Jubilee twirled in front of the mirror, "Not bad Lee, not bad at all." She thought to herself. It was St. Stephen¡¦s Day, or Boxing Day, and Dani had persuaded her to go out. Christmas had been great. Just her and Remy. Even though he¡¦d heard Rogue¡¦s message he had decided that he wanted to spend the holidays with Jubilee. A part of her said ¡¦Hah! Take that Rogue," the other part¡¦actually her other, supposedly more moral, half said the same thing. She was promised to Remy for New Year¡¦s so tonight was her party night with her friends. She looked herself over once more and smiled smugly. Just wait until Josh saw her, he didn¡¦t stand a chance.

In the living room Remy and Josh were waiting for Jubilee to make her grand entrance. There was no conversation, Josh was standing, shifting his weight nervously from foot to foot. Every now and then Remy shot the younger man a threatening look that spoke volumes and caused the teen to swallow convulsively. Eventually, growing tired of intimidating Josh, Remy called out impatiently for Jubilee.

"D¡¦you plan on comin¡¦ out anytime this century chere?"

"Don¡¦t get your knickers in a twist Cajun, I¡¦m ready." Jubilee returned smoothly and stepped into the room.

The effect was all she could have hoped for.

Jaws dropped. Eyes bugged out. There was a hint of drool.

She was wearing a red crushed velvet dress that came down to just above her mid-thigh with spaghetti straps and a scooped neckline. She had a matching shawl draped around her elbows and was wearing heels that added at least two inches to her height. Twirling to give them the full effect of the dress, both men gulped. Gambit was the first to recover. Clearing his throat he shot Josh a look that said ¡¦you-touch-her-and-you-won¡¦t-be-the-same-man-again-ever¡¦ before looking back at Jubilee.

"You look nice, p¡¦tite. That¡¦s a pretty dress." She smiled up at him and turned to Josh.

"Yes¡¦you¡¦nice¡¦dress¡¦pretty¡¦" he repeated slightly disjointedly. Jubilee smothered a giggle and took him by the hand.

"C¡¦mon Josh, we¡¦d better go." She pulled him towards the front door.

"¡¦Member, be back by 1¡¦" Remy shouted after them, "and no alcohol, y¡¦hear me?"

"Yes Daddy." She called back and closed the door behind them. Gambit collapsed into an armchair and looked at the clock. It was going to be a long night.

**********************************************************************************************

Jubilee sat down on a stool and took a few minutes to catch her breath. She¡¦d been dancing practically non-stop since she¡¦d arrived and, when she looked around she realised that she had somehow been separated from her friends. She scanned the room anxiously, her eyes resting for a moment on a group of men before passing on. They¡¦d been a little too friendly earlier on in the evening and Jubilee had had to fight down the urge to stuff a fist full of sparks down their throats. Ignoring the leers she was now receiving she made her way to the bar, still looking for Dani or Josh.

"A Coke please?" she shouted to the barman.

"Right."

She paid and began to sip her drink when an arm was suddenly wrapped around her shoulders.

"¡¦Ello darling."

A look of repulsion crossed Jubilee¡¦s face and she quickly removed herself from the man¡¦s grasp. She let her disgust show in her voice.

"I already told you and your loserly friends to back off. So unless you want some grievous bodily harm I¡¦d suggest you do just that."

He smiled and put a hand on her knee, "Ah, now. I¡¦m just being friendly. No need to get all prissy about it."

She looked down at the hand and then back up into his face, "You really don¡¦t want to do that." Her voice was soft but her eyes were now glinting dangerously.

"Why¡¦s that love?" His hand moved further up. She gritted her teeth. Right. That¡¦s it. You had your chance buster. Quick as lightning she reached down, grabbed him below the waist and twisted her hand hard. The man shrieked. Her hand began to glow.

"Either you step away from me right now ¡¦love¡¦, or I¡¦m going to show you the meaning of the word eunuch. Got it?" He nodded and let out a whimper when she released him. Jubilee was concentrating so much on the man in front of her that she didn¡¦t notice another drop something in her drink.

Jubilee watched in amusement as the man waddled back to his friends and laughed softly. She turned back to the bar and continued to drink her coke.

