Summary: Jubilee returns to the X-Men for a reunion.
Rated: G
* * * * * * * * *
Jubilee pulled the bun out of her head letting her hair fall
against her face. She stared at the reflection in the mirror, as if she
was staring at an alien. What's going on with me? Why can't I
forget that dance? Why can't I move on with my life? She picked
up a wooden brush and proceeded to brush her ebony tresses. Then she went
to the mirror and gazed over the grounds to the ocean in the distance.
Jubilee sighed, not exactly sure of her own emotions.
* * * * * * * * *
"Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! God damnit how
could I have been so stupid!?" Bobby paced across his room, and hit
his head against the wall. He didn't care who heard him. All he know
was that he had blown any chance he ever had with Jubilee.
"Damnit!" He sat on his bed and fell
backwards. Letting out a sigh, Bobby decided that perhaps, maybe this was
a sign from God. He had tried twice to advance, and twice she had run
off. God just didn't want them together.
"Why God? What's so wrong about it?"
* * * * * * * * *
Angelo leaned against his closet doors, a small smile on his
face. He was in perfect bliss. He hadn't even noticed that
something was missing in his life until he had kissed Elisa. Sure he had
had crushes on Monet and Paige before, but he thought he'd never actually fid
the right one for him. Angelo turned off the light and fell asleep,
dreaming pleasant dreams.
* * * * * * * * *
Elisa was so intent in her sobbing that she failed to hear
the soft knock at her door. After awhile the door opened and Rogue
poked her head inside.
"Rogue, just out of curiosity, what were you and Remy
doing in your room?"
''Never you mind Sugah." Rogue blushed.
Elisa stared at Rogue, her eyes serious and threatening to spill over at any
moment,
"Were you drunk?" Rogue looked surprised,
"No. Sugah, what --" She was interrupted
by Elisa's outburst,
"Neither was I!" Rogue didn't know what was
going on, but she knew that her 'date' with Remy would have to be put on hold.
"Sugah, Ah don't know what happened, but Ah know
you, and you don't get drunk. Why don't you tell me, an' we'll try and
sort this whole mess out. And so Elisa sat there, grasping her pillow like
a lifeline, and poured her heart out to the woman who sat there listening sympathetically.
Jubilee was still staring o out the window when the car pulled up. She
watched as its engine shut off, and driver and passenger got out. She
heard the front door open and close, heard the thumps up the stairs, through the
hall, and as they stopped outside her door. Then she heard the knock,
which relayed everything about the caller. Living with the X-Men had
taught her to distinguish knocks of different people. Storm's was
distinguished, Hank's very precise, Wolvie's knock tended to be louder, while
Angelo tended to jiggle the handle (usually just after he heard the shower turn
off). This usually earned him a stream of words that would make a sailor
blush, and speeding objects aimed at his head. Others would have
decided this was a 'bad idea,' but not Angelo. He just continued to jiggle
handles.
However this knock was someone different. It held
excitement and youthful energy, yet it sounded held back, almost as if the
caller wasn't sure if she was awake. Jubilee smiled, sending all her mixed
emotions deep inside her, and called,
"Come in Anne." Within seconds the door had
opened, and Anne had leapt onto Jubilee's bed relaying the day's adventure...
"...An' then we stopped at Taco Bell, an' Beast said
he'd try the Cheesy Gordita Crunch, and got cheese all over his fur! He
was in the bathroom for about forty-five minutes. Finally he came out, and
we went home. But I managed to convince him to stop for a movie, a' we
ended up getting three! We got Gladiator (for the guys and whoever else
wants to see all that blood and gore), Patch Adams (Hank wanted to get it
*again,* honestly, he should just BUY the movie) and Singles (cause it looked
like a stupid, cheesy, wannabe romantic comedy). Then we stopped and
picked up Jack In the Box milkshakes (made with real ice cream!) and FINALLY
managed to make it home! Oh yeah, we also had a blow out, and had to
change it in the dark! That was fun, 'cept Hank kinda dropped the jack on
his foot. But he's ok." Anne took a deep breath. Talking
for approximately fifteen minutes without breathing was difficult, even for a
teenager high on caffeine and ice cream. She continued, "So how was
your day?" Jubilee smiled, masking her confused emotions, and offered
what she knew Anne would accept,
"It was ok. Not as interesting as yours, but
ok. Sounds like your day was exciting." Anne sighed,
"Yeah, but not as interesting as some of the stories
Hank told me you used to tell him after you an' Logan would come back from
Harry's." She sighed again, "It musta been fun being in bar
brawls. I guess I'll never get to experience that. There's no way
Hank would EVER take me in a bar, even if I never ordered a drink!"
