The apartment was finished, though Darcy had opted not to paint the walls herself, that had been done before she had stuff delivered. They had also managed to wheedle out of Jolie what she wanted for her birthday. Darcy had been instrumental in that. The kid had no idea how to ask for something she wanted. It took great restraint not to try and spoil her to death, but that would have been just as bad the opposite direction.

The problem was, Xander just had no idea how to pull off the present she wanted. The little minx, puppy dog eyes and everything, had admitted she wanted a weekend at Disney. That wasn't too hard to pull off, it was the rest that had Xander ready to pull his hair out on. Jolie wanted her friends and quote "people she could tolerate" to come with. That list included Natasha, Safira, Steve, Darcy, Bruce, Tony, Pepper and himself. He could get Steve and Safira pretty easily. The rest? They did have jobs and other commitments, though Darcy had looked excited at the idea.

He'd stewed on the problem all night and finally figured the easiest thing to do was ask. It was Saturday, and he knew Jolie would be waking up soon starving. How the slug a bed boy of his teens became the wide awake at 5 am man he'd never figured out.

Probably Africa and things trying to eat me in my sleep.

"Jarvis, is Pepper or Tony available to talk to me after breakfast?" He checked his watch, it was five-thirty. Time to get something yummy going for breakfast.

"They are still both asleep, Xander. But I will ask when they arise."

"Thanks, Jarvis."

Xander emerged from the elevator already planning something fun. With both Safira and Steve gone, he'd cut back a bit. Those two ate more than five teenagers did. Xander liked breakfast, it was easy, flexible, and nothing fancy was needed, though it could be made. He'd started on a coffee cake, and planned on kielbasa with some peppers and onions with scrambled eggs on the side, when Darcy walked in.

Dressed in jeans and a t-shirt that hugged her breasts, he almost spilled the flour everywhere.

"See something you like?" She teased as she sashayed over.

"Yes." He grinned at her. "An intelligent woman with her own place."

Darcy snickered and kissed his cheek. "Making coffee cake? Want me to help?"

"Absolutely. Baking is your skill, I just figured it was an easy recipe."

"Oh it can be, but with that proofing rack, I think I can have some fun with it." She took the bowl from him and headed away. He took a moment to watch her move, then shook his head and went back to digging out things from the fridge.

An animal is what you are.

His mental chiding didn't deter from the acknowledgement that Darcy had a nice ass. They needed to go on another date. Before he could follow up on that thought Nat showed up, then Clint and the place came alive. It was his favorite time of the day even if it got a bit chaotic.

People were eating in small groups, even Bruce had shown up, though from the narrow eyed look Darcy gave him Xander suspected those were the same clothes he's been wearing yesterday.

The sour cream coffee cake, and quick sourdough biscuits were a hit. Darcy had set up a sourdough starter and it had finally started coming to life.

Tony strode in and headed directly for the coffee machine. He at least looked freshly showered and from the suit Xander assumed he had something Stark related to do today. Pepper strolled in after him and smiled at everyone.

"Morning. What is the delicious smell?" Pepper asked as she walked in, stopping at the machine to make herself a cappuccino while Tony made his normal black diesel sludge mix. How that machine even created that still amazed Xander.

"Sourdough biscuits with fruit and cream topping," Darcy replied with a sly look. Ever since Extremis had solved Peppers strawberry allergy the fruit had been her go to for everything.

"Excellent." Pepper turned to dig into that.

"Xander, Jarvis said you wanted to talk to us?" He said in a loud voice which had the effect of making everyone turn to look at him.

"Well I hadn't intended it be a public thing, but." He shrugged. Jolie hadn't gotten up yet, which was typical teenager behavior. "Jolie has made a request for her birthday that she goes to Disney World." Tony rolled his eyes while the others just looked at him, waiting. "The complication is," he took a deep breath, "she would like Tony, Pepper, Nat, and Bruce to go with her also. As well as Steve, Safira, and Darcy."

He let the words hang there.

"Aww, she doesn't want me? I'm heart broken," Clint pouted and Xander thought he detected a small bit of real hurt there.

