and reaching for his arm again. The giggling child tussled with the equally red faced Bobby until he finally couldn't hold the laughter any longer, shoving his face into the carpet, snickering madly; the child using this to barely grab a hold of the arm to loop it behind him. Emily cried out in a grunt "Say Uncle!"

Logan had heard commotion from the hallway and came into the living room ready to see Scott bringing in another stray; only to stare wide eyed at the scene before him. Emily pushed down on Bobby's backside, the teen snickering into so much he couldn't get the forth worth to fight back yet, the child giggling along with the half-bucking teen. The ten year old puffed out her chest, staring down at the blonde, half-shouting "I said say Uncle!"

Logan's stunned expression turned to a smirk of the lips. Bobby somehow managed to reel in his amusement at the rough house, bucking upward, saying "Not on your life, Barbie!"

Bobby easily rolled out from under Emily; who squealed and giggled as she fell to the floor beside the teen. She playfully tried slapping away the blonde teen as he reached out to grab her as he stood on his knees. Emily arched on her back on the carpet, laughing, trying to kick Bobby gently away as the mutant boy bypassed her defenses and grabbed her up around the stomach. He began giving her a nuggy on the head, Emily giggling with shrieks as she kicked and wiggling in his strong mutant grasp. Logan came up from the entrance, waving his hands, saying "Alright, alright, enough. Ro' and Hank hav both ya hides if ya broke somethin in here!"

Bobby immediately let the squirming child go; both snorting back laughter as each pushed another for good measure. Logan gave them a more commanding look that stopped the last smidge of rough play. The feral shook his head, his large arms bulging as they crossed over each other, looking down peculiarly at the small child then at Bobby. His gravel voiced rumbled "What are ya two doin?"

Bobby quickly caught on that this was not one of his teacher's 'I caught you doing something and I'm pissed off' reprimands but more 'Just knock it off' speeches and replied with a teasing smirk to Emily "Barbie dolls just sore because I beat her in a game!"

"You cheated!" Emily defended; her voice breaking out in a small giggle. Her eyebrows jetted down as she finished "You're the one who hit me twice with the pillow!"

"After you hit me first!" Bobby laughed back; getting up off the floor. Emily crossed her arms, putting her head up high in self accomplishment, making Logan stifle down a smile. Bobby shook his head adding "And me hittin you twice doesn't call for that Rambo style leap you pulled!"

Logan's face flashed a surprised expression before going back to deadpanned at the duo. Bobby put his arms out to the side, exclaiming towards the child "Where in the world did you learn how to jump like that!?"

"Can't take the heat, stay out the kitchen, bub." Emily retorted back with a devilish snap to her eyes. She stuck a tongue out at the teenager; giggling at his humored mouth opening. Even Logan was grinning at the child's playful banter. Bobby shook his head, teasing "I don't like this new Barbie, she's mean."

Emily huffed again, punching Bobby's lower arm lightly, teasing back "Only to Blondie's like you."

Bobby pulled at her ponytail and Emily giggled again. Logan chuckled this time, saying less serious "Okay, enough."

He sent them each a more reprimanding look, saying seriously "No more rough housin in the mansion. Clear?"

"Yes sir." Emily and Bobby answered back; a smile on their faces. Seeing Emily smiling for the first time passed up a gentle grin on the feral. Logan reached out to ruffle her hair, grinning more as Emily giggled again and smiled wider. Kitty popped in her head at the moment, glancing at both Emily and Bobby saying "Oh, good. You're both in here. Ororo says it's both your turn to set the table."

Bobby groaned but Emily shrugged her shoulders; starting out of the living room. Logan smirked gently at his offspring who obeyed and sent a warning look to the teen who did not. Bobby picked up his pace and shuffled past Emily; who grinned at his rapid pace to the kitchen.

"Just can't help scarin him, huh, Canucklehead?" Emily teased, glancing as the feral walked past her. Logan grunted, giving a glare towards the fleeing teen, smarting dryly "Pays up for times I ain't caught em' in the act."

Emily's good mood helped to bring another smile to her face at her father's remark. Logan slung his forearm over her shoulder, wondering how the child would react, rewarded with a ten year old deciding to act as if it was normal. To which, if Emily was honest with herself, a part of her was starting to want it to be.

A sharp burst of lightening zigzagged in plain view of the living room window; reminding the child that all was not perfect in her world. Emily jerked her head to the weather as more lightening flashed across the window panes. Thunder boomed a short moment later, the child unconsciously wincing. The feral's eyelids narrowed, his ice blues glancing at the storm outside, then back at his small child. His sensitive ears picked up on her accelerated heartbeat and Logan sniffed the air, only to pick up the fleeting scent of fear. Logan removed his arm to pet her head gently, his voice asking quietly "You okay, Half-pint?"

Emily took a moment to answer; so starkly focused on the weather did she not realize at first Logan had asked a question. However, his graveled voice hinting concern immediately shook the child out of fear and into embarrassment. For the Wolverine, of all people, to find out she was afraid of a little thunder; Emily was mortified by the very idea! Logan probably laugh at her…even if he liked being called the word…to which Emily still felt was so hard to say. Emily realized a quick thought up something to hopefully throw off the feral. The child shook her head, replying "Uh..yeah."

Emily made a small 'pft' noise with her mouth; trying to shrug it off as Logan's eyes watched her like a hawk. She grinned adding "Lightening surprised me, is all."

Emily parted from him; the feral's hand slipping off her head as she went into the kitchen, the child praying that Logan would not press further. She also hoped once again that the weather would stop before she had to go to sleep; the very idea of having a nightmare in this house causing the child to blush quickly with pre-humiliation. Thankfully, Emily appeared to have escaped any questions, quickly grabbing a few plates from Bobby's grasp as she passed by. The teen gave her a curiously look as Emily pretended to be busy with helping; refusing to make eye contact as she rounded the table to set the plates down. Bobby shrugged; reaching for the utensils.

The feral watched the child go into the entrance of the kitchen, not at all believing her half-baked story. A quick sniff of the nose was all he needed to debacle that lie. Logan glared back at the weather outside then back where his daughter used to be. His thoughts simmered on an explanation for his daughter's unusual behavior as he stalked into the kitchen to join the others.

xxx xxxx xxx

To the gratitude of Emily, the storm, and Logan's concerned suspicions, had passed well before bedtime and she was indeed spared the embarrassment of her fear coming to light. In fact, by the following Monday, the warmer weather had dried out all the murky wetness; the child's now beginning eleventh week stay, pleasantly cool. Soon the outdoors were beckoning to the small ten year old. Emily had been used to Sisters of Charity, where much of her afternoons, had been spent outside with her imagination filling in the gaps of the absence of toys. However, Emily had not gone out much at all since coming to live with the X-men. The feeling of being cooped up in the mansion, plus the added endless feeling of each test she took that day that had ended her school lessons early, had caused the itching of cabin fever to surge thru the child's veins.

