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Title:
Every Two Weeks: Logan's Mutie Day Care
Author:
Terri
E-mail:
Xgrrl26@yahoo.com
Rating:
PG-13
Category:
Foofy with a little drama thrown in
Disclaimer:
Keli and Jason are mine. I'm keeping them. Everyone else is not
mine.
Archive:
Ask, and ye shall receive
Feedback:
Always appreciated, be it good, bad, or ugly :)
Summary:
Sequel to Every Two Weeks: Don't Come A-KnockinLogan and Marie pull
some babysitting duty, and Logan copes surprisingly well.
Comments:
First of all, I am blatantly stealing the title here from Sorciere's feedback
to the last Two Weeks story - I hope she doesn't mind :) The title
is much funnier and better than the story itself, I guarantee (Come on, it's
hard to beat 'Logan's Mutie Day Care'! That's priceless.). Second,
this story's been a while in coming, and it wasn't easy to write. It's
not my favorite, in other words, but I think it turned out OK in the end.
Third - the kids are named for my brbf and her big brother - Keli's not like
her tiny doppleganger at all, but Jason is ;) And we love him for it,
since I have borrowed him as my unofficial big brother and protector as well.
----------------------------------------------------------- Ya know,
they ain't bad kids. The eight-year old, the boy, he's all right.
"Jason, don't
- don't - be careful with that!" Sure, he's a little rambunctious but
what's wrong with that? Marie keeps sayin' he's gonna destroy the house
and everythin' in it before the two weeks are up, but I don't think so.
I mean, he hasn't destroyed that much in the eight hours that we've been here,
really. He's just playin'. He's a boy.
CRASH
Oops.
I think that was another plate. "Jason!" Hell, these people got
lotsa plates, ain't the end of the world or nothin'. "Logan, would
you say something to him?" Marie gets all flustered when he acts up.
"Whaddya
want me to say? He don't listen to me any better than you, honey."
It's true. Kid don't really listen to anyone. I kinda like that
about him, honestly.
"He's *your*
little mini-me! *You* talk to him!"
"What?"
"Oh, come
on, you don't see it? The bad attitude, the pointy hair - "
"That's
'cause of his powers. The electricity does that. I can't control
electricity so I don't see what - "
"Logan,
he's eight years old, and he already exhibits a preference for wearing leather."
"Hey - Chuck
said to pick up coats for them. It's chilly up here. Just 'cause
I bought him a leather coat don't mean - "
"*And* he
swears like a sailor."
"That's
not my fault. He knew all those words before we even got here."
"I didn't
say it was your faultjeez..this was harder than I thought it would be."
"Aw, come
on, honey, you're gettin' along real good with Keli. She likes you
a lot."
"Yeah, but
- oh, no! Jason, no! Put that down!" Heh. Little
kid got a hold of the vase on the table. He's takin' the flowers out, probably
wants to use it to build somethin'. He said he was makin' a fort for
Keli or somethin' upstairs in the play room.
"What?"
I gotta give it to him, the kid's got the innocent look down pat.
"Jason, put
that down." Marie tries to be all stern, hands on her hips and everythin'.
Jason's never intimidated by that. And she don't really mean it anyway
- she likes both the little ones, even if she is kinda exasperated with Jason.
"But I *need*
it. Keli needs a tower on the fort."
"You could
break it and - "
"I'll be
really careful. Promise. Come on, Ms. Marie. I want Keli
to have a tower." The kid knows that Marie's got a soft spot for the
little girl.
"Be VERY
careful, Jason, and next time, ask first!" He's already headed back
upstairs. Heh. I kinda like him. But he's not really anythin'
like me. He's not. "Thanks for all your help there, big guy."
Now Marie's miffed at me - teasin' - but a little miffed too.
"He's fine.
Besides, you know how he is, if Keli asks for it, he gets it. Come on
and sit down a second, come on." The little girl - Keli - she's a cutie,
but real quiet. Her mutation - she can control the minds of people
she touches - it's been kinda hard on her. Both of them were lab rats,
some goddamn experiments that one of Chuck's highly placed "friends" found.
Both of them had their mutations forced to manifest early. Sucks.
But they're both cute, and if you ask me, Keli looks like Marie musta when
she was a kid - lots and lots of brown hair - big, wide eyes, even though
Keli's are green - and a big smile when she lets it out. "They're
fine. They're up there playin'. Just relax a second."
