I - Prelude
Fraternal twins William and Thomas Maximoff-Shade were born on the 23rd of November 2008. Just one year after their parents tied the knot. Wanda and Vision met each other through mutual friends, Wanda was best friends with Natasha Romanoff since their high school years, and at the time she was dating Steve Rogers (eventually they got married and had one kid, James, but have gotten a divorce very recently). Steve was best friends with Tony Stark who was friends with Victor, and one day during 2003 they all decided to meet up at a bar.
It was Wanda and Natasha’s usual place, they would always go there after classes, so when Steve and Nat started dating, more people started to come, and Victor Shade was one of them. From the moment Wanda saw him enter the bar with Tony, it was an instant attraction. Tall, blonde, defined jawline and broad shoulders. He was sexy. Not only she was attracted physically to him right away, but from the moment he introduced himself and she heard how sexy his ~british- voice was, and how well-mannered he was, it also added a few more points to her attraction account. She though he was shy at first, would not speak when the conversation did not involve him, but he would always listen to everyone and reacted to their stories, however, he did start to feel more comfortable with the group and started to loosen up a bit more every time they would reunite, which was practically three times a week.
So, their relationship grew quickly but not without the disapproval of her older brother Pietro. Wanda was 19 years old at the time, and Vision four years older than her. They were both consenting adults, but it still bothered her brother, he always felt like it was his duty to protect his little sister, since they suffered so much during their childhood in Sokovia. They lived in a war since they were two years old and lost their adoptive parents when they were seven, and they did know they were adopted because Oleg and Irina always made sure they knew who their biological parents were, so each one of them kept a photo of their parents Erik and Madga with them, wherever they went. They had to live on an orphanage for two years until their father Erik Lehnsherr showed up to pick them up. It was a shock at first, they thought both their parents were dead, but apparently, only their mother was.
‘’Why did you leave us here?’’ Finally, quietly asked Pietro as Erik drove them to the airport, he was taking both his kids to the United States so they could try to live a normal life. It had been three days since he showed up at the orphanage, the twins did not say much, it was very overwhelming. They decided to go because, what was there to lose?
‘’P, me and your mother… we-‘’ Erik pauses and Wanda looks at him from the backseat, noticing his suddenly nervousness. ‘’We got involved with the wrong people, and… they killed your mother when you guys were just one year old. So, I made the most difficult decision of my life, that was let you guys go. I couldn’t risk them finding you guys and…’’ He signs. ‘’also get killed.’’
Pietro takes Wanda’s hands into his, in need of some comfort. ‘’I was planning on telling you guys when you were a bit older, but you deserve to know the truth, obviously…’’ Erik would only come to know that his nine years old were already smarter and wiser than the other kids of their age, having to live with what they lived at war. ‘’The moment I heard Oleg and Irina passed… I did everything in my power to get you guys back.’’ He pauses for a moment. ‘’I understand if you guys never forgive me for letting you go, I just want you to be safe and to have a normal life in America.’’
And they did, as soon as they arrived Erik had enrolled them into school, and they shared a two-bedroom apartment in New York. It was enough for them, way better than what they had at the orphanage. Wanda was a bit more introvert when they got to school, Pietro found out his natural ability to make friends, and would always include his sister on his group of friends until she started building her own group, starting with Natasha Romanoff, a redhaired girl who had just come from Russia to have better opportunities, just like Wanda, so they bounded immediately. And this friendship remains to this day.
They both went to the same University, while Natasha was studying Forensic Sciences, Wanda chose Law. Since it was a big campus, many other courses could be studied there, for example, Business, which was what Victor Shade was studying, so not only would they meet up about three times a week at the bar, but they would also see each other regularly on campus. So, it was not long until they bounded, the fact that they were both foreigners helped, he was there just to study so Wanda was more than happy to help him with whatever he needed. Even if that included her.
They were helplessly in love. They had briefly dated other people before, so when it came to one another, they found out what real love was. Vision was supposed to go back to England after he had finished his bachelor’s degree in 2005, but neither of them was ready to let go.
It all came down to when they were in Vision’s apartment, Wanda’s family never had much money or the luxury of buying a bigger apartment, and since Erik had gotten another woman pregnant a year ago, he had one more daughter to feed, although Lorna lived with her mother and not with them, but they had a good relationship, Wanda was happy with being an older sister and being present in her life. So, she would spend more time at his place, so she could feel more comfortable with her boyfriend and having their precious privacy.
They were cuddling on a chaise longue, Wanda was between Vision’s legs and her back laying down on his chest, drinking wine and watching a movie on his couch to celebrate his diploma, they had opted for a more intimate celebration. But that did not meant that the uncomfortable question would not come. Wanda could not hold it in her anymore, so she finally said it: ‘’Vizh…’’ She puts her wine glass on the coffee table and turns to look into his eyes, she also takes his glass and puts it away.
‘’What, love?’’ He asked as he put a hair lock behind her ear as now they were face-to-face.
‘’What…’’ She stops and takes a breath. ‘’Now that you…’’ Wanda signs, she took that from her father, not being able to fully express herself. When she and her brother started doing therapy when they were still kids, it had helped, she has gotten much better into speaking her thoughts, but she could not help her insecurities sometimes.
‘’Take your time babe.’’ He caresses her cheek and she holds it before bringing it to her mouth to give it a kiss. He was the most patience person she had ever met, and she loved him for it.
‘’Not that you finally got your degree, what will you do?’’ She finally gets it out of her, and she looks carefully into his eyes waiting for an answer, which came rather quickly.
‘’Well, what everyone else does. I will go out there and try to find a job.’’ Wanda gives him a small chuckle. ‘’What?’’ She should have expected that, of course he would give her an innocent answer, so she tries harder.
‘’Well, of course! But… your student visa will expire in a few months and then you will have to return to England…’’
‘’Oh! My love.’’ He says as he brings her closer, placing her on his lap. ‘’Then, I will apply for another visa. I’m sorry, we should have talked about this before.’’
‘’Will you?’’ Wanda gives him a bright smile.
‘’I will my love. You will not get rid of me so easily.’’ As soon as he finishes his sentence she puts her hand on his hair and kisses him eagerly.
‘’I love you Vision.’’ She interrupts the kiss to express her love. ‘’I know we’ve been only dating for two years but you’re the best thing that has ever happened to me.’’
‘’Marry me.’’
She was almost kissing him again, she stopped in shock and looked at him. ‘’What?’’
‘’You are the best thing that has happened to me too… I love you so much Wanda Maximoff, to the point that it hurts. I want to spend the rest of my life by your side, to have how many children you want, to grow old together and spoil our grandchildren with candy. With you, I found out what real love is and I do not ever want to be apart from you.’’ Tears were rolling down her face as he spoke, she could not have asked for a better man to be with, she was still speechless, so he asked: ‘’So, Wanda do you want to marry me?’’
‘’Oh, my love.’’ She takes his head into her hands and brings he him for a small, but delicate and full of love kiss. ‘’I do want to marry you Vision.’’ They both smile and go back into the kiss, with their hands all over the place as they tried to get rid of their clothes.
They got married two years after that, in a small ceremony for the closest friends and family only. One year later, Wanda gave birth to Thomas and William Maximoff, they quickly became one of the best things that had ever happened in the life of Vision and Wanda.
And they never were apart ever again. She would always be there for him and he would always be there for her. When Pietro Maximoff was brutally assassinated 16 years after this moment, he was there holding her tightly, while she could not help her sobs, and could neither be strong for their four kids, including another pair of twins who had been born the year before that, Vivian and Vincent, nor to her 17-years-old sister.