Author's Note Funeral Of Hearts: There is something you will like at the end of the story if you keep reading but in this alternate universe they do not have their powers. There will be something about that at the end. But the thing about my story is that they all sort of relate to their powers or personalities. Kurt (religious figure. Is said to be a devil but is not), Logan (he is in the stalks like he was tortured in the world we know him in), Professor X (understanding and calm and a like a father to Scott), Beast (science like), Ororo (personality relating to the weather). The thing about Rogue and Scott will come later. I hope you understand that : ).

Chapter 8

The stars were shining brightly tonight. The wolf howled chaotically to the blue moon tonight. The fire lightly sprouted from the wood the sleeping people were gathered around. They had seen enough fire already, but there was something different about this one. This one was the cause of the people making it together and comforting each other. This fire represented peace and warmth. It would keep them away from the cold air of autumn night.

Jean and Scott had gathered only their healthy people and began to pick everything off the ground. No matter how filthy something gets, you could always clean it back up. They had spent half the night cleaning things up and checking up on the injured. If Rogue was not with them, there was no possible way they could have cleaned most of the place up and had the rest of the night to sleep. She was a dedicated and strong worker. She had not spoken a word since her introduction and they did not pressure her to speak.

They would try to talk to her tomorrow morning, they were just too worn out at the moment for other people. The had provided a blanket for her and some water. She accepted shyly and fell to sleep in an instant. Scott had a genuine smile on his face when they finally uncovered the mystery they have been pondering all these years. But every time he looked over to Jean, she seemed less surprised and secured with Rogue. Rogue tried to avoid eye contact or any contact at all but it was hard not to be pulled in by Jean's magnetism. Scott looked around his people and then to Jean who sighed and yawned at the same time. His lips broke into a smile.

"Scott-Alex Sumners, what are you smiling about?" Jean asked with a tired expression as she followed his eyes.

"Look," Scott said as he motioned with his hands to his mother, who was sleeping peacefully. He looked to Jean who was already smiling and lightly closing her eyes for a few seconds of contentment.

Scott walked over to her and gave his mother a silent peck on the cheek. He had never done that in front of people, but he had the urge to express some of his relief and love to his mother. Jean just placed her hands together and dropped them to the bottom of her stomach. She smiled at Scott and nodded with fulfillment at their hard work today. She had saved more people's lives today than kings and queens of every country in Europe and kings and queens who have declared war in the past.

"Good night Scott," Jean said as she turned around. She was not planning on walking back home, she did not even ponder the thought or think about her home for one second. Anyways, she was too tired for anything but sleep right now. She was proceeding to walk, before Scott's low whispered voice spoke.

"One problem Princess," Scott said with sarcasm as Jean turned to him curiously. Scott just held up the blanket and smiled the widest smile she had ever seen on his face. "There is only one blanket left, Madam."

"Your point is?" Jean asked with a whisper and a joking annoyance on her face. Scott's smile faded slowly, but with comfort. He reached for Jean's hand and held it in the air with his supporting hers from underneath. He escorted her forward to an empty space five feet away from their people. Not much privacy, but to their eyes, each other was the only people they saw at the moment. Unconsciously Jean's eyes kept a lock with Scott's. Why was she doing this? She did not know. But she did not stop.

Scott kept his eyes pinned to Jean's eyes and captured her warm aura. He brought her around him and tightened her back towards his stomach. He held her hand in his and brought it outwards. He intertwined his fingers through hers as he whispered quiet words in her ears. "There is nothing left to sing, but the song must go on," he whispered as his smooth fingers ran up and down her own with warmth. He moved his hand with hers towards her waist, keeping his grip firmly but tenderly on hers. Jean closed her eyes and felt the warm fire emanate heat and Scott's lips exert light wind. Their people's breathing heard silently in the far distance. "La la la la la la la la la la," he whispered into her ear, continuing the silent and harmonic song.

Suddenly, a moan of a man's voice came from the crowd of sleeping people. People's voices muttering something in their nightmares rang through the air. A rough cold breeze blew past them in the night sky as they both shivered. Scott listened and then thought of his dear father. He suddenly tensed. He let go of her hand and placed the blanket lightly over her back. He had stopped. He had stopped as if the voices were motioning for them to stop and nature was telling them that it was enough. But they both acted as if it had never happened. As if their feelings were an illusion.

They both fell silent and decided to end their filled thoughts with a good night's sleep. They both laid on the concrete as Scott placed the blanket over Jean and took a small piece of it. Jean and Scott cuddled close to each other, her head against his bandaged chest beneath his torn shirt. Scott lightly held her around her stomach as they both enjoyed the silence. They savored the moments spent in each other's arms.

