A/N - Just wanted to say I really appreciate all the regular reviewers. Your words have given me much encouragement and joy. It's fun reading your comments and it's always so nice when you keep coming back. I'm also glad when I get a review from someone entirely new too.

Isis Aurora Tomoe thanks for the nice thoughts. Little Thief of Gambit's heart (love the name), and fellow mutant, you're welcome and thank you. Thank you too, Maggie. I hope this update's fast enough for you. Minarya, I'm just glad you did review so thank you very much. Skyz thanks for your input on this chapter which I really appreciated! Verena Gruen thank you, I'm pretty sure something will work out and Wolviesfan here's the next part and thanks for reviewing. I'm almost finished with this! The end is very near.

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Ororo and Logan found Gateway had transported them to the pond which was behind the compound and closer than his never changing location. Logan, heedless of his own injuries, knelt beside Ororo who was holding her arm. He took off his shirt and tied it to stop the bleeding.

"'Roro, you okay?"

"Yes. I am not bleeding that badly."

"Just like a stuck pig, eh?" When she didn't respond Logan carefully helped her up. "Ol' man missed his mark. You gonna be okay fer the walk back, darlin'?"

"Let me rest just a moment. I am feeling a little weak . . ."

Logan caught Ororo just before she fell. He held her tightly as he carried her home. Once inside he stealthily made it to her room without being seen and laid her gently on her bed. He tried to look away from her lovely brown face and concentrate on the task at hand but he wasn't sure what he should do. If he called Betsy or Rogue they would ask too many questions. No, he'd simply have to tend to her wound himself, after all Ororo had been right, he was definitely experienced in the art of treating wounds. She was still unconscious yet he felt himself trembling as he started to remove her danskin. She was so incredibly beautiful and unbelievably desirable it was all he could do to not crush her against his chest and hold her till she woke.

"Actin' like a school boy," he muttered. "Get a hold of yerself! This is Storm---Ororo, our leader!"

He steeled himself and with a 'snikt' one claw came out. He managed to cut her danskin top off then he retrieved warm water, soap and bandages and gently bathed and dressed her wound. He was thankful she had not been harmed further and no stitches were needed.

"This is yer last 'side trip' with me, darlin'," Logan said when Ororo finally opened her eyes.

"No!" Ororo cried out, surprised at her own anger.

"Ya almost got yerself killed. You tired of living so much, is that it?"

"It is safer for us both if we go together. I do not wish to die, Logan but neither do I wish for you to die."

"I'm a big boy, 'Ro."

"And I am a big girl, Logan. You saved my life the other night and I will be there to save yours if necessary, even in Japan."

"I didn't save yer life. You were shot in the shoulder, nothin' more."

"I think we need to talk, Logan," Ororo said as she slowly sat up.

"No."

"I . . ."

"I said no!"

"Do not walk away from me, Logan!"

Logan turned and growled. She wasn't his boss. He was on his own time now.

"I do not want to lose you, Logan and it is foolish to go without backup."

Logan looked at her. Why'd she have to be so smart he wondered? And always right--- with the strength of will equal to his? No one could talk to him like she did and get away with it. Only Ororo could. He couldn't keep looking at her--her eyes were so clear and blue you could lose yourself in them. He almost wanted to curse the day he'd met her yet he'd never wanted anyone as much as he wanted her. He ran his hand through his thick hair and groaned. His thoughts were chaotic, uncontrollable. Flamin' woman loves Forge. Only problem with that was Forge thought they were dead. That just left . . .

"You and I, Logan, we are a good team."

Logan turned away as he tried to deal with his thoughts. I'm not Logan! I'm the Wolverine! I'm like an animal. That's what I am. Nothing more. A wild man. Why can't you just let me be, 'Ro?

"Logan? What is wrong?" Ororo reached for him but at her touch he pulled his arm away and glared angrily at her.

"You, Ororo. You," he said no more then walked away, shutting the door behind him.

Ororo let him go. She had tried to reach him but he was retreating back into his own little world again. She had been able to bring him back out of his self pity or whatever phase he had been in just before she had gone to Texas but this was different. She felt she would not win this time no matter how she dealt with him and especially if she were as forceful as she had been then. He would go to Japan and there was nothing she could do to stop him.

"Sugah, you don't look so good. You okay?"

Ororo jumped. She looked up to see Rogue's curious face peeping in at her. She hadn't heard Rogue knocking and she did not want company right now but she tried to smile welcoming at her friend.

"Mind if ah come in?" Rogue asked as she let herself in without waiting for an answer.

"I am not really in the mood for company, Rogue."

"No kiddin'! Shoot! What happened to your arm?"

"Rogue, I am fine, do not worry yourself."

"Wanna talk about it?"

"No I do not."

"It's Wolverine, ain't it?"

"Why would you say that?"

"Well, he just came out of your room an' you're near tears for starters."

"I do not know what to do about him," Ororo said hesitantly.

"With Logan? Ah knew it! Ah was right! Tell me what's wrong an' maybe ah can help," Rogue demanded as she plopped down onto Ororo's bed.

Ororo grimaced in pain as the bed bounced a bit and said, "Rogue, I did not say anything was wrong."

