Disclaimer: Sigh… I don't own any of the X-men. Marvel owns them.(Someday… they will be mine!) I do however own Dom (SCORE!) and Astral and Nicole/Mindfire.

Please be gentle! This is my first X-men fanfic! Reviews welcome, no flames! I burn easy.

I am so sorry I haven't posted! My computer was trashed and the stupid people working on it deleted all my stuff so I had to re write it all… GRRR….. So here's Chapter Ten and Eleven is on the way. Sorry if this Chapter is Kinda dull… I'm getting writers block. If ya'll have any suggestions, just say so.

Floppybelly- Welcome! I knew about the claw thing I just went along with kina how the movie is going, but thank you!

Lcm- I am sorry that I have been depriving you!

Wolvieluvr- thank you, thank you

TheOneandOnlyBarry- hello and thanks

Mm4ever2gether- yes I felt he deserved to be hit by a two by four, but slapping works too.

Bima- he so deserves it

Roganluvr- you aren't the only one with that phrase.

Dom snarled and caught both of her wrists and pinned her down to the mattress. "What the fuck was that for?"

Tears clouded her blue eyes. "For making me hurt for four goddamned years! For making me think you were dead! For making me think that I killed you!"

"I'm sorry, doll. I thought I was doing the right thing, by not being in your life."

"Well, you didn't. I thought I had killed you, Dom."

"Forgive me. I missed you."

"I missed you too," she said, quietly. "I'll forgive you if you get off me. I can't feel my legs and I can feel what I can only hope is your belt buckle pressing into my stomach."

Dom grinned and ground his hips against hers. "I was just getting comfortable."

He ducked his head down and lapped at the hollow of her neck, his hand coming up to cover her breast. She moaned and pushed on his shoulders.

"You can't just come waltzing back into my life, just like that Dom. I hate you right now."

"But you like it when I do this," his hand covering her breast squeezed, "And this," his mouth came down close to hers. "You like it when I touch you."

"I don't like being touched anymore. I haven't since your death…"

Dom tried to put his hand on her cheek and she jerked away. "No Dom! I don't want to be touched."

"Nicole," Dom sat up and raked a hand through her hair. "You learned to control it. I know you still can."

"You don't get it Dom. I don't want to touch anymore. I like being untouchable. It keeps my emotions safe!"

"You were so unhappy not being able to touch. Why give that up?" Dom asked.

"Because it killed someone I cared about. I had you in my head for a long time, Dom. I saw lots of things and had lots of feelings. Everywhere I looked I saw you in some way or another!" she said, angrily, tears coming to her eyes. "At every seedy bar I went to, every time I passed your room, every damn tine I closed my eyes I saw your thoughts for three months straight. I grieved and I hurt for a long time. Then… I… I moved on, Dom."

"What do you mean. I love you, Nicole. I want to be with you, not running around in the wilderness for the rest of my life. I want you." Dom took her gloved covered hand in his.

"What if I've got somebody waiting for me back at the mansion?"

Dom stopped and looked up at her. "Do you?"

"Yes."

"Who is he? That damn Cajun?"

"His name is Darryl. He's studying to be a neurological surgeon. We met at school in New York."

"What does he got that I don't?"

"He didn't run at the first sign of trouble."
"He's not a mutant."

"No."

Dom became very quiet and suddenly unsheathed his claws. She flinched. He bent down and sliced through her cast. "Touching me probably healed you right?"

She nodded as tears rolled down her cheeks. "Dom. I'm sorry."

"Don't be," he growled and left the room.

Dom shifted uncomfortably in the chair in front of Xavier's desk. He had barely been in Westchester ten minutes before the old man had been in his brain, telling him to come to his office. So now Xavier was staring him down.

"Are you trying to read my mind or something?" Dom asked.

"No, merely thinking how good it is to see you again. I have a proposition for you, Dominic. Since your father has such a large class load, what with physical education and the self defense classes. How would you like to take over his PE classes?"

Dom raised an eyebrow. "Why me?"

"It seems to be a job you'd be suited for and it seems you want to stick around, do you not?"

"I guess." Dom took a second to think. A job here meant more time around Nicole. That could be both good and bad. "I'll take it."

"Would you like to start immediately?"

"Sure."

Next thing Dom knew, he was standing in front of a bunch of kids in shorts and t-shirts.

"Who are you?" a blond girl asked.

"You're new gym teacher."

"Where is Logan?"

Dom shrugged. "If he's smart he's with his fiancée."

"Why are you here?" a boy with scales asked.

"I'm his replacement. What do you normally do in here?"

