Part 3

Christmas Eve

Mama Rhodes' arrival at the compound was met with a lot of noise. Rhodes and Tony are the first ones down to greet the older lady, making a fuss of her and asking how her trip was, Tony making sure he's the one to grab her suitcases.

'Oh you are a good boy, Tony,' she says to him as her son leads up her up the steps and into the facility.

'Only because of what you taught me Mama Rhodes,' he laughs, helping his friend settle his mother into her room.

The rest of the team are eager to meet one of the few family members any of the team has left, and Mama Rhodes finds herself at the centre of attention of the Avengers, all of them wanting to make her comfortable and asking all about her.

'She's one special lady,' Steve comments as he joins Tony at the kitchenette.

'She's been like a second mother to me,' he replies, leaning against his boyfriend. 'I'm glad Rhodey convinced her to come. She's going to do enough mothering of this team to get us through the next year.'

'Anthony Edward Stark you bring that nice young man down here and explain to me why I had to find out from James that you were finally settling down,' the old woman's voice carries over to them.

Tony looks sheepish. 'In my defence, Mama, he didn't exactly give me chance to tell you.'

'All I'm hearing is excuses,' she cuts him off, 'now you bring him over here and introduce me properly. Honestly! Did I not teach you anything when you came to stay with us?'

'You taught me plenty,' he reassures her, pulling Steve along behind him. 'I just can't always find room for everything alongside the equations up here,' he points to his temple.

'You always used that excuse, and it's not going to start working now, young man.'

'At least you still call me "young man", Mama,' Tony laughs, pressing a kiss to her wrinkled cheek. 'Which is more than most of this crazy lot do. Now, Mama Rhodes I'd like to introduce you to Steve Rogers.'

'Pleasure to meet you ma'am' Steve says, bending down and pressing a kiss to her cheek.

'Hmm,' Mama eyes him over her glasses, 'well you've got manners, young man, which is more than most these days. You think you can keep Tony in line?'

Steve laughs. 'I'm not sure anyone is able to do that, ma'am.'

'No you'd be right there. Alright young man, you'll do. Now come sit next to me and entertain an old woman, all I hear from these two is technical mumbo-jumbo. I'm hoping a sensible soldier like you can actually talk about something I can understand for a change.'

'We're not that bad, Mama,' Rhodes protests.

'Boss? Peter and May Parker have just entered the gates,' FRIDAY says.

'I'll go meet them,' he says to the rest of the group, 'and bring them up when they're all settled.'

'Is this the young man you've told me about?' Mama asks.

Tony can't stop the big grin on his face. 'It is indeed, Mama.' He gives Steve a wink before turning and heading down to meet Peter and his aunt.

Tony reaches the front door just as May Parker pulls to a stop. Peter scrambles out of the door and runs up to give Tony a hug. 'Merry Christmas Mr Stark!'

Tony barely has time to return the hug before Peter's running back to the car to open the trunk and collect the bags. 'Merry Christmas, Pete,' he replies, a little dazed. He looks at May's harried expression and raises an eyebrow. 'I'm guessing he's been this excitable for a while?'

'Next time you have him on the run up to Christmas,' she replies, 'he's had to promise to repaint the walls and ceiling when we get back.'

'Let's get you to your room,' he says, putting an arm around her shoulder and taking her bag from Peter. 'Pete you're in your usual room, head on up when you're ready everyone's in the common area getting to know Mama Rhodes. I'll bring your Aunt May up when she's settled.'

'Sure thing, Mr Stark,' he says running up the stairs.

'Peter?' the teenager screeches to a halt and turns to look back at his mentor. 'No more of the titles this holiday, alright? We're all on first name basis.'

'Alright sure thing Mr…. Tony.' Peter speeds off before he can say anything else.

'He has too much energy,' May moans.

Tony huffs a laugh. 'You'll be pleased to hear you're a couple of corridors away from him. I'll get Steve to take him down to the training area and work away some of the excess energy.'

'Oh thank god.'

