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What a Christmas to Have the Blues by Addie Logan Disclaimer: I don't own X-Men, although I am looking in to buying Hugh Jackman off e-Bay¡¦ "Please Come Home for Christmas" is preformed by the Eagles (at least the version I'm using is), and "Blame it on the Mistletoe" is preformed by Toby Keith. "Merry Christmas, Darling" is the Carpenters. Rating: R
Summary:
Wolverine discovers love under the mistletoe¡¦ (Movie 'verse Wolverine/Jubilee) Author's Note:
I'd been thinking about writing a movie-based Wolverine and Jubilee
fic for a while, and after a friend suggested I write a Christmas story
with Wolverine putting lights on a Christmas tree, I came up with the
plot for this little piece of holiday romantic sap. Hope you enjoy! Feedback and
Archiving: Please! Send all feedback and archiving requests to [email protected]. And if you're bored
and want someone to talk to, turn on AIM and send an IM to ChereRogueMarie.
I'm lonely! Shameless Website
Plug: Go to my website: http://www.angelfire.com/scifi/addielogan Bells will be
ringing this sad sad news ***
*** *** Jubilation Lee had,
like most of the students her age, left Xavier's to go to college. And
also like most of the other students, she had nowhere to go from Christmas,
save the mansion. Jubilee noticed that being a mutant didn't seem to
be a condition conducive to having parents¡¦at least not parents who
wanted you around. Jubilee shook the
snow off before walking into the mansion. It was times like this that
she missed the warmth of Southern California. She and cold had never
mixed well. The first thing Jubilee came in contact with when she came
inside was a half-lit Christmas tree. A cursing half-lit Christmas
tree. She cleared her throat, and a man stepped out from behind it. "You want somethin'?"
he asked gruffly. "Wolverine,
right?" Jubilee asked. Sure, she'd never really talked to
him, but she'd heard enough about him in the time she'd roomed with
Rogue. "Yeah. You're
one of Rogue's friends." "Jubilee."
Wolverine cocked
an eyebrow. "Right. The loud one." "Logan!"
Wolverine and Jubilee both turned at the sound of Jean's voice. "Logan,
how's the tree coming along?" "Dammit,"
Logan muttered. "It's fine, Jeannie!" he called back. Jean came into the
room, scrutinizing the tree the way she would an x-ray. "Those
top two strings are too close together." Logan sighed. "Jean,
I've done this three times again." Jean pouted. "But
it still isn't right!" Jubilee took their
bickering as an opportunity to sneak out of the room. She'd heard about
Wolverine's claws, and she wasn't particularly in the mood to see them
in action on the tree¡¦or Dr. Grey-Summers. Rogue was sitting
on her bed reading a magazine when Jubilee came into the room. "Hey,
girl, miss me?" Jubilee asked from the doorway. Rogue looked up,
grinned, and ran to Jubilee. The two girls hugged, squealing loudly.
"I thought you weren't supposed to be back for another three days!"
Rogue said happily. "I took my
last exam with another class so I could get out of there quicker,"
Jubilee said. "For some reason I couldn't wait to get back to this
place." "You probably
missed Scott's early morning mandatory Danger Room sessions." Jubilee snorted.
"Hardly. So where is everybody?" "Um, Kitty
went home, but she said to tell you she'll be here for New Years. Bobby's
out in the snow. It's been next to impossible to get him in. I'm surprised
he hasn't started sleeping out there. As for the rest, I have no idea." Jubilee shrugged.
"Guess you'll have to entertain me then." She went over to
her side of the room, put her books down, and flopped back on the bed.
"How long has Logan been doing those lights?" Rogue sniggered.
"Hours. Apparently Jean develops obsessive-compulsive disorder
around Christmas time. She blames her mother." "Poor Scott.
They say women turn into their mothers as they get older, and if that's
what Jean's mother's like¡¦" "Maybe Logan'll
start being glad he never got her," Rogue said, laughing. "I doubt Wolverine
would've stuck around long enough for the whole 'till death do us part
thing anyway,'" Jubilee said. Rogue frowned. "You
don't know him, Jubilee." "Well, no,
but he doesn't look like Mr. Stability." "Logan isn't
as bad as most people around here think," Rogue said defensively.
