Fiction- TGoM- Chapter Twenty-seven

Title: The Glory Of Manticore

Author: Restive Nature

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Dark Angel or to X-men. They belong respectively to Cameron/ Eglee and to Marvel Comics. No infringement is intended and this fiction is for private enjoyment only.

Rating: up to NC-17

Chapter Rating: PG-15 (for language)

Genre: Crossover

Type: action/ Romance

Pairing: Max/ Logan

Summary: Max is once again on the run. But this time a safe haven awaits her in the form of Professor Xavier’s School for Gifted Children.

Spoilers/ Time line: Post the first movie, for X-men. First season for DA, starting off from Episode “Blah Blah Woof Woof”

Feedback: Always welcome!

Distribution: Ask first please.

The Glory Of Manticore

Chapter Twenty-seven

“You were right,” Max groaned in pleasure. “That was amazing.”

“Have to agree with you there,” Logan grinned as he stretched his arms above his head, his feet correspondingly curling under a little as he stretched out his upper body as much as possible in the cramped space they were in. Instead of complaining or worrying about it, he let his hands down to rub across his stomach and momentarily wished he had a cigar to enjoy.

Max's eyes twinkled in the low light as she watched him for another moment before she turned to Jean. “It almost makes me wish I knew how to cook, just to try and recreate those crab thingies.”

“I told you,” Jean smirked as she reached for Scott's hand that was resting closest to her. He held her fingers loosely. “It's the kind of food that's so indulgent that you feel guilty for feeling so good for eating it.”

“I'll have to agree with that,” Max nodded. And then shook her head, “except I don't feel guilty. It's okay to indulge once in a while. I'll just have to find something to do that'll work off all these extra calories.”

“I can help with that, darlin',” Logan immediately jumped back in as he leaned forward, his elbows on the table to brace himself. He ignored Scott's mild look of alarm and the frown that followed, compared to Jean's amusement. “I was thinkin' maybe tomorrow mornin', we could get up early for another small road trip before we head home.”

“A small road trip to where?” Max mused, tilting her head enticingly to regard him.

“Half an hour south, give or take,” he teased, “depending on traffic. Plenty of chances for walking, sand, surf, maybe a few games...”

Max's eyebrows were furrowing as she tried to realize or figure out what he was talking about until finally the possibilities set in and narrowed until she thought she knew what he was referring to. “Coney Island!” she burst out and knew she was right when Logan chuckled. “Are they still operating?” She glanced at Scott and Jean, both of whom were nodding.

“There aren't as many rides and a lot more transient stores,” Jean supplied, “but they've still got lots up there. And the boardwalk is always fun.”

“It sure is,” Scott agreed and then glanced at his girlfriend, squeezing her hand again. “Remember when we went up there that one summer?” he prompted. “The class trip, right after high school, before you went off to university.”

“I do,” Jean nodded. “You refused to leave until you had won me at least something and we ended up missing the last bus.”

“And we didn't have enough money left for a cab,” Scott laughed. “So we decided we would just walk back to the hotel we were all staying at.”

“And we made it exactly twenty-three blocks before Charles was there with the town car and Storm, who did not look at all pleased at having been woken up so she could come find us,” Jean was giggling. Max glanced at Logan, who seemed to be enjoying this recounting as much as she. But not so much as the lovebirds. “I still have that teddy bear.”

“My glasses were still a work in progress,” Scott explained across the table to Max, his lips curved softly. “It was difficult to see properly with depth perception as evening came on, but I didn't want to admit that to Jean.”

“Oh,” Max sighed softly. “So it was a matter of pride, huh?”

“And it was towards the end of the season,” Jean added. “College was just a few weeks away. I think we were feeling that weighing down on us more heavily every minute, as our parting got closer.”

“See, I like that,” Max pursed her lips for a moment and saw they were waiting for her explanation, rather than assuming they knew what she was talking about. “Not to put too fine a point, but with the statistics of marriage and divorce, it's actually nice to see an exception to what you could assume is almost a rule. It's good for people to have something to aspire to, and you guys being together and working through obstacles, it's sets a good example for all those kids you work with.” She paused for a moment and then laughed. “That wasn't too condescending, was it?”

“Not at all,” Jean assured her. “I guess it seems that way, but Scott and I learned long ago to commit to each other regardless of how the world saw things. It's worked better than trying to conform to society's standards.” No one missed the way her eyes lingered on Logan for a moment, but it was understood that perhaps he represented one of those larger issues that all couples had to work through.

“Although some of those standards can be a real comfort,” Scott threw in. The other three noticed too, but did not point out, that his thumb was rubbing over the bare ring finger of Jean's hand that he held.

“There's too much in society that I just don't care for,” Logan sighed, which was another obvious fact that sort of went without saying.

“High society or as a general whole?” Max wondered, leaning her head to the side, catching herself on her curled palm, to watch him.

“I think it's pretty obvious that I live my life by my own code of honor and screw the rest,” Logan grunted, not worried at all, because as he had suspected, it amused her. His words didn't make her laugh, she just gave him a smile of approval. Before she could say more though, the singer, the friend of Jean's that they had all come out to see, had made her way over to the table.

