Happy Ending
It was several days before Hank and Jean felt it was safe to let Dani leave the infirmary. Logan was under strict orders to let her rest, which he took very seriously. Wedding plans were delegated out to various members of the team with only brief consultations to Dani regarding colors or other trivial things. She spent a lot of time in bed, doctor's orders, and taking care of little Andi. Logan just hovered around, looking after both of them.
"Go teach a class or something," Dani said in annoyance. "Your pacing is driving me mad."
"One-eye is teaching my classes this week. You got me all to yourself," Logan said with a grin.
Dani cocked a brow at him, "I have a healing factor almost as good as yours, so why am I still confined to bed?"
Logan's face was serious, "You were torn up so bad that I nearly lost my mind. I haven't gone feral like that for years, Dani. You and Andi keep me grounded, I can't lose that, I won't lose you again. You'll stay here as long as Hank thinks you need to and that's final."
"What about the wedding?" she asked.
"He says you'll be okay by then," Logan said with a smile as he sat on the bed beside her, "Just in time for the honeymoon."
"I don't want to leave Andi," Dani said nervously. "I don't think I could, not after everything…"
Logan put a finger on her lips to stop her. "You won't have to. I don't think I could let either of you out of my sight. I've made the arrangements, trust me."
Dani smiled and kissed his knuckles, "I trust you; I always have."
Logan's chest felt tight. She couldn't have picked a more dangerous man if she'd tried. Her lips were a fraction of an inch from his hidden claws and she wasn't afraid. How do you tell someone what their trust means? How can he measure up to all that love?
"Baby, I'm going downstairs to get us some dinner. What do you want?" he asked.
"Whatever they're serving is fine, just no… Cajun food, no offense to Remy," she said. Logan's expression was unreadable, but she knew the comment had bothered him, "Sorry."
"No, there's no reason to be sorry. I should have been there," he said angrily.
"It's over," she said, glancing at Andi. "We have a beautiful girl, Logan, let's put this behind us. No more past lives, no bad memories, just us, one day at a time."
Logan choked back the lump in his throat, "Just us, baby, just us."
Logan hated parties and funerals and… weddings. Tuxedos reminded him of strait jackets. He slipped his finger in his collar to try and gain a little relief, but Jean slapped his hand.
"You'll mess up your bowtie," she scolded.
"Damn it, Jean, I never wear a tie. Dani will understand…" Logan protested.
"Oh, stop it," Scott said in annoyance. "If I have to wear one, you have to wear one. You're the Groom!"
Logan growled, but left the collar alone. He was nervous, and tired of waiting. He wanted the ceremony over. It was high time he made an honest woman of Dani. No one in the mansion was offended, but it bothered Logan more than he would ever admit. An honorable man just doesn't let a woman bear his child without a ring on her finger. He glared at Scott, one more time, just out of habit, and left the room.
"Don't you dare! Its bad luck!" Scott called. "The girls won't let you in there anyway."
"We've used up all our bad luck," Logan said gruffly as he took the stairs two at a time. It was a half hour to the ceremony, but he just had to see her.
Dani stood in front of the full length mirror and admired her gown. She smoothed down the skirt and turned to the side to get her profile. It was strange having her figure back already, but her healing factor had her back in shape within a couple of days.
"Dani, hold still, I have to set this veil," Rogue said as she reached up with a handful of hairpins.
Dani slouched a little, waiting patiently for her hovering friend to pronounce her hair satisfactory. After several minutes of adjusting and pinning, she was finally done.
"You look beautiful," Jubilee announced.
Dani blushed, still unaccustomed to so many friends. It was a life she never expected, never dreamed was possible. It was a place full of people as different and unique as her, and accepting. She lost a family, and gained a bigger one. And she found love, she'd long since given up on that when Logan had found her. She couldn't imagine anything else for her life now that she was here.
"Here, let's see you with the bouquet," Kitty said, but they were interrupted by a knock at the door.
