A short fic that came to mind, while I was trying to get into the Christmas spirit. I wish for all of you to have a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays (which ever one you celebrate) and a safe and healthy New Year.
Coward. That's exactly what he was. Instead of sticking around and spending the holidays at the only home he had ever known, he had decided to pack it in and take off to his lonely cabin nestling in the beautiful snow-capped mountains of the Rockies. Instead of sticking around to give her the gift he had tucked away in his closet, he had decided to shut his heart down and run. He didn't even bother to tell her that he was leaving again, because he just couldn't bring himself to face her. The great Wolverine was a bloody coward. His beast continuously vented his displeasure at being called a coward and the man running away from what he saw was rightfully theirs. But in this, the man would be the victor and do what he wanted.
It was too cold for him to travel on his motorcycle, so he had silently and hurriedly packed the brand-new tricked-out midnight black Jeep Gladiator Xavier had generously gifted him and took off like a thief late at night. That was three nights ago and as he sat on the rickety sofa in the dilapidated motel somewhere outside the border of North Dakota and Saskatchewan, he began to rethink his ill-advised decision. Drowning his sorrows in the bottle of Jack Daniels that stood half empty at his feet and the five cigars he had already smoked, did nothing to alleviate his feelings of having abandoned the woman he loved. He glanced at the unwrapped antique jewelry box he had brought with him, resting majestically on the rickety bed. Why he had made the decision to bring it, he had no flaming idea. He knew what was inside. He had commissioned a good friend of his from the Dakota tribe to incorporate the blue garnets he had managed to smuggle into the country after his trip to Madagascar on a joint mission for Fury and Xavier, into a necklace and earring set.
He had given his friend specific instructions for what he wanted for the windrider. The results were an exquisite necklace that featured a pear-shaped solitary garnet resting in an intricate mystical knot pattern, accent with one carat worth of diamonds and crafted from platinum. The matching earrings, drove the cost of the jewelry to one grand shy of ten thousand dollars. He really didn't care about the cost, as he had more money available to him than he knew what to do with. Not to mentioned, dropping that kind of loot on a woman like Ororo was a no-brainer. She deserved that and much more. She deserved nothing but the best and unfortunately, he wasn't it. His soul was rotten to the core and his every pore dripped with the blood of those he had snuffed out of this world. He had nothing to offer her.
He glanced down at his callused hands, flipping them over to look at the spots where his claws usually sprang free. Yep, absolutely nothing to offer the elegant, beautiful Goddess. He stood abruptly and began to pace the dirty floor furiously. The doubts and his bestial half's discontentment bombarded him feverishly. Ororo didn't need him as a lover and mate. What she needed was stability, and he was by far the most volatile of the X-Men. She needed peace and comfort in her life, not the chaos that constantly followed him. Logan sighed heavily, he had no choice but to settle for simply being her friend.
That ain't enough, his beast growled savagely, finally fed up with the man's doubts and timidity. She's ours. Claim her!
Logan stood ramrod straight, trying to argue with his beast, but found he didn't have the heart to refute the truth of the beast's words. He paced, growling unintelligibly. He was positive that she knew he had left. What was her reaction? Was she hurt? Relieved? Indifferent? It wasn't like they made any commitments to each other. They were just friends and that was that. What the hell did he care what she felt over his leaving? But he did care. He loved her for Christ's sake, and he had abandoned her at a time when he should be there with her, telling her how he felt and what he wanted for the future. Instead, he had given into his cowardice and was now suffering for it.
Flamin' hell! He missed her. He reached for his cell phone when missing her got too much and got as far as punching in his passcode and scrolling through his contacts, resting on hers. His finger hovered over the button to connect him to her before he tossed the phone onto the bed in disgust. A few seconds later, he picked up the phone and glanced at it, 11:54pm. In a few minutes, it would be Christmas Eve, more than enough time for him to check out and turn right around and head back home to her.
Making up his mind, he picked up the half empty bottle of liquor and tossed it into the wall, feeling a bit better at the shattered glass and alcohol running down the wall. He turned to where the jewelry box rested and carefully lifted the box, securing it in the sac it came in. He moved around the room like a man possessed grabbing his belongings. A few minutes later, he stood at the door, looking around the room to ensure nothing was left behind. Satisfied, he twisted the doorknob harshly and pulled the door open, slamming it shut on his way to check out.
