Chapter 12


At about half past ten, Jubilee felt his chesttense under her cheek. They had been sitting together on her sofa, watching AMC with a particularly interesting John Wayne film they both liked. One of the classic WWII sort that Wolverine had all but seen a half hundred times, and Jubilee at least as many over the few years they'd known one another. Glancing at her watch she noted the time, and pulled back with a questioning look. He nudged her off his lap, and then combed his fingers through his slicked back hair, standing up and cracking his neck. She saw that tense-concentrating look that told her he sensed someone approaching without seeing them.

"It's Irish," he mumbled. "He's comin' up here t' check on ya…"

"Wolvie…" Jubilee asked, chewing on a thumbnail.

"He can't say boo about me bein' up here. Lemmie handle this…" he said, clasping her hand between both of his large ones. "Just sit down an' watch TV and play along…"

"I'm not even gonna ask," she shrugged as he gave her hand a squeeze.

"Trust me," he winked. Jubilee nodded and wandered over to sit on the bed, picking up one of her textbooks to comb through it while Wolverine waited at the door.

"Jubilee?" came Banshee's voice. "Are ye up here lass?"

"Who want's t' know, Irish?" Wolverine asked.

"Ah, Logan… can't say I'm surprised yer still around here… sorry t' interrupt yer quality time with her, but Frost needs t' have a word with ye."

Jubilee tensed, but he gave her a reassuring wink. "I got some words t' say to you two as well. Might as well talk to her. Does she know everything that's been going on here? Cause there's plenty that I don't like."

"Let's go talk in the office," said Sean Cassidy. "If you'll wait here, Jubilee…"

"I'm still on probation, right?" she asked, getting up when Wolverine opened the door. Standing in his uniform, Sean Cassidy regarded her with a smile.

"Ye doin' all right? You look a fair bit better than before…"

"I'm okay… Wolvie here brought me back…" she said. "But what do you need to talk to Wolvie about… Why does Frosty…"

"We'll let ye know when we talk to ye as well. But dinna worry. Jest focus on gearin' up for school…"

"Relax Jubes. I'll talk to Frost Irish. An' while I'm there, I'll tell her that I'm havin' some concerns about this here school. An after I see her, I need t' talk to ya about it, Irish… so if ya don't mind we'll need some one on one time as well…"

"Agreed. But first, Miss Frost. Let's go…" he nodded. Wolverine kissed the top of Jubilee's head, squeezing her hand. She closed the door behind him as he followed Banshee down the hall.

"So, why's she wantin' to see me?" asked Wolverine.

Sean said, "She's been rather concerned about the implications of what all this means. It doesna escape ye what's at stake…"

"Nope, which is why I'm goin' along with this," he said. "Instead a' tellin' her t' buzz off…"


Keeping his hands thrust in his jeans pockets, Wolverine walked alongside his former teammate in silence. While tempted to discuss his own concerns he wasn't about to risk any of the other students eavesdropping on his private business. Words spoken outside in the hall could be overhead by anyone or any telepath. Judging from his instincts he could tell that Jono wasn't far away with his psy probes, not to mention Emma herself.

"Nice joint. She really keeps the old money flowing doesn't she?" Logan asked.

"Well, former hellfire associations have their benefits," Sean shrugged. "But this comes from Frost Enterprises…"

"Yeah, her own private company's still cranking huh?" Wolverine said. "Makin' pharmaceuticals used in treating depression's a good enough pursuit now she's gone good. But still ya wonder…"

"I don't ask questions, I just do my job. An' have a bit of fun in the process," Sean winked. "She knows I have an eye on her an' so far in our years o' operation she knows that I know what she knows…"

"An' so forth an so on… yeah," Wolverine nodded, walking through the mahogany paneled door that Sean opened. Inside the plush carpet yielded under his boots, and he strode over to stand in front of her massive desk. She scribbled with a gold plated pen, then glanced up over her glasses at both of them. Sean stood just inside the door, then exited when she lifted her head to acknowledge them.

"Mr. Logan, sit down," Emma Frost said as she glanced at him.

"What's your concern, Miss?" he asked, taking a seat in front of her. "Annoyed ya can't get rid of me?"

