Chapter 11 – A Cabin Built For Two

"Hey…um…Marie…wake up. We're here, kid."

Logan's husky voice drifted deliciously through Marie's subconscious until it finally registered on a level coherent enough to prompt her back to reality. She awoke with a start, swept a slightly disorientated gaze from Logan's rugged face to the view outside the window and then back to Logan again. "I fell asleep?"

"Been out for the count for the passed hour." He grinned, clearly amused. "Didn't even wake when we hit the forest road and it started getting bumpy."

"Oh God, I'm sorry, Logan." She smiled apologetically. "I must've been more tired than I realised."

"No problem, kid." He hesitated and a flash of concern crossed his face. "Guess ya needed the rest…after all that's happened." But just as quickly his eyes glinted mischievously. "And we didn't exactly get much sleep last night."

Marie felt herself blush. "No," she agreed with a shy smile, as her stomach performed a pleasant back flip at the memory. "We didn't."

Logan stretched across to unclip her seatbelt for her; he seemed eager about something all of a sudden. "C'mon, I've got someone I'd like ya to meet."

They slipped out of the van, jumping down into fluffy white snow that almost reached Marie's kneecaps. She looked around her in amazement. "Wow! I've never seen so much snow!"

Logan nodded. "Thought ya might like it. There's more snow than usual – guess the storms have been here too. Never seen it quite this deep either."

They stood in a forest clearing on what Marie guessed must be a narrow dirt track beneath all the snow. Tall, majestic Douglas Fir's surrounded them on all sides, like a frame around a painting. The silence was almost as numbing as the cold and combined with the stillness of the stark landscape around them it seemed almost otherworldly.

Marie dizzily drank in the beauty around her. "It's so beautiful," she whispered in awe.

Logan reached out for her face, gently brushing the back of his hand down her cheek. "Not as beautiful as you, darlin'."

Their gazes locked and for a moment time seemed to hang suspended in the bitingly cold air. Logan's eyes seemed to draw her in, so mesmerising, yet so haunted. She could've happily stared into them all day, trying to decipher every facet of emotion they contained. But she suddenly detected movement out of the corner of her eyes and when she focused upon it she recoiled back in horror, abruptly halting the tender moment. "Oh my god! Logan, it's a wolf!" She stumbled back in an attempt to get away but Logan steadied her.

"S'OK, kid. It's just Milly, Jack's wolf."

Marie tried to hide herself behind Logan's burly frame as the animal padded awkwardly over to them, half burying itself in the snow with each step. Logan crouched down, patting his jean-clad thighs. "Hey there, girl."

"I…I didn't know you could tame wolves," Marie stuttered in surprise, fear still lingering in her tone.

"Ya can't, not really," Logan confessed. "But Jack has had Milly since she was a pup, after poachers shot her parents for their pelts."

"Oh, that's horrible. Poor thing."

"Come say hello. She won't hurt ya."

Marie frowned. "Can I have that in writing, please?"

Logan reached up for her hand and encouraged her down beside him. "Milly," he started, with a warm smile, "…meet Marie."

Marie eyed the wolf warily, took a deep breath, and reached out a hand to tentatively stroke the animal's head. Much to her relief, Milly's response was to press her cold nose into Marie's palm and to her surprise it brought forward a hazy memory of Logan's, nothing visual but just enough sentiment to reassure her that the wolf was safe.

Logan's smile widened with almost a touch of pride. "She likes ya."

"She's gorgeous." Marie peered across at him curiously. "And the name…your memories…" she faltered before adding. "Jack's wife?"

"Yeah, Milly was the name of Jack's late wife." He pointed to her head light-heartedly but was unable to disguise the guilt from his eyes. "More of me up there, huh?"

She nodded. "Just vague bits and pieces, like fragments of a dream."

Still uncomfortable, even embarrassed, with the idea, Logan patted Milly a final time and stood up, staring ahead attentively. "Ah, and here's the old coot in question," he joked, keen to change the subject.

Milly suddenly turned, working up a flurry of flakes, and bounded back through the snow to join her master. Marie quickly stood up beside Logan wiping the minute shards of crystalline ice that had attached themselves to the seat of her jeans.

The man who approached them was of average height, looked to be in his late sixties, had a crop of wild white hair that almost matched Logan's for unruliness and appeared to be wearing so many layers it was difficult to determine his build. His face was rather gaunt so Marie guessed his body might be on the lean side. He was clean-shaven, his cheeks red and riddled with thread-veins, but his eyes were the softest blue Marie had ever seen. They twinkled as he smiled broadly at them and made him seem younger than his years.

The two men embraced, slapping one another's backs affectionately. "Good to see you again, Logan. It's been far too long."

