Disclaimer: I do not own any Marvel characters; please don't sue me I am a poor college student. I am not making any money off of this and I am just writing it for the benefit of my own entertainment as well as the entertainment of the other fans out there. Also, this is a story from my own imagination, any resemblance to real life events, or even those in fiction is completely coincidental. As an additional note, there are so many fan fiction stories out there on this site as well as others, so any similarity is coincidental or great minds just happen to think alike. I do claim the non-Marvel characters, such as the Williams family and the new offspring of the LeBeau and Summers families. Thanks!
Note: I apologize for the spacing and random indents and anything of the sort. When the pages are loaded onto this site everything seems to get a bit messed up. I noticed that single lines get double spaced randomly. Sorry about that.
Text in these brackets denotes French.
Through the Years
Chapter Twenty-Six: Hidden Feelings Come to the Surface
While Rogue was away on her mission, Remy LeBeau found himself finding many ways to fill the voids in his days. This was the first time since they had been married the either of them had been away from the other for more than an overnight trip and frankly he missed her. One day while Jessica was having a self-defense training session with Wolverine and Nathaniel, Remy found himself sitting at the table in the Mansion kitchen playing a game of Solitaire. He was almost tempted to go to find the kids and join them in their work out but fears of Wolverine using him as the example kept him from doing so. No need to make his little girl watch him kick her godfather's butt, he thought to himself, or even worse, if things worked out the other way around. He didn't want to think about that. He engrossed himself in his card game instead. He was so into it that he didn't notice he had company until the person sitting next to him spoke.
"Just tell me how many times you have played that game already, my friend," said the voice.
Without looking at the speaker Remy put the last card in place, "Well, dat makes lucky seven, Stormy and I've won every single time." He then skillfully slid the cards back into one pile, and placed them neatly in a pocket of his long leather duster jacket. Then he turned to face his smirking friend.
"Why am I not surprised," she smiled. After a moment she spoke again in a more solemn tone. "Do you think we could take a walk?"
Noting that his friend was clearly troubled he smiled before saying with a wink, "Ok, but don't tell my wife, she might get jealous, you know me walkin' wit' a lovely femme like yourself."
Ororo laughed, "Rogue has nothing to be jealous about. I am fortunate to have a friend like you to walk with and make me laugh."
They got up from their seats and made their way to the garden where they walked for a few minutes before Remy spoke.
"Is somet'in' trouble you 'Ro?"
They took a seat on a bench in the garden and she began to pour her heart out. "It is Logan, I do not know what to do about him. It seems that for the past few years he has been pursuing me, there have been hints and flirtations along the way, sweet moments spent together enjoying each other's company like last week when we watched a movie together, but then again it could be just his way of being friends with me. Or it could be wishful thinking on my part."
"What are you tryin' t'say 'Ro?"
"I am saying…I am saying…I am in love with him, Remy. I do not know what to do! I am not very experienced in the world of romantic relationships. There was my relationship with Forge many years ago but it hurt so badly when it ended. I just do not want to hurt like that, or hurt Logan like that, if things did not work out. I value his friendship more than anything and I do no want to lose that."
"Perhaps you should be tellin' Logan dat instead of me. He's a big boy, he can decide for himself if bein' wit' you is what he wants." He smiled at his friend as he said, "But take it from me Stormy, I see t'way he looks at you, t'way he treats you. I'd wager that he feels t'same way, and Gambit rarely loses a bet, especially when he feels t'odds are good like dis. And as for gettin' hurt, you said it yourself dat t'relationship wit' Forge was many years ago, it's time t'bury dat hurt and replace dose sad feelings in your heart wit' t'love you feel for a certain Canadian friend of ours."
"You really think so?"
"Dis Cajun doesn't lie."
"Thank you my friend," she said as she gave him a hug. "You have helped to lay my fears to rest."
"Any time Stormy."
"Remy, there is just one more thing."
"What's dat?"
"STOP CALLING ME BY THAT INFURRIATING NICKNAME," she bellowed with a crack of lightning in the sky for emphasis. Remy just continued to smile his mischievous grin.
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Later that evening, Bobby Drake headed to the dorm building's kitchen. Somehow a night of watching a cheesy monster marathon on TV didn't seem complete without a full range of snacks at his immediate disposal. Tonight he and Jubilee had the evening to themselves. All of the students went to a carnival in town with the Professor and Jean, after all the students couldn't get in much trouble with two telepaths watching their every move, so he intended to make the most of the peacefully quiet building with a night in. He even took the liberty of going to Jubilee's room to see if she wanted to join him, but she was no where to be found. It didn't take long to find her. She was sitting in the kitchen, drinking a cup of coffee with an oddly familiar person. Oh wait, that's right, he had seen this man with Jubilee before, she went out with him a few times last month but he never actually met the guy. As Jubilee and her date stood up from the table she caught Bobby's attention.
