The morning sun draped over Danielle's face from behind the curtains, caressing her and asking her to wake up. Rolling over from one side to another with a groan as the baby kicked her, she sat up slowly, regretting the lack of sleep from the night before. Sighing, she listened to the children in the other room, already arguing as they dressed over who was going to get the TV for the next few hours after breakfast. Devon was supposed to be starting classes the next day, but was taking his time in acquainting himself with other students, however attached he was to Michael. His powers and anxiety limited him to only Danielle and Michael, but the former was hoping that it would be soon when he would detach from her and be in his own room with others his age.

It was about eight in the morning already and that hope was on the back burner. While Danielle was keen on herding the two boys downstairs to the kitchen for some milk with eggs and toast, she was thought of the early morning events, which seemed like forever ago. Strange, how she had asked Logan to stay away for a few days and he respected her for the most part. Worse, he had come knocking after bothering her in the garden (all eyes had been on her then and she had been embarrassed then as now), to make sure that she and the children were fine. Worst of all, he stayed for the remainder of the night, leaving at first light. He then was grumbling something about meeting with the Professor as was suggested previously and about bringing Scott out bomb hunting.

And it wasn't Logan's fault surely and Danielle knew it. While the two discussed inane things, like first her raven tattoo and then the others that Leon had forced her to laser off (the hourglass and black widow spider, but not the one on her back of "Nevermore"), they settled on the bed easily, tangling themselves in each others' arms slowly, easing into confidence. While the temptation to cry again crawled over Danielle like a bad habit, she tried to relax, feeling how simple it was to lay in Logan's arms and talk animatedly about anything, even if a baby separated the two from the closeness they obviously craved.

Nothing extraordinary happened. There didn't need to be. It was only the way that the two settled that did not unnerve Danielle, but had provided her with a sense of peace. It was a feeling she had not experienced before, so it was disturbing at first, providing her mind a false sense of security. Soon enough though, her mind scanned her surroundings, sensing no evil intent, and continued to talk mindlessly, hardly recalling anything in particular she had said to Logan and vice versa. It was by the time the sun came up that Logan decided to disappear with his silly complaints, telling Danielle to get some sleep before the boys woke up. Caressing her cheek with his thumb, he lingered for a rare moment more, promising to be nice to Scott and not slice him open for her and Jean's sakes, but then beelined for the door, vanishing without a trace.

As she dreamed of that moment, Danielle then heard that Devon and Michael were already bouncing on the beds, laughter between them (and with her wondering how Michael was able to be well after being sick for so long). Hearing this, Danielle closed the curtains, dressing with haste before yelling out to the two that they had better get dressed as well and come out. She put her hand to where Logan put his thumb as she walked towards the noise, unconsciously touching it before opening the other room's door and allowing the two dressed boys out. She herded them out the door and downstairs without thinking to see their mess behind her and managed to avoid the crowds of preteens and teenagers on their way to class. Guiding them to the kitchen on the first floor, Danielle settled them on stools and rummaged through cabinets and the refrigerator for some food.

"Anything good in there for breakfast?" a voice asked Danielle. When she started, hitting her head against the bottom of the freezer door, she looked up to see Jean as stars twinkled past the red head's face. "I know Storm and I shopped the other day, but with the boys running around, getting groceries could be an hourly chore."

Danielle chuckled as she turned to her friend, pointing to the children at the island. "For them, it could be less than hourly."

Jean raised her eyebrows, noticing that Devon was listed amongst those in Danielle's care. Taking her to one side quickly, she whispered, "Danielle, don't you think you're taking on too much?"

"No," Danielle replied, shaking her head and seeing eggs at the corner of her eyes as the refrigerator door remained open with the aid of her foot. "Why? I'm handling whatever life gives me. That's nothing more than the usual."

Jean stared at her seriously. "Danielle, you have a child soon to be born, two children already very dependent on you and your husband is after you."

Suddenly, Danielle lost her breath and gasped audibly. Devon and Michael noticed her panic from their position on the stools, the emotion plainly written on her face, and would have questioned her had Jean not gotten there first. She first put a reassuring hand on Danielle's shoulder and led her out of the kitchen as the refrigerator door slammed shut, just out of earshot of the children.

