CHAPTER 7

It was a business complex Jean drove Kim up to, and kept going past identical building after identical building until they reached building G. Kim felt a bit nervous and checked that she had the binder she'd brought yet again, as if it would have disappeared on her. She was willing to bet Vicki was picking up a lawyer today and that things would start to move all too fast very soon.

"Come on." Jean spoke softly and opened her own door. "Do you want me with you? I could just wait in the waiting room if you want."

"You can come in. It isn't like I have secrets from you." Kim didn't add that she'd like to not be alone.

The gentleman looked like a lawyer. He wore the suit and was an older man, perhaps sixty. Kim sat down in front of his desk and Jean took the other seat. "Ms. Brown, Jean had told me about your situation."

"You can call me Kim." Kim told him as she sat with one arm resting on the binder she'd organized the night before.

"Well, Kim, I'm a divorce lawyer. I usually worked with those legally married, but not always. I need to see records, and it looks like you brought them?"

"Yeah." Kim put the binder into his hands. He opened it up to the summary page and smiled at it.

"If only all my clients were so organized." He started to flip through the pages and Kim could do nothing but glance around the room. "So I see you've already had to cancel a joint checking account." Kim remembered that day, it hadn't been pleasant going to the bank with her ex to do that. "And your name is still on her car." Kim had co-signed when Vicki wanted a sportier car. "And it was your father that supplied the money for the lot the house is on, was it a gift to the both of you?"

"No, he gave it to me."

"Well, that's good." The lawyer continued to flip through pages. "This house is legally in both your names." He talked for a half hour and Kim could see him coming to the same conclusion she had. Her only hope was to pay off Vicki, but he used the car's worth in that as well. Still the number he suggested she offer her ex was too much.

"Wayne," Jean interrupted when Kim stared down at the figure. "Is there a way to force Vicki to take it in payments?"

"I can't pay more than I do a month. I can't even keep up what I'm doing for more than six more months." Kim sighed heavily and turned sad eyes to Jean. "This just isn't going to work. Maybe Vicki is right and I just need to accept this."

"No, you don't." Jean's voice became commanding. "There is a way, an advance. I could give you an advance on your work."

"That wouldn't cover this."

"If you think this is the last time I'll have to rebuild that school, you're too optimistic. It's been destroyed on an average of every other year since I started there." Jean sat up straighter. "And we'll need an architect to help us rebuild every time. We've been doing this as a new contract each time, but we could just prepay you for six or seven jobs, and when we use it up we can renegotiate for more." Kim blinked as she processed what Jean was saying, but that was Kim's father's job Jean was offering.

"I'm just filling in for my dad." Kim said, feeling like her one chance at the golden ring was ruined. She could work with Jean again, save her house, but she couldn't back stab her dad like that.

"Your dad worked very well with the Professor, but the Professor is making me the Headmistress of the school and you work well with me." Jean's voice softened. "Ask him, and if he says he doesn't mind I'll draw up a contract." Kim felt confused even though she understood what was happening. "Do you think he'd want you to take the job?" Kim knew her dad and if she called and told him about this he'd tell her to take it. He'd used the money from this job to put her through school, and knowing her dad if he thought taking the job would help her he'd quit. "I'll call the Professor, but if he wants me to run his school, he'll need to let me run it my way."

"Even if we do this, I can't keep making these payments."

"Yes, well if this doesn't work and you have to sell it after we do all of this, the entire value of the house would be yours. You wouldn't lose anything that you aren't already about to lose."

"Well, ladies, if that works out for you, offer her this." Wayne wrote down a figure on the summary page of the binder Kim brought. "And don't let her take you for more than this." He wrote another, higher figure. "Go to court before paying anything more. I don't believe a judge would give her that much."

Kim looked at him and spoke slowly. "Thank you." He smiled at her.

"Don't forget about the value of the car. She can't just count your assets."

They left the building and Jean pulled Kim aside. "Call him, and I can get a contract drawn up. We can get you free of her quickly." Kim rubbed her forehead and sighed as she pulled her phone out. Jean took a few steps toward the car to give Kim space.

Her dad sounded stressed when he answered, and he sounded a lot better when Kim told him about Jean's plan. "You do that pumpkin. I'm too busy most of the time, and if I didn't think they needed me I would have stopped a few years ago, when you were done with college."

"Are you sure?" Kim asked and noticed the pleased smile on Jean's face that said Jean could hear her. Kim watched Jean pull out her own cell phone as Kim's father answered.

"I'm positive pumpkin. You take that job and when you give that bitch her money shove it up her…"

"DAD!"

