Chapter Twenty Three: A New School Year

Jubilee hadn't been out of the house more than twenty minutes when K found Everett in the gym. When she called out a little hello, the tall, dark, and handsome young man smiled when he saw her. "Hey Mrs. Howlett. Can you spot me?" Everett asked when he saw she was headed his way. K had quickly become one of the student's favorite teachers - and for Everett, she always pushed him when he needed it, teased him when the mood struck her, and it probably didn't hurt that like the other ladies at Xaviers, she was easy to look at. She went right over to him, put her hands on the bar with him and counted as he ran through his weight training regimen.

It was a pretty common occurrence in the gym. All of the guys would go down to work out, but K was really the only one out of the ladies that was down for weights regularly. And because of it, the guys that worked out down there all had worked with her at one point or another.

But they were teenagers, after all, and it was just a matter of time before it went from just weight training to boys being boys. So, K waited until Everett tried to show off, overloading the leg press, as he often did. And inevitably, it started to get away from him. K helped him to get it under control, urging him to tap into her abilities, since even a tiny boost of enhanced strength would get him out of the jam - even if it wasn't a large measure of extra strength.

He laughed, like he did every time he found himself in a pinch, and after a few moments, he did exactly that and got out of the leg press. He rolled off of the machine and laid flat for a moment with one arm over his face and smiling to himself. All things said and done, it was still a good workout. When he recovered and sat up K tossed him a bottle of water.

"Got a question for you Everett," K said, not even bothering to go subtle as she sat down cross-legged nearby. She saw no reason at all to try to be evasive with a teenage boy, anyhow. It's not like they were very observant most of the time. Everett, for his part simply nodded, waiting for her to ask whatever was on her mind.

"What's the story with you and M?" K asked as she pulled her hair into a ponytail.

Everett raised his eyebrows and glanced around the gym, certainly not expecting the direction this talk was taking. Especially since none of the teachers ever asked about the student's relationships unless there was something wrong. "I really like her. She doesn't feel the same about me though." he admitted.

K bit the inside of her lip and nodded seriously. "Anyone else on your radar?" she asked, watching him carefully.

He looked down to his hands, smiling. "If you're talking about Jubilee, I really don't know. I think she likes me, but she's a really good friend. I don't want to wreck anything like that."

K considered it, and gestured for him to move to the next machine. "I can understand that. But, if you are interested and you both let it go? You'll regret never having explored it. If you're really friends, it'll last even if dating doesn't."

As he started on the next machine, he looked more serious as he thought it through. "What about M?" he asked.

"Well," K said, shrugging her shoulders up. "If she's not into you, what difference does it make?"

He wrinkled his eyebrows, thinking as he started his pull ups. He had just pulled all the way up around rep ten when he paused at the top and looked her way. "How did things kick off for you and Wolverine?" Everett asked, figuring that if she'd cross the line, he was allowed too. He did not expect her to flat out stop though. She didn't quite blush, but he was sure if it had been anyone else, they would have as she tried to find a way to tell the truth and not tell him anything … that he honestly didn't need to know. K finally shrugged, slipping her hands into the back pockets of her jeans.

"I … I'm afraid I can't tell you about that until you're over the legal age, graduated and vetted," she replied finally. "I can find no way that I can sugar coat it."

He grinned, pausing at the top again with his chin over the bar. "Go Logan." he said, continuing on with his work out with a grin as K shook her head.

"Dirty damn teenage boys," she grumbled, but that really only got a laugh out of him.

"I'll think about it. Maybe you're right. I mean, Jubes has been pretty down lately," he said as he thought it over out loud.

K could see the gears turning. "Just get her out to have some fun. Doesn't have to be a date. She needs to quit acting like a little Summers and get back to being a teenager," K said, which only had Everett laughing.

"Yeah, she's been pretty uptight," he agreed with a grin before he dropped down from the bar and rolled his shoulders. "Alright. I'll drag her out if I have to."

"Good boy. NOW – let's get you back to work," K said with a smile before she redirected him to the next machine.

Jubilee had several bags of clothes at her feet and was enjoying a Coke as she watched the people come and go in the food court at the mall. Storm was with her and the two of them shared a bite to eat and chatted easily.

