The Day After Graduation

By Trynia Merin

Disclaimer: I don't own XMEN, Marvel does! This is a work of FANFICTION, from the Animated Xmen series: The aftermath of the series finale Graduation Day. The first few scenes are taken directly or indirectly from the episode, with my intepretation of what everyone was thinking during Xavier's last moments. The next few scenes account an interpretation of what might have happened after Xavier left them in body but not in spirit. Keep in mind I'm a hopeless Logan/Jubes romantic. While I'm already writing I Gotcha Now, I got inspired to take this down when I saw Graduation Day, and couldn't help but look at the way she greeted him coming back.

Other Notes: I figure you can never have TOO many Logan/Jubes stories for those of us who are BIG fans…. This is in no way related to the storyline in I Gotcha Now, and is a separate story altogether!

Also too, in this I am having Jubilee as 18, because in a few episodes before, she was driving around with Beast in South America. If driving regulations require you to be 16 for a permit and 17 or for a license, I am assuming Jubilee is 17 going on 18, and has been driving for enough time that Hank is comfortable with this. Also too, Jubilee looks much more mature, almost as she did out of coming out of Generation X, and the series had her 13 years old when she first joined the X men. I am assuming for the episodes she did not show up that she was staying at another school which I playfully interject as having been the Masachusettes Academy to throw in relationships developed in the Gen X book. Also she seemed pretty comfortable leading herself around the kids that were trapped with her in the cave in.

Soo, onto the story! Please R and R!


Prologue Goodbyes (Those of you familiar enough with the episode can skip to Chapter 1, what happens immediately after… if you really wanna…)

How much longer would they have to wait, Morph wondered? He was finally home amongst the second family that he had ever known. Wolverine, Jean and Scott had been gone for what seemed an eternity, on a last ditch effort to stop Magneto from unleashing a torrent of mutant hatred upon a world, hell-bent on avenging Xavier.

Jubilee never felt so alone among the others as she did now. Although Storm's arms embraced her, or Hanks, she felt incomplete. As long as Jean and Scott, and Wolverine were gone, the hope for the future was lost. What were they without their heart, soul, and spirit? Jean was the heart of the X men, Scott its soul, and Logan the spirit that bound them all together. A trinity of hope that was the tight nucleus around which all the others orbited. Without Professor X there was still the legacy, but without those three…

Morph angrily remembered that dark time where Wolverine had come after him in South America. Protesting that he had to face his darkness alone, he had toyed mercilessly by taking the shapes of those secret temptations and worst fears the feral had buried deep. Despite the slashes to his psyche, Logan refused to leave him behind; understanding all too well what Morph was going through in the pits of despair. Finally he had managed to push Logan away. Amongst all the bitter insults he had hurled, was one that came as ironic foreshadowing, "Without Professor X there ARE no X men…"

"Damn," Morph cursed softly.

Storm hugged him closely, stroking his cheek. She then sat down in the chair to Professor Xavier's left, stroking his cheek softly. He had saved her from life as the Shadow King's slave. Only now was she to lose him to death itself. A man more than friend, far more complex than a father, and the start of her new reality. From Goddess to woman she had traveled over thousands of miles. Now here she was second in line to commanding the X men. Ororo prayed she would not have to take up the entire mantle herself so soon.

Hank stood overlooking the medical readings. Fangs bared with frustration, he scribbled the latest readings down on his clipboard. All his knowledge and it was still impossible to bring Xavier back. Even Dr. MacTaggert's skills could not save the inevitable. To know that Lilandra was but a telepathic cry away was maddening, for they lacked the Professor's great power in crossing light years of time and space in a cry for help.

Concerned for others, he glanced at Jubilee standing there alone near Gambit and Rogue. Seeing Rogue's distress she had whispered for Gambit to be with the southern Belle. In her own way she was grieving for two or three more losses. Professor X had been the father she had lost so long ago, and the X men her siblings. Even the foster parents who had taken her in were but fleeting compared to the impact the Professor had upon her life. Ororo was like the mother that had been taken away, and Gambit her first crush. Rogue a sister and Jean more than sister, more as an aunt does, with Scott the protective uncle does. Logan, she was not sure. Not father figure, more like older brother. Something complex and confusing that she hated to face. Mentor surely.

