A Summer of Sunsets
Chapter #18 “Reunion, pt. 6”
Thursday July 29th, 2004
The Day before the Reunion
11:45 p.m.
Earlier that morning, the entire 3-wing mansion was abuzz; it was as if no one had slept the night before and didn’t plan on getting any sleep until the festivities were done.
Over the past weekend, most of the RSVP’d guests were settled into their rooms, including Erik and later Sean (who spontaneously brought the kids down for the weekend). As the week had begun, more guests arrived, and the estate began to feel like a home again; just as Ororo had remembered it.
Unfortunately, she didn’t have much time at the present to reflect upon that thought, as she was busy in the middle of the final preparations for the Big Day. Standing in the kitchen”with Mrs. Duvahl and the cooking staff”she was checking off the final list of To Do items from the others. Unbothered by the din of noise around her, Ororo was the epitome of calm, outwardly.
She had managed to get through most of the week without worrying too much about the party, the unexpected arrival of Emma Frost or what she was going to wear to dinner the next night. No, as a matter of fact, most of her concern was on a much more personal dilemma: Logan.
They had spoken several times since spending the weekend in Salem Center, but had only been able to see each other once in that time, enjoying a quiet sunset Tuesday evening. The new ‘change’ in their relationship “Post-Salem” was both exciting and unnerving to her. Ororo could feel some parts of Logan opening up to her”ones that had previously been closed or hidden”but also there was an opposing sense of reserve in him that she hadn’t seen before. He had called her only a few short hours after they’d parted early Monday morning, but with nothing really to say. She got the impression he was searching, trying to feel her out as to whether or not she thought they’d made a mistake the days before. It was nothing that he said, specifically; just a feeling in the pit of her stomach.
Their first private conversation had relieved a small amount of that “Post-Salem” anxiety, and Ororo was glad that he hadn’t tried to get out of meeting her family at the reunion. She was anxious as all Hell, but she knew that this had to happen. She had told her sisters to be on their best behavior, and Marie had immediately guessed why, bubbling with excitement. Beth was the sensible one, reminding Ororo of Emma’s presence and questioning the sanity of putting her new boyfriend in the same room as her vilest rival.
Of course Ororo wasn’t worried about Logan like that; Emma could be a different matter all together, but she’d cross that bridge when she came to it. Instead, she was content to revel in the new aspect of their relationship, and personally couldn’t wait until they could get another moment together.
With little surprise, Ororo’s new mood didn’t go unnoticed.
“Planning on burning the midnight oil?” Came from her behind her, cheerfully.
Without needing to turn she knew it was Scott standing in the doorway, dressed for bed in a white tee and black sweatpants, his night goggles firmly in place. The look he was giving her was sort of undefined”or better yet, a mixture of emotions; there was amusement, of course, and the ever-present ‘interest’ that she was oh-so used to…but there was also something else.
“Well, we wouldn’t want anyone thinking I’m not pulling my share of the weight putting this together.” Ororo didn’t look up from the pages of lists in her hands.
He chuckled lightly, expecting her to join in, but when she didn’t, his laughter died a little, and he stepped out of the doorframe, just missing a collision with a staff member carrying a huge decorated cake. Excusing himself, Scott came to stand beside her, reading over her shoulder for a moment before glancing at her. “You’re not still pissed at me for that, are you?”
Taking a calculated step away from him, she finished the tally of tasks and neatly paper clipped the pages together before answering, “Of course not, Scott. That petty comment absolutely pales in comparison to your other stunt.”
“What stunt??” He was quick enough to act surprised.
Glancing up at him she almost smiled, knowing that she had his number no matter how well he would feign ignorance. “Why, Emma of course.”
“Ororo, I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.” He shrugged, but saw that she wasn’t buying his act.
Almost as if on cue, the subject of their exchange came around the corner just then, her thin porcelain body wrapped protectively in a short, pale pink sheer night robe that left decidedly little to the imagination.
“Scott”Oh, Ororo. Still slaving away at the stove, hm?” Lightly chuckling at her own comment, Emma went to the cupboard for a glass, and then filled it with spring water for a drink.
“Emma,” Ro smiled, following her with an icy blue gaze, “Still showing off what you don’t have?”
