"'Ro." Scott said, closing his eyes as he approached, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I miss her." He whispered against her shoulder. "Why? Why did she have to... to." He couldn't bring himself to finish and say 'die?', but he knew she knew what he had meant.

"I miss her too Scott." Ororo said giving Scott a comforting hug. "I really miss her too. But she really isn't gone. She's everywhere in this school. She's in the paintings, in the classrooms, in the students, in you."

Ororo did her best to comfort her dear friend Scott. She believed what she was saying. Jean was really still here in memory and that's what hurt yet eased Ororo the most.

"I wish it had of been me, ya' know. Instead of her? Me that died to save you all." He trailed off, knowing he shouldn't have been talking like that, not even if he felt it was true.

"Scott, I have wished my and her roles were reversed too, but it doesn't change anything. Instead of mourning her loss, it would be someone else's. The pain would still be there no matter if it was me, or you, or her." Ororo stepped back out of the hug. "You know that. She knew exact what she was doing Scott and she did because she loved you and this school. She couldn't bare to stand there idle and watch us all go down. She was martyr Scott. She died for the cause a most noble thing."

"We were going to get married, 'Ro..." Scott replied, trailing off and closing his eyes behind his visor. "Sorry, I shouldn't be feeling sorry for myself."

"I know you to were planning on that. Jean told me, not that I expect you to be surprised by that."

Ororo looked at Scott with sadness building up in her eyes. She had a hard enough time dealing with Jean's death, but to see Scott in such pain almost killed her. There two were just her best friends, but more so than that…they were her family.

"Scott, I have lost people dear to me before. It hurts. I know how it feels. I wish I could change it or take the pain away from you, but I can't. It's okay to feel sorry for yourself, god knows I do."

Ororo grabbed Scott's hand. "But we can't let our sadness not remember the good times we've had. We can't let her memory inside of us be nothing but regret. She wouldn't have wanted that. She would want us to remember the smiles and laughs we've shared. Like the time we tired to ignite the BBQ with your powers in the back and caught the ivy cover trestle on fire."

For the first time since Jean's death, only a few hours ago, Scott actually laughed, squeezing her hand he sighed. "I know. I just can't help it." He said, trailing off a moment. "I can't help thinking about her."

Ororo smiled along with Scott. She could the glimmer of life returning back in his eyes. She squeezed his hand back.

"It's hard not to think about her Scott. I do think of her a lot and will for some time. But we have each other to rely on for help. She's not going anywhere. She's in here." Ororo moved his hand to his chest, over his heart. "And here." Again she moved his hand to be over her heart.

"I don't think she want us to mourn her passing, but celebrate her life. She would want us to live on for her and that's what we have to do, with each other's help."

Scott slumped into a chair, unable to stand properly any longer, and he just nodded. "I know.." He said, trying to keep his voice level, but pretty much failing.. "I just don't think I can lead the team anymore, 'Ro, Hell, I can barely lead myself."

Storm walked behind Scott and placed her hands on his shoulders. She began to lightly massage Scott's tense muscles. She just let the two be there in silence for a moment. She then came back around to the front of the chair and kneeled down before him.

"Scott, look at me." Ororo asked. "You're a great leader of the team, you always have been. You've done it before and you can do it again. Plus I'll be right there beside you. We can make it through this, together. You and I. I know we can." Ororo grab both of his hands as she talked. She lightly squeezed her support before standing back up. She leaned over and kissed Scott on the top of this forehead before returning back to giving him a massage.

"I'm heading back to Alkali tomorrow. I need to be sure." Scott wasn't sure what he was trying to prove, or to whom, but he knew he had to be sure that Jean was truly dead. Closing his eyes, he allowed himself to enjoy her warm hands on his skin.

Storm didn't say anything at first. She continued to work on his tense muscles. She knew he was filled with sadness and she wished she could give him joy to remember and live for again.

"Scott." Ororo said stopping her massaging and letting her hands fall forward to his chest. "Going there is going to hurt." Ororo's hands stopped over his heart. "But I understand your need to go."

She draped her hands on his chest as she swung herself to the side of the chair. She squatted there for a moment looking up at him. Her hands ran to the side of his face and rested gently on his cheeks. "If you want me to come along, I will. All you have to do ask. If not, just know that I will be here waiting for you when you return."

Storm then did something unexpected. She leaned up and gently kissed Scott on the lips. It was soft and delicate. It was more than just a friendship kiss, though it didn't have all the intensity of a passionate smooch either.

Storm then rose up all the way to her feet. She patted his arm and started to leave his classroom. She felt she had to leave for she hadn't meant to kiss his lips. Storm was a bit embarrassed, yet at the same time happy for she had always had a crush on him. She knew his love for Jean was strong, and being Jean's best friend she knew how deeply she cared for him. Storm wasn't completely fully of envy of their relationship prior to Jean's passing; she simply wished she could meet someone as smart, sensitive, handsome, funny, and sexy as Scott. She felt almost as if she crossed over the line with that move.

Storm walked down the hallway to her classroom. She stepped inside and immediately pressed her back up against the wall. She half regretted her action and half wished it would have gone on further.

"What have I done?" Storm softly said not realizing the dimming out the natural light in her classroom from her abilities. She couldn't control them in her current emotional state.

Ororo apologized mentally to Jean. She took a deep breathe and closed her eyes for a moment. Once calm again she opened her eyes and pushed back up off the wall. She wasn't sure how Scott would react to her now. She wondered if she should go back and apologize to him. Storm decided to just let the situation simmer down and then talk to him.