"Mr. Cassidy tells me you have certain reservations about Jubilation continuing as a student here," said Emma Frost, steepling her fingers. "Which is strange considering you brought her back here yourself…"

"Let's just say I'm observing' how things are goin' here… an' I'm far from satisfied. Did ya know what was goin' on under yer nose?"

"Let's just say that I've become painfully aware of it. I'm not an idiot, or a tyrant, Mr. Logan," she said calmly, peering at him with those penetrating eyes. "My students will be disciplined, make no mistake."

"Glad to hear it. But I'm just wonderin' what in hell caused 'em to do it in the first place," Wolverine asked, shifting to sit on the edge of his seat. He rested his chin on his upright elbow, resting on his knee. Unspokenly he challenged the ramrod straight posture that Emma exhibited from behind her desk to make herself taller. If she thought she could intimidate him, she had another thing coming. Yet he enjoyed the contest of nonverbal language, especially the frosty look in those bright blue eyes. One predator acknowleged another when their gazes momentarily locked.

"You of all people shouldn't ask such a stupid question, Mr. Logan," Emma said mildly. "Considering your own mistakes…"

"Touché, sister. But I might ask about your dubious pursuits myself," Logan answered, with a smirk. "Considerin' I'm not the only one who's reformed in this room."

"Then you'll understand that Jubilation could not be safer here…"

"It ain't a question of that. She's got a lot of issues that I'm thinking could best be worked out if she went back to the X men," said Wolverine. "Considerin' she's 18 now, an' old enough to join…"

"If I'm not mistaken you were one of the ones who were in agreement with her being here," said Frost. "She has much potential. Which I have only begun to explore…"

"I know about yer trainin' with her psy powers," Wolverine said. "An' no disrespect, but Chuck, Jeannie, an' Betts are just as capable. What I'm worried about is that she ain't happy… did ya realize she tried to kill herself not so long ago?"

"I was aware of that, yes…"

"Why wasn't I told?" Wolverine asked.

"You weren't available," said Emma Frost. "I had informed Xavier, but he suggested it would be best to keep that in strictest confidence."

"Still…"

"With all due respect, you have not been present for a significant portion of her time here. Although you've made your frequent visits to 'check up' on her, I'm rather curious to know why you're so insistent that she is 'unhappy'…"

"As Jubilee would say, 'Get a clue'," Wolverine said, straightening up. "Kid's locked herself in her room. She runs off an' acts out, just short a getting' raped… an' you wonder WHY she's unhappy?"

"True," Frost said. "But the fact remains that there may be an ulterior motive to your insistence on staying…"

"Which is…"

"Don't play stupid, Wolverine. I know you have feelings for the child. Don't try to deny it…"

"I care about her, MISS Frost," Wolverine said firmly. "An' last time I checked, she was an adult. Make no mistake, I got NO intentions of convincing' her to do anything she don't want. Unlike her so called friends…"

"So you don't deny you two are lovers?" asked Frost. "If I may be so blunt."

"Ain't yer business, is it?" asked Wolverine sharply. "And even if it WAS yer business, nothing's happenin' that don't happen between two consentin' adults. You of all people shouldn't throw stones in yer own glass house, lady."

"I see," Frost nodded. "You ARE romantically involved…"

"What if I am?" he asked with a level gaze, keeping his temper under wraps. "Let me tell you something, Miss Frost. That girl is goin' to college, whether it's here or east frickin' Kalamazoo. An' I'm gonna make damn sure she's not gonna get pawed or raped or worse in the process. How's that for assurance."

"How droll. But we CAN provide the equivalent of…"

"So can Professor X. But we can't be there every step of the way. I can. An' as you've probably guessed, she's had a slice of major hell lately. I only want her to be happy. An' that ain't a crime… you askin' me to ask yer permission or something?"

"You are… involved then," said Frost, glaring at him. "Let me tell YOU something. And I will be VERY blunt. She has great potential, which I will not see squandered on becoming a backwoods brawler's paramour in the wilds of Alberta while you go cage fighting or blowing up some mercenary side job…"

Logan chuckled, and saw her indignation mount. "So, you presume t' know about me, don't ya? Tell me a little more about this little picture you've painted about me since ya think ya got me pegged…"

"This is no laughing matter, Mr. Logan. The fact remains that you invite no amount of trouble. You would hold her back from developing her powers… her chance at… making a difference…"

"How would I do that, exactly?" Wolverine asked. The corners of his lips slightly turned up in a small smile. Emma Frost's cheeks had changed from pale porcelain to a rose pink. She was not used to being the one losing control. Normally she could penetrate any psychic defense with ease, but Wolverine was one of those obnoxiously hard minds to read.

