Jean sniffed in annoyance as an outburst of laughter sounded from across the room. "You'd think they'd be a little respectful when some of us here are working."

Ororo swung her gaze from the soap opera she was watching to her teammate. "Jean," she said, gesturing around the room. "No one comes into the Rec. Room to work. Why don't you take those papers to your office?"

Her comment was met with an awkward shrug. "I like working in here. But, I'd like it even better if it was more quiet." She directed her annoyed glance toward a couple laughing and playing a game of cards across the room. In fact, the couple happened to be Rogue and Scott, who had spent the past two hours and a half switching from fooseball, pool, to card games. And, consequently, each game had resulted in incessant laughter - Jean had finally had enough.

The weather goddess raised her finely plucked eyebrows at Jean. "Do you have a problem with Scott and Rogue hanging out together, or do you just have something against being happy?" Feeling this would turn into a moment where crucial and juicy information was about to be revealed, she picked up the remote and clicked off the T.V.

Sighing heavily and placing down her pen, Jean gave Ororo what she hoped was a look of absolute incredulity. "I have absolutely no problem with Scott and Rogue being together," she said thickly, turning her gaze back over to them and adding with gritted teeth, "I just wish they weren't so loud."

Ororo laughed knowingly to herself. "Girl, you better get your head straight. You've got Logan, who is, by the way, the same man you dumped Scott for because he was it. Now Scott is spending just a little more time with Rogue, and you can't handle the fact that he's moving on."

"Please," Jean said, rolling her eyes without thinking, "Scott's not moving on." As soon as she realized what she said, her eyes widened and she covered her mouth with a guilty expression. "I didn't mean that," she whispered, gasping.

"Uh-huh."

"No, really. What I meant was just that he's not serious about Rogue. They're just friends."

"Are you sure?" Ororo sent a meaningful glance in their direction as Scott conspicuously draped his arms over Rogue's shoulders while trying to sneak a peek at her hand. She only laughed and pushed him away with a coy smile as she threw a card in his face. "Their relationship seems like it could become more than a friendship sooner than you think - if it hasn't already."

Jean bit her lip, her fingers unconsciously tearing the paper with her fingernails. "W- Well," she cleared her throat, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. "It's none of my business if they are or not. I'm with Logan and that's all that matters. Scott can do whatever he pleases - with whomever he pleases." On the last few words, she had more trouble saying them than she would ever admit. "It would be stupid of me to want Scott back when I have Logan." After a second's thought, she said with a reassured smile. "I love Logan."

Biting back a comment, Ororo just raised her eyebrows and shrugged. "Fine. I just hope you know what you're doing." She paused before picking up the remote again. "If you ever need to talk about this, you know you can come to me, right?"

Jean sighed, running her fingers through her hair and tearing her gaze away from the two people on the other side of the room. "Sure, 'Ro. Thanks."

"No problem, sweetie."

[On the Other Side Of The Room]

Rogue suppressed a yawn, and gazed idly at her cards. "Are you bored yet?"

Sticking his tongue in the corner of his mouth, Scott shook his head and reordered his hand. "Nope. I have a feeling I've got this one in the bag," he said with a smile as he laid a higher card on the floor and took her lower one into his deck.

"It's no fun when you win all the time!" she all but whined.

Scott waved his hand in the air dismissively. "It's good for learning strategy."

A low growl sounded from Rogue's throat, making Scott look at her for the first time in surprise.

"What?!" he asked innocently enough, scrunching his eyebrows together in confusion.

"There's no strategy for cards," she said, throwing her hand on the floor. "Besides, we're supposed to be looking like we're having fun together, and - sorry for saying it - you're downright boring me." Then, as if further proving how bored they looked, she gestured over to Jean, who had her nose buried back into her papers. "She's not even looking at us anymore."

Giving in with a groan, Scott finally nodded and collected the cards into the whole deck. "Fine," he mumbled, putting them back into the case. "What do you want to do now?"

Rogue smiled impishly and batted her eyelashes. "You could hold my hand and whisper sweet nothings into my ear while I make a vow of undying love to you."

"How about some Monopoly?"

"Oh, goodie!"

Immediately, Scott jumped up and was on his way to get the board game when he found himself being dragged back by the hem of his shirt.

"Scott, I was just kidding," she said with a sigh. "I don't really feel like playing games anymore."

"Then what can we do?"

"Lay your head on my lap."

Scott's eyes opened wide in shock. "What?!"

"Lay your head on my lap and I'll comb your hair with my fingers. Trust me - it'll freak Jean out major." When he didn't move an inch, Rogue pointed down to the spot next to her and uttered threateningly under her breath. "Do it or die."

He gave in, but not before mimicking her as he settled himself on the ground, shifting until he was comfortably sprawled across the floor with his head lying in Rogue's lap. "Okay, happy?"

"Extremely," she replied, picking up her gloved hand and running her fingers through his hair. There was a brief moment of silence, then Scott murmured, with his eyes closed. "Mmmm, this feels nice."

Despite herself, Rogue chuckled and chanced a sideways look at Jean to see if she was looking. She was - in fact, her eyes were narrowed and her mouth hung open slightly. But, as soon as she saw Rogue turn in her direction, she ducked her head and busied herself with her papers again.

[Back to the other side of the room]

"What is he? Some type of dog or something?" Jean seethed between her teeth, glancing sideways at Ororo.

"Jean," Ororo placed her hand on the doctor's shoulders and turned to face her. "You need to get a grip. You are with Logan. Logan. Repeat after me: I am with Logan, and Scott is with Rogue. And it's okay." At her hesitance, Ororo shook the woman's shoulders in frustration. "Say it!"

