Chapter 2
"Way to go, Logan," he muttered angrily as he brushed the leaves off his body, and dropped to the ground. Wolverine bent over and made his way along the hedge, wondering why he was even bothering with all this nonsense. However he had a reputation to keep, and something old fashioned about defending her honor came to mind. The fact she understood so well was a help. Even if it was within the realm of possibility there was a right and a wrong way to do such things. Especially when there was so much at stake.
The kitchen wasn't far away as he rounded the house. Waiting a few minutes he climbed up the wall, silently thankful that there was a tree nearby and he didn't want to leave incriminating hole marks in the wall with his claws. When he reached the window he climbed over the threshold and disappeared inside, rushing to make himself look like he'd just crawled out of bed.
It was ten minutes later when another knock startled him and he grunted a reply. "C'mon n' get it!" echoed Remy's voice. "Last call!"
"I'll last call you," Logan grumbled as he threw open his door, tying the sash of his bathrobe around him. It was one of the few nice pieces of clothes he owned. Red silk and scrawled with Japanese patterning.
Bobby walked by Wolverine, dragging his feet and scratching his hip as he yawned. Wolverine smelled the scent of female on him as he walked by, and smirked. So, it wasn't just Remy, because he smelled Rogue's essence, however diluted by whatever precautions they had taken on the Cajun. "H'llo runt," Bobby yawned as Logan overtook him going down the main stairs to the shared living quarters on the main floor.
"Hello yourself. Late night?" Wolverine grunted, rubbing at his eyes. He had to admit he DID feel a bit rough around the edges. Quelling the nightmares of a friend would do that to the best of them.
"Heh, you could say that…" Bobby smirked.
"Whatever," Wolverine muttered, borrowing a word from Jubilee, and shaking his head. This was going to be interesting.
"Wolverine, I meant to ask you…"
"What is it, flyboy?" he asked, knowing the smell of feathers and sweat anywhere as Warren passed by him on the way to the common dining room.
"Betsy and I wanted to let you know about the plan…"
"Whop de friggin do," he muttered. "Was there some all fired important…"
"You know, the PLAN," Warren whispered, and Wolverine removed the other man's hand from his shoulder.
"If ya don't mind pal, keep outta my personal space this early. I'm cranky before I'm fed," he growled, and it had the desired effect as Warren backed off.
"Okay, sorry…" he held up hs hand. As he walked through the French doors he saw the arrangement around the table. A door was open on the kitchen, and he heard Gambit and the clatter and clank of steel and scraping and sizzling of eggs and bacon. And a whole smattering of Cajun spices.
Bobby stumbled in as Wolverine surveyed the scene. Rogue leaned up and placed a handkerchief over her mouth. Remy leaned over; plate piled high with omelets and pressed a soft kiss to her with the cloth between them. He swung his plate out of the way and pressed her against the side of the table, their kiss becoming more amorous.
"Break it up, get a room!" Bobby snapped his fingers.
"Mon ami, you missed de last omlette for that," Remy shot back as he resumed distributing his contribution to the common breakfast.
"Wolverine, good to see you," Storm said as she sat down next to a chair where Bishop normally sat. The future Xman wandered out with a plate piled high with pancakes. Not real maple syrup, Wolverine smirked as he looked for a place to sit. Bishop handed Wolverine a cup of black coffee, and he grunted his thanks as he sat down automatically to the other vacant place, down where Jubilee was snagging a box of lucky charms from Bobby's plate. Lori was already setting two places as Bobby drifted back into view. Jubilee turned to see Bobby's hand snake out. Ororo sat near Rogue, eating a piece of whole-wheat toast in addition to the stack of pancakes Bishop provided her with.
"Dibs on the charms," he said, snatching the box away.
"Big deal…" she mumbled, giving it up. "Some things NEVER change…"
"Uh huh," Wolverine nodded, playing it cool and casual. "They're stale anyway."
"They're all his," Jubilee chuckled.
