Marvel owns the X-men, no profit is to be made from this work.

Author's Note : Italic for Telepathy, Bold for Sign Language. Don't know if anyone's shipped this fella with Marie, but when the idea came to me I just had to ignore some other stories to start writing it.

The spray hid her tears, muffled her cries as she knelt against the cool tiles hugging her knees to her chest, naked to the wafting breeze that snuck in through the shower doors. Alkali Lake had been a horrid day months long past, to most it was something that was to move on from and forget, but Marie couldn't forget. She'd lost a friend that day, and a mentor. She wasn't alone in this, knew there were classmates who'd still suffered the ache, knew the men and women of the school who'd brought them all together felt it the worst. The Professor, Charles Xavier, Scott, Ororo and of course Logan.

She'd lost something else that day, a bit of the innocence she'd held onto after the day she'd nearly killed her first crush with a toying kiss. Some of her naivety towards the world, and just enough of that sense of home for the school that now felt a bit colder than it had been, a bit more lonesome. She'd really had tried to return the affection Bobby dotted on her, all the daring and endearing ways to overcome her deadly touch. Tonight she realized she hadn't tried hard enough, caught him and Kitty together, people who were meant to be her friends if not more. He hadn't even the guts to tell her face to face, just stole away for a midnight rendevous.

The shower had long grown cold, goose bumps dotting her frigid flesh, finally reaching up to turn off the spray and slide the door open. Marie looked at herself in the mirror, her flesh pale and eyes red, she looked like death warmed over. Pulling a towel from the rack Marie started rubbing herself down, slowly bringing warmth back to her flesh, wrapping her hair up in the end before reaching for her robe. From the bathroom she heard a knock at her door, trudging to it and pressing her head against the wood.

"Who is it?" Marie asked, a shaky breath let go at hearing how hoarse her own voice sounded.

With no answer given, she dared to steel herself for any number of people who might be trying to draw her out of the pity she'd been wallowing in, opening it to look around the hall, finding not a soul there. Just as she were about to close the door she noticed the tray that sat on the floor in front of her room. Despite herself she couldn't help but smile, knew just who'd been there as she picked it up and walked off to her bed, kicking the door shut behind her. The pint of Cherry Garcia was her favourite, a frosted glass of milk so cold it had ice in it, and some graham crackers weighing down a folded piece of paper with just the letter J on it.

Settling down on her bed she placed the tray on the night stand, opened up the pint and took the first sinful scoop and let it melt against her tongue, savouring it slowly. She could see a shadow stalking across the lawn, with what looked like a knapsack and a six pack in hand. Reaching into her bedside drawer she found the walkie talkie, set it down and waited. Dipping a cracker in the ice cold milk she felt all the better for the moment, after all the grief she'd let wash down the drain in the shower. The walkie talkie beeped twice, Marie picking it up and looking out the window to the tree line.

"Hey, I, I guess ya saw huh?" Marie asked, letting the button go as she waited.

"Yeah, I thought ya might want to be alone, so I just raided the kitchen for ya so you wouldn't have to." The voice sounded cheerful, but Marie caught a bit of the same grey that darkened her own mood.

"That better have been pop I saw ya with, Logan'll catch ya dead to right if you're sneakin' off with his beer." Marie caught the faint light of candles coming to life out in the trees.

"Maybe yes, maybe no. If I go missing, you can have my stuff, just know it was the Wolverine." Marie smiled, falling against her bed and knowing she at least still had one friend at the school she could trust.

Laying down on her bed she tossed the walkie talkie down, pecking away at her ice cream, staring at the ceiling. She dreaded the dawn, worried Bobby or Kitty would confront her, tell her the truth she already knew. Another betrayal in her young life, just as John had done before. Sounding her aggravation with a sigh all the more a growl she realized she'd have to talk to Logan first, tell him the truth before he could start working on intimidating Bobby in any of the classes he taught, abusing his place. Fishing for the walkie talkie she felt the need to talk again just to distract her from the next day.

"So when are ya comin' back in, I couldn't believe it when they didn't drag your ass back in that first night." Marie waited for the reply, rolling off her bed to stare out the window.

Marie could imagine her friend in the hammock she'd stolen from the one patio, walkie talkie in hand and curled up in blankets against the chill of the night. Most had laughed at the behaviour at first, the girl known to be eccentric and outgoing, always trying the centre of attention. Three months later the fall was coming, the nights had gotten colder, and it wouldn't be long until the first frost announced the change of the seasons.

"Soon, this ain't So Cal. I snuck out some extra blankets and pillows for tonight, but girl you could hang a hat. I, I just feel safer, how I used to roll, ready to bolt if danger came a knocking." Jubilee had been a runaway like herself Marie knew, driven out for different reasons.

"Hey, ya get too cold out there, you get that scrawny butt of yours back in here." Marie always teased her about her figure, just as much as Jubilee did, the two veritable opposites.

"We can't all be the voluptuous Southern Belles, it's not my fault if I got the metabolism of a chipmunk." Jubilee teased.

"A chipmunk hiding in a tree house built by Artie and Jones, I saw them building another one the other day, guess they figured they weren't getting that one back." Marie looked at the fogged glass, dotted two eyes and a frown, rubbing it out realizing she'd been thinking of Bobby again.

"You gonna be okay Mare?" Jubilee asked, silence over the channel until the beep sounded the end.

Marie looked down to the walkie talkie, wondered at the question herself, knew she would be but she'd just need something that she didn't feel to have a lot of right now, time. All too soon classes would start again tomorrow, so many she shared with the two who'd shared that kiss that she hadn't been meant to see.

"I'll get there Jubes, and thanks again." Marie looked to the empty pint, realizing how much she needed it, and someone to talk to.

"No problemo, you're always welcome up in Casa Lee. I'm gonna hit the hay, got gym with your Logan first period. Nighty night." Marie could see the flickering light in the trees vanish, the candles blown out.

"Night." Marie let the call end, tossed the walkie back into the night stand, never turning it off.

Grabbing the tray she set it down on her desk, saw the picture of Bobby and her there. She looked at it for a long moment, remembered the day at the local faire it'd been taken at, they'd nearly gotten sick on the tilt-a-whirl. Picking it up she dropped it into the bottom drawer of her desk, knowing they could never be that way again. With the tears threatening to come again, she threw herself against her bed, struggled to find the depths of slumber if just to let the hours be lost from the dark night to the dawning day.

