Erik Lenhsherr looked at the sleeping forms of his newborn twins. Both had birthmarks, the girl's was shaped like the letter M and on her scalp which could just be seen through the soft downy brown hair. The boy's was shaped like a lightning bolt and was on the sole of his foot. Seeing their small hands reaching for each other something softened in his cold metal heart.
"Pietro, Wanda. Welcome to the world." Erik said, as he reached into their crib he began to sing.
"I waited for you
and this day has come.
My heart became a home full of light,
full of light."
Turning he said to the couple standing in the doorway. "Take care of them and keep them safe."
27 YEARS LATER
"Wanda, hurry up." Pietro called.
"I'm right here, no need to rush." Wanda said with a smile.
"We're supposed to be at the Sokovian refugee relocation center in half an hour." Pietro said impatiently.
"and it takes fifteen to get there, so don't worry." Wanda replied getting into the car.
"and I could get us there in five." Pietro mumbled.
"Just get in the car, the longer you spend whingeing about it the longer it is going to take." Wanda said out the window.
"You're already sounding like a mother." Pietro said getting into the driver's seat and glancing over at Wanda.
"Well I just hope these two will be easier to handle than you." Wanda said placing a hand on her growing baby bump.
"I still can't believe you and the Vision are having twins." Pietro said, shaking his head.
"Me either." Wanda said wistfully. "But look at it this way, in five months you can finally be the fun uncle you always dreamed of being."
As they drove on Pietro noticed Wanda looking more and more unsettled.
"Spill it, what's going on in that mind of yours?" Pietro asked.
"I'm just worried about Vision is all. Tracking that Ultron drone in Genosha." Wanda said.
"It's one drone and he's not alone Wanda, the Avengers are with him and he's not exactly helpless." Pietro said.
"I know, I just can't help but feel things are about to change dramatically for us." Wanda said as the pulled up to the relocation center.
Walking in they went up to the front desk.
"Hello we're the Maximoff's, we believe you have us down to volunteer." Wanda said to the woman behind the desk.
"Welcome, we've been expecting you. My name's Zrinka, let me show you around and give you the rundown about what we do here. First of all, a bit of history. One year ago Sokovia was destroyed . . . "
"We know, we were there." Pietro interrupted, a haunted and pained look crossing his face.
Putting a hand on his arm Wanda said. "We helped with the evacuation."
"I remember you now." Zrinka said looking closer at Pietro. "You saved my brother Costel. I'm glad to see you're alive." Zrinka said with a smile. "So it seems there's no need to go into our history, I'll just tell you what we do here and how you can help."
"That sounds fine." Wanda said
"We're one of many relocation centers around the world. We provide beds, food and clothing for the refugee's until we can find jobs and homes for them. We also take in donations from the nearby businesses. As you can guess we can be quite busy and we're expecting a shipment, so if one of you can head to the loading dock to bring the boxes in that would be helpful." Zrinka said.
"That would be me." Pietro said.
"Thank you." Zrinka said as Pietro went off, turning to Wanda do you think you could make the beds in the south wing?" Zrinka asked Wanda.
"That won't be a problem." Wanda replied.
Fluffing the pillow on the last bed in the row Wanda heard someone come into the room. Turning around she saw a middle aged woman with graying dark hair coming toward her in a wheelchair.
"Hello, are you new here? You look familiar?" The woman said to Wanda, realization suddenly dawning. "It can't be." She said, tears welling in her eyes. "Wanda? You're alive?"
"Mother?" Wanda said, shock radiating through her. "No, it can't be you. This has to be some sort of trick, my mother is dead." Wanda said, her fingers moving as she summoned up her powers in a glowing red ball of energy.
In a sudden blue flash Pietro was by her side. "Wanda, I felt your shock, what's going on?" he asked worriedly. "Who are you?" Pietro demanded.
"Pietro?" She asked in amazement.
"Iryna, is everything alright?" said a man coming up behind her wearing a jacket draped over his shoulders.
"Oleg, I'm fine. Better than I've been in years. Look it's them." Iryna said crying.
"You can't be our parents, they died in a bombing when we were ten." Pietro said stepping in front of Wanda protectively.
