Chapter 6-

Welcome back to Moving On! Yea, life's been busy. I don't even know why. I don't want it to get into it, it just is. Bleh. It sucks. Well. Most of the time. I saw a concert. X)

Anyways, I know you've all been waiting, so let's get to it. :) Time for some fluffier moments, a massive calm before the very MASSIVE storm. X)

I deeply apologize for the long wait, my life has been extremely busy, so I turned my focus to one of my other stories. I'm working hard to keep up with all of my stories now, wish me luck. :)

I can't say I'll be updating this regularly but I remembered recently how fun it was to write and decided to give it a go again. :)

Special thanks to all of you reviewers who asked me to continue – specifically SlytherinAvengerPrincess, who inspired me just a few hours ago to pick this story up once more.

If you submitted a request it has been accepted! :)

Thanks so much for your guys support! You're all so sweet! X) I'm glad you're enjoying what I hope is originality and creativity. :)

If you see anything extremely similar or possibly copied let me know because this idea is COMPLETELY MINE. Copyrighted. :)

Shall we?

Pietro Maximoff

"Are you sure you can handle this?" Steve inquired, raising an eyebrow as the jet landed. Pietro was so damn happy that Steve hadn't been flying the aircraft, and that a S.H.I.E.L.D. pilot had been brought in instead. No offense to the soldier, but he was a bit out of tune with StarkPhones, let alone S.H.I.E.L.D. Quinjets.

"Relax, we've got it," Pietro waved him off as he got to his feet. Peter unbuckled his seatbelt and snatched Pietro's new meds from the seat. Pietro caught up quickly, taking his usual place at Peter's side. Wanda followed behind the two, keeping close to Steve as the four exited.

"Do not worry, Captain, I'm sure we will be fine," Wanda gave her best smile, which didn't seem to ease Steve's worry. "Lila and Cooper are sweet, they won't be a problem." She persuaded. "And Nathaniel can't be too hard to take care of."

"These are human lives, you know?" said a hesitant Steve. "Did you do anything like this in Sokovia?"

"Yes," Pietro replied immediately, causing Peter to turn to him with a confused gaze. "In Hydra there were child subjects. We helped take care of them." Steve raised an eyebrow as if to ask 'and…how are they…?' Pietro continued walking. "They died." He stated, face devoid of emotion.

Steve furrowed his brows. "That's…not reassuring…" he scratched the back of his neck.

/Pietro!/ scolded Wanda mentally.

He rolled his eyes. Wanda.

/You're always so cranky after doctor's appointments./ she grumbled.

Blah, blah, blah, you're just as grumpy, soră, he snapped back, getting a little impatient. I just want to go inside. It's bright out and my eyes hurt.

/And people wonder why you're so pale./ Wanda rolled her eyes.

/Give him a break, I mean, the dude had to entertain the sexy doctor./ Peter wiggled his eyebrows and Pietro smirked back, elbowing Peter in the side with a brotherly grin.

Shut up! He chuckled silently.

Wanda sighed out loud. "Don't worry, Steve," she stopped and turned to the captain, realizing they had yet to reassure him. "We can handle the children, and I can keep the other children under control."

"Hey!" Peter and Pietro snapped in unison.

That seemed to ease his nerves. "Y'know, you woulda made a mighty good general back in my day," He gave a friendly smile. She returned it with ease.

It was weird seeing his sister smile so regularly. She didn't used to. It made Pietro mentally debate why that was. He quickly distracted himself with other thoughts.

"Alright, good luck. You have all of our numbers, so don't be afraid to call."

"Of course," Wanda nodded.

Pietro continued for the door and heard a creak as the S.H.I.E.L.D. Jet ramp closed, then a gust of wind as the jet took off. It blew all of his hair into his face, bangs whirling around his eyes. Peter's product-filled hair was sent into a fluffy whirled mess, and yet Wanda's miraculously survived (How!?).

Peter opened the door and Pietro followed him in, however the two stopped upon reaching Lila setting down her backpack on a hook in the front hallway. Nathaniel's baby carrier sat on the carpet, Nathaniel shockingly quiet inside. Pietro glanced in and made sure the baby was still breathing, relieved when he saw the rise and fall of Nathaniel's chest. The speedster lifted his head to see Cooper shoulder-deep in a box of Froot Loops, rummaging around and coming back out with a handful, shoving it hungrily in his mouth.

