Huh...what's it been now, more than a year?

Anyways, I am back, and no this isn't dead! This story is going to see itself finished. When...I don't know, but it will come to conclusion one day! And as always, I sincerely thank you all for the favorites and the follows and the reviews. This is currently my most popular Marvel story it seems, rivaling Love and War. And I apologize to you all for making you wait for so damn long for an update. But, I'm here now, so hopefully I haven't lost you all yet! So Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, you all get a chapter as a present!

So, I'm sure you were all hoping for more Peter/Wanda scenes this chapter. Sorry, but that isn't the main goal here. After the last update I was certain that this scene was going to be next right afterwards. I felt I needed to shed a bit more light on how Peter views Wanda. There'll be a scene, yeah, but it isn't the main focus here this chapter.

Disclaimer: All characters are owned and trademarked by Marvel Comics, and by default now, Disney. What they do here, though, is of my machinations. Any real world locations found are...well, I chose them last year, so I don't know.

Chapter 5: A Pondering

*Lutheran Cemetery, Queens, New York; about three days after the Unity/Avengers meeting. Evening*

An Avenger always has a special person in their heart that helps them keep fighting on in the battle that is their life.

Sometimes, it's two people, three people, or more. Regardless of who it is and how many there are, it is those individuals that they hold near and dear to them that help each Avenger find the inner strength within them to keep fighting even if the battle and circumstances before them look bleak. It is them that motivates them, inspires them and keeps them going on, driving them to do better than before, no matter what.

Now, sometimes that person or persons that an Avenger holds dear is still alive and amongst them not just in heart but also in body. Alas, there are those who cannot say as such because those that drive them watch over them from another plane of existence. They only live in their hearts. For some of the Avengers, it is the circumstances of the lives and deaths of these individuals that spur them on, reminding them to never falter and to strive for success.

For Steven Rogers, it is Peggy Carter and her niece Sharon, flames old and new.

For Tony Stark, it is his father Howard and his late friend and bodyguard, Happy Hogan.

For Bruce Banner and the Hulk, it is Caiera the Oldstrong and the millions killed in Miek's selfishness.

For Carol Danvers, it is her brother Steven and little Kit.

For James "Logan" Howlett, it is Itsu Akihiro and the son that he never saved.

For Clint Barton and Jessica Drew, it is each other, the first of many that they each hold dear.

For Peter Parker, it is a horde of guilt, shame and humiliation that greets him each and every moment that he thinks of those who inspire him and drive him to do better, to be better, and to be responsible. It is with a heavy heart that he comes before the memories that are fond to him of all that are near and dear to him. It is in tears that he remembers all that transpired in the years that had passed that had allowed these circumstances to become as they are. For Peter Parker, the list is too great and numerous to count as many a person that both Peter Parker and Spider-Man meet is touched and claimed in his hectic web of life.

It is with confliction that Peter Parker arrives at this cemetery, at these two headstones, when he comes to acknowledge the two people in his past life that have always had the greatest impact on him, who have spurred him forward with a drive like no others can give him.

Dressed in civilian attire and with a flower bouquet in his hand, the Amazing Avenger slowly approached the trio of headstones that resided in this little corner of the cemetery. It was here and only here that his attention was fully focused on. When here, nothing else mattered around him as he gazed at these three headstones. Each one spurred memories to return, actions of his own failure; each one brought a smile to his face as he remembered the faces of the three that gave him the inspiration.

Ben Parker.

George Stacey.

Gwen Stacey.

Each one whose history had affected both Peter Parker and the Amazing Spider-Man in such a way that both their actions would be altered forevermore.

In this evening, the setting sun illuminating the cemetery with a golden ethereal glow, Peter came for just one of the gravestones in particular. He paid his respects to his Uncle Ben and to Captain Stacey as always, holding them in heart and memory, before turning his full attention to the spot where his first true love lay in rest. With a small sigh, the young man placed the bouquet in front of the headstone. This was something that he did on multiple occasions in the years since she was stolen from him, whether on special occasions such as a birthday or an anniversary, or just days when Peter just simply wanted to be there and just...talk. Today was one of those times.

