Author's note: Since Dark-Illusion was reviewer #100, she had a wish and could tell me what she'd like to read. Hope the pajama scene is okay, as I wrote it. ; )

Changes Sequel – I. Darkness Part 22

Tightly cuddled up to each other, Logan and Jean, but also Ororo and Kurt, were deeply asleep; complete unaware of what had happened on the outside and that a hurricane was about to storm into their bedrooms in the next moment. It didn't take long and in both rooms the door went open with a loud crash, followed by a brief, but rapid movement of the bed and loud voices. Only hearing them from very far away, Logan, who laid again on his belly and held the pillow with one hand and Jean with the other tight, slowly raised his head and groaned. "Go back to bed," he mumbled and buried his face in the spot between his pillow and Jean's head. If he wanted something than it was to sleep in, no matter if he had classes later or not.

"But daddy, it has snowed," Lily protested and tried to grab the blanket away from him.

"Don't care," he muttered and held the blanket in a firm grip.

"Ah, you're a spoilsport, dad," Jack cursed and shook him. "Miloh wants to go out, too. So come on!"

"What's wrong?" Jean asked sleepily and opened her eyes a bit, only to pull the sheets closer around her nude form. She'd completely forgotten that she'd opened the door again before she'd fallen asleep.

"It has snowed and daddy doesn't want to get up," Rachel pouted.

Hearing a playful groan that was combined with a frustrated whimper from her husband, when this one buried his face into the pillow even more, Jean had to grin slightly. "Come on, you always go outside with them when it's the first snow."

"Yeah, but not after a busy night," Logan grunted and put the pillow over his head.

"Dad!" Jack groaned and poked into his father's side. "Come on!"

Reaching out, Logan grabbed his watch from the bedside table just to let out another loud groan. "It's 6 a.m. for God's sake," he said and gave his kids a look.

"Yeah, but it has snowed," Lily replied and crossed her arms while she was sitting on her father's hip.

"Come on, daddy! Please!" Rachel said and gave him her best puppy-dog-eyes look she possessed, while Miloh joined them and stood right next to Logan; letting out a growl to let him know that he was there, too.

Exchanging a look with his wife, Logan knew that he couldn't get out of this situation so easily. "Fine, get dressed!" he grunted and groaned even more when his kids ran out of the room cheerfully. "And you stop grinnin'!" he added with a look at Jean, who only giggled. "'Cause you're comin' with us, girl!"

"Am I?" she asked playfully and gave him a kiss. "Because actually I have to get up in an hour and a half…"

Growling playfully, Logan straddled her quickly and made her squeal when he took care of a sensitive spot on her neck. "I need food, ya know," he asked and she only shrugged grinning.

"You know where the kitchen is, honey!"

Giving a laugh, he shook his head. "Forget it! You made me work all night, so ya get your pretty butt into the kitchen and cook!" Checking his watch again, he groaned once more and rolled over again to run both hands through his face. "Three hours, damn it… How am I supposed to get through the day, huh?"

"Bellyacher," Jean said and quickly got out of bed before he could reach her. Hearing the playful growl, she was in a rush with getting her clothes from the stool and heading to the bathroom.

"Dad! You're still laying in bed!" Jack pouted and gave him a look. "Come on!"

"Be right there, okay?" Logan said and looked around to see where he'd left his clothes. Thank God, he thought, the kids hadn't noticed it…

"Why are your clothes all over the ground?" Lily asked and gave him a look.

"Don't ask!" her father replied with a cocked eyebrow and nodded towards the door. "I bet TJ's up, too. Why don't you go and get her and we meet in the kitchen, huh?"

"Yeah!" Jack said and it didn't take long before the front door went shut.

"You sure you wanna have four?" Logan asked Jean when she came back fully dressed, but she only smiled.

"You're kids are waiting, so hurry up!" she teased him and took his clothes from the ground to throw them into his direction.

"6 a.m….," he grunted and shook his head before he slowly got up to put his jeans on. "That's inmutant…"

"Inmutant?" Jean asked him with a short laugh. "What's that for a word?"

"Well, inhumane doesn't work, does it?" Logan replied and grabbed a sweatshirt out of the wardrobe on his way to the door. "Come on, Jeannie! Your kids are waitin' and your husband wants breakfast!"

"Haha!" she mocked and followed him after putting a scarf and gloves on. "My hubby the macho!"

"Yeah, love ya, too, darlin'!" he smirked and shoved her out of the apartment with him.

When they reached the kitchen, they found a sleep drunken Ororo at the counter with a cup of coffee in her hands. "So, you, too?" she asked tiredly and both mutants only nodded. "Your kids are waiting for you, Logan!"

"I call that news," he grunted and gave Jean a kiss before he went on the outside, just to get hit by a snowball from aside. Growling at the laughing Jack, he ran after the shrieking boy.

"Men…," Ororo said and shook her head. "I always say they are the real kids here."

"How true," Jean nodded.

"Hey, I am sorry because of Ray. Haven't said it before," the other woman said apologetically. "I really didn't want to scare her!"

The redhead only waved off and poured herself some coffee, too. "I would have reacted in the same way, I think. I mean…I knew the twins already had some powers, but it shocked both of us that Ray already is so powerful."

"How is she dealing with it?" Ororo asked and followed her friend to the outside where they watched amused how the kids kept on throwing snowballs at Kurt and Logan, who tried to hide behind the next trees.

