Scott looked around to make sure no one was around, or looking, pulling Storm into his arms, hidden by the hedge he stepped behind. "Cry, 'Ro," he started, stroking her hair. "Don't hold it in for me. Grieve over your best friend. Don't hold it in," he told her, his arm around her shoulders.
Ororo felt the loving embrace of Scott. She closed her eyes as he stoked her hair and side of her face. She rested against him contemplating whether he was right or not. "I can't Scott. I have seen you cry and most of the children. Tears streaming down cheeks." Ororo looked up at Scott, remaining in his arms. "You know what happens when I bring emotions into my life. The skies open up and I can't control what happens."
Scott sighed. "I know, Ororo," he said gently. "But you need to grieve, and no one around here would expect you not to."
Ororo stepped back. There were only 2 people in her life that could convince her it was ok to cry. The Professor was one and the other was Jean. She looked up at Scott, pain blaring in her eyes. "You have no need to worry about me, my dear," Ororo gently kissed his cheek. "I'll cry when you feel comfortable enough to cry with me."
"I'm crying now, Storm, you just can't see it because it's on the inside," Follow your own advice, Scott, he admonished himself.
Storm looked up at Scott and then turned. She started to walk away. Ororo had been crying and screaming on the inside she saw Jean outside the Xjet holding the water back. She headed to the garden area of the grounds wishing she could just cry and be done with it all, but knew it wasn't that simple.
Scott immediately followed her, reaching out to grasp her arm. "You have to cry, Ororo, otherwise you will snap and hurt yourself, or worse, someone else. Do it in the Danger Room, that way any repercussions will be contained," he suggested, moving closer to her.
Storm looked down at the ground. Her mind was full of emotions, reactions, and memories. Gray clouds start to gather upon the pair as Ororo battled to remain control of herself. Tears started to build up in her eyes and she was beginning to sporadically quiver.
Ororo found herself rolling smoothly back into Scott's arms. This brought her back out of her head and the personal battle for control. The gray clouds very slowly started to fade as took a deep breath in and smell Scott cologne. Her face didn't look up as gave him a hug. She simply just rested her head against his chest for a moment as she realizes that Scott was right on some level.
"Scott...I know you're right and you mean well." Storm's voice was faint and soft. "But I'll cry when the time is right for me. And I don't feel that's now."
Storm stepped out of Scott's embrace. She looked up at him. She nearly melted at his gaze back from behind the shades he wore; it was one full of such love. It was something she hadn't seen in a long while.
"I promise when the time is right..." Storm started to say with complete honesty in her eyes. "I will want you by my side."
The feel of Ororo against him brought back fond memories of the times Jean and him had spent together like this, just holding each other; the times she had been upset and he had tried his best to comfort her.
Now he was fighting the urge to break down himself; trying so hard to be strong for the new love in his life, a love he hadn't even realised existed between the weather witch and him until now.
He didn't need to be a telepath to know she was fighting back tears, and when the storm clouds formed above them he prepared himself to be there for her if she chose to break down now.
She stepped out of his embrace, and her beautiful gaze fell on his. A shiver ran down his spine as he realised this serene and goddess like woman loved him.
"I promise when the time is right..." Storm started to say with complete honesty in her eyes. "I will want you by my side."
Scott pulled her back into his embrace, slipping his hand up under her hair behind her neck. "And I promise I will be there," he answered, deep sincerity in his words.
Ororo stood there with her eyes close and again rest her head against his chest. The warmth of his body pressed up against her soothed her. His arm wrapped around her and held her tight. She didn't want to move nor did she think she could. Her legs were leak and heart raced. She was slowly melting.
This was much like a dream she had a long time ago. She couldn't express what it felt like to be in the moment like she was. To feel that type of love wrapped around her; it was like magic. And to be there with Scott made it so much more enchanted.
Time and the rest of the world seemed to fade away for Ororo. The light gray clouds dispersed in the air letting the natural weather pattern come through. Sun light radiated down on the pair in the gardens.
Storm lightly rubbed her hands up and down Scott's back. He had eased her pain once again. She couldn't put into words what it meant for him to be there acting as her rock.
A twinge of guiltiness though still lingered in her slender body. More so than herself, Logan, any of the children, and probably even the Professor; Scott was hit the hardest with Jean's death. Yet he stood there forgoing his own feelings of grieving and remorse to catch her from her nearly spiral downfall.
"Until then... let me be here for you." Storm said in almost a soft whisper.
A free hand of hers drifted away off of his back and to his hands. She pressed her palm against his. Her fingers wrapped down interlacing with his to hold his hand. She looked down at their clasped hands.
"I'm not the only person grieving a loss of a friend. But at least we have each other to lean on. I have always been here for you Scott and I always will." Storm said looking up at Scott.
She allowed her eyes to swell up with tears. She looked back down ant their clasped hands and took a deep breath. A single tear ran down her cheek.