“Jeannie!” she greeted with a small trill as Jean spun around in her chair. “I'm so glad you made it!”

“Laura,” Jean sighed as she stood, letting go of Scott's hand, to hug the woman closely. When she pulled back though, her head tilted questioningly. “Okay, we really have to talk.”

“Of course,” Laura laughed. Still with one arm around Jean's waist, she reached with her other hand to greet Scott. “Hello Scott. You're looking well.”

“As are you,” he returned politely as he stood. “We brought some friends with us tonight. Logan, Max, this is Laura Alcott, Laura, Logan and Max,” he indicated both parties as he mentioned their names.

“It's a pleasure to meet you,” Laura nodded to each. “Any friend of Jean's is welcome.”

“And you greeted us so wonderfully,” Max smiled. “You're voice... I still have shivers up and down my spine.”

“Oh thank you,” she crooned. “Aren't you so sweet. Oh, I hate to cut this short, I was just on my way to freshen up. But I didn't want Jean to think I hadn't noticed you were here.”

“Well, we'll go with,” Jean decided. “I'd like a moment too.” She turned to the last woman of the party, who was already retrieving her bag and standing from her chair. Logan, even as he had just protested societies rules, but reminded them that he had his own, stood as Max did and even reached to help her with her chair so that she didn't bump into the person seated behind her.

“Won't be long,” she assured him.

“I'll be waiting,” he returned. “Maybe we can take another spin on the floor and discuss Coney Island some more.”

“Sounds good,” she nodded and then moved after Jean and her friend Laura. Scott and Logan resumed their seats, both watching their respective girls as they made their way through the crowded club, with little problem.

“Max might have miscalculated that,” Scott smirked at Logan, who simply grunted, wondering if he had time for a cigar out back. Or at least part of one. This was still a strict non smoking area. It wasn't worth possible problems to buck the rules.

“What d'ya mean by that?” he grunted. Scott simply jerked his chin up towards the back, where the women had disappeared behind a beaded curtain that marked off the hallway.

“There's always a longer line for the women's than the men's,' Scott pointed out reasonably.

“Oh, yeah yeah,” Logan nodded. That was just a fact of life. “One of the great mysteries of life, huh?”

“It actually isn't,” Scott chuckled. Logan raised an eyebrow at him and Scott leaned in. “When you grow up in a house that's full of women, you start to figure it out. Women travel in packs, not for just their own safety, but a couple other reasons too.”

“You don't say,” Logan grunted. He hadn't really given this too much thought, considering it just another feminine mystery that he wasn't really fussed over.

“Yeah, you see it especially in group or double dates,” Scott nodded, seemingly mellowed out by the evening. “They get to a natural lull in conversation and they decide it's a good time to retreat and discuss the evening thus far, fix their make up, assure each other that things are going well or not and decide to continue with the evening or not.”

“You sound like they're planning a battle,” Logan barked out a laugh and Scott joined him.

“Aren't they?” he prompted easily. “And all the while, the men sit out in public, mostly completely oblivious, wondering for the most part, what we already know. Or at least what you know now.”

“And what if they just have to pee?” Logan wondered, smirking. Scott shrugged one shoulder.

“They'll still wait until a lull in the conversation,” he decided. “They're just more polite like that.”

“Yeah,” Logan agreed. He toyed with his bottle of beer for a moment, noting it was almost empty. He glanced at Scott. “You about ready for another?” he grunted. Scott looked down at his own beer, nearly emptied, as he'd imbibed through dinner

“Yeah, another sounds good,” he agreed. “Since we're taking a cab. Let me go, I need to stretch my legs.”

“Sure,” Logan decided. He glanced over to see Max's drink was low as well. “Maybe grab another for Max. That way it'll be here if she wants it.”

“Can do,” Scott assured him as he moved off to the bar. Logan didn't mind being left alone, though his eyes strayed continuously to the area of the lounge where it branched off to the bathrooms and back rooms. He finished his beer and set it on the table to play with the label absently. He heard Scott's laughter ring out and when he glanced over his shoulder, saw the skinny male leaning on the bar, chatting with the male bartender. The man was working, but obviously entertaining Scott like he was an old regular.

Satisfied, he turned his attention back to where his thoughts always seemed to be these days. But she still hadn't emerged. He noted that some of the band members were returning to the stage, so it was likely that the singer friend of Jean's would be returning as well. Logan watched with apathetic interest as they quietly retuned their instruments for their next set. He watched as Scott returned to the table with a beer for each of them, followed by a waitress bringing the drinks for their dates. She had to step around a young blond guy that was moving away from the bar as well. His profile looked slightly familiar, but then the woman stepped into his eye line.

“Thanks,” he muttered as the waitress deftly settled the glasses onto the table from her tray. She gave a hearty smile before she disappeared to take care of the rest of her tables. The blond guy had disappeared, before Logan had realized, but maybe jazz wasn't his thing.

“Okay,” Scott chuckled and Logan glanced sharply at him, wondering what the slim mutant found funny now. “I guess I should have expected that.”

“Expected what?” Logan demanded. Scott shrugged one shoulder before lifting his beer bottle to take a pull off it.

