Never Forgotten – Chapter Eight
Time had froze, every second seemed to be more like an hour as Scott stood next to the professor as they watched and waited for the people aboard the X-jet to make their exit. All the while the short conversation that Scott and the professor had just had while the jet had landed repeated through Scotts mind. Xavier had informed him that Jean believed she had only been gone a few weeks, and that the professor was to be the one to break to news that her few weeks had been their two and a half years. Which basically meant a couple of things for Scott, one was that he had to be careful of what he was projecting, he had to find a way to hide his heartbreak over losing Marie only a few hours ago. It also meant that Jean would expect everything to be the same between the two of them, and although he knew he loved still loved Jean, at this moment he wasn't to confident that he could treat her as the only love of his life the way he used to. The way he did before he found Marie. First out of the jet was Ororo with a smile on her face that unrivaled any other smile that Scott had ever seen of the beautiful goddess. Then she was there, being carried down the ramp by Hank, her short coppery red hair shinning, her eyes gleaming with joy, and her smile just as bright if not brighter as the who had exited before her. He couldn't believe that she was actually there, that she was real, that she was alive. He could take his eyes off of her, god she was more beautiful than he remember her, if that was even possible. Suddenly he was holding her in his arms, squeezing her tightly as if she was going to disappear at any given second. He wasn't sure if he had been the one to walk to Hank and take her from his arms or if Hank had reached him and simply handed her over but at the moment he didn't care.
"Scott… I missed you so much." Jean whispered in his ear, she felt his despair in thinking she had been dead, and the overwhelming disbelief that he was truly holding her in his arms and her heart broke for what he had been through. And she knew she would spend the rest of her life if she had to making it up to him. How she could have ever had a moments pause about her feelings for the man that was now holding her in his arms she would never understand. She had been attracted to Logan that was true, something she could not deny, but Scott had captured more than just her attention the way Logan had. Scott had captured her soul and she vowed to never take him for granted again.
"Jean…" was all Scott could say before air got caught in his throat. Over her shoulder he saw him now coming out of the jet, Logan. The professor must have noticed where Scott's gaze was, because before he had time to say anything to the bastard Charles had called everyone's attention as he spoke.
"Well, why don't we continue the little reunion in my office?" He stated as he took one of Jeans hands in his own and gave it a loving squeeze. "I can't tell you what a blessing it is to have you home my dear. You have been sorely missed."
"I have missed you too Charles… all of you… so very much." She said with her eyes brimming with tears of happiness, as she looked around at all of her friends that she had come to think of more as family. "So very much." She repeated as she hugged herself to the man she loved so dearly once again.
As each of them started to follow the professor no one but Jean seemed to notice when they reached the doors of Xavier's office the Logan headed for the stairs. Curious she couldn't help herself from asking. "Logan… where are you headed?" at her questioning, everyone paused and turned to look at him awaiting the same answer as Jean.
"Well… I … it's been awhile seen I have gotten to talk to Marie… so I figured I had a reunion of my own to attended… we have quite a bit of catching up to do." Logan replied as he ran a hand though his wild hair not really thinking about the fact that Jean had no clue that it had been two years since he had seen his Marie, but as soon as the confusion came over her face he wished he had remembered.
Then instant Logan had said her name Scott tensed and when the thought of Logan and Marie having a private reunion crossed his mind he wanted to kill the man in the spot he was standing. "Rogue's gone… sorry." He stated in a snide tone, trying with all the power he possessed not to project too many feelings since he was still holding Jean in his arms.
Fury came over Logan as he began to think that this had all been for nothing. "What the hell do you mean, she's gone." He more of less stated than questioned, as he started towards Scott with a lethal look on his face. Sure it was great that the Scott obviously told Marie he was going back to Jean, but he didn't expect her to run. And if she did it could be months, maybe years before he found her, if she could be found at all. Because if the Wolverine inside of him knew one thing about his mate it was that she was just as good at running as he was.
"Logan, please… clam down. I can not only assure you the Rogue is ok. But I can also tell you that she is not that far away. If you would like to see her she will be staying in the house down by the lake front from now on. So if that is where you feel you need to be, then by all means do so. I think it would be safe to say that she is in need of a friend right now." Charles said coolly, knowing that it was the only way to keep the two men from going at each others throats. And with Jean's mental state right now he could not risk them tearing one another apart in front of her, even if he had just possible put an end to whatever small hope was left of Scott and Rogue future together.
