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It was like whoever was in charge heard his plea and actually listened. As he turned he realized he was no longer in the underground room where John and Aurelia had faced Wanda. “Now where the hell am I?”, he questioned. He started to walk around trying to figure out where he was. He sniffed the air, there was something familiar about the place, as if he’d need here before. It was a cozy room with wood panels and worn furniture. There was definitely something familiar but not all at the same time. “Where the hell..”, he said stopping short as he heard someone moving in the other room. “Aurelia!? You awake in there? I’m making popcorn, do you want some?”, a male voice yelled. “Aurelia?”, Logan said looking to the couch where someone was stirring. “I’m awake, I’m awake. Geez you don’t have to shout Alex, I’ve got a headache.”, Aurelia grumbled as she sat up reaching for a beer bottle on the coffee table. “And no I want nothing to do with that horrible smelling popcorn.”, Aurelia said scrunching her nose. Logan started going through his brain trying to figure out where they were. “She said Alex. We are at the ranch in Oregon. So this has to be the other world.”, he concluded.

He walked around and knelt on the floor in front of her just looking at her stomach. “You’re both safe, thank god.”, Logan said with a sigh. “You really shouldn’t be drinking that pup.”, he said wanting to reach and take the bottle from her hand, but it was pointless since he couldn’t touch it. “It’s not like I burned it.”, Alex said walking into the room carrying a large bowl into the room and sitting down next to her. “You should probably stop drinking, it’s not going to help the perma-hangover you’ve been rocking since you got here.”, Alex commented looking at the pile of empty bottles on the coffee table. “When the love of your life suddenly goes poof and everyone around you says to just accept he’s dead and move on, then and only then can you tell me when to stop drinking.”, Aurelia snapped before taking another swig from her bottle. Alex just shook his head and picked up the remote changing the channel to a horror movie.

“Really? Texas Chainsaw Massacre? What is this one part twenty-five?”, Aurelia groaned shifting on the coach to put space between herself and the popcorn. Logan could tell the smell was really getting to her as her nostrils kept flaring and her nose twitching like she could somehow stop the smell from hitting her. “Apparently smell and taste sensitivity is already setting in on you. Nikka and Karmen didn’t start having that type of reaction to foods till start of the second trimester.”, he said thinking back to when his first two wives had been pregnant for their children. He had no clue how Viper did with Hudson, then again he was pretty sure she didn’t artificially inseminate herself just put the poor kid in a test-tube so she wouldn’t have to gain the weight.

“I don’t know, I just like horror films.”, Alex said moving so he was closer to Aurelia. “You know your friends were just trying to help. It’s not healthy to never move on. Mourning is a healthy thing and so is moving on.”, Alex said turning to look at her. “The love of my life didn’t go poof, but instead she’s right here trying to drink away her problems.”, Alex said placing a hand lightly on Aurelias. Logan’s eyes narrowed. “Oh if I could interact with this world right now. Oh I’d strangle you boy.”, he growled. “Alex don’t. Seriously just don’t. We covered this a long time ago.”, Aurelia said pulling her hand away. “Alright. Fine you continue living in your world of denial. But you know how I feel about you.”, Alex said taking his hand back with a shrug. “Alex, you can call it denial. But I know Logan isn’t dead. Something deep inside me says he’s not. And even if I could believe that you and I…it would never happen.”, Aurelia said standing up. “I’m going out. Enjoy your movie.”, Aurelia said before grabbing her jacket to leave. “That’s my little wolf.”, Logan said standing up. He paused and kicked at Alex, sure he didn’t connect but the action still made him feel better. “Thanks for telling me this time. Should I expect you back tonight or a couple years from now?”, Alex called from the couch. Aurelia just glared at the back of Alex’s head before she walked out slamming the door.

Logan followed after Aurelia. “I’m not letting you out of my sight. Rather you didn’t do something stupid that would harm our baby.”, Logan grumbled watching her get on her motorcycle. He quickly got on before she speeded away. “Guess I should count myself lucky that I don’t just pass through things like vehicles, otherwise I’d be walking everywhere.”, he commented to himself. He wasn’t sure where she was going, but he had a good idea that it would be a bar. He couldn’t really blame her for drinking. He knew all too well about drinking away troubles, trying to hide the pain behind a bottle. He’d done that a dozen times over in his long life. Starting from the day Rose died forward to the day Charles, Ororo and those kids died. Hell if he could interact with the world he’d be drinking right now to try and not think. If only he could stop thinking about all those headstones back at the Institute of kids he’d watched grow up, some didn’t even really get to fully grow up. Then the recent tragedy in the other world to learn that before he was taken hostage Aurelia had gotten pregnant and now Wanda had taken that from them.

The pain of knowing that they were going to have a child and it was taken before they could even know tore at his heart. And he didn’t want that pain to happen in this world too. Despite how depressing this world was, to watch people cry and mourn all the losses they’d suffered it still beat watching his brother and Aurelia lose their humanities as they followed a dark path for revenge. He wouldn’t let that happen here. This Aurelia hadn’t lost her humanity when he disappeared, which he figured was because in this world Wanda’s power had changed things so she wasn’t there to chase after. But Logan feared if Aurelia lost the baby in this world she would lose her mind and become no different than the Aurelia he’d watch tear Blake Frost’s arm off and use it as a chew toy. He actually shuddered as he thought about seeing her in her wolf form gnawing away at the flesh on the arm. Before he could notice they had parked. He looked around getting off the motorcycle. “Yup dirty looking bar. Nothing like chasing pain away with booze. Not good for the baby though..”, Logan said following Aurelia through the doors.