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The alarm drew her from her dreams, twisted caricatures of the night before leaving her tired and angry. Reaching to slam her palm down on the alarm clock she slapped the night stand instead, groping around to realize it wasn't there. Grumbling she threw her blanket off and pulled her head from under the pillow, daylight blinding her as she looked for the offending noise, shocked to see someone sitting on the bed across from her holding it, Logan. He wasn't dressed in the sweats and wife beater he usually wore for Gym class, instead his jeans and biker jacket.

"Rise and shine, Darlin'. You get a pass on classes today, hitting up the airport to play Welcoming Committee. You want to go wake up nature girl, she's coming too." Logan finally pressed the button to end the alarm clock, placing it back on the night stand.

Marie sat dazed on her bed, so many thoughts and worries running through her head. Did he know about Bobby, would she have to tell him? Why was she being sent off to welcome a new student, why with Logan who couldn't even pass through a metal detector? Oh god did Jubilee really steal some of his beer? Scrambling from bed she raced to her shower, threw it on and tried not to think about last night, peeking out her door at the end to make sure Logan hadn't stuck around. She ransacked her wardrobe, hating so much of it now.

The thought struck her then, spinning about and racing to Jubilee's wardrobe, picking though it until she finally found something different, something new. Black stockings ran up her legs, finding it an effort to squeeze into a pair of denim cut offs that were always loose on Jubilee, choosing some fishnet top her friend had worn to Halloween. Wearing a green T-shirt overtop of it from her own collection, Marie found her opera gloves in the pile on the floor, stole a pair of Jubilee's skater gloves to wear overtop of them, lastly taking her friends shorter yellow jacket to finish it off, not the infamous duster the girl usually wore.

Looking at herself in the mirror Marie smiled at the ensemble, just enough of her old tastes mixed up with a dash of new. Walking to her night stand she reached in for the walkie talkie, looking up to see she didn't need it, spotting a bedraggled Jubilee trudging across the lawn with a blanket wrapped about herself, her hair twisted and poking out. Tapping at her window she caught her friend's attention, twirling around for her inspection. Jubilee froze, laughed and then threw some devil horns in the air, suddenly racing into the school. Taking a deep breath, Marie threw her door open and stood ready to face the new day.

She ignored the gossip that ran through the school, ignored the looks thrown her way, the appreciative ones of the boys and the shocked of the girls. She ignored the way Bobby and Kitty tore their hands free of each other and tried to appear as they always had, walked past them as they greeted her in the hall, mumbling a reply herself as she passed by and did her best to not bite her tongue clean off in an effort to keep her face fixed. Laughter broke out further down the hall, Marie turned to spot Logan carrying a blanketed burden over his shoulder, realizing it could only be one person then.

"I didn't drink any, I didn't drink any of it!" Jubilee cried out in her defence, Logan trudging on up to the front doors and throwing them open.

Marie raced off after the pair and watched in a mixture of shock and awe as he hurled his burden into the fountain, Jubilee bursting from the cold water screaming. Logan stood there with his arms crossed, glaring down at her. Thinking back to last night Marie remembered the unidentified six pack she'd seen, hoping against hope that it had just been some pop. The scene before her spoke the truth she knew.

"Yer showered, go get dressed. We're goin' to town. We'll talk about what you did to earn that later." Logan said, turning his back to the soaking wet Jubilee as he looked to Marie, raising his trademark eyebrow to her.

Marie cocked her own brow in retort, crossing her arms and standing her ground. Logan looked her up and down, fishing a cigar from his shirt pocket and patting about for his lighter. Jubilee, drenched as she was, stopped to stare at him, glare at him with every ounce of piss and vinegar she could muster between the shivers and shakes she suffered. Jubilee raised her fist to him, Marie watching as she flipped him off, the tip of the cigar exploding with a loud crack, smoking and smoldering after. Logan pulled it from his lips, looked at it and shrugged, ignoring the gesture.

"Thanks for the light kid." Logan said, winking at the soaked girl, Jubilee mumbling a mockery of his words that had Marie laughing.

Left alone at the fountain Marie closed the distance between her and Logan, standing near him and savouring the smell she'd always associate with him, leather, cheap aftershave and cigar smoke. She heard the doors slam shut, always surprised by the strength of the petite Asian when she was mad, hearing a chuckle from Logan.

"That was mean." Marie said looking up to him.

"She's just lucky Chuck let me deal with it, anyone else that would be a month of detention, one dip in the fountain and all the flappin' jaws over it is all I know she needed to not pull that stunt again." Logan rumbled, flicking his ash.

Marie knew he was right but still felt bad for her friend, as much as Jubilee might not act like it, she knew that she really respected Logan and struggled for his approval in her own twisted way.

"Don't go tellin' her this, but if she ain't ready to come in I got a heater for her little club house." Logan did his best to avoid her inquiring eyes, failed miserably when he finally let some of his concern show.

"Thanks Logan I, I really don't know. Girl's as stubborn as a mule when she want's to be, I think she just wants to prove how tough she is." Marie confessed, reaching for his hand and squeezing it, thankful for when he entwined his fingers with her own.

They stood there sharing the amicable silence, just enjoying another's company as they'd done ever since he'd come back, come home. They each knew just how the other hurt in their own ways, just how to ease the pain, bring a smile, all without saying a word. Just as Logan started to look to his watch, rummage in his pocket for his cell, the doors to the school opened with Jubilee stomping out in her infamous yellow jacket and as she called them, her shit kickers, overly large boots she'd found in an army surplus store. Her hair was wet, falling as it would, just wearing jeans and a blue T-shirt with black sunglasses perched on her brow.

"Alright, lets go play Welcoming Committee." Logan said, leading them off to the garage, twirling the car keys on a finger.