"By dragging her away, for starters," Emma finally said.

"I only intend t' take her as far as West Chester. So's she can rejoin the X men. Since when is THAT a crime?" asked Wolverine.

"Your relationship might compromise your team," she tried again. Game set and match, he figured.

"Scott an' Jean are doin' fine. So's Warren an' Betts," said Wolverine. "You an' Banshee ain't been so innocent either…"

"What about your continued infatuation with Jean Grey-Summers?" Emma asked, with a slight smirk that was noticable to few except one such as Wolverine. Only he could determine that the strange odor exuded now was her smugness in trying to catch him off guard.

Wolverine leaned back and crossed his legs in his chair. Casually he shifted his weight, and answered, "Everyone has a dream woman. A fantasy. You of all people should know that, Miss Frost. But there's fantasy an' reality, an' this isn't any of yer business. Fact remains that girl's one of the most important things in my life right now. An' I've almost lost her too many damn times. Be damned if I'm gonna waste the chance to make things right now."

To this, Emma Frost blinked. He could guess that he'd burst her bubble, and it gave him a small sense of triumph despite the seriousness of the situation. She cleared her throat and asked, "What are you… plans if you ARE having a relationship?"

"Lettin' Jubes go to college. Keepin' her safe so she can do whatever the hell she wants to with her life. What else?" he asked. "An' makin' sure that she's safe an' happy. She's had enough grief right now, forcin' her to grow up way before her time…"

"So you're playing the roll of Prince Charming?" Emma Frost needled, giving him a smirk all of her own that reeked of disdain. Wolverine smiled tightly with the irony of his words thrown back at him from only a few days before. What was that he'd said to Jubilee about 'not expecting to sweep her off on his scoot an' fix her life?'Yet Wolverine knew that was far from the truth. This was real life, not the fufillment of some schoolgirl's deepest fantasy. Rather the realization of a dream that had taken years to blossom into something far greater than either had ever imagined possible.

"No such thing. Just the man she happens t' love," Wolverine said, feeling odd that he had voiced to a stranger what he hadn't the courage to tell to Jubilee's face. "But if she wants to stay, that's her say so. But don't expect me to buzz off cause you don't care for my mug. Make no mistake, she will stay in school."

"I certainly HOPE so, for BOTH your sakes. Because if she DOES end up here, crying her eyes out because you've dumped her in some backwoods bar, you'll have someone braiding your hair and dressing you up with the rest of their dollies for a tea party."

"Keep yer fantasies to yerself if ya don't mind, Ma'am," Wolverine said with a smirk. "Got WAY more of a mental image than I wanted too right now."

"Right…" Emma Frost coughed, her nostrils flaring in annoyance at his comment. She quickly recovered her composure, and rustled papers at him.

"You an' I both care lots about her, that's clear. An' that's a good thing. But ya are crossin' the line when it comes to Jubes' private business… considerin' she's legal…" Wolverine leaned forwards and said in a low quiet voice. "Normally I don't take kindly t' nosy people, but since yer a lady… I make a big exception."

"Normally I am fiercely protective of my students, Mr. Logan. And would stop at nothing to ensure their safety. But for YOU I make an exception…" she countered, blue eyes boring holes into his soul. "Just so we are on the same page."

"Yeah. I hurt Jubes or mess up her life, an' you kick my butt, right?" he nodded.

"To put it plainly, yes," Frost nodded.

"Am I dismissed?" Wolverine asked quietly.

"Yes, you may go. Do remember that there is a strict policy about no sexual activity in the girl's dormitory during school hours. Do use protection if you are going to engage in any…"

"I might not know how old I am, Miss Frost, but I already had the flamin' talk," he said as he got up and left her office, thrusting his hands into his jeans pockets. He laughed, shaking his head at the whole situation.


