Rogue sighed as she sipped her beer and waited for Chris to finish adjusting the lights.

"Just a few more seconds Marie, I promise, then we can get this show on the road," the dark-haired man called as he ran a hand through his hair and fiddled with yet another of the numerous lights surrounding them.

"Come ahn, let's get this over with before ah catch cold from sittin' around in this outfit," Rogue called, unable to hide her smile as he pretended to leer at her.

"But you look great in it, and trust me Marie, this video is gonna get me that job and I promise, when I make it big, I won't forget you," Chris called back, smiling and clapping his hands together as he deemed the entire set up ready to go.

"Damn well right you better not forget me, I'm wastin' good time sittin' here watchin' you fiddlin' with those lights that all look the same ta' me," she muttered, smiling as Chris finally motioned to her that they were ready to go.

Shaking herself from her stupor, she slipped up on the stage wincing at the brightness of the lights surrounding her.

"Ya' think those lights are bright enough?" she asked sarcastically as Chris made several more adjustments.

"Just making sure you're not too shadowed, hey Paul, she look okay to you?" he called to the man standing behind one of the camera's set up nearby. Rogue smiled as she received a wolf whistle from Paul and thumbs up sign.

"Can we get this show on the road guys? Ah mean, ah do have finals to study for and ah class ta' teach at the mansion," she called as she tugged at the flimsy strap holding up her ridiculously revealing outfit.

Normally she'd be terrified at exposing so much skin, but this was a special case. There wasn't any need for her to touch or get near their friends surrounding the stage. And since she'd learned the trick to controlling her powers several months ago, she felt a little more secure about showing some skin. She wouldn't be putting anyone in danger.

And if she admitted it to herself, she was enjoying having such little clothing on.

Quite a change from the layers she usually wore to protect those around her.

And if she admitted it to herself, she was enjoying the power she felt at knowing she had every eye in the room focused on her, watching her, as she showed off a side of her personality only these chosen few had ever been privileged to see.

A side she really, really wished someone else she knew and loved could see.

But that wasn't going to happen.

Logan would probably destroy the cameras and Chris in the process if he ever saw this.

But he wouldn't, since Chris had promised her this was strictly for his personal 'resume' tape files.

"Okay Rogue, let's do this. Just remember to go with the flow and you'll be fine," Chris called, standing back and motioning to the man sitting behind a large audio board off to the left of the stage.

"Ah' never said ah was worried Christopher," Rogue called out in a sexy voice as she heard the familiar strains begin to play. "Ya'll just watch and learn," she finished as she sent the camera a smile, tuned out the wolf-whistles, catcalls and shocked expressions on the faces of her friends, and began to dance.

Three weeks later Rogue was happily enjoying her attempt to teach a group of younger mutants the joys of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice." She'd learned early on (and from personal experience) the trick to getting a group of girls of any age to enjoy one of her favorite novels.

Show them the video version of Austen's classic starring Colin Firth.

Worked every time.

And it was a nice diversion since Rogue considered Colin Firth one of the most handsome actors she'd ever seen, second only to Hugh Jackman.

So she, 12 girls of varying ages and 'Ro (who had a fondness for Colin Firth as well and always seemed to drop in whenever the movie was being shown) were immersed in drooling over Mr. Darcy trying to propose to Elizabeth, when a commotion in the hall brought all attention to the door which suddenly slammed open to reveal a feral looking Wolverine.

Rogue immediately jumped up from her seat, wondering what had set Logan off this time and hoping he didn't scare the hell out of her students with his growls.

"Logan, is something wrong sugah?" she asked, using the term of endearment in hopes of calming him down. It usually did the trick, but obviously not this time.

"Marie," he growled in a low voice, his eyes so dark she couldn't read anything in them.

Oh boy, this was going to be bad, she just knew it.

"Logan, what's wrong?" she managed, fighting down the sense of foreboding she could feel creeping through her body.

"I think there's something you need to see," he growled, clenching his fists tightly and obviously restraining his claws.

Oh boy.

