Title: Summerside Roadhouse #6: A Bittersweet Day
Author: Cassandra Lee
Email: cassandralee1120atyahoodotcom
Disclaimer: I own nothing, but the plot.
Archive rights: DDFH, WRFA
Rating: PG- 13
Summary: Marie gets a few gifts on her birthday, not all of them are nice. Kitty and Scott have a dance.
A/N: Thanks Nicca, you my ever present inspiration. Thank you to all the folks you have given me wonderful feedback. Karen, you'll know what scene is for you ;) And someone asked for Hank and Ororo moments, but I can't remember who but there's something in here for you. Ya'll enjoy!!
FF. Net Review Thanks: To every one of you guys that reviewed thank you so much! I hope you like this Chapter. I'm glad one of you said that you hope Scott and Kitty get together. Some one reviewed one of my other stories and said they couldn't read it because in my header I mentioned a S/K pairing. It was too bad because the fic they reviewed didn't have anyone in it but Logan and Rogue!!!
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Marie woke up to see the sun shining through her window. She was glad that her birthday was going to be on a pretty summer day. She rolled over to look at the clock on her night stand. When she realized that it was 8:00, she resisted the urge to stay in bed. As she got dressed she smiled at the bouquet of flowers sitting on her dresser. She received them yesterday from JJ, who was away at football training camp. After getting dressed, Marie walked down the hall to see if her dad or Scott were upstairs. Not finding anyone she decided to go and see if anyone was downstairs.
As Marie opened her door she met the back of Jean easing Logan's door shut. Not knowing what to do or say Marie stood frozen in her own door way.
"Oh God! Marie," Jean said jumping at the sight of Marie standing in the hall, "You scared the hell out of me."
"Sorry," Marie whispered. "What are you doing?" She asked without thinking.
"I stayed with Logan last night," Jean said looking down to straighten her wrinkled shirt, "I'm going home to get a shower, Logan's taking me out for a bike ride later."
"That's nice," Marie said lowering her eyes. She really didn't want to have small talk with Jean at the moment.
"Yeah, I hear that you have had quite a few bike rides in the past," Jean said with a sly grin.
"Logan's taken me a few times, but not as much as he used too," Marie told Jean with a veiled expression. She had made up her mind not to let Jean think she had any chance of getting to her.
Logan opening the door at that moment didn't help, "Hey you forgot your..." he stopped when he saw Marie standing there.
Marie turned to face down the stairs, seeing Logan without a shirt and standing next to Jean was not her idea of a wake up present. "Well, I guess I better head downstairs," she told them absently.
Before Marie reached the middle of the stairwell Jean called out, "Hey Marie."
Against her better judgement Marie turned to look back. "Yeah?"
Jean smiled and put her arm around Logan, then said, "Happy Birthday."
Marie swallowed her dry mouth, then looked past Jean at Logan. She tried to read his expression, but he just avoided looking at her. Marie nodded her head and put a fake smile on her face, "Thanks."
Jean turned to walk back into Logan's apartment leaving Logan behind to shut the door. He stood there a moment and watch Marie walk down the stairs. He could see the slump in her shoulders and it was killing him seeing her hurt like this. /Your going to have put a stop to this or your gonna wreck any chance you had with her,/ Logan felt like he was rolling down a never-ending hill, and if he didn't stop soon he was gonna crash and break something.
Just before walking through the door, Marie paused and rested her head against the door. /Okay get it together. You're not supposed to let it get to you remember?/ Before Marie could answer her own thoughts the door was suddenly jerked opened causing her to fall forward.
"Oops! Watch it!" Scott said catching Marie as she stumbled. "You should be more careful. You wouldn't want a black eye or something on your birthday would you?"
"Sorry Scott, I guess I'm still in the klutz stage of life." Marie said. She let out an exasperated breath and pushed her hair back. "How are you this morning?"
"Great, I just came to tell you that Kitty called while you were still sleeping."
"What did she want? I didn't hear the phone ring."
