A week passed, and then two. Anne remained unconscious.

According to Beast, she was not in a coma—her breathing was too deep and regular, her heartbeat strong.

"What ever it is, I cannot say that she is in danger. In fact, quite the opposite. She has recovered much faster than should be expected, even with a healing factor. Despite her slumber, she is the picture of perfect health." Beast declared over dinner.

Logan and Gambit were not present to hear the news, though Beast had told them earlier.

The two men were in the woods surrounding the Mansion. They had come outside for a smoke and some fresh air, and had begun to walk. Rogue was sitting with Anne. She had made them promise that they would eat, but neither man felt hungry.

Logan unconsciously chose a route that took them to the tree he had found her communing beneath, the one day he had come looking for her in the woods.

They stood next to the old oak.

"What do you t'ink dese trees say to chere, Logan?" Gambit asked after a long silence.

"Don't know, Gumbo. But I reckon it's somethin' good. She's too nice a person for them ta' say anythin' bad."

They were silent for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts. Gambit stirred restlessly.

"You know, chere made it so Rogue don' have her powers no more when she's in her room."

"Yeah?"

"Gambit never seen Rogue so happy." he sighed, twirling his cigarette between his thumb and forefinger.

"So what's the problem? I thought you two were hot for each other."

"Dat was before Gambit met Anne." The Cajun noticed Logan stiffen, and he shook his head.

"Don' worry mon ami. Gambit don' want Anne like dat. But chere, she's Gambit's best friend, and Gambit never had a woman as a best friend, b'foe. Gambit likes de feelin'. Wouldn't feel right anymore to make love to a woman dat wasn't Gambit's best friend."

Logan nodded approvingly. "So what'd Rogue say?"

"She disappointed...but relieved at de same time. Rogue appreciated dat Gambit din' take advantage."

Logan snorted.

"Never thought I'd see the day when Remy LeBeau would turn down a beautiful woman."

Gambit shrugged and shuffled his feet in the grass.

"You know, we never talked ‘bout what happened during the mission."

"You mean, the link." Logan said. He thought for a long moment before speaking.

"I've always hated people in my mind. There's too much someone could mess up. But with Annie, it felt natural. She didn't do anythin' ta' me...she just was there. I didn't feel ya' so much in my mind," Logan confessed. "But still, it was like three people rolled into one, with Anne as our anchor. Ya' know what I'm tryin' ta' say, Cajun?"

"Yeah, Gambit knows. Gambit even misses de feelin'."

Logan nodded silently, deep in thought. "Hey Cajun, have you ever thought about why the three of us get along so well? Especially with Anne. We only knew her for less than a day before I felt I'd do anythin' for her. And she packed herself up and left her home with us. Us, Cajun! A thief and a killer! She didn't even hesitate."

"Gambit have trouble b'lieving, too."

Logan shook his head.

"If I didn't know better, I'd say that somethin' else was at work. But for the life o' me I can't figure out what or why."

Gambit spread out his hands. "Some things better left alone, mon ami. De three of us got a friendship most people would be jealous of. Let's just enjoy it while it lasts, oui?

Logan frowned, but he had to agree with Gambit. Better to just let things unfold in their own time. But he thought of Anne, so quiet and still. His heart ached whenever he saw her. He missed the twinkle in her eye, her dignity and courage and spunk.

Face it, you ol' canucklehead. Ya' love everything about her. Life ain't worth livin' without Annie.

Logan stepped close to the old oak, and placed his hand on the rough bark. He fingered the creases and textures of the trunk, trying to get a feel for the tree.

"I know ya' can hear me," he finally said, his voice gruff. "Don't keep Annie away. Let her come back ta' us."

Gambit reached out and touched his fingertips to the tree.

"Gambit and Logan need Anne. Life just too lonely wid'out her."

They let their hands and fingers fall away from the tree. The forest was very silent and still, as though holding its breath. The two men looked at each other, and slowly made their way back to the Mansion. When they checked in on Anne, she was still unconscious.v

Several nights later, Logan was sitting on the front steps of the mansion, smoking a cigar. The wind was blowing heavily in his face, and the air smelled like rain. The door opened behind him, the footsteps light. Probably Jubilee or Jean coming to check up on him, he thought. Because of the wind, he could not catch their scent.

He jumped when he felt a hand ruffle his hair.

"Annie!" he gasped, leaping to his feet.

The dark-haired woman stood before him, her eyes twinkling and her lips pulled back in a happy grin. She was pale and her narrow frame was even more thin, but she stood on two feet and was smiling like she would never stop. Logan threw his arms around her, drawing Anne into a tight embrace that she eagerly accepted.

"Thank you for calling me back." Anne whispered into his ear.

"Ya' heard me?" Logan pulled away and looked into her shining eyes.

She nodded happily. "You and Gambit both."

Anne brushed his lips with her own, and caressed his cheek with the back of her hand.

"I'll never leave you, Logan...I'll always come back to you."