They were living in the same house, yet over the next couple of days, Wanda saw Kurt less than she'd seen him in the time they'd been together. He was purposefully avoiding her, she was sure.
Kitty had been paying her a lot of attention, however. She'd helped Wanda go through all the items she'd bought, and they'd organized a space in the room for everything. She'd also given Wanda a list of Hebrew baby names she'd found online. Wanda snacked on an apple as she read through the list slowly. As she came to one, there was a firm kick in her stomach. "Talia," she said out loud, then looked to her belly. "It's pretty, huh? Talia."
She turned the name over in her mouth a few times, each time she said it she liked it the more. She was rewarded again with a kick. "You like it?" Wanda smiled.
"Wanda," she turned to her open door, Kurt standing there looking sheepish. "How're you feeling?"
"Ok," she shifted herself, sitting up.
Kurt moved in, his hands in his pockets. "I'm sorry, I needed to think," he started. Wanda nodded at him. "But," he sighed. "I cannot give in." He moved closer, his eye meeting hers. "Wanda, I love you, and I would give you anything in the world, but I can't give in here. I can't sacrifice our daughter's soul."
"Kurt," Wanda sighed.
"Nein," he shook his head. "It's too important, Wanda." He stopped, looking away. "Please, understand me. We're damning her before she's even born."
Wanda chewed her lip. As against it she'd been, the way Kurt pleaded with her now made her understand how seriously he took this. She was never as strong in her faith as Kurt was in his, and it was starting to seem unfair to compare the two. She let out a breath. "Kurt, can we come to a compromise?"
He paused. "It depends."
"If we baptize her," Wanda started. "I don't want that to be the indicator of her faith. I want her to have exposure to mine as well. I want her to choose when she's old enough." She paused, looking at him. "I'll let you baptize her only if we raise her in both."
She could see him mulling it over in his mind, before a small smile came on his lips. "Ok," he leaned closer to her. "Thank you, mien liebe."
Wanda leaned in as well, meeting his lips. They kissed and parted, his eye traveling down to her stomach, where he lay his hand. "Our baby girl."
"Talia," Wanda told him.
Kurt looked up to her, silently. He pursed his lips, then they grew into a smile again. He looked back down to her stomach. "Talia."
~&Q~
Time was literally ticking down. Wanda had officially turned to the calendar page with her due date circled. Weeks only left, and they'd have a baby. Her apprehension grew as she crossed out each day.
She had little doubt that Kurt would be a wonderful father. Her doubt lay in whether she could truly handle becoming a mother. She loved this little being inside her, more than she had ever loved anything in her life. But could she handle it when the child was no longer an abstract, and suddenly was there, in her arms?
Kurt assured her she'd be a wonderful mother, but it didn't help. She simply took comfort knowing that at least the baby had him. To make up for what she saw as her shortcomings, she'd been consuming baby books the past few weeks. Trying to find every single thing she could do for her daughter, to make her the best mother she could possibly be. As much as she felt motherhood wouldn't come to her naturally, she'd learn to be a mother.
"What're you reading?" Wanda's attention was taken by one of the last voices she'd expect to hear at the institute. She looked up from her book to glare at the dark haired boy.
"Nothing," she pulled the book up and continued in it.
"'The Mother Baby Bond'," Lance read the title. "Sounds interesting. I guess you'll need it considering…" he trailed off.
Wanda sighed, peering around the book. "What're you doing here, Lance?"
He shrugged. "Waiting for Kitty. We're supposed to go to the mall," he shook his head. "You know, I was pretty surprised when Pietro said you'd moved here."
Wanda rolled her eyes. "Why would you care?"
"I don't, I guess," he sat down. "But, do you like it here?"
Wanda put her book down, looking to him. "I like it well enough," she narrowed her eyes. "Why?"
He shrugged again. "I dunno, been thinking about it, I guess. Kitty keeps pushing me to, but I don't feel like I'll fit in, you know?"
Wanda nodded. "I don't fit in," she told him. Her hand went to her stomach. "But I don't have much choice. I can't raise a baby at the Brotherhood house."
"Yeah, it's not really a good place for anyone," Lance agreed. "But there are so many rules here."
"I know," Wanda rolled her eyes. It was funny, she didn't voice it, but she realized had she been living at the institute from the beginning, she likely never would have gotten pregnant. She and Kurt barely had an intimate moment in this place. "You live with it. It's nice to have hot water, you know?"
"I bet," he responded. His eye traveled to her stomach. "You and Wagner, huh?"
Wanda rolled her eyes. "Please don't start this. I had enough with Pietro."
"Nah," Lance waved a hand. "I get it. I mean, who am I to judge?" He smirked at her. "Honestly, Kurt's a really good guy."
Wanda smiled, looking down to her stomach. "I know it."
"Lance!" They could hear Kitty calling from the stairs. Lance stood. "Anyway, I'll see you later then," he smiled at Wanda.
"Yeah, ok," Wanda waved him off as he left.
~&Q~
She pet her hands through his hair, as Kurt lay his cheek against her stomach, murmuring German to the baby. It had become her favorite position, just the two of them cuddled together. A position they couldn't be in often, and she knew that once the baby came they wouldn't be in anymore. But she cherished it while they had it.
Kurt paused, his expression growing confused, then he looked up to her with a smile. "Come," he stood and held his hand out. "Professor has a surprise for us."
She took his hand and he helped her up. Putting his arm around her, he teleported them to where the Professor was waiting for them. He looked up to them with a smile. "I've managed to figure out our housing issue," he indicated the follow him.
Kurt held onto her hand as they did, walking down a corridor off the kitchen. "I hadn't developed much of this part of the mansion yet, I suppose waiting for the school to grow further. Though, it seems this might be a perfect solution for a little family." He stopped them at the end of the small hallway. "Here," he gestured to a door. Wanda slid a look to Kurt, and then pushed it open.
She paused as she took in the little nursery. A crib on one wall, beside a large, picturesque window. A rocking chair in front of a book shelf, already boasting several books. She ran her hand over it. "This is lovely."
Xavier smiled. "I figure your child will need her own space, yes?" He wheeled to a door off that room. "Look here."
Kurt opened this door, leading into a rather well appointed bedroom. A queen sized bed with a tiny bassinet beside it. "For our mother," Xavier told them. Wanda noted the bed was not the usual twin that was found in all the dorms. Xavier must have picked up on that and continued. "I have a room across the hall for Kurt. Though," he gave them both a stern look. "I'm not naïve. I was a teenager once, you know. All I ask is that whatever you do, it's done responsibly." He looked between them. "I think we can agree on that."
The two teens nodded. "Alright," Xavier turned toward the door. "Then I'll leave you to get settled."
