The big day had finally arrived, and though he wasn't the one getting married, Johnny Storm was a bundle of excited nerves. Thankfully, he'd kept his fiery disposition under wraps, otherwise Liv would kill him for ruining his tuxedo before the ceremony even began. He looked close to tears as Fliss joined him, almost ready for their walk down the so-called aisle. The Grangers had graciously offered up the gardens for the wedding, and so far, it was turning out to be a gorgeous day. Of course, it didn't hurt that the resident warlock was there to make sure the weather cooperated.

Out of sight of the guests rushing to be seated and the groom himself, Fliss bit her lip as she joined her father.

"How do I look?" she asked, almost afraid of the answer.

The dress wasn't even a dress, technically - instead, she wore a lace cropped top and separate flowing skirt in soft white, her burnished blonde hair falling down around her shoulders in soft waves. No veil for Fliss, or ornate jewelry - just a little bunch of wildflowers her sisters had picked for her, and a sparkling brooch shaped into a blue dragon from Alexei.

"Gorgeous," Johnny said, looking his oldest over with a father's adoring eyes. And old, he thought, though he didn't say that. Too old. How had she grown up so fast' He exhaled a sigh as he looked at her, feeling a mixture of pride and wistfulness.

She smiled, her amber eyes flickering with warm fire for a moment before she reached up to hug the man who had chosen to become her father. "I'm not leaving," she promised in a low voice by his ear. "I'm still going to be around. Nothing much is changing."

"You're always gonna be my baby girl," he whispered back, sniffling suspiciously as he hugged her back, careful not to crush her dress. He knew she wasn't going anywhere, and that nothing much was going to change, except that she belonged to Lucas now.

"Good," she whispered in agreement. "You and Mom are the best thing that ever happened to me. I'm really proud to be your daughter." Drawing back, she blinked away the urge to cry, kissing his cheek affectionately. "There's no one I would rather have walking me down the aisle, you know."

"Careful or you'll ruin your makeup," he told her, seeing the tears in her eyes, and reaching into his tux to offer her a handkerchief. He hoped they were at least happy tears. He loved all his children, but there was always going to be a special place in his heart for his oldest, whether she was biologically his or not. "Your mother and I are so proud of you, Fliss."

"I love you, Daddy." Smiling as she carefully dabbed her eyes dry, Fliss tucked the handkerchief back into place, glancing up at the sound of Cas and Dani herding all the little girls from the Storm and Rogers families into place. She tried not to laugh, still amazed those two had agreed to be bridesmaids and corral the very excited small children in their pretty dresses.

"I love you, too, baby," Johnny told her. That was no secret. He and Liv had fallen in love with Fliss almost from the first time they'd met and had been determined to give her a chance at happiness. Never had he imagined that he'd only love her just to lose her, but Liv had reminded him that he wasn't losing a daughter so much as gaining another son in the form of Lucas. "We just want you to be happy."

He glanced momentarily at the organized chaos that was gathering nearby and couldn't help but smile to see all those pretty faces, all of whom he had come to adore. "I am the luckiest man in the world, you know that?" he said to no one in particular.

"I am happy," Fliss promised him. "And the only reason I ever got a chance to be this happy is because you took me in, and gave me a family. I'm always going to be a Storm deep down, you know." Her smile warmed, watching him glow with pride at the sight of all those little nieces and daughters gathering together in a riot of color and giggles.

"Damn straight you are," Johnny said, maybe a little too loudly, but if anything, he was honest. He looked over at Maria with a smirk. "Language, I know!" he said, signing to her that he loved her, too.

The silent Storm offered up her cheerfully soundless giggle, breaking away from the others for a moment to hug her big sister about the waist. Maria blew a kiss to Johnny, and hurried back to grab Bessie's hand again, taking her responsibility to help her little sister walk down the aisle very seriously.

Fliss chuckled softly. "I guess it's time to get this show on the road, huh?"

"Before the troops get too antsy," Johnny replied, referring more to the gaggle of girls than to their guests. "Shall we?" he asked, offering his arm to Fliss to make that much too short walk down the aisle to hand her over to her future husband.

She took a deep breath, sliding her arm through his. "Let's do it." Ahead of them, they heard the music begin, watching as the gaggle of small princesses started to make their way down the garden aisle, some skipping, some staring, and some remembering to toss a few petals as they went. Fliss almost wanted to give them a round of applause for making it.

Johnny couldn't help but chuckle a little as he watched the girls make their way down the aisle ahead of them, but for the moment, most of his attention was focused on the young beauty at his side. Fortunately, he was fond of Lucas and trusted the young man would do his best to make his little girl happy.

