Note: Another long overdue update, but I hope this long chapter sorta makes up for it. :) Thanks everyone for the reviews, story follows, etc.
Twenty-Six
"If I remember correctly, I believe we're almost there," Ororo told Kitty quietly as they hiked through the woods. They'd entered the deeper part of the forested estate that was rarely traveled by anyone other than Logan.
"How can you tell?" Kitty asked doubtfully. "Everything looks the same in the dark, and there's no path way out here."
"Sure there is. Logan's just made his own path. There's flattened grass and other brush along the way that shows where he's repeatedly traveled, see?" Ororo shined her flashlight up ahead slightly, showing a trail that winded between a pair of large oak trees.
"Yeah, kinda. I just don't wanna, like, get lost in these woods in the dark. It's totally freaky," Kitty murmured, sticking close to Ororo and tugging her heavy jacket tighter around her.
Smiling, Ororo placed a hand on the teenager's shoulder. "Don't worry, Kitty. Worst case scenario, I fly us up above the treetops and back to the mansion. It'll be clearly visible from up there."
Kitty let out a soft sigh that sounded to Ororo like relief.
Ororo was just glad that Kitty's fear was of getting lost in the dark and creepy woods and not a fear of Logan. She didn't want to alarm the girl unnecessarily, but she was certainly not leaving these woods without her husband and child, and would camp out and wait until Logan found her if that's what it took.
They walked further along what Ororo hoped was the right path, and she softly urged Kitty not to speak as she thought they were getting closer. She was almost starting to doubt her sense of direction when they heard a deep warning growl in the distance.
A little nervous, Kitty edged even closer to Ororo and grabbed at her nearest forearm, squeezing it. "Was that a wolf?" she whispered worriedly.
"No," Ororo answered softly with a shake of her head, pointing her flashlight at the ground. "That was Logan."
"Oh." Kitty gulped audibly and didn't release Ororo's arm. "Somehow that doesn't really make me feel any better. Why is he, like, growling at you of all people?"
That was a good question. Logan shouldn't feel the need to protect Skye against her own mother. Ororo's brows furrowed thoughtfully for a moment as she breathed slowly, focusing on what Mother Nature was telling her. Her eyes widened marginally. "We're downwind of him. He can hear us moving through the woods, but he can't smell us."
"So what do we do?"
"I can take care of that." Ororo smiled, even though Kitty probably couldn't make out her features without shining the flashlight directly in her face. She tuned into the wind, adjusting the direction of the breeze so that their scents were carried to Logan inside his den.
Ororo waved Kitty to join her, and as they began moving forward again, Logan stopped growling. When she recognized the opening of the den just up ahead, she lowered her flashlight again and motioned for Kitty to stop. "Hang back here while I go over," she instructed softly.
Kitty nodded slowly with understanding, if a little bit of unease. She obviously wasn't very comfortable about standing alone in the dark, cold woods, tugging her jacket tighter around her shoulders and swinging the flashlight around at every little noise.
Gingerly stepping over damp, crunching leaves as she navigated toward the cave, Ororo shined her light ahead, but not directly into the opening to the den. If she blinded Logan with the flashlight, she'd mess up his night vision and he could become agitated without being able to see her properly. "Logan?"
Hearing a snort from inside the cave, Ororo crouched at the opening, trying to light the inside a little by pointing the flashlight toward the side. At first she'd been worried when she heard no gurgles, whines, or cries from Skye, but she immediately let out a soft sigh in relief when she spotted her daughter. The infant was sound asleep in her father's lap, snugly bundled up in what appeared to be Logan's flannel and t-shirt, as well as a blanket that had been missing from the rec room couch for a while now, and what looked like one of their bath towels. Skye appeared perfectly warm and comfortable, but Logan was shivering without any type of covering on his upper body.
"Logan, it's safe now. You can come back to the mansion. There was never any real danger. It was just a little misunderstanding with Lance Alvers," Ororo told him reassuringly, waving for him to come toward her. "Come on, love. You look cold."
"Nnnh…" He tilted his head, studying her unsurely and then glancing down at Skye in his lap.
