Chapter5 Homecoming


"Wolvie," Jubilee groaned, her arms flailing up from the bed's surface.

"I'm here, kiddo," he murmured, scrambling to his feet and rushing over to the bed.

"Where… am I?" she groaned, thrashing around.

"Easy, easy… you're safe," Logan rumbled, lying alongside her. "You know who I am, right?"

"Wolvie… what the hell… just happened…" Jubilee whimpered. "Last thing I know I was out with my friends and then I had this awful dream that I was dancing with some creep, and then you were yelling at me and I was fighting you…"

"It's over now, Jubes… you're at the X mansion, an' yer safe… someone put some kinda drug into your drink…"

"Oh god… no wonder…"

"I figure it was that ecstasy stuff… but don't ya remember anything?"

"No… it's all so… fuzzy… I can't remember…" Jubilee groaned. "Did someone… oh god…"

"He didn't touch you. I wouldn't let him," Wolverine growled. "I smelled the damn drink. It was that GABA garbola…"

"Ohhhh no… you can't be serious… where are Paige an' Jono… an' Everett…"

"Got no clue, Jubes. But right now I wanna know why you went there with them…"

"What's it to you?" Jubilee mumbled. "They're MY friends."

"Guess I deserved that," Logan snarled lightly. "But you listen to me. What kinda friends leave you to get flamin' trashed an' possibly RAPED, tell me that?"

"What kind of a friend leaves me to get shipped off to some boarding school an' doesn't even let me know if he's ever coming back?" Jubilee countered.

"We're back to THAT again… is THAT what this is about, kid?"

"You left me, remember. So I was just trying to get on with my life, Wolvie. Not MY fault my friends don't meet your high-class standards. You can't sit there an' tell me that you and your buddies don't' get drunk…"

"My buddies an' I don't drink underage an' try and freakin' rape kids like you. My FRIENDS don't leave me while they're wasted in harms way, or even PUT me there…" Wolverine yelled back.

"Don't you DARE preach to me! What right have you got to judge ME, Wolverine? You dumped me onto Frosty, so why are you even giving me grief? Thank you for saving my ass, but if you don't mind I don't wanna hear this now…"

"You're gonna listen, like it or not, Jubilee… cause this is serious stuff…" Wolverine shouted, moving close on the bed and getting right in her face. "I thought you were safe an' sound in Massachusetts. I wasn't the one who stopped writing, an' acted like I didn't CARE anymore…"

"You didn't want to worry about me anymore. You never once said WHEN you were coming back," Jubilee yelled.

"I sent you letters, I called you, I visited you, kid… don't that count for SOMETHING?" he demanded. "I made damn sure you were taken care of…"

"Oh you took CARE of me all right, Wolvie, didn't you? Plunked me in that goddamn private school, which I happened to like, with friends who understand me… who give a damn about what I think… and you have the nerve to lecture to ME? I don't' owe you anything, you jerk. As if a bunch of lousy letters and a visit are gonna make up for the fact you abandoned me!"

"Aww cripes Jubilee, you know we've rehashed the same damn subject… I couldn't be what you needed! You think that I had a CHOICE? I couldn't be the best anymore…"

"Goddamn it! It isn't about being the best! I don't freaking CARE!" Jubilee screamed. "I don't care if you have adamantium or gold, or freakin' kryptonite in your bones, or if you have claws or if you are an X man or whatever! I thought I could count on your to always be there for me!"

"I couldn't be there in the way you needed… not with somethin' to prove… I was broken, Jubes. What kind of a man could I be to protect you when I couldn't even protect myself…"

"Someone who was accepting my help… who was willing to stand by me and let his friends help him. Not run away because you're scared cause you lost your adamantium. That didn't make you special or any more a victim then I am now. There was no excuse for it, Wolverine… and I don't buy it!"

"I don't have to justify my actions to you, kid…"

"Then I don't either… dude," Jubilee shot back. "So why don't' you just take me back to Massachusetts and leave me the hell alone. You've made it clear that you think I'm a big disappointment, and an inconvenience so just go ahead and get my out of your way as soon as possible, and let me get back to MY life…"

"You're tryin' to punish me for goin' away, is that it?"

