#infinity&beyond

You begin to take slow breaths before you can panic. The last thing you needed to do right now was panic. Who knew how much danger you were in? You had to focus. Once your head was clear enough to remember your training you began to look around the living room for clues. You find family photographs that you have no memory of taking. It was you and Wanda posing with two baby boys. You have no memory of ever meeting them before but they were clearly your sons. The photos make the fear and panic return and you search your pockets for your cell phone to try and ground you to reality but they’re empty except for a wallet. Inside is your ID, individual baby photos, another family picture, a photo of Wanda that you’ve never seen before, and some cash. You toss it to the coffee table and explore the house further, calling out to Wanda. But no one responds. 

A woman bursts through the front door calling out for the same name and you rush over to her. She is wearing a shirt that has the S.W.O.R.D. logo which sparks nothing but negativity in your mind and with your powers you force her against a wall. She grunts, “Boy, you and your wife certainly have a thing for throwing me up against this wall.” 

“What do you know about what is going on here?” You demand. 

She looks at you, as confused as you are, “What… What do you remember?” 

“I-I…” you step back and drop Monica. You wildly move your eyes from your hands to the foregin clothes to the pictures on the walls. Suddenly, the sofa changes shape and color, then the television, then a plant. Before you can even begin to question it, two grown boys come running through the front door. They are startled and afraid and you instinctively feel a need to protect them. 

“Mom!” They call out to you, even without knowing them, you lower to their level to calm them down. You put a hand on either of their shoulders to take away their fear. You ask them what scared them. “Mom is in danger. Agnes, she was hurting us,” one of them answers. “You have to help her,” he begs. 

You don’t want to leave them here but there was no way you could protect them out there. Monica says that she’ll keep them safe, but you aren’t certain you can trust her. Unfortunately, you don’t have much time to decide before the boys look at you with their helpless and pleading eyes. A pair much like Wanda’s and another much like your own. “I’ll be right back,” you activate your powers and as you walk out of the house, the 80’s style clothing melts off and is replaced by your suit. 

The second you step outside, you find Wanda being held in the air by a white version of Vision. You charge towards them and send Vision flying into a camper that explodes on impact. A part of you feels a relief from doing that, even though you know that he’s made of vibranium and that most likely did nothing to him. Wanda stares at you in disbelief. “How?” She says just above a whisper. You open your mouth to answer but you come up blank. 

“Impossible!” Agatha’s exclamation has the two of you turning in her direction. “You should be dead!” She points to you with her coal black finger and the color triggers flashes of images in your head. 

“Well, I’m not.” You fire some of your power at her to knock her down from where she was floating when Wanda screams for you not to. She hadn’t warned you fast enough and the witch gets a taste of your power, making you ever so slightly weaker. You look at Wanda and before she can say anything, white Vision emerges from the flaming camper. “You think you can handle her on your own?” You ask Wanda. 

She nods, “I can… I just… I’m so sorry. I should’ve told you sooner. I-I can fix this.” 

“Wanda, we don’t have time for this. Whatever happened between us…” I don’t remember it. “We can deal with it later. Now,” you thrust yourself into the air. “Go be a hero,” you tell her before flying over to take the fight with Vision somewhere else. You grab him from under his arms and hall him up into the air. “How’s it going, Vis? Did you do something different with your hair?” You change your view to find a point to throw him but he phases out of your grasp and tries to hit you with the beam from his forehead that you dodge and throw a ball of energy at him. It misses him and he tackles you to bring you closer to the ground. You continue to fight him. 

Wanda is standing in the town square with the people of Westview begging for her to let them go after Agatha had read off her destiny from the book of the damned. “Go! Run!” She tells the people as she opens up the boundaries of the hex. She screams from controlling that much power and it catches your attention. 

“Wanda,” you whisper as you search for her. You grab Vision again and with all of your strength, you throw him into the ground as far as you can before flying towards the love of your life. When you land, you see the boys are disappearing and it reminds you of the day you lost Wanda. “What-what’s happening Wanda?” You shout and she turns to look in your direction with wide eyes. Agatha said that you were tied to this place but it was clear that you weren’t. So why weren’t you?

