Prologue

Logan stood quietly and still by the door, watching the girl who had come to mean everything to him. She had finally emerged from her shell, allowing those her own age close and not just sticking with the adults at the mansion or him.

Right now she was playing a game with some of the other kids while their teachers watched TV. The sun was streaming through the window behind her, encasing her in an unearthly glow- her hair shining beautifully.

He couldn't help but smile to himself as he thought of how one small girl had turned the hardened Wolverine into a pushover, but he had come to terms with his fate and had accepted it willingly- willing to do anything to keep her happy.

After burning the image of her into his mind he turned to the door, all the while feeling as though his heart was turning to lead within his chest.

Then he heard and smelled her. Her heart was racing and her young, clean scent was heavy with dread.

“Logan, wait.”

His heart pounded in excitement as he heard her running towards him- her steps never faltering as she got closer to him.

He braced himself to face her and turned from the door. Guilt immediately consumed him when he saw the stricken look on her face, but he needed to do this. He needed to discover the truth about his past so he would be free to live his life- to live it with her.

“You runnin' again?” she asked shakily, and he could tell that she was trying to hold it together.

Suddenly he felt unsure of his past actions. Maybe he shouldn't have become so close to her. Maybe he should have allowed someone else to comfort her and look after her- but no. He couldn't bring himself to regret those long nights of holding her close while she slept, keeping her safe from her nightmares and from anyone who would harm her or take her from him. And then there were the equally long nights spent talking when sleep refused to come to either of them. Those were the nights when his feelings had begun to grow as he got to know this amazing young woman better. Sure, he had saved her life by risking his own- the wolverine within him demanding that he protect her, but now he knew her, her loves and hates, her likes and dislikes- what made Marie, Marie.

Of course their relationship had been frowned upon. The only one truly understanding being Xavier, who saw that Logan needed to protect the fragile young woman while Marie in turn gave the Wolverine some peace.

Ororo looked on with a kind of silent acceptance, seeing the long term benefits and also how Logan was changing because of his acquaintance with the girl.

Scott would just scoff in disgust, not approving of the violent man's close bond with the young girl who had already suffered so much.

Jean's opinion, on the other hand, was like a pendulum swinging from encouraging the relationship between the unlikely pair and jealousy. It was the latter emotion that Logan hated the most. The smell would cling to the redhead like a bad odour, and he would often have to restrain himself from taking action when he saw all of the resentment and jealousy aimed at his Marie.

The other kids at the school tended to avoid him, viewing him as the unapproachable fighting and growling machine, while Marie kept her distance from them willingly, only allowing a select few close enough to be friends.

He reached towards her to stroke the silver streak of hair hanging loosely, careful not to touch her skin- not that he was frightened of her mutation and what it could do to him. It was more that he knew what effect hurting others had on her.

“There's just some business I need to take care of up north,” he told her, his voice rough and loud with everyone else taking on a gentler, softer tone while speaking to her.

He watched as a sad smile hovered on her lips before she launched herself at him. He caught her easily, wrapping his arms around her slim frame, while she threw her gloved arms around his neck and buried her head in his chest.

“I don't want you to go,” she choked out pressing herself closer to him.

Logan felt his mind waver. The Wolverine demanding that he stay and keep her safe.

No. This is for her. I need to go.

Taking her gently by the shoulders, he pushed her away.
Cupping her face in his hands, her hair shielding him from her skin, he looked into her eyes.

“I will be back, Marie,” he whispered, seeing that they had attracted some attention from the various students milling about the halls.

She took in a deep wobbly breath, trying to compose herself and Logan was proud of her for making the effort.

He saw a flicker of doubt pass through her eyes and wondered what to do to reassure her that he would return.

Releasing her, he reached for the dog-tags that hung around his neck, his only link to his past that would now hold him to his future- to her.

He whipped them from his neck and placed them about Marie's, planting a quick kiss on her head.

“I'll be back for these.”

Chapter 1

Logan slowly came back to reality, his limbs heavy with sleep and lack of energy and his head fuzzy but filled with one thing.

Marie.

Had it worked?

He remembered holding the girl close to him, waiting to feel the pull of her power as it sucked his healing ability from his body, but nothing had come. His hand had lain uselessly on her smooth face where he had placed it. His stomach had clenched in denial, thinking that the young woman was lost to him- that she had been taken from him. At the time he hadn't bothered to analyse his feelings of loss and grief, too busy trying to keep in control as he had held her lifeless body to him, rocking her gently, praying that she would rally the strength needed to heal. And she had. He had finally felt the pull when he was giving up all hope and then he had blacked out.

But had it worked?

His body and reflexes may have been slow but his senses were as sharp as ever as the smell of Jean Grey engulfed him, her mixture of perfume and soap unique to her, allowing him to identify her before he even opened his eyes. At any other time he would have revelled in the fact that he had her undivided attention, and getting one over on Cyclops, but right now all he wanted was the soft scent of one particular teen and the touch of shy gloved hand proving to him that she was all right, not the bold doctor-like touch of the redhead who was currently running her fingers over his chest, lifting bandages as she went.

Enough of this.

Lifting his hand, he caught the exploring hand, hiding his disappointment at her presence by telling her that it tickled.

“Hey,” she whispered, smiling warmly at him.

“How are you feeling?”

“Great,” he replied, his sarcasm coming to the fore.
He didn't want to be here making small talk with the red headed doctor. He wanted to make sure that Marie was well, to prove to himself that she was alive- that he had made it in time.

“That was a brave thing you did,” she told him softly.

No, not really.

“Did it work?” he rushed out the question, not even giving her a chance to say anything else. Her word would do until he could see for himself.

“She's fine.”

He breathed a sigh of relief. He had made it in time. He had saved her. The images of her flashed through his mind and he glowed in the knowledge that they would not be the last memories of her that he would have.

“She took on a few of your more charming personality traits for a while, but we lived through it.”

He smiled at this, imagining the little brunette growling at everyone who got on her nerves (that would be everyone), swearing constantly, and smoking cigars as though they were air. What a total difference it would have been from her normal quiet self. He felt a tinge of annoyance at having missed it and at the woman's attitude.

“Lived through it.” What the hell is that supposed to mean?

“I think she is a little taken with you.” He was dragged from his thoughts by the doctor’s words.

Marie was “taken” with him. He couldn't help but feel a little sceptical at this. He had seen the looks that she had thrown that boy… What was his name?

Bert? Ben? Iceboy.

Whatever his name was, he could smell the boy’s attraction to her to the point that he could have happily taken him aside and introduced him to cold adamantium, but he had held back. After all, who was he to butt into the kid’s life? He had only known her for a few days. It was none of his business.

Despite constantly reminding himself of this, the wolverine inside had wanted to rip the boy apart whenever he saw his gaze rest on Marie for longer than it needed to.

Then it struck him.

He had feelings for her.

Over the past couple of days, he had grown attached to the fiery Southern girl who had stowed away in his trailer.

But what kind of feelings were they, exactly?

Fatherly? Definitely not!

Brotherly? No.

Friendly? Maybe.

He stopped his line of thought when his keen sense of smell detected the pungent scent of jealousy, laced with victory, coming from the woman whose hand was still held under his own.

He looked into her eyes and saw the attraction dancing deep within. He would have laughed at that familiar gleam in her eyes a few days ago- and found a sense of triumph in getting another one over on Scott- but not right now. He wanted to be left with his thoughts.

He squeezed her hand before releasing it from his grip.

“My heart belongs to someone else.”

Where the hell had that came from?

He knew that she could take the statement as talking about Marie’s crush on him but he knew that she knew what he was talking about.

He watched as she smiled sadly at him and turned slowly around, walking from the pristine medical lab, leaving Logan to analyse his last words.


Marie sat curled up on her side in the room that had now been allocated as hers. After the incident with Logan it had been decided that it would be better if she didn't sleep in the dormitories with the rest of the students, but rather to have a space of her own. After all, they didn't want anyone accidentally touching her deadly skin, which was a possibility – it being far too easy to fall onto someone in the dark.

She hugged a pillow tightly to her, trying to keep herself from flying apart. In the past she had never touched someone with the intention of hurting them, avoiding them at all costs if she could. Yet now someone had actually held on to her on purpose, and the pain of having their memories and mutation forced into her mind and body had been excruciating. And now she was stuck with Magneto in her head for the rest of her days - his calculating outlook on life and cynical thinking filtering her every thought so that she daren't let anyone close. Furthermore, as if the constant inward reminder of his violation was not enough, she could look in the mirror and see the silver streaks of hair that now hung down on either side of her face.

She sighed, squeezing her eyes tightly shut as a tear fell down her cheek. Logan had held her on the train the last time that she had cried, not keeping a distance from her because of her skin but comforting her when she needed it. And now he was in the medical lab a few stories below her feet, unconscious and nearly dead because he had touched her. He had willingly allowed himself to come into contact with her skin, not to hurt her, but to heal her.

She remembered being in that machine, her hands firmly stuck to the metal poles at each side of her as they sucked the new found power out of her limbs. She could feel her life draining away with it. What little of Logan she had left in her head from the night before was screaming at her not to give up and not to lose the fight against the oblivion that was calling to her, telling her that he would be there soon. He would keep his promise. He would not leave her alone.

And he had come.

Though her eyes had been firmly closed as scream after scream was ripped from her throat, the Logan inside her had known that he was there- that he was right beside her, only separated from her by the rapidly spinning cage that she was in.

But she had not been strong enough to hang on and had felt her mind slip away and her body slacken before darkness had claimed her.

When she had come to she was being held close to someone, someone who had their arms firmly fixed around her in an iron grip. Images had assaulted her mind and she gasped as they became firmly lodged in a part of her mind that was ready to receive them.

Seeing metal claws dig deep into soft flesh, feeling the skin split as they dug deep, a deep seated need to protect and keep her safe…

Logan.

He had come for her.

She was suddenly released as the man who had once again saved her life slumped the ground, unconscious, blood seeping from deep cuts and gashes all over his body.
What had she done?

Marie angrily flicked the tears away from her eyes.

The journey back had been terrible. The protectiveness that Logan felt for her had transferred itself to her, showing itself by her anger and violence towards anyone who tried to get close to him. She had snarled and snapped as the Logan inside her head took over her actions. It was as though she was a spectator in her own body, being manipulated like a puppet.

She had snapped and snarled the entire return journey, and despite all attempts at the opposite, had been sent away while the still form of Logan had been wheeled away to the infirmary. The Logan within her, still firmly in control, had lead her straight to the kitchen and she had found herself downing a bottle of beer before she even realised what she was doing. Her mother would have had a fit if she knew what she was doing.

Marie rubbed her dry eyes wearily. She was so tired. She hadn't slept since they had come back from Liberty Island nearly three days ago. As soon as she closed her eyes memories and experiences which were not her own were swimming through her mind, most of them not very pleasant.

Magneto had been in a concentration camp during the war. His memories were that of cruelty and barbarity. Logan's weren't much better, a confusing mixture of incomplete memories, painful procedures, and experiments.

She had managed to fall asleep once, only to wake up in a cold sweat, with a scream not far from her lips. Now she lay awake, her mind working overtime as she processed all the events from the past few days.

Dr. Grey had told her that Logan would be fine. His healing factor was already kicking in. If it hadn't been he would have been dead long before hitting the ground when he had released her.

But she wanted to see for herself and know that she hadn't killed him or hurt him beyond the repair of his mutation.

She knew that the teachers thought that she had a bit of a crush on her rescuer, and she scoffed at their ideas of just what her feelings were: thinking that she was just a normal teenage girl with an attraction to her hero.

She had a deep respect for him, and after feeling the protective attitude that he had towards her, she knew that if ever he needed her she would be there for him. (But then just when would he, the Wolverine, need the help of a puny, undersized teenager with deadly skin?) She would not let those feelings go any further. After all, who was she to him at the end of the day? Some strange kid who had hitched a ride.

And then, thanks the ever-present thought process of one Erik Magnus Lehnherr, her parents’ reaction to her mutation was constantly brought to her mind and then the more recent reaction of Bobby after Logan had stabbed her.

Sooner or later everyone would turn against her, or keep their distance, or send her on her way.

She would not allow herself to develop any feelings for the man who had saved her life. She would stick to friendship. The inevitable heartbreak would maybe be easier to bear if that was all she felt.

She roughly pushed the laughing Logan, who was residing deep in her mind, farther back, wishing that the real Logan was a little less opinionated.

'You are too late with that plan little one,' he laughed deeply, his voice echoing through her mind as she curled even tighter about her pillow, wishing that she could sleep.

