Changes Sequel – I. Darkness Part 21
Parking the car in front of the apartment complex, Logan got out and looked briefly up the building, before he walked towards the door and entered it. While he waited for the elevator, his thoughts drifted off to his conversation he had with Jean after Bobby had left. She had completely caught him off his guards by telling him all of a sudden that she wanted a fourth baby. Not that he did not want one, but her progress somehow scared him… Sighing, since the elevator didn't open, Logan walked over to the staircase and used it instead on his way to the fifth floor.
Lying in bed, Jean stared at her watch briefly and sighed. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't sleep and somehow she knew what the reason for it was. The look he'd given her bothered her a lot, since she couldn't figure out what he was thinking. Turning around, she looked at his sleeping form and had to smile. He was lying on his belly again and held the pillow tight while his breathing was steady. Sometimes she could watch him for hours when he was sleeping…it was just too cute…
"What's wrong, Jeannie?" Logan suddenly asked her, his voice thick with sleep and opened his eyes a bit; seeing the surprised look on her face.
"I thought you were deeply asleep…," Jean said, but he shook his head.
"I can tell by now when you're watchin' me, Red. Why are ya not sleepin'?"
"I was wondering," she began slowly and drew circles with her fingers on the sheets, while he sat up a bit and supported himself with his arms. His hair was messy than every whereas he looked as if he'd been woken from a deep coma. She didn't have to take a closer look to tell that he was more than tired.
"About what, darlin'?" Logan asked since she didn't go on.
"Why did you give me that look before?" the redhead asked quickly and heard him sigh before he rolled onto his back and ran both hands through his face.
"Because you surprised me with it," he replied and yawned. "I wasn't prepared for it…"
Looking down, her hands played with the blanket nervously. "Don't you want to have…," she began when he cut her off.
"'f course I do," Logan said and moved again so that he was facing her now. Reaching out, he touched her right cheek with his hand and stroked over it. "I only want to be sure that it's really what you want, Jeannie. That you're ready for it…"
"Logan, I'm over it," Jean assured him and met his gaze in the dark as good as she could. "You said it yourself that we can't change it and I don't want a substitute either. Nothing and no one could replace Jake… But I also don't want to wait longer with it. I am ready for it…"
Not saying anything first, he laid down again and crossed his arms behind his head just to stare at the ceiling. Heaving a deep breath finally, he reached out to pull her close. "Let's wait one more month, okay?" Nodding, Jean cuddled up to him and closed her eyes while he wrapped his arm around her.
Up to know they hadn't talked about it anymore and it was already November. He couldn't tell if she was still thinking about it, but he didn't want to ask her either. Seeing the old woman on the corridor, who gave him again a deadly look, Logan only nodded briefly, before he knocked on the door opposite to the old lady. Counting from three backwards, he already knew what she would say next.
"The youth of today," the old woman began and glared at the man in front of her who only sighed in annoyance. "If I was the young lady I wouldn't even let you in!"
"Yeah, thank God ya ain't," Logan hissed and knocked again.
"Is that your way of dealing with responsibility, mister?" she asked him. "Coming every few months to see your child? A wonder that the poor girl still recognizes you. What kind of father are you anyway? Allowing this French mop-head to take care of her while you do what? Have fun with other young ladies? How old are you by the way, mister? Thirty something? The poor girl was definitely underage when she became pregnant! Shame on you! I would love to call the police for this, you know that?"
Turning around clearly pissed, Logan glared at her. "Better call a psychiatry so that I can drop ya there, ya old frigate!" Seeing how her head turned a scarlet red in anger, he turned his head when his ears could hear and his nose smell what the woman couldn't.
"HOW DARE YOU, MISTER?!" she barked at him on the edge of her voice. "That will have consequences for you!" Furiously she slammed the door shut behind her.
"Yeah, yeah!" he waved off and smiled at the little girl who had spotted him directly when she came around the corner on the end of the corridor.
"Uncle Logan!" Isa cheered and threw herself at the man, who pulled her close and embraced her tightly.
"Missed me, kid?" he asked smirking when she gave him a kiss and another strong hug.
"Yeah," the girl nodded and smiled at him happily. "Where have you been that long?"
"Had some business to do."
"Logan," Rogue said surprised to see him and searched her pockets for her keys. "He sent you, didn't he?"
"Can't hide it, eh?" he asked back and gave her a brief kiss on the cheek before he carried Isa on his arms into the small apartment. "But I also wanted to say hi…"
"Where have you been that long?" Rogue asked him and dropped the bags to the ground. "They only told me you were gone and they didn't know when you'd come back. Damn it, Bobby could have told me that you're back. I would have wanted to see you," she cursed and got rid of her jacket before she gave him a sign to sit down. "Are you alright?"