After his conference, Wolverine wandered back upstairs to carried the dirty dishes from breakfast piled on the wooden tray. They rattled with each step, for this time he wanted them to know he was coming. Everett he judged was nearby polishing the vast wooden floor, while Jono was busying himself in the garden pulling weeds. Monet's scent indicated she had been assigned to dish duty. A smell of polish told him that Angelo was shining the multiple brass fittings and candlesticks throughout the main building. Paige's scent was mixed with chlorine bleach, suggesting she was the lucky person stuck with cleaning bathrooms and kitchen floors.

Wolverine reached for a small tin of Excalibur cigars in his jeans pocket. They were smaller than his usual choice, but sometimes it was far easier to stash the whole small tin then to bother with possibly crushing the full sized ones. Not to mention he'd smoked the last one in Jubilee's room. This was his reserve supply. He unfolded the wax paper and tucked thesmall cigarin his lips while replacign the canin the pocket of his jeans, and produced his silver Zippo lighter. He stepped out onto the back porch through the sliding door, seeing Angelo sitting there already. Smoke curled from his lit Camel cigarette, while he watched Jono cutting the grass with a power motor. Rather Jono was directing it as he walked directly behind it.

"Cute trick," Wolverine grunted, sitting down next to Angelo.

"He's showin' off," Angelo responded with the same grunt.

"Afternoon…" Wolverine said, flicking his zippo and lighting his Excalibur.

"Jubicita okay?" Angelo asked, inhaling another drag of his cigarette.

"She's fine," Wolverine answered.

"You don't gotta worry, Senior Logan," said Angelo. "Jubicita's in good hands. Despite what happened…"

"Still doesn't make up for the fact she was underage," answered Wolverine out of the corner of his mouth. Both men sat side by side, staring straight ahead into the large expanse of grounds behind the Acadamy complex. Only the rustling of the wind in the trees broke the silence.

"Yeah, I know. That's why you're stickin' around huh? Makin' sure we behave around your girl, natch'," said Angelo.

"Uh huh," said Wolverine, glancing straight ahead. He tugged a baseball cap more snugly to shade his eyes from the bright noonday sun overhead that filtered through the trees.

"Ev doesn't like you, Senior," Angelo commented.

"Tell me why should I care about that, exactly?" Wolverine asked.

"He's sweet on your girl," said Angelo.

"An' what exactly are ya tryin' to tell me?" Wolverine said pointedly.

"I know you two are together. It's gotta be the only explanation. Why else are you still here?"

"Not that it's any of yer bleedin' business, but what's it to ya?" he asked.

"Jubilee's my friend, that's why it's my business, SENIOR," Angelo grunted.

"All right, I'll play along with your theory, bub. Hypothetically speakin' mind ya. Why should I care?"

"Don't it bother you that he's interested in Jubilee, considerin' that she's goin' through emotional heck cause he looked the other way an' picked now of all times t' make a move on her?" said Angelo. "Even if she wasn't your girl, and I ain't sayin' she is… as someone who gives a damn about her."

"Yes, actually," said Wolverine. "An' speakin' from the standpoint that this is all hypothetical, regardless of what ya think may or may not be goin' on with Jubes an' me, he's all wrong for her."

"Least you have some sense, Senior. No offense…" Angelo snorted.

"Ya tryin' to say something, Angelo?" asked Wolverine in Spanish.

"Just that we aren't all juvenile delinquents like you think," Angelo said, exhaling a long puff of smoke.

"You said it,Angelo, not me," Wolverine said curtly. "What, you psychic or something? Aren't ya jumping to conclusions without knowin' the whole story, pal?"

"I can tell what you're thinking though, if Jubicita was my girl, or even my gal pal that I thought of like a little sister," mumbled Angelo. "I'd be pretty ticked. I know you are."

"Why did ya let it happen then, if yer so all fired guilty now?" asked Wolverine.

"Dunno. Chalk it up to stupidity, I guess. But no way we realized that there were drugs involved. We don't do that crap."

"Better not," Wolverine grunted. "Cause that's why yer still breathing, kid."

"Yeah," he nodded. "That's what I figured. But just thought you should know about Ev havin' plans on Jubicita. An' even if you are or aren't seein' her, I just wanna know that she's bein' treated okay."