"Okay, okay!" Jean closed her eyes and counted to ten, exhaling slowly. "I'm with Logan, Scott's with Rogue, and it's......," she strained, inhaling another sharp breath, "- okay."

Ororo smiled and relaxed her grip on Jean's shoulders. "Good."

Feeling somewhat more in control, Jean settled comfortably back on the couch and sifted through her papers, trying to find out where she had left off. But before long, her eyes were inadvertently rising up from the papers and glaring back at the two people across the room. Rogue was still running her fingers through his hair, and - and - Scott seemed to be enjoying it!!!

"I still don't see why she has to pet him like a puppy," she muttered.

"Good God!" Ororo turned toward her again, a look of absolute disbelief written across her face. "Jean, if you don't get over this jealousy of Rogue being the new girl in Scott's life, then you're asking for trouble."

Jean's mouth fell open in shock. "I am not jealous!"

Ororo snorted. "Sure."

"I'm not!"

"Fine, fine, if you think-"

"I don't think, 'Ro - I know I am not jealous. I'm just - just - concerned about him is all." Crossing her arms sharply over her chest in anger, Jean shook her head and suddenly jumped up from the couch.

"I am not jealous," she repeated, gathering her papers up from the cushions.

"All right, you said that already." Ororo held out her hands in submission. "I won't say anything more about it."

"Good. Because that is absolutely ridiculous. Scott can date whomever he wants. And you know what? If he does, I won't care because I'm - not- jealous." Jean spit the words out and turned on her heel, forcing her eyes straight toward the doorway and not toward the other side of the room. But as soon as she was in the hallway, she still mumbled under her breath, "I just said she doesn't have to pet him like some mangy mutt."

[Back inside the Rec. Room]

Smiling to herself, Rogue relaxed on the floor and leaned her back further toward the ground a little. "My ma used to do this to me at night. It always made me fall asleep faster."

"I can understand why," Scott replied dreamily, his eyes still closed as her fingers petted his hair. "I could go to sleep now if I could."

"Don't," she said hurriedly, poking him in the shoulder. "We still have more stuff to do today."

"Like what?" he grumbled, rubbing the spot where she'd poked him. Even though she couldn't see behind his glasses, she knew for a fact his eyes were still closed. "Jean's already seen us."

Rogue kept back a biting remark. He didn't seem to understand that Logan was the person they wanted to make jealous. Jean was just a practice run. But, Logan - he was the reason for all of this. "We have to find Logan and hold hands in front of him."

"That's all?" Scott asked, raising his head a little. "Holding hands will make him crazy?"

Smirking to herself, she nodded firmly. "Definitely. If it doesn't, we'll have to do something more drastic." Seeing Scott make a face behind his shades, she sent another jab to his ribs. "And, you, mister, better pretend like you're crazy, nuts, and head-over-heels in love with me."

"Phsssh."

"I meant it!" she hissed in his ear.

Scott shrugged, sitting up a little to look her in the face. "All right, I will. But you have to promise to comb my hair more often." Ducking his head under her incredulous expression, he offered lamely as an explanation. "It feels nice."

"Deal."

Nodding his head in agreement, Scott settled his head back on her lap, more than ready to have his head combed. But, for some reason, there was nothing.

"Hey," he said, leaning up on his elbows again. "Why did you stop?"

"Jean left." The surprise was evident in her voice. She'd just looked up from their conversation just in time to see Jean's red hair disappear from the doorway. "This was a lot easier than I thought it would be."

"Well," Scott coughed, a small satisfied smile flitting across his mouth. "I know she still loves me."

Rogue was tempted to roll her eyes, but she didn't because the sad truth was, he was probably right. Unfortunately, she didn't have the same claim to make with Logan. In fact, if it weren't for absorbing him twice and catching his hidden sidelong glances at her, she'd have no idea what that man felt about her. He loved her; but, for some reason he was holding back. Instead, she sighed and stood up, stretching her arms.

"Come on," she said, pulling him up from the ground. "I'm pretty sure Logan's in the garage."

"Oh." Scott gulped, pausing only a second to run his hand through his hair.

"What?" Rogue raised her eyebrows at his hesitance. "Scott," she growled warningly, "You promised to help me if I helped you make Jean jealous."

"Yea, I know," he conceded grudgingly, but he still stood there with uncertainty. "But, Jean doesn't have six nine inch claws."

"No, she doesn't...... - but I have deadly skin that could kill you on contact if you don't help me."

Scott nodded, knowing which person he was more afraid of. "Good point. Let's go."

With that, they both left the Rec. Room side by side, intently focused on the mission they had ahead of them. What they didn't notice, however, was that Ororo was smirking at them with a growing interest, and a spark suddenly alighted in her deep brown eyes as their little game dawned on her. The smile grew wider, and she erupted into a fit of laughter as soon as she was sure they were out of earshot. She had infallibly noticed the tension building up between the couples during the past two weeks, and had calculated it was only a matter of time before someone took action and blew up. Now, that she knew it was on purpose, she couldn't wait to sit back and watch the show.

"It's about time someone did something," she murmured quietly to herself, flicking the television off again and getting up from the couch. It was obvious Logan and Rogue were meant for each other, but the former was too stubborn to admit to it.

The only thing she knew for sure was that things were going to get extremely interesting at the X-Mansion. Of course, she hoped Scott didn't get torn limb from limb in the process.