Chapter 15 - Kurt Loves Love

For the first few weeks after the book launch, things were a little bit nuts, and the ferals were clearly withdrawing from all the attention. But about the time it started to settle down, it was time for the next big Bishop Publishing adventure.

Kate had been meticulous about setting up the red carpet premiere so that it coincided with Kamala's spring break so she could attend everything and get the praise and attention she deserved. So it was warm enough for some gorgeous dresses — and the two women were more than enjoying a nice spring day shopping.

"Now, it's gonna be more about the actors, but you were at school for the last one, so the press'll want to ask you questions about the first one and the sequel," Kate was saying as she tried on a purple high-waisted dress that nicely hid the very small bump she was showing off lately.

"You already told me this stuff," Kamala said. She was wearing a gorgeous red dress with golden embroidery up and down the arms that Kate was definitely going to buy for her.

"Yeah, but repetition is good for your soul," Kate said with a smirk.

"And for the nerves," Kamala agreed, chuckling.

"The cameras won't be on you too much. Like I said; the actors and actresses and the director will get most of it. But make sure Miles is ready for that kind of stuff. It'll be even more than the book launches you've dealt with."

Kamala giggled at that. "Do you think Kurt will give him this speech when we go out tomorrow for the big day?" she teased.

"Oh, probably," Kate agreed. "That poor kid is going to get all sorts of questions, because he's new."

"He's done Spidey stuff."

"Different without the mask," Kate said. "I mean, I wasn't secret for long because the registration thing happened right after I got started, but I remember the difference. The double life. It's different without the mask."

"Yeah, I know," Kamala said, quieter this time.

Kate tipped her head at Kamala. "I never did ask how your parents took it. I remember when the Young Avengers had to have that talk with our parents. I mean, I didn't do it, because of my dad, but… if they're upset, talk to Cassie."

"She's already offered, thanks," Kamala said. "They're okay. It was my brother that just about lost it when I told him, but it was getting way too hard to keep up the double life thing."

"Yeah, I know," Kate nodded before she smirked. "Big brothers can be protective. And almost as annoying as big sisters."

"Yeah, true that," Kamala agreed with a smirk Kate's way that had the older woman laughing outright.

"Speaking of — how's your schedule once the semester's over?" Kate asked. "Tuesday evenings still open for you for some one-on-one training with Wolverine?"

Kamala dropped her chin down, both eyebrows raised as she stared at Kate. "Yeah, they're open, but—"

"Great. Perfect. That's what I thought," Kate said with a decisive nod that was meant both for the scheduling and for the dresses they were wearing. "I think I'll buy this one — what do you think?"

Kamala thought for a hot second about trying to argue the point, but she'd been dealing with Kate long enough to know that it was pretty much a lost cause. "Yeah, it looks good on you," she said at last.

"I like that one on you too," Kate said. "Let's get these, and we'll knock the breath out of both of our boys."

Kamala just had to laugh and nod, since when Kate was on a roll like this, there was really nothing else that she could do.

The next day, at the red carpet premiere in LA, Kate had hired a limo for all four of the superheroes at the event to arrive together. Both Miles and Kurt looked great in their tuxes, but as Kate had predicted, when she and Kamala were finished getting ready and came out of the hotel room dressed for their LA debut, the boys were left rather speechless.

"Look, Kamala. It's your biggest fan," Kate teased, tipping her head at Miles before she slipped over to give her husband a warm kiss.

Miles shifted a bit and offered Kamala his arm. "You really do look nice," he told her, and she beamed at him.

"Well, what say you, Elf?" Kate asked, threading Kurt's arm with hers. "Shall we face the dangerous red carpet?"

"We'll show these charlatans how it's done," Kurt replied before he kissed her hand with a grin.

With that, they led the way down to the limo, which had Miles going a bit wide-eyed again as he realized they were traveling in such style. His leg was bouncing nervously the closer they got to the huge premiere and the more he could see of the crowds and flashing lights.

