AN: Enjoy!

From then on, Vision began sending Wanda text messages on a much more regular basis. Cute or funny things Vivian had said, artwork she'd brought home from preschool. Often, he sent her messages just checking in. These seemed to always show up right when Wanda needed them most.

Wanda had been going out on her own much less. She hadn't stopped completely, bad habits were not broken over night. But when she did go out, she wasn't drinking quite so much, and she wasn't waking the next morning in a stranger's bed.

She told herself that this wasn't anything to do with Vision and Viv.. How crazy would that be, trying to change her life because of some guy and his kid? Wanda had wanted to change things for a while, she was fully aware that her coping mechanisms weren't healthy. Having Vision and Vivian see her at less than her best had given her a push in the right direction, but they weren't the reason for the changes she was trying to make. At least.. not the only reason.

One morning, as Wanda sniffed a carton of just-past-use-by milk to determine whether it was truly spoiled or not, her phone buzzed. Seeing Vision's name, she scooped it up quickly, looking at the text.

Are you working Today?

'Going in a couple hrs' Wanda texted back. 'Why?'

Expect visitors. Viv has something to give you.

'Okay. See you then :).'

Wanda smiled to herself, wondering what this little gift was. Whatever it was, coming from Viv, it was sure to be absolutely adorable.

For the first time in quite a long while, Wanda Maximoff was almost happy to go to work.

One of the few things Wanda did like about her job was the Double B Bakery, located a few doors down from the Party Store. The cakes were elaborately decorated and usually very expensive, but the baker, Bucky Barnes, hated waste, so at the beginning and end of most work shifts, he gave away good cake that usually would have been thrown out, to other workers around the mall.

Before Pietro's death, when Wanda had only worked part-time shifts to fit around her art classes, she had sometimes offered Bucky suggestions on new designs for decorating the cakes, and once, as a favor, she had even drawn up a few of those designs as templates for him last minute when his decorators had been struggling with a large order. He'd said that he owed her big time for the save.

Wanda hadn't done art of any kind in a long time, but she remained on Bucky's cake drop-off list.

Wanda was just finishing off a slice of said cake when Viv came bolting into the store, an envelope clutched in her small hand.

"Hi, Wanda!"

"Hello, Vivian" Wanda chuckled, licking the last crumbs from her fingers.

"Inside speed, Viv!" Vision reminded her.

"Sorry, Daddy.. Whoa, was that cake from Double B?"

"It was" Wanda nodded. "The baker gave it to me."

"Daddy said he's gonna get me one one day" said Viv. "But he's saving it for a big Birthday.. maybe when I'm 10, 'cause they're 'spensive."

"Well, that sounds like it will be very special." Wanda suddenly wished that she'd kept some aside for her, but in her defense, she'd had no idea exactly when Viv was coming. "Now, Miss Vivian.. I heard from a little birdie that you had something for me." She flashed Vision a smile.

"Uh-huh" Viv nodded, handing Wanda the envelope.

"Hmm, what's this?" Wanda opened the envelope, finding a handmade invitation to Miss Vivian Jarvis's Fifth Birthday Party. The invitation touched Wanda's heart. Being asked to a Fourth of July barbecue was one thing, but a Birthday party was much more personal.

"You wouldn't be the only adult" Said Vision quickly. "Natasha is coming, and Scott, and.. Everyone who was at the barbecue, actually."

Wanda looked in Vision's direction. He seemed nervous for some reason, and was he.. Was he blushing? Wanda smiled softly, a faint blush crossing her own cheeks.

"I would love to come.. Thank you for the invitation, Viv."

"You're welcome" Viv grinned.

"Do you need anything else for your party?" Wanda asked.

"Not today" Viv shook her head. "But we'll be back!"

And they were. In the couple of weeks leading up to Viv's Birthday, Vision would text to check whether Wanda was working, and when she was, he and Viv would come by the store to pick up things for the party. Just a couple of things at a time, balloons and streamers on one visit, paper plates the next.

Officially, Vision said, it was to help their money stretch a little further, but Wanda got the feeling their was a different reason behind the repeat visits. She couldn't quite put her finger on why she thought this, but whatever the reason, Wanda didn't mind. Seeing them both was a highlight of her day. On one visit, while Viv was choosing which cups she wanted, Wanda tugged Vision aside to ask what Viv could want for her Birthday.