Aurelia took a seat at the dirty bar and ordered, “Shot of tequila and leave the bottle.” Logan sighed and sat down on her left wanting to keep an eye on her. She’d picked probably the least hygienic bar in all of Oregon to stop at. As an owner of a bar he felt he could make that call. The floor looked like it was dirt but he knew somewhere under it was actually hardwood. The patrons looked about as dirty as the bar, was a perfect marriage. “You should leave this place Aurelia. That bottle isn’t going to make the pain go away.”, he pleaded not caring that she couldn’t hear him. “Tell me to let it go,. Yeah because it’s just that simple. How exactly do they all expect for me to just move on after Logan? They say ‘Oh you’re only twenty-six. You’ll fall in love again’.”, Aurelia grumbled to herself before taking a shot. “My age doesn’t matter; I’m never going to find another man like Logan. There isn’t another like him, no one else that will make me feel the way he did. I know some people can find love more than once, but what I had with Logan? I won’t get that again.”, Aurelia continued talking to herself as she poured her next shot.

Logan sighed just wanting to be able to say something, do something that would ease her pain. Prove he was still here, that he wasn’t dead like everyone thought just lost. He’d give anything to prove her faith in him right. And then hearing her talk about what they had was just little daggers to his heart. In his life he’d been lucky enough to have fallen in love more than once. But really before Aurelia none of them lasted or at least felt like they’d last. His first love, Rose, he lost because of his own stupidity and violent actions. Then there was Nikka, he’d loved Cero and Raziel’s mother fiercely but she too died because of him just not as directly as Rose. Then there was Karmen, they were intense but it fizzled and she left him. He’d had given up really on being serious with any woman till Aurelia. He had seen a life, a future with Aurelia. He was serious enough about her to turn his own dog tags into an engagement ring. Which as he watched her take her second shot and line up for her third he saw the light hit the adamantium ring on her left hand. He reached out to try and gently touch her hand and feel the ring. And for half a second he did. He brought his hand back looking at it and then at her. Aurelia turned to her left looking around and then at her hand. “She felt my touch. I was able to touch her.”, Logan said trying it again, but this time he passed through her like he was nothing. Aurelia sighed and returned to her shots.

“God fucking damn it. Seriously universe? Exactly what did I do soo wrong to deserve this kind of torture? Alright so I know I’ve done a lot of bad things in my life. I mean I’m the best at what I do and after all what I do isn’t very nice. But why torture me like this? Why hurt her like this? She never did anything wrong. She doesn’t deserve to be this unhappy.”, Logan cursed. Other than the occasional mutter Aurelia just sat there and drank. She was oblivious to all going on around her. Including a group of men playing pool who kept looking across the bar at her. Logan however noticed them. He saw how they were looking at her and heard them teasing each other urging at least one of them to go talk to her. Logan just narrowed his eyes clenching his fists wanting to just go over there and smash their pool cues over their heads and then slam at least one of them through the pool table itself. He’d never liked how other men looked at Aurelia, it was the possessive animal in him, but even now when he was literally just a spectator he couldn’t help that urge to rip them apart.

Aurelia had nearly killed the bottle and gave up using the shot glass. She picked up and drank straight from the bottle finishing it off including the worm. It was obvious she was rather drunk at this point and she had trouble putting the bottom back upright on the bar top. It was at this point that one of the guys playing pool figured he’d actually have a chance in hell, at least that’s how Logan saw it as he watched one of them walk over and sit on her right. “So what’s a beauty like you doing drinking alone?”, the man asked flashing a cavity riddled smile of crooked teeth. Logan grimaced at the sight of him. “Do you think she’s that drunk? Good god, I’m not sure if my internal organs really work here but I want to vomit right now.”, Logan said holding a hand over his mouth just in case. Aurelia’s head turned to look at the stranger. “None your...damn business.”, Aurelia managed to slur. “Fair enough, just trying to be sociable. You look like you got a lot on your mind. How about I buy you another round.”, the man offered holding up some cash to get the bartender’s attention.

“Oh come on, you better just stop drinking while our child isn’t brain damaged. Just get up and walk away Aurelia.”, Logan urged. Aurelia just shrugged. “Fine. I could use another drink. But don’t get any ideas. I could still kick your ass if you try something.”, Aurelia said agreeing to at least more drinking. “Give us another glass and a new bottle of tequila.”, the man ordered. The bartender put out second shot glass and a new bottle of tequila. Logan just had to sit there and watch while Aurelia just downed shot after shot. He was a little annoyed that the guy wasn’t even trying to match her shot for shot. Logan could easily guess this man’s game. He was going to let Aurelia get even more drunk and make another move and so forth till she was too drunk to care. “Ooo I wish I could just stab you..”, Logan growled coming up behind the man and his claws extending through his back. “But no I’m trapped in my own personal hell. How about you notice the ring on her finger.”, Logan said before sitting back on Aurelia’s left.

