So... it's been like three years, but HERE I AM! And it's probably (subconsciously) Rayne's fault. I do have the rest of the chapters to the conclusion of the story planned out, and it's probably about 7 chapters, plus a few extras ;) I really do want to finish this, theoretically within the next few weeks, so keep your fingers crossed. Read, Review,

Enjoy!


The next few weeks found them making their slow, meandering way south through California. They'd been traveling on roads that kept them mostly inland, so they were still several hours north of Santa Barbara when Warren first caught sight of the coast. After that, he couldn't look away.

There was almost a hunger in his eyes as he stared out of the passenger side window at the pure, white coastline. It was a look that Logan, with slight reluctance, noticed. But, he had determined to give Warren everything the boy could possibly want, so, as the late afternoon sun slanted toward the horizon, he didn't bother to ask, just turned off of the highway looking for the nearest exit to the beach.

Warren turned away from the window to blink at Logan and verify, "We're going?"

Logan didn't have to ask where. He gave Warren an offhand grin and shrugged, "Figure I could use a tan." And at that the younger mutant gave him what was quiet possibly the biggest smile ever recorded, and turned back to the window.

Soon enough they'd stopped and bought sandwiches to have for dinner on the beach and successfully managed to find a pretty much completely deserted stretch of sand, the only other people around being an elderly couple meandering away from them.

Surprisingly, Warren only faltered for a few seconds before stripping off his t-shirt and jeans and heading straight for the water. Usually it was only with great reluctance that he would go anywhere where someone other than Logan might see him without completely covering just about every inch of flesh he could, often layering. Logan understood, he was shy about his scars, and self-conscious of people looking at him, but all the same, wearing a t-shirt, sweatshirt, even a light one, and a jacket at the height of summer heat was just not a good idea.

In fact, he was so intent on getting to the water that he was halfway there before even realizing that Logan was still up by the truck. He stopped, turning back uncertainly.

"Aren't you coming?" he asked, his pout mild, more curious.

Logan shook his head. "I'm not a big fan of sand. You go ahead, kid, have fun."

Warren didn't move, his pout becoming more pronounced, and his confidence waning. He'd been learning to become a lot more comfortable with himself and others, but only as long as Logan was there to hold his hand (usually literally). "We can go if you want," he offered, trying to sound like he didn't really care.

By this point Logan had gotten to know Warren well enough that the younger mutant pretty much never got away with a lie, even when he was working hard at it. Logan definitely wasn't going to let this one slide. He pulled Warren close to him, kissing him gently for a moment, "Go," he encouraged, "I'll be right here watching. Have fun."

Warren hesitated for a moment longer, then nodded and started out once more towards the glistening water. Halfway he paused, glancing back over his shoulder. Logan smiled and waved, completely missing the sudden wicked grin that appeared on Warren's no longer pouting face.

*8*

Logan leaned comfortably against the low wall separating the sand from the parking lot, completely relaxed as he watched Warren frolic in the water. Yes, frolic.

He was weaving in and out of the waves happily, smiling and laughing to himself a little. His lean but, thanks to Logan's overly attentive care, no longer skeletal, body glistening in the pink-tinged rays of the dying sun, his tiny budding wings flapping and wiggling to express his enthusiasm. It was, although Logan would probably rather be locked in a room with Storm for a week than admit it to any one but Warren, probably the cutest thing he'd ever witnessed. Maybe he was biased, but he doubted it.

And as he watched Warren he couldn't help but smile. Strange, it didn't feel weird anymore, smiling. He couldn't remember ever doing it very often before he'd met the winged mutant. There was just something so innocent, so inexplicably pure about the boy, he didn't understand how he'd even managed to function before, how it was possible that there had ever even been a before.

Suddenly he was jolted out of his musings, and it took him several seconds to figure out why. He scanned the area, now completely deserted but for Warren and himself, then he noticed. Warren's soft laughter, the occasional comment he'd called to Logan; all was silent now. Desperately Logan's eyes scanned area for any sign of his love. All of point two seconds later Logan was pelting head long down the beach towards the water, shouting Warren's name. He wasn't even consciously aware of shedding his shoes, socks, and shirt as he ran, slamming straight into the chilly water, still yelling.

He wadded until he was chest deep, about how far out Warren had been. There was no sign of the younger mutant, not even a stray feather.

"Warren!" he shouted, panic welling in his chest, "Warren!" Suddenly he couldn't breathe, his heart constricting so tightly in his chest that it felt like it might implode. Adrenaline was pumping through him so fast his hands shook and his vision blurred.

"Warren!" Just when he thought he might pass out from hyperventilation there was a splash behind him and thin, beautiful arms wrapped themselves around his shoulders.

A soft giggle sounded in his ear as wet lips pressed a kiss to his cheek, "Got'cha."

Logan whirled on the younger mutant, grabbing his shoulders and shaking him without really being aware of it. "Don't ever do that to me again!" he shouted, fear still roaring in his ears and his chest still aching at the perceived loss.

Warren froze, face paling and eyes widening as tears automatically filled them. He blinked against them and none fell, but his voice still shook when he spoke. "I'm s-sorry," he stammered, trembling a little.

As soon as he saw the fear on Warren's face Logan's own anger vanished, replaced by remorse and indescribable relief. He hugged Warren tight to his chest, burying his face in the younger mutant's hair. "Don't scare me like that," he admonished more gently, letting his tone and grip express his terror and love.

"I d-didn't m-mean to," Warren sniffled, pressing his face into Logan's chest and clinging to him, "I j-just wanted you to c-come play with me."

"Don't do it again."

"I p-promise."

They stayed like that for a long time, letting the waves ebb and flow around them as the sun set and the moon rose to glint silver off of the water.

Eventually Warren started to shiver as the temperature dropped and Logan ushered him out of the water. Pulling a couple blankets out of the truck he spread one out on the sand for them to lie on. The other he wrapped firmly around them once Warren was settled resting against his chest.

Warren sighed in soft contentment as he lay snuggled into the warmth of the blanket and Logan's body, absently playing with Logan's chest hair. Logan kissed his head, his thumb tracing random patterns on Warren's hip.

"I missed the beach," Warren said softly, almost as though he was talking to himself. His eyes were on starry sky and his expression was distant. "We used to go every summer when I was a kid, before my mom died."

Logan raised his head to better see Warren's face. Warren rarely spoke about his past, with Scott or before it; his family was not a happy subject. But if he was in an uncharacteristically sharing mood tonight, Logan certainly wasn't going to discourage him, so he stayed quiet and listened.

"Usually it was just the two of us; dad would say he had to work. We had a condo right on the sand practically. It was white, with green shutters, and my mom planted rose bushes all the way around it. They were her favorite, roses, but not red ones, white and yellow were the ones she liked."

Logan kissed his forehead as Warren's voice got softer and sadder.

"It was sort of like own secret club house or something, since dad rarely went there. It was ours. But after she died dad sold the condo and I haven't been to the beach since." He said the last part a little quickly, like he wanted to get it over with.

Logan didn't know what to say, so he showered Warren's face in gentle, lazy kisses and held him closer. "I love you, Warren," he said, letting his voice show his sincerity.

Warren smiled. "I love you too," he murmured back, his body relaxing and his voice getting drowsy. Logan knew it wouldn't be long before he fell asleep.

Logan lay, watching Warren's peaceful face by the light of the moon, listening to the crash of the waves and the occasional call of a gull, and smiled. He knew exactly what to do.