A/N: This chapter focuses some on Logan's relationship history and family dynamic. We all know about Ororo's family and relationship (lack of) history, so it's time to learn a bit about our beloved alpha male.


Twelve

Logan couldn't help the big grin that spread across his face as he prepared himself for bed. Ororo and Nathan had left about an hour ago and they had already called to let him know that they were home safely. As he undressed and got into bed, he couldn't help but think about his rather eye opening and frank discussion with Nathan. He truly was an exceptional young man and he couldn't have been any prouder to call him his son.

Flipping the blanket over his lower half and stacking his hands beneath his head, he stared at the ceiling and thought about the one tidbit he had refused to disclose to Nathan…the fact that he was in love with his mother. He had known he was falling in love with her after their first meeting and had all but admitted to himself that he was in love with her when she had agreed to the paternity test. The astonishment of realizing he was in love with her had taken him by surprise that he had decided his best course of action at that time was to keep it to himself. He had stubbornly refused to acknowledge it, put a name to it and give credence to it. But he did so now, even if it was to himself.

He had known the root cause for his stubbornness in admitting his love for the exquisite ebony beauty. Two words…or rather one person…Carol Danvers. He had vowed never again to fall in love after that relationship. That relationship was what he was referencing when he had admitted to Nathan that only one woman had meant something to him. Carol Danvers was the quintessential girl next door from a traditional all-American working class family, who was introduced to him a bit over five years ago by one of his close friends, Luke Cage.

He and Carol had hit it off immediately and before he knew it, they were in a relationship and in love. She was there at his side as he made his way up the ranks in NASCAR and once he had gotten to the pinnacle, the only thing he felt missing was a wife and a few kids of his own. So it was with great delight and anticipation he had asked her to do the whole 'til death do us part' thing with him on a surprise trip to his native Canada. Once she had accepted, they had immediately made plans to buy a home and move in together. His number one priority throughout the entire relationship was ensuring that she was loved unconditionally and didn't want for nothing. Everything that she wanted, he made it his mission to make it hers. He had loved her and wanted to build a family and an empire after his racing days were done, with her. He was in it for the long haul and he thought that she was too.

That saying he had heard his mom utter on more than one occasion had never rang truer until that moment it all came crashing down for him…You learn more about someone at the end of a relationship than at the beginning.

He had went home to her after being in Arizona, participating in the Can-Am 500 race. He was flying high after coming in third place and had scrapped all the celebrations to go home and be with her. To say he got the surprise of his life was an understatement. There in the bed he shared with the woman whom he thought was his forever, was another man. His instincts had screamed at him to beat the blonde douchebag into a bloody mess, but he didn't give into his impulses. He had, with as much calm as he could muster under the circumstances, told her to pack her shit and get the hell out of his house by nightfall.

When the smoke had cleared, he had discovered that his fiancé had been unfaithful for months. The pain and disgust that had gripped him after that confession was the deathblow to the love, trust and loyalty he had bestowed upon her. But that wasn't the end of it on her part, nope not by a long shot. She had decided to go for broke and lay all of what she deemed his shortcomings at his feet.

He had looked at her like he was seeing her for the first time when she told him that she had wanted and needed more from him because he was always away from her, always on the go. Well pardon him for taking it upon himself to be successful to ensure that they would have a roof over their heads and clothes on their backs and a reliable source of funds once his career in racing came to an end.

He wanted to know if she was nuts when she then told him that she was tired of playing second fiddle to his career because evidently he loved racing more than he did her. But didn't he deserve credit for skipping quite a few races just to attend mundane things such as her company's party or a co-worker's wedding with her? Didn't he deserve credit for taking some time away from what he loved doing so he can be by her side when her mother had passed away? In her warped mind, apparently not.

He had then diagnosed her as certifiable when she had had the audacity to tell him that she couldn't trust him because she was sure that he had succumbed to the temptations of the opulent and salacious lifestyle that came with being NASCAR's best. What the…? Seriously? He could vouch for himself being faithful to her and honoring the promises he had made to her. Too bad he couldn't say the same about her.

Discovering her infidelity and her shallow arguments for justifying being unfaithful were like hard blows to his gut, but being told that she had fallen out of love with him and was in love with her co-worker Steve Rogers, yeah, that one was like the classic one-two knockout punch…he couldn't get up after that. Just when he thought he knew her, she had disappointed him in ways he never thought that she was capable of.

