Updated Part

Title: Because of This
Author: Duchess Curry
Fandom: X-Men
Pairing: Implied Wolverine/Nightcrawler
Summary: Wolverine goes on vacation and is impregnated in a moment of passion and alcohol. Upon returning to the mansion he is sent with several teammates to help Iceman at a new school that he is running.
Archive: Starting it here. But if you can't find it, e-mail me at Duchess_Curry@yahoo.com and I'll send it to you.
Rating: R (currently) for language, sexual situations, and violence
Parts: 1 - ?
Status: Work in progress
Series/Sequel: :) … wait and see
Website: nope
Disclaimer: All original X-Men characters belong to the Marvel Entertainment Group. I do not own them, I am just borrowing them for amusement purposes. I do, however, own all original characters which I have made up for the sake of the story (won't list them all, because there's a lot).
Authors notes & Warnings: This chapter starts it all. Logan is already pregnant when it happens. Yeah, I guess that's all from me for now.

Chapter 1

Logan was returning to the mansion more distracted than he had left it. `The one month a year that I …' He couldn't even bring himself to think it. That he a big, strong man could have that feminine characteristic. `I wouldn't even have gone, but the Boy Scout and Jean were so happy with their family, and the baby … I just couldn't take it anymore. Jean should have been mine … The family should have been mine … I was so stupid … How could I have not been the first one to ask her … Scott …' Wolverine's thoughts diverged as he turned his bike into the long driveway of the mansion. `I won't let them see that I'm upset … And no one … NO ONE … can find out that I'm pregnant! Damn foolish … The one week in the one month that I can conceive I go visit the Elf and we get drunk and …' He shuddered a little, not wanting to think about it. He pulled his motorcycle into the garage, and climbed off; just to be bombarded by Jubilee's as she ran out a door to meet him.

"Wolfie, I missed you. Did you have fun? How is Nightcrawler? Has he changed at all? Did you two get drunk again? How was it all? I wish I went with you, instead of staying here and babysitting the kids …"

On and on Jubilee went. She had turned nineteen a few months ago, and yet she was still as bubbly and overexcited as she had been when she first arrived at the mansion when she was fifteen.

"Kid, the whole idea of a vacation is to get away from everything; including the people you live with."

"That's true. Hey!" She suddenly exclaimed, making Logan wince. "Did ya' come back to help them out on the new mission that Iceman sent us? I really, really, really want to go with them, but Professor X won't let me. He says that Jean needs me to stay here and …"

"What mission?" Logan interrupted, ready to change the topic to anything but Jean and her family.

"It's from Iceman. The Professor says that he used to be an X Man too, but now he's gone on his own; even though he still keeps in contact with …"

"Jube I know all this already. What's the new information about this?"

"It's all new information to me, Wolfie." Logan looked at her, getting really tired of this really quickly. It was beginning to make him wonder if, pregnant or not, he shouldn't have stayed with Nightcrawler and his fellow monks … `At least it was quiet there' Logan thought as he listened to Jubilee wrap up her speech.

"So that's all the Professor told me to tell you. And he told me to tell you that you should meet him in the War Room when you got here." She nodded, satisfied that she had done her job.

"Great." Logan growled sarcastically, as he headed down to it, thinking `I'm not even back here five minuets and I'm already put to work.' Down the stairs, then farther down again Logan went. Through a dimly lit hallway, to the secure doors of the War Room. He banged on it with his open palm, and it slid open for him.

"Logan, do you always have to do that when you can just open the door for yourself?" Came Professor Charles Xavier's patient voice.

"Sorry Charles, I'm just tired." The Prof nodded.

"If you don't want to go with the team, you don't have to … Though I would appreciate it if you would because I can't go." Somewhere in the back of Logan's mind he remembered hearing Jubilee chirp something about how the Prof wasn't going, but she didn't understand why.

"Why can't you go Charles?"

"It is a conflict of personal interest for me to go. Besides, someone other than Jean and Jubilee has to stay here and take care of the school. I would like you to go in my place. Scott is too preoccupied with his family lately to be the leader that Bobby needs him to be for this. The students that he needs help with need a strong influence and a hard temper, as you have." Logan was still slightly distracted with his own problem to realize that Xavier had just dealt Scott a bad compliment.

"What are we supposed to be doing anyway."

"Well" The Professor chose his words carefully. "Bobby needs our help with a new team of younger mutants who are currently considered students at a school in the other side of the state that he is living at. The students range in age from thirteen to twenty- three. They are all living in a school in Western New York, in the hills that start the Allegany Mountains. Scott, Gambit, and Storm are going with you …" He turned his wheelchair to the table, then wheeled to where Logan stood. "Here is a list of those who Bobby works with both directly and indirectly."

Logan glanced at the list; seeing the mutant's names, code names, abilities, and ages.

Hale Allen : Able To Jump To High Places - Still Developing - 15
Shawn Antinanco : Shadow : Able To Turn Into Shadow/Smoke, Flying - 21
William Broad : Loudmouth : Understand and Converse with Animals - 17
Lot Crosscut : Chameleon : Able To Camouflage Self With Any Surface - 19
Donal Cassidy: Showing Father's Vocal Patterns, Slightly Telepathic -
Banshee's And Moira's Son - Still Developing - 13
Connor Crayle : Howl : Able To Change Into Any Land/Sky Animal - Prefers Wolves/Dogs - 23
Morgan Dale : Fairy : Able Make Things Grow - 19
Aaron Depleach : Able To Create Pulses Of Light - Still Developing - 14
Yuri Deutschendorf : Tech Boy : Able To Manipulate Electricity - 21
Skye Egstrom : Dream Maker : Dreams Become Reality - 17
Eliza Faske : Golden Hawk : Fires Yellow Lasers Out Of Hands, Fly - 18
Morton Fogg : Supersensitive To Light - Still Developing - 15
Samuel (Sam) Ewan Goodman : Farm Boy : Advanced Strength - 22
Matthew Hartley : Multi : Ability To Create Identical Duplicates Of Self - 20
Remembrance Laurel Theresa Kwienkenski : Mem : Telekinetic, Telepathic, Accelerated Healing - 21
Dion Le Beau: Twilight : Shield Effect, Ability To Give Anything Small And Flat Razor Edges - Remy Le Beau's Younger Brother - 21
Warner Lewis - Accelerated Reflexes - Still Developing - 15
Joseph Lipschitz : Contort : Ability To Change Physical Size - 19
Enlil Mayhew : Twister : Create Wind & Ride Wind - 17
Sully Micklewhite : Nyx : See In The Dark/See In Infra-Red - 18
Aidan O'Conall : Lava : Able To Melt Any Surface - Twin Bother Conway O'Conall - 18
Conway O'Conall : Waterfall : Able To Displace/Release Water - Twin Brother Aidan O'Conall - 18
Carolyn Pyatt : Speed - Still Developing - 16
Dru Skinner : Visage : Invisibility, Flying - 19
Nolan Spencer : Method : Able To Control Machines - 20
John St.Allerdyce : Pyro : Able To Manipulate Flame - 23
Marissa Tallow : Sixth Sense - Still Developing - 15
Hunter Wargrave : Arrow : Able To Propel Self Forward At An Accelerated Rate - 17
Kyle Waverly : Mercury : Able To Change Wood Into Metal And Vice Versa - 19
Erik Weiss : Breaker : Able To Walk On Any Surface, Supersensitive Hearing, Able To Flatten/Elongate Self - 20
Sara White : Telepathic - Still Developing - 16

He missed one important name.

Kevin MacTaggert : Proteus : Ability To Do Whatever He Imagines - 22

Wolverine didn't pay much attention to any of the names on the list, and shoved it in his pocket.

"Okay, I'll go."

"Thank you Logan. The blackbird is prepped and will be leaving in about an hour. You may bring your motorcycle if you desire to … And I have the feeling that you will want it when you are there."

Wolverine nodded. "Alright. Is that all?" The Prof nodded. "Okay then." He turned and started to leave.

"Oh, Logan …" He turned, and looked back, seeing Charles looking suddenly serious. "Some of them are supposed to be very powerful, though they do not understand the full extent of their abilities. And some of them are …" He paused, almost making a face. "a little over-confident in themselves. You'll need to work especially hard with them." Logan nodded.

"Right. Thank you." The Prof nodded again, dismissing Logan.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Logan sat in his seat in the blackbird, watching the clouds streak by as Scott flew the plane. He wanted to banish all thoughts of his previous trip from his mind. He pulled the list of names out of his pocket, and read it again, more carefully this time. And yet, as though his mind couldn't process any more terrible information, he once again missed Kevin MacTaggert's name. But he did notice two : Remembrance Laurel Theresa Kwienkenski, and Dion Le Beau.

"Hey Cajun, do ya' got a brother?"

"Yeah, dwo of em'. Why?"

"No reason." Logan smirked to himself. `He's gonna have a nasty surprise when he gets there.' The second name first caught his eye when he read it because it was long. `Girl likes the sound of her name.' He thought. But then something after her name caught his eye. Accelerated Healing. He stared at it for longer than the others. Accelerated Healing. `That's not something normal people have. Strange …' He thought. Logan glanced out the window again and saw tall, green hills. "Looks like your type of place Cajun. Lot's of ski country."

"Mon Ami, you remembered dat Gambit iz an excellent skiar." Gambit grinned brightly. Logan rolled his eyes and kept looking out the window.

"How much farther to this place, Cyce?"

"Not much Wolverine. We should be able to see it when we get over the next two hills. Scott flew over the hills, then lower. All four X-Men craned their necks and saw the squat, red brick buildings and green fields.

"Where are we supposed to land Scott?"

"Iceman said that we can land on the sports fields, as long as it's not the soccer field, because the younger students are currently working on a soccer section for their gym class."

As the Blackbird touched the ground, Logan got a sudden feeling that he did not really want to be where he currently was.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

As the four X-Men decended from the plane, two older students watched, kneeling on a soft futon, behind a window in an outer building.

"They don' look weird to me." Came a soft, deep, Scottish male voice.

"Appearances can be deceiving." The cooler, female American.

"True. But my Muther trusts them."

"Your Mother trusts me."

"So."

She smiled, and looked at him. "Somehow I really love you for this."

He smiled back. "Good." The young man pulled the young woman in for a kiss, which she accepted, and let him glide her into a reclining position before they continued to make-out.

Chapter 2

Wolverine, Cyclops, Gambit, and Storm looked at the buildings that made up this school.

"So, whare do we go from `ere?" Gambit asked, looking at the five buildings that sat next to the sports fields, and the three outer buildings on the opposite side of them.

"We could ask for directions."

"Do ya see anyone around here to ask, Cyke?"

"No."

"I do." Came Storm's powerful voice. She pointed at a young woman who was walking absently through the grass. She was about to fly over, but stopped herself and walked. "Excuse me …"

But Storm got no answer. The young woman seemed lost in thought, and wandered through the grass barefoot; a trail of yellow buttercups springing up wherever she stepped. The woman quickly walked away, not answering, not even looking at Storm. More footsteps trampled what had just grown as the guys ran up to Storm.

"What'd ya find out."

"Nothing Logan." Storm said, still watching the mysterious woman. "It was strange. It was almost as though she was thinking about something so hard that she could not hear me."

"She's pretty." Gambit said, and started after her.

"No Gambit." Scott pulled him back but the collar of his coat. "We need to find Bobby and find out what's going on here."

"Hi!" They all seemed to jump at the young, perky voice. The four turned, and saw a short, young teenage girl with light brown hair that was cut into a very short bob. She smiled brightly, then started talking again at a very, very, very rapid speed. "AreyoutheXMenthatMr.DrakesentforMr.DrakesaidthattheXMenareold friendsofhisandtheywillbeabletohelpuslearnhowtocontrolourabilities.Iso neofyouProfessorXavierMr.Drakesaidtolookforhim.HesaidthatProfessorXavi erisanoldermanwithabaldheadandawheelchair.SincenoneofyoulooklikethatIg uessnoneofyouare.Boydoyouallwearfunnycostumes." She took a breath, then started again,as the four just stared at her. "Mr.Drakesaidthatyou'dbecomingingaplane.Coolplanebytheway.AnywayMr.Dra kesaidthatwhenyougethereIshouldtakeyoutothemainsittingroombelowthedean 'soffice.He'llbewaitingthereforyou.ThenI'msupposedtogofindsomeoftheoth erssoyoucanmeetthemtoo." She stopped, grinning again.

"Kid, you're really cute; but I can't understand a damn word you're sayin'"

"Wolverine." Scott warned.

"Youknowit'snotnicetoswear.Theyallkeeptellingmethat.Butanywayi fyoufollowmeI'lltakeyoutoMr.Drake." The girl smiled, and walked twice as fast as a normal person could. But when she was about halfway to a building she slowed down to a more normal pace.

"Weird." Gambit exclaimed.

"We should follow her." Storm said.

"How do you know?"

"I caught the word `Drake' in all of what she said; so I suppose that she is referring to Bobby and that she will lead us if not to him than to some one who knows where he is."

Logan nodded. "Makes sense." They looked away from each other, and realized that the girl was nowhere in sight.

"Where'd she go?" Gambit said as they looked around.

"She vanished."

"I can tell dat Storm."

Logan started walking toward the center building. Scott called out to him. "Wolverine, where are you going?"

"The kid was headed this way. I'm taking a shot." The others shrugged and followed him in."

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

"I'msosososososorryMr.Drake.Ididn'tmeantolosethem,itjusthappen ed.Youknowthatthisstuffalwayshappenstome;Idon'tmeantobutIgosososososof astthatitjusthappensand…"

"Carolyn, it's alright" Bobby interrupted. "You told me where you met them, and what happened, so I know we'll find them."

"Okay."

"Why don't you go get ready for your next class, and I'll go find them."

The girl nodded then streaked out of the formal sitting room. Bobby shook his head, and was just getting out of his chair when he heard the knock on the door. He answered it, and almost gave a sigh of relief.

"Thank you for getting here so quickly."

"Da wild horsemen of Apoclypse coudn't keep us away, Mon Ami."

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

"Kevin?"

"Wah?"

"Do you think they've had enough time to get up to the house yet?" Mem absently traced nonexistent patterns on the futon's cushion.

"Probably."

"Bobby wanted us to meet them."

"We will. Mem help me learn this Spanish vocab an' Aye'll do anything you want, alright?" The `r's rolled as he spoke.

"Okay." Mem took the notebook, opened it, looked up again and said "Donde esta el bano en el coche?"

Kevin looked at her for a moment. "Do ya know what ya just said?"

Mem nodded. "Do you?"

"Give me the notebook. Ya go up to meet `em, an' Aye'll meet ya up later."

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Bobby and his former teammates sat in the formal, but comfortable sitting room. Bobby had explained how he found the school; and had moved onto why he had called them in.

"So, we have had rumors of Magneto creating an army of mutants to attack non- mutants. We here at the school are attempting to help other younger mutants learn to control their abilities; so when the fight happens they are prepared to defend themselves."

"Question." It came from Scott. "Why didn't you just bring this up with Professor X directly. We, the X Men, can help out more with the fight than others."

"We still aren't sure if our lines of communication are being tapped into. If they are, we don't want Magneto to know what we know before he has to."

"Then if you don't mind me asking, how did you find out about this in the first place?" Asked Storm.

