Chapter 2

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"Ororo, are you awake?" a soft feminine voice called out from the other side of the door.

As Ororo tried to shake off the fog of a deep sleep, she heard the click of her door being opened.

Suddenly, she rolled over to her other side where Logan had been during the night.

Her eyes landed on an empty pillow, and her balcony doors were left open after what had probably been a hasty retreat when he smelled Jean coming.

"Ro?…" The voice called out again, but now the door was cracked open.

"Yes, Jean, I am awake. You may come in." She said as she swung her legs off the side of the bed.

Jean opened the door fully and walked in with a slight look of concern. She gave Ororo the once over before sitting next to her.

"Good Morning sleepy head. You must have been really tired."

Ororo looked at her quizzically. "Why would you say that?"

"Well, it's almost 11:30 and you were still asleep. You're usually up by 7am."

Ororo's neck snapped to her alarm clock.

11:21am.

She shook her head in disbelief. She must have been exhausted.

Or really comfortable.

After the horrible dream she had, being wrapped up in the safety of Logan's embrace was the best thing she could have asked for.

She had a small, knowing smile on her face when she turned to look at Jean who had been watching her intently.

OH CRAP!

Jean heard her thoughts loud and clear.

Jean was concerned for her young friend who was the sister she never had.

It wasn't that Jean disliked Logan.

On the contrary, she enjoyed his presence in the mansion.

He may have been abrasive, but he was also kind, loyal and honest.

And let's face it. He was incredibly handsome.

She loved Scott and would never betray him, but she could not deny that she enjoyed Logan's flirting and he certainly was VERY pleasing to the eye.

And although she would never tell Scott, she preferred Logan's company over Forge's any day of the week.

However…

Ororo and Logan?

She knew they were very good friends and very protective of each other, but sharing a bed, overnight?

She was just about to voice her concerns to an open mouthed Ororo when…

"Well, look who decided to join the land of the living." came Scott's playful voice as he made his way into Ororo's room. He stopped short of the bed when he spotted their twin looks of guilt written all over their faces.

He looked back and forth between the two.

"Did I interrupt something?" knowing he had, but waiting for one of them to confess.

Ororo recovered first.

"No, of course not Scott. I was just in shock over how late I slept. I must hurry to get ready. I am to have lunch with Forge shortly." She rose up from the bed and gave his chin a quick peck, before moving over to her closet to get clean clothes.

Scott looked back to Jean, who seemed to find her shoes fascinating for some reason. He knew they were hiding something, but didn't think it was too bad.

Probably some women's issue that he really did not want to know about.

Besides, if it were that serious, Jean would tell him. She would never allow any harm to come to Ororo.

"Uh, yeah, you better hurry then. By the way, Professor was looking for you this morning. He said he needed to discuss something with you."

That gave Ororo pause.

Usually he would have given her the message himself. She wondered what he wanted.

"Alright. Perhaps I shall stop in to see him before I go to lunch. Could you please tell Forge where I will be just in case I am running late?" she asked Scott while still pondering what the professor wanted to speak with her about.

Scott grabbed Jean's hand to help her off the bed and moved to the door. "Sure kid, I'll let him know. Don't keep Xavier waiting."

He made his way out of the door in front of Jean. Jean turned and gave Ororo a look that clearly said we will speak about this later.

Ororo lightly nodded her head to let her know she got the message. With that, Jean closed the door.

Ororo let out a nervous breath and sagged wearily against her closet door. She had only been awake 7 minutes and already drama.

She should have known she would pay for such a good night's rest.

/

Ororo walked into Professor Xavier's office without knocking. She knew he was expecting her so she just let herself in.

As soon as she closed the door, he looked up from his computer to greet her.

"Good Afternoon, Ororo. How are you my dear?" he asked with concern in his voice.

He held out his arms to her, and Ororo leaned down to give him a hug and a kiss. She took a moment to enjoy his strong embrace. Ororo loved this man as if he were her own father. She even addressed him as father in private settings.

He had saved her and given her a home and a family.

There was nothing she would not do for him.

To Charles, Ororo was the daughter he never had, but always wanted.

Although he tried not to show outward favoritism, everyone knew that she was his little girl. Scott and Jean were not immune to the same treatment, but it was different.

Scott and Jean were both now young adults, where as Ororo was still a child in his eyes.

Ororo pulled back out of his embrace and perched herself on the edge of his desk.

"Good Afternoon Professor. I am sorry I slept so late. I had some trouble sleeping."

"I know." was all he said as he studied her intently. Ororo's eyes widened slightly at the revelation, but she tried to school her features and block her thoughts from him.

Silly girl.

"Your nightmare awakened me suddenly. I was about to make my way to you, but someone beat me to it. How many times do we have to have this discussion child?" his voice taking on a slightly angered tone.

Last night was the fifth time in the past 6 months that he had sensed Logan in Ororo's room and vice-versa.

