Chapter 21
"Wolverine…" Scott trailed off. "You can't be serious after all the time both of you have spent… don't you have a better answer than that?"
"Scott, please don't do this…" Jubilee pleaded, tears forming in her eyes. Logan glared murderously at Scott.
"C'mon Jubes, time we said our good-byes…" Logan said. "We've got a honeymoon to attend…"
"Jean, Scott, please don't make this any harder than it has to be," Jubilee pleaded.
"Now wait… don't leave like this… Jubilee… can't you…" Scott trailed off. "Jubilee!"
"Mac, Heather, do you mind," Logan said loudly. "I think Jubes is getting' tired, and I don't want her to overdo it…"
"Logan WAIT!" Scott said, rushing after him.
"Scott, he's made up his mind… we don't want to make a scene, do we, on Jubilee's special day…" Jean urged, tugging Scott's arm and dragging him along with her.
"Excuse me, Cyclops, but if you have further complaints, I suggest you take them up with me… I am Wolverine's commander," Vindicator said crisply, while Heather helped walk him over towards Scott and Jean.
"Look, I don't want to get into it with you, Vindicator but did you pressure him?"
"No, he volunteered, if that's any of your concern," Vindicator started.
"Scott, that's enough," Professor X's thoughts echoed in his mind. "You're not helping the situation. If you can't stop making a scene… you should leave now… with Jean… Jubilee is starting to get more and more upset… and I promised Logan we wouldn't do this…"
"All right, you win Professor," Scott said, continuing to let Jean drag him away.
Jubilee clung to Logan, burying her head in his shoulder while he led her over to a quiet corner of the room. "What's wrong… what did they say?" Northstar demanded, rushing over with Aurora beside him.
"It's no big deal. Just some stupid crap, from an old teammate," Logan snarled under his breath. "Shit I was afraid this would happen…"
"Logan… we heard…" Storm said as she strode over. "I'm most sorry…"
"Ororo, would you mind… this ain't the time. I think it'd be best for all of us if we said our good-byes so's Jube an' I can go on our honeymoon… okay?" Logan said sternly. "There's too much hurt comin' to the surface now…"
"If that's what you both want, then I shall bid you both good fortune, and a fond farewell," Storm said gently. Northstar puffed out his breath and moved back so Storm could stride over and stand by Jubilee. She lifted her head from Logan's chest and reached out to hug Storm.
"I'm sorry to lose it… I just… why can't he be happy for me?" Jubilee whispered. With the edge of a gloved finger she brushed away hot tears, wanting the floor to open up and swallow her out of the pool of embarrassment she'd fallen feet first into.
"I am happy for you both," Storm whispered into her ear. Her slender arms wrapped around Jubilee and gave her the warm strong maternal hug that she had missed for so long. Only Heather's recent embraces had helped ease the ache.
"Thanks Roro, that means a lot to me," Logan said. Gratefully he pressed a kiss to the corner of her lips. They embraced as good friends, who knew each other far better than most biological siblings.
"Be well, and be happy," Ororo soothed. She reluctantly separated herself from them, and walked away from both with tears dripping down her dark brown cheeks.
Next to wander over was Henry McCoy. Laying a large hand on either of their shoulders, he opened his mouth to utter some erudite quote, but choked, "Grow old along with me… the best is yet to be… my apologies but I cannot seem to remember the author at this point…"
"Don't sweat it, it was fine," Jubilee giggled. His blue fur tickled her cheek when he kissed hers, and his massive arms wrapped her in a protective hug that did not want to let her go right away. So much had they learned from one another. He had convinced her that education and science were indeed as 'hip' and 'cool' as shopping for new clothes or makeup. In turn she had exposed him to more pop culture than he realized possible from the cozy world of preppiedom. Their relationship was a great equalizer, leveling their playing fields. Turning to Logan, he clasped his hand, shaking it tightly, and coughed.
