Changes Chapter 24

Jean laid curled up against Logan's body who absently stroked her belly. He knew he's promised her to talk back then, when she's asked him why it was so hard for him to look at her… He hadn't forgotten it… how could he? Since he'd come back from their half destroyed room, they just laid on the bed without talking to each other. He knew she waited for him to start, but he cursed himself for this situation now, since it included one of the things Logan hated the most…talking about himself…

He sighed and looked down at her. She'd rested her head on her right arm, while her left hand rested on his free one. He owned her to talk…but he didn't know how to start… He wasn't someone who talked around the bush, but still it had never been so hard to choose the direct way… Logan could feel one of the babied moving again and saw her smiling pleasantly. He had to start somewhere… "I felt guilty…", he finally said barely audible and felt her turning around to look at him.

"Guilty…?", Jean asked confused.

"Yeah."

"Why!", she asked and sat up a bit to meet his eyes.

Logan shrugged and looked for the right words. He knew she was staring at him, so he fixed his eyes on the ceiling. "Because I couldn't save you…"

"That wasn't your fault…", she whispered. "I know you did anything you could, Logan… I felt bad because I had to use you to finish me… I knew you were the only one capable to stop me if necessary… I even thanked you for doing it…"

"I know it sound ridiculous…", he waved her off, resting his head on his right arm again, while stroking her back.

"No, it doesn't…", Jean said and snuggled up to him again, her head on his bare chest, while her hand ran over it gently. "I'm sorry that you felt so miserable because of me…"

"Don't be!"

An uncomfortable silence filled the room and both of them had their minds on something else. All of a sudden, Jean sat up again, supporting her arms on his chest. Curiously, but also tired, he looked up. "How's your shoulder doing? I noticed that you hold it a bit lower before…" The doctor within her came through and she examined it.

Logan chuckled. "It's fine…"

She met his eyes. "You sure?" Gently she stroked over his skin.

He pulled her head down and kissed her. "Yeah." Jean smiled at him. "Besides…", she heard him say. "I never let my clothes on!" He smirked and she had to laugh.

"Actually, you did once…" she grinned when she remembered it.

Logan frowned. "I did?"

"Yeah!"

"When?" e sat up and tried to remember it.

Jean blushed, while she absently played with his hair. "In the lab… Oh, and in the library…", she began amused.

"Busted…", he said smirking. Suddenly, she became serious again and he could hear her thoughts in his head. "I don't know", he answered her question.

Jean looked up in confusion. "What? I didn't say anything…"

He smirked. "I heard you in my head, darl'…"

"I forgot, sorry!", she said before she continued. "I can't even look at 'Ro… What has gotten into her?"

Logan shrugged. "Dunno… But from the look she gave you I can tell that she feels pretty bad."

"She better does!", Jean said angrily, but sighed. "I really don't know what to think about her… I mean,…she's my friend…"

"Yeah. Still we don't know what Mystique did…"

Jean sighed frustrated. "I know… It's just…" She bit her lip and shook her head. "Aren't you mad with her?", she asked since he remained so calm.

"'f course I am…cause she thought I'd do something like that to her… Even Chuck did…" His eyes darkened for a brief moment again, until she laid a hand on his cheek. "I thought he could read minds…", Logan grunted, still feeling the disappointment within him.

"Maybe you blocked him without knowing it", Jean tried to calm him down.

He snorted. "Yeah…or he just sees the same in me as everyone else does…"

"He doesn't!" He only snorted. "Scott and the Professor only believed what they heard. As you said…we didn't use our heads…" Finally, Logan smirked vaguely. Jean cuddled up to him again. "We should sleep now… I bet you still have some wounds to heal…" She kissed him gently and he pulled her close.

"Still gotta blame ya for something…", he grunted after a while.

She frowned, thinking that she did something wrong. "…for what?", Jean asked cautiously.

"Your old bed…" he chuckled, since he had felt her wince. "It's damn uncomfortable…"

"Jerk!", Jean cursed playfully and slapped him softly.

