The X-Men: New Additions - Part 20

Author:  Stacy Ricco

 
    Alex stared out the window at the falling snow. It was late March and the unpredictable New England weather had decided that they weren't done seeing snow. Alex sighed. She looked up at the students sitting in front of her. They were in the middle of an exam and Alex had nothing to do. She turned back to the window. There was something about snow falling that seemed so peaceful. The way it silently and slowly fell to the ground had always captivated Alex. She really wasn't a winter person, but she did like to watch it snow. She sighed again.
"Jubilee…" Alex said without taking her eyes away from the window.
There was a loud hmph from the middle of the classroom.
Alex just smiled and continued to watch the snow. She wondered if it was snowing in Salem Center. Well she would get to find out. Hank wanted her there for another checkup, so she said she would drive down this weekend. Jubilee even decided to tag along. Hopefully Logan wouldn't be around. Alex really didn't feel like running into him.
"Time is up," she said twenty minutes later.
"Just one more minute," came from a few students as they frantically tried to finish.
"Time is up. Pencils and pens down."
"Any chance for points for creative answers?" Jubilee asked as she laid her paper on the desk in front of Alex.
Alex shook her head and chuckled.
"Well it was worth a shot."
"What time do you want to leave Jubilee?"
"Anytime. I can't wait to get out for a while. Like I have a wicked bad case of cabin fever! Besides it will get me out from under Frosty's thumb for a while."
"Say about an hour?"
"Sure. Meet ya in your room."
Alex nodded and then watched the rest of the students filter out of the room. She looked at the stack of papers and sighed. The only drawback to giving tests was grading them. Alex sighed again and was greeted with a few kicks from the twins.
"Okay I'll stop brooding. How 'bout something to eat?" she said aloud as she put a hand on her stomach.
Alex made her way to the kitchen and made herself a sandwich. She made a few extra and packed them for the trip. Thankfully it only took about two, two and a half hours to get to the mansion. Alex was really hoping that Logan would be out on a mission. She really wasn't in the mood to deal with him. An hour later Alex and Jubilee were on the road heading toward Salem Center. Jubilee had the stereo blasted and was singing along. Alex really didn't mind the loud music, although it did make the twins quite active. Alex just sat back, focused on the road and listened to the music.

   You're waiting for someone
    To put you together
    You're waiting for someone to push you away
    There's always another wound to discover
    There's always something more you wish he'd say

    He's everything you want
    He's everything you need

    Alex couldn't help but to think about Logan. She missed him, but she was still a little angry with him. A month had passed and her anger had diminished quite a bit, but not all the way. She knew she should forgive him, but she couldn't easily dismiss the fact that he didn't trust her. She could see it from his point of view, but then again he could have just asked what she was doing, instead of charging in there and attacking Antonio. Alex sighed.
"Thinking about Logan?"
"Huh?" Alex said as she glanced at Jubilee.
"I asked you if you were thinking about Logan."
"Of course. What else would have my mind so occupied?"
"So why don't you two just make up?"
"It's not that easy."
"Why not?"
"It isn't. I can't even tell you why."
"Alex listen, you know I love Wolvie to death, but what he did was wrong and you shouldn't stay mad at him forever."
"Jubes, I don't want to stay mad at him, but I can't help but to get angry every time I think about what he did. I even have scars to remind me of the fact."
"Scars? What happened?"
"Well Logan was in the middle of attacking a friend of mine and I stepped between them and took some claws in the shoulder."
"Well that's either the bravest or stupidest thing I've ever heard someone do."
"Thanks." Alex scowled.
They were both quiet for a while before Jubilee broke the silence.
"Do ya love him?"
"I don't know," Alex answered quietly.
Jubilee rolled her eyes. She knew the type. Unwilling or unable to admit feelings. Alex and Logan were so much alike that it wasn't funny. They were made for each other. She decided not to push the issue and focused her attention on the stereo. There had to be a decent radio station somewhere on the dial.