"One of the older students who also teaches tapped into Magneto's thoughts one day. She brought the information to our attention."

"Which student was it?"

"It was me." The door swung open, and a young woman walked into the room, and flopped onto her side on a couch.

"An' who the hell are you?" Logan growled, unappreciative of the interruption.

"Remembrance Laurrel Theresa Kwienkenski; in the flesh."

"Mem …" Bobby started, but stopped when he saw her smile; and trying not to laugh said what he already knew to be her answer. "I know, I know. You're going to meet them all soon enough anyway; so why don't you just meet them now?" Mem nodded.

"I'm Gambit. An' I don' mind you interuptin' one bit, Cher." Gambit grinned. Mem looked over at him.

"You look familiar. Is Gambit your first name?"

"Nope. Dat's Remy, Remy Le Beau."

"Ohhhhh." Mem smiled, nodding a little. "I know where I know you from."

"Whare?"

"Nowhere in particular Remy; but I've heard of you."

"Only good stuff, I `ope." Mem raised one eyebrow at him, and smiled a little brighter.

"Yes." Bobby interrupted. "That's Gambit, this is Storm" He pointed at the woman that sat almost directly opposite to Mem. Mem nodded at her and she nodded back. `Gotta be a girl thing' Logan thought. "This is Scott, he is also known as Cyclopes." Bobby said, looking at Scott.

"The two of you didn't used to get along very well, did you?" Mem asked pointing from Bobby to Scott as she spoke.

"How did you …" Storm started, and Mem interrupted her quickly, saying

"I'm telepathic. Besides, that wouldn't be hard to figure out." She turned to Scott. "Why are you wearing those funny sunglasses?"

"I have optic lasers that I'm not able to turn off without them." Mem nodded; then turned her head to where Logan sat in the corner. She smiled sweetly at him.

"And you are?"

"Logan."

"Just Logan?" She teased a little. He was sick of this shit.

"Wolverine."

"Just Wolverine?"

"Logan."

Mem turned back to the group. "Well, he must be a lot of fun to live with."

"You're gonna find out." Bobby smirked.

"What?" Mem looked pleasantly confused and pleasantly amused.

"You two are going to share a room for the next few weeks."

"What?" Logan said loudly, but Mem just shook her head a little.

"Can't happen. Male and female can't room together. You know that Bobby."

"And you know that we have a room shortage this year. We've already got John moving out of his room to stay in mine so Gambit and Cyclopes can share his room. And Storm is going to room with Eliza and Morgan, so that's not an option for you."

"What about Kevin?"

"Kevin needs to have all the space we can give him; so that's not an option either." Mem opened her mouth to speak, but Iceman cut her off before she could start. "And before you ask, you know that you staying with Kevin is out of the question; no matter how many times you claim that you won't do anything."

She sat back on the couch, glaring at Bobby a little and pouting. `What a brat' Logan thought `This is gonna be a long, long few weeks.'

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Logan exited the dormitory building, and headed toward the dining hall. He had brought the minute amount of things that he had brought up to the third floor room that he was sharing with Remembrance, and was glad to not find her there. Upon questioning Bobby, Logan had found out that she had an art studio in a building near the sports fields; and was probably sulking there. Now he was hungry, and realizing that it was extra important to eat because he was pregnant; Logan walked down the stairs and out into the blazing late June sunshine. He walked toward a building to his right, opened the door and stepped inside. Logan was blasted by cool air, and the smell of old leather, ink, and paper. Realizing that this was not the dining hall; but the library, Logan reluctantly left the cool, pleasant space and went back out into the sultry early summer air.

Remembering vague smells of food from the building where he had met Iceman earlier, Logan headed back toward that building; at the center of the star pattern that the buildings formed. He walked up the thick stone steps and tried to open the door; but it wouldn't give. He pulled it toward him again, and again pulling with more force each time.

"You have to push if you want to get in."

Logan jumped a little at the unexpected, slightly bored voice. He looked over his shoulder and saw an older boy than most that he had seen wandering around the grounds. He looked like he was in his early twenties with deep, chocolate colored hair that was spiked into stiff peaks, and eyes that matched. He was wearing kakis and a plain white t-shirt with a red plaid tie around his neck. `Weird' was Logan's only thought. The bored boy reached past Logan and pushed in the door next to the one that he had been laboring over.

"See?"

"Yeah." The young man proceeded to enter into the building, not looking back to see if Logan followed. He did; pulling out a cigar and lighting it as he did. One inhale and exhale was all he got. A small stream of water fell on the cigar's end, putting it out.

"You're not supposed to smoke in here." Logan looked up to where the water came from and saw a young man hanging from a ceiling support. It would have been shocking if he wasn't used to Hank doing the same thing in the mansion. The young man looked only a little younger than the one that he had just seen; but with darker hair that looked almost blue in the pale light and deep green eyes. His hair also stood up from it's roots. `They all must go to the same bad hairdresser.' Logan thought; taking it all in, as well as the young man's dark, form fitting clothes, in just a glance. He rolled his eyes at the comment, and stuffed the ruined cigar back in his pocket. He looked toward the open door before him, and had to try hard not to wince at the sound of what had to be over four hundred people talking, laughing, and eating as things thudded, boomed, and clinked at the same time.

"I know how you feel. They usually make too much noise for me to take too."

Logan glance up at the guy again, raising an eyebrow. "And you are?"

"Erik Wiess. Student, recruited team member, illusionist, and gentleman thief extraordinaire."

"Right." Logan walked toward the open doors, pulling the list out of his pocket. He looked on the second page, at the description of the young man he had just met. `Erik Weiss : Breaker : Able To Walk On Any Surface, Supersensitive Hearing, Able To Flatten/Elongate Self - 20' `It says nothing about him being a smart ass. Or anything else that he mentioned really.' Logan looked back at where he had been standing, and saw nothing. He shook his head a little; starting to realize that there might be more to all these kids than he had been told.

Logan looked around the hall, and saw Gambit sitting at a smaller table with Bobby, eating. He walked over and sat down.

"Bobby, what haven't you told us about all these kids?"

"Well good evening to you too." Iceman looked at Logan, a little perturbed. "What do you mean, what haven't I told you?"

"I just ran into one of them outside of here."

"So?"

"He was hanging from the ceiling and being a smart ass."

"You mean Erik."

"Yeah. He told me a list of things that he was, and the only one that you mentioned out of it was `mutant'."

"Oh boy …"

"Funny dat you should mention dat, Logan. See, I ran into dis guy earlier, an' den ran into `em again when I turned da corner. An' I met anodher who was dhere, den wasn't." Bobby closed his eyes, almost like he was getting a headache.

"What did he look like?"

"From what I saw, almost like a Native American. Longish dark black hair dat went `bout do his shoulders, an' real tan skin …"

"Shawn" Bobby interrupted, putting his elbows on the table and his fingers on his forehead. "And I asked them all to take it easy on the abilities until you got used to them."

"So what aren't you telling us about `em?"

Bobby looked over to Logan. "Other than the fact that they are all very powerful, and that a lot of the older ones are bored so they use their abilities to amuse themselves?"

"Other than that."

"You're gonna meet all of them who are on that list in a little bit, so you can figure it out for yourself."

Logan was about to say something back, but a heavy crash diverted all three of their attentions. A tall, dark looking boy wearing clothes as dark as his eyes was charging toward them. Before they knew what happened, a rigid napkin smashed into the table, standing upright with one corner stuck into the wood.

"You … You A-Hole!" The dark young man yelled as another napkin landed, even closer to Gambit this time.

"Oh one." Iceman breathed, then jolted up and yelled "Dion, stop!"

"No. `E abandoned us."

Gambit's eyes widened a little. "No way." He whispered, standing and charging a card. He flung it at Dion; but it stopped inches short of him.

"What …" Logan started, but he stopped when he saw a white napkin and a black jack collide and explode in mid-air. He watched as Gambit and Dion abandoned their respective abilities and jumped at each other, punching and kicking until both fell to the ground. From somewhere, one of the younger students started yelling "Fight, Fight, Fight!" And the rest joined in, crowding into a circle around the two. They were still trying to punch each other, and blood ended up on the floor. They were trying to pull each other's hair out … Both with reddish brown hair and dark eyes. Logan blinked, taking it in, and realizing that they were brothers.

A tall man stepped into the center of the circle, and pried them apart. He grabbed Dion around his middle, and hoisted him away. Gambit sprang up and started after, but Logan jumped up and held the older brother back by grabbing his shoulder.

"Easy Cajun. You have the rest of the time here to pound `em. Let `em go for now."

"Iz not right."

Logan didn't know how to respond to this, but found that he didn't have to as Remy tugged away from Logan's grasp and sat back at the table.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Logan and his three teammates sat in one corner of the sitting room that they had been in earlier. He heard the others talking quietly around him. They had just met with the students who on Bobby's list said were `still developing'. These eight students were enough to give him a major headache, especially when that girl, Carolyn, started up. When Bobby said that she had the ability of speed he wasn't joking; the only problem seemed to be that she didn't know how to stop her ability. The other one who made him wince was Donal Cassidy; Banshee's son. He had been declared a little young to be here; but his voice was changing and he couldn't control it as it went from slightly low in both volume and tone to a screech like his father's. Logan's ears were still ringing from it.

Now the older students and those who had been declared student-teachers were appearing before them. Dion and Remy Le Beau were sitting on opposite sides of the room, shooting murderous glances at each other. A tan girl with hair that looked like a gold bob, and a pale girl with an almost green tint to her skin and curly bright red hair conversed with each other rapidly and quietly, giggling often. Logan's new roommate was sitting on a couch, her back on the arm and her feet up so her knees weren't far from her chest. She looked bored, and was picking little flecks of brilliantly red nail polish off her fingers when her eyes opened wide and a wicked grin spread over her face. She whispered something into the air so lightly that even Logan couldn't hear her. She nodded smiling if possible, even brighter and looked around the room, suddenly no longer bored. A young man with light brown hair sat on the other end of the couch, flicking open and closed a lighter. The little noise aggravated Logan's headache even more.

A massive looking young man with bulging muscles and brown hair that was so light it was almost blonde walked in, and sat next to a pale, extremely blonde young man who was behind a desk with a green shaded lamp on it. If Logan didn't know better, he would have thought that the lamp was flickering, just because the blonde boy touched it … But that couldn't be.

A wolf trotted in, then two dark red haired young men who were laughing at something between the two of them. `Wait, a wolf?' Logan did a double take as he watched the wolf trot over to Mem, and settle itself in front of her. He squinted a little, watching as she reached down absently and scratched the wolf's head.

"That's Howl." Logan looked over head, startled a little; upon hearing the unseen voice which was explained by the young man called Erik hanging from the ceiling again. "You met him earlier too." He nodded toward the wolf and Logan saw the animal transform back into the young man who had opened the door for him earlier. `These kids are too weird' He thought. Because he had been watching the little show, he missed a boy who looked younger than the others slide into the room and sit quietly on the floor; letting his blonde, bowl cut hair fall into his face and hoping that no one would recognize him. But he did see a young man wearing baggy jeans and a tight gray tank top come in riding on … It was hard to describe. It looked like a scooter but it ran with a little motor. He jumped off, straddling both legs on either side of it, then let it fling up into the air in front of him, catching it, and somehow turning it off before it went farther.

"So that's all of us who aren't supposed to be in class then?" Bobby asked, craning his neck to count people and see who was and wasn't there. "No, Chameleon!" He yelled, and a pale boy with dark eyes and hair wearing dark pants and a white shirt; surprise registering on his face, seemed to appear from a shelve of books.

"What? Did you really think that I wasn't here when I was supposed to be?"

"Just wondering where exactly you were; that's all." Bobby was checking his temper with every word.

"No problem mate." The late teen smiled roguishly and flopped onto his stomach on the floor, still grinning at them all. "Makes all of us now, don't it?" he said; an Australian accent thick on his words.

"No." Bobby glared at Mem as he said "Kevin still isn`t here."

She looked at him, trying and succeeding on looking angelic. "What?"

"Why do I have a feeling that you have something to do with this?" She shrugged and shook her head a little. "Just try to contact him."

"Okay." She smiled, and closed her eyes, then silently whispered into the air. She seemed to get the response she wanted, and opened her eyes again. "He's coming." Bobby kept staring at her, wondering what was up. Logan began to think `Kevin … I don't remember there being a Kevin on that list.' He pulled the folded sheets of paper out of his pocket again; but didn't get to look at it, as the wall not far from him suddenly contorted, and a glowing, orange form stepped into the room.

Panic rose in Logan's chest, making him want to scream and throw up at the same time; and not letting him check the anxiety on his face. He heard a wicked laugh as he buried his face in his hands.

"Knock it off!"

Chapter 3

"Knock it off!" Logan heard, and looked up to see Mem glaring at the newcomers. A tall man with brown hair who looked almost like a cross between Johnny Depp and Stewart Townshed had entered into the room, followed by the beautiful young woman who they had seen but could not talk to earlier. The man was glaring back at her and said "If you have so much time on your hands that you can organize a stunt like this, then you have enough time to run errands for the university tomorrow." She rolled her eyes at him, and looked away staring at nothing again. The boy on the couch with her smirked and started to laugh. "If you think that this is funny John, then you can help her tomorrow." He stopped laughing. "And Kevin, would you please return to your human form."

"Aye cann't." He said, though he didn't appear to be making an effort. The large man closed his eyes and sighed. Logan watched him open them and look at Remembrance who was smiling smugly again. The man nodded, and Mem waved a finger at Proteus signaling him to come closer to her. The orange monster grinned and started to walk toward her; shrinking in form until he was human so he sat next to her and put a hand on her knee. They smiled happily at each other, making Logan want to gag.

"Now then. If everything is under control, I will leave things in your hands again Mr. Drake."

"Thank you." Bobby looked like a child who had just been scolded for something he didn't do. The two left the room again, and everyone turned to Bobby, expectantly.

"Mr. Drake?" Several heads shot toward Mem as they saw her smirking, and trying not to laugh.

"Shut up Mem." Logan growled. As the others turned back to Bobby, Mem looked at Logan, almost analyzing him with her glance. She gave up after a minuet, and turned back to Bobby who had been thanking everyone for coming.

"Now, introductions. You all know who I am, and you all have heard the names of our visitors; who are here on my request; so I would appreciate it if you would treat them as you would me …" He saw several of them grinning at him and restated "Better than how you would treat me." Almost all of the mischievous smiles faded. "Anyway, introductions. You have all met Mr. Summers, Mr. Le Beau" There was a small, harsh sound from the corner where Dion sat that Bobby decided was better to ignore. "Miss Monroe, and Mr. Logan. Now, you all. You have already met Remembrance." She nodded in their direction, slightly distracted by something that no one else seemed to get. "And I believe that you have all met Kevin Mac Taggert before." Logan winced a little, remembering. He didn't notice Iceman going on about him for a moment. "And it would appear that Erik Wiess, also called Breaker, has decided to meet you all individually before you came up here tonight." They all looked up, and saw Erik smiling down at them from the ceiling, and waving a little. "Let's see, who else is there?"

"Me." Their attention focused on the young man who had been a wolf not ten minuets ago but now sat on the floor before them wearing pale denim jeans, a white t-shirt and that red plaid tie. "I've always been called Connor Crayle; but recently I've started calling myself Howl; mainly because; well …" Before their eyes he turned into a gray wolf with some lightish brown highlights; then a deep chocolate colored dog; then back into his human form. He smiled at them a little lopsidedly and shrugged. "Sorry Bobby; but I had to."

