Jo twirled proudly, the gossamer 'leaves' of her costume fluttering around her. "Look, Mom!"

Jubilee smiled at her daughter, a lovely, elfin ten-year-old garbed in a leafy tunic and green tights. "You look like a salad," she teased, fastening her heavy golden earrings in her ears.

"Moooom!" Jo rolled her eyes dramatically.

"You look wonderful, sweetheart. More importantly, you know all your lines forwards, backwards, and sideways." She kissed her daughter's forehead, careful not to smudge either one's carefully done makeup. "And I'm actually going to sit through the whole play without nodding off this time, I swear. Not like when I read it at school. I'll even enjoy it."

Puck giggled at her, and tucked her wealth of silky black hair more firmly into its net. "Mom, you hate Shakespeare."

Jubilee patted her own elaborately pinned up hair. "Yeah, I know, but I think anything you do is great, especially when it's something clever and intellectual. Ergo and erhum, as Jon says, I'll enjoy myself."

Her daughter sighed. "Are you *sure* Uncle Jonny can't make it?"

"I'm sorry, sweetie. He tried, you know he did." Jubilee smiled wistfully. "But this is a very important meeting for him and he just can't make it this time. He's never ditched us for business before."

"But I miss him," Jo pouted. "And I wanted him to see me be Puck."

"I miss him too, Jo. But Angelo's taping it, and Jon promised to watch it tomorrow." She hugged her only begotten elf gently. "Now, do you remember your opening line? Did you take your pre-emptive antacid? And do you know where your elf-shoes are?"

"I do, I did, and they're on the chair." Jo tilted her head. "And the camera just arrived." Grinning, she ran to open the door. "Uncle Angelo, Aunt Tora! What do you think of my costume?"

Angelo looked her up and down. "You look like a salad."

"You've been spending too much time with Mom, Uncle Ange."

His wife batted him gently on the arm. "Be nice, love. Joanna, you look lovely."

Angelo grinned. "So does your mother." He shot Jubilee an admiring look. "Just me and three beautiful women." Three hands smacked into him at various speeds. "Only one of whom I'm married to, and I wouldn't think of looking at anyone else."

"Good."

"Bueno."

"Can we get mooooooooving already? If I miss my entrance I'm never forgiving any of you ever."

* * *

Jono tried to listen to what was going on, he really did. He knew that you couldn't just leave money to its own devices and expect it to still be there when you came back. He knew that business needed to be managed. He even knew (sort of) that he owned things that, if you put money in, spat more money back out.

All this didn't even come close to comparing with the fact that he was missing Joanie's first starring role.

"...and I'm sure you'll agree, Mr Starsmore, that while this investment may look good on the surface, the comparable properties you already own are not generating a large enough profit-margin to justify further expenditure..."

She was *Puck* and he was *missing* it.

"... so I'm confident that you'll approve the decisions I've made in overseeing your investments in this area for the last three months." Finally, the Boring Accountant Man was winding down. Maybe Jon'd be able to make the last act.

<*Yeh, it all sounds fine. If that's all-*> Paula's mobile phone *breep*ed. With an apologetic look, she took it over the other side of the room while Jon signed the necessary papers, accepted an itemized accounting of all his accounts that he'd probably never look at again, and shook the other man's fishy hand. <*I appreciate yer time, and all the effort you've put in.*> It didn't hurt to be nice to the man who looked after quite a lot of your money. <*I'll see you at the next semi-annual, right?*>

"Absolutely, Mr Starsmore." The man beamed. "And allow me to say that-"

"*Jon*!!" The sheer horror in Paula's hushed voice snapped both men around faster than any scream. Her freckled face was pale, and her eyes wide. "Jon... that was Jubilee. Joanie's been in some sort of accident. They're at St Brighid's*. It's a private hospital in-"

Jon grabbed her arm and hustled her towards the door, ignoring the other man as if he'd dropped off the face of the earth. "Tell me on the way."

* * *

Angelo was there, his face greyer than usual and the lines of hard living more prominent, but Jon barely saw him. There were blue and white white blurs that might be doctors or nurses or Skrulls, he didn't care. He had to get to Jubilee and Jo. Nothing else mattered. Nothing else even registered. His heart and soul were here and he had to find them, be with them, love them until everything was all right again.