"You don't have to buy her anything. She invited you because I.. Because she likes you. Having you there would be present enough."

"That's sweet, Vizh" Wanda chuckled. "But say I was going to get her something small.. What would she like?"

"Well.." Vision thought for a moment. "She likes magic.. and superheroes, and she's old enough now that she's started wanting to decorate her room with posters and things.."

Wanda took a mental note of everything Vision said.

"Hmm.. I'm sure I can think of something."

While magic and superheroes were a slightly odd combination, Wanda did think of an idea, albeit one she didn't immediately jump to implement for various personal reasons. Eventually, she decided it was long past time to just get over it.

The night before Viv's party, Wanda had taken advantage of the Mall's late night shopping to grab the things she needed to make Viv's present a reality.

As she was leaving, the stores finally beginning to close around her, Wanda found herself colliding with a frantic Vision as he came running in.

"Whoa, Vizh!" she cried. "Where's the fire?" Vision's face paled, and Wanda's eyes widened. "Oh, rahat.. is there really a fire?"

"No" Vision shook his head. "I burned Viv's Birthday cake."

"Oh.. well, it's okay, Vizh" she tried to calm him. "The party's not until Tomorrow afternoon. You've got plenty of time to.."

"You don't understand!" Vision cried. "I always make the cake and decorate it the night before so I can show her first thing in the morning. She's going to wake up wanting to see it.. I called Nat to come stay with her, and I was hoping I'd get here in time for another box of cake mix, but everything's closing, and.."

"Vision, breathe.."

"How will that help? Vivian's going to be so disappointed.."

"I know" said Wanda, grabbing his hand and dragging him along, again briefly noting how well her fingers fit between his, "But I might have an idea.. And if it doesn't work, well, there's a gas station near my apartment that's open twenty-four hours and I know for a fact sells cake mix.."

Vision's brow furrowed in confusion.

"How.."

"Drunk Wanda makes unwise snack desions at 3 AM."

"Oh."

Soon, Wanda pulled Vision to a stop outside Double B.

"Wanda, you know I can't afford one of these" Vision frowned. "Even if I could, they're closed.."

"The owner never leaves right away, and he owes me " Wanda explained, leaning over the counter. "Bucky!"

"We're closed, Ma'm!" called a voice.

"It's Wanda, I'm calling in my favor!"

"Wanda?" A rather confused young man, only just removing his hairnet and shaking out his long dark hair after a hard day's baking. "What's all this.."

"My favor, for the templates?" Wanda reminded him. "I need a cake."

"I'd be happy to help.. those design templates really saved my ass" said Bucky, "But, I can't make anything new until morning."

"We don't need a new cake" said Wanda. "Just one of the ones you're supposed to throw out at the end of the day because you can't sell them anymore, but I know you never do because they're still perfectly fine and you hate waste. A Birthday cake preferably, but we can get creative if need be."

"Creative?" Vision raised an eyebrow, a little concerned.

"It's this or gas station cake mix, Vizh."

"Right.. go on, then."

"I think I have one Birthday cake.." Bucky replied after a moment. "Is red velvet okay?"

Wanda looked to Vision for confirmation, then nodded.

"Red velvet is fine."

"Alright. I'll grab it from the back for you."

As Bucky headed out the back, Wanda turned to Vision.

"Well, we have a cake, Vizh" she grinned.

"We have a cake.. we have a cake.. Wanda, you are brilliant!" A huge smile spread over Vision's face, and he pulled Wanda into a tight hug.

Wanda was surprised for a moment, but returned the embrace. Vision was warm and strong and safe, and he smelled a little like burnt chocolate cake. She laughed, and Vision did too, until they both started to notice that the hug was lasting a little too long for 'just friends'. Vision reached to tenderly brush a stray hair from Wanda's face, until Bucky re-emerged, and they quickly broke apart, red-faced.

"Here's the cake.."

"Thank you.." Vision took it, and he and Wanda headed for the exit together.

"So.." said Wanda awkwardly, "See you Tomorrow?"

"Yes.. and thank you, for this" Vision smiled shyly. "Vivian will be so happy."

"You're welcome.." Wanda smiled back. "Wish her Happy Birthday for me in the morning."

Both headed Home with a new spring in their step.