Raven crouched in the crook of two tree branches, high above the ground. She held a small pair of binoculars up to her green eyes, watching as Logan and Sonya emerged from the barn, his arm placed protectively around the girl. Sonya glanced up at Logan and smiled, and though she might have imagined it, Raven thought she saw him smile back.

Raven's own face turned downward into a scowl. Damn that man, she thought. How does he always turn up at the most inconvenient times and places?

"No matter," she murmured aloud, as she pushed the binoculars back into the pack she'd wedged into the nook behind her. She'd dealt with the Wolverine before; she'd just have to do it again, but permanently this time. How she would accomplish that, however, was a different matter. Raven wasn't concerned about that, either; if anything, she was resourceful. She'd figure it out, somehow.

Raven watched as Logan sat down on the bottom step of the school's stairs. Sonya continued into the house, stopping only once to bid him goodbye. He raised his hand, returning the goodbye, and then the girl was gone. A bell sounded from within the building, and the few kids who had been outside rushed inside, not wishing to be late for their classes. The double doors swung closed, and then Logan was left alone.

Now was her chance.

Raven swung down from the tree, gracefully landing on her feet. Her hair fell around her face like a veil, and she swept it behind her shoulders with one quick flick of her hand as she straightened and walked over to Logan.

Logan, of course, had known she was there the entire time, having smelled her as soon as he'd stepped outside to find Sonya. Now, he stood up, more a sign of curiosity than of respect. Truth was, he hated the woman standing before him with her arms crossed lightly over her chest. He…alright, maybe he didn't hate her. It was more a mutual disdain than pure hatred. He'd be upset, momentarily, if anything happened to her, but he wouldn't lose sleep over it.

It hadn't always been this way, however. Once, a long time ago, she had simply been a young girl. A girl not unlike Sonya, in fact, only without the mutant abilities. Then, an encounter with one of the Brotherhood had changed her. It had made her angry, spiteful toward all mutants. To her, they were all the same, especially Logan, with his claws and his unapproachable demeanor. He'd always seemed so cold to her, as if she reminded him of someone…

"What do you want now?" Logan growled. "I thought for sure you'd gone back into hiding."

Raven threw her head back and laughed, her husky voice echoing off the surrounding trees. Logan thought then that her name really did fit her, but said nothing. When her laughter finally died away, Raven fixed her wide green eyes on Logan's face.

"You are all alike, after all. Could it not be possible that I came here only to speak with you?"

Logan's eyebrows knitted even closer together. "No."

Raven stared at him, mildly surprised. Then, she suddenly shrugged. "Fine. Then I will leave you to your fate."

"Fine."

She turned to walk away, but Logan grabbed her by the arm and pulled her back around to face him. She was all too aware that his face was inches from her own. His brown eyes pierced through hers, as if he could divine the truth simply by peering inside her. The feeling was disconcerting – almost intoxicating – and she struggled hard to keep her focus as his voice rumbled through her entire body.

"Why do you do this to me, Raven? Are you trying to torture me?"

Her eyes filling with sudden tears, she could only shake her head no. His grip was tight enough to hurt her, but that wasn't what had upset her. It was the pain in his voice, the overwhelming sense that Logan finally understood that he was alone in the universe. And the fact that it wasn't sitting well with him didn't help, either. It only made him that much more intense.

If that was even possible.

He realized then that he was still holding her arm, and was squeezing it fairly tightly. With a sigh of disgust, he released her. He took a half-dozen steps away from her, but stopped when she called out his name. He turned back, waiting expectantly.

"I really did come here to talk. There are things you should know."

Logan shook his head. "I don't care, Raven. Now get out of here."

"I can't. It's about your past. About…"

Logan closed the space between them in what seemed like one leap. "Listen! I don't know who sent you or what you really want, but I'm done hearing about my past! I just want to be left alone!"

Raven was shaken. She had never seen him this angry, except during those brief outbursts of rage that sometimes overtook him. But even then, he wasn't a rational person, but was acting on only the most basic instincts. For the first time in her life, Raven was terrified of the man before her. Tears flowed freely down her flushed cheeks, though she stifled her sobs so that her chest heaved with each breath.

Logan was so startled to see her cry that he immediately cursed himself. What was it about this woman that confounded him so completely?

"Raven. I…" he shook his head, unable to put into words what he was feeling. With a sudden rush of tenderness, he pulled her to him and pressed his lips to hers. At first, she tried to pull away, but when he wouldn't release her, she let her eyes slide closed. Her arms wound around his neck, her right hand slipping up to tangle in his brown hair. Logan breathed in her scent – flowery and yet earthy at the same time – and he could feel the world around them fade away, leaving them alone with each other.

Too soon, he broke away from her lips. Raven opened her eyes and looked up at him, waiting. Logan wiped the tears from her cheeks, his fingers lingering on her skin, as if he were memorizing the feel of it. When her bottom lip trembled at the expression in his eyes, he leaned down and kissed her once more, only for a second.

"You should go, Raven," he rasped.

"I know," she replied, her own voice huskier than usual.

When she didn't move, Logan stepped away and walked into the mansion. When he got to the door, he turned back to glance at her once more, but she had disappeared. Suddenly feeling empty again, he leaned his head against the doorframe and took a deep breath. Then, he opened the door and went inside.

Raven watched Logan walk into the school from her perch in the tree. When the door closed behind him, her emotions overflowed her body, and she covered her face with her hands and sobbed aloud.

XXXXX

Bobby ran down the hallway at full speed. He was almost late for class again, and he did not want to be lectured once more. He cut around the corner, and nearly ran headlong into Logan, who had stepped to one side in anticipation. He grabbed Bobby's shirt with one hand, stopping him instantly.

"What's the rush, Bobby?" Logan asked in his usual gruff tone.

"Don't wanna be late for Storm's class," Bobby replied breathlessly.

"I'll walk you. Play along, okay?"

Bobby only nodded. When they reached the door to the class, Logan opened it and strolled in, Bobby trailing silently behind. Storm looked up from the book on her desk, and was somewhat surprised to see Logan standing there.

"Logan. Can I help you?" She asked.

"Not really. I was talking with Bobby, and lost track of the time. It's my fault he's late."

"Oh." She looked suspicious, but didn't act on it. Instead, she merely gestured to Bobby to take a seat. He sat between Rogue and Peter, who both smiled at him. Rogue made a face to let him know that she knew their story was just that – a story.

"Thank you, Logan," Storm said, and Logan turned to leave. As he passed Bobby, he gave him a wink, which Bobby answered with a slight nod.

Logan left the room, then suddenly peeked back around the doorframe. "By the way, Storm?"

She looked up again. "Yes, Logan?"

"I'm gonna take a ride. I'll be back tonight."

She nodded. "As long as you're back in time."

Logan was confused. "In time for what?"

Inwardly, Storm sighed. Forgetful creature, she thought to herself. Aloud, she patiently explained.

"You're supposed to watch the children again, remember?"

"Oh, right," Logan replied, putting his closed fist to his forehead. "Seven o'clock, right?"

She couldn't help a small smile. "That's correct."

"I'll be here."

"Good. And Logan?"

Logan ducked around the corner, but peeked around yet again when Storm called him back.

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

With a genuine smile on his face, Logan answered, "You're welcome."