Yeah, Logan NEEDS his army. Like breathing. Must. Be. Surrounded. By Adoring. Little. Girls. To Dad ...

I think more than anything, deep deep down, Natasha's pretty jealous of that family. She's in but she's not in, and I don't think she's entirely comfortable with K being close to him, even if he's chosen her already. They don't trust each other - and both know what the other is capable of and how dirty they are, so ... little protect the Logan streak on both of them.


Chapter 28: Picking Sides


K and Logan had gotten up early, and K had gently roused Scott and Jean from where they'd been tucked in together on the couch.

"I'm serious. Even if it's just for the morning, go try out a bed. If you're nervous, one of you can stay on the covers, but … seriously. Get some coffee and go to bed," K told them softly.

Jean was redder than Scott was - but then, it looked like she was more awake than he was. "We weren't-" she started to say, but she cut herself off at the look on K's face.

"Early morning wakeup," Scott said, trying to explain what Jean couldn't.

"Whatever you want to call it, I'm sure it would be much better. In. A. Bed."

Both Jean and Scott looked a bit redder at that, though they did at least have the sense to gather themselves up and get off the couch. But they weren't quite out of K's earshot when Scott must have snagged Jean around the waist, because K heard the delighted laugh as well as the shift in their footsteps as they redirected from the kitchen toward the stairs back up to their rooms.

She waited for them to head off before she picked up the blanket they'd been using and took it for herself on her way back to the kitchen. There was a cold snap that was hammering their section of upstate New York, and though she hated to admit it … she was feeling a little cold. So, by the time she settled in with her coffee, it was really just a matter of time before Natasha came down for coffee herself.

Natasha hadn't lost sleep for the same reasons Jean and Scott had - entirely. Jean and Scott had been slowly blending their subconscious minds together to the point that they were never entirely sure who was dreaming what, especially now that they had both been under Sinister's knife at some point. But it was Sinister that had kept Natasha awake - only because she had been researching the man ever since she heard from Scott that he had taken a keen interest in bothering Logan and his newfound family.

Her head was still ringing with everything she'd learned, so she wasn't in the mood to dance around it as she sat down heavily beside K and narrowed her eyes at her. "This is patently unacceptable," she said without any preamble. "This so-called scientist can not be allowed to interfere with your family in this way. It has to stop."

"Right. Because we're just letting it happen without a fight," K said dryly. "Sounds like any one of us." K frowned at her for a long moment. "Who told you, why are you so … invested, and have you been up all night?"

Natasha waved a hand in irritation. "I was getting to know your son, and the more I heard about what's been happening, the less I liked it - especially when he made me swear not to go after this person alone."

"Oh, so you're going to come swooping in to try and single-handedly save everyone?" K's tone was so clearly sarcastic there was no way it could have been misinterpreted.

Natasha gave her a dry look. "I'm going to help," she said. "Like it or not, I care about Logan."

"I just have a hard time believing why you'd bother after all this time. Two-way street and all."

"He told you our history?"

"Of course he did," K said, frowning at her. "We don't hide things from each other." She leaned forward. "So he knows our history too, Widow."

Natasha tipped her head up slightly but didn't rise to the bait. "I only ask because, if you knew the history between us, you'd know it's one of the few good memories I have. That alone is precious to me. You can understand that, da?"

"Absolutely," K agreed. "But in all fairness, his memories of you don't reflect what your life has been like since then. He hasn't had a way to know what your intentions or desires were in all the time you were out doing what you do. But as far as the old stories and history, I've even seen the picture that Steve has in his lockbox. Loved the curls. You should let them grow out again."

"You and Logan both commented on my hair," Natasha said, shaking her head. "And this even after I dyed it back to red before we came to this school."

"It's not the same red," K defended. "Close, but not the same - and whatever you did to straighten it … it doesn't really suit you."

Again, Natasha made that same little irritated waving gesture. "It really doesn't matter."

"But it does," K said, putting her coffee cup down. "You all want to rely on that time - way back when. And I don't have a thing against it, but I promise you, those two guys would get such peace to see the natural you. All grown up."

"I already told Logan I had to be blonde for my last mission. I can't grow back my hair at the rate he does - or you, for that matter."

"I know. And I'm not knocking the job. You can pull off a believable blonde," K agreed. "I'm just pointing out that they'd love for you to stay long enough to see the real you again." She shrugged. "Doesn't matter to me one way or another - unless, of course, you leaving screws them up. Then I'll find you."

