disclaimer: All recognizable characters are owned by Marvel and I expect to make no money off them. Damn it.

No Place Like Home
by Dizi

Chapter 3: Hi, Honey, I'm Home

Almost one year later...

Full of expectation, Victor opened the door of the house with a bang.

He immediately heard a squealed "You're home!" before Jessie launched herself into his arms and started kissing his face. He smiled, it was good to be home after a hard week of murder and mayhem.

Jessie led him to the living room chattering all the way, "Did you notice the flowers are starting to bloom? I think they turned out very well. Sammy's been a good-girl. Yes, she has." She cooed to the gigantic bundle of energy bouncing beside her. "I baked some cookies, I hope you like them because I changed the recipe a bit. I also got you more cigars, and tomorrow I have something special planned..."

He waited for her to stop. She was always like this when he came home however long or short a time it was. Like she saved everything up to tell him while he was gone and had to rush to get it all out.

Victor listened with one ear while he patiently waited for her to finish. It had taken him a long time to understand that she wanted to share everything with him and he found himself willing to let her, though the reasons for that still eluded him. They didn't matter though, all that mattered was he was with her again. He felt that way every time he came home. Though he still couldn't believe he had a home.

"... and dinner can be ready anytime you want it, just tell me when you're ready to eat." Jessie finally ran down and took a deep breath looking at him expectantly.

He grabbed her around the waist, hauled her across his lap, and growled playfully in her ear, "All I want to eat is you, little girl."

Jessie giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck.

And their welcome home ritual was complete.

An hour later they lay on the floor in front of the fireplace, Jessie sprawled naked on top of him. He couldn't help remembering at times like this and thinking how his life had changed. Oh, he was still the killing machine he had always been, but not with her, never with Jessie. She confused the hell out of him most of the time, but he thought that was just because she was a woman.

Like when they found Sammy, short for Samantha. They had camped their way across Canada back to New York state and Jessie had heard her crying for her mother. The mother wolf and cubs had been attacked and only Sammy had survived. He hadn't wanted to keep her, hadn't wanted anything to do with a wolf cub, but Jessie had looked at him with those big blue eyes and he'd found himself helping her take care of the pup. It had been a real bitch, no pun intended, to get the vet to take care of her. He'd had to rough him up a bit while Jessie's back was turned.

But Sammy had turned out to be a blessing. She was added protection for Jessie when he was gone and because they couldn't keep a wolf-pup in New York City they had gotten the house. Jessie loved the house and it was out of the way of his usual haunts so he felt she was safer here. Sammy could roam a bit and hunt without getting caught and always came home to Jessie. Just like he did.

Victor didn't think Jessie understood him completely anymore than he did her, but she accepted him the way he was. Of course, he was careful to keep his other side away from her, though it surprised him how little he had to put any effort into it. He was just different when he was with her. It was... nice.

She did confuse the hell out of him, he couldn't deny that, but at the same time her little quirks pleased him to the bone. Or was that boner? The first big city they came to, he'd given her a wad of cash and told her to get whatever clothes and stuff she needed. She'd come back with a bunch of little old lady dresses complete with sweaters. Jessie was beautiful and roamed the house in cut-offs or short shorts and tight t-shirts or tank tops, but when they went out she wore old lady frilly dresses. Now, he was happy no one else got to see how built she was and he didn't need to kill anyone as an object lesson to leave his woman alone, but any other woman he'd ever met would have been showing herself off.

It was like she knew how possessive he was and catered to it. But he'd never said or done anything to indicate that, so how could she know? Maybe they'd bonded somehow? He'd heard stories about that sort of thing but never paid attention to them. Didn't matter to him before since he'd always been a loner and thought he always would be. He wasn't like the runt. They were alike in many ways but Wolverine had always gravitated to people and teams, needing to be with people even if he was the odd man out. Vic wasn't like that and knew it, didn't want to be either.

He lifted his head to look at her face as she started to stir. Briefly he wondered where she'd stashed her glasses. She hated the things with a passion. The bulky glasses with huge coke-bottle lenses engulfed her face and she said they made her look ugly, while he thought it was adorable. Though he wouldn't admit that and just said she looked fine. He may have to get another spare pair if she'd 'lost' them again.

She was fine at home where she knew where everything was, but if she went out it could be a disaster. When he first realized she needed glasses it was while they were at a restaurant. She hadn't been able to read the menu just gave the number listed for her order and it had turned out to be steak tartar and she had cried at the sight of the raw and bloody meat. He'd thought at first she couldn't read good, then noticed her bumping into things and ended up making her get her eyes checked. She hadn't been happy with the results.

