Daydream

Jean lifted her face to the warm ocean breeze, smelling the salt on the air.

"Jean." She looked up, following the strong arm that held the glass of iced tea in front of her. She shifted on the lounge chair.

"Thanks Logan." Her left hand reached for the offered glass, her ring finger glinting gold and sparkling in the sun. He leaned in and pressed his lips to hers quickly.

"You know, I never thought I'd be in Mexico for my honeymoon," Jean said, closing her eyes against the sun.

"I never thought I'd be getting married, and definitely not to you," he countered. She smiled, reaching out to take his hand…

"Dr Grey?" Jean jumped, looking at the student who had called her name and the paper she held out.

"Sorry, Vanessa," Jean responded, taking the test from the student's hand. "Thank you."

It wasn't the first time in the last little while Jean had stopped paying attention and floated off, nor, she found, was it the first time Logan had been a star in them. This latest one, however, was the first that involved marriage.

"Okay," Jean interrupted the scribbling students. "Time's up. Hand in your tests and go outside. It could be one of your last nice days before winter." It took ten minutes for that to finish and for all of the complete and incomplete tests to be sitting on the edge of her desk. She piled them together neatly and looked up when her mind prickled. The same man she'd 'married' was standing at the door.

"Hey," she said softly, affectionately.

"It's the second month of school and you're already testing them?"

She laughed and he pushed off the doorframe, striding towards her between rows of desks. "So I'm cruel," she said to him, watching. Their relationship had most definitely shifted and Jean found she was restraining herself from all but jumping him.

"This may be true," he admitted, supporting his body on his hands on her desk. She removed her glasses, setting them in front of her.

"What's up?"

"Lunch."

She furrowed her brow in confusion. "I just ate breakfast."

"Yeah."

"I can't take lunch now. I have to teach."

He chuckled. "Find me at lunch."

"Don't I always?" It was true. There were few meals the two of them were not seen together.

"Smartass," he quipped, ignoring the students from her second period class as they filtered into the room. She, however, didn't.

"I'll find you in a few hours," she promised. "My class is here."

He glanced back at the students. "Good," he said, giving her a grin that would have weakened her knees had she not been sitting down. She watched him leave with a small smile. Then, picking up the second set of tests she faced the students.

"Alright, you have the full period…"


Her back hit the wall with substantial force, her head impacting the wall with enough strength to make her see stars. Of course, it could have been the lips and teeth creeping down her neck…

"Logan…" she moaned, her hands tangling in his hair. He growled, nipping sharply where her neck and shoulder met. She gasped, involuntarily pushing her body against his.

"God," she gasped, her hands drifting down his shirt. His avoided all fastenings as a claw withdrew and slid down her shirt. His hands batted the fabric away, leaving her in her dark blue bra. Her fingers yanked insistently at the hem of his shirt until he let her go long enough to whip it off.

His mouth streaked down her neck and she threw her head back against the wall again and again…

Until her eyes snapped open and she realized the pounding wasn't her head hitting the wall at all, but a knock at her door.

"Dr Grey?" Jean was out of bed and at the door in an instant, wrapping her robe around her and pulling the sash tightly. Kitty stood awkwardly on the other side, wringing her hands.

"I…I know I'm not supposed to be out of bed… I just…"

"Kitty," Jean said gently, trying to calm the nervous girl down and get information from her. "It's okay. What's wrong?"

"It's Wolverine," she said and Jean's heart and stomach switched places.

"What about Logan?"

"I was heading down to the kitchen because I was thirsty," Kitty explained. "I passed his room and started hearing noises so I poked my head in, literally. I… I think he's having a nightmare. One of the ones Rogue was talking about."

"Rogue told you about Logan's nightmares?" Jean asked, even as she stepped out of her room and into the halls.

"Just vaguely," Kitty defended.

"Okay, you need to head back to bed. Thank you for coming to get me." Kitty scampered off in the opposite direction as Jean headed off towards Logan's room. She opened the door and stood for a moment, analyzing what exactly was going on. Logan was tossing and turning violently. With a worried furrow of her brow, she prodded Logan's mind until he woke up.

"Jean?" he asked groggily, his nose picking up her scent.

"Yeah."

"You're here?"

She tentatively stepped closer. "Kitty came and got me."

He flopped back against he pillows and Jean cracked a window. The room felt like a sauna. She sat gingerly on the end of his bed.

