All Good Things
Chapters 16 through 20
by
Liz Collins



Disclaimer: No, I don't have permission to use Marvel's characters. Yes, I used them anyway. You'll have to stand in line to sue me, so don't even bother. This story is purely the product of my overactive imagination. :)




CHAPTER 16

Damn! Jean flopped across her bed and punched the pillow viciously. What in the world is wrong with me? She knew very well what was wrong. She had no right to intrude on Logan's thoughts. He had every right to be angry with her and she had been fooling herself. Her relationship with Logan could never be like her relationship with Scott had been.

At the thought of Scott, her eyes welled up with tears. How she had missed him! How many times had she called out to him in her mind and not found him there. That's I miss the most, she admitted to herself. Always having him in her thoughts was comforting. It had become her security blanket, a blanket that had been pulled out from underneath her and left her feeling lost.

She wondered if she and Logan could ever be that way. His mind was so different; his emotions were so different; his thoughts full of chaotic imagery of a past that even he could not interpret. But underneath those emotions was a brilliant mind, she told herself. Despite the rough exterior, she knew Logan was actually a lot more intelligent and sensitive than he ever let on. And he loved her. She had to admit she couldn't tell herself otherwise. And she knew in her heart that she loved him.

I can't let him go, she thought to herself. She knew what she had to do. She would have to get a tighter rein on her telepathy. She would try to have a "normal" non-telepathic relationship with Logan, but she would have that relationship no matter what. She would go to him and give herself to him, with no holding back.

Jean overrode the lock on the door to the Danger Room. She stood quietly by, waiting for Logan to notice her. He smelled her immediately and nearly got knocked in the head by a piece of the machinery. Shutting down the program, he walked over to her. His brow was gleaming with perspiration, his hair was wet, and he was breathing heavily. He didn't smile; he didn't speak. He just looked at her. She saw the hurt in his eyes immediately.

She gathered up her courage. "Can we talk?" she asked in a small voice. He nodded at her, still not speaking.

"I've made my decision," she said with as little emotion as possible. Well, here it comes, he thought. He closed his eyes briefly and opened them. She smiled at him hesitatingly.

"I'm sorry, Logan. You were right and I was wrong. Will you forgive me--and let me take you to dinner?"

He nearly had to pick his jaw up off the floor. "Well, I guess that depends on where yer takin' me, darlin'," he quipped, quickly recovering as a smile slowly spread across his face. They met again after changing into something more dressier. For Wolverine, that meant a quick shower and a change into a nice shirt with his boots and jeans, but Jean wore a dress and a sweater. Logan noticed Jean's whole attitude was different. She seemed to be positively glowing. She actually seemed happy.

They went for dinner and a movie, and a walk. Things seemed uncharacteristically quiet in the city. It was almost too perfect. In fact, everything was almost too perfect, Logan thought, reflecting. It was the first time in a long time that everything seemed to be going his way.

They strolled hand in hand, stopping to kiss in front of a lighted fountain. Jean thought Logan kissed her a little less intensely than normal, although it seemed to have the same effect on her as it always did. After a few moments he stopped kissing her and she opened her eyes.

He had a mischievous look in his eye. "So, Ms. Grey, are you ready to get serious?"

She smiled at him, equally mischievously. "Could be," she said. Logan wasn't sure, but he thought his heart skipped a beat.

When they got back to his room, Logan kicked off his boots, took off his shirt, and flopped down on the unmade bed. There wasn't a chair, so Jean took off her shoes and sat on the other side of the bed. The room was dark, except for the faint light of the small lamp on the nightstand. A warm breeze fluttered the curtains.

"I love this kind of weather. It makes everything seem kind of magical," Jean said, looking out the window. She heard the faint sound of music playing somewhere.

"I had a real nice time, tonight, Jean." Logan rolled over and propped his head up on one elbow.

"Me, too," she said smiling at him. "One of the best ever." So far, so good, she encouraged herself.

"It can get even better," he said. "C'mere, darlin'." He patted the sheet next to him. Come on, she thought. This is your chance. Don't mess it up this time.

She clamped a lid shut on her telepathic abilities. She wouldn't read his thoughts; she wouldn't send him any. She could do this. This is how it is for everybody else all the time, she told herself.

She stretched out next to him, and started to feel the by now familiar attraction. He gathered her close, and then rolled over, pulling her on top of him. They lay together kissing, treasuring the emotions and physical sensations, each of them becoming more aroused with each passionate kiss.

Jean began to run her fingers through the hair on his chest. As she did, she heard him make a low growling noise in his throat. He moved his hands from her shoulders and waist and started unbuttoning the front of her dress. She had half expected him to tear the buttons off. She was surprised that his touch was actually quite gentle.

