Sych: It was a rather bad way, but it felt original rather than having Logan admit it and then all tears and tantrums.. etc. He reveals everything else too if you read on.
Chapter 15The front doors of the mansion banged back against the walls as they were kicked open. In from the swirling snow strode a figure, form dotted and dampened by the snowfall. Logan had proceeded to carry Madeline from his car, for the poor girl was still uncontrollably shaking, a mix of devastation and cold. Once they reached thebrightly decoratedhall, he gently lowered her to her feet. She made an awkward stumble before her eyes slowly looked up around the mansion. It's walls were glistening with lights and tinsels, the centre piece being the usual glitteringly large Christmas tree that stretched right up to the roof.
With a soft gasp of breath she looked up to Logan, "Is this the mansion?"
Logan just made a slow nod at her in reply. He gently took her shoulder, intending to steer her through to Charles. But before he could take a step he saw Storm come out of one of the corridors, probably intending to drift across the rug before going on into the West of the mansion. But she stopped when she saw the snow dotted pair and she turned slowly.
Madeline raised her eyes slowly to stare across the room at the white haired African. She made a small step back, now holding Logan's arm. Storm's eyes drifted from Logan to Madeline before a small smile seemed to drift across her glossed lips, "Welcome back Logan.." her eyes went back upon the girl, "And is this Madeline?"
A gruff sort of noise sounded from Logan in response, he glanced down to Madeline. Madeline then turned her head slowly back to Storm and said in a very soft voice, "Hello.."
"You look frozen, child," said Storm gently, walking towards the pair with graceful footsteps. Her soft eyes always glowed with a motherly warmth, and she gently rested her hand upon Madeline's shoulder, "I'm sure Logan will let Charles know you're here, but I think it is most important that you get out of those clothes and into something warm and dry."
"No.." murmured Madeline, clinging even tighter onto Logan's arms, "I-I don't want to."
Storm raised her eyes to Logan, "Logan?"
"Madeline.. I think Storm's right, you should go and get warmed up."
"But what about my mum!" she suddenly cried, "What are we gonna do?" she clutched tighter to Logan.
Logan sighed softly, taking her cold hands in his, "Madeline, there's nothing we can do.. you know that." He watched her gently, inspecting her face, how her eyelashes shimmered with tears, how the drops gently rimmed her eyelids before splashing down her faintly freckled cheeks.
Madeline shook her head gently, making a soft sob as she bowed her head into Logan's chest. Logan exhaled a soft sigh as he kissed her forehead, "Go with Storm.. I'll come and find you in a minute."
With still falling tears Madeline gently prised herself from Logan, she watched him sadly before turning away and walking slowly beside Storm. Storm glanced behind her as she walked, nodding her head gently in reassurance to Logan. But soon, they turned.. and disappeared down a corridor.
With a long sigh Logan ran his hands through his ruffled hair before turning and stalking down a different corridor. His pace was fast, legs strides far. It didn't take him long to come upon the room that was Charles's office, and he barged in without a thought for knocking.
"Oi, Charles. She's here," Logan announced somewhat rudely.
Charles looked across to the door slowly, lowering a sheet of paper and studying Logan for a moment. Beside him, was Scott, who too looked over to Logan, though he glared rather bitterly, his annoyance thoroughly dripping from his expression.
"I am having a conversation with the Professor," Scott said slowly, "Could you please wait?"
Logan raised his hand, now pointing viciously at Scott, about to deliver a nice little insult before Charles quickly intervened, "Scott, Logan," he said warningly before looking back to Logan, "Where is she now?"
Logan kept his angry glare upon Scott as he spoke, "She's gone with Storm to get some dry clothes."
"She? Who is this?" asked Scott, looking down upon Charles.
But Charles continued as if he hadn't heard Scott, "She feels very distressed, what have you told her Logan?"
Scott shifted his eyes sharply back upon Logan, who squirmed gently against the door, "I told her who I was last night.. and now she's accidentally found her mother's dead. But not from me.." Scott squinted his eyes gently across to Logan, trying to work out what was happening.
"Alright," Charles sighed, "I understand if Madeline doesn't want to see me, but please get her settled into a room."
"Ok.." said Logan softly, scanning his eyes around both Charles and Scott before he turned, grabbing the door handle.
But Scott was too curious, "Wait!" he said, "Who is this Madeline? Is she alright?"
Logan spun round again, looking to Charles angrily before he sighed and bowed his head. With the permission Charles gently looked to Scott, "Madeline is the daughter of Roxanne."
"Roxanne Bevelle?" said Scott with a raised brow.
"Actually it's Roxanne Jones, her name was disguised by Stryker," interjected Logan quickly, before falling quiet.
There was a slight nod of Charles head before he continued softly, "..And also the daughter of Logan."
Now this quickly took Scott by surprise, "What?" he said, now staring at Logan in disbelief, "You have a kid? With that woman who was being controlled?"
Logan narrowed his eyes gently. He didn't like the way Scott was putting his words, "Yes. I had a daughter with the woman who used to be my fiancé, is that too complex for you, shitbrain?" If Scott was going to answer, Logan never heard it, because he turned and exited the office, shutting the door loudly behind him before stalking down the corridor with long breaths.