“In the two minutes you were left alone, you reverted right back to your broody self,” Scott pointed out, with just an underlining hint of amusement, and a tiny spot of accusation.

“Which is a cumulative word for quiet, introspective and thoughtful,” Logan grunted. “None of which, on their own, are all that objectionable.”

“Wow,” Scott drawled, clearly in a baiting mood, “so many big words. Why aren't you teaching again?”

“Because I've got much better uses of my time than trying not to rip those hormonal time bombs apart because my span of patience in shorter than a gnat's dick,” Logan retorted and instead of the shock, dismay or disapproval he was expecting, Scott simply laughed. True, it did sound a little shocked, but that could have just been the imagery. Maybe partly drunk, mellowed out Scott wasn't such a bad guy.

“What's the joke?” Jean wondered as she made it to Scott's side.

“Just guy talk,” Scott smiled up at her before pushing his chair back so that he could politely rise. Logan didn't bother with that crap at the moment because he was too busy looking behind Jean for his date. His suddenly elevated mood dropped instantly when he didn't spot her. Jean, who was seating herself, with Scott's polite help, leaned forward naturally.

“She'll be just a few more minutes,” she assured him. It wasn't clear and Logan didn't particularly care if she was using her powers or her feminine intuition to read the situation. He jerked his chin once in acknowledgment. Jean, not feeling slighted, turned to her boyfriend.

“Remind me to send a card to Laura when we get home, thanking her for tonight,” Jean asked of him, her eyes twinkling.

“Of course,” he nodded, “although you usually remember those sorts of things without any prompting.”

“True,” Jean nodded. “But it has to be just the right card.”

“All right,” Scott agreed without any further argument. “I had the waitress bring you another,” he stated, gesturing to her glass. “But if you'd prefer something else...?”

“This is fine,” she shook her head before reaching for the libation. “Thank you. Logan, seriously, she's a big girl!”

“Whose got who knows what trouble on her ass,” he growled out softly, his worry. Jean's eyes went wide.

“Is this what had you so upset the other...?” she started to ask and knew she had hit the nail on the head by the look he gave her.

“What's going on?” Scott demanded suddenly, but quietly.

“There was someone in her hotel room,” he supplied. “Before we got back, maybe when she got there. He was gone when I went back.”

“You're sure it was a he?” Scott asked sharply as he caught up on what they were discussing and Logan simply tapped at his nose. He glanced at Jean and saw that her eyes were slightly unfocused.

“She's not there anymore,” she hissed and started to turn in her seat.

“Stay here,” Logan warned even as he came to his feet, his chair tumbling back slightly. He didn't offer any apologies to the person behind him.

“Logan!” Scott whisper shouted. Logan's hand was stretched out to stop him.

“I'll 'scream' for Jean if I need help,” he told the other man authoritatively.

“He's right Scott,” Jean warned, her hand on her boyfriend's forearm, even as he was in the act of rising from his seat. “We don't need the attention.”

Logan tuned their conversation out as he stepped lithely over to the bar, where that punk kid had been sitting. It hadn't been that long since he'd been there and Logan inhaled deeply. The same scent that he had sniffed out before, in the hotel room, at the museum. It was right there and he wanted to punish himself that he hadn't seen it. That was the kid that had been at the bar when he and Max were playing pool. The one that had taken her receipt that she had lost.

Shit! How could he have not seen it. Jean's sharp hiss in his mind reminded him that they were in a crowded lounge and he had to pull the tips of his claws that had started to emerge on instinct, back in. Without wasting any further time, he headed to the back, where the bathrooms were located. Her scent was strong in the hallway, but past the women's restroom, it was also heading in the wrong direction.

He continued on in that direction, heading away from the main lounge and Logan saw an Exit sign hanging at the end of the hallway. The stranger's scent wasn't in the hall and Logan wondered what the hell she had walked out into. Before he had even reached the door, he heard her voice, and something akin to relief washed over him that she didn't sound panicked.

“... where we stand,” she was saying.

“Well I for one am relieved you're finally doing the right thing,” the male chuckled. “Seriously Maxie, Seattle wasn't good for you.”

“Says you,” she laughed and the knot of tension in Logan's chest eased just a little. It didn't disappear completely though. “I've got some good friends there.”

“Sketch and Herbal?” the guy scoffed and Logan's face tightened. This guy certainly sounded like he knew her pretty well, but why would she... Or wouldn't. He wanted to storm out there and find out who the hell this kid was. One of her friends that just happened to be in New York? There was still something fishy as all hell about this.

“And Cindy,” she reminded him. “That girl had my back more than you know. I'm not having this argument with you again,” her voice was cooler now and Logan smirked.

“Fine,” the male sighed. “Give me a little time to take care of a few things and then we can get the hell out of here.”

And right there was the last straw. This punk ass kid was taking her nowhere! Logan shoved the door open and stepped out into the night. But rather than startling either of them, they simply glanced over towards him calmly. Logan was interested to see that the male's eyes narrowed even further as he crossed his arms over his chest. Max however... Satisfaction blazed through his chest as her eyes lit up upon seeing him move towards them.

.

