People change.  Grow.  Leave their families to move on and make their own life.  It was a natural progression, the age-old path from child to adult.

Jubilee felt her footsteps along that path today more keenly than in the past four years. She looked across the mansion lawn decorated for her college graduation party. Throughout college, the prankster and the attitude had gradually vanished and in their absence an educated young woman emerged. One that was admired by friends and colleagues.  Who would have thought it? Jubilee wondered inwardly.  When she reflected on her past, and when she thought of her first vision of Logan, hanging, wounded, nailed to a cross by the Reavers, it seemed those experiences belonged to a stranger.  She viewed those memories with an out-of-body like feeling.  When nostalgia threatened to stifle her, she cast it off and refused to mourn the loss of those carefree days.  Most of all, she refused to grieve for her friendship with a surely mutant whom she had not seen in two years, three months and seven days.

Where had that come from!  Her subconscious betrayed her.  She often used to think of him, and when months went by with no word, she forced herself to banish him from memory.  Out of sight, out of mind.

Yeah right!   Like who's fooling who here?

Jubilee allowed her self the luxury of conjuring his memory like a ghost from the past.  When she closed her eyes she could see that cock-sure strut, and hear his gruff drawl.  The best damn attitude problem in the universe, without equal.  Logan.  Irritating.  Lovable.  Jerk!

He should be here, she thought.  He, more than anyone, made this possible and shaped who I've become.

Jubilee took a deep breath to brace herself, and forced a smile on her face.  No bad-tempered phantoms would ruin her party.  She mingled, accepted congratulations from her friends with outward smiles and an inward sense of relief. She had the diploma and long, sleepless nights of studying to prove its worth.  The former mall rat had done it.  She had attained, through hard work and dedication, a bachelor's degree in political science, and next week she would continue her internship with the mutant rights advocate, Senator Grossman.  Next fall she would be returning to continue her education.  Her new view on life taught her there were non-violent means with which to fight for mutant rights.

Jean and Ororo gave her hugs.  Hank wrapped his arms around her, and swung her around in a big bear hug.  Rogue was busy orchestrating the party staff and helping her was Jenny Grossman, the senator's daughter and a mutant with telekinetic abilities.

Professor Xavier wheeled up in his chair and Jubilee leaned down, hugged him and gave him a peck on the check.  "Thank you for this," she said.

"You've earned it.  I'm proud of you, Jubilee," he said, approval in his expression.  "I plan to follow your political career with great interest."

"That I have your support means everything."  She took his hand and he squeezed it.

A frown marred the professor's brow for a moment, and he pressed two fingers to his temple, his eyes squeezed shut.  His head lolled to one side and his eyebrows fell.

"Is everything okay, professor?" Jubilee asked, leaning down and peering into his face.

The professor opened his eyes and blinked.  "I…. I think so.  But…," his voice trailed off and looked off into the distance then shook his head.  "There was something for a moment.  It went away before I could identify it.  A familiar sense, very faint."  He sighed and cast Jubilee a smile.  "It was nothing.  Let's go enjoy the party, shall we?"

Jubilee smiled, but was not convinced.  She looked up as a shadow fell over them.

"Party time!" said a tall, blonde haired young man.  He dropped his arm around Jubilee's shoulders.  She reached up, took his hand.  They shared a warm smile and she snuggled closer.  "You two lok too serious.  We have a lot to celebrate." 

"Yes indeed.  Jubilee has worked hard for this," said the professor.  "How are you, Doug?"

"Fine, sir."  His handshake with the professor was firm, the handshake of a budding politician.  "It is good to see you again."

"Yes.  I hope we'll be seeing more of you over the summer."

"Count on it.  Jubilee and I will be working together with Senator Grossman."

"Excellent news," the professor replied.  "Now I will have two of you to keep me informed on mutant rights." 

Jubilee and Doug walked together into the party, the professor hung back.  Her graduation party was a private affair, but still large enough that the mansion's backyard was filled with people.  It had been two years since the mansion had hosted a party of this size.  The joy drained from Jubilee for a moment as she thought back to that time.  It seemed like more than two years ago that Logan had rode off, and since then, no one had seen or heard of him.  It was like he had dropped off the face of the planet.  She took a deep breath, her hands balling to fists.  A few sparklers trickled from her fingertips, but no one noticed.

"He isn't even here so I'm not going to let him ruin my party," she admonished herself.  "Just stop thinking about him!"

"What was that?" asked Doug.  He took her hand and led her across the yard to the buffet table.

"Nothing.  Just thinking aloud."

"Excited?" he asked.

"Very.  I'm looking forward to applying my studies to the real thing."

An odd expression passed over Doug's handsome features but was quickly gone.  "Yeah, I know what you mean."  His usual good-humored smile appeared again and he gave her hand a squeeze.  "How about some of these sliced meats and a roll.  He began loading up a plate for her and placed it in her hands.

"Are you serving me?"

"Don't I always."  He leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to her lips and gave her a wink.  "I am your willing slave.  Would you like me to feed you?"

"Now that has possibilities."

"And maybe we'll explore them later."  He wiggled his eyebrows and Jubilee laughed.  She happened to glance toward the professor and her smile faded.

He sat alone, his head down, his hands pressed to his temples, a grimace of tortured pain on his face.  It appeared Jean had noticed, too and she was hurrying across the grass toward him, Scott in her wake.

"Can you hold this a sec," she asked Doug, and shoved her plate at him, her gaze never leaving the professor as she began to run.

"Wait!  Jubilee?" Doug called.  She didn't answer.

Jean had reached the professor and was bent over him like a worried hen with an injured chick.  "What is it, professor," she was asking, and pressed a gentle finger to his brow.

"Is it the same thing, professor?" Jubilee asked, crouching down next to him, a hand on his knee.  Doug had joined them and touched her shoulder, letting her know he was there.

"I'm not certain," the professor said, his voice hoarse.  "It's very faint.  I think…. I think it's… Logan."

Jubilee stopped breathing and the world slowed and stopped. Everything and everyone faded until her whole existence focused on that single word.

"Logan." She didn't realize she'd said the name aloud until the professor pinned her with his gaze.

"I think he's in trouble," he said.

End of Chapter Two