Title: Summer Nights

Author: jmccall93

Email: jmccall93@aol.com

Rating: PG-13 (slight cussing, this fic does have Wolverine after all!)

Disclaimer: Don't sue.  I do not and never will own X-Men.  I would love to own Logan though!

Feedback:  Please.  Good and bad.

Summary: Pure Logan/Marie fic.  What happens when Logan returns?

Archive:  What's this?  Someone please tell me!

Logan led Marie to a table while he went to the bar to get them some beers.  When he came back with the beers he wasn't surprised to see another man already talking with her, but he was sitting down at the table!  His and Marie's table!  Marie looked up at him as he approached and smiled.  He'd never really noticed just how much her smile could light up a room.  The man sitting with her noticed he'd lost her attention and turned around to see what had taken it.  He found himself looking right into Logan's belt buckle.  He slowly brought his eyes up and when he saw the look on Logan's face jumped up, excused himself and got lost in the crowd.

Marie smiled again, and laughed as Logan sat down.  "I've missed being around you so much Logan.  I haven't laughed like that in a long time.  I'm glad you came back."

Logan watched Marie's expressions as she took in him, the bar, all of her surroundings.  He had been worried she would be a little on edge with all of the people there, but was happy to see she was enjoying herself.  "I'm sorry I was gone for so long…I never meant for 5 years to go by…" Marie cut him off with a finger on his lips, "Shh, don't talk like that.  I was a child when you left, and you needed to get some answers for your own peace of mind.  I needed those years to grow up into my own person, to find out what I wanted out of life."  Marie continued on to herself, "What started out as adoration became love when you saved me on the Statue of Liberty, but the years apart proved to me I love you, that's it's not some childish crush.  I know what I want now, Logan.  I just hope you want the same…"

He had flinched internally when she'd touched his lips.  Oh, he knew he had nothing to worry about.  It wasn't her powers.  It was just such a simple gesture itself, but combined with the look in her eyes, became such an intimate one.  He watched her features as she drifted off into her own thoughts, thinking she might have seen someone else more interesting to look at in the bar since she was looking past him.  Suddenly, she jumped up and grabbed him, pulling him up with her shouting over the noise, "Let's dance!  I can't even remember that last time I danced somewhere other than my own room…" She blanched.  She hadn't meant to say that.  It sounded so pitiful.  So…lonely.

Logan looked at Marie closely.  What the hell was she saying?  He knew the school had had dances.  Did she not even go to them to be social?  Just holing herself up in her room?  He promised himself right then that he would take her out dancing whenever she wanted to go even thought he hated to dance.  He let her pull him up onto the dance floor where the band was playing heavy metal.  At least this was something he could dance too.  No real closeness or actual dancing to worry about.  He just enjoyed watching her throw her hair around and gyrate her body.  They danced like that through several songs.  He could see her looking up at him through heavy, down turned eyes.  He could even smell arousal, but with all of the people there it could be anyone.  Just when they were really enjoying it and getting worked up the band stopped.  That's when he heard it.

The softer, slower music of a love song.  "Oh shit," he thought.  "I hate these things."  He started to turn and go back to their table when Marie put a hand on his arm.  She didn't even try to grab him.  It was just the slightest pressure on his left forearm, but it made him stop in his tracks.  He turned to look at her and saw her eyes, pleading.  "Please Logan…I've never…"  She didn't even finish.  Not desperate, or begging.  Just a need to dance close to someone she could trust and cared for.  Cared for?  Was he really reading that in her eyes?  He didn't want to believe it, but the look was unmistakable.  The thought that she might still love him was overwhelming.  He immediately turned back to her and took her in his arms as the music started…

Girl your lookin´ fine tonight
And every guy has got you in his sight
What you´re doin´ with a clown like me
Is surely one of life´s little mysteries
 
 
Marie looked up at Logan; Relief flooded her face as her senses came back to her.  He would.  He would dance with her to a slow song.  She had seen the scowl on his face soften when she asked.  She just watched his eyes and tried to read the emotions she could see flashing across his face.  Confusion, compassion for her, and maybe, just maybe she caught a glimpse of desire?  Longing?  She put her head down and rested it on his chest as they swayed to the music. 
 
