Disclaimer: I don't own the X-Men. Amazing, huh? Ooh, and here's another shocker—I don't own any of the songs used in this fic. If you sue me, you're an idiot. "Jubilee" is sung by Mary Chapin Carpenter, and "My Best Friend" by Tim McGraw. Julie Garwood owns the section in here copied from her novel The Bride. I'm using the excerpt without her permission.

Summary: Are things finally looking up for Wolverine and Jubilee? (part ten in a series)

Rating: PG-13

Sappy Fluff Warning: That's what this is folks—Fluff. Shameless, unapologetic fluff. Normal Addie-Logan-style angst will return soon enough, so don't be afraid! Hate fluff and want to find a way to get through this fic? Make it a drinking game! Try something like throwin' back a shot of Jack Daniels every time tears come anywhere near Jubilee's eyes. You'll be falling-down drunk in no time flat!

Author’s Note: Like with parts one through nine, if you have serious issues with W/J romantic pairings, DO NOT read this! You have been warned. Constructive criticism welcomed. Flames deleted right after I tell you off for being a rude little moron. And people who flame without giving an email address are wussies.

Author's Note Part 2: Chapter ten. Wow...I can't believe I've written ten stories in this series already! Well, since ten's an important number, then I think it's time for a celebration. Read on, and you'll see what I mean. :-D

Feedback and Archiving: Feedback please! If you're reading this at fanfiction.net, be nice and make use of that little review form at the bottom of the page and I'll be eternally grateful. Besides, feedback makes me want to write more… :-) Also, if you'd like to archive this anywhere, feel free, just let me know where you’re putting it. Send all E-mail to addie_logan@yahoo.com or message me through AIM at ChereRogueMarie. Thanks to everyone who's given me feedback so far!

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 Back Where the Sun Can Find You:

Bliss

By: Addie Logan

 

*Cue Theme Song*

I can tell by the way you're walking
That you don't want company
I'll let you alone and I'll let you walk on
And in your own good time you'll be
Back where the sun can find you
Under the wise wishing tree
And with all of them made we'll lie under the shade
And call it a jubilee

And I can tell by the way you're talking
That the past isn't letting you go
But there's only so long you can take it all on
And then the wrong's gotta be on its own
And when you're ready to leave it behind you
You'll look back, and all that you'll see
Is the wreckage and rust that you left in the dust
On your way to the jubilee

And I can tell by the way you're listening
That you're still expecting to hear
Your name being called like a summons to all
Who have failed to account for their doubts and their fears
They can't add up to much without you
And so if it were just up to me
I'd take hold of your hand, saying come hear the band
Play your song at the jubilee

And I can tell by the way you're searching
For something you can't even name
That you haven't been able to come to the table
Simply glad that you came
And when you feel like this try to imagine
That we're all like frail boats on the sea
Just scanning the night for that great guiding light
Announcing the jubilee

And I can tell by the way you're standing
With your eyes filling with tears
That it's habit alone keeps you turning for home
Even though your home is right here
Where the people who love you are gathered
Under the wise wishing tree
May we all be considered then straight on delivered
Down to the jubilee

'Cause the people who love you are waiting
And they'll wait just as long as need be
When we look back and say those were halcyon days
We're talking 'bout jubilee

*** *** ***

Jubilee never thought she'd be so happy to be back in Canada.

She looked over at Wolverine and smiled. He had carried a sleeping Akira in, and the boy was still passed out on Logan's shoulder.

He looked so...fatherly. Jubilee was surprised at how much she liked that.

"I'm gonna put him down in our bed fer now," Logan said. "We can figure out what to do on a more permanent basis tomorrow."

Jubilee nodded. "All right."

Jubilee sat on the couch, pulling her knees up to her chin.

She kept telling herself things were going to be all right.

*** *** ***

Logan woke up late that night and looked over beside him. Jubilee was asleep with Akira curled up in her arms. If he didn't know any better, he'd swear they were mother and child.

And, he figured they were, in a way. Akira was hers now. They'd both seemed to make that pretty clear.

So where did that leave him?

The answer hit Logan hard. He was a father.

He remembered Amiko, and his heart ached. He'd never been the father he should've been to her, and now, he'd never have the chance.

He wasn't going to make the same mistake again. Jubilee and Akira—they were his family now, despite the circumstances. And that meant that one thing needed to change. Logan reached over and gently took Jubilee's left hand, kissing the diamonds he'd placed there only a short time ago.

He knew it was time for him to add another ring.

*** *** ***

Jubilee and Akira were both already awake when Logan got up the next morning. Akira was sitting on the floor coloring, and Jubilee was reading a book. "Mornin'," Logan said.