"I hate it when they can't decide if they want to be human or … perverts," Jubilee said suddenly. "It's gross."

Storm nodded somberly. "It does seem like it's the male condition to gawk," Storm agreed.

Just then, a highly attractive young man approached them, hands behind his back. "Excuse me, miss – but I've kind of been watching you, and you looked a little sad," he said as he pulled a rose from behind his back and held it out to her. "So .. I wanted to tell you, I've seen you smile, and it needs to happen more often."

Jubilee reached for the rose cautiously as the young man grinned at her. She looked to Storm for guidance – but when she simply nodded to her, Jubilee couldn't help but blush a little and smiled shyly. "Thank you," she said, and the young man's grin stretched bigger than before.

"No, thank you – you're beautiful, more beautiful when you smile. Have a nice day," he replied, waving to them as he left. She watched him go, waiting for the punchline or the stupid friends to say something … but all she could see was a few incredulous looks and a barely audible 'Why didn't you get her number, man?'

"That was weird," Jubilee said as she lifted the rose to smell it. It was clear she was still a bit confused.

"No, Jubilee, that was sweet," Storm told her as Jubilee began to smile a bit to herself. "Do you want to go home now, Jubliation?"

"No," she said slowly as she thought it over. "I want to shop. Remy gave me his card in good faith, I should find something that he would approve of."

Storm simply grinned wider at her before they picked up their bags and started off to her favorite store.

Meanwhile, Everett had come upstairs after cleaning up after his workout. He was pleasantly surprised to find Jubilee and Storm just coming back laden with shopping bags. And he didnt' miss his opportunity either. He put his water bottle down and rushed over to help, even going so far as to gather up as many bags as he could reasonably manage to help. "So," he said once the two of them were halfway down the hall to the girl's dorms. "I was hoping to see that new movie … you know … the action one with the aliens? And I was wondering if you wanted to join me, split some popcorn …"

Jubilee didn't know how to react for a moment, and she simply stared at him for a second. What is with boys today? She thought to herself, unconsciously reaching up to pull at a tuft of hair behind her ear. Not that I'm complaining, but just … woah. "Um … that sounds like fun," she agreed, already blushing lightly. "When did you want to go?"

Everett shrugged with a bright smile as he held her gaze. "That's kind of up to you, I think. But there are a few showings tonight if you felt up for it."

She quickly nodded with an 'mmhmm', simply because she was sure if she opened her mouth that she'd scream. He grinned wider and stepped around her. "See you what … around seven in the kitchen then, alright?"

Another 'mmhmm' followed before Jubilee slipped into her room and tried not to celebrate too much. She was thrilled. She spent the rest of the day in nervous anticipation, preparing for the movie, though she was sure to text Storm - who passed the message on to K quickly enough.

K, for her part, had tried to keep Logan from the house when Jubilee was supposed to meet up with Everett. She almost had him out of the kitchen, where he had stubbornly refused to move, when Everett walked in, ready for his date with Jubilee and looking more sharp than usual.

"You headed somewhere, Thomas?" Logan asked as K quickly gave up trying to push him out. Pushing too much or picking on him now could make this backfire on her quickly.

"Yeah, I'm taking Jubilee to the movies," Everett replied with a smile and his hands in his pockets.

Logan nodded, about to brush it off as normal friendly entertainment when Jubilee came bouncing in the room wearing a short blue dress that was several inches over her knees. "Dress is a little short, ain't it?" Logan gruffed, and both teenagers paused for just a moment.

Ignoring the blush on her cheeks, Jubilee straightened herself up. "No it's not, Wolvie. Sorry, but I'm going to be missing pizza with you guys later," she said before she rushed over to give Logan a quick kiss on the cheek before she and Everett headed for the door. Which, only left Logan staring after her as she left.

When the door closed behind them he turned to K with a suspicious expression on his face. "You have something to do with this?" he asked her, with a bit of an edge to his voice.

She shrugged in response, though she was trying to decide if she needed to stay and pick or run and let him chase her. "Just a little. She needs to get back to doing normal kid things," K defended.

