I smiled in anticipation. She said she would come and I could barely stand the moments until she came. I couldn't keep a grin from my face.

"You sicken me." I blinked. Her voice and much too real to be fake. "I thought more of you." I shivered. I remembered some things now, things I couldn't explain, but some of them were painful to remember. But at least it came slowly.

"She's here Mistress." The demon gently rested his wizened hand on my forearm. He smiled at me. "I'm glad you found your mate." I smiled in return.

"So am I." I replied. I headed for where I knew she would be.

She was there, like she promised she would be. Her light hair shone in the light and she was staring out across the cavern. I snuck up behind her, placing my hands on her shoulders. She only looked at me with an amused smile that I loved so much.

"Hello." She whispered.

"Hey. How are you today?" I asked her.

"Tired. Some problems with someone causing everyone problems. We'll probably need to take care of it soon." I rubbed her arm.

"You'll be careful?" I asked.

"Don't worry, I have the rest of the team watching out for me." She murmured.

"I don't like this Cyclops fellow. He doesn't seem very strong." Emma shot me another amused smile.

"You know, he and I were involved once." She commented. I stuck my tongue out at her.

"Glad your taste improved then." I replied, nuzzling her neck.

"I am too." She was unusually serious when she said that. I searched her face.

"What's wrong?" I asked her, trying to figure it out. I reached out to touch her jaw.

"It's nothing."

"Don't presume to know me enough to know my wants." I shook my head, trying to shake the thoughts away for the moment.

"It is something. Tell me." I turned her around to face me. "If something is bothering you, I want to know." She sighed.

"When are you going to wake up?" She whispered. I wasn't quite sure what she meant, but I knew she had to get this out. "When are you going to come back to me?"

"I'm just a little lost right now. I'll always find my way back to you, no matter what. I love you Emma, no matter where I am." I took the chance I had been hesitant to take before and kissed her carefully. She went stiff with shock for a moment, but a moment later, her hands wove into my hair and pulled me closer. She deepened the kiss automatically.

I felt her barriers lower and her mind welcome me. I could feel the love, the overpowering love that she felt towards me, and the underlying pain that went with it. I pulled away, to look into her blue eyes.

"I love you Emma Frost, and only you. You are my mate." I whispered. I think my wording surprised her, but the shields didn't snap back up like I thought they might.

I love you too Alex. I let the thought caress me. I can't be your mate.

"Why not?" I asked.

"I don't deserve you, I've caused you so much pain." She whispered aloud. I shook my head.

"You more than deserve me. And I know you never meant to cause me pain. It's not your fault I accidentally stumbled onto yours and Scott mental interlude." I kissed her again. I felt another flash of surprise.

"No one would accept me loving you." She whispered. I felt her doubt.

"I accept it and that is what matters. If they have a problem with it, I can always challenge them." I rested my forehead on hers.

"I'm so much older than you." She was running out of logical reasons and I laughed.

"Does that matter? I may not be as knowledgeable as you are, nor as wise, but physically, we are the same. I am willing to disregard that. Are you willing?"

"It's not fair to you." She mumbled.

"Emma, I think it would be worse if you wouldn't even give us a chance." I said softly. "I love you and that will never change. If you need time, I will wait for you. Always."

"Oh Alex." She kissed me swiftly. I love you. Don't leave me alone. She whispered.

Then I won't. I replied before she vanished.

I pondered how that went. It went better than I thought it would. I didn't think she would want to be mates with me. I had offers from other demons, but that was more a power issue. Emma was powerful by her own right.

She was everything I could wish for, no matter what I was remembering. Even with the pain at some of the things she said, I still loved her. Now if only I could remember where we had met before. I decided to contemplate it on the plateau, just staring idly across the cavern, just letting my thoughts wander on the subject.