She stops holding the hex open and you run over to her, as do the boys. They scream for their mom and she does her best to comfort the both of them. You stand back and watch with confusion and worry. “Y/n,” she calls out desperately. “I–” she doesn’t get to finish because S.W.O.R.D. vehicles arrive and so does Vision as he swoops in and tosses you into a library. He doesn’t bother with Wanda as his target is still set to you. Wanda grows angry as she looks to the military, but she has to hold back from obliterating them in front of her children. Instead, she sets her sights on Agatha and decides to take her fight there. “Handle the military boys, mommy will be right back.” She tells her kids before flying towards Agatha. 

Wanda sneaks up on Agatha to enter her mind. They are transported to an ancient memory of Agatha’s of when she first exhibited powers beyond that of her coven’s. “See, the difference between you and me is, you did this on purpose.” Wanda says as she walks around Agatha while she is tied to a pole. The plan backfires on Wanda as the witches rise and instead of attacking Agatha as she had intended, they go after her. A woman with a bright blue crown calls Wanda the Scarlet Witch again and this time a red crown of energy appears on Wanda’s head. She blasts the ghosts away from her and tackles Agatha out of the memory. 

You force all of Vision’s old memories to come back while he has you pinned down on top of a broken table that had a lamp and a few stacks of books sitting on it. You had no idea that you could manipulate technology with your powers but you were still learning so much about them. Vision’s eyes change from the robotic crystalized ones into the eerie human ones that don’t quite match his body. He looks at you and then his hands before he flies through the roof of the library and out of the hex. “Coward,” you scoff as you wipe the blood from the corner of your mouth.

You groan as you get up from the messed up floor and pull the old lamp from your back, tossing it to the ground. The lighting in the building changes and you hobble your way out of the library to see Wanda throwing mass amounts of energy at Agatha. You thrust yourself up to fly to Wanda but she sends you back down. The children come running towards you and little flickers of memories of them spark enough for you to hold them against you to shield them away from whatever Wanda is doing in the sky with the other woman. “It’s okay boys, everything will be okay,” you reassure them even though you had no clue if that was true. The atmosphere continues to redden and you look up to see Wanda hanging there, almost dead. 

Monica asks you what is happening and you have no idea what to tell her but you don’t have much time to answer before a bright light forms around Wanda as energy is being pulled from the other woman and absorbed into the light. Everyone looks up in amazement seeing the purple bleed into the red as it is stolen from the older witch. Then the colors turn into a normal sky as Wanda lands on the ground, promptly dropping Agatha in front of her. You stay with the boys as you continue to watch Wanda. The woman is transformed out of her villainous look and into a more modern woman’s. You see that Wanda herself has changed out of her 80’s look and into something more suitable for her. 

Once Wanda turns around, the boys run into her arms again and she happily embraces them. But you aren’t quite sure what to make of what you’ve just witnessed. She can tell that you are skeptical of her and she steps away from the boys to approach you. “I’m going to fix it. All of it,” she tells you softly. You nod and suggest that maybe it’s time to go home. She agrees and has Tommy and Billy walk ahead of the both of you. As the four of you near the house, the sun goes down and as you and Wanda cross the threshold your outfits change into something a little more domestic. 

You and Wanda take turns tucking in the boys and she gives them a little speech about how family is forever and you out of place. The memories that you were getting back from the sitcom life you lived in Westview were helping you understand things better, but there were many moments of emotions that weren’t your own. You have close to no connection to these children that were a complete figment of Wanda’s imagination. This isn’t at all how you pictured this sort of life with her. But it was almost over and you just hoped that you and her would be able to safely move past this. Something told you otherwise but you weren’t going to rely on that voice in your head. 

