Times Change and We With Time: Chapter 11

by Muir

 


Standard disclaimer applies


{Remy・s POV}

I knew I was in trouble when I saw her eyes. I just didn・t know why. Then I saw her exchange glances with Ro.

Shit.

She・d talked to Ororo and now she knew that Ro knew. I shook my head, even my thoughts were forming in Jubilee-like syntax.

But she couldn・t possibly be angry with me about that. That would be ridiculous and childish. I looked in her direction, under the cover of searching for a seat.

Apparently not that ridiculous. Great. Time for another row.

I trudged up to the main table and found a seat near the patio doors, in between Worthington and Frost. Neither seemed inclined towards conversation so I was able to eat my dinner in peace, contemplating my imminent doom.

Afterwards I made small talk with Neal. But ten minutes listening to him rhapsodise about Betty・s perfection compelled me to leave for my meeting with Jubilee. He・s a nice homme and all, but there・s only so much I can take of a man in love.

Making my excuses to Sharra, I strode out the double doors into the gardens. Ahead of me, in the failing light, I could make out Jubilee・s form slipping through the shrubbery and towards the wooded area surrounding the lake. No one but Sharra had seen me leave the mansion, and I doubted that he had noticed Jubilee・s departure. Hopefully that would prevent us from receiving any grief from the others for our 'secret rendezvous'. Nevertheless I slowed my pace until she was well out of sight.

When I reached the lake she was sitting, cross-legged on the dock. She had loosened her hair from its bindings and was combing her fingers through the tangled mass while gazing out over the water. Not wishing to change her mood I approached silently, making her aware of my presence only when I settled down behind her. She relaxed momentarily against me then stiffened and moved away, tying her hair back up before turning around to face me. I quailed slightly under her glare but affected an air of nonchalance and cleared my throat, deciding to break the silence first.

・You talked to Stormy, chere?・

She was taken aback for a moment by my direct approach but quickly regained momentum, ・I did. You told her.・

・Yeah, I did.・

・You didn・t tell me.・

I could see that under the influence of a calm, non-defensive attitude her anger was ebbing away.

・I forgot.・

Anger back. Then gone again to be replaced by weariness, ・You forgot?・

・We weren・t ・xac・ly in a talkin・ mood last night.・

・I was,・ she stressed softly, ・you weren・t.・

・I・m sorry I didn・t tell you. Are you angry wit・ me, p・tite?・

She turned back to the water, ・I was.・

・How ・bout now?・ I asked tentatively.

・Now?・ she sighed, ・I・m too tired to be angry now.・ She stood up, ・You know what? I・m just going to go to bed. G・night Remy.・

I caught her hand when she tried to slip past me, ・Don・ you want to talk?・

She looked down, ・You wanna talk now?・

・Well・・ I tugged gently on her arm and she allowed me to pull her down onto my lap, ・yeah. Yeah, I do.・

She smiled mildly and pressed her cheek against my chest, her left hand idly playing with my coat sleeve, ・So talk.・

I had expected her to talk about her day. She seemed a little down and distracted. But if talking meant that she・d stay here, in my arms, then talk I would.

I started with my meeting with Xavier that morning.

・I didn・t know you were meeting him.・

・He jus・ said to come by this morning, I wasn・t even thinkin・ ・bout it last night,・ she seemed to accept that and didn・t reply, ・we talked about you, and me coming back to the team mostly.・

・Are you gonna? Go back?・

・What do you t・ink I should do?・

She drew my right arm around her waist, ・I know you love being an X-Man. I know you love all those big save-the-world quests they・re always going on,・ she paused, ・I think you should think about, maybe, joining back up.・

・What about you?・

・Hey, what about me?・ she smoothed her hand over my coat collar, ・I・m a big girl. You know you・re fading away in that apartment, bored out of your skull. You don・t have to pretend."

・De Guild always has some jobs I can do for them in London, and I got you,・ I protested, ・I・m not bored.・

・I know you Gumbo. You・re a total adrenaline junkie,・ she kissed my jaw, ・just like me.・

・But-・

・And anyway,・ she broke in, ・I・m going to be studying my ass off once we get back to London. You won・t even have me to distract you.・

・You saying you want me to move back here?・ I didn・t let the surprise and hurt creep into my voice, but it was a struggle.