Scott turned and walked around the bar. He sat down on a stool with the paper in front of him. "She called to say that her doctor's appointment will be over at noon and she would like for you to meet her and Ororo for lunch."
"Did Ororo go with her?" Marie asked. She picked through the paper and found the page with the funnies.
"I believe so," Scott said.
They both looked up at Jean coming through the door. "Good morning, Scott," she said walking behind Marie and towards the door.
"Mornin' Jean," Scott told her peering over the paper. "Where are you going in such a hurry?"
"Sorry but Logan's strict on what time he said to be back, and I'd hate to disappoint him..."
Marie lifted the paper so Jean couldn't see her face and scrunched her nose with mockery. The little display didn't go unnoticed with Scott.
"... I'll see you guys later," Jean said with a wave over her shoulder.
"Bye," Scott told her.
"Good riddance," Marie said under her breath.
With a glance at Marie, Scott cleared his throat and went back to reading the article he was reading.
"You know Marie," Scott said looking up to catch Marie's eyes, "jealousy is not very becoming of you."
"Yeah well if she can act like a bitch, I can at least get away with a little jealousy," Marie said raising her eyebrow.
"I wouldn't waist my time over worrying about Jean and Logan," Scott said with a tone of assurance.
"Can't you see that there all into each other?"
Scott shrugged his shoulders and gave an iffy "Ehh"
"What does that mean?" Marie asked.
"I give Jean three more weeks and she's out of here."
"I don't think so, she's been staying longer ever since April. Kitty thinks she'll end up moving back."
"Marie trust me, I've seen the type of life Jean has waiting for her in New York. There's no way she is going to give that up completely. Besides she and Logan won't last forever."
"Yeah whatever," Marie told him. In her mind she didn't see any sign of Jean leaving.
"Blue eyes, happy birthday!" Jack called out walking through the door.
"Thanks daddy," Marie said walking to greet with a bear hug.
"OH! Easy I'm an old man now you know. My baby girl turning 19 and all," Jack said with a grin.
"Whatcha got?" Marie asked eyeing the envelopes in his hands.
"Just came back from town, stopped and got the mail on my way in," Jack said handing her the mail.
"Yay birthday cards," Marie said thumbing through the mail.
She opened Jubilee's card first. Scott asked what was so funny when she had laughed at the words Jubilee wrote inside the card.
"Oh nothing, she's just ranting about how her boss made her come home from the very nice vacation she was having, that she is pissed that she had to leave a week before my birthday."
"Well, if she didn't go to work I wouldn't be able to come this weekend," Scott said with a grin. He knew Jubilee would eventually get over it.
Marie looked at the next card and let out a small gasp. She tore into the envelope and shrieked when she saw the name Remy signed at the bottom.
"Must be from someone special," Logan said.
/When did he come downstairs?/ Marie wondered. "As a matter of fact it's from Remy," Marie said smiling.
"Remy?" Logan and Scott questioned at the same time.
"Yep. He's in London and he wrote to tell me he is thinking about me. And that's all you two need to know," Marie said turning back to read her card.
"Hey Tony, what brings you here?" Jack asked when he saw his brother walk trough the door.
"I'm here on business, Jack," Tony said.
"Business? What kind of business?" Jack asked.
Tony cleared his throat realizing that he had everyone's full attention. "Well, there is this lady." Tony's eyes went to Logan, "waiting outside. Now listen, I tried tellin' her that she had the wrong Logan Carter, but she insist that you are the one."
Marie held her breath waiting for her uncle to continue. She stole a glance at Logan who looked as though he had grown a shade paler.
"What does she want with Logan?" Scott asked.
"She says that she's Logan's wife..."
"Wife?" Scott and Jack said in unison
"Your married?" Scott asked.
Logan who remained silent for a moment slowly nodded his head. "Yeah, I was..still am just go a head and tell her I'm here Tony."
Tony nodded his head and turned to walk back outside.