He couldn't tuck his tail between his legs and sulk off to lick his wounds and he'd had no choice but to get up, because his relevance in his career and his life dictated that he did. And after all the window dressings covering her reasons were removed, it all came down to her reasons amounting to nothing but bullshit. Once he was able to see Carol for who and what she truly was, he was able to move on with his life. But moving on came with a price. He had given up any and all desires for a wife and family. For him, there was no way to deal with giving up on what he truly wanted but to eat, breathe and live his career and enjoy the company of many women. There was no doubt that Carol's actions had broken something inside of him, but he knew it was up to him to either remain broken and bitch about life being unfair or move on and take control of his life.

His love for Carol had evaporated and his trust in her had completely eroded and in their places grew emptiness and a void that he never thought would be filled…until now. When he began receiving the letters, he at first thought they were a nuisance, but little did he know how much those letters would change his life in such a short period of time. He now had a son anyone would be proud of and a stunningly beautiful woman who had removed that emptiness and replaced it with many things he never knew existed or thought possible. He was happy again for the first time in years and he was going to hold onto if for all he was worth.

Discovering that he was in love with Ororo didn't have the devastating effect he had thought that falling in love again after Carol would have. But Ororo was worth it, she was different, loyal, loving, kind, unique, intelligent, independent and a spitfire. Most importantly, she was not the deceitful, pompous, selfish woman Carol Danvers was.

The past couple of weeks also brought the memories of that fateful Catskills summer rushing back. One thing that stood out to him was that he had long ago realize that Ororo was special and getting to know her again had revealed just how much power she had to transform his life. She held the power to make his life satisfying, something that despite his successes in life was missing. His physical appetites were always satisfied with the many women who were a dime a dozen due to his profession. But even he knew that the time will come when that would no longer be enough for him.

Rediscovering Ororo and learning of his relationship to Nathan had shed new light on those desires he had given up on. When it came to his son, what he truly desired was the opportunity to be a great father to him. Hell, he had already missed sixteen years and he didn't want to miss anymore. He couldn't change the past, but he could sure as hell do something about the future.

In regards to Ororo, what he truly desired was intimacy with a woman that fully connected to all of the man he was. What he truly desired was a relationship where there was complete trust, mutual respect and unconditional love that would lead to completion. Without a shadow of a doubt, he knew Ororo was the kind of woman who fit the bill. Logan was in awe of her, not just her beauty and character, but the wisdom she possessed.

Logan rolled onto his side and swung his legs to the floor. Slowly, he ambled to the cathedral windows that were a focal point of his master bedroom suite. He drew back the curtains and peered out into the darkness of the moonless night. He knew sleep was going to be long in coming tonight, especially after having a trip down memory lane like he just had. He hadn't thought about Carol like that in such a long time and it appeared that his frank conversation with Nathan had opened the floodgates.

He sighed as he planted his palms on the window panes and touched his forehead to them. He had never thought that his life could change again, the way it changed after Carol. The past couple of weeks had proven just how much he knew. He now had a kid and was in another relationship…and he had to let his family be aware of both before they heard about it through other mediums. That meant phone calls to his folks, brother and sister and undoubtedly a trip up north. He hope he was ready for the gamut of questions he was bound to get when they eventually meet the two most important people in his life right now.

He sighed again, heavily this time. Those damn letters sent by Ororo's father, he mused. Even though they were an annoyance in the beginning, he was damned happy that they weren't sent by some nut looking to cash in on his celebrity. He was happy that they were the catalyst for everything that had happened in his life since. His life as it stands was irrevocably changed and he now realized that there was nothing he could have done to stop it. It was as if an ancient force had long ago decided that he and Ororo were destined to be together, so he had decided to just let go and succumb to the depth of love he held for her. He can only hope that the life he was about to embark on with 'Ro and Nathan would be the thing to finally fulfill him.

He snapped out of his reverie when the unmistakable sound of rumbling thunder was heard in the distance. He pushed himself away from the window and went to the bathroom to relieve himself before settling back into his bed to get some shut eye. His thoughts wandered Ororo, from the soft beautiful startling white of her hair and to the deep sapphire of her stunning eyes. From there, his thoughts drifted to her mouth, its seductive shape, sweet taste and her passionate responses to his kisses. As he wafted off to sleep, his thoughts and fantasies followed him into his dreams.


Logan admired the bluish smoke billowing from the cigar he puffed, while standing in his winding driveway, awaiting the arrival of his parents. They, especially his mother had wasted little time in driving down from Alberta once they had learned of the existence of another grandchild. His mother had pretty much intoned that time was of the essence because they had already wasted sixteen years. Logan had decided that the sooner that he had let his family know about the changes in his life, the better, especially for 'Ro and Nathan. The phone call from a week ago resonated in his ears as he pulled his parker closer to him while awaiting his folks. He remembered how the trepidation that had knotted his gut quickly melted away as his mother squealed over his quickly related news. She was over the moon about having another grandchild and a potential daughter in law. She was even more delighted when she learned that it was Ororo, as she had remembered the unique white-haired, blue-eyed ebony beauty from that vacation in the Catskills so long ago.

