When the men returned an hour later, the guards changed shifts and Logan and Bill found their evening clothes neatly laid out on the bed along with Logan's kit.

"Any idea what we're celebratin' t'night, Bill?" he asked, staring at the clothes.

"Not the slightest," was the reply as he sighed and pulled a coin out of his pocket. "Flip you for dibs on the bathroom."

"Go ahead, friend. I can wait," Logan replied and took a seat. He could hear the women talking on the other side of the wall and the guards in the next room having a hissed argument. The one who had been with Adams all day told the other that his failure was going to be noted in his report. This was greeted with a string of expletives and the request for the other man to perform an act physically impossible. He was gonna be trouble, Logan decided. He'd have to remind Kit they needed to be on their toes and not get distracted.

That was easier said than done, he realized when he and Bill walked next door to collect their wives. Dori let them in, looking fantastic in black and silver, but when Kit stepped out of the bathroom, Logan felt like he'd just been punched in the stomach. He threw his other clothes and kit in a chair, staring as he was reminded forcefully just how beautiful she was.

They had pulled her hair up, and gleaming ringlets draped over her shoulders and back. Her dress was of deep violet silk, closely fitted from bust to hip where it flared out into an uneven handkerchief skirt of various shades of purple georgette. The deeply scooped top had long, lavender georgette sleeves gathered tightly at the cuffs and she wore thin-heeled violet pumps on her feet. Though it was a rare occurrence, Logan found himself speechless. Pleased, Dori slipped her arm through her husband's and leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Logan?" He walked across the room, his eyes never leaving hers, and took her hands.

"You look incredible," he finally managed to say, his voice rough.

"Thank you," she whispered, flushed and smiling. "It's all Dori's doing."

"I had a great canvas to start with," Dori protested. "I just added a couple final brushstrokes to the masterpiece."

"We are going to be the most envied men in the world tonight, Logan," Bill Adams stated. "Ladies?"

Both men walked to the dining room with their wives on their arms, their heads held high and the ever-present bodyguards the last thing on their minds. Every head in the room turned to watch them enter and Logan felt nothing but pride and wonderment that this woman was his. Once they were seated, Bill turned to his wife.

"Now, my sweet, I've obviously been remiss in forgetting some occasion. If I apologize, will please tell me what we are celebrating tonight?"

"You haven't forgotten anything," Dori laughed and kissed his cheek. "What we are celebrating tonight is our second honeymoon and Kit and Logan's first anniversary."

When Logan snapped his head around to stare at Kit, she just smiled and took his hand.

"I'd forgotten too," she admitted softly. "Do you mind that I told Dori?"

"I'm just sorry I forgot. Seein' ya t'night reminded me how special you are t' me, Kit." She touched his cheek softly.

"I love you too." They exchanged a tender kiss that brought a tear to Dori's eye.

"They're so sweet together," she remarked, her romantic soul touched.

"A night for celebration indeed," Bill replied and ordered champagne brought to the table.

After dinner, they agreed to go dancing, though Logan was not keen on the idea. He told Kit so as they danced closely to a slow song.

"Neither am I, love," she whispered, "but we need to stay close. That guard is starting to really worry me," she admitted. "I get the feeling he may be planning something soon."

"I was thinkin' that myself. Least till I saw you in that dress I was. Haven't been thinkin' much since." She had to smile, but she was slightly apologetic.

"I'm sorry, love. Dori was so excited about it being our anniversary, I got swept up in it. I guess we shouldn't've allowed ourselves to get distracted from why we're here."

"I'm not sorry t' see ya lookin' so fantastic, Kit. We need t' make sure we don't get sloppy, though. God, you look incredible."

"You look pretty sharp yourself in that dinner jacket, sir," she replied and gave him a light kiss. "We should do this more often. Just for the fun of it. Get dressed up and dance in our living room. Just you and me, dancing slowly in front of the fireplace." He chuckled at the image and led her from the dance floor.

They both automatically scanned the room for the other couple, pleased to see them dancing closely together, their eyes locked on each other. The relief bodyguards stood by the entrance, one on either side as they tried to blend into the walls and be unobtrusive.

