Ding*

"Portobello Mushroom Sandwich and Garden Poutine for Table 7." Jean heard the diner's cook Kathy called out.

She immediately went to the kitchen line so she could pick up the customers' order.

"I'll serve this one Kathy.", Jean said while picking up the plates. "The customer at table 7 had been following these up." She whispered.

"But they just ordered 15 minutes ago! They have not warmed their seats yet." Kathy said incredulously.

"Well customer is always right." Jean recited while rolling her eyes. She immediately proceeded to serve the orders.

"Jean?" Kathy called not long after.

The redhead turned back and smiled earnestly. "Yes Kathy?"

"You know we are family here right? You can tell us anything and I mean anything, Jean." The cook spoke wholeheartedly.

Jean was really touched by Kathy's gesture. Her eyes started watering and was about to respond when...

"Miss I believe that order is for us." A blonde middle aged woman noted rather impatiently.

Both of the girls winced at the shrill voice of their customer. Jean cocked her head to the direction of the visibly annoyed customer and mouthed 'later' to her co-worker.

Kathy just nodded in understanding while Jean proceeded to attend to her obnoxious and crass customers.

"How is she holding up?" Another waitress asked while passing the order slip.

Kathy sighed while taking the note. She glanced at it and started to prepare the food.

"You have eyes Alice you can see how she looks. She always has this rainbows and sunshines mask but she ain't fooling anyone." She paused to flip the pan and faced Alice. "But this seems different.", Kathy paused to face Alice. "I have never seen her worn out like that. Not even during our peak season." She said almost inaudibly, flicking her spatula to get her point across.

"Yeah. The circles under her eyes are more prominent now. I also notice that she drifted off easily. I usually see her dozed off in between picking up and serving orders more often than before. I am really worried about her. I am just relieved that she still eats." Alice sighed.

"That bastard of a man should see what she did to his wife." A third voice joined the conversation. "New order for table 3." He handed the slip to Kathy.

"Thanks Grantt. Guess you also noticed huh." She replied.

"We are in the middle of a small ass village in Catron County, New Mexico." Garett reminded them. "With a population as scarce as us, even a blind man would notice." He continued.

The three continued chatting when a shrill voice echoed around the diner. The trio looked around to locate the commotion.

"Finally. I don't understand how these simple dishes could get delayed." The blonde woman icily.

"What do you expect on a diner like this? Had this not been the only diner here, I would have not agreed with you to eat here." The brunnette woman added.

"Those bitches! They think they are fancy and all that yet we both know their bags and shoes are all from yard sale."

"Gimme a break! Those are the tactless customers who keeps following up their orders not 15 minutes from being seated." Kathy

"Just sit back and relax. Jean got this. I have never met any customer who does not warm up to her." Grant laid back to the kitchen counter.

"She is a very persuasive person." Alice seconded.

Jean is oblivious to the pairs of worried eyes observing her too focus at the matter at hand. She may look so innocent and naive but Jean was known for her temper even during her days in X-men.

'So I guess I have no choice then.' Jean contemplated. She is really itching to finish serving these women yet they make it so hard for her.

'Alright Jean. You can do this. Do not slip up or else you could leave them brain dead.' Jean subtly went through their mind to have the information she needed. People in the diner believed that Jean has a knack on persuasion but what they do not know is the girl they had welcomed in their homes and family is actually a mutant of monstrous proportions.

Beads of sweat formed in the redhead's forehead. She has been out of touch for quite sometime so she was extra careful than usual. She smiled when she got what she looked for.

"My apologies Ma'am. We do not want to inconvenience you with anything." She said sincerely. "We know that you have travelled quite a distance to get in our place and the last thing you need is have your meals delayed." She continued.

The two young women are caught off guard, guilt painting their faces.

"Thank you and we are really sorry for how we acted. It's just that we have been travelling for almost a day now and it got us a bit irritated." The blonde woman apologized.

"Yeah. It is unfair that we lashed it out on you. We just never thought that the amount of time and effort just to get here would drain us both." The brunette smiled sheepishly.

"I understand." Jean offered a sympathetic smile. "First time travellers in our place had just the same experience as you both have." She placed her hand softly on the blonde woman's shoulders trying to comfort her.

"How about this? As a welcome gesture of our town, we would give you a pitcher of our house blend juice, does that sound good?"

"You don't have to but thanks. What is your name?"

"I'm Jean."

"Well I am Cassie and this brunette over here is my bestfriend Margarette." The blonde woman introduced.

"It is nice meeting you and welcome to Reserve. I'll just prepare your pitcher."

