Disarming

(or The Tactical Applications of Chick Flicks)

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Act I -- The Problem

As they walked away from the Blackbird, crossing the hangar toward the locker room, Scott removed his leather gloves and slapped them against his thigh in idle irritation. He shot a look at Jean and Ororo. Ororo was looking over her shoulder at the plane, checking for the descent of their remaining two teammates for the mission. Jean was looking at him, noting the impatient and frustrated behavior that Scott was making little attempt at masking.

Scott sighed and spoke under his breath. "I'm telling you, those two should *not* be assigned to the same missions. Not ever. The way they behave is-"

Scott cut off at Ororo's sudden cough, the understood signal they'd developed for "Logan is within hearing distance". Of course, the warning was not necessary in this case, nor at any other time when Rogue was available as a distraction for Logan. The pair of them were entirely focused on each other as they exited the aircraft and trailed their teammates toward the showers. The warning was redundant for another reason, too.

As usual, the leather-clad pair were making enough noise themselves to cover any conversation around them.

Rogue's voice, being the higher pitched, reached the trio first. "I just wish you'd stay the hell out of my way, Wolverine. I'm perfectly capable of handling myself."

Scott mentally corrected the adjective he used to describe Rogue's tone of voice. Strident was much more accurate.

"Yeah, that was crystal clear by the headlock old Vic had you in before I stepped in to save your scrawny ass."

Logan, as ever, you are the soul of tact. Scott shook his head and twisted the leather gloves in his fists until they gave a muted squeak. The urge to say something was nearly overwhelming. However, that particular tactic had never proven successful in the past, so Scott didn't bother.

Predictably, Rogue fired back. "And how exactly did Sabretooth manage to get behind me in the first place? Or do you have selective memory where your own screw-ups are concerned? *You* were supposed to handle mister tall, hairy, and homicidal."

Logan growled. Again, how highly unsurprising this was to the trio who stood near the hangar door, unnoticed by the arguing pair quickly approaching their position. "That's beside the point, and you know it. If you can't deal with the unexpected then you shouldn't be on the fuckin' team. I'm sure we can dig up a set of dollies for you to play with until you're ready to grow up and join the big leagues, little girl."

While Logan continued walking, a rather satisfied grin on his face at apparently getting the last word, Rogue stood stock-still. She stared gape-jawed at Logan's back, the expression of shock quickly giving way to murderous rage.

Scott shot a glance at 'Ro and Jean, found their expressions reflecting his own beliefs. Per standard procedure, this was about to get ugly.

Very ugly.

As Rogue landed a flying kick in Logan's kidney, Scott stared in fascination, awed that she'd struck the blow. Not that Rogue didn't have impressive combat skills -- her accuracy wasn't in question. It was the fact that the attack seemed to have caught Logan wholly unprepared. Logan rolled with the impact, clutching his side and muttering curses. Scott watched the other man come up in a crouch and wondered why Logan hadn't anticipated Rogue's reaction. Heightened senses weren't even a prerequisite given how often variations this same scene had played out before.

Logan spun to face his attacker, hands extended, the fingers twitching inside their leather covering. He and Rogue began slowly circling each other, looking for an attack opening with matching gleams of anticipation in their eyes.

Scott looked at the pair of women next to him. 'Ro had a "here we go again" expression on her face. Jean on the other hand was studying Rogue and Logan with an analytical expression on her face, a small furrow of concentration between her brows and a leather-clad finger tapping thoughtfully against her pursed lips.

As the scuffling and grunting sounds escalated, Scott herded Ororo and Jean out of the hangar. They had all learned from experience that trying to break up fights between Rogue and Logan was futile at best and physically dangerous at worst. When dealing with a super healer and a nearly invulnerable woman, both in the grips of combat mode, peacekeeping efforts nearly always ended in some type of injury.

Scott shook his head and sighed with frustration. It was a sad thing indeed that at times the X-Men were in more danger from their teammates than from the Brotherhood.

Scott approached his locker, already in the process of stripping out of his black uniform. With the constricting armored suit removed, he headed into the showers. Standing under the hot spray, he felt the tension leaking out of his muscles but not his emotional state. Scott left the showers and dressed quickly, heading for the briefing room to await the arrival of the rest of the team.

'Ro arrived first with Jean following two minutes later. Scott looked down at his watch and glared. "How long are we going to have to wait for those two tonight? Bets, anyone?"

Ororo smiled softly at Scott's irritated expression. She tended to let things slide easier, though the combative behavior of their teammates bothered her as well. "It shouldn't be too long. Rogue was entering the locker room as I left."

Scot nodded sharply. "Then we have a few minutes to discuss the situation before they arrive. Other than never putting them on the same assignments, what can we do to resolve this? I'd rather not be on missions without both of them, as it shifts strategy dramatically, but things can't go on like this. They're going to get themselves or someone else killed at this rate."

Ororo frowned slightly. "I don't believe it's as serious as all that. They are both professionals. They leave their... issues here when we go out on missions. In fact, they work quite well as combat partners, which we had ample proof of tonight."

"I agree with you, 'Ro," Scott replied. "So far, their personal differences have been kept out of the field, but I don't like the risk of depending on that to continue. They seem to become more hostile toward each other every day. It's bound to affect a mission eventually." Scott glanced over at his fiancée. "You're being awfully quiet, Jean. What are you thinking?"

Jean slowly raised her head. "I'm thinking that I know what their problem is."

Scott was surprised into silence for several seconds. "You do?"

Jean nodded. "I don't know why I didn't see it before. I'm far from certain, but I think-"

"I think we need to table this discussion," Ororo interrupted. "They're on the way."

And when he listened, Scott could hear the raised voices, words made unintelligible by the closed conference room door, approaching quickly.

After the post-mission discussion, Scott had hoped that Logan and Rogue would depart to continue their arguing, since they both seemed to enjoy it so much. Instead, Rogue corralled Ororo off with her to talk about costumes for the fund raising masquerade that was being held at the mansion the next night. Logan took the opportunity to needle Rogue about her wearing a mask in public being a good idea, to which she replied that Logan's faults could not be masked by a costume.

