A fly buzzed lazily at the windshield, soaking up the late afternoon sun. Logan tipped his beat-up Stetson back on his head. He wasn’t sure what startled him awake, but he knew where he was at. 

The Southern United States. The place had the smell of the swamps and low tide, with a hint of magnolia thrown in. It was late spring by the temperature of the truck cab and slant of the sun. He took it all in for a moment. It had been a long time since anything but rot and decay had filled his nostrils. 

Sitting up from where he was slouched, dozing, he surveyed his surroundings. The area looked like what he remembered of an older Southern town from before the sentinels and the war. A few scattered houses of varying types on the outskirts of a town only a couple of hundred people strong. The roads were hard packed sandy dirt with no sidewalks or streetlights. A lonely, forgotten place to be sure. 

The big question was, what was he doing here?

A quick search of the cab revealed few clues. Little I.D. beyond what was needed to buy beer or pass muster for the police was in the glove box. The bare essentials for traveling occupied his go bag, though he sniffed out a couple thousand in cash secured under the seat. The pickup itself was a couple decades old and beat up just enough to not draw attention.

Getting out to stretch his legs, he caught the scent. It was faint but obvious to him, as imprinted as it was on his brain and ingrained in every fiber of his being. Marie was somewhere nearby.

Turning his nose into what little breeze there was, he followed the scent to the end of the street. The last house was barely more than a shack. But better than any place he’d held up in recently. More along the lines of a place he would have used while on the move before the war. A simple shotgun house with its one window and door staring out from a small porch. 

Marie was definitely inside if her scent was to be believed and he’d never been wrong about a scent, especially hers. On the porch, he raised a hand to knock on the screen door. It worried him that he’d been parked so far away if they lived here or even if he was visiting. Maybe he’d wanted to surprise her, but then why nap?

His thoughts were interrupted by the appearance of a shadowy figure in the interior of the house. “Come on in. You’re in time for supper.”

Logan’s senses told him what he saw was all there was to this. Marie, in a small house, putting supper on the table. The screen door creaked when he opened it, and he thought after supper he should offer to oil it for her. 

Looking around the small living room, he was amazed there was room for him let alone the love seat, rocker, and bookcase. There was a coat rack next to the door and he hung up his old cowboy hat. 

The living room ended in a half wall that allowed him to see into the kitchen which was just as small. The stove and refrigerator took most of the space up on one side and an old formica kitchen table shoved against the opposite wall. An open door led further back into a bedroom.

Marie turned from the table where she’d set down plates and smiled. “There’s beer in the fridge,” she said, walking back to the stove.

He waited for her to fill the gravy boat so he wouldn’t bump her with the fridge door. There was a six-pack of bottles from some little specialty brewery. “Huh."

“Yeah sorry about that. Can’t find Molson around here easily. It’s never really been the same since it merged with Coors, anyway.” She tapped the side of her head, indicating his old memories. 

Didn’t matter anyway, he hadn’t had a beer in years. The last drink he had was some camp hooch that made him go blind for a few seconds. The brewer never got a chance to clarify that batch for everyone else before they were forced to abandon camp and it was left behind. 

Logan sat down across the little table from Marie. His plate was piled high with steak, potatoes, and some baby carrot thing. All he could do was stare at it for a minute and think of how this all seemed too normal. Pulling up a seat in a sunny kitchen to a well-cooked meal, when many of the ones he’d eaten lately were barely cooked, if there was anything to eat at all. 

“Is something wrong?” she asked, concern evident on her face.

“No,” he answered with a smile. Taking a bite of the potatoes, he continued, “It’s real good. Bet the pie you baked is even better.”

He took her blush as a positive sign that this was all coming together nicely and made a mental note to compliment her more often. Not that he didn’t in the past but ‘nice shot, darlin’ was a little different from the type he would need to use now. The shy smile also told him he didn’t compliment her much in this timeline and since she had always been beautiful, especially when she blushed, he’d need to work on that. However; that would have to wait until after he ate. He’d understated how good it was by a mile and had no doubt after a slice of pie that he would never grow tired of her cooking. 

When he was finished, he took his plate to the sink where she’d started the water to wash the dishes. Nudging her over, he scrubbed while she dried and gave him an incredulous glance. In the end, she huffed but put away the dishes as he rinsed the sink. There was a feeling that, like the compliment, he didn’t help clean much either. 

Leaning back against the counter, he watched her finish wiping things down. This was exactly the sort of life they’d hoped to have after the war. One that had seemed impossible at the time, and here he’d just been plopped down in the middle of it. He was actively trying to ignore the little voice that wasn’t too keen on the situation. It was too easy, the voice warned.

Finally, Marie was satisfied with how clean the counters were and leaned back next to him. It was like she had a question on the tip of her tongue, but didn’t know how to ask it. There was also the weird apprehension in the air between them. Obviously, they weren’t quite settled into this part of a relationship and he wondered what their relationship was. He’d need to work through this to find out. 

“Did you have much trouble finding me?” she asked.

It was a leading question that wasn’t really the one she wanted to know the answer to. He shrugged as he didn’t know how good of directions she’d given and tried to drown out that warning again. 

In an attempt to keep the conversation going, he went with a compliment instead. “You’re looking good.” He was rewarded with another blush.

“You look well,” she replied. “As always.”

Logan snorted. He’d caught his reflection in the rearview mirror and saw the gray at his temples. “Now you’re fibbing.”

She gave him an odd laugh. “The gray suits you. Not that I could ever imagine you getting old.”

Unconsciously, he’d leaned in closer to her and couldn’t help but reach out and wind her silver streak around his finger. He was curious if she’d received it the same way in this timeline as the other. Did they share that same bond?

He wanted to tell her how beautiful she truly was. How he loved being so close to her, wanted to make her happy. Yet he was speechless with all his senses being blocked up by her. Her scent was almost the same, just slightly different undertones, possibly her soap or the cinnamon from the pie. There was an overwhelming urge to lick at her neck to make sure, but he restrained himself. 

Inhaling deeply to lodge the differences in his brain, he couldn’t help but notice the way her skin goose bumped or the hitch in her breathing. Her scent changed subtly, becoming more alluring as she turned her face to his. She searched his face for something and he tried to let what he couldn’t say show. 

He placed a soft kiss to her lips with no urgency, only inquiring of her interest. Pulling away slightly, he saw the confusion and desire warring in her eyes. Her unasked question lay heavy between them. Marie pressed her lips to his with the same inquiring manner.

