Chapter 92

Wanda had thought about it a lot. And when she said a lot, she meant a lot. Since the meeting earlier in the week where she'd learned that magic was real, it was the only thing she'd been able to think about.

Because she missed her powers. She missed how it felt like an attachment of herself, and without it, she felt like she was lacking.

Her fighting abilities had gotten better. But she was no Black Widow. And she wasn't sure that she ever would be, even with all the training in the world. She just didn't have that natural fighting ability.

And she loved Pietro and was happy that he was still by her side, but she couldn't help but feel a sense of resentment that the powers he'd gotten from the Mind Stone remained while hers were gone. She knew why it had happened, and she knew she had no one to blame but herself, but it didn't stop the longing she'd felt every day as she'd tried to adjust back to normal civilian life.

She'd spoken about it in depth with Pietro, and since learning about the Sorcerer Supreme, she'd had more discussions on what it could mean for the future of the Avengers, and potentially even her own future with the group. Because no matter how hard she tried, she didn't think she'd be anything more than a liability as it currently stood.

Call her selfish, but she missed having magic. Missed it like it was a missing limb. And she wanted it back.

It was why she currently stood outside the meeting room at Stark Towers with Pietro beside her. Since Toni had already come down to the Compound earlier in the week, she'd requested that Wanda and Pietro come downstate to meet her in her home, which was hardly an unreasonable request, given Wanda was the one asking her for a favour.

"Take a deep breath, Sister," Pietro told her gently, "There is no reason for her to deny you this."

"But she could," Wanda whispered, refusing to get her hopes up before she'd even posed her request. She wasn't all that sure what she'd do if her request got refused.

"Then we'll figure it out the same way we do everything else," her twin told her, "Together. Have faith, Sister. You'll find that things will work in your favour if you do. Now, put your head up high and go in there. I'll be with you every step of the way."

She gave him a weak smile, as she pushed into the conference room where Toni was already set up.

"Wanda, Pietro," she greeted them both warmly.

"No Morgan today?" Wanda asked her, trying to relax herself a bit as she settled into one of the seats.

She shook her head, "Vision is supervising her with JARVIS' assistance. If they need anything, I can go up there quickly enough. Steve went to pick up Peter from school, and Vision wanted to watch her for us."

"I'm glad he is having the chance to bond with her," Wanda said warmly, "I know how important family is to him."

"Yes," Toni said with a smile, "So what is it that you wished to speak to me about?"

So it was straight to business. Wanda took a deep breath as she looked at the older woman, wondering how it was that she'd been so wrong about her. After knowing Toni Stark, it was hard not to see how much she cared about everything. And she'd thought her to be the exact opposite.

"I wish to train with the Sorcerer Supreme," Wanda said, deciding it was better to get directly to the point than dance around it any further. It was what she wanted, and at least if she asked, she'd know she'd given it all she could.

"You wish to regain your magic," Toni surmised, "Or at least have some sort of magical powers. Am I understanding that correctly?"

Wanda nodded quickly, and Pietro took her hand.

"Can I ask why?" Toni asked, "From what I've heard from Natasha, you seem to be making good progress on your fighting abilities. She thinks that perhaps in another year you could be a valuable fighter member of the team."

Wanda looked surprised at that. But she didn't let it deter her.

"I do not know how to explain it," Wanda took a deep breath, "But since my powers have gone, it feels as if a part of me is missing. Like I am incomplete. Sometimes I feel like they're still there, but my access to it is cut off. Like I can feel it but every time I come within their grasp, it slips away. I miss having magical powers, and I miss the feeling it gave me. I'll admit, I misused them, and I deserved for them to have been taken away from me. But it feels like they ripped away far more than me. Like a part of me is now missing. Like I am incomplete. I want a chance to do better with magic than hurting people. I want to show that I can use it to help them."

She felt foolish, because really, how did one explain the loss of powers? It wasn't actually the same as losing a limb. She still had full functionality. And now she was exactly the same as everyone else. She was normal.

"I can understand that," Toni told her, without an ounce of judgement, "I understand what it is you must be feeling. You made a mistake and now you want to make things better. Are you certain that this is the way you wish to do so?"

"Yes," she said, without any doubt.

"Okay," Toni said with a nod. "From an Avengers point of view, you'll need Rhodey or Steve, the commanding officers to sign off on it, but that shouldn't be any issues. However, anything regarding your training will be up to the discretion of Doctor Strange, since it appears to be his jurisdiction. This includes if he decides to take you on, how much training you do, what kinds of training you do, and once he decides your training has been completed. Is that clear?"