The second bottle was empty and as Logan predicted the guy decided to start being chatty. “So what’s got you so down that you are here drinking”, the man asked. Aurelia put down her glass finishing her shot and looked at the man. “My life is basically over and I’m in too much pain to want to deal with.”, Aurelia managed to piece together into a sentence. “Over? A fine looking woman like you? Your life can’t be over. What’s got you in so much pain you’d say that?”, he asked almost sounding genuinely concerned. Aurelia raised her left hand and pointed to her engagement ring. “Oh you’re married..”, the guy said starting to get off his stool. “This was my engagement ring. This is my forever reminder that out there somewhere is the love of my life. But he went missing in action and got declared dead. That’s my pain. That’s why my life is over.”, Aurelia explained turning back to the bar. She reached for the bottle but frowned realizing it was empty.

The man sat back down on his stool. “You poor thing. You know the best way to deal with that sort of pain don’t ya?”, he asked. Aurelia looked at him with a raised eyebrow. “And what pray tell is that? All my friends have told me I should move on, just accept that he’s dead.”, Aurelia questioned. “Best way I’ve known to get over a former lover is to take a new one.”, the man suggested with a sly smirk. Logan just glared furious he could do nothing about this scenario. Aurelia started laughing, she laughed hard enough she almost fell from the stool. “A new lover? For a man of his height and age, no man is going to be able to give me what he gave me in the bedroom.”, Aurelia replied gripping the bar to keep from falling. The man put his hands on her back, to appear to be stabling her. “Don’t you touch me.”, Aurelia snapped. The man pulled his hands back. “I just didn’t want you to fall. Sounds like this fiancée of yours’ was really something.”, the man stated. “How about another round?”, the man suggested.

“Logan. His name is Logan. And he IS really something. I got enough people talking about him in past tense. Not going to listen to some stranger do it too.”, Aurelia retorted. “And yes another round would be nice.”, Aurelia added. Logan was glad that even drunk she was keeping her wits, for now. “Another bottle.”, the man requested. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t talk about him. As you said I’m a stranger. I don’t know you and I don’t know him just as you don’t know me. I’m Nick Leehy.”, Nick said extending his hand. Aurelia shook his hand before taking the new bottle from the bartender. “I’m Aurelia Christian.”, Aurelia replied before pouring herself a new shot. “Pleasure to meet you Aurelia.”, Nick said. “Are you from around here? I myself just moved to the area from Nebraska.”, Nick said making small talk now.

Logan just sat there as they had their generic conversation. Aurelia told Nick that she was from the area and her family owned property nearby. They talked about their families. Nick talked about being the oldest of three and Aurelia said she was an only child. The discussed interests like motorcycles. A topic they both had in common. Logan yawned as they continued the conversation. “I wonder if I need to sleep in this place. I haven’t felt hungry or the need to use a bathroom since I got here.”, Logan wondered aloud. It wasn’t much longer before the third bottle was empty. Aurelia went to stand up. “I sh..shuld go ho..home.”, Aurelia stuttered as she started to lean too far to the right. Nick caught her. “Whoa there. I don’t think you are really ok to drive.”, Nick said. “I ca..can walk.”, Aurelia argued starting to pull away but fell. Nick laughed a little as he helped her up. “You can walk huh? Looks like you can’t.”, Nick said. “How about I drive you?”, Nick offered. “Don’t do it Aurelia. This is going to end badly and I really don’t want to see this. I’m not sure what will be worse seeing you with someone else or you chewing off Blake’s arm.”, Logan said making a disgusted face. “Well ain’t you…sweet.”, Aurelia said. “Yup, she’s plastered.”, Logan groaned. “Come on.”, Nick said helping her out of the bar.

Logan followed just wanting to make sure this Nick guy took her home. Nick helped her into his car and got in. “So where is home?”, Nick asked. “Oh wait, I’m staying with my friend. I show up there I’m gonna have to listen to him talk. I don’t want to talk anymore. Cause I’ve been thinking about it. Maybe you’re right. Maybe I need to just try to be with someone else. Maybe then I can do this moving on people keep telling me to.”, Aurelia said. Nick raised an eyebrow and Logan shook his head. “So exactly where are we going then?”, Nick asked. “You said you live nearby. Let’s go there then.”, Aurelia said. “Alright with me.”, Nick said turning the key in the ignition and driving away. Logan just brought his hand to his head shaking his head. “No no no no no no no no no no. Did I say NO yet? Seriously whoever controls the remote let’s switch back to the other program? Cause I would rather watch ANYTHING else over her with someone else.”, Logan pleaded sitting in the backseat of Nick’s car.

They pulled into a parking lot of an apartment building. Nick got out of the car, far too happy for Logan’s preference, and helped Aurelia out of the car and then into the elevator. During the elevator ride Logan decided he’d rather take the stairs, but despite heading for them he found himself in the elevator. It was like Aurelia was a magnet for him. “Seriously?”, he groaned looking away as he saw a very drunk Aurelia and Nick kissing. The elevator dinged and Logan couldn’t get off the elevator fast enough. Nick led the way to his apartment unlocking the door. Logan followed them inside they were both a bit drunk, Aurelia just more so. Logan covered his eyes with both of his hands to avoid watching them stumble towards Nick’s bedroom taking off their clothes. He only moved his fingers just enough to see Aurelia. “Even scared from the fight with Wanda and some of our wilder nights she’s got an amazing body.”, Logan commented. “Wow, you some kind of fighter or something? That’s a lot of scars.”, Nick commented. “Yeah a fighter, something like that.”, Aurelia said before closing Nick’s bedroom door.

