Disclaimer:
I don't own the X-Men. Amazing, huh? Ooh, and here's another shocker・I
don't own any of the songs used in this fic. If you sue me, you're an
idiot. "Jubilee" is sung by Mary Chapin Carpenter, and "My
Best Friend" by Tim McGraw. Julie Garwood owns the section in here
copied from her novel The Bride. I'm using the excerpt without
her permission. Summary:
Are things finally looking up for Wolverine and Jubilee? (part ten in
a series) Rating: PG-13
Sappy Fluff
Warning: That's what this is folks・Fluff. Shameless, unapologetic
fluff. Normal Addie-Logan-style angst will return soon enough, so don't
be afraid! Hate fluff and want to find a way to get through this fic?
Make it a drinking game! Try something like throwin' back a shot of
Jack Daniels every time tears come anywhere near Jubilee's eyes. You'll
be falling-down drunk in no time flat! Author・s Note:
Like with parts one through nine, if you have serious issues with W/J
romantic pairings, DO NOT read this! You have been warned. Constructive
criticism welcomed. Flames deleted right after I tell you off for being
a rude little moron. And people who flame without giving an email address
are wussies. Author's Note
Part 2: Chapter ten. Wow...I can't believe I've written ten stories
in this series already! Well, since ten's an important number, then
I think it's time for a celebration. Read on, and you'll see what I
mean. :-D Feedback and
Archiving: Feedback please! If you're reading this at fanfiction.net,
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I
can tell by the way you're walking And
I can tell by the way you're talking And
I can tell by the way you're listening And
I can tell by the way you're searching And
I can tell by the way you're standing 'Cause
the people who love you are waiting ***
*** *** Jubilee never thought
she'd be so happy to be back in Canada. She looked over
at Wolverine and smiled. He had carried a sleeping Akira in, and the
boy was still passed out on Logan's shoulder. He looked so...fatherly.
Jubilee was surprised at how much she liked that. "I'm gonna
put him down in our bed fer now," Logan said. "We can figure
out what to do on a more permanent basis tomorrow." Jubilee nodded.
"All right." Jubilee sat on the
couch, pulling her knees up to her chin. She kept telling
herself things were going to be all right. ***
*** *** Logan woke up late
that night and looked over beside him. Jubilee was asleep with Akira
curled up in her arms. If he didn't know any better, he'd swear they
were mother and child. And, he figured
they were, in a way. Akira was hers now. They'd both seemed to make
that pretty clear. So where did that
leave him? The answer hit Logan
hard. He was a father. He remembered Amiko,
and his heart ached. He'd never been the father he should've been to
her, and now, he'd never have the chance. He wasn't going
to make the same mistake again. Jubilee and Akira・they were his family
now, despite the circumstances. And that meant that one thing needed
to change. Logan reached over and gently took Jubilee's left hand, kissing
the diamonds he'd placed there only a short time ago. He knew it was time
for him to add another ring. ***
*** *** Jubilee and Akira
were both already awake when Logan got up the next morning. Akira was
sitting on the floor coloring, and Jubilee was reading a book. "Mornin',"
Logan said. Jubilee didn't look
up from the book. "Good morning, love." "Whatcha readin'?" "Book." "I can see
that. What's the title?" "I don't remember." Logan tried to move
to get a look at the cover, but Jubilee twisted the book so he couldn't.
Now Wolverine was
determined. He reached over and snatched the book out of Jubilee's hand.
"Julie Garwood's The Bride?" He skimmed the back cover.
"Jubes, this is a romance novel." Jubilee turned bright
red. "I know. Just give it back, all right?" "Care to tell
me why you're reading a romance novel? I thought only lonely housewives
read these things, and I'm pretty sure ya ain't one of those..." Jubilee snorted.
"Far from it. Look, my roommate in college used to read them all
the time, and she got me hooked, all right? The little things are addictive." Logan opened the
book to a random page and started reading. "What is this crap?"
he asked. "'You're wearing my plaid now, that's what I'm thinking.'
