"So what happened that had you leaving to join Hades?" Logan asked, now understanding what life of a socialite child included, and glad he hadn't been a part of it. At least, he didn't think he had been. His childhood was still a very shaky gray area in his memory.

"I'm engaged." Terri said and Logan looked to her hand. No ring. Terri smiled. "That was the ultimate, absolute, I-Will-Not-Put-Up-With-This-Crap-Anymore, last straw. They betrothed me. My parents looked through the available young men my own age and decided on the right man for me to marry, and actually did a formal betrothal thing. Announced it in the papers while I was in Vasser getting my degree. And to a man names Terrance Barry. How's that for a name? Terri Barry?"

Logan couldn't help chuckling and he smiled at Terri, who smiled back in one of the first truly friendly smiles he had seen her grace on him, and he felt a hand close around his heart. "Pretty silly isn't it?" she asked. Logan couldn't help but agree with her on that one.

"So basically," Terri finished up, after flicking more ash into a tray and taking another drag, "I just got tired of them trying to plan my life. I told them I wasn't going to marry Mr. Barry, who I didn't even know, and they said yes I was going to marry him, and they hadn't spent all that money making sure I went to the right schools and stuff just for me to disappoint them like this. I told them I never wanted any of those classes, or any of it. And they said they didn't care. They just came right out and said it. They didn't care what I wanted. And it was in the way they said it. They weren't angry, or hostile. There wasn't any resentment. It was just a flat question. Whatever made me think that they cared?" Terri shook her head. Her blue green eyes turned to meet Logan's. "The entire concept of taking my feelings into account was foreign to them. They truly didn't matter to my parents. I wasn't supposed to have feelings on the matter. I was just supposed to do the right thing, marry the right man, in the right faith, or course, and move into the right house, and produce the right number of little grandchildren."

Terri shook her head and finished her smoke, snubbing it out into the tray. "So, I left. I graduated from college with my degree, and packed up my clothing, my furniture and everything else that had been given to me throughout my whole life. All the jewelry, all the stereo equipment, everything. It was, as far as I was concerned, everything that I was entitled to. I had earned it. Fair wages. I packed it all up, called the movers on my father's tab, and moved into my own apartment. Two weeks later I applied for the position at Hades Inc. and was hired. I moved my stuff there, and have been there ever since."

"But why Hades?" Logan asked. He took another pull on the beer and met her eyes. "Why that particular group? What stuck out about them that you applied to them?"

Terri grinned. "One final rebellion, I guess." She finally admitted, still smiling. "I knew there was no way my parents would ever approve of those people. But I liked them. They were more real than all the Buffy's and Skip's and Terrance's that I had ever met. Tom gets angry and he yells. Pete and Ryker will sit and play poker. We all get together to watch football, and they will occasionally throw rolled socks at the screen and yell at the players. Their rooms get messy, and no-one cares. Tom rides a Harley. Brad owns a car that has 15 miles on it, because he doesn't drive. They are so far removed from everything I have ever known. They aren't worried about what is PC, and they buy Folger's coffee, and like McDonalds cheeseburgers. And they accept me. If I get mad and yell at people, they're okay with that. They ask me what's wrong, which is more than my parent's ever attempted to do. They don't look at me oddly when I drink a beer from the bottle. I have a say in what the Team does. I belong there."

Logan caught the scent of hesitancy and met her eyes and held them. Terri met his and didn't look away. Logan tilted his head. "Is that right?" he asked, knowing that she didn't really feel like she belonged.

Terri nodded. "I don't always feel that I do, because we are so different. And there's some other personal issues that I'm learning to deal with. But I DO belong there. More than I ever belonged at my parent's house. More importantly, that's where I want to be. And they want me there."

Logan considered for a moment, before going out on a limb. "What if I knew of another group that would want you, where you could belong. What if I told you that you would be welcome there. What if it was working with me?" He met her eyes and waited.

Terri smiled and shook her head. "I'd say it was too little, too late, Logan." She replied. "I'd say that this was you trying to protect me still, Logan. I'd say thanks for the offer, but it's not needed, Logan. I'd say stop trying to be my body guard, Logan. Because that's what you're doing."

Logan almost tried to deny it, but she was right. He was trying to protect her, and it wasn't going to fly. Terri obviously didn't want anyone protecting her from anything, or trying to tell her how to run her life. And he wasn't someone who had the right to try. And the more he thought about it, the more he realized that he really didn't want to. Terri was her own woman, and could make her own decisions. And he wouldn't thank anybody for trying to decide what was best for him, either. He could hardly blame her for feeling the same way.