Marie watched Logan with concern. She knew he had said a while back that it was time for him to divorce her, but she didn't know how he was going to hold up now that the opportunity was staring him in the face. Logan turned to walk upstairs, Marie reached out and grabbed his arm, "Logan..."
Logan turned to face Marie giving her a small smile, "Just show her the way to my room."
"Are you going to be okay?" Marie asked.
Logan nodded and turned to walk up the stairs.
"You knew about this?" Jack asked.
Marie nodded and Scott asked, "And you didn't tell anyone?"
"It's not my business to tell," Marie said.
They all looked towards the door as Tony walked back in with a woman following him. Marie saw that she was tall, slim and had red hair. /Much like Jean,/ Marie thought. But Marie thought Christy didn't have the same disposition about her as Jean did. /She almost looks sweet./
"Everyone this is Christy..er..what did you say your last name is?" Tony asked.
"Well, it's Carter," Christy said with a small smile.
"This is Jack and his son Scott Summers," Tony said pointing.
Christy shook Jack's hand and then turned to Scott and said, "I've heard a lot of stories about you. It's nice to finally put a face with all of them."
Scott laughed and replied, "I just hope Logan didn't make himself look like the hero all the time."
Christy laughed and shook her head, "No. He knew I wouldn't believe them if he came out looking like an angel all the time."
Marie reached over the bar and held out her hand and said "I'm Marie."
"Nice to meet you Marie, you two must be brother and sister," Christy said pointing back and forth between Scott and Marie.
"Yes, we are, though I have the tendency not to claim him," Marie said.
"I love your hair it looks so exotic," Christy told her.
"Thanks, come around and I'll show you to Logan's room," Marie told her.
"How has Logan been?" Christy asked.
"He's been great," Marie said as they slowly walked up the stairs.
"He didn't tell anyone about me did he? I could tell by the shocked faces."
"No, I'm sure you know Logan's kind of private."
"You didn't looked shocked."
"Logan got drunk on your anniversary and let it slip as I was dragging him to bed," Marie said. Then realizing how that sounded she added, "To his bed."
Christy gave Marie a worried look and said, "I was so young when we got married. Only twenty. Logan was shipped out a month after being married. If I had known what I was getting into, I would have never have put Logan through that. I really did love him."
"This is Logan's door," Marie said.
"Thanks," Christy turning to face the door and knocking.
Marie heard Logan say come in as she walked back down the stairs. When she went through the door she was bombarded questions.
"What happened between them?" Scott asked.
"Was Logan really married?" came from Tony.
Marie held up her hands in defense. "If Logan wants you to know, he'll tell you," she said. Then added, "Yes, Uncle Tony, Logan was or is married, but that's all I'm going to say."
"I have to get back to the station. I expect a full report of everything later," Tony said to Jack.
Jack just waved him off and eyed Marie. "When did you find out about this?" he asked.
"The day before Logan bought his truck," Marie replied.
"Well, I have to start getting some things ready for tonight. Scott since Logan has company would you help?" Jack asked.
"Sure Dad," Scott said getting up off his stool.
Marie went upstairs to get ready to meet Kitty and Ororo for lunch. As she eased past Logan's door she could hear Christy letting out a small laugh. Marie wondered if everything was going okay for them.
Logan let out a small smile to himself when he heard the light tapping on the door. He figured it wouldn't take long for Marie to come check on him. "Come on in," he called out from where he was sitting on his couch.
Marie walked in and shut the door quietly. "Hi," she whispered.
"Hey," Logan said. He had his head laid on the back of the couch and was staring up at the ceiling.
Marie walked over and sat next to him. "I saw Christy leave a little while ago..."
Logan nodded and turned to look at her.
"How did everything go?" Marie asked.
"It went fine. I signed the papers finally," Logan told her.
"How do you feel?"
"I don't know, I guess I wasn't expecting her to bring the papers personally, so that threw me for a loop," Logan told her.
Marie gave him a sympathy smile and asked, "Did you guys talk about what happened?"
"Yeah, I guess you could say we've finally ended....on a good note," Logan told her. He put his arm around Marie. He did it more for comfort and not pleasure, but Marie becoming stiff at the contact got his attention.