"Good so far. The funny thing only is that she can't even raise a pen with her thoughts…"

Turning to the woman with a surprised look on her face, Ororo cocked an eyebrow at her. "She can't?"

Jean shook her head and smiled when Logan got hit. "No, she can't. Thank God also no voices…"

"That's strange," the weather goddess murmured and sipped on her coffee. "Do you think it was just an accident?"

"I don't know, 'Ro…"

"Mommy," TJ called and made Ororo turning her head, just to shriek in the next second when snow hit her. Seeing that Kurt had thrown it and was grinning widely, she let out a gasp. "You are in trouble now, mister!" she called and put the cup onto a table on the terrace. "Come on! Let's show them some girl power!" Reaching the garden, Storm's eyes began to glow white, while Jean only smirked at Logan, who had cocked an eyebrow at both woman.

"Elf," he said and slowly backed off. "Hide!"

"W…why?" Kurt asked in confusion and only saw how Logan ducked deep behind a tree, when a whole volley of snowballs hit him.

"That's why!" Logan said and heard the kids laughing cheerfully. "You think that's funny, eh?" he asked and Jack only nodded grinning. "Better hope I don't get my hands on ya, kiddo!" Daring to look around the tree, he frowned all of a sudden since both women were nowhere to be seen. Cocking an eyebrow, he only saw a snowman-like Kurt pointing at a spot behind him, and groaned.

"Hello Logan," Ororo said lovingly and was floating right above him in the air, while Jean had landed on the ground again.

Looking at the snowball that Ororo created with her hands quickly and how the redhead made them float in the air, the man shook his head. "I didn't throw!"

"Don't care!" Storm smiled sweetly and winked at Jean.

"You do that and you're in trouble, missy!" Logan warned his wife but received only a giggle from both women. Getting up, he began to run and was soon hit by the balls. Cursing, he ducked behind some bushes and waited for them to stop, before a sly grin curled around his lips.

"Oh, that's no fun with him hiding," Ororo cried and pouted. "What now?"

"Kids, where's he?" Jean asked and watched how her twins looked behind the bush where Logan had disappeared behind. Seeing them shrug, she exchanged a look with her best friend. "'Ro, that's not good…"

"He wouldn't be that mean, would he?" Just as she's said it, something grabbed her and she landed in the snow shrieking, closely followed by Jean.

"So, you think two against one's fun, eh?" Logan mocked and grinned at them evilly while he held them down. "Elf? Ever wanted to hear ya wife beggin'?"

"Don't even dare, Logan!" Ororo said quickly when he began to tickle her. "No, stop that!"

"What's the magic word, huh?"

"No way!"

"Sorry, wrong one!" he grinned while straddling Jean. "And you evil kitten," he added with a glare at Jean. "You're the next one, missy! Kid's come on, your chance to see how good snow looks on mommy!"

"Hey!" a voice suddenly sounded from the mansion and Kitty stood next to her husband at the window; both looking more or less half asleep. "It's 6:45 a.m. for God's sake!"

"And?" Logan asked back while Ororo tried to control her laughter again and Jean was trying to get him off her.

"There are people who want to sleep!" Kitty shot back and shut the window again.

Logan only shrugged. "Buy earplugs, kiddo. What was I about to do? Ah, right! Jack, come over here. Daddy shows ya how to make a living snowman…" he said smirking and saw the warning look on his wife's face. "…wife," he corrected quickly.

"Who complained about it's too early, I need food and I need more sleep, huh?" Jean asked and narrowed her eyes.

"You chicks started it, darlin'," Logan gave back with his sweetest grin.

"Is he always like that?" Ororo asked her while she watched how Kurt began to make snowballs on his own with an evil grin on his face. "Hey, that's unfair! Remember it's you who sleeps in my bed!"

"Don't listen to her, bub!" Logan replied and shook his head. "That's always the first thing they say and afterwards they keep on begging ya to warm them in bed." Turning to the kids, who looked at them curiously, he grabbed some snow and nodded towards both women. "Look, to make a real good snowman, in our case a wife, you have to make sure that they are on solid ground, ya know? We don't want our snow-wife to fall over, right?" Seeing the kids nodding, while the women gave him a deadly look and Kurt only grinned from afar, Logan went on smirking. "The most important thing of course is…the face."

"Logan, I warn you," Ororo cursed and glared at him. "Don't you even dare!"

"'Cause it's annoyin' when they talk too much. So, step back a bit, will ya?" Waiting for his kids to do so, he briefly looked up at the tree above him and smirked when he saw how much snow actually was on it.

"Logan…," Jean said through gritted teeth, when he cocked an amused eyebrow at them.

"So…," he went on and gave his kids a look again. "When the snow-wives are on solid ground…you do this!" Quickly jumping off them, he hit the tree hard with his arm and watched how the snow crashed down on the shrieking woman. Hearing the kids laughing, he gave Kurt a sign to disappear. "And afterwards, mark my words, you better do this!" Logan added and turned around running as fast as he could back to the mansion.

Pulling the snow of them, Ororo's eyes were white in anger. "Where is he?" she barked and looked around. "Oh, when I get my hands on him, I swear!" she cursed and got up stumbling to get rid off the snow on her hair and clothes.

"Not only you!" Jean added grimly and glared at the mansion. With a look on the grinning children, she shook her head. "Don't even dare to do this only once!" she warned them and shoved them over to the mansion. "Come on, you have to change your clothes before your courses start."