Jean spread the blanket over Scott so they both had an equal share. But when Jean felt Scott's breath flow over her ear, she could not stop her shivering. Scott lightly rubbed up her arm through the fabric of the blanket with his masculine, yet gentle hands. Jean breathed the cool air out from her nostrils and gazed at the night sky full of glittering stars. She lightly turned to Scott's face.

Scott's eyes widened slightly as he tried to hide his expression. Her face was so close to his that he thought he would die because he lacked oxygen at the moment. So this is how angels look up close? This is what beautiful is. She was even more amazing and breath taking up close. He looked at her plump lips that were cold, but still soft and welcoming. If he did not keep his head in place and moved one centimeter closer, their lips would meet. Scott kept his eyes fixed on the night sky. He could not look at her, for temptation would overtake his mind and emotions.

"I saw him," Jean whispered towards his face as Scott tried to ignore her warm breath against his face. Thankfully she turned her head back so her hair was to his chin now. He whispered a prayer to the Lord who helped him keep his sanity.

When he took in her words he did not hesitate to ask with curiosity, "Saw whom?"

"Kurtis," she said lightly with a whisper.

"Yes Jean," Scott said with a small laugh, "we always see Kurtis."

"No Scott," she said quietly. She put her hand in his and leaned into his arms. She sulked in his muscular chest and strong arms. She felt so safe and comforted in his arms. As if he were her guardian angel. A beautiful angel. She closed her eyes and whispered, "I really saw him."

Scott nodded with fulfillment and not as much enthusiasm as he would have had as a young boy. He smiled into her red hair. "God answers all of our questions. But he answers them through our experiences. Sometimes they are not our questions anymore," Scott whispered as he smelled the cool air and looked at the stars, the burning fire, then at Jean.

He wished he could kiss her. Right now. But when he heard her steady breathing, signifying she was asleep, he just placed a steady kiss on her bare shoulder, right before her neck. He closed his eyes as she leaned into him and dug his face into her thick red hair. "Time takes care of everything."

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Jean felt the warm sun on her face as she opened her eyes with heaviness. The sun had forced her out of her dreams. What beautiful dreams that she never saw the ending of! She opened her eyes to see the fire still burning brightly. She caressed the warm fingers beneath her hand and did not let one moan escape. She turned to lay on her back which made Scott shift in his position as well. He now had his arms folded to him and balled up in a baby's fist. Jean just looked up at him. She watched him sleep, it was a unique painting with colors used from the rainbow. She listened to him breathe, the greatest music to her ears and song to her soul. She took his hand and kissed his fingertips lightly.

"I think that is enough for you two," Ororo said from behind with her hands on her hips.

"Storm, I, you see," Jean stuttered as she dropped Scott's hand. She slid away from his arms and brought herself to her feet. "Nothing happened. I promise."

Ororo smiled genuinely and nodded, "I believe you, my child." Ororo crouched on her knees and brought the basket full of fruits down with her. Jean did the same as Ororo handed a ripe apple to her and she accepted kindly. She ate with great hunger, appreciating and being fulfilled with the food. She had never felt that way.

"I am sorry," Jean whispered lightly. As she chewed and looked down at her apple. She swallowed hard and bit her lips with nervousness.

"Oh, sorry for what dear?" Ororo asked kindly. She breathed in the air and had a look of appreciation for where she was. Their home was burnt, their people killed, her love captured, and she still had serenity and calmness on her quiet face. Jean admired her so much. She was so thankful and brave.

"I am ashamed that I am somehow associated with whomever attacked your home," Jean said as she bent her head forward. "But I am even more ashamed that I could not do anything about it."

Ororo leaned forward and placed her hand over Jean's. "My child, if someone is in the tallest tower of the highest castle they will not see the stars any closer than everyone else."

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Jean had left before Scott had awoken and made her stay by using his puppy face. She crossed the guards and greeted them. They looked at her with a confused expressions and just went back to their work. She went up concrete stairs from the outside of the castle and through an enclosed, but wide hallway with little windows. She walked through quickly with her filthy white dress and into the castle. She reached the room where gold rimmed couches with red cushions appeared. It is a shame no one ever sits in them.

Jean suddenly felt her ear being pulled and her body slamming against the back of the couch. She looked up with surprise but less fear than she ever had of her mother. "Enough is enough! I forbid it completely!" Queen Elaine exclaimed as Jean looked at her open mouthed. "I do not know where you have been for the past two days, but I know exactly who you were with and what you were doing! How could you do this to me?!?"

"Do what mother! I have not done anything wrong!" Jean said as her temper rose and she practically yelled. "But I will tell you what I have been doing! I have been fighting against the arrogance of our kind!"

"How dare you speak to me like that!"

