Disclaimer: I don't own anything, sadly, but hey, if Marvel's ever looking to just give some of their share away, I'm always open to freebies.
Sidenote: The thought of the X-Men playing baseball just cracked me up. Ya'll may not find it quite as funny as I did/still do, but I hope so. I was just missing playing softball at the time and wrote my own pinning into the story, I hope that's okay with ya'll and that you enjoy it! After this there's only one more chapter left and then I'm taking a break to write my own original stories, quite scary! Anyway, enjoy the chapter!
The next day's activities had to be canceled due to much needed rain that Storm had been adamant about letting happen on its own. We had moved the cookout inside, making it a cook-in instead. Scott argued with me about it for five minutes before conceding, doing so only because Jean told him that I was right and that he was being childish. After eating from our 'cook-in', Logan and I went to the den to watch TV. 'Back To The Future' was on and I insisted that we watch it, because the two things you have to do on the fourth of July is first of all; attempt to eat more food than humanly possible and second; watch at least one of the three 'Back To The Future' movies. When he asked why, I said that the first one was obvious and that the second one was because they always play one of those movies during the holidays. He still didn't get it, but watch it with me anyway.
"Do you know how to play baseball?" I asked during the commercial break.
"Yeah, why?"
"Because I've got a jones in my bones to play,"
"A jones in your bones?" he asked with a cocked eyebrow.
"Yeah, I'm turning into my mother, whatever. Let's get some people together and play,"
"It's rainin'," he deadpanned.
"What, are you a weather man now? So what if it's raining, it'll make it all the more fun, right? Come on, please?" I asked, pouting my lips.
"All right, fine, I'll go talk to Scoot and see if he's got stuff to play with,"
"Yay, I'm happy now," I said with a smile, clapping my hands together.
He looked down at me after standing from the couch. "Really?"
"Yeah," I answered, standing up beside him.
"That's all it takes to make you happy, playin' some game outside?"
"Well...yeah, I haven't played in a long time and I feel really good today. I've heard like, ten voices altogether throughout the whole of the day, so I'm just feeling fantastic and really excited and like I should be outside doing something,"
He nodded his head at me. "All right, let's go talk to Scooter, then,"
"Come on Bobby, watch the ball, you got it!" I yelled to Bobby through the fence of the baseball field. Bobby was on my team and he was batting. He had a two-three count and there were two students on base; one of first, the other on third. Scott pitched and Bobby hit it, sending it to right field where a very surprised Storm was running to try to catch the ball.
There was just something amusing about watching a team of mutants who wore skintight leather suits and save the world for a living, be so bad at baseball. I guess when you're so good at so much; you have to eventually suck at something. Too bad for Scott that he seemed to have picked them.
"Nice hit Bobby, you got it, go to second!" I yelled as one of the students, Chris, ran home and got us another run. Bobby stopped at second as our last player on the field, Stephanie, ran home. We were officially ahead by four.
"Okay, Logan, it's your turn," I said, turning to Logan who was looking through the bats.
I was our team captain and had picked Logan as my first player. Everyone else assumed that I would, except for apparently Scott, who didn't realize the disadvantage to his team by me having an extremely strong, fast runner on mine.
Logan picked a bat and entered the cage, much to the cheers of the girls on both teams as well as the ones in the bleachers. After being out in the rain for nearly half and hour, his already tight T-shirt was clinging to every muscle on his chest. And let me tell you, that ain't not bad.
"Come on Logan, bring my husband home!" Rogue called from the stands, where she was sitting beside Professor Xavier underneath his large umbrella, with Joey in between them both, looking quite pleased with all of the excitement.
I chewed on the end of my lip as I watched Logan take the right side of the base and positioned himself to bat. Seeing that Storm would probably get another hit, one of the male students who was playing right center, switched with her.
Nearly all of the girls were catcalling him and he looked over at me and winked. It never ceased to amaze me that still after all those months, him winking at me still made my heart flutter.
"Bring Bobby in, come on, you got this one baby!" I yelled to him through the wire fence and everyone laughed. I wasn't very loud person usually, I would normally only yell when in an argument, but I believed in being very vocal when it came to sports, especially when it was my team.
"Stop yelling, I'm trying to concentrate!" Scott yelled to me from the pitching mound.
"It's not my fault that you suck at being a captain and don't have any team spirit," I called back, to which everyone laughed again.
"Are we playin' a game or not?" Logan asked, stepping back from the plate and looking at Scott then to me.
