One-Way Ticket On A Runaway Train

With the despondency still hanging over the mansion like a dark cumulus cloud, Christmas passed ominously quietly. No one was in the right frame of mind to celebrate joyfully only two weeks after Christopher’s funeral. They spent Christmas Day watching a marathon of season related movies and enjoying a lavish dinner prepared by Kitty, Jubilee, Rogue and Ororo. Instead of exchanging gifts, the Professor made donations in Christopher’s name to several children’s charities on behalf of all the mansion’s residents. The gifts that had already been purchased were donated to area shelters. It was also unanimously decided to forego the annual New Year’s Eve party as well.

On the last night of the year, they gathered around the rec room television, watched the ball being dropped in Times Square and toasted to happier times. Then Logan took Rogue to bed and slowly made love to her until the new year was several hours old. For Scott, instead of welcoming in the new year by beginning the countdown to his son’s arrival, he found himself placing flowers on his grave instead. He wanted photos of him holding his new son, but instead he had to settle for the grainy ultrasound photos. It was like a bad dream that Scott couldn’t wake up from. At least he had Kitty, his safe harbor in this emotional storm. He was grateful for that, and told her so every night when he held her in his arms after they’d made love.

Logan was holding on tight, too, trying to be Rogue’s buoy as she navigated her way through the turbulent sea of grieving. A month passed and Rogue was still relying on the tranquilizers, spending her time in a drug-induced haze. Hank warned her that she was in imminent danger of becoming addicted. The Professor suggested to Logan that he take Rogue away on vacation, hoping that a change of scenery would help. Warren Worthington generously offered the use of his beachfront home on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai. Noticing that Kitty was frustrated at not being able to break Scott out of his funk either, Logan suggested the couple join them. The house had five bedrooms, so there would be plenty of room Logan rationalized. Kitty naughtily informed Scott they could update their membership in the Mile-High Club and that brightened his mood instantly and he agreed to go.

The necessary arrangements were made and a week later the two couples took off in Warren’s jet. By the time they arrived in Kauai, Scott was in a lot better mood already, thanks to Kitty and their activities in the jet’s bathroom. Unfortunately for Logan, Rogue had taken a tranquilizer right after they took off and slept the entire flight. Having a perpetually doped up fiancée was not conducive to Logan’s plans, so he intended to wean her off of them on this trip. Hank had recommended a detoxification process that involved cutting the dosage and quantity of pills taken. Logan also made an irresistible offer to Rogue, if she’d cooperate. He’d arranged for them to get married in Kauai, on the beach.

Before they left New York, Rogue had gone into the city with Jubilee and Kitty to buy a wedding dress appropriate for the tropical location. There had been a brief moment of tears as Rogue tried on various dresses, as she hadn’t bought any new clothes that weren’t maternity wear in so long. They’d also stopped by Tiffany’s jewelers because Jubilee had ordered something for Rogue and it was ready to be picked up. When Rogue opened the small velvet box she burst into tears. Inside was a platinum angel pin with the inscription – Christopher.

As Jubilee pinned it to the left side of Rogue’s shirt she said, “So you’ll always have him close to your heart.”

Then both she and Kitty started crying, too.

~*~*~*

Warren’s beach house was magnificent with marble floors and walls of glass overlooking the turquoise Pacific Ocean. Each bedroom had its own adjoining bathroom, so the house didn’t have just one master suite. Logan threw open the French doors leading out to the balcony from their suite and surveyed the spectacular view while Rogue unpacked. The next day he planned to scout out the perfect location for their waterside nuptials. Right after they’d gotten back from Paris, they’d bought their wedding bands and placed them in the safe in the Professor’s office. Logan touched the velvet boxes containing the rings that were now safely tucked into his jacket pocket.

Just then Logan’s thoughts were interrupted as he felt a small body press against his back and a pair of slim arms wrap around his torso. He turned to find Rogue wearing her favorite green silk kimono robe and a mischievous grin.

“You, sir, are definitely overdressed,” she informed him, as she slid his jacket off his shoulders, letting it drop to the floor and started unbuttoning his shirt.

“Gee, what did you have in mind to do our first afternoon in paradise?” he asked, as she finished unbuttoning the shirt.

“Let me give ya a hint,” she replied, as she yanked the shirt out of his pants, pulled it off his shoulders, let it join the jacket on the floor and pressed a kiss to his chest above his heart.

“Oh, I like your hints.”

“Yeah. Well, here’s another one,” she said, as she slid the zipper down on his pants.

“I know. You want me to take you out for ice cream,” he said teasingly.

“There’s something else ah’d rather lick than an ice cream cone,” Rogue said playfully as Logan’s pants hit the floor.

Logan let out a moan as he instantly felt himself go hard, which was blatantly evident as he still rarely wore underwear. Rogue dropped to her knees and taking the thick shaft in her hand, licked the head.

“Hmmm, mah favorite flavor,” she announced, as she took him into her mouth.

A few minutes later, they moved things over to the bed with Rogue now naked as well and Logan returning the favor. Noises from down the hall indicated that Scott and Kitty were similarly occupied, so obviously nobody was in any hurry to do any exploring of the house or its grounds.

Later that evening, two disheveled, but satisfied couples met up in the kitchen to raid the fridge for some post lovemaking refueling.

“Well, I know someone who won’t need a tranquilizer to sleep tonight,” Kitty noted as Rogue yawned.