Logan walked into Harry's and sat down at the bar.
"Logan. The usual?"
"Sure Harry."
"How ya doing these days Logan?"
"Same as always Harry. How 'bout yerself?"
"Pretty good. Where's that nice little number you used to come in here with? Ya know the one with the set of pipes and the nasty right? I haven't seen her in a while."
"She took off."
"That's surprising. What happened?"
"Don't want ta talk 'bout it," Logan said as he downed the whiskey that was sitting in the shot glass in front of him. "What did ya mean by that's surprising?"
"Well with the way she decked that guy I figured you and her were a serious item."
"What do ya mean?"
"Well the reason why she decked that guy was because of an insult directed at you. I think he referred to you as her runt of a boyfriend. Two seconds after he said that she decked him."
"She never told me that."
"They usually don't talk about that stuff. Women!"
"Ya got that right."
"So are you going to go after her?"
"Dunno. Said she never wanted to see me again."
"They always say that, but they always want you to follow. You should go after her. That one is worth keepin'."
"You're probably right Harry."
"Do you love her?"
"I dunno."
"There's definitely something between the two of you. I've seen how you both look at each other."
Logan chuckled. "Now she won't even look at me. She took off to Massachusetts to teach."
"What did you do to get her so mad at you?"
"I accused her of cheating, when she wasn't. And there was the scuffle."
"Scuffle?"
"Yeah. She stepped between me and the guy I thought she was cheating with and she took one in the shoulder."
"No wonder she got mad at you. How long has it been?"
"A month I guess. Don't really keep track of time that well."
"Do you want her back?"
"I guess. She got under my skin and it's driving me crazy that she's not around."
"Then go after her my friend."
"I guess you're right Harry. Ain't goin' to be easy."
"It never is my friend. Good luck."
"Thanks Harry."
"Anytime Logan."
Logan finished off his beer, threw a few bills down on the bar and headed for the door.

Alex stood in the doorway and looked around at the room. She had inadvertently walked to the room that she shared with Logan instead of going to her room. Old habits die-hard. The room hadn't changed much since she had been gone. In fact it was actually neater than it normally was. Alex was never one for neatness, despite all of her years of military service. She sighed and closed the door. She slowly walked down the hall to her room. She searched around for a few things before heading down to the medlab.
"Hank?" she called as she walked through the door of the medlab.
"Over here," came from behind a huge stack of books.
"Hey there. I'm ready for my exam."
"Alex. It's a pleasure to see you."
"And you too. I see the hair on your head is growing back quite nicely."
"Yes it is. Most fortuitous that I've had little problem growing hair."     
Alex chuckled. "Well let's get this over with."

Twenty minutes later Hank was finally done with his exam. He weighed her, took her blood pressure, took blood samples and did a sonogram.
"Well?"
"Give me a second."
"What is it Hank? What's wrong?"
"You're not gaining enough weight."
Alex groaned.
"Have you been taking the supplements I gave you?"
Alex nodded.
"And the vitamins?"
Alex nodded.
"How's the appetite?"
"Can't stop eating."
"Your metabolism is too high and it's taking to much energy to keep it going. Add the task of sustaining and nourishing the babies and it comes down to your caloric intake isn't high enough."
"Hank I'm almost eating nonstop now. What else can I do?"
"What about your powers? Are you actively using them?"
"No."
"Do you have them turned completely off?"
"I'm in sort of a standby mode. I still take in and process stimuli."
"Can you turn that off as well?"
"I believe so."
"You're going to have to do it if you want healthy babies."
Alex nodded. "I'll do what I have to."
"Come back in two weeks for another checkup."
"Yes sir. Are we done?"
"Yes. Please take it easy. You need to conserve as much energy as possible."
"Yes sir."

Alex walked out of the medlab and yawned. It had been a long day. She taught five classes and then drove the two hours down here. She slowly climbed the stairs and went into her room. She laid down on the bed and was asleep in a matter of minutes.

Logan arrived back at the mansion. He headed to his room to pack a few things for the trip to Massachusetts. He stopped in the doorway. Her scent. It was fresh, perhaps an hour or two old. Was she actually here? He looked in the room, but found it empty. He wandered down the hallway until he stopped in front of her door. The scent was a little bit fresher here. Could she be in there? Logan quietly opened the door.
Light from the hallway illuminated part of the room. It was enough for him to see her lying there on the bed asleep. He stood there staring at her. Even in the dim light he could see dark circles under her eyes and wondered if she had been pushing herself too hard. He asked Jubilee about Alex a few times, but Jubilee never would give him specifics. All he usually got from her was "come up here and see her for yourself". Logan was amazed at how much her stomach had grown in a month. He knew this wasn't easy for her, and the thing between them didn't help. He wished he could help her through this, but he was the last person she would want help from. He quietly closed the door and walked back to his room.