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The commuter jet landed in a squawk of tires and smoke, the engines throttling down as it taxied off the runway to some lone expanse of tarmac. The door opened, stairs extended with the steward exiting first, thanking the passengers for flying with them. Marie watched the scene from the bench, a cardboard sign held in hand that read the name of the latest to join the Xavier School for Gifted Children, Jonothon Starsmore. Beside her Jubilee kicked her boots back and forth, scuffing them on the ground and blowing bubbles with a bored air. The only description Logan gave her of the student was that she'd know him when she saw him, watching the passengers slowly disembark to join their friends and family, a few men in suits making calls and waving their arms about theatrically as they yelled caring not for who heard.

She saw him now, knew he couldn't be anyone other than Jonothon, stepping up and raising the sign over her head. Marie had to take a moment to admire him, nearly six feet with reddish brown hair and soulful brown eyes that looked her way. Dressed in black jeans and a leather jacket he looked so much a rock star climbing down the ramp with a guitar slung over his shoulder, leaving her feeling a blush imagining the screaming fans of the likes of the Beatles, pushing the thought aside as he neared.

'You're from Xavier's I take it?' Jonothon asked in an unheard voice.

Marie realized she hadn't heard him speak as much as remembered it, so much like the rare times the Professor reached out to call out to her, talk to her privately through his gift. She looked to the bindings that ran about his jaw, up to his nose and down his chest. At first she'd thought they were a fashion statement, now thinking they must bear a much more practical purpose, so much like her own worries of her deadly touch.

"Dude, you're a path, totally like the Prof? What's up with the Scissorhand getup, I mean you're working it but still?" Jubilee remarked, stepping closer and staring at the bindings, reaching a finger out to run along them.

"Jubilee! I'm going to let Logan throw ya in the fountain again I swear! Sorry, please forgive her, I'm Marie, did you have any bags to pick up?" Marie blushed furiously, swatting and shoving her friend away, catching the way his eyes lit up watching the scene.

"No luv, just the one thing that mattered most." Jonothon's projected voice bore a trace of sadness as he hefted his guitar case for show.

Marie pushed Jubilee ahead, walking in step with Jonothon who looked about the airport very lost to his own thoughts. She'd been told nothing about him, finding herself so curious about him now as she struggled to find something to say just to break the uneasy quiet that had fallen between them. Even Jubilee held her tongue, just blowing bubbles and walking ahead of them kicking some pop can she'd found, leaping up to crush it in a double stomp of her feet apparently bored of the game.

The airport was little more than a formality, walking out through the sliding doors to see Logan leaning against the jeep, smoking his cigar right next to a No Smoking sign. Nearby some security guard stood, indecision written on his face as he looked from them to Logan, deciding to stand his ground and ignore the whole thing. Marie saw Logan throw the guard a raised eyebrow, flicking his ash before taking another slow draw. Jubilee ran off to the nearby pop machine, leaving her alone with Jonothon as she neared the jeep with him.

"So you're the new kid huh? Jono right? Name's Logan, you and Marie can fight over shotgun, whoever loses gets the back seat and everything it comes with." Logan said, offering a hand.

Jonothon took the offered hand, looking to the Jeep and shrugging as he went to the back and stowed his guitar. Climbing in behind Logan he buckled up, leaving the passenger seat to herself. Marie saw Jubilee racing back, jumping in the back with her arms clutching her bounty.

"Okay, I got club soda for Logan since they don't serve beer, cream soda for Marie, root beer for moi, and uh...got you a coke dude." Jubilee passed out the cans, offering one to Jonothon in the end.

Jono took the can, holding it between his long fingers and staring down at it with a forlorn look. Jubilee stared at him with her can of root beer untouched, holding it up to him in offer.

"Uh, if you don't like coke we can trade. I probably should have asked what you drink first." Jubilee said, Jono looking up to her.

'That's not it luv, I just can't.' Jonothon projected the words, Marie feeling a hidden meaning in them.

Marie saw the way Logan looked in the rearview, wondered just what he really knew about the new student that he hadn't shared. Looking to the pair in the back she saw Jubilee crack open her root beer, taking a sip and staring down to her feet, one of the few rare times she'd ever seen her friend at a loss for words. The silence weighed down upon the trip suddenly, the trees passing by in a blur painted already by the touch of autumn. Overhead she saw a flock of ducks flying formation, their call heard even over the whipping wind that raced through her hair. Reaching to the radio she turned it on, threw a glance to Jono and tried to find that one rock station she enjoyed.

Looking back with the music blasting she caught Jonothon throw her an appreciative nod, leaning back in his seat and seemingly listening to the music, a voice as if a whisper in her ear thanking her, knowing it'd been from him. Settling into her seat she opened her own pop, finding her mouth suddenly dry. Lolling her head she stared at Logan, watched him pound back his club soda before tossing the can to the floor. He threw her a sideways glance, gave her a wink and she knew then that he knew about Bobby, likely had pulled some strings to buy her this reprieve, smiling to him then and wordlessly thanking him. Marie enjoyed every moment of it as she watched the land roll past.

Dozing as she was, Marie stirred at hearing some laughter in the back seat. With a yawn she turned and was surprised to find Jubilee apparently working her hands in sign language, Jonothon joining in occasionally. Jubilee blushed, working her hands furiously, Jonothon replying just as quickly when he did, the silent conversation lost on Marie as she discovered a hidden aspect of her friend and the latest student.

"I never knew you knew sign language Jubilee?" Marie asked shocked, leaning over her seat to join the conversation.

Jubilee grinned sheepishly as if caught, Jonothon looking from her to Marie, casting a quick glance to Logan whose eyes he caught in the rearview. Marie wondered then just what the conversation had been over, looking between the two in their conspiracy.

'Gel is a bit confusing, but she could tell someone where to go and how to get there if she wants, or ask for a pint.' Jonothon voiced in his unique way, Marie looking to Jubilee in understanding, the girl wearing a broad grin.

"Why doesn't that surprise me, oh gawd ya took Intro German didn't you, poor Mister Wagner." Marie said, theatrically throwing her hand against her brow, feigning a fainting spell as she fell back into her seat.

Looking at the two in the back through the rearview she caught them occasionally throwing out a sign, Jubilee throughly enjoying herself. Listening to the rock playing on the radio Marie lost herself to the music, enjoying the drive and the company she shared it with, the school a distant thought that became a reality all too soon as the rolling lawns and wrought iron fences appeared.

