Meeting the Twins

[daughter_of_m]

This takes place directly after Steve visits Wanda. The next day Wanda sends Steve and the boys shopping so she can speak with Jean alone.

Wanda sat very still as Steve left. She held the gloves he'd left with her close. They felt soft in her hands but when she pulled at the fabric it was tough and strong. Just like Steve: tough, strong, soft. She smiled at the thought. She placed one glove on her lap and put the second over her left hand. It was rather laughably over-large; she had to curve her fingers slightly so the glove didn't simply slip off. She raised the hand and touched her cheek; it seemed familiar. Wanda closed her eyes and tried to remember but the memories were confused and fragmented. She opened her eyes, sadly, but was comforted to find the gloves still existed.

Wanda stood and held her gloved hand out in front of her. Her eyes narrowed and she felt the fabric stretch and shrink as it conformed to her own hand and forearm. Steve's leather glove had transformed into a silken opera-length glove. Wanda stared at her left hand thoughtfully. She hadn't been able to, hadn't even attempted to, do anything like that in a very long time. Not awake and purposefully. She thought she should be frightened, but instead she felt calmer than she had in ages. She picked up Steve's other glove. He was what was different. Xavier and Magneto had tried to control her power but on some level they had both feared her. Pietro had tried to help her but he was too close, too much like her. Clint had been afraid to lose her completely so he'd never tried to wake her up. Steve wanted her to be who she really was and believed she was strong enough to do it. He was a rock, an anchor, someone to hold onto until she could stand on her own. But he expected, required even, her to try to stand alone.

Wanda returned the glove to its original dimensions. She placed both gloves carefully on the end table by the couch; then picked up her book and began reading where she'd left off when Steve had arrived. She read contentedly as Elizabeth refused Mr. Darcy, knowing they'd come together eventually. When the knock came at the door she leapt to her feet, placed her book by the gloves and walked swiftly to the door.



Wanda opened the door quickly and would have thrown herself into Steve's arms had he not been carrying a sleeping Jean Grey. She stared a moment then moved to hold the door open for him.

"My bedroom is up the stairs and to the right," she said, indicating the stairway just beyond the small hall closet. Steve smiled at her, relieved that she was neither surprised to see him nor disturbed that Jean had fallen asleep.

"Thank you," he said, "She said the journey was difficult for her, I think she just needs to rest." He walked past Wanda and up the stairs. Wanda watched after him, then turned to the two boys still standing outside the door.

"Hello," she said warmly, "Mr. Rogers told me he was bringing two 'Young Avengers' back with him. My name is Wanda. Please come in, it's cold out there."

Billy and Tommy looked at each other. Now that this moment was upon them neither had any idea how to proceed. Tommy shrugged; she was right, it was cold. He walked quickly in, keeping his head down as he passed her and walked over to the fire to warm up. Billy followed more slowly. Wanda let the door close and turned to look at her young guests. Tommy was crouching by the fire and she couldn't get a good look at him. But Billy had stopped a few steps past her and was watching her. He had an oddly lost expression on his face. Wanda looked at him and cocked her head. She had the disconcerting notion that she knew him. She almost asked him but thought better of it and smiled instead. She walked closer and held a hand out.

Billy looked down and for a second was afraid to touch her but then he grasped her hand and said, "Billy. Or, um, Wiccan." He nodded over to Tommy, "That's-"

"Speed." Tommy interrupted, suddenly beside them. Wanda stared a moment at Tommy, then turned back to Billy.

"You're brothers..." she said, and it wasn't really a question.

"Yes," said Billy, excitedly.

"No," said Tommy in the same instant. Wanda looked from one to the other. She dropped Billy's hand and took the backpack he held in the other.

"Please make yourselves comfortable. I'm sorry there's so little space. I don't have company too often." She smiled and carried the backpack over to the closet. Tommy scowled and wandered back into the living room. Billy watched Wanda a moment, then walked after Tommy.

Steve watched as Wanda put Billy's backpack into the closet. She traced the Avengers "A" that was emblazoned on the bag with her finger before placing it on the floor of the closet. So far he was encouraged by her behavior. She seemed calmer than when he'd left her. He sat at the top of the steps, deciding to let the three of them interact without him for a bit, though he would interfere if necessary. As he watched Wanda stood and returned to the living area.