'I'm not wearing anything, she whispered.'" Jubilee tried to
grab the book out of Logan's hand, but he stepped back, keeping it away
from her. "'Aye, you are. Your back is covered by the plaid blanket
and I'm covering your front with my plaid. Yes, you're wearing my plaid
all right." Jubilee blushed
a bright red and Wolverine just laughed. "Always pegged ya fer
havin' better taste in readin' material, darlin'," he said, handing
her back the book. "I don't read
them for literary merit, Logan," she said, trying to push away
her embarrassment. "They're...entertaining." Logan smirked. "I
bet they are." Jubilee smacked
him on the head with the novel. "Stop being so annoying." Jubilee felt a tug
on her pants' leg, and looked down to see Akira. "What is it, sweetheart?"
she asked, crouching down to be on his level. "I made a picture!"
Akira exclaimed. "It's you and Logan!" Jubilee couldn't
help but laugh when she saw the picture. It consisted of two stick figures:
one that was smiling and wearing a little stick-person dress, and another
that appeared to be snarling, with three lines coming out of each hand,
and two more lines coming off the head, reminiscent of antennae. "What
are these on Logan's head?" Jubilee asked, easily discerning which
was which. "His hair,"
Akira said, as if Jubilee had asked the dumbest question in the world.
"See, it's all pointy." Jubilee looked over
to see Wolverine self-consciously trying to smooth his hair down. She
forced herself to keep from laughing anymore. She stood up, taking Akira's
hand. "Come on, let's go put this on the fridge." Jubilee
threw a wink to Wolverine over her shoulder as she and Akira walked
out. He just snarled a little, and then broke out into a grin. Jubilee laughed. ***
*** *** Logan and Jubilee
had spent the past several hours at the Hinton, Alberta Wal-Mart. It
wasn't exactly Jubilee's idea of a pleasant shopping excursion, but
seeing as they had to get everything they'd need to take care of a small
child as soon as possible, it was the place to go. "Hon, what
do you think of this toddler bed?" "Hmm? What,
darlin'? I wasn't listenin'." Jubilee sighed.
"That's like what, the eight millionth time this afternoon? I'm
starting to lose my patience, Logan." "Sorry,"
Logan said. "I got a lot on my mind." Akira dropped his
toy from his seat in the front of the buggy, and Jubilee picked it up
and handed it to him without even stopping to think. Logan chuckled. "What the hell's
so funny?" "You. You're
a natural at this mom thing." "How is that
funny? What, did you think I'd be bad at it?" "No, not all.
Just the opposite, really. It just makes me happy to see ya with Akira.
Hell, when we were back in Madripoor I wasn't sure about this, but now,
us bein' a family feels so...right." Jubilee felt her
eyes growing misty. "Logan, I..." Logan cut her off.
"I like the bed, Jubes." "What?" "The toddler
bed. I like that one. It meets all the safety regulations and stuff,
right?" Jubilee smiled.
"Says it does on the box." "Mommy, I'm
hungry." Jubilee and Logan
both turned, staring at Akira. He'd called her mommy... She wanted to
cry again, but held it back. "We're almost through here, and then
we'll get something on the way home, okay?" "Okay."
Akira went back to playing with the toy Jubilee had gotten for him in
order to keep him occupied during their little Wal-Mart excursion. Jubilee looked down
at Akira and maternally stroked the top of his head. She decided she
liked being someone's "mommy." ***
*** *** "You can't
seriously be suggesting we take the kid to a bar, Logan." "It'll be fine.
It's just Carrie's." "No! He's four
years old・he doesn't belong in a bar." Logan thought in
a series of curses. Convincing Jubilee to go along with him was harder
than he'd anticipated. "Jubes, darlin', please. Humor me. If things
get too rough for a kid, we'll leave." "I don't think
it's a good idea, Logan. It'll get late, and..." "We'll be home
in time fer Akira to go to bed at a reasonable hour." "Logan..." "Please, darlin'?" Jubilee had never
been able to resist Logan when he said please in that particular tone
of voice. Which probably made it a good thing that he didn't do it very
often. "Fine," she said with a sigh. "If it means that
much to you, we'll go・but not for long. I plan to be a better mother
to that child than Viper ever was." "That won't
take much," Logan said with a snort. Jubilee hit him
playfully on the arm. "Well, if we're gonna go, we better go,"
she said. "I'm going to change." "Darlin'?"
"Yeah?" "Wear somethin'
cute tonight." Jubilee gave him
a puzzled look. "Like what?" "I don't know...how
'bout that white dress ya bought up in Edmonton with Carrie a while
back?" Jubilee shrugged.