"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked, reaching out for his hand. He tugged until she was right beside him. She allowed his head to drop to her lap where her fingers brushed through his sweaty locks. She took that as a no.

Then her mind flashed to her own dream and running her fingers through his hair. She needed a break.

"Hey," she said. "Go get yourself cleaned up. I'll change the sheets." He didn't say a word, but did as she suggested. For her part, Jean made quick work of the dam sheets and even called on Bedtime, bringing him telekinetically from her bedroom to his. She then moved to the open window, allowing the nippy October air to calm her heated skin.

She heard the bathroom door open seconds before his room was plunged into darkness. Then Logan did something she'd never seen him do with anyone. His arms wrapped possessively around her hips and stomach as he pulled her against him, her clothed back coming into contact with his still naked chest. His chin dropped to her shoulder and he sunk. They stayed that way for a while, partially because she was still too shocked to move, until she spoke.

"Can I look?" Her gut was telling her that whatever had left him with the nightmare a) he wasn't going to tell her and b) it went deeper than she was aware of.

"No." The last thing he wanted her to see was her death at his hands.

She was standing on a pile of rubble on an island in the San Diego harbour. He knew that by the Golden Gate Bridge that stretched from the edge of the island to the mainland. Magneto had moved it in order to transport his army from the mainland to the island for some good old-fashioned destruction. Water created a sheet all around the island and Phoenix, the dominating personality at the moment, had already destroyed most of the slower people and less sturdy structures.

People raced away from the violence and chaos that surrounded them. Storm had already gathered all of their side into the Blackbird, but Logan wouldn't leave others to clean up this chaos. Not when she was in the middle of it.

"Jean!" he called, trying to get her attention, trying to get her to focus away from the anger that had transformed her. Damn the military! If they'd been five minutes later this wouldn't have happened.

"Logan," she gasped, Jean surfacing for a split second before Phoenix took over again. "What are you doing? You'd die for them?" Logan looked down at the skin being ripped from his adamantium bones only to grow back again a split second later. He took a deep breath, preparing himself for what he was pretty sure he was going to have to do.

"No," he said in confused disbelief, his brows knitting in the pain of his decision. "For you. I'd die for you. I love you."

Jean surfaced again. "Logan… save me."

Screwing up his courage and blocking out the idea of what he was about to do, he plunged his claws into her stomach. She hitched and gasped, collapsing against him.

Dead.

Jean knew he hadn't realized that his thoughts had bled into hers and thus that she had just watched him replay his dream. It was something she never wanted him to do and vowed to herself to practice keeping a tighter reign on her emotions. She sensed that he'd calmed as she stroked gently across his top arm where it wound around her. Her other arm pressed on his lower one, holding him to her.

"Come on," she said softly, hiding a yawn. "Bedtime." Still, he didn't let go and she ended up walking the few feet to the bed with Logan still wrapped around her.

"I'm staying, Logan," Jean assured him, "but you have to lay down." She assumed he'd let her go for a few minutes. Instead, he simply turned them around and rolled onto the bed, taking her with him. She squealed in surprise but settled almost instantly.

"Good night, Jeannie," he finally spoke, nuzzling against the back of her neck. She smiled, though he didn't see it since she was facing away from him.

"Good night."


Jean awoke slowly the next morning, turning into the body at her back and snuggling in deep. Her pillow chuckled and she swatted at Logan's chest as she gazed up at his amused eyes.

"Shut up," she groused, the seriousness of the comment lost in the grin that accompanied it. She could get used to waking up like this.

"I didn't say anything," he responded. "Good morning to you too." With a groan she lifted herself up, one hand braced on his chest. She looked at his clock, congratulating her internal alarm.

"I have to go get ready. Lunch by the fountain today?"

"Sure," he agreed as she swung her legs over the side of the bed. "You cooking?"

"Okay," she replied, bending back over to brush a kiss to his cheek. "I'll see you at lunch."

It wasn't until she was in the shower that she realized what had happened and how deliciously domestic the moment had been.


She wandered out to the fountain during lunch, thankful that the crisp October air had yet to turn to the uncomfortable November chill. She'd managed to beat Logan and sat on the stone edge, bringing the cup of soup she'd decided on for the noontime meal in between her bare hands to keep the cup warm and to warm her fingers. The Thermos she brought she set at her feet. She noticed him approaching and couldn't stop the happy smile from creeping over her face, not only from seeing him, but also catching sight of the object under his arm.

"Hey," she greeted when he was within earshot.

