Chapter 4: Logan Started It

It took a few days to recover from the party that had been Christmas that year, though when New Year's Eve came around, they still had an entire day of partying planned for the occasion. After all, the twins were turning four, which was a big deal in itself, they insisted — and Kate was turning thirty.

Which meant her friends had gone a little overboard with the party planning.

They weren't holding it at the mansion, either, because they didn't want her to see what they were up to. So when she did arrive at the old Bishop Publishing building that Kate had made the hideout for herself and her friends when they were Young Avengers, Kate almost groaned out loud when she saw that there were black balloons and a big old sign that said "Over the hill."

"I hate you all," Kate grumbled good-naturedly as all of her former teammates were sure to give her gag gifts — reading glasses, hair dye, the works. Though it was when a very cheeky Kurt showed up with a cane that matched the one she had given him for his fiftieth that she broke into honest-to-goodness laughter.

"Who brought the walker?" K asked with a badly-concealed smirk. "That's cruel."

"That would be my wife," Clint said, grinning wide as Natasha's expression didn't betray a thing.

"You guys are all hilarious," Kate said, rolling her eyes as she made it a point to shoot a glare Natasha's way — which didn't work very well when Natasha was holding Zoe and the little girl seemed to take it as a challenge to shoot her just as much of a glare.

K and Logan both made their way to the birthday girl to put her in the middle of a crushing hug. "We didn't do anything cruel," Logan told her.

Kate had to smile at that and kissed his cheek. "Yeah, I know. Dinosaurs." She squirmed a bit so she could better hug them instead of being crushed. "Don't know why I put up with these idiots."

"It's because you love us!" America called out in a sing-song tone.

"Birds of a feather," K said quietly. "You know... since you'd do the same to them."

"This is entirely true," Kate had to agree. "Because I love them," she added, glancing America's way to stick out her tongue at her friend.

"So, we couldn't wrap up your gift … because it's not wrappable," K told her quietly.

"I swear, if you got me a lifetime ticket to a retirement home or something, I will take back anything nice I said about you," Kate teased.

"Nothin' like that," Logan swore. "You know how JJ was pushing for interviews for a follow-up?"

"Oh, you really don't have to — I know you two don't like — no, really, that's okay," she said, completely flustered.

"We're not," he said with a shake of his head. "Maverick is."

Her jaw dropped as she stared at him for a moment. "...What?"

"Maverick. He's gonna sit down with him. Cashed in an old favor."

A little chuckle started up as Kate shook her head. "He is going to eat JJ alive," she said delightedly. "I should sell tickets. Pete would buy them all."

"Well. He's going to need to do a lot before we'll talk to him," Logan said. "But there are plenty of other guys we can send to him in the meantime."

"You guys…" Kate shook her head and wrapped them both up in a hug. "You really don't have to do things like this. You're just too sweet."

"Hey. We gotta do something for your birthday," K told her. "Not like you NEED anything."

Kate had to chuckle at that. "That's true. I got my Elf, I got my girls, I got my hug magnet and his co-conspirator... I'm pretty much set."

K smirked. "So the best I can do is just … help you irritate the crap out of JJ."

"Best birthday present ever," Kate agreed with a wide, beaming smile before Tommy arrived to break up the little hug fest and pull her over to her cake so she could attempt to blow out all the candles — trick candles, of course, just so everyone could joke about her lack of stamina now that she was older.

Of course, the highlight of the party was when Gerry climbed up into Kate's lap while they were eating cake and ice cream to gently pat her on the head and promise it was okay to get older. "I was really nervous about turning five soon, but Daddy says Kindergarten isn't scary," he told her very earnestly as Clint tried very hard not to give away how hard it was not to laugh. "He says just cuz you get bigger and have to try new things doesn't mean it's scary — it's exciting."

"That's true," Kate started to say, but Gerry wasn't quite finished.

He leaned forward and cupped a hand over his mouth so he could whisper in her ear. "But he also got me a bow now that I'm older, so I think being bigger just means I can do things."

Kate laughed and hugged the little blonde boy close at that and ruffled his hair. "You're a smart little boy," she said. "You must get that from your mom." She tossed Clint a look over Gerry's shoulder and stuck out her tongue, though she laughed harder at Gerry's response.

"That's what Daddy says."

Jess was smirking as she scooped little Gerry up out of Kate's lap and gave Kate a little wink. "Don't worry about it. You're not that old," she whispered with a smile before she bounced Gerry along to go play with his friends.

