100 Challenges
31 Sunrise, 21 Friends and 63 Summer
By: Lily Handle
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Author's Note: I'm not dead! I'm just very, very, very busy. It's getting closer to the end of the year so my teachers are piling the work on and with all this stuff to do I don't have time to write. Well, not much time anyway. Here are a few more fics for the 100 Challenges. The Power of Hope is on the back burner until school is finished and I've got a break!
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(31 Sunrise)
Sun splashed across her face, causing Hope to close her eyes tighter as it woke her. It was Saturday, and there was no reason for her to be up at all. She was going to sleep in. Stupid sun. Of course, now that she was up, maybe she could convince Logan that they could make something worth while out of the morning. She rolled over to drape herself across Logan's chest and found only sheets. They were cold to the touch she noted as she sat up. Her first thought was that he had had another nightmare, but she dismissed it. If he had, she would have been woken up. Frowning she looked around the room. Nothing seemed out of place. Like usual Logan's room was sparse and eclectic. A smiling Buddha sitting underneath a wall mounted katana was not typical room decorations. Huh, Hope thought, where could he be? And she didn't like the feeling of waking up alone. Then she noticed the moving shadow. Following the shadow back to its source she saw Logan hadn't abandoned her, he was just out on the balcony, doing morning exercises. A kata, martial arts routine, but Hope wasn't knowledgeable enough in martial arts to know what style of martial arts it was. Instead, she curled her legs up and watched.
He was fluid. Like water. So smooth and steady. He never wastes a movement, she realized, watching him shift his weight and glide into the next position. She was a klutz, well, she could be. There were moments when she just couldn't manage to tell her left foot from her right foot. Sure, if she was dancing or doing a surgery she could be graceful. She'd never move like he did though.
Okay, she thought smiling, screw the grace, ogle the muscles. Of course he wasn't wearing a shirt. She figured he'd go without clothes completely if he could get away with it. I'd certainly let him, she thought with a satisfied grin. Mmm, and it all looked so fantastic in the early morning light. All bronzed and shining and for awhile, it was all hers. She got up from the bed and moved closer to the balcony doors.
He paused halfway through a move and raised an eyebrow at her. She took it as an invitation, opened the door and step out onto the balcony.
"Don't stop on my account, I was enjoying the show," She said, leaning against the door.
"Wanna join me?"
Hope snorted, "I don't even have the slightest clue what it is you're doing."
He smiled, "Just follow me."
"I'll try, but I'm betting you look better doing this than I do." Hope stood slightly beside and behind Logan and surreptitiously ogled his butt while copying his moves.
"You are bad at this," Logan said when Hope got distracted by his butt. He walked over to her and repositioned her arms, "If you think about it like a dance routine, you'll do better."
"And if your hands go any higher on my legs, it's no longer martial arts," She pointed out, glancing down at him as he repositioned her feet.
"Which wouldn't bother you a bit would it, doll?" He grinned up at her and she rolled her eyes, "But we'll have some fun later." She actually pouted. She had kinda hoped (hee hee Hope puns) that he'd changed his mind when he put his hands on her.
"Spoil sport," Hope muttered, and Logan got up from his crouch giving her a swift kiss.
"Don't worry, it'll be worth the wait."
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(21 Friends)
"Ah just have ta say, Hope, your Mama's gardens are always fantastic!" Julia Adelea, one of Hope's high society friends exclaimed.
"Michael always makes sure they're in top condition when he stops by to visit. They're really his pet project," Hope answered, smiling across the table to her friend. Along with two other local friends, Francine Dempsy and Heather Chesterton, Hope enjoyed the afternoon at the edge of the gardens in the gazebo. Shaded from the worst of the sun and being natural born southerners the group didn't notice the heat or humidity. They all wore comfortable cotton summer dresses in varying pastel colors and had wide brimmed hats perched on their heads. Hope had invited her friends for a small lunch, and now they lingered over ice tea and chatted casually.
"Speakin' of Michael, how is he? Ah haven't seen him around much lately," Fran commented, her sandal dangling from her foot.
"Well enough," Hope answered, "He's been busy with his farm, but he'll be in town around September."
"Always does like to winter here," Heather said, "Not much of a snow bird, unlike you dear."
"Snow does have a certain appeal."
"You know what else does," Julia peered over the top of her sunglasses, "That man." Hope looked over her shoulder to see who Julia was talking about and was a little surprised to find Logan walking towards the pool.
"He's not exactly your type, Jules," Fran said, "But he's certainly mine." The three giggled while Hope bit back a caustic retort.
