Author's Notes: Here we go folks, the final chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own X-Men.

To Hold You Close

Chapter Twenty-Five

It had been a month, one beautiful, glorious month, where the days and weeks ran together. Despite the more recent tragedies for the X-Men, the School for Gifted Youngsters continued to thrive, and Logan kissed Marie more than either had ever dared to imagine. Each time Logan pulled away he was always half afraid at what might happen, that Marie would realize she didn't love him, or that everything between them was false. But each time Marie simply smiled at him, that sweet, shy smile where she almost looked surprised to be happy. The once strained relationship was now relaxed and Logan was almost at ease with his life.

All in all, Logan was feeling pretty good that Monday morning.

"Hey Logan!" Marie sidled up to him as soon as he left his bedroom and he wrapped her up, basking her in presence.

"What's up, darlin'?" he asked, leaning down and kissing her. She smiled through the kiss and he pulled back, grinning.

"Did you forget? Today's our official graduation from the school! Storm says after this we're all ready to stay officially with the X-Men and become teachers if we want and everything!"

"And you want to?" As much as he prided himself on the work he taught kids in defense and offense, Logan did not particularly enjoy teaching.

"Well, I want to stay here," Marie said coyly, and Logan smirked at her, mentally filling in the phrase with you.

"More power to ya," he finally said, and the pair went off to breakfast, hand in hand.

Overnight showers had given way to a beautiful clear morning, and Logan found himself unable to resist the call of the outside. Marie had joined her friends, and he didn't mind the time alone. Once a lone wolf, always one, he thought, almost sadly. It wasn't completely true, if he really admitted it to himself. There was something undeniably pleasant about having someone to love, and to be loved by.

As a matter of fact, it made things seem much brighter.

"Mornin' Storm," he called, seeing the white-haired mutant also outside, setting up a platform. "Need some help?"

"Logan? You're offering to help?" Storm turned to him with a small smile. "Rogue really is beneficial for you."

"Ha ha," he muttered. "I can go elsewhere, you know."

"No, I do appreciate the offer," Storm said quickly, and he chuckled. The two worked quickly, and presently the platform sat straight, with five chairs on display and seven chairs modestly tucked behind.

"Who goes where?" Logan asked curiously.

"Rogue, Bobby, Kitty, Warren, and Peter will be in front," Storm answered. "You, Scott, Sage, Alex, Hank, Kurt and myself will be in back."

"Alex?" Logan raised an eyebrow.

"If he wants," Storm answered. "I think we should consider him one of us, but we can ask him formally later."

"And Kurt's poppin' in?" Logan questioned, smirking at his own cleverness. Storm rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"Sometimes you're no better than the kids," she muttered. The two began back towards the mansion. "We'll have classes today, but shortened," Storm reminded him. "We'll plan to eat a little before noon, and start afterwards. It shouldn't take too long," she admonished Logan when he rolled his eyes.

"Alright, then I'm off," he said. He strode forward a few steps then turned back. "And what's the deal about Peter's surprise?"

"After lunch," Storm answered. "You'll find out." She smiled at him, and he shook his head, turning back to go inside.

Two quick sessions later, Logan was ready for a break. The young kids were too distracted by the nice weather, and the older kids were too distracted by the official graduation. Marie was waiting for him after the second session, with a bottle of water and a kiss.

"You ready for this?" Logan whispered in her ear, gently stroking the white strands of hair.

"Absolutely," she answered back, a slight waver in her voice.

"You know how proud of you I am," he whispered again. "You've come a long way since Laughlin City, kid."

"So've you," she answered back, bounding away playfully. He chose not to think about his own changes, and focused on her. She was wearing a black gown, Storm had to be traditional, he thought, and a pair of white gloves.

"Why the gloves?" he asked, his puzzlement in his voice.

"Oh," she said, looking down at them for a moment. Then she looked back up at him, smiling mischievously. "Well, we're supposed to throw hats. I kinda thought it'd be better to show my achievements by throwing my gloves in the air." Logan stared at her a moment before feeling a smile embrace his face.

"You are a little crazy," he told her, catching one of the gloved hands and drawing her close.

"Well, we crazies gotta stick together," she teased.

"Enough of that," he answered, and silenced her teasing with a kiss.

Lunch went quickly, and shortly after most people finished, Storm had them cleaning up. A shout caused the mutants to look over where a blue figure stood by a podium. Marie immediately ran to give Kurt a hug, as he waited, looking shy and out of place. As she chatted with him, Logan noticed the mutant visibly relaxing and he smiled. Storm was still busy getting the kids out and ready, so he gruffly ushered the X-Men to the stage.

