Marvel owns the X-men, no profit will be made by this work.
Laying out on the warmed rocky outcrop listening to the lapping waves crash against the shore, Logan stared up to his line and watched it sway to the breeze with an eye to the telltale tugs that would hint at another fish nibbling away. The morning had come and gone as they had walked through the woods together, telling her of his dream the night past. He'd been lost to a forest filled with thorny vines and thickets that clutched and clawed at him as he ran on with his heart hammering away in his chest. Filled with worry and stalked by rage, he had pressed on caring only to find that thing that mattered most, that precious thing that had been lost though he could not put name to it.
The further he ran the worse the land became, the forest floor turned to a muddy mire with smoke hanging in the air, thorny vines of rusted and twisted steel wrapping about him as he tripped and fell. Clawing through the yielding and slick earth he had struggled on, knowing all he longed to see hung just ahead. Forever in the corner of his eye to dance away from his frantic looks something hunted him, a growl not his own heard along with a sickening laugh echoing in his ear as he pressed on. Time had lost its meaning, the crackling report of gunfire sounding in the distance with booming thunder that shattered the land.
Soul weary and ready to let death take him he had found that thing he had looked for, that beacon, a woman laying within the heart of the thicket, her chest torn and blood running in the rain that washed over them both. Her face pale with death she had looked at him with unseeing eyes, changing with every blink as he struggled to see. An avian redheaded beauty one moment, a dark haired dream the next with skin of creamy mocha, then finally a pale skinned woman with emerald eyes staring whose chestnut locks had been streaked white.
Raged had filled him, his claws torn free with a wet shlunk that set his flesh ablaze as molten metal slithered from his skin to envelope them and cast them anew. He'd told her how he'd woken and found his knuckles still healing, the sheets slashed to ribbons. He'd told Marie how he'd retched on the floor thinking what would have happened had she not slept with another that night, how he had laid in his filth with stubborn tears falling wishing the torment would end. She'd taken her hand and pressed it to his cheek, kissing him and whispering words in the nearness between them, that they'd find an answer together.
So lost to thought he hadn't noticed his line tight and taught, taking up his rod and giving a yank as he brought in another catch to string up in the calm waters of some sheltered pool nearby. The shift of a breeze and the snap of a twig told him he wasn't alone, packing up his pole and casting the few writhing worms he had left to the water, the surface splashing as sunfish and rock bass snatched them up.
"Everything alright Yana?" Logan asked, looking off to the tree she hugged as she looked at him through the lens.
A click and the snap of the shutter of her camera before she let it dangle about her neck, she crept out of the woods to step light onto the rocky outcropping. Looking as shy as she had all morning, he thought to brighten her mood and hope to find some of it himself as he climbed to his feet and offered her his hand. Delicate and soft, he held it gently and lead her off into the woods.
"The phone in the cabin won't work, so Piotr and Marie went to find somewhere her phone would, Ju Bee's napping in the hammock." Illyana said quietly, her hand gripping his as she looked up to explain.
"Guess that storm musta knocked down the line, good thing we found out now. Why don't we go for a walk, might just happen on some critters for ya to take a few photos of." Logan offered.
The eagerness in her icy blue eyes and her smile was all he needed in answer, leading her on into the wilderness. They walked in companionable silence, stopping along the way to take pictures of chipmunks and chattering squirrels. A woodpecker hunting grubs was a pleasure for her, a watery eyed deer in the distance a treat. Picking berries from bushes and showing her the wild things she could eat, they lunched in a clearing feasting upon natures bounty, listening to her tell of the times she'd been taken camping with her brother, stories told of mishaps and happy times.
"Shhh..." Logan whispered as he interrupted her telling of a time when a snake had found it's way into her tent.
Pointing off to the distance, a curious face looked on them, Illyana hushing herself with her hands over her mouth to stop her gasp. A vixen and her kits hung at the edge of the clearing, the playful pups yipping and tackling another in their games. Logan held the mothers eyes in his own, easing up and keeping Illyana at his back as he neared. Hackles raised and her tail stiff, the mother stared back with the kits skittering behind her. Falling to a knee, he knelt near and reached out to gently stroke her head with a tender touch behind the ears. She eased and fell low with her belly to the ground, the kits rushing out to sniff and nip at his hand.
