For those of you who don't know this already, this is the prequel to Adamantium is Genetic. I've always meant to write it, because I myself was curious about how Michael grew up, and all that stuff. It starts out a few years before he is born, and goes up until he's leaving for Canada (reference to chapter 1 of Adamantium is Genetic). It'll probably be about 9 or 10 chapters, depending on how I sort it out. But thanks for the support anyway. :)

On with chapter one-

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17 years ago

Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, Westchester, New York

"Jean!" The voice of Scott Summers followed the redhead out the door of the Mansion. Jean ignored his pleas and went to the garden. She sat down in front of the grave of Professor Charles Xavier, tears dripping down from her emerald eyes.

"Professor…I have to be honest with you," she said softly. "Everything…everything's been so different without you. The halls of the Mansion seem empty…even the students can feel it. Please, come back for us. The X-Men need you." Her tears started to drip faster and she closes her eyes. Scott came around the corner, but stopped abruptly when he saw her tears. He bowed his head and bit his lip. She hasn't been the same since he died.

I will come back, Jean. But when I'm ready. Now is not the time.

Jean's eyes opened wide and a slow smile spread across her face. Scott took a step forward, confused.

"Jean?" he said quietly. She stood up slowly, a bright smile on her face, the first real one since Xavier's death. "What's going on?" He took another step forward and placed a hand on her shoulder. Jean turned around.

"Scott…the Professor is alive," she said, barely more than a whisper. Scott swallowed.

"Jean…I know you want him back more than anything…but people don't just return from the dead," he said calmly. Jean looked up at him, heartbroken. Why won't he believe me?

"I did," she answered quietly, and walked away before Scott had a chance to reply. Through his sunglasses, he stared after her, his eyes saddened, though no one else would be able to see it.

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Inside the Mansion, Logan walked down the hall, a cigar in hand. Not yet lit, he examined it. After a moment, he heaved a sigh and stuffed it back into his pocket. He thought back to what the Phoenix had said.

"Look at you, Logan. He's tamed you."

So he had. He continues on his way, hands in his pockets. Not looking around him and too involved in his own thoughts, he didn't see Jean coming from the other corner. She slammed straight into him. Apparently she hadn't been looking either. Logan looked up.

"Sorry," he said gruffly. Jean shook her head.

"No, Logan," she said, wiping away her tears. "I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention." Noticing the tears she had tried to keep hidden, Logan frowned.

"You all right, Red?" Starting to nod yes, but thinking better of it, Jean walked straight into his arms. Confused and surprised, though pleased, Logan didn't ask any questions. He wrapped her up in his arms.

"The Professor is alive, Logan," she said, barely above a whisper. "I heard him." Logan sighed and released her. She stepped out of their embrace and looked up at him, emerald eyes glistening.

"Isn't that a good thing, then?" he asked. Gesturing to the hall, he added, "God knows we need him more than ever. This place needs a makeover." A smile fixed on Jean's face and she laughed a little.

"Thank you, Logan," she said.

"For what?"

"For believing in me, for making me laugh again," she said, shrugging. Logan narrowed his eyebrows.

"Are ya sure that's the only thing going on, Jean?" he asked. She looked away. "There's something you're not tellin' me."

"Logan…it's Scott." Logan snorted.

"What about him?" he asked derisively. "Did the Boy Scout lose a badge?" Jean glared at him, but he couldn't help laughing.

"Sorry…I just…um…" She smiled.

"It's all right. No, it's not him; it's him and me. Scott and me. It's just…not working out, Logan." Logan tried hard not to smile broadly. To his great relief, Jean was looking down at her shoes and hadn't noticed his struggle.

"We're fighting more, he doesn't trust me, and now he won't believe me about Xavier…" Tears dripped down her face and she leaned in closer to him. He lifted her chin up gently, looking into her eyes.

"You're not crazy," he said quietly. "If you say ya heard him, I trust you." She smiled into his chest.

"Thank you, Logan…" She looked up into his deep brown eyes once again, and found this time that it was hard to look away. She took another step closer to him, if that was even possible. Logan found himself leaning down towards her, and Jean felt herself reaching up, any thought of Scott gone from her mind. With their lips centimeters away from each other, Logan stopped.

This isn't right.

Jean did not notice his hesitation and continued forward. He realized this just in time, and their lips molded together.

After a minute, Jean's eyes widened and they broke apart. She stepped away awkwardly.

Oh, my God. What did I just do?

She cleared her throat and Logan looked down at the floor.