Scott almost guffawed, barely able to catch himself and restrain it to a pursed-lip smile as Emma’s eyes cut to him quickly before locking with Ororo’s. “Hm. So, the little princess hasn’t lost her sharp tongue.”
“Neither have you.” Ro stepped up to the challenge, crossing her arms. “But considering your other talents with it, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.”
“Ororo”“ Scott tried to interject, feeling the hot-seat burn his own rump w/ that one.
“No, Scott”Don’t even start with me.” She gave him a glare, then turned to the kitchen staff, all of whom were ominously quiet. “Mrs. Duvahl, I’m going to head off to bed. Everyone, thank you so much for your help.”
The older woman simply nodded, her eyes only on Ororo as she finished the last duties before turning in herself.
As Ororo passed the other two without so much as a glance or word, Emma moved to follow, surely with more acerbic barbs waiting, but Scott held her back with a hand, shaking his head.
After they were alone, Emma yanked her arm out of his grasp, straightening her robe. “Don’t ever do that again.”
“Cool it, Emma. You did enough for one night, don’t you think?” he reached over and sipped from the glass she’d put down on the counter.
“You say.” She smirked, watching his muscular body momentarily as he drank. “I’ve been planning these little run-ins with your ex quite strategically since I got here. I know what I’m doing.”
Wiping his lips, Scott gave a sarcastic laugh. “Yeah? Well, just don’t forget what happened the last time you pushed Ororo too far.”
Slipping up close to him, she dazzled him with a smile, her breast pressing against him. “Oh, I can’t depend on you to ‘save’ me again? Is that it?”
“Em…” Scott looked down at her, searching her eyes as she flashed her lashes at him.
“Yes Scott?”
“Save the games for Ororo.” Setting down her glass, he stepped away, leaving Emma alone at the island counter with an empty glass.
---
Ororo had barely stepped into her room before she heard her cell vibrating wildly on the nightstand. Rushing to get it, she seemed to sense who it was before even opening the clamshell.
“Hey.”
“Hey, yerself. Somethin’ wrong?”
She sighed, sinking down at the bed’s edge. “Honestly I’m afraid to tell you.”
“Why’s that?”
“I’m afraid you might not want to get to know the strange characters that make up my extended family.”
She could sense his brow raise at that, and smiled a little at his confusion and curiosity. “They can’t all be that bad.”
“Isn’t one enough?” She rubbed her temple.
“Hm. Sounds like yer trying to scare me off. Ya ain’t tryin’ t’scare me off now, are ya?” He tease quietly.
“Of course not.” She sat up straighter. “But just consider yourself forewarned.”
“Duly noted. Now…”
“Hm?”
“I was callin’ to see how yer day went, but I can pretty much hear it in yer voice.”
“That obvious?”
“Well…Anyhow, seems to me you need a little break.”
“Uh, it’s almost midnight. My “break” is going to bed.”
“That wasn’t quite what I was talkin’ bout, but…”
“What did you have in mind?” she perked up a little.
“Want to come over, find out?”
---
Her feet were cooled by the pristine white sand of the beach as she stepped up to the back porch of Logan’s darkened house. From the beach it seemed as though no one was home, but her eyes twinkled a smile when she saw the shadow move across the door frame.
They were silent, as he took her by the tips of her fingers, deftly leading the way through the darkness. She didn’t ask where he was taking her, trusting him. Their steps thudded in tandem, up two flights of stairs and to the end of the hall, to a set of closed doors.
As he turned the handle, Logan smiled in the semi-darkness, sensing her anticipation.
Looking around as he closed the door behind them, Ororo admired the large master bedroom. It didn’t have a terrace like she was used to, but there were long, tall windows across from the bed, opened right then and allowing the cooler night air to wisp inside. The room’s furniture was minimal, but the size of the bed more than compensated for that. She grinned, chuckling a little.
“Hm? What’s funny?” Logan came up behind her, closing her in his embrace and nuzzling the back of her neck.
“Nothing.” She leaned into him, sighing deeply. “So…is this what you had in mind for my ‘break’?”
Pausing, he searched her eyes with a little bit of mischief. “Not exactly.”
She grinned in puzzled surprise, allowing his warm hands at the zipper of her jeans. She was barely able to step out of them before he tugged her t-shirt over her head. Kissing her lips he whispered, “You’ve been on yer feet all day, darlin. I think it’s time ya relaxed a little.”