"I don't think I've seen him around here before, who is he Hope?"
"Shhhs! He's taking off his shirt!" Julia giggled and indeed Logan was pulling his shirt over his head. Hope frowned. What in the world was he doing?
"Well, Hope?" Heather pressed, "Who is he?"
"His name is Logan," Hope muttered. And he's dead meat, she silently added.
"Oooh, how rugged." Hope glared at all three women when they dissolved into laughter.
"Oh, lighten up Hope," Julia waved a hand at her, "We're just enjoying the view."
Heather suddenly gasped, "He's getting in!" Hope swung her head around just in time to see Logan slide into the pool.
"Oh lordy," Fran fanned herself, "I've died and gone to heaven!"
"I have never seen cut offs look sooo good," Julia leaned towards Fran and also fanned herself.
"Hush!" Hope snapped, biting back jealously.
"Oooh, someone's got their panties in a twist," Heather raised an eyebrow, "It isn't like we'd actually go slumming after something like that. He's just eye candy."
"Slumming?" Now Hope raised an eyebrow, "What makes you think we would be slumming?"
"Honey, it's obvious he's not our class," Julia dismissed Logan with a wave of her hand.
"I might go slumming just to sink my teeth in that butt," Heather sighed, putting an elbow on the table and propping her chin in her hand to stare dreamily at Logan.
"Heather!" Julia gasped.
"Oh, don't deny it Jules, you want to find out just how firm those muscles are."
"They're quite firm," Hope said lazily, "And so's the rest of him."
Fran choked on a sip of tea, "Wh…what?"
"You heard me," Hope smiled like the cat who ate the canary, "He's just as good as he looks. Actually, he's better."
"You didn't!" Julia gasped and Hope nodded, "But…but…what happened to that man you were dancing with at the last party?"
"That's him," Hope pointed over her shoulder to Logan. Her friends goggled at her like she'd suddenly grown horns or something.
"Well, damn," Julia finally said, "I'm actually jealous."
Hope laughed, "You really should be."
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(63 Summer)
"Hey, Dr. C, why don't you join us?" Bobby called from the huddle. Hope looked up from her book and almost laughed. It was comfortable summer afternoon and the students were currently engaged in a haphazard football game. They had so far managed to talk Hank and Logan into playing with them. Hope had come out onto the lawn to watch and had taken shelter under a tree with a good book- The Princess Bride by William Goldman- and was enjoying the show. She was not; however, about to get up a play.
"No thank you, Bobby," She said easily, "I like it under the shade of this tree just fine."
"Aw, come on, we could use another player! Wolverine's killin' us!"
"Trust me, I won't help you at all with that particular problem," Hope chuckled, "I've never played football before."
"What!" The students exclaimed. Great, Hope thought, now I have everyone's attention. "How can you never have played football before?"
She closed her book and took of her sunglasses to coolly regard the students, "Simple really, I've been doing other things all these years."
"But…but…football is so…American," Ray goggled at her.
"Now you have to play. We can teach you!" Bobby said, looking at the other students for conformation. There was a general chorus of agreement and Hope started to vehemently shake her head.
"No, no thank you, really, it's not necessary," She said, getting to her feet as the students started towards her, "Honestly, I don't need to learn how to play football."
"What, Doc, ya scared?" Logan called to her, passing the ball between his hands.
Hope glared at him, "You're not taunting me into playing. Nor are you dragging me."
Logan studied her, "You know, I think this is the first thing you haven't tried."
"Have you seen the way these kids play? They're going to kill me if I try to get in there!" Hope pointed to Bobby, who was covered in mud and grass stains, "Do you know how many of them are going to have come with me down to the Infirmary after this is over?"
Logan chuckled, "Yeah, well that's half the fun."
"You have a very interesting definition of fun."
"Yeah," Logan glanced at Hank who grinned back. "Hey, squirts, scramble," Logan tossed the ball right at Hope and in natural reaction she caught it. "Wait for it."
"Why are you all looking at me like that?" Hope asked, looking nervously at the students.
"Wait for it."
"Hope, I suggest running," Hank called, "Very soon."
"What do you mean? What's going on?"
"Doc, just listen to him and run," Logan suggested, "Because you don't want to be standing there when I say go."
"He said go!" And like a tidal wave from hell, the students rushed her. Hope did the mature thing and threw the ball towards the students and plastered herself against the tree. Everyone paused.
"That's the first time someone didn't run," Hank said in surprise.
"Good move Doc."
"When I am no longer paralyzed by fear, I'm killing you both."
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Author's Note: Okay, back to the salt mines! muttergrumblebitchcomplain