"Again, 'Ro." Logan ordered from where he was kneeling before her bent legs lending assistance as he guided her through a series of yoga poses.

Ororo lifted her head from her position on the floor mat and tossed him a nasty look which only served to make him smile more wickedly. "You are enjoying this, are you not Logan?"

His gleeful smile was her answer. "Brute," she muttered under her breath before repeating the god-awful back bends she had been doing for the past hour.

Logan smiled hearing her retort. That one wasn't the worse he had heard since they started her physical therapy a month ago. And it lacked the usual bite her curses had. Yes, he had officially succeeded in corrupting the elegant, beautiful, well-spoken weather witch. And they said it couldn't be done. He smiled inwardly at his accomplishment.

"I heard that. Ya want me ta add more?" He asked, his eyebrow lifting in challenge.

"I do not deserve this treatment," 'Ro huffed, as she struggled to complete another round of bridge poses.

"Well, we got ta get ya back ta the annoying, lovable Goddess, we all know and love," he tossed back, using his massive hands to anchor her feet to the floor.

Ororo immediately sobered, knowing what he had given up being by her side, tending to her, seeing to her every need and being the soothing balm to her still conflicted and hurting soul. "I am sorry, Logan."

Logan shrugged off her apology, while instructing her to turn over to begin her last round of cobra poses. Her curvaceous backside greeted him, and he closed his eyes in agony. Dammit! Secluded away in his mountain cabin with her was not helping to abate his libido. Nor was it helping with his animal's demanding need to make her his mate. And not helping with the unspoken but urgent need to clear the air and move on to the next level of their relationship.

Physically, she was doing well, easily surpassing the timetable Hank had laid out for her recovery. Her wounds were healing very nicely, and their furry doctor had given them the go ahead to start her physical therapy about a month ago. She was now using the cane less and he still lifted and carried her, but not as much as before. He still derived pleasure from bathing her and dressing her, as she still had a bit of trouble standing by herself for extended periods of time. Logan was overall pleased with how she was doing physically and had tailored her rehabilitation around that. Come hell or high water, she'll be back to sparring with him and electrocuting has hairy ass soon enough.

Emotionally, however, was another story. They were well into their fourth month of exile and their relationship was only getting stronger, but they were both still in a space where they were reluctant to confide the big things to each other. They both still had nightmares, though not as frequently as before. He liked to think that it was because they slept next to each other at night that held their nightmares at bay. She had divulged a bit of how her life was expected to be as the Queen of Wakanda and he in turn had shared what he considered not to be the immoral parts of his newly discovered life. Slowly but surely, they were opening up to each other and making progress, but Logan knew true progress wouldn't come until they were both unabashedly honest and open with each other about everything. Then and only then would they both be ready to move onto the next stage of their relationship.

"Earth to Wolverine." Logan looked down to see Ororo looking at him with an amused look. "Where did you drift off to, my friend?"

"Eh." He motioned to her to sit up and moved to help her. "Forward bend."

"Eh? Is that a city on Mars?" She quipped.

"Smart ass. I was just thinkin' 'bout us."

"What about us?" Ororo asked as she bent forward and was able to touch her shins. She panted in irritation, hating not being able to do the full pose as she was used to pre-injury.

"'Bout how much progress we're makin'."

"Well, your brand of physical therapy does yield progress," she stated exerting maximum effort in completing the exercise. "Please tell me that is it for today."

Logan smirked. "Flattery would get ya everywhere, 'Ro."

Her laugh was throaty. "Oh? What is it going to get me today?"

Logan shook his head at their playful banter. "Since ya did good today, I'll throw in one 'o my famous backrubs."

'Ro sank back on to the mat in relief, closing her eyes. "Thank you. I know my muscles are going to need it after that workout."

Logan stood up, gathering the equipment as he moved over her. "Ya're getting' stronger every day, 'Ro. Ya went ten minutes more today than ya did the last time."

She popped one eye open, silently admiring his muscular frame as she watched him move about the living room. This man, the man that many feared and long ago deemed the best killer in the world was here with her, taking care of her in every way possible. Logan had done more for her in the four months since their exile than that fool of an ex-fiancé had done for her since the moment he marched into her life. This surly man currently moving about the room, continued to show her how much he valued and cared for her. She knew that he loved her although he has yet to say the words and she knew she loved him beyond all doubts, but she also knew that they currently had many roadblocks in their way to attaining their happiness. Many of the roadblocks were of their own making on account of their obstinacy and reluctance.

Over the past couple of weeks, Ororo found herself in serious mind-bending contemplation. She knew that their sojourn wouldn't last forever and, they will have to return to the real world soon enough. Did she want to return to the real world the same broken, tired mess that she had become? Or did she want to return to her family as the Ororo they once knew? Or did she want to return as a different woman…a woman who was more confident and passionate. It didn't take her long to realize that she didn't want to go back to the Ororo everyone knew and loved. She wanted…no needed to become an even better person, one more assertive, enthusiastic, and committed. A woman who would always know, not think what her heart and soul needed.

