Chapter 3! It's quite a long one, which I hope will make up for the relatively long wait between this and the last chapter. Is also the last chapter of the story, so I hope you enjoy.

Thanks to all reviewers to chapter 2! :D

Logan opened his eyes blearily, and shook his head. This was the second time in far too few days he had been sucked into blackness, and awoken some time after, to find himself staring at the white of the Infirmary ceiling. He sat up, and was surprised to see that Marie was sitting in a chair near his bed, her face propped up on her hands.

"Hey," she said quietly, then raised her voice a little and turned away from him "Jean – he's awake."

"How long I bin out, kid?" he asked, swinging his legs over the side of the bed to face, and running a hand over his chin.

"Just a few hours," she told him "Logan, ya didn't have to do that, ya know."

"Yeah, I know," he said, blinking fast in the too bright lights. When would she and Jean get this into their heads? "I wanted to do it."

She smiled at that, and looked away a little shyly. Bless. He was struck with a strong urge to reach out and touch her face again, regardless of the consequences. It had felt good to feel her skin against his again, even if it could only be for the briefest of moments.

There were two things he knew for certain right then. One: he was beginning to wonder if it was Marie that was the answer to his question (and that was scary, that was really fucking scary – because he had been hoping that it would remained unanswered) and two: he really wanted a cigar.

At least there was something he could do about the second one. He picked up his jacket, which was lying next to the bed, and rummaged in the pockets. There was nothing there. Shit.

"You know where my cigars are, kid?" he asked Marie roughly, trying to forget what his mind had just discovered about her.

She grinned, somewhat guiltily.

"Jean took 'em, while ya were out cold," Rogue told him, her grin becoming wider as she continued "Said they wouldn't do you any good when ya'd just come round, an' it wouldn't kill ya to go without."

Logan ground his teeth together, and felt a low growl escape. Why was she looking so damn happy at his displeasure?

"I disagreed with her," she went on, going a bit red, to add to the grinning. "Reckoned you'd rather have 'em. So…I kinda nicked them back."

She put her hand into the pocket of her own jacket, and drew out the battered packet. It was so damn hard to stay cold towards her when she was being quite so adorable, and knowing him so well. He smiled, and she dropped them into his hand. They looked at each other for a few moments, and he felt so…well somehow, right…that he was beginning to wonder if it was such a bad thing, losing his heart to Marie.

"Rogue!" exclaimed the rather pissed off voice of Doctor Jean Grey, who had just appeared behind the girl in question. "I didn't confiscate those for you to give them to him anyway."

She rolled her eyes, and they came to rest on Logan's face. He noticed with a stab of annoyance that she was no longer looking as frustrated as she had been when looking at Rogue.

"I'm not letting you do that again," she told him firmly. He ignored her, extracting one cigar from the packet, lighting it, and sticking it firmly between his teeth; then shooting a smile at Rogue. She smirked at him behind the doctor's back. At least the kid had a sense of humour, unlike the other woman in front him.

Funnily, despite the fact he was doing his level best to irritate Jean, she seemed surprisingly unfazed by the fact that he was smoking in the Infirmary (a health hazard, surely?) when she had been so annoyed at Marie for stealing his cigars back. Did she suspect how he felt and was jealous? If she did…well he was only just coming to terms with it himself. He didn't need a sermon on the fact that Marie was just a kid. Did she think he hadn't noticed? And she was telepathic, right? Shiiiiit.

It was probably that telepathy that was causing the really odd look on her face, and he chuckled, standing up, and pulling a shirt on. Why was it always off every time he woke up in here? Turned out Jeannie did want to get his shirt off. He'd have loved to know that a few weeks ago. But now, he weren't entirely sure…

"C'mon, let's get out of here kid," he said, and she stood up, pulling up her long black gloves, making sure there was no exposed skin between them and her shirt. Not that he'd have minded in the slightest…no. Just a kid. Shut up, Logan.

As they reached the door, he slung his arm around her shoulders, as he had taken to doing. With the other he stuck his cigar in his mouth, occasionally sending puffs of smoke above their heads.

"I guess I'm gonna have to take better care of myself," Marie commented, leaning her head on his shoulder as they got into the cool metal lift, and the doors slid shut. "Can't knock you out every time I get cut."