Wanda shuts the door as the hex gets closer and closer to the house. You follow her down the stairs as she shuts the lights off along the way. You found it quite odd that she did that seeing as this place would soon be reduced to nothing. “Why did you do it?” You ask her before she shuts the last lamp off. Wanda pauses with a hitch in her breath at the haunting memory. “What made you do this?” 

“I…lost control. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen,” she explains vaguely as she turns around to finally look at you. “I couldn’t lose you again, I still can’t…” she holds your face in her hands. “I just don’t know what happens to you if this place goes.”

You take one of her hands off of your cheek and kiss her palm. “I’m going to be fine, Wanda.” You move it to place over your chest so she can feel your beating heart. “I’m still here, I’m still real.” Tears fell out of her eyes, finding it difficult to believe that you were alive when she watched you die not once, not twice, but three times in front of her. There was no way that was possible. There was no way you would be left standing in one piece once the hex was gone for good. It just couldn’t be. 

But the hex does come down and while the children disappear, you don’t. Nothing happens to you. Wanda wraps you in a tight hug as she cries into your chest. You tell her that everything will be fine before you have her climb into the car. You drive through the town to leave it when she asks you to stop the car as you’re about to pass Monica. She steps out of the vehicle to apologize and promise that she is going to understand her power. 

You drive back to Tony’s cabin since you had nowhere else to go and only stay there for a week, afraid someone from the United States government would come knocking on the door and arrest you and Wanda in front of Morgan.Wanda plays with the little girl a lot, but it isn’t enough distraction to keep her from missing her sons. At night, while she is in your arms, she confesses that she was having a hard time believing they weren’t real. 

“I did grow them in my uterus and I definitely gave birth to them. I felt actual pain giving birth. It was real pain. They were real,” she explains. Instead of correcting her, you just be there for her in this moment of confusion. Who were you to deny her experience? But you knew you couldn’t let it go on for too long or else it might have a negative outcome. 

You purchased an isolated piece of land in Sokovia, which wasn’t difficult and didn’t cost too much. Instead of taking a flight there, you and Wanda gathered both of your belongings and used magic to get to your new home. There was a cozy cabin for the two of you to live in for the time being. Just until things about the Westview situation cooled down. 

The two of you find peace and comfort within each other. Finally able to enjoy a life with each other. Over time, Wanda started to listen when you told her that Tommy and Billy weren’t real. You tried to offer adoption as an option, but she refused, promising that all she needed was you. That’s what a projection of her told you. 

Meanwhile the real Wanda levitated in the magic made basement of the cabin, studying the Darkhold as she searched for Tommy and Billy. She hoped that you would understand when she found them. She hoped that you would be on her side as she accepted the truth about who she is. In the meantime, you lived obliviously happy watching television with the projection of Wanda. Cuddling on the couch and sharing popcorn. “I love you to beyond,” you promise her. 

“I love you to infinity,” Wanda says with a smile and gives you a sweet kiss.

“Because Director, magic is specific, I have to see what she is capable of first. Besides she needs to be on the cusp of reaching her full potential, and in order for her to reach her full potential she has to be at her most vulnerable. What makes a woman more vulnerable than the tragic death of the love of her life?” Agatha holds the bottle out to him again. “It’s already been enchanted specifically for that little girlfriend of hers. All you have to do is ensure that it’s flowing directly into her bloodstream and it should take care of the problem on its own.”

Director Hayward takes the small glass bottle and looks up at Agatha. “How much am I supposed to give her?”

“The whole thing, of course.”

“And you’re positive that Ms. Maximoff will bring the Vision back online?”

“Mmm, more than fifty percent sure but you can never be certain with these things.”

He sighs, unsure if he wants to take such a gamble. If anyone found out that he had a hand in murdering an Avenger everything he has worked for will be in jeopardy. But if he had full control over one of the most powerful man made weapons then it wouldn’t be a problem. “If you can make certain that we get the Vision functioning again then I don’t see why we can’t make a deal. But that fifty percent has to increase.”

Agatha rolled her eyes, Boys and their toys, “Fine. Once I absorb her powers, I will personally see to it that your little robot works again. I’ll even make sure that it works for you and only you.”