"Logan, you're upset sugah, ah can tell, but we're in the middle of class, can't it wait," she began, only to be cut off by his growl.

"Now Marie."

Rogue sighed as she motioned to 'Ro to take over. Getting a nod and a look of concern from her friend, Rogue quickly headed out of the room, following Logan's silent figure as he stalked down the hall.

This must be really bad if he wasn't even talking to her.

What the hell had happened?

She followed him quietly into the main 'family' room where a hockey game was playing silently on the big screen TV. She sat down gingerly, looking carefully at his now expressionless face. As she watched him stalk towards the VCR on top of the TV, she finally became aware of the room's other occupants.

Scott was simply staring at her with a look of fascination, obvious even from behind his visor. Bobby, St. John, Remy and Hank were also staring at her with varying degrees of fascination.

It was making her very uncomfortable.

"Would somebody please tell me what's goin' ahn here?" she asked, confused beyond measure at the looks from her friends and the tense stance Logan was in as he pushed a tape into the VCR and pressed play.

"Maybe you can tell me," Logan growled, sending death looks at the other men in the room, who eagerly turned their attention to the TV, before settling his gaze directly on her.

"Tell you what?" she asked, watching as one of her favorite dj's on the local music channel suddenly appeared on screen. What on earth were they watching music videos for when hockey was on? And what could have gotten them so riled up?

"Tell me why, when I'm switchin' channels between commercial breaks of the game, I suddenly have my heart nearly stop when I see this," he growled, gesturing to the TV and hitting the volume.

As the familiar notes filtered over Rogue's ears, she closed her eyes in disbelief and breathed a silent oath.

Taking a deep breath, she opened her eyes and looked at the image of herself, dressed in very skimpy clothes, writhing around on stage, with a pole, to the tune of an old Poison song.

She was going to kill Chris.

************
I never, I never seen you look so good,
You never act the way you should,
But I like it.
And I know you like it too,
The way that I want you,
I gotta have you, oh yes I do.
I never, I never ever stay out late,
You know that I can hardly wait,
Just to see you.
And I know you cannot wait,
Wait to see me too.
I gotta touch you, cause baby we'll be,
At the drive-in, in the old man's Ford,
Behind them bushes, until I'm screamin' for more,
Down the basement, lock the cellar door,
And baby, talk dirty to me.
*********

Damn, she actually looked good!

Her shock and horror forgotten, she watched in surprised fascination as she realized that Chris must have known what he was doing with all those lights and camera angles.

She knew her friend had talent, it was why she'd agreed to star in his music video montage. He'd wanted to use it for a resume tape, and she'd been only too glad to help. After all Chris was one of the few friends outside of the X-Men she'd made when she'd started taking classes at the local community college. Besides, he knew about her mutation and accepted her for the person she was, deadly skin and all. So when he'd asked her to play the 'vixen' in his own music video attempt to one of their favorite 80's songs, she'd welcomed the idea.

Damn, this video was really good.

She hated to sound vain, but SHE looked damn good.

Forgetting about the extremely high testosterone levels surrounding her and the low growls coming from the man seated next to her, she watched in fascination as the video continued.

*********
I call you, I call you on the telephone,
I'm only hopin' that you're home,
So I can hear you.
When you say those words to me,
And whisper so softly,
I gotta hear you, cause baby we'll be,
At the drive-in, in the old man's Ford,
Behind them bushes, until I'm screamin' for more,
Down the basement, lock the cellar door,
And baby, talk dirty to me.
**********

Rogue was smiling in amazement when the video finally ended.

If that didn't win Chris his job, she'd eat that G-string he'd insisted she wear.

It was the damn sexiest video she'd ever seen of the song, and she hadn't even gotten completely naked for it.

Although, she hadn't expected to see herself, in her sensual glory, on TV.

Being watched by most of the men in her life.

Men she considered brother and father figures.

And one whom she still wasn't sure what to consider.

Especially now, if the way he was growling, and the lethal statement on his face as he turned to stare hard at her were anything to go by.

"Care to explain that?" he managed, oblivious to the fact that the entire population of the room was holding its collective breath while waiting for her response.

