Times Change and We With Time: Part 12

by Muir


Rating: R

Standard disclaimer applies


 

Distant knocking brought her out of the realm of sleep and she opened her eyes slowly.

The door opened, ・Jubilee?・

・Mmm?・

Footfalls sounded and Ororo・s face came into view, ・You・re awake. Good.・

・Not good,・ Jubilee grumbled and struggled into a sitting position, ・what time is it?・

・Almost six,・ Storm moved to the double doors and pulled back the curtains. Jubilee blinked at the slight change in light quality and noticed that her friend was dressed in the standard team uniform; black top and pants, thick soled boots strapped to her feet.

・Where・s the fire?・

・Kuala Lumpur,・ Ororo turned back to her, ・we・re leaving in forty minutes if you wish to say goodbye.・

Jubilee was out of bed and searching for a pair of jeans, ・Why can・t the fire ever be somewhere fun, like Disneyland?・ She sighed and began searching in a pile of clothes in the corner, ・Who・s going?・

・Bishop, Elisabeth, Neal, Rogue, Tessa, Cameron, Heather and myself.・

She found a pair and dragged it on over her pyjama shorts, ・Lead on a diary?・

・Yes, in a private collection,・ Ororo picked up a sweater from the floor and handed it to Jubilee, ・it can be chilly in the hangar.・

・Thanks,・ she quickly yanked it over head while shoving her feet into sneakers before pulling her hair into a makeshift bun, ・we go then?・

The two rapidly made their way through the silent halls of the mansion. After her initial inquiry into the nature of the mission, Jubilee remained quiet, still struggling to rid her mind of the last vestiges of sleep. Her companion too was reserved, focussing on the assignment that awaited her.

The long process of clearing the security system had Jubilee nearly hopping up and down in impatience. When the route was finally opened she muttered a swift expletive under her breath which earned her a reproaching raised eyebrow from Ororo. She merely shrugged in response. It had now been a little under half an hour since Jubilee had been roused so they quickly approached the hangar.

Most of the team members currently residing at the mansion seemed to be there before them, gathered in clusters around the plane. Ororo left Jubilee and approached the Professor, and guessing that it was team business Jubilee decided not to follow.

Bishop was the only other member of Storm・s team that she felt close to. Sharra, Shaw and the Davis siblings were new to her. She didn・t want to be hypocritical with a tearful farewell, and she・d never really got along with Psylocke. She still felt awkward around Rogue. So, bypassing the other team members, Jubilee headed straight towards Bishop.

He was talking to Logan, and from the way Wolvie was eyeing the large gun slung across Bishop・s back Jubilee guessed they were discussing the comparative merits of certain weapons: ・Well this one has rapid-fire capabilities without a loss of power・ ・Yeah? Well see these? Can take down a man in a second and never needs reloading・. Freud would have a field day.

・Hey guys.・

・Hey kid.・

・Jubilee.・

・So I・m down here at like six in the morning to say goodbye to you guys,・ she yawned, ・I hope you・re all appreciative and everything.・

・Overflowing with it,・ Bishop replied gravely.

・Good,・ she grinned, ・you expecting much trouble?・

・We・re hoping to try and buy the diary.・

・And if the guy won・t sell?・

・Try and secure a viewing for Sage.・

・Your living computer right? And what if that doesn・t happen?・

Bishop looked a little uncomfortable, ・We may have to secure a viewing through・unconventional channels.・ Despite his many years with the team, he had always remained, at heart, a police officer and some of the X-Men・s less legal stratagems never failed to prick at his conscience.

・I bet Gambit would be handy if you had to use those,・ Jubilee used air quotes, ・unconventional channels.・

・His skills would be helpful, yes,・ the man replied stoically.

・Pity he・s not going then,・ Logan cut in with a sharp smile.

・Yeah, pity,・ Jubilee abruptly changed topic, ・you coming back here after this?・

Bishop shrugged his large shoulders, ・Possibly. We do seem to become involved in various other situations however.・

・That・s ・cause you・re all bleeding hearts and can・t refuse anyone who wants you to rid their town of flesh-eating aliens or whatever. I mean, just say ・no・ people. Sheesh,・ Jubilee rolled her eyes.

Bishop and Logan smiled at this in varying degrees. Then they launched into a discussion of an encounter they・d had of some cannibalistic aliens. Jubilee quickly zoned out and began to surreptitiously search the room for Remy. He wasn・t there. She frowned thinking he should at least be there to say goodbye to Storm. There was no way he would be able to get through the security system on time.

Then he strolled in.

・Excuse me guys,・ she said and went over to him.

・How・d you get here?・

・Same way as you I s・pose,・ a grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. Jubilee wanted to kiss him.

・Nuh uh, if you came the same way as me you・d have had to have started the security check while me and Ro were there.・

・So mebbe I went a different way.・

・You got around the system?・ she nearly shrieked.

・Shh, calm down p・tite. I didn・t want to waste half an hour of my life like the rest of you, c・est simple,・ he said with false modesty, the underlying arrogance of his words letting him down.

・You have to show me,・ Jubilee whispered excitedly.

・Ok, ok,・ he smiled, ・but now I go say goodbye to Stormy, all right?・

She returned to Logan and Bishop who had now moved onto some boozing stories. She really didn・t want to hear the ・Amazing Sex-capades of a time travelling policeman and his vertically challenged sidekick・ so she decided to bite the bullet and say goodbye to Rogue. The X-Woman was, fortunately, talking to Hank so Jubilee was able to bid her a brief farewell before moving on.

Storm・s team was wrapping up the goodbyes at this stage and moving towards the hatch of the plane. Jubilee drifted along with the group. Ororo was hugging Remy.

・・wish I could go with you, chere.・

Jubilee moved away, not wanting to further eavesdrop on their conversation. But something clicked inside her head.

The hatch was closing and people were shouting final goodbyes and good-lucks. Ororo was in the pilot・s seat, Sage across from her.

