Even after nearly six years, Logan knew that he would never get used to seeing Marie suited up in the black leather suit that was the X-Men’s trademark. He had come back from his search in northern Canada after barely five months. His search for his past had turned up fruitless and Logan had turned around and headed back to the doe-eyed girl he had given his tags to.
The entire five months, sixteen days and three hours he had been gone, Marie had always been on his mind. On many occasions, thinking of her had gotten him through a particularly bad night that he had been stuck out in the snow without any shelter. Even in the spring, northern Canada was not a very warm place. Where Logan was, it had been cold and wet and he had been all alone the entire time with only the thoughts in his head to keep him company.
So, after five and a half months of dead ends, Logan had given up his search and returned to Westchester. Everything about his return had been inconsequential except for one thing.
Marie.
She had been the only thing Logan had been looking forward to seeing. He was also incredibly relieved when she ended up being the first person that he saw. It was almost as though she had known that he was coming because as soon as he had stepped into the foyer, Marie had been coming down the stairs. She had flung herself into his arms and they had rarely left each other’s sight.
“Maybe you should stay home with the boys,” Logan suggested as Marie exited the woman’s change room into the main area where all their suits were housed.
Marie strode up to Logan and placed her hands on his cheeks. “Logan, Ah’m goin’ with ya. The boys will be fine with Lexa. They’ll be too busy playin’ that they won’t even notice we’re gone.”
“But, Marie--”
“Sugah, we have this conversation every time we go out on a mission. Ah’m goin’. Ah know ya don’t like it when Ah go, but Ah am,” Marie informed him.
“I have a bad feeling about this,” Logan insisted, smoothing the fingers of his right hand through her hair.
Marie rolled her eyes. “Logan, ya have a bad feelin’ every time we go out on a mission an’ nothin’ has happened t’ me yet.”
“Something could, though. You’ve come close to getting hurt many times,” Logan reminded his wife of five amazing years.
“Come close bein’ the operative words, sugah. Ah know that ya’d never let me get hurt,” Marie said confidently. She grinned broadly, standing up on tip toe to press a kiss to Logan’s chin.
Logan sighed deeply and continued running his fingers through her hair. “What happens if I’m not there? You could still get hurt.”
“Then Ah guess Ah’ll just hafta be careful, won’t Ah?” Marie told him, grinning the little grin of hers that always got him to do what she wanted.
So, as always, Marie won their little battle of wills. It was only a token protest on Logan’s part more than anything else. Just a way to let Marie know that he didn’t like the fact that she was suiting up with the rest of them. Logan wanted to do everything to keep Marie safe and donning one of the X-Men’s leather suits wasn’t the way to do it. That was the least safe thing she could do. But Logan wouldn’t stop her from doing something she wanted to and Marie really wanted to help people. To help other mutants who weren’t as lucky as she had been.
“Ah really hope that it doesn’t come t’ the point where Chase an’ Hunter hafta do this too,” Marie said wistfully as she and Logan headed towards the map room.
Unlike most children born to mutant parents, Hunter and Chase didn’t feel the same ridicule. They grew up in an environment where mutants were accepted and, likewise, their children. To the boys, mutants were what was normal. People flying, doctors covered in blue fur, a father with nine inch metal claws. That was normal to them. Logan and Marie had tried to explain to them that, when they started school, their friends might not have parents that had special powers. Chase and Hunter really hadn’t understood, but they were still young.
When the pair entered the map room, the rest of the team had already been assembled. Since Logan’s original mission against Magneto to save Marie, the team had expanded quite a bit.
Dr. Hank McCoy, a giant blue furred man who enjoyed talking philosophy with Marie. He was a poet and also Chase and Hunter’s pediatrician. The annoying girl with the yellow jacket who talked too much. For reasons that Logan couldn’t comprehend, his Marie was friends with Jubilee. Among the other former teeny boppers were Popsicle and Firefly. Marie always smacked Logan when he called them that, reminding them that their names were Bobby and St. John and that it wasn’t nice to call people names. There was the ghost girl-- Kit Kat or something like that. At least that was what Marie always called her and Logan had never really bothered to learn her real name. There was only one member of the team that Logan couldn’t stand. The Cajun pickpocket who talked about himself in the third person and couldn’t keep his dick in his pants. Logan had almost personally removed Remy’s prized piece of anatomy but was stopped by Marie who reminded him that she loved him and not the Gumbo. Logan took great joy in rubbing that in the other mans’ face from time to time.... Or just about every time he saw him.