As they stepped into view of the waiting guests, Fliss had a moment of wanting to run away. Not from Lucas, not from marriage, but from all those eyes on her. Being the center of attention had never been her favourite thing in the world. But today, she couldn't escape it, and as soon as her eyes met Lucas' gaze, she lost that urge to run. Her smile relaxed, warming as she let Johnny lead her down the aisle toward the man she loved.

Lucas had been waiting a long time for this moment. For years, he'd been terrified Fliss would meet someone else, love someone else, and forget all about him. She'd been his first love - his only love - and though they were young, he knew he would never change his mind about her. Today was the first day of their rest of their lives together, and he wasn't about to let anything or anyone spoil it for them. His face lit up at the sight of her, looking more beautiful than ever.

All eyes were on Fliss as Johnny walked her down the aisle, until they reached the front and he gave her over to Lucas, whispering quietly for his ears only, "Take good care of my little girl."

"What, do you want a blow by blow account of the wedding night as proof?" Fliss murmured, the only person close enough to hear that whisper and unable to let it pass without comment. She grinned at her father impishly.

Johnny smirked. "No, thanks. Ignorance is bliss and all that." He didn't want to think too hard about his daughter's sex life, anymore than she probably wanted to think about his. There was nothing else that really needed to be said, and so, he merely kissed his daughter's cheek and gave her over to her soon-to-be husband.

Giggling, Fliss slid her hand into Lucas', offering him a bright, beaming smile as Johnny retreated to his seat beside Liv in the front row. "You look so handsome."

Lucas couldn't help but smile as he took Fliss' hand in his, and why shouldn't he" He was at long last marrying the girl of his dreams. "You look gorgeous," he whispered back. He was clad in a white tuxedo with a blue tie and lapels that matched the blue in his eyes, white wings folded neatly against his back, there for all to see.

It couldn't have been more obvious to the guests who had been invited to witness that the bride and groom were very much in love. Perhaps they had already lived through their honeymoon stage, their comfort in each other's company radiating from them despite their young age. Whatever it was that connected them, it was deep and meaningful, and today was more about making it official than showing it off.

Johnny reached for Liv's hand as he retook his seat, surrounded by their children as they witnessed the happiest and perhaps most important day of Fliss' life. The love that radiated not only from the couple about to be wed but the bride's family was palpable. The same could not be said, however, for the family who sat across the aisle. They had reached an agreement, however, to keep the peace for the sake of Fliss and Lucas. It was evident to most everyone there, though, that there was no love left between the groom's parents. It was enough that they had agreed to remain civil, at least for now. Beside Lucas stood Matt - his brother and best man - who couldn't help but glimpse at Cas every now to share a smile that hinted at their own romance.

Liv squeezed Johnny's hand, knowing this was as hard for him as it was wonderful. He and Fliss had a close connection; he might struggle for a little while with her new status as a wife. But they would always be around. She glanced over her shoulder at her own sister, amused to see that Lucy was only just keeping it together and probably only because Tony was present and might see "the scary one" cry. Across the aisle ....well, it was complicated. Jessica had been white-lipped for a while when her ex-husband had walked in, but a concerted effort by Gordon and his children had both separated her from the man and distracted her. At least they all knew they could handle any outburst that might happen.

And just in case they couldn't, Tony and "the scary one" had made it clear to Daniel Foster that they would tolerate no nonsense. Today was a happy day - one for celebration - not family drama. So far, so good, but the Avengers present weren't letting Senator Foster out of their sight, until the festivities were over.

All of this was lost on the happy couple as they made their vows and exchanged their rings, safe and warm in the comfortable bubble their families had worked hard to wrap them in for their wedding day. They both knew there would likely be a little awkwardness after the ceremony, but there was none of that in the here and now.

As far as Fliss and Lucas were concerned, it was a perfect day, and their family and friends were determined to keep it that way. It wasn't long before the groom was kissing the bride and the officiant was declaring them husband and wife. Applause broke out from the crowd, along with some whistles, all of them seeming almost as happy as the couple themselves.

A little of what was being said floated over to them.

"....babysitting a kid with wings made of fire?" Fliss was saying, her amber eyes dancing in amusement as she teased her father in law. She didn't like the man, but she wouldn't be rude. Not today, anyway.

"Is Dad offering to babysit?" Matt asked, looking incredulous. He knew his father well enough by now to know he'd probably pass the kid off to one of his employees. He leaned close to Cas to whisper quietly, "Fliss isn't ....is she?" Hesitant to use the word "pregnant".

Cas smirked. "Not a chance," she whispered back to him laughingly. "Fliss is playing the perfect daughter in law to wind him up."

