Disclaimer: Still not mine.  Don't sue me, I'm not worth the time.

Winter had come to Westchester, keeping everyone cooped inside - except, of course, Wolverine, who either didn't care about the cold, or pretended he didn't care – either way,  it suited Ororo just fine.  Having Logan around all the time was… confusing.  One second he'd be flirting with her, in the best of moods, the next, he'd get mad, destroy part of the mansion, and then disappear for a few days.

He never had a scratch on him when he returned, but that didn't fool her.  She'd tried asking around at the Freak-House (they went there every Friday that Logan wasn't in a pissy mood – Scott had given up on the Saturday early morning practice), but even his friends there didn't know where it was he went.

"Wolverine can take care of himself." was Ink's view.

Lately, he'd taken to running off into the woods that surrounded the mansion – which was quite possibly why he and Scott hadn't come to blows yet.

Although given the argument currently raging, that particular lucky streak was about to end.

"…irresponsible, endangering the lives of the children like that…"
 "Take the stick outta your ass, Summers.  The kid's gonna be fine."

"What happened?" she asked Jean, who slipped onto the couch beside her.

"Logan's been teaching some of the kids after hours, – street fighting, dirty stuff." Jean sighed.  "Bobby apparently made a mistake this afternoon, ended up with a cut from knee to hip from one of Logan's claws.  He'll be alright…"

"But Scott and Logan may never be whole of temper again" joked Ororo, turning her attention back to the fight

"…did you think you were doing?"

"Teaching 'em."
 "We have self defense classes already, Wolverine.  Ones in which the students don't get sliced up!"

"Can it, Cyke.  I wasn't teaching 'em self defense, bub.  I was teaching 'em how to kill."

Oh Goddess.

That left even Scott speechless for a few seconds.

"They're children, Logan." chided Jean.  "There's no need for that kind of…"

"They're not kids, Red.  They're mutants."

"That shouldn't make a difference."

"So ya keep saying, Red, but they aint got time fer that.  Half the world wants to destroy 'em, and when the war comes, I'm gonna make sure they're ready."

"So that's why you hang around here?" asked Scott.  "Trying to turn the Institute into some training ground for little assassins?"

"No.  That's not why I 'hang around'."

"What, then.  Why don't you just do us all a favor and piss off back to Canada?"

"None of ya business, bub."

But when he said it, he looked straight at Storm, and something in his eyes made her blush and shiver at the same time.

Cyclops followed his line of sight, and scowled.  "You're staying around so you can try to get a leg over?"

If Wolverine had had his claws out, the blow would have probably killed Scott.  As it was, he went flying across the room, crashing into the entertainment centre.

"No.  I stay here because I'm in love with her."

Jean opened the back door before he could cut his way through it, and he disappeared out into the cold. 

"Go on, Storm.  I'll take care of Mr Tactless here."

Ororo nodded, heading out after her friend.

Jean closed the door after her with a look, then headed over to Scott.

~One thing about having Logan about, it certainly keeps me busy in the infirmary.~

When Kurt woke up, Rogue was long gone.  He knew without looking where she would be – out in the fields, even in this cold, doing her morning exercises.  Last night she'd stayed until he slept, but then, no doubt, she'd slipped back to her own bed.

Her hard won control didn't work when she was unconscious.  Sleeping, she would be more dangerous to him than she could ever be awake.  It put an artificial barrier between them – and he knew it dwelt heavily on Rogue's mind.

~Mein Gott, you test me still.~

Her 'exercises' were three hours in the morning, two in the evening; and even still, she didn't always trust herself.  Ja, they had lots of 'practice', and it was wonderful.  Kurt had never expected to find love, and he thanked God for her every day.

It was the other things that bothered him.  She avoided contact – holding hands, snuggling.  When Violet and Sword cuddled on the couch during the Friday night late movie – a Way tradition – Kurt and Rogue sat apart, because Rogue was afraid she'd grow sleepy during the movie and lose control.  When she went with the others to the local farmers market, he knew that she still wore gloves, afraid of what her powers could do, among so many people.

He sighed, and headed downstairs.   Couldn't think on an empty stomach.

~One way or another, I will help you to trust yourself.~

Logan was crouched in a clearing some ways into the woods.  Ororo hadn't had much trouble following him – there had been a clear path of broken branches and tree trunks marked by claws.

He looked up at her as she approached.

"Whadda ya want?"

"Can we talk, Logan?"

"Not in the mood."

"Logan…"

"Save it, 'Ro".  His eyes were suddenly darker, feral.  "I have no illusions about what I am.  I am not a good man.  I am not a thing worth saving.  I am not a creature worthy of your love."  He rubbed his thumb, perhaps unconsciously, over his knuckles.

"I just didn't need some boy rubbing it in my face."

He stood up and turned away, stalking out of the clearing.

~Oh, for heavens sake.~

She grabbed him by the shoulder before he could leave.

"Now it is my turn to talk.  You are irritating, reckless and rude, and half the time I don't know why I put up with you.  But you are a good man, you don't need saving, and whether or not you are worthy of my love…"

The kiss was soft, sweet, and over far too quickly.  Wolverine stood there gaping at her while she continued.

"That is yet to be seen.  But if you ever grow up and decide you want to find out… you know where I'll be."

A/N:  Review!  Coming up next: much evilness and Ororo/Remy.