"Man, this has been going on for a month now. I'm really getting worried about her," Jubilee whispered to her friends after Rogue sulked out of the room after yet another fruitless mail call.
"Why does she think he's going to write her this time?" Bobby asked. "He didn't the last time."
"Because she asked him to," Kitty answered. "But if you ask Rogue, she isn't even thinking about it and could care less if he writes or not."
"Which is exactly why she runs out of here like she's about to cry every time they pass out the mail," Jubilee said, rolling her eyes.
"Hmm…Denial—not good," St. John said.
"More like saving face, I think," Kitty said. "She wants to believe that Logan will be there for her, but rationally she knows he's unreliable, so she acts like it doesn't bother her in order to keep us from looking badly on her."
"Why thank you for the insight there, Dr. Laura," Jubilee muttered.
Kitty just stuck her tongue out at her.
"Maybe one of you girls should go talk to Rogue," Bobby suggested.
Jubilee shrugged. "Tried that. She just acts like nothing's wrong and then shuts off from the conversation completely, turning on the radio or television or something."
"I can't believe he does this to her!" Bobby exclaimed, slamming his fist into the table. The others turned to look at him, surprised by his uncharacteristic display of anger. "She's obviously crazy about him, and he doesn't even care! He just strings her along until he gets bored here and runs off. I mean, if he doesn't want her, he could at least have the decency to tell her, instead of just allowing those notions of how whatever they have can someday grow into love stay in her head!"
"Maybe he doesn't realize she cares for him as deeply as she does," Kitty said, trying, as always, to be positive.
"How can he not notice?" Bobby asked. "Damn, she might as well be wearing a neon sign that says 'I worship the ground Wolverine walks on!'"
"Well, in his defense, I don't think he's exactly the most observant person in the world when it comes to things like that," Kitty said. "And he hasn't spent quite as much time with Rogue as we have, either."
Bobby sighed. "That's my point, Katherine."
"She's young," Kitty said. "He's her first serious crush, and Rogue is the Princess of Angst. Eventually, she'll get tired of wallowing in the pain he causes her and move on to pursue a more realistic relationship."
"I wish she'd hurry up on that last part," Bobby grumbled.
Kitty put her hand on his shoulder. "Look, Drake, I know how crazy about Rogue you are, but what she really needs out of you right now is friendship. Her being able to control her powers has thrown her for more of a loop than you realize, and Logan coming back and then running off again hasn't helped to clear her head any. So just chill out for a while—no pun intended—and let her figure out what's best for her on her own."
"I will," Bobby said. "I just keep wishing she'll just turn to me and tell me that I'm what's best for her."
Kitty looked up as a new person entered the room. She sighed. "I know exactly what you mean, Bobby."
"Uh-oh, it's Peter. Well, that's it folks, we've lost Kitty," St. John said.
Jubilee snickered. "Yep. Lost her in the maze that is his rippling pectorals. Hey Kit, I think that's drool on your chin."
Kitty glared at her. "Leave me alone. I can't help that I'm in the presence of a god!"
Jubilee rolled her eyes. "Oh whatever. And if you're so nuts about him, why don't you just go talk to him?"
Kitty paled at the suggestion. "I can't do that! What if he doesn't want to talk to me?"
"Probably wouldn't even see you, since you come up to what, his kneecaps?" St. John said. Jubilee kicked him under the table. "Ow!"
"Behave, Johnny." Jubilee turned back over to Kitty. "Really, just go up and say hi. There's no real risk in that. I mean, he does know who you are and all."
Some color began to return to Kitty's face in the form of a blush. "I…I would make an idiot of myself, I know I would!"
Jubilee put her arm around Kitty. "Aw, C'mon, Girl, you make an idiot of yourself in front of us all the time and we still love you!"
Kitty laughed a little. "Somehow, I find that comforting."
"Does that mean you're gonna talk to him?"
"Nope."
Jubilee sighed. "You're worse than Rogue."
Kitty turned around to continue her wistful gazing.
*** *** ***
I used to think maybe you loved me, now baby I'm sure
And I just can't wait till the day when you knock on my door
Now every time I go for the mailbox, gotta hold myself down
'Cause I just can't wait till you write me you're comin' around
Rogue turned over in her bed and pulled a pillow over her head, trying to tune out Jubilee who, in her unexplained obsession with eighties music, was singing loudly along with a CD she'd just burned.