“Hey Logan,” she smiled her greeting. “Is Laura back on yet?”

“Not yet,” he answered carefully. “The band is warming up again, so we might want to take our seats right away,” he offered as a suggestion, but there was enough steel in his voice that it also wasn't.

“Okay, just a second,” she nodded and turned back to the other male. “What things?”

“Huh?” the kid asked, thought he didn't turn back to Max as she had to him. He was still eying Logan... like a rival would. Logan didn't need to do the posturing that other males did because anyone with an ounce of instinct still left in them, seemed to know that he was no one to be messed with. In fact, just to piss the kid off, he relaxed against the back wall of the bar, hooking his thumbs into the pockets of his slacks and pasted a slight smirk on his face.

“Zack!” Max snapped, drawing his attention finally. He turned to her, though his eyes darted to Logan. “What other things?”

“It's nothing important Maxie,” the young man waved away her concern. Logan wasn't sure if it was information gathering, jealousy or an attempt at distracting her when he waved one hand his way. “So do I get to meet your new friend?”

“Of course,” Max nodded, but her lips were pursed and Logan could see that she wasn't going to let go of her inquiry. She gestured to Logan and said, “Zack, Logan.” She turned to grin at him. “Logan, my big brother Zack.”

Logan was definitely startled at that information and as subtly as he could, took another whiff of the air around them. They didn't exactly smell... but having them here together, he could smell undertones that were amazingly similar. Maybe they weren't full blood siblings, or a cousin that she called brother. The relief he felt, to know that this kid was someone that was partially acceptable to be in Max's life, was enormous. It was only partial though, because there was something about Zack that sort of set Logan's teeth on edge.

“Jeez Max,” Zack was chortling, though Logan could see that he wasn't actually pleased. “Another one?”

“What the hell's that supposed to mean?” he growled. He had been about to step forward and politely greet the kid, after all, he was Max's family in some way or another. Someone she loved. But now he was advancing on the kid for the slur he had put in his tone.

“He's just referring to Logan Cale,” Max sighed holding her hand up and catching Logan at the chest. He glanced down at her and calmed once more with just that simple, warm touch. He gave her a half smile and forced himself to relax. “He didn't mean anything bad.”

“Given what the guy had you doing barely seconds after you hit town here,” Logan grunted, “I'm not sure he doesn't. Guy sounds a little obsessive to me, you know?” He had directed the words to Max, but it was Zack that chuckled.

“Yeah, definitely,” he agreed. “Logan needs a reality check about Maxie here.” He glanced at his sister. “She doesn't exactly run with his crowd, nor should she.” Logan smirked, feeling and knowing somehow that it wasn't just Cale that Zack was referring to. He opened his mouth to speak further, but Max stepped between them, her back to Logan. He wanted to move her out of the way, just in case they got into it. The way the kid was deliberately acting, pushing, it could still go either way.

He didn't want to, but he was more than ready to take a strip out of Zack's hide if he upset Max. But a quiet voice in his mind was telling him to let her handle it. This was her brother. It might have been the way that Max settled comfortably with him at her back, like she knew he'd back her if she needed it and that said so much to his senses, his instincts. She trusted him and his, he'd trust her.

“Zack, just stop,” she said tiredly, her tone telling Logan that they must have hashed this out several times, probably to neither's satisfaction. “Look, you go take care of whatever it is you need to. You have my digits, you know where I'm staying. Call me when you're ready and we'll go from there.”

“At that school?” her brother asked suspiciously. His eyes darted over her shoulder to Logan's pleased countenance and the kid groaned. “Seriously Maxie?”

“Don't Zack!” she commanded, her voice frosty. She was tensing up, causing Logan to tense up. Her brother reached for her, but before Logan could respond, she had spun her wrist out from under his and threw his hand back towards him. Logan's smirk turned into a full blown wolfish grin. “I'm not being sentimental. I'm not being foolish. This is me being careful, smart, all the things you wanted me to be. But your concept of the ideal life is not mine and I would appreciate it if you would stop pushing it on me. I've accepted that you can't or won't change your mind. You need to do the same for me!”

Logan was satisfied with those words and even more so with Zack's response.

“Can't do that Maxie,” the kid sadly shook his head. “It's always been my job to watch out for you. That's never gonna change.”

“That's obvious,” she sighed and then chuckled. “Just as long as we're clear.”

“Crystal,” Zack assured her and then stepped a small bit forward. This time Max went to him and gave him a hug. Logan couldn't argue with that. The kid glanced at him over Max's shoulder and spoke directly to Logan again. “Watch out for her, huh? If she'll let you.”

That got him a light slap on the back from his sister and a nod from Logan.

“Already done,” he assured the kid.

“Somehow I believe that,” Zack grunted as he released his sister. His tone was assured but wary. “Catch ya later,” he finally sighed.

“Bye,” she murmured quietly in return and then watched as Zack departed. The kid didn't look back as he moved out of the alley and around the corner. Max sighed again, staring after his form until he disappeared and then slowly turned to look up at Logan. “You came after me?”

“Yeah,” he grimaced and wanted to rub at the back of his neck, a little nervous now that the confrontation was done. “About that...”

