A/N: Hey peeps, thanks for all the reviews, they mean a lot and make me happy!





She woke early the next morning, despite her tiring nocturnal activities. She didn't move, content to lie how she was, with Logan's strong arm wrapped around her.

"Good morning."

She looked up at him and smiled. "It is." Then she sighed happily and allowed her eyes to drift. However, when they settled on the clock, she sat upright. Logan followed her gaze.

"Training!"

They were late in arriving to the danger room. But there was no one there. "Hmm. That's more than a little odd." Emma stated the obvious.

Neither were the young mutants in their bedrooms. Or anywhere in the mansion.

**********

"There's not the only ones. The Brotherhood has also disappeared." Storm sat down on the couch.

"This doesn't make any sense. There's no sign of a struggle, they didn't take anything." Emma sighed and rested her chin in her hand.

"It's like they just woke up and decided to leave." Wolverine was just as baffled.

They were waiting on word from the Professor who was using Cerebro to locate the missing teens. The three looked to the door as it opened and he entered. "I couldn't pick them up anywhere. It's like they've completely vanished."

"So now we do it the hard way." Logan stood.

"Which is what?" Emma and Storm both joined him in the standing position.

"We'll have to look for them manually. I'll prep the x-jet." Ororo left the room.

"Yes. We should have a ground search as well." The professor looked between his niece and Logan. Emma had an uncomfortable suspicious of where his mind was poking around.

"I'll take the ground search. Never been very comfortable with the flying thing." She looked at Logan. He hesitated for a moment before nodding and giving her a light smile.

"I'll go with Storm."

"Good, I'll join you Emma." As her uncle wheeled past he gave her a smile that wasn't entirely innocent.

**********

Storm and Wolverine flew in silence for a few minutes before she spoke. "I'm surprised that you didn't go with Emma."

"Why?" He glanced sidelong at her.

"You two seem close."

"Meaning what?"

"Nothing. You're just *close*." There was the faintest hint of a smirk on her face.

"What?"

"Nothing." She fought to keep from grinning outright. She wasn't going to ask. She didn't need psi powers like the professor's to tell that there was something between Logan and Emma.

**********

They left the institute and tore down the road in the x-van. Emma could see the smile on her uncle's face out of the corner of her eye. She glanced at him. "What?"

"Oh, nothing."

"Charles."

"No really, I'm just glad you're happy."

She sighed. "How many times do I have to tell you? My mind is mine. I'd like to keep it that way. If you continue doing this, you're going to ruin your birthday presents. And Christmas presents." There was a smile on her face.

He chuckled. "Does this mean I have to speak to Logan? Warn him to take care of you, that sort of thing?"

"Oh don't you even dare."

"But I'm just a concerned relative. Isn't that what they do?"

Emma fell silent and concentrated on the road.

**********

Logan sighed in defeat. "Okay, yes, I like her."

Storm's smile grew slightly. "Only like?"

"All right. I like her a lot." He growled.

"Well I must say, it's about time." She kept her eyes on the instruments.

"About time? Hey, how do you...?"

Storm continued to smile at his confusion. He really had no idea. The smile - though slight - that had appeared whenever he even glanced at Emma was clue enough. He never smiled.

"You're smiling Logan."

**********

"Concerned relative huh? It's been a long time since I thought I had one of those." There was a note of bitterness on her voice. She hadn't forgotten the brand on her face.

He sensed her anger. "I know it's been hard for you Emma, but you need to understand that your adopted parents were only afraid."

"Afraid of a six year old child? That was how old I was when they first exorcised me Charles. Since then I've had four, not to mention spending weeks alone with only a crucifix for company."

"They don't understand."

She sighed. "No, they don't. But that is history. I'm here now." She slowed the car down as they entered town, and they traveled in silence.

"Wait, turn here." Emma did as she was instructed. Charles had his eyes closed, so she surmised that he was sensing something. Or someone.

"Look." He opened his eyes. "That's Lance, one of the Brotherhood."

"What's he carrying?"

"I can't see. He appears to be in some sort of trance."

"Should we grab him?"

"No. We'll follow him. Maybe we can find out who's behind this."