Wade had been running some statistics. Top three lines used by Peter that day had been: "Wade, no"; "A little more to the left"; "Leave Miles alone". It made Wade feel like a true family man. Well, Miles wasn't technically theirs but he might as well have been. Ever since his father's promotion and subsequent move to another state, all the time Miles wasn't in school he was spending with Peter and Wade.

Which was kind of awesome. Miles was great, Peter was great, and Wade was… happy. Which scared the shit out of him, because he was bound to screw it up somehow, but it also filled him with hope. It might have been it for him; finally something solid to hold on to and get on the right track. But he shouldn't jinx himself, he should just focus on having a non-disastrous Christmas with his… family.

Wow, the thought made him sickeningly giddy; he should say something mean quickly.

"Are you inviting your boyfriend for Christmas dinner?" Miles groaned at the same time Peter told him to "leave Miles alone." Again.

"For Christ's sake, Wade, he's not my boyfriend!" Miles whined, hiding his face in the pillow. "Why are you so hell-bent on refusing to acknowledge I have a girlfriend!"

"Don't worry, you'll get the superiority of the D-power eventually."

Miles screeched in frustration and Peter punched Wade's arm, giving him this uptight stop-making-Miles-feel-like-you-have-something-against-Kate face. He didn't, really, she was cool enough. He just liked Ganke better, for personal reasons.

"If you're so fond of Ganke's Lego collection why don't you date him?" Miles taunted.

Not so personal, then. Peter choked on a laugh and Wade pouted. "His words hurt, but your laughter kills, Peter. That's not very Christmassy of you to be teaming up against me."

Peter and Miles exchanged amused conspiratory looks. Uh-oh, Wade's common sense was tingling. He tensed up and watched the boys carefully, waiting. "What."

Suddenly, both Peter and Miles pounced on him, giggling like crazy. They crushed him with their combined weight, alternating between crushing hugs and vicious tickles.

"Aw, sweetums, we didn't mean to hurt your feelings," Peter cooed, peppering his face with deliberately wet and gross kisses. Miles made gagging noises and got a pinch in the ear for it.

And Wade… Wade wanted to cry. He couldn't believe what he was about to say, but he couldn't hold it in any longer. "I lo-"

"Now, get back to decorating the tree, we're going shopping," Peter said in that bossy tone of his, getting up suddenly and pulling Miles with him.

Wade imagined himself as a sad red balloon making a really embarrassing noise while being deflated, but got up to see them to the door. He wasn't going to pout, he was going to take it like a man. Who was he kidding, of course he was going to pout. He opened the door for them with a raised chin and avoided eye-contact. So when he felt two pairs of arms wrap around him again, he almost gasped in surprise.

"We love you too," Miles said.

Wade smiled and put his hand on top of Miles' head. "Don't forget your hat."

Peter chuckled and ushered Miles out. When he was sure Miles was out of the hearing range, he kissed Wade with an exaggerated smack. Wade chased his mouth on instinct, but Peter shoved his face away with a huff of laughter. He looked at him with fondness for a moment, though, a small warm smile playing on his lips. Wade quirked his eyebrows in a silent question and Peter shook his head. "Nothing, just. You're such a dad."

Wade spluttered and pushed Peter out of the house, ignoring his gleeful laughter. He had a reputation to uphold, and blushing seven different shades of red did not help.