"Logan..."
"She liked you though," Logan said before Marie could say anything.
"Huh?"
"She said that her first impression of you was that you had a 'unique flare' going for you," at Marie's confused look Logan continued, "She was always like that, first impressions meant a lot to her. I told her about our first meeting over a year ago and she had a fit of laughter."
Marie smiled at the memory of hollering at Logan out the window. She began to relax in his embrace that she was still in. She smiled at Logan. "I'm glad it went well for you," she told him.
"Yeah me too. She even gave me the ring back wanna see it?"
"Sure why not," Marie replied.
Still keeping his arm around Marie, Logan dug the ring out of his pocket. He opened the box and held it out for her to see.
"It's very pretty," Marie commented.
"Go a head you can say it's small. At the time I could barely afford it."
"How did you propose?" Marie asked.
Logan looked sideways at her trying to read her expression. He smiled at her and told her the story, "Well, I was really nervous and so one night we were out having pizza and," Logan stopped and let out an embarrassed laugh, "oh man, I was such an idiot, I looked at her and held the box open and said 'So you know, you wanna?'"
Marie laughed and said, "I'm surprised you got away with that."
Logan shook his head. "Oh no I didn't at first, she stormed out so pissed off, that I had to run to catch up with her. It was a bad thunderstorm and I shouted for her to stop. Then she turned and told me that if I couldn't at least ask the question than there was no need for it to be answered. I was so devastated that I just hollered out 'Will you marry me?' and she," Logan let out another laugh at the memory, "she stood there in the rain and all she said was 'okay'." I didn't even get a yes after all that." Logan shook his head and looked at the ring then added, "We laughed over it later."
Marie took the ring and looked it over. "What are you going to do with it now?"
"I guess take it to a pawn shop."
Marie handed Logan the box back as Logan began to speak, "Marie I'm real sorry for..." Logan paused when he heard someone walking through the door.
"Logan?" Jean called out stopping at the sight of Marie and Logan on the couch.
Marie looked back and forth between Logan and Jean. /Great! Now I'll never know what he was about to say./
"What the hell is going on here?" Jean asked. From where she was standing it looked as though Logan as holding out the ring and Marie was accepting it. Logan's arm around Marie didn't help either.
"Look, Jean I can explain," Logan said getting off the couch.
"Well somebody damn well better," Jean demanded, crossing her arms across her chest.
Marie got up to leave when Jean stopped her. "Where are you going?"
"I have somewhere else to be, thank you," Marie told her.
"Listen Jean, there is something I need to tell you...." Logan said but was interrupted.
"Usually a man proposes to his actual girlfriend and not someone else."
Marie rolled her eyes in frustration of the situation. She watched Logan let out a sigh and she wondered if he was starting to see what Jean was really worth.
"Logan, I'm gonna leave you two alone," Marie said. She walked past a scowling Jean and walked through the door.
As she shut the door she heard Logan start to explain about the ring. When she reached the bottom of the stairs she heard Jean shout "Married! What do you mean married?"
Marie let her mind wonder to what the status of Logan and Jean's relationship would be when she returned from her lunch date with Kitty and Ororo.
"Okay, Kitty your free to go once the nurse comes back with the birthing classes sign up sheet," Hank told her looking over a medical chart. "Any questions?"
"No, not this time," Kitty replied. "Wait is there any chance that my due date will move up anymore?"
"Maybe, it just depends on how well the fetus is developing. Your original October date was just a guess counting from you last menstrual cycle, and the further along you become we're able to get more of a clear picture of your actual due date."
"Okay just wondering," Kitty said.
Hank smiled at Kitty and then he smiled at Ororo who had remained quiet most of the visit. "Have a good day Kitty, and you also Ororo," Hank told them.
"You too Dr. McCoy," Ororo said with a smile.
"Oh please, ya'll don't have to be formal around me," Kitty said waving her hands at them.
