(Three)

Meanwhile, in a room not far away and with a television blaring the same news station as Skye was watching, Logan stood by, his eyes burning from viewing endless hours of news coverage. Jael had been busy and wanted everyone to know about it.

The Kremlin had gone under attack a couple of days ago and Jael had wasted no time in claiming his handiwork. Logan wasn't so naive as to think Jael had gone himself. No, the action, although cataclysmic, had all the signatures of some of Jael's earlier ops where he sent a teleporter in – Razel, no doubt – and a small team capable of doing maximum damage with few personnel. Jael wanted the Russians chasing their tails like dogs.

Well, Wolverine wasn't about to fall for it.

Already some of the other team members had wanted to send out assistance squads but Logan hollered until he shouted them down. This is what Jael wanted - for them to divide their resources - and he wasn't going to stand for it. He had contacts in Russia, had some old friends he had a habit of checking up on now and again. They were fine and already working this themselves.

The Russian President was dead. He had survived the initial blast only to be mowed down by Russian mafia men, intent on stealing what was left of the country for themselves. Chaos had erupted, something Jael no doubt had anticipated. The world was hanging on the brink of terror, wondering who eventually was going to gain control of Russia's nuclear arsenal. If it was the mob, who knew where that ordinance might end up? Most likely some of it would end up in the black market. This was all spiraling out of control. What had Jael thought he would gain by screwing things up like this?

The gain wasn't being felt much here in America. The President was in a fury, demanding the Mutant Registration Act be railroaded through Congress and he was winning. He was constantly on the news, his thundering preacher's voice insisting he meant no harm to law abiding mutant citizens. In fact, why didn't those mutants help out by joining the U.S. military and SHIELD and offer their services to help protect our great nation instead of joining up with terrorist groups? Logan had to admire his cheek, it was actually working. There had been some news clips of mutants offering themselves to law enforcement agencies to help. Of course there were just as many clips of humans stating they didn't want their help. It was ugly.

Logan rubbed his eyes. He hadn't slept since the call first came in about the Kremlin and he was ready to drop. He had made his points, gotten Charles and the others to finally see his way. Jael was picking his moment to strike here and it could come at any time, especially now with all this distress elsewhere in the world. They had to gear up and now. The madman was breathing down their necks and they still had no clue just where he was.

"Sleep, Logan," Charles said, coming closer with an electronic whirr. Logan hadn't been alone in the room, the Professor was pondering his own strategies. "You can't do any more here. Go home and see your children."

"We're not ready for Jael when he comes."

"We will be. Go."

"Creed's out there somewhere."

"He'll turn up. At the worst possible time, no doubt," Charles gently teased. "Go home. That's an order."

Wolverine wasn't the only one trying to plan his next move, Aiden lounged in the open doorway of Kimble's holding cell, watching over his lover as he slept. The pilot was bunched up in the corner, covered in blankets and propped up with pillows. He had one of Angel's teddy bears nearby and a small pile of books. Angel had been brought to see Kimble as soon as he had woken up and they had a good visit. Kimble had been reluctant to leave his tiny prison and Aiden knew just how he felt. The Morrowhiem treatments were wonderful, but being restored after a breakdown left one shaky at best.

Asher had been a near constant and comforting presence. The centaur was comfortably in place at Kimble's apartment, his crates stacked neatly in Angel's old room. Whatever didn't fit was held in storage elsewhere. Both Aiden and Remy had worked together to rearrange Angel's room to make space for the new arrival. Asher couldn't sleep on a proper bed, but they were able to lay a futon mattress down for him and supply him with ample blankets and pillows to be comfortable. There weren't many of Angel's things to move out, really. Most of her toys and clothes had already been relocated to Remy's.

Kimble hadn't been told of the changes, but he had to know the centaur was never going to fit in his old bedroom. Kimble didn't ask and Asher didn't speak of it. Asher saw to it that Kimble was kept warm and comfortable in his cell and the pilot accepted things as they were.

Kimble also hadn't been told about the attack on the Kremlin even though Jael had already not only claimed responsibility, but was promising more such attacks to come. The Complex was in an uproar, but calming down some now. It had been decided that the best thing was to group the remaining Siskans together at Kimble's and keep them under close watch. Kimble had been given his release orders and now Aiden was here to wake him and see that he was moved. Aiden was in no rush, not with Kimble looking so small and cute in the corner like that.