Her skin was so soft and she was so beautiful. Logan found his breath coming shorter and shorter. Gotta slow down and take it easy, buddy, he told himself. He was having difficulty taking his own advice. She excited him like no one else.

Jean was excited too. She couldn't help it. She wanted more. She found herself reaching out to him with her mind as well as her body. She felt the sudden rush of his raw emotions entering her head and tried to tone down her own receptivity to it. His physical desire for her was almost overpowering. But underneath that she sensed his love for her, a love that she knew was strong and true.

Logan felt that warm tickling sensation again in the back of his brain. It felt oddly comforting and disconcerting at the same time. He rolled over again, guiding her underneath him, still kissing her with that unmistakable hunger. She felt good against him. His jeans were rapidly becoming too tight and he couldn't keep from rubbing himself against her. He felt her pressing hard against him, encouraging him to continue. He started pulling her dress up with one hand. Her skin was as soft as he had imagined it, and her thigh felt hot against his hand.

He groaned in anticipation, but it sounded more like a growl. Her eyelids suddenly snapped open and she stared wide-eyed at him. He moved his hand to caress the side of her face.

"Aw, Jeannie, I ain't gonna hurt ya," he whispered to her. There was a brief moment of uncertainty, replaced by her smile.

"I know," she whispered. He kissed her again. He still felt that strange warm feeling in the back of his mind. Her response made him quite aware of her desire for him. It nearly doubled his own desire. He took his weight off her, fumbled quickly with his belt buckle and started unbuttoning his jeans. Her dress was almost up to her hips already; it was gonna be so easy, so sweet...

Before he reached the last button, he felt something snap in his mind. He was momentarily thrown off balance, as Jean shot up and sat there breathing hard. He hit the mattress with a heavy sigh and a clenched fist.

"Logan." It was a single word. He didn't want to look at her. He forced himself to sit up. Her face didn't show any emotion for a moment. She turned to him.

"Logan, we've got to talk," she said with a troubled look.

He suddenly got off the bed, went over to the dresser and started rifling through the drawers. "I shoulda done this right the first time," he mumbled. He finally plopped back on the bed. He had something in his hand that Jean couldn't see.

He took her hand and started pulling off her wedding and engagement ring. She opened her mouth to protest, but he put a finger to his lips and shook his head. He slipped them on the finger of her other hand. He took her left hand in his again.

He looked in her eyes and almost down to her soul as he slipped the ring on her finger. She looked down. It was an antique band, made of white and pink gold, with tiny flowers engraved on it. She looked at him in amazement.

"I bought this for you a while ago. I was just kinda waitin' til the time was right. I want us to be together for the rest of our lives, however long that might be. I really love you, Jeannie." He was holding her hand tightly. His grip was almost crushing it.

"So, what d'ya say?" She felt his anxiety and she realized he was really afraid she was going to deny him. If he only knew her hesitation resulted from other fears!

"Yes," she finally said, with tears in her eyes and reached out to him.

He held onto her, finally feeling like she wasn't beyond his grasp. Their eyes finally met again. He smiled at her mischievously and ran his eyes over her body. Her dress was still hiked up to reveal her shapely thighs and he could plainly see her breasts against her lacy bra. "Are you gonna let me make love to you tonight or what?" He kissed her lips and then her neck. His hair tickled her face. "I'm gonna go completely nuts if you don't. You know I'm the best at what I do," he growled at her playfully. And then much more seriously he added, "And I promise I ain't gonna hurt ya."

But Jean broke away from him and still looked troubled. "It's not me I'm worried about," she said softly. "It's you."

"Me?" He looked at her incredulously. "I hate to disappoint ya, darlin', but after 80-some years, I'm hardly a virgin."

"Be serious for a change!" she exclaimed.

"My god, Jean, what IS it?" She felt his concern and it warmed her heart.

She sighed. "It's me. Most people think telepathy is a wonderful gift, but the hardest part about it is not reading other people's thoughts or projecting your own. It takes a lot of concentration. It's something I can't maintain...in certain situations. I especially have a hard time when I'm with you, when we're--" She looked terribly embarrassed.

"I thought I felt something a couple of times before and just now," he said. "It ain't so bad."

"That's just the tip of the iceberg," she explained.

"Oh," he said, for lack of anything else to say.

She looked and felt so vulnerable. She was usually such a strong person, which was one of the reasons Logan was so attracted to her. He wanted to tell her everything was going to be all right, but he couldn't yet.

"Now, darlin', you know walkin' through my head ain't exactly a picnic in the park. There's a lot of ugliness in there you don't wanna see. Trust me. My mind's so messed up, I don't even know which memories and real and which aren't." He looked down, wishing it wasn't true.

