A/N: Just as a side note, I have only watched X3 once in my life because I couldn't bear to sit through it again. So sorry if some of my facts are wrong, but I changed some things to fit my story better. I also made Rogue just a bit older in this story…Happy Reading!

"Who will love you? Who will fight?

And who will fall? Fall Behind."

-Skinny Love Birdy

Two weeks later

Children and adults stood gathered around the TV in the main living area of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. Katherine Pride sat on the big leather sofa, holding the hands of two young girls sitting on either side of her. She had recently become a teaching assistant and had grown attached to the young children who attended the classes she helped out in. There was something about the admiration and trust in her students eyes that made standing in front of a classroom feel like home to her.

On the other side of the room Rogue was standing off to the side, unnoticed by the others around her. Everything felt surreal to her, as if she was in a dream. For years she had hoped and prayed for an end to her mutation. She had longed for a different life. One where she didn't live in constant fear of hurting those around her. One where she didn't have to distance herself from others, for their safety as well as hers. Now…everything has changed.

As the news channel cut to a commercial break, the room broke out into conversation. There were mixed reactions from everyone. Those like Storm were horrified at what was just revealed to the world. The white haired mutant clenched her fists in outrage, barely holding back her grief and anger. Others eyes shined with newfound hope. One boy who possessed the ability to see at a greater magnitude than others held his breath in anticipation. Because of his unique mutation his eyes took on the appearance of an owl's, a trait that forced him to seek refuge at Xavier's school due to bullying in his hometown. In his eyes, this new invention gave him the possibility of returning home as a normal twelve year old.

With the sensitive hearing she had acquired, courtesy of the Wolverine, Rogue could hear every conversation going on around her.

"Why would anyone want a cure? "

"Maybe I can finally go home…"

"I wonder if it's really permanent…"

"Anyone who takes is cure is a traitor!"

Suddenly feeling caged in, Rogue slipped out of the room, unseen by almost everyone. She made her way to the empty kitchen and sat on one of the barstools, dropping her head into her hands. Was she really being given this choice? Part of her was tempted to run away and take the cure before anyone could stop her. Then she would be free from the burden she had been carrying for almost twenty years. She could live a normal life.

Rogue sat up, emotion so strong swelling up inside of her that she had to work to control her breathing. No. She didn't want a normal life. She didn't want return home to Mississippi and live with the parents who kicked her out when she was only fifteen. She didn't want to lose what her mutation had brought into her life. She had been so caught up in the negatives of her mutation, that she was blind to the gifts it had given her. It had made her grow stronger as an individual. It had led her to this wonderful place where she could fight for what she believed in. It had brought her to Logan. It allowed her to be more than just the average housewife she would have been in Mississippi. Now, she could make a difference.

"Rogue?"

The brunette looked up at her name, tears of relief in her eyes.

Piotr sighed and moved to pull his friend in an embrace. "Are you okay?"

"Slightly better than okay." She replied, her voice as steady as her decision.

The Russian pulled away and moved into the seat next to her. He let his eyes run over Rogue and felt confusion at her reaction. He was sure she would have already left and be halfway to Worthington Labs, the place where the cure was being administered.

"I think I need to get out of here for awhile." Marie said quietly, standing up from her seat. "Just to clear my head."

Piotr sighed in acceptance, knowing it would be of no use to argue, and watched her walk out the front doors of the mansion. He returned to the living room where students and teachers were gathered and sat in a chair next to Bobby. The two made eye contact, their faces grim. Trouble was coming, and they had better figure out what to do about it.

Even though everyone's eyes were glued to the television, the room was buzzing with tension and confusion. For now the cure was administered as a choice, but what if the government decided it should be mandatory? They now had a way to wipe out all mutants, everywhere.

The X-Men members got a mental call from Professor Xavier to report to his office. Logan entered the office last, having been on the upper floors in his room when the Professor called them. His amber-hazel eyes swept around the room, lingering on perhaps the only person in the room who irked him more than Scott.

"What's he doing here?" Logan growled, his eyes narrowed at the red-eyed man.