"I'm sorry sweetheart." He went silent for a moment too long. "I just feel so helpless when you hurt and I can't just kiss it and make it better like when you were a little girl."

"I know papa." Kim sighed. "I am feeling a bit better lately." She glanced at Jean's back as the woman started talking into her own phone.

"Well, good."

"I really like working with Jean on the school." Kim hadn't talked to him in a while. "I'm glad you called me to take it."

"Well, see, daddy knows best." He teased. "I need to get back to work pumpkin, but you call me whenever you need to."

"Okay daddy. See you later."

Kim hung up and then it was her turn to wait for Jean to finish a call. "Alright Professor, and Thanks." Jean said, right before hanging up and Kim could hear some real gratitude in Jean's voice. Jean really did care. Kim was so lucky to have met her.

"So, dinner?" Jean smiled and her eyes seemed to sparkle with happiness. Kim leaned closer and pulled Jean into a hug. The redhead's hand moved gently over Kim's back. "I wanted to help you." Jean spoke quietly. "And I'm grateful you're letting me." Kim started to cry and the weight on her shoulders suddenly was taken away, the worry she'd lived under for months and Jean held her. Kim would find a way to make those payments, she'd take this second chance and make it work somehow.

"I love you." Kim told Jean as she pulled away and wiped at her eyes.

"Love you to." Jean moved to open the car door. "But if you don't feed me soon I might get rather grumpy." When Kim moved to get into the car, Jean closed it after she was in. "Finally, I didn't have lunch and I was wondering if we'd ever leave to eat." Jean said as she got into the car herself and Kim smiled at the way Jean broke the seriousness between them.

"So Mexican or Italian?" Kim asked and Jean grinned at her.

"Margaritas."

"And for food?"

"Whatever they put down in front of me." Jean pulled out of the parking space and they were on their way. Kim smiled and leaned back in her seat, feeling free and just so happy. It wasn't just the money that did that for her, Kim rolled her head to the left and stared at the redhead driving.

…………………

CHAPTER 8

"You know, it shouldn't even be possible that the building is done already." Kim told Jean quietly while placing another piece of flooring down. It was the weekend and Kim had volunteered to help a little. She'd been doing that more and more as the detail work fell to Jean. Kim then looked up and smirked, amused at herself for thinking Jean needed the help as she watched Jean use telekinetics to lay an entire row of flooring at once. "Nevermind."

"What?" Jean turned and grinned at Kim, clearly amused and teasing.

"You could have told me that you didn't need help." Kim waved to the newly laid floor.

"Well, I could use the company. With my skipping out so much during construction to 'work' with you I had to put in more work."

"Blaming me are you?" Kim picked up another square of flooring, her voice teasing.

"If I can manage it." Jean waved a hand and another row of flooring moved into place. "Besides, you were just going to sit at home and worry about your meeting with Vicki today."

"Most likely Vicki and her new bitch." Kim muttered, knowing her ex lacked the decency to come to the meeting about the house alone. Wayne had offered to go with her, but he was her lawyer, sort of, and Vicki had her own.

"Do you want me to go with you?" Jean asked and Kim looked up from her work to see she had Jean's full attention. "At least during our last meeting Scott had the decency to leave Emma home, even if I have to see them here all the time. She wasn't a part of the divorce hearing."

"It's not going to be fun. I can't ask you to do that."

"You didn't ask, I offered." Jean moved closer and squatted down to be eye level with Kim, who had been working on the floor. "I could go and if Vicki doesn't bring her new lover I could wait in the hall for you, but if she does I'll go in and stare at you adoringly."

"What?" Kim chuckled a little.

"You're not moving on has to be an ego stroker for Vicki, like she was powerful enough to hurt you like that. But if you've replaced her, well…" Jean shrugged, but her grin was infectious. Kim found its twin on her own face as she imagined what Vicki would think if Kim brought such an amazingly attractive woman with her.

"Amazingly attractive?" Jean repeated Kim's thought and Kim blushed as the redhead smiled.

"And unbelievably nosy."

"You projected that one." Jean told her and Kim's blush grew, knowing enough about telepathy from her brother to know if that were true it was her own fault. Kim knew just enough about mental shields to know the difference between sharing thoughts with the world and keeping them to herself.

"Sorry."

"For the compliment? Don't you dare be." Jean's expression softened. "But if you want I could work with you on shielding your thoughts a bit more."

"I'm out of practice." Kim admitted.

"We'll work on it." Jean rested a hand on Kim's arm. "Am I coming with you?"

"Sure." Kim could take Jean out to do something afterwards to make up for it.

