Hello peeps! Sorry it took me so long ta get this one out; I hurt my back and could only sit in my desk chair long enough for a few R&R's. Thanks for waiting, and I hope you like it!

P.S. there's a new one-time O.C. in this. I'd play his part in the movie. ;)

Readerrr Grrrl: Glad you like Mally. I talked with him the other day, and he says your stories are rippa. Check this girls reads out! THANKS!

Red Witch: Glad you like me Pappy! Hope you enjoy the budding romance! THANKS!

L1701E: Thanks! Look for your boys, Craig & Kyle in a couple chappies or so. Bonnie disclaimer in yer fic, Many thanks! THANKS!

Secret Handshake for: Agent-G, Joseph McKinley, LolitaRed, Proponent of EVO

Chapter 21 – Pappy goes A- 'churchin', and he did go...

St. Patrick's Cathedral, NYC

"...let us go now in peace, to love and serve the Lord. Amen." Father Bryson said. He followed the alter boys down the isle to the Sacristy, then went to the front steps to greet his flock. When some of the others at the Institute had heard Pappy was going to church with the Parker's, they decided to go into town with him. Really just the practicing Catholics'; Mally, Kurt, Rahne, Theresa, and Sean and Moira. It was a treat for the out-of-towners; they had never been to St. Patty's.

"May Parker, good to see you as always," Father Bryson said, "and Peter, MJ, Hello! I see you've brought guests, welcome, welcome all!"

"Hello Father," MJ chimed, "and guess what? Not all the guests are completely here yet!" she said, patting her tummy, smiling.

"Oh, joyous day, are ya with child girl? Thank the Lord!" Father cried, making the sign of the cross over MJ. "Of the many blessings the Lord bestows upon us, children are the greatest. Congratulations, to all the proud Parker clan!"

"Thanks, Father Matty." Peter said. "I'd like you to meet our guests. This is Angus and Mally O'Bryanson; Mally's girlfriend Rahne Sinclair. This young man is Kurt Wagner, and this is Sean Cassidy, Moira MacTaggart, and Theresa Cassidy. They're friends of ours from upstate." Hands were shook all around. Of course, Mally and Kurt had their 'watches' on.

"Pleased to meet all of you; my what a fine bunch of young people! Are ya from the old country, Mr. Cassidy?" asked Father Bryson, noticing Sean's brogue greeting.

"Aye, Father, that I am; Moira and Theresa too. Lovely church you have here, quite grand. Twas a fine Mass too."

"Ya, service was bonnie, Father." Moira smiled. "The Parkers' told me yer a good man."

"Yes, yes, I do try, thank you. It was nice to have met you all, and congratulations once again, Mr. & Mrs. Parker!" Father Bryson turned to other parishioners, smiling.

"Thank ya for inviting me ta church, May. Might I suggest that you and yer family accompany me ta lunch?" Pappy asked, acting ever suave. "Do ya know of a nice restaurant nearby?"

"Why Angus, how nice of you to offer!" May smiled. She had talked with MJ and Peter about Pappy's interest in her. She had decided she was not too old to flirt. "There is a nice restaurant on Amsterdam Ave, 'Good Enough to Eat'; very good pancakes. Perhaps afterwards, a walk thru the park would be nice."

"Ja, pancakes!" Kurt exclaimed, doing a little jig. "I love pancakes!"

Sean smiled. "Can we walk, or should I grab a cabbie, Ms. Parker?"

"Oh my yes, we can walk. I don't like city taxies as it is. And, please, Mr. Cassidy, call me May. You too, Ms. MacTaggart." May replied.

"Yes ma'am, and call me Sean, and I'm sure Ms. MacTaggart prefers Moira. 'Ms.' makes her feel old." Sean joked, getting a whack from Moira.

The group started on to the eatery, laughing and talking along the way. MJ and Peter were talking about baby names with Sean and Moira.

"Ya know, Sean is a grand name fer a lad. Very respectable..." Sean joked.

"Right, in which land, ya goof." Quipped Moira.

"Well, I think if it's a boy, we'll name him Benjamin Peter," MJ said, "and, if it's a girl, Anna May. Those are all family names."

"Yeah, but we'll call the boy Ben. I think one 'Peter Parker' in this world is enough." Smiled Peter, as MJ gave him a kiss.

