**The Long Night**

Logan went straight to her room.  He stood in front of her door.  He didn't know what to say to her.  He wanted to tell her everything he was feeling, but didn't know how.  He had no idea how she felt about him.  He was afraid of ruining their friendship by pushing her for more.  He closed his eyes, and pictured her in that black dress.  He ached inside.  He never wanted anything as much as he wanted Dani.  She was on the other side of this door, and he couldn't bring himself to knock.

"Are you going to stand out there all day?" he heard Dani call from inside.  That was all the reassurance he needed.  He opened the door and closed it behind him.  She was sitting on the bed staring at the floor.  She still had that dress on, but she had let her hair down and kicked off her shoes.  He crossed the room, pulled her to her feet and nearly crushed her in his arms.  He almost cried he was so happy to have her home safe. 

"Logan, you're squishing me," she gasped.

"You'll live," Logan teased gruffly.  "Why did you leave?  If you didn't want to talk about it, that's fine. But you ditched me.  Dani, you scared everyone, especially me.  I thought I'd lost you."

"Logan, I'm not a child.  You don't have to treat me like one.  I can take care of myself," she said, sounding hurt.

He stepped back to look at her.  They locked eyes, and he forgot he'd decided to keep his feelings to himself.  "Dani, if I thought of you as a child, I wouldn't do this," he said as he gently held her face in his hands and kissed her.  It was soft, and sweet, but filled with desire.  She stepped closer and reached her arms around him timidly.  That simple gesture was like pouring gasoline on a fire. 

He put an arm around her waist and pulled her closer.  With his other hand, he laced his fingers through her hair, lifting her head as he deepened his kiss.  It was like his dream, only better.  Her pulse was racing, and her breathing ragged as she clung to him.  She responded to him instantly, and returned his passion. 

He pulled back and looked at her.  Her lips were parted and slightly swollen from his kiss.  Her face was flushed and her eyes seemed to be smoldering as she gazed up at him.  Logan knew what she was feeling now, he could smell her arousal.  But her face revealed just how innocent she was.  He was using every bit of willpower he possessed to restrain himself.  He knew she would need him to take this slowly. 

He bent down and picked her up.  She put her arms around his neck and softly kissed his cheek.  He closed his eyes as a shiver of electricity passed through his entire body.  Ugh!  Every little thing she did drove him crazy, and she didn't even know it.  He laid her on the bed, and then lay down beside her.  He was on his side with one hand on her stomach, and his head propped on the other, looking down at her.

"You still believe I think of you as a child?" Logan asked softly.  She didn't answer.  Her eyes were searching his face for answers to questions she couldn't voice.

Logan could lose himself in those eyes.  Here he was, in bed with a vibrant sexy woman, and he wasn't thinking about sex.  He was thinking about love.  He loved her.  The last thing he wanted to do was rush into sex, and spoil it.  He knew it would be good, and his whole body ached from the wanting of it.  Her eyes were making the offer, but he was going to say no. 

He bent down and kissed her softly.  She reached up and raked her fingers through his hair as she rolled onto her side to face him.  She leaned against him and lost herself in his kiss.  He wrapped his arm around her and pressed his body against hers. 

He was so strong, yet so gentle.   His body was a wall of ripped muscle.  He pulled away from the kiss abruptly.  His face was full of passion and his beautiful hazel eyes were burning.  His breathing was ragged, and his face was flushed. 

"Dani, I think I better go," he said.  "One more kiss like that, and this gentleman will disappear, and Wolverine will be all over you," he warned her.  He was giving her the choice.  He was showing her his desire, and respect. 

Nothing could have been sexier to her than the thought of Logan ravishing her.  But, she was nervous.  She had never even been kissed before tonight.  She wanted him, but maybe they both needed time to cool off.  Perhaps it would be better to wait.  One milestone at a time.  She looked into those eyes.  Oh, where was her resolve?  Weren't good girls supposed to protest, at least a little?

"I trust you, Logan," she heard herself say. 