Night was gently coming upon the clouded skies above the mansion. The stars above were being released and dotted across the sky; golden piercings in the inky blue sheet. The last remaining sunlight cast an orange glow across the mansion, spilling in through various windows and spreading dusty light over the rooms. In one of the rooms sat Madeline, alone since she had finally snapped and shouted for Storm to get away from her. It had been most accidental. She was sure she had even hit Storm, but her mind was in such a blur that she couldn't remember what had happened and what was being drummed up in her confused mind. She had managed to get a change of clothing, but then Storm had sat with her, making gentle conversation to try and gain her trust. But it hadn't worked.
Madeline felt rather ashamed now. Perhaps she should go and apologise to the woman. What was her name again? Oh yeah… Ororo. Nice name.
But then, the door softly creaked. Madeline quickly raised her head to stare at the opening door. She remained curled up against the pillows, sat upon the duvet. She didn't move. Ever so softly, a figure walked in, and with the faint light emitting from the windows Madeline saw who it was, Logan. She managed a very faint smile at him. She was becoming used to the idea that this was her father.. it still felt surreal at times. But this was the man in her photo.. this was the man who took part in her creation. If she had finally found him, she shouldn't turn him away. He would now be here when her mother wasn't.
She was roused out of her thoughts when he spoke. "Are you alright, kid?"
"Not bad.." she murmured softly, still looking over to him.
Slowly Logan closed the door and walked over to her. He came round her side of the bed, sitting down gently beside her curled up form. He stared down at her, watching how her eyes sparkled in reflection to the sunlight, "I'm sorry about last night.."
"It's alright," she whispered, lowering her head back upon the pillow, "I was just.. shocked.."
"I know," murmured Logan, "I should have been more careful.. and I should have told you about your mum.."
"How did you know?" asked Madeline softly as she watched him.
Logan's eyes slowly went upon her, and he swallowed nervously. This was it. This would be the next point where she was going to push him away. "I was there.." he said softly, "It was on Mount Rundle." He was going to pause to let her respond, but he didn't want to, he wanted to quickly tell her everything before she could run away, "Roxanne was under control by a guy called Graham Stryker. I won't go into detail about it, but she was assigned tasks by him with involved in her coming down here and doing.. horrible things to us. We eventually twigged that she wasn't acting on her own accord and went up to Canada, following her. I went in.. found her.. but that Stryker was so determined to kill us both." He paused for a small moment, watching fear and shock creep into her soft eyes. He had to continue, there was no going back, "And.. he shot her.. but he had also set the building to detonate.. and we couldn't get out in time.. it exploded.. and we were thrown out.. and then we fell off the edge of the mountain.. and.." he stopped, lowering his head slowly to his hands, he couldn't look at Madeline in the eyes no more, ".. and then.. she died."
"Mr. Stryker was her boss.." said Madeline softly, "She's been friends with him for ages, why would he have tried to hurt her?"
Logan shook his head gently, his eyes still hidden, "That Stryker family are nothing but mutant hating bastards.." he didn't even flinch to his swearing, for he meant it with all his strength. "The only reason I left you and your mother was because of William Stryker."
"You mean you didn't just leave because you didn't love my mum no more?"
"No, God, no," gasped Logan softly, "Apparently, Stryker took me in, he pretended to be my friend before eventually submitting me to his experiments. My memory was erased.. I couldn't remember anything about my life before the experiments. But now.. things are coming through that fog of nothing."
Softly Madeline sat up, leaning closer to him, "My mum thought you had left because you didn't love us no more." She lowered her head gently, "I can't believe someone would do something like that to a person.. make you forget everything. An' we thought you didn't love us."
Logan gently took hold of her nearest hand, his eyes slowly lifting and watching her, "That ain't true," he said softly, "I loved you both then just as much as I do now.. and I hate the Strykers so much for what they've done to us."
Softly he raised his arms gently, pulling her closer to him and enveloping her in his strong embrace. Madeline let out a soft tremble, tears creeping from her face again as she scrambled closer to Logan, she pressed her face into his neck, seeking his warmth like she was a child again, just wanting a hug from her father.
Blake turned his head slowly, the sleek ferret stretched out majestically upon the windowsill. He had been watching the outdoors, unmoving, his ears gently flinching to the sounds. Now he gently stood to his feet, scuttling gently forth and jumping off the window ledge, landing in Madeline's lap. He curled up tightly in-between the embrace, snuggling his head against her thigh. Madeline gently rested a hand upon Blake, softly stroking his neck as she looked down gently, resting her head off Logan.
A good few minutes of silence passed before Logan spoke up softly, "It'll be Christmas soon," he whispered, "And this will be the first Christmas I've spent with somebody dear for the first time in fifteen years."
Madeline gave him a watery smile, hand rubbing tears from her eyes gently, "Nice present, huh?"
"The best ever," he whispered with a small smile, kissing her forehead gently before holding her close again.
These chapters are coming out fast cos I'm on holiday now, woo!