Summary: A single act brings hurt and grief

Disclaimer: I don't own X-Men

Rating: T

Betrayal

Chapter 9

Westchester, New York: Present Time

Ororo entered the Professor's office. Closing the door, she turned the latch, securing it so they wouldn't be interrupted. She wanted Xavier's full attention and to ensure no one would walk in on their private conversation. She didn't want anyone to know she was pregnant. Not yet. Not until she had everything sorted out. She crossed the floor and took seat in a chair in front of his desk.

The Professor took note of her disheveled state and the clothes she still wore from two nights before. He saddened. Ororo had been struggling internally yet had refused his assistance.

"I, uh,…I've decided to keep…the baby. I know I have issues…with its father…arrangements will have to made. I will have to…step down from the X-Men… but this baby…it's mine and I want it." Every word was strained and chocked as she fiddled with her fingers nervously. She swallowed, lifting her blue eyes slowly to the Professor, searching his face for a reaction. His expression was warm and calm.

"I understand Ororo and if there is anything you need don't be afraid to ask," he said when he saw she'd given him an opportunity to speak.

"Thank you," she whispered. "I'm sorry about…"

"Forgiven," he held up his hand, shaking his head. They sat quietly for a minute, simultaneously pondering an unspoken question that tossed in their brains. "Are you going to tell him?"

Ororo squeezed her eyes shut. "I knew you were going say that."

"He is the father."

Her pupils flashed angrily. "Just because a guy knocks you up…doesn't…make him a father."

"But it makes him the father," Xavier pointed out. "Ororo, what if there is some medical emergency with the baby and Logan is the only one who could help."

"I will deal with it if such an event ever occurs," she yelled. "But what does it matter. I know you've just been in contact with him." She pushed out the chair and narrowed her eyes darkly at him. "I know when you're using you're telepathy Professor, you get a small crinkle in between the bridge of your nose." Whirling around, she stormed out of his presence.

Distressed, he let out a heavy sigh and cringed as the door to his office slammed closed. He wasn't astonished by Storm's reaction to Logan's eventual return, but relieved she didn't act upon her temper. Nevertheless, choices had to be made. Since no one in the mansion felt compelled to bring this issue to an end, he was going to make the necessary arrangements.

Not matter the cost.

()()()()

"Are you ready?" Rogue asked as she and Scott sat in a private car outside the mansion. She had been reading his expression the whole trip up from Hawaii and it was growing darker by the minute. Not even the thought of seeing the Professor and Ororo again had brightened his mood. "We don't have to do this now. If you like we could check into a hotel back in the city. We can notify the Professor and let him know we're in New York."

"You'll say anything to stay the hell away from this place won't you," Scott muttered.

Mouth agape, she tucked a platinum strand behind her ear. "I was just saying we don't have to do this now."

"I want to do this now Rogue."

"And listen to her lies and every sorry explanation she could conjure to sway your thinking," she cried.

"I'm not going to let Jean have the last word. Your damn right she's going to explain."

"Scott," she mumbled eyes downcast, "I really don't want to be here right now. I don't feel welcomed."

She recalled all the awful whispers and looks she received wherever she went. It chilled her to the bone…especially Bobby; his behavior had grown callous and condescending. But he shouldn't talk, he shouldn't even blink. He was the one who cheated not her… and with Kitty.

Scott turned in his seat. "Rouge, I'm sorry I wasn't there…"

"You were not supposed to be there for me Scott, Bobby was and he…." she felt the tears burning the inside of her eyes. Embarrassed, she hastily felt the side of the door for the lock. "Look! Just forget what I said. I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself."

He reached out and took her arm, hauling her back into the car before she could make her escape. Rogue cast him a look of shock then her features softened upon sight of the gentleness she somehow knew was lighting in his eyes. A thought bloomed in her mind as her gazed drifted over his face. She remembered that pinnacle moment where his bruises and scars had disappeared simply because she touched him. She wondered about his eyes; an accident as a child denied him the ability to control his powers.

She wondered. Could it be possible?

"Scott." It came out like a wispy breeze she wasn't sure it was her voice.

"Yes," he answered his grip on her arm gentling.

She shifted close as though she were about to express a secret. "Let me see your eyes."

Scott drew back astounded, shaken, and utterly perplexed. "What?"

Rogue's fingers trailed up to his face and brushed his shades. "I want to see your eyes."

Swiftly, Scott caught her wrist and yanked her hand away. "No," he cried, almost painfully. "No."

A frown pulled the corners of her mouth down, her eyes deepening with anguish and unbidden courage. "If I healed your scars," she said. "I wonder…let me see your eyes Scott."

Uncertainty gathered in his mind like a fog. He watched with hesitation as Rogue's small hand caressed his visors, slowly drawing them off the bridge of his nose. He clamped his eyes shut, out of habit, out of fear he would blast her to the next county.

Rogue smiled, cupped his face, marveling at how handsome he was. "Open them," she said softly. "You won't hurt me sugar."

He let out a breath, swallowing; his eyes fluttered, gradually, he opened one lid at a time. A rush of color and bright light flooded his pupils and he flinched. Lack of real use sent pain to back of his cornea and he blinked rapidly for several minutes.

"Are you all right?"

Scott rubbed his eyes. "I guess…this is amazing."

She giggled. She rested the tips of her two fingers underneath his chin and turned his face in her direction. "Look at me Scott."

He raised his head, marking pale skin, a full pink mouth, and wholesome brown eyes. He gasped in amazement. "Rogue…you're so…"

She grazed his temple with the tips of her fingers, lightly caressing his chin. "Beautiful," she completed wistfully.

"Yes." He took her wrist in his hand. "What did you do to me?"

A good question. One I would love to discuss in greater detail.