"Laps, jumping jacks, pushups… That sort of thing." The blond twirled a chunk of her ponytail around her fingers.

Dom grimaced and looked around. "Hey, do you guys know how to play soccer?"

Nicole slowly bit into her apple as she walked and skimmed through her books for her genetics class. As she passed the gym, she could hear the shouts of the kids inside. Logan must have let them have a free day for something. She paused at the door and watched. That's when she saw Dom. He was running down the length of the gym, chasing a soccer ball. His hair was pulled back into a small ponytail and his shirt left nothing to her imagination. He pulled back his foot to kick the ball and his foot went right through the ball, as it had became liquid.

"Natasha!" He turned and glared a blond girl. "I said no powers!"

"You're using your healing ability! I'm just leveling the playing field."

"No powers!" Dom looked towards the door and saw Nicole. He jogged in her direction. "Better be careful. You could get hit in here."

"I didn't know Logan took the day off."

"He didn't. I'm the new gym teacher." He eyed her book. "What are you reading?"

"Huh? Oh, a genetic book. For class."

"You said before you were in Medical school. What are you studying?"

"X-Genetics. It's a new field and I'm one of the first to be majoring in it. I didn't know you were teaching. "

"Yeah, Chuck asked me as soon as I got here."

"It's good to see you around here, again."

Dom palmed a basketball with one hand. "I guess it's kinda good to be back."

The entire gym class gave a collective sigh and Dom turned to snarl at them. "Get the gym cleaned up and hit the showers."

Nicole gave a chuckle. "I should leave you to your class."

"Wait. Have lunch with me," Dom blurted out.

Her eyes were sad. "I can't. Darryl's taking me out."

Dom's eyes dropped. "Okay."

He turned and sprinted across the gym cursing himself under his breath. He should just leave her alone. Let her be happy with Darryl. Nicole watched him and left the gymnasium, shaking her head.

Jubilee watched as some of the younger students hung the banner that read, Congrats Logan and Rogue over the stairwell. She glared at Dom who was lounged on the stairs smoking a cigarette. She sauntered over to his and put her hands on her hips.

"You could be helping. It is your dad's engagement party."

Dom shrugged.

"You know that is getting to be a pretty annoying habit. You've been back for two weeks now and all you do is sit around and mope because Nicole didn't choose you. You know that torn her up inside."

"She seems happy enough," Dom growled and motioned to Nicole who was out back helping Hank with the grill.

"For your information she is very unhappy that you aren't talking to her. You're her friend, Dom."

"She's got enough god damned friends if you ask me. You, the Cajun, Kit-Kat, and she seems real friendly with Darwin."

"Darryl."

"Whatever."

"Would you just get your head out of your ass for ten seconds?" Jubilee snapped. "She cared for you so much! It killed her when she thought she had killed you!"

Dom snorted. "Seems like she's more interested in Darwin right now."

Jubilee looked towards the window and saw Nicole running towards the tall blond man. "His name is Darryl. Be nice."

"No. He looks like a walking ad for the Gap."

Jubilee looked at Darryl in his khakis and pullover sweater and giggled. "Maybe, but she cares about him and if you love her then let her be happy."

Dom snorted. "How's that saying go… If you love them let them go. I'm going to go and find that boyfriend of yours for some pool."

He got up and stalked away and she whispered. "You forgot the rest, Dom. And someday they'll come back if they love you."

Nicole hugged Darryl. "Thank you for coming. I'm so excited for you to meet everyone."

"Meet too, honey. This place is amazing." Darryl looked around with his blue eyes. "So am I ready to meet your parents?"

"I dunno? Are you?" She teased.

Rogue saw Nicole with Darryl and tugged on Logan's arm. "Logan, her boyfriend is here. Time to meet and greet."

Logan looked over and scowled. "He's standing to close to her."

"Logan."

"What?"

"Be good."

"I don't think it's me you need to worry about. Dom seems pretty pissed today."

"He's be good. You need to set a good example. C'mon." Rogue dragged him over to Nicole and Darryl. "Hey you two. Is this the Darryl we've been hearing so much about?"

Nicole smiled brightly. "I was just getting ready to find you two. Logan and Rogue this is Darryl Walters, my boyfriend. Darryl is Logan and Rogue. They are the closest thing I have to parents."

Darryl shook both of their hands. "It's a pleasure. I've heard so much about you. This school is amazing."

Rogue nodded. "It sure is. I'm glad to finally meet you. Nicole told us you're studying to be a surgeon?"

