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It took quite a bit of convincing, but eventually and reluctantly, Professor Xavier agreed to the team expanding to include the special operations division. After much back and forth, six divisions, with the option of more to come, were created and the senior X-Men were given their assignments. With everyone now on board, no time was wasted in commencing their training. The instructors, Wolverine, Cyclops, Beast and Gambit all were in charge of different aspects of the division. Beast was literally frothing at the mouth when he was told he’ll be leading the division well versed in chemical and biological warfare. Wolverine had the unsavory task of leading the high-value/man hunting and hostage rescue division. Gambit was the likely choice to head the covert ops division and Cyclops became the head of the mobility action and direct action divisions. Each division head were teamed up with other X-Men members as their assistants so to speak.

Although all of the senior X-Women were more than qualified to head divisions themselves, they all opted not to, instead deciding that they had their plates full being full time mothers and would rather stick to those jobs. For the time being, they would leave these new facets of the team to the men. It took quite a few months, hard work and grit to get everything up and running to the point where everyone was satisfied and they in the end, all felt as if this was a new chapter in the history of the legendary X-Men.

By that time, the Christmas season was in full swing, with the holiday only four days away and Ororo was well into her seventh month of pregnancy. Although this pregnancy was not difficult by any means, it still kicked her ass. She had gained a considerable amount of weight and she was more emotional this time around, an aspect of her gestation that brought the Westchester area a mixed bag of weather patterns. Logan had his hands full tending to her needs and keeping her stable as well as helping out with the kids and maintaining their home.

Although he loved his domesticated life and wouldn’t trade it for the world, he couldn’t help but salivate for the end of this pregnancy for the simple fact of the harsh toll it was having on his beloved. She was easily aggravated and short-tempered and he had been on the receiving end of a few lightning bolts. But this wasn’t what tore at his insides. What upset him about this pregnancy were her constant insecurities about his love for and devotion to her. She had gotten it into her beautiful head that she was now unattractive to him and he didn’t love her anymore, all because she had put on a few extra pounds. It was a constant struggle and took supreme effort on his part to convince her that she was still the most beautiful woman on the face of the Earth and there was no other and could be no other for him. Even Dave and Rosie were perceptive enough to know what was going on and had known exactly what to do and say to let her know that she was the best and prettiest mommy in the world. The various arts and crafts scattered about their home was testament to their kids doing their parts. Experiencing this pregnancy with her was eye opening to say the least and he had developed a new found respect for women and childbearing.

Logan braked his Jeep in their driveway and stepped out, inhaling deeply as he took in the scents that came with the first day of the winter solstice. He went to the back of the vehicle to retrieve the numerous bags filled with gifts he had braved going to the mall to get after dropping the kids off at the mansion to take part in some of the holiday festivities Chuck had planned for the X-Kids. He slammed the trunk door shut before taking another whiff, deeper this time to pinpoint his mate’s location. He grinned. She was in the kitchen.

Ororo looked up but didn’t paused from shoveling pasta coated in rich tomato sauce into her mouth when her husband stepped into the kitchen with different size bags from various stores in his hands. Her eyes followed him as he placed the bags by the foot of the stairs before shucking off his jacket and Stetson and hanging them up in the coat closet. Logan turned and leaned against the closet door, drinking in the sight of her. Her hair was in a loose top knot and the sun light beaming through the windows cast a glowing light across her already glowing skin. His heart thumped wildly and his gaze never faltered from her.

She became self-conscious at his intense stare and she bowed her head deeper down into her plate of food. Since she had gain all this damn weight with the three babies growing inside of her, she had started to feel unsightly, undesirable and just plain awkward. She knew it was all in her head, but her insecurities had chosen this time to rear their ugly heads and were doing a number on her psyche. She knew Logan loved her beyond a shadow of a doubt, but she was having a hard time willing her brain to grasp that concept, especially when she was so overweight. She was never a vain person and she was absolutely thrilled about welcoming the triplets in a matter of weeks, but dammit she just couldn’t help the feelings of unattractiveness and frumpiness.

