A series by November

Chapter 46: Of Boogers and Bets

He woke up to the day as it dawned pink beyond the translucent roof of the greenhouse, strange sweet warmth clinging to him, the natter of birdsongs strong and real in the trees outside.

He remembered the night before, the memories breaking like a wave over him. He smiled gently and wrapped his arms around her, watching her sleep in the pink light.

The way she had said all the right things the night before, soothed his ragged soul, made him feel human. He’d never dreamed that she could give him so much or that he could deserve it.

He watched her sleep and wondered how he would ever be able to give to her as much as she’d given to him.

He held her a bit closer and lay there focusing on the steady cadence of his breathing. This was the most relaxed he'd been in ages, yet he was aware of every detail - the song and station of every bird in the trees around them, the newly opened bloom of morning glory, the taste of rain miles away. He thought about the Brotherhood and FoH and they all were very far away.

She woke up slowly and the first thing she saw was him. She was looking at his profile against the riotous color of things that should not bloom in New York state, taking him in, remembering with wonder what had transpired the night before. He was smiling, a very slight smile, more content that she ever dreamed she'd see him. Did I bring him this? She hoped so. It lightned her soul to know that his burden was lightened.

"Love you," she whispered.

He turned to look at her. "Marie..." he whispered, and kissed her. "I love you too," he whispered into the soft hairs at her temple. They decided that they’d better vacate the greenhouse before everyone got up. She slowly buttoned his dress shirt. She tied her pink dress back up as he held her hair. They opened all the windows to air the place out. They stripped Storm’s bed and she wrapped the sheets around her as they ran barefoot through the dew to the house.

They sneaked in like unruly children and he kissed her in the elevator and they barely got to the her bed without making love. By this time it was nearly ten and they only had two hours until picking Maggie up from Xavier’s.

Finally, satisfied that her sheets smelled like him and her and their sex, he got up to shower. She joined him in the steam and washed every inch of him. He felt even cleaner than when he’d cried to her. She loved washing him, especially rubbing silky conditioner into his hair. It was getting long. "Don’t cut your hair, okay?"

"You like it?"

"I love it. And, this way it only sticks up in half as many directions."

He turned around and growled playfully at her. They wound up back in bed again.

After, he traced lines on her skin as they lay. "What are you doing the rest of the day?"

"Recovering." she grinned. "Why, did ya have something in mind?"

"I could make you dinner?"

"Really?" She got up and slid into a pair of green panties.

"I can cook," he said indignantly.

She wrapped her hair in a towel and slipped into her lacy bra. "Relax. I’ve learned that you can do a lot of things, Logan." She pulled her jeans on and kissed him. "Dinner would be great. Why don’t you hang out with us and we’ll watch some movies or something? I’m exhausted. To tell you the truth I’m probably gonna wind up throwing in some laundry and taking a long nap."

"Okay."

It was all he said for a long minute. He was increasingly uneasy with things this morning. There was no reason but he felt this sweet bubble of joy would burst. I'll give you everything, she had said, and it reassured him. But only a bit.

"Sure you don't mind me hanging around?"

She looked at him, saw the insecurity there. "Logan, no." She walked to the bed in her jeans and bra, and held him close to her. Her skin under his cheek and the sound of her breath calmed him. He sat and cupped the backs of her legs and breathed in her scent.

"I want you here. I love you." He squeezed her tightly in silent gratitude, then kissed the skin just above her navel.

"Okay," he said, standing up quickly. "I’m gonna go to the store and get some things. What movies would you guys like?"

"Um - get something for us and something for Maggie. She hasn’t seen Finding Nemo yet, you can get that?"

"Okay." He kissed her. "I’ll be back in a few hours. Anything else you need?"

"Just you." They walked together to the elevators and she got on, going up. He smiled at her before the doors closed and then walked down the stairs.

A few minutes after noon, Rogue knocked on Xavier’s door. There was the sound of little-girl giggling.

"Come in, Rogue."

She opened the door and slipped inside. Xavier was reading the Sunday paper at his dining room table, wearing an elegant brocade robe. The girls tumbled out from the next room, in a giggling mess, fighting over two Barbies whose hair was tied together in a knot.

"Magster!" She scooped the girl up in her arms. "Hi, Gillian."

"Hi, Miss Rogue." Gillian said in her proper English accent.

"Morning Charles." She hoisted Maggie higher and touched Xavier’s shoulder. "Thank you so much for watching her."

She swore she saw him try not to smile. Damn telepaths.

"You’re welcome, Rogue. Why don’t you stay for some breakfast?"

Rogue’s stomach growled. "Don’t mind if I do." She set Maggie down, took a muffin from the pan, and sat across from him. "So, Chuck, what’s this I hear about a bet?"

She didn’t think it was possible for his face to blanch like that.

"Rogue, I’m so sorry, I-"

"Relax," she grinned. "It’s okay. Because none of y’all won. As soon as I have a little talk with Jubilee we’re gonna collect."

He smiled sheepishly. "That seems fair."

She grinned.

"So were the little boogers good for you?"

"I’m not a booger!" Maggie shouted gleefully. Xavier jumped.

"I’m not a booger!" Gillian echoed, more reservedly, in her British accent.

Rogue pulled Gillian up onto her lap and gave her a smooch. "Booger is just our term for sweetie." Gillian stole a chocolate chip from her muffin.

"So, were you guys good for uncle Charles?" He had never seen such mirth in Rogue’s eyes before. The glow of the laid, he believed he had once heard Jubilee say.

"Yes." The girls chorused.

"They were indeed good," Xavier sipped his tea. "A bit of the giggles at bedtime, but otherwise very good girls."

"Maggie, did you thank the professor for the sleepover?"

"I did."

"Maggie is a very polite little girl. Even for an American." Rogue glared at him but in her current state of euphoria couldn’t even do that properly. "Maggie, you are most welcome. Have another muffin."

As they went downstairs, Rogue asked Maggie if she would like to hang out with Logan today. Maggie said yes. Logan returned from the store with videos and ingredients for lasagna, and he stayed. They sat down to watch Finding Nemo as the sauce simmered and Logan was surprised at how funny it was. Rogue was also quite amused but she fell asleep halfway through.

"Marie. Marie?"

"Whu?"

"Go to bed."

"Hmm. Kay." Marie stumbled up and went into the bedroom.

"What’s wrong with Momma?"

"She’s really tired. Let’s watch the movie while she naps and later we can paint if you want to."

"Okay!"

Later, Jubilee knocked on the door. "Come in," he said.

She did, and looked oddly at Logan, then Maggie, who was sitting on his lap. They were watching Monsters, Inc. which, to Logan’s surprise, he thoroughly enjoyed. Jubilee looked from him to the TV screen and back. "Rogue here?"

"Jubie, you little yellow bitch!" The voice from the bedroom was loud.

"Umm, Roguey?"

Rogue emerged from the bedroom, hair messy, predatory smile, but well-rested. "So sugar, what’s this I hear about a bet?"

"Oh no."

"It’s okay. In fact, its more than okay. Because the way I see it you owe Logan and I the pot, considering that no one guessed correctly."

"You got it. Um, I wanted to see if you wanted to go for a run."

"Naw. I just woke up."

"Oh. Well, I’m glad you’re not mad."

"Not at all. I think it’s hysterical." She had never noticed that Rogue’s grin was catlike. And she felt very much like a little yellow canary.

"Hey Yellow?" Logan said, eyes not moving from the TV.

"Yes, Wolvie?"

"How much did we win?"

"Seven fifty."

Logan and Rogue looked at each other and raised their hands for a high five at the same instant. "Score!"