The party, of course, continued until midnight — though the kids had all been put to bed long before that rolled around. And when it came time, the group of assembled heroes and friends rang in the new year with optimistic predictions about the one ahead — and a whole lot of Kate's good wine.

As they watched the fireworks, Kate and Kurt sat out on the roof of the building, and she leaned into his side as he gently kissed her just behind her ear. "Alles Gute zum Geburtstag," he told her warmly. "You're as beautiful now as the day I met you."

She grinned and turned her head to kiss him properly for a good long moment. "And a happy new year," she said with a little grin. "Got a good one ahead of us, I think — starting it off right, anyway, with Zoe's birthday and a wedding."

"Yes, it's a shame every year can't start this way."

"You'll run out of friends to marry off at that rate," she teased him. "I think you have an addiction."

"That's why I keep making new friends," he replied with a grin.

"Good point." She leaned back and laughed at him before she tipped her head to steal another kiss.

The next few weeks were filled with wedding preparations for Tyler and Tammy's big day as not only the senior X-Men but the junior X-Men were getting in on all the excitement. Leslie Ann had some beautiful, pure white roses in bloom in the garden, and Brye promised that she had a special surprise planned for when the evening turned to night and the stars came out.

On the morning of the wedding, Tyler and Tammy woke up early to go to the temple in Manhattan for the official church sealing ceremony. It was nothing extravagant; they simply went into the temple in pure white to kneel across the altar as the sealer married them for "time and all eternity" before they shared a very sweet kiss.

But before they left the temple, the workers there were sure to help both of them change into their fancier clothes for the party back in Westchester, and a few of the older women were tickled pink to help Tammy lace up the back of her dress before they sent her off to meet Tyler in the entrance of the temple. They walked out arm in arm to where Hank and Daisy already waiting for them, opting to give them the privacy of that first look together and just meet them outside.

From there, though, they drove back to Westchester for the far bigger party, where the entirety of the X-Men and several Avengers were waiting for them. They'd asked Elin to be the flower girl, and she absolutely made sure that both of them got kisses before she started down the aisle ahead of Tammy, because that was clearly the most important thing.

When she reached the end of the aisle though, she all but threw herself into her father's arms because she knew she did a good job and was ready to be out of the spotlight.

Which was the complete opposite of the ring bearer. There really wasn't any question that it had to be Gerry, who was simply over the moon about getting to be part of Tyler's wedding and kept grinning at everyone in every single aisle he passed and pointing at Tyler and giggling madly. He was threatening to steal the show, though it was hard to do that when Tyler and Tammy were doing their best attempt to look like they were glowing.

Tammy's father, a cute grey-haired older man who had raised her and her big sister on his own, walked her down the aisle, of course, though it was entertaining to the group at large to watch the man who was only barely as tall as his daughter craning up to look Tyler in the face to welcome him to the family briefly before handing Tammy off, while her big sister positively beamed the entire time.

Since the two of them had already officially been married, there was no "speak now or forever hold your peace" involved, since, well, they were already husband and wife. This was just about putting on a show and letting everyone else be part of the fun. Though the bamfs looked a little disappointed that they didn't get to intimidate the group at large at that part like they liked to do.

It was just a simple little ceremony, no vows or anything, since they had already been sealed in the temple… but no one in attendance missed that Kurt introduced them to the crowd once the rings were exchanged as "Tyler and Tamara McCoy."

At the different name, most of the X-Men in attendance all shared a look with each other, but Logan just clapped a hand on Hank's shoulder with a little smirk as the two shared a nod. The group at large just grinned, since clearly, Tyler was no Creed.

The two grinning blondes exchanged rings as Leslie Ann was literally blooming white roses over their heads on the arch, and Storm tipped her head skyward to bring down a light dusting of snow to complete the winter wonderland picture when the two shared a kiss and Kurt presented them both to the group, who all had to chuckle when Tammy's feet were clearly off the ground to reach Tyler to kiss him, though the train was long enough to cover it.

After that, it was just a matter of heading back inside to the warmth to dance the night away — away from the snow. Tammy and her cute little father were actually very good dancers, but it was Daisy beaming as Tyler swept her around the ballroom that really took everyone's breath away.