That was true, he really would like to spend a bit more time awake, and a bit less lying shirtless in the Infirmary. Even if it did mean fewer times like this with Marie. Still, something that he certainly did like from the little healing sessions was getting to touch her skin, even for that short amount of time.

"Sure will do, darlin'" he said, snickering a little under his breath, she did get hurt unnecessarily often "I won't always be around to help."

"Wha'dya mean?" she asked, looking up at him, her eyes surprised.

"Professor X has found a place where I can start to find my past," he told her, feeling irrationally guilty. Damn, why did she have to look so disappointed? He never stuck around for anyone, and had never planned on, even if they got down on their knees and begged him. But Marie…well it felt like she'd absorbed Magneto's power or something and was sucking him back to her, stopping him going. Just that little look in her eye, and he wanted to hug her and promise he wouldn't go, not if she wanted him to stay. What was going on, Wolverine? How come you're suddenly so…committed to her or something? The few years he could remember (which was frustratingly few, which was why he was going to ignore Marie's strange pull, because he had to know just who he was) he had never ever felt this way. He had never wanted to. But now…well it was kinda nice, really. Felt like he had someone who'd always be there for him. Someone he knew he'd always be there for, if she needed him.

Rogue lay awake that night, thinking. She could hear Jubes and Kitty breathing evenly just a few metres away, but she couldn't sleep. She kept thinking about the place Logan had mentioned, where he was going to start to try to piece together his past. It had not for a moment occurred to her to ask to come along – he wouldn't want her tagging around after him, he'd want to make this particular journey on his own. Nonetheless, she was worried. She didn't want him to disappear suddenly, before he said goodbye. He wasn't exactly the type she could see settling down anywhere. He liked to wander. It was a miracle he'd stayed with the X-Men this long. She suspected Jean had something to do with that. Rogue was surprised to realise that she was a little jealous of the red headed doctor for that. Oh God…she didn't…

Yup. She did. She fancied Logan. Great.

Even in the dark she felt her cheeks burning, and was glad that both of her friends were asleep, not asking her eagerly why she was slowly turning bright red. It was beyond embarrassing to contemplate the news getting back round to Logan. She had been mortified enough to hear that he'd heard the previous (then untrue) rumours about her feelings. Imagine if he heard, and they were actually true.

There was no way she was going to be able to sleep now, so she swung her legs off the bed, grabbed a long pair of worn brown gloves from the chest next to her bed, and slipped out of the door.

It was pretty cold in the corridors at night, and Rogue begun to wish she had brought her jacket. The carpets whispered underneath her bare feet, occasionally sending little clouds of dust into the air. It was quiet and completely deserted. Perfect. Hopefully she could sort out this mess in her head before she had to face Logan in the morning.

A gloved hand suddenly grabbed her mouth and she struck out, struggled, tried to scream. Nothing worked – her captor held her to them with surprising strength. Mutant, then. She felt whoever it was dip their head, so that their mouth was nearly touching her ear. Maybe they didn't know about her power? Well, they were in for a shock if they moved one more millimetre…

"Hey, Marie," a rough and very, very familiar voice growled softly in her ear. The grip on her mouth was relinquished, and she whipped round, in disbelief.

"Logan!" she looked around, trying to think of a reason as to why she was walking the school this late. Come to think of it, why was he prowling around at this time? "Ah couldn't sleep."

She couldn't sleep? Well, he definitely couldn't. Couldn't stop wondering if she'd still be here when he got back. Would she have resolved the matters with her parents, and returned to them – they might have thrown her out, but they were family. He knew students were allowed to do that, if they wished: live as normal people in normal schools. Most preferred this place, where they didn't have to hide, but she might go back…

"Nah, me neither," he told her, and stopped. Should he try and voice some of what he was feeling? There was no one around after all. "I guess I didn't wanna take off without seeing you, kid."

"Me?" she repeats, almost incredulously, and judging by the blush on her cheeks, she didn't mean that to come out.

"Who else in this place would I wanna say goodbye to?" he asked her, completely unable to think of one. Sure, it would be nice to see some of the X-Men again, but there wasn't any of them in particular he'd really want to make the effort to see before he left.

