Jubilee: Externally Yours

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Disclaimer: see previous chapter for details.

Author's Note: Chapters may not be as forthcoming as before. I am presently in the middle of discussions on Shakespeare and many early American authors. They have been and probably will be occupying a great majority of my time but I will do my best to get Chapters out to you as quickly as I can.

**Denotes Telepathic speech ~~ Denotes Language

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Chapter 2

The X-men cheerfully entered the dining room. Sarah and Angelo were holding onto each other in a manner that made Storms blood boil. Bishop sat down beside Gambit who was busy trying to divert Storm's attention. Rogue marveled at the trouble that Jubilee had gone through for dinner. Unbeknownst to them a certain firecracker watched from the kitchen. Her eyes lighting on the last three X-men to enter: Logan, Beast, and Bobby.

She stepped out of hiding to join the others in the dining room. Her nervousness was grating against her normally impassive and impenetrable shields. The nervous buzz caused Xavier and Jean to turn her direction.

"I'm sure the food is going to be great." Jean said to Jubilee. Jean had interpreted her nervousness to be about dinner. Beast gave Jubilee a look that said in no uncertain terms, 'calm down!'

'Calm down Jubes! You can do this. Remember happy full people don't kill others. No they just torture them. That's enough of that.'

Xavier could see Jubilee's discomfort as easily as if it were painted on the walls. The emotions coming from her were a mad panic. 'Something has been on her mind for quite some time. It's not as simple as Jean thinks a burnt roll or under seasoned dinner.' *Jubilee are you alright?*

The suddenness of Xavier's communication startled her enough to drop the ladle she was holding. *We'll soon see.* Xavier didn't make a comment about the cryptic statement.

Minutes later she rose to get dessert. She returned with a piping hot tart and bowl of fruit and custard. She served a piece to the professor and Logan who smiled and complimented her on dinner.

"You picked up a few other things on yer trip darlin." Logan said with a smile. Before Jubilee left she couldn't cook anything. Her and kitchens just didn't mix. She was more than likely liable to melt the kitchen as cook anything in it.

"Jubecita sure is showing off the skills tonight." Ange said with a friendly wink. Jubilee smiled back. Her gaze once more fell on Beast. She let out a sigh and took a deep breath.

"Uh…everybody I know you've wondered why I insisted we all get together for dinner. Well…I have something very important to tell you." The room of mutants quieted down to listen to their youngest member. "I'm pregnant."

Shock was written upon the face of everyone…almost everyone in the room.

"How?" Bobby stammered out.

"Do I need to draw you a diagram Popsicle?" She said giving him an evil grin.

Bobby blushed bright red. Storm decided to step in then. "I think what Bobby means is…when did this happen and who is the father?"

"'Ro when I was in Egypt I met a man traveling among the Bedouin tribes." Her eyes began to take on a far away look. "He was a prince among those people. The land and people captivated me in a way I still can't fully describe."

"What was his name? Why did he not return with you?"

"His name is Jamier. I didn't really give him a choice 'Ro." Tears began to fall down her cheeks. "He doesn't know that I'm pregnant. I didn't even know until I got back." More tears feel from her cheeks to the tablecloth. Storm gathered the young woman into a hug as her body became racked with sobs.

As Jubilee finally cried herself out she noticed that Wolverine was no longer in the room. The other X-men congratulated her and offered their assistance. She smiled a half-hearted smile before scanning for Logan. She couldn't find him anywhere. 'I can't believe Wolvie left like that. Is he so mad at me that he had to take off again?'

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-Earth's Cradle-

A man gathered up his chisel etching the stone before him. The lines went deep into the stone this way and that. Hours pasted as if in twinkling of an eye. Before the man etched in stone stood a lady and a young girl clothed in silken robes. His craft is such that the meager stone before him became transformed…transfused with a spirit. In his art always is the future but now he stood amazed and fearful for he was lost in uncertainty.

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TBC

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A/N. Read and Review.