As always, Peter made himself comfortable as he sat in front of Gwen's headstone, the grass crunching below him. "Hey there, Gwen," he smiled as he traced his finger along the name engraved within the stone. "It's been awhile since I've been by. Sorry about that. Things are getting really hectic out there, especially after what happened with the X-Men. I haven't had much time to do my own thing, especially with my own baddies out and about. I've barely even been able to talk to Aunt May or MJ."

Of course, silence was Peter's answer, but that was of no deterrence, nor would it ever be for Peter or for all who come to the graves of loved ones and did this exact thing.

"Yeah," Peter chuckled quietly as he looked up to the skies. "Things are definitely going crazy. Though, the Avengers are making sure it doesn't get too crazy. Tony and Steve are even making our own kinds of crazy to stop the new crazy. Now it's all just one team of Avengers instead of three, and we have some crazy guys on board. Heck, we even have an alternate universe mention of a guy who we have locked up somewhere that tried to kill the Avengers a bunch of times. This Mark's a nice guy, though, so I guess we have that to look forward to."

Returning his gaze to Gwen's headstone, Peter stayed quiet for a few moments, enjoying the evening breeze that filtered through the winds and air.

"Yeah, things are a 'changing here, Gwen," he sighed. "You know, after the last few weeks, I realized that of all the aliens that we've faced and all the invasions we've had? We've never had anything come from Mars. With all of the Kree and Skrulls and Shi'ar and whatnot, we never had to deal with Martians. That just hit me right now, actually. It's crazy; we can finally say we've been attacked by Martians." Peter then took a pensive expression for a moment or two before adding, "Well, I mean, yeah we still are being attacked by Martians, but still...though, I guess they maybe wouldn't really qualify as Martians since they aren't actually from Mars…"

He shrugged after a few seconds of thought. "Eh, we'll just call them the Martian Builders, or...whatever." At that, he allowed himself a small chuckle.

"Then we had this crazy thing with the Red Skull the other day. He stole Charles Xavier's brain...like he literally dug him up and took out his brain and put it in himself, just to get his psychic powers. Talk about crazy; the world was going nuts with people attacking and killing mutants left and right. The Avengers definitely had their hands full, especially the Unity team. You should've seen Logan's face, Gwen...those S-Men were freaky, apparently. One managed to mind control Thor to smash his face in."

"And of course, the entire thing was a plan for Skull to get Wanda, the Scarlet Witch." Peter shook his head and sighed sadly. "Everything seems to be about Wanda now, even after the whole Phoenix thing. She really doesn't need this kind of thing; she already has enough crap to deal with every day. Almost no one on the Avengers really trusts her anymore, and pretty much every X-Man now just outright hates her...I can still remember Cyclops saying he wouldn't hesitate to kill her if she screwed up again, after we saved her from marrying Doom. I can't believe he said that, especially after what happened...I mean, she was about to marry DOOM of all people. And then it turns out that Doom manipulated her to break down and all that, but people still see her as what she did. They know that she has the potential to do it again, to do something just as bad…"

Peter sighed again, plucking at the grass at his feet. "That was kind of anticlimactic in a way, actually. Finding out that everything was because of Doom, I mean. I mean, having an Avenger break down mentally and cause the worst day in the team's history...I don't know. All these years, we thought she had finally gone insane; Beast thought it was inherit because of Magneto. But then we all find out it was Doom all along...it may just be me, but that kind of, I guess, kind of destroyed the significance of what had happened."

Peter paused for a moment. "Is that kind of wrong to think? I mean, saying that about the worst day in the team's history? Is that weird, are these thoughts weird?"

Gwen's tombstone was silent, unresponsive.

