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A Quiet Rainy Weekend; Part 7
By
NoHaven
A week had passed since Logan had left, and the team had slowly returned. The first had been Rouge and Piotr locked at the elbows after a long weekend with each other. Storm had been next, and everyone had noticed happiness after returning from Wakanda and spending time with T'Challa. To everyone's surprise Kurt had come back, most thought he would just remain at the church continuing his training for priesthood. Cecelia also had returned and was working hard with the professor and Kurt to overcome her addiction to the drug "Rave". Warren and Betsy returned late and there was noticeable tension between the two after being in New Mexico together. Hank had returned, his usual jovial self, he had immediately taken to research in the med lab. The newest member of the team Neal had comeback, apparently having spent his week in Tahiti. Remy was the last to return. Leaving only Bishop and Nathan still unaccounted for.
A week and Jean had yet to open the letter left by Logan with the Professor. She had come close, but just hadn't been able to open the envelope. Word had spread quickly through hushed voices as to what everyone had believed to have happened between Logan and Jean. There had also been considerable commotion when Remy had learned that Rouge had taken to a relationship with Piotr. After an argument with heated words between Remy and Rouge, Remy had also left, however it seemed by the amount of things still in his room that he intended on returning at some point.
However the reaction to Logan's departure had been mixed. Piotr believed firmly that Logan would resurface soon enough and that he was just letting things cool down. Betsy seemed unsure and Warren was adamant about his belief that "the little fuck" was gone for good. Neal had very little insight, as he barely knew the man. Kurt was full of belief that he would return. Hank had not given his opinion and neither had the Professor both preferring to stay out of matters of the heart. However Storm and Rouge had told Jean that they believed that Logan would return, though they refused to say what the numbers scrawled on the small piece of paper left for the two of them meant.
---
Somewhere just outside New York City, Jubilation Lee sits on a greyhound bus. She is very angry; from the day she joined the X-Men Logan had been like a father to her. So when she called the mansion to talk to him she was very disturbed by the news Rouge had told her, that Logan had left and the rumors said it was because of Jean. Jubilee was furious but immediately started thinking as to where her delinquent father figure may have gone, she came up with one idea, a safe house in New York City that he kept, and so she had set out to find him. As she disembarked from the bus she quickly move through the bus terminal before reaching the street and quickly hailing a cab. Climbing in she said through grated teeth "119 Bay 14th Street, and step on it."
---
Sitting on the dock of the boathouse alone trapped in thought was Jean, this had been the scene of he and Logan's conversation, this had been where she stood as Logan left hoping that he would reemerge from the shadows. This is where she had spent the most of her time in the past week. She was now so caught up in thought that she didn't notice the figure floating in from the skies behind her. As the woman with the silver hair landed softly all Jean felt was a soft breeze on her back. She was startled when the Goddess of weather spoke.
"Jean may I offer a ear for your thoughts." Ororo gently asked.
"I don't know Ororo, maybe…maybe that's what I need, to let someone else hear my thoughts instead of letting them eat at me." Jean said forcing a smile.
Ororo walked softly to the edge of the dock before sitting down next to her friend, their legs dangling off the end of the dock as they both stared onto the lake. She had been reluctant upon her first arrival to say much to Jean about Logan's departure, choosing to allow Jean to her thoughts. But a week had passed and Jean had said little to anyone, causing Storm to become concerned for her friend.
"Ororo, may I ask how Africa was?" Jean asked.
"Of course." Storm said with a sigh. "It was very good, while I was involved in combat I became reacquainted with an old friend."
"T'Challa? You seem to be very happy about seeing him again. Is there something there?" Jean asked tenderly with a mix of sadness and joy in her voice.
"I imagine so. We both have similar lives right now, he with the Avengers and his role in Wakanda, I here with the X-Men, and we seem to have a bond that I cannot explain." Storm said smiling. The sight of Storm smiling caused Jean to smile, it had been so long since Storm had been happy about anything.
"I know what you mean about the bond…me and Scott had a bond, and I thought me and Logan did as well." Jean said softly. "But I want you to know how happy I am for you Storm, I hope this works out for you. If anyone deserves it, it is you." She said more confidently, putting her arm around her friend.
"Thank you Jean, but it is you I am concerned for, you have been quiet since I returned. I want to know if you are alright." Ororo said looking at Jean.
"I suppose I am just confused." Jean said knowing exactly what Storm was intending on having her talk about. "For years all I would have ever believed was that Scott was my soul-mate. That somehow we had always been meant to be together. But now I think of Logan, and I suddenly I feel what I felt when Scott and I had originally began seeing each other. Its just throwing me for a loop, and in the past week I have been having dreams of Scott transformed, no longer who I fell in love with but something evil and different, dreams that seem to real for me to handle." Jean said staring down into the still waters of the cove.