"Welcome to Xavier's kid." Logan said as he pulled through the gates, stirring dust in the gravel drive as he slammed on the breaks.

Jubilee was the first out, climbing out overtop the jeep and vaulting free to land in a crouch. Stretching her legs for a moment she raced ahead, halfway to the doors in a sprint when the cough came, freezing mid-stride to swing her leg around and stare down Logan. He sat in the drivers seat still, waving a cigar at her. Jubilee grumbled and scowled before pointing a finger at it, the tip exploding in a spark. Thinking she might be free Jubilee started on her way again, Marie watching the scene play out when Logan coughed again. The girl spouted a string of Japanese followed by Russian, Marie knowing that swearing in multiple tongues to be a hobby of her friend.

"Lee, get your butt back here. I said we'd talk about it later, it's later." Logan growled, Jubilee storming back from the front doors she nearly made it to. "Mare, why don't you go take him about for the dime tour, I promise you'll get her back in one piece." Logan added as an afterthought.

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Jono had believed the letter at first to be a farce, a joke at his expense, at worse a trap of some sort. A single meeting of the man had dispelled his worries but left him with a very hard choice, one that had taken him weeks to make. At times he'd longed for a drink just to dull his senses, at others he'd wished he'd never been asked to begin with, left alone to everything life had thrown him, the freak it'd made of him. In the end, busking out front of some tavern, the looks the patrons gave him as they walked past had been enough, even without their truly knowing everything that had happened to him. Pulling the change from his guitar case Jono had made the call not caring what hour it might be across the Pond, realizing he'd had enough of it, realizing it was time to decide just how he was going to deal with the rest of his life.

The plane ticket had been paid for immediately, a red eye at an hour that meant little to him. The time he had trying to find someone who knew sign language to haggle with over his guitar had been a chore, always hating writing everything down playing the mute despite finding a new voice. Racing ahead of the dawning day somewhere the jet had lost out, a new day greeting him as it set down in America, with a connecting flight from New York taking him to a county outside of the metropolis.

Jonothon Evan Starsmore waited on the commuter jet until the last souls had left, throwing his guitar case over his shoulder and exiting. For everything he'd expected with the private conversation he'd had with Charles Xavier, he hadn't expected to see two girls about his age holding a cardboard sign out with his name on it, hardly complaining about the view between the pixie in army boots and the emerald eyed beauty dressed like so many of the girls he'd use to entertain back before that awful day. They looked so normal, just a couple of gels out for a tour before hading back, hardly the likes of which Xavier had told him his school was made up of, the Gifted, Mutants the lot of them.

The pixie of a girl just looked at him with genuine curiosity as she called him on his talent, leaving him surprised that she knew. Jono wished he could have laughed catching the older of the two harrying her friend for her innocent question, wondering at the threat and deciding to ignore it as he fell in step with her. Jubilee as he'd been introduced to her looked to be the type easily bored, kicking a can until finally crushing it underfoot. As soon as they were out of the airport she raced off to some vending machine, leaving him alone with Marie, almost thankful for it until he saw the bloke at the jeep.

For as gruff and grizzly as he looked, the first thing Jono felt from the man was a genuine concern for the girls, catching him watching them both with carefully all the while with an unconcerned air as he smoked his cigar. The introduction had been short, Jono deciding to find out just how much trouble Jubilee really was worth after stowing his guitar. Popping into the backseat, leaving the passenger to Marie, Jono dared to be a gentleman for once. The offered can of coke had left an awkward silence falling over the trip, relieved when Marie caught onto the mood and threw the radio on, finding the girl to have some good taste in music catching her eye, projecting his thanks to her alone.

Nearly an hour into the trip Jono felt the poke, looking over to see Jubilee look up to him with her curiosity pouring off her. She held her hands, surprising him as familiar gestures started to play out.

You have girl? Jubilee asked, Jono shocked to find her signing to him and by her boldness.

'What's it to you?' Jono sent back, not sensing a single ounce of interest in himself from her.

Jubilee gave a snort, looked back to the dozing Marie and looked back at him. Sure enough he'd stolen glances at her, she was a fit gel, soft on the eyes, but a girl like that must be beating them off or have a bloke already.

You hurt Marie, I sparkle your but ham. Jono caught the meaning even if the gestures were crude, wondering just what the hell she meant by but ham until he realized she meant his arse, worried what sparkle now meant.

'Just enjoying a look luv, no harm.' Jono saw the determined set to Jubilee's brow, the girl staring at her hands in thought.

Pull other bell on. Saw Marie enjoy view too, I boot your nut too, remember. Logan do worse. Jubilee grinned at him in challenge, Jono rising to it after casting a glance to Logan.

Logan big brother? Jono signed, Jubilee nodding and looking to blush in excitement as he joined her game.

Jono looked up to the passenger seat, realizing a few innocent looks had stirred a hornets nest, no way a girl like her could ever like a freak like him even in a house of freaks, all in their own way. Looking back to Jubilee he felt he could end any worry, satisfying the girl's curiosity from before at the same time. Reaching up he pulled the lip of his straps down, revealing the roiling psonic fire that had shattered and burnt away at his flesh that day, destroyed his life.

He'd expected much, what he hadn't expected was for her to reach out and trace a finger along the straps, pulling them down further as she stared into him. Pulling them back into place Jono leaned back into his chair, felt the moment of hurt twist to understanding as Jubilee took her hand away, working them in retort.

You scared chicken? Not alone, special. Get over, sparkle chest. Yes, hurt much must, Professor help. Marie no touch, bad touch. We help. Jono struggled to figure out the meaning of her gestures, but the emotions he felt from her spoke volumes, he wasn't the only one with problems.

'So if I'm interested in Marie I better mean it?' Jono carried on to the original topic, stealing another glance at the dozing Marie.

Yes. Or boot nut, sparkle but ham, if you don't. Beer me drink, watch Logan cage fight you. Marie boy friend cheat her, drop her. Stupid snowball cat proud, if you like Marie, nice slow please. Jono again felt the meaning through the emotions Jubilee let wash from her openly even knowing he was a telepath, most people who knew his secret tried to hide them.

