The next day was…the…longest of Jean's life.

(And that included the time she saved the world.)

She woke up feeling giddy, and nervous, and also that most elusive of states for her: she felt like a normal teenage girl.

I have a date! was her first thought in the morning.

Ahhhhh I get to see her in real life! was her second.

And those two blissful thoughts were followed by half an hour of panic when Jean realized she had no idea what to wear on a sort-of date with a kind-of-maybe supervillain. She sat on her bed and used her telekinesis to empty every drawer, every back corner of her closet, and paraded each item of clothing past her one by one. Nothing looked right. She flung the clothes to the ground and quickly threw on jeans and a top so she wouldn't be late for class.

Class. How was she supposed to focus on the physics of light energy, or mutant/human history, when all she could think about was her? It was one of those times when Jean was glad no one could read her mind. Some of the other students had limited psionic abilities and were probably picking up a weird buzz off of her, but they hadn't discovered any other true telepaths yet.

With one notable exception, of course. Jean reminded herself to be especially vigilant around Professor Xavier that day.

Even her non-telepathic friends could sense that something was up. "Who's the lucky guy?" whispered Jubilee during a rare moment when Scott and Kurt weren't in earshot. "W-what?" stammered Jean, the question taking her by surprise.

Jubilee gasped. "OMG, did you and Scott finally hook up? Yes! I knew it! Kurt's buying my coffee for the next month!" She started to run off to gloat to Kurt, and Jean caught her by the arm. "Wait – Jubilee, there's nothing going on with me and Scott."

Jubilee turned, about to continue teasing her. But when she saw the look on Jean's face, Jean felt her understanding dawn. "You're telling the truth, aren't you? But then – what's going on with you?"

"It's nothing," Jean said. "I'm just…distracted. Haven't been sleeping well."

It wasn't enough to fully convince Jubilee, but it was enough to get her to drop the subject. For now.

Jean took her lunch up to her room again, worried about revealing anything to her friends. She used her abilities to absently fold clothes in the air and whisk them back into drawers as she ate her lunch at her desk.

It was almost time for X-Men training, so she changed into her uniform – and then smiled to herself as she realized what she was going to wear tonight.

Training went better than classes had – Jean's focus wasn't entirely there, but she compensated by depending on the others' thoughts during their simulated battles more than she normally would have. Raven looked at her strangely and wondered what was up, but she didn't say anything, and Hank didn't even notice anything out of the ordinary.

Jean wasn't all that surprised when she felt Professor Xavier outside the door. This time, he didn't open the door, just said Jean, a word? inside her head. Be right out, she replied.

She murmured an explanation to Raven and Hank and went out to join the professor. He looked serious, and he was concealing his thoughts from her.

"I think my office would be best for this, don't you?" he said.

I mean, we could have an entire conversation right here and no one would know, thought Jean.

"Ha! Good point," said the professor. But he headed down the hall toward his office anyway, Jean trailing behind him.

Like before, Jean shut the door and sat while the professor went behind his desk. He looked at her for a long moment, and something in his eyes softened. "Jean, I'm going to come right out and say it. I know what you've been up to for the past couple of months. Who you've been meeting."

Jean's mouth actually dropped open in surprise. She closed it hastily and managed to stutter, "But – but – how? Wait, I mean obviously I know how. I mean…when? And why? And why didn't you say anything sooner? And –"

Professor Xavier cut her off by raising a hand. "I think that's as many questions as I can handle for the moment," he said gently. He sighed. "And I owe you an apology. It was never my intention to intrude into your mind, but your thoughts and feelings have been so – powerful – that I couldn't stop them from pouring into my mind." The professor leaned forward slightly, looking at Jean earnestly. "And I also apologize for not being honest with you the last time you were in my office. I didn't wish to intervene, and I still trust you. But I need you to know where I stand."

Jean nodded tensely, waiting.

The professor continued, "I understand how powerful feelings like this can be. And that for us, there are always…complicating factors as well." Jean saw his mind flash to Moira McTaggart for a moment before his shields were firmly in place again and he went on. "I can see exactly how strongly you feel about…her. And it's because of those feelings that I felt this conversation was finally necessary."

Am I really about to have "the talk" with Charles Xavier? Jean thought desperately. He couldn't hide his smile at that, and she giggled nervously.

The professor said, "No, god no. Can we please never, ever discuss details? All I ask is that…you be careful."

Jean looked at him, stunned. "Ah, you thought I was going to forbid it?" he said. "Please. I was a teenager once. I know exactly how well that works." He reached for Jean's hand, and she slid one across the desk.

Charles took her hand in both of his and said, "All I will say is, be careful. Please. For your sake and for the safety of this school. And not just for your life…but be careful for your heart, Jean. You have a good one. I would not like to see it broken, and I will do everything in my power to protect you."

Jean's eyes were wet, and she rubbed at them with the back of her free hand. She couldn't meet the professor's eyes, but then he quietly said, "Jean," and she looked up.

She saw no judgment, no anger. Just understanding, a bit of caution, and the sort of fatherly love he could already convey at such a young age. She managed a weak smile and stood to leave.

As she opened the door, he said quietly, "Let me know when you want to bring her home to meet the family."

And he felt her smile as she closed the door carefully behind her.