This Chapter was a nice one for me to write. It may seem a bit mushy to some of you, but I think it works well with what I've written so far. Thanks for reading and reviewing.

She didn't know how she ended up on his lap and in his arms, but Ororo didn't care. The despair that had engulfed her since her return from Wakanda now manifested itself into the bitter tears she now wept. She wept for the wasted time she had invested in building a relationship with T'Challa. She wept for her stupidity in believing she and T'Challa could have a love affair. But most of all, she wept for the wasted years she spent dancing around her feelings for the man currently holding her.

Logan simply held onto her, providing her with whatever comfort he could, while she vented her sorrow the only way she knew how. After her telling of the events that had brought her back to the X-Men and him, his anger at the Black Panther increased tenfold. He knew that the Panther had hurt her but didn't know it was at this magnitude. The sickening plan T'Challa had for her took the cake and Logan knew then and there, he and the Panther was going to settle the score, the prospect of prison be damned.

Seeing her deal with her pain was one thing, but hearing it was something else altogether. The sobs wracking her body only serve to reveal to him his own regret. Regret for spending so many years being selfish. Regret for wasting time attempting to retrieve what was stolen from him, only to get it back in blinding speed. Regret for not having already claim the loving and loyal woman in his arms.

He burrowed his face in her soft mane, his regret baring itself in a few tears of his own. For how long they held each other letting go of the past, coming to grips with the present and reconciling their futures, they didn't know. Once the tears were spent and the regret and sorrow ebbed, it was dark outside. In the shadows of the living room, they looked at each other, not bothering to hide their vulnerability from each other. Ororo reached out and caressed his rugged face softly. Logan reached out to cup both sides of her face. Simultaneously and tentatively, their lips touched, testing the waters of this new and unspoken level of their relationship. Their lips didn't move as they would in a regular kiss, but stayed still, as they reconnected and come to terms with their feelings for each other.

Logan mouthed her name as if saying a prayer and he might as well have been because a higher power out there had deemed him worthy of a Goddess. Ororo's fingers continued their trek across the planes of his face, reacquainting herself with the man she had long ago given her heart too.

The Wolverine held her hands in his and removed his lips from hers to break the silence. It was high time she knew exactly what she was and what she meant to him. "Fer the record darlin', ya have more than enough ta offer. Yer beautiful, intelligent, compassionate, graceful, loyal. Only a fool wouldn't see that. And from where I'm sittin' Panther is a bonafide fool, somethin' I've known fer a long time."

"I felt unworthy when I returned. Like I did not deserve love. He made me doubt myself," she whispered.

Logan swore softly. Just knowing that wannabe King existed was enough to boil his blood. Damn that son of a …. "Ya listen ta me and listen good, 'Ro. Unworthy is a word I would never associate wid ya. Yer so damn lovin' and carin', it scares the hell outta me."

"He was right about one thing. Everyone I love eventually leaves me. They leave me and I fear there will be nothing of me left for anyone else," she cried.

"No 'Ro. No more tears. We've both did enough cryin'." He kissed her eyes in earnest to emphasize his words. "Yer parents dyin', ya had no choice over. That was circumstances beyond yer control. Forge leavin'…well ya know my thoughts regardin' that clown. And let's not mention the King. Those two were and would remain fools." He sighed deeply. "And I'm a fool too."

Ororo's eyes snapped open. "You are not a fool."

He laughed derisively. "'Course I am darlin'. How many times did I leave ya ta track down a violent and broken past? When I shoulda been there wid ya, building a future."

Her mouth opened, then closed. Words failed her at his heartfelt confession.

"My choices brought ya nothin' but pain and I don't know if I can ever forgive myself fer that."

She peppered his face with airy kisses. "No. Please do not do this. Please, let us leave our past choices behind and concentrate on the here and now. If we focus on the what ifs and what should have beens, then we will surely drive ourselves mad."

"Darlin'…"

"What has happened to the both of us was meant to happen to bring us both right here, to this point." She took a deep breath in preparation for her next words. They had already lost so much time and she couldn't bear the thought of them losing anymore. She confidently reached a well-manicured hand out and delicately caressed his mutton-chopped cheek. He automatically leaned into her touch.