Within half an hour she was getting a little woozy. The flashing lights on the dance floor and the pounding music were making her head ache. She rose from her seat slightly unsteadily. She hadn¡¦t found Dani or Josh and she needed to get some air. Stumbling slightly she made her way to the exit.

Gambit finished his twenty-third game of solitaire and glanced at the clock once more. Almost midnight. She didn¡¦t have to be home for another hour. Sighing heavily he started to shuffle the pack. Then the phone rang. He ignored it and started to lie out the cards.

"Remy?" her voice was barely more than a whisper.

He ran to the phone and picked it up, "P¡¦tite? That you?"

"Oh Remy¡¦I don¡¦ feel so good."

He ran a hand through his hair nervously, "Where are you? Where¡¦s Josh?"

"Josh? We got separated¡¦an¡¦ I don¡¦t know where I am. I felt so sick and I had to get out of there¡¦oh, God¡¦"

Making a mental note to slowly maim Josh, Remy tried again, "Describe where you are. Can you see any street names?"

There was a pause, "There¡¦s an all night mini-mart across the road¡¦I think I¡¦m near the night-club¡¦an¡¦ there¡¦s a restaurant called the¡¦the Peking Duck¡¦it¡¦s a Chinese." She stopped again, "Remy?"

He was leafing through the directory, looking for the address of the restaurant, "Yes, p¡¦tite."

"I¡¦m scared¡¦I didn¡¦t have anythin¡¦ to drink an¡¦," her voice cracked, "I think there¡¦s someone following me¡¦Remy? You there?"

He took deep breaths, trying to get his heart to beat regularly again. "I¡¦m going to be there in a few minutes. Now you go across to the mini-mart where there¡¦s people and I¡¦ll pick you up there. I¡¦ll be there in just a few minutes¡¦I gotta hang up now p¡¦tite."

"Ok¡¦see you in a few¡¦" she hung up. She rested her head against the cool glass of the telephone box for a moment before stepping out into the freezing December night. Spots danced in front of her eyes and she knew she wouldn¡¦t last much longer. Slowly she started to cross the road. She didn¡¦t get very far when a pair of arms yanked her back and down a darkened alley.

"Remember me, love?" It was the would-be eunuch and his friends.

Jubilee stifled a groan and counted. Six of them. Wouldn¡¦t be a problem when she was in full control of her body but she was anything but in control at the moment. She shook her head, as though to rid her of the cotton wool that was blocking her senses. Get a grip, Lee. You can do this. She was close to unconsciousness, it would be so easy to just let it slip. Biting down hard on her lip, she jerked her knee upward into the groin of the man before her. She tasted the coppery tang of her blood as her lip began to bleed. Focus on the pain¡¦harsh and real, stay awake¡¦keep moving. She brought her elbow down hard on the back of the neck of the man and he slipped into an unconscious pile on the ground. A second man approached her, a spurt of adrenaline allowed her to spin quickly into a kick that sent him flying. The black¡¦so inviting¡¦just close your¡¦no¡¦wake up¡¦kick these assholes¡¦¡¦arses. She could sense a third coming up behind her, but her reflexes were sluggish and he caught her on the side of the head. She fell. She tried to stand up but her knees weren¡¦t obeying her. She dug her nails into her hands. Focus on the pain. Tried to stand up again¡¦ but it was too much. She slumped on the ground.

Arriving just in time to see Jubilee fall unconscious, Remy quickly made short work of her assailants and reached her. She was ok. He ran his hands over her to check for any broken bones. Nothing. He sighed with relief. Picking her up in his arms her brought her to his car. Making sure she was strapped in properly he got in the car and drove off.

Jubilee didn¡¦t stir until they reached the apartment. She opened her eyes slightly and stiffened slightly when she realised that she was in Remy¡¦s arms.

"Remy?" she murmured into his neck.

"Yes, p¡¦tite?" He managed to unlock the door without dropping her and kicked the door to behind them.

"Are we home?"

"Yes." He brought her into the living room and laid her out on the couch. "How are you feeling?"

"I¡¦m gonna die¡¦"

He smiled at her, "Just relax. I¡¦m gonna get you a glass of water."