Logan was the man she was meant to be with. She had long ago given him her heart, but both searching for different things took them down different paths, thus tossing roadblocks in the way of them finding their way back to each other. The Goddess had long ago intoned to her that things happened for one reason or the other and that lesson choose this very moment to come rushing back to her. There were no questions that she and Logan were now back on the path to finding their way back to each other, but before that can happen, she needed to make sense of and unravel the disarray her life had become. He as well needed to sort out all that he had learned about his past and reconcile himself to it. For both of them, the time was now for intellectual and emotional healing, not just the physical. After all, as another lesson of the Goddess goes, the emotional, spiritual, mental, and physical wellbeing of a person all had to exist simultaneously. A person couldn't be whole without all four parts coexisting. It was time for her to be whole, time for her to begin her journey to a new and improved Ororo.

Logan turned towards her in time to see the brilliant smile that lit up her face. He immediately had to quell the possessive growl that had gathered in his throat. "Damn, 'Ro, I didn't know anticipation of one 'o my backrubs can make ya smile like that."

"Oh hush, you mountain man," she crooned. "I was smiling for other reasons."

"Care ta share?"

"Let us get the promised backrub out of the way, then I will share," she replied coyly. "But you must share as well, Wolverine. This is a two-way street."

Logan's eyes narrowed, carefully gauging her. Whatever response he was expecting from her that was not it. "Ya sure 'bout that, darlin'?"

Ororo carefully sit up and extended her hand for him to help her up. He reached down and pulled her up against his hard frame, wrapping a solid arm around her tiny waist. The confidence she felt earlier suddenly deserted her and she couldn't look him in the eyes. Being this close to him was setting off a flurry of activity inside of her. And she realized that it had always been like this between them…that sudden explosion of desire and feelings upon contact.

Logan growled. He didn't want her to withdraw to that scared shy rabbit she had become. "No, 'Ro. Ya ain't gonna go back ta being all shy on me."

Her head snapped up. "I am sorry. It is just…"

"Just what, baby?"

"Just that I like being this close to you."

Now how was that for honesty? Logan's eyes bugged out of his head at her soft confession. Damn! Instinctively he pulled her even closer, meshing her soft curves to his hard muscles. "Yeah? Ya could've said something earlier, 'Ro."

She playfully swatted his chest. "Oh you! I just confessed something major to you and that is your reply?" She shook her head. "You are the cockiest man I have ever known."

Logan's eyes immediately darkened, and his nose twitched and 'Ro got a glimpse of the beast. Maybe cocky wasn't the best word to use in this situation. To squash the sexual tension, they both weren't ready to escalate, 'Ro whispered, "So, do we have a deal?"

"Huh?" He replied stupidly.

She smiled softly. "A deal? I share and you share."

His arms slowly released her from his grip. He attempted to clear the fog that had gathered in his brain from holding her so close and taking in her wondrous scent. She took pity on him. "Maybe we can save your famous rubdown for another day, and I shall be content with just a hot bath today."

"Yeah…" He cleared his throat. "Ya, sure?"

"Yes. I think that would be best under the current circumstances."

He nodded. She was right of course. Right now, he couldn't trust himself not to ravish her thoroughly and wantonly. "Ok, darlin'." Damn! He needed to keep busy after all that. That rush of energy had him to wound up. Too bad, he was far away from the Danger Room right now. He could sure use a workout. He glanced at her and saw the adoring look in her eyes. Yep, he needed to calm the riot of feelings going on inside him and some type of workout will have to do. "I think I'll go runnin' in the woods fer a while. Ya gonna be ok while I'm gone?"

"Yes, Logan. I will clean up, then begin dinner."

Dammit! He both loved and hated that she understood him so well. "Ya need some help before I go?"

She looked at him, knowing that he needed to keep busy after their intense moment. The sooner he got out into the forest, the better. "Let me see if I can manage on my own today. If I am still having trouble, I will let you know. Deal?"

"Ya makin' a lot 'o deals today, 'Ro."

She laughed softly. "Just taking a page out of your book, my friend. Now get going and please be careful."

"Yes, ma'am." He saluted her comically before bounding up the staircase to change into attire appropriate for running in the forest at sundown.

Ororo smiled as she watched him take the steps three at a time. Like him, she too needed to keep herself busy, thus her offer to make dinner. That one single moment had set her afire like nothing else and had enforced her resolution to begin the healing process. If that moment was filled with such force and feeling, what would other moments between them be like once they remove all the obstacles standing in their way? For indications of how a relationship with Logan will be like, all she had to do was think about the familiarity they had with each other. Seriously, the man had seen her naked more times than her own fiancé, dressed her, bathed her, and rubbed lotion and oils all over her body. Goddess! She had even taken a few showers with the man. She saw these intimate moments as simply extensions of the natural relationship and camaraderie they have always had. So yes, a relationship between them once all the roadblocks were gone was bound to be something to behold. Ororo grinned. She couldn't wait to find out.