Another long wait, sorry. We have been cursed with a seemingly endless chain of illnesses and on top of that, cats with worms. I know, ew. I hope some of you enjoyed my little fluff bunny I let loose, it helped me get my brain sorted for this chapter. Sort of. Hehe. Well, I will get around to thank the reviewers for Reflections -shameless plug I know- personally and I will name each reviewer for the last chapter when I post the next. Right now I just want y'all to read it and can't wait for feedback, sorry. I'm a bit pressed for time so no hilarity in the author note today. I have too many ideas and not enough time these days, that definitely does stink.

Thank you everyone who still reads this, next chapter will contain a surprise. Something leading to some sort of plot. I know. Exciting!

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The drive to the mansion is relatively uneventful, if you don't count the SUV zooming past us with three howling guys hanging out the windows from the second they pull into the other lane. I choose to ignore them, unlike my passenger back there. She chooses to flip them off. And hit one of them in the back of the head. Considering the speed both we and the soccer mom vehicle have, that is quite impressive.

I feel her tense up as soon as the highway starts to look familiar and she straightens up as soon as we pass the front gate. The fact that nobody is around to greet us is remarkable with telepaths around. But it seems like Chuck decided to leave her alone for now. All the better. She just looks tired now and I jaul her up to my room, pull out a flannel shirt that is large enough to be a nightgown for her, and push her into my bathroom. She turns on the shower and starts to talk to me through the closed door, something I remember her doing it with her friends back then.

"You know, your powers were the hardest for me to control."

"Really."

That somehow makes me a little proud.

"Yeah, because you're a stubborn asshole."

She knows that the only reason she isn't pretty girl kabop right now is the fact that she's in the shower, naked. That and she's the only person on this planet I could never lay a hand on, no matter how much I want to. She knows all that, that little...

And she just laughed.

"I think refreshing them now has tempered with my metabolism or something. I kept zooming in and out of being a litle buzzed but now it's all gone."

"Fresh air can do wonders."

"That and the ability to completely get any form of poison out of your system within a certain amount of time."

"Well, that helps, too."

She steps back out of the bathroom and I have to force myself to not stare at her. Her hair is wet and falls down in soft curls and that shirt, I shouldn't have given her that shirt. Not only is the hem a lot higher than I would have thought, even though she's so small, how can that... Oh yeah. She has breasts that sort of pull it up a little. A lot, actually. Stop thinking about them you jerk.

Anyway, what's even worse, believe it or not, is the scent. Her scent mixing with mine. She also used my shower gel. My scent on her skin, not good. I haven't thought of her in anything but a platonic way before and I wouldn't mind keeping it that way. Those scents sure make it hard.

Which brings up the next problem. I eye the armchair by the window, it is not the most comfortable place to sleep, I think I'll sleep on the floor instead. I will not sleep in that tiny bed with her, I don't care if someone claims it is a double bed-it isn't. A part of me wishes she had no control over her skin, that would sure make things a lot easier.

"Logan?"

I grumble to let her know I'm paying attention, I don't trust my mouth right now. It;s too useed to say whatever's in my head and right now that's the last thing I should do.

"You are not going to be decent and a real hero and sleep on the floor, right."

I should find out if she's drained a 'path lately because I could swear she's peeking at my thoughts.

"Who says I want to sleep?"

"Those dark circles under your eyes."

"Stop being silly and go to bed."

Sure enough, she sits down on my bed, pulls back the covers and looks at me. If she wants a staring contest she can go ahead. I won't back down, I'm not going to sleep in that bed with her.

"Don't be a pansy."

That might work on ten year old boys but certainly not on the fucking Wolverine.

"Come oooon. Are you a chicken or what."

Okay, but it might just work on a tired, exhausted Logan.

But I refuse to get under the covers, so she falls asleep on one side of the bed, curled up under the blanket with a lopsided smile on her face, clutching the edge of the comforter in her hands. I stay on my side of the bed, fully clothed and without blanket. I just know this is going to be a fun night.

An hour later, at roughly one in the morning, I wake up because she tries to snuggle up to me, so I have to slide a bit towards the edge of my side.

At three I wake up again because she got closer again and now has put her arm around me. I am already at the edge of the bed so I get up and sit in the armchair-I could have gotten in on the other side of the bed but I really don't feel like repeating this all night long.

Waking up to a pillow being thrown at your face by a bright eyed and bushy tailed kid at half past six when you more or less slept sitting in a chair in your clothes isn't really pleasant. I just snarl and ignore her giggling fit and decide a shower comes before killing. Maybe a coffee, too.

Surprisingly enough, hot water not only helped get rid of some of the kinks in my back, it also imrpoved my mood considerably. Well, maybe the thought of everyone's faces seeing her again played a role in that, too. Marie is sitting on the window sill and startes out the window. Her posture changes slightly as I enter the room, so I think she still hasn't switched off all of my powers.

"How can you sleep with all those people being so...noisy?"

"You get used to it."