Rogue swallowed hard and tried to diffuse the situation.

"Identical twin sister ah' never knew ah' had because we were separated at birth?" she offered with a weak smile, immediately knowing it was the wrong tactic to take as she heard the snick and found herself staring at his claws.

"Marie," he managed, uncaring of the stares he was now getting as his gaze bored into hers.

Rogue swallowed hard, hoping she could get out of this before he did something they'd all regret.

Maybe the truth was best after all.

"Ah' was helpin' a friend make a music video, for a job he wanted. Ah don't know how it ended up on TV, but ah' guarantee you ah'm gonna find out," she managed, able now to work up a bit of indignation. After all, Chris hadn't said anything about the video being used for anything other than his resume tape.

"You don't have any clue how a video of you, writhin' around in all your naked glory in front of a bunch of strange men, ended up on TV where every 'fucking' body in the world can see it?" Logan roared claws slicing through the air.

Rogue tried her calmest voice, wishing he'd calm down.

She was beginning to feel self-conscious with their fascinated audience.

"Logan sugah, calm down. Ah wasn't naked, and ah knew all the guys there. I was doin' him a favor sugah," she tried, faltering as Logan brought the claws violently down, ripping the sofa cushion to shreds.

Looked like the Professor would be springing for yet another new couch.

"I don't care Marie, you find this 'friend' and get him to get that damned video off the airwaves. It's disgraceful! And God, the thought of men seein' you, like that, it just ain't right," he growled, staring hard at her as the claws flexed.

Rogue was beginning to get mad.

What right did he have to talk to her like this?

Disgraceful? He thought the video was disgraceful?

Damn the man!

"Logan sugah, I hate ta' disappoint ya', but what ah do on mah own time is mah business. If ah want to help a friend get a job, I sure as hell am gonna do it. And since there was nothing 'wrong' about me acting for his video, I don't see what you're gettin' so pissed off about. Besides, you're not mah keeper, or mah father, so ah don't have to answer to you," she managed, hoping to control her temper before completely flying off the handle.

"You don't see what's got me so pissed off darlin'?" he drawled, a lethal undertone to his voice.

Oh boy.

Her body always reacted to that tone and that endearment.

Not what she wanted at the moment, especially when her video had seemed to inspire a very different reaction than she'd expected in him.

She'd be damned if she'd apologize for doing something she'd wanted to and had hurt no one in the process!

"It's mah life Logan. Ah'm 21 and ah got a right ta' do whatever ah so chose," she managed, standing and sending a smile to the dumb struck men around her. "By the way, ah happen to be proud of that video. Ah look damn fine in it, and it was damn fun ta' make," she finished, turning on her heel and marching out of the room.

She refused to put up with Logan's 'macho protectiveness' anymore.

She'd long stopped trying to get him to think of her as more than a 'sister' or 'best friend.'

But that didn't mean she had to let him act like one all the time.

God damn it!

She wanted him, as a woman wants a man!

She had probably from the first day they'd met in Laughlin City.

But he persisted in seeing her as a sister.

He had women every few weeks, paraded them in and out of the mansion like prizes. It hurt to no end, but she'd long ago learned to bury her pain and focus on being his friend.

Because she'd die if she didn't have him around.

So she'd suffered in silence, determined to get on with her life.

She'd even agreed to do Chris's video on the off chance Logan might see it and suddenly realize she was a grown woman.

Well, obviously that had backfired.

She sighed as she headed straight for her jeep, determined to track down her friend and demand an explanation.

And her own copy of that video.

Growling in a very good impersonation of Logan, she gunned the engine and roared down the driveway, determined to find some answers of her own.

Logan growled as he stalked the woods surrounding the mansion, waiting for Marie to return.

He'd hoped his nightly prowling would erase the images of a half-naked Marie writhing around a pole for a group of strange men.

It wasn't working.

Every time he closed his eyes, all he could see was Marie's lithe body, her breasts nearly overflowing from the low cut bra she wore, her long legs wrapped around a cold metal pole, writhing against it for all she was worth while the song wove itself around him, asking her to 'talk dirty to him.'