Her tired bones agreed with him, but Ororo’s common sense told her that if they kept going in the direction he was leading her, this would be anything but ‘relaxing’. “I’m not sure your idea…mhmm…and My idea of that are the same, Logan.”
He cocked his head to one side, giving her a knowing grin, but didn’t respond immediately; instead he unclasped her bra and took a long, hard look at her before expelling a heavy breath, and reaching for her hand.
“Come with me.”
---
A soft, surprised gasp escaped her lips as Ororo took in the size and design of the master bedroom’s bath. It was easily half the size of the bedroom itself, with a separate shower and enormous, circular tub that was partially sunken. Waterproof vinyl cushions padded reclining areas on opposite sides of the room. So unlike Logan, it seemed the height of luxury, complete with his & her double sinks, an antique chandelier that looked as if it hadn’t been used in ages, and a wide, double-paneled window behind the tub that faced the dark surf. It was probably the most unique design for a master bed & bath she’d ever seen, and that had Logan written all over it.
Leaving her in the doorway, he went to the sink, where a book of matches waited, and he lit the candles, giving the room a beautiful dark golden glow. Coming back to her, he led her to one of the vinyl cushions to wait, while he filled the bath with warm bubbles”they smelled of jasmine, one of her favorite scents.
Ororo could only shake her head in shock and awe, equally touched by this thoughtful gesture. She marveled at just how much he could surprise her. “You know, just when I think I’ve got you all figured out…”
He only grinned, taking her by the hand and to the tub. Shimmying out of her undies, Ororo sank down into the heated pool, leaning back against the circular rim. She could feel her muscles relaxing already, even before he sat at the top of the basin to rub her neck.
Never-minding his jeans, Logan sat above her, his legs into the water, as he gave her a deep massage, his knowing fingers working over the tight muscles in her shoulders and neck. When her damp, long hair got in his way, he only pulled it free of her loose ponytail, gathering the locks together and rearranging it properly out of his way.
While Ororo basked in the relaxation of his gesture”her eyes closed”she could not know that Logan was secretly studying her from behind, his lupine eyes ever attentive to each sigh and smile that his fingers garnered.
There was also something changing inside of him, that much he was sure, but that change was fighting another part of him”a part that didn’t like this side of Logan; a part that wanted him to stay completely and utterly, The Wolverine.
“Logan?”
He came out of his dark thoughts, a little unnerved, to realize that she had turned to face him, touching his hand. He looked down at her and his hard expression melted almost immediately. “Yeah darlin?”
“I wouldn’t mind a little company.”
Damp Wranglers were soon cast onto the floor, along with his shirt, and Logan slid down into the warm water with her. Ororo could barely wait, reaching out to him across the wide tub, partially hidden by frothy white bubbles.
They met somewhere between, and she smothered him with deep kisses, giggling when she managed to cover his cheeks with foam, which stuck to his thick sideburns until she wiped them clean.
“I thought you wanted to relax.” He raised a brow at her forwardness.
“We can relax…later.”
---
They spent the better part of an hour in that tub, until the water was close to freezing and the bubbles had long since disappeared. Smoothing his wet hair out of his eyes, Ororo smiled at her beloved, and quietly suggested the shower.
Warm water pelted their bodies, washing away the soothing aroma of jasmine and simultaneously heightening the erotic experience.
Logan leaned against the wall opposite the showerhead, watching as she stood beneath the spray for a moment fully immersed. Whipping her hair back, Ororo smiled at him, coming to stand close against his chest, her arms wrapped around his muscled neck. She giggled as his breath tickled the wet, curling hairs at her neck before he sucked at her skin there.
As steam rapidly filled the shower, he lifted her hair from her back, wrapping it around her shoulder to fall over her chest, his fingers joining his mouth in its exploratory endeavors. Grinning widely, she took his place against the wall, leaning on it as he lathered his hands with soap and ran them up and down her body.
Ororo was both impressed and aroused by his delicate touches, smoothing her pliant skin, molding around her curves as if he had crafted them himself. When her moans rose above the sounds of the water, he thought maybe he had.
Wiping some of the white lathered soap bubbles from the cleavage of her breasts, Ororo reached out, stroking the hard evidence of his arousal between them. Logan looked down, then back up at her, unable to contain a chuckle.