Tommy had flopped down onto the sofa and was gazing at the fire, his expression somewhere between boredom and fear. Billy had wandered over to the shelf of dolls and was staring excitedly at her collection of super heroes.

"Hey, I have this same set!" Billy exclaimed pointing to the Collector's Edition Avengers Assemble set featuring Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Ant Man and Wasp. Wanda smiled but Tommy looked aghast.

"You have dolls of real people?" he asked, disturbed. Wanda looked over to him as Billy started thumbing through the rest of her action figures.

"I collect them," she answered.

"You collect people?" Tommy asked, a look of horror on his face. Steve tended to agree with the boy that the collection could be seen as morbid. But he assumed it had a more innocent symbolism than it appeared.

Wanda, however, couldn't understand why this was bothering the boy; she shook her head. "Dolls," she explained, "My father was a doll maker," she gestured to the bottom shelf. "Those are his creations. When he died I started buying these others for myself, for birthdays and holidays." The thought that Wanda had created the memory of a lifetime in which she had to buy her own gifts saddened Steve.

"But these are people you know," Tommy said, getting up from the couch to join them.

"Tommy, get off it," Billy said, turning to the other boy, holding two of the figures in his hand. "I have half of these myself." He turned to Wanda. "I've never seen this one." He held out a figure in a long coat, with a bow and arrow strapped to its back. "Who is it?"

Wanda paused a moment before answering, then said, quietly, "Hawkeye." Steve tensed where he sat listening on the stairs; Billy looked flustered, unsure what to say. But Tommy took the doll out of Billy's hand.

"Hawkeye didn't look anything like this," he scoffed. Wanda reached her hand over and took the figure from Tommy.

"He did when I last saw him," she answered. Steve stood and quietly started to creep down the stairs. This conversation was beginning to worry him. Wanda continued speaking to Tommy. "I made that one."

"You can make them?" asked Billy, excitedly. Tommy shot him a look and Billy remembered who he was talking to. "Oh. Right." Wanda looked as if she hadn't heard him. She replaced the odd Hawkeye figure on the shelf and pulled out another.

"Do you recognize this one?" she asked, holding the figure out to the boys.

Billy stammered, "Um...yes." Steve had reached the bottom of the stairs and stood quietly watching but he couldn't see what Wanda was holding. "It's, um, Quicksilver, right?" Steve held his breath.

"Yes," Wanda answered Billy, but she was watching Tommy. He felt uncomfortable and shifted in place, blurring a bit in his anxiety. Wanda noticed and placed a hand on his shoulder. The boy flinched but he didn't run away, some part of him wanted to be here as much as Billy did. Wanda smiled and continued, "He was an Avenger for a time but it was a while ago. I suppose you haven't met him." Tommy shook his head. Billy looked from Tommy to Wanda and then over at Steve. Steve's expression was worried but he didn't do or say anything. Billy decided to speak up.

"Have you? Met him?" he asked. Wanda turned from Tommy to Billy but didn't let go of Tommy's shoulder. She had an odd expression on her face; it almost looked like she wanted to laugh. Her voice was light when she answered.

"He's my brother," she said, then turned her attention back to Tommy. "You look just like him." Tommy stared as she raised a hand and brushed his hair back out of his eyes.

"Really?" he asked softly and without any of the flippancy he usually exhibited.

"Really," she answered, then, "Tommy." She looked at the other boy who stood to her side. Billy was feeling overlooked and annoyed that Tommy was getting all her attention. After all, he didn't even believe she was their mother, it was hardly fair. But when Wanda turned to him there were tears in her eyes and his anger fell away. "Billy," she said, as if his name were magic.

Billy's face lit up. "You know us?" he asked.

"I'd know you anywhere," she answered, tears quite different from the ones she'd cried earlier streaking down her cheeks as she gathered both boys into an embrace. She whispered into their hair, "I've loved you since before you were born." Billy returned the embrace fiercely, Tommy simply let her hold him. Watching them, Steve felt tears in his own eyes.