…………….

Kim took a deep breath as the car stopped outside of Vicki's lawyer's office, where the meeting was going to be. It was the first meeting, and Kim hadn't offered the money until there were witnesses and paperwork to keep Vicki from taking it and also going after the house. Kim would like to believe Vicki wouldn't do that, but it was like she'd never known Vicki now. The woman wasn't at all like Kim thought she was. Even after years together Kim was still surprised by all of this.

Jean squeezed her hand and didn't say anything, just held her hand for a moment, until Kim moved to open the car door. She could see Vicki's car was already here. Now to just see if that cop was as well.

The door jangled as Kim pushed it opened and stepped inside, a bell alerting all to her arrival. She glanced around the lobby for a moment and was grateful to not see anyone but the receptionist there. It gave her a few more moments. "Hello, I'm Kimberly Brown." She announced herself to the woman at the desk and then glanced back at Jean, who moved closer and lightly reached up to touch her temple, making it look like an itch, but then Kim felt the soft mental touch Jean had warned her about. The cop is in the room with her. Jean's mental voice told her and Kim sighed, before turning back to the receptionist.

"They are already in the conference room."

"Is Wayne Grenshaw here as well?" Kim asked as the receptionist stood to lead them to the room.

"Not yet." Jean's hand rested on Kim's shoulder as the receptionist spoke.

"He'll be here." Jean told her and smiled just a little. "I saw him parking his car." Kim started to relax just a little. She'd hired him for this once she had the money, knowing that Vicki wouldn't be able to manipulate her as easily if Kim had legal backup.

"We'll wait for him." Kim moved back away from the desk and moved to sit in a chair, glancing up at Jean as the woman sat with her.

I can't believe how much of a jerk Vicki ended up being, to actually bring company to our divorce, this is essentially the end of our relationship, our last legal tie, and she brought that woman. Kim mentally muttered to Jean.

Jean appeared to pick up a magazine and flip through it, but Kim felt the mental touch that told her someone had heard her. Well, how devoted did you want me to be? Shall I act like you hung the moon, or something a little less blatant?

You don't have to actually pretend to be my lover. Kim sent back.

Oh but I want to. Jean's mental voice hardened just a little. Vicki knew having her new lover here would hurt you, but didn't care enough to consider your feelings in this. She just wanted to make it easy for them to go celebrate after you are forced to sell. Kim's jaw clenched as she heard that.

The door opened and Wayne nodded to them. Too blatant and it seems false. Kim replied silently and stood up. She was used to silent conversations and was able to do it without appearing to. but if it slips you've been in my hot tub it couldn't hurt.

You don't normally invite people over for that do you? I knew Ororo was pushing you too hard. Jean sent as they started walking towards the conference room.

Wayne held the door opened for them and Kim smiled at him and walked in, focusing more on the chair she'd take than the women staring at her. She did see Vicki staring at Jean as if wondering what the hell Jean was doing there and who she was when Jean took the seat next to Kim. "Vicki." Kim's voice was flat and held no warmth at all.

"Kim." Vicki's eyes moved toward Jean, in that silent way Vicki used to ask her questions, for that one moment actually seeming like the woman Kim had known. Kim just glanced toward the cop and back into Vicki's eyes, while raising one eyebrow as if to say why the hell would you bring her, and you can't honestly think I can't have someone if you do.

"Before we get started, I took the liberty of printing out the value of that jaguar in the parking lot." Wayne opened his briefcase and slid a paper out to a surprised looking Vicki. "Does that look about right to you?"

"She never made payments on that." Vicki's voice rose.

"But I do believe she did make the down payment, didn't you Kim?" Wayne asked her.

"Yeah, I did."

"Kim, you can't be going after my car." Vicki stared at her and Kim felt bad for just a moment, but then it went away.

"It's worth a lot. You didn't just buy a Honda Civic." Kim sighed. "It's all our assets Vicki, not just the house. You can't just try to take what's mine without opening yourself up to the same thing."

"I believe that we can come to some conclusion that will make both parties happy." Wayne interrupted as the other lawyer picked up the paper he'd brought.

Jean moved to rest a hand on Kim's and squeezed it gently in support. Kim turned to give her a small smile of thanks and then turned back in time to see Vicki's eyes staring at Jean's hand over Kim's.

………………..

The meeting lasted an hour and Kim felt a sense of triumph the moment Vicki realized that Kim wouldn't be selling the house to pay her off. Vicki almost looked disappointed that Kim would get to keep the house while Vicki only got some money. She also looked like she had a million questions, but Vicki's own lover was talking to her so she couldn't follow Kim and Jean out of the office to ask them.