It was surprising to her that this second pregnancy was taxing her in this way. She had enjoyed her first pregnancy, reveling and cherishing it. She constantly wondered what was different this time around and hadn’t arrived at the answer until a few hours ago. She had finally figured out that what really bothered her was a fear of failure…a fear of failing her family. Her desires for love and a family of her own had finally came to fruition and after believing that an expansion of that family was out of the question, all of a sudden, she found herself pregnant with triplets. With these changes, her old fears of not being strong enough to hold onto what she held dear had reared their heads. These fears were attempting to dim her joy by making her believe that she was not good enough to be showered with the Goddess’ blessings. The fears were successful to an extent, manifesting themselves when it came to her physical appearance. However, through it all, she was grateful for Logan’s unwavering support. It was him and the kids that were helping her to hold onto her sanity and to hold on to the feelings of joy and anticipation of their new arrivals.

Logan caught her action and frowned. The Wolverine too didn’t like it and a growl rumbled in his chest, but the man tampered it down. He walked slowly over to his mate. Ororo felt his eyes on her but refused to look at him, opting instead to hurriedly finish her food. Logan pulled out the chair next to her and sat down, calling out to her. “’Ro?” He rasped.

After a few seconds of silence, he tried again, “Darlin’?”

The unmistakable scent of salt in the air lets him know she was close to tears. “What?”

“Please look at me, baby.”

Ororo shook her head before pushing her chair back and standing, walking with the empty plate to the sink. Logan had to silence an appreciative growl at the sight of his oversized blue flannel shirt and baggy sweats covering her extended tummy and the sweet scent roiling off of her.

Logan stood and silently watched her for a moment as she washed the plate and fork. His heart swelled with love at her vulnerability and insecurity present in her otherwise strong frame. On trained feet, he walked up behind up as she was drying her hands and strong arms enveloped her waist from behind. He pulled her flush up against him, holding her tightly and molding her body against his perfectly. She sighed deeply and melted into him.

He lowered his head and dropped light kisses on the back of her neck and nuzzled her there. Ororo shivered, enjoying his warmth and attention. She toss the dish towel she held in her hand onto the counter and turned in his arms, dropping her forehead to his chest.

“Are the kids alright?” Her voice was muffled against his sweater, but he heard her.

He rubbed his chin on the top of her head. “Yep. We have another two or so hours before we have ta head over ta the mansion.”

“Maybe you should go to the festivities without me,” she whispered.

“Not gonna happen, ‘Ro. If ya don’t go, then I don’t.”

Ororo sighed and stepped out of the security of his arms. She made her way to the living room, knowing that he would follow her. “The kids would never forgive us if we do not show up.”

“True, but if ya’re not up ta goin’…” Logan trailed off.

She turned to look at him. Her eyes were watery and showcased a level of defenselessness he had never ever seen from her before. His heart went out to her and he growled low before rushing over to her and picking her up in his arms and taking a seat on his favorite recliner with her on his lap. She knew that the battle to contain her emotions was lost, when he held her this close to him and she did the only thing she could have done in that instance, she buried her face into his shirt and surrendered to the tears.

Logan simply held her and lovingly ran his fingers through her hair, whispering words of comfort and love to her. After she regained control, he asked, “Better?”

She nodded. “I am sorry.”

“Fer what sweet thing?”

“I have been such an emotional wreck lately.”

Logan turned her, so they were face to face. He kissed her lips softly. “Really? I didn’t notice.”

His joke had the desired effect and his heart jumped at the shy yet beautiful smile she tossed him. “I know I have been impossible to live with lately. It is just that…”

“Just what, baby?” He asked, knowing exactly what she was about to say, seeing that they have had the same conversation a few times already throughout the course of her pregnancy.

“I do not feel…I feel plain…ugly…I feel like a damn whale.” She ended on a wail, throwing her insecurities out there.