Rogue frowned, "We knew this would happen, come on girls, battle positions."
Dani snickered at the sight of three teenagers lining up to keep Logan out. Their lavender bridesmaids gowns made them look so intimidating. Rogue opened the door just enough to rail Logan for even making the attempt.
"Go wait downstairs like a good little groom," Rogue said.
Logan was not amused, "Kid, if you don't step aside, claws are comin' out."
Dani laughed, "Its okay, let him in."
Rogue frowned but stepped aside. Logan pushed the door open and glared at Dani's three pastel watchdogs. He nodded toward the door, and they all filed out. Kitty giggled and Jubilee just gave an angry snort. Logan closed the door behind them and locked the door. He leaned his head on it a moment and sighed heavily.
"You wanted something?" Dani asked with a smirk.
Logan stood up tall and straightened his tux before turning around to get a good look at her. His breath caught in his throat as he took in the sight of a vision in shimmering white satin. She wore the traditional style high collar, puffy sleeved, hoop skirted, pearl embroidered, long trained gown that little girls all dreamed of, and she was gorgeous. She smiled and did a 180 for him to get a better look and he felt his mouth go dry when he saw nearly a hundred buttons down the center of her back.
"Those buttons for show?" he asked, knowing that most wedding gowns had hidden zippers.
"No, it took a while to get into this thing," she said, rolling her eyes. She looked down, realizing her train was now twisted. She put her hands on her hips and furrowed her brow. "This is the most uncomfortable outfit imaginable," she said in annoyance.
Logan laughed and bent down to untwist her train for her, "You want uncomfortable, wear a tie," he said.
Dani just put a hand on his shoulder, "You look so handsome," she said softly.
Logan stood up and smiled, "You're the most beautiful bride ever, Dani."
"People always say stuff like that at weddings," she said as she blushed and rolled her eyes.
Logan pulled her into a hug, "Yeah, well the hell with them. I've never lied to you, so you can believe me. I'm the luckiest man alive." He squeezed her a little tighter and then looked around the room. "Where's the Wildcat?"
"Ro has her down the hall. She was fussing a little, and she was going to feed and change her before the ceremony," Dani said.
Logan nodded. He still didn't like letting either of them out of his sight, but here, he knew they were safe. He just held her for a few minutes, lost in thought. It's not every day a man gets married.
"Logan?"
"Hmmm?"
"Do you think we will feel different after the ceremony?" she asked softly.
Logan leaned back to look at her, "Yes."
She looked into his eyes questioningly.
"You're my woman, my mate, mine," he said seriously. "I want to call you my wife."
Dani studied his eyes and they darkened as he looked at her. She blushed, knowing how deeply he loved her. He was not a man afraid of commitment. "I love you," she whispered.
He smiled, bent down and kissed her chastely on the lips and whispered, "Come on, Supernova, let's go get married."
The wedding was held in the music gallery with all the X-men and the entire school in attendance. There were a few visitors as well, including Old Mr. Li and his grandson, Yen. It was a beautiful traditional ceremony, not too long but not rushed either. The reception was held out on the lawn in the afternoon sun and Logan was anxious. He watched as Ororo sat with little Andi surrounded by some of the guests oohing and ahing over her. He knew there was no reason to be feeling protective, but he did. The wedding was over, and he really wanted the party to be over, but Dani was enjoying this. They danced, and they cut the cake, and they danced, and the listened to toasts, and they opened presents. Finally, Scott, as best man, stood to give the last toast of the afternoon. Logan still couldn't believe he'd chosen One-eye as a best man.