+++

The boys spent the next hour and a half filling Wanda in about their lives. Billy chattered on and on about anything and everything he could think of to say, without touching upon anything that might upset her. Tommy was much more reticent, only answering direct questions. Wanda smiled and laughed with Billy and kept a hand on Tommy as he sat quietly beside her. She didn't say much herself, just listened. Every once in a while she glanced over to Steve as if to verify he was still there. He realized she'd become used to her visions vanishing but somehow she'd decided he was real. If he was there it meant the twins were real too.

The sun set and Wanda stood. "You must be starving," she said, "We've talked the afternoon away." She walked toward the kitchen, "I'm not sure what I have, I wasn't expecting any company." She turned back to them when she reached the door, "But I'll find something. Steve, can you make sure the fire doesn't go out?" He nodded and she disappeared into the kitchen. Steve walked over to the fire and put a few logs on. As he did so he realized they hadn't tended to the fire the entire time they'd been talking. It should have died out but it didn't even seem that necessary for him to be adding wood now. Concerned, he stood and started walking to the kitchen.

"I'm going to help her," he told the boys as he passed, then stopped and held out keys to Billy. "Why don't you two get our bags from the car? Just leave them in the hall for now." Billy took the keys and they walked toward the door. Steve turned and entered the kitchen.

Wanda had laid out a large wooden board and started filling it with half a loaf of bread, some cheese and dried fruits. It looked liked she'd taken a few things down from the cupboard to look over, but hadn't done anything with them. Wanda was standing very still in the corner, her face in her hands. Steve walked cautiously over to her, she'd seemed so happy while talking to the twins but he knew she was still very fragile.

"Wanda?" he asked quietly as he approached her, "What's wrong?"

Her hands dropped and her head flew up at his words. Her eyes were wide and bright, her expression frightened. As he watched she softened, when she spoke her voice sounded small and tired.

"I was afraid," she explained, "I thought I would return to the room and no one would be there." Her eyes implored him to understand; he wished very much he could take this burden from her.

"I'm sorry," he said, and pulled her into his arms. He tried to will her strength, give her stable footing so she might stand up to her fears and all the mean tricks her mind played on her. "I know it's hard to believe." He looked down to meet her eyes. "If it makes you feel any better it was pretty hard for me to understand, too."

She smiled up at him. "It doesn't," she answered, "but thank you." She pulled away and pointed to the cans. "Open those and pour them into two bowls. I thought we'd eat Roman style. It's really all I have, we'll have to go to market tomorrow. Then I can cook you a proper meal." Steve did as she asked and placed the two bowls on the wooden board. Wanda added some crackers and a third bowl with greens. "Looks good, can you handle that?" She indicated the board.

"Of course," he answered, picking up the board.

"I'll be right behind you with the drinks." Steve carried the platter into the living room and placed it on the table. The boys had just returned from the car and walked hurriedly over to the table.

"What is it?" Tommy asked.

"She called it Roman style," Steve answered, "I'm not entirely sure what she meant."

Wanda entered with a pitcher and four glasses on a plate. "It means what they ate in Ancient Rome," she explained as she set them down on the table. "Bread, fruit, cheese, olives," she indicated each as she spoke, "a little salad, olive oil, nuts and well, cider. Which is not Roman but is also non-alcoholic. Steve, you can have wine if you'd like."

He smiled. "Cider's fine."

"You three have a seat, I'll get the stool from the kitchen." She walked away. Steve, Billy and Tommy sat down at the table. Steve poured them each a glass of cider and the two boys took a plate and served themselves. Wanda returned with a small stool and set it at the table in between Billy and Tommy. Steve passed her a plate and a glass of cider and then filled his own plate. They all settled down to eat.

"Tell me more about your Young Avengers." Wanda said to the boys. "Who else is on the team?"

"Well," Billy answered, "There's Eli, who's Patriot."

"Like Captain America," Wanda said, smiling at Steve. He returned the smile, thoughtfully. He wanted to believe, like Billy did, that this was all she really needed.

"Right," Billy said, "And Hulking, only he's not really like the Hulk. He's a Skrull."

"I see."

"That's Teddy," Billy blushed slightly when he said the name, he was a little afraid to talk about Teddy with Wanda. He didn't know what she would think of their relationship. Tommy rolled his eyes and took over.

"And Kate. She's Hawkeye." Wanda raised her eyebrows at him and Tommy looked flustered. He pointed at Steve. "He named her 'cause-" He cut off, not knowing how to the end the sentence without accusing her of anything.

