You read the chapter title. You know what's coming. A coincidence is that Imanu's bachelor party was just published in SA as I'm writing this.

Chapter 144: Bachelor(ette)

SHIELD Academy - New Jersey - 14:34 PM

Daniel isn't sure what happened after Merida left. The moment she disappeared, someone threw a bag on his head, two other people grabbed his arms and dragged him away, and another one poured something on him. Was that a gunshot?! It was like he was being waterboarded and kidnapped at the same time. Then he's thrown in somewhere, landing on his stomach but it's soft. He feels someone sit where his feet are and another where his head is, sandwiching him in. Four doors close and he's moving.

Daniel reaches for his head and rips off the bag. He adjusts his glasses and sees Imanu sitting beside his feet, holding the stack of papers he had. Apollo and Xavier are in the front seats so James must be at his head. Daniel looks at the bag and sees that it's a SHIELD drawstring bag with the logo staring right into his soul.

"What the hell?" Daniel yells at them as they laugh. "Did you bag me with SHIELD merchandise on SHIELD property in broad daylight?"

"Yes," Apollo says calmly. "I don't think anyone noticed."

"Nah, I got a freshie to record the whole thing," James says, showing Daniel a choppy video on his phone, "but when you see two muscular blonds grab someone, you know not to get involved."

"This premarital tradition is vicious and Wakanda does some things you'd find uncanny," Imanu mutters.

"Bachelor party!"

Apollo hollers while makes Daniel jump. "Guys' night!"

James glances out the window and sees cadets training on the field. "I'm getting PTSD. Can we leave?"

Apollo looks there as well, seeing cadets spar with each other as their professors fire projectiles at them. "You did that for four years?! That's not fair. Can we join them?"

"I reek of champagne!" Daniel says, feeling his damp hair and collar of his shirt.

"Emily would've loved that."

"Your paperwork survived," Imanu says, showing him, "so did your suit in the back."

"My suit - I told you that I didn't want a bachelor party!" Daniel yells.

"Whoops," Xavier shrugs.

"We should've invited Merida's boyfriend," James suggests.

"Is he a boyfriend? I thought they just slept together."

James scoffs. "Oh, please, that's marriage in Merida's non-existent book."

"I disappear for eight years and Merida allegedly has a boyfriend…" Apollo says disappointedly. "Are you sure it's been eight years and not, like, fifteen?"

"Is it a part of a bachelor party to reveal secrets?" Imanu asks. "Did we do that at mine?"

Apollo feels betrayed learning all this new information in Jersey. "When did you have one?"

"A year after my wedding."

"Huh." Apollo sits back. He hates that he missed that. "Merida. Boyfriend. Merida. Boyfriend. Nope, nothing."

"It'd make more sense if you had a name instead of boyfriend," Xavier suggests.

"I don't see a difference."

"We'll worry about him later," James says. "This is Daniel's night. It's our job as best friends to throw the most monstrous bachelor party ever. We'll invite Merida's boyfriend - my god, that does sound weird - next time."

"I don't want a monstrous bachelor party," Daniel mutters, putting a hand on his head to ease an oncoming migraine.

"Fine, we'll stay on campus," Xavier suggests, switching lanes to turn back around. "How's that for a monstrous bachelor party?"

James shudders. "I'm terrified."

"You didn't go to Camp for five years!" Xavier yells.

James shrinks in his seat. "Don't you dare mention that satanic place! I was glad they didn't ask for me back after I was head counsellor."

"I was forced back three more times after. Shut up."

"Camp sounds fun," Apollo says.

"You shut up too."

"Iqadi prepared me for bachelor parties this time," Imanu says. "Will there be strippers?"

Xavier slams on the brakes, unsure of what he heard. Daniel falls onto the floor since he never sat up or buckled himself in. James, still in his small form, flies forwards and slams into the back of Apollo's headrest. He lands on top of Daniel's head.

"What kind of school was The Academy?" Apollo asks.

-o-

Stark Towers - 16:08 PM

The kitchen is set. Mixing bowls are resting on the kitchen island with the equipment. Ingredients are on the countertops with the pre-greased pans. The oven is preheating as the champagne is chilling with the glasses nearby, empty and ready to be filled.

