Chapter 13

Thanks to those of you who've reviewed so far! This chapter's a bit short as I try to think of the next one, so hopefully the next will be worth the wait!


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

Two chairs sat directly in front of the massive desk piled high with papers this time. Wolverine leaned back in his as he had previously, crossing his legs while Jubilee sat on the edge of hers. They kept a distance of three inches between the chairs, angling them to face one another slightly.

"You know about us," said Jubilee quietly. "And I guess you're kinda ticked off…"

"I am surprised, and a bit shocked, to tell the truth," Emma Frost said crisply, looking at both of them sitting before her. "But it seems inevitable."

"I care about him, a lot," Jubilee said quietly, and reached across the gap to clasp Wolverine's hand. His large fingers closed protectively around hers in full view of the Headmistress. A warm glow spread from the bottom of Jubilee's formerly twisted stomach. Over the past few months her entire digestive tract felt like it had been tied into knots by the twists and turns she had encountered.

"It's the same on my end, sweetheart," Wolverine said clearly, glancing at Frost with clear hazel eyes.

"And I'm assuming this is in the 'non platonic' sense?" said Frost. She first stared at Jubilee, then at Wolverine, giving each the full brunt of her disapproval.

Wolverinethen nodded at Jubilee to continue, squeezing her hand. She said, "Let's just say it's REALLY... REALLY... strong 'like'. Like as in a kinda ' going steady and we wanna be together' kind of thing. And I'm not rushing into something stupid. I've cared about Wolvie for a long time… but I was just waiting till I was old enough…"

"I think what she's getting at is that we're havin' a serious relationship, Miss Frost," Wolverine said. "The kind of relationship that will hopefully lead to a more 'permanent' situation. But just what form that takes is our business. An' we're just starting out on this journey together."

"And what makes you think you're 'old enough' to handle a relationship right now, young lady?" asked Frost. "And with this particular person, no offense intended…"

"Jeez louise, I knew you'd ask that," Jubilee said, exhaling in a long puff of air that ruffled her cropped bangs. "Figures."

"Ye must admit, Jubilation, that it's a good question," Sean Cassidy said as he folded his arms across his chest.

"I sense hesitation on your part to answer this, young lady," Frost said. In much the same way Professor X did when he was proving a point, she steepled her long slender fingers together and leveled her full gaze on Jubilee.

"How old is old enough?" Wolverine said quietly. He turned his head slightly to Jubilee to ask for permission. She intimated her consent with a nod.

"Interseting point coming from you," said Sean Cassidy. "Considerin' the circumstances o' yer own situation."

"Answering a question with a question, how very Zen of you, Mr. Logan. I suppose this eastern philosophical rebuttal is supposed to impress me?" Frost said.

"Maybe it is, Miss Frost. Considerin' that two of yer students have been in a relationship for the past two years…" Wolverine then continued. "Depends on yer point of view, doesn't it? That's my point in this whole convo..."

Frost responded calmly, "I am aware of Starsmore and Guthrie's infatuation. Provided they comport themselves in an appropriate manner, it is permitted. But they are close in age."

"Age difference issue occurred t' me too, Miss," said Wolverine quietly. He said this while glancing down at his steel toed Harley boots.

"What changed your mind?" Sean asked.

"Been sayin' it all these years I've known her. She's 18 goin' on 19, make no mistake. But she's got a whole lot of life experience that pushed her towards adulthood than most people twice her age. An' me, I've forgotten more than people younger than me. You could easily say I don't as hell act my age…"

"Considering you don't know how old you are as Mr. Cassidy pointed out just a moment ago, that's rather a loaded statement," Frost said dryly. "But the fact remains that I have my reservations."

"Make no mistake, I think of ye with high regard, Logan, but Miss Frost an' I want to be very sure that this 'relationship' is not going t' cause Miss Lee t' ignore her options..." Sean Cassidy added, putting on the stern face of a paternal figure. It reminded Jubilee of the expression on Scott Summers' face whenever she would visit and bring him news of her latest goings on at the Academy. Interesting thought, Jubilee realized because she had a gut feeling that this same sort of meeting would occur on the X men side, and might be far more difficult to endure.

"Doesn't every parental figure?" asked Jubilee quietly. "I'm not gonna sneak around and hide. Isn't it better that we're here with you now instead of me… well you know…?"

"The fact that you ARE here instead of locked in your room shows that I am considering and trying to comprehend your… relationship," said Frost sternly. "Whatever it is. But you must see that I have come to view each of you as children in a sense… and that Generation X functions as a well oiled machine…"

"Not workin' too well by the looks of that spring break fiasco. That was some fracas," Wolverine mumbled. Jubilee gave his arm a thump and he winced.

"True," said Sean. "But focus on the discussion at hand, would ya, lad?"

Emma winced at his use of the word 'lad' to address Wolverine. She glared at him acidly, to which he smirked slightly. Jubilee felt Wolverine's fingers give hers a supportive squeeze, to which she wrinkled her nose slightly. Both of them fought to keep from bursting out laughing at the next serious of expressions traded between the White Queen and Banshee.


"Be that as it may…" Frost coughed. "I am currently dealing with that issue with all expediency."