Jubilee didn't look up from the book. "Good morning, love."

"Whatcha readin'?"

"Book."

"I can see that. What's the title?"

"I don't remember."

Logan tried to move to get a look at the cover, but Jubilee twisted the book so he couldn't.

Now Wolverine was determined. He reached over and snatched the book out of Jubilee's hand. "Julie Garwood's The Bride?" He skimmed the back cover. "Jubes, this is a romance novel."

Jubilee turned bright red. "I know. Just give it back, all right?"

"Care to tell me why you're reading a romance novel? I thought only lonely housewives read these things, and I'm pretty sure ya ain't one of those..."

Jubilee snorted. "Far from it. Look, my roommate in college used to read them all the time, and she got me hooked, all right? The little things are addictive."

Logan opened the book to a random page and started reading. "What is this crap?" he asked. "'You're wearing my plaid now, that's what I'm thinking.' 'I'm not wearing anything, she whispered.'"

Jubilee tried to grab the book out of Logan's hand, but he stepped back, keeping it away from her. "'Aye, you are. Your back is covered by the plaid blanket and I'm covering your front with my plaid. Yes, you're wearing my plaid all right."

Jubilee blushed a bright red and Wolverine just laughed. "Always pegged ya fer havin' better taste in readin' material, darlin'," he said, handing her back the book.

"I don't read them for literary merit, Logan," she said, trying to push away her embarrassment. "They're...entertaining."

Logan smirked. "I bet they are."

Jubilee smacked him on the head with the novel. "Stop being so annoying."

Jubilee felt a tug on her pants' leg, and looked down to see Akira. "What is it, sweetheart?" she asked, crouching down to be on his level.

"I made a picture!" Akira exclaimed. "It's you and Logan!"

Jubilee couldn't help but laugh when she saw the picture. It consisted of two stick figures: one that was smiling and wearing a little stick-person dress, and another that appeared to be snarling, with three lines coming out of each hand, and two more lines coming off the head, reminiscent of antennae. "What are these on Logan's head?" Jubilee asked, easily discerning which was which.

"His hair," Akira said, as if Jubilee had asked the dumbest question in the world. "See, it's all pointy."

Jubilee looked over to see Wolverine self-consciously trying to smooth his hair down. She forced herself to keep from laughing anymore. She stood up, taking Akira's hand. "Come on, let's go put this on the fridge." Jubilee threw a wink to Wolverine over her shoulder as she and Akira walked out. He just snarled a little, and then broke out into a grin.

Jubilee laughed.

*** *** ***

Logan and Jubilee had spent the past several hours at the Hinton, Alberta Wal-Mart. It wasn't exactly Jubilee's idea of a pleasant shopping excursion, but seeing as they had to get everything they'd need to take care of a small child as soon as possible, it was the place to go.

"Hon, what do you think of this toddler bed?"

"Hmm? What, darlin'? I wasn't listenin'."

Jubilee sighed. "That's like what, the eight millionth time this afternoon? I'm starting to lose my patience, Logan."

"Sorry," Logan said. "I got a lot on my mind."

Akira dropped his toy from his seat in the front of the buggy, and Jubilee picked it up and handed it to him without even stopping to think. Logan chuckled.

"What the hell's so funny?"

"You. You're a natural at this mom thing."

"How is that funny? What, did you think I'd be bad at it?"

"No, not all. Just the opposite, really. It just makes me happy to see ya with Akira. Hell, when we were back in Madripoor I wasn't sure about this, but now, us bein' a family feels so...right."

Jubilee felt her eyes growing misty. "Logan, I..."

Logan cut her off. "I like the bed, Jubes."

"What?"

"The toddler bed. I like that one. It meets all the safety regulations and stuff, right?"

Jubilee smiled. "Says it does on the box."

"Mommy, I'm hungry."

Jubilee and Logan both turned, staring at Akira. He'd called her mommy... She wanted to cry again, but held it back. "We're almost through here, and then we'll get something on the way home, okay?"

"Okay." Akira went back to playing with the toy Jubilee had gotten for him in order to keep him occupied during their little Wal-Mart excursion.

Jubilee looked down at Akira and maternally stroked the top of his head. She decided she liked being someone's "mommy."

*** *** ***

"You can't seriously be suggesting we take the kid to a bar, Logan."

"It'll be fine. It's just Carrie's."

"No! He's four years old—he doesn't belong in a bar."

Logan thought in a series of curses. Convincing Jubilee to go along with him was harder than he'd anticipated. "Jubes, darlin', please. Humor me. If things get too rough for a kid, we'll leave."