"I guess how it happened or not isn't the point," Peter shrugged after a minute. "Either way, people still hate Wanda...especially Rogue, from the X-Men. The two of them are both on the Unity team, and from what Logan tells me, that certainly seems...fun. Rogue always seems to have something to say about Wanda. I know it's obvious that she hates her and all, but does she have to keep throwing that in her face every time she sees her? I think she's already been through enough."

Peter looked to the skies, which was glowing a vibrant orange as the sun was setting on New York. He enjoyed this kind of view, as it always seemed peaceful and calming to him.

"Yeah, I know what you might be thinking, Gwen," he sighed to himself as he bowed his head. "You're thinking, 'But isn't she justified in her anger? Wanda did kind of screw her species, after all.' Well...I guess that really depends on the perspective taken on the whole thing. I mean, it was her powers and actions that caused the whole thing in the first place, but it wasn't her fault. Wanda didn't cause it; she was being manipulated by Doom. Rogue says that she's only on the Unity team to make sure Wanda doesn't cause another earth-shattering event, but she wasn't in control of what happened."

Peter sighed. "But then, because she's so damn powerful, people could argue that she had the power to stop it from happening from happening in the first place and all that...I don't know, Gwen; people just blame her, for both the mutant and Avengers things, and it just doesn't seem fair to me. She doesn't need to be constantly reminded of her worst moments, especially if she's trying her hardest to atone for what she did, even if she wasn't even directly responsible."

Silence from Gwen's tombstone answered him for a minute.

"There are a few people who kind of feel sorry for her. Carol and Jess, maybe Logan...and that's maybe pushing it for Logan. Cap, definitely, and Stark. Stark kind of took it hard back then, especially because of how it messed up the Avengers. He felt like they could've done a lot more, and a lot better, in helping her when they had the chance."

"But it's a slim number; most just keep away from her, for whatever reason. The House of M is still really fresh in their minds. All of what happened, how she played with and manipulated with our dreams and desires, the pain that was caused...they can't let it go. And then...just a week after what happened, when we fought the Collective...all of the powers of mutants who were no longer mutants, merged into one single force, inside one postal worker. That was Wanda...that was what Logan said, that was all Wanda. Indirectly responsible for Alpha Flight's death, too, if I remember hearing that right."

Peter looked back to Gwen's tombstone. "But then she came back with a bang, and she helped us save the world...and she helped save mutantkind. She literally jumped back into her role as an Avenger when she helped us out with the Phoenix crisis; she really stepped up to the plate. It was like she was always one of Earth's Mightiest Heroes, like she was never gone...and here I am, talking like I was there in the golden years. I mean, mutants are back in the world. In the hundreds of thousands, maybe more, if what Beast says is true. I mean, they have a fighting chance in this world again. And it's thanks to Wanda...oh, and Hope; can't forget the whole reason we fought." Peter chuckled slightly at that. "But yeah, Wanda was a huge part in restoring mutantkind...and the irony of the whole thing is that the Phoenix was essential in the entire thing." Peter stared at Gwen's tombstone for a couple of seconds. "Yeah, ironic, right?"

Peter looked away as the tombstone answered with silence.

"And even after all that, almost everyone still doesn't feel comfortable around her, or hate her, or probably scared of her. Even after she's redeemed herself-and trust me, she's redeemed herself in my eyes-people won't let go of the past. I mean, even before we learned it was Doom that was manipulating her, I really never blamed her for what had happened. The attack on the Avengers and their disbanding afterwards, the House of M incident...no, I never really blamed her, Gwen."

Peter turned back to the tombstone after a few seconds. "I know, that may seem pretty surprising. That's what Logan thought too, a few days ago or so. Don't get me wrong, I can definitely understand why there are a bunch of people that hate Wanda, and why they act how they act with her. Especially the X-Men. I get it, I do. I just...I don't blame her for anything with what happened. I don't."

"You remember a few years ago," Peter continued, sighing to himself as he again started tracing the letters on the tombstone with his finger. "That day I came here and just cried for like an hour, after the House of M was changed back to normal. I still remember that day...I was still living with MJ, so I told her I needed the day, and I came here, crying that I missed you. You remember what I said, right? That you were still alive in that world; that we were married, and that we had kids...we were together, we were happy. I was happy, because I was with you. I hadn't lost you...like I always wished I didn't."

