By: Cierce
Summary: Jubilee returns to the X-Men for a wedding.
Rated: G
"I cannot help being anxious Robert. I want
everything to be perfect for them...They've worked so hard, they deserve the
best." Bobby tugged on his collar, "Relax. They're part of
the X-Men. They already joined the best team, and they're gonna get the
best graduation possible. I mean, I even wore a suit just because Jubilee
asked me to!"
"Would it not be more precise to state that Miss Lee
beat you in a bet, and this is your penance?" Hank McCoy walked up to
join the group, "Ororo, you are a feast for the eyes." Storm
blushed, "Thank you Hank. Paige took me shopping, she kept saying
that I needed to get a new dress. I think that our Jubilation's shopping
habits have finally rubbed off on Paige." Bobby laughed, "That
sounds like Jubes, any occasion is cool, just as long as she can get a shopping
trip out of the deal!"
* * * * * * * *
Upstairs, in the girl's rooms, Jubilation Lee, Monet St.
Croix, Paige Guthrie and Elisa Nydor were busy with last minute touch ups on
their hair and face.
"Ah can't believe that we're finally gonna
graduate! Its been so long since we started..." Paige's eyes
began to mist as she recalled the memorable times that the foursome had
shared. Elisa looked at Paige and ran over scolding her gently, "Now
Paige, we have to stop crying. We did that last night. Today is a
happy day, today is the day we walk to the podium and talk about what it means
to graduate with a 4.3 GPA." Jubilee laughed, "Paige, I'm
jealous! You got a 4.3? Where was I while you were studying?
All I got was a measly 3.8 - I even was best friends with the math and science
teachers! We smuggled twinkies together! You think they could've at
least given me a 4.0!" she sat on the bed, "what's the world
coming to?" Monet smiled knowingly and continued to apply eyeliner as
Paige answered from the bathroom, "You were sneaking twinkies with the
teachers, while Ah was studying like a good student!" Jubilee made a
face, "So? Oh yeah, I think you'll deliver a great speech
Paige...straight from the farm with an accent and all!" Paige stormed
out of the bathroom, smiling a bobby pin grin. "Ah know."
Monet laughed, "There was once a time when Jubilation's comment would have
caused you to argue back. What happened Paige?"
"She caved." Elisa answered while applying
blush to her creamy complexion. Paige smiled, "Ah didn't...Ah
just...Ah just...Ah caved." Everyone laughed as they finished preparation
for the graduation.
* * * * * * * * *
Sean Cassidy walked up to the girl's room. He knocked on the door, and was
answered by giggles and Monet's ever confident, "Who is it?" He answered
her, voice cracking just a little,
"Tis Sean. The ceremony begins in five minutes, so
yee lasses had best be ready. The only reply he got was Jubilee's panicked
voice, "Where's my cap?!" This was replied my Monet's,
"Perhaps if you were to keep track of your belongings, they wouldn't disappear
on you." Which in turn was answered by Jubilee's, "Stuff it
M...I need my cap!!" Sean chuckled. He hoped that things would
work out correctly, preferably ending with a found cap.
* * * * * * * * *
Emma looked over the assembled guests. She was pleased
that so many people had come to see the graduation of her students. She
watched as Sean talked with the Professor, and she adjusted her previous
thought. *Their* students. They were as much his as they were
hers. She adjusted the podium, and mentally called Sean to the
stage. As soon as he got there, and she had made sure the students were in
place, she began, "Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please.
Today, we have come to recognize the graduation of a group of mutants as
diverse in both powers, nationalities and ideas for the future as
yourselves. They have worked hard the past three years, and are ready to
join the X-Men. As I am sure that you would rather hear someone other than
me talk, let us bring in the graduating class of 2002." In walked the
six students, and Sean was relieved to see Jubilee with both cap and gown.
They sat in the provided seats, as Paige walked up to the podium. She gave
both Emma and Sean a hug, then faced the audience.
