Marie was in her bedroom organizing baby clothes that she had just bought when there was a knock at the door.
"Hey, Logan, come on in."
"I had to come and see you."
"Why?" she said, looking up from the tiny dress she held in her hands. "You leaving again?" assuming that's the reason he would need to see her.
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about."
She saw he was a little uncomfortable and a little lost for words. She hated this conversation they kept having again and again throughout their years of knowing each other. But she wanted him to always come to her before she left, so she never pushed him away.
"Logan, talk to me," she said, putting the clothes down to give him her full attention.
"How did you know Seth was the one?"
"What do you mean?"
"How did you know?"
"I had an instant connection with him and I knew the first time I saw him that my life was going to change drastically. And it was so fast, it was so consuming so quickly that there was no question."
"How long did you know each other before you got married?"
"Two days."
"Two days?" Logan asked incredulously.
"Yeah, well, I told you it was fast. We checked into a hotel room a ways from here and we stayed there all night and the next day we took a flight down to Vegas to do some gambling and we ate incredible food and bought more things than we could probably afford and we partied and then…we woke up married, and we didn't remember getting married. That's what alcohol does to you."
"So what happened?"
"We both flipped out and tried to recall what we'd done but it wasn't a clear picture so we discussed getting a divorce because it was pretty obvious we'd consummated the marriage. But the more we thought about it the more we couldn't come up with a good reason to get a divorce. So we went back and began dating even though we were married, and a month and a half later we had a real wedding."
"Wow, that's a pretty wild story. I never pictured you as the type who would do something like that."
"I know, neither could I before that. But I'm really glad I did. I just wish I could've had him longer."
"How are you doing, by the way, on that issue?"
"Better. Since my daughter's fine, the pain has lessoned. But it is hard to know that all the precious moments I'll have with her will be seen by me alone. You helped me though I hate to say it. Thank you."
"Did I make you feel guilty? So shortly after his death?"
"You didn't, I did, but I came to realize that what I did was okay. There is no set time in which it's okay to be with someone else. It's different in every circumstance, and I don't feel I was betraying him anymore. So I don't regret being with you, if that's what you're asking. Now what did you want to talk about?"
He sighed, not knowing how to say what he wanted to say, so he just starting talking.
"For years all I've done is search for who I am. I have never had any luck and not so long ago you told me I would never find it-"
"I was angry, I'm sorry."
"Well, regardless, you were probably right."
"What are you trying to say?"
"I'm saying I'm agreeing with you. I don't want the rest of my life to be a search for something that may or may not ever happen. Because I have found people that I can have a life with, maybe I can't find who I was but I can be someone now. I'm not dead, I survived what they did to me and maybe there was a reason for that. I can't get my life back, Marie, but I can create one."
She couldn't have been happier that he was saying this.
"Logan, I can't tell you how happy I am that you are finally feeling that way. It was killing me to watch you wasting your life on the run having no life at all. What do you want to do with your life?"
Logan reached towards her and brushed her cheek with the back of his hand.
"I want you."
The three simple words he said to her didn't register. She was still waiting to hear what he wanted, what his plans were. But then she realized he'd said something. But they couldn't have been the words she'd thought he said.
"What?" she said softly.
"I've kept coming back here over the years for one reason. A reason I used to think was Jean, but it's not. You were the reason. You were my constant."
A hint of fresh tears grew inside Marie's eyes as she slowly stood up, walked over, and pulled him into her arms.
"I will always be your constant," she promised.
"And I know I'm asking you really soon after his death-"
"Shut up," she said into his ear. "Shut up, Logan. You have nothing more to ask of me because you've had me since the first time you ever said the words goodbye to me."
He cupped her face.
"What?"
"You've always had me, Logan. You don't have to ask me anything. I took a piece of you inside of me and I've carried it for ten years. I've stayed with that piece and I've stayed with you."
He tried not to show how relieved he was. He tried to be cool about all this. Leaning down he kissed her. But when the kiss was about to grow, Marie pulled back.
"Oh, wait a minute, wait. Um, Logan…there's one other sort of…huge element here. I'm going to have a child. That means that I'm going to be taking care of a very small person for the next several years. I'm not sure you're even remotely able to be signed up for something as drastically huge as that."
"I was there the first time you saw her. I'm going to watch her grow inside you, and if you allow me I'd be a part of her life."
"A part of her life like every now and then you'll play basketball with her or a part of her life like a constant part of her life?"
"Both."
"You're going to need that excitement though, Logan. You can't be tied down in a relationship raising a child. It won't hold your interest enough. You need the thrill, the rush."
"I'm pretty sure I could get it here," he said.
"You have no idea what you're getting yourself into," she said.
"No, I don't, but I know it's what I want."
"Where are you going to get the danger, Logan? The thrilling violence?"
"I'll be an X-Man."
She made a surprised face.
"Really? Logan, that's another big commitment."
"Yeah, well, over the years I've come to be on the side of the X-Men, and it will keep life interesting."
"Being pregnant isn't a particularly attractive thing, and it's going to be less and less attractive as time goes on."
"You know, Marie, I have seen a pregnant woman before."
"Yes, but you haven't seen me pregnant before. And a child is a big responsibility. It's the entire package, Logan. And I'm not sure you could handle it."
He yanked her to him for another kiss, and when he pulled back he said, "I think I can."
"Logan, I don't mean this as having anything to do with you, but I'm about to throw up."
He let her go. "The baby?"
"Yeah, excuse me," she said, dashing for the bathroom.
He waited for her, wanted to make sure she was okay. She looked exhausted when she came out. Her hand was on her stomach.
"You in pain?"
"Discomfort," she replied. "Making a baby's hard work."
She collapsed down on the bed.
"The morning sickness should be gone pretty soon, I'm heading towards the end of my forth month, usually by the third month you're fine."
"I've heard that for some women it's throughout the entire pregnancy," he said, sitting on the bed beside her.
"God, please no."
He smiled and caressed her face.
"You remember when Magneto almost killed you?"
"Yes."
"Well, you were literally dead in my arms and I knew I had to touch you and I never thought I'd say this but I'm glad you were dead because it gave me a few seconds to be able to touch you."
She reached for him with her hand and smiled.
"Come here," he said, pulling her into his arms. "Can I do anything to make you feel better?"
"This is pretty nice," she smiled.
~~~~~~~~~~To Be Continued~~~~~~~~~