History: Chapters 1-4

by Kamara


Chapter One

Jubilee was bored.

She had thought spending the bulk of her summer vacation at the mansion with the X-Men would be so cool. Shopping with Jean, Storm, and Rogue. New Danger Room scenarios. Not to mention hanging with Wolvie. Maybe she・d even get to go on a mission or two. Just like old times.

And it was pretty cool for the first couple of weeks. Everyone doted on her after not seeing her much during the school year. Then they all settled into their normal routines again.

She wrinkled her nose in disgust. The novelty of having her home had worn off. Wolvie was restoring a classic Harley for some motorcycle rally upstate. She had spent a few hours sitting with him and handing him tools until she knew more about the innards of a tool box than she ever wanted to know. And Wolvie was _still_ content to fuss over the thing for _hours_, forgetting she was there unless she handed him the wrong tool. Which she started doing, first occasionally to get his attention, then more often, just to bug him. He caught on when she gave him a hammer instead of a ratchet, and the resulting chase (ending with her being tossed into the pond) was the most fun she had had all week. After that, he promised that he would take her to the rally with him to make up for ignoring her, if she would just let him ignore her until the bike was done. She threw a lily pad at him, he chucked her back into the pond, and she squelched back to the mansion in defeat.

The others weren・t more helpful. Storm had just added to her greenhouse. She offered to let Jubilee help her plant seedlings. That would have been worse than handing tools.

Jean was redecorating the boat house, and that might have been interesting if she was in the _buying_ stage. But she had already done that and was in the rearranging-to-make-room-for-the-new-stuff stage, intermittently sprinkled with doses of arguing-with-Scott-over-what-could-and-could-not-be -thrown-away. They were in the middle of a very animated discussion over the fate of Scott・s favorite recliner when Jubilee walked in. Jean was telekinetically tugging the recliner toward the door, and Scott was trying to anchor it by the simple means of sitting in it. He didn・t have a hope of winning -- Jean easily could have tipped the recliner upside-down and shaken him out of it -- but he was certainly not giving up without a fight. Jubilee might have felt sorry for him... but it had been Scott who suggested to her the other day that she might put her time to use in getting ahead in her studies. So she had no sympathy for him now and quickly ducked out the door again.

Roller blading had been an interesting diversion until the Professor caught her hurtling through the hallways with their hardwood floors.

The Danger Room had been one of the things she had been looking forward to, every since Wolvie had mentioned that there were a ton of new scenarios. Problem was, there were Rules. No one used the Dander Room alone. Because it was... well, dangerous. And Jubilee was having a hard time finding anyone to do _anything_ with, much less a Danger Room session.

There had been no mention of any missions, for anyone, not just her.

She was sick of television.

She threw herself on her back on her bed, staring at the ceiling and drumming her heels against the side of the bed.

Jubilee was _bored_.

She was debating launching herself to the nearest phone and calling Paige in Kentucky, to apologize, to say she had been wrong, she・d _love_ to spend the rest of the summer on the farm with her friend, she didn・t mind that there wasn・t a mall within a fifty mile radius, really she didn・t, please her come, I・m dyin・ here, Paige -- and the doorbell rang.

Jubilee sat up so fast that the room did a severe tilt and her head pounded from the rush of blood. It didn・t stop her forward momentum, however, and she careened into the doorframe before her equilibrium balanced out. If someone was ringing the doorbell, it meant that they had a password to the gates. But anyone who had a password would have just walked in without bothering to ring. Any anyone who had gotten past the gates unauthorized wouldn・t be ringing all nice and polite-like.

It was more than her bored-out-of-her-mind curiosity could take. No matter who it was, even if it was just a Girl Scout selling cookies, who had miraculously slipped through the bars of the gate -- at least it would be more interesting than her bedroom ceiling. She flew down the stairs in three-steps-at-a-time leaps and threw herself at the door, yanking it open.

She didn・t know the woman standing there. She was still functioning on the assumption that she had to be a Good Guy, because she had gotten past the gate, so she rocked up on her toes cheerfully. ・Hi,・ she chirped. ・Who are you?・

・I・m Eve.・ The woman smiled as if she was trying to match Jubilee・s exuberance, but her eyes were exhausted and it ruined the effect. ・Who・re you?・

・Jubilee.・

・Are you one of the students here?・

・Nah. I go to school in Massachusetts. I・m on summer break.・

・Oh.・ She looked flustered for a moment, shoving her shaggy black hair away from her face. Then Jubilee saw the dog at her feet and dropped to her knees. ・Oh, may I pet him? He・s adorable!・

・Her,・ Eve corrected. ・This is Terr. Terr, this is Jubilee.・

Jubilee held out her hand, and the dog sniffed politely at it, then placed her front paws on Jubilee・s knee to reach up to sniff her face. ・I・ve never seen a dog like this,・ she said, giggling at the brush of whiskers on her face. The dog wasn・t large, but it wasn・t small either, with long graceful legs and upswept ears, and a tail that curled up over her back in a tight pinwheel. ・What kind is she?・

Eve set her knapsack down, resting it against the bench that sat next to the door. ・She・s a basenji.・

Jubilee rubbed the dog・s chin and her tail bobbed in the best type of a wag it could do, being coiled so tightly. ・I・ve never heard of it. A bah-what?・

・Basenji. It・s a hound, from Africa. They don・t bark. They yodel.・

Jubilee squinted up at her to see if she was laughing at her. ・You・re kiddin・, right? All dogs bark.・

・Not this breed. Their vocal chords are built differently.・ She patted the black and white dog affectionately, and the dog abandoned Jubilee to dance around Eve・s face.

・How・dja get the tail to curl like that?・

・I get up an hour early every morning with a curling iron.・

Jubilee stood up, her hands on her hips. ・Now you _are_ joking.・

・Yes, I am,・ she agreed. ・Is Logan around?・

Jubilee stopped grinning at the dog and squinted at the woman again. ・Whatcha want with Wolvie?・ she asked suspiciously.

Eve looked at her, startled perhaps at her sudden change in tone. ・He・s an old friend.・

・How come _I・ve_ never heard a・ you then?・

・Logan knows lots of people.・ Her voice had gone calmly neutral.

・And some of ・em ain・t very friendly.・

・Christ.・ Eve closed her eyes. ・I ain・t got the energy for this, kid.・

Jubilee blinked. For a second there, Eve had sounded so much like Wolvie that she was almost willing to believe her. Then her protective streak kicked in again, and she scowled. ・How do I know you aren・t --・

・Never mind,・ Eve snapped. ・I・ll find him myself.・

Jubilee stepped backwards, putting herself between Eve and the door, holding up her hands and summoning energy for a low level paf, but Eve didn・ t even look at her. ・Terr,・ she said crisply, and the dog shot to attention, body quivering. ・Find Logan.・

The dog moved faster than Jubilee would have thought possible and darted between her legs and into the mansion. ・Hey!・ Jubilee blurted and spun to dash after the dog. Then whirled back towards the woman, who really should be considered the more of the threat. _Then again, if the Professor was peeved about blading indoors, ain・t gonna be nothin・ compared to findin・ a dog in the mansion!_ Maybe the dog _was_ the worse threat. At this moment, it did seem possible -- Eve had sunk wearily onto the bench and didn・t look much like she was planning on moving quickly any time in the near future... while God only knew what the dog was up to.