“I'm not mad,” she assured him quickly. “I thought you might come out here, when I didn't go back with Jean. But Zack said he might check in with me tonight. He was here, he just doesn't like crowds.”

“I noticed that,” Logan nodded, in the same boat as the kid, though probably for different reasons. “So when did you arrange this? At the hotel, or the museum?” he asked as gently as possible, not wanting to piss her off. She did look amused still, at least.

“You caught that, huh?” she muttered before sighing. “Yeah, Zack doesn't have the best interpersonal skills. Although I'm not sure yet which one of you is worse.” Logan didn't let the criticism bother him. He was what he was. “Yes, he came to see me in my room at the hotel. And yes, we arranged this meeting when he caught up with me at the museum.”

“And you thought you couldn't tell me. Why?” he wanted to know. She shrugged one shoulder.

“Because like I said,” she pointed out. “I respect Zack's right to do things for himself, his way. He didn't want anyone to know that he was there. So I didn't tell. I don't think either of us counted on your amazing sense of smell,” she grinned, though her eyebrows had pulled together with slight irritation that quickly smoothed out as she added, “but if you'll recall, I didn't lie to you.”

“No,” he agreed slowly as he recalled their conversation about things. “You just carefully manipulated your words to make me think I was insanely imagining things.”

“Well then it's good to know you were spot on,” she teased. He shook his head a little.

“I guess how I feel about this depends on why he was here,” he admitted. Max inhaled sharply, glancing away for a moment and then squared her shoulders. Logan tried not to wince. He wasn't sure that he wanted to hear this.

“He told me that he had been checking out the situation in Seattle,” she offered. “The cops have discovered that it was a male that killed P.I. Vogelsang, not a woman, which lets me off the hook as far as suspects go.”

“Shit,” Logan breathed out, relieved that she wasn't in trouble with the law, but taken aback slightly that this was the trouble from Seattle. He had the sense that it wasn't the whole story though. “So... you can go back now?” he asked sadly, his mind whirling with how quickly he could be ready to go. He'd have to have a vehicle, some clothes packed would be good, and there was the issue of cash. Always needed cash.

“Not necessarily,” Max spoke and it was like his brain cleared instantly. “I mean,” she frowned, “they might still want to talk to me about any information that I have and I really don't want that. Not hugely impressed with Seattle PD. I think it might be smarter just to let the whole thing resolve before I ever head back that way, you know? And I...”

“You what?” he asked softly, holding his breath while he waited for her answer.

“I like it here,” she said simply before she caught her lower lip between her teeth for a second. “I feel...” she swallowed heavily, the pulse in her neck picking up as the sound of her pounding heart reverberated in his ears. It matched his own, nearly perfectly. He moved slowly, like she was the wounded bird, terrified, needing gentle, sure handling so that it wouldn't hurt itself trying to escape. He lifted one hand to cup her cheek softly before sliding it into the tendrils of hair at her temple.

“I feel it too darlin',' he assured her huskily before his lips descended to hers.

He had been wanting this for so long and it more than lived up to his hopes and his expectations. Her lips were so soft and warm and he didn't waste time testing the waters. He plundered her lips as his arms automatically wrapped around her waist to bring her as close as possible. Her hands reached to cup his jawline, her back arching as her body molded to his. She met his enthusiasm with her own her tongue touching to his lips and his body reacted hotly. It felt like his blood was surging everywhere. That little voice that had warned him earlier, was now singing exultantly in his head, 'mine, mine, mine!'.

It took several minutes before Logan recalled that they were in a freaking alley for crying out loud. Not that it mattered to him, but she most definitely deserved more than that. He pulled back slightly, pleased that her lips followed after his a little before she opened her eyes to look inquiringly up at him. Whatever expression his pleasure and satisfaction created on his face, in his eyes, it must have been extremely evident as the slow smile curved her lips upwards and he felt her fingertips stroking down his throat, "Yeah," he groaned softly, "that's about what I'm feelin'."

"Good to know I'm not alone there," she laughed lightly, though her voice was husky. "So…" she looked suddenly nervous and she fidgeted in the circle of his arms for a moment before tilting her hips slightly so that her hip was leaning into his. He had no intentions of releasing her just yet. He waited, his heart fluttering in his throat as he waited for her next words. Her eyelashes were quivering a moment before she lifted her eyes to meet his again. “Am I forgiven for not telling you who it was in my room."

"Well," Logan grunted immediately, "seeing's how you knew you weren't in danger from your brother, I can understand why you weren't so worried. But I didn't know that, which is why I was so…"

"Pissed off, freaked out… territorial?" she supplied for him with a small laugh.

"Yeah, all of that," he agreed. He gave her a long look and then shook his head slightly. "I don't know that I can rightly explain. Doesn't mean I might not try." He sighed, feeling the darkness that hovered in the back of his psyche trying to take over, just at the thought of someone dangerous entering her vicinity, aside from himself. Any not so little thing like that had the blackness threatening to take over.

"Whenever you want," she assured him, her fingernails scratching lightly, gently at the underside of his jaw, bringing all attention back to her, in the pleasure of that slight touch. Somehow, she had this power over him and he wondered how far it could go. "I'll listen and now that you know," she offered, "then there really aren't a lot of things about myself that I feel the need to hide."

