Marvel owns the X-men, no profit is to be made from this work.
Sitting in a wheelbarrow from the night past, Marie watched Jubilee work to fix everything that was wrong with their friend's car. After half a dozen accidents, Kitty had been left to hand tools until finally she had been excused to go make them some sandwiches. Hearing the door open thinking it was Kitty and feeling her stomach rumble in anticipation of the sandwiches, the woman who stepped past the threshold surprised her entirely. Hastily getting to her feet, the wheelbarrow fell forgotten as she stepped up to be embraced with a hug she hadn't known for years.
"Ororo." Marie said between them, the Headmistress of the school looking more regal than ever in the smartly tailored suit she wore.
"I've been wanting to do that for years..." Ororo replied, renewing the vigor of her hug.
Surprised at another reunion, she held tight to Ororo for just as long as the quiet between them lasted, finally pulling away to look at another. Her hair was longer, but she was still the same woman who had been left to pick up the mantle and stand for everything they all believed in. Feeling the guilt rise at having left so suddenly after everything that had happened, Marie found herself looking to the shop floor trying to rein in her emotions only to feel a gentle touch to her chin. Drawn to look up, the beatific smile Ororo offered her promised forgiveness and utter acceptance
"You did what you had to, so many of us did. You have nothing to feel sorry for or apologize for." Ororo said, reaching a finger out to gently stroke her cheek.
Reaching into her jacket, she pulled a letter out that Marie knew in an instant, her own hand writing on it though the paper had faded. Passing it between them, Ororo handed it back, still unopened to the day. Marie looked down at it in puzzled disbelief, having spent so long to write everything she longed to explain, had struggled to find the words to express her feelings. Ororo just smiled to her, taking another step closer to draw her in a hug and rest her chin upon her shoulder.
"You never had to explain yourself, just like everyone you made me proud and I'm so very glad to see you again." Ororo whispered, Marie just left to throw her arms about her in return.
She was saved another teary eyed moment hearing swearing and a sudden crash, both Ororo and herself turning to see Jubilee holding her hand. Drops of blood fell against the shop floor in a hypnotic tattoo, Jubilee standing there spouting off the better part of most swear words Marie herself knew.
"Wrench slip?" Ororo asked, walking off to where a first aid kit hung.
"Damn rusted piece of...!" Jubilee started, hissing as she looked to her knuckles.
Brought back Marie saw that the wrench in question lay on the ground across the shop, explaining the crash after clearly having been thrown in a fit of frustration. Walking near, she had to wince at the torn knuckles, her own hand suddenly daring to sympathise in a way that left her holding it tight.
"Here." Ororo said holding out a bottle of rubbing alcohol to rinse the wound clean, tenderly applying a bandage next.
"Thanks, all we had at the shop was gasoline, paper towel and duct tape." Jubilee replied, shaking her hand again and wincing.
"You should have said something, that ain't right." Marie said having recalled her own campaign for all the bits of safety that had been neglected about the grocer.
"Or maybe wear those gloves I bought you." Ororo teased, Jubilee just glaring at her.
"Oh don't you start that, I can't feel anything with gloves on. Wouldn't have been a problem if this car wasn't half rust." Jubilee growled, stalking off to fetch her thrown wrench.
Feeling herself guided off, Marie threw one last look to see Jubilee give a salute before getting back to the car. Lead on into the school proper, she thought at first she was being lead back off to the office that had served the late Headmaster years before to now serve it's new Mistress. Left to open the door herself, it looked as if the clock had stopped that day years before finding the chair still sitting there so empty as it had since his death.
"What?" Marie asked quietly, Ororo just holding her near as she was lead in.
"It's a place to remember now, we normally bring all the new students in so they can look around." Ororo said guiding her off to a photo in particular.
Staring at it, Marie couldn't believe it, the Professor himself standing tall amidst teenagers dressed in the style of the day. Scott was easy to find, Jean too. Hank looked simply adorable with how eager he looked, while Ororo just looked feisty. Some others she couldn't place stood among them, but the sadness she had felt at seeing the empty chair had vanished. Seeing the people who had always seemed to hold the answers to her questions years before looking so young and hopeful buoyed her spirits.
