Hiya bubs & bubettes! Here's a new chappie for yer reading pleasure. Special thanks to all the new readers who reviewed; please check out my favorites sections for some top notch tales by these folks! And, of course thanks to all the friends who have been here all along! THANKS! ENJOY!

A/N: My AU's time frame is a little behind normal time, by a couple of months. At least in my brain it is, I don't know if any one else noticed. As of this chappie, I am 'warping' my AU into a normal time frame. It shouldn't affect anything in the story. I'm doing this so I can catch the spirit of a few U.S. holidays coming up. FYI, THANKS!

Chapter 28 – Crimes and Punishments

Saturday Morning, The Institute, around noon

Mally was already exhausted. Pappy had gotten him up at 6 a.m., taking him to see Mr. Logan.

'What chores need doin' Wolvie?' Pappy had asked. 'Me boy Mallory is on the chain gang this day. Give him plenty to do!'

Logan had smirked, and pulled out a notepad, making a list of chores for Mally. The list was…long.

Mally had already cleaned out the gatehouse gutters, changed the oil in three of the Institutes vehicles, swept out the hanger, and cleaned the stables. He was currently in the stable yard, in the process of splitting five cords of logs down to starter timbers. He had four and a half cords to go, and there was still more on the list.

'Crikey, I'll never touch Rahne again, ever…' Mally thought. In his heart, he knew he was lying to himself. If he had extra chores for the rest of his life, it was worth it. Remembering the way her body had actually 'glowed' the other night, he brought the ax down with a grunt.

Logan came around the corner of the stable. "Hey Bub, what did ya do to get yer old man ta stick ya with all this work? Burn his bagpipes?"

Mally frowned, hefting the ax back up. "I'd…rather not say, Mr. Logan, no offense or anything."

"Hmp." Grunted Logan. "Well, yer not alone. The Professor asked Ms. Munroe to give yer little girlfriend extra work today too. She's currently rubbin' lemon oil on all the wood on the first floor of the mansion."

Mally groaned. 'Poor dingo! That's a LOT of wood.' He thought, as most all the accents in the mansion were wood. He brought the ax down again, hard.

"That's not fair, Mr. Logan, Rahne didn't do anything, it was all my fault!" he stated.

"What was all yer fault, Red?" Logan asked, trying to get it out of him.

"Right…" Mally started, "Well, the other night see, while ya'll were out, Rahne and I started playin' around and…uh…well…" Mally looked at the ground, his shoulders sagging.

"I know." Logan smirked, frowning. "I smelled you guys as soon as we walked in from the motor pool." Logan walked over and looked up at Mally.

"Yer lucky Xavier told me ta lay off. So, how far did it go?" he asked, putting another log on the stump.

"Well, ah, not too…gee, ah, nothing really…just went fast an…it was dark…" Mally stammered.

!SNIKT!SLICE!

Logan had split the log mercilessly into three pieces. He looked Mally in the eye.

"Well, just keep this in the front of yer brain Bub: these girls here at Xavier's are under my protection, from Ms. Munroe down ta Lil Miss Guthrie. Got it?" he growled.

"Uh, y-y-yes sir, Mr. Logan. I got it." Mally said. "But, ah, Mr. Logan? I mean, she is my girlfriend an all. I think she's really rippa and I'm not gonna stop being with her…no matter what." He squeaked, expecting the worst.

'Kids got balls…' thought Logan. He caught Mally's eye.

"Listen Red," he growled, "I ain't sayin' she can't be yer girl. I'm sayin' you BETTER be a gentleman at all times. You know what I'm talkin' about?"

"Yes sir, I think so." Mally said.

"Good. Now, get back ta work. You gotta lotta wood left, kiddo." He stated. "After you get done choppin' put the list on my bedroom door; mark off what ya done so far. Then I want ya to put a couple hours in, workin' yer legs in the weight room, then get yerself some chow. Think about what we talked about, got it?"

Mally nodded, smiling at being set free from the rest of the chores. And surviving standing up to Mr. Logan.

Logan turned, walking around the other side of the stable, out of Mally's sight. Pappy was waiting on him, grinning evilly.

"So, did ye put the fear of God in the boy, Wolvie? Ya know, with the claws and the growlin' and such?" Pappy asked, rubbing his hands together.