"Think they might like some o' yer berries, just hold yer hand out nice and slow, just don't do anything sudden." Logan whispered, his eyes intent on the mother who looked on him.
Needn't being asked twice Illyana fed the pups, smiling as they licked at her fingers and chomped away at the raspberries and blueberries she had been enjoying herself. Clearly enamoured with them, she looked to Logan in askance that he understood, shaking his head against it. The pout was cute, but he wouldn't dare risk her getting bitten or clawed as much as she longed to pet and play with them. With the wind blowing through the boughs of the trees and the yipping of the pups, they sat together in quiet until the mother fell free of the spell of his eyes. Bloodying his hand and racing off to the woods, the family vanished leaving Illyana looking off after them.
"Are you alright Logan?" Illyana asked, the flesh of his hand already knitting itself back though stained fresh in red.
"Yeah, just a scratch. S'why I couldn't let ya gettin' too friendly, cute as they look they're still wild critters." Logan replied, wiping his bloodied knuckles off on his jeans.
"How did you do that?" Illyana asked again, "How do you know so much about the forest?"
Logan thought on the answer and the mystery of it, but as always it eluded him as did much of his life. He thought of the blood and snow, of the howls of beast in the wilderness, the gnawing of teeth and growling that came when he held they eyes of a beast. He never knew fear in those moments, his heart growing even and his breath soft, looking on it as a fellow out in the wilds, a companion drinking at the same watering hole as they ignored their usual roles.
"Can't say, just something that's always come to me when I needed it. Wouldn't be able to name most o' this stuff, just know what tastes good and what's right to eat." Logan confessed, finding himself chuckling then.
Illyana joined in his laughter, climbing to her feet and brushing off her dirty and dusty knees. The day had carried on in their walk, the sun wandering along it's path across the sky with the noonday gone by. Logan found his hand taken up in hers as he looked off to the way they had come. Leading the way back though this time the quiet left too much time for his thoughts to travel off down the darkened trails of his mind.
"Ya ever hear o' Kuekuatsheu?" Logan asked, Illyana just shrugging.
"Why don't I tell ya what I can remember o' it..." Logan replied, the dream of nights before coming back to him with the tale whispered that filled him with a strange longing he couldn't describe.
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The drive had been a wondrous way to beat the sweltering heat that had settled in with the sun hanging high overhead. Leaning against the door with her hair whipping in the wind, now and again she'd looked to her cell to find it still showing not a bar, wondering just how far they'd have to drive to find even some analog service. That the cabin line had been dead had been worrying, visions of all sort filling her until a strong hand had fallen on her shoulder. Sitting at the wheel with his eyes lost to the road ahead, Pete sat in comfortable quiet with the radio playing some country mixed in with classic rock.
The logging road had caught them by surprise, Pete throwing the truck into four wheel drive and asking her to buckle up. He worked the gears and the clutch with familiar ease, climbing up the overgrown slope of some hill with dreams of grandeur to be a mountain, jostled and bumped along as the tires fell in ruts and rolled over rocks. Breaking out into some clearing at the top, the vision had been worth the shaky legs when she had climbed out, the lake easy to spot sitting alone in the verdant green of the forest.
"Any service?" Pete asked.
Finding her phone with a couple bars, Marie gave a nod though she could find no cheer at their success as she still dreaded the call. Scrolling down to the very bottom of the list, her thumb lingered over the call button with as much worry as she had known a night that seemed a lifetime ago. A shadow fell over her, looking to see Pete standing there with caring eyes and a smile offered.
"We can wait until you're ready, enjoy the view some more perhaps?" Pete said, easily looking over her to the vista.
"Ah hell, time ta stop bein' a chicken shit." Marie growled, clawing at the screen and pressing the phone to her ear as she listened to the ringing.