"How do you know Leon is home already?" Danielle asked Jean frantically, afraid of the answer.

"Hank McCoy," Jean replied. "He drove by the house looking for you, wanting to ask you a question, and did not realize that you were here because nobody had communicated that to him. He knocked on the door and met up with your husband, who was not pleased to see him, but allowed him inside for a few minutes."

"Did Hank see anything out of place?"

The question was awkward, but Jean knew what Danielle was referring to. "As far as they can discern, and meaning the Professor and Hank, nothing was out of the ordinary. Hank wasn't in mutant form and your husband recognized him from the many news programs he's been on. Courtesy seemed to be key with the senator. Hank was in and out within the hour."

"Something is bound to happen soon," Danielle whispered, now aware that the two boys were staring at her and Jean, curious about to conversation and having their own chat. "Leon is planning revenge."

"And the bomb, you think, would be it?"

"I'm sure someone has it somewhere, that mechanism that would start the countdown. Leon did not keep anything in the house except some personal belongings, but I'm sure that his countdown device is in someone else's hands or at his apartment in Washington. In any case, we need to find out where that bomb is and stop it before it starts."

"Well, I hope Scott and Logan find something out there."

"What do you mean?" Danielle feigned innocence, but Jean knew better.

"Somebody instigated and somehow pushed the two forward in doing their search."

"No, they did?"

"Yes. After the Professor suggested it some time back, the two have been avoiding each other, much more so than ever. About an hour ago, Logan asked Scott for some help in finding the bomb and to do it before his afternoon classes. Scott thought Logan's personality had been changed by the way he asked and almost fainted. Logan seemed almost humbled, friendly even. I would have asked the same thing myself had I not seen a familiar look to his face."

"And it was what…?"

"It was something akin to infatuation, but who can tell with Logan?"

Jean and Danielle exchanged glances, then turning to the two children in the kitchen. Michael and Devon had been talking about something, most likely the serious discussion the adults were having, but it was too solemn, even for ones their age, and it frightened Danielle to see that they acted as adults. The wrinkled foreheads and pursed lips almost gave it away, but it soon changed to desperate pleas of mercy when Jean and Danielle entered. Hungry howls were even heard as Danielle attempted once more to reach into the refrigerator for food.

"Do you think we should alert the Professor?" Jean finally asked, mouthing the question so that the children did not hear.

"Let's see the results from the search first before convening with the others," Danielle answered sagely, quiet enough for the boys not to hear. "And hope. Let's hope for the best."

~00~

It had been an hour and nothing had been found. Scott was slowly losing his patience, especially since it was time wasted on something (and a dangerous object, at that, and he would admit it exists) that nobody was going to find until the last moment. Worst of all, it seems, he was spending it with the one person he couldn't stand, and one that actually asked him nicely to come along, like they were buddies going out for a drink.

A drink…I'd rather get drunk than deal with this at the moment.

The light camaraderie that Logan possessed when asking Scott for assistance in finding the bomb lasted less than half an hour. Before long, the mutant was calling Scott all sorts of names under his breath (and within easy earshot too), especially after Scott mentioned something about Jean possibly covering his classes for the afternoon. Soon, the two exchanged endearing names when addressing the other, mostly with Logan naming Scott a "self-conceited asshole" or a "dickless wonder". Scott countered with much the same, but bit his tongue down to keep the worst from coming out.

He's still expecting that yellow spandex suit to come in.

Even revealing where they were going and why was difficult to explain. Logan only told Scott something about the riddle and a location they might look into. While Scott reminded him on the way out that the premises were walked over without results (hence his initial skepticism), Logan recounted that anything is possible, even when hiding something. Whatever it meant, Scott had no idea, but the animalistic senses in the mutant were frightening him slightly, putting in some awe when there used to be none. Not only was Logan using the breeze to his advantage, but he was also sniffing out whatever Scott wanted to plan in the meantime, in order to get his revenge for taking him away from an already busy day.

Scott, don't you dare. Not at this time.

Suddenly, Jean's comforting voice quickly filled Scott's mind. Each time Scott heard that voice, it filled him with reassurance. Now, it was a voice that scolded him, reminding him that any enmity he felt for Logan had to cease for the time being…and vice versa. Although Logan was doing a great job in keeping to himself and not saying anything past insults and walking in a certain direction northward, Scott considered it a wasted day and schemed away. Jean butting in at the most opportune moment, as the two neared the disputed property lines, was something Scott wasn't willing to deal with.

