Disclaimer: Not my characters, just my imaginings.
A.N.: Many thanks to my reviewers. This is my first fanfic so the encouragement was much appreciated. Hope you like this next part...
Bobby had finally gotten on her nerves so badly about her and Logan that it had started coming between them. A few months ago when he told her she'd have to choose between his love for her and her friendship with 'that old man', she'd found the decision so easy that it was probably a good thing it had happened. Marie's thoughts were getting fuzzy now. Her eyes felt a little gritty and were starting to burn. She shut them and found instant relief. Comforting sleep was settling around her once more when Logan's heavy, muscled arm draped across her and settled them more securely together. Yeah, that choice had been a no-brainer. She wasn't going to let anything come between her and the man who was her friend, mentor, and family… the one person in whom she had total, utter, unshakable confidence.
With one final moment of blinding honesty she admitted that deep down, she felt for him all those things the others suspected and so much more. She'd never known love could run so deep, be so all consuming. Most of the time she kept those things shoved down, though. Logan was too primal, too virile, and too physical to be locked in a relationship with someone who could never really touch or be touched. Marie also openly acknowledged that he saw her as a kid, far too young for him to see as anything else. He'd cast himself in the role of guardian and was very firmly keeping himself there. It was a comfort zone thing for him, she supposed. Her sigh was so deep he was moved from the position he'd chosen and shifted into place atop her with an irritable grunt. Her fingers twined tightly in his dark locks as she fell asleep for another hour or so.
Rogue rolled her eyes as she encountered Bobby's attempt at a vicious glare while carrying her food to a seat across the room. Why were people such idiots, anyway? Just because they weren't together anymore shouldn't mean they couldn't be friends. Maybe they would be when he decided to grow up a little bit more. Sometimes she felt like she was at least fifteen years older than her peers. The truth was, if you took into account the people she now had in her mind, she had passed them by even more than that. No, it doesn't change her personal experiences or age, but by sharing their memories and impressions she'd gained a maturity and wisdom far beyond her actual years.
She spied Logan entering the room and smiled his way as he took his seat beside Storm. Wolverine shot her a wink so subtle that only two people besides Rogue even caught it. The gruff Wolverine wasn't the type to wink unless it might lead to some serious action with the woman or at least that was the impression he gave others. Storm and Rogue's slightly younger friend Jubilee both hid their slight smiles and made no comment. After all, it was none of their business, right? Jubilee was another Wolverine rescue case. He'd come across her while traveling on a mission and convinced, well ordered was more accurate, her to return to the school with him. She was young and admired him with a hero worship similar to Rogue's in the early days. While he kept an eye on her, though, everyone knew it wasn't the same with Jubilee as it was with Rogue. It wasn't better or worse, just different and Jubilee and Logan were both at ease with their relationship.
Rogue turned her attention back to the ongoing conversation at her table. "So, like, Ray is kinda cute, don't you think?" She just smiled at Kitty and listened attentively as the rest of the girls gave their opinions of the guy in question. When Kitty asked specifically for her thoughts, Rogue tried to encourage without really giving an opinion since she didn't truly have one one way or another. "Kitty, if you like him, he must be a good guy. It's what you think that really matters anyway, isn't it? I mean," she assured with a smirk and a wink, "it's not like the five of us would be goin' on dates with you anyway, right?" All of the girls giggled along and talk turned to other matters while they finished eating. Several groups had already risen to dispose of their trays and a few of the girls were still taking classes, meaning they needed to hurry up. Rogue figured she'd get her second cup of coffee after the others had left so she could enjoy some peace and quiet.
When Bobby passed her seat while leaving the room, he intentionally stumbled and knocked against her back, his elbow jarring her sharply. Looking more like the Wolverine than ever, Logan was half out of his chair before anyone could take a breath. Rogue, however, was already dealing with things in her own 'discreet' way. "Geez, Bobby! Would ya' grow up, already?" She rolled her eyes in disgust. Rising, she cocked one hip and planted a hand on it, the picture of a woman with attitude. "It sure takes a big man to act like a second grader, after all." She paused to send a wry smirk over her shoulder at him. "I really appreciate this, though."