Chapter 2

Finally!

After four days of being stuck in the infirmary Jean had let him go without a fight, finally done with all her tests and prodding. True, he had been unconscious for two of the four days, but after he had woken up he had been more than well enough to leave and they had both known it. But instead of being able to do just that and see for himself that Marie was well, he had had to rely on second-hand reports from Jean when she came to check up on him and then the professor when he decided to come and “visit” him - making him feel like some little old lady being checked on by her relatives.

So he had been stuck with nothing but his thoughts to occupy him. He had lain for days doing nothing but over-analysing his feelings and memories from the past events. And instead of his feelings becoming clearer and his thoughts more orderly, as they should have, everything seemed to become more chaotic- his ability to focus his mind deteriorating rapidly. The only clear thing being that he had to see Marie.

He didn't know why, just that he had to.

So now he was finally in the elevator, heading towards the surface- to her- and getting farther away from the shining white, sterilized medical labs and its overly clean smell.

Soon he would be able to see for himself that she was alive and that she hadn't died in that machine on top of the statue.

‘Logan, come to my office please,’

The professor's calm voice intruded, cutting of his thoughts of the girl that he so desperately wanted to see- who he needed to see.

What now?

The mind-controlling mutant had had the past two days to speak to him and get whatever it was out of the way before he was allowed out of the infirmary, so why hadn't he done just that?

Why now? Why, when his one focus was Marie?

Logan's annoyance and irritation mounted as he stepped out of the elevator and into the wooden halls of Xavier's School for the Gifted. Here he was, only seconds away from seeing the girl who had consumed his thoughts for days and he had to take a detour, and who knew how long that would take.

His “office”? Logan snarled to himself as he followed his senses, picking up the scent of the wheelchair-bound mutant he rushed down the corridor, wanting to get the interview over with as quickly as possible.

Entering the room that he assumed was the “office,” he shut the door behind him and walked towards the professor who was sitting still and thoughtful behind a solid, wooden desk.

This had better be quick.

“Logan,” smiled the older man kindly. “I am glad to see you up and about.”

“I could have been up days ago, you know that,” he replied shortly, not in the mood to play word games with the man in front of him. This room was the last place that he wanted to be. He wanted to be in one of the rooms upstairs checking up on his girl.

The professor sighed heavily and ran his hands over his face, clearly trying to think his options through.

“I asked you here to speak about Rogue.”

Rogue? Rogue? Oh, Marie.

“What's wrong with her?” he asked, panicked. Had they lied to him the whole time that he was in the infirmary? Hadn't it worked? He wouldn't be responsible for his actions if they had lied to him.

The professor could read the emotions crossing his face without even needing to use his gift- the panic plain and clear in his eyes.

“She is fine Logan,” he rushed, trying to reassure the volatile younger man. “She is alive.”

“Then why am I here?” Logan growled, just wanting to be out the room and to sprint up the stairs to the student wing of the mansion.

“You have to understand her gift Logan. Not only does she absorb a person’s mutation, but she also absorbs a part of their consciousness.”

Logan now began to pace angrily before the large desk, passing a hand through his hair. He wanted out of here and fast.

“So you are telling me that she has a part of Magneto in her head,” he snarled, staring at the other mutant. That was all the kid needed, having that lunatic stuck in her brain for who knew how long.

“And you Logan,” the professor added slowly, watching his reaction to this new piece of knowledge.

What? Me?

“You have come into contact with her skin twice now. She also has you in her mind,” he stated firmly.

At that moment his anger reached its peak and the wolverine fought for the freedom to drag the other man over the top of the desk and tell him to talk in English and get to the point.

‘Logan, calm down,’ Once again the professor's voice barged into his mind, uninvited and unwanted.

“Get the hell out of my head,” he growled, fighting the urge to slice something up, fighting to keep the razor-sharp claws in his arms.

“Very well, Logan, but you must listen to me,” came the irritatingly calm reply.

Taking deep breaths he sat down in a chair and looked at the man opposite him, waiting for him to begin speaking.
“Erik has lived a very traumatic and troubled life Logan. Not only has he became fixed in his belief that he is right in what he was trying to do with his machine, but he has also had to watch people suffer and die, surviving the Second World War and seeing things no one would wish to.”

Logan took in all that Xavier was telling him and began to think of his own nightmares, of doctors and lab coats, of pain and bubbling liquids. Did what he was now being told mean that she would have all of that in her head also? That she would have his nightmares and unknown past to deal with as well as her own fears and near death experience?

He sat silently as the professor wheeled himself from behind the desk.

“Rogue has not slept since she was brought back,” he stated matter-of-factly, the only thing giving away his true concern was the smell that beat at Logan like a wall.

“She hasn't slept in four days,” Logan repeated slowly. “Couldn't you have given her something to knock her out?” he asked, beginning to seriously question the intelligence of the people around him. Marie would make herself ill if she didn't get sleep.

“She is suffering from nightmares Logan,” Xavier explained, all the while shaking his head solemnly as a silent answer to the question.

“The first night back, she woke both myself and Jean with the strength of her terror and ever since then it is my understanding that she has not slept or, if she has, it has not been for any great amount of time or of any benefit. She is isolating herself from the other students, and though she is favouring being with Ororo and Scott she is becoming less and less responsive.”

Logan shook his head in despair, taking in what the professor had just told him and trying to process it. The girl that he had feelings for (even if he couldn't identify what feelings they were); that he cared enough for to risk his life for was becoming ill and he just didn't know what to do about it.

“What am I supposed to do?” he asked helplessly.

“Be there for her.”



Marie lay back onto her bed and closed her eyes, the throbbing in her head lessening as her mental Logan began to calm down. She was so thankful that Bobby had finally left her.

As soon as she had seen him standing in the doorway of her room bits of conversation from their last meeting had flashed through her mind.

“You never use your power against another mutant.”

“The professor is furious...”

“You should leave.”

And before she knew what was happening, or even had a chance to think of something to say, she had a snarling Logan in her head wanting to rip the boy's head from his shoulders.

She had spent his entire visit trying to stay in control of her own body and funnily her hands were hurting where non-existent metal blades were trying to force their way through her skin and into the body of the boy in front of her.

'I'll kill him,' snarled Logan, 'the little-'

Marie had rapidly cut him off, focusing all her attention on the boy standing before her; trying to ignore the ever-present feelings of Logan as he raged within her.

The whole discussion had been awkward and painful as she had answered a bunch of questions with positives and negatives - not trusting herself to speak in sentences, in case she told him just what she was feeling.

“Are you all right?”

“Yes.” No, not really.

“Are you comfortable?”

“Yes.” Try being me for a day and then tell me how comfortable you feel being trapped in your own skin, idiot.

The Logan in her head had laughed heartily at her silent show of spirit before taking up a low growl when Bobby had reached for her.

Out of habit she had taken a step backwards, avoiding any contact- rubbing her gloved fingers at the joints where the ache was increasing, the pressure inside her head growing worse as Logan hissed and snarled at the boy, while Magneto mumbled something unintelligible from his corner of her mind.

Taking the hint at long last, Bobby had left her in peace, frowning at her odd behaviour - but she didn't care. She just wanted the noise in her head to stop and to have some silence, and it had stopped to some extent.
Bobby just hadn't understood her need to be alone or at least, if not alone, then in silence.

Storm knew that that was what she needed.

Ever since returning, the weather witch had seemed to take it upon herself to keep Marie company when she was not teaching classes. She made sure that she ate and got out of her room, but never pressed Marie to give anything that she couldn't- not minding the long hours of silence.
She had also grown surprisingly close to Scott in the last few days. He seemed to view her as a little sister, being protective in his manners towards her, often coming to sit with her and Ororo in silence.

She was grateful for their support and acceptance and though Magneto whispered in her mind of ulterior motives she pushed him as far as she could to the back of her mind, just wanting to see the surface of their actions. She had also had to silence Logan who took to growling whenever Scott came near her. She didn't really understand why. Scott was a pretty nice guy and treated her with respect, never making her feel uncomfortable in his presence.

She sighed wearily, grabbing hold of her pillow and hugging it tightly to herself once again. She was so tired but the fear of nightmares kept her awake. She had managed to dose off for a few minutes the day before; her heavy lids weighed down by lead, finding it impossible to keep them open any longer. So she had felt herself fall, knowing a second or two’s rest before memories not her own had flooded her mind.

She had bolted awake and raced to the bathroom opposite her room and retched what little she had eaten at lunch into the toilet. Feelings of unbearable pain both mental and physical were still dancing through her mind and body.
Not wanting to think about it any longer than necessary she didn't even try to figure out if it was Logan's or Magneto's life that had filled her dreams. Instead, she had tried to rub her mind clean as she walked back to her room to watch the sun slowly rise over the surrounding land.

A tear fell down her cheek slowly and she tried to pull herself together, but to no avail.

I'm so tired. I just want to sleep.

She began to sob into her pillow, burying her head into the soft material as she held it tighter to her.

I just want to sleep.

She was so lost in her tears that she didn't even hear the soft knock at her door or the squeak as it opened.
It wasn't until she found herself being held to a very strong and very large frame that she realised she wasn't alone.

Opening her eyes, she found herself looking into the eyes of one Wolverine.

“Logan?” she whispered, her voice wobbly with tears.

‘About time,’ announced the Logan in her head.

“Hey, kid, did you miss me?”

Chapter 3

Logan had sprinted up the steps of the mansion as quickly as he could after finishing his discussion with Xavier.

"Be there for her." That had been what the professor had said and he would be, for as long as she needed him.

As soon as he had stepped from the room he could hear Marie's sob's and smell her tears. They permeated his senses until all he could smell was the salt water of the tears.

He had followed her scent down the door lined corridor past the female dormitories where she had been that first night and he found himself at the door of one of the rooms not in the student wing but in the staff section of the mansion.

Logan had braced himself at the door. Not knowing what he would say or do when he saw her. He had tapped on the door and upon having no reply had let himself in to the room to see the object of his thoughts curled up into herself on the bed, clutching a pillow tightly to her stomach as sobs shook her body.

He had stood for only a second before the wolverine had demanded that he move forward and comfort what was his and take vengeance on whoever was responsible for her state.

Mine?

Not even trying to think about what that could mean he had moved rapidly to the bed and not even giving any thought to the girl's deadly skin he had taken her in his arms and now he was sitting rocking her gently in his arms and marvelling at just how small and fragile she felt in his grip.

Marie's sobs ceased long enough for her to look up, shifting slightly in his arms as her watery, brown eyes looked deep into his, mesmerizing him.

“Logan?” her voice came out strangled as he watched her trying to keep the tears at bay.

What can I say? What can I do?

“Hey kid, did you miss me?”

Idiot, idiot, idiot. You walk in on her crying her eyes out and that is all you have to say. Of course she hasn't missed you. She is probably wondering just what the hell you are doing here. She hardly even knows you. She'll throw you out into the hall. Pull yourself together Logan, you're a grown man, you do not lose it in the presence of a teenage girl. Get a grip.

Much to Logan's surprise and Wolverine's delight the young woman he was holding so tightly in his arms raised one small, gloved hand and traced his face with slender shaking fingers before her face crumpled and the tears came flooding from her eyes once again.

Not knowing what else to do Logan began to rock her again, softly mumbling reassuring gibberish to her in an effort to calm her down.

“I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry Logan.” Marie gasped in between heartbreaking sobs, her head buried in his chest and his chin resting on top of her head, his skin protected by her hair.

“Hey now darlin', what have you got to be sorry about?” he asked her gently. He honestly could not see what she had to apologise for.

“I...I nearly killed you...twice.” she forced out her breathing becoming raged as she dragged air into her lungs, her gloved hands now clutching at his shirt, tightly twisting the fabric between her fingers.

Logan thought about this as Marie started to calm down. Her sobs gradually giving way to whimpers and her grip slackening on his clothing.

He remembered the feeling of having his life sucked from him all too well but he hadn't really looked on it as her killing him, taking it as a matter of course that nothing could kill him, that his mutation would heal him no matter what. He had been grateful for both his and her mutation when he had been thinking in the infirmary.

Without either she would be dead.

Logan shivered inwardly as he remembered the feeling of his claws tearing through her chest, puncturing skin, pushing through muscle and bone and he could hear her scream of fright in his mind. Her eyes filled with pain as she tried to breathe properly. That night he was the one that had killed her. Yes if he was truthful with himself he had killed her that night. The only thing that had kept her alive had been her mutation taking his from his body. And he was thankful for it.