Deepening the kiss, he slipped a hand to the small of her back, drawing her closer. Her scent thickened as she opened her lips to this tongue. A hand rested tentatively over his heart, a tremor running through her entire body. 

She broke away, breathing heavily. Logan could see the confusion had left her and was a clearness of purpose there now. Taking his hand, she walked them through the doorway into the bedroom.

The bedroom was just as cramped with the bed taking up most of the space. A shelving unit and rack stood in for a closet. He had a good guess as to why she’d brought him here, but he didn’t want to push his luck at how quickly things were coming together. He would let Marie take command of the situation as she’d done fine so far. 

Her hands slid up under his t-shirt, pushing it up to his arms. Taking the hint, he took it off. She followed suit, taking off her shirt and bra before pulling him in for a kiss. His tongue explored her mouth while her hands did the same with his chest. When she broke away and finished undressing, he did the same. 

They stood there a moment, and he knew she was trying to match up what she expected with the naked man before her. For his part, she was much as he remembered, with only a couple of scars that intrigued him. Logan finally raised a questioning eyebrow. “Meet your approval?”

Marie blushed. “Yeah… I just never… you know, that we…” She was stammering and turning a deeper shade of red.

“You’re beautiful,” he said, changing the subject. For a second he thought she might cry, but pulled him down onto the bed with her instead. 

As he lay beside her, he took his time touching her the same way he kissed her. He wondered if everything he knew about Marie still applied. Would she gasp when he licked the spot under her ear? Would grinding into her with that specific twist send her over the edge every damn time? Would she still murmur her love for him before falling asleep?

There was only one way to find out. With a slow practiced hand, he skated his fingers across her belly, caressing her hip, tangling them in her curls. She didn’t gasp after he broke the kiss and licked underneath her ear, but to be fair, she was breathless at the time. Yet the moan from her lips when he drug his stubbly cheek down the column of her throat sufficed.

He circled a finger around her clit, and she bucked into his hand. Whatever other plans he had for relearning her curves, she put an end to them. She scooted closer and nudged him until he gave up and kneeled over her. Logan could feel her apprehension and proceeded carefully.

Being attentive, he watched for any signs he should stop as he slipped into her. Marie held her breath but smiled at him when he was sheathed to the hilt. She scratched her nails through his sideburns before pulling him down for a kiss. 

He wished he could say he continued with the same unhurried motions, but the way her hands roamed his back and the sounds she made drove him. There had been a fear, despite what he’d told her, some doubt about ever being able to do this with her again. That in turn made his rhythm far from leisurely and he couldn’t maintain the kiss. Her eyes were on his, pleading for release. 

Grinding into her, she gasped, digging her fingertips into his flesh. He felt the beginnings of a flutter and clenched his jaw when she convulsed around him. It didn’t make a difference as he lost his rhythm and jerkily spilled himself into her. 

Later he watched her sleep. He was glad to have Marie back in his arms, yet he knew it was way too easy. They’d barely talked, and this set up and the silence left more questions than it answered. Didn’t matter, they were together now, he would find a way to make this work. 

Rogue looked at herself in the mirror. It had been a terrible mistake, but she couldn’t find the strength to regret it. Letting the Wolverine into her place and letting him bed her. It was the worst possible outcome to this scenario.

Three years since she’d last seen him and despite everything, he still had the same effect on her. He didn’t have to say anything to her; she was all too willing. That look, the same one from the cab of his pickup when he first helped her, and the concern in his eyes gave her a false sense of security. 

Then there was the sex. Or maybe she should call it lovemaking. It was so far from his rough memories of sex she’d inherited all those years ago. This had been soft almost as if he knew her, loved her. 

She wanted to scoff at that idea. He was here for one reason and one reason only. It didn’t matter what they did until then, even if she imagined him saying he loved her as she fell asleep.

God, what was she doing to herself? She’d fixed him a meal hoping to handle the situation with grace and maybe even gain a measure of mercy. What she hadn’t expected was to enjoy the evening. She needed to get a grip before this spun out of control.

Stepping into the shower, she stood under the blast of water. She needed to focus, get her mind set right. Washing her hair was a good way of scrubbing some sense into her brain.

Don’t know or don’t care.

Pick one.

Rogue had picked, but not one of the choices she’d been given. She’d decided to trust him and paid with her life twice, and even now she didn’t know why he saved her. That was a lie, she knew the reason, she just didn’t understand it. There was no black and white where the Wolverine was concerned. Like yesterday evening, his reasons for having sex with her first were his and his alone. 

The door to the shower stall opened with a click and a rush of cool air. So this was it. This was his plan; not her first choice, but the shower was the logical place for the purpose. 

Deep down, she needed to face him. The same need drove her to fix him supper, then have sex. Turning around, she looked him in the eye, expecting to find the hardened Wolverine behind her. 
Instead, she found Logan. The same man that came to her house yesterday. There was something hardened about him to be sure, and she had to keep herself from licking her lips at the sight of it standing out from his body. 

Heaven help her, she wanted what he was offering. However; she didn’t think the stall was the right place, it barely held her as it was. Involuntarily, she took a half step back to bump into the wall. 

Rogue placed a hand on his chest, not to ward him off, but to give herself a moment to think. His chest hair had intrigued her yesterday by how it wasn’t as coarse as she expected it to be, and now the water was making strange patterns in it. This was not the kind of thinking she should be doing, but couldn’t stop as she followed the natural flow of water lower down his abdomen. 

Pausing a second, she thought about what a stupid idea this was to go any further. She caught her breath when she glanced back up to his eyes. This wasn’t just about sex. Sure, there was plenty of heat and desire, but there was something else there too. The closest she could come was that he cared, maybe even loved her. She mentally shook herself. That was crazy talk.

“Marie,” he breathed, filling up what little space was between them.
Fuck, he wasn’t supposed to remember her name. She’d convinced herself some time ago he hadn’t cared when she’d made that confession. And here he was saying it like it was a benediction to God himself. 

Letting her hand drifted lower, she wrapped it around his hard length. A low, needy growl rumbled through his chest and sent a thrill up her spine. If she could just…. But the time for thinking was over as his mouth descended on hers. 

He was a little more demanding with his kiss than the other evening, yet it was still soft, inquisitive. Rogue tried to stroke him, but it was impossible to keep a steady rhythm in the limited space. Really all she wanted was him inside her making her come. 

As if understanding her thoughts, he lifted her, pressing her into the wall with his hips. He supported her with an arm around the waist and slicked himself on her wetness. The first thrust was hard and swift. Gasping, she threw her head back. 

