Recovery

Wanda sat at the counter in the kitchen as you slightly stumbled into the kitchen. Therapy was freaking exhausting: mentally, emotionally, and physically. She smiled and looked up.

“How`d it go, sunshine?” She kissed you as you walked up to her stool and wrapped your hands around her waist, placing the glitter bottle on the counter.

You rested your head on her shoulder, closing your eyes. “Fucking exhausting. I`m so tired.” Breathing in, you added on. “But it was good. It was really good. She`s pretty nice and I like her.”

Wanda stroked your hair until you let go and wandered around to the other side of the counter.

“What did you talk about?” She picked up the glitter bottle and tilted it back and forth, mesmerized by the sparkles.

You giggled, watching her. “Not much. We made those and did some word association stuff.” You stopped smiling, remembering. “It was hard.”

Wanda hopped off her stool and walked around to you. “Well, its done now until the day after tomorrow so lets focus on now, okay?”

You nod, grateful to your amazing girlfriend. “Food time?”

She smiled. “Food time. What are we whipping up tonight?” She turned on your cooking playlist as you walked over to the fridge and opened it, staring for a few seconds.

“I`m kinda tired and people were not good about vegetables this week so fridge food pasta.”

Wanda started a pot of water and a frying pan on the stove while you dissected the vegetable drawer. Pulling out peppers, carrots, tomatoes, onions, and some herbs, you also grabbed a half full jar of tomato sauce. After getting another full one from the cabinet, as well as two boxes of pasta, you and Wanda got to work chopping the vegetables. Fridge food pasta was the best; you literally took any vegetables that were on their way out, chopped them up, and made pasta sauce with them. An easy way to clean out the fridge.

You began to slide all of the chopped vegetables, as well as a healthy amount of garlic, into the skillet with oil as Wanda added some more songs to your cooking playlist. As that began to cook down, the water started to boil. Wanda salted the water and dumped the two boxes of pasta in. As it boiled, you danced around the kitchen with her, laughing when you both would slide away to stir the cooking vegetables. Once they were soft, Wanda dumped the sauce in with them as you drained the pasta. Then, it was mixed in with the sauce and dried basil was sprinkled over top.

“Hey FRIDAY?” you asked.

“Yes, Y/N?”

“Tell everyone that whoever sets the table first, gets served first.”

Within seconds, Bruce was seated at the table, having placed plates and silverware around. You laughed as Bucky slid in on sock feet, face falling as he saw Bruce already seated. You and Wanda laughed even harder as Steve raced in after him, face flushed. Somehow, Nat had already slipped in. Everyone began to pull out drinks when Tony, Pepper, and Morgan exited the elevator.

“Hey Dad! Hey Mama!” you called from your position, looking through the fridge for your almond milk.

Tony wrapped an arm around you as you straightened and pressed a kiss to your hairline. You smiled up at him.

“How`d it go today, kiddo?” he murmured under the chaos that was happening at the table.

You sighed, leaning into him. “It was ok. I`ve had a lot worse. She`s nice. But I`m really tired now.”

He squeezed your arm. “I know. But I`m really proud of you for today, okay? It took me three sessions to even talk to her, I`m so proud that you are giving this a shot.”

Your moment was interrupted as laughter erupted at the table. You and Tony made your way over to see Morgan and Bucky seated across from each other and engaged in a pasta slurping battle. You slid in next to Wanda and kissed her on the cheek.

“Thanks, love.”

She smiled back. “Anytime.”

---

After dinner, you headed upstairs with the rest of your family for Morgan`s bedtime routine. It involved a bedtime story, a juice pop, a song, and cuddles. The cuddles were your favorite part.

The three of you snuck out as Morgan drifted off to sleep. Snuggling up on the couch, you leaned onto Pepper`s shoulder.

“How are you doing, sunshine?” She asked.

“I`ve been better.” You replied honestly. “Like, today was better than I thought it would be but I don’t feel okay right now. I`m tired but aghhh sleep, you know? And emotions are scary.”

Tony nodded, holding your hand. “I know, it sucks. But you`re trying and that’s what counts.”

You sighed, closing your eyes and nodding. He kissed your head.

"Love you, bug."

"Love you too, Dad." Wrapping your arms around Pepper, you smiled up at her. "I love you more, Mama."

Tony pretended to be offended as you all laughed. The three of you stayed like that for a while, neither of them pushing you to talk, just reveling in your newfound happiness. Eventually, you said goodnight and went downstairs to your room, where your loving girlfriend waited with open arms.