Summary: A single act brings hurt and grief.

Disclaimer: I don't own X-Men

Rating: T

Betrayal

Chapter 12

Westchester, New York: Present Time

…same afternoon…

Logan wasn't peeved by Rogue's hot temper and rash words. He wasn't there to gain forgiveness or the favor of everyone residing in the mansion. His business was with Ororo; the woman was carrying his child. At first, he thought the Professor was playing a practical joke. But after second guessing himself, he rationalized the old man wouldn't pull a stunt such as this.

The realization knocked the wind out him.

Him…a father?

Holy shit!

Never had he ridden as fast as he did that night. Now that he was home, he pondered his next move. Advancing into the household, his senses familiarizing itself with the rich scent of wood and polish, he mounted the stairs to Ororo's room, deliberating, finding the words to characterize his feelings.

A fight was brewing.

He knew this for certain and mentally prepared for the battle. Ororo was, most of the time, the easiest person to get along with. Nevertheless, he'd injured her, therefore, he was venturing into unknown territory. A woman scorned.

When he reached the top of the stairs, he made his way to the weather goddess' bedroom. From a short distance he heard murmured voices emanating out her room and listened closely. His countenance darkened. Ororo was in her room, but she was not alone.

Logan stood beside her door and listened. "It's going to be alright Storm," Hank rumbled, his voice warm, inviting. "I'm here…anything you need…it's yours."

"Thank you Hank," replied Ororo, whimpering.

"And if Logan doesn't return, I'll be here for you, and the baby."

"Like hell you are," Logan bellowed, charging into the room, drawing stunned cries from both parties inside.

"Logan!"

Hank glared. "What are you doing here?"

"Passing through," Logan grunted, "good thing I arrived just time." He threw his back pack on the floor and swaggered towards the large, furry blue mutant. He saw how Hank ushered Ororo behind him and stood rooted like a lion, ready to defend its mate. He snarled. "You mind leaving bub so I can talk to the mother of my child."

Ororo paled. "So, the Professor did tell you."

He turned his eyes to her, sweeping over her frame, landing on her stomach. "Yeah, but when were you?"

She looked away, despondent. "She doesn't have to explain herself," Hank intervened, "least of all to you."

Logan peeled his eyes back to Hank, tipping his head slightly. "I wasn't talking to you buddy. Hey, why don't you get the hell outta here so that Stormy and I can have a real conservation."

"And what makes you think Ororo would want to spend an ounce of her time talking to you," Hank snapped.

" 'Cause she's carrying my kid, something that ain't got nothing to do with you."

Hank glowered at him, his blue eyes glinted menacingly. "I know you betrayed her then abandoned her, and if you think I'm going to let you hurt her again…"

"Who the hell do you think you are you pompous, son of a…"

"That's enough," hollered Storm. "Hank, could you excuse us, please."

There was a look of outrage on his face, as if she had utterly betrayed him. He shifted and darkened, catching Logan's smug grin. "As you wish," he muttered and stormed out before he lost complete control of senses.

Logan walked after him and shut the door. He leaned against it, exhaling. "Ororo," he said, turning, and felt a hard slap across his face. He gawked at her in sheer alarm.

"Damn you Logan," she hissed. "Why are you here?"

"You're pregnant."

"So you're fulfilling your obligation to me is that it."

"No," he cried. "And…yes…Jesus…Ororo…" he rubbed his chin, his skin still burning. "What was that for?"

She gasped. "You have the nerve to stand there ask me such a question." She blinked away tears welling in her eyes. "Get out."

"Ororo," he pushed away from the door, closing the space between their bodies. He fingered the silken white strands of her hair, but she retreated to the far side of the room. He let out a haggard breath. "I fucked up okay. Is that what you want to hear. I fucked up and I'm not asking you to forgive me."

"You right I'm not going to forgive you," she glared at him. "I might have…if the other woman…wasn't Jean. Damn you Logan, she was my best friend, but it doesn't surprise me, men were always drawn to her. She was the one they always wanted." She looked at him critically. "The one you always wanted…I was just to there to help you pass the time."

"That's not true," he said.

She swirled around, her hair flying in the air. "Isn't it! Be honest Logan, the moment you laid eyes on her you were hooked. I was just a means to end, while you waited till their relationship was on the rocks."

"That's not true," he bellowed, furious by her accusations, furious she right. Either way, he had to make her understand he was back, and he was here for and their baby. "Ororo…I never meant to…"

"What? What!" She roared. "Hurt me! Too late."

Logan spread out his arms, defenseless. "So…so…what do you want me to do?"

Ororo narrowed her eyes. "What do I want you to do?"

"Yes! Tell me! What do you want me to do?"

"You can go to hell for all I care," she replied without a hint of kindness. She powered towards her bedroom door, threw it open, tossing his sack out into the hallway. "And on you're way there, you can get out of my room, because we won't be shacking up to play mommy and daddy….now…get out!" As he stood there, looking utterly determined to voice his reasons to her heartache, Ororo glanced away enraged.

"Fine," she hissed. "Stay here, I'll just ask the Professor for another room."

"Ororo…Storm…wait let's talk about this." Logan called after her as he watched her flee from the room.

()()()()

"Knock it off will you," Bobby protested, averting his face from Kitty's relentless kisses. Secluded in his room, she was straddled on his hips, feverishly stroking his chest with her slender hands. "I'm not in in the mood."