Logan paused, and she sensed he might think that he’d moved too quickly. She let her head lull to the side and peeked at him. His jaw was clenched and she could see he was trying to retain his control.

“Damn, that was good,” she mumbled. 

His eyes flew to hers, and there was a knowing grin that spread across his lips. Readjusting his grip on her, he rolled his hips and she couldn’t help but moan. For a moment, his mouth hung above hers and she thought he might kiss her. At the last second, he switched directions and left a line of kisses across her jaw to her ear. 

Rogue thought she would fall apart as he began moving. It was too hard to keep her legs around his waist, so she locked her ankles behind him. He was alternating between shallow, rolling movements and harder, longer thrusts. The shower stall gave a hollow tin thunk, keeping time with his motions.

Was it possible to die from pleasure? She was wondering if that was his plan. Yet he seemed to know her body too well and was simply making love to her. There was that useless thought again right before he twisted his hips, grinding into her, and put an end to all thinking as she fell apart in his arms. 

Still pressed up against the wall, she marveled at what he could do to her. She was positive there had been not one but two orgasms, the second rolling through her as he spent himself. He was leaning heavily into her, his heart thumping in time with hers. His head resting next to hers and she heard it again. 

Or rather, he murmured ‘love you’ into the crook of her neck. A secretive sound, one that tested the waters with her. Almost as if he couldn’t help himself, but didn’t want to scare her. 

Disengaging herself, she did the only thing she could think of. “I better fix breakfast.”

Giving him a washcloth, she quickly dried off and left the other towel for him as she hurried from the bathroom. Her shaky legs wouldn’t hold her well enough to pull on pants, so she threw on her robe instead.r32;
She busied herself in the kitchen, trying to quiet the voices that had risen to laugh at her being such a fool. On the verge of tears, one clear voice, absent for almost a year now, roared to life and silenced them all. No sooner did she get a grip on her emotions than the voice disappeared. 

Rogue had missed his voice in her head and now she knew it was Logan’s voice, not Wolverine’s. Wolverine had helped her fight and win, because he didn’t take defeat lying down. Logan on the other hand was her friend, a trusted guide as she had fled Xavier’s and the fallout that was sure to happen. He’d lead her to a safe house and cash, more than once. He’d kept her moving, walked her through the process of a fake I.D., and helped her learn to read people and use that to her advantage. 

There were a thousand other things he’d ‘showed’ her she never would have learned on her own. Things that had helped her survive the last three years. Only after his voice had faded had she made this final decision. The decision to stop moving and accept her fate, whatever it might be. 

It was a decision she knew both Wolverine and Logan would have hated if they’d had a say in the matter. However, when she glimpsed him in the flesh two days ago for the first time since Xavier’s, she knew it had been the right move for her. The man himself had been sent after her and was giving her a warning. It was time.

Though to be honest, she wished his voice would have warned her about the addictive sex with Logan. His voice had cautioned her about other things and had even been just as baffled as her about not gaining his claws. She’d picked up a million and one other things from him, some much to her chagrin, yet he’d sheltered her from this. 
Lost in her thoughts as she reheated grits and fried a half pack of sausage links from the back of the freezer, she was caught off guard when Logan walked in. He was clothed in nothing but the towel wrapped around his waist. Rogue tried to ignore him because the way his muscles rippled as he moved was mesmerizing. 

“Hope you’re not too hungry, just some leftovers,” she said, turning her attention back to the stove. 

He walked up behind her. “I’m always hungry,” he replied, emphasizing the statement with a nip to her neck. It was obvious he wasn’t talking about the actual food she was making. 

Suppressing the giggle that bubbled up, she wasn’t as successful at hiding the moan as his hands roamed lower. She was doomed, something she’d known for a long time, but this feeling was new and she couldn’t help pushing back into his stiffening length. Maybe she should pray for deliverance. It had been so long since she had prayed that she was afraid she might accidentally ask to be delivered into Logan’s capable hands. 

Trying to pull herself back to reality, she turned off the stove. “Some of us without healing factors do need to eat.”

“Okay,” he said, his voice holding a bit of promise to return to this subject after they had breakfast.

Rogue had always made it a point to try to eat like a normal person, even when on the run. Yet this time she ate the sausages from the skillet and didn’t bother to put the grits into a bowl. Instead, they shared the spoon, eating from the pan, and used their fingers for the links. 

When he’d downed the last of the sausages and she’d polished off the grits, she eyed him. He raised an eyebrow and a blush spread from deep within her. She felt like a savage as she’d barely wiped the grits from her mouth and was on him.

Grabbing for him, she kissed him hard, needing to throw herself into this. Knowing it wouldn’t last, couldn’t last, and she wanted to get all of him she could before things went south. 

They stumbled through the doorway, losing the towel along the way. He sat down hard on the edge of the bed, pulling her onto his lap to straddle him. There was no need to slick his cock as she was still wet, and she hated that her body responded to his touch so easily. 

She fought with the robe as she descended on his shaft. It was going to be quick and hard in contrast to the other times. Staring down at him, she saw love flicker in his eyes and she tried to turn away, but he wouldn’t let her. The hand at the back of her neck was firm yet gentle, making her keep eye contact. 

This is what she feared. That she would become attached to him and not care what he would do in the end. She had fallen for Logan, and at the moment all that mattered to her was the love in his eyes.

At the first spasm, his hands moved to her hips, forcing her to ride through the wave. She watched through a haze as his mouth moved to her breast and he bit down on the fullest part. It didn’t hurt, but was sharp enough to mix in an odd way with the pleasure she already felt. 

As the second orgasm hit, his hips left the bed rushing up to meet hers. One of them was making a whimpering sound as he spilled himself into her. They collapsed onto the bed; a sweating, panting mess. 

---

Rogue was vaguely aware of the bed dipping, but drifted back off to sleep. The next time the movement was accompanied by, “Hey, Darlin’.”

Rolling over, she found Logan fully dressed with a plate of sandwiches. Slowly she sat up next to him, pulling the sheet up over her chest. She looked at the clock and realized she’d slept most of the morning away as it was almost noon. Though to be honest, there had been sex in between the bouts of snoozing.

“Hungry?” he asked, offering the plate. 

Accepting a sandwich, she blushed at how often they’d had sex in less than twenty-four hours. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and smirked as she tried to think of other things. Something that struck her as odd was his habit of always touching her when they slept. He’d either pull her close or have a hand or arm on her. It wasn’t like he was afraid she’d slip away, but rather a simple comfort in knowing she was close.