Emily looked up from her last bite of sandwich; glancing at each person at the table who had joined her for lunch. Rogue was munching on a bag of chips, flipping thru a southern magazine, as Bobby was serving himself another helping of whatever leftovers he had pulled from the fridge. Emily couldn't help but hide a grin at the distasteful look passed by Emma towards the teenage boy; who had opted to eat a salad. Finally, Logan was three quarters of the way done with his meal; quietly sipping on his black coffee for the time being. Emily waited till the feral had finished his long swig, before turning to ask eagerly "May I go outside?"

Everyone looked up from their meals surprised; only to focus their attention on the feral mutant who was paused mid-drink in hand. Emily watched his reaction as Logan's eyebrows jetted to an unsettled frown. He was about to say something when he caught Emma's twirk of an eyebrow. She grinned at the child saying "I think you deserve a little fresh air after this week."

Emma's bluish grays snaked to the feral; daring the brute with her eyes for a retort. A silent battle went on between their glares as Emma asked him "Don't you think so, Logan?"

Logan's ice blues went from glaring to Emma to softening at his ten year old who stared at him hopefully. He finally set his coffee down, smirked at her, nodding towards the back kitchen door, stating "Go ahead, Half-pint."

"Thank you!" Emily managed to garble out, racing to grab her book from the living room. She came tearing thru, to the amused faces of Rogue and Bobby, the adults to busy still arguing silently with their eyes to notice the child running in the house. Logan did, however, notice Emily about to grab the back door, sitting up in his chair, adding "But don't go past the…."

"The basketball court on the left side or the pool on the right!" Emily finished Logan's sentence in a rush. She opened the door, bolting out, pausing just enough to close it quietly. The four sitting at the table couldn't help but smile as Emily gave out a holler of joy when she thought she had been far away from the house. However, the feral sitting back down, quickly turned on Emma, saying gruffly "I don't like her alone out there after what happened, Frost, and you know that!"

"The child is not alone outside, Logan." Emma responded coolly; getting up from her spot at the table and ignoring the simmering glare aimed at her upon her departure. Rogue rolled up the chip bag, also getting up from the table, adding more tactfully "Emma's riat. Ro's tenden da flowers jus' out bye where Emily's gonna be."

Rogue grinned at the feral who growled at both women; discarding his food to walk over to the window above the sink. His ice blues searched the grounds territorially, snaking from one end to the other, as his broad shoulders tensed up. The red head placed a gentle gloved hand on Logan's right shoulder, grinning more softly as the feral looked her way, saying "She's fiane Logan."

Logan gave a feral huff of the nostrils but remained quiet. Rogue cracked a smile, shaking her head at the robust mutant, as she walked away from the kitchen. The gruff feral waited till he could no longer hear Rogue or Emma's footsteps down the hall before making it towards the back kitchen door. He paused, turning to sniff the air for good measure, his gaze falling on Bobby still eating; spoon dangling out of his lips. Logan's ices blues turned deadly in their glare at the eighteen year old. Bobby pulled the spoon from his mouth, swallowing his food quickly, putting his hands up in the air in surrender. He replied "I know nothing!"

The feral smirked at the boy, lessoning his gaze, pulling the door open quietly. Bobby smirked to himself as Logan closed the door without a sound. He lowered his hands back down, using his spoon to scoop up more food out of the container he was gorging from. Rogue quickly came back in, apparently rethinking her idea of leaving the gruff mutant so close to the door, turning around the room to see Logan was already gone. She turned on Bobby and placed her hands on her hips, asking with a glare "Where'd he go?"

Bobby pulled out his spoon from his mouth, pointing in the direction of the long hallway with the utensil, grinning innocently as he swallowed. Rogue sized him up for a minute, before walking in that direction. The blonde scrapped along the bowl of his food, peering over his shoulder to make sure the southerner was gone, before turning back at his food muttering "Sorry, Rogue. I like my ass…"

The teen gave out a snort that would have put the feral to shame, as he added sarcastically "And I'm not getting ripped a new one, courtesy of the Wolverine, thank you very much!"

xxx xxxx xxx

Ororo glanced up from her chrysanthemums, cracking a grin, as a robust feral started to walk past her knelt position a few feet a ways. His nose was tilted up into the air intently, bright ice blues searching the grounds curiously. The weather witch pulled out her miniature gardening spade and whipped the dirt covered tool in the southwestern direction, saying without looking up, "She went dat way Logan."

The feral darted his eyes in Ororo's direction, his chest rising up indignantly, as Logan tried to act casual. He smarted back "Who say's I'm looking for Half-pint?"

Ororo quirked an eyebrow, turning sideways to glance at Logan, before going back to gardening. She dug into the earthen ground with her spade, answering "We'll yu duo not hav' a ceigar …so yu are not ought heare to smoke…"

The female mutant turned again to the slightly frowning feral who crossed his arms, Ororo grinning, as she continued on with her gardening. Ororo pulled out the spade from the dirt, using her gloved hands to smooth the earthen ground surrounding her planted flower, adding "And, seein' dat yu don't hav' a tool in yur haund…means yu are not currently workin' on yur motorcycle."

Ororo wiped the dirt on her gardening apron, turning back to look the feral up and down. Her expression grew cheeky as she finished "And sense yu appear tuo be calm dere is not a new scent around de perimaeter. So I am onlie tuo presume yu're lookin' for yur chield."

Logan gave her an annoyed scowl, uncrossing his arms, retorting gruffly "Shut up, Ro."

Ororo's laughter echoed off the crisp fall air as she smiled at the mutant. She continued chuckling as she responded "It's hard lettin' dem go ought on deir own after dings happaen, Logan."

The females mutant's eyes softened at an image in her mind. She picked up her spade, pointing at the less agitated feral, stating "I may not be a modther…but I am a' Aunt."

Ororo winked at Logan, turning back to her gardening, saying "I recaommend goin' de south way."

Logan smirked at the female, responding "Thanks, Ro."

