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Both Scott and Tabby were silent on the walk back to Xavier's. Neither one was sure of what to say after that, though there was a mumbled exchange of a thank you and you're welcome. When they arrived, neither was surprised when Professor Xavier met them at the door. It was nearly 1:30 in the morning, and the rest of the house was asleep, but there by the door was Xavier, fully dressed, sitting in his wheelchair. He smiled as they entered, a look of relief on his face. He held a hand out to Tabitha.

"I'm so glad to see you back, Tabitha. The rest of the house is asleep, but I am sure they will share my feelings in the morning."

Tabitha's head was still spinning from the events in the diner. She took Xavier's hand, shaking it with less enthusiasm than she usually had, staring around the mansion as if it were a dream. "I… thanks. But, I can't stay here. It's no big deal, I've got a place of my own now-"

"I know, Tabitha. I've been keeping a close watch on what you've been up to. You didn't think I'd just abandon one of my students, did you?"

Somehow, Tabby wasn't as horrified by this revelation as she'd thought she would be. She felt more relieved that finally someone knew. It must have shown in her posture as Scott stepped forward and put a hand on her shoulder, smiling at her. It felt nice to have someone looking out for her. Definitely a change from what she'd been used to. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to accept some help.

"So, will you be staying here with us again?"

Tabby nodded to Xavier, a smile spread across her weary face. "Sure… but I should go back and get my things from my apartment. I've got all my school work there, and my clothes, and-"

"Scott, would you mind stopping by Tabitha's apartment and collecting her things for her?" Xavier looked over to Scott, smiling thinly as he purposely ignored Tabitha's protests.

"No, that's all right, really! I can go get them-"

"I'm on it, Professor. Tabby, I'll need your key to the apartment."

Sighing, Tabitha crossed her arms over her chest. "At least let me help you. I've got a lot of stuff back there, and somehow, Summers, I doubt you'd feel like going through my underwear drawer to get everything I need."

Scott's cheeks flushed at this while Xavier chuckled. "Very well, Tabitha, but I expect you to get some sleep the moment you return."

"Professor, I-"

"Great! Come on, Scooter, let's get going! I'll drive!"

"Great…"

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After a ride that made Scott fear for his continued existence thanks to the driving skills of one Tabitha Smith, the pair arrived at the apartment complex she was staying at. The building was old and run down, with paint peeling on the outsides, a few windows with broken glass, and burnt out lights by the door. While Tabby had grown accustomed to this sight and considered it home, Scott had to fight to hold back his reaction.

This is where she's been staying?

Tabby opened the front door for the both of them and made her way up the stairs to her room. She heard Hillary's baby, Jessica, crying as they passed their door. The hallway light flickered on and off, casting odd shadows on the dirty walls. Scott hadn't even known there were places like this around Bayville. Of course, the mansion wasn't exactly in the poorer part of town. As Tabby opened the door to her room and entered, he stepped inside and looked around the dark room, barely lightened by the single bulb Tabby clicked on. There was a cot, a makeshift sort of kitchen, a bathroom in one corner, a closet, and little else.

Tabby immediately went about packing her clothing into her backpack, tucking some of her school supplies in as well. She shivered in the cold room. The boiler was still out. Well, that didn't matter to her anymore. She was going back to Xavier's, and everything would get better. She sighed, the expulsion of air tickling the back of her slightly-sore throat and causing her to cough. She knew she'd been coming down with a bit of a cold, as she'd been waking up with that sort of raw feeling just at the back of her mouth each moment, as well as that pressure just between her eyes. She leaned against the dresser for a moment, a hand to her mouth as she coughed, her head spinning slightly. As she stopped, she noticed a shadow hanging over her own, followed by the feel of fabric against her exposed arms. Turning, she looked to see Scott standing there, still tucking his jacket in place on her shoulders.

"How can you wear that… that uniform in this weather?"

Tabby looked down at the pink dress she'd been given while working at the diner, shrugging.

