Chapter Eight

Logan avoided Kurt and Scott the remainder of the night and most of the next day.  Marie avoided Jean and Ororo as well, neither one wishing to discuss the events of the previous night.  Both hoped their silence would help to avoid any question about their prolonged absence during the rehearsal dinner and Logan's subsequent disappearance.  Each prayed by the time the bachelor and bachelorette parties were in full swing no one would remember. No such luck.

The Cat Club

Cliff's bachelor party was in full swing behind him, but Logan chose to entertain himself at the bar.  He had no desire to involve himself with Cliff's stuffy friends or to answer Scott's and Kurt's question, but he had an obligation to be here all the same.

Logan laughed at the word, obligation.  The Wolverine never did anything out of "obligation", at least not until Marie.  There were a lot of things the "Wolverine" never did before Marie.  The Wolverine never did anything because he should do only because he wanted to do it.  The Wolverine never changed for a woman, she could take him as he was or not at all.  The Wolverine never chased a woman; she could take him or leave him.  The Wolverine never loved a woman; he only loved the idea of one.

Logan sighed as he realized the problem.  That was all before Marie when the hard and stern "Wolverine" existed.  His life now was, after Marie, the hard and stern Wolverine lost the battle he waged with the tough loving Logan.

A firm hand on his shoulder called Logan's attention.  He looked up to see Scott beside him.

"Hey, Logan," he greeted, "I thought you'd be out enjoying the show."

Logan shrugged, "I can see the show any time without getting sick because of the company."

Scott nodded, "Yeah, I get it. You want to talk about it?"

Logan tried to stifle a growl, "Not really, Dr. One eye. I just want to get this over with and Saturday over with so I can go."

Scott nodded, "You're going to run again," he said knowingly, "and give Marie up.  You're just going to let her go off with Cliff?"

"I'm not letting her do anything," Logan replied curtly, "It's what Marie wants to do."

"She say that?" Scott asked, "or are you just believing it because she hasn't called off the wedding yet?"

"She said it all right," Logan snapped, "We talked last night after we danced."

"You did talk to her," Scott said, "but did you tell her?"

"I felt so stupid, I started out all wrong, but I told her I loved her.  I asked her to come with me," Logan blurted, "and she said no."

Scott took that in then asked, "Logan, did Marie ever say that she loved Cliff or that she was in love with Cliff?"

Logan shook his head, "All she said was that he really loves her.  And she said really like what I'm saying I feel isn't love," Logan shrugged, "maybe it's not.  I don't know." He sipped his beer.  "Hell, I probably wouldn't know real love if it bit me on the ass."

"I can help you there," Scott supplied, "Who's the first person on your mind when you wake up in the morning?"

"Ah, Hell," Logan groaned, "What is this, Dr. Phil?"

"Just answer the question, who's the first person on your mind when you wake up in the morning?"

Logan sighed, "Marie."

"Who's the last person you think about before you go to bed at night?" Scott asked.

"It varies, usually, though, it's Marie," Logan replied.

"Who makes you laugh?" Logan grumbled.

"Okay, who makes you smile then?" Scott rephrased watching Logan's face.

"Marie," Logan sighed, "but not only Marie."

"Who do you count on to be there for you, no matter what?  Who's your best friend?  Who do you tell your deepest thoughts to?" Scott asked.

"Right now, you, One eye," Logan grumbled.

"While that is teaching I meant a woman dumbass," Scott clarified.

Another sigh, "Marie, okay!  Are we done with this pointless crap yet?"

Scott nodded, "This is not pointless, Logan.  Those things, the answers to those question, it should be Marie if you truly love her," Scott explained.  "When I ask myself those question, the answer is Jean and I know the feeling like I can't breathe when she touches my hand, or when I see her my eyes light up and I feel ten feet tall.  Logan, if that's what you feel with Marie, then that's love man."

Logan took a long sip of his beer and looked at the man he had long thought of as his enemy in a way.  He was trying so hard to help Logan make it work with Marie.  Logan realized that Scott really cared about him and what happened between him and Marie. 

Logan slid off the bar stool, leaving some cash on the bar, "Thanks for helping me, Scott.  I really do appreciate it, but there really is not point.  Marie is getting married to that…that…Cliff on Saturday and there's nothing I can do about it anymore."

Logan turned then and headed for the exit to the Cat Club, but before he could reach the door, his path was intercepted.  By Cliff.

Johnny's Bar and Grill

Marie watched as her friends drank and ate and spent time joking with each other and teasing each other.  She smiled as Ororo and Jubilee shared their reasons for not wanting to ever get married.  She blushed as Jean and Kitty described their solid committed relationships, but while she was participating in her party in body, her mind and her heart were in another place.

Marie excused herself for the second time that evening, and headed for the bar.  She kept thinking about Logan, about the things that he had said to her the night before.  He'd told her he loved her, he'd told her the words that she'd dreamt of him saying for two years.  Only he'd told her too late.  She was marrying Cliff, and in spite of what she'd said to Logan, she did love him.  Didn't she?

Ororo nudged Jean and nodded in Marie's direction, "I don't think she's having a very good time," Ororo commented.

"I don't think she's capable of that right now, Ro," Jean replied, "She's broadcasting so much doubt and confusion about Cliff…and," she sighed, "Logan."

"We have to talk to her," Ororo said, "We have to make her see that she has…" Ro rose from her seat, but Jean put a restraining hand on her arm.

