Sorry for the long delay. I hope this chapter was worth the wait!

"Thanks for takin' care of her...I know she must be pretty broken up."

Logan didn't realize why that statement struck him as odd for a while.

It dawned on him that he hadn't seen Remy and Marie together in the hallways at all. If he did see them out in public together, they weren't nearly as affectionate as he'd forced himself to get used to, but for Marie's sake, he tried not to openly interfere. She wanted to be with Remy, and, for the most part, he'd accepted it.

That would probably explain why he was thrown for a loop when he realized they were having problems.

He didn't know how hard Remy was working to find Bella Donna so that he could end his marriage, but he knew that they were now 3 months out from his trip to New Orleans, and he had yet to bring Marie any closer to being his legal wife.

And then, of course, there was the miscarriage.

It definitely affected Marie more profoundly that anything he'd seen her go through.

Even her actual death and return to life on Liberty Island didn't seem to scar and change her as much as her miscarriage did.

It seemed like her spark had died, and he didn't know how to help her reignite it. He took every opportunity he could in order to try to make her smile or laugh, but most efforts were met with a polite smirk and a demure nod of the head.

She refused to talk to anyone. She refused counseling, and she was quickly becoming a master at denial and diversion.

He knew that she needed to talk about her loss in order to truly recover, but she remained tight lipped.

It broke his heart that she seemed so unhappy.

It wasn't until he ran into her when he was about to work out in the gym did he decide to take drastic measures in helping push her out of her funk.

She'd just done about 4 miles on the treadmill and was helping herself to a bottle of water, "What's up, kid?"

"Nothin'. Just gearin' up for our next mission."

Logan sighed, "So you're back on the team?"

Marie wiped some sweat off of her forehead with the towel and looked down, "There's no longer any reason why I shouldn't be..."

He crossed his arms and leaned back against the wall, "Look, kid...I didn't wanna say anything, but I think you should talk to someone about what you went through."

She snorted defiantly, "Yeah. Right."

"I'm serious, Marie."

"So I guess you're the authority on mental health and emotional crises, huh?"

Logan pushed off the wall and shook his head, "No, but I-"

Marie angrily interrupted and pointed a finger in his face, "You don't have any goddamn right to tell me what I should do or how I should handle my...situation!"

He took a confident step forward, "You need to talk to someone, kid. You need to let it out."

She laughed mockingly, "And who should I talk to? You?"

"If it would make you feel better, yes."

Marie crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes, "The only way you can make me feel better is if you help me get back in shape so that I don't get killed on our next mission."

Logan took another step forward, invading her space as he stared down into her eyes, "Fine, kid. If you want your ass kicked, you'll get your ass kicked."

He spent the next two hours working her out harder than she'd ever been worked out in her life.

At the end of the second hour, he had her practicing her kickboxing on the punching bag, but she was growing weaker.

"Come on, kid! Put some back into it! You couldn't knock over a blind mouse with that kick!" he yelled as he stood behind the bag, holding it in place. Marie cried out as she punched the bag, but it didn't seem good enough for Logan, "What the hell are you holdin' back for?" Marie kicked the bag, but barely managed to nudge it as Logan held it within his strong arms.

She cried out and threw her head back in exasperation, so Logan straightened and looked her square in the eye as she panted and put her hands on her hips, "Marie. I want you to let it all out."

"Let what out?"

"Your anger. Your pain. Your frustration. I want you to release every goddamn ounce of emotion you've pent up in there and let it out on that damn bag." He stepped back behind the bag and took a hold of it, "You ready?"

She nodded before stepping back up to the bag and began to lay punches on it.

"Come on! Let it out! Stop holdin' back! What are you mad at?" When Marie stayed silent, save for grunts of exertion, Logan yelled at her again, "You're barely nudging this bag, kid! Tap into that inner strength! Let it go! What are you feelin'? What are you mad at?"

Marie was giving it her all now. She screamed out as she gave the bag a roundhouse kick, then punched it hard and screamed, "Remy!"

The last two blows had successfully knocked Logan away from the bag and sent it wildly swinging.

By now, she was exhausted beyond comprehension, so she simply crumpled to the ground, sobbing and panting.

Logan, relieved he'd gotten her to at least admit SOMETHING, slowly and cautiously moved to sit next to her on the floor.

He couldn't tell if what he saw on her face was sweat or tears...probably both.

Marie ripped off the boxing gloves and threw them across the room before drawing her knees closer to her body and resting her forehead on them. Logan placed a hand on her back, "Come on, kid...talk to me."

She was sobbing heavily now, so he gave her the time to collect herself.

