The Angel's Departure pt 7



"Welcome home Jean," Professor Xavier called to the group as they entered the mansion.

"Thank you Professor, it's good to be home."

"Next time talk to me before you leave okay?"

"Don't worry Chuck I've already taken care of it," Logan told him. Xavier looked surprised, but could tell that he had already taken care of it.

"Anyone ready for lunch?" Ororo asked.

"Me!" Kurt and Evan said in unison.

"Boys!" Kitty said at the boys' outburst. "I think I'm ready for lunch."

"Yeah me too," Scott told her.

"Jean?" Ororo asked.

"Yes? Oh, sorry. I'm hungry."

"Good. Come on, Food's on the table," Ororo told them, motioning for them to go ahead of her. Xavier, Logan, and Ororo watched as Kurt, Evan, Kitty, Scott, and Jean went into the next room to eat. "She still in her room?"

"Yes, she's afraid that they'll be extremely angry with her. She understands that the others care for Jean more than she possibly realized," Xavier told her. "Can you take a plate up to her, Ororo?"

"Of course."

"So, you had to chase after a train?" Xavier asked smiling at Logan.

"Yep, trains are getting faster, well, either that or I'm getting older."
***
"Jean?" Ororo called as she opened Jean's bedroom door slightly.

"Yes?" Jean said opening the door all the way for Ororo.

"Court date is tommorrow. Do you have clothes for court?"

"Yeah. I'll be missing school again.."

"It's okay, it's already been cleared."

"Storm, what if I have to leave? I don't want to, I want to stay here."

"No matter where you are, we'll always be here for you, Jean. Plus, who says that you're leaving? I won't be able to handle three boys and two girls. It has to be even to keep the guys in line."

"Scott will keep them under control. Or at least try, he always seems like he's way older than the rest of us. I suppose it's the fact that the responsibility he has for his powers have given him more caution."

"Definately, Scott cares about all of you. He especially cares about you, you are his anchor, his reason, and his conscience."

"Scott will be so hurt if I have to leave. I'll miss him so much and I'll miss you, Logan, the professor, and the others."

"Just remember, home is where the heart is. If you're a thousand miles away from here and this is where your heart is, then you'll aways be home. There's no way that you can't be apart of here. If you have to leave, then you have to leave. In a year you can come back, and then there's nothing they can do to take you away."

"One year is a long time Storm."

"Yes child it is, but you'll make it if you're forced to leave."
***
Everyone was at the court that day, the kids had taken off of school to go. They were all dressed up nicely, even Rouge and Logan. Jean, the professor, and a lawyer were sitting in front of them. They had been sitting in the courtroom for three hours and the judge was about to make his ruling. He hit his gavel on his desk to call attention.

"Now this is a very hard decision to make, I basically hold the life of this child in my hands. I have to choose a place that will be safe and beneficial to her. I have reviewed her transcripts from Bayville High School and Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters and both show that Miss Grey is a honored student. I find it that I cannot make a decision as of this date exactly. For today Miss Grey will return with her parents to their home and still attend Bayville High School for one week in which their will be an examiner. At the end of this week of the examiner is not satisfied then Miss Grey will be under the guardianship of Professor Charles Xavier. He has already been approved by the examiner, the state, and by the police department. I will see you all in one week," the judge used his gavel again, "court dismissed until next week."

"Well I guess a week can't be that bad," Jean told the professor.

"Don't worry it'll go by so fast you won't even notice."

"Excuse me, we're ready to go," Mr. Grey told the professor.

"Just a second please," Jean said as she quickly turned around to hug Ororo, Logan, Kurt, Kitty, and Evan. Scott hugged her and kissed her forehead.

"I was afraid this might happen, so I brought this with me," Scott pulled out a necklace with a heart pendent on it. "We'll miss your birthday, but I thought this might help."

"Thank you Scott."

"Come on Jean," her father called uncomfortably.

"Thank you Professor," Jean said hugging him and kissing him on the cheek. He had been more of a father to her than he own father had been.

"Jean!"

"Goodbye. I love you all," Jean called as she left with her father and mother.