"Since yer puttin' yerself out onna limb, kid, I'll throw ya a bone. But this tidbit doesn't go beyond the porch got it, or else yer gonna be in a world a' hurt… obviously ya care about Jubes…"

"Yeah. Absolutely, man," said Angelo, nodding. "She's like my sister… an' I know you're interested in her. An' that's why I'm even botherin' to speak to ya man t' man about Ev. But you'd better not make her cry."

"We're on the same page, kid," Wolverine grunted. "Make no mistakes there."

"Then ya gotta watch out for Everett. He's loco about Jubes, hombre… just a warnin'…"

"Let me worry about Everett," said Wolverine sternly.

Angelo shook his head and laughed, "No, let me. He's asking for someone t' pound him."

"How serious IS Everett about my Jubes anyway?" asked Wolverine, frowning a bit more than usual for his face's stern resting state.

"He says he kissed her or she kissed him… but Jono an' me told him to lay off," Angelo shrugged. A similar expression wrote itself on his face as well.

"Smart move," said Wolverine, letting smoke curl off his tongue as he tipped ash into the silver tray sitting between them. "Jono, he's the psychic, right? Chamber?"

"Yep. He an' Paige are goin' steady…"

"Does he know that she's doin' drugs?" asked Wolverine.

"Say what?" Angelo demanded, blinking.

"Don't play dumb, kid. It's pretty damn obvious to me…" said Wolverine. "If ya know anything about me that Jubes said, you know the nose don't lie."

"Crap," mumbled Angelo, squeezing his eyes shut. "Guess you know everythin', or think ya know, huh? I told her to knock that stuff off…"

"I smelled it on her this morning, when she passed by me on the way downstairs," Wolverine said. "Ecstasy. She reeked of it. An' somethin' else…"

"Madre de Dios… guess this looks pretty bad… but we didn't know…" Angelo exhaled deeply.

"Yeah. But ya still had no business taking them to a bar with fake Ids," Wolverine said.

"Sorry, Senior Logan," he mumbled. "Let ya down, huh?"

"Bigtime," Wolverine said. "What planet are you kids from anyway, huh?"

"Yell at Monet an' Ev. I got an earful already," Angelo mumbled, having the good grace to look extremely ashamed for the situation. Wolverine hated beating a dead horse, but he wanted his message to reverberate loud and clear. The more teammates realizing their mistakes the better.

"You got a good head on your shoulders, pal, but ya gotta stop with this crap," Wolverine said. "An' that's one of the reasons I'm still here…"

"Yeah, but if ya don't mind me askin', what the hell kept you?" Angelo asked. Wolverine blinked. He had to admit Angelo had him there.

"Good question. Maybe the same answer to why ya let yer friends tag along an' get wasted," Wolverine mumbled. "We all make stupid mistakes. Just gotta learn from 'em and take responsibility. You at least have a shot cause ya know you blew it, an' yer sorry. Which is more than I can say for her girly friends. Paige has more sense than that. So's she must be on somethin'. As for that Monet chick, she's just clueless."

"Her an' Ev belong together," Angelo mumbled.

"What was that?" Wolverine asked.

"Nothing," Angelo denied, stubbing out his cigarette.

"He sweet on her an he's puttin' the moves on my Jubes?" Wolverine asked.

"You said it, not me. So he's the one you should be yellin' at…" said Angelo. "Bigtime."

"You bet that's the case," said Wolverine. "S'cuse me…"

"Later," said Angelo, watching Wolverine get up and stub his cigar out in the ashtray.

"For the record, you're okay," said Wolverine before he left. "You got a good thing going here. Don't let 'em drag ya down next time…"

"Uh huh," Angelo nodded, lighting another cigarette. "You're okay too, ol' man. You just take care of Jubicita, hear?"

"Don't haveta worry about that, hombre," Wolverine called from inside.


Slowly he wandered through the house, grumbling to himself in a dozen different languages. Choice oaths in each tongue he knew were rolling off his tongue in a growling snarl. His hackles were already up about these so-called classmates, but Angelo's little bomb had just about touched off his already short fuse. Since when did he go back to kindergarten, he wondered? Jubilee seemed way beyond all the angst that had clustered so thick in the atmosphere that he could slice it with even the bone claws hidden in his arms.

