Title: Summerside Roadhouse #4: Revelations and Surprises
Author: Cassandra Lee
Email: cassandralee112084atyahoodotcom
Rating: pg13
Series: Summerside Roadhouse
Summary: Logan has a secret, and so does Kitty. With a lot going on in between.
Category: AU
Disclaimer: I Cassandra Lee do not own any known Marvel and Fox characters.
Archive: DDFH and WRFA
Warning: I should mention that if you think 10 years is too much of a age difference don't read. Also this story "Jumps" a lot, it begins in December and ends in the first week of April. I hope it doesn't drive you crazy.
A/N: Thank you Erin, for your advice. I apologize to the people who took interest, and then I took so long getting this out! Hope you enjoy. Oh! One more thing, I watched an episode of "American Dreams" on NBC the other day, and MY JJ is not based on their "JJ" just in case anyone might have thought about that.
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"Logan? Can I borr...." Marie said as she burst through the door of Logan's apartment without knocking. Over the past few months they had been growing closer despite Logan's best efforts. He couldn't seem to help himself, he could talk to Marie about anything, and it felt good to talk about things. He even told her about how he witnessed his two friends being killed in the war, which is something he hasn't told anyone. Marie felt the same way about Logan, he is the only one that knows she doesn't want to go off to school, that she rather stay and help her dad. They easily settled into a routine of Sunday drives, when they did most of their talking.
No one commented on their growing relationship. Jack already thought of Logan as a son and knew he didn't have to worry about Marie when she was with Logan. Ororo thought it was sweet the way Logan acted every time some guy would hit on Marie at the bar, and the way Marie would act innocently in front of Logan secretly egging him on.
The only ones that seem to have a problem about the relationship is Logan and Marie themselves. Marie wanted more, and Logan wanted to keep a safe distance.
"Logan?" Marie said, as she looked around the apartment. Marie saw a few liquor bottles by the bed, where Logan was asleep. /He never sleeps in the middle of the day./ Marie walked over to the bed and gently shook Logan to wake him up. "Looogannn," she called out in a whisper as she bent over him. "Wake up." It wasn't working, so she took the end of her long hair and tickled his nose. He just brushed it off and rolled over onto his back. Marie let out a sigh. /This calls for desperate measures./ She grabbed both his shoulders and starting shaking him, "Logan Carter! Get your ass out of bed!" Logan shot up and grabbed Marie's wrist and threw her down. Marie didn't know what happened all she knew was that she was now on her back with her arms pinned above her head. Logan was glaring at her and squeezing the life out of her wrists.
"Logan?" Marie whispered.
Logan blinked and started to take in the situation. "Marie, what the hell do you want? I'm in no mood right now."
"I'm sorry, I didn't realize waking you up would be such a bad thing. What's wrong with you anyway? You never sleep during the day."
"How would you know? Your usually at school during this time of the day."
"Trust me I know. Could you please let go of me? I promise not to throw water on you or anything."
Logan let go of her and sat back against the headboard of his bed. Marie sat on the edge of the bed watching Logan and rubbing her wrist.
"Did I hurt you?" he asked.
"No I'm fine." Marie saw his face relax a little.
"What did you want?"
"Can I borrow your raincoat?"
"For what?"
"Well its been raining for three days and Christmas break started today, so a few of us are going mud ridin'"
"And you need my coat why?"
"Because it's big and warm."
"You don't have to work tonight?"
"No, Daddy's letting me go since it's only a Thursday. Can I borrow your coat?"
"Yeah sure its in the closet."
Marie walked over to his closet and started digging through it. She notice Logan sinking back into his bed and throwing the covers over his head. "Logan, are you okay? Your acting all depressed."
"I just want to sleep this day away as much as possible is that alright with you?"
"Just asking. You don't have to be such an ass about it." She grabbed the coat and starting walking towards the door. She glanced back at Logan wondering what his problem was today.
"Kitty are you and Bobby officially dating yet?" Marie asked. They were sitting around the fire some of the guys built while they took a break from riding the four wheelers.
"Yes, he asked me to go steady with him. Can you believe it? I didn't think guys did that anymore."
"Bobby seems like the type that would. I'm happy for you guys," then under her breath she added. "At least one of us has a boyfriend."
"Oh come on Marie," Kitty said wrapping her arm around her friend "You turn is coming real soon."
"I don't know Kit Kat, it seems as though I'll never get there. Logan totally brushed me off today, he was like a whole different person."
"Maybe you should start looking past Logan."
"What do you mean?" Marie asked, looking Kitty in the eyes.
"Don't get mad okay. It's just remember how I used to be so hung up on Scott?"
Marie nodded her head, "Yeah that was only a few months ago."
"Well what I'm saying is, that I was too busy wondering when the next time he'll be home, that I missed what was right in front of me. I realized at JJ's ball game over Thanksgiving that it was time to put my school girl crush behind me," Kitty searched Marie's face and then continued, "Maybe you should too."
Marie looked away from Kitty. She didn't want to hear what Kitty had to say because she was afraid it might be true. "Kitty, that would make perfect sense, but there is no one for me to fall back on. I know it sounds crazy but I know Logan is it for me. There are no other guys around here, none."
"Well, just think about it alright. You know I have nothing against Logan, I just don't wanna see you hurt."
"Hey! Are you girls just gonna sit there and talk all night or what?" Peter shouted from where he was standing next to Bobby, "We're ready to go."