"You, too, mommy," Jack said giggling and shrieked when she hit him with a snowball.

Later that day, Ororo walked around the mansion on her search for the X-Girls. Seeing Mystique at the end of the corridor, she quickly made her way to her. "Hey! Good that I see you!"

Facing the woman with a frowning look, since she had no idea what the woman wanted from her, Mystique crossed her arms. "Why?"

"I wanted to ask if you'll join me and the other girls tonight?" Ororo asked her. "We're always doing a pajama party at least once each half year. So, you wanna come? Every X-Girl takes part in it."

Still skeptical, her opposite tilted her head a bit. Before, she had never heard about such a thing. "You sure you want me to come?"

"I wouldn't be asking otherwise, right?" Ororo smiled and waited.

"Shrugging, Mystique finally nodded. "Okay, when?"

"We meet at 8 p.m. in the last room on the first floor. The one right next to the elevators," the weather goddess explained and saw how her opposite nodded.

"Okay."

Smiling happily since up to know everyone agreed on coming, she nodded. "Good. See you then!"

Watching the woman leaving, Mystique still had a skeptical look on her face. Up to now they had never asked her to take part in anything. Partly, as she knew it, it was her own fault. She tried her best to avoid parties or meetings which hadn't anything to do with missions. Sighing, she briefly looked down and was about to walk further down the corridor, when her eyes caught the sight of Scott, who stood with his hands in his pockets only few meters away from her and gave her a look. Feeling how her heart clenched painfully for a brief moment, she turned into the opposite direction and was about to leave, when he called her name. "Leave me alone!" she spat angrily and glared at the man when this one came closer.

"Please, can we talk?" Scott asked her pleadingly, but she crossed her arms.

"There's nothing to talk about!"

"I know I behaved like a complete asshole Raven and I'm sorry," he tried it again but her eyes were cold as ever.

"You don't only behave like one," she shot back and turned around. "And for you it's Mystique!"

"Will you keep it?" he asked quickly before she could disappear and made her stop with it.

"What do you think?" she spat and went around the corner, while he sighed.

"Damn it!" Scott cursed while his whole demeanor changed and was about to turn around, just to bump into Logan next.

"Need a guide dog, One Eye?" this one said and held his chest briefly where the man had run against.

"Shut up, Logan!"

Pushing him out of his way roughly, Logan walked past him. "Then watch your step, Boyscout!"

"Arrogant bastard!" Scott hissed and received a cocked eyebrow of his nemesis. "Who thinks who's the better man, huh?"

Chuckling, Logan shook his head and crossed his arms. Still something about his opposite caught his attention. He couldn't tell what, but something wasn't quiet right…. "Don't only think that, bub! Wasn't me who abandoned a pregnant woman, was it?"

Feeling how his blood began to boil, Scott clenched his fists in anger and couldn't stop his visor from glowing red. Heaving deep breaths, he watched how Logan gave him another glare before he turned around to leave. He knew it was right to prevent anything ugly from happening, but still he couldn't help it. He hated him and no matter how hard he tried the wish to just blast him into pieces was too strong. "Heard about your wife and kid in Japan, Wolvie," Scott said and watched how Logan stopped immediately on the spot. "You sure it wasn't you who killed her?"

"What?" his opposite said aloud and turned around to face the man, who'd gone into a defensive position. "You have some kind of inherited psychotic dying wish, bub?"

"Well, isn't it you who always says that he can't remember what Wolvie does?" Scott sneered. "Maybe it wasn't your kid at all…"

Growling, Logan clenched his fists hard when his eyes began to change. "Shut the fuck up!"

"Or you do what?" his opposite gave back. "By the way…did you ask Jean if she regrets having married you sometimes? Or want me to do it…Wolvie…?"

Seeing red, Wolverine let out a loud roar and leapt at the man in front of him, claws first. Seeing it, Scott's hand reached up to his visor and he shot a beam at him, which went right through his adversary's shoulder. Howling, Wolverine crashed to the ground and hit his right foot hard, while Scott prepared himself for another attack.

"That's all the mighty Wolvie got?" he spat and this time, he was too slow…

Sitting in the kitchen during his break from teaching, Hank's head shot up. "What's wrong?" Ororo asked him in confusion since the man's eyes were narrowed when he obviously concentrated hard on something. "Hank, what…?"

"Don't you hear that?" he asked her, but she shook her head when suddenly a loud crash echoed through the corridors.

"If it is what I think it is…," she began as Hank already jumped off his stool.

"Get Jean, now!" he said and ran down the corridor, while Ororo headed for one of the classrooms.

Inside one, Jean was standing in front of her biology class and explained genetics to them when the door was opened in a rush. All heads turned towards the door and the students gave their history teacher a weird look. Never before had they seen her being so…scared. Frowning, Jean put her papers away and immediately sensed that something was terribly wrong.

"You have to come. Now!" the weather goddess managed to say between her pants.

Shaking her head in confusion, the redhead stepped a bit closer. "What's wrong?"

"They are killing each other!" was all Ororo had to say before Jean stormed out of the class.

Running down the corridors next to each other, they soon heard several yells and pleas that were mixed with more crashing sounds and painful cries. Gasping they stopped when they saw the mess both men had caused and shielded their eyes as Scott shot another beam at the furious Wolverine. This one leapt at his adversary and slashed his claws against the wall before he managed to kick him to the ground. Holding him there, Wolverine raised one set of his claws high above his head and growled at the man underneath him. "Say that again!" he barked when Scott grabbed his wrists with one hand and tried to get away from him.