"Straight back at ya," Logan returned, voice weighted with a depth of emotion that took Marie aback. As they moved apart again Logan gestured to Marie, clearing his throat self-consciously. "Jack, I'd like ya to meet Marie."

The twinkle was back in Jack's eyes. He sneaked a wry look at Logan then leaned in close to her. "What'ya do, girlie? Put something in his beer when he weren't looking?"

Marie stared at him blankly. "I'm sorry…I don't understand…"

"Jack!" Logan warned lightly but his friend wasn't finished.

"Well, I can see that you're a beaut, no doubt about that, but looks alone can't charm this hulk. So, what was it?" He regarded her intently. "You a mutant with special seductive powers?"

"I…" Marie was at a loss at what to say. Obviously, he knew Logan was a mutant if he could speak about them so openly, and had correctly assumed that she was one too.

"Knock it off, Jack!"

Jack grinned across at Logan with a row of slightly crooked teeth. "Never brought a woman here," he announced, finally relenting and taking a step away from Marie. "Never in all the time I've known him." He flicked his eyes back to Marie. "You're honoured, girlie."

Marie caught Logan's gaze. It was her turn to raise an eyebrow although she didn't have quite the same finesse as he did. "Never?"

Logan ran a hand through his hair and sauntered off through the snow. "No big deal," he stated gruffly leaving Marie and Jack watching after him.

Jack winked at Marie as they followed after him. "Nice to meet ya, Marie."

Marie smiled. "You too," and Jack made her laugh when he silently mouthed never to her again. She had already decided she liked the man, his warmth quite a contrast to their surroundings.

"Sorry about the short notice," Logan blurted from the front of the procession, Milly deciding to walk alongside him now. "Hope we haven't put ya to too much trouble."

"Don't you worry about that, Logan. I like to potter around the cabin now and again anyway. Your radio reception is better than mine."

The trees narrowed and they walked for a few minutes until they widened out again into a second larger clearing. In the distance three identical, single storied cabins, were located side by side, looking out across a large frozen lake with long jetty, whilst further still, mountains of white lined the horizon.

As Jack pulled up alongside Logan and Milly, Marie struggling to keep up a pace or two behind, Jack spoke again. "The outhouse is well stocked with logs, the boiler's working like a charm, and I've filled the fridge with a week's supplies. You can always go down into town if you need more." He gestured back the way they had come with a casual flick of his head. "Sorry you couldn't get the van closer but the snowplough's packed up."

"Thanks, Jack. I'll reimburse ya for the food and take a look at the plough for ya."

"I'd appreciate that. Although I think your first priority is getting this poor girl inside and warmed up."

"I'm fine," Marie insisted politely, desperately trying to stop her teeth from chattering. She had never felt so cold and she had only been out of the van for a few minutes.

"Not a very good liar, is she?" Jack teased and winked at Marie again. Either that or he had a nervous tick, although Marie favoured the former.

Logan peered back at her, hesitated in his tracks until she had caught up with them. He offered her a small smile before resuming his journey again.

"You're from down south, aint ya, girlie?" Jack observed. "Can't imagine you're very used to this kinda weather."

"Not really," Marie admitted. "But I'm getting used to it."

He looked her up and down. "Hmmm…you look about the right size."

"Excuse me?" Marie asked, puzzled, as they passed the first of the cabins.

"Some of Milly's old clothes might fit ya. Just what ya need in weather like this. Warm furs. Snow boots. Only going to waste in the closet."

"Oh, um, thank you," Marie returned gratefully. It was true that she hadn't really prepared herself for weather quite this extreme. "As long as you don't mind."

"'course not. It would be nice to see them worn again." Sadness clouded his eyes for a fleeting second and Marie wondered how long he had been a widower. Staring down at Milly she was glad he had someone to keep him company out in this wilderness. It automatically made her wonder about Logan. Whether he spent most of his time alone. The idea made her chest tighten.

Their cabin turned out to be the furthest. It was also the closet to the forest. It was a plain looking building with no particularly endearing features but there was precision and thought gone into every inch of the workmanship. Keeping out the harsh elements was obviously intended to be its only function and it looked hardy enough to meet the challenge.

Two steps ushered them onto a wide veranda where they proceeded to stamp the snow from their boots. Milly was already trying to nudge the door open much to Jack's amusement.

"Dunno why, but she always seems to prefer this cabin outta the three."

"Who lives in the third cabin?" Marie found herself asking curiously.

Jack shrugged. "Hikers, snowmobile fanatics, the odd trapper. I rent it out, ya see. Raises a bit of extra cash for me and Milly." He glanced back in the cabin's direction. "Aint nobody there at the moment. Wrong time of year."