"Yes," she said, trying to hold in her joy. It was far from permission to start training right away and there would be a few more hoops to jump over. But she was getting there. And soon, if everything went well, she'd have her magic back.


Peter Parker was nervous. As a teenager who'd gone through the things he had, he wasn't all that surprised that he had a decent amount of anxiety. But this wasn't just regular anxiety. This was genuine unadulterated worry.

His parents had been dragged into an Accords meeting, and they'd scheduled it at the Compound so they could be close by, but still keep the council away from their home. They'd told him that they didn't need Spider-Man there, mainly because they were discussing logistics and stuff, and also because they'd wanted to let him enjoy the weekend he'd already planned with his friends to watch a documentary that MJ had insisted they needed to see.

It did, however, mean that they'd asked if he'd be able to watch his sister. His sister who was three months old and barely able to sit up by herself. And in all honestly, he was terrified.

She was so small!

What if something had happened to her while she was under his care? What if she got hurt or was hungry and he didn't know that she was hungry? What if she got sick?

His mother had rolled her eyes and told him that if he was concerned, he could ask JARVIS if anything happening with Morgan was considered abnormal, and if so then JARVIS would get her back to the Tower in about five minutes while flying her suit.

Which did calm him down a bit.

"Relax, Loser, it's going to be fine," MJ said, as the elevator opened up with her and Ned inside and she caught one glance of his terrified face. He was bouncing Morgan in his arms and so far, she seemed to be content.

"You don't know that," Peter said worriedly, as he looked his sister over again to make sure nothing had changed in the thirty seconds since he'd appraised her last.

"I do," she said with a nod, "Now, I brought some snacks and Ned brought some pop so why don't you let us set up the movie and you just worry on sitting down and checking your sister every few seconds?"

If he didn't know any better, he'd say that MJ was teasing him. But MJ didn't tease. She mocked with affection but rarely teased.

"Okay," he said, looking his sister over once more, "Morgan, how about we go sit down and get ready to watch the movie on how America's destroying the planet? I'm sure you'll learn a lot."

"It's never too early to start educating yourself," MJ said with a smirk.

"So you claim," Ned said as he poured the bags of chips into a few bowls before setting it in front of them "Do you really think Morgan's gonna grasp any of this?"

Peter sat down on the couch, as he placed his sister on his lap who looked happy where she was, so he was careful not to move her as MJ handed him a glass of coke.

"Thanks," he said gratefully, as she sat down beside him. And that got Morgan's attention.

While she didn't cry over people she didn't recognize, she most certainly was aware that she didn't know any of the people beside her.

"This is MJ," Peter told his sister in a soft voice. He lifted her up so she could properly look at his friend. "She's really nice once you get to know her."

"Thanks," MJ said in a deadpan as Morgan looked over at MJ as if she was trying to make an assessment of her. And once she'd come to a conclusion that the girl could be trusted, she bought her hand to her mouth and smiled.

"Did she just smile?" Ned said as he sat down beside Peter, "This kid's adorable, Man."

"I know," Peter grinned as he tickled her stomach carefully, and she grinned brighter.

"P-p-p," Morgan babbled with a grin.

"Yes that's right," he laughed, "Peter's gonna be your first word isn't it? Yes it is."

"P-p-p," Morgan said again, as she touched his face.

"You're trying to get her to say your name?" MJ said, with a look on her face he couldn't quite read. It seemed like it was often now that he was unable to tell what she was thinking.

"I'm hoping it's her first word," he beamed, "Mom and Dad have a bet on which of their names is gonna be her first word, but I'm trying to get her to say mine without me realizing that they're competing against me."

"What's the prize?" Ned asked curiously.

"Bragging rights for the rest of time," he said with a shrug, knowing they hadn't really put anything on the line. But secretly, he also knew whatever was her first word, that they'd be proud and tell everyone immediately about it.

"Sounds adorable," MJ said, and he looked over at her when he didn't hear any undertone of teasing or mocking. She blushed, "What, I can be nice."

"You can," Peter said in mock seriousness.

"But you mostly choose to be terrifying," Ned confirmed just as solemnly.

"Shut up," MJ grumbled. "JARVIS can you play the movie, so I don't gotta listen to these losers anymore?"

"Right away, Miss," JARVIS said, sounding amused with them all.

The movie began playing on the screen then, and Morgan's attention quickly shifted to the images before her, looking at them with wonder. Toni and Peter had started introducing her to Star Wars slowly, but he knew it would be years before she truly appreciated the films.

He glanced over at MJ again, and was suddenly aware of how close she was to him. She was watching the documentary enthralled, and he couldn't help the smile that filled his face.


