“…there have been several reports of the cure’s effects across the world. While many ex-mutants continue to live a normal life as a human, there have been multiple instances where these ex-mutants’ powers are resurfacing. The toll is currently at several hundred and growing….”

Marie droned out the television set that she was watching in the rec room. She was shell-shocked and her breathing was beginning to accelerate quite rapidly. The cure…didn’t work? How could this be? She had been power-free for nearly a month now. Wouldn’t some sign have presented itself by now if the cure, was in fact, defected? She turned her attention back to the news-lady on the television.

“We have just received a statement from Worthington Industries about the mutant cure problem. Warren Worthington II commented on this issue moments ago,” the lady continued, all serious with wide eyes. Suddenly she was gone and instead the television showed what appeared to be some sort of press conference. At the center there was a podium with a white-haired man speaking to the crowd of cameras and news reporters.

“While it has taken us some time to consider all possible reasons why our mutant cure’s effects are wearing off, we have finally come to a single conclusion,” began Warren Worthington II. He paused momentarily, looking down at the podium, trying to figure out how to word his thoughts properly. Marie thought the sight of him was rather funny, but her laugh came out as an anxious sigh.

Warren Worthington II suddenly looked up at the cameras once again. Finally, he stated, “We believe that the cure’s effects won’t wear off for all mutants. The mutants who will be affected will be those who demonstrate a certain amount of…power with their mutation. We believe, ladies and gentlemen, that the cure was not strong enough to sedate the world’s most powerful mutants.”

The crowd suddenly roared with shouts and questions. All Marie could do was stare motionlessly at the television screen. Of course, the human public will have a big problem with this news. They will be terrified of these powerful mutants receiving their powers back. What about Magneto? He was the biggest threat to human kind. Marie had no doubt in her mind that Magneto would receive his powers back.

Suddenly it all made sense. Marie hadn’t gotten her powers back because it only happened to powerfull mutants. Marie had a wimpy mutation. She had the hardest time struggling for her place with the X-Men when she had them. While all of the other junior team members could do something useful in combat, Marie had been pretty much screwed. Peter could use his organic metal to crush about anything and anyone. Kitty could phase when any threat prevented itself to her. Bobby could use his freezing powers as a good weapon.

Marie’s heart suddenly swelled up. She had avoided thinking about Bobby for most of these past couple of weeks. Ever since their break-up, Marie had gotten tears in her eyes at the thought of him. After everything she had done for him, had gotten the freaking cure for him, he had the guts to dump her.

Marie took a deep breath and tried to focus on something else. Not the fact that her boyfriend had dumped her. Not the fact that he had asked out Kitty the same night. No. She was going to focus on herself and about this cure problem.

She liked not having her powers. She was now able to walk around wearing whatever she wanted, which had lately been a tank top and mini-skirt. She had a great body and enjoyed showing it off for a change. The boys at the mansion had been paying a lot more attention to her lately. She smirked each time she caught them drooling out of the corner of her eyes.

At the same time, she was a bit upset about her non-existent powers. While living at the mansion these past few weeks, she had begun to feel like an outcast. She was living at a mansion full of mutants and noticed all of the whispering that was being done behind her back. The students couldn’t believe that an X-Man had gotten the cure. Marie was a traitor to her own kind. She didn’t fit in with the junior team anymore. Her power may have been useless, but now that she was completely powerless, she was even more of a waste of space.

Marie shook that thought from her head. She didn’t want to question her place with the X-Men. This was the one place she had ever truly felt at home. Bobby or no Bobby, she had several friends here. Like Ororo. She as a great friend and mentor. ‘Ro had taught Marie several things since joining the X-Men. She was always there for Marie in times of need and when she needed advice.

She had Jubes, too. That chick could make Marie laugh on her darkest days. Kitty used to make her laugh, too, but after stabbing Marie in the back by going out with Bobby, Marie had ended their friendship quite abruptly. There was just something wrong with a friend who would steal someone’s boyfriend. Marie knew she sounded childish, but still, it was wrong.

The thought of ex-friends suddenly had Marie thinking some depressing thoughts. The professor had always been there for her and had become somewhat of a fatherly figure to her. He had helped Marie deal with her powers and try to find some good in them. The mansion just didn’t seem like home without him.

She missed Scott, too, and tried to hold back tears at the thought of him. Sure, he had changed a lot after Jean’s death. They had been really close during Marie’s first few months at the mansion, though. His sudden death at that terrible lake had upset Marie for a great time. She missed Jean somewhat too. They hadn’t really been the closest of friends, but Marie was still upset about Jean’s tragic end on Alcatraz Island. It must have killed Logan to rid Jean of her life.

Logan. He had been Marie’s first friend at the mansion. He was the one who convinced Marie to stay at the mansion and eventually become an X-Man. After Jean’s first death, he had been rather upset, and Marie had been there to comfort him when he needed a friend. They remained good friends and he even helped her with her training on the junior team.

Once Marie got the cure and Jean died for the second time, this time at the hands of Logan, things between them changed. They have barely spoken a word to each other in the last month. Marie couldn’t help feeling that Logan was angry with her. Every time she saw him in the hallway, he couldn’t even look at her. Marie could bet that Logan hadn’t wanted for her to take the cure. His little reverse psychology hadn’t worked on her when they talked before she left last month.

Oh, well. That’s just another person who’s disgusted at her choice to take the cure. Logan could go sulk off by himself. She wasn’t going to let it affect her one bit. No way.

Three kids walked into the room at that moment. After noticing her presence, they quickly scrambled out. Marie took a deep breath and rose from the couch she was sprawled on. Time to go see if the others have heard about the latest cure news.

Marie tapped lightly on the Professor’s office door. No, she thought to herself. The Professor was gone and this office now belonged to ‘Ro, who had taken over the role of headmaster at the Xavier Institute. Ever since his death the many students at the Institute had taken to going to ‘Ro for advice and she has been helping them develop and understand their powers. While Marie felt that no one could ever take the Professor’s place, she thought that ‘Ro was doing a great job with this new responsibility.

She could hear voices on the other side of the door. Someone was speaking with an angry voice, almost near yelling, and Marie suddenly worried if it was a bad time to interrupt. She was about to turn around and come back later when she heard Ororo’s soft voice telling her to come in. Quite nervously, Marie opened the door and took in the scene before her.

Logan had his back to the door and was standing up with both fists clenched as if he was resisting the urge to pop out his claws at any moment. ‘Ro was leaning slightly on her desk, her head looking at the ground. The only person who made eye contact with Marie as she entered the room was Hank, who was standing by the window, arms folded in front of him.

“Rogue, my dear,” Hank smiled. “How are you this afternoon?”

She glanced nervously at Logan’s back and then at ‘Ro’s downcast head before answering Hank. “F-fine,” she stuttered. Internally kicking herself for sounding like an anxious twit, she spoke up. “I’m fine, Hank. Thanks for asking. What are you guys up to?”

Hank’s smile faded slightly. “I’m afraid that I can’t discuss tha—”

“We were actually in the middle of a private meeting, Rogue,” ‘Ro interrupted, finally looking up at Marie. ‘Ro stood up and walked around her desk to sit down in her chair. “Unless there’s some kind of emergency, I think it would be better if you came back later.”

Marie’s cheeks flushed at ‘Ro’s comment. She had had a feeling it was a bad time to bother her. However, she felt that this recent news about the cure was vitally important to the mutant community and wanted to make sure that the others knew about what was going on. “Actually, it’s about the cure.”

Silence. Marie should have guessed that their reaction would be something like this. Every time someone had mentioned the cure in the last month near her, they had quickly stopped their discussion and looked at her with accusing eyes. It was as if everyone thought talking about the cure upset Marie or something, when in all honesty, it didn’t. Even though Marie regretted her decision at times, she wasn’t afraid to talk about it with people. Hell, she kind of wanted to talk about it with someone. Ever since she made the decision to get the cure she hadn’t really talked to anyone about it. She wanted to tell someone what she was going through and what the whole experience was like.

Marie looked at ‘Ro, who had turned to look at Hank. It looked like the two of them were communicating with their eyes. Logan just stood there, his back still faced to her. He looked extremely tense. The only sounds in the room were their breathing. The loaded silence was really killing her and she was about to speak when ‘Ro finally broke eye contact with Hank and looked back at her.

“Look, Rogue, I understand the decision you made last month was really tough, and while I personally wouldn’t have chosen it for you, I understand your reasons,” ‘Ro said in a calm and soothing voice. It was almost as if she was trying to prevent Marie from getting upset. “Now, if you wish to discuss this matter at a later time, I think that would—”

“Storm, I’m not here to discuss my choice to take the cure,” Marie said, before ‘Ro could continue drawing any more conclusions. Noticing ‘Ro’s confused look, Marie decided it was finally time to stop beating around the bush. “Have you guy’s seen the news today?”

Hank answered her, “No, Rogue. Is there something we should be aware of?”

Logan had finally turned around. He wasn’t looking at her, but instead was staring intently at the door behind where she stood. Marie noticed that he looked extremely irritated, and she couldn’t help but wonder if it had to do with the meeting he was in a few minutes ago or her daring to bring up the cure in his presence. Suddenly frustrated with Logan’s continued insistence to ignore her existence, Marie blurted out the next bit a little angrily.

“Yes, actually. While you guys have been in your little ‘meeting’, Worthington Industries announced some startling news about the cure. Apparently, it didn’t work,” she said acidly, still angry at Logan. “Well, not for everyone. Worthington said that the cure will wear off for the world’s most powerful mutants. I just thought you guys should know about this, because it seemed pretty important to me.”

Marie smiled internally at their reactions, which by the looks of them, confirmed that they didn’t already know about this news. ‘Ro was staring at Marie with wide eyes, her mouth slightly parted in astonishment. Hank scrunched his eyebrows and a frown replaced his long forgotten smile. Logan finally made eye contact with Marie, and with a sudden jolt of her heart, she noticed the expression he gave her had softened a little for the first time in weeks. After only a second, though, he looked away and that agitated look appeared back on his face.

‘Ro was the first to recover from the shock. “That’s not p-possible,” she muttered. She turned to face Hank. “Is it? Have you heard anything from the government about this, Hank?”

Hank slowly looked up at Marie, and then at ‘Ro. “No, Ororo, I haven’t heard anything about this. Well, I have heard some rumors about mutants obtaining their powers back, but I figured it was all just gossip spread by the press,” Hank said quite shakily. He looked over at Marie once again. “And you said they just announced this today? How? Is there any proof?” He sounded so desperate to find some answers. Marie filled them in on everything she knew about the press conference she had watched on TV. When she was finished reciting what happened, ‘Ro suddenly looked furious.

“So first they offer us this cure of theirs, and then it turns out to be a scam,” ‘Ro shook her head in disbelief. “I can’t believe this. What the hell were these people thinking? Offering us a defected ‘cure’, so to speak.” She must have realized something, because suddenly her eyes got even bigger. She looked up at Marie. “Wait, you said it will only happen to the most powerful mutants?”

Marie guessed where she was heading with this. “Yeah. I thought of that too. Magneto’s one of the most powerful mutants I know, so no doubt the cure will wear off on him, too.”

“Unbelievable,” was all ‘Ro could say.

The room was quiet once again while everyone indulged in their own thoughts. Marie once again wondered about how this cure news would affect the human public. She decided to voice her thoughts. “You know the humans will react badly to this. They were finally starting to feel safe, with Magneto gone and no mutant terrorist outbreaks since Alcatraz Island. This will only push them back into anti-mutant organizations once again,” Marie said, suddenly fearful about the future that lies ahead of them. Marie could sense that once again, things were about to change. For better or worse, she wasn’t sure yet. She could only hope for the former.

Nobody responded. ‘Ro was staring at the ground again, clearly lost in thought, and Hank had turned to stare out the window towards the school grounds. Logan had drifted over to the wall to Marie’s left and was leaning against it with his eyes closed. He was probably taking it all in, thinking about the consequences it will have for both the human and mutant communities, just like she was. Marie wondered if he was secretly hoping that she would get her powers back. As if Hank could hear her thoughts, he suddenly asked the question Marie had been hoping to avoid.

“Rogue,” he started gently, “do you suppose that the cure’s effects will wear off on you, too?”

All three of them had turned to stare at her now. Her cheeks flushed red again, but this time she was ready for a response. “No, I don’t think so,” she said. “My mutation wasn’t that powerful and I don’t see any reason why it would return.” She looked down at her hands, refusing to make eye contact with any of them. Especially Logan.

The room became silent again and this time she couldn’t take it. “I think I should go so you guys can get back to your meeting. Sorry for bothering you,” and without a single glance in any of their directions she turned around and bolted for the door. None of them tried to stop her, and Marie was relieved. Closing the door behind her she headed for the stairs. She could really use some time in her room to think and, if she was honest with herself, to cry.

Slamming the door to her room shut behind her, Marie headed straight for her bed. She laid down on her stomach and began bawling into her pillow. She was half-aware that she was ruining the pillow case with her tears and snot but she didn’t care. All she could think about was what had just happened. She couldn’t exactly pinpoint why she was so upset. The news about the cure shouldn’t really affect her, seeing as there was no way she would be getting her powers back. Which was a good thing…right? She was happy with her power-free status. There were no regrets in her mind. None at all.

Yeah, right.

So maybe that was the source for her emotional breakdown. She had been half-hoping that her powers would come back to her someday. After hearing that only those mutants who were really powerful would obtain their powers back, her hope of becoming a mutant once again vanished. But no, she was just a weak ex-mutant who took the cure to escape her pain and appease her boyfriend. Well, ex- boyfriend. And now she had no one and no one wanted her in return.