All eyes turn when the elevator doors open and Merida walks in, making her the last one to arrive. Like Emily, Angela, Iqadi, Sigyn, and Freya, Merida was wearing the bachelorette party dress code of sweatpants and a tank top.

"Did you see Daniel?" Emily asks.

Everyone except Daniel knew about the surprise bachelor party. The boys knew Daniel was at the Academy because Emily told them. How else were they able to get his suit?

"Boys got him last I saw," Merida says, kicking her shoes off where everyone else's was. "I'll show you the video in a bit."

"Any idea what they're doing?"

"Beats me." Merida throws her jacket on the couch. "By the way, he'll be marking papers on the honeymoon."

"He's been waiting eight years for that too," Angela says with an overly dreamy tone, "work on the honeymoon."

Emily looks at her with a grin. "Shut up."

"Why were you at The Academy?" Iqadi asks Merida.

"Thanking people for favours," Merida responds. She claps her hands together. "Now, let's get drunk and bake something!"

"Pop the champagne!" Sigyn screams.

-o-

The Boiler Room - SHIELD Academy - 16:44 PM

It wasn't weird to be in The Boiler Room. Lots of Sci-Tech alumnae who remain or visit campus stop by. It was a common catching up place while taking a break from The Academy. The only one getting second looks was Xavier since he was a well-known Operations graduate. Some current students recognized Daniel and James, having it been from Edison Residence or blended upper-year classes or when they were TAs.

James comes back with a cold six-pack to start them off as he sits in their booth.

"Please don't tell me that you guys delayed your marriage because of me and Sigyn," Apollo says.

Daniel shakes his head. "Not entirely. Emily and I were in school and all that but we would've waited a decade."

"That's only two years from now," Xavier says, opening a bottle. "No offence but I thought your wedding day would never come."

"Neither did I. Emily and I had a long engagement and it was fun. When you tell people you're engaged, they get excited, especially when they don't recognize her and see how young we are. Emily still gets excited about it and it makes me so happy." Daniel looks at Apollo again. "Why do you ask?"

Apollo shrugs. "Do you guys honestly like Freya?"

Apollo waits for an answer but the rest of the table is quiet. The only noise he hears is pool balls hitting each other, background music, and light chatter from around. His friends stare at him blankly.

"Are you kidding?" James asks rhetorically. "I still don't believe she exists and you're crashing at my place."

"She calls everyone by their titles even when we told her she didn't have to," Daniel says. "She calls Emily Dr. Stark and me Dr. Banner."

Xavier nods. "I'm Agent or Captain."

"Prince or Your Highness," Imanu adds.

James pauses. " … I'm reconsidering getting my PhD for another reason now. I wouldn't be a medical doctor but I'd have a PhD so you'd all still have to call me doctor."

Daniel gives him a face. "It doesn't work like that."

James shrugs. "Dr. Pym will have his own rules. Look, The Academy is right there. I'll go argue it."

"If you do, that'd make it a monstrous bachelor party."

James glares at him.

-o-

Stark Towers - 17:42 PM

One champagne bottle was gone. Half-filled glasses littered the kitchen. Ingredients were spilled and baking materials were all over the place. None of the ladies were clean. Whether it was flour or butter, they had something on their clothes and in their hair. Despite the mess, everyone was relaxed and enjoying themselves. They were waiting for their small sample cake in the oven to finish. They didn't need it since they knew what flavours they wanted, but it was a snack.

Freya walks up to Emily.

Emily pauses the rolling to look at Freya before she even starts talking since she knows what the goddess will say. Even when standing straight, Freya was taller and toner than she'll ever be but that doesn't intimidate her. "Please, Freya, Mrs. Stark is my mother and Mrs. or Dr. Banner is my mother-in-law. I'm my own person, Dr. Emily Stark-Banner, the hyphenation becomes official tomorrow. But call me Emily."

"Bride-to-be," Iqadi says, pointing a teaspoon at her.

"Bride-to-be," Emily confirms, pointing the tip of her champagne bottle rolling pin back.