This had been the weirdest experience she’d had since becoming a mutant. That included Magneto and the Statue of Liberty incident. At the time, she thought nothing could top those. But her life seemed to become one incident after another, trying to top the last.

Sighing, she methodically chewed her food. Logan’s arrival was supposed to put an end to all of that. Yet here they were eating the last of the bread and lunch meat in bed. The fact that he was feeding her at all told her he had other plans, unless it was to give her a false sense of security. 

She probably should have put more thought into this scenario, but she never expected it to go past supper. Now she had to wonder what exactly his plans were and what he’d been doing besides making lunch while she slept. 

He startled her from her thoughts with a kiss on her shoulder. When she didn’t object, he placed another kiss further down. His hand traced her thigh through the sheet, sending a tremor up her spine. 

Smacking his hand lightly, she raised her sandwich, “Some of us aren’t finished.”

Switching tactics, he moved the plate and changed positions, putting his head in her lap. She couldn’t help herself and rolled her eyes at him. “Comfy?”

He burrowed down, pulling the sheet in the process, and looked up at her breasts where the sheet clung to her nipples, threatening to slide off. “Yeah, good view too.”

Rogue tried not to snort, afraid she might spit food if she did. It certainly seemed like the only plan he had was to be with her. The very man she thought she’d known from his absorbed memories was becoming more of a mystery now that he was here in the flesh. 

As she finished off her last bite, she peered down at him and caught sight of the discoloration on her chest. Tugging the sheet out of the way to examine it, the memory of what he’d done came back to her. Shifting a little, their eyes met and she knew he was studying her reaction. 

Before she could say anything one way or the other, Logan made her an offer, “Can heal it up, if you want?”

Blinking several times to make sure she heard him properly, she opened then closed her mouth. What was she supposed to say? This didn’t at all line up with what he was here to do. None of it did, but definitely not an offer to heal her. 

She ran her fingers through his hair and tried to smile even though it felt weak. “Aww sugar, I almost believe that.”

A frown appeared and several emotions swept over his face, letting her know he was offended. Abruptly he sat up to face her. “Why wouldn’t I?” 

They’d finally gotten to the real reason for his visit. She shook her head sadly, “You certainly know how to show a girl a good time, but we need to get down to business. I’m guessing you have a timetable to keep.”

The eyebrow he raised wasn’t simply a question. He wanted her to spell it all out for him, exactly what she thought was going on. In detail.

Rogue knew she hadn’t fallen in love with him completely, not yet. She’d been running off the fumes of her old romantic notions of him. And right at the moment, he reminded her so much of the man who gave her a ride before she knew the truth. 

Staring at him, she couldn’t form it into words. She couldn’t make herself say it out loud. Instead, she made a request. “Just make it quick. I’m done running and I don’t want to drag it out any longer.” She huffed, he wasn’t making this easy on her at all. “Not in the chest, we both know that wasn’t quick or painless.”

The light went on in his eyes and she wanted to believe he hadn’t known. He stood up and began pacing as much as the room would allow. Stopping, he scrubbed a hand over his face and glared at her. 

“You think I came here to kill you,” he stated gruffly. “Then what the hell…” he trailed off, pointing at the bed. 

She shrugged, “You kissed me.” The last twenty-four hours had been unforgettable and just thinking about it made her lightheaded. The sheets suddenly demanded to be smoothed and she felt the blush burn her cheeks at his questioning eyebrow. Nope, she still wasn’t sorry for taking advantage of his willingness and there were definitely no regrets. 

Logan gave a short, amused laugh. What the fuck was he complaining about? He’d fallen into bed without knowing the full story. He’d also spent very little effort trying to find out what was going on.

Fate was what you made it. Or at least he’d always thought so. This gave him pause. Maybe the two of them were destined to happen.

Sitting back down, he took her hands. “Darlin’, I haven’t the slightest clue what you’re talkin’ about.”

She didn’t know what to say. Her confession had taken some of the wind out of his sails. She got the feeling there was something more to this, but he wasn’t lying. “Magneto didn’t send you?”

He was cornered, Magneto might have sent him. Exactly how much about time travel could he tell her without making himself sound crazy. For now, it was probably best to stick to the parts she needed to know and a sudden case of amnesia. “My memory isn’t what it should be,” he said.

Rogue tried to go through what little she knew of Logan’s history. However, there wasn’t much past the decade before they met. Nothing but pain and more pain. She’d always guessed that was his time in Weapon X and thought it best not to examine any of it too closely.

How far back did this new memory problem go? “You remember how we met?” she finally asked. It felt like a foolish question to ask but it was a good reference point.

A quiet smile crept onto his lips. “A fight bar, a snowy road, the aforementioned stabbing, and Lady Liberty,” he stated matter of factly.

“How about the part that Magneto sent you to keep an eye on me until I powered his machine?” With that, the smile fell from his face and was replaced with a blank stare. She continued, “Or that you were to keep the X-Men busy so they wouldn’t stop him?”

There had been no doubt in her mind, no doubt with the little bit of him left in her mind that Magneto was planning something and didn’t want her ruining it. Didn’t want her placing another call to Xavier to alert him like before. Pyro had been a wealth of information on Magneto’s plans and she would admit she received a certain amount of satisfaction handing over all she could to the X-Men.

Studying him for a moment, she could see that this was all new and weighing heavily on him. Why was his memory faulty? How come he could remember them meeting but have all the reasons wrong?

“I work for Magneto?” he asked, clearly unhappy with this development.

“More like he hires you for certain projects.” She shrugged, that wasn’t very helpful. “You’re a mercenary, it pays better and you don’t have to be a fanatic for any cause.”

Grunting, he nodded. It fit with his particular skill set, and he’d done some of it in the old timeline. But that had been for differing reasons on each job. Here she made it sound like it was a way of life for him. Marie had given him the vague idea yesterday that this was their first time together. Obviously, they’d parted ways after the Statue of Liberty fight. 

There would be no simple way to explain his path in getting here without sounding insane. It would take more than a little patience to work through this, and he didn’t know if they had the time. Or if she would be willing to accept his story.

When the silence had stretched out too long, she spoke. “What else do you remember?”

“Staying at Xavier’s and being part of the X-Men,” he started, but could see from her amused smile that wasn’t a possibility here. Logan looked her straight in the eye, “Falling in love with you.”