"So many questions at once, darlin'?" Logan smirked and made her smile briefly before she went to get something to drink and returned with a coke for him. "I was in Japan for ten months."
"Japan?" Rogue asked surprised and sat down. "Why?"
"Lack of control thanks to Mr. Megalomania," he replied and smiled at Isa, who still clung to him. "Hey, kid, why don't you go playin'. Have something t'discuss with your mom."
Nodding, the girl let go of him. "But you won't go without saying bye, right?" she asked and pouted.
"'f course not. Be right there, okay?" Smiling, she was about to turn around when he called her name. "You've forgotten something, darlin'."
Smiling brightly, Isa took the small package out of his hands. "For me?"
"Sure, haven't been here for ya birthday, haven't I?" Logan smirked and chuckled when she hugged him again.
"Thanks!" she cheered and ran off into her room, while Rogue smiled and watched her before she became serious.
"I'm sorry for your baby, Logan," she said calmly but he waved off. "How's Jean?"
"She's fine," he gave back and heaved a deep breath. "Heard you want to move to France?"
Groaning, she leant back in the sofa. "So, Bobby did send you, huh?"
"Nope, not really. He came to me askin' for help and I wanted t'visit ya anyway," he said and did the same. "So…?"
"Remy and I want to move to that coast you sent us to, yeah. So where's the problem that we want to start a new life?" Rogue asked him and met his gaze directly.
"Look, you know that I would never tell ya t'change your mind, right? I always said ya should do things only if ya really want them t'do. So I'm not telling ya t'stay here if ya really want t' go," Logan said calmly. "But Bobby is the father and he also has a right t'see his kid, Marie."
"I know that and he can of course see her…"
"When? Do ya want Isa t'travel back and forth between Europe and the US each holiday or during vacation?" he asked her seriously and saw her crossing her arms. It was still a miracle to him that she obviously still had parts of him within her after imprinting him years ago. Right now she was going into stubbornness-mode and he knew too well what that meant. "What does she say about it? Does she want to go there?"
"Yeah, she does," Rogue gave back and sighed. "Logan,…"
"Does she also know that she can't visit us whenever she wants to? That she can't see her father when she wants?" he asked next and she could hear the slight trace of anger in his voice. "Did you tell her that, too?" Only seeing how she looked away, he shook his head. "Rogue…"
"Marie…," she corrected him without turning her head.
"Marie," Logan said and bent forward. "If ya want t'change your life, I am the last one t'hold ya back. Ya know that! But this is not only about ya or the Cajun anymore… Ya can't decide for Isa and make her come with ya. The kid has her own will, even if she's only 6 years old," he explained calmly. "And if she doesn't want to, then you'll only make her unhappy by forcing her."
"If you wanted to return to Canada forever, what would you do?" she gave back a bit harshly.
"I would stay in the US if my kids said no. It's important what the kids want, not what ya or I want, Marie. And I would never do somethin' that's against my kids will…"
"So, you're telling me to stay?" Rogue asked but he shook his head.
"I'm tellin' ya to think it through. If ya want t'go no matter what but Isa won't…then ya have t'let her go," Logan replied and she met his gaze again with tears in her eyes. "And if ya can't do that…then ya have t'stay, too." With that he got up and took the coke with him into Isa's room.
Looking up the girl smiled widely at him and hugged her new Hello Kitty bag pack. "Who told you?" she demanded to know and sat down on his lap after he'd sat down on the ground next to her.
"Heard someone sayin' you'd like to have it," he smirked and earned another hug and kiss from her. "So, what are ya doin'?"
She only shrugged. "I still have math to do, but I don't get it," Isa pouted and he chuckled.
"Show me," Logan said and watched how she quickly got up to get her book, a piece of paper and a pencil, before she sat down on his lap again. Opening the book quickly, she pointed at the exercise and he quickly read through it.
"Why can't I go to your school anyway? I don't like mine," she said after a moment and made him look up briefly.
"Because your mom decided it, pum'kin," Logan replied. "If ya don't like it, then tell her."
"I did, but she got mad because she had a fight with daddy before." Clinging to her godfather, the girl paid attention when he began to explain the exercise to her slowly. Trying it on her own twice, she smiled when it finally worked.
"Got it?" Logan asked smirking and she nodded. "Good. Anything else ya still have to do?"
"No, that was all," Isa replied and gave him a look. "Do you have to go now?"
Noticing the sad undertone, he kissed her cheek briefly. "Yeah, I still have some work to do, honey."
Pouting, the girl nodded and got off his lap to lead him back to the front door. "When can I visit you?" she demanded to know when they stopped at it and he kneeled down to give her a proper hug.