It's a couple of hours later, and Steve and Bucky have brought Peter back up after an intense workout. The two super-soldiers are sweating and out of breath, but Peter still seems to be bouncing on his toes.

'Kid where are you getting your energy from?' Sam asks. 'Oh no, no hot chocolate for you!' He swipes the mug out of the teenager's reach.

'Awww, but I love hot chocolate.'

'And I love walls that don't have hand and foot prints all over them,' May counters from her seat next to Mama. 'I'm sure the Avengers would appreciate their walls being free of them as well.'

'Oh there's a special area I can go to climb the walls, May. Besides I think I'd be dead if I accidentally pulled down any decorations.'

'You got that right,' Natasha says. 'Now give the kid a hot chocolate, Sam, otherwise you'll never hear the end of it.'

Peter cheers in victory, sitting cross-legged in front of Natasha on the floor. 'Yeah, yeah, you go sit by your Mommy-Spider,' Sam sighs, then frowns at the two soldiers. 'What did he do to you two?'

'Way too much jumping and flipping,' Bucky groans. 'Even my metal arm is aching.'

'Oh quit being a baby,' Natasha laughs, ruffling Peter's hair. 'He's not that bad when I train him. You just need to keep him focussed.'

'You train him every time from now on then,' Bucky grumbles. 'Where's my hot chocolate?'

'Peter,' May's voice is stern.

'I didn't do anything,' he protests before she can finish.

May's expression says she doesn't believe him. 'You're not trying to get people on your side by pulling that innocent act are you? You know, the same one you used to pull on me and Ben when you were young?'

'No,' he lengthens the vowel. 'Why would you think that?' His face is a picture of wide-eyed innocence.

'Because that is exactly how you'd get Ben to give you an extra bag of candy,' May shakes her head, exasperated. 'I think I need to speak to Tony about how to handle you.'

'Don't worry, May,' Tony laughs, giving a mug of hot chocolate each to Bucky and Steve. 'The only one who can't handle Peter is Bucky, and it provides the rest of us far too much entertainment to intervene.'

It's only a little later, as Mama and May are in the kitchen with Wanda and Rhodes preparing dinner that Tony gets a chance to speak to Peter. He finds the youngster sitting looking out of a window with a thoughtful expression on his face.

'You alright, kid?'

Peter looks up at him, a little startled, then nods. 'Yeah sorry, was just thinking.'

'Anything you want to share?' Peter shrugs in answer. 'Come on kid, it look like it's eating you whatever it is.'

'It's just,' Peter sighs, 'I was thinking that you shouldn't have to spend this holiday alone.'

Tony frowns and perches next to Peter. 'What's brought this on?' Peter shifts uncomfortably and Tony thinks he can guess. 'Deadpool?'

Peter looks at him with wide eyes. 'How did you-'

He smiles at the boy. 'You always get fidgety when you bring him up, because you don't think I want to hear you talk about him.'

Peter looks down. 'Well I didn't think you were his biggest fan.'

'I don't know him like you do, Pete,' he replies. 'But I won't hide the fact I worry about you spending time with someone who is borderline insane.'

'I'm pretty sure you could say the same about a lot of members of this team,' he counters.

Tony laughs. 'Fair point, kid. So I take it from your downcast expression and the topic of our conversation that Deadpool is spending Christmas alone and you wish he could be here?'

'Well not necessarily here,' he replies. 'Just not alone.'

'Pete,' Tony sighs, 'you know I'd say he could spend it here with us. But he doesn't know who you are outside of Spider-Man, and you'd have to show him May too. Do you trust him enough to tell him who you are and who your family is?'

Peter is quiet, looking out of the window as he takes in what his mentor has said; Tony lets him think, looking back to watch the rest of the team as they start tidying up the common area ready to head upstairs to the dining area when dinner is ready.

'You know,' Peter says quietly, 'I think I do.' He gives a soft laugh. 'Sorry, I just got caught up in my thoughts. I should go see if they need a hand setting up the table.' He stands and leaves Tony with his thoughts. Steve passes him as Peter leaves the room and looks over at Tony.

'What's with that look?' he asks his boyfriend.

