Subject: [OTL]: OTL; Two Pair: Chapter 2/part2 [Jubilee/Gambit] [PG-13]
Date: Sun, 16 Apr 2000 08:04:33 -0700
From: Wren Griffin <xambit_girl@hotmail.com>

Y'all know the disclaimers. Marvel's, not mine... *SI-gh.* PG-13 for violence
content.

Two Pair
by L.M. Griffin
Chapter 2, part2: Jacks Down, Queens High

Jubilee left Remy sleeping in his bed the next morning as she pulled on the
snug yellow and red Generation X uniform, and over that, her yellow trench.
She walked over to the bathroom mirror, leaning on the counter for a moment
and taking a deep breath. Then she lifted her eyes to the mirror and studied
her expression. There it was, that 'different' Jubilee. The survivor. The
loner. And today, the fighter. She lifted her chin, letting the light glint
off the icy cold blue of her eyes. Perfect.

She made her way quietly out of the boat house, careful not to wake Remy. He
was exhausted; he hadn't been sleeping well because of the nightmares. They
had stayed up talking until he drifted off to sleep, finally, with Jubilee
there to keep him warm. To keep him safe from the unnamed demons of his past. 
Now he slept peacefully, and there was no way Jubilee was going to wake him 
up. At least, not for this.

She strode over the still damp grass towards the Mansion itself, her walk
determined, her posture no less so. She was going into bloody battle today,
and she didn't expect to walk out of this house unscathed. It was going to
be worth it in the end. She made her way over to the kitchen door, and with
one strong push, threw it open with a slam as the door hit the cabinets
behind it. She walked into the airy space, her hands on her hips, and
observed the people before her. She stood tall, despite the shortness of her
5'1 frame.

    Peter and Kurt were sitting at the table, cereal before them, and their
mouths wide open. Kitty had just entered the kitchen through the living
room, her eyebrows raised at Jubilee's entrance. Ororo stood over the stove,
letting her eggs burn as she turned to meet the young girl's gaze. Leaning
against the counter near Ororo, Logan's blue eyes were flinty as he watched
his protegee shut the door with another slam. Rogue, standing between Logan
and Ororo, visibly winced as the harsh blue eyes raked over her with a
palpable mixture of anger and disgust.

Jubilee's voice was low, tinged softly with a darker rage. "Several months
ago, some of the members of this team participated in a trial that was a
mockery not only of justice, but some of the ideals of the X-Men itself.
They stood in judgement over a man that they called friend, but threw to the
dogs in a heartbeat when they believed themselves to be 'betrayed', without
realizing how he himself had been used and lied to. This man's only crime
was to trust foolishly, and yet... his punishment was death." She allowed her
words to sink in. Peter and Kurt looked over to Kitty, whose expression was
unreadable. Those three weren't even there. It mattered not. Logan nodded
his head quietly, as he accepted what was to come. Ororo lifted her chin
slightly, but shame radiated off of her in waves. Rogue couldn't even meet
Jubilee's eyes.

The others mentally shivered as the girl continued. "Well today, ladies and
gentlemen, I am calling an appeal. Consider me this man's defense attorney.
I will meet in the Danger Room anyone in this room who thinks that Remy
LeBeau doesn't deserve a second chance, and doesn't deserve to be forgiven
for what he's done. I will defend my friend's honor. Now... who challenges
me?"

Logan didn't move a step himself, but he did look over to Ororo. The taller
woman nodded her head, and then turned to Jubilee. She noted the tenseness
in the girl's stance, knowing that Jubilee would fight them all, if
necessary. Except, of course, that it was not. "We stand rightly accused,"
she said, silver eyes quiet. "We, as Remy once did, made an error of
judgement that could have ended in the death of one of our friends. I, as a
Leader of the X-Men, bear this burden with shame. I never meant to hurt Remy
LeBeau, nor did I mean to abandon him in his time of need. I have always
considered myself his friend, and for that reason, I hope he can forgive me,
as I... have learned to forgive him."