Now I'm walking on sunshine
I'm walking on sunshine
I'm walking on sunshine
And don't it feel good
Hey! All right now
And don't it feel good
Hey! Yeah!
Rogue let out a muffled whimper into the pillow, doing her best to convince herself that it was the cheeriness of the song at a time when she wanted to be anything but cheery that was annoying her, not that she was actually becoming jealous of whomever it was who was going to get a letter that told her the man of her dreams was coming home.
I used to think maybe you loved me, now I know that it's true
And I don't wanna spend my whole life just a waitin' for you
Now don't want you back for the weekend, not back for a day
I said baby I just want you back and I want you to stay
I'm walkin' on sunshine
I'm walkin' on sunshine
I'm walkin' on sunshine And don't it feel good…
"Ah!" Rogue sat up. "Could ya turn that crap off?!"
Jubilee turned around, looking offended. "Katrina and the Waves is not crap!"
"That evil song is!"
Jubilee cocked an eyebrow. "Don't tell me that reminded you of Logan."
Rogue flopped back on the bed. "Everything reminds me of Logan."
"Now that's just sad."
"Tell me about it."
Jubilee sat down on the edge of her own bed. "You can't keep doing this."
"Doing what?"
"Brooding over that asshole."
Rogue glared at her. "Logan is not an asshole."
Jubilee snorted. "Coulda fooled me."
Rogue crossed her arms over her chest and pouted. "You don't know 'im like I do, Jubes."
"Maybe not, but I do know that he's must be a self-centered prick for making my best friend cry."
"I'm not cryin'."
"Not right now."
Rogue sat back up and drew her knees up to her chin. "You don't understand. Logan's a part of me. Literally. I can't just push that all away. And whether he treats me the way he probably should, or even realizes that I care about him as much as I do or not, I don't care. I'm willin' to suffer for an eternity if it means I get to spend even a moment with him."
Jubilee sighed. "You need help."
Rogue looked down and forced back tears. "I know."
"Look, how about me an' you an' Kitty go out on the town tonight? It's Saturday, so we don't have any classes tomorrow and a girls' night out could be just what you need."
Rogue sighed. "I…I don't know…I think I'd rather just stay home and…"
"And what? Brood? Stare at his dogtags and wish you were holding him instead? Watch sappy romantic comedies and drown your sorrows in a pint of Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia? What Rogue? What's a better way to spend your night?"
"I like Phish Food," Rogue said. "You're the one that likes Cherry Garcia."
Jubilee smiled. "Right. So come on, go out with us. There is fun out there that doesn't involve Logan."
"Maybe."
"You know there is. We used to have it all the time before he came back here and crushed your heart yet again."
Rogue sighed again. "I know." She looked up. "All right, I'll go with y'all."
Jubilee grinned. "Great! We'll leave, say, seven-thirtyish?"
"Fine. I'll try to be ready."
Jubilee shook her head. "No. Try not. Do or kick your ass, I will. There is no try."
Rogue laughed. "All right then, Yoda-lee."
"You'll be ready to go then?"
"Yep."
"Cool. I'm gonna go warn Kitty that she'll be clubbin', 'kay?"
"Sure."
"And stop the angst-fest! You're gonna have fun tonight whether you like it or not!"
Rogue gave her a mock-salute. "Yes, Master!"
Jubilee gave an exaggerated grin before going off to find Kitty.
*** *** ***
He pushed me 'round, now I'm drawin' the lineHe lived his life, now I'm gonna go live mine
I'm sick of wastin' my time
Well now, I've been good for way too long
Found my red dress, and I'm gonna throw it on
'Bout to get too far gone
Praise the Lord, and pass the ammunition
Need a little bit more of my twelve-ounce nutrition
One more helpin' of what I've been havin'
I'm takin' my turn on the sin wagon
On a mission to make somethin' happen
Feel like Delilah lookin' for Sampson
Do a little mattress dancin'
That's right, I said mattress dancin'
Jubilee covered her ears and whimpered. "Why didn't anyone warn me it was country and western night?" she cried.
Kitty giggled. "I figured you knew. It is the third Saturday of the month."
"So that's why this is usually our stay at home and eat pizza while torturing Johnny and Bobby night?" Jubilee asked, looking as pitiful as possible.
"Yup," Kitty replied.
"Let's go home," Jubilee whined. "This music—for lack of a better word—is torture!"
