The Wolverine in the Mix

Rogue turned and bolted into the kitchen silently, not wanting to cry in front of anyone. Unfortunately, she ran smack dab into Logan and the glass he had been holding went flying.

"Shit!" he let out a sigh and turned his attention to Rogue, "Stripes, what's wrong?" He said as he noticed her tears. She threw herself into his arms, and cried on his shoulder. Logan was so surprised by her unusual behavior that he wrapped his arms around her and rubbed her back soothingly. He then led over to one of the stools and sat her on it before sitting beside her.

"Hey, Stripes, tell me what's wrong?" He whispered, lifting her face to meet his. A shock like that from electricity shot through him, but he moved his hand away slowly, wanting to comfort her instead of make her feel guilty.

"Ah…Ah'm gonna become a Nun. That's mah new goal in life." She said it so seriously, with her little pout she got when she was trying to be serious, that Logan couldn't help but laugh. He cleared his throat at her death glare and gave her a small, innocent smile.

"And why on earth would you want to go and do a thing like that?"

"Well, Ah'm tired of boys. Once they get tired of not being able to touch me, they move on the first thing that can wear a skirt. Ah hate not being able to get close to anyone. I can't hold anyone's hand, skin on skin, ah can't kiss anyone, and ah can't…well you know…" she sighed and laid her head on the knee of one leg that she had pulled to her chest.

"If a man doesn't want to be with you just for those reasons, then he doesn't deserve someone as special as you, Marie," he said as he brushed away a strand of her white hair. She looked up into his eyes as he said her real name. Only he and the Professor knew what it was. "You know you're my best friend here and I don't want to see you hurting, but this is something you've gotta figure out on your own. I'll be here for you, but you have to realize that your true love will love you no matter what. I promise." He looked at her with one eyebrow raised, questioning the new flow of tears.

"Thank you, Logan. So much. I'm glad you're my best friend," she said as she hugged him tightly. She smiled at him as she climbed off the stool and walked back into the entryway. He was right. If Remy didn't want her because he couldn't touch her, then good riddance! She would find someone, someday that loved her for her.

"Cherie! Der you are! Remy was worried about you. Where'd ya go?" Remy asked as he came over to her and wrapped his arm around her waist. He pulled her over to the new girl and Rogue really didn't want to talk to her now. But it was too late.

"Hi! Ah'm Jenny! Jenny LaBeau! Nice to meet ya," She said as she stuck out her hand.

"Ah'm Rogue. Nice ta…wait…LaBeau?" Rogue asked, stunned. Her hand was still in Jenny's and her jaw dropped.

"Yeah! Remy's my brotha. What'd ya think?" she asked, genuinely curious.

"Well, Ah…Ah…" Rogue didn't know exactly what to say. She suddenly felt guilty for assuming the worst of Remy.

"Cherie? Is dat why ya ran away from Remy? Did ya tink I was gonna leave ya for someone else? Never, belle, never…" he said as he pulled her into a hug. Bobby had just come out of a danger room session and was making his way into the foyer with the others. He caught her eyes and she could tell he was pissed. Rogue pulled out of his arms and Remy looked confused. He followed her eyes and saw Bobby staring ice daggers at him. He just smirked at him and turned his back.

"Let me introduce you to everyone," Professor Xavier said as all the students began to gather, probably because of some telepathic call. "This is Ororo. She controls the weather and is one of the original X-Men. This is Hank McCoy. His code name is Beast, for obvious reasons," Professor X said with a twinkle in his eye.

"It's so great to meet ya!" Jenny said, shaking hands first with Ororo and then Beast. They tipped their heads and smiled as they moved back behind Xavier.

"This, my dear, is Scott Summers, and his fiancé Jean Grey." Jenny smiled and shook their hands. She seemed so happy and excited to be there that it was contagious. Rogue looked over to where Bobby was standing and saw him gawking openly at Jenny. Rogue didn't know what she wanted to do more; slap him or cry. Instead, she slipped one hand into Remy's and Bobby never even noticed. He squeezed her hand and smiled down at her before turning his attention back to his sister.

