That night, Logan and Verena did exactly as they were asked to do—watch the kids. While they did it reluctantly, they did it nonetheless, engaging in a game of Monopoly with some of the older kids in the common room. Logan was stretched out on the couch, with Verena next to him, her legs draped across his lap as he absentmindedly rubbed soft circles on her calves.

It didn't take long for the table and game board to get close to flipping a few times, as Verena began dominating the game with ruthless efficiency. "Anyone ready to give up yet?" she taunted, flicking a hundred-dollar bill in Logan's direction, her stack of money towering over the others.

Logan, pretending to eye her with suspicion, rolled the dice and landed squarely on one of her most expensive properties. "If this wasn't just a game, Vee, I'd have a few words about your 'luck' with the dice."

"Luck?" She grinned, feigning innocence. "Maybe I'm just better at this than you, old man."

Across the table, one of the kids groaned as they reluctantly handed over their last bill to her. "Seriously, Ms. Verena, you've gotta be cheating. I've landed on your hotels every single turn!"

"Kids, kids," Verena said with a shrug, spreading her arms wide. "You know, some people just have that Midas touch. I don't make the rules."

Logan smirked and gave her calves another quick squeeze, the look he gave her equal parts amused and impressed. "You're ruthless, you know that?"

"Somebody's gotta keep these kids on their toes," she replied, tapping one of her hotels dramatically as the next victim reluctantly handed over their money. "Life's full of tough breaks, kiddos. Better get used to it."

A chorus of complaints rose as one of the teens landed on Verena's row of properties, groaning, "Alright, that's it. I'm done! Ms. Verena, you're the worst."

She laughed, raking in the cash with a victorious flourish, then tossing her stack of Monopoly money in the air like confetti. "Bow down to the Monopoly queen!"

Logan chuckled, leaning close enough to mutter, "You know, you'd be a nightmare if this game was for real."

Just then, one of the kids let out an exaggerated sigh. "Okay, fine—but winner has to pick the movie."

"Deal," Verena said, wasting no time as the kids grumbled.

"Fine, but nothing old or boring," one of them muttered, folding their arms.

Logan raised an eyebrow. "Old or boring, huh? Good luck convincing her of that."

Sure enough, Verena leaned back, casually declaring, "As winner of tonight's game, I get to pick, and we're watching My Cousin Vinny. Classic cinema at its finest."

A round of protests erupted from the kids, but Logan silenced them with a raised eyebrow. "Her game, her choice. That's how it works, got it?"

Reluctantly, they all quieted down, settling in with sighs and exaggerated eye rolls as Verena pressed play. She leaned against Logan as the opening credits began, savoring her victory with all the satisfaction of a Monopoly champion.

The kids ended up enjoying the movie that Verena had put on and when it was over, many of the kids went straight to bed, tired from the day. Two of the kids had fallen asleep on the other couch, so Logan and Verena worked together carrying them to bed, much to Logan's protest, but  Verena gave him a look. 

The two X-Men decided to turn in for the night, and soon Verena found herself wrapped securely in Logan's arms as they lay together in his bed. Her head rested on his chest, lulled by the steady, grounding rhythm of his heartbeat. Her fingers traced idle patterns against his skin, while his hand slowly combed through her hair. They didn't speak, simply savoring the warmth and presence of each other in the stillness.

But Verena's mind raced, thoughts whirling too fast to let her truly settle. She couldn't stop thinking about Logan and his constant flirting with Jean, a pattern that dug under her skin like a thorn. It infuriated her—the way he looked at Jean, how his attention seemed to drift despite everything they'd been through together. Jean was with Scott, for heaven's sake, and yet Logan couldn't resist the impulse to keep pursuing her with those lingering glances and half-teasing smiles.

Fifteen years. Fifteen years she had been by Logan's side, in the cramped, rattling RVs, traveling from one empty highway to the next. Every night they'd shared the same bed, a kind of comfort and closeness that felt unbreakable. But it wasn't the same as belonging to him, and that was the sharpest edge of it all. Despite the years, despite the closeness, Logan had never claimed her as his, never made it clear that he wanted her like she wanted him.

And when Jean had entered their lives, Verena felt that precious balance shifting, the silent connection she'd come to rely on now split between herself and another woman. She turned her head slightly, pressing her cheek against Logan's chest, trying to push the thoughts away, to just be here with him for now. But she couldn't shake the ache, that gnawing feeling that while she was here in his arms tonight, she might not always be.

As Logan's fingers traced gentle lines along her back, Verena felt her mind finally begin to ease, his touch grounding her thoughts and reminding her to simply take in this moment. She closed her eyes, letting his warmth wash over her, though a quiet fear still lingered—a fear that one day, she might lose him to someone else. But for now, she focused on the rhythm of his heartbeat and the comforting weight of his hand in her hair, the steady motions lulling her to sleep as she melted into him, savoring the peace of being exactly where she wanted to be.

