For a moment Emma simply stood unmoving enjoying the effect. As much as she was by now used to wearing clothes she considered 'modest', it felt good to leave those restrictions aside. By the looks of others present in room, they liked that too. She could sense envy from the majority of females, but none of them looked forward to killing her. Something that could be considered as major improvement. Men were just lustful, pure and simple. Emma frowned inwardly. Correction, all men but one.

-"And exactly where are you going in that … lingerie?"

Surely she couldn't possibly do anything that bad to have to deal with Scott Summers as a punishment. It sometimes looked to her, like that man's sole purpose in life was driving her crazy. Not that she was far behind him, of course. It was few days ago that she purely accidentally found another way to irritate him. It never occurred to her to act try to seduce him. May be because she knew it was useless, may be because she hated him too much. But somehow it turned out, that acting like she was actually trying to was more fun, than she could ever imagine.

-"And you'd prefer me to stay with you? I shall see what I can do about this."

Emma offered Scott one of her most charming smiles. She wouldn't, of course. But she was enjoying his reaction too much, to feel guilty about lying. Some students giggled silently. Well, she could always tell she was trying to make herself part of a 'family'.

"Besides, Scott dear, you really should see my lingerie. You'd never confuse my outfit with it then."

Now, who knew Scott Summers could actually blush. Emma almost wished she didn't have to go anywhere. That was turning into really interesting thing. Would be turning into really interesting thing if not for interruption to come, that's it. 'Interruption' in the form of three girls didn't make her waiting.

-"We're ready, Miss Frost."

Attention snapped to the three girls, who had just entered the room. Emma was pretty sure that was not in her contract. But no matter what she got out of Scott's head, she preferred not to angry Charles Xavier unless absolutely necessary. At least for some time. That's why, when he asked to take three students into the town with her, she albeit reluctantly agreed. It seemed others found that idea as bad as she did.

-"And where do you think, you are going, kid?"

Emma sometimes wasn't sure if she envied Rogue or pitied her. Wolverine tried to act as if he didn't care, but he was obviously over-protective of the girl. And Emma didn't need to read his mind to know, she was far from being in his trustworthy persons' list. Rogue's problem. Should she decide to stay in the mansion, Emma would not object. Even Jubilee and Kitty alone would more than enough for her to deal with.

-"Shopping. And Ah'll be fine, Logan, promise."

No such luck then. Judging from Wolverine's grunting he knew better than to argue. Scott looked relieved to be forgotten and Ororo was nowhere in sight. It looked to Emma, like she was stuck with three teenagers for too long time. Charles would better appreciate that.

-"Really, Logan. Have you seen what are they wearing? We are just going to fix that. Come, girls."

All the way to her car Emma was waiting for six claws to slice her open and hoping for her companions to change their minds. Nether happened.

---

-"And I thought, we were to not attract unnecessary attention."

The comment was made after yet another man stumbled, eyes glued to Emma. Something all of the girls found very unnerving. Emma herself did not see why they should be so nervous. If things got really nasty, she could always use the fact Charles Xavier was no were near, to lecture her. However, judging from her experience, 'nasty' was highly unlikely.

-"Not exactly. We were not to attract attention to the Institute. Do you really think anyone will remember you? Or my face? And that automatically means, they won't even think about what school we are from. Discreet enough for you?"

Unless of course, some teenagers will suddenly decide to practice using their powers. Theoretically, they should know better. Practically though, Emma picked up some thoughts she extremely didn't like. She must have been truly insane, to agree to this.

-"Suppose you are right. That still doesn't mean you have to walk around wearing almost nothing."

Now that was exactly what she needed. Getting fashion advice from teenager, at whose clothes she could hardly look without pity. There were limits even to her liking those kids. And she was awfully close to them ever since they left the mansion. Didn't these teenagers have any self-preservation instinct?

-"That surely doesn't. But for the future: before you are going to lecture me on anything, think of arguments stronger than 'I don't like it'."

Not that she would definitely listen to them either, but let the girl have her illusions for at least a while. What Emma was wondering about was the fact that none of her companions had asked where exactly had she taken them. They hadn't been here before, that much she was sure of. As far as she could tell, they were using to doing all their shopping solely in the mall. That much was evident even from their clothing. Something she was going to fix as soon as possible.

-"Now, if we are finished discussing my outfit, I propose we get down to the business."

Emma pushed open the door of the boutique, she had chosen as their destination. If they were going to waste money, they were at least going to waste it on something worthy. Sure thing, with that Summers-Cerberus her options were not as wide as she would like. Nevertheless she was determined to cope.

-"Ni-ice. But next time why don't we find something closer to the parking lot?"

Jubilee's statement was deliberately ignored. If she wished girl could explore 'something closer' on her own. Emma was not wasting her time on it. Shop assistant was already near them. Taking into consideration girls' taste it would probably be wiser not to give them too much freedom, Emma decided. It was hard to find something inappropriate her, but better not to take chances.

-"Think, you can find something suitable for young ladies here?"

---

A/N: I actually tried to put quotation marks around spoken words this time. Hope, that will make reading easier.