Jubilee: Externally Yours

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Disclaimer: see previous chapter for details.

**Denotes Telepathic speech ~~ Denotes Language

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Chapter 3

It had been a month and a half since her announcement and many of the X-men were in high spirits because of it. Some were disappointed in Jubilee over the fact that her future would now be put on hold but their temperament soon changed to feelings of elation at a new addition to the X-Family. Jubilee was bearing the attitudes of the X-men pretty well even though they were annoying her. She would have loved for Logan to annoy her if just to show some emotion.

Logan hadn't disappeared for very long the night she made her announcement but he hadn't congratulated or commented on the events that transpired that night either. He had hugged her and just melded into the background as if afraid to get any closer to her than he already had. Logan's stoic attitude, so different from his usual gruff exterior, was like an adamantium blade in the heart. She hid the sadness at her friend…mentor…and father figure and the longing for her lover. She was left with a great empty well where her heart should be.

Jubilee had begun to sleep later and later in the day. The morning sickness coming and going. Today it was gone and Jubilee awoke with an appetite that would rival Galactus. 'I wonder if there's any turkey left.' She thought as she slipped into her Pikachu house shoes and pulled on her robe. 'Pika-Pika' was heard with every step as she exited the room, her robe catching in the door. She lost her balance as she jerked it free.

"Whoa there darlin!" Logan said as he caught her. "You need to be more careful."

"I can take care of myself Wolvy! I'm not a kid anymore." She said as she pulled free of Logan's arms. She moved quickly down the hall. As soon as she was out of sight of Logan she sighed and kicked herself for acting like that. 'The first time Wolvy seems to be himself and I go and snap at him. Way ta go Jubes.'

The kitchen was half full with X-men fixing lunch and chatting amongst themselves. As soon as they saw her they rushed to get her a seat. 'Here we go again another day of being 'Jubilee-the-fragile-China-doll'.' After finding a seat Gambit began whipping up an army sized stack of pancakes. Three helpings of pancakes, a turkey sandwich, and a gallon of orange juice later and Jubilee was feeling human.

"Sugah, do you want to go to the mall after Beast has a look atcha?"

Jubilee could tell from the look on Rogue's face that saying no would really upset her. She put on her brightest smile before saying, "Sure!" Rogue was positively glowing at her answer. Jubes took the opportunity to go get ready for her meeting with Beast and think of how she was going to deal with Logan.

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-MedLab-

Jubilee sat patiently as Beast looked over readings the Sh'iar diagnostic machines had taken of her and the baby. Beast hadn't said a word only raised an eyebrow, as he looked over the data pad in his large hand. He tapped it a couple of times before letting out a breath. Jubilee's patience finally waned giving over to curiosity.

"Is something wrong?" She asked him. He turned to her removing his glasses deftly and rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"Oh I'm not really sure yet. I was examining a model of your baby's DNA. There seem to be several genes within a specific x-factor group actively working already. It isn't uncommon that this should occur but the number of them is astounding."

"Well…she's going to be a special girl." She says with a smile on her face.

"How do you know it's a girl?"

"I just have a feeling." There is a knowing look in her eyes as she rubs her belly. "Are we done?"

"Almost. There've been some changes to your body chemistry due to your pregnancy. It may have had an affect on your powers. Since our mutations are constantly in a state of flux it is important to see if there have been any drastic changes."

"Okay what do we do now?"

"Follow me down to the Danger Room. I want to run a few short tests." They both headed down the corridor taking their time and talking about names for the baby that she had thought of and Beast gave a few ideas.

"…I don't know if Sh'iar names are a good idea. I want my daughter to be able to spell and pronounce her own name."

Beast and Jubilee stepped out onto the floor of the Danger Room. Beast touched a wall plate to access a floor console. A minute later seven spheres materialized. One floated on a gravity field in the center of the room. "Each of the spheres is made of a different substance. I would like for you to destroy each sphere. It is important that you attempt to use your maximum power output. Do you understand?" Jubilee nodded as she concentrated on the spheres. Her powers flared around her hands, in a dazzling white with coruscating colors, before she released the energy at her targets.