'God luv, you picked this all up from a book didn't you?' Jono hadn't expected Jubilee to laugh, saw her look in thought as she mustered the gestures for the private conversation they'd been enjoying.

Yes guilt as charge. Read book math class. Don't tell, math bad. Head hurt, number trouble. Think lazy, find boring. Shame I hide. Jono nodded, reaching across to take her hands in his, working her hands in the gesture for agree and secret, feeling the relief she felt then.

Sorry, why tell me then? Jono gestured, Jubilee just poking the bindings over his chest, the meaning clear, trusting her enough to show her his secret, even if he'd meant differently by it at first.

Thank you love. Jono signed, Jubilee chuckling and repeating his gestures.

How long Marie had been watching them Jono couldn't say, so lost in the conversation. Jubilee looked torn and worried, Jono projecting a whisper for her alone not to be. Most of what he ended up telling Marie had been the truth, he didn't doubt this little Sparkler could tell anyone off if she wanted to all while ordering a pint. But most of it had just been a warning about Marie, a word of care and caution from a friend who seemed full of surprises. A look to the rearview showed Logan had caught much of the meaning and more himself, wondering just what the big brother really thought.

Jubilee played the crowd at Marie's questions, Jono wondering just who Mister Wagner was and realizing he was in for a handful with this girl if she'd taught herself this much alone. Yet from Marie he felt only her genuine care, a bond of friendship between them. It felt so warm and bright that Jono dared wonder if a girl like that could ever look at someone like him, wondering just who in their right mind could ever dump a girl like her, stupid snowball cat proud apparently.

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Marie watched Logan trudge off with Jubilee, wondering just what secret punishment he had in mind for her for stealing his beer last night. She'd have really felt sorry for her had she not know the truth, just another stunt in a long line of ways her friend caught the man's attention. As much as her heart ached for her, Marie knew Jubilee didn't know any other way to express herself, hoped that Logan might find someway to help her even with the heavy hand he did it with. Taking a calming breath she looked up to Jono who'd stood watching the scene with her, took his hand in her own gloved ones and lead him up the steps to the school.

'Sparkles going to be alright luv?' Jonothon projected, Marie marvelling how his English accent even translated through the telepathy he employed for his voice.

"Sparkles huh? Just what were you two talkin' about? Jubes will be fine, Logan's prolly takin' her to the mats for some sparrin', that or the field to do laps. Hell if ya could ever get them to admit it but they like each other, not like like, just watch out for like." Marie confessed, opening the doors to lead Jono in.

The foyer was filled with students milling about, killing time between the classes taught and secretive lessons on controlling the genetic twist that made them all who they were. Marie walked on down the halls until she finally came to the study, knocking lightly at it and knowing he wasn't busy teaching lessons. A sense of welcome fell over her, opening the door to spy Professor Charles Xavier sitting behind his antique wooden desk setting down the days paper as she entered.

"Marie, it's good to see you, Ororo tells me you're doing well in your lessons. I see you've brought young Master Starsmore with you, a pleasure to see you again." Charles left his desk working the control of his wheelchair, offering a hand and smile to both.

Jono shook the hand and nodded, Marie realizing Charles must have had a personal hand in his recruitment to the school. Not for the first time she felt at a lose for how little she knew about Jono, just knowing that after her own welcome she sought to avoid the mistakes that had driven her into a trap that had nearly cost her, her very life. With everything that had happen since Stryker the students had woven together tighter, still wary and watchful but welcoming.

"Logan said I should take him around the school, I figured I'd take him to you first, I guess you and him already know each other." Marie felt foolish but ignored the blush that crept to her cheeks, catching the look Jono gave her.

"Well then Marie, perhaps I might join you in playing tour guide, I've a room set up for Mister Starsmore a bit more secluded towards his tastes, knowing of his particular needs. Please, just walk this way." Charles lead them on down the halls, classes in session and catching the friends and peers she'd made and met over her time at the school, seeing the curious gazes they threw to Jono as the latest to join them.

They travelled through the school, pointing out the assorted classes and facilities, the students looking to Jono in curiosity. The moment Marie dreaded came as she stared ahead to see Bobby and Kitty there holding hands, sitting on a bench in the hall only noticing them as they neared. Bobby looked as if he were to say something, silenced by the look she gave him, Kitty just sitting there holding his hand and embarrassment written on her face in red. If the Professor noticed he said nothing, Jono quietly looking to the pair for a moment as he passed.

Suddenly all the doubts and pain from last night came back, wishing she could just run away, flee to her room and lock herself in. Instead she was obliged to show the latest student around, no matter how cute be it became a chore like any other, the Professor just adding to it as they neared the end of the school where the greenhouse Ororo dotted over was. She knew the door, even could see where once it had said Maintenance now bearing a name like on most of the students doors, just one though, Jonothon Starsmore.

"It's a little sparse, but it's private, quiet, the showers are just down the hall. I've had a bed brought in just incase you feel the need, a sofa and television with a dvd player. I even found an old amplifier and some headphones up in the attic from my younger days when I still had hair. If you need anything else feel free to ask, Marie, he's all yours." Charles recounted the furnishings with the door still closed, making his exit and leaving the two to the unveiling.

Jonothon opened the door to what had obviously once been a maintenance shed, hastily cleaned up and furnished. The brick walls of the school lent it an almost industrial loft appearance, the television off against a wall with the sofa at the other with a table between. At the far end the bed sat, next to it an old recliner with the amplifier sitting. Marie followed Jono in, taking in the room as he set down his guitar by the recliner, limply falling into it.

"It's roomier than the room I share, well...I'm meant to share." Marie remarked, sitting down on the bed and looking to Jono.

'Reminds me of my flat, feels...like home.' Jono said, pulling out his guitar to test the amp.

"Did...you want to see more of the school, or did ya want to settle in? You're probably tired from the flight, I can leave ya to it if ya want." Marie looked about for something to stare at other than his inquiring brown eyes, dreading heading back to the school and everything she still had to face.

'Not likely, I don't sleep. Guess that's why the Professor set me up here, so I'm not botherin' anyone. Your free to stay luv, figured I'd give the amp a test, maybe you could show me around some more.' Jono set up while Marie was thankful for another reprieve.