Jubilee and the others moved into the viewing area, protected from the intense heat of the powerful engines by several inches of plexi-glass and metal.

The roof of the hanger slid back slowly, and finally the plane was lifting. Up through the opening and so far into the sky it was barely a speck before it was gone.

Jubilee restrains herself from pressing her face against the glass. Remy isn・t the only one who wants to escape. How long has it been since she had an adrenaline rush? Not one born of lips, tongues and hands but of danger, of chases and daring escapes. Guilt-free adrenaline, where she knew she was the good guy and doing the right thing, wearing the knowledge like a badge on her uniform.

She pulled back from the window. Most of the others had wandered back towards the main mansion, including Remy. But Logan remained.

・Hey kid, you up for a little one on one?・

Jubilee grinned.

They didn・t head to the Danger Room as she・d expected but outdoors. He led her away from the building and into the woods, stopping when they reached a small clearing.

They squared up to one another. She yanked the sweater she wore over her head and tossed it at the base of a tree. A thin strappy top was all she wore underneath, still in her night-clothes, and she broke out in goose flesh. She・d warm up soon enough.

Jubilee had no illusions as to how their sparring would go. Logan would kick her ass, like always. Spectacularly this time as she was so out of practise, as Cyclops had proved to her in that brief Danger Room session he had subjected her to. Fit for the average eighteen-year-old, not for the average X-Man.

Logan was circling, a technique which should have, by all rights, had her jumpy and making a careless move. Instead Jubilee grinned, thrilled at the prospect of a decent fistfight. Eventually though, her patience did break and she moved forward to throw a punch which he easily parried. From there they moved into an easy pattern of thrust and parry. She was often hard pressed yet every now and then she would force him back a step or two, but he always quickly recovered his position. She was agile and speedy, advantages that were countered by his skill and strength.

Their sparring ended when he swept the feet from under her and she found herself flat on her back, wincing at the ringing in her head and Logan・s fist hovering over her throat.

・Yield?・ his face was carefully blank.

・Yeah, you win.・

He took her hand and yanked her to her feet.

・Yer rusty.・

Jubilee picked up the discarded sweater and tied it around her waist, ・I know.・

・Who・ve you been practising with?・

She looked down at the ground and scuffed the toe of the sneaker in the dirt, ・No one.・

He grunted, ・Guess that explains it then.・

She nodded meekly, waiting for a tongue-lashing. Logan didn・t like it when people let their skills go to waste. The reprimand never came, she must still have been reaping the benefits of his guilt. He gave her a grim stare which she accepted with a smile and they began to return to the mansion.

・Your head ok?・

Jubilee rubbed it ruefully, ・I・ll get over it.・ She leaned closer to him and linked an arm through his, ・No offence Wolvie, but I recommend soap and water. Like, right now."

・Y・ain・t exactly smelling of roses yourself, darlin・.・

・Jerk,・ but grinned as she said it and punched his arm.

・Honest jerk,・ he amended.

・Hmmph.・

They went in through the back kitchen door, only Bobby was sitting at the table munching his way through a bowl of Lucky Charms. He raised an eyebrow at their sweaty appearances.

Logan ignored him and headed towards the stairs. Jubilee approached the table and plucked a marshmallow from the multi-coloured mix.

・Hey, get your sweaty hands off my food,・ he whined.・

・Women don・t sweat, they glow,・ she informed him haughtily before reaching for another piece. He smacked her hand lightly.

・Well then you・re glowing an awful lot, princess.・

Jubilee rolled her eyes, ・Where is everyone?・

・I dunno. Around.・

・Wow, you・re really the fount of knowledge this morning, aren・tcha?・

・In the main dinner hall, I guess,・ he replied crankily, one hand curled covetously around the bowl.

・That wasn・t so hard now, was it?・

・Bite me.・

・Oh hey Emma.・

Bobby jumped in his seat and Jubilee took the opportunity to swipe another two lumps of sugary goodness from the bowl.

・Gotcha,・ she beamed, popping the pieces into her mouth, ・you are so whipped Popsicle.・ She began to leave.

・I・m not afraid of her!・ he shouted at her retreating form.

・Yeah, right!・ she yelled back, cackling to herself all the way back to her room.

Once inside her room she kicked off her sneakers and tossed the sweater onto her bed before quickly shimmying out of her jeans. Scott had fixed the shower in her room so she no longer had to queue with the other students. Stripping as she went, Jubilee entered the bathroom and closed the door behind her. She loosed her hair from its bun and shook it out, divested herself of her underwear before stepping into the shower and turning it on full blast.

She liked scalding hot showers, liked the idea of her pores opening and all the impurities being washed away. The dirt imagined under her skin didn・t bother her as much as it used to. She didn・t think very often about the bad things which had touched her but she still liked hot showers that steamed up the bathroom in seconds.

Humming a Chilli Peppers song to herself, she squirted liberal amounts of shower gel onto the loofah before scrubbing herself vigorously.

Typically, her thoughts turned to Remy.

Five days since her birthday party. Six days since they・d had a decent conversation.

The late night visits had ended the night of the party, the first time she・d turned him away, and he hadn・t tried it since. If he was sulking, he was hiding it very well. He left her birthday present on her pillow one day, while she was in the Danger Room with Scott.

She・d panicked when she・d seen the small velvet box. Full out, butterflies-in-stomach, fist-in-mouth, oxygen-vacating-lungs panic. It had taken about ten minutes for her to actually pick up the damn thing. A further ten to work up the nerve to open it. She・d been fully prepared to break into tears, then go out and kick his ass for the sorriest proposal ever.

But there was no ring inside the box.

Or any other type of jewellery in fact.

Instead there lay a small, innocuous silver key. It wasn・t old or ornate, just a simple Yale key, too small to fit in the door of any house.

Another ten minutes were spent staring at said key.

At that stage she・d been fully prepared to go out and kick his ass for giving her a heart attack when she caught sight of the folded sheet of paper on the dresser. The message was brief and characteristically Remy. He gently mocked the assumptions he・d guessed she・d make (bastard that he was), then explained the purpose of the key.

