December 14th 2015, Harry's Foyer
Harry was humming as he slowly decorated the house in the traditional Yule hangings. He had just grown the five meter wreath when his phone rang. Checking the name he saw it was Pepper and answered.
"Hello Mrs. Stark. Happy Christmas!" Harry said in greeting.
"Hey Harry, uhm have you seen Tony?" Pepper asked. Hearing her question and tone Harry furrowed his brows.
"No I haven't. Why? Is everything alright?" Harry asked as he stopped his decorating.
"Well…never mind. Just let me know if you see him." She hung up before Harry could ask anymore questions. Frowning, he looked at his phone and tried calling Tony. When he didn't pick up Harry travelled to the most likely places to find him but still had no clues. Traveling back to the Malibu house he walked in.
"Hey Jarvis." Harry spoke to the empty room.
"Hello Mr. Potter. How can I help you?" Harry sighed as JAris once again slid back into calling him Mr. Potter.
"Do you know where Tony is?" Harry asked.
"I'm sorry but I can't give you that information."
"Overwatch Protocol: Playing with Magic." Harry said after Jarvis refused him.
"Mr. Stark has left my area of observation through the Y-Frame." Jarvis said afterwards.
"Thank you Jarvis." Harry walked over to the Y-Frame and paused for a moment. When he spun the dial and summoned the portal he walked through revealing the Resort. Not seeing anyone he moved towards the bar and saw Tony sitting quietly in the corner, shadows from the thick currents barely hiding him from view. Harry didn't call out or say anything, he just walked around the bar and poured him and Tony a fresh drink.
Silence dominated the room as they sipped their drinks. Harry didn't interrupt his friend's process and waited patiently for him to say something. After the second drink Tony finally looked up from his hands.
"I fucked up." Tony said as he ran his hands over his face.
"Well, why don't you lay everything out and we can work through it together." Harry said as he leaned against the back bar. Tony had already dropped his eyes back to his hands where he was twirling his wedding band.
"Pepper gave me some news today and I freaked out." Tony said. Harry's eyes widened a bit guessing the news but stayed silent. "I didn't mean to freak out so much, but my mind and body were on autopilot as I left." Tony sighed as he gulped down his drink. "Now I just don't know what to do. I'm afraid she'll think I'm lying when I come back and say it's great."
"Why did you freak out?" Harry asked, prodding Tony to talk about it.
"I don't think I'm ready." Tony said slowly. "I hated my father, even after I found out my mother's death wasn't his fault, I still hate him." Tony sipped the new pour from Harry. "I just…I want to be better than him, but there's so much going on in the world right now and I-" Tony cut himself off as he downed the entirety of his drink. "I'm afraid Harry." Tony said as he finally looked Harry in the face.
"Yeah that's normal." Harry said keeping eye contact. Tony's eyes widened at his frank statement. Harry chuckled as he continued. "Do you think I was ready when I started taking care of Teddy at 17?" Harry shook his head. "I was scared as hell, but that's normal. Hell, that's normal for regular parents as well. Everyone gets scared when something big changes and it is big. You just have to rely on the people around you and do your best." Tony seemed to think for a moment as the silence once again blanket the room.
"I need to talk to Pepper." Tony said as he stood up quickly.
"Hold on." Harry said as he faded across the bar and blocked Tony's path. Tony gave him a quizzical look before seeing Harry pull a box from nowhere. "I always keep some jewelry on hand for enchanting." Tony opened the box and saw a sapphire pendant on a silver chain and closed it.
"Thanks buddy." Tony patted his shoulder as he walked past back to the Y-Frame. Harry smiled before he went back home to finish his decorating. He was probably going to get a call soon about the news.
It took longer than Harry thought as he didn't get a call from Tony about the news until 2 days later.
"So big Christmas party to celebrate?" Harry asked into the phone as he finished enchanting the smaller trees around the house to slightly float.
"Yup. We're doing it big merlin. So mind if I use the Resort?" Tony asked.