"Well it's not like I picked it out myself, Slim. It came with the job. Here, take your jacket back, it's cold."

"Exactly. You need it more than I do."

Smiling, Tabby gave him a half-felt sigh, slipping her arms into the garment and shrugging it fully on.

"Fine, you win. I'm just about done anyways."

She turned back to the dresser, grabbing handfuls of socks and underwear to shove in the front pocket of her backpack. Turning her head to work out a crick still plaguing her neck from work, she breathed in, inhaling the scent imbedded in the worn leather of the jacket. The smell was… well, there wasn't one particular source she could pull out. It smelled clean, like that soap, something spring, but not that girly sort that Kitty or Amara used to wear. Maybe it was a bit of cologne, though Scott hadn't hit her as the type to use the stuff. Aftershave! That must be it! She paused, the tip of her nose pressed against the soft collar of the jacket, breathing it in a moment more.

"Tabby? Are you alright?"

"What? Oh! Yeah… yeah, Scott, I'm fine. Hold on, just about done. Need to fish me out a bra for tomorrow."

She didn't even need to turn around to know that he was blushing. She hoped that unnerving him would make him forget that he'd just seen her smelling his coat.

What's gotten into you? This is Scott! You're getting all… freaky about him. Smelling his coat? What the hell is that? You're acting like you're in some kinda chick flick!

Shaking her head, Tabitha zipped up her backpack and threw it over one shoulder. There were still a few odds and ends around the room, but she decided the come back tomorrow to get them. She paused to cough another moment, sniffing a bit at the end. It would feel good to be in a warm bed tonight.

"Are you sure you're alright?"

Putting on her favorite 'I'm fine!' face, Tabby turned to face Scott again.

"Yeah, it's just a bit of a cold I guess. No biggie. So, shall we go?"

Scott's expression remained the same: stern and worried. Back when she was with the X-Men, that expression frustrated her to no end. Now, it was almost touching. He really was worried about her.

Did that just occur to you? Have you already forgotten what happened in the diner?

"Scott… I… thanks. For tonight. For everything. For… for worrying about me."

Scott gave her a lopsided smile, taking a step closer to her. He opened his mouth, about to say something, and something in Tabitha jumped and recoiled inside her. Whatever he was about to say, it couldn't be good. Or rather, it would be good. Better than anything she'd heard. Something that would only make her…

What? Want him more? Do you want him?

No! He's not another one-night-stand in the making! Not Scott. He… he's too good a guy for that. I couldn't do that to him.

Then what is it?

All this flew through her head in the blink of an eye, and she flew forward, grabbing Scott's wrist and dragging him out the door.

"Well, all packed! Let's go!"

Scott stuttered something before getting yanked along behind her, out the door and down the hallway. Tabby paused outside Hillary's room, shoving her tips for the week underneath the door. Hillary could use them more than she could now. Continuing on before Scott could open his mouth again, she raced down to the car. The ride home was even wilder than on the way there, mostly to keep Scott's mind occupied with other things so he wouldn't say something wonderfully naive and charming.

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By the time they got back to the mansion, it was nearly three in the morning. Xavier didn't meet them this time, though he probably knew they were back. The two made their way back upstairs to the hallway where the students slept, walking carefully so as to not creak too many floorboards. It had been a while, but Tabby still remembered where to step. She'd snuck out often enough while she was there, those whole two months or so. She paused outside Amara's door. She used to sleep there, but wasn't sure if… well, she'd been replaced.

She felt Scott's hand on her shoulder, and she turned to look at him. He motioned for her to follow him down the hall, to a door near the end… wait, wasn't that?

Scott pushed the door open to his room, holding it so Tabby could enter before he closed it again. Confused, Tabitha looked back over at him, raising an eyebrow.

"I didn't want to wake anyone else, so you can use the extra bed in here tonight."

Tabitha, is that a blush coming on?

"Is… is that all right with you?"