"I promise they don't bite," Kate assured him. "Just do your best to look like you don't even notice them."

"If they're too troublesome, I'll give you an exit they'll never forget," Kurt promised.

Miles looked a bit relieved at that. "Okay. Good. Good to have an exit plan," he said, nodding several times over.

"You've taken on invasion fleets and Asgardians — and this is what has you all nervous?" Kamala teased him, trying to lighten the mood as she squeezed his hand.

"Don't forget the clones," Kurt said low over her shoulder with a teasing grin.

"Oh lord, the clones," Kamala said, shaking her head. "That was… that was just mean."

"They were creepy. I stand by that scream. It was totally and completely necessary for the situation," Miles said.

"I'm so sorry I missed that," Kurt said before he turned to Kate. "Lead the way, my lady."

She grinned at him and kissed the tip of his nose before she stepped out of the limo with him, grinning brilliantly and looking positively dashing. Both of them looked like they'd stepped out of the silver screen — and the Avengers behind them were doing their best to copy their moves, even though Miles was not doing anything better than his best impression of not-a-nervous-college-student.

"Is he old enough to give a shot of whiskey to?" Kurt asked out of the corner of his mouth.

"Just barely," Kate replied just as quietly. "I had some in the limo to try and tempt him, but he tries not to even touch it."

"He'll never calm down on his own," Kurt said. "But I know how to handle this." He looked over his shoulder for just an instant. "Once we get inside."

"That's what I love about you," she said, holding onto him a bit tighter. "You know how to get things done."

He grinned her way and didn't hesitate to give her a kiss as they continued on their way, to a few whistles from the gathered crowd that had her smirking against his mouth.

The two X-Men stayed close to the younger heroes as they dealt with the press and all the questions and autographs typical of an event like this. Miles kept looking progressively more nervous, but Kamala seemed to have hit her stride. Her eyes lit up with excitement at the chance to talk about her passions, her book, her characters, and everything else.

"She's a movie star," Kate said with obvious pride in Kurt's ear, and he just had to grin at her.

Miles almost jumped out of his skin when Kate and Kurt got a bit closer, and Kurt put a steadying hand on his back as they headed inside to watch the premiere. Kamala stifled a laugh at the little noise Miles made and squeezed his hand reassuringly.

"You did good," she promised.

"You stayed upright," Kate said with a little muted smirk.

"And there were no suspicious fellows looking your way," Kurt said, though he looked slightly suspicious as he pretended to look through the crowd. "That you saw."

"Between a spider and a hawk and Miss Marvel and Nightcrawler?" Kate kissed his cheek. "I think we're covered, handsome."

"Quite true," Kurt agreed. "But if it's all the same to you girls, I'd like to borrow Miles for a moment."

"We'll try not to let anyone cuter than you hit on us," Kate teased. "Not that it's possible to be cuter than you."

"It's really not," Kurt agreed with a grin.

"You guys are ridiculous," Kamala laughed. She shook her head and squeezed Miles' hand again. "Have fun,' she told him before the nervous young man followed Kurt into the hall.

Kurt led Miles a bit deeper into the building with one hand on his shoulder as they navigated through the crowd to make his way to the bar. Miles seemed to almost let out a breath as they came to a stop so far from the flashing lights of the cameras outside. He was so relieved to be away from the spotlight that he didn't really hear it when Kurt ordered two whiskeys. He didn't really register it when he slid the shot in front of him all the way up until Kurt spoke.

"Drink it," he said. "Right now, all at once, just do it."

"I don't really…"

"You need to," Kurt told him. "I'm not saying you need to get drunk, but this will certainly take the edge off. Just this one."

"I'm okay," Miles tried to argue. "Really. It's just a little disorienting with all the lights and the noise and the everything. Spidey senses..."

"Be happy my best friend isn't here, or I'm reasonably sure he'd hold you down and pour it down your throat," Kurt said, with a smile that didn't entirely look reassuring. "Drink it."

