Author's note: Thank you to ZabuzasGirl, NotMarge, NicoleR85, Luna von Rae, Jedi DC of Marvel, partygirl98, Jinxofthe2ndLaw, and musicjunkie1996 for the reviews! Again, today the focus is more on other characters- particularly Sean. I tried to wrap up his little side story all in one chapter, and then brought it back around to Hank and Zoey at the very end. This was kinda an experiment with something different :-)

With Friends Like These

"Banshee, are you sure you want to do this?" I asked apprehensively.

My redheaded friend gave me a look best described as one of betrayal. "Of course I do," he snapped. "What's with that question? I mean, I'd expect it from Havok, but you're married already."

"Hey," I replied, back-tracking quickly. My hands went up in a gesture of surrender. "That's not what I was getting at. I meant are you sure you want to get married in Las Vegas?"

"Oh," Sean muttered sheepishly. "Sorry."

For a moment he said nothing, choosing to fiddle with the zipper of a suitcase instead.

We were in Charles' small private jet, waiting for Zoey, Alex, Gwen, and Maeve to finish up loading up on snacks in the small airport mall before takeoff. I was flying us to Las Vegas for the weekend, where Sean and Maeve would be tying the knot.

Now I was just trying to understand the motivation behind this impromptu (literally- Sean had asked me Wednesday if I had plans for the weekend, and now here we were) wedding trip, taking place less than six weeks after Sean's marriage proposal.

I definitely had my suspicions.

Should someone bring a shotgun?

"Well?" I prompted.

"Well..." Sean began. "We thought it'd be fun, for all of us to go together. Maeve's parents kinda hate me, so they weren't coming to our wedding anyway. And..."

He took a deep breath and looked down at his feet.

"She's pregnant. We just found out she's over two months along."

Bingo.

My face was composed into a reassuring smile by the time Sean raised his gaze to meet mine. Which was a good thing, because the concept of impending fatherhood seemed to be upsetting his digestion.

Would it be rude to hand him a barf bag? Hmm... probably.

"Congratulations," I said sincerely, shaking his hand.

"Thanks," he muttered disconsolately. "I wish... I wanted to give her something better than this. A shotgun wedding."

Sean seemed genuinely upset, and I was hit by a swell of sympathy. He was honestly trying to do the right thing for the woman he loved. Couldn't anyone relate?

"Don't worry about that," I assured him. "Zoey and Gwen will make sure Maeve gets the wedding she deserves. Those two are ruthless about that sort of thing. It'll be a fun weekend."

Sean snorted, and suddenly he was almost his normal self- the jokester, the class clown who hardly ever got ruffled about anything.

"Yeah, you're right," he agreed, laughing quietly to himself. "And with Havok and Gwen around, we won't even need to worry about entertainment."

As if on cue, the cabin door burst open at that moment with a bickering Alex and Gwen leading the way inside. Zoey followed and made a beeline straight for me.

"What's wrong with them now?" I murmured, after a "hello" kiss.

She snorted. "Something about beef jerky," she replied, slipping her arms around me. "So, you're really going to fly this thing?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Darn. I was hoping we could join the Mile High Club," she whispered, her fingers tracing patterns on the nape of my neck. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and her smile was utterly bewitching.

All of my breath escaped in a whoosh. "Temptress," I accused. "Go sit down, or we'll never get off-"

Zoey started to giggle, and my ears warmed.

"Get off." Haha. I'm going to go stick my head in an ice bucket now.

The flight was smooth, and once we landed the ladies deployed on their wedding mission with the efficiency of a military force.

Meanwhile, I baby-sat Sean and Alex while they got completely trashed at the hotel bar. Alex was grumpy because Sean had declined going to a strip club on his last night of "freedom."

"Why not? I expect this un-fun crap from him," Alex griped, pointing a finger at me. "But not you."

Hey. I'm plenty fun. I flew the party plane, remember?

Sean shrugged. "Maeve asked me not to," he said simply.

Alex groaned and gulped down the last of his bourbon. "I need new friends. Are we at least getting drunk tonight?"

"Of course," Sean retorted, grinning. "You want some rum for that Coke, Beast?"

"Not unless you want tomorrow's headlines to be about an escaped blue ape ravaging The Strip," I replied dryly.

I'd gotten drunk once in my life, in the safety of the mansion's walls before we opened the school. Never again. All my inhibitions completely deserted me- including my control over my own strength and the ability to reason why swinging from chandelier to chandelier was a bad idea. The property damage costs and the hangover the following morning just weren't worth it.

He laughed. "You can't hold your liquor with a damn."

By the time the ladies joined us, around eleven pm, Sean and Alex had developed a healthy buzz.

"Hello, beautiful," Sean said loudly as Maeve and Zoey came over- Gwen was getting a drink at the bar. "Got everything ready for tomorrow?"