"Whenever ya want, pum'kin. Ya know where t'find me, don't ya?" Logan said and gave her a smile and another kiss, before he turned to Rogue and did the same. "Think about what I said, will ya?" he asked and let go of her when she nodded. Opening the door, Logan paused. "Oh, and tell that freak over there again that I am her godfather, okay? Otherwise I have to stab her!"
Smiling, Rogue nodded. "I will. But she won't get it anyway, you know her," she said and heard him snorting. "Finally a woman where your charm doesn't work, huh?"
"Thank God I have my wife, huh?" Logan said and winked at her. "See ya!"
Closing the door behind her, the young woman turned to her daughter and noticed her sad look. Kneeling down to have a better look at her, she stroked over the girl's blonde hair lovingly. "The two of us have to talk, honey…"
Sitting on the terrace in the warm sun, Rachel drew a picture of the white wolf, which the kids have decided to call Miloh and was sitting right next to her. Completely unaware of her surroundings, she let her thoughts wander around and smiled at the animal when this one rested its head on her lap all of a sudden. Stroking over Miloh's head, she briefly looked up into the blue sky; seeing how Ororo took a flight again with TJ in her arms. Sometimes she wished that she could fly, too. If not as high as her godmother then at least a bit. Dreamily, she didn't hear how Miloh began to growl all of a sudden and moved aside to bare his fangs at a person right behind the girl. When she turned her head, she gave her friend a strange look. "What's wrong?" she asked and put the paper and pencil away.
"Rachel…what are you doing?" Scott's voice suddenly sounded behind her and she turned around with a frightened look on her face.
"I didn't do anything!" she said scared by the look the man gave her. Never before had she see him looking at her like this.
"Stop doing this!" he said a bit louder when all of a sudden chairs and tables dropped to the ground and also the girl landed on it. Completely confused, while Miloh still growled at Scott, Rachel looked around in shock; unable to understand what had happened and scared to death. All she knew was that she hadn't done anything wrong.
"Come with me!" he said and reached out to grab her hand, but the girl stepped back close to start crying. "Rachel…come with me!" Scott demanded again and grabbed her hand quickly. Shrieking aloud, the crying girl tried to pull her hand away and the man crashed through the window of the kitchen in the next second. Staring at what she'd done in deep shock, Rachel began to shake heavily. Panting, she shrieked again when someone laid a hand on her shoulder.
"Ray?" Ororo said and stared at the window with widened eyes. "What happened?"
"I didn't do anything!" the girl cried and stepped back sobbing, closely followed by Miloh, who felt her stress and fear and wanted to protect her- "I swear, I didn't do anything…"
"What happened?" the woman asked her and the girl noticed the scared look in her opposite's and TJ's eyes. "What did you do, Ray?"
Hearing how Scott got up groaning, Rachel turned panicky; not knowing what to think or do. All she knew was that her heart was in her mouth and she was terribly scared. Looking to and fro between the others while she breathed heavily, the girl did the first thing that came to her mind and ran.
"Ray!" Ororo called but she was already gone. Still shocked, she quickly walked over to Scott and helped him. "Are you alright?" she asked him worriedly and gasped when she noticed the blood on his head. "What happened?"
"Where's she?" he asked darkly and held his head while she helped him up.
In the meanwhile, Rachel was running blindly through the corridors. Tears blurred her vision and her mind was racing horribly. She knew that she didn't do anything. All she'd done was drawing a picture and watching her godmother fly… She couldn't understand why the others had looked at her as if she was some kind of monster. Stumbling all of a sudden, she landed on the ground. Holding her knew sobbing heavily, she clung to Miloh, who'd followed her and bumped her arm gently with his nose. "I didn't do anything…," Rachel cried and buried her face in the soft white fur, when the front door opened.
Stepping inside, Logan closed the door behind him and immediately had to frown when he caught the scent of his daughter. When he also picked up her emotional condition, he quickly moved around the corner. As soon as he saw her, his steps became quicker and he kneeled down next to her. "Ray? Pum'kin, what's wrong?" he asked her frightened and raised her head to make her look at him.
"Daddy!" the girl cried and threw herself at him sobbing aloud, while she clung to her father. "I swear I didn't do anything…"
"What?" Logan asked completely confused and pulled her close to rock her slowly back and fourth. "Ssh… It's okay, darlin'...it's okay. Calm down." Hearing how her sobs slowly became weaker, he kept on stroking over her back soothingly. "What happened, Ray?" Logan tried again and made her look up to wipe away her tears, but she only shook her head and clung to him again. Sighing, he got up and made his way to his rooms, closely followed by the wolf. Reaching the door upstairs, Logan cocked an eyebrow at the animal, since it was the first time that it was within the mansion. Miloh stopped immediately, one paw raised and looked at the man attentively. Only shaking his head, Logan opened the door and went inside, watching how the wolf did the same. "Wanna go into your room?"
