Thanks once again to everyone who has been reading and reviewing! I wanted to get this chapter up before finals next week...enjoy!

It was early the next day, the third day since the accident, as Storm sat by Bobby's bedside. Although it was certainly not an accident, she thought. Logan and Remy had arrived home late last night, but she hadn't had a chance yet to talk to either of them. She had no idea why Logan had come home, seemingly without a fight, or even why he had been gone so long. Neither he nor Remy had explained a thing. She had tons of questions for him, actually. "Well, perhaps now I shall get some answers, right?"

Bobby, of course, didn't answer. A bag of seemingly normal blood hung above him, a tube connecting it to his wrist. It contained a pint of Logan's blood. With any luck, the antigens in it that excelled the healing process in Logan would work in Bobby as well. It was something they had tried in the past. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. All they could do was hope. "It will work, Robert," she whispered. "I just know it will. And now that's he's back, I am hopeful that he will stay. But even if he doesn't, I am still grateful that he came back at all."

"Glad to hear you say that, Ro." Storm turned, startled, and saw Logan standing in the doorway. He looked...well, exactly like he had when he left. He didn't look the least bit guilty, or angry, or anything. He looked as if the last six months hadn't even happened. He came in and sat down across from her on the other side of Bobby. "How is he?" Logan asked gesturing toward him.

"No change," Storm said.

He nodded, expecting as much. He wasn't nearly as hopeful as she. "I suppose you're surprised that I'm here."

"Should I be?"

Logan sighed. "Look, darlin', I know what you must be thinkin'. I know now that I shouldn't have ran off like that, but I really do have a good reason why I was gone so long."

Of course you do. "And that would be what?"

Logan leaned forward, staring at her with those intense blue eyes. It was amazing how much you could tell about a person through their eyes. Storm definitely believed in the saying that the eyes were the window to the soul. Logan's were the color of melting ice, reflecting the cold loner that he was most of the time. But Storm knew enough about him to know that he wasn't always that way. She considered him a friend, a good friend at that, and she didn't want anything, not even her baby to compromise that. "When I was up north," he began, "at first, I went just to get used to the idea of me maybe havin' a kid. I never planned on staying so long."

"So why did you?" She asked.

"Something happened involving the Friends a'flamin' Humanity. You're probably better off not knowin' the details, just in case, but I figured I better stay away from here for awhile."

Storm was immediately concerned. "What happened?" She asked, despite the fact that he had just said he couldn't say. "I mean, are you in trouble?"

Logan shrugged. "I don't really know. I hope not. But don't worry, darlin'. I'm home now, home to stay. I understand that you probably ain't to happy with me, and you have every right to."

"Logan," Ororo said, shaking her head. "I admit that I was mad at first. But if you say you have a good reason for being gone, then I believe you, and I forgive you. But if you are in trouble..."

"Don't worry 'bout me," he grumbled. "I can take care of myself."

Storm felt her entire body tense. Why did he always think that he never needed any help? He had to be the most hard-headed man she knew. "Why are you always so stubborn?"

He snorted and didn't respond. "Trust me, darlin', you're better off not knowing about what happened. It could come back to bite you in the ass. I probably shouldn't have told Gumbo either, but I didn't have a choice. Let's just say this whole damn thing," he motioned to Bobby, "may be my doing."

Storm stood up in exasperation, glaring at him. She had to admit that the fact that he told Gambit and would not tell her bothered her. "What are you saying? That you shot Bobby? Because if that's not the case, which of course it is not, than this is not your fault."

He sighed. "Listen, Ro. I'll tell you this much. The reason Drake got shot is 'cause the F.O.H is looking for me. Something happened while I was in Alberta and I think they're after me. They staged that rally to get to me."

"But why?" She persisted, not even remotely picking up on the connection between what he was saying and what she and Beast had discussed the other day at breakfast. "What happened, Logan, tell me."

"Damnit Ro!" Logan growled. "I'm trying to make this easy for you."

"Who says I want you to?"

