DISCLAIMER: I do not own the X-Men, Jubilee, or anything else you recognize
from the movie and/or comics. They belong to Marvel. I do, however, own
Gatewood House and it's occupants (minus Jubes). Please, do feel free to
use them, but please ask me about it first.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I know that there hasn't been much action, but trust me
folk... I am getting there. This is only the beginning of the story! This
is heading up to the middle... and trust me: there will be an EXPLOSIVE
ending later on. A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE to Parodys, who wrote "The
Hunger", which inspired this tale.
"You know I'm not going to ask any questions about the father, Jubilation Joanna Lee," Rory said to her, sitting across the table beside Rain, "whatever you deem to tell us is everything we need to know. At least, as far as I'm concerned it is." Rain nodded her agreement as she reached for the syrup. Rory had anticipated her move, though, and she had it in her hand before she could say anything. "Mph," Brian managed through his mouthful of pancakes, "I third that!" Jubilee smiled at them softly, if a little sadly. She sighed, breathing in the light scent of lilies that suffused the air around her. She looked up at Brian through half-lidded blue eyes and partially-dry black bangs. He smiled at her, still chewing, and ran a hand through his super-short yellow hair. His own baby-blue eyes sparkled, and he cleaned his plate. "Do you remember the email I sent you last week?" she asked the globe- trotters. Husband and wife looked at each other, chewing and trying to swallow fast. Rain's candlelight hair fell in her face, and Rory's rusty curls bobbed. The looked back at Jubilee, and nodded. Rain managed to swallow first, cringing as she did so. "Yeah... ugh-I swallowed too much," she said, and took a gulp of water with narrowed eyes. Rory kept eating, his eyes glued to Jubilee. He managed to dribble syrup on his shirt, and Brian absently wiped it off for him with a wet cloth. "Well... gosh, how do I say this?" Jubilee ran a hand through her semi- short black hair. She wasn't nervous-she knew that no matter what, there would be no fighting; only acceptance-but she just didn't know how to actually say it. Most of the people in the house knew, but Rain and Rory just couldn't be told everything wam-bam in an email. "Umm... is _he_ the father?" Rain said knowingly, sipping her water. Jubilee nodded, while Rory looked back and forth from Rain to Jubilee. "I thought so," she said, setting her glass down. She used her large napkin, and folded it haphazardly. "So, when do we get to go shopping for baby things?" she said smiling, rising from the table to bus her dishes. Rory nodded, gulping the last of his milk. Jubilee smiled back at her. *That's just the way it is at Gatewood House; all love, all acceptance.* "I was hoping, actually, that we could have an expedition this afternoon," she said gently, glancing fervently at Moira, "I thought that maybe CJ and JC could come along. I need a new car, too." Moira nodded airily, as though she was granting them a grand favor. A quick look at the gay couple caused her to smile broadly: they were acting out the international "YES" motion, while mouthing the word to themselves. Just then, the back door opened, and Sarah stumbled through. She... looked like _hell_. Immediately, she was settled into a chair and her wounds were being tended to by several different hands. The conversations didn't stop entirely-they were all used to her showing up like this-but there was a momentary lull when she actually accepted a full plate of food from Moira and a generous over-sized mug of her special tea. "So," she said in a normal voice, brushing some slightly-singed red hair out of her eyes and eating buttered toast, "What are we all planning today?" Her eyes were hazel, and starting to turn green, even if they weren't exactly sparkling. "Um," Jubilee started, "We were all going to go shopping later on, and CJ and JC promised to help me get a new car." Sarah nodded slowly, munching apple slices. She shrugged, and set the broken bone in her leg with a noise and speed that made Tori and Adrienne jump. "I'll go with you," she said firmly, going back to her breakfast. Moira rolled her eyes, and topped her mug of tea again, adding a dose of sugar and a shot of red wine.