A hasty hug given, Pete walked off to the truck to lean against the bumper with his arms crossed, giving her privacy yet staying near should she need him she figured. Ever dependable, she smiled at him before laying down to stare up to at the sky as she waited.
"Xavier's Daycare. What's up Marie?" Bobby drake answered.
Of all the people to answer it had to be someone she knew, of everyone it had to be him, Marie felt her resolve faltering as she bit her lip. In the background she could hear Theresa yelling wondering just where they were, knowing the number she had now was just for the faculty phones.
"Just, just wanted to talk to Moira if she's available..." Marie asked, hoping her wavering voice didn't carry so easily.
"Uh yeah...let me see if I can figure this out, huh...is this, no. Hey Theresa, how do ya transfer a call?" Bobby asked, Marie hoping he wouldn't some how find a way to hang up on her after she had found her nerve.
"Just give it here Bobby. Hi Marie, who did you want to talk to?" Theresa asked, sounding entirely business that had her so much like the teacher she was destined to be.
"Moira, just, just curious about my test results." Marie replied, pursing her lips and hoping no more questions would come.
"Of course, just a sec...Sam, get back in your chair this moment and keep watchin' the movie, next one out and it'll be a pop quiz!" Theresa yelled, Marie taking the phone away with a wince.
"Sorry...I got a little carried away, I'll just put you on hold while I transfer ya. Call back if she doesn't pick up, woman can get carried away in her work." Theresa replied, a click heard followed by some painful music picked out of some best of album most likely.
"Moira here, interrupting my coffee break ye are." Moira barked into the phone though sounding breathless.
"Hi Moira, it's Marie...did, did you find anything?" Marie asked, forestalling telling anything yet hoping there might be an explanation at hand.
"Fit as a fiddle just as I thought, picture o' health. As far as that bit o' muckity muck, everything else just looks right as rain lass, X-factor inhibited just like any o' the few patients I've seen." Moira replied, Marie sure she heard a zipper drawn in the background with a muffled hiss.
"You're, you're sure? Moira, I...I've been having dreams, dreams that weren't mine." Marie confessed, the phone going quiet enough to almost hear the whispered question in the background.
"What do ye mean by that lass?" Moira asked, the carefree tone of her voice drained.
"I, I had been sleeping with Jubilee and Logan..." Marie started, a sputtered gasp heard that left her cheeks burning.
"Not like that, at least not...aw hell Moira git yer mind outta the gutter!" Marie yelled, suddenly angry yet amused.
"Sorry Marie, just start from the beginning. As for ye Sean, if yur nea going to leave then ye can get me a fresh cup of coffee." Moira said, her voice quieted with the phone taken away to yell to another.
"Coffee break huh?" Marie asked with a giggle she couldn't hold.
"Yes, and ye interrupted it so ye might as well get ta tellin' me so I can get to figuring this out, and be sure to be eatin' well cause the first bit o' business when ye get back will be some more blood work." Moira growled.
Telling of everything that had happened, of the dreams and of everything else, Moira asked questions and for clarifications. Was everyone well, what was she wearing then, and how she had felt? The flurry of fingers over keys easily heard as the lady Doctor filled out notes. Did she feel anything when touching another? Marie had to confess she hadn't felt a thing in her waking hours since aside from a gnawing worry eating away at her gut at times.
"Alright Lass, to start with I've treated a few hypochondriacs in m'day and though I believe you, the first thing I'll be tellin' ye is to nea worry yurself to death. Tonight I'll ask ye to bunk with another and see if it happens again though I do be biddin' ye both some better dreams than ye've been having." Moira started.
"I, I guess that' means Jubilee again. Logan...he's been having..." Marie started.
"Yes, nightmares and odd dreams on occasion. Daft fool, maybe now he'll talk ta that friend o' mine. Get the silly bugger to start keepin' a diary when he wakes, I dunna care if he's dreamin' about ye in nea a thing, I want to know what's going on in that head o' his." Moira replied, cutting her off.