"Bobby, I'm going to ride with Marie this time, so she won't be all alone," Kitty said, jumping on the back of Marie's four wheeler.
"What about me being alone?" Bobby shouted back laughing. His shouts were lost to the sound of Marie and Kitty spinning off.
"I'll ride with you," Peter said jumping onto Bobby's four wheeler, "mine's out of gas."
"Don't take offense man, but you riding with me doesn't take the place of Kitty." With that Bobby took off after the others.
At one o' clock in the morning, Marie tried to be quiet walking through the door. She was about to walk up the steps when she noticed Logan sitting at table in the far corner.
"Logan?" Marie called out as she walked around the bar.
Logan looked towards Marie. "Hey darlin'."
"What are you doing?" Marie saw several empty bottles of beer and empty shot glasses.
"I'm getting drunk. What does it look like I'm doing?"
"It looks like your already there."
"No, I need a few more," Logan said, as he tried to reach for his latest drink, but failed by knocking it over. He tried to catch it, but he fell over onto the floor in the process.
Marie bit her lip to keep from laughing, she had only seen Logan get drunk once before. "Okay big guy lets get you upstairs." It took all of Marie's strength to pull Logan up off the floor. He stood up and propped himself up on Marie. They started walking upstairs, as they got behind the bar Logan stopped to grab two more beers .
"Are you gonna tell me what the hell is wrong with you today?" Marie asked as the got his door.
"Today is my fucking anniversary," Logan said as he walked in, leaving a dumbfounded Marie at the door.
"Excuse me?"
"Yep," Logan sat down on the bed, "I was married on this day five years ago."
Marie sat down on the bed next to Logan, she honestly wasn't expecting this. "Who was she?"
"A girl I met while I was in the military." Logan started pulling his shirt off. After he lost his shirt he started removing his shoes.
"What happened?" Marie asked.
"We fell in love, got married, then I was sent into war." Logan stood up and stumbled catching himself by holding onto Marie who was still sitting on the bed. He started removing his belt buckle, and Marie's eyes went wide. "She decided that she couldn't wait at home by herself all the time. I don't blame her she deserved to go to bed every night, and wake up with someone."
"Umm.. Logan maybe you should wait to do that until I leave," Marie said, when Logan was about to remove his jeans.
"Oh yeah." Logan sat back down and laid on his back next to Marie. "You know she wrote me a letter, I got it just after one my friends was killed. She said that she was sorry and that some part of her would always love me. How can a person do that to someone they say they love?"
"What happened when you came home?" Marie laid down next Logan, propping herself with her elbow.
"She was still living in our house with another man. I was so pissed and so hurt, she never knew what went own while I was out there. I've told you more than anyone, it's not something I could talk about in letters. When I got back she wrote to tell me that she still had my dad's bike and that I could come get it anytime. She wanted a divorce, so I told her I would be back the next day. I never went back."
"So your still married?" Marie had a hint of panic in her voice.
"I think so... I haven't seen her in almost 2 years and I never signed any papers."
"How come you haven't signed the papers?"
"I wanted to punish her I guess," Logan said. He took a pillow and used it to cover his face.
"Well, what are you gonna do now?"
"I guess its time that I divorce her, she knows I'm here she sent papers awhile back, but I sent them back unsigned."
"What's her name?"
"Christy." Logan turned to face Marie. She looked at Logan not knowing what to say. He started to close his eyes and fall to sleep.
"Come on Logan get under the covers," Marie said. She lifted his feet and put them on the bed. Then she pulled the covers over him and turned to walk away. "Marie.."
"Yeah Logan?" Marie turned to walk back beside his bed.
"I maybe drunk, but I won't forget I told you this, and it's not something I want going around town."
"Logan, I never tell anyone anything you tell me."
"Good..." Logan yawned.
"You know Logan," Marie said as she sat on the bed again, "I know you said she deserved more than what you could give her, but you deserved better too."
"Thanks darlin'."
Marie sat there and watched Logan fall into a drunken slumber. She pulled the covers up over him, and kissed him lightly on the forehead. When she got in her own bed she had too many things running through her head to fall asleep. /Logan married? My Logan married? I can't believe it! That makes two women in Logan's life that has let him down./ Marie rolled over onto her side wondering what to say to Logan when she sees him in the morning. She also came to the conclusion that she liked being called "darlin'" by Logan.
Marie walked down the stairs and into the bar to find her dad. She was hoping he would take her to the nearest city for some shopping. She saw her dad sitting at the bar looking over bills. "Daddy, can you take me to the mall today?"
"Nope, sorry blue eyes, but I'm going deer huntin' this afternoon with Tony."
"Can I borrow your truck then?"
"I need it to load the four wheeler on."
Just then Logan came down the steps as if he was in a hurry. He stopped short when he saw Marie and Jack. "Good morning," He said smiling.
"Mornin'," Jack replied not looking at Logan.
Marie was to shocked to speak, Logan shaved his sideburns off. "You shaved! Why?"
Logan grinned and rubbed his jaw. "Yeah I felt like it was time for a change." He smiled and gave Marie a quick wink. Marie smiled back knowing perfectly well what his hidden meaning was.
"What are you doing today Jack?" Logan asked. Logan sat next him, while Marie stayed behind the bar.
"Tony and I are going huntin'. Wanna go?"
"I'd love too, but I don't have a licenses."
"Well Tony's gonna be with us, you could get away with it this time."
"I was thinking about going out to find a truck to buy."
