When Past and Present Collide...

"This feels familiar," Marie announced with a grin as they drove along the bleak snowy highway heading back to Twostep's. "Got any beef jerky kicking around in that glove compartment of yours?"

Logan flashed her a wry smile. He knew what she meant - it did feel familiar. It also felt nice. A nostalgic trip down memory lane. Yet reassuring at the same time, to know how different their lives were now - how much better. The young girl had grown up and the ageless man had mellowed. Even the camper van was an improvement on the last one.

He had been surprised to find One Eye knocking on Charles' cabin door first thing that morning and was even more surprised to learn that he had actually driven the camper van all the way from the scene of the accident. He had left for New York in a hire car almost immediately although not before taking a short walk with Marie to talk.

Logan didn't know what they had talked about and Marie had yet to tell him. He was burning to know though and couldn't help but feel a spark of jealousy at the obvious closeness between them, which hadn't seemed intimate enough to indicate that they had been lovers much to his relief, but had been close enough. He wasn't going to ask though. He had been away from the mansion a year and would have been a hypocrite to pry but a part of him hoped that Marie would spill the beans before his impatience got the better of him.

"It was good of One Eye to return the van," he pointed out, hoping it might serve as a prompt.

"Yeah," Marie agreed quietly.

"Especially in this weather," he observed. Inside he was practically tying himself up in knots. Come on, baby, he thought desperately. Don't make me have to ask.

"Hm."

He wondered whether she was doing this on purpose although her scent revealed only a slight anxiety, no doubt due to where this chain of questioning was heading.

"Did you have a nice talk?" he asked casually, at the same time giving himself a mental punch in the face - he really had no patience whatsoever, he despaired.

He sensed rather than saw her glance out of the window. "He just wanted to apologise," she finally revealed.

Logan found himself gripping the steering wheel tighter. "For what?" he growled.

At the sound of his tone she quickly looked back at him. "Oh, nothing like that." She hesitated before admitting: "We've got kinda close over the past year but in the end I just couldn't reciprocate his feelings." The look she gave Logan made his heart melt. "He wasn't you, Logan."

She shrugged. "But he was worried that he had been too pushy and wanted to clear the air between us. It wasn't necessary though - he's been such a good friend to me." She sighed quietly. "And it's been so hard for him since losing Jean."

The idea that Scott even dared make moves on Marie made Logan see red and he wished that he had never left the mansion. But he realised that he couldn't feel angry at One Eye for long. Marie was right. The last year must've been hell for him and Logan didn't think he could've got through it if Marie had been the one who had died.

He could see that she was uncomfortable discussing the situation though so he thought it best to change the subject now that his question had been more or less answered.

He gestured to the back of the van with his head. "Bit tidier these days."

Marie laughed. "I had noticed. You trying to impress me?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Do I need to?"

"No. I love you just the way you are."

He wasn't used to that word - love - used so freely and naturally between them now; he had known only lust and desire and seedy motel rooms reeking of the tackiness of casual sex.

Neither had he ever felt love towards a woman or ever had a woman tell him that she loved him. The truth was, he hadn't stayed with one woman long enough for such declarations to be made - by either party. But he loved Marie. And the fact that she loved him in return...it felt so fucking good.

"Say that again."

She regarded him strangely. "Say what?"

He continued to concentrate on the road but relished the feel of her eyes burning into his face. "What you just said."

"What? That I love you just the way you are?"

He grinned. "Yeah."

She turned in her seatbelt and leaned in closer to him. "I love you just the way you are," she repeated in little more than a whisper, that distinct Southern drawl sending a pleasurable shiver down the length of his back.


An hour later Logan turned off the now practically deserted highway, parked in his usual spot between two majestic Douglas Firs, and they started their journey to Twostep's.

Logan watched Marie uneasily as the bracing air quickly swept in around them. "Are you sure you're warm enough?" But his initial concern quickly made way for amusement when Marie rolled her eyes in mock exasperation.

"Stop fussing, Logan. That's the third time in ten minutes you've asked me.." She squeezed his hand. "I'm fine." She breathed deeply, a wistful smile crossing her lips. "In fact I feel great." She glanced around her, beautiful face awe-struck. "God, Logan. I can understand just why you love this place. It's simply breathtaking."

He pulled her against him and wrapped his arm around her. "You don't know how good it makes me feel, hearing you say that."

"But it's true. How can anyone not love it out here?"

"You don't think it's too cold? A lot of people can't hack it for long."

"No, it's perfect," she insisted. "So...so...pure."

He couldn't help but react to that word, having had so many issues with it during the past year, and he flinched momentarily in his stride, an action that didn't go unnoticed.

"What is it, Logan?"

He swallowed uncomfortably. "Nothing, babe."

"You're lying."

He forced a smile. "Can't hide anything from you, can I?"

She tapped her head with a gloved hand. "I know you too well, sugar."

He stopped them in their tracks and turned to face her, taking her hands in his. "That word."