"It isn't always about YOU wolverine," Jubilee yelled. "You're so goddamn selfish… you think You're the only one who had problems after Magneto? You think you're allowed to come an' go like you please cause you're some angst psychopath who has no roots? We're your FRIENDS, and you BAILED on us. Friends don't DO that…"

"Friends accept me for who I am," Wolverine said with a snarl. "Good an' bad…"

"Whatever, Wolvie, whatever," Jubilee snorted, as she threw off the covers. "I'm getting' outta here, an' going back… I have nothing more to say to you… bub…"

"Jubilee, don't you dare up an' leave… you're not well enough…"

"Whatever, Wolverine, don't even waste your breath," Jubilee said flatly as she threw the covers at him. "There's nothing we can say or do that will fix this…"

"Who's runnin' away now, kid?" he asked.

"Don't you DARE turn this back on me!" she yelled, wheeling on him. "How DARE you! Goddamn it… you make me CRAZY! What do you expect? I can't see where I can fit into your life anymore, cause you sure as hell can't find a place…"

"I can't be what you want me to be, Jubilee," he said firmly.

"And what the hell is THAT?"

"It's clear to me what you're thinking… you expect that I'm your knight in shinin' armor who's gonna sweep ya off yer feet an' ride ya away on my scoot… I can't fix your life Jubes. You gotta be willin' to live it yerself… an' it's better off without tryin' to make me fill some fantasy…"

"What fantasy? Is it a FANTASY to want to be around you… because I care about you?" Jubilee asked. "Because I miss you, and I could've been there for you…"

"It wasn't healthy, an' it wasn't right…" he started.

"Not healthy to depend on your friends to help you THROUGH your problem? Hello? You pushed us away. You made it clear you didn't need OUR help. You just ran off on some stupid ass quest like some knight or something after the Holy Grail… and dumped your sidekick on some white Queen… I guess you think that makes you holier than thou…"

"What else could I have done?" he roared! "What do you WANT from me, Jubilee!"

"You could have stayed with the X men. We cared about You, not your goddamn adamantium whatever! The only person you needed to prove anything to was your own stupid ego. Your stupid macho shithead trip! That same trip that makes you think you have to run to the other side of the frickin' world to Japan or Madripoor to get your answers when you could at least TRY to get 'em here with your FRIENDS and family who give a care about you! That's what!" Jubilee hollered.

Logan exhaled, dropping to sit on the sofa opposite the bed. Jubilee stood before him, her arms folded. Although her knees knocked, her blue sapphire eyes gleamed brightly and hotly like twin flames. He had never seen her so furious, nor make so much sense in his life. Dammit she was right, and he hated her for it and himself too. She had finally said something that made sense, that wasn't centered on some schoolgirl fantasy crush. Jubilee's knees shook, and she dropped to the floor with a thud. Wolverine snapped out of his shock to reach out his hands and catch her as she fell.

"Ohh Jubes," he sighed. She shivered, curled up in a fetal position. There were no words to express the wave of anger that had flooded out of her that moment. All the pent up rage was spent in those few sentences, summing up what she had carried inside since the day he left.

All he could do was lay down on the floor next to her, and wrap his body around hers. Clutch her tightly to him and let his own tears leak down his rugged cheeks. She shivered, letting herself cry another slew of tears while Logan clutched onto her like a drowning man. Although she said nothing, her soft sobs were ripping his heart to pieces. Carefully he eased her up off the floor, and lifted her lightly so he could lay her on the bed. Lying beside her, he slid his arms around her shaking cold body, and kissed her forehead. Rubbing her twitching back muscles and making soft soothing noises while she continued to cry.

"Jubes, I'm so sorry… damn…" he apologized. "I… crap… there ain't nothin' I can do to fix this… make it better… is there, darlin?"

"Don't leave me again," she whispered. Squeezing his eyes shut he crushed her to his body. Great sobs wracked his frame as well, and it was Jubilee who was holding him, and letting his chin rest in her shoulder.

"Shh…" he soothed her.

"Wolvie… I feel sick," Jubilee groaned. He smelled the inevitability and grabbed her quickly, dragging her towards the bathroom as she heaved.


Jubilee thought she was puking her guts out on the commode. He reached across, sponging her forehead as she worshipped the porcelain god, and soothed her. Awareness crashed with the squirming monster slithering out of her guts. She sobbed and cried in shame, knowing what had transpired.

"Jubes, you're gonna be okay, I'm here," he soothed.

"I'm so sorry," she sobbed. "Oho god Wolvie…"

"It's okay… you weren't yerself," he whispered.

"I'm sorry… all those nasty things I said," she murmured.

"I kinda was asking for it," he murmured, leaning over her. Desperately she hugged him, and the tears came again. For a while he rocked her in his arms, sitting on the edge of the bathtub and burying his nose in her hair.

