In Remembrance
Dani had unpacked quickly and decided to take a shower. It felt good to be back in this mansion again. It was the same as her memories, but different too. The life she'd had before was horrifying. Logan was right, they were different people now. She looked forward to starting over. She hoped he'd like who she was now. The last thing she wanted was for him to be with her just because of a few memories, or worse yet, just because of the baby. Dani firmly believed that a child was not a reason to automatically get married. Most marriages that started that way failed miserably. It wasn't just a disaster for the parents; it was hell on the child.
Dani let the hot water run down over her head and she sighed. She prayed that her fears were unfounded. Logan wasn't the sort of man who would pretend to be noble. At least he wasn't in her memories of him. Damn, what a mess.
Logan unpacked and took a shower. It was good to be home, with Dani. His Dani. And she was pregnant! He couldn't wait! He wondered if it would be a girl again. He was so excited he thought he was going to come unglued, or just bust. He needed to go shopping and get her a ring. He knew just what he wanted, the biggest diamond he could afford surrounded by amethysts. And then he'd plan a romantic dinner somewhere private and propose properly. He was glad she'd said yes, but at a moment like that what else could she say? He wanted to give her a little time for everything to sink in and ask again. Then her yes would really mean something.
He stepped out of the shower and started drying off. Damn he wanted to know why she'd hidden that pregnancy from him. Didn't she trust him? Sure they'd just met but he thought he'd made his feelings pretty clear. Now that she remembered, everything was going to work out, but what if… Would she have run off again, with his child? Logan frowned at his fuzzy reflection in the fogged mirror. Who was she now? Not the victim anymore. Still a musician and an artist, but who was she? Did she still like Star Wars and ham sandwiches with lettuce and extra mustard? Did she take her coffee with cream and two spoons of sugar? Did she still love him…really? And this bastard Q, why'd he help them get back together and remember? What's in it for him?
Logan opened his closet and searched for something to wear. He found a newer pair of jeans and a casual black button down shirt. He put on his black boots and checked himself in the mirror. The hair needed a little taming, so he tried to get it to lie down, but it rebelled. Whatever. His hair always had a mind of its own. As long as it was clean and combed, it would have to do. He listened a moment for Dani. She was done showering too, and would probably be dressed by now. He heaved a sigh and headed for her room. He stood before the door and hesitated. Everything was so familiar, but completely different. He reminded himself that it was just as strange for her, and they would work through it together. He knocked quietly.
"Come in," Dani called.
Logan opened the door and was assaulted by the salty smell of Dani's tears. She sat on her bed with the wooden box that Mr. Li had given her. It looked like it was full of pictures and letters. Dani closed the box and tried to dry her cheeks, but Logan wouldn't let her brush this aside.
"Dani, what's wrong?" he asked as he came over and sat beside her.
"Nothing, it's just these old pictures Mr. Li gave me of my father. He looked so happy and alive…" she sobbed. "I miss him."
Logan wrapped his arms around her and held her. "It's okay, baby, I'm here."
"I just don't know… with everything that's happened… I wish he was here," she said.
Logan brushed the hair from her eyes and smiled at the memories it evoked. He was glad her hair was the same. He loved her long curly mane. He bent down and kissed the top of her head. "So, I bet your dad was a handsome fellow. Can I see?"
Dani chuckled and opened her box. She pulled out a picture of a young Park Ranger. Logan's guess was right; he wasn't a bad looking mug. Then Logan realized that Dani had been engineered before. "Dani, did your parents have you… uh, natural?"
"No, they needed a little help," Dani admitted. "I think mom went on that fertility drug or something."
"Dani, how much do you remember form before?" Logan asked.
"I remember that we were married and had a daughter, and then I fought a sentinel and wound up in Camelot. Then we were together far in the future for a while… and that's all I remember about us until we met here."
"What about your family from before?" Logan prompted.
"I don't remember… I just remember the lab, and you rescuing me," she said. "Why, is there more?"
"No, Dani, I was just wondering if we both remembered the same stuff," Logan lied. She didn't remember being engineered. He wondered if she remembered Gabriel or Odium or Q. "Do you remember what happened to us?"
"Everyone was kidnapped by aliens, which sounds very X-Files to me, and then… it gets hazy," she said. "Why, what happened?"
Logan was surprised by that. He wasn't even there and he had a clear recollection of her dying to reset the proper timeline. Why would he know this and not her? He decided to keep that information to himself for now and changed the subject.
"Feel better now?" he asked.
"Yeah, I think I got the self pity out of my system," she said with a smirk. "Thanks."
"That's what I'm here for," Logan said. "You hungry?"
"Very," Dani said with a smile.
"Then wash your face, beautiful, and let's go to breakfast," Logan said with a grin.
Xavier sat at the large table with the rest of the senior team members that made up the faculty. Beast, Storm, Kurt, Scott, Jean and Remy sat waiting for Logan and Danielle to join them. At their meeting earlier that day, Xavier had instructed them to keep their memories to themselves until he'd spoken with Danielle. Now that they'd had their meeting, everyone was anxious to see her again. Their memories of her were all different, except for one thing. They all remembered their kidnapping at the hands of unknown foes, and her sacrificing herself to save them. Xavier had no doubt as to the truth of their experiences. Since his dream earlier that day, he found himself remembering strange details of her time on the team in another odd version of their lives. Her relationship with Logan not withstanding, he hoped she would once again choose to join them.
