He watched her as she apologized to everyone. Logan could tell that she meant it. So much regret in her voice.

Watched her as she finally seemed to pick up her broken pieces and this time truly start her life again.

Watched her let other people care for her letting them be part of her and Julien's life.

Watched her become a stronger person than he would ever be.

And then something strange happened. It was probably about 6 months later...

Marie was finally returning to what Logan expected was as normal as she was going to get since Gambit's death. He would still catch her crying, sometimes he would let her alone and other times he would try to comfort her. Either way it hurt him seeing her like that.

But he wasn't the only one that was always reaching out to her. There was Scott. Both Logan and Scott had quickly forgiven her for what she had pulled on them that day, Scott probably even more quickly than Logan had.

But Logan was always one to take things way too personal.

Logan almost couldn't believe that during the whole six months he didn't have a desire to leave, not once. He found for once in his life he was somewhat content. He even started teaching self defense to some of the older students. Even started to think of the Xavier institute as home.

And then...

He was searching through the mansion. Logan had just finished one of his classes, was hungry and thought that maybe Marie would like him to take her and the baby out for some lunch. But he couldn't find her to ask.

Finally he asked Ororo who he nearly bumped into in the hallway due to his obsession of finding Marie.

"Oh, Scott made a picnic and took Rogue and Julien to Ashton park up the street." she told him.

Logan must have made a face. Because he heard Ororo chuckle as she continued walking down the hallway. He didn't know why, but every time he heard Marie and Scott's name in the same sentence he would have a sudden urge to pop out his claws and skin something alive.

That day was no different.

Making his way down to the garage he quickly jumped on his motorcycle, kicked it to life and started to the park. Logan usually didn't take to stalking her but he had an uneasy feeling that day and when he had one of those he had to follow it through.

After a five minute drive he parked behind Scott's red sports car.

Logan then sniffed the air, and when finding her scent headed in that direction. He found them quickly enough.

They were all on a blanket that was laid out on the green grass, a basket by them, food half eaten beside them. Scott was sprawled out on his side staring way to intently at Marie for Logan's taste.

Marie was bouncing her baby up and down on her lap, the baby squealing delightfully.

Logan was about to approach them when Scott started to speak.

"I love this!"

"Love what?"

"Watching you with Julien, its just a sight to behold."

Rogue beamed at that.

"You really make a beautiful mother Rogue."

"Thanks Scott."

Scott started to sit up and then Logan saw him frown.

"I sometimes wonder if I will ever have a family to take care of."

Rogue stood up placed Julien in his car seat and made her way over to Scott. She lightly hugged him and then took his hands in hers.

"Of course y'will have a family someday Scott. Y'would make a wonderful father!"

"And a husband?" Scott asked.

"Of course, your funny, witty, smart..."

"Handsome." Scott added sheepishly.

"Handsome," Marie started to giggle, a sound Logan hadn't heard in a long time. "And of course there is always that gorgeous.." she started to roll the words out, thickening her accent "totally hot..." and then her words went back to her normal voice "car of yours."

Scott laughed over that.

"Do you think you will ever marry again Rogue?"

With that Marie dropped his hands, quickly got up and away from Scott and then busied herself with watching joggers go by and kids screaming as they played on the playground. She crossed her hands over her chest and then after seemingly noticing her son again sat down beside him.

Scott knew he said the wrong thing.

"I'm sorry Rogue I shouldn't have asked you that."

Logan watched as Marie took a teddy bear out of a bag near by her and handed it to her son. Julien immediately started sucking on the bears ear.

"No, it's ok Scott. It's just when y'said that reality seem t'hit me a little harder than usual." There was a slight pause and then she continued "Can I ask y'a question?"

"Of course Rogue." Scott said quickly, ready to be accommodating since his blunder.

"How long did it take ya t'stop sleepin' on one side of the bed?"

And this time it was Scott who was squirming.

Everybody knew around the mansion that Scott hadn't been in a serious romantic relationship since Jean died. which was now going on five years.

"A very long time." he finally replied.

Rogue seemed to ponder over that. She then started to speak, softly at first.

"Its funny the things that can stir up memories. Just today when I was getting ready t'go with ya, I couldn't find a brush in the bathroom so I searched my room and still nothin'. Finally I found a comb in the back of a drawer and halfway through combin' my hair I realized that it was one of Remy's. After examining it more closely I realized it still had some of his hairs in it... that is when I found myself crumbled on the bathroom floor ballin' my eyes out miserably... That is why I was kinda late.. I thought I had already packed up and placed his stuff in storage months ago... And then from just seeing his comb.. my life is suddenly back t'me starin' into the damn abyss."

Logan could hear her start crying softly. Scott made his way over to her and pulled her into his arms.

"Does the pain ever go away Scott?" Logan heard her whisper.

"No, but I promise that it does get better in time."

Scott then pulled himself away from Marie and looked into her face as he softly wiped the tears off her pale skin.

"I care for you Rogue, I don't like seeing you in such pain, but you know you don't have to go through it alone."