Logan glared at her through clenched teeth. Ororo glared right back. All of a sudden, they heard a croaking sound through the beeping of the machines. Both immediately turned to Bobby. His eyes were open, and he was struggling to breath with the tube down his throat. He looked like Hell warmed over, but he was conscious. Logan's blood had worked! Storm quickly sat back down. "Bobby," she whispered to him, taking his hand. "Bobby, can you hear me?" He jerked his head slightly in a nod. He motioned with his eyes for her to take out the tube, which she did. "Hey," he croaked, looking at her. She leaned in closer to hear him. "Can't a guy get any sleep without you guys yelling at each other?"

Storm smiled and squeezed his hand, looking up at Logan. Logan grinned. "Welcome back, kid."

Ororo was so surprised that he had woken up that she nearly forgot all about telling the others. Hank would want to know right away. "I think I'd better go and get Hank," she told her friends, leaving the two of them alone.

Logan sat back down next to his friend. "Where the Hell have you been?" Bobby stammered.

"No where special," he replied. "I'll tell you all about it when you're feelin' up to it."

Bobby got a serious look on his face. "Logan, don't be mad at Ro. She's been through a lot since you took off. She really is glad you're back, I'm sure."

Logan nodded. "Hell, I wish she hadn't let me off so easy. If I was her, I'd be royally pissed at me."

"Yeah, but it doesn't take much for you to get pissed." Bobby grinned up at him weakly.

"Hey, kid, don't think just 'cause you were just in a coma that I won't still kick you cocky little ass," Logan said, but he had to smile back.

March

Over the next several weeks, Bobby slowly recovered, getting stronger every day. Soon he was well enough to get out of bed, and everyone took turns pushing him around in a wheelchair. He seemed to like all the attention, particularly from Rogue[1], as the two of them had grown close, and that certainly helped him along.

At first, it was strange having Logan home again. Ororo felt funny around him, as if she was unsure how to act. He seemed to walk on eggshells around her, surprising because he never acted this way. If she didn't know him better, she would think that he was afraid of her. Or as Remy had put it, he was 'mad 'cause she wasn't mad at him.' She had told him that that was the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard, but it could be true. It would be just like him.

But at least things were quiet again, and she could focus on her baby once again. She was eight months pregnant now, and with every passing day there was a growing realization that very soon she was going to be a mother. The others must have realized it as well, and one warm day in early March they all through her a baby shower. It wasn't really just for her, though, it was also a get well soon party for Bobby, and a sort-of welcome back for Logan. Of course, that meant that the guys were there as well, but she didn't mind men at her baby shower. The typical ultra- competitive males that they were, you would have thought that they were playing for huge prizes when it came time for games. Warren almost killed himself in the diaper relay when he got his wing caught on a table, and there was a fight about Kurt using his powers to teleport to beat everyone. Jean looked at her and rolled her eyes. "Men," she said. "You know, your baby's not even here yet and it's already like a daycare center around here." Storm had to agree. Thankfully, they all calmed down enough to devour Jean's delicious homemade carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, Storm's favorite. Everyone had also, of course, all bought her presents, even though she had insisted that they didn't have to. She had gotten everything from baby clothes, to toys and baby supplies, to some kind of sword from Bishop (for the baby's protection, he said) and the final present, a car.

She had never been more shocked in her life, or at least in the last eight months. It was a brand new bright red Ford Windstar mini van, from the Professor. She had realized some time ago that it would have been impossible to have a baby without a car, and that she would have to get one some time. Remy and Logan both had Harleys, and Logan also had bought another piece of crap jeep to replace the one he lost up north, but of course it wasn't possible to drive a baby around on a bike. She did feel a bit strange excepting such an extravagant gift, but Charles insisted.

Ororo's room was now all ready for the baby. She had decided that it would sleep with her in her loft for awhile before moving down to the nursery. Everything was set up, and as she sat looking around, she felt a little...uneasy. Did all soon to be mothers feel like this? Probably. There was a little bit of excitement mixed in with the uneasiness, though. She smiled down at her bulging stomach. "I guess soon enough I will find out everything about you. Will you be sensible like me, charming like Remy or maybe reckless like Logan? I wonder whom you will look like. Of course, that will all depend on who your father is..."