She didn・t have long to dither about it. A few minutes later, Logan came around the corner of the mansion. The dog was running circles around his feet, just managing to keep out from under his boots. Logan strode along without looking to where he was stepping, as if he knew the dog wasn・t about to let her toes get scrunched. _I guess he really does know her,_ Jubilee thought. _Or at least, knows the dog, anyway_

The dog ran ahead and leapt up on the bench beside Eve, threw back her head and let out a delighted nose that sounded... well, like a yodel. _・ Kay, so she was right on that one, too._ She was probably going to get a lecture from _someone_ about lack of trust... but it would never be from Wolvie, so it didn・t really matter.

Logan leaned over the porch railing. ・Hey, Evie. They after you again?・

In a voice that was someone both sweet and a snarl at the same time, Even said, ・No, Logan. I normally walk half of one foot off and show up lookin・ like hell warmed over one someone・s doorstep, when I haven・t even _heard_ from that someone in almost four years. And you know just how much I love askin・ for help.・

Logan was quiet for a long moment, studying the patterning of the stone railing. ・You ain・t asked for my help,・ he finally said gently.

As quickly as it appeared, the venom seeped out of Eve. ・Do I have to ask?・

・Never, darlin・. You know that.・

She sat back again, closing her eyes, and let out a long breath. ・I need your help, Logan.・

・I said you didn・t need to ask.・

・I・m asking anyway.・

・Uh, hello?・ Jubilee ducked between them, waving her hands to catch their attention. ・Remember me? Jubilee? The one who doesn・t have a clue what・s goin・ on?・

Logan sighed with affectionate tolerance. ・Jubilee, Eve・s an old friend. Evie, this is Jubilee.・

・I already know her _name_.・ Jubilee jammed her fists on her hips. ・I just don・t know what the hell・s goin・ on!・

・Watch yer mouth, kid.・

・You・re one to talk!・

Eve laughed, wearily, as if in spite of herself. ・Quite a spitfire, isn・t she?・

Jubilee let sparks dance from her fingertips. ・Like you wouldn・t believe!・

This time, Eve・s laughter was more genuine. Then she let it die. ・I didn・ t mean to snap at you, Logan. I just feel beat to death.・

・Ya look it, darlin・.・

・Gee, thanks.・

・Anytime.・

・I・d rather have a bath, dinner, and coffee. And sleep. And not necessarily in that order, either. In fact, food, I think, can take real high priority.・ She pulled herself to her feet with a huge effort and limped to her knapsack.

Logan held out his hand to steady her, but she didn・t notice. ・Looks like you can use some med attention, too.・

・Just a sprain.・

・How many miles back?・

She swung the knapsack to her shoulder, then frowned when Logan stepped forward and took it from her. ・All right, darlin・. No more questions until you・ve eaten. You・re safe here, ya know.・

・Yes,・ Eve said softly. ・I know.・

She started to move to the door, but Logan caught her wrist in his hand. ・Evie... I wasn・t the one who left.・

・I know that, too,・ she said, just as softly, and went inside.

***

Chapter Two

Jubilee plunked her elbows on the table and rested her chin in the palms of her hands. She drummed her heels restlessly against the legs of her chair. ・I still don・t know what・s goin・ on,・ she grumbled.

Eve had gone through two plates of food and handed another to the dog. Jubilee had a mental spasm when she thought of the Professor・s reaction to a dog eating off of one of their dishes, but she rather enjoyed the image, so she didn・t say anything. Eve was hovering over another plate, but her eyes were glazing over and she had slowed tremendously. The dog had licked her own plate to a shine and was now stretched out on the floor at Eve・s feet with her chin resting on the two of Logan・s boot. ・When was the last time you ate, anyway?・ Jubilee asked.

・Too long ago.・ She pushed her plate away with the reluctance of someone who was no longer hungry, but also was used to wondering when, or if, her next meal would come. ・You tell the story,・ she said to Logan. ・I・m sick of it.・

・She got some people angry at her, and they・ve been after her ever since.・

Jubilee waited for more, but Logan didn・t seem to want to give it. ・That・s it? I mean, we・ve _all_ got people angry at us.・

・These are more persistent than most. But my view of the story・s a bit outdated.・ Logan gazed at Eve expectantly.

Eve had her eyes closed, but she sighed as if she could feel his eyes on her. Then the door to the dining room burst open and Jean ran in. ・Evie!・ she cried and pulled her into a hug. ・oh, it・s been years! I would have come over sooner, but I could tell how hungry you were, and so I made us wait until you felt a little more yourself.・ She bent and picked up the plate from the floor. ・And yes,・ she said to Jubilee, ・he would have a fit.・

Scott had been only a few steps behind Jean and also collected a hug from Eve. ・So what happened?・ he asked, pulling a chair up to the table in his usual no-nonsense manner.

Eve sighed with an I-can・t-beat-them-all air. ・Five months ago, my house burned to the ground.・

・Sounds real familiar,・ Logan growled.

Eve grinned, without amusement. ・Gets better. It was on the anniversary. They wanted me to know it was them.・

・Hello! Confused again!・ Jubilee waved her hand.

・Once upon a time,・ Eve said in a gentle voice, her eyes closed again, ・there was a very naively stupid girl --・

・Naive, maybe. Stupid, never,・ Logan interrupted.

Eve lifted one shoulder in a weary shrug. ・Anyway, she fell in love with a guy who was openly anti-mutant. At first, it was just talk. But the talk got louder, and more people joined in. And mutants started getting beaten up. The girl was so much in love that she didn・t make the connections. _Couldn・t_ see it. And then, when it was too obvious _not_ to see, she was too scared, because hating mutants had taken over his whole life, and people who hate that much don・t give up anything that they think they own easily. And he was so sure of himself and his group of friends that he stopped being careful about what he said in front of her. They started planning to bomb a clinic. Its clientele was almost entirely mutant, especially young ones, just discovering their powers. It was one of the first places set up to diagnose, get the kids in for counseling, place them in training classes, if needed. It was a band-aid-type set-up -- they weren・t really ready or equipped for what they were trying to do, but they were _willing_, which was a lot more than most of the rest of the world was, at that time. And the guy and his friends had it all psyched out. Had it studied down to figuring out the day and time the clinic would be most crowded. ・Cept someone panicked out and called it in. The police were waiting for them when they went to plant the bombs. Someone started shooting, and when it was all over, there were a couple of cops hurt real bad. and a few of the friends were caught and looking at really long prison sentences. And this girl・s guy was dead. Which probably wasn・t an overall bad thing. ・Cept his friends got it in their minds that his girl had been the one who phoned in the tip and they・ve been after her ever since.・

Logan had been quietly puttering with the coffee maker while she had been talking, more to give his hands something to do, and now put a mug of it in front of her. ・Oh, God, _thank_ you,・ she said fervently and blew on the steaming liquid.

