Usually, she would find solace in her cherished greenhouse, but not today and most certainly not for the past four days. Ororo was livid and she had been in said state since what she deemed to be Jean's betrayal. She had done her best to keep her simmering anger under wraps, but with little success. The ominous clouds hovering about the mansion were an indication that all was not well with the weather witch. The audacity of Jean! To think that she had ever called her a friend, sister even, and given her the benefit of the doubt in many things, especially with the cat and mouse game she played with Logan. Jean's treachery was now fully exposed to her and she had now lost all respect for her former friend. She now saw how Jean was able to hoodwink them all into believing she was the goody two shoes of the mansion. She had saw with her own eyes how far the deluded redhead was willing to go to get what she wanted. Jean had officially broken the code of sisterhood and there was no coming back from it. But the joke was on Jean. Ororo had vowed to give her an eyeful to what was going on between her and Logan and she had delivered on that vow. In one fell swoop, she had let it be known that they were on to Jean's game and that she and Logan were very much involved.

She thought about Logan and how far he had come since their showdown in the garage. In a short time, he had done and was doing his best to reassure her that he was more than willing to build something meaningful with her. Every day, she had the privilege of seeing a new facet of the man himself that they all had misjudged. She couldn't help but be in awe of him and she had the feeling that she hadn't even tapped the surface of the depth of emotions Logan possessed. Lost memories or not, the man was a gem in the rough and she was going to hold onto it, despite the obstacles she saw in their way.

And poor Scott. To have the woman you loved more than life itself, attempt to seduce another man? She couldn't fathom how he would begin to feel or react if he found out about his wife's antics.

"Damn it!" She inserted the finger she had just pricked on a cactus thorn into her mouth and sucked it to quell the sting. The rare expletive gave credence to the fact that she was spending too much time in the Wolverine's company. Ororo grinned. No such thing as too much time in the company of that wonderful man.

They have yet to discuss Jean's actions and frankly, she wasn't looking forward to it. She trusted Logan, but Jean was an entire matter all together. To know that she and Jean had arrived to this point, after years of being best friends was heartbreaking. But heartbreaking or not, she knew that she deserved the same measure of happiness that Jean had. And if Logan was the one who somehow brought her that happiness, then so be it. She will fight for it. She was sick and tired of sitting on the sidelines while everyone paired off in contentment, while she waited for hers to magically appear to her. Not this time.

But knowing Jean as well as she did, she knew the woman wasn't about to give up. She sensed it every time the telepath would look at her. This was quickly morphing into something it shouldn't be and Ororo wished that she had the foresight to see this coming once she had approached Logan to get him to back off from Jean and Scott. Did she wished that she had kept her mouth shut and her thoughts to herself? Good Goddess no! If she had taken that route, then the path to exploring this new relationship with Logan wouldn't have opened up. But she wished that Jean would be a bigger woman and embrace what she has with Scott. Many women would kill for the chance at the kind of happiness she had, but Jean seemingly took it all for granted, or just didn't care. Ororo sighed. She and Logan simply had to remain on the same page where the redhead was concerned.

"I think we should make this our usual meetin' spot, babe," Logan's deep rumble rang out in the stillness of the greenhouse.

Ororo turned to smile at him, her finger still in her mouth. He groaned at the erotic image she presented.

"Christ, darlin', ya sure know how ta greet a man."

She slid up to press her body onto his. "Not just any man. Only you," she said brazenly. She stood on her toes and kissed his mouth softly.

His arms snaked around her, pulling her even closer. "Is that so?" He asked before sealing their mouths in a fervent kiss. Her lips succumbed to the mastery of his mouth and had no choice but to open and receive his tongue. With a slow twirling motion, his tongue delved into her mouth, causing her to sink her hands into the softness that was his hair. His arms went around her, pulling her close. Her body, of its own volition, molded itself against his and dual moans of pleasure echoed in the greenhouse.