When it came time for Tammy to toss the bouquet, it was Sophia who caught it — and looked completely surprised as she had been teasingly trying to push Leslie Ann into the path of the bouquet when it hit her on the shoulder. But then Brye broke into a delighted laugh and pulled Sophia into a long and involved kiss that had Tyler whistling when it kept going.

But when Tyler knelt down in front of Tammy for the garter toss, the newest groom couldn't help but get in on the teasing that he was now allowed to do, and Miles called out, "If I had to use my teeth, you have to too!"

"My teeth are a little bit sharper than yours," Tyler called back.

"Perfect for fine lace and careful extraction," Clint said with a smirk.

"True story," K called along with them — just to make it worse. Tyler covered his face with one hand as he tried not to laugh.

"Just don't tickle me," Tammy told him with a crooked grin, "and we'll be fine." Tyler matched her crooked grin, but when he slipped under her train for the garter, Tammy laughed so loud it startled the kids playing with Kamala. And when Tyler emerged with the fine garter in his teeth grinning ear to ear, she smacked him in the arm. "You did that on purpose."

He grinned wider at her but didn't answer her either way except to chuckle before he launched the garter at the group of bachelors behind him, and Remy ended up catching it and stashing it in his pocket before Peter could get a picture of him with it. No one figured out where it went after that.

As everyone else was dancing or partying or chatting with each other, Kamala had somehow found herself in the middle of every single one of the kids under age ten. She had Zoe and James on either knee, and the older kids were trying to help her teach them how to say her name, repeating it over and over again.

Every time Charlie tried to explain it, James would shake his head at her with a tiny frown, which got a giggle out of Zoe.

"Ka-ma-la," Charlie said again, very slowly, putting emphasis on every single syllable.

"No," James said before he leaned on Kamala and snuggled in.

"Nyet," Zoe agreed, giggling madly.

Charlie looked very frustrated for a moment as she looked to the others for help, and of course, Sying was always up to offer his help. "Ka-ma-la," he said clearly, though he had come prepared with little sweets — chocolate chips to try to bribe the kids, since that had worked for him in the past getting Krissy or Elin to play with him.

"No," James insisted, pushing his hand holding the sweets away. "Nej, nyet, nein, iie."

Zoe considered the chocolate chips, however, and a slow smirk spread over her face as she held out her hand for the bribes. "Ka-ma-lalala," she said clearly, and when Sying gave her the chocolate chips, she started to throw them at James and Charlie.

"Ka-ma-lalalalala," James sang out with a little giggle as Kamala tried not to laugh at the look of pure trouble on his face.

Zoe looked him over as the smirk got wider and wider. "Ka-ma-lalalalalala," she sang.

James started belly laughing at Zoe, and when he started up with the contest of 'lala's, she joined in, and the two of them kept getting louder and faster as they tried to out-la-la each other, laughing the whole way through.

Charlie was glowering a little bit with her arms crossed and her lip poked out, but Kamala was laughing hysterically along with the kids, and with a 'grown-up' laughing along, there was clearly nothing Charlie could do about it, so she just rolled her eyes and stalked off to go play with Krissy.

Kamala, on the other hand, pulled both of the little ones into a warm hug. "Yes, that's my name, you adorable little angels."

The two of them were pretty well giggled out by then, and James was still grinning when she lightened up the hug a bit, so he leaned up and gave her a sloppy baby kiss on the cheek before he snuggled in a little bit better.

"Yeah, okay, that's it, I'm keeping you both," Kamala informed them as she snuggled in with both of them as Zoe booped her on the nose and tried to wink at James by blinking both of her eyes shut hard.

James grinned back at her and raised one eyebrow for a moment, though he was clearly getting tired from all the excitement and all the people coming and going.

"How long do you think that's going to carry on before you guys get one of your own?" Logan said very quietly over Miles' shoulder.

Miles jumped a bit and spun around to face him with wide eyes. "Oh. Oh no. Oh — oh no. We — we have been married for all of, like, three months. Do not — no."

"Longer'n Kurt and Kate was," he said with a perfect poker face.

"Yeah, but ... there were a couple years before that and … no. No. I'm not really — no."

"Mmhmm," Logan said. "We'll see how long that works out for you."

Miles shook his head a couple times and then glanced at Kamala, who was still snuggled in with the babies. "Uh… I'm just…"

"Just so you know, it's not the time you've been together," Logan said as he started to walk away. "If you're confused on how that happens, I can have Remy and Clint draw you a picture."

"Don't — don't do that," Miles said, holding up both hands. "I already know."