Logan was glad that being outside of the bedroom was close enough to Aurelia for the cruel master of this universe. He couldn’t stand to have to see what was going on in there. He was at least sure that it wasn’t going to be good. Two drunken people is never good. And not to feed his own ego he was certain that Nick wasn’t going to be as good as him. Nick couldn’t handle Aurelia’s claws like he could. Sitting outside the door may have saved his eyes, but his ears could still hear everything happening in the room. He could hear the squeaking of the bed, Nick’s grunts, but Aurelia seemed quiet. Logan snorted, “At least she’s not really enjoying this.” Then everything went silent. “That’s got to be a record for shortest intercourse, even counting drunk sex.”, Logan commented. And since he didn’t need to sleep or eat anymore he just sat there and waited for Aurelia to wake up so they could get out of this apartment.

The place screamed perma-bachaelor. And not like how his room had been at the Institute. No, in his old bachelor bedroom at the Institute he had taste. The furniture was nice and made of good materials. This stuff was someone found on the curb somewhere that Nick decided to repurpose for his place without even attempting to clean them. There was a pile of old pizza boxes in a corner and judging by the smell and flies there was still some slices in them. “This place is disgusting. Please wake up soon Aurelia so I don’t have to be in this apartment anymore. Since apparently when I’m in this world I can’t leave you just as I can’t leave you in the other world.”, Logan said hanging his head on the wall, not that it did any good. “Which makes me wonder how I keep moving between these worlds. If it’s Aurelia I’m tied to, why would I get pulled here or there? What controls it?”, he started to pounder.

The sun was slowly starting to peak in through the plastic blinds that covered the windows in Nick’s apartment. Logan heard someone starting to wake from the bedroom. “Please be Aurelia. Please be Aurelia.”, he said as he walked through the door. And there was Aurelia, Nick’s arm draped over her. It was almost comical to watch as Aurelia opened her eyes and tried to figure out where she was. Aurelia’s head turned slightly looking around the room and then she noticed Nick and his arm holding her there. “Oh no, no no no.”, Aurelia whispered. Logan watched as she carefully moved Nick’s arm and as quietly as possible slid out from his grasp and bed. “What did I do? I am never getting that drunk again..”, Aurelia whispered grimacing as she looked at Nick. She shuddered and started picking up her clothes getting dressed as fast as she could.

Logan was thrilled when they got to finally leave the apartment. Once they were outside Aurelia looked around trying to get an idea of where she was. She squinted and covered her eyes as the sun hit her. “Oh god.. my head. How much did I drink last night?”, Aurelia groaned. “I better get back to the ranch. Alex is going to be really worried about me.”, Aurelia said starting to walk. She at least knew her way around since she managed to find her way back to the bar. As they walked Logan watched her. “I can’t believe I did that. Why did I do that? Why did I sleep with someone else? Logan is going to be so angry with me when he finds out. He told me long ago when we first started seeing each other that if I slept with someone else we were done.”, Aurelia said about to cry. “He’s never going to take me back when he comes back and finds out about what just happened.”, Aurelia said covering her face as she started to cry. “Please don’t cry pup. I’m not going to hold this against you. I’m not fully here so it’s not cheating. I love you no matter what.”, Logan said wanting nothing more than to hug her and make her know it was okay.

Once they reached the bar Aurelia sniffled and tried to wipe away the tears from her face in case anyone saw her. She didn’t want to explain why she was crying. She fumbled to find her key but eventually did and rode back to the ranch. She managed to sneak in through the window to the room she was staying in. Logan wasn’t sure if Alex was awake. He hoped that maybe he wasn’t so Aurelia could deal with this and not get any judgment from Alex. Aurelia went to lie down on the bed before suddenly rushing for her bathroom to throw up. Alex knocked on the bathroom door hearing her throwing up. Alex opened the door and looked at her shaking his head. “Drink to much?”, Alex asked. Aurelia wiped her mouth with some toilet paper and turned her head to glare at Alex. “Just leave me alone. Get out I want to take a shower.”, Aurelia growled shoving Alex out and closing the door. “Need to wash that smell off me.”, Aurelia said before turning the water on in the shower. Logan stood outside the shower as she went all ‘Lady Macbeth’ trying to wash away what she’d done. He felt horrible as he heard her crying again. He knew he’d told her they’d be over if she slept with someone else. But that was said early in their relationship and really because she showed up to his room smelling like Colby.

Aurelia stepped out of the shower, feeling at least clean of the night before. As she went to brush out her hair she went back to the toilet to throw up again. Logan watched this and a thought crossed his mind. “I don’t think that’s the drink talking anymore. I think our kid is giving you hell already.”, Logan said a smile forming on his lips as he said ‘our kid’. He’d never wanted more kids. They’d talked about kids once, he made it clear that he was done and the only diapers he planned to change was the occasional when visiting his grandson Xavier. Aurelia understood that with him she was probably never going to be a mother. Now in a surprise twist she’d get to be one, and unless he could find a way out of this place she’d be doing it alone. Which made him frowned, he didn’t like the idea of her having to raise their baby alone. Then as he thought more about it he became more depressed about the situation. He’d be able to see their child, watch it grow but he’d never be part of their life. Just like he’d barely been part of any of his children’s lives. He wasn’t home to teach them how to walk or ride a bike. He wasn’t there when they spoke, crawled, walked, for went to school for the first time. He’d hated that he was barely in his children’s lives and now it was killing him that despite being right there he wouldn’t get to be part of this one’s life at all.