"Everyone, this is Jenny LeBeau. Remy's little sister. She's going to be joining us here at the institute. Please make her feel welcome and help her out if need be. Now," he said turning to Jenny, "You can meet the rest of the students individually after you get all settled in. There are two other members I want you to meet and I will introduce you to them when they decide to show themselves. Until then, Rogue and Remy will show you to your room." Apparently this was the clue for the rest of the students to start heading in their own directions. Jenny turned to retrieve her bags, but her brother intercepted and smiled.

"Oh no, Kitten. Remy will get dese for ya," he said as he lifted the bags. She leaned down and grabbed her purse and smaller bag.

"Oh Logan! There you are. Come, I want you to meet our newest mutant," she heard Xavier behind her. She stood up, turned, and gasped. In front of her was the most gorgeous man she had ever seen. "Logan, this is Jenny. Jenny LeBeau. Jenny, this is Logan. This is one of the other's that I wanted you to meet. "

"Oh? Another Cajun? Like we didn't have enough of them around here," he said jokingly, but Jenny was too new and had been through so much that her tired mind didn't realize this. Her heart fell instantly. She never wanted to be a burden and she was starting to feel like she might be for Remy.

"Hi," she said, hiding her eyes. "Listen Remy," she said, turning away from Logan, "If Ah'm gonna be a burden, Ah can go find somewhere else t' go. Honest. Ah don't have t' be here." Her sweet innocence shocked Logan and he felt bad for his words, even though they were just a joke.

"Oh Kitten," Remy said, a sadness in his voice, "You'll never be a burden t' Remy. Never. Remy promises ya. Ya undastand me?" She nodded and he pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head. By now her luggage had been redistributed to the floor. Again.

"Look, I didn't mean any harm. I was just joking. Your brother is a really good friend of mine. He helped me save a lot of mutant's lives," Logan said, trying to make her feel better.

"Ah know ya didn't. Ah should be da one apologizing. Ah've just been through so much da past few days. Da ignarent people back hone don't undastand mutants." Logan couldn't help but smile. Her accent got thicker when she was upset or sad or…well, he didn't know what else but he hoped he'd be able to find out. This girl had already wormed her way into his heart and he'd only known her for a few minutes. Logan realized what she was saying and his smile was gone in an instant.

"What happened to you?" he asked, a new rage pulling at his heart. How dare anyone hurt this girl?

"Why don't we let her take her stuff to her room and then we can all meet in my office and discuss her past events?" Professor X interrupted. Jenny smiled and walked over to the older man. She leaned down and kissed him on the cheek.

"Thank ya. So much. Ah da know what wouda happened to meh if ya hadn't found meh." She smiled and grabbed her lighter bags as Remy and Logan took her bigger ones. Rogue leaned over and took her smaller ones from her and walked beside Remy. They were all torn up and dirty from having been snuck through the swamps in the middle of the night. Logan walked beside her up the stairs and to her room, just two doors down from his own. He liked this set up. He kept glancing at her and he could see her start to blush. A small smile appeared on his mouth and one appeared on her lips not long after.

"Thank ya. Ah'll be right down. Ah wanna look 'round a lil," Jenny said, tearing up at the sight of her room. It was so beautiful and so much grander than anything she had ever been in. She could feel the tears and wanted to be alone. She hugged Remy and kissed him softly. He smiled at her and he and Rogue left, expecting Logan to be right behind them. Instead, Jenny stood shyly in front of him.

"Thank ya. Ah…uh…ya didn't have t' help. Remy coulda got it all, but Ah appreciate it," Jenny stated, looking at him through her long lashes.

"My pleasure. What kinda gentleman would I be if I didn't help a pretty girl such as yourself?" He asked with a slight smirk on his face. Jenny walked over, stood on her tiptoes, and placed a kiss on his cheek. She smiled at him and he knew he should leave to let her get settled. He smiled back and left to join Rogue and Remy in the hall. He couldn't believe he was already falling for the new girl. He didn't know how this was possible since he always kept his walls up after what happened with Kayla. All Jenny had to do was bat her beautiful blue eyes at him from underneath those red bangs and he was hers. Damn.