It was taking every ounce of self-control not to unsheathe them. Yet he held back, knowing that his habits changed over the last few years called for backing off. Without adamantium he was considerably less invulnerable. Nevertheless he still possessed a great arsenal of fighting skills that he had rediscovered in his global trek.

Finally Wolverine reached the girls' floor upstairs, and knocked on Jubilee's door. She opened it quietly and glanced at him. "Well, what's going on out there? They all bitching about me?"

"Nah. Just little miss PMS… an' yer buddy Angelo playin' big brother from hell. He's a good guy. That Jono guy isn't so bad either. But the others…" Wolverine mumbled.

"Did you talk to Frosty?" she asked.

"Yep. She's kinda surprised I'm stickin' around. Made it all too clear that she doesn't approve of my disapproval, but she understands my concerns. Luckily she's on the same page regardin' what to do. So's Irish…"

"Does she know… about you and me?" Jubilee asked nervously.

"She suspected it for, and she does now," he said.

"Oh crap… I'm DEAD meat!" Jubilee groaned, dropping on the sofa.

"Ain't her business," Wolverine said curtly. "Despite what she might think. What's she gonna do, throw me out?"

"Nope, but she can be the bitch queen of the north," said Jubilee with a snicker, burying her head in her hands. "She could try…"

"Well, not without Irish callin' her out on it. Relax darlin', cause we're gonna work this out, together…" he reassured her, settling next to her on the sofa.

"I don't blame you for wanting to leave me behind…" Jubilee sighed, laying her head against his chest.

He stroked her soft bits of hair tenderly, while she heard his voice rumbling through his chest, "Yeah, but it ain't gonna happen. Gotta figure out what we're gonna do, an' what the next step is. An' now that she askin', she's gonna see it for what it is. Just gotta get her warmed up to the idea… that's all. An' if we play our cards right, she won't say boo."

"That's a change from mister 'I gotta work this out… ' and 'Make me proud'…" Jubilee blurted out.

"Ain't it," he commented, plunking down the beer he'd carried up with him on the coffee table. He cracked it open with the bottle opener on his ever-present keychain, and put up his feet on her coffee table.

"Still, I'm worried," she said, pacing around and hugging herself. "Guess I'm wondering if I'm twisting your arm staying…"

"You know by now I go where I wanna go," he said. "Now just sit down… yer makin' me nervous…"

"She does know… doesn't she?" Jubilee asked, rounding on him.

"My ears are still burnin' from our little talk in the principle's office," said Wolverine.

"OH crap, I'm dead…" she groaned.

"Hold on, darlin'… let me finish," he said, holding up a hand. "She made it abundantly clear that she doesn't' want me getting in the way of your 'developing your potential'… but she knows the score…"

"Which is…"

"Basically that my interest in you is more than just a passin' one…" he said seriously, patting the sofa next to him. "Darlin' would ya sit down already?"

"Fine… all right, you win," she sighed, settling down next to him again.

"As I was sayin'… I'll point out that we have a mutual understanding that if anything goes wrong, we're going to hold the other responsible. Basically she's playing the role of surrogate mother…"

"That's a relief… you mean she seriously?" Jubilee asked, resting her hand on top of the one he placed on her knee

"Ya gotta go to college for starters. An' no slackin' off just cause yer…"

"This is totally…" she got out, pacing around.


Meanwhile, the White Queen briefed Banshee on her concerns regarding the Jubilee situation. Shifting the majority of her weight to her right boot, she pivoted on the stiletto heel and swung around to orbit her desk. "Don't you care what's to become of them? Or are you playing devils advocate?" Frost asked.

Sean watched her, poking his pipe back to the corner of his mouth. "Good question, Emma m'lass."

"I'm not your lass, Cassidy, though you otherwise might fantasize so, which brings me to the point that you hardly said two words in support of my warnings," Emma snorted.

"After five years don' ye know me well enough by now?" he hiked his eyebrow. "Ye said a fair amount without me putting my oar in. Regardless of what side I take, ye always do have a way of makin' yer word be law here… for better or worse. Tis my job t' run the school whilst ya give the orders an' teach. An' act as yair devil's advocate as ye said. But tis plain t' me that whatever ye say, they'll do what they will."