When at last he released her, she gasped and licked her lips, sampling his tangy taste of cigar and beer. At her action, a feral sound escaped from his throat and he crushed her against him and stamped his lips against hers possessively. After a few seconds, he pulled back, attempting to catch his breath. He made the mistake of looking into her desire-laden eyes.

He groaned. "Don't look at me like that, 'Ro, else I'll ferget 'bout takin' this slow."

She smiled shakily.

"Anyway, I came ta see if ya wanted ta talk now," he rasped. "We've been puttin' it off and we need ta resolve it."

"I am fine, Logan," she answered automatically.

"'Ro," he growled. "Ya ain't fine. Ain't no foolin' me darlin'."

Ororo sighed. The dreaded conversation was about to begin. "I do not think there is anything to resolve as it pertains to us."

"Ya know what I mean, 'Ro." He ran an agitated hand through his already disheveled hair. "I don't want this hangin' between us and I can tell ya need ta talk 'bout it. Hell, ev'ryone is walkin 'round the mansion eyein' ya as if ya'll snap any minute."

She nodded, knowing he was right. "I was thinking about it before you walked in."

"Ok. Let's have it."

Ororo sighed. Her eyes darted around the greenhouse restlessly. For some unnamed reason, she was incredibly nervous. "I do not know where to start."

"How 'bout ya start by tellin' me how ya feel?" He suggested.

Her eyes slowly focused on his. The concerned look on his face gave her the courage she needed. "I am hurt and angry, Logan."

He remained silent, giving her free reign to vent. "My hurt and anger is not because of you, but her. She and I were best friends and to think that it disintegrated because she believes that she has a right to take what she wants when she wants is very upsetting."

"Look, 'Ro, I know ya're upset 'bout ya friendship wid Red goin' south. But ya can't go beatin' yerself up over it," Logan retorted.

"There is a lot at stake here, besides you and me." She worried her bottom lip between her teeth. "I do not even want to think how this would affect Scott."

Logan scowled. "Scooter ain't our problem, 'Ro. In case ya haven't noticed, he ain't so gung ho 'bout us bein' together."

"I care about him, Logan."

"I know ya do, darlin'. Ya care too much, but the Boy Scout is a big boy."

"I have always blamed you for the trouble in her and Scott's relationship, but now I clearly see that she was a most willing participant in your game."

"So ya regret confrontin' me?" He asked temperately.

"No!" She all but shouted. "If I did not do what I did, then you and I would not be where we are now." She stared at him fixedly. "Logan, what I am trying to say is that I wish Jean would see that what she has with Scott is rare and to focus on that. But for some inexplicable reason, she believes she has a claim on you and is willing to do anything to stake that claim."

Logan released the breath he wasn't aware he was holding. It was a relief to hear that she didn't regret confronting him. Her gutsy move had forced him to admit some hard truths and make some necessary changes. Even though he had ranted and raved at her seeming ease in getting him to agree to what she wanted, deep down he was glad that she did, because he wouldn't have had the opportunity to do what he had wanted to do since he had first saw her. The thinking gears in his metal-laced head wouldn't have kick started and he wouldn't have found the courage to want to change things between them. "'Ro, there's somethin' ya should know."

Ororo's heart clenched. She remained silent, willing him to continue.

He walked up to stand in front of her. He gripped her shoulders and peered in her eyes intently. "I never felt anythin' fer Jean. She was just a means ta distract me from who and what I really wanted." He closed his eyes for a few seconds, before opening them and continuing, "I wanted ya all along, 'Ro. Nobody else but ya, darlin'. But, I never thought I stood a chance wid ya. That's why I did what I did."

She trembled at his words and her heart relaxed to the point of bursting with joy. All this time, he had wanted her and only her. She had suspected he did, but never allowed herself to believe it. Until now. Silently they stared at each other. His eyes were so intense and burning with need and hers were soft and flooded with longing. Her hand rose to gently touch the contours of his face and his eyes involuntarily closed, savoring her touch. "Why did you not say something?" She murmured.