"I don't think it's a good idea, Logan. It'll get late, and..."

"We'll be home in time fer Akira to go to bed at a reasonable hour."

"Logan..."

"Please, darlin'?"

Jubilee had never been able to resist Logan when he said please in that particular tone of voice. Which probably made it a good thing that he didn't do it very often. "Fine," she said with a sigh. "If it means that much to you, we'll go—but not for long. I plan to be a better mother to that child than Viper ever was."

"That won't take much," Logan said with a snort.

Jubilee hit him playfully on the arm. "Well, if we're gonna go, we better go," she said. "I'm going to change."

"Darlin'?"

"Yeah?"

"Wear somethin' cute tonight."

Jubilee gave him a puzzled look. "Like what?"

"I don't know...how 'bout that white dress ya bought up in Edmonton with Carrie a while back?"

Jubilee shrugged. "All right."

Jubilee walked off and Logan grinned. For once, everything was going the way he wanted it to.

*** *** ***

Jubilee came out of the bedroom. "Is this 'cute' enough?" she asked, twirling around.

A slow smile crept across Logan's face. "Yeah. You look...wow."

Akira looked up from where he was playing on the floor with his blocks. "You look pretty, Mommy!" he exclaimed.

Jubilee bent down and kissed Akira on the cheek. "Thanks, little dude."

Akira beamed up at her.

"I'm gonna go get dresses," Logan said. He gave Jubilee a quick kiss. "I'll be right back."

Jubilee sat down and played with Akira.

*** *** ***

Jubilee glanced over at Logan as he drove the jeep. There was something decidedly different about him that night.

He was dressed nicely.

Jubilee had been more than a little surprised when Logan had walked out of the bedroom in something other than faded jeans and an old flannel shirt. Instead, he was dressed in a pair of nice black jeans and a blue dress shirt Jubilee hadn't even known he owned. He'd even made an attempt to calm his ever-pointy hair.

Jubilee noticed something else different about him, too. He was nervous. And the closer they got to Carrie's Place, the more nervous he got.

"Logan, is there something going on I don't know about?" Jubilee asked.

"No, darlin'."

Jubilee could tell he was lying, but she decided not to push the subject. Whatever was up, she'd know soon enough.

When they got to the bar, it was surprisingly next to empty, with the only other two people there being Carrie, and a man Jubilee felt like she knew well, but couldn't place at the same time.

Suddenly, it hit her who he was. It was Kurt Wagner, a.k.a. Nightcrawler, with his image inducer on.

"Logan, what's going on?" Jubilee asked. "Why is Kurt here?"

"He's here to marry us, darlin'."

Jubilee stared at Logan in confusion for a moment until his words sunk in. She started to cry.

Logan looked worried. "Are you upset?"

Jubilee shook her head no.

"Then those are happy tears?"

Jubilee nodded, then threw her arms around Logan's neck. "I love you," she said softly.

"I love you, too."

Carrie walked passed them and over to Akira. "Is this the kid you were talking about on the phone, Logan?" she asked.

Logan moved only slightly out of Jubilee's arms. "Yeah. That's Akira."

Carrie looked down. "Hi, Akira."

Akira waved. "Hi!"

"So whose kid is he exactly?" Carrie asked.

Logan shrugged. "At the moment, ours—mine and Jubilee's. It's a long story, Carrie, and I can't answer a lot of questions."

Carrie nodded. If there was one thing she understood better than anything else it was the need to keep some things secret.

Logan walked over to Kurt and shook his hand, then reached out and hugged him. "Thanks fer comin' up here, elf. Especially on such short notice."

Kurt smiled at his old friend. "I was my pleasure. I was just happy to be able to share in your joy today, mein freund."

"You didn't say anything to the others, did you?" Logan asked.

"No," Kurt replied. "I respect the fact that you want to keep things quiet for now, especially after how much of the mansion reacted to finding out you and Jubilee are a couple."

"Thanks, Kurt."

Carrie and Jubilee—with Akira seated on her hip—came up to the two men. "So are you guys ready to get this happening or not?" Carrie asked. "I think it's more than past time for the two of you to get hitched."

Logan couldn't have gotten rid of the huge grin he was wearing if he'd tried. "I'm sure as hell ready. How 'bout you, Jubes?"

Jubilee wiped a tear off her cheek. "I've never been more ready for anything in my life."

Carrie gave Jubilee a quick hug. "I love you like a sister, kiddo," she said. "I'm so happy for the both of you."

"Thank you, Carrie," Jubilee said, hugging her back. "I love you, too."