If she had died I would be seeing just how far my heeling abilities go.

Then on the Statue of Liberty it had been pure instinct and desperation that had caused him to look at her still, lifeless face and place his hand on her skin. Horror and loss had consumed him when he had not felt that same tug he had felt the previous night. He had held her much like he was holding her now. Rocking her body in his arms wishing all the while for her to be alive and responsive, more than willing to do anything that would bring her back to him. But then he had felt it and a sense of joy and contentment had surged through him as his mutation had flowed out of him and into her where his skin touched hers. And even as he fell to the metal ground and darkness had filled his mind he had exalted in the knowledge that he had helped her.

It had nothing to do with the bravery that Jean spoke of.

Logan's arms longed to pull her closer to him when he felt her draw away from his body, pushing against his chest with her small hands while she sat up, a sheepish smile on her face as she rubbed at her eyes, the fine material of her gloves soaking up the salty tears.

“Sorry.” she mumbled rubbing her hands on her jeans self-consciously and drawing in a wobbly breath as the tears threatened to fall once again.

Logan got a good look at her for the first time since he had entered the room. She had lost some weight over the past four days and that worried him. She had felt small and delicate when he had held her on the statue but now she was more so. The slight smudges that had been under her eyes when he had first met her not even a week ago had grown to dark shadows under red rimmed and tired eyes. Her face was pale and drawn from lack of sleep. She did not look well at all and every fibre of his being was wanting to see her well and happy.

He breathed in deeply trying to centre his thoughts and caught an unexpected scent, his hackles rising.

The scent of ice and snow.

That boy had been here. In this room. Recently. That boy whose head he would have happily taken from his shoulders on several occasions a few days ago had been in the same room as his Marie and judging by the staler scents in the room he had been alone.

How dare he. Marie was his.

She's just a kid. She's not mine.

The wolverine cried at him to stop being so stupid. Of course she was his. She would always be his. She had been his since he had first seen her in that run down bar in Laughlin City. The sooner he accepted that the better it would be.

For who? I'm a man with no past what do I have to offer her.

The wolverine growled and grumbled once again, thinking purely on instinct and refusing the logical reasoning.
I may have feelings for her but what exactly can I do about them hmm? I don't even know how old I am and she is what 16, 17? Besides think about what Xavier just told you Marie doesn't need me playing the cave man right now. She needs help and acceptance.

“You look tired kid.” he told her softly hoping that she would open up to him herself without him needing to tell her about Xavier's input.

She shrugged her shoulder slightly and averted her gaze from him, giving the impression of being guilty of something. He knew than that she did not want him to know.

“I haven't slept very well the last few days.” she told him slowly lifting her head and looking right passed his head at the door behind him.



Marie sat on the bed her legs folded beneath her trying her best to avoid Logan's steady unwavering gaze. It really was amazing how interesting a door could be when you looked at it really, really closely.

She felt her hands being gripped firmly and looked down at their hands; her small fingers were dwarfed by Logan's large strong digits.

He's going to get me to tell him why I can't sleep isn't he.

She didn't want to, it was her problem and she would deal with it. She had been enough trouble to the man before her without adding a fresh problem to the ever growing list. But it had been so nice to be hugged and whispered to as she cried. She hadn't been hugged or treated normally since David.

David? Funny I haven't thought of him in days or felt him.
She searched her mind and could only find Logan and Magneto watching her closely. David was now only a faint shadow, cowering in the presence of the stronger mutants.

‘That boy is almost as bad as Jack Frost.’ Scoffed the Logan in her head, making himself known for the first time since Bobby had left her.

‘And you are damn right kid. I am going to get out of you why you aren't sleeping. So don't even think of trying to get out of it easily Marie.’

Great not only did she have the Logan in front of her to cope with but she had the one in her head telling her what the one in front of her was going to do. Just peachy. As if life wasn't screwed up enough.

“Marie, have you slept at all since you came back?” Logan asked her gently.

That tone would be her undoing if she wasn't careful. She had only gotten a slight glimpse of this side of the Wolverine when she had been on the train until then it had been the gruff and silent side that she had gotten to know. To be truthful, unlike everyone else she didn't really mind his moodiness. At the end of the day it was what made him the person he was.

“Marie?”

There it was again. That tone.

She sighed as Logan squeezed her fingers gently, encouraging her to speak.

“A few hours.” she answered and it wasn't a lie, she had slept for a few hours that first night back.

“When Marie?”

The Logan in her mind sniggered at this.

‘I told you darlin', you're not getting out of this one.’

She kept her gaze fixed firmly on their hands as she thought about what to tell him.

“The truth kid.” Logan snarled in her head.

“Three days ago.” she mumbled.

She heard Logan breathe deeply again and he released her hands. She wanted to grab his hand back and feel the heat of his skin seeping through her gloves but she sat silent and still.

“You need to sleep Marie.” he stated.

She flicked her gaze up to him at this point the tears once again not too far from the surface.

I know I need to sleep.

“I can't sleep Logan.” she told him her voice thick with tears as she covered her face with her hands trying to block him out. Trying to hide her state from his observant gaze.

He doesn't understand. No one understands. I don't want to close my eyes and see someone else's life in my dreams. I can't do it.

In a matter of seconds she once again felt his arms close about her as he tried to calm her down, tears pouring down her face. She wanted to pull away aware of the risk he was at is he touched her, but she couldn't.

I'm pathetic; I shouldn't be crying all over him like this. I'm a mess.

The Logan in her mind began to hush her also and she could swear that she could feel his frustration at his own failing.

‘You aren't pathetic Marie. It's me that the idiot.'

Logan's voice brushed at her mind and she would have smiled at the weirdness of her situation if she wasn't so busy trying to get enough oxygen into her lungs past her sobbing.

“Shh shh. It's all right Marie.” the real Logan crooned stroking her hair and rocking her slowly.

“I'm so tired Logan.” she sobbed into his shirt.

“But I can't sleep, I don't want to.” she forced out, her mind still yelling at her to pull herself together but the reassurance of both the mental and physical Logan being too much for her to refuse.

“I'm just so tired.” she sighed as her sobbing stopped to leave only the silent tears falling down her cheeks.

“I know Marie, I know.” Logan continued to croon and she closed her eyes enjoying the closeness of another person and listening to his heart beating steadily where her head was against his chest.

This is so strange. I hardly even know him and I am here sobbing and blubbering like a baby. Sure way to scare them off Marie.

She pulled herself together for the second time, concentrating on her breathing as she blocked the tears from falling. Not wanting to but knowing that it was for the best she sat up and away from Logan. Immediately feeling alone until he reached out for her hand. She gripped his like a lifeline.

Ororo and Scott had been wonderful over the last few days but they had still refrained from touching her sitting close but not too close and far enough away for her to know that they were keeping a safe distance from her, even when her skin was covered.

Logan wasn't doing that. He had held her close and now he was rubbing her hands gently with his thumbs through her gloves. She felt like she was going to cry again. Even her mother hadn't done this, staying as far away as she could after David had ended up in the hospital.

“Thank you Logan.” she whispered, her voice still strained from crying but not so wobbly and she was glad of that, scared that her emotions would scare him away if she carried on much longer.

Marie saw the look of confusion that passed over his face and looked at their joined hands. When she looked back at him he was smiling. She returned the smile shyly not knowing what to say or do now that she had herself under control.

She almost giggled when she heard him clear his throat self consciously and the Logan in her head started calling himself every imaginative name he could think of. She was a bit confused about just why he was insulting himself; after all he had made her feel normal for the first time in months.

‘Cos I'm an idiot kid that's why.’ Logan mumbled sulkily in her mind.

Marie decided that she wasn't even going to try and figure out what that meant instead she scooted back on her bed until her back came to rest on the head board and she studied the man before her through tired eyes.

Chapter 4

Logan moved uncomfortably as he cleared his throat again. Not sure of what to do now. Marie had shifted backwards on the bed and was now staring at him, propped up against the head board of her bed. Her eyes seemed to be taking in everything about him and it unnerved him slightly.

“So what have you been doing if you can't sleep?” he asked her lightly, trying to break the silence that had settled upon them. He knew from the professor that she had taken to sitting in silence and Xavier had explained that it was probably due to the confusion in her mind, but Logan knew that her isolating herself from others was not a good thing – no matter what the reason was.

“Thinking,” she replied quietly, lifting a hand and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, a small sheepish smile on her face as she broke her gaze from his face.

Thinking.

Logan knew all too well that thinking too much could have the total opposite effect of that desired. Hadn't he himself been stuck for hours on end in the infirmary doing nothing but that? His thoughts constantly spinning around the girl before him. And had he managed to make any sense out of his thoughts? No. He had only achieved some clarity when Marie had been sobbing in his arms. It was only then that he had admitted his feelings. He had also acknowledged that he could do nothing about them.

The wolverine grumbled at this again but he quickly put an end to it.

“You can think a bit too much kid,” he mumbled as much to her as to himself.

Logan was surprised when a soft humourless laugh came from her lips and he looked to see a sad smile on her lips and her eyes focusing on her twisting hands.

“So I've found out,” her voice was low and as sad as the smile she was wearing.

He wanted to put it right. Whatever was wrong, whatever was confusing her, whatever had ended up in her head from himself and Magneto, he wanted to fix it and make it better. He wanted to do anything just as long as he never had to see that look on her face ever again.

“Would you like to talk about it?” he asked her gently as he edged himself up the bed, getting closer to her.

Her wide eyes flew to his face and he could see the worry dancing within their depths and smell the guilt coming from her.

Raising his hand he softly stroked her hair trying to put her at ease and erase the feelings that were coming from her. He found himself wishing that he had put on a pair of gloves himself then he would be able to cup her face and stroke her skin without the risk of her mutation. But he had not, so he settled for stroking the hair from her face and hoping that it was having the effect that he wanted.

He watched her close her eyes slowly and lean more fully against the wall at her back.

“I...I don't know where to start Logan, what to say,” she breathed and he could tell that she was trying to gather her thoughts so he sat and waited, not rushing her, willing to wait the whole night out if he needed to.

“I...Whenever...I can't...” she tripped over her words before letting out a moan and opening her eyes to look at him.

Logan lowered his hand from her hair and trailed it down her arm until he once again held her hand firmly with his, enjoying the contact. He began stroking her hand gently, waiting again for her to begin speaking.

“When I go to sleep I cannot control what my mind decides to do. I...I dream about your life Logan and...and Erik's...Magneto's” the last few word came out on a slight sob and Logan moved himself till he was next to her on the bed his own back next to hers on the head board.

Flashing his mind back to when he had found her on the train he wrapped his arm about her frail shoulders and pulled her close to him her head coming to rest under his chin and one of her hands on his chest.

He listed to her heavy breathing as she tried to control herself and prevent herself from crying. His chest tightened as he listened to her trying to win the battle but felt a sense of gladness that she had told him of her nightmares without the need for him to say anything. She had trusted him enough to tell him herself.

“Magneto...he had to watch his family being taken away from him.” she swallowed convulsively, her fingers balling into a fist where her hand rested on his chest.

He didn't want to know about what she could dream about where he was concerned. He had not lived a very stable life and had seen a lot of violence in his life. And then there were his nightmares also that raged at him through the night. So powerful that they could hold him in their grip even when he was awake. This girl in his arms was proof of just how powerful they were. He did not want this young girl to suffer through them as he did.

“And you Logan... I'm so sorry,” she mumbled into his chest, her eyes closed tightly as she pushed herself closer to him.

Damn it.

Logan wrapped his arms about her even tighter at her words wishing that he has the power to rip his life from her mind. For all he knew he may well have deserved what he dreamt of but he knew for certain that his Marie did not and if her dreams were anything at all like his she would feel the pain, the fear and the anger – everything.

“No Marie. I'm sorry,” he told her, running his hands through her hair in another attempt to calm her down. It was ripping him apart to see her in such a state.

They sat for some time in silence and Logan listened as her heart beat began to slow down and her breathing calmed, her head still lying on his chest.

She surprised him by nuzzling closed into him and breathing deeply, a small smile on her face.

“What's so funny darlin'?” he asked, confused. After all it had not been too long ago that their conversation had been very serious.

She gave a small breathy laugh that for some reason caused his heart to speed up drastically.

“My Logan doesn't think you are such an idiot anymore.” she told him sleepily.

“Your Logan?” he knew that the slight amusement and pleasure that he felt at her funny statement was coming through in his voice, but he also knew that she was sleepy enough not to notice.

“Yip.” she replied her voice even foggier with sleep. “The you in my head.”

