Storm woke up to feeling better than she had in weeks. She marched into the kitchen and started a pot of coffee. It was still early, so her fellow teachers weren't up and about yet. She smelled the strong grinds and grinned at the tangy aroma. She couldn't wait for the day to start. Laughter bubbled out of her as she realized her own quick change of attitude was because of a boy. And a boy that didn't want her! But she was finally beginning to feel that she was over him.

Soon, other teachers began milling into the kitchen, chatting about nonsense with her and noticing her happy mood. She was walking on the clouds, and finally feeling like her own person again. When most of the other teachers had left, Leah stepped groggily into the kitchen. Storm was busying herself with cooking some eggs and sausage for breakfast for the teachers. The cafeteria in another wing cooked for the kids. It wasn't really Storm's job, but she just felt like cooking today.

Leah stopped in the doorway and rubbed her eyes. Storm was nearly dancing between the stove, the spice cabinet and the refrigerator. She laughed at Storm's happy mood, and felt herself feeling uplifted as well.

"Morning, sleepyhead," Storm said, laughing as she stirred the huge vat of eggs. "You're a bit later than I would've expected, Leah." Leah laughed.

"I don't have a class until 10:30. Why would I get up super-early?" Leah bounded over to Storm. "What is going on?" she said quietly, not seriously, with the last giggle still lacing her words.

"Oh, nothing," said Storm. "I've just moved on a bit, that's all." With those words, four faces appeared in her mind- Jean, Scott, Xavier and Logan. She shook her head, clearing the image. She attempted to go back to her bouncy demeanor, but it didn't entirely work. Leah soon left to teach, and met Angel in the hallway.

"Have you seen Storm this morning?" Leah said with a twinkle in her eye.

"I have," Angel replied. "I think she got laid last night." Leah laughed, and her eyes danced all the way down the hallway and into her classroom.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Logan awoke feeling tired and cold from sweat. He shivered and pulled the blankets up to his chin. He rolled onto his side and glanced at the clock. If he didn't go soon, he wouldn't catch Storm in the kitchen. He threw the covers off, cracked his neck, flexed his fists, and threw on some clothes. After running his fingers through his dark hair a few times, he stepped out of his room and strode towards the kitchen.

Storm, at this point, was still on a cloud, it was just slightly closer to the ground now. She seemed more like a person than the spirit of happiness she had been earlier. But still, when Logan entered the kitchen, a soft smile crept to his face. She was humming quietly to herself, still cooking, and hadn't noticed him come in.

"Hey," he said quietly. She jumped, then laughed quietly when she saw who it was.

"Hey yourself. Don't sneak up on me like that."

"Don't blame me. I didn't try to," he said in his best protesting voice as he walked over to Storm. "Need any help?"

"You're not your usual bitter, sarcastic self this morning, Logan. Are you feeling alright?"

"I slept great last night," he lied. And of course she knew he was lying.

"Hmmm," was her low response as she stopped concentrating on him and went back to the eggs. He chose to ignore it, and stared into her eyes. She wasn't looking back.

"Storm..." he said slowly. She gulped, but continued to work with her eggs. He gave up on that approach, and turned in an entirely different direction. "I'm not myself this morning?" he asked with a forced laugh. "How about you? You're dancing around in here like this is the greatest morning of your life." He cursed himself for his bitterness. She turned the burner off and turned to face him.

"Why shouldn't it be, Logan? Why can't I have a happy morning like we all used to? Why can't you let me let go for one day?" she said, emotion pouring into her words. "Why can't you let me forget?" Logan roared.

"Me? What does this have to do with me? Forget about them, go ahead. I've got nothing to do with the way you treat them!"

"Yes you do!" she yelled, nearly crying now.

"How?" he said, challenge clear in his tone.

"Because when I look at you, I see them, Logan." She shut her eyes for a moment. "Every time I look at you, I see Xavier, I see Jean, I see Scott, because they're still there with you, Logan. I feel them in you, because you won't let go. And I can't stop seeing you, Logan. You're the only one who really understands. In order to let them go, I have to lose you, and I can't bear that."

Logan was glued to his spot on the floor. For once, he was out of bitterness to throw back at her. His main weapon had been pried away from him. She saw them in him? He saw how much she was hurting. Her eyes were closed against angry tears, and her fists were clenched. Her entire body was shaking, just a little.

"Storm..." he said quietly and moved closer to her. Her face came up to look at him. Her eyes opened and her fists grabbed at the counter behind her. Her body was still shaking. He leaned down, and very softly put his mouth on hers. The torrents of emotion she had been holding back broke free in that moment. The love she'd been longing to express, the hatred she'd been longing to feel, the sorrow she'd been longing to sink into, and the joy that she had no place to use. They all came together in that kiss. She reached behind his neck and pulled him closer.

He as well was reeling in emotion. Her emotions came pouring into him as they kissed and he finally understood how she had been feeling. He pulled back and took her in his arms. She didn't cry, but she was still swimming in emotions, and buried her face into his shoulder, grasping him tightly. They stayed that way for what seemed like an eternity to both of them.

- - - - - - - - -

Leah sat in front of her class, feeling nervous. Most of the kids were older in the class, but still very inexperienced. She took a deep breath and shuddered. Then, a wary smile implanted itself on her face and she stood up. She moved closer to the children in the classroom that reminded her of the family room in her old house. The chairs for the students were a pale blue plush and the carpet navy and soft. Instruments dotted the back wall of the room, some hanging, some just leaning, and a grand piano sat near the teacher's chair. She adored it.

"Good morning," she said sweetly, and the class was all smiles. "I'm the new music teacher here, as you probably already knew, and my name is Leah. Please call me that, not Miss Leah, or anything like that. I think it adds unneeded formality in the classroom." A few whispers in the back of the room started, but she chose to ignore them.

"That's really cool."

"I wish all our teachers would do that."

She started class then, using the high tech machinery that she couldn't make work to teach music theory. Every new step she took, she pulled a student from their seat and made them show her how the equipment worked. And with her style of teaching, the students greatly enjoyed themselves. It became a hot topic of conversation among the children- the new music teacher who used to teach math.