 
So tonight I´ll ask the stars above
How did I ever win your love
What did I do, what did I say
To turn your angel eyes my way
 
 
Logan still couldn't believe it.  He was actually dancing to a slow song.  All for Marie.  Only for Marie.  He knows One-Eye would have just loved to see this.  He'd never hear the end of it.  He could only hope that she knew and appreciated what he was doing for her.  For her?  Who the hell was he trying to fool?  He was being selfish as well.  He was doing this for himself.  He enjoyed feeling her body close to his.  Feeling like right now they were the only two people in the world.
 
 
Well I´m the guy who never learned to dance
Never even got one second glance
Across a crowded room was close enough
I could look but I could never touch
 
 
In all of his years of roaming he'd never had a woman affect him like this.  They were always one-night stands.  Hell he'd never even danced before with a woman.  Just got 'em drunk and took 'em home.  Always made sure they were gone by morning too.  Wouldn't want any of them thinking they might be sticking around.  But Marie… no she was different.  From the moment he saw her he had a feeling she wouldn't let him go.  He'd loved her eyes.  From the very beginning he felt like he could drown in them if he looked too deep.
 
 
So tonight I´ll ask the stars above
How did I ever win your love
What did I do, what did I say
To turn your angel eyes my way
 
 
Marie didn't know how much longer she could take it.  Being so close to Logan like this after all these years.  She just held on to him and swayed with him.  She was concentrating on his heartbeat to help keep her calm.  She noticed though, that his heart was starting to beat a little faster and his breathing seemed to deepen.  She also felt a slight rumbling in his chest.  Almost like he was purring.  
 
 
Don´t anyone wake me if it´s just a dream
Cause she´s the best thing that ever happened to me
All you fellows you can look all you like
But this girl you see is leaving here with me tonight
 
 
 
Angel Eyes, that's what she had.  From the moment he had first seen her it was as if she had looked into his soul and accepted him for all that he was.  Man, beast, mutant, and loner.  None of that had mattered to her.  Then he found out she was a mutant.  That sealed it for him.  She looked so small, so vulnerable.  He had vowed to himself then and there that he would protect her to his death if necessary, as long as he could continue to look into those angel eyes.  And he had almost died for her, twice.
 
 
 
There´s just one more thing I need to know
If this is love why does it scare me so
There must be something only you can see
Cause girl I feel it when you look at me
 
 
 
Logan looked down at the top of Marie's head.  He took her chin in his hand and lifted her face so that he might look into those eyes again.  As scared as he was of getting lost in them that was what he desired most as well.  As she brought her face up to look at him he saw the tears.  She was crying.  Oh shit, what had he done?  Wait…she has the beginnings of a smile at the corners of her mouth.  Is it possible?  Is she crying out of happiness?  Please, please let that be it.  As he starts to lose himself into those deep brown eyes he can feel it.  He can feel her love for him.  No longer love for a protector, a friend, but love that a woman feels for a man.   
 
 
 
So tonight I´ll ask the stars above
How did I ever win your love
What did I do, what did I say
To turn your angel eyes my way

As he looked deeper into her eyes she tilted her head up a little more.  He took that as a sign, the slightest of signs.  He slowly brought his face down to hers and just barely brushed his lips across hers.  Not long enough for her powers to kick in, but long enough to let her know his deepest feelings and to let her know he was asking for more.  She stood up on tiptoe and took a deep breath before whispering in his ear,  "It's okay, you'll see."  She brought her face back in front of his and looked deeply at him once again before closing her eyes.  She hoped desperately that he would understand what she was trying to say.

Logan couldn't believe it.  Was she saying that it was safe to kiss her?  How?  She hadn't said anything about this.  He decided he wouldn't waste another minute.  He brought both of his hands up and put them in her hair, pulling her face closer to his.  It was the barest of kisses again to begin with before they both got bolder and let their feelings for each other carry them away.  Before they knew it they weren't even dancing anymore.  They just stood there kissing and holding one another until they pulled apart breathlessly and decided they were ready to leave.   The bar had served its purpose.  It had broken down any walls or doubts that they had been feeling for the other.

OK, GUYS, PLEASE R&R!  Should I continue?  I'm on the process of writing the other chapters already.