"And the only reason he keeps leaving is to find his past. You
can't blame a guy for that!" Jubilee rolled over,
propping herself on her elbow. "You don't still have a crush on
him, do you?" "What! No,
how could you say that?" "I don't know.
You just seem awfully quick to stick up for the guy." "He's my friend,
Jubes. I'd do the same for you. And I'm happy with Bobby." "So you wouldn't
be insanely jealous if he showed up here with some girl and professed
undying love for her?" Rogue rolled her
eyes. "As if that would happen." "I thought
you said he was capable of having a stable relationship." "I¡¦!"
Rogue gave Jubilee a dirty look. "That wasn't fair." Jubilee flopped
back on the bed, putting her hands behind her head. "You should
know by now I'm not into playing fair." Rogue threw a pillow
at Jubilee and it hit her in the stomach. Jubilee picked it up and smiled,
ready to throw it back. She liked being
home. ***
*** *** Jubilee was surprised
to see the tree not only still in one piece, but decorated when she
got back downstairs. Logan was in the living room, lounging back on
the couch, drinking a Molson and watching hockey. "Geez, he's
even wearing flannel," Jubilee thought. "Is he trying
to see if he can win the award for the world's most stereotypical Canadian?"
She said, "You finally got the lights on the tree?" Wolverine looked
around at her. "Yeah," he grunted before turning back to the
television. Jubilee wasn't sure
what Rogue had ever seen in him. He was too hairy and had all the personality
of a rug. "You always this talkative?" Logan didn't stop
watching the game. "You want somethin' kid, or are you just tryin'
to irritate me?" Logan smiled as his worlds had the desired effect,
and Jubilee walked away in disgust. He grinned. He was getting good
at making those irritating kids leave him alone. ***
*** *** Jubilee had to refrain
from groaning out loud when she walked into the rec room and saw Wolverine
was the only other person in there. Most of the other people in the
mansion had gone to do some last minute Christmas shopping, and she
knew she should've gone with them. Since when did she turn down shopping? Logan was at the
pool table, playing a game by himself. He looked up, meeting Jubilee's
eyes. "You aren't shoppin' with the rest of the kids?" he
asked. "Marie said you were the Queen of the Mallrats." Jubilee wasn't sure
why that offended her. She was usually proud of her mallrat status.
"I didn't feel like it. I'm done with my shopping." Logan shrugged.
"You play pool?" "Sometimes." "Grab a cue.
I'm sick of beating myself. Rather beat you for a while." Jubilee wasn't anywhere
near in the mood for playing pool¡¦especially not with him¡¦but she wasn't
about to walk away from the challenge he threw down either. "We'll
see about that, wolfman." Wolverine smirked,
and Jubilee went to see if maybe she could do something about that. ***
*** *** Jubilee wasn't sure
how in the world this game had evolved from regular pool into that of
the strip variety. All she knew was she was barefoot and without a shirt,
while Wolverine had only lost his horrid flannel overshirt. She knew
she should walk away, but now her pride was at stake. Besides, she was
just about to sink this shot. And if she did, the game was over, and
she'd have her second win. Jubilee grinned
as the ball rolled into the pocket. She wagged her eyebrows at Wolverine.
"Take it off big guy." Logan frowned as
his tank top hit the floor. Jubilee's eyes grew a little wide when she
saw his chest. She would've thought the hairiness would've been a turn
off, but she noted it most certainly wasn't. Rogue had said he was shirtless
the first time she'd seen him. Maybe this explained it. It was the most
magnificent chest she'd ever seen. "Like what
you see, kid?" Jubilee blinked,
then blushed when she realized she was staring. "You want to play
again?" she asked, trying to break the sudden silence. "Sure. I wanna
see if I can get you completely bare-chested, too." Logan winked. Jubilee forced herself
not to turn bright red. "As if you're gonna beat me again." He did. Jubilee
opted for her jeans as opposed to her bra, which she knew Logan wanted
her to take off. Sure, she wasn't wearing much, but at least all the
important things were covered. Her brain told her to quit there, to
gather her discarded clothes and run from the room. The way he was looking
at her made Jubilee realize what it felt like to be a deer being sized
up by a predator. But she didn't quit.