"Ah wanted to thank you all for coming on behalf of all
us students. It really means a lot to know that ya'all support us. Ah'm
pleased to see both family and team members alike. Ya'all can't possibly
believe how surprised Ah was to be given the honor to be class valedictorian.
Ah was sure that there would be none in a class of six. However, Miss
Frost firmly replied that Ah had worked hard, and that Ah deserved this spot.
Today Ah was reminded of just how hard Ah worked. Ah won't say who it was
who reminded me, but Ah'm sure ya'all can guess. She stated that it wasn't
fair that she had received a 3.8 (which is a very good GPA) when she had been
best friends with both the math and science teachers, going for twinkie raids
with them and everything. While she was out playing, Ah was
studying. Ah don't mean to raise mahself by stepping on mah friend. Ah
merely wanted to show how it takes all types to make a team. All of us
contributed in many different ways." Paige looked at the guests,
"Ah know that this is a happy day, but Ah wouldn't feel right about
graduating without remembering the members of Generation X who are not here
today..." Paige wiped her eyes, "They gave the ultimate gift to
our fight. They believed in the dream, and sacrificed themselves for
it..." Paige choked the last words out. "Ah'm sorry, Ah
wanted to get through this without crying." Jono stood and walked to
his girlfriend. He put a loving arm around her shoulders. *I think I
can help gel. Paige wanted to talk of Clarice, who gave her life during
the Phalanx; and of Everett, who gave his life last year during a crisis at the
school. If it weren't for either of these two, then we wouldn't be here
today.* Jono looked at Paige who smiled and mouthed 'Thanks.' *No
problem luv.* he sent to her, as he went back to his seat. Paige smiled at
the guests. "Jono said what Ah had wanted to say to ya'all, and he
did a great job. Now that Ah've recovered, Ah wanted to tell the world to
watch out, 'cause we're free to roam now!"
* * * * * * * * *
It had been two weeks since graduation, and the team had gone
their separate ways. Jono and Paige had left for X-Force, Monet had
returned to Algeria to take over her father's job as ambassador, Angelo had decided to stay
with the X-Men in order to help Hank in the lab. Elisa stayed at the Massachusetts
Academy, helping to teach the new recruits of Generation X. Only Jubilee
was doubtful of where she wanted to go. She knew that she was expected to
rejoin the X-Men, but recently she had been rethinking her decision to
stay. She sat in her room staring out the window. Bobby's voice
brought her back to reality, "JUBES, MAIL!" Jubilee sighed as
she left the safe haven of her room. "WHERE?!" she bellowed down
the stairs. "KITCHEN!" Bobby shouted back. Jubilee smiled
as she entered the kitchen, "WHERE?!" she yelled. "ON THE
COUNTER!" Bobby bellowed back, grinning. "So, do you think
everyone has been annoyed for the day?" She laughed, "I hope
so." Bobby grin grew even bigger (if that were at all possible)
"Our job is done." She laughed as she turned to leave, bumping
into Angelo.
"Sorry Ange, mail's on the counter." He
looked at her with laughing eyes, "Si, I think the whole mansion knows by
now thanks to you two." He noticed Jubilee's envelope just then,
"What's that Chica?" She looked at the envelope, "It's from
a college I mailed to, I don't know if I should open it, I don't want to know if
I got rejected." Bobby frowned,
"Why don'tcha open it at dinner? That way if you get in everyone will
know at once." Jubilee stared at him, "And if I was
rejected?" Bobby blanched, and Angelo answered, "You
won't."
"Wish I had your confidence." Jubilee left to return to her room.
* * * * * * * * *
That night at dinner, Jubilee tried rather unsuccessfully to
get the attention all the X-Men seated round the table. However, her
problem was soon solved when she complained to Wolverine.
"Wolvie, I have something important to say, and I can't
get them to listen to me!" A loud SNIKT soon quieted the table.
