I would like to apologize to all of my readers I know you have been waiting for a long time for an update. I am in the process of writing another story and I wanted to get a few chapters as groundwork done before returning to this one. Once the ground work was completed I tried to return and found I had a bit of writers block. If you don't like that excuse I also rescued a new dog and he has gotten quite attached to me and jealous of my laptop. Whenever I try to write he jumps up in my lap and it is more than a little difficult to write that way. Check out my new story if you have not as of yet it is called Love and a bullet and I have made quite a bit of headway in it so far. I will stop boring you now hopefully and continue with the chapter thank you as always, enjoy.
David's POV
Jubilee has been a disaster the past couple days making me go over hotels online and coming up with ideas for things to do while we are in California. She recommended parasailing but I can fly so I don't see much of a point. I recommended deep sea fishing and Jubilee shot that one down even after I informed her that there will be food and drinks aboard the chartered boat. We both decided to take surfing lessons but so far that is all we came up with. She has been going through her closet with a fine tooth comb picking out the perfect outfits to wear and she made me take her to the mall so she could get a new swimsuit. I should have known going to the mall with Jubilee would involve much more than swimsuits. I was ready to break a mirror in one of the clothing stores and cut my throat with the broken glass when Jubilee agreed to model the swimsuits for me. That day actually didn't turn out so bad after all. We are leaving in an hour and I cant wait to see California. I have never been to the west coast and I am excited.
"Jubes, I think 3 suitcases is enough." I said as she was still packing more clothes. Hell I had one and the only reason it is full is because Jubilee packed more clothes for me after seeing how little I packed.
"No I need one outfit to wear to the beach and then a swimsuit at the beach and another to wear after we get back to the hotel and shower to go out for the evening." She said and I wanted to strangle her because I know I will be the one carrying her luggage.
"As much as I love you I really hate you sometimes Jubilee." I said and she didn't even turn to look at me.
"Uh huh, why don't you start getting everything in the car we don't have long to be at the airport." She said and I sighed.
"We could have already been there by now if you didn't pack everything you own." I responded and she waved me off.
I carried our suitcases down the stairs and loaded them into the back of a black town car that was taking us to the airport. I told Charles a taxi would be fine but he insisted. He has been extremely nice ever since he realized he was wrong and apologized about everything. I stood outside waiting by the car when the door opened and Jubilee walked out followed by Piotr carrying her last suitcase. I walked up and relieved him of the bag before thanking him and rolling my eyes toward Jubilee. I placed the bag in the trunk and opened the door for Jubilee. And we are off.
We arrived at JFK Shortly later and had to practically run to the security checkpoint. And then to our terminal before our plane left without us. We arrived at the terminal as they were calling last call for our flight, we showed our tickets and were able to finally board.
The plane soon took off and Jubilee laid her head on my shoulder. We had to wake up early to make our flight and as much as she was stressing about getting everything ready she didn't get much sleep. Before long she was asleep and I was finally able to relax. I enjoyed the rest of the flight looking out of the window at the miles of highways and cities and was amazed how much the scenery changed the further we got. The plane ride lasted five hours or so and then we finally landed. Jubilee woke up during the landing and seemed well rested.
After we got through baggage claim and made our way out of the airport I called the rental car company to find out where our car was. We found the car and headed to the Beverly hills Hilton. We checked into the hotel received our keys and thankfully a bellboy was able to help me with Jubilee's bags. We reached our room and I kinda wish I would have taken a nap on the plane. I tipped the bellboy before closing the door and took a second to take in the hotel room. A king size bed, flat screen television, a mini bar, it was a nice place but I really do not intend to spend much time here.
"So what's first?" Jubilee asked after changing into a yellow sundress that I am glad she bought for the occasion she looks amazing in it.
"This is your city, but I am thinking we should get some lunch first the flight was longer than I expected." I said after refusing the meal they served on the plane I was getting hungry and Jubilee slept through the in flight meal.
"Sounds good to me. There used to be a place three blocks from here that I used to love I just hope it is still there." She said I gestured for her to lead the way.
We decided to walk and enjoy the sun as it was still relatively warm here. Judging by some of the people that live here you wouldn't think so but I guess living in a place like this might give you thin skin. The restaurant Jubilee mentioned was in fact still here it was a small bistro with indoor or outdoor seating and we chose to eat outside. We sat and ordered food from a very pleasant waitress. As we ate she was back often to ask how we were doing and refilled our drinks quite often.
"How does it feel to be back here?" I asked as Jubilee wiped her mouth after finishing her grilled chicken sandwich.
"It is a little overwhelming, Nostalgic but its nice. Thank you David." She said after setting her napkin down.