"An' for you, the best for last," Gambit said as he put a plate in front of Jubilee. She peered at the spice laden omelet, steaming hot, and picked up her knife and fork, pushing it around on the plate. Bishop passed the pancakes around to those who hadn't had any and as usually everyone piled their plates unless they had cereal.
It was a ritual Jubilee remembered, and she long ago abandoned huge amounts of protein, favoring juice or fruit.
"What is this?" she asked, prodding it with a fork as if it were an experimental compound.
"Gambit's special mix," said Bobby as he dumped the rest of the lucky charms and poured chocolate milk on top of them. Lori was watching him with rapt interest. The girl had the sort of mutant power that was akin to Cyphers, more scholarly. Instead of a heavy hitter, her talents lie with duplicating people's voices and sounds. Not exactly something you could use on the battlefield except in a clever way. As in espionage.
"Probably has cayenne peppers, chives, onions, mushrooms and cumin… to start with. Something you'd find at Dennys or Jack in the Box early bird special," Logan muttered as he made short work of his conglomeration. Jubilee sneaked a piece of bacon off his plate, for there was an excess, and Bobby had grabbed the last piece as the plate had gone round.
"You can have mine then," Jubilee said. "I don't wanna develop a mutant talent breathing fire… one power's enough…"
Thus her omelet ended up on Logan's plate and disappeared quickly. By the time Gambit glanced down, he noticed a clean plate. "Seconds Cherie?"
"Nope, I've had enough already," she said. What about that comment made it seem like it was double entendre.
"I was wondering Jubilee, if you knew of any particular brand of evening wear, and if so, what you'd pick out," Betsy Braddock said as she walked past.
Jubilee perked up, "Well I found a great shop in Massachusetts called Dawning, and they have the cutest velvet pumps and stuff… but I'd skip the sweater…"
"Thanks, I was looking for something to wear to a baptism. Brian and Meggan are having their second child and…"
"Oh," Jubilee said. "Well I dunno if THAT's the kinda store you want…"
"Any more pancakes?" asked Lori.
"One more," Bobby said, not even bothering to ask anyone else if they wanted one. Jubilee put a hand to her head and felt like the invisible woman because he snagged it off with a fork. She stole some more bacon off Wolverine's plate, because he'd left all but some of the second round of Remy's omelet without a hitch. Bobby felt a bit edgy because routinely those blue eyes stared in his general direction with a sternness he didn't care for.
"Wonder what his trip is," Lori whispered.
"Probably isn't getting any," Bobby whispered back, forgetting he could hear them well and good.
"You're happy today," Jubilee said, rubbing her temples. She was miffed about the pancake, but it was only one… and Bobby was known to be a bit rash when it came to food.
"It's a special day today," Bobby said.
"Oh?" Jubilee asked. "Any plans for today?"
"We're getting engaged…" Lori crowed, showing the sizable rock on her finger.
"Wow, that's one sparkler!" Rogue whistled. "When am ah gonna get one of those, Remy?"
"As soon as Gambit finds one larger, Cherie," Gambit answered smoothly. "What are you gonna wear? And when's the bachelor party?"
"You're not supposed to mention THAT out loud," Warren slapped his forehead. "And besides, I've been planning THIS since day one… Congratulations you lucky dog!"
"Yeah, way to go!" whooped Rogue.
"Ah, best wishes," Jubilee said, looking bored.
"What was that?" asked Storm.
"The Bobster is getting hitched!" Rogue pointed out.
"We've GOT to have a party then… why the heck didja keep this from us?"
"So much for that," Jubilee muttered, rolling her eyes. She felt something pushed in her direction, and saw that it was the last cup of coffee. Seizing it she slurped it down, hoping it wouldn't' disappear also in the frenzy.
She glanced at the plate that sat before her, seeing an omelet left standing. Desperate times called for desperate measures, so she snagged the plate and slipped it onto hers. A bottle of ketchup slid in front of her, and she glanced at out the side of her eye to see Wolverine picking up a paper and rustling through it. Maybe he was trying a BIT too much to play it cool. Or else he was part of the entire conspiracy that seemed to transform her into the Invisible Girl.
