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A little after midnight, a soft whimper coming through the baby monitor situated on her nightstand tugged Ororo from the pits of slumber. She rolled onto her back and sighed sleepily, preparing herself to answer her child’s summons. Her movements instinctively caused Logan to sit up. He reached his hand out and still any further movements by her.

“Go back ta sleep, darlin’. I got this one.” Logan leaned over Ororo and kissed her softly.

Ororo yawned broadly. “Thank you, my love.”

Quietly, he slipped from their bed, grabbing his discarded T-Shirt off the sofa near the fireplace. He glanced back to the bed and smiled at his wife who had burrowed deeper under the blanket and was already sleeping peacefully. He allowed the bright glow of the full moon illuminating through the room to guide him through the door connecting their room to the nursery.

He crept on trained silent feet towards the crib. As if knowing who was coming to her rescue, the whimpers turned to coos. Logan bent over the crib and looked into a chubby rounded face almost identical to his. He breathed deeply scenting the sweet smell of lavender and the need for a diaper change. “Hey, lil darlin’. What can I do fer ya?”

Plump legs kicked out in excitement and coos turned to gurgles as four months old Grace Heather Howlett greeted her father. Baby Grace smiled up at him revealing startling gray eyes that were replicas of his, along with his nose, lips, and raven colored thick locks. While David was his male mini me, Grace was definitely his female one.

Logan had a goofy grin plastered on his mug when he carefully reached down and lifted his small bundle into his burly arms, cradling her to his chest. He purred lowly as he silently made his way towards the changing table. Flipping on the light, he laid his daughter down and quickly changed her soiled diaper. Picking her up once again, he moved carefully towards the other two cribs, so not to disturb the sleeping duo. Both Hudson Chase and Francis Henry were sleeping to their hearts’ content, without a care in the world. He took a whiff to make sure that their diapers were okay for the time being.

Francis no doubt favored Ororo’s deceased father, if the pictures she had in her possession were any indication, having inherited his brown eyes, straight nose and brown wavy hair. Hudson, on the other hand, according to Logan’s few recovered memories of his mother, resembled her to a certain degree. Everything else, he inherited from Ororo.

Grace turned her face to Logan’s chest, seeking nourishment. Logan laughed lightly. “Sorry lil darlin’, but yer old man ain’t equip fer that.” As he carried her out the room, he whispered, “What do ya say we head downstairs and I give ya what ya need?”

Logan made pit stops in his eldest children’s rooms to check in on them before heading to the kitchen. There, he carefully laid his precious bundle in one of three basinets that were already set up. Grace waved her tiny arms into the air, letting him know that she wasn’t happy to leave the security of his arms.

Logan laughed at her antics. “Gimme a minute, cupcake. Daddy got ta warm up yer milk.”

A few minutes later, he pulled the bassinet closer to him as he took a seat in the breakfast nook and placed the warmed bottle of milk in Grace’s tiny mouth. She immediately latched on to the plastic nipple and heartily drank. Logan couldn’t help but shake his head and for the millionth or so time, wondered how the hell he had ever gotten so lucky in life. His smile was one of a content man as he held the bottle while she drank. As he gazed at her, he couldn’t help but remember the day of her birth.

He had arrived just in the nick of time from another thankless mission to give Ororo that extra support she needed to complete the difficult process. While he had missed the birth of his sons and would forever feel a pang of guilt over that, he was damn glad to be there for the birth of Grace. This time around, he was hands on in helping Jean and Charles in making sure Ororo who had succumbed to her exhaustion and tumultuous emotions and had descended into a deep sleep was cleaned and resting comfortably. He had shed actual tears when he was encouraged by Jean to sever the connection between mother and daughter. He loved all his children equally and had special bonds with each of them, but he had a feeling that the bond he had with little Gracie was going to be extra special.

Grace dislodging the bottle from her mouth and gurgling milk bubbles bought him out of his musings. Logan quickly grabbed the wash cloth and wipe the remnants of milk from her mouth before lifting her again, gently patting her back, attempting to burp the baby.

Seconds later, he was rewarded with hearty belch. Logan removed her from his shoulder and held her out in front of him. He lifted a bushy eyebrow in inquiry and Grace simply smiled at him, melting his heart. “Where ya learned that, cupcake?”

“I see our daughter is picking up on your bad habits, my love,” Ororo’s voice was husky with sleep.

Logan turned to his wife and grinned. “I think she learned that from Gumbo. He’s been teachin’ them a few unsavory things.”

Ororo sauntered over to the twosome and dropped a kiss on Grace’s head and Logan’s lips. Grace smiled at her mother. “Remind me to have a talk with my brother about corrupting our children.”

“What ya doin’ up? Ya should be restin’.”

Since the birth of their triplets, Logan had been wheedling her into resting every chance he got. As strong as she was, she needed her rest. He knew that the birthing and having to take care of five children, even with his help, had taken a huge toll on her and he for one wasn’t going to sit by and watch her wore herself out prematurely. Sure she was a Goddess, but still, even Goddesses needed their rest.