Her eyes searched his face. "What word?"

"Pure."

She frowned, confused. "I don't understand."

He briefly glanced away, staring at the trees that lined their path, at the fluffy white snow that rested upon the branches and pinecones, as it sparkled enchantingly in the sun.

"Logan?"

He looked back at her, noting how the cold had brought out the colour of her cheeks, which in turn emphasised the youthful sparkle in her eyes. With those shocking white locks framing her dark hair she looked striking, like a modern day Snow Queen. "That's why I left," he admitted eventually. "You were so innocent, so pure. I was frightened of...I dunno...tainting you."

Her shock made way for frustration. "Tainting me? Oh Logan, how could you ever think that? Surely you realise by now that I've got three men kicking around up here." She gestured to her head again. "I lost what you term as purity a long time ago."

He shrugged. "I thought you deserved better."

Her frustration turned to disappointment. "Do you still think this? Because if you do, it's got to stop now."

He smiled gently, loving the way she bossed him around. "I did. Up until a few days ago."

She cocked her head curiously, a light breeze teasing her hair. "And what made you change your mind?"

He claimed her eyes, drinking in the anticipation that filled them. "Realising that I couldn't live without you anymore," he announced hoarsely, barely able to get out the words through the emotion that was suddenly overwhelming him.

She sighed happily but he also sensed a certain degree of relief in the gesture. "That's good to hear." Reaching up to his face she brushed away a lock of hair from his forehead. "Because you're the best thing to ever come into my life."

Her words made him feel alarmingly dizzy and disorientated and he pulled her into his chest, burying his face into her hair to hide the tears that were suddenly pricking at his eyes. There was no denying it, he had come a long way, becoming more like pansy-assed Scott than he'd care to admit, but he wasn't ready for her to see him cry. There were still traces of the old Logan continuing to linger stubbornly, that couldn't quite let go.

When he felt her wrap her arms around him he felt so happy that he quite literally didn't know how to handle it. It was still so new to him, still so alien, that he almost didn't recognise himself and all he could do was murmur her name, over and over into her soft sweet scented hair.

He sensed her smile. "Logan," she said softly in return, and the feel of her breath against his skin made him tremble. She seemed intent on soothing him and he didn't deny her the need; he welcomed it.

Finally pulling away from her neck, he sought out her mouth, her lips warm despite the harsh conditions, and in an insane moment he found himself hungering for her mutation, longing to devour her completely, so that she could be in his head as well as his heart, just like he was in hers.

However, he could also settle with kissing her forever.

But just then the shrill sound of a bird wrenched his attention and he pulled reluctantly away from her, glancing into the sky hopefully.

She followed his gaze, her cheeks flushed even more from their kiss. "Twostep?" she asked, and he was pleased to note the stirrings of excitement in her voice.

Noting that the bird was indeed an eagle he grinned. "Yeah." He shook his head light-heartedly. "Showing off as usual."

He reached for Marie's hand again, quickly feeling agitated now if he wasn't touching her in some shape or form, surprised by his own growing excitement, the fact that he was very soon going to be introducing the only two people he really cared about; who meant the world to him.

He corrected himself - who were his world.

Twostep performed his usual routine, Logan observed in affectionate amusement. A procession of dramatic swoops and daring dives with some added screams to provide a hint of drama. Logan even noted a few new moves that he guessed had been added for Marie's benefit.

He had expected Twostep to fly away at the end of his display, back to his cave dwelling, with the intension of meeting them there, but to Logan's surprise the eagle swooped closer than usual and suddenly headed straight for them, plunging somewhat perilously to the earth.

Logan frowned his alarm but then his eyes widened in astonishment as the bird stopped before them, fluttering a moment on the crisp still air, before metamorphosing into the man known as Twostep, complete with furs and boots. In all the time Logan had known the man, he had never seen him actually shape-shift.

But what shocked Logan even more was the fact that the old man wasn't even registering his presence, instead heading straight for Marie, his wizened face filled with what looked like joy amidst his own great bewilderment.

For a few moments he simply stared at Marie but then he reached across to place a hand upon her arm affectionately. "Marion?"

Marie looked across at Logan for support. "I...I'm Marie."

Twostep smiled after his initial shock had faded. "Maybe now you are, but you were Marion when I knew you last." His beady black eyes wandered over her face. "And it is really you. The aura is most definitely the same." He searched her face. "And I sense your own recognition, even though it is not apparent to you yet." His smile widened. "Welcome home, child. I've missed you."

Logan didn't know what the hell Twostep was talking about, and his confusion made him angry. "What's all this about Twostep?"

The old man regarded Logan for the first time. "You really have found one another again. I didn't think it would ever be possible. But time really has given you a second chance."

"Who is Marion?" Logan questioned, but he found himself hesitating. Why did the name seem so very familiar? And why did it stir him so strongly?

Twostep watched him steadily, conflicting waves of hope and pity sweeping across his face. "She is your wife."