"This is the second time you have had to bring this back and it is still undercooked are you trying to fuck with me or are you just retarted?" A man two tables away yelled at our waitress. "I am paying good money to eat here and I expect better service than this." He continued yelling and making a complete ass of himself. I turned towards him and began to stand when Jubilee grabbed my wrist.
"David, I know you always have to be a hero but they will comp his meal and he will be happy, can we just enjoy our vacation without getting into any trouble?" Jubilee asked, I slowly sat back down and turned back to her.
"Of course sweetie." I said taking her hand and looking into her eyes.
A few minutes later and the food was brought out to the man once again. "What the hell is this?" The man yelled tossing the plate off of his table and onto the ground breaking it.
"Sir please I am doing everything I can." The waitress explained.
"Obviously not, if you were I would be enjoying my meal but instead I have been sitting here for 35 minutes and have nothing but an empty stomach to show for it. Now get your ass back there and tell them to make it right this time bitch." He said and I looked to Jubilee.
"Ugh go ahead." She sighed and I stood from my seat and approached the man calmly.
"I don't know what your problem is but you will not talk to that poor woman that way. These are honest hard working salt of the earth people trying to make a paycheck, they do not deserve to be treated like this. So why don't you shut your mouth and instead try showing some damn respect where it is deserved." I said hoping to get through to the man peacefully. The last thing I need is to get arrested all the way across the country.
"These people are incompetent morons who cant do the job that they get paid for correctly and I will treat them how I wish so go back to your seat and mind your own fucking business." He said before waving me off. "Now where is that bitch with my food?" He then yelled across the restaurant.
"That's enough, I am going to ask you once nicely to leave." I said in a much more stern tone now.
"And if I don't?" He asked standing from his seat.
"I will carry you out of here." I responded flexing my hand at my side ready for anything the man tries. He threw a right and I caught his wrist before wrenching his arm behind his back.
"Ow let go of me." He yelled.
"When I do you will apologize to that woman and then you will leave here and never come back do you understand me?" I asked from behind him.
"Yea whatever you say man." He grunted through the pain. I pushed him away from me and released his arm. He turned to face me rubbing his wrist before swinging a left. I ducked under it and brought my right knee up into his gut.
"I am done asking nicely." I said before lifting him by his wrist and walking him toward the fenced in outer area and tossing him over the gate and onto the pavement on the other side. I turned back to the other patrons and was met with a round of applause.
"Thank you sir, you are my hero. It is only my second day and I am not used to dealing with people like that. He was being a real jerk." The waitress said after approaching me.
"Don't worry about it, you are doing an excellent job. He wont be bothering you again." I said shaking her hand before another man approached me.
"Thank you sir, your meal is on the house." The man, clearly the manager said to me.
"I can cover the meal, I didn't do that for free food. But it is something you should have taken care of. Where were you when this was taking place?" I asked a little angrily that he did not make one appearance to try to quell the escalating situation.
"I... I... I..." He stuttered.
"Save it, your waitress did an amazing job here. You have an excellent employee." I said before turning back to my table.
"Are you ready to go?" I asked Jubilee and offered her my hand.
"Yes my hero." She said sarcastically as she took my hand and stood from her seat. I paid the bill and left a generous tip for the waitress before we made our exit.
We hadn't made any plans for today as we were expecting to be a little jet lagged but decided to just walk around and enjoy Beverly Hills. We passed shops and shops and more shops. Jubilee of course couldn't help herself and bought even more clothes. We had to buy her another suitcase to pack the purchases in when we leave. We walked around the mall, Jubilee's old hangout and she began reminiscing, and pointing out where she nearly got arrested by mall security by that fountain and outside of that store. I laughed and smiled picturing a young Jubilee as fast and agile as she is making the security guards look like idiots trying to catch her. She began looking at some of the stores that were still here from when she was young and explaining every little nook and cranny of the place. I always heard she was a mallrat but I had no idea.
We stayed at the mall until closing and then got a taxi back to the hotel. We walked into the room and decided a shower would be needed before bed. We have taken showers together before but something about being away from the mansion just the two us not having to worry about being quiet or who would hear us. A clear head not thinking about team training or getting hurt living our daily lives. All of that combined made for an incredibly memorable shower. We emerged an hour later exhausted and hit the large King size bed. The sheets were incredibly soft and the comforter was incredibly warm against our bare bodies as we called it a night.
Our vacation continued amazingly. We ended up parasailing although I really didn't want to although it did come as a compromise and we went deep sea fishing as well. I caught a 360 lb blue marlin that I was pretty excited about. I really wanted to have it mounted so that I could place it on my wall back at the X-mansion but the fishing charter explained over and over that we are sport fishing and it is catch and release only. I reluctantly gave in and we released the marlin. The boat captain was not very happy when on the way back I jumped in the water after seeing a shark. Judging by the tongue lashing I received neither was Jubilee. I have seen enough shows to know that sharks generally do not attack without reason and I did everything to minimize that risk. All the same it probably was not a very smart move on my part.