"Yeah," Ray sniffed and rested her head in his shoulder again, while he carried her over and sat down on her bed. "What's wrong, huh?" Logan asked softly and pulled a strand out of her face. "Who said you did something?"
"Scott," she replied calmly and bit her lip while her eyes were lowered.
Hearing the name, Logan instantly became pissed and narrowed his eyes. "What did he say you did?"
"What's wrong?" Jean suddenly asked from the door and was only dressed in a white towel while another one was used to dry her hair. Seeing the look of her daughter, her heart skipped a beat. "Baby, what's wrong?" she asked and sat down next to her husband to touch her daughter's cheek.
"Scott said she did something wrong and made her cry," Logan explained darkly. "But don't ask me what…"
"What did you do, baby? Before Scott said it?" the redhead asked her softly and wiped away new tears.
"I drew a picture of Miloh and watched Aunt 'Roro fly," the girl explained and sniffed again. "And then Scott came and looked at me as if I was a monster… I swear, mommy, I didn't do anything…"
"'Kay, that's it!" Logan growled and pulled the girl of his lap to hand her over to her mother. "Annoying me, fine, but making my kids cry is too much…"
"Logan, wait!" Jean said quickly since she knew what he was about to do. "What happened then, baby?"
"I don't know," Rachel sobbed and shook her head. "He wanted to grab me and I was scared and then he crashed through the window. And then Aunt 'Roro came and was scared of me…" Clinging to her mother, she buried her face on her chest and cried again. In the meanwhile, Jean furrowed her brows and was exchanging a look with Logan, who, too, tried to make some sense out of the words. She could sense his anger. He practically radiated it in giant waves and she knew why. It wasn't because of what Rachel was supposed to have done. It was more the look the child had received from the adults. "Logan…," the redhead said, but he only snorted and turned around. "Ray," Jean turned towards her daughter. "No matter what happened, it wasn't your fault, baby, okay? There's no need to cry, honey." Gently, she pulled a strand out of her face and gave the child a smile. "We talk about this later, okay? I need to stop your daddy from doing something stupid." Only nodding, Rachel got off her mother's lap and watched her turning around.
"Can Miloh stay here?" she asked and Jean gave her a smile.
"Sure," the redhead nodded and gave her a brief kiss before she quickly ran to the bedroom to get dressed.
"Hank, you haven't seen her!" Scott said while the mutant was taking care of the cut above the man's right eye. "She was floating in the air, the things around her were floating in the air and you perfectly know what that means!"
"She is a child, Scott!" Hank gave back and shook his head. "It was obvious that Rachel has inherited her mother's powers, but she isn't a threat only because she floated around… The tables are still there, the chairs, too, and you are alive, too."
"Yeah, but still," Ororo intervened and crossed her arms. "She sent him crashing through the window, Hank. I saw how he flew backwards…"
"He scared her, 'Ro!" Hank shot back. "I've heard her crying her eyes out and I'm sure she doesn't even know what she did. She is a child, for God's sake. Not a killer!"
"I know that Hank!" the woman gave back a bit louder and glared at him, when a growl could be heard from the door; making everyone turn their heads in an instant.
"What did you do to her, dickhead?" Logan growled and gave Scott a piercing look.
"What I did to her?" the man shot back. "Look what she did to me!"
"Logan, wait!" Ororo said quickly and stepped between both men. Looking into her opposite's eyes sent a shiver down her spine. He was more than only pissed, she could tell that right away. "Ray sent him through the kitchen window. I've seen it!"
"And why did she do it?" Logan hissed and came slowly closer; making her step back. "She said you wanted to grab her!"
Getting of his stool angrily, Scott faced the man. "I wanted to grab her hand to bring her to the Professor. I didn't want to hurt her Logan!"
"Too late, 'cause ya did! She's scared to death!" his opposite shot back.
"Yeah, because of what she did, I assume," the other man gave back and glared at him.
Grabbing his collar, Logan pulled him closer. The anger and hate sparkled in his eyes and made Ororo look at Hank for help. "She doesn't even know what she did, you jerk!"
Reaching the kitchen together with the Professor, Jean looked quickly to and fro between them and joined Logan's side. Laying a hand on his arms, she gave him a pleading look. "Logan, please!"
"Please what?" he asked her harshly. "I'm sick of him, Jean!"
"Well, then pack your stuff. That's anyhow the thing your best at," Scott hissed and grabbed his wrists to get rid of him, just to hear another menacing low growl from Logan.