"Dr Grey?" Marie manages, blushing an even deeper red. Logan grinned wolfishly at her embarrassment.

"Not over you," he manages, realising far too late that he was way out of his depth. Still, it was true. He moved towards her, and cupped her burning cheeks in his gloved hands. She looked completely stunned, but she wasn't pulling away, which was a bonus. Her eyes meet his, and very slowly, she curls one of her hands round his neck, and he smiles. They're very close now, just a few centimetres between them. He can feel her warm breath tickling the bare skin exposed by his shirt.

It was stupid, he knew. Wrong, he knew that too. Dangerous, even. But he did it anyway, because he couldn't tell her any other way. He bent down, and for the briefest moment, touched his lips to hers. He hadn't imagined quite how right that would feel.

"Logan!" she breathes, and he can hear alarm in her voice, but also happiness, which was betrayed by the massive grin across her face. He looks down at her, feeling his own matching smile spread across his face. By her expression, he could tell she was itching to reach up and kiss him again, but she was restraining herself to stop her from hurting him. Well, he could solve that one for her…

The second kiss was slightly longer and more forceful than the first, and he begun to feel that draining that happened whenever he touched her. With a sigh, he broke away, and leant against the wall, trying not to pass out. It could be hard to explain why he was out cold this time.

"Y'all right?" she asked, looking a little guilty "I'm – "

"Don't you dare apologise for that," he told her, managing to stand quite steadily, and grinning. She grinned too.

"OK."

A shuffling noise at the end of corridor made him stop, and he held up a hand in Marie's direction, warning her to stay quiet. He didn't recognise the person's scent, it was odd, and his claws shot from his arms instinctively. A growl built in his chest as the person approached. Then, listening harder, he realised that it was only Storm, and she was not in their corridor at all, she was walking along the one adjacent to theirs, and had walked straight past it. He let out his breath, and retracted his claws back into his arms.

He felt warmth on his hand, and looked down: Marie was holding one of his hands, tracing her fingers across the fresh holes in his gloves. Her face was concerned, and he let her remove the glove, and continue to run her fingers over his freshly healed wounds. He hadn't forgotten she'd asked whether it hurt. She was the only person who'd ever asked, and so the only person he'd ever told.

"I should probably get back to bed," Marie said, looking up at him, still holding his hand, and smiling shyly.

"Sleep well," he told her, pressing one last fleeting kiss to her lips.

Lying in bed, Rogue thought that she was in an even worse state for sleeping than she had been before meeting Logan. Now, her mind kept replaying those three kisses, and she can't keep the smile off her face. She had been wrong; he didn't like Dr Grey as much as he appeared to. He felt for her, as she did him. Reflecting on the events of the past half hour, she came to realise that what she did feel for Logan went far beyond the crush she had thought it to be, less than an hour earlier…

Still smiling, she rolled onto her side, and closed her eyes.

Rogue woke only a few hours later, remembering instantly the events of the previous night, and jumping straight out of bed. Glancing at the alarm clock lying next to Jubilee's sleeping form, she saw it was only 6:00am. There was no way she'd be able to get any more sleep now, so she grabbed some jeans, and a white t-shirt, along with her long brown gloves, and pulled them on hurriedly. Hungry, she decided that an early breakfast would be a good idea, and left the room silently, careful not to wake her friends.

Something that Rogue had not bargained for was the presence of all the X-Men, as she entered the dining room. Xavier was leaning back in his wheelchair, talking to Scott and Jean about something, while Logan and Storm were yawning together at the table nearest the kitchen, Storm eating a slice of toast, Logan eating what looked like half the food in the kitchen. She felt herself go red as she passed them, wondering if he had slept as little as she had, thinking about her. She dismissed the thought – of course he hadn't. It was then that she remembered the presence of Professor Xavier, and went even brighter red. Perhaps walking into the room reminiscing kissing Logan hadn't been the best idea. She hurried into the kitchen, hoping that no one had seen the florescent red human that had just entered the room, least of all her telepathic headmaster.

Reaching for a packet of cereal, she realised that she had been noticed, because someone had just followed her in, and was now standing behind her. Grinning.