Hayward grins, that’s all he needed. He offers his hand to seal the deal and he presses the intercom to call in a few workers he knew were easy to manipulate and will do certain tasks with no questions asked, Agatha leaves the facility with an evil smirk.

----

“I don’t see why we have to participate in this, Wanda.” You frown as you look at your attire for the magic act that Wanda has roped you into doing.

“It’s important to be active members in our community, dear. This is our home now and we have to fit in. Besides, this is for the children. Now let’s take it from the top.” You buzz air out of your lips to show your discontent before following Wanda’s directions. You wave the classic black and white wand around the cabinet and perform the words from the small script Wanda had made. The two of you continue to rehearse a little longer before she remembers about the meeting with the other women in the town. Another thing that she will be dragging you to. You pout and ask not to go but she reminds you again about having to be part of the community and fitting in.

You officially meet Agnes for the first time and get an odd feeling from her and her bunny. A name like Senior Scratchy is kind of sketchy. The feeling quickly passes as she walks the two of you over to Dottie’s house explaining that it is crucial to get her approval in order to fit in with the town. You roll your eyes and mentally prepare yourself for what is to come next.

You sit through the outing with a polite smile as Dottie drones on and on about the set up for the event. Wanda isn’t doing as well at fitting in as you are and the girl next to her tries to make her feel better. There is something familiar about that woman. You just can’t put your finger on it. Lights flash off a memory in your head and try to break their way through whatever is preventing you from remembering. But you are snapped out of it when Agnes tries to offer you her flask. You politely decline.

There is an odd moment when you and Wanda are helping Dottie clean up and someone is calling out to you and Wanda, asking who is doing this. That is a question you would like answered yourself. What even is going on? But it cuts off and Dottie is saying something about a woman getting a stain out herself with a bleeding hand. It was odd, the blood was red when everything else was still black and white. But how could that be? You needed answers and you needed them now. “Wanda, what was that?” You ask on your walk home.

“What was what, dear?” She plays dumb but she couldn’t explain it if she wanted to.

“The thing with the radio, there was someone calling out to us.” You explain further, hoping she doesn’t dismiss it. But she does, she claims that you were just hearing things. You accept the explanation which allows you to remember where you have seen Geraldine before, only that isn’t her name. It’s Monica Rambeau. But what would she be doing here? And why would she change her name?

To change the subject, Wanda asks you what you thought of the girls at the meeting and you laugh. "I think we're going to have to soundproof the house if we're going to keep them from gossiping about us."

"Oh you're naughty," Wanda scrunched her nose. You winked and then she asked what you thought about Agnes. You said that you thought she was great but that's not what you wanted to say. You wanted to warn Wanda of the lack of trust that you have for that woman. But you couldn't. Why couldn't you?

As the two of you pass Agnes’s house you try to use your powers to check in on her. Just to follow your hunch, but you find it difficult to do so. The attempted use of your powers makes you dizzy, so you stop trying and focus on Wanda. She seems happy with this life. The whole thing still feels confusing to you but her smile calms you every time. What did it matter that you had to wear some ridiculous costume and put on a show for a bunch of people that you could care less if you fit in with them? She was happy and that was worth everything.

When you get home the two of you continue to prepare for the show and when you are backstage you begin to feel really nervous. You step away for a moment and run into Agnes. “Oh dear, you don’t look so good. Here, have some of this.” She offers you her flask again but you refuse it. After getting your powers you couldn’t get drunk or even a decent buzz. So liquid courage was no longer something that existed for you. “Trust me, it will help you get through this.” She presses and something makes you take a drink from the flask. Whatever was in it was fast acting because the second you return the flask to her you are being pulled to the stage and you could barely walk straight.

The whole thing is a blur and the most you can remember is shouting the word “flourish,” a lot. Wanda rushed you behind the curtain as soon as the show was over and asked you what happened out there. “I don’t know. I was nervous and then I drank something funny. I’m so sorry, love. I know how much this meant to you,” you say in a whiney voice with tears pooling in your eyes.