---

Marie knew that she was making him feel self conscious by her constant gaze but she did not know what to say and she was still trying to figure him out. The Logan in her head did not seem to be very impressed by the actions of his fleshly self and she didn't know why. In her eyes he had been just what she needed at that moment. She had needed someone to hold her and he had.

As soon as he had asked her to talk about it she had nearly lost the frail grip on her control. The Logan in her mind began to reassure her, telling her that it would be for the better if she just told him.

“Look Marie. You need to tell someone, you need to. It will make you feel better darln' trust me.”

So she told him as best she could about what happened when she went to sleep. Tripping over her words and knowing that she was making a mess of it.

When she had came to telling him about the dreams she had of him she had found herself unable to. Instead she had broken down mumbling her apologies for the way his life had been. It was when he had given her his own apology and his arms had closed about her even tighter that she knew that he was more than aware of what filled her dreams.

She felt secure and loved as she leaned against him her head resting on his chest and his arms about her and she began to calm down quickly.

The Logan in her head gave the impression if being smug.

“It's about time I did something right. I can be such a fool sometimes.”

She couldn't help but smile at Logan's opinion of himself. Her mind began to go fuzzy as she settled even deeper into Logan's grip.

I'll just close my eyes for a minute, but I won't go to sleep. Oh it's nice to be so close to someone. And he smells so good.

Logan's gruff voice drifted to her through her haze as she began to drift.

“What's so funny darlin'?”

Silly Logan.

Her mind continued to darken as she answered his question, not paying attention to her words.

“My Logan doesn't think you are such an idiot anymore,” she told him just wanting him to be quiet.

“I'm your Logan now am I.” he laughed in her head as a warmth surrounded her both inside and outside.

“Your Logan?” came the questioning voice of the real Logan - funnily it was getting further away from her, like he was talking to her across a vast distance.

“Yip. The you in my head.” she told him sleepily before her mind finally let go of his voice altogether and she let herself fall into oblivion, secure in his arms.

 

Chapter 5

Logan gazed down at the girl who was so trustingly snuggled against him, her soft and steady breathing telling him that she was in a deep sleep. He was glad that she was finally getting some rest, even if he didn't know the reason. He stroked her hair, careful to keep his skin from touching her own.

Logan studied the streak of white that now hung down one side of her face. He could remember watching it spreading through her hair as she had screamed, while he had been fighting the pull of Magneto's weakened power. It was the outward show of just what Magneto and tried and failed to do. Yet, it was also a sign of the maturity that she had beyond her years.

The maturity of her mind and spirit.

He allowed his thoughts to drift to when he had first seen her. She had been sitting at the bar, a glass of water in front of her, dressed in that ridiculous green coat thing. She had looked at him, and he had got the impression that she was taking all of him in with those innocent brown eyes of hers. He had known the minute that she had walked through the door. She didn't have the smell of a trucker who had been days without a shower or some woman out for a good night. She had a nervous, scared scent that had made him try to find her in the crowd, wanting to protect her from her surroundings. He had just caught a glimpse of her when his opponent decided to make himself known. The interference had angered him so he had been harder than he needed to be on the other man. But then, the other guy hadn't exactly been soft on him so it evened itself out.

He had been glad that she was still hanging about after the fight. The bar was empty of everyone but the owner, the MC, and some sleeping trucker on one of the sofas. It was then that he had gotten a good look at the girl who had caught his attention.

She was young- too young to be in place like that. Yet when that bozo from earlier had tried to put a knife through his back, she had warned him. Sure, the knife wouldn't have killed him, but it would have hurt like Hell at the time.

He had smelt the fear coming from everyone in the room when he had pinned the man to the wall, his claws keeping him in place, yet it had been Marie's feelings that had beaten at him the most, and he was sorry for frightening her. Yet she had not run from the room like he would expect, instead she had remained in her seat watching his every move and the fear had moved to one of amazement and... joy. That had confused him at the time, and it wasn't until he had discovered that she too was a mutant that he fully understood just why she had felt that way.

Had all of that only happened a few days ago?

He thought over her last words to him before she had given into sleep.

“The you in my head.” That was what she had said. And the him in her head thought that he was an idiot at some point. He thought it through carefully. He knew that he had feelings for the girl in his arms, but did the Logan in her head know that, or, more to the point, would the Logan in her head tell her?

Who am I kiddin', that's probably why he was calling me an idiot- for not doing a better job of looking after her when I know how much she has come to mean to me; for not telling her how I feel. Even from the very beginning, I wanted to keep her safe. I would have left anyone else standing at the side of the road without a backwards glance, yet, not her- never Marie. But I have only known her for days, and despite her maturity, she is still a kid.

The wolverine began to feel smug at this inner confession.

What? I still can't do anything about it. She probably sees me as a father figure, or something like that.

He shuddered inwardly at the thought, but accepted that if that was the only way to be in her life, then he would accept it wholeheartedly.

Or maybe a brother... That I can work with, he thought hopefully.

What! No! When did I decide that? No. I am going to be here to help her- nothing else. Get a grip, Logan.

Marie stirred in her sleep, moving closer to him as she nuzzled her head into his chest- a contented sigh coming from her as she wrapped her arms around his waist even tighter.

That was when he realized that they were both still propped up against the head board of her bed. Well, he was at least, and she was propped up against him, well... snuggled against him, to be more precise- her head at a funny angle where it lay on his chest. Logan had never thought of himself as a cuddly kind of guy, but Marie seemed to think so. Shrugging at the un-tough guy image that he was portraying, he tried to shift them both down the wall without waking her.

She moaned in distress when he had to take his arms from around her and she clung to him desperately, her small hands gripping him tightly as she pressed her face deeper into his chest.

“Don't go,” she moaned- her voice still thick with sleep- and he knew that she wasn't awake.

“I'm not going anywhere darlin',” he whispered- the tears in her voice bringing a strange tightness to his chest.

“But I need you to lie down Marie,” he told her gently. Swinging himself off of the bed and supporting her body, he carefully laid her against the pillows.

She thrashed about, searching for something.

Him?

“No...No… Don't go,” she cried, a tear falling down her cheek as she moved restlessly about the bed.

He quickly lay down beside her, not giving any thought to what others would think in the morning. Logan wrapped his arms around her tightly, drawing her to him, stroking her hair, and mumbling nothing in particular to her but trying to reassure her by the sound of his voice.

Her reaction was immediate; the tension flowed from her small shaking body as she nestled herself closer to him, gripping the front of his shirt with both of her gloved hands- holding him to her. She buried her face in his chest once again and breathed deeply.

“Stay,” she breathed, and he could see the slightest of smiles on her lips.

Logan was filled with a warm glow that for once had nothing to do with alcohol. In the past fifteen years, no one had ever needed him, and yet this girl did need him. Him. Not his claws or his fighting, but him.

“I'll always be here Marie,” he whispered, kissing the top of her head and holding her tighter.

“I'll always be here.”

---

Marie lay in a state of bliss as she cuddled deeper into her pillow. She was so comfortable that she never wanted to get up.

She groaned in annoyance when her pillow began to move and she hit it lightly with her fist.

Stupid pillow… can't behave itself.

A low rumble came from it, and she thumped it again.

Where did mum get this thing from?

Then it all came back to her with brutal clarity.

This was not home, and judging by the rhythmic beating under her ear, this was not a pillow.

She remained silent and still, trying to keep her breathing shallow and regular as her mind raced, trying to remember what had happened the night before.

Bobby had come to see her, then Logan. She had cried all over him. Marie bit back the groan of embarrassment that came to her throat.

What had she been thinking?

She hardly even knew the man and she had sobbed all over him. Been held by him. Comforted by him.

She stopped breathing when a tired laugh echoed through her mind.

Great. Fantastic. Lovely.

“Now don't be like that, Marie,” begged her mental Logan, pleading with her as embarrassment engulfed her.

“You have me in your head. How much better do you need to know me?”

He had a point there, but it was the principle of it.

She remembered feeling drowsy and closing her eyes as she lay in Logan's warm arms. She couldn't remember anything after that. Had she fallen asleep? She had. She had fallen asleep and had no nightmares. Marie wanted to sing and dance- anything to show her joy. She had slept the whole night through and hadn't had a single nightmare.

Her pillow moved again, shifting slightly under her.

Her mind froze as and she took a deep breath.

The smell of cigars, outside, and... Logan filled her senses.

She had fallen asleep all right- on Logan.

Oh no, oh no, oh no. What can I do? This is so embarrassing.

Marie had never even had a proper boyfriend, and she was here in the arms of a man. Not a boy, but a man.

“Chill, kid, believe me- he don't mind a bit,” drawled the Logan in her head while her mind went into overtime as panic seized her.

“Och, you are so-" That was a new one. Erik's voice now rang threw her mind for the first time in days. Preferring to be a spectator in her mind, he had remained silent most of the time.

“She's a child, of course she is upset,” he continued, nearly yelling in her mind at Logan.

“Hey bucket-head, you nearly killed her, you and your self-righteous ideas. It was you that put her in that damned machine, you who forced your mutation into her body, you who-”

The men in her head continued to argue, and Marie was once again struck by the bizarreness of her situation. She was stuck with two completely different men in her mind: the one who had nearly killed her, and the one who had healed her, and then- not to forget- the sniveling, frightened boy who was cowering somewhere behind them both.

She had to admit that Magneto did believe in what he was doing, trying to unite mutants and humans by changing those in power, and thereby eradicating any risks that would arise. But that didn't mean that she agreed with him or liked him- only that she could see where he was coming from.

Will you both stop it, she screamed in her mind, as the two mutants continued to yell at each other. Silence filled her mind as they both went quiet, giving the impression of boys caught fighting behind the school.

“Sorry, Marie, but I've been stuck with him for days and this is the first chance I have had to yell at him. Sorry darlin',” explained Logan gently, his words cooling her burning mind.

“I am sorry, my dear,” came the older more refined voice of Magneto, and Marie remembered the last time that he had apologised to her. It had been right before he had placed his hands against her face, and pain had coursed through her mind and body. She stopped that line of thought when Logan began snarling angrily.

She brought her mind back to her present problem.

The real Logan.

The real Logan whose chest she was laying on.

Maybe he is asleep. Maybe, if I am really careful, I could slip away and then avoid him for a few days.

But she didn't want to avoid him. He had been there for her, and she wanted him with her.

“I wouldn't bet on either of those things, Marie. First, I don't think I'm asleep, and second, don't think for a minute that you will get away with avoiding me. Ain't goin' to happen,” the ever informative Logan told her sternly.

This is so weird.

She thought about it for a few moments, and seeing no other alternative, she opened her eyes and moved her head to look upward and straight into the eyes of a smiling Logan.

“Told ya, kid.”

Oh, great. This is just wonderful. I want to die.

“No ya don't.”

And you would know, she growled

“Well...yeah,” he replied smugly.

The real Logan smiled at her, and she felt him move a hand from her waist (a hand she hadn't even realised was there) and stroke the hair from her face - his fingers carefully avoiding her skin.

Funny... I flinch away from everyone else, but not Logan.

“Morning kid, sleep well?”

 

Chapter 6

The terrifying Wolverine couldn't believe how cute the girl in his arms looked and he felt his heart melt. Her eyes were still heavy and blurred with sleep but wide as she stared at him. Her hair was messy but not as messy as he was sure it could be as she had hardly moved all night within his arms.

He stopped staring long enough to try and put Marie at ease a little when he smelled the embarrassment that was coming from her in waves and could not help but feel proud of himself when he succeeded. She gave him a shy smile and nodded her head in response to his question.

Logan found himself unable to resist widening his own smile in return – a smile that had uncharacteristically sprung to his lips when she had first punched his chest and he had caught the scent of irritation drifting from her.

He had watched the girl in his arms go from half asleep to fully awake and had heard her heart begin to race and then slow down again, probably when she realized where she was – namely in his arms. He had watched even closer as a very adorable blush had covered her face.

Logan had been holding her in his arms all night finding contentment when he listened to her slow, steady breathing as she slept peacefully against his chest. She had shifted within his arms several times and each time it was as though she was trying to get closer to him. She had gotten so close he could feel her heartbeat against his chest through the many layers of clothing that she wore and his own shirt. She had kept a tight grip on him the whole night never letting him go or loosening her grip.

At first Logan had not dared to fall asleep. He had not wanted to wake up and find himself still in the grip of a nightmare with his claws embedded deep within her as he had not many nights ago. He had soon found however that he liked to watch her sleep far more than sleeping himself.