"Yeah," Scott said.
"Sorry," I apologized.
While Logan was looking away, Scott stuck his tongue out at me and I rolled my eyes. Yes, these were the people who were trying to save the world. Someone please help us.
Scott threw a perfect pitch and Logan, not allowed to use his full force, hit the ball. He knocked it right by Ororo, who caught it, but was so surprise by it, did a Charlie Brown and actually dropped the ball. By the time she got it in, Bobby had run home and Logan was on third.
"Nice hit Logan," I called. "Who's up next?"
"It's your turn darlin',"
"Oh, right," I said, grabbing a bat and entering the field.
"You said that I was a bad captain, I at least know my own team's lineup," Scott said to me.
"Stop being mean to me," I said with a smile, pushing my wet hair from my eyes, where it had plastered to my face from the still falling rain.
"Come on Layla, you hit this and we're six ahead," Bobby called to me.
"Right, no pressure, thanks," I joked, stepping into the batter's box.
Scott pitched, too low; ball one. Another pitch, another ball, outside. Third pitch, looks like a ball, strike one. One more pitch and it looks perfect. I swing, make contact and hit it right over Scott's head and right past the student he picked to play shortstop. As it passed by Storm, it dropped and rolled to the fence. I never ran so fast in my entire life. I was running home, I was nearly there when Scott reached to throw the ball to his hind catcher, Sean. I wasn't going to make it if I kept running the way that I was, it wasn't fast enough, so, being the 'smart' person that I am, attempted to do something that I hadn't done in years; I slid into home base. Sadly, it wasn't fast enough either as Sean both stood on the base and tagged my leg with the ball, just in case. I stood from the ground; I was covered in mud and out of breath.
"Sorry Miss Jameson, that was a nice slide, though," Sean apologized, tossing the ball back to Scott.
"Don't be sorry, you're supposed to get me out," I said. "Good play,"
"Thanks,"
After that, one of my players, Allison, struck out and it was our turn to take the field. Scott's team was better at batting and running than fielding, so they quickly caught up with us. At the end of our seven innings, the rain was still going as Scott's team won nineteen to fifteen. Once everything had been found and packed up, everyone went inside, except for me.
"Hey, don't you wanna' go in and dry off?" Logan asked me once he realized I was no longer following him to the house.
"No, I think I'm going to stay out her for a little while longer,"
He walked back to me and placed his hand on my cheek. "I'm sorry we didn't win," he said.
"I don't care about winning," I said, moving his hand and kissing it. "I just wanted to play. I had fun, I miss doing this kind of stuff since I've grown up,"
"What kind of stuff?"
"Throwing together a game of baseball and playing out in the rain. It's like the older I get, I lose track of having fun. But today has been fantastic, getting wet and muddy and everything else has been…" I said, thinking for the right word letting out a sigh. "Kind of therapeutic, I guess,"
"I'm glad you had fun then,"
"Thank you for being a good sport and not charging the field to kill Scott when he accidentally hit me with the ball,"
"I wanted to,"
"I know you did, that's why I'm so proud of you,"
He picked up the black cross from the necklace he had given me so many months before. "Are you gonna' stop wearin' this when you don't need 'em anymore?"
"No, because you gave it to me and I'm never going to stop needing you,"
He leaned down and kissed me. "I could get used to that," he smirked.
I smiled up at him, watching the rain drip from the end of his nose. "Good, because you couldn't squirm your way out of it if you wanted,"
"Well, it's a good thing I don't want to then, isn't it?" he said, pushing the hair from my eyes. "You're so beautiful,"
I smiled at him and blushed. "Thank you,"
"I mean it darlin', you are,"
"I believe you,"
He kissed my forehead. "You're beautiful and you're mine," he whispered.
"I've always belonged to you, it just took me a little longer than you to figure it out," I said. "Thank you for waiting on me."
"You're worth it baby, you're always worth it," he murmured against my forehead.
There were those few tender moments with Logan that made my heart melt. He was always nice to me but there were times when he could be so sweet, almost out of character sweet, and I cherished those times with him because I knew that I was the only one to witness his actions. I was the only one he let his guard down for, the only person whom he felt completely comfortable around to be his whole self, to say how he felt and that knowledge meant more to me than anything he could ever say. I loved him, with every fiber of my being. I'm not sure I fully understood what people meant by that when they would say it, but when I was with Logan, I got it. Everything inside of me, every part of my body, it all came alive at the thought of Logan and the first time it happened, I knew I was in love with him, and every time it happened since then only confirmed it for me further.