"Thanks Chuck… I guess I will be seeing you all later." Logan replied sending Scott a smug smile before he walked towards and then out front doors of the mansion.
Scott stood there in a silent rage, here he was holding Jean in his arms, something he a dreamt of, prayed for since the day he lost her, and all he could think about was slowly killing the man who just walked out the door. Logan hadn't said anything, yet in just the few minutes since his return he had made it crystal clear to Scott that he wasn't here to help out the X-men. No, he was back for one reason and one reason only. And that reason was sitting alone in the Lake House still weak and heart broken from the words Scott himself had spoken to her. Looking now at the women he held in his arms, her face scared and confused beyond belief he knew he had been projection, and he bowed his head upset with all the pain that this was causing her, that he was causing her. There was so much to say, so much to explain. How he was going to get through this all the questions she was going to have. He didn't know, especially when all he could think about was that Marie was alone with Logan.
"Scott… I… how?" Was all Jean could from into words, it was no surprise to her that Scott wanted to pummel Logan, that much she had always known. What she couldn't comprehend and completely perplexed about was the fact that his rage was over Rogue. And the feelings she had been sensing coming off of him in waves was more than that of a protective brother. No, they were more involved, more intense somehow.
"Jean, I promise you all of your question will be answered my child. There is a lot we must all talk about. So please if we can all just go in the office we will inform you of everything you need to know." Charles spoke in his clam manner as he always did. The next few hours were going to be very trying, but he knew that Jean was entitled to hear the truth about all that had happened since she disappeared. As they all filed into his office the professor followed shutting the door behind him as he prepared himself for the queries Jean would want to be answered.
She had been lying on the bed for at least a couple of hours now, she didn't want to open her eyes that were now red and swollen from crying, because she knew she would find herself in the place she would now call home, the sight that made the fact she longer called their room home so real. And to face that fact killed her inside, because it made her realize the other facts as well, he was gone, she had let him go. But it was the right thing to do she reminded herself as she took another ragged breath as she pulled herself up off of the satin lavender comforter set that adorned her new room. She forced herself to get up off the bed and take a tour around the small four roomed cabin. Her room was one of the many amazing thing about the place. It had picture window which you could sit in and watch the sun set and was done in all kinds of different shades of purples. It was a Victorian style house, even though it was called a cabin, maybe because it was so small, compared to most Victorian houses. It had what she would call elegant but homey feel to it, not a rich and expense feel like the mansion. Yes, it would do quite nicely, and it felt more like her home back in Mississippi. Out of all the four years she lived at the Mansion she had no idea that this place was back here but then again, she nor any of the other students really went this far to the back side of the lake to explore, but still with all that was going on she was surprised when the professor asked to stay here instead of leaving altogether. She was also surprised to find that the cabin was one of the cuties little places she had ever seen. The outside of it was light gray, with white trimming and the cutest deep cherry wood shutters, and to finish it was a wrap around porch made of the same deep cherry wood as the shutters. There was also s swing looking out over the garden of lilies and roses to the right side of the house. And now as she made her way around the inside of the spacious kitchen decorated in pale blues and yellow accented with sliver fridge, counter top stove, sink, dish washer and cabinet handles, she was thankful for the professor offering it to her. Because there was no way she would have ending up with something this nice. Even the living room which was not too fancy, decorated in warm yet mellow browns, reds and oranges was one of the most beautiful, Marie had ever seen. The bathroom was done in black and gray marble in a more of a contemporary style but still with a homey feel to it. This place was perfect, a dream come true for a single person moving out on there own, only problem was she didn't want to be out on her own. Her dream was still sharing the small bedroom at the mansion with the man she loved. She had tried, god help her she had, but she couldn't make the thoughts go away, and the pain of them seemed like it was going to consume her. Maybe it was the right thing to do, to leave him before he went back to Jean anyways, yet her heart was still screaming she had made a mistake. She closed the door to the bathroom and went to retake her place back on the comfy king size bed, when she heard a knock at the door. Her heart stopped beating, as hopes of Scott standing in front of her when she opened it telling her it was and only her he loved flooded her mind. Coming to her sense she shook the images out of her head, Jean would be home now, there was no way it could be him. No they were probable lost in one another arms right now, she told her self as she wiped the now fresh tears off her face and walked to the front door. When she opened the door, she almost went into shock, for she found the one person in the world she thought she would never see again standing before her. Marie rubbed her eyes again wondering if she had fallen asleep and was now dreaming, but as soon as she heard his voice she knew she wasn't.