"I know, Blue," said Logan with a deep laugh. "Got somethin' stuck in my eye too… funny, huh?"
"Fare thee well, and keep each other safe and happy," Hank added, backing away.
Rogue and Remy with interlaced fingers approached, their faces reading a mixture of joy and sadness. Delight in seeing two dear friends finding what they shared, and misery at impending parting. After all they had worked and lived together in close quarters for so long they well knew each other's moods and dislikes. Jubilee fell into both their arms, sobbing into Remy, then Rogue's necks. Both of them together hugged her to them, and she could not bring herself to let go for what seemed like forever.
"I love you both so much… I'm really loosing it… I'm spouting all this mushy stuff… look at me I'm a mess…" Jubilee sniffled, laughing lightly.
"Don' forget a lady always needs a handkerchief t' keep the makeup from running," Gambit said, tugging out a square of linen embroidered with his name, from the top breast pocket of his suit. Jubilee let him dry her eyes, while Rogue turned to Logan. He had his hands shoved in his pockets, uncomfortable with the outpouring of intense emotions uncorked by Scott and Jean's questions.
"Sugah… ah know you're gonna take good care o' each other… ya hear? Don't let nobody tell ya it's impossible… cause I thought so till now…" she sniffled, then buried her head in his shoulder. Logan shushed her, gently rocking his teammate back and forth.
"Gonna miss ya too, Marie," he whispered, using a name he rarely spoken, and it caught on his tongue. "An ya tell yer Cajun I owe him two bands…"
"Non, I will not accept dem," Remy waved his hand. Jubilee clung to Rogue's waist, laying her head on the older woman's chest as the two old rivals argued.
"Look bub, there's no way I'm gonna let you get away with giving me your wedding bands, an' not at least do ya the favor of…"
"You stopped a weddin' dat never shoulda happened. Dis Remy's way of thankin' you both…" Gambit waggled a finger at him. "Besides, I never gave her a proper gift t' celebrate her becomin' a lady… dis will be sufficient…"
"Give it up, Logan… it's a wedding present. An' doncha dare try an' come up with some cock-a-mamy plan tuh make it up to us, ahl right?" Rogue scolded Logan.
Bishop coughed discretely, and Remy and Rogue backed away, before Rogue and he again burst into tears. The once and Future XSE now X man towered over the newlyweds, his eyes gleaming with recognition. "So, it finally came true… and I was here to see it…"
"You tellin' me ya knew this was gonna happen, right?" Logan asked.
"I'm not saying anymore, old man, but just trust me on this, that it's the RIGHT thing. You two being married definitely won't HURT the future."
"Wish you could tell us just how it's all gonna turn out, but I guess you're gonna feed us a line about some temporal prime directive garbola," Jubilee rolled her eyes. Nevertheless he witnessed the teasing gleam that Jubilee was perfectly fine in trusting his nonspecific prediction. Then he kissed her cheek and hugged her while shaking Logan's hand as the other guests had done.
Bobby and Lori both strode up, hand in hand. However when Bobby opened his mouth, he could not get out words without simply going over and grabbing both Jubilee and Wolverine in a crushing hug. "Get off ya big joker," Logan growled, breaking a tense emotional moment.
"All the best," Lori whispered, kissing both of their cheeks. Bobby wiped his eyes, letting the tears drop without freezing. It would be altogether too corny, and right now that was the furthest thing from his mind.
"Here's lookin' at you kid," he sniffled, bopping her cheek playfully. Lori slid her arm around his shoulders and guided Bobby Drake away before he again wept all over the couple.
Jubilee felt a fresh batch of tears blurring her observations of all the X men slowly departing the reception, under the watchful eye of Alpha Flight. Other uniformed servicemen and operatives had gathered to line the corridor outwards for security purposes. Jean and Scott had long since left, Logan able to tell from the absence of strong recent scent. Perhaps it was just as well considering the tension that erupted, Logan reflected. Damn shame though, because he hated seeing the pained pathos washing over Jean's face. Torn between sympathizing for he and Jubilee, and being wife to Cyclops was she. Not a pleasant position to occupy, sitting a fence between two divided camps.