"I remember the first time I met Logan. He was an infuriating, arrogant, self involved pain in the ass, and I believe I wanted to blast him for flirting with Jean," Scott said with a smirk, pausing for the laughter to die down. "But, after watching him for a while, I discovered his big secret. All that bluster, every dark look meant to intimidate, all the growling and barking is a cover. Our own Wolverine is actually a pretty decent man… deep down… somewhere. Most of us never saw it, especially those in his combat training classes," more laughter. "But one day he met his match in a forest in California. It took a woman as gentle hearted as Danielle to bring the best out of him. I don't think I've ever seen a pair more opposite in my life, and yet they are perfectly matched. Theirs was a rocky beginning filled of adversity, but that is now behind them. I wish them every happiness, and a smoother road in the future!" He raised his glass and there was an echo of 'here, here's' and aye's.'
With lots of glass clinking in the back ground, Logan turned to Dani and whispered, "Can we go now?"
Dani smiled and gave him a nod. She retrieved Andi from Ororo and made her farewells to Xavier and the X-men on her way inside the mansion with Logan on her heels. When they were out of sight, Jean turned to Xavier.
"What were their plans?" she asked.
Xavier smiled, "I expect they will call from time to time, but I don't think we'll see them for a while."
Scott was concerned, "Where were they going?"
"Somewhere very private," Xavier said vaguely. "Don't worry about them. Those two can handle anything."
Logan woke late, which wasn't like him. He'd gotten up with the baby several times to let Dani sleep, and she obviously returned the favor this morning. He sat up and looked around the cabin. It was warm, but empty. The crib was also empty and Logan quickly stood and pulled his jeans on. They'd been here for more than a month, but he still panicked when his family was gone. He sniffed the air, and realized they'd been here only moments ago. He padded barefoot to the door and stepped out, taking a deep breath of the crisp Yukon air. The mountains were still wrapped in white majesty though the valley and lake were enjoying the effects of a northern summer. He found his wife seated on the porch, in her rocking chair, feeding Andi.
"Good morning," she said with a smile.
Logan leaned down and kissed her forehead, "Good morning, Dani. How long you been up?"
"Not long," she said. "Thanks for getting up last night, I was just beat."
Logan leaned against the rough logs and sighed, "I don't mind getting up with the Wildcat."
Dani laughed at the nickname that seemed to stick from day one. "She might turn out to be quite tame you know."
Logan gave a snort, "Doubtful. I expect this one to be a real handful, just like her mom."
Dani looked up at him, feigning annoyance, but not succeeding. "I am not a handful. I am really quite dignified and reserved…"
"Oh, really? That's not the impression I got last night when you were screaming my name for the wildlife to hear," he smirked.
Dani blushed but said nothing, returning her attention to the baby that was finishing up her bottle.
Logan looked at his wife with deep affection. "I wouldn't have you any other way," he said softly. "If you were a stuffy little snob I never would have fallen so hard for you."
They enjoyed the view in silence for a while, content to just be together. They had really needed this time, but soon they should think about going back to New York. Logan pulled a cigar out of his back pocket and lit up.
"School will be starting up soon," he said lightly.
"I suppose we should think about going home," Dani said.
"We don't have to, you chose me, not the school or the Xmen," Logan said seriously.
"When I chose you, I chose the whole package. I miss them, and I do think of the school as home," she said. "It wouldn't take long to pack."
Logan smiled and lifted his snoozing daughter out of his wife's arms. "It wouldn't take long to get there either," he said with a smile. "I'll take care of the wildcat, you pack our stuff."
Scott was sitting at the kitchen table finishing up his lunch and drumming his fingers. He was lost in thought, so he never noticed anyone enter. He nearly leapt from his chair when he heard an annoyingly familiar voice.
"No fun being the only rooster in the henhouse, eh One-eye?" Logan said with a smirk.
"Finally decided to come home," Scott said, trying not to look pleased. "How's the wife and kid?"
Logan strolled over to the fridge to get a beer and shrugged, "The Wildcat is growing fast, and the wife…" he twisted the top of his beer and got a far away look on his face. "The wife is… wonderful."
Scott rolled his eyes, but smiled. "Welcome back, family man."
Logan looked at him with a genuine smile, "Thanks, Scott. It's good to be home."
END?