Scott was anxious to speak to Jean about her analysis of the Rogue-Logan problem, but for some reason he couldn't fathom, Logan was hanging around the conference room while Scott was finishing his mission log entry in the computer. Scott glanced toward his fiancée and was surprised to see her heading for the door. Oh no, she wouldn't dare leave him alone with Logan...

"I'm going up to bed, Scott. I'll see you when you're finished."

Scott forced a tight smile while mentally cursing Jean for abandoning him. "Okay, see you soon."

Jean smiled. {I'm not abandoning you. I'll explain when you come up to the room}. Turning her eyes from her irritated fiancé to the preoccupied man perched on the edge of the conference room table, she said, "Goodnight, Logan."

Logan didn't look up from the rather focused study he was aiming at his knuckles. "Night, Jeannie."

Jean looked quickly back to Scott, angling her head at Logan. {Talk to him}

Scott watched his fiancée leave, closing the door behind herself. Then his eyes drifted to Logan. Talk to him? Great. Just what Scott had always wanted, the opportunity to play counselor to someone who did the exact opposite of whatever Scott said, just on general principle. Still, Jean must have picked up something from Logan that indicated he wanted to talk.

Scott continued typing as the silence stretched, musing to himself that for someone who wanted to talk, Logan was doing an impressive imitation of a mime -- all movement and no words. Scott suppressed a sigh as Logan continued fidgeting and saying nothing. Looked like Scott would have to start the conversation, though he had no idea what Logan might want to speak to him about. "Logan, did you have anything you wanted to add to the mission summary?"

Logan turned to face him, finally halting the pacing that had begun to fray Scott's nerves as much as the protracted silence. "No. What are you typing, anyway? I thought the voice recognition software took the notes automatically."

Scott made another correction and wished Logan would get to the point. Scott was certain Logan wasn't hanging around to discuss computer software, and the mere idea of Logan making small talk was too bizarre for Scott's peace of mind. "It gets the basics, but it's not perfect. I need to go in and correct the mistakes while everything is fresh in my mind." Scott looked over at Logan, a half smile on his face. "It seems to have particular difficulty with interpreting growled swear words."

Logan reacted in neither of the two ways Scott expected. Logan simply gave an affirmative grunt and nodded. Then the pacing started again. Scott smothered another groan and wondered why on earth he'd bothered trying, Jean's intuition or no. He was determined to finish the last of the log corrections and leave. Playing twenty questions with Logan to try to figure out the problem wasn't high on Scott's list of fun games to play. Scott estimated it would fall somewhere below grading exams and slightly above submitting to a body piercing.

When Scott finished the report, Logan was still pacing and not speaking. Scott shut down the laptop and stood to walk toward the conference room door. He glanced over at Logan and was about to say good night when Logan turned and spoke, "You and Jeannie still getting married in two weeks?"

Scott's discomfort jumped a few more levels and he answered warily. "Yes, we are. Why?" Scott mentally kicked himself for asking. The answer was likely to be something he'd be better off not knowing.

"Why'd you ask her?"

Scott had absolutely *no* idea where Logan's questions were coming from or where they were leading to. In Scott's estimation, this 'conversation' had taken a giant leap from odd into surreal. He felt tension stiffening the muscles in his neck. Talking to Logan about his relationship with Jean definitely fell below body piercing on the list. Scott would gladly volunteer a variety of body parts to a needle rather than have this conversation. He'd even throw in a tattoo for good measure.

Realizing from Logan's expression that he'd been silent for too long and that no higher power was responding to his mental offer to exchange needle torture for this discussion, Scott replied. "I'm not sure what you mean, Logan. I asked Jean to marry me for the obvious reason. I wanted her to be my wife."

"That's not what I'm asking..." Logan shook his head and paced a few steps as he searched for words, then stopped again. "I mean... Everyone knows most women want to get married. It's some genetic thing. But... Why did *you* want it? I mean, Jean's great and all, but why tie yourself down? It's not like this is the nineteenth century or something. Why risk something good by changing it?"

Scott felt a tiny surge of relief that Logan seemed completely uninterested in seeing that Jean stayed single. But the conversation was still giving Scott massive Twilight Zone vibes. Since when did Logan give half a damn about Scott's motivation for anything? Scott had transitioned from tense to curious, so he answered. "I don't see it as a risk. I see it as the next logical step. I love Jean and want to spend the rest of my life with her. The way to make that happen was pretty simple to figure out."

Logan rubbed the back of his neck. Scott had never seen this side of Logan and couldn't fathom what had created this strange mood. "But... don't you worry? Every time you turn around, someone's breaking up. Why screw with what's working already? It's like asking for trouble."

Scott studied Logan carefully before replying. "When it's right, getting married makes a relationship stronger, not weaker. I knew it was right for Jean and me."

"How'd you know?"

Scott thought about it. He'd never really considered the question before, wasn't sure there was a concrete answer. He decided to take a shot at it anyway. "Instinct, I guess. I could feel it. One day, I started thinking about what my life would be like forty years from now. Various scenarios occurred to me, but one thing was the same whenever I imagined the future. Jean was there every time."

Logan was quiet for a long moment, then shrugged and shook his head. "All I know is it's not for me. Marriage just looks like a big trap. If I ever lost my mind enough to propose to some woman, I'd just strap a ball and chain around my neck with 'married man' inscribed on them. It's more accurate than a ring if you ask me."

Scott refrained from laughing, though the image struck him as highly amusing. "I'll take that mental picture with me as Jean walks down the aisle, Logan." The other man smiled absently but didn't speak. Scott figured that whatever aim he'd had in instigating the conversation, Logan had nothing more to say. "Goodnight, Logan."

Scott heard Logan's "Night, Cyke" come over his shoulder as he exited the conference room.

Now that the rather bizarre conversation with Logan was over, Scott remembered why he was in a rush to finish his mission report in the first place. He took the elevator up to the residence floor, hoping that Jean was still awake to explain her revelation on the Logan-Rogue situation.

He opened the door to their bedroom to find Jean sitting in bed, her back propped against the headboard with the cushion of two pillows. She had a file in her hands and looked up at him when he entered. Scott shut the door behind himself and said, "Okay, spill it. What do you think is going on with Logan and Rogue?"