With his concern for their baby in mind, Ororo tried another tactic. "Skye needs to come inside where it's warm and dry. It's too cold and damp out here, and she's so little, she could get sick very easily. Do you understand, Logan? She needs to eat." Ororo gestured to the bag on her shoulder. "I brought some milk with me, but I'd rather feed her inside."
Sighing heavily through his nostrils, Logan gingerly tucked Skye close to his chest with one arm and cautiously crawled out of the den. He gave a few cursory sniffs as he emerged, tilting his head so his sharp ears were tuned to his surroundings. Apparently satisfied with the safety of their environment for the moment, Logan leaned toward Ororo and nuzzled her neck affectionately in recognition as he allowed her to take the baby from him.
Ororo cuddled her sleepily-wiggling daughter, breathing shakily with relief and kissing the top of Skye's curly-haired head. "Hello my sweet girl," she murmured in a lilting, sing-song voice. "Mama's missed you. Daddy kept you warm and safe, hm?"
Logan leaned back slightly, as though trying to determine if she was angry with him for taking their pup so far away from her. He made a low, whining noise in the back of his throat.
"Logan?" Ororo reached out to gently brush the back of her fingers against his stubbly cheek and moved closer, trying to show him that everything was alright. She was surprised at how cool his skin was, and his teeth began chattering now that he was out of the slightly-warmer den. "Come with us back home, okay?" Ororo pointed towards the dark, a slight distance away where the glow of Kitty's flashlight was visible through the trees. "Kitty came with me to find you. She's waiting for us."
Without responding verbally, Logan began moving on a surefooted path through the woods. Ororo followed closely, calling ahead to Kitty to let her know they were coming so she wouldn't get startled. She would have preferred to fly them all back to the mansion, but taking two other people and her infant along could be a little risky due to their extreme differences in body weight.
Kitty smiled tentatively at Logan as he and Ororo reached her. She stepped aside, pointing her flashlight at the forest floor ahead. "Lead the way, Logan. I can't wait to, like, get out of these creepy, dark woods! It's totally freaky out here, and BRR! Cold."
Ororo touched Kitty gently on the shoulder, smiling warmly at the teen. She appreciated that Kitty didn't react in fear to Logan, and while Ororo was sure he was still experiencing a feral episode, Kitty didn't acknowledge it or treat him differently than she normally would have.
Logan kept up a steady, but swift pace through the woods, choosing a path with the most even terrain he could find. He stayed close to Ororo and kept checking that Kitty was still behind her the entire way, right up until they stepped out onto the well-manicured lawn of the mansion.
"I'll head inside and let everyone know we're back," Kitty offered, moving ahead. "Do you want me to tell Mr. McCoy that you're bringing Skye to the med lab to get checked out?"
"No, I don't think that's necessary, Kitty." Ororo peered down at the bundled infant in her arms and gingerly moved aside the soft fabric from Logan's flannel so she could better see Skye's face. The baby was still asleep, breathing evenly and sucking on her thumb. Ororo was surprised she wasn't crying and screaming from being overly hungry, but she hadn't wanted to wake her outside in the cold to give her a bottle. "She's alright."
Kitty nodded and jogged off toward the back of the mansion, eager to get out of the cold.
Logan was staring blankly across the lawn in the dark, and Ororo reached out to gently grasp his forearm in order to get his attention. She could feel the goosebumps on his skin. With one less person to consider, and a much shorter distance, Ororo felt more sure that she could safely fly the three of them to the loft. "I'm going to fly us the rest of the way, alright?"
"Nnfh." Shaking his head, Logan dropped to all fours and quickly loped off across the lawn.
Ororo sighed as she watched him go, only relieved to see that it was clear he was headed to their room. Holding Skye close, she used the winds to get aloft, shielding the baby from the draft as she flew a direct path to their balcony. She made it inside just as Logan was scaling the side of the mansion, and immediately made a beeline for the rocking chair by their daughter's cradle.
Not bothering to unwrap the baby from her warm cocoon just yet, Ororo removed her shoulder bag and sat down in the rocker, taking out the bottle she'd brought with her. As the rubber nipple lightly touched Skye's lower lip, the baby instantly latched on and began to suckle hungrily, even with her eyes still closed.