Jubilee laughed recalling her adventures with Wolverine.
"The fights were exciting, and so was beating the snot
out of guys, but I coulda definitely done without the bruises and
headaches!" Anne smiled,
"I guess so, but I wish I could go somewhere
exciting. Car shows with Hank are ok, but nothing ever happens, 'cept occasional
blowouts. But those aren't exactly life and death situations. Its
not like its the Attack of the Killer Spare Tire!" Jubilee
laughed.
"Maybe I'll take you to Harry's one day, but only with
Wolvie there too. It help's to have a Canuckle Head with metal bones and a
healing factor on your side in a brawl. BUT, tomorrow, I'm gonna go to the
lake and paint for a few hours. You can come if you want."
Anne's eyes lit up, and she nodded eagerly,
"Yeah! I saw some of your paintings. They're
great! Maybe you could teach me a bit?" Jubilee smiled at the
teen who seemed so eager to partake in everything Jubilee did,
"Sure kiddo, but its almost midnight, and I want to get
the dawn on canvass. Time for bed!" Anne gave Jubilee a brief
hug, which surprised her, Anne hadn't done that before. Smiling Jubilee
went to bed, deciding the life was alright, and her decision about Bobby was the
right one.
* * * * * * * * *
Bobby had heard Hank pull up, and waited until he was sure
Hank was in his room before he went to talk. Hank was his best friend, and
he was almost certain that Hank was behind some ploy to 'fix' him and Jubilee
up! Once he reached his room, Bobby knocked on Hank's door.
"Come in." Hank knew who the caller would be,
it was impossible not to know. Bobby walked in and sat on the bed,
watching Hank in scrutiny,
"You planned this didn't you?"
"Planned what?" Hank feigned innocence,
"My friend, I assure you that I had no intention of planning anything when
I requested Anne's presence --" Hank was cut off,
"You told Ange to invite me an' Jubes on his date!
You were trying to set us up!" Hank looked trapped, so he did the
only thing he could do,
"Twinkie?" Bobby glared,
"Don't try to change the subject!" He took a
Twinkie and unwrapped it, biting into its golden, creamy deliciousness,
"You told Angelo about me an' Jubes! Actually, just about me, since
Jubes already gave me the 'Lets Just Be Friends' speech, and we weren't even on
a DATE!" Hank looked guilty.
"I apologize Bobby. I know I shouldn't have
interfered, but I only wished to help my best friend get together with his
recent crush." Now Bobby looked guilty,
"Its not just a crush y'know. I've kinda always
had a thing for Jubes. But, she was too young. Besides, Logan would
NEVER have agreed to her having a relationship with Bobby "The Living Hormone"
And when she joined she was 14! I was 20! Six years is a huge
difference at that age!"
"Why did you not tell me?" Hank looked
hurt. Bobby sighed,
"I -- I couldn't. After some of the relationships
I'd been in, I thought you'd laugh. 'This is just a rebound, Bobby.
You don't really love a 14 year old.' Well, I put it out of my mind, but
when she came back, I knew this was fate. She's perfect, beautiful, smart,
creative, sarcastic, athletic, AND a fellow prankster! And now I don't
stand a snowflake's chance in Hell!" Hank smiled at Bobby's
metaphor. Then he sighed,
"Perhaps something will happen Bobby, don't give up
hope." He looked at the clock, "And I should be asleep, and so
should you." Bobby got off Hank's bed, and grabbed another
Twinkie. Then he left with a simple,
"Night." Hank smiled as he fell asleep,
knowing that Bobby had forgiven him.