She gave him a small smile before answering. “Hudson and Francis beckoned for me to change them, then went right back to sleep,” ‘Ro answered, as she filled the tea kettle with water and then moved over to the stove where she switched the burner on before placing the kettle over it. As the water began to heat, she moved over to the cabinet where she stood on her toes to get her favorite cup and then over to the pantry to grab a teabag. “So I thought I might as well come and keep you and Gracie’s company.”

Grace’s soft snore lets them know that she wasn’t much for company. Logan laughed as he replaced her in the bassinet. “Guess it’s just you and me, darlin’,” he murmured as he moved to the refrigerator for a beer.

The kettle was beginning to emit a low whistle and Ororo moved quickly to turn the burner off before the full blown shrill whistling had an opportunity to pull Grace from sleep. She unwrapped the teabag from its packaging and placed it in cup, before pouring the hot water in. She watched as the water went from clear to a light brown in seconds. She went to join him at the nook, opting for her favorite seat…his lap. She placed her cup on the table next to his beer.

Logan’s arms instinctively went around her and he buried his face in her long locks cascading down her back. Her overall scent had altered since she had given birth. It was richer and more potent. He took his fill of it every chance he got. They remained silent for some time, caught up in their own thoughts.

He was so caught up in her drugging scent that he almost missed her question. “Logan? When you first joined the X-Men, did you ever think that all this was possible for you?”

He knew exactly what the “all this” she was referring to meant. They’ve had a discussion along these lines many times before, but there was always something new revealed every time they did. Logan shuffled his frame into a better position which enabled him to spin her around so she was straddling him. Their eyes met and locked, the gravity of everything that they felt for and were to each other strong. They surrendered to the intensity of the moment, allowing themselves the treat of soaking up their feelings for each other.

“I was more animal than man when I first came here. I wasn’t inta playin’ nice and I sure as hell didn’t want ta stick around. I didn’t think me and Chuck and his good intentions were a good fit. I had already seen the evil men could do against mutants and Chuck wantin’ mutants and humans ta coexist wasn’t goin’ ta go well.” Logan closed his eyes as the paltry memories he had when he first came to the X-Men ran through his mind.

Ororo sensing his struggle, reached up and caressed his mutton-chopped cheeks.

He enjoyed her caresses for a few seconds before continuing. “That all changed when Chuck introduced ya. The way I remember it, I was in awe of ya that day. I figured if somethin’ as perfect and beautiful as ya thought that there was somethin’ ta this coexistence, then maybe I could give it a try too. I fell in love with ya then, ‘Ro. I couldn’t help myself.”

She smiled lovingly, having heard this numerous times.

“Gettin’ ta know ya and includin’ ya in my life made me realized that all I was searchin’ fer was love and a pack of my own. When I finally let go of my fears and told ya how I felt and claimed ya, I knew fer a fact that all this was possible because I wanted ta be the one ta give it ta ya. I didn’t want all this with nobody else but ya, ‘Ro.”

She kissed him gently. “I thought that after Forge that this part of life was elusive for me. I dared to believe it was possible once I too let go of my fears and loved you with everything that I am.” She leaned her forehead in to touch his. “I am complete and at peace. I thank the Goddess every day for bringing you into my life.”

Logan was surprised to feel moisture seeping out of his eyes and running down his cheeks. Ororo leaned back and gently wiped the moisture away with her fingers. She didn’t want to ruin the moment with words, so she just watched him until he was able to get his emotions under control.

The crooked smile he graced her with was a comforting balm to her already contented soul. He lovingly traced his hardened fingers across her features. After fifteen years of having her in his life, she was still the most beautiful woman he had ever beheld and would forever remain the most beautiful. Knowing that she was his mate for life, his confidante and mother of his children filled him up with such pleasure. He pulled her to him fiercely and wrapped his arms around her planning on never letting her go. The power of his hold took her breath away, but she happily and willingly gave into it. “My life has been a long one, ‘Ro, but the past fifteen years have been the best lived and joyous. I love ya, ‘Ro. I love ya, our kids and our life.”

“I love you too. And our children and our life,” Ororo voiced before knotting her arms around his thick neck and lowering her mouth to his.

After a while, Ororo whispered, “What do you say to us taking this upstairs?”

Logan’s grin was positively wolfish. “A woman after my own heart. But first let’s put Gracie back ta her bed and check in on the others.”

Ororo went about discarding the remnants of his long forgotten beer and her tea, while Logan lifted Grace into his arms. Together, they made their way upstairs, tucking Grace back into her crib and making sure her siblings were all comfortable and safe.

As they walked out of David’s room, Logan swung his wife up into his arms, carrying her into their suite, where he laid her down on their bed. He hovered above her, admiring every single nuance of her beauty. Ororo reached up and stroked his face, staring into those eyes that had seized her undivided attention and heart so long ago. In them, she saw the same love and adoration she felt for him reflected. She offered no resistance when he wordlessly fell to her side and cradled her to his chest. Laying in repose, they took immense joy in listening to each other’s breathing, knowing that because they had finally found that elusive love and family they had both desperately sought, their souls were finally at peace.





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