Memories

Memories of the Future

Author: SisterWine
Rating: G
Summary: This is just a little snip of how I think if R&R had a child, and was left in Logan's care, sometime in the future.
Disclaimer: Not mine, no money exchanged, no harm intended. Marvel owns them. I don't sell stories. (Rhythm and the gators are MINE!!! Don't Touch!)

4, June 2020

Long black hair scattered all over the crisp, white pillow. A small yawn, and huge violet eyes blinked open. She lay facing the open end of the bed, an arm lay in front of her face as if reminding her that it was her eyes she was looking out. Crisp white linen around her, and an oversized, short-sleeved cotton T-shirt covered her small body. Blinking again, she pushed herself to sit up from lying on her stomach, to look at her surroundings.

Logan's room.

It was still fairly early in the morning, and the sun had just barely made it over the horizon. Turning to look behind her, she found she was alone with her teddybear in the huge, scarcely furnished bedroom. "Logan...?" She whispered. No answer. Noticing the door was slightly ajar, she slipped from the middle of the bed to get down and make her way to the door. Her bare feet on polished wooden floors made a hushed tapping sound as she tip-toed closer. Peering around the corner and finding the second floor corridor empty, she cautiously made her way to the left, to go downstairs. Long, full black bangs fell into her face and annoyed her, causing her to swat absently at the tousled hair.

Taking one step by one foot at a time, she inched her way down to the foyer. Turning left, and heading straight back, under the same corridor she came down from, she made her way into the kitchen. A scantily furnished foyer to go with the equally scarcely furnished Victorian house, was wide and complimented the crystal chandelier above, high on the vaulted ceiling. Wooden floors and large Persian rugs completed the compliment. White walls lit the morning-filled rooms and welcomed cool breezes from large, open windows. Small front teeth bit into her pink bottom lip, as her tiny hands twisted and grabbed at the hem on each side of her long shirt, that stopped just below her knees. "Logan..?" She said again, louder this time. A squeak had hidden itself amongst her half-whispered and thickly accented voice.

"Mornin, kiddo." He stood at the end of a long C shaped counter, to her left, and was reading the morning post while sipping coffee and waiting for his toast to rise. He turned to look at her. A smile graced his lips as he looked her up and down. Her hair had been mussed and puffed out to look as if she had just come from a static convention. Big, wet, violet eyes peered at him from under equally mussed black bangs. The shirt, he had let her use after she had woken him up, and stood in the middle of her room, clutching her small, fluffy brown teddybear in her arms, from a nightmare that caused her own pajamas to be soiled. She had been crying and screaming for her daddy but, clung to Logan like honey to a slice of bread. He had cleaned her up and given her fresh panties and his own shirt that he had been wearing, and let her crawl into bed with him. "Hungry?"

She nodded and eyed the toaster, hungrily. "Oui." A smile firmly planted on her lips. "My poppa home, yet?" Her bare legs shivered from the cool breeze wafting through the kitchen's screen door that led to the large backyard. Her stare never left the man's face, even as it had turned grim from a welcome smile.

"Not yet, darlin." Toast popping up, he picked the two pieces from the slots and told her go sit at the table while he buttered and jammed them. "Juice, or milk?"

"Milk, please." Her mouth had said both words slowly and completely, her eyes looked up at him and her hands played with the material of the shirt. She turned and skipped to a small oak table, glazed a dark maple colour, and began climbing onto a chair. Picking one of four chairs to sit on with her back to the backyard, and swinging her legs in front of her while she waited. "I go see Mattie, today, Logan?" She turned her head to glance over her right shoulder, and watch him gather the plate of toast and coffee before heading to set them on the table.

He turned to his left and walked to the antique, 1950s style white ice box to pour her a glass of milk, which was only a few feet from him. "Fraid so, Little Bit. I have to go to New York for a few days." He had grabbed a glass from the cupboard beside the icebox, and poured the drink before replacing the red and white carton on the wire shelf and closing the door. Glass in hand, he walked back to her and set it in front of the now crummed, but empty, plate.

