Chapter 16

After all of the hullaballoo the job Victor and Logan had been hired for turned out to be pretty simple. It was however, something only they or someone very like them could do and if their employer's competitor had succeeded in taking Marie… well, the job wouldn't have gotten done.

She'd lost count of the towns they'd been through. And they'd crossed back over the border after Calgary into Montana. Victor and Logan had a cabin and a small (by Montana standards) ranch relatively near (again by Montana standards) Bozeman.

The town was big enough that it boasted more than a few 'gentlemen's clubs' and she found work easily enough. Pale skin was more the norm up north, with the short days and long nights of winter.

"Should be in this area for a good two months," Logan told her as they carried her things into the cabin. Marie had been given the duffle bags to take in while Victor made sure that the cabin's power and heat were working. The old wood burning stove served as a secondary heater and the generator in a well-ventilated shed would provide power in an outage. Marie found herself staring out the window at the mountains. She'd never seen mountains like these.

"It's beautiful," She smiled as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her head.

"Got a few jobs in the area, enough that it's worth it to stay in one centralized place," Victor told her as he came in the door and shut it firmly behind him. "Figured you'd like a rest from the traveling."

"I would," She admitted. "I know the two of you don't really want to involve me in your jobs if you can help it. But when we're running from town to town I tend to feel more than a little useless."

"You're never useless," Victor nudged his brother and Logan took one side of her while Victor took the other. "Marie, this is the longest Jimmy and I have ever gone without getting into a fight that doesn't end until one of us is dead or damn close to it."

"It ain't natural for two alphas to share territory," Logan reminded her. "Vic an' I, we're pretty equally matched and we butt heads a lot when it's just us."

"Hell, we'd had a knock down, drag out, a couple days before we found you," Victor chuckled. "We were both makin' more of an effort, because neither of us wanted to strike out alone again…but it wasn't easy for us either."

"You balance us Marie," Logan's hand stroked through the long locks of her hair. "You ease us."

"We can share you because you love us both equally," Victor pressed his lips to her neck. "We can co-exist because it's for you."

"We've never been able to stay together for more than a year or two before this, not since I was a kid," His brother added. "When we were at war, that was different, it gave us something to think about beside the alpha in our territory. Defending from outsiders united us."

"But even then," Victor's voice had gone rough and pained. "Because of what I am, it was easy for me to go…sideways."

"Too much of one thing or the other honey," Marie glanced up at him and he nodded.

"It's how it's so easy for me to torture someone," His voice evened out, flat, defenses up. "How I can just lick the blood off my claws and go on my way after a fight."

"If you weren't like that honey, would you and Logan have survived after his step daddy was killed," She wouldn't give him outright sympathy. He hated to feel weak and that's what sympathy would do to him. But a careful question, reminding him of why he'd made those choices, why it was so easy for him to get so far gone… That would ease his tension. Taking his hand and sucking on the clawed tips of his fingers reminded him that she loved all of him.

"Jimmy, I think it's time we broke in the bedroom," Victor growled.

"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea," Logan smirked down at her.

She hadn't looked around the bedroom much when she'd dropped their bags there. And truthfully, she wasn't paying much attention now either. Logan and Victor could be quite the distraction, skillfully undressing her with kisses and caresses to each inch of revealed skin. Their own clothing ended up on the floor and Marie moaned as Logan's mouth drifted over her skin, down her spine to the small of her back while Victor devoured her mouth, hands squeezing her hips.

And then Victor stepped back leaving her hungering for his touch, "Jimmy, put her up on the bed." Oh… those grey eyes, dark with lust, brightening to gold, "We're gonna take turns with her today."

Logan's chuckle teased her skin as he slid his hands up her legs and stood behind her, "In mind to direct or take direction Vic?"

Wickedly mischievous her man smiled, "Why don't we start with you tellin' me."

Logan's mouth, pressing a kiss to her shoulder, and a big hand squeezing her ass, "Put her on the bed, and put the cuffs on her. If we're gonna play with her let's do it right."

"Want her cuffed to the headboard," Victor pulled the cuffs out of Logan's bag, along with the length of chain that allowed them to move her in any direction.

"Yeah," Logan angled the wingback chair towards the bed and took a seat, smirking at her as she shivered. The man could get her wet with a look and he knew it. Victor's hands on her waist, picking her up and setting her onto the bed, wrapping the leather padded steel cuffs around her wrists. The steel chain was clipped to the rail over the upholstered headboard and Marie shivered again as Victor's hands trailed down her neck and stroked the mark he'd left there. "She looks so damn good."

