And Then There Were Four

Chapter Four: Dreams

"Absolutely ridiculous!" Emma Frost shouted as she slammed her office door behind her. "I am never going to be Jean Grey, nor do I wish to be!"

Cyclops stiffened as he stood beside her, finally placing his hands upon her shoulders. Emma could taste his thoughts of Jean – and it only fueled her rage.

"Personally," Kitty Pryde smiled as she pushed open the door to the small diner in District X, "I'd like to see you take her down."

Ororo Munroe smiled in return. "Thank you for the faith, Kitten... but Emma is a very formidable foe."

"Foe this," Wolverine muttered. "You could take her, darlin'... 'n it's better you than me."

"Sir," a waitress said in passing, "youcan'tsmokeinhere!"

Logan rolled his eyes, opened the door, and tossed his bad habit into the street – just in time for a large man in a brown trench coat to look down at his boot, now adorned with a cigar. "Not very considerate, Logan."

Bishop smiled.

"—perhaps make it four, then?" Storm smiled to the waitress before her as Wolverine and Bishop walked to she and Kitty.

"I'd like that."

"Oh Scott," Emma said telepathically as she pulled her lips from his, "you do know how to make a girl feel better."

Frost moved to the desk, sweepings its contents off with her mind. They carefully rearranged themselves on nearby surfaces. "I'm long overdue for my evaluation, Headmaster... I don't suppose you're available?"

Cyclops hesitated yet again.

"Available?" He forced a smile.

"I do have non available," the hostess informed. "And since you've got a local celebrity with ya," she grinned at Bishop, "I'm gonna set'cha up real nice... forget waitin'. Follow me."

Storm, Wolverine, Shadowcat, and Bishop followed the hostess to their table – the very same table four of the five original X-Men had recently sat in, though not to their knowledge.

"As if it weren't enough to be a part of the X.S.E., Lucas," Storm teased, "you have to work down here as well?"

"I like to think of it as a side job working for the same goal," Bishop explained. "Besides, down here I'm really my own boss... you should see who leads the X.S.E."

The four shared a small chuckle, followed by Shadowcat's question. "Is it working out, Bishop?"

"Everything I do as an X-Man is rewarding," he began, "but you don't have to travel across the globe to make a difference. What this place needs is justice—and as a former cop, as an X-Man, I can help make that difference."

"So that's a yes?" Wolverine poked. "Who do you have to f—?"

"Watch yer tongue," a short little lady commanded. "I wouldn't want to kick you out for language."

"Hello Ruby," Bishop smiled.

"Hello Officer," she replied. "I didn't know you had friends."

"He pays us pretty well," Kitty chimed in. "Can I have a water, please?"

"Sure thing," she replied. "..and for the rest of you?"

'The same," Storm spoke, followed by Logan who requested a beer.

"You'll take the usual, Bish'?" Ruby asked—and after receiving a nod, four glasses appeared in front of the X-Men and filled with their necessary drinks. "I'll be back in a bit – look over the menu an' enjoy the drinks."

"Funny how I can drink an' not smoke," Logan grunted, pulling the mug to his face.

"Funny how a woman such as Emma Frost is in charge of the Institute," Storm commented. Her thoughts had really never left Frost.

"Something happen, Storm?" Bishop asked, looking to his friends.

"Ain't a need, Bishop," Wolverine replied. "Ain't a need."

"The White Queen entered Logan's mind whilst masquerading as Jean," Storm fumed, "as if it weren't bad enough for she and Scott to parade around as if Jean had never existed in the first place."

Lucas Bishop arched an eyebrow. "I was actually speaking to Rachel about this earlier... I don't know her very well, but she seems to be so... troubled."

"She's been through more than most of us," Shadowcat said simply. "And that's really saying something."

Wolverine and Storm nodded.

"I'd never really considered how she was taking it... I'd never really considered the fact that she was their daughter."

"It's a long story, Bish', that's fer sure. The Summers line is longer'n most that I know. Which is somethin' else I don't really understand."

"I know people can change... I mean, look at our ranks from even a few years ago – the people I wouldn't even consider not trusting." Kitty took a drink and continued, "Gambit? Rogue, even? Warren's even gone a little crazy before."

"I know that each of us has come quite far," Storm agreed. "Some, however, leave much to be desired."

"You're right," Kitty sighed. "I can play basketball with the Juggernaut – but I can't trust that woman."

"Some rats stay rats, Kitty."

"Yes, Logan," Ororo grinned.

"Even under the most expensive scalpels and finest surgeons."
"Shirt up, Jean Paul," Annie – perhaps the finest (human) nurse the Xavier Institute had ever seen, teased. "I'm aiming to pull you over to the dark side."

"Why, Annie," the X-Man – or simply put, teacher – teased right back, "what of Alex?"

"He's busy leading a team of X-Men – of which Northstar isn't a part... so I don't feel too bad." The woman chuckled.

"Homophobia is a sickening thing." The two shared another laugh. "Perhaps our love will convince them that I'm straight and in need of an 'X' buckle?" The former Alpha Flight member tapped on his belt. "Maybe Bobby could put it on for me, eh?"

"Dirty!" Annie smacked him. "Now hold still... I need to make sure you have a beating heart and check your pulse."

"Speaking of," Northstar leaned in, ignoring her rule, "how do you feel about this Jean Grey business?"

Annie smacked him again. "I shouldn't be surprised that pulse would be your seg into that poor woman, Jean Paul... but honestly."

"You're right... you're right. I didn't know Jean very well, but we'd talked and worked together on occasion... against Magneto once, ironically. She was the first to turn me on to becoming an X-Man."

"I had no idea. She seemed like a wonderful woman."

"I certainly hope Cyclops is the less faithful brother," Northstar teased yet again. "Especially with Ms. Dane on Alex's squad."

Annie hesitated. "Maybe I should check about that 'X' buckle for you."
The front door to the mansion slid open amidst laughter.

"Peter was never the same," Kitty said while wiping a tear from her eye. The four X-Men – Wolverine, Storm, Shadowcat, and Bishop – shared a sigh. "That was great, guys... we should do it more often.

Y'know... when we're not busy saving the world or gossiping about a certain White Witch. G'night guys."

Shadowcat turned, walking through the wall on her left. After taking the Phase Express, she found herself in her room.

Turning the light on, she found her roommate lying on the floor. Kitty's heart sunk, but she quickly reminded herself that this was exactly why she'd requested her roommate. The mansion was obviously sized—especially now—for each X-Man to have their own room.

Rachel Summers – who now went by Rachel Grey – looked up to her longtime friend. The woman who had seen and conquered persecution and death, who had been power personified, who had danced through the time stream, looked to her through her tears.

"The dreams won't stop."