Disclaimer: Heck Marvel owns everything….if only that lottery ticket cashed in.

A/N: Um…Ev's dead, the comic was never canceled and Jubes is 18 in this story. What can I say? I joined the bandwagon of Wolvie and Jubes fics. I 'm not totally sure about this so feedback would really help. Enjoy.

Notes: With the FFN's new policy on NC-17 works I had to downgrade this to an R.

Graduation

by: Parodys

After all of the battles, good-byes, and packing, the actual graduation ceremony felt like a let down. The day was warm with a promise of summer, and the audience was seated outside under a canopy of trees. The team had already said their farewells, and those that were coming back to the X-men after the summer...well there wasn't that much to worry about. Paige had graduated top of the class, followed by Monet as a close second. Ev's death had greatly affected her; the very fact that he wasn't going to graduate with them could still bring tears to her eyes. Jono and Angelo were progressing to the x-men and were spending the summer on the road, "Picking up chicas and having some fun."

There was only one of the original students who was unsure of the future, as Sean declared them officially graduated. Graduation caps were flung into the air and within the laughing confusion of hats and yells of joy, Jubilee suddenly felt lost. In the melee of leaving, everyone had become immersed in the act of finally getting out of school and seeing their families. Sitting down on the edge of the stage, she swung her legs back and forth and smiled at her friends who were laughing and crying being held by their families. Even Ange had managed to finally tell his mother that he was alive and she was holding him with joy in her eyes. Tossing the blank scroll aside, she shook out her hair, the long strands dancing in the light breeze, her blue eyes fathomless as she unconsciously searched for that one figure in the crowd.

Her immense beauty would have struck the casual observer. Although she hadn't grown much taller, her hair had been grown out, her eyes wide and luminous there was a smile that lit her face up. And to Wolverine, who was standing at the back of the crowd, the girl he used to tease was an adult. Two years overseas and away from her had made her an almost total stranger to him. A wry grin spread on his face as he approached her, his arms outspread, waiting for her to notice him.

"Wolvie?!?" A small bundle of energy was literally hurled into his arms, he was instantly glad that he had spent the entire last week traveling nonstop to be there.

Jubilee buried her head in his neck, glad to find that they were still about the same size, and breathed in the musky scent of his leather jacket. Finally letting go far enough to where she could look at his face, she grinned at him, for a second looking far younger than her 18 years. "I wasn't' sure if you'd come."

"Nothin in the world could stop me Darlin." Squeezing her around the waist fondly, he stopped to take a look at her. "Jubes, you've grown up."

"Yep, all adult and mature now." Stepping back, she twirled around, her robe swirling around her revealing army boots underneath. Giggling a little, she stopped and looked at him intensely. "So why did ya come back?"

Instead of answering her, he pointed at Emma who was closing in on them like a shark getting ready to frenzy. Her sole concession to the event had been a slightly less revealing suit and high heels that were clicking dangerously as she neared them. "Logan, how nice of you to join us." She said in her patented tones of icy disdain.

The tiny hairs on the back of his neck bristled and he forced a smile. "Pleasures all mine Frost. What do you want?"

"I was going to talk to Jubilee about her plans, but apparently she's busy."

"Talk away." He grunted.

"I hardly think that..."

Jubilee threw her hands up in the air in disgust. "Excuse me, I can talk for myself here. Wolvie, if you'd excuse us for a moment please?" Nodding slightly, Wolverine wandered off to where Angelo and Jono were comparing travel plans, the former interested in hitting the Playboy mansions scattered across the country and the other...well Jono hadn't yet thought up a good reason not to. "Yes, Emma?"

"What are you planning to do this summer and afterwards?" Emma inquired.

"Why are you worried now? You haven't shown any interest in my future before. What happened, a little last minute guilt on your part?" Jubilee said bitterly.

Emma frowned. "You've made it abundantly clear that you were planning to leave after graduation no matter what anyone said. You're legally on your own and free to do what you want, I didn't want to influence you one way or the other. I was hoping you would join the X-men."

"You're right, I don't want to stay here anymore. I've done the superhero thing way too long and I need a change." Jubilee looked at Emma her attitude dropping. "Do you really think this is the way to go about it?"

"About what dear?"

"The whole equality for mutants thing. The whole saving the world by being superheroes. We constantly fight and yet we don't get anywhere, the Prof. tries to do little things in the government but it doesn't seem to be enough. I don't know..." Jubilee trailed off sighing.

Emma hid a smile, as she felt small things clicking into place. "We'll think about it. In the meantime, I also came to give you this." Pulling a thin white envelope from her pocket she handed it to Jubilee.

She slit open the envelope to reveal three papers, one resembling a bank statement, and two handwritten letters. Ignoring the first paper, she opened a letter that was written by her parents.

It read:

Dearest Jubilation,

Unfortunately if you are reading this both your father and I are dead. Little one, I sincerely wish that we could have been there to see you graduate but know that wherever we may be you are in our hearts. To make this short, we set up a trust fund for you to make sure you had a future once you came of age. There is enough to take care of college or whatever you choose to use it for. Be well Jubilation.