Outside Bobby ate a Twinkie, thinking. Y'know, Hank
was right. I shouldn't give up hope. There's still time to win her
over with my charm. If fate brought her back, then I should do something about
that. Fate want me to be with Jubes! Y'hear that God!? You're
contradicting yourself! FATE WANTS US TOGETHER!!!!!!!!!!!!! Which
means that You do too!!!
* * * * * * * * *
The next morning the bird were singing, and the sun was
shining. But all were not happy. Jubilee sat painting the scene she
had snapped with her Polaroid -- a beautiful sunrise over crystal blue
waters. There weren't but two puffy white clouds in the sky, and the trees
were such a subdued green that she was afraid this was all just a lovely
dream. However, Anne firmly reminded her it wasn't.
"I'm soooo tired Jubes! Why'd ya havta wake me
so," (YAWN) "early?" Jubilee smiled at the teenager who was
stuffing her face with her "trail mix" which consisted of
marshmallows, fruit loops, M&M's, goldfish crackers, Chex and Corn
Nuts. Jubilee grimaced remembering her sugar induced hyper teenage
years. She was suddenly glad that she had fled to Italy where everything
was fresh -- and not freeze dried. She laughed and replied,
"You wanted to come kiddo." Anne pouted, and
popped a marshmallow in her mouth,
"But I didn't realize it was so early!"
Jubilee grinned, and decided that telling her to "shut up" --
something that others had done to her in her teenage years -- was definitely not
a good idea. Instead she remembered that teenagers, no matter how smart,
can only successfully concentrate on one thing at a time in the morning.
Jubilee decided that it was time Anne concentrated on something other than
complaining.
"Hey Anne, why don'tcha find something to paint, and
then come get me. I'm almost done here." Anne looked at her,
"Already? I thought painting took forever.
Kitty told me she posed for Colossus once, and he took hours to paint
her." Jubilee laughed freely at Anne's perplexed look,
"Anne, did Hank ever tell you about the
Impressionists?" At Anne's shake she continued, "They were a
group of painters who painted the essence of a scene, not every detail.
That's the kind of painter I am. I paint quickly, trying to capture the
scene and mood -- besides, I don't have enough patience to paint for hours on
end." Anne accepted this answer, and went off to find a spot to
paint. She paused by the dock, and looked over the water. The sun
was shining brilliantly off the water, and caused it to shine like a million diamonds.
As Jubilee walked over to Anne, she nodded her silent approval of the scene that
Anne had chosen to paint,
"Anne, why don't you come over here and get the dock and
the trees along with the water and sun?" Anne skipped over to where
Jubilee was and, with Jubilee's help, she set up her easel and began to paint
the scene set before her.
* * * * * * * * *
Bobby walked into the kitchen and began throwing boxes of
cereal out of the cupboard, his mind concentrating on one thing only --
food. He realized that the Oat Bran he threw behind him was considered
food, but he'd be damned if he'd eat that for breakfast. No, what Bobby
wanted was the sugary, sweet, light, donuts that he knew Hank kept hidden.
Unfortunately, along with Bobby and Hank, Angelo knew where the donuts were
hidden. Angelo...I bet he ate my donuts -- well, technically Hank's
donuts, but this is too early to be technical. Donut thief! He can't
be trusted around donuts ever again! Storm his room and demand the return
of the sweet, cream filled yumminess! Before Bobby could grab the
butcher knife and head to Angelo's room, common sense took over and persuaded
Bobby to check the cupboards once more for the missing donuts. Instant
potatoes -- yuck! Wait aren't those in Kentucky Fried Chicken's
potatoes? Oh well, not donuts. (toss) Oat Grain with Barley
Flakes -- whose are those? Who in their right mind would eat those?
(toss) Rutabaga Chips -- Someone seriously need to complain about
the food (toss)
"Ow!"
Ow? Rutabaga chips don't talk? Do they?
Wait -- that sounded like Angelo! Donut thief!!!!!! You stole all
the donuts, and have come back to steal the milk! Bobby opened the
fridge and pulled the milk out, cradling it protectively. Angelo
sighed.
"Amigo, Hank has the donuts. Not me."
Bobby grinned and, holding the milk, prepared to barter for a donut.
