Rachel slid out of the study relieved she had dodged Jeans questions but as she looked up from her feet she faced Logan. His stare was fierce.
"Why didn't I come back?" he asked first off. Part of him was a little annoyed since he was the one who did it before.
Rachel didn't want to answer, she started through the hall. But Logan wasn't going to give in. He held out and reached for her arm gently pulling her to a stop.
"Rachel.." he pressed. She looked at him not wanting to explain it, Where was Kitty in all of this, she sent me back before, why couldn't she do it again? I must have told her if we were under attack.
"Kitty didn't send me back" she said knowing what he was about to ask.
"How did you do it then?" Logan asked "I mean you couldn't have been even conceived yet…right? He looked back at the office where Jean still was while a rush of panic washed over him.
Rachel shook her head, "Look I can't get into this with you alright?"
She tried to brush past but he caught her shoulder, "Just a minute" he said "I know this must be hard, but if we can fix this, I need to know what happened" He didn't know how hard it was. That he stood in front of her a stranger that she watched and heard of his love for her mother. Not only that, having the memory of him dying burned into her mind, but yet he still stood in front of her.
"Kitty's dead Logan" Rachel shot back, "She could be laying in a ditch somewhere for all I know" She closed her eyes. She snapped, she couldn't help it as she took a breath and opened them again "Kitty doesn't know she's able to time travel, or send people back for that matter.." she shrugged, "You never told her"
"Then how" he asked again pushing back the thought of kitty being dead in her time "And then how did you know about it" he was suspicious
She avoided his stare as much as possible. She couldn't look into those eyes of his and tell him the relationship they shared "I have Jean's powers plus a few added ones" she shrugged, "I was something that we thought of in the spur of the moment"
Logan raised his eyebrow, "What do you mean?" Rachel just shook her head avoiding his stare. But Logan wanted answers and he wasn't going to give up until he got them.
He stepped closer, "It's alright, I get it seeing people you know don't make it in your time is hard" he said
"Sentinels attacked the mansion the night I came back, they got Kitty, Storm, and Bobby" She looked down "Along with Erik and Mystique"
Logan rested his hands on his hips and sunk, "Oh" he said "Couldn't you have sent me? I mean, I must have told you in the moment that I already had travel miles" he shrugged
Rachel looked up with tears in her eyes, "There wasn't time" The pain she felt going back while watching him being ripped in half while she couldn't do a thing to stop it was agonizing for her. She relived it every time she closed her eyes, but because of him she was able to come back, to see him again.
"Excuse me" Rachel could take anymore of it. She walked past and up the stairs to find her room.
Logan watched as she ran up the stairs wondering what she meant, and what exactly his fate was if everyone she knew was gone.
Rachel stepped out of the washroom after showering quickly, she found a few extra clothes and Jean standing by the doorway. "Oh hey" she smiled, "I was just going to leave these for you" she pointed
Rachel looked at the pair of jeans and t-shirts and tank tops, "It's not much, but I figured you could use them, I didn't take you for being much of a dress and skirt lover so I grabbed those for you" she smiled bashfully
Rachel tried to give an appreciative smile, she was grateful, "Thanks, Jean" she nodded picking up the tops
Did I ever buy her dresses? Did we do the matching outfits thing Jean wondered, Rachel looked at Jean with a soft look, "You tried to get me into dresses all the time, but as soon as you turned your back I was out of it and in jeans or shorts" Rachel admitted.
She didn't want to shut out Jean, she was Rachel's mother. She loved her more than anything. But with Logan, Rachel couldn't bare to get close to her again, only to have history repeat itself.
Jean laughed, "I did" she wanted to know more as she stepped forward hopeful that Rachel would open up more. She searched for anything from her daughter, to get close to her. "I can see more of Scott in you"
Rachel nodded, "There's both of you in me I'm told"
Jean smiled reassured, "You're strong, In just the few hours I'm already proud Rachel. You are powerful, just in how controlled you are"
If Jean only know just how powerful Rachel was, and how she got her power. But Rachel couldn't take much stock in Jean's praise. Not after what Rachel did to her, not after she killed her own mother.
"I mean I can't even read you, your completely silent in there. That takes strength" Jean said Why wont she let me in?
Rachel let out a small sight, "I'm sorry, it's not because I don't trust you" she started, "It's just to keep things the way they're meant to, if you know about the future.." She stopped with a shrug, even she didn't know what she was getting at.
Jean gave in with a nod, "I guess I should take your word for it" she tried to smile feeling defeated "Scott's almost ready with the jet, you should get ready and head down"
Rachel nodded, "Ok" she replied as Jean walked out of the room.
