Okay, so school has started and things have gotten busy. I was out of town, and I have work and now classes. I'm NOT going to stop writing, but things will drag a bit and for that I'm so so sorry. I know it sucks. Thank you SO much for hanging in there guys! And, of course, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE REVIEWS:)

"Jubilation."

Damn, Jubilee thought, not wanting to turn and face him. Facing him had been easier through the pain and the drugs. Now, his presence was overwhelming in her clarity and the dark, brooding look in his eyes was overly reminiscent of their night together in Madripoor. Ever since Jubilee had woken up healed, that night had been haunting her like a whisper on the edge of every conscious thought, waiting to descend on her with just the slightest provocation.

And the provocation was chasing her down the hallway.

"That's my name, Wolvie, don't wear it out."

Jubilee rolled her eyes skyward, picking a random crack in the ceiling to focus on as he stalked up behind her. Overly familiar sensations swamped her. Her heart raced, her skin flushed, her spine shivered.

Gawd, it's like I'm fourteen again. Or Jai, all assassin and no human emotions until I staggered into him in some skeezy bar. And then BAM! Everything at once with no way to control it.

He rounded on her and Jubilee couldn't help but feel the prey to his predator. Her breath caught, and she could only imagine the interesting scents his sensitive nose was picking up. She had made peace with it as an adolescent, and then gotten over it-mostly. Since Madripoor, however, she sincerely doubted she'd be "getting over it" anytime soon.

"Darlin,' I ain't that tall," he said gruffly, moving so close she could feel the tension and the body heat rolling off him.

She continued to stare at the ceiling crack.

"Logan, I have to go get ready."

"We need to talk," he countered.

"Now?" she asked incredulous. "You-Mr. Avoidance himself-wants to talk?"

She still refused to look at him. If she did, she'd be undone.

He gripped her wrist tightly and Jubilee felt her stomach jolt in sympathy as she finally met his gaze.

"I'm not avoiding it this time."

"When you found out about me, you panicked and bolted."

"Give me some credit, Jubes, it was one hell of a shock. And then I came back."

She glanced away and he jerked at her arm, forcing her to look at him again, storm-blue eyes intent.

"You bastard," she whispered.

"That's damn right," he agreed. "If I wasn't, we wouldn't be in this situation."

A smile ghosted over her lips.

"You always blame yourself for everything. I might be new to this, but I was always told it takes two or some shit like that."

"So then we need to talk," he pressed.

"Jesus, Logan, you never want to talk."

"Maybe I've changed."

"You never change," she insisted, obstinate.

"Christ, darlin', spending an entire fucking year thinking you were dead, murdered, does things to a man."

Jubilee swallowed, finding her throat tight and dry. The action wasn't missed by his predator's eyes, Logan's focus drawn to the now healed spot on her neck, his mark conspicuously absent. The beast grumbled in annoyance below the surface.

"You thought I was someone else. It was a m-misunderstanding. A mistake. What else is there to talk about?" Her voice cracked, the tang of salt tinging her jasmine musk.

"Jubilee-

"Look, Logan, I understand, I get it, I don't need the 'kid, I'm sorry, it's my fault' guilt trip followed by the talk followed by the moving past it and pretending it didn't happen while avoiding each other for a few days or years"-a small sob escaped-"or whatever. I'm fine with jumping to the just pretending it didn't happen step so-"

He gripped her shoulders in both powerful hands, drawing her closer to him.

"God help me, I wanted it to be you," he admitted gruffly, his voice so soft, she barely heard him.

She stared up at him in shock, realizing for the first time that his face wasn't the usual closed-off mask she'd expected. His features where rough, but not shut down. His gaze was dark, but steady.

"What?" she whispered.

"I'd be lying if I said Jai didn't remind me of you from word one," he admitted. "I spent the last several days lying to myself cause I didn't want to think about it too closely-hell, Jubes, thinking about you in any capacity hurt too goddamn much. And then it was almost like having you back."