The following day we gave surfing a try. Believe it or not surfing is a lot harder than it looks. It took me forever even to be able to stand on the board. Jubilee got the hang of it after a while and overall we had fun. We decided a tour would be fun and got on a double decker bus. Jubilee began explaining a bunch of the things we passed and she seemed more knowledgeable than the tour guide. He seemed a little annoyed but I enjoyed myself. The next few days we checked out a few museums and other attractions throughout California and I was having a great time but there is something I have been wanting to do since we got here.
"David what are we doing here?" Jubilee asked as the taxi pulled up at a cemetery.
"I didn't bring you all of the way back here just for vacation. I wanted to meet your parents." I said softly and took her hand.
"David, I cant. I never even said goodbye when I left California. It is too painful." She said and pulled back slightly until I gave her a reassuring squeeze.
"So you can say a proper goodbye now." I said and she nodded slightly before taking the lead.
We walked along a long paved road before we stopped at two matching headstones next to each other. "Mom, Dad. I know I haven't come to see you in a long time and while it is wrong of me there is an explanation. After losing you California didn't seem like home anymore. People say home is where the heart is and my heart broke here. I found a new home in New York with a new family, a really large family. They took me in regardless of my mutation or the trouble I was causing. Professor Xavier has come to be a father figure to me and has taken very good care of me. I made a lot of good friends and I am graduating school this year. I know I was not always the greatest daughter, I gave the both of you hell growing up but you never once gave up on me. I couldn't have asked for better parents. I love you both. I only hope that you are proud of the woman your little girl is growing up to be." Jubilee said through a tear strained voice kneeling in front of the headstones. I stood behind her and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and she continued. "This is David. He is a really great guy and I hope you approve because he is going to be the father of your grandchildren. He treats me well and is an honest hardworking honorable man. I think you and him would have gotten along famously dad. Mom you would have been a little disapproving at first but you would have come around. One day, hopefully a very long time from now the three of you will get a chance to meet. I promise I will come back to visit you again, I just want to take this time to finally say goodbye." Jubilee said and got back to her feet. She turned and began walking away and I knealt down in front of the head stones.
"Mr. Lee, Mrs. Lee it is truly an honor to meet you. My name is David Alexander I am a mutant and I am dating your daughter. She is an amazing woman, she did everything in her power to help me learn what it is like to have these special gifts when she barely knew me at all. She claims that I treat her right but I only treat her as she deserves. As much as I do for her I would gladly do it all again and will continue to do so for as long as she will have me because she saved my life literally and figuratively, or saved me from a dark life that I could have lived. My only regret through all of it is that I never got to shake your hand or request your permission to date your daughter. From everything Jubilation has told me you were amazing parents and it saddens me that our child will never get to experience the love that you showed Jubilee. I hope that you will keep a close eye on both Jubilee and our child in the event that I am not able to and I look forward to the day we can share a drink together." I said pulling a small bottle of sake from my pocket that I brought for this occasion.
"David!" Jubilee yelled. "Sake is Japanese, we are Chinese." She said and shook her head.
"Sorry, I guess that was an inappropriate joke." I said softly.
"No, I think you just made my father laugh." Jubilee then said as she sat down on the grass next to me. "Thank you David, I really needed this." She then said and took my hand in hers.
"Anything for you Jubilee." I replied lifting her hand to my lips and planting a soft kiss on her knuckles.
We sat on the grass for hours having full conversations with headstones. If anyone was listening in they would think we were crazy but something about it felt strangely comfortable. Something about it felt like I was becoming a part of their family, it made me feel accepted like Mr. and Mrs. Lee were alive and we were sitting down for a dinner together. We said our final goodbye and headed back to the hotel for our last night in California.
"Thank you for meeting my parents David that really meant a lot to me. Whether you really got to meet them or not the gesture was really sweet." Jubilee said as we laid down in the hotel bed.
"I didn't do it all for you. I wanted to do it because of the child that you are carrying. I wanted to do it because I would like to consider them my in laws." I said after getting up from the bed and reaching into a pocket on my suitcase. I pulled out the small box and presented it to her.
"David! I-" She began before I put my hand up.
"Jubilee, I know that we have not known each other for that long and some of the time we spent apart but we found our way back and our relationship became stronger than ever. I know we may be too young and we have a lot going on as it is but if it is ok with you I would like to add a wedding to our already full plate. What do you say Jubilation Lee, Will you marry me?"
I know this is a short chapter compared to my usual length and I probably could have stretched it but it just seemed right to me. Don't worry I will not be taking anymore long breaks and I will begin updating again. Those of you that are also reading Love and a Bullet do not fear I will be putting in overtime to update it as well. Thank you all for reading and please leave a review letting me know what you think.