Ororo giggled and walked over to where Hank was standing. "Well in that case I guess I can give you this," Hank said. He bent down and gave her quick kiss on the lips.
Ororo smiled up at him and asked "Will I see you any tonight?"
"Yes. I'll stop by," Hank told her. He gave her another kiss then stepped out the door.
Ororo turned and let out a small squeal, "Isn't he amazing?" Ororo stopped when she saw the longing look on Kitty's face.
"Oh Kitty, I'm sorry we should have been more considerate and stepped out," Ororo said.
"Oh no it's fine," Kitty said shaking her head. "Don't feel like you have to do that around me. I just miss it that's all."
"You'll get it back one day. I just know it," Ororo said rubbing her shoulder.
"Can I share something with you?" Kitty asked. Kitty was hesitant because she and Ororo have never been really close. The only reason she asked Ororo to come today was because of Hank being her doctor.
"Sure," Ororo said. She pushed herself up onto the bed next to Kitty.
"Public affection is not the thing I miss the most. What I'm missing is something that I've never actually had. The nights get to be really long at my house, especially when I'm laying in bed by myself," Kitty paused giving Ororo a small smile, "Growing up I used to hear how when my mother was pregnant with me, I would constantly kick if my dad wasn't in the bed with her. Momma said that I would stop kicking as soon as he put his hands on her belly. I feel like I'm missing out on memories like that."
"Your gonna have great memories of your pregnancy, just give it time," Ororo said.
Just then the nurse came in with the sign up sheet. "I need you to put your name down and if your going to have a partner or not please," the nurse told her handing her the paper with a pen.
Kitty looked up at the nurse and asked, "Do I have to have a partner?"
"It's not necessary, but it's always helpful to have someone with you. Especially for the session that teaches you the breathing exercises. It will be good for the person who is going to be in the room with you during the delivery to know what's going on," the nurse explained.
"Do I have to choose now or can I wait?" Kitty asked.
"Sure that's fine, the nurse that's doing the classes just likes to know a head of time, so its no big deal."
"Okay," Kitty said with relief. She signed the paper and handed it back to the nurse.
"Here is your packet you can look over, it just prepares you for the what the classes will go over. The classes are at the end of August a month, before you due date. Have a nice day," the nurse told her and then walked out.
"Whew," Kitty said, "I don't know about you but I'm starved."
"Very, let's go meet Marie," Ororo told her.
Later that night Marie and Kitty sat at a table in a corner of the roadhouse watching the people in the crowd. They just witnessed Larry and Logan throw out a couple of drunks. Watching Logan sparked a thought in Kitty's head.
"Did anything ever happen between you and Logan? Before Jean came back?"
"What?" Marie asked confused. She didn't know where Kitty was coming from.
"It's just that I know you were interested in Logan for a long time, and it seem that you two got really close at one time, so I was just wondering what happened?" Kitty asked shrugging her shoulders.
Marie looked down at her glass of water and took a sip before answering. "He kissed me once, but then well," Marie let out a sigh, "I guess you can say he rejected me after it was over."
Kitty was about to say something when Scott walked up, so she remained silent.
"Kitty what do you say we dance?" Scott asked.
"Are you crazy?" Kitty asked with raised eyebrows. "Do you not see the stomach that's sticking out of me? I'll have to stand three feet away from you."
"Oh come we've all been out on the floor it's your turn," Marie said urging her to go.
"Yes, I've danced with Marie, and Jean since Logan's indisposed, and I don't think it's fair if all you can do is sit back and watch," Scott said. He grabbed Kitty's hand and pulled her up from her seat.
Kitty looked at Marie with a grin on her face. She followed Scott out onto the floor.
"Scott, I appreciate you being nice but you don't have to do this," Kitty said when they reached the center of the floor.
"Nonsense, it's a privilege to be able to dance with you," Scott said, "Let's see how we can make this work." He tried to position Kitty so her stomach wouldn't be in the way, but that wasn't working.
"Aha! Turn around and put your back to me," Scott told her.