She smiled vaguely back at him. He had just left her when a wave of nausea washed over her. Getting hurriedly to her feet she half stumbled half crawled to the bathroom and got sick into the toilet bowl. She automatically flushed the toilet and brushed her teeth. Leaving the bathroom she tried to walk back to the living room but her knees buckled beneath her. Remy ran out and scooped her up in his arms once more.

"Thanks Remy¡¦you¡¦re a real," she sighed and buried her face in his chest, "gentleman."

"I know p¡¦tite."

Jubilee lifted her head, "You¡¦re my best friend¡¦in the whole wide world, did¡¦ja know that?" She kissed him on the cheek, "¡¦whole¡¦ wide¡¦" her voice trailed off. Remy looked down and saw that she had drifted off to sleep. He opened her bedroom door and placing her on the bed carefully he took off her shoes and pulled the covers over her. Gambit looked down at her sleeping form for a moment before tiptoeing silently out of the room.

**********************************************************************************************

Jubilee opened her eyes slowly then quickly shut them again. Light. Bad. Pain. She rolled over onto her stomach and groaned. She ached all over and¡¦she reached up to touch her face¡¦her lip was split. She tried to remember the events of the last night but it only caused her head to ache even more. She groaned again and swung her legs onto the floor, it was then that she noticed what she was wearing. It was the red dress from last night¡¦curiouser and curiouser. Keeping her eyes shut against the sunlight she took off the dress, rummaged around the chest of drawers and pulled on an oversized T-shirt. Eyes still shut she fumbled along the surface until she found¡¦her sunglasses. She kissed them and put them on.

Gambit heard Jubilee¡¦s bedroom door opening and walked into the hall to meet her. She was just standing there, a little unsteady on her feet, with a slightly dazed expression on her face. Her lip was split, bruises coloured one side of her face and her hair was a mess. She was beautiful. Why hadn¡¦t he seen that before? He¡¦d always known she was pretty¡¦but standing there, despite her injuries she was¡¦well, stunning. When the hell had that happened? He took a step forward but stopped when she spoke.

"Remy?" There was confusion in her voice and worry.

Regaining control he smiled at her, "Mornin¡¦ p¡¦tite. How are you feeling?"

She tilted her head slightly and gave him a lopsided grin, "Like I went up against a zillion Hand ninjas and lost¡¦" she touched her lips, "mind telling me what happened?"

"You don¡¦t remember?"

She shook her head, "Not much anyways. Last thing was threatening some guy with castration. After that it gets a little¡¦fuzzy." She smiled at the grin on his face, "Yeah well, how would you like it if some guy tried to feel you up?" The grin faded.

"What you need is some coffee, chere. Black and lots of it." He took her gently by the arm and guided her into the kitchen. She sank thankfully into one of the chairs, her legs not as strong as they could be.

"So what happened to me Remy?"

"Well, from what I can make out, someone slipped something into your drink. You then left the club, rang me, got jumped by six guys, took out two before you passed out and then I arrived to save the day."

"My knight in shining armour?"

"Exactly."

She sighed, "My rep¡¦ll never survive me being taken down by six punks."

Remy visibly brightened. If Jubilee was worrying about her reputation she was well on the road to recovery. He set a mug of coffee down in front of her. "Here, drink this."

Jubilee eyed it suspiciously but obediently swallowed the potent looking brew...before nearly choking.

"JESUS CHRIST Remy, what the fuck did you put in this?" she ran to the sink and spat out the ¡¦coffee¡¦.

Gambit shook his head with disapproval but his lips curled upwards slightly, "Now, now p¡¦tite. No need for language like that."

"If that¡¦s what you honestly think then you¡¦ve never tasted that¡¦that toxic slush." She opened a bottle of orange juice and quickly drained it.

"That toxic slush is my foolproof, soon to be patented, hang-over-ridder."

Jubilee looked across at him, "You¡¦ve really got to think up a better name."

Remy nodded his head sadly, "I know." He looked at her, "Anythin¡¦ about last night coming back to you?"

Jubilee bit her lip, then winced when she broke the skin, "Well I remember this." She pointed at her mouth, "Self-inflicted. Had to focus on the pain to keep from passing out." She put her hands out, palms upward showing him the gouge marks she had made with her nails. "Same with these only," Jubilee gave him a wry smile, "not as effective."

