Disclaimer: Not my characters, just my imaginings.
A.N.: This has been so much fun and I only hope you have all enjoyed it as much as I have. Thanks to all those who've reviewed. You gave me a lot more confidence and reading your thoughts and reactions only makes it more fun for me. Thanks also to those who watched so closely for updates. It means a lot to me that you liked it enough for that. Here we go... the final chapter!
It had taken more than half an hour for the professor to calm his friend. "We will always have open doors to those who need our help or are seeking a second chance. He is seeking the opportunity to start fresh. There are certain details regarding his time with the Acolytes with which you are unacquainted that had a large impact on the decision Ororo and I made. I do not have time presently to go over the details with you, but promise to do so tomorrow. For now, please try to trust our judgment and make him welcome."
Logan wasn't impressed, but knew there really wasn't time right then and that he had no choice in it all anyway. Grudgingly he agreed not to kill 'Gumbo' and hoped the Bayou reject didn't arrive until these 'details' were explained. He and Rogue turned their attention to the youngsters in their care for the next several hours.
Most of the kids had already gone to bed for the night. Only a few remained to finish the movie they'd started watching. Marie had gathered up the numerous half-eaten bowls of popcorn and soda cans and cleaned up the kitchen. Several of the older students were home and drifting quietly through the mansion as they began settling in for the night.
Logan was returning to the rec room after carrying one sleepy young boy to his bedroom. He paused to lean against the doorframe and study his little Marie as she straightened the stack of papers she'd been working on to slip them into her bag. She was about halfway done with her grading and had still managed to find time to help the kids select a movie to watch, settle a foosball dispute or three, and soothed one little girl who'd been picked on one too many times that day and had begun crying.
Her generosity was one of the many things that made people take to her so well and want to shield her, even from herself. She always made time for others. Even though it frustrated him sometimes since he selfishly wanted more of her time to himself, he also admired it in her. John had gone for a walk outside, which Logan knew meant the kid desperately needed a smoke, and was on his way back in. Logan sniffed the air recognizing John's scent, the lingering aroma of tobacco, and something he didn't recognize.
He strode to the front door to see who was with the flamethrower. When the lean, tall man lifted his head Logan noticed his red on black eyes right away. Something about the arrogant confidence in his carriage told Logan that there was a lot more to this guy's mutation than weird eyes. "Well isn't this just perfect?" Logan figured he should have known the idiot would show up when he had no choice but to try being civil. "Get your skinny ass in here, I guess." Yep, diplomacy was a beautiful thing.
"'Ello dere, mon ami," he replied with a thick Bayou accent.
"The Prof. said you might show up tonight."
Marie came to the hall to see who Logan was talking to and the newcomer's attention immediately fixed upon her. "Ah, mon belle cherie…" he murmured as he bent over her hand. His lips lingered over her gloved fingers too long for the comfort of either Logan or John. She shook him off and was about to tear into him, but John and Logan found ways to surprise her into silence.
John's clenched jaw barely let him offer to show the man to a room for the night while Logan shifted to stand so close behind Marie that her entire back was pressed against some part of him. Being so close, she felt the tension corded throughout his sturdy body. When one of his arms wrapped her waist, his hand lying low on her stomach, she was too floored to even protest the proprietary action.
"Good idea, Pyro. Cajun, just follow him on upstairs. Professor X will be back before mornin'. You can get the lowdown then."
"If you be too busy, den mebbe de fille wan' show me de way." Pyro couldn't believe how clueless the man was. Obviously he liked living dangerously.
John didn't even need to look to confirm the snikt of Wolverine's claws making their appearance. He'd seen that one coming. Marie only jerked a tiny bit when the hand cradling her as near as possible to him let the claws slide out.
"I don't think so, Cajun. You might want to go now," he rumbled forth. Logan's other hand rose to rest on Marie's shoulder possessively sending an unmistakable message. This woman was taken.
A knowing twinkle of appreciation at the humor in the situation glinted in the unusual eyes. While it was clear both of these guys were making sure he knew the beauty was off-limits, the feral's touch was clearly not expected or completely comfortable for her. Things at this school were already proving to be very entertaining.
"Of course, ami. Mademoiselle, as always et was truly a pleasure." He sent her a wink that had a charming blush rising on those smooth cheeks. He remembered the feel of her soft yet firm body writhing against his such a short time ago in that alley. Is a shame, really. Such a tres belle fille an' I be too late to win 'er.