"I know, " she said. "I was afraid you'd feel it was a violation of privacy. I didn't want to force anything on you. But, damn it, Logan, I need it as much as the physical, maybe even more. I can't have a "normal" relationship. I'd always want more." So I've finally admitted it to myself, she thought.

He looked down for a moment, thinking, and then raised his head and looked her squarely in the eyes. "Darlin', is that what's been buggin' ya all this time?"

She nodded, and hung her head as the tears overflowed her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. She was actually almost laughing with relief at the same time. To her surprise, Logan just laughed. "It isn't funny!" she protested, as she continued to laugh and cry at the same time.

"Do you know what I thought?" he finally asked her. "Of course you do."

"That I didn't love you?" she answered.

"Yeah," he said, suddenly very serious. "I thought maybe you were just hangin' with me because ya were so lonesome."

"I do love you, Logan." It was the first time she'd said it. "And I have for a long time."

He grinned at her. "Well, I should hope so. You just agreed to marry me." He took her hand and drew it very slowly to his brow. His statement turned serious. "I'm all yours, darlin'". She knew exactly what he meant, and let out a deep breath of relief.

"I just wish I didn't have to put all this on you." She looked only slightly less miserable than before.

He smiled faintly at her. "Well, maybe you should think about what you're gettin' into as well," he said.

She laughed. "I'm not afraid of you, Logan. If you get out of line, I'll just knock you across the street."

He laughed. "That ain't what I'm talking about, Jean. In case ya forgot, I'm a mutant, too." He cleared his throat. "I am the best at what I do," he smiled nervously, "but I think you should know my plumbing ain't exactly standard issue." He paused for a moment and looked down. "It's not like I've had a lotta complaints, but you should know it probably ain't what yer used to."

"Now there's a surprise," Jean deadpanned. She noticed the tips of his ears were turning pink and she realized he was actually embarrassed.

He half-chuckled. "And once I get started, it's hard to stop," he said with just tinge of pride, "so if you get tired darlin', just let me know, eh?"

"Just shut up and kiss me," she giggled and kissed him. He returned her kiss, relieved. They clung to each other with a renewed passion.

From the start, Logan felt Jean's presence in his mind. It started out as the same faint tickle as they laid back down on the bed. Logan unbuttoned Jean's dress the rest of the way and slid it off her. He thought her body looked beautiful and felt even better. He quickly got rid of his jeans and threw them on the floor. There was soon nothing but thin material between them, and their bodies felt like they were burning against each other.

They explored each other. He quickly unhooked her bra and tossed it across the room. Her breasts were large and firm and her skin was soft to the touch. She responded to his touch and kissed him so hard it almost hurt, which turned him on even more.

He felt her hand trace his chest, then his stomach, as it disappeared under the waistband of his briefs. She felt him tense up and momentarily hesitated as his hand stopped hers. Funny, he thought to himself, he'd never worried about being "different" before. If any of his past partners had had their doubts, he was certain his subsequent performance had taken care of them.

But Jean was different. He didn't want her to be disappointed or, worse yet, repulsed by him. He slowly took her hand and moved it downwards. What she found was only slightly out of the ordinary. Totally erect, his penis couldn't have measured more than four and a half inches long, but it was very thick and very hard. She noticed immediately that he wasn't circumcised; she realized it probably would have been impossible with his healing factor. The entire shaft of his penis was covered with soft, baby-fine hairs, which didn't surprise her considering the thick, coarse hair covering the rest of his body. He groaned as she gently began to massage him.

Moments later, he moved her hand and pulled the fleshy foreskin back from the head of his penis. Well, he definitely is different, Jean reflected as she stroked the smooth, wet flesh beneath, which came more to a tapered, point rather than a normal, rounded head. Her touch was driving him crazy. He stopped her again as he pulled his underwear off and peeled her lacy panties down as well. He gathered her close once again, feeling her erect nipples and her warm breasts against his chest. His hand reached between her legs and he felt her wetness and warmth. He was grateful for his years of experience; he knew exactly what buttons to push and how. He felt Jean begin to moan and writhe with his touch and he knew she was ready for him.

Soon Logan was on top of her. Jean felt a welcome pressure between her legs as he penetrated her. He groaned so loudly she was afraid he would come right there and then. As their bodies merged, their minds rushed to meet each other and the trickle Logan felt earlier turned into a waterfall of emotions and images. He thought it was the strangest sensation he had ever felt but he rather enjoyed it; the other sensations he was feeling were definitely far from unpleasant.

Inside Logan's mind, Jean felt for the first time the full extent of his powerful sexual hunger and almost insatiable desire. She saw that, for most of his life, those desires had gone unsatisfied. She knew he could have easily ripped her to shreds with his overwhelming passion. Instead, he controlled the animalistic nature inside him and just loved her from his heart.