I must have been there for hours, because I suddenly felt a sharp pain on my upper thigh. I gasped at the pain. A quick glance confirmed that it was not my own pain. It was travelling through my bond. I stood up, roaring angrily. After a few seconds, everything shattered and I was on a white plain.

"I'm coming Emma!" I screamed.

I leapt to my feet, anger coursing through my veins. The room was unfamiliar, but I could smell Emma's scent. It was in the air and pretty recent. I sped into the corridor, remembering that I'd been here before. I slammed into the door to the outside, causing the lock to break.

It didn't take me long to figure out what direction Emma was in. I sped that way, not caring when what I was wearing started to tear away, not caring that I began to glow. I just headed to where I needed to go. For once in my life I would not fail them.

I would save her, if it meant rendering the world to ashes.

"Pathetic. I thought the X-men were the best. I've faced normal human children with more fight to them." The levitating mutant laughed, his smile unnaturally wide. "Although I admit, the prospect of being the one to take you down is appealing. Imagine the fame!" he raised his hands, lighting dancing on his fingertips. "The world will quake beneath my every step." The ground quivered in response.

"You bastard!" Logan shouted. He was quivering with barely suppressed rage, but he couldn't move, only his face was ice free. Jean was nearby, trying to protect Scott from drowning in the sphere of water that was surrounding the two of them. All of them were trapped by the various elements. Emma was trying to stay away from the flames, but her leg slowed her down. The only attack that had proved to have any effect was telepathy, she didn't shift to her diamond form.

"How the mighty have fallen!" he laughed again, sending another ripple of lighting through the air to dance around him. "I can even imagine the headlines "Elemental Mutant Slays X-men Team'. I'll have to buy several copies of that. They'll have to take several pictures to depict your death scenes." He was grinning, but it slipped off his face when he frowned, staring past them into the distance. The elements at his command wavered for a moment.

Birds were rising in the distance and trees were shaking, coming closer and closer. An unearthly roaring filled the air when something leapt from the bushes. The flames surrounding Emma were immediately extinguished.

"No one hurts my mate!" Red lines danced across every inch of Alex's skin. Whatever she had worn before only clung by the barest of threads, tatters of them everywhere. She was shielding Emma with her very body, if not her powers.

"You're new. I've never seen you before." He mused, circling around the two to get a better view. Alex placed herself between him and Emma the whole time. "What are you, fire elemental? You are no match for me. Though by the looks of it, you have a bit of feral in you too." A shot of lightning tried to strike Alex, but it was dispersed with a flaring of the red mists. "Impressive, little one."

"You will never hurt my mate. Submit!" Alex snarled. Her fangs were revealed and the elemental paused.

"Not a fire elemental, something else. Almost… demonic." He grinned and smiled. "You're Gordon's daughter! I thought I had gotten rid of that pesky power. Although I have to admit he was much, much weaker than you are."

All Alex did in response was stand up and growl.

"Time for you and your mate to die." He leaned forward. "She's a horrible person you know, she doesn't love you." Alex roared at that and he grinned. Lightning danced around them, striking near them, not close enough to hurt, but enough to toy with them. "She is nothing but a stupid little human, with a touch of power gained through money."

"Better than a self claimed celebrity." Logan hissed.

"Glad I'm not one then." The elemental shot him an amused look before returning to stare at Alex. "I watched as you father died at my feet. He asked me to spare you, and here you are, making my promise so hard to keep. Ah well, all's fair in love and war." Then he made his fatal mistake. He switched his gaze from Alex to Emma and using his powers, struck her.

"Emma!" Alex screamed. The lightning chain had purposefully avoided her, choosing instead to send Emma shooting across the ground. The world exploded into a wash of flames. When Alex turned her gaze back to the Elemental, there was no humanity left in them. "Did you like it when your uncle hit your mother? Did you like to hear her scream? To hear her tortured howls as she protected you from his fists? Stevie, have a cookie." Alex snarled.

"What… how… You can't be…" he whispered.