"Thanks, Moira," Sarah said, taking a gulp of the tangy-scented stuff, "This helps a LOT. I feel MUCH better now. Always did love your cooking-I just don't eat enough of it. Well," she said as though she'd just been asked a question, "I won't have anything to do for a while, so I'll go with to the mall and car mart. Just give me a bit to freshen up. Besides-I need to pick up some supplies. And there are some things that I want to get for Jubilee myself," she winked at Jubilee, grinning gingerly with a cracked lip, "And I need some new clothes." "But what about...?" Maxamillian gestured to her abused body. Even though the leather jumpsuit was mostly intact, everyone knew that there were bruises and scratches galore underneath. And scars... lots of scars. Sarah gave a cursory glance down, before finishing off her food and spiked drink. "That's why the gods invented make-up!" she said cheerily. Her breakfast done, she hauled herself out of her chair and bussed her dishes. She got kisses from everyone as she crossed the kitchen and went through the front hallway. They heard her thumping unevenly up the stairs. "I'm gonna check on Jade-I'll let you know if she needs anything!" she called out, her mellow singer's voice muffled by walls and distance.
A few hours later, everyone was laden down with packages. Grinning, bantering, comparing finds and prices, the whole lot of them traversed the wonders of the mall. Jared and Gwenevere had volunteered to stay home to watch Jade, and in the back of their minds, everyone was thinking about her. Suddenly, Sarah stopped dead in her tracks, causing Rain, Bambi, and Jubilee to stumble into her. She slapped her forehead with her green eyes wide and full mouth open. "What an _idiot_ I am!" she exclaimed, "Why didn't I think of this _before_?!" "What?" they chorused, exchanging confused looks. She looked at them with wide eyes that were now teal, her arms open as though to hug them all. "BABY MONITERS!" she said excitedly, "We'll need to get them anyway for Moira and Jubes, PLUS we can use them to keep up with Jade!" With renewed vigor and shared exhilaration, they scattered over the mall once again. Store owners all over the shopping complex scratched their heads in wonder as they were almost cleaned out of baby monitors and walkie- talkies. But the hodge-podge family of Gatewood House never gave it a second thought as they waltzed in and out of stores, and then later out of the complex altogether. "You know, JJ," Sarah said neutrally as she checked some of her bags, referring to Jubilee by her first and middle name's initials, "You don't have to get a new car altogether just yet." "Really?" Jubes asked wonderingly. CJ and JC caught up to them to join in the conversation the two mutants were having. "Yeah," Sarah said distractedly, patting her leather jacket for her keys and finding them, "Ah! Yes-you can get your current one re-done, and then get another one if you want to. With some creative financing, of course; we can't just have you waltz in and pay for it. In fact, I think it's better that you do just that. Maybe a Jeep or a Viper... something with good speed that's mostly indistinguishable. We'll also have to do some-er- CREATIVE bodywork of our own..." That clinched it. CJ, JC, Sarah, and Jubilee criss-crossed the town's car marts for the next better part of the day. They settled on painting Jubes' car a gray-green at a local body-shop, and also wound up driving away with a beige Jeep. While they were at it, Sarah had been once again struck with inspiration, and had called Moira about trading in her old station wagon for a new Dodge Stratus and buying a used minivan. Moira and Jared had both approved, as well as everyone else in Gatewood, and they had an appointment in two days to finalize all the paperwork and pick up the new vehicles. Gatewood House went to sleep that night with peaceful, happy smiles and another impromptu sing-along courtesy of Jason and Joshua. Later, still humming 'Danny Boy' softly to herself, Sarah made her nightly rounds of the house before she went to bed. It was her tradition-whenever she was home, she checked all over the house, making sure all was safe... all was in it's place. Sighing and smiling gently through a cracked lip, she trudged with a slight limp up the back spiral staircase, lighting the candles in their sconces on the walls. She knew she wouldn't sleep. She almost never really did. But... just in case... she didn't want to sleep alone. She went to her quarters, and unpinned her hair in front of her vanity. Waves of brilliant red hair in tiny braids slowly cascaded down her back to their full length as she pulled each of the many hairpieces required out. When it was all down, she braided and twisted the firelight mass into one thick rope-braid. Slowly, she peeled away her black leather jumpsuit and boots, throwing them into the pile that would go to the dry-cleaner's. She undid the corset, the bra, and took off her panties and took a cold shower. She used her Green Tea soap because she Jubilee had her Aloe Vera and Water Lily body wash. She stepped out of the shower, ignoring the pains of her body with practiced ease. Looking at her pale face in the mirror, dull brown eyes staring back, she decided to actually get some sleep that night. Sighing, knowing she would have nightmares she would awake from until dawn, she downed several sleeping pills. *Moira would kill me if she knew what I was resorting to in order to get a LITTLE of the sleep I need!