Ororo continued to tend to her flowers, noticing the feral walking at the leisurely pace toward the direction she had pointed. The female grinned again, saying loudly over her shoulder "Oh and Logan?"

The feral turned back to her with a confused expression. Ororo's eyes danced as another wink was passed to the father. She stated dryly "I'd be hurrin. Emily appears to inherit'd yur runnin' skills."

Logan smiled wolfishly at that statement; picking up his pace into the forest greenery. Ororo shook her head, her laughter once again falling gently from her lips, as she focused back to her task.

xxx xxxx xxx

"Whoo hoo!" Emily shouted out; snorting out humorously as her voiced echoed in the forest pathway. She kicked up her feet again, racing along the autumn colors surrounding her, small tennis shoes puffing up swirls of dirt along the beaten path.

Her raven hair locks bounded in their pony tail hold as Emily came to a slow stop. She checked that yes, the boundaries set for her were far in the distance, choosing to double back closer to the mansion to sit at a spot she had found weeks prior. The leaves staunchly crunched underneath tennis shoes as the little girl idly walked around the beautiful maze of oak and maple. Birds chitter-chattered in the tree tops, some standing on their perch to study the little girl curiously, picking up on their sing-song calls as they flew up higher in the trees. Emily watched them fly about, she herself curious of the airborne creatures, smiling as they took off into the white cottony skyline.

The snap of a twig to her right alerted the child to twist around. A few of the birds paused in their sing-song calls; a brief silence filling up the forest. The child uneasily glanced behind herself to note that unsettling feeling bubbling up into her stomach. Emily bit her lip, quickening her pace closer to the mansion; glancing back now and again to the direction of the noise.

After a few moments, when safety was not far into the distance, Emily shook off her uneasy feeling. She was just being paranoid, Spiral's sudden and quick snatching of her just messing with her mind is all. However, a shadowy figure floating across a pile of leaves close to Emily's descent, propelled the child's heart rate. The little girl's imagination ran rapid as the memory of Mojo's games came surfacing to her mind. Okay, so maybe Mojo's stupid stunt had frightened her…a little. But come one, Emily was ten years old, not five! She shouldn't be afraid of a little noise in the woo…

A large, bulky, figure came out of the woods and flashes of what happened in little over a month fired off like movie clips in the anxious child's brain. Unlike before Spiral, when Emily had been caught off guard, the little girls alertness was exploding off the charts. Sadly Logan was unaware he was the cause of his child's raised heartbeat and change in scent; thinking he had just caught up the little girl to see if everything was alright.

"Half-pi…" Logan began but was cut off.

"AHHHHH!" Emily soft voice screamed shrilly out in front of him, taking a few steps back as the feral stood stunned. But unlike her first 'kidnapping', Emily was given time to muster out a word or two….one's she might have overheard a certain White Queen say when getting a paper cut last week.

"BLOODY HELL!" Emily swore loudly; holding her book by both hands in a death grip. Logan's face morphed into a cross between shocked, concerned, and disapproval at his child's loud explicit. Before the feral could make a move towards her or say a single syllable, Emily's expression changed. Her cheeks flushed a tint red as ice blues glared daggers towards the confused mutant. Emily marched up to the towering feral; giving her father's left thigh a swift and hard smack with her book, snapping out "Don't do that again!"

Her gruff snarl was feral worthy as she added "About gave me a heart attack and I'm only ten years old!"

"I didn't mean to, darlin." Logan replied gently, lowering to her level to grab her arms. He quickly turned stern and gruff, however, as he reprimanded "But don't ya ever curse like that!"

Emily's glare brazened as she looked right into his eyes. The little girl threw up her arms, snapping back "Don't jump out of the woods like the boogeyman and I won't!"

Logan bit the inside of his cheek to keep from smirking at his daughter's remark. He had not meant to do such a thing; the feral had merely been keeping track of her from a distance. Yet, Logan did not let her attitude go unpunished, growling out warningly "Emily Anne…"

The little girl caught on that she may have overstepped a boundary. Emily quickly defended with a frown "I didn't mean to 'curse', okay!"

Her face softened as she replied less gruffly "I'm sorry."

Logan's gruff snort appeared to be his way of saying she was forgiven. Seeing he was no longer reprimanding her, Emily quickly pointed a finger at his perplexed face, quipping "But you scared me! How am I supposed to know what words pop out?"

Logan's harden face turned to a familiar one of guilt; his eyes dulling as his hands relinquished some of their hold on Emily's arms. His demeanor only flared up the child's aggravation as she glared at the feral again. Emily snapped irritably "Oh, don't get that look on your face!"

The gruff mutant's head jerked back in surprise. Emily smirked a little, half-playfully hitting his left broad chest with her book, smarting dryly "Ya should know by now I ain't that kind of scared of ya…"

Logan smirked at her and Emily returned the gesture. She pulled away from him, continuing to walk over to her spot to read, muttering "What are ya doing out here anyways?"

The feral didn't answer her right away, following behind the little girl silently as he shoved his hands in his jean pockets. Emily plopped down on the hillside, glancing at the grass next to her, then back up at Logan. She raised an eyebrow at the robustly built mutant. Logan's parted smirk turned to a tender grin at Emily's willing invitation to sit beside her. The little girl stifled back a giggle as the feral's metal coated backside landed beside her with a loud rustle of the dried maple leaves. Emily looked up to see Logan, left muscled arm resting along his raised knee cap, gazing out along into the south part of the mansion mountainsides, several miles into the horizon. The little girl cracked open her book since it seemed the feral was not up for talking. However, Emily bit her lower lip and closed the book instead.

"Ya didn't answer my question, Canucklehead." Emily coaxed gently, her ice blues fixing upward at the imposing feral. Logan turned his head down to face her; reminded with a brush of tenderness how small his little girl was compared to him. So easily hurt. The feral slipped his huge arm off his kneecap, using his thick fingers to gentle brush Emily's hair back behind her ear. Logan's graveled voice spoke quietly, "I don't like ya alone out here, Half-pint."

"It's not like someone's gonna jump out and take me." Emily smarted with a straight face; forming a devilish grin at the huge muscled mass beside her. Logan frowned with a look Emily had never seen before, her expression disappearing, as he replied gruffly "That ain't funny, Emily."

The little girl gazed up concerned at the muscled mutant beside her. Trying to salvage a little bit of Logan back, Emily playfully flicked a leaf towards the feral, smarting "I'm Half-pint. I don't know any Emily."

