Notes from robbie: Yeah, no way are our darlings going to let Scott's wedding day get ruined. Despite how uptight he can be, we love him, they love him… the Marauders don't even stand a chance!
Glad to see you're all sticking with us in this newest volume, and now we'll get out of your way. It's time for a wedding, after all. Today certainly seems to be the day for it. ;)
From CC: Alrighty then. All the weddings at once. Like a bandage.
Chapter 2: "Dead Plants and Other Traditions"
The morning of the wedding, the whole excitement level exploded all over again as everyone got ready for the big bash. They were to hold the ceremony outdoors under a beautiful arch that one of Annie's uncles had made himself, and as the guests filed in, the X-Men noticed that almost every one of Annie's Kindergarten kids that she'd taught had come — they even had their own little section so they could see their teacher get married, and they were all wide-eyed and star-struck on seeing the X-Men at their teacher's wedding.
Logan slipped in from walking the perimeter one last time just a few minutes before one final car pulled up to the resort, and Alex Summers got out, grinning as he just strolled right up to stand beside Scott underneath the arch as if he'd been planning it all along, while his green-haired date quietly took a seat beside Storm with a huge, beaming smile.
It was obvious from the look of surprise on Scott's face that he hadn't expected his brother to come — but that quickly turned into a huge grin as Alex just picked his brother up in a full hug and offered his congratulations and apologies for being late — "Space traffic is terrible these days, and I had to pick up a hitchhiker." With that, he jerked his thumb over his shoulder at the last member of the late arriving group, who despite everything seemed to be just trying to slip in unnoticed.
"You brought Dad," Scott said in almost disbelief, which just got Alex grinning wider.
"Like I'd let him miss this," Alex said casually, though it was obvious to anyone watching that both Summers boys were just about inches away from a teary reunion right there for everyone to see — though it looked like Alex was trying hard not to turn his brother into a puddle before he could even get married. "By the way. I'm … staying. Right here." He flashed Scott a brilliant smile that Scott could only laugh at as he just half-elbowed his way past Anton to take the best man position.
Alex smiled up at Anton. "Hey. Little brother here. Thanks for keeping my spot warm."
Anton looked surprised for only a second before he burst into a booming laugh. "Sure thing, little man."
"You can only say that because you're like what — nearly seven feet tall? We're not a short family."
Anton just grinned and leaned over to whisper low to Alex, "Ask your big brother about one-on-one basketball."
"It's not nice to pick on him like that," Alex said.
"He's marryin' into my family. He better get used to the friendly ribbing," Anton chuckled.
"Good luck with that," Alex chuckled.
With all of the wedding guests now in place — including the unexpected ones — it was time for little Leslie Ann to (finally) get to make her debut as a flower girl, skipping happily down the aisle as she very precisely tried to get flowers evenly spaced ... for about the first few rows of chairs. Then she broke into a bit of a giggle and couldn't help but throw a fistful of them into Spiderman's face as she passed and saw that he was sitting on an aisle seat — and after that, it was just a lot of petal-throwing and giggles all the way down the aisle to climb up into a seat next to Iceman, who was, she told anyone who would listen, her 'date.'
Aman was right behind Leslie Ann with his very best, very practiced smile and the rings on a pillow that he was watching closely. He had the cutest look of concentration on his face as he carefully followed after Leslie Ann, nose scrunched and clearly focused, though he did get distracted when he saw Kurt and tried to wave and almost dropped the pillow.
And then, finally, out came Annie, dressed in a flowing gown with magnolias in her bouquet and embroidered on the edges of her sleeves. She was beaming ear to ear — and the smile only seemed to get even wider when she saw the look Scott had, lips slightly parted in an 'o' shape as he temporarily lost the straight-backed posture and just ... stared at her.
Annie's family pastor, who she had grown up with in Memphis, had flown up to officiate the ceremony. He told the assembled guests how proud he was to have seen each of the Hale girls find someone special in their lives before he jokingly warned Scott that half of Memphis would be watching him to make sure he treated her right.