It was a key to a safety deposit box in a branch of Nat West bank in London. In the deposit box lay the deeds to the London apartment, which he was giving her.

Then she did burst into tears, a terribly girly reaction which she was fiercely glad had not been witnessed by anyone else.

At dinner, that night, she・d managed to thank him quietly but hadn・t had the chance to thank him properly since. A fact that was causing her no end of frustration.

It didn・t occur to her to make a night visit of her own.

Jubilee turned her face up towards the spray and fumbled for the shampoo. She massaged a large dollop into her scalp, spreading the sudsy matter around her hair.

Tonight was their last night in Westchester, and she・d made sure none of the others were going to make an issue out of it. No speeches, no gathering. Just a normal night.

The last week, or so, had been unexpectedly enjoyable. Mending bridges and all that stuff. Showed her how much she had cut herself off from her family. And they were her family. A very large, very dysfunctional family it was true. Coming back had cemented that knowledge in her mind.

Despite all that, she felt exposed there too and was looking forward to a return to the normalcy that was London, and home.

Hair thoroughly rinsed, Jubilee wrung the last drops of moisture from it before stepping out of the shower. Grabbing a towel that she wrapped firmly around herself, she wiped the condensation off the mirror in one spot and stared briefly at her reflection before wrinkling her nose and turning away.

Once dry, clothed in jeans and a long sleeved tee-shirt and hair pulled back into a ponytail, Jubilee padded out into the hallway. The dorms were mostly empty, with only a few stragglers making a dash for the first class. She came to a stop in front of one of the plain white doors and rapped on it sharply.

・Yo Kentucky, you up?・

・Lee?・ The sound of shuffling and the door opened a crack, ・What・s up?・

・Just thought you and me could have a chat. I am leaving tomorrow, after all,・ Jubilee put on her best I・m-a-harmless-girly-girl-who-likes-to-paint-toenails look. Truth be told, she wanted the low-down on her friend・s feelings for Worthington. M had left on a mission with X-Corps the day before, so Jubilee now had the perfect chance to do some snooping or, as she liked to call it, friendly inquiry.

・Ok,・ Paige sighed, ・give me a minute, I・m just putting my laundry away.・

・Woo, stop the whirligig of fun,・ Jubilee held up her hands in supplication at the girl・s threatening look, ・just kidding. Come over to my room when you・re done, I have to start packing.・

・・Kay,・ the door closed again.

Jubilee ambled back to her room and began to divide up her clothes, stuffing any dirty ones into a plastic bag.

When Paige arrived she found the other girl half under the bed in search of a stray sock.

・You all right there Jubes?・

・Yep・・ came the muffled reply, ・just・oomph,・ Jubilee emerged, hair tousled and smiling in victory with a sock covered in winged pigs between her fingers, ・gottit.・

・Yay for you,・ Paige smiled then glanced around the clothes strewn room and winced, ・need any help?・

・Nah, I・m good,・ Jubilee paused, then gazed speculatively at her friend, ・actually, could you do me a favour?・

・Yeah, sure.・

・Could you take down some of these posters while I pack.・

・Even the Backstreet Boys?・ Paige asked in mock shock.

Jubilee stuck out her tongue, ・Even the Backstreet Boys.・

Paige began to carefully remove the posters from the wall, ・I thought they were, and I quote,・ she posed, placing one hand on her hip and jutted out her chin aggressively, putting on a SoCal accent, ・the total epitome of what a boyband should be and, like, every other boyband since was, like, totally derivative.・

・You・re funny, really, you are. You should get syndicated or something. I can see it now・you and Chris Rock,・ Jubilee paused dramatically, ・it・s like a match made in heaven.・

Paige grinned and threw a rolled up poster at her.

・Seriously though, they were starting to freak me out a little. See that one there?・

Paige nodded.

・Howie・s watching me.・

Paige burst out laughing.

・I・m serious!・ Jubilee exclaimed, ・look at his eyes, they follow you. Look.・

The other girl peered closer then shivered and began to remove the poster, ・Now you・ve got me spooked, Lee.・

・Told ya,・ was the smug reply as she began folding some clothes and placing them in her bag in a haphazard way that had Paige grimacing.

・You glad to be going back?・ she asked unexpectedly.

Jubilee looked up at her in surprise, ・Honestly? I kinda am. Don・t get me wrong or anything,・ she rushed on, ・I really enjoyed seeing everyone again and it was great to do some proper workouts but・・

・You miss London,・ the other finished for her.

・Yeah,・ she smiled softly, ・I do.・

・Anything in particular?・

・Subtle much?・

・I honestly wasn・t talking about Gambit that time!・ Paige declaimed then smirked, ・though it is very revealing that you thought so.・

・Put away your shrink hat, hayseed, doesn・t suit you,・ she smiled before returning to their original topic, ・I guess I miss the privacy, and the quiet.・

Paige raised a sceptical eyebrow.

・What? I・ve been on the streets, sharing rooms and living in dorms for the last seven years. I appreciate privacy.・

・Not sure if I buy it, anything else?・ she started on the New Kids on the Block posters.

・I have some friends there, not many like, but good ones.・

・They know about your powers?・

・No, and before you say anything. Don・t. I already had this talk with Remy,・ Jubilee shoved a pair of heels into a bag.

・Ookay・any special friends?・ the other girl teased.

・Not at the moment,・ Jubilee smiled, ・but there was one near the start.・

Paige dropped the poster in her hand and plonked herself down on the floor, ・Details, now.・

・What? Trying to live vicariously through my love life Guthrie?・ Jubilee teased in reply.

・Jubilee.・

・Ok, ok,・ she settled herself and faced Paige, ・his name was Josh. He had curly brown hair and blue eyes and he was really sweet.・

・And?・

・And we had a few laughs, he was a good guy.・

・And?・

・And nothing. What, you want a minute-by-minute breakdown of our dates?・

・Noo. Come on Lee, give me some of the juicy stuff.・

・What? Okay, juicy,・ Jubilee thought it over for a minute, ・good kisser but not enough tongue.・

・Jubilee!・

・What?・

・That・s not what I・m talking about,・ Paige waggled her eyebrows suggestively.

