Grumpy
It had been a horrible day. Sure, she'd had bad days; speaking to frustrating men in the Senate, knowing Logan had left without saying goodbye, dying, but this had topped them all. It had started with her waking up to a horrible feeling that the day was going to be a bad one. Had it been a different day, she probably would have shrugged it off and moved on, but the way it churned her stomach – and the fact that it was her birthday – made her nauseous.
She soon realized why.
There wasn't a single soul left in the mansion. She knew the halls were too quiet and the grounds were unmoving, a quick mental scan confirmed that for her. Even Logan was gone, and without explanation.
And part of her was just plain grumpy.
Before Alkali Lake and its aftermath, Jean hadn't known the meaning of the word. She'd used the word to describe Scott, Ororo and at the rarest times, Xavier, but never herself. The fact that she felt rumpled and in a horrible mood was a testament to her stress.
By the time they got back, Jean was ready to actually injure someone.
Instead of actually physically injuring someone, she lashed out at the first person she saw. Rogue. The teenager had only wanted to apologize for not making their session and for not telling her she was going to miss it. She ended up with a harsh lecture about commitment and responsibility and left next to tears. Seconds later, Jean registered exactly what had happened and felt guilt creep up her spine.
Until Scott burst in.
She was pretty sure she'd never yelled at Scott in her life and it wasn't that he was in her lab so much as the angry reprimand that stemmed from his mouth. She waited out the tirade before launching into her own.
You have a lot of nerve coming down her, especially after everything you've done. And to do what? Yell at me for lecturing a student. You don't say two words to me for eight months and then chastise me for explaining, angrily, I'll admit, to a student things about responsibility? We can't baby these kids forever and you sure as hell don't have the right to tell me what I can and can't do. Get out.
She'd never seen him try to get away from anyone as quickly as he'd fled from her. She took twisted satisfaction in that fact.
She'd almost thrown the bear and it's note across the hall when she almost tripped on it, but picked it up, the sight of it already warming her heart. The bear was blue, a rain cloud on its stomach.
Grumpy bear. He believes being grumpy is silly.
Don't go far, because I know you want to. Don't worry, I already chatted with Rogue and I'm pretty sure Tibet heard your fight with Golden Boy.
Sit tight, I'll look for you when I get back.
Logan
Jean also hoped he had a damn good explanation as to his wordless absence.
Logan knocked tentatively on her door almost an hour later. She grunted out an enter and watched the handle turn slowly. Instead of Logan, a wrapped square, complete with a card and ribbon, poked through the crack.
"I promise not to bite hard," she teased, unable to stop the teary smile from stretching across her face. Logan's small smile put her heart at ease as he presented her with the object. Out of training, she opened the card first, withdrawing a colourful card screaming its message.
Happy Birthday.
Jean couldn't hold in her gasp of surprise a the gesture. Her newly happy eyes met his as he absentmindedly played with the curled ribbon.
"I'm sorry for not bein' here all day and not contactin' you," he said, letting his arm drape around her shoulder. Jean let him press a delicate kiss to her temple.
"I wanted to leave a note…" Jean wasn't listening. Her attention was focused on removing the ribbon and paper from the object. The paper fluttered from her grasp as she froze.
"Jeannie?" He'd been a little apprehensive about this gift and her reaction.
"Where did you get this?" she managed.
"You like it?"
"Are you kidding?" she shot back, flipping the square over in her hand. "Logan, this was published in the 1700s…"
"Yeah…" He really didn't know what to say. Instead, he watched her fingers trace over the embossed letters on the cover: A Midsummer Night's Dream. Jean adored that Shakespeare play for the whimsical beauty. The glee of having her own, next-to-original copy showed as clear as day on her face.
"I can't believe this." She launched herself at him, knocking him backwards on to her bed. He landed with a soft oomph, but hugged her back.
"You remembered."
"I couldn't forget."
"My birthday sucked," she said matter-of-factly, lifting her body off of his just enough to look him in the face. His hand began a soothing trail of her spine.
"I'm sorry."
"Where did you go?"
"Specifically?" She nodded.
"Golden Boy, Storm and I headed off to see Magneto. I think the prof is trying to convince him to come back to our side." She smiled.
"Fun, fun," she said sarcastically.
"Yeah, I was glad to hear you put him in his place."
"And everyone else?"
"Play day. I heard Rogue yammer somethin' 'bout Stomp." Jean nodded affectionately remembering her own trips to the theatre.
"I would have told you…" Jean shook her head, halting his explanation as she settled more comfortably on his chest.
Logan had never felt the need to explain himself before. He hadn't cared what others thought, and hadn't really apologized for missing anything or for doing anything that broke the rules. With Jean, he felt like he had to be different. He didn't mind apologizing or trying to explain himself.
The concern he felt for her was almost as foreign an emotion. Sure, he'd gotten attached to Rogue quickly after meeting her, but the girl had guts, something he couldn't deny. Jean hadn't done anything like that. Sure, she'd fought as hard as anyone else in the battles, if not harder, and had gained his respect when she didn't shy away from him after he almost strangled her. Still, he really hadn't meant to be concerned when he got back.
Apparently she was unforgettable.
"Read to me," she requested from his left shoulder.
"What?"
"Read to me?" He looked down at her comfortable head in absolute and utter confusion.
"Jean…"
"Please Logan? It's been a really bad day." When her voice took on that vulnerable tone and he could almost see her pout, he couldn't deny her anything.
"From this?" he asked, picking up her book where she'd dropped it, an arms length away from their bodies. She nodded and he flipped open the book and started to read. Half an hour later, Jean interrupted him.
"Logan?" she asked softly. "Why do you deal with me?" He knew she wasn't actually asking the question with the expectation of an answer.
"I've been nothing but a bitter, insecure pain. I don't know why you put up with me."
"Those that care don't leave you behind," he told her, his voice sounding much older than she'd ever heard it before.
"The hero is the one that stays," Jean quoted back, more in agreement than admonishment. He bounced her head gently against his shoulder to get her attention.
"Does that mean I'm your hero?" His tone told her he was teasing and she let herself grin and lightly slap his side where her head lay.
"Yeah… Maybe you are." They were silent for a few moments, his hand still stroking her back.
"Don't tell anyone, huh?" he requested finally. She giggled.
"Nah," she decided, stifling a yawn. "Couldn't have anyone doubting your bad boy persona " He chuckled, the sound vibrating through her body.
"You sleepin' okay?" he asked after that, having caught her yawn.
"Yeah," she answered. "It's been a trying day."
"That bad?" She nodded into her shoulder.
"I have to apologize to Rogue," she said, shifting the focus.
"She's okay," he assured her. "It can wait." She pushed herself up, resting her arms across his chest to support herself. She looked down at him from her vantage point.
"She's okay?"
"Yeah, she'll forgive you," he promised. "Talk to her tomorrow." She was really too comfortable to move and find Rogue anyway. She was pretty sure Logan could feel the tension seeping out of her muscles.
"Okay." She rested back against him. They settled like that an Jean had almost drifted off to sleep when Logan again nudged her awake.
"Dinner?" he offered, his own eyes bleary. She nodded settling against him again. He chuckled.
"You have to get off of me first," he pointed out teasingly. She groaned, but rolled off of him. Logan stood and offered his hand. She blindly groped at it, finally grasping the appendage.
"Feelin' better?" he asked with a smirk. She mirrored the expression.
"I'm just happy someone remembered it was my birthday." Through her voice was upbeat, her eyes showed the pain she was feeling. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder as they left the room, kissing her temple.
"Happy birthday," he whispered as they moved towards the kitchen.
