Author's Note and Disclaimer: "The Birthday Wish" is the beginning of an
extended story known simply as 'The Venus Factor'. Events within this part
of the tale take place in a niche that I have carved out between 'X-Men
Unlimited' #34 and 'Uncanny X-Men' #402, about 3.5 years after the
disbanding of the Generation X team. Cut me a little slack and just run
with the time line. As always, these characters are not mine, nor is any
profit made off of using their likenesses. If anyone from Marvel ever
reads this, this true believer would love to write for you. And stop
dismissing Jubilee; she's a great character. Until that day, MMM!
***
Monet awoke, her eyes going to the calendar that hung by her bed. It was Jubilee's birthday. 'Please let this year be different,' she thought to herself desperately as she crawled out from under the covers and made her way towards the bathroom. 'Please...'
Further down the hall, Jubilee was still sleeping. Knowing her friend, she wouldn't be up for several hours still. If there was one thing that Jubilation was definitely not, it was a morning person. Monet stuck her head into her roommate's bedroom briefly. 'Yep, sleeping like a baby.'
Continuing on to the kitchen, Monet pulled out a notebook that had all of the details for Jubilee's surprise party that was going to be held later that evening. Everything had been taken care of... Everything except, she remarked to herself again, the one guest that Jubilee would really want to see... Wolverine.
Monet shook her head in frustration. It had been more than three years since Generation X had disbanded. Three years since Monet had moved out to Los Angeles to join Angelo and Jubilee. Three years since Jubilee had seen her friend, mentor, and father figure. 'Three years of hell,' Monet commented to herself, thinking back on all of the mood swings and periods of depression that her roommate had been through, all relating back to the lack of one short, furry X-Man in her life. 'That's not fair,' she conceded, reminding herself that it had been Jubilee herself that had cut the tie, that it was Jubilee herself that had wanted to move back to southern California... And she had done well, for the most part, carving out a new life for herself with new friends. Most days, she admitted, Jubes was what she always had been: strong, self-reliant, and carefree. Most days, but definitely not her birthday.
Monet sighed. She did not always approve of Wolverine, or her roommate's feelings for him (which she suspected transcended the bond of friendship), but she did have to admit that the man had always come through for her. At least until she had left for Los Angeles. Now it had been three years, and he had not shown up once.
Not even on Jubilee's birthday.
Which brought Monet back to her initial fears that she had confronted when she woke... 'Please let this year be different...'
***
Across Los Angeles, someone else was waking up. He stretched, opening his eyes slowly and taking in the small, drab hotel room that he had taken. Aside from the morning sunlight streaming in between the closed curtains, nothing was different from when he had gone to sleep the night before. His glance rested on the desk, where three wrapped boxes sat silently, as though accusing him.
"When Jubes wants to see me, she will," he snarled at the boxes in retaliation to their silent accusation. "I'm here, just like I am every year. And will be every year..." The man known as Wolverine trailed off, a look of uncharacteristic pain on his face. "I won't ruin her birthday."
***
Hours later, Jubilee awoke to the warm California midday sun. Smiling to herself, she pulled on her fluffy bunny slippers. She paused in front of the full-length mirror, admiring herself. "Not bad, old lady... Not bad!" she offered, looking at her reflection. She was wearing a pair of red bikini underwear and a white tee shirt that was stretched taut across her chest. "Not a little girl anymore, am I?" she asked her reflected self. She turned to leave the room and looked back over her shoulder, giving the mirror one last glance to the mirror. "Like what you see now, Wolvie?" she asked quietly, speaking to the air. Taking a deep breath, she left her room, closing the door behind her.
***
Monet awoke, her eyes going to the calendar that hung by her bed. It was Jubilee's birthday. 'Please let this year be different,' she thought to herself desperately as she crawled out from under the covers and made her way towards the bathroom. 'Please...'
Further down the hall, Jubilee was still sleeping. Knowing her friend, she wouldn't be up for several hours still. If there was one thing that Jubilation was definitely not, it was a morning person. Monet stuck her head into her roommate's bedroom briefly. 'Yep, sleeping like a baby.'
Continuing on to the kitchen, Monet pulled out a notebook that had all of the details for Jubilee's surprise party that was going to be held later that evening. Everything had been taken care of... Everything except, she remarked to herself again, the one guest that Jubilee would really want to see... Wolverine.
Monet shook her head in frustration. It had been more than three years since Generation X had disbanded. Three years since Monet had moved out to Los Angeles to join Angelo and Jubilee. Three years since Jubilee had seen her friend, mentor, and father figure. 'Three years of hell,' Monet commented to herself, thinking back on all of the mood swings and periods of depression that her roommate had been through, all relating back to the lack of one short, furry X-Man in her life. 'That's not fair,' she conceded, reminding herself that it had been Jubilee herself that had cut the tie, that it was Jubilee herself that had wanted to move back to southern California... And she had done well, for the most part, carving out a new life for herself with new friends. Most days, she admitted, Jubes was what she always had been: strong, self-reliant, and carefree. Most days, but definitely not her birthday.
Monet sighed. She did not always approve of Wolverine, or her roommate's feelings for him (which she suspected transcended the bond of friendship), but she did have to admit that the man had always come through for her. At least until she had left for Los Angeles. Now it had been three years, and he had not shown up once.
Not even on Jubilee's birthday.
Which brought Monet back to her initial fears that she had confronted when she woke... 'Please let this year be different...'
***
Across Los Angeles, someone else was waking up. He stretched, opening his eyes slowly and taking in the small, drab hotel room that he had taken. Aside from the morning sunlight streaming in between the closed curtains, nothing was different from when he had gone to sleep the night before. His glance rested on the desk, where three wrapped boxes sat silently, as though accusing him.
"When Jubes wants to see me, she will," he snarled at the boxes in retaliation to their silent accusation. "I'm here, just like I am every year. And will be every year..." The man known as Wolverine trailed off, a look of uncharacteristic pain on his face. "I won't ruin her birthday."
***
Hours later, Jubilee awoke to the warm California midday sun. Smiling to herself, she pulled on her fluffy bunny slippers. She paused in front of the full-length mirror, admiring herself. "Not bad, old lady... Not bad!" she offered, looking at her reflection. She was wearing a pair of red bikini underwear and a white tee shirt that was stretched taut across her chest. "Not a little girl anymore, am I?" she asked her reflected self. She turned to leave the room and looked back over her shoulder, giving the mirror one last glance to the mirror. "Like what you see now, Wolvie?" she asked quietly, speaking to the air. Taking a deep breath, she left her room, closing the door behind her.