・No. Look,・ she leaned her head back so that she could see my face, ・maybe you could work something out with Storm. Y・know, be like her reserve guy. Whenever she needs you, you・re there and can battle all the little minions of evil she wants you to.・

Well, I liked that plan much better. But I couldn・t help smiling, ・Minions of evil?・

・Yeah,・ she grinned, ・don・tcha know? We・re,・ she lowered her voice an octave to a gravelly note, ・battling the forces of darkness.・

・You・ve been watching too much Lord of the Rings,・ I replied.

・You blame everything on my Legolas addiction,・ she pouted then regarded me seriously, ・I mean it though. Will you think about it?・

・I will,・ I promised. Then I broached a topic we・d avoided thus far, ・What・re we gonna do next year, chere?・

・I haven・t even been accepted to any college yet Remy.・

・You got a few American ones,・ I pointed out.

・Yeah, well,・ she fidgeted slightly, ・I don・t really want to go to any of them.・

I didn・t know that. We really hadn・t talked about this before.

・Let・s not talk about this now. A lot can change in a few months.・

I didn・t have the chance to ask what could change because she pulled my head down and started to kiss me quite insistently. And Remy LeBeau has never been one to disappoint a lady.

She slid her hands under my coat, across my chest and up to my shoulders before pushing the material away. I let go of her for a moment so I could shrug the garment off before returning my arms around her. One hand went to the back of her head automatically, holding her close. The other began to divest her of the denim jacket she wore. She broke the kiss to free her right arm from the jacket and used the opportunity to shift her position so that she was now straddling my lap. I released her lips, trailing kisses along her jaw and down her neck, cursing the top she wore when it prevented from continuing further. I contented myself with grazing my teeth across the skin there and was rewarded by a full body shiver from Jubilee.

・Give me a hickey, bub, and you・re dead meat,・ she whispered huskily and I chuckled, raising my head to kiss her on the mouth again. She placed bother her hands on my shoulders and gently pushed me so that I leant backwards until I was lying flat.

・Getting・ a little aggressive chere?・ I inquired as she leant over me, ponytail falling forward over her shoulder.

・You know me Rem,・ she replied, ・always gotta be on top.・ I raised my hands to frame her face.

・You・re gonna be de death of me.・

She smiled smugly, ・You love it.・

True, I thought as I crushed her lips to mine. I knew we wouldn・t get much further than this, if not because of our location then because of what she・d said the previous night. A fact that was drummed home when I felt a sharp pain in my back. I tried to ignore it and focus on Jubilee; her lips, her skin, her warmth・but it persisted and eventually she noticed the slight furrow between my eyebrows.

・Remy?・

・・s nothin・ chere. Just,・ I reached behind me and found the cause of my discomfort, ・a splinter.・

Jubilee gave a very unladylike snort before bursting into laughter and collapsing on my chest.

・My hero,・ she sniggered and I couldn・t help smiling also.

Mood now well and truly dead, she rolled off me and cuddled against my side. Sighing I put an arm around her shoulders, cushioning her head.

・Don・t worry Gumbo,・ she said, as though reading my mind, ・it・ll happen someday.・

・No rush, p・tite.・

・Liar.・

I grinned and dropped a kiss on her forehead.

・What you doin・ tomorrow?・

・Well there・s my b-day party,・ she said and I could hear a little note of excitement creep into her voice, ・but in the mornin・ Sean・s taking me out for brekkie in Westchester, a little shopping, lunch and then back here.・

・How・d he get suckered into dat one?・

・I don・t know,・ she laughed, ・I think Emma blackmailed him into it so that I・d be outta the way for the morning. Poor Irish.・

・He has no idea what he・s gotten ・imself into,・ I murmured, remembering the first shopping trip I・d taken Jubilee on in London. She nudged me sharply with her elbow, "Ow.・

・Yeah, hello? Still here.・

・Well it・s true,・ I muttered.

・Shush,・ she commanded imperiously, ・now, where was I? Oh yeah. I・m also scheduled for a full physical with Hank and a Danger Room sim with Fearless Leader.・

・Full day, den?・

・Very full day,・ she agreed sleepily, yawning a little. Why is this girl always falling asleep on me? This sort of thing could really damage a man・s ego.

・No time for Gambit?・

She raised herself up on her elbow and regarded me levelly, amusement sparkling in her eyes, ・You・re real greedy, you know that?・

・What can I say? I don・ like t・share,・ I caressed her bare arm, hoping for a repeat of our session a few minutes ago.

