Grey Frost

Grey Frost
Chapter 2: Hot Blonde

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Emma Frost spent the rest of the night recovering in the infirmary. And as requested, Scott stayed with her the whole time. They passed the time by talking about everything from their favorite foods to what the mansion was like. Scott noticed that Emma avoided talking about where she came from or why those men were after her, but he didn’t pry. Whatever it was it was certainly not pleasant. They had just met and if she wasn’t ready to talk then he wouldn’t push her.

Eventually, Emma talked herself to sleep. But even after she in a peaceful slumber, Scott stayed with her and eventually fell asleep on the chair. After what she had been through, she didn’t want to be alone and he respected that. And he had to admit, she was interesting to talk to despite the dreary circumstances.

The next morning, Scott met up with Jean while Emma was talking to the Professor. Given that this was Xavier’s mansion and he had been the one who ordered her rescue she owed him an explanation. As for Jean, she went right to bed after the mission to rest her tired mind. But she was a bit surprised, not to mention a little weary when Scott told her he spent the night with an attractive female stranger.

“So you two just talked until she fell asleep?” said Jean as she and Scott walked through the upper levels.

“Well…yeah,” said Scott awkwardly, “She was pretty shaken up and didn’t want to be alone.”

“I’m sure,” said Jean skeptically.

“And she’s really not so bad once you get beyond the whole being chased by a bunch of masked men bit,” he went on to say, “In fact, she’s not so different from you.”

Jean cast him a skeptical look, but shook it off with an exasperated sigh and decided to change the subject.

“So what’s going to happen with her?” asked Jean, changing the subject.

“I don’t know,” shrugged Scott, “She’s been talking to the Professor for the last hour.”

“Think she’ll want to join us?” asked Jean.

“That’s up to her,” said Scott, “But from what I’ve seen, I think she’d be a good addition to the team. She’s strong, driven, not to mention tough after getting away from those men.”

“I’ll bet,” mused Jean.

“Like I said…just like you,” smirked Scott.

“Oh really?” quipped Jean, “So you think we’ll be friends or something?”

“You never know,” shrugged Scott, “But I think she’d fit right in.”

“Guess we’ll have to wait and see…”

As they approached Xavier’s office, they heard talking still going on inside. The doors were locked, signaling that it was a private conversation. The sinking feeling in Jean’s stomach didn’t get any better. The idea of Emma being drawn to Scott didn’t sit well for a second. She tried to tell herself that it was just because he saved her life, but she couldn’t fight this feeling. Scott could sense something was wrong. Jean was never very good at hiding her emotions, especially around him. But they remained silent, awaiting word from Professor Xavier.

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In the Professor’s office, Emma was sitting across from Xavier’s desk staring at the floor as she told him her story. None of it was pleasant. Her life had not been a happy one. She was born into a rich family in Massachusetts, the middle child of three sisters and a brother. Her father was a cold, love-less businessman and her mother was an apathetic drunk. The only real friend she had growing up was her brother, Christian, but their father scorned him because he was gay and he ended up turning to drugs. Eventually, he died of an overdose and Emma was left alone in a hostile world.

But her story took a dramatic turn. After leaving her family, she struck out on her own. Armed with the keen business sense that her father had instilled, she went out with hopes of bettering her family. It was then she discovered she was a mutant and it was here where she got involved with a shady group known as the Hellfire Club. And this part of her story was by far the most painful.

“So this Hellfire Club…” said the Professor as Emma told her story, “They’re some sort of elite social club?”

“Not quite,” said Emma bitterly, “Think of them more as a consolidation of power hungry tyrants. Their only goal is obtain wealth and power by any means necessary.”

“And their members are also mutants?”

“Like I said…any means necessary,” said Emma bitterly, “Mutant abilities are just one way they amass their power. They’ll run over their own mothers if it will get them ahead. Being a mutant myself, I caught their attention pretty quickly. And since I had just run away, I was desperate.”

Emma’s gaze diverted, not wanting to look this man in the eye. She was not proud of the decisions she had made. And the Professor seemed like a man with a genuine heart, something she rarely found in the world she had been a part of. But given he had saved her from a fate worse than death, he deserved to know the truth.

“It was here when I got involved with a man named Sebastian Shaw,” she said, her words turning cold with hatred, “He became sort of my mentor…and later he became a little more.”

“Oh…I see,” said the Professor, not needing to know any more details.