"Logan," Scott nodded to him as he moved onstage. Logan nodded back and looked over at Marie, resisting the temptation to do anything to the knucklehead Cyclops today. Marie would be upset, for one, and Logan felt a little sorry for the guy. He'd lost two girls…two Jeans…

Jean was still a bitter memory for Logan and he hoped he'd never have to go through something like that again. It still amazed him how much Marie helped heal him, whether or not she realized it. She caught him staring at her and flipped her hair over her shoulder, then wiggled her fingers at him playfully. He snorted and smirked at her.

"Alright, let's go, hurry up!" Storm was saying, as most of the mutants were seated before the podium. The X-Men and younger members were finally seated as well. Logan sat behind Marie. She was sitting up straight and Logan adjusted himself so that he could nudge her back with his foot.

"Don't do it," he heard her whisper when his foot brushed her back. Logan grinned and turned to listen to Storm.

"Today's a special day," she was announcing. "As you know, we've already invited the five individuals behind me to join our group of X-Men. As of today, we feel that they've learned most of what is available through our school, and as such we are letting them graduate from classes. This means they can now be an official part of our team, both the fighting and teaching sides."

"Woo!" came cheers from the mutants, and clapping filled the air. Storm paused and smiled at the five mutants.

"If you would please step forward," she asked. The five stood up and approached Storm, with Marie first in line. "Rogue," she began, smiling at the girl in front of her. "Congratulations, you are a graduate of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters!" She shook Rogue's hand and then gave her a hug. "Now, would you like to stay on as part of the X-Men and a teacher here at the school?"

"Absolutely!" Marie answered, and she gave a sideways glance to Logan, grinning widely. He found he couldn't stop a smile from spreading across his own face. Marie then stepped to the other side of Storm, and the white haired mutant congratulated and invited the other four mutants to the School. After all five accepted, Storm turned once again to the crowd.

"Here they are, the newest X-Men and your newest teachers!" The mutants stood and applauded while four mutants threw hats in the air. Two white gloves mingled in with the hats and amid the cheering Logan found Marie and hugged her.

"Congrats," he whispered, and she kissed him in response.

"You're stuck with me now," she finally whispered back, when she pulled back.

"I think I can handle it," he answered, and felt that damn grin form on his face.

"It's better when you smile," Marie giggled when he tried to fight it, so he gave up. It was a losing battle anyway.

After the ceremony, the X-Men found themselves in a quiet room near the danger room, with one wall mysteriously covered. Marie and Peter wore matching idiotic grins and Logan stared between the two.

"This is so cool," Marie was telling him, but he was focusing a little more on her excited face, and her eyes, so bright and alive. She was so much more different then when he'd first met her, scared and alone in Laughlin City. He'd thought he'd lost that girl again when they found her at the Weapon X cover, but she still managed to return to him, whole once again.

"Yeah?" he muttered, to keep her babbling happily.

"Yeah, Peter's been working on this a long time, and it's so neat!" Marie squeezed his arm in anticipation as Peter stood up to speak.

"Well, this is something Storm asked me to do, and so I hope you all like it," he said shyly. Bobby pulled the curtain down and the wall was shown.

"Wow…" breathed the room, and Peter smiled at the awestruck faces. It was a mural of dedication, with all the current X-Men, and those fallen, in various places, transitioning between the Professor teaching to Danger Room practice, to a battle. It was meticulously painted, with individual features clear. Marie drug Logan over to his portrait, in the battle scene. He and Marie stood back to back, and he was slightly crouched with his claws out and an arrogant grin on his face. Marie had her hand on his wrist and was smiling serenely, though somewhat fiercely.

"What do you think?" she asked, turning to look at him.

"That's what I look like?" he asked a bit incredulously, and then looked back at her. "At least he got you right." She poked him in the ribs then and he poked her back. She squeaked slightly and curved into Kitty.

"Sorry," Marie said, and Kitty grinned at her.

"Don't worry," she laughed, then leaned close. "Don't let him get away with that, I don't let Bobby get away with it." Marie laughed back, but it sounded a little forced. As Kitty moved on, Logan pulled her back.

"Still upset?" he asked her.

"Yeah. She shouldn't have played Peter like that, letting him think something was going on. But I guess Peter will be alright."

"I don't think you should worry about it," Logan suggested.

"I don't think I can not," she answered.

"What about Warren?" he questioned then.

"I think he's moved on," Marie giggled and poked him again.

"Don't even start," he warned, but Storm and Hank approached them.