"The students are allowed to bring in keepsakes and photographs, most are just kept in albums or on the shelves, but some always seem to find special places." Ororo said as she lead her on.
Marie guffawed at the sight, unable to think when it had been taken but as she looked at the photo it brought her back as all the years between faded. Bobby and her sat in the bay window of the den, Jones watching television beside Pete who had been caught sketching his doodles as he had always done back then. Kitty was off in a corner on her laptop, studious as ever, and though it hurt for a moment there sat St. John looking cocksure as ever.
"I just wanted you to know it was here, and that you're always welcome." Ororo said softly, standing next to Marie as she looked about the walls.
"Thank you." Marie replied, a hand raised to clasp her mouth spotting a picture of Logan and Scott looking to another in challenge, two sides of the same coin even if they never had a chance to admit it.
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He had volunteered himself for it, knowing well Ororo wanted to have a moment with Marie. Thinking of last night again, he thought of a moment he could have with her himself later, but for now he had to play at as Jubilee called it, second banana Headmaster. Walking down to the carriage house, he wasn't alone finding himself in the company of another member of the staff, known to most as Miss Braddock.
"Everything you tell me leaves me very impressed, Miss Marie should be commended for how well she handled that." Betsy said, a folder in hand with everything he knew.
Chuckling at the thought of Marie being called Miss, he wondered just what she would have thought as they neared. The breeze carried the promise of guests, but they didn't surprise him in the least, the two were fast friends and he was the ever doting brother. Raising his fist to knock at the door, sure enough it opened before he could rap his knuckles, Abby and Illyana looking up to him.
"Hey kiddos, I'd like to introduce one o' ya to a friend o' mine." Logan said, spying how Abby was staring at Betsy.
The motherly yell saw the two racing off, Logan letting himself in after kicking off his boots, holding the door for Betsy as an afterthought. Stepping into the breakfast nook, he had a bet going with Drake and by the look on Layla's face, he knew he was out twenty bucks.
"You saw her in her underwear mom!?" Abby asked in a near shriek, Layla's face just going red in embarrassment.
Betsy smiled, letting herself in to sit at the table and take the beleaguered mother's hand in her own.
"Abby isn't it? Yes, a lot of people have seen me in my underwear actually, but I put my modeling career behind me. Missis Barnes, I can see we have similar tastes, that was a favorite of mine in that one shoot." Betsy explained in a genial manner, helping to alleviate some of the embarrassment.
"I'm sorry, I...when they said a Miss Braddock was coming down I never expected..." Layla explained, struggling to push aside the shock.
"Believe me, most don't. Oh how I enjoy the first day of class, it's so nice watching how quickly the students learn to shield their thoughts. Especially the boys." Betsy teased.
"You mean?" Layla asked, Betsy just smiling politely and nodding.
"That I'm just like your daughter, I must say you are handling it far better than most. You have my thanks and gratitude." Betsy replied with a friendly squeeze of hands.
"Why, why wouldn't I? She's my daughter..." Layla asked, looking fondly to Abby.
"Even before the M word, many parents have always found faults with their children. You and parents like you are always those I take the greatest pleasure in meeting. But, of course we have some other things to talk about." Betsy said before looking down to Abby who stared back at her.
Abby? Betsy thought.
"Yes?" Abby asked, skipping a few steps to stand over by Betsy.
"You don't have to say anything, I'm going to help you just to see how far you can reach. It's a test we usually have to preform with Telepaths. It will help us better with your lessons, the first is of course shielding yourself. Are you ready?" Betsy asked aloud, feeling Layla still holding her hand tight.
