I.
I stare out of the large panel window in the den of Xavier's School for Higher Learning. The day outside is beautiful, small birds leap from one frail branch to another, squirrels nimbly leap from tree to tree in some animalistic game of tag, and the birds sing as if they were singing to the world. Even after seeing such a blue sky, such a sunny day, I can't feel better.
I haven't seen Scott for several days now. I don't know where he is. Could I find him? There's no doubt about it. Next to the professor, I am the strongest telepath in the world. Yet, I can't bring myself to even try to find him. Maybe he doesn't want to be found. Maybe, it's just that I'm not ready yet...not ready to face the ugly truth.
It happened a while ago...it was actually one of the Stepford Cuckoos that hinted something was going on. I doubted it, I seriously wanted it to be a lie. But I saw for myself, Emma holding Scott, touching Scott, kissing him, the way only I should be able to...the way we used to do.
Nate helped me to find my husband...I wanted him back so badly. But did I really have him? He was so cold when he returned, ruthless, almost the total opposite of the man I knew as Scott Summers. I loved him...I still do, don't I? I just don't know anymore. Yes, I blame myself for him taking off.
I may be the second strongest telepath on earth, but I can't even get through to my estranged husband. I can't allow it to end like this. We've been through so much...all the pain, the tears, the heartache, the laughter, the love...how can we just fall apart like this? Is it me? Could the Phoenix really be changing me and I just don't realize it? Or maybe this is how love works. No, that can't be right, I won't let that be right.
I have control. I can bring my husband back to me.
II.
Professor Charles Xavier silently slipped into the room.
"Professor," Jean said without turning around.
"Your thoughts are like the thunder shaking the windows of an old shack. Come now, Jean...you need to rest." Jean hadn't slept well for the past few days, and continually drifted in and out of the spacious office.
"I feel comfortable in here...the first place I saw Scott," Jean replied. She continued to stare out the window. As Charles neared her, her face became more visible. He could see the trail of tears on her face.
"Jean," Charles softly said. He felt more like a father than anything to Jean and hated seeing her like this.
"I just don't understand how...why?" Jean paused, collecting herself before she continued. She wouldn't allow herself to lose control.
"How could this happen? Why...after all this time...?" Jean fell silent, staring at a small robin that quickly flew away.
Charles wished he could answer her questions. He wished that he could make her pain go away. It hurt him deeply to see two students he cared about so much at odds like this.
Charles sat down beside her, trying to see what she was captivated by outside.
"Things won't ever be the same again, will they?"
"Change is inevitable, Jean. Sometimes, it's not the change we hope for, but it is change nonetheless. Trials will always be there to strengthen us and this is no different. Scott needs you...he has always needed you, just as you need him. He will come back."
For the first time since he came in, Jean took her eyes away from the window, glancing down at the wedding ring on her slender finger. Jean stared at it for another moment, before returning her eyes to the scene outside of the window.
"Yes, he'll be back..." Jean whispered.