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Xavier Institute
Early Evening

Wolverine’s fierce snarl echoed off the Danger Room walls, his claws slicing down his would-be assailant in seconds. It was the fifth run of this exercise and he was getting bored.
“Ok, Wolverine. How about we run that exercise again, but this time no claws.”
Wolverine glanced up at the control turret, giving Cyclops a mock salute. It had been Scooter’s idea to run a new stream of training programs for the fall semester.
After a few more rounds of “Wolverine kicks the Danger Room’s Ass”, Scott decided to call it a day. “That should be enough to get us started,” he said. The lights flickered back on and he nodded down to Wolverine. “Thanks for the help.”
“Uh, hey, Slim. Could I get a word.” Wolverine asked, rubbing his hand along the back of his neck.
“Sure. Be right down.” Cyclops snapped off the mic, jotting a few notes on his yellow pad before heading to the main floor of the training facility. When the doors hissed open he asked, “What can I do for you?”
“Ok, here’s the thing.” Wolverine began pacing, his stance slightly aggressive in his agitation. “I ain’t never been one fer makin’ friends. Fact is I don’t like too many people.”
“You don’t say.” Came Scott’s dry reply.
Wolverine glowered at him. “Anyway,” he enunciated. “I may not like you, but I respect you. What you do for the team. You’re a stand up guy.”
Cyclops looked flabbergasted. “What?”
“I ain’t repeating that. Fact is I’ll deny it if ya ever tell anyone I said it. The point I’m trying to get to here is that I’d like ya t’ stand up with me tomorrow.” There he’d said it.
Cyclops blinked behind his ruby visor. “You want me to be your best man?” He was incredulous.
Wolverine snarled a bit. “Yeah.”
Scott looked like he didn’t know what to say. Wolverine stopped pacing, giving the X-man a solid stare. “I didn’t understand before,” he said to Scott. “What it was like to love someone the way ya love Jeannie. But I get it now. And I’m…well, hell. I’m sorry fer any pain I caused ya.”
“Stop. You’re gonna make me cry.” Scott muttered, but he smiled. “If you want me to be your best man, then you’ve got it.” Cyclops was surprised when Wolverine actually looked relieved.
“Good. Now let’s go get a beer.”

The Greenhouse

Ororo placed the small African Violet bulb she had been holding into the shallow hole she had dug in the dark soil, patting it down, covering it up and giving it a brief sprinkle from the palm of her hand. She wiped the dirt from her hands on the faded yellow towel she carried in the back pocket of her faded jeans, rising to her feet. She’d been spending a lot of time in her greenhouse the past week or so, relaxing and unwinding. Being around her plants was always soothing. She craned her neck, loosening the crick that had formed there. Ororo needed this calming presence, she was a bundle of nervous energy, thinking of tomorrow evening’s event. Oh, blessed Goddess, it was really happening!
Just thinking about it made her heart hammer in her chest. She wasn’t nervous so much as anxious. They were meant to be, she knew. She’d loved Logan for so long she couldn’t remember ever not loving him. He was raw and powerful and dark and dangerous and loving and generous and surprisingly tender. Unconsciously her hand crept to her heart, her thoughts turning to the previous night. They had made love down by the lake, on the very spot they has shared their first real kiss. A slow sensual smile lit her face. The things that man did to her…
“Stormy? You in dere?”
“On my way out, Gambit.” Ororo snapped out of her daydream. She stepped through the plastic flap guarding the greenhouse. “Hello.”
“Evn’in, padnat.”
“Remy. What mischief are you up to this evening?”
“Was t’inkin’ of takin’ da Wolverine out fer a night on da town. Thought I’d check wit’ you first.” Gambit said, lighting the cigarette dangling from his lips.
Ororo thought for a moment. A night out would be good for Logan, as well as helping to rebuild the fragile friendship between him and Gambit. “I think that is a wonderful idea. You should see if Peter and Scott want to go.”
Gambit grinned. “Already done, chere. Alex is meeting us at Harry’s wit’ Iceman. Nightcrawler and Beast should be arriving home any minute, called dem dis morning’.”
“Charles?”
Gambit laughed “Non, de Professor not be back ‘til morning, chere.”
“Hmm. Looks like you have everything all planned. You were going to go with or without my permission,” she teased.
Gambit winked. “Have no fear. I know who gonna wear da pants in yer relationship, padnat.”
“Go on.” Storm shooed him away, swatting him with her rolled up towel. “Try and behave.”
“I make no promises,” he called over his shoulder as he sprinted quick as a cat towards the mansion, Ororo’s warm laughter following him.