As Verena drifted into sleep, her mind fell into darkness—only to be pulled sharply into a memory. She was weightless, submerged, but the water around her was darker, colder, thick like blood. Shadows shifted, distorted shapes pressing in on all sides, and the muffled hum of machines buzzed around her, growing louder with every passing second. Her heart hammered as she reached out, fingers trailing through the crimson water, but her arms felt heavy, almost lifeless.

Suddenly, a searing pain exploded in her mind, and she shot upright from the murky depths, gasping. The icy water splashed down her body as she broke the surface, her own scream echoing in the vast, sterile room. Blinding white lights overhead were fractured, strobing as if the memory itself were breaking apart, yet her senses were raw, everything too real.

The lab was silent, but she could feel figures watching her, observing from the shadows. Verena tried to scream, to claw her way out of the tub, but her arms wouldn't respond, the weight of her own body like a prison. Her vision blurred, and the sterile smell of blood and antiseptic filled her lungs as her head spun.

She felt herself slipping back under, and through the blur, she saw herself—her own reflection in the water, eyes wide with fear, yet vacant, lifeless, like a ghost staring back at her.

Verena jolted awake, her breath shallow, fingers clutching at the sheets as she tried to steady herself, heart still racing from the nightmare's grip. Logan's arm was around her, but even in his warmth, the chill of that memory clung to her, like a shadow she couldn't shake.

A cold sweat soaked her back and her brow, and she looked up at Logan, who was still dead asleep. She managed to get out from under Logan's arm and plant her feet on the ground without waking him. She made her way out of the room and down the stairs, wincing when the last step creaked. 

Verena made her way through the mansion, passing by the common area where one of the kids she'd played Monopoly with was watching the news. She continued on to the kitchen and noticed the overhead light was still on. Stepping inside, she spotted Bobby—Rogue's boyfriend—hunched over the table, stuffing his face with a tub of Baskin Robbins ice cream.

Without a word, she grabbed a spoon from the drawer, sat beside him, and casually took the tub from his hands. She scooped out a generous bite and shoved it into her mouth. Bobby froze, wide-eyed, staring at the older woman now sharing his midnight snack in silence. 

"You wanna talk about it?" Bobby finally broke the silence.

"Not with you," she replied bluntly, scooping another bite of ice cream. She paused mid-bite, hearing footsteps approaching the kitchen. She glanced up as Logan walked in, still wearing his jeans and a tank top.

"Hey, sweetheart." She gave him a small nod, saying nothing. Then he noticed Bobby sitting beside her. "Does anyone actually sleep around here?"

"Apparently not," Bobby answered, as Verena continued eating her ice cream and Logan rummaged through the fridge.

"You got any beer in here?"

"This is a school, Logan," Bobby replied, raising an eyebrow.

"So that's a no?"

"That's a no." Verena rolled her eyes. Logan settled for a bottle of Dr. Pepper from the cabinet, and Bobby used his powers to chill it. Logan sat down across from them, taking a long sip.

"You weren't in bed, sweetheart."

"Nightmare," she murmured, taking another bite of her ice cream. Logan gave her a pointed look, silently urging her to elaborate, but she only looked down at the table, avoiding his gaze.

"So... how long you been here?" Logan shifted his attention to Bobby, puzzled by Verena's sudden reticence.

"A couple of years."

"Your parents just shipped you off to mutant school?"

"Actually, my parents think this is a prep school." Bobby's voice grew softer, and Verena glanced up, catching the flicker of guilt in his eyes. She felt a pang of sympathy for him—for all the mutants who had to hide who they were, lie to their families just to be accepted.

"Right. That makes sense. Lots of prep schools have dorms, campuses..." Logan said, his voice trailing off.

"And jets," Bobby added dryly.

An awkward silence settled over them.

"So, you and Rogue, huh?" Logan finally asked, breaking the tension.

"Yeah... I mean, it's not exactly what you think. I'd like it to be, but..." Bobby hesitated, his frustration apparent. "It's hard when you want to be close to someone, but you can't. I mean... everyone sees how you look at Dr. Grey."

"Excuse me?" Logan's tone was sharp, his expression stunned.

Verena's spoon fell, clattering against the wooden table, but she barely noticed it. How you look at Dr. Grey. The words rang in her mind, sharp and stinging. She knew Logan had a past with Jean, knew there'd been something there before she'd even arrived at the mansion. She'd always told herself it didn't matter—she and Logan had carved out something real, something that felt unbreakable. But hearing someone else say it out loud, in a room that suddenly felt too bright and too close, was different.

She risked a glance at Logan, watching him tense under Bobby's comment, his brows furrowed, mouth pressed tight. She wanted to believe it was just surprise, that Bobby's words hadn't unsettled him. But the tiniest shadow of doubt crept in, almost against her will.

