Interlude - Slow progress.

"Now first things first...." I said, scanning the room.

We were all sitting on the the veranda of the citadel having some tea time as we basked in the glow of the perpetual sunset on the horizon, having finished rescue operations in Sokovia. Now all that was left was the rebuilding, something I left to the government of Sokovia and the UN security council.

Of course, I confiscated all of the tech Ultron had made, making sure not a single bit was left for the UN and their pet dog, Nick Fury.

I had also copied and deleted all of the data in Stark Tower and all the Hydra bases Ultron was using, before wiping out all A.I.s on the planet.

And yes. There were multiple.

Namely the ones the Skrulls had to pilot their ships.

Easy pickings.

Maybe I'll use them to teach Star how to integrate alien tech into his arsenal.

Maybe later.

I smiled, looking at my little baby, eagerly drinking his hot chocolate.

He had a foam mustache on him face from the drink as he took another sip.

So precious!

So cute!

I wiped his face with a napkin, and continued.

"What you did today, going after Ultron, without my permission.....I don't like it." I said, as Riley opened her mouth to say something, but I stopped her raising a hand.

"I know he couldn't hurt you physically but there are more ways to hurt you than with brute force. Psychological attacks, cognitohazards, infohazards, a billion other ways.

What if you got hurt? Did you think how that would make me feel?" I asked, crossing my arms.

They hung their heads, and muttered little apologies.

"Good. You know how much I love you all. I just want you to be safe, okay? If any of you so much as got scratched up, I'd have wiped out this reality and moved on." I said, caressing their heads as they shivered at the thought.

"Yes Papa." They replied.

I smiled.

"But....I would be lying if I said I wasn't proud of you. You chose to help evacuate people rather than jump into the fight.

It was a wise decision. Always avoid a fight if possible. You never know what could go wrong there."

They looked up at me with happy faces, nodding and I felt content for the first time in months.

Yep. My kids were safe. They were growing up well, and I was happy for that.

I relaxed, letting out a breath I had been holding for a while as my shoulders slumped back.

"You did good today. All of you." I said, pulling them into a hug, kissing their foreheads even as Saraswati's hair cut into my lab coat.

With that, I turned to Wanda and Pietro, who watched on with soft smiles, catching their attention with a snap.

"As for you two.....you both will be on poop duty in the monster enclosure for the week."

"What?" Wanda exclaimed.

"I should have known." Pietro sighed.

"Yeah, you should have. What were you thinking? Putting my children in danger, in a battlefield?! Are you nuts? I mean look at them. Their collective age is a little over seven years. And you took them to fight an A.I. robot army that could have well used nukes if it wanted!

Their forcefields can withstand a couple of nukes sure, but their bodies!

Before they can react, the heat and radiation will melt them inside out once the forcefields break from the constant heat and nuclear winds.

Did you consider that? No? Thought so. Good thing I deployed anti air defenses in Sokovia or else who knows what Ultron might have done."

"Papa! We went with them on our own!" Riley interjected.

"Yeah. We wanted to help. It's not their fault!" Ace added.

"It was a fight for justice!" Saraswati cheered.

I looked at her and sighed.

"I know. But if they behave like children, and don't think about what they do, then I will treat them like children and punish them for it." I replied with a huff.

"Look we're sorry. But what were we supposed to do, watch as he turned our country to a wasteland?" Wanda asked, annoyed.

"You were supposed to call me." I replied calmly, "Or do you think I wouldn't have helped you out with it? I literally risked fighting an ancient order of wizards to get you your education, Wanda. You think I would've thrown you to the dogs against a measly A.I.?"

At that, their eyes went wide in realisation and shame.

"I'm sorry." Wanda replied.

"Yeah. It was the wrong move. Maybe we could have saved those kids if we called you." Pietro said, his head hung low.

Pietro is being uncharacteristically insightful.

Wow. Guess dying really shook him up, huh?

Now that I think about it, they have gone through so much already....

Maybe that's punishment enough.

"Good. At least you're thinking about it." I sighed, looking at the regret on Pietro's face, "I will cancel your punishment. For now. But don't repeat this, okay?"

"Yeah." Pietro muttered, lost in thought.

"Thank you." Wanda added.

I leaned back in the chair and rubbed Star's head as I looked on at the two.

Look's like there's two more seat in Dr. Wong's sessions from now on.

I chuckled.

She's gonna hate it to all hell.

"And you two...." I said, looking up at them, "I'm glad you came back safe too. I can understand what you feel, doesn't mean I condine what you did. But I get it.

Just don't die on me will you? The ship feels fuller, homier with you around. And I for one, like that. A lot." I said, playing patch up.