With a curse he brought his mind back to the present, cursing his body for becoming aroused at the images.

She was Marie.

His little sister.

His best friend.

It was wrong to be thinking of her in terms he'd usually reserve for whichever woman he was screwing at the time.

She was Marie.

She was supposed to be his innocent little Marie.

Right.

He could feel the beast inside himself emerging as he remembered the looks on the faces of the men in the video, not to mention his fellow X-Men at seeing Rogue like that. And the thought she'd been parading around in nearly nothing in front of a group of men, who probably wanted nothing more than to grab her and run their hands all over her breasts, feel the softness of her skin as they kissed her neck and breasts, feeling her shudder with pleasure as they moved lower...

Logan didn't notice when his cigar snapped in two.

God damn it!

Growling some more, he continued to pace, wondering where the hell Marie had gone and when she'd be back.

Not that he knew what he was going to say to her, but he'd figure that out when the time came.

If he could stop himself from grabbing her and doing to her everything he'd just imagined in his mind.

He groaned as he felt his jeans tighten.

One thing was for sure.

She wasn't his 'little' Marie anymore.

And for the life of him, he didn't know how to feel about that.

Or what he was going to do about it.

Growling low under his breath, he suddenly picked up the sound of Marie's jeep heading down the driveway.

She was back.

With another low growl he stalked out of the woods and headed directly for her car.

Rogue sighed as she pulled up in front of the mansion and shut off the engine.

She'd finally tracked Chris down after several hours, and needless to say, their discussion had been illuminating to say the least.

Apparently when Chris had sent the tape to the company he was hoping to work for, they'd been impressed enough to give him the job. Of course, they'd also made him sign an agreement that the video was theirs to do with what they wished. Figuring they'd use it for promotion or something, he'd said fine. He'd had no clue it would end up on TV. In fact, he was more shocked than she had been.

After a good hour of discussion, Rogue had left, believing him sincere in his protestations that he'd had no clue they'd put it on air. Despite it all, she couldn't help but be happy her friend had gotten his job. And really, she was flattered the company had thought enough of the video to release it to the local music channel. Part of her enjoyed the thought that someone had found her appealing enough to trust a lot of others would too. After living her life with deadly, nearly untouchable skin, it was nice to know that people could still find her attractive when she showed it off.

Now if only Logan would be one of those people.

Logan.

She sighed as she grabbed the tape Chris had presented her with, and stepped out of the car, wondering what she was going to say to him when she ran into him.

Hopefully it would be tomorrow, so she'd have tonight to prepare.

She realized luck was truly not with her as she closed the door and turned, only to come up hard against his unyielding chest.

"Logan," she began, only to be cut off by his gruff words.

"Where ya' been Marie?" he asked in a voice so quiet it scared her.

She suspected that was his intention, and decided then and there not to play his game.

"It's really none of your business, but if yah must know, ah tracked down mah friend and he explained the whole video situation ta' me," she managed, deciding truth was the best route right about now.

She wouldn't think about how hard her heart was pounding as he moved closer to her.

"And did your 'friend' explain how he was goin' to get that video off the air," he asked in the same deadly voice, staring directly into her eyes.

Rogue swallowed hard as she forced her arousal down. Now was not the time to be thinking how attractive he looked in the moonlight, all growly and gruff.

What had he asked her again?

"It wasn't his decision. It was the company he's now workin' for, and since they say it's getting' a good response, they're keepin' it on air," she finally managed, watching his eyes grow even darker, if that was possible.

"Unacceptable," he growled, forcing himself to keep the claws in.

Rogue was getting tired of his attitude.

"Too bad Logan, it's out of your hands now. And besides, ah'm over 21 and you have no say over what ah do or whom ah do it with," she sputtered, letting some of her anger override her desire.

Logan saw red as he heard her words and was suddenly hit with images of her and one of those 'friends' of hers doing what he'd imagined.

"Think again darlin'," he managed, moving even closer to her, backing her up against the cool metal of the car door.