"Do you remember, that day, when you returned from school, to find her dead? She died, asking for nothing more but a chance to rest. Your father died that night, when he drank himself to death."

Absolute terror swept across his face and he lost his levitation and fell to the ground.

"No…" he mumbled, staring into the flames where shapes flinted past.

"He never cared and she died." Alex lowered her voice. "You are your uncle's son."

"No!"

"You kill because things aren't the way you want them. You are no better than him." Alex continued.

"Shut up!"

"No, you shut up!" Alex snarled. "I finally have my mate loving me and you try to steal her from me."

"I couldn't care less about that worthless telepath." He flicked a shard of ice at her and Emma screamed when it buried itself in her arm. Alex let out her own peal of pain. When she darted forward, it was too quick for anyone to see what she did. Jean had to look away as Alex lifted her head high, shaking the man who was impaled on her horns. She rammed her spikes through his chest and blood spilled onto her.

"I gave you peace." Alex said, dropping the body onto the ground. The flames died abruptly and Alex staggered for a moment. "Emma." She stumbled to where the telepath was kneeling. She melted the ice that was imbedded in her bicep. "I'm sorry I failed again." Alex picked up Emma and seared away the remaining water and ice, freeing the others. "Get us back… to the.. mansion." She was trembling. She kissed Emma's forehead tenderly, holding her close. She headed to the site that the blackbird was hidden. Logan quickly followed, though he made no effort to remove Emma from Alex.

"She has so much power." Scott whispered as Jean helped him up.

"She can barely control it Scott. Her demon powers are keyed to her emotions. Leave her be." Jean looked at Alex, growing smaller into the forest. "She needs time to adjust. At least now, she has stability."

"What do you mean?"

"Her own powers were working against her to lose control. Now that Emma has acknowledged the bond between them, she won't have to fight every waking moment not to beat everyone into submission." Jean smiled. "Just think of it as an alpha feral finding their mate. They always calm down after that."

"I almost pity Alex." Scott murmured. "She doesn't know what she's getting into with the White Queen."

"That's the thing Scott. In our dreams, we can't hide anything. Alex knows exactly what she's getting into and she loves everything about this." Jean kissed Scott's cheek. "Be happy for Emma. She has someone who loves her for everything she is. Not many can claim to have that." She followed the others, leaving Scott wondering, for just a moment, just how much Jean knew. He followed her, feeling guilty as hell.

I held her tighter, glad that she didn't even try to pull away. She was a comforting weight in my arms as I made my way to the blackbird. I had just known where it was. I wasn't quite sure whether it was the lingering scents or Emma's knowledge, but I just knew where it was.

It appeared in view when I slipped out of the trees into a small clearing. I could hear Logan just behind me, keeping a respectful distance, but remaining close at hand. He opened the hatch and I stole silently inside, feeling almost like an intruder on this plane.

I sat down and set Emma gently on my lap, holding her to me. I couldn't help but worry when she didn't flinch when I accidentally jarred her arm. It still bled, though not as profusely as before.

"Logan, help me." I whispered. He knew what I meant. In his hands, he already had bandages. We didn't really have time to clean the wound, it was more important to stop the bleeding. I doubted there'd be much to clean anyway. I just held Emma while he wrapped her leg and arm. There wasn't really much I could do otherwise. I had never bandaged anyone up before.

Logan sat near me when he finished. I gave him a tired sort of smile before I return my attention to Emma. Her breathing was calmer now.

My mind barely registered the arrival of Scott, much less anyone else. All I noticed was that the hatch closed and the blackbird lifted off, a bit shakily at first, but it quickly smoothed out.

We had just levelled out when Emma opened her eyes. They were confused for a moment, but when they regained clarity, they settled on me, searching my own eyes. I leaned forward to place a loving kiss on her forehead.

"Hey." I whispered softly.

"I'm glad you came." She whispered. A tired smile curled her lips just a little bit and she tucked herself closer to me.