"Logan?" She said softly. She waited until his gaze latched onto hers. "Logan, I love you so much and I cannot bear the thought of going one more second without voicing those words to you."

Doubt began to creep up on her when his silence became deafening. Did she misread everything that was unspoken between them? She made to move off his lap, but his arms tightened around her, keeping her in place. That was enough to squash the doubts.

Minutes passed before Logan felt sure enough that his vocal cords were functioning. Filled with a hope and purpose, Logan knew he couldn't take the coward's way out anymore. It was time. Words have never been his strong suit, but he knew what he had to say now and for her, he'll say it.

His grip on her strengthened as he drew her to him even closer. He leaned in, touching his forehead to hers. He began speaking as softly as his grizzly voice allowed. "'Ro, darlin'. There's always been somethin' between us. I…"

She kept still, her eyes focused on him. She gave him a sweet smile in encouragement, aware of the difficulty he always had in expressing himself in words.

Her smile opened the floodgates. "I've always thought that ya deserve nothin' but the best because that's what ya are…the best. My mind was a mess, I was always goin' off on some wild goose chase and ta top it off, I didn't have a damn thing ta offer ya. I was unworthy of ya. I used huntin' fer my past and Jeannie as a distraction ta deal with what ya did ta me…how I felt 'bout ya."

"Logan…"

"Shh baby. Let me finish before I lose my nerve," he rasped. "Ya bring out the best in me, 'Ro, even when I behave like a jerk. Yer the one that kept me comin' back ta the mansion every time. Even after ya got with Forge and Panther…" he paused, the disgust at those two evident in his voice. "I thought we missed our window, but there was always somethin' that kept me right there, in case ya needed me. When I finally accepted that yer the one I needed and wanted, I stopped runnin'. What I'm tryin' ta say 'Ro, is this…"

Then Logan did something she would never have expected in a lifetime. He placed is lips by her ear and began singing… "Some people want it all, but I don't want nothing at all, if it ain't you baby, if I ain't got you baby. Some people want diamond rings, some just want everything. But everything means nothing, if I ain't got you…"

Ororo's eyes widened. This was one of her favorite songs. She allowed his rough baritone to wash over her, bringing her joy and peace she needed after her emotional release.

Minutes later, his singing stopped, and he leaned back to gaze at her. He smiled crookedly at her. "Do ya understand what I'm sayin' ta ya, darlin'? I'm sayin…"

Ororo nodded, her heart beating frantically in pace with his. She reached up to cup both sides of his face lovingly. "I understand perfectly, dearest. You are saying you love me, you adore me and cannot live without me."

"Ya sure assume a lot, 'Ro," he answered jokingly. Then, "But seriously, I do all those things…but I love ya mostly."

Her smile was bright, filled with love and happiness. These rare words coming from this battle-hardened warrior were the healing balm her battered heart and soul needed.

"I know we still have issues ta work through, but I know we can make this work, 'Ro." He reached up and placed his hands on top of hers. "We need ta make this work, else I don't know what the hell I'll do."

"We will make this work. This will work for both of us," she replied, her voice filled with unwavering conviction. She leaned in and nuzzled the crook of his neck. "We focus on each other and what we want and need. Everything else will fall into place."

"I believe ya, darlin'."

"Good because a Goddess is always right," she uttered before knotting her arms around his thick neck and lowering her mouth to his.

They leisurely kissed, taking their time to savor each other. This moment was a long time coming and they weren't going to rush it.

They continued their love play until 'Ro's stomach growled viciously, effectively breaking the spell and reminding them that they hadn't eaten in a while. They chuckled together, reluctantly drawing apart.

"Are you going to feed me?" 'Ro asked cheekily.

Logan swore there was a double entendre hidden in her words, but he wisely ignored it…for now. "What would my Goddess like ta eat?"

"Well mere mortal, I do not think we have enough to make a feast. The fridge and pantry are near empty."

