*rubs hands*
Ohhh, this it's so good.
The sadness of a man that made one too many bad choices, the fury of a woman manipulated by the ones she thought her family, the worry of the ones left behind. Oh, I can feel the taste of vengeance!

Yes yes yes I think they all can need a little psychic help.

Ooooohh! You sure know how to write a set up chappie, don'tcha!?!? Can't wait for the next one!!

...woah


Author's Response: Thanks! Which bit did you read that got the 'Woah'?

**Wolverine breeding program **

I know just the perfect girl for him ;)

Hm hm hm interesting, very interesting!

Ooooo, Valeriusjka, just what are you hinting at?? Wondering 'who else' has been noticing stuff?? What are you thinking, dear??

Another piece to the puzzle.
Paranoia is a powerful weapon, but they could fall victims of it too. But it seems as Marie is keeping both her eyes wide open. Good thing they can support each other.

Xavier counts of everything and everyone falling into place and being dutyful and blind to what's going on. Wonder who else has been noticing?

Oh, dear. *horrified* That is one of the creepiest things I've ever read. Xavier is really out of control. If he doesn't understand the difference between recruitment and this, between persuading someone and using them, then he's really, really lost it. It's not more acceptable because Kitty & Piotr like each other and might have slept together anyway. *shudder*

Interesting that Rogue seems much more bothered by it than Logan. It's like he came to terms with it because he played his own game with Rogue. He was determined to have her - and the easiest way was to go along with Xavier. Or maybe instead, Rogue is all that matters. Now he has her, he's only concerned about Xavier because *she* cares. He interacts with the rest of the world much more as Wolverine than as Logan, sometimes.

Author's Response: I've tried to answer your query about Logan in the last chapter (26) because he *does* feel it, he is bothered by the actions of Xavier, especially now. He's had to hold himself in check because of the place he's in and where she is. They're back in the lions den and he doesn't want her dead or a vegetable with no mind of her own. Wolverine is selfish, bloody minded and brutal but we do get a further insight into his feelings about all this when Marie brings the documents back. Things get faster and Marie gets her head on, she's out to save as many as she can but if they resist.....*evil grin* We'll just have to see won't we?

Ah, the first confromtation/test/welcome party for Marie. I can feel how she is infuriated by being a bug under scrutinity, but also the 'mind game' the Xavier crew doesn't know about.

It's a bit sad that we never really got to see Scott/Cyclops do many fight moves in the movies. *pets Scott muse* Is difficult to imagine him in action, most of the time.

I know I haven't commented in a long time. RL, you know. And also - believe it or not - it takes me longer to comment on fics that I think are really good. I think this is your strongest fic. It's got an impressive character arc in Rogue and an impressive character in Logan. They're both so tortured, so wild, so loving at their core, and yet so hard and restrained and menacing on top. I think, more than anything, the deal with Xavier has proved that. Because as evil and sick as that deal was, Logan *still* would have chosen Rogue, knowing he shouldn't, wanting her anyway, willing to save her, die for her, waiting to claim her. And it would be claiming.

And Rogue - I'm not sure if she would necessarily have had this darkness always, but the potential was always there. The grit always was. And now, it's like the moment has come for her to act. Her purpose in life, her path has been illuminated and here she is walking it. She's chosen it. Herself. She's made herself into someone who will walk it. And that's a little terrifying, frankly. What she's willing to become for the belief in - I'm not sure what. Maybe in hope? Oddly enough. Hope that there's a better way than Xavier's way. Hope that others with lethal mutations, like hers, can have some contribution, can learn control, can let someone in. Hope that it doesn't have to be all machinations and lies.

The pair remind me of the soldier in Firefly, who is sent to kill the Captain. "My way is not the way. It is the way that the rest of humanity will exist." (*mumble, mumble* badly quoted *cough, cough*)

But what makes these two human is the way in which they are *not* perfect. They have vulnerabilities - huge ones. I think Rogue has not really considered the repercussion for herself in choosing this life, in hiding and sneaking and lying and killing. And she seems to still need reassurance that she chose this way, that Logan would have chosen her, even if Xavier hadn't been involved. That Logan will forgive her for being sometimes stronger and sometimes different than him. That he'll still love her when she's sometimes wrong.

And Logan's vulnerability is how much he mistrusts Wolverine, maybe? He doesn't trust Rogue to love that part of him. He doesn't himself love that part of him. And he may always need reassurance that he's done the right thing in training Rogue. That he'll be loved anyway even after being Wolverine in order to claim Rogue all those years.

Ultimately, I hope these two will realize that it's not Xavier they're really fighting. It's themselves. Because Xavier had no real power over them to begin with. He used Rogue as bait, yes - but what was to stop Logan from just taking her at any time? How was Xavier ever in a position to promise Rogue to him - without her consent? He put Rogue's life in danger and kept her alone and apart. But how could he have prevented it if she became the most popular girl in school later? Or if she left and never came back?

Everyone in this fic makes choices. I love that they're morally ambiguous. And if that wasn't enough - I LOVE the reference to spider silk!! Hahahah Yay! If it weren't a favorite already, that alone would push it over the top. (Although - spider silk's major benefits are its strength, moisture regain, elasticity, and low density. So it has major benefits over kevlar or nylon for things like parachutes, seat belts, and bullet protective vests. But the abrasion resistance - not so hot. It's a protein fiber. So I wouldn't expect it to be the world's best fiber for lady's unmentionables. Still. Soooo cool you mentioned it. *lol* And I love that Logan planned that ahead of time. *fluttery sigh*)

Author's Response: Thanks Gamma, as always your insights to what I write illuminate more to me than I realise. For me it's sometimes just 'head's down and pour it out' type of writing adn when that happens I'm never sure of what will come out or if it makes sense. Marie's choices *have* brought her here, to the place where she is with Logan/Wolverine. A child's view of the world being broken apart and being reassembled as she works out what she wants for *herself*. Logan has control issues, he's been controlled by others, with his food, his behaviour, his very mind and now when he's with Xavier he had a modicum of freedom until Marie came. Him being controlled he could live with, he's paranoid enough to see it happening to him but to see it happening to Marie when he *knew* she needed better. He'd have taken her eventually, Wolverine would've acted and stolen her if not for the machinations of Xavier. In this world she wasn't put in the Machine in X1, she never made it that far. Sabs nearly killed her and Logan ended up giving her everything he had on a lonely piece of road with the rest of the crew fighting around them. Now Marie has some modicum of control it's going to be hard not to show it, underneath she'll be screaming out to them all 'look I can touch!' But she has to keep control of her emotions, Xavier has shown his first piece of humanity. His fear of *her*, that she's done this *willingly*, that she wanted to do this with Logan and would have eventually. His control over Logan will be tested and it's like the possum who play's dead but in reality knows exactly what's happening to it. Just dont be surprised when he actually bites back, now Marie has her path and her freedom he'll kill for her to keep it. And Marie will for Logan, whether they end up as heroes or villians is another story altogether and that'll only come out in time. So thanks for commenting Gamma, and I loved that you liked the spider silk, apparantly there are places where you can buy underwear with it in. Besides if it feels good wear it, an Tiny isn't a man to turn down someone like Logan. Thanks again hon.

Yeah Rogue isn't a harmless little girl anymore *evil grin*

Can't wait for them to get to the mansion.