"Are you tryin' to ignore me, darlin'?" Logan drawled, leaning against the doorframe casually, and clearly laughing at her embarrassment.

"Nah, I'm not," she mumbled back, pouring some flakes into a bowl, trying not to betray her shaking hands. It didn't work. Not with Logan's heightened senses and everything. He crossed the room, and stood directly behind her, nuzzling the top of her head affectionately. It was very distracting.

"You worried Wheels'll find out?" he asked, watching her take the milk from the fridge, and grab a spoon.

"Yeh," Rogue admitted, twisting her hair in her hands. "It's so annoying not being able to keep your thoughts to yourself."

"Damn telepaths," he replied, grinning, and helping himself to a handful of cornflakes from the open box. "Reckon Xavier got a pretty clear picture of what I was thinking about this morning, judging by his expression. Jean too."

"Great."

It wasn't so much that Rogue minded what people thought about her relationship with Logan, or even if they noticed that it had progressed beyond friendship. It was the fact that the two people she'd want to know least in the world, now probably knew. She knew Xavier wouldn't approve of the vast age gap, and…well it was obvious at one point Logan had shown interest in Jean, and it made her a little uncomfortable to know that Jean knew. Still, it was nice to know that he hadn't just forgotten – she had been slightly worried that it hadn't meant as much to him as it had to her. It was nice to know that she had been wrong.

"I'm leaving, you know," he told her, after a pause, when the only noise was Rogue eating her cereal, and the talk of the staff just outside. "Today."

"Ya want to go on your own." Rogue said, not looking up from her cereal. She had known all along he would leave, and that he would want to undertake the journey to his past alone, and wasn't going to stop him. At least their feelings towards each other were out in the open before he left. She hoped he'd come back for her, now.

It was late afternoon, and rays of sunshine poured into his room, drenching his belongings with its deep gold glow. He desperately wanted to go, but at the same time, there was that strange pull that Marie held. It wasn't like Magneto's power, or even the pull he felt when he touched her skin: those were both painful and unnatural. Her pull felt far more right, and he wanted to obey it, rather than trying to fight it, like he would the others. This time though, he had to fight it, because he was going. He looked at the rucksack lying on the table next to him, and with a sigh, slung it onto his back.

"Rogue will still be here when you return," said a voice from behind him. Xavier. Didn't know he was listening in to his thoughts. He managed a smile in the old man's direction. "I must admit, it was…interesting to hear both of you thinking about the same thing this morning."

The professor was chuckling a little, and Logan could see that he wasn't pissed off about their relationship. On the contrary, he had a feeling the old man had known all along: before they had. Still…

"Would'ya mind not listening in to my thoughts in a mornin'?"

As he made his way to the front doors he could hear the students laughing and talking, and, listening very carefully, he picked out Marie's voice, cheering as she won some game or other she was having with those ice and fire boys, and a girl too, the one who had screamed her name, that day when she'd cut herself on the glass. He smiled: at least the last memory he'd have of her on this journey was her happy, even if not with him. However, as he headed to the door, he heard the very footsteps he's hoped would appear. She'd spotted him, clearly, as he trudged (deliberately slowly, he had to admit) past the doorway.

"Ya tryin' to get away without saying goodbye?" she asked, frowning a little. Perhaps she feared that she wouldn't see him again, as he did with her. If he had any say in it, he was definitely coming back for her.

"Course not," he told her, thinking. How could he show her that he was coming back as soon as he had found what he was looking for? Suddenly, an idea struck him. "Tell you what," he said, reaching his hands to his neck, and fumbling with the chains that hung there. He removed his dog tags, caught her hand in his, and coiled them into it. He saw her eyes widen a bit: she knew they were important to him.

"I'll be back for these," he told her, bringing her closed hand to his lips for a moment. Then he turned, and walked out of the front doors. It was good, to be on the road again. But he'd be back, sooner or later.

And it wasn't just the dog tags he was returning for …

So that's it! I really enjoyed writing this, so hope everyone enjoyed reading it too. I hope to write some more X-Men stuff soon – as soon as I've tracked down and watched the 2nd and 3rd movies!

Reviews, as always, are very much appreciated.