* she thought wryly. Now clad in clean underwear, socks, and an old lover's T-shirt, she made her way silently-for all she was _really_ limping now-down the hallway. She knocked softly three times on Jubilee's door, in a certain rhythm, to indicate it was indeed Sarah and that Sarah was having a need to sleep next to someone. ~Come in.~ came the mental reply. It sounded exhausted, and Sarah knew that CJ and JC were in there too. *So,* she thought *We all must sleep together.* She entered, closing the door softly. She padded softly into the bedroom area, the air cool from two fans blowing the night's essence into the quarters that now belonged to her Jubilee. CJ and JC had Jubilee asleep between them. Their eyes glinted softly in the moonlight as they met her calm and loving gaze. Sarah could feel their love and acceptance as she approached the bed. The pills took affect as they pulled her down onto the bed, and she knew that they would protect her and shield her nightmares from the rest of the house. That they would do that, and help her control them as well. She fell asleep listening to the fans' gentle whirring, Jubilee's even breathing, CJ's heartbeat, JC's humming, and the gentle thoughts and love and connections of her very own family. Gatewood House slumbered, at peace.
Until dawn, all was quiet in Gatewood House. Brian was up first-he was the only one to witness the full scope of the drama that unfolded. Unable to sleep any longer than his required four hours (he wasn't much of a sleeper), he made his way yawning and bleary down the back stairs in the living room. Running his big hands through his buzz-cut blonde hair, he trudged into the kitchen to enjoy a solitary and sugar-filled breakfast. The peace and quiet was shattered by a scream.
Jubilee awoke fuzzily to the three warm bodies of CJ, JC, and Sarah embracing her. It was such a sense of peace, contentment, and absolute, unconditional love that she felt tears momentarily prick her eyes. But it was only a moment; and all moments must end. Just as CJ and JC snuggled a little closer to them, Sarah had her worst nightmare yet. She started screaming: long and loud. CJ and JC immediately woke up-as did the rest of the house-and tried to wake her up. Brian crashed through the door then, and quickly reached out his arms for Jubilee as Sarah began to thrash, and JC instantly lifted Jubilee up and transferred her bodily to Brian's awaiting embrace. He then attempted to help his lover in restraining Sarah. They both failed miserably as they were thrown away by the force of Sarah fighting her dream- demons. Brian ducked out of the way, shielding Jubilee at the same time. He shifted her towards the bathroom, and flung himself onto Sarah, dragging her down to the floor. Tori managed to fight through Jason, Abigail, Lennier, Bambi, Jaxom, Sherry, and Jonathan, and be the first to scramble through the doorway into the bedroom. She managed to duck and avoid being hit with CJ... but the others caught him full-on and were sent tumbling back into the living room area. Tori jumped on top of Sarah, trying to help Brian, and receiving a good kick in the stomach before she managed to pin down her legs. Abigail disentangled herself from the melee and pounced, landing on Sassy's flailing arms. It took the combined physical efforts of Tori and every man in the house except CJ to subdue the wild mutant. They amassed themselves on top of Sarah, several bodies to each limb. Sometimes, it became too much to hold on to a single limb, and then they were forced to dog-pile her. CJ, Jubilee, and the other women tried their best to fight through her sleep- fog. They circled the heap of twitching and straining bodies on the floor, and regardless as to whether any of them were truly gifted or not, they focused their mental energies on Sarah's mind. Swift, calm, and firm, together they assisted their family member from her own mind. Sarah's eyes snapped open suddenly as she lay with several bodies piled on top of her. They were the forget-me-not blue. Breath labored and intense, everyone lay still, not bothering to move to more comfortable positions. The circle of family members fell wearily to their knees. They stayed that way for the better part of an hour.
