Chapter 11

Wolverine never figured Storm for an impatient woman, but he knew better after constantly telling her that they were almost at the very special place he had chosen for them to have breakfast. The fact that he had blindfolded her didn't help either. He was now carefully guiding her towards the spot he thought was the most appropriate.

"Logan, I feel ridiculous. Where are you taking me?" Wolverine couldn't help smiling at the thought that she was feeling a little vulnerable, a feeling that she obviously didn't like.

"Well, aren't you the same woman who was preaching to me about having faith in others last night?" His playful sarcasm didn't escape her attention.

"Yes, but how much longer do I need to have faith in you?" Hers didn't escape him either.

"Not much longer at all. We are here." He said, stopping her from taking another step and started to slowly take off her blindfold. Storm squinted as the sunlight hit her eyes with fury after having been in darkness for so long, but soon her sight cleared and she found herself looking at what seemed to be a piece of paradise. They were standing on the edge of a very high hill and from there, she could see the green grass full of multicolor wild flowers extend for miles. Long lines of leafy trees strategically aligned gave the place privacy, making them feel almost as if they were in their own piece of heaven. Another tree on the hill provided them with a natural canopy, the sunrays barely able to filter through it. There were birds flying around and singing joyfully. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath; the place was filling her with energy and life. Wolverine saw her enjoying herself fully, comprehending that Storm really was a daughter of Nature and felt satisfied with the decision he had made.

"By the goddess, Logan, this place is absolutely breathtaking." She said to him without opening her eyes, not wanting to let go of the sensations she was feeling.

"I knew you would like it, that's why I chose it." There was such beauty around him, but he couldn't take his eyes off of her. She caught him staring when she suddenly opened her eyes and looked at him smiling.

"Like it? I love it. When I opened my eyes, for a moment it was as if I was back in Africa. It is wonderful how Mother Nature has managed to overcome the progress of the big cities." She said feeling proud. "How did you find this place?"

"I stopped here when I was coming back from Alkali Lake. Still this close to the mansion, I had a few doubts about going back." Wolverine answered her but he wasn't sure he should have said anything.

"Oh?" He knew what she was really asking, but he didn't want to go into details bringing back the memory of doubts that were now a thing of the past. He hoped that she would let it go.

"Yeah. But this place sort of helped me clear my mind. It is quite a view." He looked around to admire their surroundings once again. Then he started laughing like remembering something amusing.

"What?" She asked finding his laughter suspicious for some reason.

"When I was here that day, I remember thinking that this was a view better enjoyed in the company of somebody special." Storm lowered her head becoming pensive. It was obvious to her that he would have wanted to be with Jean in this place instead of her. Even though she knew that was a wish of his past, it still bothered her a little. "A second later," He continued not seeing the change in her. "I found myself thinking, Storm would really like this place." Storm raised her head quickly when she heard him say it and he looked at her just in time to see her bewildered expression. "I know, I surprised myself too. That's why I stayed a while longer to sort that one out." He shook his head remembering.

"And what did you come up with?" He saw in her eyes how important his answer would be to her, but he didn't have one to give her.

"A headache. I guess it's just one of those things that remain a mystery forever." It was the truth. At the time, and after thinking about it for so long, he just decided to come back to Jean and forget that Storm ever sneaked in his mind. Little did he know that soon it was him who was going to be in the eye of the storm.

Wolverine spread the blanket he had brought on the floor and invited her to sit next to him. He placed a basket in front of him and started taking things out of it.

"And what do we have here?" Storm said sitting by his side.

"This is our breakfast." He placed the food in orderly fashion, trying to do things as well as he could. "We have some French toasts, cheese omelet, corn flakes cereal, fruit, coffee and," He picked up a bottle and modeled it for her. "…orange juice."

"Orange juice? And I did not even have to tell you this time." They shared a laugh at her comment. "Logan, you are aware I cannot possibly eat all this?" She told him raising her eyebrows.

"I know, I just couldn't choose. I'll eat whatever you don't."

"Thank you. It all looks wonderful. I really appreciate this." Storm said all the while smiling.

"You're welcome." Wolverine opened the orange juice and poured two glasses.

"Tell me, Logan, why did you do all of this? What is the occasion?" He handed her a glass and she took it without taking her eyes off of him. Wolverine became serious knowing it was time for him to say what he needed and wanted to say.

"I wanted to apologize to you about last night, you know, for trying to kiss you. I was a total jerk. You were right to tell me off."

"Logan..." He raised his hand like asking her to let him finish.

"No, Storm. You were right and I was wrong. I was just so afraid to love you, but after telling you what I told you last night, the love I felt for you washed away my fears. I just went a little too far too soon." She could see that he was really sorry about what he had done.

"It is alright, Logan. Really." She tried to ease his mind for she had already forgiven him. When he continued talking, he was calmer and she felt that she had succeeded.

"I also wanted to tell you that I'm definitely staying. You are a big part of the reason why, but I also want to help you and the Professor bring an understanding about mutants, whether with words or action. Of course, I rather beat some sense into them, but I guess I'll try your way first." Wolverine saw her smile at his little joke and that encouraged him to continue. "Storm, like you said, you have given me a home, your loyalty and your respect, and I want you to know that you have mine."

