"What are your thoughts on Logan's statement, Rogue?" Storm asked after a moment. She had seemed to be the most open-minded about this situation, and both hoped this wasn't an indication she may be changing her mind.
"I agree with Logan," Marie started, "I need to be settled somewhere where I can prepare for the baby, I would like that to be here so I can finish school, I'm so close it would be annoying and unnecessarily stressful to try and change schools now, and there is a mutant-friendly doctor on site and on call for any pregnancy issues or complications. As far as I can tell it's a win-win all around, the only objection appears to be that someone can't get over their own personal issues with my fiancé, who they don't even know, and believes me to be a brainless slut," she finished coolly, glaring at Scott.
He had the good decency to redden in shame before trying to justify himself by saying, “I just think you can do better than a backwoods bar brawler who's twice your age and then some, there's plenty of nice boys around here who would be much better for you than 'him'."
"You're assuming I want a 'boy'," Marie scoffed, "Why the hell would I want a sweaty palmed school boy who still hasn't even figured out what college major to go for, when I have a man who cares for me enough to sacrifice his own life for me, put his own wants on hold for me, and worships the goddamn ground I walk on? ... Well? ... Which of these wimpy little twits, who obviously don't care about me enough to even man up and tell me to my face, have you picked out for me? And do I get a say in that choice?"
"Well... Bobby really likes you, he seemed to think you two were getting close," Scott replied.
"Bobby? That the blonde kid from this morning?" Logan asked Marie, who had started laughing at Scott's comment. She nodded in reply, recalling his chilly reaction to Logan at breakfast – funnily enough it was completely unrelated to his mutation.
"Scott," Marie stated, having decided that this was not a student to teacher meeting so she was going to address him as the fellow adult that he was. "I don't know what gave Bobby the idea we were 'getting close', apparently me repeatedly turning down his offers of dates, and refusing his gifts, hadn't been sinking in. I have no interest in Bobby, not least of all because I know there is at least one other girl who is crushing on him and I think they would be great together, but Bobby and I have absolutely nothing in common with each other, sometimes I can't even stand being in the same room as him, admittedly that's probably mostly due to the creepy, desperately trying to get me to go on a date with him vibe, but that's beside the point, also, in what universe does Bobby rival Logan?" she finished off incredulously, earning a giggle from both Jean and Ororo, and a smug grin from Logan.
"Possible other suitors aside my dear, did you say 'fiancé' previously?" Xavier suddenly queried.
"Yes, I did," Marie answered, noting all eyes moving to her left hand which was tucked away out of sight wrapped in Logan's much larger hand. He smugly turned their hands over so the flashy ring was on display, earning at least one surprised gasp, and just a vague hint of jealousy from the only other woman in the room he knew to be engaged.
There were brief compliments from the women on the ring, and even congratulations from Ororo - it seemed she was still on their side after all - before the conversation again returned to the school, or more specifically Logan and Marie's living arrangements in it.
"Ordinarily I would not condone cohabitation on the school grounds, however, I believe you both have valid points around the logistics of Rogue's continuing education and upcoming medical needs, in light of the fact your, union, is as official and legal as it can be at this point in time I will allow you to live together... as our only other engaged couple do," he added, specifically avoiding Scott's glare as Jean smiled sweetly, and placed a placating hand on her fiancé’s arm.
"In the interests of having Rogue settled and prepared for her birth and motherhood as soon as possible, there is a two bedroom suite at the end of the teachers wing that is available, you can move into it as soon as the cleaners have been through it thoroughly, it has been some time since it was occupied last. I trust that for Rogue and the child's sake, at the very least, any other personal thoughts on this situation can remain just that, thoughts only, and that my teachers will remain intact," Xavier finished, with a glance each at Scott and Logan.
Logan agreed immediately, Scott grudgingly assented, when his fiancée jabbed him in the ribs. The Professor didn't think he should push his luck trying to get the men to shake on it, so instead declared the meeting over. He would re-call Scott shortly to speak to him in private, the younger man's concerns were, as far as Xavier could tell, entirely without merit. Both Logan and Marie really did appear to love each other, in their own reserved way. Neither were into large public displays of affection, or opening up about their personal lives but still, with them now together openly he couldn't believe he had missed the signs earlier.
As the meeting broke up Logan stood and thanked the Professor, shaking his hand solemnly. "I'll also add I don't intend to freeload while I'm here, I'm not a teacher but pretty much anything else I can do," he offered.
"I would have considered your offer unnecessary Logan, I am aware of the sizeable sum you donated to the school after Rogue's arrival, despite your efforts to conceal its origin, and I thank you for that, however, our regular maintenance man has been forced into early retirement, I would offer the position to you while you remain here, in addition to your lodging there would be a small salary," Xavier offered. He would like to keep Logan busy while he was here, if only to reduce the likelihood of he and Scott coming to blows. "I would also ask, despite your claims to not be a teacher, if you could perhaps take a small class of students over the summer for some survival training," he added.
