Just a quick little warning before you start reading… This chapter references events from Days Of Future Past and X-Men Apocalypse. I've also taken some scenes directly from X-Men (the first film).

One hour Later

The mansion's med bay

Jean pulled out a needle from the man's arm lying prone before her. His arm healed almost instantly from the puncture wound of the needle. Although she had seen almost the exact same thing happen sixteen years ago at that secret military facility Colonel Stryker took her friends to, it still amazed Jean as if she were seeing it for the first time.

She took a moment to truly observe the man before her. He hadn't aged at all. He looked exactly as he did sixteen years ago. His lack of aging must stem from his incredible healing abilities. She remembered his name, it was Logan. In fact, she had given him back the memory of his name that day. She had touched the deepest recesses of his mind for that brief moment. And she had never forgotten the stranger who had seemed more an animal than a man at the time.

Jean walked over to where the x-ray illuminators were to look more closely at the man's metal-laced skeleton. It almost baffled her medical mind as to how the man survived such a process. She went back to her patient on the gurney and proceeded to change his IV tubing, when suddenly he shot up and grabbed her neck.

"Where am I?" Logan growled into her ear.

Jean was so shocked at how quickly he had moved and grabbed her, she hadn't had time to use her powers to defend herself. Just as quickly, he let her go and ran out of the med bay. Jean stumbled forward and coughed violently, trying hard to get air back into her lungs. It took her several moments to recover before she followed Logan out of the med bay.

She had no idea which way he'd gone. A couple of minutes went by as she searched the various corridors and rooms in the mansion. She was so shaken up, it just occurred to her she could have easily scanned for him telepathically. She was about to do just that when the professor interrupted her thoughts. **It's alright, Jean. He's with me. Please join us in my office.**

5 minutes later

Jean walked into the professor's study, and saw Logan standing in the middle of the room. He looked a little agitated but definitely calmer than he had several minutes prior.

"Ahh, and this is our resident doctor, Dr. Jean Grey," the professor said, nodding at Jean as she entered. "I do believe you two met briefly many years ago."

Logan stared at Jean for several seconds, he had a look in his eyes that she didn't quite know how to interpret. "I remember you… You helped set me free… All those years ago… You gave some of my memories back…"

Jean nodded. "Nice to officially meet you, Logan." She extended her hand out to the man in a friendly gesture. He didn't take her hand right away. He stared at it for a few seconds, then he reached out and accepted her gesture.

"Sorry 'bout the throat… You caught me off guard," Logan said.

"Likewise," Jean answered. She noticed he held her hand much longer than was necessary.

When he finally pried his eyes off Jean, he turned back to the professor and asked, "The girl that was with me? Where is she?"

"She's here. She's safe, Logan," the professor answered.

Jean added, "I examined Rogue myself, she's perfectly fine, Logan. She's just resting now."

"I see. Alright, so why am I here?" Logan asked.

The professor answered, "It's a long story, Logan… But I've actually been looking for you for quite some time. When I heard reports about a mutant that matched your description having been seen in Alberta, I sent a couple of my most trusted X-Men, Storm and Beast, to get you."

Logan scoffed. "The woman with the white hair and the big, blue fur ball?"

The professor chuckled. "Indeed. And it was lucky they found you and Rogue when they did. I believe they told me you were in the middle of an altercation?"

"I was handling it just fine. And what do you mean you've been looking for me for quite some time?" Logan asked.

"You see, I had a promise to keep. A promise I made to you many, many years ago," the professor said, smiling. "Do you recall missing several days of your life back in 1973, Logan?"

"How'd you know about that?" Logan asked, seemingly intrigued for the first time.

"You may want to sit down for this. It's indeed a long story," the professor said. Jean, knowing vaguely what happened in '73 through stories from the professor, Raven and Hank, sat down as well. She was curious as to the part this mysterious man played in apparently changing the course of history.

Later that afternoon

The boathouse

"Alright, Rach, I'm just going to grab the cookie sheets. Stay right there," Scott told his daughter. Rachel had been antsy that afternoon, wanting to play outside. It was raining, and Scott didn't want her to catch a chill. So, he convinced her to bake cookies with him instead. Looking at the mess in the kitchen, he kind of regretted his choice of activity.