"Yeah, I told him." Logan said, smiling. "The kid stuck up for himself…he's got heart, I'll give him that much."

"Aye, I figgered he might do as such. Jest like his dear Mother in that respect, brave as a lion. And a wee bit like his Pappy too, in his affection for the lassies…" Pappy mused.

"What happened to his Mom, Pappy? You've never told me anything about her…?" Logan wondered.

"Aye, Wolvie, and that's a story fer another day matey, another day." Pappy brooded.

Logan guessed he'd hit a sore spot. He changed the subject. "Come on, ya old coot, lets go up ta the gatehouse and cook up some brauts fer lunch. Hell, it's Saturday, we'll have a brew too. Come on…" he said, trying his best to sound cheerful. He sounded more like a cougar after a kill. But it worked, and he and Pappy walked on, Pappy discussing the merits of bock beer for health.

Inside the Institute, same time

"Be sure to rub the oil in deep on the main stairway, Rahne, we don't want any one slipping." Ororo said, going over a shopping list while sitting on a bench in the foyer.

"Yeah, yeah, I will…Ms. Munroe, Ma'am." Rahne moaned, her arms feeling like rubber from all the rubbing.

'That silly rabbit, I'll kick his arse fer getting me inta this…' she thought to herself. But she smiled at the same time, thinking about her Mally. Her Mally. Before she could stop herself, she giggled girlishly.

"What's so amusing, Rahne? Are the fumes from the oil getting to you?" Ororo asked, a slight smile on her lips. "We can always switch to cleaning the boys dorm bathrooms if you need a break…?"

"NO!" Rahne squeaked. "I mean, no ma'am, I be fine. I was jest thinkin' of sumthing that tickled me…"

"Or someone that tickled you, perhaps?" Ororo inquired.

Rahne stopped rubbing, turning to stare at Ms. Munroe, eyes wide. "The Professor told you ? That's not right!" she whined.

No, dear, you told me, just now." Ororo quipped. "The Professor told me nothing, except that you were to do extra chores all day today. I figured there was a reason. And the other evening, when I returned from my night out with Mr. Logan and Mr. O'Bryanson, you and Mallory had spent some time in the Professors' office." Ororo moved over to the stairs, sitting down next to Rahne. "Anything that you would like to talk about, Rahne?" she asked.

Rahne sighed. "No, not really…but, ah, well…" she stammered.

"What is it girl? Please, you know you can talk to me." Ororo encouraged.

"Right. Well, Ms. Munroe, ya know what they say 'bout 'goin' too far' wit a boy? I wonder, I mean, uh, well, how cannit be 'goin' too far' when…when…it feels jest right?" Rahne looked at the weather witch, eyes pleading.

Ororo frowned. "…How far is 'too far' Rahne?"

Rahne looked down, embarrassed. "Well…kissin' an…touchin' an…my shirt…felt his…you know…" She noticed Ms. Munroe's eyes getting wider. "NO! I didn't touch it, just felt it! Under me…" she gushed. "I did take off my shirt though, and he …touched me." Rahne looked at the floor again, hand moving to cover her breast.

"I wanted him to Ms. Munroe; Saints above, I wanted him to. It felt…right." She looked up, eye to eye with Ororo. "Is that so wrong, Ms. Munroe?"

'Thank the Goddess…' Ororo thought, stopping to compose herself before answering.

"Rahne, do you feel ashamed? Regretful?" she asked.

Rahne smiled slightly, blushing. "…no…" she whispered, "…I liked it…"

Ororo leaned back against the banister of the staircase. 'Oh my,' she thought, 'all mygirls are becoming women.'

She thought back to a conversation she had with Jean Grey months ago, then again with Rogue after the bonfire, about men and women.

"Rahne, it's not wrong to feel that way. It's a part of being a young woman, growing, and learning about relationships." She held up a finger. "However, you are still a young woman. Perhaps a bit more discretion in your choices in the future; don't push yourself too far, too fast; don't let someone push either."

"Ms. Munroe, I don't think Mally would push me…that's why I like him," Rahne said, "if'n anything, I think I might push him. It jest feels so good, so right, so…do ye know what I mean, Ms. Munroe? It feels good here…" she said, covering her heart.

