Setting: AU based on the X-Men Evolution verse, but taking it more as a general setting, and using the series as a overall outline, but I'm going to be mixing things in from the 616 comic continuity, so this story won't necessarily follow that series cannon exactly. Think of it more as based on then set in. It's also set many years past the time frame of the series, into more X-Men proper territory, for reasons that will be obvious I hope. Jean Grey is twenty-six in this story. The Phoenix saga hasn't happened yet.

Genre: Romance/Adventure

Pairing: Logan/Jean, references to Scott/Emma and Ororo/Hank (because Forge is still a kid, and I didn't like the forced Black Panther marriage, so I went with Hank since that's who Ororo was with in the Ultimate verse)

Rating: M (It's probably mostly T, but just to be safe)

More info:

Logan/Jean pairing in a world generally based in the X-Men Evolution verse, but not exactly. I'm using the setting and the series outline and history as a base, with various aspects drawn from 616 comic verse mixed in. Think of this as based upon rather than set in. It would be set roughly maybe 6 years after the events of series, with Jean being twenty-six years old. Probably slightly older than when Logan met Jean in 616, but necessary I believe for pairing to work in this setting. Besides I wanted to write in a more X-Men proper setting in anycase. I got myself to thinking how could a Logan/Jean relationship work in a setting like X-Men Evolution, and I then got some other story ideas as part of that and the idea just grew. One thing was clear, it definitely couldn't work in the series time frame without being extremely creepy. Jean's a teenager there and Logan just wouldn't see her that way (thankfully), so if it were to happen at all it would have to happen years later, similar to the comics setting. Jean is twenty-six when this story takes place. It still brings up issues, but Shadowcat and Colossus got together later when Kitty grew up in 616, so I guess it could work. I've tried my best to deal with those issues fairly and try and make them work and not be creepy, I guess you'll judge how well I did. Also, like the series itself, I've tried to eliminate the triangle from the get-go, so it's not going to be a factor, because, the most annoying thing about the Logan/Jean and Scott/Jean (though in the comics Scott/Jean have all sorts of other messed up additions, abandoned wives and children, mental affairs, though it's susposed to be a perfect love, it can come off as an extremely disfunctional and toxic relationship when you you look at their history in 616) pairings is the triangle which has just gotten extremely weird in the comics with the polyamory thing going on with Scott/Jean/Logan (and possibly Emma).

Also Logan's healing factor works as in the comics (or I guess the animes, Hulk vs Wolverine, or the live action movies) that is it's actually an effective power. Cartoon censorship for those aiming at young auidence being what it is, tends to have the effect of making Wolvie's healing factor an informed attribute at best, rather than the main power it is (given he can't really be shot up, burnt, blasted etc in them).

Disclaimer: I don't own nor have any rights X-Men Evolution, X-Men, their characters, or any associated characters or properties. They all belong to Marvel/Disney and their related creators. Please support the original properties. I take no profit from this work.

Chapter 1

(This scene was inspired by a similar scene the Grant Morrison New X-Men run)

Logan sat legs crossed, eyes closed, mediating in an isolated clearing in the woods, on a ridge overlooking the mansion of the Xavier Institute, as the dawn broke across the sky, chasing the night away in a riot of gold, red and purple, shifting the sky to blue as the stars faded from view.

His senses were reached out, feeling the light breeze rustling the branches of the trees, the blades of grass on the ground, running across his body and rustling his hair. He could feel his blood pulsing through his body.

He heard the movements of the nocturnal animals withdrawing as the dawn broke, and the stirring of their daytime replacements. Making out the movement of skittering feet and rustling feathers, of beating hearts and whispering breath, Logan's mind mapped out and sorting instinctively where each was, painting a picture of the woods around him.

Breathing slowing and regularly, at a deliberate place, his sensitive nose took in the wide and chaotic kaleidoscope of scents, categorising and sorting each by the ease of long experience. Painting and colouring the world given by his hearing and touch, the woods alive and open to him in technicolour detail even with his eyes shut.