Scott went to check on baby Nathan sleeping on the makeshift mattress he brought down to the living room. Still sound asleep. If only Rachel were that easy to entertain. He then made his way back to the kitchen and grabbed a couple of baking sheets.

Scott placed the baking sheets in front of Rachel. "Okay sweetie, go ahead and scoop the cookie dough onto the sheet there," Scott said. Rachel took the ice-cream scoop and started scooping the dough. It was a tad messy, but Scott had to give his daughter an 'A' for effort.

"Do you want help, honey?" Scott asked.

"Nope. Ah kin do it!" Rachel said, completely concentrated on the task at hand. Scott walked over to their oven and pre-heated it to 350 degrees when suddenly the doorbell rang.

"Stay right there, Rach. I'll see who it is," Scott said.

Scott opened the door and saw Ororo standing there, a tired but happy smile on her face. "Hey 'Ro, what's up?"

"Well, I missed the children… And so, when Professor Xavier said he wanted you at the mansion to meet our new guest, I volunteered to be the one to tell you. I thought I could stay here with little Rachel and Nate while you go," Ororo answered. Scott figured she really did miss the kids because the professor could have easily summoned him mentally.

"Our new guest?" Scott asked.

"Yes, he's the man Jean attended to this morning in the med bay. Hank and I brought him in today," Ororo said.

"Is he another student?" Scott asked.

"Not exactly… According to the professor, he's older than even he is, but that his mutation doesn't age him much," Ororo said.

"Okay then, I guess that explains Jean being away all morning and afternoon. I assume the man was badly hurt when he was brought in?" Scott asked.

"'Badly' is relative… He's up and about now. Anyway, why don't you go on to the mansion and I'll watch the kids," Ororo said, urging Scott along.

"Alright then. I just pre-heated the oven. Rachel and I were baking cookies… If you don't mind finishing them up with her… Nathan is still fast asleep, he's right over there. I umm… I won't be long. Thanks for watching the kids, 'Ro," Scott said, as he grabbed his coat and walked out.

Meanwhile

The mansion

"Professor, you wanted to see me?" Scott asked, poking his head in the professor's study. He noticed Jean sitting on a couch to his left and a man leaning against the arm of her couch, a little too close to his wife for Scott's comfort. He couldn't see the man's face very well as he was turned away from him.

"Yes, please come in, Scott," Professor Xavier said. "I'd like to introduce you to Logan." The professor then looked at their guest and said, "Logan, this is Scott Summers, formerly known as Cyclops. He's a teacher here at the school, and until just a few years ago, was the leader of my X-Men, until he decided to retire."

The man beside Jean turned around and Scott recognized the man immediately. It was the man who was locked up in that secret military facility sixteen years ago. Ororo hadn't been lying. The man hadn't aged a day! It was funny, Scott had wished back then they'd never have to see him again… Well, Scott never was that lucky.

Scott mentally reminded himself about his manners and extended his hand to the man. "Nice to meet you, Logan." But the man before him didn't take his hand. Instead he stared at Scott, seemingly studying him.

"I think I remember you, kid," Logan said.

"Is that so?" Scott asked, trying his hardest not to let the man get under his skin. It irritated Scott to no end that he called him 'kid' in front of his wife. It annoyed him even more that because of his amnesia, in many ways, he did still feel like he was twenty-two.

"Yeah, you were with Dr. Grey when I escaped from Stryker's facility all those years ago. It was you two and that blue elf I met earlier." Logan said, looking Scott up and down. Then the man snickered and said, "I see you've grown a bit since then."

Scott decided to ignore his last comment. The professor, probably feeling the tension in the room, interrupted and said, "Jean, why don't you show Logan to his room. I've given him Scott's old room next to Peter's."

Jean nodded. She made eye-contact with Scott letting him know she wouldn't be long and to wait for her. Scott subtly nodded back at his wife. Jean and Logan made their way out of the professor's study together. It irked Scott the way their new guest looked at his wife. It definitely wasn't a look that screamed indifference.

"So, Scott, tell me, how have things been since your accident?" the professor asked, turning his full attention on one of his oldest students.