Jubilee nodded her head quietly, shifting her gaze to Logan. She raised an
eyebrow, silently asking him just where he stood. He seemed to think for a
moment, before speaking to the others, "LeBeau 'n I have had our differences
in the past. I always said I didn't trust 'im, and I thought I had good
reason not to. I was in the tunnels the day the Morlocks were killed. I saw
that carnage. Reflectin' back, there was always just part of me that wished
I could of gotten there sooner, to stop it. It was that part that condemned
Remy LeBeau. It was the regret, 'n the anger that I could finally put the
burden of guilt on someone else. Didn't know the kid had his own cross to
bear... didn't know he was already hurtin' himself for something he didn't
even know was going to happen. And for that, I know he didn't deserve to be
abandoned. Hatin' him was like resenting my own failures, 'n I won't do that
anymore. I deserve more, and Gambit does as well. He's a member of this
team, above anythin' else."

He looked at Jubilee, his voice gruff with emotion, "Tell 'im... I'm sorry."
Jubilee quirked a half smile, then shifted her eyes to Rogue. She felt her
expression go stony as she faced the one whom she considered the greatest
perpetrator in this mess. Rogue tensed for a moment and had just begun to
open her mouth, when another sharp voice interrupted.

"What is this? 'Leave It To Lee?' Fergit this all...  'we're soooo sorry
Gambit got dumped in the middle of the winter wastelands' garbage. He
deserved it." Marrow strode into the kitchen, stabbing a sharp finger at
Jubilee. Her blue eyes were wild with anger, her jaw clenched tightly.

Jubilee stood in front of the slightly older, now more irate young woman,
arms crossed, her own blue eyes glittering strangely. "That a challenge,
Marrow?"

"Damned straight, that's a challenge. Question is, are you up for it?"
Marrow growled softly. She could get this soft pansy-weight to back off,
_no_ problem. Show these X-wusses how it was done. LeBeau wasn't getting any
slack in her book, no way. So she was more than slightly surprised that this
Jubilee girl no only did not back off, but simply gave her a curt nod and
made her way out of the kitchen.

Jubilee paused momentarily at the door, to simply state, "I'll be waiting 
in the Danger Room. " Then she turned, shifting on one booted heel. Marrow
blinked for a moment, then allowed a feral grin to pass her face. She
smirked over at the others, as she walked out after the shorter girl. Just 
what she had been waiting for, an all out brawl.

Logan started to follow when Kitty grabbed his arm, her voice sharp with
worry. "Logan, we can't let this go on! Jubilee's going to get seriously
hurt!"

"Yes, mein freund... .Marrow is not the one to pull her punches," Kurt said,
his blue face scrunching with worry.

Logan looked around at his teammates, and said quietly, but firmly,
"People... I think we should stop worrying about what Marrow's gonna do to
Jubilee... 'n start worrying about what _Jubilee_ is gonna do to _Marrow_."
And with those words on his lips, he moved out of the kitchen. With an
inherent wariness, the others followed.

When they reached the Danger Room itself, they found a program already set
and running and the two 'combatants' warming themselves up below. Well,
Marrow was really just spinning her bone knife in her hand, while Jubilee
stretched her muscles. The rest of the X-Men filed into the Control Room,
and Ororo moved over to the microphone to speak into the Room itself. "The
rules of this fight being?"

Jubilee glanced up to the window above, stating coolly, "Whoever's left
standing, wins." Ororo felt the muscles in her cheeks tighten, as she
glanced over at Logan. He merely stood looking calmly out the window. Behind
him, Rogue was hugging herself tightly, while the others grouped by the
window, watching anxiously.

Marrow smiled ferally at Jubilee, as she started to stalk around the younger
girl. "Yer not gonna walk outta here standing, pretty-faced girl. I'm gonna
pound you into the ground... then I'm gonna take care of the Traitor LeBeau."

Jubilee's smile was strangely... chipper. "Ya gotta get past me first,
Marrow. So... show me what you got."

Marrow shifted forward in one fluid movement, letting out a terrible battle
cry as she raised the knife high. Jubilee's blue eyes narrowed, as she slid
downward out of Marrow's way, letting the girl fly over her. Marrow
snarled, landing and shifting back towards Jubilee again. She was going on 
a full-out offensive strike, slashing and punching as fast as she could. 
Yet Jubilee was just a step faster, bobbing and weaving in a style Marrow
recognized as Wolverine's trademark. She snarled. "Fight, damn you! You
duckin' is not how these things work! Fight Me!" She threw her arm forward,
the bone knife flying towards Jubilee's face.