“It’s okay, let's just get you home so you can rest this off. Hopefully we can sneak you out of here without an angry mob chasing after us.” Wanda puts your arm around her shoulders and uses her arm to support you.

Dottie calls out to them and they stop as if they had been caught doing something bad. “Nothing like what you two just did up here has ever happened in the history of our talent show.” Wanda starts to apologize on your behalf but Dottie cuts her off. “Hilarious. That was the most hilarious act we’ve ever seen.” She asks if the audience agrees and everyone claps to show that they do. She awards the two of you with the best comedy act and Wanda helps you up the steps. She accepts the award and waves Geraldine over so that she can accept the applause.

“I have to ask. One second, I’m backstage and in the next, I’m in a dark cubby hole. How’d you do it?” Geraldine asks you. To be quite honest you both knew and didn’t know the honest answer to that. Of course, you were aware of what you were capable of with your abilities. But you had no recollection of what she was talking about. Luckily, that thing that makes you talk even when you don’t know what to say happens. Making up the age-old excuse that magicians never reveal their secrets, they leave that up to their assistant.

“And she’s not talking,” Wanda does an adorable shake of her head.

“I had a feeling you’d say that,” Geraldine laughs.

Suddenly you aren’t on the stage but instead are dancing into the house, feeling perfectly normal. What that was about, you had no idea. “I’ve got to say, we do make quite the team, love. Even with all of the shanangines that I pulled.”

“We have been together for a long time. I’d be worried if we could help each other out in a time of need.” She walks around the sofa to sit down and set the trophy on the coffee table. “I don’t know what I was so worried about. It wasn’t hard to fit in after all.”

“And all we had to do was be ourselves,” you say as you join her side and wrap your arm around her shoulders.

“Well, with a few modifications,” the audience laughs and you ignore the fear that the sound strikes. Something was very off but there wasn’t anything you could do about it.

“And it was all,” you start.

“For the children,” the two of you finish together and smile at each other.

“Well, I think the children might need some popcorn,” she stands up to head to the kitchen but something about her catches your eye. There was no way. This could not be possible without a third party, a doctor, and a lab. You call out her name and she stops walking and spins to face you. “Hmm, what?”

You stand up and point to her protruding belly that was flat just moments ago. What the actual flickty flackety fuck? You panic in your head. A montage of Wanda and you talking about kids plays in your head and you place your hands on her bump to ground yourself in this reality. To see how real the bump was. This whole thing felt like a show and maybe this was some sort of prop. But when you laid your palm against her bump it wasn’t a cushion, it was her stomach. How could this be? “Y/n,” Wanda says, looking at you with hopeful eyes. “Is this really happening?” I have no fucking clue, is what you want to say.

Instead you take her hands and gaze lovingly into her eyes, “Yes, my love. It’s really happening.” The two of you are about to share a sweet kiss that is interrupted when there is a loud noise coming from outside. Way to ruin the moment you stupid trees! You grumble in your head as the two of you step outside to check the noise. “If it’s that damn tree again, I’m going to burn it to the ground!” You don’t know what possesses you to walk to the end of the property but Wanda follows you and then you find that it wasn’t a tree that caused the disruption. Someone was climbing out of the sewer. It was a beekeeper with a familiar symbol on his back. You stand behind Wanda and put a protective arm around her and the baby bump. Whoever that man was, it was clear that he was a threat.

“Y/n… Is this really happening?” Wanda asks with that hopeful glint in her eyes. Except there was something a little different, this time it was like she was hoping that you wouldn’t notice what just happened. No, Wanda. This can’t be real.

“Yes, my love. It’s really happening,” you repeat and this time the two of you get to complete your kiss. You wait for the interruption to happen again but it doesn’t. This time colors start appearing. Soon the entire house, including the two of you, is full of colors. She walks back to you and kisses you again and you hold her face as you kiss her back.

Chapter 8