Jubilee, Madelyn - Thursday night

[x-madelyn.livejournal.com]

Madelyn makes dinner for Jubilee, and tells her of an impending absence.



The meal had been relatively simple, given the restrictions of both the suite's kitchenette (emphasis on the '-ette') and of the dining area (there wasn't one, just the coffee table and the lounge setting). But soup and tuna melts, followed by ice cream had worked well enough, as had the flow of conversation, keeping things light and mundane - Jubilee's determination to do well in her finals, the latest gossip that didn't involve either of them, Maddie's latest news-filled email from her mother. But finally, setting aside the empty bowl that had recently held chocolate cookie dough ice cream, Madelyn turned her attention to the reason why she'd asked Jubilee up here.

"Coffee?" she suggested first, trying to find a way to lead in without being abrupt.

Jubilee shook her head. "Nah, I'm more the soda type. Got any Dr Pepper?"

"There's Jolt, but there's no way I'm handing that out this time of evening. Juice? I've got cranberry and raspberry..." Madelyn replied, getting up and heading for the fridge.

Jubilee smiled, she was already going to be spending a good part of the evening once she finished dinner in the library but she could do that without liquid fortitude. "Juice is good. Cranberry, please.

Pouring a glass and putting the coffee maker on, Madelyn returned to the couch. "I'm sorry I haven't been around so much, firecracker," she began, handing over the juice as she sat. "But there's been a lot on. And it's not over yet."

Jubilee cradled her glass of juice, taking a small sip before leaning back and giving her full attention to Madelyn.

She'd known something had been bothering Mads tonight, and that she seemed to want to talk about it. But she hadn't seen the older woman for long in ages and the chance to just hang out had been too nice to rush things. "You're going to be doing something dangerous, aren't you?" Jubilee said, guessing.

Madelyn nodded. "I can't tell you everything - hell, I'm not really supposed to be saying anything at all, but I can't lie to you, firecracker. And I trust you, to not say anything." She paused as Jubilee nodded a little, and then went on. "It's Mistra."

The name sent a chill through her and she shivered, drawing her hands across her stomach. 'They'll kill her' the thought flashed across her mind, quick as lightning and the dream she'd shared with Nathan suddenly coming back to her.

"Who else is goin'?" she asked, voice not as calm and unemotional as she would have liked it to be.

"Everyone," Madelyn said, treading cautiously. There was so much she couldn't say. "And not just the team, which is why I'm going - there's too much for Hank to deal with. I'll be working with some people from the government, as a medic." She willed Jubilee to understand, without asking too many more questions she couldn't answer.

Jubilee nodded, her mind running over the fact that the government was involved. That was unusual, the X-Men as far as she knew didn't often work with the government. Then again, what she really knew of the X-Men wasn't a hell of a lot, so what did she know? She pulled herself back forcefully, concentrating on the moment at hand. Madelyn obviously wanted something from her, or else she wouldn't be telling her this. Understanding? The most likely option, considering how badly she'd handled the last time Madelyn had to go on something like this.

"It wouldn't be fair of me to ask you not to go, would it?" Jubilee replied, smiling to let Madelyn know that it would be alright.

She could do this, she could accept Madelyn's choice, she could choose to not make it any harder for Mads to do this. She didn't like it though. Oh no, she didn't like it at all.

"Not fair, no. But understandable." Madelyn reached over, offering Jubilee her hand to take, if she wanted. "I have to go, firecracker. I'm liasing between our people and the government, and they're counting on me. That's why I'm leaving tomorrow, for DC. To get things ready." She smiled. "I'll be careful, I promise."

Jubilee nodded, reaching out and holding Madelyn's hand between her own, squeezing for a second as the human touch comforted her in some indefinable way.

"I know you will, Mads. Will you let me know when you go? Not just to DC but on...on the mission that is. I know you probably can't tell me much else, what with the whole governmental angle and well, X-Men stuff usually means you couldn't say much anyhow. But, if you could just let me know when you go, that'd be good."

It was *hard* to not cling. It was just as hard not to draw away, draw into herself again.

"I will. Even if I have to message you from the plane." Madelyn had to swallow a sudden lump in her throat at the sight of Jubilee curling in on herself again. "We're going to finish this, Jubilee," she said softly, yet her tone fierce. "Whatever happens, there won't be any more kids taken. No more white room."

Jubilee grinned suddenly and pulled on Madelyn's hand, drawing the older woman into a quick hug. "You will, Mads. You'll be fantastic, I know it."

She'd been so focussed on herself lately, drawing back into older habits. It had only just occurred to her that Madelyn might need reassurance as well.

Madelyn hugged Jubilee back tightly, startled by the gesture and warmed by it. It helped still some of the butterflies in her stomach - if Madelyn had to be completely honest, part of her was terrified at what she was going to face. "We'll need you older kids to take care of things while we're gone," she murmured, stroking the long shiny black hair. "Make sure the little ones are okay, that sort of thing."

"We'll take care of it." Jubilee replied firmly, her expression still tight with worry but trying to put on a brave face. "You won't have anything to worry about but the mission at hand, I promise."

She could promise that, she'd make sure this place was okay while they were all gone. They'd done drills enough on emergency procedures, it would be easy enough to get the others to help her out with keeping the littlies occupied. Jamie, for one could take care of Miles and Artie, and that wouldn't be anything beyond the normal. If Madelyn really meant everyone, then Alison would have to be going as well. Jubilee wasn't sure whether she would let Miles know what was going on or not but it was probably better that the kid have some normalcy to hold onto while everything was going down.

She laughed suddenly, hugging Madelyn again. "Dude, Scott totally is rubbing off on me. Seriously disturbing, that is."

"He's contagious like that," Madelyn agreed with a chuckle. She pulled back a little so she could see Jubilee's face. "I'm proud of you, firecracker," she said, brushing a lock of hair out of Jubilee's face gently.

"Thanks, Mom." Jubilee said, wrinkling her nose slightly but her eyes were warm and her shoulders straightened proudly at the praise.

"Bah, I'm young enough for you to be my sister," Madelyn mock-huffed, before hugging Jubilee tightly again. "I'll be back soon, I promise," she repeated fiercely.

"So...you gonna bring me something back from DC, then?" Jubilee replied after a moment of hugging Madelyn back.