She kissed him, unable to stop smiling, and admitted, “You know, I’ve never done this before.”
He cocked a brow, leaning into her hand, and after a moan escaped answered, “What?”
“The shower-thing.”
“Like it?” His fingers found a warm wet spot and teased a little.
“Oh yeah.”
He chuckled, and didn’t object when she pushed him back, into the shower’s spray and soaking them both, washing the soap away. He grasped her hands, kissing them, before he gently turned her away from him, pressing her body against the cool glass of the sliding shower door. He ran his hands down her curvy body, from her shoulders to her waist and around the flare of her hips.
With little more fanfare Logan pressed his body against hers, nibbling on her neck as his hips dipped briefly. She felt his fingers feeling the way, coaxing her lips open before his cock slid in tightly.
Their bodies followed a natural rhythm as Logan grabbed her clenched fist against the fogged-up door and held her by the waist with his other hand. Burying his face in her wet, shiny white hair, he smiled when he felt her squeeze his hand…
---
It was sometime after 2 a.m. and they lay curled up together in each other’s embrace on his massive bed, Ororo wrapped protectively in his large bathrobe and Logan content in his nudity just as the day he was born. He stroked her quickly drying hair as she settled against his chest, quiet and halfway to sleep.
He found his own path to slumber somewhat more turbulent, as he stared down at her face, her eyes closed as she ‘rested’ them. He had been trying to figure out some way to bring up the reunion without alerting her to his growing apprehensions. Each day that had passed, getting closer to his inevitable encounter with Xavier had raised Logan’s pressure, he was sure. He had absolutely no idea what he was going to say to the man, how he would explain himself, or even if he wanted to. Part of him felt like they”he”needed no excuse; none of this pairing had been planned, and God only knew he never thought in a thousand years they would take it this far.
Kissing Ororo’s forehead, Logan only knew he couldn’t turn his back on Them now. No amount of programming from Dept. H or whatever her father had planned for him could change that.
She opened her eyes, looking up at him and smiled. “It’s getting late. Well, it’s past “late” (chuckle).”
Smoothing her hair, he whispered, “Stay here. I’ve got a meeting in the morning, but I’d really like it if ya stayed.”
She thought she heard something in his voice, but Ororo was tired, and chalked it up to that, grinning and reaching up to caress his stubble-covered cheek. “A meeting? You’ll be back in time, right?”
Time. He remembered joking about having so much of it, but right then he felt like it was running out on Him. “Yeah. No problem.”
Seemingly satisfied with that, she kissed him quickly but deeply, and laid back against his chest. It was less than ten minutes and he could hear her breathing slowed, deeper and steady. Holding her close, Logan spent the rest of the night staring up at the ceiling, feeling quite alone except for his thoughts and the sound of Ororo breathing.
---
Friday, July 30th 2004
The Xavier Family Reunion
8 a.m. Breakfast:
The dining hall had been arranged to support the few dozen attendees with long tables appropriately dressed with fine linens and the Xavier family’s best china. As the guests came down from their rooms, the smell of foods of all kinds met empty stomachs and the sounds of them aching could be heard all over Long Island.
Scratching his head, Bobby’s eyes couldn’t take in every delight, as they darted over the warm Belgian waffles, maple bacon and sausages, pancakes, crepes, fresh fruit, omelets”the variety of food went on and on. He got a big laugh out of the others when he stopped Mrs. Duvahl from filling glasses with water, and gave her a big silent bear hug.
As the seats were taken one by one, the room filled with excited conversations about the rest of the day; there was a lot planned for this of all special reunions, as many secretly anticipated it to be the last.
Wiping her tired eyes, Ororo descended the main staircase, dressed in a night cami and sleep pants beneath her favorite robe. She headed straight for the food, hungry after her previous night’s escapades. With a fond smile of memory on her lips, she came into the dining room to be met with several glances”two from Beth and Marie”before conversations resumed.
She had snuck back into the house only about half an hour before, and was sure that at least some of the guests knew she hadn’t been home. It wasn’t a big deal to her, but she felt a little embarrassed nonetheless. Sliding into a seat beside Marie, she placed a cloth napkin on her lap and reached for a glass of water.