・Oh no,・ she shook her head and stood up quickly, ・I know that look. I think we・ve gone far enough for tonight so no. And just so we・re clear・no.・

・Jubilee,・ I said, in what could only be described as a whine, letting my head fall back onto the wooden dock. This was what this woman did to me. I was whining, for crying out loud.

Remy LeBeau never whined.

Especially not in front of a lady.

My sense of restraint and, goddammit, propriety returned and an apology was on the tip of my tongue for overstepping the mark when she grinned slyly. She paused in the act of pulling on her denim jacket and knelt over me, her mouth scant inches away from mine, ・You know as well as I do buster, what・ll happen if I let you do what you want to do.・

・I do?・

・Yep. Y・see, first there・ll be kissin,・ she nipped at my lower lip, ・then prob・ly a little touching,・ she trailed a finger up my arm, ・followed by a lot of touching,・ her other hand slipped under my tee-shirt, stroking my stomach, ・and then・・ she stood up abruptly and sauntered away, ・badda-bing-badda-boom you and me are doing the horizontal tango.・

I groaned and threw an arm across my face.

・Oh c・mon Cajun,・ she laughed, ・I don・t think even you came here prepared for that eventuality.・

Well・she had a point. The nearest condom was in my room at the mansion, and I didn't even want to think about how old they were. But that mean the only impediment was・? I lifted my arm to peer up at her.

・Keep your pants on Gumbo,・ the chuckling caused her lips to vibrate against mine as she leant down and kissed me thoroughly, ・for now.・

She straightened up and began to walk away, ・See you at the party tomorrow night Remy,・ came her voice as she disappeared into the woods.

It was only when I started breathing again that I realised what she・d done. It was exactly the same thing I・d tried to pull on her last night. Using sex as a means to distract from talking.

And I・d been fool enough to fall for it.

Fuck.

I whacked my forehead with the heel of my hand.

Femme bats her big blue eyes at you and what did you do?

Lay down like an obedient puppy. That・s what. Just lay down and let her walk all over you.

Did your poppa teach you nothing?

I was sure generations of LeBeau men were spinning in their graves tonight.

I stood up, picking my trench coat off the ground and shrugging myself into it. Well now I knew. Jubilee was trying to keep something from me and I was damn well going to find out. There was no way that that trick would work on me again.

I hoped.

*** *** ***

I wandered back to the mansion at a leisurely pace, giving Jubilee enough time to arrive there well ahead of me. No need to give the gossip mongers extra fodder.

A few members of staff were relaxing in the den, some watching a Western movie on the box, others chatting amongst themselves. Ororo noticed me and raised a hand to beckon me in, but I shook my head. She frowned and I was sure she was tsking to herself. I blew her a kiss and proceeded on my way to the back stairs.

It was with a sigh of relief that I closed my bedroom door after me. It had been a long day and frankly I just wanted to be on my own. The meeting with Xavier hadn・t been too bad, the man being as polite and friendly as always. I had half-expected the offer of a place on the team, guessing that Stormy would have been pressuring both him and Summers to do so. It wasn・t unwelcome either.

Jubilee was right. I was bored in London.

I had been in contact with the Guild more in the last six months that I had the previous six years, checking up on my pere, seeing if there were any jobs needed doing. Basically scrounging for tasks that would test or even make marginal use of the skills I had spent my life perfecting.

Now Jubilee said she didn・t want to go to an American college. Did that mean Europe? I loved Jubilee, but I didn・t know how I・d handle hanging around for three or four years until she finished her degree. And even then she may not wish to return to the States. Joining Storm as a reserve member on her team seemed like the best option but I knew that this would still keep me out of England on a regular basis.

Did Jubilee not realise that?

I didn・t want to consider the possibility that she had.

I swiftly moved onto contemplating the quick game of basketball I・d played with Drake and Angelo. Drake was a still a little chilly (pun intended) towards me, but the other was completely relaxed. I immediately liked Espinosa, and he seemed to be fond of Jubilee too, despite her nicotine hating diatribes. I could only respect a man who・d lived in the same house as her for over three years and continued to be a dedicated smoker. Amazing willpower.

