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 5: Anniversary Part 2

Smile gone, Victor stepped fully into the house and followed the scent to the kitchen

There he found Wolverine sitting at his table, drinking his coffee, and talking to his woman. He couldn't stop the growl that erupted from his throat at the invasion of his territory.

Jessie was intricately decorating a chocolate cake, but seeing the daisies clutched in his fist she let out a squeal and ran to him. Slipping her glasses into her pocket, she started chattering just like usual about the events of the day since he'd left while she put the flowers in water.

All the while Logan watched quietly, still sipping coffee. Victor's eyes never left him, but that didn't prevent Logan from taking in the scene. He would never have believed it if someone had told him he would find Sabretooth living with a demure little homemaker, bringing her flowers, and a wolf hidden away somewhere. He had to figure Creed was up to something and he might have to find a way to get the woman safe. It wouldn't be easy, she smelled like his mate.

Jessie was coming to the end of her report, "... and I just finished the cake." Hesitantly she asked, "We're still celebrating? I mean, with your friend here, I wasn't sure."

Walking over to her and hugging her with one arm, his eyes still on the smaller man, Victor reassured her. "It's okay, Jessie, he won't stay long. We got some... business."

Both men saw the relieved look on her face before a happy smile came over her. "Good, because I really need to talk to you."

Nodding, he wondered what else she could possibly have to say after all that. Handing her the bags, he ordered quietly, "Take these, you can open all but the big one. In the bedroom."

Taking them she crossed the room, but paused before leaving. "You're not angry? He came in with the deliverymen. I tried to call you."

"Don't worry, little girl." he reassured her. He didn't expect her to be able to stop Wolverine. That was one of his main purposes in life. "Like I said, we got business."

He made sure she was out of the room and growled, "Outside, runt. Ya ain't messin' up Jessie's house."

Claws suddenly out, Wolverine growled back, "Too late, yer already here."

Snarling, Sabretooth sprang at him, but he was ready for him. Wolverine jumped to the side and slashed at him simultaneously, leaving three deep cuts on his chest.

Circling each other, Sabretooth snarled, "Whaddya want? Ain't seen you 'n yours in a year."

"It was three months ago in Texas ya made yer offer ta Jubes, ya bastard!" This time Wolverine lunged at the other man and it was Sabretooth that left five deep grooves down his face.

Again they started circling and snarling at each other, defensively Sabretooth growled, "She was lookin' sad an' I was tryin' to cheer her up. Wasn't serious, I already had Jessie."

This touched a sore spot inside Wolverine as the year apart from Jubilee was always going to be raw and he didn't like to think about how she had felt then. This time when he lunged at his natural enemy they both slammed into the lower cabinets. Jessie's cake tumbled off the counter from the force and landed on them.

They were locked together, slashing and growling, and didn't hear Jessie running towards them at the sound of the cake plate hitting the floor and shattering, but they sprang apart at the opening of the kitchen door.

Both men turned to see Jessie gaping at them, mouth hanging open. Anguished, she cried, "My cake!" and she burst into tears.

Rushing to her side, Victor put his arms around her. "It was a beautiful cake, baby. The prettiest one you ever did."

Logan's mouth dropped as Victor turned to him snarling, "Look what you done!"

"Me?" his voice was incredulous and his mind was spinning at seeing Victor Creed, aka Sabretooth, comforting a woman over a cake.

"Yes, you! You're the one who wouldn't go outside." His voice softened, "It's okay, little girl, we'll get cheesecake at the restaurant. Did you like your presents?"

Wiping the tears from her eyes with the back of her hands, she smiled at him, "I put some on."

Eyes glazing over, he asked hoarsely, "Are they red?"

Smile getting bigger, she said "Yes." The she frowned, "Would you rather have cheesecake? I can go to the store and make one, it wouldn't take long."

"NO!" He hated when she drove, it scared the hell out of him because she hardly ever did it unless he wasn't home, but at least then he didn't have to see it. She drove like the old lady she dressed like. Very, very slowly. "I just meant that you wouldn't have to work anymore on our anniversary."

"Oh." She looked mournfully at the kitchen for a moment. The floor was covered in homemade chocolate cake and icing, and so was both men. Their hair was 'caked' in it and the thought made her smile. "Maybe your friend would like to borrow the guest shower?"

"Uh, no, that's okay." Logan couldn't wait to tell Jubilee about this, and no matter how Creed seemed to have changed, he was going to keep an eye out.

"How 'bout you go find a dress to match your present and we'll clean up in here? Then I'll clean up and we can go." Then he remembered his other purchase, "And you can check out the new glasses I got you."

She scrunched her nose at the thought of new glasses. Looking around the room again, Jessie asked "Are you sure? I can clean this up real fast..."

Thinking of the blood that was mixed in with the cake on the floor, grateful Jessie couldn't see the blood on him, he said, "No, we'll do it. I don't want you working anymore today. Save your energy for later." And he leered at her.

Letting out a low laugh, she left the room to find a red dress.

Wondering how he had ended up scrubbing the floor with his worst enemy, Logan rinsed out a washrag. "So, yer serious 'bout this gal, huh?"

Victor eyed the floor critically. "Been together a whole year, whaddya think?"

"She don't look like yer type, bub." Logan wiped off the cabinet again to be safe. He thought some blood splattered there.

In response, Victor's eyes narrowed. "What's that supposed to mean, runt?"

"Ya gotta admit ya usually go fer the more flashy type. Busty an' stuff. She looks like a librarian."

"Jessie's built like you wouldn't believe, don't let the clothes fool ya, and she's the hottest little thing I've ever seen." And she was wearing some of the red stuff he'd bought. Just the thought was making him hard. They were gonna have some fun tonight, it'd be now if the runt hadn't shown up. "You and the firecracker together?"

