Snoob AND Vegeta AND Blix AND Erica AND Wapps AND Jago:  Sorry for the long wait!  Thanks for the reviews!

Aqua:  I'm sorry.  I didn't mean to offend anyone.  I just didn't know at the time what other word to use.  However, I guess 'disabled' would've been more politically correct.

Pine:  I'm glad you stopped by!  Lol.  I don't have children of my own, so I'm just stabbing in the dark with Charlie's characterization.  It's nice to know that people like/accept him!  And split personalities are too fun to pass up!  Lol.

smilie face:  I hope you aren't dead! 

NOTE:  I am SO sorry that this took SO long.  I had the most tremendous writer's block and couldn't do anything more than stare blankly at the computer screen.  Sorry!  Sorry!  Sorry!  I hope I haven't lost everyone, but I would understand if I did.

Chapter Ten

A Moment in Time

Logan released a shaky breath, his head bowed and his shoulders slumped.  He brought his cigar to his mouth and inhaled sharply, squeezing his eyes shut.  He was perched outside on the edge of the patio, but numb to the hot stone and the sun's warmth.  He heard the sweet sound of pattering feet and straightened, turning to face the intruder.  His eyebrows narrowed, he gruffly asked: "What are you doing out here, bub?"

Charlie frowned, coming to a slow pace and cautiously inching towards his father.  "Daddy mad?"

Logan sighed gruffly and shook his head.  "Not at you, kid."  He held out a hand.  "Come here, Charlie."  Charlie sprinted into his arms and settled himself into Logan's lap, eager and excited.  Logan snubbed out his cigar on the cement and then silently stared out over the landscape.

Upstairs, Rogue watched from a window, gazing fondly at her two men.  God did she love them.  She loved them so much it frightened her.  If anything ever happened to either of them could she survive?

"Mrs. Logan?"

Rogue jerked out of her reverie and flashed her attention to the student in the third row who had called out to her.  "Yes, Kelly?"

Kelly Piper eyed her teacher oddly.  "I'm finished."

"Finished?"

"Yeah…you know…reading."

"Oh."  Rogue moved away from the window and headed towards the chalkboard.  "Who can summarize the section Kelly just read?"

A boy in the back snickered.  "Why, Mrs. Logan?  Because you weren't paying attention?"

Rogue smiled pleasantly.  "No, David, because I know you weren't."  She lifted an eyebrow.  "Do you deny that?  Or would you like to prove me wrong?"

David Skinner slouched further down his seat and grumbled: "No."

"What was that, Mr. Skinner," Rogue replied teasingly.

"I said: thank you for the privileged opportunity, Mrs. Logan, but I must decline ever so graciously for I believe someone else could grace us with a much more profound answer."

The other students chuckled.

Rogue rolled her eyes.  "Whatever, David.  Dana, would you please summarize what Kelly read?"

End Chapter Ten

Don't worry, things will pick up.  I just wanted to get something written so that you knew I haven't given up on this story.