Epilogue
Nearly a month passed since the attack on Storm and she was thoroughly enjoying her first few days outside the flu-gen chamber. Beast pronounced her physically fit to resume her normal activities; but told her to take it easy for the next week or so to give her body time to adjust to normal gravity. She took his advice to heart…as she neared the third mile of her run. Logan caught up with her just as she passed the mansion on her lap around the lake.
"This yer idea of takin' it easy Ro?" he asked as he matched her stride step for step.
"I only plan to run 5 miles today – that is 3 miles less than I normally run."
"And about 4½ miles more than you SHOULD be runnin' Darlin'"
"You would do the same thing if you were in my situation Logan."
"And you'd be right here tryin' to talk me out of it."
"TRYING being the key word."
"I get your point, well if I can't talk ya out of it, I might as well join ya."
They circled the lake once more before Storm finally stopped and walked out onto the dock. Logan followed her – sensing there was something she wanted to talk about. He had an idea of what it was and was already starting to dread it.
"Sumpn botherin' you Ro?" he asked as he gently put his arms on her shoulders and started massaging her.
"I'm just thinking…"
"About?"
"About Tasha…what she's going through right now. What those ANIMALS did to her - all because of the way she was born. She's such a sweet little girl, but those animals never saw that...never gave her the chance. I know how she feels – I know EXACTLY how she feels."
"She'll get through this Ro – just like you did. Charlie'll see to that."
"I just feel so bad for her. Why did they have to do this? They will pay for the pain they have caused."
Logan knew it was time to face the music for what he had done. He and Gambit had gotten off lucky – nobody asked either of them about their trip to Michigan. Indeed, if anybody knew about it, they kept it under wraps.
"Ro, there's something I gotta tell you…something about the guys that did this to you and her."
"The Friends of Humanity?"
"Yeah. Um…well you see, while you were in the chamber…well, what happened was…"
"Were they brought to justice?" Her tone suggested something other than legal justice, but Logan was still weary of telling her what he did.
"Yeah, they were brought to justice…"
"YOUR justice?"
Logan's heart dropped. The one thing he didn't want to do was hurt or disappoint her. She was one of the few people he knew that saw past the beast to the man. He knew how she felt about killing but given his past and this particular situation, it was almost second nature to him. Still, he had to face the fact that he killed people…not only that; but he did it out of tribute to her. How would she take it?
"Yeah, my justice…" He said with a heavy heart. He knew what was coming – so much so that he couldn't face her. He was glad he was still behind her where she couldn't look him in the eye. "Ro, you gotta understand – I had to…they had…"
"Then it is settled!" she said, turning around to look him in the eye – cutting him off before he could finish his confession. The expression on her face wasn't one of approval and he knew it. Clearly she was hurt by his actions; but she also understood the motivation behind what he did. He was Logan, he could do no less. To love him was to accept that in him and forgive him for it; and she did with all her heart. There were times when she truly amazed him, and this was one of them.
"But aren't you…"
"Shhh." She said, putting her finger over his lips. That was good enough for him. He pulled her close and hugged her tight, knowing full well what she had just done. He then whispered in her ear "I love you."
"And I you." She said to him as she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him back.
She started walking back toward the mansion but Logan grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the garage.
"Where are we going?"
"You'll see…got a surprise for ya. Been waitin' damn near 4 months for it ta come in…but it was worth it."
"What is it?" The anticipation in her voice could hardly be contained. Their relationship was laced with small surprises – gifts here and there…romantic trips and the sort; the kind of stuff that two people in love really liked doing for each other. But every now and then one would do something that really surprised the other. Storm had a feeling this was one of those occasions.
They turned the corner to the garage and Storm came face to face with a brand new Harley-Davidson Softail Classic. It had been customized just for her – from the airbrushed white hair on the fuel tank and fenders to the personalized license plate: ROS TOY. She couldn't believe her eyes.
"Logan! I can't believe…!" She was speechless.
"Like it Darlin'? I woulda gotten it to ya sooner, but these things are backordered; and with that paintjob…"
"I love it!" she said as she hugged him and quickly jumped on it. "I guess everybody will know my little secret now!" she laughed. "Let's take it for a ride!"
"I'm glad you like it Ro."
"Hey – this isn't your way of saying you don't want me on the back of your scoot is it?"
"In a way I guess it is. It's my way of telling you I want you by my side." His words almost brought her to tears. He wasn't the mushy type, but when he gave a compliment…he REALLY gave a compliment.
The excitement in her face was unbearable…she couldn't wait to get it on the road. With a quick change of attire, 2 Harley's rumbled out the main gate. The almost-deafening rumble sent every X-Man in the mansion running to the window. They had to take a second look to make sure it was STORM on the lead bike.
They returned to the mansion nearly 3 hours later – Storm with a smile so big her usually calm demeanor couldn't hide it. As they walked past Xavier's window, they saw him talking with Tasha. Although Storm couldn't hear what they were saying, she knew Tasha wasn't happy.
"She looks so sad. What is he saying to her?" Storm asked Logan – hoping his mutant hearing could traverse the distance.
"He's telling her about Massachusetts. He's getting ready to send her there."
"She is too young to go there – she is too vulnerable right now. I have spent time with her Logan – she is such a sweet little girl, and she is so smart. I was hoping he would keep her here longer."
"Ro, you're not thinking what I THINK you're thinking are you?"
"I would like to spend more time with her."
"I figured – you two seem "connected" and you got that maternal thing goin' on."
"You should talk – or should I mention a certain young firecracker?"
Logan laughed. "Let's go talk to Charlie…"
THE END
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