Remy gazed admiringly at her then collected himself, "So what now? Want to press charges?"

She considered it for a moment but shook her head, "Nah. Might be in the papers, not much of course but enough to set the X-Men on my trail. Besides," she tilted her head and smiled at him, "I¡¦m sure you made the bastards sorry enough."

He laughed, "Well I hope so."

She placed the orange juice on the counter and surprised him by walking over, sliding onto his lap and wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Thanks Gumbo."

His breath caught in his throat, "For what, p¡¦tite?" he replied as nonchalantly as possible.

"For being my knight in shining armour¡¦again." He stroked her hair, smoothing away the tangles. He wondered if she realised that something had changed, that he was seeing her differently now. When Jubilee raised her head from his shoulder he realised that he¡¦d been quiet for too long. Uncertain red on black eyes met gently questioning blue ones. Remy cleared his throat.

"Jubilee¡¦"

Ding-Dong.

She jumped off his lap, almost guiltily it seemed to him.

"You stay here p¡¦tite, I¡¦ll get it."

He went to the door and took a minute to compose himself before opening it. He nearly groaned when he saw who it was. Josh and Dani.

"Where is she? Is she here? Is she alright?" Remy had to give the kid points; he looked genuinely worried. The two pushed past him before he could answer. Growling low in his throat he closed the door and followed them into the kitchen. Josh, he noted, was already all over Jubilee, one arm draped protectively (or was it possessively?) around her shoulders. Dani was rifling through the cupboards muttering something about the miracles of ibuprofen.

"Seriously Josh I¡¦m fine," she stood up, "see? Still in one piece."

"Maybe you should go see a doctor, just to make sure."

"We were trying to ring all morning¡¦got the engaged tone all the time¡¦" Dirty looks were sent Remy¡¦s way.

"Guys," Jubilee put her hands up, "I¡¦m fine. Really. I don¡¦t need to see a doctor."

"Actually," Remy cleared his throat, "Y¡¦have an appointment at four."

"Remy!"

"Better safe than sorry, chere."

"Fine," she grumbled, "I¡¦m going for a shower, then I¡¦m getting dressed and if one more person asks me if I¡¦m okay I will scream. Right?"

The three nodded their heads meekly as she turned on her heel and stalked into the bathroom. Once the door shut Dani and Josh turned to Remy.

"Would you mind telling me what happened last night?" Josh asked icily.

Remy had to keep a close rein on his temper. Who did this little boy think he was? He was the one who left Jubilee alone.

"Would y¡¦mind tellin¡¦ me how Jubilee was left alone?"

The younger man flushed with shame, "I don¡¦t know how it happened. We just got separated on the dance floor I guess."

"You guess?" Remy started pacing across the kitchen floor, "You want to know what happened? Fine I¡¦ll tell you what happened. After you got separated from Jubilee she went and got a drink, however someone slipped somethin¡¦ else into it. Jubilee began to feel sick so she went outside for some air, dat¡¦s when she phoned me. Accordin¡¦ to her she was bein¡¦ followed. I left to pick her up but by de time I arrived six goons had jumped her. She took out two of ¡¦em before passing out and I took care of the rest. Den I brought her home." He stopped and looked at the young man. "Dat¡¦s what happened last night."

Both Dani and Josh were ashen faced.

"I don¡¦t believe it¡¦how¡¦?" Josh stammered.

"Jubilee has had some trainin¡¦ in self defence. That¡¦s how she was able to take care of herself."

"Is she going to go to the police?"

"It was too dark¡¦she didn¡¦t even see their faces."

"She should still go. Someone might have seen something."

"We¡¦ve decided she¡¦s not gonna."

"Don¡¦t you want to catch the bastards that did this to her?"

"Listen, homme, she¡¦s made a decision and you better respect that." Frightened by the look on Remy¡¦s face Josh took a step backward but tried again.

"But¡¦"

"She," came a voice from the doorway, "would like both of you to shut up." Jubilee came into the room, wrapped in a bathrobe. Her hair wet from the shower.

"Jubilee¡¦" Josh began but was silenced when she walked over and hugged him.

"Shhh." She whispered. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close.

Remy looked away, fighting to ignore the jealousy rising through him.

