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Rogue was in heaven there was simply no other way to describe how she felt as she walked through the outskirts of one of the many gardens surrounding the mansion. If someone had told her a month ago that things were going to turn out like they had, she'd have called them crazy. And she wouldn't have been any more surprised.
Almost a month ago, following a nearly year long absence, Logan had finally returned from Canada. As shocked as she'd been by his sudden appearance, he'd been twice as shocked by her change in appearance. At nearly twenty years of age, Rogue wasn't the same girl he'd left behind. At first it was a little awkward between them, both had changed in their time apart. Then it was almost hard seeing him, the heavy cast in his gaze caused by the past, at least the bits that he could finally remember. It had taken him some time before he was able to open up to anyone about what he'd found, even Professor Xavier. A smile came to her face as she recalled that night almost three weeks ago.
Nearly a week had passed since his return when Logan slipped into Rogue's room in the middle of the night, his presence waking her from a fitful dream. That's when he told her what he'd found. The truth about his past, all the things he could now remember. He'd told her that some of it would have probably been better unknown, his age for instance, but it was too late now, he knew.
That night he'd shared it all too, shared it with the only person he felt would understand. Rogue had sat with him quietly on the hard wood floor in her room, their backs resting against her bed. She'd held his hand while he talked and held him to her chest while he'd cried then stared at him in shock as he told her how much he'd missed her and how glad he was that she still cared. He told her how sometimes the knowledge that she was waiting for him in New York was all that kept him going. Rogue had cried then too. Cried for his pain, his past, his promises kept and she cried with happiness too.
The first few days after that emotional night had been the hardest. Not certain that anyone would understand or approve of their budding relationship, he was after all old enough to be her great-great-grandfather, they had to be content with a few stolen moments and secret glances. Finally on the fourth day, Professor Xavier had pulled them into his office and let them know in no uncertain terms that everyone at the school was on to them and they might as well stop trying to hide it. And so they had and neither had ever been happier.
Rogue tightened her fingers around the large hand she was holding then turned to her companion with a smile. It was practically a nighttime ritual for her and Logan to take a walk in one of the gardens to watch the sun set. It was their time to discuss their day's events and talk about their plans for tomorrow. Moreover it was time together, alone. At Logan's insistence, they were taking their relationship very slowly, not that they could take it much beyond what they already had. There was still Rogue's mutation to contend with. They'd been together for almost three weeks and they'd yet to kiss. It was something that they both wanted and both knew that in time it would happen. Jean and the professor were working a couple of theories and the couple knew they'd eventually find an answer, they had to.
Logan felt Rogue shudder with a chill as it vibrated from her hand to his. "You cold?" he asked, with the thick, sultry tone he used when they were alone.
"Maybe a little," she conceded shyly as they stopped their walk. When it was just the two of them, Rogue didn't wear the cloak she usually had on to protect people from her poisoned skin.
Quickly Logan shed the old leather jacket that he was seldom seen without and slipped it on her shoulders. "You want to head back inside?"
"The sun hasn't even set yet," Rogue protested. "This'll help," she assured him wrapping the thick jacket tighter.
"So will this," Logan stated wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her back firmly against his chest. "I don't want you getting sick, Marie."
"Ah have no doubt that ya can keep me warm," she whispered in a honey sweet tone, tilting her head back onto his shoulder to look at him.
Logan's body tightened at her tone and the look in her eyes. "You better stop that while you still can," he warned her, his tone decidedly more husky.
"Ah wish Ah didn't have ta," Rogue stated sadly for about the millionth time, at least it felt that many.
With a sigh Logan dropped his head slightly placing a quick, gentle kiss on the top of her head. "Me too, Darlin'," he returned with a frustrated growl.
"Logan?"
Logan bristled immediately at the distinctive hail. For some reason Rogue couldn't understand, he and Scott were still at each other's throats. "I wonder what One-Eye wants," he grumbled not making any move to find out. "Probably wants to bitch about me taking his motorcycle again."
"Ah told ya we shoulda asked before ya took me fer a ride," Rogue reminded him.
"If he don't want me takin' the bike then he shouldn't leave the keys in it, now should he?" Logan returned. "Besides doesn't he know that I'm walkin' with my girl? I've told him before not to bother me when we're in the garden."
"Ya better go see, maybe it's important," Rogue ordered with a hidden smile.
Logan scowled, maybe she was right. "I'll be right back," he promised her with a squeeze before releasing her and turning back toward the house.
From the edge of the garden where they'd been standing, Rogue turned and watched Logan walk toward Scott and Jean, admiring the power in his legs and the tightening of his muscles at work. She could watch that man walk all day long.
A rustling in the forest a short distance from where she stood drew her attention and Rogue turned away from Logan. Straining her eyes she searched for a source of the disturbance. About the time she decided it was just the wind, she heard it again only this time it was accompanied by a whimper. A second later it was repeated, definitely the sound of a wounded animal, sounded like a dog. The new girl at the school had come with a dog that the whole house had adopted. The dog, an Australian Blue Heeler, had disappeared a few days ago without a trace.
Glancing back in the direction Logan had taken, Rogue started forward toward the thick forest. It was much darker in the heavy cover than it had been in the open and she strained her eyes to see. Something shifting in the foliage to her right startled her and she jumped. Shaking it off physically she had just started forward again when something large and powerful slammed into her from her left. Rogue screamed in panic as she was knocked from her feet to the unforgiving ground. As the wind had been knock out of her when she landed, Rogue was unable to call for help as more beasts joined the first. She barely had time to bring her hands up to protect her face when the pack of wolves attacked.
From the house, Logan, Jean and Scott heard the startled scream from Rogue. In an instant all three were running toward the edge of the garden where Logan had left her. As he sprinted, Logan's nose was working, he located Marie a short ways into the forest. A second scent mingle with hers, a familiar and terrifying scent.
"Wolves," Logan shouted over his shoulder to the others. About that time his nose detected something even more frightening. Blood. Increasing his speed by sheer force of will, Logan left Jean and Scott in dust.
Slowing slightly to concentrate, Jean sent a mental call for help back toward the house knowing that the professor would pick it up if he hadn't picked up on their emotional distress already.
~*~