Our relationship continued in the same manner for about a month. He would jump into my room through my window and would stay until dawn. I would always fall asleep before he left and usually wake up alone, but some nights, Logan's dreams were too much and my screams would wake me up. Victor was always there, holding my head to his chest as I cried. I came to find that support the only thing that kept me sane. So many times after bawling my eyes out because Logan went down memory lane, I'd told myself that I was done. That I would block him out and not help anymore. But then, after I'd calmed down, I remembered how messed up he was before my powers had eased his pain, and that's what kept me going.

One April afternoon, I was sitting in Marie's room chatting. She had a little den-like thing around her window and we were perched there. "So, Marie, how are you and Bobby doing?"

"We're doing very well. It's easier…now that I'm, well, not a mutant anymore."

I nodded. "I'll bet. You look a lot happier now."

"I am! And on that note, you seem to be a bit more glowy yourself. Who is he? Is it Colossus? You know he likes you, right?"

My head shot up. "Pete likes me? I had no idea!"

She chuckled. "Then it's obviously not him you're into. I think everyone else in the mansion knows how he feels about you."

I was flabbergasted. "Oh…um, I feel awkward now," I said.

"Don't worry about it. Pete's a man. He'll get over it."

I thought of Logan and his lasting feelings for Jean and Kayla Silverfox, then said, "I dunno. They hang on pretty tight sometimes."

She shrugged and moved on. "Anyway, Pete aside, who has you all excited?"

I pondered my answer. I couldn't tell her I wasn't interested in someone. She was a girl. She knew. I eventually decided that it couldn't hurt to give a few vague details. "You don't know him."

"Oooo! An outsider! What's his name? How old is he? What's he look like?"

"Um, his name's Victor. He's…well, about 174." Her mouth fell open, so I quickly said, "He heals like Logan! He only looks about 36."

"Still! That's a 15 year difference as it is!"

"Oh, come on! You weren't so worried about it when you fell for Logan."

"Touché, but that was just a crush. This is very serious. I see it in your eyes. Tell me more about him!"

"He's…tall, dark, handsome." We shared a little girly giggle for a moment. "He has deep blue-grey eyes, and he's…standing on the front lawn." We both scrambled to the window and shoved the curtains aside. Sure enough, there he stood in broad daylight. He saw me in the window and grinned while he waved.

Marie saw his teeth and breathed, "Whoa…"

"Yeah, his nails extend out like that too, but they're retractable." I smiled and waved back, but suddenly, his head snapped around. A searing rush of pure rage welled up within me, but it was not my own. I leapt off the couch and ran out into the hall, screaming, "LOGAN!!!!!!!!!!"

Storm saw me and started after me calling, "Leslie, what's wrong?"

I didn't answer. I got to the staircase and rushed down them 4 at a time. I burst out the front door. Logan and Victor were swiftly closing the distance between them, claws extended. I ran right for the middle. I had to jump a shrub, but I got where I wanted to be, when I wanted to be there. When there was only enough room for about 2 people between them, and Logan was mid-strike, I clashed into Victor and locked my arms around him. I couldn't hold back the small scream when Logan's adamantium claws ran me through. Victor let out a cry and pulled me loose, then fell to his knees with me in his arms. Logan stared at my blood on his claws and hand before trying to take me out of Victor's arms.

A fight would have ensued over my body if Storm hadn't reached us about that time. With the help of a small lighting strike, she blasted Logan out of the way. She fell to her knees in front of Victor. "Leslie?!" she cried. I couldn't answer yet. I was trying to pull Logan's healing factor and needed to concentrate. She looked at Victor and said, "I don't know who you are, but she must really care to have saved you like that."

He growled, "I don't need saving and she knows it. She's making a point." They watched as the holes in my midsection knit themselves back together.

"Ugh, I need to work on that," I groaned.

Storm urgently asked, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Did you electrocute Logan?" We all glanced over at Logan's still form. We waited for about a minute and then he stirred. He shook his head clear, then seemed to remember why he just woke up with his hair sticking out in every direction. He got up, spun around, and started to stalk over.

Victor quietly told Storm, "Take her in the house."

"No!" I cried as I stood up. "This is my fight." I met Logan a few yards away from the other two. "Logan, please."

"Get out of my way, Leslie."

"I can't do that. I won't let you hurt him."

Enraged, he grabbed both of my shoulders and shook me. I heard Victor growl, but he didn't move. "Don't you recognize him?! That's my brother, Victor Creed!"

I shoved Logan in the chest. "I know that!! He's different, Logan! He's not who he was 15 years ago."

"People never change, Leslie!! He's a greedy, bloodthirsty animal!"

"Oh, yeah. That totally explains why I'm still alive after spending every night with him for that last month!" The rage and hate that boiled in him was too much. I blocked him out.

He let go of me crying, "I can't believe this! I never would have expected this kind of betrayal from you!"

I held up my hands, attempting to calm him. "I know, Logan. It was wrong not to tell you, but…"

"Don't you dare!! Leslie, I can't talk to you right now."

"Fine. Then turn around and run off. I'm not letting you near Victor."

Logan whipped back towards me and got very close to my face. "This is MY home. Tell him to get lost."

"If he goes, I go."

Logan closed his eyes, and with a cry, punched the nearest tree. There was a hole almost all the way through it. Logan took a deep breath and called, "Storm, will you come here please?" He looked at me. "Go over there." He pointed in a general opposite direction from Victor. I gave him a glare and marched right up to Victor's side.

I couldn't hear Storm and Logan as they talked, but I did let his emotion feed back through. He was so pissed. I had never felt him so mad. Suddenly, I was afraid. I silently laced my fingers through Victor's. He held tight and whispered, "Whatever happens, I won't say anything corny to make you feel better."

I smiled and punched him in the shoulder with my free hand. "I love you, Victor Creed." They slipped out. It was a feeling, and I couldn't stop the words. I was pretty sure my face betrayed my shock.

Victor glanced at me and grinned. "I love you too, Leslie White."

I saw Logan's fists clench in response to what he had just overheard, but he kept talking to Storm. She seemed to be winning whatever argument they were having. Finally, with a glance at me, Logan walked off towards the woods. Storm came back and sighed deeply. "Victor stays," she said. "But just one hint of the man you once were and you're out."

Victor nodded. "I understand."

I walked up and hugged her. "Thank you, Storm."

"You're welcome," she answered, "but don't expect any kind of communication from Logan for a while."

"If ever," I sighed.

She pat me on the back and assured me, "He'll be back. For you, at least. He's no better than past Victor without you and he knows it."

"Um, no, Storm. He was much more civilized than past Victor."

Storm cast an apprehensive glance at Victor before heading back towards the mansion. "I have to go tell the kids that everything is alright."

"Even though it's not?"

She glanced back for half a second before adding, "Even though it's not."