"But there's still a few things," he reasoned and felt her slight tensing. He knew he was right and she nodded.

"But there are a lot of things I still don't know about you," she defended herself, sounding rational at least about it. "And I'm not talking about your missing memories. I know there's nothing you can do about that, but just where you are now. If that makes sense?"

"It does," Logan agreed with relief. "But we've got all the time in the world darlin'." He chuckled briefly and then ended on a soft sigh. "You know," he drawled and she shifted again, feeling more like she was trying to snuggle in closer and Logan noted that a chill had kicked up. In her dress, he should be getting her back inside, but having her squirming was just too delicious to deny. "I overheard you talking' with your brother about goin' back to Seattle, I was ready to grab a bag and follow after you."

"Oh?" she sounded surprised and the pleased smile returned. "Well, I can't say I'm entirely ready to yet. But maybe that's something we could… discuss. You know, if we ever need to get out of Westchester for a while?"

"That'd be fine by me," Logan agreed. "I'd be happy to have you show me your home, your friends, which I gotta say, I don't know what the hell is possessin' me."

She laughed again, though it was chased by a small shiver and Logan, keeping one arm around her waist, turned them so they could head back inside. "From what I've heard from other sources…" she began teasingly, "yeah, that doesn't sound like you at all."

"Well maybe," Logan teased right back as he reached for the back door, "I've just haven't found the right person recently, for me to do that with."

"And you think I could be?" Max asked, her tone light but the question serious as she stepped into the back hallway, as he followed immediately after.

"I'm not gonna let another second go by without trying to find out," he promised her.

TGoM~TGoM

"Do you think every thing's okay?" Scott asked lowly of his girlfriend. She was rubbing her fingertips over her temples. And she didn't look pleased. But that could be for any number of reasons, he knew. He was only partly reassured when Jean gave him a soft look.

"I really don't know," she made to try and smile, but it was marred by the sudden frowning grimace that wouldn't release her from it's grips. "I'm trying not to listen in and it's making everything else louder." Scott nodded, even though he didn't quite understand how it was all working. But then, her body relaxed some and she sighed softly. "Here they come," she murmured and Scott glanced up. He pursed his lips as he saw Max first and Logan attached to her shoulder. But then, with two quick steps and a slight maneuver, Logan was leading her into the main room, taking her out onto the dance floor and turning to take her in his arms as Laura smiled widely and lifted a hand in their direction as the notes of her song swelled in crescendo. Max was laughing and then rested her head on Logan's chest and Scott heard Jean's happy sigh. He reached for her hand, now resting on the table. Squeezing her fingers, he leaned towards her.

"Shall we join them?" he whispered in her ear. She nodded, watching the pair for a moment before she directed her attention totally back to him.

"I'd love to join you," she announced and then they were rising from the table. Scott led the way to the dance floor and after just a pause, they stepped out, swirling in and among the few couples that couldn't deny the sway and power of the lyrics and music combined. As they circulated slowly around the dance floor, it brought them near enough to overhear their friend's conversation.

"… have no problem with instinct, when I understand where it's coming from," Max was saying.

"And I don't bother to think it through," Logan was arguing, but his voice was gentle, amused, as hers had been. "I just act."

"But I can figure things out retroactively, if I don't let myself fly off the handle about it," she giggled and Scott glanced down at Jean, who had a repressed smirk trying to break out on her face.

"Sounds like they're working things out," he muttered. Jean nodded.

"At least being open minded enough to try and…" she shrugged one shoulder. "Let's just let them be and concentrate on something much more interesting."

"And what would that be?" Scott teased. Her arms tightened around his shoulder and her hips swiveled in a light, teasing brush of her own and his arms squeezed her right back. "Oh that! Yes, much more interesting." He knew that the mood and their words had been caught, high probability of that when he heard Logan's booming laughter and was very pleased to finally, at last, getting to see a lighter side of Logan. He had really thought, having seen Logan's dark humor and gruffness, only ever, that he didn't have one. It was nice to know that he might be wrong.

TGoM~TGoM

“So I gotta ask,” Logan began, ambling towards the window of her hotel room as Max put her purse away. The evening, once the hiccup of Zack's introduction to him had been overcome, went smoothly. They'd enjoyed another set by Jean and Scott's friend and then, as Jean was starting to feel overwhelmed, called it a night. The ride home had been quiet in the cab and while no one was feeling the excesses of drinking, it had made Jean and Scott tired. They had gone immediately into the elevator, leaving Max and Logan to follow, but as the elevator doors slid shut, Jean had thrown the couple a broad wink.

There was no sign of them in the hallway when Logan stepped out before Max, but their scents were heavy in the air and he had no concern for them. Scott and Jean were long used to being able to take care of themselves and did not need him for anything. He had seen Max to her door and before he had even said a word, she had invited him in for 'a while'. He had agreed happily. And now, was staring at the window that Zack had gone through.