Jono put the amp through it's paces, leaving the headphones unplugged so she could enjoy the performance. Marie found herself enthralled, watching his fingers caress the guitar bring out a wailing sound for a time only to pick up to a harder rock she was familiar with. From the corner of her eye she could see students a the door staring in, mostly girls drawn to the sirens call. A stab of jealousy overcame her so suiting of her green eyes, turning away to watch him as he was lost to the music he played. With the dying of the reverb the applauds came from the hall, Marie joining in and enjoying the shock and surprise Jono wore.

'I shoulda got you to shut the door, didn't mean to go botherin' everyone.' Jono projected, Marie having a feeling it was for her alone.

"No one here really plays anything beside some the piano I sometimes catch...Kitty playing." Marie felt a weight in her chest.

'I used to play, then I picked up a second hand guitar at a thrift shop on a lark. Haven't looked back since.' Jono voiced as he turned his guitar, doing his best to ignore the group at the door.

The crowd at the door finally dispersed with the tolling of the bell for the next period, Marie taking that moment to spy out and see they enjoyed some privacy again. Jono followed her lead after setting his guitar lovingly down in the recliner, turning off the map before shutting the door behind them. Marie found the tour to be faster paced than she'd expected, Jono showing little interest in the facilities the school offered beyond the library and rec room, a short introduction to Jones as the other resident night owl. Before long they found each other wandering about the rolling lawns of the Xavier Estate, taking in the crisp air.

'It looks just how the Professor described it, I didn't believe him at first.' Jono stood with his hands in his pockets and the wind at his back as he stared to the school in the distance.

"I know. I'm, we all are really lucky, to have it. I don't wanna imagine where I'd be if they hadn't found me." Marie said, fighting against the memories that lingered of those early days and how close it'd been.

Marie shivered at the chill wind that came from the North West, suddenly missing some of the usual layers she wore while wrapping her arms about herself. Lost to the memories of better days at the school she felt a weight pressed upon her shoulders, warm and welcoming as she looked up to see Jono placing his leather jacket over her. It was her first real glance of the leather bindings he wore, how the crisscrossed about his chest nearly to his belt all the way to under his nose. Giving him a thankful smile she slipped her arms through the sleeves, finding them so long she couldn't bring her fingers free.

"Thank you." Marie said, following his gaze to the sky with the dark clouds that loomed on it.

'You're welcome gel, might want to get in, looks like we could be in for a storm.' Jono voiced, turning away to walk off towards the woodlands that lined the estate.

"Are...you not coming in?" Marie asked, watching him walk off.

'Be in later luv, goin' for a walk. Go check in on Sparkles.' Jono was already distant as Marie found her voice, yet with nothing to say now.

Hugging the jacket tight to her against the chill wind Marie walked off alone to the school, lost in her thoughts and wondering if she'd somehow said something or failed to have in their travels. Something about Jono spoke to her, a sadness to him despite all his efforts to assure her otherwise. Taking a deep breath of the jacket she wore, she was amazed to find it smelt so familiar, leather, cigarette smoke, and cheap aftershave, just different enough to not be mistaken for his, knowing nothing could ever replace the love she held for Logan.

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Marie had dropped off his jacket at his room, finding a hanger in the closet and setting it in with the door open. Walking down the halls she caught the looks people threw her way, sideways glances she wasn't meant to notice. She'd like to think she was used to it by now, so many times in her life since coming here that she'd been involved in the extraordinary events that took place, now even something a simple as bringing a student warranted their curiosity. She knew that wasn't it alone, but it was a distraction from the snippets of gossip she heard, that Bobby had cheated on her already being spread around the rumour mill, just as many wondering what she had done to deserve it if at all.

"Watch out!" A voice called, Marie looking up to see a football flying straight towards her, not a moment to move or act.

She braced herself for the pain, expected it, shocked as instead she felt a gentle touch at her shoulder, the ball flying through her. Marie froze, the ball forgotten and more afraid to face the person who'd saved her. Kitty let go, the pair rejoining the corporeal world, no words said, nothing need be said just a sad look in her eyes as she walked away, the students around them staring at the scene. As much as Marie had wanted to blame them both she really didn't know what Bobby had said, told her before everything that had happened last night. Angry at herself, angry at everything all of a sudden Marie forced it all down to do the thing she knew she had to, swallow her pride and act with an ounce of the maturity she knew she possessed.

"Thank you!" Marie called down the hall, Kitty looking back and smiling just a little, turning a corner to vanish.

Marie looked to everyone in challenge, stalking down the hall past the two boys who'd been playing the game indoors. She blamed them for the confrontation she hadn't wanted, longed to know some of the fluent phrases that Jubilee oft employed to chew someone out. She settled for a cold stare that silenced the two as they tried to apologize, just angry at so many things that she fled to the only room she could really be alone, her own, taking the stairs two at a time.

By the time she reached her room and slammed the door shut she could already hear the rain pelting her windows, the wind whistling outside as the storm blew in. Letting the stinging tears free she walked to the corner of the room she'd once shared, found the stereo there and threw on the music she normally hated, that hard rock that Jubilee adored full of yelling and angry lyrics that suited her mood. Looking out the window at the storm she looked out there for him, wondered just where he could be with the sun rapidly setting. Already in the trees she could see the flickering light of candles, knew her friend really had to be stubborn or just plain stupid to be out in weather like that.

Marie reached for her walkie talkie, pressed the button twice and waited. The reply came full of static, a single beep and then silence. Marie pressed the button again twice, waited, worried as she stared out her window.

"Yeah yeah, I'll be coming in. I just can't find my picture, been looking for it for twenty minutes now girl." Jubilee replied over the walkie talkie, the end sounding with a beep.

Marie knew the picture her friend was talking about, it'd been the first thing she'd race to find after they'd all returned from Stryker's base, a picture of her parents and Jubilee in happier days. She knew it was the one thing her friend couldn't bear to be without when the night came, always having to have it hear. The days in Alkali Lake had been hard on her enough without that one reminder left behind by the soldiers in a shattered fame. She'd replaced the glass for her, mended the frame, known how much it had meant to her.

"Okay Lee, give me enough time to get my coat, I'll come give you a hand then we're getting your scrawny butt in here, ya hear?" Marie sent back, needn't even waiting for the reply as she raced to her closet, found a raincoat in there for the nights like tonight.