It was Steve's turn to frown. "Maybe I should step in," he said, turning to see if he could locate Tony in the crowd. Maybe it was time for Senator Foster to meet the Avengers.

Beside Steve, Lucy bit down on her grin. She had a feeling the three men of the family would enjoy intimidating Senator Foster, but Natasha was the one who would scare the ever living crap out of him. "No hitting," she murmured to her husband teasingly.

"Nope, just a friendly introduction," Steve said with an almost mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "Pardon me a moment?" he asked, touching a kiss to Lucy's cheek. Who know" Maybe introducing themselves would be a good thing, so long as the Senator didn't try to use the introduction for his own purposes.

"Have fun," she replied, smiling as he kissed her cheek. She didn't think it would take long for him to locate her brother in the milling guests - the problem might be getting Tony to give Morgan back to Pepper before talking to the senator.

Thankfully, Fliss and Lucas were being polite, but the line of well-wishers lining up behind his father was growing. "Dad," Lucas said, seeing the line growing. "We can talk later, okay?"

"Hmm?" Daniel murmured, glancing behind him to see he was holding up the line. He smiled and shrugged, as if to apologize. "Well, I am the Father of the Groom."

"Suck it, Fly-Guy, I'm Iron Man," a familiar voice said from nearby, announcing the arrival of Tony Stark in company with a few other interesting parties.

"Fly-Guy?" Daniel echoed, turning with narrowed eyes to find himself facing Tony Stark. He had never met the man personally, but he'd seen him on TV often enough to know what he looked like.

"Senator Foster," Tony greeted him easily. "I don't think we've met." Behind him, Natasha was rolling her eyes, wondering how she'd been roped into intimidating the father of the groom at the wedding.

Lucas looked between the trio, turning a little pale. He didn't want any trouble at his own wedding, and he knew what that trio was capable of. "It's okay, Mr. Stark. We're just talking," he assured them.

"What, I'm not allowed to kiss the bride?" Tony asked innocently, grinning as Fliss offered her cheek to her uncle. "And you're both absolutely certain I'm not allowed to buy you a house?"

"Well, I suppose we will talk later, son," Daniel said, backing away and allowing the trio to step forward, even if they were cutting in line.

Lucas seemed at a momentary loss for words, as if he was unsure who he should focus his attention on - Tony Stark or his father.

"Sure, Mr. Foster," Fliss agreed. It hadn't been going too badly, on the whole. She squeezed Lucas' arm encouragingly, before leveling a Look on her uncles. "You can take the hero out of the suit, huh?"

"I didn't say a word!" Steve said in defense of himself. He had been looming largely behind Tony and Nat though, with Tony doing the talking and Nat glowering beside him. He chuckled as he stepped forward to drop a kiss on Fliss' cheek and shake Lucas' hand. "Congratulations, you two."

"I would like to make it clear that I was not an active participant," Natasha offered, winking at Fliss as she gave Lucas a kiss on the cheek. "I can totally pin them both down later if you want me to."

"I think we had the desired effect," Steve said, feeling just a little sorry for Luc's father, who had surrendered, practically with his tail between his legs. "Would you excuse me?" he said, deciding he was going to take it upon himself to offer the proverbial olive branch.

"Just so you know, it was all his idea," Tony said as Steve stepped away, absolutely at home with throwing his friend under the proverbial bus. "Not that I mind cutting in line. You two look awesome today."

Johnny came up to join the trio, one hand on Tony's shoulder and one on Nat's, a big grin on his face. "Did I miss an invitation to the party?" he asked the pair.

"I think Steve was a little worried you might make the man's pants start smoking," Nat informed Johnny.

Fliss rolled her eyes. "You do realize he's family now, right?" she asked the three of them.

"He's still my father," Lucas said, in defense of the man, despite any personal feelings he might have about him.

"No offense, Luc," Johnny interjected. "We're just trying to keep the peace." Though it was Steve who seemed to be doing the negotiating.

"Well ....thank you for the thought," Fliss said, "but we've got this. I was doing so well behaving myself, too." She looked up at Lucas with a fond smile. "At least I think I was."

"We appreciate it. We really do," Lucas reiterated. "Just ....He is my Dad, you know?"

"Hey, who's holding up the line?" came a voice from behind them, in a teasing tone.

"I am, and it's utterly exhausting," Tony declared, turning to offer his most charming smile to whoever it was complaining. "I need sustenance. Romanov, feed me."

Natasha narrowed her eyes. "You got it."