"She's a member of the Fan four, not the X-men," Jubilee said aloud.
"What was that?" Bobby asked. "About the Fantastic Four…"
"Oh, somebody actually heard me talking that's a new one," Jubilee mumbled.
"What Jubes?" Bobby asked.
"Never mind," she said, dumping ketchup on the omelet and cutting into it fiercely with the side of her fork. So hungry was she that Jubilee shoved a few forkfuls into her mouth and washed them down with some milk that happened to be available. Within minutes the omelet was considerably reduced to a few nuggets of egg.
"Petit scarfed the last one," Gambit whispered as he poked Rogue in the shoulder. "I told you…"
"Only cause everyone ELSE got here first," Rogue whispered. "Ah know we were supposed t' keep things low key so it didn't look like anything was goin' down, but ah think Bobby, Warren, and Scott are playing it TOO good…"
"Gambit t'ink our subject is looking mighty sad right about now," Remy muttered. "Is this necessary?"
"Well she's NOT talking about waking the whole mansion with that screaming fit," Betsy Braddock chimed in. "The poor dear. I felt the psychic distress so powerfully it almost hurt. She desperately needs something to snap her out of it or else she might have considerable problems later. The joy she's going to feel over this will override all the preliminaries…"
"Without sadness there is no happiness, without pain, no joy," Beast said.
"Where in tarnation did THAT line come out of?"
"It sounded eloquent. I admit it was of my own volition," said Beast.
"It's the end of the world," Storm quipped. "Beast not quoting someone…"
"Jubilee, could you do us a favor?" Scott Summers asked as he walked past again, carrying a bottle of orange juice.
"What?" she asked.
"I was looking for volunteers to stay behind. The Professor's got a special assignment, and wants me to put together a team, and I was wondering if…"
"I would stay behind?" she asked.
"Yes, it would be a big favor… and since you're just getting the hang of things."
"Oh sure I'll just hang around here, just like old times," she said half sarcastically. "No problems… how long will everyone be gone?"
"Not sure… but that would really help out," Scott said. "Thanks… hey, Jean…"
"Terrific," she muttered. "And he could have left the OJ…"
"Cheer up, we all get crap duty from time to time," Bobby said. "It was me last week…"
"Did anyone call from Massachusetts academy?" Jubilee asked.
"Why, were you expecting any calls?" asked Warren.
"Oh never mind…" she waved, putting on a smile that seemed a bit like a shield. Wolverine rolled his eyes, muttering to himself. They were pretty stupid if they expected to be THAT blatantly obvious that something was up. Considering Jubilee's state of mind, and what she'd gone through in the last few weeks, with the recurring nightmares and fear of sleeping, he wanted to get to the bottom of it. Nobody let HIM in on this. Time for some answers.
"Rookies," he snorted, getting up and grabbing something from the countertop. She noticed it was strawberry pop tarts of all things, and she laughed.
"Good grief, I haven't eaten THESE since college… freshman year," she shook her head.
"Last thing that wasn't eaten, or nailed down…" he shrugged. "Even though Chuck had this health food kick… you still like them…"
"Better than Gambit's experiments," she said. "I've got enough stomach problems…"
She nibbled on both, in between sips of black coffee, and the rest of the orange juice while congratulations continued for Lori and Bobby. Then eventually people got up and went about their business here and there. She heard something about Scott with the secret drill, and someone else mentioning gown shopping, and tuned it out.
"So, when are you going to introduce us to your beau?" Betsy Braddock asked.
"Huh?" she asked. Only Warren and she were still at the table with the exception of Storm and Bishop, who were cleaning up, and Logan of course who'd picked up the paper and was glancing through it.