"All right." Jubilee walked off
and Logan grinned. For once, everything was going the way he wanted
it to. ***
*** *** Jubilee came out
of the bedroom. "Is this 'cute' enough?" she asked, twirling
around. A slow smile crept
across Logan's face. "Yeah. You look...wow." Akira looked up
from where he was playing on the floor with his blocks. "You look
pretty, Mommy!" he exclaimed. Jubilee bent down
and kissed Akira on the cheek. "Thanks, little dude." Akira beamed up
at her. "I'm gonna
go get dresses," Logan said. He gave Jubilee a quick kiss. "I'll
be right back." Jubilee sat down
and played with Akira. ***
*** *** Jubilee glanced
over at Logan as he drove the jeep. There was something decidedly different
about him that night. He was dressed nicely. Jubilee had been
more than a little surprised when Logan had walked out of the bedroom
in something other than faded jeans and an old flannel shirt. Instead,
he was dressed in a pair of nice black jeans and a blue dress shirt
Jubilee hadn't even known he owned. He'd even made an attempt to calm
his ever-pointy hair. Jubilee noticed
something else different about him, too. He was nervous. And the closer
they got to Carrie's Place, the more nervous he got. "Logan, is
there something going on I don't know about?" Jubilee asked. "No, darlin'." Jubilee could tell
he was lying, but she decided not to push the subject. Whatever was
up, she'd know soon enough. When they got to
the bar, it was surprisingly next to empty, with the only other two
people there being Carrie, and a man Jubilee felt like she knew well,
but couldn't place at the same time. Suddenly, it hit
her who he was. It was Kurt Wagner, a.k.a. Nightcrawler, with his image
inducer on. "Logan, what's
going on?" Jubilee asked. "Why is Kurt here?" "He's here
to marry us, darlin'." Jubilee stared at
Logan in confusion for a moment until his words sunk in. She started
to cry. Logan looked worried.
"Are you upset?" Jubilee shook her
head no. "Then those
are happy tears?" Jubilee nodded,
then threw her arms around Logan's neck. "I love you," she
said softly. "I love you,
too." Carrie walked passed
them and over to Akira. "Is this the kid you were talking about
on the phone, Logan?" she asked. Logan moved only
slightly out of Jubilee's arms. "Yeah. That's Akira." Carrie looked down.
"Hi, Akira." Akira waved. "Hi!" "So whose kid
is he exactly?" Carrie asked. Logan shrugged.
"At the moment, ours・mine and Jubilee's. It's a long story, Carrie,
and I can't answer a lot of questions." Carrie nodded. If
there was one thing she understood better than anything else it was
the need to keep some things secret. Logan walked over
to Kurt and shook his hand, then reached out and hugged him. "Thanks
fer comin' up here, elf. Especially on such short notice." Kurt smiled at his
old friend. "I was my pleasure. I was just happy to be able to
share in your joy today, mein freund." "You didn't
say anything to the others, did you?" Logan asked. "No,"
Kurt replied. "I respect the fact that you want to keep things
quiet for now, especially after how much of the mansion reacted to finding
out you and Jubilee are a couple." "Thanks, Kurt." Carrie and Jubilee・with
Akira seated on her hip・came up to the two men. "So are you guys
ready to get this happening or not?" Carrie asked. "I think
it's more than past time for the two of you to get hitched." Logan couldn't have
gotten rid of the huge grin he was wearing if he'd tried. "I'm
sure as hell ready. How 'bout you, Jubes?" Jubilee wiped a
tear off her cheek. "I've never been more ready for anything in
my life." Carrie gave Jubilee
a quick hug. "I love you like a sister, kiddo," she said.
"I'm so happy for the both of you." "Thank you,
Carrie," Jubilee said, hugging her back. "I love you, too." Carrie took Akira's
hand and led him over to the bar, picking him up and setting him on
top of it. He grinned, kicking his little legs over the edge. Carrie
sat in the stool beside him and took hold of his hand. Jubilee told herself
not to cry anymore. Her last bit of resolve disappeared the moment she
and Logan were standing in front of Kurt, and Logan reached out, taking
both of Jubilee's hands in his. Jubilee didn't hear
much of what Kurt was saying up until the vows, the overwhelming emotion
of the moment taking hold of her. After all they'd been through together,
she and Wolverine were finally getting married. "Do you, Logan,"
Kurt began, "take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to
love, honor, and cherish, to have and to hold, for richer or for poorer,
in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, as long as you
both shall live?" Logan looked into
Jubilee's tear-filled eyes. He had never wanted anything more in his
life than to make that vow. "I do." Kurt turned to Jubilee.