Asher had been spreading more than just Morrowhiem around among his kin. He was whispering his advice constantly to Aiden, "Gives Kim peace. He needs them things what makes him thinks of security and safety. He needs ta know that he's loved no matter what. The humans here, they gots rings and ceremonies and stuff to shows when theys in love. There's wisdom in that."

Asher was a new arrival, but his timing was perfect, he got here just in time to see Seth and Fallen married in a small ceremony in the Solarium. It had taken place only just yesterday, the day after Kimble's awakening. Seth had wanted to be married and was relentless in his pursuit of it once the idea had jammed its way into his Siskan head. He had gone to all the clergy until he found one that would marry them with such small notice. With the constant threat of war after the attack on the Kremlin, many others here were contemplating such unions, the clergy here of all denominations were busy. Fallen and Seth were married in the park with three other couples, though the others could not have boasted of having been paired together for as long. Fallen and Seth were already bonded on many levels. This just made it official.

Aiden was there at the ceremony although Kimble was not, Kimble was simply too fragile even after the repair. Asher had pushed for Kimble's isolation and nobody was arguing. Aiden watched the marital proceedings with jaded eyes, he had long since thought that none of the selfish Chuckfet could properly pair bond permanently and guessed more than a few of these impromptu marriages would fail in the first few years. He felt he and Kimble did not need such a ceremony to prove anything and well, the prejudices here pretty much assured him there wasn't a priest in the place who would marry them, not without a skin change on Aiden's part, and the Dreamer wasn't about to indulge any bigoted Chuckfet on such a petty issue.

Still, Aiden had to admit there was a certain appeal in the pageantry of the ceremony and in how the families of the intended had gathered with love and praise. It stuck with him enough that when he had gotten up this morning, he had gone to the one jeweler's store in the Complex, casually looking over the wares. As expected, there was a shortage of wedding rings, but what caught the Dreamer's eye was a series of braided Celtic friendship rings made of shiny, precious platinum. They were simple, yet elegant and appealing to his Siskan sense of beauty.

Kimble didn't have much in the way of jewelry, but Aiden had seen a couple of rings in a glass jar in Kimble's bathroom a while back. He had noted the size with his perfect memory and love of gift giving. Maybe he could present Kimble with a gift that was a little more than something simply ornamental. Without allowing for second thoughts, Aiden purchased two of the lovely rings, one for each of them. They were not the least bit cheap, were the most expensive things in the shop, actually. Not that Aiden had cared all that much. Remy had given him a sizable advance in useable credits against the large inheritance Trishnar had left him. Aiden was wealthy now, yes, but some of it had yet to be sold and then converted into cash.

Aiden stood in the doorway of the holding cell, looking down on his lover, his half smile hiding the depth of his emotions at this moment. Kimble was so precious to him, he couldn't bear the thought of losing him. If Jael won this stupid war, who knew what would happen to them? Aiden knew Kimble would fight Jael, he would never leave his Angel unprotected, and neither would he. They would win together or both end up dead.

Aiden did not want to die. He wanted peace and quiet and to be left alone with his precious Kimble. That was it. All of it. He fingered the rings in his pocket, uncertain if he should give Kimble his ring now or wait. In spite of Asher's gentle nudging, some small part of Aiden's mind resisted the notion of such symbols.

Wait until the fighting's done, Father predictably advised, wisping into view. Father was concerned with their mission, not with such petty declarations of love. Worry about your bonding later when all is done. It will mean more after our victory.

Aiden stayed as he was, thinking. Ashair szay Keemble need disz. Mebbe it beszt not to wait.

The air shifted at Aiden's side and small Talalanay was there, grasping his hand. Make the promise now, but wait for a ceremony to finish it. That's how the others do it here.

No one will marry usz, not a prieszt, Aiden answered, unable to hide his contempt. In spite of his bravado, he resented the fact that he and Kimble would be prejudiced against and not given the same rights as anyone else based solely upon their appearance. It hurt deeply, something that he covered with his attitude of anger and arrogance.

Asher said you only need a promise and two witnesses to that promise. Asher will marry you, Talalanay insisted, his child's eyes eager. He wanted only peace for Aiden and would suggest anything that would help Aiden attain it.