Jubilee was the last of the pupils Xavier would teach. The newest and last of the generation of X men that would know Xavier personally. Wanting desperately to return to her side, and embrace her, he was torn between that and his vigil on the monitors. After all, he was mentor in his own way, awakening her love of archaeology and other sciences on that trip to the Andes. Where she was in danger of becoming the host vessel for Apocalypse and only the gift of a battered mug had reminded him of his stolen humanity. That last vestige that brought him back to her rescue like a homing beacon and served to reunite teacher and student.

Did he love her? Yes, Hank said. But it was a love that had to be kept closely guarded. No, she was young and did not need one such as him. Besides, the gentle Ororo had always been there, and even though he wondered if her affections led her to Logan's side, he wasn't sure. Logan and Ororo had been married in an alternate reality created by Fitzroy's meddling. However since that revelation, both mutants had steered clear of any such entanglement. Perhaps out of guilt or the fact that Ororo's desires might turn towards another. Maybe it was because Logan knew he had sabotaged the wedding between Ororo and the warlord of Polemachus, Archon. Although Logan had acted for the right reasons, his personal sense of honor kept him from pursuing her. Or so that was what Logan had confessed over a round of beer one holiday night on Valentine's day.

He sniffed the air, smelling with enhanced senses the approach of familiar people. While not as sharp as Wolverine's, his olfactory senses were more than enough to inform him that Jean, Scott, and Logan had returned with another scent. Charged with ferrous oxide and ozone, he knew it to be Magneto.

Had they convinced him to do what he had thought? Could Magneto's power in concert with Xavier's bolster the flagging psi's mind enough to call Lilandra successfully? Tension mounted higher and higher at the sound of footsteps. All the X men turned to see Jean and Scott walk in, followed by Magneto, then Wolverine.

Jubilee was halfway across the floor, bounding towards him. She did not think twice about throwing herself into his arms and hugging him tightly around the neck in relief. "You're back!" she cried, squeezing him close.

For a moment Hank chuckled, realizing that she was equal in height to the feral mutant, no longer the shortest of the X men. Burying her head in his shoulders he welcomed the comforting embrace, and was glad when it did not cease. Both large hands were clasped firmly around her waist, while hers were crossed at the back of his neck. After a long moment, reassured that he was really well and truly back, he released her to glance at her at arm's length.

"Thanks, kid, I missed you too," Wolverine answered with a rare smile, his arms still clutching her close.

Jubilation knew from the sound in his voice that 'kid' was simply a term of affection. After all, compared to him, everyone was a kid. Despite his appearance as a man in middle age, none here matched his chronological years. Heck, Wolverine had no clue just how old he was. Thanks to Weapon X scrambling his brains, any memories of a childhood were forever buried.

Still the flats of her hands were pressed to his chest, and she swallowed hard with strange feelings that she pushed quickly away. Feelings that resembled the ones that she had once for Gambit, and now were NOT the time to try and figure them out. Not with Xavier possibly dying.


Chapter 1 Aftermath

Minutes later, Xavier's last words had been spoken. Tears oozed out of Scott's visor as he gritted his teeth, and swallowed his anger. The words uttered by the Professor were tearing his heart, and only Jean's hand on his shoulder grounded him. All around his bed they were clustered, together. Magneto at his right shoulder, biting his lip in anger.

Gambit and Rogue were clinging to each other, while Jean and Scott's hands were intertwined. Morph stood near Beast, at the foot of the Professor's bed, while Storm was at the front. Slowly she moved around, and felt Hank's clawed hand on her shoulder, giving it a squeeze. Ororo interlaced her fingers with Hank's, and they drew mutual comfort from one another. Storm moved around to wrap an arm around Morph's shoulders, while Logan patted his back.

