Chapter Six – Advice To The Lovelorn

Storm just stood there with her mouth hanging open, completely stunned, not believing her own ears. Rogue in an affair with Scott! Perfect, Unflappable, Solid Citizen, Straight Shooter, Loyal, Dedicated and a hundred more adjectives Team Leader Scott! Apparently, Liar, Horny, and Cheater could now be added to that list. And what about Rogue? Sweet, Young, Naïve, Innocent Rogue. Okay, scratch innocent.

Marie meanwhile was experiencing her own stunned sensation, as she couldn't believe the stupidity of her actions. She and Scott might as well post a notice on Facebook for all the people that knew about this now. It wasn't going to take long for this to filter back to Jean and then the shit was really going to hit the fan. If being an idiot was a crime, they should be arriving any minute with the handcuffs to haul her off.

"Rogue, I … I … I don't know what to say. I'm stunned," Storm finally managed to get out.

"I'm sure you want to know all the juicy details."

"No actually, I'd prefer not to, thank you."

"I've gotten myself in such a mess, 'Ro," Marie whispered.

"That's an understatement."

"Please, 'Ro, I don't know what to do. I need your help," she pleaded.

"The first question you need to ask yourself … what do you want to do about this?"

"I don't wanna be having an affair. I don't wanna be a cheater and a liar."

"Well, you know what you don't want, what about what you do want?"

"I want Logan," she stated bluntly, simply. And the truth shall set me free.

"Then do something about it. It's not any more difficult than that."

Marie let out a small huff. "Logan only wants me because now he thinks I'm a whore – just like every other woman he's been with."

"Is that why you think he kissed you? Because he sees you that way?"

"Yes," Marie admitted sadly. Forget the life-sucking mutation, she had the Midas touch, but instead of everything turning to gold, it turned to shit.

"Did it ever occur to you that maybe Logan, in his rather clumsy way, was trying to give you an alternative to your 'relationship' with Scott?"

A puzzled look swept over Marie's face as she absorbed and contemplated that question.

Before she had a chance to ponder it for too long, Storm was pushing her out of the kitchen.

"Go talk to him … calmly … rationally. You may be pleasantly surprised."

Storm watched as Marie walked away in a daze. She'd observed Logan's behavior around her lately and didn't think she'd made a mistake in her assessment of his changing feelings or more likely, his acceptance of his feelings for the young girl.

Marie approached Logan's room with trepidation. What if Storm was wrong? Oh well, the current situation couldn't possibly get any worse if he rejected her. At least she'd know once and for all. She knocked hesitantly on the door.

"Come on in. It's not locked," Logan instructed her.

She stepped into the room, but didn't see him immediately. Just then he came strolling out of the bathroom wiping his face with a towel. Bringing it down, she was stunned for the countless time that evening – he'd shaved his face clean! He looked ten years younger. He looked stunning. She just stared rudely.

"You shaved? Why?" she inquired.

"You'll laugh if I tell you."

"Try me."

"I thought the smooth chiseled look was what you prefer…. like Scott's."

She couldn't suppress the giggle in the back of her throat. He'd shaved because he thought Scott's look was her 'type'. How funny.

"See, I knew you'd laugh."

"I'm sorry. It's just that I can't believe you did that ... for me."

"It was Plan B."

"Plan B?"

"Plan A – grabbing you, making you forget Scott – bombed big time. Plan B - seducing you, making you forget Scott."

"Seducing me, huh?" she said, a smile crossing her face. "So what was this big seduction you had planned?"

"Actually, hadn't thought past the shaving part," he admitted sheepishly.

"Well, I guess it's a good thing you're not in charge of Team Strategy isn't it?"

"Yeah, we would've all been goners on the first mission, if I'd been in charge."

They both laughed.

Suddenly the room went very quiet as neither one knew what to do next. Logan broke the standoff first.

"I don't want you to be with Scott. I want you to be with me. I'm sorry if I was too stupid to admit it to you … or myself, before now. Please tell me I'm not too late."

She stepped towards him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"You're not too late. I'm yours. All you had to do was ask."

They melted into a slow, passionate kiss. Marie ran her hand over his newly smooth cheek, enjoying the soft texture. He raked his hands through her silky tresses. He'd always loved touching her hair. They broke apart moments later, both breathless.

They just stood there staring at each other – both afraid to vocalize their thoughts.

Logan brushed his hand over her cheek, caressing it gently. She turned her face into the palm and placed a kiss in the center of it. Then he leaned down and feathered kisses along her jawline and down onto her neck – into the hollow of her throat. She tipped her head back and let out a sigh. Gently kissing his way back up to her lips, she parted them enough for him to slide his tongue into her mouth. He slowly explored every corner of her mouth. She'd never been kissed like this before. It was like she was free-falling from some dangerously high place. Her head was spinning and she gave herself over to the heady sensation. When they finally broke apart again, she looked at him through glazed eyes.

"Make love to me," she whispered in a voice husky with passion.

What he said next shocked her back to reality.

"No. It's not the right time for us tonight."

"What? I thought …" she started to say, but he interrupted her.

"If we made love tonight, it would be for all the wrong reasons and you know it."

"I want it to be special. I want it to be about the two of us, Logan."

"And it will be, baby, just not tonight."

"Can I stay here … just be with you?"

"Yeah, you can stay here if you want," he answered her.

Marie dashed across the hall to her own room to brush her teeth and change.

When she returned she'd changed into a long t-shirt that featured Eeyore and read, "I'm not a morning person."

"Sexy," Logan observed.

"I wouldn't want to wear anything that might tempt you," she said teasingly.

"Then you picked the right outfit," he joked.

Logan went into the bathroom to brush his own teeth. When he came back out, Marie was already in bed. She patted the side next to her invitingly. He pulled his t-shirt off, tossed it on the floor and slipped in beside her. Then he reached under the covers, pulled off his sweatpants and tossed them on the floor, too.

"Logan?"

"What? I always sleep naked."

"Fine. Two can play that game."

Marie pulled her t-shirt off and threw it on the floor beside his sweatpants. Then she reached under the covers and wiggled out of her panties, waving the lacey piece of fabric in front of his face before flinging it across the room.

"Ah yes, much better. Good night, Logan. Sweet dreams," she said wickedly.

She rolled over so that her back was to him. He slid over to her side of the bed, putting his arm around her waist, he spooned her into him so that her bare bottom was firmly against him. She felt his erection press into the small of her back and smiled. This was going to be a very interesting night indeed.