Logan couldn't really make her strip anymore, right? If she lost again,
couldn't she just call it a game and not lose another article of clothing?
Jubilee shook as
she tried to line up a shot. Logan was watching her intently, and she
suddenly felt warm despite her state of undress. She froze when he came
up behind her, wrapping his arms around her. "Here, let
me help you." She could feel him
pressing into her, and her mouth went completely dry. She looked over
her shoulder to tell him that she didn't need his help, but the words
died on her lips. She wasn't sure who made the first move, but before
she knew it, they were kissing. Wolverine held on to her fiercely. Jubilee's
legs went out from under her, and she slumped against his chest. Any rational thought
she may have had left her head as soon as Wolverine lifted her on to
the pool table. Thinking could come
later. ***
*** *** The first thing
that Jubilee thought when she woke up that morning was that her pillow
had grown considerably firmer than she remember. And louder. The
sound of Wolverine's snoring pulled her completely into consciousness.
She was in his bed! "Shit, shit, shit," Jubilee thought,
scrambling to get away from him. She pulled the sheet over her, staring
down at him in shock. How had that happened? The loss of warmth
from her next to him brought Logan out of sleep. He frowned when he
noticed the look on her face. He hated it when he woke to a regretful
woman. It made him feel like such an ass. "Mornin'," he said. "Um, good morning,"
Jubilee said back. Logan reached out
his hand for her. He didn't want her to run, and he didn't take the
time to analyze that thought. She was a pretty woman, and he wanted
her to stay there, in his bed. "Are you okay?" "Um, sure?
Why?" "You don't
look it." "I'm just not
used to waking up with a guy I barely know, okay?" Logan reached out
and brushed her hair out of her face. He thought he remembered it being
shorter before, but she must've grown it out since the last time he
spent more than five seconds around Rogue when she was with her friends.
"I thought you got to know me pretty well last night," he
said with a wink. Jubilee blushed, and Logan thought she was rather
pretty when she did. "C'mere." Jubilee couldn't
help but move into his outstretched arms. She'd worry about any repercussions
later. ***
*** *** "Where were
you?!" Rogue exclaimed as soon as Jubilee walked in the room. "You
had me worried when you never came back to the room last night!" Jubilee almost blurted
out "having the most incredible sex of my life," but stopped
short when she remembered Rogue's old crush on Wolverine. Besides, she
doubted Logan would want her running around telling people what had
happened between the two of them the night before. "I was, um¡¦"
She searched her brain for an answer, and couldn't come up with anything. "Did you meet
a guy or something?" Rogue's eyes grew wide when she saw Jubilee
turn red. "You did! Omigod, what happened? Who is it? Do I know
him?" "I'd rather
not talk about it." Rogue frowned. "Huh?
Are you all right, Jubes? You didn't get hurt did you?" "No! I'm fine.
Really." She smiled. "It's just¡¦well, I don't think it was
more than a one night thing." Rogue raised an
eyebrow. "Oh." She got an impish grin on her face. "So
was it worth it?" Jubilee's smile
grew. "Oh yeah. He was¡¦amazing." ***
*** *** "Hey." Jubilee jumped a
little at Logan's voice. "Um, hey." "I'm goin'
out. Wanna come?" Jubilee looked a
little startled. "You want me to go somewhere with you?" "Yeah." "Where?" "This bar I
hang out at." "I'm not twenty-one¡¦" "They won't
care." "Why do you
want me to come?" "Just do. Come
on." Jubilee wrapped
her arms around him tightly as they road his motorcycle to a place he'd
said was called the Auger Inn. She felt a sort of thrill deep in the
pit of her stomach, and a warmth in spite of the snow-covered landscape.