"Can someone please explain what's going on here?" Charles asked and gave each of them a stern look. "I felt Rachel's emotions running wild before and now each of you is sending so directly that it is hard to block you out." Looking at Ororo, who gave him a worried look, he watched how she came closer whereas Logan and Scott still seized each other up for coffins.
"I was air-riding with TJ when I saw how Scott crashed through the window in the kitchen. When I landed next to Ray, she was completely messed up and distraught. I asked her what happened, but she only said that she didn't do anything," she explained.
"And Scott told us that she was floating in the air and also the thing around her," Hank added and the woman nodded.
Thinking about it, Charles nodded and looked at Jean. "Just as we've thought," he said to her and she nodded.
"What do you mean?" Scott asked and cursed aloud when he tried to get Logan away from him. "You knew it?"
"I didn't know it, Scott!" Charles corrected him. "But after the twins have shown their first powers and were a lot like the Wolverine, I assumed that Rachel has inherited Jean's powers. But just because you saw her floating in the air, doesn't mean that she's a threat, Scott! I can still feel her stress and fear…"
"What else are you not telling us about them?" the man demanded to know angrily. "You know perfectly well how dangerous their parents are!"
Hearing it, Jean joined Logan's side again and glared at her former fiancé. "What is that supposed to mean? That we are cold blooded killer and our kids are the same?" she nearly yelled at him and didn't notice that Jack and Lily had appeared at the door.
"What I mean is that they can become dangerous if their powers get out of control, Jean," Scott said calmer and shook his head. "You know what you are like if you lose it. And you also know the animal in him." Growling, Logan pushed him against the counter and gritted his teeth. "Damn it, let go of me!"
"Or you do what?" his opposite shot back. "Tickle me with that little beam of yours? Still thinking that you're the better man, Summers, huh?"
Snorting, Scott gave him an arrogant smile. "At least I am a man…," he spat through gritted teeth.
"Enough!" Jean hissed and sent him over the counter against the wall. Gasping when they saw how her mother was covered in flames, the twins stepped back a bit.
"Jean!" Ororo tried to intervene, while Hank rested his hand on Logan's shoulder to stop him from jumping at the man. "The situation is too heated up, don't make it worse!"
"He's the one who makes it worse currently!" Jean shot at her angrily. "I'm telling you for the last time, Scott, to call Logan an animal! You don't know him!"
"Oh, am I hurting his feelings?" Scott sneered and gave Logan a hatred look, while this one was about to extract his claws.
"What has gotten into you lately?" the redhead asked him angrily. "You're behaving like a complete asshole!" Getting up from the ground and holding his shoulder the man snorted.
"Scott," Charles said warningly since he could sense that he was about to reply something.
Facing the redhead, Scott shook his head. "You've changed Jean…," was all he said before he walked past her.
"The only one who has changed is you," she shot back bitterly while the fire slowly decreased. "And namely so much that I am glad I picked Logan instead you…"
Staring at her in shock, Scott didn't notice the satisfied smirk of Logan when this one crossed his arms and leant against the counter. Finally switching his eyes to him, he gave him a smirk back. "Sounds to me as if you regretted it from time to time," he said and left, while Jean sent a cup crashing against the nearest wall.
"Hey," Logan said and touched her cheek. "Forget him, okay? He's not worth it!"
Clearing his throat, Charles asked for their attention and Jean's eyes grew wide when she stared into the shocked faces of her twins. "Oh God…," she gasped. "How long are you standing there already?"
"Long enough to see you burn…," Jack said and looked to and fro between his parents.
"I think you have enough to do for tonight, Jean," the Professor said and gave her a look. "I know you explained your negatives to them but obviously not enough…"
Running a hand through his face, Logan closed his eyes briefly to calm down again. He had wanted so badly to just stab that bastard and finish him forever. He was sick of Scott's behavior and the permanent battle between the two of them. Nevertheless, one thing caught his attention… "Come on, let's go," he said and pulled Jean with him. "I've enough of that shit for today…"
"I'll be right there, okay?" she replied and he nodded. Watching him leave with the twins following him, she sighed. "What now? The whole situation between Scott and Logan is completely out of control…"
"Not only between them if you ask me," Hank said. "It was you who sent him over the counter…"
"Yeah, because he keeps on humiliating my husband, Hank," Jean gave back. "I'm sick of Scott calling him an animal…"
"Still, you lost control, Jean," Charles reminded her and she nodded while looking down. "Go to your children and talk with them. Then try to calm down a bit and explain to Rachel what had happened before, okay?"
Only nodding, the redhead left and went back to her rooms upstairs, where Logan was already back in Rachel's room and waited for his wife. Sitting down next to him, she ran a hand through her face and tried to find a way to make their children understand what was happening to them already.
