Chapter Six

"Now there's something wrong with this." Bobby said as he tied his shoe. "Isn't Scott the one that should be nervous?"

"You don't think I'm nervous?" the sound of Scott's voice told the other three men that the "fearless leader" was very much in a nervous state of mind.

"Well, yeah. But Logan looks like he's gonna toss his cookies."

"He does indeed Robert." Hank held up three vests. "I have the green, however I don't know what color you and Kurt have."

Bobby thought a second, "Kurt's with Ororo and she's in silver, so I must have the red one."

"I believe I heard Jean and the other women call it 'wine'. It does have the same hue as a nice burgundy from the south of Napa."

"Whatever Doc." Bobby pulled on the vest, "Wine, red; it doesn't get us closer to finding out what's wrong with Logan."

"Wait, I missed something." Bobby's words finally pierced Scott's nerve rattled brain. "Why are we talking about Logan?"

"Robert thinks something is wrong with Logan."

"Has anyone seen my vest!"

"Excuse me gentlemen." Hank picked up the vest; "I shall be back."

Scott picked up a lint brush and attacked his left sleeve. "So what do you think is wrong with Logan? Beside the obvious."

"Well, he's been… The last few weeks." Bobby tried to think of a way to say it, "He just seems off, like he's been thinking about something real big."

"I think most any thought is big for Logan's brain."

"Scott! I'm serous. There's something wrong and you're the only person that seems to connect to him."

"Me, what about Marie? They're like two peas in a pod." Scott started on the right sleeve.

"That's what I'm saying, he won't even talk to her!"

The lint brush fell to the floor. "He won't talk to Marie?"

"That's what I said. You've been thinking about the wedding, and that's fine. But could you take a few minutes now and try to find out what's wrong?" Bobby picked the brush up and handed it to Scott. " It'll give you something to take your mind of the waiting.

Logan had dragged a chair to one of the doors that opened onto the patio and was staring into space when Scott found him.

"Scott."

"Logan."

Silence fell as the two men looked out past the door to the decoration that where set up in the yard. Logan pulled out an unopened cigar, cut of the end with a claw and passed it to Scott. "Congratulations."

"Thanks."

Scott lit the cigar and took a long draw, "But don't think this can get you out of it."

"It was worth a try." Logan took out his own cigar, "I didn't think they'd let me go this long."

"So what is it? The Leafs playing the Oilers this week? Trying out a new beer?"

Logan just sat there smoking.

"Come on Logan, give me something to work with."

"I found out there was another part of the experiments."

"God Logan." Scott pulled up a chair. "When did this happen?"

"You remember that peace of shit that had Marie?"

"Yeah."

"He would bring her dinner and talk to her. She found out about it."

Scott sat for a minute, just thinking. "When did she tell you?"

Logan rolled the cigar back and forth in his hand. "She didn't."

"But you just said…"

"I said she found out. I didn't say she told me." Logan took a pull from the cigar. "I overheard her and Jean talkin' about it."

Scott was stunned. "Jean knows?"

"Yeah, she Marie's doctor so…"

"But how does your past fit in with Marie's health?"

"Turn's out that in my past the doctors who worked on me took all kinds of samples. Blood samples, skin samples, sperm samples."

"Sperm?" A horrible feeling came over Scott. Like a giant fist crushing him.

"Yup, like the stuff Marie got pregnant."

"You mean?"

"Marie has no clue how to tell me the baby's mine. And I have no clue how to tell her I know."

"Scott! Logan!"

The men slowly stood up and put out their cigars. Scott had no idea of what could help Logan other then getting really drunk and just blurting out the truth to Marie. "But it is ironic."

Logan looked at him.

"The one girl whose pants you haven't gotten into is the girl you knock up."

"You know, if it wasn't your wedding day…"

The rest of the bridal party wondered what Scott and Logan were laughing over as they took their place for the ceremony.

"Okay guys, last chance! The pool closes in 60 seconds."

A quick swirl of cash flowed to Bobby as bets were placed on just who would catch the bouquet. There was also a listing for who would finely walk away with it, and, for the really daring, who would come out with what injures.

"3, 2, 1. And we're closed."

The men turned their attention to the women. Just like a team taking the field before a game the single women at the party made their way to patio. As Jean appeared at the top of the steps leading from the house the women began to make the small movements that might help them gain an edge on their opponents, just like a defenseman readying for the kick-off. There was a moment of stillness as the flowers made a clean, crisp arc through the air. Once it came within arms reach all hell broke lose.