"Mommy just dropped us off," Lila explained. She gave a face that could rival a small kitten's on the Adorableness Scale. "She said you'd make us Mac 'n Cheese."

"Um…" Wanda bit her lip. "Yes…of course…" the witch frowned, her previous confidence gone in an instant. What she hadn't admitted to the good captain, but Pietro knew very well, was that she had never been great at cooking, her only edible dishes being of Sokovian decent. "Of course we will."

Pietro sighed. This was off to a good start. "Will we now?" he muttered.

"Pietro will get right to that," continued Wanda, not paying any mind to her brother.

"What?!" Pietro demanded immediately, eyebrows shooting upwards. "I don't—"

Peter cut in quickly. "Yea, he's gonna be great at that. Lila, why don't you show Wanda your stuffed animals?" he suggested, sending a hinting look at Wanda. Pietro gaped. Wanda's eyebrows twitched upwards in surprise, and then returned to normal as she caught on.

"Ah, yes, that sounds fun?" she nodded unsurely.

"Yea! Come on, come on, come on!" yipped Lila excitedly, grabbing Wanda's hand and swiftly bouncing over to the stairs and tugging Wanda up to her room. Pietro stared, eyebrows furrowing slowly.

"Wha-?"

"Come on, Cooper. While Pietro makes dinner, we can play video games." Peter suggested with a smirk. "I've only lost 3 rounds, I can still win!" he added for good measure.

Cooper nodded happily, dropping his cereal—sending it scattering across the floor—and leaping for the couch, shouting "No way! I'm gonna win!" as he did.

"I-? No—!" Pietro stammered as Peter gave him a charming innocent smile that Pietro guaranteed had seduced many girls. The arachnid shrugged, passing Pietro and plopping onto the sofa next to Clint's son. "That's—Hey!" Pietro complained to the empty space. He huffed angrily and peered down at Nathaniel, who blinked at him.

"Alright, Little Pietro…can you cook?"

~AVENGERS~

Nathaniel was perched on Pietro's left arm in an upwards position. The baby peered over his shoulder with young eyes and curled his small toes just above Pietro's right hip. He made a small whine-like noise and Pietro bounced him.

"Hush, Motănel," he said absentmindedly through the wooden spoon clutched in his teeth. It quieted the child, who in turn gave Pietro a curious face. The Sokovian focused intently on the blue box in his right hand. Lowering the box a little, he then stared at the pot that sat on the stove in front of him. Nathaniel reached up and pulled the spoon from between his teeth, clutching it tightly. Pietro sighed and managed a half-smirk.

Turning, Pietro peered into the living room. Peter and Cooper both had their tongues out in matching faces of concentration as they clicked away at their Xbox controllers and raced some very unusual cars on screen.

"Nooooo!" wailed Cooper as his car spun. The noise startled Nathaniel, but, instead of crying out, the almost-1-year-old baby pouted and gave a face that reminded Pietro of the face Wanda used when she scolded Pietro. He snickered and turned back to his work, picking out a measuring cup. He carefully held Nathaniel in the crook of his elbow as he held the pitcher in one hand, and picked up the box of macaroni in the other.

Pinching the box between a couple fingers, the speedster used his index finger and thumb to turn on the faucet and held the pitcher under until it was full. He poured the water into the pot and continued until he'd emptied 6 cups of water into the container. Pietro flicked the heat on and watched as the water began sizzling.

Lucky barked upstairs and Pietro furrowed his brows, eyeing the ceiling, but eased when he heard a fit of giggles from Lila and his sister's loud laughter. Peter shouted something and then laughed, but it was mostly white noise now.

Pietro set down the box of Mac 'n Cheese and carefully rolled up the sleeves on his black and white sweatshirt. He'd worn this sweatshirt for most of his time in Hydra, during the escape, basically the entire time up until the battle of Sokovia. It was filled with good memories and bad memories and Pietro didn't intend on getting cheese on it. A couple miniscule drops of water splashed on his health-monitor watch and the Speedster was quick to unclip it and toss it onto the counter.

He tore open the package, pausing momentarily to flick an eyebrow upwards at the picture of a strange cartoony sponge on the front. He dumped the noodles into the boiling pot. They hissed and sizzled and Pietro acted fast to stop the strange packet of yellowish-white dust from falling in. He pinched it between two fingers, as if it were contaminated, and examined it carefully.