Kim smiled at Wayne as he gave her the thumbs up sign and moved to his own car. That man had beat the price down mercilessly and now Kim owned her own home by herself. "I'm baking him cookies." Kim told Jean and leaned into the woman as they walked to the car. "But you deserve a whole cake for that performance, not over the top, but clearly enough to make me look like an amazing stud to have gotten you." Jean laughed and Kim joined her, ignoring the looks Vicki was sending their way out the glass door of the office building.

Kim moved to open the car door, but found she lacked the room to move so she could, because a redhead was pinning her to the car with a wicked smile. "I like chocolate cake." Jean leaned in and Kim knew it was a kiss coming her way, and it may have been for appearances, but Kim wrapped her arms around Jean and gave as good as she could, but she doubted it was as good as she got. "So now that you have that house to yourself and Vicki is properly pissed, how about we go buy you some new locks? I know you've wanted them." Jean pulled back and finished opening the car door, so Kim had to move to get in. "And then we can start baking."

Kim noticed that Vicki's new girlfriend didn't look very happy with Vicki as they drove past and it was nice to see trouble in paradise. It was also nice to feel like she didn't really care why. "You did okay." Jean told her softly and reached out to take Kim's hand. After the numerous times Jean had done that today it really did seem natural to continue to hold it while they drove away.

………………..

Kim had a small smile on her face as she stood in front of the new building, the largest she'd ever been a part of creating, while the Professor said a few words. He was a charismatic man and she could see why her brother thought so highly of him. "And one more thing," He turned to her and Kim felt like more eyes turned to her. There were a lot of Xmen listening to his opening of the building. "This building was a joint effort between mutants and humans." He smiled at her. "And a bridging of the gap between us. Thank you Kimberly for not only helping to recreate this beautiful school, but for being willing to do it over and over again." He chuckled and Kim blushed, but a wave of playfulness had her respond loudly so all could hear.

"Try to keep this one standing long enough for us to at least take some pictures." A few people chuckled and Jean moved to rest a hand on Kim's shoulder, leaning in closer.

"Seriously though, thank you Kimberly." Charles stared into her eyes. "It's good to know we have some human allies in all of this insanity."

"Oh, lets bow down to our token human and stare in wonder." A feminine voice nearby mocked not too quietly and Kim felt Jean's hand tighten on her shoulder for a moment. Kim glanced over at the blonde woman and just shook her head at the childishness. That woman wasn't worth a response.

Kim turned to smile at Jean and spoke more quietly than Emma had. "I think her dye job is burning her scalp and making her cranky." Jean's green eyes filled with mirth at that. "Or perhaps she tried to dye other things, that would explain that pained expression." Jean laughed out loud and Kim giggled quietly, ignoring the glare the blonde was giving her, Emma was just a man stealing slut after all. What did it matter what a woman like that thought of Kim.

The Professor didn't speak too long, but long enough for Kim to be grateful that the houses she normally built didn't require a grand opening. His last words drew Kim's full attention again. "Once we are settled and actually have the furniture in we will have a party. I'm thinking next Friday night." He glanced at Kim and then Jean. "A party to celebrate the school's losing a tired old headmaster and gaining a new headmistress."

A few people muttered and Kim started to wonder if that had been a secret. She glanced around and saw that people hadn't known, except of course the blonde, who again looked like she'd bit into something disgusting. Probably not too thrilled with the idea of the woman whose husband she stole being her boss. Kim grinned a little, there was some justice in the world and Jean could take it if she wanted it.

If Kim were Jean she might start by giving Emma all the early morning classes, and Scott the late afternoon ones. Kim considered a job she'd never had and wondered if the problem kids could all be put in Emma's class at oh dark thirty. "You're having too much fun." Jean whispered. "And broadcasting. She has to hear you." Kim grinned a little guiltily and started to pay attention to the Professor again. "Good ideas though." Jean said quietly.

"So I expect everyone to attend as the school is given new leadership to push forth into the future." The Professor finished his speech and Kim sighed in relief. He talked too much.

Quite a few people came closer to congratulate Jean and Kim stayed nearby, just feeling like that was where she needed to be. A few others went inside to see the completed building, those that hadn't been working on the detailed work.

Once Jean and Kim had fewer people around, Jean leaned closer to Kim. "You will go to that party with me, won't you?"

"Sure."