"The most beautiful woman in the whole damn world," Victor agreed and those hot eyes sent another tremble of need over her skin. "Love how wet she gets for us, just from this."

"Those gorgeous tits all taut and begging," Logan growled. "Suck on her tits Vic, she looks like she needs it." And Victor's mouth dropped to her breasts, sucking one and kneading the other with his palm, plucking the tight tip with his fingers. Marie couldn't stop her moan, shuddering under his mouth. "Fuck, I can smell you darlin', gettin' so wet for us."

"Can't get over how good her skin tastes," Victor growled against her breast. "Soft and sweet for us baby."

"Unghh…god…ohgod…" She couldn't clutch at his shoulders or hair, her hands pulled over her head, stretching her out for him to feast on. "Victor…honey…please…please…"

"Sounds like she wants a good hard fuck," Logan drawled. "I don't think she's ready for it yet though." Victor's mouth moved, back and forth between her breasts, sucking harder as Logan decided what his brother would do with her. "Put her up on her knees, get her hands on the rail and make her ride your face Vic."

"Fuck yes," Victor was quick to get her into position, hands on her ass and hips, holding her over his mouth. "Play with her clit or tongue fuck her Jimmy?"

"Both," Logan ordered, a lazy hand stroking up and down his cock. Marie mewled watching that. They'd never done this before, only one with her while the other watched and directed. Exciting and strange both.

And then she lost all track of her thoughts as Victor's mouth went to work on her clit and pussy. Hot, sucking lips around her clit, the tip of his tongue flicking the sensitive bud until all she could do was gasp for breath and beg for release. He held it out of her reach, releasing her clit and thrusting his tongue deep into her, groaning and growling his pleasure as he ate her.

"So pretty, riding his mouth, begging to come," Logan told her conversationally. "You really oughta come while he fucks you with his tongue. Give that gorgeous ass a smack Vic, get her ready to be fucked good."

Victor could be an exceptional multi-tasker when he chose, and the hard palm of his hand, squeezing, rubbing and then coming down hard on her pale cheek sent a bloom of heat through her. "Oh god, ohgodohgodohgod!" Again and again, his palm came down on her ass, until she knew her skin was turning a bright red, until her entire body was quivering. Then he turned his attention back to her clit and she was lost, coming hard on his mouth with a scream as all that heat seemed to gather and explode through her.

"Goddamn," Logan cursed as he watched them. "Lick her up Vic, taste how wet she is now."

"Soaked my face," Victor had a smirk in his voice as he began to lick her mound, her thighs, teasingly licking up into her again before he fastened his lips around her clit once more.

"That's good… love hearing her beg, she looks so good, trying to ride your mouth," Her lover praised. "Sounds like she really needs a good fuck… want her ass or her pussy first?"

Victor lifted her off his mouth and pressed kisses to her thighs before he slid out from under her, "I want her ass first."

"You ready for that Marie," Logan looked at her. "You want his cock up your ass?"

"Yes, please…yes," She nodded with a moan. Hands bound she couldn't play with her tits, couldn't touch her clit, couldn't do anything but take what they gave her, when they gave it.

"Love how you beg baby," Victor had grabbed the condoms and lube, getting her slicked up.

"Present for him Marie," Logan ordered. "Spread nice and wide and know he's going to fuck your pretty ass so hard your tits bounce."

"Yes…please," God she needed it. Bending down and pressing her shoulders to the mattress, knees wide apart, exposing her flushed wet pussy to their gaze. The strange and wonderful sensation of Victor opening her, working her rosebud with skilled fingers. "Victor…please…"

"Fuck her Vic, nice and hard the second you think she can take it," Logan commanded, and she felt that thick blunt head pushing against her. Hot, hard, thick invading her ass in a long slow thrust as she wailed her pleasure for them.

"That's it," Victor squeezed her hips. "Love how good you take me sweetness. So tight and hot around my dick."

"Smack her ass, and give her a hard fuck," His brother instructed, and it began. Hot blows, stinging her cheeks, his cock fucking her ass relentlessly and she needed, needed…

"Fuck…fuck…Marie…" Victor's labored voice, hands tightening on her hips. "Can you come for me baby?"

"Come in her ass Vic, give it to her good," Logan encouraged. "Look how good she takes it." Hot, shuddering, tiny quakes of pleasure rolling over her, as Victor roared, emptying his balls into her ass, claws scraping her hips and she mewled, desperate for more. "Now fuck her pussy, she needs it so bad right now."