"What are you?" he asked quietly. This couldn't be the cheese…could it? Pietro knew American cheese was questionable at best, but he figured this…this…dust couldn't possibly be qualified as edible. "What…?"

Eyes darting around to make sure no one was looking, the Sokovian reluctantly stuck his tongue out and closed his eyes tightly, bringing the packet closer to his tongue.

Nathaniel garbled something untranslatable and giggled.

"Yes, thank you, Pietro Jr. No need to be rude," sighed Pietro as he frowned and set down the packet. He began reading the box for directions again. This process was halted when a spoon nearly took out his eye and clattered into the pot, splashing a couple droplets of boiling water onto Pietro's arm. The speedster yelped and scrambled backwards, clutching Nathaniel and waving his free arm about. The elder of the two turned to the younger, who gave an innocent giggle.

Pietro pressed his lips together. "You're just like your father, you know that?" he grumbled, swiping the spoon from the Mac 'n Cheese and stirring it at a quick tempo. After all, he didn't do slow.

A few minutes of stirring and he poured in the white dust (cheese?). God, I miss my powers, he thought bitterly as he walked over to the refrigerator and pulled out some butter and milk. He walked back over to the pot and slipped in a little butter and then some—Uh oh. Whoops. –all of the milk.

Dumping the carton into the recycling, he finished up the Mac 'n Cheese and half-heartedly microwaved half a box of leftover pizza from the other night for Wanda and Peter. Setting Nathaniel in his booster seat, he cupped his hands around his mouth and called out.

"I'm going to eat everything if you're not here in five seconds!"

Nathaniel garbled an agreement with a wide smile, clapping his hands and earning a pat on the head from Pietro.

Scrambling could be heard upstairs, along with another laugh from Wanda. Peter and Cooper shoved each other like children (well, Cooper had an excuse) as they darted over the backrest of the couch and flew into their seats. Seconds later, Lila came running down the stairs, still firmly tugging Wanda by the sweater sleeve. Lucky padded after them at their feet, a bow tied to his collar. They too took their seats and Pietro nodded approvingly. They collectively agreed to feed Nathaniel after dinner, seeing as he'd been fed only an hour ago.

Pietro went around the table serving pizza and Mac 'n Cheese.

"Nice apron," chimed Peter playfully as Pietro passed, eyeing Clint's 'Hot Stuff : Coming Through!' apron, which Pietro donned proudly.

Humorously, Pietro batted him over the head with the spoon. Peter winced but grinned.

"Why is my Mac 'n Cheese so soupy?" asked Lila, not in complaint, but more of genuine curiosity as she poked and scooped it with her spoon, watching it slide off of her spoon and back into the bowl with a 'splish'.

Wanda answered quickly, "Pietro hasn't had the most exp—"

The speedster interrupted her, "It's probably the Fairy Dust." He said casually. "It tends to make food more soupy so that the unicorns can eat it easier."

The young girl's eyes widened, and Wanda's face grew a smile of disbelief, as if she was asking 'Did you really just go there?'

Cooper laughed, understanding that it was a joke, and smiled grinned at Peter instead.

"That's so nice of them!" Lila's eyes brightened suddenly as she bounced in her chair excitedly. "A fairy sprinkled her dust in my Mac 'n Cheese?! Daddy's never gotten a fairy to do magic on our Mac 'n Cheese!" Her eyes were widened in pure childish delight, and it made Pietro's heart lift.

"Yes, well," the white haired speedster sat elegantly at the end of the table, tossing his oven-mits aside. "I guess this means I'm a better cook than him, huh?"

Lila nodded, smiling widely. Wanda breathed a laugh and rolled her eyes, although she smiled nonetheless. Peter smirked around his fork, which was firmly between his lips. Cooper poked at his Mac 'n Cheese with wide eyes, as if contemplating the fairy dust theory. Nathaniel waved his hands around.

Pietro took a first bite of his glorious dish. The texture was very strange. Gooey from the pauses between stirring and soupy from the extra milk, but with small clumps of cheese gathered around and over the top. It didn't taste to bad once you were past that.

"I did great," he said proudly, cocky as ever.