He had found his thoughts dwelling on many different things during the course of the night that were all linked by a common factor – the girl in his arms.

He had wondered how long she had been alone before she had hidden in his trailer and smiled to himself when he remembered her reaction when he had told her to get out.

“You don't know or you don't care?”

That was what she had said to him. He had known that it was all an act even as she was saying it. He could smell the nervousness and the faint pungent scent of fear. Logan had thought at the time that it was fear of him. After all it would have been understandable and expected after what she had witnessed in the bar. He had seen the look of fear cross her face and heard the way she held her breath when he had pinned his would be stabber to the wall. And the scent had washed over him in a wave when he had walked past her on his way to get his stuff and get out. But as he had looked into his mirror and saw her figure getting smaller as he drove away from her something had made him stop. And when he had seen her race towards the truck he had allowed himself to think that just maybe she wasn't afraid of him. If she was why was she running towards him?

Everything seemed to fall into place when he had seen her rubbing her small hands together in an attempt to heat them up. He had reached for her hands to place them against the heater only to have her shrink back from him. There was no denying that it had hurt at the time until she had explained about her skin. It was then that he realized the fear he smelt was fear for him not of him. She had not been afraid of him when he had all but dragged her from his trailer but she had been afraid in case he touched her. Did that also mean that she had been afraid for him when the idiot in the bar had pulled a knife? Hmm. Logan couldn't remember ever having anyone worry about him before, but he found that he liked the idea.

Yes there were many things that he decided he wanted to know about her. After all it would only be fair since she now knew more than any other living thing about him – thanks to him being in her head.

Logan glanced at the electric clock that was flashing on her bedside table and saw that it was coming up to five in the morning. He didn't want to leave her but considering that she hadn't spoken and had only nodded her head he didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable. He immediately felt agitated and empty when he took his arm from around her small waist and slid of the bed - the springs groaned in response to the shift in his weight.

He gave her a smile and started for the door feeling disappointed that she hadn't spoken to him and -

“Logan...” Marie's soft voice stopped his thoughts and he turned around smiling when he saw her sitting up in the middle of the bed her eyes huge in her head and shining brightly.

“Thank you for staying with me and...and everything,” she told him shyly, her gloved hands fiddling with her bedding nervously.

She looked utterly adorable.

Since when do I use words like "adorable"?

“Any time kid,” he replied drinking her in with his gaze before opening the door and stepping out into the hall.

Obviously since I had someone to label with the word.

As he walked to his room he tried to think of anyone else who could possibly fit that description and came up blank.

At a loss for what to do he waited in his room thinking deeply about the night before. He was glad that she had gotten some sleep, though not as much as he would have liked - but it was better than none at all. He continued to be lost in his thoughts until the scent of Marie drifted past his door and then he made his way down the stairs. He bristled slightly when he detected the scent of Scott mingled with hers but then he remembered what the professor had said about Storm and Cyclops being the only ones she stayed around and he forced himself to calm down. Besides the fearless leader of the X-Men had Jean.

If he was completely honest with himself he didn't know how she was going to act around him. In the past fifteen years he couldn't remember only holding a woman all night and doing nothing else. And he definitely had never been there in the morning, keeping all relationships to one night stands and never taking it any further. While not being something he was necessarily proud of it had worked for him. Logan stopped dead in his tracks and wondered if Marie had gotten that little detail from his mind along with everything else. Well if she had hopefully she would recognise that she was different. She was special...a part of him.

When he got down the stairs he spotted Marie immediately and noted how she had isolated herself from the other students who were all sitting at the various tables - bickering and talking in their little groups. He scanned the room and soon found Scott who was filling up two coffee cups. He saw Ororo go up to him concern flooding her features. His sensitive hearing picked up their conversation easily across the buzzing room.

“I know we shouldn't make her but perhaps we should encourage her more to mix with the other students.” came Ororo's soft voice thick with concern and worry.

The wolverine within Logan began to rise to the surface at the thought of Marie having to do anything that she didn't want to do or feel comfortable doing. Besides the other students were all children and his Marie was no child...well mentally anyway. Frosty for instance, phh...he was sure that kid had not had a problem in his life.

The two teachers glanced at the girl who was sitting alone shredding up a slice of toast. Logan made a mental note to make sure that she ate. One thing that had been made painfully clear to him last night was her lack of weight - he was sure it was not healthy for him to be able to feel her ribs.

Scott and Ororo began talking again and Logan dragged his eyes away from Marie. Scott was shaking his head decisively.

“Remember what the professor said 'Ro,” he mumbled, “She has to do things in her own time and at her own pace while letting her mind adjust. Besides it has only been four days...”

Scott trailed of and as though he felt Logan's gaze on him he had looked up to meet his eyes. Logan quickly recovered and gave his indifferent nod of the head which was greeted by a frown from the other man.

Logan watched as they both went to sit with Marie and saw them both leave a slightly bigger gap than was necessary between themselves and her. Logan growled low in his throat while thinking that he should probably be grateful that they sat with her at all.

Deciding to leave her with some space and not sure how she would react to him after last night he stayed away from her but made sure that he was close enough in case she should need him.

Logan poured himself some coffee and went to stand by one of the large windows that looked out onto the perfectly trimmed and weeded lawn and borders. He took in a deep breath - inhaling the bitter, smoky scent of the coffee trying to get the acidic smell of so many different soaps and lotions out of his nose. He picked up on the many conversations that filled the room and did not feel at all guilty for listening to private talks.

Some were about homework and assessment dates while others were more directly related to both him and Marie.

"Why are Mr Summers and Miss Munroe always with her? What makes her so special?" came the spiteful voice of one girl. There were some murmured responses but he paid them no attention instead he concentrated on trying to control the low growl that was building in his chest.

Another conversation drifted to him and he snorted to himself finding great enjoyment at the thought of how embarrassed some of them would be if they ever found out that they were being listened to.

"Mmm mmm, whose he?" crooned an irritatingly grating voice. For some reason Logan didn't think she was talking about Summers.

He quickly tuned out the conversation and picked up on one coming from a group of boys.

"I still don't get it...what's with her hair?" It was obvious to Logan that they were talking about Marie.

Mumbles were coming from various member of the group.

"Hey Bobby what do you think?" Logan began to pay extra attention now. It was him. That boy.

"Hmm...About what?"

Yeah right. Nice act kid. Like you haven't been following every word.

"The new girls hair - weird or what huh?"

Logan growled low. There was nothing weird about it. There was nothing wrong with her hair. He liked it. It made her as unique on the outside as she was on the inside.

"I kinda like it," the boy finally answered.

Maybe you’re not all bad after all kid.

"It’s sexy...exotic,"

Then again...

Logan nearly choked on his coffee and fought the pull to turn them all into Swiss cheese when he heard mumbled agreements from most of the table.

Adolescent, hormonal boys.

His knuckled began to itch were his claws were trying to push through his skin.

"Logan when you have the time could you come by my office please."

Logan felt pretty proud of the fact that he was getting used to the professors method of getting your attention and taking one more quick glance at Marie he went straight to see Xavier - seriously doubting his self control if he heard on more word from that table.

What can he want?

Probably picked up on that thought I had about skewering them kids. Logan couldn't help but smile. It was still a pretty attractive idea

After the initial greeting Xavier jumped straight to the point after getting Logan's "get to the point already" glare.

He was offered an opportunity to help within the school if he was planning on staying around.

Of course I'm staying. I ain't leaving Marie.

He didn't know whether the other mutant had picked up on his thoughts or not so he nodded his head. Logan could not help but cringe inwardly as he thought of all kinds of torturing scenarios, like babysitting. Xavier must have picked up on that thought because smiled; reassuring him that it was nothing so “terrible”. It turned out to be a request to teach some of the older student’s self-defence.

The idea immediately appealed to the wolverine and he found that he liked the idea of having Popsicle boy at his mercy and he began to think up of 'training methods'.

Just as he was leaving the professor asked whether he has spoken to Rogue yet. Logan figured that if he did not know of what had happened the previous night he would at least know that he had gone straight to Marie upon leaving his office. He did not like the idea of telling him that he had spent the night with her. It was not that he was ashamed or had anything to be ashamed of but he found that he was viewing his time with her as a treasure and he was not one to share. So he shrugged his shoulders and mumbled something about working on it.

 

Don't own anything :(

Chapter 7

Wolverine smiled to himself as he walked to the danger room, more than ready to take his next class. When the professor had first asked him about giving self defence lessons he hadn't thought that they would have the facilities that they did - it was a school after all. No, he had thought a great big drafty gymnasium with mats would be as advanced as he would get, not a room where you could programme in a scenario and actually act within it – reminded him of sci-fi too much. And by the time he was finished with the older students most days the boys could hardly stand. This in his eyes was definitely an added bonus.

Never thought I would like being a teacher.

He was still very worried about Marie though. It had been three weeks since the first night that he had spent with her and it had became a regular thing now. Not that he minded in the least but he knew it wasn't a good thing. She couldn't make it through a night without him. He had avoided her all that first day, not wanting to embarrass her and after the good night’s rest that she had had he had hoped she was getting better. But then that night he had been able to hear her crying from his own room. He had raced down the corridor without a second thought only to have her run out of the door before he could even reach the handle. She threw herself into the bathroom across from her room and slammed the door shut. He could hear her retching and sobbing through the thick wood. The sound tore at his heart, but he could not help but think why she had been able to sleep peacefully the night before and not now.

The retching and coughing finally stopped but the sobbing continued as much as ever. When he heard water beginning to run he leaned against the wall and waited. It wasn't until his bare back hit the cool wall that he remembered he was shirtless. Remembering how uncomfortable Marie had been during the day whenever someone with a sleeveless top had been even a few feet away he rushed back to his room and threw on the first thing that he could find.

He was still buttoning the long-sleeved shirt up as he walked back down the corridor in time to see Marie's bedroom door close and a light appear underneath it. He stood outside for a second - the sound of sobbing was dying down a little and he could hear her deep, heavy breathing.

What do I do?

Logan had never been one to question any action or decision, rather being the type to rush in and think about the consequences later but now he found himself thinking just what he should do.

He didn't want to seem overbearing or pry where he wasn't wanted...But then she had not complained about his presence last night.

His mind was made up when he heard the deep breathing change and become quick and erratic. She was panicking.

He stopped himself from rushing straight in and knocked on the door, waiting a second before opening it.

She was sitting on the bed dressed in a nightgown that he was sure he recognised. It was the same type she had been wearing when he had stabbed her. The thought flitted through his mind that one of the other students must have been lending her clothing. She was clutching at her stomach with one hand while the other was supporting her weight on the edge of the bed.

She looked up when he walked in and her eyes were filled with fear and tears.

He went to her without a second thought and gripped her covered shoulders firmly - holding her straight.

She released her stomach and raised her other hand from the bed and gripped his covered arms.

“Lo...Lo...Log...an,” she gasped.

“Marie calm down,”

Oh yeah, great advice genius. How about you tell her to just breathe while you're at it.

“Just breath darlin' OK,”

Brilliant any more helpful advice while you're at it Logan.

He tried to encourage her to breathe properly and deeply and gradually the tension eased from the grip she had on his arms and her breaths became more steady and deep.

“That's it sweetheart, you're doin' good,” he encouraged, rubbing his hands down her arms.

Sweetheart? Hmm there's another words I haven't used before.

Her breathing finally settled and she released his arms completely.

“I'm sorry Logan. Did I wake you up?” she rasped, shifting her gaze to her lap where she was twisting her hands together nervously. He noticed for the first time that she had her gloves on and wondered why she was sleeping in them.

“Nah, I was awake anyway,” he lied smoothly not wanting to make her feel guilty. For the truth was that he had only just fallen asleep when her cries had woke him.

She gave him a small smile but it died quickly on her lips before it could spread or reach her eyes.

“I thought that after last night I would be able to sleep,” she mumbled looking up at him quickly and then away again.

“I wouldn't have tried otherwise,” she explained.

Logan just wanted to take her in his arms and tell her that everything would be all right. She looked so small and alone but instead the same awkward silence from the night before settled between them and Logan got of the bed to leave - not wanting to force his company on her – only to have her reach out and grab his arm. As soon as her fingers closed around his wrist his eyes darted to her and she let go – almost as though she had been burnt.

“Sorry,” she mumbled, looking down again and Logan wondered what she had to be sorry about. He liked the idea that she trusted him.

“Just...just don't go...please,” her small voice was quivering and an uncomfortable tightness came to Logan's chest.

She shouldn't have to deal with this, he sighed inwardly.

