Chapter 39: Mourning a Hero

The world erupted in celebration. From New York to Tokyo, London to Sydney, people poured into the streets, their jubilant cries echoing across continents. Thanos was defeated. The threat that had loomed over humanity for so long had finally been vanquished. It was a time for joy, for relief, for looking to the future with hope.

But in a quiet corner of Westchester, at the Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters, the mood was somber. The X-Men had returned home, bearing with them the body of Jake Frost, the hero who had given everything to save them all.

Logan stood at the window of his room, a glass of whiskey clutched in his hand as he stared out at the raucous celebration taking place in the nearby town. The sounds of laughter and music drifted across the grounds, a stark contrast to the heavy silence that had settled over the mansion.

"They don't know," he muttered to himself, taking a long swig of his drink. "They're celebratin', and they don't even know the cost."

A soft knock at his door pulled Logan from his brooding thoughts. He didn't need to turn around to know who it was; her scent, tinged with grief and something else he couldn't quite place, was unmistakable.

"Come in, Laura," he said gruffly.

Laura entered the room silently, her eyes red-rimmed from crying. She moved to stand beside Logan at the window, her gaze fixed on the distant celebrations.

"It's not fair," she said after a long moment of silence. "They're all so happy, and Jake is..."

She couldn't finish the sentence, her voice breaking. Logan set down his glass and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close.

"I know, kid," he said softly. "I know."

For a while, they stood there in silence, drawing comfort from each other's presence. Logan found himself thinking back to when he first met Jake, the brash young mutant with fire and ice powers who had stumbled into their lives. He remembered the way Jake had looked at Laura, with a mixture of awe and nervousness that had made Logan want to both protect his daughter and knock some sense into the kid.

"He was a good man," Logan said finally, his voice rough with emotion. "One of the best I've ever known."

Laura nodded against his shoulder. "He was," she agreed. "And now he's gone, and I... I don't know how to do this without him."

Logan tightened his grip on her shoulders. "You're not alone, Laura. You've got me, you've got the X-Men. We're all here for you."

Laura pulled away slightly, her hand moving to rest on her stomach. "But what about the baby? How do I raise a child without Jake?"

The question hung in the air between them, heavy with implications. Logan had been so focused on his own grief, on supporting Laura through hers, that he had almost forgotten about the child growing inside her. Jake's child. His grandchild.

"We'll figure it out," Logan said, trying to infuse his voice with a confidence he didn't entirely feel. "Together. That kid's gonna have a whole family of superheroes lookin' out for them."

A ghost of a smile flickered across Laura's face. "Jake would have loved that," she said softly. "He always talked about how important family was, how grateful he was to have found one with us."

Logan nodded, remembering the countless times Jake had expressed that sentiment. The kid had come from nothing, had been alone for so long, and he had treasured the family he found with the X-Men with a fierce intensity that had sometimes taken Logan aback.

"He would've been a great father," Logan said, the words catching in his throat.

Laura's eyes filled with fresh tears. "He was so excited when I told him," she whispered. "In those last moments, when everything was falling apart, he looked... he looked so happy."

Logan pulled her close again as she began to sob, her grief pouring out in heaving waves. He held her tightly, his own eyes stinging with unshed tears. For all his gruffness, for all his attempts to keep people at arm's length, Jake had wormed his way into Logan's heart. The kid had become like a son to him, and losing him felt like losing a vital part of himself.

As Laura's sobs subsided, Logan found himself making a silent vow. He couldn't bring Jake back, couldn't erase the pain of his loss. But he could be there for Laura, could help her raise this child, could make sure that Jake's legacy lived on.

The days that followed were a blur of grief and responsibility. There was a funeral to arrange, a world to help rebuild, and a pregnancy to monitor. Laura threw herself into her work with the X-Men, helping to coordinate relief efforts and rebuild damaged cities. Logan worried about her pushing herself too hard, but he understood the need to stay busy, to feel useful in the face of overwhelming loss.

The funeral was a somber affair, attended by heroes from across the world. The Avengers stood alongside the X-Men, differences set aside in honor of the man who had brought them all together. Tony Stark gave a heartfelt eulogy, speaking of Jake's bravery and selflessness. Steve Rogers presented Laura with a flag, a symbol of Jake's service to not just his country, but to the entire world.

As Jake's body was laid to rest on the grounds of the Xavier Institute, Laura stood stoically, her hand resting protectively over her growing belly. Logan stayed by her side, a silent pillar of support.

After the funeral, life at the Institute slowly began to return to a semblance of normalcy. Classes resumed, training sessions were held, and the daily rhythms of life reasserted themselves. But Jake's absence was felt keenly, a constant ache that never quite faded.

Laura continued to work with the X-Men, though she scaled back her involvement in more dangerous missions as her pregnancy progressed. Logan found himself hovering more than usual, his protective instincts in overdrive.

"I'm fine, Logan," Laura said one day, exasperation clear in her voice as he fussed over her during a training session.

"I know you are," Logan grumbled. "Just... humor an old man, would ya?"

Laura's expression softened. "You're going to be an overprotective grandfather, aren't you?"

The word 'grandfather' hit Logan like a physical blow. It was a role he had never imagined for himself, yet here he was, about to become one.

"Damn right I am," he said gruffly, trying to hide how much the idea affected him.

As Laura's due date approached, the entire Institute seemed to hold its breath in anticipation. Hank McCoy monitored the pregnancy closely, marveling at the unique genetic makeup of the child.