"Because Clint wasn't using the name," Wanda said, her expression calm. Steve wondered at her composure. She'd broken down earlier at the thought of Vision's death but this was the second time she'd spoken of Clint without falling apart. It was curious.

"And - uh - that's it," stammered Billy. Steve had told them not to mention the Vision or Cassie. Or Hawkeye but she'd mentioned him first.

"Only five?" Wanda looked to Steve. "And only one girl?" She shook her head, "You need to do some recruiting. At the least you need an Iron Man." Her eyes twinkled as she teased. Steve felt close to crying. She seemed a new woman but he was as afraid as she was that her demons would return. And he wouldn't admit it but it hurt to think of Tony and how far apart they stood right now.

"We had one," Billy said, "But he, uh, had to go back to the future."

"Don't they always." Wanda laughed. Billy smiled but Tommy was done eating, and bored.

"Can I go online?" he asked.

"I don't have a computer," Wanda answered, "I use the one in the post office, but it's closed now."

Tommy sighed, "Okay, can I watch TV? Do you get good channels out here?"

Wanda smiled apologetically, "I don't have a television either."

"You don't have a TV? How can you stand it?" He asked incredulously.

"I have an excellent imagination," she answered. Steve nearly choked on an olive and Billy spit out his cider but Tommy started laughing. Billy stared at him a moment, then began to laugh as well. Steve looked from the two them giggling to Wanda, sipping her cider serenely. He couldn't bring himself to join in the laughter but he smiled at her. When she smiled back, her head cocked slightly and her eyes shining, he felt his heart race. The boys settled down and Wanda turned back to Tommy.

"I have books, Tommy, lots and lots of books. You can pick one to read before we all go to sleep. We could even read to each other. Sometimes I read aloud to my-" she broke off, a strange expression came over her face, as if she suddenly remembered something and it didn't make any sense. She shook her head and said, "Well, I like to read aloud."

"Well, I don't," said Tommy, "and I don't like to be read to either. I'm not a child, you know."

Wanda looked at him with sad eyes, "I know," she said softly. Tommy looked away angrily. Steve stood and gathered his plate and Billy's.

"Tommy, why don't you help me clear the table while these two figure out our sleeping arrangements. It's been a long day." Tommy scowled but he picked up the remaining two plates and followed Steve into the kitchen. Billy looked over at Wanda.

"He's kind of hard to get along with," he said.

"This must be very hard for him. For both of you."

Billy wanted to say no, it wasn't hard, it was exactly what he wanted. But though it was exactly what he wanted, it was also hard. "Yes," he answered her, "it is." Wanda stood and moved over to him. She pulled him into a hug and they held on to each other, each afraid the other would disappear if they let go. Steve returned to the room for the rest of the dishes. He picked up the empty platter and pitcher quietly. Wanda glanced up over Billy's head and met Steve's eyes. He smiled encouragingly and she dropped her gaze back to Billy.

"Help me move the table over." She said as she let him go. Billy brushed tears quickly out of his eyes; Wanda pretended not to notice. The two moved the table up against the wall, then turned to the living room. Wanda looked over as Steve and Tommy rejoined them. "Well," she said, "I only have one bed and it's currently occupied." Steve was startled to find he'd nearly forgotten about Jean, but it had been a busy evening. "There's the sofa," Wanda continued, "and there's the floor. I'll go get some blankets while you three discuss it." She crossed to the stairs and climbed up.

"I call sofa," said Tommy and in a flash he'd grabbed his suitcase and sat with it on the couch.

"It's Wanda's house, Tommy," Steve admonished.

"Yeah and we're her guests," Tommy countered.

"I could try something," suggested Billy, "With magic." Steve considered this. On one hand it seemed a bit risky to be attempting magic in Wanda's house. But on the other they'd all be more comfortable and Billy's spells, while simplistic and hardly as powerful as Wanda's, were less likely to hurt anything. He nodded.

Billy walked over to the opposite side of the room. He closed his eyes and placed his hands out in front of him. "I want beds for all of us. I want beds for all of us. I want beds for all of us!" Light emanated from Billy's outstretched hands and coalesced in the middle of the room. Two twin beds appeared side by side and thumped down to the floor. Billy let out a breath and sagged in place from the exertion. Wanda nearly dropped the pile of blankets and pillows in her arms. She stood, staring, from the stairs.