Freya nods. "Alright, Emily…"

Sigyn groans, hitting her head on a package of icing sugar on the counter. "Why is that so hard for you? You don't call me or Apollo anything fancy. He's the prince of Asgard! Have you lost respect for us?"

Freya looks at Sigyn. "It was a long eight years."

Not seeing that coming, Sigyn lies back down on the icing sugar. Freya tries to hide a grin as she finishes her champagne and the other girls happily laugh as they cheer glasses with her. She uses the titles for respect and because she grew up in the palace her whole life so it was indoctrinated in her.

"I kid," Freya says.

Sigyn lifts her head a little, glaring in disbelief. "Fight me."

Freya keeps her champagne glass in one hand and picks up her sword from behind the counter with the other. Sigyn chokes on champagne and coughs as she hides behind Iqadi. Angela and Emily spit their champagne since they didn't see that move coming. Merida and Iqadi look at the sword in amazement as light reflects on it.

"I love how you have that on you," Angela comments.

"You'll never know," Freya says, lowering it but keeping it in her grip.

"Was that here this whole time?" Emily yells. She tries to think back on missing it when Freya showed up.

Merida sits on a barstool and looks directly at Freya. "So, entertain me. Why swords?"

Freya holds her sword up again. "When you fight with both your hands and a sword, you have more offence. But if your free hand has a shield, you'll have defence and versatility. There are more possible moves which mean more options."

Merida's jaw drops a little. "I learned more in those three sentences than four years in the Academy."

"Right?" Angela echoes.

Emily finishes her glass and walks up to Freya. "I'll show you a move. May I?"

Freya doesn't hesitate to hand over the sword. Upon the exchange, Emily almost drops it since it was heavier than it looks (and it already looked heavy). Emily holds it as she grabs an unopened bottle of champagne from an ice bucket in the sink. She cups it by the base and the girls move to the side, far from where the cork is pointed.

There's something aggressive about swords. If someone has one in their hands, they have to use it.

Emily grazes the bottle's neck with the blade, going back and forth. The girls look in anticipation, hoping nobody gets hurt (especially the bride-to-be. They didn't want to spend the rest of the bachelorette party in the emergency room).

Emily slices up and the cork goes flying. The girls cover their heads, cheering like excited teenagers as she refills their glasses.

-o-

The Boiler Room - SHIELD Academy - 18:51 PM

"You know…" Daniel mutters. "I still have these to read through."

The other boys glare at him as he shows the stack of papers he was supposed to grade. They wouldn't care if Daniel worked on them during his honeymoon because that would make it Emily's problem.

"I thought you left those in the car," Xavier says.

"I should've stayed on Asgard if I knew we would be doing homework," Apollo mutters, "or gone to the bachelorette party."

"Only you would do homework at your bachelor party."

Daniel doesn't even spare Xavier a look. "Operations…"

James bites down on his lips, holding back a laugh. Xavier has never looked so offended yet unfazed at the same time. Finally, Daniel looks at him and sips his beer proudly.

"Wow," Xavier states. "Just … wow."

"Could've been worse," James says. "Could've been a PhD." He looks at Daniel. "What would it be? Your third?"

Daniel is now offended. "Fourth."

Apollo, Xavier, and James look at him blankly. Over the years, at least for Xavier and James, they lost track of how many degrees and PhDs Daniel accumulated and the subjects.

"Fascinating," Imanu states.

"Trust me, you'll like these," Daniel says as he starts leafing through the title pages. He pulls one out. "This one is my favourite. Who is more likely to develop successful time travel - Tony Stark, Dr. Bruce Banner, Dr. Hank Pym or Wakanda."

"Under the assumption that Sigyn doesn't exist," Xavier adds. Daniel nods.

James scoffs. "Please, I'll develop time travel and that'll get me my PhD."

"You had seven years to write your dissertation and never did it," Daniel says.

"Dude, come on," Apollo smacks James's chest and James felt like some ribs broke. Apollo doesn't notice when James starts coughing. "I was gone for that long."

"What makes you think we don't already have time travel?" Imanu asks rhetorically.

The boys look at Imanu who doesn't say another word. Truthfully, they believe that Wakanda has time travel. Imanu did say that Wakanda had guns when the Western world was throwing rocks.