"I heard you had some good news lately…"
"Um, just WHAT did you hear?" she asked tentatively. "If it's about Everett that's old news…"
"Actually we'd heard you met someone VERY nice at college… Dmitri was his name…"
"Who told you that?" She asked, glancing around at the others who were still sitting there.
"Well, it seemed pretty obvious from what…"
"You weren't trying to read my mind were you?" Jubilee asked, her forehead crinkling slightly in annoyance.
"Of course not, I wouldn't dream of it, love," she said quickly. "It was more of a case of putting two and two together… Storm had mentioned…"
"Storm? But that was three months ago!"
"No shame in admitting it… if you need some advice…" Betsy asked.
"That's my business, okay?" she sighed, inhaling deeply. "I appreciate the thought, but I don't appreciate people thinking they know stuff about me that I didn't get the news about!"
"So you aren't engaged to Dmitri?"
"Uh, no," Jubilee sighed. "Look, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go work out. Been too long since I hit the gymn… so see you later ok?"
"I didn't mean to…" Betsy got out. "I'm ever so sorry…"
"Jubes," said Warren as she got up and grabbed her dishes, throwing them into the sink with a clatter. She exited quickly before he could go after her.
"What did I say?" Betsy asked.
"And yer a telepath?" Wolverine asked sarcastically. "Maybe it had something to do with mentioning something that was none o' yer beeswax?"
"But we'd planned something special… and she has to have a date… we were sure of it…"
"Okay, someone MIND telling me the plan?" Wolverine asked, his voice deepening as his eyes sparkled more brightly and intently drilling holes at Psilocke and Warren.
"You know… the 'operation'. I can't believe You don't know…" Betsy blinked.
"Pretend I didn't know squat, and spell it out for me…" he said.
"Well we had been thinking that in honor of her graduation, and since it was her birthday… Warren and I have something special planned…"
"Oh for cryin out loud," Wolverine muttered. He stopped, and mentally cursed. Of all the stupid cliché ridden pieces of crapola they had to pull THIS one? Getting up, he tossed his paper down and wandered out of the room, before he decided to put three bright skewer like objects in Angel's brain to prove that he hated being out of the loop. Especially if it involved mind games and surprise parties. He knew Jubilee HATED them.
"Wings has his head up his ass, I swear," Wolverine growled as he sauntered out of the kitchen, past Storm and Bishop.
"Wolverine, whatever is the matter?" Ororo asked.
"None o' yer flaming business, if ya don't mind 'Roro. Now's NOT a good time," he snarled back. "Apologies in advance…"
"You do know about…"
"Yeah," he said quickly before he reached the main living room area where other members of the team were assembling in costume, and rushing out to the hanger and various other areas.
"There you are, I wanted to tell you your mission," Scott summers said.
"Make it fast, I've got things to do," he said, pushing Scott's hand off his shoulder.
"Did Warren fill you in… I mean you WERE away when we decided…" Scott said.
"We were wondering if you'd be up to doing us a favor… someone needs to keep Jubilee occupied for a few hours… and Bobby and Lori were going to originally and…"
"Oh sure, why the hell not," he said neutrally. "Considerin' all the other flamin' things going on around here without anyone sendin' me the memo…"
"We're sorry, Logan," Jean apologized as she moved to stop him from storming out. "It is short notice… but she HAS been working hard, and has accomplished a great deal, and we thought she would love a…"
"You've got her all figured out, haven't ya both?" he asked. "Every detail planned out. Who's the manager behind this mission? Flyboy?"
"Warren and Betsy had the main idea and since things were so tense around here… I figured…" Scott started before he recognized the stormy look.
"Next time you get a bright idea bub, mind running it past ALL of us?" he said in a low yet intimidating voice.
"Logan… is something wrong?"
"No, what makes you think THAT?" he asked. "Look Jean, anyone stopped to think this isn't the BEST idea for the kid? That whole 'let's pretend to forget your birthday so it's a big surprise' thing is older than I am…"
"Well…" Scott said.
