Part 2

Jubilee stared at the boy, a hateful look in her eyes. “I see you!”

Ev didn’t bother to look at her. “So? I saw you t’day, too.”

“I know you were lookin’ at me!” Jubilee shouted.

“Was not,” he replied calmly.

“Was too!” Jubilee snapped.

“Was not.”

“Was too!”

“Was not.”

“WAS TOO!”

Silence. Jubilee looked at Ev expectantly. After a few seconds, he whispered, “Was not.”

“WAS TOOOO!!!” Jubilee screeched.

A hand clamped over her mouth. “Would ya be quiet for one cotton-pickin’ sec, Jub’lee?!” Paige cried.

Instead of answering, Jubilee bit her hand.

“OUCH! Ya stupid fireworks fact’ry!”

Jubilee was about to send a few pafs at her face when a hand gripped her wrist, so hard that it hurt.

“I don’t like you, Lee. I really don’t like you hurting Paige, either.”

Jubilee looked up to see Nicole. Claudette stood at her side, a blank look on her face.

“Back off, space cadets!” Jubilee shouted.

“Make me,” Nicole dared, her eyes narrowing.

*Stop it, gels.*

Both girls glanced over at the approaching figure. He was the tallest one of them, even taller than Nicole, by a few inches.

*Yer want ta get us in trouble for havin’ another row?*

Nicole sighed. “He’s right.” She let go of Jubilee, who muttered something and ran off.

Jono walked over and sat down next to Paige, who was whimpering. *Yer okay, Sunbeam?* he asked.

Paige looked at him, tears welling up in her eyes. “Jub’lee bit mah hand!” she wailed in agony.

Jono gently took her hand in his own. He could see the red marks left by Jubilee’s teeth, but luckily, she hadn’t broken the skin. *S’okay, Sunbeam. Just keep it away from ‘er mouth and everything’s fine.*

Paige stopped crying and looked at him. “Thanks, Jono,” she said shyly, blushing a bit. He nodded.

Ev, Nicole, and Claudette watched the display. Nicole scowled, obviously disgusted. “She’s going to get cooties real fast. I hate boys.”

Ev looked at her sadly, his dreams of being her boyfriend now crushed. Then again, she did have a twin... He looked at Claudette. It wasn’t as if she could say yes, but at least she couldn’t reject him, either.

“So what do you think?” Betsy asked, staring at the sleeping children.

“Gambit t’ink dis be de only time dey gonna seem cute.”

“Sadly, I’d have to agree with you.”

“Come on, Betsy,” Gambit said, slipping an arm around her shoulders. “Deep down inside, you want to be a mother, non?”

She smirked at him. “Not likely. And you’re touching me.”

Gambit removed his arm. “So what we do first? Gambit never handled a bunch of babies before.”

“They’re not babies, Remy. They’re toddlers. Or walkers. Or something.”

“Technically, we’re still young adults,” a voice interrupted. “Just in smaller bodies.”

“Shouldn’t you be asleep, petite?” Gambit asked.

Monet looked at him as if he was crazy. “With all due respect, Mr. LeBeau, I have better things to do. That, and I refuse to sleep on the floor.”

“Your friends don’t seem to have a problem with that,” Betsy pointed out.

Monet arched an eyebrow. “Surely one such as yourself knows the importance of proper bedding, Ms. Braddock. I had hoped you would support me in the matter. Or is it Mrs. Worthington now?”

Gambit had to cover his mouth to prevent himself from laughing.

“Careful, child,” Betsy warned her.

Monet made no indication that she’d heeded the warning. “I would still prefer a bed.”

“Say de magic word and we t’ink about it, petite.”

Monet stared at him. “You must be joking.”

“Gambit never jokes.” He got a look from Betsy, but kept his stern gaze on Monet.

Monet sighed. “Very well.” She muttered something under her breath.

“A little louder, petite,” he told her.

Monet rolled her eyes. “Please?”

“Dat more like it,” Gambit said, a smile on his face. “Now your Uncle Gambit will see ‘bout dat bed for you.”

Ten minutes later, Gambit returned with a large sleeping bag. Monet eyed it disapprovingly. “Tell me that’s for your own use.”

“Sorry, petite,” Gambit apologized. “Dis was all I could find.”

Monet sighed and dragged the sleeping bag over towards the rest on the children. “To think I almost became one of you.”

“What, an X-Man?” Betsy asked.

“No,” Monet responded calmly. “An adult.”

“Psst! Claudette!” Ev hissed. Then he paused. She probably couldn’t hear him, now that he thought about it. But it was important that he reach her. Important to him, anyway.

Ev slowly stepped into the open. The nursery was completely dark, save for the Spidey night light in the corner. Claudette sat near it, staring into space. Ev walked over to her and sat down. He gently grasped her hand. Nicole had told them that this was the best way to communicate with her twin sister.

“Claudette, I don’t know if you can hear me, but I have to tell you something.” He paused, making sure no one else was around. Then he took a deep breath and said, “I think I’m in love with you.”

Claudette, of course, said nothing. Ev didn’t know what exactly he expected from her.

“So...I guess that’s it.” He slowly stood up and began to walk away. Suddenly, he realized that he couldn’t. Claudette’s hand had closed over his, and was now locked around it in an iron grip. Ev grabbed her hand and pulled, but to no avail. Apparently, the twins still shared some of their older sister’s powers. He sighed and gave up, settling down on the floor next to her.

“Night, Claudette,” he murmured, quickly kissing her cheek. Then he laid his head on her shoulder and closed his eyes. But even in the faint glow of the Spidey night light, it was easy to see the slow smile that spread across Claudette’s face.