"Oh hello Robert, we were just finishing a cup of coffee before we head out. By the way, this is Damien."
"I'm sure it is," replied Bobby. He thought it was weird she was calling him by his given name, after all she only did that in jest or if she was annoyed with him, and frankly she seemed neither. Tall, dark, and handsome, Damien seemed like a nice guy, but maybe a little old for Jubliee. Then he remembered when Jubliee first mentioned Damien he realized she had said they went to college together. So they were about the same age, but why did he seem so old for her? Or maybe it was because Jubliee was older than he liked to think.
"Nice to meet you," said Damien reaching over to shake Bobby's hand. "Jubilation has told me a lot about you."
"I'm sure she has," replied Bobby. Jubilation, he thought, what's that all about, I haven't heard her called by her given name since the Professor reprimanded her one April Fool's Day when she put plastic wrap over the toilets in the Mansion, causing needless to say, quite a mess for whoever happened to groggily make their way to the toilet. That prank even topped some of his great ones. But that was years ago, when she was just a kid…
"Well, as cozy as this is, we really have to be going. Damien has promised to take me to the MET and I for one can't wait. I've always wanted to see that museum outside of a school trip with the students. We'll probably be late so don't wait up. Good night," she sang out cheerfully as she brushed her way out the door.
"Again nice meeting you Robert," Damien stated as Jubilee whisked him out the door.
"Bye," muttered a dumbfounded Bobby. Boy, he thought to himself, that was fast. Something about it doesn't seem right though. He felt jealous. No, it couldn't be jealousy! Perhaps it was the result of working side-by-side with her for the last few years as co-dorm directors at the Xavier Institute of Education, getting to know her and gaining a wonderful, wacky friend. Or perhaps it was the result of the students suggesting something last week about how he and Jubilee would make a cute couple. But that night Bobby Drake realized something that he didn't even admit to himself until that very moment. He did have feelings for her. And he had to tell her.
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Not far away in the Mansion, while Jubilee went on her date with Damien and Bobby half-concentrated on B movies while trying to think of what to say to Jubilee, another member of the X-men team was determined to solve matters of the heart. Logan lay awake in his bed, relaxing after a busy day. He started off the day with his daily morning workout, followed with some modifications to his motorcycle, and then in the afternoon he trained Nathaniel and Jessica in the art of self-defense, followed with an aggressive workout with Cyclops in the Danger Room. After dinner and taking a shower he felt he earned the right to lounge around in his room. Just as he was starting to drift off into a wonderful daydream about Ororo he heard a knock at his door. He grumbled something about not having a minute to think as he got up to answer it. Then he wondered if he was dreaming when he saw who was standing in his doorway.
"Hello Logan."
"Hey 'Ro, what can I do fer ya?"
"May I come in Logan, I…I need to talk to you."
"Of course." He led her into the room where they both took a seat on the bed. "What's on yer mind Darlin'?"
"Funny you should say that"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I am here because of something on my mind."
"Maybe you better spell it out fer me because I'm not followin'."
"Well, I…" She couldn't believe it! She could feel herself turning redder with every passing second. After her conversation with Remy, Ororo practiced what she wanted to say to Logan for nearly the entire day. She rehearsed it in her head at dinner; she practiced the lines out loud in her room. She had it down cold. Now when the moment of truth came and she was looking into his deep black eyes, she couldn't recall a word of it!
"Ororo? What's wrong…"
"Oh forget it," she exclaimed in frustration and she threw her arms around him and kissed him passionately on the lips.
Not that he was complaining, but he really wanted to know what that was all about. Once they separated he said, "Not that I didn't enjoy that display of affection, but what's going on, eh?"
"Well, I came up here to share my feelings about you…about us…but I could not remember what I rehearsed…so I skipped to the part I remembered."
"Well, I liked that part."
"So did I." They gazed at each other for a few moments before either of them spoke again.
"So you really rehearsed everything, even the kiss," he teased.
"Logan, do not be ridiculous!"
He smirked, her blue eyes sparkled when she was full of fire and the lightest hint of red that showed on her beautiful brown skin when she blushed made her absolutely gorgeous. "Well Darlin'," he growled seductively, "I'd be more than willin' to rehearse that part with you now."
Expecting a scolding from the white-haired weather witch, he instead received another passionate kiss. Once their lips parted, they spent the rest of the evening talking about their feelings for each other, the fears they had, what they expected out of a relationship with each other. They had known each other for many years now so there wasn't much new information to learn. Even the feelings they had for each other were subconsciously evident to the other. For the first time they admitted to each other how much they were in love and how much they wanted to be together. In fact, they talked so late into the night that they feel asleep side by side on Logan's bed.