"Oooh!
That's gonna make a good tower!"
"Yeah.
Thought you'd like it. Ms. Marie almost didn't let me take it but I
told her it was for you and she said OK. She-e likes you-u-u-u, you're
her pet, na-na-na-na-na."
" 'top it.
No teasin'."
"Sorry.
Forgot."
"Jason,
do you - do you think she's OK?"
"Hmph.
Dunno. They said they weren't gonna hurt us and all, just stay with
us for a while, but I dunno. We'll wait and see. If they try
anything, I'll kick their asses, for sure."
"Jason!
That's a bad word!
"Oops.
Sorry."
" 's OKbut
I'm scared."
"Me too.
But I'll take care of you. I promised, 'member?"
"Yeah.
I 'member."
"Don't get
sad, Keli. Come on, we've got a tower for the fort now. Check
it out."
"Yeah.
It's neat. I like it. Thanks, Jason."
"They're
cute kids, Logan, but they're a handful."
"Would I
be a bad boyfriend if I picked now to remind you that this was your idea?"
She's cute
when she pouts at me. Sexy, even. I wonder how much those kids
could hear upstairsI mean, we're on the couch in the far corner of the -
"I know, I know. I guess I underestimated it. 'Babysitting' -
it sounds so simple, doesn't it?"
"Well, maybe
next time, you'll listen to your boyfriend's older and wiser perspective on
- oof!" That kinda hurt - that couch pillow ain't very soft, especially
right to the face.
"Why do
you keep calling yourself my boyfriend?" I knew she'd catch on to that
sooner or later..and that sexy little tone of voice tells me she likes it
just as much as I thought she would.
"'Cause
I am. Right?"
"Yes, but..don't
take this the wrong way, but you just don't seem like the kind of person
who refers to himself that way."
"Well, if
I'm your boyfriend, that makes you my girlfriend, right? And I like
callin' you that."
"OK, OK
- I'm wearing the tags, I never go anywhere without you - what else do you
want? A big tattoo on my butt that says 'Property of Logan'?"
"I think
tattoos are sexy. I think - oof!" Gotta get that pillow away
from her.
"Be serious.
What's up with you? Is there really any doubt in your mind that I'm
yours?" You know, when she says it flat out like that, there isn't.
Not really. But I kinda like the visual and audio reminders, you know?
"Nah.
Just like callin' you my girl." She likes it a little more than she's
tryin' to let on, me bein' tool of the patriarchy.
"I guess
I can live with that." Oh yeah, come on over here a little closer.
And just let me take that pillow outta your hand
"Hey, Mr.
Logan?" Oh shit, the kid. "Do you know if there's any paint around?"
And the other one, kinda hidin' behind him. "We wanna finger paint.
The Taylors let us finger paint."
Yeah, yeah.
"Where did they put the paint? Do you know?"
"I dunno."
"Well, go
look for it." This kid is in serious need of some hunting lessons.
"If I find
it, can we paint?"
"Sure, sure."
How much trouble can that be, right?
"For the
love of God, I'll never get this paint out of my hair." I think it
actually looks good on her - couple streaks of blue down the back of her
head. 'Course, I can't really imagine what wouldn't look good on her
"Oh, well, it's just going to have to wait. Come on guys, it's bedtime.
Who's going first?"
"We go together."
Hmmm. Jason's lookin' a little outta sorts there.
"Um, don't
you think you're a little too old to sleep in the same bed? And you
have separate bedrooms here. I mean, Keli's five and you're eight,
maybe it's time to - " Whoa. Whoa. Marie caught that too.
Keli stiffin' up and shakin' her head like that. Shit. Somethin'
real bad musta happened to these two in that place. Real bad.
"Or - or not. Or you could hop in bed together." Marie's lookin'
to me for support, but I don't really know how to handle this.
"Keli gets
in first. Then me. That's how we do it. I'm not leaving her alone
with you. I'm not. Don't try to make me." I think his hair
gets even pointier when he gets riled up like that. Must be the electricity
flowin' through him. He even looks a little scary there - arms crossed,
all jacked up.
"I-I'm not.
It's fine if you want to stay with her. That's fine, Jason. Nothing
- nothing's wrong with that. Um, so, Keli gets in first, right?