Wolverine tried to calm down, focusing on stilling his throbbing fury. He retracted the claws for Rogue's safety when all he wanted was to chase after his Cajun prey and gut the twiggy prick for making moves on his girl. Not until Marie's uncertain voice spoke quavering, "Um, Logan? Sugar?"
"Yeah?" he managed to snarl.
"Uh," she didn't really know what to say. Finally the vague doubt penetrated the angry haze that he swam in and he looked down at her to see her gesturing questioningly at his arm clinging to her.
"Oh, uh… yeah. Sorry, darlin'."
"Well, it's okay. Ah mean, Ah don't mahnd it just suhprised meh, ef ya' know whut Ah mean."
He still hadn't released her. "I like it, darlin'. You feel good. Feels right." That was putting it out there about as much as he felt like he could without being a complete wuss. He wasn't sure what she'd do or say, but it was too late now. He could only hope she didn't hit him too hard.
Marie felt so breathless she couldn't speak for several moments. Instead she let her head drop back against his sturdy chest. At last she could sigh out, "Yeah."
They could both hear the noisy approach of several of the older girls whose night out dancing had obviously been a lot of fun. The spell holding the unusual pair in place was shattered and they sprang apart. "Well, uh, I guess I'd better get my stuff now. I think I might turn in since pretty much everyone is back."
"You do look tired. See ya' in the mornin'?" They'd fallen into the habit of having breakfast together each morning and now neither was sure where they stood. They both knew something had shifted in their relationship tonight. Neither she nor he knew what it meant or was leading to, though.
She nodded before walking away to retrieve her things from the rec room and then made her way to her own room. Later he stood outside her door listening for the steady, even breaths that indicated her being deeply asleep. Reassured, he went to his own room to lay awake.
Professor Xavier and Ororo had spoken extensively with Remy and had assigned him a room. He would begin teaching French next week in addition to assisting in training in hand-to-hand combat along with the other instructors. His agility and specialized training from his family would prove invaluable in training and on missions. All of that was aside from his ability to charge objects allowing him to turn almost any object into an explosive.
Having a slight history with Storm, Remy shared with her his 'welcome' from Pyro, Wolverine, and Rogue. They shared a chuckle over the incident. "Are dere eny oder filles I should avoid?"
Storm chuckled along with the professor. "Many of the other relationships here are far more typical than what Wolverine and Rogue share. I do believe it would be wise of you to heed the, er, caution which he extended to you last night."
"Yeah, I t'ought so. She sure is a belle femme, dough." His smiling regret was taken in the light vein it was intended and the meeting ended with Ororo leading Remy on a tour and introducing him to those they came across.
Meanwhile, breakfast and every other encounter between Marie and Logan had become exercises in awkwardness. The problem was the duo was accustomed to doing most things together whenever possible. Their discomfort started being noticed more and more by the mansion's other inhabitants which led to uneasiness every time they entered a room.
They both had a rare free afternoon later that week. Usually both were busy with school business, training, her college work, repairs and so on, but today they were both at loose ends. After roaming the halls for a bit, Logan spied Marie sitting in a window seat holding a book in her lap without really reading it. Instead she stared out the window to the grounds. He knew autumn was one of her favorite times of year. "Hey, Marie." When she turned to him with the most open expression he'd seen since the night of the Cajun's arrival he knew he was doing the right thing. He jerked his head in the direction of the door. "C'mon, let's go for a ride. You can finish reading later."
"That would be real nice, Logan. Just let me go grab my jacket." At his nod, she jogged off and he acknowledged that he felt better already.
They rode for miles just enjoying the freedom of it. Marie took in the slate grey skies and the patchwork quilt of colored leaves covering the branches and roadside as they cruised down the quiet roads. When Logan pulled back into the main drive for the Institute, she was relaxed and grinning, her face pressed against his back and her arms wound round his torso. The climbed off and when he turned to ask her a question, he saw her running and laughing as she tore across the front lawns.
With no hesitation she raced right for the huge pile of leaves John and some of the others had been working on raking together. A flying leap and she dropped right into the crunching cushion of red, rust, yellow, and brown. Logan ambled after her to watch the scene unfold.
"Hey!" John protested. "I just finished raking those leaves!" He was grinning at her, though, keeping his outrage from being too believable. She only giggled from her place deep within the shifting stack. The next thing he knew, she'd popped up and begun throwing armfuls of leaves at his head.
The others joined in and before long chaos ruled on the stately grounds of Xavier's Institute. Logan couldn't help chuckling at her playfulness. When Marie got like this she could charm anyone into almost anything. He loved watching her at these moments. Marie spied him standing a bit away and shot him the widest, brightest grin he'd ever seen. It stole his breath for a second. Her arm waved him closer.