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"First of all, I want to thank you all for coming." Charles looked at the mutants who reserved all the chairs in his office. He smiled at them warmly until his eyes caught something of importance. Two chairs were still empty… "Where are Jean and Logan? Has someone seen them?"

"No", Kitty said and looked at Peter and Bobby who also shook their heads.

"Rogue?", the Professor asked.

"They weren't in the kitchen for breakfast early that morning…and besides…" She stopped and wasn't sure if she should say it. But still she was angry with the adults. She couldn't forget nor forgive how they'd treated Logan. "After how you treated Logan… Well, I'd be surprised if he shows up…"

Charles sighed. He had thought about it the whole night through. He regretted it terribly… With his actions he might have destroyed the trust of Logan, for which he had to fight so hard… He should have known better. "I know I did a terrible mistake…"

"Not only you did!", Marie said and gave Scott and Storm a look. "You even hindered me to tell you that he was with Kitty, Bobby, Peter and me after he finished his training…"

"I'm very sorry, Marie", Charles said. "And if Logan gives me the chance to apologize…"

He stopped as the door suddenly opened. Like all others, he looked towards it and gladly smiled after Jean entered first and was closely followed by Logan. While he wore his favorite pair of blue jeans, a grey tank shirt and a blue lumberjack shirt over it, she apparently wore some of his clothes. His black track pants and his grey sweatshirt with a hood, both too large for her, but still just enough to cover her belly. Both of them seemed to have just left the shower, since their hair was still wet. Logan only glared shortly at the two empty chairs next to Scott and Ororo. He snorted and sat down on the other side, where Rogue and her friends were sitting, who moved up closer to make room for him. Jean followed him. Since there was no free room left on the sofa, Logan held out his arms and she sat down on his lap, while she wrapped her arms around his neck. He shot a deadly look at Scott and Storm and she looked down feeling ashamed.

"I'm glad that the two of you joined us!", the Professor said, but immediately noticed Logan's cold eyes. He knew that it would cost a lot of work to gain back his trust…

"I'm only here because she wanted me to come…", Logan said. "So save any long speeches for yourself!" Jean met his eyes and he nodded while sighting in frustration. "Fine…go on!" Before coming down, he had to promise her that he wouldn't pick a fight. And he would keep his promise…

The Professor nodded. "I wanted to discuss with all of you how we shall proceed!", he began and looked to and fro between them. "After what Mystique has told us before, Magneto plans to attack us soon. We have to make plans for any scenario! Including the safety of the students, possible escape routes for them and us, but also offense and defense plans…", Charles explained seriously. "I want you to built teams, so that everyone takes care of one field of operations and informs the others about his or her scenario." He noticed the looks Scott and Logan gave each other. The tension in this room became unbearable… "Hank and Ororo, the two of you will deal with the escape routes and you also have to search for hiding places. Moira joins you and takes care of the medical equipment." The two mutants nodded in agreement. "Jean, I'd like you and the younger X-Men to go through the emergency exits with the students again. Shoe them the routes they have to choose to get out of here quickly in case of an attack."

Jean nodded. "Okay." She winced for a brief moment and blinked, while taking a deep breath. Immediately, she felt Logan staring at her worriedly.

"Scott", Charles continued. "I'd like you to team up with Logan for the offense and defense plans!"

"What! No way!", Scott said immediately.

"Forget it!", Logan had grunted at the same time.

The Professor looked at both men completely seriously. "This is about the safety of the students and the school! Scott is the best in defense, while you're the best in offence scenarios. We have to work together in order to get everyone out of here alive in case of an attack! So come over your disagreement and start acting like a team!", he told them straight ahead.

Logan only smirked. "Not afraid that I might stab him?", he asked sarcastically.

Jean laid a hand on his shoulder, sensing that he couldn't suppress his anger anymore. "Don't…"

He growled. "Fine! But if he only looks oddly at me…" Logan broke off as he looked at her. He frowned and felt her body tense again. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing!"