It didn't take Logan long to talk me into going inside to take a hot shower. While I was in my room showering, Logan went to his. When I was through, he was already in bed watching TV.
"What are we watching?" I asked, climbing in beside him and laying against his chest.
I love the feeling of just getting out of the shower and climbing into bed. It always feels so warm and comfortable.
"The Great Escape," he said and I raised a questioning eyebrow. "Steven McQueen,"
"Never seen it,"
"We gotta' get you caught up, darlin',"
I laughed. "I'll take a day to watch your movies if you take a day to watch mine.
"Like what?"
"Steal Magnolias, Fried Green Tomatoes, all the good ones," He let out a strangled growl. "If I have to watch all your western, action movies, then you have to watch all of my southern, romantic movies,"
"What about a southern action movie, I could do that,"
"Nope, no compromises," I watched the movie as solders pulled themselves on a makeshift pulley through an underground tunnel. "What are they doing?"
"Escaping,"
"Which would explain the name," I laughed. We were quiet for a while, just watching the TV as he played with my hair. "Have you ever…"
"Have I ever what?"
"Promise not to make fun of me?"
"I'll try,"
"Gee, thanks," I said sarcastically. "Have you ever wished you had wings?"
"Why, you wantin' to fly away or something?"
I turned and looked up at him. "Not right now," I said, letting out a sigh. "But I have before, yeah. Wouldn't it be nice to just be up in the sky, above the clouds, no sound, nothing but you and the sun up there?"
"And airplanes," he joked.
"I would go somewhere without planes,"
"If that's what you want, then I wanna' be there with you too,"
"Good, I would be lonely without you,"
"He wouldn't miss you though, because he doesn't care for you like you do for him. You're stupid to think that he could. He doesn't want an attachment like you; you're too clingy. He needs to be free, everyone knows that, but you force yourself on him still. Just let him go, stop bothering him and don't ask him anymore stupid questions," I heard a voice in my head say loudly.
I shook my head, trying to shake the thought from my mind.
"You all right?" Logan asked, looking down at me concerned.
"Yeah, it's just a little bit loud up here," I said, tapping a finger to the side of my head. "It should calm down in a little bit, though."
He cupped my face in his hand. "I wanna' know how you feel,"
"No, trust me, you don't,"
"Yeah I do, I hate not knowin' what you're goin' though,"
"It's not fun, I wouldn't wish for anyone to go through this, especially you,"
He wrapped his arms around me as he pulled me closer to him and it felt as though he were trying to meld our bodies together, trying to make me part of him. I took in the feeling of his arms holding me, the smell of his cologne, the rhythm of his chest as it would rise and fall with his steady breathing and prayed that no matter what happened to me in the future, to let me be able to remember that time for as long as I lived. I knew there was no such thing as perfect, but that was about as close to perfection as there could ever be.
I woke up and rolled over, expecting to see Logan beside me, but he wasn't. A quick glance at the clock proved it to be nearly seven in the morning. I sat up and saw that there was a note on his pillow. I then picked it up and opened it.
"Layla,
Had to run out for something, be back before breakfast, go back to sleep,
Love you,
Logan,"
I smiled and pressed the note against my chest as I slid back down into my bed. What in the world was so important that he had to run out at six in the morning to get?
I curled up in bed and wrapped the covers all around me. It took me a while to get used to sharing a bed with someone; I liked to spread myself out like a starfish when I slept. Logan wasn't exactly shy about kicking back and making himself comfortable in bed, either. To begin with, we would usually fall asleep together and wake up with an elbow in each other's ribs. Then we slowly became used to each other and stopped beating one another while we slept. Then as I lay there, I realize that I've not only gotten used to having him there beside me, but the bed feels lonely without him and I miss him.
The sun had yet to pour itself through my window and so there was only a small blue light of the early summer morning shining through. The temperature was perfect with the air conditioner on and being wrapped up in my blankets, it was a comfortable warmth that I wish Logan was there to curl up to and share it with. There was only a fuzz of noise in my head and everything out in the hall was quiet. There was a calm and I slowly ebbed back to sleep. When I next woke, Logan was lying on his side, propped up on his elbow, looking down at me. I smiled up at him and let out a sigh.
"You're back," I stated, my voice still groggy with sleep.
"Yeah," he said simply.
"Where did you go?"
