**The Party**
There was nothing to break the agonizing silence but the ticking of the computer keys. Her temper was as fiery as her hair, and that irritated her more than anything. Being in control was everything to her. She shouldn't give anyone the power to make her angry, but Scott was riding her last nerve, and it wasn't his fault. Technically, he hadn't done anything wrong. He had not cheated on her, in fact, he had not even thought about cheating on her. She would know if he had. Jean didn't usually pry, but this time she did. Scott didn't even realize why he liked her, but Jean could see that he thought of Danielle as an adopted sister. Her personality reminded him of his little brother. The loss of his family had left a void in his life, and Jean could never fill all of it. Jean understood, she really did. So why was she upset?
The real issue was attention. She knew it was selfish, but she missed the attention. Storm had never really stolen the attention around here. She was so soft spoken, and unassuming. But now there was Danielle. Everyone liked her, well, everyone else liked her. Jean was sure there was a good reason she didn't like her. It wasn't just that she was getting attention from Logan, and now Scott. There had to be some tangible explanation for it. Jealousy was not in her nature.
"You want to talk about it?" Beast asked.
"Isn't that my line?" Jean replied casually.
"I don't need to read minds to know that something is bothering you. I bet I can even guess what it is," he said smiling.
"Enlighten me," she said dryly.
"I believe I can sum it up in one word, -Danielle," Beast said with a stern look and a cocked brow.
"Don't tell Scott," she said quietly.
"I won't. You know there's nothing between them," he said.
"Yes, I know, it's not him," she said dejectedly.
"You had your chance for him, and made your choice," Beast said.
"Don't go there," Jean warned. He was not bringing Logan into this!
"Get over him, he's over you," Beast said harshly as he left the lab. Sometimes the truth hurts. She'd forgive him for his bluntness eventually. She needed to hear someone say it, so there, he said it.
*****
The sun was shining, and the top was down. Dani loved speed and Logan was a great driver. New York really was a pretty state, but Dani's thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a shudder in her stomach. She hoped Logan didn't hear her that tell-tale growl, she was hungry, but didn't care. She was enjoying the company and the scenery.
Logan heard the evidence echo from her stomach, she was hungry. He was in such a hurry to whisk her away from the mansion, he forgot she hadn't eaten. Logan tried to remember what restaurants there were up ahead when he caught the scent of corn dogs and cotton candy on the wind. There had to be a carnival nearby. Logan smiled when he spotted it, not even a mile ahead.
"You ever been to a carnival?" he asked her.
"No, they didn't come to our town, it was too small," she said.
"Then this will be a new experience for you. Carnivals are the best," he said with a grin. He knew a thing or two about carnivals. They had a shady reputation, and it was usually accurate. He had traveled with one in Canada for a while. They had a cage fighting racket going on the side and he made a lot of money that summer. He knew all the carnie tricks, and how to turn them to his own advantage. He was going to have fun.
They parked near the entrance, and Logan checked the car alarm, just to be sure. His first order of business, stuff Dani with some of the best junk food around. It didn't take long to find a vendor, and he knew just what to get.
"Here, you'll like this," Logan said as he handed Dani a corn dog.
"Oh, thank you. Aren't you going to have one?" she asked, as she took a bite.
"Maybe later, I had breakfast, you didn't," he said. He watched her take a bite, and the image it presented to his mind was too stimulating. She wrapped her mouth around the end of the corn dog for another bite and he nearly groaned. He was getting turned on.
"How do you feel about rides?" Logan asked with a brow cocked and a playful smile. That would get his mind out of his pants.
"The faster, the better," Dani said with conviction.
"Great!" he said as he grabbed her hand and headed to the Tilt-a-Whirl. Logan bought a couple unlimited ride bracelets and got in line. It was early, so there weren't too many people ahead of them. When it was their turn to load the ride, Logan made sure they got into a good spinner. The Tilt-a-Whirl was a good date ride, the centrifugal force promotes togetherness. As the ride picked up speed, he heard Dani squealing with laughter as she leaned into him. Logan wrapped his arm around her affectionately and pulled her closer. He loved the feel of her body being pressed into his. The ride was over too quickly, but Dani was already pulling him toward another. They rode every ride at least twice. Logan decided his stomach could use a break from all the motion.
