Scott awoke in mid-mourning to the sound of the birds chipping outside. He smiled and rubbed his eyes, slowly sitting up. He looked next to him to find Jean's side of the bed empty. "Jean?" he called out. Scott frowned and walked into the bathroom, but Jean wasn't there. Slipping on a shirt and pair of sweats, Scott concluded that Jean would either be with the Professor or possibly in her lab. He walked out of his room in a hurry to find Jean when he ran into Emma in the hallway going downstairs. Emma looked startled at Scott apologized and continued to find Jean.

"In a hurry, are we?" Emma smiled.

Scott stopped on the landing and flashed her a smile. "I'm sorry. I was just looking for Jean."

Emma frowned slightly at the mention of her name. "She left you alone in the middle of the cold night?"

Scott matched Emma's frown. Is she jealous or something? "No," Scott said. "She's probably just got a head start for the day, that's all."

Emma shrugged. "Well then, if she's busy, why disturb her?" Emma noticed that Scott gave no reaction. "We could have breakfast together before you all go to the city."

Scott's eyes flash as he mentally kicked himself. Of course! How could I forget? Jean had been talking about going to the city last night and Scott completely forgot. That's why she got up early, to prepare us. Emma walked closer to Scott and trailed her hand on his shoulder. Scott suddenly felt like his thoughts were being pushed away as he was suddenly overcome with hunger.

"Well…?" Emma whispered to him.

Scott smiled and nodded at her. "I could eat."

Smiling, Emma grabbed Scott's hand. "All right then."

As Logan was walking towards the kitchen, he was surmounted with a welcoming scent. He slowly grinned and stopped walking. "Hey ya, Jean," he greeted.

Logan turned around and saw Jean smiling at him. "Am I that obvious?" she asked.

Logan's grin never left his face. "I'd never forget your scent."

Jean walked up to him. "Thanks…I think."

Logan laughed and they walked towards the kitchen together. "Logan, can I ask you a question?"

Logan frowned at Jean's tone, but nodded. "'Course red."

Jean paused, unsure of how to express her feelings without seeming that she had a grudge or a false accusation. "This Emma Frost…how long has she been here?"

Logan's frown deepened. He had a feeling where this was heading. "Since after Alcatraz I guess. I never paid much attention."

Jean nodded and paused once more. Sensing her hesitation, Logan stopped and turned to face Jean. "What else is bothering you, Jean?"

Jean sighed and looked at Logan. "What about…her and her relationship to…Scott?"

Logan raised an eyebrow at Jean and sighed. "Jeannie, you have nothing to worry about. Cyke's not that way."

Jean began to shake her head as if she was trying to convince herself that yet still refusing to believe it. "I don't know, Logan," she whispered.

Logan grabbed her by the shoulders and looked deep in her eyes. "Look," he said. "One-eyed might be a asshole most of the time, but he loves you. Much as I think you and I…"

"Logan," Jean sighed. The last thing she wanted now was Logan to compare himself with Scott and ask her how good their relationship with each other really is.

"Look," he said sensing her discomfort. "He isn't that way," he said once more. "Bottom line."

Jean smiled and hugged Logan. "Thanks."

Logan smiled. "You're welcome." He pulled back and turned serious. "Besides, if one-eyed ever hurt you," his statement was followed by the known sound of his skin ripping as his metal claws extended out, proving his point. He smiled at Jean. "See what I mean?"

Jean couldn't help but giggle. She knew in some aspects, Logan was a hundred percent serious, but the mood between the two was nothing of the sort. It was calm and friendly, an environment in which Jean hadn't been accustomed to in quite some time. Logan retracted his metal claws and draped his arm on Jean's shoulder, guiding her to their destination. "Come on red," he told her. "Let's get something to eat before hittin' the road."

Magneto walked back into the warehouse where Apocalypse was waiting for him. "Have you anything for me?"

Erik slightly jumped at the sound of his voice. He was sure that Apocalypse had other business to attend to. He was obviously wrong. "No," Magneto answered more confidently than he sounded.