"Y-you wanted it to be me?" she asked, voice shaking in disbelief.

He stepped in, closing the space between them, his large hands cupping her wet cheeks.

"Hell yes, darlin'. I missed you every goddamn day." He leaned in, his forehead pressing against hers, effectively freezing her with his hold. "I'm not sayin' we didn't make a mess of everything, and I'm not sayin' I can promise you anything, I just-I can't watch you go up against the Gorgon and leave things unsaid."

"I'm scared, Logan." The words were out before she could stop them. She wasn't even aware of making the decision to tell him. "I'm scared of facing him again and losing myself. I'm scared worse of not making it in time and missing my chance forever. Of having his memory haunt me. And I'm scared of losing you because of how thing's have changed."

"I won't let you get lost. Not again. And I'm not going anywhere."

The realization of his intention hit her just before his mouth met hers. The kiss was light, almost timid, like he was cautiously testing unfamiliar waters. And it was over far too soon.

"You taste better now that you're you," he breathed. "Wasn't sure of how much that night happened cause you weren't you or cause you were."

"Logan, you're not making any damn sense."

"Damn it," he muttered.

"Wolvie?"

"M' not interruptin' now am I?" Gambit rounded the corner, decked out in body armor, complete with trench coat billowing around him in a convincing impression of a cape. The smug twist to his soft, full-lipped mouth and the spark in his scarlet eyes gave Jubilee the insane urge to slap him across his handsome, scruffy face.

"Can I help you, Rem?" Jubilee asked, her tone acerbic. She appreciated that her old friend was worried on her behalf. She appreciated that the Cajun thief knew her biggest weakness was the feral in front of her and that Remy had a protective streak a mile long. But, dammit, there were was a right time and there was a wrong time and Gambit was picking the wrong time.

"Oui, you can help Gambit by comin' with me. Rogue accepted a call on your behalf. Elektra's waiting."

Jubilee glanced at Logan, apology written from her sapphire eyes to her pressed lips.

"Go," he said even as his hand clamped down on her wrist like a vice. With some effort, he relinquished his hold on her. "I'll be right behind you."

Jubilee gave him a look that she had perfected in the several years she'd known him; a strange mix of warning and gratefulness that only he could invoke. Just a simple glance and he knew she wanted to say thanks for being there, but don't fuck this up with your typical overprotective bull.

She needed to trust him to stay out of trouble.

Jubilee glanced at Remy similarly before jogging down the hall and leaving the men to their testosterone-laden posturing.

Gambit watched the petite run off, then turned to face Wolverine, unconsciously raising himself to his full height, long, lean fingers thumbing benign playing cards in his coat pocket.

"Gambit," Wolverine stated in an open challenge. The Cajun had a lot of nerve thinking that he was a variable in this particular equation.

"What the hell do ya think you're doin', Wolverine?" Gambit asked, his suave demeanor giving way to the hard edge underneath.

"What I'm doing ain't any of your goddamn business, Lebeau."

"Listen, homme, I'm not goin' to say this is particularly surprising or that I didn't see this comin'. In my mind, it's been brewin' for a while."

"So just cause you 'saw this coming' you think it's your place to step in and spout bullshit?" Wolverine snarled.

"She's going up against the man who murdered her-"

"No one fucking knows that better'n me!"

"And here you are confusing the hell outta her. That's the last thing the petite needs right now."

"She'll be fine," Logan insisted, needing his statement to be true. "This time she won't be alone. This time I'll be there."

Gambit let out a mocking laugh.

"The way I hear it, the Gorgon killed you last time. Or near as. So, clearly, having you there to protect her will be the answer to all our problems," he said scathingly.

Logan made a supreme effort to hold his claws in.

"You're a real jackass Gambit. And for the record, there's a few things you're not taking into account," Logan said, his sharp teeth made evident by his dangerous grin.