"What about your bike?" Marie asked with concern. She didn't like the idea of not having anymore bike rides.
"I'm gonna keep it, I just need something for rainy days."
"You should look over at East Ford, their having some kind of sale. They've always helped us out. Ask for Joe and tell'em I sent you," Jack told Logan. Marie perked up at this news, the car lot was right by the mall. "I might have to check that place out."
"Logan, would you please give me a ride, so I could do some Christmas shopping?" Marie asked.
"I don't know kid, the mall and I don't really get along," Logan said, as he put on his jacket.
"Pretty please? You can drop me off and set up a time to pick me up. You won't even have to walk through the door."
Once again Logan found himself helpless to the pleas of Marie. "Okay kid, but I'm not staying in town long. Two hours top."
"That's good enough. Let me get my jacket and purse."
Logan looked over at Jack who was still sitting at the bar. Logan noticed he had a small smirk on his face. "What is it?"
"Oh nothing, I know I don't have to tell you to be careful and to watch out after her."
"No sir, you don't have to worry about her while I'm around."
"It's not her I worry about Logan," Jack said laughing as he got off the stool and went to walk upstairs.
"I know what your hinting at, and your wrong." Logan called after him, "It's not like that with Marie, I mean she's still only 18 and a senior in high school."
"Logan let me tell you what I had to learn almost 33 years ago, those 18 year olds well, they get older and those seniors they graduate. I like you Logan, and I trust your judgement, if you feel she deserves better than you then put a stop to anything that gets in the way of that. The same advice goes if you feel you can be all she deserves. If Marie is anything like her mother was at 18 then God help the man she sets her sights on, but I honestly can say I went through hell to get to heaven." Jack smiled a small smile and continued to walk upstairs. He left Logan contemplating every thing that had just been said.
/What the hell was all of that?/ Logan looked up at the sound of foot steps and saw Marie coming through the door. "I'm ready, I hope I got a warm enough jacket for the wind. I think I need a leather one like you have." Marie said as she put her purse over her head. She looked up to see Logan staring at her. "What?" Marie asked. /She deserves the best, which I'm not. But maybe I could try,/ Logan thought as he continued to look at her. "Earth to Logan...." Marie said waving her hand in front of his face. Logan shook his head and turned to walk out the door, "Come on kid let's go."
Marie sat on a bench reading a magazine while she waited for Logan to come and pick her up. She looked her watch and groaned /Two hours my ass! He should have been here 30 minutes ago./ Marie rubbed her stomach as it growled, she was afraid if she went back inside to get something to eat she would miss Logan. /Where the hell is he?/ Marie looked over the parking lot just incase she might see his bike anywhere. After another 15 minutes Logan finally pulled up in a truck. Marie looked at the truck in horror. /Oh my god I hope he did not pay money for that!/ Logan got out and walked towards Marie with his arms straight trying to 'showcase' the truck.
"Well whaddya think?" Logan asked grinning.
Marie just stood there with her mouth hanging open, "I can't believe you payed for that. It's ugly and its has rust spots on it!
"It's a classic!" Logan exclaimed as he grabbed some of Marie's bags.
"Yeah when my dad was your age." She was trying to open the door, it was one of those that you have to use your thumb to push the button in. "Logan the damn door doesn't even open!"
"Your not doing it right, here." Logan opened the door without any trouble.
"What the hell? My seat is missing the cushion!" Marie looked at the truck in disgust, she could not believe he bought this piece of junk.
"Would you relax, you can sit in the middle and we'll put your stuff on this side."
Marie got in and scooted over to the middle while Logan piled all her bags in. "How much stuff did you buy?"
"I got everyone's Christmas present including yours so don't look in this bag." Marie said as she pointed out which bag.
"You got me something?" Logan asked as he still stood by the passenger door, trying to peek into the bag. "What did you get me?"
Marie slapped his hand away from the bag. "Would you stop being nosy and get in so we can turn the heater on?"
As Marie watched Logan walk over to the driver's side, she rolled her eyes as he stopped to inspect something. Logan got in and tried to start the truck but it wouldn't start. "This is just great Logan! Now what are we going to do?" She saw people stop to look at them, she wondered how funny they looked in this ugly old truck. But they wouldn't have to do anything because on the fifth try the truck started.
"See you gotta have a little faith," Logan said as he spun out of the parking lot.
"Where have you been? I waited almost an hour out in the cold for you. I'm starving too."
"Well I stopped to get some of my own shopping done, but the way your acting I might just have to take it back," Logan said. He didn't take his eyes off the road.
"You got me something? Where is it?" Marie didn't see any bags when she opened the door.
"It's behind the seat."
Marie tried to turn and look behind the seat, but couldn't see it anything. "What is it?" Marie turned to look at Logan, she was practically sitting on top of him.
Logan looked at Marie out of the corner of his eyes and smiled "Oh no darlin'," Logan started shaking his finger, "you've been talkin' bad about my truck, and that hurts my feelings."
"Oh come on Logan! I like your truck it's nice and cozy! Please let me have my present!"
"I see how it's going to be only when you want something are you going to be nice. Just wait till you need another ride somewhere. I'll be driving you to school in this truck and all those girls will be laughing at you instead of being jealous like they are of the bike."
"Logan, you could take me to school in a garbage truck and they would still be jealous."
Logan looked at her with confusion.
"It's not the bike they look at Logan, it's the driver."