In the meanwhile, Charles was still talking with Ororo and Hank. Moving through the corridors, they followed him and listened to his advises carefully. The woman knew that she'd reacted completely wrong and felt terrible since she had scared her godchild, too, while Hank cursed Scott for his strange behavior. "I feel that he's in lots of stress," Charles said and stopped in front of his office. "But I can't tell why…"
"Well, I think I do, but I still don't get it why the situation between him and Logan is so…," Ororo began and received a look from aside.
"Out of control?" he finished her thoughts and she nodded. "I told you that I am only waiting for the big fight between them…"
"Yeah, but still…" She sighed and had one hand on her hip while the other ran through her hair.
"Scott made the mistake and spent one night with Jean," the blue mutant said. "And that's a thing Logan will never forgive him…"
"We have to keep an eye on both of them," Charles suggested. "And Hank, I would like you to tests how far the powers of the twins and Rachel are already developed. I don't think they can become dangerous, but I have to know how to train them."
"Okay," Hank nodded. "But can I ask you something?"
"Of course," Charles nodded and turned towards him.
"Well, as you said the twins have Wolverine's power and Rachel has Phoenix's…," the man began and crossed his arms while Ororo gave him a curious look. "What would happen if Jean and Logan had a child that…"
"…inherited both its parents powers?" the Professor ended the sentence and the mutant nodded. Thinking about it, Charles heaved a deep breath. "Logan and Jean know how to deal with their negatives. Even if Jean lost control for a moment, she still didn't turn into her negative, Hank. And Logan is in control again, too, so they know how to train their children."
"Yes, but wouldn't it be…dangerous if one child had both powers?" Ororo asked insecurely.
"I would rather call it that this child could practically be the most powerful mutant of the planet, if it really inherited the full power of both parents," Charles said and folded his hands. "I know that Jean and Logan want to have a fourth child… If it happens…then we are only in trouble if someone else gets his hands on the child and raises it after his ideas. You know that everyone of us can become a threat if someone else controls the way we think and act. You have seen it last year when Apocalypse turned Logan into his horseman," he explained and looked to and fro between them. "And since I know that Logan and Jean would rather sacrifice themselves before they gave up one of their children…I'm not worried…"
"Any signs of Apocalypse again?" Ororo asked him after a while.
"Moira told us about some weird activities in England," Hank added.
"It's not Apocalypse as far as I can tell. I used Cerebro to track down the activities, but I couldn't find any sign of him," Charles said and shook his head. "I doubt that it was so easy to beat him, but I also doubt that we will see him again so soon…"
"What about Magneto?" Ororo asked and disgust was clearly visible in her voice. "Is he no longer on our planet or why don't we hear anything at all from him?"
Smiling, the Professor knew what the woman was thinking. "I can assure you, Ororo, that my old friend is still an inhabitant of our planet… But obviously he has some trouble to find mutants for his purposes."
Chuckling, Hank grinned satisfied. "So Jean destroyed his rep, huh?"
"So it seems," his opposite nodded and moved towards his office. "If you'll excuse me, I still have to grade some papers. Oh, and please make sure to keep Scott away from Logan. One new window is enough for today." Smiling at them, the Professor disappeared into his office and left them alone.
"So, ready to prepare dinner?" Ororo asked smiling and Hank nodded. "Jeez, I'm happy when this week's over. Who has to cook next week?"
Walking back with her to the kitchen, Hank briefly thought about him. Smiling, he wobbled his eyebrows. "Mr. Canadian if I'm not mistaken."
Giggling, she couldn't hide her grin. "I really missed eating his stuff while he was gone. Don't you think we should make Logan cook for the next 10 months? He owes us!"
"Go ahead and ask him, but I won't piece you back together afterwards, 'Ro," Hank laughed and entered the kitchen.
A few days later, after normality had finally returned and the Grey children knew everything about their powers-or better nearly everything, since Logan had left out the ugly parts-, Logan sat in the kitchen with the others for dinner and gave them glaring looks, since it was his turn to cook. He knew the girl's loved his Canadian way of cooking, but of course some of the guys were never pleased, no matter if he cooked or someone else. He only had to frown since Jean still hadn't appeared and by now it really was unusual for her.
Looking up when he suddenly caught her scent, he watched how she entered the kitchen with a stern look on her face. Something was wrong, he knew that immediately. Cocking an eyebrow at her when she stopped right next to him, he could tell that she was more than only nervous. "Can we talk?" she asked him barely audible and all he could do was shrug.
"Sure… What is it?"