Mutters of 'eh' and 'well, I wouldn't say…' mixed in with Lila's "Yea! You're the best!" immediately followed.

"I wouldn't go that far," Wanda sent a look at her brother, the type of look a competitor sent their enemy, but with kindness in her eyes.

"Like you could do any better," he retorted goodheartedly. "Same goes for you." He tossed at Peter.

"I could so do better!" Peter argued defensively. "I've never screwed up a dish."

"Yes you have, Peter!" Lila chirped brightly, face scrunching in confusion. Peter quickly waved his hands, as if trying to shush her. "Remember? You tried to make me cereal this morning!"

Peter sank a bit in his chair, hand over face and a long sigh escaping.

Wanda raised a curious eyebrow. "How do you mess up—?"

"Don't ask. Just don't," interrupted Peter with another sigh.

Lila wasn't finished. She continued to count on her fingers. "And then there's the sandwiches, mom's leftovers, those cupcakes for dad, the—"

Pietro snickered, having mercy on the blushing arachnid as he gently interrupted the little girl. "Maybe I'll have to give you cooking lessons, with my great culinary abilities."

"Yea, yea, whatever," the arachnid grumbled. "As great as they are," said Peter on the other hand. "I think I'll stick with the pizza."

This time it was Lila to smack Peter over the head. "Sh! Don't say that! The fairies will get mad!"

~AVENGERS~

Pietro was sprawled out on the couch, legs propped up on one armrest and head on the other. His arms were folded comfortably underneath his head as he watched the strange sponge walk across the screen. It was the same thing as the mac and cheese box.

Lila was situated on the floor. She laid on her stomach, feet kicking up and down and a smile on her face. Peter and Wanda were finishing up the dishes, although Peter was focusing on the television as well. Meanwhile, Cooper sat on the stairs, clicking away at some game as he peaked over at the show.

"The Krusty Crab Pizza! Is the pizza! For you and me!" the character sang.

"I don't get it," stated Pietro simply.

Lila ignored him, singing along.

"You wouldn't," commented Peter from the kitchen.

"What is this?" Pietro furrowed his brows.

"Spongebob Squarepants," answered Peter casually, swiping the towel over a plate.

"Huh?" none of this was clearing anything up. At all. "He is a…sponge?"

"Uh huh."

"In pants…?"

"Yep."

"And his friend is a star fish…?"

"Yes."

"So they're underwater?"

Peter chuckled. "That's the idea, yea."

Pietro paused, staring as the sponge's face became horribly deformed and he shouted the last lyrics of the song. They didn't have these things in Sokovia. Not at all. His brow crinkled once more.

"Then how is there pizza?"

Peter chuckled and then halted suddenly. Pietro glanced up at him to find the arachnid stopped his dish washing and had a face to match Pietro's confused one.

"Huh. I ah…I never really thought about that…"

~AVENGERS~

Pietro gently pulled up Lila's pink blanket.

He crouched down and grabbed her bear from the ground, along with the dog, monkey, pig and horse. He handed the various animals to the girl and clicked the light down a few notches until it was at the lowest setting, where Lila liked it.

The white-haired young man looked down to find Lila staring back up at him with a frown.

"What's wrong, soră?" Pietro inquired, brushing his hand over her head.

She paused, seeming to think about it. "Doesn't that mean sister?" she asked quietly.

Pietro raised an eyebrow. It had just been instinct. He suddenly felt the need to apologize. "Yes…why?"

"Are you my brother…?" she asked unsurely. "Because…I mean…my brother is named after you…but…but Daddy never calls you my brother? And…and you're not my uncle because you're not Daddy's brother? But…he told Mommy that he loved you…?"

"What?" demanded Pietro immediately.

"He said," she put on her 'dad voice', an awkward imitation of Clint. "I love him like a son, Laura—that's my Mommy's name." she clarified.

Pietro was speechless. The last person to love him like a son was his parents. And they died. "That is strange." He agreed reluctantly.

"So are you my brother?" continued Laura. "Because Cooper's my brother and he teases me a lot. You don't do that…but you are old..."

Pietro couldn't help but smile. "I'm not old, little one. You're just young."

Lila's little eyes brightened. "Oh yea. I guess that's true." She turned back to him sharply. "Hold on you're doing what Daddy always does. Answer the question!" she chirped.