He hadn't registered any of the other faces, but Jubilee's leaped out at him in stark clarity. Her long hair was caught up in an elaborate twist, she was wearing the subtle makeup that almost vanished into her skin altogether, she was wearing the gold knot earrings he'd given her. An hour ago she would have been breathtaking. Now her face was drawn, her eyes were red, and there were drying tear-tracks on her cheeks.

Then she was in his arms, sobbing incoherently, and he was holding her and hugging her as tightly as he dared, knowing that she needed to know he was real, he was there... <*It's okay, love, Jubilee, it's okay, I'm here, I'm here now, oh, sweetheart, don't cry so...*>

Eventually the storm of sobs eased enough for words. "It was the last act... there was a candle... she manifested, Jon, right there on stage..."

<*'Er powers?*> A horrible pit of forboding opened where his stomach had once been. <*What happened? Why's she in the 'ospital?*>

Jubilee gulped painfully, breath whimpering in her throat. "The flame... it just jumped off the candle, and flew to her... and her tunic caught, and it was b-burning, and they couldn't put it out, the flames were clinging to her and nothing would p-put them out and she was s-screaming and screaming..." Her tiny fingers dug into his arms until he was afraid she'd break her own bones. "And then she fainted and the fire disappeared, j-just like that and..." The words trailed off into desperate sobs once again and she clung to him.

Jon closed his eyes, physically fighting to stay upright. The image of his precious little girl screaming in agony as the fire ate at her would haunt him for the rest of his life, he knew. But he had to hold on, stay upright and keep his arms around Jubilee, because she needed him now. Needed him to love and comfort her, to take care of her. <*I love you,*> he whispered, stroking her back gently. <*I'm here for you. I'll always be here.*>

He drew her gently over to a chair, sitting down and pulling her into his lap where he rocked and cuddled her as if she were a child her daughter's age. After a long time, her sobs faded to sniffles, and her arms unlocked from around his neck. "I-I'm okay now..."

<*Okay,*> he said softly, resting his forehead against hers. <*Can we see her?*>

Jubilee gulped again and pointed. "Yeah. She's in a room down that hall there. She's sedated... they said she was in a lot of pain..."

<*Burns hurt,*> Jon agreed, still rocking her gently. <*Now, I want you to listen to me. I want you to find Angelo, he's here somewhere, and tell him-*>

"I won't go home, Jon," she interrupted, scrambling to her feet. "I won't, I'm staying right here until she wakes up-"

<*I know, love, I know. I wouldn't ask you to leave,*> he soothed her gently, rising and scooping her into his arms again. <*But Angelo should. 'E's got a family worryin' at home, and if I know him he's still planning to go to work tomorrow. So I want yer t' tell him that I'm here now, and I'll look after you and Joanie, okay? I'll go sit with her now, and you come join me when you've found him.*> She nodded, scrubbing at her eyes with her hands. "'kay. I won't be long." She left, and Jono slipped quietly into the small, dim room that held the living icon of his soul.

She was sleeping, her huge eyes closed and her lashes fanning gently over her cheeks. He allowed himself a moment's blessed relief. At least her eyes were spared.

Then he let his eyes wander over her, assessing what damage he could see. Both her arms were bandaged, but one hand peeped out of the bandages, miraculously unburnt. Her neck was bandaged too, and a large dressing covered most of her jaw and cheek on one side. Nearly all her pretty hair was scorched away, he thought irrelevantly as he reached out to touch the little forehead, fighting the urge to scoop her up in his arms and rock her like the baby she'd been.

Instead, he settled himself in the chair beside her, taking the unburnt hand in his and stroking it gently. <*I'm here, baby,*> he sent, sinking the sense of his presence deep into her mind so that even in her sleep she'd know he was there to take care of her. <*I'm here, and I love you, and I swear I'm never ever going away from you again.*>

"Promise?" Jubilee asked plaintively. He turned to see her standing in the doorway, her arms wrapped around herself.

<*Promise,*> he said softly, holding out an arm to her. She came to him, nestling down in his lap like a child and laying his head on her shoulder. He hugged her close, his other hand still clasping Jo's little one gently. <*I'm never leaving the two of you again.*>

Joanna woke just after dawn, coming awake with a gasp and a cry of pain.

Jubilee was sleeping on a small couch in the corner, and Jon was standing at the window when he heard the whimpering little cry. Instantly he was beside the bed, hands on her forehead and her chest, using his rudimentary telepathy to block the searing pain of her burns. <*Shh, sweetheart, shhh... see, it doesn't hurt anymore, I made the pain go away.*> He sat down on the bed beside her, stroking her unburned cheek gently.