Jubilee released her boyfriend and stepped back, "Look guys, I know you¡¦re worried about me and I¡¦m really grateful for that but Remy¡¦s right. I just want to forget about this. I didn¡¦t see their faces, and I¡¦d just prefer to put it behind me. Do you understand?" They all nodded. "Good. Dani you come with me¡¦I¡¦m going some help to cover up all this." She touched her cheek gingerly before grabbing the other girl by the hand and pulling her into her bedroom. The two men were left confronting each other.

Josh ran a hand through his hair, "Look Mr. LeBeau, I¡¦m sorry that I went off at you like that. It¡¦s just, y¡¦know, it¡¦s Jubilee. Just lost it for a moment."

The boy seemed sincere, but it wasn¡¦t good enough. Remy leaned forward, "I trusted you to take care of her. I¡¦m going to be watchin¡¦ you." The younger boy gulped but met the accusing gaze head on.

"I care about Jubilee a lot¡¦sir, I would never allow her to be hurt."

"You already did." Remy turned and went to his bedroom leaving Josh standing in the middle of the kitchen feeling partially angry, partially afraid and very guilty.

**********************************************************************************************

The Xavier Institute, Westchester.

Wolverine sat on the edge of the bed and looked around the room. Film posters were plastered to the walls, there was a collection of soft toys in one corner and assorted cosmetics were gathered on the top of a dresser. It was most obviously a girl¡¦s room. This was the room of a girl who was full of life and hope for the future. He looked down at the yellow raincoat in his lap. ¡¦Was¡¦. His fists tightened and the metal claws sprung out. She had never been afraid of him, never afraid of what he was capable of, she had trusted him implicitly and he her. At least that¡¦s what he had thought.

There was a soft knock at the door, "Logan? Are you in there?"

He sighed, "Yeah, Jeannie. Come on in."

She closed the door behind her and sat down on the bed next to him, her hand resting on his shoulder.

"We all miss her. You do realise that?"

"Yeah¡¦I do. I just wish¡¦"

"Wish what?"

"I don¡¦t understand why she left. She didn¡¦t explain. Just that goddamned note saying she was leaving. We¡¦re her family Red, we deserved a little more than that."

She was silent for a moment, "Maybe we did."

"Maybe? There ain¡¦t no maybe about it¡¦what¡¦s she¡¦s doing¡¦it¡¦s like she¡¦s punishing us for something." He growled and she could sense the anger coming off him in waves.

"Calm down Logan, we will find her," she squeezed his shoulder supportively, "in fact we may have a lead." She smiled at the surprised expression on his face.

"What? What lead?"

"The Christmas card Logan. It is of British origin."

His head snapped up, "What?"

She smiled again, "The postmark may be Australian but the card itself¡¦"

"Are you sure? How do you know?"

"We, umm, checked with the manufacturers. That particular card is only available in the United Kingdom."

He sat up straight, hope in his eyes, "So she could be there still."

Jean nodded, "We shouldn¡¦t be getting our hopes up, she may have left the country by now but at least we have a trail to follow now."

"Have you got someone running computer checks?"

"Emma and Hank are working on it." She stood up, "We will bring her home Logan, you can be sure of that."

**********************************************************************************************

London.

Jubilee flopped down on the couch. Since the fancy schmancy doctor Remy had brought her to gave her a clean bill of health, Remy had toned down slightly on the fussing. Emphasis on the slightly.

Gambit popped his head around the living room door, causing Jubilee to groan and cover her face with a cushion.

"No, Gumbo, I don¡¦t want anything¡¦yes, I am perfectly comfortable and no I wouldn¡¦t like to just taste your chicken noodle soup."

"Actually chere, I was just wondering if you knew where the TV guide is?" He grinned and dodged a cushion before walking in and sitting on the edge of the sofa. "Seriously, p¡¦tite, are you alright now?"

Jubilee sighed and rolled her eyes, "Yer sweet Remy, really you are. And yes I¡¦m fine, I¡¦ll be fighting fit before you know it." She patted his cheek. "Although," she batted her eyes up at him, "I¡¦m sure a tub of vanilla-fudge ice-cream would speed up the process." He smiled down at her and kissed her hand.

"Anythin¡¦ to speed up the healing process."