We talked while playing basketball. Inconsequential small talk, mostly, which was a relief from all the intense, meaningful conversations I・d been having lately. Naturally I demolished him in the game. Just ・cause I liked him didn・t mean I was going to take it easy on the kid, I have a reputation to uphold after all.

Before I left, Drake gave me a grudging compliment on my basketball skills.

Cold War over.

He turned back to Angelo to challenge him to a game and I took it as my cue to leave. Which was unfortunate, as I hadn・t been prepared for the next person I met.

Rogue.

She came from the direction of the pool, wrapped up in a green terrycloth bathrobe, wet hair plastered to her head. I spotted her before she saw me and was about to take an alternative route when she called my name. I fixed a smile on my face before turning.

She strolled towards me, smiling. Last time I spoke to Rogue was in London, where Jubilee had forced us into a discussion about our relationship. Yes, we had reached a few decisions regarding that. But we・d had that talk a million times before, where we decide that our relationship isn・t going anywhere and we・d be happier apart. The ・I love you but I can・t be with you・ talk. Or ・Now is not the right time・ talk, sometimes called the ・I・m not ready for that kind of relationship yet・ talk. We・d had them all. Over and over and over again.

But did we learn? Never.

Which was why I was nervous when Rogue approached me, remembering all the times we・d decided to turn our ・off-again-on-again・ relationship off only for a U-turn by one of us to have it switched back on again.

She was definitely wearing an ・on again・ look.

I felt hunted, cornered but also a little curious. Maybe we could try again, maybe it would work, and maybe I could help her, really help her, and learn how to control her powers.

I'm a sick, sick man.

She asked me a few harmless questions, made a few innocent comments, all the while gazing at me from under those heavy-lidded green eyes, twirling the tie on her robe. It was only pride that kept me from bolting.

Eventually I suggested that she go indoors to dry off in case she caught a chill. She laughingly reminded me of her invulnerability to the elements. She couldn・t catch cold・

Rogue must have seen something in my expression because in the next minute she was apologising and hurrying back towards the mansion. Some bad ass thief. Shattered by thoughts of ice and cold. I watched her retreat, detached. She had apologised. I had apologised. But what was done was done.

I still can・t look at snow without feeling nauseous.

I shook my head. Thinking about the Trial was dangerous, memories I・d sealed up and buried threatening to surface. No. Better to focus on the problems of the present.

I rolled over and pressed my face into the pillow, smothering a groan.

Sleep seemed like a better option at the moment

*** *** ***

I woke at around eight the following morning and decided to skip breakfast. Instead I went to the garage, sighing in relief when I saw that my motorcycle was still there, intact, and in pristine condition. Lovingly I ran my fingers over the chrome and leather. The keys hung on a rack on the wall. Within five minutes I was speeding down the drive.

It was nearly 11 o・clock when I returned.

I found Bobby Drake sitting in the garage, twiddling a wrench between his fingers. He saluted me when I drove in and got off the bike.

・Never pegged you for a mechanic,・ I said after I pulled my helmet off.

He scoffed at the suggestion, ・I・m not. I just came here to get away from the women.・

I raised an inquiring eyebrow and slid my sunglasses down my nose to regard him closely, ・Quoi?・

・The girls・you know, Ro, Jean, Emma, Betsy? The X-Women? They・ve all gone mad.・

Hunkering down next to him I regarded him bemusedly, ・You・re gonna ・aveta explain it a little slower t・me, mon ami.・

He rolled his eyes at my blatant stupidity, ・They・re getting ready for the party tonight. Y・know, decorations, balloons, food?・

・Is that terrifying?・

・They・re like commandos, man. And they・re all using their powers to do it too, so there・s shit flying everywhere,・ he shrugged, ・I got out of there before they could rope me into it. Already got Scott, Neal and Kurt suckered in. Weren・t gonna get me too.・

I grinned and pushed the glasses back up my nose, ・So, you・re hiding out?・

・Yeah,・ he brandished the wrench at me, ・and if anyone asks you, I・m working on something here, right?・

I glanced worriedly at my beautiful bike, ・You・re not gonna act・ally touch anythin・, are you?・

・Nah, just look busy.・

Merci Dieu, ・I don・ think they・ll search you out anyway.・

He raised his eyebrows sceptically, ・You think? You don・t know Frost, man. If she feels like it, she will hunt me down. That woman is vindictive.・

・Vindictive?・ I cast him a sidelong glance, ・What reason she got t・be like dat?・

・Nothing. I was just exaggerating.・

・Huh,・ I decided to change topic though, ・Jubilee gone out wit・ Cassidy?・

・What? Oh yeah, they・re gone,・ he scowled, ・lucky bastard.・

I laughed, ・I wouldn・t say dat. You ・aven・t gone shopping with the petite.・

A satisfied grin settled on his face and he chuckled.

