Reaching Out
Chapter 7: Preparations
by
Catlover



DISCLAIMER: I own nothing. Marvel owns the X-men lock, stock and barrel. I'm only using them for my sick purposes and them cleaning them off and placing them back on the shelf.

*Italics are thoughts.




The weeks before the prom were accompanied by periods of insanity and extreme madness. The dresses the girls ordered were shipped late from the manufacturer, leaving only a week to get alterations done. Two weeks before, two of the girls and three of the boys came down with a highly contagious form of stomach flu. They were quarantined, but that didn't keep the flu from running its course. Up until a couple days before the prom, there were sick people running in and out of the bathroom. Worst hit was Jean because she couldn't take the drugs the others could. Poor Scott! She made his life hell. In fact, the morning of the prom, Logan closed his bedroom door and started walking down the hall. Turning the corner, Logan almost slammed headfirst into Scott. Jumping back, Logan and Scott relaxed a second later and Logan examined the tray Scott was holding. German dark chocolate cut into little pie-shaped wedges, French cheeses and petite crackers graced the metal surface. Scott checked everything and let out a loud breath. Logan raised an eyebrow and asked, "Well, I guess Jean's feeling better, huh?" Scott looked up and answered, "Well, she doesn't have the stomach flu anymore." Logan laughed and shook his head. "You poor bastard! Y'know, Scott, was it just me or did I see the Jet fly away last night, about three in the morning?" inquired Logan. Scott shifted from one foot to the other and blushed. "That was me," raising the tray, Scott continued, "Jean had a craving." Logan laughed again and whistled. "She has got you whipped, boy." Logan teased. Scott nodded, turned away, walked down the hall and called back, "It takes one to know one, Logan."

Growling over what Scott said, Logan made his way to the cafeteria. Finding Rogue already there, Logan walked up to the buffet style breakfast counter and picked up some eggs, bacon and toast. He poured himself a cup of coffee and walked over to the table at which Rogue was sitting. Rogue greeted him with a warm smile. After Logan placed his tray on the table, Rogue reached out and took hold of his arm and pulled him to her side. Leaning down, Logan placed a hand over Rogue's mouth and kissed her. They exchanged happy smiles and hellos before Logan sat down and started to eat his breakfast. Happily, Logan listened to Rogue go on an on about the last minute things she was doing for the prom. The ballroom had already been decorated in black, white and red. Offhandedly, Rogue wondered how other schools got streamers stuck to the ceiling without students who could fly. The band had been hired and confirmed. The dinner menu had been reserved and the tables set up. Logan nodded at every bit of news and assured Rogue that it would be great. Into this pleasant banter, Storm intruded, carrying a package. Logan and Rogue looked up when Storm placed a small package on the table between them. Storm placed her hand on her hip and addressed Logan, "Here's another package with your name on it, Logan. What is that, the third one this week?" Logan shrugged and pulled the package over. Balancing the box on one of its corners, Logan ignored Storm while he read the address label. Rogue glanced apologetically at Storm and shrugged. Tossing her hair over her shoulder, Storm walked away quickly, her heels tapping angrily against the floor. Squinting at Logan, Rogue crossed her arms over her chest and asked, "What was that all about, Logan?" Looking up from the package, Logan smiled and replied, "What was what all about?"

Pointing at the package, Rogue inquired, "What's so secret in that box that you don't want Storm to know about it?" Logan placed the box down on the table and answered, "Oh nothing, I just hate how she always tries to stick her nose in my business." Rogue shook her head and asked, "So, what's in the box?" Logan looked into Rogue's eyes and said, "What box?" Rogue's eyes narrowed as she cross-examined, "The box on the table, Logan. What is in the box, right here, on the table?" Logan raised an eyebrow and a small smile spread across his face. "Gloves." Rogue pulled away and sat up in her chair. Wrinkling her forehead, Rogue asked, "Gloves? You mail order gloves now. Isn't that expensive?" Logan sat back in his seat and answered, "Not just any gloves, Marie. These are made for my hands only. Also, they are made of a special material that's soft and thin." Leaning forward, Logan took Rogue's hand in his and squeezed it before he continued, "They'll make it easier for me to feel you." Rogue swallowed hard and looked at the box. "Can I see them?" she asked. "Sure." Standing up, Logan lead Rogue out of the hall, the package gripped under his arm.

In Logan's room, Rogue saw two opened boxes in the corner. Turning to Logan, she watched him extend his claws and slice the box open. Gingerly, Logan pulled a couple pairs of gloves out of the box. One pair was dark brown and the other was black. Quickly, Logan pulled the gloves he was currently wearing off and pulled on the new brown gloves. Perfectly, the gloves formed to his hands. Turning to Rogue, Logan reached out his hands and cupped her face. Rogue was startled at how smooth and soft the fabric was. She practically purred as Logan ran his thumbs over her lips. For Logan, the product was everything it claimed to be. The fabric was so thin that it practically felt like skin. Through this smooth barrier, Logan felt every line and dip and curve of Rogue's skin, but, more importantly, he could feel every degree of heat radiating off of her. "Do you like the way they feel?" he asked. Without opening her eyes, Rogue nodded her head and rubbed her face against his hands. Logan almost growled as he watched Rogue slink against him like a kitten. Lowering his hands, Logan gripped Rogue's shoulders and pulled her close so that she couldn't see the obvious lust in his eyes. Rogue wasn't fooled but still, she laid her head on Logan's shoulder and asked, "What's in the other boxes?"