"Guys, stop this!" Ororo yelled and came a bit closer while Hank had gotten Peter and Bobby together and tried to get a hold on both men. Hearing Jean's shriek all of a sudden, they only saw how Logan flew backwards and crashed hard against the opposite wall. Loud pants could be heard when all eyes were fixed on the man, who leant heavily breathing against the half destroyed wall and held his abdomen with both hands. While her heart was in her mouth, Jean watched in horror, how her husband dropped to his knees and left a thick trace of blood on the wall. Shrieking once more, she ran to his side and saw how blood dripped quickly onto the floor; gathering into a small puddle within seconds. "Are you crazy?" she yelled at Scott in anger and fear and met his gaze. "Are you completely out of your mind now, you freak?"

In the meanwhile, Hank had joined her side and took a look at the heavily bleeding Logan, who still kneeled on the floor, both arms firmly wrapped around his wound, while it slowly began to heal. "Logan, lay down," the man said and laid a hand on his friend's shoulder, when this one fixed his eyes on the man opposite him again.

"You've got five seconds," he growled and Scott snorted.

"Or you do what? Laying on the ground a bit more?"

"No, stop this!" Ororo said and came closer. "You are in a school for God's sake!"

"Logan, please!" Jean begged and was close to start crying since his wound still bled heavily.

"Five seconds to apologize, bub, or I gut ya open!" Logan went on without even reacting to his friends.

"Think you gonna make it old man?" Scott mocked when he only saw a shadow moving and was grabbed in the next second.

"Logan, no!" Jean yelled and tried to stop him with her powers when he had already landed two hits and send his adversary groaning to the ground.

Lifting him up, he smashed Scott against the wall and held him there. "Think you'd still be breathing if I hadn't held back, bub?" Logan hissed and held him high against the wall with one hand, while he extracted his claws on the other. "In a real fight you'd be dead before you even laid a hand on me…" Trying to say something, Scott only managed to cough, when he tasted blood in his mouth. "And it's my very last warning, One Eye! Try that ever again and you end up in a coffin, you hear me!" his opposite added in such a low voice that it was barely possible to understand him. With an easy movement, he threw Scott a few meters away. "And now piss off!"

Stepping between both men, Peter and Bobby touched Logan's shoulder briefly, while Ororo walked over to Scott and gave him an angry glare. "Don't even think about touching your visor!" she barked and slapped his hands away. "What has gotten into you?"

"Logan, Scott," a voice said behind them all of a sudden. "Into my office! Now!"

Seeing the angry look of the Professor, both men slowly began to follow him; joined by Hank, Ororo and Jean who made sure that they kept a distance between them.

Reaching Charles' office, Logan immediately crossed his arms and looked anywhere but at the people around him. He was still too heated up to be sure that he wouldn't do anything stupid. Feeling how Jean touched his back first and abdomen next, he couldn't stop a growl from leaving his throat. Seeing her surprised face, he quickly looked away. If he didn't want anything now then it was to be touched, no matter by whom.

Stopping behind his desk, Charles gave both men the angriest stare he was capable of. "What has gotten into you?" he asked them aloud and made Scott look down, while Logan held his gaze with one of his own. "The two of you are grown men and you live in a school. How often do I have to tell you that I do not tolerate any fights in my house? And I don't care on about who started it!" he quickly said with a look at Logan. "What if students had seen you or accidentally got hurt? Damn it, Logan, you're the father of three little children!"

"At least I'm a father!" that one hissed and immediately Scott's jaw tensed.

"Shut up!"

Snorting, Logan gave Scott a look. "What? Can't deal with the truth?"

"Stop this!" Charles intervened. "I really don't understand what has gotten into the two of you lately!"

"Ask him, he started it!" Logan spat and looked away.

"Who can't deal with the truth, huh?" Scott shot back and turned to face the man, while this one did the same. "Hit a nerve didn't I? Thinking something about it might be true?"

"You really want to die today, eh?"

"Enough!" the Professor exploded and slammed one hand on his desk. "What is this about Scott?" Only hearing a snort from his former student, he looked at the others, who could only shrug. They, too, had no idea what had caused the battle.

"You told him right?" Logan suddenly said towards Jean and gave her an angry look.

"Told him what?" she asked back in confusion and looked to and fro between both men.

"About Itsu…"

Feeling how her heartbeat increased in speed, she turned towards Scott. "What did you say to him, Scott?" she demanded to know and caused only more confusion among her friends.

"That I killed them," Logan answered her question and made her turn towards him with widened eyes. "Thanks for telling him! Who else knows?"

"Logan, I…," she began and tried to reach out to him but he stepped back.

"This is my goddamn business, Jean!" he suddenly exploded and made her step back a bit. "Why did you have to tell him from all people?"

"I needed someone to talk," she replied calmly and shook her head in despair. "Logan…"

"And then you talk to him?" he shot back angrily. "Why didn't you come to me?"

"You weren't there for me back then!" Jean gave back as loud as he was talking to her. "He met me in the kitchen and then we just talked…" Snorting in disbelief, Logan shook his head and walked towards the door.

"Logan, we're not finished, yet," Charles said aloud and watched him.