Peter fell silent for a minute, trying to find the words to say. He remembered what Strange had said, how the "House of M" had been formed to give everyone their heart's deepest and greatest desire, and Peter's own deepest and greatest desire was that he had been able to save Gwen's life. To have this dream thrust in front of him, torturing him before being ripped away and returned to the bitter reality...it had hurt like nothing Peter had ever felt before, or even imagined could hurt. And he had wanted to forget it, but he couldn't.

Every day, since that day, Peter was forced to remember these events, and he most likely would be for the rest of his life.

"For weeks after that, I would wake up every day, and for a few moments, I would think you were still there, still alive...and then it would all come crashing down like a tidal wave. You'd still be dead, I wasn't married to you, I didn't have kids, and I was alone. It was painful, like you wouldn't believe. Even now, it still hurts a bit, Gwen, and it's been years now. I guess it just goes to show that pain like that doesn't ever go away. And I HATED it, Gwen; I hated that feeling, that feeling of losing you every day again and again, for it all to come crashing back down on me. My heart, every morning, was ripped out of my chest. And don't even get me started on Uncle Ben...you remember all that, too…"

Gwen's tombstone again offered her silent comfort as Peter went silent again for several moments.

"But even after all of that, I can't blame Wanda. She has all this crap on top of her, the Avengers and X-Men hating on her, but it's not her fault. I know it's not her fault. Even if everyone treats it like it's her fault, even if she herself thinks it's her fault...it's not Wanda's fault. I know it's not her fault."

Peter was silent for a few moments before he continued, "Some people would say I should listen to my own advice." He dryly chuckled at that. "The irony…"

At that, Peter found himself silent for several minutes, memories flashing through his mind of a recent battle with his enemies. Painful memories that filled him with guilt every time they came up in his mind, telling him that he should've done more, and plaguing his dreams on many nights.

"The nightmares...I wish I could tell you they stopped, but...it's not happening as much, as often...but they're still there, Gwen. I can't stop thinking about what happened, about her...I failed her, and it's because I failed Aleksei..." Peter sighed, silent for a few seconds. "Natasha keeps checking up on me, making sure I'm okay. She tries to help however she can; I appreciate that."

Almost fifteen minutes passed as Peter sat there in silence, occasionally tracing Gwen's name on her tombstone. His own words echoed in his mind, reflecting how he felt about the whole situation with Wanda. He was definite in his stance on Wanda's innocence, that much was certain. He could see how much Wanda hurt because of how she was treated, and how many of her own teammates distrusted her, and her own species mostly hated her.

His own conversation with the second-generation Avenger came to mind. He himself was more than willing to get past-no, scratch that; he was already past all that, what Wanda did. He had no ill will towards her, and his actions reflected that (he hoped). Peter was more than willing to reach out to Wanda, show her that there were at least some people around who still cared, and who wouldn't judge her.

"I guess I should be off," Peter said at last as he slowly got to his feet. "City that never sleeps, and all that. Not to mention your busy schedule; heck, I'm surprised to managed to squeeze me in for now." He chuckled slightly before settling on a small smile, staring at Gwen's tombstone. So many emotions went through him as he remembered everything about his first true love, and though there was pain, there was still an immense amount of joy for the time they spent together. Peter would always wish, though, that he had been able to confide his secret to her.

"I miss you, Gwen. So does Aunt May; I'll tell her you said hi."

Even though there was no answer he could hear, Peter was certain that Gwen reflected the same feelings and emotions.

"Till next time," he said as he walked off.

*The Coffee Bean, Columbus Circle, Manhattan, NY. Same time.*

"You look better than when I saw you last."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean you seem to smile a bit more," Pietro Maximoff replied as he took another sip from his drink. At that, Wanda couldn't help but relent a small smile onto her face. "There you go, see?"