What do I have to be insecure about? She chided herself. Logan wasn't the type to stay if he didn't want to be here. But then, Logan wasn't the type to put his feelings into words, either, at least not easily. Their connection had always been more instinctual, less about declarations, more about shared battles and silent, steady loyalty. He was hers, and she was his—she'd always felt it like an unspoken promise.

And yet, as she sat there, Bobby's comment lingering in the silence, she felt the edges of that certainty waver, a small reminder of how fragile even the strongest things could be.

"I'm going back to bed. Buonanotte." Verena stood abruptly, ready to leave the kitchen, but Logan grabbed her wrist before she could take a step. She opened her mouth to protest, but he raised a finger to his lips, signaling for silence, and then tapped his ear, urging her to listen. She followed his lead, focusing on the faint sound of footsteps coming from the far side of the mansion. These steps were heavier and deliberate—not like the children, who should've been asleep by now.

Logan and Bobby both rose to their feet. Bobby moved toward the window to check the perimeter, while Logan edged around the corner, positioning himself by the entrance. Verena stayed close, listening as the footsteps approached. When the soldier finally stepped into view, Logan sprang into action, launching himself at the intruder.

"You picked the wrong house, bub!" he shouted, claws slicing forward. The soldier, caught off guard, opened fire, aiming for Bobby. But Verena was quicker. She leapt in front, tackling Bobby to the ground and shielding him with her body as bullets ricocheted around them.

In a heartbeat, the gunfire stopped. Logan drove his claws into the man with a low, feral growl, pinning him against the fridge until the soldier slumped lifelessly. "Clear," he muttered, pulling back. Verena eased off Bobby, offering him a steadying hand.

"What the hell is going on?" she whispered, glancing at Logan. Together, they peered into the hallway, spotting more soldiers prowling through the shadows.

Verena turned to Bobby, her voice low and firm. "You, stay here."

Verena and Logan moved powerfully through the mansion's darkened halls, claws unsheathed and sharp as they tore through each soldier that crossed their path. The distant sound of helicopter blades churned overhead, while screams from the children echoed through the corridors. With each step, they hunted down the intruders, leaving a trail of defeated soldiers in their wake.

Suddenly, darts struck them in the neck. They both ripped the darts out, barely flinching, and retaliated with swift, deadly strikes. The soldiers stood no chance as Logan and Verena drove their claws into flesh, their focus relentless.

As they cleared another hall, Verena spotted one of the youngest children, collapsed and trembling. She quickly scooped the small girl into her arms and darted toward the secret tunnel Charles had set up for emergencies. Colossus stood guard by the entrance, helping the children through. When he offered his help to Verena and Logan, they shook their heads. "They need you more," Verena said, urgency tightening her voice.

Moving deeper into the mansion, Verena and Logan heard the pounding of footsteps. They crouched low, preparing. When the first booted foot came into view, Logan jabbed his claws straight through it, pinning the soldier in place. Verena sprang from above, cutting down the enemy with a lethal swipe.

They looked like a storm incarnate—blood-spattered, breathing heavily, hair wild, and clothes torn. The sudden scream of Rogue pierced the air from downstairs. Soldiers were at the front door, forcing their way inside, weapons raised. Logan and Verena charged to the upper railing and, with practiced precision, vaulted over, slicing through the soldiers below before they even had a chance to react. They landed on their feet, surrounded by awestruck mutant teens.

"Let's go." Logan tried leading them to the front, but debris and soldiers blocked the exit, forcing them to retreat toward the tunnel. As the teens entered, Logan and Verena held back, closing the door behind them. They turned to face the soldiers filing in, their claws gleaming under the dim lights.

"You wanna shoot us? Go ahead, shoot us!" Logan's voice was fierce, defiant. He and Verena braced, ready to strike.

"Don't shoot them. Not yet." A calm, commanding voice cut through the tension, and a man with greying hair stepped into view, rounding the corner. "Wolverine. Lynx. You two are a long way from home. This is the last place I expected to find you. How long has it been? Fifteen years? And you two haven't changed a bit. Me, on the other hand..."

He moved into the light, his face becoming visible—a face eerily familiar to both mutants. Verena's mind raced. She didn't know this man, not by name. But his face... it tugged at something deep within her, unsettling and strangely recognizable.

"I didn't know Xavier was taking in animals. Especially animals as unique as you."

"Who are you?"

"You don't remember?"

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©️Fanofadifishman

Word Count: 2679

Translations:

Buonanotte - Goodnight

A/N: Hey guyssss, long time no see. So sorry this chapter took me so long, just been making my wait through college, perks of being a full time student which means no time to write (I literally hate it). Anyway, hopefully I can get back in the grove of two chapters a week before the semester ends cause I might be cooked next semester. 

Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed, don't be ghost readers.

Love Y'all,

Allegra 💙