Victor hadn't actually waited for direction this time, she felt him leave her, discard the condom and that hot blunt cockhead rubbed against her pussy, pushing inside her with a long groan of pleasure as she gripped him tightly. "Unghh…Victor…ohgod…God!" She couldn't help it, it broke over her like a tsunami, leaving her gasping and shuddering in its wake.

"Fuck…baby so good," Victor praised. "Our beautiful mate, come for us again." Oh, that gorgeous cock, pounding into her, every stroke a shock of wonder as he pummeled her cervix. "I can feel you Marie, opening for me, like you want my cum in your womb."

"Do you," Logan growled the question. "You want Vic to pour his cum right into your womb? Over and over?"

"Yes…please yes," Marie rolled her hips back to her mate and begged shamelessly. "Please…please yes…don't stop… fuck me Victor…I need it honey, fill me up again and again."

"That's our good precious perfect mate," Logan's hand had gripped tight around his cock. "You're going to take all of his cum darlin'. Vic's going to fill you until you're dripping and then it's my turn."

Everything seemed to center around Victor's magnificent cock, each thrust stoking the fires hotter, until lava filled her veins, and she came…drawing him deeper and hearing his roar and the flood of his thick seed, filling her just as they'd promised. Again and again and again.

Until Logan growled, "Enough." And Victor slowed and stopped with a groan of frustration.

"Get over here Jimmy, she's not done," He growled at his brother and pulled away. "Lie on your back and pull her on top of you. I want to see her ride you. Her hips pounding into yours."

Logan didn't need any encouragement, kissing her hungrily as he arranged her so that Victor could see her body as she was fucked. "You need it hard Marie," He nearly snarled against her mouth.

"I do, please," She shuddered as she felt the impossible girth of his dick rubbing against her pussy. "Please Logan…fuck me…"

"Give it to her Jimmy," Victor ordered. "Pull her down onto you, slow and careful until she's used to you. You do it slow enough she'll come and just soak your cock."

Oh god she'd die of it, stretching, with painfully deliberate movements Logan controlled how she took his cock. She couldn't… it was too much, wouldn't stop building until she screamed, shaking in his grasp, bliss simply boiling through her and dimly felt him push farther, pull her down until their hips met and all she could do was take it.

Hands over her head, pulling her body taut as Logan began to move her on his dick, tight and aching for more already. The slap of flesh to flesh and her breasts swollen, tips wrinkled and stiff, bouncing as he fucked her. "That's it," Victor praised. "Fuck she looks so pretty. Fuck her good Jimmy. Come deep inside her."

"Unghh…" Logan ground into her, hot flood of cum shooting inside her and in another instant, hardened and he began bouncing her on his cock again. "So tight…fuck…Marie…"

"Oh…ohgod…" Her skin prickled with sensitivity, everything ached and she mewled for more.

"I said fuck her Jimmy, not dance with her," Victor snarled. "Put her on the edge of the bed and wrap her legs around your waist so you can fuck her harder."

The change in positions didn't take Logan long and when he rammed his cock home Marie screamed as she came around him. "Logan! Ohhh…oh god…please…"

"That's it. Give it to her Jimmy," Victor's orders continued. "She needs a good thoroughly fucked pussy before you finish in her ass."

Marie moaned as Logan took that as incentive, her entire body jolting with the power of his thrusts, feeling him come in her again, gripping him tightly with her legs as she pulled him deeper with her own orgasm. "Please…please sugar…give it to me," She begged and did her best to meet his thrusts. "Please..."

"Fuck her full once more Jimmy, then grab a condom and plow her pretty ass," His brother commanded and Logan snarled, his cock like a battering ram between her thighs.

She was sure she couldn't take anymore, couldn't come again, and Logan proved her wrong, bending down and sucking on her tits as he fucked her, "C'mon Marie, give it to me baby, let me hear you now." And her body simply obeyed, flooding around him with a cry of his name, feeling him fill her again as she trembled.

Empty for a moment until Logan's latex covered cock began to push into her ass. "Unghh…oh fuck…Logan…" She shuddered as she felt her body being forced open, stinging pleasure as she accommodated his dick.

"She's so tight," Logan groaned. "I won't last."