"I sure hope ya are, Ma'am," Wolverine said seriously. "I don't abide underaged drinkin' an' carryin' on. That part ya know better than anyone."

"If I may be allowed to continue..." Frost said, coughing for attention.

"Go right ahead, Ma'am," Wolverine said, giving her a polite but forced smile.

"Are you intent on leaving in the middle of a semester?" asked Frost, turning her glare on Jubilee.

"I haven't made up my mind yet," said Jubilee. "I'm still trying to take all this in. Wolvie and I've been talking about all this… and what's best…"

"Thank goodness you are exhibiting some good sense," Frost mumbled. "Are you also aware that your training is at a stage where we are on the verge of a breakthrough?"

"I know allabout how excited you are that I'm approaching 'Alpha Class' but big whoop! Not like I can't learn that later ya know..." Jubilee said. "I know it's important to be pushed to be like all I can be, but I kinda need to back off a bit cause I'm really burning out."

"True. But that might be the casethat by having him here you might become… distracted?"

"Distracted? Well yeah, but who doesn't have distractions goin' through college an' high school?" Jubilee sighed. "Most girls my age have already been WAY more active than you'd like to believe!"

"The rest of the world may hold to a certain standard, but that hardly qualifies as an effective argument here, Jubilation," Emma cut her off. "The fact remains that you have exhibited a lack of respect for responsibility. And now you blatantly enter into another situation that could result in yet another…"

"Gimmie a break…" Jubilee began, but stopped when Wolverine squeezed her hand tightly.

"Jubilation, you will control yourself or be dismissed," Frost warned.

"Excuse me, ma'am, but I gotta say somethin' before this whole conversation runs way off track," Wolverine interrupted.

"Mr. Logan if you don't mind I'm speaking to…"

"Let him talk, for Pete's sake," Sean Cassidy sighed. "He's in the relationship too, isn't he?"

"Very well, Mr. Logan, what do you have to say?" Emma relented, drumming her fingers on the top of the desk.

"Before ya go jumpin' on Jubes here… lemmie just paint ya a picture… from my point of view…" said Wolverine.

"This should be interesting," Frost muttered under her breath, forgetting momentarily that Wolverine could easily hear her words.

"You might just, Miss Frost," Wolverine responded, catching her off guard. "Look, I might not look like the sharpest pencil in the box accordin' to yer Ivy League measurin' stick, but I tend t' think life experience counts fer somethin' here. Ya might not think 'school a' life' amounts to a hill a beans, but just bear with me here."

"Do continue," Frost said. "But get to the point…"

"My point is this. Jubes might have mentioned there's certain bars I tend t' frequent. I make no apologies for some of my choices, but I never dragged Jubes here to any of them. Ask her yerself. But that's beside the point here. Ya probably heard of one of 'em called the Auger Inn, just up the street in West Chester…"

"The rather colorful establishment that caters mainly to the 'biker' subculture?" Emma sighed.

"That'd be the place," said Sean. "Right? Pretty rough as I recall."

"And it also is a favorite hangout to the local college students," Wolverine said.

"The one that you wouldn't take me to even if I begged you on my hands and knees, Wolvie?" Jubilee further clarified. "Because I'm under the legal drinking age."

"That's the one. In my time shootin' nineball there I've gotten t' know the barkeep an' the girls who work for him. Most of 'em ya might think are just settlin' for waitressin' cause they don't know any better. But ya couldn't be more wrong. I've seen that there's mom's working at the Auger Inn who are goin' to school workin' double shifts with kids around," Wolverine answered. "An' they keep their crap together. Then I've seen some of the people who show up on Saturday nights. I'm talkin' about the 21 year olds who are fartin' around in frat houses getting blasted outta there minds in Ivy League schools at the bar when they should be studyin'. You tell me which one's a better or more responsible person."

"How very droll. I get your point, Mr. Logan, but you must see mine…"

Jubilee opened her mouth and waved her hand. Sean's quick glance to Emma resulted in a nod from the Headmistress. She directed her attention to Jubilee, who said quietly, "Miss Frost, I know where all this is going. But I also know that I care about him… um a whole lot… I mean I… well you know…"

"Jubilation, I'm not being unfair," said Emma.

"And I'm not gonna just up and run away from my responsibilities," Jubilee continued, firming her lower lip defiantly.

"For your sake I would hope so. But what are your intentions Mr. Logan? Are you planning to stay here or return to the X-Men? I must remind you that I won't tolerate Jubilation being distracted," said Frost. "I don't advise dropping out midway in the semester…"

"I thought about that," Jubilee said. "Tell her what we talked about, Wolvie."

"If Jubilee's gonna stay an' finish out the year, I'll be pretty close by. Find somethin' for me t' do, an' I'll stay outta yer way," said Wolverine quietly. "Though ya got an issue with someone datin' a student I'd guess…"

"What would you teach, Art?" Frost curled her lip. "Presuming that you have credentials to even teach…"

"Oh pul-eez," Jubilee rolled her eyes.

"Emma, he's shown himself to be an excellent drill instructor. Perhaps we can take him on t' teach phys Ed… an' Jubilee an' I can work separately whilst he works with the others."