With her, he was almost gentle and although he was extremely passionate, she thought he was even tender. Funny, she had never before imagined that Logan could ever be tender to anyone doing anything. The way he moved inside her drove her crazy. He definitely lacked nothing in his ability to please her and seemed to be reading her mind when it came to what to do.

But he was not quiet. With almost every movement, he either groaned or growled, and Jean was moaning quite loudly as well, arching her back, and acting like a wild thing herself. She'd never felt like this with anyone, not even with Scott, well, especially not with Scott.

When they finally came together, Logan absolutely roared and Jean heard something ripping and tearing. She realized the claws on his right hand had come out and torn through the pillow, the sheet, the mattress, and part of the bedsprings. His other hand was still gently clutching her shoulder. They were both gasping for breath.

He raised up and surveyed the damage. "Well," he said, sheepishly, "I ain't never done that before." She looked at him and giggled. He was grinning, relieved that she wasn't shocked.



CHAPTER 17

The sound of the phone in his room woke Logan. Squinting in the sunlight, he reached over and flipped the ringer off. He definitely did not want to be disturbed. On the other side of the bed, Jean murmured and turned over. He scooted closer to her, and put his arm around her, marvelling at his good fortune to wake up with the woman of his dreams still in his bed. He laid there listening to her uneven breathing, smiling to himself.

Suddenly he heard a loud thumping on his door. Cursing under his breath, he pulled on a pair of sweats and carefully opened the door a crack to see Gambit in the hallway.

"Get lost, Gumbo," he growled.

"Don' tell me, tell 'Roro. You got your phone turned off or somethin'?" Gambit started to push his way into the room, but Logan was immovable.

"What gives, mon ami?"

"I got company," Logan said just as gruffly as before, jerking his head toward the bed.

"Ah..." Remy winked knowingly at Logan as he stepped back. "Sorry to interrupt, but Stormy wants you ASAP."

"Fine, I'll be there. Now get lost."

Remy told himself he didn't mean to be nosy, but he did have the advantage of height and he couldn't resist glancing over Logan's head at the sleeping figure in the bed. He saw the long mane of red hair, and at that particular moment, the woman in the bed rolled over towards the door.

"Mon Dieu! Is that Jean Gr--" His exclamation was cut short by the ever so slight pressure of three very sharp claws beneath his chin. He didn't move.

"You tell anybody and you're gonna be breathing out yer neck, Cajun. Do I make myself clear?"

"Absolutely," Gambit gulped. "Your secret's safe wit' me. I'll tell Storm you be along shortly, no?" Remy hurried down the hall, shaking his head and smiling to himself.

Logan closed the door and turned around to find Jean sitting up with the blankets nestled around her, smiling at him.

"Defending my honor, were you?" she laughed. "I'm a grown woman, Logan. I couldn't care less what Remy thinks. It's not like he has any room to talk."

Logan just shrugged his shoulders at her. All he said was, "You heard the man. I gotta go to work." He headed towards the shower. Jean sat in the bed, thinking and smiling to herself as she heard the sound of water running. Last night had started a whole new phase of her life, a phase that she felt very much at peace with now that certain issues between Logan and her had finally been resolved.

She was still smiling when Logan emerged from the shower. She continued smiling at him as she watched him pull on the familiar blue and gold uniform. It was starting to unnerve Logan. "Well, don't you just look like the cat that swallowed the canary?"

"I'm happy," she explained simply. He sat down on the edge of the bed. He patted the blanket where her knees were sticking up.

"I'm happy, too, Jeannie," he said quietly. "Real happy." She thought she saw a new sparkle in his eyes.

"I love you, Logan."

"I love you, too, Jean." The kiss was brief, but the sensation lingered.

"Sorry, darlin', I gotta go to work. Make yourself at home and I'll see ya when I get back." He leaned over and gave her another quick kiss before he headed out the door.



CHAPTER 18

Jean didn't see Logan for three days. The next time she saw him, he was coming down the steps of the Blackbird, heavily supported by Gambit. His side was bandaged, his uniform was in tatters and covered with blood. Whether it was his or someone else's, Jean had no way of knowing.

"Logan! What in the world happened?"

"Oh, nothing the ol' mutant healing factor can't take care of. Ya sure are a sight for sore eyes, Red."

Jean leaned over and kissed him.

Gambit made a face at her. "Please, no' in front of the petite!"

Jubilee, who was circling in the background, just stuck her tongue out at him. Just about everyone, including the Professor, was present to meet the returning team, and depending on who knew what, they either smiled or gawked at Jean and Logan.

"Well," Logan drawled slowly, "I guess me an' Jean have an announcement to make."

