Sorry for these short chapters. Time is gold these days! There's plenty more written and thank you for the really encouraging reviews! I'll get them up as soon as...

Moments later…

Following Jean wasn't as easy as Emma expected for Jean must have run from outside Charles' room and was nowhere to be seen when Emma exited his office. Sighing to herself, Emma called out telepathically for her. Jean did not respond much to Emma's annoyance but then moments later she caught the image of Jean's hands getting coffee that was projected to her. I'll take the crumbs…she said wretchedly to herself and turned to make her way to the kitchen. When she got there, there were several other members of the X-team and faculty lounging around drinking coffee and reading the papers. Scott sat in the corner eating muesli and watched as Jean nervously went to the coffee machine but didn't greet anyone. Then he saw Emma appear a few moments later obviously having hurried and watched her stall at the door as she calmed her breathing before walking over to where Jean was. He sat, swallowing uneasily.

Emma had thrown aside her apprehension upon seeing Jean and decided to make a stand on this possible friendship they'd been skirting around. She walked over to her and was somewhat glad Jean's back was to her. She decided to keep this conversation between the two of them. Jean?

Go away! Jean immediately fired back.

Jean!

I'm sorry Emma; I just want to be alone.

So you came to a room full of people...

I wanted to get coffee then be alone! Damn it! Jean's shoulders drooped.

What's wrong? Other than the obvious.

The Coffee is all gone!

Here let me. Emma nudged her way in front of Jean and went through the motions of percolating another pot of coffee. She even changed the filter and selected Jean's favourite beans which she ground down for her. She turned to look at Jean who was just staring at her hands doing the work. There had been a comfortable silence but now Emma knew she must break it.

Jean, everything will be okay. She said softly in Jean's head. Jean could feel the waves of support emanating from Emma. She couldn't resist letting the warm sensations wash over her. She opened her eyes and placed her hand on Emma's shoulder. She knew it wasn't easy for Emma to offer such support to a woman she could barely stand not too long ago. She gathered her raw feelings and sighed.

Thank you.

For what?

For making me coffee!

Darling I was gasping too, it was the least I could do. Besides, I have to avert a code Grey crisis now, don't I! Emma turned and winked at her, completely disarming Jean and bringing her back down to earth. Emma was offering humour as a way out of the doldrums. The ramifications of Charles' plans could be gone over later without melodrama. Jean mustered some self-deprecation as an effort at levity.

You bet! A Grey without her morning coffee is not a sight to behold. Jean was smiling now and thinking how strange her world had become. Here was the white Queen consoling her despair at having her certainties in life turned upside down.

A sight I'd happily behold, Miss Grey! Jean started chuckling and nudged Emma playfully. This did not go unnoticed by Scott who continued to chew his muesli and watch in silence. Jean felt Emma's hand pat hers gently as she looked at her and smiled. Jean was muddled to say the least. The professor's willingness to cut her loose from the X-men if she defied him had left a nasty taste in her mouth that she wanted the coffee to overcome and it was Emma, not Scott, who was holding her up now. Trying to assuage her fear that the world she knew hadn't just just flipped inside out. That this was just the way things were now and that she would adapt. There was much to glean from coffee making she surmised.

What happened to you? She asked Emma softly.

Emma understood exactly what she meant.

I met you.

Silence.

Lucky me.

No Jean, lucky me!

With that they sat together at the counter and continued to talk telepathically until the coffee was ready.

The others in the room sensed something was going on between the two women and decided to stay out of it. Just nodding their hellos as they got on with their breakfasts before heading out for the day. Scott brought his bowl to the dishwasher and turned to face Jean.

"Are you coming, Jean?"

Jean just looked at him blankly.

"Going where?" she asked.

"Going out for that run we said we'd go on today." Emma knew that he was lying and watched the little scene unfold. He was obviously nervous of the two of them being together.

"Scott, I'm busy today. Besides you know I went for a run late last night."

Emma smirked to herself that Jean wasn't going to play around with Scott's boyish tactics today, though she didn't come out and call him a liar.

"Fine, I'll see you later." Scott snipped and turned to walk away, his heckles rising.

I apologise for that. Jean offered.

For what? It's forgotten. Though I'm surprised he fibbed so easily. I though he'd choke if he told a lie-

Then Emma shut up mentally when she realised that Scott was indeed a very adept liar and then she felt that sinking feeling that she now recognised as guilt coming over her. This time it was Jean that tried to elevate the mood when she noticed it had turned deathly serious.

"You know you owe me one dinner date!" She joked out loud.

Emma gathered herself up and went straight into flirt mode.

"Who said anything about dinner?" She teased.

"I just assumed that's what we were going to do on Friday night before Mystique-"

"-rudely interrupted us?"

Emma finished for Jean as she threw back her head a little and laughed quietly. Jean thought it a beautiful reaction. In fact, Jean soon started to forget about Mystique and Xavier and Scott as she started to hear her heartbeat in her chest at the realisation of the close proximity of the woman she was thinking too much about. Emma sensed the shift in the air too. The electrical fields around them were almost sizzling.

"Let's get out of here." She offered out loud.

Where do you want to go? Jean asked telepathically.

"Anywhere but here!"Emma said as she grabbed Jean's hand and led her out of the kitchen. "I do indeed owe you a dinner!"

"Stop Emma, you must wait for your visitor!"

Emma halted in her tracks as Jean bumped lightly into her.

"I completely forgot! Drat it Jean you're playing havoc with my brain!"

Emma winced when she realised she had said that aloud and looked behind them to see Logan raising an eyebrow at their antics. He could sense the change in the air too and chose not to exacerbate it further as he tilted his head at them and walked by. Jean still stood close behind Emma, and deciding to be playful, placed her two hands on her shoulders, leant down and whispered in her ear.

"After you've sent your visitor to Charles, come pick me up and bring me to dinner, talk to me, amuse me, distract me, just be with me later for a little while." Emma shivered at their proximity. "I could use a friend." Emma deflated a little at these final words but mustered her best smirk as she turned to Jean.

"Today, Jean Grey, you are going to get the Frost treatment!"

Like you bloody deserve! Emma added to herself.