And not just in each other's room.

Sleeping…in the SAME bed…overnight!

He knew Logan had not taken liberties with her, but still…

He liked Logan, very much.

Despite all his demons and questionable tactics, he had some very redeeming qualities. He knew that Logan was thinking of leaving the institute upon graduation, and he had been doing everything in his power to get him to stay.

But this…

This…

What they were doing was dangerous.

A situation like last night, him comforting her in such a distressed state, could easily get out of hand.

One minute, you are drying tears and whispering comforting words. The next minute you are…

Charles closed his eyes against the images.

"We did not do anything. I had a nightmare and Logan just stayed to calm me down and we fell asleep. That is all it was. That is all it ever is. I do not understand why you are so upset about this! Logan and I are friends. It is no different than if Jean were to stay in my room." Ororo said in an exasperated voice.

Charles eyes shot open to look at her. His voice laced with anger. "No different! Surely, you cannot be serious! Last time I checked, Jean was NOT a man!"

Ororo jumped up off the desk to face Charles. "You take issue with Logan and I "SLEEPING" in the same bed, however it is quite alright for…" Ororo quickly shut her mouth when she realized what she was doing, and what she was about to say.

She was yelling at the Professor.

Bad.

She was possibly about to "out" Scott and Jean.

Bad.

Very bad.

Scott and Jean had been having sex for some time, thanks to that slut Emma Frost blatantly throwing herself at Scott.

Jean had become so insecure, she went to Scott and seduced him on her 17th birthday.

That was a years ago now.

The Professor probably already knew, but just in case he did not, she was not going to be the one to tell him.

Ororo looked up to find the Professor looking at her with a raised eyebrow. "Alright for what, my dear? Please, do not stop on my account."

Ororo let out a frustrated sigh and shook her head. She walked over to the large picture window in the Professor's office, and looked longingly towards the sky.

Oh how she wished she could just retreat the sky, her greatest source of freedom.

Charles moved beside Ororo.

He did not mean to upset her, but why could she not understand how inappropriate this kind of behavior was?

If the other students found out about it, everyone would think it was ok to do, and their intentions would not be as innocent as hers.

In this one instance, he could not, would not, show lenience.

Gently, he took her small hand in his.

"Ororo, I know you and Logan are not engaging in any impropriety, however, it is not appropriate for you two to be sleeping in the same quarters. What kind of message do you think that would send to the other students if they were to find out?"

Ororo continued to stare out of the window.

Charles continued on. "I am also concerned about the message you could inadvertently be sending Logan." Ororo's head whipped toward him with her mouth ready for a rebuttal. Charles stopped her with a raised hand. "He is a young man, who is no stranger to the intimate company of a woman. I am not accusing him of propositioning you, but you have to admit, you both are placing yourselves in a precarious position. Besides, what would Forge think if he knew?"

Ororo wanted nothing more than to convince him he was wrong, but as she stood and thought about it, he had a point.

She may not admit it out loud, but she had at times wondered what it would be like to have Logan's attention in that way.

She knew it was wishful thinking.

Why would a man like him be interested in a girl like her?

And as far as Forge was concerned, for some reason she was not worried whether he found out or not.

She never even gave it a thought.

What did that say about the state of their relationship?

Charles was now holding Ororo's hand, trying to calm her agitated state. After a few moments, she turned and looked down into his kind yet worried eyes.

How could she ever stay angry with him?

She offered him an understanding smile.

"I am sorry I became angry father. I did not mean to show such disrespect. Forgive me." She said in a soft voice.

Charles smiled lovingly at the girl he considered his very own.

Of course he would forgive her.

A light tug on her wrist bought her to rest on his lap. Ororo buried her face in the crook of his neck. She could smell the spiciness of his cologne, gently worn leather, and some other combination of scents unique only to him.

Gently, he rubbed circles on her back in a soothing and forgiving gesture. He buried his face into her long, thick white hair, allowing the scents of vanilla and honey to wash over him.

He then pressed lightly on her shoulders to move her back so he could look her in the eyes.

"Have no worries, little one. Of course I forgive you. I never meant to upset you. I only want what is best for you. Now, I know you do not wish to spend this beautiful day inside with an old man such as myself. Go out and enjoy the day." He offered her a teasing smile.

Ororo giggled at his teasing. " I know not of this old man you speak of, and I would gladly spend my whole day with you. However, I do have lunch plans so…"

Charles could see the mischief in her sparkling blue eyes. "Go and have fun. I shall see you later."

Ororo stood and gave him a very wet kiss on the forehead before whispering, "I love you."

"I love you also." Then he raised his hand to wave her on her way.

Ororo graced him with a smile before skipping to the door, her drape of white hair floating behind her out the door.

Charles just shook his head at her silliness.

Dealing with a house full of teenagers was going to give him gray hair…

…that is, if he had any left!