Logan began to get a prideful look on his face. "Really?" Logan asked, looking at her.
"Oh yeah, just wait till they see you now, all clean shaven. You'll sweep them right off their feet."
"That explains why you had 'awestruck' written all of your face this morning."
Marie slapped him on the arm "I did not!" then she started blushing. She tried changing the subject, "Are we going to get something to eat or not?"
"Sure thing you just tell me where too darlin'" Logan said grinning at her.
Marie smiled at Logan, she couldn't believe how much he changed over night. /Maybe he really did let go of all the hurt. That's the third time he's called me "darlin'." I like it, I like it a lot./ "Anywhere's fine as long as your buying."
Marie sat back and watched Logan finish his burger, they had stopped at some fast food place on the edge of town. "So have you decided what your going to do about your well.... you know.."
"My wife?" Logan asked without looking at her.
"Yeah," Marie answered nervously, she didn't want to jeopardize Logan's good mood.
"Well, I don't know how to contact her so I'm just going to have to wait until she sends the papers again."
"How do you feel compared to last night?"
Logan hesitated before he answered, "I'm not going to lie, it hurts when I think about it, but it feels good to finally be able to let go. Now I just have to find ways to keep my mind off of it."
Marie stared at Logan thinking about different ways to keep his mind off the pain. She didn't realize she had starting blushing again.
"Marie your blushing again. What are you thinking?"
"Huh?" Marie asked snapping out of her day dream.
"Your blushing," Logan smirked. "Tell me what your thinking about."
"Oh its nothing, umm I was just thinking about..." Marie stammered.
"C'mon you can tell me."
"Trust me what I was thinking would be best left unsaid," Marie said getting up. "I have to go to the restroom before we leave."
Logan watched her walk off and started thinking /Okay Logan remember she maybe legal, but she's still in high school. Don't let this flirting go to far./
As Logan and Marie pulled into the driveway of the roadhouse. Marie started giving Logan a hard time about his truck again. "Logan, I still can't get over this truck! It is literally a piece of junk. The heater doesn't even work!"
"Marie, I warned you about talkin' about my truck," Logan told her as he cut off the engine.
"And the color is awful! Its between gold and brown. Who ever heard of such?"
"Okay you know what? I've had enough of this," Logan said. He grabbed Marie by the knee and started squeezing. Marie started laughing and hitting Logan to get him to stop.
"Logan! That tickles!" Marie squealed between laughs.
"What do ya have to say now? Are you going to keep talking about my truck?" Logan asked as he began to tickle Marie on her sides.
"No! Please, I can't take anymore," Marie giggled, trying desperately to get Logan to stop.
Logan paused to look at her. He always found himself staring at her when she was laughing. To Logan, that's when she was most beautiful to look at. Marie kept letting out small giggles while she looked up at Logan. Her expression turned serious when she noticed the look on Logan's face. Using the hand that he still had placed on her side, Logan wrapped his arm around her back and began to move Marie closer to him.
Logan leaned down and kissed Marie gently on the lips. At first the kiss was just a simple, closed mouth kiss, but then it turned to one of need and desire. Marie began running her hands through Logan's hair, and up and down his back. For a second Logan pulled away and looked into Marie's eyes trying to read and see if she really wanted this. Marie was scared Logan was about to have second thoughts so she placed small, quick kisses on the corner of his mouth trying to pull him back in.
Neither of them said anything for a few minutes. They just kept exchanging kisses back and forth. One of Logan's hands began to slide up under Marie's shirt, and that's when he realized what he was doing.
"We have to stop," Logan said. He pulled away from Marie and let his head fall back onto the seat of the truck.
"Why?" Marie asked.
"Because this is wrong, and I shouldn't have done that," Logan said. Then he looked around to see if anyone was here, and could of saw them.
"But I want you too," Marie said, raising up to kiss Logan an the cheek.
"Marie, don't. This was a mistake, and it can't go any further," Logan said firmly. He got out of the truck and shut the door in Marie's face. Which only pissed her off. She got out and walked over to Logan who was getting all of her bags out of the truck.
"What the hell are you scared of?" Marie asked.
"Marie, I'm sorry, but this," he said pointing back and forth between him and Marie, "is not a good idea."
"But you kissed me!"
Logan clenched his jaw and turned to look at the bags in the truck. He didn't know what to say because no matter what he said it was going to hurt her. "Marie you'll never know how much I'll regret kissing you. Your still only in high school, and I wouldn't like myself if I had gone any further."
Logan's choice of words stung Marie to the core. /He regrets kissing me?/ Marie snatched the bags out of Logan's hands and told him, "Well, thank you for giving me a ride, I'm sorry for making you do something you regret." Marie turned to walk off, and Logan called after her, "You didn't make me do anything. It was all me."
Marie swallowed the tears brimming in her eyes. She turned to face Logan and said, "It's okay Logan I understand. I just have one question. Would you have regretted the kiss if it was five months from now? When I'm out of high school."
Logan knew this answer was a hard one. If he said yes Logan could damage everything he has at the moment, including his friendship with Marie. /If that will exist when this day is over,/ Logan thought. And if Logan said no, he could risk leading Marie on. He looked at Marie, she was standing before him holding her bags, the tears spilling over and running down her face.
Logan hung his head in defeat. He shut the door to the truck and placed his elbows on the truck. He placed his face in his hands and let out a big sigh. "I don't know what do," he confessed.