"I was under the impression I could stay as long as I liked - and especially as long as it takes for the Room to move on."

K nodded at that before she got to her feet. "Do you have any friends in the Room? Because I have a way to deal with them that the boys don't know about yet."

Natasha shrugged, not seeing a reason to hide it as she said, "I don't think so. I know there was someone, but I have no idea where he is or what happened to him."

K made her way over to get more coffee as she thought it over. "Does he have a name or a codename?"

"James." Natasha shrugged. "That's all I have."

K nodded at that. "He really shouldn't be too hard to find. They never did put much stock in men."

"For a reason."

"Well, I still have my ways to get in," K told her. "I'll figure it out, put Steve on getting him out if I can pinpoint him." She stopped for a moment to take a long sip of her coffee. "Who am I kidding, when I find him."

"So you're just going to single-handedly swoop in and make all the problems disappear."

"Yes." K said with a little smirk.

"You're full of it."

"My plan to get you to walk away from them worked, didn't it? Do you really think Logan's first thought was 'beach'?"

Natasha narrowed her eyes at that. "You set the location?"

"He cares about you, but I profiled you. I'm the one that knows how you think, where you'd go to relax.… There is a difference."

Natasha looked thoughtful for a moment as she considered K. "And his first choice…?"

"Don't you know?" K asked, looking almost interested.

"I'm curious," Natasha said, "to see how much he's changed."

K smiled lightly. "I doubt he's changed much. His first choice was a nice hidden away cabin somewhere there is snow - or to go back to Madripoor. Sentimental when he wants to be."

Natasha smiled outright. "You know," she said softly, "after finding out he has a wife, a son, and a daughter on the way, it's a relief to know at least something is the same."

"Natasha, he's always wanted that. Everyone just stood in his way before. He would have adopted you in a heartbeat if he'd had the opportunity."

"I know." Natasha's smile fell, and she shook her head. "That's why I'm going to help him defend this family. He can't lose anymore."

"Well, no offense, but if it hasn't been doable with the world's most powerful telepath, a pretty good cross section of powered up individuals, most of the Avengers … not to mention Logan himself? I'm thinking it's a losing battle."

"Every battle you don't fight is a loss," Natasha pointed out.

"Didn't say I wouldn't fight," K replied. "But I'm not blind enough to not be able to see when I'm out of my depth."

"Then it seems to me you can't afford to turn down any help."

K had her chin resting in the palm of her hand as she sat back at the table and watched Natasha. "Which I'm game for - unless that help ends up getting someone else he loves into more trouble - or killed. Which would destroy him."

"You know what I'm capable of. I'm not going to get myself killed. Professional pride aside, you should know better than that."

"You read the files," K said. "You know what I'm capable - and Logan too - and yet.…" She gestured openly. "That's actually how I got into this position. So. You tell me how reasonable it is to be concerned."

"So reasonable, in fact, that I came down here concerned for you." Natasha gestured. "Imagine that."

K let out a dry laugh at that. "Please. You're only worried about the baby."

"Yes."

"Not the same."

"For practical purposes, for the moment, it is."

"Forgive me if that's not a comfort. Especially seeing as that's Essex's only concern at the moment, too."

Natasha rolled her eyes. "Please. I thought you appreciated honestly. I'm not going to pretend you're anything beyond Logan's wife and the mother of his child until I can trust you." She tipped her chin up. "You aren't the only one protective of him."

"And that trust will probably never happen. I know." K shook her head and pushed her mug away. "He'll be in from his run soon. Enjoy your time. I'm going back upstairs. Maybe I'll look through my contacts to find your friend."

"And I'll continue to look through my sources to look for this scientist."

"Different circles," K called back. "If your sources didn't have anything that he could use to further his research, they won't know anything about him."

"You'd be surprised," Natasha called back. "Not all my sources are from the Room."

"So go ahead and surprise me," K said dryly.

At that, Natasha simply rolled her eyes again as she sat back with her coffee and watched K go up to her room. She was fairly sure she liked K better when they were enemies.


At that point, it was a familiar sight for anyone living in Westchester to see an Avenger or two (or three) coming up the long driveway of the school. The Avengers had spent enough time with the X-Men that they were honestly becoming friends, whether that was Jean and Jan with their fashion talk or Warren and Tony and the strange sort of understanding that happens between the sons of horrible-but-rich fathers.