Marie had been sure that there were other people who didn’t mind her and her decision to take the cure. But after the meeting she just had, new doubts were beginning to form in her mind. ‘Ro had been so eager to assume Marie wanted to discuss her decision to take the cure. At the time it hadn’t really bothered her but looking back on it now she couldn’t help but feel a little hurt. What if Marie had wanted to discuss the cure with someone? Would that have been so odd? To talk about her feelings? ‘Ro had been rather insistent on talking about it “later”. When would that have been? It wasn’t until Marie mentioned the cure’s affects on other, more powerful mutants that ‘Ro was willing to talk to her.

And Hank had been so careful with his words around Marie. As if he was afraid of hurting her by saying something wrong. The thought made Marie uncomfortable. She hated that people had to act different around her. But that’s all she was to people. An outcast. A God-damn parasite.

What really pissed Marie off the most, though, was Logan. He just stood there and didn’t say a single word. She was sure it had been his voice that was yelling as she stood outside the door to ‘Ro’s office. So it wasn’t like he had suddenly become mute in the last few weeks. He was perfectly capable of talking, he just didn’t talk to her. There was that one moment when she could have sworn his features had softened and she was momentarily reminded of her old friend. She started crying even harder at the thought because it wasn’t until now that she realized she missed her mentor. He had been such an important part of her life. But then he left her. Figuratively, of course. He didn’t have a problem with anyone else at the mansion.

But he had still left her.

Just like Bobby.

That thought was about to start a new sprout of tears when her door suddenly burst open.

“What the fuck is that noise? It sounds like a dying bunny rabbit.”

Jubes. Doesn’t she know how to knock? Marie quickly wiped her face for any remaining remnants that would give away her current emotional instability. She took a deep breath to try to pull herself together and then sat up on her bed.

“You know, Jubes, that door was closed,” Marie sighed. She was really hoping Jubes would get the message and leave her alone.

“Yeah, but then I opened it,” Jubes said, sounding confused.

No such luck.

“Is there something I can help you with? I was a little busy,” Marie said, trying her best not to look at her friend. Jubes must have finally realized that something was wrong with Marie because she rushed over to her side and sat next to her on the bed.

“What’s wrong, chica? Your eyes look puffier than Peter’s does when he gets constipated,” she said worriedly.

Marie scoffed at that and turned to gawk at her friend. “Ew! That’s disgusting Jubes. How the hell would you know that, anyway?”

Jubes eyes twinkled mischievously. “I have my ways.”

Rolling her eyes, Marie stood up and put her hands on her hips. “Seriously, what do you need? And what were you saying about rabbits?”

“Relax, chica. I heard some strange noise coming from your room so I came in here to check it out,” she said as she stood up to match Marie’s stance. “But from the looks of it, I think it was just you crying your eyes out. Now are you gunna tell me why the fuck you were crying?” She raised her eyebrows expectantly, clearly impatient for an answer.

Marie averted Jubes’ gaze. She wasn’t sure what to tell her yellow-friend. Finally deciding on the truth, she said, “The cure didn’t work.”

Jubes’ eyes got really wide at that. “What? You mean you got your powers back?”

Secretly wishing the answer could be different, she said, “No.”

Jubes eyes turned confused, “What? Then why did you—”

“The cure worked for me. Worthington Industries just announced that it didn’t work for the most powerful mutants. Seeing as my mutation was kind of useless, I don’t think I’ll be getting my powers back anytime soon,” Marie said. She suddenly wondered how many times she was going to have to repeat this conversation. Didn’t anyone watch TV around there?

Her friend just stared at her, still confused. “How do you know that?”

“Well, it was on the news. The press conference. Worthington himself said—”

“No, not that. How do you know you won’t get your powers back?”

Marie was suddenly shocked into silence. Didn’t Jubes hear her? Her mutation wasn’t powerful enough. “Because my mutation wasn’t powerful enough.”

Jubes just continued to stare at her. Her confusion changed into disbelief. “Are you serious? You’ve got to be joking.”

Marie was suddenly the confused one. “No, I—”

“You don’t think being able to suck the life out of someone is powerful? Being able to kill with a touch?” Jubes said her voice disbelieving. “And at the same time, taking their powers, their memories, their entire life force. That sounds pretty damn powerful to me, chica.”

She had never thought of her mutation like that before. It had always seemed like something that was in the way. “Yeah, but it was completely useless in combat.”

Jubes rolled her eyes at that. “Please, girl. Everyone has their weaknesses. Just because yours is so obvious, doesn’t mean that other people don’t suffer their own battles.”

What the fuck did that mean? Marie was getting more confused by the minute. “Jubes, you’re not making any sense.”

“Is that so?” Jubes said, eyebrows raised. “Well, chica. Do you know what I thought the first time you told me about your powers?”

Marie answered honestly. “That you were scared shitless? Because that would have been a normal reaction.”

Jubes rolled her eyes again. “Ha-ha. No. I thought, hell, this girl has the potential of being the most powerful mutant in this fucked up world. You could go around, steal everyone’s powers, and conquer the world with several million mutations at your fingertips.”

Marie was appalled. “Jubes, you know I would never do that!”

Jubes nodded accordingly. “I know, I know. But this was when I first met you. All I knew about you was that you were stabbed in the lungs with a metal harder than diamond and in the course of ten seconds you had managed to fully recover and nearly kill the person who impaled you. Now that’s pretty fucking powerful if you ask me.”

“Jubes…,” she trailed off. Marie thought back to her first night at the mansion with Logan. It had been a nightmare for her, almost killing the first person she had been able to trust in a long time, and then having him inside her head all at the same time. It had never been her intention to hurt Logan. She had only wanted to fix herself. If she would have held on longer, would she have killed him? She shivered at the thought of that.

“I don’t know, Jubes,” she finally said. “It’s all just too much to take in right now.” Marie suddenly felt really exhausted. “Can we talk about this later? I’m just really tired.”

Internally begging that her friend would understand she was thankful when Jubes’ expression turned to that of concerned again. “Yeah, sure, chica. You get some rest. But no more crying, you hear?”

Marie gave a slight smile. “Sure thing. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

After the door to her room was shut and she was alone once again, Marie made her way over to her window. The sun had fallen and the moon had risen to replace it. It was a full moon and Marie wondered if it was a sign of some sorts. And if it was, was it a good or bad one?

The moon’s light suddenly revealed a lone figure walking on the school grounds. They were heading straight towards where the graves of Scott, Jean, and the Professor were. It wasn’t until they had turned slightly to the right that Marie could make out who it was.

Logan. He was standing right in front of the Professor’s grave, lighting a cigar. From where Marie could see him he looked so…relaxed. So much more like himself. Like he wasn’t putting up his big-bad act and he could finally let his guard down. Marie thought back to Logan’s reaction at their meeting earlier. She could have sworn he let his guard down then, for just a second, to let her see. Was it because he had a glimpse of hope that Marie would get her powers back?

Marie’s anger and frustration at Logan suddenly returned. Who the fuck did he think he was? She was getting tired of his shit and felt that it was time to confront him. Yeah, that sounded real nice. Telling off Logan just might be worth it. What’s the worst he could do? Ignore her? Pretend like she didn’t exist? Because he was doing a bang up job of that already.

Her mind made up, Marie headed straight for her door. She was finally going to have a talk with Logan.

**What the hell was I thinking**, Marie thought as she made her way across the school grounds. Her courage was starting to wear off as she got closer and closer to where Logan stood nearly a hundred feet away. **What am I going to say to him? “Hi Logan, just thought I would drop by to tell you I’m pretty fucking pissed off at you for ignoring my existence these past few weeks.”** Yeah, right. Like that would go over smoothly.

Still, Marie had to try. If she had any shot at rekindling her friendship with Logan, she was going to have to take the initiative. Even though she was pissed off at him she still wanted things to work out.

Fifty feet away. Marie was becoming more nervous with each passing second. She could clearly make out Logan’s features now. He was slumped against the tree right across from the Professor’s grave. He had his arms folded across his chest with a cigar in his left hand. He was staring straight ahead of him, and since Marie was approaching him from the right, he hadn’t noticed her yet. Well, not that she was aware of. With his advanced senses it was impossible to tell.

Marie finally stopped a few feet away from Logan. She stared at him, waiting for him to acknowledge her approach. When he hadn’t moved or said anything for a whole minute she was starting to get frustrated. Was he really going to ignore her once again?

Yes, he was.

Well, it looked like Marie was just going to have to speak up. “Hey,” was all she managed to say.

Logan nodded his head very slightly and Marie took that to be the acknowledgment she was waiting for. Sighing deeply, she spoke again.

“What’s up?” She was really trying to keep this conversation casual. It was better to get him in a good mood before they started to talk all serious.

Logan finally turned to look at her, meeting her eyes momentarily. The glare she got from him almost sent her running toward the mansion. He no longer looked peaceful and relaxed. He was furious.

Trying her best not to seem afraid, she kept eye contact with him. She hoped her returning stare looked braver than she was feeling. Logan must have realized that she wasn’t going to back down because he finally spoke up. “What do you want?” He barked at her.

Ouch. Right to the point, then. So much for trying to soften him up. Why was it always like this with him? Why couldn’t they talk normally? Marie’s sudden anger reminded her of why she came here in the first place.

“I want you to tell me what the hell your problem is,” she said angrily, suddenly sure her eyes looked just as furious as his.

He averted his eyes from her menacing glare and took a long drag from his cigar before answering her. “I ain’t got no problem.”

Oh, so he was going to play dumb. Well, Marie would clear that up for him then. “Yes, you do. You’ve been ignoring me for the past month. And when you do acknowledge me for even the slightest moment, you look like you want to kill me,” she said, happy to finally be getting this off her chest. “I don’t know what I ever did to you but your crap is really pissing me off.”

She had him cornered. There was no possible way he could deny what she just said because he knew that she was telling the truth. Marie couldn’t wait to hear what he had to say.

Still not looking at her, he said, “Sounds to me like you’re the one with the problem.”

Was he serious? “Really? And why’s that?”

Logan took one more drag from his cigar before throwing it on the ground and turning to completely face her. He looked pretty angry again. “You wanna know why? For one, I’m not the one who came out here to have some shitty talk about whatever it is your talking about. What the fuck does it matter to you? You’ve been perfectly fine the last month and now all of a sudden you wanna come out here and do this with me?” He snarled at her.

She protested, “Logan you’ve been avoiding—”

“Don’t act like this is all me here. You could have talked to me anytime you wanted to. Don’t blame all your crap on me,” he barked angrily.

Marie couldn’t remember ever being angrier. This was nothing compared to when Bobby broke up with her. She wasn’t even this angry when she found out about him and Kitty. Logan was blaming this past month on her?

“Ugh! How am I supposed to talk to you! Every time I enter the room you find an excuse to leave. I’m not the one who’s been going out of my way to avoid you! I’ve been trying to talk to you for the past month, but you’re not letting me! I never did anything to you, you arrogant—”

“You left me,” he mumbled half-heartedly.

Marie paused. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

Logan must have realized he said something he shouldn’t have. “Never mind,” he said.

Marie’s anger flared at his words. “You think I left you? You’re the one who backed out on this friendship, you bastard! You left me!” Marie roared at him. She was sure someone had caught them yelling by now but she didn’t give a damn. Logan was making her angrier than she had ever felt.

Logan glared at her so acidly it made her cringe. He didn’t yell his next words though, which made it all the more worse. “At least I didn’t go take the cure. I didn’t abandon everyone I cared about.”

She could not believe that he went there. Did he not have any idea what she was going through? “You listen to me, Logan. One, you had your opportunity to stop me, and you didn’t. Two, I didn’t abandon anyone. In fact, the whole mansion seems to have abandoned me,” she said, trying to hold back the tears in her eyes. “Most of my friends won’t even look at me. My boyfriend dumped me. Charles and Scott died. And this is the first time you’ve spoken to me in a month.” She was sure she was crying by now. “So don’t lecture me about abandonment, Logan. You have no idea what the word means.”

Looking away from him, she let the tears overwhelm her. He probably thought she was so weak. She couldn’t even give a good telling off without crying. She really needed to go back to her room and be alone. Crying in his presence was killing her.

Marie could not have been more shocked when she felt two big arms enclose around her. Logan was hugging her, running his hand through her hair, whispering comforting words. Marie cried even harder into his chest. She couldn’t understand why Logan would be trying to comfort her. But oh, did it feel good. Finally she was able to share with someone what she was going through. She hadn’t realized how much pain she had been enduring these last few weeks.

She wanted to hug Logan for the rest of her existence. It felt so nice to just be in his embrace and have that feel of friendship back. Even if it was only for a moment, it felt wonderful to her. She wasn’t sure where their friendship was going to go from here, but at that moment, she didn’t care. She was in his arms for the first time in what felt like forever.

Minutes passed and the two of them remained in a strong embrace. Eventually, Marie’s sobs began to die down into choked sighs. She tried to take deep breaths to calm her heart beat. When she had finally calmed down enough to look up at Logan, she found him looking down at her with an unfamiliar expression. He almost looked…confused. Like he had no idea what was going on around him.

“Logan?” she choked out nervously.

Her voice must have snapped him out of his trance because his guarded expression returned to his face. He softly let go of her and took a few steps back. “Sorry,” he said.

Suddenly Marie was the confused one. “For what? I’m the one who just ruined your shirt,” she said factually.