The professor looked at Logan expectantly. Logan shrugged, "The Kid
has somethin' to say." Jubilee smiled at him, "Thanks
Wolvie." she turned to the rest of the table, "I mailed an application
to a college and this," she waved the envelope, "is their
reply."
"What do they say?" Scott started a barrage
of questions.
"Were you accepted?"
"Where is it?"
"What college?"
Jubilee cleared her throat, "I haven't even opened it yet, I wanted it to
be in front of all of you. I may be holding a rejection
letter." Gambit laughed, "Sure petite. Remy want to know
if you made it. Open de letter chere." Jubilee opened the
letter with trembling hands. She pulled out the letter and began to
read. Her face went emotionless. She folded the letter and looked at
the people around the table. Then she grinned, "I was accepted!
I start in two months." This was greeted by a chorus of
congratulations, and then Jean asked, "Where is it Jubilee?"
Jubilee swallowed.
"Rome." The table went quiet.
"As in Rome, Italy?" Warren asked.
Jubilee nodded, "Its a really good school, I'll get a great education, and
its such a good opportunity to study, and see the culture and..." She
faded off. Logan cleared his throat, "Two months hunh? Looks
like you've got a lot of shopping to do Darlin'."
* * * * * * * * *
Jubilee opened the mailbox in front of her small apartment,
juggling groceries and bike as she did so. She reached in, grabbed a
bundle of letters and shut the box. After shoving the letters in the
grocery bag, she walked to the small shed and locked her bike inside. Then
she continued up the steps to her door, opened it and stepped inside. The
scent of lemon wafted through the house and she inhaled deeply. She loved
lemon, it reminded her of Southern California where the lemons grew thick on
trees in almost every yard. She was vaguely aware of the eggs, butter,
bread and chicken she put away as she remembered America. It was only when
she had pulled the milk out that a bill flew out of the bag. She stashed
the milk in the fridge, and shifted through the stack of mail she had grabbed
from the bag.
"Bill...bill...bill...coupons, gonna hafta check those
later...bill...junk...junk...catalog... hunh?" She checked the return
address again, "from Xavier? What the heck is he sending me...?
It had better not be another 'please come home Jubilation' letter. I told
him I liked it here." She opened the envelope quickly, "What
the...it looks like an invitation. Lessee..." She read the message:
|
"So, Jono and Paige are finally gonna tie the
knot. Guess I'd better start on their present." She stopped to
think, "Wonder who asked who...I bet anything it was Paige."
She put on the radio as she began to paint. Dean Martin filled the room,
Return to me
Oh my dear I'm so lonely
Hurry back, hurry back
Oh my love hurry back
I'm yours.
For my heart wants you only
Hurry home, hurry home
Won't you please hurry home
To my arms.
If I hurt you, I'm sorry
Forgive me
And please say you are mine.
Return to me
Please come back Bellonia
Hurry back, hurry home
To my arms, to my lips and my heart.
Ritorna me
Caddamia tiamo
Solo du, solo du,
Solo du mia cuo
* * * * * * * * *
She walked up the familiar sidewalk with a sense of
dread. It had been five years, a year later than she had promised to stay
in Italy, and she was unsure of how the others would take her sudden
return. As the old building drew closer, the dread turned to
apprehensiveness. Would they miss her, would they be happy, angry, curious
- yes, hurt... The list went on and on. She wondered what everyone was
doing, had done, in the past two years. She hadn't visited since the end
of her junior year in college.
Jubilee took a deep breath to calm her nerves. She
steadied her shaking hand, and rang the bell. The door opened and a
brown haired head appeared. Jubilee tried to hide her surprise.
"Can I help you miss?" The girl looked at her
with large grey eyes, obviously wondering who this person was and how she had
gotten past the gate. Jubilee hesitated...contemplating running back for
the safety of the road and a motel room. The girl stared at Jubilee and
wondered if she heard her.
"Are you looking for someone miss? Do you want me
to get them for you?" She stared at Jubilee's luggage.
