Sadly, nothing belongs to me – still :)

Chapter 3

Marie swept a few strands of stray brown and white hair from her eyes before raising a hand and sending a bust up, flaming car at the approaching robot. `

Why the heck Scott had decided to programme giant, human crushing robots into the simulation she would love to know, but she wasn't complaining – it just gave her something else to vent on.

Watching the way that she handled herself with such precision, accuracy and deadliness no one would believe that at that time she was carrying on a very calm and civilised conversation...In her head.

I don't know guys, what do you think. Is it the only opportunity I will get and I am just going to let it go?

She left the question open to the three other mutants who shared her mind and waited for their insightful answers. Of course she was only bound to get two deep answers. She couldn't really see Logan being that much help on the long meaningful answers scale.

"I don't know my dear. I don't like the idea – period! Mankind is doing what he always does, trying to destroy those who are different. We are who we are and yet they tell us that we have an illness...something that can be 'cured'. Bah. Our mutations define us,"

Marie pondered Erik's words as she delivered a punch to the jaw to a holographic opponent.

He was right. What would she be without her mutation? Just another girl. Of course she would still have her parents love and her home also.

What would she be without the people in her head? Just another air headed teenager.

Where would she be without any of it? She would be at home blissfully unaware of just how shallow her parents and neighbours are. She would be without Scott, without 'Ro, without the professor, without Bobby and most importantly she would be without Logan. The very thought of a life without Logan was painful. Too painful. She didn't doubt that she would not be able to live

She would – instead – probably be in a relationship with David or a boy like that who no doubt would have tried his best to charm her into the back seat of his dad's truck by their fourth date. She wasn't blind – she had had the boy in her head for nearly a year before Logan and Erik had obliterated his presence from her mind, and she knew what went through a boy's head.

She felt a blush creep up along her cheeks and down her neck. She knew what went through a man's head too.

She shook her head as she rammed her knee into another opponent's stomach, grabbed him by the arm and swung him into another.

Erik was right. She wouldn't be the Marie she was today if it hadn't been for her mutation and the scary thing was that she wouldn't know any different either.

"Child, there is nothing to say that you will not gain control of your mutation fully – and by yourself. You could indeed learn to touch without giving up your powers completely. Think dear, even a year ago you did not think yourself ever to be capable of touching at all and now you can – even if it is just for a few minutes. Time and patience my dear will see it right in the end,"

Marie allowed Phoenix's words to soak into her. Soothing her just as Erik's words had. She loved them all. They were never judgmental or critical. They helped her and counselled her when she needed it and when Logan had been gone – looking for his past – the Logan in her head had been there to comfort her and offer her affection along with Erik when she had most needed it. True she had made friends over the time she had lived at the mansion but none of them came close to the bond she shared with those in her mind.

She floated high above the next opponent and watched as he cranked his neck back to follow her progress into the sky.

"Logan...? What do you think?" she asked quietly – worried by his silence.

"Whatever makes you happy baby. That's all I have to say," his soft words nearly made her cry. He was just like the real Logan.

"End simulation," she said clearly and the images faded away as the computer programme did as she wished and she floated herself down to the ground.

Suddenly the sound of clapping hands registered with her and she withdrew from her mind and turned to the observation room to see a very friendly and familiar looking blue doctor.

"Dr McCoy,"

Hank walked slowly down the steps.

"Very impressive my dear," he smiled as he met the young women at the bottom.

She shrugged her shoulder, blushing furiously and mumbled a 'thanks'.

Silence fell and he watched as Rogue shifted uncomfortably in the stillness so he decided to go in for the kill – for lack of a better description.

"How have you been my dear?" he asked her gently.

She took a breath to answer him with very little thought and he put up a hand to stop her. Confusion flooded her eyes as she closed her mouth.

"The truth my dear. I don't want you to tell me what you think I want to hear. I want the truth," he told her gently but firmly.

He could tell that she was now thinking and he was glad that he had been more specific in his question. During his time at the mansion a few months ago he had learned that when in full control of her body and mind Rogue would do anything to keep other people happy. She did not like to complain. Hank thought back to Logan's words in the professor's office and thought that his words had matched the young women perfectly. She could complain (about a lot) but she wouldn't.

"I'm alright," she finally answered, taking a deep breath afterwards as though it had drained her of energy.

"Really?" he asked softly.

"Yeah. I mean...well I'm still trying to get used to the whole living forever thing..." she trailed off and focused on something over his shoulder. He knew from experience that when she got that look it wasn't because she was ignoring him or finding the conversation boring it was because she was discussing something with someone in her head.

He waited patiently for her eyes to re-focus and she quickly apologised and threw him a sheepish smile.

"But I'll get through it," she added.

Hank sighed. It was hard to get information out of the young girl.

"If you'll excuse me Dr McCoy I told Logan I'd only be half an hour,"

He nodded his head knowing that he couldn't keep her talking if she didn't want to and he heard the door swish open and shut.

