The X-Men: New Additions - Part 5

Author:  Stacy Ricco

 
    Logan spirited Alex away the afternoon following Storm's party. They spent the next two weeks in a cabin in northern Canada. Alex put up many objections to going, but Logan shot down each one. It came down to Logan telling her that she was a magnet for trouble and the only way she could fully recuperate was to get away from the mansion. She stood a chance of winning the argument until Hank and Scott joined in on Logan's side. Hank threatened to never return her to active duty unless she went with Logan. That ended all objections and Alex, Logan and Meph were quickly on their way.
Another reason why Logan wanted to get her away was that Mystique was staying at the mansion. She had decided to stay because of Rogue's pregnancy. Logan and Scott both thought that it was a good idea to get as much space between Mystique and Alex as possible. Although Alex had won two rounds with Mystique, everyone knew that it wasn't over. Mystique could carry grudges better than anyone else they knew.
    The next two weeks were almost perfect. Alex and Logan spent the mornings chopping wood and doing other chores. Afternoons were usually spent sitting on the porch or down by the nearby lake. Nights were spent in front of the fireplace curled up with each other. Mostly talked about past experiences, but they did talk about other things once and a while.
Alex had regained most of the weight that she lost. Her appetite was back to normal and she was back to sleeping only three hours a day. She had some residual tenderness in her abdomen where she was shot, but she didn't tell Logan. She would be fine in no time. Logan was quite pleased with her recovery and she wasn't about to make him start worrying again.
They were eating dinner one night when Logan brought up the subject of going back.
"I think we should head back soon."
Alex just looked at him.
"Well it's been two weeks and who knows what has happened."
"If you think so."
"How bout tomorrow?"
"That's fine with me. I could use some vegetables back in my diet again." They had mostly eaten meat and fish in the time that they had been spending there. The nearest town was two hours away and even there fresh vegetables were hard to come by. Logan and she had done quite a bit of hunting and fishing while they were there and figured they could live on that until they got back to civilization.
They cleared the table after dinner and went to sit down in front of the fireplace. Logan added more wood to the fire and sat down next to Alex. She snuggled up to him and Meph curled up on Alex's lap. Alex let out a deep sigh.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Just content. Been a great two weeks. Best vacation I've ever had. Well it's probably the only real vacation I've ever had."
"Really?"
"Yes. They didn't let us off duty for that long. We were too valuable to them to let us sit around."
Logan lit a cigar. Unlike most of the other X-men, Alex liked the smell of Logan's cigars and didn't mind it when he smoked them.
"What about if you had to have time off?"
"Well we were off duty when we had extensive injuries, but you were usually encouraged to get back to active duty as soon as possible."
"What if you decided to have babies?"
"I guess we were allowed time off for that. Although no one I knew of ever took time off for babies."
"Speaking of which…since baby fever has gripped the women…and I mean we haven't been too careful…and well…"
"Well what? Am I pregnant? No. I can't get pregnant, ever."
Logan saw a brief flash of pain go through her eyes.
"I'm sorry for bringing it up. Can I ask what happened?"
"Well when I was sixteen the government doctors performed an operation on me and removed all my eggs."
"Why?"
"Because my DNA was too valuable to lose if I ever got killed on a mission. So to keep it from being destroyed or stolen, they removed all my eggs. Who knows? I probably have more biological children than I can count."
"Well look at this way darlin', at least you didn't have to have all of them. I bet being a soldier is a lot easier than being a parent," Logan said trying to put on his best smile, hoping that she would not take offense to his words.
"I guess you're right," she said with a slight chuckle. "Can you imagine popping out that many kids?"
They both laughed a little.
"Logan."
"Yes?"
"Do you want to see what I showed Jean?"
"What do you mean?"
"Everything I've experienced."
"Only if you want to darlin'. If it's going to cause you pain or make you hurt, then I'm fine not seeing it."
"I just want you to understand why I am the way I am and why I do certain things."
"Only if you want to darlin'."
Alex turned so that she was sitting in front of Logan. She put her palms on his temples, closed her eyes and began to concentrate. It took about an hour and a half to show Logan all of her memories. She had tears in her eyes by the time she was finished.
Logan sat there silently staring at her.
"Alex…" he said not quite sure how to go on. He held his arms out to her and she collapsed against his chest. He felt her sobbing and tried to comfort her as best as he could.
    The night quickly flew by and in the morning they found themselves not wanting to leave the peace of the wilderness. With a sigh of regret, Alex grabbed Meph and jumped in the mini-jet. The trip back to Westchester, NY only took about an hour and a half. Alex threw her things in her room and went looking for Hank. She would be on active duty as soon as Hank was able to give her a physical and the okay.
She found Hank in his lab buried behind piles and piles of paperwork.
"Hank!"
"Alex? Back so soon?"
"Yup. And ready to go back on active duty," she said giving him a grin.
"I get the hint. Hop up on the table and I will check you out."
"Where is everyone? The place seems too quiet."
"They all went in to the mall. I stayed in a vain effort to catch up on some of my work."
"Oh," Alex said with a glimmer in her eye.
"Were you looking for anyone in particular?"
"Nope."
Hank took about a half an hour to examine Alex. She didn't tell him about the pain in her abdomen in fear that he would keep her off of active duty. He gave her the green light when he was done and she went running from the lab.
Alex spent the remainder of the day working out. The past three and a half weeks had been easy and she wanted to get back to where she was before the whole Sinister episode. She varied her workouts from lifting weights to jogging. She was a little tired by the time dinner rolled around, but it felt good to be tired from a workout for a change. Storm cooked dinner and thankfully there was a large selection of vegetables to choose from. She was tired of eating mostly meat and fish.
    Logan and she spent a few hours down by the lake that evening. Bobby joined them for a short time and caught them up on what had happened while they were gone. Logan was a little worried when he learned Mystique was still staying at the mansion. Apparently her and Rogue and taken a trip into the city and would be staying there for the night. Logan looked at Alex.
"I'll be on my best behavior. I promise."
He raised one eyebrow questioningly at her.
"I swear. I won't do anything unless she starts something."
Logan just nodded and went back to smoking his cigar. Alex yawned. Logan looked at her. Even though she was healed and Hank had put her back on active duty, Logan still acted as if it was the first day after they found her.
"I know. I'm going in now."
"I didn't say anythin'."
"You don't have to. I know that look. Where's Meph?" she asked looking around and not seeing any sign of the little black kitten.
"Dunno. Probably out chasing fireflies."
"Meph!" Alex called out into the darkness.
There was no sign of the black cat.
"Meph!"
"Meow."
"Where?"
"Back there," Logan said turning around to look. Meph had gotten himself stuck up in a rather high tree.
"How did you get up there?" Alex asked walking over to the tree where the cat had managed to get himself stuck.
"Meow."
"Oh all right. I'll get you down." Alex started to climb the tree. She went up as easy as a squirrel, but slipped and started to fall when she went to reach for the cat. She stopped a foot shy of the ground.
"Whew! That was close," she said as she flew up, grabbed the frightened cat and landed next to Logan. She looked at the kitten. "Now next time, don't climb so high."
The cat looked at her and gave a soft meow.
"Ready?" Logan asked.
"Yes."
They walked back up to the mansion. It wasn't that late so some of the mansion's residents were in the rec room watching tv. They could hear the argument that was taking place as soon as they stepped in the back door.
"Hey you bettah be turnin' on Judging Amy if ya know what's good for ya Popsicle."
"But Rogue, how can you not want to watch When Pets Attack 3?"
"Bobby, ah'm warning ya." There was an ominous tone to Rogue's voice.
"What's on the Discovery Channel?" Hank chimed in.
"Ah wanna watch Judging Amy!"
"Bobby I wouldn't make a super strong hormonal woman angry with me if I were you," Sam injected into the argument.
"Who's hormonal?"
"Um no one."

