Jubilee placed herself between Blayne and Wolverine. The server seemed pleased at the size of the group, knowing the large tip that would undoubtedly accompany such a party. She opted to go all out in niceness to increase her chances at a large gratuity.
"What can I get you to drink?" Skillfully, she jotted down all 12 orders and, smiling, rushed off to get the beverages. She and another returned swiftly with the drinks and handed them out. The server, whose name was Lily, merely stood back, at the ready, waiting for them to be ready to order.
Jubilee skimmed the menu, finally deciding on mozzarella sticks and cheese enchiladas. Wolverine chuckled and leaned over.
"Careful, you don't have my healing factor. All that cheese could kill ya."
"I'm young yet, Wolvie…high metabolism." She patted her stomach knowingly and looked over at Blayne, who seemed to be having a hard time deciphering the menu. Whatcha want?"
"The nachos en chile con queso sounds good." Jubilee looked at him stunned. "What, you think you're the only one with World Cultures classes?" he jibed. She laughed and shrugged.
"What about you, Wolvie?" she peered over his shoulder; something she knew annoyed him.
"Dunno kid…would ya stop looming!" She giggled and scooted closer to him, looming just a little more. He sighed in mock suffering and resigned himself to his fate. "Probably the cheeseburger." He took a swig of his beer and folded the menu. The second everyone seemed ready, Lily was upon them in a flash. She took the orders, careful to take down every detail, then zipped off to fill them. Conversation turned to the mansion, and was mainly a discussion between Xavier and Mrs. Warner. Everyone listened carefully, and Blayne shifted uncomfortably in his chair. His mother, who was on his right side, glanced at him and winked. He graced her with a puzzled expression, but let it slide. He had more important matters to think about right now.
"Dude, you okay? You look a little pale. And you haven't even eaten the nachos yet."
Blayne turned to the girl on his left. "I'm fine, Jubilee. Just thinking."
"Somethin' she knows nuthin' about," came the reply from her other side. She swiftly elbowed the Wolverine and he merely smiled. The food came in record time and Jubilee tore into her enchiladas and refried beans. Blayne leaned over to his mother, and she promptly scooted her chair back so he could speak with the professor.
"Sir, I have a request of you." The Professor put his fork down and smiled at the boy.
"Go ahead, Blayne."
"I was wondering if you would allow me to stay at the mansion with you. My mother has already given her permission, and I'm sure I would have no trouble getting into a university here." He waited anxiously as the professor seemed to mull over things. Finally, he smiled.
"Of course. You may go with me tomorrow to Pace University. I have a friend there who may be able to arrange a meeting with you and the Dean." Blayne beamed at his mother, and Jubilee nearly spit her Coke out onto the party.
"You're staying at the mansion? Sweet!" She clapped him on the shoulder and turned to Wolverine, who was eyeing her cautiously.
"Darlin' we're gonna hafta talk later." She laughed and nodded, steeling herself for "the birds and the bees" talk.
The rest of the night was spent in congratulations and preparations for another body in the mansion. Cyclops agreed to give him a test run, and if he did well, he would be allowed tentatively on the team. As this was the best anyone could get out of him, they took what they could get.
Once back at the mansion, Jubilee changed into sweats and snuggled into her blankets. The knock she had been waiting for came and Wolverine came in, his eyes instinctively adjusting to the darkness. He sauntered over to her bed and sat on the edge, causing her to slide towards him more as it sagged under his weight.
"What's up, Wolvster?"
"Just here to talk to ya, darlin.' Now, I know ya like him Jubes, and I'll make a deal with ya. Nothing too obvious, holding hands is fine, and if I smell him on ya, he's dead and yer never dating again." She blushed, thankful for the darkness, but she knew he could see her anyway.
"Wolvie, I gotta a serious question. And this is my quota for the year."
"Wow, you used the word quota," he commented dryly. She slapped him on the arm and used his strength to pull herself into a sitting position. She shifted closer to him, and he got the hint. He got up and scooted over to the head of the bed, leaning against it and allowing her to lean back on him. He wrapped his arms protectively around her and she sighed contented.
"Jubes, the question?"