Twelve-o-one am everyone in the mansion was sleeping or about to go to sleep. Twelve-o-one on April first, which happened to be Bobby's favorite day of the year. Bobby stooped outside of Hank's door. He held a small plastic bag and was shoving the opening under Hank's door. It was the type of plastic bag that one usually got at pet stores when they bought fish, or say crickets. Bobby coaxed the little insects to the top of the bag and under Hank's door. After the bag was empty he put clear packing tape along the bottom of the door. There would be no joke if the crickets decided that they didn't want to stay in Hank's room. He finished up and moved on to Hank's lab.
Bobby wasn't the only one awake and planning mischief. Jubilee had asked Hank to schedule a checkup for Alex on this particular weekend so she could just happen to visit. Her first victim was Bobby. She waited for him to leave his room. She watched him put the crickets under Hank's door and made a mental note to remember that one. Frosty would be in for a nasty surprise one night after she returned to Massachusetts. She waited for Bobby to take off downstairs. He was probably heading for Hank's lab. Jubilee giggled and headed for his room.
Two hours later everyone, except for Bobby and Jubilee, was standing outside of Hank's bedroom door. They heard loud pounding and stomping. There was an occasional crash and a yell. No one noticed Bobby moving quickly in and out of the abandoned rooms.
"What is he doing in there?"
"Gambit don' know. You wan' ta' be de one to ask him chere?"
"Not me swamprat. Ah know when ta stay out of it."
"I'll ask him," Alex said pushing her way past Rogue and to the door. She pounded on the door with a fist. "Hank! Hank! What's going on there?"
The door opened suddenly and a disheveled Hank stood in the doorway.
"Hank what's wrong?"
"CRICKETS! He released a multitude of CRICKETS in my room. Oh my stars and garters!"
Everyone burst out laughing. They knew who "he" was.
"Hank ol' buddy. Today is April Fool's."
"Why Logan I do believe you are correct," Hank said with an evil looking grin on his face. "I am sorry if I have roused you all from your slumber. I apologize."
"It's okay Hank. I don't think it will be the last time. The night is still rather young."
"I believe that is a correct observation Cecilia. Now I must get to work. If you will all excuse me?" Hank withdrew into his room and shut the door.
"Well we all better get some sleep while we can. As Cecilia pointed out, the night is still young." Alex yawned as if to emphasize the point.
The others started to head back to their respective rooms. Everyone left except Logan and Alex. They stood there staring at each other.
"'Lo Ace."
"Logan," Alex said coolly.
"How are ya doin'?"
"I'm fine Logan. We're fine," she said laying a hand on her stomach.
"Glad t' hear that."
"Logan what do you want? It's after two in the morning and I'm tired. I really don't feel like chitchatting."
"I wanted t' talk to ya 'bout what happened."
"Now Logan?"
"Why not? You're here, I'm here and we're both awake. No time like the present."
Alex rolled her eyes. Men! "Alright Logan. Let's go somewhere and talk. I don't want to be caught in the crossfire out here in the hall."
"ARRRGGGH AH'M GONNA KILL 'EM!" they heard Rogue scream. She stepped out into the hallway. She was dripping wet from head to toe.
Alex suppressed a giggle and bit her lower lip in an effort to keep from laughing. Rogue waddled past them and went in search of Bobby.
"Mon Dieu!" they heard Gambit yell from the other end of the hallway. He stood in the hallway and was covered in glue and feathers. He swore in French and went searching for Bobby. Alex couldn't control herself any longer. She burst out laughing. Even Logan laughed.
"Wait until he gets you," Alex said as she looked at Logan.
"He knows better than that. At least I hope he does."
Logan followed Alex to her room. Alex threw open the door, expecting something to fall from above the door. She cautiously stuck her head in the room. She walked in after she decided that there wasn't a surprise waiting for her. Logan followed her in and shut the door behind him. He stood there looking at her. She turned to face him. They stared at each other for a few moments.
Alex noticed that Logan was clad in nothing save a pair of boxers. She could feel her body responding to the sight of him. <This is crazy. My powers are shut off and my body is still reacting.> It wasn't her mutant power making her body react. She wanted him. No matter how mad she might be with him, her body ached to feel his touch. <Damn him and this power he has over me!>
Logan stared at her. He could see she was struggling with something. He sniffed. He could smell her scent changing. She wanted him and she couldn't control it. He almost laughed. That is what she was having a hard time controlling. He felt the urge to laugh again, but resisted. He knew she would get furious if he laughed at her. He slowly walked over to her. He didn't stop when he was in front of her. Instead, he walked around so that he was standing behind her. He put his hands on her shoulders and began to kiss the back of her neck. He could feel her body shiver at the touch of his kisses.
"I thought you wanted to talk."
He could hear the edge in her voice. She was having a difficult time keeping control. He smiled. He placed a few more kisses up and down her neck. She tried to pull away but he held her still. "Maybe I changed my mind," he murmured. He placed a few kisses on her earlobe and she squirmed.
"Logan," she hissed.
"Yes Alex?" he whispered in her ear.
She turned and faced him. "I want you."
He smiled and then gave her a deep passionate kiss.

Her head laid on his chest and it felt…right. However, she was still mad at him. "Don't think I'm not mad at you. 'Cause I still am."
He chuckled. "Of course ya are Ace," he said placing a kiss on her forehead.
They soon fell asleep despite all of the noise coming from the hallway.