・Anyway, mon ami,・ I said, taking a packet of cigarettes from my coat pocket, ・you seem t・be avoidin・ de work pretty well, no?・

He snorted and waved a hand to refuse my offer of a cigarette, ・You think I・m safe here? Yeah, right,・ he twirled the wrench between his fingers, ・like I said, Frost will get me.・

Iceman was obviously a little more self-involved than I・d suspected. It would be seriously out of character for the Snow Queen to bother herself with his existence, let alone track him down for something as trivial as party preparations・My thoughts trailed off when I heard a footfall in the corridor outside.

・Look busy Drake,・ I said in an undertone, ・someone・s coming.・

He started suddenly, then grabbed a dirty cloth and rubbed it all over his hands. The door opened. Bobby kept his head down, now apparently trying to clean his hands with the rag. I looked up and managed to disguise my surprise at the identity of the person there.

・Robert,・ Emma Frost fairly purred the name and I grinned as Drake winced, ・are you busy?・

・Very. Busy, busy,・ he nodded furiously and took a ratchet from a tool box, ・y・know, doing stuff. Mechanical stuff.・ He turned to one of the motorbikes, thankfully not mine, gazed at it blankly for a few minutes before locating a few nuts and bolts to fiddle with.

・Robert,・ she repeated slowly, crossing the floor to stand in front of him. She was in her diamond-like form, completely dazzling in the late morning sunlight. Even wearing sunglasses I was forced to look away, "the VCR continually bests you and you wish me to believe that you can tune up Logan's motorcycle?"

"Logan's?" the ratchet was dropped on the concrete floor with a clatter. Bobby cleared his throat nervously, "all done on this bike. Time to move onto another one・"

"Ro-bert," she sing-songed smugly.

"Coming Emma," a cowed, defeated Bobby Drake followed the White Queen out of the garage. I watched their departure through squinted eyes. Bobby's abject fear I could easily understand. Frost's attitude; her almost flirtatious manner was a little more difficult. Then again, she never was against using everything God gave her to get her own way.

I shrugged inwardly. Probably just one of her little games. Though I would have thought she'd have her hands full with whatever entertainment she was deriving from messing with Scott and Jean's marriage.

Getting sucked in Remy, I told myself. Let the people manage their own problems, you got enough of your own.

I stood up and brushed off my pants. I rotated my right shoulder slowly, feeling a coiling tension in my chest; a warning of the build-up of dangerous energy in my body.

Time for a visit to the Danger Room.

A brief stop in my bedroom allowed me to change clothes and grab a towel before I headed towards the lower levels.

It took nearly half an hour before I was cleared by the security system. Retina scan, fingerprint id, voice recognition, statement of PIN and codename, and finally a DNA test (spitting in a little vial).

Boring and frustrating but I had to admire their thoroughness.

Eventually the heavy steel door unlocked with a clunk before sliding smoothly back into the wall. I had finally entered the hallowed ground of the lower levels.

I was thwarted upon arrival at the Danger Room, the red light indicating that it was already in use. Suppressing my rising impatience, I quickly moved past the door and down towards the gym. A thorough workout there would warm me up for the simulator.

The gym also held an occupant, Betsy, who was using the bench-press in the corner. A twitch of her head acknowledged me, before she returned her focus to her breathing. I went over to the treadmill and started it up, a run would be a good start.

Nearly half an hour had passed before Betsy was finished with her workout and heading towards the door, wiping the sweat on her forehead with a towel. She paused in front of me.

・LeBeau?・

・Yeah?・ I lifted the weight onto the stand and sat up to look at her.

・I heard the Professor made you an offer.・

・Yeah,・ I took a quick swig from a bottle of water and gathered my towel.