"Yes, a neurological surgeon. My mother always wanted me to be a doctor. Oh, congratulations on your upcoming wedding."

"Thanks," Logan said, gruffly.

Rogue glared at him. "Why don't you two go ahead and go eat. Hank has got some burgers done now."

Nicole led Darryl away as he said over his shoulder, "Pleasure to meet you."

Rogue elbowed Logan. "You are so mean."

"I don't like the little suck up. He looks like a walking ad for the Gap."

Rogue giggled. "Logan!"

"What?"

"You are awful. I hope your son is nicer to him than you were."

"I wouldn't count on it, kid. Anyway, just relax. This is our day. Don't ruin it with worries about Dom and Nicole. They're big kids. They can take care of themselves."

Later that evening, Darryl and Nicole sat on the patio together. He took her gloved hand in his.

"I don't think your dad, Logan, likes me."

"Relax, he doesn't like anyone." Nicole chuckled.
"Yes, well, I felt very strong vibes of hate coming from him."

"Don't mind him. He can be a bully." She heard the crack of a pool ball striking another and grinned. "C'mon and meet Jubes and her boyfriend."

Darryl let her lead him inside to the game room. Dom was leaned over the pool table with a cigarette dangling from his lips. When she entered the room he looked up and scratched the cue ball.

"Fuck me," he growled.

"Living up in the wilderness, make you rusty, mon ami?" Remy chuckled.

"Nah, I got distracted," Dom took a swig of his beer.

Nicole wrinkled her nose. She hadn't expected Dom to be in here. "I'd like you guys to meet Darryl. Darryl this is Remy and Dom. Dom is Logan's son."

Darryl held out his hand to Dom. "So that makes you her brother?"

Dom stared down at his hand and blew a cloud of smoke into the air. "Hardly."

"Dom! Excuse him. Living in the woods has given him the manners of a mutt." Nicole glared at Dom.

"Sorry, doll. I'll work on that manners thing as soon as I get those damn table etiquette down."

She narrowed her eyes. "Dom."

"Truth is I don't give a flying fuck about meeting your boyfriend, anyway."

"Now see here. I don't think it's necessary to use that sort of language in front of Nicole." Darryl stepped close to Dom.

"I don't think it's necessary for you to be getting up in my face, Abercrombie," Dom snarled.

"Would you care to settle this outside?"

"Ladies first."

"Dominic Logan James!" Nicole yelled. "Why must you be such an ass?"

Dom stared at her. "I guess cuz I'm so damn good at it."

He swallowed the last of his beer and left the room, heading for Ororo's gardens. Nicole grit her teeth and took a hold of Darryl's arm as he tried to follow.

"No, let me go talk to him. I'll be fine."

"Are you sure, honey?"

She nodded. "Pay some pool with Remy."

He turned to look at the red-eyed Cajun. Remy grinned. "I'm stripes."

Nicole raced out into Ororo's garden and caught up to Dom near the maze. She grabbed his arm.

"What the hell just happened in there?"

"I just met your boyfriend, doll."

"There was no need for you to be so rude! He hasn't done a thing to you!"

Dom snorted. "I'm always like that."

"You did that on purpose! Dom, just because I didn't come leaping back into your arms doesn't give you the right to be so mean to me. We used to be friends. We used to talk. What happened?"

"I died, that's what happened."

"No. You got jealous of Darryl."

Anger flashed in Dom's eyes. "Jealous?"

"Yes."
Dom began to walk around her in a circle, staring at her. "Me?"

"Yes you."

He advanced on her and she backed up until she felt a tree at her back. Putting one arm on either side of her, he put his face close to hers.

"Jealous of you and Darryl?"

"Yes," her voice quivered.

"Why would I be jealous? I know what you want." His hands went to her hips. "You want my mouth on you, touching places you only dreamed of."

Slowly, his hands traveled up as he spoke, brushing the sides of her breasts. "You want my hands covering every inch of your body and my tongue licking a path…"

His mouth was dangerously close to her neck. He ground his hips against her. "You loved it when I did that. You want it all and most of all you want… me."

Nicole's eyes snapped open. "No, that's lust Dom. I may lust after you, but I love Darryl."

She pushed him back. "I was a stupid, childish girl with a crush on the man who saved my life. I didn't love you, I idolized you. You were just a child's crush. I'm too old for crushes. I love Darryl and he loves me. I don't want you anymore."

Dom stared at her in shock and pushed himself away with a snarl. "Then go to your fucking Darryl. I hope you have lots of Gap babies together."

He turned away and Nicole looked to the ground. "I'm sorry."

"You say that a lot. Get the fuck outta here."

