[A year after the last battle of the War, Logan suffers a fatal heart attack and perishes from this world. The X-Men and Women are devastated. Each X-Men take their time to reflect on the life of a fellow leader in which they loved. R/R.]

-flashback-

Sobs and cries filled the room as Xavier and his followers advanced to the casket. Jean broke into a hysterical cry against Scott. It was a sad day for the X-Men and Women as they watched the lifeless Logan lay stiff within his smooth wooden box. He lived a simple life until the bitter end where a massive heartattack took him for good. Rogue nuzzled her face into Remy's chest as she also hysterically sobbed. Logan was always a father figure and close friend of hers and it pained her to see him go. It was because of him that she learned to control her multiple personalities, fell in love with Remy, and soon-after engaged in marriage with him. It was him who led her away to her beloved groom. And him who danced so elegantly with her at the reception. Remy patted her back softly and held her close. Jubilee stepped out to the coffin and stared at her 'older brother'. The one guy who's more than a friend and much like a brother.

"Logan..." She sobbed. "You...You taught me so much. Now...." She wiped away at her tears. "Now you're gone!"

Ororo caught the young Jubilee as she collapsed to her knees and broke down into a hysterical cry. Remy and Rogue stepped up to the deceased member as Ororo brought Jubilee to a chair. Rogue lifted a gloved hand to wipe away at her tears. Remy held her other hand as he stood beside her.

"Go on, mon ami." He whispered. Rogue stared at Logan's content face. She remembered it being so full of life. His lips, now stiffened and unparting, used to laugh and share nice conversations with her. Her eyes began teary once more and her voice began to break.

"Logan... I... I..." This was too much, she thought. Too much to see him this way. She turned away from Logan and started for the door. When Remy reached for her, she evaded his open arms and shoved him aside.

"Rogue!"

"Leave me ahlone! Please!" she warned. Ororo watched as Rogue pushed open the double doors and disappeared through them. She looked over to Xavier and he shook his head. Scott and Jean was next in line to view their beloved comrade. Remy took off after his loved one.

"No..." Jean whispered to Scott. "Please. Don't make me do this."

She too was too devastated to see the body of someone she deeply loved. It'd also be too much to bare for her to view the body of a man she loved with the husband and father of her children. Her two children stood alongside Wolverine. Too small to understand, they stood in silence behind their parents. holding each other's hand.

"But, Jean--"

"I'm just not ready!" Jean screamed in a whisper against his chest. Scott lowered his head to his wife, saddened by her grief. He nodded and led her and the children down the aisle to go outside. Ororo wheeled her older friend, Xavier, to the casket after tending to Jubilee. Xavier placed a hand delicately onto the casket and looked down on his friend.

"It's been a long time, friend." He started, looking over his friend's content features. "Together, we fought side by side to bring peace between the mutants and humans. You're friendship is what brought all of the X-Men together. And together, now, we stand to thank you for what you've done. Logan..."

Xavier brought a hand to his head and let tears stream down his face. "Logan... I've loved you like a son. Now..."

Ororo kneeled near him and dried his eyes with a handkerchief. She seemed to be the only X-Men to not grieve over the loss of one man she loved. She learned that in due time death is what waits for us at the end, and accepts the fate of others if it is done by natural causes.

-flashback ends-

Two weeks later...

Remy held her close as they both sat under the tall oak tree. Rogue held a stare with her small photo album. Pictures of the X-Men on their usual outings. When she turned the page, she stopped on a photo of Logan standing over a grill on a hot summer day. In the background, Jean and Scott were captured running after one another while Kitty and Kurt held a dance contest. Turning the page, she stopped on a picture of Logan and her, together in a hug. On the photo, Rogue had tears in her eyes as she held onto her embraceor, Logan, who showed little affection for his young friend. Rogue gasped as she glided her gloved fingertips along the photo. She remembered this day. The day she cried her eyes out after she told Logan of her mistake of leaving Remy in Antarctica out of an act of jealousy and rage. This was the same day she realized the terrible thing she had done to the one man she truly loved.

Remy wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin against her left shoulder. He nuzzled his nose against his wife's hair to smell the sweet scent of the strawberry shampoo she used the night before. He looked over her shoulder and down on the photo album of Logan.

"You miss him, mon ami?"

"Do ah? Remy, This man is who brought us two t'getha. He's..." She found her silence when her tears rolled down her cheeks. Remy hugged her close and kissed her on her forehead. She leaned her head back against his chest and stared up at him. Looking into his eyes, with teary eyes of her own, her gloved hands reached up to his handsome face. "Ah do miss him Remy. Ah miss that man a lot."

Remy placed his gloved hand over hers on his face and leaned forward to kiss her.

"Don't t'ink that 'cause Gambit ain't sheddin' tears, he ain't missing Wolvie either, Ma Chere. Gambit's jus' tryin' to stay strong so he can catch his wife when she begins to fall."

* * * * *

"Where are you going?" Scott asked Jean as she stood in the doorway with her back to him and tears in her eyes. Two suitcases were heavily clutched within the redhead's hands. She listened to the silence behind her and knew what was going on. Her two children were sitting upon the bed with their knees to their chest, watching their mother in the doorway. Both curious to know where their distraught mother was off to. She turned around to face her husband, desperately trying to hold back the rest of her tears.

"I'm going away." Scott's mouth dropped and he stepped forward. "Scott. Please."

She warned as she shut her eyes once more. He stopped in his advance and stared at her from behind those crimson shades of his. This was painful enough for her to be away from her family, and if Scott were to come closer to hold her in his arms, she was afraid that she'll break. Stepping backwards, she stepped out of the room and opened her eyes. Looking from her children's sad faces, she looked up to Scott.

"Please, Scott. Take care of my children."

"Jean... Why? Where are you headed?" He moved forward toward the door and Jean shut her eyes.

"No, Scott! Please... I-I need time to think. PLEASE!" Scott stopped just short of the door and watched helplessly as it slammed shut before him. He reached forward and pulled the door open.

"Jean!!" Stepping into the hallway, his voice echoed around him. Jean was nowhere to be found. Nathan, joined by his sister, Rachel walked up to their grieving father. Each took to his side and hugged him as he kneeled down and cupped his face with his hands.

* * * * *

[I know this is short but I became unattached at the moment due to some writers block. Any suggestions for the next chapters or comments about this one, R/R. ^^ I'll be glad to read them.-SoD.]