Logan rose to his feet to stand beside Jean unable to believe what he was seeing. Scott Summers was alive and well and standing right in front of him. Right in front of Jean – Logan looked over to her – who seemed to be unable to do anything but stare at Scott.
"Mr. Summers!" Scott smiled as he was suddenly wrapped in the embrace of Kitty. Who then released him just as quickly. "Oh, I'm sorry. I know…"
"It's okay Kitty. It's good to see you too." Scott continued to smile as his gaze encompassed Bobby, Peter and Marie. "It's good to see all of you." The rest of the younger X-Men quickly approached Scott as well offering hugs and handshakes. Once they were finished, Hank rounded the desk, approached Scott and clasped his hand in a strong hand shake.
"It is certainly good to see you back where you belong." Scott grinned at Hank.
"It's good to be here." Scott lifted his gaze from Hank and glanced briefly at Wolverine and than at Jean. His grin faded. "Logan, Jean." He quickly switched his gaze to the Professor.
"Professor." The Professor smiled at Scott.
"Welcome home my son."
"Thank you sir." Scott turned to Ororo and smiled again. "I seem to recall someone promising me that they would help me lug my things inside when I arrived. I hope that offers still good?" Ororo laughed at Scott and moved around the Professor's desk to approach him. Reaching him she enfolded him in a hug.
"It's still good. Welcome home my friend." Storm pulled back and made to move away but was stopped as Scott clasped her hand in his and pulled her back toward him.
"It's really no time like the present to get started." Scott glanced at the smiling faces in the room and quirked an eyebrow. "You know we wouldn't refuse a little help." So saying he turns to lead Ororo out of the room. Before he can take two steps he is stopped by the sound of Jean saying his name.
"Scott?" Scott pauses and turns slightly to look at Jean seeing her facial expression he turns back to Storm.
"Can you guys get started and I'll meet you down at the boat house in a few minutes? Storm squeezed the hand that was gripping hers and nodded in agreement. Releasing his hand she led Bobby, Marie, Kitty, Peter and Hank from the room.
Wolverine glanced from Scott to Jean and then headed towards the door.
"Welcome back Summers." Scott nodded at Logan as he exited the room.
The Professor looked between Jean and Scott and started to excuse himself from the room only to be stopped by Scott.
"Don't. It's okay, I'm not staying." Scott approached Jean and took her hands into his. "I'm sorry. I know this is confusing and that it is upsetting you, but I can't do this right now." Jean tries to interrupt but Scott stops her. "We'll talk but not now. I just need to get settled in and reacclimated with everything here and then we'll talk. Scott squeezes her hands, nods to Professor and exits the room.
Jean starts to go after him only to be stopped by the Professor.
"Jean, give him time. He will speak with you when he's ready." Jean turns back to Professor hurt and anger warring for dominance in facial expression.
"How long? How long have you know that he was alive? Why didn't you tell me? Were you punishing me?" Jean practically screamed. "Why didn't you tell me?" Jean collapsed into the chair in front of the Professors desk and looked at him through tear filled eyes. "Why? All this time, why? How could you do this to me?" The Professor sighed and laid his hands upon his desk.
"This was not about you. It was and is about Scott. I did it for him; at his request."
Logan watched Scott as he exited the mansion and started for the boat house. Glancing back he turned to see if Jean was trailing behind. When he didn't see or hear her he turned back to watching Scott; his brow furrowed in contemplation. That didn't take long. I guess we're not going back to the status quo around here anytime soon. Logan turned and went back into the mansion. A beer was definitely called for in this situation.
Scott reached the boat house steps just as Ro came back outside to grab another box. Coming down the steps she stopped in front of him.
"How are you?"
"I'm okay." Scott smiled at the look of disbelief on Ro's face. "Honestly, Ro I will be fine. You were right it was time to come home." Slinging an arm around her shoulders he turned to the car. "Let's get me moved in."
Jean just stared at the Professor for a few moments.
"Scott, requested that I not know? Why? Why would he do that?" The Professor shook his head.
"I can't answer that, only Scott can. The Professor came around the desk and stopped beside Jeans chair. "Scott is not the same man that you knew before; he's changed a lot – when he's ready to talk to you he will." The Professor pats Jean on the hand exits the office.
Jean rises from her chair and goes over to the window over looking the garden. Scott was back. She hadn't killed him. But he had let her think that he was dead for over a year. Scott – the Scott she knew wouldn't have done that; wouldn't have allowed her to suffer that way. Jean thought back to how Scott had acted since he had first walked through the office door. He had been happy to see the team, smiling and joking. He hadn't smiled when he had greeted her and Logan, he had merely been polite. He would have left with Ro and the team without any further acknowledgement of her, if she hadn't of stopped him. Jean sighed. When he had touched her the feeling wasn't the same, Scott's touch used to say so much about how he was feeling. When he held her hands this time, the warmth wasn't there; that gentleness that used be conveyed had been missing. The Professor was right Scott was a changed man…she wasn't sure what that was going to mean for her…for them.