Marie wiped her face and sniffled, "When I first told him I was pregnant, he asked if I was sure I wanted to keep it...I mean...what kind of a husband asks his wife that?"

Logan didn't know what to say, so he just shook his head as she continued, "He refused to even look at the sonogram picture I brought home...he said a baby would take away our freedom..."

"What did you feel?"

Marie looked at him with wet eyes, "I know it wasn't the best timing, but I wanted that baby...I wanted it so bad...and knowing that just wasn't enough for him to want it too. I at least expected him to want it for me."

He rubbed her back, "But he's there for you now...right?"

Marie sniffled and shook her head, "When I woke up the morning he got into town, he just rubbed my head and told me it was probably be for the best. Other than that, he acted like it never happened. He pretends he doesn't hear me crying myself to sleep at night." She paused and looked down, "I'm sure the fact that I'm an emotional wreck is really inconvenient for him..."

Logan sighed and shook his head, "I'm sorry, Marie."

She wiped her eyes before looking into his face and slowly leaning in. Logan froze in place as she took his face in her hands and began kissing him.

He almost melted into the kiss, but regained his composure and gently pulled her hands away from his face before breaking the kiss.

"Marie...it's not right. You're doin' this for the wrong reasons."

She looked into his eyes and slowly nodded before sighing in defeat and getting to her feet, "Right...right...I'm sorry."

"S'ok..."

Marie looked at the clock on the wall, "I gotta go."

She left without another word. Logan stared after her for several minutes.

He honestly didn't know he possessed the self control it took to stop that kiss.

After Marie's confession that Remy wasn't exactly being the picture of support he felt she needed, Logan felt even more protective of her...so he decided to make sure to keep a listen out at her door for any signs that might signal that she needed a shoulder to cry on.

He only hoped his plan wouldn't backfire and he'd end up hearing them having sex.

For the first several nights, things were eerily quiet...and on the fifth night, he would find out why.

During his eavesdropping session that night, he caught them in the middle of a fight.

"Go ahead Remy. Hit the bars again. It's not like you're ever home anymore anyways."

Remy raised his voice, causing Logan's fists to clench, "What'll I come home too? You mopin' 'round here all the damn time like someone died!"

"Someone DID die, Remy!"

"It wasn't a damn person! We're better off anyways!"

"You sonovabitch! I want you OUT!" she screamed before Logan heard a door open and things start hitting the floor. He surmised from the sound patterns that Marie was feverishly yanking Remy's belongings out of the closet and throwing them at him.

"Stop it, Marie! Now you're just bein' crazy!"

"I will SHOW YOU crazy LeBeau!" she screamed before Logan heard the beginnings of a scuffle. He decided he needed to intervene, and fast, so he started to knock on the door, but just before he did, he heard the distinct sounds of Marie's weight hitting the floor and her letting out a small cry of pain.

It only took one of Logan's powerful blows to knock the door clean off its hinges and partially splinter the wood.

He charged in, teeth bared and fists clenched.

Marie, who had been on the floor, was up in a flash and crossing the room in an attempt to stop Logan as he grabbed Remy by the neck and slammed him against the nearest wall.

She grabbed Logan's arm just as he reached back to punch the cajun, "No! Logan! Stop!"

He growled as he squeezed Remy's neck, "He hit you!"

Marie tried, in vain, to pull him away, "He didn't hit me! He pushed me away from him and I tripped over one of his shoes!"

"He pushed you?" he asked as he slowly loosened his grip.

She sighed, "He was just trying to get me away from him...I was pushing him first."

Logan dropped Remy to the ground, then watching with glaring eyes as the cajun slowly stood, coughing and holding his throat. By now, Scott and the professor were in the doorway, surveying the demolished door and the chaotic state of the room.

Marie was beet red now, and Logan felt terrible.

If he hadn't been butting his nose in her business, her dirty laundry wouldn't be aired out for all to see.

The professor's eyes connected with Logan, "May I see you in my office?"

Logan nodded wordlessly before muttering an apology and following Charles out of the room.

When they reached his office, the professor clasped his hands in his lap and raised a brow, "Feel free to offer an explanation."

He opened his mouth to say something, but no sound came out. He simply shook his head.

The professor rubbed his temples, "Well, since you're unwilling to talk, I believe it's time for me to let you in on a bit of a secret. The truth is, Logan, you've managed to project quite a few thoughts concerning Marie during your most recent tenure here, and from that, I know that your feelings for her are quite strong. It's not my business to tell, obviously, however, if your feelings for her are going to continue to cause you to act destructively, I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

"I thought he hit her."

Charles leaned forward, "What were you doing listening at her door in the first place?"