Description
It was like whoever was in charge heard his plea and actually listened. As he turned he realized he was no longer in the underground room where John and Aurelia had faced Wanda. “Now where the hell am I?”, he questioned. He started to walk around trying to figure out where he was. He sniffed the air, there was something familiar about the place, as if he’d need here before. It was a cozy room with wood panels and worn furniture. There was definitely something familiar but not all at the same time. “Where the hell..”, he said stopping short as he heard someone moving in the other room. “Aurelia!? You awake in there? I’m making popcorn, do you want some?”, a male voice yelled. “Aurelia?”, Logan said looking to the couch where someone was stirring. “I’m awake, I’m awake. Geez you don’t have to shout Alex, I’ve got a headache.”, Aurelia grumbled as she sat up reaching for a beer bottle on the coffee table. “And no I want nothing to do with that horrible smelling popcorn.”, Aurelia said scrunching her nose. Logan started going through his brain trying to figure out where they were. “She said Alex. We are at the ranch in Oregon. So this has to be the other world.”, he concluded.

He walked around and knelt on the floor in front of her just looking at her stomach. “You’re both safe, thank god.”, Logan said with a sigh. “You really shouldn’t be drinking that pup.”, he said wanting to reach and take the bottle from her hand, but it was pointless since he couldn’t touch it. “It’s not like I burned it.”, Alex said walking into the room carrying a large bowl into the room and sitting down next to her. “You should probably stop drinking, it’s not going to help the perma-hangover you’ve been rocking since you got here.”, Alex commented looking at the pile of empty bottles on the coffee table. “When the love of your life suddenly goes poof and everyone around you says to just accept he’s dead and move on, then and only then can you tell me when to stop drinking.”, Aurelia snapped before taking another swig from her bottle. Alex just shook his head and picked up the remote changing the channel to a horror movie.

“Really? Texas Chainsaw Massacre? What is this one part twenty-five?”, Aurelia groaned shifting on the coach to put space between herself and the popcorn. Logan could tell the smell was really getting to her as her nostrils kept flaring and her nose twitching like she could somehow stop the smell from hitting her. “Apparently smell and taste sensitivity is already setting in on you. Nikka and Karmen didn’t start having that type of reaction to foods till start of the second trimester.”, he said thinking back to when his first two wives had been pregnant for their children. He had no clue how Viper did with Hudson, then again he was pretty sure she didn’t artificially inseminate herself just put the poor kid in a test-tube so she wouldn’t have to gain the weight.

“I don’t know, I just like horror films.”, Alex said moving so he was closer to Aurelia. “You know your friends were just trying to help. It’s not healthy to never move on. Mourning is a healthy thing and so is moving on.”, Alex said turning to look at her. “The love of my life didn’t go poof, but instead she’s right here trying to drink away her problems.”, Alex said placing a hand lightly on Aurelias. Logan’s eyes narrowed. “Oh if I could interact with this world right now. Oh I’d strangle you boy.”, he growled. “Alex don’t. Seriously just don’t. We covered this a long time ago.”, Aurelia said pulling her hand away. “Alright. Fine you continue living in your world of denial. But you know how I feel about you.”, Alex said taking his hand back with a shrug. “Alex, you can call it denial. But I know Logan isn’t dead. Something deep inside me says he’s not. And even if I could believe that you and I…it would never happen.”, Aurelia said standing up. “I’m going out. Enjoy your movie.”, Aurelia said before grabbing her jacket to leave. “That’s my little wolf.”, Logan said standing up. He paused and kicked at Alex, sure he didn’t connect but the action still made him feel better. “Thanks for telling me this time. Should I expect you back tonight or a couple years from now?”, Alex called from the couch. Aurelia just glared at the back of Alex’s head before she walked out slamming the door.

Logan followed after Aurelia. “I’m not letting you out of my sight. Rather you didn’t do something stupid that would harm our baby.”, Logan grumbled watching her get on her motorcycle. He quickly got on before she speeded away. “Guess I should count myself lucky that I don’t just pass through things like vehicles, otherwise I’d be walking everywhere.”, he commented to himself. He wasn’t sure where she was going, but he had a good idea that it would be a bar. He couldn’t really blame her for drinking. He knew all too well about drinking away troubles, trying to hide the pain behind a bottle. He’d done that a dozen times over in his long life. Starting from the day Rose died forward to the day Charles, Ororo and those kids died. Hell if he could interact with the world he’d be drinking right now to try and not think. If only he could stop thinking about all those headstones back at the Institute of kids he’d watched grow up, some didn’t even really get to fully grow up. Then the recent tragedy in the other world to learn that before he was taken hostage Aurelia had gotten pregnant and now Wanda had taken that from them.

The pain of knowing that they were going to have a child and it was taken before they could even know tore at his heart. And he didn’t want that pain to happen in this world too. Despite how depressing this world was, to watch people cry and mourn all the losses they’d suffered it still beat watching his brother and Aurelia lose their humanities as they followed a dark path for revenge. He wouldn’t let that happen here. This Aurelia hadn’t lost her humanity when he disappeared, which he figured was because in this world Wanda’s power had changed things so she wasn’t there to chase after. But Logan feared if Aurelia lost the baby in this world she would lose her mind and become no different than the Aurelia he’d watch tear Blake Frost’s arm off and use it as a chew toy. He actually shuddered as he thought about seeing her in her wolf form gnawing away at the flesh on the arm. Before he could notice they had parked. He looked around getting off the motorcycle. “Yup dirty looking bar. Nothing like chasing pain away with booze. Not good for the baby though..”, Logan said following Aurelia through the doors.