Do you - uh, would you like a story or a song or anything before bed?"
Marie, tryin' to make 'em feel better, God bless her. Tuckin' 'em both
in, real nice.
"Story."
That's Keli, real soft. That's why she gets in first - so she can hide
behind Jason. Kid's got himself between that little girl and Marie.
On guard, just in case. That's just so fuckin' sad.
"OK."
Uh, don't look at me, honey, I don't know any bedtime stories. "Um.once
upon a time, there was a girl. Her name was..Keli. She was very
pretty. And very brave."
"Make Jason
in it too." Kid's almost got her head buried in Jason's shoulder.
She's never shy about touchin' Jason - must not be bothered by hearin' his
thoughts. Chuck said it's hard for little kids with telepathic ability.
The other voices in their heads are all confusin' and a lot of them are thinkin'
thoughts no kid has any business with. Plus, I bet the people who had
her, the people who made her mutation come out, fucked with her head a lot.
But she trusts Jason pretty much. That's good. She needs someone
to trust.
"Keli -
who was also a princess - " That got a little bitty smile outta the girl.
" - had a brave and fearsome knight to guard her named Jason."
"Yeah!
Fearsome, that's me!" Heh.
"That's right.
Well, one day, Princess Keli and Knight Jason came to live in their very
own castle. It had nice furniture and nice decorations, and a lot of
room. But most importantly, it had lots of other princesses and knights,
just like Keli and Jason, for them to play with."
"Did they
like princess Keli?" Tiny little whisper. God, your heart just
breaks for that girl.
"Well, duh."
Jason's fieldin' that one for Marie. "Of course they did. And
they liked me too, right?"
"Absolutely.
In fact, Keli and Jason had lots and lots of friends at the castle.
They were safe, and protected, and taken care of. And they lived happily
ever after. The end."
"Good story,
Ms. Marie." Marie's really tearin' up at Jason's seal of approval there.
Maybe I should say somethin'.
"Ya know,
that's what it's like at Chuck's. That's what it'll be like there.
You can trust me. Marie and me - we both been there. They're
real nice people and it's a real nice place." Chuck said they weren't
ready to go yet, and that Jason especially was reluctant to. I can
understand that - they been through a lotta shit. He's not sure who
to trust. I can relate to that. Chuck wants to give 'em time,
doesn't wanna force 'em.
"Maybe."
He's still not ready.
"Well, just
think about it, kid. Good night, guys."
"Good night."
That came out in a real soft Marie-whisper. Marie, she feels for 'em.
I do too.
"What do
you think?"
"Dunno.
Maybe."
"I think
they're nice."
"'Cause
they told us a story?"
"Yeah.
And 'cause it was a nice story."
"I guess"
"They made
that place sound really nice."
"I dunno,
Keli, it still could be scary."
"But it
might be nice."
"OK - let's
see. Let's see. Ms. Marie said they'd be here for two weeks.
Let's see."
"OK, 'tinky
feet."
"Hey!
I thought you said no teasin', fuzzy head."
"Changed
my mind. 'Night, Jason."
"'Night,
Keli."
"Hey!
No fair!"
"No fair?
It's not my fault you're so ticklish.." God, it's like night and day
with that little girl. She's a little bundle now - playin' with Marie,
little pillow fights and tickle wars. She's done real good these past
two weeks.
"Ms. Marie!"
"Are you
tickling me back? Oh-oh! I'm in trouble now!" Ever since
she figured out that Marie was always covered - that she wouldn't have to
worry about gettin' Marie's thoughts by touchin' her skin - she's been all
over her. Playin', horsin' around. It's good that she can do
that.
"Hmmph.
Girls." Jason's been doin' better too. A little less wary, a
little easier around us. He still keeps a pretty close eye on the little
girl, though.
"Yeah.
Tell ya somethin', kid - they just get to be more trouble when they grow
up."
"Ms. Marie
too?" He's a good kid. He'll make it. And he ain't afraid
of nothin'. Not even me. That's a good thing - he's needed it
to get him through.
"Well, there
*are* exceptions. Marie's an exception. That's why she's my girl."
"Did you
always know Ms. Marie?"
"No, we
met a little while ago, just a few months ago. Why?"
"I dunno.