Right now though he had to try and reassure her. He smiled and sat back down on the bed, taking her small gloved hands in his own.

“I'll stay as long as you need me kid,” he told her warmly, and he was thankful when he saw the worry drain from her eyes and a slight smile flit across her lips.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

And what do I do now that I am staying.

He was at a loss. The previous night when he had stayed it had been more by accident than anything else she hadn't really asked him to stay. Well...she had in her sleep but that didn't really count.

He was dragged from his thoughts when he felt Rogue moving her fingers across his hand. She was gently tracing each knuckle up to his wrist and back down again.

“When they come out, does it hurt?”

At the time it had struck him as strange that after what she had seen him do she was asking if his mutation hurt. Not even any of the fine X-Men with all their high principles had asked him that. Not even Jean. In fact he could not remember anyone ever asking him.

“You know that you are the only one that asked,” he told her softly, enjoying the feel of her gloved hands tracing his bones. Her head shot up but she didn't release his hands and he was grateful for that.

“Asked what?” she was smiling slightly now and Logan felt a thrill go through him when it reached her eyes, making them sparkle.

No, bad Logan. Pull it together.

“If they hurt or not. No one else has ever asked me that,” he told her giving her hand a gentle squeeze.

“Seemed like a logical question,” she mumbled and he wondered if she felt silly for having asked him. He didn't want her to feel silly. He liked her curiosity. She wasn't afraid of him and that in itself made her a small miracle in his eyes.

They had somehow ended up in the same position as the night before with both of them lying down and his arms around her. Only this time her back was against his chest instead of his chest being used as a pillow. The only difference was that he left the room before she woke up.

He had held her tightly since she had fallen asleep and his conscience began to niggle at the back of his mind. He felt as though he was taking advantage of her while she was asleep and needing him. The wolverine told him that he was being stupid but he could not shake the feeling of guilt even though he was doing nothing wrong.

He reasoned with himself that she was in a deep sleep and would stay that way whether he was with her now or not.

But he was wrong.

As soon as he had closed the door softly behind him and stood in the silent corridor he had heard her breathing speed up and heard the rustle of her bedding as she began to thrash about the bed.

“No...no...don't,” he heard her mumbling and quickly went back into the room. The salty smell of fresh tears drifted to him as he strode back to the bed all thoughts of leaving her alone for the rest of the night were banished from his mind.

“Shh darlin', you're all right. I'm here,” he crooned laying back on the bed and hovering above her, supporting his weight on one arm and stroking her hair with the other - always careful to keep his skin from touching hers.

Damn. Gloves Logan. Gloves.

The effect was almost instantaneous. The creases that had appeared on her forehead smoothed out and she stopped her restless turning a small smile played across her lips and she let out a contented sigh. Logan lowered himself back to the same position he had been in and tucked her head under his chin, wrapping himself around her protectively.

The same thing happened the night after that and the night after that, until they both gave in and realized that for some reason she could only sleep when he was around. He knew that this embarrassed her to a certain degree and he didn't know why.

So they came to an unspoken agreement and Logan began to go straight to her room as soon as everybody else was asleep this time with a pair of gloves in hand.

While her nightmares seemed to plague her every night, sometimes even when he was there, his own only came to him when triggered by some action during the day.

He shivered - remembering the night he had stabbed her. Having Jean prodding about in his head had caused the memories to rise to the surface to be relived as he slept.

During the second week of his new duties within the school the students had a party of sorts. They had rigged up flashing lights in the ceiling and had cleared away any furniture that would get in the way. He learned from Storm later that it was something that happened about once a month and he had rolled his eyes at the very thought of putting up with that kind of mayhem more than once a Melania.

He had caught site of Marie sitting huddled in a corner watching as her fellow classmates danced on the make-shift dance floor. Logan could smell the sadness coming from her and could not stop himself from going to her to try and relieve her sadness. She was tugging at the sleeves of her top - something that he noticed she did whenever she was upset or agitated.

He looked down at her and she ripped her eyes from the dance floor to meet his own.

"Hey sugah," she mumbled looking up at him. Logan had to fight back the warmth that filled his soul whenever she called him that.

She's from the south Logan. It means nothing. Get a grip. He repeated it like a mantra within his head as he sat beside her, though he could not get rid of the feeling of joy that she was more at ease in his presence than anybody else's.

"How you holding up darlin'?" he asked her thankful that they did not need to yell when a softer song began to play and the lights stopped twirling around the room crazily. It made him edgy. The loud music and flashing lights - his heightened senses did not agree with such an atmosphere.

"Alright I guess. Dr Grey suggested that I should spend more time around the other students. It's hard though." she mumbled and Logan felt annoyed that the women could not just leave her be.

"Why's it hard?" he asked her, hoping that if she told him he could help her in some way.

"Well Erik doesn't really enjoy the company of 'children'. He finds them ignorant and dull," she told him.

So it was the guys in her head that were holding her back as well as her own fears. He didn't want to know what his own issues were.

"You on the other hand. It just seems to be the boys you have a problem with and I don't know why. They all seem nice enough,"

I know why.

Even then whenever one of the many male members of the student body happened to walk past their spot he could smell their hmm 'interest' peek and he had never exercised so much self-control in his life.

They had talked for a while that night on different things before Marie had began to drift off to sleep. He cupped her face in his gloved hands and smiled as she leaned into his hand. He wondered how long she had gone without such contact. He had noticed that though she was initially withdrawn and distant she had quickly began to accept his touch - either when he soothed her upon waking from a nightmare or when he held her while she slept. And yet during the day she would shy away from contact (both physical and verbal) with the many students that filled the building

He had watched her sleep for sometime before his own eyes began to grow heavy. During the first few nights he had stayed awake watching her as she slept but she had noticed his growing weariness and had told him point blank to either sleep or stay away. The later wasn't even an option so he too had begun to sleep, more peacefully than he could ever remember doing.

I knew there was a reason I didn't like those flashing lights. He growled as he entered the empty danger room his mind still going over past events.

As soon as he had closed his eyes that night he was once again in a lab.

Green lights blaring down in him with tubes and needles being forced into his body his healing factor making quick work of closing the punctures.

Logan always knew when he was dreaming but was never able to wake himself up, his mind forcing him to live through the nightmares that had been his life. It did not matter how hard he tried to force his mind away from the half known memories or pry his eyes open nothing worked and he was left to face his demons.

But this night was different.

He heard a soft voice whispering to him and felt fingers brushing through his hair. He felt his heart rate begin to slow before he was lost completely within his mind and the images of pain drifted to nothing until all he was focusing on was the gentle touch of fingers moving through his hair and the soft words.

“Your fine Logan, it's only a dream.” the words being whispered to him became clearer and his eyes opened slowly. He found his head resting against someone’s shoulder and he was being rocked also.

Marie.

The door of the danger room swung open and his class walked through grim expressions set on their faces.

None of them saw the soft smile that was now gracing their teacher's usually grim face.

Logan's thoughts were still focused on that night. He had never before woken up to being cared for, used to just looking after himself - either falling into a fitful sleep or staying awake for the rest of the night. He had liked the feeling.

He quickly wiped the smile from his face and spun around, every inch the growling, gruff man everyone had gotten to know.

He faced the class. Marie was the only one who got to see the softer side of him and he was determined to keep it that way.

"Your late," he snapped.

---

Professor Charles Xavier looked on as his former students argued with the loner that was Wolverine.

After Scott had found Logan coming from their newest students room in the early hours of the morning all hell had broken loose and his office now had all three of his former pupils, Logan and Rogue within it.

Xavier noticed that though the young girl had many feelings and emotions linked to the conversation at hand she was standing silent as the adults continued to yell at each other – each fighting to put their own case across. The look on her face and the feelings he was picking up from her were beginning to worry him. He was aware that she could carry out whole conversations with the personalities now residing in her mind and by the expression on her face that was what she was now doing. He did not want to invade her privacy by reading her mind so instead he just kept an eye on her while waiting for the two men to finish arguing.

“Listen boy scout,” Logan snarled at Scott as the two men faced each other in front of his desk.

“She was making herself ill, she needed to sleep,” explained the rough speaking cage fighter, every muscle in his body straining to attack the other man but he was holding himself back with amazing self-restraint.

Charles could read from the man that he was trying his best to stay calm (due entirely to the presence of one little southern girl) but was rapidly losing the battle. Scott was pushing him too much.

“Oh she needed to sleep. Tell we just where you came into that equation?” spat Scott, refusing to back down an inch. The professor knew that his ex-student felt very strongly about the subject, his thoughts and feelings steaming from the deep brotherly affection he had developed for the untouchable girl.

“I don't know why, I don't know how and I don't really care as long as it works but she can only sleep properly when I am with her.” Logan snapped running a hand through his hair and spinning to face Xavier his eyes begging.

Come on wheels help me out here will ya. This ain't doing Marie any good.

Charles picked up on the mental plea immediately and nodded his head he could now feel the distress coming from the girl in waves and by the frantic glances that Jean kept throwing her he wasn't the only one picking up on her feelings.

“Oh how convenient.” continued Scott, not one to be sidetracked from his views if he felt strong enough about them.

“She is sixteen years old you have no right to be in her room at all,” the disgust fairly dripped from the other man's words.

That did it.

Xavier watched as the restraint that Logan had been exercising snapped and he moved towards the other man, anger filling his mind. Everyone in the room tensed as the metallic sound of the mutant’s claws sliding from his arms filled the room.

“Now you listen to me bub and you listen good,” hissed Logan.

“I would never and will never do anything to hurt Marie. She needed me and I went to her. We have done nothing to be ashamed of,”

Charles judging this a good time to interrupt went to speak only to have his thoughts cut of when he heard something from Rogue.

“Why can't they just leave us alone?” the girl was screaming within her mind where only he and possibly Jean could hear her.

He spun his gaze back to the youngest person in the room and saw her moving slowly backwards until she was against the wall and she slid down it. He watched as she drew her knees up to her chest buried her head in her arms and just breathed.

He reached out with his mind until he found hers not liking to invade the privacy of her mind but seeing no other way to judge her well fare.

He had never come across anything like it.

Within the young girls mind two very dominant mutants were trying to calm her down. Judging by the real Logan's protective attitude to the young runaway he was not surprised by the mental Logan's reaction to what was happening in the room but it was Eric's response to the whole situation that came as the biggest surprise.

He was trying his level best to calm the young girl down, trying to sooth her and console her. Both of the mutants' voices were ringing within the child's head and he was hardly surprised that she seemed to fall in on herself moving her hands to cover her ears. Trying to protect herself from the outward onslaught of noise and voices and focus on what was happening within her own mind.

Xavier had had enough.

He understood the case that Scott had brought to him but before them all was a girl broken, battered and scared who needed support and acceptance. Had he not been the one to encourage Logan to go to her to begin with. Yes. Scott had to realise that this was a special case.

He allowed his voice to ring clear through everyone's minds. Not wanting to upset Rogue any further by trying to raise his voice over that of Scott and Logan.

Silence.

His order was immediately obeyed and all eyes swung to him to only follow his gaze to the young girl curled up against the wall.

Logan immediately moved towards the still figure - concern and worry written plain and clear across his rough features. Scott made a move to stop the other mutant only to me stopped by Xavier's voice.

Leave them Scott. Do not interfere.

Those present in the room watched in amazement and wonder as the rough talking, violent man crouched down before the girl and reached out towards her, placing a hand on her knee and speaking with gentleness that none thought he was capable of.

“Marie...” he whispered, his gloved hand moving from her knee to the back of her head and stoking her hair soothingly.

“Baby.” he whispered again, inching closer to her.

The professor continued to listen into Rogue's thoughts.

“Marie you need to answer him he is worried sick. Baby, you need to talk to him,” that was the voice of Logan, whispered softly within the silent girl's mind and yet still no outward sign of her hearing him was shown.

“Come now child,” that was Eric now. Charles listened intently to his old friends words wondering what he would say to the troubled girl in his attempt to help her. “You need to calm down. You are worrying us. I know you do not want to but you need to speak.” His old friend’s voice was calm and reassuring as he tried to persuade the girl to come out of her shell.

“Why can't they just leave us alone?” Rogue's own voice now rang clearly through her mind and it was rich with tears. “You were only helping me,” her word were directed at Logan and Xavier could feel the anger coming from her mental passenger, though it was being over-ridden by his concern for the girl.

“We were doing nothing wrong,” she continued sadly and Xavier quickly picked up on the images that flashed through her mind to accompany her words. They were scenes of just sitting in silence or talking and then the overwhelming sense of safety and peace that flooded her when Logan held her at night. Charles' viewing of the images was cut short when she continued.

