bornbored: Thanks for the reviews and sorry about the delay! Just moved into my dorm and I'm still unpacking...hope you enjoy the chapter!

Kurt Wagner was only allowed a few more days with Wanda before the X-men flew to Genosha to retrieve him, the Blackbird hovering just off the shore like a black cloud. It was not the first time he had felt reluctant to leave the mutant colony and his lover behind, but it was the first time he honestly considered refusing.

He sat on a metallic balcony-ledge from which he could see the jet just arriving, and he heard Wanda's footsteps as she walked upon the balcony and neared him. He looked sidelong at her as she leaned gently against the edge, and stared out across the spiraling towers and cascading fountains of her home. He nearly forgot all about the jet waiting on him as he watched the breeze lightly play with her auburn hair.

"They're waiting on you," she reminded him solemnly, folding her arms against her chest.

"Vanda," he climbed off of the edge to stand before her,

"I vant to be here for you and our child; I never knew my own parents, und I don't vant zhat for our baby,"

Wanda nodded as he slid his hand through her hair affectionately and continued,

"Say ze vord und I vill leave the X-men."

He stared straight into her eyes, which widened upon his words. Wanda was silent for a moment, and Kurt watched quietly as she stared down at the ground, considering. Finally she shook her head, and smiled weakly up at him,

"I can't...as much as I want to; I can't ask you to leave them. It's who you are, Kurt, you care as much about mutants as I do, and I know you'd never ask me to give up my cause. You'll be here for the baby when it arrives…somehow, I'm sure of it."

Kurt took her into his arms and sighed against her, holding her tightly,

"I don't deserve you, Vanda-I vill be here for you, mien liebe."

The next month Wanda's condition finally became visible; the slightest bulge in her lean frame causing everyone around her to react with excitement. Lorna now couldn't resist stroking her stomach and occasionally speaking to the baby; which had grown increasingly annoying to Wanda. She was pleased after one particularly trying afternoon to receive a transmission from Kurt. He apologized for his lack of communication with her that week, he had been on a particularly dangerous reconnaissance mission.

"How ist everything?"

"I've finally started to swell up," she looked disapprovingly at her slightly bulging midsection,

"Lorna is driving me crazy with rubbing my gut and talking to the baby."

Kurt laughed lightly,

"Speaking of zhat; ze team ist constantly asking about names. Vas do you think?"

"I like Josephine for a girl, maybe Victor for a boy. Have you got any ideas?"

"I alvays hoped to name my son Charles, after Professor Xavier."

Wanda smirked slightly; she should have guessed that one.

"And if the baby's a girl?"

"Talia, it vas a gypsy name I heard in ze Munich circus; it means, 'dew of heaven'."

"It's beautiful," she smiled, "Talia…I think that would be a wonderful name for a girl."

"But I like Josephine too," he added, sliding a hand through his hair,

"Has Herr Hartho been checking up on you?"

"Constantly," she smiled, "I'm very well taken care-of, Kurt, don't worry."

"I vant to visit again as soon as I can, Vanda."

Wanda couldn't help a smile,

"I love you Kurt."

The X-man beamed, but looked away from the screen as someone spoke to him from the door of the room. He looked longingly back to her,

"I love you Vanda-I'll see you soon."

The next two weeks Wanda's stomach had grown a bit more, just enough to force her to wear dresses at all times. Blink had tripled security measures surrounding Wanda since the psychic attack, so she spent most of her time indoors. Blink promised that once the pregnancy was over she would relax again, but couldn't risk another attack in Wanda's venerable state. The daughter of Magneto had never in her life thought of herself as venerable, but she allowed this if only to keep the baby safe.

One day Dr. Hartho offered to provide a sonogram, in order to determine the baby's gender. Wanda had insisted she wait for Kurt to do this; she knew he would want to be there to see the baby for the first time, if only an image on a screen.

When he visited again she had begun her third trimester, and a few of the X-men given the soon-to-be parents gifts and well-wishes. The teleporter had assured his teammates that no gifts were necessary, but the women seemed to believe otherwise. Kitty had provided a fluffy stuffed lion, Ororo had woven a necklace with red clay beads she brought from Africa, Jean had given baby-education books and Anna Marie presented, upon her latest return to the mansion, a soft woolen blanket she had sewn herself. Hank expressed disdain for shopping for a baby; he couldn't find a 'baby's first chemistry' set no matter what websites he checked, but resolved to provide some sort of gift soon.

Wanda was thrilled when Kurt brought them to the palace,

"Please tell them thank you from me," she said happily as she examined the small hand-woven quilt the X-man she knew as Rogue had made for them.

"I vill," he promised and smiled at her, watching as she neatly stacked each gift onto a shelf in one corner of the room where a beautiful bassinet sat; a gift from Dr. Hartho and his wife.

"Isn't is gorgeous?" she indicated the bassinet, "Dr. Hartho's wife made it-it's made of pearl, she can turn any substance into it."

"It's very nice," Kurt nodded and touched the smooth white edge approvingly.

He examined the craftsmanship for a while, but ultimately found himself staring at Wanda again. She noticed him and smiled,

"What is it?"

Kurt touched her cheek softly with his hand,

"You're so beautiful," he exclaimed, "I mean-I've always thought you are but it seems like lately you've just been…radiant."

Wanda blushed but smiled and leaned against his shoulder, he put his arm around her and placed his other hand on her stomach.

"Kurt, Dr. Hartho wants to give me a sonogram, to see the baby and determine the gender. I wanted to wait until you came to do it, what do you think?"

He considered it for a moment before answering,

"I think I vould rather be surprised; vas do you think?"

Wanda chuckled lightly,

"Alright, then, we'll keep it a surprise."

Kurt leaned down slightly and pressed his mouth sweetly against hers, and they shared a loving kiss. As she encircled her arms about his neck, she suddenly drew back with a start.

"Oh!" she looked with surprise down at her belly,

"Vas?" Kurt said quickly with a tinge of panic in his voice.

"I just felt the baby move!" she said excitedly, beaming up at him, "That's never happened before!"

Kurt returned his hand to her stomach gingerly, and they both held still.

Suddenly Kurt's face brightened and he smiled,

"I felt it; does it hurt?"

"No, it feels strange though."

Kurt pressed a kiss to her stomach, and sat up to slide his arm around Wanda again. As they sat on the bed together, Kurt steeled his nerves to begin a conversation wrought with risk.

"Vanda, vas do you think of-if after ze baby has arrived, ve were married?"

Wanda looked up at him in a slightly confused way,

"Kurt, you know I don't share your beliefs…why is it so important to you?"

"I'm sorry, it's just that…it's a formal dedication of our relationship, and commitment to raising our child."

"My father raised me, Pietro and Lorna without being married or any kind of 'formal dedication', I don't understand why I should have to."

"You don't have to, Vanda," Kurt slid his hand through his hair anxiously, "I'm just asking…it is important to me."

Wanda was silent a long time after this, and finally she gave a small sigh and looked up at him,

"Alright, Kurt. Let's get married after the baby arrives."

"You truly vant to?" Kurt asked hopefully.

"Yes; if it's so important to you, it should be important to me too."

He kissed her, filled with hope and happiness and when they separated he crossed his arms behind his head and laid onto his back across the bed. Wanda joined him, leaning against his side and sighing contentedly.