He didn’t say anything in return, instead just looking at her with that guarded expression. She really wanted to know what he was thinking. Was he regretting their moment of togetherness? Wishing he hadn’t reacted to her sobs? An air of awkwardness approached Marie as the realization of what had just happened hit her. One minute they had been screaming at each other across the school grounds, and the next they were hugging the living daylights out of each other.

Marie wanted to know why he had comforted her instead of acting disgusted with her tears. “Why did you do it?” she mumbled.

When he hadn’t answered for a whole minute, she assumed he hadn’t heard her question. She was about to repeat herself when he answered, “I don’t know.”

His answer kind of shocked Marie because he sounded so confused. Marie had no doubt in her mind that he was telling the truth. He sounded just as conflicted with the situation as she was.

She suddenly remembered something he had said earlier. “Is that what you think? Is that why you’ve ignored me?”

This time he really didn’t understand her question. “What do you mean?”

“Earlier, before…well, before I kind of broke down, you said that I left you. Is that what you’ve been feeling all along?” She was dying for answers here, but she didn’t want to sound too impatient or frustrated.

It took him awhile to think over her question. He continued to stare at her, this time searching for something in her eyes. Finally, he slumped his shoulders and answered. “I guess.”

Trying not to let the impatience overtake her, she said calmly, “Why?”

After another three minutes of thinking it over he spoke up, “I guess…well, you were the first person I met for a very long time, kid. I lived on the road for nearly fifteen years, fightin’, gettin’ drunk. I didn’t ever really have a purpose in life. It was like…I was living for nothing.”

As tempting as it was to interrupt, she held back. She needed to hear what he had to say. “Anyway, one day I met you. Now, I’ll be honest, kid. It wasn’t exactly the best place to meet,” he chuckled, remembering that faithful day in Laughlin City, just as she was. “I remember the first time I saw you I thought, ‘what the hell is a nice lookin’ young girl doing in a shithole like this?’ You didn’t really seem to fit in. There was something about you that was just so…good. And pure.”

Seeing her expression, he held up his hands. “Hey, hey, let me finish. You see, I had lived for the longest time around people who don’t give a damn about other people. People who only care for themselves. Those kinds of people always made me sick. Hell, I used to be one of those people. And then I see you, and it’s like the first good thing I’ve ever seen. I don’t know how to explain it, but it is what it is.”

He went on. “After I found you in my camper, I wanted to dump you at the side of the road. Not you, particularly. It was just the idea of responsibility. I had been living my life without anybody to care for except myself. I knew if I’d have given you a lift I would have the responsibility to treat you right. I just couldn’t handle that. But after lookin’ back in my mirror and seeing you look all sad and shit, I knew that you deserved better. That I had to get over myself and do what was right for you.”

She had always wondered why he had changed his mind and decided to pick her up. Now she knew why. She let him continue. “Things got a little crazy from there. First Sabretooth, coming to the mansion, meetin’ Chuck and the others, stabbing you in the chest…it was all too much to take in. I still felt like my life didn’t have a purpose, though. But you know what did it kid? It was that night on the train. I made a promise to you. Do you remember what it was?

How could she forget? “You promised to take care of me.”

“Exactly. It was at that moment that for the first time in fifteen years I felt like my life had a purpose. I felt like there was a reason that I existed. To take care of you,” he said, smiling down at her. “And, well, we’ve definitely had some pretty close calls, like you being kidnapped by Magneto and flying out of the jet that one time, but you’re still alive.”

Logan stayed quiet for a few seconds before speaking again. “Anyway, it was never my intention to hold you back. That’s why I tried to let you decide about your decision to take the cure. I don’t know what I expected. I guess I was a little caught up with Chuck and Scott’s deaths, and Jean and Magneto’s plot against the humans. I should have been there for you, kid. No matter what the excuse is. I failed on my promise. And for that, I’m sorry.”

When he had stayed silent, staring at the ground, for nearly five minutes, Marie was sure he was done speaking. She was shocked by his words. He had just described his feelings about the past year of his life and how she had played a major part in it. She had never known that he felt so strongly about the promise he made her. The thought warmed her heart.

There was one thing she still needed to know. “Logan, I still don’t understand what you meant when you said I left you.” After all, this was her original question.

He looked back up at her, and the look in his eyes confirmed her suspicions. He had been trying to avoid answering this question. Realizing he had no other option, he answered honestly.

“You were right, kid. You never really left me. See, after you came back from the cure, I kept waiting for you to leave. I figured since you weren’t a mutant anymore you wouldn’t want to live here anymore. You were my first friend here. Hell, you’re a big part of the reason I even stuck around. I thought you were gunna leave me, so I guess I started to drift away from you. I kept waiting for you to leave. But you never did, and I kinda ruined things between us.”

It finally made sense to her. Logan had started to drift apart from her out of his own fear. She had been so stupid as to actually think he didn’t like her anymore because she was a human. She was ashamed with herself for ever thinking those thoughts.

Marie felt happier than she had in weeks. She looked up and met Logan’s eyes. “Look, Logan. I know things between us have been…rough,” she said for the lack of a better word. “But I’m willing to try to get us back to where we used to be. I want us to be friends again. I’ve missed you.”

Logan looked at her and smiled softly, “I’ve missed you too, kid.”

Smiling even brighter, she stepped forward to link her arm into his and twinkled her eyes mischievously. “Come on. The Tigres are playing the Colts. I’m sure we can catch the last half hour if we hurry.”

Logan’s smile matched hers as they made their way back to the mansion. She knew he couldn’t deny a hockey game.

They were running out of time. She could see what she was looking for in the distance. Laying flat on the ground, quite unconscious, laid the man she would do anything to save. No matter how fast she ran, she knew she wasn’t going to make it. But she *had* to. She had to save the man that meant everything in the world to her. Even as she got closer she could hear the ticking of the clock. She could hear the beat of her footsteps as she ran for dear life. The sound grew louder and louder. Like a pounding noise, penetrating her ear drums. Dum-dum. Dum-dum-dum. DUM-DUM-DUM.

Marie shot up in her bed with a jolt. Her breathing was accelerated and she could feel sweat on her face and neck. Putting a hand over her heart, she discovered the source of the noise was coming from her door. Someone was knocking rather impatiently. When she finally realized it had only been a dream she was shocked at how vivid that dream had seemed. It had felt like he was actually about to die and Marie was the only one who could save him. While she was thankful that it was indeed just a dream, she was still confused about it.

Her attention was drawn back to the knocking sound at her door when the banging grew more persistent. Glancing at her clock she realized it was way too early to be having any visitors. She could barely see the sun on the horizon. Hoping that her intruder might give up and decide she was asleep, she sat there motionlessly, waiting for something to happen next. When there hadn’t been any knocks for over a minute she was about to lay back down when she heard a voice speak from the other side of her door.

“I know you’re awake, kid. I can smell it.”

Logan. Her heart gave a jolt as the object of her dream made his presence known. What the hell was he doing here at seven in the morning on a Saturday? But Marie didn’t care, suddenly realizing that Logan was actually visiting her, in her bedroom. She jumped out of bed, scrambling for her slippers, running a few fingers through her hair. Really hoping that her morning breath wasn’t too bad, she made her way to her door. Turning the knob she took a deep breath. She opened the door to come face to face with a very sexy looking Logan. Well, then again, Logan was always sexy in her mind. But whether it was his recently showered hair or his leather jacket slung over his shoulder, something about Logan looked especially appetizing to Marie today.

“Hey, kid,” Logan said, looking a lot less impatient than his knocks had sounded. He had a smile on his face and Marie couldn’t help but feel happy at the sight of him.

“Hey yourself,” Marie drawled, returning his smile. “Is there something I can help you with at this lovely hour?”

Logan raised an eyebrow. “As a matter of fact, there is. You know anythin’ about motorcycles?”

Marie’s smile faltered momentarily and she hoped Logan didn’t notice. “M-motorcycles?” She was terrified at the thought of riding one and she prayed to all things holy that Logan didn’t have any intentions of getting her on one. “You mean like…riding them?”

Logan laughed at Marie’s facial expression. “Don’t get all excited over nothing, kid. I ain’t talkin’ about gettin’ you on one of those things. I was just wonderin’ if you wanted to help me fix one up. I got it from this garage a few weeks ago and I just haven’t had the time to work on it. How ‘bout’ it?” Logan looked at Marie nervously, waiting for her reply. Marie had a feeling that it took a lot to make a man like Logan look nervous. While the exact subject of his invitation sounded distasteful, the thought of spending some quality time with him was something she couldn’t resist. Forcing a smile onto her face, she answered him honestly.

“I’d love to help out,” she said.

Logan’s smile lifted again. “Cool. Trust me, it’ll be worth it.”

Marie nodded, and then yawned. A sudden thought occurred to her. “Wait, were you planning on doing this now?” The thought of manual labor at seven in the morning made Marie shiver.

“Well, yeah. I’ve been busy with classes, runnin’ the school, other stuff…this is kinda the only time I’m gonna get,” Logan said nonchalantly. “Is that gonna be a problem?”

Marie shook off her worries about the early hour. Logan’s break from responsibilities was more important than her wanting to sleep in. “No, that’s fine. Just give me twenty minutes to get ready, okay?”

“Yeah, yeah. Take your time. I’ll be down in the garage gettin’ things started,” he reassured her. He winked at her and then turned to leave. He was halfway down the hall when Marie called his name.

“Logan?” She said, hoping he’d be able to hear her.

He turned at the sound of his name and stared at her questioningly. “Yeah?”

Marie was suddenly at a loss of what to say. She didn’t know how to put her feelings into words. She was so grateful that their friendship was back and she wanted him to know that. “I—I just wanted to say, um…Just, just that—”

Marie trailed off and met Logan’s eyes. A flicker of emotions showed themselves on his face for a few seconds, and she had to wonder if maybe he was thinking the same things that she was. Her silent question was answered momentarily. “I know, kid. I know,” he said with a sad look in his eyes. He kept his gaze on her for a few more moments before turning around and continuing on his way to the garage.

******************************************

Twenty minutes later and Marie was making her way down the stairs to the main level. The mansion was unusually quiet because of the early hour and it kind of freaked Marie out. She was so used to kids running around, then Storm yelling at them to slow down. She discovered she missed the sounds of the mansion and had grown attached to it. Shaking off the weird feeling, she walked through the main hallway towards the garage. When she was only a few feet from the door she could hear Logan on the other side moving things around. She heard a great thud and a clang and then a curse coming from Logan’s mouth. This made Marie smile as she opened the door.

Logan was standing in the center of the garage. He had a tight white tee-shirt on and an even tighter pair of jeans. There was some dirt and oil here and there on his body from the motorcycle. Marie had to take a deep breath to keep from drooling at the sight of him. No man is allowed to look that sexy, she thought. It just wasn’t fair.

The source of Logan’s swearing was from the big metal piece of scrap that had fell onto the floor and appeared to have fell on his left foot. Marie made her way to Logan to make sure he was alright.

“You okay?” She asked him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

Logan half-smiled, half-grunted. “Fine.”

Marie looked around at the motorcycle he was working on. Or what was left of the motorcycle. To her, it just looked like a bunch of pieces of metal thrown together into some kind of odd looking creation. She glanced up at him confused. “This is the motorcycle?”

He grabbed a cloth to wipe some oil off his hands. “Yeah. Granted, she’s not in the best shape. But a little time and patience and she’ll be good as new in no time.”

Marie gawked at Logan now. Was he serious? Did he really think he was capable of taking some pieces of metal and transforming them into a decent bike? Did he really think *she* was capable of doing something like that? Marie began to doubt her decision to join Logan on this project.

“I’m not sure, Logan…it looks pretty hopeless.” Then again, what did she know about motorcycles.

“Aw, come on, kid. It won’t be that bad,” he said, suddenly looking nervous again. He was probably worried that Marie would back out on him.

No.

After their conversation last night, there was no way in hell she was going to abandon him. Even if it was for something as silly as fixing a motorcycle, she wasn’t going to give him a reason to believe that she would ever back out on him.

“Okay. Let’s do this,” she said, suddenly feeling excited. She would make this fun. She had to. For Logan, for her, and for their friendship.

Logan smiled and rubbed his knuckle through her hair. “That’s the spirit.”

Marie ruffled her hair out from under him and slapped him playfully on his shoulder. “Hey! No fair!” But suddenly they were both laughing, tickling each other, poking one another in the sides. Marie laughed so hard until her sides started to hurt. She loved seeing Logan like this, with his guard down, laughing and having fun. It just seemed so much more…normal. Like the way things were supposed to be.

When they had finally settled down enough Logan began to instruct her through working on the motorcycle. He explained all the tools and what their purposes were. Marie caught on pretty quickly and in no time they were working as a team to fix up the bike. Marie liked working with Logan. He was someone who worked silently and didn’t need to talk a lot to fill the silence. This way Marie could concentrate more on her work. The silence wasn’t awkward or anything, but nice and relaxing. The only time they spoke was when she had a question or he commented on something she was doing.

“You don’t wanna choke the screw driver, Marie. Just make sure the screw’s lined up and then turn normally to the right,” Logan said, trying to help her when she was having a difficult time screwing two pieces of metal in place. She found his guidance to be reassuring and she didn’t mind it when he corrected her. He was a great mentor to her.

At around noon Logan said they should stop for the day. When Marie protested, he said, “We can always come back another day. We ain’t gonna be able to fix this baby up in one day, kid. It’ll take some time.”

