Chap 22
AN- Holy crap! I'm sorry it's taken this long!!
Of course she knew the reason she hadn't gone running screaming from the room was also the reason everyone was casting glances.
She sat too closely to a man who appeared to be far too terrifying for the little girl. And she was far too comfortable around him, not shrinking at his touch and always putting herself in constant physical contact with him herself…
Eventually the strain became too much and Logan stood abruptly, not quite managing to contain her growl, glaring daggers and swords and battle axes and other sharp things at the couple before him, and stormed out.
"Shit." Mave said quietly.
…………
Charles had called another meeting that morning so everyone gathered around the circular table again. It was almost exactly the same as the last time they had a meeting it the War Room but this time Sabertooth had snagged two chairs on Magneto's right, one for himself and one for his newly reclaimed mate.
"Now if we could put the hostility aside it is time to start planning in earnest." The professor announced with a pointed look at Logan and the oblivious couple.
"No." Logan all but snarled.
"I beg your pardon?" Charles turned toward the man.
"I said no." He said to the older man then turned to where Maeve was sitting as close to Victor as the blond could get the chairs. "I told you to leave her alone. And I told you not to hang around with him. And here you both are! I will not work with people I can't trust Chuck."
"Logan!" Rogue reprimanded but Maeve raised a hand to silence her.
"Logan," she started with a small sigh. She took a cleansing breath before continuing. "You know the truth now, things are different."
"I don't care!" He hissed back. "You turned on me. I told you not to get close to him and you betrayed my trust Maverick!"
"Logan, I-!" Maeve tried to say but stopped short.
"Logan," Victor spoke soothingly in his deep voice with a comforting hand on Maeve's shoulder "we were partners once before. Why can we not be again?"
"Because!" Logan raised his voice. "She's my family, and if you hurt her-!!" He cut himself off.
"I think perhaps it would be best if we postponed this meeting until we have a firmer grasp of your pasts." Xavier coolly interrupted.
……….
"Logan, sit down please." The professor commanded in suggestion form.
He did so, on the chaise he had occupied the afternoon before, with a heavy scowl.
"Now, I have canceled my morning classes to free up some time to sort everything out between you two," he had an admonishing tone to his voice as he said this, then he turned toward the only female, "or should I say you three?"
Maeve said nothing but blushed and cleared her throat. She hated it when Charles put her on the spot like this.
"Alright," Xavier began again "if we could please begin." He motioned Maeve to the chaise.
She let out a breath and plopped down beside the man who had been her pretty-much-everything. "Don't be mad at me ok? Just remember that you were the one who brought Victor into my life and everything was fine then."
"What are you talking about?" Logan asked skeptically.
"I guess I'll just try and show you." She said while taking off her grey gloves. "Here goes."
………
It was much faster sorting through things this time, probably because Maeve knew what she was looking for. There it was again, their past.
He was on his way to Morristown to pick up the one man he trusted so they could get to Collierville and get his niece away from her incompetent other uncle. Stevenson had been causing trouble in the county for a while now and no one had done anything to stop him. Hell, he wouldn't even care if his own family wasn't involved. His niece was the daughter of his blood brother from his university days. Her father had asked him to be her Godfather as soon as they found out they were expecting and had requested he look after her when he was dieing of a hunting injury. The girl was his responsibility now, and besides he'd always liked her.
So her stupid cousin Elizabeth had caught Stevenson's notice, and publicly spurned him so Logan would have to intercede. He didn't care about simple Beth, but Maeve didn't need to get caught up with a man so wicked as Sheriff Stevenson. Logan knew as soon as he got Maeve's letter yesterday what he had to do.
He would ride hard into Morristown where he would grab his friend and partner Victor Creed-who would have to be a part of this because of his association with Maeve-and they would both ride Hell for Leather into Collierville to fix this before Stevenson thought of an interesting way to punish everyone for his snub.
……….
Logan was arguing with Maeve's actual uncle about leaving town. The situation was even worse than they'd expected and they needed to leave now. But the fat man was too stupid to listen. Victor spoke his piece and then escorted Maeve from the room. Logan could hear him in the hall instructing her to pack. The two men had discussed the situation earlier and they knew they would have to get at least the girls out of the area. The only problem was that Stevenson was powerful, and sadistic, if he wanted them he would chase. They would have to run long and hard to get away.
…………
"We're going to be wanted now, you realize that?" Logan spoke quietly to the other man on a train headed north.
"Of course I do, but I'd rather be wanted then have Stevenson get his filthy paws on my mate -or the other girl. Let old John hang for his pride, I won't have that man anywhere near my Maeve, or Beth. Besides even if he is the law here -he isn't where we're going."
The plan the men had set to leave was too hastily put into action. Stevenson had found out and was hot on their tails until they boarded the train. There was a new community being formed in the woodlands and both Victor and Logan had been offered parcels of land if they would only develop it.
"What are we going to do with Beth?" Logan mused aloud to his friend.
"Oh, she's the type to adapt. She'll find herself a nice sensible man to settle down with, and she'll be out of our hair."
"And Maeve? She's my Goddaughter, but I'm no good with kids."