"Oh god, Dani, don't tempt me.  You trust me more than I trust myself.  Let's give this a little time," he groaned as he buried his face in her hair.  He knew leaving was the right thing to do.  Right now he was proud of himself.  Five minutes from now, he was going to be pissed as hell for walking away from her tonight.  He kissed her neck, and rolled her onto her back, half covering her.  "You don't know how much I want to stay, but I just want you to be sure.  I don't want you hating me tomorrow for taking advantage of you," he said, and then silenced her with a kiss before she could reassure him she was ready. 

He got up and walked to the door.  He turned to say goodnight, but his breath caught in his throat.  She had sat up on her elbows looking at him with the sexiest bedroom expression he had ever seen.  What made it worse was that she didn't even realize she was doing it.  Her innocence only made her more desirable.  "I'll see you in the morning," he said hoarsely.

"Goodnight, Logan," she answered breathlessly as he closed the door. 

*****

"Why do you listen to that damned scientist?  He should have known better than to try and catch her out in the open like that," Mystique said.  She hated seeing Eric so upset.  She knew he hated playing along with Gabriel.  She couldn't wait to turn the tables on him.

Magneto was not in the mood for Mystique's banter.  He wanted to get his hands around Gabriel's neck.  He didn't like partnerships, but Gabriel had something he wanted.  He had a formula that brought out mutation.  Gabriel was working on perfecting it.  Magneto wanted to finish what he had set out to do at the Statue of Liberty. 

He also wanted to know what Gabriel was really up to.  Gabriel was also a mutant.  That was a secret he guarded carefully.  Another secret he guarded carefully was his master plan.  Magneto simply had no idea what his true goals were.  But one thing he knew for certain, Gabriel needed him.  That simple fact was his edge.

"Leave him alone, Mystique, can't you see he's brooding?" Pyro said sarcastically.

Sabertooth stifled a chuckle.  It came out sounding like a cross between a growl and a cough.  That mouthy kid was going to get himself into trouble with comments like that.

"Magneto doesn't brood," Mystique said coldly.  "You could stand to learn a little respect, boy."

"Oh, please Mystique, teach me, teach me!" he said dryly.

Sabertooth laughed out loud that time.  Creed was an interesting mutant.  He was huge, hairy, blonde and grumpy.  He had a lot of traits in common with Logan, quick healing, heightened senses, and a strong animal side.  The difference, other than appearance and adamantium, was that Creed had allowed the beast to have control.  He didn't care about his human side, he did as he pleased.

"Enough, all of you," Magneto said sternly.  "I have a plan.  I'm not going back to that self-righteous bastard empty-handed."

*****

Logan stepped into the shower and turned on the cold water.  His lips were still tingling from her kiss.  He didn't regret leaving.  She was definitely aroused, but that didn't mean she was ready.  She spent seven years in a cell.  She was all woman, but very inexperienced.  She probably never had a boyfriend in her entire life.  Even before the lab, she had been isolated.  What kind of a selfish jerk would he be if he didn't take it slow?   He let the water run over his head, and it wasn't nearly cold enough!

He dried himself off and put on the cotton pants he liked to sleep in.  He looked at his bed.  It looked like every other bed in this place, which meant it looked like hers, and he wished it was.  He lay down and stared at the ceiling.  He wondered what she was thinking right now.   Was she glad he kissed her?  Was she mad at him?  Was she wishing he'd stayed?  He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath.  He could still smell her.  No doubt her scent was on the clothes he had been wearing.  But it seemed stronger than that.  He opened his eyes, and she was standing there, watching him.  She was wearing a lavender nightshirt that was barely long enough to cover everything.  She looked damn good.  She must have just gotten out of the shower too because she smelled all fresh, and her hair was still damp.  She just stood there like she wanted to say something, but couldn't.

"Dani, what are you doing here?"  Logan asked.  "I thought we decided..."

"No, you decided," she said, and then sighed.  "Logan, I don't want to be alone tonight." 

Like he could turn this angel away?  He sat up and pulled her down onto the bed.  He searched her eyes for some sign of her intentions.  Did she want to pick up where they'd left off, or was she just here for comfort?  She laid her head on his shoulder and hugged him.  He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head.  Okay, he could do comfort.

"Everything is going to be okay," he said as he stroked her hair.  "Come on, let's get some sleep."