"Yes. We're due at the Little Church of the West tomorrow at four o'clock," Maeve replied, smiling happily.

"I can't wait to marry you," her lushy fiance slurred. "W-why so late?"

"Because you're going to have a hangover in the morning, and I don't want you to puke during the ceremony," she explained. She patted his head fondly.

Sean laughed and shoved my shoulder. "Isn't she great?"

"Yeah," I agreed, raising my glass to the bride-to-be.

Gwen came over at that moment with a drink in each hand. She slid one of them right in front of Zoey.

"Drink," she ordered simply. When Zoey opened her mouth to protest, Gwen held her hand up. "I've never seen you have more than a glass of wine, Zo. Drink up and live a little."

"Yeah," Alex piped in. "Be more fun than your stick-in-the-mud husband."

Zoey glanced at me, obviously looking for an opinion.

I shrugged. "It's fine."

"Ok then," she said, raising her glass to Maeve and Sean. "A la votre!"

My wife weighed ninety-seven pounds soaking wet, and had no alcohol tolerance to speak of. After one strawberry daiquiri she was a cute, giggly mess. After two she was having trouble staying upright. By the time Zoey finished her third, she was nodding off at the table.

At that point Maeve and I agreed that it was time to get our drunken cohorts to bed. Alex, Sean, and Gwen whined about it, but followed us like little ducklings up the stairs to our rooms while I carried Zoey.

"You guys are soooo cute together," Gwen giggled. Then her expression became a little wistful. "I wish I had a Prince Charming, too."

Alex tried to make a sweeping, courtly bow. "Hey, I could be-"

And then he fell onto his face.

The next day I had orange juice, aspirin, and a bacon sandwich waiting for Zoey when she woke up moaning that her head hurt.

"You're the best husband, ever," she muttered through a mouthful of sandwich. "I'm never doing that again."

"That's what they all say. Now come on, darling," I teased. "We've got a wedding to get to."

She groaned and tried to bury herself back under the covers.

Despite all precautions, the bride and myself were the only members of the bridal party who weren't bleary-eyed and hungover for the ceremony. It was a rather stereotypical Las Vegas wedding in that sense.

But at least Sean and Maeve said their vows in the presence of people who cared for them. That had to mean something, at least, despite all the inebriation.

"Was this enough for you?" I overheard Sean whisper when we all sat down to a small reception dinner. "You deserved-"

Maeve silenced him with a kiss. "This is perfect, Sean. I love you."

"I love you, too, Maeve," he replied fervently. "So much."

Seven months later, the waiting area of the local hospital was crowded with well-wishers waiting for news from the delivery room.

Sean, the expectant father, was sitting in between Zoey and Moira, nervously clutching their hands in his. I had Zoey's other hand, and Charles had Moira's.

When Gwen noticed the little hand-holding chain we had going on she shrugged, said, "oh, why not?" and latched onto me.

"Come on, Alex," she prodded, holding out her free hand.

"No, thanks," he said in a tone that implied he thought himself much too cool for that sort of thing.

"Fine," Gwen retorted, sticking her tongue out at him. "Be a grumpy loner."

Alex rolled his eyes at her and let out a put-upon sigh, but took her proffered hand. The rest of us tried to fight back laughter as he caved to peer-pressure.

"There we go," Gwen teased. "I knew you had it in you."

And then she leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. He immediately turned red.

My stars and garters, Alex Summers is blushing. What's the world coming to?

Alex caught my eye and grimaced at my obvious amusement. "Shut up," he muttered.

But he didn't let go of Gwen's hand.

So much love and support in this room, I thought, looking at all the faces around me. I think it says something for the family you choose.

That was how the doctor found us all, tensely holding hands.

"Congratulations, Mr. Cassidy," he said. "Mother and baby are both fine and healthy. It's a girl."

"Oh, thank God."

All of the tension left Sean's body so fast he almost slid to the floor like a limp noodle. I honestly think Zoey and Moira's grip on his hands were the only thing that kept him upright.

The rest of us were like statues coming to life, offering congratulations. The stress bled out of the atmosphere like air escaping a balloon, leaving only jubilation and relief behind.

"C-can I see them?" Sean asked hopefully.

And despite all the nerves, how scared I could see he still was about being a father, he looked happy. Excited, even, to get this chance, though he probably had no idea what he was doing.

I'd wondered if he was prepared for the responsibility, but now... it was like the moment the baby arrived, he was suddenly ready for it. I wondered if it was the same for all fathers?

"Of course. Right this way."

As Sean stood up and hurried to go meet his daughter for the first time, my gaze met Zoey's.

I could see it in her eyes, what she was thinking- probably because my thoughts were the same.

Someday, that will be us.