Letting out a sigh Rachel wondered how she was going to be able to handle being in this time, before she was even thought of. Jean looked like she couldn't hurt anyone. She had so much love inside her, all she kept thinking about was having a relationship with her daughter, making the most of the situation, about being a family with Scott.
Part of her wanted to believe that with her being here, it might be different.
The jet sat on the landing in the hanger under the house, same place as it always had been. And there was Scott making the preparations for take off.
"Hey, how'd you find the" he stopped himself realizing "Right.."
Rachel smiled with a nod, "I live here too" she said with a humored tone, 'Just not in this time"
Scott laughed, "Need to remind myself of that" he noticed her clothes, "Jean gave you some of her things I see"
Rachel nodded "Yeah, I didn't really come prepared" she tugged at the white tank top under her leather jacket
There was an awkward silence that Scott couldn't help but laugh at, "You know I can't help but be relieved that I can sit here with my daughter having avoided the awkward teenage years, the probable fights over dating the wrong guys" he thought out loud
Rachel shifted uncomfortably, "Yeah we never really had that either, so you came out lucky" she said trying to smile. But he didn't in the end.
Rachel could see his eyebrows lift above his ruby red glasses, "I always knew Jean and I would have the perfect child" he said giving her a nudge
The silence was more comfortable now. He looked at the jet then back at Rachel thinking bonding with his daughter was more important than leaving on time, "Do you stay on here after and join the team?"
Rachel nodded with a small smile, "I taught Psychology"
Scott smiled, "Like your mom"
"I also am known as one of the best pilots the Professor has ever seen" she said proudly for a moment, "Even better than you and Hank"
Scott was surprised, "Really he said that?" Rachel nodded, "Well I'm sure he was just trying to build up your confidence"
"I've logged twice the amount of hours you have in your career" she said plainly
"Oh" Scott said defeated
"But you were the one who taught me everything" she said
Scott smiled, at least he rubbed off on her somewhat. "So I guess you want to fly then" he walked with her up the ramp into the jet.
Rachel gave a small laugh, she had a special bond with Scott. She wasn't lying, there were never any awkward stages, or huge fights over guys. Rachel loved Scott and Scott understood Rachel in a way no one else did. She was the person she was because of him, but she had lost him and having him sit in front of her again like Logan was tearing at her.
"The Professor has a lock on this Remy guy, still in New Orleans" Scott said while getting back to his inspection, "He'll call in his exact location once we're there"
Rachel nodded, "I don't expect him to move around a lot. He's not one to stay hidden and moving. He's born and raised a Cajun, he'd never go anywhere else" she shrugged, "Except for here"
"So this guy can help us huh" Scott asked
"He's a bit rough around the edges, but eventually he came around. He might be a bit hard to handle at first" Rachel warned, "You didn't fair too much with him at first"
Scott raised his eyebrows, "Can't be any worse than Logan"
Anyone is a walk in the park compared to that asshole
Rachel smiled, "Let's just say you had your hands full, but Remy came around eventually"
"What made him stay?" Scott asked
"We bout ready Scott?" Rouge came up the ramp.
Rachel turned and watched as Rouge sat down, giving Rachel a warm smile. "I still don't understand why the professor has me comin' long" she drawled
Rachel looked at Scott and tried to keep an even expression. Rouge was the reason Remy stayed and calmed down. He and Rouge had a love as strong as her and Logan's.
"I take it you haven't been out on any missions yet" Rachel asked
Rouge shook her head, "I'm only starting to get a grasp on my power, I don't know how much help I can be"
Rachel nodded understanding, "You've done well Rouge, just trust it, don't fear it" she thought for a moment, "Here" she said stopping "Take off you're glove"
Rouge thought about it for a moment, but she was curious at what Rachel wanted to do. She oddly enough trusted Rachel even though she was a stranger. But what she said seemed honest. Rachel stood around people so familiar, but also broken around them. She knew everyone, and what she'd lived was something she desperately needed to change.
So as Rouge pulled off the glove still giving Rachel a worried look. Rachel nodded reassuringly. "Rach, what are you going to do?" Scott asked
Rachel didn't answer him. "What are you doing" She heard Logan's concerned tone.
But Rachel was adamant, "We've done this before" she coaxed
Rouge looked at her, "WE have" Rachel nodded and watched as Rouge slipped off the glove and hovered over Rachel's hand.
"You have to concentrate, hard Rouge" Rachel said, "You're powers are freed only as much as you let them. If you think and believe your power is uncontrollable, then it will be uncontrollable"
Logan stepped towards them still unsure. Scott worried, "You sure you want to be doing this?"
