Cecily sat on Scott's bike, her arms casually wrapped around Storm as they both watched Logan pack the car.

"Are you two just here to watch me do all the work?" Logan asked, glancing at them with a raised eyebrow.

Cecily grinned, leaning back a little. "Yeah, pretty much," she replied with a playful smile, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

Storm chuckled beside her, clearly enjoying the banter. "You're doing a great job, Logan," she added, her tone teasing.

Logan shook his head with a smirk, muttering under his breath as he continued to load the car, knowing he was hopelessly outnumbered.

Cecily watched as Jean and Scott entered the garage. "Hey, you two," she greeted them with a smile. "We're just watching Logan do all the work if you want to join us."

"Funny," Logan replied, shutting the car trunk. He looked at Cecily, his expression softening. "Ready whenever you are."

The excitement in Cecily was palpable as she finally let go of Storm, her attention fully on Logan as he walked closer.

Logan stopped when he was face-to-face with Cecily, his gaze locking onto hers. "You ready?" he asked, his voice softening.

Cecily bit her lip, excitement bubbling up inside her as she nodded. "Yeah," she whispered, her heart racing with anticipation.

Logan leaned in for a quick kiss, but before their lips could meet, Scott stepped in, placing a hand on Logan's chest. "You two have months to do that on your own time. And not on my bike," Scott warned, his tone half-serious, half-amused.

Cecily laughed, rolling her eyes playfully. "Fine, fine," she said, reluctantly letting Logan go.

Cecily slid off the bike and walked over to Jean, wrapping her in a warm hug. "Be safe, okay?" Jean whispered, her voice laced with concern.

Cecily nodded. "I will," she promised, giving Jean a reassuring smile before stepping back.

She then turned to Scott, pausing for a moment before pulling him into a hug, knowing he wouldn't initiate it himself. "I love you, Scott," she said, holding onto his shoulders as she pulled away.

Scott gave a small, awkward smile. "Yeah," he muttered, his usual stoicism cracking slightly. "Just be safe, and don't do anything stupid."

Cecily chuckled, releasing him and moving toward Storm. She hugged her tightly, and Storm laughed. "You just spent the last hour hugging me," she teased.

Cecily grinned, squeezing her a little tighter. "And I want to do it again. Is that such a crime?"

With one last squeeze, she let go and smiled. "I'll see you soon, Storm," she said softly, before finally turning to join Logan.

After all the goodbyes were said, Cecily and Logan got into the car, and with a final wave to their friends, they were off. As they drove down the road, Logan glanced over at her, a question in his eyes. "Where do you want to go first?" he asked.

Cecily took a moment to gaze out the window, watching the familiar landscape blur by like a fleeting memory. She turned to Logan, her expression soft and contemplative. "I want to see my mother," she said quietly, the weight of her words hanging in the air.

Logan nodded, fully grasping the significance of her request. "Alright," he replied gently, his hand reaching over to give hers a reassuring squeeze.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

They had been parked outside the house for what felt like an eternity, the car idling as Logan waited patiently for Cecily to make the first move. She remained still, her gaze fixed on the house, hands gripping the edge of her seat. Sensing her hesitation, Logan reached over and gently took her hand, giving it a comforting squeeze.

"Hey," he said softly, his voice cutting through the thick silence. "You don't have to do this today."

"I want to," Cecily replied, though her voice wavered. She glanced at Logan, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. "I just... I don't know what I'm supposed to say. 'Hey, Mom. Sorry for not visiting ever.'" She attempted to inject humor into her words, but it fell flat, strained.

Logan tightened his grip on her hand, his gaze steady and reassuring. "You don't need to have all the answers. Just be honest. She's your mom—she's been waiting a long time to see you, Cecily."

Taking a deep breath, Cecily nodded as she tried to steady herself. "Yeah... I guess you're right."

"And if it gets too overwhelming, we can leave," Logan added. "Whenever you're ready, we'll go in together."

Cecily looked at the house again, the place she once called home, and then back at Logan. Finally, she nodded. "Okay. Let's do this."

With Logan by her side, she inhaled deeply and opened the car door, stepping out into the life she had left behind so many years ago.

As they approached the front door, Cecily's heart raced with every step. She gathered her courage, taking a final deep breath before ringing the doorbell.

The door creaked open, and Cecily's mother appeared, her eyes widening in disbelief. For a moment, time seemed to stand still.

"Cecily?" Her mother's voice was barely a whisper, filled with shock and hope. "Is it really you?"

Cecily nodded. "Hi, Mom."

Her mother's expression softened as she took a tentative step forward, reaching out as if afraid Cecily might vanish. "I—oh my God. It's been so long. I saw you on TV a few times, and I was so worried." Her voice trailed off as she pulled Cecily into a tight embrace, tears streaming down her face. "I thought I'd never see you again."

Cecily clung to her mother, a wave of relief and emotion crashing over her. Logan stood quietly behind them, giving them space but ready to offer support if needed.

"I'm so sorry," Cecily whispered, her voice trembling. "I'm sorry I stayed away for so long. I didn't know how to come back."

When it was time to leave, Cecily wrapped her arms around her mother once more, this time sealing their reunion with a promise to stay in touch, to never let so much time pass between visits again. As they walked back to the car, Logan slipped his arm around her shoulders, offering comfort.