Aiden nodded at that. It was true that Asher had whispered that more than once. While Aiden did not share Asher's God, he had understood what the centaur was suggesting. A private civil union made without priests or legal papers that only meant something to the organic. They could have something simple with just a couple of witnesses. That was all that was needed. Aiden's eyes closed as he envisioned a moonlight ceremony under one of the big trees in the Solarium. He saw his two witnesses, Remy and his Mistress Molly, Angel by their side. Oh, yes. He shivered with a bright blast of love and deep affection at the idea.

"Whatcha'll thinkin'?"

Aiden startled a little at the sound of Kimble's voice. The pilot's tone was low and quiet, a bit dry and raspy from his nap, but he had never looked more beautiful than when Aiden's eyes first opened to see him. "T'inkin' of only you, preciousz."

Kimble shifted in his mound of pillows and blankets, smiling now through his half open eyes. He was rumpled and sleepy, not fully awake. "Then come sits with me."

Aiden happily obliged. He squished in next to his lover on the pile of pillows and allowed Kimble to cover him up with the blankets, warm and cozy. All thoughts of going back to Kimble's place vanished as Aiden embraced the pilot and kissed him slow and easy.

Kimble laughed a moment later, his eyes dreamy from the kiss and his chin on Aiden's shoulder. "How come ya don'ts sleeps as much as me?" he asked, just for something to say.

"I 'ave no idea, me," Aiden answered honestly. It was true Kimble slept more than any other Siskan the Dreamer had known. Some small part of him guessed that it was an escape for the pilot, a way of avoiding this painful outside world. Of course Aiden would never say this. He slipped a hand through Kimble's long silky hair and whispered instead, "I wasz t'inkin'..."

Kimble laughed again. "Now I knows I'm in trouble."

"We could go to ze Szolarium szometime when it'sz dark at night 'czept for ze fullest moon, eh? We could go an' I could give you disz," Aiden offered, daring to show Kimble one of the platinum braided rings. "Zere isz one for you... an' one for me. Ze szame asz disz. We would go wit juszt you an' me.. an' Ashair... an' Remy an' isz Missztressz."

Kimble's eyes opened wide in surprise. He had seen enough marriages during his time in the Xavier Institute to know what was being asked of him, was even aware that such rings were involved. "You – you still wants me?"

Aiden snorted. "M' inszulted you even need to aszk."

Kimble came forward in a rush, eager to placate Aiden's insult although the Dreamer wasn't really mad. "Sorry, it's just that you knows how unlucky I am. Bad things jus' keeps happn'in ta me."

Aiden sighed softly, running into the same brick wall that Remy had so many times before. "Maybe it'sz time to chanje all zat. You szay to me, 'Keepsz me forever.' Disz Aiden'sz way of szayin' back, 'It would be my greateszt honor to be wit you, to live for you and to die for you asz well, if zat isz what isz required of me. Better it isz to 'ave you now zan to never 'ave known szuch a love asz disz.'."

Kimble shivered and started to cry. He was much too shaken and fragile not to. All he had ever wanted was to be with somebody and be loved. He knew Aiden loved him deeply, that Aiden had even done so since they had met for the second time outside on the tarmac of this Complex. Such things Aiden had been unable to hide, and there was no way he was lying about it now.

Aiden gathered Kimble close and held him tightly. "Never fear for me, for usz. All zat mattersz isz now, disz moment."

Kimble let himself be squeezed as he tried in vain to collect himself. He could hear his internal voices clamoring, just a buzz in his ears. Lin was unsure this was wise, but Zander was all over it and quite loud. The Punisher had always been in favor of anything that kept the Lover strong, and this green eyed Siskan with the bright Blue Mark was just the thing for that. "O-okay!" Kimble blurted out excitedly behind his tears. "Okay! I loves ya so much!"

Aiden laughed then, thrilled beyond measure. He knew now that he had made the right decision, the brightness of Kimble's shine only confirmed it. "When ze nex' full moon come. We will do it zen."

Kimble pulled back, wiping his cheeks as he reached for his ring. He wanted to see it and feel it in his hand. It was so sparkly and bright, more wonderful than anything he had ever seen.

"Zere are rulesz, yesz," Aiden said, playful now. "You cannot wear zat until ze proper time."