“He helped me learn to control my powers. He even introduced me to some experts that gave me my diamond form ability. I was to be molded in the Hellfire image with every intention of rising to the status of White Queen. But I had to start at the bottom.”

“And what did that involve?” asked the Professor.

Emma cringed again. She didn’t know how he would react to this next part, but she went forward with it.

“I became a stripper at one of their clubs,” she said bitterly, “My job was to entice men, catch them in a vulnerable position, and extract information that Hellfire could use. Shaw paid for me to go through mountains of surgery to make my body the pristine piece of womanly perfection you see now. I’m not proud of some of the things I did, but it was a chance to work my way up. In the end I found out the price I had to pay was too high.”

A slight tear formed in her eye. She swallowed a hard sob, full of anger and sorrow for what she had gone through.

“They wanted me to become every bit as ruthless and heartless as them,” she said, struggling with each word, “I know because I got look inside Shaw’s head. I saw just how sick a man he was. And to think, I actually thought he loved me!”

“Emma…” said the Professor in a caring tone, reaching across his desk and taking her hand.

“I almost did it…I almost sold my soul for profit,” she mused, “But I…I ran instead. And nobody runs from the Hellfire Club…nobody. That’s why those men were after me. They were going to take me back and make me pay. And when I say pay I mean the worst possible punishment you can imagine! Rape, torture, slavery…you name it! They were going to break me! They were going to…”

“It’s okay, Emma…it’s okay,” said Xavier softly.

His kind words were like a soothing wave to the troubled young woman. The Professor had sensed some pretty intense feelings in his experience as a telepath, but few were as difficult as the ones Emma projected. She really had gone through her own personal hell. She let greed, hatred, and lust dominate her life and all she had to show for it was regret. For a moment, he let her sob away her sorrow. It sounded like she needed to let it out. Emma hated showing weakness, but after everything she had been through it was just too hard to fight.

“I’ll never be able to thank you enough for coming to my rescue, Professor,” said Emma, wiping her eyes clean of tears, “I didn’t think anybody would hear my cries for help.”

“That’s what the X-men do, Emma,” said Xavier with a warm smile, “We help those who need it. Which brings me to the matter at hand…what exactly are your plans now that you’re free from the Hellfire Club?”

“Well I’m not going back home, that’s for sure,” said Emma without hesitation, “And I think I’ve had my fill of upper class societies for one lifetime.”

“Then I perhaps I can open another option for you,” said Xavier, “I can sense you wish to take your life in a new direction. You were able to reject the mal-intentions of the Hellfire Club. That alone tells me that there is good in your soul. And if you so choose, my institute is here to give you a new path.”

“A new path, huh?” said Emma with a smile, “You’re actually willing to allow an ex-stripper into your school?”

“I’m willing to give anybody a chance so long as they are willing to accept it.”

Emma Frost couldn’t help but smile. After all the bad choices she had made in her life, here she was facing another that could finally turn things around. She had run away from her family and the Hellfire Club. She had been running from everything lately. Now she had a chance to start anew. t was an opportunity she would not squander.

“I suppose I’m due to make good use of my gifts for a change,” she said, “Very well, Professor…you’ve got yourself a new member.”

“I’m happy to hear that, Emma,” said the Professor, “I hope you like it here.”

“After the hell hole I just came from I’m sure I’ll be just fine.”

Happy to hear her decision, Professor Charles Xavier was confident that Emma would fit right in at the institute. She was strong, smart, and driven. She could very well work with the regulars given the proper training. And it was time to welcome her. With a quick telepathic message, Xavier summoned Scott and Jean. The two teens entered on queue and the second Emma saw Scott, her face lit up.

“I know you’re already acquainted with Scott and Jean,” said the Professor.

“Oh yes…very acquainted,” said Emma as she got up and smiled at Scott, causing him to blush shyly.

“Jean will show you to your new room. If you like, we can arrange a way for you to purchase a new wardrobe,” explained the Professor.

“Yes, I don’t plan on wearing my old Hellfire uniform every day,” said Emma, “But couldn’t Scott show me to my room instead? I’ve come to appreciate his company.”

“He’s got to round up the others,” said Jean, hiding the slight cynicism in her tone, “If you’re going to be staying here, you’ll have to meet your housemates.”

“Fine…” groaned Emma, “Guess we’ll catch up later, Scottie.”