"Well… I've felt a lot better since Jean told me everything. I was… not in such a good place when I thought Jean was married to… well, to some imaginary man I conjured up from my worst nightmare," Scott said, wryly. The professor chuckled at Scott's description.

"Anyway…" Scott continued on. "I'm really enjoying spending time with the kids, with Jean. My initial shyness with her has mostly passed too, and I'm excited to get back to my teaching duties here when the kids are finished their reading break…"

"But…?" the professor prompted.

"But I still don't remember anything from the last ten years and I'm beyond frustrated!" Scott said, sighing deeply.

"Is it really your lost memories that's bothering you, Scott? Or is it the fact that you feel you're letting Jean down by not remembering?" the professor asked, astute as always.

"Are you reading my mind, Professor?" Scott asked, only half-jokingly.

"You know I would never, Scott. But I know you as if you were my own son. Can I be frank with you, Scott?" Professor Xavier asked.

Scott nodded, albeit reluctantly. "Yes, sir…"

"For all your confidence in your ability to lead and to teach, there's always been a part of you that was never truly confident in yourself. A part of you always questioned your wife's love for you… even if only a little. Some part of you always felt you were beneath her and that you didn't deserve her… Why is it, son, that you have such difficulty believing that a remarkable woman like Jean could love you?" the professor asked, a hint of sadness in his voice.

Scott was at a loss for words. The truth of what the professor said hit too close to home. "I umm… I don't…"

"You're an equally remarkable man yourself, Scott," the professor said.

"You know, Professor… Because my memories end after 1989, all I can remember is how far out of my reach Jean was. She was always vibrant, full of life, everyone was drawn to her…"

The professor chuckled. "Oh, I know."

"Then there was me... awkward, timid, a loner. For the longest time, she was only a pipe dream. Then I woke up and found out I'm her husband! I'm the father of her children. I can't express in words how happy and scared that makes me feel all at once," Scott said.

"Have you shared this with Jean?" Professor Xavier asked.

"No… Anyway, I sometimes have to pinch myself, I can't believe it all. The thing is… Jean can easily find someone else… Someone better than me… But I know I'll never find someone better than her… Nor do I want to."

"You sell yourself short, son," Professor Xavier said. Scott only shrugged. "I agree with you that Jean could have whichever man she wanted… But that should be a comfort to you, not something to fear. You see, she could have had anyone, but she wanted only you. Take solace in that, especially when your insecurities threaten to overwhelm you."

Scott was quiet for a moment, absorbing what his mentor just told him. Then gathering his courage, he asked, "Could you help me, Professor? Could you reach into my mind and help me find myself again?"

"I'm sorry, Scott… But I won't," the professor said, a sympathetic but firm look on his face.

"Please, Professor…" Scott pleaded.

"Scott, if your condition was caused by a telepath tampering with your mind, I'd have already tried to help you. But your condition was caused by a severe injury to your brain. I'm a telepath, not a medical doctor, Scott. There's no guarantee I could even help you-"

"But sir!" Scott interrupted.

Professor Xavier raised his hand to stop Scott from arguing further. "Please, Scott, let me finish. As I was saying, most importantly, the reason why I refuse to 'help', is because the process could end up hurting you severely. You could have an aneurysm, or a brain hemorrhage… Lord knows I could leave you a vegetable!"

"You're too talented of a telepath to let that happen, Professor! I trust you completely… Please help me… I wouldn't ask if I had another option," Scott whispered, desperate for his mentor's help.

The professor sighed deeply. "Scott, do you know the real reason I pleaded with you to retire as leader of the X-Men shortly before your daughter was born?"

Scott just raised an eyebrow at the professor. "Silly question… You don't even remember," Professor Xavier said, chuckling.

The professor continued. "Jean had already retired from the team when she found out she was pregnant with Rachel. You on the other hand, continued to lead the team. You went on countless missions, fought countless battles… all of them successful. But do you know what weighed heavily on my heart each time you left?"

Scott shook his head, not sure what the professor was trying to say. "Every time you were on a mission I saw the fear in Jean's eyes. I felt her dread… her anxiety. And I prayed to God that I would never have to witness the moment your wife learned you'd been killed or taken… I didn't have the courage for that, son."