“What will I do if you can't come to me anymore? I will lose my mind.”

“Marie I won't let that happen but you have to talk out loud baby. You have to let them know you are all right.” crooned Logan

“He is right child you have to speak. Charles will not allow any decisions to be made that will not be to your benefit. Believe me when I say this.”

Xavier was somewhat shocked by his old friend announcement. Despite their differences Eric trusted him to do the right thing where the girl was concerned.

He pulled himself from her mind and refocused on what was happening within his office.

Logan was still crouched before the silent girl. Still stroking her hair and trying to talk her into opening up to him while Ororo, Jean and Scott stood and watched.

“Come on sweetheart you need to talk to me.” Logan mumbled quietly.

Xavier could feel the surprise and shock that came in waves from the others in the room. None of them had ever thought that this man whom they had all seen kill without remorse would ever be able to approach someone with such care and gentleness.

Something in his words or tone finally seemed to penetrate Rogue's mind and she slowly raised her head from her knees and gazed at the man in front of her with misty eyes.

“That's it baby.” whispered Logan, moving his hand down the side of her head to caress the girl's face tenderly – as though he was afraid to break her.

Xavier could only smile – despite the seriousness of the situation, as he observed for himself the changes that the young girl had brought upon the man without a past.

He bided his time to speak not wanting to rush the young woman to open up any further when she was not yet ready or to leave when it was clear to all present that she needed the rough man's reassurance.

He watched fascinated as the girl slowly retreated from her mind and recognition lit her eyes as she stared into Logan's.

She reached out a shaking hand and traced his forehead and cheek and from the images that flew threw Logan's mind Xavier got the impression that this was a regular occurrence between the two of them.

“Logan,” she breathed, “It's too loud, too many voices.”

Charles could hear a low rumble come from deep within the other man's chest but it never made it to his throat. Instead he smiled faintly at the girl and spoke gently to her.

“I know baby, I'm sorry. We'll all be more quiet now.”

“Won't we Charles.” the statement was growled into his mind and he nodded in agreement giving all if his ex pupils a meaningful look accompanied by a warning.

I know you all feel strongly about this and you will all get the opportunity to voice your concerns but not now. Now we focus on what Rogue need. Understood.

After getting confirmation from each of them and from Scott rather grudgingly he turned his attention back to the couple on the floor.

This is going to be very enlightening.

Please, please, please, let me know what you think. I was so stuck when it came to this chapter and I would love to know if I got it right.

Thanks

:)

 

Chapter 8

Mare sat huddled into the wall trying to vanish into it, trying her best to be invisible. If only she had a useful mutation that could make her vanish or like that girl in her class...Kitty yeah that was her name, now her mutation was useful. She could walk through walls, doors...anything really.

And what do I get. I get to suck people dry just by touching them.

She had been half way through her morning maths class with Storm when she had the eerie sensation of someone being in her head. It wasn't Logan – who had been complaining about how boring the subject was.

"Its times like this that make cage fighting look damn appealing", he had commented dryly while she was trying her best to concentrate.

It had not been David who had seemed to have vanished thanks to the presence of the two stronger mutants.

And it was not Erik who had been picking apart Ororo's teaching techniques and formulae. Marie actually found the whole thing pretty amusing which made concentrating even harder.

"You may laugh my girl but she is ruining your mind," he had snapped in mock annoyance and Marie had nearly burst out laughing when an image of him jumping up and down in a childish fit of annoyance and pulling at his hair had flitted through her mind.

"I resent that", his voice had brushed through her mind but held a hint of amusement even though he was laughing at his own expense – something that she could not imagine the real Magneto doing in a hundred years.

It had been during this exchange that she had felt the slight shift within her mind, only a second before the professor's voice had filled her senses.

Funny, until Logan and Erik I would never have known if someone else was in my head or not.

"Rogue could you please come to my office, Ororo already knows,"

Her gaze had immediately jumped from her notes to her teacher who had smiled faintly and nodded her head. Not wasting any time she had quickly packed her work away and left the room – receiving more than one curious glance from the other students.

Marie knew that they thought she was strange. Viewing her as somewhat of an oddity since she hardly spoke or interacted with anyone other than the teachers and Logan. She couldn't help it. Even at home she had not been much of an outgoing person and then when her mutation had manifested itself she had shelled herself up - protecting herself as best she could. And now she had the added strain of what was going on within her mind. Though both Logan and Erik were getting better at staying quiet she still had the constant buzzing of memories that weren't hers within her mind. It was almost as though her brain was trying to file them away and in order to do so had to play through them all to put them in the right category. Because of this she could not stand loud noises or much chatter only just managing to make it through her classes. If Logan did not come to her to help her sleep she had no doubt she would be crazy by now.

Three weeks.

It had been three weeks since the first night that she had sobbed all over him and now he slept in her room every night.

She blushed at the thought. She had a fair idea of what the many female students thought of their new self-defence teacher - having overheard more than one discussion on the subject - and was more than aware that if any of them ever found out that she spent every night in his arms she would gain herself a lot of enemies (either that or a lot of friends).

She shook her head at the idea though the blush continued to stain her pale cheeks a deep red colour. If they ever did find out, none of them would realize just how much she would give to be able to sleep the whole night through by herself. She hated being a hindrance to the man who had already helped her so much. Not to mention it made her feel like a three year old.

After the night he had spent with her when he had been released from the infirmary she had tried her best to avoid him. He had left her room pretty early and she had had plenty of time to think over what had happened and she was mortified by the whole thing. She was so glad that he had been nowhere in sight when she and Scott had gone to breakfast that morning. Her hopes of avoiding him had been short lived however as he had strode into her line of sight just after she had made herself comfortable at an abandoned table while Scott and Ororo got their breakfast – there was another two people whose lives she had disrupted.

And so had begun a terrible day of trying to avoid the one person in whose company she felt at ease and...Safe.

She had gone to her classes and stayed silent as always - the teachers knowing better than to try and draw her out. She did the work assigned – with a little help from Erik who loved the chance to exercise his thinking abilities, and then she would leave. She sat silently at dinner and she sat silently through study time.

When she had gone to bed that night she had finally thought she would be able to sleep properly, thinking that maybe the worry she had felt over Logan had been the cause of her sleepless nights. She was wrong. She had known a few minutes of blissful rest when her mind had filled with green lights and barbed wires. Men bearing guns and needles. Gas chambers and metal, liquid filled tanks. She cried out in terror as needles broke through her skin and her lungs filled with water...or was it something else.

Marie had bolted awake, tears and sweat running down her face, the images still fresh in her mind and she had darted straight for her bedroom door and across the hall to the bathroom. A shadow had registered in her mind as she shut the door but she paid it no attention. She was sick repeatedly and all the while helpless sobs tore through her body.

It wasn't fair! She had slept fine the night before when Logan had been with her. Why couldn't she sleep now when she needed it?

She leaned her head against the cool side of the bath and breathed, still crying violently as she gulped air into her lungs.

"Shh baby you are all right. They are only nightmare, nothing else," Logan soothed in her head.

Since when do you call me baby? She asked him tiredly, her mental voice not registering quite so many of her sobs, though it was still strained with effort and sleep.

Logan gave the impression of being shy which did not really sit right with his appearance.

"Well you are so small and well...mm...breakable looking...yeah that's it. So 'baby' seems to fit darlin'," he replied by way of an explanation stuttering and tripping over his words.

Marie could only nod at his rushed explanation as she stood shakily up from her bent position and she started the tap, running warm water into the sink, sighing deeply.

She stared at her reflection in the mirror above the sink. Her hair was a mess, her face was drawn, and her eyes were bloodshot and swollen.

I look terrible.

"Personally I like the bed head look," Logan's cheeky remark filled her mind and she felt a blush begin to spread up her face from her neck. She knew that he was only trying to make her feel better but she could not stop her reaction to his words.

"Leave the child alone, she does not need your comments," Erik's calm and mature tone washed though her mind, reminding her a little of the calming effect her grandfather had had upon her.

"What, it's cute," Logan chirped in before going silent.

"Are you all right Anna," he asked her gently and she felt as though someone had put their arm around her – supporting her.

"Anna? Listen here Mr, her name is Marie or Rogue to you," Logan snarled at the other man.

"Actually neither. You don't get to call her anything," he added, shouting angrily at the older man.

"No Logan. I don't mind, honestly," she told him quickly splashing her face with water, it wasn't often that anyone called her that and she liked the idea of the two in her head being able to call her by names very few in the outside world did.

Logan continued to grumble moodily to himself as she quickly dried her face and made her way back to her bedroom. She closed the door quietly and sat back on her bed.

She knew a few seconds of peace before the images began to assault her mind again and she felt both Logan and Erik begin to worry within her mind as her panic grew.

"Darlin' calm down. Breathe deeply you are going to have a panic attack if you don't,"

"Child try to think of something else,"

Nothing worked. No matter how hard she tried to push the dark and terrifying memories of the two men away from her mind they would not budge but only seemed to strengthen in force.

She felt her breathing begin to get out of control and felt her throat close as she struggled for breath. She clutched at her stomach, trying to hold herself together as the feeling of flying apart filled her. She tried to drag air into her lungs but nothing was happening. The men in her head were still trying to help her calm down but nothing they were saying was helping.

Then she felt strong hands grip her shoulders and she opened her eyes to look into the face of a very worried looking Logan. A very solid, real looking Logan.

"Finally, he took his own sweet time in getting here..." Logan and Erik continued to insult the real him within her head and Marie thought it was strange that he had started to refer to himself as another person.

She gripped at his arms; he was her lifeline grounding her when she needed it. And she needed it right now.

"Lo...Lo...Lo...gan," she managed to gasp in between erratic breaths feeling guilty for dragging him from his room but glad that he was with her all the same.

"Marie calm down. Just breath darlin' OK," he told her, his concern coming through thick in his voice.

"This guy is a genius. Idiot! What do you think she is trying to do? How about you try some useful advice," Marie caught bits of speech through her panicking mind from her mental Logan.

"Well he is you and you are not too bright..." Erik replied and the conversation drifted away as she tried her best to drag more air into her struggling lungs.

As she felt her heart beat slow down and her breathing became steadier she released the death like grip she had had on Logan's arms.

I've gone and disturbed him again. Why can't I make it through one day without putting someone's life on hold? I made it for eight months alone for goodness sake and now I can't even make it one night. I'm pathetic.

"That's it sweetheart, you're doin' good," Logan's voice washed over her making her feel safe and secure.

Sweetheart...Mum used to call me that.

She finally made the effort and released his arm completely feeling stupid and a hindrance. She noticed that he was wearing a long sleeved shirt and was thankful for this. She did have her gloves on but it made her feel a lot more secure when others were covered as well as herself.

"I'm sorry Logan. Did I wake you up?" she asked him quietly feeling nervous and silly. Why couldn't she just sleep normally like every other teenager in the mansion? She fixed her gaze on her lap, twisting her fingers together, not wanting to see the look of annoyance that would undoubtedly fill Logan's eyes.

"Nah, I was awake anyway," the flippant and carefree manner of his answer was not the answer Marie had been expecting and she could not help but smile slightly.

At least I didn't wake him up.

"I thought that after last night I would be able to sleep," she explained and she quickly stole a glance at him only to look quickly away again when she saw his own eyes resting intently upon her.

"I wouldn't have tried otherwise," she finished lamely her voice loosing strength.

Good going Marie. Like he cares. Stupid girl.

She got no reply and an uncomfortable silence filled the room, But she didn't care he was here and the madness within her mind was starting to still, not entirely but enough for her to be able to focus on other things apart from the nightmare images. Erik and Logan were still arguing about something but that was really no big change.

"...'sweetheart' what right have you to – Wait. What is that supposed to mean?"

"Yeah we don't always fight,"

Suuurre you don't, Marie decided to go along with them, if they didn't mind the weird thing they had going on then who was she to interfere.

She had gotten so caught up with the voices in her mind that she did not notice that Logan had moved until he got of the bed to leave.

No. No. No. No. He can't go. He has to stay. He has to stay with me longer.

Without even thinking she lurched forward and grabbed his arm with her hand trying to keep him with her. His gaze darted to her and realizing what she had done she released him as quickly as she had grabbed him.

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

"Sorry," she mumbled quickly looking down at her lap again.

Of course he doesn't want to stay. The last thing he wants to deal with is a teenager who is falling apart. I hardly even gave him a chance when he gave me a ride. And now I am forcing myself into his life. This is not good.