Two Hours Later

“Are ya sure, darlin’?” Logan asked, shrugging on his well worn leather jacket, breathing deeply, catching Ororo’s left over scent from their early morning motorcycle ride. “I don’t have ta go out. I’d be just fine staying here with you.”
“No, go.” Ororo encouraged. “This is your last night as a free man, Logan. You should enjoy it.” Her smile was teasing and loving at the same time. Logan couldn’t get over how lucky he was. She was his. Only his. And tomorrow the whole world would know it. He grinned at that.
“Stay out of trouble.” Jean warned, coming down the stairs with Scott, their arms linked. They were trailed by Rogue and Kitty.
Apparently Ororo and Logan’s upcoming nuptials had rekindled whatever flame had waned in Jean and Scott’s marriage, as Scott and Jean seemed inseparable, and far more affectionate than they had been in recent months.
“As I said t’ Stormy. We’ll try, but no promises.” Gambit gave Ororo a wink, and she rolled her eyes at his repeated use of that horrid nickname.
“What are you girls gonna do?” Logan asked as they walked to the driveway.
One corner of Ororo’s mouth turned up. “Oh, we shall think of something.”
“Should I be worried?” Logan grumbled teasingly.
“Absolutely.” Ororo returned mock serious.
“Witch.” Logan kissed her tenderly, running his thumb across her chin.
“You boys have fun!” Jean called.
Logan was sliding into the driver’s seat of one of the black Hummers when he heard Ororo softly say, “I love you.” He turned to respond but she was not there, in fact the girls were all heading back into the mansion, Jean waving. Huh.

Harry’s

“I’d like to make a toast.” Bobby said, voice slightly slurred from the previous five drinks he’d had. “To Storm! Marrying Wolverine and proving she is the bravest woman in the world!”
“Hear-Hear.” Followed by a round of raucous laughter. They’d been at Harry’s for a little over two hours, drinking and talking, overall having a good time, Wolverine thought a little surprised by that fact.
“Are you nervous, mein freund?” Kurt Wagner asked, talking a sip of his water, an avid non-drinker. He had once told them: friends don’t let friends ‘bamf’ drunk.
“Nah. What’s ‘e got ta be nervous about, henh? He’s only marrying one of de most powerful, beautiful and intelligent mutants on da planet, who, if ’e ever fucks up, will no doubt char ’im to a blackened crisp. No worries, eh?”
“Thanks, Gumbo.” Wolverine growled, but there was a hint of humor in it.
Gambit shrugged, taking a drink of his beer. He grimaced. “Bobby, can ya do something about dis piss warm brew?” He held the bottle out to the younger man.
“Sure.” Bobby grabbed a hold, turning the entire bottle into a chunk of ice. “Oops.”
“Okay, somebody cut him off.” Scott said, laughing.
“Nonono. I’m fine.” Bobby said, tilting a little towards Alex. “Hey, how’s Lorna?” This earned him a poke in the forehead from Alex Summers, Scott’s younger brother, sending Bobby tilting in the other direction.
“Rookie.” Wolverine said, slamming back another shot. How many was that? He’d lost count, not that it mattered, his healing factor kept him from feeling the effects of too much alcohol.
“I wonder what our superlative women are up to?” Beast said, pouring warm cheddar on to his nachos.
“They’re probably watching some sappy, romantic, chick flick.” Said Scott.

Xavier institute

“Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug!” The girls chanted as Ororo downed the bottle of champagne. She laughed, sending bubbles up her nose.
“Whoo!” They cheered as she thumped the bottle onto the table, wiping her hand across the back of her mouth.
“Okay, your turn Jean. Truth or dare.” Kitty said, holding a deck of cards from her board game of the same name. She took a drink of her daiquiri, waiting for Jean to reply.
“Uh, truth.”
“Coward.” Ororo smiled at her best friend, her maid of honor.
“Ok. Here’s a good one. If you were not married to Scott, who would you want sleep with?”