Logan looked torn between agreeing with her and being furious that K was encouraging delinquency with a known delinquent. "She's just gonna get hurt. He's after that girl," he told her. The corners on K's mouth tightened as she considered how to handle him on this one. "Maybe. But she's gotta have some fun too. She can't wait for her prince charming to fall out of the sky … It just doesn't work that way, love, and you know it." She gave him a look as she readjusted Abby on her hip.

Logan gave her a dry look and shook his head at her, slightly irritated with the situation as he pushed her toward the door, where he paused long enough to kiss the nape of her neck. He kept his hand on the small of her back, pushing her all the way back to their place. Once they were inside, K set Abbey down to play with her blocks, and Logan was waiting for her to return to him, arms crossed and glaring. So naturally, she raised an eyebrow and mirrored his stance, crossing her arms as she watched him.

"You can't push these kids into relationships, sweetheart," he said out finally.

But K started shaking her head. "No, you're right, but I didn't. They went out tonight as friends. I did not set up a romantic date. I told him she needed a break, and he took her out as friends," she explained.

"Then why was she all dolled up?" he asked, his hands now on his hips as he took a few steps towards her, unconvinced that K wasn't trying to set up his ex-sidekick.

"You'd have to ask Storm. She was with her all day," K replied as she came closer and then rested her hands on his chest as he invaded her space. "But if you want me to tell you what you already know, I'd guess that she has a crush on the boy. Especially since she's said as much. Multiple times. And floated on cloud nine after he danced with her at Valentines … last year. Just a hunch." He glowered at her a moment, inches from her face before he let out a breath and leaned in to give her her a long kiss.

"Just don't want her hurt." he said as K slid her arms around his neck.

"Neither do I. But I also don't want her living under a rock afraid of taking a chance either," she countered, sounding a little sad.

"Something you want to tell me, darlin'?" he asked, pulling her a little tighter, and recognizing an old trigger when he saw one. Her sudden change in tone and slight shift from teasing to a more downturned gaze was like a neon light.

"Ancient history," she promised quietly before she let him pull her into a tighter embrace. The two of them took a moment to simply hold each other as Abbey toddled over to them, then grabbed on their legs, and pulled on their bluejeans.

"Up upppp" she said, leaning her head back as she held onto their pants. Of course, their cozy embrace was broken at that, and K smiled as she pulled away from Logan to reach down to the little one. She picked their daughter up, and the pair of them held her as she wrapped an arm around both her parents necks. K kissed her as she grinned and giggled. But very suddenly Abbey put her hand out and tried to turn her mother's head toward her father, so K was looking at Logan. Then she turned her father's head toward her mother. The couple smiled at each other as Abbey pushed on their heads, directing them to kiss. She giggled and repeated trying to make them kiss as they held her - one arm each holding her up. Abby's tiny eyebrow raised when they turned to her and kissed her instead so the little girl broke down in a fit of giggles and 'nooooo' until the pair of them finally complied and kissed with Abbey quietly clapping her hands.

When Jubilee came in hours later, floating on cloud nine, K raised an eyebrow at Logan in a silent 'toldja so' moment while she gushed about the great time she had at the movies. The little firecracker was finally starting to act like herself, with her smart mouth and sass coming back into the foreground of her personality.

Abbey reached for her, and hugged her when she saw her, which really only got Jubilee smiling at the little one's welcome before she wiggled out of her grip and tried to make her parents kiss again when she saw them holding each other.

It was quickly becoming Abbey's new favorite game. She loved seeing her parents kiss, but it didn't stop there either. She loved seeing Jean and Scott kiss, Kitty and Piotr kiss, Storm and Forge ... She loved the kissing. So much so that she would sit on the floor making her teddy bears kiss.

It wasn't long after Jubilee's date when Charles pointed it out to Logan one afternoon when he was coming in to pick her up after a team exercise. Logan was in his uniform and And squealed delightedly when she saw him, then wobbled toward him away from Jean and Charles as they chatted. Logan picked her up and tossed her in the air as they talked, with Jean staring longingly and Abbey squealing in laughter before she wrapped her arms around his neck as best she could and snuggling in.