She only blinked when he said it, giving no indication one way or the other about her feelings at the idea. Yet her heart gave a little skip and there was a slight intake of breath. Not quite as emotionless as she wanted to appear. The rest; the sentinels, the camps, the war, could all wait for later. “We put in a lot of hard work to prevent a bad future.”

Rogue could see he was skipping over some details, and maybe that one crazy dream of his from the seventies wasn’t a dream after all. She’d always thought it was more like he was tripping on some acid, but she knew he didn’t do drugs. The best she could manage was that it was something half remembered from Weapon X. Maybe it wasn’t and it made more sense now.

Either way, he was convinced he hadn’t been this man she was describing. He’d been disappointed that he wasn’t a better man, but she knew from their little time together here that he did love her. She wanted to believe him, and she was almost on board with it because of the way he’d been treating her the last two days. Not to mention he seemed clueless about being sent to kill her. 

“What now?” she asked. They both needed an alternative plan, because what she thought was going to happen wasn’t and his plan seemed to only involve being with her. She knew from past experience he liked to have a strategy in place. 

“I’ll get my stuff from the truck, see if we can’t get something figured out from there.” Logan stood up then on impulse leaned over and kissed her. This was one of the most uncertain times in his life he could remember. Even during the war, he’d known exactly what to do. Then again, maybe this wasn’t so different. He would still be fighting for what was important to him. 

---

Rogue stared at the messages on Logan’s phone while he glowered at it from where he stood. Glancing up at him, she had to hide a smile at how dinky he made the living room feel with his mere presence. “It’s nice to know you weren’t going to be the one to kill me,” she commented. 

He grunted in response, not appeased by that. This reminded her of when they first met, before she knew the truth about what he was to do and how it tainted her perception of him. Except for that one sticking point she hadn’t forgotten about. “Probably because you couldn’t last time,” she added, hopefully.

Taking a deep breath, he exhaled slowly. “What?”

This time she smiled despite herself. He sure hated the idea that he would be capable of killing her much less contemplating it. “You were supposed to let me die at the statue in his contraption,” she informed him. 

Logan was done with this and what he was supposed to have done for Magneto, of all people in this timeline. It was beyond him why she was so trusting of him at the moment. She had no reason to, and he hadn’t given her much more since showing up. “How many times?”

She grabbed at his hand and pulled him down to sit on the love seat beside her. Patting his thigh, she explained, “You… that’s it. He’s sent others over the years, mostly lackeys. A few tough ones, only Pyro presented a real challenge.”

“The scar’s from him?” he asked. That would make sense if it was the only challenging fight.

She nodded. “Wouldn’t have gotten them if I’d been able to finish my training with Master Izo.”

He raised an eyebrow out of curiosity. Izo didn’t take on students. “How d’you find him?”

Tapping the side of her head, she said, “Your memories and he only helped because of you. But it got too hot in San Francisco for the both of us.”

This helped some. In the old timeline, he’d known the extent of Marie’s abilities. If she’d received even a couple of months of training from Master Izo, they’d have a chance at what he wanted to do. Running was out of the question. Logan knew she was done with it, and hiding was only delaying the inevitable. “I’m taking you to Magneto,” he told her.

Sighing, she nodded. “Take the fight to him.”

He stood back up wanting to pace in the small room, but couldn't. “It’s our best bet. He shouldn’t be expecting it.” 

Turning back toward her, he was about to say they had some work to do when she threw up a hand and he was forced to take a step back. He could feel the metal on his bones as if Magneto were near. “Now that’s interesting,” he said. 

Rogue smiled brightly at him. “It’s useful, but nothing compared to what he can do.” She could practically see him recalculating his idea.

“What other hidden talents ya’ got?” he asked.

Winking, she said, “Wouldn’t you like to know.”

He chuckled at her obvious innuendo, but on the serious side, Magneto and his henchmen would be formidable and they couldn’t depend on their skills alone for this fight. “I need to make a phone call,” he told her. Mostly he hoped that one of the two people he needed to talk to would be willing to listen. 

---

Logan watched her spin the quarter around on the picnic table. Raising an eyebrow, he set down the bag of food. He’d left her to practice while he walked across the street to the restaurant, and it looked like she was doing well.

“Big things are easier, can feel the metal,” she told him. “Small objects help refine the control.” However, the frustration was obvious as she floated the quarter up and then let it drop. "It's faded over the years."

“Can you do this?” he asked.

Nodding, she added, “Fire will be easier with the supplies we got.”

In Logan’s old timeline, Pyro had made some modifications so he didn’t have to depend on a lighter he might lose in a fight. Marie had described something similar, and with a stop at an industrial supply store, she’d acquired what was needed. They could use an edge to keep Magneto off kelter. 

Leaving the quarter where it lay on the table, she stared at the drink and tater tots he set in front of her. “I don’t think so.” The thought of putting food in her mouth didn’t appeal right now. 

“Strawberry,” he said before taking a large bite from one of his two cheeseburgers. She sighed, and he quickly swallowed his mouthful. “Know you don’t like to eat before a fight, but you’re going to need strength and probably won’t get a chance to eat later.”

Rogue took a sip and munched thoughtfully on a couple of tater tots. Another little tidbit of information to show he’d known her, been close to her at some point. Only Master Izo knew she didn’t like to eat before a fight, and she doubted they’d had the chance to talk since her training.

His plan was a good one, if it all came together properly. There was a confidence he had that she hadn’t felt since his presence in her mind faded. She could use an extra boost right now as most of Magneto’s people had been straightforward fights. Pyro had been a challenge, but his boldness blinded him to his own weaknesses and gave her the upper hand. 

Magneto himself would be a different story. He knew his abilities well, knew how to best use his skills and his surroundings to his advantage. At least a little remnant of Magneto in her mind assured her, among other things, that they were playing a game they couldn’t win. 

Finishing off another tater tot, she set the quarter to spinning again. “The power won’t be the problem.” The coin spun in loops around her milkshake. “It’s the voices that come with it.”

In the other timeline, Marie had learned to separate things out and didn’t absorb much of another person’s personality after a while. Yet he knew until that point, it had been a lot for her to deal with. “How bad?”

“Can feel them whispering, getting louder the more I tap into the power.” She slapped the quarter flat on the table and sighed. “Better not give me that look in front of Magneto or we’re dead.”

Placing his hand over hers, he softened his expression even more. “Wasn’t planning on it, Darlin’.” There was room for some unexpected challenges in the plan, but getting her killed wasn’t part of it. “We’ll get through it together.”