This time, it was Jan and Clint - and the kids that saw them coming didn't have to be telepaths to know that Jan was halfway dragging a clearly nervous Clint. For as much as Clint was obviously twitterpated, he was also well-aware that Natasha hadn't come looking for him once she was back in the States. And he was still young enough that the nerves were almost a given when he was this deeply involved.

And it was clear he hadn't been expecting to see Natasha seated so comfortably at the dinner table, chatting easily with Scott, with Logan on her other side. She had slipped almost seamlessly into the middle of what had seemed to Clint like an unbreakable family dynamic, and he honestly wasn't sure what reaction to have.

Finally, he cleared his throat. "Hey, Tash."

Natasha's head came up, and for a moment, Clint felt that same thrill he always felt when she looked at him. It was stupid, he knew, but he couldn't help but fall for her all over again. Just from one simple look.

And then she simply nodded his way. "Hello, Clint," she said before going back to the food on her plate, since it was clear from Scott's expression that slipping back into conversation wasn't an option for her.

Clint blinked, waiting for something else, but when it was painfully obvious she wasn't going to pick up the thread of the conversation, he tried again. "I missed you."

She looked up again, and some of the spark was gone. He didn't know what had changed, but whatever it was, that playful smile that had always tugged at the very corner of her expression was missing, replaced by something that looked a lot more calculated. "It's good to see you again," she said at last. "I'm glad you aren't still in jail."

It was an olive branch, and Clint knew it. He swallowed once and nodded. "Yeah, me too," he said quietly before he simply excused himself. Not that anyone was going to stop him. Everyone that had seen that knew a train wreck when they saw one.

He made it about halfway down the driveway before there was a strange sound and an awful smell, and the next thing he knew, Kurt was standing beside him with a hand on his arm. "You look like you need a beer," he informed Clint. "Or perhaps several. I'm not one to judge."

"Yeah," Clint said in a breath. "Yeah, that… sounds good."

Kurt nodded and didn't ask permission before he simply teleported them both out of there.


It hadn't been too long after Clint and Kurt left to drink a little that Steve and Logan broke out their own round of drinks with Natasha - and the three of them plus Scott and Jean were spending a lot of time in the game room shooting pool and reminiscing. Of course, Scott was just enchanted by the stories - and the clear memories that made the retelling all the more vivid, and Jean really just wanted to be near him … but that was a pretty good audience for the three of them to get wound up and have a little fun.

Of course, not everyone was all that wrapped up in it - and the fact was that K and Natasha weren't going to have more than a cease fire for long, K was sure. And though the stories were charming, she'd heard them already and she knew Natasha truly didn't like her - a fact that was made more glaringly obvious to both ferals when she couldn't quite relax with K nearby. Considering how long Loan and Steve had wondered about Natasha, K didn't want to bring the room down while they were enjoying themselves, so she did the only thing she felt she could do. She took a moment to kiss Logan's cheek, which earned her a clearly concerned look at her leaving - Logan's silent request for her to stick around - before she squeezed his hand and simply headed out to the backside of the house to get away from everyone. The further she got into the unexpected pregnancy, the harder it was for her to be around crowds anyhow. And strangers … no thanks.

The night air had a bit of a chill to it, so on her way out, she was sure to snatch Logan's flannel shirt, and once she was away from the noise and the lights, it was a little more tolerable all around to just … wrap the flannel around herself and be there in the quiet. But even that couldn't last forever.

She heard Kurt and Clint before she actually saw them, because both of them were drunk. Kurt was a much happier drunk than Clint was, though that might have been because Clint was already depressed going into the drinking session, but whatever the case, it was clear Kurt was trying to support Clint as they wandered back up to the house together - since a drunk teleport hadn't gotten them inside as Kurt had planned.

"They're still telling stories," K called out to them. "So you didn't miss anything."

"Ah, well, to be honest, I was going to take this one to the guest room and let him pass out," Kurt said, indicating Clint. "I think he might have had a little too much." His accent was much thicker than usual as he spoke, and his smile was wider - and his tail was moving a lot more freely than the last time she saw him.

"Sounds nice," K said, wrapping the flannel around herself a little tighter.

"Hey, but…" Clint peered to K with a frown. "Hey, but why're you out here?"