"She's quite an amazing girl, Logan. She's been communicating with Jean and I all afternoon," Charles told him.

"Yeah? Whatcha thinkin' punkin?" he said to Abbey, as the little one raised her eyebrow and hugged him again.

Jean was the one to answer though, as Logan knew she would be. "She wants to know why she's the only baby here," Jean said in a tone that made it clear that Jean wanted to know the same thing.

Logan couldn't help but smirk at her almost playfully though. "Oh, well – you better hurry up and fix that Jeannie. K'd probably kill me if she got pregnant right now," Logan said, highly amused as Jean picked up Abbey's teddy bear for her. The little one, squeezed it one handed as she snuggled into her father and fluttered her eyelashes at Jean, who looked ready to melt or cry - one or the other. Charles however couldn't help but chuckle at the little girl.

"She may surprise you, Logan," Charles said, waving to Abbey as the pair left.

But Logan didn't put any thought into Charles' words as he made his way back to his wife. In fact, the notion of a second child was, in his mind, non existent until K brought it up, which he was sure wasn't going to happen any time soon.

It was still August when K came in to see Jean bustling around the kitchen and looking a little frustrated. She hadn't been the woman K had met when she'd come to the mansion for several months, and K honestly wanted to see Jean back to the force of nature she knew she could be.

Abbey was with Ororo, and K cringed as several pots and pans crashed in the kitchen followed by a stream of swearing that simply wasn't normal from the sweet redhead. "Do you need some help?" K asked as she stepped through the doorway to find Jean trying to get things picked up, and blushing furiously.

"I've been dropping things all day," she said in a heated tone. "And I'm just trying … ugh!"

K crouched down and started helping with the clean up, though she couldn't help but watch her a little closer. She looked ready to cry and it was a little more than K could ignore. "Is there something special you're all worked up over?" she asked, watching her with trouble dancing in her eyes.

"Yes," Jean replied as they got the last of the kitchen avalanche put away. K barely restrained the smile. "It's Scott's birthday."

But whatever K was expecting her to say - that was absolutely not it. And it showed on her face plainly. "Oh!" She frowned for an instant before she recovered, thankfully entirely missed by Jean. "I don't think I remember a party last year."

"No, we were fighting some of Magneto's idiotic followers," she said in a tone that bordered on bittter.

"I take it that it's been a while since you've been able to celebrate," K said as she pulled Jean to her feet from where she was still crouched.

"Every single year, we try to plan something - even if it's not on the day - and every year, something happens. It's not horrible all the time, but I'd like to celebrate his birthday for a change!"

She seemed to realize her outburst and her mouth tightened for an instant before she covered her face with one hand and half tucked into herself. But that only had K smirking a little more to herself. "What did you want to do? Maybe I can help," K suggested.

"I was going to go for the candle lit dinner … pretty boring, right?" Jean said, rolling her eyes at herself, but K was already shaking her head no with her eyebrows high. "And I'd like to take him back to Alaska for a few weeks before school starts … but he's so ... "

"Busy," K finished, which got a frustrated laugh from Jean and K reached over to take her hand in both of hers. "He'll slow down a little."

She gave K a glare that was worthy of her married name and let out a dry huff. "You clearly don't know him very well yet."

But K was smirking wider. "I think I know him well enough to be able to say without a doubt that he will slow down a little. Soon."

That had Jean stopping and frowning as she watched K through narrowed eyes. "Why?"

"No reason," K said, shrugging lightly as Jean instinctively reached out into K's mind and then let out a little squeak as she covered her mouth with one hand and moments later the other drifted down to rest at her stomach. "I can think of something you can give him for his birthday…"

Jean looked stuck though, staring at K wide-eyed, but completely unable to argue with what she knew K could scent out. "How long?" she whispered.

"You might want to do the math yourself … maybe talk to Hank …"

"Oh, cut the crap," Jean hissed. "How long? I know you and Logan both have enough … you know!"

"By my best guess?" K said, finally starting to smile. You're about eight weeks in, she projected to her, which only had Jean running through all the mood swings and overly emotional reactions from the last few weeks. It all made sense suddenly.

She stared back at K with a growing smile and then started to nod quietly as the tears gathered in the corners of her eyes. "You're not just screwing with me?"