She'd thought Wolverine wouldn't pay her any attention after the previous
night, but here she was, with him again. Seedy didn't even
begin to describe the Auger Inn, but Jubilee felt safe. The look in
Wolverine's eyes and the possessive arm he kept around her warned away
anyone who could've threatened her. She took a sip of her beer. "Why
did you want me here tonight?" she asked. Logan shrugged.
"I guess I like your company." Jubilee picked at the bottle's
label, and Wolverine frowned. "You bored?" "No." He could tell she
was lying. He took her hand. "Come on. I'll dance with you." "You dance?" He gave her a lopsided
grin. "I've been known to once or twice. Come on." He took
Jubilee's hand, and she let him lead her out to the dance floor. The middle of
December ain't the time to be alone Being in Logan's
arms made Jubilee remember the night before all too vividly. She rested
her head against his chest and sighed happily. Blame it on the
mistletoe Logan smiled at
the sound of Jubilee's contented sigh. He hadn't planned the previous
night by any stretch of the imagination. He'd never even thought about
Jubilee in that light until he'd watched her trying to shoot pool in
her lacy bikini panties. Then he'd thought about in terms of just sex.
So why had he wanted her to stay when they woke up that morning? Why
was he dancing with her now? Logan frowned and pulled her a little closer. I woke up, she
was wrappin' gifts beneath the tree Jubilee glanced
up, and Logan looked into her eyes. He felt as if something had hit
him. They were blue¡¦ He hadn't noticed that the night before. He told
himself he shouldn't even care. He kissed her hard, wanting to concentrate
on the physical. Blame it on the
mistletoe The song ended,
and Logan walked off the dance floor and back to the table. Being that
close to her was too much. Jubilee followed him and went back to picking
the label off her beer. ***
*** *** Jubilee didn't panic
when she woke up in Logan's arms this time. She smiled lazily, running
her hands through his chest hair. How could she have ever thought he
was too hairy? Logan caught her hand and Jubilee jumped a little. He opened one eye
to look at her and smiled. "Stop that. It's tickles." Jubilee smiled.
"Oh?" she reached down and tickled his side. "How about
this?" "Hey!"
Logan wrestled her until he had her pinned beneath him, her arms held
above her head. "Little imp." Jubilee gave him
a look that made him shiver. "I thought you liked it when I'm bad¡¦" Logan shook his
head and chuckled. "I do." He kissed her quickly before letting
her hands go. She immediately wrapped her arms around him. Logan did
his best to focus for a moment, though with her moving under him it
was difficult. "Hey, can you do me a favor later?" "What?" "I need to
do some Christmas shopping. Rogue said you're good at that." Jubilee raised an
eyebrow. "You want me to do your shopping for you?" Logan shook his
head. "No. I want you to come with me." Jubilee found herself
incapable of turning down a chance to spend more time with Logan. "All
right." "Good."
He leaned down and started kissing her down her neck. "Going to
the mall alone tends to send me into a berserker rage. Especially this
time of year." Jubilee laughed,
and Logan decided he really liked the sound. He leaned down to kiss
her on the lips. Their shopping excursion could wait. ***
*** *** "So what does
Rogue want for Christmas?" Logan asked once they got to the mall.
"If I don't buy her something 'thoughtful' she'll whine at me." Jubilee sniggered.
"What's your price range?" Logan shrugged.
"I have money. Cage fighting pays amazingly well. Especially if
you never lose." "Come with
me then. I'll show what she's been whining about wanting for months."
Jubilee reached out and took his hand, and Logan didn't protest. He
liked the feel of his large hand around her much smaller one. Jubilee led Logan
though the mall, helping him pick things out for everyone on his list.
He had to admit, she was good at this. He frowned, realizing he had
no idea what her mutant power was. Maybe it was the uncanny ability
to find a sale anywhere. "Jubes?" "Hmm?"
she was examining a rack of shirts in order to pick something out for
Storm. He looked around,
making sure they were alone. "What do you, um, do?" "Do?" "Yeah, you
know¡¦" Jubilee got his
meaning. "Oh." She leaned up and whispered in his ear. "Plasma
blasts from my hands. They sort of look like fireworks." She moved
away from him and said louder, "Why'd you ask?" He shrugged. "Just
curious." Truth be told, Logan didn't know why he'd asked. He'd
just felt like he should know. He had the sudden desire to know everything
he could about her. "Where'd you grow up?" "So Cal." Logan chuckled.
