African Skies and Canadian Whiskey – by Darlin

Disclaimer – I make no profit from this little story nor do I own the X-Men.

A/N – A second movie fic from me. Yes I rather loath the movies but I had an idea that wouldn’t leave me be. Takes place after the first movie and before the second, in fact I’m just ignoring the second and third all together.

Chapter One – The Alien

-xox-

A horde of men dressed in black suits rushed the Xavier Institute. They came armed not with guns and sinister plans but with briefcases, cell phones, dour faces and search warrants signed by the President. They were Federal bureaucrats. They swarmed over the school questioning each student and each teacher as well as Professor Xavier. When they left everyone whispered a sigh of relief, including the President from his oval office when he was informed that all was in order. And all had been for the professor was nothing but thorough in his business interactions. But he had forgotten one thing. There was a wild card none of them had considered and it was this wild card that made Xavier sigh in despair when he saw him come into view.

Logan was coming up the front steps to the school as the small troop of men was descending. Logan gave them a polite nod and passed on. The twelve, all rather plain looking men, neither too fat nor too skinny, nor too tall or too short, turned in unison and followed the unsuspecting teacher back into the school. An hour later it was discovered that Logan was an illegal alien with a soon to be expired visa. When said visa expired the federal employees informed Logan, or rather Mr. W. Logan as his Visa identified him, that he would be deported as an illegal alien if he remained. After all, one could never tell what a Canadian such as he might do now with the terrorist threat looming over the United States of America. Cage fighters could be dangerous.

“But that’s a bunch of crap!” Jubilee cried when she was told the news.

“That’s not fair,” Marie protested with equal chagrin.

“Can Canadian’s even be illegal aliens?” John asked.

“It’s another country, John,” Kitty responded.

“It’s still not fair!” This from Marie who was so angry she could barely find words to express herself.

“Fair or not I don’t have much time left so I . . . well I just wanted you to know,” Logan said without showing a flicker of emotion as he left the children alone to digest this bit of news.

“Oh, man! That is so not fair!”

“You sound like a parrot,” Jubilee said with irritation.

“But it’s Logan! He just came back! What’re we going to do without him again?” Marie whined.

“We’ll be fine,” Bobby said but his nonchalant attitude only served to irritate Marie further.

“You’ll be fine maybe but what about all the other kids, Bobby?”

“Guys, I think what we need to be doing is find a way so he can stay here,” Kitty said.

“Kitty’s right,” Peter agreed. “I’m sure the Professor will find a way to fix it.”

“I hope you’re right,” Jubilee said.

“But what if he doesn’t?” Marie asked.

“If he doesn’t then we better have a plan,” Kitty said.

-xox-

The staring was beginning to aggravate Logan. It wasn’t as if he’d suddenly become a leper. He didn’t think being gone for some time and arriving unannounced warranted that many stares. Jean looked at him with pity and Scott with almost, but not quite, open joy while many of the children watched him furtively expecting who knew what. He knew Xavier was looking into what could be done to keep him in America but he also sensed the man was secretly worried there was nothing to be done. In reality Logan knew he didn’t have an ounce of hope and so he’d made his peace with it. Now he wanted everyone else to accept it and move on but they didn’t seem to want to.

He was walking out the front door just as Ororo came running up the steps. With her platinum white hair tied up in a ponytail she looked younger somehow, laid back and relaxed something he hadn’t felt since he’d been given the news. Her brief nod and smile were so lighthearted he couldn’t contain a scowl from forming over his face. Why was she so unconcerned, as if he didn’t matter? Even Scott cared. Okay, it wasn’t exactly concern but Scott definitely cared whether Logan stayed or not. But Ororo swept by without even a how do you do, seemingly unaware of his problems and entirely unconcerned with him. His gut wrenched as he glared at her retreating back. He didn’t know why it should bother her that she didn’t care. Well, why should she care, he thought. Had the shoe been on the other foot he wouldn’t have cared one little bit, nope not a smidgen.

-xox-

“So I’m thinking if we can find him an American wife he can stay, isn’t that right?” Jubilee asked Kitty who happened to be the brain in their midst.

“That’s true but from what I read you can’t just get married all of a sudden and then you have to stay married for a year and it has to look real and you have to live together and everything!” Kitty said.

That was alarming and the others could see why Kitty looked upset.

“A wife,” Marie murmured thoughtfully.

“You’re way too young,” Bobby assured her and John laughed.

“Huh? Oh . . . eeww!” Marie said though she said it with less conviction than one might have expected. Everyone knew she had a slight crush on Logan but Bobby had been there for her long after Logan had left and dog tags didn’t keep you company.