Dead silence came with the final beeping. Magneto's fists clenched in rage, but he did not speak to break the silence. Rogue's grip on gambit tightened, and he slid both arms around her. Her cheek rested safely on his clothed shoulder and his hug was all that kept her from falling to pieces. At last she had found a love like Scott and Jean's, although she could not touch Gambit she knew his love transcended that fact.

After all, before she was reunited with Cody, he had been there to try and cheer her up. Offering to go out with her and come to the rescue with softly spoken words of romance. And she had rejected him in favor of an old boyfriend, only to find the horrible price she would have to pay for being with him always. Life as the new Queen of the Colony, with Cody as a mindless drone, and her friends the hosts of the horrible spores. Trapped inside a life spacecraft looking for new worlds to pillage for host bodies so the entire process could continue.

Only Logan's healing powers had saved them all. Wild predators with the power to save lives as well as take them. Ironic. Selflessly given so she could restore herself. Yet she had wanted to almost kill him at times for his insensitivity, especially when she tried to reach out to him after being spooked by proteous. Visibly shaken, it took forever for him to not shy away in the face of danger, and he lashed out at her among the others. Not till time had healed those wounds did they repair a damaged friendship that became stronger?

Miserable, Logan tugged his mask over his face to hide his reactions. As always it was easy to hide behind the cowled Wolverine hood and become the tough guy once again. The sort that didn't get mushy, and who had to be extra tough and strong for all the X men. Now more than ever they'd look to him, and expect far more from him and the other senior members. Sidelong he glanced at Morph, and the shape shifter whispered, "I'm okay, Logan… I'll be fine… somebody else looks like they need a shoulder more than I do…"

"Right pal," he nodded, glancing at Jubilee who was standing all-alone.

"I was the last X man," Jubilee whispered. She felt Logan's arm around her, as tears blurred her vision. A choking arose in her throat, and she shivered with fear of the unknown.

"Bull," Logan growled in the negatory. Whatever brought that on was not what any needed to hear. Survival was uppermost in his mind, and the protection of his young charge was part of that instinct.

Light and sound erupted, molecules that were torn apart being reintegrated into the form of a tall avian-featured woman. Clad in shining armor, Empress Lilandra, Majestrix Shi'ar stood among them. Eyes wandered to her as she strode forwards, only her eyes soft in the steel persona that ruled an entire galaxy. A few taps of the device on her wrist sparked something in her hand that was pressed to Xavaier's lifeless head.

"Ah my Poor Charles," Lilandra's voice spoke in the room.

"You are far too late to save him, Lilandra," Magneto said bitterly.

"You are wrong. Hank McCoy was correct when he assumed the techniques of the Shi'ar is far beyond your understanding. They will be of use…" she said, tapping her wristcom. Nobody expected what happened next, Xavier's eyes opening as breath heaved in and out.

The hushed gasp of hope raised their collective heartbeats, but was dashed by what she next said. Jubilee's misery only enabled her to hear part of it, the part that had something to do with the Professor having to leave them possibly forever. In her mind echoed that last best moment like a blessing:

"Perhaps not in body, but in spirit, I may return…. As it was always meant to be… with you, my X men…"


They rushed out, quickly to see the spacecraft over the mansion, eclipsing the sun with its massive shape. Engines made hardly a sound as the Shi'ar cruiser turned ever so slowly. Then it rose, leaving them to gaze upwards at its shimmering underside, and they knew it had dropped its cloak shield to reassure them of Lilandra's presence. Not by design the X men and Magneto stood in a line, watching to see the shimmering wrap the ship again. Engines glowed blue, accompanied by a roar like thunder and a whistle far greater than one of Storm's winds.

Between Wolverine and Hank she stood, hands formed into fists. Logan had tugged off his hood, removing his mask for the others to see that he too was only human. Even Magneto stood alongside Jean and Scott, hand in hand. Gambit and Rogue, arms around one another stood with Morph. All together, and together in that moment of hopeless fear of the future. Only that echoing voice remained the dream that was being left with them.