Before he could ask again, the Professor started to speak. "Good. Please start as soon as possible! I will try to find out their hideout in the meanwhile." He watched them stand up. "Oh, and Logan, I need to speak with you alone!"

Logan rolled his eyes and let go off Jean, who left the room with the others. "What is it?"

Charles maneuvered his wheelchair around the table. "I wanted to apologize for my actions yesterday…", he began and looked up at the man in front of him, who had his arms folded in front of his chest.

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"Jean,…please wait!"

Jean stopped with one hand pressed against her back, while the other was rested on her belly.

"Can we talk, please?", Ororo asked cautiously.

"there's nothing to talk about!", Jean answered coldly.

"I know, but please let me explain…!"

She heard the despair in Storm's voice, but still she was very angry. "There's nothing to explain, Storm! Even if it was a masquerade, it doesn't change the fact that you slept with my partner!"

Storm swallowed and looked down. "I know…and I knot that a please forgive me isn't enough…"

Jean narrowed her eyes. "Then what do you want?"

"Trying to explain it…", her opposite said, despair echoing from her voice. She grabbed Jean's arm as the woman wanted to leave. "She made me do it, Jean…", Ororo said and sobbed. "I couldn't resist, it happened so fast…"

Jean's eyes were cold. "Did she rape you?"

"What? No…!"

"Then you could have resisted!", she shot back angrily and took held of her back again while biting her lips.

"No, you don't understand…", Ororo tried again. "I pushed him back, but he pinned me to the wall and just did it…" She sobbed hard now. "Really, I tried… I didn't want it to happen…"

"She did!" It wasn't Logan so stop saying he!"

"I know…", Ororo looked down. "Really, I tried, Jean… Please, believe me! I tried!"

Jean eyed her for a brief moment. She saw the shame and pain in Storm's eyes, the despair…but still she was very angry. If she only imagined the scene… "Do you love him?", she asked her straight ahead. "And don't lie to me!"

Storm looked up, biting her lip. "I like him…a lot… But I know that he only has eyes for you and loves you more than anything else… I would never try to get between the two of you, Jean! You have to believe me!"

Jean just wanted to give a reply to it, as she felt pain rushing through her body. She groaned and reached out for the wall to take hold of it. Storm had noticed it and had grabbed her arm immediately. "What's wrong?", she asked frightened, since it was to early for the babies to be born.

"The lab…" Jean panted. "Get me to it, quickly…"

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"I know I did a terrible mistake, Logan… But you know that I never read minds without permission of that person", Charles explained calmly.

"In that moment you should have done it without!", Logan grunted.

"Yes, I know…" The Professors head sank down. "I am really sorry for having my doubts about you, Logan. I really am and I hope that you can forgive me some day…"

His opposite hadn't moved an inch since the others had left. He eyed the man in front of him suspiciously.

"I know we offended and disappointed you… We should have known better…"

"The Brotherhood want to tear us apart…", Logan said calmly. "If they're successful, we don't have the slightest chance against them and you could already pre-order some fan shirts… I thought you know that! A team is only as strong as their weakest link!"

"You're not our weakest link, Logan!", Charles said and shook his head.

Logan snorted. "Really? When it comes to your trust I am…", he gave back sarcastically.

"As I said…I am really sorry!", the Professor protested to him again. "Can you forgive an old fool once more, Logan?" He held out his right hand top show the man in front of him that he really meant it.

Logan looked at the hand for a moment and thought about it. Finally, he took it. "Last chance, Chuck! Better don't ruin it!"

The Professor smiled. "Thank you! And please,…I know it's hard for you, but at least try to work with Scott as a team…"

Logan had already turned around and had opened the door. Nevertheless, he stopped. "Can't promise it! If he attacks me again, he'll face the consequences!" With that he was gone and left the Professor even more worried than before…

On the corridor, he looked around and hoped to find Jean. But she was nowhere to be seen. Suddenly, his ears heard someone running towards him from far away and he turned his head into this direction.

"Logan!", Storm called and stopped breathlessly in front of him.

His heart rate exploded immediately. "Where's she?"

"She's down in the lab. She's…", she began but he was already heading down the hall.

