The cold cell was shades of white and grey, a bunk jutted off one wall, the only other contents of the room were a stainless steal toilet and sink off to one corner. Two sets of bullet proof plexiglass, six feet apart, separated the cell from the main holding area.

Logan and Scott occupied the small interview area between the two plexiglass sheets, it was void of anything else save controls for the doors and the 'Jammer', an inconspicuous looking control box operating at the telepaths high electromagnetic frequency which was currently overriding his powers.

Over two hours spent questioning Quentin and still Scott and Logan had no useful information except for mysterious hints at powerful friends in LA.

"Quentin, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. Tell us what you know about the Gladiators and Karma." Scott was getting frustrated and it was beginning to show.

"Don't make me come in there boy." Logan growled out, he had been trying to get Scott to give him five minutes alone with Quentin.

"Yeah right, you lay one hand on me and child services will be in here so fast it'll make your head spin." Quentin was being very stubborn and unfortunately was well aware of his rights as a minor.

Scott turned off the intercom momentarily and turned to Logan.

"He clearly knows more than he's tellin', but we ain't gonna get nothin' outta the kid."

"As much as I hate to admit it, you're right Logan. This is a waste of our time."

Scott turned the intercom back on.

"Alright Quentin, have it your way. You've betrayed the people that tried to help you, I hope you're happy with yourself."

"Actually I am thanks." Quentin sneered wickedly at them. "So you can't keep me in here forever you know."

"Yeah, that's why we're shipping you to the authorities first thing in the morning." Scott flipped the switch to let them out.

"Good luck spending the rest of yer life in jail kid, they're building a real nice cell just for you. I'm sure your monkey guards are gonna love you."

Logan turned off the intercom and walked out after Scott as the sneer slowly slid off of Quentin's face, all the colour draining from him leaving him ashen and looking dangerously close to vomiting.

Scott and Logan walked on in silence, Scott's trim build clothed in dark blue dress pants and loafers a stark contrast to Logan's black Dickies and work boots. They parted ways without a word.

The next couple of weeks took the X-Mansion through the Christmas holidays, news from LA trickling in slowly as it brought word of increased tension between mutants and humans. Small outburst hit here and there, fights in clubs, anti mutant graffiti, racist articles, each group trying to gain dominance unable to learn to live in and share the same space.

Shortly before New Years the escalation of friction between the two groups climaxed. The X-Men where seated in the family room, watching as the morning news related last night's events.

"The antihuman group known only as 'The Gladiators' has claimed responsibility for last nights attack on Grand Central Market. Over 30 people are injured with five dead including a four year old child. Their motives are unclear however one eye witness states that the mutants were shouting out antihuman slurs and it is believed that this attack was intended to wreak havoc on the human population as no demands have been made."

Hank turned off the TV.

"My stars and garters, this news is most upsetting."

"Yes it is Hank and I am at a loss as to why we did not see it coming."

"This sure is going to give Senator Kelly some good ammo against us, the humans are going to retaliate." Scott said his arms folded across his chest as he stood beside Charles.

"Yes, this misanthropy the Gladiators are spreading will never allow for humans and mutants to live peacefully with one another. I will try to reach my contacts in the government and see what kind of damage control is needed. I fear that this has set off a major turn of events that does not bode well for mutant kind."

Two hours and several phone calls later, the X-Men meet in Charles' office.

"I have contacted Nick Fury in S.H.E.I.L.D and we have decided that it is best that we do not show ourselves in LA for the time being. Anti-mutant sentiment is extremely high right now and we are not welcome there."

"But what about the mutants in that area, they're going to be the ones who suffer because of this. We're going to see dead mutants on the news next!"

"I understand your concern for the mutants living in LA Jean, Fury is dispatching a team as we speak to handle the situation and he assures me that they are there to protect humans and mutants alike."

Bobby scoffed, "Yeah right."

"I have contacted the LA Times and have made a formal statement that we oppose the Gladiators and their violent anti-human ideology, it is all we can do for the time being."

"What about Senator Kelly Professor?" Hank asked.

"He is as we expected using this to further his anti-mutant campaign, he is making an address now." Charles turned on the TV.

"This attack on the unsuspecting and innocent people of LA by a band of dangerous and evil mutants is unacceptable. A child is dead and we want justice! But how can justice be served upon a group of people that are untouchable!? We do not know who or what these mutants are. What can they do, who will they attack next? It could be your child that is dead at the hands of another mutant who hates you or cannot control his or her power. How can we maintain a safe and secure country when these mutants cannot even control themselves? This mutant problem must be address, that is why I am proposing the Mutant Registration Act that if passed into law with enforce the mandatory registration of all mutants with the government." Hearing enough, Charles turned the TV off.