"I had to go get something,"
"What?" I asked and he quirked an eyebrow down at me. "Oh, come on, tell me,"
"I can't,"
"Now you sound like me," I joked and the faintest of smiles danced across his lips. "Why can't you tell me?"
"'Cause it'll spoil the surprise,"
"What surprise?"
"Now, I can't tell you that either darlin',"
"When are you going to surprise me then?"
"If I told you that then it wouldn't be a surprise, now would it?"
"But what if I want it right now?" I asked, faking a pout. He didn't respond, he only dropped his head and lowered his lips to mine, giving me a kiss. "Do I get it now then?"
"You have to wait," he said, whispering into my ear. He raised his head and smirked at me. Condemn that smirk to Hell because I will do nearly anything he say when I see it.
I let out a frustrated sigh. "Okay, fine,"
He kissed my cheek and then let out a low growl when there was a knock at the door. "What do you want?" he barked.
"Well, uh…are you busy?" I heard Scott sheepishly ask from outside and I couldn't help but giggle.
"Yeah, go away,"
"Logan, be nice," I said. "You can come in Scott,"
The door opened slowly and Scott stuck his head through the crack. "I have to go down to Jonesborough, Tennessee,"
"Good for you, do you need someone to hold your hand while you're there?" Logan asked sarcastically.
"No, I came to ask Layla if she knew where it was at,"
"Have you never heard of a map?"
"Yes I have, but guess what? You're going with me, so suit up,"
Logan let out another growl but stood from the bed and went to the closet to get his uniform. "How long's this gonna' take?" he asked.
"We're hoping just a week," Scott answered, pushing the door open further and stepping into the room. "Do you happen to know where Jonesborough is, by any chance?"
"Yeah, I do actually," I said, sitting up in bed. "It's just outside of Johnson City while is above Knoxville,"
"Above where?" he asked with a slight smile.
"If you're making fun of how I say Knoxville, then you can just get over it. I'm from the south and that's how most of us say it," I said. I pronounced 'Knoxville' 'Knoxvulle' and was only teased about it when I was in the north. Yankees.
"I wasn't make fun of you, I was just clarifying what you said," he lied, he smile spreading wider. "How far away from Johnson City is it?"
"About twenty minutes I guess, depending on where you're at. I always went up instead of down, so I'm not sure how that'll work out for you, but it shouldn't take too long."
"All right, well, I've got to go put on my uniform and get the jet ready, so I'll see you later, thanks,"
"Okay, you're welcome; see you in a bit,"
He let me with a smile as he walked back into the hall and shut the door behind him.
"I can get outta' this if you want me to?" Logan said, waiting in the doorway of the bathroom holding his uniform.
"No, I'm okay now, you can go,"
"Scooter said we're gonna' be gone for a week, probably longer with as slow as he is,"
I gave him a smile. "You would stay here and give up going out there and fighting bad guys? The only thing that you've hit in like, three months had been the punching bag. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't you a slightly aggressive man who likes to take his anger out on things? And aside from that, you've barely left my side since you had to come home early from your last mission; you're a guy, I want you to spend time with other guys or you're going to go crazy. I'm already there; I don't want my little Wolvie to have to fight for his sanity, too,"
"You're not crazy darlin', and I don't care that I spend all of my time with you,"
"Maybe, but you have to admit that you would like to fight someone in spite of having to leave me here for a few days," I said.
He ran his hand back through his hair, his thought lines appearing on his forehead. "Who's gonna' watch out for you?"
"Well, I'm doing good, you know that, but if you want someone to keep an eye on me then Jean and the Professor can keep track of me at night. How's that?" I said and he raised an unsure eyebrow at me. "Okay, I admit it; I'm just trying to get you to leave so I can have the bed all to myself again,"
He knew I was only joking and he laughed. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah, you need this,"
"I don't like leavin' you, though,"
"Well, you can call me whenever you miss me and remember; it's only supposed to be a week,"
"I don't know,"
"Look, if you don't want to go, don't go, but don't not go just because of me, don't let me hold you back from doing something you want,"
"You're not,"
"Yeah, but I feel like I am. I feel like I stop you from doing a lot of things, I don't want you to give up your life just because of me,"
"I didn't give up my life Layla, you're it,"
I smiled and felt a small blush creep across my cheeks. "You had a life before me, certainly?"
"I didn't care too much for it,"
I stood and walked over to him, wrapping my arms around him to his back, I hugged him. I placed a kiss on the spot where his neck met his shoulder and he let out a low growl. I felt it rumble through him and then end with a sigh. "I love you Logan, I honestly don't know how to tell you any other way than that. You mean so much to me, you've taken care of me through everything but I want you to take care of yourself now, okay?"