Jubilee shifted to the side, thrusting out her leg at the same time.
Marrow's eyes widened, as Jubilee's knee buried itself into the former
Morlock's stomach. Marrow stumbled backwards, only to receive a vicious
kick to the side, then two quick punches to the face that sent her flying
backwards into the wall. Jubilee stood, knees braced, arms up in fighter's
stance. The smile still touched her lips as she said, "Well, you wanted me to
fight... "

Marrow shrieked, throwing herself forward at Jubilee again. Jubilee crouched
down, then, as the girl charged her, she moved upwards quickly, grabbing
Marrow by the wrist and the waist, flipping the girl to the ground with a
sickening crunch. Marrow shifted her knife around, managing to nick
Jubilee's leg, forcing her to take a step backwards. Marrow leaped to her
feet, her now wary eyes on Jubilee. "I've seen the tapes of you fighting... 
where did you learn these moves?" the red-haired girl said sullenly. She 
was just starting to realize she might lose.

Jubilee's smile widened as the color of the blue eyes darkened in a rush to
midnight blue. She whispered, in a tone that made Marrow shiver, "That was me
defending. This is me _fighting_."

Jubilee flipped forward, roundhouse kicking Marrow to the face, then
returning with several good body shots. Marrow felt her head whip back, 
and had to shift backwards to defend herself as the punches started to take
their toll on her. The two circled each other, one now wary, the other
silently determined. Silence had fallen in the Control Room, as all watched
the action below, tense expressions working on their faces. The only
exception was Logan, watching with a quiet sort of smile. That was _his_
partner down there, and now all the X-Men were seeing the Jubilee that he
traveled all over the Orient with.

Marrow had two bone knives in her hands now, and was slashing at Jubilee's
body. A few more shallow cuts appeared on the girl's legs and arms. Marrow
allowed herself a grin as she screamed another battle cry and lunged at
Jubilee. Her knife slashed, tearing a large cut down Jubilee's arm. The
girl's expression of sudden pain was like beauty to Marrow's eyes. She
laughed. "Give it up, little girl. I survived worse then you. There's no way
you can beat me."

She moved for another cut, hoping to catch the girl in the face. Jubilee
seemed to stand stock still for a moment, and Marrow allowed herself to
think it was from fear. She was wrong, and it cost her when Jubilee suddenly
moved left, grabbing her arm. Marrow screamed in sudden pain and dropped a
knife as Jubilee pulled her left wrist harshly around her back. Jubilee let
out the softest of snarls, using the girl's position to slam Marrow face
first into the wall, hard. She kept up the pressure on Marrow's arm, making
her drop the other knife in pain. Jubilee pulled Marrow away from the wall,
this time her other hand moving to pull Marrow's hair, hard, forcing the
other girl's head back.

Marrow's eyes were wide as Jubilee leaned over to whisper in her ear. "First
mistake. You got cocky. Second mistake. You thought you were the only
survivor here. Let me fill you in on something about the X-Men, sister. Some
of us might look soft, but we've seen a lot more then you think. There are
only two others tougher then me, though. Logan and Remy. Logan, you've
already tangled with. Remy, well... lemme put it this way... the one thing
worse than a pissed off Canucklehead is a pissed off Cajun with an ability
to blow things up through simple touch. In other words, Marrow-girl... "

    Jubilee shoved her knee into Marrow's back, making the girl fly forward
to slam into the wall again, hard. Marrow slowly slumped to the ground,
spitting out blood and holding her now sore arm in pain. Jubilee looked down
at her, and finished coldly, "Play Nice."

Marrow shifted around, holding her side as she looked in shock at the
shorter girl before her. Jubilee was now looking at her arm, frowning softly
as she watched the blood trickle through the yellow cloth. "Dammit... this
was my favorite coat... . "

In the Control Room, Peter and Kurt moved out and down to the main floor of
the Danger Room as quickly as they could. They made their way into the Room,
Kurt moving to help Marrow up and out of the room, while Peter stepped over
to Jubilee. His eyes were crinkled with concern. "Jubilee... you are losing
blood quickly. We should get you to MedLab immediately."

Jubilee shook her head, as she stripped off her coat, and eyed the torn
sleeve. She pulled at the fabric, ripping it loose from the coat, and then
looked up at Peter. "Bandage me, please? I'm... not quite done yet."

Peter frowned, as he used the yellow sleeve to bind up the long jagged cut
on Jubilee's forearm. There didn't seem to be any severing of veins or
tendons, but she was going to need at least 15 stitches. The makeshift
bandage would keep her from losing any more blood... well, as long as she
didn't push it. He looked into her face. She was going to push it.
But... there was no-one else to battle, was there?

