Hey all. So, HOLY COW, I know, I haven't updated this thing in like a million, bazillion years, I'm so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so sorry! I have had the WORST writer's block, this chapter REALLY did NOT want to get written. But at last, I have prevailed! Yay! And here it is! I really hope I haven't lost my wonderful readers (And REVIEWERS, wink wink) because of the long wait. I promise to try and update sooner next time. Meanwhile, huge thanks to Patricia16, spader says hobey-ho, and endiahna for reviewing! Now, on with the chapter! As always, READ, REVIEW, and ENJOY!

Warren was kept in the hospital for several weeks. Once he was at last released, he was told to take it easy and move around as little as possible. He had lost a lot of blood, and had over a hundred stitches.

Logan wanted to get a motel room and stay where they were so that Warren could rest some more, but Warren insisted that he was fine and they'd stayed far too long already. In the end Logan relented, and packed Warren into the passenger seat with many blankets and pillows for cushioning.

Things were a bit uncomfortable for a while after that. Logan was being extra careful to pay as much attention to Warren as possible, and to give him anything and everything he could possibly want. He didn't leave Warren alone anymore either, whatever it was he had been going to do, apparently wasn't important anymore.

All of the attention of course embarrassed Warren to no end. But nevertheless, he couldn't deny that he enjoyed it, at least a little. And bit-by-bit, under Logan's careful eye, Warren began to think about Scott a little less every day. The night's when Warren woke trembling in terror and clinging desperately to Logan became fewer and further in between, until finally, they stopped all together.

They spent most of the summer driving around Canada, (Why? Because they felt like it.), over the course of which, Warren, who was quite fond of that sort of thing, became fluent in French.

But as summer came to a close and the autumn winds began to blow in, they headed south again.

They stopped at a deli just over the border into Washington for lunch. It was a cool day, heavy with the promise of coming winter, and Warren was rather hyper.

"It's the cold," he explained blushing when Logan commented about it, "I always get a little more energetic when the weather turns cold."

"Oh," Logan nodded, "Like a cat."

"A cat?"

"Yeah, you know, how cats get all crazy and hyper when the weather changes," Logan explained.

"I guess." So, as they sat eating their sandwiches, Warren was fidgeting more than usual and humming slightly to himself.

Logan smiled to himself as he eyed the younger mutant. In the past several months, not only had Warren learned how to smile and speak for himself, but he was even becoming assertive enough to ask for things on his own. All of his injuries were completely healed, leaving only a few scars, and even his wings were beginning to grow back. They were growing in very slowly, and so far Warren only had little tiny sprouts with a few feathers attached, just long enough to wiggle around in a flapping like motion when he was excited.

"We should do something today," Warren said, breaking Logan was of his reverie.

"Like what?"

"I don't know, something," Warren shrugged, "Take a break from all that driving around."

"Well, we could…" Logan started slowly, trying to think of something.

"Oh, I know!" Warren injected, practically bouncing up and down in his seat, "Lets go roller skating!" He pointed to a skate shop across the street.

Logan raised an eyebrow at him, "Roller-skating?" he repeated skeptically.

"Yes," Warren nodded, "I want to go roller skating. Can we? Please, Logan, please?" And he gave Logan a look that was the very definition of puppy dog eyes, complete with exaggerated pout.

"Keep wagging your tail at me like that and I might start calling you Fido or something," Logan teased him. At that Warren attempted to glare at him, but as expected his glare face was not nearly as good as his puppy eyes. Logan grinned, and in a mock long suffering voice said, "But I suppose, if you really want to…"

"Yay!" Warren practically launched himself over the table at Logan.

So, after they finished their sandwiches, Warren more or less shoving the whole thing down his throat in his rush, Logan taking his time just to tease him, they headed across the street and bought two pairs of roller skates.

Once the skates were bought, they went to the nearest park. It was a nice park, not the kind that just has some plastic play equipment, but a real park, with sidewalks crisscrossing large green lawns and lots of benches. They sat on one of the said benches to put on their skates. Logan had his on first and stood up, a little wobbly at first, but he soon steadied himself out, trying to forget about how ridiculous he felt.

Warren, however, wobbled quite a bit more when he stood up and Logan had to grab his arm to help steady him. Nevertheless, as soon as he had his balance, Warren grinned, "Ready?" he said.

Logan gave him a teasingly exaggerated look of patience and grumbled, "As I'll ever be."

Warren grinned and again and pushed off, only to promptly fall over. Logan hurried moved to help him up again and Warren regained his feet, swearing profusely. Logan had never heard language quite like that out of Warren before, and he was mildly amused by it.

"Are you alright?" he asked, careful not to let his amusement at Warren's language show.

"Yeah," Warren grumbled, though he looked extremely put out. He tried again, a bit more slowly this time, and with Logan's hand to help balance him. But he was still rather unsteady.

Logan, however, seemed to be perfectly balanced, as though he'd been born on skates. "Are you sure you're alright?" Logan asked again, "You always had the best balance in class."

"It's my damn wings," Warren panted, glaring angrily at the ground as they moved slowly, "I can't balance right without them." Nevertheless, Warren insisted that he still wanted to skate, and in time he managed to get the hang of it, though he still held onto Logan's hand.

They spent the afternoon happily, joking and laughing as they skated around the park. After they got tired of skating they got some ice cream, left their skates under a bench and fooled around on the otherwise deserted play equipment.

That evening Logan decided they should take a break from their usual pizza, cafes, and fast food, and go some place nicer. So Warren made him wear the black silk shirt that the younger mutant still coveted.

Over all, it had been an especially good day. And as they settled down to bed that night Warren couldn't help but to wonder, once again, what he had done to deserve someone as amazing as Logan. He smiled to himself, snuggling in closer to Logan's chest, and kissing the hair there lightly. "I love you," he whispered drowsily.

"I love you too, kid," Logan murmured, kissing him tenderly on the top of the head. And with that Warren fell asleep. Logan, however, remained awake, gazing lovingly at the younger mutant in his arms.

Though the actual bruises had long ago faded, sometimes Logan could still almost see Warren's abused face, hear the way his breathing would hitch and he would pant in terror, the way his eyes darted about nervously. And it still burned at him how long Warren had been hurting, and he hadn't even known it, how many nights Warren had been left to shiver and cry alone with no comfort but Scott's alcoholic breathing next to him.

There had been no mention of Scott for some time now. Warren didn't seem to be dreaming about him anymore, and apparently had all but forgotten him… almost. Logan knew that Warren would likely never completely get over what Scott had done to him, but he planned on always being there to help his love as much as he could.

So with another gentle kiss on Warren's forehead, Logan settled himself down, pulling the younger mutant closer, and drifted off to sleep himself.