Mile looked at the shot sideways before he picked it up and examined it.

"Just throw it back; don't taste it," Kurt advised. "I won't ask you to do a second one." With that, Kurt picked up his glass, raised it Miles' way, and raised both eyebrows. "Observe." He did exactly as he was telling Miles — quick, easy and over in a few seconds.

Miles took a deep breath and did just that, eye screwed tightly shut, though he didn't quite make it through without pulling a horrible, horrible face. Kurt rubbed his back as he cringed. "Is this some kind of punishment?" he said, still not quite unscrewing his face.

"Not in the least," Kurt promised. "But if you give it a few minutes, you'll find your nerves should ease up a bit."

"You really don't have to do this," Miles said. "I can handle it. It's just a red carpet. In LA. With lots of people. But I'm totally fine."

"Which is exactly why I had to do this," Kurt said before he gestured to the people around them. "Are you comfortable? No. Of course not. You're doing a wonderful job supporting Kamala, but you need to relax before you start screaming and running around in circles. I'm reasonably sure that's not the kind of press the girls want to attract."

"I was just gonna do the screaming later. Swing around the city," Miles admitted as he turned the glass over in his hands.

"That's fine later, but right now, you really did need this," Kurt said before he tipped his head to the side a bit. It had been almost five minutes. "Are you more or less nervous?"

Miles had to pause and consider it. "I… think less?" he offered. "Sitting is helpful."

"Sitting is not what is helping you," Kurt said before he laid a bill on the bar and led Miles back toward the girls.

"How long will this last?" Miles asked after a moment of silence.

"It should get us through the worst of it," Kurt said softly. "Maybe an hour if we're lucky."

"So it won't last through til we get home?" He almost sounded disappointed.

"No, not just the one shot," Kurt replied. "But you are welcome to have more if you need it. I'd be more than happy to drink with you."

"I… I don't want to be drunk when… never mind. I'll figure out some other time."

"When what?" Kurt asked. "Maybe I can help."

"I was thinking maybe, if I screw up enough courage… Never mind. It's okay."

"Miles," Kurt said giving him a look. "What is it?"

"I just ... Iboughtaring," he said in a rush.

Kurt looked a bit surprised for just a moment, but then the grin began to set in. "No, you don't need any alcohol for that," he agreed.

"Right. I just ... yeah. No alcohol for that. I thought maybe … I tried to work up the nerve before we left. I mean, I talked to her family ages ago. But I just… She's a movie star. And I'm just this dorky kid."

"She's the same girl she was before," Kurt said with a kind smile. "I'd tell you how I proposed, but that won't help you at all."

"She was a movie star back then too," Miles said.

"And with all the movie stars she's met — and all the famous people and other superheroes — she asked you to join her," Kurt pointed out. "That means something, doesn't it?"

"I sure hope so." Miles took a deep breath. "What if she says no?"

"Then you find out why and likely ask again when she seems ready," Kurt said. "But I don't think that's what is going to happen."

"Right." Miles clenched his hands in fists and took a deep breath. "Doesn't exactly help the red carpet nerves with this kinda thing. Sorry I'm a goon."

"Then we'll change the subject," Kurt said. "And instead try to simply enjoy the evening with a pair of beautiful women."

"I think I can do that," Miles agreed as he followed Kurt back to where the two ladies were winning over the attention of everyone in their circle of influence. They really were stunning, and Miles stopped when he saw them. "Movie stars," he repeated under his breath.

When the girls saw them, they didn't waste any time in rushing over to pull their guys by the arm. "Hey cutie. How'd the boys' talk go?" Kate teased as she stood on her toes to give Kurt a quick kiss.

"Better than you'd think," Kurt replied after she'd curled into him a bit closer. "He has more than red carpet nerves."

Kate raised an eyebrow and half dragged him off by the hand — sure that Kamala and Miles wouldn't notice because Kamala was in deep conversation with the movie director about the next one already.

"Alright, spill. You have that 'I have a secret' face on," she said with a smirk.