Jubilee nodded with satisfaction with the bandage, then turned around to
look up into the Control Room again. Her face was expressionless as she
pointed upwards with her bandaged arm. At Rogue. Then she moved the arm down
in a sharp gesture to the floor.

The implication was obvious. Jubilee had just challenged Rogue to a duel.

                                    ******

It was the green succubus who woke him from his sound sleep. She whispered
in his ear, and he stirred awake. The first thing he noticed was that the
entity he simply called 'Chere' or 'Little Green Ghost,' was up and
stirring. The second thing he noticed was that Jubilee was gone. Which
seemed to be the focus of his 'Visitor's' excitement. "Such a _brave_ girl,
that Jubilee..." the female voice purred, as she wisped around his head.

Remy sat up, feeling over to Jubilee's side of the bed. Cold. The girl had
been up and around for a while. His gaze narrowed on the 'ghost' as he
asked, "Y'know where she went?"

"Indeed Remy... she's gone to defend your honor, as I once defended your
body. At this very moment... she just challenged your beloved Rogue to a
duel." The 'ghost' laughed quietly, swirling around his body.

"T' defend my... Rogue will kill 'er!" Remy snapped, jumping out of his bed
as quickly as he could. He grabbed his shirt and boots, shoving them on as
quickly as possible. What was Jubilee thinking?! Rogue was nigh-high
indestructible. Jubilee was powerful, yes, but Rogue... He paused for a
moment. Amusing how he was more worried about Jubilee than Rogue. Well,
actually, it made perfect sense. Jubilee didn't have Rogue's powers. Rogue
would lose her temper, throw Jubilee into a wall, and kill her. The pit of
cold ice that was starting to form in his stomach solidified.

'Ghost' seemed to frown at him while he threw on his coat. "I do not see why
you are worried about either one of them... it is _me_ you owe your life to!"

Remy walked towards the door, glancing momentarily up at his 'Ghost', red
eyes glaring. "Yah, you saved my life. 'N Rogue saved my heart. Jubilee... 
just saved my soul. If I can help it, dat girl's not gonna get hurt." The 
'Ghost' disappeared inside of him with an angry phiift, as he charged out 
of the house and across the lawn. He banged his way through the kitchen door, 
still in a full-out run as he made his way down to the Danger Room. He saw 
the door shutting just as he appeared around the corner.

"Merde!" He cursed sharply, shifting to make his way up into the Control
Room. As the door slide open, he was confronted by three very different
pairs of eyes. Kitty's were surprised, as if he was the last person she
expected to see there. Ororo's eyes were twin pools of half fear and half
awe. Logan's, however, were the most disturbing of all, with their deadpan
look of contemplation.

He stood breathing for a moment, then said, his voice trembling slightly,
"It's alr'ady started, hasn't it?" Ororo stood slowly, moving to touch his
arm comfortingly.

Kitty's voice was barely a whisper when she said, "Jubilee did great
against Marrow though... I mean, she really... " She hugged her arms tightly,
looking back at the window.

It was Logan's comment that made Remy finally come to the window to look at
the two just standing there, ten feet apart, looking at each other. The
shorter man said quietly, "I think she can win it, Gumbo. I really think the
kid can."

Remy felt his chest tighten as he looked down at the pair. He saw Jubilee,
looking so small, so fragile compared to Rogue. He saw the ever widening
crimson stain on Jubilee's bandage. His voice husky, he asked, "What makes
ya say dat, Logan?"

Logan's voice was barely above a whisper when he replied. "Not once durin'
her fight with Marrow did she use her pow'rs." Blue eyes met red ones, as he
added, "That girl's a bomb, literally waiting to go off..."

Remy put one hand on the glass, as he turned his attention to the silent
room below. " 'N Rogue's about to light da fuse..."

                                    ******

Rogue's green eyes moved up and down the girl before her. Jubilee was a
small, compact fighter. She was quick on her feet, if not as quick as Rogue.
She fought smart, and her powers of pyrokinetics were above reproach. Of
course, the thought running through Rogue's mind was, 'Why her? Why is she 
th' one forcin' this all out inta the open?' Jubilee and Remy had never 
appeared close. Perhaps that was the key word. Appeared. Altered appearance, 
it seemed, was something both Remy and Jubilee were good at.