"That explains a lot." Jubilee playfully
slapped her arm. "Jerk." Logan held his hands
up in defensive. "Hey, I didn't say there was anything wrong with
it. I like ya the way you are." He gave her a quick kiss. Jubilee felt herself
melt a little. What was it about this man that affected her so? "Well,
if you say so." "I do. So you
come up with anything yet?" "You know,
seeing as the presents are from you, you could have some input in picking
them out," Jubilee teased. Logan shrugged.
"I trust your judgment. Besides, if it were up to me, I'd probably
just give everyone beer or something." Jubilee rolled her
eyes. "Your terrible." Logan gave her his
most devilish grin. "I try." ***
*** *** "Anyone left?"
Jubilee asked. "Jean,"
Logan said. Jubilee was surprised
to feel a flash of jealousy at the mention of Dr. Grey. The fact that
Logan had kept her on a pedestal since day one was common knowledge
around Xavier's, and it had never bothered Jubilee¡¦until now. "Where
do you want to go for that?" she asked. She wasn't the least
bit happy when he went to Zales. Or when he asked her advice on what
piece of jewelry to buy the good doctor. It was then that Jubilee realized
that she had been wishing for more than just sex with Logan. And that
she wasn't going to get that from him. Apparently, he still carried
a torch for Jean, even though the last summer she'd married Scott. Logan noticed the
change in Jubilee's demeanor. She'd been cheerful their entire trip,
but suddenly she was quiet and withdrawn. It bothered him,
so he wracked his brain, trying to think of what could've caused the
change. He looked over at her in the passenger seat of his jeep, staring
out the window as if she was purposely trying to not look at him. He
tried thinking backwards, to the last time she'd been in a good mood.
Then he had it. Zales. She was jealous.
Logan couldn't help but smile a little at that. She liked him enough
to be jealous, and he was good with that. "I didn't buy Jean those
earrings because I still want her." Jubilee looked at
him quickly. "Huh?" "The earrings.
I bought 'em cause¡¦well, it's a stupid reason, but it's not because
I'm in love with her." "Why did you
buy them then?" Logan sighed. "To
annoy Scott." "What?" Another sigh. "Scott
hates it when I buy Jean expensive gifts." "Well, duh.
She's his wife." Logan gave her a
dirty look. "I know. But, well, I get a kick out of annoying him,
all right?" "So you buy
Jean four hundred dollar pairs of earrings?" "Yeah." "Isn't that
a little ridiculous?" "See, this
is why I didn't want to tell you." "Why did you?" Yet another sigh
from Logan. "Because I didn't want you to be mad at me." "You actually
care if I'm mad at you?" Logan gripped the
wheel tighter. "Yeah. Can we talk about something else?" "Sure thing,
Wolverine." Jubilee couldn't
help but smile to herself. He did care¡¦ ***
*** *** Jubilee stood by
the tree, watching the snow fall outside the window. She found herself
remembering her childhood Christmases, in the days before she was an
orphan. She wiped at the cold tear on her cheek. It was the past. She
didn't have a family anymore. She could move on. "Eggnog?" Jubilee was surprised
how easy it was to smile when she saw Logan. She took the mug from him
and drank it. She smirked at the taste. "Trying to get me drunk?" "Do I need
to?" Jubilee laughed.
"No. Just looking at you is enough to make me tipsy." Logan smiled, then
frowned. "You been cryin' darlin'?" "No,"
Jubilee lied. Logan ran is hand
down her cheek and felt that it was damp. "Yes you have. What's
wrong?" "I was just
thinking about my parents," she said. "Where are
they?" "Dead." "Oh." "It was six
years ago. They were murdered. I came home¡¦I came home and found them."
Jubilee wasn't even sure why she was telling Logan. But she hadn't talk
to anyone about it in so long¡¦ Logan took her hand.