"Not a problem. Let me know when you head over I'll help decorate. Let's make it a team exercise." Harry said with a grin. Tony laughed through the phone before saying his goodbyes.
"Tony?" Ororo asked as she turned away from the stove top. Harry and Ororo were making dinner for everyone when Tony called.
"Yup. They're finally giving everyone the good news. You'll probably get a-" His words were cut off as Ororo pulled out her phone and answered a call from Pepper. "Call soon." Harry said quietly, finishing his interrupted statement. He smiled ruefully as Ororo walked away forcing him to take over and finish dinner.
Just as he was ready to plate the door to the kitchen swung open and chattering of two females flooded the room. Looking over he saw Wanda and Ororo nattering on. Natasha was smirking at a flummoxed Pietro who was whipping his head back and forth between the two women. Teddy was racing around their feet in his wolf form before he shot towards Harry and morph mid stride and slammed into his legs.
"Hey buddy. Hungry?" Harry asked as he ruffled Teddy's hair, which was a striking white today.
"Super hungry dad!" Teddy said as he hugged his father's leg. Harry smirked as he waved his hand and set the table. Teddy raced over and took the chair with the booster seat. He didn't immediately dig in though, he waited for everyone else to sit first.
Harry gave Natasha a quick kiss as she took the seat next to Teddy and Harry, who was now sitting at the head of the table. Ororo sat on his other side with Wanda next to her. Pietro was sitting at the other end of the table now ready to chow down.
"You girls ready to eat." Harry said, breaking the conversation between his daughter and girlfriend. Both jolted as they realized they were at the table with food on their plates. Wanda blushed as she gave a quick apology while Ororo just chuckled. Once everyone was seated Harry cut into his steak as Teddy and Pietro attacked their stacks of food.
The sound of silverware scraping plates filled the room as everyone focused on eating. It didn't take long for Pietro and Teddy to ask for their second servings and not long after that everyone was finished.
"Thanks for dinner." Pietro said quickly before he raced off. Teddy was a split second behind him but stopped at the door.
"Thanks for dinner dad." Teddy then rushed off as well. The remaining members of the family laughed as Teddy started emulating Pietro more and more.
"So did Pepper tell you about the Christmas party?" Harry asked. All three shook their heads. "Huh, guess Tony is going to keep it a surprise then. We'll be throwing a big party at the resort, so give Xavier a heads up, alright?" Harry said as he looked at Ororo.
"Tony will probably send out invitations in a few days." Natasha commented from the side as she leaned back in her chair.
"Are we doing Christmas there?" Wanda asked.
"Yeah that sounds like a great idea." Harry said with a smile. "We can send off the guests that night and the family can stay there and celebrate. Maybe we could do a bit of sledding as well." Wanda gained a big smile as she stood up.
"I'll go tell the boys." Wanda practically ran from the room.
"Sometimes she acts like such a grownup, but then she gets like this over sledding." Harry said with a shake of his head.
"Like you're one to talk." Natasha said.
"You and Tony act like children every time you're in the lab." Ororo said right after causing the two women to share a look before they chuckled.
"It's cool to make stuff." Harry said with a fake pout causing their chuckles to upgrade to laughs. They continued to talk about the party before heading to bed.
/OO-HP•SoS-OO\
December 24th 2015, The Resort
Harry was finishing up final touches dressed in a Santa Claus outfit as the Team moved around the lounge and ballroom making sure everything was in place. Harry felt the warning ward trip causing him to turn and look at the set of three Y-Frames. Apparently his first guests were arriving. Soon an entire contingent of mutants flooded out of one of the Frames. Harry saw Scott and Jean leading the group, Logan pushing the wheelchair of Xavier.
"Hey guys. Glad you could make it." Harry said as he greeted them. Jean and Scott were quite happy to see him, but Xavier was less familiar than he used to be. The issue with Magneto from a while back has created a schism between them and Harry wasn't too bothered by it.
