It had been two weeks since he was back in circulation, and so far, everything seemed to be at least partially returning back to normal. So far no one could see anything else wrong besides the fact that his healing factor was inactive at the moment. However, no matter what anyone said about how he seemed fine and acted normal like the man and beast they all knew, Ororo knew things were still amiss. Not everyone could tell this, but she could. Ever since that night when she'd found him on the floor, though he looked and mostly acted fine, he'd been slowly deteriorating.

He was currently in their room waiting for his wife to get out of the bathroom, he thought as he waited. The events of the past few days ran through his head, what the hell happened to him? One day he was perfectly fine, the next he was in horrendous pain, worse than that of what he'd normally go through. Who'd found them? That was the thing that really scared him. Had he gained all of this just to lose it? No! He would keep them; he would not lose the people he loved again!

The memories that he'd found of his past told him that he'd lost many of his loved ones, some from his own hands. He still couldn't get over the few memories with Daken, his son that he never raised yet hated his guts, tears filled his eyes at the last painful image that he had of him...

Their fight was hard, all he remembered was he was angry, hurt and shocked, he wanted to be a dad, his dad, but circumstances wouldn't allow it, his heart and soul ached for what he was doing... he held the head of his only son down to the ground, the young man fought to lift it but was no match for his father's strength. After a minute he stopped fighting, lifeless body limp on the ground, the adrenaline still flowing freely through Logan as he lifted his sons face out of the puddle that he'd been drowned in, water leaked from his nostrils and mouth as his face rested in a look of betrayal.

He gathered his son into his arms cradling him as he wept, slightly rocking back and forth as he folded himself around his body, he didn't recall what happened next, he was too blinded by the sorrow that he felt.

"My love?"

Her soft voice called him out of his thoughts, he looked up into her caring eyes as she lifted his face in her hand, words dodged her at the moment. She knew a lot of what he went through and what to say to him to make him feel better, but at this moment she was at a loss, so she did the only thing that she could at the moment. She sat down and wrapped her arms around him holding him.

He didn't know why that memory came to his mind, maybe because he was overthinking and remembering when someone infiltrated his family and ripped it and him apart.

"I'm sorry my love," She told him,

"I'm sorry that I can't make you better." Her head tilted as she said the last thing, she knew that he wasn't upset with her or anything, but that didn't help with knowing that the man she loved was suffering with things that she couldn't help him with.

"Yer fine darlin'." He responded to her statement, then sensing something was off with his mate he looked to her, there was a tear that rolled down her cheek, he knew what she was thinking

That night at dinner everyone was silent as they ate solemnly, Logan and a few others dug into their food while a lot of the others watched on, that is until Logan looked up with a glare at them and they all resumed their meal. Hank looked at him and then Xavier, they both had the same thought. How would he cope with not having his healing factor? If he went on like he usually did, training sessions, protecting everyone, going headlong into a battle without thinking at times... then... they didn't know... they just didn't know.

Of course, they all hoped that his body would miraculously get back to normal, and he'd be fine, but... they just didn't know.

Charles and Hank ate as they watched everyone particularly Logan, at one point Logan looked up at the professor who gave a slight smirk and looked back to his food. Feeling his nerves were on edge Ororo put her hand on his thigh rubbing softly, he looked to her in response, she gave him a gentle smile, he gave one back.

It wasn't long before dinner was over, Logan went to walk out the door,

"Logan?" He turned to look at the redhead,

"Where are you going?"

"I gotta do somethin'." He stated,

"Hey!" She continued the next moment stopping his march to his destination,

"Don't be too reckless..." He raised an eyebrow at her request then continued out the door, leaving the rest of them behind. Folding her arms, she looked to her side where her best friend stood looking at the door.

"I... I didn't mean to offend him or anything..." She said looking to the wall,

"He knows... this is hard for him to accept..."

"I know, no one wants to accept it, at all! I'm just... I'm just concerned, You understand Storm." the woman nodded,

"I do." She said wrapping her arms around herself.

"How do you handle it?" She thought for a moment,

"I understand that he knows his limits, if he needs me he'll let me know."

"Why does he only tell you though? I mean he can't let any of us know once in a while when he's in trouble, I mean real trouble."

"Pride is a very hard thing for a man to lose Jean."

"I know,"

"Do you?"

"Yes, I've seen Scott struggle with it, and I know that sometimes I mess things up with him, but that doesn't mean I want to." Ororo nodded, they stood side by side before Jean started back toward the rec room

"I just hope he'll be ok." She commented just before she went into the room. 'Me to Jean, me to.' She thought to herself.