The Maximoff twins were currently enjoying a nice and comforting reunion, their first since the aftermath of the Phoenix crisis, at a coffee shop and restaurant. Wanda was certainly glad to have her brother back with her again, even if it was only for a little while. Pietro was only staying for the day, as he and their sister Lorna had some things to handle with Serval's X-Factor. She was certainly going to cherish the time they had now, though.

"It's good to see you again, brother," Wanda smiled as she sipped her coffee. "After living with you for several months now, not having you around feels very odd."

"It's good to see you, too, Wanda," Pietro nodded. "I have to admit, I've been a bit worried about you alone here since I left for Virginia, even after your assurance that you would be fine. And you do look fine, I see."

"I told you time and again, Pietro, I am capable of handling myself. I am a big girl now, after all. You may be 12 minutes older than me, but that doesn't mean you should worry about me all the time. I learned much of what I know in this city, this wonderful American melting pot. I've been fine here, Pietro, you know I have."

"Yes, I know, sister. And it's good to be here again, where it all began anew for the both of us." Pietro's smile then faltered, and his body posture tensed up slightly. "Although…"

At this, Wanda frowned in a bit in concern. "Pietro? What's wrong?"

"It's just...I'm only sorry I didn't come sooner than I did. The Captain told me what had happened with the Red Skull; I was so angry when he told me that monster had tried to use you to destroy our people again, and after everything that you've been through…"

"Please, Pietro, don't berate yourself," Wanda reassured him. "You came as soon as you could, I understand. I know that things have been busy on your side of things. I'm fine; the Skull didn't succeed with what he had hoped to do. Rogue managed to help me come to my senses." At that, Wanda lost the small smile she had before.

"What is it?" Pietro asked.

"Nothing...it's nothing."

"Wanda…"

Wanda saw the no nonsense look Pietro had on his face, the one he would always have when it came to something that involved his sister. She sighed before chuckling dryly; even though it could be quite annoying at times (putting it lightly), she was comforted in knowing that her brother would always worry about her wellbeing and whatever troubled her. It assured her that there was at least one person who would always love her and be there for her, regardless of anything.

"It's Rogue…" Wanda said after a moment. "She doesn't like me, at all. She hates me, plain and simple. She told me that she was only on the Unity team to make sure I didn't do anything to hurt mutants even more. She's convinced that I'll one day go insane and unleash destruction on the world or mutantkind again."

Pietro frowned at those words; his brotherly instinct on the rise, he certainly didn't like what he heard. "In all actuality, Rogue should be the last person to be criticizing you," he said. "But, that is Rogue for you. However, I did tell you that this was bound to happen when you told me you wanted to rejoin the Avengers."

"But as I also told you then, I wouldn't let that stop me," Wanda replied. "I am working to atone for what I did-"

"Which wasn't your fault, sister. It was Doom's manipulations."

"But it was still my hand."

"And that's the argument that somehow keeps gun control in America as flawed as it is now," Pietro replied. "But regardless, if Rogue acts this way, then what she-"

"And it isn't just Rogue, Pietro," Wanda interrupted, poking at her salad. "It's almost all of them; Logan, Natasha, Clint, Sam, Roberto...many of the Avengers just don't trust me like they once did before. They treat me like a glass cannon, as if I'm going to erupt violently at any given moment. The looks, the insincere niceties, the tone...it hurts, Pietro."

"I know," Pietro said quietly. He could relate to the feeling of his allies and those he viewed as kin isolating and denying him. The incident with the Terrigen Mists was testament to that, and now he no longer had any access to his own daughter.

"It's not all bad, I guess," Wanda continued. "Thor has mostly been forgiving...but I attribute that to him not even being here for a good many years, not having to go through what happened. Carol and Jess, they're genuine, and they try so hard, they do. But they aren't always around, and now that Carol was diagnosed with a tumor, her time is spent with medical tests and her time in the Avengers is being limited. Banner...I don't think Banner cares, really."