"Vhat a great vay to ring in the New Year." Peter shook his head angrily as the rest of the team appeared crestfallen.

"We have all been through this kind of bigotry first hand and I know that we are personally connected to this issue but let us try and remember that there is still good in this world and that we cannot give up. We cannot allow this kind of hatred interfere with our lives and I for one am looking forward to our little New Years Eve party tomorrow night."

Knowing that his team needed a chance to escape from their rigid schedules and responsibilities in order to have a chance to feel normal for a moment, Charles had planned an extravagant New Years party with professional decorators, catering, dancing, an open bar and a DJ. He had secretly been looking forward to it for weeks now and come hell or high water he would see his friends and family have a little fun, after all they disserved it.

The X-Men slowly filed out of Charles' office, Jean and Logan walking side by side as Scott watched them carefully.

"Are you going to the party Logan?"

"Well, I thought I might make an appearance, but that all depends on whether you're goin'." Logan crooned out in a voice thick with dark chocolate and honey, masking his eagerness at her answer.

Jean's heart gave a little flip, but she tried her best to remain aloof.

"Yeah, I thought I'd go for a bit, might be kind of fun."

As the two stopped at an intersection in the hallway, Logan veered off in the opposite direction. Walking backwards so as to face her, he gestured towards her, "Well I'll see you there darlin', don't forget to save a dance for me." And with a wicked grin and a wink he was lost from sight.

Jean stood there a few minutes longer, watching his mental impression in her minds eye as amusement broadcast off of the surface of his mind, and then she continued on at a leisurely pace.

To many who would see Jean walking through the mansion, it appeared as though the telepath was quiet and uninterrupted. Unable to see her telepathy in use, they lived unaware that Jean's powers where always in a constant state of activity, allowing her to have a heightened sense of her surrounds. Receptive to the details that no one else could see.

In the kitchen Peter was rooting through the fridge, I'm so hungry.

In the family room Jubilee and Kitty had just settled in to watch a movie. I totally love Johnny Deep. I wonder if I'll get a kiss tomorrow night?

In the sitting room Scott was pretending to read a book. What did I do wrong?

In his lab Hank was working on his doctorate in biophysics. The molecular beam epitaxy should allow the deliberate manipulation of the nanostructures.

Bobby was in his room getting changed for a Danger Room session. I'm totally going to ice up Hanks boxers tonight!

Ororo was in her room, looking through her wardrobe. What am I going to wear tomorrow night?

Jean idly registered this surface chatter much of it happening at the same time, making sure her telepathy didn't delve to deep, she did not allow her mind to rest on any one person for to long. She did not want to hear more than her friends would feel comfortable with.

Jean knocked on Ororo's door and walked in when she heard her acknowledgment.

"Ororo, we need to go dress shopping."

"Good, because I've got nothing to wear." Ororo replied as she closed the door on a closet full of clothes.

Five hours later, the two ladies walked through the front door of the mansion lattes in one hand and bags a plenty in the other, laugh and talking loudly. As Peter walked past, he stopped a moment and took a second look.

"Vell ladies, it looks as though you haf bought the entire mall. Did you leave anything for anyone else to buy?"

"We left a couple tacky shoes behind."

The next day the mansion was a bee hive of activity as preparations for the party hit full swing. Delivery trucks came and went, caterers took over the kitchen, sound equipment arrived and the informal dining room was cleared out and off limits as decorators worked feverishly to create dreamy sea of silver and gold.

The excitement reached a feverish pitch as the schools female population noted when 3:00pm rolled around that they only had four hours to get ready. A universal crash could be heard, the women dropping what they were doing and making a mad dash for their rooms. The male population covered their ears in a futile attempt to block out the squeals of alarm or watched in confusion as women everywhere seemed to fly in alarm, Peter wondered vaguely if they were under attack.

Choosing to get ready together, Ororo brought her dress and supplies over to Jeans room, including a little bottle of Sambuca, where they helped each other with their hair and makeup, stopping regularly to talk randomly as girl friends tend to do.

"So, are you going to kiss Logan tonight?"

Jean paused in the middle of curling her long auburn hair into soft waves.

"Oh, I don't know."

"Come on Jean, you know you want to. What woman in her right mind wouldn't?"

"Yeah but I'd be too nervous to try."

"Why? You've been friends for years and besides, you know he's wanted to kiss you since the moment you two met."

"Yeah but that was a long time ago, I've turned him down so much over the years I'm sure he's tired of trying. Besides it would be rude of me to kiss someone else in front of Scott, especially if that someone was Logan."

"Damn, you've cut the boy out of your love life and still he's causing you trouble."

"Yeah, I know. It sucks."