He laughed, setting her down on the couch before standing to stretch his frame. A few bones popped back into place. "I think I can come up wid somethin' just fer ya." He turned to bless her with a rare loving smile. "How does one o' my monte cristo sound?"

No one enjoyed the Wolverine's cooking more than she did. At her enthusiastic nod, he held out his hand to her. "Let's go clean up then get started darlin'."

With her eyes never leaving his, she allowed him to guide her upstairs, where he did what hadn't been necessary for a few weeks now…give her a bath.

Ororo enjoyed watching him work in the kitchen. From her seat on the stool, she appreciated everything about the enigmatic man with a kitchen towel draped over his shoulder. After their emotional upheaval earlier, this quiet and comfortable interlude was exactly what she needed.

"Enjoyin' the view, darlin'."

"Oh, you have no idea," she answered saucily.

Logan laughed, transferring the sandwiches from the skillet to their plates. He glanced at her before drizzling maple syrup on the sandwiches. "I think I might have an idea."

She smiled, slipping from the stool, and going to press a kiss to his grizzled cheek before heading to the fridge. "How did you know that I love that Alicia Keys song?" She asked, rummaging through the appliance for a drink for both of them.

"Heard Jeannie played it fer ya quite a bit when ya was in the coma. Kinda hard not ta know ya liked it after that."

"Nothing gets by you, does it?" She asked, bumping the fridge door close with her hip, his Molson in one hand and a can of ginger ale in the other.

"Nope…ain't got these senses fer nothin', darlin'." He walked over to the already set dining table carrying their plates.

She placed their drinks next to their respective plates and sat in the chair he held out for her. She smiled up at him in thanks.

Taking his seat across from her, he popped the cork on his beer, taking a lengthy drink. After a few minutes of silent eating, he said, "I hate ta kill the mood we got goin', but we need ta talk."

Ororo swallowed the piece of sandwich she was chewing. She sighed, knowing where this was headed. "I know. But since you and Charles are adamant about me remaining here, I have no idea how to solve this problem."

"I've been thinkin'… I'll have ta talk ta Chuck 'bout it too, but I wanted ta run it by ya."

Her curiosity was peeked. "I am listening."

"I was thinkin' ta reach out ta Fury to tell the prick ta back off."

'Ro frowned. That was unlikely to go anywhere. "Fury may say that this is a personal matter, and he cannot get involve."

Logan nodded, knowing exactly that's what the one-eyed spymaster would say. "Then he'll have a funeral ta attend," he replied casually before taking a huge bite of his second sandwich.

"Logan…"

"'Ro…it's my job ta protect ya," he interrupted, his voice tight, "by any means necessary. Especially now knowin' what that asshole had in store fer you." He shuddered at the mere thought of what if T'Challa had succeeded in his plans for her. Damn that scumbag. "If Nick don't want ta get involve, then I ain't gonna be responsible fer my actions. Either he tell his highness ta back off or I will."

Ororo huffed a breath in resignation. It was apparent that this was out of her hands. "I just do not want any unnecessary violence, Logan."

"If the prick doesn't back off, then there will be violence." His voice had an air of finality to it. "What else ya want me ta do, 'Ro? I ain't givin' him another chance ta hurt ya."

Ororo bit into the remainder of her sandwich and chewed slowly. "He cannot hurt me anymore than he already has. I just want this to be over and done with."

"Ya honestly think he's goin' ta let go? Even after ya left him, he still thinks he owns ya. The man is power hungry and sees ya as the only way ta get that power."

"I would not be a tool for him or anyone else," she huffed.

"What if he attacks yer village as a way of drawin ya back there?"

Ororo stood, slapping her hands down on the table. Her eyes resembled a partially cloudy sky. "Then he would violate the peace treaty and will be dealt with accordingly. He thought he could cut off my powers, then he will be in for a rude awakening as to what my powers can accomplished, should he attack my village."

Logan's answering smile was downright menacing. Not everyone was aware that carefully hidden beneath her nurturing and loving sides, was a ruthless side, and he loved it.