AN: Just a thought that I couldn't get out of my head, so I've decided to force it upon you! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...(cough, cough)...MUAHAHAHAHAHA! This was originally going to be a one-shot, but it became a two-shot. Hope you enjoy it!

The First Cut

Jean was not looking forward to the talent show next week.

Normally, she loved the opportunity to watch the hidden talents of her students. Normally, she loved the chance to show off her own talents. Normally, fun little things like this were the highlight of her busy week.

Normally, she wasn't caught in an emotional tug-of-war between Scott and Marie.

Scott had dumped her just a month ago. For some doctor that he had met on a trip to Muir Island. As she sat on her cold empty bed, she felt tears well up in her eyes as she thought about the fall out between her and the man she loved and that she thought loved her. And when he dropped the bomb, he left the mansion for Muir Island in the same day. Afterwards, she turned to the one person that could understand what she was going through.

She turned to Marie.

After graduating, Marie decided to stay as an X-Man in order to learn control over her deadly touch. After she finally managed to gain control, she visited her boyfriend Bobby, who decided to go on to college. She found him with another woman, and promptly dumped his sorry ass right there in his dorm room. Since this had all happened and blown over long before Jean and Scott's break-up, who better to offer Jean some friendly comfort?

Neither of them expected friendly comfort to escalate into a way more than friendly kiss.

A few days after the fateful kiss, Jean finally admitted to herself, and to Marie, that she had enjoyed it. They then began to take tentative steps toward a relationship. Everything seemed to be going well. The two women had gone on a few dates and really enjoyed themselves. Jean couldn't even help but admit that Marie was a much better romantic than Scott could ever hope to be.

But Marie wasn't blind, she knew that Jean's heart wasn't fully into it.

When confronted by the tearful younger mutant, Jean broke down and acknowledged that she just wasn't completely over Scott's betrayal. She then begged Marie to understand that it was just hard to have someone you love leave you and then leave you. She then told Marie that she did love her, she just needed some time. Faced with this reality and the knowledge that she would do anything to make Jean happy, Marie did the only thing that she could do.

She walked away and let Jean have her space.

Breaking up with Jean hurt Marie far more than anyone could've ever imagined, but it didn't hold a candle to the tears that ran down Jean's face as she left her. At the same time, the unshed tears that Marie tried so desperately to hold back tore at Jean's heart, leaving an angry wound. Jean knew that the excuse about needing time was just a cop-out. She knew that she really needed Marie, she was just too afraid to admit it.

She was just too afraid of getting hurt again.

A soft knock sounded on the door. Jean tried to wipe the tears from her eyes as she called for the visitor to enter. The door opened, revealing a very worried Ororo.

"Jean, we need to talk." Ororo said softly as she sat on the bed beside of Jean.

"There's nothing to talk about." Jean replied, fighting to hide her tears. Ororo took her hand.

"Jean, you can't fool me, I've known you for too long. Listen, you need to admit that this is hurting you both. Neither of you can even stand to be in the same room for too long." Ororo gently scolded as she watched her friend's profile for some sort of reaction to her words.

"I know, breaking up with Marie was the biggist mistake of my life. I just can't be with her without being painfully reminded of Scott. I'm just so afraid of being hurt again." Jean whispered as she stopped trying to hold in her tears.

"Jean, Marie loves you more than anything else in the world. I can guarantee you that she would never hurt you like that bastard did. Scott threw away the best thing that ever could've happened to him. Marie is only making the same mistake to make you happy, but if you let this continue then you'll be the one making Scott's mistake. Marie is the most amazing person in the world and you won her heart, doesn't that mean anything to you? If what Scott did is hurting you that badly, then you need to let Marie help you through this so that you two can be happy together." Ororo tried desperately to get Jean to see just how much damage she was doing to the both of them.

Ororo stood and moved to leave the room. Before she left, she turned to say one last thing to the tearful doctor.

"I know that he hurt you Jean, but you're hurting Marie by keeping her at arm's length. You told her that you needed time, so she's going to wait until you're ready. Tell me honestly, is that fair to her?" With that, she left Jean to her thoughts.

Jean sat quietly, processing Ororo's words. She was right, Jean couldn't just be with Marie at her own convenience. Marie wasn't a tool to be used, she was a person that deserved nothing but love. And Jean loved her, she could no longer deny that she wanted nothing more than to be with Marie. To hold her close at night, to feel her warm arms wrapped around her, to kiss her soft lips and love her into the wee hours of the morning.

She just couldn't get over Scott.


The next Friday...

"Logan, Ro, I really don't want to be here." Marie whined as she sat in the living room, waiting for the summer talent show to begin.

"C'mon kid, you need to unwind a bit." Logan encouraged as Marie shifted uncomfortably in her seat. He took Ororo's hand and silently prayed that things between Jean and Marie would improve after tonight. Marie sighed in defeat and settled herself in for a long night. As the lights dimmed, Hank stepped out onto the makeshift stage.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to our summer talent show! We're kicking off summer vacation with a bittersweet song that speaks about love lost and love hopefully gained. Please give a warm welcome to our favorite biology teacher, the beautiful Jean Grey!" Hank smoothly stepped off of the stage, giving Jean some room to appear.

Jean was met with a roar of applause from the staff and the few students that decided to stay at the mansion for summer. Logan quickly grabbed Marie before she could bolt out of the room.

"Listen to the woman's song!" Logan growled into Marie's ear as he pulled her back into her seat. Marie relented and stopped struggling. As the song began, Jean looked into Marie's eyes as she sang.

"I would have given you all of my heart
But there's someone who's torn it apart
And he's taken just all that I have
But if you want I'll try to love again
Baby, I'll try to love again, but I know...

The first cut is the deepest
Baby I know
The first cut is the deepest
But when it comes to bein' lucky, he's cursed
When it comes to lovin' me, he's worst...

I still want you by my side
Just to help me dry the tears that I've cried
And I'm sure gonna give you a try
If you want I'll try to love again, (try)
Baby, I'll try to love again, but I know...

OOHHH,
The first cut is the deepest
Baby I know
The first cut is the deepest
But when it comes to bein' lucky, he's cursed
But when it comes to lovin' me, he's worst...

I still want you by my side
Just to help me dry the tears that I've cried
But I'm sure gonna give you a try
Cuz if you want I'll try to love again
(Try to love again, try to love again)
Baby, I'll try to love again but I know, OOHHH...

The first cut is the deepest
Baby I know
The first cut is the deepest
When it comes to bein' lucky, he's cursed
When it comes to lovin' me, he's worst

OOHHH, the first cut is the deepest
Baby I know (baby I know)
The first cut is the deepest
Try to love again..."

When the song ended, the audience burst into another round of wild applause, but none of it mattered to Jean. She and Marie were locked in each other's eyes. Finally, Jean broke the stare and ran off the stage. Marie got up and ran out of the room, knowing where Jean was headed.