Logan's lips ghosted a smirk; the feral's ice blues glancing down at her before back at the skyline. Encouraged by the reaction Emily nudged the giant feral's forearm with her elbow. Logan looked down at her as Emily grinned softly back up at him. Her voice said gently "I'm safe, okay?"

Logan stared at her intently. Slowly he petted her head; a gentle grin rising on his lips. Emily felt more at ease that Logan had become more normal and reached for her book beside her once the feral's hand slipped from her head. The little girl pried open her book to read, only to see a large hand slowly reach out and gently it take it from her hands. Emily gazed back up at Logan; who curiously peeked thru her book.

"So this is what you came out to do, darlin?" He asked her calmly; looking down at the child. Emily's smile was wicked, as she retorted seriously "No, I came to scare little children in the woods."

Logan half-heartedly gave a growl in annoyance to which Emily giggled at his irritation. The feral bypassed the child's comment by saying casually "I didn't even know you like to read, Half-pint."

The feral handed the child back her book; Emily's little hands taking it softly from his outstretched grasp. Emily shrugged up at the muscled mutant, replying innocently "There's a lot of things you don't know about me."

Logan hid the sharp sting he felt at her statement; he knew she didn't mean it hatefully. In fact, it just showed the hardened feral how innocent Emily still was despite her past. She could walk the walk, even talk the talk, with the older teenagers in this house but behind the seams; Emily was still a young child. Emily was slightly confused when the gruff and massive mutant eased closer to her, brushing her forehead, saying gently "I'd like to know, darlin."

Emily glanced at Logan innocently, before turning to set her book aside, replying "Then ask me."

Logan gazed at the girl, his steel ice blues softening, thinking of what he could possible ask first. There were so many questions; so many things to talk about. Ten years worth of growing up left a lot to be asked by a father who never wanted to be absent from her life in the first place; or ever again. However the feral snapped his head up. Emily eyebrows creased down, tilting her head curiously at the muscled mutant, when Hanks voice spoke out surprised "Oh, there he is!"

The little girl turned to see Hank, Bobby, Forge and Scott coming into the opened field near where she and Logan sat; Hank and Scott holding large mats under their arms. Hank's bright smile lessoned as he turned to the eighteen year old blonde beside him with a confused raise of the eyebrows. He asked "Bobby, you told Rogue he was in the living room."

Bobby rolled his eyes up to the sky, blowing out air a little out of his mouth, as a couple of suspicious glares were thrown his way. Emily smirked devilishly at Logan; quirking an eyebrow. The feral scowled at her irritably as he towered to his full height from the ground. He turned to Hank, stating gruffly "I was furball, I just got out here."

Hank seemed to buy the story; Bobby sighed out relieved as he helped place down the mats. As this went on, the little girl had climbed up from her spot on the grass, flickering her gaze up at the giant feral beside her. Emily's wicked smile from earlier, grew on her small face. When everyone's backs were turned, she glanced up at Logan, poking him in the side. After catching his attention, she whispered to where only his feral hearing could pick up, "Liar, liar, pants on fire!"

Logan narrowed his eyes at the small child, playfully putting his hand on her face and pushing the child sideways. Emily's soft giggle made a few of the men glance at the duo confused. Logan's smirk disappeared as he gazed back up at the other mutants; his dark glare shutting up any questions. Emily finished giggling at the feral, realizing the oddity going on in the back of the mansion. She asked "What are you all doing?"

"Were training, Barbie." Bobby grunted out, opening up the mat with Forge. Emily stared at him as she asked incredulously "Out here?"

Emily looked up at the towering mutant beside her, then back to Bobby, asking "Don't ya do that in the Danger Room?"

Forge's eyes snaked up to glower at Bobby, who winced at the expression, as they lowered the mat to the earthen grass below. The tech gritted out "My equipment to fix a certain Iceman's escapades was on back order until this week. It just came in and I'm in the middle of installing them."

"Come on, man! It's been months since that happened!" Bobby defended as he helped smooth the padded material to the ground. Forge's glower darkened as he snapped "Do you know how long it took for me to melt and clean up all that ice, Bobby?!"

He held up two fingers up to the fellow teenager, grinding out "Two weeks! Two. Weeks."

Hank quickly intervened before things got hairy, stepping in between both young men with hands raised, reasoning "This has already been settled, gentlemen. We all agreed to train out here while the automatic deicer and water resistant alloy are put into the Danger Room by Forge."

Emily tried to convey a look of innocence as she and Bobby both averted their eyes from Forges less irritated glares. Logan shook his head, walking up towards the group, rattling out "Knock it off, bubs. Or I'll settle the fight."

Both young men backed off at that statement; Forge throwing out one lasted heated glare towards his younger friend and teammate before helping setting up the rest of the large padded mat area. As Logan passed by Scott, the ruby-glasses wearing mutant asked "Do you think Emily should be out here, Logan?"

The feral turned to Scott, then back to his offspring who had settled back down into the grass a few feet away from the group of mutants. Emily silently read her book, legs crossed together, only glancing a few times in curiosity as the men set down the rest of the adjoining mat. Logan shook his head at Scott, saying "It's no powers fighten this time, Boy Scout. Half-pint stays right where she is and she'll be fine."

Scott appeared to think over the feral's reasoning before nodding and turning to the others. However a certain blonde teenager got a smirk on his lips and leaned slightly over to Forge, sarcastically whispering "You mean you'll feel fine."

Forge couldn't fight the grin at his friend's remark; Bobby smiling victoriously at seeing his reaction. Logan snapped his head in the duo's direction with a dark glare on his face, barking loudly "Popsicle!"

The blonde teen's expression was wiped clean off his face as he straightened under the Wolverines harsh gaze. Logan's lips parted until a devilish smile, with all canines showing thru, rose up on his harden face. He pointed to the gulping Bobby, and then jetted a thumb to himself, while stating "You against me."

Bobby's shoulder sagged as Forge did everything in his power not to snicker. Hank sighed as Scott pinched the bridge of his nose, shaking his head. Emily rolled her eyes as Logan continued to smile wickedly at the boy.

xxx xxxx xxx

One Hour and several bruises and gallons of sweat later….

"Had enough, Popsicle?" Logan taunted. He had both the boy and himself knelt down close to the padded mat with the teenager in a harmless but tight choke hold. Logan was easily using his insane feral strength, plus years of tactical training, to keep the blonde from escaping. Bobby bucked madly beside his large frame as he sputtered out a few times. Sweat pooled everywhere on the teens body; collecting in parts and crevices Bobby didn't even know you had! After a few failed attempts at freedom, the teenager croaked out "Yes!"

