Author's Note: This chapter is short, but I wanted to prove to you guys that this story is professional, and that I haven't given up hope for it yet.


Also, sorry for the confusion but I changed her name to Ashley. (This is along the lines of keeping it professional. Hope you don't mind.)


Chapters: I do plan to update more often. I'm sorry I leave my stories hanging for a couple of years! Inspiration just goes away, then comes back a long time afterwards.



Rainy Day



Ashley walked down the stairs around noon the next day, feeling very uncomfortable in her not-so-clean clothes. She had taken a shower in the room that was linked to Jubilee's room, but still decided that the soap fumes didn't cover up the certain smell of her outfit.




Logan remembered the smell from the night before. It was a woman's scent lying underneath the alcohol and smell of another man that would have been closely related to the woman's if not for the cigarette smoke cloaking it.


Looking up from the television he watched in search of news of Sabretooth, Logan was satisfied that his keen senses were as good as ever. Ashley was descending the staircase, tugging on her navy blue shirt as if trying to escape the alcohol stench he knew she could smell herself.


"Yes, Logan. I'll tell the girls to take Ashley shopping today." the Professor's voice sounded in his head after hearing Wolverine's comment, for at the moment, the two had been psychically discussing another uprise of another anti-human group.




Ashley shyly walked up to where most of the 'X women' were standing, giggling over the food at the breakfast bar separating the kitchen from the living room.


Jubilee was the first to spot Ashley walking towards them.


"Mornin Ashley!" Jubilee said good-naturedly.


"Morning." Ashley responded.


Rogue turned around to face Ashley. "Well, hi there suga!" Rogue said happily through her thick southern accent. "Lord, we all thought ya'd neva wake up!"


"Sorry. I guess I over-slept." Ashley responded, thinking she was being reprimanded.


"Ah, no worries thare, suga. It's ah Sunday anyhow."


Jean smiled warmly at Ashley and asked, "Would you like something to eat?"


"Yes, please."


Scott looked up from his newspaper; Ashley's apologetic speech catching his attention.


"You may sit down if you like." Ororo said, and watched as the young girl sat stiffly on a bar-stool.


The breakfast was soon set in front of the young girl, and she began to eat slowly.


"So," began Jean, leaning her arms on the counter. "What would you say to a little shopping after you eat?"


Ashley swallowed her eggs as she looked up, surprise hidden beneath her almost controlled features.


"I don't have any money." she countered quietly.


"Ah, don't worry about it." Rogue exclaimed. "The Professor's loaded. Right Jubes?"


"Hey! I paid him back!" Jubilee defended herself.


Storm decided to clue Ashley in. "Jubilation had borrowed a large amount of money from Professor Xavier to pay off her credit card bill."


"Yeah, well," Jubilee whispered loudly to Ashley. "I was fired from Burger Boy."


In the living room, Scott's snort could be heard, along with Wolverine saying, "The lazy half-pint quit."


"They wouldn't let me use my powers to fry the burgers! Wouldn't you have quit?!" Jubilee exclaimed, desperately trying to defend herself.


From her seat, Ashley listened to the playful banter amusedly, and smiled for the first time in years.