"It's fine Rouge" Rachel was ignoring the men, she looked at Rouge comfortingly, "You won't hurt me, just concentrate, filter your power, control it" she said
They all watched as Rouge looked at Rachel's hand and slowly covered it with hers. Timidly she pulled away but committed again, "Remember, control" Rachel said
Rouge held Rachel's hand. Rach felt the energy leaving her body and entering Rouges, she was helping the process by calming her mind, Rouge could feel it as she watched Rachel carefully. "Oh my god" she said
Rouge looked around, "I'm doing it"
Rouge could hear them What is happening right now She looked at Scott hearing his thoughts. Is this MY daughter that's doing this…Can Jean do this
"You're daughter is somethin'" She smiled feeling relieved that there was a way to live with her power
She looked at Logan amazed She's so much like Jean, but she's also this force that I've never seen. What happened in the future that she's so tormented about
Rouge looked at Rachel then back at Logan She's so beautiful Logan was watching Rachel closely
"Logan" Rouge said letting go of her hand, "She's not in the mansion a day yet and you're already got a crush on her" she started out of the jet
Rachel felt the life come back to her but looked on in shock at Rouge. Scott was staring at Logan angry as Logan watched in embarrassment. 'Can we please just get going?" he snapped, "We don't have all day here" he began walking to his chair
Rachel followed now with Scott at her side checking her, "Are you alright" he held her shoulders, "How were you able to do that?"
Rachel shrugged "Rouge and I started working on it a few years ago, the professor thought it may help if a telepath tried calming her mind while she touched another person, because he thought the root of her problem with her power was in that she was terrified of it"
"Turns out he was right" Scott gathered
A smile crept onto Rachel's face as she sat down across from Logan, ignoring his stare and knowing Scott was now watching Logan. He didn't like Logan's crush on Jean, and now he really didn't like this affection he had towards his daughter, even if she was a grown woman.
You really are like your mother, but so different at the same time. Holy shit.
Logan was amazed, he'd never seen something like that done before, not even the professor had don't that.
Rachel let out a small chuckle, "You can say it" she glanced at Logan.
"Say what" Logan shrugged, "It's not nice to read peoples minds you know"
There's something about her that's so different from Jean
Rachel smiled "You said something similar to me often" It was when she started her teen years she remembered.
"You used to say how much I reminded you of Jean, until I opened my mouth and my father came out" Rachel smiled at Scott almost proud
Scott was ecstatic as he heard. Logan's face was written with the realization. She's right…
Logan raised his eyebrow, "So I take it you're quiet the handful"
Rachel smiled, "Only to you" she caught herself slipping back into an old habit. She loved their banter, it was the thing she loved most about him. She tried to shake it away
"We're almost ready" Scott announced, 'Where did Rouge go"
"Saying goodbye to Bobby" Rachel said, "She's coming" she called for Rouge
A moment later Rouge reappeared on the jet looking out of sorts and shook her head at Rachel, "Warn me next time you do that"
Rachel nodded, "sorry" she said apologetically, "It was something we used to do a loy"
"So who is this Remy Lebeau guy we're after" Logan asked
Scott waited for Rachel to answer, "From New Orleans, and these days he's proably pick pocketing and playing cards down on Bourbon street. Everyone knows him in town as Gambit, people have come and tried to take him, recruit him, but's he's stayed pretty rooted to the town." She sighed, "But it might be a bit difficult to convince him to come with us"
Logan raised an eyebrow, "And why is that?"
"He's not exactly a team player, he's moody, and hates people" she shrugged simply, "Kind of like you" she finally looked at Logan.
"He is a Cajun with a bit of a flare for the dramatics" she saw Logan wasn't amused, "when he came in the women were just enamored with him so that was the first incentive for him to stick around" she explained
Logan was amused hearing of the future, he wasn't sure to believe it, but seeing as he'd traveled through time, he couldn't not take what she was saying. There was a familiarity in her eyes, and how tortured she was when she looked at him in the eyes, she tried to avoid it, but every so often he'd catch her eyes and he'd see that pain especially when she'd get comfortable with him. As if a memory flash through her mind, but she would put her guard back up again. He guessed that they were pretty close, but wondered how he could love another more than he did Jean
"Sounds like my kind of guy" Logan interjected giving Rouge a sly smile.
Rouge just rolled her eyes, this attitude was nothing new to her. But she loved him none the less, and even only hearing his thoughts for a moment she could tell Logan was taken by Rachel in a way she didn't see with Jean. This was different.
"He made you a little Jealous" Rachel admitted raising an eyebrow
"Me jealous? Never" he said scoffing at the thought
"You once punched him in the face for giving me a dance lesson" Rachel laughed but quickly recovered. She looked away getting caught in Logan's stare. She had to remember this wasn't her Logan. He wasn't the man she loved.