I know I'm supposed to be updating my other stories, especially Deception and Twisted Love (OMG! I've updated 3 times today!!!), and I swear I will, but I couldn't resist writing this. So, why not share this with the rest of the world? I was so upset by the recent deciptions of Jubilee in the comics that I was inspired to write this. Eventually, there will be a lot more X-men joining the spotlight, so be patient. ;) Enjoy!


Jubilee decided to take a trip to the mal and savor it one last time before she packed the remainder of her bags and headed to the airport for her flight to Spain. Wait- Jubilee? As in Jubilation Lee, ex-mutant? Former X-man and unofficial sidekick to Wolverine? Yep, you heard right. That Jubilee.

For the past three months, Jubilee had been staying at an apartment in LA, making a living as a well-tipped cocktail waitress at a high quality hotel. She had just gotten back from a lengthy half year stay in Sydney and decided to go back to her roots. Big mistake. Her first month there, she spotted Archangel in the restaurant she worked at. It took her three bribes and a faux barfing session in the bathroom to get out of that situation. And she had been paranoid the rest of her stay there, always thinking the X-men were going to pop out of bushes and grab her wherever she went.

Of course, even if she had served Archangel, she doubted he'd recognize her. She was Alice Ayers now, and had been for the past five years, ever since she bought the identity from some uber expensive shady man who had also helped Scott Peterson escape… But that wasn't important. What was important was that Jubilation Lee "died" in a freak accident years ago with her body too mangled up to identify. So mangled up, in fact, that no one noticed it was actually Alice Ayers… Jubilee wondered how the Ayers family was dealing with having no contact with their daughter for the past five years…

Also, to complete the disguise, Jubilee had grown out her characteristic short pixie cut until it was girlishly long, almost to her waist. It completely morphed the shape of her face, though for the better, so she was unmistakably not Jubilee. A thick fringe that sometimes drooped in her eyes completed the new hair style. But her eyes… The unique orbs of sapphire… well, a pair of brown contacts easily did the trick, didn't it? Add black eye liner, replace the valley girl accent with a British one, throw all the yellow items out her wardrobe and there is no way that this girl could possibly be Jubilation Lee… except she was…

Alice walked the rest of the way to the giant shopping mall across the street (even if she was Alice now, she still couldn't resist the mall) and pulled open the door. She stopped to breathe in the distinctive mall smell of brand new clothes, food court, and lemon cleaning spray that was perfume to her nose before starting to walk towards the escalator, completely ready to burn a hole in her credit card. Sure, Madrid malls were nice, but there was nothing like a place you could shop at where eavesdropping on other customers was a choice.

A familiar vibration occurred in her pocket and Alice slipped her cell phone out, "Hello?"

"Hey, Alice," it was her roommate, Tammy.

"Oh, hullo. Is anything the matter?" Her British accent was flawless from her year and a half stay in London.

"Oh, no. I'm just wonderin' if ya remembered t' pack the laundry ya did this mornin'."

"Yes, I will do it straightway. Thank you, Tammy." The Jubilee they knew would never be this formal. She wasn't going to break character for anything.

"Alright… Er, good." Tammy stammered. Alice patiently waited for her to say what was bothering her. She did not have to wait long. "Um, I'll miss ya, Alice."

Alice's heart softened, "Me, too," She murmured before both women said their good-byes and hung up. Alice sighed before entering Nordstrom. She instantly attacked the gaudily set up shoe display. Her heart painfully contracted. She was going to miss this. But there was no other way.

Here in LA, there was a chance an X-man might find her. If she was found, they'd make her go back to the institution, where she'd be surrounded by mutants 24/7 and be reminded of her powers. Her precious powers. A sob threatened to escape her throat, but Alice quickly choked it back and forced herself to admire the way the Pradas fit her small feet. She couldn't.

It wasn't just the reminder of her powers, it was the way everyone would treat her. Oh, poor little Jubes who lost her powers! Let's pat her on the head and pretend we understand the little child! She wasn't a child anymore. She was twenty-three, damn it, and didn't think she could take their pity.