Daniel picks up another essay and hands it to Apollo. "This paper is someone trying to prove that Asgard isn't real."

Apollo grabs it and starts skimming through it. With each page turned, Apollo's face grows more horrified. "I'm almost convinced. Guys, I don't think my home is real anymore."

"Dr. Byrne-Vargas, my SO, said that this student was exploring the possibility of Asgard being an alternate universe that mythology and possibly fairytales construed to make it a realm."

Apollo blinks. "I'm offended. Do you believe that?"

"I'm not saying I do. I'm saying that the point of scientific dissertations is to work with a hypothesis and try to prove it, gathering evidence to support your claims and counterclaims. It's a debate from different branches all coming together in a neatly presented report."

Xavier smiles a little. "I don't understand any of this science but your passion towards it gets me to listen."

Daniel looks at his friend and tears up to which Xavier starts shaking his head to try and avoid.

"Oh no, save those for when Emily's walking down the aisle," Xavier says. "Speaking of, did you write your vows?"

Daniel blinks this time. "What?"

Already knowing the answer, Xavier sits back grinning. "Just asking because you didn't write your valedictorian speech."

"It's a precaution," Imanu adds.

Apollo groans. "Come on, Daniel, you had eight years to write those!"

James puts a hand on Daniel's shoulders to massage them. "Don't worry, relax. Emily will take at least an extra hour to get ready. I'll even hide her lipstick to buy more time."

"That's a declaration for war," Imanu says.

"Worth it."

"I can't write wedding vows!" Daniel yells.

Apollo lights up. "Use one of your PhDs."

"They're not for that!" Daniel slumps in his seat. "What am I going to do?"

Apollo clears his throat. "I meant to use your PhD and make a dissertation."

Daniel looks up at Apollo with hope. "What do you mean?"

"Your hypothesis is proving your love for Emily," Apollo explains. "You have all the years you've known her. Your evidence is your memories, every moment and feeling you've shared. You'll have hopes and wishes for your future together that you'll compartmentalize in a short snippet, highlighting how much you love her."

The table is silent again.

Daniel holds up his beer for Apollo. "You're a fucking genius."

-o-

Stark Towers - 19:53 PM

As the real cakes are baking in the ovens, Emily and Iqadi are sitting on the couch in the living room, legs up on the cushions as the other girls are sitting with their finished sample cake around the kitchen island. All the decorations and fondant were chilling in the fridge until the cakes were done and cooled. Emily's plan was to put white fondant on each of the layers and build it up. Then they would make a diagonal line of edible flowers and decorative dots from a section on the top and swirl it to the bottom, mimicking a spiral staircase. It was common design Emily saw while doing her research and she fell in love with its classy simplicity.

"Why Bora Bora for the honeymoon?" Iqadi asks. As they waited for the cakes, Emily was telling Iqadi more of their wedding plans.

"I was getting so many ads for it that I figured why not," Emily responds. "I was planning for an island but then we went to SHIELD island so I scratched the idea."

"Apologies for that."

"You didn't force your jet down. And Bora Bora's got these little hotel huts on the water which are beautiful. Here, I'll show you."

Emily pulls her phone out of her pocket and leans over, nearing lying on Iqadi's side to show her pictures of their honeymoon destination. Iqadi gasps, handing Emily her champagne glass so she could take the phone and get a better view.

Meanwhile, Merida takes a knife out of the holder and holds it above the sample cake. "One of my favourite things about cooking is that you can use a knife."

"I like this," Sigyn takes a blowtorch out from one of the cupboards, "you can paint with fire."

Angela walks between them. She looks at Merida. "First off, no." She turns to Sigyn. "Second, absolutely not."

Freya looks at Merida. "Would you like my sword instead?"

"Yes!" Merida exclaims, holding her hands out like an excited child.

Angela doesn't debate that. "Actually, that'd be epic."

"I can't imagine Daniel at the beach," Iqadi says as she and Emily continue looking at pictures of the honeymoon destination.

Emily laughs as she takes her phone back. "I've been to the beach with Daniel and I still can't see it but he's excited."

"He's excited for a honeymoon."