"Told you I would find my way to you." I nuzzled her. "I'm not letting you go." I whispered.

"I wouldn't ask that of you." She stared at me for a moment, fear in the depths of her eyes. "Do you remember everything?" She asked. If I hadn't been close I wouldn't have been able to hear the cracking of her voice.

"I don't remember what my homework was, but yes, I do." She let her head fall and I knew she was withdrawing from me. "No, you don't!" I snarled softly. I gently forced her to look at me. "I am not letting you go, not for something like that. If you truly need it, then you have my forgiveness, but I don't see anything to forgive. Don't block me out." I leaned my forehead on hers. "I love you, and that is all that matters."

"Alex." She breathed my name and I shivered at the hidden tone I felt in it. Her hand gripped my shoulder gently. "I love you too. Don't ever doubt that." She whispered. She rested her head in the crook of my neck and I held her, glad that I could finally hold her in reality.

"She's so tired." Scott murmured. Henry nodded as he typed into his computer, keeping a careful eye on the surveillance system.

"They both should be. Emma's wounds, though superficial, caused her to lose a lot of blood. It will take her body a while to replace the blood she lost." Henry glanced at a pile of papers on his desk, shuffling through them till he found one he wanted. "I'm almost surprised it didn't kill her."

"Emma's blood loss was that severe?" Scott couldn't help but feel a stab of panic at the thought. But Henry just shook his head.

"Not Emma. I know she can handle it. No, I'm more worried about Alex right now." Henry spared a glance to the monitor that was watching the two women. Alex was still awake, caressing Emma's golden hair.

"Why?" Scott murmured. "She seems fine to me."

"She was in that coma for close to a month. And first thing she did was get up and run fifteen miles in less than ten minutes." Henry turned to face Scott. "I doubt that even Logan can pull off that. And from what Jean tells me, she manipulated her powers into submerging the elemental into a semi conscious state and used her demon flames to play out key parts of his life." Henry turned back to the monitor. "Her body isn't used to using her powers. She hasn't had a chance to use them."

"Meaning… what?" Scott said.

"It's like taking cannon ball and trying to shoot it with a pistol. It shouldn't be able to be done." Henry muttered.

"No, it can't." Scott replied. He stared at the two of them, not quite able to understand, but knowing it didn't matter.

"Get some sleep Alex." Emma murmured, her eyes closed. She smiled when she felt a gentle hand brush her hair from her face.

"Love you." Alex responded. There was the utmost confidence in the words, but Emma felt an echo of doubt. She opened her eyes.

Alex? She sent. She felt Alex immediately respond, switching to telepathic conversation.

I love you sweetheart. Never doubt that. Alex replied.

You don't think I do. Emma replied, feeling a little hurt. She felt automatic denial, and surprise in Alex.

No, I know you love me. Emma felt Alex slip into a doze before waking herself.

Just go to sleep. I'll still be here when you wake up. Emma said.

But will I be? Alex snapped. She dropped her gaze. Sorry, I shouldn't have said that.

No, Alex, it's alright. Emma pulled Alex into a hug. This time, I won't let you leave me alone. She kissed Alex gently, trying to convince her. If you doubt yourself, then trust in me. You will be here when you wake up.

Alex nodded and Emma felt her exhaustion seeping into every bit of Alex's body. She kissed Emma before she rested her head against a pillow.

"I'll never leave you, I promise." She whispered before closing her eyes and falling asleep. Her head lay on Emma's lap, her face looking towards Emma's. Her short hair fell in her eyes, and Emma brushed them away.

"Good night, Alex." She whispered, entwining her fingers with Alex's. Alex subconsciously squeezed her hand in reassurance. Emma closed her own eyes again and fell back asleep.

"Where the hell am I?" Scott muttered, trying to find something in the endless white. Everything was white, the sky, the ground, everything but him.

