PLEASE NOTE -

I wrote this fanfiction YEARS ago, under an old username. I just stumbled upon it in one of my PC folders and thought I would re-post it because there isn't a copy of it on the net and it's always handy to have an extra back up.

I like to think that my writing has improved a bit since I wrote it, so please be aware that it aint perfect!

But I hope you enjoy!

I should also warn you that I might never get around to finishing it but who knows, re-reading it again might inspire me!


Chapter One

The unexpected Christmas Present

Logan grimaced at the piercing sound of squeals made by the younger residents of Xavier's School for the Gifted, his acute hearing viciously assaulted by their boisterous merriment. Rolling his eyes, he stared desperately across at the bald, smartly dressed man sitting in a wheelchair opposite him.

"Do they have to be so loud?"

Charles Xavier allowed a perfectly sculptured eyebrow to lift in bemusement. "They are children, Logan. And it is Christmas."

Scott, in the process of unwrapping a present, turned his ruby red gaze to his most valuable, if most annoying, team member, and grinned. 'Never in the party spirit, are we, Logan.'

A low growl sounded from Logan's chest, although it was feigned for Scott's benefit. Contrary to what the Fearless Leader insisted, Logan was-much to his surprise-actually having a good time. He wouldn't, in a million years, admit it to Scott though, and so he reached for his tumbler of brandy and remained silent.

Scott's grin widened as he returned his attentions to his gift, although it quickly died when he was finally met with its contents. It was his turn to feign emotion as he looked across to where Jubilee and Kitty were in the process of attacking their own gifts.

"Thank you for the scarf, Jubilee." Although he viewed the world in various shades of red, he didn't need to be told that it was bright yellow.

"I expect to see you wearing it for the snowball fight!"

His fiancée, Doctor Jean Grey, reached down to whisper in his ear, having just entered the room in time to witness the amusing scene. "At least there weren't matching gloves."

Logan's heightened senses picked up her words and he chuckled quietly. Telepathically Jean rebuked him: "Don't relax yet, Logan. Jubilee might have given the gloves to you."

Logan frowned at the thought and peered worriedly down at the surprisingly generous pile of gifts beside his chair but just at that moment, Marie entered the room and the creases on his forehead smoothed out as if by magic. He sighed inwardly as he acknowledged how beautiful she looked with her cheeks flushed with excitement and her eyes glittering with happiness. This was her third Christmas at the school and she still hadn't come down from the high of finally being a part of a family again.

As she walked towards him, he felt a stirring below. She could've been poured into those jeans, how keenly they clung to her every curve, and the tight, cropped cream sweater only served to emphasise the woman she had become.

She was oblivious to his musings, however, and instead watched him in puzzlement. "You haven't opened any of your presents, Logan?"

"I was waiting for you, kid. Thought we'd open them together."

Marie smiled warmly, not seeming to notice the 'kid' at the end of his sentence, something that irritated her no end, especially now that she was almost twenty.

"Aw, Logan. That's so sweet."

"Wuss," Scott whispered discreetly under his breath, knowing that both Logan and Jean would pick it up. Jean grinned but Logan, too wrapped up in Marie for the time being, decided to let it go, realising that there could be plenty of pay back at the annual snow ball massacre.

Logan gestured to Marie's pile of presents, positioned neatly by his own.

"Open yours first."

Marie shook her head. "Nah, we take turns."

Logan nodded, pleased. "OK, but you start."

Marie sat at his feet and he felt extremely touched by the gesture. Yet at the same time, he felt angry with himself. How could something so wrong, feel so right? He shouldn't desire her like this, but it flowed so smoothly, as if it was meant to be. He had to fight the urge to reach down and stroke her beautiful silken hair, telling himself she was barely twenty. Although snatches of his memory were slowly returning to him, he still had no idea just how old he might be. Old enough to be her grandfather perhaps, or worst - her great-grandfather.

She peered up at him questioningly, as if sensing his shift in mood. "You OK, Logan?"

He shook away his demons, determined that they wouldn't spoil today of all days. "Fine, kid." He gestured to her presents. "Rip away." He smirked, suddenly allowing his claws to spring forth. "Unless you want me to do it for ya?"

Marie laughed but Logan was once again rebuked telepathically, this time by Charles. "Some of the children find those alarming, Logan. Please put them away."

"You'd be surprised, Chuck." Logan returned, via his mind. "Some of those kids are more blood-thirsty than me." But he retracted his blades anyway.

Presents were exchanged and both Marie and Logan were pleased with the choice of gifts the other had chosen, as well as what other members of the school had bought them. To Scott's irritation, Jubilee had not bought Logan gloves as he had hoped, although the gift was still yellow - the box that was. The gift of cigars made six boxes in total and Logan realized, somewhat wryly, that if he didn't have his mutant ability to heal, he would've probably died of lung cancer long ago.

They were about to get up and join the others in sharing some punch when Logan noticed a forgotten present peeking out from under his chair. It was for Marie. Excited by this extra gift, Marie hurriedly reached down to claim it, wondering whom it could be from. She was positive that she had opened gifts from everyone at the college.

When she looked at the label, however, she suddenly paled, something that didn't go by unnoticed by Logan.

"What's wrong, Marie?" Her name always replaced the 'kid', when conversation took a more serious turn.