"Hatfields an' McCoys, no offense to beast," Jubilee mumbled.
"Yeah, it ain't funny… but it's just somethin' else…" Logan agreed, arm tightly holding her to his sturdy body so she felt grounded in the emotional storm. Nostrils flared when he recognized the last scent of Professor X still present, and the faint whine only he could hear of the hoverchair approaching.
"Sorry for losin' it, Chuck," Logan said.
"It is I who should apologize, Logan… and Jubilation. I do not know if this made things worse or better between us… but I wanted to thank you both for letting us share in this day…"
"No comments about us not coming back?" Jubilee asked quickly.
"There is nothing to say, except I hope that you will both find what you're looking for. You were right when you said that your sharing of your X men experience and training was the entire point of what I wanted for all of you… the promoting of mutants and humans living in harmony. Alpha Flight shows the same potential. I faced this same situation with Kitty and Kurt, as you recall…"
"Yeah… I remember," Logan nodded. "An' Colossus… ol' Petey…"
"You were all a tight knit family as I recall. And it was incredibly hard to accept that they wanted to strike out on their own. I had forgotten how painful it is to let each of my X men go… but I know that you will make me proud. Even if I don't necessarily agree with all of your decisions, I trust that you will make the most of it…"
"Ya sure about that? Or are ya just tryin' to make nice?"
"I'm reluctant to say all these things Logan, as you well know," Professor X confessed. "But weddings and funerals always bring out the best and worst in all of us. I think that your drive to try and right the mistakes of your past is noble, although unnecessary… but your desire to continue my teachings is what makes it somehow appropriate… but I must ask if there are any other reasons you don't plan to return… anytime soon?"
"I think you know, already," Jubilee said firmly. "We're all in each other's faces and up each other's butts in the X mansion. I don't want people there thinking that just cause Logan and I stay there that they know what's best for us. Maybe staying is okay for Jean and Scott, but we all get sick of each other after a while, right? And from that little hissy fit Scott threw just now… do you REALLY think it would be good for the X men if Logan and I did stay?"
"Perhaps not. But please consider that should you choose to return, you will both always have a place in the X men… think about that…"
"Sure thing, Chuck," said Logan. "But I need to do this. For whatever reason I gotta stay for a while. It feels right. An' Jubes an' I want to start fresh. That's the other big thing here. Just like Lorna an' Havoc remember?"
"Then all my best. And don't stay strangers," the Professor said as he reached out to both. Leaning down Jubilee hugged him tightly, her throat constricting and jaw wobbling. Logan shook his hand, and then gave the Professor a rare embrace, slapping his back.
"Thanks Chuck, for lettin' us go…" Logan said, drawing back and taking hold of Jubilee's shoulders. The Professor allowed himself another long last observation of his two former pupils, impressing the image forever in his mind before shifting his chair back.
"Goodbye Logan, and Jubilee. Till we see each other again…" said Professor X, and swiveled his chair to glide noiselessly after the others.
Jubilee lay her head on his shoulder. Logan moved behind her, sliding his arms around her waist to press his chin into her neck and kiss her cheek softly. His sturdy body radiated warmth as always into her smaller one. Nudging her forwards they moved to the tall windows overlooking the city streets of Calgary, Alberta. A few flakes of snow still fluttered by the window, and the other members of Alpha Flight had gathered to watch.
"C'mon, let's go outside for some fresh air," Logan said, taking her hand. Husband and wife rushed out to hear the whine of the VTOL engines thrusting blue white against the pavement of the street. The long imposing shape of the Blackbird slowly lifted off its landing gear and rose upward to hover fifty feet above the pavement. Wind whipped Jubilee's long veil about her body and billowed her skirt out, and both shaded their eyes with their hands to watch the SR-71 continue its vertical assent.
