Ororo grabbed a stack of books and placed them on the table. They disappeared almost immediately as customers grabbed them before standing in line for Lindsey to sign.

Ororo liked being present during the book signing. She liked seeing the reader's reaction and hearing what they had to say about it.

She simply didn't want to be the one on the receiving end of it.

Lindsey was very good with them. She could take the criticism with a smile and even politely rebuke those who made wrong assumption about what was going on, or over stepped their bounds as reader without getting nervous about it. Ororo couldn't imagine directly facing the crowd.

She finally managed to put books on the table and have them stay there. She let Lindsey know she was taking a break and joined Bishop at the coffee counter. She kissed his cheek lightly and sat next to him, ordering some tea.

She was happy, but surprised, when he'd agreed to come with her on the tour. It was two weeks; a few days spend in each of New-York's major cities. He hadn't even hesitated. When she asked if it was going to interfere with his work he just told her not to worry about it.

When he first told her he'd found actual work she'd been worried, considering his background there was no telling what that might mean. She'd tried to get him to tell her what that work was, but he wouldn't. He did assure her that it didn't involve the Renegades and wasn't actually illegal. She trusted him so she didn't ask about it again.

"I didn't think there would be this many people here," he said looking the crowd over.

"Margaret says that it's on its way to becoming a best seller so the crowd isn't surprising." She looked at him. "You meant because it's a book," she stated with a small smile.

Bishop shrugged. "There's better things to do than read a book."

She giggled at his response and then thanked the server for bringing her tea. "A lot of people like to read a book to relax after they're done working you know."

He looked at her and after a moment gave her a lustful smile, "I prefer to *DO* my relaxing, rather than read about it."

Ororo felt herself blush at the intensity in that look, and her reaction to it. She didn't show her reaction, only giving him a demure smile before taking a sip of her tea. Before her cup was empty she noticed the table being almost bare so she went back to filling it.

"I really like this book," said a woman as Ororo bend down to get more books out of a box. When she stood to put them on the table there was a petite woman on the other side of the table. She had short cropped light brown hair, was wearing a salmon coloured dress and she was holding the book tightly against her chest. "I really think it's the best one," she added when Ororo was looking at her.

Ororo looked at her for a moment, trying to place why she looked familiar, and then wondered why she was telling her that instead of Lindsey. She looked at the line, which wasn't very long at the moment and then back at the woman. "I'm sure Lindsey would love to hear that," she said and bent down to pick up another stack of books. The woman was still there when she stood.

"Do you think in the next one she's going to choose the prince over Malerik?" She asked, caressing the cover of the book.

Ororo had decided from the start of the series that the princess was going to go against tradition. She was going to choose her childhood friend and protector even though he wasn't royalty, but that she was asking her directly disconcerted her. She stammered a little before managing to say "Lindsey would probably know that."

The woman didn't seem to get the hint instead her eyes light up "How silly of me," she said offering her hand, "I'm Emily."

Ororo looked at the hand confused, what did this woman want? She reluctantly shook it, "I'm Ororo."

"Oh, I know who you are," Emily said with a wide smile.

"You do?"

"Of course; you're the woman behind the African Princess books."

"You're mistaken," Ororo said firmly afer eyeing the woman for a moment, "Lindsey's the author."

Emily's eyes lost some of their jovialness, "Please don't treat me like I'm one of those mindless readers. The princess looks exactly like you. You really expect me to believe that it's really because you're her friend? That woman couldn't write herself directions down the road."

Ororo's opinion of Emily changed instantly, she'd seen that look often on the street; this woman meant business. "What do you want?" she asked flatly.

"I just want you to sign my book," she answered happily.

Ororo studied the woman for a moment before sighing with annoyance and signed the book. It would get her out of her hair. With a beaming thank you Emily left the book store. Ororo put the small woman out of her mind and went back to adding books on the table.

* * * * *

Two days later Ororo saw Emilie again. They were in a large bookstore in Albany this time. Emilie saw her from across the store and waved over her head.

Ororo ignored her, continuing to place books on the display table. She turned to grab a box and froze when she faced the table again; Emilie was on the other side.

"Hi," the smaller woman said, waving at her, "I guess you couldn't see me from back there."

Ororo looked at her for a moment, hiding her annoyance. "I saw you," she said flatly.

"Why didn't you wave back then?" she asked jovially.

"I don't see why I should have," she answered taking the books out of he box.

"That's what friends do."

"We aren't friends," Ororo replied flatly.

"Of course we are," Emilie replied with a sincere smile, "I'm your biggest fan, that's almost as good as being your best friend."

Ororo couldn't stop the small sigh of annoyance. "You're not a fan of me, you're a fan of the book," She said working hard to keep her teeth from clenching. "Lindsey is the writer, she the one you want to express your enthusiasm to. I'm certain she'll be happy to wave back at you."

"Are you going back to that song and dance?" Emilie said, dropping her smile. "I've already told you that I know you're really the woman behind the princess, not that hack. Why do you deny it?"

"Because you're wrong," She replied with practice casualness before taking another stack of books out of the box and putting them on the table.