"I wanted ta, 'Ro, but so much was against me tellin' ya," he replied in kind.

"We still have much against us, bub."

He chuckled at her imitation of him. "Not if we let it be against us."

"We must be on the same page, Logan. She would not stop, especially if she thinks that you belong to her."

He looked at her, his eyes fiery with something she can only pinpoint as determination. "We are, darlin'. We got her number." His lips separated into a wide grin, before turning serious. "Try not ta worry too much."

She returned his intense gaze, quickly losing herself in it. Her heart pounded viciously in her chest, her breath quickened and came out as small puffs of air through her slightly parted lips and her blood was thundering through her veins. She became very much aware of his strong, muscular hard and infinitely male frame. The wifebeater he wore, that had seen many a washing cycles, tapered to fit his torso perfectly. His boots were worn out, barely hanging on, but looked perfectly at home with his threadbare jeans. The jeans' snug fit made his sex unquestionable. His heady scent was spinning her head. All her senses were alive and tingling with her discovery, a discovery that both thrilled and frightened her. She was in love with the feral man standing before her, looking at her questionably. He had started out as someone whom she thought ignored her, never paid any attention to her as a woman, but now she knew that was far from the truth and she had fallen in love. In retrospect, she realized that she had loved him from the very beginning, but was deeply hurt and offended at his apparent lack of interest in her.

Looking at him now, she knew that he wasn't going to be all that easy to love. He was exasperating, intense, rude, unbalanced at times, but underneath it all, he was also loyal, caring, candid and a warrior. As they got to know each other, what she saw of the Wolverine that no one else was privy too, was the huge capacity he had to feel many emotions. It was so obvious because the man was passionate in everything that he did. And she wanted and craved it all. So, to hell with Jean. This was her time for some love and happiness.

But did he love her? She would like to think that he did. The need, lust and want she had seen briefly in his eyes on that fateful day couldn't have been her imagination. He had admitted to wanting her and no one else. He seemed to be dedicated to building a relationship with her. His actions so far have proven that he wanted this as much as she did. So she asked herself, did she need to hear the words, or were Logan's actions sufficient for her?

Her musings were interrupted when he placed his hands on her shoulders and shook her slightly. "'Ro? Darlin', ya ok?" He was saying, a furrowed look creasing his brows.

She blinked a few times before coming back down to earth. His touch ignited her senses and she moaned softly. "Yes, yes. I am well."

"Ya zoned out there fer a while. Ya sure yer alright?"

She reached up and caressed his bearded cheeks lightly. Smiling brightly at him, she murmured, "I am well."

"If ya say so."

"I do. Now shut up and kiss me."

He grinned wolfishly, leaning down towards her. "Bossy," he muttered before branding his mouth to hers greedily.


News about their relationship spread like wildfire and after the entire fiasco that occurred in Logan's room, they didn't do much to quell the flames and surprisingly found that they didn't want to. They neither confirmed nor deny their relationship to anyone, simply electing to let them draw their own conclusions. The general consensus around was that many were just relieve to have their suspicions confirmed somewhat.

From observing them together, Scott certainly drew his own conclusions. Conclusion number one, he didn't see Ororo's and Logan's relationship going the distance. Conclusion number two and perhaps the most important one, Jean clearly was having problems accepting the relationship. He didn't know why she would have problems, but his gut told him to keep a closer eye on the situation. So he had taken to watching her closely and he had concluded that something was definitely off with Jean. She was skittish and avoided socializing. She especially avoided socializing with Ororo. Knowing the two women as well as he did, Scott was at a lost as to what could have created the growing chasm between his two favorite women. Whatever was troubling his wife was bubbling over to other aspects of their lives, namely, the intimate side of their relationship. Jean's constant assurances that everything was fine weren't washing anymore and he needed to know what was going on with his wife. He thought about going to Ororo to see if she had any idea as to what was bothering Jean, but quickly discarded that idea as he decided to give her a wide berth to pursue whatever it is she had with Logan. He still couldn't wrap his mind around those two being a couple. It just didn't…seem right. Anyway, their relationship or whatever it was that they had with each other was the least of his concern. His primary concern now was determining what exactly was going on with his wife. It was imperative he did, because it was beginning to take its toll on his marriage.