Logan lay back down and she joined him under the covers.  He was on his side, and tucked her in against his chest in a classic spoon position.  He wrapped one arm around her waist and let her use his other as a pillow.  He loved the feel of her body against his.  She seemed to mold to his body like she was made for him.  Every luscious curve conformed to him.  He felt her body start to relax against him.  Her breathing grew deeper, and he knew she was nearly asleep.

"Logan?" she said dreamily.

"Hmmm?" he grunted softly.

"That was my first kiss," she said softly, and then slipped into oblivion.

Her first kiss was his to cherish.  He had suspected as much, but knowing for sure made all the difference.  He was really glad he hadn't pushed her tonight.  Just sharing his bed with her was incredible. There would be time for more later.  Right now he wanted to build her trust.  He loved her so much it hurt.  He hoped, in time, that she would love him too.  He relished the feel of her closeness.  He kissed her hair and breathed in her scent.  He held her close, and remembered the way she looked at him when he'd kissed her.  He knew his dreams would be good tonight.

 *****

"Curfew sucks!" Jubilee swore.

"Storm said we're on alert because of what happened on our trip to the mall," Kitty said.  "I can tell you, Magneto is not a guy I want to run into alone."

"Why are we still confined to school grounds if Danielle is back?"  Jubilee asked.  "She's the only one anyone would pay attention to.  I say we sneak out."

"Jubes, you wicked girl, where?" Kitty asked voice bright with anticipation.

"Shhhh.  Scott and Jeannie are not that far down the hall!"  Jubilee warned as the door swung open.

"All right.  What are we plotting?"  Rogue asked the two guilty looking girls she shared a room with.  She stood with her hands on her hips, and one eyebrow cocked.  She was trying to keep from cracking a smile.

"Oh, nothing really, just sneaking out, to a little Rave I may have heard about," Jubilee said nonchalantly as she pretended to look at her fingernails.

"I'm in!" Rogue and Kitty said in unison.  They all made sounds that were a strange mix of giggle and scream.

"Wait, what are we gonna wear?"  Kitty asked.

The three of them tore through their shared closet.  It wasn't quite late enough to sneak out unseen.  They had time to primp.  Raves didn't really get good until at least midnight anyway. 

*****

Ororo was sitting on her bed brushing her platinum hair.  She was daydreaming about Kurt, remembering something he said to her that day. 

'I think you do not know how beautiful you are,' he had told her.  'Maybe I should drop by tonight and show you.' 

She smiled.  She was wearing her sexiest nightgown.  She really hoped he wouldn't forget to 'drop by.'

-Bampf-

She smiled at the soft sound of his appearance behind her.  The scent of sulfur hit her nostrils but she couldn't care less.  She didn't move, didn't turn around, she just waited.  She felt a tickle on her shoulder as he lightly brushed a rose against her skin.  Butterflies wreaked havoc with her stomach, and goosebumps covered her arm.  She sighed, closed her eyes, and tilted her head back.  The soft petals touched her chin and delicately traced a soft line down her neck. 

"Kurt," she said breathlessly.

"Shhhh, meine kleine liebe, don't interrupt me when I'm showing you something," he said, and then kissed her gently on her shoulder.  The rose kept tickling her skin as he traced around the neckline of her nightgown.  He kissed her chin, and then started kissing her everywhere the rose had been.

She moaned softly.  She'd been wrong.  Kurt wasn't shy at all.  He was a tease! 

*****

Jean was carrying a big bowl of popcorn.  She saw the professor heading to his room.  "Goodnight, Charles," she called.

"Goodnight, Jean," he answered, "enjoy your movie."

She would.  She knew a little secret about Scott that no one else did.  Scott loved old movies.  Not like Casablanca, older.  He liked silent films.  He liked the cheesy organ music, subtitles, and everything.  The first time they watched a silent film together, she nearly died laughing.  Scott liked to make up his own captions to the movies.  Every time they flashed to the dialogue, he would fill it in.  He even made up voices for the characters.  His real talent in life wasn't his mutation, it was his ability to take an innocent silent film, and turn it into an X-rated one, purely on his filled in dialogue. 