Iceman nodded, and turned toward the giggling twosome. "Introduce yourselves. And you might want to show them your abilities … As long as you don't over do it." He said glancing at Proteus and Mem.

"Right." The first with the mass of red, curly hair said. "I'm Morgan Dale. I'm known as Fairy." She said in her quick, whispery voice that was punctuated with a light British accent. "You see …" She trailed off as she suddenly shrunk to about a fourth of her original short size, and turned even more green as gossamer wings suddenly grew out of her back. She smiled sweetly, and circled the head of the girl next to her; making a crown of pale flowers and leafy greens grow where there hadn't been any moments before. The girl sat on the bench again, and resumed her normal state; grinning and taking the hand of the girl next to her. It was becoming obvious that they were not only roommates but also a couple. Logan thought he heard Gambit sighing as his heart broke next to him.

"And I" The tan, golden blonde girl's slow, deep voice boomed out even though it was quiet. "I am known as Golden Hawk. I have great, golden wings, which I will show you at another time when there is more space available. I am also capable of discharging yellow laser beams from my wrists; which I will also show you at another time. My name from when I was young is Eliza, though I prefer Golden Hawk."

They looked at the desk, and the still flickering light. "Mr. Deutschendorf, if you would be so kind as to stop playing with the lamp, and introduce yourself." Bobby said, making the pale boy blush to the roots of his hair.

"I am Yuri Deutschendorf. I am from Germany, by vay of Russia." He spoke slowly, with a thick Eastern European accent. "I am called now Tech Boy by many `ere. I can manipulate electrical currents, zo to turn off zmall appliances; like zhe lamp `ere." He touched the lamp, making it go out; then back on. "`Ow ever, I am `aving problems vith larger appliancez. Zhey zeem to explode vhen I try to control zhem. I can also travel zhrew vires of electric items; but I am used to being able to do zhis vrom var avay, and now I must be able to touch zhe item. It makes zhings difficult; but I am vorking on it."

The muscular young man next to him nodded. "Yeah, you are." He looked from his friend to the whole room. "I'm Samuel; Sam; and I've been called farm boy since I got here; so I guess that's my code name." He smiled openly at the group. "Most `a you know this; but I'm from a little farm town in Iowa. It's nice there. I found out that I'm stronger than most people are when I was about ten; and I did extra work around the farm because of it. My parents were proud of me because of my ability; even though I don't always realize it if I'm hurting someone because of my strength." He looked around the room; suddenly a little uncomfortable. A voice from out of nowhere intrupted him.

"Right. An' since none of you can see me; I should introduce myself now an' get it over with. Dru Skinner." Everyone looked around the room, unsure of where the voice came from. As it rambled on, one of the boys there stood up and squinting, looked around the room. "I'm invisible you see; or you don't; and that's the joke of it. See I was brought up in New York, and I always knew there was something different about me. Then one day I just disappeared, and it took a hell of a long time before I could figure out how to re- visible myself again." The boy suddenly ran over to the couch, bounced between Kevin and the boy with the lighter, and sprang into the air. His longish dark hair flew into his eyes; but it didn't seem to stop him. He grabbed onto something that no one else could see, and with a thud both he and it fell to the floor. "Aww Nyx, did ya have to do that? I was just having fun. I was gonna mention that I can fly too in a little bit." Everyone looked to the dark haired boy for an explanation as a young man with a buzz cut came into view.

"Sully Micklewhite; Nyx for code and friends. From nowhere special. Abilities to see in infra-red and through the dark. I don't need nearly as much sleep as an average human or mutant does. An`, oh yeah; I'm color blind."

"Good call, mate. None of us would `ave found `em for a week if you `adent." They looked at the other boy who lay on the floor not far from them; and had come out of the wall a little while ago. He grinned at them; loving being at the center of attention. "I'm one'a the newest additions heare. I'm Lot Crosscut, go by Chameleon too. I'm nineteen. I'm from Australia; like my accent shows. Don't care much what people think about me; so I'll tell you flat out. I'm gay; always have been; an' always will be." He grinned at them even more. "Guess I'm a little young to go around saying that; but it's true. I can camouflage wit' nearly any surface," he said, brushing his dark bangs out of the way. "Only problem wit' that is that I'm gettin' a nasty habit of fallin' through anything I camouflage with. Well, that's all for me for now. Now you, mate." He looked over at the younger boy who also sat on the floor; drinking in everyone's words but not saying anything for him self. He looked self- consciously around, then after a hesitation spoke softly; hesitating between sentences.

"I'm Skye Egstrom… Mem's started calling me `Dream Maker'… So I guess that's my code name… It's cause I do… Make my dreams I mean… All of the teachers here say that I should be able to make my day dreams come to life too… But I can't… Not yet… I'm trying though… An' Mem and Mr. Mac Taggert are tryin' to help me with it too." He seemed to shrink back into himself again. Logan saw him looking to the two who were "helping" him; and saw them smile at him and nod a little; almost encouraging him to say more; but he didn't. Instead, Logan heard to almost identical male voices say

"Right then. If you're done; it's our turn."

"I'm Aidan" one said.

"I'm Conway" the other said.

"O'Conall." They said together. "We're from Manchester, England."

"That's where we discovered our abilities" came from Aidan.

"That are exact opposites of each other" Said Conway.

"We were causing Mum"

"Too much trouble to keep at home."

"We got bored there, you see;"

"and started to show-off our abilities"

"which made Mum nervous"

"So she sent us here this spring."

"Anyway;" they said together.

"I can melt any surface."

"I can move water."

"I can make myself very hot; almost so flames come off my skin."

"I can make myself into water and still have human form."

"They call me Lava."

"They call me Waterfall."

"And even though we look identical"

"we couldn't be farther apart."

"I play the guitar."

"I play the saxophone."

"I'm strait."

"I'm gay."

"I'm single."

"Me too."

"Couldn`t even get a date for the prom."

"I had a boyfriend back in Manchester, but we split when I came here."

"I want a roommate."

"I don't."

Breaking their pattern they said "Though we share a room together."

"Keeps us out of trouble, you see."

"We've always been trouble."

"For as long as we can remember."

"For as long as our Mum has told us."

"But now we're here"

"and she's not."

"So we can cause even more trouble"

"if we try. But we don't often"

"because we don't want to be kicked out."

"Though that doesn't stop us"

"from taking each other's classes"

"that the other don't like."

"But since only Mum could ever tell us apart just by looking at us"

"no body knows when we do."

"So we don' get in trouble."

They grinned and sat back a little; satisfied with what they had said about themselves. Logan had to blink to try to take in all that the two freckled redheads who wore the exact same thing; green kaki cargo pants; green shirt with a light blue button down shirts over them. They finished each other's sentences; as their minds seemed to run on the same wave length.

Logan felt compelled to follow the group's gaze to the opposite corner of the room; to the figure with short, reddish-brown hair that was up in several large spikes; each tipped with bright, fire-engine red and luminous orange. Dion wore a trench coat like Gambit's; except that his was blacker than midnight with no moon. He had on a dark gray t-shirt under it; and black pants that matched the coat. He was holding a small piece of paper, and making it circle in his hands.

"Dion Le Beau." He half spoke, half growled. "Sorry broder through blood do him." He pointed an angry finger at Gambit. "Ma got pregnant dwice by da same man; den sent us off do a decent family when she realized what she `ad done. Ended up in da same place as dat rat." He said, nodding toward Gambit again. Logan could sense Gambit reaching into his pocket for a playing card to charge. "At least I got better sense den he does. Got recruited `ere a couple `a years ago by Iceman. Even `elped `em corral Mem couple `a times." He smiled winningly at her; making her smirk back a little. `Family resemblance real obvious in those two.' Logan thought, waiting for the fight between them to break out again. "I don' give dings a charge dough." He looked directly at Gambit, and said. "I give `em a edge like a razor. See?"

He suddenly flung the little piece of paper at Gambit, who just as quickly threw a charged playing card at the same time. They met in the middle of the room, crashing into each other with a bang and a flash of fire. Morgan turned her head into Golden Hawk's shoulder, and Sky threw his hands up over his eyes. Dion and Gambit sprang up ready to attack each other; and lunged toward each other when both were frozen in the air.

"If you two are going to act like this, then I'm going to call Iris in here and have her tie you up with vines so you both can't move." Everyone looked at Mem who seemed to be still paying more attention to the state of her nails than what was going on in the room. She looked up at where she had frozen Gambit. "And before you ask, Iris is the pretty lady who was in here earlier, with the man she's engaged to."

"Awe cher, did you really `ave to say dat `an break Gambit's heart?"

"What heart?"

"That's enough from both of you." Bobby said, looking from one brother to the other. "Mem, would you please return them to their seats?"

She looked up from her nails again at Bobby. "Oh, alright. But next time I might just let them tare each other apart; just for fun."

Bobby shook his head a little, sitting down again, as Mem mentally moved both brothers back into their respective corners; setting them down hard on the soft chairs. "Look, we're almost done with this boring introduction stuff; then I'm going to explain why I brought them here. So just chill out for a few more minuets; okay?" Stifled muttering and nods came from around the room. "Good. Now; Shawn why don't you …" Bobby broke off as he looked around. "Oh great! Where the hell has Shawn disappeared to now?"

"You know Robert, if you're just going to swear at me, why should I show my face at all?" The clear, deep, soulful disembodied voice rang out; opening the gates into history and nature. People looked toward Sully who just shrugged.

"Don' look at me. Him I always have a hard time findin' when he does this. He's not like Visage who leaves his body heat; Shawn totally changes his form."

With that a shadow moved from a corner to the center of the room. It puddled on the floor for a moment; then sprang up taking a human form. The human form gradually took on color, revealing a tall Native American young man, who had shoulder length blue-black hair that was pulled into a low ponytail. He had on a red shirt with faded white and black writing on the front, and old dark denim jeans that had faded from time and wear. He had a silver stud in his right ear, and another through both his right nostril and left eyebrow. He also wore a heavy necklace of a long white bead, with blue and white beads on either side of it; strung on a leather cord. He looked out at his team; bowed a little toward Mem, who bowed back; then bowed to Kevin who repeated the action. Finally he turned toward the X Men and looked directly at them before speaking.

"Shawn Antinanco." His words bored past their minds, working their way into their souls. "My name is old, and means `eagle of the sun'. Some day I hope to be an eagle of the sun, a warrior for all that is good as my ancestors were. The line of mutation is strong in my family; and it prevails in the men. There is a legend that when my forefathers had to fight their enemies, they would fly up in front of the sun, casting a shadow like some great bird; then they would disappear into a shadow and cover the sun so the enemy could not see what was coming and my people could be victorious. I am proof that these legends are based in truth; and I hope to some day be a great warrior as my grandfathers were." He paused for a moment … For dramatic emphasis; and to let all that he had already said sink in. "I am called Shadow now. I fight, and teach American history and the ways of fighting of the past to the younger students here; and to anybody who wants to learn. I am also a black-belt in Jujitsu and will spar with a challenger who is up to my skills, though I will teach anyone who wants to learn and comes with a clean heart to do so." He looked toward Bobby, who nodded at him; almost releasing him from the need to talk. Shadow moved back toward the corner of the room where he had been previously, and leaned against the wall, keeping his human form instead of changing into a shadow as he had been. He looked toward the young man who had rode in on that scooter. He was sitting on the floor, absently spinning one of the wheels. "Method. Your turn now."

The boy's dark head snapped up at the sound of his name. His hair was slicked like John Trovolta's in Grease; wand stood as a contrast to his modern clothes.

"Call me Method. Just `cause everything has a method, ya know? Mine is in how I fix things."

"Try to fix things."

He glared at Mem, then continued. "My ability is simple. I break large machines. Can leave `em so they look the same too; just don' work. It works." He nodded, and half smiled.

"Yeah, except when you do it to hair dyers." Morgan sneered.

"Well if ya didn't dry your hair in the middle of the night, then I wouldn't have to."

"I still don't see how you got into our room."

Method looked at her, almost flirting, and said softer than before "Wouldn't you like to know."

"Please." Mem said, rolling her eyes. "He's a shrinker." Some of the boys nodded, and other groaned when Gambit spoke.

"Dat's a common problem wit' guys."

Mem's head fell back as she tried to hold in her laughter, then looked over at Bobby. "Is sex the only thing he ever thinks about?" Bobby couldn't answer, because he was trying not to laugh too.

"Dude," Method said to Gambit "I shrink my whole body; not just my dick." Even though he didn't want to, Gambit blushed at that; which made his brother Dion laugh even harder. This made the others laugh even harder. The two schools seemed to blend; for the moment at least. It took several minuets for them all to calm down.

"Well, that's all of us, isn't it?" Said Dru from the floor by Nyx. Bobby thought for a moment.

"Well Mercury, Hunter, Enlil, Joseph, Multi, and Loudmouth are all in class right now, so maybe we are all done." Bobby scanned the room, then heard the sound of a lighter opening and closing over and over. "Forgot you John; or don't you want them to notice you."

"Your call as always." The boy who sat on the couch across from Mem and Kevin said, flicking open his lighter, then closing it again. "Up to you whether I'm important enough to talk about."

"John …"

"No, it's okay to ignore me." Evil glinted through his eyes. "The question is though, do you really want to?" The small flame from the lighter suddenly grew to the ceiling in a pillar of flames then sunk back down into the little box. The boy grabbed the flame; then flicked closed the lighter, still holding the flame in his palm, letting it contort into intricate shapes and patterns as he spoke. "Name's Pyro; though some call me John. If you're lucky I'll let you get away with it." He looked from one X-Man to another, to another, to another as he spoke, ending on Logan. "I'm the oldest next to Bobby here; an' I don't let people forget it. I'm powerful; and I don't care who knows it. I do what I want; more often than she even does." He jutted his chin toward Mem as he said that. "I know about you four. You're part of Xavier's bunch. I almost was too; so don't think that I'm gonna take orders from you. Around here I take orders from four people; the dean, Bobby when he's not being stupid, Mem because I never know what she's gonna do or say if I don't," He looked dangerously at Logan, malice fighting through in his eyes "and me." He snarled; sitting back in his seat, letting the flame shrink to the size of a teardrop, then disappear.

Logan tried to take it in. `Professor warned me about them; but I didn't realize that they really were such ignorant asses.' He looked toward Mem for a moment; not realizing that in the silence after John's speech no one was saying anything. `How the hell does she get them wrapped around her fingers? She's not that powerful.' Then, in his mind, Logan heard Mem's voice saying "You have no idea." He saw her look at him slyly, then look back at Bobby. It was a little spooky; even for Logan.

Chapter 4

Iceman looked from person to person around the room as he spoke; not to former and current team members; but as something more.

"Thank you all for coming here; and for your patience through all of this. You may not know, but we are at a turning point in our fight against the war between mutants and other people. Through Remembrance's brilliance" his gaze stopped at Mem, who held up a bottle of water toward him in a sort of toast, or thank you for the compliment; "we have begun to understand Magneto's current plans." Iceman shifted his gaze again. "But these plans aren't important right now. What is important is that most of you need a little help to totally control your abilities. Which is why I called in my former teammates for help. Each of them have specific and unique abilities like you do; and they have total control over theirs. So I believe that they will be able to help you control or regain control over yours." He stopped again; and breathed. The group was silent. `Even Remembrance gets how serious this is.' Logan thought. Bobby continued. "You all know how important this is; and how you can't fight Magneto until you can control both your abilities and your tempers."