・Why・d they think she did it?・ Jubilee asked.

Eve shrugged with a wry smile. ・・Cause I did.・

・Ha!・ Logan said under his breath. ・Thought so.・

Eve looked at him in surprise, and he echoed her shrug. ・You never did tell me for certain.・

・You never asked.・ She took a deep drink of the coffee, and her shoulders sagged. ・God, thank you,・ she murmured again.

・Anyway,・ Logan picked up the story, letting her drink the coffee almost euphorically, ・I met her about five years ago when her horse tried to kill me.・

Eve・s eyebrow arched. ・He did _not_.・

・Only because I・m too hard to kill.・ Logan poured a cup of coffee for himself. ・Killed my bike, though.・

・You were going way too fast for that road, and you know it.・

・And I came around that corner just fine. Would have been all fine ・n dandy, too, if you and that horse hadn・t been in the middle of the road.・

・We were _not_.・

・No, you weren・t,・ he agreed with a smile. ・And maybe I was goin・ just a bit too fast.・

Eve muttered something into her mug that sounded like ・Damn straight.・

Logan put the coffee pot on the table and slid mugs to Jean and Scott. ・Don・t I get one?・ Jubilee protested.

・There・s milk in the fridge for you, darlin・,・ he told her.

・Never mind,・ she grumbled.

・A few days after I met Eve, her cabin burnt down. We got ourselves out in time, and spent a couple of weeks dodging other attempts until I brought her back here, to keep her safe.・

・So why・dja leave?・ Jubilee demanded.

There was a long uncomfortable silence, when Logan and Eve very carefully did not look at each other.

・Anyway,・ Eve said softly, ・I・ve been making my way here since the second fire, a few months ago. It wasn・t bad going for a while. Then I ran out of money. I didn・t dare use credit cards and leave a paper trail, and they froze my bank account. All I had was what had been in my emergency bag under my bed. Then I ran out of food, then fell down a goddamned mountain and sprained my ankle. I hitched the rest of the way.・ She touched the back of Logan・s hand. ・That・s when I was the most scared, you know. I was sure they would guess I was heading this way, and there aren・t many women traveling alone with a strange-looking dog. I didn・t know who was going to pull over.・

・Why didn・t you call, dear?・ Jean asked. ・We would have come to get you.・

Eve let out a pained breath. ・Because of the guy you had tailing me, Logan.・

Logan suddenly found his coffee mug intensely interesting. ・Ya knew about that, huh?・

・Oh, not for a couple of years.・

・Ya angry at me, darlin・?・

・Yeah, at first. Then I decided it was kinda cute.・

・But if ya knew about him, that should・ve made it easy, Evie. He could have brought ya here safe.・

・He sold out to a higher bidder, Logan.・

Logan・s mug snapped in his hands. ・That・s how they found you?・ he asked in a deadly cold voice. He batted Jean・s hands away as she tried to move the spilled liquid.

・Yeah. Where・d you come up with him, anyway? Usually your contacts are of much better quality.・ Then she smiled smugly into her cup. ・Was pretty good in bed, though.・

Scott choked on his coffee. Jean abandoned mopping to pat him on the back.

・I didn・t need to hear that,・ Logan said, keeping his voice even, through a great effort. ・He・d a dead man.・

・Yes. He is.・ All amusement had vanished from Eve・s voice. She met Logan・s gaze. ・He was the one who set the fire, you see. And after that, I was just too scared to try and call. I thought it was better just to come. But I suppose I wasn・t really thinking very clearly by that point.・ She pushed her empty cup away. ・I need that bath, now. Then sleep. Badly.・

・I・d like Hank to take a look at your ankle,・ Jean said.

Eve shook her head. ・Tomorrow. It・s not going to get any worse between now and then.・

・You might have a fracture.・

・And I・ve spent the last day and a half walking on it. If I・ve damaged it, it・s already done.・ He brow creased in that sudden impatient anger Jubilee had seen on the porch.

Logan touched Jean・s arm. ・I・ll take a look at it, Red. If I think it・s bad enough, I・ll call Hank.・

・Please, Jean,・ Eve said. ・I need sleep more than anything else right now.・ She stood up, and the dog leapt to her feet. ・Logan, you still in the cabin out back.・

・Mansion・s still too crowded for my taste. You go on ahead. I・ll get your bag.・

She smiled faintly and limped out.

・Logan?・ Scott asked.

Logan stopped at the door. ・Yeah, Cyke? Ya got problems with her stayin・ with me?・

Scott・s mouth curved in a smile. ・Would it matter if I did?・

・Nope.・

・Didn・t think so. I just need to know if you・re planning on going after this guy.・

Logan shook his head. ・Don・t have to. She already took care of it.・

・How do you know?・ Jubilee demanded.

・She said he was a dead man, didn・t she?・

・No. _You_ did.・

Logan grinned. ・And she agreed. Trust me, darlin・. She took care of it.・

***

Chapter Three

After that, Jubilee couldn・t stand _not_ tagging along after. Logan didn・t say anything against it and slung a companionable arm around her shoulders. She snuggled into it gratefully, reassured by his touch, and fell in step with him. She couldn・t help but get nervous -- jealous, even, when she was being honest with herself -- whenever Wolvie... got involved. She didn・t like the feeling, and it was worse when it was someone who pre-dated her. Who had A History with Wolvie. She didn・t like the feeling, but that didn・t mean she could will it out of existence. After all, when it came down to it, Wolvie was all she had left.

And he just had a way of getting into _trouble_ without her around to protect him.

She heard water splashing into the bathtub as they went into the cabin. Eve came out with a bottle. ・I was just going to shower until I saw that gorgeous tub. But... bubble bath, Logan?・

Logan swung the knapsack to the floor. ・Ain・t mine, darlin・. _Someone_--・ and he fixed Jubilee with a mocking glare, ・Someone blabbed to the women about the tub, and now I・m lucky if I get a chance to use it at all.・ The huge tub had been a luxury he had added recently. I was deep enough to remind him of a Japanese bath, which he had found that he missed. Problem was that the others had found out about it, and quite often, he came in to find himself locked out of his own bathroom, especially after a mission.

・Like you・d really complain about finding any of them in your tub,・ Eve scoffed.

