Okay, this chapter is the one you want to read. Have you ever wondered what Jean was as a teenager just before the X-Men was developed? My take on those years when it was just Jean and Professor X.
Disclaimer: Marvel owns the characters. Dr. Eris Kingston is my figurative imagination :)
Chapter 4 – Homecoming
Xavier Institute for Higher Learning
It is just two days before Thanksgiving is upon Xavier's. It's early in the morning. People are just starting to get up. The remaining mutants were doing their daily routine. Getting a bite to eat, finding their homework or projects, getting to class, or doing whatever they are doing.
Logan is in the private kitchen eating his breakfast in silence and reading his newspaper. Even if the holidays are coming up, he is trying his best not to kill it for everyone with his grouchy mood. As everybody knows that the holidays are not the best times of the year for him, but he can handle it if nobody rubs him the wrong way. Plus, he is also looking forward to Jean's homecoming.
"Morning Logan," Rachel said as she went straight to the coffee maker.
"Mornin' Ray," Logan returned the greeting without looking up from his paper.
Rachel stood opposite from Logan leaning on the counter. He is a man of few words, but she knew better. While sipping on her coffee with cream and sugar, she wondered if Logan is going to stick around for the holidays. Logan could feel her staring at him through the newspaper.
"What is it, Ray?" Logan asked calmly feeling irritated that she hasn't said a word. Something is definitely bothering her. Startled by the sudden intrusion, Rachel quickly composed herself and answered Logan's question.
"Nothing is wrong. I was wondering . . ."
"What is it?"
"Are you sticking around for the holidays or are you heading out where they don't celebrate Thanksgiving?"
Silence. Logan was sure he is staying for the feast, but did not want to lead Rachel on that someone special is coming to dinner. "It depends. Who's cooking?"
Rachel had to smirk at his question. "According to dear Dad, Emma is having it catered. She refuses to be in the kitchen and eat anything from whoever will be cooking on Thanksgiving."
Pretending to ponder the situation to throw Rachel off, he answered. "It looks like I'll be here," is all Logan will say.
"Okay."
"There's more to this isn't it, kid?" Logan asked as he put the newspaper down. He felt there is more to the question she was asking.
Busted, Rachel thought. She let out a sigh and put her cup down on the counter she was leaning on. She crossed her arms across her chest and looked straight at Logan to confess.
"It's just that Mom was always at her happiest when the holidays came around. She did everything by tradition. She did most of the cooking, with help of course, and she made everybody feel welcomed. Everybody mattered. Now it just feels that Emma is just obligated to do it."
Logan pondered Rachel's rant. It kind of reminded him with his talks with Jean. He listened or at least he tried. Logan felt Rachel's frustrations; he understood that she missed Jean. "Look Ray, Emma is not what ya consider 'traditional'," Rachel gave a short laugh at "Emma" and "traditional" in the same sentence. "But she is tryin' her best. Yes, Jeannie made everybody feel like home durin' the holidays, but that's her."
Rachel looked defeated at the last comment Logan made. He saw the hurt and got off his stool and made his way to Rachel to give her a comforting hug. When he let go, he searched her face for reassurance. "I know ya miss her, Ray. We all do. But she would want us to move on until the next time she comes back, 'kay?"
Rachel gave a somber nod. "Yeah, you're right. Geez, no wonder why more people try to kill themselves during this time of the year."
Logan chuckled and went back to his empty plate to wash it before heading to his training session.
LUSSO Penthouse
23rd Floor
Times Square, New York City
One day before Thanksgiving.
Overlooking the busy streets of Times Square, Jean Grey reflects of just how much she misses New York. Big fashion billboards were all over the place; massive people walking around the streets to their destinations; Yellow cabs maneuvering through heavy traffic. God, how I miss New York, Jean thought to herself.
Jean, Charles and Lilandra were staying at the penthouse owned by Dr. Eris Kingston. She had lent them her place to stay before heading out back to Westchester for Thanksgiving. It was also a chance for Jean to get used to her surroundings once again. The phone rang and Jean picked up the call knowing who is on the other line. "Hey Eris."
"Hey Jean. How are ya and Charles doin'?" Eris asked with her Australian accent.
"We're doing fine. Thank you again for letting us stay at your penthouse. The view is magnificent and this place is beautiful. How could you ever afford this?"
"Well, I am a billionaire and a highly respected surgeon," Eris teased Jean of her earnings. Jean giggled about how she forgot that Eris has always been rich.
"Oh right. I completely forgot," Jean said sarcastically. "But seriously, thanks."
"No problem. I'm plannin' to use it as a getaway from the mansion."
"Is it really that bad?"
"Not really. But when Emma starts to bug me about doin' some sort of cosmetic surgery on her, I wanna run!"
Jean started to laugh picturing Eris introducing herself to everybody and Emma with a big smile knowing that there is a legit surgeon on staff now. "Well, hopefully she doesn't completely run you out of the mansion."
"Are ya kiddin' me?! I might kill her first!"
"Not if I get to her first! Anyways, what's going on at the mansion?"
"Well, Hank and I are rearrangin' the Med unit so I can work efficiently around here; Kitty and Scott are tryin' to salvage and reprogram the Danger Room; Rachel has be hangin' out with Kurt a lot more; Emma is bein' a brat; and Logan is . . . Logan."
"So, nothing much."
"If you call this nothin' much, yeah. Slow day at the mansion. Well until you come back t'morrow, that's when all the fun begins."