Now it was Logan's eyes that narrowed. Releasing a set of claws, he growled, "Why ya wanna know?"

"Yer grillin' me on my frail, so I'm askin' 'bout yers!" Victor growled back.

"Oh." He sheathed his claws again. "Yeah, we're together. Gonna marry her. You?"

"Yeah, right." He threw the rag in the sink. The kitchen was good enough, Jessie mopped everyday anyway. "I marry her and the whole world would be after her to get to me. You have any idea how many countries I'm wanted in? We can't ever get married, shouldn't be together at all, but I can't let her go."

Understanding the other man perfectly, Logan pulled out a cigar and lit it. Then asked quietly, "She's okay with that?"

"Jessie says she is longs we're together." He sighed. "'Course, she'd like to get married. She was born to be married and have a passel of kids. I wasn't gonna touch her, dammit, then she asked me to! I'm not one a them people who has self-control, ya know? Then she's just always there."

"It ain't like ya." Thinking through his words, Logan wasn't sure he had a clear picture and had no idea why Vic would tell him all this in the first place.

"I know that! That's the point!" Frustrated, he raked a hand through his hair. "I've guess I've known her since she was about ten years old. Actually met her exactly a year ago, and the same night she becomes a part of me. I haven't been with another woman since that night, and there've been opportunities. Just haven't wanted to. They weren't Jessie."

"You've bonded." Logan said softly. He was slightly acquainted with the problem, though he had thought his year of celibacy was due to love at the time. "Like I did with Jubes."

"I'd say it's a bitch, but it's just not. It feels... right." God help him. And Jessie.

"That's the way it works. Or how it is with me anyways, an' any others I found bonded." Logan shook his head. "Maybe we ain't supposed ta understand it."

Victor huffed out a breath. "Time for ya to go, runt. I'm celebrating with my frail tonight."

"Ya know if I see ya anywhere near Jubes I'm gonna gut ya, right?" Wolverine said casually.

"And I see ya anywhere when Jessie's not around, I'm gonna gut ya first." Sabretooth replied.

"Jus' so we understand each other."

On his way out Logan stopped at the end-table in the living room and pulled out Jessie's cell phone. He put his private phone number in the memory. Just in case.

Dinner was at a fancy French restaurant and Victor could see Jessie was trying to figure out the recipes. He knew she'd be trying to cook it herself soon. He'd rather be eating pot roast.

He ran a hand down the front of his sweater. Jessie had knitted it herself. Victor had been suitably surprised as it looked like it could have been bought at a store. It wasn't the sort of thing he'd usually buy, but then they usually didn't have things like this in his size either. She had barely asked him how he liked it.

Jessie had seemed distracted the whole night. Usually she'd be chatting up a storm and she was just sitting there. He was afraid she'd seen something in the kitchen that had disturbed her. The wait for her to tell him what was wrong was killing him.

Finally, he couldn't take it anymore. "Tell me about it."

Glancing up, she asked full of confusion, "Tell you what?"

"Whatever's bothering you, just tell me." Had the runt said something? "Was it the runt?"

"Logan?" Jessie smiled. "He was very nice once I stopped trying to get him to leave. I'm glad you have a friend, Victor."

He grunted. The runt his friend? Not likely. Though he was probably the only one who could understand what he was going through with Jessie. "Then what is it?"

She bit her lower lip, hesitating.

"Just tell me." he growled. He had to know.

Finally, she blurted out, "I want a baby."

"What?" Victor asked, flabbergasted. Where had this come from?

"I knew you'd be upset." She rushed out. "I know you said we can't get married, but I want a baby. Please, I don't want to be on birth control anymore. Please, Victor?" she begged, her blue eyes shining.

A baby? She wasn't upset about today? "Sure, if that's what you want, stop taking the pills. That's why I wanted you to take them, so you could control whether you had a kid or not."

"Really?" She smiled, a big happy grin that warmed him inside. "I thought it was because you didn't want any babies. I'm glad because I didn't take a pill today."

He smiled lazily, a lust filled light entering his eyes. "Maybe we should take desert home and get started right away." And he could get that dress off and see those red undies on her.

The same light entered her own eyes and she nodded.

Quickly, he signaled the waiter and they hurried home to finish their anniversary celebration in private.

to be continued.

note:
Rogue14- It's actually already written, but I gotta space it out or I won't have the next story finished by the time done posting this one. Sorry.
Elizabeth Robbins- (big grin) Thought you might like that.
TricaLee- Thanks again for the pics. Wasn't too bad a fight considering their past, but reason for that is the same as the reason for Vic's personality change.
GothikStrawberry- You'll just have to wait for it!
Jinxeh- Hmm, VS as evil... I might be able to do something on that in the future...
SabeyBaby- Jessie is pretty naive, I admit it. BUT part of that is intentional on HER part. She doesn't what she feels is unimportant bother her, but you'll see that more in the future.

I forgot to give credit where it's due. Sorry. Elizabeth Robbin's came up with the idea for Vic to go to VS. I couldn't think of a gift for Jessie and she suggested VS and I ran with it. So it's thanks to her for the fun in last chapter. Way to go with the good ideas Elizabeth!

Gonna give it a few days to post the next ch with packing, moving, traveling, and all. But I will post on Wed, promise! After that not sure. Next ch things get a little dark, but we get both Wolverine and Jubilee! (This chapter and next is where we get into a few details from 'Waiting' but I think you can figure it out without reading it, if you don't want to. Of course, no one will be upset if you want to read and review 'Waiting'. Not a bit.)

Thanks for reading and the support,
Dizi