"What of the Captain? And of Summers?"

"Alex is a good man, and he tries hard, but it doesn't look like he's completely in my favor. Yes, he's doing his best to be genuine with me, but he's hesitant to keep me on the public face of the Unity team, especially after what happened with Avalanche and the Skull's attack. And Steve...Steve constantly checks up on me, and makes sure I'm doing fine. He is always about second chances, but I can tell…"

"Tell what?"

"It's just out of guilt, like it's an obligation of sorts."

That certainly surprised Pietro. "Guilt? Obligation? Captain America, you mean?"

"I never told you we were once romantically involved, did I?"

That really surprised Pietro. "You were?!"

"It started just a few months before...before, well, you know," Wanda nodded. "Which left a lot in the air when I returned. Steve is committed to Sharon now, and I won't come between them. There's nothing there between us now (at least, as far as I can tell), but I feel that it's because of our history that he does that. It...it doesn't feel as genuine at it should.

Pietro was silent for a few moments as Wanda started poking at her salad again. The fact that his sister and Captain America had at one point been romantically involved was a shock. He had previously thought that if anyone would be willing to support Wanda without any judgment, inhibition or external factor pushing them, it would be Steven Rogers. This was a surprise to him, but then again, he didn't see this form of perspective as Wanda did. Perhaps with was just something Wanda felt. He couldn't exactly put his own perspective on this particular detail.

There was a question, though, that Pietro still had yet to ask.

"And what of the Vision?"

Wanda didn't answer, but instead bit down on her lip and closed her eyes, her body cringing ever so slightly. That was enough of an answer for Pietro.

"I'm sorry, Wanda."

"It's alright," the mutant sorceress replied with a small shrug. "I've come to terms with what is between me and the Vision. I've made peace with the fact that we will never have what we once did again."

Pietro nodded. There was a thought in his mind that brought him back to the time when he was adamantly against Wanda's love for the android. Years later, and he saw the results now in front of him. He wasn't going to voice this, however; his sister was already hurting at the moment. No use pouring salt onto the wound.

"Do you regret rejoining the Avengers?"

"No," Wanda replied immediately, without any hesitation. "I don't, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Joining the Avengers again isn't the problem, Pietro. It's just that everyone still is uncertain and even a bit hostile towards me. Even Jess and Carol, there's a small part of them that is scared of me, even if they can't see it. I love the Avengers, brother; they are like our family to me. It's just the alienation that everyone gives me. I hope that with time, I can win back their trust."

The speedster nodded as he returned to his pastries, while Wanda returned to her salad. The twins fell silent for a few minutes as New York City rang out around them, Wanda's words in both their minds.

"...well, everyone except for Spider-Man."

At that, Pietro found himself yet again very surprised. "Spider-Man?"

"Yes, Spider-Man," Wanda replied. "He's actually been very kind to me, and he actually approaches me to have a conversation. Granted, he is quite random in his topic selection, and he comes across as rather...well, very unorthodox in his approach, but he actually does it, in comparison to many of the other Avengers." Then, to Pietro's great surprise, Wanda actually smiled a bit. "He reminds me that I matter, that I am someone worth spending time with. That's the first thing I remember every morning now, as I wake up."

Wanda looked up to Pietro, seeing his look of surprise. "Is something wrong, Pietro?"

"No, nothing's wrong, sister," Pietro said after a moment. "Actually...what you said actually makes me feel a bit easier about you being here and with the Avengers."

Wanda blinked in surprise. "It does?"

"Yes," Pietro nodded. "I mean, Wanda, you know how much I was worried about you rejoining the Avengers, what with the current atmosphere. Knowing that there is at least one of them who is genuinely attempting to bond with you, connect with you and treat you as really being one of their own, I feel a little better. I know that you're in good hands."

"It does look like that, doesn't it?" Wanda said, her small smile fading away moments later."

"What is it?"

"I don't know, Pietro. I'm...worried, I guess...well, more like afraid."