Mr. Drake looked toward the trio on the couch as he said that and they stared back. `They get it.' Logan thought. `They don't want to listen; but they get it. This might be their last shot at doing something really good for lots of people, and their last shot to be first picks on Bobby's team.' That was what it reminded him of. Picking dodge ball teams. These three were Iceman's first picks; the X-Men were his pitch-hitters, the others in this room were the rest of his picks; and the younger mutants that he had met maybe an hour earlier were the kid-brothers that no one believed were good enough or old enough to play with them. `I feel a little sorry for them; being tossed out like the runts of the litter.' He shuddered a little in anger at that thought. `But it's for their own good. If they can't control their abilities; then they can't fight yet.'

Logan thought about what he had been called in to do. To be the leader, and the teacher. To be the one who helped Bobby pick the team to fight. `If they aren't ready, I won't send `em in.' He thought. He kept sneaking glances at Bobby's favorite trio. `What makes them so special? Proteus, maybe. He can do whatever. He's powerful; so I can understand him. That one …' He was thinking about Pyro `He's angry enough, and bored enough. And he seems to want to prove himself enough. Plus he seems to have total control over his ability to play with fire. Alright; he makes sense. But her …" Logan had to shake his head as he thought. `That one … Remembrance … She doesn't seem any more powerful that Jean … maybe even less than Jean; so …' Logan's thoughts diverged. He suddenly remembered to back when they all were a lot younger and they thought that Jean had died; just to have her come back as `the Phoenix'. Logan looked at Mem again. `Jean turned out to have hidden reserves of strength and power. But her … I don't know. She reminds me of someone. Not Jean. Jean is so much better than her. But who? Jean … Jean and Scott … Their family … My vacation … The Elf … That night when he got drunk and I was so lonely …' Logan shook his head trying to shake his diverged thoughts. He moved his head downward and placed it in his hands as he did earlier when it had filled with terrible thoughts when Proteus had entered the room.

Logan looked up at the couch again. Kevin still sat with his arm resting on Mem's knees. `Kevin … There really is a difference between Proteus and Kevin. And not just in looks. It's in their whole being. Proteus seems vengeful and violent; and Kevin; Kevin is … Well; he isn't. Lover not a fighter? Naw. That doesn't work.' Suddenly it came to him. `Had that girl tamed to wild beast? Had Mem tamed Proteus to make Kevin?' He watched them for a few more minuets and realized that they were talking to each other telepathically. It made him smirk to realize that he wasn't the only one who wasn't listening to "Mr. Drake" drone on and on about responsibilities and hard work over the next few weeks. `Few Weeks! I didn't sign up for a few weeks.'

Logan looked over at his fellow X-Men; and realized that the only other one who seemed surprised at this was Scott. `He's gonna miss his family.' Logan thought. `But it's just like that Boy Scout to put the fait of the world over his personal desires. If only he had dedicated himself to the world instead of Jean. Then I wouldn't be in the predicament that I'm in now.' Logan thought. He resisted the urge to rub his stomach. `I'm not carrying there. They implanted that thing in my middle, toward my back. Hank went over this with me a long time ago when I realized that I was bleedin' out my ass. Found out that once a year I drop an egg, and that the month after I do I menstruate.' This thought made Logan want to shudder even more; but he again resisted the temptation to. No one seemed to be paying attention to him. They were all still staring at Iceman … and surprisingly very few of them had glazed looks on their faces. Logan kept staring at Bobby; but went back to his own thoughts. `It never should have been a problem. But that one stinkin' month a year that I drop I had to go on vacation. An' that one month I had to be stupid an' I had to go an' have sex with the Elf.' Logan looked around sulkily. Still no one noticed him; ensconced in the darkened corner as he was. `Lucky for me he didn't remember a thing afterwards. I got out before anybody woke up; an' Elf just woke up with a hangover the size of Manhattan. He didn't remember what we did. Good thing to with his vows an' all. But still it would be …' His train of thought trailed off as he heard Mr. Drake's next statement.

"Well, I guess that's all for the night. You all should be heading toward your rooms to sleep or finish homework, or whatever." Mr. Drake looked around, smiling a little and nodding. The students got up, stretching and talking among themselves again. He heard the one called Method complaining about how he broke the `damn' motor on his scooter thing again; and the twins rapidly talking to each other as they passed him.

Almost everyone had left in no time. The two guys whose code names had 'boy' in them were talking quietly together over the desk. The sinewy, strong looking one had his hand on the pale one's arm. Logan squinted at it; it looked more than friendly; but who was he to comment. Remembrance and Kevin sat as they had been for the past half hour; convincing Logan that they hadn't been paying attention to the speech at all. But now they were whispering to each other, so close and low that he couldn't make out what they were saying. The grandfather clock that leaned against one of the walls chimed eleven times; bringing attention to the growing late hour. Logan hadn't realized that it was so late … or that he was tired. It had been a while since he slept in a bed … the seat on the plane from Europe being moderately comfortable at best, and there being no time to sleep before he left the mansion. Even the last few weeks of his trip had been agony to sleep. He needed a good night's rest. He had tried for one the night before; since he got in on such a late flight he had just got a cheap hotel room for the night and had planned on resting there and just going to the mansion the next morning; but he had been restless then. Logan had realized while still at the abbey that he had not bled like he was supposed to … but there was nothing that he could do about it there. But once back in New York … Wolverine had lay in bed last night, willing himself to fall asleep; but nothing. So he got up, got dressed; walked to an open-all-night- corner-store and bought a pregnancy test. The guy behind the counter had joked with Logan about a girlfriend being pregnant; which he had agreed to and even joked a little about with the guy … Not his style. But this was a weird thing; and Logan didn't know how to react to it. He took the test back to the motel, hidden in it's brown paper bag; then locked the door and peed on the stick. Logan waited, then looked at the little square on the stick that showed a pink plus sign. Positive. Logan went out again, and again repeating his mission four more times to different stores; repeating the act that he had at the first each time; then going back to the hotel and peeing on another stick got the same results. Always positive. Five times positive.

Logan realized that as he thought he had wandered. And as he wandered, he had reached the door to the room that he now had to share with that brat. Logan sighed; unlocked the door, and stepped inside.

White cinderblock walls greeted him. Scattered posters … large photographs of flowers really, and random postcards from around the world greeted him. The pale wood desk overflowing with papers, notebooks, a lamp, and a laptop computer, and the two dressers. The closet built into the wall, not quite full of clothes; and the bunk bed draped in blue linen and white linen; mixed white with blue and blue with white against the black bed frames. The bottom bunk was unkempt; but he didn't care, and collapsed onto it. Minuets later, due to sheer exhaustion, Logan fell asleep.

Not long after Logan felt himself fall to the floor. He opened his blurry eyes and saw that all the lights had been turned on, and the girl stood in front of him; her hands on her hips.

"You sleep on top."

Logan blinked and tried to check his rising temper. "Ya had ta pull me out of bed ta tell me that?"

"I didn't pull you out of MY bed, I levitated you out of MY bed." The focus seemed to be on it being her's, but that wasn't what bugged Logan. It didn't bother him where he slept … but the fact that she woke him up to almost yell at him was what made him angry.

"Look Kid. I was asleep."

"And now you're awake." She interrupted, still staring, imperiously down at him. Logan was still too tired to deal with this. `If one of us don't stop this, she's gonna get hurt.'

Logan got up, and grabbed a pillow off the top bunk. "I'm sleepin' out in the hall." He growled to her face, then stalked to the door and threw it open. Wild orange and yellow flames danced and roared before him. They were almost up to the ceiling. Logan stepped back; not afraid; but not expecting this.

"You can't." She almost laughed at him. "See, Skye really does make his dreams; and they really are dangerous if you go out into them. An' he would just have his own room; but he sleepwalks and always ends up in the hallway; so it's easier just to avoid it.

Logan spun around to face her again. "This is normal?"

Mem nodded. "What isn't normal is to come in and find someone sleeping in your bed."

`What a bitch.' Logan thought, but aloud he mumbled a half apology and climbed onto the top bunk. Mem closed the door, and turned off the lights again. Wolverine decided to ignore anything that was to come before sunrise, and fell back asleep.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

Logan sat up quickly alarmed at the sudden loud noise, slamming his head into ceiling in the process. He was slammed back into the pillow because of it.

"Aaugh." He heard Mem groan. The beeping continued, and Logan realized it was an alarm clock. He heard fumbling noises, and opened his eyes; still wincing from the hit he took from the ceiling. The alarm clicked off; and Logan realized that he could still see light from the streetlamp outside streaming in from the uncurtianed window.

"What time is it?" He said; his voice raspy and quiet.

"Too early. Go back to sleep."

"I asked what …"

"Go to sleep Logan." Mem's voice was clear as a bell; and had started off soft but had become stern. It reminded him of waking up after a night of sex. One person wants to keep the other person up to do … well, whatever; but the other just wants to sleep. And as usual the woman was winning out. Logan wanted to strangle her for setting her alarm clock so early.

"What time is it?" He growled.

"Four fifteen."

"In the morning."

"Yes," Remembrance moaned. "Now play smart and go back to sleep."

He wanted to strangle her; but his head was still reeling from the unexpected hit he took. Logan decided that it was just easier to close his eyes and fall back to sleep as a cool breeze from the open window kissed his sore head.

The next interruption was harder to ignore.

BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! Someone was knowing on the door.

"Remembrance!" They yelled out. Logan winced, keeping his eyes closed. He had been having a great dream; but all he could remember was that it involved a gorgeous, long haired redhead wearing a backless light blue dress, and looking over her shoulder at him … then nothing. It was terrible; not the dream, but the fact that he couldn't remember any more; and that the rude person was still beating on the door and calling for the either missing or deaf Remembrance wasn't helping. He shifted over a little so he could reach to the bed below. He took one of the pillows from his bed and threw it on to of her.

"Hey!" That woke her up.

BAM! BAM! BAM! "Remembrance?" the hidden voice called again.

"It's for you." Logan growled; then moved back onto his stomach, and tried to get comfortable again. His sensitive ears could hear her groan into her pillow. It made him what to laugh.

"Who is it?" She yelled out.

"Miss … Remem … Mem it's Sara … Sara White … I`m in the class you teach. If you don't get goin', the whole class in gonna crowd into your room and take over so you can instruct us." Logan heard Mem groan into her pillow again. Though he shuddered as she yelled out.

"Okay. Tell them I'll meet you out on the soccer field in tem minuets. An' If you're not there, I'm failing you all."

He heard the girl's uncertain voice. "Okay. I'll tell them." Then Logan heard Mem sigh and roll off the mattress.

"What time is it?" He half growled at her; opening his eyes then closing them again when he realized that there was now brilliant sunlight streaming through the window.

"Somewhere between six and six thirty. Why?" This information made Logan groan. "Go back to sleep again. I'll be gone forever; so when Bobby comes, tell him I was on time. But if, no make that when Kevin comes tell him I'll meet him at lunch."

Logan rolled her eyes. "Is that all, your highness?"

Mem smirked. "Sleep well." She slammed the door as she left. Logan pulled the pillow over his head, and wonder `How much longer do I have to stay here?'

Chapter 5

E-Mail from Logan to Professor Charles Xavier:

Charles,
Well, I've spent a month and a half here; and I understand why you didn't come. Everyone here is nuts. The students are out of control, the teachers don't help, and the student-teachers are spoiled brats. They're the worst. They're old enough to help fight and do things on their own; but they don't. Scott thinks they're just bored.

Scott has been no help lately. If he keeps lusting after Jean and missing his kids I'm gonna hit him. Hard. He's not bad at lecturing the students; but not good for much else. But his sense of responsibility won't let him leave. He's useless. Can you do something so he'll do something?

Anyway, Strom's doing good; but I think she's still a little freaked out by her roommates. They're lesbians; not openly but still it's noticeable. Storm's not herself. I don't know why. Can you find out? I'm starting to sound like a whiny kid, like the girl I have to room with but I'll tell you about her in a minuet.

Remy is no help! He is aggravating! The Cajun has decided that he is in love with a teacher here. Iris (the teacher) is engaged to a man called Jack, but that isn't stopping him. He keeps buggin me to borrow my bike to go buy her flowers. I keep telling him that she doesn't like him but he doesn't listen. Now it's not just buggin me, but he's not helping anything. Between this girl thing and the daily fights with his brother he has no time to help anyone learn or control anything.

I've told you about the girl I have to room with. She's no better then when this first started. Guess I should be nice though, since she's lending me her laptop to write this. But she's so terrible. Every week she teaches three classes, and one of them is supposed to be at six in the morning. Only she doesn't get up for it so the alarm clock goes off forever then people bang on the door to get her out. I'm ready to tell Iceman about it. I watched it once, to see what it is all about; honestly it's not bad. It's more like an exercise class than a learning class, but the students who take it say that it helps them control their abilities. It's supposed to be a cross between tai chi and something else (I forget and don't want to ask). Bothers me.

I've watched several classes by now (not her's, but others). Some are normal, like ours. History is like what Storm taught, so they're having her teach it too. The students sit in rows in those desks that are just chairs with little trays in front of them. There is a black board at the front of the class, and the teacher lectures them, or gives presentations on subjects, and all that other stuff. I'm finding that they're not big on videos here though. I think the students resent this; but the classes that they take for their abilities seem to make up for it.

They have a large gym here, much bigger than the danger room. Everyday they all pile into there (the only air conditioned building) and try to practice using their abilities. This sounds good, but it isn't. The teachers and the older mutants are supposed to help the younger ones learn how to use their abilities; but they always seem too busy working on their own to help them. And even those who claim to have full control of their abilities don't seem to. There's a boy that they call Multi, only because he can make duplicates of himself. He's good at it, but he can't always figure out how to get rid of them when he's done with his copies. But that's minimal compared to the damage the Le Beau brothers do when they fight. It's a daily training even by now.

I know I've told you before, but I'm going to say it again. Remembrance is the worst. She (like Kevin MacTaggert and John St.Allerdyce) appears to have total control over her abilities. But because of this she doesn't have to work as hard as the others; so she's bored. It makes her trouble.

Charles, sorry for the amount I keep complaining to you about her, but I thinks she's worse than the others because I have to spend more time with her than the others.

Charles, I …

"Aren't you done yet?" Logan looked up from the e-mail and over at the girl who was perched, sitting Indian style on her bed. She was looked like she was losing patience with him. "Your typing is interrupting me."

"I'll be done in five minuets." Logan growled at the self- righteous form, and turned back to the screen.

Charles I know why you didn't want to come here, but I'm getting worried. I don't want to say it, but I can't do this on my own and the team that you sent with me isn't working. I don't know what I'm supposed to do next. Send me something back with further instructions. I wouldn't ask but; yeah get back to me. Regards, Logan

He moved the curser and clicked the `send' button on the screen, then closed out the window.

"Done." Logan turned and saw her sitting in a meditative stance with her eyes closed.

"Good. Now either be silent or go away."

"What the hell are you doin'?"