"Can I keeps it until then?" Kimble asked, his wonder so innocent and pretty.

Aiden laughed, but was then left with a problem. How to give this to Kimble without its being lost? He looked around him awkwardly and then grasped one of Kimble's blankets. With his unnatural strength, he ripped a long thin shred of it off, just enough to loop around Kimble's neck and slipped the ring through it. He tied it and then sat back with a satisfied smile. " 'Ow'z zat, eh?"

Kimble giggled again, all smiles and happiness. "What about you? Ain't you gots one, too?"

Aiden took out his own ring and ripped the blanket again. Henry would just have to forgive. He tied his own makeshift necklace around his neck and grunted softly as Kimble embraced him again a little roughly in his joy. He smiled again as Kimble's vibrations of love and happiness washed over him in a rush. How badly they had both needed this.

"Well, ain't you a pair?"

Aiden looked up to see Remy in the spot he had been in only a few short minutes ago. Minutes that seemed an eternity away. The thief was slouched comfortably. "What're you two up to all special?"

Kimble beamed up his former Master, the widest of smiles. "Aiden gives me a ring!"

Gambit jerked a bit in surprise, but tried to control it. He really shouldn't have been all that taken aback, Asher had been dropping enough hints. Many times Asher had spoken to him of the wisdom of pair bonding for Siskans, and especially for Kimble who needed all the encouragement and happiness he could get. There had also been a flurry of marriages taking place at the Solarium, not the least of which had been Fallen and Seth's, one the Dreamer had tagged along to see.

What choked a little was that Remy seriously doubted that Aiden's fiery temper and lack of patience could deal long term with Kimble's endless tribulations and insecurities. It took a certain type of person to deal with one so needy and Remy had some major concerns. These two had only been reunited for less than three months, hardly a long courtship in anyone's terms.

"Well, dat's... dat's nice," Remy managed to say, doing his best to keep his anxiety at bay. Kimble didn't need to see that.

Kimble was much too happy to see anything but the promise made real around his neck. "Ain't it so purty?"

Gambit came closer and bent down to better see. At least he had to admit that Aiden had quality taste. He had seen these rings himself in the shop and had been aware than they hadn't moved too quickly because they had been so precious and expensive. They weren't really wedding rings, just magnificent pieces of art, luckily enough in the right sizes for two Siskans in love. The jeweler had been a bit ambitious in stocking these items, who here would have had the money, really? Well, perhaps there was a thing to be said for fate, they had been there when Aiden had needed them. Remy smiled in appreciation. "C'est magnifique, non?"

Kimble, in his excitement, leaned forward and gave Remy a huge hug, almost tipping the thief right over. Remy braced himself, always happy to be embraced by his friend. He found himself shivering from Kimble's joy and gave in, letting it wash over him. If this made Kimble happy, then who was he to do anything to spoil it? These two deserved their chance just like anyone else.

"You set a date?" Remy asked, pulling back. He was hoping for something open ended, something to give these guys a little more time to be sure. He wasn't going to get it.

"Ze nex' full moon," Aiden answered, daring the thief to argue.

Remy did not. He simply calculated and said, "Two weeks fo' de nex'. Dat's a bit fast, eh? You two ain't known each other dat long."

Aiden's eyes hardened, but it was Kimble who spoke. His voice was soft and pleading for understanding. He sounded like a wounded child. "I needs somebody to looks after me."

Remy nodded. "Je sais, cher. I know dis, but marriage... it a real serious t'ing. For bot' of you," he said, looking at them both with emphasis, he didn't want Aiden to think this conversation didn't include him.

"I will take care of my Keemble," Aiden promised, no hesitation in his voice. "No one lovesz 'im like me."

Gambit almost snapped defensively at that, feeling the statement was inaccurate, but let it slide. Part of it was true, Remy's intimacy with Kimble was over and could never be again. "I don't doubt yo' feelin's kids, just dis still a bit fast, n'est ce pas?"

"We don't know how much time we gots left," Kimble replied, his good mood fading a little. "If not now, then whens?"

Both Aiden and Remy reacted to Kimble's pessimism simultaneously. Aiden's arms came around Kimble that much tighter and Remy touched his face. Gambit couldn't help but smile uncomfortably at their unspoken competition and backed off, stepping back and relinquishing control of Kimble, for better or for worse. "All right den. Whatever you t'ink is best, mes amis."

