Changing Guardians

Angelica ran into a different consultation room. "What's going on?"

Lina was in a corner sobbing. She was wearing a backless green top and dress skirt. Jubilee was standing there in shock. Ororo was glaring at her parents and their lawyer. "Mr. and Mrs. Chakram!" She snapped. "How dare you hit your daughter like that!"

"That thing is no longer our daughter," Mr. Chakram said sternly.

"She is not a thing!" Angelica shouted rushing to Lina's side. "She's a person!"

"Look at her!" Mrs. Chakram shouted. "How can that be a person! No daughter of mine would wear a top like that!"

"She can't help it!" Angelica shouted back. "Her wings kind of make it impossible to put on a regular top!"

"I still say we should get our son to help put her away," Mrs. Chakram told her husband. "A creature like that belongs locked up!"

"He doesn't deal with this type of legal action," Mr. Chakram remarked. "Our lawyer is good enough for this."

"As I was saying this document will dissolve any parental responsibility you have towards her," The lawyer said calmly as he showed it to him.

"But what will happen to me?" Lina sobbed.

"That's not our problem," Mrs. Chakram told her coldly.

"Here!" Lina's father signed the paper. "Whoever wants her can have her!"

Without thinking Cover Girl immediately grabbed the papers and signed them. "I'll take her!" She shouted. "And I'll be a hell of a lot better parent than the two of you!"

"Just keep her away from us!" Mrs. Chakram glared at her. "I don't want her contaminating our other children!"

"You know there's a possibility that one of your other kids could be a mutant," Cover Girl growled.

"No there isn't!" Mr. Chakram shouted. He looked at Lina. "If you ever come near us again I'll have you arrested and locked up! Do you hear me!"

"Father please…" Lina sobbed as they walked out of the room.

"Forget it Lina," Angelica held her. "You're better off without 'em! JERKS!"

"I take it the meeting did not go well," Xavier sighed at Ororo. Logan had also followed them in the room.

"No," Ororo sighed. "It did not."

"You were pretty quick on the draw," Logan grunted at Cover Girl. "Got yourself a new recruit from us."

"That's not why I did it," Cover Girl glared at him. "I just couldn't stand the way those people treated her!"

"Lina please don't cry," Angelica said.

"I think we should give them a moment," Xavier indicated to Logan, Jubilee and Ororo. They went outside. "Logan she really didn't mean to do it the way you thought she did. She was instinctively trying to protect the girl."

"Yeah well the Misfits strike again," Logan grunted.

"We can hardly begrudge them," Ororo pointed out. "They did help us rescue Jubilee and the others."

"Yeah," Jubilee said. "I just hope she'll be okay. But I have a question, how come you're able to do the paperwork on me here? Shouldn't I be in California or something?"

"We were able to transfer it to this court for expediency's sake," Xavier said. "I was intending on taking custody of Lina in case something like this occurred."

"Too bad Cover Girl was quicker on the draw," Logan said. "But don't you mean getting custody of both of them. I mean you are taking charge of Jubilee right?"

"Well uh…" Xavier and Ororo looked at each other.

"Actually Logan…" Jubilee looked at him. "I was hoping you would do it."

"What? You want me to be your guardian?" Logan spat out. He looked at Xavier. "Are you all out of your minds?"

"It makes sense Logan," Xavier said. "Jubilee feels safest around you."

"Yeah but you got a ton of kids already," Logan pointed out.

"Which is another reason I want you," Jubilee said. "I don't want to be lost in the crowd."

Logan glared at Ororo and Xavier. "Okay whose bright idea was this?"

"Mine," Jubilee stomped her foot. "Geeze I do have a mind of my own you know!"

"Yeah but you two didn't exactly discourage her did you?" Logan accused.

"This will be good for the both of you," Ororo said. "You could use someone in your life as well as her Logan. It will give you balance…"

"WHO DO I LOOK LIKE? SHIPWRECK? HE'S THE ONE WHO NEEDS BALANCE!" Logan shouted. Then he looked at Jubilee. "Aw don't give me those puppy dog eyes kid! Look! I mean it! You don't want me! I ain't gonna give you no easy ride ya know!"

"I know," Jubilee said. She hugged him. "Please?"

"Oh cripes…" Logan felt himself caving. "Just don't call me Daddy, huh? What have I gotten myself into?"

Next: The conclusion! Dum, dum, dum!