"C'mon Logan!" He only smiled and shook his head in denial. He couldn't believe how much he was enjoying watching her playfulness, but Wolverine didn't 'play'. Period. He turned at the sound of a bunch of the younger students, now released from class and tumbling across the lawns to join in the fun. When he would have turned back to see what mischief his Marie was up to now he was stopped by her gloved hands shoving fistfuls of fallen leaves down the back of his shirt.
"What the –," he started to exclaim before she tackled him to the ground, her boisterous laughter ringing out like a clarion calling many of the younger children to them. Soon he found himself at the bottom of a dog pile of undersized legs and arms twisted together like pretzels and all intent on 'attacking' him.
Twenty minutes later he'd extracted himself. His success was due only to the brilliant idea he'd picked up from Marie. She was trying to coax a laugh from him by running her agile fingers along his ribcage. He soon began tickling all the youngsters who gleefully rolled away one by one. Now the leaf battles had moved further away from the pair lying tangled together, her lithe frame pinned down by his muscled legs, his left arm holding him propped above her. Brown eyes sparkled up at him while pearly teeth shone out from her smiling face.
"Sorry 'bout that."
"No you're not," he smirked.
She chuckled. "Nah, not really. You need to have more fun." She poked his chest, declaring, "It's good for you."
Although a slight smile lingered around his firm lips, he turned more serious. "You're good for me."
Suddenly Marie couldn't breathe properly. Her lips were parted as she sought air and her pupils dilated, her gaze unable to tear itself away from his face which was lowering steadily towards her. "Maybe too good, but I don't really care any more." With that, he kissed her, confidently, convincingly, tenderly but passionately only pulling away when he felt the pull start to move him close to losing consciousness.
He dropped to lie beside her while he caught his breath. Their linked hands lay on the ground between them. The kiss had only lasted for less than a minute, but it was huge to the pair staring up at the clouds scuttling across the sky.
"You shouldn't have done that," she whispered. Logan's gut clenched. She didn't feel the same way. He was so stupid! Now things would never be the same.
She turned her head to see his pained expression and immediately knew he'd misunderstood. Marie hurried to reassure him, "Logan, what if I'd hurt you? I couldn't live with that. What if -," she couldn't finish because his hand, shielded by the sleeve he'd tugged down to cover it, was over her mouth.
"It was under control, Marie. Knowing what it does to you, how much it upsets and hurts you, do you really think I'd put you at risk unnecessarily?" She mutely shook her head. He lifted his hand and asked, "Is that the only thing bothering you?"
Her lips, reddened by his kiss, had never looked so beautiful. Slowly she began to nod. Finally she heard words she hadn't even thought out tumbling from her mouth without her consent. "I never – I never would have believed you'd want to do that. Oh Logan, that was the most perfect thing ever to happen to me." Her hand reached for his jaw. "You are the best thing in my life." Her husky tones sent him right over the edge.
"Darlin', I'm not great at saying it, but believe me I have wanted to do that for years. Remember this…" he leaned forward to study her closely, making sure she took in every word. "I will always want to do that, and much more with you."
Her eyes widened. Marie finally accepted that maybe he saw her as something more than she'd assumed. "I thought –."
"You were wrong." He abruptly sat up and reached to pull her up also. One leg bent up supporting his arm and he turned his body to face her. "Just to make sure we're straight here… you're my girl now. That means no running around with other guys; no singin' like you did at the show except when we're alone, same goes for wearin' that dress, and no more being unsure how I feel."
Seeing the familiar spark in her eye he held up a hand to keep her from slamming him with the scorching remarks he could tell she was about to rain down on his head. "Same goes for me! I'm your guy and I won't be flirtin', picking up women or anything like that. Okay?"
One of her brows rose in challenge. "Maybe." When his own brow shot up in question she added her own requirements. "Ya' can't call anyone else darlin'." He nodded in agreement. "Ya' never let anyone else ride on the bike with ya'." In answer to his surprised look she asserted herself. "I mean it! You have no idea the kinds of things that does to a woman." His leer had her blushing, but she didn't let up until he'd agreed.
"I wouldn't dream of it. So, it's all settled?"
"Yeah, Sugah'. We've got an agreement."
A low growl rumbled through his chest before he murmured against the side of her throat, covered by her sheer scarf, "We've got a whole lot more than that, darlin'."
The intimate moment was shattered by Jubilee's voice clearly crying out, "Well it's about time! Now, who won the bet?"
The End