"Bite me!" was all the mutant said before he slammed the door shut behind him.

"Jean," the Professor turned towards the redhead when she began to shake in anger.

"How could you?" she hissed and pushed Scott back with her powers before anyone else could react. "How can you even think that Logan killed his wife and unborn child? How cruel are you, Scott?" she cried and turned around sobbing in anger. "God, I don't believe this…"

"Which wife and child?" Hank asked Ororo, but she could only shrug.

"Would the three of you leave, please?" Charles asked them and they nodded before the man turned his attention towards Scott. "Sit down!"

Reaching the outside, Jean caught the scent of a cigar immediately. Wiping away her tears, she jumped when she noticed that Logan was leaning against the wall right next to her and was glaring into distance. "Logan…," she began when he exhaled the smoke.

"Spare your breath!"

"Please, I…"

"Save it, Jean!" he growled and made her look down. Saying nothing for a while, he suddenly shook his head. "Why did you tell him?"

"Because it bothered me," Jean replied a bit louder. "Because I saw how much it bothered you and I just needed someone to talk… And Scott was the first who'd found me in the kitchen late at night, so… I'm sorry, Logan! I never thought that he'd be so cruel and use it against you…"

Giving a short derisive laugh, he threw the rest of the cigar away. "Right," he nodded. "Because you know him for such a short time, eh?" Seeing the anger in his eyes, she looked away again. "By the way…he made me think about something…"

"About what?" Jean asked him frowning when he crossed his arms and gave her a piercing look.

"You said you're glad you picked me instead of him…," Logan began and heard her sigh. "And recalling it, I come to the conclusion that you really sounded as if you regret it sometimes…"

"What makes you even think that?" she asked angrily. "Do you really believe that I want a fourth baby with you if I wasn't happy with you? Logan we are married for five years now and a couple for seven years… I wouldn't have stayed with you if I'd regret being with you. Was I worried about you or Scott before when the two of you decided to make ground meat of the other?"

Watching her for a while, Logan's jaw moved slightly. "So that makes me the good guy?" he asked and wobbled his head, while she could only stare at him because of this quick change of mood.

"No," she replied.

"No?"

"No," Jean said again and shook her head. "I said girl's flirt with the dangerous guy, but they don't take him home and they marry the good guy."

"And?" he asked her still slightly pissed and tilted his head to cock an eyebrow at her.

"Well, I married you, I took you home, but I also flirt with you. So you're neither the good nor the bad guy…," she explained and had to smile a bit.

"Women…," Logan groaned calmly and shook his head. "Guess what I figured!"

"What?"

"You always wanted the bad guy anyway," he said. "If I had pushed you further back then you would have ended in my tent, girl!"

"You're really convinced of it, right?" Jean asked and raised an eyebrow at him in disbelief of his arrogance.

Shrugging, he walked back to the door. "Not only convinced. I know it!"

"Logan?" she asked calmly and made him stop at the back door. "I'm really sorry…"

"You've only given me a reason to smash his head," Logan replied with a shrug. "I was dying to do it for weeks now. And now move your butt and help me to clean the mess he made out of me."

Following him, she looked at his torn and bloody clothes. "By doing what?"

"Scrubbing my back for example?"

"I've classes…," Jean said and gave him a look when he shoved her over to the gym and teachers changing stall. "And my students were scared to death…"

"Oh, poor kiddos," Logan mocked and got rid of his shirt, just to lock the door in the next second. "Then help me at least to get my shoulder back into the socket, girl…"

Later that day Ororo and Jean were gathered with the other girls for their pajama party and discussed a problem they still had. With the help of the others, they tried to find a solution to their problem. "Well, Peter and Bobby are out to watch a movie…," Kitty said and shrugged.

"And Kurt helps Hank with something in Washington," Ororo added sighing and ran a hand through her hair.

"What about Wolvie?" Jubilee asked and looked to and fro between the women, before all eyes turned to Jean.

"Well, Isa is staying here today, too… So it's five kids in total," the weather witch murmured. "Do you think Logan's fine with it?"

"I can ask him…," Jean replied insecurely, since she knew what he would say.

"Come on! As if he'd say no to ya!" Jubilee said and gave her a grin. Just as she'd said it, the redhead's husband turned around the corner with both hands in his jeans pockets. Seeing that every woman stared at him, he immediately sensed that something was wrong. Nevertheless, he dared to come a bit closer and cocked an eyebrow at them, as the women gave him their best smiles. "So good to see you, Wolvie!" Jubilee cheered and winked at him.

"Whatever it is…," he grunted and shook his head. "…my answer is no!"

"You don't even know what we want!" Ororo complained and crossed her arms.

Chuckling he gave them a look. "You chicks ain't up to no good ever! Especially not all of ya together!" he commented it and heard her sigh. "So…no!"

Groaning, Kitty crossed her arms, too. "We only need a babysitter!"

Chuckling again, he shook his head. His senses had been right again… "I'm outta here! Ask someone else…"

"Well, there's no one else left," Jubilee cried and pouted.

"Your problem, kid, not mine," Logan said insistently and walked past them.

Bumping her friend into the ribs softly, Ororo nodded into his direction. "Come on, Jean! Give him one of your looks or whatever you do to make him bend to your will."

Nodding Jubilee appreciated that idea a lot. "Right! Show us how to make a softie outta him!"

Sighing, Jean nodded briefly and quickly grabbed Logan's hand. "Logan…," she began, but he immediately shook his head.