"Come on. Let's go somewhere where we can talk." Jubilee nodded and
followed him upstairs. Logan sat down with her on the bed, taking her
into his arms. "I miss them," she said softly, falling over
on his shoulder. "I know, darlin',"
Logan said, holding her tightly. "It wasn't
even supposed to be them. They got the wrong family. It was a hit¡¦on
the Lees down the street." Wolverine felt a
sudden swell of anger against whoever had hurt his Jubilee. He pulled
her so she was resting in his lap and stroked her back gently. He wanted
to protect her. He held her until
the tears were gone. ***
*** *** Jubilee was surprised
to find herself fully clothed when she woke up in Wolverine's arms the
next morning. "Logan?" she asked sleepily. He was already awake,
watching her fondly. He kissed her on the forehead. "Hey." "Were you watching
me sleep?" she asked. "Couldn't help
it," Logan admitted. "You looked so pretty lyin' there." "I like you,
Logan," Jubilee said. He smiled. "I
like you, too." He held her close
to him, and for then, it was enough. ***
*** *** Only five days until
Christmas, and Jubilee could definitely feel the holiday spirit filling
the mansion. Xavier was even wearing a tie with a light-up Rudolph on
it. Jubilee was happier than she remember being in quite some time.
She'd spent every possible moment with Logan. She definitely knew what
Rogue had seen in him now. Jubilee was walking
downstairs with Logan when he stopped in the doorway of the living room.
"C'mere," he said to Jubilee, pulling on her hand. She stopped and
then went to him. "What?" He silently pointed up, and she
grinned. Mistletoe. She stood on her tiptoes, pressing her lips to his.
Logan wrapped his arms around her, kissing her hard. The moment was broken
by the sound of shattering glass. Both Logan and Jubilee turned around
to see Rogue run from the room, a smashed coffee mug where she had been.
Logan took a deep
breath. "Well, shit." "I'll go talk
to her," Jubilee said. Logan nodded and
let her go. Jubilee found Rogue upstairs in their room. "Hey." "I really don't
want to talk to you right now," Rogue said, laying on her bed with
her back to Jubilee. "Why are you
so upset?" Jubilee asked. Rogue did turn around
then, wiping her tears away angrily. "Why am I upset? Why am I
upset?! I just walked in to see my best friend kissing the man I spent
forever pining over! Why do you think I'm upset?!" "But you're
with Bobby!" Jubilee replied. "That doesn't
mean Logan's free for you! You knew how much it hurt me that I couldn't
have him! Now you have to rub it in my face by throwing yourself at
him¡¦touching him!" Jubilee raised an
eyebrow. So that was what this was about¡¦her being able to touch
Logan. "Rogue, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to happen. It just
sort of did." "So he's who
you've been with these past few nights?" "Yeah." "Well, congratulations."
Jubilee didn't think she'd ever heard anyone mean anything less in her
life. "Rogue, I didn't
do this to hurt you. I never wanted to do that. I just¡¦well, I really
like him." Rogue started at
that. "You do?" "Yeah. He's
great." "Are you¡¦are
you falling in love with him?" Jubilee couldn't
manage a lie. "Yeah, I think I am." Rogue wanted to
be angry, but Jubilee was her best friend. Who was she to begrudge her
love? She got up and hugged her. "Best of luck to you girl." Jubilee chuckled
as she hugged her back. "Thanks. So does this mean you're okay
with it?" Rogue forced a smile.
"I'll try to be. Give me time, okay?" Jubilee nodded.
She could accept that. ***
*** *** Logan leaned up
against the wall, wishing he could forget what he has just heard. He'd
gone upstairs to make sure Rogue wasn't giving Jubilee too much trouble,
and he'd found out something he didn't want to have to deal with. Jubilee was falling
in love with him. Logan didn't think he was anywhere near prepared to
handle that. He walked off quickly
before Jubilee could leave the room and find him standing there. ***
*** *** "Logan, did¡¦"
Jubilee stopped in mid-sentence when she saw Wolverine throwing his
things into a bag. "What are you doing?" "Packing." "I can see
that. Why?" "I'm leaving." Jubilee felt as
if the whole world was suddenly spinning too quickly, but she forced
herself to keep her balance. "For how long?" "I don't know.