"I'm sorry," Logan said, swallowing. Jean didn't answer. She lightly ran her fingers across her lips and shook her head slowly. "Jean?" In response, she rapidly turned to him and their lips connected again. The kiss quickly turned from something innocent and soft to something fierce and rough. Logan pushed her up against the wall, and Jean made the move to unbutton his shirt. And then he heard something resembling a warning bell go off in his head, and he pulled out of the kiss. "No, Jean. This isn't you. You wouldn't do this to Scott."

Logan stared into her emerald eyes. She looked fine. If it's not the Phoenix, what's going on?

"Logan…you make me feel…unbelievable," she said, her voice shaking. "Scott couldn't…" He stuffed his hands into his pockets and sighed.

This isn't exactly how I'd imagined it.

"Look…" he started gently. "It's not that I don't want this. I've wanted it ever since I first met you. But…I can't take advantage of you like this. I'd hurt you."

"You couldn't hurt me," she told him.

What's going on? Logan wondered. If it was anyone else, I wouldn't have hesitated. He looked down sadly.

"Jean, I never…" he began, "I've never felt this way about anyone. It's hard for me to…to…" She cautiously moved closer to him and leaned on his chest. He put his arms around her, listening to her heart beating alongside his.

"I'll bet you have, Logan."

"Huh?" She shifted in his grip and looked up at him.

"You have been in love before. You just…"

"Don't remember?" Logan suggested, his tone bitter.

"Yeah…" Jean answered somewhat reluctantly. She closed her eyes and sighed. He gave her a soft kiss on her forehead, and then stiffened. Jean looked up at him, a look of worry on her face.

"Scott's coming," they whispered in unison. They stepped away from each other. Logan turned in the opposite direction, but Jean stopped him.

"Logan…I'm going to talk to him," she said quietly. He nodded, a small smile on his face.

"And I'd better stand clear." She reluctantly nodded as he headed down the hall. I've just got to get this over with.

Scott came around the corner just in time to see Logan leave. Immediately suspicious, he looked at Jean.

"What the hell is going on here?" Jean bit her lip. This isn't going to be easy.

"Um…Scott…we need to talk. I-" She was interrupted by a scream from the floor above. Jean gasped and Scott looked at her, dismayed. They recognized that scream. Rogue. Scott didn't waste time. He ran up the stairs two at a time, Jean following close behind him.

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"No…I didn't mean…" Rogue sobbed wildly over the unconscious Bobby Drake. Logan had been down the hall, and he rushed into the game room. He moved towards the girl, but she shook her head frantically. "No, don't!" Confused, Logan looked at Bobby, then up at the sobbing Rogue, seemingly adding two-and-two together.

"I won't hurt ya, kid," he said calmly. More tears sprang from her eyes. He heard more footsteps run inside the room behind him. Jean and Scott looked at Logan, questioning. Rogue looked up at them in fear. Scott sighed heavily.

We're playing at a whole new level now, aren't we?

Jean bit her lip and looked at Logan nervously.

What now?

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"Okay, now, as I'm sure you're all aware-" Scott looked around the room. Hank McCoy, Kitty Pryde, Peter Rasputin, Bobby, Rogue, Jean, and Logan were all watching him. "Wait a minute. Where's Ororo?" His question was answered a second later, when Ororo Munroe came into the room, holding hands with Kurt Wagner.

"This better be important," Storm said, annoyed. Rogue looked down at her lap sadly. Ororo sighed. "All right. What's going on here?"

"What's going on here is everything, Ororo!" Scott said fiercely. His voice became much quieter as he said, "The cure…it…" He couldn't continue. She looked at the rest of the X-Men.

"My powers…I got them back," Rogue said nervously. Storm took a deep breath. Kurt opened his mouth as if to say something, but closed it again.

"Oh, my God," she said. "…That means…" Scott nodded in affirmation.

"Magneto's got his power back too," he said firmly. "Actually, in this instance, we've been strangely fortunate. We know what we're up against, and we will be ready if he should attempt to attack us." He looked at the gloomy faces of the X-Men and gave them a reassuring smile. He sighed. "I know it's difficult without the Professor here…but I think he would have wanted us to move on."

"You're asking us to forget he ever existed?" Kitty asked indignantly.

"No," Scott said calmly. "I'm asking you to honor his memory by fighting beside one another. We are all X-Men," he said with more fervor, "We will not let anything tear us apart." On each of their faces, Scott could see what remaining hope was left for them, and it reassured him.

All is not lost. Not yet.

