"Remind me not ta get on yer bad side anytime soon," Logan rumbled breaking the silence they were enjoying, after their retreat to the lake.
"You always find a way to get on my bad side," 'Ro responded laughing lightly.
"Ya had a death grip on Panther's balls, darlin'."
She laughed again, this time louder. Logan enjoyed the sound of her laughter. It was evidence of her triumph over the Panther and re-establishing herself as the woman he knew and loved. "Ya handled the situation perfectly. As opposed ta me…"
She turned to him and gave him her famous 'no shit' look. "Yes, we know you would rather let your claws do the talking."
He gave her a lopsided grin. "Ya got that right, babe. Especially when it's anythin' ta do with ya."
'Ro scooted closer to him, leaning her head on his shoulder. His arm immediately went around her. "Though I should feel relieved that he would not try anything foolish, I am still anxious." A deep sigh. "I do not think we are out of the woods as yet, where he is concern."
Logan dropped a kiss on the top of her head. "Ya think he'll try somethin'?"
"I would not put it past him. I need to get word to the Wakandan Council of what transpired here today. I do not trust him to report to them." She sighed deeply. "I am also going to issue the warning to them as well. That should have them watching his every move more than they are now."
His arms tightened around her.
"I shall ask Charles if he can set up the meeting for me," 'Ro mused out loud.
"Looks like we're goin' ta Wakanda."
Ororo's eyes snapped to his. "Oh no…no."
Logan's scowl was deep. "Whatcha mean, no?"
She extricated herself from his hold and stood. Glaring at him, she voiced her opposition, "Logan, this is going to be a diplomatic meeting. I cannot have the most dangerous man on the planet there to make it look like I am there to wreak havoc. I can see you wanting to claw your way through any meeting."
He stood as well. "'Ro, if ya think I'm goin' ta let ya go back ta that place by yerself, ya got another thing comin', darlin'." His voice was soft, but his eyes showed his irritation.
"Let me?" She cried. "Now, look here Wolverine, I am going to handle this situation my way and I do not need your permission to do so."
He turned away from her and did a quick breathing exercise to calm himself. "Darlin'…ya don't understand. The state ya were in when ya came back…I don't ever want ta see that again. And now knowing of what he wanted to do ta ya?" He paused to run an agitated hand through his hair. "I don't feel good 'bout ya goin' back there again by yerself."
Ororo's rising anger immediately deflated. The panic in his eyes said it all. The Wolverine didn't panic easily so she knew this was something he felt deeply about. She immediately went to him, putting her arms around his waist and laying her head on his chest. "I love you," she murmured. "I am not going to go into Wakanda alone. I am going to ask Charles and Scott to go with me. They are the most diplomatic. You can stay in the village."
He squeezed her in his burly arms. "Whatcha sayin', 'Ro? I ain't diplomatic?"
She leaned back and laughed. "We both know that you are not, dearest. But I do need you with me." Then a thought struck her. "Did you think I did not want you with me?"
"Yeah," he said on a rush of air. "I thought ya were goin' in alone. Scared the hell outta me, 'Ro."
"Why would you think that? Did we not decide in Canada that we were going to my village together?"
He nodded, remembering the conversation clearly.
"Going to Wakanda to meet with the Council is only a precaution, my love. I did not think I would have had to do it, but after the events of today, I definitely have to."
He nodded again, this time with understanding. They were silent for a few moments, holding onto each other. "Ta tell ya the truth, darlin' I was hopin ya fry him with that ball of lightnin' ya had dancin' in yer hands," Logan joked. "It was arrogance up until that moment, then shit got real fer him. Ya didn't want ta smell the fear comin' off him."
"I had no idea how I was going to deal with the situation, until I saw him full of that arrogance he is known for. It was as if something went off inside of me seeing him so disrespectful and dismissive to you, Charles and our family."
They were silent for another minute or two. Then, Logan said, "Let's go get Chuck and Scooter on board, then handle our business."
"Just like that?"
"Yep. I trust ya babe. My reaction just now was just the thought 'o ya goin' back ta the lion's den alone. Now that we cleared the air, I say the faster we take care 'o things, the faster we're back in Canada, lovin' on each other."
Her answering smile was the brightest he had ever seen. "I know there had to be a reason I love you."
"Only one reason, 'Ro? Damn darlin', ya don't play fair."
Ororo was already walking, or more like floating back to the mansion. "Oh, there are many reasons I love you. But one right at the top of my list is the fact that you always have my back."
His quick strides had him next to her in no time. He reached out and pulled her against him, wrapping her in a tight hug. He took a deep whiff of her scent and rained tiny kisses onto her hair. "And I always will, darlin'."
With their arms around each other, they slowly walked back to the mansion, in tuned with each other and determined to handle together whatever came their way next.
A week after the confrontation with T'Challa, Ororo, Logan, Charles and Scott journeyed to Kenya. They were welcomed to Ororo's village with a celebration, but the festivities were cut short when the reason for their visit became known. Her tribe wasted no time calling a meeting with the tribal leaders of the neighboring lands. With the X-Men as their guide, the tribes mapped out a solid plan, should Wakanda attack. While there was unease amongst the tribal leaders, there was also an air of confidence with the X-Men and their Goddess on their side.
