Here's the next two chapters! Please R&R:)
10
Jubilee watched as AJ walked out of Professor Xavier's office. "So you stickin' around this time?" The younger mutant asked.
AJ smiled. "Not sure yet."
"Well… if y'don't, make sure you take that fire creep with you."
AJ knit her brow "What?"
Jubilee shook her head. "The guy's hit on me at least four times since he's been here… an' I'm like… seven years younger then him."
AJ smiled. "He likes to think he's a ladies man… I don't discourage it."
Jubilee laughed as the two of them walked side by side. "So why are you even with him? He's one of Magneto's goons."
AJ ran her tongue along her lower lip. "Yeah."
"Don't tell me you've gone over to the dark side."
"What can I say, Lord Vader is very convincing."
Jubilee laughed again. "Well, at least you've accepted assistance from Obi Wan."
"What does that make you… an Ewok? Chewbacca?"
The two girls laughed together, rounding a corner. AJ pulled Jubilee to one side as they neared another corner, just as Scott turned the corner, narrowly missing the black haired girl.
"Close call Cyclops." Jubilee said with a laugh. "Thanks AJ."
"AJ." Scott stopped, looking at the red head through his ruby tinted shades "I heard you were back."
"Yeah, sorry."
He pressed his lips together in a thin smile. "Well… welcome home."
"You don't sound convincing." She whispered with a smirk.
He squared his jaw before clearing his throat. "I mean it."
"Okay." She held her hands up in surrender, stepping by him. "Just… watch your wallet while I'm around…"
He watched the two girls walk away, giving his head a shake.
AJ and Jubilee joined the others in the rec. room, taking a seat on the couch with Nightcrawler.
"Velcome home." He grinned at AJ "Vhere have you been?"
AJ's smile grew stale when she heard the question. "You don't… wanna know."
"I swear doll… y'keep runnin' off on me like that an' I might get lost in a big place like this…" Pyro flopped down on the couch next to her, draping his legs over hers. "That's alright… I had that hairy doctor check my gunshot out."
"How is it?"
"It's there alright! Now when I tell chicks I've been shot… I won't be lyin'!"
AJ laughed, her eyes moving over to Jubilee.
"Now listen Pyro. I don't wanna hear that you've been hittin' on my friends here." Her eyes moved back to his. "Watch it."
"Alright… one of two things." He grinned. "Either… the little one 'ere can't take a little playful flirtation… or you're jealous."
AJ shook her head. "Maybe it's both." She winked "Point is, watch it."
Rogue looked at him from her seat adjacent to the couch and shook her head. "Yeah. If she doesn't take care of you… ah will. An' you won't be laughin'."
"Listen t'her…" Gambit raised his eyebrows "She ain' foolin' round."
Pyro chuckled. "I think I can handle one little girl."
AJ grabbed his wrist, twisting it around, spinning his arm behind his back; causing him to fall to his knees and shout for mercy.
Kitty laughed. "Aw… let him go AJ."
AJ released him with a smile. She could hear a baby's cry in the distance, looking at the others to make sure they could hear it too. She was always paranoid that she was having one of her episodes.
He rubbed his arm and stood, taking the spot next to her on the couch with a frown. "I guess not all a'you X-men are out t'get me…"
"Yeah… Kitty always has a soft spot for the underdog." AJ said, rubbing his arm that she'd just twisted.
The sound of the crying baby got closer. Rogue shook her head.
"Ah feel bad for Jean… she can't get that baby t'stop cryin'."
"Colicky." Kitty added. "Poor girl."
AJ shook her head. She'd almost completely forgotten that Jean was pregnant and hadn't even thought of the idea that she'd already had the baby.
"It's a girl then?" AJ smiled. "What's her name?"
"Rachel." Gambit smiled. "Wait… y'hear dat?"
"No." Pyro shook his head.
Gambit put a finger to his lips with a grin "Silence. D'petite bebe ain' cryin'."
Jean walked into the rec. room, her hands above her head in a triumphant stance. "Hallelujah!"
Her eyes looked tired and bloodshot as she grinned at AJ. "Hi!"
"Hey Jeanie! Y'know… you are one hot mamma."
"Oh man. You're making me blush." Jean tossed a hand in the air. "Please continue…"
AJ laughed. "You look radiant."
"That's just because I've finally been getting some sleep. Rachel has actually stopped crying for someone." Jean ran a hand through her hair.
Wolverine stopped beside her quietly, holding the small three month old in his arms, sucking on her soother silently.
Kitty giggled with a pout "Aww… isn't that cute?"
Jean put her head on Logan's shoulder, looking at the baby in his arms. "Yeah, it's cute when it's silent."
He smiled. "Ah, she ain't that bad. Y'just have t'know how t'handle her."
"Y'do have a way wit' d'younger ladies…" Gambit grinned at him. He got a handful of severe looks causing him to clamp his mouth shut.
Jean walked next to Logan as he moved over to the mutants on the couch.
"She's like a little porcelain doll." Pyro admired looking at AJ. "She's beautiful eh?"
AJ uttered a nervous laugh. "I… guess… yeah."
Logan looked at her with a smirk. "You wanna hold her."
"No! No… thanks." AJ shook her head. "She's cute. I… I'm no good with kids."
Pyro draped his arm around her shoulders "My kinda gal."
Jean let out a small laugh. "Once you spend enough time one, they grow on ya."
"I guess so…" AJ raised an eyebrow as she looked at Logan. "I have to admit, I'm shocked. Didn't peg you as a baby kinda guy. You never cease to amaze me Tiger."
He chuckled "Well… you're the first girl here to not swoon over this thing."
"Look how little her hands are…" Kitty sighed. "Oh Jean… how do you not just stare at her all day?"
"When she's this quiet, I'm usually sleeping." Jean grinned. "Which is where I'm headed right now."
She took the sleeping baby from Logan's arms, heading for her room.