Finally a Past
Part Six
By Alicia Campbell

They landed in a busy airport, full of planes and people. Everyone seemed busy and in a hurry. After they landed, Crystal started pointing out all the sights of Vancouver. Jean bought them some lunch and tried to keep Logan from yelling at Crystal. She did talk a lot, Jean had to admit.

They took a cab out into the suburbs of the city. The cab stopped in front of a small, quaint house. It was blue, with white shutters. The flower garden in the front lawn was well tended and blooming. It seemed to indicate a middle-class family, content with life. Logan took it all in. Had this once been his home?

"Come on. Come on! Mother! Mother, Andrew is here!" Crystal hurried ahead of them and threw open the door in front of them. And old, stooped woman slowly shuffled out. She stared at him, through narrowed eyes.

"How do you know this is him?" Her voice was wary, but also full of life.

Logan approached her slowly and Jean silenced Crystal's answer. The two stared at each other for several minutes. They both scrutinized every facet of each other. Finally, the old woman raised her hand and Logan took it.

"Andrew, it must be you." She smiled slowly at him.

"I go by Logan."

"Good. At least that shows you had some part of your childhood. Logan then. Please, come in. And who is your friend?" She stepped aside and let the trio in.

"This is Jean Grey." Jean smiled. He would never call her Jean Summers, despite her marriage.

"Nice to meet you. And what is your relationship to my son?"

Jean had to laugh out loud at the old woman's blunt question. She sounded so much like a mother. "We're friends. Promise," she winked.

"Very well. Jean, you may call me Melissa. Logan, you may call me whatever you please. Would you like some tea?"

"Yes, thank you, Melissa. I would love some." Jean gave her a bright smile.

Logan nodded. He was busy taking in ever detail of the house. Every picture, photograph, wall hanging and piece of furniture. Jean quietly scanned for any hostile or false feelings. She sensed no lies, so she relaxed.

"I told you she was excited. I'm so happy that you're home." Crystal smiled. Wolverine raised his eyebrow at the word 'home.' He didn't think of anyplace as home, except perhaps the mansion.

"Yeah well. We'll see." Jean gave him a smile of reassurance.

"We only have one extra room..." Melissa raised an eyebrow and seemed to be waiting for one of them to assure her that they wouldn't mind sharing a room.

"I'll sleep on the couch." Logan disappeared.

"I told you we are just friends, Melissa." Jean laughed. "In fact, I'm married."

"Oh, I see. I apologize for my assumptions. I'll go tell Logan the same thing."

"No, that's all right. He heard you." Jean winked and slipped into the guestroom. It was a well-furnished room and looked cozy. In fact, it made Jean a little homesick. She pulled out her communicator and called her husband.

"Hi, Scott. It's me."

"Oh, how has everything gone?" He sounded relieved to her from her. He had probably been worrying again.

"Everything is going great. Everyone seems sincere. Mrs. Chacer has a great sense of humor. How are things at home?"

"Storm has been fretting and.. Well, the Professor and I believe Gambit followed you to Vancouver."

Jean laughed again. "I'm not surprised. He was determined to make sure for himself this wasn't a hoax. Don't worry about it."

"So you think they are Wolverine's family?"

Jean hesitated in her answer. Her mind told her one thing, but her gut seemed to be warning another. "Only time will tell."