Seeing the eager nod of the girl, Betsy offered a reassuring look to Layla before reaching out with her own telepathic prowess. I want you to close your eyes Abby and let me follow you. Try and look for those voices you hear. The first were obvious Betsy knew, Layla and Logan, Pete and Illyana. Alright Abby, I'm going to shield you...but, if you feel anything still can you tell me? She had her suspicions, but this test would prove it. Feeling the thoughts of the girl, the first tantalizing tickle of it came in. I, it...I feel someone happy, they're waiting. I think it's Illyana. Protective, friendly...quiet? It's Pete! Abby's thoughts came.
"Very good Abby, lets try and go farther now." Betsy said aloud again, knowing how worried at least one around her was.
Trailing through the school in a veritable game of hide and seek, she let Abby lead her on only for her to shield her time and again and dare to reach out with the power she knew now the girl had. Going so far as the garage, she found two there expressing far more powerful emotions than most, angry but concerned, frustrated but understanding came the answer. She knew how likely it'd be that they were arguing, but it was another test just to see how Abby would react. When asked to describe the feelings between them, curiously enough Abby simply said Sisterly.
"Wonderful Abby. Well, you're very strong there is no doubt, and just as I thought not only are you a Telepath but also an Empath." Betsy explained.
After prowling around for so long with her mind alone, she looked up to find Logan there with a glass of water. Taking it gratefully she took a sip and tried to reorient herself to the physical world. Pete in kind had a glass of juice for Abby, the girl guzzling it with Illyana asking her about the experience.
"An Empath?" Layla asked.
"Most Telepaths of course have some degree of Empathy...but when their telepathy is shielded so is it. With Abby, she was still able to feel the emotions of others, very useful but it can be overwhelming." Betsy started to explain, taking a moment to once again offer her reassurance to Layla catching her concern.
"Thankfully other than some rough games, there generally aren't too many harsh emotions going around the school. Starting tomorrow I'll begin private lessons helping her to learn to shield herself, in time we'll progress to far more advanced lessons. For now we'll simply focus on having her enjoy herself when next in a crowd, a certain gentleman though I know he hates that term owes her a favor." Betsy finished, having a fond look to Logan who tried to appear gruff.
"Is that why...?" Layla asked thinking back to her first day at the school.
"She wasn't afraid of Kurt? Possibly, though he's someone I always go find when I'm feeling overwhelmed. I'm sure you know just the sort of man he is now, but yes...most peoples reactions to him sadly are only to how he looks." Betsy said softly.
Looking to the kids playing under the watchful eyes of their family, Betsy excused herself to find Logan doing so too. Well away from the carriage house, she looked back to savor everything she had seen. Feeling a hand on her shoulder, she looked to find him there joining her.
"Thank you Logan." Betsy said.
"Don't know why you're thankin' me, you did all the work." Logan replied with a dismissive rumble to his voice.
"Don't be playing games Logan, you may have a winning poker face, but to me you're an open book. Right down to all those times you blatantly undressed me with your eyes. But...I have the feeling you might not be doing that anymore, don't you have somewhere to be?" Betsy teased, enjoying the scowl he threw her way knowing the full truth.
"You just be careful Bets, otherwise I'll send ya out with Jubilee the next time she's in a bad mood." Logan growled.
"You wouldn't dare. I swear that girl must have some latent prowess simply by how she can grate against even my shields." Betsy swore, turning on him to brandish a finger.
Smirking, Logan walked off leaving her to stew over the threat, knowing just like she had said that he had somewhere else to be.
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Walking into the study he found her sitting at the edge of the desk with an album in hand, looking to the photographs with a hand over her mouth and mirth filling her eyes. Chuckling, and though he'd never admit to the feeling of embarrassment, Logan saw the album was one decorated in images of holly and presents.
"Figures you'd find that one." Logan said before taking a seat across from her.
Marie looked up to him smiling dumbly, holding out the page to show the pictures gathered there, sure enough the very one he thought she might be having so much fun with.
"Santa Claws?" Marie asked, Logan just waving her over.
Walking to him she found herself drawn onto his lap, his chin resting upon her shoulder to look down at the album. Within the pages from the holiday season past, photos taken by the kids littered it with their own little memories written underneath.
