A.N. I hope to continue this series throughout December and am trying to write ahead a few days to stay on top of it. Hopefully it will work out and we will have fun with it. I absolutely love reading reviews and hope you will share your impressions of the chapters with me. No flames, please. Also, I realize this is focused on Christmas rather than other holidays of the season, but that's simply how I chose to write it and if it offends you perhaps you'd be happier reading something else.

Disclaimer: I know this is legally necessary, but really… do any of us think I own these characters?

The Advent Season – December 10th

Logan turned to his door in surprise. Who could possibly be knocking on his door at this early hour? He sniffed and was even more surprised. "It's open, Marie," he let her know. "What are you doin' here, darlin'?" He double-checked the time just to be sure he wasn't later than usual.

"Logan, I feel so much better! In fact, I feel great, sugar. Let's head down early and maybe we'll have time to make snow angels or something before we have to get busy with life." She hauled on his hand, tugging him towards the door.

He dragged back on her pull to halt her. "What does Jean have to say about this sudden bounce-back?"

She sighed and rolled her eyes. "I don't know! I know I'm okay."

"Then you won't mind if we just stop by their room and let her take a look, right?"

"If she gives me the go-ahead, do you promise to ease up on the whole 'over-protective mighty defender of all helpless, ill maidens' thing?"

H couldn't help chuckling. "Darlin', I don't know where in the world you came up with that one, but yeah… I'll cut you some slack if she says you're good to go."

"Great! Let's go then, so she can tell you I am just fine."

They reached the other door in no time and she banged out a quick tattoo on the thick wood panel. Jean was still slipping on one shoe when she opened the door, balancing on one foot. "Alright, I'll give you a quick check-up. I hope the results are as positive as you hope. I hate to say this, but it really isn't likely. You should be laid up for several more days with the nasty case of the flu you had."

A half hour later she was gleefully looking up from the ground at Logan's feet. "Don't you want to make one?"

"Nah, you're doing a good enough job for both of us. "'Sides, didn't we have this whole me bein' an angel debate already?"

"Yeah, we agreed you're my angel." She waited for him to relax his guard and then unexpectedly yanked him down beside her. She rolled atop him, laughing hard, and used her hands on his arms and her feet on his legs to coax him along in making his angel.

Logan let her have control of his body for a few minutes because the good Lord knew he wasn't in control. The instant her body pinned his all control had shattered like bullet-pierced glass. He knew she had a great figure, but feeling all those delicious, lavish curves and swells pressing into him with no warning whatsoever was enough to drive a saint to drink… and he was no saint. He was very thankful for her thick coat and its mid-thigh length. That was the only thing remotely preventing her from knowing his reaction to her proximity all too well.

She jerked stiffly and cocked her head to one side. "Huh… the professor needs to speak with me, sugar. Can we meet when I'm done to have our chocolate? I don't want to miss out, but I guess he really wants to talk right now."

"No problem, darlin'. I'll meet you outside his office."

Graceful strides carried her through the crisp snow towards the nearest door. He watched until she was completely out of sight before dropping his head back against the frozen ground and banging it repeatedly against the unforgiving surface. Wolverine was so caught up in his thoughts that he hadn't noticed John approaching. The younger man stared at the door she'd entered minutes before and distractedly commented, "She really is something, isn't she?"

"Yeah," he grunted in admission. There was no use denying anything. Obviously the kid had been watching them for awhile.

"Kind of gives the phrase 'resistance is futile' all new meaning."

Logan only rubbed his hands roughly over his face, knowing the guy couldn't have been more right.

Logan, if you're feeling better now, Rogue and I are almost finished with our discussion, came Charles' controlled tones in Logan's head.

Thanks, Chuck. I'll be right there. And Chuck? Logan almost smiled at the exasperated sigh of the school's head at the use of the hated nickname.

Yes, Logan?

Thanks for the rescue. Sitting opposite her mentor, Rogue wondered at his amused expression. Professor Xavier hadn't been able to avoid reading the intense reaction Wolverine had broadcast when Rogue tackled him. He'd decided an intervention may be helpful before others were subjected to the onslaught of images and thoughts roaring through the feral's mind. Only Jean had picked up on them before Charles had managed to distract Rogue from her innocent assault, a fact for which both telepaths were thankful. The other telepaths inhabiting the mansion were much younger and there were certain of life's facts that were best left until later to explain.