Rhodey had approached her about a month ago to recruit her into his mission, and to say she was excited would be an understatement. With Morgan nearly four months old, her daughter didn't quite need her every waking second of the day, and while she still felt guilty leaving her from time to time, Steve had promised to watch their daughter so she would get to see Rhodey firsthand.

Well not really see. Because he'd wanted the moment to be private for just the two of them. But she'd set up live footage from the rooftop down to her party room where she, Happy, Steve, Harry, Ava, Peter, Natasha, Mama Rhodes, and Jeanette were watching in anticipation.

It had taken a lot of planning, especially given that Pepper had taken over a lot of her CEO responsibilities while Toni was at home with Morgan, so she'd ended up working for a few days to shift meetings around to help reduce Pepper's work schedule as well as colluded with her assistant to shift any meetings for the day to later in the week, so that Pepper wouldn't feel obliged to work to get things done.

She'd enlisted Steve and Harry's assistance in getting them to decorate the rooftop of the Tower, stringing up lights across it, and had cooks prepare Pepper's favourite meal, Carbonara, from the place she'd liked.

She knew it was a special date, and she'd even gone shopping with Rhodey, trying to pick out a ring that would be special for her closest female friend.

"They're heading up," Mama Rhodes said, as she looked at the screen in front of them. She saw the door open to the rooftop as Pepper and Rhodey stepped out onto the terrace.

She heard her friend gasp, "James, it's beautiful up here," she said as she looked around in wonder. "Did you do all of this yourself?"

"I had a bit of help," he said cryptically, and Pepper gave him a glance, as if she were trying to figure out just what he was up to. "I promise I'll tell you all about it later."

She looked satisfied at that, as Jeanette snorted.

"He's so whipped," Jeanette chortled. "He's probably going to spoil the entire surprise because she asks him a question without realizing what tonight's about."

She laughed at that, knowing there was a good chance Jeanette was right. Rhodey was absolutely gone on Pepper, and she knew that they made each other happy. If Pepper asked him why they were there, the poor guy would probably accidentally admit the truth instead of lie to her.

"Be nice," Mama Rhodes scolded, but she was unable to take the smile off her face since her baby boy was about to ask the question.

Rhodey pulled out her chair and she sat down in it, and they watched at the two began to eat the food that they'd placed on the table before Rhodey and Pepper had even got there.

"When did you have time to arrange all of this?" Pepper said in amazement, as she blotted her lips between bites. "I thought the Avengers training has been picking up recently? And that the Military has been on your back about the new recruits they want to push through?"

"It's been pretty busy," Rhodey admitted, "But I had some help. Tonight's important."

"Why's that?" she asked in surprise.

"Because twenty-three years ago today, I met you when Toni brought you along for dinner and insisted that I meet the woman who pepper sprayed her way into her office to show her an accounting error," Rhodey said, and Pepper blushed. "I remember you were wearing a red pantsuit, and your hair was all tied up, and no matter how much Toni tried to get a rise out of you, you refused to give in. And I remember thinking that you were the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen."

"That feels like a lifetime ago," she said, breathlessly.

"It does to me as well," Rhodey took her hand, "I've been kicking myself every day that it took me so long to get it together to ask you out, because these last few years have been the greatest of my life. I love calling you in the middle of the afternoon when we're between meetings, just to have a few moments to catch up. I love watching you stand up other CEOs who try and push you down, because you are beautiful when you're fighting for what you believe in. I love how compassionate you are, and how even when I told you I was afraid I'd never walk again, you didn't falter for a second and told me how the two of us would get through it together. How you helped me with physical therapy, and don't judge me for the nightmares I still have from falling. I love you Virginia. I love you with all my heart."

She could see her friend's face fill with tears as he spoke, and she covered her mouth in disbelief.

He stood up then and bent down beside her on the ground. "I love you, and I want to love you every day until my dying breath. Will you marry me, Pepper?"

"Yes," Pepper said, with a watery smile, and Rhodey beamed brightly as he slipped the ring onto her finger.

"She said yes!" Mama Rhodes said excitedly, as she pulled Jeanette into a hug.

Rhodey kissed Pepper gently, as he stood up, bringing her with him, and she wrapped her arms around him.

"I love you too," she told him, as she cupped his face.

"Well, then I probably should tell you that we had an audience for this," Rhodey said, a bit sheepish. "They're downstairs in the party room."

She laughed at that, as she slipped her arm though his. "Well, then I suppose we ought to go down and celebrate."


Toni Stark was nothing if not observant. It was how she'd managed to stay so ahead in the tech game. She knew what all her competitors were working on. She knew what new tech was always on the horizon and what new discoveries would change the world as they knew it. She had to know, because if she let herself slack off for even a second, then SI would fall behind in the markets and all her hard work would be for naught. Especially when she was younger and still struggling to prove herself as a CEO, it was especially important to her that she made sure her company stood out beyond the rest.