"How's goin' on a mission with Scooter takin' care of myself?" he asked.
"You get to hit things and use your claws, but not on Scott mind you, and I know that makes you happy, and doing something that makes you happy is going to keep you from getting tense and going crazy, hence taking caring of yourself," I said, looking up at him. "Do you remember last Thanksgiving when you threw Bobby from the balcony into the swimming pool?"
"Yeah," he said, blinking down at me.
"I don't want you to be stuck up in here until you're ready to actually kill Bobby or Scott or any of the other guys. Go out and get some bad guys instead, yeah?"
He let out a heavy sigh. "Yeah, alright,"
"Okay, go put on your uniform and then I'll walk down to the jet with you and see you and Scott off,"
He leaned down and skimmed his lips against mine before kissing me. "Oh, I'm gonna' miss you darlin'," he breathed against my mouth.
"I know, I'm going to miss you too, but it's only a week,"
True, it was only a week, but looking at it in time, a week had never looked so long.
Once Logan had changed and packed some of his things together, we walked down to the jet. The Professor, Dr. Grey and Scott, also in uniform, were already there and waiting. Jean was telling Scott goodbye and Logan threw his bag over by his. He then grabbed me and pulled me to him, hugging me.
"If you need anything, or need someone to talk you outta' something, I want you to call me, all right? I don't care what time it is, if it's three in the mornin' and you wanna' talk, call me,"
"I will, I promise," I said, pulling back some so that I could look up into his eyes. "You too, you know? If you want to talk I want you to call me,"
He nodded his head. "Okay," he said, placing a kiss in my hair.
"And here, I want you to take this," I said, pulling a small cross necklace over my head.
"Baby, I can't take that, you need it,"
"I've got three others on right now and the rest are in my room if I need anymore," I said, slipping it on around his neck and tucking it in underneath the collar of his uniform. "It'll take care of you for me and bring you home safely,"
"I thought that was Scooter's job?" he asked with a bit of a smirk.
"Yeah, well, sometimes people need a little bit of help with their jobs and I don't want to take any chances with you,"
"You ready Logan?" Scott asked, walking over to us.
He let out a frustrated sigh and looked over at him. "Yeah,"
"Alright, let's go then," he said, patting him on the back and walking to the entrance of the jet.
I stepped onto my tiptoes and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Don't get annoyed with him just yet; you've got to be able to work with him still,"
"I know,"
"Okay, be careful, I love you,"
He dropped his lips to mine and gave me a kiss. "I love you too Layla, just…don't do anything while I'm gone, all right?"
"I won't, don't worry about me, I'm going to be okay,"
He hugged me and gave me another kiss before joining Scott on the ramp.
"Bye Layla," Scott said. "We'll see you when we get back from 'Knoxvulle',"
"You know, I don't think it's a wise idea to be making fun of me when you're going to be locked up in a jet with my boyfriend," I smirked. "Just a thought, though,"
"He won't kill me,"
"And why are you so sure of this?" I asked.
"He doesn't know how to fly the jet; I do,"
I laughed. "That is a very good point. Ya'll take care of yourselves, be good and try to get along for just a little while, yeah?"
"We will, bye,"
I waved at them. "Bye," I said, watch them both turn to walk up the ramp. "Oh and Logan?"
"Yeah?" he asked, turning back quickly to look at me. I'm sure he thought that there was something wrong and the look on his face seemed to show sure of it.
I smiled at him. "Your butt looks fantastic in that uniform," I said with a wink. That got a smirk out of him.
"Let's hit it Summers," he said, smacking Scott on the back, only much harder than Scott had him earlier.
"How is it that we managed to fall in love with the two most immature men on the planet?" Dr. Grey asked me after we had seen the jet off and were making our way back to the upper levels.
"Must be their devilish good looks and boyish charm," I laughed. "They're not too terrible each of them by themselves; it's just when you put them together that they get so unruly,"
"Unfortunately for everyone else, they are together for a great deal of time," Professor Xavier said as he wheeled beside us down the hall.
"Couldn't you interfere with them somehow and make them get along?" I asked.
"Not without them knowing about it, I'm afraid," he answered.
"Oh well, I suppose I would miss it if they were to really stop bickering," I said.
"You would?" Jean asked.
"You have to admit, it is slightly entertaining at times,"
"Only at times," she smiled.