X-Men, Generation X and Operation Zero Tolerance are the property 
of Marvel Comics.

The title is a private joke between myself and a friend.

Just so nobody busts a gut trying to figure out what I'm talking about 
here... This story goes along with a bunch of other stories I've written. 
They stink, so I never bothered to post them. You don't really need to 
know any of that to understand what's happening here anyway. Just know that


To All Things, A Beginning...


It was a funny dream.

Caught halfway between sleep and wakefulness, Jubilation Lee could 
still hear the fading voices of the dream, disappearing back into her 
mind as she rose toward consciousness and the real world.

It had taken place almost four years ago. The dream, that is. Before 
Zero Tolerance had begun, before the world turned inside out and 
upside down, before everything had begun to end. Before Logan had 
died and Paige had been killed. Before Jean had disappeared into a 
prison camp and Professor Xavier had been executed. Before Angelo 
and Everett had been captured making sure Monet and Jubilee got 
Franklin and Artie and Leech to safety. Before they reached Cable's 
headquarters only to find blood everywhere and the entire team gone. 
Before, before, before.

It had been spring. May 16th, actually. The west side of campus was 
always the most beautiful at that time of year, with the thick grove of 
trees surrounding the edge and an entire field of wildflowers. Jubilee 
had always loved going there. It was there that Everett and the others 
had arranged to surprise her with a surprise party.

Jubilee had just turned 17, and if she'd known what would happen 
before her 18th she would have celebrated more. But as it was, it was 
enough and the team had gone all out. And afterward, Everett had 
revealed his own present; "I found this back when we were in New 
York a couple months ago," he'd explained. "I couldn't resist." 
Curious now - or perhaps more accurately - even more curious now, 
Jubilee had opened the carefully wrapped box to find a small china 
figurine inside.

She'd set the box down, holding the figurine on the palm of her left 
hand. It was a kitten, a small gray and white kitten, about three inches 
high. Its head was tilted to one side, wide blue eyes gazed up at 
Jubilee. But it was the little collar the kitten wore that drew Jubilee's 
attention. Written in tiny letters on the china collar was the name 
'Jubilee.'

Paige had noticed at the same time, and Monet. Jubilee had ignored 
the exclamations of cuteness and met Everett's gaze. Neither had said 
anything, but there had been volumes in that look. 

That day, a teenaged girl's crush on a schoolmate had become so 
much more.

The last shadows of sleep fell away and she opened her eyes. Not 
Jubilee, not anymore. Not for a long time. Lee now.

Everett was asleep in the chair by her bed, and she wondered how long 
she'd been there. She shifted slightly, rolling onto her side, ignoring 
the quick stabs of pain that ran through her abdomen. "Ev? Honey?"

Everett was awake almost instantly and he moved from the chair to sit 
on the edge of her bed. "You okay? Any pain?"

"I'm all right," Lee assured him. "Did everything go all right? Is-?" 
She couldn't quite finish the sentence, but he knew what she was 
asking. 

"Everything went fine, hon. Just great. I called Jean. She'll be right 
in."

"How's Remy? He pull through?"

"Touch and go. We'll know soon. He was hit a lot worse than you 
were."

Lee sighed and leaned back against the pillow. She was tired like 
she'd never been before. Everett brushed the hair back from her face. 
Neither spoke. They didn't need to anymore. Powers or no, Lee always 
thought Everett could read her mind if he wanted to. Sometimes she 
could read his.

There was a soft knock at the door, and the knob turned before either 
of them could answer. Jean Grey peeked through. "Everything okay? 
Can I come in?"

"Of course," Lee said with a tired smile. "Always."

"Did you bring her?" Everett asked.

"Her?" Lee turned her gaze on Everett for an instant. "Her?" The 
smile on her face turned into a wide grin.

"Right here." Jean entered the room completely, and Lee saw the small 
bundle in her arms. A pale yellow blanket that suddenly started 
wriggling. 

Lee pushed herself up against the pillows until she was sitting. The 
pain wasn't as fierce as last time, though whether that was because of 
the excitement or if it was actually fading Lee couldn't say. Right  
then she didn't particularly care.

Jean handed the small bundle to Everett, who carefully passed it to 
Lee. The squirming bundle settled down as soon as Lee took it in her 
arms. "Her?" she asked again.

"Mm-hmm," Everett said. "A little girl."

Lee carefully pushed the edge of the blanket away so she could see her 
daughter's face. Blue eyes gazed up at her through the bangs of silken 
black hair. Her skin was the color of brown sugar. Lee had never seen 
anything more beautiful.

"What are you going to name her?" Jean asked.

Lee paused, slightly. They had never decided on a name, hadn't 
needed to yet, they thought. But the baby had come two months early...

Everett answered. "Logan."

Lee looked up at her husband through eyes that had suddenly filled 
with tears.

Logan Lee-Thomas smiled, and waved her tiny fists in the air.

________



End