"You're right, Darlin." Logan said. "That's what I was trying to do. But as I said, old habits die hard." He smiled and Terri shook her head, a small smile playing at her lips. "I guess I just got used to looking out after you, and didn't really put in my notice."

"Well," Terri said, finishing her beer. She set the empty bottle on the bar and stood, stretching muscles which had been in the same position for too long. "Consider yourself fired, then." She finished as she pulled on her jacket. "Because I don't need a body guard. And I don't need anyone else guarding my back. There are four people in Hades who will do it for me. Four people I like and respect and trust, even if you don't." She waved to Doolie, who congenially waved back. Then she looked at Logan, who simply looked back. "What's the matter Logan? I have four people who will watch my back, just like you used to, who are almost as good as you, as long as you put them together. Because obviously, no one could ever take your place. And I like my work. I'm happy where I'm at, and happy with who I spend my time with. I would think you'd be pleased. So why the look?"

Logan sighed lightly and smiled. "Just getting used to the idea, Darlin." He said, and he watched as she walked to the door and opened it. There she turned and looked at him again.

"I hope you get used to it quick, Logan. I truly do." Terri said, as she memorized what he looked like at just that moment, wondering what he was thinking. Wondering if she'd ever figure out this man who used to be her hero. She shook her head. "I don't have room in my life for someone who tries to shelter me. And if you can't get used to letting me do for myself, then I have no room in my life for you." She knew it sounded harsh, and she knew it was basically an ultimatum, but she also knew that if he couldn't accept her choices and respect her life, then she didn't want him around, because she was still insecure enough to allow him to influence her. And she couldn't allow him to do that.

She knew she should at least try a smile or something, but instead she just nodded at him and walked out, not looking back as she walked back to Hades. Back to where she had made a place for herself among people who wanted her around. Back to her home.

Logan watched her athletic form move away down the street and thought about what she had said. He knew this was important to her, working with Hades. He knew she was right, that she didn't need him to body guard her. He hoped she also knew that it wasn't going to be as easy as all that, forgetting that he used to be responsible for her. And it wasn't going to be easy to stop wanting to protect her. That instinct would probably always be there, just like the memory of the little girl standing on her chair screaming for ice cream would be. But, he knew, given enough time, maybe they would both get to the point where they could be friends.

Logan stood and waved to Doolie.

"Ye have a good day, Lad." Doolie called from the booth where he still sat talking to the old man who had apparently put down roots. "Ye'll always be welcome at Doolie's." He reminded the lad and he watched as the man walked out.

Logan let the door close behind him and he walked away from the bar, thinking over the last few days, as well as the conversations with Terri. He thought about Hades Inc. and all the members. He remembered talking to Skye, and Blade, and wondered what roles they might play in his life in the future. He thought about what role Terri might play in his life in the future. And then he smiled as his thoughts settled on one particular thought, one where she was definitely in his future. Then he shook his head, knowing that, the way his luck ran in this area, it would be a cold day in hell before it happened. He walked to his bike and revved it up, motoring back to the mansion with his mind still on that thought.

Hell would freeze over first.

Acknowledgments: Okay, now that you've read this, let me give credit where credit is due. Obviously, there are plenty of Marvel characters in the story, although primarily it's a Wolverine story. There is also a generally "Hero's for Hire" feel to the thing. And some elements, I'm sure come from there.

My best friend Kevin originally created the characters for Hades Inc. with the exception of Tom Reynolds. Much of the character development came from him. Kevin is also responsible for the character of Blade Santiago. (I know it seems a little like the Marvel Character of Blade, but they are not the same character, trust me, and you may get more of him in the next story)

Tom Reynolds is the character of my next best friend, Christopher, and he developed the characters of John Ryker and Pete Mitchell. (Right now they seem like bit characters, but they will play larger roles in up-coming stories)

Skye and Ashten, were created by me, and Terri was a character I've RP'd for a while, so she's mine too. And you'll probably see more of all of them in later stories. The plot and story line are mine, with a little help taken from game scenarios with Kevin and Chris. And I'm not sure where the concept of Doolie's first came from, so I'll just say it was either Chris or Kevin originally. Thanks Guys.

And any questions, comments, or griping can be sent to the addy I gave at the beginning.

Thanks for actually taking the time to read the acknowledgments and stuff, and I hope you liked it but if not, there's nothing I can do about it, except say "Then don't read it." Ooops. Too Late!. Look for the next story coming hopefully in the next month. Unless this one doesn't make the cut, but obviously if you're reading this then it did, so Yee-Haw! And if not, well, you can't please everyone. ~Shavri