"It's the Dixie Chicks," Rogue told her.
"Like I said: Torture."
Rogue took hold of Jubilee's arm and started dragging her towards the dance floor. "You said you wanted me to come out and have a good time, and now here we are. Besides, we already paid the cover charge."
"Which was entirely too much. I mean, why should we have to shell out the big bucks just because we fall in the category of 'over eighteen, under twenty-one?'" Jubilee asked, resuming the rant she had begun before she realized she was being assaulted with country music.
"I guess they figure they have to do something to have us make up for the fact that we'll be forced to drink Cokes all night," Kitty said, following the other two.
Jubilee planted her feet firmly on the ground right before they reached the dance floor. "Uh-uh, Roguie. I am not dancin' to this."
"Oh, c'mon Jubes. I'll teach ya how to two-step!"
Jubilee glared at her. "I shoulda known you'd like this, Miss Mississippi."
"Well Ah guess Ah jus' can't hide mah roots," Rogue said, exaggerating her accent.
Jubilee rolled her eyes. "Oh, Brother."
"Hey, it's the fastest way to get me to stop thinkin' about Logan…"
Jubilee shook her head. "The things I do for you…"
Praise the Lord, and pass the ammunitionNeed a little bit more of what I've been missin'
I don't know where I'll be crashin'
But I'm arrivin' on a sin wagon
When it's my turn to march up to glory
I'm gonna have one hell of a story
That's if he forgives me
Oh Lord, please forgive me
Praise the Lord, and pass the ammunition
Need a little bit more of that sweet salvation
They may take me with my feet draggin'
But I'll fly away on a sin wagon
*** *** ***
All the eyes in the club were on Rogue that night, and she had to admit she was loving it. She'd dance with one guy until she wore him out, then she'd move on to someone else. And when it was time for the club to close, she didn't want to go.
Rogue was giggling as she, Kitty, and Jubilee walked out to their car. "Wow, I can't believe I had such a good time!" she exclaimed. "And I didn't even think about Logan once!"
Jubilee and Kitty broke out into a round of applause.
"And how many guys hit on you exactly tonight?" Jubilee asked.
"I lost count."
"I still can't believe you actually gave some of them your phone number."
Rogue laughed. "Nah, I gave them Jenny's number."
Kitty was confused. "Huh? Who's Jenny?"
"867-5309."
Kitty's expression was blank. "I still don't get it."
Jubilee and Rogue looked at each other and broke into song:
"Jenny I got your number
I need to make you mine
Jenny, don't change your number.
Eight six seven five three oh nine!"
Kitty shook her head. "Oh God."
"I got it!"
"I got it!"
"I got your number on the wall!"
"I got it!"
"I got it!"
"For a good time"
"For a good time call!"
"Please! No more!" Kitty yelled.
Rogue and Jubilee stopped singing and began to laugh hysterically. "And you thought my love for eighties music would never come in handy," Jubilee said, slinging her arm around Rogue's shoulder.
Rogue smiled at her. "Well Gal, you won't hear me sayin' this often, but I was wrong."
*** *** ***
As the months rolled by, Rogue found that she was actually able to push thoughts of Logan out of her mind for long periods of time—days even. She still wore his tags, but she didn't constantly dwell on their heavy feeling around her neck, and she often forgot they were there completely. When she did think of Logan now, she found that she could smile, knowing that he had promised he'd come back and eventually, he would.
"Chips?"
"Check."
"Pretzels?"
"Check."
"Popcorn?"
"Check."
"Artificially flavored cheese snack?"
"Check."
"Coke?"
"Check."
"Twinkies?"
"Oh gawd, Jubes, do we have to have Twinkies?"
"It's movie night, Rogue. Of course we have to have Twinkies!"
Rogue sighed. "But I never want to see another Twinkie as long as I live! Bobby keeps putting them in my room, in my purse, and anywhere else he thinks I might be surprised to find a Twinkie!"
Jubilee snickered. "Aw, you know you don't mind, Twinkie Mama!"
"Would you stop callin' me that!"
"So do we have Twinkies or not?"
Rogue groaned. "Yeah, we've got Twinkies."
"Good," Jubilee said with her normal, mischievous grin. "Then we should be set."
Rogue slumped back onto the couch, content just to be able to spend time with the people who she cared about the most.
All was right with the world.
*** *** ***
"Hey, Marie—Kid, wake up."