Love always,

Mom and Dad

The paper blurred, and she caressed the smooth swirled handwriting. Wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, she turned to the second letter,

Dear Jubilee,

As I write this you are leaving my care to study at the Academy with Emma and Sean. Know that your presence will be sorely missed among the team, and you will always have a place among the X-men should you choose. By now you are aware that your parents have left you a trust fund, which is left under my care to do with as I saw fit as your guardian. As such, Emma and I have contributed to it and between us both, you may live as you see fit, free from any worry.

Take care,

Xavier

Jubilee's hands shook as she glanced at the final sheet, her eyes widening at the amount. "Wow..." She whispered. She looked at Emma in disbelief who just nodded in assent.

"It's in a Swiss bank account, the numbers and all of your information are on the paper. I've taken the liberty of managing it a little so..." Emma shrugged casually. " You are well taken care of. I arranged for a monthly amount of three thousand dollars to be deposited into your current bank until you decided what you want to do with it."

Her hands clenched around the paper, and suddenly a thought came to her. "What about Ange?"

Emma smiled. "I've taken care of him. Sean and I set up a trust fund for him when he first joined the school. He learned about it yesterday, I do believe that's what spawned the road trip."

Wordlessly Jubilee flung her arms around Emma and gave her a hug. The two stayed that way for a moment before Emma pulled away, a little embarrassed. "Well child. Now what are your plans?"

Jubilee chewed her lip thoughtfully. "I don't know but I think it's time I made some." Distracted, Jubilee walked off to find Wolverine who had just convinced the boys that any trip without a Playboy mansion stop was pointless.

Wolverine touched her gently on the shoulder. "Jubilee?"

Her gaze cleared as she looked at him. "Yes?"

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah." Holding on to his hand, she smiled sweetly at him. "So what now?"

"We can go up to the cabin for awhile if ya like. I haven't been in ages and neither have you. How about it kiddo?"

"Sounds great! Let me go grab my stuff and I'll meet you out front in twenty minutes 'kay?" Wolverine nodded and watched in amusement as she ran off, her robes flapping wildly behind her. Absently rubbing his hand, he smiled bemusedly and walked off to where he had parked the Harley.

Upstairs Jubilee was busy stuffing various items of clothing in a duffel bag that could be slung around her shoulders when she rode. The rest of the room's items had long been packed and boxed, ready to be shipped as soon as Jubilee had decided where. Zipping the bag with a flourish, she paused to look at the room one more time. The windows were open and a slight breeze was blowing, the curtains billowing softly. "Goodbye room." Smiling at the childish reference, she pulled the door closed behind her.

Running downstairs to the front driveway, she skidded to a halt as she saw Wolverine leaning against a Harley Davidson with fireworks painted on the sides. He grinned at her expression as she touched the bike with something close to awe. "It's beautiful. Can I ride it?"

Wolverine tossed her a purple helmet. "Hell, do whatever the hell ya want with it, it's yours." Swinging a leg over his own bike he glanced at Jubilee who was looking at him in disbelief. "Figgered that it was time ya got yer own hog. Come on, let's get this show on the road before Frost finds out about this."

Practically bouncing with glee Jubilee ran over to Wolverine and gave him a bear hug. Grinning she pulled his face to hers and gave him a kiss on the lips. Before he had time to react, she had already gotten on the bike and started the engine. She slapped on the helmet and looked at him expectantly.

Clearing his throat gruffly, he nodded at the bike. "You remember how to drive on of those things darlin?"

His answer came in the form of Jubilee's laughter as she sped off down the road. Chuckling to himself, he rolled out of the driveway. "The hell you do, sugar."

-in-

It was several days later when the two had arrived up at the cabin. Jubilee had been forced to abandon her new bike at the edge of the wilderness, and she and Wolverine and hiked the next few hours until they came to a clearing overlooking a deep ravine. Pausing for second in her almost constant commentary, Jubilee laughed at the pure beauty of the sight. Dragging Wolverine next to her, she made him sit with her and look out into the vast expanse of sky and earth.

"Beautiful isn't it?"

"Sure is."

About a hundred yards away from the edge lay the small cabin, nestled among pine trees. It didn't take very long for them to settle down into the space, there was a small kitchen with a wood stove and small cooler, a bathroom with a clawed tub, a couch and a ratty bed completed the house.

Dumping her gear on the ground, Jubilee plopped onto the couch and bounced up and down experimentally. "You spruced up the place. So where do I sleep?"

Up until that point Wolverine hadn't fully become aware of just how much Jubilee had grown up. Looking at her, the couch, the bed, and back at her again, the full impact of an 18 year old Jubilee, hit. A dark flush of crimson crept up his neck and settled into a comfortable position in his cheeks. "No wonder Emma looked at me like she did." he groaned. "Darlin, you can't stay here with me…I mean yer all grown up now and it wouldn't be proper."

"Wolvie," Jubilee's eyes flared. "I go where I want to go, I don't give a damn about what anyone thinks and the last thing I'm going to do is trek down that blasted trail again because you've suddenly realized I have breasts. Why don't you go and deal with the fact that I've moved beyond adolescence and I'll go take a bath." Smiling sweetly, she rummaged in her bag for a towel and sauntered out of the room, firmly shutting the door behind her.

"Women." Growling, Wolverine shrugged and walked outside. He had some woodcutting to do, at least the exercise would give him an excuse for the damn blush..

-in-