This is a rewrite just to improve the original text. no major aberrations from the original text.

Author's note: Pliz R/R and do enjoy (hee hee)

Logan's thoughts in Italics.

I don't really like Jean so don't get offended if I make her seem nasty . . . .

Angel. Chapter 5

Stop. Breathe. You can do this.

Logan was battling within himself about the possible outcomes of walking through the large door in front of him.

It had been four years since he left. Four years since he had talked to Marie. Amazing how even after all that this time, her voice still echoed in his head, calming his soul.

He took another hesitated reach towards the doorknob and stopped himself again.

She'll be 22 years old now. Damn, I wonder what she looks like now.

He brought to mind her picture in his head. Her long chestnut hair with two striking platinum streaks falling over her eyes. Beautiful eyes. Her amusing accent suited her capturing complexion. Her lips were luscious and alluring. Her body was slim, sexy. Her legs didn't seem to end, her-

Stop! You can't perve over her. She's just a kid.

He took another deep breath and exhaled slowly. He readjusted the strap of his duffel bag on his shoulder.

" Here it goes," he muttered to himself.

Logan opened the door and was met with a rush of students to-ing and fro-ing along the main corridor. He waded through the flow of students. As he approached the professor's door he heard his name being called out from somewhere in the distance.

" Logan! Logan!"

He turned to face Jean. Her face was alight with joy, or was it excitement to have another eligible male in the house.

You're not that hot hon'

" What are you doing here?" she asked breathlessly when she finally reached him.

" Can't I come back to visit?" Logan grinned making Jean's senses go hyperdrive, thinking of all the possible prospects of his "visit". To hide her sudden eagerness she decided to change the subject.

" Rogue will be thrilled to see you! You were always so close."

Jean ushered Logan into the office and stood in the background as the professor greeted him warmly. Logan found himself feeling strangely at home considering the fact that he was always restless. He vaguely wondered whether it was the wild part of him that made him so agitated. He belatedly realised that he wasn't listening to the ramblings of the professor. He was talking about Marie's progress in the X-men's ranks. He suddenly snapped his head forward and asked, " Since when did you start calling Marie, Rogue all the time?"

Jean looked at him in total confusion. " Um, you don't know?"

" If I did, I wouldn't be asking you would I?"

Jean gave a little cringe and muttered, " It's not really important, she just . . . preferred the name."

Logan doubted this but decided not to carry on with the enquiry. The professor carried on to tell him about new developments since he left.

Meanwhile, outside of the busy mansion, Rogue was sitting on a bench in a shady patch of the garden. She was inspecting a rose, admiring its pink hue and silky petals. Storm approached silently from behind her. She touched Rogue's shoulder lightly but took a step back when Rogue flicked her hand off.

" Sorry Storm. Reaction."

" It's okay," Storm said in her calm voice. " Someone's here to see you."

Storm said no more and gave Rogue a small smile before leaving as silently as she came.

Rogue immediately dropped her precious rose and speeded towards the professor's office. She burst in without knocking, expecting to see her mother or someone who had lost contact with her since she developed her mutation. She was completely stunned when she realised who had finally returned from his wanderings. She wasn't angry when she saw it was Logan, just bitter. She'd been through so much pain because of him. She didn't want to see him. But she could not deny how much her heart ached when she saw his sexy grin spread across his face.

" Hey darlin'." Logan looked her up and down.

Damn, has she grown up!

Rogue didn't answer, just gawked in utter shock. Logan waited for her bubbly reply. It never came.

" Marie, are you alright?"

Her initial shock was replaced with a cool, icy, penetrating stare. Logan flinched, amazed by her unanticipated hostility.

" Fine. And the name's Rogue."

To be continued . . .