K let out a huff. "I wouldn't do that," she said, shaking her head. "And Logan and I have been just waiting for you to catch on. You're killing both of us. And that's not easy to do."

Jean couldn't help but laugh. "I should tell Scott," she whispered.

"I'll make sure that whatever might pop up unexpectedly never reaches him," K promised, which only ended up triggering Jean into attaching herself to K in a hug. "Go take a test so you have proof."

"Good idea," Jean said before she got up and headed for her room to plan out how she was going to do the reveal.

The rest of the day ended up being Logan's job to watch Scott … who was getting progressively more antsy as the day went on. "Whatsa matter, Slim?" Logan asked, but that only had Scott frowning deeper while Logan had his feet kicked up.

"There has to be something going on," Scott said after he stopped his pacing. "There's always something going on."

"Why don't you unclench and relax a little bit," Logan suggested, frowning as he watched the pacing pause only long enough to spare him a dry look.

"You're hilarious."

"I am," Logan agreed easily. "And you really need to stop."

Scott rolled his eyes, unseen by Logan behind the ruby quartz. He had too much to do. He always had plenty to do … this time of year, people were getting ready for school to start - colleges were opening up their doors to their students - and inevitably, there would be some poor mutant outed in the process. A racist room mate or a security guard that insisted there was a problem when there was none … that, or Magneto's private freak show would start causing trouble on a much larger scale.

"Scott?" Jean said, looking almost nervous as she finally found him. "I know you're keeping watch, but I could really use just a minute." She looked over at Logan, who looked highly entertained, smirking crookedly to himself. Stop that, she projected, but Logan just shook his head slowly.

"I'm just …" Scott paused and then tipped his head her way when he realized something was plainly different. "Are you alright?"

"Perfectly perfect," she said, nodding to herself as she offered him her hand so the two of them could slip off for a moment.

Scott went along, but paused at the door, unable to leave good enough alone with anything as important as watching over … everything. "The professor is on Cerebro," Scott said to Logan. "I need you to stick around in case something pops up. I know with Abbey …"

"It's already covered, Scott," Jean promised as ogan quit trying to restrain himself from smiling, which only had Scott frowning deeper as Jean gave up even pretending to be patient and simply levitated him along with her.

"Jean," Scot said almost chidingly. "I was coming with."

"You were getting ready to argue and I don't have the time right now," she said, though she was smiling. "Besides … we have more important things to do than let you and Logan pick at each other."

Scott had to smirk at that as he reached for her hand. "Always have something better to do when you're around," he said, still trying to restrain the smile, but not entirely able to when Jean was so clearly in a playful mood. "What did you have in mind?"

"Well," she said as they made their way out to the grounds. It was a picture perfect beautiful summer day, and Ororo's gardens were blooming - full of sunflowers waving in the late summer breeze. "It's your birthday," she said, smiling at him over her shoulder.

"It is," he agreed, breaking into a smile of his own, and pulling her closer to put his arm around her.

"So … I couldn't come up with anything good to buy you," Jean said, doing her best to look put out.

"That's alright," Scott said. "I've already got what I need." He leaned in to give her a kiss, but she pulled back a little bit.

"I do have something for you though," she said, barely holding back her pure delight, even in the face of Scott's confusion. "It's not … I won't be able to give it to you until oh … March 27th. Approximately."

Scott's head tipped to the side, and it took him a moment - until of course, Jean took a step back and handed him the ultrasound picture that barely showed the outline of a very tiny not-entirely formed person. He stared for a moment, open mouthed before a delighted, disbelieving sort of sound escaped him. He shook his head lightly and simply pulled her into a tight embrace, kissing the sense out of her. "Best birthday present ever," he said between kisses as she unintentionally floated the pair of them off the ground, beyond happy now that they were finally on the track they wanted.

News spread fast around the mansion, and the newest, incoming students and returning kids alike were in more than a little shock at the level of affection that Scott and Jean were showing each other in the halls and common areas. It wasn't to the same unrestrained level that Logan and K were known for, but it was still incredibly common for Jean and Scott to be spotted sharing a kiss or simply wrapped around each other for a few moments.

