Author's notes: Sorry about the bolding, didn't realized. Thanks for your reviews.

Chapter 6

She was observing him. Among all men he stood out. She found him beautiful inside and out. To her, the former overwhelms the latter. His features were those of a handsome man and he had a certain clean-cut image. Gentile and at the same time, strong. A former pupil, now a teacher, a leader; he was simply the man she loved. Just recently her love for him was tested. Temptation came knocking at her door with undeniable force and determination, but at the end true love prevailed. How could it not? The feelings binding them have always been the truest from the very moment they laid eyes on each other.

Right now, her loving eyes were on him and she was seeing beyond the man she had promised her love to. He was frowning and looked worried, his mind was elsewhere and his hands had gone lazy on her skin, the massage to her aching foot apparently forgotten. She didn't need to reach inside his mind to see to where his thoughts had gone. They shared a psychic rapport that allowed her to feel what he was feeling, to see what he was thinking. They were really as one. "Scott?" Her voice broke the long lasting silence, but her voice was too soft and his mind was too far. "Scott?" She tried again a littler louder. He still didn't answer or moved. "If you keep thinking about her you'll have a very jealous woman to deal with." Jean crossed her arms over her chest and rested her back heavily on the headboard to emphasize her point. This time her words were even louder and finally registered.

"What? Who?" Cyclops answered not totally focused on their conversation.

"Ororo. You've been thinking about her all day long and part of the night. I'm starting to get worry." Jean made a serious face and arched an eyebrow at him. Her demeanor was one of a woman asking for an explanation. He looked at her and studied her face confused by her reaction. Seeing this she let out a little laugh and saw relief wash over him. "Relax, honey, I'm just kidding." She reached out and touched his hand that was still lying on her broken foot.

"You need to work on your timing." Cyclops took her hand and gave it a little kiss. "You know, I think you should've talked to her instead of me. I mean, you two have been best friends since day one."

"I know that, but under the circumstances, it needed to be you. You are our leader, and when the time calls for it, she shares that responsibility with you. I sense the way she is feeling and eventually, I'll talk to her, but right now she needs to talk to someone who understands best what she is dealing with. Besides, you are her friend too."

"I know but, that is the problem." Cyclops stood up abruptly. "Because I am her friend, I know her. I know what her struggle is. I think you know too. How am I supposed to go to her and tell her that she needs to put those things aside and toughen up because in our position we have no room for doubts?" He started pacing the room throwing his arms around almost never glancing at her. Like he was having the conversation with himself. "I can't tell her that. I won't. It would be unfair. You know how many times I have struggle myself; always trying to keep it together, not allowing myself to doubt in what I'm doing, why I'm doing it. It is not easy to go out there with people depending on you, people who trust that you know what you are doing. People who follow your orders because you are supposed to have the answers no matter how tough the situation. Do you think they stop to think? That they ever realize that sometimes I, their leader, it's terrified about making a mistake and that they would be the ones to pay for that mistake? My mistake!" Jean was following him with her gaze at all times, taking in what he was saying. They have been down this road before. He was right, she knew about his own struggles, and once again she would need to be there for him. She would help him find his center so he could help Storm find hers. "The way 'Ro is today comes from all that she's lived through, but above all, from all that she's believed in. Asking her to put that aside would be like asking her to betray herself." He finally sat back down on the bed in a slump. He rested his elbows on his knees and supported his forehead on his hands. Jean approached him and put her hands on his shoulders to comfort him. Then she spoke.

"You don't have to ask that of her. Nobody is telling you to do that. What she needs is to know that you understand how she feels and that we, as a team and as a family are in this together. As long as we are together and take care of each other everything will be fine." Cyclops grabbed one of her hands and pulled her inviting her to sit by his side.

"I guess you're right. I mean, it's a start." He looked and smiled at her tenderly.

"Did you ask her about the training exercises?"

"Yeah."

"And?" She inquired when he said nothing else.

"And, she is reluctant to do it. I guess she is right, it is perhaps too soon."

"And I think now is the right time. The sooner you get over this, the better. This training is important for you two. If you are on the same page, working as one, the rest just falls into place. Surely you explained that to her."

"Sort of." Jean gave him a questioning look. "I told her I didn't want to pressure her and she promised to think about it."

"I take it she hasn't answered you yet."

"What do you think all that thinking I was doing was about?"

"Well, and what are you waiting for?" Cyclops looked at her not understanding and she rolled her eyes exasperated.

"What? You mean you want me to get her answer now?" He straightened his posture and was now at eye level with her. "I can't do that now, it is late and she is sleeping. I'll ask her tomorrow." Jean closed her eyes for a moment as if she was in deep concentration while he looked at her intrigued.

"Not right now she is not." She said opening her eyes.

"What?"

"She is not at sleep. She's been meditating and she is quite calm. Besides, you know what they say, there's no time like the present."

"Jean, I don't know."

"Look Scott, I know you. You have a soft spot for our resident goddess. We all do. But if you don't go right now, she may ask you for more time, probably even throw a little philosophy into her argument and the next thing I know I'll be doing the talking for you. So just go and get it over with." They laughed at both the truth and hyperbole within her statement. "Seriously, now is the right time. It'll be fine." He saw the smile on her face and felt the little pads on his back as a last sign of encouragement and he took it. Cyclops kissed her forehead, stood up and walked decisively towards the door. He opened it and looked back at her.

"Wish me luck."

"You don't need it." He left the room and closed the door.

To be continued…