"Oh. The redhead doesn't like me, so I'm just … giving them space." K shrugged her shoulders up a little higher. "Pretty sure I bring down the room anyhow like this and I don't like to be here I'm not wanted."

Clint nodded at that, a few more times than he meant to. "She doesn't like me either," he said, detaching from Kurt to sit down beside K - also a bit more heavily than he meant to.

"Well, no accounting for taste then," K said.

"Liked me fine when it was post-near-death sex," Clint grumbled, leaning over to rest his head on her shoulder.

K rested her head on Clint's. "Yeah, some girls are like that. She's just worried about our creepy doc getting a hold of the baby. Or Logan. Or Scott. Which is fine, but damn."

"For the record, I don't want you gettin' grabbed either," Clint said, snuggling right into her without any regard for any personal space.

"Well that's one of you anyhow," she muttered, though she didn't stop him from snuggling up. It was nice to have someone outside of the immediate circle being friendly. "Pretty sure it's just a thing that will happen though."

"Well crap," Clint said. "That sucks."

"Not really your problem, sweetheart." K reached up to pat his head.

"Yeah, but I like you," Clint said with a crooked smile. "You helped me become an Avenger."

"You did that all on your own," K argued. "Sweet little blond hero."

"Had help," he insisted.

"Mmhmm," K agreed. "Cap."

"Yeah, and you," Clint said. "I know I got you on my side. Know you helped smooth Stark." He gave her a kiss on the cheek. "It's a good thing you're married, because you're a good friend and apparently, I screw up girls I sleep with so… yay wedding ring." He even went so far as to twirl a finger in the air - to the obvious amusement of Kurt nearby.

"Well I screw up guys, so count yourself as safe," K chuckled. "And I don't believe you screw up the girls you sleep with. They were screwed up when you got there."

"I… would argue, but my head is fuzzy," Clint said.

"Sweetheart, you can't argue with me on that," K said with a sigh. "I profiled her years ago, and the same profile holds true now. I know what's in her head. You … walked into that."

"What, gorgeous, leggy, smart, powerful woman? Yeah. What a trap," Clint said.

"Custom built trap, I tell you," K promised. "You know we were on competing 'teams' at one point. I drove. Her. Nuts."

"I genuinely don't know which of you would be worse to go up against," Clint said with a smirk that fell when he considered it. "Guess I only got one out of two on my side…"

"The nastier of the two, though," K said with a little growl before she had to shift a little bit. "More cranky right now anyhow. Little punk shifting and kicking …"

"Ooh, hey, I got a trick that - don't laugh, okay? - it totally worked on the pregnant animals at the circus."

K shook her head and rolled her eyes at that, well aware that Clint had no idea that was exactly what all the creeps and bad guys called her, both behind her back and to her face. "Why not."

Clint picked his head up just enough to grin crookedly at her before he started in with some songs that were obviously not lullabies, though they were fun to listen to. "Alice, where are you going? Upstairs to take a bath… Her legs are like two toothpicks. Her neck like a gira-a-a-a-a-affe." He was drunkenly embellishing until Kurt was on the ground, clutching his stomach and laughing. "Alice turned on the water. Alice unplugged the plug." His eyes went wide. "Oh my goodness, oh my soul! There goes Alice down the hole! Alice! Where are you going?" He grinned. "Glub. Glub. Glub."

By that time, Kurt was in stitches, and though Clint was brilliant red, Kurt called out, "Das ist perfekt!"

"You have a lovely voice," K said, grinning at him as she took a hold of Clint's arm.

"Nice of you to lie," Clint said, still very red.

"I will never lie to you," K said, still grinning at him. "That was the best thing I've heard all day." She rested her hand on her stomach. "And she likes your singing."

At that, Clint brightened up considerably. "Yeah? Told you it works!"

"It's totally the singer," K promised.

"Ja, noch ein," Kurt agreed. "Once more, yes? Or another?"

K leaned her head on Clint's shoulder. "Please?"

"Okay, well, I know a few other ones… Kinda like the first one," Clint admitted, and when K simply nodded, he shrugged.

"There once was a farmer who took a young miss

In back of a barn where he gave her a-

Lecture on horses and chickens and eggs

And told her that she had such beautiful-

Manners that suited a girl of her charms

And that he would like her to take in his-

Washing and ironing and so as she did

They could get married and raise lots of-

Sweet violets, sweeter than the roses.