“Who’s planning on sleeping?” she said, tossing a wink in Logan’s direction.

“Well, try keeping the noise down. I’m sure there are people on this island who do actually sleep,” Scott joked.

“Your room ain’t exactly soundproof either, Scooter,” Logan lobbed back.

“You could hear us?” Kitty asked, mortified.

“Oooh, I’m coming, KissyCat,” Logan moaned, imitating Scott.

Kitty blushed at the mention of Scott’s bedroom nickname for her – obviously they could be heard. Rogue suppressed a giggle, while Scott just flipped Logan off. Before a fight could erupt, both women pulled their men off in the direction of their respective bedrooms for a little more pleasurable activity.

If the Professor had hoped that a change of scenery would help, their location wouldn’t have made much difference, as neither couple emerged from their rooms for the next 36 hours. By the time both couples finally stumbled down to the kitchen on the morning of the third day, the melancholy mood that had permeated the previous month had decidedly improved.

“So, Scooter, wanna help me scout locations this morning for the wedding?” Logan asked, as they ate breakfast.

“You’re asking me to help?” Scott replied, pointing at himself, completely stunned.

“Well, you’re gonna be my best man, so yeah.”

Scott placed his hand over his heart and let out a croaking sound, mocking a heart attack.

“Very funny.”

“Just kidding. I’d be honored to be your best man. Thanks for asking me,” Scott informed Logan, as he reached over and slapped him on the back.

“Well, you didn’t exactly have any competition for the role,” Logan teased.

“Logan,” Rogue warned, as she kicked him under the table, “Don’t ruin the moment.”

“Yes, dear,” Logan replied in mock contrition.

“Get used to that phrase, ‘cause you’ll be using it a lot after the wedding,” Scott joked, earning him a kick under the table from Kitty.

After breakfast, Logan and Scott went to explore the vast grounds of the house and the surrounding area, while Rogue and Kitty changed into bikinis and parked themselves on chaise loungers on the beach. Rogue looked remarkably good in a bikini considering she’d been pregnant just over a month before, but Kitty didn’t compliment her for fear of ruining the mood. Nobody had been relieved that the imminent issues surrounding the baby had been solved for them, as they’d all had loved him so much.

After discussing it first with Rogue, in consideration of her feelings and getting her support, Scott had suggested to Kitty that they get married on Valentine’s Day, the day Christopher would’ve been born. He rationalized that he would like the day to still have some happy memories and it would honor the baby. Rogue was the first to broach the subject of other children with Kitty as they lay soaking up the warm rays of the sun.

“Have ya thought about when ya and Scott plan ta start a family?”

“I’d planned on playing step-mommy for a while, so no, I hadn’t given it much thought to be honest. What about you?”

“Ah know Logan’s afraid ta broach the subject with me, fer fear ah’ll go ta pieces, but ah know it’s on his mind.”

“So how do you feel about it?”

“Honestly? Confused mainly. Ah don’t wanna feel like ah’m replacing Christopher, but ah do know ah wanna have a baby with Logan. It was always the plan ta have our own child – now ah guess it can happen sooner than we originally thought.”

“And I definitely want to have Scott’s baby. Hey, maybe we’ll be pregnant at the same time,” Kitty said, and was pleased when Rogue smiled at her.

Just then Scott and Logan returned from their scouting mission.

“So what are you two discussing so intently?” Scott asked.

“Babies,” Kitty answered.

A look of genuine concern swept across both Scott and Logan’s faces at the mention of that word.

“Everything okay with that?” Logan asked cautiously.

“Logan, it’s fine,” Rogue reassured him, her eyes misting only slightly.

Noticing, Logan sat down on the end of the chaise, took her hand and pressed a kissed to the top of it.

“You sure?” he asked.

“Ah know ya've all been walking on eggshells around me regarding the baby issue, but ah'm okay. Sometimes ah think it’s all been a bad dream and then ah look down and see he’s not there anymore. Ah miss him so much and there’s not a day that goes by that ah don’t think about him. About what would’ve been. But ah also know that we all have ta move on. That our lives can’t stop just because his did.”

“You know we’re all here for you, Rogue. Always,” Kitty said.

“Ah know. Ya guys have been wonderful ta me …… and Scott. We both appreciate your support, from the beginning and through this horrible ordeal. Ah think ah can safely say on behalf of both of us, that we’re grateful ta have ya in our lives.”

“Nicely said, Rogue,” Scott said with a catch in his throat.

“So,” Rogue said, changing the subject, as she wiped away a tear that had rolled down her cheek, “you two have fun playing Magellan?”

“We did find someplace rather interesting I’d like to show you,” Logan replied, holding his hand out to her.

“Right now? Well, okay. Ah’ll just go put some clothes on,” Rogue replied, as she took his hand and he pulled her to her feet.

“You’re dressed just fine the way you are,” Logan informed her with a wink.

“Okay, ah guess we can go then. We’ll see ya two later,” She told Scott and Kitty, as she wrapped a pareo around her hips.

“Take your time,” Scott said mischievously.

“Yeah, I’m sure we’ll find something to do while you’re gone,” Kitty added, as she started to pull Scott toward the house.

“So where are ya dragging me off ta?” Rogue asked, as they walked hand in hand down the beach.

“I found a very private lagoon with a beautiful waterfall and I thought we could go for a little swim,” Logan replied, as he cocked an eyebrow at her.