"Why do you say that?"

"Pietro, what I did to the Avengers and X-Men, the whole world...our friends...Spider-Man was amongst them, remember? You know I've been...cursed with remembering what I did to each and every one of them, how I played on their desires and wishes. I gave him the perfect life he always wanted, so perfect that it most certainly hurt when everything went back to...well, mostly normal. After what I did to him, and for him to just come up to me and appear so friendly and caring...it's just too good to be true, isn't it? I'm afraid he's only stringing me along for his own entertainment, building me up just to tear me back down and humiliate me all over again."

"I don't believe that."

Wanda snapped her head back up to her brother. His tone surprised her; he was certain of what he said, and dismissive of her voiced concerns. "You don't?"

"No, I don't. I don't believe that is what he's doing."

"You sound so certain."

"Spider-Man is many things," the speedster said. "He's annoying, talkative, and usually unbearable in a very closed environment. However, manipulative or misgiving is not among those things. From the little I know of him, I know him to be a caring, compassionate and honest individual. The Captain has vouched for him on many occasions, after all, and offered him membership on more than several occasions in our height."

Wanda found herself agreeing with Pietro; if Captain America personally vouched for the Amazing Spider-Man, than it could be certain and without a doubt that the urban vigilante was the real deal and a genuine hero. Not to mention a genuine individual, overall.

"I guess that is true," she nodded.

"If he is trying to reach out to you," Pietro continued, "then I highly doubt that there is any malicious intent behind his actions. As the Captain would say, that isn't like him at all. I think that he is being genuine. Spider-Man isn't one to hold grudges, I believe."

Wanda soaked in her brother's words as she gazed down at her own coffee. Pietro was the one individual in these times that she felt she could explicitly trust and confide in, who she could count on regardless of anything, who would always watch out for her and could count on.

"Wanda," Pietro said as he took Wanda's hand. "With what you've been through in recent times...your children, the truth of what Doom did, the Phoenix crisis and with being back in the Avengers. You can't just jump into this word again and not have a form of support. As you said, many of the Avengers haven't yet come to trust you again. And there are some who just outright hate you, along with many of our mutant brethren. Wanda, under that kind of stress, you may break down emotionally, overwhelmed with the hatred and isolation. I don't want that to happen. I want to know that you're going to be ok. And you can't take this on alone."

Wanda knew exactly what her brother meant; she had lost count of the many times she had ended up crying in her room at the Mansion during both day and night. The mistrust and hate, the uncertainty and fear, the nervousness and insincerity that was sent her way...it hurt her, even if she couldn't blame her fellow Avengers and mutants for feeling such a way.

"No one can shoulder these kinds of burdens on their own. They need a support system, an anchor to keep them firm. And I am not always available, sister. And there come times when family might not always be there. If you're going to be working to redeem yourself to those who still mistrust you, Wanda, then it would be wise to not face it alone. But rather, with a friend."

A friend.

In all honesty, Wanda was certain that she had at least a few friends. Carol and Jessica immediately came to mind, as did Steve. Other that those three, and she was leaning heavily more towards the former two, she really had no one else to call her friend. With how many of her teammates and fellow mutants regarded her, Wanda didn't think that any of them would call her a friend either. As it was, teammate and ally was enough of a struggle.

Except for Spider-Man. He seemed more and more to want to be her friend, her confidant. Someone to count on in difficult times. And as Pietro had reminded her, these were some of her most difficult times yet in life. Perhaps he could be called a friend?

It was in silence that the Maximoff twins finished their meal, Wanda's mind echoing with Pietro's words.

XXX-A/N-XXX

Well, maybe not what you had all hoped for or expected after a year-long wait for an update, but I felt this was a route that needed to be taken. Alright, everyone, you all know what to do by now, right? (Assuming you're all still there…) Review, critique and all that jazz. Let me know about anything related to the story.

Next up, we get into the first Chaos/Spider team-up! Stay tuned! Until next time, readers.