・But they lock me out,・ Logan said, rather plaintively. ・I don・t know why they don・t just rally to have one or two put in the mansion.・

・They don・t have to,・ Jubilee chimed in. ・They have yours.・

Logan growled playfully and gave her an affectionately rough shove. She giggled and fell over, tucking in a roll and flinging a few sparks at him. ・Ya wanna end up in that pond again?・ he warned.

She stuck her tongue out at him, then shrieked and dodged away when he took a step towards her. Eve sidestepped the whole scuffle, grabbed her pack by one strap and dragged it along with her. She stopped by the dresser long enough to pull out one of Logan・s T-shirts. Jubilee abruptly abandoned the wresting match to watch her. That jealous feeling was back again, at the easy, familiar way Eve was moving through Logan・s home, how she knew where things were without asking, that he kept his shirts in the third drawer down. It was part of The History they shared. Without her.

She swallowed past the sudden thickness in her throat.

・Jubes? You ok, kid?・

・I wish you・d stop calling me kid,・ she said softly.

・I call everyone that.・ His voice was amused, but she could hear concern behind it. Probably anyone else would miss it. But she never could. ・It would be like askin・ you ta stop bein・ a wise ass.・

・Impossible,・ she agreed with a sigh. She risked a glance at him, and at least he was looking at her and not at the bathroom door, where Eve had gone. ・Were you two really close?・ she asked, looking away to study her fingernails. The paint was chipping on her right thumb. Wolvie sometimes teased her, that the polish might burst into flames from one of her paffs, especially considering the hotly-bright colors she used.

・I guess so,・ he said, with his characteristic vague-ness. ・Haven・t seen her in... oh, over four years, I guess. She probably knows it down to the hour.・

・Is that a ・woman-thing・ remark?・ she huffed, crossing her arms.

・No,・ he said considering. ・Evie just keeps track of things like that. Ya know I・ve no memory for it.・

・Hmm.・ She stole another glance at him, and this time, he _was_ looking at the bathroom door. She sighed. _Guess that・s my cue._ ・I・d better go.・

・Jubes?・

She stopped at the door. ・Yeah?・

・Danger Room tomorrow? Say, around ten?・

She grinned. ・Cool! Oh, Wolvie, we haven・t done a session together in ages!・

He returned the grin, wishing it was always that easy to make her happy. ・I know. I・ve missed it, darlin・.・

She waved and bounced out of the cabin, feeling at least a little better.

And, at least, she wasn・t bored anymore.

***

Logan tapped on the bathroom door.

He heard a soft chuckle. ・You・ve seen me in a tub before, Logan.・

He pushed the door open. ・Yeah, I know. But that was awhile back. And I・m a little cautious when it comes to women in my bathtub. ・Ro nearly fried me with a lightning bolt once.・

・Is adamantium an electric conductor?・

・I _don・t_ wanna find out. But she never forgot to lock the door again.・ He settled on the edge of the huge tub and playfully swiped at the bubbles and blew some at her face.

She batted it away. ・You wouldn・t be getting away with that if I wasn・t so tired,・ she warned.

・・S・why I・m doin・ it.・ He patted the tub ledge. ・Lemme see that ankle.・

Eve sloshed around, repositioning, and balanced her leg up on the ledge beside him. Her ankle was more than twice its normal size, and her skin was indented from the cloths she had wrapped around it at some time as a make-shift brace. Logan prodded at it gently. ・Hell, Eve, Jeannie・s right. Hank should be lookin・ at this. If you don・t want to go back to the house, I・ll call him over.・

・It・s a sprain, Logan,・ Eve said wearily. She winced when his fingers pressed a little harder. She tried to pull away, but he caught her shin, holding her leg still.

・How long were you walking on this?・

・It happened yesterday, but I hitched rides mostly, afterwards.・

・I・m surprised you could get your boot on.・

・I wrapped it right after it happened.・ She regarded her ankle as if it didn・t belong to her. ・Got my boot on again right away, and didn・t take it off again until I walked in your door. Of course, I hadn・t been able to lace it up, and I didn・t dare take it off before then, because I was pretty sure I wouldn・t be able to get it back on. The last ride took me through most of the night and almost to the school・s gates.・

・You should have called.・

・I should have called,・ she agreed, but he could tell it was out of fatigue and not because she truly agreed with him.

_Then again, the last guy ya had lookin・ after her really was a great choice. How・d she know that anyone I send would be any more trustworthy._ ・I would・ve come got you myself.・

・Yes,・ she agreed again.

・I shouldn・t・ve let you go in the first place. Should・ve kept you here, where you・d be safe.・

・I haven・t been here for two hours, and you want to start that argument again?・ Her eyes were closed, but her jaws clenched.

・It・s my nature, darlin・.・ He gently set her leg aside and went to the medicine cabinet. He came back with a pill and a glass of water. ・Here. Painkiller. Leftover from when Jubes broke her leg.・ He shook his head at the memory. ・You think _I・m_ a bad patient!・

・At least you heal quickly, to spare us from throttling you.・ She swallowed the pill, which only convinced Logan that she really was in a lot of pain. He knew she hated meds, especially ones that blunted her thinking. She had lived for too long on the edge of her wits, to let those wits go easily. She read his expression and shrugged. ・It wasn・t bad, while I was hyped on caffeine and adrenaline, but it・s wearing off, and hurting like a bitch.・

・I can have Hank here in five minutes.・

・I jus・ wanna sleep.・ She rested her head back against the ledge and her eyes closed again.

・Then you・d better get out ・afore you drown yourself.・

Her mouth curved in a smile. ・You・re fussing, Logan.・

・It・s why ya came home, darlin・,・ And he quickly left the room, before he could hear her say that this wasn・t her home.

But with his acute hearing, he heard her anyway.

When she hadn・t come out a while later, he looked in again, wondering if she had fallen asleep in the tub after all. It was empty, and he checked the bedroom.

Eve had all but collapsed on the bed. She was laying on her side, with her face squished so deeply into the pillow that he was rather surprised she could still breathe. He could see the points of her shoulder blades through his T-shirt. ・We・re going to have to fatten you up a bit, darlin・.・

She didn・t even move. The dog was curled in the crook of her legs, with her chin resting on Eve・s leg. ・I don・t ・member sayin・ _you_ could sleep in my bed,・ he said to the dog, who gave a low contented growl. ・You don・t look like you・ve missed any meals, either,・ he growled back. It was just like Eve to go hungry, but make sure her dog didn・t. He shook a blanket out over her. One arm hung over the edge of the bed and her fingers twitched slightly.

He knew what she was looking for.

He retraced her steps until he found her hiking boots. Inside the right one was a slim dagger. It looked pathetically small to him, no better than a letter opener. He had never liked the idea of it being her weapon of last defense. She just didn・t have enough skill and experience with it.