"Then you better make sure she comes when you do," Victor snarled. "Rub her clit, make her come Jimmy." It shouldn't have been perfect, but it was, the rough callused skin of her lover on that sensitive pearl of flesh and nerves. Back and forth, hot hard strokes that matched the pace of his prick and she couldn't help the panting whines in her throat as she got closer.

"She needs more," Logan growled. "Get over here and suck her tits Vic. She needs to come good this last time."

She loved their games, but she loved that she came before play. Victor's mouth, hot and wet, long deep pulls of her nipple, laved with the rough flat of his tongue. Logan's fingers on her clit and his cock battering her ass. "Oh god… please…yes…"

"That's it baby," Logan praised. "Come for us. Let me feel you clench around my dick."

Victor's fangs, scraping her skin, his claws pricking the flesh of her breast, the scent of her blood and she mewled. "I…ohgod! Ohgodohgod ohhh…God!" She arched up to Victor's mouth with a scream as she came in hard violent spasms and felt Logan empty himself into her one last time.

"Fuck," Victor groaned and kissed her, hungry still as he unlocked the cuffs from her wrists. "So beautiful baby."

"Got one more in you," Logan had to be smirking, she could hear it in his voice. "You know she don't feel right until we've both had her simultaneously."

"I always got another in me for her," Victor's matter of fact tones. "Does she?"

"Please honey," Marie mewled. "Fuck me full of your cum." Even now, it was as if their need fed hers. The healing she'd absorbed restoring some of her energy, enough for one more round at least.

"How can you say no to that Vic," Logan chuckled as he pulled out of her body to dispose of the condom.

"Can't," Victor chuckled and pulled her on top of him. "Ride me sweetness, while Jimmy gloves up again." So deep this way, feeling him push to the end of her, the give of her body around him, his palm on her spine, pulling her forward so he could suck on her breasts again.

"Logan," Marie mewled as she rolled her hips against Victor's. "Sugar give it to me…"

"C'mon Jimmy, get with the program," Victor smirked against her breast before he licked her nipple with the raspy flat of his tongue and she moaned for more.

And then perfection, Logan pushing into her again, standing between his brother's legs and giving her the pounding she needed. Victor's body pushing deeper and deeper. Logan's hand, pressing against her belly, his fingers stroking her clit. Harsh groans, growls, snarls of pleasure twining with her moans and cries and mewls of need. Harder and harder, the heat building in the three of them and she couldn't take anymore, she'd fly apart, split open with the ecstasy of it.

She screamed.

Victor had dropped her off at the club so she could get ready, and Logan was on some mysterious errand that Marie was pretty sure would result in some extravagant gift. The two of them would meet up for their job and come to the club afterwards. They'd already been in Bozeman for three weeks. Victor had said they might take a little time off in the second month so they could relax and enjoy the country without having wheels under them.

The last person Marie expected to see when she strutted out onstage was someone with red sunglasses sitting next to a woman whose hair matched the lenses in color. Dressed in clothing that (to her recently educated eyes) was either designer or very good knockoffs with glasses of untouched beer in front of them, they looked extremely out of place. Familiar, but out of place.

She knew them, had seen them before, a long time ago, and part of her just wished they'd go away (as in far far). Erik knew exactly who they were, for that matter so did Emma Frost and Gambit. What they were doing here she had no idea and no way to find out without revealing herself as a mutant. The redhead was Jean, a telekinetic telepath. And Marie took a moment to be grateful her mental walls were firmly in place. Honestly, with Emma Frost in her brain along with Evangeline (the first telepath she'd touched) her walls couldn't be anything else. With some luck neither of them would figure out who she was. Certainly no one would ever expect the sweet, shy, polite, Mississippi girl to strip for a living.

She couldn't risk a mental touch to either one of their minds, Jean would likely feel it and Summers might be experienced enough to know how a telepath rifling through his brain felt. But she could use some of the feral hearing she'd gotten from her men. Maybe they'd let slip why they were here.

The dance was an automatic routine, hands tucking bills into her costume hardly a concern anymore, all smiles and flirting, and she listened.

"You're sure that we'll find him here," Summers was asking. "I mean this particular club."

"This is where he said to meet," Jean nodded. Marie saw her glance around, her gaze skimming over Marie as she danced, "I don't understand the appeal of these…places."

"Male fantasy," Summers might have shrugged.

"Leering at cheap women," Jean seemed dubious.