"Nope!"

"But I always take part in it…," she said pleadingly and gave him her best puppy-dog-eyes-look; knowing that this one always worked with him.

"Then take part in it, but I wanna go out for a beer tonight," he gave back.

"Can't you go tomorrow?" Jean asked softly and took his hand into hers to convince him that her plans were much better.

When he bent down, the girls thought he would kiss her and give in, but they groaned, when he gave his wife a look only. "Nope! Ask someone else!"

Stepping closer, the redhead let her hands wander over his chest down to his abdomen and could tell that this had an impact of him, even if he didn't show it. "But you're really the only one who's left…," she purred and pouted.

"Then ask Chuck!" Logan suggested.

"To watch over 5 children?" Ororo asked him in disbelief and covered her mouth immediately with her hand when she noticed the look he gave her.

"You want me to watch over 5 kids alone?" he asked them as if he thought they were completely brain dead. "Forget it!"

Still holding onto him, Jean pulled him down a bit and met his gaze directly, trying everything she knew would work on him. "Come on, honey, please!" she begged and bit her lip first to tilt her head afterwards in a way she always got him soft with. "You can go tomorrow and the day after and drink beer…"

"Nope! Take the kids with ya!" he gave back and stepped back a bit.

"To our pajama party?" Ororo asked him and cocked an eyebrow. "Men…have you ever been to a pajama party?"

"Earth to Wolvie! It's an X-Girls party! No kiddies and men allowed!" Jubilee added and gave him a look.

"So what are you doin' there then, huh?" Logan asked her and heard her gasp.

"You are evil!"

"Yeah, and I like it!" he gave back and turned around. "Go find someone else!"

Watching him, Ororo bit her lip and shook her head. "I can't believe that…"

"You didn't try hard enough!" Kitty said to Jean, who was more than disappointed.

Like a picture of misery, she gave her friends a sad look. "Well, the have fun later!"

"What about you?" her best friend asked frowning and saw her shrugging.

"Someone has to watch the children, right?" Jean replied dryly and turned around to leave for her rooms.

"Oh that's so mean of him!" Jubilee complained and had the total agreement of the others on her side.

Later, Logan left the bathroom and watched how Jean sat on the sofa while the five children were playing with each other on the ground. He walked over and sat down next to her, but she didn't turn around to look at him only once. He knew she was hurt and angry. Sighing, he ran a hand through his hair and gave the kids a look. "Darlin', piss off before I change my mind, 'kay?" Watching how she turned around with a confused expression on her face, he pointed towards the front door. "Come on, go to your little chick party, make nasty remarks about us men, but stop pullin' that face!"

Happily, she threw herself at him and kissed him, before she ran over to the bedroom to change into her pajama. In the meanwhile, the kids had stopped playing and gave him a weird look, but Logan only shrugged, just to be kissed by her again. "You're…," Jean began and he waved off.

"…the nicest, greatest and sexiest husband in this universe… Yeah, I know," he said. "Now go before I'll change my mind!"

"Love you," she said and kissed him again before she turned towards the door first and then to the kids. "Night!"

Sighing, Logan ran a hand through his face and looked at his task for the next hours. Sometimes he really wanted to know how she managed to make him go soft every time again. It couldn't be normal anymore by now… Still, he had no problem to take care of three children at once, but five were just two too much. "Okay," Logan said and got up, closely watched by the kids. "Who's up for chocolate milk?"

After she heard the knock on the door, Ororo got up and opened it, just to gasp in surprise. "What are you doing here?" she asked her best friend when the redhead walked past her. "Who's watching over the children?" Following her back to the group, she sat down next to Mystique and Moira again, who were as surprised as Kitty and Jubilee.

"Logan…," Jean replied with a bright smile and saw how most jaws dropped.

"What?" Jubilee asked her. "How did you do that?"

Giggling, the redhead leant back against one of the beds. "Pulling a face for a few minutes always works…"

Grinning, Ororo nodded her appreciation. "Good to know that. But I doubt it will work with us, huh?"

"Wolvie always gets soft with her, that's no secret, ain't it?" Jubilee asked and handed Jean a soda while Kitty still searched through some CD's. "You sure he can deal with them?"

"He wants four kids, so he can already practice," Jean replied and sipped on her soda.

"You're pregnant?" Ororo asked her surprised but only saw her shrugging.

"Don't know. I didn't make a test, yet…"

"But you guys are planning?" Moira asked her and she nodded.

"Yeah…"

"That's cool! Another Wolvie baby," Jubilee cheered and suddenly frowned. "Where's your blanket, girl?"

Realizing it, Jean slapped her forehead. "I've forgotten it… Damn!"

"Well, we don't have anymore blankets in that room," Mystique said and looked around when it suddenly knocked on the door.

Getting up, Jubilee opened it. "Oh, what did I say? No kids allowed!" she cried at their visitor playfully.

"Funny," Logan gave back and stepped inside. "Forgot somethin', darlin'?" he asked and she smiled thankfully at him.

Getting up, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him softly; thoughtfully watched by Mystique while the others giggled. "Thanks," she said and took her blanket from him. "What are you guys doing?"

"Playin' hide and seek, cause I'd like to sleep at least for two hours tonight," he grunted and heard how his son ran through the corridor on the search for the others. "Gotta go!" Kissing her once more he nodded towards Jubilee. "And throw that kid out!" Seeing her sticking out her tongue at him, he only smirked and walked towards the door. "Night!"