Aurelia took a seat at the dirty bar and ordered, “Shot of tequila and leave the bottle.” Logan sighed and sat down on her left wanting to keep an eye on her. She’d picked probably the least hygienic bar in all of Oregon to stop at. As an owner of a bar he felt he could make that call. The floor looked like it was dirt but he knew somewhere under it was actually hardwood. The patrons looked about as dirty as the bar, was a perfect marriage. “You should leave this place Aurelia. That bottle isn’t going to make the pain go away.”, he pleaded not caring that she couldn’t hear him. “Tell me to let it go,. Yeah because it’s just that simple. How exactly do they all expect for me to just move on after Logan? They say ‘Oh you’re only twenty-six. You’ll fall in love again’.”, Aurelia grumbled to herself before taking a shot. “My age doesn’t matter; I’m never going to find another man like Logan. There isn’t another like him, no one else that will make me feel the way he did. I know some people can find love more than once, but what I had with Logan? I won’t get that again.”, Aurelia continued talking to herself as she poured her next shot.

Logan sighed just wanting to be able to say something, do something that would ease her pain. Prove he was still here, that he wasn’t dead like everyone thought just lost. He’d give anything to prove her faith in him right. And then hearing her talk about what they had was just little daggers to his heart. In his life he’d been lucky enough to have fallen in love more than once. But really before Aurelia none of them lasted or at least felt like they’d last. His first love, Rose, he lost because of his own stupidity and violent actions. Then there was Nikka, he’d loved Cero and Raziel’s mother fiercely but she too died because of him just not as directly as Rose. Then there was Karmen, they were intense but it fizzled and she left him. He’d had given up really on being serious with any woman till Aurelia. He had seen a life, a future with Aurelia. He was serious enough about her to turn his own dog tags into an engagement ring. Which as he watched her take her second shot and line up for her third he saw the light hit the adamantium ring on her left hand. He reached out to try and gently touch her hand and feel the ring. And for half a second he did. He brought his hand back looking at it and then at her. Aurelia turned to her left looking around and then at her hand. “She felt my touch. I was able to touch her.”, Logan said trying it again, but this time he passed through her like he was nothing. Aurelia sighed and returned to her shots.

“God fucking damn it. Seriously universe? Exactly what did I do soo wrong to deserve this kind of torture? Alright so I know I’ve done a lot of bad things in my life. I mean I’m the best at what I do and after all what I do isn’t very nice. But why torture me like this? Why hurt her like this? She never did anything wrong. She doesn’t deserve to be this unhappy.”, Logan cursed. Other than the occasional mutter Aurelia just sat there and drank. She was oblivious to all going on around her. Including a group of men playing pool who kept looking across the bar at her. Logan however noticed them. He saw how they were looking at her and heard them teasing each other urging at least one of them to go talk to her. Logan just narrowed his eyes clenching his fists wanting to just go over there and smash their pool cues over their heads and then slam at least one of them through the pool table itself. He’d never liked how other men looked at Aurelia, it was the possessive animal in him, but even now when he was literally just a spectator he couldn’t help that urge to rip them apart.

Aurelia had nearly killed the bottle and gave up using the shot glass. She picked up and drank straight from the bottle finishing it off including the worm. It was obvious she was rather drunk at this point and she had trouble putting the bottom back upright on the bar top. It was at this point that one of the guys playing pool figured he’d actually have a chance in hell, at least that’s how Logan saw it as he watched one of them walk over and sit on her right. “So what’s a beauty like you doing drinking alone?”, the man asked flashing a cavity riddled smile of crooked teeth. Logan grimaced at the sight of him. “Do you think she’s that drunk? Good god, I’m not sure if my internal organs really work here but I want to vomit right now.”, Logan said holding a hand over his mouth just in case. Aurelia’s head turned to look at the stranger. “None your...damn business.”, Aurelia managed to slur. “Fair enough, just trying to be sociable. You look like you got a lot on your mind. How about I buy you another round.”, the man offered holding up some cash to get the bartender’s attention.

“Oh come on, you better just stop drinking while our child isn’t brain damaged. Just get up and walk away Aurelia.”, Logan urged. Aurelia just shrugged. “Fine. I could use another drink. But don’t get any ideas. I could still kick your ass if you try something.”, Aurelia said agreeing to at least more drinking. “Give us another glass and a new bottle of tequila.”, the man ordered. The bartender put out second shot glass and a new bottle of tequila. Logan just had to sit there and watch while Aurelia just downed shot after shot. He was a little annoyed that the guy wasn’t even trying to match her shot for shot. Logan could easily guess this man’s game. He was going to let Aurelia get even more drunk and make another move and so forth till she was too drunk to care. “Ooo I wish I could just stab you..”, Logan growled coming up behind the man and his claws extending through his back. “But no I’m trapped in my own personal hell. How about you notice the ring on her finger.”, Logan said before sitting back on Aurelia’s left.