Jean froze. She stared at Kitty for a moment, before clearing her throat. “I, uh, would only ever want to be with Scott.” She said lamely.
“Liar.” Betsy said, sipping her margarita. She and Warren had returned with Hank and Kurt for tomorrow’s ceremony.
Jean glanced at Storm, who had one eyebrow raised, her lips quirked in a knowing smile. “Oh, all right. Wolverine. Happy now?”
Instead of being upset Ororo laughed. “I can not fault your choice,” she said teasingly. “He is extraordinarily good in bed.”
This got some attention. “Do tell,” Rogue said, leaning forward. She was always curious about the physical side of relationships.
“Yes, spill.” Said Betsy over the rim of her glass.
“Ewww.” Kitty poked out her tongue. Then she remembered seeing Logan meditating in the woods once, naked and relaxed. Blushing she said, “Well, maybe just a little information.”
Ororo groaned, laughing at their eager expressions. “No, I do not think so.”
“Aww, come on. This is need tah know information.”
Ororo shook her head, still laughing.
“Well, if the thunderstorms and hail and snow and flash floods are any indication…” Jean trailed off, grinning mischievously.
“You are terrible.” Ororo tossed an ice cube at her friend. “I do not see you volunteering any information on Scott’s bedroom performance.”
“No one asked me to.”
“Ok. How’s Scott in the sack?” Kitty asked.
Jean looked at her. “How’s Peter?”
Kitty blushed. “We haven’t gotten there yet. He gets all worked up and then clang!” She made an expressive gesture with her hands. “He’s all silver and steel.”
Ororo blinked, then laughed so hard she got a cramp in her side.
“Hey, that’s not funny!” Kitty giggled swatting her in the arm.
“Ok, now spill,” Betsy said again when the giggles had subsided.

Harry’s

“Yeah, spill it man.” Alex said, handing their waitress his empty bottle, grabbing a fresh one from her tray. “How’d you propose? Was it all romantic with candles, or was it spur of the moment?”
Wolverine shook his head. “I just asked her. She said yes.”
“Why do I think there’s more to it than that?”
“You should see the ring.” Scott added.
“Nice?”
“Nice. Just be hopeful Lorna never sees it. Thankfully I had bought Jean’s years ago, so no worries about trying to compete with that rock.”
“Aww, is Wolverine a romantic?” Bobby teased pinching Logan’s cheek.
-SNIKT- Under the table Logan pressed the tips of his claws into the other man’s soft stomach. “Your point?”
“N-no point.” Bobby slid closer to Scott.
“I t’ink da Wolverine be a little sensitive when it come to Stormy, non?” Gambit swirled his beer in the bottle.
Wolverine grunted, but said nothing. Suddenly he raised his head as a group of men sauntered in through the door. They were all fairly large, burly and looking for a fight. He could smell it oozing off of them. He grinned.
“Uh-oh. Wolverine’s smiling.” Beast said, knowing that smile was a clear indicator of trouble to follow.
No sooner has the words left his mouth than a large shadow fell over the table.
“Hey, pretty boy, wanna dance.” The comment was directed at Gambit.
“Sorry, homme, your not Gambit’s type.” Remy replied, lazily swirling his beer again.
“You don’t remember me, do you?” The large man asked angrily.
“Should I?”
“We played poker last week.” The man grumbled. His three friends nodded behind him, their faces all sporting beefy scowls.
“Should know not t’ play wit’ yer betters,” Gambit said idly.
“Why you dirty-- You cost me three thousand dollars!” One large fist slammed into the center of the table, the large man leaning over grabbing Gambit’s shirt.
“Now it’s a party,” Wolverine said with a satisfied snarl, rising to his feet.

Xavier Institute

Something had awakened her. Ororo turned, looking with bleary eyes at the clock on her nightstand: 1:30 am. She smiled. It was her wedding day! She and the others had turned in only about a half an hour ago, all still giggling helplessly, but deciding to rest before the big day. She could still see there shocked faces as she described some of the things Logan had done to her. She blushed profusely, wondering what had made her share such intimate details. She laughed softly into her pillow.
A movement caught the corner of her eye. She turned, saying softly, “Logan? Is that you?”
A dark shape moved forward and Logan’s fierce profile came into view, illuminated by the soft illumination provided from moonbeams filtering in from the sky light.
“Hello there.” Ororo smiled warmly. “I thought you were going to sleep in your room tonight.” Logan had suggested it, surprising her with the tradition of not seeing the bride before the ceremony.
He said nothing, stalking towards her slowly. A sensation of fear ran through her body. There was something amiss, she thought, her head fuzzy from too much wine, she was never afraid of Logan, not even hen he was full on Wolverine. She levered herself up on her arms, suddenly very conscious of her nudity as the dark gaze flicked over her.
“Wolverine?” she repeated.
Still no response, but she sensed a growing tension in the air.
She sat up, rubbing her hand over her eyes, trying desperately to clear her head. “Answer me, Wolverine.” she demanded.
“Sat-ne a’nekh.” Came his hissed reply.
Ororo bolted from the bed, scrambling for her robe. All along the walls the shadows moved, hissing. From one of the other bedrooms a terrible scream rent the night air.





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