Author's Note:
Thank you to Xeelia, XtremeGal87, Sarra Ambrai, Midwich Cuckoo, and Jubes2681 for your kinds words! They were very much appreciated. I hope this last part lives up to your expectations.
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An entire year passes before Jubilee enters the X-mansion again. It is New Year's Eve and traveling has been quite a pain, but she thinks it's worth it when she drops her bags in a pile by her bedroom door and slides into a black slip of a dress. She is excited to celebrate the New Year.
She's spent the past year traveling across the country clearing her mind and her heart. It had been just her and the open road, the sky, and some interchangeable landscape. She'd been itching to do it for years but never had the courage to simply disappear. It might have seemed a bit rash, just disappearing and smashing her cell phone and driving off, but then Jubilee had never been the most sensible. Jubilee had kept in minimal contact with her friends. Even then, contact had been strictly kept between Bobby and Jean through quarters and payphones (nothing more). The experience itself had been amazing albeit a little lonely. She had seen things she would never see again, had done things she'd never forget, had lived and experienced. She is happy with her decision.
She is back now. Feeling slightly apprehensive greeting everyone after all this time (especially about one person in particular), she descends the main steps with as much grace as she can muster. Her heels click against the marble floor and she smiles as she passes underneath the entrance to the main hall, a lone piece of mistletoe catching her eye. The party is in full swing, looking similar to last year's soiree. Even so, her name is shouted out one by one by students of all ages. They circle her and lead her to a nearby table urging her to tell them absolutely everything, each exclaiming how much they had missed her and each questioning how long she would be staying. Ignoring the last question (she doesn't know the answer yet), she recounts her tales on the road and only leaves out the wilder aspects of the past year.
There is flashing confetti and the drone of a television. Midnight is sooner than any of them realize and everyone scatters to gather drinks and find their significant other before time runs out. Jubilee finishes the last of her punch before standing from the table, choosing to watch the midnight commotion from afar. It's a mere coincidence that she ends up in the same spot as last year, underneath the main doorway: mistletoe and all. This time though, it's just her.
She hasn't seen Logan all night. In fact, she hasn't spoken to him for a year. Jubilee doesn't even know if he's in the mansion at all, actually, and her feelings are mixed. It's taken her a year to be honest with herself and admit she expected more from last year. She was disappointed that he had never come after her, that their long friendship was ruined. But at the same time she had known the risks before launching herself at him, despite the haze of liquor.
Someone shouts that it's three minutes to midnight and Jubilee smirks to herself. What a year it had been. If she had known the consequences of last year, would she have gone through her rash act? She's stubborn, but not stubborn enough to deny it. It was too late to take back and for her it was well worth it.
A minute now. Someone taps her on the shoulder and she spins around to face the person and almost chokes on just who she is suddenly faced with. "Darlin.'"
It's Logan. Logan and his cowboy hat and a beer and he must have been here all night but she never saw him and now they're standing underneath the mistletoe like last year and it's almost midnight and what should she do now!?
"Funny thing this mistletoe, eh? Makes people do interestin' things."
She can only nod, swallowing hard. Her hands are suddenly clammy and she can't stop shaking for some reason. A flurry of excitement dances around her belly making her feel queasy and excited all at once.
"Thirty seconds!"
"I missed you, Jubilee. I guess I taught ya one thing really well, huh?"
"What's that?" she manages to blurt out.
"How to run." He pauses; cups her jaw in his calloused hand tenderly and leans forward. "Don't run this time," he whispers.
"Five… four… three… two… one…!"
People are shouting and confetti is being thrown into the air triumphantly. Jubilee doesn't notice, however, because Logan is kissing her senseless. It feels as good as last year but better this time because her fear and apprehension have been completely shed. She wraps her arms around his neck and clutches the nape of his neck with her tiny fingers, deepening the kiss. Breathing heavily, those butterflies seem to escape her stomach and Logan pulls away suddenly, sucking in a breath.
"What?" she asks half dazed.
"You're spoutin' off fireworks, Darlin'."
She smirks. "That happens sometimes." He quirks an eyebrow and she can see him trying to hide his apparent jealousy. Chuckling, she moves close to his ear even though it's not necessary. "Let's get out of here and you'll really see."
"I like the sound of that."
They start to move away from the doorway leaving the shouts of 'happy new year' behind them. She doesn't have confetti in her hair this year, just a wide, flashing grin instead. Jubilee reaches for Logan's hand.
"Hey Logan?"
"Yeah?" he asks as they start to mount the stairs.
"I missed you too." She turns to kiss him quickly before pulling away and whispering, "catch me" before running off giggling. A phony growl follows her, but it isn't her best performance considering the alcohol she's consumed and the stitch in her side from laughing so hard. It isn't long before he catches her, grabbing her around the middle and sweeping her up against him. Jubilee wraps her legs around his waist and he presses her against the hallway wall. Her laughter is suddenly gone as he stares at her intensely.
They are only feet away from her bedroom, but that doesn't stop him from kissing her hungrily, one hand snaking past her bunched up dress to grasp her ass. She bites his lower lip and moves down to kiss his neck. Steadying her face with the hand that isn't gripping her backside, he moves back.
"Promise me ya won't run."
"I promise if you promise the same thing."
"You've got yerself a deal," He says before kissing her quickly. "Now let's do this the right way." Next thing Jubilee knows she's being carried to her bedroom. Logan kicks open the door and slides them both in, not bothering to hit the light switch.
He kicks the door closed behind them, his face nuzzled in the crook of her neck and Jubilee knows this year will be quite different from the one before.
