("If one more flashbulb goes off in my direction, I'll probably go blind!") I sent to Angelo as we sat down at the wedding party's table.

("No kidding,") he agreed.

"Hey guys, say 'cheese!'"

We turned as J snapped our picture. I waved my hands about me as if I couldn't see.

"Thanks!" Everyone else had started to arrive, and she rushed off to find her next victim.

"No problem," I responded, blinking away the spots that reappeared in my vision once more.

Angelo shook his head, laughing. "Well, at least we aren't stuck in that receiving line any more," he pointed out ruefully.

I grinned. "Oh, quit whining. It wasn't all that bad." I kissed him on the cheek.

"Awwww, c'mon, Wolvie. Just one?"

"How many times do I haveta tell ya I ain't photogenic, darlin'?"

"When do we eat?" Mondo asked. "I'm hungry."

I sighed and looked sideways at Angelo. "At this rate, it'll take us ten years to eat our dinner," I commented.

He leaned over and kissed me, momentarily silencing the clinking.

"So? Your point being?" He wiggled his eyebrows at me and took another bite of his salad.

I shook my head and laughed. "Don't, you'll only encourage them."

"I think it's mostly X-Force over there in the corner that's doing it--"

"Aww, c'mon guys," I muttered. I held up my finger. "One more time, people, then we eat!"

("I think we'd better make it good,") I told Angelo.

("How could I argue with the beautiful woman I call my wife?")

("I'll remember that if you ever tell me 'no' about something.") I grinned at him.

Angelo grinned back at me. Setting his fork down, he tilted my chin toward him and kissed me again, longer this time. The group assembled in the corner cheered.

From the next table over, I saw Sean say something to Emma, who nodded. Suddenly Theresa sat up straight and looked across the room at them. Sean's eyebrow rose. Theresa leaned over James and grabbed a spoon from Tabitha, who was about ready to begin clinking--again.

"Sakes, give it a rest, woman!" I heard her hiss. "Ye're gonnae get me in trouble, Da's already on me case!"

("Angelo, stop that, it tickles! Not here and now...")

("Stop what, Mrs. Espinosa?") He asked innocently, tickling me again, this time a bit higher.

Oh, so he wanted to play games, eh? I could play, too. ("Excuse me? I haven't signed any papers yet--")

("Oh get technical, why don't you?") He squeezed my thigh and I jumped, startled, letting out a little squeal.

"Ooooooh, kinky!"

("Shut UP, Bobby! You'd better be glad I'm not a full psi, or I'd make you do something real embarrassing right about now! And it'd be a real doozy, too, considering I'd have no problem figuring out how!") I shot him a triumphant glance.

He blushed and the other guys chortled, catching on that I'd gotten the better of him.

Angelo finished pulling the garter off, tickling my leg the entire way down. I could barely restrain myself, I desperately wanted to kiss him.

He could definitely tell. ("Just remember, baby, the best things come to those who wait,") he sent. He pulled down my skirt then stood and held up the garter. A round of cheering erupted from the guys, who began pushing and shoving to get a better chance of getting the garter.

"Well guys?" Ange asked, grinning.

"LeBeau, I swear if you pull the same stunt you did last time, you're meat!"

"Don't you dare blast, Sam..."

"Ow! Leggo of me, no fair! Ow!"

"Waaaaugh! Why you...if you don't unfreeze my feet now, I'll...sic Emma on you! Heh, knew it would work..."

"Go borrow someone else's powers, cheater!"

I sighed. "Can we just get on with this, please?"

Angelo grinned and looped the garter around his finger, pulling it back like a rubber band, then shooting it. Suddenly there was a black frenzy of men in suits and tuxes diving, climbing and jumping for the garter. Powers were definitely involved in the fray, and eventually things began to settle out as everyone began realizing they didn't have the garter.

Mondo stood alone, encircled by the X-Men and others, holding the little white garter in his massive hands.

"Mondo!"

""

"Of all people..."

"What a waste..."

Mondo just grinned and asked, "What happens now?"

"I'll show you what--"

"Down, Logan!" I picked my bouquet up from the floor beside me and stood. Still grinning, I kissed Ange and told him I was off to toss the bouquet. The hired photographer trailed behind me, ready to capture everything I did on film.

I found Jubilee and told her I was going to throw the flowers. I could count on her to spread the word.

"Bouquet time!" I could hear her calling.

In relatively no time, I was standing on the top of the stairs looking down to an amazing crowd of women waiting for me to throw the flowers.

"Go long!" a blonde I didn't recognize said from the back.

"No powers!" a southern voice said when Jean Grey-Summers rose above the crowd a bit.

"Get out o' here, Jeanie, you're married already!"

"Hey, so are you! Go away!"

I put a hand over my eyes and threw the flowers out into the crowd. I could hear the click of the camera and of high-heeled feet on the marbled floors, laughter and voices.

"I missed!"

"Outta the way!"

"Back off!"

"Jubilee got it!"

"Jubilee!"

Jubilee stood triumphantly in the middle. "It's mine, baby, yeah!" she said, a bit reminiscent of Austin Powers.

I heard Paige say, "And ya know who got the garter, right gal?"

Jubilee gulped and promptly dropped the bouquet.

"Ah, well, I don't put much stock in those old wives' tales, anyway," she said a bit nervously.

A part of Shades of Gray

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