"Hey, Kid." Logan said as he reached up and brushed a stand of her white strand from her drained and puffy face. Even with her face wet and swollen she was still the most beautiful creature he had ever set eyes on, and she was his. She knew it, he knew it and it was only a matter of time before she came to him to heal her broken heart. A heart that the Dick himself had broken, and while it hurt him to see her this way and made him want to rip the man to pieces, he was also thankful. Because without knowing it he had just made Logan's fight to win her back a hell a lot easier, now all he had to do is be there with her and wait.
Memories came rushing back and feelings mixed with all the emotions she was dealing with already where now overwhelming her. It was Logan, the one she had thought she had lost forever, the one person she had dream of being with for most of her life, her first love, her best friend. Sure even considering the fact that she hadn't seen or talked to him in over two years, she still and probable always will think of him as her best friend. God how she had missed him, maybe if he had stayed she wouldn't be going through this pain right now, because she would still be waiting for him to return the love she had always so freely given to him. She wanted to tell him everything, she wanted to ask him why he left that night, why he left her, she wanted ask him what the hell had happened, why he was finally home when she thought for sure she would never see him again, why he didn't call or write in the two years he was away. Yet her month wouldn't move all she could bring herself was cover her face as she started crying again. This was too much, too much too soon, and all she wished at that moment that she could fade away into nothing so that she didn't have to feel anything anymore, ever again. Then his arms where around her, holding her, and she could feel his warm breath in her ear as he whisper sweet nothings to her letting her know it would all be ok. Still all she could do was cry, and she felt her self being lifted from the floor and the next thing she knew she was lying on her bed with her head in his lap as she stroked her hair doing his best to comfort her. And it was working soon she drifted into the darkness of sleep that she so desperately need, only to have the worst nightmare she could have.
"I don't understand why? Why Scott, why can't you stay? You say you love me, you say I mean everything to you. So why are you leaving me!" Marie screamed at him as he packed his bags. Marie feeling weak in the knees then sat in the chair behind her to hold her head in her hands as she let her tears finally flow. "Dear god, he is really going to leave me." She thought to herself. She couldn't think, she couldn't see, she couldn't breathe, she couldn't feel anything but the pain it was as if the rest of her body had gone numb. It really did feel as if her heart were breaking for she was literally having pains in her chest that seemed to keep growing with sob she made, and all she could do was sit there and cry. He was leaving her, he was really leaving and she knew he was never coming back to her.
"Please, Scott, please don't leave me. . . You can't, I love you. . . I can't live without you; please. . . I promise we won't fight anymore. I promise you, we won't . . . Please god. . . Scott please don't do this. . . I will do anything. . . Please. . . " Marie pleaded as she rose to her feet and walked over to him and took his face in her hands, only to start putting small kisses on his cheeks in between her pleas. She didn't care if she was begging him; she would kiss his feet if he asked her to, anything to make him stay. "We promised forever, Scott. Forever remember ?" she whispered into his ear as she hugged him to her as if to try and make him stay by force but he carefully unwrapped her arms from him and put them to her sides.
Scott then laid his on Marie's arms and looked her in the face, before he began to speak.
"Rogue, I can't stay with you anymore, you know that. I'm not in love with you that way any more. Jean is the one I want I'm sorry. I have to go, I do love you and I always will but I have to go." With that said Scott let her go and grabbed the three bags he had packed off the bed and walked briskly through their small room and out the door.
Hearing the door slam shut Marie dropped to her knees and then fell to the floor.
She sat up straight, waking up to the same pain and tears that had just consumed her dream. Then she felt his hand on her shoulder, oh thank god it had all been a dream a horrible terrifying dream.
"Marie, dralin' you ok?" Logan asked as he pulled himself up to sit beside her resting a loving hand on her shoulder only to slide it down and rub her back.
With the word darlin' alone she would have known that it was Logans and not Scotts hand on her shoulder before she realized that it was true, it wasn't just a dream well most of it wasn't a dream anyways. And with the realization a renewed few of tears started as she turned and buried her face in Logan chest and let his strong arms hold her again. "No… No… I'm not… It hurt Logan… it hurt's so much…but it was the right thing to do... it was the right thing to do..." Marie sobbed more to convince herself then for Logan to hear.
"I know doll, but I'm here now and I promise you I will never leave you again." Logan said without hesitation, because he wouldn't leave her again. He needed her too much, and it took losing her to figure that out. But now that he had her back in his arms he was going to make fucking sure that was where she was going to stay.