Marie slowly opened her eyes, then bolted up. "Logan! What are you doing here?" she hissed.
"Shh," Logan scolded her in a harsh whisper. "You'll wake up your roommates."
Marie brought her voice down, then asked again. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm back."
"I noticed that. I mean, what are you doing here—in my room."
"I didn't want to wait until tomorrow to see you. I missed ya."
Marie rolled her eyes. "Really? Coulda fooled me."
Logan looked almost guilty. "Look Marie, I'm sorry I didn't write you, it's just that I'm not very good at that sorta thing."
Marie sighed. "That's all right, really. It's not like I sat around waiting to hear from you or anything."
"I didn't think ya would."
"Logan, I'm glad you're home, but I'm really tired. Can I go back to sleep and talk to ya in the mornin'?"
"Sure Kid."
Marie laid back down. "Night, Logan."
He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. "Night, Marie."
"Night, Logan."
He crept out of her room without ever waking Jubilee or Kitty.
*** *** ***
Marie woke up in a good mood that, at first, she couldn't quite explain. Then she remembered—Logan. He was back. Her lips curled up in a smile for a moment, and then down into a frown. What if it had been a dream? She'd had plenty of dreams where Logan came home, but none of them had seemed quite as vivid as what had happened the night before. Still, she had to go out and make sure as quickly as possible.
Marie climbed out of bed and began rummaging through her closet, trying to find something to wear. Suddenly, with the prospect of being able to see Logan looming over her, nothing seemed to be good enough. She finally gave up and settled for jeans and a form-fitting T-shirt.
She was putting on her make-up when Jubilee woke up. "Where you goin'?" she asked groggily.
"Downstairs."
"You're puttin' on make-up to go downstairs?"
Rogue blushed. "Logan's back."
Jubilee flopped down on her bed. "And how do we spell pitiful? R-O-G-U-E." She got quiet for a second then rolled over to face Rogue. "How do you know he's back?"
"He came in here last night," Rogue explained.
"I didn't hear him."
"He was real quiet."
"Sure you didn't dream it?"
Rogue sighed. "Yeah, I'm sure. Look, I gotta go try to find him. See ya later."
Jubilee closed her eyes again. "Have fun. Hope he's really back."
"No you don't."
Jubilee smiled. "Okay, maybe I don't. But he makes you happy sometimes."
"Yeah, he does. Sometimes."
*** *** ***
After searching the mansion, Marie was beginning to worry. What if he hadn't come back, if it had been just a dream? What if he had come back, but then turned around and left again? Could she handle that? She'd thought she'd been learning how to get along without him, but now, thinking how she might have had him again but then lost him so quickly, she wasn't sure.
"Hey, Kid."
Marie stopped short and felt her breath still. That was him—his voice. He was back. She forced herself to calm down before she turned around to face him. "Hey, Logan," she said, trying to pass the greeting off as nonchalant.
"Sorry that I woke ya up last night. I didn't realize how late I was gettin' back, and I didn't want to have to wait until this mornin' to let you know I'm here."
Rogue shrugged. "That's all right. It didn't bother me that ya woke me up."
"Still wearin' my tags, I see."
"Yeah. Ya told me to wear 'em, didn't ya?"
Logan was put slightly aback by her aloof attitude. "Told ya to take care of 'em. You don't have to wear 'em if ya don't wanna."
Rogue shrugged again.
"Don't I even get a hug?" Logan asked, her cold greeting unnerving him. Had he missed something since he'd left last?
Marie tentatively approached him and wrapped her arms around him. He pulled her closer, and she melted. "I missed you, Kid," he murmured into her hair.
Marie rested her head on his shoulder. "I missed you, too," she said, her voice almost a sigh.
Logan pulled away. "What have you been up to?'
"Oh, the usual. School mainly. You?"
"The usual. Cage fightin' mainly."
Marie giggled. "You haven't stopped doin' that yet?"
"Nah, it's good money. And it's not like I'm gonna get hurt or anything."
Marie rolled her eyes. "Of course not. Nothin' can touch 'The King of the Cage—The Wolverine.'"
"Watch it, Kid," Logan said, his smile playful.
"Or what?"
"I'll have to punish you."
"I'm scared."
Wolverine growled, then grabbed her and started to tickle her mercilessly. Marie struggled for a few moments, laughing, until she finally shouted. "All right, All right! You win! Cage fightin' is a perfectly respectable profession and you're great at it!"