-

Pappy had offered May his arm, and they were strolling along.

"Mallory seems like such a nice boy, Angus. You've done well with him, considering...well, his 'problem'. Was it hard on you?" May asked.

"Not a bit, May, not a wee bit. I'd give my heart ta the boy, if'n he needed it. After his Ma passed when the lad was a tot, he was me pride an joy. Still is, as Peter is to you, I'm sure." Pappy smiled.

"And Mary Jane," May added, "that girl is the best thing that ever happened to my Peter. I'm so excited to be a grandmother! I love them both, and I will love their child like my own."

"Yes, and with the noggin your Peter has mixed with the beauty of your MJ, the wee one shall be glorious!" Pappy stated.

"I agree," said May, "I most certainly agree."

The group reached the restaurant. The wait staff pushed two tables together for them, and the waitress gave them menu's.

"Too right, lookit this dingo, mango pancakes with berry-berry syrup. Ya can have my bacon, if ya want, carnivore." Mally joked with Rahne.

"Careful, rabbit, lest I cut ye paw off fer luck." Rahne shot back, smiling. "I'll make ye a deal though; ya can have me muffin. Too much bread makes me bum big."

"Very true," Theresa agreed, "You blokes don't have that problem, do ya?"

"Well, me bum is already pretty big, although very rippa, if I don't say so meself!" Mally said. "As fer Kurt, I don't think he can gain weight. What do ya say, my culinary black hole of a pal?"

Kurt smiled, turning to the waitress. "I'd like the 'All You Can Eat' buttermilk special please. Also I vould like sides of bacon, sausage, and scrapple. And a fruit bowl. And milk and orange juice, tank you."

The waitress looked at him. "Anything else?" she mocked, smiling.

"No, but I may get a sandwich to go, for the ride home." Kurt added, in all seriousness.

"My goodness, young man, what a healthy appetite you have!" exclaimed Aunt May. "Remember when you used to eat like that, Peter?"

"Your breakfasts are the best, Aunt May. 'No cold cereal for the Parker men.' That's what Uncle Ben used to say, remember Aunt May?" Peter piped.

"Perish the thought! Growing boys need real food, not something from a box." She turned to Mally. "Mallory, no meat for you? Protein is important for young men." May raised her eyebrows in question.

"Uh, no ma'am, meats don't agree with me ya see. I'll have a bean salad or some chili fer supper today, don't you worry." Mally explained.

"We'll buy you some peanuts in the park. Well balanced meals are important." May noted.

The group finished their order, talking about this and that til the food arrived. Theresa turned to Kurt.

"Ya look so different with yer inducer on. Bloody bummer people are the way they are, an ya haveta use one. Does it bother you?" she asked.

"Ja, it used to, but it's like Father Bryson said this morning. One must be tankful for what they have been given. So I am tankful that Forge has the knowledge to make others more comfortable around me. It saddens me that people are that vay, but I vas made this vay by the Lord, so it is right. My faith lies in the fact zat there are people zat are not so judgemental."

The food came, and they all ate heartily. The poor waitress got run ragged by a hungry Kurt. She fixed the problem by bringing two plates of pancakes at a time. Finally, they finished eating and had coffee. Sean and Pappy split the giant tab. Peter tried to chip in, but Pappy wouldn't have it. "No, lad, my treat. Call it a pre-birthday for the child." He looked at May. "Besides, any price is too little for the pleasure of present company." May tittered.

They left the restaurant, heading to Central Park, which was just around the corner. Aunt May took Mally's hand leading him and Pappy, who's arm she had in her other hand, to the peanut vendor on the corner.

"Two bags, please. One for this young man, and one for the squirrels." She looked to Pappy. "I do enjoy feeding the little creatures. Will you go ask Peter if he wants a bag, Angus?"

"It would be my pleasure, my lady..." Pappy toned, turning around with flourish, heading to Peter, who was over by the pond.

Peter was looking out over the park, city skyline up above it, thinking. 'I must be the luckiest crime fighter in this city...' he mused.

