The X-Men: New Additions - Part 24 - End A

Author:  Stacy Ricco

Note:  Well it's finally here. The end of the story. I couldn't make up my mind how to end it, so I wrote two endings.

 
    Day and night Logan sat in the chair next to Alex's bed. His head kept falling to his chest each time that he had fallen asleep. He would suddenly wake up and jerk his head up. He had repeated this time and time again and would until Alex woke up. The doctors managed to revive her after she had flat lined. They got her stabilized and moved her to the Intensive Care Unit. How long since that happened, Logan didn't know and really didn't' care. He only left her side to go see their daughters.
The doctors said the girls were doing fine. In fact they were doing better than what was to be expected. The twins had managed to surprise everyone. They were perfectly fine and didn't need any special care. The doctors were dumbfounded why the twins were as healthy as a baby who was carried full term. They were moved out of the neo-natal unit and placed in the nursery along with the rest of the babies.
Logan spent his days and nights sitting with Alex and going up to the nursery to see the girls. Occasionally Storm or Sean would bring him something to eat. He would thank them, eat the meal and then return to his vigil. It hurt him to look at Alex, but he couldn't look away. They had shoved a tube down her mouth and hooked her up to a ventilator. There were a half a dozen monitoring machines in the room, all which emitted some sort of beeping noise. The doctors had told him a few times that her vitals were starting to improve and it shouldn't be longer until she was conscious. One thing Logan did notice was that she was painfully thin. Her bare arms looked like there was nothing to them except skin and bones. It reminded Logan of looking at an anorexic person. He couldn't believe his eyes when he saw it. How did he not notice when she was down on the weekends?

Logan was sitting in his normal chair next to Alex's bed when the door opened.
"Logan I brought you some food," Storm said sitting a tray of food down on the nearest table.
"Thank you Storm."
"How is she doing Logan?"
"The doctors say she's getting better. Ain't seen it yet."
"These things take time."
"I know Storm. It's ain't easy though."
"I know Logan. We all know. The Goddess will take care of her though."
"Thanks Storm."
"Why don't you get some sleep Logan?"
"Don't want to."
"Logan you must sleep sometime."
"Don't need to."
"Logan I will stay with her and I will wake you if there are any changes."
"Thanks Storm for the offer. Maybe I will take ya up on it when I get tired."
"Okay Logan."
"Storm?"
"Yes Logan?"
"What day is it?"
"Thursday."
"Thanks."
"Your welcome," Storm said and quietly left the room.
Logan turned his attention back to Alex. "Four days so far Ace. How long ya goin' to do this to me?" There was no answer. Of course he didn't expect one. He had talked to her on and off throughout the four days. Some people said that people in comas could hear things that were going on around them. Logan didn't know if this was true, but he really didn't care. If he wanted to talk to her, he would talk to her.
"The girls are doing fine. Whatever you did to help them worked. The doctors said they never saw babies who were two months premature like them. They didn't need any special care. They were as fine as a baby who was carried to term, just a little tiny. They're still tiny, but they're getting bigger everyday. They weighed about four pounds each when they were born, but they're gaining weight rapidly. Ya got to come out of this. They need names, ya know. They can't go through life without a name."
Still there was silence.
"I miss you Ace. I miss you a lot. We all do. Jubes is going to keep Meph until you get better. Guess she got attached to him too. He misses you. Jubes says that all he does is stand at her door meowing. Probably expecting you to come walking through it."
The only sounds to be heard were those coming from the monitoring devices.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for all the fights we had. I know living with me wasn't the easiest thing in the universe. Hell, I can't even live with myself sometimes. Yer not the easiest person to live with either, ya know. Problem is we're too much alike."
No response.
"I love you Alex." Four simple words. Four simple words that were the hardest things for him to say until now. "I'm sorry I never said them until now when yer in a coma and probably can't hear me. Sometimes this ol' Cancklehead doesn't say things that he should. I'm sorry. I will always love you."