"Talkin' to the baby, hehn?"

Storm didn't look up, but she didn't have to, "Good morning, Remy." He stood in her doorway, immaculately dressed in black jeans and a sweater. She hadn't heard him come in, but she was used to that. And anyway, she could recognize him by the smell of his cologne. Stetson. Very sexy.

"Mornin' Stormy" he said, sliding into her loft as quiet as a mouse. "Came to see if you wanted to go shoppin' with me."

"Not if you are going to call me that." She gave him a look, but he only grinned. She knew that she was wasting her breath, but it was a habit. "What are you going shopping for?"

He shrugged. "I dunno. Just an excuse to get out the house. Spend some quality time with my favorite weather Goddess." He moved over to put his arm around her.

She laughed. "That sounds nice actually. I have been cooped up here for awhile. But if you call me Stormy just once, I will electrocute you."
* * * * * * *

"Wait, I have to go to the bathroom again."

Remy stopped mid-stride. "Again? You just went like five minutes ago. There something wrong with you or what?" They were on Main Street in Salem Center, the main shopping district of the wealthy area of Westchester, and it seemed every bathroom in the whole town had been visited by her.

"Yes, there's something wrong with me. I have a five pound baby inside of me squashing my bladder into the size of a pea. Now wait here." Storm headed into the nearest restaurant as quick as she could. Remy could only sigh, as he pushed his way through the heavy Saturday morning crowds, he went in and had a seat. It was one of those chain coffee houses, the kind that were on every street corner. A cute dark haired waitress casually strolled by, "Hi," she said, in an obviously flirting way. Her voice suggested mid-western or possibly Texas. Close to home. "What can I get you?"

Remy grinned as charmingly as he could. "Bonjour, chere. What you got that good here?"

"Well," she said, "If you're European, we have really good espresso here. I hear that it tastes very...strong." She emphasized the word strong and gave him a knowing look.

"Really? Well, that sound good. I love anything that be strong."

She giggled. "One espresso coming right up." She turned and gave him a wink over her shoulder as she made her way to the counter. Damn, she hot. Remy considered following her and getting her number, but Stormy probably wouldn't like that. Wait a minute, Stormy...She had been gone an awful long time. He wondered if anything was wrong.

"Hey, I've got your espresso right here," the waitress said. "It's nice and...steamy."

Cocking an eyebrow, Remy replied, "Oh, I be right back, chere. You just keep it hot for me."

The waitress turned to one of the other girls and they both giggled. Remy wanted nothing more than to stay and flirt awhile, but Stormy came first.

The bathroom was in the back of the place, and he spent several seconds just staring at it, wondering how he was going to find out if she was okay. He didn't want to go in there. It was a ladies room for God's sake. It was some how...perverted. Finally, after glancing to make sure no one was around, he opened the door a crack. "Stormy?" He called. "You okay?" No answer. He opened the door a little more. It looked empty. "Oh, damn, I forgot. Sorry I called you that. 'Ro, you in here or what?" Still no answer. He was getting concerned. Forgetting how he felt, he pushed the door all the way open. "Come on, chere, this ain't funny."

Inside, Remy realized that it looked pretty much like a men's room without the urinals except that it was cleaner and smelled better. He realized something else though. All the stall doors were open. She wasn't here. "What the...?" He asked confused. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a huge shadow came down on him so quick that he didn't even have time to react. Not even his excellent reflexes were fast enough to save him this time. He felt a sharp pain in his neck, a needle. It had to be. "What are you...doing?" He managed to say, but there was no answer. He felt as if he were falling, falling fast, and then everything grew dark. He was unconscious before he hit the floor.

Ahh...there's nothing like a good cliff-hanger to get the blood pumping...until after finals, then, mes amis! ----------------------- [1] Okay, I'm going with a little movie-verse here. Bobby and Rogue may end up a couple, but only in a sequel. Sorry to all Remy/Rogue shippers!