The news was received positively by everyone, including Jubilee, who even gave Jean a big hug. "You better take good care of my Wolvie!" she warned.

"I hate to break up the party," Logan sighed tiredly, "but I want a shower, a sandwich, and some sleep, in that order."

It was sometime the next day when Logan finally awakened. His mutant healing factor had no problem healing his wounds, but it had left him feeling weak and tired. He was hungry again and he was anxious to see Jean.

He heard a faint knock at his door and he heard her voice in his mind. "Come on in, darlin'," he called out to her. She opened the door and came in with a breakfast tray.

"I love having a telepath around. Breakfast and Jeannie; what more could I ask for?" he grinned at her.

"Just don't get too used to it," she warned. "Because I'm not serving you breakfast in bed every morning."

"Well, you're no fun," he mumbled with his mouth full of eggs. He swallowed. "Thank you, Jean. This is very nice." He took another bite. "So when are you going to let me make an honest woman out of you?"

"Any time you want," she answered. "If it's all the same to you, I'd rather have a small wedding, just the X-MEN and maybe a few friends and family. I don't want a big extravaganza like last time. I...hope you understand. I want this to be different."

"I don't go in for big parties myself," he said understanding her perfectly. She didn't want a wedding like the one she'd had when she married Scott. That made him glad.

"And I'd like to do it as soon as possible. Scott and I...We wasted so much of our time together. I don't want to do that with you."

"We won't," he reassured her. "So where do you want to go for your honeymoon? You know I've got some money; I can take you anywhere you want to go."

"Actually," she said shyly, "I want to go camping."

"What, are you serious?" he asked incredulously.

She nodded. "I'm tired of being cooped up inside all the time. I'd like to go to the mountains and see all the fall colors."

"You've got a deal," he said, thinking he'd lucked out in more than one respect. "What's it take, three days to get all the paperwork straightened out?"

Jean nodded.

"That'll make it Wednesday or Thursday. What if we put something together for next Sunday and then take that whole week and maybe the next...Are you gonna be done with your monthly thing by next weekend?" he asked matter-of-factly.

"How did you know?" she asked incredulously, her face flushing.

"Darlin', I can tell when every woman in this house is having their period. No offense, but you all smell different."

"None taken, I'm sure," Jean said, pretending to be deeply offended. "Next weekend should be fine."

"Well, at least we know we didn't make any kids the other night, which we probably ought to talk about," he said pushing the tray away. "I wouldn't mind being a father some day, but I'd rather give it some time."

"That's just how I feel," Jean said. "Don't worry. Fortunately, I never quit takin those cute little pills."



CHAPTER 19

The walk to the hot spring was just a little over two miles, but to Logan and Jean it was definitely going to be worth it. They were both in desperate need of bathing after two days of hiking, camping, and lovemaking. It was an unseasonably warm evening, and a gentle breeze was blowing.

Logan inhaled deeply taking in all the scents of the woods. It smelled good to him. It smelled like home, although the air was much too warm. His keen senses picked up on every sound, the rustling of the leaves and the scurrying of the wild animals as he and Jean made their way down the overgrown path. He was feeling very alive and rather wild tonight. His thoughts kept returning to his earliest memories of running in the forest, what good times he had had, how free he had been. He almost felt like that now, except for the shorts he was wearing and the pack of clothes he was carrying. And, of course, Jean was there.

All those years of running around in the woods, living with the animals had been great, except for one thing. When he was young, he had watched the animals as they mated and bore young with longing and desire. In his those days, there had never been anyone like him; All the other male animals attracted and won over their mates, but there was never anyone for him. Despite all his other memory losses, he remembered that feeling quite plainly, and for some reason the smells and sounds of this forest were bringing that feeling back to him.

Jean had been unusually quiet all the way there. She was tired and was thinking about how good a warm hot spring bath was going to feel. But she was also feeling a little playful. When they reached the water's edge, she waited until Logan stopped to undress; then she wandered off a few feet, turned her back to him, and started to do an exaggerated strip tease act. She slowly pulled her t-shirt off, arching her back and turning just slightly to reveal one of her perfect breasts. She then took off each boot and sock as slowly and provocatively as she could, and then finally shimmied out of her shorts and undies, bending over slightly to expose her firm, rounded behind.

Before she had time to turn around to check Logan's reaction, she felt one heavily-muscled arm grab her around the waist, and she nearly jumped out of her skin. She had forgotten Logan could move that fast. She felt his other arm slip around her front, just below her collarbone. He had a tight grip on her, almost too tight of a grip; she could barely breathe, let alone move. He began licking and kissing her neck and shoulders quite aggressively. He was totally naked, definitely had an erection, and he was pushing it hard against her smooth, firm buttocks.

