Memories

Those Left Behind

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If you want to use Tora, or any of my other characters, PM me.

Jamie looked at his dad. Logan almost thought for a second he knew what had happened. But how could he? He closed his eyes and held Jamie close. He was the most physical proof there was that Tora had ever existed. He'd heard her final call over Jean's comm. The way she'd struggled and regained her individuality in time to say she loved him made it hurt all the more. He heard Scott making the announcement to the students and held Jamie closer. He wondered what his birth mother was like. All Etana had told him was he had been an orphan when he came to her. Was she always caring for him like Tora cared for Jamie? Did she hate him? Did she die when he was a baby or when he was older? Logan gazed into the ice-blue eyes the exact shape of Tora's. Somehow this was both worse and easier than last time. No. There hadn't been a last time. Her death had been faked. This time it was for real. It was easier as Jamie was there, someone who was relying on him for care. But it hurt so much to look at him and see Tora there. The way he tilted his head when interested in something was identical to Tora. When he did something that reminded Logan of her, it felt like she was dead all over again.

"Just you and me now kid."

And with the uncanny knowledge of babies everywhere, Jamie started to cry, snuggling up to the person he trusted second most in the world. Third were big blue fuzzy and black feathery who wasn't here. As well as being perceptive, babies are rubbish at names. Elfy blue fuzzy was funny but not to be trusted. He made funny smells. But Mama wasn't there. Mama should be there. Dada was there and he was sad. Why was Dada sad? Mama. Where was Mama? MAMA! And Jamie did what he always did when he wanted Mama. He cried. But Mama didn't come. Mama? Mama? MAMA!

Jean winced.

"He cried day and night. I hated it."

"Do we see your death?"

"You would ask that wouldn't you?"

"I have a vested interest in that field."

Logan sat on the seat that had been placed in their clearing. There was no grave and the clone that had been used to fake her death, as with the clone Poacher had used to trick Tora, had both been cremated. No grave, no place to grieve. Mainly people went to Etana's grave. Blinking back the tears, he opened his hand to reveal the little silver cross Kurt had given her that first Christmas. She would remove Etana's necklace, but her cross, wedding and engagement rings and the soul band would remain on. She'd taken the necklace off for the Open Day for some reason. The other jewellery had fallen with her. Pressing his head to the cold metal he tried to cry. He couldn't cry. He couldn't cry. Why?

"Logan…"

"Jeannie. What's wrong?"

She was crying, hard angry tears.

"Scott. And Emma. AND I FOUND OUT FROM A STUDENT!"

"Jeannie…"

"Did you know? DID YOU?"

"No Red. I didn't."

She was crying on his shoulder and he let her. But he drew back when her lips brushed his.

"No."

"Why not? You always wanted too."

"That was then Jeannie. This is now. You're married. And I am too."

"Wrong Logan. You're a widower. Tora's dead."

"She's Missing Presumed Dead until further notice."

"I could understand if it was Missing in Action, but Logan, she's dead."

"And so were you."

"One kiss can't hurt."

"It does Jean. Tora was…is yer best friend. And you'd betray her trust."

"IT'S NOT LIKE THAT!"

"It is Red. It is."

"Logan…"

"I'm not going to be your way of getting back at Scott."

"It's not…"

"Bye Jeannie."

Logan, turn around right now.

He snarled.

"Don't pull that stunt on me."

"Logan…"

"Back off Jeannie."

And he marched away, leaving Jean to stand shocked and wonder what on Earth she had just done.

"Yes, I still feel terrible about that."

"So you should."

"Well at least it turned out to be Shadow King making me do that."

"Says you."

"IT WAS! And can we skip my death, I don't want to have to watch it all over again."

"Ahem."

"No offence meant, no offence meant at all."

"It's fine."

"Death, do you remember when Phoenix and you first met and you put me on building duty?"

"How could I forget?"

"Or you, no Death, not you, and I first met?"

"Oh yes. That was…interesting."

"To say the least. How long did it take us to stop baying at each others throats?"

"Quite a while…"

A.N. I'll be without a good internet connection for a while so if I don't update, don't worry. I'm just writing even more. I'm up to Chapter 67 (Fluffy Bunnies) already. Please remember to review, it makes my day!