Pietro debated the answer unsurely, walking across the room to the light switch that controlled the main light.

"I am whatever you want me to be," he finally said, flipping the switch and slipping out of the room.

As the speedster limped down the hall, he heard a small voice yawn after him.

"You're a good brother."

Pietro barely had time to feel his heart lift before he was running into someone else.

"Cute," smiled Wanda, taking both of Pietro's hands and looking up at him fondly.

"Whatever," he replied instinctively, kissing her forehead lightly.

"I am going to bed. Lucky is in Clint's room sleeping. Cooper is asleep on the chair in his room, I'm heading in there now. I think Peter is in his room."

Pietro felt concern briefly wash over him. "Alright, I'll check on him. Goodnight soră."

Wanda yawned, covering it with her sweater paw and slipping past her brother, her hand holding his gently until they were out of reach. "Goodnight Motănel."

Pietro took the stairs two at a time, regretting it briefly due to the pain that bit at his sides. Said pain was quickly forgotten however as he stepped through the screen door and inhaled the brisk night air.

Out there on Clint's land, the sky was a wide open black canvas with tiny speckles of white paint glittering here and there. The moon was off to his left and Pietro couldn't help but think of his own hair as he gazed up at it. There weren't any city lights in sight and it brought a strange sense of calm.

Pietro turned his head to the left, peering down towards the barn.

Clint and Laura were gone. Everyone else was asleep.

Before he had time to change his mind, wind whipped through the speedster's hair and everything slowed down—or rather sped up for Pietro. He watched a bat swoop through the air and swallow a mosquito. He saw a star dim and light up again in slow motion. The barn approached.

With childish joy, Pietro turned and skidded to a stop. Realizing no one would hear him, the young man leapt with joy and cheered. He took some deep breaths and spun a little. He'd missed his speed so much. Without another thought, he was zipping back towards the house.

A couple thirds of the way there and his knees finally gave out. So maybe it wasn't the best idea, but as Pietro tumbled into the grass and ended up laying on his back in the dirt, staring up at the stars, he really didn't care.

Closing his eyes, the Sokovian took in another deep breath and almost treasured the burning sensation in his feet, realizing he hadn't thought to put on shoes and the bottom of his socks had now been burnt off, leaving awkward ankle-warmers.

"That was stupid." Chuckled Pietro to himself, wincing and clutching his side but smiling nonetheless.

"Yea, it was," came a reply.

Pietro, still in a strange euphoric joy, peered up at the side of the house.

Outside of his bedroom window, perched on the wall, sat the spider himself : Peter Parker. The boy looked exhausted but sat on the wall effortlessly.

"How long have you been there?" inquired Pietro.

"The entire time," Peter answered honestly as he worked his way down the paneling of the walls and landed barefoot in the grass. He walked over and glanced down at the Sokovian.

"May I?"

Pietro nodded and focused back on the stars, adrenaline flowing as he felt the pain in his feet ebb away. Peter sat down and then laid down, copying Pietro's position in the grass a foot away. The two laid together in silence for a bit.

"My uncle was killed last year," announced Peter with a sigh as he stared peacefully up at the stars.

Pietro didn't look at him. It wasn't said with drama, or depression, or longing, it was a fact. A trust exercise. This was Peter trying to open up.

"My parents were bombed in Sokovia," answered Pietro with a sigh. He watched Peter look up at the sky with half-lidded eyes.

"My girlfriend died in my arms."

Pietro swallowed hard. His voice broke as he continued. "I died in Clint's arms."

It wasn't a competition. It was a trade.

"I am terrified."

"Of what?"

"Of…everything…" Peter sighed.

"Yea…" Pietro blinked up at the stars. "Me too."

Peter sat up and Pietro followed.

Peter hugged his knees to his chest. "I don't think I wanna leave."

Pietro wrapped an arm around the boy, and Peter barely hesitated before resting his head on Pietro's shoulder. Pietro paused.

"Then don't."

How did I do?

I know it ended kinda sounding sad but that's not what I wanted it to be. I hope you all took it like I did and saw it as bonding? I'm not sure. I just saw the scene unfold very clearly in my head. :)

Please drop comments, they make my world spin round. ;)

I desperately hope this satisfied all of you, I can't say how much it means to me that you all continued to comment on this story. *heart*

I love you guys. :)

Till next time.

-AG