The Professor's voice was an undesired invasion in their minds, and thrust the pair as far apart in the car as they could go. Scott's face contorted angrily. He put on his visors, shoved out of the car, followed by a somberly quiet Rogue. The driver had long set their bags on the stoop in front of door and had been enjoying a cigarette break, while his customers occupied his time and vehicle. They were paying a good chunk of change so he didn't care if they continued to run the meter.

Scott gave him a hefty tip, picked up Rogue's suitcase, and entered the household. He, on other hand, had no baggage but the suit of clothing Dr. McTaggert had provided. Clothing wasn't essential for he'd been wearing a hospital gown for the last six days he was in Hawaii. In fact, a whole entire month, thanks to Logan's gentle ministrations. The memory flared his already fizzled temper as he set Rogue's bags in the foyer.

"Home sweet home," Scott sighed.

"It's quiet," said Rogue, looking around.

"Too quiet," he grunted, dropping her bags onto the tiled floor.

"Kitty! I've like totally got the Oreo cookies and milk, you can start the soap."

Scott shook his head. "I spoke too soon."

Jubilee bounced into the foyer, carrying a plate of milk and cookies, and stopped in her tracks. "Rogue? Mr. Summers?" she gasped in disbelief. "You're back!"

Rogue gave her roommate a timid wave, while Scott simply nodded. "Thanks for carrying my bags in Sc—I mean—Mr. Summers."

She caught herself before she uttered his first name in front of her roommate. But as she turned she saw the question rise in Jubilee's eyes. Lowering, she heaved her belongings off the floor, passing her friend without a secondary glance.

Jubilee gazed at her teacher inquisitively. Scott met her eyes with equal intensity, tipping his head when she didn't back down. "It's nice to have you home Mr. Summers," she said with an air of amusement in her tone. "You're looking okay I guess."

"Thank you Jubilee.."

Nodding, she made a sharp turn, not for the rec room, but towards the stairs. Scott narrowed his eyes; it was obvious the little firecracker was out to interrogate Rogue about their stay in Hawaii. He grimaced. If Jubilee wasn't such a loud mouth, she would have made one hell of a police detective. Snooping around was her specialty. He stayed his thoughts as he too journeyed up the winding staircase. His stomach twisted with each step towards his bedroom. A room he shared with a woman he deeply loved, a woman he once desired to marry, a woman who betrayed him the worst possible way.

Entering their bedroom, Scott cringed. Jean's perfume was rich, coating the air in its alluring fragrance. There was a time when he was swept away by her intoxicating scent, now, the smell rankled him to the core. His nose crinkled in sheer disgust; he felt sick to the stomach. He wasted no time. Dragging a suitcase out the closet, Scott tugged down his shirts and pants, throwing them in heaps into the open baggage. He stalked to the dresser and took out his socks and underwear. Spying a picture of him and Jean snuggled close on a park bench. He picked it up, stared at it, and then tossed it into the garbage.

"What are you doing," came Jean's perplexed inquiry.

Hardening, Scott stiffened momentarily, before commencing his mission to clean out his stuff and leave. "What does it look like? I'm leaving."

Jean stared, flabbergasted, frozen in the doorway. "Why?"

The statement was so ridiculous he let out a harsh snort. "Why the hell you think Jean? You cheated. Hence, the end of our relationship…of any damn relationship." He wadded a pair of boxers and chucked them into his suitcase. Normally, he was a perfectionist; a neatness freak some might call him. Today, he really didn't care if his socks were color coded and his pants were properly folded. He just wanted to get out of there.

Jean stepped inside, closing the door. "Scott…please…hear me out…I never meant to hurt you."

"You know," he sighed. "I think that's exactly what you meant to do. There's a part of you that's just…cruel…vindictive…and thinks that the only way you can control me…is…to hurt me."

"No," Jean cried, going over to his side. She wanted so much to hold him, but she saw how he took a step back when she came close. "I've been so out of sorts these last months…my powers…it's been going out of whack. Since the Liberty Island incident, I've been unable to maintain what's happening to me…you and Rogue were spending so much time together. I thought you might have had a thing for her…I got so confused…scared I might lose you…"

"And that's to excuse what you did," he glowered. "Why the fuck didn't you just come to me…step to me like a woman…instead seeking out Logan's company like a bitch in heat."

She gasped in alarm. Never in the years she shared with Scott had she heard him utter a foul word in disrespect. Even when he was obviously enraged about a particular situation, he was always calm, polite, and respectful. Right at this moment, Jean did not know this angry man standing before her.

"Scott," she whispered, splaying out her hands, tears slipping down her face. "I…I don't know how it happened…I…"

"I think it's safe to say you both had sex," he rasped, pinning his gaze on her. The sight of her tears enraged him further and he forcefully curbed the desire to blast her through the window.

"No," she exhaled, wiping the tears from her face. "I mean…how…did…we get…so far gone."

He lowered his head, turning aside, to pick up his book off the nightstand. He gripped the hard back binding then dropped it in his suitcase. "I don't know. But never for an instant would I play with your heart like this. Trample it to a thousand pieces."

"Now wait a minute," Jean shot back. "How can you say that when I've seen the way you've behaved around Rogue!"

"What?"

"Don't act so innocent Scott. I've seen you touching her, teasing her, running your hands through her hair. I've seen how you are when you think no one was looking," she fired. "You're her teacher! It's disgusting."

Scott swung around extremely livid. "Hold it. I won't deny that I care about Rogue…there're feelings…yes…but never did I once in my mind…acted on them…Jesus Jean! Why Logan huh? You know how I feel about him. Did it make you feel good to humiliate me before the whole school."

Feeling ill, Jean sank slowly to the bed, her strength dissipating with released breath. "Forgive me…please."

"Not this time."