The Danger Rooms security protocols kicked in and a force field erected itself in front of them. Beast ushered Jubilee out of the room but not before activating a Danger Room lockdown protocol. Jubilee was confused but Beast didn't offer an explanation, which was strange. "Well…I believe that is enough for today Jubilation. I know you have a busy day so I'll talk to you when you get back from the mall." Now Jubilee knew something was up. Beast was rushed and he is never one to be rushed.

She looked him over once again and dismissed it as something she would have to drag from him later. Beast walked her to the elevator before returning to the Danger Room. He quickly accessed a computer. It was as he thought. Jubilee unintentionally let out a small atomic reaction. The Sh'iar system luckily erected radiation countermeasures. 'If Jubilee's powers have advanced this much then there's no telling how powerful her daughter will be. I better begin mapping those x-factor groups now.' He thought as he headed to the lab.

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Wolverine wandered the grounds. His mind was still wheeling from his earlier encounter with Jubilee. His frustration was finally getting the better of him. His claws shot out and ripped into a large oak tree shredding the trunk and causing it to topple towards a small elm. The wind began to pick up allowing the oak to miss the elm tree.

Logan looked up as several things registered: the rustling leaves, the unnatural wind, and now Storm's scent. Above him floating as graceful as a feather caught in the wind sat Storm. He was going to ask her what she was doing here, what she wanted, a whole series of clipped and terse responses but she spoke first.

"Logan, what did that poor tree do to you?"

'I'll play along.' "It had shifty leaves and was lookin at me funny."

"Why have you been avoiding Jubilee?" She asked there was no reproach in her tone just straight foreword.

"It's not something I'm prepared to deal with." Storm floated to the ground beside him.

"Jubilee has been home for almost two months now. You can't avoid her and shouldn't."

"That's not it 'Ro. I'm not ready for Jubilee to grow up. I figured I'd be used to the idea after she got back."

"So that's why you suggested the trip idea to the professor. You wanted to get used to the idea at your own pace."

"Yeah but now she's back so grown up and steady growing away from me."

"She's not growing away from you. She needs you, now more than ever. You say you're not ready for it how ready do you think Jubilee really is. Don't worry you'll make a great grandpa." She said as she poked him in the ribs with a smile. Her gentle laugh came through the wind as she took to the air as smooth as a summer's breeze.

'GRANDPA!' He thought. The word conjuring warm and fuzzy feelings that would have made Sabertooth die laughing. Logan slapped his head as he thought of what Storm had said about whether Jubilee was ready. 'She'd really need him. It's hard enough dealing with children let alone by yourself. I have to make this up to Jubes somehow.' Wolverine ran wide open back to the mansion. He hit the garage and was on his Harley roaring down Greymalkin.

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Hours later Rogue, Jean, and Jubilee pulled into driveway. Jubilee couldn't ever remember being this tired after a trip to the mall. The trunk was filled with clothes that Jubilee could wear now and some she wouldn't be able to wear for months. There were toys a plenty, bottles, diapers, etc. The essentials for getting through at least the first few months of dealing with a newborn. They hadn't even started thinking about the nursery myriad of things that would go into it. 'I guess that's something to think about another day.'

Jean and Rogue got the packages into the parlor and collapse. They'd sent Jubilee on up to get some rest when a psychic tremor from Jubilee flooded Jeans senses. "Jubilee!" Jean went rigid and bolted up the stairs followed by Rogue. When they found Jubilee she was standing in the middle of her room facing where a wall used to be. Now there was an anteroom leading to the next room over. On one wall decked out in pinks, blues, reds, and oranges was a mural of the setting sun. On another wall and most of the ceiling was a full moon and host of stars. In the center of the room was a crib that was shaped like a tree. The leaves above branched into four sections, representing the seasons, forming a mobile. It was as if you had gone from inside to outside.

In the niche of the tree that was the bed lay a stuffed rabbit and a card. Jean noticed it first and sent it floating towards Jubilee. Jubilee read the card and tears began to stream down her face.

~*~

To Jubilee the only daughter, the only family I've ever known…

With love,

Logan

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The one line on the card meant more to Jubilee than anything ever would. Logan was not one to express his feelings well but the simple card captured a lifetime of feelings in the space of a breath. It wasn't from Hallmark but it was from the heart.

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Elsewhere someone watches…something sinister this way comes…

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TBC

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A/N: I thought that I'd do my best to get this out by Grandparents' Day. Read and Review.