"Oh yeah! Uh," she sobered up immediately, and he smelled the fear from her. Whatever she was about to ask was making her nervous. "Why have ya put up with me for all these years? I mean, I'm an annoying little mallrat. You certainly could do without me, so why?" Her voice had become increasingly quieter, but he could hear her just the same. His embrace tightened as he searched for an answer. When he didn't answer for a while, Jubilee felt the tears well up, but she didn't dare shed them; not while he was here to witness it. He shifted her in his arms so her head was tucked under his chin, her head laying on his chest. She listened to the steady beat of his heart in his ribcage, to his deep breathing, slowly lulling her to sleep. She mentally jerked herself awake. She wanted to hear his answer. Finally, his gruff voice broke the silence.
"Jubilee, I don't know how old I am, or how long I've lived. I don't know if I had a family at one point, or if I've always been a loner. Weapon X made sure of that. But I do know that I have never loved anyone as much as I do you. The only thing that doesn't make us family is blood. Ever heard the saying blood is thicker than water?" He felt her nod under his chin. "Well, I was listening ta the radio, and this song came on with that line. Ya know what it said after it? It said love is thicker than blood. I was talking with Ro one day, and she asked me if I would ever take a bullet for any member of the team. I immediately thought of you and said sure. But then she said Cykes." He heard her snort, "And I realized that I would take a bullet for him. But that doesn't mean nothin' to a man with a healing factor. I can take a lot of bullets and still gut five people while bleeding. Done it, actually. But that got me ta thinking, and don't even think about the comment I know is bound to come outta yer mouth." He took a breath and continued.
"I'd take a bullet for anyone, Jubes, but I'd die for you. You're my life, yer all I have now. I don't know what I was thinkin' when I ran off. I was so afraid that I'd hurt ya and you'd never forgive me. That's why I ran, Jubes. I couldn't stand to look you in the face and see the betrayal and hurt I'd caused, smell the fear on ya everytime I walked into a room, or think about all the things we could be doin.' Nothin' matters more to me than you, and I wouldn't trade a day of my life after you walked into it." Finished, he waited for her response. He guessed that was the first time he'd ever actually opened up to someone without them being a telepath. She wrapped her thin arms around his frame and squeezed.
"Wolvie?"
"Yeah, darlin?" he whispered.
"Stay here tonight?"
He chuckled, "I couldn't get up if I wanted to, Jubes. Ya got me pinned here." She moved and rolled off him, curling up on the side of the bed. He scooted down and curled up around her, draping his arm over her.
"Wolvie?" she whispered.
"Hmm?" came the sleepy reply.
"Love you," she mumbled.
He chuckled softly. "I love you too, Jubes. Now go to sleep."
"Okay..." silence, then, "Wolvie?"
"Yes Jubes?"
"Just seeing if you'd throttle me."
"Go to sleep, Jubilee." He tightened his arm around her, cocooning her and letting her know he'd protect her, no matter what happened.
"Wolvie?"
"Fer the love of—I was almost asleep!" She laughed, and turned over. She planted a kiss on his cheek and nuzzled into his safety.
"Thank you." This simple statement, these two words, held more love and trust than he'd ever heard from her. And the mighty Wolverine, proud and fierce, crumbled in the arms of a fifteen year old girl, who was closer to him than blood. She drifted off to sleep, and had she stayed awake for only a few more seconds, she would have seen a tear roll down the man's cheek, and fall onto the bed sheet, soaking it with all his love.
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Wow, was that ending totally mushy. Must go take a shower to rid myself of my sugar coat.
Well, what did everyone think of the end? Yes, that's it. It's over. I don't know when my next X-Men fic will be out, but I posted a few ficlettes to tide you over:
Yes, Jubilee, There is a Santa Claus…The Greatest Man I Never Knew…I Miss My Friend…Christmas X
The first three are Jubes/Wolvster stories, though I give a tissue-warning for The Greatest Man I Never Knew. Christmas X was just a humorous fic posted during the Christmas season to make everyone laugh. I hope it accomplished this task. I Miss My Friend was a song-fic that decided it wanted a second chapter. You may need a hanky for that one as well.
Now that my shameless plugging is over, on with reviewing. Oh come, you know you want to. Just hit the button, type in a few words, and hit submit review. Not that hard at all.
I'd like to thank all my readers, especially those that reviewed. It would not have gotten this far without you. I'm glad everyone liked Blayne, I tried not to make him a male Mary-Sue (what are those called by the way?).
Yours, in Salazar's name,
Rickman's Girl