She started to cry weakly, and he scooped her up in his arms heedless of her basndages and the drip in her arm. <*I know, baby, I know how it feels, believe me. It 'urt me too, the first time,*> he whispered, holding her tenderly. <*And now you're scared.*>

"It hurt so bad..." she sobbed, burrowing her small face into his neck. "It hurt, Unca Jonny, and I couldn't make it stop. I could feel it feeding off me, even while it was burning me, and I couldn't make it stop..."

<*I know, baby,*> he said again, cradling her head against his shoulder as the ghost of his heart ached for her. She was too little for this, barely ten years old. He'd been nearly eighteen, nearly twice her age, and it had all but destroyed him. <*Better'n anyone I know. It 'urts and it's scary and you can't control it, and it's even worse because it's yer own body that's hurting you that way.*> He rested his cheek against her singed hair. <*I know yer scared, Joanie. I wish I could make it go away. But all I can do right now is promise you that I'm not going away anymore, orright? I'll be right here with you, and I'll take care of you.*>

The sobs eased a little, and a small arm crept around his waist. "You will?" she asked tearfully, sniffling. "You'll stay here with me and Mommy?"

Jubilee stirred awake, her daughter's voice calling for her capable of drawing her even from the deep sleep of exhaustion. "Jo? Baby?" she murmured, voice clouded. Then she remembered, and was across the room in a heartbeat. "Oh, baby..." she slid her arms gingerly around the small body. "Does it hurt?"

"No," the little girl sniffled, resting her head on her mother's shoulder. "Unca Jonny made the pain go away." She started to cry again. "I'm scared, Mommy."

"I know you are, baby. So'm I." Dark suede clad arms slid around them both, and she rested her head on his shoulder with a tiny, comforted sigh. "But I love you more than anything else in the whole world, and I'll be here to take care of you, and Uncle Jonny will be here too."

<*That's right,*> Jon seconded softly, as long arms cradled the two people he loved most in all the world. <*I'll be here too.*>

* * *

"Most of her burns are superficial. With the technology we have now, I'm confident that she'll heal without scars... mostly." The doctor sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "The burns on her right arm, her shoulder, and the side of her neck are more severe than the others. We've done all we can, and she should retain the use of the hand, but..."

<*She'll have scars,*> Jon said flatly. <*How bad?*>

"I don't know yet." The doctor was a small, thin man with a stern face and tired eyes. "Mr Starsmore, I'm not sure what your relationship is to Joanna-"

<*I'm her godfather.*>

He nodded. "Ah. I am aware of your medical history, Mr Starsmore. I suggest you keep in mind that while Joanna will have scars, they will not be to any extent comparable to your own. She will retain full use of her faculties and her body will function normally." He smiled wryly, his eyes softening. "I realise that while this may not be much comfort, it is important for both you and her mother to realize that she got off very lightly." The smile faded. "I have seen children in this hospital die because we don't know what atmosphere to give them to breathe, or because their blood poisons them, or because there is no longer any food that will sustain them."

<*I was lucky,*> Jon said softly, and for the first time he believed it.

"Yes, you were." The doctor looked down at his hands, fingers curling around the clipboard that held Joanna's chart. "I have never believed that mutants should be penalized for their mutancy, Mr Starsmore. In my experience, it is more of a curse than a blessing. Those fortunate enough to survive its ravages should be congratulated on their good luck, not persecuted because they do not join their less fortunate brothers and sisters in death or constant suffering." He took a deep breath, and gave Jon a very direct look. "Nevertheless, although she has been comparitively fortunate, Joanna has suffered a terrible trauma. She will need a great deal of care and support over the next few weeks, or months, or perhaps years. Ms Lee is a single mother, working a demanding job. It may be in Joanna's best interests to assign her to one of the facilities established to care for such cases."

<*No.*> Jon met the doctor's eyes with a steely glare. <*Joanie's frightened enough as it is. Seperating her from 'er mother would only terrify her more. They've never been apart for more than a day or two, and never when Joanie was sick or hurt.*>

The doctor nodded. "I do understand that, Mr Starsmore, but you must understand my position. Joanna's mother does not have a highly paid job, nor one from which she can take unlimited time off. If she continues to work, Joanna's care may well suffer. If she does not, how will they be supported?"