She opened the door to their room, and he stood there wearing a black cape.  It was draped over his arm which he used to half cover his face, like Dracula.  "And tonight, for the lady's pleasure, the part of the sexy vampire will be played by Scott Summers," he said in a wickedly provocative tone and a really bad German accent.  He bowed graciously and led her to the bed.  He had her sit down.

"Scott, what are you up to?" she asked as he disappeared into the bathroom.

He came back with a tray and two glasses.  "For our beverage this evening, -Bloody Maries!  Ah, ah, ah, ah!" he said.  That accent made him sound more like the Count from Sesame Street than a sexy vampire.  "And now, for your entertainment, I present 'Nosferatu', also known as The Horniest Vampire in New York."

Oh, god, this was going to split her sides, she knew it.  He sat down, put his arm around her, and whispered softly in her ear, "After the movie, I'll show you what this vampire can do with a wooden stake."

A wicked smile played on her lips.  And they wonder why I love this guy, she thought.

*****

Three girls, in short spandex dresses, tiptoed down the stairs, carrying their shoes.  The mansion was quiet.  They'd made it past Logan's room, no problem.  When they walked past Scott and Jean's room, all they heard was lots of giggling from Jean, and Scott, laughing like the Count from Sesame Street.  They looked at each other and stifled their laughs.  They snuck into the garage.  They were far enough away from everyone's quarters to talk normally.

"Which one do we take?"  Kitty asked Rogue.  Rogue was the only driver in the bunch.

"Logan's Jeep.  He leaves his keys in the glove box," Rogue said.

"Why would he be dumb enough to do that?" Jubilee asked.  "That's practically begging for someone to take it on a joyride."

"He figures he's safe.  Scott's cars are cooler, and no one in their right mind would piss off the Wolverine," Rogue explained.

"Well that pretty much says it all right there, doesn't it?  So why are we risking life and limb?"  Kitty asked sardonically.  Deep down she knew it was because if anyone could get away with it, they could.

"Because Wolvie loves us!"  Jubilee said brightly.  "Let's go!"

*****

John was sitting in the helicopter looking down at the moonlit countryside.  He clicked his silver lighter open and closed repeatedly.  It was something he had started doing to annoy his old roommate back at the Institute.  Bobby was such a goody-goody!  Now it had just become a nervous habit.  He wasn't sure he liked the idea of going back there.  He didn't know how he would feel.  Would he be sorry he'd left?  No.  John knew there was nothing there that interested him any more.  There were so many rules.  They never really let him set his power free. 

Fire!  He liked the word, fire.  Just the mention of it could cause panic.  Not for him.  Controlling fire was his gift and his passion.  Oh, how he loved the feel of that flame wrapped around his little finger.  It was intoxicating watching the fear that his inferno could create.  He had adopted the name Pyro, and it fit.  Magneto had let him use his power to his heart's content.  The old guy was a lot more impressive than professor Wheels.  Still, he didn't want to see any of his old friends get hurt tonight.  He just wanted to catch that woman and get the hell out of dodge.

*****

"Jubilee, I thought you said you knew where the party was," Rogue said angrily.  "We have been driving around these country roads for two hours!"

"Yeah, Jubes, I'm freezing out here in this man-magnet dress!"  Kitty complained.

"Well these roads all look alike in the dark.  I think it might be that one up there on the left," she offered lamely.

"Admit it, you have no idea where we are," Kitty said.

"I've decided it's time to go home," Rogue said firmly. 

"Great, which way?" Jubilee asked.

"Shut up, Jubes!"  Rogue and Kitty yelled in unison.

Coming around a curve in the road, the Jeep suddenly stopped moving.  The engine was still running, but they were stuck.  Then Rogue realized what was happening.  "Magneto!" she gasped.

Jubilee was going to throw a few energy bursts, but was struck by a dart, and passed out before she could finish charging them.  Kitty reached over to check on her, and was hit as well.  Rogue looked into the darkness between the trees on the side of the road.  There was no point in running, she'd never make it.  She stared at their attackers with a 'bring it on' look.  She knew that the X-men, especially Logan, would never stand for this.  Magneto stepped out of the woods, followed by Sabertooth and...John? 

"John!  You son of a..." The dart struck Rogue before she could finish that insult.