The Stark New Years Eve Gala was legendary. It was, like the Stark family itself, poised between a private affair everyone knew about and a public drama behind closed doors. It was attended by a strange mix of friends of friends, celebrities - or more often "celebrities" - looking for a photo op, press looking for celebrities - or at least "celebrities" - looking for a photo op, and the odd legitimate loved one.
Steve and Sharon Rogers were there, but their children were not. Anthony and Jamie, along with Vincent and Liv, were in Time Square. It was Vincent's birthday (observed) and he hardly wanted to celebrate with the Stark elite when he could celebrate with the masses. Liv's parents had returned to Asgard, and Dr. Strange was missing as he was every New Years.
Reed and Sue Richards were there, but their children were also not. Val was with the Cages, and the Rands, at the mansion and Franklin was in hiding upon hearing that the hot girl who had accompanied the Parker-Danvers family home from Maine was possibly, probably, most likely his daughter from the future. Either that, or the evil minion of some even more evil overlord bent on world domination pretending to be his daughter from the future. Or both, which might actually be most likely if you look at all of the history of the Avengers and/or the Fantastic Four, but hope springs eternal. Whatever the truth, such as it is, she was all of five years younger than Franklin, besides being sullen, angry, really powerful, and as mentioned, hot, so Franklin was hiding.
Peter and Carol - who wondered, though nowhere they might be overheard, why they were suddenly magnets for super powerful damaged teen girls - were not at the party. Nor were they home with their new -but temporary! - houseguests, Mal the probable daughter and Meredith, Carol's completely normal niece. Peter and Carol were also at Time Square but on patrol as they had been nearly every New Years Eve for the past two decades. This year Ben, with Lindy, and Amelia, with Jake, joined them.
Natasha was on a mission so James was home alone having declined invitations to both the party at Stark Tower and the gathering at the mansion. It had been a very full year and he welcomed the quiet and the space to reflect.
Johnny Storm arrived with an up-and-coming model who wanted to be photographed at the Stark party, but he had his sights set on Becky. Becky arrived with Henry but he was happy to swap with Johnny for her sake. The model, whose name couldn't possibly really be Dziah (pronounced like "desire" in a Boston accent), was intimidatingly attractive and dumb as a post which was really more Becky's type, but Henry did his best to be nice, especially whenever Becky looked over to, er, thank him for setting her up with Johnny.
Betty Banner and her latest psychologist boyfriend - she had a type, too, and Henry might actually fit it - were there. And so Bianca was there. And so Bobby Morse was there. And so Bobbi Morse was there. Jess Drew was not there; she has a one party per month rule. Clint was there because Bobbi was and Jess Drew wasn't. Trick was there because it was Ginny's parents' party.
Anyone who knew Tony had known if he ever did decide to get married, he'd do it on a holiday. That way there would always be a party, whether he remembered or not. Of course he'd always have Pepper to remember for him anyway, and that was doubly true when he decided to get married to her.
"So your parents were married New Year's Eve..." Trick had a habit of stating the obvious; it tended to be a surprisingly good conversation starter.
"Yes." Though Ginny often needed to be drawn out. Trick was equal to the task.
"That's taking the midnight kiss pretty far!"
Ginny considered. "My mother would say it takes it to its logical conclusion."
Trick giggled. "How romantic."
"My father would say it is."
Trick stopped giggling and turned to give her his full attention. "What would you say?"
Ginny was caught off guard. She blushed under his scrutiny. "Kissing is inherently romantic?"
"Is it?"
"I don't know. Why wouldn't it be?"
"Is it romantic when you kiss your father?"
Ginny's expression was exasperated but her eyes twinkled. "I didn't mean that kind of kiss."
Trick chuckled. "I expect romantic kisses are inherently romantic, yes."
Her expression turned apprehensive. "You're making fun of me."
"No, I want to know your opinion on romance and midnight kisses on the first of the year."
"Why?"
Hands clasped behind his back, Trick leaned in close, not quite touching, but his breath warmed her lips. "Because I intend to kiss you at midnight." He rocked back to see the blush he knew he'd find spreading across her face.
"That will be romantic."
He grinned. "Why?"
She giggled. "Because it is!"
"Because it's midnight?"
Ginny shook her head. "No."
"Because it's inherently romantic to kiss someone you're not related to?"
Another shake. "No."
"No?"
"No." She glanced away. "My parents have this party every year. When I was little I watched from the stairs. My first kiss ever was a midnight kiss."
Trick cocked his head. How interesting. "How old were you?"
"Thirteen." Ginny blushed again; her eyes still lowered, she hid behind hair just long enough to fall across her cheeks. Trick wondered if that first kiss was photographed. "And he was sixteen. But it didn't mean anything except happy new year."
Trick brushed her hair behind an ear and she looked up. "Have any of your midnight kisses meant something?"
"No."
"No?"
"No, Ben is the only boy I've ever..." She looked away again.
"Loved?" Ginny didn't answer; she held very still but a few tears slipped past her control. Trick touched a finger to her face. "Your tears are beautiful." Ginny frowned and tried to pull away but Trick held on. "Don't misunderstand. I don't want you to cry. But I don't want you to feel badly, either."
"You aren't angry with me?" There was the slightest edge of panic in her question. If Ben wasn't angry with her over Trick and Trick wasn't angry with her over Ben she didn't inspire any strong feelings in either.
"Why should I be angry?" Ginny's nonreaction spoke volumes. "Don't misunderstand," he said again and tipped her chin up to meet his eyes. "It means something when I kiss you."
She took a breath. "To you?"
"Yes." She smiled. "Does it mean something when you kiss me?"
"Yes." He matched her smile and she closed the space between them.
Midnight came, champagne was popped and poured, confetti filled the air. Couples kissed across the city. At the mansion, Luke and Jessica looked forward to a simpler year. In Time Square, Avengers young and old, on streets and rooftops, celebrated loudly, quietly, and silently in turns. And at the gala Tony twirled his wife of sixteen years into his arms for what would surely be labeled a sweet kiss in the papers. The photogs then looked for their daughter but she'd absconded with her beau for a private kiss which was maybe even better press than a picture, all told. Trick's parents were also missing from view, but his brother, rightly, focused on his own girlfriend. Becky gave in to Johnny's charms because he was, ultimately, quite charming. And mostly her type. But Henry had passed Dziah over to Harry Osborn and watched the midnight frivolity from a hidden and sober corner.
The party and the partying went on for hours leaving much for the three observers hidden in plain sight - not counting Henry, who'd slipped away soon after midnight, anyway - to observe. Everyone was looking forward, in one way or another, to the new year.