Marie’s heart lifted at the thought of spending more days with Logan in the garage. She enjoyed working on the motorcycle and she couldn’t wait for more. “Okay, sounds good.”

“What is life? Where does it come from? And more importantly, why does it exist? While many people believe the reason lies within religion, some people beg to differ. They have no religion, and therefore no one to turn to. As mutants we have been given a life that we must use to our full potential. We must use it to preserve the precious gift of life. Life that remains a mystery, as do its origins,” ‘Ro finished, closing up her lecture for the day. Marie’s last class of the day had felt extra long and she was relieved when she heard the bell ring through the mansion’s walls.

“Class dismissed. And don’t forget about your homework. Six pages on the relationship between Socrates and Plato and their influence on modern day society,” ‘Ro reminded the class with a knowing look. The class groaned in unison.

Marie heard Jubilee complain from right next to her. “But Storm! It’s spring break! Couldn’t you cut us a little slack?”

“You all have known about this essay for two weeks. It’s not my fault if you guys have decided to put it off until the last minute. Besides it shouldn’t be too terrible. You might actually learn something,” said ‘Ro with a smile in her eyes.

Jubes groaned once again and grabbed Marie by the arm, pulling her along with her. “C’mon, Chica. I need outta this classroom.”

Marie rolled her eyes and followed behind her friend. She wasn’t going to let this reminder about her history paper interfere with her good mood. Classes were over and spring break had officially begun! She had a whole week and a half with no school. She had been so overwhelmed lately with everything that had happened in the last couple of months and she felt that she deserved a break. After break there was only a month left until graduation and then she would be done with high school.

Marie let out a deep breath and a genuine smile appeared on her face. She turned to Jubes, “You know what, I feel like celebrating.”

Jubes smile flashed and she looked at Marie mischievously. “That sounds like a kick-ass way to start off this lovely spring break! What’d ya have in mind? Sneakin’ into the mansion’s liquor cabinet?”

Marie considered the idea momentarily. “No…I think we can go better than that. I’m thinkin’ a night on the town.”

Her friend’s smile got even wider. “Now that’s the Rogue I know and love. Where’s all this new-found teenage rebellion comin’ from?”

The two girls had reached Marie’s room by the time she could think of an answer. “I don’t know. I guess…I guess I’m just tired of feelin’ bad for myself. That’s all I’ve spent the last month doing. Feeling bad that Bobby broke my heart, that Kitty stabbed me in the back, and that Logan wouldn’t talk to me anymore. But things are…different now. I feel better than I have for a long time.”

Jubes put a hand up and raised her eyebrows. “Well, seeing that you and Bobby haven’t spoken in weeks and you give Kitty the death glare every time you see her…” A sudden realization had hit Jubilee. “Did something happen with you and the Wolfmeister?”

Marie flushed and nodded her head guiltily. She felt bad that she hadn’t mentioned her and Logan’s newly reunited friendship to her best friend but she just couldn’t really believe it herself. It had been four days since Logan and she had spent half the day together working on that motorcycle. She had seen him around the mansion a little since then, and each time they had greeted each other with smiles and hellos, no longer the ignorant silence.

“Yeah, the other day I confronted him. Asked him what his problem was. We got into this big fight that somehow ended up in me crying onto his shoulder…anyway, things between us have never been better. I even hung out with him on Saturday,” Marie said, realizing she was glad to finally share her happiness with someone else.

“Oh my god, Chica! You couldn’t have mentioned this before! This is huge for you, girl,” Jubes said, seemingly sharing in Marie’s joy. “Well, I’m happy for you. No wonder you’ve been in such a good mood this week.”

Marie blushed. “Yeah, I guess. I’ve been really happy lately.”

Jubes smiled knowingly. “I bet Logan has, too.”

Just at that moment Marie heard a light knock on the door. Since she was lying down on her bed and Jubes was already standing up, her friend let out a quick “I’ll get it!” before making her way over to the door. She opened it to reveal Logan standing there, with a small smile on his face. Marie couldn’t help the way her heart fluttered when she saw him standing in her doorway.

Jubes let out a low whistle. “Well, you know what they say. Speak of the devil, and the devil shall appear.”

Logan looked at Jubes and smirked. “Nice to see you too, yellow. What’re you two up to?” He looked over at Marie, who had gotten up from the bed and made her way to greet him.

Before Marie could think of something to say, Jubes spoke up for her. “Actually, Rogue and I have just been discussing our plans for a little pre-break celebration. Ya’ interested?” she asked Logan with a mischievous look back in her eyes.

Logan raised his eyebrows and glanced between the two of them. “Is that so? Well, count me in. What’d the two of you have in mind?”

“We’re not exactly sure yet,” Marie spoke for the first time. Her good mood had heightened in his presence.

“But whatever we end up doing, it will probably be illegal,” Jubes said with a chuckle. “Meaning it will be fun,” she added.

Marie met eyes with Logan and held his gaze as she spoke. “Yeah, with Jubes planning the event, there’s likely to be something crazy in store. It all depends if you think you can handle it.”

“And by ‘it’ she means ‘me’,” Jubes told him.

Logan looked between the two girls once more and smiled. “I think I can handle anything you guys throw at me,” he said decisively.

Jubes clapped her hands in front of her like a little child. “Perfect! This works out great. We might need you when it comes time to get into any bars. I got these new fake I.D.’s but they’re kind of crap. Peter got them for me and they—”

Jubes was cut off at that moment because someone had just burst into Marie’s room. It was Siryn, a red-headed Irish girl a few years younger than Marie. She had always liked the girl and became immediately alarmed at the panicked and excited look on the young girl’s face. She sounded of breath when she spoke to the three of them.

“Guys, come quick! It’s the professor!”

Marie, Jubes, and Logan remained frozen for about three seconds before they all sprang into action. They were running down the halls, following where Siryn was leading them. They had reached the stairs and were taking them two at a time. Reaching the grand foyer they came to a halt in front of a crowd of people surrounding someone standing in the middle.

Marie couldn’t get a good few of the object of their attention. Then Logan pushed through all the children and Marie followed closely behind him. In the center of the group stood a man, about six feet tall, with light brown hair. The man looked unfamiliar to Marie and she became momentarily confused as to why everyone was making a big fuss about him and what he had to do with the professor. It wasn’t until he spoke to Logan that she realized who he really was.

“Hello, Logan. It has been too long,” a very familiar voice spoke from the strange man’s lips. Marie gasped in shock, for that voice belonged to a man that Marie believed had been dead for over a month. Marie looked up at Logan who was just staring at the man in confusion and awe.

“It—it can’t be. Charles? Is that—is that really you?” Logan asked the man with disbelief.

The man simply nodded at Logan’s question. “Yes, Logan. It is me.” Marie was shocked once again at how the professor’s voice sounded coming from this man’s lips. It was all too weird for her to take in.

At that moment ‘Ro had broken into the circle, closely followed by Hank. “What’s going on? Who are you?” She asked the man standing in the middle of the circle.

He smiled gently at her. “It is me, Ororo. Charles Xavier.”

‘Ro seemed to freeze at the sound of his voice. She was feeling the same things that Marie was feeling. Shock, disbelief, confusion…emotions that were brought on by this strange occurrence. ‘Ro gave a short gasp before her eyes rolled back in her head and she fell towards the floor, only to be caught just in time by Hank.

The man in question frowned in concern. “Oh, dear. She seems to have fainted. Hank, why don’t you take her down to the Medical Bay, make sure she’s all right. When she comes around and is feeling better, both of you meet me in my old office. I have a lot of explaining to do.”

Marie rested her head on the windowsill, her head racing with thoughts. She tried to make sense of what was going on around her as calmly as she could. The last thing she needed was to pass out like ‘Ro did. She was eager to hear what the professor had to say. From what Logan had told her, there hadn’t been a body to collect after the professor’s death. He had said that the professor had simply vanished into a million ashes. How could he have come back to life? Logan had seen him die. So had Magneto, but Marie didn’t really want to think about him.

Staring out across the school grounds, Marie recalled her first few days at the Xavier Institute. She remembered being scared out of her mind the first time she flew in the jet with Storm and Scott. On the journey to the mansion she had sat down in one of the jet’s seats, trying not to hyperventilate, and glancing over at an unconscious Logan every five seconds. She remembered ‘Ro trying to calm her down, explaining who they were, that they were mutants too. The good ones, that is. When she landed in the subbasement of the Mansion she was still panicked and frightened.

It wasn’t until she met Professor Xavier that she began to trust her surroundings. He had soothed her, assured her that they meant her no harm. He was so gentle and fatherly that Marie broke down into tears on the spot. Two days later, when Logan had woken up, she remembered leaving her first history class she had with ‘Ro to find him waiting for her outside the classroom. Suddenly she had all of these people who cared for her, making her feel welcome. It was the first time she truly felt happy since discovering her mutation.

She recalled the first few days after Logan left for Alkali Lake. She had shut herself down from the other inhabitants completely. One day the professor had visited her in her room, asking her if she wanted to talk about what she was going through. At first she was reluctant, but then she realized it might actually feel good to talk about it. Next to Logan the professor was the person she felt she could trust the most at the mansion. He had listened to her talk for hours, about her time on the road, and about her despair of Logan’s departure. He let her talk the whole time without interruptions and when she was done he told her something she would never forget:

“There are many people who love you in your life. Whether they have loved you in the past, will love you in the future, or love you at this very moment, there will never be someone who doesn’t love you.”

For some reason Marie felt touched by his words. There was no doubt in his voice, just a sense of knowing. Ever since that day Marie had looked to the professor for guidance. He became the closest thing she had to a father. Losing him was one of the hardest experiences she had ever endured.

So as she continued to lean against the window frame in the professor’s office she became confused with her feelings. She knew she was supposed to feel happy and joyous at the professor’s sudden resurrection, but all she felt was curious and frustrated. She wanted answers, and the longer she had to wait, the more impatient she became.

She turned around and took in the scene before her. Logan was leaning on the far wall, not taking his eyes off of the professor, who was staring into the fireplace besides the headmaster’s desk with a serene expression on his face. When the group surrounding the professor broke up earlier so the older X-Men could go meet in his office, Marie had stayed behind thinking she wouldn’t be welcome in the meeting. It was Logan who told her to come along and that she had every right to be there. That had surely warmed her heart. The last one present was Warren, who was pacing across the room, fidgeting with his hands nervously in front of him. Marie realized that he had never actually met the professor. He must be more confused than she was.

Finally the office door opened and Hank walked into the room, followed closely by ‘Ro. Marie straightened up, Warren halted his pacing, and the professor smiled in greeting. Logan’s eyes remained glued to the professor.

“Hank, Storm, thank you for meeting me,” he addressed them. He turned to ‘Ro. “How are you feeling?”

“Better, t—thank you,” ‘Ro stuttered, still looking a little pale.

“I’m glad to hear that. Your well being is very important to me,” said the professor, smiling warmly at ‘Ro. It was all too weird for Marie, hearing the professor’s gentle voice coming from the lips of some middle-aged man who looked like some sort of stock-broker in the black suit he wore.

The room remained quiet momentarily. It was clear that they were all waiting for the same thing: answers.

“I suppose I should cut right to the chase, then. This situation must seem rather strange for all of you,” the professor said. He began pacing the room with his hands behind his back. He had his head down and remained in deep thought for a few moments while everyone else stood, waiting.

To Marie’s surprise, he stopped right in front of her. He smiled gently and addressed her, “Do you remember a lesson I taught about ethics, shortly before my presumed death?”

It took Marie a few seconds to form a coherent thought before answering. “Yes. Yes, I do. It was the last class I ever had with you,” she recalled, remembering that day nearly two months ago.

“Good, good,” the professor said warmly. “Do you recall anything about the lesson?”

Marie thought back to that day. It seemed like a lifetime ago. Before Scott and Jean’s death, before she took the cure, before she broke up with Bobby. Just…before. So much had changed since then. Marie broke her train of thought and focused on what the professor was asking her.

“I little bit. We were discussing ethics and what rights we had as mutants,” she spoke to the group before her. She realized all eyes were on her, even Logan’s, who had finally stopped staring at the professor. She blushed a deep shade of red before continuing. “You showed us this video of a doctor who was treating a—Oh, oh!” Marie’s breath hitched as she finally connected two and two together. “Oh my God,” she whispered. “It…it worked.”

The professor nodded in response. The two stared at each other, Marie speechless, the professor patiently letting her take everything in.

The other people in the room were growing impatient. Marie heard Logan growl from the corner. “Will someone please tell me what the hell the kid is talkin’ about?”

Hank shook his head in confusion. “I’m just in the dark as you are, Logan. Rogue, what’s going on? What do you know that we don’t?”

It took Marie a few moments to answer him. She could hardly believe it herself. She finally turned from looking at the professor to addressing the rest of the room. “The professor showed us this video of a woman doctor treating a man. He was unconscious, and had been for several years. There was no chance of him ever coming out of his coma. He was in a vegetative state,” she said, giving them a chance to think about what she was saying.

“After we watched the video, the professor asked us whether or not we thought it was ethically right to place the mind of one person into the mind of the man. I didn’t think it was possible, but I think…I think it worked.” She turned back to face the professor. “You’re that man, aren’t you?”

The professor nodded at her words. “Yes, I am. And you are right, Rogue. It did work,” he said.

The silence fell upon the group once more. This time it was different. They weren’t waiting for answers, but instead trying to digest the information they had just heard. Marie looked at each one of them, observing their reactions. ‘Ro had taken a seat in one of the chairs, placing her head in her hands. Hank was staring in the distance, as if he were trying to see something that was not there. Warren had started pacing once again. When she looked over at Logan she noticed that he had taken his penetrating stare off of the professor and was now staring intently at her. Their gazes locked for a few seconds before she averted her eyes, blushing.