The second bottle was empty and as Logan predicted the guy decided to start being chatty. “So what’s got you so down that you are here drinking”, the man asked. Aurelia put down her glass finishing her shot and looked at the man. “My life is basically over and I’m in too much pain to want to deal with.”, Aurelia managed to piece together into a sentence. “Over? A fine looking woman like you? Your life can’t be over. What’s got you in so much pain you’d say that?”, he asked almost sounding genuinely concerned. Aurelia raised her left hand and pointed to her engagement ring. “Oh you’re married..”, the guy said starting to get off his stool. “This was my engagement ring. This is my forever reminder that out there somewhere is the love of my life. But he went missing in action and got declared dead. That’s my pain. That’s why my life is over.”, Aurelia explained turning back to the bar. She reached for the bottle but frowned realizing it was empty.

The man sat back down on his stool. “You poor thing. You know the best way to deal with that sort of pain don’t ya?”, he asked. Aurelia looked at him with a raised eyebrow. “And what pray tell is that? All my friends have told me I should move on, just accept that he’s dead.”, Aurelia questioned. “Best way I’ve known to get over a former lover is to take a new one.”, the man suggested with a sly smirk. Logan just glared furious he could do nothing about this scenario. Aurelia started laughing, she laughed hard enough she almost fell from the stool. “A new lover? For a man of his height and age, no man is going to be able to give me what he gave me in the bedroom.”, Aurelia replied gripping the bar to keep from falling. The man put his hands on her back, to appear to be stabling her. “Don’t you touch me.”, Aurelia snapped. The man pulled his hands back. “I just didn’t want you to fall. Sounds like this fiancée of yours’ was really something.”, the man stated. “How about another round?”, the man suggested.

“Logan. His name is Logan. And he IS really something. I got enough people talking about him in past tense. Not going to listen to some stranger do it too.”, Aurelia retorted. “And yes another round would be nice.”, Aurelia added. Logan was glad that even drunk she was keeping her wits, for now. “Another bottle.”, the man requested. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t talk about him. As you said I’m a stranger. I don’t know you and I don’t know him just as you don’t know me. I’m Nick Leehy.”, Nick said extending his hand. Aurelia shook his hand before taking the new bottle from the bartender. “I’m Aurelia Christian.”, Aurelia replied before pouring herself a new shot. “Pleasure to meet you Aurelia.”, Nick said. “Are you from around here? I myself just moved to the area from Nebraska.”, Nick said making small talk now.

Logan just sat there as they had their generic conversation. Aurelia told Nick that she was from the area and her family owned property nearby. They talked about their families. Nick talked about being the oldest of three and Aurelia said she was an only child. The discussed interests like motorcycles. A topic they both had in common. Logan yawned as they continued the conversation. “I wonder if I need to sleep in this place. I haven’t felt hungry or the need to use a bathroom since I got here.”, Logan wondered aloud. It wasn’t much longer before the third bottle was empty. Aurelia went to stand up. “I sh..shuld go ho..home.”, Aurelia stuttered as she started to lean too far to the right. Nick caught her. “Whoa there. I don’t think you are really ok to drive.”, Nick said. “I ca..can walk.”, Aurelia argued starting to pull away but fell. Nick laughed a little as he helped her up. “You can walk huh? Looks like you can’t.”, Nick said. “How about I drive you?”, Nick offered. “Don’t do it Aurelia. This is going to end badly and I really don’t want to see this. I’m not sure what will be worse seeing you with someone else or you chewing off Blake’s arm.”, Logan said making a disgusted face. “Well ain’t you…sweet.”, Aurelia said. “Yup, she’s plastered.”, Logan groaned. “Come on.”, Nick said helping her out of the bar.

Logan followed just wanting to make sure this Nick guy took her home. Nick helped her into his car and got in. “So where is home?”, Nick asked. “Oh wait, I’m staying with my friend. I show up there I’m gonna have to listen to him talk. I don’t want to talk anymore. Cause I’ve been thinking about it. Maybe you’re right. Maybe I need to just try to be with someone else. Maybe then I can do this moving on people keep telling me to.”, Aurelia said. Nick raised an eyebrow and Logan shook his head. “So exactly where are we going then?”, Nick asked. “You said you live nearby. Let’s go there then.”, Aurelia said. “Alright with me.”, Nick said turning the key in the ignition and driving away. Logan just brought his hand to his head shaking his head. “No no no no no no no no no no. Did I say NO yet? Seriously whoever controls the remote let’s switch back to the other program? Cause I would rather watch ANYTHING else over her with someone else.”, Logan pleaded sitting in the backseat of Nick’s car.

They pulled into a parking lot of an apartment building. Nick got out of the car, far too happy for Logan’s preference, and helped Aurelia out of the car and then into the elevator. During the elevator ride Logan decided he’d rather take the stairs, but despite heading for them he found himself in the elevator. It was like Aurelia was a magnet for him. “Seriously?”, he groaned looking away as he saw a very drunk Aurelia and Nick kissing. The elevator dinged and Logan couldn’t get off the elevator fast enough. Nick led the way to his apartment unlocking the door. Logan followed them inside they were both a bit drunk, Aurelia just more so. Logan covered his eyes with both of his hands to avoid watching them stumble towards Nick’s bedroom taking off their clothes. He only moved his fingers just enough to see Aurelia. “Even scared from the fight with Wanda and some of our wilder nights she’s got an amazing body.”, Logan commented. “Wow, you some kind of fighter or something? That’s a lot of scars.”, Nick commented. “Yeah a fighter, something like that.”, Aurelia said before closing Nick’s bedroom door.