Charles Xavier and his team weren't surprised when the Wakandan Council summoned them two days after the meeting between the tribes. He had made sure to plant the seeds so the purpose of their visit and T'Challa's machinations would spread like wildfire. With Logan and Scott left behind in the village to ensure its safety, Charles and Ororo journeyed to Wakanda. Their reception was chilly, as the citizens remembered the destruction of their country the last time the Goddess was angered.
T'Challa was made to stand before the council and answer for his actions. He was full of loathing and rage as Ororo outlined to the council has plans should that marriage had gone forward and his actions in New York, trespassing and issuing threats to her and her family. She repeated verbatim what was said during the New York showdown, especially the consequences that would arise should T'Challa's plans be ill-advisedly implemented.
"Not only has your King breached the peace agreement, he has all but declared war to achieve his goals," Ororo concluded, her voice strong. She took a moment to look around at the men and women of the Wakandan Council, letting each member know that she meant business. With an air of confidence she continued, "I would have no choice but to defend myself, my family and my village should Wakanda attack."
"You are no match for Wakanda," T'Challa interjected. A few murmurs of those that still supported him can be heard around the room.
Ororo laughed, her eyes whited over. Intentionally, she tapped into her mutant gift, the skies darkened, and the winds picked up. "What happened the last time I was here? At any given moment, I can crush this place with a mere thought. Do you really think I am no match for Wakanda?"
Several of the Council's members quickly appealed to her and implored T'Challa to be silent. Charles just chose to sit back and admire his adopted daughter. That special something he had sensed in her when he first met her was on full display and he couldn't have been prouder.
"I am not here to issue threats. I am here to ensure that peace is maintained and to put you on notice about the consequences that lie in wait should your King here act on his foolish goals." Ororo took a deep breath, preparing to deliver her final words. "Shall Wakanda give me a reason to retaliate, there will be no hesitation in doing so."
Knowing the possibility for him to lose some of his power as King, T'Challa attempted to soothe ruffled feathers by branding Ororo as a scorned jilted lover who was just angry that she no longer had the chance to be the Queen of Wakanda and was simply trying to ruin his and Wakanda's reputation. Once Ororo countered that she had no desire to be Queen, T'Challa's dealings with the rebels, and the fact that Wakanda could not afford another war, and the full might of the X-Men, the council's decision was swift.
Borne out of fear, not only of another war, but the Goddess standing before them, the men and women of the Council officially striped T'Challa of some of his powers, effectively weakening him as a world leader and humiliating him before the woman he wanted to use as a pawn in his power-hungry quests. He could no longer unilaterally declare war, broker deals with other nations, and make the decision to open up Wakanda to the world, without the council's strict approval. For T'Challa, this was akin to being a leader in name only and he didn't take the news well. He railed against Ororo, labeling her every name in the book, but she stood tall and regal, her composure intact and walked out of the meeting with her head held high, without so much as a backwards glance. She and Charles didn't breathe sighs of immense relief until they were back in her village relaying the good news.
The next few days were filled with numerous celebrations, with the customs of Ororo's tribe front and center. Once her bibi got word that Ororo and Logan were together, she insisted on the tribal ceremony that would forever link the couple as mates. Logan went along with everything once he saw how happy his lady was. He would never deny her anything. As he immersed himself in the openness of Africa and the culture, something unexpected happened to him. One morning, during 'Ro's and Charles' trip to Wakanda, he had climbed the ridge that stood tall above the village to enjoy the morning sunrise, and as the sun submersed the morning sky in various colors, Logan suddenly realized that he was at peace for the first time in a long time, quite possibly for the first time in his entire life. In that moment, he realized that he had accepted all he had learned about his long past, and he shuddered as he felt lighter as the burdens seemingly melted away. Though there will be times that many of the things he had done would continue to haunt him, he would rather leave his past where it belongs, and focus on his future. He would no longer deny himself the peace and joy being with Ororo brought him. He had stood in shock for a long time, absorbing the fact that he was now free of all the shackles of his past. He wasn't going to question the mysteries of the why now and the why here of this experience. He was simply going to live the life he had always craved but felt unworthy of.
Scott for his part laid the lingering doubts he had about his sister and the rough and tumble Canadian to rest. As a man who viewed everything and everyone through a micro lens, he can now rest assured knowing that his sister would never want for anything with Logan by her side. Throughout the years he had known Logan, they had their share of fights, but also their share of enlightening moments and time had tempered their once contentious relationship to a guarded one. So, it was with immense relief that he gave them his blessings and wishes for a long happy life together.
Charles was overjoyed that another war was avoided, and his daughter was no longer burdened by the sorrows of her time in Wakanda. He was more than happy to watch Ororo and Logan get the ending they both deserve.
As far as Ororo was concerned, the wretched chapter of T'Challa and Wakanda was officially closed, and she felt reborn. Though life was unpredictable, and the future not set in stone, she wasn't going to let that deter her from finally having her heart, body, mind and soul fulfilled. And as she lovingly looked at her husband…well at least according to her village's customs, she knew that anything was possible with him by her side.