The Deal

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Okay... I have really cool stuff in store for this story :) It's coming around chapter four or five, but I guarantee you'll like it. And of course, I haven't forgotten that this is adultfanfiction.com. You'll be getting some nice smutty fun thrown in there too, as always! Be patient! Anyway, two new chapters up! Review if you want more!

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Chapter 3: Xavier's Warning

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I opened my eyes.

I was staring at a grey tiled ceiling.

I blinked a few times, and turned my head.

"Logan," I said softly.

He was sitting in a chair by my bedside, in the same bloodstained clothes he'd come in with, only he was completely healed by now. His head was lolling to the side, resting on his shoulder. There was a thin strand of drool coming from his mouth. He was snoring softly. He was definitely asleep.

I smiled despite myself. I wondered how long I had been out. Except for a slight headache, I was feeling much better. And now that I had confessed my darkest secret and lived through it, I was feeling lighter inside as well.

I looked to my right, and nearly gave a start. There was Scott. He was also fast asleep, head rested on the edge of my bed.

I pushed myself onto my elbows right as Hank padded into the room, his toenail claws making little clicking sounds while he walked. He sidled up to my bedside and smiled.

"Ah, so you've seen our sleeping beauties. Peaceful, isn't it?" He asked, looking at the inert forms of Logan and Scott.

"Can you keep them like this all time?" I asked sarcastically. Then, I immediately asked, "The baby...?"

"Is fine. You were just dehydrated, I suspect from the morning sickness. I gave you some electrolytes and you've just been sleeping it off."

Just then, Scott stirred and woke up with a snort. He looked around.

"Uhn. Oh... Jean." He said, lifting his head.

"I'm all right, Scott," I said quickly.

His hair was touseled and his visor was on crooked. I looked down at him, and for a moment it was like old times. I felt a wave of nostalgia wash over me. But then, just as quickly, his words came back to me and rang in my ears.

Whore, Jean. That's all you are to him. That's all he knows.

"Look," he said, softly. "I've been waiting here to tell you...I-I said some things I shouldn't have-"

"Jeannie baby?" a slurred voice interrupted. I looked to my left and saw Logan, eyes opening sleepily as he blinked and sat up. He wiped the drool off the corner of his mouth and looked puzzled. "Shit, did I fall asleep?"

"What did you just call her, Wolverine? What's that? Baby?" Scott asked, squinting his eyes under the visor, his tone sharp.

"Fuck off, Summers," Wolverine growled, baring his canines.

"Boys," Hank said, his tone a solid block of ice. "This is about Jean. This is about Jean's health. She doesn't need this immature posturing from either of you right now. If I hear one more outburst, you both leave."

Wolverine and Cyclops glared at each other from opposite sides of the bedspread and I rolled my eyes.

"They're no longer allowed to be in the same room without supervision. By order of Xavier," Hank explained politely to me, punching a few buttons on a machine and mumbling at the information it gave.

Ignoring the two men who were engaged in a virtual pissing contest at my bedside, I asked Hank, "What's the news? About the baby, I mean?"

My question instantly caught Logan's attention. "News about the baby?" He asked anxiously.

Scott didn't say anything. He rubbed the stubble on his chin and looked away.

"Don't worry Logan," Hank said. "It's nothing bad. A bit surprising, is all."

We stared at Dr. McCoy together, and Logan grabbed my hand. I squeezed it, eyes instinctively darting to Scott, who pretended to ignore the gesture.

"Well, don't keep us in suspense any longer doc," Logan said irritably. "What is it? Does it have three arms or somethin'?"

"That's not funny, Logan," I snapped, giving him a sharp look.

"It wasn't supposed to be funny, darlin'!" Logan replied.

"What is it, Hank?" I pressed. "What's the news about the baby?"

Hank took a deep breath and looked from one of us to the others.

"Babies," he said, with a grin.

"What?" The three of us asked at once. Now even Scott had to look up and pay attention.

"I would like to congratulate you Jean, and of course the proud papa," He said, smiling at Logan, "And uh... the um... other... family..." he said, looking uncomfortably at Scott. "You're having twins."

"Twins?" Logan said, and his face lit up. I was completely unprepared for his reaction and I think Scott was too, because we both just stared at Logan like he'd suddenly grown a second head. He was grinning ear to ear.