But that wasn・t the only thing she refused to listen to him about.

He went back to the bed and squatted next to it. He slipped the sheathed blade between the mattress and box springs and gently rested her hand on the hilt. Her fingers curled automatically around it, and she sighed in her sleep.

One night, Jubilee had fallen asleep while watching television. He had carried her to bed and tucked one of her stuffed toys in her arms. She had sighed just like that.

He patted Eve・s hand, then the dog・s head. It was too early for him to sleep yet.

He・d keep watch over her. This time.

***

Chapter Four

His inner clock told him it was somewhere around seven when he woke up. Eve was sitting up next to him, yawning. ・You don・t have to get up yet, darlin・,・ he murmured. ・Sleep y・rself out.・

・Not unless you want a mess,・ she said. ・Dog has to go out.・

・S・why I don・t have pets.・

・That dog was the only reason I felt safe enough to get any sleep on the road at all,・ she said. ・But you can stay put and rest your old bones if you want.・

・That・s kind of a wise-ass remark for someone who can・t run real fast right now.・

She surprised him by dropping a kiss on his forehead, tangling her fingers in his hair for a brief moment. He reached for her, but she was already gone. He waited for a while, rather hoping she would come back after letting the dog out. When the smell of coffee wafted in, he decided she wasn・t coming back.

She wasn・t in the kitchen/living area of the small cabin either. The coffee maker gurgled with its ・I・m finished・ sigh, and he filled two over-sized mug and stepped outdoors. He sniffed and caught her scent heading towards the stables, which was more or less what he had expected. If Eve had had an ounce more energy last night, she・d have been there then.

He smelled the thief before Gambit fell in step with him. ・Coffee, mon ami? You shouldn・t have.・

・Ain・t for you, Cajun,・ he growled.

Remy sighed tragically. ・You would deny poor Remy one little bit o・ solace, after he been out all night --・

・--Drinking. ・S y・r own fault.・

・Oui, but you aren・t de one to scold for a fine night out, are you?・

・Was she worth it?・

・Remy don・t kiss ・n tell, mon ami.・

・Since when?・

Remy laughed good naturedly, lighting a cigarette. ・Heard about the chere comin・ home.・

Logan grunted.

・Now, if you be needin・ any one to he・p kick some ass, you jus・ let ol・ Remy know.・ He grinned. ・Remy always lookin・ for ways to impress de ladies.・

・Like you need an excuse.・

・Well, dis is true.・ He took a long, satisfied drag on his cigarette. ・well, I go be lookin・ for some sleep. You tell de chere hello for me, and I・ll see her when I・m more presentable.・

・I・ll tell her, but you can keep your charms and your hands to yourself, Gumbo.・

・Is dat a challenge?・ Remy laughed and swerved off towards the mansion. Logan shook his head in amusement at the thief・s audacity.

The stables were quieter than they had been in previously years. Emptier. Most of the horses had been transported to Massachusetts when the school had shifted locations. A few were kept, because some of the X-men did like to ride, but where the stabled used to ring with the sounds of horses and voices of students, they now had a muffled, muted sound to them. Logan almost never came down here on his own, and the differences in the sound and feel of the place made a surprisingly heavy weight.

Usually he was too busy to notice the absence of students, other than a more-than-occasional pang for Jubilee・s presence and her steady stream of chatter. But in moments like these, the mansion suddenly seemed to echo with emptiness.

Then there would be another crisis, or a mission, or his wanderlust would take over, and he would be too busy to notice again.

・Back here,・ Eve said.

He had already scented her, but she was around behind a row of stalls. She couldn・t possibly have seen him, and he knew he had been walking with his habitual stealth. ・You got super senses you never told me about, kid?・

・Hardly,・ she snorted. ・The horses heard you.・

_Nothing better at sensing an animal than another animal._ ・That・s prob・bly cheatin・.・

・Hey, whatever works.・ she was sitting on a bench with one of the school・s rabbits in her lap. They had kept a few of the school pets, since they still had an occasional kid come through, and nothing seemed to open a traumatized child faster than a pet to take care of. Eve had the rabbit upside-down in her lap, gently pinning its head under her elbow as she examined one of its hind feet. ・Who・s been taking care of these?・

・Don・t know. ・S・not something I really pay attention to.・

・Well, apparently no one else has, either.・ she glanced at his surprised expression and shook her head. ・Oh, he・s fed well enough, but he・s got hock sores.・ She showed him the bald and raw patches on the rabbit・s hind feet. ・From the wire cage floor. He needs something to lay on. Could you check in the medicine cabinet in the tack room and see if there・s a square green tin of Bag Balm in there?・

He set the cups on the bench and found the tin for her. ・Says it・s for cows.・

She grinned. ・It・s for everything. It・s even been used as a lubricant for military equipment. She smeared a gob of the ointment on the rabbit・s root. It kicked out sharply. ・I know. That hurts, doesn・t it?・ she soothed. ・And this is terribly undignified, isn・t it?・ She held her hand over the rabbit・s eyes, her own eyes closed, and sat still for a moment. The animal quieted, and she medicated the other foot without any further struggles. She kissed the rabbit・s forehead, and touched her nose to its, then p ut it back in the cage.

It always fascinated Logan, the way animals reacted to her.

・I・ll have to talk to Charles,・ she said, picking up one of the mugs. He grinned and brushed rabbit fur from her face. She shrugged sheepishly. ・Figured you・d know where to find me.・

・Took a wild guess.・

She waved at the empty stalls. ・What happened?・

・They went with the students.・ HE explained about the school being relocated to Massachusetts. ・I guess what we need is someone to take care of the animals that are still here,・ he said casually, ・since we don・t seem to have as much time.・

Eve shot him a sharp look. ・Either that or send these to the school, too,・ she said in a voice that said she had heard the hint.

・I smelled breakfast as I went by the mansion,・ he said, changing the subject. ・And I promised Jeannie you・d see Hank this morning.・

Eve made a face into her coffee mug.

・Ya promised me, too.・

She sighed. ・Yeah, I know. He・s just always after me to do a genetics test. Lookin・ for that X-gene.・

It was a sore subject with her. Always had been, and Logan could never quite figure out why. She obviously didn・t have a mutant prejudice or fear, but she had never let Hank near her if he so much as hinted at tests. In fact, one time, she had gone into almost shrieking at him. Hank had felt tremendously guilty, and so had Eve, but the tests had gone undone. ・Would it really hurt, knowin・?・ he asked, wondering if time had eased whatever it was that upset her so badly.

Eve shrugged. ・I know what I am, Logan. And I also know what I・m not.・ She limped away from him, whistling for Terr, and efficiently ending the conversation.