The pastor then stepped back a bit so that the two could exchange vows, and for a moment, Scott had fallen into a bit of nervous silence before he finally broke into a warm smile. "Annie Hale," he said with that same grin still on his face, "The life I've lived ... you see a lot of unbelievable things. And the people I've worked with ... I've told you before, they've saved my life a hundred times over. But you?" He paused and smiled nervously. "You saved me, Annie. And you're my hero a thousand times over. I just hope I can do the same for you."
It was Annie's turn to be speechless for a moment after that — something that none of them had seen from her before. When she finally tried to speak again, there was a tremble in her voice. "Maybe I should've gone first," she said quietly, to a few muted chuckles. She just shook her head for a moment before she managed her own vows. "Never been worried about whether or not you loved me," she told him with a little laugh. "That much was plain enough when you made the effort to come to my family barbecues and read to my class. So here I am just trying to figure out how to tell you the same thing you say every time you play with my little nieces and nephews — and all I've got is a ring and a promise. But I hope you know I love you, Scott Summers, even if I don't say it all that much except to say it out loud."
Both of Annie's sisters and her mother were in tears by this point, and in the silence after the vows, Mary Beth's little voice was the loudest thing in the area as she asked, "Why you crynin? It's happy!" Which, of course, had the little group of guests quietly laughing as Scott and Annie exchanged rings — and then Annie's pastor declared them husband and wife.
From there, the group headed out to the roof of the resort for a luncheon — complete with a little table of snacks for the kids present — and for a chance for Scott and Annie to change into some different, less formal attire. They emerged with Annie in a summery, light dress and Scott in a suit still — though nothing like the white tie tux he'd been wearing earlier.
Throughout the luncheon and as they headed down to a tented area lit by paper lanterns for the reception, the X-Men kept their eyes peeled for any sign of trouble — though the only real disturbance came when Annie hit Scott in the arm and berated him for not telling her his father and brother were coming, despite how many times he insisted that he had no idea they were coming.
The reception itself was hilarious as Anton retold the story of how he'd brought Scott home one evening — though the story was a much cleaner version for kids' ears and left out the drinking and brawling almost entirely — and had been surprised when his youngest sister-in-law took over taking care of him and basically demanding he shape up so she could get him off her couch. But it was Alex insisting that he had to give a best man speech, complete with embarrassing much-younger-Scott stories that he had clearly prepared just for this moment, that had half the room in stitches.
Annie's sisters also gave speeches at the dinner, though their were much more emotional, and Rachel Wright hardly made it through hers talking about her "baby sister" and the bond they had. Mary Beth looked concerned for her mother the entire time and ran over to give her a kiss as soon as she sat down again.
But the moment that did just about everyone in was the father/daughter dance — as not only Douglas, Annie's father, swept out onto the floor with Annie but Evelyn, her mother, insisted that Scott dance with her as well. He looked completely taken off guard and unable to say anything but 'yes' to her insistence, and by the end of the dance, she had given him the warmest, most affectionate hug she could manage to welcome him to the family.
Even Cable and Rachel Summers were there to celebrate the wedding, as Annie had insisted that they were part of the family and wouldn't stand for not including them. Scott had done his best to explain who they were to her, and while she didn't understand a lot of the time traveling and extradimensional nonsense, she knew they were his, so therefore, they were part of her family too. Neither of them seemed quite sure what to do with Annie yet, but they were both glad that Scott was happy, so they sort of just stepped back and let Annie direct the show the way she wanted to.
Of course, a few of her extended family members were looking a little sideways at the two of them. Cable in particular didn't exactly look like Scott's son… But none of them said anything, likely thanks to the Hale sisters doing their best to make sure there was zero drama at their baby sister's wedding. They all had matching glares to get their family to behave, and it was hilarious watching them work. Clearly, Scott had married into the right family.
When the cake was cut and they were finally ready to send off the happy couple, Jubilee made sure that it was under a blanket of sparkling fireworks, and it was hard to tell which of the two newlyweds was grinning wider as they drove off — even if Scott's grin was decidedly more nervous, considering how his last honeymoon had turned out.