"He may not be a part of the X-Men, but I believe he is of some interest to Magneto, so it would be best if he was kept informed." The Professor explained, his tone allowing no argument.

The feral mutant glared at Gambit, his colored eyes fierce with distrust. In his eyes the man had waltzed in and was allowed way too much freedom. It had barely been two weeks and already they were naïve enough to let him attend team meetings? Resisting the urge to release his claws and threaten some answers from the suspicious Cajun, Logan resolved to keep a close eye on the mutant…especially when he was around Marie.

The professor was silent for a moment before speaking "The students here who are of age should be allowed to take the cure if they wish to. Of course, we won't encourage it, but we must support their decisions. If they are under age and wish to take it, they must receive permission from a parental guardian."

Storm, visibly upset by this decision, turned away from the meeting and stared out the window, lost in thought. She knew the Professor meant well, but what good would come of shooting yourself up with chemicals to alter your identity? In her eyes taking the cure was following the belief that having a mutation was a mistake. That it made a mutant less human.

"Of course I don't expect Magneto to remain silent throughout this, so we should be prepared for anything he plans against the government for distributing the cure."

At Magneto's name, the Wolverine's claws itched to come out.

After everything the metal head had put Marie through just the thought of him made Logan hungry for retribution. Wait. All this cure crap must have Marie confused. What if she does something stupid like try and get cured? The thought of his Marie standing in line to be strapped down to a table and have needles shoved into her soft skin made Logan want to howl in fury. Even if the cure worked and she became touchable…

You an' me both know there are several ways around that skin o' hers the Wolverine growled in his head.

Shaking of the Wolverine's influence, Logan pushed off from the wall and left in the middle of one of Scott's typical rants. Ignoring the man's pointed glare, Logan left the professor's office in search of the girl currently taking up residence in his thoughts. He felt a sense of déjà vu as he failed to find the brunette, and no one seemed to be able to help him. He had a suspicion that she was paying people off to keep her whereabouts a secret.

His thoughts were interrupted when he ran into the Russian. The two men stopped in the hallway when they came face-to-face. Piotr froze in surprise before relaxing, shooting the Wolverine a knowing grin.

"Looking for someone?"

Logan merely turned to look at the younger mutant, his eyes inscrutable, as he quirked a dark eyebrow in question.

Finally, realizing that he might have an answer, Logan grudgingly admitted he was looking for Rogue. He refused to call her Marie in front of the other man, even if he also knew her name.

"You mean Marie?" Piotr clarified, holding back a smile at Logan's clenched teeth and fists. Interesting. "I heard you call her that once and thought it suited her. I figured with you gone someone needed to remind her she was more than a mutant."

Logan flinched at the unspoken accusation and felt shame overwhelm him. Well, at least she hadn't confided in Russian and told him her real name. The damn kid just heard him call Marie by her name and decided to use it…that smug bastard. Even though it really was such an inconsequential thing that people gave out easily, Logan couldn't help but feel like it was their thing. Like him being the only one she gave her name to connected them.

"She left shortly after the news broadcast." Piotr finally said nonchalantly, shrugging as he continued down the hall.

A rumble built up in the Wolverine's chest. He just let her take off at a time like this? What she needed was someone to talk to, not to be left alone with a decision like this thrown in front of her.

"You going after her?" Piotr called over his shoulder, glancing at the older man.

The look on Logan's face answered his question.

"Good." Piotr continued, nodding his head, before turning the corner and disappearing from sight.

Shaking his head, and not even bothering to decipher the Russian's cryptic words, Logan quickly went to the garage and hoped on his bike. Yes, you heard right. His bike. He was sick of Scooter's bitching and took his money from cage matches and bought himself a bike. It wasn't as fancy as Cyke's by any means, but it got the job done.

Without hesitation Logan took off down the driveway, Wolverine's words echoing in his head.

Let's go an' get our girl back.