"Oh, yeah? What's that?" Gambit asked as Logan stalked towards the direction Jubilee had gone, leaving the Cajun to follow in his wake.

"You haven't seen what she's capable of now."

"""""""""""""

Jubilee skidded into the room in a near imitation of her thirteen-year-old self, and did her best to pretend she wasn't running away from Wolverine.

"Jubes?"

"Rogue!" she exclaimed, cheeks flushed a bright pink, her eyes bright.

"Ya doin' ok, suger?" The older woman asked, her suspicions on the rise.

"Yep-I'm fine-I'm great."

"Uh-huh." Rogue responded in a dry drawl. "I can see that."

Jubilee glowered in a way that said later. "Elektra?"

Rogue pressed a button near the large flat screen and Jubilee was suddenly face to face with her manipulative savior; her glory of black, glossy hair crowning emerald eyes that were alight with interest dominated the screen.

Jubilee stared dumbly, a strange mix of expectations and realization battling within her. As Jai, Elektra was a simply another ninja vying for power, albeit an incredibly talented one. However, Jubilee had grown up with this woman as an untouchable legend who garnered fear in most of the superhero community, to say nothing of Wolverine's respect.

She found the reality of her situation jarring to say the least.

A year ago I was out of the superhero biz. Now I'm in the thick of it with Wolvie and Elektra and SHIELD and the Gorgon. How the hell did this happen to me?

Comprehension narrowed the Greek woman's sharp eyes.

"Jai? Is that you?"

"Huh! Oh, duh! Yeah, it's me," Jubilee mentally slapped herself. I just said DUH to Elektra. Ugh, not the savviest answer.

"Um, the real me, that is. My name's Jubilee. And I...used to be an X-Man," she continued.

And sometimes that's like being an alcoholic. Not at ALL good for your health.

Jubilee glanced at Rogue for help and the Southern belle shrugged as if to say she was doing well enough.

"You used to be an X-man?" Elektra inquired.

"I grew up with them. I...lost my powers on M-Day."

And that's all I have to say about that, Jubilee quoted Forrest Gump to herself.

"So. You were the one," Elektra said in a haunting voice.

"Excuse me?"

"The one Logan died for a year ago. I had always wondered...Well. I guess that makes more sense than it doesn't," she said, smiling coldly. "The Gorgon always knew how to take advantage of a man's weakness."

"Yeah, because it's an original fucking theme with me," Logan growled as he entered the room, making Jubilee nearly jump a mile out of her skin. "Go after the girl."

Jubilee narrowed her blue eyes.

"I'm more than someone's weakness, thank you very much. And the Gorgon is gonna learn that real soon."

Elektra's grin turned positively wicked.

"I wouldn't be asking for your help if I didn't know that was the case."

"Glad we have that understanding," Jubilee responded.

Logan stepped up behind her, causing a shiver to dance down her spine.

Great, we're back to that game again, she thought. I really wish I could paff him. He know exactly what he's doing.

She refocused on Elektra.

"I'm hoping you're the one with the game plan," Jubilee started. "I'm a little fried what with the getting all my memories back and being tortured back into my original genome or whatever and dealing with being back from the dead."

Elektra frowned slightly, as if to say that's interesting.

"How fast can you get to Japan?" the Greek ninja asked.

"Few hours in the X-Jet," Wolverine piped up.

"Then I suggest you get here. We'll go from there."

Elektra cut the feed and Jubilee sighed in resignation.

"Because that was illuminating."

Wolverine grinned emphatically.

"Don't worry, darlin'," he said. "She has a plan. Trust me."

Jubilee turned to Rogue and Gambit.

"Ready to hit the road, like, now?" Jubilee asked, suddenly unsure that they would be so willing to follow her.

Rogue tugged on Remy's trench coat. "We'll go get our gear and prep the jet. We leave as soon as you're ready, sugar."

Jubilee nodded in relief and turned to Logan.

"Wolvie?"

"You go on ahead, Jubes. I gotta phone call to make."