"Ever hear of the word 'please'?" Johnny reminded his brother-in-law with a roll of his eyes. If anyone was going to get into an argument, it was more likely to be this trio than a sole estranged Father of the Groom - at least, for now. "Looks like Steve is playing peacemaker," he murmured, looking over at Steve and Senator Foster as he stepped aside to let other people offer their congratulations.

"He's the one who nearly started a war," Nat pointed out, taking hold of Tony's suit by the lapel to drag him back over to the picnic rug where Liv and Pepper were comparing notes on babies and feeding the various children who came by wanting snacks.

"I wouldn't call it a war," Johnny said, as he followed Nat and Tony back to the little circle of spouses and children. "I'm starving. Where's the food?" he echoed Tony's complaint, even if he was Father of the Bride.

"The caterer put together these enormous picnic baskets," Liv reminded her husband in amusement, her lap currently filled with Morgan and Maria. It was a much less formal wedding than any she had ever been to, and she was very proud of Fliss and Lucas for sticking to their guns on it. It felt like it was their celebration.

"So, where's mine?" Johnny asked, pouting like a child. He really wasn't much better than Tony when it came to patience, though he was unlikely to admit it.

Liv laughed, freeing one hand to pat the blanket beside her. "In the basket, sweetheart," she promised him.

Maria grinned at her father, licking her fingers before starting to sign. "There's sandwiches and chicken and grapes and tomatoes and pastries!"

"You got me at pastries!" Johnny told Maria with a grin as he dropped onto the blanket beside her. It was no secret he was happiest when he was with his family. "Alex!" he called, summoning the boy over from where he'd been running around on the grass with the other children.

Bessie crawled into Johnny's lap as soon as he was sitting down, taking advantage of him being still for a moment to claim a cuddle. Tony, however, was still protesting as Nat forcibly sat him down and rammed a chicken leg in his mouth.

Johnny laughed at Nat and Tony. "I think that's the first time I ever saw him shut up," he said, offering Bessie a grape as she crawled onto his lap.

"Nat has many skills," Liv commented in amusement, handing Morgan back to Pepper so Tony could be pinned in place for a while with his own daughter once he was finished with his drumstick.

"Apparently, one of them is enforcer," Johnny said, grinning in amusement. Whatever it was that had been said to Luc's father, it seemed peace had reigned, so who was he to argue with the methods.

"Okay, Mama!" Alex said, closing his eyes so that he could telepathically connect with Lir and ask him to land somewhere nearby but not too close to the gathering, so as not to scare anyone - even though the only one who seemed concerned about the unexpected appearance of a dragon was the Senator.

"Lir's harmless," Lucas said as he rejoined them, stealing Johnny's place beside Fliss and reaching over to snag a sandwich from the basket.

"We know that, but some of the guests don't," Liv pointed out cheerfully, climbing to her feet to go and help Alex put together a ridiculously large amount of fish for his best friend.

Fliss draped herself against Lucas' back, arms about his shoulders as she absently stroked his folded wings. "My dad's going to have a manly talk with your dad," she warned him quietly. "I think he just wants to help, though."

Lucas winced at that. "Today is our wedding day, Fliss, and I'm not gonna let anyone ruin it, especially not my dad," he told her. So far, there hadn't been too much drama, and he wanted it to stay that way. "It's not that I don't want anything to do with him. He just has to understand that our lives are here now."

"He'll get there," she promised her husband softly. "But he has to let go of his picture perfect idea of how that's gonna happen. It's going to be messy, and it'll take a long time, and he hasn't realized that yet. But just the fact that he wants to do it is a big step for him."

"Does he?" Lucas asked, looking a little skeptical. "Or does he just want us to pretend to be the perfect little family for the sake of his career?"

"If he wanted that, he would have tried to woo your mom back to him years ago," Fliss pointed out in a quiet voice. "Instead, he's accepted that she's moved on. He didn't contest the divorce. That's not a man who wants the perfect little family for his career, baby. If he truly just wanted that, he could have married someone else and had more kids."

"What do you think he wants then?" Lucas asked, before taking a bite of his sandwich. He couldn't help but be skeptical of his father, after all he'd seen and heard over the years. He knew his father's first love was his career, not his family, or so it had always seemed.

"I think he's realized that his career pales in comparison to his sons," she said in a low tone. "And I think he doesn't know how to rekindle those relationships, so he's falling back on old habits."

"I don't know," Lucas said, still sounding more than a little skeptical. He was willing to give his father a second chance, but unlike his brother, he wasn't very optimistic about it.

"How about this, then?" Fliss suggested, drawing her fingers through his hair. "Don't approach it as rekindling a relationship with your father. Try looking at it as making a friend out of a troublesome acquaintance."