There was only one problem with that phone call…it ended with his parents believing that Ororo was Nathan's biological mother. As he explained who Nathan was and how he had learned about him, he had purposely left out the part about Jean being the one to give birth to the boy. His mom's memory was sharp and she had also remembered Jean. He didn't mention that the redheaded girl was the one whom he had a one night stand with, resulting in a kid. Logan had no idea how that one all important fact he had intentionally withheld would be received once it was out in the open. Especially when Ororo and Nathan were due for dinner later that evening.

After that call to his parents, he had called his brother and sister as well, explaining the situation to them. While Victor was cynical, cautioning him against extortionists, his sister Laura was ecstatic, happy that he was finally getting his personal life together. After the calls to his family were out of the way, he had hightailed it over to Ororo. She was highly skeptical about meeting his family this soon into their relationship, but his reassurances had quelled her misgivings. Nathan on the other hand was over the moon about getting the opportunity to meet his newfound relatives. Being that he had spent his life with his only family being Ororo and Charles, he craved knowing and experiencing what having a big family would be like. He had wasted little time placing calls to his relatives himself, happy that he was accepted by them all.

Logan grounded the stub of the cigar under his sneakered feet a few seconds before the glaring car horn of a 2013 Chevy Tahoe threatened to wake up the neighborhood, even though his nearest neighbor was three miles away. Logan grinned as he first saw a head of thick salt and pepper hair that can only belong to his mother, before he saw similar gray eyes set in a feminine face that resembled his. Her head and torso were hanging out the passenger window and she was waving wildly at him and shouting his name.

"Fer cripes' sake, Ma, keep yer seatbelt on and pipe it down," Logan roared.

"Shush, Jamie," she bellowed. "I can't be happy ta see my boy?"

"Be happy once the vehicle stops and ya're out. Sheesh, Ma. Are ya trying ta send me ta an early grave?"

His father pulled up and stopped the SUV a few feet away from him. The passenger door immediate flew open and his mother rushed forward to where he was standing. He braced himself for the impact of his mother's petite frame. Bum rushing him, she wrapped her arms around his waist, squeezing out whatever air he had in his lungs. His arms instinctively wrapped around her in his own embrace and any uncertainty he may have had left him.

His mother's frame wrapped around him didn't give him much chance to escape, so he looked over to his father with an apologetic smile, "Hey, Pa."

Jonathan Howlett, a man of tall stature, wiry build and whisky colored eyes, nodded to his second born, fully understanding his predicament. "Hello, son," he greeted warmly.

"Ma," Logan wheezed, "Ma…I can't breathe."

She hugged him tighter. "Shush. I need ta hug ya. I haven't seen ya in a long time."

Logan rolled his eyes. "Long time? We saw each other two months ago."

"Oh, just be quiet and hug yer dear old mother." Her voice was muted in his parker as she kept her arms wrapped around him.

"Well, can Pa get a hug or handshake in?" He asked laughingly.

She released him long enough for him to give his father a swift hug, before she slipped her arms around him again.

"Let's go inside. We can get yer bags later," Logan said, maneuvering them inside around his mother's firm grip.

A few minutes later, they were sitting in his den enjoying coffee and some pastries he had remembered to buy at the local bakery before their arrival. His father was casually strolling around the room, admiring the many pictures of his famous son doing what he loved. He was damned proud of his son. He was proud of all his children, but there was always an extra hint of pride when he told people what this son did. "So, Jamie, my boy, when's yer next race?"

"Quite a few are coming up, but…."

His father turned to him, concern evident on his face and in his voice. "But what, son?"

Logan ran his hand down the back of his neck. "I don't know if I'll be racing fer a while."

"Ya'll be out the running fer the NASCAR Cup if ya don't race, son."

"I know, Pa. But…heh…there's so much going on in my life right now. Racing is the furthest thing from my mind."

"Are ya sure? Ya're in the top five in the standings," his father pressed.

"I'm positive, Pa. I need ta concentrate on more important things right now."

"So when do we get ta meet our future daughter in law and grandson?" His mother interjected.

Logan's smile was positively beaming when he replied, "Later tonight. They're coming over fer dinner," he glanced at his watch, "Which reminds me, I have ta call the catering company."

"What's this about catering?" His mother huffed. "Ya'll do nothing of the sort. We'll cook a nice meal together."

"Ma…"

"Don't Ma me," she chided, patting his thigh. "It's settled."

