Queen of Diamonds

Jubilee looked around the kitchen and sighed. "Hmm... what to make for supper? Let's see I've got dish duty so I don't want a lot to clean up..." she thought out-loud. Walking over to the fridge she tried to think what would be easy to cook and to clean up. In the freezer there were two packs of steaks and the fridge had several baking potatoes. "I know... we'll have bar-b-que steak and baked potatoes. For desert we'll have ice cream."

"Really Jube, you have to quit talking to yourself... it's a sign of insanity," Bobby said coming into the kitchen to get a pop.

Jubilee glared at him. "Hope you like steak Popsicle," she replied. Bobby's expression filled with terror. "Yup... the one and only me is cooking tonight!"

Bobby winced and turned to leave. "Maybe, I'll go out for supper tonight..."

Before Jubilee could reply the phone rang. "Hello, Xavier's Institute for Higher Learning, Jubilee speaking."

"Hey Jubilee, it's Kitty. Have you considered my offer?" Kitty Pryde asked on the other end.

"A little, sure why not?"

"Great. I've already requested a transfer from Excalibur and both Brian and Xavier approved it. I'm flying in tonight."

Jubilee smiled. "Cool. Um... you won't be here for supper will you?"

"No, let me guess you have dish duty."

"Yup," Jubilee replied dejectedly.

"Alright, we'll I'd better let you go and I'll see you later," Shadow Cat said and hung up.

Jubilee put down the phone and ignored Bobby's look. A few minutes later, Remy arrived and was watching Jubilee get the steak and potatoes ready for the bar-b-que. "So 'tite, y'any good at cookin'?" he asked skeptically.

"Yes I am. Now if you'll get out of my way, I'll go put these on the bar-b-que," Jubilee said trying to sound nice because others were in the room.

Remy smiled and stepped out of the way. "'ere, let me 'elp y'wit' dose."

"No that's really alright, I've got things under control," Jubilee stated sweetly and slipped out the back door. She lit the bar-b-que and put the meat and foil wrapped potatoes on the grill. After that she went inside and grabbed the paper plates and plastic utensils that she'd bought earlier that day. She also grabbed paper table cloths and clips then headed back outside.

Rogue smiled at Remy and walked over to where he was. "Hey sugah."

"Bonjour," Remy said as he spotted Betsy walking into the kitchen. "Who's your friend?" he asked.

"Oh, Betsy this is Remy Lebeau, Remy this is mah friend Elizabeth Braddock," Rogue said her face falling when she noticed the look Remy was giving Betsy.

"Enchante madamoizelle," grinned Remy offering his hand to Betsy.

Betsy was immediately taken by Remy. "It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Lebeau," she said shaking his hand.

Remy smiled charmingly at Betsy and kissed the back of her hand. Betsy blushed and turned to Jubilee. "So... what's for dinner Jube?"

Jubilee smiled, "Let me just put it this way... VIVE LES STEAKS!"

Remy let out laugh. "Y'speak french 'tite?" he asked with a smile.

"Uh un." Jubilee turned outside and checked on the steaks and potatoes. She came back inside a few minutes later, grabbed a pitcher of iced tea, paper cups, paper napkins, and potato toppers (sour cream, bacon bits, etc.). "SUPPER'S READY!!!" she yelled loud enough to make the person beside her half deaf... unfortunately for Remy that person was him.

Just as Jubilee walked out the door a stampede of X-men came flying and running into the kitchen. They stopped dead in their tracks at the empty table. "Excuse me for asking Jubilee, but around here that scrumptious nourishment called supper is usually on that flat piece of furniture with four legs called a table..." Hank said as if talking to a five-year old.

"Duh! I just figured we'd eat outside... after all it's such a nice evening out," she said innocently.

The X-men looked suspiciously at her as she dragged the garbage can outside close to the picnic tables she'd set up. They settled down and looked eagerly at the supper that Jubilee made. Scott and Bobby shrugged and began to dig in with everyone else following suite.

"Jubilee?" Betsy asked.

"Um hmm."

"Dare I ask what you did to deserve dish duty?"