A/N: What do you think? I'm starting to get some action going here, FINALLY. Thanks to all who have reviewed so far... keep it coming, folks. I do answer my emails, too! So.... any ideas? Comments? Ect? LET ME KNOW !!!!!!! R/R, please!!!!!!!!
"You know I'm not going to ask any questions about the father, Jubilation Joanna Lee," Rory said to her, sitting across the table beside Rain, "whatever you deem to tell us is everything we need to know. At least, as far as I'm concerned it is." Rain nodded her agreement as she reached for the syrup. Rory had anticipated her move, though, and she had it in her hand before she could say anything. "Mph," Brian managed through his mouthful of pancakes, "I third that!" Jubilee smiled at them softly, if a little sadly. She sighed, breathing in the light scent of lilies that suffused the air around her. She looked up at Brian through half-lidded blue eyes and partially-dry black bangs. He smiled at her, still chewing, and ran a hand through his super-short yellow hair. His own baby-blue eyes sparkled, and he cleaned his plate. "Do you remember the email I sent you last week?" she asked the globe- trotters. Husband and wife looked at each other, chewing and trying to swallow fast. Rain's candlelight hair fell in her face, and Rory's rusty curls bobbed. The looked back at Jubilee, and nodded. Rain managed to swallow first, cringing as she did so. "Yeah... ugh-I swallowed too much," she said, and took a gulp of water with narrowed eyes. Rory kept eating, his eyes glued to Jubilee. He managed to dribble syrup on his shirt, and Brian absently wiped it off for him with a wet cloth. "Well... gosh, how do I say this?" Jubilee ran a hand through her semi- short black hair. She wasn't nervous-she knew that no matter what, there would be no fighting; only acceptance-but she just didn't know how to actually say it. Most of the people in the house knew, but Rain and Rory just couldn't be told everything wam-bam in an email. "Umm... is _he_ the father?" Rain said knowingly, sipping her water. Jubilee nodded, while Rory looked back and forth from Rain to Jubilee. "I thought so," she said, setting her glass down. She used her large napkin, and folded it haphazardly. "So, when do we get to go shopping for baby things?" she said smiling, rising from the table to bus her dishes. Rory nodded, gulping the last of his milk. Jubilee smiled back at her. *That's just the way it is at Gatewood House; all love, all acceptance.* "I was hoping, actually, that we could have an expedition this afternoon," she said gently, glancing fervently at Moira, "I thought that maybe CJ and JC could come along. I need a new car, too." Moira nodded airily, as though she was granting them a grand favor. A quick look at the gay couple caused her to smile broadly: they were acting out the international "YES" motion, while mouthing the word to themselves. Just then, the back door opened, and Sarah stumbled through. She... looked like _hell_. Immediately, she was settled into a chair and her wounds were being tended to by several different hands. The conversations didn't stop entirely-they were all used to her showing up like this-but there was a momentary lull when she actually accepted a full plate of food from Moira and a generous over-sized mug of her special tea. "So," she said in a normal voice, brushing some slightly-singed red hair out of her eyes and eating buttered toast, "What are we all planning today?" Her eyes were hazel, and starting to turn green, even if they weren't exactly sparkling. "Um," Jubilee started, "We were all going to go shopping later on, and CJ and JC promised to help me get a new car." Sarah nodded slowly, munching apple slices. She shrugged, and set the broken bone in her leg with a noise and speed that made Tori and Adrienne jump. "I'll go with you," she said firmly, going back to her breakfast. Moira rolled her eyes, and topped her mug of tea again, adding a dose of sugar and a shot of red wine.