Nicole brushed the tears from her eyes and ran away. Dom growled and punched the tree, hating himself.

"You damn fool," he muttered and began to walk away. "You should have just stayed dead."

On the other side of the hedge, Ororo stood, pruning shears in hand. Tears were streaming down her face as dark clouds formed in the sky. She dropped the shears and ran into the house, barely missing Scott and Logan.

"What's up with her?" Logan asked as the rain began to fall.

Nicole sipped her punch as she watch Logan and Rogue, dance their first dance as husband and wife. The wedding had been beautiful, with Scott as the best man, surprisingly, and Jubilee as maid of honor. Nicole had been a bride's maid opposite Hank, and now wished she could get out of the stuffy blue dress she wore. She also wished Darryl was with her, but he had family business to attend to.

She also wished Dom had been there, but there was no sign of Logan's son. He had made himself pretty scarce over the last month, only showing up for his classes. Nicole's eyes had searched the whole church, but no Dom.

With a sigh, she let her thoughts go back to the new couple. Rogue was staring up into Logan's eyes and playing with a lock of his hair. The smile on his face was priceless. She rolled her eyes and stepped near the window to the patio. Maybe if she looked hard enough, she'd see Dom.

Jean snuck outside to cuddle with her newborn son, Evan, who was born the day after the engagement party one month earlier. She noticed Dom seated at one of the tables, an empty shot glass before him.

"I missed seeing you at the wedding."

'I was there," Dom's voice shocked her. "I was in the back."

"Oh. It was a nice wedding."

"I guess."

"No cigarette?" Jean smiled.

"Nah, not since you got Scooter Jr. out here."

"Would you like to hold him Dom?"

"Uh…"

"C'mon, he won't bite."

Dom sat next to Jean and she placed Evan in his arms.

"He's small."

"Babies generally are. I look and Evan and I see the future, though. He's going to change the world. Maybe make things better."

"Probably… You want to know don't you?" Dom asked. "If he's a mutant?"

Jean looked away. "I do and I don't. I don't want the suffering for him, but I know if he is… He might change the way people think."

Dom was silent for a moment, studying the baby. Evan stopped the minor fussing he was doing and stared back. He handed him back to Jean. "Tell Scott, congrats… Mom and Dad too."

He started to walk away and stopped. "Jean… Evan is a mutant. Say your thanks."

Jean nodded as tears came to her eyes. "Good. I wouldn't dream of anything else."

Dom left her to her baby and was about to head back towards the mansion when he heard his name.

"Dom… Didn't think you'd show." Logan took a puff from his cigar.

"I was here. It's not like my dad will get married every day."

"Hrmph… Heard ya telling Jeanie that Evan was a mutant. You can tell?"

"I just kinda know when some one is… Well, congrats, pops."

"Where the hell do you think you're going? If I have to suffer through this, so do you!" Logan snarled and grabbed Dom by the arm and propelled him into the reception. Dom smacked into Jubilee.

"Whoa! Steady on, buddy. Where have you been? You missed the wedding."

"I was here. I didn't miss it," Dom said as he saw Nicole with Kurt and Bobby. "I'm going to go dance with Rogue."

Rogue smiled when Dom came to her side. "Hey!"

"Can I get a dance, mom?"

She laughed. "Of course you can. Just don't make Logan jealous."

He took her to the floor and began to dance with him.

Logan came back inside and chuckled when he saw Rogue and Dom dancing. He sought out Nicole, who was sitting, watching them dance. He sat next to her.

"Hey kid."

She smiled at him. "Hey Logan. Nice party, huh?"

"I guess. I'd rather be on the honeymoon already."

Nicole laughed. "Well only a few more hours and you'll be on your way to Alaska."

"I can't wait. Where's Dilbert?"

"Darryl."

"Whatever."

"He had family business."

"So go dance with Dom."

Nicole flinched. "Dom hates me."

Logan shrugged. "Seems like he's been avoiding you."

"I said some things to him I shouldn't have. He hates me."

Logan raked a hand through his hair. "I don't know what to tell you kid."

Nicole watched Dom dance with Rogue and sighed. "I just wish it was like before… before I thought he died. We were friends then."

Logan put his hand on her gloved one. "I know kid."

Dom stared over Rogue's shoulder at Nicole and Logan. His eyes went back to Rogue.

"I need to leave."

"Because of her?" Rogue asked.

"Because I want to!" Dom snapped. "Sorry… Congrats."

He dropped his arms and left the reception. Once he got outside he lit a cigarette and headed for the mansion. He was running again.