She reached for the glass and picked it up,with both hands, before finishing her mouthful of bread, butter, and jam. Swallowing in a gulp, she smiled and looked at the man again. "T'ank you, Logan." She swallowed a gulp of air before taking a drink and gulping several other swallows down.

Logan sipped his coffee and was reading the front page of the Sports section as she had said it. He was shirtless, and barefoot, as he sat in just a pair of clean jeans and combed black hair. Cold, tiny fingers tapped at his bare, muscled arm. Looking from the page to her, she said it again and smiled brightly. This time replying, he smiled back. "You're welcome, darlin."

"Bu', Logan, I dun' wan' ta go see Mattie." She blinked as he had gone back to his page. "Wanna go wit' you...?"

He looked back to her. Shaking his head slowly and frowning a bit, he explained that where he was going, was not a place for a "pip-squeak" like her to be wandering around in. Coffeecup in his right hand, and a tiny, cold hand in his left, he smiled at her and told her to go get ready for a bath.

Rocking from one side to the other on the faded yellow-cushioned chair, she hadn't moved. A whisper
graced her voice again. "Bu', who scare de bad monsters away, when y' go...? Huh?" Stilling for a moment, she stared at the page that he had been so interested in, and set the now empty glass back on the table. "Huh,..... Logan?"

Logan cleared his throat and finally looked back to the small face with a glistening thin, white mustache, and sighed. "It won't be long, darlin. I bet those mean ol' monsters won't come near Mattie's house." Closing the paper, he decided that he had better go upstairs with her and get her cleaned up and ready to go. He stood and lifted her up, onto his hip, letting her small, wiry legs wrap about his waist as her arms hooked about his neck in a frontal hug. "We need to get goin, soon."

She was washed, dried and dressed in a dress he had picked out for her, with white panties that had ruffles on the back. Marching into her bedroom, down the hall and across from Logan's, she sang a Cajun tune her father had taught her. She had combed her hair with her daddy's black comb, from his bathroom in his bedroom, and stood stock still on a Winnie the Pooh 2-step stool as Logan buckled her pink sandals to go with her dress. A big, pink bow and the comb were clutched tightly in her hands and extended to him, as he stood up to look at her. She wore a pink, spaghetti strapped, sun dress that had little white daisies speckled
all over it. Her favourite dress that her mother had given her for her last birthday.

Logan stood behind her and gathered her long, waist- length hair into his left hand as he combed it with his right. Tucking the comb into his right back pocket of his jeans, he reached for the bow barette in her hands. She liked having a ponytail, as her hair was mainly always in her eyes and face. As he clipped it shut, she spun around and smiled a smile so cheshire, he knew her father could not surpass. "Little Bit, you look gorgeous." He smirked and lifted her down from the top step of the stool.

Ears perked and he listened intently at the sound of a small personal jet landing in the front yard. "Time to go, darlin." Nudging her out of the room and back down the stairs- with her teddy in hands, she ran to the front door, which stood open to let an equal breeze pass through the screen door, and stopped abruptly.

Wide eyes looked the three strangers up and down. One man in a wheel-chair, and two women, had exited the jet and were making their way to the front porch some few yards away. The little girl backed up and clung to Logan's leg, arms around his waist and face buried in his left hip. Still, she was moving forward, with the help of the man she had clung to.

A loud hiss came from the far left side of the porch, causing the two women to spot the animal that had made the sound. A young adult male gator, was slithering cautiously towards the door.

"Shugs, quiet." Logan commanded, sharply, which made the little girl on his side, jump.

Peering from behind his dark blue denim shirt and thick black leather belt, she whispered up to him. "Who's dat, Logan?" She blinked and stared, wide-eyed, at the man in the wheelchair. The two women had come up the steps and stopped as the gator's long length now blocked their path.

They were both beautiful and well-kept. One was a fair-skinned lady with dark red, long hair and green eyes, and the other was a charming ebony woman with long white hair. Both were dressed in funny, skin-tight outfits that were the same colour of black. The red haired woman looked at the little girl, and smiled kindly.