O.k. should have been expecting this. What to say? What to say? Calm down, don't show them you did anything wrong. Alright... "Oh... well, I broke curfew last night," Jubilee replied shrugging it off like it was nothing new.

"What you had a hot date or something?" Bobby laughed.

Jubilee smirked. "As a matter of fact. I did. So...Remy why don't you tell everyone else a little about you?" Alright....maybe this will get them off my back.

"Oh...it's a long story," he said.

Scott looked interested and Remy noticed his eyebrows raise over the red sunglasses he wore. "Really? We've got time. There's still desert."

Remy smiled charmingly. "Well, I grew up in New Orleans. My papa was a wealthy business man an' 'e left it t'me when 'e passed away. My older brother left when I was still young so I've taken o'er de family business," lied Remy.

"Perhaps I've heard of you. What does your family do?" Warren asked.

Oh merde! I didn' expect dem t'ask dis sort o' t'ing. Oh well, c'est la vie. I can handle it. Remy shrugged. "Oh dis an' dat. Mainly we just invest in de stocks. The estates an' money 'ave been passed down t'rough de family for generations. I usually invest t'rough an accountant an' let 'im handle my funds."

"Why did your brother leave?" Betsy asked.

Remy looked at her wondering what she was thinking. "Henri was killed."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It was a long time ago. Dis is really delicious Jubilee."

Jubilee hid the shock she felt. "Thanks. So Where did you go to school? What's your major in University?"

"I went to de University o' Louisiana but I didn't really major in anyt'ing. I took a few courses 'ere an' dere 'fore papa died den I went into de business an' quit school."

Jubilee studied Remy and glanced quickly at Scott, Xavier and Bishop. It was obvious that they weren't buying this. He was being too evasive. Who is this guy? I know he didn't go to University 'cause I checked on his records. What does he want? I don't think his dad's dead either. He says it too easily. His brother is though. She snapped out of her thoughts and got up to get the ice cream. On her way to the kitchen she dumped all the dishes into the garbage can and grinned at how she'd gotten out of dish duty.

After supper and a lot of questions by Bishop and Scott to Remy, everyone got up and went their separate ways. Jubilee quickly cleaned up and retreated up to her room.

Soon Betsy and Remy were the only ones outside. "Why don't I give you a tour of the grounds?" she asked smiling at him.

He winked. "Maybe latter Chere. I wanna go talk t'Jubilee. Our families were friends a long time ago an' I 'aven't seen 'er since she was 'bout 6. We've got a lot o' catchin' up t'do."

"Alright," she grinned mischievously as she leaned over and kissed him.

Unfortunately, Rogue saw this. As soon as Remy left she went over and punched Betsy. "Don't ya even think 'bout it Sugah. He's mine!"

"I don't think so Rogue. It's obvious he likes me." Betsy said as she stood up and walked...well limped into the house.

******

Thank God. I made it. I thought I was sooo dead. I don't believe Rogue! Erg. Jubilee stretched out on her bed and just got comfortable when someone knocked at the door. "Come in."

Remy strolled confidently into the room and closed the door. "Allo 'titte."

"What do you want?!?!?" Jubilee exclaimed jumping up.

"Just t'talk." Remy smiled evasively.

O.k. DON'T PANIC! Too late! AHHHHH!!!!! Jubilee glared at him suspiciously. "What about?"

He shrugged, pulled a chair over to the door and straddled it backwards. "Dere are somet'ings..."

KNOCK! KNOCK! "May Ah come in Jube? Ah'm lookin' for Remy." Rogue asked through the door.

Remy looked at Jubilee pointedly. "Rogue, could y'give me an' Jube five minutes? We were just talkin'."

"Well, alright, Ah'll be in the living room."

Remy listened to her departing footsteps until he couldn't hear them anymore. "Good. Now 'tite, y'might as well sit down 'cause we gotta talk."

"Why should I?" she asked.

"Cause your gonna be standin' an awful long time ot'erwise..." Remy said.

Jubilee glared at him. "Yeah? What makes you think that I'm gonna stick around that long?"

"I t'ink dat y'want t''ear dis petite. 'Else I might just 'ave t'tell your friends 'bout your little habit."

"You wouldn't dare!"

"Wouldn't I?