"The place looks amazing." Jean said as Scott walked off to corral the kids from the mansion.
"Thanks." Harry said before he noticed Jean looking behind him only to see Ororo in a Mrs. Claus outfit. She walked up to them and gave Harry a chaste kiss before pulling Jean away. Harry just stood there and watched them go before a large rough hand clapped his back. Looking to his side he caught Logan giving him a feral grin.
"She looks happy." Logan said as they watched Ororo talk with all the kids. "Keep it that way." Logan continued before he left for the bar area. Harry had already set an Angeline around the bar, keeping the younger teens from getting close to it.
Listening to Logan's threat Harry smiled as he moved around and greeted the people he was closest to. At one point he led the younger kids from the mansion into Teddy's playroom where the Barton's were already playing around with Teddy. Games, toys, jungle gyms, and an assortment of other interactive objects filled the room.
Watching them rush off Harry rejoined the party just as the higher level members of SI walked through the Y-Frame. Pepper came out of nowhere as she greeted them and left them around. Tony was off to the side already in a complicated discussion with Hank and Bruce. Harry played host for the next two hours as everyone arrived and started to mingle. Around 4 everyone was present so Harry called the adults attention.
"Welcome to a very special version of our annual Christmas Party, hosted by Tony and Myself." Harry said with a smile. "I want to thank you all for coming and celebrating with us. I'm going to pass the mic over to Tony as he makes an announcement." Tony clapped Harry on the shoulder as he passed over the mic.
"As you all know, I'm not one for long speeches." Tony said as the crowd laughed a bit. "Today we aren't just celebrating Christmas, we're also celebrating a new member to our family." Tony motioned for Pepper to come over and he wrapped his arm around her waist. "Pepper and I are having a baby!" The crowd silenced for a split second before cheering erupted, mainly from those closest to the team and Tony. "Alright let's get the party started!"
From there the guests spread out into loosely defined groups. Pockets of scientists lined the walls as the higher ups from SI and SHIELD mingled together. Several of the heroes from SHADE were in attendance and were talking with members of the Avengers and X-Men.
A band started playing music in the ballroom as several couples made use of the dance floor. Harry was of course dragged out there to dance with his two ladies and other female friends. Tony was surrounded for most of the night as others congratulated him or spoke about his new inventions.
As the night started to pass the kids were quickly sent back through the Y-Frame to the mansion, members of SI, SHIELD, and SHADE all left one after the other. Soon it was only the team, their family, and the X-Men.
"Good party." Scott said as he leaned back into the couch next to Jean. Two couches, two loveseats and a few chairs circled a fireplace to the side of the main lounge area.
"Thanks. We're doing Christmas here tomorrow if you want to bring the kids over for some sledding." Harry said as Ororo and Natasha leaned into his sides. Harry smirked as he saw the hidden glances at the three of them from the guys still there.
"We might just do that. The Mansion is a little too flat for sledding." Jean said with a smile.
"Any ideas about names?" Laura asked from Clint's side as she looked towards Pepper
"Morgan." Tony answered. Pepper gave him an odd look, "You know after that eccentric uncle of yours."
"He says it came to him in a dream." Pepper said as she smiled and looked back at the group. Harry was taking up a love seat with Ororo and Natasha. Bruce was sitting in a chair with Betty on his lap, Steve was leaning against the fireplace alongside Sam, Bucky, and Rhodey. Clint and Laura sat on a couch with Thor and Jane just across from Pepper and Tony on a loveseat.
They talked for a little longer about the party and the pregnancy before they all retired to their rooms in the resort. The next morning Harry woke up and slowly made his way downstairs before the sun even rose. He made sure all the presents were in place as he started a big breakfast.
Surprisingly the first person to walk through the door was Thor. Harry saw him and sent a cup of coffee towards him just as he opened his mouth. Harry gave him a smirk as he put his finger to his lips. Thor smiled and sat at a nearby table.