"Yeah? Seems like you were under the delusion that you got a few years before it's a concern. Gumbo is right over there … he likes to help."

"I….. I am going to go walk over there. I don't have an excuse. I'm just going over that way. Away from you."

"Hey Clint!" Logan called out. "Miles needs you to draw a picture for him."

"KAMALA!" Miles all but ran over to where his new wife was, puffing slightly when he got there, and when she and the two little ones looked at him sideways, he tried to play it off. "Ummmm. Do you need any help?"

"No, Pidey," James said, shaking his head.

"That's okay. I'll just… hey, Kari's had enough tummy time. Do you want—"

"What's up, Spidey?" Clint called out over Miles shoulder as the younger Spiderman nearly jumped out of his skin. "What do you need help with so bad?" He was grinning wide with an expression that clearly told Miles he knew exactly what was going on.

"No! No help needed here. Nope. None. Wolverine is delusional. I am fine. I'm just playing with some kids over here."

"I dunno," Clint said. "If drawings aren't your thing, I'm pretty sure ol' Remy has a video or two. Likely not meant for the school age crowd, but still."

"He-e-e-e-e-ey Kari!" Miles scooped up the little pink elfling and started to tickle her. "You need to play with someone, right?"

"Practicing already?" Peter asked with a grin, clearly having been recruited by Logan at some point. "That's great!"

"I… don't know how to get out of this," Miles said, looking to Kamala with wide eyes. "Help?"

"I don't know what to tell you, Miles. They don't do this to me," Kamala said, shaking her head. "What did you do?"

"What did I….? I didn't do anything!"

"And that right there is your problem, kiddo," Clint chuckled as he draped an arm over Miles' shoulders. "It's okay. I can still draw that picture if you need it."

Miles was staring at him open-mouthed when K and Natasha came over to pick up the sleepy little ones. They each picked up their baby and thanked Kamala, and when they turned back to Clint and Peter, K gave them both a look before she used a tone that Miles had not heard. "Scatter. And stop it. He is like four years old himself."

"Not too much younger than Katie was when she got started." Clint grinned at K for a moment before both of the looks he was getting from the ladies got him to straighten up and clear his throat. "Alright ... we'll wait til he's four and a half."

"Logan started it," Peter said quickly.

"And you just do what he says?" K asked, shaking her head. "I'll deal with him."

Sensing that their fun was no longer going to be tolerated, Clint and Peter shared a look before they headed off to find someone else to mess with, and Miles let out a long sigh of relief. "You gotta teach me how to do that," he said.

"It helps if you don't say things like 'eep' and run away," K pointed out. "And .. don't engage them when they're picking."

"Especially when they are picking together," Natasha advised.

"Yeah, leave that kind of heat for the experts," K agreed.

Miles nodded slowly and then grinned Natasha's way. "Got it. Next time hide behind Mama Spider."

"That is not what I said," Natasha replied with a little smirk.

"Let's see ... don't engage them and leave it to the experts? Yeah. That's what you said." Miles grinned at both of them. "And I'm taking it to heart!"

Natasha rolled her eyes at him, but Zoe lifted her head and shook her finger at Miles. "No, 'Pidey," she said, and Natasha smirked and gave her a kiss.

"Or .. you can just get with it and they'll stop then too," K said. "Just in case your first plan backfires on you spectacularly. You wouldn't want Nat and I to join Logan and Clint in the picking, would you?"

"I… am seeing that now, yeah," Miles said in a very small voice. "I'm just going to… I'm going to sit here and play with Kari and Cody now and be very very quiet."

The two women shared smirks at that and headed off with their little ones to go find their respective husbands — and only get on their case a little about teasing Miles.

Though Miles had to roll his eyes a bit when he saw what the two of them getting 'talked to' looked like. Natasha was smirking and very clearly muttering something low that had Clint grinning wider before he redirected his picking on Tony. And Logan, who was holding Elin, didn't seem to get into any trouble at all as K just started kissing him to Elin's giggles before the little group of ferals disappeared.

When it got a bit darker outside, it was time to send off the new couple. Brye unveiled her surprise for them: she'd arranged a little line of fireflies that she had been keeping in Leslie Ann's greenhouse to light the way all the way to the getaway car, the natural lights shining over the fresh snow all the way down to the limo Kate had hired to take them down to her private plane and fly them to the beach house for a quiet beach honeymoon.