She felt him get out of the bed, but drifted off, knowing he had things he needed to deal with on his own. But, she told herself, if I hear that door open, I'm getting up. So she waited. He paced over to the window that overlooked the garden, lost in his own thoughts.
How can she forgive me as if it were nothing! I almost killed her, and yet she seems to care more about me than herself. He chuckled softly, knowing that once again, she'd saved him. He turned back around to get into bed, but Jubilee had rolled over and sprawled herself out over most of it. He smiled slightly and laid down in the floor.
When he awoke the next morning, Jubilee was no longer in bed. He stood and stretched a few muscles that were unaccustomed to being in that position for a long period of time. He popped his neck and back, cracked his knuckles, and walked over to the window.
It was only about eight o'clock in the morning, but Jubilee was already up and outside. And she wasn't alone. Blayne and his brother had joined her, and each were showing off their powers to the toddler in the privacy of the garden. Wolverine blinked a few times in the bright sunlight that poured through the window. Shielding his eyes, he got a better view of the garden.
Just outside the back porch was a lovely array of exotic flowers, arranged in delicate patterns. Beyond that, the courtyard where Jubilee and Blayne were practicing, and then a large labyrinth of hedges. Wolverine reveled in the brilliance of it, realizing that till now, he had thought such things only existed in stories. From his view from the second floor, he could see little, but he knew the Cajun, who was up on the roof at the moment, could see the teenagers and the entire labyrinth.
Deciding it was time for a cup of coffee, he made his way downstairs. Emma greeted him in the dining hall and he was offered a seat.
"What would you like for breakfast, sir?"
"Uh, whatever's ready and a cup of joe," he answered.
"Joe, sir?"
"Coffee?" Understanding filled the elderly woman's face and she scurried into the kitchen. Blayne's mother entered to find the gruff man already up.
"Good morning, Logan. I trust you slept well?" He nodded. He didn't really like talking to strangers. "Good, good. The children are outside. As it should be; they should not be cooped up in a house like some miser. I believe Blayne wanted to take Jubilee into the labyrinth today." Again, he nodded. Jubilee couldn't stand not bein' curious. Wolverine was suddenly grateful when Emma returned with his breakfast. She then turned to Mrs. Warner.
"The usual Emma. Have the children eaten?"
"Yes of course. I would not have permitted them outside otherwise." She smiled warmly and re-entered the kitchen. Wolverine ate in silence until Gambit came downstairs.
"Mornin' Logan, Mrs. Warner." He nodded his head to each in turn and sat down next to Wolverine.
"De children went into de labyrinth. If dey doan come out in a few hours, Gambit go get dem." Emma had heard his entrance and brought another plate for him. Wolverine looked up at her.
"So are you like the maid?"
Emma laughed softly, "I am Tobias' nanny and the care-taker of the house. Nathaniel is the butler, and Mr. Jones is the keeper of the grounds. All except the garden."
"That is mine," Mrs. Warner put in. Wolverine finished his breakfast and excused himself, walking out into the garden. Blayne was standing outside, smiling. Then he heard Jubilee's voice call out from inside.
"When I find my way outta here, you are so dead mister!" Tobias looked back to see Wolverine barreling down on them, and he tugged on his brother's shirt. Blayne looked back in time for Wolverine to grab the front of his shirt collar.
"You better be able to get her outta there in a moment's notice, pal."
"Sir, I assure you, Tobias himself knows his way out. I have lived here all my life. I will not leave her alone in there long."
Jubilee apparently had heard Wolverine, and was now almost fearing for her friend's safety. "Wolvie! It's ok. Actually, it's kinda neat. And it's kinda my fault anyway. I said I could get out no problem. I just wasn't expecting to be thrown through a rift to the other side." Wolverine dropped the teen and glared at him, but stalked off. He'd come back and check on them in a few minutes. As he walked away, he heard her scream, and both he and Blayne took off running. Grudgingly, he followed the boy, not wanting to get lost himself. Just before entering the labyrinth, Blayne looked back.
"Toby, go inside and tell mum the labyrinth is on!" The toddler took off as fast as he could, which was surprisingly fast for a four year-old.
Wolverine followed Blayne around corners, listening for sounds of Jubilee. Then her heard a paff go off. "Jubilee! What's wrong!" he managed before Blayne knocked him to the ground. Flames shot over their heads. He turned to the boy. "What is this?"
"Steele must have switched the mode. This labyrinth was built by my father for training purposes. But you can turn off the training mode, and it has been off for years."
Both of them jumped up and began running again. "Who is this Steele?"
"We, too, have mutant haters here in England. Unfortunately, one lives right next door. He was my best friend until he found out I was a mutant, then he made it his goal in life to get me back for 'betraying him.' I'm afraid he may have been spying on us." They found Jubilee paffing a rather large rodent while backing into a corner. More were coming out of a hole in the ground and heading straight for her. Wolverine's rage kicked in and his claws extracted. Blayne jumped back at the sound and stared at him in astonishment, just before the man leapt and sliced through one large rat. Blayne rifted and landed right in front of Jubilee, prepared to help her fend off those that got through Wolverine. He stood in front of her, giving her only enough room to fire around him. Those blasted rats were going to have to deal with him first…well, second.
Wolverine tore through them mercilessly, trying to get to Jubilee. Suddenly, a hole opened up right in front of them, and rats began pouring out of it. Thinking quickly, Blayne created a rift over the hole, sending the rats straight into the lake. Unfortunately, a few had gotten through and were swarming the teens. Jubilee dispatched most of them with a well-aimed paff, sending them into the rift. But one sunk its teeth into Blayne's calf and he cried out. Jubilee kicked it off of him into the rift and slung her arm about the boy's waist.
"Wolvie! Blayne's been bitten!" Wolverine sliced through two more rats and made his way to them. Picking Blayne up with ease, he tried to leave the way he had come, but his berserker rage was preventing him from thinking clearly just yet. Then, a voice called out to them.
"Logan, you alright, mon ami?"
"How do we get outta here? The boy's hurt." They heard Tobias cry out for his brother, and two voices call for him to stop. A few moments later, the four year-old found them and led them out quickly. Jubilee was surprised at the speed of the tyke, but made no mention of it. There were more important things at the moment. Mrs. Warner had already called for the doctor, and Emma was ready with a basin of warm water to soak his leg.
Wolverine set the boy down on the floor, placing his leg in the water. He cried out from the pain, but bit back tears. After a few moments, the doctor arrived and inspected the wound.
"The animal bit deeply, but I see no signs of any type of infection or disease. Let me dress it and give you medication. It should heal nicely on its own, so you won't need stitches, but there will be a nasty scar." He carefully bandaged the wound and gave him some pills to take for the pain. Then he handed him a smaller bottle. "These antibiotics will fight off any infection you may get. I will be back in a few days to check up on him." Nathaniel showed him to the door while Gambit and Mr. Jones helped Blayne up to his room.
Wolverine turned to Jubilee. "You hurt, Jubes?" She smiled and shook her head, launching into his arms. It was the first time he'd used his pet name for her since they found him. She felt a small pain inside of her disappear, and she smiled.
"Nope. Not anymore, Wolvie."