・Wha-? Oh,・ she shrugged, ・we didn・t get that far.・

・Ok. If this guy was so good, why・d you break up?・

・I dunno, it wasn・t going anywhere.・

・You・re eighteen,・ Paige emphasised, ・it・s not meant to go anywhere.・

・I know that, it・s just,・ Jubilee shrugged again, ・he didn・t make me go all tingly anymore.・

・Jubes・・

・No, hear me out,・ she paused and tried to collect her thoughts, ・you know you have these guys who give you butterflies? I mean, they just look at you and you get all happy? And the first time he holds your hand you・re like ・wow, hand holding and gosh isn・t he cute・.・

・Not sure about the ・gosh・ but I think I know where you・re going.・

・Ok, well then you know that after awhile you don・t get the butterflies, not even when you・re going out and kissing him and you definitely don・t get happy when he just looks at you. It・s just one of those little teen romance things, with a very short shelf life. And when the butterflies are gone, you just don・t care enough to keep it going.・

・Wow, I think you・ve just eradicated my hopes of ever finding love,・ Paige pulled a face.

・No, no,・ Jubilee protested, grinning, ・cause there are the other guys.・

・What other guys?・

・Well, you know the other guys. They don・t just give you butterflies, it・s like there・s a cyclone in your stomach.・

・Sounds nausea inducing.・

・Shut up,・ Jubilee threw a pillow at her.

・All right, all right.・

・As I was saying; these guys make you quiver all over. You know the guys who can give you those white hot lust moments?・

・No but I・m thinking I need to get out more,・ Paige looked at Jubilee and they burst out laughing.

・Oh, come on Guthrie. You・ve got to have at least one of them. What about Jono?・

Paige shook her head, ・Butterflies.・

・Tristan?・

・Butterflies.・

・Warren?・ Jubilee slipped in slyly.

・What?・ Paige stiffened.

・I・m sorry Guthrie, but you・re totally transparent.・

Paige started to sputter in indignation then slumped, ・Really?・

・Yeah, really,・ Jubilee waited for a moment, ・so?・

・So what?・

・Does he give you any ・take me I・m yours・ moments?・

Paige wrinkled her brow, ・I don・t know. But it・s the butterflies guys who last though, right? I mean, the lust guys are only good for the moment, right?・

・So not the person you should be asking. But I think, obviously, that the lust guys are the best for sex.・

That quickly focused Paige・s attention, ・You do?・

・Yeah,・ Jubilee caught the expression on her friend・s face, ・shut up.・

・What? I didn・t say anything.・

・I know that look.・

・What look?・

・The ・who, how many, oh my god you slut・ look.・

・That was not the look.・

・Yeah・it was.・

・It wasn・t・but out of curiosity, who and how many?・

・Just a few guys I met while travelling, and I・m not saying how many.・

・C・mon, ball park.・

・Nope.・

・I hope you were careful.・

・I swear to God Guthrie, you give me a safe sex talk I will kick your southern ass out of here.・

・Shutting up now.・

・Good.・

Silence.

・So, about Warren・・

・Drop it Lee.・

・Hey, you wanted all the sordid details of my sex life.・

・Yeah, ・cause you have one,・ Paige sighed and leaned back on her elbows.

・Not at the moment, I don・t.・

・Not even・・

・Say it and you・re a dead woman.・

・There・s nothing going on between me and Warren.・

・Just you fancy the pants right off him, don・tcha?・

・Lee!・

・What?・ Jubilee put on her best innocent look, ・you prefer his pants on?・

・You・re impossible.・

・It・s what makes me so loveable.・

・Yeah, right,・ Paige tugged on her lower lip with her teeth, ・I don・t think he・s a lust guy. He・s definitely butterflies. It doesn・t matter anyway,・ she shrugged sadly, ・he・s not interested in me.・

・No offence Paige, but you could do so much better,・ Jubilee said sincerely.

・What do you mean?・

・I mean, the guy・s just after breaking up with his long-time girlfriend and he・s totally stand-offish.・

・He・s just aloof,・ Paige protested.

・Aloof my ass. The guy gives Bobby a run for his money. And,・ she sniffed imperiously, ・he・s always been totally condescending towards me.・

Paige couldn・t help but grin, ・Aw, poor Jubilee.・

・Exactly. C・mon, there・s got to be someone else you can fixate on.・

Paige glared at her.

・How about Bobby? What?・ she asked in confusion when Paige cracked up laughing.

・The guy・s a little off the wall, don・t you think?・

・No. He・s funny and kind, and he does a great Professor X impression.・

・Wow, all I・ve ever wanted in a man wrapped up in a big ice cube parcel.・

・And he・s closer in age.・ Jubilee smiled inwardly at that. Wow, such a hypocrite Lee.

・Jubilee,・ Paige said earnestly, ・believe me when I say that I do not understand that guy・s thought processes and I honestly don・t think I ever want to.・

・Wow, harsh,・ Jubilee replied, a little bummed at her failed attempt at matchmaking, ・Oh well, good luck with Worthington. You・ll need it.・

・Hey!・

・What?・

・You・re meant to be supportive here,・ Paige huffed, ・where・s the comforting white lies and platitudes?・

・I・m not really into that.・

・Thanks Lee, knew I could count on you.・

She grinned lopsidedly, ・Happy to oblige.・

Paige blew out an annoyed breath, stood up and began untacking the posters once more.

Jubilee merely smiled at the other・s apparent pique and returned to her packing. She laid aside a clean change of clothes for the following morning before scavenging around for her sandals.

・So how・s it feel to be an X-Woman?・ she inquired.