"You're in a dream." He turned to find Jean looking around as well, taking in the stark whiteness. "I didn't know it looked like this." She said. They both heard something and began heading in the direction. They saw two people in the distance. As they got closer, the noise turned to music and the people were dancing.

"Hello?" Scott called to the dancers. Alex smiled at the two of them, and Emma didn't even look up. She left her head in the crook of Alex's neck. "Are we interrupting something?" Scott murmured.

The air around them changed, until Alex released a small chuckle. Emma smiled and turned so she could see Scott.

"I may lack tact, but even I know better than to try something here when at the snap of my fingers," Alex snapped her fingers for emphasis and the world shifted to a empty ballroom, a stereo where the band would have been playing. "I can have any surrounding I wish."

Scott looked around, surprised despite himself at the shift. "Where are we?" He asked automatically. Jean smiled at him.

"This is the ballroom that Magneto used to have. I didn't know it was intact anymore." Jean replied for her.

"I don't know if it is. I just like the room. I saw it somewhere once." Alex took a step back from Emma and held out her arm. "Dance with me, my lady?" Emma's eyes were sparkling as she gracefully placed her hand on the proffered arm. They slipped easily into each others arms. Scott couldn't help but feel like they looked right for each other. He shook his head and imitated Alex, to Jean's amusement, and they began to dance.

Scott stretched and yawned. Jean was smiling up at him sleepily and they were gleaming with happiness.

"We should do something like that soon." She murmured. He smiled at his wife.

"We should." He replied.

I smiled sleepily, the fabric of the blanket soft against my cheek. The warm body beneath it shifted slightly, and I felt my smile grow a little bigger just before I opened my eyes and turned my head to face her.

Emma smiled, just a small tiny little thing, but it was so happy that I was glad it was aimed towards me.

"Sorry if I woke you up." She murmured. She gestured to the paper that was on her stand. "I thought I would catch up on my marking." I nuzzled her thigh and squeezed her hand in reassurance.

"You didn't." I yawned, my jaws feeling like they were about to crack because they went so wide. "Though I admit, I still feel like I'm tired." I sat up.

"Did it hurt to have them come in?" Emma asked. I blinked for a few moments, not understanding what she meant. She gestured to her teeth.

It dawned on me. I felt my canines. "No, not really. They just replaced my other ones. It hurt more learning to close my mouth with them."

"How long have you had them? I didn't notice them before." I snickered and she gave me a confused look.

"It's not that funny, if I actually think about it." I gave her my crooked grin. "I've had them since I aged, but since I didn't really smile, they remained hidden." I reached to caress her cheek, wiping away the tear I had felt her shed. "Hey, don't worry about it. You make me smile now, and that's what really counts right?" she nodded. I hesitated for a second, just staring at her beautiful eyes, before I gently kissed her.

She accepted me without question, returning the emotion back fully. When I left her lips, she smiled at me. I lifted myself from the chair and stretched. "I should let you get to your marking." When I looked at her again, I knew my expression softened. "Can I get you anything? A donut? Coffee? A handsome masseuse?" she shook her head, though I felt her amusement.

"No, I'm fine. Go on. Henry will call you if I need anything. I know you want to lie down in the sun for a while." I grinned just a little bit.

"I'll be back in a little while." I told her. I kissed her sweetly one more time before leaving, smiling when I saw her pull her marking from the side of the bed. I took my time, just heading down the hall. In the elevator, Henry jumped in at the last moment. He nodded.

"How you feeling?" He said cautiously.

"Never better." I turned my gaze to him. "Why?" A commanding tone slipped into my voice without my notice, but I saw him immediately straighten.

"Well, with the extensive use of your powers after your coma, you should feel something abnormal." He murmured. He didn't meet my eyes.

"Honestly, I feel fine. I'm used to my powers now, but thank you for being concerned about me." The elevator doors swung open and I noticed the increase in light immediately. "It'll take awhile to get used to bright lights though." I said in passing to him as I slipped down the hallway.