Slipping on the oven mitts, Ororo opened the oven and removed four trays of gingerbread and shortbread/peppermint cookies. She sighed, closing the oven's door, and turning off the appliance, once she had the trays secured. She sighed again, resigning herself to having to bake more later, knowing that these cookies were not going to survive the next hour. But she didn't mind. Next to gardening and tending to her greenhouse, baking was a favorite pastime of hers. It afforded her something to do and took her mind off things…or rather someone.
He was gone and he didn't even have the decency to say goodbye. And that was the part that cut her to the core. She had become used to his wanderlust over the years, because she knew it was part of his genetic makeup, and he couldn't control it. But every time he left, he had made it a point to let her know and say goodbye, even during the times when they weren't on the best of terms. She didn't know what happened this time around for him to just up and run without that courtesy. And by the Goddess, she wasn't going to dwell on it. If he wanted to run on what was supposed to be a joyous time, then let him. See if she cared. But dammit, she did care…more than she realized. Oh, who was she kidding? Deep down, she loved the bad-tempered, dangerous man…beast and all.
Ororo did her best to hide her feelings and desires for the short-tempered Canadian, even going so far as to welcoming the attentions of their former teammate Forge. He was a great distraction from Logan, and he was a safer choice for her. Logan wasn't and most likely couldn't be the safe choice because she knew he was nowhere near ready for a relationship. She couldn't and wouldn't compete with his wanderlust and besides, he wasn't the type to stick around and put down roots.
She had stood on her balcony that frigid night, watching him leave the mansion and her. Maybe it was a good thing that he had left, but no matter how hard she tried to forget his absence from the festivities, she just couldn't. It was as if the man was embedded into her system, and nothing was going to get him out.
Slipping the pleated velvet wrap dress over her lithe form, she wondered where he was and what he was doing now. Probably at a bar or bedding a nameless woman, that annoying voice echoed, answering her questions. His being with another woman bothered her immensely, but she elected to toss those thoughts from her mind, knowing that what he did in his own time was of no concern to her. Liar!
As she sat on the settee at the foot of her bed and slip into her shoes, she glanced to her right and her eyes caught the gold-foiled paper wrapped present sitting under her personal heavily decorated Balsam fir. The paper reminded her of the gold flecks in his eyes when he was in complete Wolverine mode. She would have love to see the look on his handsome face as he opened the gift, an intricately and delicately carved unique cigar humidor made from cedar wood, ivory and sterling silver. She sighed. She would just have to wait until he returned to see that look.
He drove back to New York and Ororo like a man possessed, at one point clocking one hundred and ten miles per hour. A quick glance at the dashboard told him he had another hour and nine minutes before it was officially Christmas, and he was at least three hours from Westchester. No doubt the gang were all congregated in the recreational room, taking part in Xavier's traditional Christmas story reading, caroling, cookies and hot chocolate. He would miss that, and he felt a pang, knowing that 'Ro found vast enjoyment in Christmas, though she was a priestess and had no religious affiliation. He knew she saw the holiday as a chance to celebrate life and love with her X-Men family. He on the other hand, found that the Christmases he had spent with the X-Men were a balm to his chaotic soul, but he'll never tell them that. He was the Wolverine and had a reputation to maintain.
A light snowfall began as he pulled up to the mansion's impressive gates, and he wondered if it was Ororo's doing. Hastily, he punched in his security codes and rushed to the garage. As he was grabbing his duffel bag from the parked jeep, he heard Jean and Betsy bid Ororo a good night and the windrider's reply. He heard her soft footsteps as she walked to the kitchen, along with the clinking of dishes, glasses, cups and utensils. He made his way to the kitchen, careful not to alert her to his presence, but she was as good as him at detecting others, so he wouldn't be surprised if she knew he was in the building.
Logan stood in the darkened doorway that led from the garage to the kitchen, duffel and his leather jacket slung over his shoulder and simply admired the woman of his affections as she moved around the kitchen. He was so into it, that he didn't notice the plate of Christmas cookies and the two beers she placed on the kitchen counter.
He almost didn't hear her soft murmur. "Are you going to stand there forever, Logan?"
Being the smartass he was, he quipped, "Just admirin' the view darlin'."
She ducked her head, but not before he saw the soft smile on her lips. The woman was one of the fiercest fighters he's ever known, but also one of the shyest. "Are you going to join me?"
He stared at her in confusion before finally noticing the cookies and beer.
"I thought you would be at your Canadian hideaway by now," Ororo asked, taking one of the two stools at the counter.