The dining area was fairly empty, caught somewhere between the early risers and those who clung with desperation to their blankets and pillows until the last possible moment. Jubilee was normally one of the clingers, so Logan was surprised to see her sitting at one of the tables. She was scowling at her pancakes, but her face lit up when he tousled her hair. ・Whatcha doin・ up this early, kiddo?・

・We have a date with the Danger Room, don・t we?・ Her eyes went wide with the trepidation that he had forgotten.

・That・s not for a coupla hours yet.・

She shrugged. ・Yeah, well...・

Eve had passed by, making a bee-line for food. Logan pulled a chair around and sat in it backwards, crossing his arms along the back and resting his chin on them. ・Spit it out, darlin・. What・s botherin・ ya?・

Jubilee shrugged, torturing her pancakes with her fork. ・Nuttin・, Wolvie.・

・Why don・t I believe that?・

She wrinkled her nose. ・That・s not fair, y・know. I don・t have a chance against that nose of yours.・

・Hey, whatever works,・ he said, deciding that Eve・s phrase was a good one. ・And why would you suddenly want to lie to me?・

・I was afraid you・d forget. About the Danger Room.・

・Why would I do that, darlin・?・

She shrugged again. ・・Cause something else more important mighta come up.・

・More important, huh?・ He watched her continue to push her food around. ・Would have to be something just short of the world comin・ to an end to make me forget something as important as you, Jubes.・

She shot a glance at him, the first time she had looked at him since he had sat down. She searched his eyes for a moment, then looked away again, this time to spear a forkful and eat it. ・Well, the world endin・ ain・t all that unusual around us.・

・But me forgettin・ you would be. Just ain・t gonna happen, darlin・.・

・It better not,・ she threatened with her normal playful attitude, waving her fork at him.

・Put that to better use, kid.・ He grinned at her. ・You・ll need the energy if you・re gonna keep up with me later.・

・Hey,・ Jubilee called. ・Eve, the Professor・s gonna wig out, if he sees your dog eatin・ from our dishes.・

Eve didn・t pause in putting a plate of food in front of the dog, who was dancing and chortling in delight. ・He・s psychic, Jubilee. He probably already knows.・

・He does,・ Jean said as she walked in. She handed two plastic bowls to Eve, who promptly whisked the plate out from under the dog・s intensely frantic nose, plopped the contents into one of the bowls and put it down again, all without breaking stride in mixing cream in yet another cup of coffee.

*Ya listenin・, Red?*

*I am.* Jean didn・t look in Logan・s direction or make any other indication, but he felt her mentally turning her full attention to him.

*Eve didn・t bring much with her. She・s gonna need some clothes ・n stuff, and I・m not exactly the right person...*

*I・ll take care of it, Logan.* Her words were tinged with a warm smile, not of amusement, but affection. *It was sweet of you to think of it.*

*Sweet, nuthin・, darlin・. She・s already raidin・ my clothes, and I ain・t got much that・ll fit her.*

Jean choked off a laugh, then looked around a little self-consciously. No one had even glanced at her -- they were used to telepaths and their silent conversations. She glanced at Logan, her eyes dancing. Sunlight glinted off the emerald pendant nestled at her throat. He had found it on one of his travels. His bike had broken down, and while it was being repaired, he had wandered through a nearby craft fair. The sun had blazed off the emerald then, too, spitting green fire and blazing like Jean・s eyes when she was furious. He gave it to her on her next birthday, and she wore it so often, that had obviously been a worthwhile impulse.

They both knew the diamond on her finger was by far the more treasured of the two.

Eve sat across from them with two plates of food, and Jubilee・s eyes went wide. _She can・t still be that hungry, can she?_ Then Eve slid one of the plates over to Logan. Jubilee had a sudden relapse into jealousy again. _She even knows what he likes to eat,_ she thought miserably. But then Wolvie caught her eye and winked at her, and that helped ease her tight-throat feeling again. ・So, Evie,・ she chirped, deliberately using the woman・s nickname. ・Whatcha do?・

Eve passed the test of letting her use the nickname, but cocked her head. ・Do...?・

・Yeah.・ Jubilee let sparks fly from one hand to the other. ・See, I do these paffs. Wolvie has the claw things goin・. Aw, you know what I mean. You lived here, ・n all.・

・Oh. That.・ Eve took a bite of her scrambled eggs and chewed thoughtfully. She swallowed and took a drink of her coffee before answering, ・I・m not a mutant.・

・Oh.・ Jubilee sat back in surprise. ・You・re not?・

Eve gave another one of those tired smiles that didn・t reach her eyes. ・Nope. I do nothing special.・

Logan raised an eyebrow at her, and she stabbed angrily at her eggs, unconsciously echoing Jubilee・s mope earlier. ・I have an knack with working with animals. It・s just a knack, nothing genetic.・ She pushed away her full plate. ・I・ll go see Hank about my ankle now.・

・You need to eat, too,・ Logan said, but she walked away as if she didn・t hear him. Terr trotted happily at her heels.

・What was _that_ about?・ Jubilee asked.

Logan shook his head. ・I・ve never gotten an answer from her, Jubes. Something has her real touchy on the subject. Nearest I can figure is that after all these years of hidin・, she・s terrified of anything that will make her stand out.・

・But she・s safe here.・

He shrugged. ・Safer than any place else, but this place does attract attention.・

・_Is_ she a mutant?・

・Dunno, kid. She won・t even let Hank near her with a needle. But I・ll tell you, I ain・t never seen anyone charm animals like she does.・

・Huh.・ She drummed her nails on the table surface. ・Musta been hard. I never had to really hide it, y・know. In SoCal, no one really even looked twice, much. Sure, there were some, but... I don・t know what it must have been like, if I was in love with someone who hated mutants, and scared to death that maybe I was a mutant too.・

Logan smiled a little. ・Kid, sometimes, when you talk like that, you scare me a bit.・

・Me? Why?・

・・Cause you have an awful lot of insight, for someone so young.・

Jubilee studied her empty plate, drawing designs in the puddles of syrup with the tines of her fork. ・I don・t think I was ever young, Wolvie,・ she said, almost in a whisper.

She wouldn・t have been surprised if he had laughed. Hurt, but not surprised. But instead, he rested an arm around her shoulders. ・Sometimes, darlin・, I don・t think you were either.・

***

They ran into Rogue on the way to the Danger Room, and when they told her where they were going, her face lit up with an evil grin and she said she・d meet them there. She showed up, dragging Remy in her wake. The thief was trying to protest, but was losing the argument, if he had even had any excuses Rogue considered legitimate. ・Why, sugah, this is just the thing for you,・ she cooed when he squawked that he hadn・t been to sleep yet. ・Some good exercise will take care of that insomnia.・

・It・s wasn・t insomn--・ and Remy caught himself just in time and wisely, if unhappily, gave up the fight.

Rogue propelled him into the Danger Room, a deadly gleam in her eyes., ・This・ll teach him a lesson,・ she muttered to Jubilee.

