Silence was only serene and fitting when it was wanted. Naturally there weren't any quiet moments within the mansion, so Shortie sought refuge above, contently observing the sunset. She realized she was under the watchful eye of Ororo, but otherwise she felt utterly alone.

Logan had almost forgotten how woodsy and away his home was. It almost felt foreign, but he has spent much longer time away before. Still, it was an entire year since he graced the grounds. The same could be said for Scott, Jean, and a few others. The roses blooming greeted the mutants, as if they endured the seasons so that it would appear that they never left. Drawing a heavy sigh, he looked quickly at his comrades. Jean, with Scott tailing her, ran inside, feeling the wanted rush of nostalgia hit her. The rest followed, except for him. He could hear the joyous voices of students welcoming their heroes home. Soon he heard them ask for him, then it was silent. It wasn't serene, it was unfitting, and unwanted.

He would have stayed out longer, but the professor invaded Logan's personal thoughts and promoted him inside. The burly man brushed past the eager and familiar faces wishing to congratulate him on thwarting yet another one of Magneto's plots. He couldn't wait any longer. Practically running he soon reached his bedroom, only to find since changes.

It looked like it did when he first moved in; the wasn't a fold out bed at the edge of his. He opened every drawer to find only his own clothing, and there weren't any stuffed animals in sight. Hell, it even smelled like it wasn't touched in quite some time.

"The roof."

He suddenly turned around at the voice, only to find his dark skinned friend looking at him with the tiniest frown. Slowly he walked to her, asking what she meant.

"Shortie's on the roof, watching the sunset... Logan. You do know you've been gone for a year."

"Wow, who knew you were so damn smart, darlin'?" He snapped.

"Just do give it time of necessary. She missed you terribly."

Rather than listen he walked past her and made for the roof. Automatically he thought to lecture his daughter, but the trek gave him enough time to think it through and realize it wasn't the brightest idea. So instead he tried to conjure up some ways to relay to get what he did for the past twelve months. In all honesty he was much more interested to find out about hers. If he had to guess, he could only imagine how much smarter she became, since Hank long ago revealed she had a higher intelligence quotient than most other children her age. That thought smacked him, for he just understood that he missed her birthday yet again. She was seven now. Finally he was on top of the mansion, and for a brevity, caught himself enamored at the sunset. More so by the child observing it.

"Shortie." His voice nearly cracked. He hadn't said her name in so long.

Her breath hitched in her throat. She turned her head but stopped halfway, then frowned, looking back straight ahead. Logan had more or less expected this. Intrepidly he closed the gap between them, every step adding to his dead. Funny, for a year, he and his fellow comrades fought some of their most formidable, even newer enemies, and he was never as anxious as he was now. Truth be told, this was the only thing that really even mattered.

"Hey, kiddo." He was directly behind her now.

Again, he expected her silence. Now that he was closer, he could see the differences. Though she was still quite minute she sat the littlest bit taller, and her hair went from just above her shoulders to two inches past them. She even sat with her legs crossed, wearing a dress. He figured Ororo must have instilled some basic etiquette into her over the months. Brids and warm breezes filled the uncomfortable quietness.

"Hey, I know you got the short end of the stick of this."

"... You didn't even say goodbye."

He shifted, rubbing the back of his neck. She wasn't wrong; the call was sudden and unexpected, and he had been fully immersed with the mission, as we're the others. The only reference level she had to him the word time was at the discretion of Charles, who had told her where he was when she really needed to know. But, after a while, she had stopped asking him. She only heard of their impending arrival through the chatter among the students.

"We kind of got thrown into it-"

"Magneto made for a plan that involved manipulating people's movements by flooding metals into the water supply, you had to go. I get it."

He was too stunned to respond. She really did get much smarter, and somehow matured. The bity obvious conclusion was she was on a good enough accord with Xavier to learn such information. The rest only knew that Mr. Erik was starting shit again.

"Guess you do. So you're gonna be sore at me, now?"

She cocked her head to the side, as if in thought, then nodded, never looking at him.

"Well ya better deal with it. Shit happens, especially with us. You can't get upset over it every time."

"You're right. I feel much better."

Logan really couldn't blame her. Of course his job could call for such measures like so, but when he started parenting, he promised her a normal(ish) life, and at first, actually did good on his word. He was raising a child before, but now he felt like he was talking to a teenager. He thought he got at least seven more years until the sass began. Yet again, he knew he deserved it.

"So, ya gonna give me a hug or what, little shit?" He smirked.

"No."

Instead of prompting further argument, he took a hold of her waist and lifted her, causing her to scream for a moment, for she somehow expected to fall. Instead he held her to his chest, despite her protests. It only really hurt him when he pulled back to reveal her tears. He sat down with her in his lap.

"I missed you, darlin'. Better believe it."

"I missed you... Daddy."

His heart stopped aching a bit upon hearing his title.

"Can I make it up to ya?"

"Yes, but you won't."

"Try me."

"Let me join you guys."

Everything just fucking stopped.

"Come again?"

"Let me be part of X-Men! I heal like you so I won't die, and we don't have to be away from each other! You can teach me how to fight and I'll save people! Please!"

Logan hadn't expected that at all. If anything, he was prepared for more indifferent silence, but the intensity in her brilliant eyes proved to him that she was serious. Could he really allow that, though? She was correct in saying she wouldn't die, but getting injured was garunteed. And she was so inexperienced and young, she was a liability. Still, she was his kid, and if she was anything like him, she'd be to resilient and stubborn to lose herself. It must have been ten minutes of solid thinking before he answered her.

"Sure."

She willingly hugged him for the first time in forever. Into his shoulder she confessed how much are missed him, and he did as well. He asked her about her year, wanting to know every single thing she could remember as he carried her down inside. A notable event was her getting her own bedroom, conveniently right next to his own, and a door connected the two, just in case.

"Don't leave me again."

"Not on my life, Shortie." He kissed her cheek.

"So I'm really part of X-Men?!"

"Not yet. You gotta go through some passage rights"

"First thing I want is my costume!"

"First thing you're getting is Xavier's permission. Him and your auntie Ro might kick my ass for even suggesting it."

It wasn't his first half baked plan; he was, after all, a father.