Disclaimer: All rights belong to Stan Lee, Marvel, Fox, and whomever else owns rights to the X-men. I have not, nor will I ever received compensation for this story.

Thanks to everyone who is still reading this story and the lovely people who have sent in reviews. YOU are very much appreciated. I'm sorry I haven't answered all of you one on one, but these has been a bad few months, but do know that I read each and everyone of your reviews and they bring a smile to my face. It thrills me that everyone is still eager to find out what will happen next. So this chapter is for all of you!

Chapter 12

The next day when they stopped for lunch, Rogue this time didn't ask if Logan wanted her to drive. She simply sat behind the wheel, and held out her hand for the keys when he came up to the truck.

Surprisingly Logan didn't argue, he dropped the keys in her outstretched hand, and went around and climbed in the passenger side.

"That was shockingly easy." Rogue commented glancing over at Logan a little surprised as he got comfortable.

"What? I trust yah," Logan said, then closed his eyes ending the conversation, but a smirk played at the corner of his mouth.

"Good to know," Rogue smiled pleased, then cranked up and pulled out on to the road.

Logan smelt Rogue's pleased scent at his words and knew he made the right decision. He didn't know much about this woman, but he knew deep in his gut, that he could trust her, that she was different than any woman he knew, and that he was starting to realize they fitted each other.

They made it to Huron National Forest before stopping again for the night. Logan stretched and opened his eyes not so surprised this time as he had before that he had slept soundly beside Rogue.

"Hey there sleepy head, decided to wake up, huh?" Rogue giggled tiredly.

"Yeah, I haven't sleep that deep in forever." Logan yawned sitting up and grimacing at the momentary muscle cramps in his neck and back from sleep sitting up. His healing factor quickly eased the pain, and he cracked his neck, before looking over at Rogue, seeing fatigue in her eyes and face, but she smiled at him trying to push her exhaustion aside.

"I'm afraid it's take out again. I wasn't sure what to get you this time since the place was like a deli, so I got you a large steak sub with double the meat, I hope that's alright?" Rogue asked pulling out the sandwiches.

"It's fine Darlin, I'm not picky." Logan answered more interesting in studying her than the food. He could smell her exhaustion, and it wasn't just a hint. She smelt like she could drop at any moment, but she was trying hard to ignore it.

"Going to join us for dinner?" Rogue asked as she climbed out of the truck with the bag that held her and the kid's food.

"Sure, I'll be there in a few minutes." Logan said needing to relieve himself first.

"Great, we'll wait for you." Rogue said with a smile, and headed for the camper.

Logan watched her disappear inside before heading into the woods a few feet away.

Rogue was passing out the fruit juice to Nate and Sally, when Logan joined them inside the camper. Rogue greeted him with her soft warm smile, and handed him a beer. The thought that he could get us to this, dinner with Rogue and the kids, and being greeted at the door by Rogue's soft warm smile and a beer on a regular basis, popped into his mind surprising him. He watched as Rogue grabbed a bottle of juice for herself. She closed the cooler and sat down in one of the fold out chairs and as usual Sally climbed into her lap. Logan sat in the other chair, and looked over at Nate who sat on the floor, with his unopened sandwich.

"Hey Nate, care to join the rest of us up here?" Logan asked feeling awkward, never asking a kid to sit in his lap before. Logan glanced over at Rogue to see her smiling brightly at him, which helped ease his discomfort, and made him feel like he had done a good thing.

"Are you sure it's okay?" Nate asked still nervous about doing the wrong thing and being punished. "I can stay down here, I don't mind." Nate said quickly.

Logan smelt the want all over the kid, along with nervous apprehension. Logan tried to keep a relaxed and welcoming expression. "Come on up here, Nate, and join the rest of us. There's no need for you to eat on the floor." Logan said as he scooted his chair back, and reached out his hand to the small boy.

Logan's heart squeezed tight at Nate's smile and the esteem and the growing adoration in the boy's eyes directed at him, as Nate quickly collected his drink and sandwich and climbed into Logan's lap. Logan had never had a child look at him like he was his hero, just because he offered to let him sit in his lap. Logan wondered what it would be like to have his own children look up at him with that much adoration and trust in their eyes. The thought of children of his own right now, didn't sound as far fetched or unbelievable as it had in the past. Logan looked over at Rogue, smelling her happiness and tender affection mixed with her intoxicating honeysuckle scent. Logan winked at her when she beamed at him with her own form of adoration, before everyone put their attention on the food.