At first, Jean was a little startled and then very excited. But his fierce grip on her arms was actually starting to hurt, and her neck was becoming very tender from his pointed teeth raking against it. Jean wasn't sure how Logan was going to react to her little display, but she wasn't quite sure this was the response she had been after.

Logan, meanwhile had completely taken leave of his senses and was operating on sheer instinct alone. Suddenly, he pushed Jean to her knees and then forward onto her stomach on the ground, effectively pinning her arms beneath her. He quickly forced her legs apart with his knee and she had no doubt what was coming next.

Although his kisses had aroused her, Jean was far from ready, and she cried out, but she didn't resist him. He proceeded to pound against her with swift, powerful strokes and Jean was afraid he was going to push her right into the ground. She wondered what the hell was wrong with him; the other two nights they had spent together that week had been much like their first night together--passionate, but definitely not violent. Now, however, Logan wasn't being any too civilized or gentle about what he was doing, and Jean almost felt like she had no control over the situation.

As soon as she could gather her wits about her, Jean forced her mind into his chaotic thoughts. Logan was oblivious to her intrusion; Jean was overwhelmed by one word racing through his mind--"Mine!" His thought patterns were filled by an unfathomable need to possess her; he had finally found the mate he had sought for. Now he had to take her before someone else did; had to show that she was the one he had chosen.

Jean understood that this was something part of his psyche needed; something beyond his control. She could have easily put an end to his behavior telepathically or telekinetically, but she decided against it. She realized that he really didn't mean to hurt her, and probably didn't even realize that he was. She had to admit that despite her discomfort, his raw passion excited her. She was actually starting to relax and a few moments later she actually climaxed, but her flesh was fast becoming raw and sore.

Logan ejaculated several times, but his penis remained just as stiff as before and he showed no signs of stopping his assault on her. Soon Jean began to feel more than slightly uncomfortable. She could hardly breathe with Logan's weight on her; her arm was twisted awkwardly underneath her, and she hadn't exactly landed in a soft spot. There were rocks, twigs, and all kinds of prickly objects underneath her, and she could feel a insect bite forming near her navel. Her hair had fallen in front of her face, so that even if she could have raised her head up, she wouldn't have been able to see a thing. And she was quite sure she wasn't going to be able to sit down for at least a week.

Luckily, minutes later a rather large doe jumped nearby, skittishly thrashing through the fallen leaves. She could barely hear it herself, but Logan's keen senses picked up on it immediately and he snapped out of his trance. He suddenly released her and sat up.

Jean rolled over with a groan, wiping her matted hair from her eyes. Her face was dirty and she was scraped and bruised from being forced against the uneven ground. And she was shivering uncontrollably. As she slowly started to sit up, Logan realized the full extent of what had happened. He had lost it; the "animal" part of him had taken control, and this is what it had done--what he had done--to his beloved Jeannie.

He could barely look her in the face, but she was sitting there shivering like she was waiting for him to say something. What could he say? He buried his face in his hands.

"God, Jean, I'm sorry," was all he could manage. He was sorry, but most of all he was angry because he had broken his promise to her. He had told her he would never hurt her, and less than two weeks later he had gone back on his word.

"I'm okay, Logan. I'm just tired and cold and I want that bath, okay?" she said quietly as she stood up and started toward the water. He followed her, warily. She seemed more exhausted than angry, but still, she didn't speak as she stepped into the warm water and proceeded to wash.

The water felt good, but Logan kept his distance from her and also said nothing. He was too busy mentally chastising himself for what he had allowed to happen. He was not that animal, he told himself. It was only part of him, a part that he thought he had gotten under control, but which had apparently come back to haunt him at the worst possible time.

Back at the campsite, they still didn't talk much. Jean was ready to crawl in the sleeping bag, but Logan made some excuse about doing something to the fire. A few hours later, Jean woke up and realized he still had not come to bed. She sat up and could see him sitting on a large rock by the fire, sipping the last of the coffee from the thermos. The breeze had picked up considerably during the night and Jean slipped on some sweats and added one of Logan's flannel shirts over her own before venturing outside. He wasn't surprised to see her; he had heard her stirring in the tent.

"Are you going to come to bed?" she asked quietly, standing over him. He took the last sip of coffee and looked up at her.

"Don't know whether or not I should," he said, screwing the cup back on the thermos. Jean didn't have to be a telepath to know he was upset; she could feel his emotions hanging in the air like a thick smoke. She sat down, intertwining both her arms around him. He didn't make any move towards her.

"I never meant to hurt ya, Jeannie," he said quietly, staring into the fire. "And I can't tell ya how sorry I am it happened."