"What're you talking about?" she giggled, nipping on his bottom lip. "You said Rogue knows about us. We don't have to hide anymore." Her hands moved south to fiddle with his belt buckle. Loosening his pant's button, she pulled his zipper down to take him in her hand.

"I said cut it out," he said through gritted teeth, shoving her roughly off him. She toppled to floor in a great heap. Exhaling, Bobby scrambled out of bed, zipped up his pants and did his belt.

"Shit…god…like, Bobby…what's gotten into you?"

"Nothing," he said, letting out a deep breath. I'm just tired today."

"Ha," she cried, dragging herself off the floor. "That's a first." Kitty eyed him closely, suspicious as to why he didn't want to have sex. "This wouldn't have anything to do with Rogue's return from Hawaii."

"No," he retorted. "I…I had a long day in the danger room."

"Really."

"Yeah." He sauntered to her, a smile curling the edge of his lips, stroking her arm in effort to take full hold of her. She turned aside, bitter, shying away from his grasp, before eventually melting into his awaiting arms.

"I love you Bobby," she whispered, rubbing her face in his chest.

"Yeah." After a moment, they drew apart. Cupping her face, Bobby kissed her pout, pink lips. "Let's get something to eat."

They left the room, stepping lightly down the hall. Kitty laced her fingers through Bobby "s hand and swung her arm in delight. Finally, after a year of secret meetings, and hiding places, they were going to announce their relationship in front of the whole school, in front of Rogue. She now knew about them and that was all that mattered. Despite what this would make her look like, she'd never been more happy.

They journeyed to the cafeteria and suddenly her heart beat kicked up a notch at the sound of squawking kids behind the large double doors. As they entered, a hush fell on the crowd of mutants partaking lunch in the spacious room. It had a grand view of the mansion grounds and in a distance the swimming pool and tennis court. Kitty spied the room, to her relief, Rogue was not present.

She and Bobby headed towards the buffet table and portioned out their food. Hugging her tray, she swiveled in her tennis shoes, looking around. She smiled at Jubilee who sat with the others at their usual table. "John, Peter," she sat down. "Jubes."

"Hey," murmured Peter and John.

Bobby set his tray down and eased into a chair. "How's it hanging fellows?"

"Down and around my ankles," John jeered, a sly grin on his face.

Jubilee caught her breath, while Peter laughed, squirting milk out of his nose. "You're disgusting," Jubilee exclaimed.

"He asked."

"So, Logan's back." Bobby bit into his hamburger.

"That's what I heard," said Peter.

"Why is here anyway?" Jubilee said vexed.

Kitty shrugged and sipped her soda. "Maybe he and Ms. Grey are going to ride off into the sunset this time."

"Yeah," Jubilee mumbled. "You would know something about stealing somebody's man."

Kitty froze. Her brown eyes widening, filling the whole of her face. "What's that suppose to mean?"

"Do I have to spell it for you?" Jubilee said in a low menacing voice.

"First of all," Kitty swallowed. "Rogue knows, okay, so Bobby and I ain't got nothing to hide."

"Well, la-dee-da, I'm so happy for the both of you," Jubilee cried. "I've lost my appetite." She shoved the chair back, rose, and collected her tray. She walked briskly to the trash, dumped the scraps, and exited.

"I guess that's my cue," Peter sighed, rising from the table. He took one last bite of his club sandwich before jogging off to soothe his riled girlfriend.

()()()()

"Why is he here?"

"Should it matter," Scott answered.

"To you," Rogue cried. "What if Logan tries to hurt you again?"

Scott grinned. "I admit he caught me off guard the first time, but I won't be taken down so easily again."

"Yeah, and I'll remember to lock my bedroom door." Rogue blushed madly, lifting her head slowly. "I mean…"

Scott placed a hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently. "It's okay." His smile reached his eyes, but she couldn't see the twinkle for his shades were blocking the lovely vision of his piercing blues. He lowered his head close to her face. "I wouldn't mind sleeping next to you again."

Rogue bit her lip. He was so close, she thought he might kiss her. It was wrong. He was her teacher. If it weren't for the chime of the elevator, she would have initiated the first move, and plant a kiss on his sweet mouth. They were so sensuous, red, and full. She'd never seen such lips on a man before. She turned away, ashamed, excited, and completely devoid of any rational thought.

As they walked out the elevator, she noticed how Scott's hand had not left her shoulder. She curbed the urge to laugh and kept her eyes pinned straight on the washroom. A strange odor started to pollute the hall. Rogue sniffed and frowned. It was pungent, strong. Bleach? She didn't remember using any, most her clothes were dark, long sleeved clothing designed for winter and fall. Nothing bright or white. She hated all that cutesy stuff.

"What the hell?" She hustled to the washroom and threw open the door. She gasped. Her clothes were strewn here and there on the floor, bathing in a pool of bleach. The scent was so strong, she had to back away from the room. "My clothes."

"Jesus."

"Jean!" Rogue cried in outrage and turned sharply.

"Rogue…wait!" Scott grabbed her by the arm and hauled her back to him. "You don't have to…"

"That bitch bleached my clothes," she said tears brimming in her eyes. "She's not going to get away with this."

"You'll only be sinking down to her level."

"I don't care."

"It's what she wants," he stated. "She's itching for a fight and we're not giving it to her."

"But my clothes," she whined.

"I'll buy you a new wardrobe." Scott grinned.

Rogue shook her head. "Don't joke."

Reaching into his pocket, Scott flashed a wallet filled with numerous credit cards. "I wasn't."