Hearing how the door was shut, Jean wrapped the blanket around herself and sat down again; blushing when she saw how eyebrows were wobbled and giggles could be heard. "What?" she asked playfully outraged and blushed even more.

"Nothing!" Ororo smirked and sipped on her soda again. "You've really tamed him, huh? Who had thought that the dangerous Wolverine is such a softie…," she began when a pillow hit her. "What?"

"I didn't tame him…," Jean said and shook her head when Kitty and Moira had to laugh.

"No of course not!" the younger woman waved off.

"He was always nice and carrying, sweet and gentle, did as he was told," Moira listed and gave the woman a look that spoke volumes.

"Logan never does as he's told!" Jean corrected her.

"Yeah, yeah, we've seen that," Kitty teased her. "Honey, can you watch over the children, pretty please? Nope. Pout, sniff, sad look. Okay fine…"

"By the way," Ororo said and moved so that she sat crossed legged on the ground. "What did he do after asking me to take the kids for three hours a few days ago? I wanted to ask this for days."

"What do you think?" Jubilee grinned and wobbled her eyebrows while Jean blushed.

"We celebrated our anniversary," the redhead replied calmly and quickly grabbed some of the potato chips in front of her.

"By doing what?" Kitty asked from the CD player and put a CD into it. "Come on, tell us!"

Shaking her head, Jean made the others groan in frustration. "I promised not to tell anyone…"

Cocking an eyebrow at her, Mystique tilted her head a bit. "Why? Did he place candles everywhere and prepared a bath for you with roses and such stuff?"

Seeing the shocked look of the redhead, a loud gasp could be heard and every woman immediately moved closer. All Jean could hear was: Wolvie did this? Oh that's so cute and romantic! What else did you guys do? And other stuff which only made her cheeks redder. "Guys, please!" she begged and buried her face in her hands. "That's embarrassing…"

"What?" Ororo smiled. "That I'd bet the two of you did a bit more than…swimming together?" Ducking when another pillow flew into her direction, she couldn't hide her sly grin.

"Oh, and Wolvie really did that?" Jubilee said purring with a dreamy look in her eyes, which were also shining. "Gosh, he really is a softie, huh? Wolvie and candles, I can't believe it…" Smirking, Jean bumped her gently with her elbow. "Ask Bobby, maybe he does it for you, too?" Blushing, the younger woman cleared her throat quickly and grabbed some of the chips.

"Right, what's it between you and our Popsicklehead now, huh?" Kitty demanded to know.

"Nothing…," Jubilee shrugged seriously.

"Uhu…that's why Logan can smell Bobby on you, huh?" the redhead laughed.

"Oh, damn his nose!" the girl cried and buried her face in her hands.

"Thanks for answering our question, Jubes!" Ororo laughed.

"Huh?"

"You just confirmed our guess!"

"I did not!" Jubilee protested, but Moira shook her head.

"You did!" the older woman nodded giggling. "No way you can talk yourself out of it, girl!"

Cocking an eyebrow at the woman, Jubilee crossed her arms smiling devilishly. "And what about you and Hank, huh?" Moira blushed and the younger woman turned towards the others. "If you guys don't know it, the two of them go for a walk in the garden each evening after dinner!"

"Uhu!" Kitty nodded. "I'm only waiting for the kissing!"

"Guys!" Moira cried and blushed even more. "Stop it! We only discuss science and new development in mutant genetics… There have been some interesting changes lately, you know? And since Hank and I…"

Laughing, Ororo shook her head. "Seriously? That's the same poor excuse Jean had years ago, when she shared a room with Logan after she came back."

"We really only slept next to each other for months, 'Ro!" Jean groaned annoyed and sipped on her coke while she gave her friend a glare. "Uhu," this one mocked and gave her a look in return. "Only slept next to each other…and woops you were pregnant with twins…" Getting up while she held her abdomen all of a sudden, Ororo made her way to the toilet. Still, she had to smirk at Moira. "Hank and Moira sit on a tree, k.i.s.s.i.n.g!"

"Oh, woman, come out of there, now!" Moira said aloud and ran after her while the others laughed aloud. "This is not funny!"

Looking at Mystique, who smiled only a bit, Jean laid a hand on her shoulder. "How are you doing?"

"Good," the woman replied. "I'll keep it…"

Smiling happily, the redhead nodded. "That's great!"

"But have you talked to Scott?" Moira asked when she sat down again.

"He has no choice in this," the woman replied chilly. "He'd made clear what he thinks about me, so he can forget about the child."

"I really don't understand what has gotten into him lately," Moira cursed. "Is it true that he attacked Logan with an optic blast?" Hank told me something like that."

"Hank told you, huh?" Kitty wobbled her head grinning.

Nodding, Jean bit her lip. "He would have killed him if Logan wasn't in possession of his healing factor…" Thinking about all the blood, she had to shudder.

"Do me a favor," Jubilee said and laid a hand on Mystique's shoulder, while the woman looked at her surprised.

"What?"

"I want a boy!" the girl said. "Cause if your kid is a girl, too, and Jean's next one's a boy… Well, I can practically see Wolvie's proud grin, ya know?"

"Right! It really can't be that he's the only man here who's capable of to have a son," Kitty nodded and saw Jean's look. "Oh, sorry!" she immediately apologizes. "That's not what I meant!"