Rogue bit her lip painfully as she looked away from Jubilee's intent glare
for a moment. She had thought that she could trust the former thief. She had
thought that she loved him. Now, with all this... she wasn't sure. She hated
him for what he had done, hated him for the deaths of all those Morlocks.
Yet, she was drawn to him at the same time. She wasn't sure if her now
blatant mistrust could be overridden by the deep feelings she still had for
him. Wasn't sure if they could ever go back to where they once were. She 
heaved a deep breath and then looked at the girl standing there. Waiting. 
Slowly growing paler, as the blood flowed from her arm. Jubilee didn't even 
seem to notice. Rogue suddenly found her voice as she asked, "Kin I ask why? 
Why are yah fightin' for him?"

Something in Jubilee's face twitched, and she answered, "Because none of you
would." Rogue felt a stab of shame move through her body. Then Jubilee said,
"Can I ask you one question? Why?"

Why. Why had she left Remy to die. Why had she abandoned him. Why had she
let her own fears and insecurities blind her to the love she supposedly
felt. Many feelings moved through her mind. Guilt. Anger in flashes.
Confusion was paramount. Yet none of them gave her a real answer. She 
lifted her head, letting her emerald eyes fix on Jubilee's blue ones, as 
she answered, "Ah don't know."

Jubilee seemed to consider this answer for a long minute. Then she nodded
her head, as she whispered, "Wrong answer."

Then she brought her hand back across her chest and swung it front of her in
a sharp gesture, causing a wave of pafs to fly towards Rogue. Rogue covered
her eyes as the sparks singed her skin slightly. She suddenly pushed off
with her feet, taking to the air. She managed to dodge another wave of pafs
as they flew towards her, trying to shift close enough to Jubilee to cause
some sort of physical damage.

That was how the battle went on, Rogue using her powers of flight, trying to
dive-bomb Jubilee into a wall, or at least set her off balance. Jubilee
countered with her 'fireworks', shifting down on the ground, never staying
one place at a time. Rogue was slowly gaining ground; she was going with a
strategy of wearing the girl down. In the Control Room, Kitty murmured,
"There can't be a way for Jubilee to win this... she's just too worn out..."

Remy didn't say a word, but his hand clenched into a fist as he watched.
Logan also said nothing, but his eyes told a different tale. He was watching
Jubilee closely, almost as if he was waiting on her to do something.
Jubilee, below, paused a moment to watch Rogue. Calculatingly. Then she
moved again, her attacks suddenly becoming more erratic. Everyone in the
Control Room tensed as she allowed her defensive 'paf cover' to drop for a
moment, pausing as if to catch her breath. Rogue chose that moment to swoop
down, and she snagged the girl by the waist, then pulled both of them
upwards. She said through gritted teeth, "Give it UP, Jubilee! Yah can' WIN
this!"

Jubilee's lips quirked. "What's that old sayin'? 'I have not yet begun to
fight'. Sounds good to me. 'Scuse me, getting off here." Then her fingers
curled up, and she flashed up a paf in her hand, shoving it right into
Rogue's face. If she had guessed right, Rogue would throw her and...

Rogue screamed from the sudden pain, flinging Jubilee away like a rag doll
towards the nearest wall, at a speed that would only end up in the girl
breaking her neck. Ororo rose to her feet, suddenly screaming, "Goddess help
us all! Jubilation!!"

Remy's anguished cry of, "JUBILEE! NON!!" was what snapped Rogue out of
rubbing her eyes. The green eyes widened and she had twisted in the air,
trying to reach Jubilee in time before the girl hit the wall and broke every
bone in her small body, when something unexpected happened. Jubilee brought
her knees up to her chest, turning herself into a rolling ball as she
careened towards the wall, bringing her headlong flight under control.

"C'mon kid..." Logan said, eyes glittering. Jubilee's body moved towards the
wall as she gracefully unfolded herself. Her knees bending just so as her
feet hit the wall, she flawlessly flipped over backwards, now facing Rogue
dead-on. With something large and glowing between her fingers as she fell
back towards the ground, upside-down.

Everything suddenly moved to slow motion. Rogue, still trying to reach
Jubilee, just starting to slow as her eyes widened in shock. The look of
frozen horror on Ororo's face. Remy's eyes widening, then narrowing.
Jubilee's eyes flashing as she pushed her hands outwards, sending the
gigantic 'blob' of pyrokinetic energy straight towards Rogue.