Jean placed the file on the nightstand next to her, removing her reading glasses and setting them on top of the folder. "In a minute. I want to know about your conversation with Logan first. How was it?"

Scott removed his shirt and tossed it in the clothes hamper. "It was... surreal" he replied as he opened a dresser drawer and pulled out his flannel sleeping pants. "Logan wanted to know why I asked you to marry me. I have no idea what he was getting at, and it was beyond strange to talk to him about us." As he changed out of his slacks and into the pajama bottoms, Scott studied the intrigued expression on Jean's face. She didn't look at all shocked. "Did you get that from him before you left?"

Jean looked up, her eyes following Scott as he crossed the floor to his side of the bed. "No. He wasn't projecting that strongly. All I sensed was that he wanted to talk to you."

Scott climbed into bed and commented, "You don't seem very surprised that he asked. Why is that?"

Jean didn't answer his question right away. Then she turned her head to look at him. "Because I think I know what the problem is between Logan and Rogue."

Scott wasn't making the connection, but he was more interested in exploring this new conversation than the previous one anyway. "Which is?"

"Unresolved sexual tension," Jean replied in a matter-of-fact tone.

Scott's brows flew upward. "You want to run that by me again?"

"It's pretty obvious, now that I think about it. They want each other, but they're fighting it for all they're worth. They release the stress by constantly arguing and sparring with each other."

Scott shook his head, skepticism evident in his voice. "That doesn't make any sense to me. It's not like either of them is shy and retiring about going after what they want. If they want each other, why fight it?"

Jean laughed and turned on her side, leaning her elbow against the pillows and propping her head on her palm. "It doesn't make sense to you because you watch too many war documentaries and not enough romantic comedies. Trust me, Scott. This is a text book plot from a chick flick."

Scott's brow furrowed. "I still don't get it. Explain it to me."

Jean took a moment to gather her thoughts. "Think about it this way. Remember how happy Logan and Rogue were while they were together?"

"Yes, I do" Scott replied in a tone that was bordering on wistful. "No screaming in the Blackbird. No mutilated automans in the Danger Room. Logan was almost... cheerful. And I've never seen Rogue smile so much." Scott sighed heavily. "Then one morning, we all got shoved into the middle of a war zone without warning or explanation. I *still* don't know what the hell happened between those two to make things disintegrate overnight." Scott recalled Jean's lack of surprise when he'd told her the content of his conversation with Logan. "Do you think those questions Logan was asking me about commitment are related somehow?"

Jean tilted her head. "It's certainly possible. They wouldn't be the first couple to break up over differing opinions on when it's time to take a relationship to the next stage." Jean sighed and shook her head bemusedly. "Whatever happened to cause this tension between them, I don't think they like things this way any more than the rest of us do. I think they really want to be together, but they're too stubborn to admit it. You know how bull-headed they both are. It doesn't matter who was wrong, who was right, or if it was just a simple difference of opinion. Neither one of them will bend enough to admit they made a mistake."

Scott felt his disbelief fading with every word Jean spoke. Her analysis did make a lot of sense. The biggest problem was... "If you're right, they'll never sort this out on their own. So how do we get out of this episode of The Bickersons on acid?"

Jean frowned. "That's the part I haven't been able to work out yet." She rearranged the pillows beneath her and laid down. "Maybe a good night's sleep will help us think of something." She reached for the lamp on the bedside table and switched it off, then turned to curl up against Scott's side. He leaned over and kissed her, then watched in the darkness as her breathing evened into a steady rhythm of sleep.

Sleep was longer to come for Scott. He turned over the events of the past several months in his mind, searching for proof to substantiate Jean's beliefs. He reached no solid conclusion, other than the fact that he was willing to try just about anything to get things back to relative normal on the team. Deciding to forego his usual need for concrete factual support in drawing a conclusion, Scott accepted Jean's hypothesis at face value and moved to the next step -- deciding how to act on it.

He eventually drifted off in the midst of strategizing how to get Logan and Rogue back together, making a mental note to watch some Meg Ryan movies first thing in the morning.

Act II -- The Plan

Logan walked down the hall of the residence wing wiping sweat from his brow with a towel. Working out usually helped relieve the tension he felt before one of Chuck's unceasing shindigs at the mansion. Logan hated those damned parties even though he never attended them, closeting himself in the lounge on the residence level with a bag of chips, a six pack, and the large screen television to keep him occupied. Logan objected to the gatherings on general principle as a security risk, and also because of the way the house smelled the next day -- too many scents lingering all over everything to suit him.

Running the sim in the Danger Room hadn't had the usual calming effect this time. Logan yanked his sweat-drenched tee shirt over his head and wondered why he hadn't been able to find the release he needed.

A familiar scent hit him and he froze in the hallway. Looking through the open door that displayed the source of the scent, he watched unobserved for a long moment. Against his will, he found his eyes traveling slowly along curves he knew by touch better than by sight. He felt the fingers of one hand flex convulsively, as if they had a mind of their own and they wanted nothing more than to caress the gentle slope of her hip, the bend behind her knee that shouldn't be sensual but was because it was hers.

Body memories were a bitch. No question.

Despite the inner damnation Logan swore at himself, he continued staring. She turned around to look over her shoulder into the full-length mirror, examining the fall of the shimmering white fabric against the back of her legs. After a moment, she turned back around and smoothed the front of the Grecian toga style gown against her torso. She clasped her hair in one hand, twisting the length up and holding it against the back of her head. Turning her head slightly away from him, she examined her profile with her hair up rather than down.

Logan shook himself from studying the creamy skin of her neck, realizing she was turning her head back and would see him standing there if she decided to check the opposite profile as well. The best defense... "You really should be careful staring at that mirror, you know." Her head snapped around in shock and she dropped the coil of hair. "Could cause a pretty nasty accident. That sucker breaks and you've got yourself seven years bad luck."

Rogue worked at steadying her pulse and her breathing, wishing she could convince herself that her reaction was all based on being surprised by Logan's sudden appearance at her door. Unfortunately, she couldn't lie to herself that well. It wasn't right that her body still reacted to the sight of him the way it did. She should be repulsed by the sight of him, not staring at a trickle of sweat running down his bare chest and having to suppress the urge to go over and lick it off.

