A/N: Here it is...the final instalment :) Sorry it took so long for this update, & enjoy!

My life was finally on track.

I was finally settled down at the school, and I wasn't planning to leave anytime soon.

I helped younger mutants and made new friends. For once, I actually felt content. I didn't feel ecstatic, I mean I wasn't bouncing off of walls with sprouting happiness or anything, but I didn't feel as horrible as I did at the mansion.

It was September when things changed.

"Hey, Rogue!" It was Sam.

"Hi, Sam, what's up?" I asked.

"The Professor's sending someone for a maintenance check later, do you mind escorting them?" He stated, "Alex, Lorna, Paige and I have classes, and Bishop's at a peace meeting."

"Course not, Sam, I'll take care of it," I replied.

"Thanks a ton, Rogue, don't work yourself too hard!"

I nodded and headed off to my last class for the day. Usually the Professor was kind enough to send people in after school ends to avoid disruptions.

This time, things were different. Whoever came in for maintenance check arrived three hours early.

I only knew because the students in my class pointed at the windows in awe of the Blackbird, which distracted the entire class.

"Screw it," I thought, "Scott or Beast or whoever can wait."

I settled down the students and got their attention back to my lesson plan.

While I was explaining the difference between "your" and "you're" to the students, I heard heavy footsteps approach my class.

"Please tell me Scott gained a bunch of weight or something," I thought.

I turned around to write on the board.

"So, as you can see, 'you're' is a contraction of 'you' and 'are'," I explained, scribbling on the chalkboard. I paused before asking, "can anybody use this in an example?"

"How about, you're looking beautiful today, darlin'?"

Oh no.

I turned around, meekly.

Logan was leaning against the doorframe of my class. He looked gruff and badass as always, which probably scared a few of the students.

He was absolutely handsome. Right on cue came the inappropriate thoughts.

"Bad Roguey!" I scolded myself, "Aren't there telepaths in this class?"

Crap.

One of the older girls, Cindy winked at me.

"Miss Rogue?" Cindy announced, "Since it's a Friday and especially since it's last period, don't you think you should let us out early? I don't know if it's just me but it's getting a little hot in here, which makes it really hard to concentrate."

How was this girl only nine years old?

Too flustered to think straight I waved my hands around and said, "Yeah, go on. Have a nice weekend everyone."

Logan smirked as he approached me, while the kids stopped to stare at him.

Once the all the kids filed out, I spoke up.

"What are you doing here, Logan?"

My tone was a little more hostile than what I intended it to be. Logan cocked his head to one side and furrowed his eyebrows.

"I can leave if you don't want me here," he replied.

"No, no, I didn't mean it like that," I quickly covered, "it's just that usually Scott or Beast gets sent for maintenance."

"Yeah, sorry about that," he began, "I would've taken over the job completely, but the Professor warned me to give you some time to think before I saw you."

"Oh, well, thanks for the consideration," I said, distracting myself by sorting a pile of insignificant papers.

"Marie," he said, reaching for my hand, "I've missed you."

"Yeah…I've missed you too, Logan," I admitted.

"Listen, Marie," he said, "I know I made a mistake, and I can't be sorry enough for that."

"Yeah?"

"But, you know how I feel about you. God, Marie I love you," he made sure to look me in the eyes when he said that. "I just have to know where we stand, do you want me to stay? Or do you want me to back off? Just say the words, and I'll do whatever the hell you want."

"Logan," I started, "I can't just shut you out of my life, because you know how I felt—feel—about you, too. But you hurt me, Logan."

He opened his mouth to speak.

"Please let me finish," I said, "I've never been so miserable. This new life I've made myself here...it's nice. I mean it's on track, but there's this lingering feeling of incompletion."

He nodded.

"The past is in the past. Quite frankly, I'm looking forward to the future. I don't want to dwell on your mistakes. I want to be more than just friends with you, I want to love you, Logan," I continued, "but I have to be absolutely certain that I can trust you first."

I paused.

"I want you to stay, but I want you to take it slow, for now at least." I said, "Can we try to be friends again, before the whole dating business?"

"Marie, if that's what you want, I'm more than willing to do it," Logan replied.

I nodded, "it's what I want."

"Okay, then," he smiled, and gave me a hug.

"Just so you know, Logan," I warned, "I'm not as generous as the Professor, I only give second chances, and nothing more. If you really want this, please don't screw it up. If you manage to do so, you better prep your bags, because I'll kick you to the curb in an instant."

"Marie, I promise," he said, "I won't hurt you ever again."

I grinned.

"I'm getting hungry, want to grab a bite with me?" I asked.

"Sure, darlin'," Logan replied, and followed me out.

"You know," Logan said, "I wasn't lying when I said you were beautiful."

"Friends, Logan," I laughed, "we're trying that out first, remember?"

He let out a growl. "How long does this friendship thing have to last?"

I snorted, "depends on how many foot rubs I get."

For the first time in just about eternity, we laughed together.

From that exact moment, I knew I wasn't going to make Logan wait long, with or without the pouting and whining he presented me with everyday. He was my best friend, my lover, and my protector all in one growly package. We loved each other, and we were finally ready to admit it.

Besides, at the end of the day, and regardless of all his mistakes, he deserves to be happy.

Thanks to all the wonderful readers for sticking around during this fic! As always, reviews are much appreciated :)