"Pretending a woman is dancing just for them," He replied. His gaze when it fell upon Marie was more appreciative. Then he ruined it, "I can't say I'm surprised at the type of club though. It's not that far off from the bar we found him in the first time. It was a while back, but he flat out refused to leave for a less…disreputable pub. He didn't seem to appreciate the finer things or even care that there was something better. Somebody called him a swamp rat and he just laughed like it was a compliment. Cheap women and booze were more his speed."

Marie finished her dance and blew her audience a flirtatious kiss before she headed backstage. A quick change into her black chains outfit (another barely there excuse for a bra under it because this wasn't Vegas), complete with the collar from Logan and Victor along with the bubblegum pink wig and she was back on the floor.

Flirting and smiling and teasing had become second nature. By the time she'd worked her way around the club someone else was sitting at the table with Jean and Cyclops. Trailing her fingers over the back of the chair Marie looked down…into the eyes of Remy LeBeau. "Hellooo…" She drawled in her thickest southern accent. "I'm Magnolia…you want a dance sweetheart?"

His eyes widened but thankfully he didn't come out with her real name, "Magnolia, Remy, he is thrilled to see you again."

"Gambit, you know this…woman," Jean's voice had gone tight.

Marie giggled, "No need to be jealous Red." She trailed her fingers the shoulder of LeBeau's coat as if she'd like to take it off him. "You gonna be in town long sweetheart?"

"Remy, he is desolate to be leaving tomorrow, now that he see you here," The Cajun charmer thumped his hand under his shirt in imitation of a frantically beating heart.

"Stay long enough an' you'll see a few more old friends," Marie winked at him. "I'd best be gettin' on. Ya'll have a nice time now."

She swayed away and sent out mental feelers for Victor and Logan. Not far away now, and she sent them both the mental picture she had of LeBeau, Jean and Cyclops at the table in her club. A mental curse that she was pretty sure was echoed aloud from Logan and a snarl of distaste from Victor.

Well at least they were warned.

Logan and Victor had apparently decided to brazen it out, coming into the club just as she was beginning her second dance on stage. The familiar song rang through the speakers, and she smiled to see Logan hurry forward to get a seat at the edge of the stage. Victor followed him more slowly (though with a no less of an appreciative grin on his face), placing an order for drinks before he took his seat.

She felt more than saw when Summers recognized Logan. Her man couldn't resist tipping her when she did her pretense of presenting right in front of him, before writhing to her feet. A glance at Victor and a quick mental postcard of what she'd observed had him on alert at least. He extended his hand when her dance ended and Marie simply grinned and allowed him to help her down from the stage.

"You want a lap dance honey," She teased and smiled wider when he nodded yes.

When she'd straddled him Victor chuckled wickedly, "Easiest way to talk to you sweetness."

"Hmm…I figured," Marie filled him in on what she'd heard and observed and her short conversation with LeBeau. "I haven't heard anything that says they're looking for you or Logan yet." She concluded.

"It's possible," Victor nodded. "Gambit is one of the few people we touch base with regularly enough that he could pass on a message."

"Do you think that's it?" She wondered.

"Have to listen a bit more," He shook his head. "But if it were us then Summers would've come over. He's about as subtle as a charging bull."

"They didn't recognize me," Marie smirked. "Guess I've changed."

"A bit," He smiled at her, warmer than he normally would in public. "You're a survivor sweetness, it changes you. And I doubt they got too good of a look last time."

"Life does tend to do that," She put two fingers to her lips and pressed them to his, the only kiss she could give him in the club. "Time's up, and I'd better get on," She stood and glanced at Logan only to see him watching the other three mutants. A look back at Victor and she knew he'd noticed too, "Should I be worried honey?"

"Nah," Victor smirked. "He told me he flirted and chased her more to screw with Summers than because he wanted her."

Now that she could believe. Summers did come across all upright and judgmental and his description of Gambit had reinforced that impression. She did her slow swaying walk away and was rewarded with Logan's gaze riveting to her ass as she strolled. A look and a wink over her shoulder and he grinned at her.

Three stage dances and she was on her third-floor shift, "I can't hear her mind." Jean was telling Summers. "It's like she's not there. It's just white noise."

Gambit had given Logan and Victor a nod and left the club, but Jean and her fiancé (husband? Had they gotten married by now? The Gambit and Erik in her head didn't know) had stayed. Maybe to connect with Logan, maybe to give the appearance of wanting to be at the club.

"Maybe she has some natural shields," Summers suggested as Marie walked past them, back to Victor and Logan's table.

"It's just odd," Jean seemed a little frustrated. "It's so rare to have someone human with shields."