4 hours later:

He was fine, she was sure of it... he'd went off like this hundreds of times, it was his routine, he'd found his past, he had what he needed but now all he searched for was the wildness of nature that always called to him. So he'd roam, on the grounds and sometimes beyond. besides the loner needs time to themselves or they go crazy.

She couldn't help but worry. He knew himself as the invulnerable warrior, the man who couldn't die no matter what happened to him... She knew he was used to handling himself, but one thing scared her more than anything else. Losing him... She wouldn't, she couldn't, and he knew that she was too connected to him to just suddenly lose him, it would break her beyond repair just as it would him if he was to lose her.

The memory of him in that bed... on the verge of screaming, in agony, tears involuntarily leaking out of his fearful eyes, body convulsing... it wounded her in ways she didn't realize she could hurt, she cried as the memory came back to her, 'I have to find him, make sure he's ok!' Her mind and heart agreed.

"'Roro?" A voice called her out of her thoughts, she looked up to see the fifteen-year-old girl that her and Logan had adopted as their own.

"You ok?" Laura walked into the room approaching her,

"Yes, thank you child." the girl gave a smile, she'd told them a few times that she was not a child, but Logan and Ororo didn't really pay attention to that, they knew that she'd had everything including her humanity and childhood ripped away from her, so he wanted her to get it back.

Her dad had offered for her to stay and when she decided to Ororo was happy to agree with Logan that they adopt her as their own. She tried to act tough and like she didn't need love and affection and she wouldn't admit it right now, but whenever she'd get it she did like being loved and held close to the heart like she knew Logan and Ororo both did.

"What you thinking?" The woman got up from her seat, "We must find Logan." the girl nodded to her agreeing.

"I'll help you find him."Ororo smiled to the young mutant, and they went off to go find their beloved Wolverine.

Laura led the way with her nose, they went over the lawn and into the woods, Ororo took to the sky as the younger girl ran on the ground. They passed trees and bushes, rocks, fields, a river,

Getting to a cave she looked in, she felt something in the cave with the wind, bulky, hunched over, breathing... She went to the entrance,

"Logan?" She called out, she heard footsteps coming toward her, she could see the light reflecting off his grey eyes, he came into the moonlight.

"What's wrong darlin'?"

"Nothing now." Relief showed in her eyes as she saw that the man she loved was in good condition, he knew what she was thinking and he hated it... he hated the fact that now he was the weak one, he was the one that needed looking after. His inner voice whispered to him as he thought

'But didn't you always want this? Someone to love you, and take care of you when you're weak as a kitten? Isn't that what you desired deep down Logan?'

She knew his thoughts,

"You are not weak my lover." At that he looked at her as if searching for truth,

"You are strong in many more ways than just one, my handsome man." She cupped his face and he leaned into her touch letting his eyes rest... his next words were almost a whisper.

"I'm scared Ro..." His eyes opened and she could see the emotion they held, pain, fear, sorrow. It was one of the times she wanted to cradle him against herself and let him forget his problems.

"The Wolverine's never scared." He stated as his wife held him close to her chest.

"Am I talking with Wolverine, or am I talking with Logan?" He looked up at her and she knew exactly who. His eyes were dilated making them look pitch black, something the wolverine did when he came to the forefront.

He was right though; the Wolverine didn't get scared (much anyway) the only times he ever was was when his family was in danger. He was scared when his daughter Laura was almost taken by hydra again, or when Ororo was kidnapped by the hungan, but not for himself. He would be fine; he always knew that there was never any real danger to him... Until now that is. She told him what he'd told Laura when they were first getting acquainted.

"You do not have to hide your fear from me my love, I will support you through anything, you know this." He snuggled his face into her breasts, she felt her shirt absorb the few small drops that he let fall from his eyes.

He wanted to be strong, for her, for their kids, for himself. He usually didn't like it if people could bring out this side of him, but if it was Ororo he was ok with it. She knew how to work with him. How to love him, how to shield him when he needed it. Cause even the toughest warriors cannot be their strongest unless they have their number one person.

Though she watched from a distance Laura knew what was happening, her dad wasn't one to show vulnerability, just like her. Seeing him have a breakdown was like seeing a snake shed its skin, it was rare. He pulled his head out of her grasp a moment later looking toward the bushes. Laura stood to her full height looking at her adopted parents, then came forward.

Logan looked away from her not wanting her to see the fear in his eyes, but he knew that she knew. She knew the pain, the fear, the trauma, the shear edge of terror of the unknown, what was going to happen next, what were they going to try on them when they were brought back to the testing room...

"Thanks Ro." She smiled warmly to him,

"You're welcome."

Hey guys, this chapter might've been a bit rushed, I'm sorry if it felt that way, did my best with what I had 😅

Please Review, it helps me a lot.