"And do you, Jubilation, take this man to be your lawfully wedded
husband, to love, honor, and cherish, to have and to hold, for richer
or for poorer, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others,
as long as you both shall live?" Jubilee felt her
heart jump. "I do." Kurt looked at Logan.
"Do you have the rings?" "I do!"
Akira yelled. He leapt off the bar and came scampering over, holding
two platinum bands in the palm of one of his small hands. He grinned
at Jubilee. "Logan said I could be the ring-bear." Jubilee laughed.
Logan took the smaller ring from Akira and patted him on the head. Logan slipped the
ring on Jubilee's left hand. "With this ring, I thee wed." Jubilee put Logan's
ring on his finger as well, fighting to keep her own hand from trembling
in the process. "With this ring, I thee wed." "I now pronounce
you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." Logan bent down
and captured Jubilee's mouth, trying to infuse all the love, all the
passion he felt for her into one kiss. He pulled away and cupped her
face in his hands. "My wife," he said, his own eyes filling
with tears. Jubilee took his
hands away from her face and held them tightly. "My husband." ***
*** *** I never had
someone I could count on It was a feelin'
I'd never known Jubilee wasn't even
sure how many times she and Wolverine had danced on that floor, beside
the old jukebox. It was where he'd first kissed her, where he'd proposed,
and now, where he'd married her. But there was something different about
them being there that time, and Jubilee figured it was because something
had changed since the last time they'd danced together. They were married・and
it was their first dance together as husband and wife. You're more
than a lover I don't know
where I'd be The chorus of the
song played, and Jubilee looked up into Logan's eyes. He'd picked the
song, and now, she could see why. He pressed his lips against her forehead,
and then said softly, "You are my best friend." Jubilee started
to cry again. "I've got to quit bursting into tears every five
seconds," she said. "I probably look a mess." "Darlin', yer
the most beautiful woman I've ever seen," Logan replied with nothing
but sincerity. You stand
beside me You're more
than a lover I don't know
where I'd be "Jubes." Jubilee didn't look
up from her comfortable spot, nestled against the crook of Logan's neck.
"Hmm?" "Are you okay
with us, um, gettin' married in a bar." Jubilee did look
up then, and Logan could see the mirth in her eyes. "Yes. Actually,
it's strangely romantic. So much of our relationship has taken place
here. It's...fitting. It was perfect, Logan." "I love you
so much, Jubilee. I just wanted to marry ya, to make ya my wife as soon
as I could. I didn't want to take any chances・especially after what
happened with Viper. I was afraid that...that..." "That what
happened with you and Mariko would happen with us?" Jubilee said,
supplying the end to the sentence that Logan was afraid to say. Logan let out a
deep breath. "Yeah. Damn, you must think I'm a total ass fer thinkin'
about her at all today." Jubilee put her
hand on Logan's cheek, and he nuzzled against it. "Not at all.
It's perfectly natural that you would." "You thinkin'
about Brian at all?" Jubilee laughed.
"Only in the context that I'm happy it's you I'm marrying, and
not him." Logan held her tighter.
"I'm happy for that, too, darlin'." I don't know
where I'd be You're my
best friend... ***
*** *** "Really, Logan,
let us." "Yeah. It's
no trouble." Logan looked and
Kurt and Carrie skeptically. "I don't know. I'm worried about not
having Akira around to watch over." "Logan, mein
freund, Akira will be safe with us." Carrie put her hand
on Logan's shoulder. "Really. If anyone comes after him trying
to hurt him, I have a gun・several in fact." Logan was torn.
He wanted to spend the night alone with Jubilee, seeing as it was their
wedding night and all, but he didn't want to put Akira at risk either.
"Hold on, let me talk to my wife." He smiled to himself
at that last part. His wife... "Hey, Jubilee,
um, Carrie and Kurt want to take Akira for the night." Jubilee frowned.