Logan chuckled and let her go. "Now I wouldn't go as far as to call it 'respectable.'"
"I was only placatin' ya anyway."
"I figured."
Marie smiled at Logan, hoping more than anything that maybe this time he'd be back for good.
*** *** ***
Marie was on her way to the dining hall when Logan stopped her. "Hey, Kid, why don't you skip dinner here and come out with me instead."
Marie stopped and looked at him. "I don't know…I mean, I can't exactly just wander off from…"
"I already cleared it with Chuck."
Marie frowned. "I'm hungry."
"I'll feed you."
Marie sighed. "Let me get my jacket."
"Meet me in the garage in five minutes."
Marie glanced back towards the dining hall one last time before running upstairs.
*** *** ***
Rogue almost ran into Jubilee and Kitty on her way to her room. "Woah, Girl, slow down there!" Jubilee said as Rogue came to a halt. "Where ya goin' in such a hurry?"
"Out."
"Out? Out's that way," Jubilee said, pointing to the direction of the front entrance to the mansion. "Besides, it's dinner time."
"I'm skippin' dinner. I just need to get something from the room."
"What do you mean you're skipping dinner?" Kitty asked. "You're not developing some type of eating disorder are you? Those are practically and epidemic among girls our age, you know."
Rogue snorted. "Me? Eating disorder? Not hardly. I'm going to eat somewhere else."
"Alone?" Jubilee asked skeptically.
"Um, probably not."
"You goin' with Logan?"
"Dammit, Jubes, leave me alone about him, okay!"
Jubilee held her hands up in front of her. "Hey, don't get bitchy on me. I just asked if you're goin' with the guy or not."
"Yeah, I'm goin' with him. Now if you don't mind, I'm in a hurry."
Rogue was just about to run off when Bobby and St. John came down the hall. "Evening, Ladies," Bobby said. He looked over at Jubilee. "And you."
She stuck her tongue out. Bobby laughed and said, "Well, maybe I was wrong. That was quite lady-like of you."
"Go to Hell, Drake."
Bobby shook his head. "No thanks, I'd melt."
Rogue was about to use their banter as cover to sneak past them, when St. John noticed her. "Where are you going, Rogue?" he asked.
"Uh, my room."
"Skipping dinner?"
"She's going out with Wolverine," Jubilee said.
Bobby whipped his head around to look at Rogue. "Is she serious?" he asked.
"Yeah. Got a problem with it?"
"Actually, yes, I do," Bobby said. "The last time he left he left you in tears and then he didn't even bother to write you the whole time he was gone. You were devastated, and now that you've just started getting over it you're gonna let him do it to you all over again."
Rogue planted her fists on her hips. "Logan's my friend. I can go out with him if I want."
"Friend? Yeah, right. You're just dying to give him a chance to get back in your life and break your heart all over again so you can go back to being poor, pitiful, untouchable Rogue."
Rogue's jaw dropped. "How dare you! You're just jealous because I care about Logan more than I ever will about you." She pushed past Kitty and Jubilee and went into her room, slamming the door.
"Real smooth there, Bobby," St. John said once Rogue was gone.
"Yeah, like she needed something to upset her more," Kitty added.
Bobby ran his hand through his hair. "I…I didn't mean it, really. It just came out. Should I go talk to her and try to patch things up?"
Jubilee shook her head. "I wouldn't. She's not going to be in the mood to listen to you right now. I'd give her a little time to cool down."
Bobby looked back at the closed door. "Yeah, you're probably right." He started walking towards the dining hall and the others silently followed.
*** *** ***
Logan was leaning up against Scott's motorcycle, smoking a cigar when Marie got down to the garage.
"You're late."
"Sorry. I got ambushed."
Logan tossed her a helmet. "Get on."
Marie nodded and put on the helmet. She'd never ridden a motorcycle before, but she had enough of Logan's memories that she figured she could even drive the thing if she needed to. "Where we goin'?"
"A place in town."
"Do I get any more of a description than that?"
"Nope."
"You said there's food, right?"
"You really are hungry, ain't ya, Kid?"
"I missed lunch lookin' for you."
Logan looked surprised for a second, but soon fell back into his apathetic stance. "I'll feed ya. Just get on the bike."
Marie climbed on the motorcycle behind Wolverine. "I'm glad you're back, Logan," she said before he started the engine.
"Yeah, Kid, so am I."
