Who: Jean OT Cyclops What: Random encounters of the randomness. When: Christmas Eve Late Where: Outside by the lake.
Jean had spent the last week with Nate feeling only a bit antsy to return to Eddie. She felt bad for having been gone so long, but she assumed he'd get the message she sent him via email and he was probably engrossed in work anyway. And Nate needed her. Badly. Just like she needed him. Their shared grief made it seem somehow easier to bare. Besides which, the professor was teaching her so much and helping her so much. He'd managed to get her parents' estate lawyers down here and they'd been working to get what remained of the estate settled. It didn't take as long as she'd have thought, although the holiday was slowing things down a bit. Poor Nate, he hadn't even been mentioned in the will, although somehow that hadn't come as a surprise to her, and she didn't think it came as much of one to him, either. Clearly, her mother had never known about her father's dual life.
Still, she was making her own plans to settle a large chunk of what remained of the estate on Nate. It was partly a show of trust, partly a show of solidarity, and partly because she wanted him to feel like they were family. He knew it, of course. But she wanted him to feel it like she did.
All of this she told Eddie in the email she sent him, along with her hopes to come home in the next few days. At least for a few days. Especially since now she felt like she'd regained some of her independence. Like she could be his real partner, and not some child he was caring for.
Her thoughts were a jumble this Christmas Eve as she walked slowly around the lake in the snow, feeling the soft white flakes settling on her face and in her hair, melting and leaving tiny spots of wet in their wake. It was quiet and peaceful and it reminded her of her childhood. The snow muffled all noise, and she felt like she finally had a time that was completely quiet to sort through her own thoughts without wondering if something or someone from the outside would intrude.
Finally, she came to a large rock that was covered with snow, and with a grin brushed its blanket off and took a seat, staring out at the lake and watching the moonlight twinkle down on a world bathed in its soft white glow.