I knowed Keli, since I can remember."
"You two
are pretty tight, huh?"
"Yeah."
He's scootin' a little closer to me on the couch. He don't even know
he's doin' it. He gets that tone in his voice, and that look on his
face, when he's thinkin' about somethin' bad but he don't want no one to
see it. He don't like to show weakness. Sad thing to say 'bout
an eight-year-old kid, but it's true. "You know, before, I had to take
care of her. She's too little to take care of herself. So I had
to do it."
"That was
a brave thing you did there."
"Yeah."
Scootin' over a little bit more. "I guess."
"I'm sure
she appreciates it."
"Yeah..but.."
"What?"
"But she'll
have other people to take care of her now, right? I mean, she don't
need me to anymore, does she?" Ah, that's what's really at the bottom
of it. Yeah, he's scared to be around new people and to go to a new
place, but he's scared of what'll happen with him and his little best buddy
there.
"Ah, I don't
think that's so. Like I said, you two are tight. That's not gonna
change. And besides, you'll still have to look out for her some. Like
you said, she's just a little kid, still. She's gonna need someone
older, bigger, and badder like you to keep an eye out, just in case."
I know that might not have been the right thing to say. Probably wasn't.
But I think it made him feel better.
"Yeah?"
"Oh, yeah.
For sure." It did - it did make him feel better. Well, good.
You know, I think I'm gettin' the hang of this babysittin' thing.
"Hmmm.
Girls are silly." I can see why he'd think that with Marie and Keli rollin'
around on the floor laughin' and gigglin' like maniacs. It's cute,
though. And they both deserve a little fun. Plus, he's gonna change
his mind about girls bein' silly in another few years, but he don't need
to know all that just yet.
"Yeah."
" 'cept
those two."
"Yeah."
You know - the kid's a good judge of character. Damn good. I
kinda like the little guy.
"We're just
about ready to go. Thanks so much for helping out. And for helping
us to get them to go to Xavier's. You two did a great job."
"Thanks,
Jeannie." She looks a little surprised at that. Shit, I handled
Sabretooth, I can handle two little kids. Shouldn't be so shocking.
"Logan did
all the work. He was great with them." Marie, bein' nice.
She really did good with the little girl. I think Keli's still a little
scared of me.
"Logan did
all the work? Now, that I don't believe for a second." Shut up,
one-eye.
"It's true.
Jason really bonded with him." Marie's really pleased with me for makin'
an effort with the little guy. And now she's got that little twinkle
in her eye - she's gonna tease me a little, I can tell. "I think he's
Logan's mini-me."
I still
don't get that, and I wish Jeannie and Scooter would stop crackin' up.
"Oh, Rogue!
That's it!" Shit, it ain't that funny. "Oh my God, that's it!"
"It's the
hair, definitely." Scooter should NOT be one to talk about hair.
That dude has boring hair. He's just jealous, that's all. "And
the attitude."
"I ain't
got a bad attitude, dammit." More laughin' and even Marie's laughin'
with 'em now. "I'm a perfectly fuckin' pleasant person!" I'm
gettin' a little pissed - here I am bein' nice, *babysittin'* for Christ's
sakes, and I still get accused of havin' a bad attitude.
"Of course,
Logan, of course." Hmph. Jeannie's just humorin' me, but I really
think -
"No, it's
true." Ah, finally. Marie to the rescue. "He really is
a pleasant person. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make fun.
Jason just strikes me as a little you, that's all." I know she feels
bad 'cause I got a little pissed. It's fine - and I bet she'll make
it up to me plenty later.
"They're
both familiar, don't you think?" Huh. "Oh, come on, Rogue - they're
just like a little you and Logan. Look - look at the way Jason hovers
over her. Look at the way she sticks to him like glue. It's you
and Logan all over." Jeannie's got a point there.
"Hmmm.
Maybe.."
"Well, at
least we'll have a chance to work on them before they degenerate into you
two." Scooter's teasin' Marie. But what'd be so bad about them
turnin' into us? "We'll be in the car - give you time to say your goodbyes.
See you two later." If they did turn into us, they'd be OK. I
mean, we're OK. "Jason, Keli, time to go! Say goodbye to Mr.
Logan and Ms. Marie!"
Aw, now
I feel all sad. Just like when I almost left Marie at Chuck's.
