Marvel owns the X-men, no profit is to be made from this work.
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"It's Christmas!"
Cracking an eye open, Logan looked to the time and groaned. Pulling Rogue up against him, he felt her stir and whispered for her to go back to sleep. Their room was littered in ribbons, the wrappings of his gift from last night that he hadn't expected and so thoroughly enjoyed. He saved the best for last, tugging at that bow that hung in her hair like a flower to see her eyes as they cried out together, spent and tired and ready for a long winter's nap.
"I'm gonna kill her." Rogue growled as she looked at the time.
Seeing their door knob twist and turn, opened just a crack the black wolf bounded in and leapt up onto their bed licking them both eagerly and tugging at their blanket. Suffering an early morning game of tug of war, Logan glared at the bratty wolf as she yipped and barked and looked back at the door where she had just come from.
"You are so dead Lee." Rogue groaned as she took the wolf into a headlock.
Reaching for one of the ribbons from the past nights bit of fun, Logan quickly muzzled Jubilee complete with a neat little bow. At the door he saw Kurt watching the trouble his wife was getting into dressed in a housecoat and looking a bit worn out.
"I'll get us some coffee brewing." Kurt said with a wave, heading off to the kitchen and leaving them to deal with his wife.
"Well, might as well get on up and have a shower at least." Rogue muttered.
Watching his love wander off to the bath au natural and looking radiant, Logan looked to Jubilee who was wagging her tail and looking smug. Hatching a plan of his own, if he was up then everyone was going to be up.
"Close yer eyes while I find my boxers, got a mission for ya." Logan growled, letting himself smirk as she did just as was asked of her.
Hauling her by the husk of her neck to let her know he was decent, at the first attempt of her trying to paw off her bow he gave her a warning look. Fixing her muzzle and giving the bow a tug he called her on. Leading her out into the hall, she must have known his plan for how her bottom was just wiggling with how fast her tail was wagging.
"Got a present for ya Kitty!" Logan called as he opened the door to Hank and Kitty's room, Jubilee just a blur of black fur racing past him.
"What the hell!?" Kitty screamed as the black wolf bounded onto her bed.
"Misery loves company, Merry Christmas." Logan muttered, making his way off to his little Red for a nice long shower.
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"Oh my gosh these costumes are so cool!" Jubilee cheered, rushing down the stairs with the jingle of bells.
Dressed in a short skirt, green stockings, a little jacket and a belled hat, Kurt followed after her dressed just the same. Coffee was brewing and she saw Santa off by the tree kissing Rogue under some mistle toe. Kitty sat curled up with Hank, sipping her morning cup and glaring at her. Grinning and waving, Jubilee ignored the look having enjoyed waking up the household.
Their stockings hung by the chimney with care with cartoon likenesses of each on them, something Kitty had made special for the holiday. Rushing up and handing them all out, Jubilee sat lotus with her husband and dug into hers to find a lump of coal first.
"Kurt, did you tell Santa I was being naughty?" Jubilee asked, leaning in for a kiss with her love.
"Maybe he saw us last night?" Kurt mused wrapping his lady up with his tail.
"But I was so good to you..." Jubilee pouted.
Rolling his eyes at their display, Logan dug into his own stocking to find a lump of coal himself. Rogue grinned at him as he smirked at her as he dug deeper to find some of the other presents inside. A cigar, a box of his favourite wooden matches, and a few tiny bottles of whiskey tumbled out into her lap as he gave up and just dumped it out.
"Wow, sure are a lot of us on the naughty list?" Kitty said as she found a lump of coal.
"Be glad the Krampus isn't real, otherwise he would have snatched you all up last night to steal you away." Hank chuckled, finding a few stamped metal bookmarks in his.
"Uh, he's not real is he?" Jubilee asked, dumping hers out and fighting with something caught in the toe of her stocking.
"No, I even asked Merlin himself just to be sure that there were no things that shouldn't be of that nature. The only nuisance at this time of year are Piskies or Pixies, nothing so abominable as a thing that shouldn't be and more just likely to steal the ribbons, bows and decorations from the Christmas tree and presents for clothing." Hank revealed, smiling as he noticed a gift card to one of his favourite book chains.
"Sounds like something a cat would get blamed for. Oh my god, thank you whoever got me this!" Jubilee squealed as she pulled a plush stuffed dog from her stocking replete in black fur and a pink tongue.
"Not sure if yer welcome after that wake up call brat." Rogue huffed, opening up a present from her stocking and finding it to be a tangerine.