"It's fascinating," he told Logan and Laura during one check-up. "The child seems to have inherited a mix of both your healing factors, as well as some of Jake's cosmic energy. It's unlike anything I've ever seen."

Laura's hand tightened on Logan's as they listened to the baby's heartbeat. "Is the baby healthy?" she asked, a hint of worry in her voice.

Hank smiled reassuringly. "Perfectly healthy. Strong, too. This child is going to be something special."

Logan snorted. "With Jake and Laura as parents? Kid never stood a chance of bein' normal."

The comment earned him an elbow in the ribs from Laura, but he saw the smile tugging at her lips. It was good to see her smile; those moments had been all too rare in the months since Jake's death.

When the day finally arrived, it was chaos. Laura's water broke in the middle of a Danger Room session, sending the entire Institute into a frenzy. Logan found himself pacing outside the medical bay, his enhanced hearing picking up every cry of pain from Laura inside.

"If you wear a hole in the floor, you're paying for it," came a dry voice. Logan looked up to see Ororo standing there, a small smile on her face.

"How's she doin'?" Logan asked, ignoring the attempt at humor.

Ororo's expression softened. "She's strong, Logan. They both are."

Hours passed, each one feeling like an eternity. The halls of the Institute filled with anxious mutants, all waiting for news. Even some of the Avengers showed up, Tony Stark pacing almost as frantically as Logan.

Finally, after what felt like days, the cry of a newborn filled the air. Logan's head snapped up, his eyes fixed on the door to the medical bay. A few moments later, Hank emerged, a broad smile on his face.

"Congratulations, Logan," he said. "You're the grandfather of a healthy baby girl."

The world seemed to tilt on its axis. A girl. He had a granddaughter.

In a daze, Logan entered the room. Laura lay on the bed, exhausted but radiant, a small bundle cradled in her arms. She looked up as Logan approached, tears of joy streaming down her face.

"Logan," she said softly. "Come meet your granddaughter."

Logan moved closer, his eyes fixed on the tiny face peeking out from the blankets. She was perfect. A tuft of dark hair, eyes that seemed to shift color even as he watched, and a tiny hand that reached out as if sensing his presence.

"She's beautiful," Logan said, his voice choked with emotion. "What's her name?"

Laura smiled, a bittersweet expression that spoke volumes. "Jacqueline," she said. "Jacqueline Frost. Jackie for short."

Logan felt his heart clench. "Jake would've loved that," he said softly.

"Do you want to hold her?" Laura asked.

Logan hesitated for a moment, suddenly acutely aware of his large, calloused hands. But the need to hold this tiny piece of Jake, this new member of their family, overrode his fears.

With infinite care, he took Jackie into his arms. She was so small, so fragile, yet he could feel the strength in her. As he held her, Jackie's eyes opened fully, fixing on his face with an intensity that took his breath away.

"Hey there, little one," Logan said softly. "I'm your grandpa. And I promise you, I'm always gonna be here for you. Just like your dad would've been."

As if understanding his words, Jackie gurgled softly, her tiny hand reaching up to grasp his finger. In that moment, Logan felt a surge of love so powerful it nearly brought him to his knees.

The door opened quietly, and the room began to fill with friends and family. The X-Men crowded around, cooing over the baby and congratulating Laura. Even some of the Avengers joined in, Tony Stark looking uncharacteristically emotional as he gazed at the child.

"She's got Jake's eyes," Steve Rogers said softly, peering over Logan's shoulder.

"And Laura's spirit," Ororo added with a smile.

As Logan watched his family – both old and new – gather around Laura and Jackie, he felt a shift in the air. The grief that had hung over them all for months seemed to lift slightly, replaced by a cautious hope.

Jake was gone, and that loss would always be felt. But in Jackie, a piece of him lived on. In this child, born of love and sacrifice, there was a promise for the future.

Logan looked down at his granddaughter, marveling at the perfect little person in his arms. He thought of Jake, of the legacy he had left behind. A legacy of heroism, of family, of love that transcended even death.

"Your daddy was a hero, little one," Logan murmured to Jackie. "And we're gonna make sure you know all about him. About how brave he was, how much he loved your mama, how he saved the world."

As if in response, Jackie yawned widely, her eyes drifting closed. Logan chuckled softly, carefully handing her back to Laura.

"She's got the right idea," he said. "You should get some rest too, kid."

Laura nodded, her eyes already heavy with exhaustion. But as Logan turned to leave, she caught his hand.

"Logan," she said softly. "Thank you. For everything."

Logan squeezed her hand gently. "Anytime, kid. That's what family's for."

As he left the room, shooing out the other well-wishers to let Laura and Jackie rest, Logan felt a sense of peace settle over him. The road ahead wouldn't be easy. Raising a child never was, especially not one with the unique heritage Jackie had.

But they would face it together, as a family. They would honor Jake's memory by living, by loving, by making the world a little better each day. Just as he would have wanted.

And somewhere, beyond the veil of mortality, Logan liked to think that Jake was watching. That he could see his daughter, could feel the love that surrounded her. That he knew his sacrifice had not been in vain.

As Logan stepped outside, he looked up at the night sky. The stars seemed brighter somehow, as if celebrating the new life that had just entered the world.

"We'll take it from here, kid," Logan said softly to the stars. "You rest easy now. Your family's in good hands."

With that, Logan turned and walked back into the Institute, ready to face whatever the future might bring. For Jake. For Laura. For Jackie. For the family they had built together.

The world might be celebrating a victory, but here, in this quiet corner of Westchester, they were celebrating something far more precious: the beginning of a new chapter, filled with hope, love, and the enduring legacy of a fallen hero.