Wyn returned from the Capitol with Hank wearing a new green dress with gold trim he had bought her and she showed it off to her friends.
"You look more and more like your namesake from Lord of the Rings." Jean teased.
"I wish I looked that good in a dress." Rogue sighed longingly.
"It has to be the right dress. I used to think I looked hideous in gowns." Wyn laughed at her skeptical expression. "No really, I did. I called myself the Ugly Duckling growing up. When my powers manifested, I was certain no boy would ever want me."
"What do your powers do anyway? I have been meaning to ask."
"I can create physical force fields and weapons from energy inside my body, so I suppose you could say I also live up to my namesake's reputation as a shield maiden."
"Wow, that's amazing." She jumped as the sound of a motorcycle pulling up interrupted their conversation.
"Go talk to him. You know you want to." Ororo grinned.
"Trust me, you won't hear the end of it till you do." Kendra warned when it looked like Rogue might protest.
"Okay. See you ladies later." She laughed and ran off to the garage where Logan was parking. "Hey."
"Hi, kid. You doing alright?"
"Yeah, though the school wasn't the same without you." She blushed a little. "How was your trip?"
"Uneventful."
"No new memories, then?"
"Not a one." He sighed. "You hungry?"
"I could eat."
He nodded and walked with her to the kitchen. "Anything interesting happen while I was gone?"
"Nothing too major. I have been working on controlling my powers so I don't have to wear gloves, though it's not easy work."
"You're still new at it, just give yourself time and I'm positive you'll get the hang of it."
She couldn't help but laugh a little. "You sound like Kendra."
"She the one I see with the Professor all the time?"
"Yeah. They make a great couple."
He nodded as he made a sandwich and offered it to her. "You meet anyone interesting?"
"Sorta, however I already had my eye on someone else." She took the sandwich and bit into it.
"Like who?"
She swallowed her mouthful before timidly managing: "You, Logan."
He looked at her quietly for a moment before making a sandwich for himself. "Doesn't it bother you that I'm older and potentially have a family somewhere already?"
"Well, I... I didn't really think about that till now." She looked down at her hands. "I just know that I've like you since we met and it's hard to do much when you're gone. I'm not saying we jump into a relationship or anything, maybe just spend more time together as friends and see if anything happens?"
"I enjoy spending time with you kid, but with large chunks of my memory missing there's a lot of risk involved. If we do spend more time together and get close and then it turns out that I do have a family out there, that could make things worse for you." He could tell she was near tears and hugged her. "I'm not saying no, I just want to make sure all the cards are on the table, okay?"
She peered up at him and managed a nod. "Fair enough. You're a good person, Logan."
"Thanks, I try." He sat down and patted the chair next to him. "Want to take a ride on my bike with me after this?"
"Yeah, I would like that." She smiled as she joined them and they ate together. "You think taking me with you on your next attempt at memory jogging might help?"
"Maybe. You do seem to have a calming affect on me and not many can say that." He smiled faintly. "You sure you don't want someone younger?"
"Not a chance. All the boys here are either immature or already taken."
He chuckled. "Touché. Most of your friends are with older men, aren't they?"
"Two are, but I fail to see how that's relevant."
"Friends often share romantic interests, though not always."
She stood up, grabbed a glass and filled it with some water. "Guess I never thought of it that way. I barely notice they have an age difference, to be honest."
He nodded, finishing his food. "Probably helps that they're treated like equals. You done?"
"Yep, let's get going." She took the hand he offered her and they headed out to his motorcycle. She put on his extra helmet and climbed on behind him and held on tight as he kick started the engine. "I'm ready!"
"Alright, we're off then!" He called back and drove out of the garage and too the road up the mountain at top speed. He stopped at the top, parking where they had the best view of the valley below. "Pretty nice, huh? I come up here to think sometimes."
"It's beautiful." She smiled as she looked around. "I can see why you like it."
He nodded and sat quietly with her for a long time. "So you really want to come with me on my next road trip?"
"Only if you want me there. I don't want you to think I'm in the way or anything."
"You could never be in the way."
"And what about the whole "I could have a family somewhere " bit?"
"I like to cross bridges when I come to them, not before. For all I know, I don't have anyone."
"That's not entirely true." She hugged him. "I'm here for you."
He smiled and returned the embrace. "You're too good for me, kid."
"That for me to decide, not you. And you can call me Marie, you know."
"Marie, huh? So I finally get to know your real name then?"
She nodded shyly.
"It's beautiful, just like you."
"Logan, are you flirting with me?"
"Maybe a little. Let's get back before I get all mushy."
