I enjoyed all three of these stories. Actually, I enjoyed the first two even when i didn't know more was coming. But I think the third is the sweetest - it's the one where we realize what Logan gave up to make her safe and take her to Xavier's, what it really cost him, more than facing up to his past. He hid it for a long time, like he hid the fact that he wasn't a current teacher, hadn't driven that beat-up van, that he had reasons for fleeing, and that he'd flee again. I think he thought she wouldn't accept him - maybe the reason he never asked to come inside her house, either. But he gave it up when she got in trouble, and actually gave her more, and that more was too much and not enough. And it's the one where Marie takes her life into her own hands and takes a chance.

For some reason, I am reminded of the Annunciation, where the angel comes to Mary saying something absurd like, "You will bear God's child, and you will call him Jesus." And Mary just says 'yes'. I don't actually like that story, Mary was always too passive and holy for my liking, but now I think it may have been something similar to this - she thought she had her life picked out for her, a comfortable life, a good and useful life, but when someone came along and asked her if she wouldn't give it all up, take a leap and the chance, she said yes. And since I'm not religious but instead a total romantic, I'm so glad it's Logan and not some angel. He's not an angel, anyway, but somehow I think Marie knows exactly what she's getting into.

Author's Response: I don\'t know if Marie knows where she\'s getting in to. I guess this is more sort of a leap of faith for her. Have to keep in mind that she doesn\'t actually know Logan. She has a certain image of him, but that\'s based on what she has seen during those few days she has spent in Logan\'s company. In this one she doesn\'t have residual inner Logan, his power just keeps extending her life. Yes, Logan probably was afraid of rejection. And he was also afraid of loosing her for time. Afraid that one day she\'d find out why he kept touching her and that she wouldn\'t want him to do that anymore.

Oh, Ara. This one was a haunting one. More so, I think, because she was so accepting of it. She was smiling with her hair wet. She enjoyed a new pair of jeans and a full meal. And if she could find pleasure in those things still - but it was because she was going to get her wish. A glass butterfly. They aren't made to last, and you don't want to see them just broken.

Logan seemed like he was unsettled. He doesn't usually interfere in the moral choices of strangers. But she got to him a little. He also seemed to - welcome it a little. The way you remember to savor sadness sometimes...and wistfulness. Beauty. I wonder if there was guilt in him that he knew part of him would enjoy it.

The names - that's what got to me. The smile with wet hair on a freezing breeze. And when he put on her socks.

hehehe devilish mind yours

i feel like i shouldn't love your logan but i do. he's so violent and grumpy and misanthropic and sometimes whiny but i love it. all. because when something good happens he's so ready and grateful and alive and vital and he'll snatch it and gulp it down and give back more than he's able. makes me want to smother him with loving just to see that smile. (maybe that doesn't make sense but i'm not editing it. heh)

love the relationships you write for logan and his daughters, but it seems every time that happens, marie is eiher evil or mad (or dead first, mad later). it's like he only gets that one uncomplicated relationship in his life. poor logie.

Author's Response: There wouldn\'t be much to write about if everything worked out well from the beginning. Not for me at least. :)