So he had started to do the only thing he could at the moment. He had taken to watching Jean more closely, gathering whatever intelligence he could. Whatever was going on, he knew she would slip up sooner or later. He personally rather sooner because then they could work out their problems and move on. As the days progressed, Scott began to notice that Jean would seem nervous anytime he was seen speaking with Ororo, or she was otherwise in his company. On top of that, Jean was practically shooting daggers at Ororo every chance she got. He had also noticed that she would take it upon herself to make sure that he and Ororo weren't alone in any setting. Ororo for her part remained calm, friendly even to Jean, but the warmth that was always in their relationship was gone. It was puzzling to him and he couldn't shake the feeling that something he wouldn't like or approved of had occurred and it would cause repercussions to echo throughout the mansion. He didn't know how in the world these two women whom he admired and loved could have arrived at this point. It was as if…ahh! Eureka! Logan! It had to be about him, but what he couldn't quite put his finger on. Scott's stomach immediately churned with an uneasy feeling. So help him, if Logan had did something to cause a rift between Jean and Ororo, he would personally see to it that the feral was tossed out on his ass permanently.

Jean, on the other hand, was waiting for the other shoe to drop. There were no doubts in her mind that Ororo would eventually spill the beans to Scott. She was convinced that it would be any day now that Ororo reveal all to Scott and she would lose everything. She had taken to panicking whenever she saw Scott and Ororo talking and had done her best to keep them away from each other. But as the days went by, nothing happened, no mention of her faux pas by either Logan or Ororo, nothing. Maybe they enjoyed holding her indiscretion over her head, enjoyed toying with her. Ororo remained cordial to her, but there was none of the camaraderie that was familiar to them. She guessed it was for the sake of appearances that the ebony woman remained kind to her. Ororo would often look at her with a telling look then go her merry way. Logan, on the other hand, eyed her with distaste. Gone were the lustful and hot looks he used to direct her way. Those were now reserved for only Ororo.

Oh, she was still keeping tabs on them, had become obsessed with them, tracking their every move and watching them like a hawk. She knew that they thought that she had given up after the embarrassing incident in Logan's room. But they didn't know her. They didn't know that the incident had spurred her into action. Up until then, she had been passive in her response, waiting to see exactly what was going on between the pair. Now that she knew, it was a whole new ball game. It wasn't even about getting Logan to refocus his attentions on her anymore. It had evolved into making Ororo hurt, bringing down Xavier's precious Storm a couple of notches. She just had to regroup and go about her task in a more careful, effective manner. When she was finished, they both wouldn't have any idea of what hit them. She would get what she wanted one way or the other and she would take immense pleasure in destroying Ororo's world and in taking what she wanted from Logan. However, she had to keep Scott of her trail. She knew that he had detected something was off with her, if his constant questions were any suggestion. Truth be told, Scott's sudden interest was beginning to grate on her nerves. She already had one problem in Logan and Ororo knowing what she was all about. She sure didn't need another one if Scott somehow found out what her game was.

Jean knew she was playing Russian roulette with her life. She could lose everything if she wasn't careful. Scott would surely leave her and she would no doubt lose her cushy position as an instructor and a senior member of the X-Men. Dwelling on all that could potentially go wrong if she didn't succeed, suddenly sent a sliver of fear running down her spine. She shook it off. Too late now, she was fully committed to doing this and if any consequences should arise, then so what? At least she would have gotten satisfaction.