"Such a pretty little dress, you have on, sweety. Did your daddy buy it for you?" Her voice was soft, and fluant. She was tall, and bent down to get closer to the little girl's height. She smiled as the little girl shook
her head, slightly. "Then, was it Logan?" Another shake.

"My mommy gived it to me f'r my bir'day." Came the small, muffled reply. Big eyes stared at the woman and clung even tighter to Logan. She eased as he patted her back, softly.

The woman smiled and straightened again. She looked at Logan and asked him if he was ready, to which he nodded and mentioned two bags- a brown duffel for him, and a small grey backpack for her- sitting just inside the door.

Loosening the girl's grip on his waist, he slid himself out of her arms and turned to go back into the house.

"You must be-- Rhythm....? Right?" The ebony woman spoke up with a slight smile.

The girl only nodded and went back to staring at their male companion in the wheelchair. Averting her eyes as he met her stare, and smiling, she knelt down and began petting the gator's back, forgetting about the two ladies on the porch.

The red haired woman spoke again. "Is that your pet?"

"Non. Shugs is my poppa's." She stopped petting and stood to look at the woman. "Y' meet my daddy? He come home soon." Not waiting for an answer, she continued in a nervous babble that was paused only by taking short breaths. "We have t'ree o' dem. Shugs, Squeaks, an' Shimmy. Shugs is de ol'est. 'S ol'er dan me." She smiled and paused long enough for the white haired woman to speak.

"And, how old are you?" The woman bent down and smiled.

Holding her left hand up, and spread her fingers out, she showed her as well as answered. "Five. Gonn' be
six in Oct'ober."

As Logan came back and locked up the house, bags slung over his right shoulder, he turned around and scooped the, now smiling, little girl up into his arms. "Shugs, yard." He ordered before shifting the small body in his arms, and pointing to the right, snapping when the gator only hissed at him. "Go. She'll be okay." He watched as the massive gator moved sulkily past. He shifted the girl in his arms, again, and followed the two women down the steps to meet the man in the wheelchair. "Little Bit, this is Mister Xavier. He's gonna help us bring your daddy back." Nodding in Xavier's direction, he waited as she followed his gaze and blinked.

"Bon jour, m'sieur." She stared over her left shoulder, and nodded politely to him. "Y' hur', m'sieur?" Pointing to his legs, she blushed as the adults- including Logan- laughed shortly. Turning back to Xavier, from watching Logan's expression, she appologised. "Desole. Poppa tol' me ta be nice....?" She glanced back at Logan to see him nod, briefly, with her.

Xavier smiled and explained that his injury had happened long ago, and that she was keeping to her word, and being well-behaved.

A few minutes later, a late-model, tan Cadillac pulled into the long, dirt-road drive and circled around the jet
to stop in front of it. An old, ebony woman with fancy beads and clothing exited the driver's seat and came towards the group. Tante Mattie. Her shoulder-length hair had many small braids and beads at the end of each, that made jingle sounds as they hit each other. She walked slow and smiled as she and the little girl met eyes. "Mornin, Logan. Mornin, my little belle diable." Her attentions were focused on Logan and his company soon after stopping beside him.

Logan placed the child on her feet and explained to Mattie that he needed to go away for a few days, and if she would be kind enough to watch the little girl until he returned. The cuff of his right sleeve was being tugged as the girl tried to get his attention. He looked down at her and knelt to come face to face with her. "Darlin, I can't take you with me. You need to stay here, where Mattie can watch you. You need to take care of Shugs for your daddy."

Tears rolled down small cheeks as she protested. "Non. I wanna see my poppa. Mebbe, he forget me..?"

"Would you rather go visit your momma?"

Sobbing stopped and she shook her head, immediately. "De monsters," She leaned in closely. "dey comed for him. Mebbe I go, an' dey wan' me 'stead, no?" She wrapped her arms around his neck and refused to let go. She was lifted off of the ground and held in his arms, as he had stood up.

Xavier met Logan's gaze and the two came to a silent agreement.

"Sorry for the drive, Mattie." He looked back at the old, voodoo woman and shrugged. To his mild surprise, she understood.

