Uncanny Excalibur

Chapter 13: Happy Birthday

By

The Uncanny R-Man

Disclaimer- All familiar characters belong to Marvel.

Braddock Manor-

It was a very special day in the home of Brian, Meggan and little Baby Betsy Braddock. It was Betsy's second birthday, and her mummy and daddy were busy preparing for the party. Well, that's what Betsy thought they were doing. Mummy and daddy had left her with Auntie Amora while they did whatever they had to do.

'I'm a big girl today.' Betsy smiled happily as she bounced about excitedly. 'I'm two!'

'I know.' Amora smiled back. 'You have been saying that ever since you woke up this morning. Now why don't you sit down before you tire yourself out? You'll need a lot of energy for the party. Lots of people want to see you.'

Betsy's grin only widened.

'Will Unca' Wade be comin'?' Betsy asked, her pudgy little face lit up in excitement. 'he talks funny. And he gives me bubba wrap!'

'I'm sure that Unca Wade will be one of the first people here.' Amora reassured the blonde pixy-eared toddler.

Betsy leapt onto her giant red beanbag chair with a squeal.

'What about Unca Forge, Unca Jamie, Unca Guido and Auntie Sarah? Where have they gone? Have they gone to get me a pony?'

'I don't think they have, Betsy.' Amora shook her head with a chuckle.

'Where have they gone then?' Betsy looked up at her babysitter for the day.

Amora tapped her nose conspiratorially.

'I can't tell you, it's a secret.'

'But I wanna knoooooow...' Betsy pouted. 'Ooh! Have they gone to get me cake and ice-cream? I love cake and ice-cream!'

Amora just chuckled good-naturedly at Betsy's exuberance. Perhaps it wasn't such a good idea to have let her eat all that chocolate at lunch...

Later-

Betsy had finally tired herself out, and had been taken upstairs for a nap. She would be brought back down when the guests had arrived.

Amora was taking a well-earned coffee break in the kitchen. Forge was also in there. He was making some last-minute adjustments to his gift to Betsy.

'Are you sure that I can't help?' Amora inquired as she set her coffee cup down on the counter. 'I may not know much about machines, but I'm a quick learner.'

Forge looked up at Amora from his position knelt on the floor in front of his doo-hickey.

'After that whack on the head you gave me a few weeks ago. (1) I've learnt not to let you near my tools.'

Amora rolled her eyes with a heavy sigh.

'Hit somebody on the head with a wrench, and you end up paying for it for the rest of your life.'

'When are the guests arriving anyway?' Forge queried as he got up off the floor and wiped his hands with a rag.

'Any time soon, I should think.' Amora answered. 'Meggan and Brian are expecting Betsy Senior first.'

'Well, she is the kid's aunt.' Forge conceded. 'But there's one thing that bothers me... is it such a good idea letting somebody like Deadpool near such an impressionable child? She's already inherited his obsession with Bea Arthur.'

'We all have our unusual habits, my dear Forge.' Amora pointed out. 'Like your unusual taste for marmite on toast.'

'What?' Forge held his hands up in defence. 'I like marmite.'

'How could you like such a substance?' Amora stuck her tongue out in disgust. 'It's terrible!'

'You don't know what you're missing.' Forge tutted. 'Well, that's my gift finished. Now all I need to do is wrap it. Where did I put that paper...'

'Allow me...' Amora insisted as she waved her hands in the air. Forge looked on as the wrapping paper wrapped itself around his gift as if manipulated by invisible hands.

'Well, that certainly saves time.' He nodded in appreciation. 'What's your gift?'

'You will have to wait until later to find out.' Amora smiled coyly. 'Just like everybody else.'

'It's a pony, isn't it?' Forge surmised. 'You went and got Betsy a pony.'

Amora put her hands on her hips with a hurt expression.

'Well, that certainly spoilt my fun.'

Forge just shook his head with a chuckle.

'Yup, I'm a regular spoilsport.'

'A cute one too.' Amora muttered to herself.

'What was that?'

Amora's eyes darted about nervously.

'Nothing...'

Later still-

Betsy had been brought back downstairs as soon as the guests had started to arrive. Betsy was dressed in her prettiest green party dress, and she looked like an absolute princess. It would inevitably end up covered in chocolate and ice-cream, but that was why washing machines were invented.

Just as Amora had surmised, Betsy Senior was the first to arrive, along with Uncle Wade and the rest of the X-Men. Well, those X-Men who had been former members of Excalibur anyway. Kitty, Rachel, Piotr, Kurt, Rahne, Warlock, Moira, and Pete were more than happy to come and say hello to the birthday girl.

Baby Betsy was happy to see so many people. Lots of people at the party meant lots of presents.

Wade walked up to Baby Betsy with his arm held wide for a hug.

'How's my little pixie?' Wade grinned happily.

'Unca Wade!' Betsy squealed as she jumped up and tried to reach him.

Wade picked Baby Betsy up and held her tight.

'Ready for your big party?'

'Yeah! Yeah!' Betsy giggled excitedly. 'I've got lots of presents!'

'Wanna go see if we can open them yet?'

Betsy looked over at her mother.

'Can I open my presents now, mummy? Pweeeeease?'

'Of course you can, darling.' Meggan nodded with a gentle smile. 'Just remember to put the paper in the bin bag when you've finished, 'kay?'

'I will, mummy.'

Wade put Betsy back on her feet and followed her over to the presents.

Back with the adults, and those who still had some sense of sanity, Kitty whispered something to Meggan.

'Are you sure it's safe to let him so close to your daughter?'

'Wade is Betsy's godfather, you know, Kitty.' Meggan pointed out. 'He'd never do anything to hurt her.'

Over by the pile of presents, Wade jumped up and waved his hand about.

'Ahh! Ahh! Paper cut!'

Kitty shook her head and looked to Betsy Senior.

'And you want to have kids of your own with that man?'

Betsy just sighed dreamily and put a hand on her belly.

'We're going to call them Bea and Arthur.'

Rachel's jaw dropped.

'You mean to say that...'

Rachel looked down at Betsy's belly.

'You and... Wade...?'

'Twins.' Betsy smiled proudly.

Rachel rubbed the bridge of her nose.

'I need a drink... a strong one...'

TBC...

Next: Party Games

With the presents unwrapped, it's time for fun and games. Pass the parcel! Musical chairs! Pin the tail on the donkey! Jelly and ice-cream for all!

Author's Note-

(1)- Amora smacked Forge upside the head with a wrench in Chapter 10.