Logan the Softy

"Well, that's the last of it..." Logan replied after placing the last suitcase of Jean's

belongings next to the bed.

"Thanks Logan…" Jean mumbled, a Kleenex firmly griped in her hand as her eyes continued to water uncontrollably.

Logan watched Jean, sympathy evident on his gruff features, as Jean blew her nose and wiped the occasional tear away from her eyes. Despite his personal feelings on the matter of her relationship with Marie, he felt for her, and soon found it hard to ignore the hardening of his heart at the sight of Jean's misery.

"Is there anything else I can do for you? Anything?" He asked, his eyes locked hard on Jean's slumped over form, her long red hair showering over her tear streaked face.

"No…" Jean replied in a whisper, as Logan looked away for a moment to collect his scattered thoughts.

Jesus she's a mess! I hate it when girls cry…let alone Jean. What am I supposed to say to her? What am I supposed to say that'll at least make her stop crying for a minute? Logan thought to himself as he moved his eyes to study Jean's still slumped over form. I wonder how Marie's handling this? God this is so messed up! Logan continued the thought, before deciding that he should at least try to comfort the woman.

"Jean…I want you to know that I'm sorry for what happened today. I…uh...I just wanted to let you know that I feel for you and…and I…I'll be there whenever you need me. I promise!" He stopped for a moment, at the sound of Jean's cries becoming increasingly louder. "Jesus Jean!" Logan grumbled as he struggled to control his own urge to cry at the sight of Jean's obvious emotional pain.

He fidgeted where he stood, by Jean's door, as he listened to Jean's cries.

Oh shit she's crying even more! Way to go you big buffoon you made things worse! Logan silently berated himself, his hands fidgeting as he tried to figure out what he was supposed to do now.

When Logan couldn't handle the sight of Jean crying any longer, he suddenly found himself sitting on the bed next to her, holding her close.

"Please stop crying Jean…I mean it! I can't stand to see a girl-let alone the most beautiful woman in the world cry." Logan replied as he soon felt Jean's face rest on his shoulder, muffling her cries.

"I love her…" Jean replied through her tears, her fist tightening and soon pounding against Logan's chest.

"Ouch! I'm not the enemy here you know?" Logan replied as he quickly grabbed for Jean's fist, and held it securely against his chest.

With ragged breaths, and wet sniffles, Jean stopped crying for a moment to issue a quiet apology to Logan. Logan closed his eyes, took a deep breath, before releasing Jean's fist in an attempt to wrap his arm around Jean in a more comforting hug. His mind caught in a cyclone of thoughts, all concerning what he should say to Jean, and what he should or could do to help the love of his life through this difficult hour. He felt caught between wanting to do the right thing, as according to the Professor, and what he felt was right, but as always, he didn't know how to say it.

Just say it Logan! Maybe it'll make her stop crying and put a happy face on those perfect lips of hers. Even if you're offering to help her be with someone else-at least you'll get to see that pretty smile again… Logan thought to himself as he smiled at the memory of Jean's classic and beautiful smile.

He took another deep breath before nudging Jean lightly and said the first thing that came to mind.

"You know…I don't agree with what the Professor said-actually I never agree with what 'wheels' says…and I think that the punishment shouldn't have been so harsh-despite the fact that Marie is underage and all…I uh…I'm not quite sure what I'm trying to say but…well, I support you and what ever choices you make-and I know that Marie is old enough to know what she wants. Who cares if she's only 17? Hell! Marie's going to be 18 soon and you two can screw like bunnies for all anyone should care!" Logan finished with a shrug, as Jean couldn't help but laugh at the comment.

"Why are you being so nice to me Logan?" Jean asked out of curiosity, her hand brushing away a stray tear.

"I'm being so nice to you because I care about you. And because I believe that you are Marie's only chance at happiness…ever since you started helping Marie with her powers she's been a thousand times happier than she's ever been! That and…well, I believe that if there is one person on this miserable planet that can ever understand what love is its you. If you say that you love Marie, and I know that she loves you…than no one has the right to tell you different. And so…I promise to stand by you and Marie…and I promise to talk to the Professor and see if he'll loosen up." Logan finished with a nod of approval as he quietly pondered how on earth he was going to convince the Professor to loosen up.