Kissing her love, she opened it and started to peel away at the delicate skin. Having enjoyed their stockings soon eyes were looking at all the presents under the tree, the gathered turning to Santa himself who had his lap occupied.
"Well, what say one o' my elves start handing out gifts. The loud yappy one that owes me." Logan grumbled with a pointed look to Jubilee.
Eagerly diving into the gifts and finding one for each, Jubilee handed them all out and sat back down with Kurt. Between laughs and gasps and giggles the gifts were opened, some carefully and others having their paper torn gleeful abandon.
"Hmm, feel like dancing Doctor McCoy?" Kitty asked as she opened her book of erotic, exotic and pole dances.
"Ahem, I believe I shall let you lead in that regard." Hank replied with a voice that hinted at a blush.
"It's beautiful." Kurt said as he opened a slender box gifted from Logan and Rogue.
On a silver necklace a locket hung in the company of a simple gold wedding band much like his own. Jubilee was staring at it with a hand held to her lips, gasping as the locket was opened to reveal a picture of her on their wedding day opposite of him. Scooting behind her husband, she helped him slip the necklace on, kissing him on his cheek before tackling her friends in a heartfelt hug.
"Just a little something fer ya to show off if anyone doesn't realize that yer wearing a wedding ring." Logan said with a nod to his friend.
"Danke Logan, Rogue. Thank you very much." Kurt whispered, raising the locket to press a kiss to it and to his wife.
"Hun, look at this..." Rogue whispered as she opened a gift given from the Wagner's.
It was a coin set, but she only had eyes for one, a silver half dollar with a howling wolf. Tearing off the rest of the paper to admire it more, Rogue felt something land on her lap that Logan picked up to show her. Feeling her eyes mist at the sight of it, it was a silver sixpence all on it's lonesome. Blushing and beaming down to her bratty little sister, Jubilee was smiling utterly pleased with herself looking like a impish elf.
"I just went in to this coin shop looking for the sixpence, but then Kurt and me saw that cool coin set and we had to get it. Kinda just rocks you both, the wolf and it being way cool and Canadian, eh?" Jubilee revealed.
Blinking away a few heartfelt tears and looking to Logan, he traced a finger over a coin like the one he'd made a wish on once as they sat at a fountain. Maybe not how she dreamed of it then, but they'd taken a journey together and now they had a new one for him.
"We love it, thank you both." Rogue whispered, patting her lap and calling Jubilee up for a hug that even Logan joined in on.
Taking a moment to make breakfast before getting back to the last gifts, Kurt played photographer as Kitty and Hank toiled in the kitchen setting coffee to brew amid making toast and bacon and eggs. Holding her coin set up with Logan and Jubilee in the shot, Kurt snapped picture after picture, even getting a few of Belle and her Beast in the kitchen. With a platter of food to be picked away at, the two cooks returned and the final few gifts were dug out.
"Oh my gosh Logan..." Rogue gasped in a breathless voice as she opened a gift from him.
It was a photo album with no room left for new pictures, instead just all the ones he'd stolen from her with a bit of help from a certain cat burglar with a knack for computers. Some of her favourite postcards were mingled among the photos, from Alaska to Italy, Spain to France, and finally Germany. The pictures of those wilds she walked alone were paired with the ones she walked with him, just wondering when he had done it all.
"Merry Christmas babe." Logan whispered with no kiss just his arms around her as she flipped through the pages.
"Oh my gosh, did I really look like that?" Rogue asked as she found some wedding photos now.
Never even knowing when half had been taken, he must have gone through all the photos from that day finding all the magical moments made that day. Wiping at the tears that came, she looked on one of the bride with all her maids in that winter wonderland come early. The last took up an entire page, one of her and Logan just slow dancing together. Sputtering trying to speak, she gave up. Yet one last addition was made, the silver sixpence placed with that photo as a promise of their own wedding.
"I love you Logan." Rogue cried with a hiccup, laughing as she heard herself crying on this festive day.
"Love you too, today, tomorrow and always Marie." Logan whispered her secret name in the company of those who deserved to know.
Not alone in kissing to that sentiment, Rogue curled up with Logan holding her album tightly to her chest. It made her think of all those albums of her parents, the ones full of special moments to be looked on relieving them all anew over coffee, or shown to friends to reminisce. Thinking of home, she knew just the place for it, right under their coffee table to be found by guests. And just maybe someday sooner than she thought there would be another, full of photos of her own wedding, full of keepsakes from that special day.
