Disclaimer: I don't own anything, it all belongs to Marvel
A/N: It just popped out one day, today actually and I decided to put it up. Please read it all the way through and give it a chance….hope you like it and as always please read and review.
Presents
By: Parodys
"Treasure each breath, each life, each day for in it exists a miracle that is given once in a lifetime. Embrace it with a passion and let no one take it from you…" anon
A new blanket of snow had powdered the school the night before and the sun rose, setting the white expanse sparkling. Jubilee smiled, content in the quiet hours of the Christmas morning to just enjoy the beauty. Everyone else was still asleep, and for once she hadn't been able to stay in bed any longer. Giddy at the prospect of a day filled with presents and friends, a big meal and then a trip to Xavier's mansion later that day had Jubilee practically bouncing off the walls. So, she decided to go outside for awhile before waking the others. Heavy boots, mittens and a jacket were donned before she headed out into the brisk cold. Her breath frosted in the air as she skipped outside, sending up great puffs of snow each time she landed.
"Hmph, too powdery for snowballs or forts." A handful of snow was tossed away as the snowball proved too light to stick or throw. Shrugging, she decided to go for a walk in the forest and then come back and wake up the gang for breakfast. Heck, she might even treat them to her extra special omelet surprise even though it had been banned from ever making an appearance again.
Jubilee trekked quietly through the woods, the sunlight trickling through the dense branches, dappling the ground with different patterns of light. Her nose had started to run and get red, and had just about made up her mind to go inside when a shadow fell on her. Sniffling she looked up to see Sabertooth growling at her. Rolling her eyes she wiped her nose carefully before addressing him, taking off her gloves.
"Dude, you do realize that it's Christmas right? This has to be a new low even for you, Fuzzy."
He grinned at her as a tongue whipped out and caught the tiny bit of drool on the side of his mouth. Dropping to a fighting stance he suddenly stood up again. "Fuzzy?"
"Whatever fits. Don't you have anything better to do?"
He shrugged, "I figured I get a present too. I've been saving you for a special day and this is a present to myself."
"Oh goody, just what I've always wanted- to be a present for a overgrown hamster. Is it just me or are you getting awfully soft?"
A low growl rumbled in his throat as he flexed his hands. "I have needs. 'Sides the runt has been getting on my nerves lately. This should sufficiently do it. Let's get on with it, I have a party to get to."
"Fine. Fuzzy." The last word was punctuated by a high-grade paff. Sabertooth easily ducked it, and flung out a leg that hit her in the side, flinging her against a tree. Trying to catch her breath, she tried to push all the nightmares she used to have of him, back down where she wasn't afraid. Sending a series of paffs at him, she rolled away from his descending foot where his foot slammed into only seconds afterwards.
Screaming, he was blinded as each plasma ball hit him in succession, with the power of a small grenade. Panting, she got to her feet and circled him warily while forming a paff the size of a bowling ball in her hands. The ball was tossed at him, just as he had almost recovered. In a rage he jumped at her, pinning her to the ground and missing the paff which hit the tree behind him, sending it into flames.
In pure frustration he pounded her face with his fists, slashing her chest and torso until the ground was soaked in her blood. Grinning in satisfaction, he reached down and whispered in her ear. "Game's over frail. Thanks for the present."
Laughing he slit her throat, watching the blood seep out and her eyes growing wide as she realized what had happened. Gasping, she clutched at her throat trying to stop the flow. Getting up, he licked the blood off of his nail relishing the taste of death that permeated all of his victims right before they died. In all of his life he had yet to taste anything sweeter than what he had in his mouth now. He started to walk off when he heard something behind him. Turning he stared at Jubilee in surprise, who was shakily standing on her feet.
"What the?"
"Game's over when I say it's over, Fuzzy." She spat the last word, her face in a horrible grimace from the pain. Stunned, Sabertooth just stood there curiously. This was something he had never seen before, this girl's utter refusal to die. He didn't have much time to think about it because before he could blink he was hit with the biggest plasma ball Jubilee had every created. Drawing in every last reserve of strength she had, she formed a sphere of plasma around her. Her body tingled with the power surging freely for the first time between herself and the energy she made. Launching herself at Sabertooth, the last thing she saw was the look of utter shock on his face.
"Game and point."
**********
The force of the explosion rocked the school at its very foundation, waking its inhabitants. When the team had gone to investigate, all that remained were some burnt ashes and Jubilee. Shivering in the cold, no one said a word as they took in the damage that had been inflicted on her body. Red snow was everywhere and her face had been so badly beat up that she was barely recognizable. Emma knelt at the girl's side and felt for a pulse, tears welling up in her eyes as she felt nothing.
"It's over."
Paige winced and buried her face in Jono's shoulder, unwilling to see it any longer. Sean swallowed hard, he had seen many things in his time but the pure hatred of what happened here was unspeakable.
"Let's take her home." Taking off his jacket, he placed it over the small form and picked her up in his arms. Her body was still warm, and his heart broke at the thought that if he had only been a few moments earlier, if only the alarms had gone off, if only he had been up a half-hour earlier.
Emma placed a hand on his shoulder, her dark blue eyes bright with unshed tears. *If's won't bring her back, we have to be strong right now.* Nodding, Sean focused on Jubilee lying cradled in his arms. He shivered, and looked at his arms in surprise. The tiny hairs on the back of his neck and arms were standing up, and his scalp tingled. Frowning, he felt the body get warmer and warmer, until he had to place her on the ground because it was so hot.
"What...?"
The air around them literally crackled, as the amount of energy poured into the girl in an incandescent blue light. His jacket was reduced to ashes in seconds, and they watched as her body pulsed and jerked on the ground. Pink color flowed back into her cheeks and the bruises faded, the cuts healing as the blue light flooded into her wounds. Her long black hair turning a deep blue, shimmering in the sunlight as if it glowed. She gasped, forcing a painful breath into her lungs and opened her eyes looking at her friends in confusion. Moaning, she reached out to Sean who knelt beside her in wonder.
"Sean? I feel different..."
Picking the child up, he looked at Emma over her head, who shrugged in disbelief. Angelo, Paige and Jono watched them, grins slowly spreading over their faces.
"What is it?" Jubilee asked curiously as she looked at her teammates, her eyes now an incandescent blue.
Sean smiled and started the walk back to the school. "Sometimes lass, even miracles happen to the likes of us. Let's go home." And the team of friends headed back to their home, grateful that on a day of miracles they had shared in one.
-fin-
Well there it is folks…kinda sappy at the end I know….but please review it and let me know that you thought! Thanks for reading and happy holidays!J