So being as observant as she was, it was easy to tell that something was bothering her son. How could she not whenever she saw him read a headline or listen to someone talk about the birth of the newest member of the Stark-Roger's family. Morgan Stark-Rogers.

It was always the name that caused him to pull a face.

And when she'd thought about the reasons for it, she had had several different theories. The most obvious one being that Peter had an issue with his sister. Which she could instantly rule out as false. Anyone could see that Peter loved Morgan clearly with their own eyes. It was evident by the way his face lit up when interacting with his sister. And sue her, but she'd watched the feeds after from when Peter and Morgan had spent time alone, wanting to make sure that her son wasn't uncomfortable, and her heart had melted at the sight of him with her. Of her children together. She wished she could have blamed the hormones still for the fact that she cried a bit, but in reality, she was sure it was just her own emotions.

It wasn't the fact that there were articles either that speculated if Peter would still be next in line to Stark Industries either. Not when she'd shut those down instantly and said the only reason he wouldn't be was if he chose a different career path. She was tired of the press treating her son as a second class citizen because he wasn't biologically related to her.

But there was still something there that she'd caught onto. It wasn't the Morgan part of the press speculation that bothered him. It was the Stark-Rogers. The fact that he'd pulled a face whenever he'd heard those words.

So she knew what it was that bothered her son. And she knew it was better that she and Steve talk to him about what it was he was feeling.

"Peter?" she asked, as she knocked on his door. Morgan was down for a nap, giving her and Steve the perfect opportunity to talk to their son alone.

"Hi Mom, Dad," he said in surprise as he opened the door, "What's up?"

"Can we talk?" Steve asked him gently, as they made their way into his room. He sat down at his desk and the two of them sat on his bed.

"You're not in trouble," she said, wanting to alleviate any concerns he may have been feeling. "We just wanted to make sure you're doing okay. We haven't been able to check up on you since Morgan was born, and we wanted to make sure everything was alright with you. Because you're just as important to us."

"I know," he assured them, "I'm fine, don't worry. I love Morgan, and I get that she's a baby who needs lot of attention. You don't need to worry about me."

"But there is something that's bothering you," Steve said, prodding a bit, and her son looked down.

"Is it the last name?" she asked him gently.

"I mean," he said, exhaling, "A bit, I guess?"

She didn't say anything, as she waited for him to elaborate.

"I know we talked about it before, when you first adopted me. and I still stand by my decision to keep Parker as my last name, because I was born a Parker and raised by Parkers for most of my life. I don't want to dishonour them by changing my last name, because they were my biological family," Peter said, reciting the same arguments he had used when they discussed it the first time.

"But something's changed?" she asked him, knowing he looked troubled.

"But Morgan has your last name," he whispered, "And any other kids will have it too. And I know you guys love me, even if I'm not related to you. I've never doubted that you do. But at the same time, I feel a bit like an outsider you know? Like I'm not fully a part of the family because of it. New Articles always use my last name like it's some sort of divide between us, and I know it's not true, and that I'm a part of this family, but it still feels like that. I know I'm being ridiculous."

"You're not," Steve told him firmly, "You are more than valid to have these feelings, Peter. If it's something that bothers you, then it matters. You matter to us. And we want to make sure you're happy."

"I am," he said with a sigh, "It's just stupid."

"Well, why don't we stop seeing it as an either/or situation" she said to him after a second, "Why not a both?"

"What?" he asked in surprise.

"Why not use all of it?" she said, "It would be a bit of a mouthful of a name, but we can pretend it's because we're rich and pretentious. Well the rich part is true anyways. But you could use both names so you can still honour your parents and aunt and uncle, but still have the Stark-Rogers name."

"What, like Peter Parker Stark-Rogers?" he asked, a bit confused.

"Or Peter Stark-Rogers Parker," she shrugged, "The order doesn't matter. It can be up to you to decide."

He looked pensive, "Would that be okay?" he asked in a small voice.

"It would be more than okay," Steve squeezed his shoulder, giving him a smile, "You're our son. And whatever name you have doesn't change that."

"I think I like Peter Benjamin Parker Stark-Rogers a bit better," he said finally, "It rolls off the tongue a bit easier."

"Well then," she said with a smile, "Peter Benjamin Parker Stark-Rogers it is. I'll call the lawyers and have them draw up the paperwork."

Her son smiled brightly, and she felt her heart warm at that. Her son didn't ask for much, and she was happy to give him anything that would make him happy. She wanted her children to have the world, and if something was in her power to give him, she would.