"So let me be the first to say this. Because it's not everyday you survive an experience of a lifetime and return to tell about it." I smiled warmly at the two.

"Welcome home!"

.

As they turned in for the night, a bit early for the day given it was barely eight, Wanda lay on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, running the day's events through her head.

Today was....a wild day.

A real rollercoaster ride.

First Ultron, then Pietro's death, the prophecy and the conspiracy, the future - her future, and finally, the scolding she had recieved.

It was a lot to take in.

A storm of emotions bubbled within her. She ran her hands over her face and turned to the door, thinking.

The soft bed. The clean walls. Lighting that didn't flicker every two seconds.

And the warm feeling in her chest as she thought back to him.

The man who had given her all of this. Even saved her brother's life.

The prophecy....she didn't like it.

But the future the Ancient One foretold.

If it was true....if she could find her happily ever after with Jay.....

She liked the kids.

She liked him well enough, maybe even a bit more....

He was cute....and handsome and tall.

And he loved his kids and....

If he asked....

She blushed, cupping her face.

No.

Wanda shook her head. He has a wife.

He loves his wife.

It's not her place.

She was content with how things were. She didn't want to destroy what they had.

But looking back, she also realised something else.

She was relying on someone else for her happiness.

If growing up in Sokovia taught her anything, it was that you can't rely on others for anything. Only her and her brother. Only family.

Memories swirled in her head.

The day they had first met Jay, the things he taught them....his dream.

And that brought her to her own dream.

She wanted to be the ideal housewife. But what had she done about making that dream a reality?

Jay was risking his life for his dream, but she...she just stood by and waited for her happiness to fall into her lap.

No.

Not anymore.

Seeing Pietro die today...it had shaken her.

So fleeting, so fragile....their lives.

They could die anytime.

And she didn't intend to die with regrets.

She resolved.

I will get what I want, with my own two hands.

Just like Jay taught me.

If she wanted to be a housewife, she needed to learn to be one first!

Tomorrow, she would ask Jay to teach her.

Then.....

Her imagination ran wild as she daydreamed about her future.

-

A small suburban house. Her in the kitchen, wearing a floral print apron, baking some cookies.

The kids, playing in the living room, or watching tv.

The doorbell rings.

"Coming!" She cries, pulling out the fresh baked cookies from the oven.

"Papa!" She hears a voice, her son's voice as the door opens.

She discards the mittens and exits the kitchen with a cookie in hand, chastising her daughters for laying splayed on the floor in an unladylike fashion as she stuffs the cookie into her husband's mouth, absentmindedly.

"How is it?" She asks, giving him a hug, sandwiching their son in the middle

"It's delicious, darling." He replies....in a familiar voice, as she turns to look up at him and blushes happily as she recognises the face.

Jay!

Her dream breaks as she shakes her head.

No!

-

"That Ancient One and her prophecies!

Now I can't stop thinking about it....about him. She must have put a spell on me!" Wanda thought, immediately scanning herself for any signs of magic as if it was a second nature to her.

Another habit Jay had instilled in her.

It was annoying that he made her do it everytime she returned from the Sanctum but she understood his worries. Even more so now.

Unfortunately for her, she didn't find any spells or curses on her person.

She furrowed her brows.

This can't be right!

She thought of Jay, and shook her head.

It's....not right!

She cried internally, as a blush creeped up her face and she felt fuzzy and warm.

"Unnnn!" She cried, burying her face in her pillow.

Stupid, stupid brain!

Stop making me think about this!

.

Pietro couldn't let it go.

The faces of those children. The emotiness he felt when he came back to life. The tears of his sister...

It was all so confusing.

But he knew one thing. He had failed.

All of them.

And he didn't know what to do.

It was haunting him, he couldn't get it out of his head.

The feeling of worthlessness.....

What was he even doing here?

On this ship...in this life.

What did he want ....to do?

Maybe....maybe Boss held the answer.

Yes.

He must have.

Boss knew everything.

Pietro nodded and zoomed out of his room and over to Boss's.

Knocking on the door, Boss opened up.

"Can we talk?" Pietro asked.

He looked at him, made a 'Aha!' sound, as if he already knew it, and ushered him in.

"I was expecting you sometime tomorrow...but it's great that you came today. Gives us more time to talk it out." He said, pouring him a cup of coffee from a thermos.

Why did he have coffee?

Doesn't it stop people from sleeping?

Then again, Boss was smarter than him. He must know better.

"You know why I'm here?!" Pietro asked, surprised before settling down almost immediately.

Of course he knew. Boss knows everything!

"Boss. I have a problem...." Pietro began.