"I missed you… I really did. I shouldn't have stopped writing you…" she said softly. "But I had to say them… it just was tearing me up… before I never had the chance to again…"

"Better ya said them now, instead of never… Look… It's okay Jubes you were right about a lot of it… an' obviously we gotta lot of talking we need to do… but not right this minute okay? Right now we gotta get you feeling better, okay?"

"I was so angry… for so long…"

"Shhh, we'll hash it out later, okay? I'm just glad I found ya before something awful happened…" he whispered, stroking her hair out of her face.

"It was Jono and Page… and like a dummy I went along with them…" she whispered, the story pouring out of her. "We all came down for a weekend cause it is spring Break… Frosty knows… but we never in a million years thought we'd run into you… Monet has an apartment we were sharing and…"

"Jubes… ya don't haveta tell me, I already know…" he whispered.

"They really were just trying to help me…"

"Yeah, in their own way they were. But we're not talking about them; we're talking about you. An' right now you're my number one priority, Jubes. Here an' now, ya got me all to yourself, an' we're gonna find a way to work this out…" He leaned down and hugged her tightly again.

"Hold me tight and don't let go," she murmured as he straightened up.

"Aww Jubes…" he sighed. "You need to get some rest… an' I'm gonna get you something to eat… okay?"

"Am I in big trouble? I can imagine…"

"Well you didn't know you were gonna drink did you?"

"I shouldn't have… but I…"

"Jubes… I'm gonna haveta talk to Chuck an' Scott an' 'Roro about this whole situation. We're gonna have to figure out just what to do. Whatever you're goin' through right now, you need a lot more than' just ol' Frosty's help. But RIGHT now, I'm gonna put ya back to bed, an' you're gonna get some rest and sleep it off. Then when ya wake up I'm gonna try an' get you something to eat… an' while you're snoozing I'll talk to Roro an' Chuck an' update 'em… I'll get Hank to look at ya…"

"Okay…" she murmured. He carefully cradled her, and took her back to the bedroom. She turned her head to the side, and let him tuck the covers around her. Before long she was asleep.


"Jubes… Jubes!" Wolverine shouted. She groaned, letting him shake her shoulders gently and blinked up at him. Her body was flushed with sweat; absorbed by the flannel shirt she wore buttoned over her body.

It had been another damned dream. They had not made forbidden love, only her mind had concocted the elaborate hoax that almost convinced her he had taken her in a dream, and her being a willing recipient. Jubilee blinked and hugged herself, while Logan backed away. His nostrils flared, and she turned away in shame.

"Don't say anything Wolvie… please don't," she begged.

"I was just gonna let you know that Beast was gonna come up here an' check your system for any leftover drugs, Jubes," Logan said quietly. "Nothing else…"

"What did Chuck say?" Jubilee asked, pulling the sheets around her to hide herself, for she felt ashamed.

"He said you should spend the rest of your break here, with us," said Logan, sitting on the sofa opposite the bed. He sensed the embarrassment, and wisely kept his physical distance.

"Oh… but what about Miss Frost…"

"He said we'd all talk about it after Beast gave you a check up, and you got on your feet again…"

"And he doesn't have a problem with me crashing here?"

"No. Providing I move ya to your old room… or else I'll take your old bed an' you can stay here," said Logan quietly.

"I'll take my old room. It's better that way," Jubilee said softly. "Then people won't get stupid ideas… and neither will I…"

"Sounds good to me," Wolverine agreed. "By the way, Beast is here…"

"Let him come in…" Jubilee said. Wolverine stepped aside, and Hank McCoy stood there with his examining bag. While few doctors used a leather bag like this, he kept it for effect, and as a prop, like his horn rimmed glasses.

"Salutations, Jubilation… I am extremely pleased to behold your presence gracing our honorable abode once more…"

"Hey yourself, Big Blue," she held out her arms. Hank squeezed her, and she hugged him tightly. For a long moment he rocked her, and shushed her while she buried her face in his soft blue fur.

"Now… what's this about staying with us during spring break?" he asked, slipping out of his usual 1 dollar word vocabulary.

"Wolvie's idea," she said, glancing at Logan who had sat down in the chair that still sat at her bed. "Right?"

"Are you certain this is prudent?"

"Absolutely. Can't a kid come home an' spend time with her family?" Logan said.

"He's right. I didn't spend much time here during Christmas… and I miss everyone so much."

Beast blinked, and then beamed a toothy grin that lit Jubilee up inside with a happy glow. When Logan saw that smile, he let his own lips twitch into a rare one of his own. IT seemed far too long since he saw Jubilee actually crack a smile.