Marie set her bags down on the ground and walked over to where Logan stood. She remained silent and she didn't dare touch Logan in fear that he would move away from her.
"I can't say things wouldn't be different if you were out of high school, because they would," Logan said, not looking at Marie. "It's just that, I liked kissing you, too much, and your so young."
"Logan, I'll always be ten years younger than you, so what's the difference now?" Marie asked.
"I don't know," Logan replied. He still wasn't looking at Marie.
"Well how old do I have to be? Logan, I'll wait for however long it takes," Marie said quietly.
Logan turned to face Marie. He put his hands on his hips and let out an exasperated sigh, "Look Marie, I shouldn't have done what I did in the truck. It could ruin everything I have here, and not mention any kind of relationship you and I have."
"But Logan..."
"Let me finish," Logan said while holding up his hands, "let's just forget this ever happened and go on being friends. Then after you graduate, if something has evolved then we start from there."
As much as it hurt Marie could deal with that. Marie knew if she kept asking for more, she would just end up pushing him away. Keeping her head down she slowly nodded her agreement
"I promise not to talk about what happened today anymore, but you can't make me forget."
Logan smiled a thin smile and put his hand on Marie's shoulder. He knew that he wouldn't be able to forget either.
"Logan, this going to change everything now," Marie said.
"I know, but you and I....Marie you're the only friend I have here, and any kind of romantic relationship would ruin everything. I don't want that to happen."
"I want to be more than friends, Logan you're the only guy besides my family and Bobby who has treated me special. I know you care for me, or you wouldn't have kissed me in the first place."
"I do care for you that's why putting a stop to it, before any damage is done. I'm probably going to regret saying this, but if you were a little older than... I don't know maybe things would be different," Logan said. He lifted his hand and pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
"I won't bring this up again if you promise that we'll still be good friends. None of that awkward shit between us."
"I promise," he said. Logan looked behind him at the sound of a truck coming from the road.
Marie looked over is shoulder to see who it was, "There's JJ, I'm going to go upstairs. Thanks for the ride Logan."
Logan watched Marie as she gathered her bags and disappeared in side. He couldn't help but think that he just made the worst mistake of his life.
When Marie entered her room, she walked to the window and looked out. She saw JJ helping Logan get his bike off the back of his truck. Logan was laughing at something JJ said. Marie smiled a small smile and closed the window curtain. /I'm still going to make Logan fall in love with me,/ she thought. Then she thought about Logan's choice about not letting it go any further, and how she agreed with him. She walked over to her bed and laid down, letting the hurt over Logan's rejection surface. /It maybe a good choice, but not the right one,/ Marie thought sadly. Marie closed her eyes as the tears began to fall again.
"Kitty! It's so good to talk to you!" Marie said over the phone. She was in New York, visiting Scott for spring break. "Sorry I haven't called sooner, but I've been busy."
"Are you having fun?"
"A blast, but I swear if someone comments on my accent one more time, I'm going to have to kick someone's butt."
Kitty laughed, "You know you may not have job when you get back."
"I know, Daddy told me while I was on the phone with him. I can't believe he let you work for me last weekend. Are you going to work this Friday?"
"Yes, and Bobby's helping out at nights now too."
"Really? What about his day job?"
"He still has it. It's nice to be with him all the time now, there's a lot happening between us that I want to talk to you about when you get back."
"I can't wait to hear about it."
"Logan's been a real asshole since you left, its unbearable."
"I bet, what's he doing know?"
"Trying not listen to my conversation with you," Kitty said.
Logan looked up when he realized he was caught, "I'm just waiting my turn, to say hey."
"Get in line, because I'm next," Ororo said walking up to the bar.
"I feel so honored that everyone misses me so much and I've only been gone since Friday," Marie told Kitty.
"Have you met any guys yet?" Kitty asked.
"Well, I am with Scott..."
"Who works all the time, so spill it girl," Kitty said.
"Okay there is this guy name Remy, is about twenty four. He works with Scott at Xavier Inc. He took me to see a play on Broadway, and out to a really expensive restaurant."
"Sounds nice," Kitty said.
"Yes, he is."
"Is he cute?"
"Oh yeah! He looks just like Ashton Kutcher, after he hooked up with Demi. But we're just friends."
"Well I have to go, you better bring me back a souvenir," Kitty told her.
"I will, bye girl."
"Did you wanna talk to anyone else? Logan's here, but I don't see Ororo anywhere."
"No, just tell Logan that a guy friend showed up and I had to go," Marie said.
"Okay, and why?"
"Because it will burn him up that he's not here to scare him off."
Kitty hung up the phone laughing at Marie, when she walked back onto the floor Kitty ran right into Logan's chest. "Hey, watch it!"
"You ran into me, kid," Logan said. "Is Marie still on the phone?"
"No she had really hot date she had to get ready for," Kitty said walking past him.
"With who?" Logan asked turning to follow Kitty.
"Some hot, older guy that's taking her to one of the most expensive places in the city."
Logan shook his head, he knew Kitty was trying to make him jealous and that Marie probably told her what to say. /Your not going to let it get to you,/ he thought.
"Your going to come in July right?" Marie asked her new friend Jubilee.
"Damn straight, I think it would be cool to try a little southern vacation," Jubilee said. "I can't believe your packing already!"
"Well, I'm going out with Remy today while Scott works, and then tonight Scott is taking me to dinner."
"You know you have a lot of girls pissed for stealing Remy's heart away."
