A/N: Thanks for all of the great reviews. M and Ev are married in this little world of mine.
Warnings: PG-13, Pre-slash so stay clear if it bothers you. Flames will not be tolerated.
Ruby Slippers: Shades of Gray
Several weeks later
In a neat apartment
The room, once fairly neat and tidy despite the owner's tendency towards chaos, had fallen under the hands of two very determined and energetic toddlers. The children, both boys, had the dark brown skin of their parents looking almost identical save for the bright shock of red hair on one and green on the other.
Jubilee smiled as she watched them scamper around the living room of her apartment, momentarily distracted from Emma's question. At the light touch of a hand on her arm, Jubilee's attention focused back on the older woman. "M and Ev finally took a vacation and I got stuck baby-sitting these two monsters."
Her comment sparked off growling and stomping, the "monsters" obviously unconcerned about their Aunt's teasing. Jubilee held out her arms and was immediately engulfed in wriggling beasts. "This horrible creature is Basil," indicating the red-haired boy in her right arm. "And this is Peter." She held up the other twin who merely giggled. "They, believe it or not, apparently take after M when she was child although this is only what her father claims."
Basil had managed to squirm out of Jubilee's arms and onto the floor to watch some kiddie show that was playing. Peter, true to his namesake, was calmer than his twin and was content to rest on Jubilee's lap as she talked with Emma.
"They are beautiful." Emma commented lightly.
"Please, any child of those two would have to be gorgeous." Jubilee's face was light as she cradled Peter in her arms, occasionally pointing out something on the screen. "So what brings you here?"
"I just wanted to see how you were." Emma paused and was not disappointed when Jubilee raised an eyebrow questioningly. "That is all."
"Well I'm good, considering I have five more days of Barney." Jubilee pointed to the tall stack of purple movies beside her TV. "Who knew the purple I-d-i-o-t made so many movies."
Emma laughed. "Sometimes I think the X-men battle the wrong kind of evil sometimes."
Jubilee chewed her lip thoughtfully before turning to Emma. "Would you like to stay a few days and get to know the monster trio?"
"Trio? There's one more?"
Basil's giggle made Emma look up and he looked at Jubilee for permission. "Fine bring her in." The toddler clapped in excitement and made his way to one of the bedrooms. Jubilee held up a hand forestalling any of Emma's questions as Basil came dragging a ratty looking cat.
Emma fought the urge to cringe as the cat was bodily dropped in her lap. She smiled wanly as Jubilee smirked. "Emma meet Cat, the other member of the lovely Ev and M household."
"How nice."
Jubilee watched as Emma's fingers twitched, trying to figure out a way to remove the animal without actually touching it. Finally the younger woman took pity on her and scooped up the cat and put it on the floor where it collapsed in a heap.
"Yes."
"Yes what?" Jubilee asked, her attention on still trying to make sure that the cat was breathing.
"Yes, I'd like to stay for a few days." Emma's response surprised the both of them and she shrugged, trying to ignore the curious look Jubilee was giving her. "It'll be nice to get to know the children and I would like to spend some time with you."
Doubt flickered only for a second on Jubilee's face before a smile lit it up. "Sounds great."
Emma smiled and settled back onto the couch. The talk she and Jubilee had several weeks ago had proved to be exactly what the two of them had needed to clear the air. They had spent several hours discussing the past, the hurt when Jubilee was kidnapped under Bastion's twisted mind, the murder of Emma's sister, and a great any other things that had haunted the both of them. Slowly, but surely they were mending their relationship, and for the first time in several years Emma felt hope.
-in-
A week later
Juano's restaurant
The restaurant was beautiful, the quiet corner of neighborhood in which it was located suited it beautifully. Even though it was located in a fairly urban area, the place was rarely ever found by chance, its secret spread by those who were regulars. A small opening in a brick wall revealed a lush garden, with huge drooping trees hanging over the scattered tables. A wooden bridge traversed a trickling pond filled with all sorts of iridescent fish swimming lazily around the lilies. Inside the restaurant itself was a charming eatery filled with old world charm and a wine cellar that boasted some of the five star places in the area.
Emma had taken Jubilee to this place in the hopes that she would enjoy it, and the younger woman's gasp of surprise was more than enough to make the hefty price tag worth it. They had chosen to sit outdoors, illuminated by dozens of tiny fairy lights that were strung around the patio.
Jubilee's eyes glowed as she looked at the surroundings, sipping a sparkling liquid. "It's so beautiful. I can't believe I've been here for years and never even heard about it."
"It's one of the better kept secrets of Los Angeles and I wasn't the one who actually found it first. Paige was the one who divulged its secrets."
"Hayseed? Lemme guess, one of her family works here."
"Used to." Emma smiled at Jubilee, her hand gently brushed the younger woman's. "I want to thank you for coming to dinner with me. It's nice to have some one to talk to."
Jubilee found herself agreeing as she studied the former White Queen's face. It seemed as if the tension that emanated from Emma had dissipated with the wind, leaving nothing behind but a carefree woman intent on enjoying her meal.
Pausing while deftly putting some tomato spread on fresh bread, Emma looked at her curiously. "What?"
"I'm just glad that you thought of this." Jubilee replied lightly, accepting the slice of bread.