Kitty turned and pressed herself against Scott. She had to tell herself to remember to breathe. Scott grabbed her hands and the rested them on top of her belly. "Is it okay to put my hands here?" he asked.
Kitty could only nod her approval. Scott sensed her nervousness and tried to think of something to ease it.
"Do you remember the time we danced at my grandmother's?" he asked.
Kitty laid her head back onto Scott's shoulder and giggled. "Oh my God! I wish I could forget about that. I had to be six or seven. I remember she was so insistent on teaching those old waltzes."
"You kept stepping on feet," Scott told her.
"Then you told me to stand your feet and we danced like that for the rest of the lesson," Kitty said laughing.
Scott laughed with her, he paused his movements when the song ended. He was thankful another slow song came on, he knew they would never be able to dance to a fast one.
"Want to dance to another with me?" Scott asked.
Kitty turned slightly to look up at his face. "Sure I'd love too," she told him.
She turned back around and laid her head back onto his shoulder once again. Kitty hoped she wouldn't read more into this than there was, but as always it's a little late for that.
Marie sat and watched Scott dance with Kitty, she wondered what was happening between them as they danced and laughed. Her view was interrupted by Jean walking over to sit next to her.
"Marie I came over to apologize for how I jumped to conclusions this morning," Jean said sitting next Marie.
"That's alright," Marie said.
"I should have known he wouldn't be proposing to you of all people," Jean said taking a sip of her mixed drink.
Marie turned to look away from Jean, and muttered slight curses under her breath. She knew she should get up, but she didn't listen to the voice that told her to do so.
"Would you look at that," Jean said.
Marie turned to see what held her attention. She saw Jean's gaze fixed on Scott and Kitty.
"That sure is nice of Scott, but he's probably feeding her hormonal thoughts now. It's too bad that she's in the position she's in. She'll probably never get to have a good life now," Jean said.
"You should really lay off Kitty, she get's enough of that shit from her parents," Marie said.
"Well she needs someone to be hard on her. I mean look at her, she's pregnant and in a bar! Can't get much more pathetic than that," Jean said with a snort.
"Kitty's doing the best she can with what she has. You really need show more support," Marie practicably shouted. She was really getting aggravated with Jean.
"She was the one that went whoring around, but I guess you didn't notice since you had eyes only for Logan back then or do you still?"
Marie looked at Jean with shock, she didn't know where this was all coming from. "I don't know where the hell you're going with this, but you better back off now," Marie told her firmly. By now their voices had drawn attention from some people close by.
"Or what? You gonna run to daddy or better yet are you gon..." Jean let out a gasp as cold water hit her face. She opened her eyes to see Marie standing up over her with an empty glass in her hand.
"You really need to cool off Je.." Marie was stopped by Jeans hand slapping her across the face.
"You bitch! Thinking your so perfect and trying to get Kitty to move in here. What could possibly make you think that Logan would want you?" Jean asked.
Marie reached out and grabbed Jean by the hair and pulled her down. One of the onlookers hollered "Chick fight!" And everyone stopped to watch the two roll around on the floor.
Logan looked up at the sound of people shouting to see two women rolling around on the floor. "Oh shit!" he said when he saw Marie's distinctive hair flying everywhere. He opted for jumping over the bar instead over going around. He pushed his way through the crowd wondering where Jack was. When he got to the fight scene he saw Hank grabbing the other woman whose hair covered up her face. Logan bent down and grabbed Marie who was still shouting.
"Bitch!! You don't know a damn thing!" Marie hollered as Logan threw her over his shoulder and carried her away from the crowd.
"Logan! Put me the fuck down!! NOW!"
"I don't think so Marie, you need to calm down," Logan said. He made it to the stairs and began to walk up to his room.
Marie continued to beat her fist against his back. Every time she tried to raise herself up Logan would tilt her further back, making it impossible for her to get loose. And if she wasn't so pissed, she would enjoy the nice view of his ass in front of her.
Instead of letting her go as soon as they got into his room he continued walking to the bathroom.