Logan noisily clambered over the balcony railing and through the doors, prowling around the room in search of danger before moving to hunker down in front of the rocking chair where Ororo was feeding Skye. His entire body quaked with shivers as he crouched there watching them, arms wrapped tightly around his bare chest.
"Why don't you go have a hot shower, then put on something warm and dry," Ororo suggested tenderly when he continued to stare and shiver. "We'll be fine; it's okay."
Frowning slightly, Logan grunted and then stood, shuffling over to the bathroom without bothering to close the door behind him.
Once Skye finished her bottle, Ororo changed her diaper, dressed her in some warm PJs, then put her down for the night. She sat by the cradle, rocking it gently for a few minutes until her daughter was once more deeply asleep.
Emotionally exhausted from worry, Ororo put on a long nightgown and got into bed, waiting for Logan to come out of the bathroom. She was almost asleep when he finally emerged from the thick cloud of steam, naked and padding over to his dresser for clothes. Ororo studied his behavior carefully as he pulled on some black boxer-briefs and then shuffled over to the bed.
She was still unsure of his state of mind when he crawled beneath the covers with a few soft, muffled growls and scooted over to her. He nuzzled her neck affectionately and sighed into her shoulder before settling down. Logan's big, heavy body was warm at her back, and Ororo was glad that he was no longer chilled from being outside in the cold.
.
Rolling over in bed to a cool, empty space where her husband should have been, Ororo sat up tiredly and allowed her eyes a moment to adjust in the pre-dawn light that filtered in the room. She spotted Logan curled up on the floor beside Skye's crib, and slowly climbed out of bed to go to him and check on the baby. Ororo had learned that Skye was a rather easygoing baby, even when she was hungry or needed changing. She and Logan had both been surprisingly intuitive with Skye's needs, and could usually tell what she wanted by the few small noises she did make.
Leaning over the cradle, Ororo smiled down at her peacefully sleeping daughter. Seeing that Skye wasn't hungry or wet enough to wake up just yet, she crouched behind her sleeping husband and put a hand on his bare shoulder. His skin was warm despite his minimal clothing and lack of a blanket. She wasn't surprised, though. "Logan?"
He inhaled noisily through his nostrils at her touch, but didn't react violently.
Ororo was well aware that the quick, loud inhale had been to determine her scent the moment she'd touched him, and the only reason he hadn't attacked her was because of the instant recognition. She waited for his speech or body language to indicate his state of mind, still unsure how feral he was at the moment. The way Ororo had found him sleeping filled her with doubts, and she absently wondered at what point during the night he'd left their bed.
Logan sat up on the floor, bending his legs and resting his forearms on his knees. His nostrils flared as he breathed slowly, staring at the rocker base of Skye's crib. "What did I do?" he asked so lowly that Ororo almost hadn't heard him.
She sat down on the floor beside him and leaned into his side with a little relief. Ororo wasn't sure if it had been a rhetorical question or not, but she responded anyway. "You did what I asked you to do, Logan. I told you to keep Skye safe, and you did just that."
He scowled. "By kidnappin' her an' draggin' her out into the freezing cold woods like some damn animal?" Logan's jaw clenched.
"Stop that," Ororo scolded, leaning away and frowning at him. "You're not an animal, Logan, but a part of you has animal instincts, and that's nothing to be ashamed of. You were born that way for a reason, love. You're strong, you're a survivor, and you care deeply for those you love, protecting them with your life." Her expression softened when he finally looked at her, and she lovingly stroked his stubbly cheek. "I wouldn't love you as much as I do if you were any different."
He snorted doubtfully. "I put our daughter in danger."
"No." She shook her head vehemently. "You didn't. You took her somewhere safe, kept her warm, and protected her until you knew it was safe to come back home. You did what a father does for their child, and I couldn't have asked for more."
Sighing heavily, Logan pushed to his feet and gently tugged Ororo up with him.
She leaned into his chest, winding her arms around him and lovingly stroking his back. Ororo placed gentle kisses along his collarbone, working her way up the strong column of his neck until she stopped at his jaw, just below his earlobe.