"Spare me your usual trite philosophy, Sean. You know well that I respect your judgement even if we don't always agree. It's infuriating when you just stand there saying nothing… when you know that you're just as concerned for Jubilation's future as I am!" she observed.

"Logan knows me well enough t' guess what I'd say on the matter. He's grown much since yer initial impression of a psycho-killing machine. Considering as he first saw ye on the other side of the bars…"

"Yet again you bore me with that point, it's getting monotonous, Sean," Emma shook her head. "Again you state the obvious to try and get an emotional rise from me, like you are attempting in smoking when you KNOW it's against…"

"Merely provin' me point, Emma," he said quietly. "That we aren't the paragon of moral judgement we set out."

"And that has WHAT to do with this?"

"What precisely bothers ye about Jubilation having a relationship with Wolverine? The age difference, or the fact she might want to postpone her studies?"

"Both, actually. You know that I've put a considerable amount of time and money in her, in all my students as you have. To fail them as I did the Hellions is inexcusable. Be that as it may, Jubilee shows great potential under our guidance. To squander that on some schoolgirl romance is ridiculous…" she said.

"Schoolgirl romance?" Sean chuckled. "I doubt Logan would take kindly to tha…"

"Logan's feelings notwithstanding, I am talking about Jubilation's future. Do you want to see her end up a backwoods apron wearing, bare foot and pregnant slave while he rushes out on his foolhardy adventures and expects her to keep the home fires burning?" Frost asked.

"Wolverine is part of the 21st century, despite what ye may think. He plans on doin' the right thing an' marry her I'm sure."

"That's no better. Marriage is a convention of a male dominated society. Convincing many a woman into so called socialite bliss where she loses all ambitions to true greatness subjugating her needs to the male."

"Ye give her too little credit, Emma. Jubilee isn't the sort of lass to let herself be dominated by anyone. Nor would Wolverine let her achieve anything less than what she's capable of. If anything he'll drive her to achieve her dreams…" Sean said.

"Let's get back to the real world, Sean," Emma laughed harshly. "Jubilee would be better off taking him as a lover and focusing on her studies. I don't want her to use this relationship as an excuse to pass up a chance at bettering herself!"

"As yer student, or as yer daughter?" asked Sean.

"I knew you'd say that," Emma snorted. "I'm not a sentimental fool like you are, Sean. I speak out of concern as her mentor, who has invested time in a difficult diamond in the rough. Why let her throw away such potential as an alpha class when she is on the verge of…"

"Did ye think to consider things differently? Say that Wolverine wasn't part of the situation. That she decides to transfer out of the Academy college equivalency to a conventional college or university. Or one out of state entirely? Would yer opinion on her leavin' be different?"

"Yes and no. I am hesitant to let any student just leave without due consideration of the risks. We live in a world that is rife with mutant prejudice. She could select a school that has support for mutant students…"

"Really Emma, ye can't fool me. Ye just can't let go of her because ye've grown fond of her. She reminds ye of yerself as a lass… an' yer lookin' at her t' carry on yer legacy," Sean chuckled. He let another cloud of smoke waft over his wavy reddish hair.

"Sentimental hogwash," Emma denied. "But with a grain of truth. I would by lying if I said that I hadn't laid plans for her, but can you honestly stand there and say you approve of this… this relationship?"

"What can we realistically do, Emma?" Sean asked. "Lock her in her room? Kick Wolverine out? Whatever fences ye put up in their way, they'll just fight against them all the more…"

"I could persuade her that to just suddenly leave would have financial consequences… as well as other…"

"What's the worst that could happen? Be honest… say she runs away with Wolverine in mid semester. Then she returns crying her eyes out because he's left her. Leaving us to pick up the pieces. Would that be so bad?"

"If she has the good sense to return no, but it is time wasted."

"Well he might persuade her to rejoin the X men," Sean shrugged. "What's the harm in THAT?"

"That would be the lesser of two evils. But I would still insist strongly that she receive a college education…"

"Then let's ask them what their plans are. Talk to them both," Sean Cassidy said. "An' get this settled now."

"Make no mistake, both of you," said Emma Frost quietly, glancing from Wolverine to Jubilee in her office the next day.