Here's the next chapter! I have a Wing/Shelby scene and a Nigel/I'm-not-telling-you-who-she-is-scene. Read on and review!

Hope you enjoy ;)

The grotto-themed cavern had been designed and constructed by a team of hand-picked students by Otto and Pike. The students had practically lived in the cavern whilst they'd been setting it up and the work had paid off magnificently.
Several snow machines had been set up to fire a snow-like substance through tubes connected to fans which were positioned up on the ceiling to supply a fairly even sprinkling of snow over the room. Trees had been set up and decorated simply with fairy lights and a path wound among them. Occasionally a gap in the trees appeared where either a bench to sit on was positioned or some decorations: a sled decorated with lights, massive snow globes, reindeer (fake ones of course).

It so happened that Wing and Shelby were walking hand in hand through the cavern. Wing looking amused and Shelby wearing a grin.
'Otto and Laura seemed to be enjoying themselves,' remarked Shelby suddenly her grin widening.
Wing arched an eyebrow at the memory of seeing his two friends sharing a kiss on the dance floor, 'Indeed they did.'
'Did you see Raven?' asked Shelby turning to look up at her boyfriend, 'She looked stunning!'
Wing nodded and opened his mouth to answer but was cut-off by Shelby.
'Nero seemed to notice this as well,' she smiled slowly, 'D'you they're having a secret relationship or something?'
Wing raised his eyes to the roof of the cavern, neatly decorated with a white spray paint Pike had invented, designed to look like snow and strings of fairy lights, 'Somehow I doubt that.'
Shelby nodded, 'Yeah, I guess,' she paused, 'Still, it'd be really romantic, the assassin and the super villain,' she nodded with a smile, 'really romantic.'

They both sat down on a nearby bench a little way off the path and Shelby leaned against Wing, 'Did I tell you how handsome you look in that suit by the way?'
Wing smiled, wrapping his arm around her, 'Several times actually.'
'Oh, well you do,' she frowned suddenly, 'Maybe you look a little too handsome.'
'What?'
'I noticed that a large number of other girls were giving you some looks…'
Wing frowned, 'Really?'
Shelby tried not to grin, 'Yup, I hope you're not going to desert me in favour of any of them.'
Wing's frown deepened, 'You know I'd never do…' he trailed off as Shelby started laughing.
'I was joking big guy; you're right, I know you wouldn't do something like that.'

Wing nodded a few times before falling silent.
'So what did you get Otto for Christmas?' asked Shelby with a smile.
Wing smiled, 'Oh, it's a surprise.'
Shelby raised her eyebrows, 'Oh really.'
He smiled, 'Really,' pausing for a moment he pulled a small, neatly-wrapped parcel from his pocket, 'Which reminds me; I should really give you this.'
Handing it to her he gave an embarrassed smile, 'it's not much but I did what I could.'

Shelby eagerly opened up the small parcel to reveal a small velvet-clad, rectangular box, she smiled up at Wing and opened it up. A necklace lay on the black velvet, engraved in the shape of an "S". Shelby smiled even more as she gently removed it from it's place and held it up to examine it more closely.
She raised her eyebrows in astonishment, 'don't tell me those are real diamonds!' she exclaimed staring at Wing in astonishment.
The glinting "S" was studded with tiny and exquisitely formed diamonds, which to Shelby's trained eyes, appeared completely authentic.
Wing looked a little embarrassed, 'No, I used some fake diamonds that Professor Pike had created, they're designed to look just like the real thing.'
Shelby looked at them in fascination, 'You've got that right.'
The tall Asian teenager smiled and held out his hands, 'Shall I put it on for you?' He gently took the necklace from her and slipped it around her neck, brushing a few strands of soft blonde hair away as he fastened the slim yet strong chain.
'There,' he smiled sliding back the clasp, 'done.'
Shelby turned to face him, 'How does it look?' she inquired.
Wing looked deep into her eyes, 'Beautiful,' he said softly.
They both sat in silence for a few moments then Shelby slowly leaned forward, 'Happy Christmas Wing,' she murmured and gently dropped a kiss on his lips.

'Drink?' asked Otto looking expectantly at Laura.