Mem's eyes opened and she sighed. Logan got the feeling that she expected him to know exactly what she was doing. "I thought you worked with a telepathic person before."

"Several. But they always explained what they were doing."

Remembrance rolled her eyes. "I'm trying to get into Magneto's head."

Logan felt confused all of a sudden, and it showed on his face. "I don't know if you know this, but Magneto wears a helmet that keeps people like you out."

Mem smiled indulgently at him. "I can get past it."

"Whatever." Logan smirked. "You know, if you've tried to get at Magneto before, then he's probably able to track you and will try to hurt you."

"I'm not afraid of Magneto. He's a lesser power than me." Logan smiled and shook his head at her delusion. "Besides," Mem shifted to a more comfortable position "I'm untouchable."

Logan couldn't let her get away with this statement. He got up and walked over to her, then looking into her grinning face he touched her shoulder. "I don' think so." Logan turned and walked toward the door to leave, so he didn't see fire suddenly enter into her eyes. Mem's fingertips glowed and a glowing, pulsing ball of energy seemed to come alive over her palms. She shifted it into one hand, and took careful aim.

Wolverine opened the door and was about to leave when something white hot and hard hit him square in the back; throwing him into the wall. Logan blinked from the floor, stunned a little. He tried to sit up, but he had to wince at the searing pain he felt in his back. Logan closed his eyes, trying to ignore it. He heard a footstep and saw darkness, not light through his closed eyes. He opened them, and saw Mem's shadowy form edged in light, standing over him.

"I believe I am." Mem said coldly, and stepped over Logan, out of the room.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Logan sat at one of the large tables in the dinning room, across from Bobby. It was late to be there, and about three-fourths of the lights had been turned out. Bobby sat in a pool of light, looking over books and papers, making notes. He looked up, tiredly at Logan.

"Mem do something aggravating again?"

"Yeah." Logan sat down carefully. "Look," he leaned on the table "is there some mutant ability that she has that you're not telling anybody about?" Bobby looked at him, slightly confused.

"What do you mean?"

Logan chose his words carefully. "A couple hours ago she …" he shook his head a little "she threw something at me. I never felt anything like it. It was like fire and …"

"Where did it hit you?" Bobby asked.

"On my back. It …"

"Show me." Bobby looked so stressed and so tired that Logan just turned around and lifted up the back of his shirt. "My gods." He got up and came over, then knelt behind Logan. It felt weird; but then Logan felt a cool spot in it. He closed his eyes and accepted the pleasurable coolness. "Logan, this is still hot." Logan looked over his shoulder and saw Iceman's concerned face. "What did she throw at you?"

"I don't know. My back was turned when she did …" He trailed off. Bobby was nodding.

"I'll ask her about this." Logan nodded down at him. Bobby moved back around the table to his papers and sighed. "I'm so sick of all this shit." He looked back at Logan. "Do you know anything about Chemistry?" Logan shook his head. "Damn, I almost wish that …" Bobby trailed off. He looked up at Logan and his cheeks turned pink.

Neither of them had to say anything. They both remembered that Bobby and Beast had been lovers, then Hank broke it off when he met someone else. Logan had watched Bobby heartbroken and hurt. He both knew that this was why Iceman left the X-Men, and had the idea that Bobby was still angry at Hank for everything.

"What time is it?" Logan asked, changing the subject. Bobby looked at his cell phone.

"Twelve-thirteen." Bobby closed his eyes for a moment, and mouthed `fuck'. Bobby flipped open his phone, pushed a button, then spoke to the person at the other end for a moment.

Logan was used to this. Every night, every student and student-teacher was supposed to call into the security office by midnight to let them know that they were on the grounds in time for curfew. Logan looked around, actually enjoying the sight of the dark wood paneling of the room since it was lacking people to obscure it. His gaze returned to Bobby in time to see him blanch paler than he already was. The normally tan young man was sleep deprived, and dark circles showed under his eyes to prove it. Logan watched as a little color returned to his face, though he looked more tired than before.

"Okay, I'll take care of it." Bobby said, then hung up. "Fuck it!" He said banging his head against a book. "Why the hell tonight!"

"What's wrong?"

Bobby looked up at him. "Believe it or not, Mem, Proteus, John, Dion, and Connor are missing. But I know where they are." He smirked a little, then broke down shooting ice daggers into the walls. "Damn it! Why tonight? Any other night I would have gone with `em …"

"Want me to go get `em?" Logan asked, interrupting Iceman's tantrum.

"What?" Iceman said, accidentally shooting a piece of ice at Logan. He sliced it into several pieces before it could hit him. "Sorry."

"Fine. Want me to get em'?" Bobby looked at him for a moment, then down at the work he had been trying to do, then back up at Logan.

"Yeah. Yeah, would ya? They've gotta be at this bar on Second Street. You just turn out onto the main road and go until you hit Second Street. It's gotta be busy tonight, especially if Mem's there, so you won't miss it."

"What would her being there have anything to do how busy it is?"

"You'll find out." Bobby said. Logan wanted to know, but Bobby looked so tired and so stressed that he took pity on him.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Logan revved his motorcycle on the dark street outside of the brightly lit bar. He pulled off the helmet, swung his leg over, and walked inside. He had to squint for a moment, until his eyes adjusted. When they did, he look in front of him, and saw Remembrance prancing and swaying on the stage as she sang about how different types of men didn't impress her into a microphone as the words that appeared on the screen. She had a decent voice, but any karaoke made Logan want to wince. He made his way up to the front of her audience as she wrapped up singing

"`That don't impress me …'" The people around her roared and applauded. Logan winced again at the deafening noise, and climbed onto the stage to try to get her out of there. "All right, we've got a volunteer."

"Mem" he growled.

"Hey, I'm not leavin' until you sing." She forced the microphone into his hand, pushing a button at the same time.

"Mem" Logan growled louder as the loud guitar opening.

"COME ON DUDE! SING!!!" Logan glared at Mem, but she just waved a little at him, and hopped off the stage. The person who had yelled out at Logan screamed his statement again. Logan glared at Mem, then the screen and the impossible situation he had been put in.

Mem sat on Kevin's lap, and slammed back a shot of vodka. She looked at Dion who was shaking his head at her. "What?"

"Did ya `ave do do dat do `em. It'z jus' gonna piss `em off more." Mem smiled at the Cajun, then looked back at Logan painfully singing on the stage and laughed lightly.

"He'll live. It'll do him some good."

"Singing always good." Pyro said, slurring a little. They all looked at him and laughed.

"Yeah, but you always seem to get drunk to get up there. I'd like to see you sing that song without it. What is that song anyway."

"`You Give Love A Bad Name' by Bon Jovi." Mem piped in, yawning a little.

"You're ready for bed." Kevin's soft Scottish voice said into Mem's ear. She smiled, wishing she knew how to roll her `r's the way he did naturally. Mem leaned against him a little more, nodding.

"Yeah. Wish you could join me though." Kevin pulled her closer.

"Let's get outta `ere befo' e's done. I don wan' do `ave do deal wit' yor' trouble."

"You're drunk." Kevin accused, but they all stood up and got out of the door as Logan finished, then charged after them.

Logan stumbled out of the laughing, jeering, cheering crowd into the comfortable darkness. He looked around for the wayward group, finding them all piled into a white convertible.

"Okay you all. Back to school, now." They sped away as he stood there, next to where the car was parked. Logan closed his eyes momentarily. His headache was returning … one of the few signs that he felt to remind him that he was pregnant. He swayed a little, then went back to his motorcycle and started to engine. `If they are anywhere that I can find them when I get there, I'm gonna tare them all limb from limb.'

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

"You goin' ta go up yet?"

"Nope." Mem said, looking up at Kevin from the lump of clay under her hands. "If I go up there now, he's gonna try to kill me" Mem grinned "not that I would mind him trying. I could use a good fight with him."

"You should get some sleep. You're always tired lately."

"That's just because Logan keeps waking me up when he runs out of the room early every morning, for some asinine reason."

"Why?"

"Don't know, and don't really care as long as he stops it soon."

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Pyro watched Logan walk into the dorm building. He closed his eyes, and counted slowly. He stood up from where he was crouching behind a trashcan and walked after him. John smiled to himself. `Nobody ever has to know that I'm not that drunk.' He thought as he climbed the four flights of stairs to the second floor. He turned to the right, then stopped himself and turned left. `Nope, sleeping with Bobby now.' John smiled to himself. He and Iceman had had an off and on fling going for two years now. At the moment … at the moment Pyro was confused. Bobby had willingly taken him as a roommate when the X-Men had moved in; but they hadn't done anything since then. They hadn't done anything for the past few months; but Bobby was more open toward him than ever.

John opened the door to his shared room. The small light of a desk lamp showed Bobby sleeping on several books. `Chemistry' John thought. `One of the two things he needs to finish before he graduates.' Pyro smiled to himself. `Make that three.' And visions of them doing it played through in his head. He closed his eyes pleasurably, then walked over to the sleeping figure and shook his shoulder lightly.

"Bobby …"

The young man woke suddenly, blinking and sitting up at the same time. He looked at John through groggy eyes.

"You're back."

"Yeah."

"Have fun without me?" Pyro shrugged his response to Bobby's question. "Drunk?"

Pyro shook his head "No, but let them think I was, an' Mem convinced me to sing karaoke."

Bobby smiled. "Sorry I missed that." He sighed, and looked away from his friend and down at the notes he had napped on. John moved behind him and started massaging his shoulders. Bobby leaned his head back, into his friend's stomach and sighed again. "That feels good." He purred. John saw the opportunity and seized it; leaning down and pressing his lips against Bobby's soft mouth. The other pushed back a little, letting it keep going for a while. He stood up, letting their arms wrap around each other. "I wanna, but you know what tomorrow is."

"So?" Pyro kissed him, and let his hands caress Bobby's ass before he moved them in between their two forms to unzip Iceman's pants. Bobby pulled him in, kissing him again. John felt a cool tingly feeling as Bobby breathed into him. He pulled back a little as a shiver ran through him.

"Sorry." Bobby said, looking guilty.

John grinned. "Don't be." He said as Bobby felt a bulge against his thigh. He pulled Bobby in again. Their kiss lasted longer, letting John blow cool air against Bobby's parted lips; making a little fog in the humid air. He slid onto Bobby's desk chair, and unleashed his organ. The other grinned and let his pants fall to his ankles. He kicked them away, and straddled Pyro, sliding onto him as he did so. The hard cock inside of him, the mingled pleasure and pain, made him smile. Bobby knew that he had waited too to do this, and that he had tightened up again.

Pyro rocked forward a little, stirring something inside of Bobby, and making both their breath come fast. John stood up, taking Bobby with him. They tumbled onto the bed, letting the moment take them over. Bobby felt like he was pounding on his friend as he rode the organ, up and down. Bobby thought that it was almost strange that he could find this pleasurable; but then forgot to think about anything else but his excitement as they went on. The heat of the room making them sweat as Bobby rose and fell back onto it. John grinned as he realized that Bobby's passion was cooling him and the room around them.

Their movements slowed as the moment came to a release. Sweaty and exuberant Bobby lay next to John, resting his head on the pillow next to him; and laying his hand on John's chest. Happy and naked, they both fell asleep.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Logan was woken up just as the first rays of light crept over the horizon. His sensitive ears let him know that the door was opening. He cracked his eyes open, and saw Mem's figure enter.

"I should rip you to pieces for what you put me through last night."

Mem glared at him. "You're a dick for coming to get us. Go back to sleep."

Logan watched her walk toward the bunk bed, then heard her lay down. He blinked a couple times, and deciding he could kill her in the morning. He fell back into sleep.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Logan sat up suddenly, banging his head into the ceiling as he did.
"AAAAAAAAAA" He yelped, shaking his head a little, which made his stomach spin. He closed his mouth, trying to keep the vomit inside of him.

"WHAT?" Mem yelled out.

"It's mall day!"

Logan heard Mem groan and fall back onto her bed. "I forgot." She moaned, then yelled out, making him cringe again "Fine. Skye, can you do me a favor?"

"What?"

"Go wake up Kevin for me?"

"Sure."

Logan heard Skye run down the hall. He growled at the girl below him. "What's `mall day'?"

Chapter 6

"Remembrance … Remembrance what's `mall day'?"

"Nobody bothered to tell you about mall day?"

"No. What is it?" He heard her sigh, and someone knock more quietly on the door.

"Come in." Mem called out before he could ask who it was. He looked, and saw Kevin walk into the room. He watched him pay no attention to him, and walk over to where Mem lay. He heard Kevin sit on the mattress, then nothing. `Damn psychic abilities' Logan thought as he swung himself down and headed toward the door; to go to the bathroom. When he got back, they were gone.

Logan shook his head. Not a good thing; it made his stomach churn again. `Not now; not today.' This was the first morning that he hadn't run to the bathroom and Logan wanted to keep it that way. He opened a dresser drawer, pulling on a pair of jeans. From down the hall he heard a shriek of laughter, then Mem's voice ringing out.

"I thought you were studying Chemistry, not Anatomy." This was followed by Bobby's voice ringing out.

"What the fuck! Mem, get the fuck out!" He heard more peals of laughter and a door slamming shut. Logan smirked and tried not to laugh. `So Bobby got laid last night.' He thought. `Better than freezing Pyro to death when he got back.' Logan heard someone pounding down the hall, then back up it again. There was a loud knock on the door. `Doesn't anyone here know how to do that quietly?' Logan thought, saying

"Come in." And in Robert Drake came; half dressed, breathing heavily and looking murderously around the room.

"Sorry, thought Mem was in here." He said, and started to close the door and leave to continue his search but Logan stopped him.

"Hey Bobby, what's mall day?" This change of topic made Bobby stop and think for a moment. He squinted a little, then said

"Nobody explained mall day to you?"

"No."

"Well" Bobby seemed to be wracking his brain for a simple explanation "it's the day that all the staff drive the students up to this big mall about two hours away from here. We all spend the day up there. See, since we all live here for almost the whole year we take them up there twice a semester so they can buy new clothes and stuff."

"Okay. So why do I have to go?"

"Because your part of the staff now, and we just don't trust Mem driving." At this Bobby flushed a little again and ran out of the room; back on the trail of his irritating friend.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Logan stood outside the huge white van that he had been instructed to follow another huge van up a high-way in to get the mall. He watched disdainfully as Bobby counted heads of over-excited students who climbed into the van. Mem appears from out of nowhere at his side. Logan looked over to her; noticing the slight blue marks on her arm.

"Have fun?"

"Yep." Mem grinned. "I'm supposed to co-pilot for you."

"Fine."

"All set." Bobby called out as he ran past them, shooting Mem with little ice pellets as he past.

"Fight me face to face like a man!" Mem yelled out, glaring at his retreating figure. Logan watched her as she glared at the retreating form, then swung the white door into his face and climbed the step up into the van. Logan exhaled as the door slammed into his ear making it ring a little. He walked around, got in, then turned to the girl who had her feet up on the dash board and said

"Did you have to do that?"