"Hey," he replied, dropping his own affectionate kiss to her cheek, one that had her blushing since his lips had lingered just a little longer than necessary. He sat beside her and she presented him with the Thermos.

"Vegetable?" he inquired, sniffing at the contents of her cup.

"For you," she affirmed, glancing down at her own chicken noodle. "Homemade, with extra steak."

The first time she'd made the soup Bobby had been sick with a nasty cold and Jean had instructed Rogue to take him the bowl of soup and some medication. Logan had been her test subject. His only complaint had been the distinct lack of red meat.

"Mmm…" came the response. She sipped at her own cup, returning it to warming her hands.

"How was your morning?" she asked after a minute.

"Uneventful," he told her. "Yours?"

"Couldn't concentrate," she replied, leaning her arms on her thighs and looking at the mansion.

"Reason?"

She shrugged. "I have no clue."

That was a flat out lie. Her mind had been replaying her kiss to his cheek and she'd been distracted in imagining going further than that. She'd never been so happy to be considered and expert since her mind had not been on that morning's lessons. They'd made small talk until they finished and Jean had set both the cup and the Thermos by her feet.

"Red, what are we doing?"

"Huh?"

"Lunches, the time we spend together, the chit-chats… what are we doing?"

"Being friends?" she tried, still confused as to what he was getting at. This insecure Logan surprised her and she was sure it showed in her face.

"You know as well as I do that it's more than that Jean. Hell, you've probably known for a while."

"You didn't want to discuss it with me," she pointed out.

"Because I didn't want to add somethin' else to your muddled brain," he defended.

"What changed?"

"You've started clearing a lot of things up and took control of your life. You're not as confused anymore."

"Logan," she pleaded softly. "Do we have to do this now?" Her mind had flashed back to the puzzlement of the days after Scott's revelation in Central Park and she really didn't want to have to start avoiding Logan again. Not when she'd realized how much she adored having him around.

"When then, Jeannie?" he questioned in frustration. Jean winced.

"I'm not ready to get into this, Logan," she said her voice still soft. "I'm not sure I'm ready to give you what you want. I need time."

With a long exhalation of air the fight whooshed out of Logan and she dropped beside her again. Jean kept her eyes on her hands. After a while, Logan sighed and stood, taking one of her hands to pull her with him.

"We will have this conversation," he told her, conviction heavy in his voice, "but I'll wait. You know how I feel, Jean. You're worth it."

"Logan…" He pressed two fingers to her lips to stem any protests or other words. He picked up the bear and held it between his hands for a few moments. Then he met her eyes.

"Good things come to those who wait," he said softly, his body inches from hers. He pushed the bear into her hands, pressed a quick – much too short if she was honest with herself – kiss to her lips, turned and walked away. Jean was too stunned to call for him to stop until he was gone.

She looked down at the periwinkle bear, her index finger tracing the heart-shaped planet on its stomach. Her lips tingled with his kiss and her mind was speeding in wonder. A small note was taped to the bear's back.

It's okay to dream. Everyone does.

Daydream (the bear) & Logan

She grinned at the uncharacteristic sign off before re-reading the message that accompanied it. Dreaming… she'd been doing a lot of that lately, of her and Logan and the possibility of having a life and a deeper relationship with him. Was that what he'd been getting at? The goofy smile was still splayed across her face, though she hadn't realized it.

The sudden overwhelming wave of jealousy snapped her back to the present.

Scott had watched the whole thing.


Above Jean, looking down on the grounds Scott watched her jump and winced. Still, his mind was made up and one thing Scott Summers could honestly say was that he was determined. He'd show her, remind her, of what they'd had and how stupid it was for her to throw it all away for the instability that would inevitably be a relationship with Logan.

With new resolve he stepped away from the window, plans already forming in his head.


Tee hee hee! This one totally rivals Wish for my favourite chapter to write! I had a little bit of fun with this one, in case you hadn't noticed, and heated it up a bit.

Yes, for those who are going to ask, I totally stole Logan's dream from X-3. Congrats to those who recognized it, though I'm pretty sure I butchered the actual lines. Oh well, life will move on, right?

The person who writes my 85th review gets a dedication! You guys have been so great with reviews that I'm not sure that goal is totally unattainable. Mind you, 80 would make my day too... I was honestly surprised to see that you guys are enjoying this as much as you are. It means a lot more than you know that you guys love it so much you're reviewing like mad people! Thanks a ton (or tonne if you're Canadian!)!