"Jeannie we're havin' twins! There's two of'em!" Logan said excitedly.

I couldn't help it. I started laughing.

"Who ARE you?" I asked incredulously. In response, Logan leaned over to kiss me, and then inches away, suddenly remembered Scott, who was glowering, and thought better of it. He cleared his throat and sat back down.

"I'm happy too, Logan," I reassured him, smiling at his enthusiasm, thankful that he'd chosen not to pick a fight. All the same, I was a little stunned. If there was one man in the mansion I could've picked for loving fatherhood, I wouldn't have picked Logan. Then again, he was always telling me he was full of surprises.

Scott coughed, and then gave me a hard look.

"Logan," he started, shifting his gaze and staring hard at the sheets. "I need a minute with Jean. Alone."

I could almost feel Logan bristle at this comment, but thankfully he kept his temper in check.

"You all right with that, Jeannie?" Logan asked me, the hostility thinly disguised in his voice.

"It'll be fine Logan. Scott and I do need to talk," I said.

With a sigh, Logan got out of the chair and stretched. He looked down and for the first time seemed to realize the grisly clothes and stiff dried blood coating him.

"I'm headed upstairs for a shower. If you need anythin' darlin..." he said.

I smiled again. A girl could get used to being waited on hand and foot. "Actually... I could really use some orange juice right now Logan. I'm thirsty."

"You got it darlin'," Logan said, a proud grin on his face, and strolled out of the room. I had really never seen him so happy before. It was kind of disconcerting to me, like there was a whole side to Logan that had been hidden all these years.

How funny, I mused. All these years of trying to cage the berserker, and the only thing that had ever worked was ony a few cells big. I smiled to myself.
When Logan had left the room, Scott dragged his chair closer to my bedside.

"Look Jean," he said, clasping his hands behind his neck. "I apologize. I really do."

I didn't know how to respond. His comments still stung me. But at the same time, I'd pushed him to get there. I'd betrayed him, too.

"I'm sorry too," I whispered. "I wish... I wish more than anything that it hadn't been like this. We should've talked a long time ago."

There was a brief silence between us.

"I feel like I owe it to you.. to... to tell you," Scott started, and shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "I did sleep with Emma."

I swallowed hard. I knew it, and yet it still hurt to hear it. It hurt a lot, a deep, piercing hurt. Within my heart, it burned. I'd always thought Scott loved me more than that. Even when he acted like he barely knew me, I always hoped...some part of him was still in love. Abandoning that hope wasn't easy. It was near impossible.

"How long has it been going on between you two?" I asked, trying to keep a steady voice.

Scott hung his head before he replied. "Three and a half months since the first time."

I was shocked. Scott had begun his affair a full month before I'd ever even touched Logan. I guess it could've made me feel better, but instead it just made me feel sad. And foolish. How had I not noticed? Had I been so blind?

"When I'm feeling better, I suppose we'll start divorce proceedings." I said in a cold voice. It was the only thing I could think of to say. Well no, I could think of plenty more to say, but it wasn't very nice.

"Jean...I know... I know we're both with other people now, but..."

"But what?" I said sharply. "I don't have anything else to say to you Scott."

Scott stood up, looking ashamed. He looked like he wanted to say more, but he didn't. I saw Logan standing in the door, holding a glass of orange juice.

"You guys need more time?" he asked.

"No Logan, thanks for your courtesy," Scott said with near civility. "We're done here."

I sighed as Logan delivered the orange juice. Here I was, pregnant. Scott was flying off the handle and Logan was smiling ear to ear. Had I accidentally entered some other dimension? Was this all just an elaborate danger room simulation? It was starting to feel that way.

As I drank my orange juice, I couldn't help but notice Logan staring at me. His smile had faded and now there was an almost painful expression on his face.

"What is it?" I asked him.

"I...I'm just... I'm glad you're okay," he said, struggling for words, his look of hurt deepening.

I sighed. I knew Logan. I knew he felt incredibly guilty about losing his temper and fighting Scott, and I knew if anything had happened to me or my unborn children he would've blamed himself for the rest of his life. That was quite a burden. But it was part of who he was. I suddenly felt a rush of sympathy for him.