Indeed, it was something he was willing to throw away. He wanted to get the assignment over with, to prove to Xavier that he could work with someone he hated for a short time, and was more than willing to ignore his love, even in his mind.

Scott, I'm serious. Please listen to me. Logan is trying to help, you know that. Danielle is egging him on too, trying to get him to help us. We all don't need something as chaotic as a bomb exploding where we are and suspicion thrown on us.

And what if I don't want to play nice? Scott watched as Logan neared the light and dark green patches of grass near the property lines, the latter smelling the air and moving from corner to corner with ease.

You better. Hank McCoy found out that Senator Ellis knows where Danielle is. This is critical, Scott. Senator Ellis might be planning something as we speak, like Danielle suggested. It's like him, I would admit, but I like it best to find that bomb before it starts counting down. We could find ways to clip the wires.

Logan stopped for a moment, seeing Scott in a sort of revere, and stared at him. It appeared that Cyclops was talking to himself, but Logan had a funny feeling that Jean was admonishing him for something like she did to him at times in his mind, but he could not tell yet. Best yet not to think about that and concentrate at the task at hand. Thinking was worse than doing, he reasoned again, much like –

What was that? As Scott finished his conversation with somebody (or himself), Logan smelled something unusual. As he inched closer to the edge of Xavier's property, he stepped gingerly in the direction of what he sensed was…different. He crossed the zigzags of different shades of green and faced north with light feet, trying to find where whatever the thing was. Soon though, he lost the strange scent, feeling nothing more than spring air and butterflies' wings flapping near his ear.

"Anything?" Scott asked with a sarcastic sneer as he neared Logan, ready to pounce on any weakness associated with the Wolverine. "It looked like you were on to something."

"So was I, asswipe," Logan replied carefully, trying to get that clue back, but not finding it again. "What do you think?"

"What do I think?" Scott sounded worse with his sarcasm, but he toned it down, just for Jean, Logan figured. "I think we should continue walking around and then head back. We've been here before and nobody has seen anything. I don't think we're going to find anything here again. I mean, there was a garden over by the property lines, but that's been replaced by the neighbors, even when they were told not to some time back."

Logan didn't like the answer he received from Scott, but he had to concede. Surely, there was another place nearby that housed the weapon. He had a feeling it was close by, but he also did not want to start an argument with Scott about it and show him how sure he was that they were on the right track. He had to allow some space here and there if he and Scott had to work as a team.

Even when he even thought of it, Logan was surprised. Of course, it had something to do with the two special women in his life right now (the two always telling him, through words and actions, to behave), but there was something more with one of them that he wasn't willing to admit. The hours before had been somewhat of a dream come true, but it was all Danielle that lured him in, cast the hook and pulled. And it was much more than Jean could have done or was willing to do with him.

And it wasn't just him that was into her net. There was more to Danielle, but that was yet to be seen. Her rapid words before dawn had double meanings, repeating what was already said before. She said nothing of family, friends even, especially nothing about Jean. It was more geared towards philosophy, personal beliefs and even experiences out in the field when she was starting to work for Xavier. She still said nothing about Logan's past, but that was to be expected. Logan thought her and Xavier were of one mind and would not reveal any juicy details anytime soon.

If at all.

"What do you think we go a little south?" Logan suggested to Scott, pointing to the mansion in the far distance. "I'm getting pretty hungry. I'm sure you are too."

"Anything to get away from you, dipshit," Scott replied, starting to walk. "Anything special you want for brunch?"

"Oh, maybe some fried eggs, cooked by those eyes of yours," Logan answered without pause.

Scott ignored the comment and did not retort that time, instead searching for Jean inside his mind. Surely, she was still there, waiting for him, but he doubted it. Instead, he imagined her inside of the building, waiting just for him in their room, with that bottle of wine he purchased some time before. Granted, it would be some time before the two could relax together (aiming for nighttime, as she always did), without the threat of Logan, but it was a sweet dream nonetheless.

It was better than being out in the springtime warmth looking for something that was impossible to find. And that was the truth as Scott saw it.