Paige・s favourite topic. ・Oh it・s great,・ she gushed, ・everyone・s been really helpful and friendly. I mean, at the beginning, it was a bit weird ・cause you know・they・re the X-Men,・ a tinge of awe in her voice and a glimmer of the girl who・d first arrived at the Massachusetts Academy shone through.

Jubilee bit her lip to hold back a smile, ・Yes, they are.・

・And I was afraid they・d just see me as this really annoying tag-along,・ Paige barrelled on, heedless of her friend・s expression, ・but they・ve treated me as an equal. Of course, obviously, I・m not as experienced as they are but they・ve trusted me quite a lot out on the field. It・s really great,・ she reiterated, pride evident in her tone.

Thinking of the ・annoying tag-along・ she had been for many years, Jubilee had to shake herself back to the present, ・I・m really happy for you Paige. The X-Men don・t just trust anyone.・

Paige beamed, ・They don・t, do they?・ then her smile faltered, ・but they allow Stacy to hang around.・

Jubilee・s ears pricked up, ・The new chick? What・s she like?・

・Rude, obnoxious, over-confident,・ Paige bit out.

Smiling at the description, Jubilee couldn・t help saying, ・Sounds like someone I・d like.・

・No, not at all. She completely humiliated me in front of everyone in the medilab the other day.・

・Oh?・

・Yeah,・ Paige sighed, ・you heard how her mutation is to do with pheromones?・

・Uh huh.・

・Well, not only can she generate certain pheromones but she can sense them too, right?・

・Ookay,・ Jubilee replied, not sure where her friend was heading with this.

・So when I was down in the medilab visiting Warren she・・

・Oh,・ realisation dawned, ・Ohhh.・

Paige flushed.

・That sucks hun.・

・I think she likes him too,・ she said in a hushed voice, no longer taking down posters but staring out the window.

・Oh,・ Jubilee stood up and patted her friend on the back awkwardly, ・well if she・s such a biatch, he probably won・t take any notice of her.・

・Maybe,・ Paige sniffled a little then plastered a bright smile on her face, ・never mind, I don・t like him that much anyway.・

Yeah, right, her friend thought.

・Oh God, I have to go get changed for a Danger Room session,・ Paige exclaimed and dashed to the door, ・I・ll see you at dinner, ok?・

Jubilee had barely nodded when Paige was out the door, clearly embarrassed by her momentary lapse. Sighing, she settled herself on the floor once more and began stuffing clothing into the bags.

*** *** ***

The kitchen was empty when Jubilee wandered downstairs later, spurred on by the loud protests of her empty stomach. She rummaged around in the cupboards for awhile before settling on some cold pizza she found in the fridge and a can of soda.

Happily munching on her brunch, she noticed a familiar figure pass by the kitchen window. She quickly hopped from her seat and opened the door.

・Remy!・ Unfortunately, through the mouthful of half-masticated pizza, it sounded more like ・Merry!・ Nevertheless he stopped and looked back at her.

She swallowed, ・I mean, Remy・hi.・

・Hey chere,・ he responded cordially.

・You got a minute?・ she nodded her head towards the kitchen.

・Sure.・ He strolled past her inside and she closed the door behind him, ・Anyt・ing wrong?・

Jubilee grabbed her soda, took a swig and set it down again, ・Have you been avoiding me?・

・Pardon?・ he seemed genuinely confused.

・I feel like you・re avoiding me・are you?・

・Course not, I・ve just been busy.・

・I understand・but,・ she glanced up at him through her lashes, ・you haven・t visited me in awhile.・

・Petite, I told ya. I・ve been・・

Jubilee threw her hands up, ・Busy. I know, I know.・

Remy clenched his jaw a little, ・I・m not sure what you want me t・say here.・

・You saying that if you knew what I wanted to hear, you・d just say it to get me off your back?・ She could hear her voice becoming shrill and winced inwardly but continued.

・I don・ understand what you・re gettin・ angry about.・ She could see that he was struggling to hold onto his temper, and hated that he was being the reasonable one.

・I・m not angry,・ she began to pace, ・I just want to talk・with you. A conversation, I don・t think that・s unreasonable.・

・It・s not.・

She stopped and faced him, ・So talk. Tell me what you・ve been doing for the past week.・

He exhaled sharply, ・I・ve been working out in the Danger Room, getting check-ups, talkin・ to Stormy about the team. That sort of stuff.・

・So you・ve accepted the position?・

・As a reserve member, yeah,・ he scanned her face, ・that・s what ya wanted, wasn・t it?・

Had she made it seem like she wanted him to leave? ・Whatever you・re happiest with, Rem,・ she told him softly, ・that・s what I wanted.・

His eyes were inscrutable behind the sunglasses. ・I・m happy wit・ it.・

・Good・that・s good,・ she began to fidget, cursing her earlier irritability for starting off the conversation on the wrong foot.

・I should go, p・tite. I・ve got a meetin・ with Summers and Jean.・ He began to move towards the door.

・Remy,・ she reached out and caught his arm, ・I・I just wanted to thank you.・

・For what?・

・For・damn it,・ she stretched up on tip-toe and removed his sunglasses, ・stupid glasses, couldn・t see you・・

He smiled a little, turning to face her fully.

・I didn・t mean to be a grouch, Remy,・ she said sincerely, ・I just missed talking to you.・

・Jubilee・・

・I was just worried you were mad when I wouldn・t let you stay that night,・ she rushed on, ・even though I know you・re not as petty as that, but thinking that you might be angry with me about that kinda annoyed me cause it・d be a really small thing to get angry about.・

・Jubilee・・

・But I know you・re not now so it・s fine, and we・re fine and I・m sorry I was crabby, and I know I said that al-・

・Jubilee,・ this time he placed a hand over her mouth, ・you・re babbling.・ He removed his hand and she mock-scowled at him.

・I don・t babble, I expound intelligently on a wide range of themes and arguments,・ she stated firmly.

