Chapter 10
Scott was haphazardly tossing the few belongings he had with him at the hospital into a bag. He had been discharged that morning, and he hoped that the press would be onto different news by the time he was ready to leave. Planning on going straight to the apartment, he still wasn't sure what he was going to do after that. Sighing, he finished packing just as Eve entered the hospital room.
"You ready?" Turning to face her, Scott smiled, hoping he would convince her that he wasn't stressing out about the decision looming over his head. He picked up his bag and walked over to her, throwing an arm around her shoulders.
"Let's get out of here." Eve tilted her head to glance at the profile she loved so much. His strong jaw and beautiful smile. Looking up further, she felt a pang of sadness that she would never see his amazing blue eyes again. Today, they were covered by the ruby red glasses, which left more of his face open and looked more "normal." But she knew that the larger visors were in the bag he was carrying, and they made her think about how he went out as Cyclops - risking his life to further acceptance of mutants. That thought scared her as she thought of how many times he could die in the future - and how many times he might have already died. But she knew that she would never ask him to stop it; she knew how much it meant to him. Asking him to set aside Cyclops would be like asking him to cut off his arm. But that didn't mean she wouldn't worry.
Walking out of the hospital, they waved goodbye to Dave and were relieved to see that the press had moved onto other stories. They said very little on the drive to the apartment, but Scott used that time to come up with a plan. Now, sitting at the dinner table, he decided to bring up his plan to Eve.
"In a couple days, I'm going to leave for Westchester." A flash of pain flitted across Eve's face, and she quickly looked down at her plate.
"Oh...I understand."
"No, you don't." She looked up again, confused. "Now that I remember, I cannot leave the school or the mission. Teaching the kids and leading the team is all I ever wanted to do. But because I want to go back to that doesn't automatically mean that I want to go back to Jean. I don't know what I want. But I'm also not selfish enough to think that it's only my choice to make. I would like you to come to Westchester with me - see the school, get to know me as Scott. You may come to realize that you don't love me as much as you loved Logan."
Scott paused, unsure of how to continue without hurting Eve's feelings. "But, if you come, you have to realize that, just as going home doesn't mean I want Jean, my asking you to come along doesn't mean that I'm going to stay with you. I love you so much, but I love Jean, too. This is the hardest thing I ever have to do. And I realize it's horribly unfair of me to ask you to come when I may leave you for another women. But, if I don't leave you, it's only right that you know what you're getting into - and who you're getting into it with."
Eve thought about his offer for a few seconds, but it felt like an eternity to Scott. "Okay. But I'm only coming as a friend who's interested in knowing more about you. I don't want you to feel like you owe me anything. I can see how much this is hurting you, and I know you love us both. And I won't hold it against you if you decide you want to be with Jean. She seems like an amazing woman."
Scott leaned forward to kiss her. "You're not so bad yourself." But Eve placed a hand on his chest before he could finish moving toward his lips.
"You heard what I said, Bucko. From now on, we're just friends until we BOTH decide differently."
Scott smiled and moved back to his chair with his hands up in mock surrender.
* * *
A few days later, Eve and Scott walked off of the airplane and toward the luggage pickup, where they planned to meet Bobby, who had driven out to pick them up and bring them to the school. Scott quickly scanned the crowd milling about and soon picked out the boy standing off one side.
"Bobby!" Scott watched the boy turn in their direction, wave and smile at them.
"Hi, Scott. Dr. Crawford."
"Please call me Eve."
"Okay. Go on and get your bags so we can go! Everyone wants to see you." Scott picked up his duffel bag and Eve's suitcase. The rest of the belongings he had accumulated over the last few months were going to be shipped out to the school by Dave.
"So how have classes been going without me?"
"Eh. Ok. Kurt picked up a few classes - and Logan, if you can believe that. But they're just not the same as our Mr. Summers."
"Suck up."
"You know it."
"Storm's been leading the team, but I know she's more than looking forward to hand the reins back over to you. She says she's not cut out for the strategy-making like you are."
"I'm sure she did fine. Say, how are you and Rogue doing?" Bobby smiled a rakish grin.
"It's amazing what mesh can do."
"Bobby!" The two men burst out laughing, while Eve just gave them a confused look. Scott smiled and shook his head, mouthing I'll explain later. When they neared the Ferrari that Bobby drove to pick them up, Scott let out a whoop of pure joy.
"Bobby, who finished the body work on this? I didn't have it ready to drive yet when I left."
"I did - well, me and Piotr. We were bored, so we thought we'd surprise you with it."
"Hey, thanks. Is it alright with the mechanic if I drive?"
"Of course. It's your car, after all."
Scott threw the bags into the back, and Bobby climbed in after them. Eve went to the passenger side, and Scott slid into the driver's seat, running his hands lovingly over the leather-covered steering wheel. Eve watched him with an amused expression on her face. Bobby leaned forward in between their chairs to mock Scott.
"Get used to this, Eve. He's always like this. Scott lives for fast cars...and motorcycles...and planes..." Scott blushed, cleared his throat and started the car. Bobby and Eve laughed at the expression he made when he heard the powerful roar of the engine.
