Disclaimer: I don't own anything or anyone . unfortunately!!! Synopsis: The past catches up with the X-men Please read/review

Chapter 2 - Moving day

Two weeks had passed since Charles had told everyone at the school that his niece was to return to Westchester. She had sent word that she would be arriving on the Friday and that a ride back to the school was unnecessary when her flight arrived. She had planned to spend some time in the city before making the final leg of her journey. And, as usual, Charles would not hear of it. By using Cerebro he was able to ascertain where exactly she was at 10.00am that day, he found out which flight she was due to arrive on and made arrangements for Jean and Ororo to meet her. 'They could all go to the city together' he thought, it would be good for Beth to become better acquainted with a couple of members of the team before she was bombarded with the reality that was the rest of the faculty and students.

Logan had been moving home gradually over the course of a week. And to Marie's delight she had been witness to all of the events. He had packed things up, painted the new room, and even taken her to help him pick out a new bed saying that he needed her there to give him a 'woman's opinion on the subject'. Marie could honestly say that she had found the whole 'ordeal' very amusing and on more than one occasion her raucous chuckles of laughter had been stopped short by a glare or snarl from Logan's direction.

Logan had not minded that he had been asked to move, he didn't even care that much that Marie had found some of his antics amusing and he know loved the fact he was so close to the orchard. He knew that the relaxing scent of blossom in the spring or ripening fruit over the summer that his heightened awareness of smell would realize, would be just the thing he needed to help him drift off into peaceful sleep.

There was one thing that bothered him though. Well in truth, two things. The first thing that bothered him was his ever-increasing feelings towards Marie. He had always considered her to be more of a daughter to him than anything else but now he wasn't sure. Maybe it was because they spent so much time together, maybe it was because they had a deep respect for one another, or maybe it was just because they were meant to be together, like soul mates. He had always found it strange how they had managed to cross each other's path all those years ago, how they had connected. What did it matter anyway; she would always look up to him as an older brother or father, never as a lover.

Then there was the second thing. Ever since Chuck had told Logan of the impending arrival of his niece, Beth, Logan had had this feeling that things were never going to be the same again. He couldn't quite put his finger on it but something wasn't right. Not to the point that it would endanger him, Marie or any member of the X-men, but more importantly to do with himself and his past.

Lying on the new bed that had only arrived that afternoon, Logan couldn't get comfortable. His head was whirring and his body felt constricted. Sitting up he reached for the button to his jeans in order to get the access he needed to pull his t-shirt off. Once that task was completed he laid back, knotted his hands behind his head, closed his eyes and began to mull over the latest information he had received regarding his past. Logan knew that Chuck expected all of the X-men to meet his niece this afternoon but once that was over with he could . well he could go on a trip north to investigate. It would be hard leaving Marie again after only being back a matter of months but it would give him the space he felt he needed away from this Beth person.

He may have been there for five minutes or an hour he wasn't sure but the sudden tap of knuckles on his door brought him back to reality. "Yeah?" he growled.

"Logan? It's Marie, did ah wake you up or something." The familiar southern twang of her voice made him smile. Getting up off the bed he stepped over to the door and opened it.

All Marie could do was drink in the wonderful sight of the roguishly handsome and incredibly sexy man that was now leant against the door, arms folded across the well-worn trunk, down to the undone button of the dark blue jeans and finally his un-stockinged feet. "Yes, you did." He eventually said, the turned up corners of his mouth suggesting that in no way did he mind it being she that had woken him.

She averted her eyes from the top of his chest where it was possible to make out the small amount of dark hair that was present there, and looked directly into the hazel eyes that were inspecting what she was doing. A slight tinge of red blushed her cheeks. "Charles sent me up to get you for this welcoming committee he wants to have for Beth."

"Are you invited?"

"Yep, now ah'm a fully paid-up member ah've got to be there," she said proudly. Then added "What do you think she's like?"

"I don't know, kiddo! I just hope she isn't too much like her uncle, you know what the British can be like, stiff upper lip and all that jazz!" Logan moved his frame away from the door and walked out into the hallway closing it behind him.

"Aren't you even gonna put a shirt on or some shoes?" Marie had to ask, her brown eyes lighting up at the very sight of his whole torso.

"Hell, no. She can accept me as I am or not at all. Besides I am the self- defence coach what kind of impression would I set if I had to cover up?" A twinkle appeared in his eyes as he looked over to Marie and winked. Marie just laughed.

"We better get a move on then," Marie said placing a gloved hand on the arm that he held out for her. "You know how much of a stickler for time, Charles is."

"Well then, m' lady, you must lead on, and quickly," Logan retorted in the best English accent he could speak.