I had most definitely been following her. When I heard from the firecracker that she was going on a date, I made a point of knowing where she was going. I told myself it was so I would know where to go if she called me to come take her home…but I just wanted to see who the lucky son of a bitch was. I suppose he wasn't all that bad to look at…tall, lean, a little to put together for my taste…but I guess that's the kind of guy Marie likes.

"Logan." She said warningly "Were you following me?"

"Course not." I said gruffly "I have better things to do than follow two teenagers around all night." Okay, so it came out harsher than I meant it to…but she should totally believe that….right?

"Weird…" she murmured to herself, "I could have sworn I heard the rumble of a Harley when Keith was taking me home…and in the bar there was this guy sitting in a corner booth behind us that had the same stature as you…in fact... he had muttonchops too. Too bad I didn't get a good look at his face" I tried to prevent myself from panicking as she tapped her chin in mock thought. "Actually, I did."

What can I say, the kid was good. Observant, alert, and trained by the best. And by "The best," I mean me. "Well…" I said, clearing my throat to buy me some time "I went to Goodman's for a drink and saw you and your little…boy out, so I didn't think there would be a problem if I made sure he was treating you right." She gave me a smirk I could only describe as smart-assy.

"You never go to Goodman's." she informed me cockily "They don't have Molson's in the bottle…and you know how the can gives it a funny taste." Damn.

"Alright, so I followed you on a date, what's the problem?" she looked absolutely incredulous

"The problem is that I should be able to have a life…of my own! Look Logan, I now you still see me as a kid and everything," why no, no I did not. "But you need to let me live my own life. You keep judging Keith, but you've never even met the guy. He's nice, he's sweet, and he's funny. What's so wrong with that?" I gritted my teeth and crossed my arms across my chest.

"Alright, kid, you've made your point... I shouldn't have followed you on your date. But I…care about you, and I don't want you to do anything stupid." Damnit, I'm no good with words.

"Whatever." She said letting her hair fall in front of her face "I've got classes tomorrow." I took that as my cue to leave. Now don't go thinking I'm lusting after illegal tail, Marie's not taking any classes, she's helping teach them. After she graduated high school she went into some teacher student thing to help her learn how to deal with children and shit. It'd probably be assumed that I'm afraid of women who have higher education and everything, but I'm actually proud of the kid for doing something with her life. I don't want her to be some bar hopping, cigarette smoking bimbo like all the women I see where I fight…she's a hell of a lot better than them.

"Fine." I said gruffly "But don't you go being mad at me now, you know I'm just trying to watch out for you." She smiled slightly.

"I know, Sugah. Night."

"Night." Damnit.

I knew she was probably pretty pissed about me following her around like some over protective jack ass, but I didn't give a shit. I have some weird need to protect her…so I just do. If she really has a problem with it she can just turn on her skin and drain me in 30 seconds flat. But she won't. She cares about me…probably not the same way I care about her, but still…she does. So I gave her a few days to do her own thing before trying to talk to her again. She wasn't ignoring me particularly, still sat next to me at meals, still trained with me in the Danger Room. But still.

"Marie?" I called into the game room, knowing only she would be up at 2 in the morning watching a hockey game.

"Yeah." She muttered back, waiting for me to find her in the dark. I located the couch and sat carefully, trying not to sit on her feet. She raised them automatically before settling them back on my lap. See, this was normal. Us stretching out on the couch watching hockey. This was our time. She's practically a female me; Loves sports, loves beer, talks like a sailor. But there's something soft and sweet in her…she sings like an angle, has a soft spot for the kids…she's any man's dream girl…but there ain't nothing girl-ish about her, she's a damn woman. She's not fat in any sense of the word…but by God she's got curves. You know, she's got hips for sure, and what nice folks would call an ample bosom, and what guys like me would call a killer rack. She's what a woman should look like. She's what my woman should look like.

"So what's up, Sugah?" she asked, stretching out her whole body like a cat. I smirked in the dark, thankful she couldn't see me checking her out. "You know, I still have your feral in me." She said casually turning back to the TV set. Damnit.

"Sorry," I grunted "Can't really help it." She smiled a little bit at that. "You see that young hoodlum again?" I asked jokingly, referring to her date from a few nights ago. She shook her head.

"He never called me." Damned fool. She gave me a weird look…oops, must've said that out loud. "It's okay," she said quietly "I'm quite accustomed to scaring off people; guess it's just different circumstances this time." I growled low in my chest at that.

"Well you ain't gonna scare me off. Little punk doesn't know what he's missing. Some guys would kill to have a thing like you on their arm."

"What do you mean 'a thing like me'?" she asked, sitting up to face me.

"Well…uh…you know." I stuttered "Someone nice and sweet and pretty and shit." She smiled at me

"Oh, Logan, You have a way with words." No... but I have a way with-…never mind. I grinned sheepishly and tried to turn my attention back to the TV, but she wasn't having any of that. "You're sweet to say that." She said lying back down again on the couch.

"I ain't sweet." I growled defensively "I'm just not a blind idiot." I could see some conflict in her eyes, and before I knew it I leaned down on top of her and pressed my lips to hers. It was a chaste kiss... just a peck really. When I pulled away and looked at her face her eyes were still closed.

"Darlin'?" I asked hesitantly. Her eyes snapped open and stared directly into mine.

"What?" She asked me quietly.

"Are…was that…are we good?" I asked almost pleadingly. I wanted her…bad. But…her friendship means the world to me…what if it gets awkward because she doesn't…you know.

"More than good, Sugah." She muttered attempting to sit up. I pulled my weigth off of her to let her get up. She seemed fine…

"Look…I'm sorry if that was…awkward." She turned to look at me, amused. She placed a hand against my cheek, caressing it tenderly before using the same hand to slap the side of my face. "Ow!" I growled putting my hand over the spot where she's slapped me "What the hell was that for?!" she put her hand on the back of my neck and pulled my head towards her to kiss me again.