Looking at the others, who were watching them, Jean bit her lip. "Not here…," she said and nodded towards the back door. "Can we go for a walk?"
"Oh, oh…that doesn't sound good," Hank said and gave Logan a look. He couldn't help but loving to tease his friend. "What did you do again, Logan, huh?"
Not caring about it, this one turned towards his wife and tried to read in her eyes what was wrong all of a sudden. "Darlin'…," Logan began and shook his head in confusion. "What's wrong? Did something happen?"
"No," Jean replied and sighed while she became more and more nervous by the looks of the others. "Jeez, Logan, I only want to talk with you about something serious in private… Can we go, please?"
"Yap, definitely not good," Hank whispered towards Ororo, who gave the couple a worried look.
Finally shrugging, Logan got up and held the backdoor open for her, before he followed her to the outside. "That really sounded serious…," the weather goddess muttered. "I wonder what's wrong…"
"Well, if she wants to talk with him on the outside… I bet it's something big," Hank suggested while he kept on eating.
"Maybe she's seriously sick?" Ororo asked frightened but he shook his head.
"No, we just did a check up yesterday. She's completely fine!"
Frowning, the woman shook her head in thoughts. "Hm… Do you think she'll leave him?"
Giving her a look as if she'd just announced that Christmas was cancelled, Hank hid his grin. "Hell no! I just caught them in the lab yesterday. Smooching like crazy love bunnies, I'm telling ya!"
"Then what can it be?" she asked worriedly and turned around, hoping that she could see one of her friends in the dark. "I've never seen her being so distraught in a long time…"
Laying a hand on her shoulder, Hank squeezed it gently. "Just ask when they come back." Meeting Moira's gaze, he smiled at her softly, before he turned his attention to his food again.
On the outside, Logan followed her for some time without hearing a single word from her. Sighing, he looked at her from behind and buried his hands in his pockets. "Baby, what is it?" he asked and became really worried by now. "Stop running around like that and tell me!"
Stopping at the pond finally, Jean turned around and heaved a deep breath to calm her nerves again, while he was looking at her closely. Even without his senses, it was too easy to tell that she was nervous. So he stepped a bit closer and touched her cheek. "Darlin', what's wrong? Why are you so completely weird, huh?" Kneading her hands, she looked at him insecurely as if she was close to start crying. Noticing it, Logan felt how his heart skipped a beat. By now, she really scared him. "Jeannie…," he said worriedly but also scared. "Is something wrong with you? Did something happen??"
"No I'm fine," she finally replied, but still he could hear her racing heart too easily.
"Then what is it, red?"
"Can you sit down?" Jean asked and saw how he stared at her for a while without moving an inch.
"Okay, this is really serious, ain't it?" he asked and cocked an eyebrow at her; feeling how all his senses were completely focused on her.
"Can you just do it?" she asked pleadingly and he raised both hands a bit.
"'Kay…" After sitting down on the edge of the pond, he watched her pacing for a while. "Jesus, Jean… What is it?" he asked on the edge of his patience and made her stop even more nervous than before.
Sighing, she ran a hand through her face. "Remember us talking about our kids?" she asked and he shrugged.
"Depends in which talk you mean…"
"Family planning, Logan…"
"If you're expecting, just say it!" Logan begged since she drove him crazy.
Looking down, Jean shook her head. "I'm not…"
Sighing, he ran a hand though his face and groaned slightly. If he couldn't stand something, than it was people who talked around the bush. "You're shattering my nerves just now, darlin'… Hope ya know that," he said and shook his head while his face was buried in it. "If you're not pregnant, what's the matter?"
Still kneading her hands, she bit her lip briefly. "We agreed on four remember?" she asked calmly and he nodded tensed.
"Yeah…"
Sighing, too, Jean looked around for a while and tried to get a grip again. "We'll, I'm getting older, Logan…"
Raising his head with a cocked eyebrow, Logan gave her a look as if she'd just turned into a rabbit. "You're not old, Red!" he cut her off in disbelief. "I'm the mummy here who's who know how old. Jeez, I thought only men could have a midlife crisis…" Supporting him with his hands, he leant back a bit and shook his head.
"I'm already 38, Logan…," Jean said and crossed her arms.
"And you seriously call that old?" he gave back and met her gaze again; seeing that she warned him of making fun of it know.
"For having a baby I'm soon too old," she went on and looked down again. "What I mean is that we don't have much time left before it becomes too risky…"
Finally getting what she wanted from him, Logan couldn't help but chuckle. "Okay, I get it! So you wanna have a baby," he said and saw her nodding. Grinning, he shook his head and sighed. "And you couldn't just have said it, eh? I said let's wait one more month and this is nearly over…"
Tilting her head, Jean gave him a serious look. Sometimes talking with him was more than difficult. Especially if she stayed serious and he began to smirk after a while. She knew that he never made fun out of her, but still she felt like it. "Logan…," she began, when he got up and gave her a kiss.