As the couple disappeared down the road, Kurt and Logan both just watched — not the happy couple but a tall, broad man several blocks down who was trying to stay hidden in the shadows. "You see that creep?" Logan asked quietly. Kurt just nodded. "If I go after him — or you 'port, he's gone. You know that, right?"
Kurt nodded quietly. "Unfortunately, yes."
The two of them stood there, just watching the creep, until Alex came over and threw an arm over each of their shoulders. "What's wrong with you two?" he half chuckled. "You're missing the party!"
"Alex, shut up and open your eyes," Logan said quietly. "Four blocks down to the right. Look quick."
Alex was still half-grinning right up until he spotted the guy, and the smile evaporated almost instantly. He turned back to Logan. "Any more of them?" he asked in a low undertone.
"Not sure, only smelled the one earlier, but you know they don't travel alone," he replied at a near whisper. "He knows we're watching. If we take off — he's gone, but I do not want your brother bothered with this."
"Yeah, say no more," Alex said quickly. "Lorna and I were planning on going down to Hawaii anyway. No reason we can't make it a stakeout and hang out for a few weeks to keep them from crashing anything they're not supposed to. Kill a few creeps in between surfing trips. I'll even bring Dad and call it his contribution to the wedding."
"Let me know if you need backup, we can be there in a blink," Kurt added.
"Can do," Alex said with a nod. "Don't want Scott to deal with this on his honeymoon." He made a face in the direction of the Marauder in the shadows. "Creeps." He shook his head and let out a sigh. "I gotta go rope my travel partners into the new plan. Don't worry about a thing. I'm not about to let them screw up Scott's big day."
"All the same, take a comm," Logan told him before he handed his to Alex. "First sign of trouble, we'll be there."
The morning after they arrived back at the mansion — after the wedding party had gone late into the night and they'd finally flown back in the blackbird with Logan at the stick as the only sober X-Man — it was a bit slow for everyone. Those coming down to breakfast came at a trickle, and the coffee pot was getting plenty of use.
Noh had woken up well before Jubilee and slipped down to get some coffee, to let her sleep in, but when she finally came down and snuggled into him, he looked like he could hardly wait for her to get through the first cup before he asked, quietly, "Are all Earth weddings like that?"
"Like what?" she asked tiredly. "Loud and Southern? No."
"I meant so… focused on the individual happiness," Noh said with a raised eyebrow.
Jubes thought about it for a moment. "I mean. They should be? But ... it kind of depends on a lot of things. It's pretty normal for this part of the world."
Noh nodded thoughtfully. "I've never attended one on this world," he admitted. "In any region of it. It's a far cry from what I'm used to."
"Well, I'd say you saw a pretty good one, honestly," Jubilee said with a little shrug before she tilted her head sideways to look up at him. "What are you used to seeing?"
"The weddings on my world, in my dimension, are much… simpler," Noh said, then quickly added, "This isn't a complaint. I quite enjoy your world's version, and it works for you. I wouldn't change a thing. After all, I suppose it would be impossible to focus on the glory a union brings to the Empire if one does not exist."
"It certainly sounds like a logistical problem," she admitted as she got her second cup of coffee.
"The entire marriage is a matter of logistics," Noh explained. "Arranged as soon as a Kree child passes through their first aptitude tests, after their best possible future matches are determined so they can best serve the Empire."
"Is this how you're telling me that you're engaged?"
He blinked at her for a moment in sheepish surprise. "I was once," he admitted. "She died."
"I'm sorry to hear that," she replied, giving his arm a little squeeze. "Seems like most of the people I care about have crappy luck in the love department."
"But… not you?" he prodded with a little smirk.
She paused for just a moment and burst out laughing. "I don't exactly have a great track record myself, but I've never really been engaged or married or anything, so at least there's that."
"Well, do not trouble yourself too much over that," he told her quickly. "I was eight years old, by your years."
She looked truly sad for him and set her coffee down to give him a very tender kiss on the cheek. "I'm still sorry to hear it. Poor sweet little boy."
He just wrapped her up in a hug for a moment and kissed her back with a little smile. "Jubilee, if you're going to kiss me every time I tell you such a story, then I will simply have to start lying to you to get more sugar," he teased.