Skies split open with the shimmering space rip. Quickly the ship lengthened as it jumped to light speed, and shrunk to a small dot that was sucked into the shimmering hole. Then, as suddenly as it had appeared it was gone. Only a breeze wafted against her face and the countenances of all the X men assembled. Nobody spoke a word aloud for at least five long minutes.

One by one, the line broke, and the X men all exchanged confused glances. "What do we do now?" asked Morph.

"Excellent question," said Beast.

"You should know the answer to that, above all, Cyclops," Magneto's voice resonated.

"So… are you going to stand with us, or against us?" asked Scott Summers.

"The time is not right for me to make such a decision. But Magneto is not your enemy this day, or any other…"

"Stay with us… we need you," Jean Grey implored, as he turned his back to them, clutching his helmet.

"I cannot fill his shoes, Jean Grey," he said sadly. "There was only one Charles Xavier…"

"But our goals for survival mesh," said Storm as she took a step forwards. "Your experience could…"

"I am sorry, X men, but you are the continuation of his dream. While Xavier was my one and only friend, I still do not agree with his foolish vision. Though noble, I fear I have no stomach at this time to deign to take up his legacy. Magneto has his own vision… and he must carry it out alone…"

"Are you kidding?" Jubilee blurted out, and then stopped.

"So, Magneto, does this mean yer gonna go on with your plan n' attack the world with all those mutants?" asked Wolverine gruffly.

"The moment was forever interrupted. The reason for their gathering has passed, for Xavier still lives. Out of respect I shall not carry out that attack this day. But rest assured I still do not think that humanity will accept a peaceful coexistence of mutants and humans. You shall see me again, in a time and place of my choosing… when we have all licked our wounds…"

"But as enemies, or as friends?" asked Scott Summers. "After all that…"

"Time will tell," Magneto said quietly. "But today I am not your enemy. Nor tomorrow. Yet I will make no promises…"

Magneto donned his helmet, then spanned wide his arms. Crackling energy formed a sphere around his body, which slowly levitated above the ground. It rose quickly thereafter, till Magneto hovered briefly over the scattered X men and looked down upon them. Everyone tensed his or her hearts on another wave of fear at what would next happen. Jean hissed to them to remain still, and then Magneto rose into the sky with greater velocity. He was only a mere dot on the horizon in the setting sun.

"Well, so much for that," muttered Gambit. "He make his own way… leave us behind."

"At least he's not gonna attack us," said Logan quietly.

"What next indeed," Beast said, stroking his chin.

"I can't believe you guys… we aren't just gonna give up are we?" Jubilee asked.

"Of course not, sugah," Rogue said quickly.

"No, of course not," said Scott Summers, straightening up to his full height.

"You're in charge now, leader man," Wolverine said gruffly, still standing next to Jubilee. "Guess this means you're gonna pick up the mantle…"

"Wolverine, can you be any more BLUNT?" Scott sighed.

"He's got a point, you gotta admit," Morph piped in. "Show must go on!"

"Spoken like a TV junkie," Rogue commented.

"Hey, lay off of him, he's only being pragmatic," Jubilee argued.

"Kid, yer right… I'm only statin' the obvious. We can't just cry in our beer just cause the Professor's gone…"

"Logan, you're out of line," Scott said bitterly.

"Scott please, we're all upset…"

"Don't you think he knows that, Jean?" asked Rogue. "He's lost more than we could imagine…"

"And we haven't? Is THAT what yer tryin' ta say?" Logan asked gruffly. "Nobody knows more than me what it's like ta lose a few, but we can't stop fighting…"

"Logan, now is the time for reflection and recollection, not survival of the fittest… we need time to grieve," Hank said.

"Hey we all upset… mon ami… now's not da time ta argue…" Gambit cut in.

"No, he's right," said Storm. "We must go on. And you are in charge. We must not let tragedy divert us from possible menaces… but we must be sensitive to the fact that Xavier is no longer physically with us, and we must now more than ever not fail to continue his mission…"

"All right Storm," said Logan. "You're right. Sorry to be a jerk here… just tryin' ta remind ya Cyke that we can't let our guard down even though we're lickin' our wounds…"

"Understood, Wolverine… Logan…" said Scott.