"No, it's okay," the redhead waved off and looked towards the toilet. "Jeez, what is she doing so long?"

As if she'd heard it, the toilet door opened and Ororo came out of it with a strange look on her face. "I think you can count me in…"

"In what?" Moira asked when the woman sat down slowly. Frowning, she watched how her friend leant back sighing aloud. "Oh, I see… Someone's late, huh?"

"Well, I'm not sure," Ororo waved off. "But it's almost over two weeks now…"

"Then make a test!" Jean said smiling. "When do we get a Hank baby, huh? He would make a great father if you ask me…"

"Oh come on, not again…," Moira cried. "We weren't even out, yet!"

"No, only smooching in the garden," Jubilee said and grinned.

"We haven't smooched, young lady!"

"Uhu…," Kitty nodded with a raised eyebrow. "Oh come on, Moira! The two of you fit so good together! Then ask him out if Hank's too shy"

Only shaking her head, Mystique couldn't hide a small smile. "Are you guys always like this?" she asked and saw how the others gave her odd looks. "Because I just learn stuff about you, I never knew you were capable of…"

"Like what?" Jubilee asked her.

The blue mutant shrugged. "Logan being helpless romantic, the two of you denying being completely in love with Bobby and Hank…"

"We're not!" both women protested together in an instant.

"Oh really?" Mystique said and crossed her arms. "You and Bobby are holding hands under the table and Moira and Hank always accidentally touch each others hands while we eat… Weird, huh?" Jean began to laugh when Mystique gave her a look. "You don't really want me to tell them what Logan and you are doing under the table, right? Because that would be rated G…"

"Now it's gonna become interesting!" Jubilee smirked. Seeing that the others were listening attentively, Jean quickly got up to use the toilet. "Come on, she's gone! What did they do, huh? Going all touching and aww again?"

"You know them," Ororo said smirking. "Separate them for an hour and they act as if they hadn't seen each other for weeks…"

"I heard that, 'Ro!" Jean called out of the toilet.

"Don't care! Everyone here knows that the two of you can't keep away from each other!" the woman gave back.

"Has Scott even tried to talk to you at all?" Moira turned towards Mystique, since the topic was bothering her. Not only was she disappointed in one of her friends, she also felt sorry for the woman, who nodded and hugged her legs.

"Yeah, before he'd decided to attack Logan."

"I don't understand him. Honestly… I mean…it's his child." All Moira could do was shaking her head. Seeing how Jean returned, she gave her a look. "Be happy that the night with him had no consequences!"

"Don't even think about it!" the redhead warned her and rolled her eyes. "Logan would have killed me…"

Mystique shook her head but didn't look at anyone of them, while she stared at her soda. "No, he wouldn't… He would have stayed with you…"

"Are you kidding?" Ororo asked. "Logan hates Scott! Throw them into one room and they kill each other within seconds…"

Finally looking up, Mystique's yellow eyes met Ororo's. "But he loves Jean. Believe me, I met a lot of men in my life who said they loved their partner and nevertheless I was able to seduce them in the end. And Logan threw me out of his tent back then," she explained, while Jean's cheeks became red when she remembered how she'd fallen for the trick. "He would have taken Scott's child as his own. I'm sure of it… You haven't seen what he looked like when you left him after the two of you kissed at the Blackbird. I almost felt sorry for him…"

"Bad, bad, Jean," Ororo teased her friend, just to be hit by another pillow.

Being alarmed when something moved next to him, Logan's eyes opened in a rush. Blinking, he had trouble first to realize where he was, before a smile became visible on his lips. He hadn't even noticed that he'd fallen asleep on his bed while reading a bedtime story to the kids. The children were deeply asleep around him and Rachel had cuddled up to him. Moving carefully, Logan gave Jack, Lily and Isa -all of them sleeping behind him- a brief loving look, before he got up and tucked all five children in. Stretching his aching muscles, since he'd slept rather crooked between the kids, he cracked his neck and walked over to the window. One brief look into the garden made him smirk. The soft light that illuminated a part of it was evidence enough that the women were still chattering. Crossing his arms, Logan had to smirk when he gave the sleeping children a look. Somehow, he already knew what the topic of their chick-talk was…

Seeing a sudden movement with the corner of his eye, his head quickly turned to a spot near the wood. He was convinced that he'd seen a movement between the trees… Turning completely to the scenery, Logan narrowed his eyes; trusting his nightvision to tell him, why his senses were on alert. He saw a figure of average height moving through the thicket and snow. His senses caught the tiniest noise. The cracking of the feet on the new snow, the even breathing of the person, the breaking of weak branches… Not being able to see the face of that person, Logan gave the kids one more look, before he briefly opened the window to sniff. He only needed to do it once. His great memory of scents immediately told him who it was and the result made him even more confused. Holding the window open only a bit, so that not too much cold air could enter, Logan concentrated on the weird mutterings of the identified person. He'd noticed earlier that day that something had been wrong, but hearing what the shadow was saying made his inner alarm kick into high gear. Logan didn't have to think twice. In an instant he'd woken the confused children and was on his way…

Okay, since I just realized that the chapter becomes far too long, I decided to split it. So, I'll stop here and end with a cliffie. ; ) Yeah, I'm evil. LOL

Thanks to all reviewers!!! I'll try to finish the next chapter today. So you should get the update soon. See ya and please review!!!