Rogue couldn’t help but smile at his grim determination. There hadn’t been a lot of that in her life the last few years. It helped increase her confidence in him and put to rest the lingering doubts of what they were doing. 

He believed they would come out the other side of this no worse for the wear. His attitude was starting to infect her, so much so that the only thing she wanted to think about was how they would sort their relationship out after the dust settled. For the first time since meeting him all those years ago, she had a feeling in her soul that her life was about to change. That feeling was better by a mile than where she’d been a couple days ago. 

Taking a deep breath, she tried to dispel the voices in her head. When she wasn’t actively using the powers, the voices created subtle doubts about Logan and his intentions. She knew for a fact it was partially her own insecurities inviting the criticisms they offered. Her only problem was that there was only one way to find out, and that was to follow through with this plan. That and the fact that the Wolverine wasn’t a game player like this. He didn’t beat around the bush and lead women on like this. 

“Would a little healing help?” It sounds dumb even to his ears. She might need that ability later; not mention his other mutations, but also an added voice on her side of the equation couldn’t hurt. Or at least he liked to think that he would be a voice that would help her out. 

She gave him a genuine smile. Half standing to lean over the table, she placed a kiss on his lips and he felt the tingle of a draw on his mutation.

Double checking the small sparker and tubing connected to the wristband, Rogue tucked it back into the cuff of her jacket. Curling her pinkie into her palm, she touched the sensor there and within seconds had a tiny flame dancing in her hand. It didn’t look like much, but all she needed was the flame. After that, she could make it grow or shrink in a variety of ways. The fuel bladder further up her sleeve wouldn’t sustain enough flames for an all out battle, but hopefully, this confrontation wouldn’t last long.

“Ready?” Logan asked, coming round to her side of the vehicle.
Not trusting her voice, she nodded. At least the milkshake wasn’t threatening to come back up, but that was small comfort. He put the manacles on her forearms and tested the breakaway modification they’d made. 

Logan didn’t like this, even if it was his plan, even if his inquiries over his 'current' life confirmed his picking up this job and Magneto wouldn't suspect anything. Time traveling had been for a better future, and here he was smack dab in the middle of a plot to make it worse. He supposed he should find it funny that the current problem was because of one of the very people that had worked to change the future. Then again, he didn’t really expect Magneto to be a completely changed man. 

Putting a finger under Marie’s chin, he brought her face up to look at him. “If things go sideways, get out.”

She snorted at him. “Things always go sideways for me.”

“I mean it, Marie.” He brushed his lips across hers. “I don’t want to lose you.”

Nodding again, she met his eyes fully. “I..” her voice cracked, and she cleared her throat. “I think I might be falling in love with you.”

That sly smile crossed his lips, and he placed a lingering kiss on her forehead. “I love you, too,” he said with a conviction that silenced the whispering voices in her head. 

He checked his jacket to make sure his needed items were secure before he took her arm and guided her down the last bit of road into the deserted shipyard. After they passed the partially open gate, he tightened his grip on her arm. She could see the shadowy figures moving ahead and knew they had to make it look real for any chance of success. 

They progressed past a rusted hull of a ship on one side and a pile of scrap metal on the other. The metal in Logan’s body had a distinct ‘flavor’ but she didn’t have enough experience with the power to pick it out easily here. 

“Too much metal, I don’t know how much help I’ll be,” she mumbled. She saw his slight nod of acknowledgment, but knew he would stick as close to the plan as possible until there were no other alternatives left.

Magneto floated out ahead of them, cape flowing behind him. That man enjoyed a dramatic entrance. Fifty more feet and Logan drew to a stop, Marie firmly at his side. Magneto and his men were still a good dozen paces away, trying to look nonchalant, but Logan knew only Magneto was calm. 

Listening to the sounds around them, he counted at least four in hiding nearby and tapped the number out on Marie’s arm. She could see for herself the man beside Magneto and his twin coming up behind them. He remembered Maddox and his senses told him that the others out there weren’t from Multiple Man. 

“Cash?” Logan inquired once he’d sized up the situation. 

Magneto gave a signal to someone out of sight. A few moments later, Logan’s phone vibrated in his pocket. Taking a look at the notification of transfer, he returned it to his pocket. 

“Not going to secure it?” Magneto asked as if he were trying to prolong the interaction.

“I’ll find ya,” Logan answered with a growl. He shoved Marie forward and ignored her as she fell to her knees.

“I’m sure you would, however, I’m afraid there will be no loose ends this time,” Magneto sneered. With a wave of the old man's hand, Logan felt himself being pushed backward. He tried to turn to confront the two duplicates now behind him. 

Rogue looked around at Logan and gave him an added boost to his turn as his claws slid out, sweeping through the men. Busting the restraints, she flicked the flame to life and sent it in the opposite direction. There was a scream from the man beside Magneto and he dropped to the ground to put out the flames licking at his clothes. 

Her first burst had been too heavy-handed and unpracticed, shocking her. It obviously took the two men in front of her by surprise, as well. Though the one man went down, Magneto had instinctively thrown up his cape at the first flicker of fire. Leave it to him to never trust his allies and have a defense against them. Or maybe this was something new after Pyro’s demise, just in case. 

She heard Logan’s gruff, “GO!” as he threw the metallic concussion grenade at the two men. Immediately, she scrambled off to one of the ship hulls to the side of the scrap pile. It wasn’t ideal with Magneto about, but he’d have to make a choice between her and Logan. 

Reaching the relative safety of the hull, she heard the explosion of the grenade. There was cursing and an ominous laugh from Magneto. "It will take more than that Wolverine."

Looking back, the man she’d burnt had put out his flames and was advancing on the two men Logan had sliced. The man split into several more men then they absorbed the men who had been cut down. They seemed to heal at the same time until all were reabsorbed by the original man. 

There was movement near her and she sank further back into the shadows. Quickly she surveyed the area. Logan was nowhere in sight, but Magneto was hovering over the ship on the other side of the road. It didn’t take a genius to understand he’d gone after Logan, even if the grenade disoriented him enough that he couldn't directly confront Logan in his usual fashion. She'd been left to his henchmen. That made five to one if she didn’t count the one man’s other selves. 

A dark, short figure appeared and talked to the multiplying man on the road. The multiplying man pointed out a nearby shed, and the two headed off in that direction. She would be safe from them for the time being, but if Logan’s original count was right, there were still a couple unknowns out there. 

