-One week later in Bobby and Sam's room-
It had been a week since the night that Bobby confessed his insecurities and fears to Jubilation. He and Jubilation had done everything they could to avoid certain telepathic individuals and had spent almost every waking hour together. But like all secrets, Bobby's would eventually be told.
Bobby lied in his bed in a deep slumber. His comforter covered him from head to toe, with no body part exposed to the light that penetrated the curtains.
Sam walked over to Bobby's bed, "Hey Bobby you're gonna be late for breakfast man." Sam pulled the comforter back and let out a shocked gasp.
Bobby opened his eyes and looked up at Sam, "What's wrong?"
Sam cocked his head to the side in confusion, "I can see right through you."
Bobby eyes went wide in shock; he jumped out of bed and ran down the hallway passing a stunned Roberto and Ray. He ducked into the bathroom and hit the light. He stared into the mirror and gasped. Bobby had become solid ice over night.
His mouth hung open in shock, "I knew it was spreading but this… this is insane."
-Several minutes later in Xavier's office-
Xavier sat behind his large oak desk and looked at the boy that sat across from him in one of the two armchairs that adorned his office. Bobby hung his head low as if in shame, while Ororo sat next to him occasionally rubbing his back. Logan stood in the corner of the room with his arms crossed.
Xavier peeked an eyebrow at the boy, "Bobby why didn't you come to us?"
Bobby sighed, "I just thought it would go away, or that eventually I could control it."
-Meanwhile in the living room-
The New Mutants had gathered around the living room and were in a heated discussion about their comrade. Jubilation just sat on the couch next to Sam, remaining quiet and listening to her friends 'discuss' the situation at hand.
Amara crossed her arms, "I can't believe he'd keep something like that from us."
Ray rolled his eyes, "It wasn't any of our business."
Roberto nodded in agreement, "Besides I'm sure he woulda told us eventually."
Rahne snorted, "What do yea mean it was none of our business? He's our friend and a member of the team."
Ray shook his head in disbelief, "You two of all people should know what he's going through."
Amara peaked an eyebrow in confusion, "Why us?"
Ray sighed, "Well how would you feel if you were suddenly stuck as living magma? Or Rahne was stuck as a wolf?"
Roberto nodded in agreement, "Yeah, would you want everyone questioning your ethics while you were going through this?"
Jubilation smiled a little, she knew Roberto and Ray weren't particularly close but it made her happy to see them stick up for Bobby like this.
She was pulled from her thoughts as Sam began to speak, "You okay Jubilation? I mean this is some pretty heavy stuff."
She smiled at him, "Yeah I'm just worried about Bobby. I wish I knew what was going on in there." She got up and walked to the kitchen.
-A few minutes later in the kitchen-
The senior X-Men sat around the kitchen table having a discussion of their own. Scott had been blaming himself for Bobby's condition ever since he heard the news.
"Calm down Scott, you didn't know anything like this was going to happen," Jean held his hand attempting to calm her boyfriend.
Scott sighed, "I spent so much time preparing you… him to fight mutant threats, I never even stopped to consider some junkie with a gun."
Kurt looked at his friend and sighed, "Come on ve are only human, ve do tend to make mistakes."
Kitty picked at the food on her plate, "Like, I can't believe he kept this from so many people."
Rogue rolled her eyes, "Ah don't see why you're surprised. We all have secrets and we'd do anything to keep those secrets a secret."
Kitty sighed, "But I thought this was supposed to be, like, a family, and that we'd help each other with our problems."
"He doesn't have to tell us everything," Rogue shook her head, "And besides you know guys, they like to pretend they don't need help with anything."
"You're wrong. He didn't ask for help because he was scarred that something like this would happen to him." The occupants of the room turned their collective gaze to the person who had just entered the room.
Jean looked at the young girl, "But wouldn't it have been better for him to tell us than to just have us find out like this?"
Jubilation's gaze went straight to the ground, "I don't know I guess. He just asked me to keep it a secret for him and I did."
Scott sat with his head buried in his hands and began to speak very calmly, "Why? Why did he want to keep this from us? Did he feel like he couldn't trust us?"
Jubilation struggled to hold back the tears. She turned her back to them and made her way to the door. Before she walked through it she gave one last look at the X-Men, "I'm his best friend. I'm his girlfriend, and I was the only one willing to confront him about it instead of just asking." A solitary tear rolled down her cheek as she turned back to the door and exited the room.
-An hour later in Xavier's office-
Logan and Ororo stood across from Xavier, while Hank stood to his left.
Logan looked down at Xavier, "Kid's got problems Chuck. All of a sudden he's got this 'bad-ass' persona."
Ororo sighed, "It almost seems as if the child has given up on himself."
Hank looked down at his notepad, "I've analyzed and re-analyzed his blood until it froze as well. This may be attributed to the psychological trauma he suffered as well as a spike of power." Hank walked towards the door, "I'll try to examine the samples again to make absolutely sure that I have not missed a thing."
Logan crossed his arms, "So what do you want us to do?"
Xavier looked up at the Canadian, "I suppose we should bring Evan to the mansion and allow him to try and talk with him. Will you be okay with this Ororo?"
Ororo looked down at Xavier, "Of course, it will be good to see my nephew again."
Logan shook his head, "It's a good idea in theory Chuck, but what if they try to have at it?"
Xavier sighed, "We must try something Logan. Maybe they will be able to connect on some level and no blood will be shed."
Ororo nodded in agreement, "I will escort him here this afternoon." She exited the room leaving only Logan and Xavier.
Xavier looked up at Logan, "Logan I did not want to say this in Ororo's presence but from what I can gather the two boys have slight attitude problems. I will need you near them to break up any fight that may occur."
Logan turned his back to Xavier and headed for the door, "No problem Chuck."
-Meanwhile in Bobby and Sam's room-
Bobby lied on his bed, his arm lazily draped around Jubilation who lied next to him entirely enveloped in a comforter.
Jubilation pushed her body against Bobby's chest and snuggled up to him as closely as she could with the comforter still around her body, "I just can't believe everyone questioned your secrecy instead of asking how you're feeling about the change."
Bobby gently kissed the crook of her neck, and smiled as she shivered, "Forget 'em. If they don't care, then I won't either, just as long as you care. Besides if they can't accept me then The Professor has failed as an idealist."
She sighed, "So how are you holding up? Anything I can do or say to help?"
Bobby smiled, "You've done more than enough just by staying by my side. I don't think I could have done this on my own." She slowly drifted off to sleep. He kissed her on the cheek and saddened when she shuddered. He then got up and walked to his window. He peered out of it and frowned, "She might be batter off without me. She deserves someone she can be warm with."