They remained that way for several minutes, all thinking about what the professor had said, trying to mule it over. Hank was the first person to speak.

“I don’t understand, Charles. How is something like that possible? You weren’t anywhere near that man at the time of your death,” he said to the professor with scrunched eyebrows.

Marie hadn’t really thought of that. How did the professor transport his mind across such a great distance?

The professor made his way across the room and took a seat in the headmaster’s chair. With him in a sitting position it reminded Marie of the old professor who remained seated in a wheelchair. It still looked odd, though, because of the professor’s new physical appearance.

The professor met eyes with each and every one of them, with the exception of Logan, because he was still staring at Marie. She tried to ignore the eyes she felt burning into the side of her head. Instead she kept her focus on the professor, who was getting ready to speak once again.

He took a deep breath. “Under normal circumstances it would have been extremely difficult to perform such a task. I wasn’t even sure if the process would work,” he said calmly. “The only reason I was able to make that psychic connection was because of Jean. She helped me transport my mind into the man’s.”

Marie and ‘Ro gasped. Warren stopped pacing once again and stared at the professor, more confused than ever. Hank’s eyebrows scrunched even more. Logan’s eyes finally left Marie and stared at the professor like he was crazy.

“What the hell you talkin’ about Chuck? I was there. I saw Jean kill you. There wasn’t no helpin’ done by her,” Logan said, becoming angry.

“No, Logan. What you saw was the Phoenix. The Phoenix was the one in control of Jean’s body while Jean struggled to remove its presence,” said the professor. “Even though Jean wasn’t in charge, she was still conscious of everything that was going on around her. When she realized the Phoenix’s intent to kill me, I was psychically able to communicate with her in my last few moments. With our combined psychic powers, I was able to place my mind into the body of the unconscious man. My body may have been killed, but my mind lives on.”

As the answers were coming in, Marie’s head continued to be filled with more questions. Before she could ask any of them, however, the professor spoke once again.

“Now, the evening is approaching. I would prefer speaking to the children tomorrow morning at breakfast. I have journeyed a long way to get home, and I deeply need to retire for the night. I will see you all in the morning,” the professor said, and turned to open the door to the office, smiling warmly.

One by one they left the office. Marie was the last to leave, and before the professor was able to close the door behind her she turned to said, “It really is good to have you back, professor.”

The professor placed a light kiss on her forehead before turning back into his office and closing the door. Marie stood outside the office for a few moments before slowly walking away. She felt really tired all of the sudden. She didn’t really want to go back to her room because she knew she would be bombarded with questions by Jubes and she didn’t feel up to it. As she reached the top of the stairs she decided to go to Logan’s room instead.

As she approached the door to his room she became unsure with her decision. Maybe he didn’t want company, she thought. After all, they had just had a rather stressful conversation with the professor. Maybe he wanted to be alone.

Sucking up her fears, she knocked on his door with three light taps. When there was no response, she knocked again. Thirty more seconds passed and there was still no reply.

“Logan?”

No response.

Testing the door handle she was surprised to find it unlocked. Knowing she was probably imposing on his privacy she opened the door to his room slowly. The room was dark, only the faint glow of the setting sun providing some light into the vacant room. It was clear that Logan was not in his room.

Marie was disappointed and turned to leave, but then a thought occurred to her. She could go walk around the mansion and search for Logan, or she could just wait there. He’d come back to his room eventually. She went to sit on his bed to wait.

Twenty minutes had passed and Logan had not returned to his room yet. Marie was growing more and more tired with each passing second. She had laid down with her head resting on his pillow. Another ten minutes passed, and Logan was still nowhere to be seen. Marie decided to rest her eyes for just a few moments. Just…a few…moments…

Faster. She had to move faster. If she didn’t get there in time, he would be dead. And it would all be her fault. She pushed her feet to move as fast as they could go. Just a little bit farther…

She saw him lying on the ground, flat on his stomach, twitching and shaking uncontrollably. He cried out in agony. No, she was too late. It was already happening. She rolled him over and saw the pain very clear on his face. His shut eyes flew open and he looked at her. She was screaming his name, pleading with him to stay with her. He couldn’t leave her. He couldn’t die.

His eyes rolled back in his head and his whole body went limp. His chest had stopped moving up and down. She was too late. He was dead. Her screams and cries were deafening to her ears. She had failed him.

“NOOO!!!”

“Marie! Marie, wake up!”

Someone was shaking her.

“Come back! No!”

“Marie, damnit, wake up!”

Her eyes flew open and she noticed a figure huddling over her in the dark. She continued her screaming and began kicking and shoving at the person above her. Her attacker cringed back in pain when she kneed him in the sack and she scrambled out of the bed to the opposite side of the room. Her breathing was accelerated and she was drenched in her own sweat. She couldn’t see very clearly in the dark and she wondered where she was.

Her attacker, still recovering from the pain, started heading toward her. Marie backed up into the corner as far as she could.

“Don’t come any closer! I mean it!”

She saw him stop and raise his hands in defense. “Whoa, kid, chill out. It’s just me. I’m not gunna hurt you,” came the voice of Logan.

He walked towards the door and flicked on the light switch. Adjusting her eyes to the sudden brightness, Marie saw that it was indeed Logan.

“But…you’re dead,” Marie said confusedly, still breathing quite rapidly.

Logan’s confusion matched hers. “What? Kid, I’m standing right her—”

“Don’t lie to me! I saw you die!” She screamed at him, sure of her words. She had seen him go limp on the ground. She had seen him breathe his last breath.

He began to walk towards her slowly. “Marie, I’m not dead. You were having a nightmare. I came in and saw you thrashing on the bed, screaming. I tried to wake you up and then you attacked me. Whatever you were dreaming kid, it wasn’t real,” he told her calmly, most likely afraid of another outburst.

She scanned the room and noticed the bed sheets all messed up from her thrashing. By the look of the completely dark sky outside the window, she could tell she had fallen asleep for several hours. So maybe she had been dreaming. But it had felt so *real*. She had never had a dream like that.

Taking a deep breath let the tension leave her body and relaxed. “Okay. I believe you. I’m okay now,” she said, closing the distance between them. He was scanning her with a doubtful expression, probably questioning her sanity. Feeling the need to convince him that she was telling the truth, she put a fake smile on her face.

“Really, Logan. It was just a bad dream. That’s all,” she said.

He raised his eyebrows and scoffed at that. “Must’ve been one hell of a dream. You were screaming like it was the end of the world. Seriously, kid, what the hell were you dreamin’ about?”

Marie averted her eyes, unsure if she should tell him the truth. Should she tell him that she had dreamed about his death? What would he make of it? Deciding it was best to be honest, she said, “It was about you.”

This sure took him by surprise. He took a step back and scrunched up his eyebrows. “You had a nightmare about me?” His expression suddenly changed fearful as if he had just realized something. “Was it one of my nightmares? From the lab? I know you had them for awhile after I touched you, but I had thought they would be gone by now.”

Marie thought about telling him that she still did get those nightmares once in awhile, but decided it was pointless to worry him about it. She answered honestly, “No, it was something different. Something that felt so…real. And the thing is…I don’t think that this isn’t the first time I’ve had this dream.”

Logan’s expression turned to that of concern. He reached his hand out to push an escaped lock of hair out of her face. Marie tried not to blush at his touch, but she couldn’t help it. Lowering his voice he said softly, “Do you wanna talk about it?”

Marie held his gaze for a few moments before looking away. She really needed to sit down. She made her way over to the bed and sat down, Logan following right behind her, sitting to her left.

“I don’t know. I don’t really know how to explain it,” she began, trying her best to remember the dream in details. “I’ve had this dream twice now, except this time it went further than the last.” She looked up at him. “Actually, the last time I had this dream you woke me up. It was that morning you came knockin’ on my door, askin’ me about helping you with the motorcycle.”

Logan thought about his before nodding and saying, “Go on.”

“Well, both times it began the same way. I was running, running really fast. I was trying to reach you,” she said. “You were lying on the ground, unconscious. Then all of the sudden you woke up and you were…” she was at a loss for words. How could she describe the pain she witnessed him go through?

“You were in pain and I couldn’t do anything to save you. I had to watch you die slowly, in pure agony. There was nothing I could do.” A single tear trailed down her cheek, only to be rubbed off gently by Logan’s thumb.

She blinked her eyes several times, preventing any more tears from escaping. She took a deep breath. “Sorry. You must think I’m a wimp. Crying over a stupid dream,” she mumbled, looking anywhere but at those mesmerizing hazel eyes.

Logan drew her closer into his arms and against his chest. He rubbed the small of her back gently while she steadied her breathing. He spoke gently into her hair. “It’s okay, kid. I sure as hell don’t think of you as no wimp. But that’s all it was, Marie. It was only a dream,” he said. He pushed her chin up slightly so he could meet her eyes with his. He held her gaze for a few moments before placing a light kiss on her forehead. Her cheek’s reddened and when he drew away and stood up she found herself longing for his touch.

He reached out a hand and Marie, still a little flustered, grabbed it as he helped her to her feet. Logan smiled down at her and said, “Now, how about we grab a bite to eat. After the crazy day that we’ve had, I think we deserve a little treat. Ya up for it?”

Marie’s smile matched his. How could she turn down an offer to hang out with Logan? Besides, she was starved. “Sure. Lemme just run up to my room and freshen up a little.”

As she was heading for the door she heard Logan ask from behind her, “Hey, kid, that reminds me. What were ya doin’ sleepin’ in my bed in the first place?”

Marie blushed slightly before turning around to face him. He had an amused expression on his face and one eyebrow raised. Marie had to hold back the urge to stare at him like an idiot, with how adorable he looked. Instead, she chuckled slightly before answering him.

“Well, after the professor dismissed us, I wanted a place to relax and clear my head. I knew Jubes would be waiting up in my room for me, since she missed out on the meeting with the professor and everything. I wasn’t really up for dealing with that, so I came up here to find you. As you already know, you weren’t in your room, so I decided to wait for you, figuring you had to come back eventually. I guess I fell asleep while I was waitin’.”

She really hoped he wouldn’t get upset with her or anything. After all, it had just been an accident. She hadn’t meant to fall asleep in his bed. It just sort of…happened.

She didn’t expect his reaction at all. Not only did he not get upset, but he approached her and, placing a hand on her shoulder, said, “I understand, kid. And if you ever need to clear your head again, or just need to, I don’t know…get away from it all, me and my room are always available.” He smiled, and she could tell he was being genuinely sincere.

She felt touched by his kindness. “Thanks,” she beamed. With that, she turned around and headed for the door. “I’ll meet you in the garage in fifteen minutes.”

“Sure thing, kid.”

******************************************

“Hi! Welcome to Phil’s Burger Palace. What can I getcha’ to drink?” The perky waitress hovered above them, all smiles. Marie wondered if she got paid extra to be this cheerful or if it was just a part of her personality. Regardless, the blonde waitress kind of irritated Marie.

“I’ll take a beer,” said Logan, with an annoyed look on his face. Marie could tell that Miss-Perky was bugging him too. The thought made Marie smile.

“A coke, please,” said Marie, just wanting the waitress to leave. Her wishes were granted when the waitress smiled and said the drinks would be right out before walking away.

“Some people are just too happy,” she muttered under her breath. Logan chuckled at her remark.

“Relax, kid. When’s the last time you’ve enjoyed yourself?”

Marie thought seriously on his question. “Probably working on that motorcycle, with you.” She realized a little too late that his question had been rhetorical.

Logan stared at her a little funnily, but before he had the chance to reply, their perky waitress had returned with their drinks.

“Here’s a beer for you and a coke for the little miss,” she said, placing their drinks on the table. “Do ya’ll know what you’re gettin’ to eat?”

After they had given their orders and the waitress was out of earshot, Marie grumbled, “Little miss? Who does she think she is?”

Logan snickered and Marie shot him an accusing look. “What? Oh, come on. It’s kinda cute.”

Her eyes narrowed before she shook her head and said, “Cute? Really? I didn’t even think that word was in your vocabulary.”

Logan chuckled again, still playful. “There are a lot of things you don’t know about me, kid.”

Marie was suddenly serious. She looked at him curiously. “Tell me something, then. About yourself.”

He shifted in his seat and his expression turned guarded. “What do you want to know?” He said warily.

She thought about his question. Even before their one month silence they hadn’t really shared and talked about themselves that much. Marie suddenly realized that there was a lot she didn’t know about her so called friend.

“I don’t know,” she said. “Wait, I got one. What’s your first memory?”

She could tell he hadn’t been expecting this question. Actually, she didn’t really know where it came from. After she had asked it, though, she found herself extremely curious.

“You don’t wanna know, kid,” he grunted. She wasn’t going to give up that easily.

“Oh, come one, Logan. You can tell me. I want to know,” she said, hoping that he would respond to her wishes.

Logan looked at her for a moment, thinking, and Marie could tell that he was really considering answering her question. Finally, he said, “Alright. I’ll let you ask me all the questions you want. On one condition, though.”

Now it was Marie’s turn to be cautious. “And what would that be?”

He stared at her right in the eyes when he answered. “For every question you ask me, I get to ask you a question in return. If I answer, you gotta answer.”

Marie thought about it. How bad could it be? She didn’t have anything to hide…right? Shaking away any doubts she said, “You got yourself a deal.”