"I'll wait in the hall," said Logan, coughing. Jubilee turned to Hank, who already had unpacked his stethoscope, a digital ear thermometer, and a blood pressure cuff.

"Perhaps you should elucidate me as to the nature of your visit, and the circumstances under which you came so surreptitiously…"

"Logan found me at a bar with friends, drunk. I wasn't supposed to be there, and I feel horribly guilty…"

"As you should," said Beast firmly. "You had no business being there. Yet I shall refrain from the impulse to chide you in these matters. Logan I hypothesize has already chastised you sufficiently… if I am so correct…"

"Yeah, he did. He gave me nine shades of holy hell," she chuckled. "But that's not all. Some dude slipped me ecstasy… an' Wolvie tells me that he smelled GABA in my drink…"

"My stars and garters," Hank shook his head. "Of all the disreputable… shenanigans that hooligan dared foist upon you! I am sorely motivated to eviscerate his personage!"

Jubilee chuckled. "Stand in line. Wolvie gave him a bloody nose, and the police arrested him… at least that's what he says…"

"You're a fortunate young lady to be the subject of such a timely rescue…"

"I know, right? Jeez Hank, where the HELL did I get so messed up?" Jubilee mumbled. "I mean one moment I'm so ticked off at Wolvie I don't ever care if I see him again, and then I'm here thanking God that he was there at that bar of all places… why WAS he there…"

"Ah… he was present at the most recent attempt of Rouge to partner him with a potential paramour… her concern for his emotional satiation and physical…"

"Blind date, huh?" Jubilee nodded. "Figures… good Ol Rogue…"

"So it was not by grand design, mere coincidence that the two of you occupied the same entertainment facility simultaneously…"

"Was he there with the rest of the gang?"

"Affirmative, your assumption is correct, Jubilation," said Hank, squeezing the bulb on the blood pressure cuff. Jubilee gritted her teeth as it bit into her arm, then giggled at the cold metal end of his stethoscope thrust under. Hank watched the digital watch on his wrist, counting to himself. Why he used a digital thermometer and refused to employ a digital sphygmomanometer was beyond her, but she didn't question it.

"Wolvie said you needed to do a blood test to see if I'm clean or not…"

"This will hurt a bit," Hank nodded, grabbing a handful of test tubes with bright rainbow rubber caps. He tore the paper off a syringe and needle, while Jubilee held out her arm with her elbow's inside curve flatted. His claws palpated for a vein, and inserted the needle with great delicacy while she gritted her teeth. The tip cut into her skin lightly, tapping her dark crimson blood that he hastily filled several tubes with, in rapid succession.

"All done?" she asked.

"Indeed," Hank nodded. "You've been most cooperative. I might add that self-recrimination is counterproductive at this juncture. In retrospective I am convinced that you will exercise far more caution when considering your venues of social interaction…"

"I will, and thanks for not giving me the whole parent from hell. I'm letting Wolverine have that honor… and the Professor…"

"It would take a great deal more than a momentary lapse in judgement to negate my concern and affection for your welfare. I shall always be counted among your friends, and as such, I will still expect the standard of good judgement that we have come to expect of you. And that you are here proves your intent to change before slipping down the slide to further distress," Beast nodded. He leaned over and pressed a kiss to her lips, giving her a last hug. She withdrew and smiled lightly as he waved goodbye.

"Help me outta here, an' make sure there's fresh sheets on my bed… I'm gonna try walking over," Jubilee said.

"You don't haveta go NOW…"

"I think I do, don't you?" she nodded sadly.

"Yeah, I guess you do… it would be best for you an' me… to have privacy. But I'm right across the hall…"

"Yeah, in case I need you…" she agreed, pushing the covers aside. Logan took her hand, the only help she'd accept, and walked her to the door. She steadied herself against his hips while he opened it, and crossed the hallway to her old room. He fished the key out of his pocket, and unlocked it.

"Storm an' Jean changed the sheets… it looks like… an' there's dust covers on stuff…" Wolverine commented.

"They kept it… they really did…" she murmured.

"Yeah, I insisted. In case ya ever wanted to come back an' visit…"

"Thank you," Jubilee said, giving him a very platonic hug, to his relief. He squeezed her tightly and then helped her to sit on the freshly made bed. Sheets were bubblegum pinks, and the comforter was bright neon yellow. She picked up something that looked familiar, and blinked.