They shared the dark chocolate nutcracker, the only awkward moment coming when he thoughtlessly licked a tiny bit of melted chocolate from her fingertip and they both blushed at the sensations the touch evoked. He cleared his throat and they began talking over their plans for the day. When he mentioned the need to work on some repairs to the vehicles, but also needing to do some laundry, she automatically offered to do it for him. "I could stand to wash some clothes myself, so I might as well do it for both of us, right?"

"You don't need to deal with my dirty clothes, Marie."

"I know. If I 'needed' to do it, I probably wouldn't do it at all. I really don't mind, though. Besides, I owe you for taking such good care of me the past few days and I want to be sure we have reliable transportation for the big shopping extravaganza this weekend." Her wink didn't make him feel any better about the stupid shopping trip.

"Couldn't I just order stuff online?"

Her head was shaking before he'd even finished speaking. "First of all, you did say you'd go with me. Secondly, you could have a hard time making sure everything gets here before Christmas and would pay a fortune in extra shipping charges trying to make sure the stuff did get here in time." She patted his arm reassuringly, "It'll be fun, Logan. Really!" she insisted at his skeptical glare.

It was hours later that she was caught. She'd been standing alone in the laundry room sorting clothing from both Logan's and her baskets and had come across one of her favorite flannel shirts of his. It was one he wore often and was as soft as a kitten when she rubbed her face against it. The plaid was mostly dark red with hints of black, dark blue and green running through it. It was just so 'Logan'. Anyway, she'd come across it and couldn't resist pressing it against her cheek, inhaling his scent when it wafted from the garment in her hold.

Marie's eyes closed as she zeroed in on the hints of musk, spice, smoke, and Wolverine that lingered in the fibers. Savoring the scent the way others might relish the aroma of steak grilling or apple pie fresh from the oven, she didn't notice the arrival of Jubilee and her pint-sized companion.

"What in the sam hill is she doing?" Mandy's high voice asked loudly.

Jubilee couldn't decide if Rogue's shock or Mandy's phrasing was funnier, but it didn't really matter either way. Her laughter burst out and drew the attention of John, who'd been in the kitchen getting a drink. "What's so funny?" he wanted to know.

Mandy declared she didn't know what 'that crazy Jubesy' was laughing about before repeating her earlier query regarding Rogue. John summed up the situation in a glance and let his own chuckle out before trying to ease things. He knelt beside the little girl. "I think Rogue was just thinking about something and didn't realize what she was doing. Does that ever happen to you?"

The towheaded girl looked cynical. "Maybe once or twice, but I sure hope I didn't look that silly when it did!" John quickly decided to move on so Rogue wouldn't turn any redder or start to lose the temper they'd all come to learn lingered beneath her sweet surface. "Now, where did you learn to say 'sam hill' like that?"

Innocent wide eyes looked from one grown-up to another realizing she must have said something bad without meaning to and finally centered on John once more. "Well, Mr. Logan said it a lot when he helped watch us and when we decorated Miss Rogue's door for her. It sounded so perfect when he said it and it seemed right just about then, ya' know?"

Now even Rogue was grinning. She was only glad that Logan had restricted himself to that when she knew he must have wanted to say a lot worse. Now she was back to that whole 'he's so sweet' thing. She sighed, discreetly inhaled his scent deeply one more time and then dropped the shirt in the machine.

When Logan later found her and her entourage of short people cutting out paper snowflakes to tape to windows all over the mansion, her wide grin confused him a little, but he decided he probably didn't want to know what that was all about. "I'll be back later, kid. I'm gonna go get a drink or two."

"Oh, okay. I'll see you later then?"

She'd come to where he stood pulling on his leather jacket. The closet door shielded them from the view of all those kids. "Count on it, darlin'," he said in a low voice before leaning over to brush a kiss atop her head.

The pair shared mugs of steaming hot cocoa topped with marshmallow fluff with Hank and Ororo after Logan's return later that evening. The soothing comfort drinks had all four ready to turn in for the night. When Logan snuck into her room one last time to check up on her, he couldn't resist brushing a couple of light kisses over her parted lips. He caressed her high cheekbones with his blunt fingertips. He didn't realize the thrill that raced through him was from more than his natural reaction to touching his sweet girl for whom he cared more deeply than any other person.