"Good, oh and Kim," Jean's voice drew Kim's full attention. Jean smiled softly and stared into her eyes. "I," Jean sighed, "Nevermind."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah," Jean's smile wasn't as real as others Kim had seen. She was about to ask about that, but then someone else came up to talk to Jean, and someone started asking Kim questions about the building. And after that more came and soon Kim just had to let it go or it would seem odd to bring it up.

…………………..

"So," Kim stretched the word out as she lounged on her couch, looking at Jean who had the other side of it. "Now you can shower anytime you want, you have actual walls and a door."

"And yet I prefer to spend my time here." Jean added and stared into her glass. "This place is just more comfortable, and hey it comes with pleasant company."

"What? Why didn't I know about that? I've never seen it." Kim teased, but she smiled, pleased with the comment.

Jean kicked one of Kim's legs, making it fall off the couch. Kim had to put it back, and used the opportunity to gently kick at Jean's leg as she did it. "Goofball." Jean smiled at her and glanced at the commercial on the television for just a moment.

"Are you okay?" Kim asked softly, the joking and teasing gone as she asked it.

"Yeah, I just need some time off once in a while and if I'm there everyone tries to talk me into doing something or other for the school." Jean sighed. "I also told Scott that I couldn't be on his team anymore and he's acting like I'm being a problem, but the temptation to NOT watch her back is too much, and I'll be honest, he isn't all that much safer. I can't put myself in that situation, because if she ever did get hurt I'd wonder if I could have stopped it and just hadn't tried very hard."

"Yeah, that's really messed up." Kim shook her head at the problems Jean had to deal with that NO other divorced woman would.

"But they are the team that doesn't wander around too much. Warren's team is around more than Ororo's, but I would have preferred to work with her. Not that Warren or Kurt aren't good leaders, but when Ororo is leading a team, it's a real team."

"And she's your best friend." Kim added, knowing it was a factor. It felt strange talking about what superhero team to join, not a discussion she'd ever had with anyone before.

"The Professor rarely went on missions. He ran it all from the mansion, and I'm starting to think maybe I should try that for a while. At least until something that makes sense happens. Things change all the time." Jean sighed. "The school has to be someone's priority too, can I afford to be on a team when I still have a school to run?"

Kim knew that she could tell Jean to quit the teams and focus on the safer job of running a school, not that Jean would listen if she wasn't thinking of doing that anyhow, but she didn't. "What do you want? And do you really have to decide now? Can it wait until you're more comfortable being the headmistress?"

"See, this is why I love spending time with you." Jean kicked Kim's leg off the couch again. "With you it isn't all about responsibilities and expectations, but about what I want and what would make me happiest."

"What would make you happiest?" Kim asked as she once again resituated herself and brought her leg back onto the couch.

"Someone to hold me at night." Jean stared out the window at trees. "I miss that." The subject change was jarring and Kim took a moment to consider it.

"So do I." Kim sighed heavily. "Or having someone to talk to after a day of work."

"And sex, sex with someone that wants to cuddle afterwards." Jean picked up the pillow that she'd tossed to the floor earlier and hugged it to her body. "The kind of sex that feels like a physical expression of love, and a promise for the future."

"Yeah, it's been a long time since I felt that. It had become nothing really special with Vicki a while before she left. I think I haven't made love like that in over a year. Things you don't notice until it's too late." Kim paused and felt a little awkward with the comment she felt she needed to make. "But you are so special, you won't be single forever. You probably won't be single long." And Kim found she didn't like that idea. When Jean did move on these nights would be a thing of the past.

"Yeah," Jean smiled a little wistfully, "but I want someone that can understand my life and not be a part of some of it; to be okay with not being a part of some of my life. I'm not looking for a hero." Jean sighed and Kim just watched her, enthralled by Jean's words of what she wanted. "I want someone who knows how to relax in a way Scott never could, but is able to work hard as well. Someone that cares about people, feels the same way I do about relationships, and can make me laugh when everything makes me want to cry." Jean sighed. "I want someone I can talk to for hours and still have more to say. Someone I can also just be with and not have to talk, you know and get that comfortable sense of being together." Kim nodded that she understood that. "I don't want to waste time with people I know won't work out. I want someone that knows how to stick around and values commitment."

"So, that means no Logan huh?" Kim asked once it had been quiet a little while.

"Yeah, he's attractive, but he's not reliable. I can see that." Jean tossed the pillow in her arms toward Kim. "I really should get going."

"Okay. Come over anytime. If I have to work you can just hang out." Kim told Jean as she stood up to let her out. She hugged Jean and watched at the window as Jean drove away, mulling over the fact that Jean never said he. She kept saying someone, not he. Kim moved around, picking up the pizza box and breaking it down as she entertained a new idea, a risky one.