"Hey, darlin', how about I impress you with a little brute strength?" he asked as he pointed to the strength test game. All you gotta do is hit it with a sledge hammer, sending a weight up a pole to ring a bell. It was a gimmick, and it was rigged, but he knew how to win.
"I don't think you need to ring a bell to impress me, Logan," she said with a smile.
"I know, but its fun," he said as he paid his two dollars. He flashed a sly smile as he got ready to swing. He'd been watching, so he knew where to hit it. He hit it dead on, and the bell rang loud and clear. He hadn't lost his touch. Dani surprised him as she jumped into his arms and kissed him. He pulled her close and gave himself over to a very passionate kiss. She wrapped one of her legs around his, and he whimpered like a puppy against her lips. His breathing was ragged when she finally broke the kiss.
"You're right, it is fun," she whispered in his ear. The game attendant cleared his throat rather loudly, and averted his eyes while he mentioned something about a prize.
"Pick your prize, darlin'," Logan rasped as he released her. She giggled and looked over her choices. She finally decided on a stuffed Tasmanian devil, about the size of an average teddy bear. She turned around to show him, and smiled.
"Thanks," she said, and gave him another quick kiss on the cheek.
Logan liked the way this was going, and quickly scanned the midway for another game. He spotted the one he wanted, the one with the really big prizes. It was the ring toss. He was good at that one; he had a definite knack for it. The summer he had traveled with that carnival he had mastered all the games, and the ring toss had been his favorite. They walked up to the game and watched several people play, unsuccessfully. Logan just smiled and paid his two dollars.
"Logan, don't bother, it's rigged, you can't possibly win," Dani protested.
"Just stand back, and watch," he said as he kissed her cheek.
She smirked at him as she stepped back. He was acting very boyish, trying to impress her, and she loved it. He stood very still, and seemed to be measuring the layout of the bottles with his eyes. Then he tossed the rings one right after the other, and landed all three perfectly.
The Game attendant's eyes were as big as saucers and his jaw dropped. "I-I-I'd say you earned a prize, sir," he stammered.
"I'd say I earned three," Logan said gruffly. "One ring is one prize, that's what the sign says," Logan told the boy roughly. He was being deliberately intimidating. Dani was about to say something, but he glanced at her and she kept quiet.
"Y-y-yes, of course," the attendant said.
"Dani, pick one," he said. Then he turned to a couple young kids who had been eyeing the prizes. "You two pick one," he said with a smile in his eyes.
The two kids' eyes lit up as they pointed to the big prizes. The game attendant cringed, but didn't want to cross the dangerous looking man with the sideburns. The kids waved to him as they ran off, and he couldn't help smiling back at them.
"Well, if you aren't full of surprises," Dani said with a twinkle in her eye as they walked away from the game.
"You ain't seen nothing yet, darlin'," Logan said with a wicked grin. "So, don't you owe me a kiss for that last manly display?"
"I think you deserve more than a kiss, but this isn't the right place for that," Dani said provocatively.
Logan stopped dead in his tracks, pulled her into his arms and kissed her hungrily. "I think we should get home, don't you?" Logan asked huskily.
"How fast do you want to get there?" she asked as she brushed her lips against his neck.
"Oh, baby, don't torture me," he said as he kissed her forehead, "we'll drive back." Damned party.
On the way to the car, Logan spotted the cotton candy vendor, and stopped to buy a couple bags for later. They loaded Dani's prizes and headed home. Logan glanced past the giant stuffed 'Wile E. Coyote' to the beautiful girl holding the Tasmanian devil. She was blushing under his stare, and he thought she suddenly looked very young. Maybe it was the stuffed animals, or maybe it was her quiet innocence. Logan wasn't sure what it was, but she suddenly seemed more like a child, than a woman. She looked back at him and smiled. Her eyes projected so much love and trust. He felt his jeans getting tight again and nearly groaned with the agony. Definitely a woman, no child would do this to him. How far was it to the mansion?
*****
"Hey," Scott said as he stuck his head into the lab.
"Hey yourself," Jean answered, "What's up?"
"Thought you could use a break, so I brought you something," he said as he stepped in holding a small tray. It had a glass of milk and a plate of fudge covered Oreos, her favorite cookies. He knew she'd see it for what it was, a shallow peace offering and apology.