It was pitch black. Alex couldn't see a single thing. She couldn't switch to infrared vision cause somehow she knew she still wasn't in her body. She floated in the endless blackness that was all around her. She didn't know how much time had passed if any. She knew her babies were taken from her body and she wondered if they were okay. She wished she had some way of knowing.
Her feet were suddenly on something solid and she stood there trying to see around her. A small distant light appeared in front of her, but she stayed still. She had heard stories of people who had died and were brought back to life. Each one of them had mentioned a light of some sort. Alex didn't believe those stories and she wasn't about to start believing them, so she stood still and watched the light.
For a long time it didn't move or increase in intensity or size. It remained constant. Alex didn't care about the light. She stood her ground and would come hell or high water. The light eventually started to get brighter and it looked as if it was moving toward Alex. Alex continued to stare at it and didn't move an inch.
The light kept moving, coming closer and closer to her. She still didn't move. There was a really intense flash of white. Alex raised her arm and covered her eyes. The light eventually died down and standing where the light had been was a woman. Alex stood still not really knowing what to make of this woman.
"Greetings my child. Ever the stubborn one you were."
Alex didn't respond. She took a closer look at the woman. The woman had silvery white hair and she was wearing a long, flowing white dress. Her face had a youthful look to it, but her eyes were something entirely different. Her eyes had an ancient look to them. Eyes that looked like they saw the beginning of time itself. Eyes that looked like they could contain the wisdom of the universe.
"Don't you know me child?"
Alex didn't respond.
"You call upon me often enough."
Alex didn't say anything or move a muscle.
"Ever the soldier I see. Well we have a long time to cure you of that."
Alex's eyes narrowed and she continued to stare at the woman.
"Alex my child. Of all the time you spent on Earth, did you not once learn how to relax?"
"No."
"Finally an answer," she said sitting on a chair that just suddenly appeared. "Not even the times you were in your lover's arms?"
Alex didn't respond. She could feel a great emptiness form inside of her when the woman referred to Logan.
"Ah yes. Even now you miss him. Don't you?"
"Yes."
"Well he will join us eventually. Everyone will."
"What do you mean join us?"
"Why child, haven't you figured out who I am yet?"
"Your the Great Mother."
"Yes. I am."
"What do you want with me?"
"Why child, it's time to come home. Your task is completed. You can rest now."
"What do you mean come home and rest? What do you mean my task is completed? What task?"
"Ever the inquisitive one you were. And still are I guess. Anyways, your task was to help someone find love again and he has. So, your task is complete."    
"Who?"
"I'll show you dear," she said and a large mirror appeared out of nowhere besides the woman. The mirror became hazy and an image began to form.
Logan! Alex could see Logan sitting next to her body. Her body. It was laying in a hospital bed hooked up to all sorts of machines. There was a tube in her mouth helping her body breathe. The woman waved her hand and Alex could clearly hear what Logan was saying.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for all the fights we had. I know living with me wasn't the easiest thing in the universe. Hell, I can't even live with myself sometimes. Yer not the easiest person to live with either, ya know. Problem is we're too much alike. I love you Alex. I'm sorry I never got the chance to tell you that. Sometimes this ol' Cancklehead doesn't say things that he should. I'm sorry. I will always love you"
Alex was speechless. The image disappeared. "No!" she cried.
"Sorry my dear. There is no more to see."
"What do you mean come home and rest?" Alex said glaring at the woman.
"Why leave the mortal world behind and rest. In other words my dear, it's time for your physical body to die."
"Die?"
"Yes die, and for good this time. I don't know how you managed to die and go back so many times, but you did. By the way, you probably hold the record for the most times of doing that. Of course it's been so long and so many people do it I think I've lost track."
"I don't want to die!"
"I'm sorry my dear. Your task is complete."
"No! I want to go back!"
"Why?"
"My babies! My babies need me!"
"No they don't. They will be fine with their father."
"But I have to go back!"
"Why?"
"Because I have to!"
"Why?"
"My babies need me!"
"No they don't. Why do you want to go back?"
Alex didn't respond.
"Why do you want to go back?"
"Because I love him," she said quietly.
The woman smiled brightly at Alex.
"Why are you smiling at me like that?"
"Because my dear you have finally learned to love. Logan wasn't the only one who needed to learn how to love someone else. For him it isn't the first time, however for you it is. You've been a soldier all your life, and since your parents were killed and your sister taken from you, you have never let yourself love another human being. It only took you twenty-one years, which in the history of time is nothing. But to humans it is a long time."
"That's what all of this was for? To teach Logan how to love again and to teach me how to love?"
The woman nodded. "Well child, since you've finally admitted to loving him, which I thought you would never do, you can go back. Now, go. Be with him and your babies and be happy."
"Thank you Mother."
"You're welcome child. Now go and be happy."

