A/N2 Jan 6, 2013: Hey again. Now here's a revised chapter two. You'll see major changes in this one, too. For one, it's not exactly one-year later anymore. And, I've added more content to the Jean-not-coming-home scene. And I've cut out the plane scene and the arrival in Hawaii scene; those are being saved for Chapter 3.

So, anyways, I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own X-men Evolution.

Chapter 2:

~ July 10, 2005 ~

Scott sat alone in the kitchen, at the breakfast nook. It was well past lunchtime and he knew someone would be down shortly to begin dinner preparations. He should probably move to somewhere more private, considering he was on the phone with Jean.

"Are you sure?" he asked again, hope straining his voice.

"I'm so sorry, Scott," Jean replied; he heard her flip some pages, before going on. "Finals are weeks away. I'm so unprepared. And I just can't leave right now; I've just started a genetic research project. I'm being supervised by Dr. Connors!"

He heard the excitement in her voice. Over the course of their conversations, she'd told him about the project. How Dr. Connors was the expert on something or other, and how prestigious it would be to earn a spot on his research team. Scott was proud of her; but he'd hoped when the summer had hit that she would have come home for vacation. No such luck; first, it had been spring courses and now this.

He held back his sigh as he explained, "I know and I'm happy for you, really. But, Rogue and I are leaving tomorrow…"

"That's tomorrow!" Jean exclaimed. "But I thought you weren't leaving until the eleventh?"

"The eleventh is tomorrow, Jean," he said dryly.

A sound caught his attention and he looked up to see Rogue entering the kitchen. She gave him a quizzical look, so he mouthed, "Jean." Her eyes widened in surprise and she looked at him, wondering, clearly, if she should stick around. He gestured for her to go about her business. She was obviously there to make dinner. If she heard any of their conversation it would be all right. After all, in a way, it affected her too. Both of them would be leaving for college the next day. And both would want to see Jean before then, for separate reasons, of course.

"Oh," Jean replied, voice strained, he heard her begin to flip through pages again, her day-planner, he knew. "Oh… I just… I don't know…"

She sounded so stressed that the next words out of his mouth were a necessary lie. "Jean… it's ok."

"It's not ok," she argued.

"Look," he said, letting out a sigh. "Right now isn't a good time for you, I get it. We'll see each other at Christmas…"

Rogue had stopped what she'd been doing and was now looking his way. She had a displeased, perplexed look on her face. He gave her a shrug of his shoulders, what could he do?

"You know… you know I'd drop everything for you if I could, right?" she asked him, sounding like she was on the verge of tears.

"I know," he said, pushing down his doubts. A part of him knew, though, that if that were true she'd already be on her way. Still, he understood she was extremely busy.

"So," she began tentatively. "Are we ok?"

"Yeah," he answered automatically. For now, at least. They'd hardly seen each other the last few months and they'd been only three hours apart. What would happen when they had the entire country, plus an ocean between them? He was less than optimistic.

"Good… all right," she said, more cheerily. "We love each other; we'll find a way to see each other soon. So, for now, focus on Hawaii, on seeing your brother, and on becoming a great teacher. There's no one in this world who I think will make a better teacher."

He chuckled. "Aside from the Professor…"

"All right, hotter, then," she conceded.

They shared a laugh that died off quickly. There was a slight pause then and, unsurprisingly, it was an awkward one, like so much else had become in their relationship since it became long distance.

"Can you wish Rogue good luck for me; tell her it's awesome that she wants to become a teacher, too."

"She's right here if you'd like to talk to her for a second," Scott suggested.

"Sure," Jean quickly accepted.

"Rogue," he called over. The younger girl jumped on spot, slightly startled. She glanced his way, questioningly. "It's Jean, she'd like to speak with you."

Wordlessly, she made her way around the kitchen island to take the phone from him. "Jean, hi," she said.

Her accent always gave him a mental smile. It wasn't until recently that he allowed his smile to show outwards, now that they were closer.

He took a free moment to just take her in. She was dressed in a knee length black skirt and a clingy long sleeved, olive-green t-shirt. Over top the skirt, she had a frilly apron—courtesy of Kitty—tied around her waist. She looked great.

"Scott," Rogue's voice cut into his musings, he looked up to see that she was watching him and that her cheeks were pink. "Jean wants ta say bye."

"Oh, yeah, ok," he sputtered, slightly embarrassed. He took the phone from her hands. "Jean?"

"Did you know she's going for a double major? Education and psychology," Jean asked immediately, pride in her voice.

Scott caught Rogue's eyes and gave her a beaming smile. "Yes, I know. I think it's great."

"Me too. I just can't believe how much we've all changed," she added, tone too wistful for comfort.

"Not too much," he denied, though his eyes landed on Rogue again; she was still standing nearby. "We're still us, just more grown up."