Logan then wished that her back wasn't to him so he could see more of what Marie's expressions were.

"I know Scott y'keep tellin' me."

And that is when the strange part happened. When the world slowed down.

Logan saw it happening probably before Scott even knew what he was doing. Scott put a finger under Marie's chin, lifted her face up and then slowly lowered his mouth down on hers. Logan waited for Marie to pull away. But the kiss didn't last long enough for her to do so (if she was going to) since Julien decided it was a good time to scream for attention.

Both parted.

"I'm sorry I shouldn't have done that," Scott started rushing the words out of his mouth "I don't know what is wrong with me I seem to keep doing everything wrong today."

Logan was fuming. Walking quickly back to his motorcycle he saw an object flying toward him. Unsheathing his claws he caught the thing in mid air, It was a football. A flat football now that it had 3 holes in it where all the air had leaked out of.

"You mutie freak you ruined my football!"

Logan turned to face the voice of the person with the death wish, his nostrils flaring. It was a teenager, probably no older than seventeen.

"Be glad it wasn't something else!" Logan said heatedly.

The kid gulped, suddenly very nervous as he saw Logan's claws retract, the flat ball falling to the ground near his feet. Fear radiating from the kids every pour.

That made Logan feel quite guilty. A feeling that didn't happen very often for him. Pulling out his wallet he pulled out a hundred dollar bill.

"Here buy yourself a new one.."

The kid eyed Logan then the bill and then snatched the money from his hands and took off in a run. Logan was just glad that he was far away from Scott and Marie so they wouldn't have heard or seen that.

After that happened Logan found himself watching her more than ever before. He knew Scott cared for her, he saw how he looked at Marie.

He watched as Scott was a little more cautious around Marie and Marie around Scott.

Over time it seemed to fade and they became close again. Much to Logan's dismay.

One day he found himself bringing it up.

"So you and Scott.."

They had been watching an old John Wayne western, she was leaning on him, the baby comfortably squished between them. She sat upright at that and gave him a questioning look.

"Me and Scott what?"

He rose his eyebrow and immediately she knew what he was asking. One of the few things that scared him about Marie was how she could read him so well.

"We are just good friends." she then grabbed the remote and pressed the mute button.

"But now that you brought it up I think he wants more." She watched him waiting to see how he would respond.

"How do you feel about that?" he asked his eyes glued on to the TV screen. Marie's eyes looked down at Julien and then back to Logan.

"I don't. It's too soon to feel much of anything nowadays." she then looked down upon her baby again and softy touched his head. "Except for my love of Julien"

That is when Scott entered the room. Marie's eyes light up.

"Hi Scott." she chirped warmly.

"Hey Rogue, didn't see you at lunch today so thought I would bring you a sandwich." He handed her a plate with.. Logan sniffed the air- bologna sandwich, sour cream and onion potato chips and a dill pickle.

"That was nice of you." Marie smiled up at Scott who sat down beside her and then handed her the plate. She looked the sandwich over.

"Beef Bologna?"

"Of course."

"Where's mine?" Logan asked Scott.

"You know where the kitchen is." Scott said while giving Logan his 'go to hell look.'

"Didn't say I didn't"

Marie put the plate in front of Logan.

"Want half?" Logan saw as Scott started to frown, not liking that Marie was giving him some the sandwich he had made.

"Sure." He brought out one of his claws and expertly cut the sandwich in half. The baby cooed, delighted with the display. His claws retracting Logan grabbed it and took a bite.

"Could use more mayonnaise." he grunted.

"No, it is fine Scott, Logan is just being a jerk." she glared half heartedly at Logan.

Scott directed his gaze at the TV.

"What are you guys watching?"

"Western." Logan answered.

"Would have never known that with all the cowboys, guns and everyone shooting at one another."

Logan gave him his 'do you want me to pop my claws in your gut look.'

Marie spoke up

"We don't know the title, we missed the openin' credits."

Marie had finished her sandwich and was now playing keep the potato chips and pickle away from the baby. Scott saw and picked up Julien and placed him on his lap.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

She gave Logan some of her chips which he happily accepted. When they finally finished Marie got up from the couch and picked up her plate.

"Be right back." she told them both.

Several long minutes passed. Neither Scott or Logan talking to one another, although Scott annoyingly talked to the baby the whole time. When Marie returned she had three cans and a baby bottle in her hand. She handed Logan a cold beer.

He gave her a questioning look.

"Got it out of your hidden stash and then ran into Bobby who was nice enough to chill it for me... Most of the younger kids are out on a field trip anyway so I think its ok to drink it now." She handed Scott a Pepsi , he also took the baby bottle from her, which after placing the Pepsi on a nearby table he started to feed Julien.

"You don't mind feeding him?" Marie asked Scott.

"No of course not."

She smiled at Scott and Logan watched as he returned it. Marie sat back down on the couch, got the remote out and put the sound of the TV back on..

They watched the rest of the movie.