AN: Enjoy!


After Christmas, of course, came that weird, wonderful, and confusing stretch of time between Christmas Day and New Year's Eve when nobody could ever remember what day it was.

Unless you were Wanda Maximoff, who had to work during that time, and remembering what day it was was vital in order to know which days she was supposed to work, and therefore keep her hated but unfortunately much needed job.

She had avoided the Boxing Day rush, thank God, since Mantis had worked that day. Unfortunately, this meant Wanda worked New Year's Eve, which while a shorter shift, proved just as bad, sometimes worse, than Boxing Day, considering that for many people, New Year's Eve was party time, and Wanda had the misfortune to work in a party supply store.

At least this year, when work was done, she had a New Year's Eve celebration that she could genuinely look forward to. Wanda was pleased to say farewell to the days of welcoming the New Year in a drunken stupor at some random bar or club.

This time, she was ringing in the New Year with Vision.. With her Boyfriend. The word still gave her a little thrill when she thought about it.

The Bartons were visiting Laura's family again, and little Cassie was with her Mother and Stepfather. So, it would be a small get together, just She and Vision, Viv of course, and Natasha, Scott and Hope.

Wanda didn't mind small. In fact, she was beginning to believe that, as a general rule, small celebrations suited her more than larger ones.

All she had to do was survive the day at work.


Towards the end of Wanda's shift, she received the pleasant surprise of a visit from Natasha, picking up a few things for the party. Wanda quite liked Nat. The redhead had a penchant for mischief, there was no doubt about that, but her heart usually seemed to be in the right place.

"Hey, Wanda" Nat dumped a few packs of paper plates, cups, and party poppers onto the counter.

"Hey, Nat" Wanda managed a real smile as she rang up Natasha's purchases, using her employee discount. "Are these for the party?"

"Yeah, Vision asked me to pick them up. So.." Nat smirked "You ready for your first big New Year's kiss as a couple?"

"Uh.." Wanda blinked. She hadn't thought about that.

"You're not ready?"

"I didn't say that. I just haven't thought about it much" Wanda shrugged. "I've never really done the big New Year's kiss before."

"Never?" Nat raised an eyebrow.

"Never. I've just never had a Boyfriend at New Year before."

"But.. You don't really need a Boyfriend to do the New Year's kiss. You haven't just kissed a friend when the ball drops?"

"No."

"Used it as an opportunity to kiss a girl and satisfy your curiosity?"

"Nope."

"You've really never had a New Year's kiss before?" Said Natasha in disbelief. "Like, not even with a random at the bar? Not judging by the way, we've all been through that phase.."

"Almost, but no" replied Wanda, now just a little annoyed. "I should probably get back to work, so.."

"No problem" A slightly mischievous smile spread over Nat's face as she paid and gathered her purchases, turning to leave the store. "I'll get this stuff to Vision."

The mischief in Natasha's smile unsettled Wanda a little, and she frowned as a thought came to her.

"Nat.." She called after her friend, frown deepening when she didn't respond. "Nat! Don't freak him out. Don't make this 'New Year's kiss' thing a bigger deal than it is. Are you listening to me? Natasha!"


Shortly afterwards, Nat arrived at Vision's house, dropping the supplies onto the Kitchen counter as Vision cleaned. Viv was in the lounge playing with her Rocket doll.

"Here you go.. I saw Wanda."

"How is she?" Vision's eyes lit up at the mention of his Girlfriend. Girlfriend.. The word still made his heart skip a beat.

"Oh, fine. Pretty ready to leave work, I think.." Natasha paused, glancing at Vision with a smirk. "You know, Wanda's never had a New Year's kiss.."

"She.. she hasn't?"

"That's what she told me.. So you'd better make this year's kiss a good one."

"Right.." Vision suddenly seemed a little nervous. "How do I do that? Make a New Year's kiss good? Special?"

"Uh.."

"Because I really have no idea. I've never had a New Year's kiss before either."

"Wait, what?" Nat blinked. "How? I know you haven't had many Girlfriends, but with Virginia.."

"Virginia went away to visit her parents the first New Year's Eve we would have spent together. She was ill by the time the next one came around.." Vision explained, sounding as though he was beginning to panic a little. "What do I do?"

"Whoa, calm down" Natasha felt a bit guilty by now, and wishing she had listened to Wanda's pleas. She'd only meant to fluster Vision a little, not freak him out this badly. "It's just a kiss. You've kissed Wanda plenty of times now, right?"

"Yes" Vision nodded.

"And all those kisses have been good, right?"

"Well.. yes" A goofy, love-struck smile spread over Vision's face.

"Then you've got nothing to worry about" Natasha, patting herself on the back for successfully calming her friend, wandered off to help tidy the house before guests arrived.


Vision happily opened the door to greet Wanda when she arrived, but before he could say a word, Viv flew through the door, hugging Wanda's legs.

"Oof.. Hello, Miss Vivian" Wanda smiled.

