A/N: Congrats to Addie, only the second person to figure out what all the titles had in common. I promised I'd give her a shout-out whenever I finally updated this story. You're so cool!!!! How Long Must I Suffer? By stormfreak Chapter Four: Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You?) "Logan?" He was too stunned to move, too stunned to speak, even. "Logan?" Again, more urgent this time. "Who…who the fuck would do this to little girls?" Logan whispered, his normally strong voice trembling. "Who the FUCK would do this to little girls! What the FUCK kind of God would allow this sick-ass SHIT!?" "Lo-GAN!" Ororo began to tremble at Logan's anger. Slowly, he reached out and brought his fingertips to the scarred region, hairless in its injuries and so hideous that Logan felt like screaming. How could such a beautiful, flawless woman have such scars? Who could do this to a child and sleep at night? Ororo flinched at his touch, but didn't move. By no means was Logan's touching erotic. Far from it. It was exploratory. "I…" she began, but Logan stopped her. "How could-ohhh, God, Ororo," he moaned low in his throat. By the Goddess, is he crying? Ororo thought horrified. I have done enough crying for the both of us! "You---you gave birth to my son, Ororo…my son," he muttered, overwhelmed. "Even with all this…oh God, how you must have suffered…and I wasn't there…forgive me, Ro. Please…" Without warning, Logan brought his lips to Ororo's vaginal area, pressing his lips against the damaged area and resting there. "Logan!" Ororo gasped, and moved to jerk away. But Logan's strong hands on her hips restricted all movement. He inhaled deeply, then exhaled and looked deeply into her eyes. "I'm sorry Ororo…so sorry…" "Don't be," Ororo replied weakly, unable to concentrate with his hands on her thighs and his lips down there. Logan brushed his unshaven chin across Ororo's bare stomach, kissing her disfigured vaginal area. "You are so beautiful," he moaned into her skin. "So fuckin' beautiful – you're a superwoman - I swear to God, 'Ro, just tell me who to kill-" "Logan!" Ororo jumped, but once again couldn't move. "Please, let go of me!" But Logan's feral side was coming out. His side that wanted to protect his friend, the mother of his son. His callused hands came up and began to rub Ororo's stomach, smooth as silk as opposed to the defaced terrain below her navel. "Jeannie told me I caused you pain," he murmured. "Emotional…and physical. My God, Ororo, if only I knew…let me make it up to you, 'Ro." "What are you talking about-" Ororo questioned, but she was cut off by Logan's lips against her own, mashed so hard against her mouth that she could feel his teeth. She tried to cry out, but Logan's grip on her was strong, and she tumbled to the floor. By the Goddess, he is heavy! Being stocky, combined with the weight of adamantium on his bones, was making him on top of her almost unbearable. Almost. Something about being this way, with his weight nearly crushing her, making her feel warm – safe, wanted. She would've wrapped her arms around his neck if they weren't pinned down underneath her. "Logan," she whispered. "Logan, you're crushing me." Logan lifted his head, staring into her dark blue eyes. "I'm sorry," he began to babble. "I'm sorry for-for, shit, 'Ro. I'm sorry for every fucking thing I've done wrong…I just want to make things right. I need you…all this time I've been searching for you, wondering where were you when I needed you…I want to make you feel good – you deserve to feel good, dammit…let me make you feel good-" "Logan." Ororo brought her fingers to his lips. She looked into his eyes, and the depth of emotion scared her. "I…" She wanted to tell him no, to put him on a plane and send him back to the X-Men. But what she said was: "Just…just take your time." Time. It took twelve days for Logan to gradually move from off the couch to in the bed next to her. Four days later, he could finally stop staring at mutilation between her thighs without feeling disgust and anger and a hot tightening at the back of his throat. Twenty-six more days passed before she finally let him look at her fully naked with a light on. A full month and a half later, her back finally stopped tensing before he entered her, before the rain finally stopped pounding against the windows, before the power stopped being knocked out in her anguish. Eighty-seven days in all. And Logan didn't mind one bit. He had fallen deeply in love with her way before then. * Neil grew accustomed to the fact that this short, hairy man was not going to go away. It bugged him. At first it was just Mommy and Neil, Neil and Mommy. Now it was Neil, Mommy, and Squirt. Neil lay in his day bed, listening to his mother's conversation. "…talking about taking my son out of the only environment he knows, moving back to New York, of all places, and rejoining the X-Men after over four years!? Why don't you ask me to join the Marine Corps while you're at it? "'Ro, I know you like teaching. And I know you like France. But dammit, you're an X-Man. And a damned good one! And so am I! We're X-Men!" "No – you're an X-Man. I'm a teacher. If you were so happy at Xavier's mansion, you need to go back." "You're coming with me, Ororo." "No, I am not!" Slam. Neil winced. He had never, ever, ever heard his mommy yell until this Logan man showed up. "If you are unhappy with your son and me, you should leave! No one told you to come and find