"We'll need to stand together more than ever," Jean said firmly, but gently. "So can you two shake hands and agree to disagree?"

"Sure, Jeannie," Logan said, extending his hands. "Truce, pal?"

"Truce," Scott said, clasping Logan's hand and shaking it. "I need you… all of you… so if there are any concerns or questions, we need to get them into the open, but in a respectful manner…"

"Agreed," Beast nodded. "Might I suggest that Jean, myself and Scott open ourselves up to any questions or concerns whilst we retire to the War room, and formulate a temporary operating strategy…"

"I think I speak for all of us… ah hope, when ah say we'll just go with what Scott decides, an take some quiet time fer now," Rogue drawled softly.

"Oui, cherie," Gambit nodded. "Da X men need da quiet time. So let's take it, an' keep in contact…"

"Don't wander far from the mansion. Jean will kept everyone in psychic rapport with Cerebro… that is if you want to, dear…" Cyclops said.

"I'll be happy to," Jean said as she walked over to the others. "And right now we could all do with a hot meal…"

"And a beer," Logan mumbled.

"Some things NEVER change," Morph laughed.

"Ya with me, bub?" he asked. Morph nodded and turned towards the mansion.

"Only if Gambit comes with, mon ami," Gambit said. "And brings da wine…"

"Ah I have a most excellent cabernet sauvignon I had relegated to an unspecified occasion, gentlemen…' Beast said as he took Gambit's shoulder. "Would that suffice…"

"Sounds jake ta me, Hank," said Logan.

"WE should celebrate that he is alive," Storm agreed. "Rouge?"

"Ahm ahl for it… let's go y'all…"

"What are ya standing over there for alone, kid?" Logan asked as Jubilee folded her hands behind her back, and shifted her weight from one foot to the other. "C'mon…"

A blue gloved hand extended to Jubilee. Logan's eyes were full of concern, and she took a deep breath. Closing the distance she slid her hand into his, feeling his fingers squeeze protectively around her small ones.


He tugged her alongside of him and urged her to walk after the other X men filing into the Mansion's central dining area. Once inside inside Logan sniffed, and narrowed his eyes. "I don't believe it…"

"What?" asked Jubilee.

"We got company," he muttered, pulling on his mask again.

"Ah'll be…" Rogue whispered.

"Bobby!" Jubilee squealed in surprise. She broke away from Logan and rushed over to give him a hug.

"Hey there, Jubester," he smiled, hugging her and setting her down.

"Drake, good to see you," said Scott. "Glad you decided to stop by…"

"Sorry I'm late, Slim, but…"

"All that matters is that you're here," said Jean, hugging him.

"He ain't alone…"

"Warren?" Rogue shook her head, seeing Angel standing there, hand in hand with the purple haired ninja.

"Like who is SHE?" asked Jubilee, glancing at Bobby.

"Heya, Betts," said Logan as he went over and they embraced.

"Good to see you again, Wolverine."

"What are they doing here?" asked Gambit warily.

"We were invited to come back, but we're late…" Warren apologized.

"To join the X men?" asked Storm quietly.

"If you'll have us," said Warren. "I know there are some hard feelings…"

"And some of us aren't used to working in teams," Betsy said. "But my brother Brian suggested that here was the best place for someone with my skills. You could use another telepath…"

"We could," said Scott Summers. "And two of you have gone through X men training…"

"No way, Warren was an X man, right?" asked Jubilee. "Like when and WHERE…"

"Take it easy… we'll catch up on old times over food," said Bobby as he ruffled her hair, and she shrieked in indignation.

"Hey you can't do that to me, you dummy, I'm not the same…"

"He gets the message," Logan mumbled as he rolled his eyes. "She ain't no kid anymore. I'm the only one who can get away with calling her that…"

"And live to talk about it," Jubilee said as she walked over and hugged him briefly.