She huffed, ・Listen, I・m not in the ・Crucify Gambit・ camp, so an attempt at civility would be much appreciated.・

I smirked, ・Pardon chere, I did not realise I was bein・ rude.・

・I think you did,・ she countered, then started tapping her foot impatiently, ・so?・

Perhaps it was my unwillingness to add another member to the ・Crucify Remy・ camp, that they had a name was disturbing enough, but I decided not to be as infuriating as I could be.

・I・m considerin・ it.・

・Consider fast, we・ll need to know if you・re to be relied upon,・ she flipped her hair over her shoulder and walked out.

I moved onto the rowing machine.

A while later Summers was passing by, but stopped when he saw me. He was wearing a uniform and dotted with perspiration.

・Danger Room free, mon ami?・

He nodded and I made a move to go past but he halted me with a hand on my shoulder, ・Wait, I wanted to talk to you.・

I looked at the hand. He removed it.

・Ok den, what ya want to talk about?・

・The Professor・s offer, for one.・

I rolled my eyes. Good news travels fast they say, though I didn・t think my return would fit into that category.

・I・m still thinkin・ ・bout it. ・S no rush, right?・

・Well a punctual reply would be much appreciated.・

I nodded, ・I・ll be workin・ on it,・ again he stopped my attempt to move.

・Somethin・ else?・

・Just wondering what you and Jubilee had discussed in relation to her powers.・

Confused, I narrowed my eyes, ・Not sure dat・s any of yo・ business, mon ami. No offence, course.・

・None taken,・ he replied coolly, ・but any changes in one of my charge・s powers is my business.・

・Her powers have changed before, she handle it fine. What you worryin・ bout?・

・Should I take it that you won・t be helping her practise?・

I grinned, ・Not sure what sort of set-up you t・ink we got in London, but a Danger Room ・s not part of it.・

・You don・t need a Danger Room to practise telepathy,・ he bit out.

Telepathy?

・I know it・s still latent,・ Cyclops continued on, oblivious to my confusion, ・but the Professor and Emma have given her exercises to prepare her mind for it.・

・Course.・

・And obviously it・s usually very・difficult for a telepath when their powers first emerge.・

・Yes.・

・So she needs all the preparation she needs. Do you understand?・

・Sure.・

・So Jubilee has talked about it with you?・

I snapped out of my daze, ・We didn・ go into specifics but uh whatever the p・tite needs・・

A self-satisfied smile formed on Summers・ face, like he・d persuaded me to help, but his expression quickly returned to its usual blank state, ・Good then.・ He turned and strode out the door, paused, ・And Remy?・

・Yeah,・ I nodded impatiently, ・punctual answer, on it.・

He inclined his head then walked out of view.

I was still processing the concept of a telepathic Jubilee. Prob・ly one of the scariest thoughts I・d had in awhile. I began to walk towards the Danger Room, then paused mid-step.

She didn・t tell me. How long had she known? Last night I・d been the bad guy for being secretive.

I continued onwards and grit my teeth as the doors to the training room opened with a muffled whoosh.

I was damn tired of being the bad guy.

*** *** ***

After an intensive workout I headed back to my room to shower and change. While smoking a cigarette at the window I noticed Ororo in the gardens below, crushing the cigarette butt on the window sill I left the room and made my way downstairs and outdoors.

She wasn・t doing any intensive gardening, merely wandering among the flowers, occasionally leaning over to check a bud or young shoot. I allowed her to hear my approach and she turned around with a welcoming smile.

・Remy, how are you?・

・Well. You?・

・Good.・

・You busy chere?・

・No,・ she quickly produced a small cloud to wash her hands, followed by a drying breeze. I offered her my arm and we strolled further into the gardens.

She watched me, covertly, from the corner of her eye.

・Are you troubled, my friend?・

・Not exac・ly,・ I steered her towards the path that led into the woods.

・Is it Jubilee?・ she raised a hand to her mouth, worriedly, ・Is she angry that you told me?・

・No, no,・ I reassured her then faltered at her sceptical look, ・well, she was a bit angry that I hadn・t told her that you knew.・

・Yes I was surprised about that,・ we came to one of the picnic areas and settled down on a bench, ・why didn・t you tell her?・

・Hones・ly?・ I shrugged, ・I forgot.・

・Remy!・ her tone was half amused, half scolding.

・I know, not very smart, eh?・

・That would be one description.・

I raised an eyebrow, ・I・m not sure I like what you・re implyin・, chere.・

She laughed but quickly sobered, ・What・s really the matter?・

I shrugged again and informed her of Xavier・s offer.

