"It is so good to see your beautiful face, Ororo," Charles opened the video call with a heartwarming smile. "I trust all is well."

Ororo greeted the man who had so long ago given her a purpose in life and was more to her a father than a mentor, with a soft, shy, and equally loving smile. "All is well, Charles. I am just waiting for dinner to be done and for Logan to return from his run." She reached out to adjust the video camera. "I miss you."

Charles heart filled with so much joy at her simple acknowledgement. "As do I, my daughter. It is not the same here without you."

Ororo laughed lightly. "I doubt everything is in disarray. I am sure Scott has more than taken up the slack."

Charles loved the sound of her laugh, always have. It was one of the many things he believed she had been robbed of after what she experienced in Wakanda. Hearing it now made him felt good about his decision to have her and Logan heal together. "I think the children and adults are more than ready to tie him out in the forest and leave him there for the wild animals."

A loud guffaw escaped 'Ro. She could just see them doing that to their fearless leader. "He cannot be that bad."

The corners of the Professor's eyes crinkled as he joined her in laughing. "I am sure you will be receiving a lot of complaints when you return." He waited for her laughter to die down before he decided to be the nosy old man Logan had accused him of being. "How are things in Canada, my dear?"

Ororo couldn't help but quip, "In the whole of Canada? I have no idea. Where Logan and I are? Everything is well and on schedule. Even though Logan has said I am surpassing the timetable he set for me."

Charles nodded. "It sounds like everything is working out so far."

She didn't miss the unspoken question that followed his words. "Yes Charles. Logan is his usual grumpy, overprotective self, but I would not have him any other way."

There was a lot for Charles to decipher and digest from her statement. And he was more than pleased with what he was hearing. "So, everything is working out for the best?"

Ororo knew what he was asking. But was she ready and willing to share yet? She had no doubts that Charles knew of both her and Logan's feelings for each other, however, she had just earlier decided that it was time enough for them to begin clearing the path to happiness. She decided that the newness of her decision was not to be shared with anyone other than her Canadian companion just yet.

The radiant smile that alighted her face told Charles all he needed to know, however, he knew that she wasn't ready to expose what was going on between her and the Wolverine to him just yet. He knew that when the time was right, he'll be privy to whatever it is she wanted him to know. Besides, there was something more pressing he wanted to discuss with her.

"My dear," he began, "There have been some developments."

The seriousness of his tone grabbed Ororo's undivided attention and dread coiled in the pit of her stomach. "Should I even ask?"

Charles sighed heavily. He hated marring their peaceful and happy sabbatical with the distasteful news. "I received a message from King T'Challa." He felt rather than saw the immediate effect his announcement had on the gentle Goddess.

'Ro took a few deep breaths to quell the rising panic within her. "What did he say?"

"I did not respond to the message. I did not think my response was warranted."

"What did he say, Charles?"

Charles rubbed the space between his eyes, a wave of tiredness suddenly washing over him. "He said that he had given you more than enough time to get your act together and if you are not in Wakanda by week's end, he will take matters into his own hands."

Ororo knew as much about T'Challa to know what that meant. He would no doubt force himself onto the mansion's grounds and provoke a fight, especially when realizing who he came for was nowhere to be found. But instead of giving into the rising panic, anger flared in her chest. How dare he? How dare that deceiving fool? She would not give him another chance to gain control over her life. "I know what taking matters into his own hands mean, Professor. He would no doubt impose on the property and bait the X-Men into a fight."

"I believe that would be the case when he finds out you are not here, and the Wolverine is gone as well. He is bound to put one and one together, daughter."

Ororo nodded, knowing that to be a fact. T'Challa hated Logan and the feeling was entirely mutual. He hated the close relationship she had with Logan, and he had made no secret about that. She wasn't foolish to think that T'Challa didn't suspect that her feelings for the feral and his feelings for her ran deeper than both let on. But she will be lying if she said that she cared about what T'Challa thought of her and Logan. What she did care about, however, was T'Challa's propensity for lashing out when he did not get what he wanted and it more than looked like her Westchester family would be in his crosshairs come week's end.

She sighed. What should she do? Should she return and stave off a potential disaster? Because make no mistake, the X-Men will fight to protect their home and will more than fight to protect her since most suspected that the King was the reason for her emotional turmoil.

Charles knew exactly what she was thinking. Not because he was a telepath but the look on her face made known what she was thinking. "Do not worry, Ororo. We will handle matters here as they arise."

"But Charles, I do not want a catastrophe to happen especially knowing if I can help avert it."

"No, Ororo," Charles replied sharply. "You will stay with Logan and focus on your recovery."

"But…"

"Daughter, please I rather you stay right where you are," he pleaded.

Ororo sighed.

"You need to recover completely, and I would not have anyone interfere with that," he added, a certain rigidity to his tone.

