Disclaimer in Chapter one.
Authors note: - So so sorry for the delay wasn't at home yesterday - but here's another chapter ;)
CHAPTER SEVEN
Charles sat in his office and smiled, he couldn't remember a time in his life when he had felt happier.
Jean had joined the mansion six months ago and she was well on the way to mastering control, he was proud that he had been the one to help her on her telepathy. And he was also proud that she was helping herself to learn control over her telekinesis.
But it wasn't only Jean's control that brought a smile to his face, it was the fact that she fit in so well at the mansion, and had brought about so many changes.
Charles smiled fondly and thought back to a day when Jean had been at the mansion for just one month…
Jean was standing in the living room staring at the wall, Scott, Hank and Charles had entered the room and looked at Jean with a puzzled frown.
Jean hadn't even turned in their direction but she spoke aloud to them.
"I don't mean to be rude, but something needs to be done about this place. It's not lived in." Jean stated, without ever turning or gazing away from the wall she was staring at.
"I agree wholeheartedly my dear, what would you like done?" Charles asked.
"Well it's not what I want done – it's about what we all want done. It's all of our home." Jean said, finally turning to look at the guys.
"Well I don't have much of an idea about decorating." Charles said honestly and Hank agreed with him, both men weren't overly aware of their surroundings but Scott and Jean both were young and wanted the house to be in the best shape it could be in.
"I'll tell you what then, it'll be our project, mine and Scott's. You two go away for two weeks on a well deserved holiday and when you get back this place will be like brand new." Jean said her eyes shining.
"I like that idea very much." Charles said and the plans were made.
Charles and Hank arranged to go to England for their two week vacation as Charles wanted to visit his mother country and Hank had always wanted to go. Before he had left Charles had made an account for the decorating expenses and left a very large sum of money in it.
"Wow, Scott he left a fortune!" Jean exclaimed, shocked and awed that this man trusted them alone with his home and a very large quantity of money.
"Then let's get to work!" Scott said eager to be alone with Jean and also to help give something back to the professor.
Jean and Scott had first purchased white paint, and all of the ceilings in the mansion were white-washed, Scott had gotten up a ladder to do some painting manually whilst Jean had used her powers, Jean had completed five rooms by the time Scott was finished with his one.
When all the ceilings were done, they decided to tackle the mansion one room at a time.
They started with the living room; Jean had decided to decorate it in rich, warm colours, choosing mahogany furnishings and deep red carpet, along with warm-honey coloured textured wallpaper.
The kitchen had all new floor tiles in black and white, all of the cupboards where white and the other surfaces were black, there were also sterling silver appliances.
Charles office matched the living room, with rich warm colours, all of the furniture was mahogany, and Jean had spent the most money on his desk, it was huge, and had deep drawers, it was an antique and as soon as Jean saw it she knew that it was perfect.
Charles' bedroom was furnished with various blue colours, the room was beautiful and classy, and it had an added en-suite bathroom that was decorated in whites, greens, blacks and gold's.
Hanks bedroom was decorated in dark green colours, with rich reds, it had bookshelves along three of the walls, they were filled with the works of Shakespeare and various medical texts, - and he also had an en-suite bathroom that was decorated in whites and blacks.
Along the west wing of the mansion where the girls who joined the school would sleep, they had decorated the rooms with white walls, with cream and dark red furnishings; they were left relatively plain so that the rooms could be decorated how the new students wanted them.
The same was done on the east wing where the boys would sleep; the rooms had blue furnishings instead of red though.
By the end of the two weeks, the mansion was complete which had shocked the two young students; there had been moments when they felt as if it would never get done.
Scott and Jean sat in the comfy leather sofa in the living room, sighing with satisfaction, it felt so good to have had a project, one that she had completed now and was proud of.
"I think that we did a great job." Jean said quietly turning to smile warmly at Scott who was sitting beside her.
"I think so too, this place is so beautiful and now it feels like a real home." Scott said honestly, gone were the drab colours and now there was warmth and vibrancy in the rooms.
"We make a good team." Jean said with a smile.
"Yeah, we do." Scott said softly and the two stared into each others' eyes.
The moment was broken by the shrill ring of the telephone. Scott went to answer it whilst Jean sat completely still running her hands through her hair.
What was I just about to do? He's three years younger than me for Gods' sake! Jean berated herself mentally, she was strongly attracted to Scott but he was younger than her, not that he looked or acted it. She was so confused; she wished not for the first time that she had another woman that she could talk too.
Scott walked back into the room and sat next to Jean again, he put his hand on her shoulder to get her attention, and she jumped slightly then smiled.
"That was the professor, he said that he and Hank were getting on their flight now and they would be back tomorrow." Scott said with a warm smile.
"I really hope that they like the place." Jean said honestly, she had put the most work into their bedrooms and Charles' study.
"Jean how could they not like it – you put so much work into it, what's not to like?" Scott asked seriously and smiled his usual hundred watt smile.
"Thanks Scott." Jean said seriously and the two shared another intense moment, staring deeply into each others eyes.
Scott gently took Jeans' hands in his and leaned forwards kissing her softly on the lips.
The kiss was only short and gentle, but it was enough.
Jean smiled, and Scott noticed for the first time, the smile reached her eyes.
The Professor and Hank arrived home at lunchtime the next day and were taken on the grand tour of the new improved mansion.
Charles remembered that day so fondly, the thing that had moved him the most, was when he arrived back and at the enormous gates that led to the gravel driveway, there was a sign that read 'Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.' The sign was so perfect and it was proof that he was really starting to do some good.
The mansion had looked amazing, not only because of its tasteful furnishings, but the fact that his two students had cared enough to do it.
Charles had also noticed that his two charges' had grown closer in his absence, and that made him happy, the two were perfect together – even Hank had noticed.
Charles knew that Jean had some issues because she was three years older than Scott, but Scott was a very mature nineteen year old in looks as well as attitude, and the change in him was so overwhelming, it was almost as if he had put himself in the role of Jeans protector even though it was obvious she didn't need a protector.
Charles knew that he would do whatever he could for his two charges, and whilst he didn't want to interfere with their budding relationship, deep down he wanted to meddle and set them up so that they could be happy.
Charles sat smiling, feeling like he was finally recapturing parts of his lost youth and it was all thanks to his lost friend Erik.
Authors Note: Hello! Thanks for getting this far and reading :) I don't really like this chapter it's kind of a 'filler' chapter we will be back to the plot next chapter - which I am half way through, it's gonna be a long one!
Thanks again to Musagirl15 for the kind words, I appreciate it ;), and thanks to L'ange-Sans-Ailes - it's so great to have a guy reading and liking my story - so thanks for the reviews, and of course thanks to the lovely crazydragon004 who has been nothing but supportive :D
Thanks also to those of you who have put me on Author Alert - that is such a compliment. All of you that have read it - please just drop mea line to tell me what ya think. ;) xx