"Wait. So, what happened to me?" Marie asked and sighed as Hank secured the blood pressure cuff on her arm. "I mean the other one. Did she just...evaporate or..?"

"I'm afraid I can't say." Charles replied, wheeling closer to hold her hand. "It doesn't seem like an exact science. One moment everything was normal, the next I felt your fear." Hank rubbed her shoulder.

"We've been monitoring the area for some time. Hoping that you would... materialize as you did before: in the place you took your leave. Scott said he saw your time travel device 'fire up' when he shot at Essex." Hank held the device up for inspection. "I can't tell whether it became damaged due to proximity to the blast or sent you home because the job was done."

"Either way," Charles finished with a smile "We're glad to have you back."

She had no time to respond, as just then the infirmary doors slid open and Logan burst in. He froze for a moment in the doorway and she smiled, jumping from the bed and throwing herself into his welcoming arms.

"What the hell happened, darling?" he breathed and pressed his forehead to hers.

"What happened to you?"

"I just woke up. The last thing I remember was seeing you light up. Then I woke up in bed. Are you okay?"

"She'll be fine." Hank called from his desk. "Nothing a little sleep and a hot meal won't fix." Charles nodded and motioned to the door.

"Why don't you two get some rest? We can discuss this when we're all a little less shell shocked."

XXXXXXXXXX

"I was so worried." Logan whispered against her neck beneath the stream of the shower and pulled her tightly against him "You just vanished, and I didn't know what happened."

"Me either." she replied and kissed him deeply. "But I don't want to think about that now. I just want you."

He grinned and lifted her, laughing when she gasped and arched away from the cold tiles at her back.

"Don't worry, darling. I'll warm you right up."

"You promise?" she smiled and kissed him again, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.

"Always."

She clung to him and nuzzled his neck while steadied himself on the copper pipe, pressing into her as he did. Kissing her slowly and lazily, he positioned himself beneath her and brought her down on him. She hummed and dug her nails into his shoulder just a little, and he took that – as well as her thick, sweet scent - as a sign that she was enjoying herself.

"I missed you so much, Marie." he rumbled and began to move against her, squeezing her thigh when her hips rolled in response. "Don't ever leave me like that again."

"Never."

"Promise me." He slowed his already idle pace and looked into her eyes when she answered.

"I promise." She stroked his face, holding his gaze as if her life depended on it. "I love you so much."

"I love you."

He began to move again and she responded in kind, rolling her hips against his as the steam thickened in the air. They stayed like that for some time, lazily making love, drawing out their pleasure to the sounds of soft sighs and grunts over the drum of falling water.

Logan held off as long as he could, listened carefully for the telltale hitch in her breath that signalled Marie was close and grinned when he heard it, squeezing her thigh as she began to flutter around him.

"Let go, darling." he rumbled against her lips, swallowing her whimper and spilling inside her.

She clung to him; one hand fisted in his wet hair as the other pressed crescent nail marks into his shoulder. He held her as she trembled, breathing her in as she gradually relaxed against him.

Turning off the water, he lowered her slowly and carefully before wrapping a towel around her shoulders. Grabbing a towel of his own, he scrubbed his hair and followed her into the bedroom, perching nest to her on the bed. She leaned her head against his shoulder and sighed. He kissed her hair.

"Let's make a deal." she said and looked him in the eye.

"I'm all ears."

"Never leave each other again?" Her eyes began to water and he wrapped his arms tightly around her.

"You don't have to ask me twice. I mean, I really don't mind our little...reunions, but..." She laughed and nuzzled his cheek. "I think I'd rather keep you where I can see you. No more adventures for the foreseeable future."

"We'll just stay here. In bed."

"Definitely agree."

"And you can make me those pancakes you make so well."

"Your wish is my command." He kissed her hair again and rose, pulling on his jeans and t-shirt.

"Wait. I'll come with you." She followed suit and dressed herself quickly in a pair of his sweatpants and a faded flannel shirt. "I meant what I said about not leaving each other. I'm not ready yet."

He kissed her softly and she leaned against him.

"Anything for you, darling."