"Sorry" she shrugged. With a whine then a whir of the engine they were off.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The ride up was uneventful. They kids in the van had talked too loudly, making Logan's ringing ears grateful when they all streamed off in different directions when they arrived at the mall. Strangely enough, Mem had been silent the whole trip. Logan had glanced at her several times, and had seen her just staring ahead; almost pensive. `She can't be thinking though. She's too stupid to have real thoughts' Logan thought as he drove on. But something about her absolute stillness and silence shook him, so it still haunted the back of his mind as he roved the mall alone. It was too predicable; all of his teammates had gone off in their own directions : Scott to buy presents for his children and Jean, Gambit to find something to aid him in wooing Iris, and Storm had gone off to … well Logan didn't know where but it wasn't with him.

Wherever he looked, Logan saw a small group of students that he knew. Donal and his male friends had piled into an electronics store and were searching for affordable new games. The young females were entering and exiting store after store, brining out more bags than they had gone in with. `Guess that's why they have those huge vans.' Logan thought, as he glanced into a clothing store looking for any one of his friends, but instead seeing Remembrance strutting out of a changing room wearing heels, jeans, and a tight black top. Even in his miserable state, this almost made Wolverine's eyes pop out of his head. `Man, she fills that out well' he thought, then quickly moved on. His stomach was still unsteady, and he wanted to get away before anyone noticed him and made him smell perfume or something.

He looked up at the clock, and saw that there was still two hours until they were all supposed to meet up to eat. `What to do? I could go look at stuff for a baby" Logan shook his head. "NEVER. I don't have to figure out what to do about this yet. Let's see. It had to have happened at the end of April. That was three months ago. Feels like three years the way things have been happening around here. I hated those fireworks they had on the fourth, hurt my ears too much. Maybe it's not too late to get an … Aw man!' Logan thought as the smells from the near-by food court made his stomach rock. He saw a sign pointing the way to the bathroom and ran for it.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Kneeling over the toilet, wiping his mouth with thin paper squares Logan didn't know how much more if this he could take. Between the mental torture of the secret he was keeping inside and the physical torture he was going through, trying to teach the students here how to control their abilities he had had it and was exhausted. Leaning his head against the cool wall he sighed, then got up and flushed everything that had come out of him down the toilet.

Leaving the lavatory and walking down the little hall, Logan saw the food court again; but this time the smells didn't bother him. His stomach was still turbulent, but it didn't want to regurgitate anything that was left in it. Logan looked around again more carefully. `What should I do for the rest of the time I'm here?' His eyes caught sight of an internet station set up in a corner of the food court. `Maybe Charles responded to my e-mail. I know I just sent it last night, but …' He sat at the computer and typed in his screen name. Next to the little envelope was a little red number two. Hopeful, Logan clicked on the envelope, and saw his desired response, and one that he hadn't expected.

E-Mail from Professor Charles Xavier to Logan :

Dear Logan:

I'm glad to hear that things are happening at the school, but I too am worried that it won't be enough in time. From what you have told me, these students need a more constructed schedule of how they are supposed to practice using their abilities, and they need more teachers to help them do so. We have many friends around the world who would be glad to assist you in your current situation. I am going to let Moira know about what is going on, as both of her sons are there. She may have an idea of how to help you with them. I am sending Hank in the mini-jet to get Pietor and Kurt, all three are such powerful, peaceful men that they should be able to help you teach the younger students and calm down the older ones.

I know of the girl called Remembrance, and agree with Scott that though she can be a "spoiled brat" she is also currently bored. I'm having Hank pick up Warren Warrington, who has known her for a long time and should be able to help you deal with her. I must warn you to make sure that Remembrance and Kevin are not; for lack of better terms I will say intimate with each other. From what you have said they are already very close and if one should become more attached than the other and then they were to break up, the whole world could feel the effects. They are both very powerful young people; and could case any number of people great damage if they were properly motivated to. I trust that you will let me know of any new developments regarding them. I don't mean to pry about them; but you remember the disaster we had to deal with when Kevin was seventeen and was unable to find his father; now he is older and more powerful; so he could do even more damage. I have heard of Remembrance's telepathic and telekinetic abilities and believe that she too would be dangerous to cross if she was angry. I am only trying to warn you, so you are on your guard for this. I hope that it does not happen, but you never know.

I do not regret sending you as team captain. I want you to know this Logan. You have already done an admirable job, and from what I have heard are the one keeping the rest of the X-Men sane. I understand that it is a hard job, but I know that you will continue to make me proud of our team. I am sending out reinforcements only to help you, because I am beginning to understand the daunting task ahead of you.

Charles

P.S. Watch for an angry e-mail from Jubilee. I have told her that she cannot come help you, and she is rather upset by this. I would send her, but with the large amount of older teenage boys that you are dealing with, I believe that she could become more of a burden than a help.

At the sight of Nightcrawler's name Logan blanched. `What the hell am I supposed to do now? By the time I can talk to Charles and let him know that I don't want the Elf here they'll already be on their way … Plus saying anything would make Charles start asking questions … Guess I'll just have to figure something else out.' He shook his head and reread the e-mail. `Mem and Proteus are so into each other there's no way they would break up. How the hell could Warren keep her under control? No body could puncture her ego enough to. Almost glad he's not sending Jube though. Couldn't take another noisy, crazy kid buzzing around me right now.'

Logan moved the curser again and clicked on the other e-mail.

E-Mail From Jubilation Lee to Logan

Hey Logan.

It's so not fair! Professor X is sending Beast to help you out, but won't let me come. I know I can help, just have him give me a chance. You know that I'm not a little kid anymore like I was when I first got here; and that I have total control over my mutant abilities, so please, please, please talk to the Professor and tell him that you need me there. Babysitting Jean's kids is fun and all, but I want to be in on the action like you are. Can't you help me out for this?

Jubilee

Logan rolled his eyes. `Only problem is that there is too much action here kid.'

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The rest of the day passed in a blur. Logan vaguely remembered telling the rest of his team, Bobby, and the other teachers that Pietor, Hank, and Kurt were coming. This prompted Bobby to take charge and dole out jobs to his older students with things that they had to do when they got back to rearrange rooms and make arrangements for the newcomers.

The comforting darkness of night surrounded the van as Logan drove back that night. He looked in the rear-view mirror. Everyone seemed to be asleep.

"You know, I don't get you." The noise came from next to him. Logan quickly glanced over. Mem was looking at him; her voice soft. "I don't get why you do this stuff. You're not a sadist or a scout, you're a rebel; so why work with the rest of them? You're powerful enough to make it on your own, so why stick with `em? And why stay here when it's almost torturous for you to?"

"Is this what you've been thinking about?"

"Yeah. I don't get you; and you have some type of secret that I can't make out cause you won't think about it so I can't read what it is."

"It's none of your business."

"Whatever." Logan glanced at her again, and saw that she was pensive, not pouting. "Everybody's secrets and fears are my business. I've made it so."

"Why are you here with everyone?" Logan changed the subject. "You seem capable enough to hide your abilities, so why aren't you in the rest of the world? Or why aren't you working with the X-Men? I'm sure that Charles …"

"Charles Xavier is a pompous dick who doesn't get that sometimes what he does isn't the best thing."

Logan slammed on the brakes, though the sudden stop didn't wake his passengers. "I'll take a lot of shit from you. I'll even take you throwing stuff at me. But I won't take you talking shit about Charles. He's a great man who's done great things."

They stared at each other for a long time, each matching the other's glare with a fiercer one. Finally a horn blared behind them, and Logan was forced to turn his attention back to the road. Mem was glad that he wasn't telepathic as she though `You have no idea about what Charles Xavier can really be like.'

Chapter 7

Soft, blue skin brushed even softer, pale skin. The harsh movement of the hard organ penetrating the soft flesh. "Ohhhhh." He moaned lightly. This forbidden, drunken passion felt so good; he wanted more; and more. Harder he pushed against the dark fleshy member … Just as it quivered inside of him, finally ready to release it's white liquid there was a flash of white light. The surroundings were still dark around him, there was just the pool of yellow light over the sink that he stood at. He looked down, and the amazing feeling instantly dissipated as he saw the little pink plus sign on the white stick. Positive.

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Logan's eyes popped open. He blinked, letting the eyes stay closed longer than usual. He blinked again, then heard the gasp and the creaking of mattress springs from the bunk below him.

"Ya alright?" He growled as the sun streamed through the slits between the vertical blinds. Logan got no answer. He looked over the side of the bunk, and saw Mem sitting up on her bed, her eyes wide. "Ya alright?" Logan repeated. `It's not like her not to seize an opportunity to talk.' "Kid?"

Mem looked over at him, her eyes still wide. "You're pregnant." She said softly. Logan blanched and couldn't speak. Panic rose in his chest. So did bile. Logan jumped off the bunk, and ran over to the trash can, making it just in time to vomit into it. He put the can back on the ground, and leaned against the wall shaking a little. Logan looked over at the beds, watching Mem's still astonished face.

His breathing became deep, and steady; as did his legs. Logan turned his head away from her; embarrassed, and almost afraid. This was a powerful and influential young woman. She had just discovered his deepest secret.

`What's she gonna do? Why doesn't she speak? Why can't I speak? Because for this there are no words. Is she gonna tell someone about this? Should I kill her? No. No. Defiantly not. That would just cause more problems. Why isn't she talking still? This is too weird. I gotta get outta here. Gods, I gotta get outta here.'

Logan looked strait ahead. Strait at the door. Opened it, and walked out. He turned to close it.

"It's okay, I …"

Logan closed the door on Mem's statement. `I can't believe I'm scared shitless by some girl. First by a seventeen year old boy; then again by him when he's twenty-two; and now by his girlfriend. What's with these people?'

Chapter 8

Logan decided to face the unavoidable. He had disappeared for the past twenty hours; having gone off the campus. It was nice to get away. He found a bar on a hidden side street that served steak, and actually got to drink while he was eating dinner. `It's really quiet here right now. Everyone's probably asleep. She'll be asleep. It's late. She's got to be asleep.' Logan opened the door to his second floor room. Bright light and noise flooded his senses. Logan blinked, the sound of a movie penetrating his eardrums.

"What are ya watching?" Logan asked.

"League of Extraordinary Gentlemen." Came the answer. She didn't sound harsh, or upset. Just her normal self. `Weird.' Logan watched her hang some socks on a rack to dry. Next to it …

"You wear thong underwear?" Logan said, not sure whether to be disgusted or what.

"I have a couple. I ran out of other clean underwear, so …" She didn't have to say more. Logan nodded at where she knelt by the dressers. He still couldn't bring himself to look her in the face. He still didn't know what she thought of him and his … condition. So he kept talking; wanting to know, but not sure that he really wanted the answer.

"Have any other movies, other than that?" He jutted his head toward the television. Mem stood up, the sheer overlay of her long black skirt dusting the floor. She touched the button, and the TV flicked off with a little popping noise. A coyote howled outside. Logan turned toward the window.

"That's just Connor … I've also got the Lord of the Rings trilogy and City Slickers. Oh, and some stuff Skye shot for me on his video camera. I have more movies, but those are the ones everyone ends up watching, so those are the only ones I have with me right now."

There was silence. Total silence. Logan heard the light bulb's buzz. He moved her computer's mouse, taking off the screensaver showing pictures of her friends: Pyro and Iceman; Mem, Connor, Dion, and Skye … He looked down at the desk, his gaze passing over the little diamond earrings that sat next to a blue paperclip. `This is awkward. We've never gotten along; and now …'

"I know. It's too weird. We're bonded by your secret." Logan looked up at Mem, and watched her shrug apologetically. "I read your mind. Sorry, it was just too quiet." Logan nodded. "I didn't mean to read your mind last night. It just happened. I guess it does sometimes without me realizing what I doing. It's random though, and it usually happens with Kevin." Logan blinked, not sure how to respond. "You look pathetic."

`Gotta change the topic' Logan thought. "No more pathetic than Gambit looks when he's tryin' to get at Iris."

Mem shook her head. "No, you look more pathetic even than that. You look worse than Bobby when he goes on and on trying to get across a point but not knowing how. It's either that or he likes to hear himself talk."

"What do you see in Proteus?" He growled, mumbling; trying to subtly change the subject. It wasn't subtle, but Mem let him.

"He's awesome. He can do anything."

"Believe me, I know."

Mem smiled. "He told me about that. That was a while ago." Logan nodded. "But you're still afraid of him because of it." Logan tensed. "I know. It's weird for you. Right now I'm freaking you out in the same way, because I know what happened in your dream, and I'm assuming that that's how you got into your current condition."

`Damn it! She brought it around to that again. I'm not going to play into her.' He kicked a pile of clothes with one foot, dislodging an aqua colored shirt. "You have too many clothes." Mem looked at him. "And shoes. And purses." Mem shook her head. Logan gestured toward the closet and nodded.

"A girl can never have too many shoes."

Logan glared at her, and picked up a shiny shoe. "Why do you have this? I know you have other brown shoes."

"Actually, that pair is technically considered to be maroon."

Logan tossed the shoe over his shoulder, onto the closet floor.

"Are you gonna keep hopping from topic to topic like a squirrel hopping from tree branch to tree branch?" Mem asked. Logan wanted to glare at her. It was a battle between them, as fire grew in both of their eyes.

"Why isn't the kitchen open all the time here?"

"Why can't you face the subject?"

"Why do you play so much Alice Cooper music?"

"Why are you still trying to change the topic?"

"Why do you hate the Prof?"

Mem's mouth pursed shut. "That was random I am so not going there right now. Asking me that is like asking Bobby to talk about that Hank guy."

"So you slept with Charles?" Massive confusion pounded into his head.

"Yeah right!" Mem's voice raised. She seemed to vibrate as her anger started to climax. "Like I even want to know that friggin bastard who …"

"Shut up!"

Logan's claws came out, and he lept at her, slashing her arm. He bounced off the wall, landing in a squat. He looked up at her, and saw blood drip from her upper right arm, down onto the floor. He stood up slowly, almost regretting that he had acted. Mem moved her other arm, taking a little of the blood off her arm on a finger. She realized that she had no where to wipe her hands, so she licked the small amount of blood off her hand. She looked at him.

"You better be glad I'm wearing a tank top."

"Is it bad?"

Mem shrugged with her uninjured shoulder. Logan realized that she didn't have towels or tissues around. He pulled off his white t-shirt and walked over. He gently dabbed at the wound. It wasn't deep, but Logan knew that it had to sting. Badly.

"I'm sorry. I'm more moody than usual."

Mem looked into his eyes. They were the same height. "Because you're pregnant."

Logan wrapped the shirt around her arm, then sat on the bottom bed. "Yeah."

Logan heard the springs under the mattress squeak. Mem sat next to him. "So tell me the story."

Logan looked at her, sighed, and gave in. "I got really upset because this girl I like got married and has a family."

"Scott's wife." Mem interrupted.

"Yeah, Scout's wife." Mem nodded, letting Logan pass from the topic. Logan looked down at the blankets on the bed, and felt the soft fuzz on one of them. "I went a trip, a vacation to get away from their perfect-ness. I went to stay with a friend of mine in Europe. Nightcrawler is a monk, and lives with his brothers in a monastery there. One night we got drunk … Well he got drunk, and I got slightly inebriated. I helped him up to his bedroom, and we ended up having explosive sex. I got so caught up in it, I forgot that the man who gave me my metal skeleton also gave me an artificial womb, and the ability for one month to … to conceive. It was that month. I realized it when I got back here. Took a test, and found out it was true."

Logan stopped. Mem blinked and nodded. "Does anyone else know?"