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Jubilee quietly walked down the hall of the dorm to her room. She was out much later than she has anticipated with Damien but she had a great time. When he first suggested going to a museum, she nearly gagged, most of her dates were less serious than that. But she was slightly intrigued by the offer and when Bobby had entered the kitchen she had to make sure it was known that yes, she too could have fun at a serious, adult place. And Damien was a great guy; he had wonderful deep brown eyes that stared back at her when he explained some of the exhibits they saw. And his soft, brown hair was cut in a short hair style, very neat very professional. And his mocha skin was so soft to the touch when he held her hand… She sighed as she opened the door to her room and nearly gasped when she found a man in her bed. Upon a second glace she realized it was just Bobby, hair disheveled, asleep while a horrible B movie played on her TV.
As she stood over the sleeping Iceman, she loudly cleared her throat and then said, "I sincerely hope that you didn't get crumbs on my bed Robert Drake!"
Bobby woke with a start. He had intended on waiting up for her in here but as the hours crept by he couldn't keep his eyes open. He rubbed his eyes and looked up at her. "Ahhh, my dear Jubilation, you have arrived at last!"
She heaved a pillow at him, "Cut the sarcasm Drake and get out of my bed."
He reached out and pulled her down onto the bed. "No way, it's much cozier than mine, but we can share."
She laughed as she sat next to him. "Very cute Bobby, yet lame, I hope you don't use that line on people in real life. Most people wouldn't be as forgiving as me."
"Well, look, I get to be Bobby again, and not Robert, thank you Jubilee," he said in jest, stressing the names. He then threw a pillow at her.
She laughed, "Ok ok, sorry about that earlier with Damien but I was trying to give you the benefit of the doubt and called you by a more adult name."
"Oh so it was for my benefit then?"
"Well of course!"
"Ok, then what was with the Jubilation nonsense?"
"Damien only knows me by my given name since that's what was on the class rosters. In fact most of the people I know from college know me as Jubilation. Only close friends like you get to call me Jubilee."
"Oh well thank you then, I feel honored."
"Well you should! By the way, what the heck are you doing in my room?"
"Oh…um…well, like I said your bed is cozier than mine. Besides, I wanted to know how your date went." He then raised his voice a few octaves doing his best impression of a woman. "So spill it girlfriend, what's the dish?"
She giggled, "It was nice, after the MET we went to a coffee house and listened to some poets do their thing."
"Really, wow, I didn't know you were into that sort of thing"
Her mood turned somber. "There's a lot about me that you don't know."
"I suppose there is…" They sat there gazing at each other for a moment before they both went to speak.
"Bobby" "Jubilee"
They laughed. "Ok you first," said Bobby.
"No I just wanted to say that I need to get ready for bed. Damien's coming over early tomorrow. After church service at Kurt's, we're going sailing."
"Oh," he said. "Well, then I'll leave you to your beauty rest, not that you need it my dear." He bowed on his way out.
"Wait, Bobby, what did you want to say?"
"Me? Oh it was nothing, don't worry about it."
"Oh 'k. Nite!"
He closed the door to her room muttered to himself, "I was just going to tell you how much you mean to me."
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Ororo woke up next to Logan the next morning realizing that they must of fallen asleep talking. She kissed him lightly on the forehead before heading back to her own room to get ready for the day.
Logan opened his eyes at this gesture. "Leavin' me so soon, eh?"
She smiled as she stood in the doorway, "Just heading to my room to get ready for the day. Will you be joining me for breakfast?"
"Darlin' I'll be joining you for the rest of your life if you'll let me."
She turned back to the man who held her heart. "What are you suggesting Logan?"
"Well I was thinkin' about everythin' we talked about last night, I mean it isn't like we don't know each other. We know how we feel about each other; we've felt it for years. Why bother wastin' time on all the stuff that doesn't matter and get down to what's important. After all, with life as X-men bein' so unpredictable, it makes a person appreciate what he's got. And I don't wanna live another moment without you bein' in my life they way we were last night. "
Ororo made her way back into the room and sat next to Logan on the bed. "Logan, are you saying what I think you are saying?"
He got down on one knee and kneeled beside her. "I know this isn't exactly the most romantic setting, I know, I should have waited to plan somethin' more elaborate, but now that it's all out in the open now seems like the perfect time." He took one of her smooth hands into his rough ones, "I don't have a ring and maybe I don't have much to offer you at all but…"
He didn't even get to finish. She pulled him up into a kiss that resulted in them rising in a gust of wind above the room, their heads nearly touching the ceiling. Once they landed and their lips had parted Logan spoke again, "You know Darlin' you didn't even let me finish."
"I am sorry Logan, but if I was not able to finish my statements that started this relationship, well it only seemed fair that you did not get to finish the words that would take it to the next level." She smiled at him as she rubbed a hand over his stubble covered cheek. "I am sorry that you did not get to finish, I felt so caught up in emotions that I had to act on them. But you may finish if you want."