"I will, and I hope that's all he's dreaming about..." Marie said with a tease finding her voice, the older woman's brisk manner helping relieve her worries.
"Now ye be sure to keep notes o' everything ya do between now and then, I'll give ye a call tomorrow after I go shake every tree and call every person I can think o' that had anything to do with that. Thank ye for telling me this too, I'll have to call my patients and ask them all if they've been having anything similar, get me some blood samples sent in too. Ye be a good girl now, I'm owed me coffee break." Moira replied.
"Wait...uh, I'll have to call you. The line to the cabin's dead, we're going to call the owners next to tell them. You wouldn't believe what we had to do to get some signal." Marie hastily added before she could hang up.
"Alright then, ye call me and I'll be hopin' to have a bit of good news for ye. Take care o' yuirself and everyone else." Moira said, the phone cut to silence.
Getting to her feet she looked about for Pete ready to lend him her phone when she found he was no longer at the truck. Thinking to call for him, instead she wandered about with her steps light, finding him off on some weathered log with his eyes on some tiny little box in hand. With her eyes wide as she recognized the case for what it was, she announced herself with a sharp breath, Pete looking up in surprise.
"An anniversary gift?" Marie asked, rushing down to settle on the log with him.
"Not quite..." Pete replied, handing the box off reverently.
Ever more curious now as she held it, she opened it ever so carefully to find a diamond ring inside of gleaming gold. The gem had a hint of yellow to it, dazzling as it caught the light, beautiful sapphires set aside it in a pair. Threaded through it sturdy chain of gold that snaked about the box, she found herself too speechless to ask as she looked to Pete for answers.
"I was going to wait, have Logan and yourself distract Illyana for me so I could cook Jubilation dinner and then find this hill that overlooks the lake. A few days from now the moon should be full, when it's on the horizon it looks like you could reach out and touch it." Pete started.
Holding her tongue, Marie passed the box back off to him and found his hand, taking it as he looked on down to the ring with sadness that worried her. Giving a squeeze, she longed to ask him just what was so wrong, but she couldn't find her breath as her heart started to hammer away.
"I...don't think I can wait now. I never knew, I only knew that she was an orphan. I can't do anything to undo her loss, but...but I can do this." Pete said, his lips twisted and eyes spilling with tears.
Wrapping her arms about him, she hushed him and held him tight easily joining in having lived the truth of that loss herself. Ever among the strongest and gentlest men she knew, her heart twisted in a bittersweet torment.
"But...I can give her a family again, parents and a sister, I can give her that at least...if she'll have us." Pete whispered.
"You really are a big dumb lug aren't you..?" Marie asked happily though sniffles found her and her voice struggled past her tight throat.
"She wouldn't have me any other way." Pete replied, snapping the case shut and holding it tight.
"I just got one condition for ya now, ya let us all be there when you ask her. I want to see our damn grease monkey looking straight girly." Marie said, her hand held for him to take as they swore.
"Maybe once we're done sounding like we watched a soap opera we can call that old couple about the landline to get someone out here to get it fixed, just might be some announcements to make." Marie added, the pair having a laugh as they looked on the world in a new light finding the day suddenly so much brighter.
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Carrying Illyana atop his shoulders, her feet long since grown tired after their trek, Logan walked up to the cabin to find the truck still gone and Jubilee slumbering away in the hammock with a squirrel enjoying some of her honey roasted almonds. Illyana needn't be asked, her camera taken up to snap away with abandon. The pilfering squirrel just looked up once before nibbling away again. Playing at the edges of his senses, Logan heard the first hint of the truck, hoping to hear some good news soon. Crouching low, he let his burden free to see how close she could creep to the squirrel before it ran off.
"Awww!" Illyana pouted, Jubilee roused from her nap to look up groggily.
"What's up Yana?" Jubilee asked with a yawn.
"Logan took me for a walk, we saw a family of foxes but I didn't get any pictures. But look, you had a squirrel on you." Illyana chirped away happily showing all the pictures she had taken starting with the most recent.
"Ew..guess ya can have these ya fluffy tailed rat!" Jubilee yelled to the forest, throwing the last of the almonds away.
