Fionn the Otaku: Thanks! I always wanted to see how the family would react, I hope it rings true to all the characters.

smergrl3495: I think it's not so much teasing as continuing how things played out in the comics. It took awhile to get Darkdevils' origins then there were a lot of things that were teased about him for years mostly if/when the Parkers would learn the truth. They never did. But if it happened in the comics I can't imagine it being quickly resolved. Peter for example constantly berated Darkdevil, Reilly knows how much he was hated. That's not something that can go away easily. Their trying but things are understandably awkward. Are their plans for more interaction? Oh definitely, it's one of the main relationships that's explored later on.

Like I said a lot of these chapters have already been written, I've just been updating a few things to connect them better before I put in the new chapters. Thus far I have no real plans for April bonding per se but then again I'm planning on doing more with her in another fic I'm working on. It's not related to this AU but I'm going to explore her more. She interacts with others in this fic and the fact this is her first Christmas does come up. It's just not a big focus.

Scanning the decorations on the tree April frowned. "Are these all May?"

Mary Jane placed an unopened box on the table then glanced over where April was pointing. "Yes. Those are pictures we took from all of Mays' Christmas' throughout the years."

The girl nodded glumly thinking of all the time she missed out with the family. "At least I know what I looked like as a kid."

"This year is going to be special," the red head promised directing attention to the box she brought in as she lifted the lid. "You're not the only one who's spending time with the family for the first time. This will also be the first time Benjy celebrates the holidays and to the best of my knowledge Kaine as well."

April scrunched up her nose in distaste. "Mr. Cheerful is coming over for Christmas? Bet Uncle Pete will love that."

Mary Jane didn't miss how the girl referred to Peter clearly wishing she could call him dad. Well they would talk about that one another time. "Yes, it's really past time we all started acting like a family. I thought it might make it easier for Reilly to have a familiar face around."

She had noticed his discomfort and nerves about spending the holidays with them. Picking up a decoration she handed it to April pleased to see the bright smile spread on her face when the girl noticed her name. "Mays' not going to be the only one on the tree this year. I got these for the four of you although I suspect Kaine doesn't want to make a big fuss."

April noted a few blank frames in the box quirked an eyebrow. Mary Jane sighed. "One of those is for Benjy, you can have one too. May asked me to get the rest for Reilly."

Two levels up her daughter was already trying to get the boy to discuss her idea. Somehow she had got him to go into the attic with her. He carefully eyed the room feeling a sense of history in it. It was filled with the Parkers memories. Part of him, a strong part, wanted to search through the many boxes to discover the hidden treasures that lied within. But it wasn't his place so he resisted the temptation. They sat on the floor next to a box of worn books. Peter Pan, the Prince and the Pauper and many more. He wondered how much of these held special meaning to his father or if it only belonged to Peter.

"...Which is why I wanted to know if we can have some of your pictures. We'll give them back or make copies if you want."

He felt another headache coming on, it seemed like May couldn't bring anything up without making him feel awkward. "I don't have any pictures of myself growing up."

That made her look up from her board confusion written plainly over her face. "You don't have any pictures?"

Reilly shrugged and looked away. "Why would I have keep pictures of myself?"

She bit her lip knowing this was a touchy subject and not sure how to approach it without upsetting him. "Does, umm, whoever raised you have any?"

His eyes narrowed as he laughed, it sounded eerily more like Darkdevils' haunting laugh than one a boy his age should have. "I kind of doubt it." Seeing the rising concern on Mays' face he sighed. He'd have to give her something otherwise she'd assume he grew up in the sewers or something. "I was in foster care, okay? You get transferred into a lot of homes pretty fast. You don't always get a chance to make connections with the foster families."

It was pretty truthful but he had no reason to elaborate. Just giving her an idea of his life but making it clear that it wasn't a fond subject. Besides she should have known by now that it wasn't a topic he wanted to discuss. He really couldn't have made himself clearer, at least Peter and Mary Jane had gotten that memo. Even April backed off although he suspected that she wasn't nearly as interested in the answers as May.

"Oh." She was lost in thought as her father entered the attic. Peter felt his chest tighten at the image of the two of them sitting on the floor, right where Ben and him were before Norman Osborn hatched his plot. His eyes widen at the game they were playing.

"Battleship?"

Reilly looked a little embarrassed but May nodded. "It was just sitting here and I thought it'd be fun." She paused to send Reilly a mock irritated glare. "At least it was until he started winning."

"It just surprised me a little to see you two playing this." Peter sat next to them looking at Reilly as if he was looking beyond him. "Your dad and me played this the day May was born."

The meaning of those words hit Reilly hard as the image of the two men relaxing filled his imagination. Not long afterward his father would be killed while saving Peters' life. Peter watched the the boys' express change before closing off. More than anything he wished he had the right words to say to the kid. Nothing was forthcoming. In fact no one said a word or dared to breathe until a crash two stories down drew their attention. "What are you doing down there young lady?"

"Oh so now this is my fault?" April yelled up. "This is your demon spawns' fault not mine!"

Rubbing his face wearily Peter muttered that she was the demon spawn before turning to May. "Could you find your brother? I don't think April will be able to keep him from wall crawling." The baby still disliked her and the girl wanted nothing to do with him anyway.

May agreed although her eyes watched them as she descended. Clearing his throat Peter tried to take advantage of the fact they were alone together for a chance to bond. "If there's anything you want to know about your father I'd be happy to tell you about it."