'I might be about to do something crazy,' Tony admits.

'When do you ever not?' Steve laughs. 'What in particular are you planning to do this time?'

Wade Wilson puts the bottle of whiskey on the table and turns on the TV, wondering whether to go for the horror Christmas films that Spidey seemed dead against, or for the classic Die Hard.

'Hans Gruber it is,' he says, putting in the DVD. Just as the titles start up there's a knock on the door. 'Who the fuck interrupts Die Hard?' he mutters to himself.

Deciding not to take any risks, he grabs the handgun from down the side of the sofa cushion, slips his mask over his head and heads to the door. 'Who is it?'

'It's the man in the big red suit,' comes an irritated voice from the other side. 'I'm here about our mutual friend, Deadpool.'

'Wait, Iron Man? What the fuck do you want on Christmas Eve?'

'I thought I already said: our mutual friend. Now open up.' Still keeping hold of the gun, Wade opens the door and steps back to let Tony Stark enter his apartment. He closes it behind the man, watching as he surveys his apartment.

'How did you find me?' he demands, gun still held at his side.

'I've known where you live for months,' Tony replies. 'Wow and Steve thought my room was bad when he moved in.'

'Care to explain why you're only just showing up now? I don't think I've been caught for anything recently.'

'I'm going to assume that last bit is a joke,' he replies, turning to face the merc. 'Care to lose the mask?'

'Not really.'

Tony nods. 'Mind if I sit?'

'I imagine you're going to anyway.' He does. 'What the fuck do you want, Stark? I've got a bottle of whiskey to get through and Die Hard to watch and I know you've got better plans than spending Christmas Eve with me.'

'I told you, I'm here because of our mutual friend.'

'Spider-Man?'

Tony nods. 'I had a little heart to heart with our spider earlier. Seems he wasn't too keen on you spending Christmas alone.'

Wade feels a warm feeling spreading through his chest. Spidey had been thinking about him. 'He's got a heart of gold, but you don't need to worry about me Tin Can.'

'I'm not worried about you,' Tony clarifies.

'Harsh but fair.'

'But Spider-Man has become like a son to me, and I want him to have the best Christmas possible. Honestly? I don't think that's going to happen unless you're there as well.'

'Wait, what? Are you saying-'

Tony raises a hand to stop his question. 'Now listen very carefully, Wade Wilson. I asked Spider-Man if he'd be willing to trust you with his identity and with the identity of his family. He thought about it, properly thought about it, and he said he would. Now I know he can handle himself, so I'm not too worried about you actually knowing who he is. What I am concerned about is the people close to him. You swear to me right here that you will not use any knowledge of Spider-Man's identity against him, you can come with me to the facility and, if he's still happy to trust you, you can come and spend Christmas with us.'

Wade looks at Tony as if the man is as insane as Wade is. 'Wait, sorry I had some crazy stuck in my ear. I swear you just invited me to Christmas.'

'Don't make me regret it, Wilson,' Tony growls.

Wade holds his hands up. 'Sorry, sorry. I just… I appreciate the thought, Stark, but I don't think Spidey really wants to spend Christmas looking at this mug,' he gestures to his mask.

'If you know him as well as I think you do, you should know he's not going to care what you look like. He cares about you. I'm slightly concerned just how much he cares about you, but that's his choice.'

Wade looks away and doesn't answer. Every cell in his body is screaming to say yes and go to spend Christmas with his Baby Boy. But his head is telling him to say 'no'.

'I'm not sure the rest of the superhero gang is going to be happy to see me.'

'I've got Steve on them already,' Tony waves off the concern. 'He'll have them in line by the time we get back.'

'Wait Star Spangled Banner Man is happy with you coming here and inviting me up for Christmas?!'

'Well I wouldn't say "happy" is the best word to describe it. Let's just say I've got a lot of making up to do in the future.'

'That's possibly more information than I ever needed to know.'

'So are you coming?' Tony asks, standing up and straightening out his jacket. 'Because we are on a tight schedule if we're going to make it back in time for dinner, and the big meet where you and Spider-Man have to reveal identities before.'