They began to file out of the office, talking amongst themselves.

"Jean?" he asked. "Could you stay a minute?" She nodded silently and sat down on the couch. After everyone had left, Scott sat down next to her. "What were you going to tell me earlier?" A tear drip down her cheek.

"It doesn't matter," she said, wiping it away. "It's stupid compared to what's going on now. You don't have time for this."

"Jean…tell me, please," he said quietly. She swallowed nervously.

"Scott…this isn't working," Jean said, her voice not more than a whisper. "I mean…you and I…it isn't working."

"What are you saying?" Scott asked. Jean took a deep breath.

"It's over, Scott," she said firmly. "I can't keep doing this to you."

"Are you- are you just not feeling this anymore?" Scott asked again. Jean couldn't bring herself to look at his crestfallen face. She silently shook her head, tears falling.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. She stood up, ready to leave, but he took her hand. She looked at him worriedly.

"Hey," he said quietly. He drew her into a quick hug. "It's all right, Jean. Listen…" She broke out of his hug, looking at him questioningly. "I will always be here for you. You understand? We're friends, Jean. Don't ever be afraid to come talk to me." She smiled.

"You sound so rehearsed," she noted. Scott laughed nervously.

"I- honestly, I'm surprised you didn't come talk to me sooner," he said, sighing. Jean stared at him. He caught the look on her face and grinned. "Jean…I'm not psychic. And I don't need to be. It's obvious how much you care for him." Jean frowned.

"Who him?" she challenged. Scott smirked and Jean turned red.

"Who else?"

"I'm sorry," she said awkwardly.

"Look, Jean…" he started, "I want you to be happy. If Logan does that for you…fine. Just be sure it's what you want." She smiled and placed a kiss on his cheek.

"Thank you, Scott."

"For what?"

"For letting me go," she said quietly. She closed the door behind her, leaving Scott alone in his office. He heaved a sigh and sat down at his desk. God, Jean, I hope you're right about him.

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In the hallway, Jean felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist. She gasped in surprise, but smiled when Logan kissed her neck.

"Hey," she said warmly.

"How'd it go?" he asked casually, though Jean knew he was anxious for the answer. She smiled and adjusted herself in his arms.

"Surprisingly well," she responded. Logan let out a breath he hadn't known he was holding.

"We don't have a new supervillain to play with?" he asked, sounding disappointed. Jean laughed.

"Sorry, Logan," she said. After a minute, she bit her lip. Logan felt her stiffen in his arms.

"What?"

"You still do have to respect him, you know," she said, sighing. "He is our leader…and he is a good man." Logan shrugged.

"I don't have a reason to hate him anymore," he answered simply.

"I bet you'll find one," Jean pointed out. He shrugged again.

"I could," he agreed, "But I'm not looking." She smiled and gave Logan a light kiss, snuggling up to him.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"I'd do anything for ya, Jeannie," he said, surprised that she hadn't figured that out for herself. "You know that."

Jean.

Her eyes opened wide and an entranced smile appeared on her face.

"Professor?" she whispered to the voice inside her head. Logan looked down at her, worried.

"Jeannie?" he asked. "You all right?" She blinked and looked up at him.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, Logan…I'm fine."

"You sure?" he asked warily. She nodded and brought herself closer to him. Logan sighed heavily and breathed in her scent. They both heard the door open and they broke apart.

Scott smirked.

"Get a room, willya?" he asked. "This is a school." He gave Logan a look of utmost loathing. Jean frowned.

"I'll see you later," she muttered to Logan. He nodded.

"See you." Scott sighed audibly.

"So," he said, "You won. And I accept that." Logan eyed the younger man suspiciously.

"Damn straight." Scott glared at him menacingly.

"But if you hurt her…I swear to God I'm gonna kill you," he said, his voice shaking with effort. Logan rolled his eyes.

"Save it, Boy Scout," he said, sighing. Logan walked away, with somewhat of a bounce in his step. Scott glared after him and sighed heavily. After a moment, he slammed the door to his office behind him.

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Do you see how it's sort of leading into Adamantium is Genetic? If you don't, that's fine, just please, keep reading...

And I'd be VERY happy if you guys read "In Memoriam", which is the One-Shot I promised a while ago, that is no longer a one-shot, since it got too long. ;)

I hope the prequel isn't too disappointing. I wrote it in the summer, and meant to post it a month ago, but I never got around to it, and then hockey started, then school, and I forgot about it. But I remembered!

Thanks again,

Jason