"Thank you Logan" Jean replied with a smile as thoughts of Marie entered into her mind.

"No problem. Besides, what's hotter than a naughty student and a hot teacher going at it?" Logan replied with a grin as Jean playfully smacked him on the arm.

Logan looked down at Jean, a smile now plastered onto his face, as he suddenly felt a warm sensation flow in his heart at knowing that he did something to make Jean happy-even if he wasn't the focus of her happiness.

"I should go now…I'll leave you to redecorate." Logan replied jokingly as he moved off of the bed and made his way to the door. "Oh and Jean…If you need anything don't hesitate to call" Logan replied before giving Jean one last smile before leaving the room.

"Thanks Logan!" Jean exclaimed after him, hoping that the big tough guy heard her.

After making his way up the steps leading to the girl's dorm room, Logan found himself standing in front of Marie's dorm room. He smiled sheepishly at himself, before knocking on the door and calling out Marie's name in his big burly voice. After a moment, the door swung open to reveal the shrunken and crying form of Marie, who didn't even bother to look up at the big man, who stared down at her with a questioning look.

"Hey Logan…" Marie replied with a sniffle, her hand resting on the side of the door.

"Oh come on now! I've already seen one girl cry today and I'd be damned if I see another one!" Logan replied grumpily, his eyebrows burrowing into his trademark expression.

"I'm not in the mood right now Logan" Marie replied as she struggled to control her tears.

"Maybe not in the mood for me…but Jean on the other hand-hey what did I say about crying?" Logan interrupted himself, when Marie started crying at the mention of Jean's name.

With her face in her hands, Marie wept uncontrollably as Logan watched her in an uncomfortable silence. Once again, not knowing what he was supposed to do in such a situation, Logan reached out and patted Marie's shoulder in support.

What do you think you're doing bub? You'll give Jean a hug but you'll pat Marie's shoulder? Don't be stupid bub! Girl's need to be hugged when they're upset…so just go over-make sure no one is around first so you don't look soft-and just give her a nice supportive hug…maybe she'll stop crying like Jean did! Logan thought to himself as he took his own advice before pulling Marie into a great big hug,

"come here…" he responded just before grabbing Marie. "You know what kid? This will be the second time today that I saw a girl cry as well as hugged a girl…consider yourself fortunate that I'm unusually soft today…" Logan replied as Marie buried her face into his chest and cried. "That's it girly…let it allll out." Logan instructed as he began to pat Marie's back in comfort

Uh…it looks like Marie's going to need more than just a hug. Quick! Make her laugh! Come on you big brute! Make Marie laugh so she can feel better! Come on…use some of that charm you've got hidden somewhere in here. Logan thought to himself as he struggled to think up something funny.

"Jeez Kid! How much water can you leak out? Any more and I think you'll drown both of us!" Logan replied in an attempt to make Marie laugh.

"Very funny Logan" Marie replied with a chuckle as well as a smile.

There you go…made her smile to! Logan thought to himself as he soon aloud Marie to pull away.

"Glad you're feeling better kid…now lets have a talk about you and Jean." Logan replied, ready to get right to the point, despite Marie's eyes threatening to spill more tears at the mention of Jean's name.

At noticing this, Logan tilted his head back and replied gruffly, "nooo not again! Ok, time for some ground rules! Number 1; no more crying…number 2; I want to talk about you and Jean...in a good way" Logan replied, a reassuring smile spread across his rough lips.

Marie flashed him a curious look, before her thoughts were interrupted by Logan's next words,

"ok, its probably not a good idea to talk about this out in the open so…is there anybody in there with you?" Logan asked quickly, his eyes glancing from one end of the hallway to the other.

Marie wiped a few stray tears from her eyes before replying,

"Logan, you know I hate crying in front of people."

"Are you alone or not?"