'I…' Wade shakes his head. 'Look, thanks Stark but this,' he sighs, pointing to his head, 'there's a whole lot of crazy up here starting with the looks department.'

Tony fixes him with a piercing look. 'Take the mask off, Wade.'

'Oh no way, Tin Can. No fucking way is this thing coming off.'

'Wade,' Tony says again. 'Take it off.' They have a staring contest which, for some reason, Wade decides to let him win. He sighs and puts the gun down on a shelf and then grips the top of the mask before pulling it off, looking down at the floor as he feels the other man's eyes on him.

'Yeah, no one wants to look at this over the Christmas table,' he says as the silence stretches on, turning so his back now faces the other man's penetrating stare.

'I've definitely fought some things that look worse,' Tony quips from behind him. 'Honestly? The fuss you were making I was expecting much worse.'

'Seriously? I look like Freddy Kreuger hate fucked an Egyptian mummy.'

'Well I'm not going to be voting for you to win any beauty contests,' comes the reply, 'but it's not going to put me off my dinner.' When Wade opens his mouth to argue, Tony cuts him off. 'Look, this isn't about any of that. What I am asking you is: do you want to spend Christmas with Spider-Man?'

'Well yeah,' Wade answers, 'but-'

'Do you care about him?'

He turns to face the billionaire again. 'Yes,' he answers quietly.

'Then pack your bag for a couple of nights stay. Bring the mask if you really want to, but don't be surprised if it goes missing. I'll be waiting downstairs. Be there in ten minutes tops or I'm coming back up here and dragging you down. I need someone who supports the watching of Die Hard.'

Tony leaves before Wade can voice any more complaints. He stands for about half a minute in shock, trying to process what has happened. Then he heads to the drawers under his window and pulls out the carefully wrapped box, with the tag "Baby Boy" attached.

'Shit is so going to go south, Deadpool,' he says, pulling the mask back on. 'But hey you've been in worse shit storms.' He goes to his room, making sure to take out the DVD from the television as he passes it.

'Captain, the boss is just arriving,' FRIDAY says.

Steve nods. 'Peter?'

'Yes Cap… yes Steve?' Steve smiles at the teen, who is still desperately trying to remember the first names rule.

'Tony's going to need you to go put your mask on and go meet him at the front desk,' he tells the teenager.

'Err… ok? Why?'

'Just… you'll see,' Steve says, not very good at lying. 'Now go on, hurry up or dinner'll be cold by the time you're done.'

'Done with what?'

'Just go, will ya?'

Peter grumbles to himself as he walks down the stairs, pulling his mask down over his face as he does. Dinner is nearly ready and he's starving after training earlier.

'Hey Tony, why did Steve tell me I needed to put my mask on? I mean it's actually really lucky I have one here that I could find easily because he didn't exactly give me a lot of warning and-' Peter breaks off as he reaches the bottom of the stairs and sees the person standing behind Tony. 'Wha-'

'I thought you could do with a Christmas present a little early,' Tony says, fidgeting for what he thinks is the first time Peter's ever seen.

'What? But- Deadpool?' the teen takes a couple of steps closer to the two men. It's the first time he's seen the mercenary without his suit on: he's in jeans and is currently taking off a thick winter jacket. 'What the hell is that?'

'It's a Christmas jumper!'

'It's a travesty,' Peter snorts, then his brain kicks in. 'What are you doing here?' He looks to Tony. 'You really invited him here? Just because I mentioned it?'

Tony gives him a smile and walks up to him, bringing him into a tight hug. 'Of course I did, kid.'

Peter tries to blink away the tears under his mask. 'Thank you.'

'I mean, this is only on the understanding that you're still happy with all this, Baby Boy; because I am more than happy to turn around and go back to my apartment. Jack and Daniel are still waiting for me and there's plenty of Christmas movies to get through.'

'Only if you're happy to revel everything, Pete,' Tony murmurs into his ear. 'There's no pressure.'

'You know what Tin Can? I think maybe this was a bad idea. Maybe I should just say goodbye to you and Spidey and-'

'Peter,' he says, pulling out of his mentors embrace and turns to face the merc.