"How do you feel about that?" "I don't know.
Kurt knows who Akira is・I told him when I talked to him earlier about
coming up here for this. He'd protect him, I know. Carrie doesn't know
who he is, but she seems to understand there's some sort of danger surroundin'
him, and I think she's okay with that. I don't know how or why, though." "Do you think
he'll be any safer with us than he'll be with them?" Jubilee asked.
"He might even be safer, seeing as Viper won't know to look there." "Good point,"
Logan said. "What do you want to do?" "I want the
night with you, if it's at all possible," she said. "We can
get Akira back tomorrow. I think it'll be okay for one night" Logan nodded. "Me,
too." He went back over to Kurt and Carrie. "Are you guys
sure about this?" "Of course,"
Carrie said. "And your friend Kurt here seems nice. I'd like to
get a chance to know him a little better." "Remember,
Carrie, he's a priest," Logan teased. Kurt blushed and
Carrie glared. "I didn't mean like that, ya old perv." Logan smirked, then
turned to Akira. "Will you be okay with Kurt and Carrie tonight,
bub?" Akira looked at
him over the soda Carrie had given him. "Yes." Logan ruffled his
hair. "You can call us if you need anything. Carrie has our number,
okay?" "Okay." Jubilee came over
and set Akira's cup on the bar so she could pick him up and give him
a hug. "I love you, kiddo. I'll see you tomorrow, okay? Behave
for Kurt and Carrie." "I will, Mommy.
I love you, too." Logan and Jubilee
were just about to leave, when Akira called out. "Mommy?" Jubilee turned.
"Yes?" "Was I a good
ring-bear?" Jubilee smiled from
ear to ear. "You were the best ring-bear I've ever seen." ***
*** *** Jubilee laughed
gleefully as Logan carried her over the threshold. "You don't have
to be doing this, you know," she said. "Yeah, but
I want to." "Where are
you taking me?" Jubilee asked when he kept carrying her even after
they'd gotten into the cabin. "The bedroom,"
Logan said. "It's been too damn long." Jubilee couldn't
argue with that. With everything that had happened with Viper, it had
been a while since they'd had the chance to be in each other's arms.
Logan kicked open the door to their room, lay her down on the bed, and
wasted absolutely no time in joining her. ***
*** *** Wolverine was quite
annoyed to find the other side of the bed cold when he woke up the next
morning. He blinked his eyes, trying to shake off sleep. Not that he'd
gotten much the night before. He sniffed the air,
smelling something not at all unpleasant. The room was filled with the
scent of Jubilee and...breakfast? He got out of bed, slipped on a pair
of discarded jeans, and went out into the kitchen. Jubilee was standing
in front of the stove, cooking the one meal she claimed she was capable
of fixing・eggs, bacon, and toast. She was dressed in nothing but one
of Wolverine's flannel shirts, and Logan liked the nice view he was
getting of her legs. "Damn, she's beautiful," he thought. Logan came up behind
her, wrapping his arms around her waist. He leaned down and whispered
in her ear. "Yer wearin' my plaid." Jubilee started
giggling. "Behave yourself. You're going to make me burn the eggs." Logan nibbled on
her ear. "Who cares about eggs?" "I do,"
she said. "You made me work up quite an appetite last night, Wolvie." "Made you?
I didn't hear any complain'. 'Cept maybe those little whimpers every
time I stopped. Mainly it was just you screamin' my name and beggin'
me to keep goin'." Jubilee blushed
from head to toe. "You're awful." "Yeah, and
now you're stuck with me." "Strangely
enough, I'm happy about that." Logan spun Jubilee
around and looked into her eyes. For a moment, he felt as if he could
see into her soul, and he knew then how truly beautiful she was. "I
love you." "I love you,
too." They kissed, and
for one brief space of time, none of the problems they had to faced
mattered. They were finally
husband and wife, and all was right with the world. ***
*** *** Is that the end?
No! Will there be more? Yes! I don't know when, but there will be. So
what did you think? Did you like "the wedding episode?" *grin*
Give me feedback and let me know your thoughts! Also, would anyone
be interested in reading a fic centered on Carrie Black? Let me know
your feelings on that one, okay? |