"Lie to me," she said with a grin. "I don't mind if it's for kisses. Or ... you could skip the lie and just kiss me."
"Much more efficient," he agreed as he leaned in to kiss her tenderly. They stayed like that until Bobby arrived to the kitchen and very pointedly coughed, which had them both smirking.
"Mind your own business, Bobby," Jubilee giggled as she slipped back into the chair next to Noh.
"Hey, if you two are practicing for the next wedding, do it somewhere other than the kitchen," Bobby said with a shrug. "Some of us eat here."
"As long as we're not practicing the honeymoon, I don't see what your problem is," Jubilee shot back.
Bobby just gave her a look as he sat down with his coffee. "Pick a date yet? Or are you still pressing the bouquet into your scrapbook?" he teased.
She just responded by making a face at him. "You are terrible. I'm not doing anything thankyouverymuch."
"I'm just saying. You're a great… catch." Bobby grinned widely.
"Fluke thing," Jubilee said with a wave. "Wasn't even trying to. Sorry to have stolen your thunder, Bobb-o. I know you were wishing you'd caught the garter."
"Yes, I meant to ask about that as well," Noh said with his head tilted to one side. "Why do you throw dead flowers everywhere? What was the point of catching dying plants?"
Jubilee just burst out laughing, only laughing harder when she saw the look of genuine confusion on Noh's face growing steadily moreso at her reaction. "I … am the wrong person to ask," she gasped out, "but I love your take on it."
"Then who should I ask?" Noh asked, honestly curious.
"Ask about what?" Kate asked as she and Kurt came into the kitchen and she immediately went to the coffee pot.
"He was asking about some of the wedding traditions from yesterday. It's a whole different world for our darling alien boy here," Jubilee replied, still shaking her head and giggling at the dying plants,though she was sure to snuggle up to him so he didn't take it as her laughing at him.
Kurt broke into a wide smile. "I'm sure I can help," he offered as he slid into the seat across from them.
"Have you too been married before?" Noh asked interestedly.
"No," Kurt replied, still smiling. "But I love to perform the ceremonies."
"Ah, then you would be perfect," Noh said with a smile to match. "I was just asking Jubilee why you throw a bunch of dying flowers at the women in the group."
"Well," Kurt replied carefully, deciding to skip over the old meaning and dive into the modern interpretation. "It's a superstition. The belief is that whoever catches the bouquet will be the next to be married. The same is true for the garter toss."
Noh looked over at Jubilee with a raised eyebrow as he thought it over. "Then… if you subscribe to this belief, you are to be married to Scott's little brother?" he reasoned.
Jubilee tried to keep a straight face. She really did. But the smile quickly grew until she was giggling and shaking her head. "No. No, that would never ever happen. Logan would kill me if I even teased about marrying a Summers."
"Well, I was not sure," Noh said with a self-conscious smile. "I still do not understand how your weddings are arranged. Does Logan choose your match as your surrogate father?"
"If he did, I'd never be married," Jubilee replied. "We choose our own partners. We marry for love."
"But I heard Scott the night before the wedding speaking of asking permission," Noh said. "I have heard love songs speak about weddings here, but the focus is not on logistics like it is back home, rather on the emotion of the day. I know there are traditions, rings… but I don't understand how it all happens. He asked Mr. Hale's permission, and then… I'm unclear."
"That, nowadays, is more a matter of respect for the bride's family," Kurt tried to explain. "You don't need permission, but it's respectful to ask the bride's parents — usually the father. And usually before you'd ask your chosen bride."
"Ah, I see," Noh said thoughtfully, though it was clear he was still working it out in his head. "This seems to be far more complicated than what I'm used to. Back home, we were simply told who we would marry, and then assigned to work together so that would could grow closer in the natural course of things."
"But this is much more fun, and certainly more romantic," Kurt said with a laugh. "Most of the time. There are still places that do arranged marriages and honor weddings. But it's not very popular anymore." Kurt tipped his head to the side. "Am I being clear enough? Admittedly, I sometimes find myself a bit wrapped up in the fun of it."
Noh nodded with a little reassuring smile. "Yes, it certainly is much more enjoyable than the ones I'm used to."