“Ask what?” Max prompted. Logan half turned and tilted his head towards the window. “Oh, that,” she frowned and then her mood turned and she chuckled. She moved towards him. “Zack, as I said does not have the best interpersonal skills. He's also extremely paranoid. So,” she drawled, “he most likely came up through the hotel to case the danger and since I got back while he was waiting for me, he probably figured that you were all back too. He has this tendency to watch me for a while before he lets me know he's around.”

Logan nodded. “He must be pretty good then, because I didn't think much about him back at the bar,” he noted. “Or was that something more?” he asked, realizing now in hindsight that the whole innocent act of dropping her receipt and Zack picking it up was probably an exchange of information. He wanted to blame it on watching television and seeing spy shows, but this felt more intimate, more familiar to him.

“I saw Zack come in,” she admitted. “It... startled me, because the last time I had seen him was in Seattle. And... he wasn't too pleased either. Something else was going on, which is why I voluntarily gave him the information of where I was staying, rather than make him chase me down.”

“Okay,” Logan sighed. “You think he was here for some other reason?”

“Ninety-nine percent sure,” she nodded slowly, wrapping her arms around her waist and staring down at the carpet. She seemed contemplative more than apologetic. He understood. “He told me that he got the information from Cale as to where I went when I left Seattle. But he came to New York first, not Westchester. There had to be a reason for that. And none of his answers satisfied me and when I pressed, he kept changing the subject.”

“So what d'ya think he's hiding?” Logan wondered, because the same suspicion would play in his mind, from the clues she had mentioned.

“What I think, because this has been a big bone of contention between us, is that another member of my family might be in the area,” she admitted slowly, unable to meet his eyes as she glanced over his shoulder, out the window.

“You don't know?” he asked gently, stepping forward to rest one hand on the hand of hers that rested on her right hip. She shook her head and swallowed heavily.

“I haven't seen them since I was nine,” she told him. “We were in a bad situation. Zack was the one that made us separate, into pairs. We were going to meet up once we got clear of the area, but I got separated from my sister Jondy. And then I was picked up by a nurse, who got me out of there. I found her again later,” she smiled wistfully, recounting the time, “to thank her for that.”

“Did you stay with her long?” he wondered. He had been in similar situations, using a person or family for a time, short or long to get his bearings before moving on. Max shook her head.

“No. She dropped me at her house and told me that she was going to go deal with the situation,” Max sighed. “She didn't come back. I found out later that she was delayed by the road blocks and search they had on for us.”

“Who was searching?” he wanted to know, his fingers stroking gently over hers until finally they loosened the grip on her hip and her arm swung down. He followed, lacing his fingers through hers and she gave them a solid squeeze as she smiled sadly at him.

“I'd rather not say at the moment,” she offered quietly. When his eyes narrowed, she rushed on to say, “coming here, meeting Charles? I never imagined that there were mutants as powerful as he is. Mind readers,” she smiled to soften what might have been seen as a criticism. “And I know you say that you have nothing to fear about being hurt, but what about the others? What they don't know, they can't reveal. Which is why I'm extremely... cautious about what I say.” She chuckled darkly then. “I've already told you more than I've told anyone else ever.”

“So you didn't tell this to Cale?” Logan grunted, feeling slightly jealous, because from what he understood, this guy had maybe too much information on her.

“He already knew,” Max explained, tugging on his hand and turning to lead him back to the sofa. He let her sit and then molded his own body next to hers, angled towards her. “He picked up a few clues from seeing me and started adding things up. He already knew things he shouldn't and I have my suspicions about where he learned about it. When he got the chance, he confronted me.” She frowned heavily and shrugged her shoulders helplessly. “I've always had my suspicions about that too. Hiding, holding back information until it can do the most damage is something that he seems to have gotten very good at. Even if he won't admit it”

“You're worried about his knowing more than he should?” Logan clarified and she nodded. “Well then, darlin', maybe it's a good thing you cleared out of there, especially since it sounds like it was startin' to bring you more trouble than it was worth.”

“I guess,” she admitted, though Logan could hear that she didn't precisely want these ideas to be true or valid in any way.

“Besides,” he chuckled, trying to lighten the mood, “if you hadn't come this way, I'd have never had the pleasure...”

“Oh, that's very sweet,” Max grinned up at him. “And very smooth Logan.”

“I'm a smooth guy,” he deadpanned, his face straight and she cracked up instantly. “Except for the moments that I'm rough,” he continued. “Can't deny I've had a few of those.” Max continued to giggle, her eyes sparkling before she finally calmed. Though the smile didn't fade.

“I guess I can't deny I've had my moments too,” she admitted, threading her hand through her hair. It caught a moment and pulling her hand loose, she quickly reached up to let it all down, which Logan liked. Of course, having her hair up too gave her exposed neck a graceful line that drew his eye and often. “Do you mind if I get out of these things?” she asked and then quickly added, “into something definitely more comfortable.”

“That's fine darlin',” he agreed, knowing full well that it was highly doubtful that she'd come out in something slinky and bedroom geared. “If you don't mind me slippin' out of my shoes.”