She looked up at him. "It's from my step-aunt Karen, of all people. My parents must've told her I was here." She shrugged. "But why would she send me a present? She didn't particularly like me before I became a mutant, and didn't want anything to do with me as soon as my poison skin kicked in."

Logan frowned at her. "What have I said about calling it poison skin?"

"Sorry, Logan. It's just that she was the first one to call it that. It just reminded me."

"You can control it now, Marie. You've come a long way." Logan was painfully conscious of that fact. Had been since the day the professor's meditation lessons had finally paid off. The bittersweet torment that he could now touch her, yet couldn't possible touch her in the way he wanted, sent him off seeking refuge beneath many a cold shower. Accidental brushes of skin against skin was all he had allowed himself during the three months Marie had been in control of her mutant power, and it was driving him insane. He sensed that Marie also wanted more - he knew desire when he smelt it - yet she had not made any moves. He didn't know whether it was through fear of rejection or simply that she understood the demons he had to fight inside of him first.

"Are you going to open it, or stare at it all day, chica?" an impatient voice threw over their shoulders. They turned to see Jubilee, hands on yellow-clad hips, watching them with interest. She blew a bubble and it popped loudly. Logan found it hard to believe that she was around the same age as Marie. Marie had a maturity about her that well surpassed her years. Having Erik and himself in her head probably didn't help matters. Their combined years and experiences couldn't be much fun for any teenager. But Marie handled them well and for most of the time could live her life normally. Perhaps she would have been mature even without them. She was one special kid.

He corrected himself. One special woman.

He heard Marie unwrap the present and watched curiously, suddenly aware that Jubilee had crouched down beside his chair. As he met her gaze, she smirked. "So, Wolvie. Like the cigars?" She hesitated before adding mischievously: "Did you see Scott's face when he saw his scarf? Priceless!" She moved in closer. "That was my second Christmas present to you, by the way."

Logan raised an eyebrow and returned the smirk, the girl going up a notch in his people-who-are-tolerable list.

"It's a book."

Logan and Jubilee turned back to Marie.

Logan grunted, disappointed. "A book?"

Jubilee shot him a teasing look. "Oh, don't give us all that macho crap. We know you read books. Usually at two in the morning with a cigar and bare chest."

Sprung! Logan frowned dangerously at her. "You been spying on me?"

"Nah - Marie has, I just tagged along."

"Marie?" Logan growled, although secretly the thought that she had been spying on him at all was enough to send the heat back to his groin. "You been - "

"The Labyrinth."

"Huh?" Logan and Jubilee said in unison.

Marie turned back to them with a wistful look in her eyes. She held the small red book up to reveal the title, scribed in gold lettering. "The Labyrinth," she repeated. "Before I ran away I spent a few days with my cousin, Sarah, and she told me all about this book. That she wished her stepbrother away to some other world, using the words of some poem or something, and had to solve The Labyrinth and defeat the Goblin King in order to rescue him."

Logan and Jubilee exchanged blank looks.

"You mean that was the plot of the story?" Logan asked, confused.

"No, Sarah said it really happened." Marie shrugged. "I didn't believe her, of course. Sarah always had her head so way up in the clouds you didn't really know what was truth and what was made-up. I enjoyed listening to her stories though. The Labyrinth was one of the most elaborate. She really seemed to believe that it happened to her."

"And how old was this nutcase cousin of yours at the time?" Jubilee teased.

"About fifteen," Marie revealed.

"Fifteen?" Logan blurted. He shook his head in disbelief. "And they say that mutants have problems."

Marie scowled at him. "I won't have a single bad word said about Sarah. She was the only one who remained my friend after the mutation took affect. At least until I ran away. I wanted to stay in contact but," she peered down at the book affectionately, brushing the cover tenderly with her thumb, "somehow it just never happened." Marie's face darkened. "But I don't understand why Karen would send me this and not Sarah. If Karen knows where I am now, wouldn't Sarah, too?"

Logan shrugged. "I dunno, kiddo, your guess is as good as mine."

Jubilee stood up, Sarah and the book forgotten already. "Time to get plastered on some punch I think!"

Logan watched as Marie continued to remain fixated on the book. "You could always phone your cousin. Say hello - it being Christmas and all. Perhaps she's waiting for you to make the first move."

"I don't know the number," Marie blurted and Logan could tell it was just an excuse.

"Do you know her address?"

"Yes," Marie admitted grudgingly.

Logan made to stand up. "There you go, kid. I'm sure it would be nice to wish 'real' family a merry Christmas."

Marie placed the book down on top of the other presents and allowed Logan to help her up to her feet. "This is my family now, Logan."

Logan relished the feel of her warm hands in his and when Marie staggered a little as their bodies moved closer, he pulled her against him protectively.

"You're my family now, Logan," she whispered as she peered up at him with her large brown eyes and Logan couldn't help but pull her tighter against him. "You too, kid - " He faltered, correcting himself. "Marie."

Marie smiled. "Thanks, Logan."

As they reluctantly severed their embrace and turned to join the others Logan took full advantage of the close proximity of their bodies and reached for her hand. Squeezing it he whispered: "Merry Christmas, Marie."

She squeezed back. "Merry Christmas, Logan."