Emma regarded the woman, her black hair shimmering in the light, looking at peace for the first time in weeks since her room had been burnt. It had taken the police just a few weeks of investigation before coming up with the extremist who had felt the need to erase Jubilee and her ideas from the world. Emma had only found out later that the twins had a special ability of being able to extend their invulnerability to those around them, an added bonus when they were staying with Jubilee.
"Anne is getting married." Jubilee remarked casually, not prepared for the spray of breadcrumbs as Emma started coughing, having choked on her appetizer. Once Emma had regained her breath, she motioned for Jubilee to go on.
"Well, she wants this old fashioned wedding, you know, the whole meringue dress, weeping parents, drunk relatives whining about how cheap the bar was, flowers, cake, garter belts…" Jubilee trailed off at the sight of Emma's face. "What?"
"Who… who is she getting married to?"
"Some Alice chick she met last year at one of the Pride festivals. They've been together for almost ten months. Of course I'm the best man, or best woman, something."
Words started and then died in Emma's mouth as she tried to think of a way of articulating her thoughts. Jubilee watched with interest as expressions danced across the older woman's face, before finally taking pity on her. "Anne and I were just dancing. Alice knows that we would never betray her relationship with Anne."
"Has anyone ever told you that it's rude to read another person's thoughts?" Emma snapped, irritated that Jubilee had read her so easily.
"Several times. I think Scott was the most recent, he wasn't too impressed that I found about his whole butter pecan debacle. Besides you're not really shielding." Jubilee commented.
"Butter pec….yes I am!"
Jubilee shook her head, testing the barriers. "No, I can't find any."
Emma paled. "None?"
"Well a few, but I don't think those are things you are aware of yet." Jubilee drizzled some dressing on her salad, seemingly unaware of Emma's distress.
"Jubilation, this is far from funny."
Jubilee smirked. "Actually it's very funny. Have I ever told you that you need to relax Frost?"
"You and everyone else in the X-men." Emma said under her breath, unable to keep the bitterness out of her voice.
Suddenly aware that she had upset Emma, Jubilee gave her an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, sometimes I forget how stupid the Prof. can be."
"It's fine." Emma tried to smile.
"No, it isn't. But, I do have an idea about how to make it up to you." Jubilee's eyes twinkled. "All you have to do is trust me."
-in-
Two days later
"This is a wrong, wrong, evil idea. I think we should go back to the hotel."
*a rather sadistic chuckle* "Trust me."
"The last time you said that I ended up with red hair."
"It was a good red."
"It was a fire-engine red, with orange streaks."
"Wolvie did warn you."
"And since when am I going to start trusting hi….hey are we moving?"
"I hope you packed some extra clothes Frosty."
"Why are we going up? Why is there an up on this thing?" *pause* "What
do you mean
extra clothes?"
"Well, because we're going to get a little…bit…"
"AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Wet."
The attendant helped a dripping Emma from the wooden log that had just plunged down several feet. Jubilee, on the other hand bounced out with a grin, soaking wet but infinitely amused.
On Emma's head was a slightly battered pair of mouse ears, which Jubilee had bought and insisted that she wear, and was clothed in jeans and a T-shirt, the most casual things Jubilee could find in the older woman's wardrobe (and only after several minutes of determined digging). Jubilee on the other hand had pulled out her old reliables, her jean shorts and a Harley Davidson T-shirt, presumably stolen from Wolverine. Her long black hair was swept up into a ponytail, and she was wearing a charm bracelet around her ankle that dangled various cartoon characters.
The two women walked outside and stood on a wooden bridge overlooking a gentle looking stream, Emma tried repeatedly to wring some of the moisture out of her clothes but had ended up wrinkling the shirt instead of drying it to any noticeable degree.
"Well?" Jubilee nudged Emma.
Emma pursed her lips, honestly trying to think of something negative to say and finding nothing. To be fair, she had started the day off with some serious doubts; Disney World had never been on her list of things to do when wanting to have fun. It had taken a serious amount of cajoling and teasing on Jubilee's part to get Emma out of the hotel. It had taken even more convincing to get on a ride. Now, that she had been scared, soaked and gotten jolted all within minutes of each other, Emma couldn't help the grin that was forming on her face. "It was great!"
Laughing the two women stood on the bridge next to each other, leaning against each other in the hot sunlight, beating down with a familiarity that Jubilee treasured. "Good! See what happens when you have a little fun?"
As soon as the words were out of her mouth a log came barreling down the mountain and before either could move, let alone duck, they were both drenched. Jubilee's laugh shimmered as the air around them seemed to freeze, suspended in time as the mist rose up and create rainbows around their heads. Jubilee turned to look at Emma who was laughing out loud, her light blue eyes dancing in an unguarded moment. Her breath hitched in her throat and for a split second Jubilee almost reached out to kiss her. Almost. And then the reality of a straight, ex-White Queen came crashing down on her.
The rest of the day was filled with rides, fun and at the very end a spectacular fireworks show that could only be rivaled by a certain human firecracker. Jubilee made no mention of the moment on the bridge and acted no differently the rest of the day. As for Emma, if she noticed anything was off she didn't mention it, although Jubilee did find her looking at her curiously from time to time.
-in-
A/N: More to come. Be kind. Feed your writer reviews. :)