Jubilee watched him leave and looked at the hand he¡¦d kissed. He¡¦d done it before but now it was¡¦different somehow. ¡¦Stop it!¡¦ she told herself, ¡¦you are recovering from a concussion and have begun to imagine things. Stopit, stopit, stopit.¡¦ She continued to chant this in her head until the bad thoughts went away. Josh is your boyfriend, you love¡¦no, not love. You care about Josh. Why did care seem so¡¦so dull? She leaned back and closed her eyes. Her relationship with Josh¡¦no, she was too tired to think about it now.

Remy looked at the freezer. He should be looking for Jubilee¡¦s ice cream, not daydreaming. He¡¦d been doing that a lot recently. Just staring off into space¡¦ thinking about things like blue eyes and black hair¡¦he shook his head as if to rid himself of the wayward thoughts. So what if Jubilee was a beautiful young woman? He didn¡¦t care. So what if he was becoming a little too¡¦attached to her? They were friends. Good friends. Best friends in fact. You¡¦re allowed to love your best friend. These were dangerous thoughts¡¦time to think about something safer¡¦like vanilla-fudge ice cream.

Remy returned to the living room to find Jubilee stretched out on the sofa with her eyes closed.

"Chere, you awake?"

Her eyes opened quickly, "No, just resting my eyes." Her smile seemed forced to him. His eyes narrowed with concern.

"You sure you¡¦re feelin¡¦ alright?" He passed the ice cream to her.

"Yeah," she opened the tub, "just thinking."

"¡¦Bout what?"

"Just stuff."

"Care to elaborate a little more, p¡¦tite?"

"Not really."

"D¡¦accord."

They spent the next few minutes passing the ice cream between the two of them, eventually Jubilee spoke.

"Remy¡¦did Josh seem a little distracted to you?"

Remy squirmed. He hadn¡¦t told her about what he¡¦d said to her little boyfriend. Something told him she wouldn¡¦t be too pleased when she found out.

"Why you say that p¡¦tite?"

"I dunno¡¦he just had this weird look in his eyes. Almost like¡¦guilt. You didn¡¦t notice anything?"

"Uh, not really." His voice was too casual. She shifted her position so that she could see his face.

"What did you do Remy?"

He put on a hurt expression, "Moi? What makes you think I was involved?"

"I know you so spill it or else I¡¦ll get it out of Josh." He winced, it¡¦d probably be better coming from him.

"I just¡¦kinda¡¦threatenedhimwithbodilyharmifheeverleftyoualoneagainandallowedyoutobehurt."

Jubilee sighed, "You do realise that it wasn¡¦t his fault?"

"If he hadn¡¦t been separated from you¡¦"

"Remy." Her voice held a note of warning.

"Yeah, I guess it wasn¡¦t his fault."

"Then why blame him, Rem? I know he feels guilty already¡¦and it¡¦s totally irrational. We just got split up in the crowd, happens all the time."

Remy reached out and touched her bruised cheek gently, "Guess I needed someone to blame, p¡¦tite. You could¡¦ve been badly hurt if y¡¦hadn¡¦t called me."

She caught the hand, "And if I hadn¡¦t left the club, maybe I wouldn¡¦t have been jumped at all."

"But if¡¦"

"If was never in a true story Remy." She smiled at him, "let¡¦s just forget about it ok?"

"¡¦¡¦¡¦"

"Ok?"

"Ok." He muttered. Jubilee pulled his hand and he sat down on the sofa next to her and she rested her head on his shoulder.

They sat in silence for a few more minutes, finishing off the ice cream. Again it was Jubilee who spoke first.

"Remy?"

"Yes?"

"What do you think of Josh?"

"I think you already know my opinion of him."

"Forget about what happened. What do you think of him as a person?"

"Oh. Well, he seems a," the words stuck in his throat, "nice enough boy."

"Oh."

Remy looked at her, "What¡¦s wrong?"

"Nothing really¡¦Josh is nice and we have fun together¡¦"

"But?"

"I mean I care about him a lot and everything¡¦"

"But?"

She sighed, "Nothing. Never mind." She stood up, "I¡¦m tired." She bent down and kissed him on the cheek. "Night Gumbo."

"G¡¦night, p¡¦tite."