Scott walked down into the medlab, a plate of dinner in his hands for his beloved fiancé. Things had been a little off between them, but he was eager to make things right again. Even if it meant befriending Logan, he thought grudgingly. Truth be told, he knew Logan wasn't a bad person…he just had a knack for being a son of a bitch sometimes. Flirting with Jean. Abandoning everyone whenever he got bored. Dropping everything for selfish reasons. And no one called him on it. That was the part that irked the X-Men leader most. The feral mutant would be gone for weeks, even months, and the Professor would welcome him back like the prodigal son every time.

Scott's thoughts were interrupted when he entered the medlab. It was completely empty.

"Jean, honey?" He called, looking around the room in confusion.

He had already looked for her everywhere else and guessed she would be here helping some student with a scraped knee, or a cold or something.

Then suddenly his blood ran cold at the sight of something on the floor by the Jean's desk. A solitary black notebook with most of its pages ripped out.

Reading the few pages that did remain, Scott shook his head in horror and confusion. The words were a jumble of chaotic thoughts that didn't make any sense. They ranged from angry words scratched out heavily to shakily written pleas for help and an escape. Frantically, Scott grabbed the frightening book and took it to the Professor. Something was gravely wrong with Jean Grey.

Logan entered the familiar establishment and let his advanced senses take in everything. He noticed her almost immediately. The brunette was sitting at the bar, her back facing the entrance where he stood. She was slumped into her seat, idly nursing a bottle. He could tell just from looking at her back that she was deep in thought, unaware of the stares she was getting. Well, she was pretty covered up to be in a bar like this. Most chicks came here with one thing in mind, and dressed to put that fact on display. In her skinny jeans and long sleeved t-shirt, Marie looked severely out of place. And yet, he couldn't stop looking at her. Smelling the confliction and sadness that lingered around her, he approached the girl and took the seat next to her, shrugging off his jacket.

"Hey Marie."

Hearing his gruff voice, the brunette grinned slightly and took another drink before answering.

"Logan. Ah shoulda known you'd find me."

Logan was unable to hold back a smile at the sound of her sweet honey accent, brought out by the alcohol no doubt.

"Well, I would have come sooner if I knew they served minors." He replied eyeing the nearly empty bottle next to her, which definitely was not her first round.

She raised an eyebrow at his comment, in a move almost identical to his earlier one. Apparently alcohol also brought out the personalities she held in her head. "With part of you in mah head can ya blame me?"

Smirking at the southern girl's feisty words, he simply shrugged and ordered himself a beer. As they sat in comfortable silence he watched her. She didn't seem distraught…and he took the fact that she hadn't run off to get the cure as a good sign.

"So, been in any good cage fights lately?" She asked suddenly, her dark eyes alight with mischief, mesmerizing him with their depth.

He chuckled lowly and shook his head at the spitfire next to him. "Been kinda busy training the brats lately kid."

"Charles conned you into teachin'? Now that's a sight ah need to see!" She crowed, laughing at the scowl on his face.

Quickly downing the bottle in one go, he turned to face Marie and leaned closer to where she sat with her head thrown back, and her eyes closed in laughter at his expense.

"Ah can just see ya growlin' at all the kids, scarin' the shit outta them." She continued, oblivious to his close proximity.

A smirk curled on the feral's lips as he took in her flushed cheeks and contented scent. He moved so that he was barely a few inches from the female next to him and a rumble moved through his chest. Marie's laughter stopped and she opened her eyes and took in just how close he was to her. She could feel the heat and raw masculinity that radiated from him and forced herself to stand still and not back away in nervousness. Willing her heartbeat to remain steady, she met his gaze and tilted her head to the side questioningly.

"Find somethin' funny darlin'?" He asked lowly, his voice gruff with emotion hidden under the pretense of being upset with her laughter.

"Aw, suggah don't be mad. I'm just tryin' to take mah mind off things for awhile." She explained, effectively dousing the pleasant, joking mood.

Dropping the game, Logan pulled Marie to an unoccupied table in the back away from prying eyes and ears. He waited for her to speak. Marie bit her lip absentmindedly and ran her glove covered hands through her two-toned hair anxiously.