Looking over at the boxes in the corner, Logan looked conflicted for a second before offering a small smile. "I've been working on that request of yours." Rogue looked puzzled for a second, before realization dawned. Blushing madly, Rogue walked over to the corner and picked up the boxes and brought them back to the bed. Placing them, one beside the other, on the bed, Rogue proceeded to open the larger of the two. What Rogue found puzzled her. Lying folded in the box was the softest, smoothest bolt of pure white French silk that Rogue had ever seen. Pulling it out of the box, Rogue slowly unfolded it. After about eight turns of the cloth, Rogue came upon a heavily embroidered, but delicate pattern of needlework. The stitching formed roses and swirls, all surrounding a four-inch slit. Carefully, Rogue ran her fingertips over the hundreds of tiny stitches, stopping her hand at the slit. Looking up at Logan, Rogue's face expressed her confusion. Taking the fabric from Rogue, Logan raised an edge and rubbed it against Rogue's cheek. The mixture of coolness and warmth she detected from the fabric shocked Rogue. Smiling, Logan explained, "I got this sheet from Mexico. There, it's an old custom for a bride to wear this on her wedding night. It allows just enough access to allow the marriage to be consummated." Rogue looked curiously at Logan and asked, "You mean to tell me that there are people out there that can touch each other and use one of these so that they don't." Logan replied, "You bet. Never said it made any sense, but their loss is our gain." Noticing how Rogue's eyes roamed over the embroidered center of the sheet, Logan reached out and took hold of Rogue's hand. Gently, he raised her hand to his lips and kissed her fingertips. He ran his eyes over her beautiful face before centering in on her eyes. His eyes softened when he saw the love in Rogue's eyes. Quietly, he whispered, "Now that you know that this is here I don't want you think I'm rushing you. Just know that when the moment is right, this will be here, waiting for us." Warmly, Rogue smiled and asked, "Logan, what about the hole? UmHow have you taken care of that contact?" Pulling away from Rogue, Logan opened the other box and pulled out a strange looking piece of plastic. Holding it out, Logan produced the clear plastic harness. Shaped like a thong, the harness had a perfectly round hole in the front of it. Blushing, Rogue reached out a hand to touch the plastic, but reconsidered. Pulling her hand back, Rogue lifted an eyebrow and asked, "Who's going to be wearing this?" Almost blushing, Logan laughed nervously as he answered, "I will be." Rogue's eyes ran up and down Logan's body for a second. Flushing hotly, Rogue dragged her eyes back up to Logan's face and asked, "What is it, exactly?" Logan placed it back in its box and explained, "Saw this thing in a magazine onceand no, you may not know which one, and it seems that people use this as a kind of uhsplash guard. One uses it with a condom. It's supposed to keep any fluids from being exchanged." Rogue blushed, but nodded her understanding.

Suddenly quiet, Rogue sat on Logan's bed and stared at the boxes. Concerned, Logan pushed the boxes aside and sat beside Rogue. "What's the matter, Marie?" Rogue raised her gaze to Logan's eyes and said, "It's-I. . . Just that. . . Don't worry about it. It's nothing. I'm being stupid." Quickly, Rogue looked away. Logan gripped Rogue's chin and raised it until Rogue was facing him. Firmly, Logan said, "Don't ever say that. If something is bothering you, then I'll worry if I want to and there's nothing stupid about it." Rogue nodded and replied, "It's just that I know I can't be touched, skin-to-skin that is, but, I hadn't realized until right now that you'd be wearing a condom. Isn't that going to take something away from you?" Staring at Rogue like she had grown a second head, Logan shook his head and answered, "No, not really. I mean I have worn condoms before, Marie." Rogue looked down at her hands and whispered, "But not with me." Without raising her head, Rogue raised her eyes to look at Logan's face and continued, "I just want this to be special for you, too." Logan didn't know whether to laugh or cry at that, so he smiled instead. Running a finger down a long strand of Rogue's hair, Logan said, "Listen, Marie, making love to you is going to special for me regardless of what I'm wearing. Also, you need to know that I would be wearing a condom regardless of whether I could touch you or not. You may be a woman to me, Marie, but you're still a young woman. I wouldn't take the chance of getting you pregnant so young." Rogue rolled her eyes and replied with a touch of sadness in her voice, "Yeah, there's at least one thing I don't have to worry about." Logan countered, "Not necessarily."

Tilting her head to the side, Rogue stared at Logan as he continued, "I've been thinking again. I know will wonders never cease. At first, I was just going to use something thin, probably made out of cloth to avoid contact, but then, I started thinking, what if we're wrong. What if you can get pregnant? I mean, you still get a period and that means you're probably not infertile." Almost afraid to hear the words come out of her mouth, Rogue leaned forward and whispered, "You think that I could have a baby? How Logan? I would draw the life out of any child." Logan responded, "Would you? You don't hurt yourself when you touch yourself and any child would be half you and I have a healing factor the child might inherit. There was enough of a risk that I wanted to make sure it couldn't happen. That's why I bought the harness." Rogue's face lit up. In her head, the wheels were turning. In her heart, a dream that had all but died came roaring back to life. Loudly, she sighed and said, "I think that's the most wonderful thing I've ever heard, Logan. It's crazy, I know, but it gives me hope." Logan placed a hand over Rogue's lips and kissed her. Sighing again, Rogue leaned forward and rested her head against Logan's shoulder. Absently, she glanced at her watch to check the time.

Suddenly, Rogue jumped up. Staring at her watch, Rogue rushed for the door. Turning back towards a shocked and curious Logan, Rogue exclaimed, "I almost forgot. I and the other girls, we've got appointments at a salon in town. I've got to go now or I'll be late." Smiling broadly, Rogue opened the door and continued, "See you later tonight, Logan." Logan called out to Rogue as she left his room, "I'll pick you up at seven."



CHAPTERS:   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8




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