* Sorry it's taken so long to update. It was almost like I was so happy with the way the last chapter had gone that I couldn't think of how I wanted to begin this chapter. Nevertheless, I have finally returned to this story because I've already written the ending and it would be a shame to never get to share it with everyone. I still do not own any Marvel characters, but it's nice to pretend :-)
Right Now Is All That Matters (Pt. 4)
Jubilee and Gambit returned home in the early evening as the sun was beginning to droop over the trees, casting a burnt orange glow across the landscape. They had driven back in blissful silence, enjoying the beauty of the day and the wonder of the events which had occurred. Remy dismounted his bike after pulling it into the garage and helped Jubilee off with her helmet, then noticed her peeking up at him apprehensively. "Chere, what is it?"
"What if she doesn't like the dress after all this, Gambit?"
Remy looked at her pointedly. "Jubilee, that woman pulled th' idea for that dress right outta th' place in my heart that knows Stormy better than anyone. Dere ain't no way she won't fall in love wit' it." The words flowed so easily out of his mouth that Jubilee didn't even dwell on the possibility for another second, and bounded happily into the house, clutching the bag with the dress in it. Gambit, on the other hand, held back, wondering for the first time about how Storm would react when she saw the outfit they had found for her. Although his words had assured Jubilee, it had suddenly occurred to him that his friend might not be as happy as he was expecting. After all, what if she found out that he and Jubilee had met a woman who had literally drawn Remy's emotions for Ororo right out of his heart and created this sensual outfit from them? Would she be offended that this was the way he had unintentionally expressed his true feelings for her? Gambit wasn't sure, and the thought of possibly upsetting her so badly that she wouldn't want to go out that night made his stomach coil in knots.
Quickly he pushed open the door, hoping to catch Jubilee as she was walking up the stairs, but instead he found that she had been holding the elevator for the both of them. She gestured excitedly for him to join her and he did, admonishing her as soon as the door closed. "Petit, promise me dat you won' tell 'Ro where we got da dress."
Jubilee turned from watching the ascending numbers to look at him in utter shock. "What?! But it's such a cool story…it's like it was handmade for her!"
"I know, I know, but it ain't da right time to tell her. Dis night is supposed to be about her takin' back her life, not about de little adventure we had." He cast his dark eyes down, but not before Jubilee caught a glimpse of sadness in them. "You know wha', chere, don' even tell her dat I went with you to da store. If she finds out how I helped you pick out th' dress, her mind'll be preoccupied wit' ot'er thoughts instead of thinking 'bout havin' fun."
Jubilee's eyes narrowed as she tried to figure out what he was talking about. "Oh come on, Remy, what do you mean? She'll be really happy that we went together to pick out something special for her, and she'll love that it's an original design! Please, just come in with me and you'll see."
Gambit shook his head as the elevator doors opened, and the pair stepped out onto the landing in front of Storm's loft apartment. "Girl, you gotta promise me. What is dat t'ing you love to do? I always see you doin' it wit' de other younger people…"
Jubilee's face contorted in confusion. What is he talking about?
Gambit continued, "Somet'in' 'swear'…like a promise."
Oh god, no. PLEASE don't make me pinky swear!
"Aha! A pinky promise!" He smiled triumphantly, while Jubilee cringed. He had heard her say plenty of times that breaking a pinky promise was the worst kind of betrayal. "Pinky swear wit' Remy, petit. Pinky swear dat you won' tell Stormy a mutant femme formed dat dress outta my feelings fo' her."
Aw, crap. Jubilee reluctantly crooked her pinky around his, promising that she wouldn't tell, but silently she cursed the fact that she was so obviously a pop culture protégé of the eighties and nineties. And here I was thinking that Gambit had never really listened to what I was saying before. She watched her older companion leave with a troubled look in his eye, and couldn't help but stamp her foot in frustration as the elevator shut behind him. What the hell is his problem, anyway? She opened the bag and pulled the dress out to look at it one last time before presenting it to Storm. God, what a beautiful dress. It's like he knew every little curve of her body, every single detail that would accentuate her beauty. Jubilee twirled around with it, holding it up to her shoulders. I never realized how much attention he actually paid to her. If I had to guess, I'd say he's been in love with her for years. Jubilee gasped and had to steady herself to keep from tripping over her own feet. That last thought had popped into her head completely unintentionally, like an intuitive voice of reason. Of course! He's in love with her! That's why he was worried about telling her that he went with me; he probably thinks she'd freak if she found out that he had feelings for her. But maybe not...what if she feels the same way? Oh, I wish I hadn't pinky swore! Jubilee shook her head, trying to decide what to do when suddenly the door opened, and there was Ororo, holding a plant in her hand.
Unbeknownst to anyone, Storm had been behind the door, listening to the tail end of the conversation she'd been able to catch between Remy and Jubilee. Her trained ears had heard the muffled sounds of their feet when they had stepped from the elevator, and although she knew it was inconsiderate to eavesdrop, she'd been intrigued to discover how the two of them had been thrown together. Upon hearing her oldest friend coerce a pinky swear out of Jubilee, it had been very hard for Ororo not to laugh, but when she heard what Remy was making her promise, her breath had caught in her throat. Feelings? What was that supposed to mean? Suddenly she wanted nothing more than to see the dress in question. She knew Remy would not have been so clearly agitated if the garment was not going to alert her to something that was going on between them. However, she still had to keep her friends from knowing that she had been eavesdropping, so she decided to pot a plant she knew Charles would like, and come out of the apartment as if she was going to bring it to him. Unfortunately, by the time she had opened the door, Remy had already gone. She put on her best look of astonishment to greet Jubilee, however.
"Hello child! I almost wasn't sure you were coming ba-" Storm stopped abruptly and stepped closer to Jubilee, slowly placing the flowerpot on the floor next to her. Her fingertips reached out to graze the dress that the younger woman was holding up. "Oh Goddess, is that for me?" She had never imagined that it would be so beautiful.
Jubilee nodded. She was so overloaded with thoughts at this point, she couldn't find any words to say. She watched as Storm seemed mesmerized by the shimmering fabric, and passed the garment to her waiting hands.
Ororo cradled it in her arms, running her fingers over every inch of the dress as she wondered what feelings Remy could possibly have to help create something so breathtaking for her. "It is like molded sapphire. I have never seen a color like this since I lived in Cairo."
"Then…you like it?" Jubilee croaked out, wondering if she should break a pinky swear for the first time in her life and tell her friend where the outfit had really come from.
"I – I – I don't deserve this…" Storm stammered out, but she could not tear her eyes from the dress.
"Yes, you do. And you are definitely wearing it tonight." Finally pulling herself together, Jubilee ushered her friend back into the apartment, promising that she would love the shoes just as much, never once considering that Ororo might have been talking about not being worthy of something else besides the dress.
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*Ooo, what will happen next? You'll just have to wait and see…chapter five will be up as soon as possible! Again, thank you all for your patience and continuing reviews :-)