"In case you haven't noticed yet runt," Victor began with a teasing smile "your niece isn't really a child anymore, and she's much more mature than most her age. She's much smarter than that silly girl Beth anyway. And besides, I told you when you first introduced us last year that I would marry her someday. I have a connection with her. My inner animal knows it too."
"I know," Logan answered with a frown as they slowed into a town to get more passengers "but that is partially what I am afraid of. You are the best man I know Victor, but I've seen what your inner animal can do, and I don't want anything happening to Maeve because of what we are."
"Logan," Victor stopped him with a look "you have never embraced your gift as I have, I learned long ago how to tame and merge with the beast that lives within me. Whereas you and your inner animal are of two separate minds, I am the beast and the beast is me. The beast is civilized and humanized and I am strong. We are one entity and I would never hurt my Mate."
Logan looked tired and rubbed a hand over his face and glanced to where the two girls reclined asleep by the window of their carriage and sighed. "So be it." Then he turned back to his friend. "Do you love her then?"
"Yes." Victor answered with a strength that Logan hadn't seen before.
"Well, then man." Logan clapped the blond on the shoulder with a grin" You have my permission and my blessing to court my niece and goddaughter and it is my sincerest hope that she accepts you. I could not dream of a better man for her."
…………..
There was a fight brewing that threatened their growing community but Logan was determined to protect his people. As soon as they had finished the house the people of the community started coming to Logan and Victor with their problems as if they were the elected leaders. It felt good for the men to have a pack to take care of. They took pride in it and in the progress they had made in the six months they had been there.
But they had heard that Stevenson had gotten wind of their whereabouts and was sending a platoon or two to penalize them. It wouldn't be long until they had to either fight or run again. And it just wasn't worth putting the people they cared about at risk to fight.
It was really poorly timed as well. They had just started construction on a new home for the ever growing Brody family so the new Lukeson's could move into their old place. And the smithy needed a new roof. All the community problems and Victor was planning on asking Maeve to marry him. Stevenson had a lot to answer to.
………….
They wedding date was set. Logan got a kick out of the goofy happy look that was constantly on Victor's face. Maeve had never been happier and everything seemed like it would be alright for a little while. But that was before Silver Fox.
Her broken and used body was a warning. Stevenson and his men were getting close.
……….
The two men had an advantage over Stevenson when they worked alone. No one alive accept Maeve knew about their gifts and she had a few of her own.
The men left her with Beth and some of the men they trusted and went to avenge their fallen friend. Stevenson had rented out an entire inn on the coach road into their village. It had been their base of operations while they sniffed around, gathering information. But now it would be their hell. Logan and Victor worked fast through the guards getting to Stevenson and then they took a bit more time. In the end Logan gave Victor the kill because Maeve was the one really being threatened and Maeve was Victor's now. But there were more men than they had anticipated and they couldn't take down everyone and get Maeve safely away so they had to run again.
Maeve had been quick to get the things that they would need. They had all packed them before the men had left. And she didn't ask questions, she knew how seriously they were in trouble now.
………
They had flown farther north. Victor had a cabin here years ago and they prayed that it was still secluded enough to be undiscovered. It had taken three weeks without much sleep to make it this quickly in the snow and they were still over a day away. Maeve was looking dead on her feet and Victor was going crazy over her. Logan was having a hard enough time trying to coax the horse to keep the pace on the little path with all of the supplies they had obtained a few towns back.
"Are you alright?!" Victor asked when Maeve let out a small squeak.
"I-I think I've wrenched my ankle. Damn!" She whispered the last with desperation to the fast approaching night. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry, this is all my fault." Victor commanded sadly as he took her muddy frigid ankle in his hands to examine the damage.
"What do we do?" Logan asked simply once he knew his niece would be alright.
"There's a small abbey close by, I'll carry her and we'll rest there for the night."
…………
The abbot had kindly agreed to marry the two lovers as soon as they had had a warm meal and had cleaned up a bit. And he had arranged a wedding suite for them in a cabin just outside the abbey's walls.
But someone had found them and attacked and the trio was forced to flee yet again. Leaving the horse and supplies at the abbey, they made their way as if they were going back into town and then Victor picked up his new wife and they took to the trees.
By morning they were all asleep in Victor's cabin, it was old and unused but it had been shut tightly years ago and had been built strongly to last.
So they spent their next few days in hiding. Maeve had a brief bought of the flu but pulled out quickly and Victor had managed to bring back almost all of their supplies. It seemed that they would finally be able to rebuild their lives and Logan and Victor ventured out to get some fresh meat.
The weekend hunting trip went well, they were hauling home their catch when they smelled intruders. The men took off running but they were too late. Maeve was ringed by assailants and she had lost too much blood to live much longer. But she was putting up a good fight.
But in the end there was nothing the men could do. Maeve died, they massacred the other men and they both went their separate ways.
AN-Well please review, I cranked this out as quickly as possible (so there are probably terrible errors-which is bad because this is their history so tell me if something is off) and I hope to have more tomorrow night! Sorry for the wait!!
Much Love,
Ceilidh