・You don・ seem too surprised,・ I noted wryly.

・I don・t?・ she attempted to cover her slip then sighed, ・I may have mentioned, in passing mind, that you would make an exemplary addition to any of the teams.・

I grinned, ・Exemplary, eh? Careful, my head don・ swell chere.・

・I don・t think any further increase would be possible,・ was the dry reply from my dearest friend.

・Ororo, ya wound me, ya really do,・ my smile faded a little, ・but don・ you think it would be unfair to leave Jubilee alone righ・ now.・

・Goodness, Remy, no one said you had to rejoin immediately. The offer is merely there for future reference, shall we say?・

I thought of Betsy and Summers, ・Sure.・

・After all, with the news of her latent telepathy, she・ll need you even more.・

・Does everyone know about dat?・ I burst out.

Ororo regarded me with a faint expression of surprise.

・Sorry.・

・Is there a problem, my friend?・

・I didn・t know,・ I admitted, ・she didn・t tell me.・

・Well have you spoken to her since yesterday morning?・

・That・s when she found out?・

・Of course, with the Professor.・ She observed my expression, ・you have spoken to her since then.・

・Last night.・

・Well, perhaps she,・ Ororo smirked slightly, ・as you so eloquently put it, ・forgot・.・

・Yeah, yeah,・ I smiled.

・You・re becoming quite the paranoid paramour, you do realise.・

A scowl was insufficient to quell her laughter.

The conversation moved onto lighter topics after that, Ororo carefully skirting around any of her own worries, firmly ensconcing herself in the position of confidante. I promised myself that I・d sit her down for a full confessional before I left, but she was stubbornly refusing all indirect, and direct, references to her own problems.

We emerged from the woods several hours later, my heart, at least, a little lightened by our conversation. We went our separate ways upon reaching the main hallway, she to check over the party preparations and I to stop by Jubilee・s room.

There was no response when I knocked and a quick look inside revealed an empty room. I winced at the posters covering the walls. I really had to talk to her about redecorating.

I meandered back to my own room and dug a book out of my bag. It was a run-of-the-mill police thriller but I wasn・t in the mood for anything too mentally demanding. Book in hand, I returned downstairs and went into the kitchen where I prepared a pot of coffee and settled down to read.

It was only when I heard the clamour of the students out in the hallways that I emerged from the world of autopsies, Mulder and Scully type partnerships and alleged nail-biting tension.

Something clicked in my head. If the students were making such a racket it must be・dinner. I glanced at the clock. Which meant the party was starting in less than ten minutes. Swearing softly I tucked the book under my arm and sprinted up the back staircase.

Stormy had said dressy casual. I took this to mean no jeans, but no ties. I had laid the clothes out earlier and threw them on rapidly. Navy shirt and beige slacks. No tie, collar open. If everyone else turned up in black tie wear, I was gonna strangle my padnat.

I was shrugging on a jacket when I remembered Jubilee・s present. It was in the chest of drawers. I placed the little velvet box in my jacket pocket before striding into the hallway.

When I reached the room where the party was going to be held I found myself to be the first arrival. Only Ororo was there before me, flitting from vase to vase, arranging flowers.

I looked at my wristwatch.

Ororo noticed my confusion and laughed.

・I t・ought I was late.・

A mischievous smile tugged at her lips, ・I may have mistaken the time by a half an hour, or so.・

Realisation dawned.

・You・re always so fashionably late, Remy, I didn・t want you to upstage the birthday girl.・

I grinned wryly and had soon been bullied into helping her arrange the flowers.

It wasn・t long before people began to arrive. First it was Jean, Hank and Xavier closely followed by Logan. Bobby wandered in next, receiving a dirty look from Storm for his denim trousers, which he quickly shrugged off and headed towards the drinks table. Kurt, who had arrived with the Stacy girl, caught sight of him and quickly directed him towards the punch bowl. Although, there were no guarantees that that was alcohol free either.

Jean had quickly distracted Ororo, so I was left standing in the corner monitoring the arrivals and finding patterns in their order. Scott and Warren came in next, deep in conversation, as did Sean and Emma who followed. The pile of presents was growing rapidly. Jubilee would be delighted.