"Will you help us? It HAS been a long time since…"
"Sure, whatever," he said quickly. "I'm yer man. But I'm NOT responsible for the fallout…"
"Keep her occupied till six or seven…" Jean said. She sensed the annoyance coming from him, and sighed. It was a bit of fun, but was something going on?
Is there something I don't know about Jubilee? She asked.
Oh nothing Red, maybe the fact that she had NIGHTMARES the past few nights… and this might be a shock to her system… and the last thing she needs?
It seemed the best to distract her…
Oh I'tll distract her all right… came Wolverine's answer. A wall flew up, and blocked Jean's telepathic inquiries, and she backed off. She knew when to quit, unlike Betsy who did have a hint of the spy in her still. Once a ninja, always a ninja, Wolverine snorted. The silver samurai considered him gaijin, but he was looking at an example of someone whose honor was at one time considered dubious. Sure she saw herself like some Robin Hood, but there was the element of elitism Wolverine didn't care for.
Especially when it came to controlling things. Such as assuming they knew someone better than he did, and when it involved someone he was as close to as he'd been to Kitty, a surrogate parent, that was the last straw. What seemed to them a harmless diversion raised hackles with him, because he HATED being manipulated or controlled.
Cripes Logan, aren't ya projecting here? He stopped himself as he rushed upstairs to put on some clothes and figure out what end was up in this whole fracas. The highway didn't stretch out easily before him, now it was curving without any road map. He'd have to adapt as always, especially to the adamantium that had been refused with his skeleton like a necessary evil. Those criterions that had caused him to leave four years ago did not exist now. There had been too much running away. Now was the time to stay and fight the crapola.
"What do you MEAN the Danger Room's closed for repairs?" asked Jubilee as she saw Beast poke his head out.
"My apologies Jubilation… there is ah… a major malfunction that is wreaking havoc with the holographic projection grid… it has to be taken offline temporarily today… but it should be up and running in about twelve hours…"
"How convenient," she muttered.
"I am most sorry," Hank said as he closed the door. Warren picked up his tennis racket, followed by Scott.
"Can you believe that?" she shook her head.
"Warren, we DO have to get moving," Scott said as they both passed Jubilee in the hall. Neither one said anything to her, nor she blinked.
"This is getting ridiculous," she shook her head. "When did I become dirt?"
"I dunno, maybe when you woke half the people in the mansion?" said Bishop. "Been some talk around here lately that I don't care for myself…"
"Excuse me?"
"Some people have been pretty stressed around here," the tall dark skinned X-man said, not unkindly. "They tend to jump as soon as they heard the most unusual noise. Tempers are frayed, strained, and all manner of things. Don't be too hard on 'em. They're just not used to having you back around again. You've been gone on and off for the last three years… and they need to get used to how much you've grown up…"
"Yeah, but does that mean totally ignoring me?"
"Well, you did get used to special treatment," said Bishop. "Maybe what you're misreading things. You can't expect the whole world to stop now that Jubilation's come home… you're not the center of attention anymore…"
"I never claimed to be the center of attention," Jubilee drew in her breath. This was getting out of hand.
"Bishop, there you are," Scott said. "We've got to leave now… Jubilee, there you are… here's the codes to the main entrance… and the encryption for Cerebro… sorry but we gotta run…"
"Fine, see you later…" she shook her head as Scott tossed the control panel to her as he took Bishop's arm and tugged him to follow.
"Where's Scott?" Bobby asked as he rushed past Jubilee.
"They went that away… if anyone cares to ask me," she threw up her hands.
"Thanks Jubester…"
"Anytime… I think," she shot back.
"Cheer up! You got the whole house to yourself… think of all the DVDs you can swipe… I think Jean and Scott have a whole mess of 'em…"
"Lucky me," Jubilee muttered, throwing her towel in the hamper and walking quickly through the hallways of the mansion, which was fast emptying.