"I did promise Logan that I was not going to cause any drama at the dinner, Eris."
"That's fine by me. But you should be tellin' the others who might be causin' the drama for you."
Jean paused for the moment having to rethink how to avoid the many questions she'll face from where she had left off. "Right. Knowing how nosey everybody seems to be, I know exactly what they will be asking."
"Don't worry so much about it. You said it yerself, ya have Logan and myself to back ya up. Hey, I gotta go. Hank is at the door. I'll see ya t'morrow."
"Alright Eris. It's great hearing from you. See you tomorrow." Jean hung the phone up and sat at the sofa facing the window. She let out a big sigh, trying to figure out what to do when she goes home. The first thing they'll ask is the Scott/Jean/Emma situation. How do I avoid the situation without trying to ruin the party? Jean lent her head back to the sofa pondering tomorrow's situation. This is going to be ugly.
Xavier Institute for Higher Learning
Thanksgiving Day
Around the mansion, it has been a mixture of relaxation and chaotic madness. The morning started like any other, but as the day dwindled down to the Thanksgiving dinner, everything started to go a little haywire.
Since most of the current and former members of the X-men were coming for dinner, the dining hall is being used to host the event. The decorations were set and the table settings were placed. The caterers arrived and setting up the food that has been carefully watched as some X-Men members have been trying to sneak a taste of the food. Bobby and Hank had already been caught twice by Emma in the kitchen where the food was being prepared. First with the stuffing and second at the mashed potatoes. Hell would break loose if they got caught with the turkey. A very pissed off Emma is not a pretty sight.
Most of the guys, and some girls, watched the traditional events that were seen on television – the Thanksgiving Day parade and football. Throughout the day, the guests started to arrive. Ororo and T'Challa arrived first; Betsy Braddock arrived early afternoon; the Starjammers landed on the grounds; and Nathan Summers arrived as well. As everybody started to enter the dining hall and into their assigned seats, Charles and Lilandra made their presence known. "Good evening my X-Men."
Kitty was the first to notice them and made her way to give Charles a hug. "You just made it Professor. We're ready to start dinner," Kitty said to her former mentor.
"Good because we are famished," Charles said as he followed Lilandra to their seats.
They all greeted each other, old and new, and the room is filled with laughter sharing their stories of life. Logan isolated himself near where his seat is and kept staring at the entrance way of the dining room waiting for Jean to come through. Come on Jeannie. I know yer there.
Coming out of the kitchen were the caterers bringing out the food. "Everybody, take your seats, dinner is ready," Ororo announced as the caterers started to place the food on the tables.
Too occupied finding their names to notice a redheaded woman leaning on the doorframe of the entrance, Jean took the sight of togetherness in stride. She smiled at the scenery. "You got room for one more?"
Everyone looked to where the voice was coming from. As soon as everyone saw who asked the question, silence slowly filled the room. Eyes widened and jaws dropped to the floor seeing who the new arrival is. At least a handful of people in the room were not surprised of the appearance of Jean and kept still until someone broke the ice. Looking from left and right of her, Eris spoke up to break everybody's reverie. "Hey Jean. There's plenty of room for ya," Eris said nonchalant. Jean smiled and walked towards her old friend Eris which both of them gave a big hug to each other. "It's good to see ya girl."
"It's great to see you too," Jean happily said and let go of Eris. Jean looked around to see everybody still gawking at her.
"You sure know how to make an entrance, Red," Logan said with a smirk on his face. Jean smiled back and made her way to Logan for a hug. Jean closed her eyes to his touch trying to remember how he feels.
"Mom? Is it really you?" Rachel looking doe-eyed and tears starting to well up at the sight of her once dead mother.
Jean broke the contact with Logan and faced Rachel with tears in her eyes. "Yes Rachel. It's me."
Hearing her mother's voice, a smile crept across Rachel's face and tears came down as she ran towards Jean and threw herself for a big hug. Catching Rachel's body, Jean gave her the tightest hug and cried into her hair. "Oh my God, mom . . ."
Watching all of this happen, everybody looked at each other not knowing what to think. Scott only could do is watch and wait while a now peeved Emma crosses her arms across her chest thinking that her dinner is ruined.
"When? How?" Ororo spoke up at the surprising appearance of her best friend. Jean broke the hug with Rachel and wiped her tears to look at Ororo.
"It's a long story 'Ro," Jean said in between her sniffles and smiled at her. Ororo made her way to Jean and hugged her too. Since it is now confirmed that it is Jean, each and every one of the X-Men and students came by to welcome their beloved friend and teacher back except for Emma. Scott hanged back a bit.
During the greetings, Jean saw Scott from afar standing closely next to Emma. I see they're still together. Jean gave a small smile to him, but did not move from her spot. When others noticed where Jean is looking at, everyone froze to see what unfolds. "Hi, Scott," Jean said with a hint of awkwardness in her voice.
"Hi, Jean," Scott said with the same tone of voice.
Noticing the awkwardness, Eris took Jean's hand and led her to a seat next to her. "Come on Jean, Emma had this wonderful dinner prepared. It would be a shame to waste it all by standing around."
Taking a seat and looking at her surrounding, Jean couldn't help that the tough part of her homecoming was over. However, the night is still young.
Well, hope you liked it. I'm holding out on Ch. 5. It deals with Jean and Scott and confessions. Hehe. Review, feedback, wishes for upcoming chapters. Thanks:)