The group of gamblers watched, eager to find out who would win. Logan felt is if he already taken the pot. There was Marie, six months pregnant, wearing a sleeveless dress, pushing and shoving with the others. Now if only he could work out the rest of it.

"It's mine! I'll pull the plug! Mine!"

Marie made her way to Logan, waving the bouquet. "I caught it!"

"That you did sweetheart."

"Marie!" The sound of one very mad Jubilation Lee rang out.

"You wouldn't hurt a pregnant women, Jubes." Marie started to edge away from the table, "Remember, I'm pregnant!"

Marie took off with Jubilee close on her heels. "I had it, Marie. And you know it."

"Only by one stem." They had run to the edges of the crowd, and the fight for the bouquet, and Marie was finished.

"Here," Marie softly fell to the grass. "I can't run any more."

"Ha!" Jubilee grabbed the flowers from Marie and began a victory dance.

Marie rolled to her left side trying to get up. "I need help."

Jubilee looked down at her. "Ah, the whale runs aground."

"Shut up Jubilee and give me your hand."

After a minute of puffing, grunting, and pulling Marie was off the ground. "That's it. I need a nap. And something to drink. "

"Marie! What about the baby?"

"Not that kind of drink."

As she walked away Marie couldn't help add. "Dumbass."

"Logan! I had an idea about your problem!" Scott's voice reach Marie's ears as she walked down the hall to her room, but she couldn't see him, or Logan. But she could hear them.

"What problem?"

"With Marie."

Suddenly she wasn't quite so tired.

"Well two really. One, you could get really drunk and blurt it out that you know everything about the baby."

"And what's your other brilliant idea?"

"You find her at a quite moment, sit her down, and tell her the truth."

"The truth?"

"Yes you idiot, the truth. You say, Marie, I love you. Whatever other problems there are to face we work out, but I love you."

Marie's hand flew to her mouth. Logan knew! He knew and he loved her. Logan loved her!!!

"You really think that will work?"

Marie stepped around the corner. "It will."

Logan and Scott quickly looked up. "Um, well… I think Jean's waiting. It's almost time for us to leave."

As Scott made he's get away, Logan drew up his courage. "It worked?"

"Well, it did get the important information across."

Marie started towards her room, all the evens of the day setting right on her shoulders and her lower neck.

"Marie?" Logan followed her.

"I need to sit down. Then we can talk."

Marie took a pair of sweat pants from her drawer and sat down on the bed. She took off one shoe, then the other, all the time aware of Logan watching her. She slipped her pants on under her dress then turned her back to Logan. "Unzip me?"

Logan slowly reached a hand out to take the zipper pull. His other hand rested lightly on Marie's back. That sight mesmerized him. He was touching her skin. He might not have another chance. This could be the last time. But she didn't sound mad when she found Scott and him.

"Thank you." Marie moved to hang the dress.

Logan stepped back, ready for whatever would come next.

Marie just looked him, "Poor Logan. He looks like he's about to die." She sat down on her bed, trying to find a comfortable spot. "God, this has been a long day." Logan still stood there. "Would you mind rubbing my feet?"

Logan could breath again. Marie wasn't mad at him. She wasn't mad that he knew, wasn't mad that he loved her.

Logan sat down and brought her feet into his lap. When he started to rub Marie let out a long sigh. As he finished the first foot and moved to the second Marie began to talk.

"So, you know."

"I know."

"Everything?"

"I had to fill in a few spots, but I think I have it." He set her foot down and made her turn around. He started working the knots out of her shoulders. "You were taken by some creep that was connected to whoever had fun with me. While you where there, they found a way to turn off your skin, then they did this." Logan's hand drifted to Marie's stomach.

"We found you and brought you home."

"Mm Hum." Marie let her head rest against Logan's shoulder.

"Along the way we realized we loved each other. I heard you tell Jean, you heard me tell Scott, and here we are."

"So you love me?"

"With all my heart."

"I love you."

"I know." Logan turned his head so his lips could find Marie's.

"There are a few things you missed."

"Like what?" Logan didn't really care. He had gotten Marie, anything else was cake.

"Like I got a tattoo."

Logan sat up. "You got a tattoo! When?"

"That week." She waved a hand over her stomach.

"Oh."

Marie smiled at him. "You didn't ask what it is."

Logan wasn't sure if he wanted to know.

Marie rolled the top of her sweats down.

"This is good. Marie taking off clothes is always good."

Marie looked at him over her shoulder. "Can you see it?"

Logan felt a grin brake out. "I see it." He reached out a finger and ran it over the words. "Property of Wolverine".