Scott's shoulders slumped in defeat. The professor wouldn't help him. He was on his own. Professor Xavier added, "And so you see, Scott, I will not risk hurting you by trying to help you regain your memories. If anything were to happen to you… How could I face your family? I'm sorry."

Scott nodded resignedly. "I understand, sir… But I had to ask."

"I know," Professor Xavier said, giving Scott a sad, regretful smile.

"Umm… If you'll excuse me, sir. I'll go and see what's taking Jean so long. 'Ro's alone with the kids and we should be heading back," Scott said, taking his leave.

Meanwhile upstairs

"… And the washroom is just right down the hall," Jean said to Logan.

"Uh huh… So, you learned more about me in the last few hours than most people ever find out in a lifetime. I think it's only fair you tell me a little bit about yourself," Logan said, a small provocative smile on his face.

Jean ignored how he looked at her. "What would you like to know?"

"Aside from going into people's heads like you did mine all those years ago… What else can you do?" Logan asked.

"I have telekinetic abilities. I can move things with my mind," Jean said.

"What kind of things?" Logan asked.

Jean shut the closet door in the room telekinetically to emphasize her point. "All kinds of things," Jean said, a small smirk on her face.

Logan looked impressed. "So, which one's your bedroom?"

"Why do you ask?" Jean answered.

"A man could get lonely late at night around here…" Logan said, provocatively fixing his eyes on Jean.

One didn't need to be a telepath to realize that Logan wanted her. And if she didn't put boundaries up quickly, he was going to cross the line sooner rather than later. "Well, if you must know, I actually don't live in the mansion. I live with my husband, Scott about half a mile from here… still on the school grounds, though," Jean said, emphasizing the word 'husband'.

A frown crossed Logan's face. "Scott? You mean one-eye downstairs? You two are married?"

Jean raised an eye-brow at the man before her, making it clear in no uncertain terms that she did not appreciate him calling her husband names. "That seems to shock you."

Logan shrugged. "I just didn't picture you with someone so… so…"

Jean gave Logan a look that dared him to disparage her husband further. It seemed the man could in fact take a hint, as he finished his sentence with, "so… upright."

Jean decided as far as adjectives went, 'upright' wasn't such a bad word to describe her husband. In many ways, it was quite accurate. She decided to ignore the whole exchange hoping to move on from her personal life. "Is there anything else you need, Logan?"

"Maybe…" Logan walked closer to Jean and took her hand in his. He slowly lifted her hand and placed it on his temple. "Why not finish what you started sixteen years ago?"

"I don't think so…" Jean replied, hesitantly.

"Afraid of what you'll see?" Logan asked, taunting her.

"You needed my help then… You don't need it now. I don't make it a habit of going into people's minds for fun," Jean said.

"What's wrong with a little fun?" Logan said, smiling seductively at Jean.

Before Jean could answer, she heard someone clearing their throat behind her. She whipped around and saw Scott standing by the door, a completely blank look on his face. Jean pulled her hand out of Logan's so fast one would think she was scalded. "Scott!"

Scott's face remained impassive. He didn't answer. Jean mentally berated herself for not having pulled away from Logan sooner. She could only imagine how the whole scene appeared to her husband. Anyone else would have seen complete calm and indifference on Scott's face. But she knew that his exaggerated calmness was a mask to hide his hurt.

She quickly made her way towards the door. She turned around briefly and said, "Goodnight, Logan." She reached out to take her husband's hand in her own, but he didn't make a move to reciprocate. His gesture, or lack thereof, hurt Jean, but she could understand it too. She would have been equally annoyed if she'd caught Scott doing the same thing with another woman. She decided to give him a little space and went ahead down the stairs.

Meanwhile, Logan approached Scott still standing by the door. "You gonna tell me to stay away from your girl?"

"If I had to do that, she wouldn't be my girl." Scott answered.

"Well, then I guess you've got nothing to worry about, do ya?" Logan said. "Still though… I can't see what she sees in you."

"No… someone like you wouldn't," Scott answered, infusing his voice with confidence he didn't feel. He turned around and started towards the stairs, then paused. He couldn't help it, he turned back around and said, "Oh, and Logan – stay away from my girl."

To be continued…