"There's nothing for you to apologize for, Scott," she said as she took a cookie. "You haven't done anything wrong."
"Yes I have," he said as he set the tray down. "I haven't told you today how much I love you." He stood behind her, brushed her hair aside and gently kissed her neck. "I think you needed to hear it today, and I didn't say it. I thought I'd just show you instead."
"Oh, Scott, I'm sorry," she said breathlessly.
"There's no reason for you to apologize either," he said softly in her ear. His hands traveled down her shoulders and then circled her waist. He slipped them under her shirt and pulled it off.
She stood and faced him and he kissed her as she ripped his shirt open sending buttons flying. They undressed each other quickly, desperate for each other's touch. Scott lifted her up onto the exam table and smiled when he realized it was at exactly the right height. He kissed her neck as he stepped between her legs and pulled her to the edge of the table. His lips traveled down her neck and chest until they found her right nipple. He suckled gently as he positioned himself.
"Oh, god, Scott!" she gasped as he plunged inside her. She wrapped her legs around him and gave herself over to the waves of pleasure that washed over her.
Scott whispered in her ear, "God, I love you, Jean."
As they climaxed together, Jean gasped breathlessly, "I love you too."
*****
"That's it! That's their car! Everybody hide," Jubilee was screaming.
"Calm down, Jubes," Kitty said. "Hey Bobby, get the lights."
"Where'd all the adults go?" Rogue asked.
"We're here," Xavier said as he rolled into the Gallery followed by Beast, Scott and Jean.
~Bampf! ~
"We're here," Storm said casually as she and Kurt tried to look natural just popping into the room together. Storm was not embarrassed by her relationship with Kurt; she just didn't want to be the subject of teenage gossip.
"Alright, here they come," Xavier said quietly to silence the chatter.
"Really, Logan, the gallery isn't what I had in mind when I said…" Dani was saying before she was interrupted by…
"SURPRISE!" the entire school yelled as the lights came on.
Dani was suddenly sporting the brightest shade of red. "Um, wow."
"Baby, it's your birthday, you're twenty-two today," Logan said quietly in her ear.
"I'm how old? I really haven't been watching the calendar." She told him quietly. Then, to everyone else in the room, "Thank you all for this unbelievable surprise. I can't begin to tell you how much this means to me."
After a brief moment of applause and cheering, the music broke out, and the students all took to the open area for dancing. Logan led Dani over to the table to check out the cake. It said 'Happy Birthday Danielle,' and it was covered with violet flowers. Logan glanced around the room and realized the violet was everywhere. They had done a good job with the set up.
"Happy birthday," Xavier said as he came over.
"Thank you, I don't know what to say," Dani said.
"Just enjoy the party," he said with a smile and then discreetly left.
Everyone else seemed to come over in small groups to say happy birthday, and get a piece of cake. It was a great party, but Dani wasn't feeling as excited as she pretended. She smiled a lot, and was polite, trying not to look like she felt awkward. The party was such a nice thing for them to do, and she didn't want to do anything to spoil it. But it was bringing back strange feelings. She hadn't remembered a birthday in so long, the concept was foreign. She had spent six birthdays alone, and here she was celebrating with all these people. Dani couldn't wait to sneak out and spend time alone with Logan. She liked everyone at the school, but this much attention made her nervous.
Logan sat with Dani, and watched her. She was tense, but trying to look relaxed. He figured he was the only one who noticed. She didn't like crowds, even crowds of friends. He was waiting for his opportunity to get her out of there. She needed to leave, he could feel it, but she wouldn't want to be rude. Logan couldn't wait to get her alone. Tonight all hell could break loose and he wouldn't care. Nothing was going to spoil their night.
There was only one present on the table, and Xavier suggested that she go ahead and open it. Logan wasn't too surprised to see a brand new X-men uniform. Black leather, damn. He imagined what she'd look like in it and he felt a lump in his throat. He watched her response, and knew she'd decided to join the team when she flashed that smile. She held it up and turned to show him. Logan felt the heat rising in his face, and the sudden tightness of his Jeans. Black leather. Just five more minutes! In five more minutes he could sneak her out of there. Come on Logan, hold it together for five more minutes, he thought.
