A/N: Thanks to the reviewers and story alerters although I wish you would all review because it really is a wonderful thing to be reviewed.
"Twenty nine bottles of beer on the wall, twenty nine bottles of beer. Knock one down pass it around, twenty eight bottles of beer on the wall. Everybody!"
Ren turned to her left and was met with a stony glare. She rolled her eyes and leaned back.
"Geez Wolvie, you could at least try to lighten up."
She peered to her left and sighed. This was going to be one long road trip if he planned to ignore her the entire time. Of course there was the fact he hardly trusted her and that also they just didn't get along. She reached into her bag and pulled out a bottle of tequila. It was nearing empty. She'd kept it with her while she'd been at the mansion. She'd spent two nights there but with all those students she needed to be drunk so that their memories didn't linger. People always became angry when they knew her power but never stopped to think how hard it was for her to have those memories floating in her mind. She closed her eyes and downed the last of the alcohol.
"Aren't you a little young to be drinking?"
"Nope."
She looked at her now empty bottle and shoved it back into her bag. She rubbed her head and pointed to the side of the road.
"Pull over here." she demanded.
"Why?"
"I need to tinkle."
"What?"
"I'm not serious you overgrown moron! We're going to do something about your memories!"
"Can't it wait?"
"No, you're projecting."
She looked at him and groaned in exasperation at the confused look on his face.
"You're memories are too much. You're trying to forget and remember at the same time."
She sighed and waited as he pulled over, then carefully placed a hand on his shoulder.
"It hurts when someone dies, and I know you want to forget and remember her at the same time. So let's just try and do this now before you drive me to insanity."
"Okay, so what now?"
She sat still for a second and then unbuckled her seat belt. She turned towards him and held her hands out.
"Okay, give me a memory to find. Close your eyes."
"There's one, it's me and Marie on our wedding day."
"Okay just relax…just relax."
She closed her eyes and tried to flicker through his mind. Memories flittered everywhere and she found it hard to grasp one.
"Why is the moon so lonely?" Kayla whispered.
"Why?" he asked.
"Because she used to have a lover."
"You tell this to the kids?"
"No."
Logan laughed.
"His name was Kuekuatsu and they lived in the spirit world together." she continued.
"Oh, this is a true story."
"Mm-hm. And every night, they would wander the skies together. But, one of the other spirits was jealous. Trickster wanted the Moon for himself. So he told Kuekuatsu that the Moon had asked for flowers; he told him to come to our world and pick her some wild roses. But Kuekuatsu didn't know that once you leave the spirit world, you can never go back. And every night, he looks up in the sky and sees the Moon and howls her name. But... he can never touch her again."
Ren opened her eyes and took a deep breath.
"Sorry, sorry. That was not meant to happen."
Logan still had his eye's closed and he was breathing deeply. She tried to flit into his mind but all his memories of the past were rushing back. Panicking she searched for a memory that might calm him down. She found the one he had initially asked for and shoved it to the forefront of his mind.
He watched as Marie walked down the aisle, white dress flowing. A moment of sadness fell open him as he saw how her skin was as pale as the snow. Everyone shivered from the cold but he knew she couldn't feel it. The cancer was making her weaker but she didn't let it show. She reached him and held out her hand. He took it gently in his and they stood before the alter. All through the service he watched her. She was a picture of radiance, the most beautiful creature had ever seen. They were pronounced husband and wife, and he kissed her. He wished so much in that moment that her powers would come back and she could be here forever. As the kiss broke she pulled back and smiled.
"I love you." she whispered.
"I love you too." he whispered back, a tear sliding down his face.
She frowned and her cold finger wiped it away. She placed her small dainty hand over his heart.
"I'll always be with you, in here."
Ren wrenched her eyes open and sighed in relief. Logan wasn't thrashing and was leaning back in his seat with a peaceful expression on his face. But there was conflict in his eyes that she didn't like.
"Logan?"
"I'm fine."
"Did that help?"
"I remember… things."
"How far back?"
"From the day I met Kayla."
"Nothing further back?"
He shook his head. She folded her legs under her and rubbed her hands.
"Do you remember how you lost your memory?"
She peeked out the corner of her eye and saw him nod. She cursed herself for making this complicated. But she knew that if she didn't show him that there were other's to save he might regret his decision. And she needed a 100% happy customer.
"Logan, I know this is a personal question but, how important was Kayla?"
"I loved her."
"Do you want to know the rest? Before all that? I don't think it's necessary."
"Maybe. The memories of Sabretooth were blurry. Do you know why?"
"You really don't want to remember?" she offered, "Honestly, I'm no expert Logan. Is he in all your memories?"
"A few, but whenever there's a trace of him the memory distorts."
"Aww, look at you using big words!"
He growled and she laughed. She missed the usual growling Wolverine. People weren't any fun when they were serious.
"Ren?"
"Yeah?"
"Exactly how old are you?"
"Wouldn't you like to know."
"I would actually."
"Tell me your age and I'll tell you mine."
-xXx-
"Ren, I've been thinking."
"Why am I worried…"
He growled and she giggled. They were at a diner in Mexico. Having finally arrived they decided to lounge around considering they were both tired from sorting Logan's memories. Mostly, now that she knew how, he wanted to relive memories of him and Marie.
"Just listen okay."
She eyed him and then nodded slowly. She relaxed back and tried to drown out the waitresses' memory of her younger days. Some people were the definite definition of the word slut.
"Alright Logan. Shoot."
"I could save two people-"
"No you-"
"Listen! If I went back to the day Jean sacrificed herself, I could stop Jean, be able to tell Marie how I feel and hell, I could even save Scooter."
"You thought this through?"
"Sure. So…what you think?"
"Err………………………….NO!"
"Why the hell not?"
"Because my wolf-like friend, there are so many reasons. How will you ensure the jet takes off? Jean could take you down in a heartbeat to make sure she saves everyone. And Marie, well she's with Bobby. Do you really want to do that to her? Make her suddenly break it off with him after he's done nothing to hurt her."
"Yet."
"Yes, icicle breaks her heart but it ain't then."
"So when do I go back?"
"Let me ask you a question, why won't you save Kayla?"
Logan was silent for a minute and she watched as his expression became sad.
"In the end she'll die anyway. Natural causes."
"Well, well, well, it can be taught. Now we'll go right now if you tell me the exact moment you want to go back to."
"When Marie was going to take the cure. But I wasn't there."
"Yes, I know, you were at Alcatraz. But I wasn't."
"How is it possible that you-"
"Less talk, more walk."
She stood up, threw a few coins on the table and hurried out of the diner. As she reached the outside he strode past her. They reached the truck and climbed in. She pulled out an address and handed it to him. He nodded, looking a little irritated and started the car.
It took them a little while to get to the location. She smiled as the familiar run down house came into view. They stopped and she picked up her rucksack and headed into the house. She searched in the decay and rubble until she found the silver machine.
"That it?"
"Would did you expect? Magic beans."
"Look kid, explain what's going to happen."
"During the battle at Alcatraz, cure centres were shut down. It open up after twenty four hours. When we go back, you'll be in the jet and I'll be at the cure center."
"Why would you be there?"
"I was…protesting."
He raised an eyebrow but she merely shrugged and set the time machine.
"Remember, don't blab that you're from the future. Remain calm at all times and I'll be back with Marie when you get to the mansion. And for god's sake resist the urge to kiss the life out of her."
She checked the time co-ordinates and readied her finger on the button. Her hand gripped tightly around the tiny silver object in her other hand.
"Well Wolvie, see you on the other side."
She mock saluted him and pushed the button.
-xXx-