“Uh…sure,” said Scott in an awkward tone.

Not giving her a chance to eye Scott any further, Jean led Emma out of the office and down the hall. Even after she left, Scott kept rubbing the back of his neck. The idea of Emma living at the mansion was an interesting thought to ponder and she was sure to make a splash with the others.

“Are you alright, Scott?” said the Professor with a humored tone.

“I’m fine,” he said, still blushing hard, “Guess things are going to get a lot more interesting with Emma here now.”

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Jean remained silent as she led Emma to her new room. The young blonde seemed fairly comfortable with her surroundings. The mansion was not as fancy as some of the old Hellfire locales, but it there was still plenty to admire. A smile never left her face as she took in her new home and the idea of living with that Scott Summers boy was certainly a bonus. But it was for that reason why Jean felt a little uncomfortable. Emma was a beautiful woman and Scott was an attractive young man last she checked. And since he had saved her life, it was a given she would have a certain fixation with him. Jean didn’t know what to make of it, but she set that aside for the time being.

“This place is pretty big,” said Jean, finally breaking her silence, “It takes a while to get the feel for, but you’ll pick up on it pretty quickly.”

“Not to worry, darling,” said Emma confidently, “I’m used to rich surroundings.”

“Well when you get a chance, talk to the Professor and he’ll give you a full tour,” said Jean, trying to keep it casual.

Upon reaching the girls hallway, Jean led Emma into an empty room. With the recent addition of the New Mutants, the Professor set up a series of new dormitories in the East Wing. While she was resting, Ororo set up the bed and dresser in case Emma decided to stay. And with her decision final, she was set to become a permanent resident.

“Here we are,” said Jean, letting Emma take in her new surroundings, “You’re lucky. We just set this room up.”

Looking around the spacious room, Emma’s reaction was mixed.

“Not bad,” she said in a critical tone, “Kind of bland though. I’ll definitely have to give it the Emma Frost touch.”

“I’m sure you will,” said Jean cynically.

Turning back to the redhead, Emma folded her arms across her chest and stared down her new housemate.

“What? You got something against a girl with taste?” said Emma defensively, “Or do you just have a thing against blondes?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” said Jean incredulously.

“Don’t bother, hun. I’m a telepath too, you know,” she said, tapping the side of your head, “What is your deal, anyways? You’ve been looking at me like I ran over your dog or something.”

Jean’s expression contorted with discomfort. She didn’t even know this girl and already she was coming off as a bitch. She never had this problem with anybody else who joined. Then again nobody had joined them under Emma’s circumstances. It wouldn’t do anybody any good to start a new member off on the wrong foot, so she sighed and recanted.

“Look…I’m sorry, okay?” said Jean, “I’ve been going through some pretty intense crap lately.”

“Join the club, hun,” said Emma with a slight laugh, “What happened? Get a C+ on a test or something?”

“Try nearly going comatose and destroying half the mansion with my powers in the process,” muttered Jean.

Emma was silenced. While Jean knew that was only part of the story, there was some truth to it.

“Well, comes with the territory,” shrugged Emma, “Believe me, I know.”

“Yeah…sorry,” said Jean, setting aside her anxiety for the sake of starting things off right.

“Forget it,” said Emma, rolling her eyes, “We psychics gotta stick together, right?”

Jean actually found herself smile at that remark. Maybe Scott was right. Maybe she wasn’t so bad underneath that sassy surface.

“You’re right,” said Jean, “Look, why don’t we start over? Hi, I’m Jean Grey.”

At first she was suspicious, but Emma could sense she was genuinely serious. With the enemies she already had at Hellfire, she sure didn’t need any more. Since she was going to be living with this girl, she might as well give her a chance.

“Emma Frost,” said the attractive blonde, holding out her hand in a welcoming gesture.

“Pleased to meet you,” said Jean, giving her hand a firm shake, “Welcome to the Xavier Institute.”

“Charmed, I’m sure,” smiled Emma, “So when am I going to meet the rest of these X-men as you call them?”

“As soon as Scott and the Professor gather everybody in the living room,” answered Jean.

“Whatever,” she shrugged, “Anything I should know about them ahead of time?”

Jean held back her laughter. With the spirited group they had at the mansion, she had a feeling Emma was going to have a hell of a time fitting in. If she could fend off four armed masked men, she had a feeling the attractive blonde was going to be just fine. There was still the matter of her attraction to Scott, but she pushed that aside for the time being.