Rogue's momentum still carried her forward, straight into the blob itself,
which clung to her like a swirling pool of silly putty. Jubilee flipped her
body around, landing on the ground hard enough to jar every bone in her
body. She spared a glance up to the Control Room as she moved her bandaged
hand up into the air, fingers a bare inch apart. Kitty's eyes tracked her,
and suddenly she screamed, "EVERYONE, GET DOWN!"

Remy grabbed Ororo, pulling her to the ground, as Kitty and Logan both threw
themselves away from the window. Jubilee looked up to Rogue's eyes, which
were wide with surprise - and a sudden understanding. The girl had had it
all planned. The flying attack. Being thrown towards the wall. All a plan to
get Rogue to fly straight into Jubilee's 'blob'. She even knew the blob
wasn't large enough to kill her... .but whatever was going to happen next,
was going to hurt. A lot.

Below, Jubilee murmured quietly, "Boom, boom, Roguey." Then she snapped her
fingers together.

Time sped back up as the explosion, the blob reacting to Jubilee's precise
mental command, rocked the Danger Room. Jubilee flung herself to the ground,
throwing her hands over her head to protect herself. Rogue screamed as she
was thrown back into the wall that she just had tossed Jubilee into. She hit
it hard, leaving a large dent in the wall itself before she wafted down to
the ground. The windows of the Control Room shook with the force of the
explosion, and searing light flared briefly. Then all fell deathly still.

The door to the Control Room suddenly opened as Kurt ran in, eyes wide with
worry. "Is everyone all right? An explosion... we felt it all the way in the
MedLab." He helped Kitty get to her feet, looking around at the others as
they slowly rose.

Ororo leaned on Remy for a moment, as she said as calmly as she could, "We
are all fine in here, Kurt... but I suggest you and Kitty get into the Danger
Room as soon as possible." Remy squeezed her arm in silent support, and she
gave her friend a shaky smile in response. Kurt and Kitty both nodded,
moving out the door together.

Meanwhile, Logan had moved back to the window. He looked down, and couldn't
quite keep the smile off his face. "Well... looks like one of them is at
least conscious down there... "

Ororo and Remy turned around, moving back over to the window. As they
watched in shocked amazement, Jubilee stirred off of the ground, slowly
pulling herself to her feet. She took a long shuddering breath, gathering
the last bit of her strength to limp over to Rogue's still form. She stood
there for a moment, waiting. Rogue's eyes flickered open, focusing on
Jubilee. The girl waited another moment, before whispering, "If you don't
love him anymore, Rogue... stop hurting him. Let him go."

Rogue's eyes seemed to water with tears, and then she closed them tightly,
slipping off into unconsciousness again. Jubilee's blue eyes flashed once
more, then she moved towards the main door of the Danger Room. As she
reached it, the door opened, letting in Kurt and Kitty with medical
supplies. Kitty blinked at Jubilee, who continued to move past the both of
them as if they weren't even there. Kitty nearly reached out a hand to the
girl, then thought better of it, hurrying after Kurt to look after Rogue.
Jubilee thanked the older girl mentally as she leaned on the doorway for a
moment. Just a little longer. She just had to last a little longer. The
doorway leading to the Control Room sudden slid open as Ororo, Logan and
Remy came striding out.

Ororo's silver eyes became two circles of horror as she took in the bruises
on Jubilee's face. The smaller cuts all over her arms, including the long
one that was even now dripping blood on the usually pristine floor. Jubilee
looked over to the white-haired woman, and managed a shaky smile. "Don't
look so shocked, Stormy... it's not as bad as it seems..."

Logan moved towards her, and she reached out an arm to him. He gently
wrapped his arms around her, picking her up. She murmured, "Thanks Wolvie... 
don't know what I'd do without ya... "

Logan smiled, planting a soft kiss on her sweaty brow. "You'd fall down. A
lot."

Jubilee groaned softly. "Fun-ny, Canucklehead. Funny." Then she shifted her
eyes to Remy. He stood stock-still, and she knew that behind her they were
moving Rogue to the MedLab. She was really hoping to go there herself,
although not for long. She really didn't need Marrow to smother her with her
own pillow in her sleep. The bony girl just struck her as that kind of sore
loser.

Then Remy's eyes met hers. The amazed smile on his face was enough thanks
for her. Well, at least until she regained consciousness... .and then she 
felt her eyes roll back into her head, and the world shifted into that comfy
black place... 

