Standard disclaimer: I don't own them; I'm just borrowing them for our entertainment.

Phoenix Rising

Epilogue

"These can definitely go in the garbage." Jean dangled the spike heeled black evening shoes she had worn as "The Black Queen" over the wastebasket.

"I don't know," Scott said from their bed with a smile. "I kinda liked them. Especially with the dress with the slit up the side."

Jean grinned saucily. "I believe that falls under the category of 'undesirable excitement' that's been forbidden by your doctors."

"My doctors are all old poops," he commented.

"Really?"

"Well," Scott temporized. "There's this pretty redhead. But she's engaged – I hear they've even set a date for the wedding."

It had been a week since their return from Alkali Lake and Scott's condition had improved enough to where Hank and Jean were willing to let him out of the Med-Lab and back in his own room. Scott declared he would be fine in a week or two but Jean and Hank were under no such illusions. His body had been badly worn down and it would take some time to build his strength up again.

In the meantime, they had begun planning for their wedding. Their friends were delighted by the news and even Logan accepted the finality of it with surprising grace. Scott had suggested a quick trip to Reno, but Jean had nixed that idea and together they picked a date that was soon after his cast was scheduled to come off. It was incentive, Jean said, for him to get well as soon as possible.

"I hear," Jean said, carefully joining him. "That the wedding is about two years overdue."

"Better late than never," he quipped back and changed the subject. "How are the lessons going?"

She made a face. As soon as Scott was out of danger, she and Professor Xavier had begun working together on controlling her powers. "Like I'm back in kindergarten."

His chuckle dissolved into a choking cough. "Don't make me laugh," he begged. "What else is going on?"

"Hank and I are redistributing the teaching load – again. I'm taking back Earth Science and all the lab sessions with the Professor's approval and Hank is going back to Columbia twice a week." She hesitated before continuing. "They left it up to me to decide. I thought it was best to stay here."

Scott didn't argue the point with her. The first step was to admit your weakness and then move on. "What about the team?"

"Storm's continuing training with Bobby, Rogue and Jubilee," she told him. "Logan's helping."

"No," he corrected. "I meant there's a spot available on the team. Do you want to come back?"

Jean was stunned. "I can't believe you want me back after what I did."

Scott shrugged. "You lost control. We all have at one point or another." He grinned. "Just don't throw me off a cliff again."

"Don't joke about it," she begged. "I don't even want to talk about it."

"We have to talk about it," he insisted. "You taught me that."

"It was like all the power built up and exploded," Jean acknowledged. "There was only what I felt and what I wanted. Nothing else mattered."

"That's what happens when you let your power control you," Scott explained. "But you're stronger than that. I know you are."

Jean smiled and kissed him.

"You know," he continued. "Since you're back on the team, you should really pick a code name."

"I could never think of one that didn't sound silly," she said. "Got any ideas?"

"I have one," Scott offered.

"What is it?"

"Phoenix."

Jean smiled and nodded her assent as she kissed her love. She had risen from the depths twice. It would be a good name.

THE END

This was a pure JOTT story, I know. I hope you all enjoyed it.