"Umm...Yes, I'm looking for..." Jubilee wondered
who she could depend on not to throw her out, "umm...Bobby...Bobby
Drake." she finished hastily, " is he here?" The girl eyed
Jubilee carefully, then replied, "Just one moment please." She
shut the door and Jubilee could here a very loud, slightly muffled,
"BOBBY!!!!!!!!!!! DOOR!!!!!!!" Jubilee grinned, and quickly hid
her amusement when the door opened.
"He's coming miss." Jubilee gave her a small
smile.
"Thank you." She turned around to view the
grounds. There were several new trees, she supposed that this was Ororo's
handiwork, and parts of the yard had exotic flowers that Jubilee thought she
should like to paint. She glanced at her bag quickly, thinking of Paige
and Jono's present. Her thoughts were interrupted when a very familiar,
"Sorry I took so long, I had to teach a young lady how rude it is to
yell." She turned around slowly, coming face to face with a lopsided
grin.
"Hi," she said meeting his stare. He squinted
at her, face contorted in concentration. "Whatsa matter Popsicle?
Don't you remember me?" Suddenly, his face spread into a radiant smile,
"Jubes!" He engulfed her in a huge hug and proceeded to spin her
around. "What are you doing back? I thought you ditched us for
Italy!" She grinned at him, trying to slow her heart's beating,
"Shows what you know! I'm here for the wedding!" He
blinked, "How'd you know that - "
"Jono and Paige were getting married?" Bobby
nodded while Jubilee grinned, "She invited me dummy! I'm a
bridesmaid. Now, where is she? I want to congratulate the bride and
groom."
"They're out now," Bobby grinned and grabbed her
wrist, "But I know Hank's home!" Bobby pulled her inside the
house, forgetting her luggage.
"Bobby! My bags! The wedding present is in
them, and my clothes, and my -"
"So I'll send the shrimp after them." He
yelled into the mansion, "SHRIMP!" The brown haired girl stepped
into the room, "My name's not shrimp." Bobby ignored her,
"Take the bags to the room I never let you in...the one on the third
floor. HURRY!" as the girl left with Jubilee's bags, Bobby
winked at Jubes, "Your room hasn't changed at all." Jubilee
felt her stomach flip as Bobby proceeded to drag her through the mansion.
"Unngh," Jubilee let a sound of
disgust escape her lips. Bobby
stopped running, and she nearly ploughed into his back.
"What?"
his face looked confused as he studied Jubilee. Her face had narrowed, and her dark hair was swept up into a ponytail
that barely reached her shoulders. She
wore a simple white t-shirt, and a pair of blue jeans. A pair of canvass tennis shoes completed the outfit, and the
sheer simplicity of the outfit set off her delicate features and natural beauty.
"Why'd you 'unngh'?" Bobby looked thoroughly
bewildered. Jubilee laughed, and somewhere in heaven the angels began to
sing. At least that's what Bobby thought must have happened. The
mansion had sorely missed Jubilee's laugh. Everyone had been out of sorts
for months when she declared she wasn't returning. Jubilee flashed him a
grin and answered.
"Italy changes people
Bobby. I've grown up. Pokemon and Sailor Moon and Brittany Spears no
longer interest me." Bobby put his hands on his heart and staggered
backwards,
"Jubilee grew up? The
world must be ending!" Jubilee looked at Bobby pointedly,
"All people grow up Bobby. I'm twenty-three years
old. I spent six years of my life playing baby to the X-Men...Don't look
at me like that, its true you know. I was worried that if you guys didn't
feel like you had to protect me, I'd loose you." As her voice began
to crack, Bobby pulled her into a big hug. Jubilee swallowed the lump in
her throat and continued, "I had to find myself. That's why I went
away; not because I cared about college, but because it was an excuse to leave
for awhile. Don't you understand?" Her eyes pleaded with him.
