AN: Enjoy!
While Wanda had occupied her time with preparing her home for Vision's eventual arrival, Vision had been shut up in Shuri's lab, undergoing various scans and tests. Shuri wanted to be certain of what exactly she was dealing with, before she began work to remove whatever dangerous orders had been buried inside him.
After the scans were completed, a process that had taken weeks, Shuri sat down with him to talk over what she had found,and what she could do for him. She likened Hayward's programming to a cancer invading his system. Removing it would be a slow, and somewhat dangerous process.
"I don't care how long it takes, or how dangerous it is" Vision insisted. "Death doesn't scare me, but the thought of hurting Wanda does. I wouldn't want to live, if I did her any harm."
"Alright then" Shuri nodded. "I will just need some time to work out a plan of action.."
A few months passed, and Wanda's belly became a small bump as new life grew inside. To keep her mind off of waiting for Vision's return (because waiting, really, was all she could do) Wanda shifted her focus to preparing for the arrival of said new life, or, more accurately, lives. Somehow, she knew that both of her boys were in there, that they had come back to her.
So Wanda picked a room to be the Nursery, and decorated it.
Read as many Pregnancy and Baby books as she could get her hands on, because she knew that, this time, there would not be any shortcuts. She would talk to her babies, sing them songs.
But sometimes, in between the reading, and the preparing, the talking and singing, she couldn't help her mind drifting to Vision. Sometimes, Wanda felt suddenly ill in a way that had nothing to do with her Pregnancy, felt pain that seemed as though it was coming from somewhere else, and she knew, somehow, that these ailments were not her own, but Vision's. That he was suffering through whatever Shuri needed to do to get him back to her.
This made Wanda feel a different kind of pain, one in her heart. Part of her, a very large part, wanted to just drop everything and fly to Wakanda to be at his side, hold his hand through it all. If it had only been her own life at stake, she probably would have.. But she had their children to think about now. She couldn't risk their lives, Vision would not be pleased with her if she did.
She couldn't be with him. She had to wait. But, Wanda thought, she could write to him. She wouldn't tell him about the twins.. that was the kind of life-changing news that should be delivered in person. But she could tell him that she loved him, she missed him, that he was not alone.
So, Wanda wrote her letter, and dropped it into the post office on her next supply run into town. She used Vision's currently abandoned apartment as a return address, just in case.
"You've got mail!" Shuri announced, walking into the lab one morning.
"Oh?" Vision winced, the world spinning a little, as he sat up in what was, effectively, his hospital bed.
If Shuri had described Hayward's programming as a Cancer, her treatment plan, Vision supposed, could be likened to Chemotherapy. She had crafted a specialised virus to target anything inside him that bore Hayward's signature, which could then be purged with a follow-up anti-virus program. It was working , the voices in his head getting quieter every day, but they were doing a bit at a time so as not to overwhelm Vision's systems, and even with the precautions, the process was leaving him a little washed out.
Still, the news of mail, which could only have possibly come from one person, perked him up, and he took the envelope happily, eagerly opening it. The letter said the usual things. She loved him, she hoped he was okay. She'd sent a photo of herself with the letter, so Vision could keep it with him and not feel alone. He was grateful for her kind thoughts, but one particular sentence was sticking out to him.
'We miss you. Come home soon.'
Not I miss you. We miss you.
Wanda hadn't meant to write that, had even used a photo just of her face so Vision wouldn't see the changes in her body, but she'd become so used to talking to her children in her womb, saying 'Daddy loves us', 'We will see Daddy soon', that she'd written that way without thinking about it.
Vision's synthetic heart raced. He thought of Wanda, remembered her clutching at him, crying out his name, remembered the sound of his own heavy breathing, crying out in bliss. He knew what that could lead to, for regular flesh and blood humans, which he was not. But Wanda was not a regular human either. She was made of magic and stardust, she made miracles happen.
Vision had seen Wanda's children just once, from a distance, in the corner of his eye. They'd meant nothing to him, at the time.. nothing had, his only focus being his terrible, deadly mission. But he had thought of them sometimes, since. Felt strangely heartbroken that they were gone, even though he wasn't sure how he even knew they were. Heartbroken for Wanda's loss. Vision had cried for them, and for himself too, angry and hurt at how, at the time, Hayward's programming had warped him so completely, twisted him into someone who could be in the presence of children who were effectively his own and not even care.
We miss you.
He missed them, too, even if he'd never met two of the people he was missing.