Logan accepted the maintenance position but declined the salary, before querying the survival class. He liked the idea but it would depend on when, where, and how long it was intended to take place, with that being so close to Marie's due date.
"We can sort out the logistics later, I was thinking a few day classes at the beginning of summer, perhaps a couple of overnight excursions, or longer for the old students, you wouldn't need to stay with them full time, just check on them periodically if you think they can handle themselves for that long. The woods around us are school property and would no doubt make a suitable location," Xavier laid out his thoughts.
"That sounds doable," Logan confirmed, "I can scout the wood and let you know." And with that he and Marie excused themselves, followed closely by Jean and Ororo.
"Alright, where did you get that ring?" Jean asked, as soon as the office door was closed behind them.
Logan shrugged and replied non-committally, "I know a guy who knows a guy."
"I need a name Logan," Jean begged, "I love Scott immensely but he's kept me waiting five years so far for the wedding, the least he could do is upgrade the department store ring he gave me back then, oh god, do I sound bitchy and ungrateful?" she asked Ororo, looking mildly concerned.
"Just a little, though it is one hell of a ring to be comparing to," Ororo answered, as she got a closer look at the jewellery in question, it was absolutely stunning and must have cost a small fortune.
"How about instead of waiting for Scott to agree to a date you just set one and tell him when to turn up?" Marie suggested with a grin, as her hand was passed from one woman to the other.
"You know, I'm starting to think that's the way to go," Jean replied with a laugh. Suddenly she froze, Marie's hand still in hers, "Uh, Rogue, how are we touching your skin?"
Logan burst out laughing. "That fact took a lot longer than I expected to sink in," he admitted after a moment.
"I can control my skin," Marie replied, "That's why I didn't let the Professor waste any time trying to help me with that aspect of my mutation, the sorting personalities in my head was all that I was struggling with."
"Oh, I guess that explains how you got pregnant then," Ororo said, "I was wondering how that had worked..."
"Please, stop thinking about my sex life," Marie replied with an embarrassed chuckle, Logan agreed, before all four wandered down the hall towards the kitchen, it was just after lunch so they set about fixing food.
Jean still had her reservations about the relationship but as she watched Logan fuss over Rogue, insisting she sit while he wait on her, she thought perhaps Ororo was right and there was more to the man than the rough, gruff exterior he projected. Rogue sure seemed to think so, she was a lot happier now that Logan was back too. Jean honestly couldn't say she had seen Rogue smile all that often in the months she had been at the school, and usually when she did it was just a polite smile, rather than the full on sunshine and rainbows smile she was displaying as she watched Logan pull out enough food for several people, and begin to construct a surprisingly healthy looking meal.
"Jean," Rogue said, jarring her out if her thoughts, "We'll need to come see you soon for a check-up and scan for the baby, can you also prepare something to get through to Logan that I don't have to eat the entire contents of the refrigerator at every meal," she commented, eyeing up the loaded plate Logan was about to set in front of her.
Jean and Ororo both laughed, while Logan just grumbled that she was ‘too skinny’ before going back to the kitchen to fix his own meal, a decidedly meatier affair.
"Actually, Rogue does have a point on portion sizes," Jean said, "Especially as the baby gets bigger it's going to leave less room for stomach, which means increased indigestion with larger portions, so smaller meals more frequently, and lots of snacks is the way to go, but that is a good range of foods Logan, you got all the major food groups in all the right quantities... how did you know that?" she asked, mildly surprised. The sudden silence from Logan and Rogue was enough to clue her in that she had inadvertently wandered into delicate territory. She glanced at both to see how badly she had messed up, though neither looked angry, just sad.
Logan cleared his throat as he set his lunch down on the table beside Marie before taking a seat. "My last, uh, partner, had cancer, I learned a lot about diet and nutrition so that when she could eat, around the chemo, she was getting everything she needed."
"Oh Logan, I'm so sorry," Jean said, she didn't need to ask to know the woman had passed away. "How long ago?" she asked softly.
"She passed away about four years ago," Logan supplied, "She had cancer twice, first time not long after we met, ovarian. Doctors thought they got it all between the surgery and the chemo but it came back about twelve years later, really aggressive, once it hit her liver..."
"You were together a long time," Ororo said softly, not sounding surprised but more to express her condolences.
"Yep, sometimes I think not long enough but, that's just life, things change, and I've got Marie now so, it could be worse," he shrugged off her comment, and went back to eating. He didn't like people knowing his business but at least maybe they would start to lighten up about his relationship if they knew how seriously he took them.
The group ate in silence for a while, Scott didn't join them so they assumed he was still talking to the Professor, or maybe he had taken his opinions and crawled under a rock with them. Eventually conversation restarted, this time on lighter topics, before Jean suggested Logan and Marie come down to the med lab the next day to give baby his or her first check-up. They wandered off to other activities after their meal, to spend some time relaxing on their weekend off.
The Wolverine & Rogue Fanfiction Archive
Barely Legal Since 2000