Logan was glad that being outside of the bedroom was close enough to Aurelia for the cruel master of this universe. He couldn’t stand to have to see what was going on in there. He was at least sure that it wasn’t going to be good. Two drunken people is never good. And not to feed his own ego he was certain that Nick wasn’t going to be as good as him. Nick couldn’t handle Aurelia’s claws like he could. Sitting outside the door may have saved his eyes, but his ears could still hear everything happening in the room. He could hear the squeaking of the bed, Nick’s grunts, but Aurelia seemed quiet. Logan snorted, “At least she’s not really enjoying this.” Then everything went silent. “That’s got to be a record for shortest intercourse, even counting drunk sex.”, Logan commented. And since he didn’t need to sleep or eat anymore he just sat there and waited for Aurelia to wake up so they could get out of this apartment.

The place screamed perma-bachaelor. And not like how his room had been at the Institute. No, in his old bachelor bedroom at the Institute he had taste. The furniture was nice and made of good materials. This stuff was someone found on the curb somewhere that Nick decided to repurpose for his place without even attempting to clean them. There was a pile of old pizza boxes in a corner and judging by the smell and flies there was still some slices in them. “This place is disgusting. Please wake up soon Aurelia so I don’t have to be in this apartment anymore. Since apparently when I’m in this world I can’t leave you just as I can’t leave you in the other world.”, Logan said hanging his head on the wall, not that it did any good. “Which makes me wonder how I keep moving between these worlds. If it’s Aurelia I’m tied to, why would I get pulled here or there? What controls it?”, he started to pounder.

The sun was slowly starting to peak in through the plastic blinds that covered the windows in Nick’s apartment. Logan heard someone starting to wake from the bedroom. “Please be Aurelia. Please be Aurelia.”, he said as he walked through the door. And there was Aurelia, Nick’s arm draped over her. It was almost comical to watch as Aurelia opened her eyes and tried to figure out where she was. Aurelia’s head turned slightly looking around the room and then she noticed Nick and his arm holding her there. “Oh no, no no no.”, Aurelia whispered. Logan watched as she carefully moved Nick’s arm and as quietly as possible slid out from his grasp and bed. “What did I do? I am never getting that drunk again..”, Aurelia whispered grimacing as she looked at Nick. She shuddered and started picking up her clothes getting dressed as fast as she could.

Logan was thrilled when they got to finally leave the apartment. Once they were outside Aurelia looked around trying to get an idea of where she was. She squinted and covered her eyes as the sun hit her. “Oh god.. my head. How much did I drink last night?”, Aurelia groaned. “I better get back to the ranch. Alex is going to be really worried about me.”, Aurelia said starting to walk. She at least knew her way around since she managed to find her way back to the bar. As they walked Logan watched her. “I can’t believe I did that. Why did I do that? Why did I sleep with someone else? Logan is going to be so angry with me when he finds out. He told me long ago when we first started seeing each other that if I slept with someone else we were done.”, Aurelia said about to cry. “He’s never going to take me back when he comes back and finds out about what just happened.”, Aurelia said covering her face as she started to cry. “Please don’t cry pup. I’m not going to hold this against you. I’m not fully here so it’s not cheating. I love you no matter what.”, Logan said wanting nothing more than to hug her and make her know it was okay.

Once they reached the bar Aurelia sniffled and tried to wipe away the tears from her face in case anyone saw her. She didn’t want to explain why she was crying. She fumbled to find her key but eventually did and rode back to the ranch. She managed to sneak in through the window to the room she was staying in. Logan wasn’t sure if Alex was awake. He hoped that maybe he wasn’t so Aurelia could deal with this and not get any judgment from Alex. Aurelia went to lie down on the bed before suddenly rushing for her bathroom to throw up. Alex knocked on the bathroom door hearing her throwing up. Alex opened the door and looked at her shaking his head. “Drink to much?”, Alex asked. Aurelia wiped her mouth with some toilet paper and turned her head to glare at Alex. “Just leave me alone. Get out I want to take a shower.”, Aurelia growled shoving Alex out and closing the door. “Need to wash that smell off me.”, Aurelia said before turning the water on in the shower. Logan stood outside the shower as she went all ‘Lady Macbeth’ trying to wash away what she’d done. He felt horrible as he heard her crying again. He knew he’d told her they’d be over if she slept with someone else. But that was said early in their relationship and really because she showed up to his room smelling like Colby.

Aurelia stepped out of the shower, feeling at least clean of the night before. As she went to brush out her hair she went back to the toilet to throw up again. Logan watched this and a thought crossed his mind. “I don’t think that’s the drink talking anymore. I think our kid is giving you hell already.”, Logan said a smile forming on his lips as he said ‘our kid’. He’d never wanted more kids. They’d talked about kids once, he made it clear that he was done and the only diapers he planned to change was the occasional when visiting his grandson Xavier. Aurelia understood that with him she was probably never going to be a mother. Now in a surprise twist she’d get to be one, and unless he could find a way out of this place she’d be doing it alone. Which made him frowned, he didn’t like the idea of her having to raise their baby alone. Then as he thought more about it he became more depressed about the situation. He’d be able to see their child, watch it grow but he’d never be part of their life. Just like he’d barely been part of any of his children’s lives. He wasn’t home to teach them how to walk or ride a bike. He wasn’t there when they spoke, crawled, walked, for went to school for the first time. He’d hated that he was barely in his children’s lives and now it was killing him that despite being right there he wouldn’t get to be part of this one’s life at all.