"Yeah, well...too many kids didn't have anywhere to go home so Ro decided to hold a Christmas pageant." Logan explained, looking to the picture of him dressed up as Saint Nick looking fit and spry instead of fat and jolly.
"Oh my god, look at Pete!" Marie cried spying the picture of him dressed as a classic Nutcracker.
"And there's a couple o' my elves." Logan said pointing off to Theresa and Jubilee, their cheeks painted and pointy ears poking through their hats looking positively elfin.
"Let me guess, Jack Frost?" Marie asked pointing to the picture of Bobby, living up to his role as he painted a window just as legend spoke.
"There's Kitty dressed up as the Ghost of Christmas Past, the kids had a lot of fun with that racing through the halls and walls." Logan chuckled, Kitty dressed up just as in the classic movie of the Charles Dickens tale.
"Is that...?" Marie whispered before breaking out into laughter.
"Big Blue went as that Abominable Snow Monster from that one kiddie Christmas show, course I don't rightly think he read the dye well enough as he was white for a good month after." Logan said with a chuckle, Hank striking a pose.
"I don't recognize what Ororo went as?" Marie asked, Logan just giving her a hug thinking backto that one portrayal.
"Old Madame Winter...she made sure we had a white Christmas." Logan said fondly, Ororo wearing a flowing dress with accents of the season adorning her.
Flipping through the pages seeing the laughing kids, the presents passed between and the high spirits they all had, Marie found his hand and clasped it tight. Curled up together in the chair, she felt him nuzzling her neck as he whispered the tales to be told one photo at a time. From the kids kissing under mistle toe, to the snowball fights out on the front yard.
"I've missed so much." Marie whispered, the last page turned with just a group photo taken out front of the school.
"Well, I get the feelin' you must have had some nice times with your friends over the years too. Course if you're sticking around, I know we're plannin' on doing it again even if they're damned well gonna make me put on the red suit again." Logan said softly, hugging her near and dotting a few kisses along her neck.
Marie caught his reflection in the gloss of the photos, the hint of a smile as he looked to that last photo of everyone. Shutting the album, she set it down on the end table and spun in her seat to straddle Logan and stare him down. His hands roamed her back, settling at her hips with his thumbs tucking under the hem of her pants as he held her.
"Could always use another elf this year." Logan said, his steely grey eyes staring into her own emerald ones.
"What if I don't want to be an elf?" Marie asked almost in a pout.
"Oh?" Logan asked with a curious brow raised.
"I didn't see a Missis Claws..." Marie whispered, leaning in to rest her head against his.
"Well...that might take a bit o' convincing..." Logan softly said with his lips finding hers to tease.
"I...can be very...convincing...when I want to be..." Marie whispered between the chaste kisses they shared.
With the kisses growing longer as the passion smoldered and burned between them, Logan swore and let a hoarse laugh out as he caught her looking suddenly miffed.
"What?" Marie asked clearly pouting this time.
"We got company..." Logan replied, moments later the door to the study thrown open as a young boy ran in to slam it shut.
Clearly shocked, he looked up to the two in their intimate arrangement to start for the door until a hand found his shoulder. Having slipped from her perch Marie looked to him, to the stubborn tears he held tight to and the flush of his face. Kneeling down she saw him looking between herself and Logan wholly apologetic.
"I...I didn't think anyone would be here...I'm sorry." The boy said stumbling for words.
"Oh don't worry, we were just finishing up anyways Sugah...what's got you in such a fluster and a flurry?" Marie asked, spying Logan excusing himself with one last look.
With the click of the door, Marie saw the boy relax and stare at his feet, looking back up to her after a time. He couldn't be any older than thirteen she thought, climbing to her feet and offering a hand.
"Lets go sit down alright, ya don't have to tell me nothin' ya don't want to." Marie carried on kindly, glad when he took her hand.
Leading him off to the desk, she settled him down in the big old leather chair behind the desk while she herself fetched the chair she had shared with Logan. They sat in silence for a long time, the odd sniffle escaping that left the boy stubbornly trying to put on a stern facade. Flipping through another album as she gave him space, Marie peeked at times to see him looking off about the room to all the photos that hung on the walls telling their tales in the faces looking back.