But it wasn't just that either. There was jealousy. Especially of a Miss Perfect Paige Guthrie. She had everything Jubilee wanted. Back in the Gen X days, Jubilee had loved Ev with a passion that broke her heart over and over, yet Paige was the one who happily settled with the sexy British she barely cared about. Then, while Jubilee had spent years and years trying to prove herself, Paige was instantly accepted as an X-man while Jubilee was foiling away at the attempt to be an actress in this very cursed city. And what about when Jubilee got crucified by mutant haters with everyone she loved around her dying? Oh, yeah. Paige got an amazing new hottie lover, Warren. And what about when Jubilee had no where to turn, loveless, friendless, and worst, powerless? Oh, poor little Hayseed, who's dream of her life to show her siblings, got to keep her fucking powers. Yup. Cuz her life was really that fucking messed up. Perfect, righ boyfriend, powers, X-man status, friends, family, everything. But of course, her inability to be the perfect leader was so much more horrible than Jubilee losing everything she ever cared for in life… And all she had left to call her own were her beloved fireworks… And she lost them, while Paige got to still grotesquely peel off her skin… Figures.

So, she couldn't go back, she just couldn't. It was easier to start anew than to go back and become the same bubbly, happy Jubilee that brightened everyone's day. Because she wasn't that person anymore. The only thing she did miss was seeing Wolverine, but her freedom overcame that. Sometimes, even when she laid at bed at night, she actually forgot who she was. Sometimes, she actually believed she was Alice Ayers. Those times she loved the most. Unfortunately, she could never forget. No, she wasn't little Jubes anymore, but she was still Jubilation Lee.

Where had she been these last five years? Everywhere, but yet, nowhere. And it was fucking awesome. Her first stop had been a few months in Beijing as a make-up artist for a soap opera studio. Then, France as a somewhat famous artist's muse. Then a year and a half as assistant to some famous London designer (which was fabulous, by the way, very The Devil Wears Prada). Then, she was a stage actress in Brazil. Then came stints in Italy, Mexico Cairo, Tokyo, Sydney and finally she dared venture back to the U.S… only for this to happen. Damn Warren and his socialite tastes.

Oh well. Too late to think about all this now. The plane for Madrid was leaving in a few hours and she'd be far from all this for good. Alice wouldn't dare make the mistake of returning so near the X-men so soon. She'd make sure she was clearly middle-aged before she dare set foot in North America again.

Sighing, Alice put the shoes back- to find herself face to face with a beautiful blonde woman. "Hi!" She chirped, "My name's Regan."

"Um… hi? I'm Alice." There was something strangely familiar with thise woman, "Is there a problem?"

Suddenly, Regan's face fell and she looked devastated, "Oh, yes. Do you know any first aid?"

Memories of boring high school days having first aid crammed into her brain by Hank, and later Scott when she refused to cooperate, came rushing back. Numbly, Alice nodded, "What's the situation?"

"Oh, it's horrible! My dear sister…" Regan choked back her sob and shook her head pitifully. How could anyone resist this innocent, angel-faced ingénue?

Alice's face softened, "Where is she now?"

"The bathroom." Regan moaned, running her hands through her perfect blonde hair. Alice nodded and followed her out the department store. Had she been any less innocent-looking, a worse actress, or male, Alice wouldn't have believed this little show for a second. It was all too suspicious. But, as it was, Regan was a beautiful, helpless girl who needed her help and Alice still had a heart, believe it or not.

She followed the blonde a little ways outside the large department store and almost lost her in the crowd when she swerved left to where there were bathrooms. Luckily, she did not. Alice hurriedly trotted after Regan, hesitating only briefly to raise an eyebrow at the "Out of Order" sign out side the door before letting it go and rushing inside…

To find a woman just as beautiful as Regan, though dark-featured where her sister was light, idly sitting and waiting for her on a sink. She was perfectly fine.

Before Alice could open her mouth to ask what was going on, the pretty dark-haired sister spoke, "Took you long enough, Regan."

"Oh, shut up, Martinque, you shank. You were probably having the time of your life checking out your cow face in the mirror."

"Bitch! You don't even-"

Alice decided it was time to cut in, "What's going on?" She demanded, trying to look annoyed though a seed of trepidation had been planted in her head.

Both girls stopped arguing long enough to stare at Alice, "Let's make this easy, Miss Lee," Martinque purred, sauntering towards her.

"How… how did you know…?" The seed had sprouted to a full grown oak tree. Suddenly, it came to her. Alice's eyes widened, "Mastermind!" She breathed, terror freezing her in her spot. This was not supposed to happen. She was supposed to never see any of them again. Yet, this was happening again. How could she never escape her past? But escaping her past wasn't what concerned her right now. What concerned her right now was escaping the Masterminds, helpless, defenseless, and worst, powerless.


Anyways, I'm adding more X-men as main characters, but I haven't decided which ones. So, which are your favorites? I know, for sure, that I want Gambit, Pixie, and Northstar for sure, but I kinda want Cannonball, Iceman, and Domino as well, so pm me or something. Thanks!

And please review! ;)