"We were severely injured when the bomb hit." Oleg said, pulling back his jacket to reveal a missing left arm. "We were found in the rubble and taken to a hospital where we were both in a coma for about a month."
"I still don't believe it." Pietro said, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
"There's one way to make sure." Wanda said stepping forward, head cocked and waving her hand, red tendrils weaving around their heads as she reached into their minds. Gasping she pulled back. "It's them, it's really them." Wanda said, tears running down her face.
"Mother, Father." Wanda and Pietro said at the same time as Iryna and Oleg pulled them into a hug.
Pulling out of the embrace Pietro said. "You're not staying here, you're coming back with us. I'll smooth it over with Zrinka."
"Absolutely." Wanda said.
"Well then, I will gather our things and we'll be off." Oleg said.
Half an hour later they pulled up to the gate of the compound as the quinjet flew overhead.
"It look like the team is back from Genosha." Pietro said
"This is the Avengers base. Do you work for them? For Stark?" Oleg asked incredulously.
"We don't work for them, we are Avengers." Wanda said. "and I know this might be hard for you to hear but Stark is not the war mongering maniac we thought he was."
"He can be egotistical at times, but he tries to make the world safer." Pietro responded stopping the car and getting out.
"I think he would give his life for the world if he needed to." Wanda said quietly, getting out herself. "I'll let the others know we're back."
"You're not fooling anyone Wanda, you just want to see Vision." Pietro teased as he got the wheelchair out of the trunk and Wanda walked away chuckling.
"Who's Vision." Iryna asked.
"That's Vision." Pietro said gesturing to the red synthezoid that had flown up and was now embracing Wanda. "He's Wanda's husband."
"Vizh, I'm so glad you're back." Wanda said. "You won't believe what has happened."
"Is it the twins?" Vision asked worriedly.
"Tommy and Billy are fine." Wanda said placing her hands on her bump. "But our family has grown."
"Triplets?" Vision asked shocked.
"No, thank goodness. Do you remember me telling you about my parents?" Wanda asked.
"Yes." Vision replied.
"Well it turned out they were injured in the bombing but survived. They were at the refugee center, Vizh. We just couldn't leave them there." Wanda explained.
"Of course you couldn't. But are you sure they really are your parents?" Vision asked.
"I'm sure, I checked." Wanda said. "How did the mission go? Did you get the Ultron drone?" Wanda asked
"Yes we did, he's gone for good now Wanda. But there were complications." Vision replied.
"What kind of 'complications' Vizh?" Wanda asked suspiciously.
"Perhaps I should let Captain Rogers explain." Vision said solemnly.
"It was touch and go there for a while, thankfully we had help, a mutant by the name of Magneto. But he had one condition in exchange for his help he wants to meet you and Pietro. We told him we would bring you the message but the final decision would be up to you. He seemed to accept those terms." Steve said
"Who is this Magneto and what does he want with us?" Pietro asked.
"We know he's the leader of Genosha but most of his history has been erased from every database on the planet. What little is known is that he helped defeat a powerful mutant that tried to take over the world in the 80's and because of that his record was wiped clean. The rest is just rumor." Tony said
"We know who he is." Oleg said walking into the room with Iryna.
"Well then, who is he?" Natasha asked.
"We knew him as Erik Lenhsherr and Pietro, Wanda, he's your birth father." Iryna said reaching up to hold Oleg's hand.
"So you're saying we're adopted?" Pietro asked as Wanda shared a look with Vision.
"Yes, you are." Oleg said.
"We we're going to tell you when you turned fifteen." Iryna said.
"It's more than that." Bruce said.
"What do you mean?" Wanda asked
"With him being a mutant and your father, it's likely you were actually born with your powers and they only manifested when you were exposed to the mind stone." Bruce explained.
"The twins." Vision gasped.
"Oh my, could our twins have powers too?" Wanda asked one hand flying to her mouth and the other going to her abdomen.
"It's likely, but we won't know until they're born at the latest." Bruce said.
"We'll keep them safe Wanda, I promise." Steve said.
"So what are we going to do about Magneto or Erik or whatever he's calling himself?" Tony asked the team.
"You said the decision was ours, we'll need time to think it over." Wanda said.
"I'll go." Pietro said.
"What?! Pietro no! We don't even know what he wants with us." Wanda exclaimed.