"I know, but they'll get over it, besides Remy and I are just friends. He hasn't even attempted to kiss me."
"That's right your hung up on that hairy guy back home. So you think maybe Remy will visit you sometime? Wouldn't that be interesting."
"He mentioned it, but I don't know. And Logan will have to learn to keep his distance."
"I have to go because I have to get to work. Oh chica, I'm gonna miss you!" Jubilee said, jumping up to hug Marie.
"Jubilee it's been fun this week. Please watch over Scott for me."
"I will, and believe me someone needs too!"
"I'll call and write from time to time," Marie told her as they walked towards the door.
"Okay, bye girl!"
"Bye."
An hour later Marie heard a knock on the door of Scott's apartment. She smiled when she saw Remy standing in the hall with flowers in his hands.
"Those better be for me and not Scott," Marie said as she opened the door.
"Of course there for you. I wouldn't dare be this nice to Scott," Remy replied.
"Thank you, let me put them in some water. Come on in," Marie said motioning Remy to follow her.
"So what's the plan for today?" Marie asked.
"You tell me. I have to be a work at 4:00, we can do anything you want too," Remy said sitting down a the small kitchen table.
"I don't know what there is to do, you've showed me everything already," Marie said joining him at the table.
"Maybe we could go to the all touristy places, since its your last day."
"Really? I thought New Yorkers stayed away from those spots."
"I'll make an exception for you," Remy said.
"Can we go to the Statue of Liberty? Top of the Empire State Building?"
"How about we start with lunch?" Remy asked, grinning at Marie's excitement.
"Sounds good. Let me get my jacket, I'll be right back."
Remy stood up and walked around the kitchen area, he noticed pictures on Scott's refrigerator that hadn't been there before. He smiled at the one of Marie as little girl with a missing tooth squeezing the life out of a teenaged Scott. Then he noticed recent ones from this past Christmas, there was one of Marie and another guy Remy didn't recognize. Marie was standing behind a couch with her arms wrapped around the guys neck. He was a rough looking character with dark, wild hair and five o'clock shadow. He had a smirk on his face, and was trying to look sideways at Marie. Remy thought that Marie looked gorgeous with her hair falling to the side, and she was smiling beautifully.
"You didn't tell me you had a boyfriend," Remy said teasingly when Marie came walking into the kitchen.
"Huh?"
"The guy with you in this picture," Remy said pointing.
"Oh, that's Logan," Marie said softly, "he's just a..well he's complicated for one thing, but he's just a friend. See, that was Christmas day at my mammaw's and he had just given me my leather jacket, and that in his lap is the book I gave him on how to fix up motorcycles."
"Oh, I see," Remy said in a teasing tone.
"What? We're just friends. He grew up with Scott, and I thought Scott needed some pictures in this place."
"You ready?" Remy asked.
"Yes, and I'm starved."
"Let's go."
They spent the day doing fun things around the city. Marie was hoping that Remy would kiss her good bye. She was really starting to like him and hated that she had to leave so soon. As they approached Scott's door Remy stopped, "Well I guess this it Chere."
Marie smiled sadly at the nickname he had been calling her, "Yeah I guess it is. I have had the greatest time this week with you."
"Me too," Remy said, kissing her in the hand.
"You'll come down with Scott some time won't you?"
"I'll try, I'm going to be leaving the country for a while. Mr. Xavier is going let me start his new company over in Europe."
"I hope that I'll get to see you again."
"Marie I would kiss you goodbye, but I don't think that would be very fair to the both of us," Remy said looking deeply into Marie's eyes.
Marie nodded sadly, "I agree."
"I'll come back to the States soon, then I'll come down to visit you," Remy said giving her a hug.
Marie smiled and told him goodbye. She left a sad looking Remy out in the hall. She let out a sigh as she shut the door. She had really grown to like Remy, and was sad that there wasn't away to keep in touch with him. She wished just once she could meet a guy that wasn't leaving or had issues with her age.
"I had a great time, Scott," Marie said as they sat at the airport waiting on Marie's plane.
"I'm glad. Sorry I had to work as much as I did. I feel like we didn't get to spend a lot of time together," Scott said wrapping his arm around Marie.
"I still had fun."
"Yeah and Remy did too," Scott teased. Then he added, "Logan's gonna be so jealous."
"What are you talking about? Logan only wants to be friends."
"He does, does he? And how would you know that?"
Marie turned her face from Scott and said, "Because he told me."
"If I ever give you any advice this would be it, when you push someone to hard you began to push them away," Scott said with a dramatic flair.
Marie looked up at him, and tried her best not to smile. When she couldn't hold it any longer, she let out loud laugh, "Scott as right as you maybe that had to be the corniest line, even coming from you!"
Scott just rolled his eyes and smiled back at Marie.
"Hey darlin'," Logan said walking up to Marie at the airport.
"Logan! What are you doing here? Where is daddy?"
"He sent me after you. How was your trip?" Logan asked.
"It was fantastic! Why didn't daddy come?" Marie said grabbing her bag off the ramp.
Logan took her bag and started walking towards the door, "I must admit, I volunteered to come."
"You did huh?"
"Hey you never talked to me while you were gone, you always had to run off with some guy named Remo or Rummy, so I thought if I got you alone you would talk."
They got to the truck before Marie responded, "His name is Remy and were just friends. Not that it's any of your business anyway. Damnit Logan, I thought you were gonna fix this seat by now!"
"I was busy this week, so I didn't get around to it," Logan said.