"Zen two weeksz it isz," Aiden said, his happiness sparkling bright at Remy's capitulation. There was no ill will. "Midnight in ze Szolrium wit Ashair. Mebbe you an' your Missztressz come witnessz? Anjel, too?"

"Of course," Remy agreed. He understood now that Asher's gentle persuasions and oh, so reasonable words of wisdom had worked their magic. There would be no priest, but Gambit could have cared less. He knew better than to think any of the clergy here would participate. Aiden had no real identity papers anyway, a formal marriage license was a waste of time. A midnight, moonlight ceremony it was. So be it.

Remy gave Kimble a kiss on his forehead. "M' happy for you, cher. On dat happy note, you ready to go home?"

"Home?" the pilot asked in confusion.

"Didn' de Dreamer 'ere tell you? You free to go back to yo' place. Asher's all settled in, Aiden, too. Time you got out of 'ere an' back in de worl' where you belong, fils. Angel miss you."

Kimble shivered a little. "I don' know. I should stays in here."

Gambit stood straight, ready to show Aiden how this was done. The Dreamer was a fast learner and if he was going to take permanent charge of Kimble, well, here was the first lesson. He took Kimble's hands and hoisted him to his feet. "Non, we're goin' now. Dere anyt'ing you wanna bring from 'ere? Some books?"

Kimble looked around him, his shyness momentarily forgotten. He grabbed a couple of books that Henry had brought in for him and Angel's teddy bear. "What about the rest?"

"We'll come back for dem. Let's go."

Aiden watched with that half smile as Remy got Kimble finally moving. He got the point well enough, Kimble needed a firm hand and was best at taking orders. Aiden knew that himself, he just wasn't ready to push Kimble on anything at this point. Kimble kept the blanket wrapped around his body like a shield and let himself be walked out of the cell and the short distance back to his place.

Kimble entered his apartment like a stranger, it seemed like ages since he had been here, and really, it seemed even longer since he had actually lived there. It had some good memories, though. He couldn't help but smile a little in the doorway, remembering the tumble he and Aiden had shared here. A soft chuckle from Aiden beside him told him the Dreamer had been remembering that as well.

"Daddy!"

Kimble's face broke out in the biggest of smiles when he heard the voice of his daughter and then she was there, real and alive in his arms. She had been to see him in the holding cell, but it wasn't the same as this, as holding her in their home.

Remy looked down on this with his own smile. He had many motives for making sure she was here at this moment, not the least of which was to soften the blow of Asher's presence in Angel's old room. Angel was here, but she no longer lived in this space. Having her here now was a reminder that she was still accessible to the pilot any time he wanted her.

Kimble embraced his daughter with a tremendous hug and a squeeze, tears pouring from his eyes. "Oh, my baby doll!' he had cried. "I missed ya so much!"

"I missed you too, daddy," she replied, her face buried against him. "Don't hide like that again."

"I won'ts."

"You belong to me always, daddy," she said. Gambit had carefully explained to her that Kimble might be upset still after everything and that she should be quick to reassure him that all was well. Of course Angel needed little persuasion, she was always looking after her wayward father with infinite patience. "You always will and now Aiden does, too."

Kimble sobbed once at that, squeezing her that much tighter, his shine sparkling with happiness and gratitude. He held her for a long while, then slowly let her go. He stepped back only to find himself next embraced by Molly. They were all making an effort to make him feel at home. Welcome back, she signed and gave him a kiss. Kimble accepted all of it with tears of joy.

Asher was there as well, keeping a respectful distance as he watched all this with a smile. Seeing Molly's affection for Kimble leave her in a wave of color and received by a grateful Kimble only confirmed to Asher what he'd been told by Remy and seen in Kimble's codes. In spite of Kimble's protests to the contrary, he really did have a family that cared about him and was there for him. This was a good thing, Kimble would need it.

"Well, who's hungry?" the centaur finally spoke. "I made some lunch fer all us."

Kimble grinned, hoisting Angel up into his arms. "I'm starvin'!"

They all piled in around Kimble's small table and then it was just like old times, a large communal meal with laughing and stories. All talk of Jael was conspicuously avoided and there was laughter and merriment all around. For better or worse, Kimble was home again.