He sighed. If he was talking to any other young women in the building they would no doubt have no problem talking about themselves – the only thing he would have to worry about would be hoping for them to stop so he could ask a question.

He had a feeling that there was only one person she would truly open up too and she was heading straight towards him.

"Darlin', really I don't mind. I meant it. I love you just as you are,"

In the privacy of their room Logan's voice was still hardly above a whisper as silent tears fell from Marie's eyes and down her cheeks.

She had told him that she had been thinking and about her three second long talk with Hank and he had been able to see that she was getting more and more agitated until it had all came spilling out – in the way of salty little drops of water that were currently running down her cheeks.

"I'm afraid that one day you will realise just how much of a hassle being in a relationship with me is," she whispered, her head resting against his chest, just above his heart.

"Marie," he gently took her shoulders in his hands and turned her to face him.

He looked into her eyes trying to see into her soul. They had been together now for just nearly three months and she had had a few doubtful moments but nothing as bad as this and it was all because of the cure. He wasn't stupid either, he knew that she would jump at the chance of getting it but it wouldn't be because she wanted it – in fact since being to channel Phoenix she had became more settled and comfortable with her powers and he knew that she would be lost without the voices in her head (though he was still un-comfortable with himself being in there) – it would be because of him, or someone else and he wouldn't let that happen.

"Listen to me baby," he whispered softly, his lips only an inch from her skin, his finger still gripping her chin gently.

"I love you. I loved you a year ago, I love you know and I will love you one hundred years from now," he slowly wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, keeping her safe against his body.

Every word that he had spoken had been true. He would love her forever. For the rest of his days he would always have this link...this yearning for her deep inside him. He was a feral after all and he had found his mate – the one he would live and die for. The agony of being separated from her when she had been swallowed by tones of water had told him that.

Silence fell over them and he knew that Marie was mulling over what he had told her. His girl was like that – she thought things through before opening her mouth.

Then he heard it. That little sigh that meant that for the time being her fears and doubts had been put to rest.

She untangled herself from his arms and kissing her gloved fingers she placed them softly on his lips.

"Thank you Logan," she whispered hoarsely.

He quickly grabbed her hand before she drew it away and placed a kiss on her palm before she stood up and stepped back. The sadness was still haunting her eyes but it wouldn't be there for long if he had anything to say about it.

He watched her as she walked to the door and he rapidly stood up and watched her as she left the room and went across the hall to the bathroom.

He heard water running into the sink and splashing and in a matter of minutes she came out, her eyes slightly less swollen and her cheeks a little less red.

He held out his hands for her and she grabbed hold of them without question, a little smile on her face, and he dragged her into the room closing the door behind them.

He let her hands go and she wandered a few steps from him.

He had to try and cheer her up somehow. Try and get the thoughts of the cure and not being enough out of her already busy head.

He smirked. He knew exactly what he was going to do.

He saw a glimmer in her eyes as they widened. He laughed inwardly to himself. That was his girl – reading him like an open book.

She raised her hands and backed up as he approached her.

"Now, Logan, don't you go getting any idea," she said in a low voice as she backed up and around the bed.

He could hear her heart beat picking up but he knew it wasn't from fear as he got nearer.

"Logan," she squealed as he pounced, a burst of strength sending him towards her.

He swung his body around as he caught her around the waist so that she landed on top of him as they both landed on the bed.

She giggled on top of his chest and hit him playfully with a clenched fist.

"I hate it when you do that," she told him after she had stopped giggling and had raised her head from where it had been leaning against his chest.

He looked up at her and smiled, running a hand through her hair.

"No you don't," he told her.

She looked at him seriously before smiling broadly at him and shaking her head.

"Yeah you're right. I love it," she laughed softly and shook her head at his behaviour.

Logan allowed himself to laugh now that he saw there was not even a shadow of sadness in her eyes.

"So, what was all that about in the danger room?" she asked him quirking an eyebrow.

He groaned and avoided eye contact. He had to tell her so he kept it simple.

"45 seconds," he told her gloomily.

"45 second?"

"In the danger room when the metal kid had to touch you. 45 seconds it took away," he sulked.

Understanding seemed to dawn in her eyes and he could almost see the laugh rise in her before she let out an adorable little chuckle.

"But..." he trailed of as he rolled them over and balanced himself on his arms above her – keeping the bulk of his adamantium skeleton from crushing her.

"We do still have 75 seconds left," he told her his words coming out as a soft growl that rumbled through his chest.

Her whole face lit up and a small smile came to her lips as she curled her arms around his neck.

"Hmm we sure do,"

Hi everyone.

Ohhhh myyyy goooooodness!!! Thank you so much for all of the reviews. I was totally blown away by them all and they make up my day like nothing else when I get them.

So what do you think? Things will probably liven up a little bit in the next chapter or possibly the one after. Right now I am trying to lay the ground work.

What do you think of the Logan/Marie moments? Too much?

Thanks again.

Keep safe.

(If you have any questions or anything about the story just ask and I will try my best to answer :))