Turning in her chair to evaluate her sister, Marie smiled knowingly, leaning closer. “G’mornin’ Sugah. Sleep well?”
Beth, on Ororo’s other side, giggled despite herself, and lightly touched Ororo’s wrist. *We missed you last night. Mrs. Duvahl said you’d already gone to bed, but I couldn’t find you.*
Squeezing Marie’s bare forearm quickly, Ororo paused from the resulting dizzy spell before continuing. *Geez, you guys are checking up on me, now??*
Marie “tsk”ed out loud, her eyes narrowing playfully. *O’course! We thought ya were gonna bring Him to breakfast this mornin’. By the way: Where is He?*
The three sisters chuckled amongst themselves; no one really took offense to their private conversation, however. That sort of behavior had long been established among them. Even now, after so long together (and even through years apart) their ‘Three Musketeers’ image could not be tarnished.
Ororo’s eyes met her sisters’ in turn and she then she looked down at her lap with a telling smile on her face. *Not to keep you in suspense, Marie, but he won’t be joining us for breakfast.*
*Aw, hell!*
*You won’t get to meet him until later; probably around the time the party gets started. Sorry.*
Beth patted Marie’s shoulder, leaning past her briefly with a grin before locking eyes with her other sister. “I hope you didn’t scare him away with stories about us.”
Ororo rolled her eyes, but didn’t comment, as warm croissants were passed down the table.
---
Upstairs…
Henry adjusted his specs, then leaned away from his father, a concerned look on his face. He had just finished taking Charles’ vitals for the morning, following Xavier’s first dosage of his TLV cocktail, and the doctor didn’t like what he was seeing.
“Dad…”
“I know Henry.”
“…but are you going to tell anyone?”
Charles sighed, looking at his son with some compassion; he had never wanted to lay such a burden in Hank’s lap, but he trusted none other with his personal care, save Moira, who now stood on the opposite side of the bed, her arms crossed and her face pensive as she tried not to let her emotions show too heavily.
“There isn’t anything more we can do?” Xavier looked to them for some hope, his hands tightly clasped in his lap.
Moira shook her head. “I’m sorry, Charles. Even the vaccine we’re developing is still only just past its infancy. In your advanced stage of the illness…”
“It’s pretty much worthless. Is that what you’re telling me? I’m developing a tolerance to the current medications.”
Hank folded his stethoscope back into his bag, and reached out to hold his father’s hand, noticing that Charles was shaking just a little. “That’s no reason to stop treatment. Without it you won’t be able to travel to Genosha next week, let alone hope to stave off the disease for much longer.”
“How long?”
Moira and Hank exchanged looks, not answering immediately.
“How. Long.”
“Charles, we canne know f’sure. All we do know is that ye can’t stop takin’ these drugs.”
Xavier’s expression changed then; it was a mix of pain and anger, though he didn’t say anything. For several moments he simply sat there in silence, his eyes staring off into the void beyond their faces.
“Dad. Dad?” Henry leaned forward, finally capturing his father’s gaze, which seemed clouded over suddenly. “We’re still working on this. You cannot give up hope.”
“He’s right Charles.” Moira came up behind his son, placing her hand on Henry’s wide shoulder and smiling as much as she could muster.
Despite himself, Charles managed a brief”albeit false”smile, swallowing a lump in his throat. ‘Hope. I guess that’s all I have now.’
---
A few hours later…
The reunion was in full swing, as the guests gathered on the back patio for some fun in the sun. Bobby and Scott spear-headed the BBQ efforts, much to the chagrin of the kitchen staff and Mrs. Duvahl, but it was a tradition that they didn’t want to see die anytime soon.
Down on the beach, some of the teenage guests were knee-deep in a somewhat competitive game of volleyball, their loud squeals and laughter echoing across the sand over the sound of waves crashing.
Most of the adults were stationed on the patio beneath the shade of tall parasols and/or the covered portion of the deck, their conversations of ‘catching up’ mixing in with the music from the audio system near the door.
It was an absolutely gorgeous day; the sun was out, but it wasn’t really hot, like it should have been for late July. There were clouds overhead, but instead of trapping the hot air between them and the sand, they merely provided just the right amount of shade and cover, giving the sky a beautiful appearance not often seen this time of year. The wind as well, far from blowing hot against their skin, was cool and just powerful enough to keep things interesting without sending them searching for cover.
