Jean watched as Ororo oversaw the last of the repairs and clean-up of the boathouse. It had been a couple of weeks since the Professor and Storm had come back from their trip and Jean wasn't sure what had happened but it appeared as if a weight had been lifted off Ororo's shoulders. They still hadn't spoken much beyond normal civilities, but she was hopeful that maybe they could get their relationship back on track. Speaking of relationships; she and Logan were tiptoeing around each other as well. She didn't know what to do about that either. Their attraction to each other had been instantaneous and their resulting relationship after Scott's death had just seemed inevitable. But now she thought maybe that had been a mistake. Maybe they both should have taken the time to really get to know each other before moving into a relationship. They should have built a foundation of friendship first, because now that the physical part of their relationship was over; all that was left was an uncomfortable co-existence.
Jean watched as Ororo glanced at her watch and headed back toward the mansion. Glancing at her own watch she saw that it was time to meet with the Professor. She didn't know what the meeting was about the Professor had requested the presence of all X-Men calling Bobby, Kitty and Colossus back from vacation and having Hank fly in from Washington. Jean turned and headed for the mansion as well meeting Ororo in the hallway outside of the Professor's office.
"Do you know why the Professor has called this meeting?" Before Ro could answer they were joined by Logan and Marie.
"Ro, Jeannie." Logan nodded at each woman as he greeted them. Marie simply smiled and nodded in greeting.
"Anyone know why he wanted to meet with us?" Jean smiled tentatively at Logan.
"I was just asking Ro the same question." Ororo smiled as all eyes turned her way.
"Why don't we go in and let the Professor explain it all?" So saying Ororo opened the door to the Professor's office to find Kitty, Bobby and Colossus milling around the room while the Professor sat at his desk with Hank sitting across from him.
Jean noticed that everyone took a seat except Ororo who remained standing by the door.
"Okay, what's up?" Logan addressed the Professor.
Scott couldn't believe he was doing this. How had he let Ro talk him into this? He was happy living in Vermont; he had a new life. A new job and new friends. So why was he headed back to his old life, his old problems? Scott hit his hand against the steering wheel, because damn it he missed it. Sure he still helped the Professor with the school and designed new simulations for the Danger Room, but it just wasn't the same he missed being X-Man, he missed the craziness of trying to keep an eye on gifted teenagers who could get into trouble faster than you could blink and he missed Ro and the Professor. Missed having them to speak with everyday. So here he was headed home. Damn it Ro this is all your fault. Scott glanced at the time and saw that he was running late. Looking around he noticed that the road was relatively empty so he picked up a little speed. "All right Ro, I'm coming home."
The Professor took a deep breath and tried to decide the best way to begin. After several moments he began to speak.
"I gathered you all here today to inform you that another team member will be joining us today." The Professor continued speaking as the others glanced at each other in surprise. "I had hoped he would be here by now, but it appears that he running late. So why don't…" Bobby interrupts.
"Wait, who is this guy? How can he just come out of nowhere and become an X-Man?"
"Bobby, he is not coming out of nowhere – he was a student here at one time and…"
"A student?" Bobby frowned as a thought occurred to him. "Oh, oh no! You can't mean John! Your letting John back into the school and letting him become an X-Man? You can't! He…" Storm stops his mini rant.
"Bobby! Let the Professor finish and you will find out what you need to know."
"Thank you Ororo." The Professor smiles at Ro and then glances at everyone else before he continues his explanation. "Now as I was saying he was a student here at one time. I had been trying for sometime since my return to convince him to come home with little success but thankfully, Ororo managed to do what I could not. He has requested separate living quarters away from the mansion so we have had the lake house cleaned out and repairs have been made. He has agreed to taking over several of the advanced Mathematic and English classes as well as being made co-leader of the X-Men." The Professor broke off as the X-Men reacted to this news.
"What?"
"Co-Leader?"
"Who is this guy?"
"Oh, my god!" Out of all the exclamations this is the one that the Professor focuses on.
"Jean…"
Scott turned into the driveway and slowed to a stop in front of the Mansion. Getting out of the car and closing the door he leaned against it as he stared at the front door. After several moments and a couple of deep breaths he straightened, climbed the front steps and opened the front door.
"Oh my god! How?" The others looked at Jean in confusion and worry as she paled and tears gathered in her eyes and she seemed to sway where she sat. "Tell me that what I'm thinking is not true! You wouldn't have kept this from me; you wouldn't have kept him from me!" Hank and Ororo moved closer to the Professor as Logan approached Jean. Logan laid his hand over Jean's, that was clasping the arm of the chair as if were a lifeline.
"Jean…" The Professor started only to be over ridden by Logan.
"Jeannie, come on now darling what's the matter?" Jean turned tear filled eyes towards Logan.
"Scott…" Jean broke off as the office door opened and gasps once again resounded throughout the room. Pulling her hand from Logan's she rose and faced the door.
"Scott."