Chapter Twenty Five: Back in Camp

Marie turned the canteen over, and spilled a healthy swallow of cool water on to the cloth in her other hand.

"Here Honey, let me." She wiped hesitantly at Jubilee's face, wiping away the tears and grime from the days events, while holding her by the chin.

Marie smiled at the sad and fragile face beneath. And she studied the tattooed "m" over Jubilee's eye.

"You lived in Bishop's future." Marie said as though it were a question.

"Outlived everybody there." Jubilee took a swallow of her water and looked in to the fire. "Hated it."

"So you became a threat to the whole mulit-verse?" Her tone was incredulous and filled with humor.

"Sure it sounds bad when you say it like that." Jubilee smiled idly at the ground as she kicked at some dirt.

Marie smiled at the girl. "You know it was his choice." She said at last. "To leave the station, to wrestle the gun. He did it for you, and himself, but he did it."

"What are you saying?"

"Let it go Hun." She smiled in delight. "Life doesn't begin until you let go of those things."

"I don't understand you." Jubilee massaged her temples.

"Ah'm easy enough to figure out Sug." She smiled. "Lucas is your mystery."

The stars were coming out, the sky was clear and calm.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Marie smiled. "You have to find out if all the reasons you think he saved you are true or not." She looked very wise, suddenly, by the firelight. "If he really cares about you, or even people in general, enough to go through what he did. If he's really as decent and kind as he seems." She bit her lower lip with her upper teeth, as if debating what to say next. "What he's like in bed."

Jubilee's mouth dropped in shock and Marie laughed out loud. Jubilee's jaw swung a few times but didn't form any words.

Marie was suddenly quiet and confessing. "That lady, Miss Frost, she told me that Lucas was a sweet on you." She swallowed and cast her eyes down to the ground. "And I can tell about you. I had most of the same thoughts about Logan when I met him, and when he almost died saving me." She exchanged a knowing glance with Jubilee. "And life doesn't begin." She repeated "Until you let those things go."

Jubilee sighed. "So, tell me." She said at last, and shrugged, a small smile playing about the corners of her mouth. "What was Wolvie like in bed?"

And they both had to laugh, as Rogue blushed, quite deeply and completely, with a subtle look of contented pleasure.

"Well, . . . " She began hesitantly. "Ah, . . ."