"Okay...hands down, best pizza I've had in my life," Clint announced around a mouthful of cheese and pepperoni, making his younger children giggle and his wife smile.
"Swallow before you try to talk, dear," Laura scolded lightly. The man responded by somehow fitting half a slice of pizza into his mouth in a single bite.
"I find I must agree with the sentiment," Vision commented in his stead. "This is absolutely delicious."
"Laura makes the best pizza," Wanda nodded.
"Mom's the best," Cooper chimed in, eager not to be outdone by the others around the table.
"If you think the pizza is good, wait until you see what I have cooked up for dessert," the woman said with a wink. "It's one of Lila's favorites."
"Fudge brownies and icecream?" the little girl guessed.
"Nope."
"Rainbow sprinkle cake?"
"Nope."
"Marshmallow salad?"
"No," Laura laughed. "I keep forgetting how many favorite deserts you have. Here's another hint - we just got all the fresh strawberries in from the field..."
"Strawberry shortcake!" Cooper and Lila called in unison.
"Bingo," the woman smiled, lifting her slice of pizza for another bite.
"Homemade whipped cream?" Clint asked, covering his full mouth with a hand in a slight attempt to be polite.
Laura nodded, and Clint pumped his fist.
Wanda ducked her head to hide her giggle.
Vision was smiling as well, trying to hide his affectionate grin behind the remaining crust of his own pizza as he looked around the table at her family.
They all lapsed into a comfortable silence from there, the sound only broken by quiet chewing and the occasional clink of ice against glass as someone lifted their drink.
A testament to good food, Clint always said. When everybody is too busy eating to talk.
It didn't take Wanda long to finish off her pizza, stealing a stray bell pepper from the tray to add to her final bite.
"You want another slice, Wanda?" Clint offered, but she shook her head.
"I think I'm going to save some room for that strawberry shortcake," she smiled. "Anyone else finished with their plates?"
"I am," Cooper said, stuffing the last bite of his pizza in his mouth so he could hand the dish over to her.
"Thank you, Wanda," Laura smiled, passing her plate over as well.
When Wanda offered a hand for Vision's empty plate however, the man stood instead, gathering it up in his hold.
"I will help you clear the table."
Wanda gave a little nod, scooting carefully around her brother's chair.
"Kitchen's through this way. Follow me."
Wanda led the way into the little adjoining kitchen, carefully setting the stack of plates into the sink before turning to hold her hands out for the ones that Vision had brought as he followed her into the room.
"I'm just going to get these rinsed off and loaded into the dishwasher really quick, then I'll be right back in," she smiled.
"I could rinse them off, if you would like to load them," he countered with a grin. "To get it done more quickly."
"Thanks, Vizh," Wanda conceded with a smile, scooting over so that Vision could reach the sink as the man carefully rolled his sleeves up.
She opened the dishwasher, re-arranging the few clumsily placed cups and bowls from Cooper and Lila as Vision rinsed the first plate to pass to her.
Wanda carefully placed the dish into the rack, letting her eyes wander over Vision as she waited for him to hand her another.
Her boyfriend had a little smile on his face, his gaze on his work as he meticulously rinsed pizza crumbs and little drips of tomato sauce from the plate before giving it a second to drip the excess water off and turning to carefully hand it to her.
She offered him a smile.
"You really don't have to worry about helping with dishes," Wanda told him softly, taking the plate and loading it into the dishwasher. "You're a guest."
"I don't mind it," he replied with a shrug, running water over the next plate in the stack. "I rather like feeling like I'm a part of the family, dishes and all."
"I know you mentioned that you aren't very close with your father," Wanda started hesitantly, giving him the option to continue if he felt comfortable as she took the plate.
The man gave her a little shrug, rinsing out a glass before handing it to her.
"I did not grow up with a very close family," Vision admitted. "My father was always very distant and uninterested - he hardly ever spent time with me. Getting to spend time with your family like this is always a treat."
"Well you know you're welcome over any time you want," Wanda assured him with a wink. "Just give us five minutes' warning so we can set another place at the table."
Vision offered her a soft, emotional smile that sent warmth threading up through her chest.
"Thank you, Wanda. I will have to take you up on that."