Scott and Jean had finally gone to their room, Logan had apologized and told Kurt that he would speak with me in the morning, and Rogue and Remy were both alive, but not speaking to each other. It was the best we could hope for at the moment.
I smiled as I approached my bed. Finally, it was time to sleep again. I was exhausted. I hoped I would enter that world again, that bright velvet world of love and laughter.
My eyes closed. The eternity of blue velvet wrapped around me, and I was taken into a room with Jean.
Jean?
She spoke, teasing. "So, have you set a date yet?"
I laughed. "You just want everyone to get married because you are getting married."
She shrugged. "Guilty." She cut more fabric as she spoke. We were having a fitting of my gown. Jean had insisted on outfitting all of the X-men, as well as the attendants, which was taking time.
"You should propose to him. He might be surprised enough that he'd agree." Jean was nothing if not persistent.
"Look, just because something worked for you, it doesn't mean it'll work for me." I turned.
"Stop wiggling. I have to get this hem straight." Jean smacked me, lightly, and I stood still. "Well, marriage isn't really Logan's thing, but he was willing to indulge me." She smiled. "Besides, I think Kurt would like it. Make it romantic, you know? Light lots of candles, wine, soft music …"
I giggled. "I could just give him a beer, shoot some pool, say, 'You're mine, elf,' and move in with him."
"Yeah, but he's not me." Logan stood in the door and raised an eyebrow. "Now, if you did that to me …"
"You'd smile at her and say no, thanks. Right?" Jean smiled brightly at him, and he put his hands up.
"Well, yeah. 'Ro's not my type." He looked me over and whistled. "Though if she dressed like that all the time …"
I felt heat rising into my face, and Jean gave him a dirty look. "Ignore the lustful boor, Storm. He just doesn't understand."
Logan crossed to Jean and kissed her, hard and long, and I had to look away. I hated to admit it, but I did want to marry Kurt, and I was becoming more impatient the longer things took.
"All right. Now go. I have to get Storm's gown adjusted." Jean patted her hair a little, and Logan gave me a wink on his way out the door. She was done, actually, and had me remove it. I gave it a longing look as I put on my old clothes. It was long, midnight blue, with white silk at the top over my chest. It swept up over my shoulders, like the crest of a wave.
"So, what's on the agenda now?" Jean hung up the dress and I straightened my shirt.
"I think I might take a shower out back. Keep the kids away, would you?"
"Sure!" Jean beamed. "Glad to. No problem. Besides, it's been really dry."
I walked out and got out of eyesight from the mansion. Good. I threw off my boring old constricting clothing and began. I brought in clouds slowly, and began a gentle spring shower. I rose a little way into the air, the gentle breeze cushioning me. It felt wonderful. The water was just warm enough, refreshing against my naked skin, and I sang a little as the winds picked up and the strength of the rain increased.
I extended my consciousness, picking up the joy of the grass and the trees as the water soaked in, and the delight of the man who watched me, believing he should go but enjoying the sight far too much to pry himself out of his tree. I turned in his direction and called, "Come in, Kurt. The water is fine."
"I do not think I should. I should go." His eyes looked around the tree, then hid behind the trunk again. I directed some water his way.
"Don't make me bring you over here." I threw my head back, letting the water go down my throat. Perfect. Wonderful.
"Are you certain?" He made his way down from the tree and stood under it.
I brought him over to me with the wind, and he gasped. "I suppose you are."
"I know what I want, Kurt Wagner. Do you?"
He met my eyes, overwhelmed but eager. "Ja," he whispered, and we spent the rest of the time enjoying my small storm together.
Eventually, the rain must end, and it did, but I nudged him. "Look."
He caught his breath. I had created a rainbow for him, a double one, and we watched as it followed the remains of the rain.
"Wait here," he said, pulling on his clothes again and teleporting away. When he returned, he got to one knee, looking solemn. I also went to one knee and took his hand.
"Geliebt Ororo, mein Herz, liebes, would you do me the great honor of agreeing to become my wife?" He held out a small dark ring. It was hand-carved, and had a pattern on it of spades and clouds.
"Well," I said slowly, turning the ring over in my hand, "I will let you do me the honor of agreeing to be my husband."
"Mein starker Wind, it will be my pleasure." We embraced, and he whispered to me, "Now, you are going to have to go back again."
I pulled away. This did not make sense. "What do you mean?"
He smiled at me sadly. "You know. You must go back."
"Back where we fightin', chere." Remy stood next to Kurt, his eyes burning into me.
"Back where we are confused." Jean stood next to Remy.
"Back to where we kinda got lost." Logan stood next to Jean, rubbing her hand.
Looking at each of them, I said, "Back to reality, you mean?"
Kurt kissed me gently. "No, Storm. You think it is real. But it is not, entirely."
I did not know what to believe. "What isn't real? What happened?"
The four of them looked at each other, and Logan raised a finger. "I'll take this one. Storm, darlin', we can't tell ya too much. If we do, we'll be found out. You gotta figure it out yourself. But Kurt's got one last thing that should help ya set things right. Tell her," he said, jerking his head toward me.
Kurt bent down and kissed my ear. He said, quietly, "Do what you did to find the enemy within on the Z'reee Shar, before you left in the shuttle. Now, go back, and remember us."
I fell, fell back and awoke in my bed in the mansion.