Logan's large hands settled on the curve of her hips as he breathed in and out shakily. He finally kissed her back, his breathing speeding up, and his movements becoming more purposeful as he licked at the hollow of her throat and then tugged gently on her plump lower lip with his teeth. "Nnf."
Ororo hummed, smiling at Logan's throaty groan as she pressed closer, her hands sliding over the soft brushed cotton of his boxer briefs and squeezing his firm backside. "It's still early, and Skye will probably sleep for another hour at least. Come back to bed," she whispered huskily in his ear.
"'Ro…"
With a teasing wink, Ororo pinched Logan's butt and pulled away from him, grabbing his hand and tugging him across the room. He didn't put up much of a fight, and as she pushed him onto the bed, Ororo proceeded to passionately show Logan just how much he was worth.
.
When she crawled out of bed for the second time that morning at a more reasonable hour, Ororo had to reluctantly disentangle herself from Logan's warm and snuggly full-body embrace. He rolled over with a sleepy growl as she slithered out of his arms, his cheek coming to rest on the very edge of the mattress with one arm dangling over the side. She tip-toed around the bed, covering Logan with the blanket and then bending over to peck his lips as she affectionately ruffled his hair.
"Hrrnh…"
Ororo smiled at his forlorn whine and pulled on her robe as she padded over to the nursery. Skye was awake and squirming, trying to roll herself over. "Good morning, little one," Ororo greeted the baby in a sing-song voice as she picked her up and snuggled her against her cheek.
She changed Skye's diaper, fed her, and dressed her in a cute little dragonfly onesie with a teal tutu before Logan got out of bed. He stretched with a yawn that sounded more like a growl, and Ororo laughed as Skye gave a little squeal, her mouth pulling into a toothless smile. With every new day with their baby girl, Ororo grew more and more convinced about Skye's love for all the grunty-growly sounds her daddy made.
"Wha's so funny?" Logan slurred sleepily as he shuffled over, scratching at his bare chest and baring his teeth in another noisy yawn.
Ororo motioned toward the infant in her arms as Skye squeaked and smiled again, flapping her arms. "I told you she likes your growls."
"Hmph." He snorted and gave a wry smile, then lightly smoothed the tips of his rough fingers over his daughter's curly-haired head. Logan bent over to gently kiss her nose, then grinned and leaned up to capture Ororo's lips with his own.
"Hmm…" Ororo hummed into his kiss, reaching up behind Logan's head with one hand and gently playing with the hair at the nape of his neck. He pulled back with a sigh, then gave her a wink and padded into the bathroom.
When Logan came back out a few minutes later, he swiftly dressed in old jeans, a wifebeater, and flannel, then offered to look after Skye so Ororo could take a shower.
She slipped into the bathroom quietly, peering at her husband and daughter through a small crack in the door as she was pulling it closed. Ororo was happy to see Logan out of his fugue this morning, but she wasn't naïve enough to believe the transition from mostly-feral Logan to pretty-much-normal Logan had occurred so seamlessly. He was hiding it well, but she wasn't fooled.
Taking a quick shower, Ororo used her powers to swiftly dry and her body and hair, brushing out her silky white locks, then applying a little bit of make-up before striding naked across the loft to her closet. Deciding that comfort was the priority where her wardrobe was concerned today, she put on a pair of soft, beat-up jeans, a comfy cotton tee, and then stole one of Logan's flannel shirts from his dresser.
She knew he'd been watching her from the moment she stepped out of the bathroom. He was leaning over Skye's cradle, trying to hang the baby mobile that Ororo had yet to put up. Their daughter was on the floor nearby in her bouncer, blue eyes wide and alert, watching her daddy while sucking on a purple binky.
Smiling at her husband lovingly, Ororo sauntered toward him and hooked an arm around his when he finished hanging the mobile. She looked down at their interlocked arms, laughing softly at the matching flannels and old jeans. "We look like a pair of lumberjacks," she joked, her voice light.
Logan snorted and gave her a teasing peck on the cheek. "Maybe, but you'd make a damn sexy lumberjack."