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When he reached the lab door, Logan impatiently pushed the button to pen it. He squeezed through as it started to move aside and found Jean sitting on the lab table. With a jump he was at her side. "What's wrong? Are you alright?", Logan asked breathlessly.

"Yeah… I'm sorry it was my fault!", Jean looked up and met his scared and worried looking eyes. She took his hand into hers. "I must have dislocated my back somehow and a nerve was caught. Because it suddenly hurt so much, I thought it was abdominal pain… I'm sorry if I'd scared you…" Apologetic she looked up at him, but he only kissed her.

"Told you your mattress was crap!", he smirked, while feeling relieved. But still his heart was racing in a deadly rhythm. He'd first believed that something happened to her and the babies…

Jean smiled slightly. "Yeah… I know…"

"But the three of you are fine?", Logan asked just to be sure of it.

"They are! All three of them!", he just heard Moira say from behind and turned around. "Sorry, Jean but it took longer than I thought."

"What took longer?", Logan immediately asked, while Jean was still holding his hands.

"The printer of the ultrasound scanner is broken, so I had to send the pictures over to the PC in the meeting room", Moira explained and stopped next to them. "Here they are!"

Jean took them out of her hands and looked at them smiling, while Logan raised an eyebrow.

"You can actually see anything on it?", he asked and tilted his head.

"Sure!", she said, while tracing the features with her fingers.

"To me it looks like snow on television…", he grunted. Moira laughed and shook her head. "What?", he asked eying her frowning.

She waved off. "I could have bet that you'd say something like that."

"Yeah, because it does!", he grunted.

Moira smiled. "Jean, would you mind?"

"No…", Jean answered and laid down again, while pulling up the shirt. Logan watched her frowning.

"Now, just for you, mister, I'll do it again!", Moira said and worked on the scanner again.

He bent forward; supporting his weight next to Jean's head on the table and looked up to the screen. He frowned, since he only saw snow on it.

Moira noticed it. "Men…", she shook her head laughing. "Now look!" She ran the scanner over Jean's belly again and soon two moving embryos were displayed on the screen. "See?", she asked and turned around to face him. "Here's the first and that's the other… Both healthy and very much alive…"

Jean had taken his hand into hers again and looked up at his not moving face. She watched as he sat down on the chair next to her, while his eyes were still fixed on the screen. Jean frowned, since he didn't even show the slightest trace of an emotion… "What do you think?", she asked him mentally, afraid that he would ran out of the room any moment.

Suddenly, Logan turned his head and looked down at her. She'd rarely seen him smile so happily at her before or that even his eyes radiated from complete joy… Gently, he kissed her. "They're beautiful…" he thought back and she smiled.

"Softie!", Jean teased him and smirked.

"Thanks!", Logan said and Moira nodded friendly.

"Do you want to know the gender?", she asked them. "Or can you still wait for two months?"

"Do you?", he asked Jean. Of course he wanted to know, but he left the decision to her.

"I think I want to be surprised…", she said. "Is that okay for you?"

He nodded. "Sure…"

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A few minutes later, they used the elevator on their way back upstairs. When they reached the upper level, Jean wanted to head towards Rogue's room to discuss when they should meet for the emergency exits instruction.

"Hey!", Logan said and stopped her. "Where're ya going?"

"To Rogue… We still need to…"

"Nope!", he cut her off and shook his head. "You'll lie down and rest your back now." Gently, he pulled her with him. "I'll just get the mattress from our room."

"but…", she protested.

"What?"

"Well, actually…" Jean sighed. "I wanted to prepare something for us later…"

"You can do it after you've rested!", Logan said inflexible. "Now off you go! I'll be right there!"

While watching him heading towards their room, Jean still had to smile. This new solicitous side of him was really cute, she thought, before she walked to her old room.

Thanks for your reviews again! It took a bit longer to type up, sorry for that! I'm also sorry for those X-lines in between, but the upload always erases the paragraphs I make. : ( So I had to do it like that. : ( Hope you enjoyed reading! ; )