<*Same way they're affording ritzy private hospital care,*> Jon said flatly. <*Me. I'm more'n capable of supporting them for as long as they need it.*>

"And will you?" The doctor pinched the bridge of his nose again. "I do apologize, but if you are capable of and willing to support them, why is Ms Lee working so hard to do so?"

<*She's bloody stubborn.*> Jon grinned suddenly. <*And independent. But for this... this she'll let me take care of. For Joanie's sake.*>

The doctor nodded, smiling suddenly. It was amazing the change it made to his thin, stern face. "That I will accept, having met the lady. Very well, Mr Starsmore, I shall recommend that Joanna be released to yours and her mother's care, as soon as she is sufficiently healed... with the provision, of course, that she receives proper counselling and regular monitoring of her condition."

<*O' course,*> Jon agreed automatically. <*'Ow long until we can take her home?*>

Joanna, however, didn't want to go home.

"I don't want to see anyone," she sobbed into Jubilee's shoulder. "An' I don't want them to see me."

Jubilee stroked the ragged hair gently. "Why not, baby?" she asked, already knowing.

"B-because I've g-got scars all over me a-and I'm ugly!"

<*No you're not,*> Jono said firmly. <*I'm ugly, under the illusion. Yer Uncle Angelo's ugly-*>

"Hey!"

<*Well, you are. AND you've got lots of scars.*> Jono reached out to touch Jo's cheek gently. <*You're still the prettiest little girl on the ward, luv, honest.*>

"I don't care," Jo insisted into her mother's by now quite damp shoulder. "I don't want anyone I know to see me except you."

The three adults exchanged helpless looks over the top of her head. "But Jo," her mother remonstrated gently. "Where else should we go? I mean, we could go to the school or the mansion, but there are a lot more people around there than there would be at home."

Jo sobbed harder. "I don't want to go there. I want to go away someplace where nobody knows who I am."

Jon judged that this was the right moment to trot out his master plan for keeping the two of them with him for, oh, forever or so. <*Wot about the other mansion?*>

The other three all looked around at him in surprise. "What other mansion?" they asked in ragged chorus.

<*Mine.*> He tried to look humble, but didn't succeed particularly well. <*I 'ave got one, you know... a small one. In England. I've not really lived there since I was a kid - keep it shut up most of the time. But there's nice grounds, some animals, plenty of peace and quiet...*>

Jo sniffled, brightening a little bit. "Can we stay there?"

He smiled at her and squeezed her unscarred left hand. <*Absolutely. I'll 'ave it all opened up and such while you're in here, and when it's time to leave it'll be all ready for us.*> He looked at Jubilee. <*If that's all right with yer mum, of course.*>

Jubilee smiled, her eyes a little teary. "It sounds perfect," she agreed, reaching out to touch his hand gently. "Thank you."

<*Promised I'd look after you two, didn't I?*> He smiled back and patted her hand. <*Don't worry about a thing, love. Let me sort everything out for once, okay?*>

"Okay," she agreed. Then the nurse turned up for Jo's sponge-bath and dressing-change, and the two men were summarily evicted to make room.

Angelo winked at the nurse out of habit, then devoted his attention to holding up a wall. "So... taking them home with you. Bueno." He sighed. "I'll miss them, but they need... you know..."

<*A man to look after them?*> Jon said quizzically. He was genuinely fond of Angelo, and knew that his parochial tendencies sprang not from a belief that men were superior, but from a deep and passionate conviction that women were the most wonderful things in creation, and should be worshipped and protected and looked after as carefully as any other work of art. He was also one of the last practicing Chivals (those who are chivalrous) around. It was actually kind of cute.

"Anyone to look after them. Who can do it full-time, I mean." He shrugged, a move that looks very interesting on someone whose shoulders are only negligibly attached to their torso. "Picked out a ring yet?"

Jon blinked.

<*'At went by a bit fast.*>

"You think so? Me, I don't call fifteen years fast. Definitely not. This isn't one of the faster-moving relationships I've seen. Doesn't even make the top-all-the-others-but-this-one." Angelo looked as innocent as he could, which wasn't very. "But, now that you've admitted it..."

<*Admitted wot?*> Jon asked testily. <*I 'aven't admitted a thing. Especially whatever it is yer talking about.*>

"That you're in love with Jubilee," Angelo supplied helpfully. "You always have been."