Jean shook her head with pursed lips trying to contain all the nasty things she had to say to her mother. Jean suddenly sneezed and let out a small cough. "This man that you claim to be the greatest thing among your social duties and obligations has made you sick."

"Mother get a grip on reality!" Jean exclaimed as her mother stared into her green eyes hard. "Why do you force me to marry? So my life can turn into the life of you and Father? I actually want to love and be loved Mother." Jean had finally said it. Somebody needed to hear it. She did not want to end up like her parents, fighting and scowling each other all the time. Her mother showed no expression on her face and became less tensed, and more relaxed.

"Jean-Marie, listen to me," Queen Elaine said as Jean looked at her as if she was a completely different person. She actually sounded genuine.

"Queen?" Jean addressed her with knitted eyebrows.

"I want to meet this boy that has befriended you for so long," Queen Elaine said as the words escaped her lips with sincerity. She looked at Jean and then turned away. "Change that filthy dress!" she called back. What that was all about, she did not know. She was surprised, but none-the-less, excited.

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Jean knew her mother would not take the matter of the attack seriously, so she would not go to her. Instead, she took it up with her father. He had told her he had no idea what she was talking about and that she had to take it up with the house of justice. Jean immediately dragged herself there with passion.

She was actually taking charge of ruling and realizing she had the power. Desperate times call for desperate measures. So Jean went down to the stalks, beneath the palace of justice. She approached the guards standing at the doorway. "Which one of you has the keys to the cells?" Jean asked with a strong voice and confidence within. The guards looked at her as if she was a psycho, in which attitude she did present towards them.

"Princess, may I ask why you need the keys?" one tall guard with black hair and an unshaven beard asked curiously with a corky smile on his face.

"Because I am the princess of France, and I demand it!" Jean exclaimed as the guards shrugged.

"You will have to take it up with the judge," the head guard said.

"What do you mean?" Jean asked rhetorically. "Are you disobeying my orders?!? I need that key!" Jean knew she was not being cruel, but fair and demanding. There was no way to be nice in situations as these when she was right. She had the right to fix the wrongs in her country and they were simply telling her she could not.

"I am sorry princess," the guard said. "But the queen orders us to take orders from her, the king, and our leader only. The queen says that you are not allowed to make any decisions." Jean knitted her eyebrows together and placed her hands on her hips.

She took a deep breath and looked to the palace of justice. So much for making a difference. She handled that situation horribly. She should have stolen the keys instead. But she shrugged it off and smoothed down her simple light brown dress and slightly ran up the steps. When she reached their leader she froze. "Duncan………" she whispered with surprise. "When did you become judge?"

"I am not officially judge, but my father is," Duncan said as he motioned for her to come in the room. Jean walked in, leaving the door wide open. The room included a fireplace that was lit and an iron desk next to it. Jean knew his father was also a new judge. What happened to the other judge?

Jean's eyebrows almost shot off of her face when she took in the information for more than a minute. Duncan looked at her and smiled widely. He walked over to her and asked courteously, "Did you need something?"

"You attacked them," Jean said hatefully. She wanted to punch him, she wished she could. But what would happen after that? "You attacked them," Jean said louder this time with anger filling her bones. Duncan let out a small laugh as he closed the door and locked it. He walked over to Jean and lowered his head to her with blazing blue eyes. He ran the back of his fingers against the side of her face. Jean jolted her head away from him. In response, he grabbed her wrists and pressed her against the wall, grip still resting on her wrists.

His breathing heaved and her fear of his eyes raged through her like boiling water. "You are quite smart for a woman," Duncan said as he neared her face. "But what are you going to do about it? You cannot prove something I did not do."

Jean looked into his eyes and winced. She suddenly shuddered at his words. He was right, how could she prove it? Who would believe her? Who would defend the gypsies? Who would agree with her morals? She was the princess, but that did not seem to matter at the moment. Evil seemed so much more powerful than good at that very moment. Jean swallowed hard as she felt lost, alone, and scared.

But Duncan suddenly interrupted her thoughts and feelings. His hands released her wrists as one gripped the bottom of her cheeks and her chin and pulled her face upwards, closer to him. He licked his lips as the other hand slid towards her chest, severely close to her breasts. He neared to kiss her lips like a hungry animal but she got a hold of her strength with her free hands. She slapped him roughly across his left cheek. She moved away from him as he brought his face up slowly and turned to her with a scowl. "I am quite fond of you Princess," he said with a sinister smile and a light breath of quick recovery.

Jean turned to unlock the door and opened it to run out of the palace. To run to her room and lock herself there. To cry silently to herself.

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Scott hurried through the field of wild flowers and tall grass, as usual, and towards Jean's room. He had to see her. Seven days have passed and he could not take it any more. When he was caring for his people's needs, he was thinking about her. When he was talking to his mother, he was thinking about her. When he tried not to think of what had happened to his people, he thought about her. He craved to see her. He needed to see her.