Scott didn't do anything at first, when she kissed him, but moments later he found himself returning the kiss with about as much passion as she gave him. When she walked away, however, Scott slumped against the wall; and sighed. What have I just done?' He asked himself.

A few minutes are all that Ororo let pass before she was ready to break. She left the safety of her classroom. She slowly headed back to his classroom besides her. The sound of her boots walking across the floor gave it away, but she had reconsidered her decision for time to settle before she said something.

"Scott?" Ororo familiar voice came into the room before her face did.

Scott looked up, his eyes landing on her face. "Ro?" He said softly, afraid of speaking much more as his voice might falter.

"I...I..." Ororo stuttered to say at first. "I meant when I said I am here for you." She walked closer to him. "I... I'm sorry about earlier I..." Ororo looked at the ground. "I over stepped the boundaries I think and I just wanted you to know..."

"Ororo." Scott said, using her first name for the first time in who knows how long. "Don't ruin it by apologizing. It was good, and Jean... She would have wanted me to move on. We watched her die. She couldn't have survived that." Scott spoke, surprising himself with his words.

Storm was robbed of her thoughts and words as Scott spoke to her. She somehow found the power to continue walking to him. She had a look of happiness, yet shock. She still had sadness in her eyes though.

"Scott." That's all Ororo could softly say as she stopped just beside him. Then she dropped down to his level so they were eye to eye, a few inches a part.

Scott ran a finger along her cheek softly. "Ororo, you're one of my best friends. MY only best friend. If I'm to move on, I'd want it to be with you... I love you." He closed his eyes, surprising himself even more with each word.

Ororo took a deep breathe and the sound of the light rain slowly grew quieter. She closed her eyes for a moment and opened then. She softly placed both hands on his cheeks. She looked at Scott in a whole new light.

"Scott, you…" Ororo had a hard time with her words. "You are more than my friend. You are my family, the reason that I am here. And I love you too."

Ororo kissed Scott. This one had feelings behind it. She didn't hide or hold anything back on this kiss. It was honest and passionate. Scott returned the kiss, placing his hands on her cheeks as he deepened it, softly moaning into her mouth.

It had been a long time since Ororo had been kissed or let alone truthful with her most private of feelings. She was caught off guard to some extent as the naturally collective Storm seemed to melt with Scott's touch simple touch. She gave in to him whole-heartedly despite of the recent circumstances. Ororo didn't know if what she was doing was right or not. She wrapped her arms around him and embraced him tightly as they kissed. She let herself get lost in him. Scott couldn't help it. His hands slowly slid down to her ass and squeezed as he deepened the kiss.

"Scott" Ororo faintly moaned. She then moved her sweet kisses down from his lips to his ears. Her lips traveled down to his neck.

Scott softly moaned. "We should get outta sight." He whispered between moans.

Ororo pushed back off him. She was breathing hard trying to catch her breathe. She wanted very much to continue, but she knew Scott was right. They didn't need the students to see. "You're right."

Scott took her hand, leading her down the hallway to his room. He had moved after Jean's death, it was just too hard to stay in the room they had shared. Kicking the door open, he led her inside. Storm had wondered how Scott could stay in the same room that he shared with Jean, so she wasn't surprised he had moved into a room. This put Ororo more at ease for she didn't think she could head in to it. Storm softly shut the door behind her. Scott pressed his body against hers, kissing her sweetly as his hands slid down, into her pants and onto her ass. Storm was pinned between the wall and the Scott, and loving it. She closed her eyes and enjoyed every moment.

She could feel this strong hands run down her body and all she could muster up to was wrap her arms around his neck and bring him in closer. Her hands ran started to slowly pull up his shirt. He kissed her deeply, working at removing her shirt as he closed his eyes and enjoyed the sensation. Storm did her in trying to help Scott remove her shirt. It had been so long since she had been with anyone romantically that she felt like a beginner fumbling around.
She was able to rid herself of her blouse and Scott of his shirt. They spun around the room and before she knew it she was lying down on the bed and Scott was hovering above her.

"Scott." Ororo was able to moan briefly was coming up for air in between their passionate kisses. Scott kissed her passionately, his hands sliding over her body down to her pants, unbuttoning them as he slid his tongue into her mouth. "'Ro..." He moaned out.

"Mmmm… Scott" is all Storm could moan out.

Ororo arched her hips up making it a bit easier for Scott to slide her pants off. She couldn't believe what she was doing, but there was little in this world that could stop her for she too lost in the moment. Her hands ran up his down his bare back, almost massaging as the explored him. Scott was no longer thinking coherently. How could he? He'd wanted the Goddess for years, even while he was with Jean, but as a true Summers' boy, he couldn't bring himself to cheat on his fiancé. Sliding her pants off, his eyes roamed her naked body, his lips moving down to take a breast.

Ororo moans were getting more often and louder. She bit down on her lip to remain quiet, for she didn't want to be too loud. Her one hand griped the covers tightly from the pleasure. Her other hand runs through his hair. After a few minutes, she pulled him back up to her. She pressed her lips against his and kissed him passionate. With a slick move she flips position with him. She's on top and he's on the bottom. Ororo starts to kiss down his chest, starting at his neck.

The two shared in each other's company all night long. Sometime during the wee hours of the morning the two fell silent and still. Physical exhaustion caused their bodies to no longer move. Their bliss allowed them to fall asleep and not dream horrid thoughts as they lay beside each other curdled up for more than just warmth. Neither looked forward to the set alarm awaking him for another school day, but Storm took comfort in knowing she would wake beside him and that would get her through just about anything.