I hide in my room with the rough metal pressed into my palm, unsure of what to do. I want to yell and scream and make it known that Logan will be free, but that other side of me wants to keep quiet. I want this to be between us only. I'm sure the Professor had already informed the senior staff, but the students wouldn't know or understand the decision that was made.

I kept to myself the next couple weeks, wondering when I should use the key. Every night, I hold that silver key, wanting to free him. I want to trust that he will not harm a soul. A man so hurt and damaged who was never given a chance. Logan had been making great strides in becoming more trusting and even speaking more than ever. I usually receive small yes or no answers and he no longer grunts and growls responses. My favorite word is when he speaks my name. The way it rolls off his tongue makes my stomach twist in knots. He doesn't lunge or jerk his chains when I arrive he simply greets me with a tilt of his head and a gruff "Hey". He's calmed considerably. I can feel the tension, anger and pain he held inside of him for so long dissipating. He's changing and for the better. I couldn't be more proud of him I think with a smile.

I was struggling with my decision, but it had to be now or never. He couldn't live like that for the rest of his life, even if he would never fully recover. He deserves a chance. Today would be the day. I pick up the silver piece and push it into my worn denim pocket as I head out. I took a deep calming breath and gave a slight smile. I am unable to hide my excitement and a bit of anxiousness as I push open the heavy wooden door. "Hey, Logan!"

He was startled at my sudden entrance. He stood up quickly, with his fists balled and his nose sniffing the air. His chains brushed loudly against the wooden floor as his body tensed. I silently kept still and my large eyes remained on his muscular chest. I do not want to look like I'm challenging him. I'd hate to see how that would turn out.

Just let him catch your scent and you will be fine.

A few moments passed between us and I hear a small grunt of approval with the brush of a chain against the floorboard. He relaxed his arms and his deep gravelly voice said my name. "Marie."

With a quick glance, my eyes brush past his hardened face with dark orbs. I try not to glance any lower than his chest again. However, I didn't fail to notice the progress with the clothes. He has taken a step backwards as the dark sweats are tossed to the side in the corner. I knew he wasn't really a big fan of clothing. That would have to be another task to conquer later. I have to keep the big, sexy man clothed.

Maybe he feels toorestricted in them.

Who knows? And right now, I don't care because I am holding the key to his freedom.

Unsure of how to exactly go about the subject, I decide it was best to just be straightforward. I waved my gloved hand, beckoning to him to come closer.

"Hey, sugar, come over here," I said softly. "I have something for you."

He gave a small curious head tilt and a twitch of his nose, but yet he did not move. I'm sure he can smell the anxiousness coming off me in waves. I slid my gloved hand into my jean pocket and pull the small item out slowly. Logan stood still, watching me with an intense stare of suspicion.

I pull out the silver key and hold it up to his face. I receive a confused reaction from Logan. His head slightly tilts in the other direction. It's actually a little funny, but yet so very sad. I don't think he understands the implications of the key. I step closer with a somber smile. I lift the key up using my other hand to point at the little piece of metal with small smirk.

I decide it's probably just best to show him and then explain in words what he won't understand. "This unlocks those cuffs and your collar," I told him. As I close in on his thick wrist I see him watching me carefully but he allows me to touch him with my roughened glove. My fingers brush up lightly against the back of his hand and I can feel his hand tense slightly. I stop my movements and lock my eyes onto his trying to get a read on him. "Here, let me see your wrist." I continue to reach out and touch the metal. "This OK?" I ask him. I wait wanting him to be able to give his approval before anything happens to him. Soon I receive a small nod to continue.

I take the shiny adamantium cuff in my hand more confidently and examine it. I can sense his deep intense gaze watching. I noticed the skin under the cuff is red and irritated. As I examine it more closely I feel a rush of air from his nostrils brush past my dark hair. At that moment I glanced back up to his face and spoke in a voice so quiet that only he could have heard. "You can be free," His gaze never left mine as he repeated just as softly, "Free." with a glint of hopefulness in his hazel orbs.

I slid the key in. Wolverine finally realized what I'm doing. His face is expressive. Thick eyebrows arching with disbelief, eyes that start to glow with something other then his tortured expression. He let out a small eager huff as the chain attached jingles slightly while I find the hole to slip the key through.

Without hesitation, I twist the key and we both hear a click. The silence between us is deafening save for the loud clank the cuff and chain as it fell loosely onto the wooden floorboards. For a moment the only sound is the two of us breathing when the realization kicks in. I feel a bit uncomfortable that he is now able to reach out unrestricted to touch me. What if he touches my skin. I have to be careful. I take a small step back but he matches my step and steps even closer. He has too much skin exposed as I slightly panic "please Logan be careful". I try to caution him as I shuffle backwards a little more to keep my distance. This time he stays put but I know he's ready for the rest to come off.

"One down, two more to go." I rubbed his wrist a little, thinking that it must be sore from being pulled on all the time.

After removing the cuff from his second wrist, Wolverine is starting to get a little agitated, but in a good way. He is getting antsy. With a soft growl, he reaches up and threads his tick fingers through the collar around his neck and tugs "off now", He demands. He hasn't taken his eyes off small key in my hand. I can tell his eyes are pleading with me me to get the collar off immediately. Like I am holding his life in my hand, and in a way I am.

Please just don't let him touch my skin when he's free is all I can think.

"Easy, Sugar, it won't be much longer," I soothe as I reach up higher for the collar on his neck. This action brings me dangerously close to the skin of his chest as my face hovers near. I just need to be very cautious.

"Here, bend over for me, will ya?" I said as I reached behind his neck and brushed my gloved hand over the small hairs of his neck.

He understands what I am asking of him and lowers his head for me, so that I could be able to reach up with the key.

I am fumbling around slightly around with the key and it's nothing but graceful as I find the hole and shove the key in. With one last twist, the collar loosens and falls limply to the floor. Logan lifts his head. As his hazel eyes met mine, I stepped back slightly giving a cautious breath. I am not sure what is about to happen, but I know for sure that I have just freed a very naked Wolverine.