“I guess I don’t have to ask where the great weather is coming from.” Beth smiled behind her gold-colored sunglasses, sitting next to her sisters beneath one of the wide umbrellas.
Ororo smiled, adjusting her sunhat and raised one shoulder in mock innocence.
Marie, decidedly dressed down in a high rise one-piece covered with a dark green wrap-around, smirked beside them, her lovely eyes hidden by dark black glasses. “Yeah, she really comes in handy once in a while, don’t she?”
Ignoring the consequences, Ororo elbowed her sister swiftly, ‘tsk’ing sharply but didn’t deny it. “Well, what would you expect? Rain?”
“What? And ruin any chance for a decent tan?” Came from behind them just as a shamelessly clad Emma appeared, heading toward the reclining patio chairs close to the huge pool.
The three sisters were stunned into silence as they got a very good view of her, sashaying past in a skimpy bikini two-piece that didn’t have enough fabric to cover even her ass. Literally. Wrapped around her waist was a sheer bathing suit wrap in the same sky blue color as the bikini, but completely see-through, negating the point of wearing it at all. With a clean white towel over her arm and tanning lotion in hand, she took a detour to the BBQ pit, where she made a show of draping herself over Scott’s arm as he turned meat on a spit.
Ororo, Marie and Beth watched with their mouths wide open, in utter disbelief at the pair of cojoles it took to come out to a family reunion dressed like she’d just stepped off the set of some cheap rap video.
Instinctively Beth grabbed Ororo’s arm on the table.
*Sonuva-mother”*
*--fuckin’ cheap--*
*--ass tramp-Bitch!*
Of course they were not the only ones to note Emma’s attire (or lack thereof). A slight buzz ran its course through the group of guests before they simmered down; after all, most of them were old enough to remember that that was just Emma being Emma.
As she settled down on the chair, leaning back with a very satisfied smile on her face, Scott chose just that moment to leave a wide-eyed Bobby at the grill, purposefully making his way over to her, sitting on the side of her chair and reaching for her lotion.
When he started massaging the cream into Emma’s back, Beth and Marie turned simultaneously to their sister. For her part, Ororo’s initial response not withstanding, she seemed the picture of calm and borderline apathy. Behind her dark silver sunglasses no one could tell if she was watching the spectacle before her or the gently crashing surf beyond.
‘Typical. So typical.’ With a smile that bordered somewhere on the edge of disdain and pity, Ororo finally had to admit to herself that her hopes of settling her issues with Scott (Emma was a lost cause) had been decidedly dashed.
Standing, she gave her sisters a reassuring grin, silently letting them know that”while she was alright”she had no intentions of sitting around for their spectacle. Just as she’d turned her back, heading toward the back of the house”
“Heads Up!!” Rang out too late from the beach, as the kids’ volleyball came sailing quickly in their general direction, and before she even had time to think, splashed in the pool beside Emma & Scott, spraying them fully in the face.
Ro had turned back instinctively, and upon seeing her ex’s over-used hormones get an appropriate douse of cool water, couldn’t help a little titter behind her fingers. She had to bite her lip in order to stave off a laugh at seeing Emma’s elaborate hairdo drip like a wet dog.
Beth”and to a greater extent Marie”were not nearly as courteous.
Emma turned on her patio chair, giving the two a murderous glare in the middle of her tirade about her ‘ruined’ hair and foiled tanning attempt. Scott wasn’t nearly as over-dramatic, shaking the water off as Jubes, Kitty and Sam came up slowly to retrieve their errant toy.
Hurrying back down to the beach as Emma finally noticed them, Jubilee pushed her cohorts back toward the net, praying that they weren’t going to wake up in a loony bin wrapped in straight white jackets the next morning.
With a completely straight face, Jubilee leaned into Sam and whispered, “Nice shot.”
The teen only looked at her with enough innocence to hopefully escape Ms. Frost’s retribution…
---
Taking her sunhat off as she came back inside, Ororo shook her head to herself, and headed toward the kitchen to check on the rest of the food, of which they were supposed to be partaking soon.
She had just passed the front foyer when she thought she heard voices from the small entryway, and it gave her pause, an eyebrow going up. As she came forward, the voices got louder, and she gave a sharp intake of breath as Mrs. Duvahl came around the corner with a most unexpected guest.