Carrie took Akira's hand and led him over to the bar, picking him up and setting him on top of it. He grinned, kicking his little legs over the edge. Carrie sat in the stool beside him and took hold of his hand.

Jubilee told herself not to cry anymore. Her last bit of resolve disappeared the moment she and Logan were standing in front of Kurt, and Logan reached out, taking both of Jubilee's hands in his.

Jubilee didn't hear much of what Kurt was saying up until the vows, the overwhelming emotion of the moment taking hold of her. After all they'd been through together, she and Wolverine were finally getting married.

"Do you, Logan," Kurt began, "take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love, honor, and cherish, to have and to hold, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, as long as you both shall live?"

Logan looked into Jubilee's tear-filled eyes. He had never wanted anything more in his life than to make that vow. "I do."

Kurt turned to Jubilee. "And do you, Jubilation, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love, honor, and cherish, to have and to hold, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, as long as you both shall live?"

Jubilee felt her heart jump. "I do."

Kurt looked at Logan. "Do you have the rings?"

"I do!" Akira yelled. He leapt off the bar and came scampering over, holding two platinum bands in the palm of one of his small hands. He grinned at Jubilee. "Logan said I could be the ring-bear."

Jubilee laughed. Logan took the smaller ring from Akira and patted him on the head.

Logan slipped the ring on Jubilee's left hand. "With this ring, I thee wed."

Jubilee put Logan's ring on his finger as well, fighting to keep her own hand from trembling in the process. "With this ring, I thee wed."

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Logan bent down and captured Jubilee's mouth, trying to infuse all the love, all the passion he felt for her into one kiss. He pulled away and cupped her face in his hands. "My wife," he said, his own eyes filling with tears.

Jubilee took his hands away from her face and held them tightly.

"My husband."

*** *** ***

I never had someone I could count on
I've been let down so many times
I was tired of hurtin'
So tired of searchin'
'Till you walked into my life

It was a feelin' I'd never known
And for the first time, I didn't feel alone

Jubilee wasn't even sure how many times she and Wolverine had danced on that floor, beside the old jukebox. It was where he'd first kissed her, where he'd proposed, and now, where he'd married her. But there was something different about them being there that time, and Jubilee figured it was because something had changed since the last time they'd danced together.

They were married—and it was their first dance together as husband and wife.

You're more than a lover
There could never be another
To make me feel the way you do
Oh, we just get closer
I fall in love all over
Every time I look at you

I don't know where I'd be
Without you here with me
Life with you makes perfect sense
You're my best friend
You're my best friend

The chorus of the song played, and Jubilee looked up into Logan's eyes. He'd picked the song, and now, she could see why. He pressed his lips against her forehead, and then said softly, "You are my best friend."

Jubilee started to cry again. "I've got to quit bursting into tears every five seconds," she said. "I probably look a mess."

"Darlin', yer the most beautiful woman I've ever seen," Logan replied with nothing but sincerity.

You stand beside me
And you believe in me
Like nobody ever has
When my world goes crazy
You're right there to save me
You make me see how much I have
And I still tremble when we touch
And, oh, the look in your eyes
When we make love

You're more than a lover
There could never be another
To make me feel the way you do
Oh, we just get closer
I fall in love all over
Every time I look at you

I don't know where I'd be
Without you here with me
Life with you makes perfect sense
You're my best friend

"Jubes."

Jubilee didn't look up from her comfortable spot, nestled against the crook of Logan's neck. "Hmm?"

"Are you okay with us, um, gettin' married in a bar."

Jubilee did look up then, and Logan could see the mirth in her eyes. "Yes. Actually, it's strangely romantic. So much of our relationship has taken place here. It's...fitting. It was perfect, Logan."

"I love you so much, Jubilee. I just wanted to marry ya, to make ya my wife as soon as I could. I didn't want to take any chances—especially after what happened with Viper. I was afraid that...that..."

"That what happened with you and Mariko would happen with us?" Jubilee said, supplying the end to the sentence that Logan was afraid to say.

Logan let out a deep breath. "Yeah. Damn, you must think I'm a total ass fer thinkin' about her at all today."

Jubilee put her hand on Logan's cheek, and he nuzzled against it. "Not at all. It's perfectly natural that you would."

"You thinkin' about Brian at all?"

Jubilee laughed. "Only in the context that I'm happy it's you I'm marrying, and not him."

Logan held her tighter. "I'm happy for that, too, darlin'."

I don't know where I'd be
Without you here with me
Life with you makes perfect sense
You're my best friend

You're my best friend...

*** *** ***

"Really, Logan, let us."

"Yeah. It's no trouble."