"Marie, why don't you just ask him? He won't be mad," her mental Logan reassured her, pausing in the middle of a rant to Erik.

How do you know? She asked him childishly, feeling that she had already mortified herself enough for one day.

"Darlin' he stayed last night didn't he. And you are kiddin' aren't ya? He's me," Marie was never one for violence but she really wanted to wipe the smug look right of her mental Logan's imagined face.

Well here goes nothing.

"Just...just don't go...please," her voice came out small and quiet as she tried to hold herself together. She was desperate. His presence somehow made her mind calmer almost like normal and she needed that feeling right now.

She felt her heart leap in her chest when he gave her a heart stopping smile and sat back beside her, taking her hand in his own. She was amazed at how large his hands were in comparison to her own.

"I'll stay as long as you need me, kid," his words filled her soul with light and happiness and she could not help but smile at him as she felt the panic of him leaving her drain from her body.

Once the euphoria of him staying with her faded away the awkwardness of the situation registered in her mind.

What to do, what to do?

She concentrated on their joined hands while trying her best not to blush – she had heard some of the girls talking about him that day and knew that any of them would jump at the chance to be in her place.

Marie began to trace the bones in the hand that she was now cradling in her own. No stranger would ever know what was lying beneath the surface of his skin. The memory of the hidden blades going through her chest flitted through her mind as she continued to move her fingers gently and slowly over his.

"You know that you are the only one that asked,"

What?

She raised her head from her study of his hand and focused on his face.

"Asked what?" she smiled at him, he had spent last night with her and now he was sitting with her and though she had nearly killed him with her touch – twice – he hadn't once flinched away from her.

"If they hurt or not,"

Oh that. Well they looked sore.

"Well it seemed like a logical question," she told him quietly not knowing if her asking him that had been a good thing or a bad thing. She had only been in his truck for a matter of minutes and had been trying to act with a confidence that she did not have. That included being cheeky.

They spoke for sometime of everything and nothing, shifting at some point until both of their backs were against the wall. Marie ended up resting her head on his shoulder not feeling any shyness at all and she fell asleep listening to his deep voice and steady breathing while still tracing his hands.

Marie had hoped against hope that she would not be an annoyance any longer to him after that night but it did not happen. The following two nights she was woken by the strength of her nightmares and Logan came to her in both cases. She found that she could only sleep through the whole night – well...in most cases anyway, when he was with her. She found that she was liking it as well which was surely a very dangerous thing. Logan was a loner. He would get the itch to leave eventually and then all she would be left with would be nightmares.

She hated needing to rely on people. She hated being needy. She hated being in the way. She hated not being able to pay those people back who helped her. But she loved the safety that falling asleep in Logan's arms gave her.

It was not until one night during the second week when Logan had began to moan in his sleep, waking her up, that she had been able to become of use.

She had felt his grip on her waist tighten and could feel his heart beat thumping violently against her back and his usually deep, heavy breathing became quick and panicked.

She did not know what to do. The last time this had happened she had been stabbed and had nearly killed him. But then she had not gone to him until he was pretty far into his nightmares. She turned around in his arms until she was facing him and edged up the bed until she was half laying, half sitting against the wall and her shoulder was at his head. With his arms still wrapped tightly around her it had not been too difficult for her to draw his head to her shoulder.

"Don't you even think about it darlin'," her mental Logan warned her, anger and worry lacing every word as it brushed at her mind, "Just get away from him, he might hurt you,"

Erik no doubt already knew that there was no point in arguing with her so he settled for threatening to turn Logan into a human puppet again if he hurt her. Marie thought the whole thing was weird since in the flesh Erik had killed her in his machine.

She tried to tune out the bickering pair in her head and she began to thread her fingers through the real Logan's hair, trying to soothe him in the same way her mother had when she was little.

His restless movements began to stop before they had even had the chance to begin and the sounds of distress coming from his throat died down.

"You're fine Logan, it's only a dream," she crooned knowing nothing else to say. She knew that it was not only a dream but his life that he was reliving and the past definitely had a way of ruining your future.

"Marie," he panted, his voice alarmed but still thick with sleep.

She smiled at him and nodded her head. He was the only one who knew her name in the whole mansion and she loved it when he called her by her given name.

"Hey sugar, the one and only," she whispered trying to sound light and flippant though it was the last thing that she felt like. She wanted to scream at the injustice of it all.

There was no conversation between them that night. He had put his hand on her waist and gently turned her around until she was in the position she had been in before. She closed her eyes and sighed in contentment as she cuddled against him, gripping the hand that was wrapped securely around her waist. She began to trace his hands again with her fingers and she felt him chuckle slightly as his chest moved.

"Thank you, Marie," he whispered hoarsely and she felt him press a light kiss to the top of her head her hair protecting him from her skin.

"Any time Logan," she told him snuggling deeper into his embrace.

Yes everything had been going fine.

Logan would come to her room when everyone else was asleep and he would stay with her until as late in the morning as he could, often leaving for his own room at about five – in a building full of people some of whom were ridiculously early riser it was better to be safe than sorry. It was not that they were ashamed of what was happening but it seemed to be a part of their unspoken arrangement. Marie knew that their relationship would be frowned upon but she knew that she would not be able to survive without him. Maybe at some point in the future. But not now. Not yet. He was her rock. With him she could have about six hours of undisturbed sleep a night – depending on when the last person went to bed. Some nights she still had nightmare despite the fact that he was there and he would just hold her as she cried into his chest. On nights like these sleep was usually impossible and so they began to ask each other questions.

Logan's very first question had been to tell him anything. He had not specified what; just that she was to tell him anything. So she said the first thing that came to her mind.

"I hate onions," she had blushed so hard that she thought she was going to set the bed on fire like that Pyro boy in her classes. She could feel Logan's laughter vibrating through her body as his chest began to rumble.

"Well at least I know not to order that on a pizza," he laughed tightening his hold on her – though she still held his hand with her own.

"You sure do," she answered lightly deciding to go along with him and try to forget all her problems. And so the night continued. Marie found that because of his lack of memory her questions were limited but it did not stop her.

So they continued to ask each other questions most nights whenever a nightmare woke either of them up and sleep became impossible.

There was nothing wrong with what either of them had done. Logan had never made her feel uncomfortable or tried to take advantage of her and yet here she was trying to block out the noise coming from the argument that was dealing with that very idea.

The noise coming from the two men and the others in the room was assaulting her senses and then when Erik and Logan began to make their opinions known she thoughts she was going to go mad. She slammed her hands over her ears and tried to make herself as small as she could.

Why can't they just leave us alone? She screamed in her mind. They had been doing nothing wrong. Only sleeping and talking, nothing questionable or bad.

The conversation inside her head continued and all the while she pressed her hands tighter and tighter over her ears. There was too much noise. Too many voices. She delved deeper into the conversation taking place within her mind trying to get as far away from the shouting as she could.

She felt something land on her knee and looked. It was a hand.

The noise filling the room had stopped.

"Come on sweetheart you need to talk to me,"

Logan...

Marie looked up slowly and saw him crouched in front of her, his eyes filled with worry.

Logan...

"That's it baby," he whispered to her and Marie recognised the endearment as one that her mental Logan used.

She reached out a shaky gloved hand and traced his face gently. She ran her fingers along his forehead and down his cheek. She knew that she confused him whenever she did this – which was usually every morning – but she was reassuring herself that he was well and whole. She was tracing the very places where his face had opened up when she had taken his mutation.

"Logan," she sighed – why was talking so hard so suddenly? "It's too loud, too many voices,"

I sound like such a baby but my mind is on fire, she thought desperately but she knew that Logan would look after her. That had been the one thing that he had proved over the past weeks. He was always there for her.

"I know baby, I'm sorry. We'll all be quieter now," he told her softly and his words cooled her mind.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, she repeated over and over in her mind as all noise in the room stopped and only the sound of breathing could be heard.

"That's it baby, just breath, no one will talk until you are ready," Logan soothed within her mind as she fell into the open arms of the Logan in front of her, shuddering against his chest as she tried to concentrate on keeping herself together.

"I'm sorry Logan," she spoke into his chest, his arms holding her to him and rocking her slowly on the floor. For a minute there was only the two of them just as it had been every night for the past three weeks.

"I didn't mean to cause you trouble," she finished, closing her eyes and resting her head against his shoulder.

She could feel his gloved hands stroking through her hair and did not want to have to give this up. He was the first person to show no fear of her since her mutation appeared and she did not want to lose him. But she also did not want to get him into trouble or make things difficult for him.

"You didn't Marie," he whispered above her head.

"He's right there Marie, it is other people and their problems that have caused all the trouble. They're not willing to try and understand and so jump to conclusions that they have no right to," Logan announced within her mind as he all but growled it at her.

"As much as I hate to agree with him, he is correct child, and if he did not help you sleep at night you would become very ill. If these do-gooders cannot recognise this for what it is then it is them that are at fault, not you,"


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Logan sat propped up against the wall watching Marie sleeping peacefully within his arms as he thought about what had happened in the professor's office.

He had to admit that Scott did have a point with his argument and if Logan was any other man he would probably have need to be concerned. But he was not. And the very thought that someone had even considered that he would take advantage of Marie in anyway had been enough to spark his anger. He had tried to keep it together and speak as steadily and quietly as he could – knowing how loud noises effected Marie – but it had became impossible as Scott continued to hint at all kinds of things with his dripping words. Logan actually felt proud of the fact that he had left the guy in one piece because the way they he was going he was blatantly asking to lose a limb.

When he had seen Marie curled against the wall, her hands pressed against her ears his heart had nearly broken and his anger had evaporated.

The vacant expression in her eyes when she lifted her head from her knees had worried him. He had seen her like this on some nights when her nightmares had been worse than usual and she had told him that it was when the guys in her head were trying to calm her down and get her to come out of her head. He hated it. And though their bodies were close he felt as though she was as far away as she could be. At a place where he could not reach her until she wished to come back to him.

Hope had filled him when her small hand had came towards his face just as she always did when she woke up every morning. He blocked out the four people watching them and concentrated entirely on the broken girl before him.

She had finally came back to him and the glazed look had cleared from her eyes.

When she fell into his arms he did what he did every night when she woke from a dream and held her close and tightly, rocking her in his arms. He did not care if there were others in the room.

Let them watch and see what conclusion they jump to this time, he thought savagely a part of his mind thinking that Xavier would more than likely have heard him.

When he heard Marie's muffled apology into his chest his anger had flared to life once again. He had wanted to help her...no, needed to help her. In little under a month she had became his life – damn it did any of them think that he would get himself stuck teaching kids if he didn't have a really good reason - and he would do anything in his power to help her and if that included going through this then so be it.

Once Marie had calmed down enough they had both climbed to their feet and Marie had tucked herself into his side in a public display of affection that neither of them had shown before, always keeping their daily contact to a minimum. He wrapped his arm around her and held her close, knowing that if he didn't she would think that he didn't want her. She put her small hand over his own that was resting on her hip. She was still far too thin for it to be healthy.

He read the faces of the people watching them. They all appeared to be in shock.

He could also smell the pungent scent of jealousy coming Jean and his gaze had swung to her.

What does she have to be jealous over? She's engaged! Sure I flirted a little but come on...

It was then that he realized that tough he had found the red headed doctor very attractive the wolverine within him had not really made a connection with the woman. No, only with Marie. Never before had he felt this connection before.

He had seen Charles throw him a curious glance and had quickly cleared his thoughts trying to concentrate on the matter at hand.

Everyone was quiet and if he hadn't been able to smell the anger coming from Scott and a little from Ororo he would have thought what had passed before had never happened.

They had talked for some time and had reached an agreement much to Scott's annoyance. Logan could tell that the others in the room were not too happy about the decision that was reached but there was nothing that any of them could do about it. This was Marie's benefit so they could all stuff their morals and fine principles up their -

"Logan..."

His thoughts were cut off when Marie shifted against him burying herself deeper into his side and wrapping her arm around him tighter. He stroked her hair softly.

"Shh I'm here darlin' everything is fine," he crooned gently trying to lull her back into a peaceful sleep before she woke fully.

"Don't leave me..." she cried softly clutching at his shirt and screwing it up between her fingers.

"Don't let them, please," she continued and Logan felt his heart break for the second time that day. She was dreaming about what had happened in Xavier's office.

"I'm not going anywhere darlin'," he whispered shifting down the bed and wrapping his arms around her securely while she curled into his chest, sighing in relief.

"I'm not going anywhere baby,"