“Well, finding a woman who can put up with someone like Wolvie in this itty bitty town’s gonna be like finding a needle in the proverbial haystack. It ain’t gonna be possible.”

“They have a lot of good looking women,” Bobby said though his remark earned him a glare from Marie. “I mean for old women that’s all,” he clarified.

“We don’t want him saddled with an old hag,” Rogue said, slightly mollified.

“They should look as old as he does,” John said.

“That’s not so old,” Marie retorted.

“No one knows how old he is,” Kitty said.

“Um, don’t you think age isn’t what we need to be thinking about here?” Peter asked.

“He can’t marry a kid, Peter,” Bobby said with a sidelong glance at Marie.

“Obviously, but shouldn’t he like her too? I mean they have to get along if they’re going to be together for a year.”

“That would be Ms. Grey then,” John said.

“Ms. Grey is almost engaged to Mr. Summers,” Marie said.

“Almost engagements can be broken,” Jubilee added her two cents.

“That’s just wrong,” Kitty said with a shake of her head.

“Well she likes him and all and who else is there? We only know so many women,” Bobby said.

“Ooo ooo! That’s it!” Jubilee shouted. “We know Miss Munroe!” And she looked at each of them in turn with a wide grin.

“Miss Munroe? That’s stupid,” Kitty finally said. “She’s so – so . . .”

“Completely different from Wolverine you mean?” Bobby chortled. “Kinda like Beauty and the Beast.”

“Logan is nothing like a Beast, Bobby,” Marie said rather snappishly.

“But they really aren’t anything alike,” Kitty agreed with Bobby.

“But she’s nice and she gets along with everyone,” Jubilee said.

“She’s very pretty,” Peter added.

“That helps,” John said.

“But are they even friends?” Kitty wanted to know.

“They’re both teachers,” Peter said as if that was enough.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen them together,” Kitty said thoughtfully.

“Why don’t we get them together then? That’s all we have to do!” Jubilee said.

Despite their doubts the future X-Men in training, also known as the X-Babies amongst the other students, decided that Ororo Munroe would be the perfect wife for Logan. Now all they had to do was convince the two of them then get them to the altar.

-xox-

“So it’s true? If I had a wife I could stay?”

Charles laughed at the indescribable look on Logan’s face. It was a cross between astonishment, distaste and hope if such a look could be combined.

“It’s the custom in America as I imagine it is elsewhere. A wife would allow you to remain but marriage is a big step and the government would be watching your every move.”

“You’re telling me! A wife’s the last thing I want or need.”

“It’s not perhaps the last thing you need as it may indeed keep you in the country but it’s certainly something you’d need to think about long and hard if that’s the route you decide to take.”

“Yeah, but where would I get a wife from?”

The professor hid a smile. When Kitty had brought the proposal to him he knew neither Logan nor Ororo would go along with it or at least not at first. He didn’t know Logan well enough to assume but he did know the two had little in common. His History teacher, Ororo, was quiet, mild mannered, dedicated and loyal with fierce convictions but she also lived as if she had her head in the clouds while his Physical Education teacher, Logan, (should he decide to accept the position) was earthy, wild even, and rough around the edges. He hadn’t wanted to let the children’s hope down but he neither could he let them continue to set their hopes on such an unimaginable match. Nevertheless, he’d considered their argument and come to the conclusion that their plan could possibly work if approached just right and so he’d offered to mention it to Logan and let him decide.

“Surely you must have one or two close female friends, Logan.”

“Not that close!”

“There’s been no one that you’ve been interested in, no one in town perhaps?”

“No.”

“No one at all?”

Logan gave the professor a look that clearly stated there was no one he cared to talk about and that line of questioning was finished.

“I see. Well, that leaves us at rather loose ends. There are only two women who would serve your purpose here at the school.”

Logan’s eyes widen at the implication. He grunted then left, shutting the office door behind him. The thought of having a wife, finding a wife, was incredulous to him. The way the professor saw it Jean or Ororo were his only choices. He didn’t know if he wanted to stay that badly. America wasn’t any better than Canada more or less and Canada had the bigger mall.

Suddenly he smacked himself on the forehead. He was thinking just like Jubilee. He’d have to remember to steer clear of her. Marie and her little friends were sometimes as bad as any crumb snatcher he’d seen tugging at their mother’s legs, following him around and asking him a hundred questions that only gave them a reason to ask more. He didn’t mind it usually but now there wasn’t much point to it. He’d be gone soon. Better to loosen the ties now than later.