Closing her eyes, she centered herself and sent out her senses like Master Izo taught her, bolstered by the draw from Logan earlier. It wasn’t as effective as a full dose of Logan’s natural senses, but it gave her an awareness of others and her surroundings her regular senses couldn’t. Swiftly she moved to a more open space in the ship. The spot would give her more maneuverability. 

A choking cry filled the air from across the way. Maybe not all the henchmen had been after her. And from the sound of it, there was one less person to deal with.

Several projectiles whipped past her face, embedding in the wall, and she instinctively ducked into a doorway. A sharp pain in her arm let her know that not all the projectiles had missed her. She carefully pulled two quill-like objects from her arm. Besides a stinging pain and a little blood, there were no other side effects. 

Lighting up her fire, she stepped back out, shooting flames in the direction of a shuffling noise. There was a yelp and some cursing. Angling away from her attacker, she lit up a pile of rubbish to make the person think twice about following. 

There were a handful of spots ahead where an attack might come from. Rogue was aware that it was possibly a ruse to force her in the current direction, but it couldn’t be helped. She would have to do what she could to avoid an outright trap.

One of the thresholds she passed was a rather large compartment, and she stepped into it. It was almost empty except for a collection of random junk and a pile of trash. There was no good place to confront the enemy, but it was better than getting trapped in a confined area that limited her ability to respond to a threat. With nowhere else to take cover, she simply waited.

It didn’t take long. A woman about her own build glanced in. Rogue waved in greeting and brought up the flames on the pile of trash that she’d lit earlier. There was no need to stumble around in the dark, plus she wouldn’t have to start a fresh flame if she needed it. 

“I hear you’re the badass that killed Pyro?” the woman said, walking into the room.

Rogue didn’t answer, as it wasn’t a useful conversation and was for posturing. Sizing the woman up was a better use of her time. Besides being into tattoos and really fit, there were no obvious signs of a power until the woman was suddenly in front of her in a blur of motion.  

Great. She knew beating the woman without having speed herself would be tough. Fire would only be of so much help if she couldn’t hit a fast target. There was a better chance of lighting up the entire compartment and herself without Pyro’s control to go with the fire. 

“You look as wimpy as he was.” Even though Rogue was in a fighting stance, the hit to her stomach staggered her back. She was glad Logan had insisted on her taking some healing earlier in the day.

Shaking off the pain, she turned on her skin and took the punch to the face. The woman had her arms exposed and Rogue grabbed for her forearms. A taste of the power was all she needed, or several small tastes to be exact. The touch made her a split second faster.
 
Rogue returned the punch, making sure it was skin on skin contact. In short order, the other woman realized she was losing the upper hand. Rogue had quickly borrowed enough to keep up and avoid any real beating. Though it also wasn’t enough to outright beat her opponent. There had been no scrap metal in the room that she could use Magneto’s powers on. Or at least nothing that she would chance with her lack of Magneto’s control.

She had to admit if the other woman had received training with her speed, Rogue might not have made it this far. Yet the woman seemed to be more of a brawler than anything else. The real problem was a nagging sensation from this power that she couldn’t put her finger on or suppress. It was bothersome, but she fought through it even as it got stronger. 

Wiping the blood from her lip, she concentrated on keeping her guard up. She stopped a wicked kick to her ribs, caught the woman’s leg, and jabbed her fingertips at the pressure point in the woman’s groin. She paid for the move with a wicked blow to her shoulder. 

They stood toe to toe for a few seconds, trading punches before they both stepped back. Rogue took a breath and saw a flash of red fill the area outside the compartment and realized that the sensation she’d been trying to ignore was a secondary mutation she couldn’t turn off like the other woman. And that red flash and the heavier awareness meant one thing, the cavalry had arrived. 

A shadow appeared in the doorway, and Rogue immediately dropped to the floor. “Finally,” the woman said right before a red burst of light threw her into the wall. 

“Thanks, Mr. Summers,” Rogue said, getting up off the floor. Glancing at the unconscious woman then back at Mr. Summers and the quill still stuck to his uniform, she asked, “Take care of the quill guy?”

“Yes, Beast and Jubilee went after the two in the warehouse, and Xavier and Jean tracked down Wolverine and Magneto.” She didn’t miss the subtle disdain in his voice at the last two names. Not that she could blame him. Wolverine had probably wreaked havoc on the lower levels when he woke up after the Statue of Liberty. She wanted to ask, but knew now wasn’t the time. 

Mr. Summers gave a resigned sigh, he’d been in on the plan and knew there was still work to be done. Or maybe it was that far away look he got for a second, like he was having a conversation in his head. “I’ll finish up here, you go see if you can help out elsewhere.”

Turning to leave, she stopped. “Uhm, can I borrow some power?” At his dubious look, she continued, “It won’t hurt and just enough for a blast or two.”

He acquiesced with a nod and seeing his uniform completely covered his skin; she placed a kiss on his cheek. “Thanks… again,” she said, feeling those words were inadequate for the gratitude she wanted to express. 

---

Following the niggling sensation and the sound of the second grenade, Rogue was quickly on Logan’s trail. Or to be correct on her way to what had to be a gathering of a number of high-level mutants. It took more concentration than she thought, but that might have been the pressure building up in her head from Mr. Summers’ mutation. 

Soon all she had to do was pick her way through the scrap metal to the sound of Magneto’s voice. He was easy to spot, levitating a foot or more above the ground. A movement to her right drew her attention to where Ms. Grey was using her powers to pull a disoriented Xavier from his broken hoverchair. Rogue didn’t immediately see Logan as she scrambled over to Ms. Grey. 

“Nice of you to join us, my dear.” She barely glanced at Magneto, intent on reaching her destination. A large slab of metal slammed into the ground in front of her, halting her progress and leaving her crouching behind it, cut off from the others. “I’m afraid I can’t let you do that.”

“We’re okay,” stated a soothing female voice in her head. It was the voice of Ms. Grey, the same voice she remembered from when she’d arrived at the mansion as a scared teenager. 
r32;Rogue was about to ask where Logan was when the sound of his claws through metal made her look upward. She felt worn down and out of practice. She should have spotted him right off, or at least been aware of his presence. Magneto tsked as Logan broke one of the bands keeping him pinned to the haul of a ship. “None of that,” he said. 

Half of the plan had worked with the capture of some of Magneto’s men. The rest of the plan, or an approximation of it, would be up to her to get started. “Ms. Grey, are you able to help?”

“Yes,” was the reply. “What do you have in mind?”

Rogue shrugged mentally. She had no coherent plan to give. “I’ll get the ball rolling and you jump in when you see an opening.”

