We Now Return to...

Walt looked at Dave concerned. "I thought you'd look better after day without me mucking up your business. What happened?"

Dave coughed in his robotic assist chair. "I had an episode flare up... then I got into a "not an argument/argument" with Harley about... well, you know... It was just one of those days. You look a little rougher than I expected. Trouble in paradise? "

Walt shook his head. "No, actually. Just had an extreme training day/refresher/crash course, got sucker punched by a Hulk with a bus and Mjolnir and similar a couple times, learned from superheroes how NOT to make super mistakes, threw an impromptu party and then spent most of the night trying to please, satisfy and woo an attention starved and neglected fierce immortal warrior and the sweetest practicly nympho former robot girl I know... not to mention sleeping with everyone in the group of ladies who wanted too and a couple of them wanted a few more goes."

Dave stared at him then shook his head. "Well that explains it... you know a lesser man would hate you, right?"

Walt smiled and touched his shoulder. "I know... good thing my friends aren't. You okay?"

Dave sighed and nodded. "She's just... she doesn't want to face it. Determined that if she plays ostrich it won't happen... and you know Harls... she can get through to just about anyone but the opposite ain't always true! But enough about that... You know I'm happy for you, right? No one deserves it more, brother."

Walt smiled and nodded. "I know... and I decided. Come out to the ranch with Harls this weekend or as soon as we can make it work. We'll have that "talk" and go over her options. It's not healthy for her to not face it. Tell her it's a romantic get away. Then we'll ambush her. She can get mad, rant and rave, blow up and get it out of her system and start facing it. Then you two can "make up" in one of the cabins to your hearts content."

Dave smiled. "Thank you, Walt... I appreciate it. We'll do that soon." He nodded. "And speaking of you ready?"

Walt nodded. "Ready as I'll ever be. A day at home made it better in someways and worse in others but I want to finish this. Need to so I can finish going through the rest and then get to the bottom of things so I can do what really matters... take care of my family."

Dave smiled looking at the flowers and other things Walt had brought with him shaking his head smiling. "God speed and good luck."

---

"Welcome back... you've been busy."

Walt smiled down at Jen from the top of the chicken coop. "Good morning, Jen! I hope I didn't wake you all pittering around out here."

Jen shook her head smiling. "You built this over night?"

Walt laughed. "Yes and no. I had a lot of it pre-assembled in my workshop. Putting the pieces into extra dimensional storage containers with tools and supplies and bringing them here was easy. Same with the livestock and feed. The hard part was trying to be quiet. Everyone else already up?"

Jen nodded her head. "The girls are gushing about the flowers you brought. We'll start breakfast in just a bit. You need a hand?"

Walt grinned. "Just finishing up. Give me just a moment!"

Jen smiled watching him work... he seemed... excited! Almost as excited as doing awesome adventures and "hero" stuff... maybe even more excited. *This is a part of who he is," she thought. *Who he was meant to be. A hard working man who loves building with his hands, working the land and tending to living things.*

Jubilee came out with Gwen and Shogo carrying coffee mugs. Gwen passed a mug to Jen setting another aside for Walt.

Jubilee pointed at the chickens waiting to be released. "See the chickens, Shogo?"

Shogo laughed and waved his arms like flapping wings excitedly. "Chi-chi's! Momma Chi-chi's!" He started making excited "grabbing" motions. "Mama Wawa!"

Walt smiled. "I'll be right with you little man!" He web shot the next piece pulling it into place and drove a few quick nails home and- "Done!"

He back flipped off the top of the big coop. Gwen raised her eyebrow. "Web shooters and flips? Have you been... practicing?"

Walt nodded taking the cup she held out to him then giving her a kiss surprising her. Jen smiled, Jubilee grinned and Shogo laughed. "Good morning, Gwen. I have but I'd like to practice with you a bit later if you don't mind?"

She blushed and nodded happily. "Good morning."

Walt nodded to but hearing Shogo's squeals he said, "to be continued." He quickly kissed Jen on the cheek surprising her then took a big swig of coffee before setting down the cup and kissing Jubilee then the top of Shogo's head. "Good morning you two!"

Jubilee and Shogo both laughed. "Good morning! Ok here he is grabby boy!"

Walt groaned playfully laughing as he picked up Shogo. "Oh! How much did you grow last night, little man?"

"Mama Wawa! Chi-chi's!" Shogo said excitedly patting his cheek and waving at the chickens.

Walt laughed. "You want to help me release the chickens? You got it! Releasing the chickens!" He carried him over to the crates undoing the latches and placing his tiny hands on top of his so they could do it together.

Jen smiled. "He's really good with him."

Jubilee nodded grinning. "Walt was a favorite among the younger kids at the school. All the kids really! He's gotta way with them... the Proffesor always thought Walt might be a latent empath or something but he could never get into his mind and Walt didn't want "schooling". It was hard for him to trust Walt at first... until he saw him with the rugrats. Walt didn't care if a kid was bright pink, had scales, set things on fire, etc... he just loved and accepted them all. He and the Proffesor became friends quickly after that... We all did. Especially the biggest X-brat of all... me."

"Chickens!" "Chi-chi's!" They both cheered releasing the chickens in a flurry of feathers, flapping wings and clucking before moving to the next crate and repeating the process laughing happily.

Jen smiled. "I see. That's a part of who he actually is too."

Jubilee smiled too nodding and wiped at her eyes. "He was meant for this... a "family man". It's... cruel that things didn't work out for him for so long, ya know? Seeing him... them like this... I just... it makes me so happy!"

Jen smiled and patted her shoulder while Gwen smiled and hugged her. "It is beautiful, isn't it?" Gwen asked.

They nodded. It was certainly that and more. Walt walked back over with Shogo handing him over. "Thanks for the help, little man!" He grabbed his cup and his stomach growled. "Breakfast?"

They smiled back at him. "Breakfast."

---

"Oh thank god he's back! Felt like it's been ages!"

Temporary Watcher Deadpool shrugged at Temporary Watcher Stan as he passed him a breakfast burrito. "The author's been busy with other stuff in his life and it's messed with his mojo a little bit and made it hard to dedicate the time to this particular story that it usually takes. But he has kept working on it when he can and he's making a comeback!"

Stan nodded. "I hate when that happens. It ain't easy being a writer. Trust me true believer." He eye balled the burritos. "You got these from a good place, right? I don't want to even look at the bathroom for awhile."

Deadpool nodded and held up his hand. "I swear, Stan. I've learned my lesson. No more gas station sushi..." he turned to look at the reader. "... at least until the next time..."

Stan nodded and grinned. "Good enough for me. Welcome back and... Excelsior!"

[Walter Stark Penny Polendina F.R.I.D.A.Y Neopolitan Pyrrha Nikos Nora Valkyrie Yang Xiao Long Blake Belladonna Kali Belladonna Sienna Khan Willow Schnee Glynda Goodwitch Zwei Ahnassi Lifts-Her-Tail Senko Sayoko Shinozaki Roberta Cisneros Haruna Sasha Blouse Ilulu Rachel "Raven" Roth Manami "La Brava" Aiba Tsuyu "Froppy" Asui Haruhime Sanjouno Anastasia "The Baroness" Cisarovna/DeCobray Demona Mystique Pirotess Lydia Aela the Huntress Serana Mission Vao Curie Ada PAM KL-E-O Merida Gwen "Gwenom" Stacy Jubilation "Jubilee" Lee and Jennifer "She-Hulk" Walters

Will Return In

TBD

Coming Soon]