May raised an eyebrow as Peter looked sheepishly at her, letting her into the warehouse. As she saw the table full of women, and now men, she and Curt hesitantly came in.
"All of them?" and Peter choked back a nervous laugh,
"No!" He had invited Jean, Logan, and Selene over. Erik had invited himself when Wanda returned, but thankfully Charles and the X-Men had declined as had Emma. She was still recovering from her ordeal and had needed time alone. She made a promise she would come around when it was just the family, the rest was too much right now, especially if Selene and Charles were going to be there.
He had made sure though that if she needed company or help, to call and he would make time for her and he knew Felicia was making sure that Elektra was there for company, and anything else she needed, that maybe a woman's presence was a better idea. With everyone, it was still a house full,
Gwen, MJ, Jean, and Felicia sat with Liv. Logan sat with Laura, Nat, Carol, and Wanda talking to Erik and Selene, and with May and Curt, it was now obvious he needed to buy a larger table, or as Peter loved his table, another one.
He had planned a large dinner and had made pasta. Everyone loved pasta and it could be made in huge quantities, enough to satisfy Augmented and Enhanced appetites alike, with various sauces that anyone could pick and choose, plus homemade garlic bread and salad. Several large bowls of pudding, with shaved chocolate, candy sprinkles, and fruit waited in the fridge, as he knew any symbiote host would devour the pasta and still want something sweet afterwards.
"Well, everyone, this is my mom, and Curt, who I guess will be my dad, once he stops being a cheapskate and gets a job," and May elbowed him in the side and Peter laughed, knowing full well Curt was going to be working at Parker Inc soon enough, "and this is," and Peter made introductions.
"So, almost all of them all then?" May asked with a smirk and Peter grinned and shrugged, "Happy. Grandkids, remember?" and he bit his lip as a few people raised their heads and looked over, not all of them the girls.
"Thanks Mom," he said, leaning over and kissing her on the cheek, "I'll explain that some people have powers, and can hear you," and she covered her mouth and laughed.
"I know," she said, whispering in his ear, "That'll teach you to lie to me in the future." and as she walked over she introduced herself to Erik and left Peter with a stunned look on his face.
Curt patted him on the shoulder. "Your parents might have been agents Peter, but your mom did keep their secret for over 20 years." and as he moved over it was Logan's turn to come over, holding a bottle of beer,
"I like her, an' now I see it," and as he laughed and joined in their conversation he got more looks from the women.
He smiled, "My wonderful ladies," and they glared at him,
"Uh-huh," Gwen said, "and you were going to tell us when?" and as she shared a look with the others, Peter hastily explained,
"Mom was worried I was taking advantage, and that you were happy." Felicia snorted,
"Yeah, nice try, the other bit." and Peter frowned,
"Uh never. That's up to you guys, I'll be happy when you decide. If you decide." and as they shared a look, and more, they nodded. While most of them were the same age as Peter, they were too young. They were just starting careers and life beckoned. While May might have raised the issue, the girls quickly shot it down, even if she did look disappointed at overhearing their conversation.
"Safe, for now," Gwen said while Felicia nodded. Wanda looked unamused and Laura was busy drinking more soda than it seemed possible, unaware of the seriousness of the conversation and Peter laughed and moved to sit with them.
But, be safe with Jean, he felt being sent to him over the link by Gwen. He raised an eyebrow at her but she shook her head and continued her conversation with Felicia. Jean's outburst had left him unsure of how exactly to handle the now very hot-headed mutant, and Scott wasn't helping. Once her personality had been unleashed she had taken on look at him, called him pathetic and left the mansion.
Her opinion of Charles was just as damning, and as he had tried to argue, she had lifted him up, held him in mid-air and as the man tried to breathe, let alone speak, she had just shaken her head, said "Stop," and left with her already packed suitcases.
With Laura, Wanda, and now Jean all settling in. While this was a family get together it was also the official housewarming for the group. It was also a gathering to introduce everyone to Peter's new mom, and even Carol, who finally recovered physically at least, was looking forward to their first true family dinner. Even if it ended up being a slightly bigger affair than they realised.
