A/N: Hey guys. Sorry for the delays with posting new content for Getting Back to Me and Ride of a Lifetime. Real life is keeping me busy plus I think my muse is on vacay for Ride so my goal is to finish posting Getting first and then moving back to Ride. I may even have a surprise for you guys. Its a strong possibility.

Thanks to everyone who has read, reviewed, and added me and my work to your followed/favorites lists. I'm honored and I hope that you will continue reading and enjoying the next few chapters of Getting Back to Me.

Chapter 7: Showdown

"Hello Forge," she replied, "May I come in?"

Too shocked to speak, he stepped to the side, giving her space to enter the office.

"Ororo, my dear. It has been too long since I laid eyes on your beautiful face," the Professor greeted her as he came around his desk for the hug that had become customary after she moved away from the mansion.

"I agree and promise to make changes in the future so that my visits will happen more frequently," she told him, leaning into the hug and gently kissing his bald head.

Professor, I need you to help me keep a tight rein on my powers, she told him telepathically, opening her mind to allow him to see the images of the last time she had seen Forge.

I will do my best, he replied, "You gave us quite a scare, my dear. Are you feeling all right?"

"My apologies. I didn't mean to cause anyone any undue stress. I just needed some time alone," she replied.

"Time alone?" Forge asked in disbelief, his voice rising slightly, "You left, leaving without a word to anyone. As your husband, I have a right to know where you were and I demand an explanation of your absence."

"Now Forge," the Professor said, trying to intercede.

"No, Professor," Ororo said standing and looking down at him, before turning to look at her husband, "He is correct. As my husband, he does have a right to know where I was as well as an explanation for my sudden departure. If it's okay with you, Professor, may we use the study room for a private discussion?"

"Yes, Ororo. This still is and always will be your home," the Professor told her.

She looked back at him, with tears in her eyes. Thank you, she whispered telepathically and he gave her a slight nod.

Now go, have your discussion. I am ready to assist you.

"Forge, may I speak with you privately in the study room?"

"There's no need for a private discussion. You owe me a damn explanation for leaving me on our anniversary and you need to start talking now," he said angrily.

"What happens between a man and wife is between them. I'm asking that you respect my feelings regarding this. So either you meet me in the study room or you will not hear an explanation regarding my absence," she told him firmly.

"Fine. Lead the way," he responded, going to the door and opening it, standing to the side so she could walk ahead of him.

"Now, what did you need to tell me that was so damn private?" he asked angrily, slamming the door behind them.

Unable to hold back her temper any longer, she let go, reveling in the fact that the Professor held back the tempest that she would have surely unleashed without his assistance.

"It's not what I wanted to tell you," she told him, her tone icy as she turned to face him, "It's what I wanted to ask – How long have you been fucking Diana?"

Ororo could see the disbelief wash over his face. She wasn't sure if it was the words she had chosen to express herself or the fact that she knew about his affair.

"Cat got your tongue?" she asked after a few moments when he didn't respond.

"You don't understand," he replied, his voice softening.

"What's not to understand, Forge?" she asked him, "The understanding was swift, I assure you, when I saw you having sex with your lab partner on top of your desk on our 3rd anniversary."

"Dammit, how could you?" She emphasized her point by slapping the top of the table, her sound of the impact echoing loud in the room, startling Forge. "Do you know what I sacrificed to be with you? What I gave up to move to Arizona? What I had to suppress to be the loving wife of a successful, workaholic inventor, who eventually spent more time in his lab than with his wife?"

When he didn't speak, she took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.

"But it all makes so much sense now," she said softly, becoming emotionally drained, and sitting in the wooden chair, "Why you were so busy and so determined to get the work done. Instead of working on the next big invention, you were "working" your lab partner." Her humorless chuckle echoed in the closed in space.

"Don't you have something to say about this?" Ororo asked tiredly, looking up at him.

"It was never my intention to begin an affair with Diana," he began, "She began assisting me with one of my projects and when it experienced a major breakthrough, we had an impromptu celebration in the office. We both had had too much to drink and we got to talking and I told her about the issues we were having and she began to console me. Then one thing led to another. I didn't want to hurt you, Ororo, you have to know that."

"No, I don't, because if you never intended to have an affair or hurt me, you would have brought your ass home to be with your wife where we could have dealt with our own issues," she told him angrily, getting to her feet again.

"And what, have an argument with you, cause you to have a weather moment and then have to explain things to Dumb and Dumber?" Forge spat out.

"Leave my friends out of this," Ororo warned, "This is just between you and me."

"No, Ororo. It's never been just between the two of us. I know you've been talking to your little friends about our issues, which is one of the reasons why I did what I did."

"So you have an affair with your lab partner because you think I had conversations with my male friends?"

"How do I know it was only conversations?"

"How dare you sit there and try to put your indiscretions on me when it was you in the lab fucking your lab partner?"

"Because I'm sure you and Logan are more than just friends and have been for a while," he retorted.

"See, that's where you're wrong. Logan and I are just friends but thanks to your actions, I will soon be able to pursue something with him beyond friendship if I so choose too," she told him, beginning to take her ring off as she rounded the table.

"You can have your ring back. I'm filing for divorce and will not be returning to Arizona. Have a nice life with Diana, Forge," Ororo told him as she placed the ring on the table and headed toward the door.

"You can't be serious?" Forge asked her looking from the ring to her back as she pulled open the door.

"I am," she replied, looking back at him, her head held high, "Goodbye Forge.