"Thanks, Moira," Sarah said, taking a gulp of the tangy-scented stuff, "This helps a LOT. I feel MUCH better now. Always did love your cooking-I just don't eat enough of it. Well," she said as though she'd just been asked a question, "I won't have anything to do for a while, so I'll go with to the mall and car mart. Just give me a bit to freshen up. Besides-I need to pick up some supplies. And there are some things that I want to get for Jubilee myself," she winked at Jubilee, grinning gingerly with a cracked lip, "And I need some new clothes." "But what about...?" Maxamillian gestured to her abused body. Even though the leather jumpsuit was mostly intact, everyone knew that there were bruises and scratches galore underneath. And scars... lots of scars. Sarah gave a cursory glance down, before finishing off her food and spiked drink. "That's why the gods invented make-up!" she said cheerily. Her breakfast done, she hauled herself out of her chair and bussed her dishes. She got kisses from everyone as she crossed the kitchen and went through the front hallway. They heard her thumping unevenly up the stairs. "I'm gonna check on Jade-I'll let you know if she needs anything!" she called out, her mellow singer's voice muffled by walls and distance.
A few hours later, everyone was laden down with packages. Grinning, bantering, comparing finds and prices, the whole lot of them traversed the wonders of the mall. Jared and Gwenevere had volunteered to stay home to watch Jade, and in the back of their minds, everyone was thinking about her. Suddenly, Sarah stopped dead in her tracks, causing Rain, Bambi, and Jubilee to stumble into her. She slapped her forehead with her green eyes wide and full mouth open. "What an _idiot_ I am!" she exclaimed, "Why didn't I think of this _before_?!" "What?" they chorused, exchanging confused looks. She looked at them with wide eyes that were now teal, her arms open as though to hug them all. "BABY MONITERS!" she said excitedly, "We'll need to get them anyway for Moira and Jubes, PLUS we can use them to keep up with Jade!" With renewed vigor and shared exhilaration, they scattered over the mall once again. Store owners all over the shopping complex scratched their heads in wonder as they were almost cleaned out of baby monitors and walkie- talkies. But the hodge-podge family of Gatewood House never gave it a second thought as they waltzed in and out of stores, and then later out of the complex altogether. "You know, JJ," Sarah said neutrally as she checked some of her bags, referring to Jubilee by her first and middle name's initials, "You don't have to get a new car altogether just yet." "Really?" Jubes asked wonderingly. CJ and JC caught up to them to join in the conversation the two mutants were having. "Yeah," Sarah said distractedly, patting her leather jacket for her keys and finding them, "Ah! Yes-you can get your current one re-done, and then get another one if you want to. With some creative financing, of course; we can't just have you waltz in and pay for it. In fact, I think it's better that you do just that. Maybe a Jeep or a Viper... something with good speed that's mostly indistinguishable. We'll also have to do some-er- CREATIVE bodywork of our own..." That clinched it. CJ, JC, Sarah, and Jubilee criss-crossed the town's car marts for the next better part of the day. They settled on painting Jubes' car a gray-green at a local body-shop, and also wound up driving away with a beige Jeep. While they were at it, Sarah had been once again struck with inspiration, and had called Moira about trading in her old station wagon for a new Dodge Stratus and buying a used minivan. Moira and Jared had both approved, as well as everyone else in Gatewood, and they had an appointment in two days to finalize all the paperwork and pick up the new vehicles. Gatewood House went to sleep that night with peaceful, happy smiles and another impromptu sing-along courtesy of Jason and Joshua. Later, still humming 'Danny Boy' softly to herself, Sarah made her nightly rounds of the house before she went to bed. It was her tradition-whenever she was home, she checked all over the house, making sure all was safe... all was in it's place. Sighing and smiling gently through a cracked lip, she trudged with a slight limp up the back spiral staircase, lighting the candles in their sconces on the walls. She knew she wouldn't sleep. She almost never really did. But... just in case... she didn't want to sleep alone. She went to her quarters, and unpinned her hair in front of her vanity. Waves of brilliant red hair in tiny braids slowly cascaded down her back to their full length as she pulled each of the many hairpieces required out. When it was all down, she braided and twisted the firelight mass into one thick rope-braid. Slowly, she peeled away her black leather jumpsuit and boots, throwing them into the pile that would go to the dry-cleaner's. She undid the corset, the bra, and took off her panties and took a cold shower. She used her Green Tea soap because she Jubilee had her Aloe Vera and Water Lily body wash. She stepped out of the shower, ignoring the pains of her body with practiced ease. Looking at her pale face in the mirror, dull brown eyes staring back, she decided to actually get some sleep that night. Sighing, knowing she would have nightmares she would awake from until dawn, she downed several sleeping pills. *Moira would kill me if she knew what I was resorting to in order to get a LITTLE of the sleep I need!