Even though she'd only been in her room for what seemed like a moment the halls were deserted, the aroma of the nights dinner lingering on the air and knowing where everyone really must be. Racing out the door Marie was surprised by the strength of the storm, nearly blown over as she took her first faltering steps on the slick lawn. Daylight was measured in minutes now, the sky growing darker with the last vestige of the setting sun swallowed by the roiling grey clouds. The light in the trees was a faint will o the wisp, dancing with every gust of wind, Marie making her way to the line of trees when she caught the sight of the looming tree house that hung in an ancient maple. The rope ladder was an effort, wondering how Jubilee did it every night for the past three months. Poking her head through the trap door she saw it ransacked, Jubilee sitting in a corner hugging her knees.

"I can't find it! I lost it, oh god I lost it!" Jubilee cried, her face buried in her knees.

Marie struggled to pull herself up, tumbling into the tree house and staring at her friend, the storm quickly soaking through the blanket she sat curled in. Looking around she saw everything turned about, the numerous blankets littering the floor with the waves of rain spraying in through the window. As much as she wanted to just pull her friend to her she knew how much the photo meant to her, instead doing as she'd said, coming to find it.

Finding a hammer and some nails left behind by the boys who'd first built the fort Marie set about covering the windows against the storm with the blankets, tacking them into place. Looking at Jubilee again she heard the muffled crying, saw the shivering shakes. Walking to her Marie picked her up bodily and was surprised how light she really was, setting her down in the stolen hammock and covering her in more blankets. It was really amazing just how much she'd brought to the tree house, picking up everything and setting it all off in a corner neatly until she was forced to come to the same harsh truth Jubilee had come to, the photo was gone.

"Oh come here Jubie, we'll find it tomorrow. It can't have gotten far, the wind must have knocked it out. Shhh, shh." Marie reached into the blankets, pulling Jubilee free.

The flash of lightning and crack of thunder shook the tree house, both screaming in panic. She helped Jubilee down to the first rungs of the ladder, Jubilee holding it steady as Marie herself climbed down with her feet slipping against the wet wood. Finally noticing how little Jubilee actually wore, just the usual sweats for a match with Logan, already soaked through, Marie urged her own towards the school. With the safety offered her by the coat she wore she hugged her friend tightly, hoping against her dread that the picture would turn up tomorrow for her friends sake, the last reminder of her parents the girl had left to her.

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His life had changed on a night like this, the raging wind and the rain, the lightning tearing across the sky with the thunder calling after it. The power had been out, candles dotting every surface to lend their light, the windows rattling with the howling wind. He'd sat there with her, each exploring another with their tongues battling another, blaming the heat and the pressure in his chest on the moment. Gayle. He'd lost her that night, the psonic flames shattering his chest and destroying his face, crippling her and leaving her cursed to a wheelchair for the rest of her life.

Sitting out on some lone log in the forest he listened to the thunder as it grew closer with every strike, heard the deafening crash of a tree splintering in the distance. The rain washed down his face, leaving his hair matted and his clothes clinging to the flesh he still had. He wasn't cold, didn't know if he could ever be cold again with the fire that burned in his chest. He could still smell, caught the change in the weather long before the clouds crossed the horizon, slowly felt his mood sour as he'd walked the grounds with Marie. She didn't deserve it, didn't deserve to see him bitter and wallowing in self-hatred.

Jono had managed to find a bit of brightness in remembering the drive here, told her to go back to the school before she could get soaked, given her his jacket at seeing her shivering. Left alone to brood he'd walked through the woods, knowing even as he was lost all he had to do was reach out, find the minds at the school to know the way home. For now he let the storm wash over him, felt a vitality rise out of it, could feel his fingers long to find the strings to let him bring voice to the music he heard in it. His guitar was the only thing he cared about, it had been his voice long before that horrid night, let him express what he couldn't find the words for.

He longed to have it with him, to accompany the storm as it tore across the land, just to bring voice to the stirring feelings he never thought to know again after her, swearing to never hurt another again. All he'd wanted in coming here was a place to be free of the judging eyes, free of the charade he played daily, the mute, the cripple, free of the streets he'd lived on busking for change and sitting alone in parks waiting for the dawn.

Jono had found he'd gotten more that he'd expected, not just an escape but a home, a room given to him knowing he needn't sleep nor eat. The looks the students gave him were just genuine curiosity, wondering what made him like them, feeling the wash of emotions that stirred in his wake. The biggest surprise had been Marie, knowing she hurt in her own way but still managed to smile and laugh, to bear concern for people around her right down to that pixie of a girl who'd threaten to sparkle but ham or boot nut him, having an idea of both after seeing her light the stoic Logan's cigar with a angry glare and gesture.

He even had an idea of who Snowball Cat Pride was, or whom, having seen the two that Marie had tried to ignore in the hall, felt the bitter remorse the boy tried to hide and sadness and shame the girl held. A story lay there if he'd ever seen it, Marie boy friend cheat her, drop her. As much as he wanted to knock the bloke senseless, it wasn't his place, knew there was no way someone would cheat on a girl like Marie without some twisted reason unless the plonker was an absolute tit. Realizing he'd lost the music to the moment, Jono climbed to his feet and loosened the bindings about his chest, the psonic flame flickering between them bringing warm light to the night.

'Bugger it, might as well get in.' Jono voiced to none, just needing to voice his frustration.

Reaching out he found the collection of minds, turned to them and felt them grow closer and knew he was on the right way not caring what the path threw against him. Rotted logs, rushing streams and slick slopes were a struggle but he made his way through it all, trudging on. Through a break in the forest he could see school, knew it wouldn't be long yet, walking along when he heard it, the crush of glass underfoot. Looking around he could see litter laying on the ground, chocolate bar wrappers, pop cans and other debris caught by the storm.

Looking down to expect some bottle underfoot Jono was surprised to see a picture with it's frame shattered, the slick mud running down the broken glass. Holding it up he could just make out the photograph, two people, parents undoubtedly, the father holding a girl on his shoulders. The girl looked strangely familiar, flipping the frame over and finding the answer then, Our Jubilation written on the back, Jubilee by any other name. Holding it against the rain Jono walked on, so many questions as to just what it was doing out here, knowing he'd only know by asking, making his way to the school all the quicker.