Jean thought on Logan and how nice it would be to be with him the way she had often imagined she could be, more than friends. To be with someone who seemed so perfect for her it made her heart ache. She had time upon time again refused the desire of her heart and instead listened to the logic of her head, feeling trapped by duty and becoming miserably stuck. Eventually resenting Scott for meeting him first, never able to see a way out of the life she felt obligated to untill death took her and changed everything.

It never really was Scott's fault though.

Jean mused, she had been the one to change and out grew Scott and his meticulous ways. The only thing she did blame him for was cheating on her, to think of all that pain and sorrow she wasted on being loyal to man who was not loyal to her. Even now he had control over her life, keeping her from want she wanted, oh but how a complicated love triangle could be so aggravating!

Ororo brought Jean out of her deliberations with wave of her in front of Jean's face.

"You know Logan likes you, a lot, right?"

"I know he used to but now I'm not so sure."

"But you're a telepath, you must know."

"Yeah but Logan is so hard to read. I usually know what he's feeling unless he consciously blocks me but I don't often know what he's thinking. He liked me a long time ago Ro' he's got to have moved on by now and I don't blame him, he can't wait around for ever."

"Well, I think he still likes you. You'd be surprised how long people are willing to wait for someone."

Ororo poured herself and Jean their first shot of the evening, raising their glasses in a toast.

"To the total agony of love."

Having had their drink and taking a moment to pause for the burn, Ororo and Jean helped each other into their dresses, adjusting and smooth things out as needed. Ororo wore a black and white bubble dress with a sweat heart neck line with white high heels, the white a pleasant contrast to her mocha skin.

Jean wore a sapphire blue cocktail length dress covered in small Swarovski crystals. The sleek fitting dress accentuated her athletic form while the halter style top highlighted her full breasts. She wore no jewellery and completed the ensemble with a pair of metallic bronze strappy sandals.

"Damn girl, if Logan didn't like you before, he sure as hell is going to now. You're going to be giving the boys plenty of material to work with over the next few weeks."

Jean smiled sinfully at her as they made their way out her door and down to the party and as they entered the hall Jean's breath was taken away. Wonderlands of silver and soft light meet them, a canopy of lights was suspended above them, with trails of silver draping down around them an enchantment of beauty.

As Jeans eyes and mind scanned the room she came across many faces, some of them familiar. She waved to Warren, Bobby and Lorna talking by the buffet table and smiled to Sean, Moira Scott and Betsy by the bar.

Many of the students were there as well, being allowed to attend the party with many promises and death threats to stay away from the bar and to leave shortly after midnight. Kitty, Maria and Jubilee were doing their best to look grown up as they drank their pop.

Jeans eyes finally settled on Logan and she was momentarily stunned as she registered Logan... in a suit... with a tie. The look was so simple, so classy and so very steamy. He wore a black suit with matching skinny tie, looking suitably dressed-up without being stuffy. His slightly loosened tie looked like it was just waiting for someone to reach over and pull it right off.

Oh dear god Jean, don't drool.

Logan stood off to one side as he talked casually with Peter and Hank, recognizing Jeans enthralling scent he looked up, his eyes seeking her out, choking on his drink he quickly recovered as he admired the vision before him. As Jean and Ororo walked over to them Logan took pleasure in her high heels and how they emphasized her calves while beautifully manicured toenails peeked out at him. Ororo elbowed Jean and gave her her best 'I told you so' look.

Jeannie you look smokin' hot.

Logan's thought rang clear through her head, almost as though he had meant her to hear it as he slid his hand around her waist and pulled her close for a kiss on the cheek. As Ororo approached next he also gave her a kiss on the cheek but somehow it lacked the sensual subtlety of Jeans.

"Ladies you are an apparition of Aphrodite herself."

"Thank you Hank and you are looking quiet dapper in your vest and tie." Ororo said as she gave him a hug.

"How is the party so far?" Jean asked.

"Better now that the two finest ladies in the mansion are here."

"Logan, you're going to make the rest of the women jealous." Jean replied playfully.

"Peter and I were just about to head to the bar, can we get you anything?" Logan asked.

"A screwdriver please."

"Me too." Ororo chimed in.

Jean and Ororo mingled for the better part of an hour and a half, catching up with old friends and making new ones. It was clear right away that the two ladies where the life of the party as they floated through the crowds smiling and laughing, making small talk where ever they went, watching as the guests enjoyed the dance floor. Jean and Charles even sharing a dance, Neil Diamond and his Sweet Caroline was a favorite of theirs.

As Jean, Logan, Ororo and Peter stood in a small group laughing and talking, a strange sensation rose over Jean. A sense of dread as he clearly knew something, something dreadful was about to happen. Jean stopped laughing and turned her senses behind her, something was sneaking up on her, something... something... something...