"'Course I understand Jubes,
heck, I had to find myself too. But what I don't get is that you kept
promising you'd come back, then all of a sudden, out of the blue, you
didn't."
"I'm sorry. Its just - I was enjoying life, and my
freedom...I could be who I wanted to be, do what I wanted, forget vegetables
existed without 'Ro's ever constant, 'Jubilee...'" she laughed, but
was cut short by a loud shh from Bobby.
"What," she whispered anxiously.
"Scott's home." Bobby grabbed her arm and
started to pull her towards the stairs. Confused, Jubilee followed,
"Cyke? Shouldn't we say hi?" Bobby
looked at her with eyes that clearly said, 'You haven't been here in two
years. Let me decide...NO!'
* * * * * * * * *
Jubilee was shoved into her room, and left alone after the
door shut behind her. She tried to open it, but found it locked. What
the heck is going on? She turned and looked at her room. Bobby
was right. The room hadn't changed a bit. There were still ORGY and
*NSYNC posters on the walls, and that horrible Pikachu doll on her bed.
Jubilee decided that if this was where she was going to stay for two months, she
would have to change the room. Lessee...Jubilee inhaled deeply, and
promptly began to cough. Dusting! She opened the window, and
found an old shirt in a drawer. Wish I could get out to get
polish. Oh well, guess I gotta do with what I have. Jubilee
cleared the dresser of Hello Kitty toys and other such trinkets. Then she
blew. From the dresser came a tornado of musty dust. Wow, Bobby
was right when he said my room was just the way I'd left it. Jubilee
attacked the furniture with the shirt, and finally after ten minutes, managed to
remove most of the dust. Then she started on the desk and finally the
nightstand. After forty-five minutes, the room began to look dust
free. She placed the jade green lamp on the dresser, and proceeded to make
a pile of things she would eventually throw away. Twenty minutes later,
she was so engrossed in removing the bedding from her bed (where else^^) that
she failed to notice the door slowly open. A brown haired head poked
through.
"Can I come in?" Jubilee jumped, and then
chided herself. Jumping! Geeze, what would Wolvie think?
She turned and smiled at the girl.
"Sure. Gets lonely in here without anyone to talk
to." But I'm used to it... She sat on her bare mattress,
"Hey, I don't bite. Come in and shut the door. I'm not sure
what's going on, but I think no one's supposed to know I'm here." She
grinned, "I'm Jubilee. You're..." Jubilee thought,
"Shrimp...?" The girl giggled and made a face.
"My name's Anne. Bobby gave me that stupid name
'cause I'm shorter than Logan." Logan...Wolvie. Jubilee
looked at the girl...Anne, "Is he here?"
"Bobby," Anne asked, "Yeah, he's down stairs
talking to Cyke 'bout somethin'...promises I think." Jubilee sighed.
"Not Bobby, Wol- Logan." Anne frowned,
"No, I think he's at a bar...I think. Say,
who are you anyways? Bobby must know you, but no one's ever mentioned a
Jubilee before. And this room...it was always off limits."
Jubilee smiled gently.
"Its my old room." She looked at the
girl. Anne couldn't be that much older than she was when she first
joined. Thirteen or fourteen.
"No way! You were an X-Man!?" Anne's
eyes grew huge, "But...you're not in any of the files." Jubilee
began to put two and two together. First Bobby not wanting her to be near
Cyke, and then her files missing.
"We got in a fight. I went off to college, and
then decided to stay awhile longer, and Chuck flipped. Now I suppose I've
been disowned."
"Harsh." Anne's eyes were sympathetic.
Then she brightened, "Hey, you need some help? I know where they keep
some stuff in the attic, and I could get fresh bed stuff, and polish, and Cinch,
and a vacuum, and -" Jubilee interrupted Anne.
"Sure, I could always use help, but no vacuum...Cyke
might flip." Jubilee's grin was matched by that of the energetic
Anne. She practically flew out of the room...perhaps she did fly.
One could never be too sure with the X-Men.