"You didn't have to, sugah. Why don't you tell me what's goin' on---maybe it'll help." Ororo looked down at her lap fighting back tears of frustration more than pain now. After a moment she looked at Rogue and sighed deeply.

"He is going to Japan this week I believe," she finally said.

"He's always goin' somewhere or another, Storm but ah can read the signs, he'll be back."

"He said he needed a vacation," Ororo said sadly.

"Sugah, you an' Logan've been actin' mighty strange lately but ah know what's goin' on. Ah've seen the way he looks at you. There's a side to him ah ain't never seen before. When he's with you it's as if he has a peace he can't get no where else."

"Next you will say I glow."

"Y'all ain't pregnant are ya?"

"No! Rogue, I am not with child and there is no reason why I should be."

"Look, 'Ro it ain't hard to see how Logan feels. Why don't y'all just talk an' get it all out in the open?"

"I do not think he would be happy to hear what I have to say."

"He's crazy about you, Ororo an' ah know it!"

Ororo couldn't help but smile at her friend's enthusiasm.

"Well, you got nothin' to lose but your pride girl," Rogue said as she got up. "Give it a chance."

Ororo wanted to laugh and cry. She shook her head as Rogue shut the door behind her. Rogue had no idea how much Ororo actually had to lose. She could lose Logan, possibly forever.

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"She loves me, she loves me not, she . . . ."

Logan stabbed one claw at the remains of a daisy until it was squashed into the dirt totally annihilated. Two petals had remained on the stem before he'd destroyed it. He almost laughed at himself. He couldn't remember a time when he'd let a woman get to him like this, making him act like a flamin' idiot, acting without even thinking. Not even with Mariko or Jean had he acted this way. He should've known Wong was out there waiting to get him but he'd been too absorbed in thoughts of Ororo and thoughts of going to Japan to get away from her. He'd almost gotten her killed because he couldn't think straight. Acting like a kid, a stupid lovesick kid, he thought as he watched the sun sink. Night fell yet still he sat, lost in his thoughts.

"This place ain't large enough for the both of us. I can't stay here," Logan fairly growled as he finally stood.

"Do not go, Logan."

"Cripes!" He looked up startled. "Blast her," he thought. He should've picked up her scent long ago but his senses were so muddled he couldn't think straight. Ever since he'd remembered what Serena had hoped he and Ororo would remember she had been on his mind almost non stop. No matter how hard he tried to stop thinking of her he simply couldn't. He could hardly concentrate on anything else. He knew he was no good this way.

"What do you want?" He snapped as Ororo stepped out of the trees.

"I want you, Logan."

He froze. He hadn't heard her right. No possible way. Ororo was a lady, a class act. But so was Mariko. Why not Ororo? Maybe she was feeling everything he was feeling. They had been friends for so long maybe . . . . Logan shook his head trying to think straight. "If I take her she's mine an' I ain't lettin' her go," he thought. Then with a groan he backed away from her shaking his head again.

"We must talk, Logan."

"Say yer piece then."

Ororo hesitated. How could she tell her friend of so long that she loved him? A love unlike her love for Peter and Kitty or the other X-Men and much more than she had ever loved Forge?

"Do not shut me out, Logan. We are . . . . friends."

"That's all it should be, 'Rorro."

Ororo looked away. She realized he did not want her. She said nothing. Logan remained silent as he realized she didn't want him.

"I will leave you alone," Ororo said very quietly.

"'Ro! Wait!"

He had her in his arms before she knew what was happening. His lips pressing hard against her own. She held onto him with all her strength as their kiss deepened. Long moments passed then Logan pulled away from her and looked into the face that he had come to love so much. Without thinking he gently pushed her down onto the grass.

"Ororo . . . . your arm! I didn't hurt ya did I?" He cried out as he remembered her wound.

"Just hold me, Logan."

"Ororo. . . ." His lips covered hers again, his arms holding her gently, never wanting to let go.

They sat there through the night, she in his arms, his back against a tree. No further words had been spoken, no further embrace shared. They had sat in silence both afraid to speak, afraid to admit the truth to each other, both afraid of losing the other. As dawn broke and the morning dew covered the ground Ororo stirred.

"'Ro, you awake?"

"Hmm? I did not mean to fall asleep on you."

"We better get back."

"We have not talked yet, Logan."

"We've said all we had to say fer right now."

"Do not leave me behind when you go, Logan." She stood up then extended her one good arm to him. He took it and stood beside her.

"I won't be goin' on any side trips fer awhile, 'Ro. Just gonna take a vacation is all."

Ororo looked up at the rising sun and sadly thought that he really did not want her. He was deserting her then. Was she clutching at him too tightly, like a love starved woman in hopes that he would love her as she loved him? He did not want to feel anything for her save friendship and she did not know how to change his mind.

When Ororo didn't respond Logan frowned and offered his hand to her. "You comin'?"

"No. I think I will stay and enjoy the sunrise."

"'Roro. . . ."

She waited.

"It's not you. It's just me. I--I can't control myself when I'm with you. I can't think straight. All my senses are numb. I just need to get away-- -be by myself fer awhile."

"I feel as you do, Logan. We have known each other too long to be acting like children."

"I--I'll keep in touch."

"Thank you," Ororo said as she watched the man she loved walk out of her life.