As they talked, it was soon time for dinner, and Peter served up the pasta and various sauces, allowing a mix and match of dishes. He had prepared a simple red meat sauce, as well as white, and cheese, and he knew they would all get eaten. With the revamp, the simple kitchen was now a fully fitted one, with a double oven, several burners and a larger fridge and freezer, plus storage, all slotted between the two homes. The garden, having been unused, was removed and replaced. Now they had a fully outdoor eating area, with a table and a large enough kitchen to prepare meals big enough for symbiote hosts.
As the revamp of the warehouse had been completed, it was just the settling-in period for everyone. Homes had been picked and as the new tenants started to decorate, it was a good time for the get-together.
While Gwen and MJ still had their original homes, and they agreed not to build over them. Peter's original home now housed Wanda, with Jean above. Liv stayed where she was, and Carol moved in above her. The bathhouse had two homes above it, and Laura, when she actually stayed in her home and didn't wander from bed to bed, living in one and Nat in the other next door, and the four at the end of the warehouse where the main door was, lay empty. May had just raised an eyebrow when he mentioned them, but he grinned and shrugged.
As the topic had been raised, Selene piped up. "Peter, I would like to rent one of these homes. A small place in the city would be helpful, especially if I can bring some of our more sheltered residents into the city." and Peter shrugged,
"As long as they can control their powers, I don't see why not. I mean, I'd be great to have Cain here." and Selene nodded and smiled,
"Plus, I might want to visit," and she winked at him, as May looked between the pair Peter hastily looked away, adding to the guilt and she just shook her head.
"I was joking Peter," and he laughed, and she mouthed 'Happy' and 'Grandkids' at him. Seeing the slightly sad look on Selene's face, he decided that enough was enough,
"I know mom, but you know, if you and Curt are getting married next year, you're really not too old. How about a brother, or maybe a sister?" and Curt spat out his drink, and Logan rubbed his back as the man coughed and spit it over himself.
May crossed her arms, unamused. "Touche Mister Parker, and who says it's not both." Peter laughed, he could tell she was joking, there was only one heartbeat coming from his mom, although in a split second of panic he did double-check.
"Curt. He'd have told Gwen, and well, everyone within minutes of finding out." and as May looked over at Curt, he smiled and shrugged,
May sighed, "I suppose I will let you off and stop mentioning it, but," and she gave him a look that said this conversation wasn't over. "We will be discussing responsibility young man, especially with this group." and Erik laughed,
"I think I should visit when your mother is here more often Peter, I do like her." and to his surprise, Logan nodded as well. Erik's eyes were still wrapped in bandages, as they were damaged but healing. As a gesture, he had handed over several tins of his biogel, and Erik had graciously accepted it.
Peter inwardly groaned. Logan, Curt, Erik, and his mom all together. Well, maybe it wasn't such a bad idea after all. It was a good way to introduce her to the larger powered community and maybe he could finally come out as Venom.
As he was thinking of the future and how nice it all was, he noticed Selene had come over and was sitting next to him, holding a glass and smiling.
"Everything okay?" and she nodded,
"I like your home Peter, and your friends, and most of all your mom," and she smiled, "It has been a while since I had a family." and Peter nodded,
"And if the offer is being discussed, I too would like to join your family, and discuss what your mother proposed," and the conversation in the warehouse stopped dead, as all eyes turned from Selene at first, and then to Peter. "Your powers are compatible with mine, and-" for a split second Selene looked like a young vulnerable woman, and Peter saw her hidden vulnerability.
"Uh," was all Peter could say, he was aware of Selene's powers and that a child was out of the question, "uh." and it was May who laughed,
"I think you broke him," and Selene looked slightly worried at the group of women who were now staring at her. 200 hundred years had steeled her heart against the fact she would be unable to have children. Even with complete control over her vampiric powers once small slip and she would drain any life within her in seconds. It was only the energy-rich essence that she received from Peter that had given her any spark of hope, and although they were teasing him, the conversion for her, was a serious one.