Mattie smiled and reached a hand out to rub the little girl's back. "De chile need her poppa. An' Remy need her, too. No trouble, Logan." Patting the girl's back, she turned and headed back to her car after telling the rest of the group bye.

She had sat in the jet's seat so still and quiet, beside Logan, and looked out the small, rectangular window to her left, that Logan had actually thought she was asleep. As he leaned forward and peered at her, she turned her head and sleepily smiled at him. Her hands were folded neatly in her lap, and her legs together and still as she pressed her back against the seat. Her seat had been behind the pilot's seat, where Xavier sat, and Logan sat to her right. Eyelids lowered over her big violet eyes but, she was quick to blink them open wide again.

"Almost there, darlin." He whispered and lightly rubbed the back of his index finger against her right cheek.

She nodded and looked back to the window.

Half hour later, the jet came to a stop over the basketball court, in the backyard of Xavier's mansion. Her feet swung, impatiently, as she waited for Logan to undo her seatbelt. She watched as the courts were split, revealing an underground hangar to which the jet was lowered into. Wide eyed, she stared out the window and hadn't noticed Logan unfastening her belt and lifting her up as he carried her from the jet.

When she was placed on her feet, just outside of the craft, she looked around in total amazement. "Where
are we, Logan? Huh?" Her squeaky, high-pitched voice spoke up and echoed softly through the huge metal hangar. "Dis where my poppa is?"

Logan smiled and started to walk to the lift door, thinking she would follow him. "This is Xavier's house." He stopped and turned back to see her still standing in awe, beside the jet. "Keep up, Little Bit." Her shoes
clicked on the floor as she ran to grab his hand and walk to the lift with the group.

"Y' lived here, b'fore, Logan?" She asked as they stepped in and watched the doors close.

Logan sighed and nodded. "Yea, kiddo. So did your momma and daddy."

"Oh." A yawn.

Storm leaned in and whispered into Logan's left ear about having his old room ready for him, and thinking that the little girl might want a nap before a tour. Logan nodded. "While she's asleep, I'll get Gambit's room ready for her to sleep in." Her eyes traveled to the small head that now rested against Logan's arm, as both hands held his.

The lift stopped and the doors opened to completely different surroundings. A well-furnished foyer, with a long and expensive rug and paintings on the walls, surrounded them. They stepped out of the lift and the doors closed again. Twin staircases were separated by a wide room with children, older children, moving about the room on their ways to activities and such.

Jean, Xavier and Storm made their way to Xavier's office, leaving the little girl and Logan alone in the foyer.

"How about a nap...?" He knelt down and asked as she rubbed her eyes and yawned again.

Rhythm shook her head. "No." A sleepy whine and another yawn as she looked back at him.

Logan only smiled and nodded at her. "Yes. You're tired, kiddo. Long plane ride, and confusin mornin. You'll feel better after a nap." He stood up again and took her hand to lead her up the staircase to their right. They walked down the left hall and stopped as they reached his door, on the left. As he turned the knob and
opened the door, she spoke again.

"Not tired, Logan." Another yawn as her left hand rubbed at her left eye, while her right hand was held by Logan's. She was led into the bright room and placed on the end of the bed. Her legs dangled over the end, and she waited for Logan to pull back the covers before moving to remove her sandals and place her in bed. Her head lay on the pillow, to one side, as she watched Logan tuck her in and then move to close the drapes. The room darkened, but not much. She yawned again and sat up as he neared the door. "Not tired."

He held onto the door and sighed, inwardly. "Rhythm, lay down." His voice was firm but, not harsh. "You take a nap, and then we'll go for a walk and meet the kids, okay? But, you need a nap, first."

Laying down, immediately, she watched him. "Don' close de door, 'kay?"

"A little, okay?"

A nod. "My teddy... Logan?" She pointed to the chair at the end of the bed that he had placed both bags in. She sat up to point and wait as he opened her bag to retrieve the bear she had placed in there before the jet took off. When he came back, she laid back down and cuddled her bear on her chest. She watched him
leave the room, and promptly rolled to her right side, facing the edge, and closed her eyes. Holding the bear, tightly, she yawned again and fell quickly asleep.

Continued.......