Storm stood up and looked over the bulbs she had just planted in her garden; they would be beautiful when they bloomed. Laying down her tools, she tugged off her gloves and turned back towards the mansion, unable to stop her mind from wandering to Scott and Jean. To stop it from wondering what was happening between the two, she felt more than heard someone come up behind her.
"What is it Logan?" Logan moved up beside her.
"Standing out here staring isn't going to tell you or change what's happening in that room right now."
"I know that Logan. But I can't help but worry about my friends." Logan arches an eyebrow at this comment.
"Your friends Ro? Don't you mean Scott?" Storm turns to Logan with a sigh.
"No, Logan I mean my friends Scott and Jean. They are both hurting right now and angry, whether they admit it or not, and it would be so easy for them both to lash out in that anger and say things that they'll regret."
"I don't think the kid would regret anything he could say to hurt Jeannie right now. In fact I think he's just getting started in the punishment department." Storm shook her head.
"You do not know Scott at all; nothing he has done has been to punish Jean." Storm hurried on as she saw Logan about to interrupt. "Scott didn't stay away to punish Jean or to make her feel guilty. He stayed away to because he needed time for himself; time to examine his life, to see in which direction he wished to turn." Logan snorted.
"Yeah, it's all about him isn't it? All about the boy scout getting what he needs. Never mind how it affects anyone else. Never mind how much Jean was hurting over the thought that she was responsible for this death! Never mind how much it affected her and her well being!" Something in Storm snapped.
"Did you really expect him to care about Jean? Why? Why would he care? She certainly didn't give a damn about how her behavior with you was affecting him when you were flirting with her in front of him day in and day out while you were here! Don't be a hypocrite Logan!"
"Well of course you would back him; you don't think he did anything wrong in pretending to be dead all that time! You just welcomed him back with open arms!"
"Yes, yes I did! Scott is my friend and he needed time, and I will not blame him or push him away because he took the time he needed to get his life in order. Make no mistake, I was angry at him, but I will not allow that anger to override the joy of his return! Scott had planned to never to return Logan. It's only because of the Professor and I that he changed his mind and I will not regret that fact! As far as Jean is concerned, whatever happens between them is between them and you need to stay out of it Logan! Scott is only trying to live his life on his own terms and no matter what he decides Logan he will have my support!" Storm broke off as Logan stared in stunned surprise as a thought finally occurs to him.
"No wonder you've been so angry with Jeannie! How long? How long have you been in love with him?"
Jean dropped her hand from Scott's arm.
"What?"
"Who ended your relationship? You or Logan?"
"Why? Why is that important?" Scott smiled.
"That's what I thought." Scott tried to leave again.
"Wait. What does that mean? Why is it so important?"
"It's not. Just forget I asked. It really doesn't matter." Jean rushed to answer his previous question.
"Logan ended it. But I had been contemplating the same thing. I just hadn't had a chance to act on it." Jean laid her hand on his arm once again. "I know it must hurt you to know that he and I were together. But you have to understand Scott, I thought you were dead and I needed someone in my life and he was there for me, supporting me through everything." Scott turned to face Jean fully.
"I do. I do understand. I know how it feels to want to be close to someone, anyone, to want to lose yourself in the warmth and acceptance of another." Jean blinked and started to frown as she realized exactly what he was saying.
"You've been…" Jean tapered off unwilling to give voice to her realization.
"It's been over a year. I was moving on with my life. That life included other women." A small silence settled over them as Scott finished speaking. Jean released his arm and turned away from him. Scott watched her from the doorway unsure of what to do, until finally Jean broke the silence.
"You said included." Scott raised an eyebrow in inquiry. "You said that life included other women. You used the past tense. Does that mean you are starting your old life over again? Does it mean that there's still a chance for us?" Scott shook his head.
"Why do keep asking if there's a chance for us? Why do you want to get back what we had? There was obviously something missing in our relationship in the first place or you would have never returned Logan's interest and I would have never sat quietly by while you did it. Don't you think I knew what was happening? I have rationalized my own reactions to death regarding your behavior with Logan. But they are all just that, rationalizations. I've had a lot of time to think about why I did the things I did and I believe that on some level I wanted it to happen so that I could be free."
"Of course I love him, Logan. He is one my oldest and dearest friend. Besides the Professor, Scott, Hank and Jean were all the family I had for years. Now if you would excuse me I need to go get cleaned up." Storm walked away leaving Logan looking after her.
Logan stood there a while after Storm had disappeared into the house. Turning to look at her garden he takes out a cigar a lights it up. "You can deny it all you want, you may love everyone else like family but you're in love with Summers." Damn, as much as he hated to admit it, Jeannie wanted the kid back and no matter what Storm said about accepting any decision that the kid made, whether she realized it or not she was a woman ready to stake a claim to what she wanted and she wanted Scott Summers.