"What are you talking about?" he snarled. It looked totally out of place on his innocent-looking features. In fact, he more closely resembled a toddler in the midst of a tantrum than the fierce man he was trying to project. "You're thanking me?"
"Well, yeah! I mean, if anyone had any doubts that I was just too much woman for a little boy like you, then you just cleared it up for them." With a saucy smirk and swaying hips, she confidently sashayed off, leaving him flushing embarrassedly and sulking. Even his friends couldn't help laughing a bit at her insult.
Wolverine sat again, but only for a few minutes before leaving with two cups of coffee and an apple in hand. Moving as quietly as typical, he crossed the immaculately manicured expanse of lawn heading towards the tree line. "Hey, darlin'." He'd known exactly where to find her outside. Just inside the edge of the woods on the outskirts of the campus was a little clearing she'd claimed as her own not long after arriving here. The canopy of the trees kept it cool and the mossy ground below was a natural cushion to sit on.
"Hey," she replied calmly. Seeing the items in his hands, her eyes asked the question for her.
"Knew you weren't really done eating, so I figured you could do with this. Besides, everyone knows you're cranky to the point of scaring the younger kids if you don't get your second cup of coffee." At her smile, he lowered himself to the ground at her side and tossed the apple in her lap before handing over the mug. He took a drink from his own cup before reaching into a pocket in his jacket and pulling out a cigar. They finished the snack in companionable silence, comfortable with one another without filling the time with meaningless chatter.
"I'm not upset, you know. Not really." He grunted so she continued. "It's just so stupid. It didn't work out. So what? Why does he have to be like that about it? It's not even like we were so serious about one another anyway." She rolled her eyes at the idea. "Things couldn't even really go anywhere what with my little 'skin condition' and all. We were friends before and I just wish we could go back to that without all this stupid drama."
"Maybe he was more serious than you thought," he suggested.
"Nah. I don't think so. It's just that he thinks his pride or his image or something has been damaged."
One brow arching towards his hairline was Logan's only answer. He knew the kid was torn up about her breaking it off with him. In fact, Logan knew more about the whole affair than Marie thought. He knew the kid had told her to choose. He could have told Icicle Boy that wasn't a smart move. Dumb kid just didn't get it. Marie was never gonna let someone break her away from him. Truth was, even if she would, Logan wouldn't. He'd do everything in his power to keep his place in Marie's life. What they had was too special, too rare. There wasn't a person in this world that could make him give up what they had. No chance.
He looked over at her dreamy expression examining the clouds through the leaves. A nudge with his elbow brought her back to earth. "Time to get changed for the danger room session."
She smiled, nodded, and bounced to her feet before jogging back towards the mansion. Halfway across the field, she turned to run backwards and gave him a laughing wave. She looked more carefree at that moment than he'd seen in a really long time. He gave an unsmiling salute back and followed her. Crossing more slowly through the grounds, he took a drag off his cigar and inhaled deeply, letting the smooth flavor filter through his lungs before blowing it back out. He wandered towards the danger room, giving everyone time to arrive before him.
Logan was supervising the DR training from the control booth and couldn't help being proud of the way his girl was handling herself. He could see himself in some of her maneuvers and knew she'd absorbed a good bit of him, especially up on the torch, and that it lingered with her still. He was an observant man and noted the way Jack Frost, aka Bobby, kept an eye on her, too. He had to give the kid credit, he was careful about it. She'd never know he was doing it. The kid was sincere. He cared about her. Wolverine knew he probably ought to feel guilty about coming between them. Being honest with himself, though, he knew it wasn't gonna happen. In fact, a purely selfish part of him knew he felt kind of good that he had the same hold on her she held over him. Made him feel a little less vulnerable, a little less sappy. Still, as long as Ice Cube kept his distance, it was good knowing he wasn't the only one looking out for her.