"Nah, you prevented me from saying some cliché line. It is better this way, we both know the question and we both know the answer." He smirked at her as she made her way out of the room. "It was yes, wasn't it?"
She turned, again standing in the doorway, "Do I need to remind you?"
"Well," he joked, "I am getting older, memory's goin' a bit, perhaps you better remind me, eh?"
She glided over to him and pulled him in for another powerful kiss. At this rate they'd never get on with the rest of the day, much less the rest of their lives. But to Ororo and Logan, the only things that mattered were the feelings in that room at that exact moment.
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Since he acquired the rights to the little chapel in the woods behind the Mansion, Kurt Wagner spent most of his time there. Whether it was leading a church service, praying, doing paperwork, or just living his life (after all he did live in a room on the side of his office), the demonic looking priest could be found there more often than not. And when he wasn't there, chances are he was visiting his sister Rogue at her place down the road. He finally was able to live his life the way he always wanted, in peace and teaching the word of God. For Kurt this was heaven on Earth. The chapel itself was a place of sanctuary for anyone who wanted it, whether they were mutant or human, Christian or not. Kurt didn't care who attended his services, to him it just mattered that whoever stumbled through the doors of his sanctuary found the peace they were searching for. That's why it achieved the name, "Saint Elizabeth's, The Little Chapel of Peace." Like the priest on the television show MASH, Kurt was the preacher for nearly all the X-men no matter their exact denomination. He was the residential man of the cloth in the area without having to go all the way to Salem Center. He also knew that some of his friends attended some services just to support him. This particular Sunday as he stood in front of the congregation, he noticed that the crowd was slightly smaller than usual, after all there were some X-men out on missions, and others still who were away for the summer. But that didn't matter to them, he was just glad to have people to share his faith and love with. He smiled at his brother-in-law and niece seated next to the Summers and Williams families. He mentally made a note to pray for Rogue and her group away on a mission. A few rows back he noticed Jubilee with a man he never met before. He also noted that he should introduce himself after Mass. Finally, he noticed an elated looking Logan and equally happy looking Ororo sitting next to a sulking Bobby Drake. He wondered what was wrong with the usually chipper young man but couldn't concentrate on it for long because it was time to start the service.
As hard as he tried to concentrate on what Kurt was saying, Bobby couldn't retain a word his friend said for the life of him. He was too busy staring at the back of Jubilee and Damien's heads. That was HIS Jubilee. What did she see in that guy, besides the fact that he's smart, good looking, and judging from his clothing probably had some money tucked away? He continued to scowl throughout the service.
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Author's Note- Ok, yes this should be two chapters, but I didn't want to leave you hanging as to what happened. Man, I compared some of my later chapters to some of the earlier ones, which were one chapter that I split into two or more when posting. I was afraid of putting too much in one chapter in the beginning of the story. Now it seems like I can't get in enough info. Oh well, onto you guys :-)
By the way, I couldn't believe how many people were interested on what was happening on Rogue's mission. You'll have to catch that in the next chapter! :-)
Kitsu Lebeau- Well, you did see in this chapter how he deals without his Rogue. Poor guy needs to keep his mind off of her by going to the Mansion. But he'll be fine, I promise. Nah, you didn't make up Love is Blind, it's a real saying. As for wanting a pickle when you read this, perhaps it has to do with the weird food during the pregnancy chapters? :-)
Ishandahalf- Kill Rogue off!!!!! Heavens! I don't see that happening, don't worry! I'd miss writing her too much. But what's a good story without a little suspense, eh? As for Bobby and Jubilee, you are right, the man is clueless. And once he figures out what he missed out on, she's moved on! ARG! Don't worry about the story lines, I've been keeping a list to keep them sorted. I might leave one alone for a few chapters, but I won't forget, or at least I'll try not to! :-)
Tammy- I'll give you a hint, I won't keep Rogue away for too long, after all I miss it when I can't write interactions with her and her family. As for Bobby and Jubilee, well, that might prove to be a little more complex. :-)
Star-of-Chaos- Yeah, it's no fun having character's that can do everything, I mean there have got to be some limitations, or at least some consequences with those characters that seem like they can do everything. Take the Professor for instance, he is considered the most powerful mutant on the planet, but he can't walk and hello, he created ONSLAUGHT! We will just wait and see the full extent and limitations that come with Jessica's powers. As for Rogue, again, we'll just have to wait and see :-)
Enigmagirl2727- I'm so glad you loved the last chapter. As you just read, this chapter concentrated more on the relationships of other X-men, but fear not, I address Jessica's powers once and for all in the next chapter. :-)
T.-Rogue, get into trouble? NEVER! :-P We'll just have to wait and see what happens to the fiery Southern belle. :-)