"Do you get anything from these two?" Kit asked, but Logan shook his head.

"Not so far. Seem t'be what they are, so far's I can tell."

Dori and Bill approached then, holding hands and smiling, making Kit think they looked like kids at their high school prom. When Kit told them so, Dori laughed self-consciously, but Bill assured her she did indeed look like she had when they met.

"Kit, Logan, I hope you won't mind, but I think we're going to make an early night of it," Bill Adams told them a short while later and Dori blushed when he brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. "I did promise Dori a second honeymoon."

"We'll walk ya back part o' the way," Logan suggested. "I'm really not much fer dancin', but we might take a long walk in the shadows, where it's not so populated."

"A wonderful idea." They all left the dance lounge and strolled back toward their cabins, each couple lost in their own thoughts--Bill and Dori Adams of a long, sweet night together, Kit and Logan wondering when it would all hit the fan. They all wished each other good night, but Kit and Logan continued to follow them discreetly, behind the evening guards.

Once back in their own cabin, they both changed out of their evening clothes, trying to ignore the whispers and scents they could catch through the walls. Logan slipped into dark clothes while Kit hung the dress up and ran a regretful hand over the soft material. He embraced her from behind.

"This is the end of the line fer me, Kit. No matter what Fury says, we're goin' home after this. I'm sorry about the anniversary."

"It's not till day after tomorrow, anyway," she replied, trying to seem nonchalant. "At least we'll be together."

He wasn't fooled and rested his cheek against her hair, knowing they would not be able to let their guard down and indulge in a physical celebration of their anniversary until this mission was resolved successfully.

I've really come to like them. We can't let anything happen to them, Logan."

"I know, darlin'. Lemme call Fury n' give 'im an update."

He walked away to open the commlink and quietly report the situation to SHIELD headquarters. Kit walked out onto the balcony, enjoying the balmy night air. The smell of the ocean was strong, but she could also pick up the people walking on the decks and hear them talking. She tried to block out the scents and sounds from the next room; it made her feel sad and a bit voyeuristic, though she had no real choice.

"Wolverine t' base."

"Base. Go."

"All clear here, but we got a potential problem." When the operator opened the mike to respond, Logan heard Fury in the background yelling that he knew it would happen and he never should've let "that woman" go along.

"What kind of problem, Wolverine?" the operator asked, trying to ignore the noise in the background.

"Lemme talk t' Fury," he growled, and Fury came on the line.

"Wolverine? What in hell's goin' on there?"

"Vixen decided t' tail the wife, and prob'ly kept this situation from blowin' up in our faces," he snarled. When there was no answer to that, he continued. "She saw the bodyguard slip somethin' in her drink. Far's I can tell, this guy's prob'ly workin' alone, but I need t' do some lookin' around."

"You need any backup?" Logan knew that was as close as they would get to an apology and relaxed a little.

"Letcha know, base. Wolverine out."

"He really hates me, doesn't he?" Kit asked as he joined her on the balcony.

"Nah, that's just the way he is." He slipped his arms around her waist again and they stood staring out at the night sky. "How'd ya get Dori off the balcony?"

"She got down the same way I did," Kit replied with a soft laugh. "She lowered herself down and dropped to the deck. She was on her college gymnastics team." Impressed, Logan squeezed her tighter.

"She knows I'm a mutant," Kit stated softly.

"Yeah?"

"She did my makeup tonight, and asked about my eyes. It doesn't bother her in the least. We need more leaders like them. We can't let anything happen to them."

"We're not gonna. I wanna do some prowlin' t'night."

"You want me to stay here?"

"Yeah. Ya gonna be okay?" She smiled weakly as she faced him.

"Maybe once they go to sleep. Right now I just feel sorry for myself, and us."

"Yeah." He cupped her face and gave her one kiss, then rested his forehead on hers. "Soon, darlin', soon. No one's gonna see us fer a couple o' days when we get home," he promised then slipped away across the balconies.

Kit went back inside, and curled into a chair to wait.