"How's long that been going on?" Logan asked Storm, who was sitting at the kitchen table drinking a cup of tea and reading the day's paper.
"About a half hour now. They'll never watch anything the rate that they're going."
"Same thing every night. I swear they do just so they can argue."
"Some things never change. Which sometimes is a good thing. Did you two enjoy your trip?"
"Yes," Alex and Logan both answered.
"Alex you are looking much better."
"Thank you Storm."
"Thank you for the bracelet. It is absolutely gorgeous!" Storm said as she fondled the silver bracelet that adorned her wrist. "I shall wear it always."
"You're welcome. I'm glad you like it."
"Like it? I love it. I've never seen the Goddess displayed in such a manner." The bracelet was silver and was adorned with two crescent moons flanking a full moon. A moonstone represented the full moon and the two crescents were carved out from the band. The moons symbolized womanhood in all its phases: maiden, mother and crone. When Alex saw it in the store she automatically thought of Storm.
"The place where I bought it has a very large selection of jewelry like that. Maybe we could go sometime?"
"I would love to. That's if I can ever get you away from Logan long enough to go," Storm said winking to Logan.
Alex blushed and then she and Logan said their goodnights to Storm. Logan was a little surprised when Alex turned toward the women's wing when they reached the top of the stairs.
Logan cleared his throat.
Alex turned. "What?"
"Um…"
"Well I figured that I'm not confined to bed anymore, and that means I don't have to have my watchdog watching over me and figured I would sleep in my own bed."
"Oh." He sounded a little disappointed.
"If you want me to sleep with you, all you have to do is ask."
Logan walked over to where she was standing, grabbed her head and drew her to him, and began to kiss her.
"Is that an invitation?" she said and smiled slyly after the kiss had ended.
Logan just grinned. He bent over and threw her over his shoulder and then carried her back to his room.