Clear your mind, Logan tried to tell himself.

He sensed a deer was beginning to approach him, as he continued to struggle to fully clear his mind.

An image of silky red hair and emerald green eyes flashed across his mind he growled in frustration, the deer shooting away from him with a start.

Logan sighed and began once more to centre himself, to clear and focus his mind, immersing himself in his awareness of the world around him, breathing slowly, seeking to bring his thoughts, emotions and body back under control.

His thoughts had been troubled and conflicted of late, and he felt off-balance. And it was all due to a certain one time student and current fellow X-Woman, the red-head psionic Jean Grey.

It had all been so sudden, he'd never had any problems or complications with her until just recently. He and Jean had always got on, he had always liked the kid, her determination, intelligence and passion, her spitfire temper. She and Scott had been the first of the kids Charley had taken in, and whom he had watched over with 'Ro, protecting and teaching. For that reason they would both hold a special place in his heart, even if he often didn't show it.

She's not a kid anymore though is she, a voice in his mind traitorously responded. Hasn't been one for years.

He did his best to ignore that thought. He'd been doing that allot recently.

Since Jean had returned from college, they had become closer over the last few years, particularly after she and Scott had broken up, just over two years ago. It had happened just after Scott, 'Ro and he had come back from been trapped in the Savage Land by Magneto, and had been thought lost. It seemed to have brought to a head something that had been brewing for a while, and they both decided to call it quits. It seemed amicable enough, and he knew they hadn't been truly happy for a while, but it wasn't any of his business so he'd stayed out of it, they were adults now and he certainly didn't want to poke his nose into that kind of drama if he didn't have to. Still, as cynical as he was, he'd been sad that it hadn't worked for them, and had realised with surprise that some part of him had been rooting for them. But sometimes he knew what worked when you're young doesn't when you get older, particularly with the lives the X-Men lead.

For a while after that Jean and Scott spent more time apart as they found their new boundaries and footing as friends. Then just over a year ago Scott started seeing Emma Frost, who had returned to work at the Institute and rejoined the X-Men. Logan hadn't know what to make of that at first, Emma may have changed some, but she was older than Scott, and in Logan's opinion she could still be a bit of a manipulative bitch, so he'd been worried for his oldest student. He knew 'Ro had shared his concerns, but Charley seemed cautiously okay with it and Scott was his own man now, not a kid. But as long as Frost wasn't messing with his mind, Scott was allowed to make his own mistakes. And surprisingly so far they did seem good for each other, and Emma had turned out to be a good X-Man and instructor, so his personal misgivings seemed unfounded.

Even he could admit, at least to himself when he was wrong. Of course he'd never tell Frost that, not even if on pain of death, the ice queen didn't need any more ego boosting.

But once they were a thing Jean had wanted ever more not to get their way, particularly as Emma had been a little jealous in the beginning, and so it resulted in her more often being assigned missions and assignments with him. She also came for advice and mediation instruction to help her maintain focus and emotional stability left raw by not just her break-up but all the shit she had been through since she was a kid coming to ahead. Though Logan had been a little sceptical that he could offer any help over Charles, the Professor thought the same practices that helped him to control and restrain the animalistic berserker rage that lived within him, could assist Jean in the focusing and control of her emotions.

Despite everything it had gone well and she'd gained better control over her abilities as a result and seemed more at peace with everything. He had begun to get know Jean as the woman she was now, rather then the kid he had still defaulted to seeing her as. He'd found himself enjoying their time together, finding a natural rapport with her. She had grown into a compassionate, intelligent and insightful woman, but with a passionate, wild and spitfire side ready to come out. And he enjoyed sometimes riling her up just to see it, he grinned to himself. She also drew him out of himself, similar to Rogue and Kitty, and had a calming effect on him in battle, sometimes preventing a berserker rage with just a touch. He couldn't remember exactly when that became a thing, but it had, and there was only one person before her that he remembered had that power over him. Perhaps that should have been his first clue that something was happening, he thought wryly.

