Epilogue

Epilogue

Storm, Logan, Jubilee and Tasha returned to Salem Center late in the evening a little more than 2 weeks later.  As they landed the minijet, they noticed the mansion was unusually quiet.

"Where is everyone?" Storm asked.

"Dunno – maybe they all took the night off and went to sleep early." Logan said as he pulled some of the bags out of the jet.

"This is weird." Jubilee said with a little bit of apprehension in her voice.

"It's probably nothing Jubes – but just in case, Storm and I'll check it out.  You stay here with Tasha."

As they walked through the halls of the mansion, they found nothing – not in the kitchen, not in the rec-room, not in any of the bedrooms. 

"Logan, aren't you picking up anything?"

"Yeah – lots…so many X-Men have passed through here that I can't get a bead on any of 'em."

"What about foreign scents?"

"Nothin'…  Let's head for the command center – see if anyone left a message."

As they headed for the command center, Logan caught the scent of something that perplexed him.

"What is it Logan?"

"Dunno…smells like…" He finally figured out what it was, and what was going on in the command center.  "Think you better take the lead on this one." He said as he pointed down the hall to the command center doors.

"Why – what do you detect?"

"Lots of activity…more than I can handle one-on-one.  I'm good at hand-ta-hand, but nobody clears a room better'n you!" He said in a very serious tone. 

Storm took a defensive position with Logan right behind her and prepared to enter the command center.  She opened the door and stood to the side, looking for any signs of trouble.  The entire room was dark – not even the monitors were on; prompting curiosity from her.

"LIGHTENING, DELIVER US FROM…" she started to yell as she illuminated the room with the glow from the energy surrounding her hands.

"SURPRISE!" the entire room yelled as the lights came on and she saw all the X-Men standing around a decorated room and a table full of cake and other party favors.

"What?!" Storm yelled as she walked in – still a little confused by the surprise.  She turned to Logan only to see him leaning against the frame of the door with his arms crossed and a smirk sliding across his face.

"You knew!  And you didn't tell me?" she said as she shot him a glare.

"Smelled the cake…didn't wanna ruin the surprise."

Thanks to Jubilee, most of the X-Men already knew of their adventure with the rebels, the presidential citation and their recent engagement.  That gave Rogue and Remy enough time to organize a party.  As Storm and Logan walked in, each took a bow and pleasantly smiled.  A few minutes later, Jubilee and Tasha caught up and joined the festivities.

"Cut the cake!" Rogue yelled, trying to draw attention to Storm's hand.

**SNIKT**

"No problem" Logan said as he popped out one of his claws.

"Not you Logan – let Storm cut it."

"Sure." Storm said as she picked up on the reason she was singled out.  She gave Rogue an endearing wink and purposely hid her left hand while cutting the cake with only her right hand showing.

"Storm – ah thought you were a southpaw?" Rogue countered.

"No – but I am quite ambidextrous."

"Prove it!"

By then, the rest of the X-Men had picked up on what was going on.  Rogue's continued attempts to see Storm's left hand and Storm's obvious attempt to hide it goaded them into heckling her. 

"C'mon?" said Jean.  "Stop hiding it…we wanna see the ring!"

"Hiding?" Storm replied.  "Whatever do you mean?" she curiously asked as she pulled her left hand out and innocently placed it on the side of her face.

"Oh my god!!!" The room gasped!  "Is THAT the engagement ring?!"

"Wow!  Look at that rock!" Jean yelled as Ororo modeled it for her.  "It's so beautiful – isn't it Scott" she said admiringly.  Scott agreed and congratulated Storm and Logan – taking note of Jean's reaction to Ororo's engagement ring. 

"That musta cost a grip o' money Logan.  Ah didn't know ya had it in ya!" Rogue said.

"Nuttin's too good for Ro" he said.  "But I had a little help choosin' it." He responded as he winked at Jubilee.

"So, have you set a date yet?" Scott asked as he looked at Logan.

"Not yet Cike – we still have a lot of plannin' to do."

"Well here's to you and Storm" he said as he raised his glass.  The rest of the X-Men joined in and raised a toast to the happy couple.

"Gimme the details!" Rogue yelled.  "How'd he propose to ya?"

Logan and Ororo looked at each other and started laughing.

"What? Rogue said curiously.  What's so funny?

"Nothing Marie, it's just that he never got around to asking me."

"What?!"

"Scott called us before he had another chance and before I knew it, we were headed to Palawan.  I was so tired of waiting that I asked HIM!"

The entire room gasped then started laughing. 

"Are you serious?" Jean asked.