"And we won't unless one of us goes and meets with him." Pietro said.
"And which one of us can read minds." Wanda shot back.
"You're in no condition to deal with someone who could very well be a threat."Pietro said.
"He's right Wanda." Vision said calmly.
"I almost lost you before Pietro, I can't risk losing you for real." Wanda said pulling him into a hug.
"You're not going to lose me." Pietro said calmly.
The next morning as Wanda walked down the hall to the kitchen she knocked on Pietro's door knowing he sometimes slept in.
"Pietro come on it's time to get up." Pausing she knocked again. "Pietro?" she called as the door opened on its own to reveal the room was empty. "Oh no." Wanda gasped rushing out the door. "Pietro's gone." Wanda cried out, rushing into the common room.
"What do you mean he's gone?" Vision asked.
"I mean he's not in his room and I can't feel his mind anywhere in the compound." Wanda said starting to panic.
"F.R.I.D.A.Y. locate Pietro Maximoff." Tony said.
"Pietro Maximoff left at 6:00 am for places unknown, Boss." The A.I. responded.
"I told you." Wanda said, starting to get upset.
"Wanda, calm down. Think, where could he have gone?" Steve asked.
"Genosha, he's going to Magneto." Wanda said.
"Alright Avengers, suit up. We're doing this for one of our own." Steve said
"Right, I'm coming too." Wanda said heading to her room to suit up.
"You are not going." Vision said.
"He's my brother, I have to go after him." Wanda said
"We're a team, a family, but Vision is right. So we're all going but you need to stay here, where you'll be safe." Steve said.
"But you won't be alone Wanda. I'll be here with you." Vision said
"Fine I'm not happy about it, but I'll stay here, for the children." Wanda said resignedly.
Wanda and Vision stood gazing out the window as the quinjet took off.
"They'll find him Wanda, I'm sure of it." Vision said putting his arm around her shoulders.
"It's more than that, Vizh. Something's coming and I don't know if we're ready." Wanda said.
"Whatever it is we'll face it together." Vision said pulling her into an embrace.
"Together." Wanda murmured into his chest.
'Barn door protocol activated.' came F.R.I.D.A.Y.'s sudden response as metal barricades came down around the compound
"Vizh, what's going on?".Wanda asked fearfully.
"I believe we are under attack." Vision said as there was a crash outside and the metal barricades began to bend and warp, revealing an older man floating through the air, clothed in burgundy and wearing an odd helmet.
"Magneto what are you doing here?" Vision asked flying up to meet the powerful mutant.
"I have no interest in you, synthezoid. Stand aside." Magneto demanded gazing at Wanda.
"I think not." Vision replied, following his gaze.
"You will not stand in my way." Magneto said gripping Vision with his powers and throwing him to the ground.
"Vision!" Wanda screamed rushing to his side.
"Wanda Maximoff your presence is needed." Magneto said as he floated to the ground.
"What do you want with me? My children?" Wanda asked. "I won't let you have them." she said summoning her powers.
"You have it wrong, my only desire is to keep you and your children safe." Magneto said.
"Safe from whom?" Vision asked lifting himself up.
'There are those in the world who would feel threatened by your very existence." Magneto said. "Only with me in Genosha can you and your children be safe."
"Erik, what are you doing here?" Oleg asked coming into the room.
"I'm here to protect my children and future grandchildren." Magneto said.
"It would seem the only one we need protecting from is you." Wanda said.
"If that is the way you feel . . ." Magneto said.
"It is." Wanda replied.
"Then I will leave you and I will tell you the same thing I told your brother. Know that you, and your family will always have a safe haven with me." Magneto said, floating back out of the opening he created.
"Wanda are you alright?" Oleg asked coming over to her side.
"I'll be fine." Wanda said, gazing out the hole. "I'll be fine." she whispered.
5 MONTHS LATER
"You have two healthy baby boys, Wanda." Dr. Cho said.
"You did wonderful, Wanda." Vision said kissing the crown of her head.
"They're beautiful." Wanda said joyful tears in her eyes as she looked at her sons in her arms and began to sing a lullaby she had heard once.
"I waited for you
and this day has come.
My heart became a home full of light,
full of light."