"I know," she answered, soothingly. "I'm not angry with you. I know who you are and I love you."

"But I hurt you. And I coulda hurt you a lot worse. How am I gonna trust myself around you? How can you trust me?" He angrily spat the words. He didn't want to think about her being hurt at all, least of all by him.

"Did you ever stop to think that I could have stopped you at any time?" she asked matter-of-factly. He had to admit he hadn't.

"I let you do what you needed to do. I have to admit I'm a little sore and tired, but it wasn't so bad," she smiled. "I'm not as fragile as you think, Logan. Really. Now come on and come to bed. I'm freezing."

They climbed into the sleeping bag with their clothes on and Jean snuggled up against him and promptly fell asleep. Logan laid there for the rest of the night, thinking.

They got up early and started packing up the camping equipment. Logan was still angry at himself and quiet, but Jean seemed to be in a good mood and acted as though nothing was different between them. They had planned to move to a different part of the park, but Logan sniffed the air and announced it was going to rain. Although they wouldn't complain if they hadto do it, neither Jean nor Logan relished the thought of sitting in a two-man tent in the rain for any length of time, especially now that the air had turned colder. They decided instead to head back toward the Jeep, and drive into one of the nearby towns to find a hotel and a some good food.

Late that afternoon they found a small inn that just happened to have a "honeymoon suite", complete with fireplace, Jacuzzi tub, and room service. Eating was definitely first on the agenda, and they both enjoyed a non-campfire cooked dinner.

Logan had just settled into the tub and lit a cigar when Jean came into the bathroom with a bottle of champagne. She had already undressed and was wearing a very sexy bathrobe which didn't leave much to the imagination. She had her hair pinned up on top of her head, but wisps of it were already starting to work their way loose down around her face.

"I was beginning to wonder what was keepin' ya, darlin'," he drawled, smiling at her.

"Well," she said with a slightly wicked grin, "I wasn't sure if I really wanted to come in here considering what happened last time I tried to take a bath with you."

His smile faded. "That ain't very damn funny, Jean," he said, turning away to crush the end of the cigar into the ashtray resting precariously on the corner of the tub.

"If you think you owe me an apology, then I accept it," she said, turning slightly as she let the robe slip from her shoulders. Yep, definitely a natural redhead, he thought as she slid into the tub across from him.

Logan's desire for her was overshadowed by his memories of the previous night. Guilt was not a feeling he was used to dealing with. He usually separated issues in his mind into clear-cut black or white, which usually helped in eliminating any later musings or misgivings. This was different, however.

He wanted to make things up to Jean, and he wanted desperately to hold her like he had the first night, but he wondered how he was going to be able to do that without feeling like a total hypocrite.

"I think I owe ya more than an apology, Jeannie," he finally said at last.

"You don't owe me anything, Logan," she said, smiling reassuringly at him. "However, there is something I would like to do for you, if you'll let me."

He raised an eyebrow at her in a question.

"What's that?" he asked suspiciously.

"Just sit back and relax," she said soothingly.

"Darlin', this is as relaxed as I get sittin' in a Jacuzzi tub with a beautiful naked woman," he said, gaping at her unapologetically.

Jean was a little nervous about what she had planned, but she smiled at the compliment. He didn't look too bad himself, she thought. The water made his plentiful body hair look darker and curlier. His sculpted muscles both complimented and contrasted with his short, stocky build. But she had to admit what she found most attractive was his eyes and his hair.

His hair was a beautiful blue-black color. It was course and thick, and extremely unruly, but it was also very soft to the touch. And it was getting long again, she noticed. She knew he cut his hair constantly, but the mutant healing factor just kept growing it back as quickly as ever each time.

His eyes, though, were her favorite thing. She wondered if she liked them so much because she had never been able to look into Scott's eyes because of his inability to control his optic blasts. She thought maybe Logan's eyes truly were the window to his soul. There was no lack of sincerity there, no games to play. With him what you saw was definitely what you got.

She concentrated on his eyes as she moved into his thoughts, into his mind. She went past the superficial, past the blocked memories, deeper than she had ever dared to go.

Pain. Searing red-hot pain unlike anything she had ever felt or experienced before.

No! screamed Logan's conscious mind. Don't go in there!

Trust me, the calm voice of her mind echoed in his.

Trust her! He thought it more likely that he should killher for what she was doing to his mind. She was ripping and tearing and twisting his brain completely inside out. He was totally lost inside his rage and pain when he felt it, like a cool, soothing salve seeping down over his soul. He embraced it. It was only a tiny thread which couldn't begin to cover its intended target, yet it was healing for a part of him he had thought could never be healed.