・P・tite, you babble,・ he replied with equal resolution then cut across her imminent retort, ・what did ya want to t・ank me for?・

・My birthday present. Really Remy,・ she gazed up at him with heartfelt gratitude in her eyes, ・no one・s ever given me something like that. You have no idea how much it means to me.・

・Ch・e,・ Gambit looked down at her, puzzled, ・y・already thanked me for dat.・

・Oh I know I thanked you,・ Jubilee replied, smiling seductively as she slid a hand up his arm to tangle in his hair and draw him down closer to her, ・but I didn・t Thank You.・ Mere centimetres now separated their mouths and Remy had instinctively encircled her with his arms.

・Jubilee,・ he whispered, ・we really shouldn・t do dis here, not again, anyone can・・

・Just one kiss Remy,・ she breathed, nuzzling the side of his face, ・just one・・ she gently tugged on his lower lip with her teeth and he responded by capturing her lips fully. Jubilee sighed into his mouth, tightening her hold on him and sliding her tongue sinuously against his.

Definitely a cyclone, she thought.

She felt rather than heard the groan that rose in his throat, the vibrations travelling to her fingertips. She was melting, a Jubilee shaped puddle. She nipped at that bottom lip again, because he had such an amazing mouth that she really couldn・t help it, and this time he growled. And his hand was travelling up to cradle her skull, and there wasn・t an inch of her that wasn・t plastered up against him. And God, why hadn・t she worn a v-neck?

Then it was over. Remy had pulled away and Jubilee stumbled, a little drunkenly. He reached out to steady her, before pulling back again, breathing unevenly. His sunglasses still hung between her fingers.

・That wasn・t smart,・ he said and plucked the shades from her grasp.

・I know,・ she breathed, no note of regret present. Every moment matters, she thought as she attempted to pat her hair down. A futile attempt, half her hair had come loose from its tie so she freed the rest. She was still breathless and heady, her heart rapping out a sharp staccato rhythm against her ribcage. He, on the other hand, had the audacity to have already regained his composure.

・I have to go, they・ll be waitin・ for me,・ she nodded and he turned as if to go, then paused and turned back. He reached out and caressed her cheek briefly, ・You・re welcome.・ And he left.

She smiled to herself, retied her hair and returned to the abandoned pizza.

*** *** ***

Jubilee had decided to ring Dani and was hoping that the professor wouldn・t mind her making long distance phone calls from her bedroom. At least she・d be out of the country by the time he got the bill.

Lying on the bed she dialled Dani・s private line carefully and listened for the ringing tone.

Ring.Ring.

Click.

・Dani here.・

・Hey girl.・

・Jubilee!・ came the excited shriek.

・Hey, how are you?・

・Good,・ pause, ・are you back? I thought you weren・t coming in till tomorrow.・

・I・m not, I・m still Stateside. Just thought I・d give you a ring, see if there・s any gossip to be shared.・

・Forget here! What・s going on over there? You・re in New York, been to any clubs?・

・I・m in New York state,・ Jubilee emphasised, ・not the city.・

・Same difference.・

・The most exciting place in Westchester is Harry・s Hideaway.・

・A club?・ Dani asked excitedly.

・A pub.・

・Oh. A trendy pub?・

Jubilee grinned, ・Nope, it・s a hole. You go there if you want to get pissed off your head, beaten up or both.・

Dani sighed, ・And I had this image of you club hopping all over Manhattan.・

・Sorry to disappoint,・ Jubilee replied wryly.

・No, it・s ok,・ Dani perked up a little, ・I do have some scandal though.・

・Ah, good. What?・

・Josh broke up with Sandra!・

・Already?・

・Yeah, so now you can make a move on him!・ she finished excitedly.

Jubilee groaned, ・How many times do I have to say this? I don・t want to get back together with Joshua. I mean, for God・s sake, I encouraged him to go after Sandra.・

・I know, why did you do that?・ Dani dismissed that line of conversation, ・Never mind. The point is he・s free, and perhaps a little vulnerable, so it・s the perfect time to make your move.・

Jubilee frowned, ・You make me sound like some sort of・I dunno, shark or something.・

・A loan shark?・ Dani supplied helpfully, ・A card shark? A great white shark?・

・What? Ok, ignore the shark thing. What I・m saying here is that I・m not interested in him. Got it? He・s my friend. F-R-I-E-N-D.・

・But I don・t understand,・ Dani despaired, ・you were so cute together, you never even fought!・

・I know,・ Jubilee sighed.

・So why, huh? Why did you dispose of a perfectly good boyfriend? Over the phone?・ she finished on a high note and Jubilee was forced to hold the receiver away from her head.

・Will I ever live down dumping him over the phone?・

・Mmmm no.・

Jubilee sighed again.

・I don・t get you, Jubi. I really don・t sometimes.・

・C・mon, Dan. You know these things don・t last long, Josh got over it. I don・t understand what you・re so hung up on.・

・I just thought you were a good couple,・ Dani said quietly, ・and you haven・t shown interest in another guy since. I mean, I・d understand it if there had been some other guy. But you never gave a really good reason.・

Jubilee remained silent. She didn・t feel she could say that she・d dumped her boyfriend for her guardian. There was just no good way of saying it. So she kept her mouth shut and let her friend rant on.

・・many guys have asked you out since? Plenty! And you say no to every single one, even Paul! Did you not see that boy・s body? Talk about a・hello? Are you listening to me?・

・Yes Dani.・ Jubilee lay back against the pillows and let her friend・s words wash over her. Eventually a silence came.

・Done now?・

・Yes.・

・So what・s up with you?・

・Nothing much,・ a sniffle.

・Dani?・

・He dumped me!・ came the wailing reply as the girl broke into tears.

Jubilee sat up, ・Ned? Ned dumped you?・

・Yes ,・ she sobbed.

・Oh Dani, I・m so sorry, when did it happen?・

・Wed--nesday.・

・Oh sweetie・・

・He said I never made time for him!・ anger creeping into her voice, ・said I was too busy with my other friends.・

・Oh・・ Jubilee grimaced.