I cracked my back as I moved silently through the hallways. It was that time of day that no one should be about, or at least, not many. Students had classes and the adults had better things to do.

I poked my head into Emma's classroom when I noticed the door was open and voices filtered out. Her class was there, arguing with someone I didn't recognise. Her eyes found mine quickly and she merely nodded slightly to acknowledge me. I smiled at her in return and removed myself before I scared anyone.

The sunshine felt wonderful on my pale skin when I passed through the doors into the bright sunshine. I saw a group of students playing basketball on the court with Logan hovering nearby. He turned in my direction and waved. I waved back, smiling a bit more broadly.

I found a sunny patch under a bunch of trees, hidden from the view of the school. Collapsing onto the ground, I stretched out along the grass, raising my nose appreciatively to the air. The fresh breeze was long missed and I revelled in the scent of it now. With a yawn, I closed my eyes briefly, allowing the sun naturally warm me.

I opened one eye at the snap of a fallen branch. I smiled and closed it again when I saw Jean. She came closer and sat down near my head.

"Hey." She said simply. Her voice sounded odd so I reopened my eyes and flipped over onto my stomach to regard her carefully.

"Hey yourself." I said with a plastered grin. "Don't you have a class now?"

"I let them out early. Most of them need to study for exams." She gestured towards the sunshine. "They're out here somewhere."

"Basically you couldn't keep their attention from the sunshine and rather than fight it, you let them go have fun." I replied.

"I'll stick to my reason." She seemed to ponder something for a moment. "Alex, are you planning on graduating this year still?"

That caught me by surprise. "I hadn't thought about graduating in a long time." I murmured. "I'd like to, if only so I am legally seen as an adult." I tilted my head to one side. "Why?"

"You're behind a month and exams are almost here. It'll take a lot of work." She said. I laughed and she gave me the oddest look. "The exams are hard."

"I won't have a problem. I could probably pass them now." Jean looked me over and gave me the same look Emma did when she amused.

"Want to try?"

"Now?" I replied, blinking in surprise.

"Why not? I can use last year's exam." She smiled. "Maybe then you'll know what you're in for." She said. I sluggishly got to my feet and stretched, yawning.

"Lead on." I murmured. I mentally reached for Emma, who, though she was focussing on marking a batch of essays, had left her shields open to me. I'm gonna go take a few tests. See you later? I knew a smile was on her lips when she replied.

I'd be disappointed if you didn't. She replied. I nodded and followed Jean through the trees back into the school. It didn't take her as long as I thought it might for her to get the tests. She sat me down and then started her timer. My gaze roamed the sheet in front of me, before I picked up my pencil and began to write.

Emma had just finished an essay when Jean came down to speak with Henry, who was supremely surprised by whatever she said. They both approached Emma and she gave them suspicious looks.

"Emma, we thought you might want to see this." Henry started. He pushed a wheelchair next to the bed..

"I can walk." Emma snapped. He shrugged and left it where it was. "What would I want to see?" They exchanged glances.

"I think it would be better for you to see this." Jean murmured. Emma carefully got to her feet and levelled them both a level look.

Jean guided them both through the halls and pulled them into an observation booth for the testing room of the examination room. Usually at this time of year, it was empty, but Alex was in there, scribbling across a paper.

"She told me that she was taking a test." Emma turned to look at Jean. "Why would I want to see this."

"She already finished two tests, the math exam and the geography from last June." Jean turned to look at Alex. "When she did the math so fast, I gave her the old geography exam and compared her answers to that on the answer key."

"Emma, her answers were all much more advanced then they should be." Henry explained. "When the same happened on the geography exam, we gave her one of the example exams we got from Harvard University. It doesn't look like she's having a problem."

"She's not getting the answers from me." Emma murmured. The bond was quiet.

"She's as intelligent as you or I." Jean murmured. "I just want to know how she got the knowledge."