Chapter Six

"For Christ's sake Wolvie! I just got here. Now you are telling me that you are taking off again. I am going to wring your hairy neck!"

Wolverine looked like a whipped puppy. He knew that telling Jubilee about his trip to Madripoor was not going to be easy. "C'mon darlin', I wouldn't run out on ya unless I had a good reason."

"Where have I heard that before!", Jubilee screamed at the forlorn looking Logan.

"Darlin', I promise that I will make this one up to ya."

"Damn right you will ... cuz' you are taking me with you!"

The expression on Wolverine's countenance changed from a look of despair to one of determination. "Oh no I'm not! Trust me, where I am goin' ain't no place fer a lady."

Jubilee's mouth stood agape. "Since when have you ever considered me a lady, you hairy Canuklehead?"

Wolverine broke into a full-fledged grin at that one. "Have ya looked in the mirror lately, darlin? Yer almost twenty two, and despite whatcha' think, I have noticed yer no longer the lil' firecracker that ya used to be."

Jubilee cracked a small smile. "Don't think that by playing on my feelings you are going to get out of taking me along. I came all the way up here to spend some time with you, and if that means we gotta kick some ass together, then so be it. It has been awhile since I got to see you in action."

Wolverine assumed the look of defeat. "Alright, yer invited. Just remember, this trip is strictly business. Don't think that yer gonna get to drag me on some shopping spree."

"I wouldn't DREAM of it. Lemme go pack!", Jubilee quipped as she wrapped her arms around Logan's neck and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

Wolverine chuckled to himself as he watched Jubilee scamper upstairs to retrieve the luggage she recently unpacked. 'Must be goin' soft. First I let Wraith live, then I give into the demands of Jubilee.' Wolverine reflected on just how quickly he gave in to her this time. It hit him how much he really had missed having her around over the years. He also thought about his previous conversation with her, and how much she really had grown up since leaving the mansion. 'Gonna have to beat the guys off with a stick, that's fer sure. My lil' firecracker has really grown up into a real lovely.'

Wolverine sauntered up the stairs himself to throw some belongings together. As he rarely stays anyplace long, most of his packing was already done.

Jubilee, meanwhile, was a flurry of activity. She knew that there was something amiss. Wolverine had not been to Madripoor for a long time, ever since the death of Electra. She knew that going back to the city that had killed his lover was going to be hard on him, and she was glad that she could be there for *her Wolvie*. That, and she was glad to be able to spend some time with the man that had meant so much to her. The years seemed to have flown by, with her education, and him always off on some important mission, they really haven't had any quality time in quite awhile. Jubilee was stuffing anything that she could get her hands on back into her suitcase. She knew traveling with Logan meant that there was no telling what they would get into, or when they would be back. 'Better safe than sorry.', she thought.

Opening up the closet door, Jubilee spotted something that made her pause. Hanging just where she left it was her old yellow coat. She had outgrown it many years ago, and since replaced it with a slick black leather trench coat that came almost to the floor, but could never get rid of the garment that she had worn while as a member of the X Men. Jubilee smiled at the remembrance of Logan's comments. He HAS noticed that I am no longer a little girl!

Breaking out of her dreamy fantasy, Jubilee grabbed some garments from the closet shelf, and stuffed them in her suitcase. Pouncing on the lid, she managed to close it, although the suitcase appeared that it could explode at any moment.

Grabbing her bags from the bed, Jubilee stumbled down the stairs to see the Wolvster waiting at the front door. Jubilee grinned wickedly at the X Man as she offered her bags for him to carry.

A low growl and a 'Don't think so' look was enough for Jubilee. "Can't blame a girl for tryin'. Chivalry is definitely dead."

Logan made a guttural snarl and snatched the bags from Jubilee despite himself, and proceeded towards the door.

"So how we gonna get to Madripoor anyhow?"

"Storm is gonna drop us off at the airport. From there we are gonna fly the old fashioned way. I want as many people to know I am back in town. None of that cloak and dagger crap."

"Sounds good. So where is Stormy?"

"Right behind you dear, and please don't call me Stormy."

Jubilee whirled to see the graceful descent of Storm down the staircase. "I wanted to make myself presentable before we left."

"I'll say." Logan gave a little whistle as he surveyed the lithe figure of Storm come to stand in front of him. She was wearing a creamy summer dress that accentuated her dark skin and white hair, and a pair of high heels. "Women always look their best when going to a wedding, and going to the airport. Why is that?" He suddenly felt the elbow of Jubilee planted in his ribs.

"How come you never tell me I look good?" Jubilee inquired.

Wolverine had to think quickly on that. He DID think that Jubilee looked good. Damn good. But admitting that wasn't gonna happen. "C'mon darlin, I ain't seen ya in over a year. Besides, you would think that Stormy here lives in her costume. It's rare to see her in somethin' like that.", Wolverine grinned as he could see the exasperation in Storm's face.

"Stop calling me Stormy."

Logan flashed a toothy smile as he again shouldered his and Jubilee's luggage, and trotted off out the door.