Apocalypse stepped forward, out of the shadow and into the light. "So, Forge somehow escaped your custody and is now out there?" Apocalypse boomed. "Where the X-Men can get to him?"

Erik frowned. How was this his fault? Apocalypse asked Magneto to locate a human, one responsible for the mutant cure and for the creation of sentinels. Erik wasn't sure what Apocalypse's plans were, but it had involved Forge in some manner…and he had escaped. Magneto wasn't there when it happened, so why was it blamed on him?

"If you had let me destroy the X-Men," Magneto began.

"Silence! I do not care that he has escaped, I want him found! Forge must not come into contact with Charles Xavier or The Phoenix!"

Erik nodded. He understood what Forge would do to them if he allied himself with the X-Men. Erik's dreams and hopes for the mutant population would be destroyed. There was one thing on his mind though that Magneto couldn't shake. He had to ask, "What about this virus?"

Apocalypse was silent for a moment. "What about it?" he finally replied.

"Shouldn't we do something?"

"The virus is of no concern to me," Apocalypse said. "Now retrieve Forge."

Erik nodded once more, and walked away. Suddenly, Erik believed he was on the wrong side of the brewing war. Apocalypse seemed concerned to rule the world and didn't give a damn about Erik or what his cause and belief's were. He would be damned if he were to take orders from him once more. It was then that Magneto decided he would find Forge, and he would kill him…then Apocalypse and the X-Men.

The kitchen was unusually crowded this mourning. As Jean and Logan entered, they were surprised that nearly the entire school was all gathered together for breakfast. Marie waved at Logan and Jean and pointed to two empty chairs next to her. They both smiled and took their seats as Ororo began to pass out the portions of food. Logan sat next to Peter and Marie while Jean sat next to Logan and Scott. Jean kissed Scott hello and noticed that Emma was sitting next to Scott. Jean offered her best hello and Emma matched it with her own, both women taking their seats as Xavier walked in taking his seat at the head of the table. After all said their hellos and good mornings they all went to eating their breakfast. The table was slight for quite some time, until Kitty broke the silence. "So," she began in between bits. "When are we leaving?"

"You're not," Jean answered quickly.

"When you say 'you're not'," Marie asked. "You mean…?"

"That Logan, Scott, Peter, Ororo and I are the only ones going," Jean said.

"No fair!" Kitty pouted. "Why does Peter get to go?"

Peter stopped eating and gave Kitty a look as Jean continued. "If things get hairy, Peter is out extra muscle. I don't want to risk anyone of you getting seriously hurt."

"But we were at Alcatraz," Kitty pointed out. "What's so different this time?"

Jean dropped her fork as images of that fateful night came flooding back to her. Kitty sank in her chair realizing what she had just said and wishing she could take it back. "You don't understand," Jean said slowly, fear and quiet anger rising in her voice. "What I am capable of is nothing compared to what Apocalypse can do."

Emma swallowed her food then asked, "Who's Apocalypse?"

This time it was Charles that answered. "A very dangerous being."

"You need to understand," Jean said. "The Professor and I are only trying to protect you." Jean looked at Kitty. "What happened on Alcatraz is nothing. This can become ten times worse."

Kitty nodded. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," Charles said taking her hand. "It says a lot that you want to help out, Kitty."

Jean nodded. "It does. But right now is not the time."

Kitty nodded and shrugged, her demeanor quickly changed. "Okay, fine by me. There's a good movie coming on anyways."

The others at the table giggled and went back to eating as the tension quickly left the room. Jean looked over at the Professor.

'We need to tell them.'

'I know Jean. But they must know everything first.'

'I meant the kids.'

'It will only scare them.'

'Maybe they need that, Professor. They were scared on Alcatraz, and they won.'

'You said it yourself Jean, that was different.'

Jean sighed and looked down at her food, suddenly losing her appetite. Scott rubbed her back offering her comfort and Jean smiled at him suddenly feeling at ease knowing that he was there with her...and that he loved her.