Disclaimer: X-men is Marvel's!! Blah blah blah!
Scott sat silently at his desk. He had long ago given up any hopes of falling asleep that night, and had likewise given up on getting any of his homework done. Rogue snored slightly, and Scott smiled. She looked so peaceful. In nearly all of his memories of her, she was angry and hurt. He loved seeing her without the perpetual glare on her face.
Sighing, he stood up. He couldn't just sit there doing nothing, and Rogue looked as though she would be safe alone. He considered going to the kitchen for an after-midnight snack, but decided against it. His stomach was full, and breakfast would be in a few hours anyway. He paused in the middle of the hallway, unsure of what to do.
He doubted that Jean would be up this late, but he decided to try anyway. Stopping in front of her door, he considered again whether or not to disturb her. As he stood in silence, he heard no sounds from inside, and so turned away. She needed to sleep, and after their last parting he was sure that he could only hurt her.
He fell onto the couch, glad for a chance to be lost in something other than his thoughts. Turning on the TV, he changed it from the ever-depressing news to VH1. He stared mindlessly as music videos played. Matchbox 20: he liked them. Linkin Park: they were okay. Justin Timberlake came on and he changed the channel, breaking his trance. He discovered An Officer and a Gentleman playing on a station he had never watched before, and he became engrossed in the story.
As Richard Gere carried his love away in his arms, Scott turned off the TV and stood up to go back upstairs. He found Jean standing at the bottom of the staircase, and he faltered.
"Oh, Jean, hi," he stammered. She avoided his eyes. "What are you doing up so early? You need your rest."
Glaring, she answered him. "I'm having a baby, Scott. I'm not sick."
"Oh, oh yeah, right. I'm sorry." He rubbed the back of his head, looking down in embarrassment.
Jean sighed and crossed her arms. He expression softened. "No, it's okay. I know you're just trying to do what's best for me. I'm just... having a really difficult time right now. I'm sure you can imagine why."
He smirked a little and moved closer to her. "Jean, I don't like to see you so upset. You were right earlier. This child is ours, so no one else's opinions should matter. Not even your parents'. The baby is our blessing." He moved his hand down to her abdomen and closed his eyes.
"Scott, you can't feel anything yet," she told him kindly.
"Yes I can. I can feel the life, and I can feel the joy he's going to bring to our lives." Tipping her head up, he kissed her slowly and gently, letting his lips linger on hers. Pulling away, he looked at her lovingly. Head still slightly up, and eyes still closed, she was the closest thing to an angel he had ever seen. "So," he said finally, "why are you up so early?"
"I was hungry," she murmered, a little embarrassed. He led her into the kitchen, and sat her down at a stool at the counter.
"What'll you be having this morning?" he asked.
Smiling for the first time in two days, she ordered her usual eggs... with a pickle on the side. Lucky for her, Scott was a much better cook than Kitty was, and she feasted merrily until the sun began to peak through the curtains. Then she helped him clean up the kitchen, and they went back upstairs together.
As Scott left Jean at her door, he paused and grabbed her hand. "Wait, Jean? Will you marry me? Not now, maybe not for a while, but will you? Will you promise me your hand now?"
Radiating with joy, she wrapped her arms around him. "Yes," she whispered in his ear before releasing him and retreating happily into her room.
Grinning like a boy on the last day of school, Scott practically skipped back to his room. As he neared the door, however, he remembered the sleeping girl inside and slowed. Opening the door quickly to avoid the creak, he found the bed empty. "Oh shit! Oh no!" he thought, running off toward the bathroom. He found that nothing had been disturbed since he had taken Rogue away from there earlier in the night. The pills were still scattered on the floor, and the medicine cabinet's door still hung ajar.
Far from relieved, Scott set off again. Visions of Rogue kept running through his head. Drowned, hanged, cut: there were too many horrific possibilities. Reaching her and Kitty's room, he didn't hesitate to slam the door open. As it banged against the wall two figures shot up from their beds.
"Scott! What's wrong?" Kitty shrieked, scared pale. Rogue just stared at him, knowing what had him so frightened. She had awoken not long after he had left the room. It was impossible for her to fall back asleep in his room, so she left. It only occured to her now that he would be concerned.
"Oh, uh, sorry girls," Scott stammered, staring at Rogue. "I didn't mean to wake you up. You still have a few more hours until breakfast, so go ahead and go back to sleep."
"O-kay..." Kitty said, rolling her eyes. She fell back onto her bed and pulled the comforter up around her, ready to take Scott's advice.
Rogue stayed upright, watching Scott as he closed the door. His gaze had not moved off of her the entire time that he was in there. Smiling in the darkness, she leaned up against one of her pillows. He truly cared. She knew from his touch that he loved her. Not to the extent that he loved Jean, but he did love her. She wasn't just a shadow. She wasn't forgotten.
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Author's Note: Yay!! Reconciliation!!