"I cannot speak about you and Scott, and what your connection is, it is beyond my understanding. But I feel confident in knowing Logan to say that he cares for you, and I do think he will return once he realizes fully what he has done." Ororo said trying to be reassuring.
"Well that could take forever." Jean said half-heartedly joking. Ororo cracked a small grin herself. "I suppose Ororo the thing that bothers me the most…is that I just miss him as a friend. I am not sure if he is something more, I think he may be, but he was and is one of my closest friends, and I miss being around him." Jean commented quietly.
"We all miss him in our own ways, just as we all miss Scott." Ororo said sympathetically.
"And to top it off he left this note which I can't even bring myself to open." Jean said frustrated with herself. "I can't imagine what he might say, or what may be in it."
"Well there is only one way to solve that." Storm said in an understanding tone as she rose to leave. "And I cannot, tell you your path. I can only say that I will be here for you." She said as the winds lifted her into the sky.
Ororo had been right, she had to face this, and she had to know what Logan had left for her. She slowly tore the envelope open, to her surprise a photo folded up and a folded sheet of paper fell out. Picking up the photo she slowly opened it to see its faded image, it was a picture of Logan, Scott and her all smiling and laughing at a team cookout. On the back in small scrawled letters were the words, "old friends" and a date she could not make out. Her breath caught momentarily as she opened the note and read the words inside.
Jeanie-
I didn't do this to hurt you. I did this to ensure you did not get
hurt any more. When Scott comes back as you believe he will
the two of us will be far too much pain on your shoulders for me
to watch you go through. So while this may seem selfish to you
I do have my reasons. Remember you are strong, stronger than
anyone I know. I still love you Jeanie, but I wasn't gonna stick
around if you didn't feel the same way. Take care of yourself.
My Love Always
Logan
---
As the cab pulled up to the non-descript apartment building Jubilee thrust the cab fare at the driver not even looking at him before she slammed the door and stormed up the front steps. One of the residents of the apartment building came out the door as Jubilee reached them; she breezed by the old woman and stormed up five flights of stairs. Reaching the landing of the fifth floor she bore to right, and went to the door marked 22E. She thought of all the things she was going to say to him, and as she was about to knock a voice came from inside. "Come in Lee."
She was actually angry that he had known she was there, she wanted to pound on the door so that he demanded an explanation from her so she could blow up at him. Well he may have taken away he pounding on the door but she was going to get the first and last words with him weather he wanted her to or not. She opened the door and quickly moved through the door, slamming it shut behind her. She took in the room, and there near the window looking out on the water of the Atlantic Ocean was Logan. She didn't even wait for him to turn around before she started shouting.
"You self-centered, insensitive, lying bastard!!!!" Jubilee screamed.
"Whoa dar…" was all Logan could get out of his mouth before she cut him off.
"Did you only think of yourself when you decided to up and leave the X-Men? Did you even consider how Rouge or Storm or Psylocke or Jean might feel about you leaving? Or me?" she said trailing off a bit. Before Logan could respond to those questions Jubilee started again. "You always said you would be there for me Wolvie. When I called the mansion after getting your letter only to be told by Rouge that you had up and run off because of something between you a Jean it leveled me. You always said that I was like a daughter to you, that you would always protect me, how you were so proud of me learning about my powers. But when I called and you weren't there, and that this time it wasn't because you were just off doing your own thing but because you chose to leave, it was the most painful thing I could have felt…I lost my parents once Wolvie, and it still hurts to this day, but when I found out you left…it was like I had lost not only my best friend but my dad all over again." She said tears rolling down her face.
"Darlin, I'm sorry." Logan said moving towards her trying to give her a hug. Jubilee pulled away pushing him with her small hands.
"That ain't gonna cut it bub." She choked out. "Why do you always have to run Wolvie? You are so tough in battle but in your own life you are a coward, running at the instant that it may become hard for you. I don't know what happened with you and Jean…" she said pausing for a moment to compose herself. "and I don't really care. I know you love her, I can see it whenever the two of you are around each other. So I know that, if nothing else you should have never left her. I also know that you never considered anyone else before you did what you did. If you had you never would have left." She finished tears still in her eyes.
"Jubes, Darlin…. I never wanted to hurt you; I just was tryin to spare Jean any pain. Tryin to make my life make sense again. I…I was planning on getting in touch with you, but you got here before I could. Damn Darlin, you know I would never hurt you intentionally." Logan said moving towards Jubilee, and placing his rough hands on her shoulders. "Its just I'm tryin to make sense of what has happened and what could happen. I guess you just got caught up in the middle darlin. I'm sorry."
"Seems that's always the case. You get caught up in something, and people around you suffer because you don't think." She said looking into Logan's eyes.
"I know darlin, and I'm working to change that. That's what this is, I'm trying to make sure Jean doesn't suffer for my mistake." Logan said quietly.
"Did she ever ask you to go away? Did she ever say that she wanted to be spared the possible pain she might suffer? Or did you just come up with those things on your own?" Jubilee said confidently.