Tabitha laughed nervously, though she'd intended for the sound to come out more confident-sounding.

"Oh, that's fine with me, Slim. No need to act all proper. It's just me. I'll just change in the bathroom."

Dropping her bag on the extra bed, she sifted through the clothing barely contained by the canvas until she found a pair of pajamas, pink with yellow shooting stars on them. Shoving them under one arm, she headed to the adjoined bathroom near the back of the room, trying to look at Scott too much. As the bathroom door clicked behind her, she sighed in relief.

---------------------------------

Scott sighed in relief as Tabitha closed the bathroom door behind him. The truth was, he felt suddenly self-conscious about sharing a room with her. He knew that was foolish – it was just Tabitha. Sure, she had a… reputation, but he wasn't the sort of guy she would be into. He was just plain, respectable, responsible Scott Summers. She was some kind of wild party girl. That was why she left to join the Brotherhood, wasn't it? They were more her type.

Worried that he might not have much time before Tabitha re-emerged from the bathroom, Scott set about changing as quickly as possible. He pulled off his sweater as well as the polo shirt underneath, quickly folding them with practiced hands and tucking them to the side. Grabbing a plain red t-shirt, he threw it on while sliding off his khaki pants. Those were soon replaced with a loose pair of black sweatpants. Normally he would sleep in just his sweatpants, but with Tabitha there… Well, maybe she wouldn't feel uncomfortable, but he… well, she wouldn't be looking at him like that anyway, but… So maybe he wasn't sure why he was wearing the shirt. Maybe it was just his habit of doing the "right" thing.

You're getting sick of that habit, aren't you?

With a frustrated sigh, Scott ripped off his t-shirt and tossed it – unfolded – into the corner of his closet. There was more to him than rules and regulations, and he was going to start acting like it. He was going to sleep the way he liked to sleep, no matter what Tabitha might think of him!

Scott, you rebel you.

Closing his closet door, he turned to hear the bathroom door open again.

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Tabitha stepped out of the bathroom, her clothes tucked under one arm and Scott's jacket under the other (she'd forgotten to take it off before, or rather gotten used to the feel of the heavy leather on her shoulders). She took a few steps towards the bed and froze.

Scott looked at her from the other side of his bed… wearing only a pair of loose sweatpants and his red glasses.

What? What's going on? Is this some kinda joke? Is he trying to make fun of me? 'Haha, Tabby the whore, I bet she thinks we're gonna have sex?' Is that it?

Tabitha swallowed quite forcibly, continuing to her bed. She tucked her clothes back into the bag, moving it to the floor, then looked down at Scott's jacket. Then at Scott. Then at the jacket. Slowly she turned and walked over towards him, holding out his jacket.

"Here. Thanks for letting me borrow it…"

Scott took the jacket in one hand, his face looking stern. Was he angry at her?

"No problem. Do you have everything you need?"

Tabitha shook her head no, still standing a few feet away from him. She looked down at her own dress. Because of the poor heating at the apartment, she'd bought herself a pair of pajamas, though when she had shared a room with Amara she'd worn her lingerie. Scott was apparently trying to make some kind of point, should she change? What sort of point was he trying to make?

"I saw some extra towels in there, I'll use one of those tomorrow. I'll be fine… thanks."

Looking back up, she smiled. He returned it, though uneasily. Tabitha felt her cheeks grow warm again.

Scott noticed the color on her cheeks, even in the dim light.

Is she blushing? Because of me? But I… I'm just me? Could she be thinking… oh. Oh dear.

"Well, you should get to bed, Tabitha. We've got school in a few hours."

"Yeah…"

There was a long silence before Tabby finally walked back to the other bed, pulling back the covers and slipping underneath them.

"Goodnight, Scott."

Scott got into his own bed, switching off the light as he did.

"Goodnight, Tabby."

As the two lay in the dark, the same thought drifted through both their heads at the same time.

What's gotten into me?