Chapter 4

         Six year old Rachel yelped as she almost fell off the stool she had climbed on top of, it wobbled as she stood on her tippy toes.  She tried to reach for the candy bag aunt Roro hid, suddenly she heard a shout and startled.  Logan caught the red head before she fell off, James had pulled him in here to rat her out.  Rachel whined and struggled in his large arms,

"I hate you James!  You told on me, how could you!". Logan shook her once lightly,

"Hey girlie!  You are in trouble, not him!  You could've hurt herself or died!"

"Yeah Rachel you coulda died like professor!  I don't want ya ta die like him and leave me.  Do you want ta leave me?!?" James yelled, tears in his silver eyes.  Rachel, still angry at his "betrayal" yelled,

"Yes!  And I'll neva talk ta ya ever again!  Neva!"  Logan watched his son ball up his fists as he glared at a pouting Rachel.  Then for the first time he released his claws, Logan set Rachel down as James stood frozen.  "James? James! I'm sowy I'm sowy! I didnt mean it, I didn't mean it!"  Logan scooped up James carefully and told Rachel to get aunt Roro in the tv room, he called to Jean mentally and ran to the med lab as fast as he could.

           Logan set James down as Jean and Hank brought gauze, bandages, and a bone saw.  Logan felt is chest tighten as James whimpered and tears started to fall, he nuzzled his sons head and purred for James.  James returned the nuzzle and whimpered, Logan softly wiped the blood from his hands as James silently cried.  Then 'Ro came running in with Scott and Rachel, Logan looked up anguished at his wife.

"What happened?" she asked and ran up.  She gasped as James reached for her with claws extended, she carefully embraced him and stroked his back.  He sobbed as soon as she touched him, Logan stroked his head as Ororo tried to comfort their son.

"Rachel says she wants to leave me like professor did!  I don't want her to Mommy!  I had ta tell Daddy or she'd fall!" James wailed through tears.  Rachel ran over and jumped so she could see her friend, she was crying now too and Scott came over and lifted her up.  She threw herself on top of James and hugged him tightly,

"I don't, I don't!  I wanna see you James, yer my bestest friend. I'm sowy!  Okay?" James nodded as Rachel pulled back and hiccuped, she saw his claws and touched one softly.  "Let mommy take care of you and then we will have uh sleepover and eat candy and ice cream and watch movies and other stuff, kay?" James nodded as Scott took Rachel down and hugged James bye.  He hugged Ororo tightly and clasped Logan's shoulder, Rachel waved as Scott carried her out.  Ororo wiped James' tears as he yawned, she laid him down softly as he calmed down.  Logan felt anxious in the medlab and for his son, he hoped he would not remember the procedure and would feel no pain.  He smiled as Ororo cupped his face then pulled him down for a kiss, she could read him like a book.

"He shall be fine my love," Ororo whispered, "And we shall be here for him, no harm will come to our son."  Logan nodded and nuzzled the mark on her neck, he inhaled her scent to reassure himself.  James whimpered and both parents bent over so he could hug both and inhale their scent, reassuring his animal his pack was here and safe.

"Hank is going to put a mask on you honey and you breath like you always do okay?  It is going to put you asleep for a while until we are done, so you will not feel anything.  Are you ready, mommy and daddy will be right here!" Jean told him as they situated him on the bed and hooked him to machines.  Hank placed the mask on and Ororo cried softly as his silver eyes slid shut,

"Okay, now I will place a line and it will give continuous anesthesia to keep him under and pain free.  I made this formula specially for Logan and his healing factors.  Since this will most likely happen again we will just smooth the more rough edges, there will be less tearing, thus less pain."  Logan and Ororo nodded and stood back to give them room to work.  They worked quickly and smoothed his claws and shortened them for now.  Ororo sighed with relief as they turned off the anesthesia and gave him pain meds just in case.  Hank removed the mask and they waited for James to stir, he turned in his sleep and sighed.  As he did his claws sheathed and Hank was able to examine his knuckles and give him the all clear as James rubbed his eyes yawning.

"Hey pup," Logan greeted and bumped heads with James softly, "How ya feeling'?" "Better, sleepy," James yawned as he reached for his mother.  She lifted him up and held him, rubbing his back as he rubbed his hands.  "They hurt a lil bit Daddy, do they hurt you too?"  Logan was taken aback and didn't know what to tell him, Ororo nodded and Logan sat on the gurney beside them.  He sighed as he rubbed James' back,

"Yeah pup, they hurt every time they come out.  It gets better each time.  But ya got ta be careful with them, ya can hurt someone real bad wit them.  Ya never use them on another person or animal, okay?  When ya get older I will tell ya about mine and show ya how ta use them, fer now ya have to watch how upset ya get.  It will be hard, but we'll all help okay?". Ororo smiled as James nodded and went into Logan's arms, Logan sighed as James sent him a mental hug and gave him big hug.  "Come on, before a certain redhead kicks my behind fer keepin' her boy away.". Ororo and Jean laugh as James grunts at his father, a huge grin on his face at the mention of his best friend.

         A thirteen year old Rachel frowned as she struggled to finish the third mile Logan had the class running.  She was the only plus size girl in their class and she was trying to hang in there.  Finally!  She finished and collapsed beside her best friend James, he grinned and handed her a water bottle.

"Thank you!" she gasped.  He nodded and looked at her,

"You should run with me, it will make this easier on your body."  Rachel shook her head as she swallowed,

"Nah, I need all the help I can get to loose this weight."  James rolled his silver eyes, he stood up and stretched his tall lean body.  Rachel hated his freakishly perfect genes, she stood up and stretched her calves out as she cursed his awesome muscles.