"Well, Peter me lad, yer Aunt wants to know if ye wants some nuts..." Pappy paused, looking at the satisfied look on Peters' face. "Aye yer a lucky laddie boy! Pretty wife, with a bun in her oven. Not ta mention a beautiful sweet Aunt takin' care of ye! An look at this city; wonderful. All yours, laddie!" said Pappy, pointing at the city with his cane. "So tell me man," Pappy said quietly, "are ye gonna give up the Spider when the baby comes?"

Peter almost fell over. "Wha..? How did..? I'm not..? Pappy, I swear...how did you..?" he stammered, looking at the old man.

Pappy smiled. "Ye can't fool an old soldier, boy. Remember, at the card game, ye only had yer eyes masked. When ye came for lunch one other day, ye knew who I was, yet I never saw you before. Ya voice sounded familiar though. Plus, you an Wolvie got on like he an Spider did. Then, when ye brought yer pretty lassie to the school ta see Doc Beastie, ya knew me boy Mally at the gate. I jest put two and two together lad." He explained, tapping his temple. "I may be long in the tooth, but I still gots me wits, eh?"

"Pappy, you haven't told anyone, have you? You can't ever! Never!" gushed Peter.

Pappy stuck an imaginary key into an imaginary lock, turned it, then swallowed the key, making a big gulp noise. "To the grave, lad! Scot's Honor! But tell me," he asked, "do yer wifey and Aunt May know?"

Peter sighed. "Yes, they know. So does Logan. But, promise me Pappy, no one else can know. It's for the safety of Aunt May and MJ that it has to be that way."

Pappy stood at attention. "Ye have my solemn vow, as a soldier of the Queen, and as a Chief of the Clan O'Bryanson. I'll not tell a soul, I promise. The protection of the family Parker is of the utmost importance!"

Peter smiled, impressed by Pappy's understanding. "Ok, thank you Pappy. Now, how 'bout some peanuts?" he said, steering Pappy back over to his Aunt May.

-

Mally and Rahne were walking round the pond. They were talking.

"Ya know what was funny, silly rabbit?" Rahne said to him. "The way Mr. Parker introduced me as your girlfriend to Father Bryson. I mean, is it that noticeable?"

"I don't know..." Mally puzzled. "Maybe it was the adoring way you look at me, dingo." He joked, taking her face in his hands, leaning down to her. "Who's yer daddy?"

Rahne thought of her talk with Moira, and the way she had seen Mrs. Parker kiss Peter.

"Who's ya Mama?" she asked Mally, pulling him down and planting a big kiss on his lips. At first he was surprised, then he kissed her back, pulling her closer.

"...rippa..." he breathed as they parted.

"We must do that again sometime, eh ribbit?" Rahne asked, smiling.

"No time like the present..." Mally closed his eyes as he pulled her in again.

-

Later, the group was walking back St. Patricks, where they had left the car. MJ and Moira were talking about childbirth.

"Labor wasn't fun, I won't be lyin' ta ya;" Moira stated, "it hurts like the devil. But the reward is grand. Ya doctor hasn't told you that anythings wrong now, has he?"

"No, but...let's just say the mutant gene runs in Peter's family. Not that I wouldn't want a mutant child," MJ said, erasing Moira's questioning look, "it's just given me something to think about."

"I understand. Me own child is a mutant, and it can be...difficult, caring for them. You can only do what you think is best."

MJ noticed Moira's whole attitude changed talking about this subject. "Well, at least you have Sean and Theresa to help you." She said, trying to change the subject. "Theresa tells me she will be staying at the Institute for high school. Seems like a great place..."

-

Meanwhile, Pappy had been walking with May.

"I've had myself a nice time today lassie. Can I call on you again?" he asked.

"I've had a nice time too, Angus. I must tell you...I have not been interested in a man since my Ben passed. It is a bit...awkward for me, but I am enjoying your company." May paused. "Let me call you later in the week. I need some time to think on this dating thing. Is that alright, Angus?" May wondered.

"Most certainly, May." Pappy said, patting her hand. "Lots of changes for ye lately. Must be a lot, about to be a grandparent, and having to deal with a son with two lives. Call me when ye are ready May. Even if we just spend time together, our lives will be sixpence richer." He smiled. He pulled May's hand up, kissing it.

Peter stuck his head between them. "Hey there son, what are your intentions with my Aunt?" he asked sarcastically.

"OH PETER!" scolded Aunt May, blushing.

End – Chapter 22 – Big Mac and Flies