"They're cute!" Illyana argued.
"Pfft, they're little crap factories that'll gnaw and chew away at anything. Don't you remember that family that was hiding in the shop walls?" Jubilee asked, an imitation of Logan's eyebrow raised.
"But they babies were so cute!" Illyana cried gleefully at the memory.
"...I'll give you that, but heck Yana even baby crocs are cute and they just grow up to be luggage with attitude." Jubilee conceded stubbornly.
Leaving them to their important debate, Logan wandered in to the cabin and checked the phone, sure enough finding it dead. Trying a light, he was glad to find the power still on as he walked off to the fridge to find a couple of those raspberry beers and a couple bottles of water. Tossing water to Yana and a beer to Jubilee, he pounded back his water before enjoying his first sip of the strangest damn brew he'd yet had.
"Told ya they were good, cheers." Jubilee said, raising hers in toast.
"This from the girl that swears by deep fried candy bars, but I'll admit they ain't bad." Logan said, settling down in a chair to wait.
The truck came rolling on into the drive nearly a quarter hour later, Marie stepping out to find her way into his arms as Pete walked off to the hammock to offer a couple of chaste kisses to both ladies in his life, one upon the lips and the other on her cheek. Looking to his own love, he found her plastered with a dumb grin and staring off at Pete who just gave her a wink. Wondering at it, he was stalled as she turned to take his lips in her own with much more passion that he had expected after the call she had gone off to make.
"Don't know where that came from, but I approve." Logan said, grinning up at her and holding her close.
"Ya might wanna take notes mister, Yana git yer butt over here now missy." Marie said, calling their young friend over and then giving a nod off to Pete and Jubilee.
"Jubilation?" Pete asked, his lady love finding her way to sit at the edge of the hammock at the seriousness he expressed.
"Yeah Petey?" Jubilee asked.
Wondering at the show and Marie's rapt attention as her hand found his with her other taking Illyana's, Logan found his first inkling notion as he saw Pete fall to a knee and reach into a pocket. Both his brows climbed high, looking again to Marie who sat lost to the moment with Illyana's eyes wide as saucers and her cheeks burning red.
"I've come to know you as one I trust above all others, to love you as both family and as the sole woman who holds my heart. I've come to know yours hasn't been an easy life, yet you still manage to find a smile for me and most others, to always face the day with happiness in your heart and a longing to help others when they need it." Pete started, Jubilee silent as she looked down at him.
"I've come to realize it's hard to face the day when you're not by my side as I wake, that I could never imagine a time when I haven't been able to say those words I always strive to say to you so often though they'll never grow meaningless. I am sad I will never get to know the people who welcomed you to my world you, but I freely give you the people who welcomed me into yours. Jubilation Lee, will you marry me?" Pete asked softly, opening the box to show the ring inside.
Logan joined his own love then with a dumb grin finding him, leaning to kiss her as he kept an eye on the pair before them. Jubilee reached out to touch the ring with shaky fingers that were taken up. Guided to the ring by Pete she trailed along it and the gold chain, easily smiling with her eyes spilling freely as she nodded away again and again.
Plucked from the silk lining, the chain fell free to lay beneath, Pete slipping the ring to its rightful place. Cupping her cheek as he leaned in to kiss her, they were lead on by their love with the embrace lasting so very long until they broke breathing hard.
"Yes, yes you big dumb lug, I'll marry you. You, you don't know how happy ya just made me." Jubilee said as she dabbed at her teary eyes.
"Of course I do Jubilation, because you made me just as happy." Pete said, his lips finding hers again for another passionate play.
Joining in, Logan strove to not be outdone, Marie taking up his head in her hands to claw at his wild hair. Throughout it all Illyana watched not once grumbling or grousing at the affections of others put on display, knowing she had gotten something she had wanted for so long this day, a sister.
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Author's Note : Many thanks to everyone who has been enjoying! As promised Ink, something to help dry some of the tears everyone's been having in this story as of the last couple of chapters :) More to come soon.