"Is anything the matter, Jubilation?" asked Storm as Jubilee saw her rushing downstairs in her white costume. "Bishop's really got under my skin. Normally he doesn't do that, but he had the nerve to say I was demanding special treatment…"
Beast emerged from the laboratory, pulling off his glasses. "Ah Storm, Cyclops wants to know when you're ready to leave…"
"Excuse me Jubilation… in about three minutes…"
"If you're busy I'll just be typing in codes," Jubilee said, after counting to ten.
"No wait," said Storm. "Please, tell me what's troubling you…"
"If this is in regards to the Danger Room I am most extremely sorry," Hank said.
"No Beast, this isn't about the danger room… it's just… well it's ridiculous… I'm not trying to whine… or anything," Jubilee said. "But I feel like ever since I got here, I've been getting that cold shoulder. What is WITH people? Did I forget to bathe or something?"
"Perhaps it's a case of classic projection," he said. "Oversensitivity to people's reactions. Misreading people's intentions and failing to take things at face value."
"Oh so I'm imagining that everyone's acting like they have a chip on their shoulder when I so much as take up space?" Jubilee asked. "Maybe Bishop was right… about me waking up the whole mansion the last few days…"
"We understand you have an issue with your nightmares… but you have refused treatment from Jean, or Betsy…" Hank said gently. "Is there any reason why perhaps?"
"Maybe I don't like people poking around in my head maybe? Because Emma Frost did her share of it now and again… not to mention the others in my class… maybe it's because I don't like feeling as if people are playing games with me… if they have a problem with me being here they should say it to my face," Jubilee said. "Like I'm the only one who's had issues?"
"You may be suffering from post traumatic stress disorder," Hank said gently, putting his clawed hand on her shoulder. "Jean feels that perhaps a session with the Professor may be in order… to lessen the effects of…"
"You can tell him I'm not interested. Thanks but no thanks. I've had enough of people reading my mind," Jubilee said firmly.
"Jubilee," Storm said softly. "We are only concerned for your welfare…."
"First you're telling me not to expect special treatment and now you're telling me you're worried about my problems. Can someone make up their minds?" Jubilee shook her head. "I'm confused here… if people are so worried why are they pretending that I don't exist? Take breakfast for example…"
"When Kitty was in your shoes, she complained of the same thing," said Storm as she glanced in. "Do not be overly concerned Jubilee. When you were first here, you were the only student your age… and then you were no longer an individual in Generation X. So it's natural to assumed you want the same special treatment when you come home…"
"I'm not asking to be pampered, I'm just asking for people to at least acknowledge that I have feelings," Jubilee said. "I mean they might at least act like they're excited to see me… since I bothered to try rejoining the team…"
"Perhaps you are the one that needs to be sensitive to the needs of others… by seeking the appropriate treatment for your problems, rather than exacerbating them by avoidance," Beast said firmly, yet kindly. "You would benefit from counseling, or more conventional methods if…"
"Sorry Beast, I guess maybe I AM a little selfish," Jubilee said, resignedly. "All I know is that where I thought I could come home and find some answers is NO longer the place. I guess 'you can't go home again… huh?' Silly me, I guess I need to get real…"
"Jubilee, perhaps you can take this time to reflect in peace and quiet. Take advantage of the time given you by our absence. You will see it is not so bad," Storm suggested as she stroked Jubilee's cheek. "Consider it a gift…"
"First one I had mentioned of…"
"For your return," Storm completed. "Enjoy having the home to yourself… and by the way, I think Wolverine was looking for you…"
"If he's thinking of a session in the danger room, he can forget it," Jubilee said. "I think I'm going to just watch some television… don't let me keep you guys waiting…"
Thrusting her hands into her jeans pockets Jubilee walked away. Conflicting emotions roiled in her head. While she resented their harsh words, she knew they had a ring of truth. Perhaps she WAS running away by coming here. After all, there was the semblance of a life that Dmitri had offered her. He himself was a mutant of no mean ability. The power of igniting fires with his mind made him akin to Sunfire. But they had studied together at the Academy. But there was a fundamental difference. And then the nightmares had grown steadily worse…