"I think that look is charming on me," he replied loftily.

"It is. So very," she agreed with a little grin as she draped both arms over his shoulders to pull him in for a longer kiss. "Share with your wife, charming boy."

"This … is kind of important," Kurt said as he wrapped his arms around her. "And I'm not entirely sure it's a secret I should tell anyone."

"That just makes me want to know more," Kate laughed, pulling him a bit closer.

"I know it does, doesn't it?" Kurt grinned.

"Your demon is showing," she teased him, starting to play with his curls between her fingers.

"The surrounding company must be drawing it out," he teased.

She laughed outright and kissed him again. "Touche," she said, still grinning. "But it's not like you to blend in."

He let out a dramatic sigh. "No, that is sadly quite true," he replied before he leaned in very close to her ear and whispered to her what he'd learned.

To her credit, she didn't outright squeal or openly celebrate in such a public place, but she did let out a delighted giggle and pulled him to her for a long celebratory kiss. When it broke, she was still grinning. "We've got to get those two alone."

"And out of the public eye when that happens," Kurt said.

"Oh, definitely," she agreed quickly. "Let the gossip columnist write about our public displays of affection. Those cute kids get privacy and, like, the best engagement party ever."

"He needs to work up the nerve first," Kurt said.

"That explains why he seemed even more nervy than usual. I thought it was just the enhanced senses. Spidey gets overloaded sometimes too," she said, shaking her head.

"All of them with enhanced senses do — so perhaps we should gently direct them elsewhere?"

Kate glanced around the party. "This thing'll wind down in another hour or so. Think he can make it that long?" She grinned impishly. "Or do you want a more dramatic exit?"

"Always a more dramatic exit," he said as if the thought of leaving in a simpler manner was an insult to his sensibilities.

"I knew it," she laughed. She looked to where Kamala was and grinned. "We'll wait until Kamala's done being a movie star. Let her have her moment — and then let her have her fairy tale."

The party continued for a while after that, and Miles definitely did look less nervous after talking with Kurt. It was easy to see that he was less dazzled by the party than by Kamala, though, and both Kate and Kurt spend most of the evening sharing little smirks and smiles the more they caught Miles staring at Kamala.

But Kurt's dramatic sensibilities wouldn't let them stay around when the party started to wind down. As soon as the glamor started to fade, he gave the four of them an exit that was sure to be reported in the papers later as they all vanished in a poof of blue smoke to reappear in the limo and drive off to start the journey back to their hotel — with Kamala giggling excitedly over the whole experience the entire time.

Kate made sure to have the driver pull around so they could have a little more privacy when they got to the hotel, and they teleported up to the room as Kamala finished telling her story about a fan at the red carpet line who wanted her to sign her book.

"She was, like, ten and adorable. Best part of the night by far," Kamala said as soon as the smoke had cleared.

"All the kids love you," Kate teased. "Favorite babysitter, favorite kids' book writer… you're a superhero in so many ways."

"Have you met Kate, my hype woman?" Kamala laughed, gesturing to Kate as both of the men in the room laughed.

"She can't help it," Kurt said. "She just does it automatically."

"Only with the good ones," Kate said with a smile. She wrapped Kamala up in a hug and took a step back. "How's that adrenaline high?" she teased.

"Oh, is that was this is?" Kamala laughed.

"Kinda fun, isn't it?" Kate agreed. She snagged Kurt around the waist and pulled him over to her, nestling her nose into the small of his back. "I need some LA ice cream. It's a craving," she told Kurt, muffled by his shirt.

"Your wish is my command," Kurt muttered before he glanced over to the young couple. "We'll bring you back something — but don't wait up."

"Yeah, I want to take this one to the beach to watch the stars," Kate said, still hugging Kurt around the waist and nestled into him so that she could hide the smirk she was wearing. With that, Kurt and Kate disappeared in a poof of blue, leaving the two young heroes alone in the hotel room.