I probably won't be back before you go back to school." Jubilee had to lean
against the wall, not wanting Logan to see how badly this was affecting
her. "Logan, I¡¦" "You what?
You thought this was something? It was just sex, kid. Get used to it."
"That's it?" Logan zipped up
his bag and slung it over his shoulder. "Yeah, that's it." "But earlier¡¦"
Jubilee couldn't even finish the sentence. Less than an hour ago he
was being so warm to her. What caused the sudden shift? "Yeah, that
was earlier." When he was gone,
Jubilee stayed, wishing she could find out it was all a dream and wake
up safe in Logan's arms. She knew then she
was past the "falling" stage for love, and hated herself for
allowing it to happen so quickly with a man she'd known would never
stick around. ***
*** *** Jubilee forced her
best face for the others at the mansion. After all, they hadn't even
known she and Logan had anymore than a passing acquaintance. Why would
she care if he left again? But inside, she
felt cold, lonely. Against her better judgment, she'd fallen for the
Wolverine. She hadn't thought he was going to buy her a ring soon or
anything like that, but she thought he'd at least have the decency to
stick around for a while, maybe give her an explanation before he took
off. But apparently she'd just been fooling herself. She wanted Christmas
to be over. Too many happy people. Why did the world have to full of
cheer and good will when she was miserable? Jubilee sat on the
far end of the couch, surrounded by her friends as they watch a Christmas
movie marathon. She wanted the kid with the BB gun to shot his eye out,
Tiny Tim to have a relapse, and Jimmy Stewart to decide the world was
better off without him. It didn't get any better when she realized Logan
had only been gone a day and she was already reduced to this state.
She sighed inwardly. Maybe it was a good sign. Maybe it meant that it
was just because the wound was fresh, and she'd be over it by Christmas
morning. She doubted it. By the time How
the Grinch Stole Christmas was on, and Jubilee was contemplating
ways the Grinch could've driven the Whos to give up even their singing,
Professor Xavier had taken notice of her lowered spirits. Well, probably
him and any telepath within a hundred mile radius. She was giving off
negative signals like crazy. Xavier wheeled into
the room. "Jubilation, can I speak with in you in my office for
a moment?" Jubilee was happy
to get away from the holiday torture. "Sure," she said with
a shrug, following Xavier out of the room. "I've sensed
a darkness in your mood," Xavier said, looking at her very intently.
Jubilee found it rather hard to have a serious conversation with him,
seeing as he was wearing the Rudolph tie again. The blinking red nose
was almost hypnotic. "I don't like
Christmas." Xavier raised an
eyebrow. Jubilee realized he did that a lot. "You never seemed
to show a dislike for the holiday before." "It's a new
development." "Does Wolverine
have anything to do with it?' Jubilee looked at
him sharply. "Did you¡¦read my mind?" Xavier laughed a
little. "I didn't have to. It was obvious to anyone who isn't blind." "No one said
anything." "We didn't
feel it was our right to interfere. You're an adult now, after all." Jubilee blushed
a deep red. "We?" People had known about her being
with Logan? What had they been saying about them? "I don't think
any of the students noticed," Xavier said. "But most of the
teachers did." "Jean?" "Yes." That bothered Jubilee
most of all. She tried to quickly push down her jealousy, lest the professor
notice. "Oh." "Logan doesn't
always do what his heart tells him to do, Jubilation. He tends to behave
much the way an animal in the wild would. If something scares him, he
runs." Jubilee looked confused.
"But what is there here to scare him?" "I think you
already know the answer to that." "I do?"
Jubilee asked with a frown. The professor nodded.