Lucas wasn't sure he liked the sound of that either, but he refused to let anything upset him today. "I'm not getting my hopes up," he told her, his expression relaxing as she drew her fingers through his hair. "Besides, don't we have better things to talk about than my father?" he asked, smiling as he leaned close.

She giggled, brushing the tip of her nose to his. "Whatever could you possibly mean?" she asked, feigning innocence. "Are we already planning when we're going to give my dad a heart attack with a grandchild?"

Lucas chuckled. "Don't you think we should wait 'til you graduate?" he asked, brushing his nose against hers and looking in no hurry to pull away.

She grinned back at him. "Yeah, probably," she conceded. "Maybe until I actually have a job and an income." Giggling again, she looped her arms about his shoulders, pressing a slow kiss to his lips. "Happy, baby?"

"Always happy when I'm with you," he assured her, pressing another kiss to her lips, slow and tender. "How long do we have to stay?" he whispered, eager to get started on the honeymoon.

Fliss laughed again, hugging him warmly. "Not much longer," she promised. "We can skip out once we've cut the cake."

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Lucas asked with a smirk. The party wasn't really for them, he thought, but for their friends and family. The real celebration would begin once they were on their honeymoon.

"Mmm, so impatient, Mr. Foster," she teased affectionately, though she fully agreed with him. They had spoken to everyone who had come to celebrate with them already; no one would mind if they disappeared sooner rather than later.

Lucas seemed to have forgotten about cake, though, as he was too busy kissing his new wife. There was no encouragement needed from the party-goers where that was concerned.

"Ahem," a voice Fliss would probably recognize as her father interrupted.

Completely unabashed, Fliss took her time in ending that kiss, slowly drawing back to grin up at her father. "You called?" she asked innocently.

"Where am I supposed to sit?" he said, pouting like a child. He'd barely had a chance to start his lunch, much less finish it before he'd gone off to talk to Luc's father.

"Did the rug run out while we were busy?" Fliss asked, always happy to tease her father. "How did it go?" She tilted her head curiously at him, one arm still around Lucas.

Johnny plucked one of the twins up off the blanket and settled her on his lap, claiming her spot on the blanket. He shrugged at Fliss' question. "Have to wait and see, I guess. He made it pretty clear that it was none of my business, but I told him that you two getting married made it my business. Oh, are those pickles?"

Tony flicked a pickle across the rug to Johnny, ignoring the vaguely censuring look that got from Pepper. She had visions of a food fight breaking out, spurred on and encouraged by Iron Man.

Fliss rolled her eyes, smiling back at Lucas. "I guess we should go find the baker, then, huh?"

Johnny caught the pickle, saluting Tony before giving it a crunch. "Today is your day," he reminded Fliss and Lucas, gesturing at them with what was left of that pickle. "So try not to worry. We've got your back ....backs," he added with a grin.

"Who said I'm worrying?" Fliss answered sweetly. "This is my horny face, not my worried face."

"I did not just hear that," Tony declared, looking horrified.

"You wouldn't hear it if you weren't eavesdropping," Johnny remarked. "You're not leaving already, are you?" he asked, turning back to Fliss and Lucas with a small pout.

"We'll cut the cake first," Fliss promised her father. He should know better than to ask a newly married couple to stay and party when there were other things they should really be doing.

At that, Lucas moved to his feet, reaching down to pull Fliss up with him. "Time to find the baker," he said, repeating something Fliss had said just a few minutes before.

Liv reached out to squeeze Johnny's hand as the newly-weds slipped away from them. "It's only two weeks away," she reminded her husband affectionately. "They'll be back in no time."

"My little girl is all grown up," Johnny murmured sadly. It was bound to happen sooner or later, especially considering the fact that she was already a teenager when they'd adopted her.

"But still your little girl," Liv murmured against his ear, depositing Marnie into his lap as Isabel started to climb on his shoulders. Bessie was watching him with worried eyes from Pepper's side. "Like all of your little girls."

"I adore my girls," Johnny said. No denial there. "And my boy," he added, with a grin. He and Liv had only had one son and that son had been adopted, but Johnny had never complained. He adored each and every one of his children; each one was special in their own way, whether boy or girl, adopted or not.

Glad to see him smiling again, not dwelling on some misplaced sense of loss, Liv winked at him. "Maybe next time we'll get a brother for Alex," she murmured impishly, quickly filling her mouth with mango.

"Next time?" Johnny echoed, eyes wide. He'd assumed they were done having children. After all, they had five of them still living at home, with two under the age of two. And yet, they were both still young enough to have more, if they wanted.