-xox-

“He can’t be gone soon enough for me,” Scott was saying just as Logan came up behind them.

“Sssh,” Jean said then smiled at Logan who ignored them both.

“Hi. Bye,” Ororo’s chipper voice called out.

All three of them turned to watch Ororo rush past them, hair hanging loose blowing a bit in the breeze she was creating from her fast pace. She looked as if she were dressed for a date.

“You think?” Scott ventured.

“A date,” Jean responded, eyes twinkling.

“She’s going on a date?” Logan asked then felt the urge to smack himself when he realized he’d said that out loud.

“Good for her,” he said, quickly recovering. Why should his problem affect her? At least someone could go on enjoying themselves. He nodded affably at Scott and Jean before hurrying on his way.

-xox-

With time ticking away most definitely and still no solution in sight it had become harder and harder for Logan to get a good night’s rest. He often ended up walking over the grounds at odd hours trying to burn out the thoughts that wouldn’t let him sleep.

Coming back from a walk around the huge property a month after the news he was surprised to find a red convertible in the driveway. The windows were tinted almost illegally dark which prevented him from seeing inside. He crouched down, then ducked behind a shrub. He got closer but still nothing. He mentally went over every vehicle he’d seen on the grounds and in the garage but came up clueless. He didn’t think they were being over ran by anyone in a slick Mercedes but still, common sense meant he should be wary so he slowly made his way over to the car. Stray branches from the shrubbery caught and ripped his clothes and skin but he continued on determinedly.

The car was gorgeous if you liked that kind of thing. He did and didn’t. For all their beauty they drew too much attention. Who ever had left it had to be loaded, he reasoned. No, wait. He crept stealthily closer. He saw now that the windows weren’t tinted but actually fogged over. Someone was making out inside the car! Sometimes he swore he’d be relieved to get away from all these kids with their raging hormones but now he had to play teacher and reprimand the culprits with a good chewing out.

He rapped on the window impatiently. No response. He felt his anger rising and started to pound on the window again when it zipped down quietly.

“Can I help you?” the man inside asked.

“Who are – Storm?”

Ororo was covering her chest with her arms and looked ready to kill. Her companion didn’t seem to notice or mind. He studied Logan then smiled.

“You’re Wolverine,” he said.

Logan’s eyes glanced briefly at the man, noted he looked like an American Indian then returned to Ororo who’s breast were nearly spilling out of the clearly unbuttoned shirt and barely there bra.

“Logan can’t you see we’re busy,” Ororo said.

“Uh. Yeah. Yeah, I see that.”

He stood there not sure what to do or where to look even. All he could see were Ororo’s large breasts half out of a red lacy bra.

“Put the window up, Forge!” Ororo ordered but Forge only grinned as he watched Logan’s flustered reaction.

“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Forge said.

“You have?” This drew Logan’s attention finally. He was surprised Ororo would have been talking about him to anyone least of all a man she was necking with like some hot and bothered teenager.

“Scott told me all about the motorcycle escapade.”

Escapade? Logan frowned.

“Jean told me you’re . . .”

Logan didn’t know what else the man said because Ororo was getting out of the car. She held her blouse with one hand as she threw a glare over her shoulder at Forge who patted her tush before she was fully out. Without looking at Logan she went up the steps to the front door fumbling with her buttons as she went.

“See you around,” Forge said before driving off.

Logan frowned again and shook his head trying to figure out what had just happened. Something about the guy struck him the wrong way. He’d have to ask Scott about him he thought. Ororo was still standing at the front door when he came up the steps. Her back was too him and the way her shoulders were hunched over he figured she was still trying to make herself decent. He would have liked a better look under the front porch light. When she turned around, fully clothed, he felt an unexpected jolt of disappointment.

“Let me in,” she said.

“What happened to your key?”

“I – I left my purse in that man’s car,” she fumed.

Logan laughed even when she threw him a heated look. She could spout daggers from her eyes as much as she wanted, he thought, but after seeing her caught off guard as he had he knew she wasn’t the fireball she was pretending to be. She was actually human.

“So, you two serious?”

“What? Forge and me?” she laughed bitterly remembering how he’d ignored her protests when he’d been so eager to let the window down while she was still half dressed. “He’s an old friend.”

That was skirting the issue. What – was he an old lover? They’d obviously been in the middle of something so it wasn’t some casual acquaintance.

“So, you ever think about getting married?” he asked.