“Look what the cat dragged in, Missus.” Mrs. Duvahl jabbed a thumb over her shoulder, smiling despite her verbal barb. In return, the tall man flashed her a winning grin, taking his sporty sunglasses away from his eyes, and turned to Ororo. He didn’t bother setting down his luggage; instead he just opened his arms, giving her the same grin, and waited expectantly.
“Well? ‘Got no love fo’ your little “brother”, eh Stormy?”
“How many times do I have to tell you to stop calling me that?” She came into his embrace immediately, hugging him tightly.
“Ev’rytime, cher.” He squeezed her close, feeling very much like he was exactly where he was supposed to be.
Leaning away from him, she then promptly reached out and grabbed him by the ear, twisting just enough that his face contorted in surprise. Slapping his muscled arm, she crowed, “Remy LeBeau! Just what the hell are you doing here?!”
Home Sweet Home. With an apologetic look he took back his sore ear, and rubbed his shoulder. Wincing at her, “Sacre”What was dat for??”
“You’ve got some nerve, mister!” She pointed a finger up at him, then quieted herself a little, looking around to make sure no one was eavesdropping. “Rem, you haven’t been back here in almost three years! And I’m not even going to get into the whole thing with Marie”“
“Don’t, petit.” His gaze fell a little, and she could see then that there were still some residual feelings there for him as well as her sister. “Dat’s a road I don’t feel like trav’lin down tonight.”
Crossing her arms tightly, Ororo just stared at him hard for several seconds before her face softened a little bit, and she sighed, lifting her hand to take one of his bags. “Well, you’re going to have to ‘go there’ at some point in time, Remy. She deserves better. Even you know that.”
He simply nodded, allowing her to carry one bag, the lightest of the three, and followed her toward the staircase.
“Here, go on up and set your things in a room; we’re on the patio getting ready for the BBQ, so you’re just in time. Just give me a couple of moments.”
“F’what?”
“Well, someone’s going to have to make sure Marie doesn’t blow a gasket when you round the corner.”
He thought about that for awhile, and as memories of his tumultuous relationship w/ the spicy grad student came flying back, he nodded. “I t’ink dat’s a good idea.”
“I thought you might.” Hugging him again, she started back down the stairs, but paused just long enough to toss over her shoulder, “And Rem..? It really is good to see you again.”
---
About five minutes later…
“He’s what??”
Ro swallowed, pausing before repeating herself. The quiet, pensive way Marie had uttered those two words actually had her more concerned than if the beautiful belle had shouted. Having known her for most of her life, however, if there was one thing Ororo knew of her young sister, it was that when Marie got quiet you could be certain Hell was close to follow.
Beth stood by her sisters, worry on her face at the deep red that was crawling up Marie’s neck toward her face as she stood there, silently waiting, daring Ro to repeat her statement. She didn’t need to be a telepath to know the cussin’ that was going on upstairs in Marie’s head.
Smoothing Marie’s hair back, Ororo kept one eye on the back door to the patio as she smiled reassuringly, trying to get that look off of her sister’s face. “Sweetie, he’s unpacking upstairs right now. Wait, wait wait”Marie”“
Ororo couldn’t help but grab onto her bare arm, but didn’t keep the hold as Marie stopped immediately. “Ah can’t b’lieve he actually had the nerve”“
“Marie, we know ye aren’t liking this one bit,” Beth came to her other side, blocking her view of the door partially. “but Luv, can ye really blame him for coming? Remy cares about our dad just as much as everyone else here does.”
“Ah know that, Beth, but still…”
“But nothing,” Ro touched her cheek lightly, and Marie looked up at her, inwardly recognizing the seriousness of her next words; the truth in them through their physical contact. “You and Rem can hash things out later. For now, let’s just allow our dad to have this day? We’re doing this for him, remember? ‘Ass-kickin’’ sessions can wait.”
Unable to help the grin at her sister’s down-home sentiment, Marie nodded, realizing that they were right. Just then, she caught sight of him, sauntering out of the back door, his smooth brown locks falling over his dark eyes. The scruffy 5 o’clock shadow she was used to seeing on him was fleshed out to a neat goatee”probably for his next film. A gracefully masculine physique was covered well in expensive duds; not as flamboyantly “Hollywood” as he usually wore for public appearances, but very nice nonetheless. Tugging on his hip-length leather jacket’s collar, he paused at the doorway for a moment, casing the scene.