I've really gottta get a grip on this attachment thing. "Hey you two.
We gotta head out. You'll be just fine with Jeannie and Scooter."
"Will we
ever see you again?" Keli, peekin' out from behind Jason. They're
both still just a little scared about the whole thing.
"Of course
you will, we go back to the school every so often." Marie, lookin' at
me for confirmation. Sure, why not? I could put up with the x-geeks
once in a while. For short periods of time. "You'll see us again,
definitely. Now, how about a hug?"
"Mmmmph."
Shit, that little girl's squeezin' with everything she's got. Marie really
did make an impression with her.
"Jason?"
He'll give her just a quick little hug. He's a manly little guy.
"Mr. Logan?"
Aw, Keli standin' there, arms out, waitin' for a hug from me. I guess
it wouldn't ruin my bad-ass reputation just to hug her a little. "Thanks."
And now,
Jason. No hugs. We're men. But. "Hey, kid.
Remember what I said about lookin' after her. And don't listen to Scooter.
I mean, listen to him, but, uh, he's not a role model or anythin', OK?
He's too goddamn tense for his own good. You just be yourself and do
your own thing. And hey - if you ever get into trouble, or the x-geeks
can't help ya, find a phone and call us at this number. It's me and
Ms. Marie's cell phone. We'll come runnin' if ya need us. Deal?"
"Deal."
He's grippin' that little slip of paper real tight. Maybe a handshake
wouldn't be bad. It's not a hug, right? Handshakes are manly.
"Bye, kid."
"Bye, Mr.
Logan. And don't worry, I'll take care of Keli." He's tellin'
me that more for him than me, but I understand.
"Bye, guys."
Marie, wavin' and cryin', as they get in the car and drive off.
"Aw, it's
OK, honey. They're gonna be fine."
"I know."
She's beautiful even when she cries and gets all red and blotchy. "And
hey - I meant it, you were just great with them. And you did do most
of the work."
"Well, that's
'cause I'm a natural at that. Babysittin' - it ain't so hard."
"Hmm.
Sooooo..the next time Scott comes knocking on the camper door - " Teasin',
I know, but that was damn serious when he did that. I don't like, um,
private Marie-time bein' interrupted.
"Oh, no,
none of that. That's why we got the damn cell phone."
"So the
next time Scott calls and needs a favor - "
"I ain't
gettin' in the habit of doin' favors for one-eye." Hell no.
"Even if
they involve really cute kids?"
"We can
have our own really cute kids." Ooops.
"Uh-huh.
And were you planning on doing that sometime soon?"
"Uh."
"You know,
we might want to get married first." Can't really tell if she's yankin'
my chain or - "I'm free this weekend.."
I love her
and all - but the m-word? I'm just not the kinda guy who does the m-word.
"Uh, honey, I - I - "
"I'm kidding,
Logan. Relax."
"I, uh."
"I'm not
ready to get married." Oh-oh. Is that - is that a bad thing?
I mean, I'm not ready either, but aren't women supposed to wanna get married,
like as soon as possible? Does that mean she don't think I'm the kinda
guy you get hitched to? "Or have kids. Gosh, this whole experience
really brought that home, that's for sure."
"You don't
- you wouldn't wanna have kids? Or just not with me?" That didn't
come out quite right, but -
"Logan, I
would want to have kids, and with you especially." Good, well, good.
"But not now. Probably not any time soon. I want it to be just
us for a while, OK?"
"Sounds
good to me, darlin'." Whew. I kinda like the picture of me and
Marie and a coupla cute kids. Glad she does too.
"So, what's
next?"
"Back to
the Logan and Marie camper, and back on the road." It'll feel good
to get out again.
"Where to?"
"I'm thinkin'
north. Ever been to the Yukon?" Could take her to see the northern
lights. With the money we made here, we'll be OK for a while.
It'll be nice to just travel and relax.
"Nope.
Sounds good to me, though." You know, if we ever do have kids, I hope
they're like her - I hope they look like her, get her disposition, everythin'.
She'd make a good mom. I can tell. "Logan?"
"Just thinkin'
darlin'. Just thinkin' you'll make a real good mom for our kids."
There's the Marie-smile I know and love. I've gotta get this woman
in bed, like, now. "Come on, let's get outta here. Camper's waitin'."
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