"Logan I swear to God if you don't put me down, you'll regret it!" Marie tried to see what he was doing.
Logan reached his shower stall and turned on the cold water. Marie let out a shriek when Logan dropped her on her feet and the cold water hit her back. She glared at Logan as the water ran over them both.
"I can't believe you did this!"
"Well you wouldn't calm down. Why the hell were you fighting?" Logan asked.
"Because the bitch pissed me off and said the wrong things," Marie said putting her hands on her hips.
Logan studied her face and saw the outline of a bruise forming on her cheek. "What did she say?"
Marie eyed him suspiciously. /Does he even know who I was fighting?/ "She called Kitty a whore and said I wasn't woman enough for any man," Marie told him. She began to shake from the cold water.
"Who was it?"
Marie looked away from Logan and whispered, "Jean."
Logan hung his head, he knew that most of this was all his fault. "Jean's upset because I turned her down this morning."
Marie looked up at Logan with eyed eyes. "What?"
Logan looked at Marie shivering from the cold water, he reached over and turned the water off.
Marie subconsciously leaned into his body heat as he reached around her.
"Let me get you a towel," Logan said quietly.
Marie's mind was racing as Logan wrapped the towel around her and rubbed her shoulders. "Jean wants something I can't give her, she's leaving in three days."
/That's it? After all these months and Jean just stayed over last night./ As if Logan was reading her thoughts he continued.
"Here sit on this chair," he told her as they entered the kitchen. "That's what I was trying to tell you earlier before Jean came in that it was nothing like she implied it to be. We've been good friends that's all. Nothing more than a hug between friends has happened between us."
"I don't understand, what about that day we took a ride, you didn't speak up." Marie said.
"I was confused that day. But after that I began to see what you were talking about and I tried to get Jean to see that Kitty and Bobby were a couple and that Kitty should be treated more fairly, but she would never give in," Logan said. He moved another chair around the table so he could sit across from her.
"Marie, I know I've probably screwed up anything that we had going for us, but it's always been you for me, never Jean," he said grabbing her hands to hold in his.
"How did Jean end up staying over last night?"
"She was here when we closed last night and came up for coffee, she fell asleep on the couch. I knew what she was doing this morning when she told you happy birthday. That's why I couldn't look at you," Logan said giving her hand a squeeze.
Marie was completely and utterly dumbfounded. She didn't know what to think, all this was new to her.
Logan watched her as she thought things over. He wondered if it was too late. "Marie please give me the chance to prove to you...." he stopped when he saw tears forming in her eyes.
"Oh Logan, don't make me do this not on my birthday." She pulled one of her hands away from him and began to rub her forehead.
"It's okay you don't have to make a decision now. But just think about it." He leaned over and gave her small kiss on the lips.
Marie stiffened at the contact. She wanted to give in so much but the hurt was to strong for her to deal with. Logan understood her actions and stood up, he walked over to his night stand and took something out of the top drawer.
"Happy birthday Marie," he said. He placed the small gift on the table and turned to leave.
Marie didn't look at him when he walked out the door. Instead she just eyed the gift on the table. After a minute or two she got up and walked towards the door grabbing the gift along the way. She stopped and stared at it some more. Debating what to do about it. Hearing Kitty call for her, Marie made her decision. Knowing she will regret it later, but thinking it was for the best, she placed the gift back on the table. She knew Logan would get the message.
When Logan was done with work he walked back upstairs wondering what he might find. He hadn't seen Marie the rest of the night, he still didn't know what her answer would be. He switched on the light and looked at the table. His heart sank when he saw the unopened gift on the table. He walked over and picked it up. He opened it and took his dog tags out and put them back around his neck. He crumbled the note he had written explaining how important they were to him and how important Marie is to him. Logan stood there not knowing what to do.
The next morning Scott found a note from Logan taped on the door. Saying that he's sorry for the short notice, but he had to take care of things somewhere else and that he would be back in a week or two. After hearing the note, Marie crawled into bed and cried herself back to sleep.