Reilly shook his head. "Nothing I can think of. Kaine told me a lot."

A scowl crossed Peters' face at his clones' name, hating that the man who already took so much had even taken this from him. Worse was the bitter knowledge that Kaine would know more about their "baby brother" than he did. "Oh did he?"

The harshness escaped before Peter could stop it and Reilly quirked an eyebrow. "If you're asking if I can trust his truthfulness, yes I can. He never had a reason to lie and the truth never painted him in the best of lights."

Great now the kid thinks I'm jealous. Doesn't matter if I am I don't want him to know it, Peter thought miserably. He was well aware of how he already came off to the boy. But now that he was aware of their connection Peter was trying his best to be a mature, caring, intelligent uncle/parental figure. He wasn't giving off that vibe by a longshot and he knew it. The same bitterness was coming through just directed solely at Kaine now. Come on Petey boy, you can be a cool uncle. Just remember what Johnny said and be yourself.

"You know he's coming over for Christmas." He tried to smile but he was sure the effort looked rather sickly. "For...a whole week."

That got Reillys' attention, although he ignored the strained look on the other mans' face to focus on his words. "He's coming here? To stay?"

Kaine never lingered long, sure they connected, for a long time he was the only family Reilly had. The only one that cared enough to ensure he lived at any rate. But when it came to the two of them Reilly was always left wondering if he was that important to the man. Next to him Peter nodded, "Apparently Mary Jane thought it was a good idea to have all the family together under one roof. So unless there's another relative on my side that we're missing I think that's everyone." Not getting the verbal reply he was fishing for Peter tried a new tactic, "Is there anything in particular you'd like for Christmas?"

Reilly looked down at his feet and shook his head. "Not really. The room and board is more than enough, sir."

Looks like all those years we joked that we wanted a well behaved kid are finally coming to bite us. He knew Mary Jane and May had already tried to get ideas from the kid but he never seemed interested in presents. It wasn't just feeling like he was being a bother Reilly didn't seem to want anything. Never would Peter have thought that it would be so frustrating to have someone tell him that they didn't want any gifts. April was different, she made lists that went on for pages (literally, they were stabled.)

Peter had noticed the "sir" at the end of the statement as well. He had picked up on the polite way he was addressed, partly due to Reilly not knowing what to refer to him as. He wasn't called anything if it could be helped, sometimes he was "Peter", once an awkward "Mr. Parker" and "sir" was used more often. Reilly looked at him, searching for something. Whatever it was it seemed to help close the boy off more. "I have another weeks' worth of work to do before I catch up at school."

Hearing the sign that their brief bonding moment was at an end Peter sighed. "Alright. Just remember that I'm here if you need anything."

How did you always know the right thing to say Uncle Ben?

Peters' clone was pondering similar thoughts as he arrived via the backdoor. Kaine didn't want to start another fight with Parker but he knew they were going to come to blows at some point. How Mary Jane had managed to talk him into staying for Christmas, or got Peter to agree he didn't know. Well they'd cross that bridge when the holidays got closer. He almost smiled at the girl in the kitchen before he realized it was April, his eyes narrowed. "Oh it's you. I was hoping for someone a little more stable."

She scoffed. "Wow pot you sure like dissing the kettle. At least I don't look like a deranged hobo."

He frowned resisting the urge to check himself out in the mirror. "Whatever. Where's your better half."

"I see you guys are bonding better than I thought." May quipped as she snuck into the kitchen. She would have thought that they would get along better given their backrounds but Reilly said that was doubtful. Seemed he was right, Kaine clearly saw too much of himself in April and her clone just saw another judgmental version of her dad. Even so May was determined to have a fun family christmas this year.

"Is he here?" Kaine was aware of how touchy his nephew could get if he saw him here especially with what May had asked for.

"Upstairs, looks like he went back to studying." A gentle smile crossed his face as both girls rolled their eyes. "Did you bring it?"

"Yeah." Reaching into his jacket Kaine produced the photo album he had been carrying. May had called him requesting pictures of Reilly when the boy was refusing to give her any information. While he was rather possessive of protecting the kid he couldn't turn down May when she started getting on one of her missions based on good intentions. She made grabby hands jumping up and down with excitement. She took the tattered well thumbed through book from his grasp. Curious about what the fuss was about April looked over her shoulder as May turned the pages.

A tiny baby with shocking crimson hair greeted her. It didn't take long for the identity of the infant to resister with April, her face became softer as her finger skimmed the image. May giggled. "He's so cute! Look at those big eyes! Benjy and him are the cutest baby boys!"

Kaine grunted but didn't argue. Flipping through the book the girls saw Reilly as he aged wearing big smiles, laughing with a few of his baby teeth missing. Until he turned seven and there were no smiles to be found. He stood like he was expected to but made no effort to look happy. May noted that a lot of photos were taken with a husband and wife. The woman always looked happy, usually hugging Reilly with the man standing behind her smiling faintly. Reilly smiled in most of those but something seemed a little off about it. Not knowing why that caught her attention she went further a little bothered to see there weren't any images from from twelve and up. She frowned.

"Let's just say he wasn't around enough to photograph." If she wasn't so concerned May might have been annoyed with more secret keeping or maybe a little amused that Kaine was sounding as vague as Reilly.