"I want to go home, I miss my family..." The boy said finally, leaning against the desk with his head resting upon his crossed arms.
Marie looked up, drawing her chair closer and quietly closing the album she had been idly flipping through. Leaning against the desk in kind, she looked to him from across the end and favored him with an understanding nod.
"Well that's always a good reason to want to find yourself alone..." Marie replied quietly.
"I don't want to miss them, they didn't want me!" The boy nearly shouted, looking apologetic at the sad smile that met him.
Offering a hand, Marie waited and found herself glad once again as he took it, holding it tenderly in her hand. With the stubborn tears finally falling from his eyes, she found herself rubbing her thumb across his knuckles.
"I'm Marie by the way..." Marie started.
"Tim." Tim returned, wiping his eyes against his sleeve.
"Well Tim, that's a pretty good reason to not want to miss them, but speaking from experience I know how hard it can be." Marie remarked in a hushed voice.
"I could hear them arguing...they kept blaming each other...after it happened...they kept looking at me different..." Tim cried in a broken voice.
"Did you run away?" Marie asked, the nod coming after he took a shaky breath.
"Me too..." Marie whispered, Tim looking up across the desk to look at her with his teary eyes.
"When it happened...I hurt someone I didn't mean to, home wasn't a good place to be so I ran." Marie related, her thumb still just running softly across his knuckles.
"Did they find you? The school?" Tim asked, Marie just favoring him with a smile.
"Yes...me and someone who became a friend, the first one I made. Have you made any friends yet?" Marie asked, a sniffle finding her at his head shaking back and forth.
"Well...believe it or not, you just did. You ever need someone to talk to or anything, I don't care if it's two in the morning you come find me or you call me, ya hear? We're buds now." Marie said not caring as she felt a tear roll down her cheek.
"O, okay Marie. Thanks..." Tim replied, trying to smile though he found himself just snuffling his nose.
Finding a box of tissues on the desk, she passed one off to him as he snorked and snorted and laughed at the horrendous noise.
"Let me tell you something else I learned here, took awhile so I'll try and help ya skip ahead . So long as you keep yourself open, you're bound to make some more friends. Soon enough some of them will be best friends, before ya know it...they'll be like family. And ya know what?" Marie asked, Tim just shaking his head to her question.
"You always find home where your family is, might not be the one you miss...but if you can't ever go back there, you'll always have the one you find with your friends." Marie said.
Tim stared at her, some understanding filling his eyes as a smile tugged at his lips. Reaching up to brush the tears from his cheeks, she smiled and knew just what she needed to do.
"C'mon, lets go see a couple of my friends, have a pop or something." Marie said as she climbed from her chair, Tim joining her only to look apprehensively at the door..
"Oh...don't worry, I got a friend who can sneak us out. Let me just send her a text." Marie said finding her phone.
Moments later Kitty ran in right through the wall, looking flustered and irritated with grease on her cheeks. Marie laughed, Tim joining her after a moment's hesitation and surprise at the spectacle of her entrance.
"Hurry up, I'm supposed to be holding a flash light for Lee, she's neck deep in my engine." Kitty said offering her hands.
Tim took hers warily after Marie did so, Kitty walking up to the wall with both in two. Marie just winked down to him.
"Don't worry, I've done this before...she'll give us to the count of three and then you just run right through with her okay?" Marie explained for Kitty to nod in agreement.
"You're sure?" Tim asked warily.
"Positive, okay lets go." Marie said.
"Okay...I now it's against every bit of common sense, but when I count to three you just run with me. Close your eyes, it might help." Kitty explained as they all stood before the wall.
"One..." Kitty started, pulling both right through suddenly amidst a holler and scream.
Outside on the drive her laughter carried, Tim and Marie both joining in giving her hell for scaring them half to death. With the quiet returning to the study, the door opened as someone walked in to wander to the window and look after them. Ororo watched them race off to the garage, having listened at the door the whole while. Smiling with a hand touching the glass, she thought of something that had been missing at the school for some time...thinking she might just have found one to fill the need.