*** *** ***
He took her to a bar. It was dark and smoky, but the food was surprisingly good and it reminded her of the first time they'd met. "Can I at least have somethin' else to drink?" Rogue after they'd eaten.
"You're stickin' with water."
Marie sighed. "I want a beer."
"You're too young."
"It's your personality that wants one, Logan."
"Don't pull that on me. You're nineteen. You don't need to be drinkin'."
"I'm not a kid."
"Yes you are."
Marie rested her chin in her hands and sulked. "So why did you bring me here anyway? I could sit around and not drink at the mansion."
Logan frowned. "I wanted to spend a little time with ya. Talk to ya some, see how you've been."
"We could've done that at the mansion, too."
"That place makes me feel trapped, Marie."
"Why?"
"I don't know, just the whole atmosphere. Makes me feel like I'm in a cage."
Marie gave him a wry smile. "And all this time I thought you liked cages."
"Not that kind."
"There are people there that care about you, Logan. People that honestly want you around and who don't like it when you're gone. People who you mean something to. You won't find that in any of those other cages."
Defiance shone in his eyes. "Maybe I don't need that."
Rogue met his gaze. "Maybe you do."
Marie was the first one to break the silence that followed. "If it makes you feel so trapped, Logan, then why do you come back?"
He let the question roll off him. "Make sure you guys don't get to use to not havin' me around. Keep Scooter on his toes some, too."
Marie bristled at his answer, wishing more than anything that he'd said he came back for her. "Gotta make sure you're takin' care of those tags, too," Logan added after a moment. Marie relaxed and smiled at him.
"So why did you go up to Canada this time?" Marie asked.
"Had some stuff I had to do."
"The Professor uncovered more leads?"
"Yeah."
"Any luck."
"Not really."
"Tell me about it?"
Logan took a drink from his beer. "It's nothin' you need to know, Kid."
"But I want to know, Logan," Marie said.
"Well you don't need to!"
His tone was sharper than he meant for it to be, and he could see the tears forming in Marie's eyes. He reached out across the table, but didn't actually touch her. "Look, I'm sorry Marie, I didn't mean for that to sound the way it did."
Marie stood up from the booth. "It doesn't matter!" she yelled. "You don't want to let me know anything about you! You don't even care about me!"
She ran out of the bar, leaving Logan alone at the booth, stunned.
*** *** ***
Marie was waking outside the bar towards she didn't even know where. All she knew was she wanted away from Logan. Tears were streaming down her cheeks, and the cool night air was chilling them on her face.
"Kid…" Logan's hand clamped down on her shoulder and Marie wrenched herself free.
"I didn't want you to follow me."
"Well I couldn't exactly just let ya come out here by yourself. It's cold and dark and we ain't exactly in the best part of town."
Marie sank down on the curb at the edge of the parking lot and began to sob. Logan sat beside her. "What's wrong, Marie?"
"You don't know?"
"No, I don't."
Marie looked up at him and the sight of her tear-streaked face made him wince. "You don't care about me," she said softly.
"That's what you said back in the bar, but I don't know why you think that," Logan said. "It isn't true."
Marie started crying harder. "You're always leavin' me and when ya do, ya can't even write or call or anythin' to let me know you still exist—that you know I exist. And you don't even come back for me. You come back for your damn dogtags!" To emphasize her point she took them off and threw them on the ground.
Logan stared at the tags, dumbfounded. "Marie…I had no idea. I'm…I'm sorry."
Marie looked up at him. She knew an apology from the Wolverine didn't come easily. He looked into her eyes. They were timid, expecting. He picked up the dogtags and put them back in her hand. "I do care about you," he said. "And I don't just come back for these. I come back for you, too. You're the best thing that ever happened to me, Marie. Whenever things seem too dark, like I'm not gonna make it, I think of you, your smile, and I know I'm gonna be all right."
Soft tears fell from her eyes, and Logan wiped them away. "You said you'd protect me, Logan," she said. "How can you protect me when you're always gone?"
Logan wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him. "I'm never gonna stop protectin' you, Marie. Even when I'm gone, I'd always come back if you needed me. But you're safe at Xavier's. There are plenty of people there t'make sure you're safe."
Marie relished the warmth and strength of him so close to her. "But none of them are you, Logan."
Logan kissed the top of her head. "I know, Darlin', but sometimes less than what you want has to be enough."
*** *** ***
To be continued…