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The candles were snuffed and the fire put out. Getting dressed for a walk, they had explored the city to find they weren't alone. Couples and families and just some lonely souls met them. Fretful and fearful children looked on Kurt as though he were the Krampus himself until he greeted them proving he was a kindly and gentle man.
Children delighted in touching his tail and meeting his wife, touching her ears and gasping in surprise to find they were real. Hank greeted them in his fluent but accented German, dazzling them with his voice alone and letting his furry cheeks be brushed. And while some made space for them or crossed streets, they turned their cheeks and let them be. Talk of the circus was in the air, their names whispered in gossip and pictures taken.
"This is how it should always be." Rogue whispered.
"You said it." Logan replied, walking arm in arm and shoulder to shoulder together.
"I'm scared for them, I still remember what those assholes did to Bobby and John."
Fighting a growl at that memory, Logan pulled tight on his leashed beast to rein it in. It was Christmas, it wasn't a time for those thoughts. There was too much anger in the world to add more of his own.
"We'll be there for them, all of us. We'll be there for John and Drake, for Kitty and Hank, for all our family and friends. But for now that's an ocean away, whether these folks just think it's makeup or just don't care, all they're seein' is the Incredible Nightcrawler and his wife out for a walk before their big debut tonight." Logan said soft and quiet and for her alone.
"I can't wait ta see them in these costumes Jubilee keeps hinting at." Rogue confessed as she let him brighten her spirits.
"And that encore of theirs, something about secret practises and such." Logan added.
The highlight of the newlyweds Honeymoon was upon them, but there was still time before that. Lunch would be Christmas Goose because they wouldn't be home for dinner, instead at the circus and celebrating with distant relatives bound by the heart. Looking to another gift from her love, it was a slender and slim watch and it was an effort not to reach for her phone out of habit.
"Never cooked a goose before." Rogue chuckled.
"Ya cook a mean turkey, ya got nothing to worry about. Guess we'll get ta enjoy some fresh baked bread for the sandwiches tomorrow."
For better or worse everyone was encouraging Jubilee and her new hobby, and he'd gotten her a book on all sorts of breads. But after her cake they'd all enjoyed, even having a sliver himself, he was getting less worried about his promise to teach her a few things as to the main course of a meal.
"Mmm, sounds delicious. Don't worry, Kitty swore to keep an eye on her. Those two are always butting heads anyways."
Marvelling at the old city and thinking of how many Christmas's it had seen, she wondered just how many more she'd see. Would she tell of forgotten traditions, or how the new ones had come around? Would she tell stories like Silverfox, become a thing of legend like Merlin? The Wolf Sisters, already that was a nice name for her and Jubilee. A new year was just around the corner, remembering the old and ringing in the new.
"I guess I should start using this thing." Rogue laughed with a look to her camera.
Walking those festive streets snapping pictures a plenty, she had her mind turned to a new album to fill, her first Christmas with her family. The school would always hold a special piece of her heart, but that place she had lost years before had been found again in Logan's arms, in Kurt and Jubilee's smiles and laughter, and in watching Hank and Kitty falling in love before her eyes.
"Merry Christmas hun."
Sealed with a kiss, there was no other place in all the world she wanted to be other than in his arms.
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"How did I ever let you talk me into this?!"
Dressed for their debut, Kurt knelt next to his wife who sat before the mirror with all the makeup and glamour. Looking at herself in the mirror, Jubilee saw someone else looking back at her. It was the Joyous Jubilation with her Incredible Nightcrawler at her side, but she was more nervous than ready to step out for their performance. For all the practices and the promises and everything else, the cries of the crowd and their applauds to all the other acts were deafening and filled her with dread.
"Because you love me." Kurt said speaking the truth and that was all it took for his wife to crack a smile.
"I'm scared!" Jubilee whimpered.
"The first step is the worst, remember how you felt after you took that step the last time." Kurt whispered.
Holding her hand, it felt strange to not feel her rings where the should be. They all hung from his favourite Christmas gift, dangling with the locket that was open to reveal them as husband and wife on their wedding day.
"Stupid makeup." Jubilee grumbled, snatching a tissue to dab at her eyes.
"Ja, very stupid. I will have to wait to kiss you..." Kurt whispered with thoughts to their encore.
"No kiss?" Jubilee pouted.
"Gretchen has threatened me if I ruin your makeup."
"Dammit, fine! When do we go on?" Jubilee growled, the denial of a kiss all it took to find her resolve.
"Soon my lady, soon." Kurt promised.
"Did she say anything about cuddling?" Jubilee asked as another raucous cheer errupted.