Marie got in and scooted over next to Logan who was giving her one of his famous smirks. Marie rolled her eyes and let out a yawn.
"Are you tired?" he asked.
"Extremely, I'm going to take a nap, since we have an hour to drive," Marie leaned her head over on Logan's shoulder and closed her eyes.
"I missed you Logan, I really did," Marie said dreamily.
Logan looked down at her and smiled he lifted his arm to put around her. /So much for talking,/ Logan thought. He turned his attention back to the road, and said, "I missed you too, darlin'." Marie looked up at him and smiled then she snuggled in closer to Logan and went to sleep.
"Kitty calm down it's going to be okay," Marie said. She was trying to calm down a hysterical Kitty. They just received news that Bobby had been seriously hurt in car accident. They were headed to the hospital in Kitty's car with Marie driving.
"I've got a bad feeling about this. I don't know what I'm going to do if he dies," Kitty sobbed.
"Kitty we don't know anything yet, so don't jump to conclusions," Marie said placing her hand on Kitty's leg.
They pulled into the parking lot and saw the Drakes through the emergency room window. As they were walking towards the door Kitty grasped Marie's arm for support. "I don't know if I can go in there, will you go ask if he's alive or not first?"
Marie looked at Kitty, she had doubts herself. She tried to see what the Drake's faces looked like through the window, but she couldn't tell. They had heard his truck had flipped three times into some trees.
"Please Marie?" Kitty begged through her tears.
Marie shook her head, and walked in by herself. "Umm, Mr. Drake," Marie called out as she walked up behind him "how's Bobby?"
Mr. Drake turned to face Marie, and she could read his expression. "Oh God! Not Bobby!" she cried out. Marie and Bobby had been friends since the before they started school.
"NO! You have to go make sure!" Kitty screamed, she had heard Marie from outside.
"Kitty he's gone," Mr. Drake told her.
No! They're lying!" she screamed trying to past Mr. Drake who was holding her back, "he can't be dead. He doesn't know!"
Kitty sank to the floor on her knees and sobbed uncontrollably. Marie sank down with her and started to rock her back and forth. Through her own cries Marie tried to whisper soothing words to Kitty who was rambling, "...he doesn't know...Oh God why?"
"Come on Kitty you don't need to stay here," Mr Drake said. He lifted Kitty to her feet and began to walk her out the door. Marie turned to face Mrs. Drake who was sitting with Ronnie, Bobby's 13 year old brother, "If there's anything you need let us know."
Mrs. Drake nodded, but didn't say anything. Marie hugged her and Ronnie then left to go back to Kitty's car. Marie saw Mr. Drake putting her in the passenger side of the car, he shut the door and walked over to Marie, "Are you going to be able to drive?" he asked.
"Yes, sir," Marie said, then she hugged him and they cried together for a minute or two.
When Marie got in the car she looked at Kitty who was laid back on her side facing away from Marie. Kitty was shaking from crying too much. Marie grabbed the steering wheel, and rested her forehead there. She let a loud cry which only made Kitty cry harder. They sat there for a while not saying anything just sharing tears, then Marie started the car and drove them to Kitty's house.
There was a knock on Marie's door as she was getting ready for Bobby's funeral. "Yes," she called out.
Jack peered in around the door, "I was just checking to see of you were ready, blue eyes."
"Just let me put my shoes on," Marie said.
Jack watched his daughter with worry, he knew what it felt like to lose a friend so young. After Marie slipped on her shoes she walked over to her father. Marie laid her head on his shoulder and they walked out of her room.
"Do you want to ride with me or Logan? JJ came, so we all can't fit into one truck," Jack asked.
"I'll ride with Logan."
Jack squeezed Marie's shoulder and kissed her on top of the head, "It'll all be okay in time, blue eyes."
Marie nodded, and went to hug JJ. Bobby and JJ had been good friends, but with JJ away at school they rarely saw each other.
"Hey lil' sis," JJ said softly, "I know it's hard..."
JJ didn't get to finish his sentence because Marie buried her face in JJ's neck, and let out the cry she had been holding in all morning. "I can't help but remember all those time we used to play together, it seems like yesterday we were just kids, JJ," Marie said.
"I feel the same way," JJ told her.
They walked downstairs and saw Logan sitting at the bar waiting on them. He stood up when they walked through the door. Marie thought he looked nice in his dress pants, and white dress shirt. He began to put on a black blazer, when Jack said, "Logan, Marie will be riding with you."
Logan nodded and grabbed his keys, and walked out the door with them. He really didn't feel like saying much, so he was glad Marie was riding with him. He could be silent, and think about things with her there. With JJ he would feel like he needed to make conversation.
Marie opened Logan's truck door and smiled. Logan had put two towels on the seat, for her to sit on. Then she frowned when she realized didn't have an excuse to sit by Logan anymore.
They rode in silence to the funeral home, when they got there Marie said, "I don't know if I can go in."
"You don't have to, I can take you somewhere else," Logan told her.
"I need to go find Kitty."
"She can come too if she needs to leave."
Marie watched the people going into the funeral home. She saw Ororo and her new boyfriend walking in hand in hand. She saw Peter wearing a suit, he was to be one of the pall bearers. That's when she spotted Kitty sitting by herself on a bench by some trees away from the building.