"I suppose she didn't, doesn't mean…." Logan was cut off.
"Don't say it doesn't mean she wasn't thinking it Logan. Jean is an adult, she is strong, if she wanted you to do this she would have told you. God!!!, does the metal in your skull affect you though process and make your ideas really dumb or were you born that way?" Jubilee said in exasperation. "And in all your years you must not have learned one thing about women. GO back to the school. If she tells you to leave then fine leave, but at least give her an option, and don't just run away before she can answer. If you really love her, you'll go back to let her answer." Jubilee said confidently, proud of the fact that she had just chided Wolverine like a child.
"Aw shit…. from the mouths of babes." Logan said quietly trailing off. He turned around a got his coat. "Guess I'll be giving you a ride to the mansion as well? Guess you should probably call Frost and Irish and let them know you didn't get kidnapped or anything." Logan said glaring at Jubilee who now had a Cheshire cat like smile across her face. "Well let's get goin." Logan growled. Jubilee thrust her left arm around his right arm and pulled herself to him as they walked out the door.
"Maybe you ain't so dumb after all. Canucklehead." Jubilee said smiling up at Logan.
---
The hour and a half ride back to Salem center had been, silent for the most part. Jubilee had tried to spark up conversation only to be silenced by and icy glare from Logan before he returned his attention to the road again. They had sped up the driveway and reached the front door quickly. It was very late so it seemed few were awake in the mansion. Upon entering they found that Beast had been the only member of the team left awake.
"Logan, Jubilee what and unanticipated surprise for a bushed individual like myself to receive at this hour of the night." Hank said pushing his glasses up.
"HANK!! It so good to see you." Jubilee said throwing herself at the mammoth blue furred man.
"And you as well young miss Lee." Hank said hugging the girl in his huge arms. "Ms. Frost and Mr. Cassidy had requested that we anticipate your possible arrival. They also expressed their consternation with you."
"I know, Frosty and Cassidy are pissed cause I took off, but I had to find this canucklehead first." Jubilee said pointing towards Logan standing in the doorway.
"Ah, Logan….so nice of you to return, maybe I should enlighten the others of your return." Hank said looking the disgruntled looking man.
"Can it Hank. Where's Jean?" Logan said gruffly.
"Well I would wager a guess that she is at the boathouse, however…." He trailed off as Logan tuned and walked away. "well anyways, I suppose we should set up a domicile for you to stay in for the rest of the night Miss Lee." Hank said turning to Jubilee. The two proceeded up the grad staircase to the second floor.
---
At the boathouse Jean woke from a restless sleep; when she sat up she got the feeling that she was not alone in the room. Instinctively searching the room with her telepathy as well as her eyes she found that she indeed was now alone. Sitting in a open window frame she could make out the unmistakable form of Logan.
"Logan?" She said quietly.
"Hiya Red." He replied.
"Why are you here?' she asked angrily. "What made you come back?"
"Came back cause of you Darlin. I came back because someone talked a bit of sense back into my head." Logan said rising out of the Windowsill, he was wearing a pair of faded jeans and a t-shirt. "Guess I came back because you never told me to go."
"Well what the fuck do you want, Logan? For me to just spring up and throw my arms around you and say how happy I am to have you back. What you did was fucking horrible Logan, you ran away from me without a concern as to how I might feel. Leaving some scrap of paper intended to make me feel guilty as your farewell. Well FUCK YOU! Go back to the rock you were under." Jean said very angrily.
"Yeah Darlin, I fucked up big. I was selfish and self centered and it never really occurred to me that what I was doing might hurt the people I care about. I was just trying to spare myself some pain, and I told myself I was sparing you pain as well. Turns out I was pretty fucking wrong, I came back to make things right. Between us, Darlin, cause I care about you more than anyone else. I Love you Jean, and if that means me playing second fiddle then so be it, cause at least I'm playing something." Logan said moving towards the bed.
"Yes you fucked up big, and some little contrived speech isn't going to fix it all. Not right away." Jean said glaring at Logan. "You never thought that maybe, just maybe I felt the same way as you, that maybe I couldn't just come out and say it as quick as you. Well Logan…I Love you. And I don't care what the repercussions may be. I'll figure them out as I go. I just want to be with you Logan, you and nobody else." Jean said while standing to face Logan, she was clad in a t-shirt and a pair of mesh running shorts, her crimson hair falling over her shoulders..
"I Love you Logan." Jean said tears falling down her cheek.
"I Love you Jean." Logan said wiping the tears from her cheek.
Looking at the cabin on the cool, clear dark night. One could just make out the shape of two figures in a bedroom sharing a kiss.
Well sorry bout the lateness of this last chapter. I had to put my ideas down then count them, then recount them, then hand count them, so it took longer to finish. There will be a short Epilogue to follow shortly. Thanks for reading, thanks for the feedback. Hope you enjoyed.
NoHaven