"Shuri.." Vision swallowed a sudden lump in his throat, slightly shaky hands clutching Wanda's picture and letter to his chest like something precious, "How.. H-How long before I can go home?"
Home was where Wanda was, where their children would be, never mind the fact that Vision had never seen the place before, or even knew where it was.
"Soon, my friend" Shuri laid a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Another week, maybe two to be safe.."
"Yes" Vision nodded, gazing at the picture of Wanda, to remind himself. That's what all this was for, so he was safe to be around her. "To be safe.." As he gazed at the picture, he also couldn't help looking at his hands.. As white as sun-bleached bones, though they'd often turned a sickly grey over the past few months, when he was feeling particularly unwell. "Shuri?"
"Yes?" Shuri asked, hooking Vision up to some machines for his treatment.
"My colour.. Would it be possible to restore it to how it was before? Or at least something.. Something that wouldn't frighten children?"
"I'm sure we can work something out" The Wakandan Princess smiled.
Far away, in her hidden cabin, Wanda was attempting to assemble one of the cribs she had recently purchased. She was trying to do it without magic, saving her powers for only necessities, her own self-imposed penance for Westview.
Or at least, attempting to assemble the crib was what she'd been planning to do. For a while now, she had been staring between the instructions and the pile of loose parts on the floor, completely and utterly lost as to what to do with any of them. She winced suddenly, again feeling pain that wasn't her own, and tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, again wishing that she could go be with Vision.. but something inside her, either her own voice, or another, seemed to whisper, 'soon'.
"You know, boys" She sighed, hands on her bump, "This is really more of a Daddy job, so I think we should wait for Daddy's help, don't you? Let's go watch some TV, it feels like a 'Brady Bunch' day.."
"Good news, my friend" Shuri announced, "You are all clear."
"I am?" Vision, his skin recently restored to its original red/purple hue, asked joyfully.
"Not a bit of Hayward's programming left.. it is some of my finest work" The Princess grinned, pressing a scrap of paper into Vision's hand, the very same one that had been inside the envelope Wanda had asked him to deliver to Shuri when he left. "I believe this is meant for you."
Vision looked at the paper, which bore scribbled coordinates, and three words in Wanda's handwriting.
Come find me.
"So.. I can go home? Because as much as I enjoy your company, and T'Challa's visits, I.."
"Wish you won't have to see us again for quite some time" Shuri chuckled. "I understand. And yes, you can go home. Just don't push yourself too much on the way, okay? Take plenty of breaks, your systems are still recovering.. We can organise a flight for you, if you like."
"That won't be necessary" Vision replied. It was best that the number of people who knew Wanda's location be kept to a minimum. "But still, thank you, for everything."
"You're welcome" Shuri hugged him. "And please, visit whenever you like."
Despite Shuri's warnings, Vision set off flying as fast as he was able. Yes, the effort was exhausting, but Wanda was alone, pregnant with his children, and waiting for him. He would not leave her waiting any longer than he had to.
Vision made just one stop, in a small town, grateful to find that his human disguise still worked. He purchased the biggest bouquet of flowers that he could, and two Teddy bears. The bears he gently stowed in his bag, but the flowers he held onto.
Finding a quiet spot where he wouldn't be seen, Vision took a breath, fighting his exhaustion, and took to the sky once more.
Wanda sensed Vision's joy the moment Shuri told him that he could come home. Could feel him, as he grew closer.
She busied herself with household chores to keep her mind occupied, and stop herself getting too excited, or going mad with anticipation as he waited. In fact, she tried, quite stubbornly, not to think too much about Vision at all.. until she heard a soft, almost shy knock at the door.
No-one else knew where she was. There was only one person it could be. Well, unless the Police had tracked her down.
Laying a protective hand over her belly, Wanda swallowed a lump in her throat, and moved to open the door.
There, on the other side, was Vision, smiling shyly and offering her a large bouquet of flowers.
"H-Hello. I brought you.." He stumbled a little, and without a second thought, Wanda rushed forward to catch him.
"Vizh, are you alright?" She panicked. "What's wrong?" Though she noticed that his original colouring had returned, he seemed strangely pale.
"I will be alright.." He gave her what he hoped was a comforting smile. "Just a bit exhausted. Shuri did warn me not to overdo it, but you have been waiting too long already.."
Wanda frowned, her wide eyes filled with concern, pulling his arm around her shoulders to help him to the sofa.
"You should sit down.."
"I brought you flowers.."