'Perhaps Scottish girls are more mature…' thought Ororo. She smiled at Rahne. "Yes, I know exactly what you mean, Rahne. Trust me, take it slowly, keep your head about you. When your time arrives, it will be worth the wait, I promise."

Ororo reached out and gave the little redhead a squeeze, which Rahne returned. With her head still on Ororo's shoulder Rahne took a shot.

"So does this mean I can stop polishing?"

Ororo laughed. "Just finish the staircase dear. Then I want you to go have a talk with Dr. McCoy about…protection. After that, you are free."

Rahne pulled away looking at her in utter horror. "I cannit talk ta Dr. McCoy about that! I'll die!"

"Trust me child, Dr. McCoy will be more flustered than you. This I know for certain."

The Institute, Weight Room, mid-afternoon

Mally walked into the weight room, his arms aching from all his chores that morning. He saw Scout, Clarice, and Paige working out on one of the machines.

"Hello Mally. What is up?" Scout asked, smiling her wolfish grin.

"Nuttin' much. Yer 'brother' Mr. Logan is making me do weekend PT on my lower body, so…" Mally shrugged. "Here I am!"

"Why is my brother making you workout? Your lower body is very well developed." Scout asked.

"Scout!" Clarice tittered. "I don't think it's right to say things…like that."

Paige giggled. "Shore is well developed, yeah buddy!"

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up ya sheilas." Mally smiled, blushing slightly. "Anyhows, it's kinda a punishment Scout."

"A punishment? Why? And what did I say wrong? Mally's legs and buttocks are very well developed." Scout wondered.

The other two girls started laughing uncontrollably.

"Nah, Scout, that's lahke 'hitting' on a guy. Ramember when we told ya about 'hitting' on a guy verses hitting a guy?" Paige laughed.

"Oh. Yes, I remember." Scout said. "Mally, I am not 'hitting' on you. You are too hairy for my taste in men. Besides, you are a couple with Rahne, correct?"

"Ah yeah, that's right Scout," Mally said, blushing redder. "Rahne and me are together. That's kinda why I'm here…" he mumbled, fumbling with his mp3 headphones.

"Is wrong that you and Rahne are together? Is that why my brother is punishing you? I don't understand, I know he has seen you two kissing in the rec room many times. You do that a lot." Scout mused.

Paige and Clarice started laughing even harder, tears coming out of their eyes. All of a sudden, Paige clammed up, and punched Clarice on the arm to get her to stop laughing also.

"Mallory is performing the tasks Mr. Logan set for him as a request of his Father, concerning a matter that does not concern you young ladies." Professor Xavier wheeled into the weight room dressed in his sweat suit wearing a white headband. "Mallory, will you assist me with the weights on the bench press bar please? One hundred twenty-five pounds, thank you." He asked.

"Sure, Professor, no prob." Mally said, sliding the weights on. As the Professor lifted himself on to the bench, Mally turned and stuck his tongue out at Paige and Clarice. Paige made to say something, but Clarice put her hand over Paige's mouth. Scout just looked confused.

"And Mallory, kindly place your tongue back in your mouth." The Professor said without seeing.

"Aw, crikey, Professor, that's not fair!" Mally said, frowning.

The Institute, Med Lab, mid-afternoon

:knock-knock:

The Doctor turned to the doorway when he heard the knock.

"Why, Salutations Ms. Sinclair! What a pleasure to have you visit! What brings you to my subterranean office. Not feeling under the weather, pray tell?" Dr. McCoy asked.

"No, Ms. Munroe sent me down here…to talk to you." Rahne said, tentatively walking into the office.

"Very well. What did Ms. Munroe wish us to converse about?" the doctor smiled.

"Ah, well, she said…uh, see…ya, right. She said that ye should 'help' me the same way ye 'helped' Jean Grey and Rogue a while back.

The Doctor fell back against his lab table, knocking over assorted test tubes and a cup of coffee. He reached out to try and catch things, only covering the hair on his hands and arms with stale coffee. Finally, he gave up on the mess, turning back around to the young girl, nervously not making eye contact.