"How did you do that?" she exclaimed sharply. Steve turned and hurried over to her, concerned. She looked at him but simply handed over her pile and walked swiftly to Billy. "How did you do that?" she repeated.

"Magic," Billy answered, hesitantly.

"Magic," Wanda repeated.

"Not very good magic," Tommy said, still sitting on the sofa, "There are four of us."

Billy blushed. "Sorry."

"Don't be sorry, it was wonderful," said Wanda, then she turned to Tommy, "And you don't tease your brother. It's very difficult to do what he does." Tommy started to protest but he cringed under her glare. From his vantage point by the stairs Steve realized motherhood suited her. Wanda squeezed Billy's arm. "We can share."

"I am not sharing with him," Tommy said adamantly, indicating Billy, "Or him." He pointed to Steve, who was placing the pillows and blankets down on the closest bed. Tommy looked at Wanda and seemed unsure if he'd be willing to share a bed with her. Then he said, "I could sleep upstairs with Jean." Wanda stifled a laugh but Steve glared.

"Ms. Grey needs peace and quiet. You'll sleep down here with us. Billy and I can share and you can have the couch," he said.

"But I want a bed!" protested Tommy.

"You called the sofa remember?" Billy said.

"I'll take the sofa." Wanda said. "Go get ready for bed, the bathroom is upstairs on the left." The boys continued grumbling but they walked off together. Wanda turned to Steve. "You can change and brush your teeth in the kitchen," she suggested. "I promise not to peek." Steve looked at her and realized for the twelfth time in six hours how beautiful she was. He began to blush under her gaze and looked away. He nodded, not quite trusting himself to speak, and carried his small overnight bag into the kitchen.

When he returned he found Wanda sitting on the sofa. She'd removed her overdress and was wearing a simple shift. She looked very young, not nearly old enough to have teenaged children or to have lived through half of what she had. She seemed very delicate, like a bubble that would pop if he held her too closely. She had always been otherworldly; now she appeared almost fey. She was holding the gloves he'd given her to keep him in mind while he was gone; her small hands clutching them to her chest. She looked up to find him watching her but she simply smiled and moved over so he could sit beside her, replacing the gloves on the end table. He sat down carefully, trying to maintain a polite distance from her. In his present frame of mind he didn't trust himself to sit too close.

But Wanda crept closer and laid her head on his shoulder, snaked her arm across his chest and let it lay on his other shoulder. She breathed him in and sighed contentedly, "Thank you," she said. She didn't specify, he didn't need her to. He slowly laid a hand on her head, pulled her even closer.

"You're welcome," he murmured into her hair.

"So, maybe you two should share the bed," Tommy said, appearing suddenly in front of them. Steve and Wanda looked up and moved apart. Billy came up behind Tommy, blushing furiously.

"I think we all need to get a good night's sleep," Steve said, standing, "So into bed you two." Tommy smirked and sped off to the farther bed; he was under the covers before the other three moved. Billy continued to stare at Steve, still blushing and seemingly afraid to speak. Steve sighed. "It's okay, Billy, just go to sleep." Billy nodded and got into the closer bed; then he moved over to the far side, remembering he was supposed to be sharing with Steve. But Steve realized the kid would never relax and said, "I'll sleep on the floor." Billy nodded and curled up in a ball.

Steve turned back to Wanda, still sitting on the couch. He met her eyes and smiled. He picked up two pillows and blankets. He lay one of each on the floor in between the sofa and Billy's bed, then moved to Wanda. He placed the pillow at the end of the sofa and she lay her head on it, still watching him as she did, possibly afraid to look away. He shook open the blanket and laid it on top of her, then carefully tucked it around her body. Her eyes smiled at him. He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. "When you wake up, we'll still be here. I promise." He settled down on the floor and pulled the second blanket over himself.

"You guys just have to ask if you want this bed."

"Tommy, shut up!" Billy pleaded.

"Good night, boys." Steve said in a voice that brokered no response.

Wanda smiled and drifted off to sleep, at last her waking life more welcome than her dreams.

Note: Thank you to starspangledcap for the beta read :)