Standing up, Rogue stepped from behind the barrier he’d placed in her path. When she flamed up, she heard Logan roar and knew he was cutting his way out again, probably the most painful but quickest way possible. She didn’t think they could wait for the rest of the X-Men to reach them and help draw this to a close. With one last glance in Logan’s direction, she took a deep breath and committed to an all out effort. 

That wasn’t too bad, was Logan’s last thought before hitting the ground. Not as bad as the time at the Statue of Liberty and a few other things during the war with the sentinels. At least this time he didn’t pass out. Marie’s look told him he needed to be ready. This wasn’t exactly the plan everyone had been prepared for, but he was confident she wouldn’t stray too far from it, that they’d be lost. 

“Jeannie,” he growled under his breath, trying to convey a mental image of what he wanted to do.

“Ready when you are.” 

The flames rose higher, Marie was exhausting her fuel to form a smokescreen until the fire hit waste oil from leaking barrels. It was going to take all three of them to subdue Magneto enough for Xavier to do his thing, if he was recovered enough. Jeannie confirmed that thought. The rest of the team was busy, even he’d pick up the sounds of the other battle off to the other side of the shipyard. 

Rogue let the smoke thicken, absently playing with the flames. It forced Magneto to rise higher, to stay out of their path. 

“We’ve already played this game,” he stated.

“So we did,” she said, “but I’m done playing.”

He scoffed at her, about to say something when the thick smoke covering the others stirred. Gracefully Jean Grey floated out into the clearing above them both. Magneto laughed. “Is this supposed to frighten me?”

Jean smiled politely and Rogue took the opportunity to use a borrowed power and bum rush him. A pile of scrap gave her a launch platform, and Magneto turned toward her. At that moment Logan came through the smoke, throwing himself at Magneto with Jean’s aid.

Magneto went higher still to avoid Rogue and take on the deadlier threat of adamantium claws. Rogue hadn’t expected to actually reach him, Mr. Summers’ sense of trajectory told her that was near impossible, but it would be enough to catch him off guard. She felt the large pieces of metal around them vibrate and hoped Ms. Grey was up to the next task. 

Rogue changed her speed and dropped to the ground, rolling onto her back as she hit. Blocking out Wolverine’s roar of frustration and pain as he stopped mid-air, she instead watched Magneto’s helmet. It wasn’t much, but it lifted and the man glared at Ms. Grey, dropping Wolverine.

Her first blast of red light was too quick and sent it spinning awkwardly away. Taking a steadying breath, she exhaled and hit it a second time before Magneto could react. With satisfaction, she saw it fly off into the distance. 

“You think you can take me out?” he questioned Ms. Grey with amusement. 

“She doesn’t need to, Erik,” was the reply from behind the thinning smoke screen. 

Metal began to move, trying to form into shapes or walls. The first moves were effortless, then less so as a battle none of them could see was being waged. Magneto sank halfway to the ground and the moving metal became erratic. Rogue darted over to the others, coming to a halt next to Logan as Jean returned to Xavier’s side. She tried to use Magneto’s power to protect them as best she could. 

As Magneto finally dropped to the ground, so did the large pieces of scrap. Rogue helped Logan in closer to Jean and Xavier as small projectiles started to move like the eye of the hurricane, centered on Magneto. Jean threw up a shield that deflected most of it, leaving Rogue’s smaller shield as a backup. 

Resting against a pile of debris, Logan checked his side. The adamantium on his ribs could no longer be seen and the flow of blood had slowed. A few more minutes and he’d be ready for another fight if need be. The sound and flashes of light from further away had ceased. Looking at the others, he could see the strain on both Xavier's and Jeannie’s faces. 

Marie was trying to ignore him by checking the level of fluid in the bladders hidden in her sleeves. He placed a hand on her knee and her eyes immediately went to his side. There wasn’t much he was going to be able to do to reassure her, but he flashed her a smile when her eyes met his. She returned a weak smile that didn’t quite hide her weariness. Pulling her close, he said, “You’re not alone this time.”

Her shoulders relaxed some, and she leaned in for a brief kiss. “I know,” she said, looking over to where Magneto slumped to his knees. 

The flying debris was almost gone, and Logan took it as a sign that Xavier was winning the silent fight with his old friend. A quick glance at Jeannie’s gaunt face told him it was a good thing. Her shield hadn’t failed like Marie’s but he was sure she was reaching her limit. 
 
Almost as suddenly as the metallic storm had started, it ended. Magneto lay in a heap some distance away. Xavier had sweat rolling down his haggard features. Jeannie’s tired voice entered his thoughts, a question going out to everyone. “Any injuries?”

A few familiar voices from the rest of the team answered to the negative. Marie looked over at him. “Nothing I can’t walk off,” he told her.

---

“You’re positive you won’t come with us?” Beast asked them at Logan’s truck. The prisoners had been transferred to SHIELD, with the exception of Multiple Man who had slipped away. The other X-Men were boarding the X-Jet after Xavier had been settled on board.

“Probably best to give the other’s some time to get used to the idea that I’m on their side,” Logan confessed. 

Neither man missed Rogue’s amused “heh”.

Beast turned to her, “I know we weren’t as welcoming to you at one point in the past.”

“Maybe, someday… but right now I want to try living without looking over my shoulder.” she left it at that, though her real hope was that she and Logan might give a relationship beyond good sex a try.

"You know how to reach us if you should need anything," he commented looking at them both.

"We do," Logan said, then added, "If you need anything, Hank, don't hesitate to call." He knew Marie wanted a break and he wouldn't ask her to fight again, but he'd done a lot up to this point to make a better future and he couldn't leave that work unfinished.

A few more pleasantries and Beast boarded the jet, leaving the two of them standing alone. She tentatively reached out and took his hand. In return, he brought it to his lips and kissed it. It was a good sign and he wasn't going to pass up the chance to let her know he wanted to be with her. "Where are we going from here?"

"Back to Mississippi," she said, with a shrug. "After that, I have no clue."

"Did you ever make it to Alaska?" he asked. A nice slow road trip after what they'd been through tonight and individually over the last few years, didn't sound too bad.

"I bet you could talk me into it," she answered. It would be a good way to really get to know each other and determine whether they could build up a lasting relationship. Nothing like the stress of a road trip to put your compatibility to the test.

"I'll do my best," he said, swatting her butt as she moved past him to the passenger side of the truck.

Rogue couldn't help the stupid smile plastered on her face. They had survived together and would tackle things as they came along, together. So far so good, she thought as he started the engine.

~*~