"Then calculate when you might be fertile, darlin', since I ain't a walking forecast for it," he said and saw her blushing before she lowered her gaze quickly.
"Well, actually I already did…," she said honestly. "I made a test before I came down…"
"And? When?" he asked while he met her gaze briefly when she looked up again for a moment.
"Well, it says…," Jean began and he could tell that she suddenly was even more nervous than before. Her heart beat increased, her cheeks were flushed and her hands became sweaty… All of that wasn't a secret to him.
"What?"
Still holding her head lowered, she looked at him insecurely. "…today could work," Jean replied in a whisper and immediately cursed herself for having said it when he only stared at her in disbelief. It didn't take long and Logan gave a short laugh.
"You really give me a lot of time to prepare, huh?" he asked her and crossed his arms.
"It's okay if you don't want it now…," she added quickly barely audible and looked away, when he touched her chin and raised her head again. Frowning, she noticed his amused smirk.
"Darlin', you could have just come into the kitchen, grab my hand without saying a thing, then walk upstairs, lock the bedroom door and tore my clothes off," Logan said slowly and had to chuckle when she blushed when she blushed even more. "Instead you fright me like shit first, because I thought something was seriously wrong with you, just to start running around as if a whole beehive was behind ya pretty butt… You could have just state your wish straight ahead!"
"Sorry…," she said and received another kiss.
"Only thing you've t'be sorry for is calling yourself old," he said seriously and shook his head while he traced her feature with his fingers. "Ya ain't old, darlin'… If you ask me you powers give ya an advantage like mine does. Ya still look the same like you did when I first came to that funny farm here." Seeing her smiling, Logan bent down and kissed her tenderly for a while before he grabbed her hand. "Now let's go back inside. It's getting' damn cold!" Nodding, she linked arms with him and walked back towards the back door when he suddenly stopped in front of it. "What?" Jean asked surprised as he pulled her closer with a sly grin on his face.
Cupping her face, Logan kissed her deeply and smirked at her. "You go upstairs and dress in something nice…," he said in a husky voice, which immediately made her cheeks redden. "And I take care of the kids…" Still smirking at her, he opened the backdoor and entered; ignoring the confused looks of the others. While Jean instantly left, he turned towards Ororo, who gave him a worried look. "Hey, uhm…can you occupy the kids for let's say…three hours?" Logan asked and while she only stared at him confused, Hank had to grin.
"Now you know what's wrong," he said to her grinning and nudged her softly. "We'll do, Logan. Don't worry! And if they fall asleep, they can stay at mine or Ororo's place."
"So nothing's wrong?" Ororo asked her friend, but Logan shook his head.
"Nope."
"Just an advise my friend," Hank said and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You've got classes tomorrow and we need to go food shopping first. So,…no caveman breakfast for you tomorrow to fill your system again, okay?"
Giving him a look, Logan shook his head and walked towards the door. "Thanks! Jean will send a message!"
"Sure about that?" Hank mocked jokingly and heard the playful growl of his friend.
"Furball…shut up, will ya?" Burying his hands in his pockets, Logan made his way back to his rooms upstairs and locked the door, before he went over to the bedroom. Closing and locking the door behind him, he smirked at Jean, who's only covered by the sheets. "Well, wear nothing instead of dress nicely will do, too, darlin'," he said. While walking over, he got rid off his clothes on the way and met her smiling face again. Pulling the sheets aside, Logan laid down next to her and ran a hand over her ribs while his eyes were locked on hers. "Kids are occupied for three hours," he answered her mental question and smirked. "So, I hope you're aware that you've to get food for me tomorrow? Otherwise I can't get up and teach…"
Giggling, she pulled him closer. "Staying in bed's fine…"
Chuckling, he shook his head and rolled over so that he was on top. "Believe me…ya won't get out of it so soon, darlin'…," Logan said huskily and felt her shivering underneath him. "Remember, you've started this!"
Biting her lip smiling, Jean shrugged. "Can live with that!" Chuckling, Logan shook his head and began to kiss her hungrily…
Okay, that's it for today. Thanks to SammyGirl for the discussion yesterday. Because I was really stuck. LOL As I told you: I just started writing and tadaa it worked. ; )
The last two scenes between Logan and Jean in the kitchen/garden/bedroom were pre-written long ago. The next chapter will contain two jumps in time, so don't get confused!
Thanks to all reviewers again!!! I'm glad that you guys liked it so far: ) Please review again! I will try to have the next chapter up tomorrow. See ya!