Logan didn’t speak or move for a few seconds as he gathered his thoughts. He wanted the right words to get through to her once and for all that she was the most stunningly beautiful and sexy woman he’s ever known in his long life.

His eyes leveled her with a piercing gaze that transmitted all his love and dedication to her. Ororo’s breath caught and she couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed with what she saw and knew was only for her.

“’Ro, baby. Ya are the best thing that ever happened ta me. My love fer ya has only grown and continues ta grow every damn second I know yer mines,” he dropped a kiss on her nose. “Ain’t nothing ugly or plain about ya, darlin’.”

She looked at him with shy, shimmery eyes. “I know that dropping the weight after the birth will be no problem, but…” she sighed deeply and summoned one last ounce of courage to tell him what was truly bothering her. “I fear losing all this Logan. I fear I would not be strong enough to nurture and guard our family. I have wanted all this for so long, Logan that I fear losing it now that I am happy and fulfilled.”

Logan was stunned speechless at her revelation. Christ! He should have known that this was at the root of her emotional struggles! Damn, how could he have missed it? “Ororo,” he began earnestly. The seriousness of his tone coupled with his use of her full name captured her undivided attention. “Believe it or not, I have the same fear, baby. Hell, ya know that I had always believed that I didn’t deserve anything good and that nothing good was suppose ta happen ta me. But all that changed because of ya and yer faith in me.”

He moved his fingertips slowly across her delicate features, outlining every beautiful one. “I think that fear is always gonna be there, especially with the lives we live. But ya can’t let the fears guide yer life, baby. Ya taught me that.”

Logan closed his eyes for a few seconds before opening them and leveling her with an intense stare that left no doubts as to the meaning of the words he was about to say next. “I love ya, ‘Ro. I love every inch and curve of ya. Yer my mate fer life baby and nobody else ain’t ever gonna compare or come close ta yer beauty, class and intelligence. Yer the glue that holds our little family together baby. Without ya, me and the rugrats would be lost, not ta mention everything in the mansion would go ta hell without ya.”

The tears now running down her cheeks freely told him that he was getting through to her, but he wasn’t done yet. “Ya’re beautiful, so damn beautiful. I’m proud ta call ya mines and proud ta call ya the mother of my kids and my best friend. Without ya, darlin’, I’ll not be who I am today.”

These powerful words coming from the Wolverine were reviving her, bringing her back to the confident woman she was and always will be. “Oh dearest.”

His lips trailed a path of soft kisses alongside her jaw, up to her temple. “What ya thinkin’?”

Her tremulous smile endeared her to him. “I am thinking that I have the greatest of men as my husband and life’s partner. Thank you, my love.”

He gave her a lopsided grin in response. “No thanks necessary baby. Part of my job.”

‘Ro changed her position on his lap so that she was now straddling him. Their eyes met and seized each other. They were both powerless to control the intense emotions whirling around them, so they simply surrendered to them, allowing themselves the luxury of basking in the glow of their love for each. Ororo saw mirrored in his eyes, the same passion and love she felt and she shivered knowing that it was all for her.

Looping her arms around his neck, she kissed his lips softly. “I love you. Thank you for being here and keeping me grounded during the times I am unbalanced.”

“My pleasure,” he muttered before meshing their mouths together, kissing her long, hard and intently. When they finally broke apart, he growled. “I don’t ever want ta hear ya say ya’re fat or ugly. Ya ain’t none of those things. And just so ya know, soon as Blue say it’s a go, I’m shipping those kids over ta Chuck and I ain’t lettin’ ya out the bedroom fer a solid week.”

Ororo laughed heartily. It was a sound the Wolverine will never tire of hearing. As soon as she caught her breath, she replied in barely a whisper, “Sounds good to me, bub.”
Seated together, they clung to each other, enjoying the warmth of each other and the love flowing freely between them. Neither spoke, nor moved for minutes. To Logan, her body was a temple, his haven throughout all his storms. To Ororo, his body was a bulwark of strength, passion and warmth and her very own sanctuary from her doubts and fears.





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