Logan shook his head. "And I'd like to keep it that way."

"You know, eventually they're gonna start askin' why you run for the bathroom every morning. They might figure it out on their own."

"Even if they ask, don't tell them."

"Okay, okay. I won't tell anyone."

"Not even your Romeo?"

Mem smiled. "You underestimate me. I can get into Kevin's mind whenever I want to; but he can't get into mine unless I let him. I know how to block even the most powerful telepath." Logan resisted the temptation to bring up Professor X. "Why didn't you just have him wear a condom? Or just give him a blow job or something?"

Logan looked at his lap. "I don't know. It was a moment of passion …" He looked at her, not needing to finish the sentence.

"That's why I'm still a virgin. I've got Kevin waiting until I'm ready."

Logan tried not to snort. "You mean …"

"Yeah. It's not that I don't want to. It's just that I don't want a moment of passion in the backseat of a car to take away my freedom. I broke up with a boy when I was younger because of it too. Chris wanted to do it when we were hiking in a forest one break back when I was a freshman in college. I kicked him in the balls using my mind then told him it was over."

"Didn't throw whatever that thing you threw at me was at him?"

"No. Oh my gods, that energy pulse didn't hurt your baby did it?"

Logan shook his head. "Not that I know of."

"But you should get checked. If it did …"

"It's fine" Logan growled roughly. He watched Mem's unwavering gaze. "Look, I don't want the world to know about this … this thing. Okay? It's a little to mutated, even for a mutant."

Mem didn't shrug. She didn't nod. But she did say "Okay. I'll keep your secret. I won't treat you really different than I would otherwise. I'm trying to be nice. Now that we have a bond, I think it'll be easier. But if this blows up in your face, don't come cryin' to me over it." She stuck out her hand, but Logan didn't shake it.

"I think that to make this fair, so I'm sure you won't tell, I should know a big secret of yours. That way if you tell, I tell."

Mem took her hand away and smirked. "I don't have big secrets."

Ha Ha Ha Ha! Logan's laugh boomed. "You? You gotta have secrets."

Mem shrugged. "Believe have you want." She got up, and walked to her desk, then threw a paper plate and a plastic fork into the trash next to the desk.

"Kid …" Logan said, his voice a combination of laughter and trouble "play fair. You know my secret, tell me one of yours."

Mem had her back turned toward him, but he still heard her sigh. He heard something soft in his mind. "Didn't catch that."

Mem turned toward him. Her eyes closed. Logan heard it in his mind, though not in his ears. "I am like you. I am the illegitimate child of my mother, Theresa Kwienkenski, and Charles Xavier. They had an affair, and I'm the result of it. When I was still young, my mother and her husband were killed. My older brother, Derrik, took over the house in New York City, but because of how close it was to Xavier's mansion I moved away."

"Happy?" She said out loud; her voice ragged with her internal anguish; her face showing her heartache as a small waterfall of tears graced her cheeks. Each small, shiny, diamond-like drop ripped at something in Logan.

"Did your dad know?"

Mem nodded. "He and my mom hadn't slept together for over a year when I was conceived. He never figured out who sired me, but …"

Logan couldn't believe it. Two secrets could connect them on so many levels. Deep down he wanted to hold her close. Without the easy confidence that usually surrounded her, Mem seemed so vulnerable. `Maybe I will be a good father after all. I want to help her … But I can't. Not yet. Know what she's been through though …'

"I'm not playing a game here. I've sworn not to tell your secret. Now swear not to tell mine."

Logan fixed her with his hard eyes. She spoke again. "Swear it!" Then she kind of collapsed against the wall, shaking. `I didn't think this could be that rough on her.'

"Believe it!" Mem managed to spit out, before sliding down the wall, onto the floor. Her back rubbed against the wall, flicking off the overhead light as she went down. By the pale light that came from the star-shaped lamp that hung off the ceiling, Logan watched Mem calm down. She looked young and tired from where he sat, and waited. And waited. And waited. It felt like forever, though it was really just a few minuets. Exhaling deeply, Mem said "We should get some sleep."

Logan nodded. He watched her get up, getting support from the desk as she went. He swung himself around the bed, and climbed up to the top bunk. He heard noises from below, and knew she was laying down too.

"I swear it."

"Good." Came Mem's cold reply. The light clicked off, leaving the only light in the room the silver beams of the moon.

"Logan?"

"Yeah?"

"If you could be anyone from any movie, who would you be?"

"I'm tired Mem."

"I'm trying to be nice Logan."

He sighed, and rolled off his stomach onto his left side so he was facing the room.

"Humphry Bogart."

"In which movie?"

There was a little pause. "All of `em."

"Kay."

"What?"

"Nothing, it's just …" Mem trailed off.

"Just what?"

"It's just that I never would `a picked you for one of the classics. But when You stop and think, you're right. Bogart stayed alone and aloof from everyone else in his movies, just like you do in life."

"Fine."

There was a pause for about half a minuet.

"Well?"

"Well what?"

"Well aren't you going to ask me back?"

"Alright then brat. Who would ya be?" Logan said, half asleep.

"I think I'd be the biggest brat of `em all; Scarlet O'Hara."

Logan had to smile at that. `She sounds so pleased herself at that. But deep down, I bet she's afraid that someday everyone will desert her, just like they did that belle in that movie.'

"I'm not afraid of anything."

"Everyone's afraid of somefin' Kid."

"If everyone is, then what are you afraid of Logan?"

There was perfect silence at that moment. Logan shuddered at his thought. It made the mattress creak a little.

"Don't worry. I'm not going to read your mind to find out what it is. Some things are better left unknown." Logan had to smile a little at her statement.

"Goodnight Scarlet." He said softly into the moonlight.

"Goodnight Mr. Bogart."

Chapter 9

Logan woke up. The sun was streaming through the window, and it was blissfully quiet. He stopped and listened for a minuet. Nothing. Logan carefully looked over the side of the bed. Rumpled sheets and blankets met his eyes. `Not that I really mind it.' Logan put his head back on the pillow, and closed his eyes again. Softly memories from the past day ebbed into his mind. Logan kept pushing them out though. `Better not to dream than to think of that.' Slowly he drifted into a dreamless sleep. Not much later, a pain in his stomach woke him up again. His eyes opened as he swallowed what tried to come up. `Guess I can't sleep any longer.'

He got up, dressed, and headed out; avoiding all smells that came from the main building. Looking around, things all over were quiet. Some kids ran on the soccer field in the distance, a coach whistling at them so they drilled. A few others studied in the grass in small groups. It was quiet and perfect. Too quiet. There was no sounds of fighting between the LeBeau boys; not animal sounds of Connor moving about. There were no small explosions and swearing as Method tried to fix something, or of Kevin and Mem fighting with each other just to fight and show off their skills. Their little friend who made his dreams come to life was also missing; along with Bobby and John … But Logan thought that he knew what they were doing.

`Okay, where's the trouble group?' Wolverine listened carefully. The sounds of birds and little animals mingled with young people laughing and talking filled the hot air. Logan looked around again; but still couldn't find his wayward charges.

"Strange how whenever you want to find them you never can." Logan jumped a little at the voice that he hadn't heard approach. He turned and saw Breaker. "Seems like they always hide just before something happens."

"What's gonna happen?"

Breaker shrugged. "Donno. But there always is something." He looked around him, almost searching the air for something.

"Where are they then?"

Looking back at Logan Breaker sized him up a little. "So she's never told you about her studio." Logan's look must have been enough to tell that he didn't know anything about most places around here. "Guess since most a the time she hates you she wouldn't." Logan was ready to respond, but he got cut off again. "Mem's an artist. She's turned one a those sheds by where your plane is into a studio. They hide down there." Logan looked toward the squat, pale buildings; and thought he saw movement in one of them. He heard a small noise next to him and turned to see what it was; but the young man was gone. Logan spun around, but there was no sign of the boy. `These people creep me out sometimes.'

Logan focused on the building again. He definitely saw something move there, and thought that he heard something. Wolverine crept down toward the building; not totally sure what he would find there.

It was taller than he expected when he stood next to it. The bottom of the roof was well over his head; and the building too was larger than it looked from far away. Through the open window, Logan overheard the conversation inside.

"You know, your brother might have something with the idea of using playing cards as weapons." It was Connor's cool voice that said that.

"E's not my brother" came Dion's snarling reply.

"Yeah, by blood too."

"Shud up Wolf-boy."

"Why don't you make me Swamp Rat."

There was sounds of a dog barking, and scuffling inside. Logan cautiously looked through the window. The Cajun and the dog were wrestling with each other; the dog turning from man to beast as it suited his fight.

"Will you two knock it off!" Logan's gaze shifted from the fight to the girl sitting across from him, leaning back on her boyfriend sitting between his legs. The two young men looked up at her from where they lay on the floor. The dog jumped up from where it lay, and quickly pattered next to the futon, and sat almost as though it was waiting for new orders. Upon not receiving any, the dog stood up, circled a few times; then settled on the floor, turning into a man as he rested. Dion rolled his eyes, picked himself off the floor just to flop down again in a corner. He pulled a playing card out his jeans pocket, and started to examine it. It was plucked from between his fingers by an invisible force. He swiped at it, and again; and again.

They heard the unseen laughter. Dion got an upset look on his face, and snarling lunged at the invisible person.

"Easy Dion." The unseen voice said; but the Cajun was already on the floor; on top of the unseen assailant. He became visible once again; which made the other jump off of him upon realizing that his captive was naked. Visage laughed. "Told ya to take it easy." Disgusted, Skye handed him a pair of pants.

"Shouldn't you have to wear stuff all the time?"

"Naw half-pipe." The older boy ruffled the younger's hair. "Loses the effect when I do that."

"Yeah, but in the mean time you're treating us all to a free show." Method glared up at him from the pile of parts that he was tinkering with on the wooden floor.

"You're the one who enjoyed it enough to comment on it." The two glared at each other; but were interrupted.

"Don ya have anyone else to bother today Dru?" Logan watched the young Scotsman talk; holding Mem around her waist, keeping her close to him. Dark hair, light hair. Pale and tan. They were a contrasting pair; but an almost attractive one. They were so easy together. It made something inside Logan ache, making him long for a mate. But he suppressed the idea and watched on.

"Yeah. You."

"Go play with Nyx, would you?" Mem said to him. Visage grimaced a little.

"We're fighting again. If I show up anywhere near him for the rest of the day, whether visible or invisible, he'll kick my ass."

"Better him than us." Mem let her head linger against Kevin's shoulder as he talked. She looked more tired than Logan remembered.

"Let him stay. Just be quiet."

"Fine by me." The half dressed young man slipped onto the floor; picked up a little piece of metal off the floor from one of Method's piles of pieces and started tossing it into the air and catching it. Anyone's next comment was stopped by Pyro walking in.

"Well, if it isn't Bobby's little angel. Know how to knock?" Mem asked. John shook his head.

"Fuck off Mem." Logan had to smile at all of them. `None of `em take her shit. Guess that's why they get along.'

"So, what ya been up do all day?" Asked the Cajun as John slid down the wall and sat next to him.

"Nothing."

"You an' Bobby screw?" Logan looked from John to Mem. She was grinning, evidently satisfied with her question. She looked like the Cheshire Cat. Logan wasn't interested in the answer to this; only the question. This was good, because as everyone but Logan saw, Pyro flushed a pale shade of red in response.

"What are these new people supposed to be like." Skye's voice was small as he changed the topic; almost as though he was unsure of stepping into the waters of his older friends' conversation.

Dion answered as he suddenly sharpened a playing card and threw it into the wall not far from him; almost testing his aim. "Weirdo's." He flicked another into the wall. Mem glared at him. "Jus' like da rest o' dem."

"Aye've met some `o them before. They're nice."

Mem turned her head a little so she could look at him. "That's what you said about the others who came earlier."

"An' they are nice."

Dion flicked another card into the wall, close to where he hit it with the other two. Mem turned her head again, and glared at him again.

"You only met some of them?"

Kevin shrugged. "Skye, I don't know who all they have' comin'. So I can't tell ya if I've met them all."

Dion threw a sixth playing card into the wall. It appeared to be the breaking point for Mem. "Will you stop throwing cards into my nice wall."

"Don' got anythin' else to throw dem at." Dion grumbled. "Damn rat's not `ere." He flicked another into the wall.

"Will you knock that off?" Dion looked at Mem; then suddenly flicked the card he held in his hand at her. `She should have seen that comin.' Logan thought, but was surprised when he saw Mem telekinetically stop the card a few feet away from her, and using her mind toss it back at Dion; just to have it land centimeters away from his crotch. Dion looked up at her, angry and ready to retaliate; when Mem suddenly looked up as her countenance changed.

"What is it?" Kevin asked, letting go of her a little as she went rigid.

"Someone's listening to us."

Almost quicker than Logan could move, the wall he had been hiding behind disappeared into a great hole. But just as it ebbed away, Logan had rounded the corner of the building, and was hidden from it's occupants. He heard several of them move, and head toward Proteus's new exit. Logan took the chance, and sprinted into the trees that surrounded the playing fields. He made his way along the edge of it, watching the student-teachers search the ground around their hideout. Knowing that he was safe, Logan stopped for a moment, then darted toward the blackbird. Purely through luck, no one saw him, and he hid by the plane; knowing that the excuse that he was just checking something in the plane wouldn't be questioned. No one around here asked impertinent questions to him. Logan knew that to most of the students he was a god-like figure, which made it not matter what he did; because to them everything that he did was awesome and inspiring.

Wolverine looked up the small, sloping hill at the five buildings that made up their academic haven. He suddenly felt very tired, and couldn't wait to lie down again. With a sigh, he headed back up to them.

A small, continuous noise stopped him. He knew that noise; though it didn't belong here. It wasn't a dangerous noise; but a friendly one. Logan looked up at the sky, and realized that it had turned gray in the short time that he had been outside. But the clouds became the last thing on his mind when he saw the most welcome sight he had seen in a long time. Somewhere that seemed very far away, Logan heard John say

"There's your answer Skye."

But as the mini-jet landed; Wolverine didn't care about his bratty charges, and sprinted toward his teammates. Logan heard the air release of the door opening, and shouted out.

"What kept you? We thought you'd be here yesterday."

Hank stepped out of the jet, smiling at him. "Greetings to you too Logan." He paused a moment, trying not to laugh at his friend's evident glee at reinforcements. "We were planning on being here yesterday; however Kurt did not want to travel when he was supposed to be celebrating the Sabbath. I must admit, it was enjoyable to rest with him and his fellow brothers."

Hank didn't notice that Logan froze up a little at the sound of Nightcrawler's name. `Maybe he won't notice if I don't say anything to him.'

"And ve vere more zhan happy to `ave you stay vith us vor it." Kurt was the next out of the plane.

Logan felt like ever nerve in his body was on fire. His stomach rocked, and wanted to revolt. Logan heard other voices, and knew that other people were coming out of the plane; but he couldn't register any of them in his mind. He felt something touch his arm, and looked up into his old friend's blue face.

"Logan, are you alright?" There was no way to answer Nightcrawler. Logan felt that if he opened his mouth right now, bile and last night's dinner would come out instead of words. `I need a distraction. Please if there is anyone up there, I need a distraction.' Logan thought.

A distraction he wanted, and a distraction he got.