Logan smirked, letting go of the boy, the teenager dropping to the ground with a loud thud. Bobby gasped out, wiping the sweat from his forehead, trying his best not to glare up at the smug feral for fear of repercussions. He shakily got back up to his feet, calmly dusting himself off and trying to pretend his body did not ache all over. By then, Forge was staring up at his fight with Scott to send a 'friendly' grin Bobby's way. The blonde glowered in his direction; averting his eyes to the ground when Scott turned his way. Scott glanced at each teenager, his lips straightening to a thin line, before finally shrugging it off. He knew by next week this thing going on between them would blow over. It always had.

Logan darkly chuckled at the teen; peering past Bobby to see Emily still reading cross legged on the grass. He glanced at the sweating teen and then back at his little girl; remembering a prior event. Logan's smirk swelled up with orneriness. He pointed past Bobby, motioning the little girl with his hand, saying "Half-pint, come over here."

Emily turned up from her book with an innocent face; only to narrow her eyes at the feral's expression. Her eyebrows jetted down, as did her lips, as Emily asked suspiciously "Why?"

Logan quickly gave her a look that meant now or else. Emily's eyebrows lifted up as she closed her book with a soft snap. She retorted "Okaaaayyy."

The little girl placed her book in the grass and got up to her feet; obediently walking towards the massive mutant. Logan smirked again, hunkering down into a fighting stance, saying "Now, I want you to come at me…."

Emily stopped mid-walk; her eyes shooting out wide. She realized what Logan wanted her to do; wrestle him like the others. Him, the Wolverine. Yeah…as if. Emily backed up from Logan, barreling a few feet behind Bobby, using the teen as a shield and keeping her tiny self away from the muscled feral's grasp. Emily shook her head violently, exclaiming "No way!"

Logan's smirk jetted to a frown. He slowly rose back up, asking "And why not?"

Emily pointed to Beast and Scott. She glared at Logan, scolding "They give you full on man punches and you don't even flinch!"

Logan expression turned smug at her statement. He glanced up at Bobby, then Emily, then back to Bobby. The feral quirked an eyebrow; flashing his canines in a wicked smile. Bobby knew that smile. Oh god…did he know that smile now. The blonde gulped, turning back to the wide eyed little girl. A stark few minutes of silence followed as the others caught on to the obvious show down. Suddenly, Bobby took one step aside, saying "You're on your own for this own, Barbie doll."

Emily's mouth opened in shock, then she glared brazenly at the teen, shouting "Ya traitor!"

The little girl noticed the giant mutant's smile widen as he hunkered down into a fighting stance. Emily readied herself to flee, pointing at the massive mutant, easing "Don't even…"

Logan lunged, running forward at the ten year old child. He ran so swiftly, Emily didn't even register he moved, before Logan was right there beside her! The little raven haired girl squealed out in alarm, faltering back into the blue padding, only to have the feral scoop her up in his arms. Emily pushed at his chest but the muscled mutant, who was still making sure to be easy; had the child falling against the padded floor in a matter of seconds. Emily grunted out, her limbs spreading out sprawled eagle, as her small frame slammed against the mat. She tried springing back up but Logan was too quick. He lowering down on one knee, and using his right hand, pressed on her lower chest and stomach to anchor her down. Emily's ice blues were dilated in shock, her mind still trying to catch up to all that had happened. Logan used his free hand to ruffle her hair, smarting dryly "Say Uncle."

Bobby burst out into hard laughter; slipping on the mat before catching himself. The others stared at the scene with confusion written all over their features. Emily glared daggers up at the giant feral who smirked. She pushed at his hand with both her own, grunting and huffing, only to move the limb barely an inch. Emily let go, giving out an aggravated huff, scowling darkly upward. Logan grinned smugly down at her. He teased "Say Uncle, Half-pint."

"No!" Emily grunted defiantly; managing to wiggle under his hold. She landed a kick to his knee, the feral chuckling as he barely felt it but backed off anyways, Emily scampering up to flee. Sadly it was not five seconds later the little girl felt two huge hands grab her waist, slowly pulling her back to the kneeling feral. Emily fought valiantly but Logan easily pinned her to himself in a firm holding bear hug. The irate little girl felt the feral's chest shake with an amused chuckle as he teased, looking down "At least try, darlin."

"Let me go!" Emily shouted, kicking her legs madly. She titled her head up, ice blues snapping with aggravation up at the smirking muscled mass. Logan ruffled her hair again, mocking playfully "Make me."

Emily huffed out annoyed, kicking and struggling….until a soft giggle escaped her lips. She pushed at the feral, giggling out but half irritated "This ain't funny."

Logan looped both arms around her, standing up from the padding. Emily soon felt the exhilarating feeling of weightlessness; swinging her legs madly for the ground below. Logan lifted the child till her face was brushed against his, whispering in her ear "Then why are you laughing?"

Emily tried to glare as her mouth twerked a grin. She struggled in his hold, glaring at him, trying to sound mean but ended up giggling out "You're such a jerk!"

Logan quirked an eyebrow and lips parted till canines showed thru. Emily wiggled…and wiggled…and wiggled in his grasp, until finally she slipped out under his massive arms. She landed on the blue padding on her butt, rolling to stand up and glare at the huge feral. The feral's merely crossed his bulging arms. Emily shook her head, looking him up and down. So he wanted to play? Fine…Emily could do that.

"You wanna go, bub?!" Emily smarted. Logan's ice blues snapped with play. She smirked at him, closing up her left hand into a fist and sent a rough punch to his gut. Yet her eyes widen as Logan only crossed his arms tighter; raising his eyebrows. Emily eyed him. She suddenly lunged at him with a loud cry, but unlike Bobby before, her victim stood in place. Mumbling and grunting from exertion, Emily pushed at Logan as her face turned a tint red. Logan looked down, smiling, as his little girl ran in place trying to move him. The feral let out a graveled and deep earthen laugh from his throat. Logan eased down, gently grabbing Emily and with a flick of his wrist, had her slammed back down on the ground.

Emily gave out a gurgled huff as her stomach collided with the blue mat. She thankfully rolled out of the way as Logan's hands tried to grab her up. Emily scrambled to her feet, truly surprising her feral parent and others, as she ducked his second attempt. Using Logan's pause in activity to her advantage, Emily managed to get to the feral's broad backside. With a loud giggling cry, she leapt onto his back; looping her arms around his thick neck. Sadly the child hadn't accounted for the fact Logan could merely stand up. Emily struggled to keep herself on his broad shoulders, pulling herself up to see Logan smiling wickedly at her with all canines. The feral grabbed her, and being mindful to be gentle, flipped her onto the mat.