Harry's warning didn't count for much though as Teddy came flying into the room making tons of noise not but a few minutes later.
"Daddy!" Teddy shouted, causing Harry to wince a little before he looked at Teddy helplessly.
"Buddy, other people are sleeping." Harry said.
"Sorry daddy." Teddy said in a loud not whisper. Harry and Thor chuckled before Teddy was off pestering the God of Thunder. Soon enough the whole resort was awake as people made their way into the kitchen for breakfast and coffee. Harry had already started all five pots and stacks of pancakes and french toast towered on the island.
After everyone ate, the parents were quickly pulled by their children back into the lounge. The giant 15 foot tree was surrounded by a sea of gifts that Wanda was passing out with magic. Teddy didn't wait for anyone as he swiftly destroyed any wrapping he came across. Teddy ended up with a bunch of new clothes and toys, Wanda was gifted the same as well as some trinkets crafted by Harry and Tony, and Pietro ended up with several versions of his favorite tracksuit enchanted to be as durable as his shoes.
The Bartons were flush with new toys or gadgets and a pile of gifts for the kids at the X-Mansion were left to the side. Harry had made something for each of his friends, just like Tony, and by noon everyone was laughing as the kids started their game of tag with Pietro.
Soon enough the woosh of the Y-Frame preceded the wave of kids from the X-Mansion. Harry quickly conjured a bunch of sleds only for them to all be gone as the kids raced outside. Moving their group to the sitting area near the edge of the hill, most of the adults watched as the kids flew down the hill and skidded across the enchanted ice of the black lake.
It wasn't until Pietro went flying down standing on his sled that Harry had to corral the rowdy group, afraid they would imitate the speedster. As the sky darkened Harry put on a large magical show of fireworks. Harry had Teddy in his arms as Wand leaned into his side.
"A Merry Christmas indeed." Harry said quietly as he looked at his large family with a soft smile.
AN:So after a bunch of comments I've decided to continue the story until the end. I'll most likely do a big rewrite after it's done and post that separately. Big shout out to everyone who commented.
Thanks for reading my story. I hope you continue to enjoy it.
-Galaleo
PS I'm changing my posting schedule. Friday, Sunday, and Tuesday every week from now on.
PSS There was a comment that informed me the the name of my new portal frames was missing so I have gone back and fixed it. they were originally called Y . Frames (no spacing) and are now called Y-Frames.
Reviews -
Dauntes - Thanks for the feedback and commenting so often. After gaining a bunch of feedback I came ot the same conclusion. So I'll be continuing and I hope you enjoy it.
Fujibaga - Thank you for the feedback. That actually clears some stuff up for me so thank you. I won't stop writing to edit, so I'll jsut have to work on better managing the chapters and the outline. I don't know if you've looked at my other work but I feel it flows much better and that story doesn't use a plot map at all. Thanks for reading.
Dread Derek M - That's my thought process as well now. I'll wait until I have everything out there, then do a rewrite knowing exactly where it's going. Thanks for reading!
Monkey D. Conan - You laid it out very well and it's similar to what I plan on doing, but like I said in the Author's note I'm going to continue the story and do a major rewrite afterwards. I hope I cna increase the quality as it continues and you still enjoy more work. Thanks!
Tenor1411 - You're opinion isn't all that different from my other readers. I'm glad you're enjoying it enough to say it. Thanks for reading!
cdun2010 - Honestly? I didn't even think of that, but I thought of a way to bypass that issue. The cube will be the main source of offplanet water for their space expansion. I'll just have to keep stuff like this in mind for the future.
ScythHO2 - The Wakanda meeting I totally forgot about. That was right before my dog started getting sick and my mind was elsewhere. I'll note it down and mention something about them pawning the meeting off on Maria. also thanks again for mention the Y-Frame or upgraded portal frame issue. I didn't know that was happening so I've gone back and fixed it in every chapter it was mentioned. (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 54, 55, 56, 62, and 64)
Biohazard82 & Starboy - Thank you!