"What are you doing out here, Darlin` ?" Logan walked over to where Rogue was sitting on a fallen log staring out into the darkness.

"Just enjoy the fresh air." Rogue smiled as she scooted over so Logan could sit down beside her.

"You need to get some sleep." Logan said sitting down.

"I'm fine." Rogue shrugged stretching her legs out in front of her, trying to get somewhat comfortable.

"No you're not, you're about to drop." Logan replied seriously.

"I said I'm fine, Logan."

"Listen Kid, you're exhausted and you need sleep." Logan was concerned for her, but also confused to why she was refusing to acknowledge her need for sleep.

"I'm not a kid, and I know what I need." Rogue snapped coolly, coming quickly to her feet clearly getting ready to walk off.

Logan was stunned and confused at Rogue's sharp response. This was the first time she had snapped at him since they had been traveling together. Knowing this wasn't like her, alerted him that something wrong. He was still feeling contented and pleased from hanging out with the kids and Rogue during dinner and the rest of the evening. He didn't want to loose the relaxed and pleased feelings. He couldn't remember saying or doing anything that had or might had upset Rogue unknowingly. Grabbing her by the wrist, he stopped her from storming away from him, determined to get to the bottom of what was going on inside her head.

"You want to tell me what this is all about?" Logan asked coming to his feet continuing to hold on to her so she couldn't escape. He gently pulled her close, following his instincts, instead of snapping at her or minding his own business, he reached up and caress her check, lifting her chin so her tired eyes meet his intense searching gaze.

Rogue closed her eyes and sighed, knowing she shouldn't be upset at Logan. She had been the same way with him, when he was tired. She knew he was only trying to look out for her. She opened her eyes and looked into Logan's searching and questioning gaze, and tried to explain.

"I can't sleep, until we're safe. It's not safe for me to sleep." Rogue answered feeling drained just admitting the truth.

"Darlin, you don't have to worry, I won't let anyone get near you and the kids. I promise you, I'll take care of you." Logan growled softly, meaning it with everything in him, that he would do what it took to take care of her and those kids. It only took four days to realize that Rogue was someone important to him, and he cared for her more than he had for any other woman he had in his life in a very long time.

Rogue eyes softened as she gave him a small sad smile. "That's sweet Sugar, but when I say it isn't safe for me to sleep, I mean it isn't safe for you and the kids."

"What are you talking about?" Logan frowned even more confused at her meaning.

"What exactly did Charles tell you about my mutation?" Rogue asked holding Logan's confused gaze.

Logan thought back to what Chuck had told him about Rogue's powers. "He said that you couldn't touch anyone skin to skin with out killing them. That if you touched a mutant, you'd get their powers for awhile. That you also took a piece of them into your head."

"I take their memories, thoughts, and personality. They get stuck in my head. I have nightmares, bad ones. I could lose control of my mutations. I could accidentally kill you or one or both of the kids. I can't take that chance, Logan." Rogue declared seriously.

"Aw Darlin," Logan said pulling her into his embrace, pressing her check to his chest, holding her tightly against him. "Why didn't you say something before. You can sleep up front with me, and I'll just make sure not to touch your skin if you start having a nightmare."

Rogue closed her eyes resting her head against his chest enjoying listening to his steady heart beat. While inhaling Logan scent of cigar, leather, wilderness, and pure male. It was a scent she could easily get addicted too.

"It's not that simple, Logan." Rogue sighed and pulled back a little to look up at him.

"Sure it is, you trust me not to hurt you right? I promise you Darlin, I won't hurt you or try anything while you're asleep." Logan promised seriously hoping she knew that he wouldn't hurt her.

"It's not that, I do trust you. I don't know why, I don't really know you, but there's something inside me that knows you're never hurt me or Nate and Sally. I would trust you with my life." Rogue said her gaze intense.

Logan was deeply moved by Rogue's words. He could tell she was being sincerely honest with him. "Then what is it?"

Rogue frowned unsure how to answer. She just told Logan she trusted him with her life, but she was hesitate to tell him that Nate and Sally weren't the only guest of that lab. She was scared he would turn from her, if he knew that she had killed innocent people. Stepping out of his embrace and putting some space between them, Rogue hardened herself and braced for his reaction. Her eyes held steel as she meet his gaze again.