・He was the one always off playing rugby,・ she was working herself into a fury, ・what was I supposed to do? Stand around in a muddy field, in the middle of winter and watch guys beat the crap out of each other for a stupid ball!・

・I・・

・I・m right though, aren・t I? He never made time for me. And he expected me to cut out my friends for him! What about his stupid friends? All they ever do is talk about football and rugby, rugby and football・・

・Well・・

・That・s another thing. He said I didn・t make an effort to get interested in his hobbies. Me! Who went to see that stupid XXX movie with him, huh? Who? Me!・

Jubilee decided that now was not the time to mention Dani・s overwhelming love of Vin Diesel.

・And the one time I asked him to go shopping with me, he just whined all day! And said stupid things like ・I think you look good in both of them・. What・s that supposed to mean?・

・Umm・・

・It・s not fair. He didn・t have any right to break up with me. I should have broken up with him!・

Jubilee remained silent. But Dani seemed to have run the gamut of her anger and when she spoke next her voice was low and quavering.

・Jubi?・

・Yeah?・

・I miss him so much,・ and she dissolved into a fresh bout of tears.

*** *** ***

After spending an age comforting her friend over the phone, Jubilee decided that she really needed to go for a nice, long swim. She hadn・t brought her swimsuit with her but a rummage through the chest of drawers had yielded one. It was obviously a school swimsuit, pure black with a small yellow ・x・ insignia on the right hip, a little small but it would do for the time being.

She quickly pulled her clothes on again over the swimsuit, grabbed a towelling robe from the bathroom and slipped on a pair of flip-flops before leaving her room.

Passing by the main hall she noticed Kurt putting his Teleportation 101 class through their paces. She grinned at the awe-struck expression on some of the students・ faces as they watched their instructor disappear with a resounding ・Bamf・ and reappear almost instantly in a different position. Moving along quickly, she paused in the glass corridor which connected the mansion to the pool house and watched Worthington lead his advanced flight class across the sky. She had to smother a giggle when the hapless Beak appeared, half carried by another member of his class. Poor kid, she thought, as she continued on into the changing rooms, ignoring the fact that no more than three years could possibly separate them. Even in a school full of outcasts and misfits, someone had to be on the outside.

The pool was empty, thankfully, and Jubilee slipped into the tepid water with a sigh. Floating on her back she kicked away from the pool edge and stared dreamily up. The roof of the pool house was glass, and once more Worthington swooped into sight, closely followed by his students. Jubilee watched the minute figures glide and spiral through the air, unconsciously gaping. The group pulled up short for a moment, hovering until the stragglers came into view and then they were off again.

When they eventually withdrew from her line of vision, Jubilee returned to her senses and closed her mouth. She smirked and turned in the water, traversing the pool with strong, sure strokes. If Husk wasn・t careful she・d find herself with more competition for a certain winged X-Man.

*** *** ***

Dinner was quiet, uneventful. Jubilee divided her time between the Professor on one side and Hank on the other. Xavier・s enthusiasm for her newly discovered telepathic abilities was bemusing. Hank had heard of her interest in the field of physiotherapy and was sharing his views on the virtues of physio over surgery. Jubilee sat, blinked, nodded and made encouraging noises when necessary. If they noticed her glazed eyes, it in no way impeded the flow of conversation.

The news of her new power had been exciting, at first. When the initial surprise faded, other realisations kicked in. Very few telepaths had easy transitions. Monet never spoke of hers. Emma and Jean・she shivered when she thought of their experiences. Why couldn・t her secondary mutation be useful? Like wings? Or improved strength? Something practical, like the ability to reach the top shelf in the supermarket.

These thoughts were her own, not to be shared.

When the dishes were cleared away, she kissed the Professor goodnight, excused herself and made her way to the back stairway. She was all talked out for one evening and wanted to veg out in front of the TV in her room. Reruns of first season Buffy were calling her name.

A muffled shriek escaped her when she came upon a shadowy figure, sitting on the bottom steps of the staircase. Rich, smooth laughter disturbed the silence and soothed her nerves.

・Remy, you jerk! Give me a freakin・ heart attack, already!・

・Sorry chere,・ she could hear the smirk in his voice.

She huffed a little and folded her arms across her chest, ・What you sitting there for, anyway?・

・Waiting for you.・

She raised an eyebrow, ・Really?・

He stood up, ・Just wanted t・say goodnight.・

She narrowed her eyes knowing that, even in this poor light, he would be able to see it. He was trying to compensate for not visiting her the last few nights. She knew it, and he knew it. She only wished he・d waited in her room. Here, on a staircase, their actions were restricted.

・All right,・ she leaned in and gave him a brief hug, ・good night, Gumbo.・

He returned the embrace and brushed his lips across her forehead, ・G・night, p・tite.・

They separated.

・You all packed?・

・Oui, you?・

・Yeah, Paige gave me a hand.・

She saw his lips twitch.

・What?・

・Nothin・,・ he gazed up at the ceiling and she could have sworn he was whistling.

・Yeah, nice try at the innocent thing,・ she planted her fists on her hips, ・give.・

・Well・・ he grinned, ・Mme Guthrie seems to have a penchant for a certain・・

・Flyboy?・ Jubilee stole the wind from his sails, a smirk pulling at her mouth, ・I know.・

He pouted, ・Ah chere, you have taken the punch line from me. And I thought you more chivalrous than that.・

She gave a dismissive snort, ・I think everyone knows, Stacy X kinda spelled it out in the medilab one day.・

Remy winced sympathetically.

・Yeah, so no innuendoes mister,・ she poked him in the chest, ・and no offers of a crash course in seduction.・

He looked downcast.

・And I so wanted to share my knowledge wit・ the blonde fille・・

Jubilee punched him in the arm and pushed past him laughing, ・I・m going to bed you overly hormonal freak.・

・Don・ go givin・ me ideas, p・tite,・ he replied in a bantering tone, but with a serious undercurrent that sent shivers down her spine.