“I don’t think you’ll have anything to worry about, Emma. Although I must warn you, things here can get pretty chaotic.”

“Chaotic how?” said Emma with a curious glance.

“You’ll see…”

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Shortly after lunch, the institute residents gathered in the living room to meet the latest addition. Everybody was casually lounging, chatting and lofting about. Both the regulars and the New Mutants were present, knowing only the minor details of what happened last night. Word of a new member quickly spread, but there was little else to go on and left plenty of room for speculation.

“So what’s the word on this new recruit?” said Evan, who was casually leaning against the wall with his skateboard in hand.

“Beats me,” shrugged Kitty, “All Jean told me was that it’s some girl they found in Manhattan.”

“Yeah, she was being chased or something,” said Jubilee, “Must have been rough if she was in the infirmary all night.”

“I’ll bet,” said Kurt, “Any idea vhat kind of powers she has?”

“Nope, but I guess we’ll find out soon enough,” said Evan.

“Well I hope they hurry,” said Tabitha, who was casually filing her nails, “Saturday is supposed to be my morning to sleep in.”

“It’s noon, Tabby,” commented Ray.

“Your point being?” she said with a playful grin.

Going back to her nails, Tabitha didn’t seem too interested in meeting this new member. The institute was crowded enough since the New Mutants joined. Another resident was just someone else to hog the TV on the weekends. But she stayed none-the-less.

“Well at least we’re getting a new girl,” said Roberto with a hopeful grin.

“A girl huh?” said Bobby with intrigue, “Wonder if she’s hot.”

“Gawd! Is that all guys think about whenever they hear about a new girl?” groaned Rogue, who looked as though there were plenty of other things she’d rather be doing.

“It’s a guy zhing,” shrugged Kurt, “Besides, I’m sure she’s okay if zhe Professor zhinks…”

But before he could finish, Kurt and the rest of the boys in the room were silenced and stunned when Jean and the Professor entered the room with a stunning, busty blonde following close behind. Still in her white Hellfire uniform, she was a sight to behold and the boys took notice. She was built like a playboy playmate, from her voluptuous body to her alluring gaze. And suddenly the institute was a lot more interesting.

“Vow…” said Kurt.

“Holy shit,” said Roberto, “I think it just got a little hotter in here.”

“Look who’s talking, man,” said Ray, equally fixated on their newest recruit.

Emma frost couldn’t help but smile at the reactions she got. It was to be expected. They were teenage boys and she was an attractive woman. Such looks were unavoidable and it had the added bonus of silencing the room.

“Everybody, I’d like you to meet the institute’s newest member, Miss Emma Frost,” said the Professor, “Emma is a telepath and transmorphic shifter that allows her to shield herself in a diamond hard shell. She’s chosen to join us and I ask you all make her feel welcome.”

“Thank you, Professor,” said Emma with a winning smile, “But I’m sure we’ll get along just fine.”

“Dude…” said Bobby, his jaw hanging open.

“Oye,” groaned Rahne, “This could be trouble.”

“Hormonal men…it never fails,” shrugged Tabitha, glad to see she wouldn’t be the only blonde in the mansion.

Tabitha, Amara, Rahne, Jubilee, Kitty, and Rogue watched the boys drool with a sigh. But Emma sure didn’t seem to mind. If anything, she seemed to be having fun with it. She was used to men drooling over her. The only boy who didn’t have his jaw on the floor was Scott, but that was just fine with Emma. She even made sure she cast him a casual smile, showing she appreciated his self control. Sensing that the boys were losing control of their hormones, the Professor continued.

“Now I know you probably want to settle in, Emma,” he said, “I’ll give you a tour of the institute and later, if you feel up to it, we’ll arrange a trip to the mall so you can start a new wardrobe.”

“That sounds grand, Professor,” said Emma, “I should probably go out and get something. I don’t even have a bra.”

“Whoa!” said Sam under his breath.

“Okay…too much info,” said Kitty, blushing profusely.

“Are you kidding?!” exclaimed Bobby.

This time Jean stepped in before Emma could reveal anything else for the boys to fantasize about.

“In that case I’ll drive you to Bayville Mall later this afternoon.”

“I’ll come too!” said Ray with a sudden burst of enthusiasm.

“On no you won’t,” said Jean sternly.

“Besides, don’t you hate shopping, Ray?” said Jubilee with a leering gaze.