"I see them" Wanda smiled softly, taking the bouquet from him after she sat him down. "They're beautiful, thank you. I'll just go put them in water.."
"Alright" Vision nodded.
After dealing with the flowers, Wanda returned to find Vision digging through his bag.
"What are you looking for?" She asked gently, sitting beside him. "Do you need help?"
"No, I've got it. I have these.." He pulled out the Teddies, his eyes drifting to her stomach. "For.. well.."
"Oh!" Wanda's eyes widened, following his gaze. "I.. How did you know? I wanted to tell you in person."
"Your letter. I don't think you meant to, but you wrote 'We' miss you. And somehow, I don't know how, exactly, but somehow, I just.. I knew.. I'm sorry if I've ruined any special plans you had.."
"Not at all.." She smiled. "I'm just happy you're here."
"So am I.. um.. Do you mind if I.." Vision shyly reached out a hand towards her belly.
"Of course not.." Wanda took his hand, laying it on her growing bump.
Vision's breath caught as he felt a series of gentle flutters against his hand.
"Oh.." The most wonderfully bright smile spread over Vision's face. "Hello."
Wanda's heart soared at his smile, because this, here, was the Vision she'd loved and lost and missed so much. Gone was the sombre creature who'd rescued her from the fire and tried (but failed) to keep his distance as he'd nursed her back to health. This was her Vision, as he was meant to be.
"Vizh.. are you feeling okay?"
"A little tired, but otherwise okay" Vision replied, still staring at her belly. "Why?"
"Well, if you're feeling okay I can kiss you."
Vision quickly looked up.
"I am very okay. In fact, I don't think I have ever been more okay than I am right now."
"Good to know.." Wanda leaned in, and kissed him. A soft, sweet, gentle kiss. Even after breaking it, she stayed close, her forehead pressed to his. "I love you."
"I love you too.." Vision smiled.
For the next few days, Wanda nursed Vision back to health, just as he did for her after the fire. Of course, for a synthetic man who could not eat, drink, or take medicine, this nursing mostly consisted of making him rest.
Vision told her all about what had gone on in Wakanda, explained the details of his treatments. Wanda had cried for him, for how he had suffered just so he could get back to her. Vision held her close and kissed her hair, assuring her that he was okay, that she was worth it.
To take her mind off being upset, he asked her questions, about the cabin, her pregnancy, how things had been going. Wanda showed him around the house, all the things she had gathered for him. Assured him that the twins were healthy, so far as her magical monitoring could tell.
Then, when Vision was well, it was his turn to take care of her again, and he was happy to do so. He put together the cribs that Wanda had struggled with. Read all the baby books, in case Wanda had missed anything.
He did online Birthing classes with her, helping her practice her breathing. He watched birthing videos with her. Watched some on his own, particularly those about preparing for a home birth, because like when Wanda had been burned, the Hospital was a last resort option.
Vision fetched Wanda food when she had odd cravings, even at ungodly hours. He rubbed her feet when they swelled, and her back when it ached. He felt Wanda's belly, helping her count kicks and record the babies' daily movements.
So, around four and a half months after Vision's arrival, when Wanda's waters broke and her contractions began, he was ready.
Vision coached Wanda through her breathing, reminding her of their classes.
He counted contractions, monitoring the progress of her labour.
He let her squeeze his hand as hard as she needed, for as long as he could.
And when each of Vision's children slipped into the world, strong and healthy and screaming, he was there to catch them, and cut their cords. He was there to clean them up, and hold them close. To place them gently in Wanda's arms, kiss the top of her head, and wipe her tears of joy.
A few hours later, after bathing the babies, cleaning up, and helping Wanda shower, they both sat in bed, Vision holding Billy, while Wanda cradled Tommy. Wanda was exhausted, but happy, while Vision's gaze flickered between both perfect, tiny bundles, completely awestruck.
He could see himself in their faces, and Wanda too, a perfect little mixture of her and him. Vision loved them so much already, and the thought that they so easily could not have existed hurt him a thousand times more than Thanos crushing his skull.
"Thank you, Wanda" He murmured.
"Hmm?"
"For not giving up, when I tried to push you away" Vision elaborated.
"Thank you" Wanda echoed, kissing his cheek, "For not giving up on getting back to me, even when it hurt you."
"You are worth it, always."
Raising two children in the middle of nowhere could come with challenges, Wanda and Vision both knew that. But they were together, they were happy, and for now, that was all they needed.