"No you wouldn't 'cause they already don't buy that story you told at supper. They wouldn't believe you." Jubilee stated faking confidence. Oh shit! He's threatening to tell Scott. Breathe...o.k. maybe I should just listen. Yeah right! Listen to what? How he's gonna get me in trouble I don't think so!

Remy tilted his head and studied Jubilee. "Alright. Let's just get dis o'er with. I don't wanna get y'in trouble 'cause dere are easier way t'do dis."

Jubilee was about to respond when the alarm sounded. "MOVE IT NOW!" she exclaimed pushing Remy and his chair out of the way and rushing out the door. Remy quickly flipped up and stealthily followed her downstairs to the sub-basement. Jubilee ran to the locker room and came out a few minutes later followed by Betsy, Rogue and Storm. Remy followed them to the War Room. He found a dark corner just outside the room where he could listen in. The thief in him waited patiently for the meeting to start and took in every detail around him. Dis technology is amazing. I wonder where dey got it...

"What's up?" Jube asked.

Cyclops cleared his throat and did a quick head count. "Alright people listen up. Cerebro just detected all the Marauders and Sinister on the grounds. Whatever they want can't be good."

The X-men looked at each other. The Marauders were trouble without Sinister there. They all knew they didn't stand much of a chance. "Uh Scott...how are we supposed to fight the Marauders AND Sinister? I mean just one of those is hard enough to fight but both of them would be impossible!" Jubilee voiced the fears of most of the other X-men in the room.

"Here's the plan. We'll divide up and do what we can to fight them. We can't lose hope now you guys. We're the X-men and this is what we do," Cyclops said. "Storm is going to lead the first wave and provide distractions. I'm going to lead the second wave in a sneak attack against them while they are distracted."

Storm nodded her consent as did the rest of the team except Jubilee. "This is insane!"

She was quickly silenced by Xavier's glare. Cyclops looked pointedly at her through his ruby quartz glasses. "Jubilee, Phoenix, Archangel, Beast and Iceman, you are with Storm. The rest of you are with me."

"WHAT?!?!?!? We have to provide the distraction?" Jubilee and Iceman exclaimed simultaneously. "That's so not fair!"

Storm glanced at them. "We will provide the distractions because we are the best ones for the job. We have the flashiest abilities where as the others have abilities that will enable them to pull the sneak attack."

Jubilee sighed. "Alright." She pouted for a minute and then her face lit up with a huge smile. "Let's go kick some bad guy butt!!!!!!"

The X-men rose as a single unit and jogged out of the room with. Remy waited until they were all gone and then snuck upstairs. He looked at the front door for a minute and out at the X-men through the window, debating whether to leave them to their business and go home or to help them in a cause they couldn't win alone. In a minute he'd made his decision.

Whatever Number Two!!!!

Kristi: Okay... this conversation topic... "Why Vive Le Steak?"

Crystal: 'Cause it's better than, "Vive Le Pancake'. I'm sure Remy wouldn't like pancakes for supper. Doesn't he hate bland food?

Kristi: Hmmm, I don't know 'bout that one... Perhaps, we could add some Cajun something to it and... voila!

Vanessa: Mon Dieu, you are all insane! You need help. I don't want to know you anymore! Vive la Steak?!?!?!

Crystal: I don't think Jubilee would cook pancakes. That means more dishes!

Kristi: Well, Vanessa, that's okay. Maybe next time it's Jubilee's turn to make supper, she'll order out!

Vanessa: Oh God, I hope so!

Crystal: I happen to agree, but it was ingenious the way she got out of doing dishes.

Kristi: Yeah, and McDonalds is the easiest take-out food there is!!!

Crystal/Vanessa: Ewwwwwwwwwwww! Gross us out!!! *gag*

Kristi: I wonder if Jube added any spices to that steak? *grin*

Crystal: Probably just B-Q sauce.

Kristi: Unless... *big grin*, she burnt them on the barbecue.

Crystal: She can cook steak!!!

Vanessa: So we hope... May God help us all!!!

Iris: What about me?!? I wanted to say something in this too!!!

Whatever End.

Okay... this time... a little Cajun quote, 'Man with penis in the peanut butter jar is fucken nuts'.