She looked startled but quickly gathered herself. “Marriage would be inconducive to the live I lead as an X-Man. Will you open the door now?”

“Oh, sorry.”

“Don’t ever mention this again,” she said in lieu of thanks when they were inside and then she marched upstairs.

So the woman had spirit beyond her beliefs about mutants and Xavier’s school, Logan thought with interest as he watched her ascend. He’d seen that cool exterior of hers melting and the thought intrigued him.

“Storm.”

“Yes?” She looked over her shoulder, stifling a yawn.

“You – okay, I know this is going to sound crazy but you know what’s going on with me – my visa and, well . . . uh . . . To hell with it – you wanna get married?”

Ororo’s jaw dropped.

“I told you it was crazy but it wouldn’t be a real marriage and since you don’t want that anyway and it would really help the team out . . . and me, and it would just be for a little while you understand nothing but a business contract. So . . . you wanna?”

Ororo shook her head at the man’s audacity. She’d expected any proposal to be a little more romantic. Nevertheless for a second she considered it. She knew he needed help and though she hadn’t thought of marriage as the answer she almost wish she could go that far to save him from being deported. Almost. Logan was the last man she’d ever want to be paired with, not that he wasn’t gorgeous eye candy with a bod to match, but still, he was kind of a goof.

“I’m sorry, I can’t help you,” she said.

“Oh. Yeah, of course, didn’t expect you to. No harm in asking, right?”

Then you shouldn’t have asked in the first place, she thought angrily before they parted.

It had been a wild shot, stupid really, asking her like that but seeing her as a real flesh and blood woman who could be wanton with a man had stirred something inside him. Of course he’d noticed she was sexy and sure he’d thought of what she’d be like in bed but he hadn’t expected to feel stimulated to the point where he immediately didn’t like the guy she was with. He’d thought she’d have better taste – maybe that was it he guessed.

-xox-

When Logan saw Ororo again he was impressed with her composure. She was as polite as always breezing in and out of the kitchen for a piece of unbuttered toast and coffee then on her way to class as if last night had never happened. He had to give her credit. She was cool as a cucumber. Remembering last night would have made any other woman blush. He couldn’t imagine Jean and Scott ever having a make out session like that or Jean walking away from it with her dignity in tack once busted.

“Miss Munroe looked beautiful today didn’t she,” Jubilee commented as she and Marie blocked the door to Logan’s small office after school.

The children had been praising Ororo for weeks now and he’d learned to ignore them. He nodded carelessly now, his mind miles away. He’d have to look up James Hudson his old friend, see if there were any openings with the Canadian government. He didn’t look forward to going back there but he couldn’t think of anything else and something was better than nothing. Better than cage fighting any way.

“Beauty personified don’t you think, Logan?” Marie asked.

“Beauty personified,” he repeated absently.

“She’s quiet and nice and she’ll make a nice wife one day don’t you think?” Jubilee offered.

“Huh? Oh.”

He saw where they were going with this. He glanced over at Jean who was smiling at Scott while she ate a chocolate muffin. She would make the perfect wife. Smart, beautiful, spunky. He’d love to marry her if only to get at Scott. He chuckled to himself.

“She’s sweet.”

“She’s loyal.”

“She’s obedient too,” John piped up.

Logan looked up to see John standing behind the girls and he had to laugh.

“Kind of like a dog,” John said.

“That’s not funny, John,” Marie said.

“I always wanted a dog,” Logan joked before making a run for it.

-xox-

“Logan, what can I do for you?”

He saw she wasn’t alone. Scott was standing beside her. They’d been going over some paper work and now his rival looked up with the smirk he always wore whenever he was around Logan.

“Yes, Logan what can we do for you?”

That blew his plan out of the water. He’d figured if he asked Jean all she could say was no, just like Ororo had, but with Scott there he wasn’t even going to risk being shot down. Still, on the other hand if she said yes right there in front of Scott . . . He caught himself. Odds were heavy on her refusing. Better let it go, he decided.

“Looking for Storm, thought she might be with you,” he lied.

“Storm?”

He noticed how surprised Jean looked.

“She’s in her classroom,” Scott said.

Logan wondered if the look Scott was giving him behind those red glasses of his was anything like the one he felt letting loose.

“We’ve got a lot to talk about, we’re getting married,” he said without being able to help himself.

There was a small pause before anyone spoke.

“Congratulations,” Scott said with that twisted smirk of his.

“Yes . . . congratulations,” Jean said, falteringly somewhat.

“Yeah. Well, I better make sure she doesn’t change her mind,” Logan replied and made a hasty exit.