“Hey, I enjoy it as much as the next guy,” he said in his defense.

“Like that’s a stretch,” scoffed Kitty.

“Yeah, I’ll remember that next time you complain about how boring it is,” grinned Amara.

Now Ray was blushing and the rest of the boys were diverting their eyes. Emma’s entrance had been unexpected, but as the shock wore off they began feeling a little sheepish. Emma, and the rest of the girls for that matter, tried hard not to laugh. She had only been at the institute a day and already she was shaking things up. But humor aside, it looked as though the institute was going to be a hell of an upgrade from the world of the Hellfire Club.

‘Are you guys always this welcoming to new recruits?’ sent Emma towards Jean via telepathy.

‘Normally it’s not this awkward,’ replied Jean with a hint of exasperation.

‘Yes, I’m afraid this is an instance of boys will be boys,’ added the Professor, ‘I’m sorry if this makes you uncomfortable.’

‘Don’t be. I’m used to it,’ said Emma in good humor, ‘And it keeps getting funnier every time I see it.’

Jean and the Professor exchanged gazes. The introduction went smoother than they thought, but at least they knew she wouldn’t be a problem with the boys. It was still unclear what her role would be in the institute. She was still new to this whole X-men deal, but Emma didn’t seem worried. If anything, she was encouraged. This may be the niche in her life she had been looking for.

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Emma spent much of the day touring the institute with the Professor. It was a big place and there was plenty to see. Along the way she came to realize just how much it meant to be an X-man. It wasn’t just some idea Xavier preached, it was a cause they fought for with great spirit. Facilities like the Danger Room and machines like Cerebro showed just how driven the professor and his students were. Obviously, Emma had a learning curve to overcome, but she remained confident in her choice.

While touring the lower levels, Emma met Logan and Ororo. Xavier told her if she was going to join the team she would have to undergo some training. Logan made it clear that her beauty wasn’t going to win her any sympathy with him. She would have to sweat it out just like the rest of the team. But that was a task for later. She had only been at the institute a day and had to settle in before she went any further with this new life.

After the tour and introductions, Emma met up with Jean for their scheduled mall run to get her some clothes. While Jean offered to lend her clothes, the young blonde refused on the logic that she needed to stay true to her style. Besides, a trip to the mall may help break the ice. As long as Scott didn’t come up, it shouldn’t be too hard.

Once they were at the mall, Emma went to town. It had been so long since she had gone to the mall like a regular teenage girl. Working as a stripper for a club for power hungry psychos left her little chances to go out and enjoy herself. Armed with Xavier’s credit card, she set out to rebuild her wardrobe to its former glory. She was like a kid in a candy store, tearing through merchandise with an intensity that would have made Kitty envious. Her expensive tastes showed. She bought everything from elegant dresses to silk nightgowns. In addition, everything was white, even her lipstick. She was enjoying her new freedom and Jean couldn’t help but be impressed.

“Let’s see…” said Emma as she and Jean exited a shoe store, “I’ve got casual wear, evening wear, swim wear, hair care, skin care, nail care, makeup, earrings, jewelry, shampoo, conditioner, vitamins, and a couple pair of shoes to get me started. Now what am I missing?”

“Your own plot of land on the moon, maybe?” said Jean with an amused tone, “Seriously, Emma, I don’t know if we’ll be able to fit everything into the X-van.”

“Oh ye of little faith,” scoffed Emma, “Sometimes you just have to throw away the logistics and go all out.”

“Well so far, mission accomplished,” said Jean, struggling to hold some of Emma’s bags.

“Not quite,” said Emma with a smirk, “I have one more item on my list…underwear. Does this mall have a Victoria’s Secret?”

“Oh boy…”

Eager to complete this exhaustive trip, Jean led Emma toward the Victoria’s Secret. Upon arriving, the young blonde’s face lit up. Working as a stripper gave her detailed knowledge of provocative attire. Even if she was to leave the world of Hellfire behind, that didn’t mean she couldn’t make herself look sexy.

Jean had never been one for overtly sexual attire. The only time she ever shopped in a place like Victoria’s Secret was for new underwear, but she never really looked into buying the sexy stuff. But the second they entered that’s exactly where Emma went.

“Ah thongs and wonder bras,” proclaimed Emma as she sifted through the merchandise, “How I missed you.”