Calm down, Rogue. Get the libido in control. It's chemical. Just ignore it and remember how much you hate him. It's not difficult at all. You have a lot of practice at it. "Spare me your phony concern, Logan. It's really unnecessary since I got my lifetime quota of bad luck when I was stupid enough to get involved with you. I could break every mirror in this house and the combined results couldn't measure up to that mistake."

Logan smirked. "I'm sure you could break every mirror in the place without much effort. If lookin' in 'em didn't work, I'd bet that shrill voice of yours would."

Rogue walked over to the door and grabbed the edge of it. "You know what, Logan? I don't have time to trade verbal barbs with you right now. The party starts in an hour, and I need to be ready to greet the guests. Just because you aren't fit to mix in polite company, that doesn't mean the rest of us shirk our responsibility to keep this school funded."

Rogue's next comment was the slamming of the door in Logan's face. She heard him curse and growl before the thud of his feet away from the door indicated that he was gone.

Rogue turned and leaned her back against the wood panel, her smile fading quickly. She usually felt better after fighting with Logan, but this time was different. She felt... almost deflated, though she couldn't figure out why.

She shook off the strange melancholy and pushed away from the door. Rogue didn't have time to be preoccupied with Logan or anything else for that matter. She slipped off the dress and reached into the closet for the transparent body suit she'd bought to wear under her gown. Although she had learned how to suppress her mutation, maintaining control required her to be focused. In daily activity, she managed easily, but in the crowded, hectic atmosphere of a party... Taking the risk of not covering the majority of her skin wasn't worth it, even for the enjoyment of feeling the gown draping over her without a barrier.

As she donned the body suit, Rogue gazed at the white silk gown. It had been nice to try it on without the suit underneath. It was probably her imagination, but she could swear that the fabric had fallen more gracefully without the suit beneath it. Even if that were true, style had to be set aside for practicality. The last thing she needed was to accidentally put a party guest into a coma.

Despite her condemning words to Logan, Rogue didn't like attending the parties any more than he did. She thought longingly about the one time that she'd been able to escape one of these functions -- curled up against Logan's side in the residence lounge, watching a hockey game and drinking beer, feeling like the world was perfect and wanting to stay there forever.

She knew the ending of the story, knew so much more now than she had ever wanted to know. She'd learned that asking the question "Do you ever think about getting married" was far more complicated and dangerous than it seemed. She'd found out all too well that curiosity could kill a relationship as surely as it did the proverbial cat, strangling it with suspicions and arguments until the life drained from it entirely leaving only an empty shell.

But despite all Rogue had learned through painful experience, the memory still stayed. It still meant more to her than it should. It shouldn't feel so right; she shouldn't want it back so badly.

Rogue walked over and sat at her dressing table. She plugged in her curling iron and ran a brush through her hair. Pointing the brush at her reflection, she said, "Remember the immortal words of Mick Jagger. You can't always get what you want."

At this point, Logan was pacing his room muttering to himself angrily. "That woman has one hell of a nerve. 'Not fit to mix in polite company' my ass. I could go to that damned thing and fit in just fine, than you very much." Logan stopped dead in the middle of the room, a rather intimidating smile slowly forming on his lips.

He strode quickly to the door and threw it open. Glancing down the hall, he saw a student watering plants. Perfect. In an urgent whisper, Logan said, "Hey, kid! C'mere."

Wide yellow eyes looked over at Logan as the boy straightened. He put down the watering can and looked all around himself, almost desperately searching. Seeing no one else in the hall, he raised a finger and pointed to his chest, mouthing "Me?"

Logan nodded and waved the kid over. The blue furred student approached slowly, looking like he'd rather be doing just about anything else. When he got within arms reach, Logan took a quick glance around and pulled the kid into his room. He shut the door and looked down into the pale eyes. "What's your name, kid?"

"K-Kurt."

Shit, the kid looked terrified. Logan tried on a reassuring smile and hoped it fit properly. "Are you going to the party tonight, Kurt?"

"No. Only the adults are invited to the masked ball."

Logan nodded. He'd been fairly certain this function was an over-eighteen only event, but he hadn't paid much attention to the details since he hadn't planned on attending. "Okay, good. I need you to do me a favor, Kurt. I need you to run a few errands for me in town. You're old enough to drive, right?"

At Kurt's nod, Logan grabbed a pen and something to write on. "Good. These are the places I need you to go and what I need you to pick up for me." Logan handed Kurt the piece of paper with the quickly scrawled addresses and instructions as well as a wad of cash from his wallet. As Kurt turned to leave, Logan caught his shoulder and turned him around for one final piece of instruction. "No one knows where you're going or who sent you, got it?"

Kurt nodded again, and Logan grinned. "Great. If you pull this off, I'll owe you one, kid."

Kurt smiled for the first time and gave a mock salute. "I shall not let you down, mein freund."

With that taken care of, Logan quickly stripped and headed for the shower. If all went according to plan, this party might turn out to be fun after all.

*

Scott crossed the garden with four champagne flutes carefully balanced in his hands. The band was playing subdued dance music, and couples glided gracefully across the temporary dance floor that had been constructed on the grounds earlier in the day when it became clear that the weather would cooperate with an outdoor party. Strands of lantern lights illuminated the area in a soft glow. There was an almost magical aura floating on the mild breeze that stirred the branches of the smaller trees but didn't disturb a hair on the carefully coifed heads of the dancers.

Magic. Scott mused to himself they could use a little magic to aid the Logan-Rogue situation. An outright miracle would be better, but Scott wasn't going to push it.

As he rounded the corner of the raised dance floor, Scott could see that Ororo had arrived and was talking to Jean and the Professor. Rogue, the intended recipient of the fourth glass of champagne, was nowhere to be seen.

Although the majority of the men had simply added masks to their usual formal wear, the women had gone a step further in choosing themes for their gowns. 'Ro's was gold lamé in an Egyptian style, accented by a gold half mask and a headdress. Jean's gown was red with an asymmetrical hem that left the bottom two thirds of her left leg bare. The Spanish gown was complimented by a fall of black Spanish lace affixed over her upswept hair by a comb. Despite being in a tuxedo, his visor playing substitute for a traditional mask, Scott felt extremely underdressed in comparison to the female component of the team.

Scott arrived at the small group and distributed the drinks. "Where has Rogue gotten herself to?"

Jean angled her head toward the dance floor. "Duty called. Mr. Santee wanted to dance with her."

Scott shot a quick glance over his shoulder and caught a glimpse of Rogue's white gown in the crowd of dancers. "Mr. Santee better hope his wife doesn't catch him flirting with Rogue again. That Merlot I saw her drinking will be hell to get out of his tuxedo if she reacts the same way she did last time."

Jean smiled. "I think the Santees are the least of our problems tonight. I'm expecting some fireworks any minute now."

Scott looked from Jean to the Professor. "I didn't know you'd ordered a fireworks show for tonight."

The Professor shook his head. "I didn't. I believe Jean is referring to what Ororo saw earlier."

Feeling more in the dark every second, Scott turned to Ororo. "What happened?"

'Ro sighed. "I saw young Kurt knocking on Logan's door earlier. He was making a delivery."

Scott couldn't see the significance, but the rather guarded expressions of his companions were starting to make him suspicious. "A delivery?"

Ororo nodded. "A dry cleaner's bag and a large sack from Madame LaMonde's."

Madame LaMonde's was a costume shop in Salem Center. Scott stiffened. "You think Logan actually came to the party? Why would he do that without telling anyone? Hell, why would he do that period?"

Jean angled her head toward a broad shouldered form in a tuxedo that was chatting with someone at the edge of the dance floor. The man was wearing a full head mask rather than the half mask the majority of the men had selected. "I think we may find out as soon as Rogue escapes from Mr. Santee."

Scott carefully studied the figure Jean had indicated. He was certainly Logan's height and build, but it was impossible to determine if it was in fact Logan with his head entirely covered. "How do you know that's Logan?"

Jean shrugged. "I don't know for sure. All I know is that man has been working his way through the crowd all night trying to get to Rogue when she's away from the rest of us. And when I went in the house to freshen up a while ago, I checked the residence lounge and Logan wasn't there."

Scott looked back and noted, "Well if it is Logan, I think we're about to find out. Rogue is headed his way."

As she descended the three steps from the raised dance floor, Rogue was grateful to have escaped Mr. Santee without the repeated indignity of his clumsy passes or his wife's shrieking reaction to them. All she wanted at that moment was a little time alone and a drink to calm her nerves.

"Escuzi, señorina bella?"

So much for her time alone. Rogue almost ignored the summons, but there was something familiar about the thickly accented voice. She turned and found herself facing a man wearing a tuxedo and a full mask sculpted in the shape of a wolf's head that was painted in glossy black lacquer. Even without seeing his face, Rogue immediately identified Logan.

Her first impulse was to rip the mask off his head and ask him who he thought he was fooling with the horrendous Michael Corleone imitation. It's not like she needed to see his face to know who he was. Her nerves were humming with that electrical sensation she always got when she was near him. But her curiosity quickly overcame her anger. She wanted to know why Logan had decided to play this little masquerade with her.

Rogue smiled brightly and said, "How can I help you? I haven't seen red riding hood if that's what you're about to ask."

Logan gave a deep chuckle. She hadn't recognized him, which was good for his plan despite the blow to his ego. Even if she were wearing a burlap sack over her entire body, Logan would still recognize Marie... Rogue. Remember, she's Rogue now, even if she is flashing that thousand-watt smile that hasn't been directed toward you in months. Rogue. "La bella señorina is funny, yes?"

Rogue continued smiling and winked. "That all depends on the company I'm keeping, Señor Lupo."

"Ah, so the señorina knows Italian." Shit. Who had she absorbed who knew Italian? She certainly hadn't studied it to Logan's recollection.

"Poco" Rogue replied, holding her fingers up with a small distance between them. "I know a lot of interesting things." Worried about giving herself away with the tone of the comment, Rogue focused on behaving casually. She glanced about and gestured with a hand. "Are you enjoying the party? Would you like me to introduce you to the rest of the staff?"

No I wouldn't like you to introduce me, Logan thought piquantly. Even though *you* don't recognize me, someone else probably will, and I have a reason for being here dressed like some escapee from a Truffaut film. "The party is very nice. And I have already met some people from the school."

Rogue smiled wider as an idea occurred to her. She allowed the smile to fade and then faked a sigh. "Well, there is one member of our staff that you won't be meeting tonight."

Logan realized immediately that she was talking about him. This could certainly prove to be an interesting conversation, judging by the look on her face. "Yes? Who is that?"

Rogue rolled her eyes. "'That', as you so accurately put it, is Logan. He claims that he doesn't want to attend the parties because he doesn't like them. I believe he hides himself away because he's afraid other people won't like him."

Logan bristled and forced himself to not tell her she was full of shit. "Perhaps it is true. Some men dislike formal occasions."

Rogue shrugged. "I suppose. It's probably better for us that he does play hermit during the fund raisers. Logan is not exactly a master of wit or tact. I'm certain at an occasion like this, he would insult so many people that we'd lose more money on event costs than we'd gain from contributions."

Logan was a step away from losing his temper. Letting Rogue insult him and saying nothing made his blood boil, but he couldn't contradict her without giving himself away. What had he thought he was going to accomplish by coming to this damned party? In his rage, Logan completely forgot his original plan. "If this man is so repugnant, señorina, then why keep him on staff?" There. She'd have to say something nice about him now.

Rogue made a show of having to think about the question quite a lot before coming to an answer. "Well, he is talented at fixing things, and he's good with the children. It's just adults he has trouble relating to in a congenial manner."

Rogue almost expected cartoon smoke to start billowing out of the pointed ears on the wolf's head. She extended her hand and said, "Shall we dance?" The second the words left her mouth, she wanted them back. What was she thinking? It was one thing to bait Logan, but asking him to dance was playing with fire. She consoled herself with the realization that Logan didn't like dancing and would certainly say no.

Logan was more interested in choking the life out of her than anything else, and he hated dancing. Then again, he could step on her feet some, which might make him feel a little better. He bent his arm and placed Rogue's hand around it. "But of course, señorina."

Rogue let Logan lead her to the dance floor in a daze. Shit. She couldn't believe he'd said yes. What the hell was he up to? Probably planning to step all over her feet.

All thought abandoned Rogue as Logan pulled her into his arms and began guiding her across the floor. Just because he didn't like to dance, that didn't mean he wasn't good at it. Rogue forgot all her animosity and just lost herself in the sensation of being held in Logan's arms again. God... she'd forgotten how strong he was, how good he smelled. That wasn't true. She'd always remembered, even though she'd desperately tried to forget. Tried to forget how protected and safe she felt whenever he held her close like this.

Logan knew he'd had a purpose in accepting her invitation to dance, but damn if he could remember it. All he could think of was the curve of her back where his hand rested, the delicate gloved hand held in his. Her heels brought her above shoulder height on him, and he could feel her breath on the skin of his neck. The dizzying combination of her strength and fragility called to him on a fundamental level -- wanting to protect her but knowing that she was capable of taking care of herself. Hadn't that contradiction gotten him in trouble on more than one mission? At the moment, Logan didn't care. He just wanted to relish the feeling of her in his arms and knowing she was safe because he was there to make sure of it.

When the song ended, the band announced they were taking a short break. The applause of the couples around them broke the spell surrounding Rogue and Logan. Rogue pulled back out of Logan's arms. "Please excuse me... I need to... see to something in the house..."

As he watched her hurry off the dance floor, Logan wanted to call her back at first. But with her departure, the words she'd spoken to him before the dance returned to taunt him.

Logan walked off the opposite side of the dance floor and saw Jean looking over at him. Realizing the jig was up and needing to vent a little, Logan yanked the mask off his head and strode toward the group. "That... person was slandering me to a stranger."

Scott glanced over. "Do you mean Rogue? That doesn't sound like her. Who was she talking to?"

"Me. I had this mask on and she didn't recognize me. She went on and on about what a socially inept idiot I am, and I couldn't say a thing in my own defense!"

Jean took a sip of her champagne. "And you didn't instigate this at all?"

Logan huffed, choosing to omit his stop at her room earlier in the evening. "No. I was making pleasant conversation, basically trying to prove that she was wrong about me. Instead, I got verbally assaulted."

Ororo's head turned as she caught a motion in her peripheral vision. "Well, it looks like you have a chance to clear things up right now, because here she comes."

Logan glanced in the direction 'Ro was looking and saw Rogue approaching the group. He shot a look of irritated desperation at the Professor. "Give me an assignment. Any assignment. I'll flea dip Sabretooth. I'll go face to face with Magneto on my own. Anything other then spending one more minute in the same house with *her*!"

Rogue smiled innocently. "What's wrong, Logan? I didn't realize you were here."

Logan held up the mask, then put it on the ground next to his feet. He looked at the Professor. "I know you like serving exotic dishes at these parties, Chuck, but I've had my fill of the lady's tongue for the night."

Scott watched Logan storming through the party guests toward the house, then studied Rogue's expression. Gauging her reaction, he noticed that while her smile was firmly in place, there was no light of triumph in her eyes. That made Scott curious, so he prodded her lightly. "Looks like you've lost the heart of the Wolverine, Rogue."

Rogue was looking at the patio doors Logan had just slammed shut behind himself. Her smile slowly faded. "I guess you could say that. He let me borrow it for a while, and I gave him a use for it. A matched set in exchange for his single one. But we wanted different things, maybe the timing was bad... I don't know. So yes, in a way I did lose his heart, and a part of mine along with it."

Ororo looked at her sympathetically. "You did recognize him tonight, didn't you?"

Despite the form of the statement, it wasn't really spoken as a question, so Rogue didn't bother confirming it. 'Ro continued, "So why purposely antagonize him?"

Rogue smiled humorlessly. "Preemptive strike. Logan knows all the best ways to hurt me. I knew he'd disguised himself and sought me out for a reason. I figured if I started in on him first, it wouldn't hurt as much." Rogue shook her head. "It didn't work that way. Back to the drawing board, I guess." She looked at them all and gave an unconvincing imitation of a smile. "If you don't mind, I think I'm going to cut out early this time. Goodnight."

All of them watched Rogue walk toward the house. Her posture was as elegant as always, but there was something in her gait that spoke of feeling defeated rather than victorious.

Once she was out of hearing range, Scott said, "Okay, it's time to plan strategy. We've got to get those two back together and fast."

Jean looked over at Scott, slightly surprised. "So, you believe I'm right?"

Scott nodded. "After what just happened, I'm certain of it. Those two are obviously making a mess of this and they are too stubborn to admit it. We need to do something."

The Professor nodded. "I agree with both of you. I generally don't like interfering in your personal lives, but this is an extreme case."

Scott looked at Ororo. "Are you in, 'Ro? We're going to need you."

Ororo nodded. "I am with you as well. We must help them. I think all they need is a little push, but the question is how do we get them to cooperate without them realizing what we're up to?"

Scott smiled conspiratorially at them, one brow arching over the rim of his visor.

"I have a plan..."

Act III -- The Sting

The next afternoon, Logan was in the garden, taking a hammer to a stubborn support pin in the temporary dance floor to try to jar it loose. The Professor had requested his assistance when the crew doing the breakdown for the party had been unable to remove the pin. "Good old Logan. He's your man if you need something fixed, right, Rogue?" he grumbled under his breath.

Logan heard some sounds on the porch but paid no attention to them. People had been wandering around all morning, though he hadn't seen anyone else outside for a while now. Still, nothing that required his attention.

Then the sound of a voice came from the other side of the tall hedges. "Professor, I need to speak to you about the situation between Logan and Rogue."

"Of course, Ororo. I know the tension between the two of them has been troubling you and the others for some time now."

Now that on the other hand *did* warrant his attention. Logan could easily hear the conversation from where he was, so he stayed near the partially deconstructed dance floor. He did stop hammering the pin so he wouldn't have to strain to listen over the noise of ringing metal.

When the sound of the hammer falling ceased, Ororo gave Charles a thumbs-up and resumed talking. "It's more serious than I previously believed, Professor. If it was just the two of them bickering because they don't like each other, that would be one thing. However..." 'Ro paused slightly, trying to make herself seem realistically conflicted about revealing a confidence. "Rogue confessed to me the other day that she's in love with Logan."

The hammer fell from Logan's numb grip and hit his opposite thumb. He swallowed a curse and shook the hand.

The Professor sounded appropriately worried. "Are you certain she meant she's *still* in love with him? Perhaps she was referring to when they were involved."

"No, unfortunately, she was speaking of the present."

Logan frowned and muttered, "Unfortunately?" then quieted when he realized Ororo was still speaking.

"She's in love with Logan, but she's afraid to admit it. She thinks he'll either reject her, or worse, make an ongoing joke of her feelings."

Logan sat back heavily on the grass. He'd think this was a joke if it wasn't 'Ro doing the talking. She was too sensitive and considerate to play a prank involving people's personal lives.

"What do you think, Ororo?"

Ororo sighed. "I think it's quite possible that she's right. Whatever happened between them before, Logan is far too stubborn to admit that he made a mistake. And I'm not sure how much longer Rogue can take hiding her feelings this way. She provokes Logan to hide what she's truly feeling, but she's afraid that she'll slip eventually. I'm not sure what to tell her, Professor."

The Professor wheeled his chair back towards the patio doors. "Let's discuss this over some tea in my office. We'll find the solution."

Once they were inside the Mansion, Ororo tapped the com in her ear. "Did we get him?"

Jean's voice replied over the receiver. "Oh yes, you got him alright. I'm watching him through the binoculars. He's wandering around the yard. He looks confused, but I saw a silly grin on his face at one point."

Scott's voice was next on the com link. "Okay, let's progress to phase two. I've located Rogue. She's in the dining hall."

Ororo tapped the com and spoke. "The Professor is on his way to the dining hall. Phase two commences in approximately five minutes."

Meanwhile, Logan was pacing in the yard. He always thought better when he was moving. Without thought, he wandered down the path that led to the lake. As he walked, he started muttering under his breath. "She still loves me... why? After everything that happened... I thought it was over. Is it possible I've been wrong this whole time?"

Logan thought about the events of the party. For the first time, he considered the idea that Rogue knew who he was when she'd said those things to him. Of course she'd known. That explained everything, and it fit what 'Ro had said. If Rogue had recognized him, she would have suspected he was up to something and attacked him to protect herself. And the dance also made sense in that context. He hadn't imagined the way she'd fit so perfectly against him, dancing in a way she never would have with a total stranger.

Logan stopped walking and suddenly realized how far he'd wandered from the Mansion. He headed back with a purposeful stride. He *wasn't* too stubborn to make things right. He'd find a way to prove them all wrong.

If it meant getting Marie back, he'd do anything. Even admit he'd made a mistake.

*

Rogue exited the Mansion with a tray in her hands, grumbling under her breath. She was certain she'd take no end of teasing from Logan for bringing him lunch, but the Professor had asked her nicely, and he was the one man other than her father to whom she was never able to say no.

She set the tray on top of a wrought iron table and was about to head into the yard to search for Logan when she heard Jean's voice coming from around the corner of the veranda. "Scott, are you certain that Logan is in love with Rogue? It's just so hard to believe."

Rogue could attest to that as well. She bumped her thigh against the table when she stumbled in shock. The ice cubes in the lemonade made a tinking sound as they bounced into the side of the glass. Rogue cringed, hoping the sound wasn't evident to Scott and Jean.

They hadn't heard the ice cubes, but they had heard the scrape of the table leg against the stone patio. Scott nodded to Jean and started his lines. "I'm positive. It's the only logical explanation for the conversation we had after the mission the other night."

Rogue quickly made her way to the corner of the building so she could hear them better. She leaned back against the comforting solidity of the mansion while she waited for her knees to stop shaking.

"Did Logan actually come out and say that he was in love with Rogue?" Jean asked.

They had discussed this point extensively. Rogue would never believe that Logan would confess something like that to Scott. "Not directly. You know Logan. He talked his way all around it without actually admitting it. He asked me about how you knew it was right to make a commitment. And he said Rogue's name at some point in the conversation with this little smile on his face."

Rogue felt her breath leave her in a rush and hoped no one heard the sound but her. God... could Scott be right? If he was, then why...?

"Then why do you think Logan is so hostile toward Rogue? If he's in love with her, that's an odd way of showing it."

Scott gave a quick, low laugh. "Men aren't good at talking about their feelings, especially a man like Logan. You know how stubborn he and Rogue both are. No matter what caused the initial break up, neither one will forget their pride long enough to let it go."

The main part of the discussion being completed, Scott and Jean headed for the veranda doors that opened into the study. As they walked, Jean commented, "Do you think there's any hope for those two?"

Scott shrugged. "Maybe. If Rogue makes the first move."

Scott and Jean entered the study and closed the doors behind themselves. Scott tapped the com and asked, "How does it look, 'Ro?"

"I'm not sure yet. Logan has not returned and Rogue is now wandering through the west garden. I can't see her face from this angle, so I have no idea what her reaction is."

Scott shared a glance with Jean, then tapped the com again. "Okay. We've done what we can. The rest is up to them."

Rogue walked along the garden path, looking around and seeing nothing. Her thoughts were a scrambled mess and her heart was pounding painfully hard inside her chest. Could what Scott believed actually be true? Could Logan still be in love with her after all this time, after all the fights?

Standing there on the terrace listening to Scott and Jean, Rogue had felt hope for the first time since that terrible night she and Logan had argued. As she walked in the garden, she felt that hope trying to surge up again and she forcefully pushed it down. She was afraid to believe Scott was right and find out that he wasn't.

She was even more afraid of it being true and having it all fall apart again. Rogue wasn't certain she could live through that type of pain a second time. To have something so wonderful and lose it was worse than not having it at all.

That's what she needed to believe, whether it was true or not.

*

Logan returned to the mansion and immediately went looking for Rogue. Enough time had been wasted already. He didn't ask anyone where she was. He wanted to avoid time wasting conversations if possible.

He climbed the steps to the residence hall and made his way to her door. This was where her freshest trail had led him. The door was part way open, so he knocked and pushed it further into the room until he could see her.

She was sitting on the edge of her bed staring out the window. There were dried tear tracks on her cheeks. She didn't seem to notice that he'd come in the room, so Logan cleared his throat and said, "Hey. You alright?"

Her eyes closed briefly, then she replied, "Go away, Logan."

He stepped further into the room and shut the door behind him. "Not until I know you're okay."

A disbelieving laugh choked out of her as she finally turned her head to look at him. "Please... just leave me alone."

He watched her head turn away again. He walked over to kneel on the floor in front of her. Tilting her chin up until she met his eyes, Logan asked, "What's wrong? I'm not leaving until you tell me."

Rogue knew the impulse to throw herself into his arms was insane. God... she wished she hadn't heard what Scott said. "I'm not in any mood to deal with you right now. I don't want to fight with you, Logan."

"I don't want to fight with you either. Not anymore."

Rogue shook her head. "I don't understand you, Logan. Why are you here? What do you want from-"

"I love you, Marie" Logan said in a rush, getting it out before he could change his mind.

Rogue blinked. Several times. "You... you..."

"I said I love you, and I meant it. I never stopped. For a while, I was just too angry to realize it. By the time I did realize... well, I thought it wouldn't matter. I figured that it was too late, that it was over."

"Logan, I..."

"No. Let me finish. I'm sorry for the things I said that night. I guess... no, I know. I just panicked. I didn't give you a chance to explain what you meant by the question, I just jumped to conclusions. So, I'm sorry for that night and everything that came after it. Now, I need to ask you something."

Fresh tears were streaming down Rogue's cheeks. She nodded quickly. "Okay."

Logan took a deep breath. "Can we start over?"

Rogue worried at her lower lip. "No."

Logan fell back slightly. "No?"

Rogue shook her head as a smile slowly spread across her lips. She grabbed Logan's shirtfront and pulled him towards her as she fell back on the bed. "I want to pick up where we left off."

Logan grinned as he settled between her legs. He slowly ran his knuckles along her sides, drawing a gasp from her when he shifted course, pulling them across the tops of her breasts and making circling caresses around the crests. "As I recall, we left off in another bed."

When he made a motion as if to get up, Rogue locked her legs around his. "So, we'll improvise. We've always been good at that." As Logan ran his open mouth along her neck, Rogue shivered. "I love you, Logan." were her last words before his mouth closed over hers and silenced further conversation.

*

Scott was in his office the following morning when a knock sounded on the door. Scott looked up and smiled, regulating the size so it was appropriate and not likely to make his visitor suspicious. "Good morning, Logan. How is Rogue today?"

Logan chuckled. "So, everyone already knows we're back together."

"Some of us had our suspicions when you both disappeared for the entire afternoon. Then Jean ran into Rogue in the kitchen late last night. The fact that Rogue was wearing your shirt and not much else was pretty much a dead give away."

Logan entered the office and shut the door behind himself. "Rogue didn't tell me about seeing Jeannie. I thought that was pretty fast for gossip to travel, even on the school's grapevine."

Scott nodded and made a final note in the file he had been working on before closing it and looking up. "So, everything's back to the way it was with you and Rogue?"

Scott noted that Logan was definitely in a good mood, bordering on perky if such a thing were possible. He knew this because Logan didn't even balk at answering the personal question. "It's not the way it was. It's better. We laid everything out on the table. I apologized; she apologized. Once we realized we still loved each other, letting go of the rest of it was easy."

Scott smiled knowingly. "Some truths cannot be seen until viewed through another's eyes."

Logan scowled in confusion. "Why are you suddenly talking like a fortune cookie?"

Scott shook his head and waved a hand dismissively. "It doesn't matter. Why did you come to see me?"

Logan took a seat in the chair that sat in front of Scott's desk. He propped his elbows on his knees and clasped his hands together. "You remember that conversation we had the other night?"

Scott arched a sardonic brow. "Vividly. What about it?"

"I need to ask you another question..."

**** Epilogue ****

The morning of the wedding dawned bright and clear. The guests were led to their seats and given ribbon tied satin packets along with their programs. A string quartet played music on the side of the lawn, entertaining the guests while they awaited the start of the ceremony.

Scott's brother Alex helped him straighten his bow tie. "I swear, Scotty, for someone who attends more than his fair share of formal occasions, you suck at making straight knots."

"Thanks, Alex. I knew there was a reason I wanted you here. You're such a confidence booster."

Alex laughed at Scott's sarcasm, then backed away so Scott could look at his reflection. "Just try and tell me that doesn't look ten times better. Then again, don't try. You suck at lying almost as much as you do at tying a bow tie."

Their brotherly banter was cut off by a knock at the door. Bobby stuck his head in and said, "Everyone's ready. They need you down front."

Shortly afterwards, Scott stood at the alter with Alex at his side and the priest behind him. He watched as the Professor escorted Jean down the aisle, unable to see anything but her. He went down the three steps to retrieve his bride, then returned to face the minister and begin the ceremony.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God, to witness the union of this man," the minister intoned, angling his head toward Scott "and this woman" with a head gesture to indicate Jean.

"And also this man and this woman, in holy matrimony." For the first time since Jean had stepped into view, Scott looked over to the right side of the altar.

He needn't have worried about offending the other couple with his lack of observation. Logan and Marie were as wrapped up in each other as he and Jean were.

They never noticed.

*

After the ceremony completed, Logan made sure that he and Marie escaped the reception as soon as possible. When they entered their room, there were boxes on each of their pillows, a large rectangular one addressed to Marie and a small one with Logan's name on the tag.

Marie took her box with her into the bathroom while Logan sat on the edge of the bed to open his. A smaller box rested inside it along with a small card. Logan picked up the card and read it. "Logan, I'm certain it will be a perfect fit. Best Wishes, Scott."

Logan opened the small jeweler's box and stared at the silver chain with a ball pendant suspended from it. Reading the inscription on the cannonball shaped charm, Logan couldn't suppress his laughter.

Marie's voice floated to him from the bathroom. "What is it, Logan?"

Logan put the box in a drawer, deciding to save the explanation for a time other than his wedding night. "Nothing. Just Scooter proving one more time that he has a sense of humor and a scary amount of detail recall."

"Hmm... Well wait 'til you see what Jean got me. I'm trying it on right now."

Logan grinned. "I can hardly wait, darlin'."

~*~ The End ~*~

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