"I'm wrong, am I?" Emilie looked thoughtful for a moment and then waved at the books. "I guess I'm just going have to tell everyone who really wrote and see what they think. I guess I'm going to have to watch them fawn over you, but remember that even then I'm still going to be your number one fan." She turned to head to the line before Lindsey's table.

"Wait." Ororo ordered. She was standing to her full height, holding herself like the royalty she was in the books and glared at the small woman. She prevented herself from shaking by holding perfectly still, feeling her face flush but knowing her brown skin would hide most of it. "What do you want?" she asked the woman who seemed fully able to ignore a stare that would make Scott back away from her very carefully.

"I just want you to wave at me," Emilie said, beaming.

Ororo continued to glare at her, until Bishop placed his large hand on her shoulder. "Is everything ok?" he asked softly.

She didn't answer immediately, taking a moment to regain control of her voice. "This woman was just telling me how much she was looking forward to reading the book." She managed to sound completely normal saying it.

"That's right," Emilie echoed, almost bouncing with joy, "but I'd better get going and let you get back to work, bye!" She waved as she stepped back. Ororo didn't wave back and Emilie's lips tightened and she stepped toward the line.

Ororo gave her a small wave and Emilie bounded off.

"What was this about?" Bishop asked.

Ororo shook her head. "Please don't asked me to tell you," she said softly.

Bishop was silent for a moment and then kissed her on the temple. "All right."

* * * * *

Ororo saw Emilie at the next three stops they made on the tour. Every time she would wave at her and Ororo would reluctantly wave back. Then Emilie would buy a book and talk with Ororo.

Ororo did her best to not let her animosity for the woman show, and even when it did slip by Emilie didn't seem to notice it. On the third one Emilie again tried to get Ororo to admit she was the one writing the books, going so far as to imply that Lindsey was blackmailing her into the support role.

Ororo almost did lose her temper then, telling her how foolish she was and telling her to leave her alone. Emilie glared at her, but she did leave. A few hours later the store closed and the three of them left the mall.

"One more day of this and I finally get to go home," Lindsey said stretching her back again and then tightening her jacket against the cold wind. "Are you sure you don't want to take over the book signing?" she asked as they crossed the parking lot.

"Most certainly," Ororo replied, "I have no idea how you can manage to deal with all those questions and request and accusations. I'd just freeze and want to go hide in a corner."

"It isn't so bad. Most of them are nice people who just get a little too involved in reading the book."

"Far too involved," Ororo agreed, thinking of her particular fan.

"Well, my car's over there, so I'll see you tomorrow morning."

"Drive carefully, it's going to start snowing in ten minutes," Ororo warned her.

"Thanks for the warning." Lindsey headed to her car, crossing the mostly empty parking lot.

A car started speeding up in her direction, becoming visible only when it passed under one of the lights in the parking lot. It was enough for both Ororo and Bishop to see it.

"Lindsey!" Ororo yelled.

Bishop ran as fast as he could toward the woman. Since leaving the Renegade he no longer kept a charge, the only thing he could do to save Ororo's friend's life was to get her clear.

Lindsey has turned at hearing her name and froze in surprise when the headlights came on directly in front of her.

Bishop grabbed hold of her as he passed and forced her to run with him.

The car changed direction, continuing to accelerate.

It only took him one look over his shoulder to decide that they wouldn't be able to evade the driver. He stopped and forced Lindsey to crouched with him, keeping his body between her and the car.

The right side of the car's bumper made contact with him, and he absorbed the kinetic energy of the impact. It crumpled under the weight of the moving car as it added more and more energy that bishop had to absorb. Half the front of the car was crushed before it was sent skidding and spinning.

Ororo ran to them. "Are you ok?" she asked fervently. She'd never seen Bishop do anything like that. She'd been sure he was going to be crushed when the car hit him.

Bishop stood and helped Lindsey up.

Lindsey looked at him wide eyed. He was glowing because of the amount of energy he had had to absorbe.

"We're fine," he answered.

Ororo was going to ask Bishop about how he'd done this but the car door opened and slammed shot, making her look over her shoulder. She growled when she saw who had been behind the wheel. She stalked in her direction.

"What the hell are you doing?" She yelled at Emilie as the small woman leaned against her car, a gash on her forehead.

"I'm trying to save you," she answered.

Ororo stopped in surprise. "From what?"

"From her!" she pointed at Lindsey. "She's stealing the fame that should rightfully be yours!"

Wind picked up quickly, buffeting Emilie left and right. "Listen to me you insignificant little woman." The temperature started going up as the wind became stronger. "You have no idea who I am. You want to manipulate me, humiliate me; go right ahead. But never, ever go after my friends, or you will find out what I am willing to do to protect them." Lightning struck Emilie's car, sending her flying.

The thunder that accompanied it was still resonating when she tried to stand, only to have another lightning bolt fall from the sky and land a few feet from her, the impact sending her back several feet.

Ororo walked to her and stood over her, watching her face and the fear that covered it. Satisfied she turned and walked back to her friend who was looking at her with a mix of awe and fear.

Bishop was looking at her, smiling with pride.