Marie got out of the truck and started walking towards her, but as Marie got closer she saw someone else walk up to her. The guy had on red tinted sun glasses and short brown hair. He sat next Kitty and put his arm around her. Not recognizing who the guy was Marie decided to go in and see the family. Logan came up and put an arm around her shoulders. Marie looked up at him, he felt stiff and full of tension.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"Yeah just stick close to me okay," Logan said.
Marie nodded and look around for Mr. and Mrs. Drake. She spotted her dad talking with Bobby's uncle. Then she saw Kitty walking in by herself, so she walked over to her.
"Hey," Kitty said as Marie gave her a hug.
"Hey," Marie said. "How are you holding up?" Marie searched Kitty's face, she looked like she had just released a new batch of tears.
"Not so good. It just hurts, so much....and I can't seem to process everything yet."
Marie nodded in understanding. She took Kitty's hand and gave it a squeeze, "You can ride with us to the grave site if you want."
"That'll be great," Kitty said. She looked past Marie and up at Logan, "Hey Logan."
"Hey kid, I'm sorry your having to go through all this," Logan told her giving her a hug.
"Thank you, I'm going to sit up front with the Drake family, but I'll find you guys when it's time to leave,"
When they went in the chapel to sit down, Marie was surprised to see Scott sitting next to her dad. "When did you get here?" she asked.
"A little while ago. I came straight to here, so I got here before you guys."
Marie smiled and sat next to him , so Logan could sit with them. Marie cried during the whole service leaning on Scott for brotherly support. When they asked the pall bearers to come forth she felt Logan tense up again. She looked towards the front and saw why; John Allerdyce was one of few standing up there. Marie thought he had aged since he had been working off shore. He had tears running down his face, and Marie didn't blame him. Bobby was a good kid, he didn't deserve to die.
When the funeral was over Kitty asked if Marie would come over for a while. They sat on Kitty's bed, and Marie held her as she continued to cry silent tears. After some time had passed Kitty raised up and looked at Marie.
"I have something to tell you," she said standing up, "and I don't know how to say it. I haven't told anyone, but Jean which was a big mistake because now she's coming home."
Marie knew that Kitty and Jean never got along as kids, and their relationship improved somewhat as they got older, but Jean always harbored bitterness toward Kitty. Jean's own dad moved away when her mother had an affair with Kitty's dad.
"You can tell me anything, Kit Kat."
"I don't know what I'm going to do, mom and dad are going to be pissed," she said as she sat back on the bed.
Marie put an arm around Kitty, tried to give her an assuring smile. Kitty started crying again and said, "I'm pregnant."
"Your what?" Marie asked startled. She was not expecting this.
"I'm three months pregnant. Can't you tell?" Kitty asked. She stood up to give Marie a look.
Marie's eyes went wide with shock, as she saw for the first time the small bump that was growing on Kitty's stomach. Kitty sat back down, "I didn't even tell Bobby, I was unsure about how he would feel about it." Kitty looked up at Marie with new tears forming in her eyes, "I don't know what to do. Tell me what do Marie."
"We'll think of something," Marie said hugging Kitty. She was shocked beyond belief, she didn't even know Kitty and Bobby were having sex. "Everything will be alright. We'll think of something," in truth Marie didn't know what to do herself.
"Hey darlin' you look like you could use a ride on the bike," Logan said, one Saturday afternoon.
It had been two weeks since Bobby's funeral, and Kitty's surprising announcement. "Yeah I could go for one," she told him.
"Come on I might even teach you how to drive this time," Logan said.
"Really?" Marie questioned with a growing smile.
"Sure why not?"
As they drove around the back roads, Marie forgot all her worries and burdens. She wished the wind could permanently take all of them away. When they got back to the road where that the roadhouse was on, Logan stopped the bike and exchanged places with Marie.
"Okay put you foot here," he directed, "and your thumb here."
Marie giggled nervously as he explained everything. On her first attempt to go it went dead. "Oops! Sorry!"
"That's alright just try again," Logan told her.
Marie tried to drive in a straight line but the bike was a lot heavier than she expected and she started to drift towards the ditch, "Whoa!" she screamed.
"Here," Logan said, he had his cheek pressed up against Marie's, "let me help you hold it up at first." He placed his hands next to Marie's and kept his face next to Marie's. "Okay start her up and try again, but only go to third gear," he told her.
Marie giggled from being nervous as she drove down the road and into the parking lot without any more problems. She was laughing with excitement when they got off and started walking towards the door. "How did I do?"
"You did good darlin'," Logan told her grinning.
They walked in laughing and talking when they heard an "Ahem" coming from the bar. They both looked up startled not realizing anyone was there.
"Jeannie?" Logan said.
Jean got up and walked towards Logan, "Yes, I heard you were back Logan, so I came to see you."
Logan went over to hug her leaving Marie at the door. "I can't believe it! I haven't seen you in a long time," he said.
Marie watched as they began talking, neither of them acknowledging Marie. "Umm Logan?" she said trying to get his attention, "I'll just put your helmet in your room, and let you two catch up."
With what seem like great effort to Marie, Logan turned his head to look at her, "Okay kid, that'll be good," then he turned his attention back to Jean.
Marie walked slowly up the stairs and could hear them talking in the background. /Kid? He hasn't called me kid since Christmas. This isn't going to be good./ Marie put Logan's helmet up and walked over to her apartment, and paused when she was near the balcony. That's when she heard Jean say that she would be staying for a while. Marie closed her eyes and shook her head. She walked into the apartment. /This could change everything,/ Marie thought.