xJeanGreyx: Hopefully this counts as more fanfictions. ^-^

Cass: The shape at the end was pretty cool looking

Tournesol: Me? Plot idea? *falls over laughing* I'm famous for writing long stories with no plots. lol

Lia: First, thanks for the lovely email and review. I do so very like surprising people at the last minute. It's all convenient plot devices, and I've been fooled once or twice by the technique myself.

Steph: It's always great to hear that a reader has taken something away from the story. And the song is enough to make me cry, mostly because the rock-ish music makes the mournful vocal sound even more heartbreaking.

Xfan: Here's the continuation! Hopefully it remains up to standard.

Jean_grey: The first piece is a prologue to the story. And I've read the Wheel of Time series for so long I can't imagine actually having a prologue that bears relevance to the rest of the story.

x-freak010: This baby isn't going anywhere. Heck, even I'm starting to like it. Lol

Opal: I doubt my muses would let the 'ship go any other way. They can be pretty violent.

Nani?: Ahh, "touching". One of the best words a writer will ever hear.

King Zoe: "Lovely". Another one of those magic words. ^-^

Zi Marquise: That CD is wonderful, isn't it? I've cried at a few of the tracks, as embarrassing as that is to admit.

All reviewers: Thanks for the generally great feedback! For the first time in my writing "career", it's been the reviewers that have inspired me to work on the story. Thanks!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Logan wasn't surprised to find her with Scott. And he hardly blamed the man for the hold he had around her. Hell, if he was in that position, he doubted he'd let Jean out of his sight for a minute.

But there was still that brief moment of pain when he was reminded who it was she loved. That overbearing, uptight son of a bitch she called her husband. He had come to grudgingly respect Scott Summers, but he'd never like him. Especially when he was kissing Logan's girl.

She looked up when he entered, and he couldn't help but notice the way her lips curled when she smiled.

"Hello Logan."

Nothing more. No "Good to see you", no "What are you doing here?". Nothing.

Scott gave him what could only be a look of amusement before whispering into her ear and slipping out a side door. She stood after he left, and wrapped her arms around Logan.

"Welcome home Jeannie," he whispered into her hair. He wondered if she knew how crazy the lemon scent drove him.

"Thank you for telling Scott the truth," was all she said, drawing back. She smiled once more, and exited the room.

~*~*~*~

Jean was shaking as she left.

"Dinner, tonight. Be ready for 8."

She had thought of arguing with him. There was doubtlessly a back up of work she had to complete, and other matters to see to.

He had simply argued that he needed her, away from the school, away from the X Men, and the unspoken need to be away from Wolverine.

When was the last time we were alone?

She was surprised at the answer. A long time. They were busy people, ones who rarely saw each other except for nights. They had always made a point to spend part of every day together, but they had slipped up. Busy exam schedules, missions and work had taken up their time. The only times they had gone out lately was as chaperones for field trips.

She felt a surge of guilt. Why had it taken the experience at Alkali Lake to realize what it was she was taking for granted, what they both were?

~*~*~*~

Amelia Black was waiting outside the bedroom when Jean arrived.

"Dr. Grey," was all she got out before bursting into tears.

Jean wrapped her arms around the student, and brought her inside.

"Amelia, what's wrong?"

Jean listened in silent horror as the girl spilled her darkest secrets. Childhood abuse she had repressed until the only mother figure she ever had died, causing nightmares that Jean could not imagine.

"Shh, shh," she whispered, hoping to comfort her. "It's okay, I'm here. I'll help you. We all will. It's okay."

They sat that way for over an hour, both teacher and student crying. In the end, it was Amelia who moved. Wiping tears from her eyes, she gave her bravest smile.

"I have classes. I should go."

"You don't have to go if you don't want to."

"I'll be okay. I just needed to get that out."

"I'll be here if you need me."

"I know."

~*~*~*~

She turned on the hot water and let the tears come. She had felt that twist of pain that Scott still hadn't forgotten, Amelia's memories, everything. It was too much. How had she done that to people she cared for?

It wasn't until much later that the tears stopped, and she stepped out of the shower. She wrapped a bathrobe around herself and sat on the edge of her bed. Exhaustion overtook her, and she fell into a dreamless sleep.

~*~*~*~

Scott went to his room to get dressed. The first thing he noticed was Jean asleep on the bed, a telltale trail of tears on her cheeks.

At that moment he knew there was never a more perfect woman, with her disheveled hair and that half smile on her lips. He hoped her dreams were as happy as his when he was with her.

He brushed her lips with his, and she stirred.

Half opened eyes looked at him with sleepy amusement. "Hey."

"Hey sleepyhead."

Her eyes widened when she saw the time on the alarm clock.

"We're late," she accused, jumping out of bed.

"Forget it, we'll do dinner tomorrow."

"How many times have we said that lately? Now, out! I have to get ready."

"But I'm not…" he tried to protest.

She pulled a suit out of the closet, stuffed it into his arms and pushed him out the door.

~*~*~*~

She was stunning. There was no other word he could use. The navy blue gown set off her colouring beautifully, and her hair fell in the softest of waves. How she had managed that look in ten minutes was beyond him.

Logan watched from the games room as she swept down the stairs with unrivalled grace into the waiting arms of her lover. He could help but notice the extra bounce in her step, the special twinkle in her eye, the smell of contentment rolling off her in waves. She was in love, no doubt.

Ororo drew up beside him, silently watching the events unfold.

It wasn't until the couple had left that either one of them spoke.

"Where they going?" he asked gruffly. Part of him wanted to track her down there, woo her, and carry her off.

"McDonalds."

His surprise was evident.

"It's a long story."

"I'd love to hear it."

"You see, it all started with a plan and a snowball…"

……………………………….

Reviews and feedback appreciated.

Up next: Dinner, the truth about Mickey Dees and a whole lot more! So stay tuned! Unless of course I've bored you to death! Sorry!