"Uh," was all Peter could say, and Gwen stood,
"That is a discussion, and not one for right now." and Selene looked at her hands, and reluctantly nodded. It maybe wasn't the best time, but she had let the moment overtake her, and in a moment of impulsiveness, landed Peter in some trouble.
Gwen came over and took Selene by the hand, "And maybe not while his mom is here."
Peter snapped back to reality, a child was a big thing, and while he reluctantly gave out symbiotes, this was a whole different level of responsibility.
"Uh," and Erik laughed,
"The mighty Venom, floored by a single question," and now the eyes all turned to him.
"You asshole," Felicia shouted, and he shrugged, but May's eyes widened and an angry scowl spread across her face,
"Peter Parker. You will explain yourself this second." and a look of realisation crossed Erik's face.
"Thanks. Magento," Peter sighed. "Yes mom, my powers, all ours powers, Venom," he said reluctantly.
"Did I not warn you about lying to me, and you, did you know?" and she shook an angry finger at Curt who looked at the floor and nodded, "You all knew?" and the girls all nodded as well. "You are those others aren't you, the ones fighting at Shield, and at night. The ones JJ rants on about, it's you. All of you are, are crooks."
As Curt moved over to comfort May, "I knew, I knew you were one of those creatures Curt but I never, ever thought you would associate with Venom. You killed that poor boy, you killed all those people." but Curt took her by the shoulders,
"No. Do you think for one second that your son, the boy you raised, would do such a thing." and she shook her head, tears forming in her eyes,
"Then, tell me, tell me you didn't." and Peter nodded.
"Mom, I never killed John. It was an accident. He attacked me, and hurt Felicia, but it was an accident." and she huffed,
"And JJ, is he a liar? He has evidence you know, all on his website. Muggings where the men ended up in hospital, buildings on fire, all because of you. Are they false as well?"
Peter nodded, "I do bad things mom, I'm not an angel, but I don't kill innocent people. I don't hurt anyone who doesn't deserve it."
"So you do hurt people?" she asked, still angry.
Peter had had enough, "yes, yes I do, is that what you want to hear? Do you want to know about Richard and Mary? About what was in their file? Because that's what a Shield agent does mom. I look for bad guys and hurt them so they don't hurt anyone else." Laura moved, and put a hand on Peter's chest, and turned and moved towards May, taking her hand and rubbing it on her cheek.
"Mom. Not my mom, not yet. Bad men took and hurt me. Peter saved me and gave me a home. Dad says he's a horndog, but still not a bad man. No shouting, Peter loves you." As May looked down at the smaller woman, holding her hand to her cheek she shook her head and sighed,
"From the mouths of babes, eh?" May said and pulled Laura into a hug. As she stared over at Peter, and then at the very embarrassed and sheepish looking crowd, "You all have some explaining to do, and I would also like dessert."
Super Secret Spoiler Epilogue.
As Peter and the group celebrated and spent time together in the basement of the Bar Sinister a quiet banging could be heard from one of the unsmashed and assumed empty cloning tanks.
A simple label "Weapon XXXX" had been printed and stuck on it, with
"DO NOT FUCKING OPEN!" written on it hastily in pen, overwriting the two labels the tank had originally, "Dead Batteries, Pool Cleaning Supplies"
"Hey, I know you're there. Can you get this thing open? I mean, it'll be fun, I promise."
As the knocking continued
"Hello, yeah I know you're reading this, just you know, make a small comment, Hey, author, why don't you have any side stories featuring Deadpoo….."
/the author mysteriously and tragically passed away before they could finish that sentence, END OF SPOILER!!
"Ha fucking ha, I can read that you know. Aww come on, I got cut from the 100th fucking chapter and this is all I get? Well, screw you. I'm going to write my own fanfiction, with hookers and blackjack, and original JOKES!!"