He found them in the rear of the shop, piled in the back of the Thunderbird that sported a fresh coat of wax with the radio playing away while they all sipped at their coffees. Kitty's car sat on the hoist looking to be back in one piece and sporting new tires. Rummaging through the fridge he grabbed a can of club soda and walked off to look down at them, wondering then just what bit of mischief was going through their heads with the looks they threw another.
"You better watch out..." Kitty started.
"You better not cry..." Jubilee carried on.
Growling, Logan looked squarely at Marie in the middle of the two, a cocky grin returned with a wink.
"You better not pout, I'm telling you why..." Marie sang loudly.
"Santa Claws is coming to town!" The trio chorused in a belting sing song voice.
"Knew I'd never hear the end of that..." Logan grumbled, the girls just bursting out into giggles despite the scowl he threw their way.
Climbing into the drivers seat, Logan pounded back his club soda and crushed the can to throw it unerringly at the trash. Bringing the car to life, the girls hastily finished their coffees to throw the paper cups away alike, all missing the can.
"Buckle up ladies, nice night for a drive." Logan said to just punch the clutch and throw the car into first.
Rolling down the back roads with the wind in his hair, it might not be his bike but he had to admire all the love and care Jubilee had put into the car. Spying them in the rear seat he saw them all chatting away, one in particular stealing glances at him that had him smirking. He wouldn't have believed it if you had told him days before, but something had happened last night that just felt right deep down in his unbreakable bones.
The moon was waning in the sky, the stars outshining all this far from the city lights with the trees just shadowy silhouettes on the horizon. Coming to a patch of gravel playing at being a parking lot, an empty field lay with just sad looking goal posts left to rust.
"Nice night for a walk?" Marie asked as Logan cut the engine before climbing on out.
"Now that you mention it..." Logan said playing at being slow.
Kitty and Jubilee shared a look, pointedly staring to Marie next before being shooed off amidst their teasing and laughter. Something about the wink Lee threw him left him wondering just what she knew, shrugging it off as he held out a hand to Marie to draw her close. Thinking back to the time they had shared in the old Headmasters office, he drew her up against him as they walked, all the while nuzzling her neck and placing kisses as he picked up just where he had left off.
"So...about how convincing you can be..." Logan whispered, his arms wrapped about her with their hands held together.
He could feel her melt against him, the warmth between them a promise for another time he thought. She turned in his arms, looking coy as he stared into her eyes and felt himself lost to their depths in the dark night. Her nose brushed his, a wisp of her breath against his lips.
"I can be...very..." Marie whispered, kissing him only to brush her teeth against his lip.
"Very..." Marie continued with another kiss that had him feeling a passionate growl rumble from his chest.
"Convincing..." Logan finished, his fingers trailing through her hair to gently hold her head as he pressed his own kiss to her lips, just savouring their sweetness.
Fireworks erupted in the night sky, dazzling light that washed away the shadows and left them looking up in surprise as they held another. Though she looked baffled, he didn't care as he stole her lips again and left her breathless. Out there he knew someone was likely showing off, hearing the distant cat calls and laughter of the pair. With her in his arms, it didn't matter though as his world was made up solely of the softness of her lips and the sound of her mewling voice mingling with the scent of her hair that fell over him as they toppled to the grass having not the strength to stand anymore.
How long they laid there they couldn't tell, the heavens moving on in the ever forward march to dawn. But as they came back to the car they found Jubilee and Kitty nestled together fast asleep under a rough blanket likely found in the trunk. Logan reached for the horn only to have his hand taken and held, Marie just pulling out her phone to snap a photo. With a last kiss, long and lingering, they climbed into the car and drove on home.
Author's Note : I felt you all deserved a bit more Logan Marie fluff, and I hope you enjoy the bit of holiday fun I slipped in with only a handful of days left for those who celebrate. May the season bring you all you need, family friends and good cheer. Everything else is just gravy.