The doors to the hall flew open dramatically.

"Darling's I'm here, now the party may begin."

Oh... Dear... God...

Ororo, Peter and Logan all turned to the door, their faces wide with shock as Jean kept her back to the intruder.

Emma Fucking Frost.

Emma's high heeled white patent boots clicked across the floor as the ice queen slithered towards Scott, snaking a hand up his chest and placing a kiss to his jaw.

"Did you miss me lover?"

Scott smiled sheepishly as Emma leaned against him. She turned to Jeans direction and wiggled her fingers at her in a mock wave. Jean turned her back, closing her eyes and counting backwards slowly, fighting the urge to pull her bleach blonde hair out and pop her enormous fake boobs.

"God I hate that bitch."

"Jean, don't let her ruin your night."

Ororo placed a comforting hand on Jeans arm, knowing that Jean and Emma's rivalry predated even Scott and their affair. It was deeply engrained, a hate that was a sure as the rising sun, pitting the woman against one another in a never ending competition. Ororo once found them fighting over who ate the last cookie.

As the small group continued to talk amongst themselves, Emma hung off of Scott as he drank in her every word, failing to hide how much he was enjoying her close proximity. Jean rolled her eyes. Well if he can do it why not me too?

Jean dear, I see your physiatrist gave you a day pass, how nice for you.

Being bitchy and unstable is part of my mystique Emma, you should know that by now.

Yes, I'm sure the men all love a woman in a straight jacket. Do you like my new dress?

Amazingly enough I don't give a damn, just take those tacky shoes somewhere else.

Oh Jean, that wasn't very tactful.

Tact is for people who aren't witty enough to be sarcastic.

Scott seems to like my new dress.

Well then I'm very happy for you. Feel free to take him off my hands if you like, I'm more than happy to give you my sloppy seconds.

At this Emma remained silent as Jean enjoyed her little victory. It wasn't often that Emma was at a loss for words. As Emma watched Jean and her friends out of the corner of her eye, she did not fail to notice how close Jean and Logan were standing, nor the shy smile she gave him over her drink, or the way Logan subtlety leaned into Jean intent on their private conversation.

As midnight fast approached, Emma began piecing together the puzzle, it all began to make sense. We'll see about this. Emma detached herself from Scott and breezed past them in a flourish of white, smiling lasciviously at Logan, she trailed a hand across his back as she walked by. Logan glared at her as Jean rolled her eyes.

The next song played sang straight to Jean's heart as Wicked Game resonated out through the hall. Logan presented his hand to Jean and Ororo took her glass as he led her out onto the dance floor.

An amazingly graceful dancer, he swayed Jean around the floor, their fingers laced together as she rested her head on his shoulder. Jean couldn't help but let herself imagine for a moment that this brief dance was not all she could allow herself to take, that there would be so much more to follow. The song ended and Jean and Logan parted reluctantly, returning back to their group.

I already do love ya darlin', wish I could show you just how much.

10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1

Happy New Year!

Lovers kissed, friends hugged and acquaintances shook hands, the mutants whooped and hollered their well wishes for the new year. As Jean made her way around the room she was disappointed that she could not find Logan anywhere. Doing a quick scan she found him outside smoking his trademark cigar and went out to wish him a happy new year.

"Happy New Year Logan." Jean said as she approached him, only stopping when she was a foot away.

Logan fought with himself, trying to deny the animal within him crying out to take her and the man in him begging to kiss her. They stood there a moment as their eyes locked searching each other for the feelings they hoped were there, fighting to remember all the reasons why they shouldn't be out here like this.

"Logan..." Jean whispered his name, the wait was excruciating.

Unable to stand it any longer Jean stepped in closer to Logan just as he placed his hand on ether side of her face, drawing her in for a kiss that promised to explode into a firestorm display of years of pent up love and lust. Jean's breath caught in her throat as their lips were about to meet, the anticipation heady when without warning a mental picture show was projected into her head.

Logan and Emma, alone in a hotel room. Naked and writhing as Emma called out Logan's name and scratched down his back.

Unable to take anymore, Jean pushed the images out of her head and shoved Logan away. He too had seen it, the guilt and shame etched on his face told her that what she saw was true.

"Jean, I can explain..." he made a move to grab her hand however Jean cut him off as she shoved him away roughly with her telekinesis.

"Don't touch me!" Large tears of anger welled up in her eyes. "How could you... with... with HER!" Jean screamed.

At this Jean ran into the house, leaving Logan to take his frustrations out on the night air. Emma watched from the Mansion windows, a satisfied smile across her face, Jean's perfect moment was ruined.