The entire team was gathered in the map room which meant that whatever they were about to face was real big. That meant Marie would be in danger and that put Logan instantly on edge. He despised anything that was a threat to his Marie. He was a very protective person and refused to let anything happen to the people he loved.
“All right, Chuck. Give Scooter the co-ordinates so we can go fight whatever’s causing the trouble,” Logan declared as he entered the room.
“Logan, this isn’t a rush in and fight situation,” Chuck stated calmly.
Logan rolled his eyes and slipped an arm around Marie’s waist, holding her close. “That’s what you say every time, Chuckles, and every time we end up rushing in and fighting. So how ‘bout we save time and just head out.”
“I know I’m probably going to resent this in the soon to near future, but I agree with Logan,” Scott spoke up. “Just give me the co-ordinates now and you can debrief us on route.”
As soon as they got the rest of the team on board, Chuck had no choice but to agree. Then they were off to Lakeshore, Ontario in search of a young female mutant who could set off big sonic booms when she screamed. Being a typical teenager, once she had become aware of her powers, she had destroyed her school. Logan got a kick out of it, but according to Chuckles, the girl needed to be talked to.
“I really don’t see the harm in destroying her school. From what you’ve told me, high school is hell,” Logan reminded them as he buckled himself into his seat in the Blackbird.
“That’s no reason to destroy it, my friend. A school is a magnificent institution that promotes the development of our species,” Hank pointed out.
Logan smirked. “Sure, that’s why kids just love to go to school. I’m just glad that I don’t remember it.”
Marie smacked him across the chest. “Yer awful, Logan. Ah happened t’ enjoy high school. At least till the end....”
Knowing what events Marie was talking about, Logan wrapped an arm around Marie shoulders and pulled her against his chest. Marie went willingly, sighing deeply. Logan began running his fingers through her hair, enjoying the moment of peace before they landed in the small town of Lakeshore.
“All right, guys, we’re going to be landing in a few minutes,” Scott announced, glancing over his shoulder for a quick second.
“Keep your eyes on the road, Cykes. I’d like to get there in one piece!” Jubilee called, grinning from ear to ear.
Marie giggled as well, shaking her head. “He’s’ doin’ better than ya normally do, Jubes!”
“Oh yer so funny, chica! I’m rolling in my seat. Really I am,” Jubilee drawled, flipping her friend the bird.
“People, can we focus please? This is a serious mission. This girl can cause a great deal of damage,” Jeanie informed the team, sounding every bit the fearless leader her husband usually did.
Logan snickered, but didn’t say anything. He was all geared up and ready for a fight, especially since Chuck had sent a mind-warp message to Jeanie informing that the great and powerful Magnethead, a recent jail escapee, had arrived on the scene and was currently trying to manipulate the girl to joining his side.
One of the few times that Logan could remember, Scott actually landed the jet without any problems. It was only a steady glare from Marie that kept him from commenting on Scott’s landing.
“You’re mean, you do know that, right, darlin’? Ruining a guys fun. I’m gonna go soft because of you,” Logan grumbled, smiling good naturedly.
“An’ Ah feel so sorry fer it, sugah. Really Ah do,” Marie teased, placing a kiss on his cheek before standing up and heading towards the door.
Logan jumped to his feet and grabbed hold of Marie’s hand, pulling her back around to face him. Smiling softly, he cupped her face and brought his lips down to hers for a quick kiss.
“I love you, Marie,” he whispered, nuzzling his nose against hers.
Marie kissed his chin and gave his arms a quick squeeze. “Ah love ya too, sugah. Now behave yerself.”
Logan smirked down at her and pressed another kiss to her oh so kissable lips. “Don’t I always, darlin’?”
With one final wink, Logan spun around and headed for the door.