・Wanna bet?・ Logan asked.

Rogue cracked her knuckles. ・Well, if IT doesn・t teach him a lesson, AH will!・ She stalked into the room.

・Are they a couple again?・ Jubilee asked.

・Beats the hell outta me, kid. I・m not sure THEY even know.・

It was a great workout, Jubilee decided afterwards. Just like the old days, she and Wolvie had teamed together. It was SUPPOSED to be them as a team against Rogue and Remy, but Rogue seemed more determined to get in her own share of licks against the Cajun.

・I still don・t understand them,・ Jubilee said to Wolvie as they walked back to his cabin. She was trying to stay upwind form his cigar smoke. She didn ・t like the acrid smell, but on the other hand, he just wouldn・t smell like Wolvie without the scent of cigar smoke clinging to him. It was strange, both hating and loving the same smell, with the same intensity. She swung her showerbag in time with her steps. She was looking forward to a soak in that huge tub herself. ・I think we won, though, don・t you?・

・Ya could call it that. Though I・m not sure setting Rogue・s hair on fire with one o・ those pafs o・ yours was fair.・

Jubilee shrugged. ・Since when・ve you been so worried ・bout fair? ・S not like I・ve got much of a chance against her up close. ・Sides, I put it out.・

・You gonna tell me where you had that bucket of water stashed?・

She batted wide, innocent eyes at him. ・C・mon, Wolvie. A girl・s gotta have SOME secrets.・ She skipped a smug step. ・Think she・s real pissed?・

・I・d avoid her for a bit. I think she・ll be fine, ・s long as this hairdresser lives up to the Cajun・s boasts.・

・He does. Remy told me about him.・ She swung her bag again. ・And mebbe Rogue will be so happy he saved her ・do that she・ll stop being angry with Remy.・

Logan stopped walking and stared at Jubilee for a moment. ・Ya mean ya did that on purpose ta get them back together?・

Jubilee shrugged, but couldn・t keep the wicked grin off her face. Logan laughed outright -- not one of his chuckles, but a roar of laughter. Jubilee was delighted. ・Jubes, darlin・, you are too dangerous for your own good.・

・Why, thank you,・ she said in a coy simper and bounced ahead of him into the cabin, bee-lining for the tub. ・Hey, Wolvie! There・s a woman in your bed.・

・Yeah? Just one?・

・Well, there・s a dog there, too, but I didn・t know you were into that type of stuff.・

・Wise-ass.・

・Ya know it.・ She slammed the bathroom door shut.

Logan sighed. ・You know, some day, I・d really like to come home and use my tub without havin・ ta wait in line.・ He sat on the edge of the bed and nudged Eve, gently enough that it wouldn・t wake her if she was deeply asleep.

She cracked open bleary eyes at him. ・Mmm. Logan.・

・We too loud for you, darlin・?・

She made an indecipherable noise, then tried again. ・Logan. Do someth・n f・r me.・

・Name it.・

・Kill Hank.・

He tilted his head at her. ・Somehow, I don・t think the rest of the team would be too pleased with me.・

・Don・t care.・

・What・d he do?・

・He was being so nice. Even gave me a cup of coffee, which I should・ve thought was weird, ・cause he was telling me to rest, but giving me caffeine. Should・ve been a real tip off, right?・

・He slipped something in your coffee,・ Logan guessed.

・Kicked in just as I got back here. So you just go back there and kill him for me, huh?・

Logan brushed her hair away form her face, tucking a lock behind her ear. ・I just may have ta go buy that man a drink. You know you wouldn・t・ve gone back ta sleep otherwise.・

Eve buried her face into the pillow. ・・S a conspiracy.・

・Well, we hadn・t planned on it, but sounds like we might have to come up with one.・ He ducked the pillow she threw at him. ・What・d he say ・bout the ankle?・

・・Sprained. And to keep off of it for a few days.・

・That・ll be a chore. Might have ta break it ta keep you down.・

・You・re a big help.・

He gave a lock of her hair an affectionate tug and she caught his hand. Their fingers tangled together and he really couldn・t tell which one of them wasn・t letting go.

・You know,・ Even said softly after a long moment of not saying anything, or even looking at him, ・I did just kind of barge in on you here. If you want, I can stay in the mansion.・

・I don・t want.・

For the first time since she arrived, her smile lit up her whole face, chasing away the fatigue and fear and pain. He had forgotten how beautiful she was, without that extra emotional weight. He saw it so rarely. He leaned closer to kiss her and she sat up to meet him --

--and something thumped against the bathroom door. ・It・s too quiet out there,・ Jubilee called. ・Geez! What, ya guys need a chaperone or somethin・ ?・

Logan rested his forehead against Eve・s. ・Last I checked, we・re a little old for chaperones, Jubes.・

・Yeah, but I don・t wanna walk out into somethin・ out there. I・m a minor and shouldn・t be seein・ stuff like that.・

・Ya could be somewhere else, too,・ Logan said, but he stood up, his hand passing over Eve・s short hair in a brief stroke before stepping away.

・Yeah, but I・m not!・

・For a minor, ya can be a major pain in the ass, kid.・

・I・m hurt, Wolvie. Really, I am.・ She was giggling loudly.

・You・re gonna be, if ya keep this up,・ he warned. ・And you --・ He pointed at Eve, ・--keep your mouth shut. She doesn・t need any encouragement from you.・ But he was having a hard time keeping the grin off his face, and from the light in Eve・s eyes, she knew it, too. He managed to stalk out of the cabin before he lost the battle and the grin took over.

He had settled down on a patch of lawn near the pond to work on his bike when he saw Eve come out of the cabin. She looked around until she saw him and came over. Logan watched her, under the guise of poking at the engine. She was moving with the slow walk of someone who was hurting, doped up on meds, and loathe to admit it.

・Should you be up?・ he asked, when she dropped down on the grass a few feet away from him.

・Don・t wanna sleep.・

・Why not?・

・Nightmares,・ she said shortly.

He carefully focused on the bike. ・Wanna talk about it?・

・Nope.・

He grunted, but didn・t push, as she knew he wouldn・t. Because he understood nightmares. And because she had been there for more than a few of his own, too. He glanced at her. She was stretched out on her back on the grass, leaning back on her elbows, watching the dog chasing butterflies. Her expression was tightly centered around a tiny smile at the dog・s antics, as if she focused firmly enough on the dog, she wouldn・t have to think about anything else.

Such moments like that were rare.

He let her have it.

Eventually, she sighed and laid back, piloting her head on her arms. ・That・s a beauty of a bike. You taking her to the Americade?・

・Thinkin・ ・bout it. How・d ya guess?・

She snorted. ・Oh, let・s see. It・s early June and you・re working on a bike. You・re not off saving the world. Oh, and ・Americade・ written in big black letters on your calendar was a hint, too.・

He chuckled. ・I s・pose it would be.・

・I miss the Adirondacks,・ she said faintly.