Logan smiled, clearly satisfied, before his expression turned serious as he thought about an answer to her first question. “My first memory…,” he began. “Well, it’s kinda blurry. I just remember running through the woods and happening upon some old farm. I had no idea who I was or why I was running, or what I was running from. Anyway, turns out some old couple lived at the farm. I was a bit hesitant at first about trustin’ them, but they seemed pretty sincere. They gave me a place to stay for a few days while I gathered myself and thought of a plan of action. They were nice people, and when I left, they even gave me a motorcycle.”

Logan was staring off into the distance, lost in the memory. It took him a few moments before he snapped out of it and cocked a grin at Marie. “Well, I answered your question. Now you gotta answer mine.”

Marie still had so many questions to ask about the people who had first taken care of Logan. She was grateful for them and wanted to thank them somehow, even though that was over fifteen years ago and they were probably dead by now.

She stared up at Logan and braced herself for his question. “Okay, shoot.”

It took him only a few seconds to think before asking, “What scares you?”

Marie thought hard on his question. “There are a lot of things that scare me, Logan. Apart from the obvious, like spiders and public speaking, other stuff scares me, too.”

“Like what?”

“Well, like where my life’s going. What my future plans are. I’m also scared for other people. Every time you, or Jubes, or someone else that I care about goes out on a mission, I’m always afraid they’re not gunna come back. I’m afraid of the war going on between humans and mutants, and for all of the little children who come into the mansion that have been rescued from labs and have seen more evil than anyone can handle in a lifetime.”

Her eyes met his before looking away. “But lately the one thing that scares me the most is that I have no control. I have no control about whether my powers are coming back or if they’re gone for good. I’m afraid that one day I’ll be touching someone and all of the sudden my powers will turn back on. And I’ll have hurt someone I care about. And then the whole mansion will realize that I’m not normal, even for a mutant’s standards. They’ll realize just how dangerous I am and they won’t want me around.”

Marie went quiet and refused to look at Logan. She had just divulged all of her fears to him and she was nervous for his reaction. Logan, however, reached across the table to hold her hand in his. The gesture made Marie look up and stare at him directly in the eyes. His expression had softened.

“Listen, Marie. All of those things you just said, well, it’s completely normal to have those fears. You’re not the only one who is afraid of the world,” he said gently, trying to make her understand his words. “And about the cure and your powers…let’s not worry about that for now. Whether you remain power-free or become a mutant again, people will still love you. You have some good friends, kid. And they’re not gunna turn their backs on you.”

Marie was touched by his sincerity. She half-smiled and said, “Okay. Thanks.”

Logan held her gaze a little longer before grinning in return. “No problem, kid. I think it’s your turn to ask.”

Before Marie could even think of a question, their food arrived. The perky-waitress smiled and let out a “Hope ya’ll enjoy!” before retreating away from their table.

Marie picked up a hot fry and placed it in her mouth, enjoying the warm and crispy taste. She was eager to eat her burger and fries. She looked over at Logan’s food across the table. He had ordered the steak, which looked equally as appetizing.

Taking a bite of her burger she contemplated about what to ask him. “Have you ever been in love?” She was curious to know.

Logan raised his eyebrows before rolling his eyes. “Are you serious?”

“What? Of course I’m serious.”

Logan grunted, “Being in love’s overrated, kid. It don’t exist.”

Marie looked insulted with his answer. “That’s not true, Logan. Love does exist.”

“I didn’t say *love* didn’t exist. I said being in love don’t. There’s a difference.”

“I don’t see how,” she said, scrunching up her eyebrows.

Logan gave an irritated sigh. “Look, kid, it’s like this. People love each other all the time. They care for each other. Like a mother loves their child. They would do anything to protect that child and make them happy. When people say they’re *in* love, it’s all a bunch of bullshit. You can’t be in and out of love. True love is when you love someone, no matter what. It’s unconditional love.”

Marie started at him. She couldn’t believe she was actually getting a lesson on love from Logan of all people. He seemed like the last person who would know a thing about it.

“So, to answer your question, no. I’ve never been in love.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Where did you get all this insight about love?”

“Ah-ah-ah. You already got your question. It’s my turn now.”

The perky waitress had come back to collect their plates and give them the check. Before she could walk away Logan took out his wallet and paid her in cash. Murmuring that she could keep the change he got up out of the booth and Marie followed suit.

Walking across the parking lot towards the car Logan thought about his next question. When they had finally reached the car he said, “I wanna know everything that happened during your time on the road. Before I met you.”

Marie was taken aback by his request. “Technically, that’s not a question,” she mumbled.

Logan rolled his eyes. “Sorry I ain’t no English teacher, kid. Just answer me.”

Taking a deep breath she thought back to the worst eight months of her life. “Some days it was boring, some days it was scary. It was always hard, and cold, and I was always, always hungry,” she said, a cold shiver running down her spine at the memory.

“The first few weeks weren’t that bad. I had started the trip with some money and had used some of it to take a train up to the northern U.S. It wasn’t until I reached southern Wyoming that things started to go downhill. I had been at the train station, getting ready to make a connection, when someone attacked me from behind. I got a few good punches in but, well, I hadn’t had my X-Men training yet and I wasn’t the best fighter,” she chuckled darkly.

“I remember at first I was just glad they hadn’t killed me, or worse. They had just taken my purse. I was happy to see they hadn’t taken my duffel, but all of my money was in my purse. Even my train ticket. Suddenly I found myself with no money and nowhere to go,” she said, remembering how scared she had been.

She looked at him honestly. “It was never my intention to hitchhike. I was smarter than that, I knew the dangers it involved,” she told him, trying to convince him that she wasn’t stupid. “But I just became so desperate. I was walkin’ along the side of the road a few days after I was jumped. I hadn’t eaten in days and it was pouring down rain. This guy in a truck pulled over and rolled down his window, askin’ me if I wanted a ride. I didn’t care about the consequences. I just got in.”

She chose her next words carefully. “Everything was going…okay, so to speak. He had given me some pretzels he had and it was nice and warm in the truck. He asked me a few questions, like where I was headed and how long I had been on the road, but mainly we kept the conversation to a minimum. It wasn’t until a couple hours in that things started to go bad.”

She tried to go on but found it difficult. It had been really scary for her and she didn’t like thinkin’ about it. After a few minutes had passed and she still hadn’t spoken Logan spoke up.

“It’s okay, Marie,” he said gently. “Just get it off your chest.”

Taking a deep breath she nodded before continuing. “Well, after a couple of hours, he asked me if I had ever hitchhiked before. I answered him honestly, telling him it was my first time. I thought that he was just curious, but it turned out it was wrong. I remember him smiling and saying the next bit quite normally. He said, ‘then you don’t know the rules yet.’ I looked at him and asked what rules he was talking about and he just ignored me.

“We kept driving for awhile. I think I had fallen asleep because when I woke up we were stopped at some truck stop. I opened my eyes to find the guy staring at me in a way that really freaked me out. He said ‘it’s time to pay for your ride.’ Being the idiot that I was I told him I didn’t have any money. He just stared at me a little longer before he reached across the truck to pull at my shirt. That’s when I realized what he wanted and so I became freaked out. I started attacking him. He fought back and even gave me a black eye. I was so scared that I took his keys and stabbed him in the eyeball. I’m pretty sure he’s blind in that eye,” she chuckled, unsure why she was laughing at such a horrid memory.

“I managed to go three months without hitchhiking again. Well, I was still gettin’ rides from people, just without they’re knowing. Kinda like how I did with you, sneakin’ into the back of your trailer,” she said. “Anyway, it had been another night like with the first guy. Only this time it was snowing and I hadn’t eaten in nearly a week. I was extremely weak and when some guy offered me a ride and a bite to eat, I couldn’t refuse. I just needed to survive.

“This guy wasn’t bad at all. He took me through a drive through and got me some food and drove me farther up north. He asked where I was headed and I just said…north. I drove with him for a couple of days. He was the guy who helped me sneak across the border. I snuck in his trunk and remained undetected. He left me near a town where I could get another ride,” she recalled.

“After that, I began hitchhiking some more. Yeah, there were a couple more close calls, but it was never as bad as the first guy. Both of the other two had just asked me if I wanted to hook up, and when I turned them down, they simply just dropped me off at the closest town. When I got to Laughlin City I was expectin’ a bit more of, well you know, a city. I needed a ride and whenever I realized that you were a mutant I knew that you were the one. I hadn’t met another mutant during my eight months on the road and I felt drawn to you.”

Marie looked up at Logan, finally done with her story, when she noticed something was wrong. Logan was not quite staring at her, but off to her right, and his body was trembling. He looked angry.

“Logan?” Marie asked, alarmed.

No response.

“Logan, snap out of it!”

Logan’s hazel eyes shot down to meet hers and his expression softened at her concerned expression. His body stopped shaking.

“Logan? Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Sorry, kid.”

“You didn’t do anything wrong,” she said, still worried. “Why were you acting like that?”

He looked away from her. “Sorry. You’re story just…upset me. That’s all.”

She frowned. “Don’t be upset. It happened a long time ago. I’m happy now. That’s all that matters.”

Logan half-smiled. “You’re right, kid. I just wish I could have been there to protect you, that’s all.”

“Well, you hadn’t met me yet, so technically you didn’t break your promise.”

He looked at her seriously before saying, “And I never will.”

She held his gaze before blushing and looking away. “Come on, let’s go. If we hurry up we might be able to catch the last few minutes of the game.”

“I’m glad you know me so well, kid.”

Marie woke up the following morning to the sound of a knock on her door. She groaned, upset that someone was bothering her this early in the morning. It was her first day of spring break and she deserved to sleep in.

“Just a minute,” she said as she forced herself out of bed. She could have just stayed in bed and told whoever it was to come in, but she figured it was someone important. There was no way Jubes or any of the other kids would be up bothering her this early on the first day of break.

She opened her door to see a clean-shaven Logan leaning against her door frame. She raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Why, why mister. This is the second time in the last week you have showed up on my doorstep before the sun is up.”

He cocked a grin. “Sorry, kid. I just figured maybe you wanted to work on the bike some more?”

She rolled her eyes but smiled. “Sure, just gimme a few minutes.”

She turned around and went to her closet, where she picked out an outfit for the day. She was about to walk into her private bathroom when she sensed that Logan was still standing outside her room. Turning around she said, “You can come in, you know.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah, silly. I’m not gunna make you wait in the hall. Besides, I don’t want you waking any of the other kids. It is our first day of break,” she informed him.

He shuffled into the room and closed the door quietly behind him. “Aw, shit, kid. I didn’t realize it. Are you sure your fine with helpin’ me out? You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

Marie stared at him and noticed, even though he appeared to just be nonchalantly looking over her room, that he was testing her. He was trying to figure out if she genuinely wanted to spend time with him or if she felt she was obligated to. Marie approached him and took his hand in hers.

“Logan, I want to do this. I want to make our friendship work,” she assured him, producing a genuine smile. “And I want to finish that damn bike. I like finishing what I started,” she teased him.

Relaxing, Logan returned her smile. “Thanks kid.”

She relished the sensation of their hands entwined for a few more moments before reluctantly letting go. “I’m gunna get ready. You can make yourself at home out here.”

Closing her bathroom door behind her, Marie took a deep breath and stared at her reflection in the mirror. She thought about Logan and what he meant to her exactly. She had always assumed they were just friends, really, really close friends. Family, maybe. But ever since they had rekindled their friendship, she couldn’t help but feel like she wanted more. Every time he touched her, ever so lightly, she found herself struggling to breathe. Could Logan mean something more to her? Something more than…friends?

Shaking her head she realized now was not the best time to evaluate these emotions, especially since the center of those said emotions was probably seven feet away from her, sitting on her bed.

The thought of Logan on her bed did not help matters. She mouthed, “Focus, Marie” to herself in the mirror and took another deep breath. It took her fifteen minutes to get dressed, brush her teeth and hair, and apply some blush to her pale cheeks. Taking one last deep breath, she opened the door to the bathroom.

Logan was indeed sitting on her bed with his head leaning against the headrest. His eyes were closed and Marie didn’t know if he had fallen asleep or not, but she figured it was best to not try and wake him. She remembered what had happened the last time she woke him up and decided it was best not to risk three more holes in her body.

Marie walked around to her closet and picked out some socks and sneakers to wear, since they would be working in the garage. She sat down on her desk chair so she could put her socks and shoes on. She was halfway through tying her second shoe when she sensed she was being watched. She peeked up to see Logan, eyes open, clearly watching her.

“Oh, I didn’t realize you were awake.”

He just nodded at her but remained with his eyes fixed intensely on her. She began to feel uncomfortable and shifted in her seat.

“You really are amazing, kid,” said Logan suddenly.

Marie was taken aback by his sudden compliment. She blushed a deep red and muttered, “Thanks, I guess.” His compliment didn’t help her whole conflicted emotions situation.

He continued to stare at her for a little before rising from her bed. She got up kind of awkwardly from her chair. “You ready, then?” She asked a little nervously. He was acting kind of strange.

“Yeah. Let’s go.”

Marie watched as he walked straight out of her room as if nothing was out of the ordinary. Rolling her eyes, she brushed off his weird behavior as something utterly Loganish. She would never understand that man.

******************************************

Three hours later and Marie was sweatin’ up a storm. They had been working intensely over the past few hours and Marie was more than exhausted. At this rate, she’d be dead before eleven.