・Night, Remy.・

・Night.・

*** *** ***

She had been awake for ten minutes before the radio switched on. With a groan she smacked it, cutting off the banter of the DJ. An indeterminate length of time was spent simply staring at the ceiling before she garnered the energy to kick off the covers and stand up.

Last morning at the mansion. She was mostly ready, only nightclothes and toothbrush left to pack.

And a special task that had to be meticulously carried out.

Jubilee grinned.

*** *** ***

A large group was gathered on the front steps of the mansion, while Remy and Jubilee piled their luggage into the boot of the car. When finished, she stepped forward and began hugging each person in turn. He hovered behind her until Scott moved forward to shake his hand. This broke the stand-off and others followed. Jubilee smiled, delighted with this, as she bade Angelo farewell.

・Keep in touch, chica. You have my e-mail,・ he reminded.

・You・re such an old man Espinosa,・ she hugged him and whispered, ・take care of Sean.・

He nodded and she passed on to Jono.

・You・ll call on me, next time you・re in London, right sunshine?・ she enquired.

**If I・ve the time**

・Geez, I feel loved.・

He patted her shoulder and Jubilee decided not to traumatise him with a hug.

Remy was speaking to Emma, albeit warily, but she cut across the pleasantry he was about to utter.

・I・ll be watching you LeBeau.・

A lewd reply rose to the tip of his tongue but he repressed the words and merely lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed it, smiling benignly all the while.

She blinked. Her eyes narrowed. She turned and walked away, transforming into her diamond form as she retreated.

・Don・t mind her, she・s about as vicious as a kitten these days,・ Se・ said.

Remy glanced at the man, smiling briefly, ・I doubt that, mon ami.・

The other man shrugged, and shook Gambit・s hand.

・I・m not going to threaten you,・ Se・ pronounced carefully, as though it was a matter of great disappointment to him, ・just keep watching out for her and we・ll get along grand.・

・Think I can manage that.・

・Good.・

Jubilee was standing in front of Logan.

・Hey.・

・Hey kid.・

・You gonna miss me?・ she grinned cheekily.

・Nah.・

She pouted.

・Well I・ll miss you, oh hairy one,・ she declared resolutely and wrapped her arms around him tightly.

He returned the embrace silently, and when they pulled away he brushed a tear from her cheek.

・Sorry,・ she mumbled, embarrassed.

He offered her a reassuring smile and ruffled her hair.

・Hey,・ she batted away the offending hand.

・Get goin・ darlin・, he・s waiting for you.・

・Yeah,・ she stepped back then paused, reaching a decision, ・I・ll come back when my exams finish.・

Logan scrutinised her, ・Yeah?・

・Yeah.・

They stood still, watching each other.

・Okay then・so・・

・I・ll see you in the summer, kid.・

・Right,・ she beamed at him, ・summer. See you then Wolvie.・ She darted forward to plant a kiss on his cheek then turned and got into the car.

Remy was already sitting in the driving seat.

・You ready, ch・e?・

・Yeah,・ she sighed and fastened her seat belt, ・Let・s go.・

He inserted the key, ・I didn・ see Drake, did he say goodbye to you?・

Jubilee struggled to keep a straight face, ・I think he・s a little busy.・

He examined her with suspicion, ・What・d you do?・

She smirked evilly, ・Let・s just say I hadn・t forgotten about a certain package which exploded on me.・

・Jubilee,・ he grinned and started the engine.

Suddenly, outraged shouting reached their ears.

Jubilee grimaced, ・Shit. Better floor it Gumbo.・

Knowing better than to ask questions, he shouted goodbye at the confused group and put the car into gear.

Robert Drake exploded from the mansion and around him the X-Men collapsed into laughter. His hair was a shocking pink and he was unable to stop scratching at a certain・delicate part of his anatomy.

・Lee!・ He practically screamed.

The focus of his ire stuck her head out of the car window and yelled, ・Payback・s a bitch, ain・t it?・

The car sped down the driveway.

*** *** ***

London.

The door to the apartment was flung open and several bags were thrown inside, followed closely by Remy and Jubilee who carried the remaining few.

She kicked the door shut behind her and sighed.

・Home at last,・ he said, voicing her sentiments. He shrugged off his coat and threw it over the luggage, ・Want some coffee?・

・No.・

He headed towards the kitchen, ・Tea then?・

・Remy, I don・t want anything to drink.・

He turned around, confused at the tone of her voice and was hit by a Jubilee projectile. He staggered back under her weight before regaining his balance, sliding his hands under her thighs and securing her legs around his waist. She was kissing him feverishly, hands skittering over his shoulders, down his back, framing his face.

・Jubilee・・ he broke away, gasping for breath and she took the opportunity to suck and lick on the skin under his ear. She traced the muscle standing out in his neck with her teeth and began tugging at the sweater concealing the rest of his torso from her.

・God, Remy, take it off, take it off,・ she moaned and kissed him again.

He manoeuvred her up against the wall and used the leverage to strip off the sweater and t-shirt beneath. Her breath quickened and she skimmed her fingers over his chest; light, teasing touches that had him panting. He grabbed her hands, pinned them above her head before leaning in to kiss her with a ferocity that made the blood ring in her ears. She squirmed against him, wanting to touch him, and he released her hands with a harsh gasp. Jubilee clutched at his shoulders dragged her blunt nails across the nape of his neck. His hands were under her top, gliding over the sensitive skin of her stomach, muscles contracting under his touch.

He pulled back from her mouth, ・Jubilee・・

She silenced him with a kiss, slow and languorous, a stark contrast to their previous caresses. When she broke away, they were both breathing heavily and she gazed intently into his eyes.

・Bedroom. Now.・

*** *** ***

(Author・s Notes)

Thankfully, there was no winner of the cyber-lolly offered in the last chapter, as I had no idea how to construct one.

Kudos to anyone who can spot the Fame (tv series) and Buffy the Vampire Slayer quotes paraphrased in the above chapter.

I will try to work in events which have taken place in canon as best I can, hence the mention of the Angel/Husk relationship in this chapter.

Feedback is always valued.