"Maybe she's not," Summers offered. "Human, I mean."

"A mutant," Jean sounded astonished. "Working in this place?"

Marie rolled her eyes and patted Logan's shoulder. "My shift is over in five minutes," She told her men. "Meet you out back?"

"Yeah," Logan nodded and threw down a tip for the waitress. "Vic, you ready?"

"Place ain't worth bein' in without our woman," Victor agreed, and Marie giggled quietly.

"Sweet talker," She smiled as she headed back to the crowded dressing room.

The back of the club was well lit, better than the interior of the building, and Marie smiled when she saw Victor leaning against the Tahoe from the cabin's garage. He was holding a large white box under his arm, and she shook her head. "Honey, you've got to stop buyin' me stuff."

"You need a good coat," He told her seriously. "The green cashmere won't do much against a Montana winter. And that's comin' on fast." He put the box on the hood of the SUV and opened it for her.

"Honey, that's…" Marie touched the fur in awe.

"Sable," He supplied the name of the rich brown fur. "Jimmy and I looked for a while before we found one that could be sized for you."

"It's beautiful honey," She leaned against his side. "Thank you."

"Comes with a hat too," He chuckled and lifted it out of the box, settling the soft hat on her head and the coat around her shoulders so she could slide her arms inside.

"Looks perfect on her," Logan's voice came towards them, brimming with approval. "You like it darlin'?"

"How could I not," Marie smiled at him and lifted her face for his kiss. It was given, of course, warm and loving.

"Hey, I helped too," Victor tried to sound put upon and Marie giggled and turned her face up so she could have his kiss as well. For once, none of them had any interest in their surroundings, Victor purring against her lips while Logan nuzzled her neck. And she felt the shock and disgust coming across the parking lot like a slap.

Her men felt her stiffening in their arms, growling automatically as they turned to see what had alarmed her. Jean Grey, staring at the three of them, her face fixed in a frown. Summers was staring as well, though he looked more puzzled than anything else.

"Logan," Jean managed to get his name across her lips in a semblance of courtesy.

"Jean," Logan nodded curtly, looking down at Marie. "Darlin', what's wrong?"

"Inhale Jimmy," Victor pulled Marie closer, protective instincts still prevalent pure Sabretooth, as his brother instinctively obeyed the quiet command and growled angrily. A second later Logan's voice echoed his older brother's as the scents of the other two mutants reached his nose.

"What's—" Summers' gaze moved back and forth between the trio and his fiancée (wife?). "Jean? Wolverine?"

"She's with them," Jean explained in clipped tones. When her fiancé didn't seem to understand she repeated the word meaningfully, "With them, Scott. Both of them."

"Oh," Scott frowned and blinked and blinked again as he finally got it. "Oh, with them." To his credit he seemed to find the idea strange but not nearly as disturbing as the redhead did.

"You barged into our neck of the woods," Victor's voice rumbled in quiet thunderous threat. "Nobody asked for your opinion or gives a damn about it."

"She's our woman," Logan added. He pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek. "C'mon darlin', let's get you home."

"Jimmy, you drive," Victor ordered and took Marie's bag, opening the door for her and helping her into the back seat, ignoring Jean and Cyclops as only a cat could. His kiss pressed to her lips before he shut the door and rounded the vehicle to the front passenger seat.

Marie had thought that would be the end of it. But the next morning as she was trying to make breakfast with the truly awful pans in the kitchen the door knocker sounded loudly. Logan groaned as he put down his coffee. "It ain't even ten," He objected to the disturbance.

Victor emerged from the bedroom and went to the door, jerking it open with a snarl of impatience. "Get the fuck in here before our woman freezes to death," He commanded.

Marie blinked as LeBeau and Summers (Scott, Jean had called him Scott,) entered, Jean right behind them. The redhead's distaste for her surroundings and Marie's presence came through loud and clear. What was the woman's problem? If she had issues with strippers all right but the cabin was sweet, nice large open space, a loft bedroom and a private master and bath behind the open kitchen and living space. Sure, there was lots of brown and beige leather furniture, but they were guys. It wasn't ratty or ugly or anything. Logan, bless him, turned and looked at her, "Darlin', you all right?"

"It's a lot of…scents," She shrugged. "I'm gonna get dressed sugar."

"Wear that cute little patchwork dress," He suggested, a gleam in his eyes. "Just don't bother with anything under it."

"Sugar you're terrible," She swatted him as she passed. "Gimme five minutes."