Still it all had seemed perfectly normal, she was just a friend, his old student, who had been the kid he remembered running around with Scott pestering him all the time. Just friends and team-mates, he could never have imagined seeing her any differently than he would Kitty or Rogue. While he clearly saw she was beautiful, it was more an objective acknowledgement, rather then noticing her as a woman. He couldn't think anything would cause that perception to change.

Except it had, all with that Purifier mission a few weeks ago.

- Flashback begins -

The X-Men had picked up rumours that the Purifiers, the well funded and high tech terrorist wing of 'Reverend' William Stryker's 'peaceful' anti-mutant crusade movement, were planning an attack on a pro-mutant rally. So now Logan was at the rally undercover with a team of X-Men, and spread out searching for Purifiers or anything amiss. He was partnered with Jean, and they had using the combination of his senses with her telepathy, co-ordinated via psi-link to comb through the crowds to identify Purifier members. Logan hated being in crowded places like this, he always felt too confined, the lights to bright, the crowds of people, all the stimuli an assault on his senses, he always felt on edge. However it wasn't anything he wasn't used to, and had come with the territory in his spy days, so he dealt, centred himself and sorted out the information his senses gave him. After a half an hour wondering the crowds, wondering if this was a waste of time, Jean zeroed in on a thought signature and mentally signalled him, and he found and tracked the woman she had identified along with her male colleague. They were dressed as stage-hands and as he closed to track them, he'd picked up the distinctive smell of C4 on them, his eyes going wide realizing what that meant, Logan quickly moved off leaving them and mentally signalling Jean to alert the team and the security the presence of a bomb.

Logan rushed ahead desperately, elbowing and knocking people aside as pushed his way through the crowds, followed the C4 scent, and brushing past the shouting security making his way backstage, Jean's telepathy screening them both so they saw them as fellow security personal, and following the scent dashed down to the cellarage beneath the stage, just as the main speakers took to the stage. He stood for a split second and made out a ticking that would have to faint for human ears and dashed straight for it, throwing aside and jumping obstacles in his way now. Throwing back the sheet covering the ticking and C4 scent, Logan's eyes when wide as he saw the time, there was only a second left. Seeing Jean close behind him, and having no time to say anything, he mentally shouted over to Jean through their telepathic link to get back and cover the area in a telekinetic shield as he dove on the bomb and covered it. Guess we're 'bout to find out just how good my adamantium enhanced bod and healing factor really are Logan thought as he covered the bomb with his body. The next thing he knew was a sudden intense flash of light and a deafening bang, white-hot pain like a blast of the infernal pit tearing through him accompanied by the scream of his name resounding in his consciousness, then nothing but blinding whiteness before he fell into black all-consuming nothingness.

After what seemed like an eternity the nothingness receded as his consciousness eventually swam back into focus. Initially uncertain where he was, Logan attempted to move and hissed in pain, his whole body felt as though it had been flamed grilled and shoved through a meat tenderizer, everything felt sore. Gradually he began to remember the bomb and the explosion, and unless this was some kind of hell, he figured the pain meant he'd survived. For quite a while he semi-drifted, half awake, feeling his body knitting him back together. Definitely alive then, he thought. Some time later, he stirred awake again, his body feeling mostly knit back together, he slowly and painfully opened his eyes. He could only dimly see, and figured his eyes had probably just grown back, and found the rest of his senses were dulled, he wasn't able to pick things up well yet. Probably meant his nose and ears were still finishing healing then he figured, leaving his senses currently not much better than a normal humans until they fully recovered. He felt confused, he could see he was in some kind of medical room, but couldn't quite place it, and realised with a start he couldn't quick remember who he was, or anything much beside the bomb and awareness of his nature as a mutant. Somehow he knew not be to worried, that his healing factor would repair any damage done to his brain, and it would come back to him.