"Logan, you're actin' like a child," she managed, hoping her voice sounded stronger than she was feeling at the moment. Most of her bodily functions went on red alert as she felt him press her up against the car door.

She caught her breath as he pressed her tightly between his body and the cool metal, his gaze never leaving hers as he growled his next words.

"Do you know what seein' you like that, dancin' for all those strange men, do you know what that did to me?" he managed, feeling his body harden at the remembered images.

If she hadn't known then, she sure as hell did now!

She fought to keep breathing as she felt his growing arousal pressing against her thigh.

Maybe he wasn't thinking of her as a sister after all.

"It turned yah on sugah?" she asked in a breathless voice, deciding to risk it and play his game. If she played her cards right, she might end up getting exactly what she'd been wanting for months.

Him.

Logan growled deep in his throat as he pressed himself against her, marveling at the softness of her body, the fullness of her breasts pressed against his chest. He could barely think, but made a concerted effort to at least try to remember what point he'd been trying to make.

"Oh it did more than that darlin'," he managed, unconsciously tangling his hands in her silky hair, noting offhandedly how her head seemed to lean into his hands. He struggled to complete his thought before getting totally lost in the scent and feel of her. "It made me start thinkin' things I definitely should not be thinkin' about you," he managed, unconsciously leaning down to nuzzle her neck.

Rogue swallowed hard as her hands moved up to tangle in his hair as she tried to formulate a response. Her brain and body were on sensory overload by this point and she could barely remember what he'd said.

But through her aroused haze, she heard.

"Why shouldn't yah be thinkin' those things about me?" she managed, leaning her head back so he had better access to the sensitive skin under her earlobe. The sensation of his lips on her bare skin was enough to make her lightheaded. She sent a quick prayer of thanks heavenward that she'd learned to control her powers months ago.

Logan barely heard her response, so lost in her scent and the taste of her skin was he.

But through his aroused haze, he heard.

"Because you're my Marie, my best friend, my little sister," he managed, pulling her tighter to him as he let his lips roam over her forehead and cheeks, just skirting her lips.

Rogue had to force down the hysterical laughter she could feel rising in her chest.

"Sugah, ah've got news for ya, the way you're holdin' and touchin' me, it's about as far from brotherly as yah can get," she managed breathlessly, sinking deeper into him as his hands tightened on her shoulders and he pulled back to meet her gaze head on.

Logan looked at her flushed face, feeling her hardened nipples pressing against his chest through the thin shirt she wore. The dreamy look in her huge eyes, the soft statement on her face, the way her hands stroked the back of his neck, well, he certainly wasn't feeling 'brotherly' towards her at the moment.

In fact, he was seeing a whole new side of Marie.

A side he'd known existed but had blinded himself to for far too long.

Well, all blinders, and all bets, were off.

"I've got news for you darlin'," he managed gruffly as he pulled her away from the car and flush against his tense body. He smiled ferally as he heard her gasp at the full body contact. "My feelin's for you are about as far from brotherly as they can get," he managed, amazed to find he spoke the truth.

He didn't know when he'd allowed himself to admit to wanting her, although he'd known he loved her for years.

But now that he had, it felt right.

Surprisingly, utterly and completely right.

Rogue felt her heart nearly pounding out of her chest as she read the truth in his eyes.

He was admitting he had feelings for her.

Logan was admitting he wanted her!

Would miracles never cease?

This had to be a dream.

But his low growl as she arched her hips against his told her it was all too real.

The power that suddenly flowed through her body was too good to resist.

Feeling extremely daring, she pressed herself even closer to him, rubbing her hardened nipples against his chest as she leaned up to his ear and whispered, "So ya' want me to really 'talk dirty' to yah sugah?"

With a low growl Logan pulled her head to his and crushed his lips to hers.

Rogue's last thought as he picked her up in his arms and carried her towards the house was what he would think if he ever saw the other video she'd done for Chris several years earlier as a school project.

Somehow, she had a feeling she'd be holding off showing "Fallen Angel" to him until another day.