Don't leave, his mind cried out at he felt her presence slowly retreating. He blinked and shook his head to clear it and realized that sometime during all this Jean had climbed onto his lap and that her head was rolling against his shoulder. He realized then that she had probably fainted, which didn't surprise him considering the mental gymnastics she had just pulled off. She was breathing evenly, however, and he was sure that she was only physically exhausted, an unfortunate side effect that seemed to accompany her TP/TK powers.

He held her there in his arms until he noticed the goosebumps forming on her skin. She had begun to toss her head and mumble a few minutes before, and he decided to try to rouse her.

"Jeannie," he said quietly, shaking her shoulders gently.

"Huh?" she murmured, her eyelids fluttering. She wasn't quite alert.

"Listen, darlin', we gotta get outta this tub before we turn into a couple o' prunes."

"Okay," she said, her speech definitely slurred. She made an effort to get up, but didn't go anywhere.

Logan got her out of the tub, wrapped her up in one of the plush, oversized towels, and and carried her toward the bed.

"Carrying me over the threshold?" she joked weakly. She was looking slightly better, he decided.

They ditched the towels snuggled up together under the voluminous comforter. Logan looked across the pillow at Jean. "That was a really nice thing ya did back there, Jeannie."

"It wasn't anything, really," she sighed softly. "I just wanted to see if I could take away some of the hurt you're carrying around inside." She moved closer and kissed him, and then kissed him again, longer and more passionately.

"Guess you're feelin' better," he said between breaths.

"Not as good as you're going to," she said with a wicked laugh. She ran her fingers lightly down his stomach and and began caressing his already hard penis, eliciting a small growl of pleasure from him.

"I want you," she breathed heavily. "Please--like the first night."

"Darlin', you got me," he grinned, more than willing to accommodate her.

He kissed her and touched her as gently and tenderly as he'd ever been and moved inside her as slowly as he could, although he had to grit his teeth more than once to maintain control. In the end, however, it was Jean who was begging for it harder and faster, and he lost it within a matter of minutes. I guess mutant healing factors are good for somethin', he thought as he continued without interruption until he heard her cries of ecstasy and felt her nails digging into his back.

That was great, her voice said inside his mind. Can we do it again?

I've died and gone to heaven, Logan thought as he rolled over and pulled her on top of him.



CHAPTER 20

It was a dark and stormy night if she'd ever seen one, Jean thought as she tossed and turned yet another time. Her psi-senses were on red-alert and every inch of her hair seemed to be standing on end. She was sensitive to the changes in the astral plane and she wasn't sure what was going on tonight, but she knew something was definitely in the air.

A foot across the bed, Logan was snoring peacefully. She envied his ability to sleep through the wind and rain, but she was glad for his presence. She really needed to sleep, she told herself. The past few months since she had rejoined the X-team had been particularly turbulent and she knew that every one of them was exhausted.

There was a brilliant flash of lightning followed by the deafening roar of thunder and Jean felt the room tilt slightly. An earthquake? she thought. Surely not in Westchester County. Suddenly her head was full of voices, one of them clearer than the rest.

"I'm just going down to the Danger Room. I'll be back in an hour. Love you." Jean felt an icy chill run through her as she heard his long-still voice in her head. It was simply impossible, she told herself. Still, she couldn't stop herself. Scott? she called out with her mind.

What's the matter, honey? came the response, as clear as a bell. The room tilted again and Jean bolted upright with a huge gasp. "Oh, my god," she breathed over and over.

Logan jerked and was out of the bed in a second, ready for anything. Finding no obvious threat, he quickly retracted his claws and climbed back in the bed next to Jean, who was still hyper-ventilating.

"What was it, darlin'? Another nightmare?"

She shook her head. "It was Scott. He was here. I heard his voice in my head."

"Sssh, darlin'. It's okay. It was just a dream," he said, putting his arms around her.

"No, Logan," she said icily. "I was wide awake."

"We've all been workin' too hard. It's no wonder our minds are startin' to play tricks on us."

"I'm telling you, I did not imagine it!" After a few minutes she gave up. Logan simply did not believe her, and she wasn't sure she would have either had their positions been reversed. By the next morning, she wasn't sure her mind hadn't been playing tricks on her.



CHAPTERS:   1 - 5   6 - 10   11 - 15   16 - 20   21 - 23




All references to characters belonging to the X-Men Universe are (c) and TM the Marvel Comics Group, 20th Century Fox and all related entities. All rights reserved. Any reproduction, duplication or distribution of these materials in any form is expressly prohibited. No money is being made from this archive. All images are also (c) and TM the Marvel Comics Group, 20th Century Fox and all related entities; they are not mine. This website, its operators and any content used on this site relating to the X-Men are not authorized by Marvel, Fox, etc. I am not, nor do I claim to be affiliated with any of these entities in any way.