DEAR READERS,
Due to the UNBELIEVABLE support, I couldn't find it in myself to not write this chapter. Thank you all SO INCREDIBLY MUCH! You guys are the best!
Chapter Fourteen
Shattered Glass
Part One
The moonlight seeped into the room, cascading over her delicate features, reflecting off her pale, smooth skin. Logan watched enchanted as she glided gracefully into the living room, the light shimmering off the dog tags she still wore around her wrist. Silent, she curled up on the couch beside him and he whispered, "Couldn't sleep?"
"What gave it away," she teased. She scooted closer and glanced at him as if seeking permission before tentatively resting her head on his shoulder. She hadn't done so since their embrace on the train years ago when she made her runaway attempt. He had promised to take care of her then, and sometimes she feared he stayed out of the obligation to keep his vow.
Wordlessly, Logan wound his arm around her, drawing her petite body closer to his. "What's wrong, kid?"
"Logan, today at the pizza diner you made a promise. I won't you to take it back." Her request was softly spoken, but held an edge of urgency to it.
Logan's eyebrows furrowed in thought. "Why?"
"Because it's a promise you can't keep."
Logan swallowed hard, suddenly itching for a cigar. "Damn, kid," he muttered.
"Yeah, 'damn'," she quietly agreed.
"I wish I could give you what you want, Rogue," he admitted sadly.
"I know." She lifted her head to stare at his rugged profile. "But you've all ready given me some of it; and that's what hurts me most. I have half of what I want, but without the other half…it's torment, Logan. So, take back your promise and take back that you love me."
He caught his breath and remembered yesterday:
Logan opened his mouth then closed it. He watched as she walked away, the urge to say something overwhelming him to the point that he couldn't form any words. Desperate, he went to cry out her name, but instead: "I love you, Marie!"
She paused, her hand hovering over the door, and slowly looked at him, her face stunned, but soft. "I know," she whispered. "But I know it'll never be." She glanced away, cursing the tears that threatened to fall. "I wish you hadn't told me," she murmured before slipping out of the room.
Logan's heart shattered.
Back in the present, Logan shook his head. "I can't do that, Rogue."
"God, Logan, don't you see? All I ever wanted was for you to love me! But it hurts, Logan! It hurts to know that I finally have your heart, but I can never have you." She angrily brushed away her tears. "You tell me you love me; and then you promise me I'll have children. But by who, Logan? Some random man off the streets? Someone other than you? How could you do that to me! How could you tell me you love me, but not let me have your heart!"
"Rogue, I…damn it, Marie, why do you have to complicate things?" Logan shifted, growing antsy with his frustration. "You want the truth? You want me to spill my heart out to you? Fine! I do love you, Marie. But I can't give you the life you want! You will have kids some day, Rogue, but it just can't be by me."
"Why," she screamed. "Why the hell not, Logan! If you love me then why don't you want to have children with me?"
"I don't want kids," he bellowed.
"Damn it, that's not enough! Why don't you want kids? Because you don't want the added responsibility? Well what am I, Logan? A goddamn fucking responsibility! I'm the little girl you felt obligated to protect. Well guess what? I'm not a little girl anymore! I'm twenty-one years old and am fully capable of living my life without you!" She took a heaving breath, releasing her anger. Whispering she added, "But, damn it Logan, I'd only be happy having you in it."
A long, tense pause fell heavily between them. All that was heard was the sound of their labored breathing. Gradually, Rogue stood from the sofa. She stared at him, willing him to look her way, but he never did. Like a phantom of his imagination, she disappeared from the room and he only barely caught her murmured, "I love you, too."
Part Two
Logan jolted from his sleep, his senses on high alert. He had waited hours before ascending the stairs after Rogue to his own room. He had tossed and turned before eventually slipping into a restless slumber. Yet, now, his ears were twitching and his nose sniffed the air. Something was horribly wrong.
He leapt from his bed, popping out his claws and marching out of his room. He swiftly made his way around the corner and into the next hallway. A scream pierced the night just as he reached Rogue's closed door. In an instant, he was twisting the doorknob to only find it locked. "Rogue," he yelled, slamming his foot into the thick wooden door. It cracked down the middle. Inside the room, the sound of shattering glass ignited his fury. A second kick sent the door splitting in two, splinters spraying everywhere.
He rushed into the room in time to see a dark figure lunge off the windowsill. Logan burst forward, livid at the intruder. He jumped from the balcony onto the ledge, quickly making his way down the three stories. Dropping onto the damp grass, he fell into an immediate sprint. He chased the intruder into a groove of trees where he lost him.
"Come on out you son-of-a-bitch and fight me like a man!" To his dismay, there was no response. He pressed forward, hunting down his prey. Then, ten yards in front of him, he saw the shadowy figure, Rogue clutched in his arms.
Shadow looked his way as Logan came hurling toward him. "Bye, Logan," he hissed before vanishing into the dark, taking Rogue with him.
Logan lunged at where Shadow had been, collapsing onto the ground beneath him. Shadow and Rogue were gone.
End Chapter Fourteen
Galxychld: Nope, no "poisonous skin" excuse here!
Jo: I know what you mean about Jean. I don't necessarily hate her. I just don't like it when she's around Logan!
Silver Goddess1: Thank you.
Cassandralee1984: The clue (quoted from the story): "Sure Logan, whatever you say." She picked up the pamphlet that was nestled between the salt and peppershakers. Scanning the uninteresting advertisements, she added, "No sense in denying it, though." 3 TIMES A DAY? HOLY SHIT!
AsderBlair: There will be a fighting scene around the corner! Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about that elusive disc!
( ): Thanks! (Whoever you are!)
Boredwithreality: YOU GOT THE CLUE! And I'm glad you thought it was amusing. I wasn't too sure if I was going to leave the scene in or not. Glad I did! Oh, and I'm happy to here you appreciate my comments back. It takes a lot of time to respond to reviews. It's nice to know it's not being taken with a grain of salt. AND, on a further note, I truly appreciate your comments in regards to that bad review.
Kryptonite: Ok, ok, I can take a hint!
I'm an Angry Gumball: Your name amuses me! And thanks for the uplift. I don't know Messenger's problem. If he/she REALLY didn't like the story, then why'd he/she continue to read it to Chapter 13?
Joanna ( ): I can't thank you enough for your review, especially considering you review so rarely. I feel so…wow…I don't even know how to describe it. Imagine that: a writer at loss for words. Thank you; and will it be for you to live a happy life.
Jean Summers47: You're absolutely right. Thank you very much for your kind and generous review. How I could ever think of quitting this story is beyond me. THANK YOU for the uplift!
Starshine: Thank you so much. You – and everyone else – have made me feel so much better. You're such a sweet person. How could I turn you – and everyone else – down? And, no, I hadn't noticed that I reached 100 reviews. I guess that one terrible review isn't bad so bad in the grand scheme of things. Thanks.
Drgnfly: I'm speechless. Thank you so much. I don't think anyone realizes how encouraging your – and all the other – reviews have been. You're all right. Who cares about what 'Messenger' had to say? THE STORY MUST GO ON!