"Well, stick around, I'm sure there are more on the horizon," Bobby said with a little smirk as he gave Kate a look.
"Only if Billy ever gets around to setting a date," Kate countered as she half-nuzzled into Kurt's side.
"You should set Kurt on him," Bobby suggested. "He's really good at getting people to just pick a date. You know. Decide on a commitment."
"They're both, like, two years younger than me. Let them be stupid for a bit," Kate said, waving her hand. "They have time."
"But if they know they're in love, and they want to be together, what's the hold up?" Bobby asked, arms crossed, though the others could tell from his tone and the way he was looking at Kate that it wasn't Billy and Teddy that he was really talking about. "Not like there's a set age you have to follow outside of being legally able to sign the papers."
"I don't know. Billy's just so picky about details," Kate said with a shrug.
"Sounds like they need to just elope and be done with it," Bobby said before he turned back to his coffee.
"Now that I understand," Noh said with a little smirk. "I have known a few Kree who did that. They wanted to marry… outsiders, would be the term in English."
They all kind of nodded in understanding as Logan came in for his coffee. He had only just poured his mug when Bobby decided to try and invite him into the discussion. "So," Bobby said. "Maybe you could give us some of your expertise. We're answering some questions for Noh."
Logan turned and looked around the kitchen to see what the hell was going on and just wait to see if Bobby was being an ass or not.
"Oh, do you officiate weddings as well?" Noh asked, genuinely curious.
"What?" Logan asked, an expression of disbelief on his face. "Why would I do that?" He took a minute to take in the amused look on Kate's face and the slow head shake Kurt was doing.
"No, you got it wrong, Noh," Bobby said. "He's just been married like — a few times. Figured he'd know better than anyone." Logan turned to glare at Bobby before he looked to the people around him and just shook his head as he left the kitchen and headed outside.
"You're all a buncha damn idiots," he grumbled on his way out, even as Kurt called out to him and then fixed Bobby with a look.
"He's going to make you pay for that," Kurt warned. "Or I will."
Jubilee leaned in to Noh. "I'll fill you in later," she whispered.
"Yes, you will need to," Noh said, looking thoroughly confused.
"Also, Bobby set you up, so feel free to pay him back however you'd like," Jubilee said with a smile before she kissed his cheek.
A slow smile started at the corner of Noh's mouth. "You are aware, of course, that I have set up the audio for the security system throughout the house."
"Yes. And you know where to find my extensive CD collection," she told him. "Mi casa, su casa."
He grinned brilliantly and kissed her forehead, then shook his head. "I just — I suppose I don't understand much of Earth's customs still," he said with a sigh, obviously disappointed, since he had put so much work into learning about Earth over the past several years.
"Don't worry about it," Jubilee replied. "There's a lot I don't understand too, and I'm from here."
"Perhaps this is why so much of your music is dedicated to trying to understand this fascination with romance," he teased. "Though that may be what confuses me. So much of your music tells you to seize love — and that is not what I have seen in practice."
"Well, people are often stupid," she replied. "Or scared. One or the other, usually. Sometimes both."
"It's a pretty complicated dance," Kate tried to explain. "I mean… we get to choose who we marry, so we want to make sure you choose right." She shrugged. "When my sister got married the first time, she dated the guy since high school and he turned out to be an idiot. But hey, that's my sister. Dad got married way too many times — to also idiots."
"And in spite of what Bobby was trying to do — which was pick on Logan — he's just had awful luck," Jubilee said, since they were talking about it anyhow. "All of his engagements and marriages but one have ended with the woman dying. And the one that should have died just ... it took forever for him to get her to grant him a divorce. Finally."
"And yet I think I prefer your customs despite the risks," Noh said with a little smile her way, trying to lighten the mood as the group as a whole seemed to have sobered a bit. "I don't know that it is simpler, but it is more fun. It is nice to be able to date without regard to genetics."
"Well," Jubilee said with a dramatic wave. "You add genetics into it, and you take out all the spontaneity. Boring."
"And you are anything but boring," he teased her and kissed the side of her temple.
"And don't you forget it."