The GenX kids came in a group, Paige, Jonothan, Monet and Angelo. Rogue formed part of their group and I attempted to move back into the shadows when she entered. Big, brave hero man. That・s me.

Bishop and Sage arrived together, then Betsy and Neal. The looks the latter two were exchanging were enough to turn my stomach and I headed back to the drinks table. On the way I was intercept by Bobby who was giving a dramatised account of my win over Angelo in basketball to some blonde girl. Helen, Hayley・something like that.

Soon the room was thronged with people, most of whom I knew, some whom I didn・t. Apparently this was a birthday-come-get-to-know-everyone party. Even those who didn・t know Jubilee seemed to have brought presents. I knew she・d be very appreciative.

I was on my third drink when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around and looked down to find Jubilee smiling up at me.

・Great party, huh?・

She was wearing a satiny black camisole top with lace edging and a black skirt that came to just above her knees, but with a slit halfway up her thigh which compensated. It was very classy, very feminine and very mature. I gawped.

・Clean up good, don・t I?・

Her hair, I noted with misgiving, was piled up on top of her head in a messy looking bun. It had probably taken hours, though, to get that carefully tousled look. How I knew this, I would never reveal.

・Spaceship LeBeau, do you come in? I repeat, do you come in?・

The sandals on her feet added about two inches to her height, but she still didn・t reach my shoulders. I realised Jubilee was making some strange clicking sounds.

・What are you doin・?・

・Morse code, duh,・ she rolled her eyes, ・cause the aliens who just kidnapped your brain don・t know our secret human code, it is too primitive for them to understand. Don・t you watch any movies?・

・Not the ones you watch, p・tite.・

・Are you being dirty or insulting? I can・t decide.・

I was about to enlighten her when Paige popped up by her shoulder, ・Theah, you are. We・ve all been wonderin・ when you were gonna get your ass here. Come on, Miss Munroe・s waitin・ for you.・

As Paige dragged her away, Jubilee mouthed ・dirty・ at me and winked before disappearing into the crowd.

Thereafter followed a series of birthday speeches, the song and finally the eating. I wandered around the party, drifting from conversation to conversation, discovered that most people were beginning to thaw out towards me. However, I wasn・t able to get near Jubilee for the rest of the night.

When the party did begin to break up, eventually, it was nearly 1 o・clock in the morning. The teachers went to bed first, with the younger members holding out a little longer. Bobby was the last man dancing, prancing around to his own drumbeat. Few attempted to join him for fear of bodily harm.

I waited around, in hopes of an opportunity to talk to Jubilee before she went to bed, but the GenX girls had attached themselves to her hip as they bid everyone goodnight. I left with Ororo, bid my friend goodnight then returned to my own room. Exchanging my loafers for a pair of work boots, I went out onto the balcony and hoisted myself onto the roof.

Minutes later I landed softly on Jubilee・s balcony. Unfortunately she had company. Paige was splayed across her bed and Monet was comfortably settled in an armchair. I managed to catch Jubilee・s eye through the curtains. She turned to say something to the girls and they nodded and left. When the door closed behind them, I walked in.

・Hey, chere, Happy Birthday,・ I leant down to give her a kiss but found myself firmly propelled backwards onto the balcony.

・They・re just going to change into their night gear, Rem. They・ll be back in a second.・

・Well what time d・ya t・ink they・ll be leavin・?・

She shook her head, ・They won・t be, we・re pulling an all-nighter. Girls・ night in.・

・Oh.・

She gave me a brief, apologetic smile, ・I・m sorry Gumbo, but I・ll see you tomorrow all right?・

・But I・・

・Shh, they・re coming back,・ a quick, firm kiss, ・goodnight,・ and then the balcony doors closed again, leaving me outside in the cold. She blew me a kiss through the glass in the door and then the girls returned. I quickly moved out of view.

Sighing, I made my way back to my room, alone, and replaced the little box in the chest of drawers.

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This chapter didn・t work for some reason. I kept going over it and trying to improve it, to no avail. If you can see where the problem lies, tell me! Even flames are welcome as long as they・re in the format ・I HATE THIS FIC BECAUSE blah blah blah・. It・s all good people.

Cyber-lolly goes out to those who can figure out what・s in the ・little velvet box・. How I will construct this cyber-lolly remains to be seen, but get it right and you・ll find out.

Feedback, if you haven・t guessed, is much appreciated.

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