Alex was suddenly back in her body. It was exquisite to be able to feel physical sensations again. She slowly opened her eyes and tried to look around. She couldn't see that much because she could barely move her head. She did see Logan dozing in a nearby chair.
He never looked so wonderful then he did at that moment. The empty feeling that she had was gone and was replaced by a warm glow.
*I love you too Logan. I always have.*
His head snapped up and his eyes met hers. A look of relief passed over his face. He leaned over and kissed her on a cheek. "I love you Alex. I'm sorry I didn't say it before."
*It's okay Logan. I love you too. I always have. I should have said it sooner myself.*
"We thought we lost you there for a moment. I was afraid I was going to lose you for good."
*You almost did Logan.*
He kissed her again on her cheek. "I don't ever want to lose you Ace. Ever. That's why I want you to marry me as soon as you are out of this joint."
A tear escaped from Alex's eye and slid down her cheek. *I don't want to lose you either Logan. Ever.*
A large smile spread upon his face.
*Logan how are the babies?*
"The girls are doing fine. Whatever you did to help them worked. The doctors said they never saw babies who were two months premature like them. They didn't need any special care. They were as fine as a baby who was carried to term, just a little tiny. They're still tiny, but they're getting bigger everyday. They weighed about four pounds each when they were born, but they're gaining weight rapidly. I'll bring them down a little later and introduce you to your daughters."
*That would be nice. Logan I need to ask you for a favor.*
"Sure darlin'. What can I do for you?"
*I need this tube out so I can eat. I'm starving. And I need some candy bars.*
"Energy levels?"
*Yes. Want to have some fun?*
Logan quirked an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
*Watch.*
Logan could almost hear the smile. Logan didn't see anything happen at first and then suddenly all the monitoring equipment went haywire and started to make some really loud screeching noises.

    Charles Xavier sat in the waiting room. He had been here almost nonstop since he arrived here shortly after they had brought Alex in. He had taken a few hours here and there to go back to the hotel room he had gotten to get some sleep. He didn't know how Logan managed to stay awake for almost four days straight. He knew the only sleep Logan got was when he would doze in the chair next to her bed. Charles was sitting there reading over a few papers he had managed to grab before leaving the mansion when he heard a warning alarm go off. He looked up and saw nurses and doctors scrambling about. They all ran into Alex's room. A sick feeling developed in the pit of Charles' stomach. He put the papers away and sat there staring at the door to Alex's room.
Three minutes later most of the doctors and nurses emerged from the room. Charles moved his hoverchair over to the nurses station.
"Excuse me. Could you just tell me what happened in there?" Charles asked pointing to Alex's room.
The nursed looked at him. "Her monitors sent us alarms that she was crashing. We went in there and she's fine. She's awake now."
"She's awake?"
"That's what I said."
Charles really didn't like the tone in the woman's voice but let it pass. He opened the door. Logan was sitting next to Alex and a large smile adorned his face. A nurse was removing the tube that was in her mouth and two doctors were checking her vitals.
*Sir, it's good to see you.*
*Not as good as it is to see you awake. How are you feeling.*
*Okay I guess. I could really use a few shots of tequila though.*
Charles laughed. The doctors and nurses gave him a strange look and wondered what could be funny in a situation like this. *Did you do that? With the monitors?*
*Yes.*
*It's good to see you still have a sense of humor. Well I guess you could call it a sense of humor.* Charles could hear Alex chuckling inside of his head. *You scared me.*
"I'm sorry," Alex croaked after the nurses just got done removing the tube from her throat.
"It's okay. I'm just glad to see that you are doing better."
"Thank you sir."
"Charles, Alex. Charles."
"Yes sir."
"I'll be back darlin'," Logan said placing a kiss on her forehead.
"Logan?"
"Don't worry Ace. I'll be right back."
"Okay."

Twenty minutes later Alex saw the door open and Logan came in pushing what looked like a plastic bin on wheels. Behind him a nurse was pushing another plastic bin on wheels. Each "bin" contained a small pink bundle. Alex smiled.
Logan gently picked up the small pink bundle from his "bin" and placed it in Alex's arms. Alex looked down at the small pink bundle and was totally amazed. The baby in her arms was so tiny and Alex was amazed that everyone started out this small. The baby was sleeping and Alex gently caressed a tiny cheek. Logan gently placed the second bundle in her arms and Alex now had a baby in each arm.
"Meet your momma girls."
"Oh Logan. They're so beautiful."
"I know. Just like their momma."
"Logan you're such a softie."
"Ya did it to me darlin'."
Alex smiled and then something totally unexpected. She began to cry.

The End.