~Chapter 2~

Leaning back in her chair, Storm sighed. "For the last time Logan, please take a seat and all will be explained."

Growling, he slammed his hands on the desk between him and the weary weather witch. "Why? That's all I need to know."

Seeing there was no way to have this conversation as two calm and rational adults, she frowned. "All which was concealed from you, was done on Rogue's behalf."

He scoffed. "You're lying. She would never want me to not be involved in her life. Me and the kid..."

"And that's the problem, you will always see her as a kid, Logan." Her harsh voice rang out. "Rogue wanted to be seen as more than that 'kid' you saved and promised to protect. The last few years that she remained under this roof, she grew up and everyone here noticed the young woman she became. Save for you."

Narrowing his eyes, he unconsciously bared his teeth. "And what the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Leaning forward and on the desk until they were eye level, Storm gaze hardened to match his. "It means, while you were out searching for your past and returning here to chase Jean, you didn't see the pain and heartache she suffered due to you and your negligence! After you saved her back on the Statue of Liberty and swore to damn near take care of her, she began to develop feelings for you. We all tried to stop it from occurring, yet you always came back and sought her out. The one time she actually had a chance at something, you came and ruined it!"

"She had a damn crush on me, nothing new! Half the damn student body do, if their whispers are anything to go off of!"

"Damn it Logan, Rogue was in love with you."

Instantly, all the fight left him. Falling back and into the chair behind him, he lost all his anger as only confusion laid in it's wake. "Why...Why didn't she come to me and ..."

"And what, Logan? Wait for you to tell her you only viewed her as a kid, you sworn to protect? Rather you want to believe it or not, the only woman you had eyes for within these walls...were Jean."

Falling silent, he could only stare at her in shock.

"And as for her not wanting you in her life, you could only see her as a kid and she wanted more. For years she suffered because her feelings weren't returned, but she accepted that as part of her mutation. And with it gone, nothing changed, so you can understand why she didn't want you involved in her second chance at a normal life, as she called it."

Leaning back heavily in his seat, he ran a hand down his face. "But to fake her own death?"

Sighing, Storm righted herself in the chair and glanced at him. "Can you honestly tell me, if you knew she were alive you wouldn't have sought her out?"

"I..." Lowering his gaze, words seized to leave his lips.

"As I thought...I know it is a shock to know that she is alive and ..."

"Who else knew?"

"Pardon me?"

Growling, he once more came to his feet and towered over her. "Who all knew the truth about her being alive?"

Frowning, she regretted what she was going to say. "Only me, Hank, and...Jubilee, your wife."

Instantly freezing, he pivoted on his feet and headed towards where her scented perfume that he dreaded so led.

Watching as he went marching out of her office and begin his hunt for his other half, Storm frowned. Even though she feared what this would do to his relationship, she was more scared of how Rogue would feel once she learned her best friend married 'her' old flame and all time hero.

On the other side of the mansion, two old friends were catching up and laughing.


"You should've seen her face when we all caught him making out with the new girl." Jubilation Lee stated, as she led Rogue through the garden.

Shaking her head, she smirked. "Kitty always wanted him, guess she should've known if he was going to cheat on meh, he would do it to her too."

"I know, right?" Coming to a fountain, she paused and eyed her long time friend. "You never said what brought you back, chicky?"

Eyeing her sudden nervousness and the way she played with her left hand, she frowned. "My mutation came back...What's wrong, Jubes?"

"Nothing."

"It doesn't seem like nothing." Watching as she slowly maneuvered her left hand back, she quickly grabbed her wrist. Ignoring her pleas to be released and raising it, she gasped. Abiding by her request, an eye brow rose on her confused face. "Ya' got married and didn't tell meh."

Seeing the hurt in her doughy brown hues, Jubilee dug both appendages in her yellow trench pockets. "You were going through a lot and finding yourself, girl. I didn't want to bother you or..."

"So ya' think ah wouldn't like to know that my best friend is getting married? Ah even told you about mine!" She exclaimed.

Flinching as if she was struck, the small Asian didn't know what to say.

Releasing a tight breath, she frowned. "Who is it, Jubes?"

"I ugh...Why does it matter?" She stammered out.

"It must, if ya' won't tell meh."

"Look Rogue, it's not important and..."

"Yellow!" A gruff and angered voice sounded, in the distance.

Color instantly draining from her face, she could only watch as he rushed towards them and came to a stop before her.

"You got some explaining to fucken do!" Logan bellowed.

"Wolvie-bear, I can..."

"Him, you married him?" Rogue's broken voice sounded, clearly jolting the pair to stare in her direction.

Cursing, he didn't know what to say. Having Storm's last words run through his mind on her love for him and seeing it in her eyes, he froze.

Facing her friend, Jubilee took a step towards her.

"Don't." She angrily bit out. "After all we been through and the pain ah felt, this is the worst."

"Chicky, I didn't mean to, I ..."

"Swear? Was that what ya' was going to say?" Shaking her head, her eyes began to glow. "Save it. Ah had a lot of people promise meh things over the last ten years. That no matter my mutation they would love me, stand by me, protect me..."

Logan flinched, at hearing that.

"...and be my best friend. Ah guess you didn't get the memo on the last one, huh?"

Blinking, tears fell. "Roguey, I'm sorry. After he thought you were dead and everything you told me about him, I just..."

"Ended our friendship. Ah don't want no explanation from neither of you. Ah'm done with ya' both." Turning, she began to walk away.

"That's not fair and you know it!" Jubilee yelled.

Pausing, she remained facing forward.

"It's alright for you to move on and get married, but we can't? And then to show up here unannounced and..."

"Ah killed him, Jubilee." She stated, once more facing them. "Richard, the man I was going to marry not even twenty-four hours ago, ah killed. The day of my wedding, when we kissed, ah killed him. My mutation returned after ah've taken the cure and it's ten times stronger."

Hand going to her mouth, the small woman became speechless.

Blinking, tears caressed her pale face. "Ah came here, because of you, Jubes. Ah wanted my best friend by my side and help me get through this." Looking towards a silent Logan, she smirked. "Ah even came knowing ah would have to see the one man that will always hold my heart, possibly be with someone else." Once more facing the immobile female, she laughed. "But ah would've never guessed it would be you. After all, ya' gave me hell for pining after the 'big ape' as you called him." Face hardening, her voice became cold. "I guess ya' just wanted me out of the way. Well ya' got it. And only at the price of our friendship." Closing her eyes and allowing one of the many mutations that taken many years ago flow through her, she vanished in a puff of smoke.

Legs giving out on her, Jubilee fell to ground. "What have I done?" She cried out, staring at the black mist before her.

Silently agreeing with his wife, Logan could only guess this summer was going to be one long, hot, and increasingly tense affair.