She was also starving. She hadn’t eaten since dinner last night, which had been a pretty good meal nonetheless. Thinking about her little game of “ask and answer” she had shared with Logan she glanced in his direction. Logan was sweating as well, though not nearly as much as her. Thanks to his healing factor, no doubt.

Marie had to restrain herself from watching a bead of sweat roll sweetly down his face and neck and then across his bare chest. He had insisted on taking his shirt off because it was “too damn hot, kid” and she hadn’t had a problem with it at first. However, concentrating on manual labor was extremely hard to do when the sexiest man alive was sweating without a shirt only two feet away from her.

“Somethin’ I can help you with, kid? Or are you gunna get back to workin’ on that throttle.”

The sound of his voice snapped her out of her daze. She blushed as she realized she had been staring at him quite intensely while letting her mind wander and she quickly busied herself with some more work.

After another half hour had passed she told him, “Logan, if I work anymore this morning in this heat, I’m going to die of a heat stroke, sugar.” The first day of spring break was proving to be a hot one.

“It’s alright, kid. I think we’ve done enough for today,” he said, wiping his dirty hands on a towel.

Heaving a sigh of relief, Marie stood up and looked over everything they had accomplished. “It’s looking pretty good. How much longer do ya think it will take ‘till it’s ready to ride?”

He looked it over. “Probably just a few more hours. Maybe we could meet again sometime while you’re on break?” He asked, hopeful. His eyes were all scrunched up and his lips were in a little pout. Marie had to resist the urge to laugh. Logan, of all people, giving her the puppy dog eyes.

“Sure thing, sugar. Although next time, could we try not to make it so early? I do need my beauty rest, after all,” she said hopefully.

“Well, in that case, take all the time you need.”

She shoved him playfully and he tickled her in return. “Damn you, Logan! I hate that I’m so ticklish. Why aren’t you?” She tried tickling him under his arm but he just stood there with a smug grin on his face.

“It’s a guy thing.”

“Hmph,” she said, folding her arms across her chest.

He ruffled her hair, making her feel more and more like a child. She wondered if that was all Logan saw her as. A child. Then again, he was the one who had told her that he was her friend, not her father.

Best not to dwell on this now. “Come on. I’m starving. We probably missed breakfast, but we can get an early start on lunch.”

“Lead the way, darlin’.”

The two of them entered the kitchen to find a glum looking Jubilee slumped on the counter. She was engrossed in a text message. Hearing them enter, she spoke without looking around.

“Peter, if you try to sneak up on me one more time, I will jab a fork through that thick metal of yours.”

“No Pete, yellow, just us,” Logan said with a roll of his eyes. “But that is a great way to make friends. You’re gunna have all the kids running with that greeting.”

Jubes turned around at the sound of Logan’s voice. “Oh! Hey Wolvie,” she said, flipping her phone shut and hopping down from the counter. She noticed Rogue and she grinned knowingly. “Glad to see you two spending some time together.” She took in their appearances and a look of disgust crossed her face. “Although, I am a bit curious as to why you both look like shit.”

“Like I said, not a good way to make friends.”

“Ignore her, Logan,” Marie said with an eye roll. “Hey, Jubes. We were just getting something to eat after working all morning on Logan’s motorcycle.”

“Our motorcycle,” he corrected her. “It’s yours just as much as it is mine.”

She looked taken aback. “Really? But I don’t ride motorcycles.”

“Well, there’s no time to learn like the present.”

“Well…,” she trailed off, unsure of what to say. She hadn’t realized that he had planned on actually getting her on one of those things. She had half a mind to tell him there was no way in a million years she would ever ride one of those things. She didn’t want to upset him though. “We’ll see,” she said.

Jubes looked between the two of them before smiling mischievously. “We can just add that to one of the wild adventures that we’re gunna do over spring break. Speaking of which, we never figured out when we are going out on the town,” she reminded them.

Marie hesitated. Was she doing the right thing by including Logan in her teenage fun? After all, she didn’t want him to get bored with her and her childish ways. And the last thing she needed was another reason for Logan to think of her as a child. Logan’s words, however, cleared all her doubts.

“I’m game whenever. That actually sounds like a little bit of fun, and I think we all deserve to be a little carefree, dontcha Marie?”

Marie nodded “yes” at the same time Jubes said “who’s Marie?”

“It’s my real name,” she answered earnestly. She suddenly realized she had never told anyone at the mansion, not even Bobby. Logan was the only one who knew. Well, until now.

Jubes put her hands on her hips. “And you never bothered to tell your best friend this…why?”

Marie looked at her hands before answering her. “I don’t know…it just never came up.”

Jubilee was about to spit out a retort to Marie’s lousy excuse when the door suddenly opened and in walked ‘Ro, followed by the Professor. Marie wasn’t sure if she could get used to referring to him as the Professor, since he appeared to be someone completely different.

“Ah, Logan, Rogue, I missed you this morning at breakfast. The children all took the news quite well, might I add,” came the voice of the fake Professor. But he wasn’t fake, technically. Just…new? The new professor.

“Sorry, Chuck. We were out in the garage. But that’s good news,” said Logan earnestly.

The new Professor nodded his head, smiling. Things got a little awkward from there, and eventually Jubilee excused herself from the room, shooting Marie a glare that clearly said “we’ll finish this discussion later.”

Marie sighed before turning towards the fridge. She was starving, after all. She had gotten out some bread, ham, cheese, and mustard, and was making her sandwich quietly while the other three in the room remained silently watching her. She could feel the tension in the room and it was driving her nuts.

When she had successfully made her and Logan’s sandwiches, she decided it was time for some forced conversation. “So, how have you been, Professor?”

“Good, thank you Rogue. I feel that I’ve been adjusting well. I must say, it feels quite nice to back in my own bed.”

That made Marie remember something she had wanted to ask him yesterday. “What ever happened to you during that month? I mean Jea—the Pheonix, um,” she said, struggling for the right words.”Well, it happened over a month ago. Where have you been?”

The professor smiled kindly at her, and she was briefly reminded of the way the old professor used to smile at her. “I was under the care of Moira Mactaggert. She was the doctor who was tending to the man in the video. It took me a few weeks to properly adjust to my new form.”

Marie nodded in understanding. Of course, after not walking for years, it was going to take a little bit of time to adjust to some workable legs. The silence returned and Marie shifted uncomfortably in her stool. She wished that the Professor and ‘Ro would just leave so she could go back to enjoying her morning with Logan.

**That can be arranged, my darling**, said a voice in her head. She jumped slightly at the sound of the Professor’s voice. Storm and Logan looked at her funnily, but the Professor remained with his eyes fixed to hers and a genuine expression on his face.

**I’m sorry, professor. I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just…it’s going to take some time, you know**? She hoped he understood.

**I understand, dear. Feel free to take as long as you wish**, came the reply. He nodded to her once more before addressing the other people in the room. “Storm, you wanted to show me the new Danger Room installments?”

“Ah, yes, Charles,” said ‘Ro, speaking for the first time. “Right this way.” And they were gone.

Marie watched the door swing shut behind them. She was sure that over time she could accept this. Turning around to Logan, she knew that right now it was time to focus on another friendship, one that meant more to her than anything in the world. She wondered if Logan knew that, knew how much he meant to her.

**He does. He feels the same way**. Marie smiled to herself at the Professor’s assuring words. Yeah, she could definitely get used to the Professor back in their lives.

Closing the door to her room behind her, Marie couldn’t help but smile. She had just spent an amazing morning and afternoon with Logan and she couldn’t seem to wipe the smile off of her face. After eating an early lunch the two figured it would be good to take a little walk. They walked around the entire grounds, talking about mostly unimportant things, but it didn’t really matter. She loved spending time with Logan, just being in his presence. There was something about him that was just so…comforting. Like she knew that no matter what, he would never leave her.

Marie smiled at that. She knew that Logan would always be there for her. Unlike her parents, or Bobby, or even Kitty for that matter, she knew that whenever she needed him, he would be there with arms wide open. It had barely been a week since the two had resolved their issues, and already they were growing closer than ever.

The most amazing thing to Marie was that she had this feeling that Logan did feel the same way, like the Professor had said. When she talked to him, he would look at her intently and listen to everything she had to say, without judging. He was willing to offer his advice on the most simplest of matters. Every time she cracked a joke she half expected him to just raise his eyebrows and grunt, being the big, bad Wolverine and all. Instead his eyes lit up and he let out a genuine chuckle. She noticed the ways his eyes lit up every time he saw her, and it made her appreciate him all the more.

However, as much as she knew Logan cared for her, she also was aware of the fact that they weren’t exactly on the same level with their feelings. Whenever he would lay his hand reassuringly on her shoulder or look her directly into her eyes, her stomach would drop and her breathing would accelerate a little bit. She was noticing that her feelings towards Logan were changing in a completely new direction. Well, not entirely new, if she was honest with herself. She recalled having a crush on him during their first few days at the mansion, and even to this date she still checks him out whenever he’s not looking. But…something was different about her feelings. She wasn’t lusting after the sexy, dark Wolverine. She was longing for Logan as a person.

The more time they spent together the more she realized just how human he really was. He had let his guard down a little bit today and had even talked some more about the beginning years that he could remember of his past. Marie had listened intently and reassured him that he could always trust her. She remembered how his eyes had sparkled at that, and she had had to look away to hide the blush that was creeping up on her face.

All in all, things with Logan were looking better than ever. She hadn’t even thought about Bobby and Kitty or Scott and Jean all day. She smiled as she realized this was probably due to the fact that only one person has been on her mind all day. A very, very sexy person…whom she happens to be going clubbing with tomorrow night.

She groaned as she remembered the conversation she had had with Logan and Jubilee earlier. The two had been walking in from their walk, laughing at some joke Logan, of all people, had just made when they bumped into Jubilee in the grand foyer.

“Ah, the lovely pair returns. I’ve been looking for you guys forever! Where the hell ya been?” Jubes asked with a pop of her gum.

Logan rolled his eyes while Marie let out a little laugh. “Sorry Jubes. We were just taking a nice walk. It sure is hot outside, but there’s a pretty nice breeze, actually I was surprised it wasn’t so humid since—”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. The weather is great, we get it,” Jubes interrupted. “Anyway, I had an idea for our night out.”

“Really? What’s that?” Marie glanced furtively at Logan. She had a bad feeling about whatever Jubes was concocting.

“Yeah. So there’s this new club that opened up in the city. It’s called Club de Freaks. It’s supposed to be this really secret underground mutant-only club. And since we’re all muta—”

She stopped abruptly as she realized her mistake. Silence filled the room while Marie tried not to get upset. As much as it hurt to not be included anymore, she had made the decision to take the cure, and therefore she would accept those consequences.

Logan looked at her and placed a hand on her shoulder, a concerned look on his face.

“You okay, kid?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” she reassured him. Wiping away her grief she forced a smile on her face and looked at Jubilee. “Really, I am. Anyway, as you were saying, if it’s a mutant-only club, I—I don’t think I’d be allowed in.”

“Well, I’m sure there’s some way around it. I mean, how are they gunna know? What are they going to make you do, display your powers? I think it will be fine,” Jubes said, trying to assure her best friend not to be upset. “Anyway, I say we all go tomorrow. What do you guys think?”

Logan cleared his throat. “Well, it sounds fine. I’m not really the clubbing type but,” he glanced at Marie, “I think I can make an exception, this one time.”

Marie just nodded in reply. Jubes clapped her hands in excitement. “Great! Okay, we’ll meet down here at eight-thirty. That will give us time to catch a ride to the city to hear their DJ that comes on at ten. He’s supposed to be really good.”

Marie smiled at the memory, and how Logan had insisted on walking her up to her room after that. He had a Danger Room class with the younger kids this evening. They had said their goodbyes and had even given each other a little hug. The only thing bothering her was that she was really anxious about going to this club tomorrow. Would they let her in? What would they do to her if they found out she took the cure? Would it be awkward with just the three of them? Would she have to dance with Logan?

Marie burst out laughing at that. The thought of Logan dancing was just too funny to imagine. It would be okay, she told herself. She deserved to have a little fun with her two best friends. Especially since she wanted to be more than friends with one of them.

She sighed and went to sit on her bed. She was unnerved about her feelings towards Logan. They had just gotten things back to normal, and now she was going to screw it up with her stupid feelings. What would he do if he found out? Reject her, telling her he wanted nothing to do with her? Or would he say he felt the same way?

She couldn’t decide which one was more terrifying.

******************************************

Marie shot up out of bed, screaming. It had seemed so real. She couldn’t get the image of his dead, lifeless body out of her head. She couldn’t control the screaming, and was half-aware when her door burst open and in came ‘Ro and Jubes, frantically searching the room for some form of attack. When they realized that Marie was alone they rushed over to where she was sitting and tried to calm her down.

“Rogue, listen to me, what’s wrong?”

“Come on chica, stop screaming!”

Marie stopped her yelling at once as she realized where she was. She was momentarily confused by the concerned expressions on both of their faces. Why were they worried about her! Logan was dead!

“He’s dead!” She practically yelled in their faces.

Their concerned expressions instantly turned into confused. “Who’s dead, sweetie?” ‘Ro was asking her frantically.

“Logan! Why are you guys just standing there! Why didn’t you try to save him!”

Jubes looked at ‘Ro in utter confusion. “Um, what are you talking about? He just left twenty minutes ago to go get some more beer from the mini-market.”

“HE’S DEAD!” Why weren’t they listening to her? She jumped out of bed, and out of the open door. She ran down the hall until she reached Logan’s room. Swinging the door open, she half-expected him to by lying on the floor, completely still. Instead she found the room empty with a lingering smell of cigar smoke.