He pushed open the door and Marie sighed her pleasure as a flood of warmth swept around her. Her actions didn't go unnoticed and Logan ran a hand up and down her arm. "Soon get ya warmed up, darlin'." His voice held no innuendo this time but Marie hoped that they'd do more than sit by the fire once they had got settled inside. She was already aching for him to possess her again.

The cabin was much more appealing inside than out. They stepped straight into the main living area which doubled as a kitchen - a stove, sink, fridge, cupboards, table and chairs nestling along one side of the room - whilst a burgundy sofa and two comfy looking matching chairs were located at the other in front of a large open fire that had already been lit and was crackling pleasantly.

"Come on in, Marie," Jack gestured. "Get you warm in front of the fire."

Marie flashed him a smile and hurried over, passing two closed doors to her right, which she guessed led to a bedroom and bathroom. As she reached out her hands to warm them she closed her eyes as the blissful heat began to thaw her out.

She could feel the two men watching her. She could also sense an exchange between them; an exchange without words. Finally Logan's boots sounded on the wooden floor until he was standing beside her. "Me and Jack are just gonna go back and get ya bags. I've also got a few things I meant to bring from the van." He pointed to the nearest of the closed doors. "Bathroom's through there. Like Jack said, just make yerself at home." He reached down to kiss the end of her nose playfully. "Be back in a tick. Milly will keep ya company."

Marie watched him go. She wasn't stupid. He probably wanted to fill Jack in on all the details about Treena. It didn't bother her. She turned and looked down at Milly who was already lying sprawled in front of the fire. "So? You wanna keep me company?" Milly only blinked up at her in response, dropping her chin onto her paws sleepily. Grinning at the endearing animal, Marie slipped off her coat, draped it over one of the sofa arms, and sunk down into one of the sofa chairs.

It felt strange when she acknowledged that she was in the middle of nowhere with two strange men, yet for some reason, had never felt safer. It surprised her just how instinctive trust actually was. If anyone else had been explaining such a state of affairs to her she would have told them that they were crazy to place themselves in such a risky situation. But ironically, there was no other place she felt she would rather be right now, than with Logan.

When they were well out of Marie's earshot Jack reached for Logan's arm, stopping him in his tracks. "What's going on, Logan? Why have you brought her here?"

Logan looked across at him, eyes burning with indecision. Part of him regretted coming, it had not been his intention to involve the old man into what could prove to be a dangerous situation, but he had nowhere else to go, no one else to turn to. "Because she might be safer here."

"Safer? She in some kinda trouble?"

"Could be." Logan frowned and scrubbed a hand across his face. "An' it's all my fault." His expression was tortured as he glanced back at his cabin and he sighed, breath deep and weary. "Should've just left her alone. She doesn't need this kinda shit."

"What kinda shit, Logan?"

Logan met his gaze again. "I shouldn't have come here either," he declared, voice becoming angry. "Not now."

A shiver of unease crossed the old man's face. "Well, you're here now. Just stop being so damned cryptic and tell me what kinda trouble you're in."

As they started off for the van again Logan told him everything. About Treena, about her murder, and about the dark abyss he had been about to surrender to before Marie, like a ray of redeeming light, had entered his life. He told more to his friend in five minutes than he had told anyone in all of the life that he remembered.

As he handed down Marie's bags he shook his head despairingly. "I dunno what to do to protect her, Jack. Keepin' her with me could put her in danger, but sending her away, unprotected, could be just what that bastard wants."

"You sure he was targeting you with that…message?"

Logan's fists clenched at the thought of Treena being tortured like that. It stirred a bloodlust in the Wolverine that always lingered below the surface like a time bomb waiting to be detonated. It also made his throat constrict with a pain he was still struggling to handle and when he looked back at the old man his eyes were glassy. "Yeah. It all adds up. He must've been watchin' me. God only knows for how long. Seein' who I meet up with. An' Treena…" he shrugged. "Well, she was the only one I've ever connected with enough to wanna see again."

"I'm sorry about Treena, Logan. I really am."

"I know ya are." Logan jumped down from the van and locked it again. Slinging his pack behind his back they headed back to the cabin again, Marie's few bags divided between them. "Same goes for Milly. How ya coping? Been nearly two years now, aint it?"

Jack nodded sombrely. "Better since Milly-the-second came along." The old man struggled with a smile. "I know it sounds silly, but it wasn't long after my wife died that I found her. I like to think that Milly sent her to me. She loved wolves. Well, we both did."

"Yeah, I remember," Logan returned quietly. He could still picture the woman knitting by the fire, firelight dancing across her peaceful face. She had always welcomed him into her home. Never judged him. Yet had always gave him that distance he needed.

"Do you know why he has singled you out?" Jack asked after a strained silence. "Any idea who he could be?"