"I've asked you nicely, now I'm screaming it so maybe it'll get through you thick head. Leave me alone!"

It was Iris, being pursued by Gambit over the hill from the buildings to the sports fields.

"Aw, cher. Don' break Gambit's `eart by refusin' me."

"I've had it with you!" Iris screamed. She ran another yard away from Remy, then turned, and held out her hands; concentrating hard on something. Gambit stood, rooted to the spot by small green vines. They grew up, and over him; forming a cocoon. The large pod rocked back and forth a little, letting out muffled noises, whining to be let out.

Everyone laughed. Dion ran over, knocking down the pod; then running away laughing harder than all the others. Everyone took this as their cue to head up to the academic buildings.

"Should we help him out of that?" Logan looked next to him. Skye had appeared there. It was surprising to him. Up until now the boy hadn't spoken more that two words directly to him; and now he got a whole sentence.

"No." Wolverine responded. "The Cajun'll get himself outta there soon enough. He might learn something' if he stays in there for a while."

"Okay." The taller boy nodded; then gave Logan a little smile and headed toward the buildings with the others.

Logan felt suspicious. He looked behind him, at the shed turned hideout. Mem stood in the door, watching everything. Logan walked over; ready to tare her limb from limb if she had revealed his secret. Before he could even open his mouth, she spoke.

"Before you ask; no, I didn't tell your secret. And no, Skye has no clue. I don`t like looking into his mind; or I`d show you that he really doesn't."

Logan stopped. "I don't know if I should believe you."

Mem shrugged. "Believe what you want." She sighed and looked out on everything that surrounded them. "He's getting stronger, and more prepared for the attack."

Logan looked at her. She was only an inch taller than him; so he could look into her eyes with no problem. She looked tired; as though she had been working hard for a long time; and was only starting to get the result that she had been seeking. She finally looked back at him.

"Magneto's getting stronger."

"How do you know?"

"I don't know. It's like I can read his mind; but only sometimes. And it's a lot of work to."

Logan stared at her. "Magneto wears a helmet that stops psychic energy from entering his mind."

Mem nodded. "I know."

"Then how do you read his mind."

"I'm not sure. It's like I can get around it. But only sometimes. And only with a lot of effort." She stopped for a moment. "You don't believe me."

Logan had a hard time answering this. "I have lived long enough, and worked with enough mutants to know that anything is possible. This is just a little harder to wrap, myself around than other things are. That's all."

Mem nodded. "You have to start remembering that I can read your mind. You want to believe that I can; but you don't know how to."

"Mem; it's just …"

"So you captured another one with your dazzling wit." They looked to their left; and saw someone else.

"Warren" Mem's voice was breathless. "What are you doing here?"

Angel's blonde hair was tousled by the wind. "Isn't that a nice way to say hello to me?"

Logan felt the woman next to him getting pissed off. He wanted to stop her. To teach her how to hold it in. But it wasn't his job. He could only watch.

"I don't need a babysitter."

"No, you need a shrink. But until someone else gets convinced of that, I'll have to do."

Mem seemed to shrink away from him. Logan sniffed the air a little. She wasn't afraid … It was more like … Pain … Hidden pain from the past. Logan got so caught up in it that he didn't notice that Mem had retreated into her place until the door closed next to his ear. The click of it sliding into place brought him out of smells and thoughts back into life. He looked up, and over at Warren who was shaking his head.

"I give you credit. She can be bad when she's not trying; and you put up with her for over a month."

Somewhere deep down these words were making Logan mad. "She's not that bad." He managed to get out. `Damn, what a change. A few days ago I would have agreed with him; but now … now she really isn't that bad.'

Warren shrugged. "So, she's gotten to you too."

"What do you mean by that?" Logan spat out.

But Angel just shook his head. "If you don't see it, then you won't until it's too late." Wolverine glared at Warren's retreating form; and resisted the temptation to unleash his claws and rip him into little pieces.

The grass green cocoon rocked back and forth; then glowed a little and exploded. Gambit burst out, and stood on unsteady legs. He moved back and forth like a drunk person; his face, clothes, and hair blackened with soot from the explosion. He swaggered back toward the buildings, cursing in French. Logan laughed at the scene.

Then it hit him. It was like Wolverine suddenly came to his senses. `She doesn't need me to protect her. She's the bitch who hurt me; and is blackmailing me because she knows my secret. But she's not; not really …' Now confused and now alone, Logan headed toward the other buildings.

Chapter 11

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Wolverine winced at the loud bell that signaled the official end to a class period. `Damn. Why do they have to make it so loud?" Teenagers streamed out of rooms, their voices echoing off the cream colored walls. Logan closed his eyes and leaned against the nearest wall. His morning sickness had dwindled to a weekly event; but it had been replaced by random throbbing headaches. As the noise subsided and his head stopped feeling like it was going to explode, Logan opened his eyes again and sighed as the pale sunlight of the fall afternoon hit his face.

"Classes getting to you already? Figured it would take more than just three weeks into September to do it to you." Logan looked to his left. Iris's Jack was there, carrying a stack of thick books and smirking at him. He smirked back.

"I'm fine. It's just noisy here."

Jack nodded. "Yeah. You have sensitive hearing, right?" Logan nodded. "Thought so. It's hard on us sometimes, being different like we are."

"So what makes you different?" Logan growled. `I'm gettin' tired of this. I got stuff to do and a class to teach.'

Jack smirked a little more. "I put up with Iris." Logan looked at him funny, but his confusion was answered as he saw a female head crane out from the door next to them. Iris rapidly looked left and right.

"Is he here?"

"Who?" Logan's face showed his confusion.

"Remy. He's driving me crazy." She looked left and right again, and seemed to decide that it was a LeBeau free zone because she stepped out of the room. She straitened her neat white blouse and black skirt as her high heels clicked on the floor. "If he's not chasing after me with flowers he's outside the window trying to sing to me. It's so annoying." Logan heard something soft and looked over at Jack. He was grinning as he shook with silent laughter. Logan shook his head. He turned his head down the hall as he heard the swinging doors open and Cajun voices rang through the previously silent hall.

"Will ya get away from me ya swamp rat?"

"Swamp rat! I'm no swamp rat you jerk!" The LeBeau boys had arrived. Gambit was rushing after Dion who was running away from him. Dion ran past; but the older brother stopped when he saw a more worthy chase. "Iris! I was fo' you."

"Oh gods." Iris's eyes opened wider and she dashed off.

"Iris wait!" Remy ran after her. Logan heard a burst of laughter. The books thudded to the ground as Jack fell to the floor howling with laughter. Logan smiled and shook his head, stepping over the shaking form. He heard another person laughing, looked up and saw Dion standing there laughing at his brother's stupidity. Another loud bell rang. Logan was just pissed off at the world; and he knew just who he needed to take it out on.

"That was the bell, and you're late for my class." He growled. It made the Cajun boy sober up right away. Dion's eyes got a little wider. He ran down the hall, slamming the door to a classroom as he entered. Logan smiled. `I know I shouldn't; but that really felt good.' He smirked and followed Dion. He turned the door handle, cutting his hand. Wincing he pulled his hand back, then entered.

Logan slammed the briefcase he was carrying on the teacher's desk. "Detention Dion."

He looked up; his hands out trying to look innocent. "What'd I do?" Logan held up his bloody hand; and the Cajun sat back.

"Now, if we're all here …" Logan looked around. "Since I hate taking attendance, I'm going to believe that you're all here." He started walking across the room as he spoke and taught. "Last class we talked about how otherwise normal people can be changed into mutants by outside influences. Today I want to continue this discussion and start on how mutants can have their existing abilities changed by outside sources.

"Yeah right." Logan stopped walking and looked at the scourge of his class; Method. "People and stuff outside of the person can't affect the person's mutant abilities." Logan glared at him. `If I let him get away with this, we're not going to get anything done today.' Logan stood with his feet spread, and jabbed his hands down straitening his wrists as he did. His claws slid out, the little bit of blood that came out with them helped the effect. Method rolled his eyes. "That's nothing." Logan stalked in front of him. He grabbed him by his shirt collar, pulling Method up out of the desk a little, then thrust his claws in front of Method's face.

"Ya see that?" Method nodded a little. "It's adamantium. An indestructible metal. It's on all my bones. I didn't put it there; and it sure as hell wasn't there when I was born. So how do you think it got there?"

Method's voice broke a little as he spoke. "I …" He cleared his throat and tried again "It was put there."

"By?" Logan asked menacingly as he thrust his claw closer to Method's nose.

"By an outside force?" Method couldn't conceal the fearful little girl tone anymore.

Logan let his hands drop and turned his back on him. "Exactly." His claws slid back into his arms.

The show of force was enough, and the class finished without any repeat performances. As chairs scraped and people left Logan leaned against the unused chalkboard and closed his eyes, trying to will away the sudden nausea and weariness that had washed over him.

"Mr. Logan?" The girl's voice interrupted his concentration. He opened his eyes and looked at the door. Little Carolyn Pyatt was standing there. "Mr.Logan,Mr.Drakewantstoseeyou.Hesaidsomethingaboutamissionth atyouneedtotalk Aboutwithagroupbecausethereisnewinformationaboutplans."

Logan swallowed hard, trying to keep the bile down and at the same time resisting the urge to rush out for pizza topped with green olives, onions, and banana peppers. He nodded toward Carolyn and left.

The hall seemed endless as he ambled toward the stairs. Each step made his stomach feel better; but each also made him hungrier. As he approached the swinging doors, Wolverine heard a woman's angry voice.

"Remy LeBeau, if you don't leave me alone this minuet, I am not responsible for what I'm going to do to you."

"Does that mean you're gonna kiss me Cher?"

Logan pushed open the door just in time to see the green vines that grew outside of the building climb through the window and wrap around Gambit's ankles. With a yelp, he was tugged up to the ceiling and hung from his feet there.

"What the …" Gambit's cursing was cut off as the vine wrapped over his mouth, as it has over the rest of his body. Iris smirked at him, then almost danced down the stairs, leaving Remy tied up. Gambit kept trying to speak and wriggle out of the snare. Logan laughed so hard he didn't notice the change of classes bell ring. Students streamed past him, as he had to sit on the stairs because he couldn't stop laughing.

"`EY!" Donal's voice rang out as he and Aaron Depleach stood with their arms crossed over their chests trying to look cool. "`Aaron, ya know wat? `E reminds me o' that game we used to play."

"You know, I think you're right." The two boys looked at each other, grinned and jumped down the last few stairs and started to punch Gambit back and forth like a tetherball. It made Logan laugh harder. The second bell rang, and the boys ran off. Gambit wiggled, making his swaying motion go in a circle. Logan was still laughing to himself when Dion's voice rang down at him.

"Ya better get up `ere soon. Bobby's gonna be angry if ya don'." Logan turned, and started up the stairs again.

"Somebody should let him down." He shouted up at Dion. The younger smiled and pulled out a playing card. The razor edged card flew past Logan, slicing through the vine, and imbedding itself into the wall. Gambit fell to the floor, his head hitting it first. Logan held in a snort of laughter as he heard the vine wrap charging and left the stairs for another hallway as it exploded.

The room was crowded with furniture and people. Method sat glaring at him from his spot on the center of a round table; with Dion, the O'Conall twins, and John and Bobby around him. Kevin sat on one end of a sofa, holding Remembrance's head in his lap, and stroking her hair with one hand and holding one of her`s with his other. Her other hand went down to the floor, and she stroked Connor, who was sitting here as a gray wolf; panting a little with his head on part of Skye's leg.

`Those four seem to be together a lot. She better not have told them' Logan thought as he sat down in a overstuffed armchair. He watched them, trying to attract her attention so she would read his mind and send him her reassuring thoughts, but it did no good. Wolverine's mind changed subjects quickly as Nightcrawler sat in the chair next to him, drawing his knee to his chin as he did.

"Good afternoon Logan."

"Hey Elf."

"You zeen distracted. Iz zhere zomzhing zhat I can help you vith?"

Logan looked at his concerned face. `He always sees right though me.' Logan sighed and shook his head. "Naw. I'm fine Elf. Just a little stressed over everything we're supposed to be doing."

Nightcrawler nodded. "Ah. I understand my friend. Vhat ve are doing here iz zome of zhe most important vork in zhe vorld …" He opened his mouth to speak again, but was interrupted.

"Thank you all for coming so promptly." Mr. Drake had taken the floor. "As you know, we're training to fight against Magneto when …" He faltered as Hank walked into the room, smiled sheepishly and silently dropped onto the floor. "when he attacks us here." Flick, snap. Flick, snap. Flick, snap. Logan looked at where Pyro sat, and watched him open and close his lighter. `Gods, that's annoying' Logan thought. "We now know that Magneto plans to attack us here in December. I've talked with the deans and they agree with me that our best course of action is to send the students home after Thanksgiving, and not to let them come back until the new year."

"If we're still here then." Aidan said, reflecting the gloom that had settled over them all.

"That's right." It came from Conway this time. "Magneto's supposed to be a bigger threat than anything we've ever faced. Can we make it out after him?"

"Plus he's bound to have others to fight with him. We don't know who, so how could we fight against them either?" The other twin added.

Bobby opened his mouth and shut it again. `He's out of words. Bet that deep down he believes there's no way to win.' Logan thought, though his head snapped towad the next voice.

"Leave Magneto to me. I'll face him alone if the rest of ya are too chicken to." Mem said, looking more tired and pissed off than before.

"You're the one who gets into his mind. Can't you see who he plans to bring?" Proteus said, looking into her eyes. She shook her head.

"You know I can't normally get into it. It's really hard to when I do, and I can't normally."

"Yes, but it would help us all if you could do it more often." Everyone's attention bounced to Bobby. He had voiced what they all were thinking.

"Bobby" he voice was soft, as though she was fighting to keep anger in "I've told you more than once; I can't control it when it does happen, and it wipes me out. I know I'm going past his helmet, I just don't know how."

The room fell silent.

"There is no victory in losing; but a thousand lessons to be learned." Everyone watched Hank, who spoke for the first time. Logan realized that even Pyro was still.

"What the `ell are you talkin' `bout?" It came from Kevin, who voiced the group's confusion.

Hank chuckled to himself. "I am just saying that if Remembrance could just read Magneto's mind all the time, she and the rest of us would learn nothing from it."

"But we would `ave all types of information den."

"Yes Dion, we would, but we also would learn nothing from it other than just what the information was. It is better to fail and learn from the failure than to just succeed and have no idea why you did."

"I don't see a lesson in not being able to control my ability."

"Not now, but in time you will." Hank said; leaving everyone more confused than before. "You know, this sounds like a version of a teleporting ability. The only difference is that you can teleport your telepathic ability, not your body." "Yes …" Hank looked pensive for a moment, then spoke again. "Kurt, is there a way that you could help Remembrance learn how to control her ability?"

"I can try. Vith zhe help of zhe Lord, anything is possible."

Logan could see that this change of control of the meeting wasn't what Bobby had planned, and that he was getting angry at Hank because of it.

"Well," Logan stood up "Guess that's all for now then. If you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go." He left, with half the group following him.

"Logan …." It was Hank. Wolverine stopped and let him catch up. "Thank you Logan. I didn't realize that Bobby was angry at me helping him until it was almost too late."

"Don' worry about it. Just don't `help' him again unless he asks. I don't have the time to thaw you out."

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