She had been living in the Adirondack mountain range when he had met her, shortly after the fall Americade motor rally in Lake George. ・I promised to take Jubes with me this year. We could take the jeep, though. Trailer the bike. If ya wanna come with us.・

From the heavy silence, he could tell she really wanted to. She had been as much at peace in her mountains as he was in his, and leaving them with the threat of never returning had almost killed a part of her. Finally she sighed. ・No. There・d be people who・d recognize me if I went home.・

・You・d be safe with me, darlin・.・

・Yes. But I・d still be nervous. And you wouldn・t have much fun, if you were on edge because of me.・

He sat back and studied the bike, absently wiping his hands on a rag. ・Prob・bly just as well. I don・t think I・m going to have this ready in time.・

・Bullshit.・

Logan looked over her in surprise, faintly angry at her catching his lie. She sighed. ・Logan, you・d have that ready if you had to completely rebuild it between now and then. It・s part of your single-mindedness. You・re just backing out because you think you should baby-sit me.・

・You just got here, Evie. Wouldn・t be right for me to leave.・

・I・ll be here when you get back, Logan.・ Then after a long silence, she added, ・I promise.・

He took a deep breath. Let it out slowly.

They sat in another loud silence.

・Logan, you will take that child and go,・ Eve finally said in one of her lecture voices. ・Because you promised her, and she adores you, and you will not break that promise to her because of me. Ya hear? You need to spend some time with her that・s not wrapped up in saving the world. And she・s feeling a little... replaced now.・

・Ya noticed?・

・I noticed.・

・I thought she was doing pretty good at hiding it.・

Eve shrugged. ・She was. But I・m real good at reading body language.・

Logan grunted. After another moment, one which wasn・t as silently loud, he picked up a ratchet. ・Guess I・ve got some work to do, then.・

Even didn・t answer. It was one of the things Logan liked about her, that they could be together without feeling the need to talk. So he was a little surprised when she broke the quiet by saying his name hesitantly, then trailing off, as if she was trying to take it back. He didn・t stop cleaning the part he was working on, but his hands went on automatic. ・What is it, darlin・?・

・I didn・t kill him.・

・The guy I had trailin・ you?・ He heard her nod. ・Don・t ya worry ・bout it, Evie. I・ll take care of it.・

・No, Logan. He・s dead. But I didn・t actually... but I didn・t save him, either. I hurt him real bad, though --・

・Good,・ he said to the bike engine.

・But it was the fire that killed him. Have you ever heard anyone burn to death, Logan?・

・Evie...・

・I did care about him, once,・ she whispered. ・And, oh, Logan, how he screamed! I couldn・t stand it. I tried to get him out, but the fire was too bad. And he screamed. I tried to tell myself that he was the one who set it, that it was supposed to be me burning and screaming in there, but I couldn・t stand it. So I tried to go back, and I couldn・t. And he screamed and screamed --・ She stopped talking abruptly, almost choking the last word.

・Evie...・ he said again, shifting, starting to move towards her.

・I couldn・t build a campfire the whole time I was on the road,・ she said, and her voice was so cold and alien that he froze in the midst of going to comfort her. ・And the nightmares...・

The cabin door slammed, and Jubilee came across the lawn. ・Can I join?・ she asked.

・Sure,・ Eve said in a voice that held no hint of anything she had just been feeling. ・Pull up a patch of grass.・

Logan followed her cue and returned his attention to the bike. He listened with half an ear to their chatter, more to the sounds of their voices than to the actual content.

・Now that cloud looks like a castle.・ That was Jubilee.

・No, it doesn・t. Looks like a banana split.・

・Well.... maybe.・

・Now, that one looks like a puppy.・

・Yeah... yeah, Evie, you・re right. That・s the tail, right? An・ it・s got floppy ears?・

・You got it.・

・And that one there looks like Cyke on a bad hair day.・

Eve burst out in delighted laughter. Intrigued in spite of himself, Logan tilted his head back. ・Where?・

・Right there.・ Jubilee pointed.

He squinted at it. ・I don・t see it, kiddo.・

・You・re looking the wrong way. C・mere.・ She patted the ground next to her. He came over and stretched out beside her. She curled up against his side, resting her head on his shoulder and began pointing. ・See, there・s his chin, and his visor, and the... well, bad hair.・

He chuckled. ・Yeah, I guess it does look like it at that. Little bit, anyways.・

Jubilee yawned. ・It・s your turn, Wolvie.・

He started to scoff that he wasn・t any good at games like this, but he didn・t quite have the heart. ・Lessee... that one looks like a giant cotton ball.・

Jubilee giggled and slapped his chest. ・Wolvie!・

・Awright, awright.・ He gave in. ・・Kay, see that one over there? Looks like a cat. An・ not a normal cat, mind you. It・s one of those smarmy rich-folks cats, with a face like it ran into a parked car. ・Cept this one got its tail bit off by that cloud-dog Evie saw earlier. That・s prob・bly why it ran into the parked car, y・see, ・cause the dog bit it. Which a・course, serves the cat right, ・cause no self-respectin・ cat would・ve let a dog sneak up on it in the first place, right, Jubes?・ Jubilee didn・t answer, and Logan craned his head enough to look down at her. ・Jubes?・

She was asleep.

・Take her to the Americade,・ Eve said again, her voice drowsy. ・Don・t use me as a wedge between you two.・

・I wasn・t doin・ that,・ Logan protested.

・Not intentionally, but the end result would be the same. ・ She reached out and smoothed his hair, combing her fingers through it. He closed his eyes and enjoyed it. ・I・ll be fine, Logan. I・ve got the entire X-Men team here to look after me.・

・It・s why you came, right?・

・No,・ she said softly. ・I came back for you, too, y・know.・

・No. I didn・t know.・

There was another of those loud silences.

・Evie, you have a way of only sayin・ what you have to,・ he said gently.

・I・ve kinda had to live that way,・ she reminded him, untangling her hand from his hair.

・And I kinda thought we were past that. At least, at one time, we were.・

・Habits are hard to break.・

・Fair enough.・

She sighed. ・I really am going to kill Hank. I can・t think straight with whatever he gave me.・

・I guess that・s fair enough, too.・

・But you・re not very pleased about it.・

・I wasn・t the one who left, Evie.・

・No. You weren・t.・

・You ever gonna tell me why?・

・Logan, not now. Please.・

He tried to tell himself that she was hurting, and medicated, and exhausted, and half-starved. He tried to listen to the agony in her voice, tried to respect it.

But he couldn・t quite do it.

He nudged Jubilee away. ・Get yerself up, darlin・. I got this bike to work on, if we・re gonna be ready to leave next week.・