**********************************************************************************************

The Xavier Institute, New Year¡¦s Eve.

A group of X-Men were gathered in the computer lab. None of them spoke as two worked. Suddenly a shout broke the silence.

"I¡¦m in." Emma Frost smiled as the others quickly huddled around her. "Ok then. Jubilation Lee." Her fingers flew over the keyboard and a new screen popped up, "I found her! She¡¦s¡¦" her voice trailed off as she read the information in front of her.

"Well, have you got an address?" Logan growled.

She turned and shot him an icy look. "Yes I do, Wolverine. However it appears that Jubilation is in the company of one of our colleagues."

"What the hell are you talking about Frost?"

She pointed to a line on the screen.

¡¦Legal Guardian: Remy LeBeau.¡¦

There was a moment of silence.

*SNIKT*

"He¡¦s a fucking dead man."

**********************************************************************************************

London, New Year¡¦s Eve.

"Ok. Streamers?"

"Check."

"Those cute little party hats."

"Dere is no way I¡¦m wearing one, but check."

"Champagne?"

"Check."

"Two glasses?"

"Nuh uh chere, one glass f¡¦r me."

"Party pooper."

"Aren¡¦t you forgetting something p¡¦tite?"

"Wha¡¦Oh yeah. Fireworks courtesy of moi." She dropped a mock curtsey, before flopping onto the sofa. "Can¡¦t I just have teensy weensy sip? Please?"

Remy folded his arms and shook his head, "No. Not until you¡¦re legal."

Jubilee pouted.

Remy laughed, "It¡¦s gonna take more than a pout to get ¡¦round me."

She opened her eyes wide and gave him the full effect of her baby blues.

Remy backed away, closing his eyes, "No. I will be strong¡¦I will resist."

Jubilee burst out laughing, "Oh fine, but on one condition."

Remy regarded her warily, "What?"

She held out a little paper hat with a pom-pom on the top, "You wear this."

He shook his head vehemently, "No way. Forget about it."

She pouted once more and looked up at him with sad eyes.

"Fine." He grabbed the hat from her hand, "I¡¦ll wear it. Happy now?"

Jubilee rewarded him with a dazzling smile. "You look very handsome Remy."

He glared at her and stomped into the kitchen, the little pom-poms bouncing up and down. Jubilee covered her face with a pillow to muffle her giggles. Remy returned to the room to find her in convulsions on the sofa, he grabbed the pillow away.

"So you think this is funny d¡¦you?"

Unable to speak she nodded tears of laughter rolling down her cheeks. Remy gave Jubilee his most intimidating look, but the effect was slightly ruined by the pom-poms falling in front of his eyes. She burst into a fresh bout of laughter. He grinned at her evilly.

"If I have to wear one¡¦so do you, p¡¦tite."

He attempted to place a hat identical to his own on her head. She resisted and ended up rolling off the sofa and landing on top of him. Pinning his hands above his head she grinned at him.

"I¡¦d like to see you try now, mister."

Remy had a strange expression on his face as he gazed up at her.

"Remy?" She tilted her head, releasing his hands, "Are you okay? I didn¡¦t hurt you did I?"

He slid one hand around her waist and pulled her closer to him, the other he put on the back of her neck. Jubilee shivered slightly and looked down into his eyes.

"What are you doing Remy?" she whispered.

He didn¡¦t reply, instead moving a hand up to her face, pushing back a few strands of her dark hair, caressing her cheek. She closed her eyes, sucking in her breath. Gently he brought her head down towards him and Jubilee didn¡¦t resist. The kiss was tentative at first, both of them waiting for the other to break away. Neither did and the kiss grew more intense¡¦

Ding-dong.

Startled Jubilee pulled back quickly and sat on the floor, slightly breathless. Remy struggled up into a sitting position and looked at her, a fearful expression in his eyes. Jubilee took a few deep breaths to calm herself before looking at him.

"We can talk about this later."

He nodded his silent assent and stood up, running his hands through his hair. She rose also, pressing her hands to her face in an attempt to cool her burning cheeks.

Ding-dong.

Regaining her composure Jubilee strode to the door and yanked it open. She froze for a moment then smiled wryly at the people standing in front of her.

"Figures."

The X-Men didn¡¦t smile back.