"Let me go," Jean told her, rising from her chair and heading towards to bar.

Jean sat down on a bar stool next to Marie, "Hey, you bored?" she asked.

Marie shook her head, "No, I just have things on my mind."

"Well," Jean smiled, "Penny for them."

"I don't know," Marie sighed, "I guess I'm just nervous.  Were you nervous before you married Scott?"

"That depends," Jean replied, "I was nervous about how the wedding would go, if everything would go well and so on, but I was never nervous about the choice I made.  Are you?  Nervous about the choice you made?"

Marie nodded, "I was fine, fine, until last night, when Logan…he told me so many things that I dreamed of him telling me.  He told me he loved me, he wanted me to run away with him," Marie blurted out.

"Ah, so that's why he left last night," Jean nodded, "Rogue…Marie, do you love Cliff, because if you do…"

"I don't know anymore, Jean.  I mean…I thought I loved Cliff, I thought I loved Logan. I don't know, maybe I don't even really know what love is."

Jean leaned in and embraced the younger woman, "Sweetie, can I ask you a question or two?"

Marie shrugged, "Couldn't hurt?"

"Okay, who's the first person on your mind when you wake up in the morning?"

"Cliff," Marie replied.

"Who's the last person you think about before you go to bed at night?" Jean asked.

"Logan, or sometimes one of the children," Marie answered.

"Who makes you laugh?" Jean asked with a slight smile.

"They both do, a lot of people do," Marie supplied.

"Who's your hero, who do you count on to come through in a pinch?" Jean asked.

"Cliff, he was there for me when Mama and Daddy, I know he'll never leave me alone like Logan did.  But Logan did save my life," she sighed, "twice."

"Who's you best friend? Who do you tell your deepest thoughts to?" Jean continued.

"You and Ro," Marie answered, "and I suppose Cliff."

"Who makes your blood boil, they make you so mad?" Jean asked with a slight giggle.

"Logan!" Marie blurted out, "He can be so arrogant!"

Jean shook her head, "Marie, you know what love is, Honey.  You know that feeling that when you're in the room with someone you love you can't breathe.  You know when you feel like a light has been turned on inside your heart.  Cliff makes you happy, I've seen it, but Logan…there's something special there too.  He was your first real crush I think.  You have to do what's right for you" Jean advised, "And right now I think that would be going back to the party."

Marie smiled and slid off the barstool, leaning over to hug Jean, "Thanks Jean, I think I know what to do now."

"Good, just if you choose Logan, let Ro down easily," Jean laughed and arm in arm, they walked back to their table.

The Cat Club

"Well, Logan," Cliff smiled, "leaving so soon."

"Yeah, well, I'm not really a friend of yours," Logan sighed, "I mean I hardly know you."

"Scott, could you excuse us please?" Cliff asked.

Scott hesitated but Logan waved him on.  He left to rejoin the bachelor party.

"Did you need something?" Logan asked, his guard instantly up.  He really didn't trust this man.

"Yes, I need you to stay away from Marie," Cliff said simply, "She's going to be my wife on Saturday and I won't be able to be all the things a husband should be to his wife if you are interfering."

"Don't be anything stupid and I won't interfere," Logan replied.

"You're in love with my bride," Cliff pointed out, "and she's confused about you.  Stay away from her, you have no place in her life anymore.  I'm the man she's marrying, the man she loves…"

Logan chuckled a bit at that but Cliff continued, "and I won't have you interfering in our lives.  Stay out of our lives, Logan."

"Listen, I don't serve you," Logan countered, "I only care about what Marie wants."

"So do I," Cliff replied, "I would tell you not to even bother coming to the wedding on Saturday, but Marie would be crushed, so for her sake, please, do come, but stay out of her life beyond that point," Cliff reiterated, his voice very low and quiet.

"Listen, Bub," Logan countered, "Marie means the world to me and I'm not going to cut myself out of her life…"

Cliff cut him off yet again, "I know she means the world to you, but I'll say this one more time.  Stay away from Marie, or I will make your life a living hell.  And one way to do that…well, you know," Cliff said dangerously low, "you can get to a man through the ones he loves the most.  You got that?"

"Listen, Cliff, one last time, and watch closely," Logan said with a long sigh, as he unsheathed his middle claw on his right hand, "got that?"

With that, Logan continued his way out of the bar, "Oh," he said over his shoulder, "See you Saturday."

Logan left then and climbed on his bike, heading for another bar.  He didn't know if he really wanted to fight for Marie anymore, it was a losing battle, but he did know one thing, tonight he wanted to be alone.

Johnny's Bar and Grill

Marie and Jean sat down at the table with the rest of the girls.  Jubilee nudged Kitty and nodded her head towards the door.  A tall man in a UPS uniform walked in then, spoke to the manager, a personal friend of Ororo's and headed for their table.

"I have a delivery for a young lady named Marie," he said, "the manager said she was at this table."

"I'm Marie," she replied, innocently, wondering why the others were laughing.

"Then this is for you," the handsome man replied, placing a box on her lap, "do you except delivery?"

"Yeah," Marie shrugged, "I guess."

As she said that, the man opened the box and pulled out a radio.  He turned on "It's Raining Men," and began to dance, shaking his well formed behind and removing his shirt.

Marie laughed and blushed, but sat back and enjoyed the show.  This was her last night of freedom, her next to last night as a single girl, and while she still didn't know if she really wanted Cliff, she knew one thing she didn't want, she didn't want to be alone.