Miles shook his head hard at the X-Men's antics, glad that Kamala was still riding a bit of a high from the premiere and didn't seem to notice. "So... "

She kicked her shoes off and fell backward onto the couch, still grinning at the world at large. "Did you have fun at least?" she asked.

"I always have fun with you!" he assured her. "I've never seen that many movie stars up close before. How do you do it?"

"First time I met them, I actually didn't realize I'd met them until after," Kamala admitted, looking embarrassed. "I thought it was just a normal meeting — and then after they left? Kate told me who they were." She laughed. "I totally didn't even recognize them. How crazy is that?"

"Guess they're just normal people," Miles said with a sideways smirk. "Imagine that."

"I know, right?" She grinned up at him from the couch. "Sure you had fun? You're still pacing like we just got back from a mission."

"I'm okay," he assured her.

She tipped her head to the side for just a second. "Okay, if you say so," she said. "I think I'm going to change really quick. Then … movie time?"

"Wait, wait. Wait, wait, wait." He held up both hands to stop her from moving. "Wait. Um. Don't move. Stay right there in your movie star dress and the LA glow and… wait right there."

"Okay. I'll be right here."

"Good. Good." He bounced from one foot to the other. "I'll be right back." He dashed over to the other room where his suitcase was and came back with both hands clasped firmly behind his back as he kicked his foot against his ankle. "So-o-o-o-o," he said, breathing out the whole word in one go. "I… had this idea of maybe getting you some jewelry for that dress of yours. Only I didn't give it to you before. Because I'm an idiot. And… I was sorta thinking since it was supposed to look good with your red carpet outfit, maybe I'd give it to you anyway while you still look nice?"

"O-kay," she said, watching him as she sat up a little straighter. "Sure. Okay."

He kicked his heel with his foot again almost like he was spurring himself forward before he half hopped forward and then, somehow, got to the couch. "Okay. So." He took a deep breath but completely fell short of any words that he might have had. So he gave up on words and just pulled out the ring box to pop it open, one eye squeezed shut as he waited for the realization to hit her as to what he was doing.

"What did I do to deserve that? It's really really pretty." Kamala was grinning outright, and it was pretty obvious she was cluing in, but she was reluctant to say anything if she was wrong.

"D'youwannagetmarriedtome?" The whole phrase came out at once like it had burst out of him, and he took another shaky breath. "Do you want to get married? To me?" he asked again, much slower. "I mean — would you? Marry me, that is?" When Kamala was still taking a second to grin at him, the floodgates opened. "Because I just — I really love you, and I think you're amazing and I know I'm such a dork springing this one you and I probably should have thought this through better and—"

She leaned forward and kissed him before she nodded.

"Oh. Great!" He took a deep breath and nodded back, several times. "Great. That's really good. That's ... okay. That's really, really good. I'm just…" He paused and looked down at the ring box. "Okay. I'm gonna put this on your hand now. Is that okay?" She just smiled and laughed, and he quickly slipped the ring onto her finger.

As if Kurt wasn't already walking on air, when he and Kate got back from the press tour and from celebrating with Kamala and Miles, they only had a few days to get their breath before Kurt got to get involved in yet another love story.

It was, to the X-Men's estimation as a whole, a long time coming when Storm and Forge finally decided to tie the knot — and just about everyone who had ever been on the team came out to celebrate with them.

There was, of course, a sleepover with the goddess before the wedding. It was an absolute requirement. And every one of the ladies made sure to lavish their attention on Storm. After all, she had done the same for each of them at one point or another — it was only fair to return the favor.

For a lot of the older X-Men, that meant plenty of regaling stories of how everyone had known when Storm and Forge were together that they were, as Jubilee put it, "the cutest thing ever," but Kate was a bit quieter about her thoughts on the matter.

It wasn't until most of the others were asleep, spread out across the floor of Storm's attic, that Storm found Kate's note:

I didn't want to take the attention away from anyone else, but I wanted to remind you that this is what you wanted, just in case you're a little nervous.