"Behave," she threatened, waving a finger at them. "You're going to be setting a proper example for these kids now." Her smile diffused her seriousness.

"If we have too," they answered, glancing deviously at each other.

"Or else we'll send you back outside!" Hank added, laughing.

"Oh yeah?" Logan challenged. He winked at Rogue who grinned at him and the two of them launched towards the other mutants, fake attacks at the ready. Facial expressions of the two were priceless.

And so the afternoon passed pleasantly, with parties and laughter ridding the mansion of any somberness that might have remained.

Much later that evening, Logan found himself outside on a balcony with Marie as she lay on a blanket, staring at the stars.

"Haven't we been here before?" he asked wryly and she smiled in response.

"It's nice, to just look at the stars. And to hide away for a little bit." She rolled over on her stomach and he heard her sniff the air.

"Bothering you much?" he asked, shaking his cigar as he looked back at her from the railing.

"No, enjoying it actually," she answered. She stood up and walked towards him, snuggling under his arm, and they leaned on the railing, looking over the darkened grounds. "It's nice, you know?" she asked him.

"What?" he mumbled, leaning his head down to be even with hers.

"Just being here, being alive, being held close by you," she said softly. He kissed her forehead.

"I agree," he replied. She sought out his hand and he clasped it around her own, marveling as always at how small her hands seemed.

"Do you realize that we're both standing here, in control of our powers?" she asked him.

"It's a good feeling," he answered back. She leaned against him then, sighing contentedly. After a moment, she spoke again.

"Remember on that train, just before Magneto kidnapped me, you promised you'd take care of me?"

"Yeah."

"I'm glad you did."

"Me too, kid. Me too." Logan leaned down and kissed her, wanting nothing more than to just hold her close to him. "Love you," he added, when he pulled away.

"Love you back," she said, and kissed him again.

Final Author's Notes: Feeling a bit sad, but hoping I did it justice!

This has been wonderful for me to write, but a lot of the credit has to go you all you who read (and especially review!) I want to take the time to thank you all! So, most notably, thank you to AttackingHentaiChibisLoveFluff, Brimseye, Frankie McStein, Krystalmaze, Flamer89, AMBERLEAH, Gynx8, MazdaKitsune, FalconReign, Goshikku Seirei, Phoenixphantasy, DarkAngemi818, SecretChances, Girl-who-sings-the-blues, Shortey, lady scribe of avandell, BluestBunnie, Usagi Tenou, cajun-beauty, Ren Tsukino, irisheyessmiling, BrOkEn2NiTe, DeltaGamma Liv, Youko-Rose, ChiBi BluEStaR, beatlechicksteph, EvilEyeKat, Rach6, Cirolane, Raining Blood Red Moon, AliciaClark, astronomy lover, Devilishly-Charming, The Infamous Sly Squirrel, angeloneous, CaptMacKenzie, DivineDarkness, telegb, Redgirl44, skiff of haven, wynter89, UltimateRider, Gwenfrewi72, Zarek, Logan's Rogue, Timberlou22, Meme Emi, epewthers, bloodytear89, Lupa, Panda Slippers, Legolas19, Tiniwiel, tankbbg, RedJewel2662, Xlitle-pyroX, enkindu, LoganLuver101, FieryWitch, Karate-Chick06, and Tally-Ally. Thank you also to Silverwind24, Locathah, uragtpy, BlackHalliwell, Leshaya, Dingy, gatorchick112, HowlAtTheMoon2Night, Leash, fireangel621, thebunnysuicides, TnTornado, Riker15, Glykera, CrazyGunFire, GrumpyK, cindyloo, KnightoftheRoundTable, Teanni, Vinaigrette, Disco-Freak, miss alora lee, emma134, Isawien Malfoy, Word Bender, Ashnan, Roguechere, nicca, ToraNoKo123, Elessari Monk, MissBe, shooting melody, msenterprise, Lanewalker, Madj, HRInuyashaFan16, sleepy26, Dawn Moon, RyousRayne, Nothing Much, feartoxin, Truth Is What You Make Of It, caramelemmy, FurubaForever16, Pikkuinen, khuu-khuu, Dimonah Tralon, bluemoon-175, The Mysterious Shadow, Christine, tanya, amorveritas, eliza, shelaweena, ganainm, Will Parry, Mary Bongiovi, Kiawna, Diadora, Kat, Tempo, derganey, Bri, star4sailing, lalalalala, Emy Lou Who, and Animated Spring Flowers. I also want to thank all those who read but didn't review, and I would like to thank those who continue to read this after this final posting.

All of you are the reason I enjoy writing! Thank you very much! I hope to see you in any future stories!