* * * * * * * * *
On the other side of the world a little girl celebrated her
tenth birthday hiding behind the couch eating pretend cake, while her father hit
her mother. He had come back from work, stopping at the bar, and was
drunk. Her mother hadn't had dinner ready, and that made her father
angry. She hid behind the couch, tuning out her father's shouts and her
mother's sobs, hugging an old ratty bear and pretending to eat cake...
* * * * * * * * *
Anne had almost finished her first painting. Jubilee
had taught her to pint quickly, and though Anne's hand wasn't as skilled as
Jubilee's, her painting was nice. Maybe she'd get Hank to take her and buy
a frame for it. Who knows, the Professor has a birthday coming up... I
bet he'd like this for his office. Anne smiled and wiped her hand
cross her forehead, the morning sun was quickly heating the world.
Unfortunately, Anne had forgotten that he hand had green paint on it. Crap.
Gotta wash my face--hope this doesn't stain.
Jubilee laughed as she watched Anne paint her
forehead.
"Anne, your head..." Anne grimaced as she
realized what she had done. Then she grinned and noticed the tiny flecks
of green and yellow and orange that freckled Jubilee's face.
* * * * * * * * *
Elisa awoke to the sound of a bird outside her window, and
the sun shining through the curtain. She smiled as she got out of bed and
dressed in jeans and a clean shirt that said, "Spoiled rotten and loving
it." Then she brushed her thick dark hair and prepared to leave the safety
of her room. She had talked with Rogue until three in the morning, and was
feeling better about last night. Still, she wasn't in the mood to see
Angelo anytime soon.
* * * * * * * * *
Angelo picked up the Rutabaga chips that had hit his nose,
and grimaced. Who's been writing the shopping list? Gonna hafta
talk to the Prof 'bout this. He chucked the chips far into the back
recesses of the cupboard so that they might never torture the innocent souls
looking for something to eat. Suddenly Angelo heard someone behind him --
they didn't make any noise, but he'd been trained under Emma Frost and Sean
Cassidy, then trained with Cyclops and Wolverine -- Angelo tended to hear most
things others didn't. He turned and grinned when he realized his visitor
was Elisa.
* * * * * * * * *
Elisa groaned inwardly. On the outside she smiled
weakly. All she'd wanted was something to eat -- just a small morsel of
food. That's all she wanted. Instead she got an early morning visit
with the last person she wanted to see. Taking a deep breath she managed
to return a smile to Angelo's lopsided grin.
"Morning..."
"Morning Elisa." Angelo was suddenly feeling
very chipper (that's a spiffy word ~Cierce). "How'd you sleep?
I was so happy that I fell asleep right away." Angelo was aware he
was babbling, so he shut up. Elisa gave a heartfelt smile. Rogue had
told her that her fears were wrong -- Elisa mentally berated herself for
doubting Angelo's feelings for her. So maybe her fears were real last
night, but the morning started things anew. Besides -- who could stay mad
at someone who babbled like a turkey just because he was nervous. Elisa
didn't even need to use her powers to figure out her was nervous -- he was
practically radiating it to the point of becoming chokingly thick in the air.
"I slept all right. Are you going to make
coffee?" Angelo suddenly became aware that he was holding coffee
beans. "Umm...yeah?" He sent her a confused but loving it
stare, and Elisa laughed and snatched the beans out of his hands, slid past him
and proceeded to make coffee. Angelo knew from experience that he would
only have a few precious moments before the aroma coming from the coffeemaker
would bring in hordes of tired X-Men seeking a caffeine boost before the
vigorous Danger Room work out. He took a quick breath, then,
"Hey Elisa, I was wondering...if maybe...after the workout in the Danger
Room if maybe you'd...like...to ....umm to...." Elisa smiled watching
Angelo flounder for words. Then she suddenly felt very merciful,
"Angelo, would you like to go for a walk after Cyke pounds us into the
ground and Wolverine tells us in his "I'm very pissed you've been training
all this time and this is all the better you can do" voice that we need to
shape up?" Angelo grinned and nodded. Then the moment was
ruined by a tired Betsy grabbing the coffee and pouring a glass, followed by
Warren, Jean, Scott, Rogue and Gambit. Soon the kitchen was all hustle and
bustle, Jean's voice rising to the top,
"Who took my Rutabaga chips?"
to be cont...