"Yeah" Marie replied quickly, her eyes searching Logan's seemingly anxious expression.

"Ok, lets make this conversation short and sweet so no one will over hear us, and the Professor wont know what we're talking about…" Logan explained in a hush-hush tone as he quickly guided Marie back into her dorm room, and shut the door behind him.

"You talked to Jean? What did she say? Is she ok?" Marie asked feverishly, as Logan tried to grab her attention and direct her too more pressing matters.

"She's fine kid. But there are some things that you need to know. We can't talk for to long because God knows when 'Wheels' will barge into our conversation-if he will that is-all that matters is that you know what's going on. How much do you know?" Logan asked, his eyebrows moving from side to side as he searched the room for any signs that someone may be listening in.

"Not much. Just that Jean and I got caught kissing in the elevator by the Professor himself…and that Jean and I are in big trouble-"

"I heard all about that from 'Wheels' himself when he pulled Storm and I into a secret meeting, shortly after Jean left. When he was done talking to Jean did he call you down to talk to you alone?" Logan interrupted, his voice amplifying his caution.

"No. When he asked me to leave I went back to my dorm" Marie replied, her voice filled will emotion.

"Ok, so I guess I'll have to fill you in on all the unpleasant stuff." Logan replied, his head shaking from side to side as his eyes looked directly into Marie's. "Ok, I'll give you the basics of what happened. For starters, Jean can't go near you-"

"Where is she?"

"She's in the other side of the mansion in another room...I just helped her bring all of her stuff from her old room to her new one-"

"Why?" Marie interrupted again, her voice growing in volume.

"The Professor set new ground rules that basically states that Jean can't be anywhere near you for any reason what so ever! You have been switched out of every class you have with Jean-"

"What? He can't do that mid terms start tomorrow!" Marie exclaimed in dismay as Logan shot her a look of annoyance,

"yes I know…that's horrible news-how dare he…forgive me if I'm wrong but there's more upsetting news than midterms!"

"Ok, ok I'm sorry" Marie replied as she couldn't help but smile at Logan's comical expression.

"Basically, Charles has everything set up so that the only time that you can even see Jean is if you two happen to walk by each other in the hallways, or when we go out on missions. Oh and you can't pair up with Jean during danger room sessions or missions-not to mention that you're forbidden to speak to Jean at any time-"

"that's bullshit! What's his problem? I'm turning 18 soon so why should he care if Jean and I are being intimate?" Marie interrupted angrily, her hands tightening into fists.

"Ok, more ground rules! Number 3; don't interrupt me when I'm trying to tell you something important! It's not only rude but extremely annoying. Number 4; you're still 17 which means you're a minor-"

"what difference does it make if I'm one year younger? It's not like in a course of a year I'm suddenly less fragile and childish-"

"what did I just say about interruptions?"

"Sorry" Marie apologized quickly. "I'll try to remember your commandments," she added with a smirk as she watched Logan role his eyes.

"Ok, back to a more serious topic. There's one more thing you should know…Scott's coming back."

"Yeah so?" Marie replied, as she held her arms in front of her chest.

"You don't seem worried that Jean's ex is coming back" Logan commented, his eyes fixed on Marie's.

"Its not like she's going to go back to him. I mean she loves me…I think" Marie replied as Logan eyed her suspiciously,

"What do you mean, 'I think'? Hasn't Jean told you that she loves you?" Logan asked his eyebrows fixed into a questioning look.

"Well, she didn't exactly say, 'I love you Marie'…but that's ok. I can wait" Marie replied as Logan shook his head.

Maybe I should tell Marie that Jean does love her. After all she'll probably love to know that Jean does…uh…on second thought, maybe I should let Marie hear for herself when Jean's ready. Yeah, that's probably a better idea Logan thought to himself before saying,

"so anyways…I'm going to talk to the Professor and see if he'll loosen up on all the hard ass rules he set for you two." And with that he quickly made his way to the door and exited to the hallway in the direction of the Professors office, leaving Marie to stand in her dorm room alone, thinking of Jean.