"Even Scott?" The playfulness with which she asked the question was an undertone to the seriousness of her warning from the previous night; a warning he had taken to heart.

"Yeah, even Mr. Beam." He gave her a half smile and she nodded, not paying attention to the nickname. Storm knew it wasn't the first one and that it wouldn't be the last one either, but at least this time, there wasn't any bitterness in his voice.

"Thank you, Logan. I am glad." Wolverine took a small box from his jacket pocket and handed it to her.

"Here."

"What is this?" Storm took it looking at him questioningly.

"Open it." He prompted her. She opened it to find inside a gold ring with two tiny dolphins on top of it.

"Oh, Logan, it is gorgeous." She said flabbergasted.

"Look at this." He leaned closer to her and pointed at the ring. "You see how the dolphins are entangled? They say dolphins are one of the most loyal animals. I thought the ring was an appropriate remainder of our pact." She stopped looking at the ring and gazed at him, not understanding what he was referring to.

"What pact?" Wolverine took her glass of juice and put it aside along with his. Then he took her hand in one of his and covered it with the other.

"I know what I can expect of you as a teammate and as a friend. I want you to know what you can expect of me." He paused for a reflecting moment while she observed him. "I promise you that from this moment, and until my dying breath, that you will always have in me the most loyal of friends. I will guard your back, I will guard your steps and even watch over your sleep. I'd love to be the reason of your laughter and be the one you count on if you're feeling blue. I want us to share the good and tough times or simply the comfortable silence." Storm was moved by his words, especially when he recited what she had said to him not so many hours ago. "This ring," He said, taking the ring out of its box. "…is the symbol of my promise. Wherever you are, if we are ever apart, you will know that I'm still with you. This is the pact I want to make with you." He studied her eyes, waiting for a response from her, a word or a gesture to let him know that she accepted his offer.

"You have my promise too." Storm finally said and he put the ring on the ring finger of her right hand. Their eyes met in silence, both understanding the extent of the promises they've made. Wolverine handed her the glass of juice again and lifted his own to make a toast. He thought a moment looking for the right words.

"To ever lasting friendship and loyalty." Storm lifted her own glass meeting his halfway, making a clink when they clashed.

"Cheers." They drank some of the juice to complete the toast.

Wolverine lowered his glass and stared at her once again, admiring her beauty. There was still something that he needed to say, perhaps the most important thing of all, and looking at her he knew that she was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. There was not a doubt in his mind or in his heart.

"There is something else." He spoke softly and saw in her face that she knew what he was about to say, and he could swear that in her eyes was a longing for his words. "I love you 'Ro. I truly love you and I hope one day you can reciprocate the feeling." She opened her mouth to respond but no words came out. "It's ok. You don't have to say anything. I just know that you are giving me a chance and I want to do things right by you. You loving me, it doesn't necessarily have to be now, it doesn't necessarily have to be urgent or perfect, even though I'm already dying to get lost in you." This time, he took both of her hands in his. He wanted her to see, to feel the truth that was in his heart. "I will do whatever I need to do to win your love. I would just like you to love me as if I was unique and be with you forever. But if you only were to give me a little piece of your heart, that would be enough, because it would be more than what I've ever known, and coming from you, more than glorious." Storm couldn't take it any longer. He was causing her heart to melt and she wanted to let him know that he had already started to win her heart. She freed her hands from his grip and took his face between them pulling him to her and she kissed him. She kissed him tenderly, she kissed him passionately and she kissed him lovingly. It took him a moment to realize what was happening, but when he felt her warm lips on his, he snapped out of his shock. He placed his hands on her waist to steady himself and returned her kisses in kind. Then, she stopped as suddenly as she has started.

"What…?"

"You earned it. And Logan, you are unique." Storm laughed a little at his uncharacteristic perplexity and feeling proud at the same time by the effect she had over him. Her laughter finally made him react.

"I still felt the electricity." He said looking himself over.

"Me too." She said smiling. Wolverine shifted his position and started to serve breakfast not knowing what else to do. She had initiated the kiss, but he knew well that that was all that was going to happen between them for the moment. However, that kiss was going to keep him happy for quite a while. They fell silent for a long time. It was a comfortable silence, but he wanted to make the most of his time alone with her, so he started a new conversation. There were still things he wanted to talk about.

"Do you remember yesterday, when you told me that there were many things I don't know about you?"

"Yes, I do." Storm answered, wondering about the question.

"Maybe now would be a good time for you to tell me a thing or two." Wolverine said, making a reference to his suggestion from the day before.

"Alright." She gave him a happy smile. "Perhaps, I should start at the beginning."

"OK." Wolverine shifted his body to make himself more comfortable.

"Well," She started. "My mother's name was N'Dare and she was a beautiful Kenyan Princess. My father was David Munroe and he was a photojournalist from New York. The moment they met, they fell in love…" Storm continued sharing her life's stories, never failing to amaze Wolverine.

They will share many things and treasure every moment because they have a pact. It is a pact between two friends with an unspoken hope of finding true love.

The End

A/N: Would you like a sequel? This story was originally thougth as a trilogy, but I don't know if people would be interested in me continuing with the story. So, let me know.