Jessie's hand slowly drifted down his chest, caressed his quickly tensed stomach muscles, and went down further to cup him in her soft hand. At the same time his stomach rumbled and he was suddenly torn between two basic needs. He knew which he wanted most but Jessie took the decision out of his hands.

She sat up, giggling, "I think you're ready to eat food now." And knowing him, she jumped up, grabbed her clothes, and ran to the kitchen before he could grab her. Not that he tried, he was too busy watching her run naked from the room.

Whining softly, Sammy came up to him wanting attention. When he'd arrived he'd smelled the change in her immediately. She was pregnant. He would swear Sammy was the only wolf in the area so her mate had to be a stray dog. He wondered if Jessie knew yet. She'd probably want to keep all the pups and he could only imagine all the trouble that would cause. A whole family of wolves was mind boggling and he didn't intend to deal with it.

He just had to hope she didn't cry. He knew he'd give in if she cried. Damn it.

"Victor?" Jessie called from the kitchen. "Dinner's almost done."

He could smell that it was and quickly put on his jeans. Jessie didn't like it when he ate naked. Victor thought it was because she would get... distracted. But if that was what she wanted he would get dressed. It wasn't like it would last long.

She must have been baking again because the whole house smelled of bread. Jessie didn't like to buy bread saying it didn't taste as good. She was right, it didn't, but he didn't understand the point of baking it herself when it was available at the store. Same with jam and other stuff. She'd also made the curtains and most of her clothes herself, shocked when he'd suggested buying them.

How was he supposed to argue with her when she looked at him like that? If she wanted to do it herself, fine. As long as she didn't hit him with those blue eyes of hers.

It was during dinner that Jessie told Victor about the significance of the 'special' occasion she'd mentioned when he first came home.

"It's what?" he asked.

"Our anniversary." Jessie smiled at him. "It's tomorrow. That's the anniversary of the day we met. The night we, well, you know..." and she blushed.

He liked that she could still do that after a year of uninhibited sex. "Are you sure?" 'Was he supposed to have paid attention to that?' he wondered.

She laughed at his expression. "Of course, I'm sure. I have everything ready to bake a cake to celebrate. I thought we could go out, I know you like it when we do that. And I have a present for you."

Damn, that meant he was going to have to go shopping. Victor hated shopping. He had no idea what to buy for someone else. He'd never really done that before, hadn't done a lot of things before Jessie. "Sounds good, babe. I have to go out for a little while tomorrow."

"Okay." Jessie knew that he'd forgotten or not realized how important their anniversary was to her. But she also knew he'd fix it. He always did.

As she started clearing the table, her tight short t-shirt rode up exposing her stomach and a familiar light entered Victor's eyes. It didn't take much to put it there. He followed her to the sink and put his arm around her from behind, slowly sliding his hand under her shirt to cup her breast.

"I think it's time for little girls to go to bed." he said, nuzzling the top of her head.

Jessie giggled. "I need to do the dishes."

"That's why we need a dishwasher." He picked her up and carried her towards their bedroom. "We can start celebrating tonight and I'll have one installed tomorrow."

Jessie giggled again and started doing some exploring of her own.

They were both busy and didn't notice when Sammy ran out the back door, ran around the house, and started growling at a lone figure standing outside the gate.

to be continued.

note:
TriciaLee- I did! I thought he had a 'nice guy side'! It was ME! Ha-Ha! Actually it will be explained later. In a note if everyone doesn't get it when I tell. (sing song voice) You'll have to wait for it.
Elizabeth Robbins- And it gets worse! Hehehe!
SabeyBaby- Gosh, you like him that much? I would never have guessed. What do you think of Jessie? Is she different enough for you? Wanted her to be a complete opposite of Vic.
draelynn- That was really poetic. Thanks! I didn't actually think of it that way at the time but now that you mention it...
Foxy- You're just gonna have to wait for it! But fun and serious both to come. Some at the same time.
Rogue14- Oh, he's still a psycho, just not with Jessie. Everybody else better watch out.
GothikStrawberry- (sigh) Me too, that's why we like Wolvie. He wouldn't fit for Jessie though, and you'll see why. Vic needed her.

Next chapter: Who is the mysterious figure Sammy growled at? What will Vic get Jessie for their anniversary? Wait and see! and in the meantime tell me what you think of this one. (hint hint)

I have to apologize for an inconsistency of nature in this story. Wolves don't actually go into heat until they're two-years-old. Sorry, but I couldn't wait two years. It'll be explained later.

Thanks for reading and the support,
Dizi