"Kitty saw ya liked it so much, I had another one made just for you," Wolverine said, waiting for her reaction. She held up the Bamf and squeezed it tightly, hugging it to herself as she curled up on the bed.

"Thank you, thank you so much," she sobbed. "Wolvie I'm so sorry…"

"I know you are, kid… sorry I know you hate that…"

"I am a kid, that's the truth," she whispered. "I don't mind it THAT much…"

"I'm relieved to hear that…"

"This is so weird, but I feel okay with this," she said softly, as he kissed her forehead and she hugged him. "What's gonna happen now?"

"I dunno, but yer gonna be okay… we're yer family remember?" Wolverine said quietly. "Look, I'm gonna go down an' see if I can talk to some of the others while ya rest a bit.

"All right," she whispered, and lay her head down.


More time passed, and she heard a knocking at the door. Jubilee struggled to consciousness and asked, "Yeah… who is it?"

The door opened, and she was both ashamed and glad to see who was behind it. "Jubilee, you okay girl?" Rogue asked, standing in the doorway, hands folded. Gambit peeked in around her shoulder.

"We heard da Petit stopped by for a visit, impromptu," Gambit smiled, holding a bouquet of white roses mingled in pink.

"Rogue, Gambit…" she choked, holding her arms out. Both of them entered, sitting on either side of her bed. She buried her face in Gambit's shoulder, and then Rogue's chest. They shushed her with soothing noises, simply holding and rocking her.

"Remy heard dat you an' Gen X were in da same club. Why you forget to say hi to Remy?"

"Because, I wasn't supposed to be there," Jubilee said. "And I almost got into a heap of trouble, but Wolverine saved my can…"

"Ohhh so THAT'S why he…"

"Cherie, not now," Gambit hushed.

Rogue drew away, shame covering her face. "Ah… ah thought… I'm so sorry…"

"I know you were fixing him up on a date, so don't stress, okay?" Jubilee pleaded. "I should have come visit YOU guys from the start, instead of holing up in an apartment with my so called buddies and thinking of ways to get drunk…"

"Petit, you should not be drinkin' at your age…"

"I know, and I'm so sorry… I let all of you down…"

"Gambit, shush will ya? Ah came to invite you to come down and join the rest of us for lunch in the main dining room, if you are up to it… but ah'm thinking it ain't a good idea now…"

"Remy would be happy to escort da Petit downstairs, non?"

"Ahl right, see yuh down there… an I'll save yuh a seat…" Rogue promised. She got up and kissed Jubilee's hair lightly before exiting. Jubilee stumbled against Remy, so he carefully picked her up in his arms, and she let him, wrapping her arm around his neck.

"Remy got you, Petit. Let's go see de other X men…"

Jubilee forgot pride and simply let him carry her through the house and into the main dining room. Already she saw Bobby Drake, Warren, Betsy, and other X men sitting down and talking. At sight of her, Bobby cheered, "Hey look who's home!"

"Hi Bobby, how's the ol' Drakester?" she said.

"Doin' fine, Jubester… you sure look like you've seen better days… man…" Bobby trailed off.

"She been havin' a hard semester," Remy explained hastily.

"Is there a young lady here visiting us?" Storm asked.

"Storm… I guess I came to join the party," Jubilee said meekly. Smiles filled the faces that she expected would be judgmental. Yet everyone smiled or at least nodded. Storm pulled out the chair next to Logan, who glanced up at her. He helped Remy to sit her on the chair, and the Cajun pushed it in. Wolverine set her napkin on her lap, and she glanced up at the Professor gliding into the room to sit at the head of the table.

Remy sat next to Jubilee, while Rogue took the seat on his other side. Other X men took their favorite places while Jubilee played with her silverware. Someone's hand squeezed her, and she saw it was Remy giving her an encouraging smile. Professor X clapped his hands for silence. Jean and Scott came in, and sat down to his left and right. Storm took the seat at the foot of the table.

"We have a visitor who's come back to spend her spring break with us… Jubilation, I'm pleased to see you back here… and I hope you enjoy your stay with us…"

"Thanks Professor," she said awkwardly. "I'm um… sorry…"

"We're glad to see you," Xavier said with a smile. She heard the mental touch echoing in her mind, You and I will speak later, child. Right now, just enjoy being with the rest of my X men… and draw strength for what you must later face. We will deal with the issues privately in my office when you're feeling better…

"Okay," she said in her head.

The Professor nodded, and then reached for the plate being passed around. Soup and sandwiches were distributed, amongst talk and greetings. Jubilee let the huge knot come out of her stomach at long last. Logan didn't speak much. He simply passed the food around when she wanted more, or refilled her milk glass. She spoke of general things, avoiding the topic of the previous night while filling Rogue in on Paige and Everett.