Marie’s lip thinned to a hard line as they made eye contact almost immediately. “Sonuva”“
“Now-now, Marie.” Ororo spoke barely out of the corner of her mouth, smiling at Remy as a sign that it was safe.
“Ah got it, ah hear ya.” She murmured, and turned to reclaim her seat beneath the covered table.
Beth and Ro exchanged looks, but didn’t say any more, as some of the other guests saw Remy and he was surrounded by a small crowd. Wiping her face in a somewhat tired way, Ororo watched her ‘little bro’”completely loving the attention”and shook her head to herself. They hadn’t even sat down to eat yet, and things were already getting pretty interesting.
---
About 30 Mins. Later, Charles emerged from his downstairs study after Hank had administered his second round of medication. He was extremely fatigued, but he did his best not to show it. As he approached the main staircase on his way to the back of the house, his chair slowed to a stop. Tired shoulders already slumped, his eyes narrowed just a bit, as he turned his head to stare at the front door.
In the silence of the room Charles’ heartbeat quickened just a little. He continued to stare at the front door, his blue gaze fixated upon it to such a degree that the quiet around him gave way to the slight sound of the wood of the front door bending.
---
Outside, parked at the circle drive…
Logan settled back in the seat of the Jeep, his hands clutched tightly around the steering wheel. He had been about to get out of the car, when a weird sensation came over him, sending a cold chill down his spine.
Ever alert, his gaze went up to the door of the large manor; it was closed, no one outside. He hadn’t been nervous, really (or so he kept telling himself), but now, watching that silent door, he felt like he was making one of the biggest mistakes of his life.
“Get a hold of yerself.” He whispered fiercely, yanking the door open to get out and slamming it a little hard. As he came up the long drive, he noticed the cars parked there before his, and wondered just who the limo belonged to.
Taking the steps slowly, he wasn’t sure if he was supposed to knock on the door or not. Shrugging to himself, he raised his fist but caught sight of the doorbell to his right. Just as he leaned on that leg to press it, the door creaked open, startling him a little because he hadn’t sensed anyone so close.
His eyes widened momentarily before retreating into slits of silver at the cool reception of the man behind the door.
With his hands tightly clasped in his lap, Charles looked up at Logan; the expression on his face was decidedly mixed”a fact that told Logan exactly how much the man had wanted to open the door to his face.
They remained silent for a few seconds, as the cool breeze courtesy of Ororo drifted in the open door. Finally, Charles rolled his chair back and out of the doorway, turning it simultaneously so that he was in profile to Logan’s view now. Without meeting the other man’s gaze, Charles merely sat there, waiting.
Stepping in cautiously, Logan kept his eye on him, closing the door behind him. With a quick scan of the small foyer and the larger room just beyond, Logan’s eyes came back to rest on Charles. It had been years since he’d last seen the man, but Logan got the same sense of unease now that he remembered then. He knew what kind of abilities the Ambassador had, and it gave him the same distaste he always felt underlying his relationship with Jean. They were mind-fuckers, as he called it; people who were capable of changing a person’s entire mental, emotional and psychic identity with but a thought. Jean had done it with him; the way Logan saw it, Xavier had done the same thing with Ororo.
Breaking their eye contact, Logan walked past the foyer and into the main lobby of the house, looking around as if he expected to see her waiting for him. Behind him, Charles watched for a moment before turning his chair and following slowly.
Unfamiliar with the house, Logan stopped before the stairwell, having caught a trail of Ororo’s scent. He looked up the winding staircase, but his thoughts were soon interrupted.
“My daughter is waiting for you in the back, at the patio with the rest of our guests.”
“Which way.” He was still looking up the stairs with an odd look on his face; pensive and alert.
Charles began to roll toward the patio, but when he sensed Logan coming behind him, he stopped suddenly. Without turning his head, he said quietly, “Before you leave tonight, you and I are going to have a talk.”
TBC…
Note: I hate where I stopped this chapter, but as usual it was getting a little long and I didn’t want to lose anyone with so much going on. So, watch for the conclusion of this arc in part 7, coming soon!
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