She recognized that tone and knew it would be useless to argue with her father. "Alright, Charles," she voiced warily. "But, please, if he is intent on causing my family harm, please alert Logan and I right away."

"I will," Charles promised.

After a few more reassurances, they said their goodbyes and Ororo turned off the web camera and computer and stood slowly. She made her way to the kitchen, where she opened the oven and checked the roast beef and baked salmon. Satisfied they were done, she turned the oven off and using potholders, carefully pulled the hot pans out and placed them on the granite countertop. She inhaled the delicious scents deeply and busied herself washing dishes. She was intentionally keeping herself busy while she awaited Logan's return. Anything to take her mind off Charles' not so pleasant news.

There were no doubts in her mind that T'Challa was bound to cause trouble for her family. The man was proud, hated being told that he had failed or couldn't have something. He had failed in securing and having her as his Queen as he wanted, or as she came to realize, his pawn. As far as she knew, she had thrown the plans he had for her and Wakanda into disarray with her leaving and calling off the wedding. She refused to be used the way he had intended. She was such an idiot to believe that T'Challa truly loved her and wanted her as his wife. She was even a bigger fool accepting his marriage proposal, believing herself completely in love with the jerk.

Ororo knowing where her thoughts were headed immediately shook her head to clear them. She absolutely didn't want thoughts about T'Challa's duplicity marring her and Logan's evening. Especially after arriving at her decision to begin the healing process. Sensing that Logan would be back any minute, she began setting the dinner table.

They began their evening meal with inane conversation with Ororo challenging him to remember some of their more comical missions. Logan roared especially hard when he related the mission where the newly reincarnated Jean Grey had mind screwed Sabertooth into believing he was a Rockette. Ororo couldn't help the laughter that flowed through her when the image of their long-time enemy twirling and doing high kicks flashed across her mind.

Yet, as much as she would have love to continue their evening on the lighter side, she knew that she had no choice but to make him privy of her earlier conversation with the Professor. "I spoke to Charles earlier today," she began slowly.

Logan glanced up at her, shoveling a fork load of meat into his mouth. "How's Wheels goin'?"

"Oh, he is alright," Ororo replied, lifting a glass of lemonade to her lips. "He said that they are seriously contemplating tying Scott up in the forest and leaving him at the mercy of the animals."

"Nah, that ain't gonna get the stick outta Scooter's ass," Logan grumbled.

'Ro chuckled softly.

"What else Chuck said?" He continued, sensing that there was more she wanted to relay to him.

She took a deep breath. She hoped he didn't react the way she knew he would upon hearing about T'Challa's covert threat to Xavier. "He said T'Challa sent him a message," she rushed out.

She took a quick peek at his expression. His poker face gave nothing away, but the look in his eyes was a different story. "The message?"

Ororo sighed. Best to get this over and done with quickly. "T'Challa basically threatened the X-Men if I am not back in Wakanda by the end of the week."

She felt rather than heard the vicious growl rumbling its way up his chest. "Over my dead body, 'Ro."

"Logan…"

"What 'Ro? Ya can't be seriously thinkin' 'bout goin' back ta Wakanda and whatever that asshole did ta ya down there?"

'Ro scowled, not liking his tone one bit. "I never said that I was thinking about that."

"No?" He asked, his body rigid with anger. "From where I'm sittin' it sure sounds like ya did think 'bout it or even thought 'bout goin' back ta New York ta meet him."

She ducked her head, knowing for a fact that she did entertain those thoughts when Charles conveyed the message to her. "I did think about going back to New York, but only because I do not want him to provoke the X-Men into a fight."

"Ya and I both know that he will do that."

"I know. Especially when he finds out I am not there, and you are not as well."

He stood swiftly, angrily yanking up their used dishes and utensils. "I hope that dick knows he signs his own death warrant if he so much as step foot on that property."

Ororo's eyes widened hearing the finality and truth of that statement. This was what she wanted to avoid. She stood carefully, mindful of her recovering body. She followed him to the kitchen where he had busied himself washing the dishes. "You cannot kill him, Logan."

Logan spun around quickly. His eyes flashed amber and his voice held a hint of the beast he carried inside him. "Ya can't be serious? Ya still care fer the prick?"

"I did not say that, Logan. I do not care for him. Not after what he has done."

She saw his body relaxed a bit on that admission. "What did he do ta ya 'Ro? Why can't I kill him if he comes ta our home lookin' fer trouble."

"Because you will more than certain end up in prison," she shouted, letting loose that fearsome temper she held in check. "And where the hell would that leave me, huh Wolverine? Where would I be if you are rotting away in prison for killing a man who is not worth it?" The rumble of thunder and darkening skies punctuated her outburst.

The flashes of lightning and peels of thunder let him know that she was quickly losing her control. "Calm down, baby." He went to her cautiously, grasping her shoulders.