"Yes, yes…I see… well, (ahem) uh certainly, Ms. Sinclair, ah Rahne. Let me get your charts." He scrambled over to a file cabinet, keeping his distance like the little wolf-girl was a leper.

Rahne couldn't help but giggle. She had never seen the Doctor so startled, so shook up. He was absent-minded at times, but not like this. She couldn't resist.

"Yes, Ms. Munroe said ya best ta put me on the pill before I become sexually active. It's different fer werewolves ya know, the whole 'full-moon' thing an all. We go crazy." She smiled behind her hand.

The Doctor shoved the file drawer shut before removing his paw.

"Oh my Christmas! Mmmm…" he said, sucking on his finger. "I didn't realize that was so…yes, well, yes, ok, yes, that's fine then, certainly must consider the moon, yes…" He looked at her charts, than scribbled a prescription on his doctors pad. "Have this…filled…at the pharmacy in Bayville. I will call it in post haste, now run along Ms. Sinclair thank you for stopping by, I have to go into the other lab, please see yourself out, thank you, and you're very welcome." Dr. McCoy scrambled out of the room muttering something about the 'pull of the tides on the hormones of a young female werewolf, fascinating…'.

Rahne just laughed.

'The man had faced numerous dangers as an X-Man, yet was scared to death by a girls sexuality. Too right!' she thought.

Then she looked down at the prescription for 'the pill' the doctor had given her. Her heart fluttered a bit, and her stomach was twisted.

'Oh my,' she thought, 'I'm gonna havta have a long talk with that boy, very soon. And keep me knickers on while doin' it.' She took a deep breath and walked out of the room.

The Institute, the Kitchen

Mally was watching the pasta cook on the range top, stirring some sauce in another pot. His whole body was aching, and he felt like he could eat the entire box of noodles. The smells were great, pasta, tomato and basil sauce, and …Rahne?

He turned around. "Hey dingo…" he smiled.

"Hey yerself rabbit…" Rahne said, standing right behind him, smiling. "Did ya have fun today?"

"Oh yeah, if cleaning out gutters and choppin' wood and dealing with a mad Mr. Logan and a confused Scout is fun." Mally replied. "How about you? What'd they make you do?"

"Polish all the hard wood on the main staircase. Me arms are killin' me. Then I had ta go see Dr. McCoy."

"Why? Are ya ill? What's wrong?' Mally wondered, concerned.

Rahne handed him the prescription.

"Progestin? What's that? Are ya sick or somethin'?" Mally asked.

Rahne smiled. "No, silly rabbit, that's the pill."

"Yeah, I can see it's a pill. What's it fer?" Mally was still confused.

"No, rabbit, 'the pill", get it? Don't make me spell it out fer ye." Rahne giggled.

Mally gulped, the meaning washing over him. "Jeeze, ah, what does this mean? We don't have to do it right now, do we? I gotta eat something first…" he stammered.

Rahne threw her arms around Mally, laughing. "No, Mallory O'Bryanson, we are not gonna 'do it' right now. But when we do, if we do, I'm ready…I mean, I'm going to be ready, but not right now." She rubbed her face against the fur on his chest, smelling the fresh scent of his shower after his workout. 'Her Mally…' she thought, smiling.

"We thru all the adults 'round here into a tizzy today, rabbit. Ye shoulda seen Dr. McCoy…he was beside himself." She laughed.

"Too right." Mally looked down at the redheaded pixie. "I kinda in a tizzy too, ya know. You sure ya got the right kanga-man for yaself, wolf-girl?"

"Well, seein' as how ye are the only kanga-man, I guess that's a yeppers. Yer stuck with me rabbit."

"Stuck like crazy glue…" he replied, picking her up in a big bear hug. She wrapped her little legs around his middle, and they shared a passionate kiss.

Mally broke the kiss, his nose twitching. "Mr. Logan! Coming!" he mouthed.

Rahne jumped down, and began to help with the pasta. Logan walked in the kitchen and got a cola out of the icebox.

"Hiya Mr. Logan…" Rahne piped, smiling sweetly.

Logan looked at the pair, deadpan look on his face. He began walking out. As he headed out the door, he stopped, looking over his shoulder.

"Hey, you two…" he growled, snarling. They turned to face him.

"Get a room."

The end

Chapter 29 – The best laid plans…