She snorted with laughter at the look on his face. "Ask me again in three years," she suggested, tucking a cocktail sausage between his slack lips.

Rendered speechless, not only by the cocktail sausage but his wife's statement, Johnny could only mumble and nod his head in reply.

Across the lawn, Fliss was laughing as she and Lucas waited for the cake to be brought out for them. "I think Mom just broke Dad," she said, gesturing to the gob smacked Johnny.

Thankfully, Johnny had not choked on the sausage, finding his voice again once he'd chewed and swallowed it. "Are you serious?" he asked, his question aimed at Liv, his voice rising an octave higher than usual.

"Do I want to see my dad trying not to cry?" she asked, her smile gentling. "He might resent it a little, but it'll be better for him if I just call later on."

"He loves you," Lucas said, though that much went without saying. He sometimes envied her relationship with her father, though it had come late in her childhood. He couldn't really remember a time when he'd ever been close to his father.

"I love him, too," she said, pulling a tank on over her head. "But that's why I don't want to make him cry. He's having fun right now, and Mom can cheer him up fast when he notices we're gone. She knows I'm gonna call tonight."

"It's not like we're gonna be gone forever," Lucas pointed out, just as others had for Johnny's sake. There were few outside the family who understood why it was that Fliss' father felt such a strong connection with her. It wasn't just the fact that they had chosen her, though that was part of it. It went far deeper than that, and it was something Johnny rarely spoke of with anyone but Liv, so how was Lucas to understand it"

Fliss chuckled softly. "I know," she agreed. "But I guess it's hard for people to remember that my dad's an emotional sausage at heart. He feels everything incredibly intensely, which is why his reactions seem so over the top. He knows we'll be back, and we're not going to be leaving the Grove any time soon. He's just all caught up in his emotions right now."

"My dad's the exact opposite," Lucas mused aloud, as he carefully hung the tuxedo on a hanger and set it in the closet. They had already packed for their trip, so there wasn't much else that needed doing.

She turned to him, looping her arms about his waist. "I think your dad's spent so long pushing his emotions to one side, he needs to relearn how to feel them," she said softly. "It's not impossible."

"All he really cares about is his career," Lucas said, a frown on his face as she pulled him closer. It wasn't the first time he'd said it and it probably wouldn't be the last. Was he willing to give his father another chance" Of that, he wasn't even sure. "Anyway, I don't want to talk about him anymore. We're going on our honeymoon. We should be happy."

"Well, I'm happy," she said impishly, rising onto her toes to bump her nose to his. "Aren't you? Am I going to have to work harder to make your endorphins rise?"

Lucas couldn't help but smile. Fliss always had a way of making him feel better. "Of course, I'm happy," he said, his arms going around her to pull her even closer. "But I'll be even happier when we're on our honeymoon," he told her, touching his nose to hers.

She beamed, brushing her nose to his. "I guess it's time to open that envelope Uncle Tony gave us, then." She didn't seem all that eager to let go, however, enjoying the gentle warmth of just holding and being held.

Lucas rolled his eyes at the mention of Uncle Tony, and yet, there was a smile on his face. "Is this going to be like a game of do you want what's in the envelope or do you want to trade it for what's behind the curtain?"

She snorted with laughter. "According to Steve and Lucy, he's got good instincts when it comes to honeymoons," she mused, lifting her chin to kiss his lips quickly.

"So, where's he sending us?" Lucas asked, assuming she didn't know the answer to that question. He was just a little skeptical about "Uncle Tony's" choosing a honeymoon destination for them, but since the man was paying for it, he didn't think it would be right to look a gift  horse in the mouth.

"Let's take a look." Reluctantly drawing away, Fliss picked up the ornate envelope on the coffee table, carefully opening it up to reveal details of some kind of accommodation booking and instructions on how to open a portal to get there.

"Laucala Island?" Lucas said, as he read along with Fliss. "Is that on Earth?" he asked further. Though Earth was his native planet, he'd never heard of it.

"Like I'd know," she laughed, handing him the evidence of their booking as she explored what else was in the envelope. "Oh, it's part of Fiji. I guess it must be tropical, huh?"

"Yeah, Fiji is in the Pacific," he said. "North of New Zealand, I think," he added, though he wasn't sure she knew where that was either, seeing as she wasn't from Earth.

She nodded slowly, though her expression made it clear she did not have the first idea where these places were. "I went to Disney in a place called France once," she offered innocently, wrapping her arm about his waist. "Okay, this says there's a portal we can open with this stone next to the hawthorn tree in our yard that will take us to an arrivals lounge on the island."