Ororo laughed again, reaching up to rub at the stubble on his chin. Her expression grew serious as she looked into his dark eyes, brushing at the hair fell across his forehead. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
He heaved a sigh, his brow scrunching. "Uh-oh."
She rolled his eyes and lightly slapped his chest. "Oh, stop." Pursing her lips, Ororo squeezed his forearm. "Please, Logan, just come with me."
He tilted his head slightly, then cocked an eyebrow and glanced down at Skye. "What about—"
"She's fine," Ororo cut in with a reassuring smile. "We're just going out on the balcony for a moment. I can see her from there."
Heaving a sigh, Logan made a noise in the back of his throat and reluctantly went with her.
Ororo led him out onto the balcony, the chill November morning warmed slightly by the direct sunlight against the mansion. She watched Logan walk over to the side railing and hop up on it, but he sat down with legs dangling, not perched in a crouch like he would when he was more feral.
She moved to lean against the railing beside him. "What happened to you yesterday during training?" Ororo asked right away, getting straight to the point of the much-needed conversation.
Logan's jaw clenched visibly, his dark eyes staring blankly straight ahead. "I got knocked inta the lake."
Ororo narrowed her eyes at him. "That isn't what I mean, and you know it."
He snorted. "Kids toldja 'bout that, huh?" Logan's hands gripped the edge of the rough railing tightly. He was stalling.
"Logan," she said in a soft, exasperated tone. Ororo was fairly sure about what he was going to tell her, but she needed to hear him say it
Briefly growling in the back of his throat, he let out a heavy sigh and clenched his jaw again. "When I was under water, I—" he grunted, breathed in and out deeply. "I just… I was back in that damn…tank." Logan swallowed convulsively. "I lost it."
Ororo rubbed his shoulder soothingly. "And then when the mansions alarm went off…that sent you over the edge."
He blew out a breath and nodded. "Yeah." Logan slid off the balcony railing and looked through the doors, his sharp gaze fixated on Skye. He stood there, breathing loudly and slowly for a few minutes, then began pacing.
"Logan?" Ororo questioned softly as her husband's breathing grew louder and faster. His arms were tense and held stiffly at his sides, fists clenched, and the tips of his claws poking through his skin.
"Rrrr…"
"Logan, stay with me. Just slow down and breathe, my love. Relax." Ororo stepped directly in his path, halting his pacing and placing both of her hands against his heaving chest.
He breathed harshly, nostrils flaring and brows furrowed in his mental struggle as he stared into her eyes. Logan's upper lip twitched as he fought to hang onto his control and slow his breathing.
The wild intensity in Logan's brown eyes faded slowly as she rubbed his chest and encouraged him to breathe in and out slowly. "That's it, Logan. Focus. You're in control. You're safe. We're all safe."
A few minutes went by before Logan's shoulders sagged, and he tipped his head forward against Ororo's right shoulder with a shuddering exhale.
"You were thinking about it again, weren't you?" She moved her hands from his chest to his sides, lightly gripping at his ribcage and kneading gently with her fingers.
"Hnnh…" He groaned, still keeping his arms at his sides, but his claws fully retracting again.
"You're dealing with this, Logan. It's okay." Ororo pressed a kiss to his lips and smiled lovingly. "No one expects you to get over everything in a heartbeat, least of all me."
Logan squeezed his eyes shut, breathing in and out with progressive steadiness as he calmed himself down.
"Okay?"
"Hm." Logan nodded slowly, his muscles around his jaw twitching as he stepped away from her in embarrassment.
Ororo took his hand, leading him back into the loft with her and then letting go as they both went toward Skye. "Hungry?" she asked Logan while lifting their daughter out of her bouncy.
"Yeah." He nodded, his voice a little growly.
Skye's lips pulled into a toothless grin, and Ororo tried hard not to laugh. She turned to Logan and held their daughter out to him. "Here, you hold her while we go downstairs, okay?"
Logan gave her a curious look, but took the baby anyway, carefully setting her against his right shoulder.
Ororo had a feeling that holding Skye would help him keep calm, focused. She smiled encouragingly as they left the loft together, walking side by side down to the kitchen to join the others for breakfast.
.