Jean had not returned to him because of the immense trouble he realized he had caused her to get into. But he needed to see her as soon as possible. He ran through the field and closed his eyes to feel the wind on his face. But when he did so he fell to the ground.

"Watch where you are going, young man," a familiar voice said as Scott smiled and opened his eyes to see Grandfather Charles.

"Good evening Grandfather," Scott said as he hopped off the grass and smiled at the gentle old man.

"Scott, is this going to continue forever?" Charles asked with weariness. Scott looked at him blankly. Charles shook his head with a smile. "Are you ever going to meet the family? Introduce yourself to relatives of your soul mate."

"Soul mate……Grandfather, I………" Scott stuttered as he stood there contemplating the words the man had spoken. When he finally took time to think about it, her grandfather was right. Out of all the years he has known Jean, he has never been acquainted with her family. He has never been formally introduced. Was Jean trying to keep him away from her family? Was she ashamed of him? Wait, what was he saying? Does he actually expect to meet the king and queen of France formally. He was a gypsy, which he seemed to forget at the moment. "Grandfather, I shall get back to you on that," Scott said as he shrugged the situation off. Jean's own grandfather believed in something so crucial.

"If you show confidence and your true self, the cliché 'appearances can be deceiving' will make sense to them," Charles said back to Scott as Scott nodded politely. "If they have good judge of character, they will love you."

Scott smiled and said goodbye as he raced towards her room. He called up to her as usual as Jean invited him up as usual. He climbed up the usual way and went in the usual way. But he felt unusual. He walked in to find Jean changing behind the fan-like object in her room. He was silent as he stared at it intently, as if it were the most intriguing thing in the world. He walked closer to the tall object and tilted his head over slightly. He lightly beamed forward and protested against his actions. But he could not control it. He had the urge to see her changing.

Jean suddenly stepped forward as Scott jolted back. He maintained his control and stood his ground, acting as if he was standing in that position the whole time. She came out in a red dress that was draped like a long vest next to the sleeves and a white top beneath it. A golden belt hung around the middle and dropped in front with a gold emblem. "Good morning Scott," she said lightly as she looked at him slightly longer than usual. She was in a fine mood now because of Scott, despite what had happened a week ago.

"Good morning Jean," Scott said with a grin as he bowed lightly.

Jean looked at him over and over again, admiring him for a moment. The royal blue blouse brought out his eyes. She outlined his blouse with her eyes and met his own in time to catch him staring at her. Jean faltered and quickly looked out the window. "It is a beautiful day for new beginnings, is it not?" Jean asked as she gazed at the bright blue sky.

"Yes, it is," Scott said as he followed her gaze. He began to walk around the room in deep thought. "Jean, I want to meet your parents. I mean really meet them. I find it quite awkward that we are unable to be formally introduced after all these years," Scott blurted out from his hidden feelings.

"That is a great idea, because they want to meet you," Jean said happily as she watched Scott freeze in his place. "At dinner next week."

"Umm," Scott said hesitantly, not realizing how much he would regret saying what he did. That was all talk. But it was really happening. The only question was, would he survive a heart attack? "Uhh………"

"What's wrong? Did you not want to meet them?"

"No, Jean. It is wonderful." Scott tried to ignore where this conversation was going. Instead, he resorted to talking about what they were going to do today. "Rogue has not said a word for a week. She does not feel threatened by us because she is still there. But she keeps herself in a corner, quiet as the sky. I did not want to speak to her without you. Although Remy has already tried. He finds her very attractive."

"Who would not find her beautiful?" Jean asked un-consciously.

"No doubt she is beautiful," Scott said with a soft and romancing voice. "But there is no one who is more beautiful than the rose standing before my melting eyes." Jean blushed with a small smile and looked away from his eyes. His voice was so honestly believable. So tender and caring. Scott could not believe he had said that out loud. There were so many more things he wanted to say to her. "Are you ready to go?"

"What are we waiting for? Let's go."

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Author's Note "No matter how filthy something gets, you can always clean it right back up" was a line borrowed from the movie Bruce Almighty. "This is what beautiful is," was from the movie At First Sight. I love that movie. It's one of my favorite romance movies. Great theme, much warmth.

GO READ PINKCHICK'S STORY!!! She is a wonderfully terrific writer. Her knew story is amazingly creepy. It is called "Sacrifice" and I think she doesn't get enough credit or feedback for what she does. The story involves mystery with a little Jott (which she loves) and a little Loro (which I also adore). The story involves Heaven, hell and mutants in a very creative manner. It is building up to what I think will be suspense. So please check it out!!!