Logan looked over to his father for help, but his father's barely contained laughter told him he'll be getting no help from him. "Thanks fer nothing," he mumbled.

"I can't wait ta see Ororo again," Elizabeth Howlett said enthusiastically. "I'll bet she grew up ta be really beautiful." She gazed at her son for confirmation and his wide smile confirmed her inquiry. "And Nathan. I can't wait ta meet him. From talking ta him over the phone, he seems like a confident, humble young man."

"He is. 'Ro did a great job with him," Logan answered, he glanced at his folks before delving in and telling them the one tidbit he didn't disclose to them earlier. "There's something else ya two should know." He saw his father take a seat on the settee, immediately recognizing the seriousness in his son's tone.

"What is it, son?" Jonathan asked.

"I may have implied that 'Ro was Nathan's mother…his biological mother." He paused to gauge their reactions. Seeing their confusion, he continued, "Ororo is not his biological mother. Her sister Jean is."

Logan let that bomb sink in. After giving them a few minutes to gather their bearings, he continued, "I didn't want ta give ya the wrong impression that 'Ro gave birth ta Nathan."

"So why does he call her mom?" His mother asked bewilderingly.

Logan sighed. He placed his coffee cup on the table before standing and walking over to the spot his father occupied not too long ago. "It's a long story, Ma. You knew about how their mother had recently passed away and their father had brought them to the Catskills ta reconnect as a family. Jean and I flirted and messed around together during our time there. One night, one thing led ta another and things went far...she got pregnant." He raked his hands through his hair in a level of frustration. "She had the baby and they never contacted me about being a father…having a kid."

"Why didn't they reach out ta ya?" His father interposed.

"Jean wanted ta have an abortion," he turned slightly when he heard a gasp, more than likely from his mother. "But her father and Ororo stopped her. When Nathan was born, Jean wanted no part of him, their father was paralyzed and Ororo was a mother before she knew what hit her."

"But she was just a kid herself!" Logan heard his father say.

"Yeah," Logan said on a long drawn out breath. "Jean getting pregnant was a strain on the family, which led ta their father getting into an accident, leaving him paralyze. She didn't want Nathan and resented both 'Ro and their father. She rather the life of a party girl than being a mother."

Logan turned around and reclaimed his seat, his gaze shifted back and forth between his parents. He rested his elbows on his knees and leaned forward. He quickly recounted the last sixteen years as Ororo had told him to his parents. "So, Ororo has been more of a mother ta Nathan than Jean has," he concluded.

"So, Jean has had no part of her son's life?" His mother asked, visibly shaken by what she was told. What she had just heard was enough to solidify her affections for Ororo and she was impatient for the opportunity to impart that to the young woman."

"'Ro said that they haven't seen her in over five years."

"Where is she now?" Jonathan asked incredulously.

Logan sighed. "I had a PI track her down in Paris."

"She wants nothing ta do with her own child?" Elizabeth exclaimed angrily. "What kind of mother is she?"Jonathan got up and went to sit beside his wife, taking her hand in his in an attempt to calm her.

After several seconds, Logan murmured, "I rather not think or worry about Jean. I rather we focus on making this transition easy on 'Ro and Nathan."

"And ya're right son. We'll do our best ta help."

Logan nodded, acknowledging his father's statement. They all sat in silence, each caught up in their own thoughts.

"Does yer brother and sister know?" His father voiced.

Logan nodded. "Yeah. I called them after I spoke ta ya guys. Vic was his usual skeptical self and Laura was excited."

"Jamie?" His mother whispered, her eyes teary.

He turned to his mother. "Yeah Ma?"

"Fer what its worth…I'm sorry."

Logan's brows furrowed. "Sorry fer what?"

"Fer what ya've gone through in the past five or so years…Carol and now this," she answered.

"Meh…Well, there's nothing we can do about the past, Ma," he replied, standing to his full height. "We can only concentrate on the future." He tossed her a comforting smile. "Now, why don't we go in the kitchen and see what kind of meal ya're going ta whip up fer us?"

"Yes, yes. Time's a wasting," she huffed and Logan grinned, glad that he had steered her away from the somber mood that had gripped the den. "Lead the way, Jamie. Let's see what feast we can create with what ya got." She turned to her husband, "Ya too, Jon. Ya're not staying here and watching TV."

Jonathan mumbled unintelligibly under his breath, but Logan caught it. He attempted to stifle a laugh, but he was unsuccessful. His mother was in what they called "army mode", bossing them around. As he led them to the kitchen, he pondered how lucky he was to be surrounded by such a supportive and loving family.


Chapter 13 Sneak Peek – A phone call ruins an enjoyable evening.