"Do not call me baby." She flung his hands off her, spun on her heels and exited the room.

The knock on the door of the bedroom they shared a half an hour later followed by "Darlin'?" brought her out of her dejecting thoughts. After she had stalked away from their argument, she had sequestered herself in the room, willing her emotions under control. How dare that insufferable, bad-mannered man talk to her like that? Who did he think he was? But as soon as she began her rant about him, she calmed down, knowing that he was only doing what he had been doing since the beginning…looking out for her. She knew him and knew that he wouldn't be behaving like this if he didn't care for her.

"What?" She answered softly.

Logan took that as his cue to enter the room. He came in with a tray holding two steaming mugs and a plate of her favorite oatmeal raisin cookies. He placed the tray on the nightstand, handing her cup. "I brought ya that plant juice ya love."

"It is called herbal tea, Logan," she sniped, taking the cup from him. "Have you come to apologize?"

"I came so we can talk rationally."

Ororo's well-groomed brows shot up.

"What? I can be mature."

"When you want to be," she mumbled under her breath, taking a sip of the hot liquid.

"Look, 'Ro. I'm sorry ok," he grumbled. "I'm just worried 'bout ya and the others."

She cradled the mug, the heat from the cup not bothering her one bit and looked down at the steam rising from it. "I know Logan." She looked back up at him. "You did not give me a chance to explain. You just flew off the handle…as usual."

He took a sip of his hot coffee, grimacing as the hot liquid course down his throat. "What did ya expect when ya mentioned that asshole's name?"

"For you to fly off the handle," she admitted with a sheepish smile.

"Ya know there ain't no love lost between me and the Panther. My first and only priority is ya. He hurt ya and I ain't lettin' that go. I don't want ta ever see ya in the pain ya were in when ya came back from there. Ya don't know what that did ta me." Logan took a deep breath and another sip of coffee. "Ya mean the world ta me, 'Ro. It was just my protective instincts kickin' in when I heard he threatened both ya and Chuck."

Ororo's heart thrummed faster at his declaration, and she knew he heard it. "I admit that I did think about going back to New York to be there when he arrived at week's end."

"Just ferget that 'Ro. It ain't happenin'. Not on my watch."

"Logan…"

He grunted.

"I do not plan on going back to Wakanda with him and going through with the marriage, Logan." She gestured for him to pass her a cookie. "I said goodbye to that life when I left. My only rationale for wanting to go back to New York was to tell him to his face that I know everything he was about and what a lying, deceitful, domineering man he was…maybe with a lightning bolt or two."

Logan grinned. "And six new holes."

Ororo choked on the piece of cookie she had just bitten off. "You are terrible."

"Only fer ya, darlin'." He gazed at her so intently that he was positive his love and adoration for her were very visible. He decided then to admit what he was thinking when she collapsed in his arms down by the lake after riding her winds back from Wakanda. "Ya know, 'Ro. I was plannin' on takin' a trip ta Wakanda after ya came back."

"What?!"

He nodded as if relaying that bit of news to her was normal. "Yep. Wanted ta have a one-on-one convo with that piece 'o shit. I knew what ever went down in Wakanda between ya two was bad."

"Bad is not the word I would use to describe what he has done and was planning on doing." After a few moments of silence, "What changed your mind?" She asked, knowing that that was probably one of the hardest things he had to stop himself from doing.

"Knowin' that ya needed me and I needed ya. Chuck too had somethin' ta say 'bout my plans. I slept on it and woke up decidin' that fer the time being, ya were more important than anyone and anythin'."

"Well thank the Goddess you came to your senses," she stated matter-of-factly. She sighed. "I just do not want him goading the X-Men into an unnecessary fight. Make no mistake that is what T'Challa will do once he does not get his way."

"I'm sure Chuck has the team caught up on what ta do when the ass makes an appearance."

She exhaled deeply before impaling him with an intense blue stare. "Logan, I have no intentions of going back to Wakanda. I do not care for T'Challa. So, please do not think that."

Logan sighed. Hearing her say the words were more than a relief, it quelled his fears he had of her going back to T'Challa. "I'm sorry, darlin'. I was just pissed and said those things ta ya."

"You are forgiven, mountain man," she replied handing him her empty mug.

Placing her mug next to his long ago empty one, he turned to her and grabbed her hands in his. He stared at them for a while, observing their skin color contrast, their different skin textures. He sighed. "What did he do ta ya, 'Ro? Please tell me."

Ororo chuckled, though slightly disappointed. "I have a better idea. Go and make us some popcorn and we can watch a movie or two before turning in."

He took that to mean that she wasn't ready to talk about her experience. He would respect that and wait a bit longer. The corners of his mouth lifted into his crooked smile. He stood and leaned down to kiss the top of her head. He turned, grabbed the tray, and made his way out the door. "Anythin' fer ya, Goddess."