"We're gonna need another round." She finally said, smiling up at her friend from under a curtain of shining hair.

Nodding in agreement, Logan motioned for the waitress and prepared himself for whatever Marie was going to say. Their drinks were quickly placed on the wooden table in front of them and they each took a generous drink before talking.

"Today ah realized somethin'." Marie began, meeting the pair of hazel eyes across from her. "Ah like my life now. Ah've spent so long hatin' my skin and hatin' myself that I never realized how much I have. Ah mean, without mah gift ah would be trapped in that house with those people who never even liked me. Ah was on the road for years lonely, but free. Then ah climbed into the back of your trailer and for some reason you didn't kick me out-" She teased, earning a small chuckle out of the man across from her

" -But now, ah live in a fuckin' giant mansion surrounded by all these amazin' people who can do anythin'! And ah get to be a part of it. And ah can't believe it took until there was a way to escape mah mutation for me to see that I wanted it." She said quietly, staring at her glove covered hands.

A warm feeling growing in his stomach, Logan reached out and took one of Marie's hands in his. "Well then, now seems like a good time to lose these." And he gripped the edge of one soft glove, pulling it off her small hand.

She stared at him in shock and immediately recoiled away, placing the uncovered hand safely in her lap. "What are you crazy?" She hissed angrily. "Just because I accept mah skin, doesn't mean ah want to kill anyone!"

"Do you trust me?"

"Logan -"

"Do. You. Trust. Me?"

"Of course." She sighed warily, watching as he slowly uncovered her other hand.

Just as he removed the gray material her eyes flicked up to meet his. His amber eyes almost glowed under the dim lighting and she felt the overwhelming need to move close enough to decipher every color that swirled in them. Resisting the urge to shove her hands in her jeans pockets, Marie stared at her pale hands where they rested in front of her on the table. The brunette froze as she watched Logan slide his hands across the table and let them rest as close to hers as they could without triggering her mutation. Feeling lightheaded, Marie inhaled deeply, realizing that she had been holding her breath. But she wasn't the only one affected by his actions.

Logan felt his heart pounding in his chest at an impossible rate, unable to look away from her golden brown eyes. He smelt trepidation and disbelief on her, but no fear. It seemed she was shocked by his lack of fear of her skin. He was suddenly irrationally angry that others had made her feel so guilty about her skin that she had to hide under layers and layers of clothes. He wasn't sure how anyone could be so caught up in fearing her skin that they couldn't look past it into the beautiful, tough, incredibly passionate person that she was.

"Wanna get outta here?" He said roughly, nodding towards the exit.

She nodded and walked in front of him, his hand resting lightly on the small of her back.

Out of nowhere, a drunken middle-aged man stumbled into Marie. He looked up angrily, but that quickly changed to lust as his gaze trailed appreciatively over her. Just as she was about to give the perv a knee to the groin, Logan stepped in front of her protectively, growling at the man. He clenched his fists as he felt the tips of his claws slide out, but managed to control the wolverine inside of him howling that he punish this man for touching his Marie. The sandy haired man quickly backed off at the sight of Logan, retreating out of sight in fear. Grabbing her hand, Logan pulled Marie out of the bar, barely keeping a grip on his control over the part of him that demanded for violence.

It was Marie's quiet gasp that brought him out of his anger long enough for him to look down at her. When he followed her line of sight he felt himself inhale sharply, his eyes shooting back up to meet Marie's shining ones. Her hand was still wrapped in his larger one, and he didn't feel the pull of her mutation. A heartbreaking smile broke out across her face, and Logan pulled her into his arms, twirling her around in the snowy parking lot where they stood. Her joyous laughter rang out into the night.

A/N: To clear up any confusion, Rogue never told Piotr her real name. Piotr just heard Logan call her by it, so he decided to use it too. But he only called her by it that one time in front of Logan just to piss him off. Don't you love a meddling Piotr? Haha. Thanks for reading! Also, do you guys want Jean to survive this story? The phoenix is definitely going to be defeated, but I'm not sure if Jean should survive this or not…let me know what you guys think.