"Oh, just shut up." Throwing the car into gear, Scott skillfully maneuvered his way out of the airport's parking lot and on to the familiar road to the mansion. It awed him that the route seemed so familiar to him now, when just a week ago he wouldn't even be able to tell someone where Westchester was, much less a private school for the gifted in Westchester. He cleared the thought from his mind when they reached the open road, and he let the car go, experimenting with what it could do.
"So how is everyone at the school?"
"Good. We haven't had any major events or emergencies or anything."
Scott glanced over at Eve and cleared his throat.
"And...uh...is it okay with everyone that I'm bringing Eve?"
"The Professor made an
announcement, so everyone's prepared." Eve sighed and turned in her seat
to face Bobby.
"What Scott is trying to delicately hint at so as to spare my feelings is how Jean feels about my coming."
"No! That's not...I..."
"Scott! We've talked about this. It's okay."
Bobby's head went back and forth between the two, as if he was watching a tennis match. Unwilling to be too caught up in the love triangle, he debated whether he should actually answer the question or not. Deciding that the sooner it was addressed, the sooner they could move on, he quickly interrupted Scott's stammering apology.
"Yes. Jean is okay with Eve coming. Or, at least as okay as one would expect her to be."
Scott glanced back at Bobby and quickly shut up. He turned his attention back to the road, but the passengers could tell his mind was a million miles away. They drove the rest of the way in silence, and Scott soon eased the Ferrarri into it's slot in the garage.
"Wow." Eve stared dumbstruck at the cars and motorcycles surrounding her.
"Yeah. We have a lot of vehicles here." Scott unbuckled his seat belt and opened the door. He turned to Eve and winked at her. "Don't worry. Only some of them are mine."
Eve didn't get a chance to respond before the door to the garage opened to allow a mass of screaming children race into the room. The kids went immediately to Scott. The first ones there enveloped him with hugs, while the others waited impatiently for their turn. Laughing at the spectacle, Eve turned toward the door to see the Professor wheeling out with a huge smile on his face. Jean and Ororo were behind him.
"C'mon. This will take awhile. I'll show you to the room you'll be staying in." Ororo smiled welcomingly at Eve and reached out to grab her suitcase from her.
"Thanks." Eve followed self-consciously, unsure if she should greet the Professor and Jean. Once again, the Professor took that choice away from her.
Welcome, Eve. I hope your trip was pleasant. If you need anything, please let me know. Eve stumbled as she walked behind Ororo, but they were inside the building before she could figure out how she was supposed to respond. Once inside, all other concerns vanished from her mind, as she was too busy being awed by the simple, elegant beauty of the mansion.
Ororo led the way to the main staircase and up to the second floor. Walking about halfway down the hallway, she stopped in front of a door on the left hand side.
"This will be your room. There is a bathroom attached, and there should be towels and other items in there. We're as good as any four star hotel." Eve laughed and followed the woman into the room. She gasped at the size of the room.
"Wow. It's beautiful."
"Yes. It's our 'good' guestroom. The Professor wanted to give you the best visit possible." Ororo set Eve's suitcase down and headed to the door. "I'm sure you'll want to unpack and rest after the flight. Um, if you need anything, both Scott's and my room are on the far east end of the third floor. Or you can wander around downstairs. Someone is always down there, and everyone will be more than helpful. Or you can just think really loudly, and the Professor or Jean will come find you."
"Jean's a telepath, too?"
"Didn't Scott tell you about our powers."
"He told me a little bit, but he mainly talked about his own and a little bit about the Professor's."
"Oh, well. There are way too many children to tell you about all of theirs, so I'll concentrate on us adults. The Professor and Jean are both telepathic, and Jean is also telekinetic. Logan has advanced healing and senses and an adamantium - uh...metal- skeleton and claws. Those he was obviously NOT born with. Um...Kurt, besides having a physical mutation, can also teleport. And I control the weather."
"Whoa."
"In a word." Ororo smiled and reached for the doorknob. "I'll see you later, Eve."
* * *
Twenty minutes after his return, Scott finally finished greeting all of the students that had raced out to meet him. Some were still hanging around, but most had moved onto other activities. The Professor and Jean were also still around, but he hadn't had the chance to speak with either of them. Suppressing the fourth yawn in as many minutes, Scott began to think longingly of his bed upstairs.
"Alright, children. That's enough. Scott needs some time to unwind. He'll be here later, too." The Professor winked at him, and Scott thanked him profusely in his mind. Grabbing his bag, he bounded up the stairs to his room and was almost at the door before the thought that it wasn't just his room hit his stomach like a ton of lead.
Not anymore, Scott... Jean's voice, in his head for the first time since he recovered from his amnesia, was like a caress, and it brought back memories of other, more intimate times they spoke mind to mind.
What do you mean?
I mean, I didn't want to put you in an uncomfortable position with me or with Eve. I moved most of my things into my old room, and I will move the rest out as soon as possible.
I'm sorry, Jean.
Don't be. How many times will I have to tell you that?
Well, I'm sorry you had to move out of your room.
Don't be silly. It was your room long before it was ours.
Her presence left his mind, and he lost his balance at the shock of it. His heart and mind felt empty without her near it, and he almost instinctively reached out for her again. Restraining himself, he focused on getting inside, unpacking and lying down for a nap.