I wish that wasn't a lie. Why does she think I'm so moody all the time? Having to listen to all that's going on in this mansion at night would be too much for everyone. Think it's bad during the day, wait until it gets dark out and furball gets his freak on. Not pretty to listen to.

But to be honest, it gets better after a while. Especially compared to motels. Smells better too.

"How does breakfast sound?"

"How about I just sneak out and walk home?"

She does look really uncomfortable. With the sincerest smile I can offer right now I grab her arm and drag her towars the door, ignoring her attempts to hold on to the bed post. A sound in the hallway makes me listen up and pick up a scent.

"Don't you want to say hi to the Popsicle boy?"

I know they left off on friendly terms but that doesn't mean part of her still despises that little tool. Ever seen a woman make up her mind within a fragment of a second? Quite impressive. She stops struggling and holds on to my arm instead, looking like the little rogue she is. I open the door and step out, her in tow. Someone just died I guess, at least that's what how that boy looks like. I know this is childish but it sure raises my mood. I feel the giddiness rolling off her in waves and her mood is contagious.

"Good morning Bobby!"

"....."

Without looking at him again she strolls by, still holding on to my arm. I'd pay a few bucks to be able to read minds.

No you wouldn't Logan.

Ah good morning Chuck. Out and reading people's mind without their consent again.

If you would stop thinking so loud it would be easier to shut you out. It's good to see you in a good mood and it is even better to see her back.

At least have her have breakfast before you try anything.

Who said I would.

I know he backed off, that's just his style, be the last one with the snappy comment and leave whoever he disturbed wondering. Well, at least I know he won't try to talk Marie into staying. He never tried that with me either but I still came back that sly... I don't really know what. It's still creeping me out that he transformed his mind into some vegetables' body. He looks different, he even sounds a little different-until he's in your head. Still don't wanna end up a seven year old girl, een though Jean's not around to do the braid thing. Something inside me knows Rogue would be glad to take over, maybe even giving some makeup tips.

How the hell did we get to the kitchen.

Of course there's Storm brewing her tea and eating her... I really don't want to know what that stuff is, it looks too healthy to taste good. She tries her best not to grin stupidly but she fails. There's some blue fur sticking to her clothes so she better mind her own business.

"Good morning. Good to see you again, Rogue."

She gets up to shell out one of her welcome hugs, people around here have gotten the routine down pretty good. She has been gone for what, three years? And nobody gets excited. Same as I returned after five. I prefer it that way, usually. Missed one excited face but apparently she decided to take up the running thing too.

Storm shoots me a look that has to be described as smug and I follow her eyes. Oh yeah. Marie's still wearing my shirt, with jeans but still. And she slept in my bed so she smells like me even to those who haven't got a very sensitive sense of smell. I roll my eyes-I've never been to high school but this must be how it's like. Horrible.

After I get the coffee machine going and she overloaded the toaster there's not much we can do, so she sits down on the counter and I glare at the floor until I hear the weather fairy sigh and leave the room. Leave it to her to take a subtle hint.

"It's weird to be here."

"I know. But not much has changed. A few people, that's it."

I see her glance at the calendar and swallow. Jean and scott are still up there, I even saw their favorite mugs in the cupboard, though they have gathered some dust.

"Still weird. A lot can happen in a few years."

"Tell me about it."

"Later."

She grins and jumps off the counter to get some plates and knives, all in the same spots. Even the marmaleade is the same, I remember her eating it like candy out of the jar quite a few times. Strawberry and banana, weird what your brain remembers sometimes.

"Hey guys."

That unnerving girl just walked through the wall. Strange enough, she's been with Marie the other night and I didn't remember her at all. Safe to assume she's been at the mansion back then. Wait, wasn't she the popsicle's lay after Marie?

"Mornin' Kitty."

"You guys stickin' around for the big danger room fest this morning?"

I could use a little ass kicking right about now. With me at the giving end, of course. But there is one thing that bothers me.

"How come I don't know abou that?"

"Consider yourself informed."

With a grin she gets an apple out of the fridge and disappears through the wall again.

"So I better get you home now, then."

"Why's that?"

"Well, you have obligations and I'm sure you are in no shape to keep up with the grownups in there."

She returns my grin with a smirk.

"It's so on, Wolvie."

"I'll let you borrow my powers after I kicked your ass."

"Oh, you have no idea."

I don't. I'm aware that her fighting style will be completely different after all these years and her gaining control over her powers. Not to mention the ones she absorbed. As long as there are no bats or other blunt onjects around I should be fine.

"You're in for a few surprises."

"I like surprises."

I don't. But that just sounded too badass to not be said. I have a reputation to keep. And as long as it concerns her, I doubt there are any bad surprises. First of all I have to get her out of my shirt though. Because with my scent on her a danger room session could soon turn into something entirely different, and I really don't want to wrestle with her that way.

Well, I do. Weird as it feels. But don't tell anyone.

Logan, if you don't keep control over yourself I'll make you wear a helmet.

Can it, Chuck.