"Yeah." Logan responded.  "Right in the middle of a set-to…while I was knockin' heads with some rebels.  She just asked me…short and to the point."

"How romantic!" Rogue said as she gave him a wink. 

"Is DAT what y'all were doin' in de bathroom Wolverine?" Gambit asked – finally clued in as to what happened earlier.

"Yeah – what'd ya think Gumbo?" he said in a smug voice.

The party lasted another couple hours before tapering off.  All the women surrounded Ororo to get the nitty-gritty details of everything that happened, and the men…well; they drank beer. 

Later on that night after the smell of beer and cigars had worn off, Professor Xavier asked Logan to join him in his office.  He knew this conversation would come at some point but wasn't too worried about it. 

"Logan, have a seat." Xavier said rather non-chalantly.

"Sure Charlie – what's on yer mind."

"I just wanted to talk to you about Ororo."

"Yeah…"

"Don't worry Logan, this will be a short conversation."

"Good, cuz I ain't up for the "Pop and son-in-law" talk…"

"Well, now that you mentioned it…" Xavier said with a smile.

"Cripes…"

"Logan, we've known each other for a very long time, and I know we haven't always seen eye to eye; but some of the things I've always admired about you were your bravery and sense of honor and integrity.  You've always followed your heart and done what you thought was right; and I can't count the number of times you put your own life on the line for the team and other innocent people."

"I haven't done anything y'all haven't done…"

"Yes, but I've seen you face challenges that would have driven others crazy – and yet you've always persevered…"

"Is there a reason for this trip down memory lane Chuck?"

"Yes…  When I first recruited you so many years ago to help me free my X-Men from the island of Krakoa, I knew you had issues.  You were wild, rash, impatient and uncivilized.  You were quick to act and had little concept of teamwork.  You behaved like an animal and worst of all, your hair was atrocious!  Well, with the exception of your hair, you have become such a valued and integral part of this team that I don't know how we ever survived without you."

"Well thankya Char…"

"That's not all I wanted to say."

"Yah?"

"You know I raised Ororo like my own daughter."

"Uh huh."

"And you know her happiness is of the utmost importance to me…" he said as he admired her from a distance conversing with the other X-Women through the slightly open door of his office.

"Yeah…" Logan gestured.

"She's been the greatest source of my happiness for so many years…" he said with a smile.  "She's grown up to be the greatest daughter a father could ever have.  She's smart, beautiful, strong, and a born leader – everything I hoped she'd be."

"Yeah Charlie, I know…but…"

"I always pictured her marrying a man of similar characteristics: educated with class and decorum…and somehow she chose you."

"Now hold on Bub…"

"And I couldn't be happier for her!"

"Huh?"

"God only knows how much we disagree Logan, but one thing I can't dispute is how happy you've made my little girl.  I can't think of a better man for her to marry.  I've seen you do things for her I never thought possible.  I've also seen her bring out the best, and sometimes the worst in you…and don't think I don't know about Michigan!"  For the first time in his life, Xavier said something that absolutely shocked Logan.  How did he know about Michigan?  Why hadn't he said anything?  "Don't worry, I know why you did what you did; and part of me is glad that you did it.  When I saw her lying there helpless and burned in the medlab, I wanted to kill them myself.  But I couldn't."

"Yeah, I know." Logan said with a slightly remorseful look on his face.

"I know how much you love and care about her Logan.  I'm really glad you're there to do the things I cannot; and I know there's nothing in the world you wouldn't do to make her happy."

"Well thankya Charlie…" Logan said with a slight smile.  "You ain't expectin' a hug or anythin' right?"

"No Wolverine, I just wanted to tell you that I don't think she could have made a better choice in you and that I'd be proud to have you as my "son-in-law" so to speak.  Now, why don't you go and rejoin Storm?"

"Thanks…Pops." He said with the slightest hint of sarcasm.

Logan walked back into the command center and found Storm talking with Rogue and Jean.  As he did, he caught her eye and winked at her.  Somehow she knew what had just transpired and started to smile. 

"Mi nahal kita." He said as he walked up.

"Mi namahal din kita." She responded.

"What?" Both Jean and Rogue inquired.

"We love each other." Storm replied.

"How sweet!" The two other X-Women said in unison.

"Mind if I steel her away from you guys for awhile?" Logan asked.

"Not at all." Jean said as she winked at Logan.  "Y'all have fun!"

After tucking Tasha in, they walked outside and headed for the lake…  That was the last anybody saw of them that night.

The End – Please leave a review…constructive criticism always helps!