As soon as her little backside hit the blue padding, Emily tried escaping but yet again, was subdued by the massive feral she called her parent. Logan knelt over her, using his whole forearm this time to secure her to the ground; Emily bucking under the heavy weight. She struggled, glared and grunted until her face was red. Emily tried one last ditch effort of pushing on his massive forearm but quickly knew his metal laced skeleton was easily keeping her pinned. The child finally sighed, giggled a little, slamming her head against the padding in defeat. She stated "Uncle."

Emily snapped her head to the right, glaring hotly as Forge and Bobby laughed, even Hank not holding a soft guffaw. Logan chuckled softly, removing his forearm from her chest. Emily looked back to him with a semi-irritated scowl, huffing "Yeah, yeah, go ahead and laugh, jerk! You're the one pickin on a ten year old!"

Logan smiled genuinely, holding out a hand to her. Emily accepted it, her hand dwindled in the feral's palm, Logan using little effort to pull his daughter up to her feet. Bobby shook his head, staring at her with a mixture of mildly impressed and confused, asking "Where does a short Barbie doll like you learn to fight?"

"Apparently somewhere no one should learn." Emily retorted in a grunt. A quiet, earthy, laugh toppled out of the feral's mouth and the little girl smiled at the sound, glancing up at Logan before looking back to the group. However, everyone promptly detected the tall tale signs of a telepathic connection as Emma's voice snipped out sarcastically "When you men are thru tossing a small child around like a rag doll…"

Emily snorted out an amused huff; Logan abruptly frowning at the implication. Scott also couldn't hide the crack of a smile; a collage of smirks falling on the rest of the group. Those connected knew Emma was grinning before adding "I have a few brief things I would like to go over with Emily on her tests from today."

However, as Emma began to disconnect with the ones around her; Logan oddly stopped her. He pushed for another telepathic contact to which, though confused, Emma intercepted. The feral smiled with his canines wickedly.

"Just be careful what you say, darlin." Logan smarted back. He felt the confusion in Emma's thoughts…she searching his recent memories….until a soft gasp came telepathically and the feral could feel a glower towards him. She let go of their connection with a cold chill in her thoughts; the feral gaining a sense of smug victory. Logan was now officially in the lead.

Logan looked down at his awaiting child; nodding at his offspring she was free to go. Emily jogged over to her old spot on the lawn, swiping up her book and ran back to the house. When the little girl's form disappeared into the house; a thoughtful frown fell onto the feral's lips. He turned to the group, noticing them ending training for the day, searching out a blue furry friend in the crowd. Logan asked "Hey, Hank."

Said person glanced up from untying the mats. He answered "Yes, Logan?"

The feral looked back at the direction Emily had run then to Hank. His forehead creased, a hand slowly being shoved into a jean pocket as another scratched the back of his neck, Logan asking "Ya ever heard of a test that can determine if someone's gonna be mutant or not?"

"I remember those." Scott interjected; Forge nodding in agreement. Bobby, after rolling part of the mat, added "Yeah, me too! Mom had me take one when I was like seven."

The blonde laughed a little, tying the padding together, adding "It said I would never become mutant."

"As straightforward as Bobby's explanation is…" Hank continued dryly, glancing at the teen. Logan shook off his slight surprise at Bobby statement, keeping all his attention on the furry blue mutant who explained "There was a genetic test, back a few years before you joined the team, which tried to determine the effects of the X-gene…"

Hank rubbed his chin in thought, continuing "I remember it quite well also. Patients who had the X-gene were administered a simple blood test and their DNA was coded to see if the X-gene had a certain enzyme. This enzyme was supposedly able to tell if a child's gene would ever become active…"

By now it appeared Bobby, and even Forge, had gotten bored with the furry mutants explanation; choosing to finish up tying the mats into rolls instead of hearing the end. However, Scott could see that Logan was unusually very interested in Hank's lecture. The furry blue mutant removed his hand from his face, waving it, finishing confidently "People involved with the study found out that the test was faulty a few years ago. Patients who had let their doctors administer the test found that ninety percent of the participants proved it wrong. It did not matter if the child had the enzyme or not…ninety percent of them became mutant, the others did not."

It was then it seemed Hank also appeared to catch on to Scotts observations of the feral mutant. The furry blue mutant wiped off his hands, standing up to Logan. He watched the feral glance backward then to him. Hank questioned "Why do you ask, Logan?"

Logan turned to him, realizing the fellow X-man had spoken, quickly shrugging his shoulders and trying to act casual. He shook his head replying "Nothin, Hank."

The feral gradually turned back to where Emily had run off too; staring intently. A determined expression lifted upon his face; all lingering doubts flying to the wind. He muttered "Nothin."

xxx xxxx xxx

"I'm being serious Barbie doll, where'd you learn?" Bobby asked with a laugh; placing another dirty plate into the dishwasher. Emily continued on with her help with the after dinner clean-up, grabbed another dish off the table, handing it to the teen, who washed off the residue food under the running faucet. She looked up at him as she did so, answering "What we did was wrestling, Blondie. Not fighting."

The others had already gone into the living room, oblivious to the conversation going on in the kitchen. Emily grabbed another dish from the long table, never looking up, as she reached for the utensils, her face forming a cold expression. She muttered "I know fighting."

The child's darker tone in her voice was not caught by the eighteen year old. Bobby gave a short laugh, turning to her from the sink, teasing "Oh? And how do you know the difference, Barbie doll?"

Emily's face suddenly got very serious as she pushed the dirty glass to the blonde, stating darkly "Bullies."

Bobby's smile began to dissolve from his face as Emily went back to the table. He quickly tried to play it off but couldn't help but sound concerned "You got bullied?"

"Not at first." Emily responded with a shrug; her back turned to him. Bobby went on with swirling water around in the glass, for once being the listener in a conversation, as the child went on "When I was really little, Austin and Derek watched my back during the day and I went to the nursery to sleep at night."

Bobby grabbed the utensils from Emily's outstretched hand, acting as everything was normal, as the little girl continued "But when I turned five, I had to go to the girl's wing of the orphanage. Molly and Stacy didn't show up till a month later, so at night, I was mostly on my own…."

