AN: Enjoy!
Of course, Viv, adorably curious child that she was, simply asked about the 'boo boo' again the very next morning. However, also being rather clever, and more than a little bit cheeky, she lulled her Father and Wanda into a false sense of security by not asking until they were nearly done with Breakfast.
"Daddy, you never told me how you got your boo-boo."
"Oh.." Vision nearly choked on a spoonful of cornflakes. "Uh.."
"How did you get it?" Viv continued innocently.
"Well, Fata dulce.." Wanda blushed as she cut in, quickly thinking of an idea while Vision seemed to be dying of embarrassment, "Uh.. You know how sometimes you are playing outside, having lots of fun, and later you find a little bruise and don't remember how you got it?"
"Uh-huh" Viv nodded.
"Well, that's what happened to Daddy" Wanda explained, very much hoping that Viv would believe her. "He got a bruise and doesn't know how."
"Hmm.." Viv thought for a moment. "Okay. Can I go play now, Daddy?"
"Of course" Vision replied, relieved. "Go play."
Viv grinned, hopping out of her seat and happily rushing off.
"As pleased as I am that that worked, it's not really a long term solution Vizh. Because this.." Wanda smirked, lightly touching the mark on Vision's neck, "Is definitely going to happen again, and a man can only have so many neck bruises of uh, 'unknown origin' before things might seem a little suspicious."
"I am aware that it is a temporary fix, but it is a good temporary fix" Vision smiled, kissing her softly. "You handled the situation rather well."
"Viv's an easy kid to handle" Wanda shrugged, returning his kiss as she took her empty bowl to the sink.
"Wanda" Viv called from the other room. "Will you come play with me when you're finished?"
"I will be there in a minute, Fata dulce" Wanda chuckled, washing the bowl and heading out to join her.
Vision took a few minutes to finish his own breakfast, then got up and peeked around the doorway into the next room.
Wanda was sitting on the floor with Viv, her legs tucked beneath her, surrounded by Rocket Raccoon and a selection of other toys. She was laughing at something Viv had said, a wonderful sound, her green eyes softly sparkling. Vision's heart swelled as he watched them. Sometimes, he was almost certain that he could see Wanda looking at Viv the same way he looked at Viv. The way a parent would. A Mother.
He hadn't said anything about this, and he didn't plan to. Vision wouldn't put that kind of pressure on Wanda, or Vivian either. Whatever Wanda and Viv chose to be to each other was between the two of them, just as he and Wanda dating was between he and Wanda. For now, all he knew was that having another person in the world who loved his daughter could never be a bad thing.
Wanda caught Vision's eye and smiled, waving him over. Vision smiled back and happily moved to sit with his girls, joining their game.
Weeks passed, the new year now well underway as January moved into February. With Viv happily settled into Kindergarten by this point, Vision was now more freely able to book 'The Vision' appearances at times he couldn't before.
For Wanda, February meant playing Cupid at the Party Store in the lead up to Valentine's Day. She still disliked her job, but she had to admit, she didn't find the Valentine's Day gift hunters quite as irritating as she had in previous years. There were still the idiots who wanted her to shoot them with her arrow, or be their Valentine, but most of them backed off after a few rounds of insisting she had a boyfriend.
The day before Valentine's Day, Wanda couldn't help the goofy smile that crossed her face as she worked. Today marked exactly a year since she had met Vision and Viv, and it had been quite a wonderful year, all things considered. Wanda knew she still had quite a way to go, to make herself feel like she was good enough for Vision, and for Viv, to finally silence that stubborn little voice in her head that told her she wasn't. The voice was definitely getting quieter. Wanda was happy, which was something she wouldn't have been able to say this time last year. Happier than she'd been in quite a long time.
And, just a few minutes before closing on Valentine's Eve, something happened to make her even happier.
Wanda had been doing a last minute tidy-up around the store, desperately hoping that no last minute customers came in before she was done. Vision was picking her up after work, and she didn't want him to have to wait around if she was late, especially since she knew that he would most likely have Vivian in the car with him, and he had worked two parties that day, so he was probably exhausted.
The Mall had been quiet, winding down as everyone closed up shop for the day. But then, there was a commotion at the Mall entrance, followed by laughter and a few squeals.
For a moment, Wanda was left wondering what the Hell was going on, but that moment quickly came to an end when Vision appeared in the store in full 'The Vision' costume and make-up, with an impressive bunch of roses in one arm and a very giggly Vivian in the other, a blanket tied around her neck like a cape.
"Sorry to arrive so late, Ma'm" 'The' Vision grinned. "I was wondering if you might know where I could find The Scarlet Witch? My little sidekick and I have a question for her."
"I might be able to deliver a message" Wanda smirked. "What's the question?"
"We want her to be our Valentine" Viv giggled.
"Hmm.. Can I tell you and The Vision a secret, Miss Vivian? You can't tell anyone else.."
"We won't tell" Viv replied.
"We promise" Vision grinned.
Wanda smirked and leaned closer.
"I am the Scarlet Witch. And I would absolutely love to be your Valentine" Wanda kissed Viv's cheek, and pecked Vision's lips. "Just as soon as I'm done closing the store. You never know when a cute single Dad could come along and hold you up.."
