Disclaimer: Not my characters, just my imaginings.
A.N.: Well, we are almost at the end now. Only one more chapter after this. The good news is tomorrow's chapter is a bit longer and I hope will leave everyone happy.
Logan went out of his way to spend even more time with Marie. He walked down to breakfast with her and in no time had established it as routine that they would share the early morning hours together. Each time he passed her in the halls or dining hall he made a point of touching her. Her heart would start to race every single time and he loved the rush it gave him knowing he could have that kind of effect on his Marie.
He made sure they trained at the same time. He watched her push herself to build up more strength, endurance, and flexibility and offered his advice when she asked for it. One day he mentioned his meditation time and she started asking questions about that. Apparently the Professor had pointed out that she might find it helpful in her efforts to control the psyches she'd absorbed as well as her continuing struggle to find some control over her skin. Logan, of course, offered to help her with it and before long they'd started having a meditation time together daily, as well.
Even with all of this, though, they were both still hedging when it came to exposing how they really felt about each other. He knew her friendship was one of the most important things in his life and was nervous about damaging it beyond repair. She was confused, plain and simple. It seemed like he was interested, but she'd spent so much time convinced that he could never see her as anything but the weird combination of friend/ward/responsibility that she'd started out as that his subtle hints were not compelling enough to have her ready to risk his rejection.
Everyone in the mansion had started watching the situation. Some of the boys had even started a betting pool on the outcome and how long it would all take. Jubilee was ready to lock them in a closet together until they came to their senses. "Are you kidding me? I did not work that hard to get her into that dress only to sit back and watch them dodge this thing until we all die of old age! Buy a vowel already!" It was only Kitty's refusal to help with her many schemes that kept Jubilee from carrying out one of her outlandish ideas.
Kitty and Bobby were doing their own little mating dance. Jubilee decided that getting them together would be much quicker and easier than Rogue and Wolverine. With that in mind, she plotted, coerced, and threw them together at every opportunity. In only a few weeks, they were doing great and she could get back to mission "Would they just get on with it!"
The other teachers were well aware of it all. Warren had even placed his money in the betting pool. Storm and Professor Xavier figured at least it was entertaining and there seemed to be no harm being done. She actually rather enjoyed seeing the gruff Wolverine feeling so unsure of himself for once.
They had fewer missions, most likely due to it taking time for Magneto to round up his people once more in addition to the legislators being distracted by serious foreign policy matters at present. Life seemed almost normal at the Institute for a time. As normal as a school full of mutants of all ages with varying degrees of control over their diverse powers could be, anyway.
Marie finished taking papers from the students on their way out of class. She offered a smile to each and every one, lending some of them much-needed confidence. Not until they were all out of sight did her glance drop to the stack which, once added to the others gathered from previous classes, did she take a deep breath at the thought of reading each of them.
Ororo gave the younger woman's shoulder a friendly squeeze. "Just take your time and a lot of breaks and you'll be fine," she assured with a light laugh. Marie smiled back and slid the research papers in a leather bag to carry back to her room. As she headed through the doorway she discovered Logan leaning against the opposite wall just outside. His firm lips lifted the tiniest bit in greeting.
"Here, Marie, let me carry that up for you." He took the bag from her hands and placed one large, square palm against the small of her back, guiding her down the hallway towards the stairs. "How's the teaching gig?"
"I think it's going well. I mean, the students seem to be responding pretty well to me. I wasn't sure how they'd feel about me teaching when I was sitting right there with them just last year, you know? But it seems to be working out."
"Ro seems to think you're doing alright." He scratched the back of his neck and tried to seem nonchalant when asking, "You got any big plans tonight?" The truth was, he felt like a lot hinged on her response.
"You could say that." He just barely dropped his poker face, but she did notice the momentary lapse that let his disappointment glimmer through. "I have more than forty research papers to read and grade. So, it looks like it's gonna be me and the coffee pot hangin' out all weekend."
He released a breath he didn't even know he'd been holding. "Maybe I could give you a hand." Her beaming up at him was plenty of reward. It wasn't as if spending the weekend practically sequestered with her was going to be a hardship for him.
"Well that would be great, but I won't hold you to it. Ya' need to take off when you get too bored, 'kay? The company would be great, though."
"You sure I won't be in the way?"
"Nah, you could never be in the way. I love having time with you. You know that!" She hit his shoulder with a playful punch and crossed to the kitchen entry, immediately heading for the coffee pot. She got a full pot brewing while she pulled out a thermal carafe to keep it warm while it sat up in her room. Logan watched her move easily going about her tasks, a comfortable feeling settling over him. Her familiar form drifted gracefully over to the cabinets to retrieve his and her favorite mugs. They, along with a small carton of cream and the sugar bowl were placed on the tray with the waiting carafe. In less than ten minutes she had it all arranged to her liking and turned to see if he was ready to follow her up to their rooms.
A few hours later they had made some inroads in her work and were ready for a breather. Thankfully it was dinnertime and Fridays were always quieter with so many of the older students going out in groups or on dates. The younger children were still there, though, and several made their way over to say hello, have questions answered, and arguments settled. Professor Xavier approached the pair, settling into a chair beside them. "Good evening Rogue, Logan." After they responded, he promptly let them know what he hoped for. "It would seem you both plan to stay in tonight. If that is so, I wondered if you would be willing to supervise the children this evening. Several of our instructors are already out for the evening, Cerebro has discovered a new mutant whom Ororo and I need to visit to offer our assistance, and Dr. McCoy is in the midst of some delicate research. We also have a new instructor arriving some time this weekend, but we are unsure as to when so it would be fortuitous to have you available should he arrive while I am away."
Logan looked toward Marie to see if she thought she could work with the distractions being downstairs would require of them. He would take her lead since she was the one trying to get things done. At her slight nod, he answered for them. "Sure thing, Chuck. We'll keep an eye on the ankle-biters for you. What's the new teacher's name so we'll know who to expect?"
"You know him already, actually. He is a young man from the south, like yourself Rogue, named Remy Lebeau – codename Gambit."
"Like hell! You can't be serious."