******

"Dude, Frosty... I _swear_ I'm okay.  It's just a scratch.  Fifteen stitches
is like, cake-walk."  Jubilee rolled her eyes as she propped up her feet on
the side of the pool table, the portable phone squawking into her ear as she
watched Remy and Logan duke it out over nine-ball.  Remy shifted towards her
side, looking for a good shot.  He lifted her jeans-clad legs, scooted
underneath them, then flashed her a knowing wink. He then turned his back on
her, measuring up for his shot.  She grinned herself, half tempted to give
the smirking Cajun a kick in the rump.  Instead, she sighed and continued to
answer the tirade of Emma Frost's sharp questions.

Remy took his shot, sinking the solid three ball.  Logan, who was leaning
against the wall on the other side of the pool room smoking a Cuban cigar,
grunted softly.  Remy just smiled again as he lined up the next ball into
the pocket.  The days since the 'Clash of the Titans' as Kurt had named it,
had been going by with a little more openness all around.  Oh, he wasn't
going to be moving back into the Mansion anytime soon, but at least a note
of tension in the air was gone.  Ororo and he were talking more.  Peter and
Kurt had both gone out of their way to come down and see him.  Marrow had
actually _apologized_.  He and Rogue hadn't really spoken, but at least they
now realized they could.  When the time was right.

The strangest part of it was that, all of a sudden, Logan wanted to spend
more time with him.  So they talked.  Drank beer.  Found out they had a lot
in common.  Especially their tastes in women.  Huh.  The term 'It's A Small
World After All' had never seemed so true after comparing notes with Logan.

"Yes, Frosty... I'll be back tomorrow.  With freakin' bells on.
Whoo-de-doody do.  Byiiiiiiiiiieee."  Jubilee hung up the phone with a
snort.  She scratched lightly at her arm again, but stopped after a sharp
pair of glares from Remy and Logan.  She could almost hear the silent
recrimination of, 'Don't pull your stitches,' and she made faces at them
both.  Logan lifted a bushy eyebrow.  Remy smiled innocently.  They were
both irritating.

Remy sank another perfect shot, and then the nine-ball.  He grinned over to
Logan.  "'N dere's another game ta Gambit. Lemme see, dat be... five beers
you owe me."

Logan growled softly.  "No one deserves your kinda luck... set 'em up again,
Gumbo.  This time I'm takin' you to the cleaners."  He licked his lips for a
moment.  Huh.  Dry. Time to go hit up the fridge.  He moved towards the
door, glancing back. "I'm getting a beer. Any takers?"

"One sounds good to me, mon ami..." Remy said amicably, setting up the
table again for another game.  Logan nodded his head, and shifted his gaze
over to Jubilee.

She flashed him a mischievous grin as she said, "Sure, I could go for a
beer..." As Logan's eyes narrowed, she added primly "...a root beer. Of
course. 'Cuz... I don't drink... beer."  She cleared her throat innocently,
and Logan grunted again, shaking his head as he moved out the door.  Jubilee
snickered under her breath.  Sometimes, picking on Wolvie was just _too_
much fun.

She felt Remy's eyes on her and shifted her head around to look at him.  He
was leaning on the table, pool stick held between two black gloved fingers,
red eyes taking her in thoughtfully.  She lifted an eyebrow, saying, "Penny
fer your thoughts?"

He quirked a half smile as he asked with curiosity filling his voice, "Why,
p'tite? Why'd ya feel the need t'go to the mat for me?"

Jubilee snorted, tilting her head at him in disbelief.  "You really don't
know why, do you?"  Remy shook his head, and she sighed, saying,  "It's
simple, Gumbo...no one else would.  No one was taking a stand for you,  no
one was admitting to guilt.  I couldn't take that. You're... well, my friend.
One of my best friends.  'N like I said, I'm gonna protect you, no matter
what."  She folded her hands over her stomach, looking at them as if
embarrassed.

Remy listened to her quietly, the slow smile blooming on his face becoming a
full fledged grin.  He shifted to his feet, moving over to the armchair she
was perched in.  Leaning forward, he planted the softest of kisses on her
forehead, and he said jokingly,  "My own personal bodyguard... do you do
public appearances, or this jest an 'in-house' deal?"