<*Am not! Have not! And what makes you think I am?*> Jon started to look a bit panicked. <*We're just friends!*>

"Right. That's why you came sprinting in here the other night looking like someone had ripped out your heart." Angelo snorted. "And why you touch her all the time and look at her with that surprised look in your eyes when you think nobody's looking and hold her when she's sleeping."

Jon scowled. <*Oh, shut up,*> he said moodily, kicking at a battered plastic chair.

"Admit it."

<*No.*>

"Say it."

<*Sod off.*>

"Say it, or I'll ask in front of her."

<*Say what, for god's sake?*>

Angelo was gently relentless. "That you've never in your life loved anyone the way you love her. That you trust her with parts of yourself nobody else has ever seen. That just the thought of leaving her again makes you feel sick because it hurts so bad."

<*A'right, A'right! Geez.*> Jon shoved his hands in his pockets. <*When I 'eard Jo was hurt... it was like something broke inside me. All I could think about was how scared and hurt they'd both be. 'Ow much I needed them. And when I saw her all scared and shaking... I forgot about Jo f'r just a minute. Just for one minute, there was nobody in the world f'r me but her.*>

Angelo snorted kindly. "There's *never* been anyone for you but her. She's The One. You know this. I know this. Tora knows this. I even wrote to Ev and told him about it..."

<*You bloody didn't!!!*>

"Well, no, but I had you going for a second." Angelo bit thoughtfully on a fingernail. "Jon, I've known you two for what... seventeen years now? I'm pretty much the expert on your relationship. And when you guys broke up fifteen years ago, I thought it was good. Neither of you were either ready or able for an emotional commitment back then. You needed some solo flying time, y'know? But now... neither of you're getting any younger, you know. I think it's time for you to make the commitment now."

Jon closed his eyes. He wanted this. He wanted this so much. Someone to tell him that it was all okay now, he'd done his penance, he could be happy now. Could have *her* now. But even though he was hearing it, he couldn't believe it. <*It... wouldn't work. Not for us. Not for me. I can't... I ain't good at emotional commitment.*>

"Ah. Now we get to it." Angelo nodded sagely. "Even after all these years, you still don't think you deserve to be happy. Let's explore that." He steepled those long, thin fingers before him. "You know what you're really afraid of?"

<*Yes.*> Jon stared at the floor. <*Hurting her. Hurting Jo.*>

"No."

<*No?*>

"That's a big one, yeah. But not *the* big one." The grey-brown eyes were steady. "You're afraid of having children."

<*I fucking *can't* have children, you bastard,*> Jon hissed, his hands starting to shake with a sudden murderous need to break his friend's thin neck. He was going right for the sorest spots, the places that hurt the most of all...

"You could if you wanted to," Angelo said baldly. "We all know you've got more than enough power to put yourself back the way you were. But if you did that, then you might start thinking like maybe you WERE semi-normal. Might let yourself fall in love. Maybe even have a family. And then boom, your kid gets torn apart just like you were, by the powers he or she inherited from you, and you'll blame yourself for it." He pointed at his friend with a stabbing finger. "And you're so shit-scared that you're gonna get someone you love hurt that you'd rather spend the rest of your life alone. Well, you know what?" The finger stabbed towards the door to Jo's room. "It happens ANYWAY! It happens all the time! And there's nothing you or anybody else can do that'll stop it! So you can shelve the goddamn martyr act and live your damn *life*, Jon, because it's not helping anybody! Let yourself *live*, dammit! And let them live too, let them be happy, because all they've ever wanted is you. The only husband and daddy they've *ever* wanted is you, and if you take that hope away from them then friend or not I'll fucking *kill* you!"

Jon was pressed up against the wall, his friends hands fisted in his shirt, angry grey-brown eyes boring into startled brown. <*I... really?*>

"Yes, really." Angelo took a rather sheepish breath and stepped back, tucking his hands into his pockets. "Sorry about the shouting."

<*S'okay.*> Jono poked at the inside of his mind in an exploratory fashion. Yup. Everything right where Ange had said it would be. Whaddya know. And he was right. There wasn't any point in martyring himself to prevent something that was going to happen anyway. He could really be happy. He was *entitled* to be happy, even.

Wow. So this was what an epiphany felt like.

Jon smiled beatifically, and slung an arm around his startled friend's shoulders. <*Right. Any suggestions on 'ow I should conduct me campaign of seduction, 'en?*>

Angelo grinned slowly. "Lots. Lots and lots and lots."

The End

*Before you check, there's no such place, at least that I'm aware of. I made it up. I'm terrible that way. ;)