Suddenly Logan heard a gasp and the sound of someone rushing to his side.

A shock of flaming, silky red hair with brilliant green eyes framed in long eye lashes stared down anxiously at him from an exquisitely beautiful face, and he felt a soft hand grasp his. The intoxicating scent of this mysterious beauty began to flood him, as his sense of smell recovered. He had an odd sense of déjà vu and familiarity about her, and for a moment an image came to him of this woman but in much earlier clothing and hairstyle, and something to do with a rose, but the thought faded even as he had tried to grasp it. Focusing back on her as heard he talking, he felt an instant attraction, thinking she was the most beautiful woman he'd seen.

The woman had suddenly gasped and fell silent from whatever it was she'd been saying, and as he focused on her his confusion dissipated as it all came back to him, just as his instincts said it would. Wolverine, Logan, X-Men, the Institute, Xavier - he was in the mansion's med bay, and he now remembered who she was. Jean, the woman he'd know since she was a kid, his student, friend and team-mate, and he realised shocked and ashamed just how he'd been thinking about her. He had closed his eyes for a moment, thankful that it didn't hurt as much as when he'd opened them, his old faithful healing factor doing it's work, and sighed. He hoped she hadn't caught his thoughts, but feared she might have, given her sudden silence, as she'd probably been lightly scanning him to see how he was doing.

Well, this could be awkward, Logan thought.

He looked up again saying in a slightly embarrassed whisper, 'hey Red, your a sight for sore eyes, darlin'. So how'd we do?'

He hoped fervently she'd put any such thoughts she picked up down to his confused state, which was exactly what Logan decided was the case, that's must be all it was. She was Jeannie, his friend and someone he knew since childhood, yep, Logan thought, definitely must be that, obviously not thinkin' straight.

Thankfully if Jean sensed anything, she decided not to address it as she responded, 'everyone's fine Logan, you managed to cover the blast, and my telekinesis contained the remaining fallout. The Purifiers failed their attack an …' she suddenly cut off, as tears streaming down her face, flinging herself onto him in a chocking sob, crying into his shoulder.

With a slight wince, Logan lifted his arm, already feeling much stronger, and slowly and awkwardly returned the embrace, and began to rub her back soothingly, making comforting noises, trying not to notice how good her scent suddenly was, his senses coming back to him in full force.

'Hey Red, it's okay, we did it darlin',' he said softly, his voice growing stronger.

Jean's head shot up suddenly, her green eyes flashing furiously at him, 'don't do that to me again Logan!', she all but growled at him, 'you think you're immortal, but even that healing factor of yours must have limits. I could have lost you today, you idiot.'

Jean stared at him hard, before demanding, 'promise me you won't do anything like that again.'

Logan smiled at her concern and without thinking reached for her face and tucked a stray hair behind her ear, trying not to notice how soft and silky her hair felt against his fingers, something was definitely was going on, but he pushed those thoughts aside, responding, 'it was only choice Jeannie. I was there, and I had best shot of containing and surviving the explosion. The risks comes with the job, darlin'. But I appreciate you worrying about the old man,' he winked at her gently, hoping to cheer her up and lighten the mood.

Despite herself Jean had snorted at him and shook her head sitting up. She wiped her tears away, and continued, 'sorry, I've just been so worried about you. Allot of people care about you Logan, and we've all been worried, everyone's been coming in with Laura, Kitty, Rogue spending the most time here with me. Everyone's going to be so relieved to know you've pulled through.'

He saw Jean close her eyes for a second, Logan knowing she letting everyone know he was up.

