Canadian Whiskey

Logan left Charles' office carrying the manila folder he had been given. He had a lot to think about since coming home and getting everyone's reaction. He didn't know it would be so rough for everyone to accept. They could put up with his open pursuit of Jean, but when he is being pursued it gets everyone in an uproar. Granted, Jubilee is young, but she has had a lot of hardship in her life and it has made her a tough person. He could count on her in any fight and knew she would give her life to help any friend she had.

He made his way up the stairs and passed a few of the female students from his class that morning. He smiled at them as they passed him and he could hear giggling and running footsteps as they hurried down the remainder of the steps. Turning left, and heading down the corridor of the East wing. He slowed as he heard familiar voices and someone mention his name.

". . . Logan and Jubilee. What's wrong, Jean? Are you jealous of Jubilee now?" This came from Scott. Logan stopped just short of the door to listen.

"You know better than to accuse me of that, Scott. You know how I feel about you," was her reply.

"There for a while I wasn't so sure,” Logan heard him take a deep breath. "I could have sworn that you enjoyed the attention." Logan heard Scott move closer to the door and he took a quick, silent step back. "I know you love me, Jean, there is no question about that. But I wonder, sometimes, if you don't love him more than you should." Someone grabbed a hold of the door and Logan quickly continued his walk down the corridor. As he walked away, he heard Scott tell her, "You really need to make up your mind, Jean. There isn't room for the both of us in your heart or your bed."

"I thought it would be obvious whom I have chosen. It is your ring I wear, isn't it?" Logan stopped and turned back to look at their bedroom door. Jean was standing in the hallway, looking in. She said, "Logan isn't the one who occupies my mind, Scott. If you would take your head out of your ass long enough you would be able to see that." Logan watched as she turned and stormed off in the opposite direction and Scott slammed the door shut.

Logan stood there, unsure what to make of what he had just witnessed. He had been in love with Jean at one time, or at least he had thought so, but since Jubilee's return, life had changed considerably. Scott loves Jean; truly loves her. He knew Jean returned Scott's love. If she didn't, she wouldn't have married the man. He knew how hard it was to find a love such as theirs. 'Maybe you're just tired of chasing something you'll never have,' he thought to himself. He shrugged his shoulders and, turning and continuing down the corridor, he stopped at a door to his right. He stood there for a moment, not really sure how to proceed since his talk with Charles. Taking a deep breath, he raised his hand and knocked on the door.


********** ********** **********


Jubilee opened the door to Logan and smiled. She had hoped he would come say good-bye to her before she left. She had just gotten out of the shower and had dabbed on a few drops of the perfume he had given her for Christmas a couple of years ago. She had quickly donned a fresh uniform when he had knocked. She backed away from the door to allow him access. He came in and sat in her window seat, lifting the curtain to look out.

Her room faced the eastern tree line of the forest that covered more than half the estate. He noticed a slight movement at one of the big oak trees, but didn't catch any other movement. He let the curtain drop and turned back towards her. His eyes roamed over her room. The walls were covered in posters of bands he had never heard of and probably wouldn't listen to if he had. Several book shelves lined one wall covered in a mixture of DVDs, cds, and paper back books. She still had the day bed the Professor had given her for a birthday a few years ago, but she had updated the look of it with black satin sheets and pillows. A mirrored dresser rounded out the furniture in her room. The door to her in-room bathroom was slightly ajar and the air was humid from the shower she'd just had.

She noticed his perusal of her room and was slightly embarrassed. It still had a lot of the stuff from her childhood here, but she had at least been able to smuggle in her black satin sheets. She couldn't live without those. On certain nights, she could almost imagine the feel of the satin sliding across her skin to be Logan's hands. She sighed heavily and said, "So, come to see me off?"

He stared at her for a few minutes and she began to fidget. "C'mon, Wolvie," she whined. He smiled at her and she ran and threw herself into his arms. He kissed her as he stood up to fully embrace her. There was a knock and Storm opened the door and stepped into the room. He quickly stepped back from Jubilee. The expression on Storm's face wasn't a happy one.

"It is time to leave, Jubilee," she said. She backed out of the room and left. Logan kissed Jubilee again and wished her a safe trip and good luck. He left the room to catch up with Storm.

“‘Ro," he called down the corridor to her. She looked back over her shoulder and slowed down for him to catch up. He stepped up beside her and said, "We've been friends a long time, 'Ro." She shook her head in acknowledgement. "Always been honest w'each other." She agreed with this, also. He stopped walking and halted her with a hand on her elbow. Their eyes met and he asked, "How ya feelin' about me and Jubes? Please tell me 'cause that look you gave us just didn't say anything." He regretted the words almost immediately, but, damnit, he was tired of feeling like he was being attacked because Jubilee was so young.

Ororo stood and stared at him for a moment. She hadn't thought about him coming straight out and asking her opinion, but she should know better. She knew him better than any other X-Man including Jean and she had walked through his mind. She and Logan shared a certain kind of bond and she knew this new relationship between two of her favorite people was going to be a test of her patience and the friendship of all involved.

"It is obvious you know how I feel. Why make me say it," she replied to him.

"You have never been one to hold your opinion from me. Why be all shy about it now?" She blinked a couple of times and turned to continue to the elevator. "C'mon, 'Ro. Be honest with me. I deserve that much."

She sighed heavily, stopped walking and turned back to him. "Part of me is ecstatic that the both of you are finally discovering a comfortable place with each other and seem quite happy about it," she took a step towards him. "Moreover, I hate it. I'm very disappointed. I'm angry. You have better control that to let her have her way. She is young, but still old enough to not play with the animal instincts she knows very well that you try so hard to keep in check." They both heard the clap of thunder outside the mansion, making them both jump. She sighed heavily, trying to calm herself down.

"If I didn't know any better, didn't know you any better, I'd swear you were jealous," he told her, not smiling at all.

"Angry, yes. Jealous, perhaps a little, but I will get over it in time. It is hard to see new lovers when I yearn for one of my own. In the mean time, I will hold my opinion on the subject unless asked." She turned and continued to the elevator.

He didn't follow her.