Behind them, the other members of Alpha Flight clustered to watch and make certain the X men were planning to leave. Radiant gold gleamed on the sides of each skyscraper, as the setting sun sank to the horizon. The underbelly of the blackbird was similarly painted in sunlit gilt, and its shadow eclipsed the Canadian team below. Then with a sudden burst and whoosh of power, it shot upwards and the back engines burst into life. Soon the black shape was nothing but a fading speck in the skies, headed due south and east opposite the setting sun.
Jubilee was not sure how long they all stood there watching it leave. Chilly frigid winds whipped around her and the others, and she shivered with more than just the ambient cold. That same feeling that she remembered so long ago when she first arrived at the X Mansion washed over her with a vengeance. It was a sense of uncertainty and the realization that a door on her past was truly closed so another could be pushed wide open. Mountains rose around her, both artificial and natural.
"Let's go back inside an' have one last drink t' toast the newlyweds," Vindicator said, breaking the silence.
"Sounds good to me," Sasquatch boomed. "Comin' sweet-stuff?"
"Right with you," Aurora cooed, her tiny body cradled by an enormous arm that turned her towards the center.
Northstar and Puck stood next to one another, the arm of the taller around the shoulders of the shorter, while Puck's arm clutched Northstar's waist tightly. Jean Paul turned a sympathetic eye to Jubilee and Logan, and gently patted both their shoulders. Logan grunted and nodded his gratefulness at their understanding and support.
"It is for the best," Shaman said quietly. "They will see. And if they do not, it is they who are blind…"
"Somehow Michael, I don't think that gives them much comfort right now," Snowbird gently chided him. She grasped his arm and tugged him back with her.
"Logan… Jubilee… we're waiting for you," Guardian coughed, gently. "Will you join us?"
"Yeah… let's go in. It's freezing out here," Jubilee shivered.
"C'mon darlin'… we got a party to get back to…" he nodded.
Inside the reception hall, glasses were charged with fizzling champagne. Darkness had cloaked Calgary with merciful quiet and reverence, while the party carried on within. Music from the hired deejay echoed in the hall, while Alpha Flight commiserated and celebrated the passage of two of its own into another phase of life. Vindicator and Guardian continued to support one another in their mirror image costumes while the other couples stood near the newlyweds.
Presents were being passed around, and Logan and Jubilee couldn't help but wonder where they had gotten them on such short notice. However she did not care to ask or question, for the matching bands of gold on her finger and Logan's were by far the most unexpected of all the gifts. Perhaps the most precious wedding gift of all was the Professor's blessing and understanding, despite his reservations. Jubilee's empty feeling was rapidly filling with new memories that swirled around her. Granted the champagne facilitated the well being that had started to glow in her stomach. Far better than the sickness and queasiness that had haunted her for so many days.
Vindicator clapped his hands together, and the music stopped along with the chatter of the team. "I know this is a watershed day already… but I hope the happy couple can tolerate one more event…"
"Just hope it isn't as bittersweet as what just went down…" Jubilee muttered. "Don't know how much more fun an' games you could cram into one day…"
"If you'd rather wait…" said Heather.
"No, bring it on…" Jubilee relented, arm threaded through Logan's. "Whatever it is, I'm sure I'll be cool with it…"
Vindicator motioned to one of the other uniformed soldiers that carried a portfolio. Two manila folders were tucked inside and Logan recognized the scent of the papers contained inside. Another soldier carried a small bundle, which looked like the uniform Jubilee had initially donned during Phase III. Other cases contained what Logan suspected was something he never thought he'd see again in this lifetime.
"As you both know, we have a newest member. In all the excitement we had forgotten one of our most important ceremonies. The awarding of a uniform to show that a new recruit has been accepted as full Alpha Flight status…" Vindicator said, managing to stand apart from Heather to everyone's surprise. Logan sniffed the electromagnetic field crackling and knew what made it possible.