"Child… I am most glad to see you…"

"I blew it storm…" Jubilee muttered with downcast eyes.

"I know, but you are HERE. Among friends… among family…" Storm said reassuringly. "That is what is most important…"

"Storm, you were right, and I hated you for it. How LAME could I be?" she shrugged.

"It matters not, child," Storm said, holding out her arms. She got up from her place and went over to where she sat. Leaning down she hugged Jubilee, who returned the embrace while feeling another lump in her throat forming. How many more tears did she have to shed, she wondered? Now she didn't care. She was home.

"I love you all, and I know it sounds cheesy as heck," Jubilee mumbled into Storm's hair.

"We love you too. We'll never stop, you know. You can ALWAYS come to us. No matter what… and I think you know that by now…" said Storm, holding Jubilee out at arm's length.

"They were my friends, they didn't mean to get me into trouble…" she trailed off.

"I will pass no judgement. You're old enough to choose your friends, child. But I will have a chat with them myself on their lack of judgement…"

"Storm…" Wolverine said with a warning glare.

"Oh great…" sighed Jubilee.

"Let her, Petit. Remy will take a number… an' tell these friends of Petit's to be careful for their OWN sake…"

"Frosty's probably putting them through the wringer already," Jubilee chuckled. "And I'm steeling myself for the same…"

"Do you want to go back?" asked Rogue. "Cause maybe…"

"It is not for us to say, Rogue…" Storm interrupted. By now she had switched seats so she could be closer to Jubilee.

"Professor's call," Jubilee said, glancing at the floor. She pushed her steak around on her plate, not eating it while Gambit and Rogue chewed silently.

"Yeah, that's about the size of it," Wolverine mumbled.

"I guess either way, I'll be cool with it. I miss my friends, but if he wants me here…" said Jubilee.

"I spoke to her about it already," Wolverine intervened.

"He's right. She's had enough of the talk from Wolvie… sugah, why didn't ya ever talk to us… we could…" Rogue asked, cutting into a piece of steak.

"I was angry, and stupid…" Jubilee hung her head. "I don't know. There's no good reason…"

"You were just bein' a teenager, that's all," Rogue laughed. "Ah wouldn't expect anything else, sweet pea…"

"Seriously?" asked Jubilee, blinking.

"Yeah, seriously. Ah'm still yer friend, sugah. All yuh need to do is pick up the phone an' I'll be there to talk whenever yuh need…"

"Wish I'd thought of that before I went out…"

"Where's petit's friends?" Remy asked.

"At the police station, or halfway to Massachusetts with Frosty an' Banshee I guess," Jubilee shrugged. "I wish I could call them…"

"Wolvie was on the phone earlier talkin' to someone. I figure it must be the cops, or Miss Frost," Rogue shrugged, draping her arm around Jubilee's shoulders. Remy held her hand and rubbed the back lightly, depositing a kiss there.

"Who were you talking to?" Jubilee turned to Wolverine. "Is she coming here… am I in trouble…"

"She came an' picked your buddies up at the police station this mornin'… but she says she doesn't want ya comin' back till ya feel better…"

"Excuse me," the Professor interrupted. "That matter will be discussed at the appropriate time. Miss Frost informed me that she had no intentions of removing you till you are ready to go. But she will insist that I speak with her after I have spoken with you…"

"Thank you professor," said Jubilee. "Um if you don't mind… could I… um be excused… I mean we could talk about this whole thing tomorrow… when I'm rested…"

"As you wish Jubilee. If you need anything, or wish to speak to me beforehand I'll be available… and do remember that no matter what, you are still part of the X-men… regardless of what institution you attend. As such, you should not hesitate to seek help with the others or me…"

"Yeah… thanks," she said, glancing around. "Um I'll just go upstairs now…"

"Kiddo…" he got out.

"Wolvie," she whispered. "I'm so… god…"

"I know, kiddo, I know…" he nodded. "But you'll see him soon enough…"

"Thanks," she whispered.

"It ain't that hard," he whispered, kissing her cheek. "To let him in…"

"Yeah… really," she said, glancing at him.

"What do you say we go with Rogue an' Gambit, an' bobby, an' get a pool table?"

"I think… I'd rather just lay down right now if you don't mind…"

"Whatever you want, kiddo," Wolverine said with a hint of sadness. Jubilee separated herself from him and trotted up the stairs.