'Please,' she smiled, 'I'll have a Cola.'

Otto nodded and walked off to the bar to grab two drinks. Laura stared after him, her lips still tingling from where he'd kissed her. She smiled again. This was turning out to be quite a party.

'Here,' said Otto pushing a tall glass of ice-cold Cola across the table to Laura, 'enjoy,' he glanced over her shoulder into the main cavern where another dance was in full swing, HIVEmind seemed to be progressing through most of the hits from the 80s, as one of ABBA's songs was blasting through the stereos.

Otto's eyes widened as he clocked one of the couples dancing across the floor, 'I don't believe it,' he murmured.

'What?' Laura twisted around to see what her friend was looking at. Her jaw dropped a little, 'Do you mean…'

'Professor Pike,' grinned Otto.

Pike spun the Contessa around on the dance floor a smile on his face as the dance lessons he'd taken in his earlier years came back to him. He was aware that a number of students were staring from his to the Contessa and back again, to be honest though, he didn't exactly mind.

It turned out that not only were the students watching the couple dancing but a number of the senior staff.
Nero watched his friend with a slightly amused expression on his face. It was easy to pick him out among the crowd. Though Pike had valiantly tried to tame his unruly white hair it hadn't quite worked and still stood out sharply among the small sea of bobbing heads.

'The Contessa looks…different.'

Nero turned to Raven who stood beside him holding a glass of sparking white wine and watching the couples on the dance floor.

He nodded slowly in agreement, turning his gaze back to the twosome, 'Yes, she does.'

There was a polite cough from behind them and both turned to see a security guard behind them. Like the rest of the school the guards had decided to join in with the festive spirit and were wearing smart suits though a large number had ruined the effect by wearing Santa hats and reindeer antlers, though, of course they still wore the customary sleepers at their sides.#
This one had opted out for the Santa hat and was looking expectantly at Nero, 'Excuse me sir, but we have several Shrouds inbound, ETA five minutes.'

Nero nodded, 'I'll be right there,' he turned to Raven and extended his arm gallantly, 'Shall we go and great out guests then my dear?'

Raven smiled and slipped her arm through his, 'Lets,' she agreed.

Diabolus Darkdoom strode out of the Shroud and smiled a greeting to the small group who were stood in the cavern to welcome him.

'Welcome to our HIVE Christmas Party Diabolus,' smiled Nero, shaking hands with his friend.

'Nice to be here,' responded Diabolus, he turned to Raven and his eyebrows shot up with astonishment, 'I must say Raven, you look wonderful.'

Raven laughed a little, 'You don't look so bad yourself,' she remarked gesturing at his party suit.

He smiled, 'I hope your employer doesn't intend to keep you to himself the whole night, I'd like to claim a few dances with you,' he paused and added, 'if you don't mind?'

'Not at all,' replied Raven breezily.

'Dad!'

Diabolus looked up, a grin spreading across his face as his son came across the cavern to embrace him in a tight hug, 'It's so great you're here!' smiled Nigel eventually breaking away.

Diabolus laughed, 'I wouldn't have missed the chance to have party, or to see you,' he added in a more quieter voice. The super-villain noted a young girl hovering behind Nigel shyly.

Raising an eyebrow he glanced at his son, 'And who is your friend.'

Nigel flushed a little and replied, 'This is Emma,' he replied.

'Nice to meet you young lady,' said Diabolus shaking her hand.

Emma smiled shyly, 'And you sir.'
She had blonde curled hair which fell over her shoulders and dark, brown eyes, which lit up when she smiled. Emma was a member of the tech. stream and had met Nigel whilst he was performing one of his botany expreriments, it turned out she was obsessed with the subject as well and from the on they'd become firm friends.

Diabolus looked from his son to Emma and grinned, 'So, are you going to show me to this party then?' he queried.
He turned back to Nero who was stepping towards the other Shrouds which were landing in the cavern, 'If you'll excuse us?'

Nero nodded, 'Go right ahead, I'll see you later,' before turning to greet the other GLOVE members stepping off the Shrouds.

I really wanted Nigel to have a date for the night :D Now you've finished reading please review!