'What-'

'My name,' he says, taking hold of the top of his mask and ripping it off before he has time to reconsider. 'It's Peter Parker, Deadpool.'

Deadpool claps a hand over his eyes and half turns away. 'Stop talking, Spidey and put your mask back on. You really need to be thinking about this and not just-'

'Deadpool' Peter groans, walking over to the mercenary and using his strength to pull the man's hand from his face. 'Look at me will you! My name is Peter Parker, and I'd love it if you'd spend Christmas with us here, rather than by yourself drinking yourself into a stupor.'

'You- what- but –Spidey, why?' Deadpool asks, voice sounding a little lost.

'Because you're one of my best friends, Deadpool,' Peter answers truthfully. 'Now will you please take off that mask? Because there is no way Mama Rhodes is going to let you sit at the table and eat with it on, no matter how much you might look like Freddy Kreuger.'

'It's not pretty, Baby Boy,' Deadpool warns him.

'Yes so you've told me like a gazillion times. Trust me when you've seen the Winter Soldier before coffee in the morning nothing scares you anymore.'

Tony barks a laugh behind him. 'I'm so getting FRIDAY to record that statement.'

'But-'

'Deadpool if you don't take it off I'm webbing your hands to the wall and taking it off myself,' Peter says, crossing his arms and hips forward like he does when they're suited up and Deadpool's annoying him.

'The scary thing is I know you're completely serious,' Deadpool mutters, then sighs. 'My name's Wade, by the way. Wade Wilson.' Peter's face breaks into a grin, which only grows when the merc reaches up to grip at his mask. He pauses again, and Peter lets his grin slip to a smaller, more encouraging smile. 'Don't say I didn't fucking warn you,' Wade grumbles and takes the mask off.

Peter blinks in surprise at the bald head and the scars that cover every inch of the man's skin. 'They actually cover everything? The scars?' his voice is soft as he asks the question. Wade just nods, his eyes betraying his uneasiness. Peter reaches up and runs a finger over the man's head. 'Do they hurt?'

'You should be freaking out,' Wade croaks. 'Why are you not freaking out? I'm going to have to fucking freak out for you!'

'Wade,' Peter rolls his eyes, 'stop being a drama queen.'

'Drama queen?! I think I'm allowed to be fucking freaking out, you're not and… well look at me!'

'I'm going to web your mouth shut if you don't stop being an ass,' he rolls his eyes. Then he turns to look at Tony. 'Shall I show him to his room and then bring him up to the dining room?'

Tony nods, and Peter thinks that might be a smile of pride on his face. 'He's in the room next to yours, Pete. See you in a couple of minutes.' He walks up the stairs and leaves them in peace. Peter looks back at Wade and raises an eyebrow. 'Well, you coming? Dinner smells amazing and there is no way I'm being late because you can't get your ass in gear. When there's super soldiers at the table you have to fight to get your portion.'

'You,' Wade's still looking stunned as Peter begins to make his way up the stairs. 'How are you okay with this, Spidey?' he gestures to his face.

Peter frowns and turns on the stairs. 'Why would how you look stop you from being my friend, Wade? And for the last time, it's Peter.'

'I… shit Baby Boy,' he gives a small laugh. 'Thank you.'

'Anytime. Now come on! I'm hungry.'

'Alright, alright, don't get your panties in a twist,' he slings the bag over his shoulder and follows Peter up the stairs. 'Anyway, I'm starting to think that Baby Boy nickname is more fitting than I realised. Just how old are you?'

'Seriously? I'm sixteen.'

'Sixteen? Fucking hell, Spidey. You're jail bait!'

'You know I'm starting to rethink this whole invite you up for Christmas thing.'

A/N: Hey everyone. There's another part of Christmas Eve coming up shortly! Thank you so much to everyone who has read this story, and especially big thank yous to everyone who has taken the time to leave a review. I promise I will get round to replying to you all soon. I'm desperately trying to get this story finished so I don't miss any updates.

L x