"Hi, Wanda" Viv grinned up at her, bouncing excitedly. "Guess what? Daddy said I can stay up for the New Year if I can stay awake long enough! Will you help me stay awake?"

"Well.." Wanda glanced towards Vision, not wanting to contribute to any delinquent behaviour in the event that he had not actually made Viv this promise.

"I said she could try and stay up" Vision shrugged, smiling softly. "Who Vivian enlists to help her in the endeavour is her own business."

"Well then.." Wanda ran her fingers through Viv's hair. "I will see what I can do for you, Fata dulce."

"Yay!" Viv rushed off happily.

Wanda gazed after her fondly for a moment,then turned to Vision.

"Hey, Vizh" She smiled, leaning up to give him a quick kiss.

"Hello, Wanda.. How was work?" The greeting was a little quieter than usual, almost shy.

Wanda frowned.

"Work was fine.. Hell, but fine. What did Natasha say to you?"

"Uh.."

"She freaked you out about the New Year's kiss thing, didn't she?" Wanda's frown deepened as she muttered under her breath. "O voi ucide.."

"I wouldn't say 'freaked out' exactly" said Vision quickly. "Just.. I don't know how to make it special."

"Really, Vizh, you don't have to make a big deal out of this" Wanda chuckled. "There's nothing you need to do to make it special. It already will be special."

"It will?" He looked a little confused.

"Yes. A day doesn't make a kiss special. Every kiss is special if you're kissing the right person. You've shown me that."

"I have?" Vision blinked, surprised.

"Well.." Wanda blushed bright red. Shit. Was this too much, too soon? "Yeah.. You have."

Vision paused for a moment, before the goofy smile spread over his face once again, and he cupped Wanda's cheeks, kissing her softly.

"I am happy I could help.."


The rest of the night passed relatively uneventfully, as far as New Year's Eve parties went. Everyone happily chatted about plans and resolutions for the New year as they nibbled on party snacks.

Scott was hoping his new security business to take off, while Hope wanted to help her scientist Father as he approached his next big breakthrough.

Vision was working on the next draft of his story.

True to her promise, Wanda gently nudged Viv or engaged her in conversation when she looked to be nodding off.

And, when the clock struck twelve, Vision kissed Wanda. She had meant every word she'd said about Vision's kisses. Wanda had kissed lots of.. Well, men seemed like the wrong word, now. Boys. She'd kissed plenty of boys, more than she was comfortable admitting. But none of them had made her feel anywhere close to how she felt kissing Vision.

Vision had not kissed many women, so he had a much smaller pool for comparison, but his feelings on the situation were much the same. Nothing made him feel quite as wonderful as kissing Wanda made him feel. Kissing Wanda was a special kind of magic. And when they broke apart, he would smile, and gaze at her like she was something precious, because to him, she was. He wasn't sure Wanda believed it yet, but that was alright. Vision could wait.


A short while after midnight, Vivian's exhaustion was clearly beginning to get the better of her. Glancing towards Vision, who simply smiled and nodded his permission, Wanda scooped Viv up and carried her to her room. Then, she helped the little girl into her pyjamas, and carefully tucked her into bed.

"Will you stay until I fall asleep?" Viv asked hopefully.

"Okay" Wanda smiled softly, sitting on the bed beside her. "I can stay for a little while."

"Can I asks a question, Wanda?"

"Only if you lay down and go to sleep afterwards."

"Okay.." Viv replied through a yawn. "When the other grown-ups were talking, you never said what your relosution was.."

"Resolution" Wanda gently corrected her.

"Right.. So, what is it?"

"Well.. I'm going to take the art classes your Daddy gave me for Christmas" said Wanda. "And I want to do some pictures for his story. Mostly, though.. I think I just want to be a better person."

"You're already a really good person.." Viv snuggled into Wanda's side, her voice sleepy.

"I'm glad you think so" Wanda chuckled. "But.. I still think I could be better. I have some oameni speciali.. Special people.. That I want to be better for."

"Oh.." Viv's eyelids drooped shut. "Who?" Unfortunately, her tired little body carried her off to sleep before Wanda could answer.

Wanda turned her head to gaze at the sleeping child, gently running her fingers through her soft golden hair. Vivian looked very much like an angel when she slept, and the sight of her tugged at Wanda's heart. A sleeping lion purred in her chest, ready to wake and roar if anyone dared hurt Viv on her watch.

Wanda's heart spoke a truth that her mind was not ready to accept.

She wanted to fit here.. with Vision, with Viv, with the family they had made. With Vision, Wanda knew where she fit, even if the little voice in her head still whispered that he deserved better. But Viv.. she already had Uncles, and friends, and a cool, fun Auntie.

The one thing Viv really needed, Wanda wasn't sure she could be.. at least not yet.

One day, Vision and Vivian might need her to be more than the nice lady from the shop. More than a friend, or Daddy's Girlfriend.

When that day came, Wanda hoped that she would be better. That she would be ready.

"For you, Fata dulce" She whispered. "I will be better for you.."


Translation:

O voi ucide: I'm going to kill her.