* she thought wryly. Now clad in clean underwear, socks, and an old lover's T-shirt, she made her way silently-for all she was _really_ limping now-down the hallway. She knocked softly three times on Jubilee's door, in a certain rhythm, to indicate it was indeed Sarah and that Sarah was having a need to sleep next to someone. ~Come in.~ came the mental reply. It sounded exhausted, and Sarah knew that CJ and JC were in there too. *So,* she thought *We all must sleep together.* She entered, closing the door softly. She padded softly into the bedroom area, the air cool from two fans blowing the night's essence into the quarters that now belonged to her Jubilee. CJ and JC had Jubilee asleep between them. Their eyes glinted softly in the moonlight as they met her calm and loving gaze. Sarah could feel their love and acceptance as she approached the bed. The pills took affect as they pulled her down onto the bed, and she knew that they would protect her and shield her nightmares from the rest of the house. That they would do that, and help her control them as well. She fell asleep listening to the fans' gentle whirring, Jubilee's even breathing, CJ's heartbeat, JC's humming, and the gentle thoughts and love and connections of her very own family. Gatewood House slumbered, at peace.
Until dawn, all was quiet in Gatewood House. Brian was up first-he was the only one to witness the full scope of the drama that unfolded. Unable to sleep any longer than his required four hours (he wasn't much of a sleeper), he made his way yawning and bleary down the back stairs in the living room. Running his big hands through his buzz-cut blonde hair, he trudged into the kitchen to enjoy a solitary and sugar-filled breakfast. The peace and quiet was shattered by a scream.
Jubilee awoke fuzzily to the three warm bodies of CJ, JC, and Sarah embracing her. It was such a sense of peace, contentment, and absolute, unconditional love that she felt tears momentarily prick her eyes. But it was only a moment; and all moments must end. Just as CJ and JC snuggled a little closer to them, Sarah had her worst nightmare yet. She started screaming: long and loud. CJ and JC immediately woke up-as did the rest of the house-and tried to wake her up. Brian crashed through the door then, and quickly reached out his arms for Jubilee as Sarah began to thrash, and JC instantly lifted Jubilee up and transferred her bodily to Brian's awaiting embrace. He then attempted to help his lover in restraining Sarah. They both failed miserably as they were thrown away by the force of Sarah fighting her dream- demons. Brian ducked out of the way, shielding Jubilee at the same time. He shifted her towards the bathroom, and flung himself onto Sarah, dragging her down to the floor. Tori managed to fight through Jason, Abigail, Lennier, Bambi, Jaxom, Sherry, and Jonathan, and be the first to scramble through the doorway into the bedroom. She managed to duck and avoid being hit with CJ... but the others caught him full-on and were sent tumbling back into the living room area. Tori jumped on top of Sarah, trying to help Brian, and receiving a good kick in the stomach before she managed to pin down her legs. Abigail disentangled herself from the melee and pounced, landing on Sassy's flailing arms. It took the combined physical efforts of Tori and every man in the house except CJ to subdue the wild mutant. They amassed themselves on top of Sarah, several bodies to each limb. Sometimes, it became too much to hold on to a single limb, and then they were forced to dog-pile her. CJ, Jubilee, and the other women tried their best to fight through her sleep- fog. They circled the heap of twitching and straining bodies on the floor, and regardless as to whether any of them were truly gifted or not, they focused their mental energies on Sarah's mind. Swift, calm, and firm, together they assisted their family member from her own mind. Sarah's eyes snapped open suddenly as she lay with several bodies piled on top of her. They were the forget-me-not blue. Breath labored and intense, everyone lay still, not bothering to move to more comfortable positions. The circle of family members fell wearily to their knees. They stayed that way for the better part of an hour.
A/N: What do you think? I'm starting to get some action going here, FINALLY. Thanks to all who have reviewed so far... keep it coming, folks. I do answer my emails, too! So.... any ideas? Comments? Ect? LET ME KNOW !!!!!!! R/R, please!!!!!!!!