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Vision had missed a lot of his young twin sons’ lives during the time he had been broken, effectively comatose for nearly five years.
The wonderful things like their births, first smiles, first steps and first words. First four Birthdays. The less pleasant things too, like late nights with colicky babies, constant feeds, nappy changes. Bathtimes and fevers and kissing boo-boos, potty training, comforting them after nightmares.
Wanda had done it all on her own.
This was not his fault, of course, and Vision knew that Wanda didn’t begrudge him any of it. There was no way that things could have been any different.
Still, Vision couldn’t help feeling sad, and slightly guilty, about all the things he had missed.
He’d thrown himself into Fatherhood completely since his revival, eager to make up for all the lost time with Tommy and Billy, to get to really know them. He learned what each of them liked best, and made time for it all.
He played with Tommy’s Hotwheels Cars, helping him build increasingly elaborate tracks for them to run on, and watched him jump on his trampoline. He helped Billy learn magic tricks, and listened to music with him.
He happily got up if one of the boys had a nightmare, hoping to spare Wanda from having to get up. It didn’t always work.. Sometimes frightened children simply wanted their Mother, and would accept no substitutes. But when it did work, it felt like Vision had repaid Wanda for at least one more of the many sleepless nights she had endured with their children in his absence.
–
The months flew by like no time at all, and soon, the twins’ fifth Birthday was upon them. And even though Vision was, of course, pleased that he would actually be present for such a milestone this time, the happy occasion made him think of the others that he had missed along the way. He couldn’t help feeling a little, well, down.
The day before the big event, Vision was minding the twins while Wanda worked away in the kitchen, getting food ready for a party they were throwing the following afternoon. Tommy, always high energy and excitable, was chattering away happily, telling Vision all about he and Billy’s last Birthday party, as he was assembling his Hotwheels track once more.
“It was really great, Daddy! Uncle Clint came with Nate, and Uncle Steve came, and Mommy made a real nice cake, and I got my Hotwheels cars and the track. Mommy said this year, I might get more cars for it!”
“That would be fun, wouldn’t it?” Vision managed a small smile.
“But our Party this year is gonna be even better, Daddy!” Billy piped up. He’d always been a perceptive little soul, and had sensed his Father’s somewhat sullen mood. “‘Cause this year, you’re going to be here!”
“Thank you, Billy” Vision kissed the top of his head. His heart warmed, and his smile widened a little, but didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I just wish I could have been there for them all.”
Inwardly, Billy frowned. He got up, heading for the Kitchen.
“I’m gonna go ask Mommy for some juice..”
“Alright” said Vision, “But don’t get under her feet, and stay away from the oven, it might be hot..”
“Okay, Daddy..”
–
“Mommy” said Billy as he padded into the Kitchen, “Can we have five Birthday cakes? We are gonna be five tomorrow..”
“That’s not the way Birthday cakes work, Sweetheart,” Wanda chuckled, as she mixed the batter for this year’s cake. “It’s one per Birthday.”
“I know” Billy pouted a little, “But..”
“But what?” Wanda asked gently, her heart moved by his adorable little pout.
“I thought it might be nice to have cakes for the Birthdays Daddy wasn’t here for.. He’s sad about them, Mommy.”
“Oh..” Wanda’s heart broke a little for her beloved. “He is?”
“Uh-huh..”
Wanda paused, thinking.
“Tell you what, Little man.. I’ve still got the number candles from your other Birthdays.”
“You do?”
“Mommy is a bit of a hoarder when it comes to you and your brother” Wanda blushed. “Five cakes may be a little overboard, but if I make one slightly bigger cake, I’ll be able to fit all the candles on, and have a little bit of all your Birthdays there.”
“Cool!” Billy grinned.
“I’m glad you think so. And hopefully, I can talk to your Daddy later and make him feel a bit better.”
“Okay, Mommy.”
–
For the rest of the day, Wanda wracked her brain for a way to help Vision, and eventually, she came up with something. After tucking the twins into bed, she pulled Vision out into the living room, nudging him to sit down with her on the couch.
“Billy asked me if I could bake four extra cakes for Tomorrow..”
“Oh? Why?” asked Vision, rather confused.
“One for all the Birthdays you missed..”
“Oh..”
“You know kids.. After presents, the most important thing about a Birthday is the cake” Wanda chuckled softly. “Why didn’t you tell me you’ve been feeling upset?”
“Because you and the boys are just so happy to have me here now” Vision sighed. “I did not want to dampen your high spirits by moping to you all about things I can never change..”
“I would have understood, and nothing could ever change how happy I am to have you here with us.. Not just on Tommy and Billy’s Birthday, but every day” She gently cupped his cheek. “And even though I know we can’t change anything, there might be a way I can help.”
“How?”
“I’ve done terrible things with my powers, Vizh.. Forced people to relive horrible memories, see terrifying illusions..” Scarlet energy crackled at Wanda’s fingertips, “I know it’s not the same as having been there, but I thought, If I can make people see terrible memories, then maybe, I can show you my happy ones.”
“You think so?” Vision’s synthetic heart fluttered.
“I can try. Do you trust me?”
“Always..”
“Okay..” Wanda laid her glowing fingertips against Vision’s temples, pressing her forehead to his.
Vision’s breath caught. She showed him everything.
Clutching the newborn twins to her chest in the moments after their birth.
Their first smiles, lazy and milk-drunk after a late night feed.
Their first steps, Tommy while trying to chase a toy, and Billy a week or two later, while attempting to follow his brother.
All their birthdays, all the happiest moments in between.
For Wanda, this was another redemption of sorts, using this power to help instead of harm.
And it was helping, it really was. In viewing Wanda’s memories, Vision also saw how she had tried to include him in them, even when he couldn’t be there.
A photograph of him by her hospital bed.
One of his old sweaters converted into baby blankets.
Pictures of him everywhere.
Wanda’s stories of him.
“Wanda..”
“I made sure the boys were never completely without you..” said Wanda, gently releasing the mental link between them. “You were always around them, they always knew exactly who you were. I know it’s not the same as physically being there, but… mmm..” She was cut off when Vision suddenly kissed her.
“I know it’s not the same.. but thank you, this has helped, quite a lot.”
“I’m glad” Wanda smiled softly. “And now you can keep making real memories with them.”
“I can” He kissed her again, “And I will.”
–
The following day, Wanda and Vision finished up the preparations for Tommy and Billy’s party before the guests arrived. Monica came, bringing her Mother, Clint brought Laura and the kids, Scott and Hope came with Cassie, and Pepper even brought little Morgan, whom the twins had befriended when Pepper cared for them while Wanda had joined the other Avengers on the Time Heist.
Vision immersed himself in the festivities, enjoying himself almost as much as the twins. And when a confused Scott had questioned the partially melted 1 through 4 candles, and Wanda had explained their purpose, Vision laughed, a wonderful loud belly laugh, so contagious that Wanda couldn’t help but join in, at the very same moment Tommy and Billy blew out their candles. Laura, an expert at well-timed photos after three children, captured the moment on film.
Vision could never get back the lost years with Wanda and their children, but there was plenty of time to make new memories.