A/N - Oh, once again I must mention that this is after X-2: X-Men United. And once again I must say thank you to all you wonderful reviewers.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Chapter Seven - Beauty Personified

Logan was restless. Restless and worried. He didn't care to wait, didn't think it was the best decision but he felt he had no choice. Ever since he'd hooked up with the X-Men he couldn't take any more crazy risks and do what he wanted to. He now had to worry about everyone and their mother. Rogue, the other kids at the school, Kurt, Jean, Ororo. His stomach twisted in a hard knot as he remembered holding Ororo in his arms. Her beautiful fresh scent wafting enticingly around him, her soft brown skin warm against his body and her large brown eyes looking up at him full of trust.

He hadn't wanted to let her go, not even to go to Kurt's aid. He had never felt that way before, not even when Jean had been in his arms. When he'd seen Ororo lying unconscious on the ground his first instinct was to hunt down and kill whoever had done this to her. With Jean he had simply accepted her death despite the pain. He ran a hand through his unruly hair and sighed. He had loved Jean at one time but that had passed; faded as if it had never been a true lasting love. What he was feeling now was something more, something deep and, well, bothersome. Was he falling in love with Ororo and if he was what was he going to do about it? Waiting just wasn't his style.

"Thought I might find you here," Ororo's soft voice called out.

"Just needed to think," Logan said without turning.

Ororo came up beside him. When he said nothing more she wondered if he was angry with her for telling Charles the fault was hers alone. She shrugged her shoulders slightly putting the thought from her mind. She looked up at the full moon sitting high in the night sky enjoying the sheer beauty of it. Logan felt the same tight knot in his stomach with Ororo standing beside him. He tried looking at the moon, thought how beautiful it looked and automatically thought of Ororo. Beauty personified, he thought.

"It's a beautiful night."

"Yeah."

"Would you like to go for a ride?"

Logan turned his head and looked at her curiously.

"Nothing wild, not just yet but a little unwinding?"

"Up there?" He eyed the sky doubtfully.

"Maybe not so high the first time," She said, turning to look at him, a playful smile on her lips.

"This probably isn't a good place to just fly off into the sky."

"A moment," Ororo whispered, her brown eyes fading into white.

Shortly a thick fog settled over the hotel grounds and Ororo slipped her hand into Logan's.

"Whoa!" Logan grabbed hold of her as his feet lifted off the ground.

"I have you," Ororo assured him with a smile.

He looked into her white eyes and felt her arms go around him as they continued their assent. Her lips were curved at the corners slightly as if she were slightly amused. He looked down and saw the fog had dissipated and he could see tiny lights twinkling below them. Looking up the moon almost looked close enough to touch with stars shining in the sky around it. Ororo had a bright smile on her face when he looked at her again. Maybe it was her or the combination of her aroma and sailing up into the night air but he felt a peace settle over him that surprised him. How many minutes passed as they drifted in the air he had no idea but all too soon he felt the winds shifting, pushing them downward then he felt a damp fog settle over them moments before they touched the ground. But he didn't let her go and neither did she pull away. His hands cupped her face and he leaned down to kiss her.

"Guten Tag!"

They fell apart, both looking up to see Kurt hanging from a tree branch, his long tail wrapped around it several times. Logan frowned, clearly annoyed and Ororo looked flustered.

"Think I'll hit the sack," Logan mumbled and with a few quick strides he was half way to the hotel.

"Kurt you startled us!" Ororo said with a hint of disappointment in her voice.

"My apologies," Kurt bowed before Ororo after bamfing down beside her.

She waved away the blue smoke, wrinkled her nose and said, "You're forgiven just don't do that again, please."

"I am sorry but I saw you and Logan disappear into a fog. I had no idea vhat vas going on. I just vanted to make sure you vere both all right. Then . . . vhen you appeared I . . . I didn't vant you to think I vas spying."

When Ororo didn't respond he went on: "I think our Volverine likes you, nein?"

"I think our Wolverine's worried and needs a little distraction nothing more."

"Surely you do not believe that!"

"You must know that Logan was in love with Jean and when we thought we'd lost her he was very . . . hurt."

"Time has a vay of healing and life goes on, Ororo. I do not think Logan is still in love vith Jean."

"I wouldn't be so sure. He's a bit of a flirt-quite the ladies man."

"Nein. No man vould lightly flirt vith you-you demand our respect and vin our love. And if they tried no man could flirt vith you vithout losing his heart."

"Kurt that is so sweet!"

"It is only the truth."

"I appreciate your honesty but I think we need to stop worrying about our Wolverine's love life and concentrate on keeping our own lives in tact."

"Ja, is true. Ve vere not prepared last time but ve vill be ready for them next time. Vhenever that vill be."

"I don't think we'll have long to wait."

"I have your back as you American's say."

"And I yours," Ororo smiled at her friend and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "Good night, Kurt."

Kurt felt a deep loneliness settle over him after Ororo had gone back inside. He looked up at the moon remembering a certain lady in his past. So long ago, he thought.

"Du fehlst mir, Amanda," he whispered to the night.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

German translations:

Guten Tag - Hello

Nein - No

Ja - Yes

Du fehlst mir - I miss you