AN: Enjoy!
With the stress of the Thanksgiving visit well and truly behind them, Wanda, Vision, and Viv settled back into their happy new lives together.
Bit by bit, Wanda was moving her things out of her apartment and into Vision's home. She never slept at the apartment anymore, in fact only went there at all to pick up another box or two of her belongings. At the current rate, Wanda would be entirely moved into the house by Christmas.
Ah, Christmas. Of course now that Thanksgiving was over, Christmas was already absolutely everywhere, bringing with it one of the biggest and often most infuriating periods of the year for Wanda at the party store. The time of year where she was forced to dress as a Christmas elf, in a costume that was always just a little too small, and face a barrage of customers, many of whom were idiots wanting to hit on the sexy elf. At least Mantis was around to share the burden.
And there were some bright spots in her days. When Vision wasn't busy, he would stop by to bring Wanda a snack or drink, and if he managed to arrive around her break, he would take her to the Mall food court for lunch. During one such lunchtime visit, Vision seemed just a little, well, off.
"Are you okay, Vizh?" Wanda asked him, munching a handful of french fries.
"I'm fine.." said Vision, brimming with nervous energy. "I, um, wanted to tell you something.."
As confident as Wanda was in their relationship by that point, her previous insecurities often bubbled just a little below the surface, and she couldn't help feeling shaken by his nerves.
"What's wrong?"
"Oh, nothing is wrong, my love, don't worry" Vision smiled for her. "At least, I hope not.. I sent our 'Vision And The Scarlet Witch' drafts away to publishers this morning."
"You did?" Wanda's earlier moment of panic subsided. "That's great, Vizh!"
"I know.. I know, I should feel great" said Vision. "I just.. I can't help feeling a little nervous.."
"You don't have to be. Your story is sclipitor.. Brilliant" Wanda replied. "I just hope my art is good enough to go with it.."
"Oh, your art is beautiful!" Vision squeezed Wanda's hand reassuringly. "Absolutely perfect, I'm not worried about that at all. It's just that.. After all the work we've done, actually sending it out into the world feels like a lot of pressure."
"Why?" Wanda frowned.
"Well, if things go well..If we get published, if the comic is a success.. This could change our lives" said Vision. "Especially for you.."
"For me?" Wanda's eyes widened. "What.. why?"
"You wouldn't have to stay in a job you hate anymore. You could leave and work on your art full time, be doing what makes you happy. I want that for you, Wanda. So much. Wanting something that seems so uncertain is just a little, well.. What is the Sokovian word for scary?"
"Infricosator" Wanda chuckled.
"Yes, that" Vision smiled sheepishly.
"Vision" Wanda smiled softly back at him. "Yeah, it would be great to get published, because your work deserves to be out there. And yeah, I'd love to be able to leave my crappy job. But if it doesn't work out, that's fine."
"It is?"
"It is. I'd hate to think where I'd be if a cute single Dad and his little girl hadn't walked into the store one Valentine's Day.. A hot mess, probably, moping my way through work days and drowning my sorrows in alcohol on the weekends.." She blushed, a little embarrassed. "But now I have an amazing guy I love, a daughter I absolutely adore.. You and Viv have already changed my life for the better. I'm happier than I ever thought I could be."
"Really?" asked Vision hopefully.
"Intr-adevar" Wanda leaned across the table to kiss him. "Really. And whatever way it goes with the comic, that isn't going to change. Now hurry up and eat, I need you to walk me back to work so I don't get hit on on the way.."
Having calmed Vision's fears, Wanda was in a relatively good mood for the rest of the day. A better mood than she usually was at work. So good, that Mantis picked up on the difference, and commented on it when they were packing up the store at the end of the day.
"You seem very happy today, Wanda.. more cheerful than usual."
"I've had a good day" Wanda replied with a smile. "And.. I'm kind of expecting some good news soon."
"Oh? What kind of good news?" Mantis asked.
"Well.. I don't want to jinx it" said Wanda, thinking of she and Vision's book. "I'll let you know if it happens."
A short while later, Wanda smiled as she exited the Mall, finding Vision and Viv already waiting in the car to pick her up.
"Hello, my love.." Vision hopped out of the car so he could open the door for her, always a perfect gentleman. "How was the rest of your day at work?"
"It was.. The rest of a day at work" Wanda chuckled, pecking his lips before she got in the car. "Hello, Fata Dulce. How was school?"
"Good.. here!" Viv shoved a piece of paper into Wanda's hands.
"I was not allowed to see that until we picked you up.." Vision chuckled.
"Oh?" Wanda looked at the paper, and her heart warmed at a small message, in Viv's slightly scribbly handwriting.
'To Mama and Daddy..'
"It's an invitation to my Christmas play at school!" Viv bounced excitedly. "Will you come?"
"Of course" Vision grinned. "We wouldn't miss it, would we Wanda?"
"Nu pentru nimic.. Not for anything" Wanda smiled.
They had definitely made her life so much better.