"It's hardly appropriate… but I see that either you will drag her off to West Chester despite what I say, or sneak around the campus since you are so determined to continue this," Frost sighed.

"I'd kinda think its best, but that's why were here. Talkin' over the options," Wolverine nodded. "Ya can't get rid of me cause I'm not gonna 'dissappear' when Jubes an' me are in this together. Either I work here an' stay here at the school, or I get my own flop not so far down the road so's I'm not totally out of the picture."

"Very well, you may do what you wish. I suppose you could… assist in teaching. But there is to be NO inappropriate activity during school hours, understand? And you must be discrete about your… arrangements. I don't allow my students to cohabit…"

"Both feet on the floor, right?" asked Logan slowly. "If people mind their own flamin' business I got no issues with it."

"Understood. Now you will be on probation, as she is. If I get any indication that your relationship is endangering the well being of Jubilation, I will ask you to leave," said Frost. "You are both dismissed."

First Wolverine, then Jubilee stood up with their hands still clasped. At almost equal height they nodded their gratitude. "Thanks a lot, Miss Frost. Appreciate yer time..."

"Thank you," Jubilee added, inclining her head to Frost.


"That went well. Am I dreaming?" Jubilee mumbled as Wolverine took her hand and led her out of the office.

"Nope... don't think so," he said, firmly squeezing her small fingers within his large ones.

"She knows… she knows an' she's cool with it..." Jubilee said, shaking her head. Together they walked along the hallway leading to the residential wing. Large windows cast the light of the evening sun onto the carpet in small rectangles and lines across the maroon carpet.

"She pretty much can't stop me," he shrugged. "But the point is that we gotta not push our luck with it. An' the longer we stay with these clowns, the more I'm tempted t' shish kabob yer Gen X buddies."

"Jeez, I dunno what I'm gonna do…" she shivered.

Wolverine stopped right before a nearby window, then pulled her to stand directly in front of him. "Well for starters we could start makin' definite plans about what the next move's gonna be…"

"Man… oh man oh man…" Jubilee laughed, trying to keep from bouncing up and down as she squeezed him tightly around the waist.

"Asked fer her blessin' you could say, an' she's not gonna stop us," he said as he curled his arms around her.

"Do we like stay or go?" she asked. "I don't know what to do I'm like so... this is just unreal!"

"If ya wanna stay, I'm not gonna let ya outta my sight for very long. Except for classes an' stuff... but she's not gonna be too nuts about us sharin' a room I'd bet on campus..." he muttered. "I'd rather be on campus so I know you were all right... an' I could protect ya..."

"You're not gonna quit with the ol' macho stuff are you, huh?" she giggled. "I should be kinda annoyed about it if it wasn't so darn sweet..."

"It's your call. But either way, are ya gonna wanna stay past the end of the semester? I was kinda hoping you'd come back t' West Chester... cause ya don't seem too happy here... an' ol' Chuck might be able t' help ya finish your semester at the Mansion... Main problem I see is convincin' ol' Professor X to let ya back into the X-Men… if that's what you want. But its yer call. I promised her I wouldn't make ya do anything ya didn't want…"

"Or she'll so fry your brain, right?" she giggled in a giddy way as she kissed his cheeks briefly.

"Yep. So we gotta behave ourselves," he chuckled, giving her one of his rare smiles that warmed her just as much as the presence of his body next to hers.

"Oh god this is so… wow like… I don't know what to do next? I mean I wanna stay to keep Frosty off our backs, but I also miss the X-Men. Never though I'd see the day when THAT happened..." she grinned.

"I agree with ya there, sweetheart…" he nodded, pulling her close to him for a leisurely kiss.

Jubilee threaded her fingers through his sideburns while he folded his arms at the small of her back. Unlike the clumsy licks or tonsel hockey sessions her Gen X peers insisted were mature kisses,Wolverine's were genuine lip caresses that felt like silk. Yet still burned with the intensity just shy of sensory overload, with no indication that Logan's mind wandered beyond the immediacy of sensing everything Jubilee. Other than his usual ear open for possible 'attacks' the rest of his attention channeled into just the right pressure of his fingers rubbing her shoulders through her shirt, or letting her have her own equal share in the prolonged kiss.

For a few minutes they embraced, sliding hands up and down one another's backs. Soft sounds of rustling hair and muffled sighs filled the hallway. When he let her go she still caressed his cheek lovingly. "Jeez, this is just… too good to be true. Am I gonna end up cloned or zapped or is Magneto gonna suddenly attack?"

"This is the calm before the storm," he mumbled, keeping his forhead pressed to hers.

"Well I mean if you think about it, it was like really wierd when Jean an' Scott got married FINALLY. They got zapped WAY into the future for their honeymoon... don't think I'd be crazy about that, do you?" Jubilee said while she shook her head. "Or we'd end up beamed to the Shi'ar..."

"Don't get me started..." he groaned. "What I mean is, I smell trouble from yer buddies more so than Irish an' Frost."

"Ohhh you mean my friends thinking I'm going ca-ca cause I'm... with you?" Jubilee shivered. "Yikes... that is..."