Rebirth and Redemption
Chapter 2
It was late afternoon, the sun setting upon the courtyard of the Xavier School for Higher Learning. There were several tents, white and flowing, standing in the middle of the grassy plaza. It was silent yet there were hundreds of people, students, staff, and faculty surrounded, sitting in white chairs. At the very back stood four men. At the center were Hank McCoy and Logan, and to Logan's left stood his two groomsmen, Charles Xavier himself and Kurt Wagner.
Suddenly there came a wind as Ororo descended from the heavens carrying with her the wind. The breeze blew making the chimes begin to rustle and utter their musical notes. Ororo's dress was traditional and it was a light pink, with tribal symbols and patterns painted on. The gathered audience turned in their seats as they saw Moira MacTaggert slowly walk down the red aisle and stand behind Ororo, her dress light pink as well.
The guests stood as an elderly man and a veiled woman in a white dress appeared at the back. The dress had a long flowing train, the veil completely covering the woman's face, and yet her striking red hair curling around her shoulders and cascading down her back. She held in her hands a bouquet of fire red roses, the only thing matching her own fire red hair. The man standing beside her had tears of joy as he walked his daughter down the aisle.
Logan was breathless as he looked upon her, a vision of white and red. It took all his energy and strength to remain standing in that spot as he saw his bride walk down the long aisle. When she reached him, her father lifted the veil to reveal a woman with striking emerald eyes, rose red lips and alabaster skin. She looked at her father affectionately and pecked him on the cheek as she walked toward Logan.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered on this auspicious day to join the hands of these two people in holy matrimony. If there is, before we commence, for any reason, anyone who objects to this union, please, make your sentiments known." Began Hank McCoy. His statement was met with silence. "Now, to begin, I also must ask that the two of you state your full, to your own knowledge, names." he proceeded.
"Logan" replied the now shaking man with hair in two points upon his head.
"Jean Grey" stated the woman.
"We all come here to respect and honor the choice you Jean Grey and you Logan are about to undertake. Jean, if you will now repeat after me. I Jean Grey;"
"I, Jean Grey;"
"Do solemnly vow, to honor, to love, and to cherish, you James Howlett for as long as I do live;"
Jean repeated the beginning of the marital vows dutifully.
"In sickness and in health, in the good times and the bad, till death do us part."
Jean solemnly recited the words venerably.
"Now Logan repeat after me; …" And Hank began reciting the lines, with James repeating them, his skin color becoming darker and darker as time went by, going from sickly pale to his normal complexion.
"Now, Do you Jean, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold and to honor the vows you and he have made?" Hank asked Jean.
Jean paused, the attendees holding their breath, waiting for her answer. She looked deep into Logan's eyes and before mouthing the words, thought her decision. I do. "I do"
"And do you Logan take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold and to honor the vows you both have made?"
"I do."
Beast looked up from his book and called out to the audience. "The rings if someone may!" Charles and Ororo both stepped forward, handing the opposite rings to the one they were behind. "Now if you will both place the ring on the respective finger …"
Jean and Logan slid each ring onto the other's finger. Logan slid a single silver band up Jena's finger, watching before his very eyes the two rings, the one with the red star sapphire and the new one, become welded together, and he looked up to see Jean's eyes golden-white. Jean placed a single gold band upon Logan finger, gold with two very small blue sapphires set into the top of the ring.
"I now pronounce you, under the law of the state of New York, to be husband and wife. You may kiss your bride," bellowed Hank as he bowed out gracefully.
Logan leaned into Jean, his eyes half closed as he grabbed her around the waist, swinging her around and bending. He gently planted his lips upon hers, her breath coming in as she remembered to breath, her emerald eyes closed. They stood there for several seconds, but to Jean it felt like an eternity. As they broke their lip lock they finally heard the noise of the audience. Jean looked down for the first time to see the two rings upon her left ring finger. The sapphire sparkled and shone, with the two white diamonds set next to it.
As they walked back down the aisle, all attending watched Logan and Jean depart, all clapping, cheering, and whooping. As Jean and Logan rounded the corner, the noise coming from the courtyard became just a soft, barely audible roar. They walked through the Institute, savoring the rare silence that permeated the school. Logan, leading the way, lead Jean to a new building and opened the door. Inside the hall was an almost exact mirror of the main building, however, there were only two doors, and an elevator.
He took Jean's hand and took her towards the elevator. When the doors opened, they stepped inside. "Logan, where are you taking me??" Jean asked.
"To our new home," Logan replied. And then the elevator doors opened revealing yet another hall. When they stepped out, they turned right and came to a door. Logan then lifted his new wife up in one arm, and opened the door with the other, revealing an expansive apartment. Logan walked over the threshold and set Jean gently down. Surveying the apartment, Jean saw that the kitchen itself was massive, with brand new appliances and black marble countertops.
The living room and kitchen were open to each other, and at the other end of the living was a sliding door, with what looked like a massive balcony overlooking much of the Institute's grounds. To the right of the living room was a staircase, while to the left was a closed door. Jean began heading towards the door, though Logan stopped her.
"First up stairs," he suggested, leading her up the spiraling staircase. At the top was a small hallway with three doors. Logan took her to the first door, revealing the master bathroom. Much of the bathroom had Phoenix motifs everywhere, from the design in the tile, to the towels. The second door revealed the master bedroom, with a king sized bed and two walk-in closets, along with a doorway to the master bathroom.
Finally the third door was locked. When Logan unlocked and opened, Jean gasped, for inside were a crib, and several hundred little toys. There was also a diaper stand, and an empty bookcase. Jean looked at Logan with question eyes. Are you saying you want kids?? she silently queried.
Darlin' when I say I wanna spend my life with ya, I mean just that, and all tha things that go along with it he replied. But first, we gotta see what that last door is, and then make an appearance at the Reception.
So, Jean and Logan went down the staircase and headed for the last door. Jean looked at Logan and he nodded. Jean telekinetically opened the door, which opened into an office with a nook-situated close the wall. In that nook was an exact copy of Cerebra.
"Did Charles do this??" Jean asked incredulously. "Why would he put Cerebra or another Cerebra in here?"
"Because, he wants to make sure that when he leaves, even if you aren't able to reach the main Cerebra, you can have access to her at all times." Logan said. "And since he is leaving soon, he made sure to have all the proper tools were at you disposal, as Headmistress."
"Charles … never afraid to pay the expenses. But this whole place is new. Did he just build it? I mean for a telepath, I didn't even know about this! How? When?"
"Well, you can ask him when we get to the reception. That is, if we get to the reception." Logan smiled.
And with that Jean and Logan left the suite and headed for the main building, which was now acting as a giant dance floor, and dining room.
The couple headed around the corner towards the double door, and was greeted by many of the students and staff. The booming voice of Hank reverberated from inside, "And now ladies and gentlemen, students and staff, I am finally pleased to present Mr. Logan and Mrs. Jean Grey!!" And with that Jean and Logan walked into the fire.