Lucas chuckled. "Yeah, it's nowhere near France," he told her. He wasn't an expert in geography, but he had a pretty good understanding of where most places were located on Earth.

"So it won't rain on us?" she asked playfully, knowing perfectly well there was nowhere they could go that was completely free from rain at some point in the year.

"It could, but if it does, at least, it's warm," he replied. Then again, going in August meant it would be winter there. Still, he didn't think it got that cold in a tropical clime such as Fiji.

"So I guess we're ready to go, then." Fliss bent to pick up her bag - she had never understood how her mother could fill a suitcase to bursting for a three day trip, but then, she was definitely not as well groomed as Liv.

"Shouldn't we thank him or something?" Lucas asked, as he, too, reached for his bag and slung it over a shoulder. He didn't really want to chance running into his father again, but he didn't want to be rude either.

"Phones are wonderful things," she reminded him with a small smile. It would be nice to say goodbye, but they both knew if they went out to the party looking ready to leave, they wouldn't be allowed to go for at least another couple of hours.

Lucas smiled. "True. Shall we?" he asked, hiking the bag higher. Now that all the fuss of the wedding was over, he was looking forward to the two of them relaxing and spending some well deserved time alone together.

"We absolutely shall." Sliding her hand into his, she headed for the back door, making sure to lock the house up securely before they made their way down the line of their yard to where the hawthorn tree grew.

Back home, no one would believe anything about portals or even that such a place as Rhy'Din or the Nexus existed. There had been a time when he hadn't believed it either, but seeing was believing, and in a matter of minutes, they'd be back on Earth, albeit on the other side of the world from the place he'd once called home.

And it really was as simple as that. With just a couple of steps, they went from the warmth of a Rhy'Din summer to the heat of a Fiji winter, stepping into a lounge that had clearly been created for the sole purpose of portal usage. Fliss gasped at the change in the air, blinking in surprise. "Wow."

"Wow is right. Look at that view!" Lucas said, drawn to a window and the view of tropical paradise that awaited them. It was a little disorienting, suddenly stepping from one world into another.

"Gods, it's so bright," Fliss breathed, leaning into his side as she took in the verdant greens and blues of this Polynesian island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. "Two weeks of this" Hell yes!"

Lucas chuckled. It was certainly full of more tropical beauty than any place he'd ever been before. "But does it beat Disney Paris?" he teased her.

"I'm assuming I'm going to understand what people are saying here," she offered with a grin. Behind them, they heard the sound of a door opening, a warm, friendly voice speaking.

"Welcome to Laucala. Mr and Mrs Foster?"

Lucas opened his mouth to reply, but before he had a chance to speak, another voice interrupted and he turned to see who it was. His heart leaped in his chest to hear Fliss referred to as "Mrs. Foster". Up to now, that form of address had always belonged to his mother. "Yes, that's us."

Fliss' response to hearing herself called that was to giggle in absolute delight, hugging Lucas' arm as they turned to greet the Polynesian woman who had come to collect them.

"Mr Stark made very clear the arrangements for your arrival," she said cheerfully. "If you would come with me, please"

"So glad Tony decided all of this for us," Lucas whispered to Fliss, hopefully quiet enough that the woman wouldn't overhear him. His tone was sarcastic, but so far, he had no reason to complain.

Laughing, Fliss drew him to fall in behind the woman as she lead them out of the lounge and almost immediately onto a jungle pathway, where an electric car was waiting. "He has issues with trying to make things perfect," she admitted. "This is partly why I wouldn't let him buy us a house."

"Because he wouldn't buy us a house," Lucas guessed. "He'd buy us a mansion." And a mansion was not what they needed or wanted. They were perfectly happy in their little cottage at Maple Grove. But houses and vacations were two different things.

"Mmhmm," she agreed. "Whereas two weeks of pampered luxury, I can live with."

The woman in front of them chuckled, gesturing to the little electric car. "If you follow this pathway to its end, you will reach the Peninsula Villa, which is yours for the next two weeks," she told them warmly. "All amenities are provided, and all information you may wish for is available within your villa. Welcome to Laucala, and congratulations."

She squeezed his hand with a smile. "Baby, it's cool. Have feet, will walk. We can go for a flight anytime on Rhy'Din. Here and now, I don't want you worrying. We're here to enjoy ourselves and each other."

"Maybe I should figure out a way to carry you better," he said, though off the top of his head, he couldn't think of anything. At least, unlike Johnny, he didn't have to worry about anyone catching fire.

"Maybe," she mused. "Or we could save it for sweeping romantic moments instead." She grinned over her shoulder at him, beginning up the beautifully carved wooden stairs that curved upward to the next level.