Logan scowled. "I've got no fuckin' idea. Sure, I've crossed a few men in my time, but not enough to justify this. It doesn't make any sense." He hesitated thoughtfully. "But it aint no random act, I just know it aint. Call it animal instinct."

"I'm puzzled, Logan. How does he even know you're a mutant?"

"Could be the rumours goin' around the fight circuit."

"Rumours?"

"That I'm a mutant. People don't like losin' money an' I've never lost a fight. They're startin' to put two and two together. I had actually decided that my last fight was gonna be just that, my last."

"Could it be a disgruntled loser?"

Logan eyed him incredulously. "That disgruntled that he'd murder an innocent kid? C'mon Jack!"

"I dunno, Logan. There's some damned strange folk out there."

"Nah. I don't buy it. There's gotta be more to it."

As they climbed the steps to the veranda Logan attempted to relax the frown lines from his forehead, wanting everything to seem normal when he faced Marie again. "Not a word to Marie 'bout this," he insisted to his friend.

Jack nodded his understanding, although he added: "there's intelligence behind those beautiful brown eyes, Logan. She's probably put two and two together herself."

Logan grinned. "D'ya know what? You're probably right. "

"So he's a thief?" Scott stated, as the jet's steps closed up behind them and the cloaking mechanism took effect. He stopped a moment to readjust his visor to cope with the snow's glare, and then started off across the flat open terrain again. Due to the dominance of trees in the area, there had been nowhere else to park the blackbird apart from the shoreline of a large frozen lake. It had proven to be a tricky landing.

Their destination had been altered just as they had flown out of New York. Developments, Charles had explained over the communicator. It was assumed that Logan must have read one of the newspaper headlines because he had suddenly changed direction, the tracking device that Gambit had attached to his van heading out to, and finally coming to a halt, in the middle of the Rockies.

"He was a thief," Jean corrected, brushing an icy snowflake off her nose. "Now he uses his stealth for worthier causes."

"And the family aren't happy with this, I take it?"

Jean shrugged. "Let's just say that they accept it. There is still a lot we don't know about Gambit's past but the professor is confident that we can trust him. He seems to genuinely want to make a fresh start."

"Where did Charles say that the new rendezvous was to take place?" Storm asked gently as she pulled up alongside them, her striking white hair making her seem almost a part of the snowy landscape.

Jean couldn't help but admire the scenery as they walked. She had never seen so much snow. Part of her was also very tempted to throw a snowball at Scott just to see the expression on his grouchy face. "Only a couple of miles north of here on one of the hiking trails. There's a picnic area with a small hut that campers use in the summer. But there shouldn't be anyone around at this time of year."

"Good." Scott pulled his coat tighter around his chest, his X-Men suit hidden beneath. "The less time we spend out in this inhospitable weather the better." He stared hopefully across at Storm. "How about warming things up for us?"

"I'd rather not," Storm returned gently.

Jean grinned. "It's only two miles, Scott." She reached down into one of his deep pockets, snatched out a black wool hat and handed it to him. "Here. Put this on if you're cold."

She and Storm exchanged amused looks as Scott slipped the hat on. Storm patted his head teasingly. "You look very cute."

Scott frowned behind his visor, which only made his companions laugh.

They walked in relative silence for the remainder of the journey and although the sun remained obscured by heavy white cloud, the snowfall quickly turned lighter until it eventually stopped completely. Their destination came into view a few moments later, circled by a forest of impressively tall firs. Picnic tables dotted around the area were buried beneath several inches of snow, whilst the wooden hut designed for campers was rapidly beginning to resemble an igloo.

Scott scanned the area. "Doesn't look to be anyone here."

Jean peered down at her watch. "Well, we're almost on time. Only a couple of minutes late." Glancing back at Scott she noticed that his finger had strayed up to his visor as a precaution. She wondered if he even realised he was doing it. It seemed to have developed into an instinctive action these days.

"He's probably in the hut, where it'll be warmer," Storm suggested, gesturing to the ramshackle building and Jean nodded. She realised that the wall of stacked logs could easily be hiding someone and she doubted that Gambit would have wanted to stand waiting out in the cold.

"Gambit?" she called lightly.

The three X-Men waited.

Jean was about to call him again when a dark shadow splayed out across the snow and a figure stepped into the entrance.

As I warned at the beginning of this fic, this story was written years ago, maybe as long as ten years ago, and I reached this chapter 11 and never continued it. I'm afraid I have long ago forgotten the plotline I had planned. I have vague snatches of memories but not much. But that aside, although I will always love the Marie/Logan pairing, I am not focussed on that fandom anymore, and I doubt I will be again, at least not with the same intensity. Though never say never. I may revisit it in the future.

So, I am sorry that it has to end there, but I hope you have enjoyed the story so far. And thanks for reading and reviewing. :)