"You don't need to loose weight, I like your body," James told her.  Rachel blushed as the other girls glared at her or snickered, it was as if her best friend had blinders on when it came to her.  Plus he had the famous "wolverine bluntness", he says whatever pops into his demented head.  ((Heard that!)) he thought to her and smirked.  Rachel blushed and shoved him as they went to change out, ((Good!  I don't need to repeat it then!)). She hurriedly dressed in tight jeans and a flannel shirt she'd stole from James, with a cami under it.  As she came out James was talking with Chelsea, a popular skinny girl with butterfly wings.  She smiled and slipped out the danger room, as she walked on her face fell.  He needed to hang out with girls like that, beautiful and perfect.  Why did her best friend have to have the body of a Greek god?  She ran into aunt Roro as she came down the hall,

"Hey aunt Roro!"  Ororo smiled and hugged her niece, she put an arm around her shoulders and led her to her empty classroom. "How are you doing Rachel?" she asked as she locked the classroom door, "Did my husband try to kill you guys again in class?"  Rachel groaned and fell into the teacher chair, "Tell me about it!  Doesn't he know heavy girls don't like to run?"  Ororo sat on her desk and smiled, "Rachel you are not heavy, you just need to train your body.  Your mother hated the physical training too, I could help you.  You have my body type, so you just need to adjust somethings and you will find it easier my dear."  Rachel blushed as Ororo compared her to HER!

"I do not have your body, if I did I would be happy!  Maybe I would have a chance....er.." Rachel stammered and looked away.  Ororo sighed and pulled Rachel to her feet,

"My dear you are not fat, you have the body of a woman!  There is nothing wrong with that, James likes you the way you are.  He may be dense sometimes like my husband, but he is very clear that you hold his eyes and heart."

"You think so?"

"I know so, I am his mother!"  They laughed as James smiled outside the classroom door, he slipped away as they went on to other matters.

         James tossed his wavy hair back as he came out of the pool, it fell in waves to his broad shoulders.  It was black with more blue and silver highlights from being in the sun all the time.  He was nineteen and 6 ft 5, he had a swimmers body with bulkier muscles.  His silver eyes looked for Rachel, his best friend, but he was unsuccessful.  ((Rachel?  Where are you?)). ((Magnolia tree!)). He turned and frowned as she waved a tan arm, but stayed hidden.  He ignored his male friends and girls trying to catch his attention and jogged to the tree.  He had one woman for him and she was waiting.

"Rachel?" he asked and stilled as she came around.  She was 5 ft 5, lightly tan, her red hair in bombshell waves to her waist, she had piercing green eyes like a cat, full lips with a deep cupid's bow, and large cheekbones.  She was what most would consider plus size, but barely.  She was built surprisingly like his mother, their mothers joked she was really his mother's daughter.

"Hi James," she replied shyly.  She was wearing a white halter dress that clung to her curves and gold heels.  "I didn't feel like wearing a suit in front of everyone, but I know you like swimming.  I wanted to let you know I am enrolled in online classes so I will be here and on the team for now." James grinned wolfishly,

"I knew you'd miss me too much ta leave darlin'."  Rachel blushed and smirked,

"Isn't it the other way around?  You know you want me, darlin'!"  James frowned suddenly and stepped up to her,

"You know I do, but you don't want me."  Rachel looked away as he cupped her round face, he turned her face to his and he could hear her heart skip a beat.

"You know that's not true," she whispered, "You need someone like Chelsea or Amber.  I am just your nerdy best friend..."  James pulled her to his heated body, his sinewy body cradling her curvy one.  He nuzzled her neck and inhaled her scent, it was lavender mixed with arousal and the smell of her virginity.  "James, I love you."  Rachel froze at her whispered words and heard him growl.

"I know," he growls in her ear deep and pulls back to look at her flushed face, "That's why I can't let you go, my wolverine and I claimed you.  There will never be another, never was another."  Rachel nodded and pulled him down to capture his shapely lips in a kiss.  James held her to him tightly, only releasing her to take a breath.  "Let's go darlin'."  Rachel shivered at his gravelly voice and let him lead her to the mansion.  Everyone around the pool stilled and watched them, James smirked as he leaned down and kissed Rachel once again.  His male friend hollered and egged him on as Rachel smacked his arm afterward blushing.

            Rachel thanked James as he held open the door for her, she stilled as her father and uncle Logan were at the dining table.  James took her hand and they went to the table,

"Hey Dad, uncle Scott.  I have a question for you both."  Logan finished his beer and set it down as Scott set his bottle down also and gave their kids their attention. "Alright pup, let's hear it," Logan replied. "I would like both your permission to date Rachel," he told them, "I hafta tell tha truth and admit my wolverine has claimed Rachel mentally, even though I have not physically.  I can't help the way I feel, nor do I want to."  Scott sighed and stood up,

"You two are practically married already, so who am I to come between you guys now.  Just treat her well, like your dad does your mom alright?" James grinned and nodded as he shook Scott's hand, Logan hugged Rachel and told her to take care of him.  

"Y'all be careful," Logan warned, "I don't want grandbabies this early!" Rachel and James blushed,

"We're virgins for your information, thanks bub!"  Logan howled at Scott's relieved face and Rachel's growled declaration.  James shook his head and tried not to die of embarrassment as Rachel giggled at his blush.

"What is so funny?" Jean asked as she and Ororo came in.  Ororo raised an eyebrow as everyone was quiet,

"Dad is just relieved James and I are virgins and Logan was warning us he doesn't want grandbabies this early.". Jean and Ororo rushed their children and hugged them, James laughed  as Rachel was pulled into the kitchen by their moms.  James sat by his father who clasped his hand,

"Happy?"  James nodded and stared at his girlfriend, Scott and Logan snorted, the boy was lost.