Not that anyone was complaining. Both of them were happy, but Scott was over the moon and the smile hadn't slipped off of his face yet.

But the influx of students really only meant that school would be starting soon, and this year, Logan and K had a new class that was only available to the female students for a more specific form of self defense.

Logan was surprised when he went to retrieve the sign up sheet that not only had most of the female students signed up, but many of their teammates had expressed an interest in learning something new as well. The new class would meet Monday nights, after all other classes had ended. And for the interest level that they had, Charles was concerned. He and Scott volunteered themselves to watch Abbey so the class could be conducted with both ferals in attendance.

The first class was an eye opener for most of the adults, but Logan spent most of the time trying not to growl. K had opened it up by asking if anyone had been the victim of abuse. He was stunned when so many of the young women there raised their hands. She then asked them to introduce themselves and tell what had happened to them in the past and why they wanted to learn self defense. Their answers ranged from fairly nondescript and 'normal' to absolutely horrifying.

The quiet girl that had hidden in Logan's combat class had been abused by a neighbor for years. Men in general terrified her and she had always refused to look any of the male teachers in the eye, afraid to make a target of herself. But no one knew it.

There were several girls that had been victims of date rape, another that had been molested by a police officer. Plenty of girls were simply afraid of what might happen if they were in a tight spot - but every one of them knew someone that had been through the wringer, even if they themselves hadn't.

Through it all, K had not given one story any more weight than the next, letting them all get it off their chest before she stood up and motioned for Logan to join her. He was extremely unhappy at that point, knowing that his job would be to act the part of the aggressor – starting with attacking his wife for the education of these already triggered girls.

"Alright, love," K said quietly in a breath "Abduct me." She turned her back on him and began to walk away.

Logan took a moment to let out a breath himself, not liking his role at all before he took a few quick steps and wrapped his arm around her, pinning her arms to her sides and covering her mouth with his free hand. He immediately began dragging her backwards as she fought against him. She stomped on his foot, and threw herself around, breaking free of his grip and turning to fight, though she stopped all forward motion as Logan leaned toward her. He had taken it easy on her, allowed her to break loose. But it was pretty clear that these two should not be the starting point for how competitive and highly trained they both were.

"Stop," K said, catching her breath, and wide-eyed. "Okay. Jean, can you please have someone else come down? I'm sure Logan can tone it down for the girls, but … we'll need someone without a ton of training for their first attackers," Logan offered K his hand, which she carefully took as Jean reached out for assistance. "You were holding back."

Logan shrugged lightly and lifted her hand to kiss her knuckles. "Little bit, yeah." He gently led his wife back to where they started, and he was sure to kiss the side of her head as he stood behind her. Many of the girls in the room now staring at him wide eyed, a healthy dose of fear in many of them who were new and didn't know him yet. K pulled Logan close to her again, placing his hands where she wanted them for her demo and in an exaggerated motion showing them how to break a hold. Logan didn't say a word. She was right in her methods - but showing the more in the know girls that even one of Logan's holds could be escaped was feasible - for someone as trained as she was. The girls would be fine with what even this first lesson taught, unless of course the man attacking was trained as he was.

After K's demo, Bobby, Remy, Kurt, and Forge walked in, offering their services. K told them what they were to do, and the women of the team offered up themselves first as the four men 'attacked' them. It went perfectly. Logan and K walked the room, keeping an eye on them, giving the girls pointers to break loose. When they all had it perfected, one of the kids sheepishly asked if K could break free from Logan if he attacked her properly.

K looked at her husband a moment, weighing out how to answer, but the women on the team were certainly not expecting her answer. "No," K said finally. "I don't think I could shake him if he was being serious, even I had to." The class looked surprised and Logan didn't argue her point, waiting to see how she'd handle their concern.

"But," K said suddenly, breaking the hushed murmurs in the class "I would still try." The students murmurs and mumbling broke out fresh, debating on how she'd do fighting her husband off if he were to truly try to attack her.

"Doesn't matter," Logan said, effectively ending the discussion. "Won't happen."

K gave him a little smirk, and with a clap, they continued discussing how the next class was going to go.