Jubilee looked up at him, eyes laughing as she seemed to consider.  "Beatin'
off drooling bimbos for money.  Hmm.  Could be a line of work I would
enjoy... "

"I pay extrem'ly well... with good ben'fits,"  Remy said with a wink,
settling himself on the arm on the chair.  "All de comic books you'd ever
want to read.  Junk food.  Cute boys. Well, one cute 'boy' a'least."

"Throw in a box of Cubans, Cajun, 'n you got the both of us in for the
deal." Logan said, re-entering the room.  He threw a beer over to Remy and
dropped the cold root beer into Jubilee's lap, as he himself perched on the
other side of Jubilee's armchair.  There was a slight pause as the cracking
of bottle caps ensued and everyone took a long drink.  Remy seemed to be
quietly considering Logan's offer.

"Alright... let's jest say I be walkin' down the alley, 'n two thugs jump me.
What are you two gonna do about dat?"  He raised an eyebrow, as the two
looked at each other, then at him.

"Sell tickets," came Jubilee's prompt response, a smirk sliding over her
impish face.

"I'd be runnin' concession, myself," Logan said, blue eyes twinkling with
humor.

Remy glared at them both, and was about to make a snarky reply on their
guarding skills when Ororo walked into the room, camera in hand. "Ah... there
you three are.  It just occurred to me, as I am trying to use up the last
film in this camera... that I have few or no pictures of any of you. To say
nothing of any with all of you together in one place. Do you mind?"  It
sounded so utterly convincing... and both men _knew_ it was an act.

Remy glanced over at Logan.  They both looked down at Jubilee, who suddenly
became very interested in her root beer can.  Logan couldn't help but grin.
"So 'Ro... this isn't just for anyone.  It's just for you."

Jubilee cleared her throat, and Ororo smiled, if a bit nervously.  "Well,
yes, and whichever members of the team wish to own a copy... that sort of
thing... "

"Ah, sort of a candid picture t'ing... fer all de ladies?  Or... one or two in
part'cular?"  Remy asked, a smile tugging at his lips.

"Just one or two, I believe, Remy." Ororo said, fingers suddenly playing
with her long hair. Both men raised their eyebrows together, then looked at
Jubilee again.

"Pun'kin... if ya wanted pictures... why didn't ya just ask, instead of making
Ororo put on this really _bad_ act?"  Logan said with a shake of his head.
Ororo winced, mouthing an apology to Jubilee.

Jubilee put on a wry look, as she shrugged at Ororo in a gesture of 'Nice
Try'.  She glanced up at Logan and Remy... and decided to go with flat out
honesty. " 'Cuz whenever I try to get a picture of you, Wolvie, ya walk off.
'N Remy just poses. I wanted... y'know... nice pictures of both of you.  
For school.  For bragging purposes,"  she said, batting her blue eyes
charmingly.  Remy's lips twitched again.  Logan coughed to hide his laugh.

Remy straightened, and with a quick nod-check to Logan, said coyly,
"Alright... don't sound _too_ unreasonable.  However, Gambit n' Wolverine
want pictures too. Fer braggin' rights, of course."

Jubilee grinned, flipping her hair out of her face, nodded her head.
"Agreed. Alrighty, 'Ro. Get in here and make us look fab."  Ororo nodded her
head with a smile as she shifted in front of the chair, focusing the camera.
Jubilee reached up, entwining her fingers with Remy's as she leaned over
to rest her head on Logan's arm.  Smiles blossomed softly.  Pictures were
taken.  A few more memories made, and for the first time in a long time,
they were good ones.

Jubilee leaned over on Remy, as she watched Logan get his picture taken, or
rather, attempt to get his picture taken, as Ororo tried to get him to do
something more then a half smile.  She whispered softly, so as for the words
to not be picked up by Logan.  "Think everything is going to turn out all
right?"  The look in her eyes obviously meant she had in mind bigger things
then the pictures.

Remy tilted his head to the side for a moment, watching Ororo and Logan
argue goodnaturedly about what constituted a real 'smile'.  He looked down
to Jubilee, responding softly, "As much as life allows things t'work out,
chere. As much as life allows... "

Jubilee nodded her head quietly.  For Remy, that was practically a 'Mary
Poppins' statement. Things were going to be okay.  Now that the Jacks were
back in play, and the Queens were still intact, she really couldn't
complain.  We-ll, except for which pictures she got to keep.  There was
life, love, and then there was the ownership of embarrassing pictures.  She
grinned softly to herself.  Oh yeah, life was going to work out _just_ fine.

*******
FINIS Chapter 2