“No, make yourself comfortable,” she invited and then slipped into the bedroom, the door shutting behind her. Logan slipped off his boots and thoughtfully gathered them up to take to the door, so that she wouldn't trip over them. She didn't seem especially clumsy, but why chance it. On his return trip to the sofa, he unbuttoned his dress shirt about halfway down and pulled the ends from where they were tucked in. It gave him a slightly rumpled look, but he didn't particularly care. Clothes and other fabrics were meant to be rumpled, he decided. He reclaimed his seat and stretched his feet under the coffee table, crossing them at the ankle as he waited for Max to come back.

She emerged from the bedroom just minutes after he had sat, wearing the familiar sleep clothes that she had worn before, though these weren't as worn as some that he had seen her in before. The tank top and yoga pants did look comfortable, as did the matching slipper socks that she had thrown on. “Are you sure you don't want to change and come back?” she wondered.

“I'd love to,” he responded immediately, “but I think if I do, I may end up here on this couch all night talkin' to you and you never did tell me if we were goin' to Coney Island tomorrow morning.”

“Oh, that's right,” she smiled. “Well, seeing how I never did go, or really get the chance to do things like that, yeah, I think I'd like to.” She settled in again next to him, sitting sideways and pulling her feet up under her.

“Seriously?” Logan guffawed. “You never once in your life went to an amusement park?” She shook her head in the negative and he felt wary. She had said that it had been a bad experience that had caused her and her siblings to cut and run. Probably lived on the streets, or was in the system. Could explain where her street smarts and burglary act came from. Of course she wouldn't have had time to be a normal kid. “Well we'll fix that tomorrow.”

“What about you?” she wondered. “I know you don't have all your memories, but still... it just doesn't seem like the kind of thing you'd be into.”

“Going to, no, not really,” he divulged. “Working for, a few times yeah. It was a good way to earn money and retain some anonymity while I tried to figure out what the hell caused me to lose those memories.”

“Wow,” she drawled, leaning her head on her hand once more, pulling the front strands of her hair up and back as she regarded him. “I can't imagine how difficult that would have been, not just for all the personal stuff, but not knowing what you'd have done to support yourself, if you had a house, a family...”

“I exhausted a lot of resources tryin' to find that out,” he agreed. “Never did find anyone looking for me, so I guess bein' a lone wolf came naturally before I lost my memories.”

“I guess,” she sighed. “So did you manage to make some good memories after that?” she wondered with a teasing smile and Logan responded in kind.

“Some moments were better than others,” he shrugged. “I don't think I'll ever stop wonderin' or looking, but sometimes there are things that are important enough to make me pause.”

“Like Rogue,” she hinted, still smiling, her nose crinkling, but she didn't seem upset about it.

“I felt bad for the kid and responsible, since I was giving her a ride after she ran away,” he explained simply. “Didn't need it, but she tried to watch my back before she even really knew me.”

“Because you were both mutants,” Max nodded and then waved her free hand. “Don't have to answer that. None of my business.”

“Don't mind,” Logan shrugged. “I don't bother explaining myself when people push. Doesn't feel like you pushing. Just a natural curiosity.”

“I'm like a cat that way,” she offered and then a laugh burbled up out of her and Logan wondered why it was so hilarious, but his lips were twitching with amusement too.

“Well maybe I am too,” he commented, shifting to turn towards her and bringing his inside leg up in the very little space that was between them. “You asked, so my turn. What was your favorite memory, growin' up?”

“Oh that's easy,” she declared, her face clearing of the hesitation that his question brought. “Ben. He was another brother. And the stories he told? Oh wow, we used to all go to bed and then, after midnight, we'd all run down to Ben's bed and climb on and he'd tell us the scariest stories. His imagination was amazing.”

“Scary stories, huh?” he chuckled. She nodded.

“It wasn't so much the stories, but just all sitting, huddling together, getting the willies from whatever he told us and then, if I was especially scared, he'd let me sleep with him. I think maybe that's what I like best, was having my big brother protecting me.”

“Is that why Zack's attitude hurts so much?” he asked quietly, and she smirked at him.

“Hard to miss that, huh?” she retorted. “But if Ben wouldn't wake up, then Zack would let me climb in with him. Tinga did too, but she kicked a lot in her sleep.”

“How many kids in your family?” Logan scoffed then. Add those to her sister Jondy that she had already mentioned.

“A lot,” she sighed. “I wasn't technically the baby of the group, but I was the youngest girl. And I was definitely treated that way.”

There was quiet for a moment and then Logan mused, “I always wondered if I had a brother or sister. Don't know why, but I always felt like I was an only child or maybe if I had any siblings, there was maybe just one. Brother or sister, not sure, but just one. Although I tend to think it was just me.” She nodded. “Doesn't hurt so much now to wonder, because logically, odds are, if I had any family, they'd have passed away by now.”

It didn't escape his notice, her sudden stillness and he wondered who she had lost. But he didn't want to press her. He couldn't do to her what others had done to him with their prying and nosiness. She had already shared so much about herself and her past, just by this gentle easiness that they were developing. “And like you said,” he offered, “family is what you make it these days. People you can choose, rather than having to, by blood.”

“That's true,” she nodded. “Logan?”

“Yeah?”

“Can I kiss you now?”

Chapter Twenty-eight