"How do you feel?" he asked, glancing down at her with concern.

"Better," Cecily admitted, a small smile playing on her lips. "I think I really needed that."

"You did great," Logan said, giving her a reassuring squeeze.

As they drove away, Cecily gazed out the window, a sense of peace washing over her that she hadn't felt in years. The challenges ahead loomed in her mind, but for the first time, she felt ready to face them, bolstered by the support of her family and the man beside her.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

As they drove away from her childhood home, Logan turned to Cecily. "So, where to next?" he asked, glancing over at her with a small smile.

Cecily took a deep breath, thinking about all the possibilities. "I want to go somewhere new," she said, her eyes shining with excitement. "Somewhere I've never been before, where we can just be... free."

Logan nodded, understanding the desire for a fresh start. "How about we head west? There's a lot of open country out there, places where you can breathe, get lost in the beauty of it all."

Cecily smiled, the idea appealing to her. "That sounds perfect. I've always wanted to see the mountains, just get away from it all."

Logan chuckles. "Mountains it is, then. We'll take our time, see the sights, and go wherever the road takes us."

Cecily leans back in her seat, feeling a sense of adventure bubbling up inside her. "I like the sound of that. No plans, no destinations—just the us."

That's how they found themselves in a small cabin nestled in the mountains, surrounded by stillness—the kind of quiet that only comes from being far from civilization. But that peace shattered under the weight of grunts and labored breathing. Cecily stirred, her senses immediately on high alert. Turning, she saw Logan beside her, his face twisted in pain.

"Logan," she whispered, trying to pull him from whatever nightmare had him in its grip. She reached out, gently tapping his shoulder. "Logan," she called a little louder this time.

Before she could react, a sharp pain shot through her arm. Logan's claws had extended in his sleep, piercing her skin. "Son of a bitch," she hissed, clutching her arm tightly as the sudden pain jolted Logan awake. His eyes flew open, wild and panicked as he processed what had happened.

"Cecily—" he began, his voice thick with regret.

"Hey, hey, it's okay," she said quickly, trying to soothe him. She reached for him, her other hand gently cupping his face. "You're okay, Logan. It was just a nightmare."

He looked down at her arm, blood seeping from the wound where his claws had sliced through her skin. "Cecily..." he said, his voice trembling with guilt.

"It's fine," she replied softly, her tone reassuring despite the pain. "This will be gone by morning. You know that."

Logan shook his head, self-loathing evident in his eyes. "No, it's not fine. I could've—"

"Listen to me," Cecily interrupted, her voice firm yet gentle. "I'm okay. We're okay. It was an accident, and I know you'd never hurt me on purpose."

She held his gaze, willing him to believe her. Slowly, the panic in his eyes began to fade, replaced by something more vulnerable. "I don't want to lose you," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

"You won't," Cecily promised, brushing a strand of hair from his face. "I'm not going anywhere, Logan."

She leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead. He closed his eyes, leaning into the comforting warmth of her touch. They stayed like that for a moment, the tension slowly dissipating as the reality of the situation settled around them.

Finally, Logan opened his eyes, the guilt still lingering but less overwhelming than before. "You should let me take care of that," he said, nodding toward her arm.

Cecily smiled. "Only if it makes you feel better," she teased lightly.

He managed a small, grateful smile in return, and they both knew that this was just one of the many challenges they would face together.

Afterward, Cecily lay on Logan's chest, her fingers tracing slow, soothing circles over his arm. The steady rise and fall of his breathing grounded her, bringing a sense of calm after the chaos of the night.

"What are you thinking about?" Logan asked softly, his voice a low rumble in the quiet cabin.

She hesitated, her hand pausing for a moment. "Do you want kids?" she finally asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Logan fell silent, the question hanging in the air between them. He stared at the ceiling, lost in thought. It wasn't something he had ever allowed himself to contemplate—not with the life he led, the things he'd done.

Cecily felt his chest tighten beneath her, and she glanced up at him, searching his face for an answer.

"Why do you ask?" he finally replied, his voice guarded.

She sighed softly, laying her head back down. "I don't know... it just crossed my mind. I guess I was just wondering if you ever thought about it."

Logan remained quiet for a long time before finally speaking. "It's not that I haven't thought about it... it's just that I've never really let myself consider it. Too much baggage. Too many things I've done that I can't take back."

Cecily nodded, understanding the weight of his words. "You're not your past, Logan. You've changed, and you're still changing."

He looked down at her, his hand gently stroking her hair. "Maybe... but I don't know if I could be a father. Not with everything that's inside me."

She met his gaze, her eyes filled with quiet determination. "You care more than you let on. That's what matters."

Logan studied her face, seeing the sincerity reflected in her eyes. He sighed, a deep, resigned sound. "Maybe one day... if we ever find some peace."

Cecily smiled softly, leaning up to press a gentle kiss to his lips. "Maybe one day, I can live with that," she said, her voice infused with hope.

Logan kissed the top of her head, pulling her a little closer. "Yeah," he agreed, his voice tender. In the stillness of the night, the weight of the question hung between them—no longer a burden but a possibility, a shared dream that felt just within reach.