"Have a merry Christmas, Jubilee." "But, Professor¡¦" He didn't answer
her, just smiled at her before rolling out of the room. ***
*** *** Earlier, Logan had
been cursing his healing factor, since it prevented him from getting
adequately drunk. Now, as he pounded his poor opponent into oblivion,
the Wolverine welcomed it. He'd had a blonde
in his lap an hour ago, whispering all the things she wanted to do to
him that were sure to get her on Santa's naughty list. But he hadn't
wanted her. She was too tall, and her hair was too light. Her eyes were
brown, not blue. For the first time in his life, he hadn't been able
to do anything but walk away from cheap, meaningless sex, and that angered
him. So the idiot who'd
dared to enter a cage with him was going to be in traction for the holidays. Such was life. Wolverine stepped
over the man's battered body, growling deeply in his chest as a small,
smelly man announced him the winner. He waited for his next prey to
enter the ring. He'd fight until all he could see was red, until those
blue eyes that were haunting him faded away completely. He'd made so many
women go away before. He could do it with her. Some blood, beer,
maybe a broad¡¦the Wolverine would be sated, and Jubilee would be forgotten. ***
*** *** Greeting cards
have all been sent Christmas Eve. Jubilee
sat, curled up alone on the couch, staring into the glowing fireplace.
The rest of the mansion was off, celebrating with parties and gift giving.
She, on the other hand, has found herself a spot that was more or less
secluded to wallow in her misery. She knew she should just put it past
her. It was only a little over a week, and it mainly consisted of incredible
sex. He'd never given her any hint at a further commitment. Why wasn't
she happy? Merry Christmas,
darling Logan has long since
given up on drinking. It wasn't helping. He couldn't get drunk enough
to forget her. It was cold in his hotel room, and he longed for her
warm body next to his. Would have been so bad to have stayed, to have
let her in? Logan shook his head. She was falling for him. He had to
leave before she got in to deep. Spare her the pain loving him would
cause. He was not the kind of man to become a young woman's Prince Charming.
He'd lived too long, known too much. Holidays are
joyful Jubilee took a throw
pillow off the couch and hugged it tightly to her body. Why had she
ever gone down to the rec room that night? Why had she let him talk
her into the pool game? Why had she ever let herself know the feel of
his hands on her skin? Logan wasn't an easy man to forget. It had taken
him so little time to work his way into her heart and destroy the tough
demeanor she'd worked so hard to cultivate in relationships. How was
it that he had that power? The logs on the
fire Logan got off the
bed and started pacing the room. He stopped, and his claws shot out,
shattering the television set. The other hand, and the mirror was shattered.
He reduced a chair to kindling in seconds before moving on to the bedside
table. He felt feral energy pumping through his veins. He was the Wolverine.
No girl that barely reached his shoulder was going to take him down.
Logan looked around the room and sighed heavily. He needed her.
But he couldn't
go back¡¦ I
wish I were with you Jubilee couldn't
hold the flood of tears at bay any longer. She clung to the pillow desperately,
wishing it was Logan and cursing herself for being young enough to fall
in love with a man like that. She stared at the fireplace through her
tears and the decorative stockings Jean had placed out weeks earlier.
She wondered why Santa Claus couldn't be more than a myth, and why he
couldn't put the Wolverine under her tree that year. Instead, she was
doomed to a cold, cold Christmas Eve night. Merry Christmas,
darling¡¦ ***
*** *** Logan had told himself
he wasn't going to go to the mansion. He told himself he was going to
drive right by it. He was going to run, go back to Canada. Wait until
he knew Jubilee was back in college, and he was safe. He found himself
pulling into the driveway, parking his motorcycle, walking into the
mansion. He was drawn to
her, drawn to her scent. He knew she was close, and he couldn't stop
himself from moving towards her. He found her curled up on a couch in
front of a fire. She was sleeping, but her face was still red from crying.
Logan's heart ached. He couldn't run from this one. He didn't know where
it would go, but he wanted to see. For the first time in what he could
remember, Logan actually wanted to be with one woman, and one woman
alone. He went over to
her, gently scooping her into his arms. Her eyes fluttered open, and
a small, sleepy smile crossed her face when she saw him. "Logan?"
she asked softly. "Merry Christmas,
darlin'." "You came home?" "I came home
to you." Logan carried her
upstairs, and Jubilee sighed happily against his chest. She knew that
no matter how cold it was outside, she'd be warm Christmas morning. |