Emily got quiet for a moment; pausing her hand over the last dirty plate on the table. She appeared to Bobby to be lost in thought, a sad look to her eyes, before shaking her head and grabbing up the last utensils to place on the dirty plate. She said "Derek and Austin found me my first morning with a bloodied up nose and a black eye after some older girl jumped me for getting in her way in the hall."

Bobby hid the dark cloud of not very nice thoughts of other children quiet well from the small ten year old who handed him the plate. Emily shrugged her whole conversation off before stating "After that, they taught me how to fight back."

Bobby nodded his head in understanding, keeping his face unaffected by the little girls confession, silently cursing his mothers rightness of how easy it seemed that children opened up to him. If Bobby wasn't certain Emily knew nothing of his parents; he would have sworn she was in cahoots with his mother's meddling idea that Bobby needed to be a school councilor. That idea got a smirk to rise on the troubled teen's face; he could just imagine the fellow X-men's reactions if he decide to 'take his mothers advice'. Emily eyed him slightly, wondering what was so amusing to the teen, when their silence was interrupted by Kurt entering into the kitchen. A furry blue tail swished lazily back and forth, the twenty one year old leaning against the doorframe, asking "Ju two finisched yet?"

"If Blondie wasn't so slow, then we'd been done ten minutes ago!" Emily teased, handing up the last piece of dirty dish to the fellow chore handler. Bobby smirked but turned to the sink before anyone could see his eyes were not in it. Emily looked back to Kurt, unaware of the unusual change in Bobby, saying with a huff of a laugh "But yeah, we're finished now."

Kurt pushed up from the door frame, saying to Emily, "Vunderbar because Logan, Forge and Hank are trying to zee if the Professor's going to contact again soon, so I'm shupposed to tell ju…"

"Yeah, yeah, take a shower, remember to brush your teeth and you only can stay up till nine because it's a school night." Emily finished with a roll of her eyes. Puffing out between her lips, the little girl sighed as wiped down the table with a wet rag, commenting "Geez, even when he's not around he tells me what ta do!"

Kurt and Bobby both managed to grin at her universal statement of the parental guardians. Emily tossed the rag to the kitchen sink, putting her fingers up for two points as the cloth sailed and tumbled into the side sink unused by a blonde teen who was still unusually deep in thought. Kurt shook his head, smiling at her antics, adding "And I am to make sure ju go to bed by escorting ju myself at nine o'clock scharp."

Emily sighed defeated, walking out to do as she was told, smarting "I liked it better when he was clueless at this kind of stuff!"

Kurt's light laughter filled the kitchen as he watched the child go. He had quickly picked on Bobby's deliberate absence in the conversation, the teen quietly finishing up the rinsing of dishes with a soft tink of the ceramic ware. The furry blue mutant crossed his arms at the distracted teen, asking lightly "Ju alright, Bobby?"

The blonde teen glanced over his shoulder at Kurt, shrugged and turned back with a wave of his hands. He brushed off the fellow X-man's concern, stating "Just something on my mind."

"Anyzing I can help vith?" Kurt offered, propping on the kitchen table. Bobby quietly placed the last dish in the washer, turning off the running sink and nearly thought of a response when a befuddled ten year old girl came walking back into the kitchen. Emily grinned sheepishly, jetting her thumb behind her, admitting "Uh…there aren't any clean towels in the left hall closet and I have no idea where to find them anywhere else in the mansion."

Kurt laughed lightly again, smiling as he walked towards her, saying "Let me help ju, Emily."

"Thank you!" Emily sighed relieved, following after her older brother. Bobby watched them leave with a far of look in his eyes. He tapped the counter in thought before exiting the kitchen himself.

xxx xxxx xxx

Logan wondered if his life would ever become normal. We'll…as normal as anyone with a stage four feral mutation…and using those powers and getting into situations that would mess up the most trained of naval officers minds….and staying with a group of fellow powerful mutants as their chosen leader….and having all the responsibilities as that leader while still trying to piece together a forgotten past…and living in a mansion that could put any five star hotel to shame…and with now trying to raise a long lost ten year old human daughter, as anyone could get. The feral gave a tired huff of the nostrils. No wonder he still drank and smoked.

Okay…so Logan knew pretty well that his life would never be normal. But…Hell, he never asked for much. A warm bed, decent food, wearable clothes and most recently…to see his daughter content. Happy. Yet now, after interrogating the Popsicle after seeing a guilty look on his face an hour ago, Logan finds out his daughter had been bullied. Bullied! His Lil' Half-pint on the other end of a punch; with him not there to help her. To protect her in some way. Yet another thing the feral could chalk up to feeling guilty about on his parental chalkboard. Logan questioned if he ever would stop cursing his amnesia; it had already done so much damage.

The feral walked slowly down the hall until he reached his daughter's bedroom; easing his massive frame into the doorway so not to disturb the sleeping child. Logan frowned at first but slowly felt a smirk rise on his lips. What had caused the mutant to change in expression was the raised bed sheet that was to give the appearance of someone sleeping. The problem to this 'illusion' was the bold and bright light shinning underneath the covers; showing a certain ten year old little girl reading when her bedtime had been over an hour ago. The feral kept himself from chuckling at the sight, instead leaning his broad shoulder onto the doorway, smarting "Huh, Half-pint must a learned how ta glow…"

A soft gasp, followed by a click of a flashlight, came from underneath the covers as the light disappeared from the room. Logan bit the inside of his cheek till he no longer felt like laughing; walking into the room. The feral gently pulled away the covers, the rainy night shadows revealing the sheepishly pinked cheek face of his ten year old daughter. Emily cracked a smile up at him, fiddling with her book and flashlight. He kept his voice and face stern as he looked down at her, saying "Unless she's readin when she was told ta go ta sleep."

"Sorry." Emily apologized. Logan kept his face firm as he held out his hands for the objects. The little girl gave the evidence up to the outstretched hands of the feral, who quirked his eyebrow at her upon setting the book on the side table, then said seriously "Don't do it again."

"Yes, sir." Emily softly responded. Logan snorted, grabbing up the covers and thrusting them over her head, smirking as she giggled out softly underneath. His hyper sensitive ears picked up her gently rustling in the bed, adjusting to a turn position towards the rainy outdoors, noticing her heart rate was slightly elevated upon the movement. The feral darted his eyes curiously at the backside of his daughter, listening in for any other oddities, finally allowing himself to think she was fine again. Yet, everything wasn't 'fine'; not to Logan. The feral stood in place, turning the object in his hands. He tapped the flashlight a few times upon his left hand, finally setting it down on her small dresser, and turned back to Emily's bed. The feral walked over and gently eased his bottom to sit at the side of her bed near her feet, asking quietly "Darlin?"