Logan looked and Kurt and Carrie skeptically. "I don't know. I'm worried about not having Akira around to watch over."

"Logan, mein freund, Akira will be safe with us."

Carrie put her hand on Logan's shoulder. "Really. If anyone comes after him trying to hurt him, I have a gun—several in fact."

Logan was torn. He wanted to spend the night alone with Jubilee, seeing as it was their wedding night and all, but he didn't want to put Akira at risk either. "Hold on, let me talk to my wife."

He smiled to himself at that last part. His wife...

"Hey, Jubilee, um, Carrie and Kurt want to take Akira for the night."

Jubilee frowned. "How do you feel about that?"

"I don't know. Kurt knows who Akira is—I told him when I talked to him earlier about coming up here for this. He'd protect him, I know. Carrie doesn't know who he is, but she seems to understand there's some sort of danger surroundin' him, and I think she's okay with that. I don't know how or why, though."

"Do you think he'll be any safer with us than he'll be with them?" Jubilee asked. "He might even be safer, seeing as Viper won't know to look there."

"Good point," Logan said. "What do you want to do?"

"I want the night with you, if it's at all possible," she said. "We can get Akira back tomorrow. I think it'll be okay for one night"

Logan nodded. "Me, too." He went back over to Kurt and Carrie. "Are you guys sure about this?"

"Of course," Carrie said. "And your friend Kurt here seems nice. I'd like to get a chance to know him a little better."

"Remember, Carrie, he's a priest," Logan teased.

Kurt blushed and Carrie glared. "I didn't mean like that, ya old perv."

Logan smirked, then turned to Akira. "Will you be okay with Kurt and Carrie tonight, bub?"

Akira looked at him over the soda Carrie had given him. "Yes."

Logan ruffled his hair. "You can call us if you need anything. Carrie has our number, okay?"

"Okay."

Jubilee came over and set Akira's cup on the bar so she could pick him up and give him a hug. "I love you, kiddo. I'll see you tomorrow, okay? Behave for Kurt and Carrie."

"I will, Mommy. I love you, too."

Logan and Jubilee were just about to leave, when Akira called out. "Mommy?"

Jubilee turned. "Yes?"

"Was I a good ring-bear?"

Jubilee smiled from ear to ear. "You were the best ring-bear I've ever seen."

*** *** ***

Jubilee laughed gleefully as Logan carried her over the threshold. "You don't have to be doing this, you know," she said.

"Yeah, but I want to."

"Where are you taking me?" Jubilee asked when he kept carrying her even after they'd gotten into the cabin.

"The bedroom," Logan said. "It's been too damn long."

Jubilee couldn't argue with that. With everything that had happened with Viper, it had been a while since they'd had the chance to be in each other's arms. Logan kicked open the door to their room, lay her down on the bed, and wasted absolutely no time in joining her.

*** *** ***

Wolverine was quite annoyed to find the other side of the bed cold when he woke up the next morning. He blinked his eyes, trying to shake off sleep. Not that he'd gotten much the night before.

He sniffed the air, smelling something not at all unpleasant. The room was filled with the scent of Jubilee and...breakfast? He got out of bed, slipped on a pair of discarded jeans, and went out into the kitchen.

Jubilee was standing in front of the stove, cooking the one meal she claimed she was capable of fixing—eggs, bacon, and toast. She was dressed in nothing but one of Wolverine's flannel shirts, and Logan liked the nice view he was getting of her legs. "Damn, she's beautiful," he thought.

Logan came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. He leaned down and whispered in her ear. "Yer wearin' my plaid."

Jubilee started giggling. "Behave yourself. You're going to make me burn the eggs."

Logan nibbled on her ear. "Who cares about eggs?"

"I do," she said. "You made me work up quite an appetite last night, Wolvie."

"Made you? I didn't hear any complain'. 'Cept maybe those little whimpers every time I stopped. Mainly it was just you screamin' my name and beggin' me to keep goin'."

Jubilee blushed from head to toe. "You're awful."

"Yeah, and now you're stuck with me."

"Strangely enough, I'm happy about that."

Logan spun Jubilee around and looked into her eyes. For a moment, he felt as if he could see into her soul, and he knew then how truly beautiful she was. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

They kissed, and for one brief space of time, none of the problems they had to faced mattered.

They were finally husband and wife, and all was right with the world.

*** *** ***

Is that the end? No! Will there be more? Yes! I don't know when, but there will be. So what did you think? Did you like "the wedding episode?" *grin* Give me feedback and let me know your thoughts!

Also, would anyone be interested in reading a fic centered on Carrie Black? Let me know your feelings on that one, okay?