"Come here Logan," I said, and I laid his head on my shoulder, stroking his hair. He settled against me. We stayed there, not moving. It felt nice. It was just the two of us, Logan breathing, his warm weight against my shoulder. I ran my fingers over his sideburns, through his thick hair.

"I'm all right," I said, soothing him. "I'm not hurt. I'm not dead. Okay? I'm here."

"I love ya, you know," came Logan's muffled response.

I smiled. "I know."

At that moment, the professor rolled in, pulling his wheelchair up to his bedside. At this point I was beginning to feel like quite the popular hospital patient.

"Jean, Logan, I'd like to speak with you," He said, smiling and looking from one of us to the other.

"Charles!" I said, overjoyed. Logan lifted his head off my chest.

"Hey Chuck."

I assumed the news of my pregnancy had long since reached Xavier by now, but the bond I shared with Charles Xavier was one of a mentor-I looked up to him a great deal, shared my life with him, and I knew he was going to be excited about a new impending addition to the x-family regardless of the relationships it put in turmoil.

"First off, let me congratulate you, Jean and Logan, on this joyous news," Charles said, smiling warmly at me. "Do you know when you're due yet?" He asked.

"Hank said it would probably be late May," I replied.

"There's two of em', Charlie, if you can believe that," Logan boasted, and I had to cover a grin. I knew if I told Logan how cute his excitement was, he'd just scowl about it and refuse to speak.

"Well Logan, I most certainly can... and that's what I came here to speak with you about."

In an instant, Charles' smile changed from warm to concerned.

"With any high-profile offspring, but with yours in particular, I am afraid there are many great risks," Charles said in a grave tone. I felt the hair on my arms stand up.

"What kind of risks do you mean exactly?" I asked.

"Well, look at this way. You, Jean, are the epitome of psychic power. You house the ultimate in potential for both telekinetic and telepathic gifts."

"I know," I said softly, still not getting where he was going with this, and why it had to do with our children.

"Logan is epitome of physical perfection- a perfect killing machine, a weapon, born for combat, able to heal or overcome any adversity."

"Yeah, what's your point Charlie?" Logan asked. I could tell that under his irritated tone he was really just as worried about this as I was. Charles continued.

"With these two traits combined, you two, above anyone else, have the possibility of producing a child with some of the strongest mutant abilities mankind has ever seen. Your genetics, together, have the potential to create something with unheard of power."

I instinctively put my hand to my stomach. Could that be possible? Some little seed within me would one day grow into something fearfully powerful? It seemed totally absurd, and yet, Charles was dead serious.

"While this could be a great cause of celebration to some of us, it will also unfortunately be a great cause of distress to others. What I am trying to say, Jean and Logan, is that you must be prepared."

I took Logan's hand in mine again and he glanced worriedly at me.

"I'm afraid that there are going to be efforts to terminate your child. Or to steal it, as the case may be. To use this gift, manipulate it, treat it as a weapon."

At those last words I heard Logan growl.

"I'll be damned if anybody gets within' a hundred feet o' Jeannie without gettin' a taste of adamandtium," Logan threatened as his claws slid out.

"I'm well aware you can take care of the two of you, Logan," the Professor said. "And we also have a great number of powerful friends on our side. All I'm saying is, be cautious. I see this child as a blessing and I don't want any harm to come to it either. That's why I came here to today to warn you."

I nodded.

"I understand Charles." I said, "And...thank you. I know it's going to be a rough road ahead and this is certainly... this is certainly not what I planned on doing, but now that it's been set in motion, I'm going to see it through."

"Yeah, what she said," Logan said to Charles, giving me an admiring look. "Jeannie's one strong woman, an' if anyone can do this she can. And if anyone so much as looks at her the wrong way-"

"Yes, Logan, I get your point," Charles said, smiling. "Well, that was all the unfortunate news I had to deliver. Other than that I just wanted to wish you two luck."

"Thank you Charles," I said, reaching out of bed to give him a hug. "Thank you so much, your blessing means more than anything to me."

"I've been waiting quite a while for this. It took you long enough, Jean," he said to me softly with a twinkle in his eye. I looked back, confused, as he maneuvered his wheelchair out the door without another word.

"Did you hear what he said Logan?" I asked.

"Yeah. Didn't make any sense to me either," Logan said, shrugging.