She didn’t understand. She had seen him die…again. Marie recalled the last two times she had thought Logan was dead. All three times she had been sleeping. Was it a dream? It always felt so real…like it already happened. Or is going to happen. That didn’t make any sense though, did it? What did she think she was, a psychic?

Marie took a few deep breaths and was a lot calmer by the time Jubes and ‘Ro had reached Logan’s room. “Rogue, what’s going on? Why do you think Logan is dead?”

Realizing she didn’t need to worry them, she just blew it off. “I think I was just dreaming, that’s all. Sorry to wake you. Night guys.” She rushed past them and back to her room. She shut the door behind her before they could follow her in. She knew that it was best not to concern them with whatever was going on. It probably was just some stupid dream.

However, she had trouble trying to convince herself of this, and spent the rest of the night restless.

The next morning Marie awoke to the sound of raindrops on her window. Finally, she thought. Spring was supposed to bring rain, not incredibly hot weather. She laid there for a few minutes, just relishing the rain. She had always liked rain; something about it had always calmed her. After the restless night she endured last night, she needed some form of relaxation. She was surprised that she was able to fall completely asleep and was equally thankful that her nightmare hadn’t returned.

Because that’s what it was. A nightmare. Logan dead, in her vocabulary, is *definitely* a nightmare.

She squirmed in her bed and tried to warm her cold feet. Suddenly she had this strange feeling that she was being watched. She opened her eyes slightly and was shocked to see Logan sitting in her chair on the side of her bed. He was leaning back, and he was staring at her. When he realized that she was awake he smiled softly, but there was a wary look in his eyes. It seemed like there was something he wanted to say, but he just didn’t know how to.

Marie really wanted to know what he was doing in her room, and why he had just been sitting there, staring at her in her sleep. Instead she said, “mornin’.”

Logan nodded his head. “Good morning, kid. How’d you sleep?”

Marie stared at him and the look on his face made her realize that it was all a formality. He knew that she had spent the entire night tossing and turning. He just wanted her to admit that, probably so he could start into whatever was on his mind. She was one-hundred percent sure that it had to do with last night.

Well, if he was going to play this game, then she would just have to play along. “Fine, actually, and you?”

By the expression on his face Marie knew she probably shouldn’t have said that. He was getting angry at this whole beating around the bush thing, and she was too. He finally leaned in and took her hand in his. Marie couldn’t repress a shiver at his touch, and she could hear her breathing accelerate. She hoped Logan didn’t notice her embarrassing reaction that she had to his touch.

It seemed that he did, but he was mistaking it for fear. He quickly let go and leaned back a little. “Sorry,” he murmured, looking even more upset then before.

“Don’t be,” she quickly reassured him, wanting to tell him that she would never be afraid of him, but at the same time not wanting him to know the reason for her reaction. Deciding to let it go, she urged him on. “Is there something you wanted to talk about?” She tried to say it innocently, but it came out a bit hushed, and he didn’t buy it.

“I think you know, Marie.”

“Storm told you, I guess.”

“Yes.”

“She shouldn’t have.”

“I’m glad she did. Now what’s going on?”

She looked down, not wanting to meet his gaze. “Look, Logan, like you said…it was probably just a dream….” She didn’t know what to say.

“Yeah, a dream that has woken you up twice now in the middle of the night, screaming your head off?”

“So what, now you’re taking it back? Just the other night you were telling me I was crazy, and that it *was* just a dream,” she said heatedly. She didn’t know why, but suddenly she was becoming angry.

“I never said you were crazy, kid.”

“You insinuated it!”

“Says who?” He was getting mad now, too.

“Well, me!”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about!” Yeah, definitely mad now. Marie noticed a flicker in his eyes, and she wondered if perhaps she should calm them both down before this got out of hand.

“And you do? What are you trying to say Logan?”

“I’m just saying that you need to be more careful!”

That struck a nerve.

“What! Are you saying that it’s *my* fault that I keep seeing you die!” She could feel the tears burning her eyes, but she tried to hold them back. “Are trying to tell me that it’s my fault you’re going to die? Because trust me, I know that! I know I’m not gunna make it, I’m not gunna get there in time to save you! I’m sorry—I’m so sorry,” she said, tears now streaming down her face and her body began shaking with the force of the sobs.

“Marie…” Logan trailed off, and drew her in for a tight hug. She hugged him back and continued to sob into his shoulder. She was vaguely reminded of the other day when the two had hugged like this after their fight outside. This was starting to become a habit between the two of them.

She had finally settled down enough to let go of him and wipe away the tears on her face. Logan reached out a hand to lift her face up so they could be eye to eye. The anger was completely gone from his expression.

“I’m not blaming you for anything, kid. Nothing’s going to happen. And none of this is your fault. I guess I’m just…worried, that’s all. You’re scaring me, darlin’,” he said holding their gaze. He began to stroke her hair, running his fingers up and down its length. Marie had to resist the urge to lean back into his touch and moan in pleasure. The proximity was driving her crazy, and it took her a moment to gather her thoughts.

“Logan I’ll be fine. I just think, and don’t deny it, that something’s going on here,” she said, trying to focus on his face, and not that the fact that his hand had moved lower, towards her back. “Whatever these dreams mean…well, I don’t think their dreams.” She let out that last bit nervously. She wondered how he’d feel about her whole seeing-the-future theory.

He looked confused. “Are you saying you think this really did happen? That I’m some kind of ghost?”

“No, I think this is something that is *going* to happen.”

He was completely baffled with her words. Realization dawned on him. “Marie, you think you’re seeing the future?” She couldn’t tell if he was serious or just thought this was all a joke.

“I don’t know…I mean I’m no psychic, like Jea—the Professor,” she corrected herself, not wanting to bring up the “J” word. “But, I keep getting this feeling like I’m being warned. I mean these nightmares just feel so real, you know?”

When he didn’t respond, she thought she’d try a different approach. “You’ve had dreams before, right?”

“Yeah,” he said, looking at her funnily. “Everyone does.”

“Right. Now compare those dreams you have to the nightmares you get of your times in the lab. While the dreams are all dazed and hard to comprehend, those memories that haunt your sleep are vivid and just so *real*. That’s because it is real, Logan. It really did happen, you didn’t just make it up in your dreams.”

He was following her a bit more now, but still a little confused. “I still don’t get what this has to do with anything, kid.”

“Well, that’s how this thing is with you. This isn’t like a normal dream. It feels like a memory, but it obviously hasn’t happened yet, so that leaves only one explanation. It’s going to happen,” she said. Realization dawned on her and her expression turned horrified. “You’re going to die, and I’m not going to be able to save you.”

Logan continued to rub her lower back before speaking. “Marie, I’m not going to die. I will admit, this is a little strange, but it still doesn’t make sense. I mean, how could you possibly be able to see the future? You got some other mutation you ain’t tellin’ me about?”

She rolled her eyes. “No, Logan. I…I just don’t know.” All this thinking was making her head hurt. She hadn’t gotten much sleep the night before and it was way too early.

Sensing that she needed a break from this conversation, Logan straightened up, removing his hand from her back, and forced a grin on his face. “Look, kid, we can worry about this later. Just focus on today. You need your rest, after all, we have a busy night tonight,” he said, grin widening.

Marie groaned. “Ugh, I can’t believe Jubes convinced us to go clubbing with her. Do you realize what you’ve gotten us into to?” After all, he was the one who had been so willing to follow along with these plans in the first place.

“Yeah, I do have this feeling I’m going to regret it. But we need this, kid. We need this night out, to just…forget,” he said, turning momentarily serious again. She looked back into his eyes again and realized that he was right. Between everything that they had both been through in these last few days, a little break is just what they needed. While going to some secret-underground-mutant-only-club-that-she-shouldn’t-be-allowed-into-since-she’s-not-a-mutant-anymore wouldn’t have been her first choice, she knew that she had to go along with it for Logan’s benefit. He deserved to go out and relax, especially after everything the two had been through in the last week. Hell, the last year for that matter.

She returned his grin. “You’re right,” she said. Glancing at the clock on her nightstand she said, “I think I’m gunna try and get some more sleep. I don’t wanna be a zombie tonight.”

“Sounds good, kid,” he said, rising from her chair. He was about to turn around and leave her room when he hesitated. He faced her completely and leaned down towards her head. He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead before smiling and leaving the room. Marie was left watching after him until he was out of view, shutting the door to her room behind him.

She smiled. She stayed smiling as she put her head down on the pillow, and was pretty sure that she remained smiling as she drifted into unconsciousness.

******************************************

“Jubes, I can’t take this anymore! If one more product touches my hair, I think I’m going to lose it!”

Marie was sitting in a chair, looking straight at Jubilee with accusing eyes. The two had spent the last three and a half *freaking* hours getting ready. While Marie was more of a ponytail and jeans kind of girl, Jubes was far from it. She had spent the last few hours doing Marie’s nails, makeup, wardrobe, and everything in between. Marie was on the verge of insanity as Jubilee kept insisting on putting more and more things into her hair.

“Relax, chica, I was just adding the finishing touches,” Jubes said, trying to defend herself. She looked Marie up and down. “Wow, damn girl, you look *hot*. You’re gunna make the Wolvmeister have a heart attack.”

“Shut up, I’m not trying to impress Logan,” she said, even though she knew that was just a bunch of bullshit. By the look on Jubes’ face she knew that she didn’t believe it either.

“Right, and my favorite color is black. Now that we got the things that are obviously *not* true out of the way, why don’t you take a look in the mirror?”

Marie rolled her eyes but obliged to Jubilee’s suggestion. She gasped a little as she saw her reflection in her full-length mirror. She was wearing tight black-leather pants and a red silk shirt with spaghetti straps that matched her red pumps. Her hair was partly up, but a lot of it was flowing down her back in a neat looking wave. She wore red lipstick with more eyeliner and mascara than she had ever touched, but it still looked good. Jubes was right, she looked amazing.

“Wow, Jubes. You did a great job,” she said, turning to her friend and feeling bad about yelling at her like that. She took in Jubes’ yellow top and black leather mini-skirt and had to admit that her best friend looked pretty amazing too. “You look awesome, by the way.”

“Thank you and thank you, chica. Now, let’s go! It’s already eight forty-five. Wolvie’s probably wondering where the hell we are.”

Marie nodded in agreement. “Right, let me get my purse.” Before she could reach for the brown purse that she often carried around, Jubes stopped her.

“Uh, you don’t wanna do that. Trust me, its better if you don’t have any belongings to worry about. Just keep it in your pockets,” Jubes said.

Marie looked down at her pants, which happened to be pocket-free. “Um, what pockets?”

“Oh, well, here,” Jubes said, grabbing Marie’s purse and taking out her phone, some money, and her photo ID. “Leave the money and ID in your shoe.”

“Ew, that’s gross! What if I lose it?”

“You’ll be fine, chica, trust me.”

Marie obeyed and put her money along with her ID underneath her right foot. “What about my phone?” There was no way that it would fit in her other shoe.

Jubes just raised an eyebrow and got out her own phone. Marie was shocked to see her reach her hand down the top of her shirt with her phone, and then take it back out without the phone. “Just put it in your bra. It works all the time.”

Marie looked at her best friend a little uncertainly before taking her phone and situating it in her own bra. It was only a little bit uncomfortable, but looking in the mirror, she noticed it was completely impossible to tell that it was there.

“Good, now let’s go!” Jubes grabbed Marie’s hand and pulled her out of the room. Marie yelled, “Jubes, I’m in heels here!” as the two began descending down the stairs at a rather fast pace.

They had just reached the grand foyer when Marie looked up and noticed Logan. He had his back to the two girls, but upon hearing their entrance, he turned around with an annoyed look on his face.

“There you are, I’ve been—” He stopped dead as he took in her appearance. Marie couldn’t help her deep blush as he ran his eyes up and down her body with a look of hunger in his eyes. He must have realized that he was checking her out, though, because he quickly shook that expression off his face and the annoyed look returned.

“Kid, there’s no way in hell I’m lettin’ you go out like that,” he said.

Now Marie looked annoyed. “I look fine, Logan.”

“You’re not wearing any clothes! You look like a god-damn hooker.”

Before Marie could say anything, Jubes interrupted. “Trust me sweetie, when a man says that, it’s a compliment.” She turned towards Logan. “As for you, my girl here looks absolutely stunning, so you’re gunna have to get that stick out of your ass and deal, okay?”

Logan didn’t say anything else, and Marie decided not to press the matter. She finally was able to observe what Logan was wearing. He was wearing a red button-up shirt that and some dark-wash jeans. The shirt was not tucked in, giving it a clean-shaven but rugged look. His hair was freshly washed and Marie couldn’t help the longing that she felt in her stomach. Logan was looking sexier than ever.

“Now, can we go, please? That taxi cab has been waiting out there for twenty minutes. He’s probably gunna charge us for it too,” Logan said gruffly. Marie and Jubes nodded, and the three of them made their way towards the double-doors that led them outside. Logan had gotten into the left side of the cab and Marie sidled up next to him in the middle. Jubes closed the door behind her and told the driver the address. As they headed down Graymalkin Lane, Marie looked back at the Mansion one last time and braced herself for the events of tonight. She hoped it wouldn’t be too terrible.

Looking up at Logan, she was pleased to see that he was no longer angry at her. He was looking down at her and smiling one of his famous, heart wrenching smiles. He put an arm around her, and she scooted even closer into his side.

Yeah, tonight wouldn’t be so terrible at all.