"No, but as long as we're careful..."
Smiling as she made room for him, she sat down on his lap and let his arms shield her and tell her she was safe. He was her hero, he'd never let her fall, and swore before his Lord to always love her. Resting her head against his cheek, she waited for her turn, the present was the Ace of Swords and she had to be brave.
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Bamf.
The crowd was quiet for the entrance and with a showman's flair Kurt entered the ring with his lady in his arms. Vanishing once more in a cloud of smoke, he appeared across from his lady holding to the trapeze, two lovers separated by the gulf between them. Sitting with Logan, Rogue watched in awe waiting for the start. It was the return of the Incredible Nightcrawler to the Munich Circus but he did not come alone. He brought his Jubilation with him to share the joy he had found.
Dressed in leotards bedecked in dazzling sequins, the lights danced off them as they sparkled simply luminous. Waiting with abated breath, the moment came and there was a cry from the crowd. Kurt vaulted off in time to his Jubilation, the lovers crossing the gulf to be together again.
Music full of their longing and sadness at being apart accompanied them, for no matter how close they came to another they were always out of reach. Holding tight by their legs alone and reaching out, their fingers brushed, forces greater than them pulling them apart.
Sitting astride their swings swaying close but never to be near enough, Kurt reached for his Jubilation to see her grapple for him as they fell apart between that gulf. Hearing the music build with the promise of some act of bravery, Rogue watched entranced as Jubilee fell from her bar to take it in hand.
"I'll never let you fall!" Kurt roared for the crowd, holding himself aloft with outstretched arms.
Trusting his promise Jubilee flew aloft, flipping once, twice, thrice and caught in fulfilment of his oath to the applauds of the crowd. The gulf was gone and they defied gravity for a kiss to the adoring cries. Watching breathless, Rogue felt a hand on hers and joined in the act in her own way with a kiss to her love. Safe in his arms she watched the lovers meet on the ropes together.
Jubilee was a nymph upon the bar bound by the ropes that Kurt crawled over, swinging herself up to forever be saved the tyrant that would pull them apart. Twirling together spinning to the music, they hung apart but now their hands met as they had tried so many times before only for their tips to brush.
Darkness fell over the ring as the music quieted, the dance drawing to an end with the lovers standing together lost to one another's eyes. With the last note dying the lights died and a questioning murmur ran through the crowd.
"Where's our encore?" Logan asked of his Rogue.
"I guess we have to wait." Rogue whispered to him content in his arms.
Moment passed and the crowd grew more brazen in their cries for more, wondering just what was to be next. Then lights flared and blinded them, lights of gold and bronze that ran around the audience. New music played and the ring was set ablaze by the lights as darkness fell over the gathered once more.
The trapeze were gone, the stage empty, and Rogue wondered just what had become of the lovers, her friends. The music had no sadness nor longing to it, but instead was filled with a passion and a primal beat that aroused her wolf in her breast.
Silks fell from the heights of the ring where only dark shadows hid, and into light fell the lovers. Swirling together, their silks entwined, blue and white twisting together as they grew close. Gripping hers by a hand and pushing off with her foot, Jubilee spanned the distance between them and caught Kurt's. Yet he fell and she reached for him, rolling and tumbling from her silk until they met again.
Hanging from his and looking down on his love, gravity would not be denied as they fought, every kiss or brush of fingers just a brief moment until they fell again. Tumbling to the stage, Kurt reached up for his love but fate dared pull them apart again. Now the very silk that bound his love drew her up into the sky and he held tight to it with all his might.
Hanging limply and reaching for him, Jubilee was stolen into the darkness that they had fallen from. But Kurt would not let her go without a fight and with one last triumphant tug he pulled against her silk and she spun and tumbled towards him as the silk was eaten by the dark that hung over them above their haven.
The screams were the crowds as she came to the end of her silk spinning and tumbling through the air, but his promise was kept as he caught her. Holding his love in his arms, the kiss they had this time was full of the passion of the song, and from the darkness rose petals rained down on them. Joining with the audience, Rogue applauded loudly and with a giddy laugh, relieved after believing for one brief moment that Jubilee would have been stolen away from her Knight.
"Heck of an encore." Logan admitted with a loud clap of his own.
Bamf.
Laughing at their exit, Rogue realized just what she'd witnessed, blushing and flushed from how fast her heart was running away on her. It was the kiss that had been missed when Kurt and his Jubilation had fallen in love without even realizing it, and it was every bit as sweet as she imagined it should have been.
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