1 = It All Started With a Birthday Surprise...

"SURPRISE!"

"Oh!" Wade jumped and clutched his chest while everyone else laughed. "Oh, you guys are lucky I wasn't armed!" There stood Colossus, Negasonic, Yukio, Dopinder, Shatterstar, Buck, Al, Peter of course, and even Vanessa, all gathered to celebrate his birthday. "Aw, thanks you guys, you got me!" He stepped into the apartment and embraced his friends.

"And that's not all," Yukio cried, clapping in excitement.

"Oh man, I'm not sure I could deal with any more surprises-"

"BOO!"

"AH!" Wade whipped around to find a forever purple and black-clad Nina.

"Shorty!" he gasped. "You're here!"

"I am." She grinned up at him.

"But I thought you were off on another personal growth journey."

"I was, but I wouldn't miss this." She beamed at him. "Happy Birthday Wade!"

"Aw, c'mere, now we're all complete!" he said, kneeling down and wrapping her up in a hug in his signature joke about her small stature.

"Yes, now we're all here, let's party!" cheered Peter.

Wade went around, mingling with his guests, munching pizza and drinking beer. After his disastrous conversation with Vanessa he disappeared into the kitchen - well, the corner that Al and him called a kitchen. Nina found him there, grumbling.

"So, which X-Man are you dating right now?" She just blinked back at him. "I am so sorry, that was cold."

"Yeah, even for you."

"I lash out when I'm anxious." He knew she was still mourning Logan, and his words had been totally uncalled for.

"I know. And I take it you're anxious because your relationship is not going well," she finished. "I sensed some distance between you and Vanessa."

"Well it's not just distance now, it's a whole fucking crack. She's seeing some guy at work now, Dylan or Dustin or some shit like that."

"Dermott, she told me."

"Whatever!"

She gave him a sympathetic smile. "I'm sorry, Wade."

"Yeah, me too."

"How's the job?"

"Love every second of it." He flashed a painful smile.

Now she winced. "Sorry..."

"Yeah, again, me too. My whole life is fucked, yay me! But anyways, how's the kid?"

Nina smiled at mention of her daughter. "Wild as ever, but good. She's all grown up now, doesn't really need me anymore. My therapist Stan says I have issues with abandonment."

"You have a therapist?"

"Yes."

"Named Stan?"

"Yes. But enough about me, this is your night, and I have a little something for you."

"Aw Shorty, you being here is enough."

"Just open your present, birthday boy."

Wade tore open the large square package she handed over to him and gasped. "The Tortured Poet's Department?! On vinyl?! Oh Shorty, you shouldn't have!"

"Saw it and couldn't help myself."

"Aw, it's perfect, I love it. Thank you."

"Will you two get your asses in here so we can have cake?" Al called.

"Oh cake! I hear Peter made it himself."

"Oh boy..."

"Happy birthday dear Wade, happy birthday to you!" Everyone clapped and cheered as they finished off the song and Wade faced his cake.

"Speech! Speech! Speech!" some began to chant.

"Okay, um, birthdays - well, every trip around the stars is a new adventure-"

"It's the sun, dumbass," Al cut in.

"I'm sorry, who are you, NASA? Anyway, it's been a challenging few years, for sure, but I'm happy." Wade smiled. "I really, truly am. Is everything perfect? Hell no, but I'm happy with where I am. I am proud to say I'm going through a special life change-"

"The menopause?" spoke-up Buck.

Everyone whirled on him. "Bitch, are you improving?" snapped Wade and promptly continued his speech. "I am happy with where I am. And that is because of each and every one of you - I am the luckiest man alive. There, that's it, that's my speech."

There were shouts of 'aw!' and more cheers and applause.

"Make a wish, Buddy," Vanessa urged, smiling at him.

Wade forced a smile back before leaning over his cake and blowing out the single candle that adorned the top.

Knock knock knock knock.

Wade ducked out to answer the door while the group waited.

"Where is that asshole?" grumbled Al when he failed to return for a few minutes. "Don't tell me the motherfucker skipped out on his own goddamn birthday party."

"I wonder who's at the door," Nina mused. "I'll go check."

When she stepped out into the hall, she found it strangely empty. Where had Wade and whoever was at the door gone? Downstairs and out the building? Was Al right, had he really skipped out on his own birthday? And right before cake at all times? "Wade?"

She took a step and slipped. Looking down, she found she had stepped on a pile of hair - Wade's toupee. It had been ripped off by the looks of it. "Wade?"

She whirled around at a sudden movement behind her. "AH!" She was dragged backwards and that was it.

Hello and welcome to my version of this fantastic movie! Hope you enjoy returning to the Nina-verse as much as I do - let's fucking go!

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed this first chapter! :)