Marie, Logan, and Scott: Friday evening

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Marie set out to hunt Scott down close to dinner time, knowing that he would probably, like most men, follow his stomach to its usual food souce when the time was right. It was with a small spark of triumph that she saw him on the stairs a few minutes later. "Scott! Got a minute or ten?"

"A minute, yes. Ten, only if you follow me to the kitchen." Scott smiled at Marie, pausing on the stairs. "What's up?"

"I need to talk to you about Artie," she said, catching up to him. "I spent a little time with him earlier, after I saw Amanda, and he's just not himself at all. I'm worried about him."

Scott nodded. "Because of the attack? Or something else?" He leaned back and rested on the banister.

"Both. See, Artie's rooming with Miles, and I'm worried that it's inhibiting his ability to express himself, them being together so much. They live and play together and Artie relies on his mutation a great deal to communicate and relate to people." Marie came down to stand on the step above him. "I'm worried that he's not going to be able to talk about what happened as freely as he should and this won't get resolved. He can't even talk about it in his own room, especially at night when he might be feeling frightened."

"I've asked to talk to Doug and Jamie later tonight. Based on what happened with Miles and the attack, I thought about splitting them up. I want to know the boys' thoughts on it first. I do want to make sure that Miles doesn't feel shunned, that we don't want him any more. After talking with Jamie and Doug, I want to talk to Ali." He started down the stairs again, gesturing for her to follow.

Logan walked through the main hall, heading for the stairs. She had to be around somewhere. He'd force-feed her if he had to. He turned the corner at the base of the stairs. There she was. With /Scott/. He supressed a growl.

"Oh, absolutely." Marie followed Scott down the stairs. "It's just that they're together so much, and Artie needs Doug's help to..."

"I'd thought about matching Doug with Artie if the boys..." Scott trailed off after she did, following her gaze to Logan.

Logan raised an eyebrow. "Hi." Just because he'd supressed the growl didn't mean he couldn't be curt, he reasoned. "'m I interruptin'?"

Marie's face lit up at the sight of him. She was completely unperturbed by the dire expression on his face, in fact her eyes held a blend of affection and amusement. "Don't be silly, Logan. What were you saying, Scott?" She started down the stairs again, brushing past Scott and interposing herself between the two of them.

Scott suppressed a smile and let Marie do the talking. Continuing down the stairs, he began again, "Doug and Artie could be the best match, but Jamie and Artie have been roommates for a while now. I think it's better that Miles stay with one of the boys rather than moving in with Ali. And we can still put them somewhere near each other, depending on space." He looked back up at the two of them, but his attention was for Marie. "Think Artie will be okay with that?"

Marie stopped when she reached Logan and, taking one of his hands, pulled it around her waist and leaned against his chest, looking thoughtfully at Scott with a little frown on her face. "I think that sounds good. I'm going to try and spend some extra time with Artie. I really don't want this to mess him more than it has to, you know?"

If Logan was surprised by Marie's forward actions, he didn't show it, instead pulling her just a little closer and breathing her in, his face tucked against her neck.

Nodding, Scott looked at the picture the two of them made. /Beauty and the Beast/. He almost made a comment, but he was suddenly reminded of Betsy's comments on Logan's journal, and he frowned, brow creasing in thought. He shook it off. "I'm off to eat, then. Let me know if Artie has any more problems, okay?"

"I will, and thanks for taking care of it, Scott." There was genuine gratitude in Marie's voice. "You'll let me know what you decide? It'll help me choose what I'm going to do with Artie."

"Angling for the next guidance counselor opening, Marie?" Scott grinned, eyes darting to Logan before resting back on her.

Marie laughed and shook her head. "Not a /chance/, Scott. I like getting to say when my door is open and when I'm not there to answer. I'll pick and choose my interference instead of having it thrust upon me. If anyone quits, you're on your own."

He laughed with her. "So noted." He nodded the two of them, with a "Logan," before heading to the kitchen.