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Marie sat on the toilet and watched the scene that mirrored her own pain the night before, remembered how the girl before her had helped her in that moment, wishing she could do the same for her now. Jubilee sat in the corner of the shower, drawn up and looking all the smaller than her petite self. Just as before Marie dreaded the dawn, feared they wouldn't find the photo with the new day, feared it had been lost or destroyed in the storm. If she found it Marie swore to find some nigh indestructible frame found for it, something so gaudy you couldn't miss it, something that would speak to Jubilee's love of bright colours. Now all she could do was sit with her, hope she might just cry herself to sleep carefully move her back to her forgotten bed.

Just like the night before a knock came, Marie dreading whoever it could be out there, knowing she and Jubilee had made quite the scene trudging back into the school soaking wet with the girl sobbing. Throwing the door of the bath open she left it there with the steam billowing behind her, again pressing her head against the wood that separated her from the hall and tried to find her voice.

"Who is it?" Marie asked, knowing tonight no tray of ice cream would lay in the hall.

'Just me luv, I...found something out in the woods.' Marie was shocked to find it was Jono, throwing the door open and seeing him standing there soaking wet and covered in mud.

"Oh my gawd, you're soaking wet! Oh gawd let me get you a towel! Get in, don't look in the bath, go sit at my desk!" Marie shrieked, hauling him in bodily before rushing into the bath.

Jubilee had looked up at her antics, looking at her with puffy red eyes and her flesh still red from the heat of the shower. Marie waved to her, thankful as she got one in return and promising to be back soon as she left with a towel, closing the door to just a crack behind her knowing she had a boy just across the threshold. Looking at him Marie wondered how he wasn't convulsing in shakes, handing a towel to him.

'Thanks luv, I found this. Sort of stepped on it, don't know what it was doing out there.' Jono voiced, taking the towel and starting to wipe the mess of mud from his face before moving to his soaking hair.

Marie looked down and knew instantly just what he'd found, even through the broken glass and mud that clung to it, Jubilee's photo. Carefully she set it down on her desk, worked the back open to pull the picture free and breathed a sigh of relief seeing it was only damp, not a speck of mud on it. With a hand over her mouth she looked to Jono, felt tears so different from earlier come, threw herself at him and hugged him for all her strength.

"Oh gawd you found it, thank you Jono! Oh gawd thank you!" Marie looked up to him, looked to those soulful brown eyes meeting her own in a mix of confusion and amusement, felt herself emboldened in that moment.

Marie kissed him against where his lips would have lay, hidden behind the straps as they were and felt a curious warmth behind them. Pulling away from the chaste embrace she left him, darting about her room looking at her own photos, finding none that would fit the picture she cradled in her hand. She just couldn't show her friend it as it was, it just didn't feel right.

"Jono! Oh, scoot over, I need in my bottom drawer." Marie cried having an idea, reaching past him to rummage for just the thing she'd thrown away the night before.

Working the frame open she looked to the picture of her and Bobby one last time, pulling it free and throwing it down in the drawer alone and forgotten. Working around the dazed boy on her desk chair Marie found some tissues and used them to dry the picture, satisfied finally and placing it in the frame, a perfect fit. Holding it in her hands to inspect it one last moment she handed it back to him, tears rolling down her cheeks as she stared at him.

"Okay hero, you found it so you get to give it to her. Let me just get her decent." Marie said, disappearing back into the shower and seeing Jubilee looking at her confused.

"Okay scrawny butt, put on my robe, we have a gentleman caller." Marie said, helping Jubilee from the shower and into her robe.

Jubilee stood unresisting as Marie put her robe about her, it nearly dragging on the floor as she ushered her out into their room. Jono sat at the desk holding the frame in his hands, turning it around as the two girls neared. Jubilee tackled him and hugged him wailing, sobs wracking her frame, pulled into his arms as she clutched the photo to her chest that she'd lost. Marie could feel his questions in her mind, just shook her head and raised a finger to her lips, whispered just a single word, Later as she sat down on her bed and watched her friend tire herself out.

Jono carefully settled her down on her bed, pulled the blankets around her and tucked her in, Marie enjoying every awkward moment of it. Alone with him now by all rights she curled up against the corner of her bed, nodded to the end and not caring that he was still nearly soaking wet as he sat down.

'I take it that was pretty important to Sparkles.' Jono's question tickled her mind, knowing it was for her alone.

"Her parents died in a house fire, she was at a sleep over at a friends when it happened. That was the only picture they found. She was only six." Marie knew the story, one of the few Jubilee had ever told it to.

Marie felt as if she'd just punched him the way he looked, reaching out a gloved hand to find his own, twining her fingers through his delicate long ones that she'd seen caress the strings so carefully, felt the same touch now.

'What was it doing outside if it was so important to her?' Jono looked at her in honest confusion mixed with disbelief, Marie not knowing just how much of the history of the school he'd been told.

"Did...did the Professor tell you about Stryker?" Marie asked, knowing by the pain that clouded his eyes that he had.

"We...didn't all get out. Six of us were taken, Jubilee was with them. You'll have to go barkin' up that tree to find out why, but she's been sleepin' out in a tree house ever since. I'm guessin' the wind knocked it out, I'm just glad ya found it, oh gawd I'm so glad. Thank you, ya don't know what it means to her." Marie whispered, working her way across the bed to him, savouring the nearness of him even with how damp he was.

Jono looked across to Jubilee again, the picture that now sat on the night stand near her, a happier time frozen, a reminder of things lost. Marie sat frozen in his gaze as he looked back to her, pressing where his lips should lay against her own, that curious warmth there again that filled her, felt his mind brush against hers with fond memories of a guitar, knowing then he did know just how Jubilee felt. How long they sat there she couldn't tell, lost to the gentle touches and whispers, surprised how careful he was never to press his bare skin against her own. Looking up to him one last time Marie found herself under her covers, one last covered kiss pressed against her brow before he turned his back to her walking to the door.

'G'night luv.' Jono whispered for her alone, the door shutting behind him, darkness taking her softly tonight.

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