Emily narrows her eyes at Iqadi who nudges her with a wild grin. The two women look up when they see Merida waving Freya's sword around and stabbing the sample cake. They run over and see it sliced into uneven and jagged pieces but still, the cake looks delicious. Instead of grabbing handfuls of cake to taste, Merida holds the sword out and they carefully nibble a bite off the edge. For a moment, they think they've had too much champagne or not enough, but this would've happened even if they were sober.

Emily backs away, licking her lips excitedly. "This time tomorrow, I'll be married to the love of my life."

Freya takes her sword back and points it at her. "Dr. Emily Stark-Banner."

Emily smiles, raising her hands and folding them together. "Dr. Emily Stark-Banner."

-o-

Somewhere in New Jersey - 1:28 AM

They don't remember leaving The Boiler Room or getting to the beach, but here they are. It's dark but they ended up sitting on a picnic table at the edge of a beach, all looking out towards the water and watching the midnight surfers. Apollo, Daniel, and Imanu are sitting on the bench while Xavier and James are on the table. The breeze blows past them as they wonder about everything in their lives that got them to this point. It felt like only yesterday they were high schoolers with no real goals or plans for the next day but now, times have changed.

"Daniel, you're getting married tomorrow," Xavier states without looking at him.

"Yeah, yeah I am," Daniel states in disbelief.

Their reflective trances break when they hear James's sobbing. They turn to face him and he's crying in his sleeve.

"You're growing up," James says between cries. "You'll be a married man tomorrow - or in a few hours."

"I'm only two months older than you."

Suddenly, Imanu's tearing up. "Marriage is great. You'll love it."

Apollo starts crying too. "I missed your whole engagement life and the start of Imanu's marriage."

At the sight of too many tears, Xavier wipes his eyes. "Oh, fuck you guys."

Daniel stares at all their tears as they slowly calm down. He doesn't feel any on his eyes but he smiles. These idiots are his best friends. He didn't want a bachelor party but if he knew a week ago that he would get this moment of them being together before his big day, he would've said yes to wanting one. He didn't want something extravagant in a crowded space of people, he just wanted the guys with him.

"Let me hug you one last time," Apollo says to Daniel.

Before Daniel could say anything, Apollo hugs him so tight that his glasses almost fall off when his face collided into Apollo's collarbone. He thought he was suffocating but then the others joined in on top and he stopped breathing. Eventually, they let go and Daniel readjusts his glasses as he gasps for air.

"Oh, one more thing," Xavier says. "This is more for James but Daniel will enjoy it as well."

"Please don't drown me," James begs.

Xavier grins as he takes his wallet out of his back pocket. He pulls out a card and hands it to James.

James glances over it and his eyes pop open. "You got a fireworks permit for New Jersey?!"

"Oh god…" Daniel mutters, getting flashbacks to Imanu's bachelor party. His car almost exploded!

"You need permits for that here?" Imanu questions.

"I have fireworks in the car," Xavier says.

Daniel shudders. "Oh god…" It had to be bad if Xavier was encouraging this behaviour. He has never seen James look so excited in his entire life.

Apollo starts getting pumped. "Are we lighting them up?"

James laughs, putting a hand on Apollo's shoulder. "No, no, no, dear Apollo." He lights up his other hand. "I will."

"Finally!"

Daniel wants to run home. "Oh dear god…"

Xavier hands James his keys to get them. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious about seeing this play out again."

"Iqadi didn't prepare me for this, even after it happened at mine," Imanu says. Daniel was happy someone was on his side for this upcoming mess.

Moments later, James comes back with the fireworks. They run to a corner of the beach where they were far enough from civilization. James and Xavier set up the fireworks pointing up and out towards the ocean, hoping nothing happens like last time. They thought they'd learn from their mistakes but they don't remember what they did last time to almost blow up Daniel's car. When they're done, Xavier backs up to the others. He stands beside Apollo who acts like shields for Daniel and Imanu, who peek over because, admittedly, they're curious.

James grins maniacally before lighting up his hands and setting the fireworks off. At first, it was a normal building flame and they thought something was wrong, but then it's a sudden explosion of sparkling colours, flames, and screams into the night.

I sometimes forget they're adults.