2001, Pt. 1

The thrum of a motorcycle announced his arrival - or rather his return.

Rogue was the first to greet him - of course - followed closely by others.

"Look who's come back," Storm quipped, coming down the stairs. "And just in time."

"Just in time for what?"

"We need a babysitter."

"A babysitter?"

"Yes."

"Will I get paid?"

She chuckled. "Nice to see you again Logan."

"Hi Logan."

"Jean, Scott."

"Ah, look who comes striding in here like he owns the place." She came down the stairs last, wearing a smile. "Hi Logan."

"Hi Nina."

"How are you?"

Now his focus was solely on her. "I'm great now."

"Logan's going to watch the kids with you," Storm said.

"Oh great, thanks Logan."

"Well I was voluntold. But if you're doing it too, that's fine."

Storm grinned. "I thought so."

"Storm and I are heading to Boston, won't be gone long," Jean explained. "The Professor wants us to track down a mutant who attacked the President."

"So it was a mutant."

"Yeah."

"And how about you, Scott?"

"Errands with the Professor."

"You'll be here when we get back," Jean told him.

"Unless he plans on running off again," Nina put in.

"Oh I can probably think of a few reasons to stick around," Logan responded, looking at her.

Now Jean grinned. "That's what I thought."

He held up the keys to the motorcycle - Scott's motorcycle to be exact - and jingled them. "Oh and Scott, before you go, your bike needs gas." He tossed the man his keys.

Scott swiftly returned them. "Then fill her up."

"We'll see you later." And with that, everyone scattered, off to see to their various duties, their various missions.

That left Nina and Logan alone in the entry hall - only after Bobby dragged Rogue away.

"Bye Logan, I'll see you later!"

"Yeah, see ya, kid."

"You've returned at a busy time," Nina said, feeling a little awkward now that they were alone.

"Yeah, it seems that way. Well-" Logan jingled the keys once more. "You wanna go for a little adventure and take Scott's bike for a spin before we're on the clock?"

She was going to say no, make an excuse about how much she had to prepare for (which was true but...) Then she realized, what would be the harm in it?

And so she agreed and hopped onto the back of Scott's motorcycle behind Logan, tucking her small body against his larger one.

"Hang on, Sweetheart," he said before speeding off.

He took the long route to the gas station, drawing out their time together. Once the bike was once again full of gas they continued their ride, dipping into the trees and away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

They stopped in a clearing and sat chatting for a little while.

"Did you have any luck on your journey?" she asked him.

"Not as much as I'd like. And Charles is adamant that he's not reading my mind."

"It might turn out to be more invasive than you think. But I can understand your frustration." She glanced down at her watch. "We should head back, duty calls. I'll drive this time."

"You'll drive?"

"Yes - oh come on, Logan, you know I've had an extended life. Of course I've learned to ride a motorcycle."

"You never cease to amaze me."

Now it was her turn to smirk. "Hop on, or I'm leaving you behind."

Later, Nina walked with Charles around the grounds, he giving her the scoop on his and Scott's plans with Erik.

"You can never be too careful, not where Erik is concerned." Their old friend always had something up his sleeve.

"Oh trust me, I know, my dear. Would you like me to give him your regards?"

"Of course." She, Charles and Erik, the original trio.

They continued on in companionable silence for a little while before he spoke again. "I sense a nervous excitement now that a certain man has returned."

"Oh, very subtle Charles. Not you too."

"You like him, don't you?"

"I like him, yes. But-" She trailed off.

"Nina, I know that, deep down, and sometimes not so deep down, you've always feared ending up alone. But he has lived extensively as well, and cannot die. Perhaps you should be open to the possibilities."

Such similar thoughts had crossed her mind as well. "We'll see. But right now, we rather have our plates full. Good luck with Erik."

"Thank you, my dear. And good luck with Logan."

Everything turned quiet around lights out. The youngest kids had to be in their rooms by a certain time with lights out, where the older kids had a little more freedom.

"Goodnight Ms. Nova!"

"Goodnight Kitty."

She headed to the library as the mansion descended into quiet. There, she found Rogue already rifling through the shelves of Charles's extensive collection.

"Hi Ms. Nova."

"Evening, Rogue." Nina sat down in her favourite spot by the window.

Suddenly, Rogue spoke up again. "I know it's none of my business, but I think you should go for it," she said. "With Logan."

"It's not just that simple, I'm afraid."

"I know, but you've got this chance and I think you should take it."

"Maybe, but he's not the kind of guy who sticks around Rogue, I mean you know that, you met up with him while he was on the go. We both want different things. It wouldn't be fair to either of us."

"But you have the chance to go for it, to try," the teen insisted. "Bobby and I want to do a lot of things, and we can't..." So this is where this was coming from. "Just don't give yourself the chance to miss out on something." With that, Rogue bid her goodnight and headed to bed.

Mind too occupied to read now, as she headed out of the library herself, Logan seemed to come from the kitchen. "Hey."

"Hi. I had fun this afternoon."

"Yeah, we can do it any time."

"Any time you're here, you mean."

His brow furrowed. "What's that mean?"

"Oh come on, Logan, you never stick around for that long, you know that."

"Well, what if I was to stay?"

"But you wouldn't like that."

"You don't know that. I'd have good reason to stay."

"Look Logan, I like you, I really do, but we are completely different and want different things."

"We can make that work though, can't we?"

She sighed. "Logan-"

But then he was kissing her. He cupped her face in his large hands and leaned down to kiss her. Despite his rough exterior, it was a tender kiss, one that she instantly melted into.

Swept up in it all, she jumped when he suddenly pulled away, stiffening.

"What is it? Is something wrong?" she cried, still in the kiss-fog.

He sniffed the air, eyes darting back and forth. "Something's coming-"

This shook off any lingering affects of the kiss. "Oh my god - the kids!"

The mansion was under attack.

And onto X-2! I'm condensing the timeline as I didn't like them all only coming together again every few years! It will also (hopefully) help make the dark future ('Days of Future Past' and 'Logan') that much more far-seeming.

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed! :)