"You're still a scary male. Give it another year." Xander said dryly. "Besides we all know you're just going to show up there anyway." He ran his eye over the rest of them. "So?"

"Disney? Really?" Tony huffed. "Why can't I just build her a suit or something?"

"NO!" Everyone in the room said at the same time and Pepper narrowed her eyes at him. "Antony Stark you do that and you'll be sleeping alone for the next decade."

"Fine, fine. Yeesh. Three days? Oh, fine. But I'm claiming adult privilege and we aren't waiting in any lines."

"Tony, you may not buy out the park. She wants to be around other people, other kids. So no buying out the park."

Tony glared back at him and Xander met him stare for stare.

"Compromise – I buy out the park for all Stark employees as a long holiday week and the slayers. And we do that."

That took Xander back. He mulled that over. "I'll have to discuss it with Giles, but that might be acceptable. But can you really do that?"

Tony shrugged. "It would have to be during the week, not a weekend, but Disney likes money as much as I do. And this isn't exactly their busy time of year. Besides, they've been wanting to talk to me about some IP licensing. They'll let me."

Xander stared at him, then Pepper. "Is he right?"

"Yes. There are some opportunities we've been avoiding, but this might work out. Just make it into a work trip. Does she care when it is?"

Xander shrugged. "Not that I can see. The idea of Disney is more something other kids got to do not her, so if we set and date – and stick to it – she'll be excited. Having other slayers around might help too as she's calmed down and has a bit of closure."

"Then I'll work on it. It sounds fun. I haven't been there since I was a child." She looked around the room. "Who else has ever been?"

Only Darcy raised her hand and Pepper blinked. "Not even you Xander? You lived in Southern California."

"Well, I was supposed to go in middle school, but had an accident and missed the trip," he said lightly. The accident had been his dad breaking his arm because he didn't want to waste money on a stupid trip. Jesse and Willow had raved about it for weeks.

"Well then, we are all going. Maybe we can get Jane to go?"

Darcy laughed. "She owes me. I'll drag her."

"Excellent then it is settled? If nothing else, I have metals to play with that I still can't figure out." With a twirl Tony headed out of the room, snagging two biscuits, dropping a kiss on Peppers lips and disappeared.

Xander grabbed his food and headed over to the table, everyone else cleaned as he and Darcy cooked. He sat down as a ping on his phone grabbed his attention.

*Made it here. Steve was happy to see me. VERY happy* there was an leering emoji and Xander just shook his head. *Out running. He has a friend we're running into the ground. He's annoyed there are two of us. I haven't broken his heart. Kinda cute, military. Steve's a troll. See ya Monday – maybe.*

*Child, be safe and be kind to the poor men. They don't know how to handle you. Have fun.* He put the phone down as Darcy slide in next to him.

"Safira?"

"Yes. Teasing me with their activities last night."

"Oh, I have no doubt they were busy for hours. At least you don't have to listen to it." Darcy commented dryly, even though Thor had been gone for the last few weeks, much to Janes disappointment, which was part of the reason Jane hid in her laboratory so much.

"True, but my walls are better sound proofed than yours were. I knew to expect the H's." Xander glanced at her thinking about when a date might work out.

"H's?" Darcy frowned lookng at him. "What are those?"

"Slaying tends to rile you up, leading to Hunger and Horniness. So that much I'd prepared for. Jolie will get there probably, though if anything could drive your sexuality away, her childhood would have."

"True," Darcy lapsed into silence mopping up the last of her breakfast.

"Do you have any plans tomorrow?" Xander blurted then cringed, subtle he didn't do.

Darcy's head jerked up and she looked at him. "No. Why?"

"Um, would you like to go out for dinner and maybe dessert back at my place?" Xander didn't know if he should blush or be more blunt. He really wanted to kiss her again the way he had the first time.

"I think that sounds like a wonderful idea." Her smile had him floating for the rest of the day.

Hey everyone - I want to wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and let's keep our fingers crossed for a wonderful new year.