"I guess you're right," she agreed. There was some noise in the background at her end. "Oh, Scott, I've got to go. Say hi to everyone for me! And make sure you call me when you land. And say hi to Alex for me. Oh… and I forgot to remind Rogue to wear lots of sun-block, I don't want her to burn. And uh… I'm forgetting something, aren't I?"

"And… you love me very much?" he added in amusement.

"Yes! Oh, Scott, I do, I love you," she said with affection.

"I love you, too," he finished.

With quickly uttered goodbyes, he hung up, placing the phone on the table in front of him. He let out a resigned sigh as Rogue took the seat across from him. He stared down at his hands as they sat in silence, though, this one compared to the one he'd shared with Jean was comfortable.

"How are ya holding up?" Rogue asked slowly.

"She's not coming home," he said, surprised at how bitter he sounded.

"Ah know," she said. When she blew out a breath that sounded unhappy, he glanced up at her to see she was frowning. "She told meh. She's so busy these days…"

"Its tough work becoming a doctor," he said, considering.

"Ah know, ah'm not holding it against her or anything… ah just miss tha days we all had together, before she left… ya know?"

"I know and yeah I do…"

"Ah miss her," she said dejectedly.

For some reason her words put a huge grin on his face.

"What?" she asked defensively, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Nothing, it's nothing." She raised an eyebrow at him warningly. He chuckled at her reaction. "Ok… it's just, if Rogue of two years ago could hear you now… saying you miss Jean… she'd blow an artery, I think."

"Yeah, well, people change…" she began indignantly, but it didn't last. She broke out into a grin. "Ah was ah pain in tha ass, wasn't ah?"

He held up his hands. "You said it."

She laughed out loud. "If ah had ah pillow right now, Scott Summers, it would be in your face right now."

Scott laughed with her, enjoying the moment.

When she stood up to go back to the kitchen, he followed along, not ready to end the conversation. He stood at the island as she went around it.

"Feel better?" she asked him out of the blue.

He looked at her, caught off guard by the question; surprisingly, yeah, he did feel better. Smiling, he answered, "Yep."

"Good," she said simply.

He watched her begin to measure out some powdered ingredients into a bowl. "What are you doing making dinner? I'm sure the Professor would give you the day off, considering we leave tomorrow."

"Oh, well, ah'm all packed," she said slowly.

He noticed the blush form on her face again and he waited for her to explain.

"And uh… Remy asked meh ta make mah special biscuits one last time," she said sheepishly. She paused to look around the deserted kitchen, a frown overcoming her face. "In fact, tha Swamp Rat's supposed ta be helping meh out, so if ya see him, let him know."

Scott frowned at her unknowingly. "I wish he'd stay away from you."

"We aren't together," she denied.

"But you were once," he prodded, and then amended, "Or twice?"

Gambit was the one thing they vehemently disagreed on. Rogue was convinced he had a sincere side, he wasn't. He'd observed the two of them during the times that they were together. Yeah, Remy had been attentive to Rogue when she was around. But when she wasn't, the guy continued to flirt with the other girls living at the mansion. Scott had once picked a fight with the mutant for just that reason, only to have Rogue pull him away. She'd let him know, in no uncertain terms, that she could take care of herself and she didn't need him fighting her battles.

He still continued to watch over her, protectively. Rogue was the closest thing he had to a best friend these days. It didn't matter what she said, he'd always look out for her.

Thankfully, it wasn't long after that incident that Rogue had ended things with the Cajun and that she'd revealed that she'd like to go away to school. Since they wanted the same thing out of school, it had been Scott who had suggested she apply to the Hawaiian school with him.

Now, he was privately thankful for Rogue wanting a change of scenery. It would get her away from the guy he was convinced was a bad influence.

"We aren't now. And it won't be happening again. We decided we're better as friends."

"We?" he repeated dryly.

She shot him a wry smile. "Ok, ah did. But he's just going ta have ta live wit' it. We weren't right for each other. Not lahke ya and Jean."

He shifted on his feet uncomfortably. He really didn't know about that anymore. But… they weren't talking about him.

Scott caught her hand when she began to turn away from him. He stared at her bare hand in his. Her skin was so soft and her hand was so tiny in his. He was so glad she'd gotten control.

"Scott?" She looked at him unsurely.

"Sorry," he said, abruptly letting go. "I just want you to be happy, that's all."

She smiled. "Thanks! Ah will be, once we're in Hawaii…. Now, why don't ya go get cleaned up for dinner, ok?"

He nodded his head and started off on his way. He paused mid-step, glancing back at her, humming in the kitchen.

Yes, they'd all definitely changed. Some most definitely for the better.

Well that's it for this one. Chapter 3 is in the process of being written and I hope to have it up shortly.

I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who has reviewed this story, especially those who did so most recently, it really encouraged me to get going on this one again: raye (x3); celtic; Aipom4; Sss; tangune; xXBlueDazeXx; Writerhorse32; cheddarcheli; dmpanda5; Wiccamage; strayphoenix; and Captain Crooks.

See ya all soon!