"There it's all done Emma. What do you think? Do you like it?" Bobby asked in an anxious tone.
Reclining on the bed Emma admired Bobby's work. The ice statue of her was exquisite fully capturing her considerable beauty. Yes she liked his work, so much in fact that she was going to give him a reward. She smiled warmly to him and crooked a finger beckoning him to her.
Bobby shuffled forward somewhat nervously and knelt by the bed as she indicated for him to do. Then she gave him another of those dazzling smiles that set his heart racing and he felt her thoughts in his mind expressing praise and gratitude for a job well done. Then she kissed him on the cheek and he felt as though his heart would explode.
"Now Bobby let's see what else you can do. Surprise me this time," purred Emma.
Bobby then produced a lovely ice rose which he presented to Emma with a hopeful smile. She couldn't restrain a little gasp of pleasure and this time she kissed Bobby full on the lips. There came a muffled thud as Bobby fainted, overcome by shock.
"Drat. I'll just have to wait for him to wake up."
Meanwhile Jean and Ororo had reached an impasse and had decided to call a truce for the moment. They surveyed the carnage wrought by the battle and decided that Xavier was definitely going to have a coronary when he saw the damage. That large hole in the mansion roof and the demolished boat house would take a lot of explaining. Perhaps they could explain it as a visit by Juggernaut or a battle with some Sentinels.
"Truthfully Jean you don't deserve Logan. You've been leading him on for years and encouraging him with the odd kiss and spoken word when you know how much he cares from you. He knows he can never be with you and that is a heavy burden for his heart to carry. It's not fair on Scott either to pursue the affections of another mans heart while ignoring the good and loyal husband right there at your side."
"Well at least I've actually got feelings for Logan. I mean if you love him as much as you say you do then you've never shown it. Anyway I can't help it if men have feelings for me. At least I'm not like Emma Frost dressing up like you know what and constantly in danger of popping out of my clothes. She loves to tease men you know and I can still remember what she did with Bobby."
"At least Emma's able to attract men without needing to take over their minds. I'm sure that's what you must have done with Scott and Logan in the first place and I'm sure you dye your hair."
"Right that's it Ororo you've got me mad."
"Oh so you're going to go Dark Phoenix on us again are you?"
With that the fight between Ororo and Jean started all over again and it was even more vicious than before. Scott and Logan were watching from the comparative safety of the mansion roof. They had been placed there at the start of the fight and Scott was in no hurry to get down.
"Well Logan your berserker rages are nothing compared to the way those two are going on. You know I never knew that Ororo knew those words and Jean doesn't usually do that sort of thing. Still I'd love to know why you seem so happy. I mean you haven't growled in over an hour. I'm sure this is something to do with Hank's cologne and I'm going to have some words with our furry friend."
Unfortunately Scott might as well have been talking to himself as Logan was paying him no attention whatsoever. The short and hairy mutant was kneeling with one arm outstretched. On his hand a small bird was perched and Logan was gazing steadily at it with surprisingly mild blue eyes. This serene picture was broken only when the bird began very gently to sing. At this Logan's tranquil expression was split by a happy smile as he listened contentedly.
"Merde, Remy's head is feeling like he just went ten rounds with Sabretooth. Looks like de Cajun lost too. Hello chere."
"Remy ahm so sorry fer hurting yah like that. Ahm going tah make it up to you."
Rogue leaned closer to Remy and brushed his tousled hair with one gloved hand. She ran her hand over Remy's cheek and he would have enjoyed this more if he wasn't afraid about being kissed again. He had also just noticed that his shirt was missing and he was securely strapped to the bed.
"Ahm going tah come back later Remy, Cecilia's going to look after you for now."
"Chere, come back and let Remy go," called the Cajun frantically.
Then Cecilia Reyes came in through the door wearing a rather nice black dress and carrying a bottle of champagne. She smiled at Remy and poured him a glass of champagne. Then she got out her medical equipment and leaned close to whisper in his ear.
"Well I'll need to give you a thorough medical evaluation Remy but don't you worry. I'm going to take really good care of you. You know you really are handsome. Now let me listen to your heart."
"Cecilia dis isn't funny. Please stop dis at once. Remy feels rather exploited at de moment."
Sadly Remy's pleas went unheeded.
Jubilee, Hank and Creed were thoroughly exhausted after having literally run for their lives. Fortunately they had managed to make it to the safety of the mansion after having witnessed the fight between Ororo and Jean. Now they were safely ensconced in Hank's laboratory where he was just beginning to realize his folly.
"Stars and garters Jubilee, I never intended for my cologne to be quite this powerful. It would seem I have opened the proverbial Pandora's Box and if we get out of this with our hides intact I swear never to let my curiosity get the better of me again."
"Yeah right, so why aren't I affected and why is Creed behaving like a kitty cat."
"Perhaps because you have been dosed with the cologne you have been rendered immune to its deleterious effects. As for Creed I can determine that in his case the cologne has stimulated the production of dopamine and other endorphins in his brain thus bringing on a euphoric state and explaining his current docility."
"Could ya run that by us fer a second time and use words we can actually understand."
"Fine to put it simply, it's given you a high Creed and I would imagine it's done the same to Logan."
"Yeah I want ta find Logan so I can give him a hug. Then we can be pals just like you and me and Jubilee."
Jubilee gave a strangled squeak as Creed picked her up in a clumsy bear hug and when it was Hank's turn he swore that he felt a rib give way. Sighing heavily Hank gently patted Creed on the head.
"So Hank what are you going to do about this?"
"I shall simply have to find a solution my dear Jubilee but first let us get rid of the remaining Eau de Beast."
"Well that's really going to be fun since we've got to dodge Rogue, Jean, Ororo and any other X-Women. Oh my god we've got to save Wolvie."
"We shall Jubilee but at least we can nip this in the bud. Just think of the chaos if someone else found out about the cologne and decided to duplicate it."
Sinister was smiling triumphantly. The formula was a remarkably simple considering who had invented it. Now he would be able to reproduce it and duplicate the effects of Hank's invention. He was sure that he could find it very useful indeed.
"Oh yes Beast, the thought of your face when you see me enhanced with your serum warms the cockles of my heart. You will flee in terror for your worthless lives before my enhanced might!"
Sinister laughed long and hard and then set about producing a test sample to try out on himself. It would indeed enhance him but not quite in the way he had planned.