Covered all over from head to toe in sweet violets!"

Of course, he didn't get too far into the song before he'd attracted a bit of attention - first Jean and Scott had drifted toward the singing, and not long behind him came Steve, Logan, and Natasha - all three of them curious as to what was going on - and not one of them were expecting what they found either.

"Do, I use to buy my beer.

Re, the guy who pours my beer (thanks, Ray)

Mi, the one who drinks my beer

Fa, a long way to the John

So, I need another beer

La, I think I'll have a beer

Ti, no thanks I'll have a beer!

And that brings us back to Do."

Of course, by that point, Kurt was completely inconsolable, on the ground and clutching his stomach from laughing, though when he saw Logan, he did have enough wherewithal to wave at him. "Join the fun, mein Freund. These are the best lullabies for your little one!"

"I think they're fitting and perfect," K promised, leaning a little heavier on Clint.

And though K was clearly in a better mood and perfectly happy partly curled up with Clint, Logan couldn't help but turn slowly to give Natasha a raised eyebrow look without any commentary needed. Not that it would stop him, of course. "That's somethin' I didn't think I'd walk into."

Clint had sort of trailed off with the sudden increase in his audience. "I… ah… it … worked on the lions?" he offered.

"And it worked on the little one," K agreed. She pulled him over a little to kiss his cheek. "Thank you, Clint."

"Yeah, sure, no problem," Clint said quickly. "I've got a few of those laying around if you need 'em."

K was still smiling at him as she waved the newcomers away. "Get lost. You're no use to the little one. She only likes Clint now."

"Oh, come on," Scott said with a disbelieving laugh. "I'm her brother."

"And you haven't sung to her. Clint wins." K turned toward Jean for a moment. "You can hear her. Tell him. I'm not wrong."

Jean bit her lip and shrugged her shoulders up. "She does like his singing …"

"I feel so replaceable right now," Scott said, shaking his head - but clearly laughing.

"We're all replaceable to some people," K said, though she was sure not to direct it to anyone, though Natasha let out a little hum and turned to leave. "Sad, harsh, but true."

Scott was smirking hard, though he did at least wait until Natasha was gone before he said K's way, "Shame. I think she was starting to get along with me."

"She likes you," K said. "But she likes Clint's singing more right now."

"She does like it when you talk to her," Jean confirmed, giving Scott's arm a little squeeze. "Maybe you could sing to her…." Her eyes were twinkling just enough to get Scott to blush, too.

"I just wonder if Clint is a contender for the top spot for singer now," K teased, smirking crookedly at Logan.

"Don't count on it," Logan drawled out.

"I have vague memories of Scott singing, and I can confirm Clint's better," Alex said as he and a few of the other kids poked into the crowd.

"I was alluding to Logan's singing," K laughed.

"And my singing's not that bad," Scott defended, getting a solid laugh out of Alex.

"Alex," K called out. "Clint was headed to a guest room before he got sidetracked. Would you show him around, please?"

"Sure you don't want to keep him for serenading purposes?" Alex laughed.

"I'm going to bed," K said. "She's happy - or settled at least, so … I think I'll live for now."

"Oh good, because I'm starting to get pretty tired," Clint said, leaning a little more on K now that he had nothing to do but start to fall asleep and not sing.

"It's about that time anyhow," Logan said as he made his way over and offered Clint his hand to pull him upright. "Coffee in the mornin', if you can wake up."

"Sure I can," Clint said, though he was leaning on Logan now. "I'm the amazing Hawkeye. No force can stop me - except women. That's - that's a force. That can stop me." He blinked. "But no other!" he said, trying to recover quickly.

"That'll stop damn near anyone, kid," Logan chuckled.

"What a force," Clint agreed fervently.

Logan was sure to steal a quick kiss from K as he and Alex got Clint headed to the right room. "Did you have a nice night?" K asked Jean.

Jean smiled a little wider and nodded. "Plenty of entertainment," she said, even as Scott wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Oh, I'm sure. Especially for you," K agreed as she stretched out a little bit. "Sweet dreams, kids. I'm … going to sleep in tomorrow, I think."

"Sweet dreams," Jean called out, already pulling on Scott's arm as they headed upstairs as well so Jean could fill him in on all that she knew telepathically to add to the drama they'd just watched unfold.