You taught me what marriage is and what love means. You helped me to see that I needed to take the plunge and ignore everything my head was saying in favor of listening to my heart. Now, I'm just tickled that you're finally listening to your own advice.

The Goddess and The Maker. Seriously. You two are the best.

-Kate

Storm smiled when she read the note and then tucked it away neatly, smiling fondly at the various women heroes spread out in her attic. She loved every one of the girls there, and she was glad that she'd listened to Forge's advice. This would have been a far different affair if they'd simply run off; she was glad that her friends were here for her.

The next morning, no one was surprised when the weather was absolutely perfect for the wedding. After all, no weather goddess worth her salt was going to get married in anything but clear skies at sunrise so that everyone could see the display of colors Mother Nature was putting on.

Even as early as everyone had to wake up, it was clear the gathered group couldn't think of anything they'd rather be doing. Especially since, for the families with little kids, they were often up this early anyway. And seeing as any of the kids who were awake enough not to be grumpy about it were invited to throw flowers, they were having a good time.

Storm's white dress looked amazing, and the cape-like veil was almost a natural extension of her white hair. Everything flowed perfectly — which was more than enough to leave Forge a bit speechless before he let out a wolf whistle without thinking about it. Which, of course, had Storm laughing.

And Kurt was practically preening over his role in the wedding, too. "That," he said softly enough that only those closest to him could hear it, "is our goddess." When Forge grinned even wider, Kurt chuckled and then cleared his throat to get the attention of the gathered group.

"We are gathered here this morning to celebrate a union of love and life that we have long waited to see come to fruition," he declared, shooting Storm in particular a smirk that she completely ignored in favor of holding both of Forge's hands in hers. "But I think I speak for everyone when I say that we all know nothing could stand in the way of these two. It would be like moving against the forces of nature."

Storm and Forge both had to chuckle at that before Kurt prompted them to carry on with their vows, and Forge broke into a grin as he leaned over to kiss Storm first and foremost. "I've always thought you were the most beautiful goddess, and that's only truer as time goes on. And now you're mine. I'm pretty lucky."

"And I am lucky too," Storm said warmly. "They may call me a force of nature, but you are a force unto yourself. My Maker." When she simply beamed at Forge, Kurt gave them the go-ahead, and the two of them shared a kiss that turned a bit longer as the wind swirled around them and picked them up a few feet.

Once they were back down on the ground, there was of course a mobbing of hugs and congratulations before everyone went out into the gardens for the wedding breakfast.

"Of course, this is just the first part of the day," Storm told Kurt with a smile when he made sure to grab her in a hug and then kiss her cheek. "We plan to disappear for a few weeks, and Forge has promised to show me how weddings go in his tribe. But we wanted a ceremony with all of our friends — and with my little brother conducting it."

"And you wanted to extend the celebrations as much as possible," Kurt teased.

"Well, why not?" she replied. "You said yourself that this has been a long time in the making; why not celebrate long and hard?"

"You make an excellent point," Kurt agreed before he kissed the back of her hand and took a step back. "But if that's the case, then I'm keeping you from your new husband unnecessarily."

Storm laughed at that. "Yes. How uncharacteristically rude of you."

"I must be slipping," Kurt chuckled, flashing Storm an impish grin before he disappeared in a puff of blue smoke and reappeared beside Kate, kissing her cheek and then tickling Krissy in Kate's arms.

"You love this, don't you?" Kate laughed.

Kurt grinned a little wider at her and kissed her fully. "Of course I do," he said, wrapping his tail around her. "I want nothing but happiness for those I love."

"I know," she said, then kissed him back. "It's a good thing, then, that things are looking up for our whole family, isn't it?"

"Absolutely," he agreed before he pulled her into a much longer kiss.

A/N - Alright guys, it's been real, but this is the end of this Volume! To keep reading more, head on over to robbiepoo2341's page and look for 'A House Divided Is Ticked Off'! Thanks for reading!