    The next morning Alex got up and started her daily routine. She joined the other X-men in the kitchen for breakfast around 9am. Breakfast was kind of quiet until Bobby had walked into the kitchen. He had one hand on his head and it seemed like he wasn't able to move it.
"What's wrong Icebox?" Beast said glancing up from the morning paper.
"Someone filled my hair gel bottle with superglue," he said giving Beast a pointed look. Everyone at the table was trying to stifle their laughter, but eventually every one burst out into laughter.
"Wasn't me," Beast said as he tried not to laugh too hard.
"Bobby sugah, Ah'll get the scissors and we can cut your hand free."
"Scissors?" Bobby said with a gulp. Everyone laughed harder.
"Yeah scissors. Unless, ya want Hank to get some dissolvent for it, but that'd probably dissolve your hair too."
Bobby turned pale.
"The scissors will do."
Rogue managed to cut the hair under his hand so his hand came free. He still had hair stuck to his hand and a patch of hair on his head that was a little shorter than the rest of his hair.
"Want me ta finish the job and make it all one length?" Rogue said waving the scissors in front of Bobby's face.
"No thanks. I think I'll slip into town and get it done by a professional," Bobby said bolting for the door.

    Bobby was determined to get Hank back for the superglue incident. After he left the kitchen he made a dash for the garage. He searched the shelves until he found what he sought. He then hurried down to the medlab hoping that Hank was still in the kitchen. He found the medlab empty and quickly did the deed and ran out. Now it was time to go get a haircut.

    The rest of the day passed uneventfully at the mansion. It was getting near dinner and it was Alex's turn to cook. She recruited Logan into helping her cook dinner because cooking wasn't one of her strong points. They decided a cookout would be a change of pace and the opportunity for cookouts was slowing slipping away. Logan took care of the grill while Alex took care of slicing the tomatoes and onions and the rest of the condiments. Logan called everyone to dinner and the rest of the X-men were mildly surprised at the thought of a cookout.
Hank was missing, but that was normal. He was usually the last one to dinner because he usually got so wrapped up in his work. Bobby was sporting a new haircut that was a little on the short side.
"Where's Blue-boy?" Bobby asked looking around for Hank.
"Still in the lab," Cecilia answered, having just recently vacated the lab herself.
"Iceman to Beast."
"Beast here."
"Hank old boy. You coming to dinner?" Bobby asked into his COM badge.
"I will be up there shortly."
"We're having a cookout."
"Affirmative."
Hank came walking out of the door. All of the X-men, who were already eating, stopped in mid-sentence or mid-bite and stared at Beast.
"What?" Hank asked looking around at all the staring faces. He turned around to see if he could see what they were staring at. They all burst into laughter.
"What?" Hank demanded as he turned back around. Hank's right eye had a black circle around it, one the exact size as the eyepiece to a microscope. His backside from his posterior to half way up his back was completely black. Hank wiped a hand on his lower back and brought it out to look at it.
"OH MY STARS AND GARTERS!" he shouted. "ROBERT!" Hank went after Bobby, who was defenseless because he was rolling around on the ground laughing. Hank easily picked him up and tossed him in the nearby swimming pool. "What did you do to me?"
"Relax Hank. It's only grease."
"GREASE? OH MY STARS AND GARTERS!"
The laughter had died down somewhat and Hank stood there looking at them with a helpless look on his face.
"Bobby do you know how hard it is to get GREASE out of fur?" Beast said pushing Bobby back in the pool as he was trying to get out. "Oh my stars and garters! My poor fur!"
"Hank don' worry. I have some degreaser in the garage."
"Thanks Logan."

"So Bobby what exactly did you grease?" Rogue asked after Hank and Logan had left for the garage.
"Well the eyepiece to his favorite microscope and his chair. You would be amazed how well black leather hides grease," Bobby said with a wide grin. "I had to get him back for the superglue."
Hank and Logan came back a little later. Logan's degreaser had gotten most of the grease out, but there were still clumps of grease here and there on his backside. Bobby giggled every time he looked at Hank. Hank just gave Bobby a wide grin that would have scared most normal people out of their minds.
Alex and Logan were cleaning up from dinner when Rogue approached Alex.
"Alex sugah, can I talk to ya?"
"Sure Rogue. What's up?" Alex asked as she wiped her hands on a towel.    
"Can ya help me with something?"
"Sure. What?"
"Well Ah know ya've been working with the Gen-Xers and helping them control their powahs and Ah was wondering if ya wouldn't mind helpin' me with mahin."
"Rogue I would be more than happy to help you."
"Ah just want to be able to hold mah little ones like a normal momma when they arrive."
Alex nodded. "How about we start tonight? Can you meet me down by the lake where I usually sit?"
"Sure sugah," Rogue said giving her a hug.
"What was all that about?" Logan asked as he watched Rogue go in to the mansion.
"I'm going to help Rogue learn to control her powers."
"Good luck. Jean and the Professor haven't been able to help her so far."
"You'd be surprised at what I'm capable of."
"I already know," he said flashing her a mischievous grin.
"Logan!" she exclaimed turning a few shades of red.
They quickly finished cleaning up the dinner mess and went down to the lake to spend a few quiet minutes alone.