Logan and Dani walked in and were warmly greeted by the students with awkward 'hello's and 'glad you're back's. Logan took it in stride, but Dani looked uncomfortable. He led her past the well meaning kids and they sat with the faculty. There was silence for a few moments while everyone seemed to be staring at her. Dani just tried to ignore it and started pouring the syrup on her French toast. Finally, Scott spoke up.
"So, you remember me?" Scott asked.
Dani just gave him a nod and glanced at Jean. She must have survived the dam breaking without her help… if things went the same as before. Jean just looked at her and cocked a brow.
Things did go the same as before, and no, I didn't make it, Jean said to her telepathically. It's a long story. For what it's worth, I wish you'd been there. It was a long road home.
Beast looked at her with deep interest and finally he spoke up. "Do you still need to recharge? Because I can rig up a system for you…"
Dani blushed at the reminder of her weakness. "That's all right, Dr. McCoy. I have learned to take care of myself."
Logan just cleared his throat and kept eating. Damn this felt awkward.
"So, you and Logan…" Storm started to say but Logan interrupted.
"She just got back," Logan said gruffly. "Enough with the questions already."
Xavier eyed Logan with interest and commented to him privately. They already know about your proposal, and her condition, Logan. No one is shocked or appalled by it.
Logan glared at Xavier and frowned. He projected an answer he hoped the old codger would pick up on. Maybe I'm the one who's appalled, Chuck. I took advantage of her, I know that now. I screwed things up between us and I'm trying to fix it. Don't sabotage me, damn it!
Jean blushed at Logan's mental answer practically shouted across the room. She knew him well enough to understand what was bothering him. He'd let his instincts get the better of him. His one night fling with Danielle had been total lust. Now that he realized who she was, and what there was between them, he was horrified with himself. Jean felt sorry for him.
Dani finished her meal and sat quietly ignoring the silent conversations that were flying around the room. She wasn't stupid. Two telepaths in the room meant that silence wasn't always the absence of conversation. She eyed Xavier a moment and then stood to leave.
"I need some solitude," she said. "You can continue talking about me out loud…" She turned and headed away from the table but Logan called after her.
"Wait, Dani…" Logan said.
"Let her go, Logan," Xavier said. "That Dani is very different from the one we remember. She needs a little time."
"Damn it Chuck, she ain't that different," Logan protested.
"Then why are you so worried?" Xavier asked.
"Get the hell outta my head, Professor, not all these thoughts are for sharing," Logan said angrily.
"What about the baby and the wedding?" Kurt asked indelicately. "You two set a date yet?"
"Shut up, Elf," Logan said bitterly as he rose from the table and stormed out.
Storm shook her head. "Maybe it was better when we didn't know."
"No Storm, it's good for us to know," Xavier said thoughtfully, "but everything is different now. We cannot allow ourselves to expect her to be the same. Danielle's life has been very different and she does not feel as comfortable here as before. She is far more independent than the woman we remember. This is merely a new beginning, we cannot pick up as though nothing has happened."
"Tell that to Logan," Scott said flatly.
"Logan already knows," Xavier said sadly. "Give them some space."
Danielle went to her room and grabbed her guitar. She needed to find a quiet place to collect herself and a little music would be relaxing. She considered her options. She didn't want to upset anyone by leaving the grounds, namely Logan. He'd throw a fit if she just left. She finally decided on a nice grassy spot by the lake. It was still on the grounds, but isolated enough for a little privacy. She transported herself to her favorite old picnic site and sat down. She opened up her guitar case and started tuning her guitar. Sometimes transporting it would knock one of the strings out of tune. When she was satisfied, Dani started to play. She closed her eyes and smiled at the sounds of the birds and water in the background. There was a loon on the far side of the lake and his distinctive call was somehow restful. But after a few minutes, the birds on the distant trees suddenly broke and flew away. By the time Dani opened her eyes to see what had disturbed them she was struck by a tranquilizer dart and passed out…
It was near lunchtime when Logan went in search of Dani. He found her room empty, and her guitar missing. There was no scent to follow, but he had a hunch as to where he could find her. There were two places she had always loved, the great oak and the lake. He headed into the woods to the oak tree, but there was no trace of her. He cut through the woods to the lake and caught traces of her scent on the wind as he approached. He heaved a sigh of relief and tried to think of what he was going to say to her. As he stepped out into the open he saw her guitar smashed and the pieces scattered across the shore. His heart raced as he ran over to look for clues as to what happened. There were large footprints and a used tranquilizer dart on the soft ground. Logan sniffed around and recognized two distinct scents… Sabertooth and Toad. Logan started swearing. They were already long gone. He shouldn't have waited so long to go looking for her. He prayed she was okay… and then he thought of the baby. Oh, God! Logan pulled himself together and ran back to the mansion.
