Frozen Phoenix
Rating: If you can watch it on TV you can read this.
Spoilers: None.
Timeline: None Issue
Summary: Emma and the Phoenix have something in common.
Disclaimer: Jean’s hair is red, Emma’s eyes are blue, the X-Men aren’t mine, For Wolverine don't sue.

Emma slept uneasily that night. She sighed as tendrils of red fire slipped up to caress her face, tickling slightly as if it was Jean Grey’s hair, not the scorching flame that explored her curiously. Emma rolled over in her bed, one hand reaching out for a man who wasn’t there. He was never there. He belonged to the flame-haired Jean. Only in her thoughts could she have him. Sinfully delicious thoughts.

Emma scrunched her nose as the flame swept across her cheek. She was a light sleeper and that gentle caress was enough to wake her from her uneasy slumber. She sat up in bed with a gasp as the flame licked around her body, keening softly, like a lonely bird. “Phoenix?� she whispered into the flame lit room. The sound the fire made was so sad that she gave in to her impulse and reached a hand into the fire, stroking it gently.

The flames danced around her fingers and took the shape of the phoenix’s head. ~Emma,~ the firebird murmured mentally as she smoothed it’s fiery plume, ~Emma, I’m so cold. Hold me, please?~ the Phoenix cooed. Emma’s hand paused as she thought.

Slowly she reached out to the great bird and pulled it close to her, holding it’s magnificent heat to her frozen heart. Tears ran down her cheeks as the fire burned. Emma started as to great wings separated from the avian inferno, stretching and wrapping themselves around her slim form. For the first time, Emma felt completely safe in the company of another. She understood the Phoenix’s loneliness and the Phoenix understood hers.

Unnoticed, the flames surrounding her body turned blue white and began to sink into her skin. Jean Grey relaxed in her room as the fight deep within her mind ended. In his room, Charles’s head shot up, as he felt the shift in power. Emma felt the Phoenix slip out of her arms and opened her eyes and saw that the flames, that had been enfolding her in their embrace, were now part of her. ~Phoenix?~ she questioned mentally.

~We’re fine, Emma.~ The firebird answered, ~Now neither of us will ever have to be alone again.~ Emma smiled. There was a warm feeling surrounding her heart now and she knew it was the Phoenix.