Emily shifted up from her side position on the bed, pulling her cover under her arm, squinting in the dark at look up at Logan's face, asking "Yeah?"

His expression changed with a crease of the forehead and a soft flicker to his ice blues, as Logan asked "How often were ya bullied when ya were growin up?"

Emily's alarmed expression quickly turned to a frown. She sighed, turning onto her back, throwing up her arm over her eyes, muttering "Bobby has a big mouth."

A large set of fingers gently pulled the arm off the girl's little face; the hand gently resting on her cheek. Logan tenderly petted her cheek with his big thumb, looking down at her with a soft and determined expression. Emily's ice blue eyes gazed into his; wondering why he seemed upset as he stopped petting her cheek to hold her right hand lovingly. Logan stated quietly "I want to know Emily."

Having an inkling that the feral was bothered by it; Emily felt the indescribable urge to debacle his guilty feelings. A first the little girl had ever felt to give to a grownup. But…but…this one had stayed; so Logan deserved a little reassurance back after giving so much since her arrival. Emily gently grabbed his hand back, for once she being the one to pet his hairy upside hand with her thumb, answering with a shrug "Not much after I learned to fight back."

Her ice blue's began to dance in the stormy moonlight as she gazed back up at the massive feral. She stated proudly "All it took was a good punch to the biggest bullies face when I was six and they left me alone after that."

Emily couldn't help but make a 'pft' noise before her next statement, making Logan smirk, as she finished "The last person was Stanley…but a granny could hit harder."

Emily brushed her free hand along Logan's knuckles, thinking of the metal underneath with still peaked curiously, her soft ice blue eyes looking back up at the huge feral. She asked him, concerned herself, "Why?"

Logan grinned gently at Emily's innocent and child like act of comfort; feeling a substantial weight lift off his shoulders at her admission. The guilt was there but images of an innocent tiny child being nightly beaten to a black and blue were disappearing from his thoughts. The animal mutant in him felt a surge of pride at his offspring; of course his child would be a scrapper! He wouldn't doubt anything less from the daughter of the Wolverine.

Logan gently removed his hand from her hold to brush her cheek a few times with his thumb, muttering "Nothin."

He eyed her half-heartedly, and leaning towards her, Logan patted her side, saying "Now go to sleep."

Emily smiled sweetly at his words, readjusting to face against the rain pattered windows, cuddling against her pillow. She gazed up at him saying softly "Night."

"Night, darlin." Logan responded gently; doing one last soft pat to her side. He eased up from the bed, his frame creating a substantial dark shadow along the walls, as the feral quietly made his exit. Logan was nearly out the door when a harsh burst of lightening and careening thunder boomed beyond the windows of his daughter's bedroom.

His sensitive hearing picked up the sudden jump and turn to the noise; a frightened gasp causing Logan to pause at the door. He unconsciously sniffed in and the scent he got in return tugged at his heart strings. Meanwhile, Emily was not mindful of his presence still in the room; she was too busy staring underneath the covers with wide eyes. When another rumble of thunder shook at her window; Emily immediately thought of calling to Logan in 'that' word and begging him to stay. She didn't use it often; hating the hidden disappointed look in Logan's eyes when she used something else. It was awful to know she had caused that but…but….but always came back to haunt her with….where was the last person to whom Emily had called out to in endearing names? Certainly not with her; that was for certain. The little girl hunkered under the covers, burrowing her cheek deeper into the pillow, as lightening flashed across the sky. She froze as a gruff voice cleared his throat, before asking quietly "Everything alright, Half-pint?"

"I'm fine!" Emily said a little too quickly; cringing at the timid octave to her voice. She heard the soft huff of a feral grunt as footsteps came back into the room. Emily could see in the darkness a massive black silhouette loom over her small frame as Logan walked up to her bed and crossed his arms. His deep graveled voice stated dryly "I don't even have ta smell ya, ta know that's a lie, darlin."

Emily fiddled with her bracelet, at first to embarrassed, to even look in the large feral's direction. Her soft eyes darted back up as lightning and thunder rocked the skyline; she finally turning to lie on her side, facing the broad shouldered and cross armed mutant, so only to escape her fear pounding at the window. She pushed the covers down slightly with her elbows, glancing up just as Logan uncrossed his arms, gently hunkering down on his haunches. His sharp ice blue gazed intently into hers with a concerned expression peeping thru. Emily looked away, keeping herself from jumping as more thunder rumbled behind her, finally whispering "Just…don't leave…"

Emily felt mortified by her timid voice as she finished in a whisper "Just…just not till I fall asleep."

Emily laid on her side, fiddling with her bracelet; waiting for a response to her plea. A warm and tender hand rested on her side face; a large thumb gently caressing her cheek. Emily could see the dark shadows move as Logan came up to a standing position…only to sit next to her small frame. The feral removed his hand to tug up the covers around her shoulders. His large hand gently petted the soft curls of her raven hair as his graveled voice spoke out lovingly "I will, Half-pint…"

Emily's body visibly relaxed at the statement. She stopped twirling her best friend's golden bracelet, snuggling back into bed. Logan carded his fingers thru her soft hair, patting her shoulder reassuringly, whispering tenderly "Just close ya eyes, darlin."

Emily did as he commanded; a content sigh falling out of her lips. Logan kept his vow to stay till she was well asleep, his hand gently reaching to pet her forehead as more thunder caused her to cringe. Upon his reassuring touch, Emily relaxed again, gradually falling asleep as her massive feral parent kept guard. Slowly but surely, the small child dipped into dream land.

Logan gazed down tenderly as his senses told him the little girl was fast asleep. The feral chuckled softly as Emily let out another sigh in content; cuddling close to her pillow. He decided to wait a few more minutes to be sure when lightning flashed across Emily's window panes. The feral snaked his cold ice blues towards the outside and his eyelids narrowed. There was a connection…he just really didn't know what. Logan's gaze flickered back and forth between the storm and his daughter. Early suspicions and concern from a week prior floated back up to the feral's mind. He continued to meddle on these thoughts will silently and protectively standing watch over his sleeping little girl.

Was the End kind of fluffy? Of course it was. Do I care?

….. NAHH!

A little fluff is always good for the soul, I say. ; ) Haha hope this was a good chapter for all to read and thanks again for the reviews. I really am appreciative of them.