"Jean?" Cassie called not long after.

Jean turned around and looked at them expectantly.

"You are wonderful person and it was nice meeting you also." The blonde woman's remark forced a genuine smile in Jean's very exhausted face.

"Incredible!" Alice was astounded by what she witnessed.

Kathy just shool her head at amazement.

"Told you guys! Nobody could ever resist her kindness." Garrett remarked.

"I just hope she smile like that more often." Kathy placed the prepared orders.

"Yeah. I wish we could do something for her." Alice plopped down the kitchen counter and put her chin on her hands thinjing thoughtfully.

"Maybe we could give her a timeoff. I mean the diner is manageable even with only Alice and I manning the table. " Garrett moved to fixe the plates to be served to their customers.

"We can definitely take her shifts. And oh!" Alice's eyes twinkled at her brilliant idea. "Maybe we can shell out some cash so we could afford to give her a vacation. Whatcha think?"

"Not a bad idea Alice!"

"Idle time would only worsen her condition." The Alice, Kathy and Jet stiffened and turned to face the direction of the voice.

A chubby middle-aged woman with both hands on her waist is glaring at them. The trio tried to swallow the lump in their throats to now avail.

"Mrs. Dickenson, we did not notice you there." Kathy stuttered.

The woman just only raised her eyebrow and continued, "You lot should now better than gossiping more so when we have a lot of customers."

"Sorry. It's just that we were so worried about Jean. It is as if she is shutting herself up." Alice looked back at the readhead. "I think she should try some soul searching to ease her mind." She added.

Elena Dickenson smiled sadly. She cannot be mad at her employees for being worried with one another. She all treated them as if they are her own children. And each of them treated each other as siblings.

"I don't think it would help her. Not when she got no one to spend a vacation with. As much as we treat each other as a family, she has not opened up to us regarding her current situation. I could have given her a month long leave if I am sure that she could get herself together. But knowing her, she'll just lock herself in her room and pretend that everything is okay."

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creak* Jean unlocked the door of her apartment. With a sigh, she went directly to her kitchen to prepare her dinner.

Elena had been kind enough to give her some food after their shift. She has volunteered to stay in Alice's stead since the latter will celebdate her and her boyfriend's first anniversary.

She can't help but to smile remembering the happiness and excitement in her friend's face. She believed she had the exact expression during her first year with...

'Scott' Jean's grip on the plate loosened a bit causing the plate to drop loudly on her table.

She gasped and immediately inspected it for cracks to which she found none.

She mentally chastised herself for losing control over her thoughts. Scott Summers, the only man she loved and truth be told will ever love, had been a taboo since she rose from the grave. She has been very careful not to dwell on his memories nor to tell it to her new friends.

'I have lot of important things to worry about and Scott Summers ain't one of it.'

Jean shook her head furiously to shake off the growing grief and anger within her and started eating. She shoved the muddy eyed ex husband far back her thoughts and locked it there for now. This has been her defense mechanism whenever her mind would drift of her past. She has mastered compartmentalizing things over the years. That is why she managed to stay away from her previous life instead of running back to the X-men.

She would be a hypocrite if she would deny thinking of her mutant family. As a matter of fact, she always see them on things around her. But she knows that staying away would be the best gift she could offer them. Danger seemed to always find its way to her and if distancing herself would ensure their safety, it is a sacrifice she is willing to take.

She unceremoniously threw herself on her bed. She is really exhausted and tried to sleep it all off. She just hopes that her nightmares woukd give her a break even just for this night.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Jean stared blankly on her ceiling. Her eyes could barely trace its form. It has been two hours but sleep seemed elusive to her. Her mind drifted off to the matter at hand.

It had been 2 weeks since she felt the call of the Phoenix Force. 2 long weeks of being on the edge. It did not help that her nightmares still continue. Her mind had been really preoccupied searching for traces of her mutant friends. She had been tracking them to inform them on the sudden turn of events. But none of her efforts had been succesful.She tried calling the numbers on the X-mansion in new york but the lines are not existing anymore.

Jean plopped herself down on her bead arms coveeing her eyes. She is just really exhausted and wanted some rest. She had been more and more desperate as days go by. She's planning to telepathically communicate with the X-men but do not want to risk getting caught by the Phoenix Force during the process.

"Ugh. Damn it!" Jean cursed and let herself be lulled to sleep. Her exhaustion was far too strong washing away her worries temporarily. And this time her mind, to tired with everything, tend to agree with her and lulled herself into sleep. That was the first night in 4 years that Jean slept soundly.