He chuckled as he followed her lead. "You think flying is romantic?" he asked, looking amused. It wasn't exactly Titanic, but he could understand the attraction. He loved spreading his wings and soaring through the air, but he knew it could be scary for some.

"Don't you?" she asked, almost sounding surprised. "I mean, for one thing, it means we have to hold each other real close; we're totally alone together. And it's proof of how much I love and trust you. I know you won't let me fall."

"I guess if I was Superman," he remarked with a shrug of his shoulders. He wasn't sure why he'd sprouted wings. There were times when he found them to be more of a nuisance than anything else, but he had to admit, there was nothing so liberating as flying.

"Superman's a dick," Fliss said with absolute confidence, pausing as she reached the top of the stairs. There was the bedroom, simply furnished and decorated, and blessed with a wide deck from which to view the bay, the ocean, and even a fair chunk of the island, yet still hidden away by the screen of trees.

"Wow," Lucas murmured as they stepped into the room. Each room, it seemed, was separated by a walkway, giving the villa the illusion of looking almost like an assortment of huts perched amidst the trees. It wasn't so much the sumptuous bed or the tasteful furnishings that captured his attention though as it was the view.

"This place is incredible," Fliss breathed. "Can you imagine how beautiful it is at night' No artificial lighting. We'll be able to see the stars so clearly tonight."

"It's amazing," Lucas agreed, drawn to the view outside the window. Not only was there an amazing view of the ocean, but a deck with upholstered lounge chairs and even a pool.

Their purpose in coming up here forgotten for now, Fliss kicked off her shoes and sat down on the edge of the pool, swishing her legs to the knee through the cool, clear water as she looked out over the bay. "Tony said something about submarines," she mused. "I thought he was joking, but I'm starting to think he really wasn't."

Lucas followed suit, tugging off his socks and sneakers and depositing them inside the room before sitting down beside her and immersing his feet in the water. "You could go scuba diving," he suggested. "Or sailing."

"We could," she corrected, leaning up against him as he sat down at her side. "I bet there's a lot to do on the island as well. If I ever let you get dressed, that is."

Lucas smirked. "I'm already dressed," he reminded her. Or still dressed - whichever way you choose to look at it. He didn't remark on the scuba diving though, as he wasn't too sure about going under water.

She laughed. "For now," was her teasingly ominous response to that, though she seemed content to sit and enjoy the breeze and the view in his company for now.

"I wonder if there's any champagne," he mused aloud. Seeing as how someone seemed to have thought of everything, he didn't doubt there was at least a bottle or two provided for their enjoyment.

"There's gotta be a bar somewhere," she mused, glancing over her shoulder to the bedroom beyond. "We've got everything else, that I can see."

"I'm gonna take a look," he said, moving to his feet. He didn't have to go far, as there was a mini-bar right there in their bedroom, with a complimentary bottle of champagne and two glasses. Someone seemed to have already provided nearly everything a honeymooning couple might have wanted, and whatever they didn't was readily provided via a phone call.

While he was wandering, Fliss laid back against the sun-warmed wood of the smooth deck, stretching her arms up above her head to feel the sunshine on her middle as her tank rode up. She closed her eyes, a happy smile on her face. This was pretty close to heaven.

The nearby sound of a cork popping assured her he'd been successful in his search for the bubbly beverage. And it wasn't the cheap stuff either, but the real thing, straight from France. Lucas returned a few minutes later with two fluted glasses filled with a clear, bubbly liquid sure to tickle their noses and their taste buds. "Success," he said, as he reclaimed a place beside her.

Opening her eyes, Fliss pushed herself to sit up again, grinning as he handed her a flute. "Wow, you can really smell that it's the real thing," she said, a little shocked by this revelation. The bubbles almost immediately went up her nose as she swallowed, making her splutter with laughter. "I am so not fit for posh company!"

"Neither am I," Lucas said, chuckling at the way she wrinkled her nose at the bubbles. He lifted his glass to her, a soft smile on his face. "To us. May we have many happy years together."

Giggling, she tapped her glass to his with a beaming smile. "Lots of smiles, lots of laughter, and very little boredom," she added, lifting the glass to sip more slowly this time. "I love you, Luc."

"Nothing wrong with a little boredom," he said, though he doubted life would be very boring so long as they were together. "I love you, too, Fliss. More than words can say," he told her, leaning close to brush a kiss against her lips, both of them tasting of champagne.

Who needed words? They'd been together since their mid teens, already with more time spent together than many other couples tying the knot at a similar time of life. They knew each other inside and out, fitted together near perfectly. They had a lifetime ahead of them, and this ....This was just the next step in their journey.