"I...I-she mentioned that Remy wasn't giving her the support she needed after she lost the baby..."

"...and I suppose you believe you could be a better support system for her than her husband?"

"He isn't her-" Logan stopped himself and stood, "Look, I've cared about her for a long time. I made that clear when I risked my life to save her on Liberty Island over a half decade ago. I'm not gonna stop bein' concerned about her just because she married some slick swamp rat. If he's not treating her right, I'm gonna be there for her, no matter who approves or disapproves."

He turned to leave the office, but the professor stopped him, "I know you love her."

Logan turned his head just slightly, "Stay outta my head, Chuck", then left without another word.

The professor sighed and muttered under his breath, "I didn't have to read your thoughts to know that..."

A couple of hours later, Logan was preparing to leave. As he finished putting the last of his items in his bag, he heard a faint knock at his door.

When he opened the door, he was confronted with the one person he was trying to avoid.

"Marie..."

She glanced over his shoulder into his room to spot his backpack and dufflebag on the floor, "I figured you'd be leavin'."

"I'll be outta your hair as soon as I get the rest of my shit packed. I won't be causin' anymore trouble."

He turned around and walked back to his backpack as Marie stepped in and closed the door behind her, "So you weren't gonna bother to say goodbye?"

"I figured that you'd seen enough of me after I broke down your door and almost pummeled your husband to death."

Marie crossed her arms and muttered as she looked down, "He's not my husband..."

Logan turned back to her and furrowed his eyebrows briefly before going back to his dresser and pulling out more clothes, "What's that supposed to mean?"

She sighed, "Nothin'...he just left town for a little bit. We need some time away from each other." She watched him for a few moments before stepping forward, "So...about earlier...you just happened to be walking by my room and heard us arguing?"

He looked at her and stuttered, but she held up a hand, "You've been checkin' in on me...haven't you?"

Logan hesitated before slowly nodding, "Yeah...but it's only cause I've been worried about you. I think you deserve to be taken care of better than what he's..." His voice trailed off as she put her hands on her hips and raised a brow. He ran a hand through his hair, "Sorry. I know it's not my place."

"Don't be sorry...it's been forever since I felt like someone gave a damn. You breakin' down the door and threatening to kill my hu-Remy was the closest I've felt to being protected...cared about..."

He zipped up his bag and spoke without making eye contact. He knew that, the moment he looked into her eyes, he wouldn't be able to hold back, "You deserve to be with someone who makes you feel loved and protected every fuckin' second of every day. Don't ever forget that."

Marie took a few steps closer to him, "Could you make me feel that way?"

She was getting closer now...and Logan wasn't sure he could handle that. He kept his head down and took a step backwards before tossing his backpack over his shoulder, "I gotta go."

He started to walk past her, but her hand on his arm stopped him in his tracks, "Don't go."

Logan looked into her eyes and doomed himself.

His bag barely hit the floor before he grabbed her face and yanked her lips to his, capturing her mouth in a hungry kiss.

Marie desperately gripped his shirt, almost as if she was afraid that letting go would mean he would flee.

Logan snatched the button down blouse she was wearing open, then yanked it off of her shoulders as Marie nipped at his bottom lip and unbuckled his belt.

Somewhere, in the back of his mind, he was screaming at himself to stop, but feeling her fingertips ghosting over his skin as they ridded themselves of their clothes quickly put those thoughts out of his head.

Before long, they were naked on the bed. He ran his hands over her body, setting her exposed skin on fire with each and every touch.

Marie climbed on top of him, straddling his hips as she lowered herself onto his erection. Logan groaned and grasped her waist, digging his fingers into her flesh as she slowly began rolling her hips onto him.

"Oh god..." she gasped as she put the palms of her hands on his chest to balance herself.

Soon, Logan grew impatient with her pace and quickly flipped her over, pinning her wanton body beneath him. She let out a sensual moan and arched her back as he began thrusting into her.

Marie tightened her legs around his hips as he eagerly ran a hand up her smooth thigh to grasp her tight ass. She suddenly took his face in her hands and looked up into his eyes. When their eyes connected, he slowed his movements, "Marie..."

She gave him a soft smile and stroked his cheek as they stared into each others eyes. Logan slowly began to thrust in and out of her again before leaning down and wrapping his arms around her body.

He held her close as they shuddered together through an intense orgasm.

Two hours later, Logan laid on his side, staring at Marie as she slept beside him.

He gently stroked her cheek and whispered, "You're so goddamn beautiful...you deserve so much more than the shitty hand life dealt you...I just know that I'd only hurt you."

Marie wasn't surprised when she woke up in an empty bed the next morning.

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