"I already got a uniform," Jubilee said, and then shut up with a look of apology.
"This one is more suited to your unique… codename and persona within our team," Heather clarified. "And relax… we'll show you all the ropes that Wolverine here forgot…"
"Jubilation Lee Logan, I hereby award you with a field commission as a special operative of Alpha Flight, and bestow the codename of Firecracker on you, and grant you the rank of acting ensign. By virtue of your marriage to one of our agents… you are granted citizenship conditionally…" he said importantly, holding the bundle out to Jubilee. She reached for it with a solemn smile on her young face, still framed by that wedding veil.
"I accept…" she said, and Logan nodded that it was the right response. Slowly she tried a salute, and Vindicator's expression told her that she would learn the rest in time.
"And Capt. Logan, a.k.a. Wolverine, a.k.a. Weapon X, my sincere congratulations on rejoining us. Your commission is reinstated as of your appearance with all the rights and privileges included, and the demarcation of desertion has been stricken from your record… we welcome you back and look forward to serving with you for a long time to come…" said Vindicator. Logan saluted though it seemed an anathema to him. Though he knew it for the best. This time they knew better than to put expectations on him that he wouldn't be expected to keep.
"Heather Macdonald Hudson, a.k.a. Guardian, it is my privilege to bestow upon you the position of Leader of Alpha flight, contingent upon completion of your training in continued co authority with agent Wolverine. The field commission of Captain is hereby granted… with all rights and privileges associated… Congratulations…"
Heather strode forwards and accepted the framed certificates and other items that denoted her station. She glanced at her husband and felt a glow of pride and gratitude. He was deferring to her as Leader. Granted he might come to learn to use that suit as Vindicator to again take up his position, but he mentioned he had no stomach for leadership. Rather the continued grooming of her as his replacement.
"Guardian and Wolverine, it is Department H's request that you continue as co leaders of the team Alpha Flight from this day forwards. Till such time as either of you see fit to step down or relinquish your position. Together you have become an effective leadership duo that cannot be equaled by one alone. Do you both accept?"
"We do," both Guardian and Wolverine chorused.
"Do you think that they'll care if we wear these threads on off duty?" Jubilee asked as she climbed up behind Wolverine on his scoot. Her uniform was much the same as before, except for the addition of gold starbursts on the elbows, right breast, and hip. She had her trademark pink visor sunglasses shading her eyes, along with her hair tucked through the hole in her hood. For the first time she was toasty warm in the insulated uniform, and the warmth extended all the way to her core.
Wolverine pulled the gray and black mask overtop his face, which matched the rest of his costume. He was loath to abandon something that was his connection to past and future. Yet the rest of the uniform was the same Weapon X black and gold garb he had before, his fingertips exposed in the black gloves covering both hands. Still he felt it unnecessary to wear a helmet, and Jubilee was half wanting to scold him as she strapped hers on.
"So where to?" she asked, hugging his waist as he thundered the motor into life. Heat and noise vibrated the Harley, and they sat for a moment as it warmed up in Heather and Mac's driveway.
"Edmonton Alberta, and parts north. There are a few places I'd like t' show ya…"
"The middle of freakin' nowhere, great," Jubilee chattered her teeth.
"But first we stop by Chinatown… and you lemmie know what a REAL dinner is like…"
"No foolin, a Chinatown in Calgary?" Jubilee's eyes widened. "Holy CRAP…"
"Another incentive fer staying… Vancouver an Calgary both got pretty big concentrations a Chinese… I think if ya wanna get back t' any of yer roots or get homesick for yer Aunt Hope's it won't be too hard to…"
"Go on you two, get out of here already!" Northstar yelled.
"Meter's running!" Puck called.
"What ARE you waiting for anyway?" Aurora added.
"See ya in a few…" he waved, and gunned the engine.