"Sweetness, I don't care what Jimmy says, you wear panties around LeBeau," Victor called back to her.

"I was plannin' on it honey," She called back and dug out a pair of her boy short panties and dropped the dress over her head. A brush through her hair, a clip to pull it up off her neck so her marks would show and she added the hoop earrings her men had bought her. Her favorite pair of Louboutin heels in her hand she returned to the front of the cabin. "Honey, I love this dress, but I need to find a pair of leggings to go under it if I wear it outside the house."

"Really rather keep you indoors anyway," Victor grinned and wrapped his arm around her waist, tucking her against his side.

"Are you two ready to be serious yet," Jean demanded to know. Her gaze went from Victor to Logan, completely skipping over Marie between them as if the other woman was of no importance.

Jean and Summers (she really couldn't think of him as Scott for some reason, maybe because Erik didn't) hadn't recognized her. Why would they really, they hadn't really been able to see her in the machine, she'd barely gotten a look at them before Magneto had started it up. He'd known Jean, Scott and the white-haired woman, Storm. The red blast had knocked her and the shards of the machine out of the sky. She wondered if they'd gotten any information from Erik or if it just hadn't mattered to them. "I'm so sorry," She drawled in her thickest southern. "I didn't realize we were interruptin' ya'll."

Logan snorted in amusement and Marie patted Victor's chest before retrieving Logan's coffee and handing it to him, collecting a kiss along the way, "Thanks darlin'." He gave her a smile and stared at the three interlopers, "What are you doin' here Jean? Scott? LeBeau I can guess."

"Poker of course," LeBeau chuckled, leaning back on the leather couch with every evidence of comfort.

"Scott," Logan looked at the stiff-backed younger man (though compared to him and Victor everyone was younger). "Why're you and Jean here?"

"Magneto escaped custody," Jean answered coldly, her glare at Marie unabating. "I don't think we should be discussing this in front of people who don't know who we are."

"You came to our home," Victor returned her sneer tenfold. "This is our woman's home too. You don't get to dictate terms. You wanna talk, you talk in front of her."

Logan regarded Scott with a frown. The clean-cut man was staring at Victor as if trying to figure out who he was, "Scott?"

"Gambit offered to meet us at the club since it was the closest neutral location central to where we were both traveling," Summers replied. "Storm stayed with the plane."

"They know that Remy, he comes into contact with many who know things," LeBeau shrugged. "Perhaps I hear somethin', perhaps I meet someone, I make a call," He spread his hands as if to say 'oh well'.

"You travel a lot," Summers kept his eyes on Logan. "I suggested we visit you today to ask if you would keep an ear open for word of Magneto."

"Erik's a lot of things," Victor shook his head. "Stupid ain't one of 'em. He knows how to stay under the radar when he needs to."

"The Professor heard about some trouble near Vancouver," Jean added. "The type of display Magneto is known for. That doesn't sound like laying low."

Logan glanced at Marie and Victor, and she gave him a slight shake of the head. No way she wanted these two to know what she could do. Not now. "Well if we hear anything we'll call Chuck," Logan shrugged, his tone disinterested and dismissive, something that set Summers' back up and tightened Jean's lips since his gaze was dwelling warmly on Marie still.

"Remy, he has to leave tonight, but perhaps we have that friendly game before he goes," LeBeau gave them a wicked grin and Marie giggled.

"You've seen me in the buff twice now mon ami," She teased. "There's no mystery here."

"But Remy, he never tires of seeing a beautiful woman," He teased back.

"Some other time LeBeau," Victor shook his head. "She's finally got a day off, let her sleep."

Logan glanced at the clock, "And we've got something to do too."

Marie rolled her eyes when LeBeau stood but Jean and Summers didn't, "Maybe I need to find a brick to wrap a hint around, throw it at ya'll, so you get the message?" Summers didn't seem to get it, though Jean stiffened, "Ya'll weren't invited here, an' neither of my men'll have any compunctions throwin' ya'll out."

"Your men," Jean sniffed as she stood. "Honestly Logan, I'm sure you could do better than this… stripper." The way she said it, the same as if she'd said Marie was a whore. Victor had stiffened with fury and Logan was well on his way to enraged.

Oh, the redhead gone and done it now. Marie sighed, "Sugar, I really don't wanna get blood on this dress. Or spend my day off moppin' up the floors please."