us, anyway!" "HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO THROW THAT IN MY FACE!?" Neil crawled out of his bed, dragging his blanket behind him. Peeking around the corner, he could see Logan's neck bulging, pointing up at Ororo. "Look, dammit! I've said it a million times! I want you and Neil to come back home with me!" "This is home to us, Logan!" "No, it's not! You're only here to be away from me! And now I'm here, and I ain't lettin' you go again! We're goin' home, and we're gonna get married, an' we're gonna live happily-the-fuck after cuz I fuckin' said so!" Silence. Ororo raised a hand and ran it through her hair. "Mar-married?" "Yeah." Logan, who was already too short, knelt to the kitchen floor. "Marry me, Ororo. I don't care if we stay here or go home or just don't leave this fuckin' kitchen. I want you to be my wife." Neil didn't know what a wife was, but from the look on his mommy's face, right before she tackled Logan to the ground, shoving her tongue down his throat, it must've been a good thing. It also meant that this guy was never going to go away. * Xavier's Institute of Higher Learning Salem Center, New York Dr. Hank McCoy draped the sheet over the prodigal X-Man's lower half and took her smooth, ebony hand in his furry blue one. Jean Grey gripped the other. "Ororo," Beast said gently. "You can open your eyes now." Trembling, Ororo opened her eyes. Immediately, she brought her knees to her chest and hugged them, rocking back and forth in a rapid motion. Jean wrapped her arms around her best friend, whispering in her ear. It didn't take a genius to figure out that being examined was probably the worst experience of her life, but Logan had insisted that she be examined for infection, and the possibility of future children. Wolverine had been sitting in a corner for the past two hours, watching Beast's every move, daring him to do anything wrong with his very presence. It made Beast very nervous, but he knew Logan was only there because he loved her. He had known that for years. Ever since he had left to go find her so long ago. "Ororo," Beast began. "I won't lie to you, my friend. The damage to both your internal and external areas is very, very high." Tears rolled down Ororo's cheeks. Logan longed to cross the distance of the room and take her in his arms, but that wasn't his way. "There are ways to…ah…correct the external damages, though," Beast continued. "You do not necessarily need to be…uh…rest itched. You could always have it corrected-" "Corrected?" Ororo half-whispered. "Yeah. Corrective surgery could make it look…well…better." The last word hung in the air. Better. She could go though all the surgery in the world, but nothing could make it look…better. Beast was deluding her. Beast took out a laptop and began to type rapidly. "Corrective surgery," he repeated. He began to strike the return button over and over and over and over. "This would be the end result," he declared. Ororo, Jean and Logan peered into the computer screen. Logan raised his eyebrows. Ororo's hands flew to her face. "Beast!" Jean finally declared. "That would be-" "Impossible," Logan finished. "Beast, have you looked at her pussy lately?" "I do not feel it is impossible," Beast proclaimed indignantly. "Lots of work," he added truthfully. "Multiple surgeries. But it should turn out okay." "What do you think?" Ororo asked Logan. Logan squeezed Storm's hand. "Baby, whatever you want to do, I'll support it." Jean smiled quietly, taking their love in. It warmed her heart. * Now Logan stood above her, smiling as the anesthetic was taking effect on his son's mother. Jean, Scott, Remy, Rogue, and the Professor were all surrounding her, giving words of encouragement. "Logan," she whispered, and the X-men moved. "I'm here, darlin'." He leaned to kiss her lips, a move that all the X-Men noted but no one dared to comment on. "I'm here. I'm always here. I ain't goin' nowhere until it's over." "You said you wouldn't leave me-" "An' I won't." He stroked her hair. "My 'Ro. My superwoman." "Logan, I-" she yawned. "I'm going to look strange down there. Like a neutered Barbie doll." "You'll be beautiful," Logan assured. "As beautiful as you've always been. And when you're well, you'll marry me like you promised." "I never promised to marry you." A tiny smile crossed her lips. "Like hell," Logan laughed. "Where is my son?" "In the corner. Neil!" he barked, a little too sharply. The small boy jumped, then his eyes narrowed in annoyance. He walked over to his mother, holding the rabbit that his father had caught for him so long ago. It had been a bitch allowing it across the European border, but the head of customs at the airport took one look at the feral father and son and figured it would be in his best interest to keep his mouth shut. Ororo leaned down and whispered into her son's ear. He smiled, his gray eyes turning blue with happiness, and he planted a wet, sticky kiss on his mother's cheek. Ororo reached to wipe away the graham cracker crumbs, but she was asleep before she could raise her arm. Logan smiled as he brushed away the crumbs. Beast turned the gurney around and Logan followed him down the hall into the emergency room. Faintly aware of a soft, whining sound, he turned to see his son, wide-eyed in his panic and grief. Logan reached out his hand to his son who hesitated, then set his bunny down and ran to grip it. Ororo Munroe would have two men who loved waiting on he when she finally woke up. TBC