'Sorry for giving you all a scare', Logan responded as he gingerly pulled himself up, getting off the guerney he'd been laid on and slowly lifted himself to his feet. Jean coming to his side to help for a moment as he slowly moved forward. Then the doors burst open with a crying Kitty running in, jumping into his arms with Rogue not far behind. He saw Laura behind them rushing in before suddenly coming to a stop, regaining her composure seeing he was aright and nodding at him coolly. But despite the tough girl act she couldn't prevent the slight smile saw tugging at her lips, nor the scent of relief radiating off her. Logan just smiled back at her, in some ways she was so much like him, but she had come such a long way. The Professor, Hank, 'Ro and Scott followed and everything soon passed in a bit of blur.

- Flashback end -

The mission had succeeded, the bomb had been entirely contained and the Purifiers attack had failed, the other X-Men together with the security had caught quite a few of it's members and the willingness of the group to attempt to kill so many innocents, normal humans as well as mutants had turned into a publicity nightmare for Stryker. It certainly wasn't the last they would hear from him, or his group, but the day had definitely been a win in Logan's book and worth the pain.

Everything was fine, and yet, everything had changed.

Logan had tried to force himself to believe that his sudden attraction to Jean had just been the result his confusion during his recovery from the bomb. But try as he might he couldn't get his perception of her back to where it should be, where it had been, that of just a friend. Her scent became intoxicating, causing his heart to beat a little faster and become hyper sensitive whenever they were together. No matter what he did he couldn't help notice she was all woman now, and not a kid, fighting to keep his eyes from looking her over, noticing her silky, fiery hair, her deep emerald eyes framed by luscious lashes, her delicious curves, her legs that went forever, the swell of her large, firm breasts… he couldn't believe he was thinking about her like this. He felt ashamed at himself for feeling like this towards her while she no doubt saw him as just her old mentor and teacher. He'd been struggling to fight back the animal inside that was increasingly howling at him to claim her and make her his own.

It hadn't helped that Jean often seemed to be choosing more figure hugging and revealing outfits when they were together. Nothing scandalous or inappropriate, just things that made it even harder for him to pretend she wasn't a woman. She no idea what she was doing he guessed, maybe she had always dressed this way, and he just hadn't really noticed.

Then there were the dreams, and if he felt bad about how he was viewing her during the day, his dream world became an X-rated movie playing in his head.

He was sure he was going to hell for this.

As the weeks rolled on it had only gotten worse, every day the most exquisite torture, the strongest test of his self control, culminating in being corralled to attend some function the Professor was hosting along with Jean, 'Ro, Hank, Forge, Scott and Emma. Jean had asked him, and he hadn't realised what he was agreeing to at the time, as he was trying his best to ignore the affect she was having on him, only for compression to dawn. He usually avoided those things like the plague, and had found himself wishing for another bomb to throw himself on. However, when he had seen Jean that night in a figure hugging and strapless black dress, all coherent thought left him for a moment.

And he realized a new definition of torture had been found for him.

With one thing or another they were together most of the night, and his self control had been pushed to the limit. He'd finally had to admit that his attraction wasn't some temporary madness and didn't seem to be going away any time soon.

So with that he had been avoiding her for the last four days, which thanks to his hyper senses hadn't been to hard, coming out early in the morning to mediate, for hours at length.

He admitted to himself this wasn't exactly mature, and that he was running away like a little bitch, but desperate times called for desperate measures, and the better part of valour and all that jazz, he figured.

He just hoped he'd get himself under control soon as he knew it wouldn't be long before Jeannie would call him out on this and he'd find himself on a receiving end of her famous fiery temper.

And so here he was, once again, trying to mediate and get his mind, emotions and body under control.

Now, just when he was finally getting immersed fully in the world of senses and instinct, his mind approaching the clarity and focus he sort, his nose twitched, and his progress was shot to hell. And he knew his time was up.

He caught it, her distinctive feminine scent, wild rose with a hint of spice, like the taste of cinnamon in apple pie, with undercurrent of something indescribable, something whispering to him of wild and unconstrained passion.

Jean's scent.

She was coming.