t w o . o u t . o f . t h r e e . a i n ' t . b a d

Two Out of Three Ain't Bad
[by victoria p.]

Rating: PG-13

Summary: "They would learn to be content, a pieced-together whole made from two uncoupled halves."

Notes: Thanks to my fellow inmates at the Unfit asylum. And see, I did it. I didn't think I could. Blame Meat Loaf .*g* I was brushing my teeth and this just demanded to be written. You don't need to know the song, but I included the lyrics at the end.

Date: May 31, 2001

She was waiting, sitting at the bar when he came out of the cage.

"You look exactly the same," she whispered, embracing him.

He couldn't say the same for her. She was still beautiful -- she would always be beautiful -- but the last few years had taken their toll, and there were fine lines around her eyes and mouth that hadn't been there before.

"How'd you find me?" he asked, though he already knew. She didn't bother to answer.

"You never came back."

"Yeah, I did," he replied.

She shook her head. "We waited... Rogue was heartbroken--"

He cut her off harshly. "She looked happy enough to me." He closed his eyes. Even after seven years, he was still angry. Angry that she hadn't waited for him, though he knew that wasn't fair.

Jean sucked in a breath, the pieces falling into place. "Remy."

"Whatever." He looked around, lit a cigar and tried not to think. "I've got a room."

She stood. "Let's go."

They got to his motel room. He didn't bother with the lights. They wrapped themselves around each other feverishly, mouths and tongues and hands, all seeking contact, warmth, comfort.

When they were finished, she clicked the light on with a flick of her mind. He could see the silver strands entwined with the fiery red. Her roots were showing, and she'd be dying it soon enough.

"I saw it on television," he said finally. "I'm sorry."

She turned on her side and leaned on her elbow, her eyes searching his face. "You missed that one."

He laughed bitterly. "Of all the times for me to be late, right?"

"So, it was you in Minneapolis."

"In St. Louis and Portland, too," he replied, shifting uncomfortably.

"Why?"

"I promised to protect her. Even though I wasn't in her life, I couldn't go back on that promise."

"But not since --" she broke off. Even two years after, it was hard to talk about it.

"Albuquerque. No. No need." He paused. "It was a beautiful service."

"The flowers, every month -- the daisies?" He nodded. "How did you know--"

"That they were her favorites? I didn't, just guessed. But then Chuck, he called me. Told me--" Neither of them were comfortable discussing their dead loved ones; neither had the strength to say their names. "And the wolf? The carving?" It had been left at Scott's grave anonymously, at the same time the daisies first appeared at Rogue's.

"He was a leader; he deserved a totem fit for a leader."

"You found your past." It wasn't a question.

"Enough. Enough to know I wouldn't fit in, even at geek central. I did come back for her, but she, she didn't love me." His throat was tight.

"She did." It was a whisper, a feather light caress of breath against his ear, and in his mind.

"Stay outta my head, Red."

"She was young, Logan. You know that. She wanted to live while she could. But she never gave up hope." She traced his cheek with a long, slim finger. "She wore them to the grave, Logan. We buried them with her."

He silenced her with a kiss, ruthless and demanding. They made love again, fiercely, angrily, with nothing of comfort this time -- just the pain of loss and the need to be with someone who understood.

They fell asleep afterward, exhausted.

When she woke up, he was dressing. "You want me to stay?" she asked softly.

He shrugged. "Do you want to?"

She gave a frustrated grunt. "We don't love each other."

"No." He finished buttoning his shirt. "Want, yes. Need?" He thought about that one.

"Yeah," she said. "Need. I think I--"

"Me, too."

She smiled. She knew he wouldn't say it outright, but this was good enough for the moment. It might help them. "And who knows? Love is a funny thing."

He shook his head. "Don't kid yourself, Jeannie. Be content. Two outta three ain't bad."

She dressed and followed him out to the motorcycle. It had once been Scott's, as much as she had. And she realized Logan was right. They would learn to be content, a pieced-together whole made from two uncoupled halves.

End

Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad -- Meat Loaf
Baby we can talk all night
But that ain't getting us nowhere
I told you everything I possibly can
There's nothing left inside of here
And maybe you can cry all night
But that'll never change the way that I feel
The snow is really piling up outside
I wish you wouldn't make me leave here
I poured it on and I poured it out
I tried to show you just how much I care
I'm tired of words and I'm too hoarse to shout
But you've been cold to me so long
I'm crying icicles instead of tears
And all I can do is keep on telling you
I want you
I need you
But -- there ain't no way I'm ever gonna love you
Now don't be sad
'Cause two out of three ain't bad
Now don't be sad
'Cause two out of three ain't bad
You'll never find your gold on a sandy beach
You'll never drill for oil on a city street
I know you're looking for a ruby in a mountain of rocks
But there ain't no Coupe de Ville hiding at the bottom of a Cracker Jack box
I can't lie
I can't tell you that I'm something I'm not
No matter how I try
I'll never be able
To give you something
Something that I just haven't got
There's only one girl that I will ever love
And that was so many years ago
And though I know I'll never get her out of my heart
She never loved me back
Ooh I know
I remember how she left me on a stormy night
She kissed me and got out of our bed
And though I pleaded and I begged her not to walk out that door
She packed her bags and turned right away
And she kept on telling me
She kept on telling me
She kept on telling me
I want you
I need you
But there ain't no way I'm ever gonna love you
Now don't be sad
'Cause two out of three ain't bad
I want you
I need you
But there ain't no way I'm ever gonna love you
Now don't be sad
'Cause two out of three ain't bad
Don't be sad
'Cause two out of three ain't bad
Baby we can talk all night
But that ain't getting us nowhere

~*~

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~*~

Disclaimer: All X-Men characters belong to Marvel and/or Fox. I do not own them and do not intend any infringement on their copyright. "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad" belongs to Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman.