If Logan was being completely logically, he would've admitted to himself that talking Storm into bringing in a touch specialist for Rogue wasn't brilliant. For severally reasons, the main one being that that job didn't really exist. Another glaring point was the mutant they both agreed would be best to reach out to to fill said role, even if he'd been joking.

It did have an immediate positive effect, much to Logan's annoyance. "You can't be serious, Ororo." She shrugged, nonplussed and stood by Logan in a show of solidarity. "Professor, be reasonable. Bring in a female! Or maybe start counselling the younger kids."

"Rogue would never forgive herself if she accidentally absorbed one of the children, One-Eye." Logan cringed inwardly as he forced himself to double down on a throw-away suggestion made when he thought Storm had been too tipsy to consider in earnest. "Gumbo may be many things, most of them illegal, but he respects women. Yes, I admit he is respectful."

Storm let out a breathy laugh. "I've seen it all, now." She smirked before returning her attention to Xavier. "We also need a new staff member. We're short after, well, Jean."

"You just want an excuse to bring your ex into town."

Logan scented the flair of embarrassment before he saw her expression of forced bewilderment. "Ex? Remy and I never dated." Scott's brow arched over his shades. "Sure, we made out once, maybe twice, but that is as far as it went."

"Scott, Ororo has known Mr. LeBeau for several years. She would not make this suggestion lightly." Xavier locked eyes with Logan and the gruff man saw the glint of humour in the Professor's eyes. "Also, you know how close Logan and Rogue are. He would not throw his endorsement into the ring if he thought there was any danger in it."

"What class would he take over?"

"I would take over assisting the more volatile students with their training sessions since my powers are controlled by my emotions. Remy will take over my French class, and he can assist in the Danger Room and with physical education." She grasped her hands behind her back and shrugged. "His powers are also touch based, Cyclops. He may be able to help her in more ways than one."

Logan raised his eyebrows, intrigued by the level of sass she was showing. "The lady raises a good point. You may be out gunned here, Scott."

Xavier looked between his two senior mutant staff members. "Perhaps on a probationary basis. I think you must admit, Scott, we will need help with the students. I would very much like to see progress with Rogue as well. Apart from the fact that it's imperative that we do all we can for all of our charges, she holds such great potential. Our sessions have begun back peddling since this most recent incident and I can feel her retreating into herself."

Logan didn't stop his annoyance from showing. Ever since Bobby had made a debacle of showing he wasn't afraid of her powers, and then stopping her from using them when she wanted, she'd begun to pull back from everyone. It was one of the reasons he had opted to stick around. With the young couple putting distance distance between them, Logan was the only person who treated her like a damn human being now. Rogue was encouraging the physical isolation, as well, using her powers as a shield after the emotional scar Bobby had given her.

It made Logan feel a bit more than angry when he thought about it, no matter how unintentional the kid's reaction had been. A good year's worth of nurturing, sessions with the professor and his own subtle encouragements was down the drain. Hormones were essentially going to be the downfall of a very bright and capable woman.

"Rogue is a teenager. She's ruled by hormones and desires. Is she more logical and critical than most of her peers? Yes. Hell, she would have to be to make it all the way up to Canada from Mississippi." Logan sighed, and continued, "but she's still human. She wants things that other people take for granted. A simple thing. Anything we can do to make her see that she deserves that and that it can be normal, even for her and even with a layer of clothing in the way, then I say we go for it."

He glowered at Scott and gave his final piece. "If you don't let us try this, I'll leave and this time I'll take her with me. She'll come, no questions asked, and you all know it."

"He's right. She adores him."

"Yeah, cause that's healthy. She already has a crush on this asshat and now we're bringing in another older creep to save her and for her to fawn over?" Scott scoffed and crossed his arms. "That's just brilliant."

"Scott." The professor sighed, but conceded. "I do see your points. I'm not saying I completely disagree or agree with either side. I'm simply stating that enough of an argument has been made to allow a trial period. If after six months we see no change, or heaven for bid she takes a turn for the worse and Scott's fears are founded, we will handle things accordingly."

"Excellent." Ororo smiled sheepishly and Logan noted her tension. "Thank you, Professor, especially since I already emailed him. He's intrigued by the offer and said he would come meet her and tour the grounds. He hasn't fully agreed, but he loves a challenge so I think six months is a fantastic base level offer."

"So, we're doing this? We're bringing the Prince of Thieves to give touch therapy to our most emotionally fragile student." Scott looked as if he wanted to barf. "I cannot believe we've come to this."

"A few things." Ororo was already inching toward the door and Logan followed, amused. "First off, he's not the heir apparent for the Thieves Guild anymore since being exiled. Two, if you say it like that it does sound perverted so we'll work on that. Lastly, he's a few years younger than I am, so a crush on him would be an improvement to her crush on Logan if age is the real deciding factor."

"You're really grasping there, Darlin'." Her smile conveyed how much she knew the truth of it. "Let's not bring up the exile thing, again."

"Why? Couldn't possibly be because he was exiled for, I don't know, killing his almost brother-in-law, could it?"

With one last disgusted look between the two conspirators, Scott stormed out. The three remained in the room long after the door had closed behind him. The Professor broke the silence, heaving a heavy sigh.

"That went better than I thought it would. Also, this may have been just the catalyst we needed to get him involved in the student body, again." The concern for his old student was evident on Xavier's face. "Jean's loss hit him hard. As it did all of us, more so you Logan, but he was beginning to slip into a state I was worried he wouldn't come back from. In his mind, without Jean, he was nothing. They were tied, psychically, on a level even I could not touch nor sever."

"What do you mean?"

"There was an incident when Jean was younger. Her powers were growing out of hand. She forged a very strong, unbreakable, telepathic bond with Scott and it aided in grounding her. It helped her regain control over her abilities." Xavier moved back behind his desk. "I was sure that losing her would drive him into madness and I think I was nearly proven right."

"So Remy coming is helping everyone." Ororo didn't make eye contact with Logan as she made her way out fo the office as well. "I'm glad to see a plan coming together."

"I'll break the news to the kid." Logan paused and turned to look at his mentor. "So, Jean and I, did we ever have a chance?"

"Nothing is set in stone, Logan. Would they forever be connected? Yes. That being said, the heart is a fickle creature. Logic and reason does not govern it. Jean worked very hard to live by logic and reason, and I wonder sometimes if it was what was going to ultimately break her in the end." Xavier shifted his gaze to the window. "Man cannot live on bread alone, as the saying goes."

After dinner, Logan decided to butter Rogue up with a quick poker lesson in his room. After she was suitable agreeable, he let everything loose. Rogue's jaw clenched as Logan met her in a battle of wills.

"I don't want another therapy session. I have enough on my plate."

"Kid."

"Don't "kid" me, Logan." She crossed her arms and her eyebrows lowered. "It's a dick move. So Bobby and I are having minor issues. It happens. We'll deal."

She paused, her shoulders sagging as he picked up where she left off. "Or you won't." She nodded and Logan wanted to hug her. "Which would you prefer to happen?"

"I like him. I mean," she sighed and shrugged. "I think we should at least take a break. He thought he could handle it, but then so did I. It's never a nice surprise when you're wrong."

"Rogue, you're 17. You deserve to have things everyone else has. The least of all being a boyfriend who wants you with or without physical," he paused and rolled his eyes, "intimacy. Don't ever tell anyone I got that mushy."

"I'm already trying to block it out." She unfolded her arms and looked anywhere but at him. "So, this Remy guy. Gambit. Why him?"

"He's creative, and fearless." Logan scratched his jaw, absently wishing he wasn't out of cigars for this talk. "Mostly, he has no sense of self preservation that I know of and loves a challenge."

"Wonderful. Can't wait to have that mess in my head along with the rest of them."

"I'm not saying it's perfect. He's a good guy, though. His power is touch based, so common ground."

"Well, that could be helpful." She worried her bottom lip and Logan knew he'd won her over. "Six months, right? If it doesn't take we don't have to continue the therapy?"

"Exactly."

"I'll still be able to do my extra combat lessons with you and take the black bird training the Professor cleared me for?" Logan nodded, fighting a smirk. "Don't look so pleased with yourself. My dad just talked to me about intimacy. Be upset with yourself."

With that she stood from the chair she'd been occupying at his desk. He wasn't a full fledged teacher, so he didn't have an official office. Still, the desk in his room was almost over flowing with notes and lesson plans for the classes he would stand in for in case of an emergency. Scott's recent bout of depression and borderline alcoholism had been a big emergency.

Logan couldn't blame him. He'd wanted to claw everything in sight and had spent hours contemplating just leaving. If it weren't for Rogue, he would have been gone as soon as they'd landed back at the mansion that fateful day. Rogue needed him though. They all did, and so he stayed and kept living. Like he always did.

She followed his gaze and ran her hands over the stack of papers that related to the auto shop class Logan had taken over. "You know, I like Mr. Scott. He's a nice guy and all, but there's something not quite right about him. Like, he doesn't adapt well. I think that's why you're my favourite. You're relatable, and you care in smaller ways. You give when you need, and you don't make a big deal out of it."

He snorted, rolling his eyes. Her words did warm him, though. Somehow this kid had managed to weasel her way into his heart and damn if he couldn't get her out.

"Oh, here you go." Her disappeared into the depths of his paperwork mountain and came back out with a flourish holding one his half smoked cigars. "I think you needed this before our chat, but better late than never, yeah?"

He smiled and took the offered vice. "Thanks, kid. Now get out of here so I can smoke this."

A/N: Well, this won't be a terribly long story. It can't be, considering I have a million other projects. This was just a fun AU idea had and wanted to knock out. This is an AU after X2. Thanks for reading. Reviews are my crack. Much love from this cheeseball writer.