“You don’t like to waste time, do you?” commented Jean, setting aside her bags and watching her fellow telepath in amusement.

“Darling, in case you didn’t realize I have a hot sexy body,” she said, doing a provocative pose, “I know that sounds vain, but if you’ve got it why not flaunt it?”

“Whatever works for you, Emma,” shrugged Jean.

“Oh come on, Jean!” said Emma, “You’re pretty attractive too. In fact, with the right attire you and I could be partners in crime if you know what I mean.”

“Uh…thanks,” said Jean awkwardly.

“It was a compliment, hun,” sighed Emma, “God, are you always this prude?”

“I’m not prude!” shot Jean, “I just…”

Emma cast Jean an skeptical look. Sex was clearly an uncomfortable topic to her. She was getting antsy over underwear of all things. Rolling her eyes, Emma turned her attention back to sifting through some lingerie.

“Let me guess…” sighed Emma, “You’re a virgin, aren’t you?”

Jean’s face flushed bright red.

“Yeah,” she conceded.

“That’s too bad,” shrugged Emma, “With a body like yours you could get any number of men.”

“Try telling that to my boyfriend,” muttered Jean.

“Boyfriend?” said Emma with sudden intrigue, “You have a boyfriend?”

“He sure seems to think so,” said Jean in an exasperated tone, “But yeah, I’m seeing this guy at school. It sorta just happened, but I guess it’s the real deal.”

“Is he cute?” grinned Emma.

“He is attractive,” said Jean, managing a smile, “Star football player.”

“Not bad,” said Emma with an impressed look, “You plan on going all the way with him?”

Jean’s face flushed again. She and Duncan had just hooked up and it was a little early to be thinking about that sort of thing, but it was bound to come up at one point. It was just awkward that it arose so soon.

“I…I don’t know,” said Jean.

“Give it time,” said Emma casually, “I’d give it serious thought if I were you. But if you want to stay a virgin and miss out on a wonderful experience then go right ahead.”

Jean diverted her gaze as Emma selected some underwear. Like the rest of her clothes everything was white. And true to her style, everything was very revealing. Jean was surprised at how skimpy some of the garments wore. Even Tabitha would have considered some pieces a bit over the top. But that didn’t bother Emma. It was sure to look even better once she had it on.

“So…” said Emma as she picked out a matching bra, “Tell me more about, Scott Summers.”

Jean’s demeanor quickly tensed. The tone in Emma’s voice was unmistakable. She was interested and not just in the curious way.

“Uh…what do you want to know?” she said incredulously.

“How about everything!” exclaimed Emma, “The guy saved my life! Is it so strange that I want to know more about him?”

“But that’s not all, right?” said Jean with a serious look.

“What do you think?” smirked Emma, making her intentions clear.

Jean shifted again. Scott did save Emma’s life and it was only natural she’d be curious about him. But that look in her eye hinted that she wanted more than just his life story. And something about that gave Jean a sinking feeling.

“So what’s the story? Is he single?”

“As far as I know…yeah,” said Jean, her eyes still wandering.

“I see,” said Emma, the smile on her face growing wider, “So if I wanted, I could…”

Emma’s words trailed off, allowing Jean to fill in the blanks. Looking at the busty blonde as she held up a cleavage augmenting bra, she didn’t need telepathy to know what she was thinking and Jean hesitated to give a response. It shouldn’t have mattered. Scott was single. Emma was attracted to him. She already had a boyfriend, yet it still made her sick to her stomach thinking about it.

Just last night she and Scott were so close to getting out their growing feelings for each other. But now that she was with Duncan there didn’t seem to be any room for new feelings. That didn’t mean she wanted to just throw it away, but now Emma was involved. There was any number of things she could have said to dissuade this woman from pursuing Scott. She could have lied or led her off. But for Jean Grey, she chose to swallow the anxious lump and her throat and tell her the unabated truth.

“Yeah…I don’t see why not,” said Jean, hiding her shaky tone as best she could.

“That’s all I needed to know,” grinned Emma.

Jean bit her lip, stopping herself from saying another word. Emma was only more encouraged as she grabbed a sleek, silk nightgown and held it up to her body. She was starting a new life with the X-men and there were a lot of things she wanted to get right this time. But above all, she owed a great deal to a very special man who saved her life. And with any luck, these sexy garments would help.

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Up next: Emma sets up a little ‘reward’ for the man who saved her life.