Jean's eyes snapped from Marie to Logan and widened, apparently finally seeing the rage glowing gold in Logan's eyes. The Wolverine barely restrained, he growled, "Scott, get your woman out of our house. Before things get bloody."

LeBeau stood, hands spread in what was meant to be a soothing gesture, "Let us not act in haste."

"I'm just curious," Marie had a thought. "How'd ya'll find this house?"

That caught the attention of her mates and Victor growled, "We weren't followed."

A flicker in Jean's eyes gave it away and Marie stared at her coldly, "Whatever you did, you'd better undo it. Now."

Summers stiffened, "I don't like your tone."

"And I don't like ya'll bargin' in on my peaceful mornin', so I guess we've all got our crosses to bear," Marie snapped back. "Ya'll couldn't have found this place without snoopin' in Logan or Victor's heads. Or puttin' something in Logan's head to make him easy for you to find."

"That's a simply outrageous accusation and I am not required to explain myself to the likes of you," The look on the redhead's face, as if she smelt dung.

"The likes of her," Victor snarled at the insult and probably would have continued if Logan hadn't interrupted him.

"Jean," Logan's voice had gone low, dangerously close to forgetting any claim to civilization at the implied threat to his pack. "Ferals can smell lies," His words were heavy with some reminder.

"I picked it out of your head," Jean lifted one shoulder in an unconcerned shrug. "You practically threw the thought at me it was so much on your mind. Home and this," She looked Marie up and down as if she were trash, "Woman in your bed."

"Get out," Logan snarled, and Victor put Marie behind him to stalk forward, roaring the same command.

"Son of a bitch—" Summers cursed in shock. "That's Sabretooth."

Victor's soft footed stalk across the room, claws pushing out from his nails, made that fairly clear. "You're damn right, I'm Sabretooth. Now get the fuck out of our house."

Marie sighed as Summers tugged Jean out of the house, practically panicked. A minute later she heard the horn honking and LeBeau sighed, "Remy, he will call upon his friends another day." Without hurrying (running in front of a predator not a good idea) he exited the house. Marie shut the door behind him with a wave of her hand and a flex of Erik's mutation on the metal beneath the wood veneer.

"So…that was…interestin'," She looked at her men. "I'm gonna start packin'. Should be done by the time ya'll have finished the job you've got today." Give her men credit, neither of them argued or suggested she was exaggerating the risk of staying.

Victor nodded, "Jimmy, ten minutes."

"Be ready in five," Logan headed to the bedroom. Marie sighed and began to clean up what would have been breakfast. Victor's hand on her shoulder stopped her and he wrapped his arms around her.

"You don't deserve to be treated like that," He muttered fiercely. "Especially not in your own home. She had no right. You're better than that bitch."

"I love you honey," Marie looked up at him and cupped his face in her hands, so small compared to him. "You're better too. You don't have to listen to them either."

"I'm sorry," Logan's hand on her head. "I shoulda remembered she'd do that."

"It ain't your fault sugar," She looked at him. "She should know better." She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. "Go on to work now." She tugged Victor down for his kiss. "I'll listen for anything that's a problem." She tapped her head meaningfully.

"You hear anything, get into the Tahoe in the garage and go, we'll find you," Victor instructed. "You know what to do."

"I will honey," Marie nodded. "Go on now. Sooner you go the sooner you're back."

She'd gotten very good and very quick at packing. And thanks to the training she did with her men daily, she was also getting better at using more than one of her absorbed mutations simultaneously. So listening for anyone coming near the cabin with Emma's telepathy while she used Bryan's telekinesis or Erik's magnetic manipulation to pack up their things was almost easy. Change into jeans and a tee-shirt and pack everything else up.

It was good practice even if she did need to stop and eat something midway through the day. Logan and Victor had told her they wouldn't be back until five in the evening at the earliest. A look at the groceries in the fridge and she got a stew going to use up the frozen vegetables and meat in the fridge. Biscuits to sop up the gravy and she began to make up the bed and check the bathroom for anything left over.

Giving the bathroom a good cleaning had been in her plans for the day anyway, not that it was hard with spray on cleaners. Her men might be messy with damp towels or scattered clothes but they weren't dirty. A load of laundry and the towels were back in the linen closet. The bed linens were next and then the furniture covers were put back in place.

And now she had three hours before her men were back. Meditation seemed like a good idea. She'd been using her absorbed mutations a lot and making sure all the doors were secure was necessary maintenance.

Author's Note: So we're running into a little bit of plot, the edges of it at least.