~*~
A lone figure stalked down the darkened hallways on the third floor of the mansion, which housed Professor Charles Xavier's school for mutants. Due to the lateness of the hour the corridor was deserted so he didn't even bother to keep to the shadows. Even in the light of day it wouldn't have been necessary since he was easily recognizable, he hadn't changed that much. No one would have questioned his presence. They would simply nod at him or pretend that he wasn't there.
The man slowed his pace as he approached his destination, his hand splaying out against the thick wood of the bedroom door. With a quick glance in each direction down the hallway, he grabbed the doorknob and turned it slowly.
Stepping into the room, he quietly closed the door behind him then turned his attention to the sleeping figure across the room. Locking his eyes on the beautiful young woman he started toward the bed mesmerized by her appearance. Just the sight of her sleeping peacefully caused a tightening in his chest. He'd almost forgotten how beautiful she was, her pale, rounded features, her full, inviting lips, the thick mass of chestnut hair with the shocking streaks of white that framed her face.
The man stopped at her side and just stared down at the exposed skin of her arms, shoulders and chest. Slowly he lowered himself to sit beside her, his hand reaching toward her silky smooth shoulder.
As though sensing the impending touch, Rogue shifted in her sleep, rolling onto her back away from the man beside her.
Her visitor growled lightly and reached toward her again, his time making contact with her face.
Rogue's eyes popped open at the unexpected touch. She was shocked to find familiar yet unexpected eyes staring back at her. "Logan?" she whispered her tone still muddled with sleep.
"Hey, Darlin'," Logan returned with a smile. His voice was somehow different, it was still gruff around the edges but it was also tender, almost loving and it seemed a little sad.
Fully awake, her eyes adjusted to the darkness in the room, Rogue sat up, resting her back against the headboard and focused her attention on Logan's face. The taught lines of his jaw, the furrows deep in his forehead, these were nothing new, she had seen them on countless occasions. The detail that really caught her attention was the enormous sadness in his hazel eyes.
"What is it, Logan?" she asked her voice practically begging for an answer.
Logan closed his eyes tightly, his lips trembling. "I'm sorry, Marie," he whispered gently his eyes still closed. "I wasted so much time. Time I wish I had back now."
Rogue shook her head in confusion. She had never seen the gruff man most people referred to as Wolverine in such a state. He seemed beside himself with grief. "Tell me what's happened," she demanded hoping her sharp tone would annoy him enough to snap him back out of it.
Instead the quiet words Logan spoke shocked her. "I love you so much, Baby."
"Logan?" Rogue questioned him, a voice in her gut screaming that this wasn't right. Over the year since he'd returned from Canada, they had gotten closer, in fact they spent most of their time together, but he'd never voiced feelings like that for her though she had begun to suspect. Still there was something different about the man before her. Something more than just the fact that he was dressed in slacks and a sweater, something she would never guess Logan would wear.
"Tell me you love me, Marie," Logan pleaded softly, a single tear rolling down his cheek. "Please just let me hear you say it once more."
As Logan leaned in toward her, Rogue noticed something for the first time. The bluish moonlight filtering through the window beside the bed reflected off the metal tags around Logan's neck. One was very familiar and it read "Wolverine 458-25-243". The fact that she was still wearing Logan's tag was momentarily lost as she read the inscription on the second tag, "Rogue 03-03-2012." The numbers, she realized was the date of her birthday, what would be her 30th birthday. Suddenly it became obvious why this man seemed different, he was. He was at least ten years older, ten years more civilized...
"Why'd ya come here?" Rogue asked focusing again on the man's face.
Logan grinned widely, an expression his younger self seldom used. "How'd you know?" he returned softly.
Moving slowly Rogue reached up and wrapped her fingers lightly around the two tags dangling from his neck.
Nodding Logan returned the gesture, wrapping his hand around the familiar tag she was wearing, his eyes once again drifting shut.
"Ah'm waitin'," Rogue's voice snapped him out of his reverie. The questioning look on his face prompted her to ask again. "What are ya doin' here?"
Lifting his head, Logan released the chain from his hand letting it fall back to her chest then he sat up fully. "I came here for you, Marie."
"Ah don't understand," she informed him evenly, shaking her head slowly. Somewhere deep down a part of her screamed that she should cry out for help or try to run but she knew the man before her would never hurt her.
"I wasted so much time denying what I felt," Logan explained. "I denied us years that should have been spent together, in each others arms, years that I could have been making love to you."
Rogue's eyes widened his surprise, was it really possible that someday she and Logan could actually make love?
"The years we had weren't enough, Marie," Logan told her his guilt making his voice tremble. "I want back the years that I lost. The years that I denied us."
"How?" Rogue asked.
Logan smiled at her again, a loving smile she had never seen on the face of the Logan she knew so well. "By giving you the gift now that was withheld for too long."
Her forehead wrinkling with confusion, Rogue shifted position as she tried to get out of the bed but Logan moved with her, blocking her escape. "Let me up," she requested, her tone falling short of the demand she had summoned.
"It's okay, Darlin'," Logan assured her as he shifted on the bed, straddling her thighs to keep her pinned in place.
Rogue's eyes widened in shock and fear as Logan's weight bared down on her legs making it impossible for her to move. "Please, leave me alone," she cried loudly hoping her voice would be heard by the man she knew was just next door.
"Just relax, Darlin'," Logan commanded as he leaned toward her, his hands coming up, one on either side of her face. "It won't hurt long." Then his hands gently but firmly grabbed her face. Tears filled her wide eyes as she waited for her poisoned skin to react with his. Seconds passed before she felt the electricity that started flowing between them but it wasn't what she was expecting, this was different than it had ever been.
Rogue's breath caught in her throat at the unbelievable pain tearing through her body. Within seconds of first contact a shrieking scream tore from her lips milliseconds before Logan's mouth descended on hers.
~*~