Logan sighed, before moving into the room. "I was headed there, but…" he trailed off, suddenly exhausted, not just physically, but emotionally and mentally. Carefully, he laid the duffel bag on the kitchen counter, tossing the leather jacket over it. He ran his hand down his haggard face, before washing his hands and taking the other stool. He grabbed the chilled Molson, tipping the head to her in salute before guzzling half of the bitter brew. His ahhh in satisfaction brought a smile to her face.
"Sorry I missed the festivities," he mumbled around a mouthful of gingerbread. "I tried ta make it back in time."
"Why?" Ororo asked, nibbling around a mint chocolate chip cookie.
Maybe it was the ambiance of the room, or just the comfort he felt being with her, that let his lips loose. "I forgot something."
Ororo perked up at his softly uttered words. She took a swig of her own beer, attempting to quell the nervousness that suddenly came over her. "You forgot something?" She tried her best to appear nonchalant, while taking in his tired visage. She knew in that instant that his exhaustion extended beyond the physical. All the anger she felt at him leaving melted away.
Logan remained stoic, but his enhanced senses picked up on her nervousness and fast beating heart. He felt a cautious joy. "And someone."
She ducked her head at that point, afraid to show him what she was truly feeling at that very moment. "Oh?"
Logan quietly slipped off stool and planted himself in front of her. He spun the stool around so that she was facing him. He placed his index finger under her chin, tipping her face up to meet his eyes. It was now or never. "I forgot a very special woman and ta give her the gift I got her."
Ororo sighed lovingly when his comforting scent, a mixture of tobacco, the outdoors and leather, tickled her nostrils. A cautious hope blossomed in her, as her brilliant eyes took in everything his features were telling her at that very moment. "Does this special woman have a name?"
Words were never his forte, so he opted to show her in no uncertain terms just who the special woman was. Logan leaned down and pressed a brief, yet loving kiss to her full lips. He withdrew and gazed down at her, to gauge her reaction. When he saw nothing but love broadcasted on her face, he didn't waste another minute, stamping his lips on hers, this time in possession. A low growl rumbled in his chest as his tongue probed the warmth of her mouth. Their lips remained a hair's breadth away from each other, when they pulled away, struggling for air. Ororo had no doubts that she was the special woman.
He took a few steps back from her, all the while his eyes remained laser focused on hers. "Any more doubts, darlin'?"
The power of speech failed her, so she gently shook her head in the negative. An overwhelming sense of contentment gripped her, and she slowly stood, extending her hand to him.
With no questions, Logan quickly grabbed his duffel and jacket, before clasping his callused hand with her silky one. The silence was comfortable as she led him up to her secluded loft. Her private space was tastefully decorated with garland, tinsel, mistletoe and a five feet Balsam fir, a dwarf to the giant one in the recreational room. His eyes barely noticed the lone gift under her tree, before refocusing on her. Logan uttered not one word, when she took the duffel and jacket from him, placing them on her settee. He didn't even bat an eyelash as she went about undressing him. When he stood only in his boxers and wifebeater T-shirt, she stepped away from him and slowly unwrapped her velvet dress. Logan was in heaven. His sharp eyes took in every lovely nuance that made her who she was.
When she stood in her bra and underwear, she gave him the sweetest smile he had ever seen. "Are you going to stand there forever, Logan?" She repeated the same words she had uttered to him less than an hour ago.
He quickly picked up on her banter. "Just admirin' the view, darlin'."
She didn't shy away this time. "Is the view to your satisfaction?"
"Darlin' ya have no idea," he replied gruffly, going to take the sac holding her gift out the duffel bag. He walked over to her tree and placed the it underneath, to join the lone gold paper wrapped gift. He stood to his full heigh and faced her, his eyes piercing. "This is all I wanted fer Christmas. Ta be with ya."
Ororo held out her hand to him again. "Me too. I wished to wake up in your arms on Christmas morning."
"That's one wish I'll gladly grant ya, this Christmas and every one after, darlin'." Ororo knew in that moment the depth of his feelings for her.
"I am going to make sure you keep your word, mountain man."
"Ya can count on it, Goddess." He looked over to the bed, then to the woman who held his heart for much longer than he even knew. He made his way over to her and scooped her up in his arms. "Let's get started on makin' yer wish come true."
She looped her arms around his neck and her face was warmed with love when she replied, "No arguments here, my love. Merry Christmas."