"Regarding the situation with the kids? Earlier in Sokovia?"

Pietro nodded.

"Look, buddy, I already told you, that's not your fault. It's Tony Stark's. He made Ultron. He killed those kids. Those people."

"I know but...it doesn't stop this feeling.... like a hole in my chest..." Pietro tried to explain.

"Heh! I thought I healed that injury." Boss joked, taking a sip of his coffee.

"But fine..." He leaned back in his chair.

"Tell me what exactly it is that you think is causing this. What are you thinking when you feel that way?"

Pietro nodded and thought back for a moment.

"I feel like....a failure. Like I lost...am lost. I don't know what I am doing or why I am doing it?" He explained.

"That's okay, Pietro. Everyone feels like that sometimes." Boss assured him, "But if this is anything more....hmmm, how about you tell me something more specific. What led you to this? Something in your past maybe?"

"Maybe." Pietro muttered, "This...before this, I had no choice, no future to do anything. So I thought, no point thinking about the future. I'll probably be dead before thirty in some air strike. What is the point of planning it out?

I just wanted to help others...my country.

But then you came along and gave me this power and ....and this training.

So I tried to help, like always. But everytime I try it all goes wrong. So wrong.

Those kids...the human traffickers....even the mirror guy I helped Flash fight. It...I can't do anything right.

But then...when I tried to save those kids....I felt better. Like I was doing something right. Like I wasn't a failure. That...that I, my life meant something if I could make those kids have the future I didn't get. A death with...purpose" Pietro replied, surprising himself with the depth he had pulled from.

"A meaningful death.... it's something a lot of people choose. It's simultaneously the easiest and the hardest way out of this torture that is existence." Boss chuckled.

Pietro could understand.

"But then...seeing Wanda cry over me....it broke my heart. Now...I don't know what to do? I don't know what my future should be...and I don't want Wanda to be sad.

But I also want to do something with my life that isn't .... worthless. I don't want to grow old and die without doing anything, saving anyone. Boss, this gift of power...I want to use it to help. But I don't know how. And everytime I try I mess up and hurt others, hurt Wanda.

I just want to be happy, I want Wanda to be happy.

She has a dream, she wants kids and a big family and all the American tv show stuff.

But I don't know what I want anymore.

Now, after dying and returning....I just feel empty, you know?

And I thought...you knew. You jumped in the way of Death to save Riley....I thought maybe you could tell me, teach me how to not feel that way... " Pietro poured it all out.

Boss looked at him with a surprised look on his face as he fell into thought and Pietro waited nervously for an answer, every second of silence felt like hours until finally, Boss sighed.

"Yeah, I get that. When my wife died, I felt the same. Empty, lost, like there was no meaning to living without her. And I hurt Star. I abandoned him with a friend and I drowned myself in work and revenge.

Only after the...uh...friend helped me....came and pulled me out of my misery, and I saw Star, teary eyed, waiting for me...I realized. There was a reason I was here. And it wasn't just my dream. It was also my responsibility to my son. To Star." Boss rubbed his eyes, and took a sip of coffee.

"Him being there, having that family, someone to care for, it helped me out.

I don't care if the world ends, so long as my son is safe, even if I have to die for it. And that....you already have it. Wanda is to you what Star is to me.

That's why you feel like shit, seeing her cry.

And it's okay. Not having an ambition or future doesn't make you a failure.

Giving up on it does.

You want to help others? Great.

But just remember, there will come a day when you will need to choose.

When you find a goal worthy of sacrifice.

Wanda's feelings or a greater purpose.

And that choice, it's up to you."

Pietro thought about it....and he didn't know what he would do.

He was a little less lost but now he had more questions than answers.

And it felt rude to impose on Boss for it all.

As if he knew what Pietro was thinking, Boss smiled reassuringly.

"Think about it. Take your time.

There is no hurry Pietro. You are young. You have a whole life ahead of you. Just..." Boss rustled through his drawer and pulled out a bottle of pills.

"Take one. It will help you sleep. And if this ever becomes a worry, come to me anytime. Don't hesitate." He reached out and patted Pietro on the shoulder.

So kind. And warm.

Pietro felt glad he had chosen to follow him.

The powers were also a plus.

But now, knowing him, he would do it even without them.

Then like lightning, realisation struck.

Boss had a dream.

And Pietro himself did not.

Boss had succeeded where Pietro had failed.

Pietro thought for a moment.

If he couldn't make it work, if he was lost, why not help Boss achieve his dream?

Yes. With Boss, everything felt like it was going right. Planned and prepared.

Like nothing could ever go wrong.

Because Boss knows everything.

Pietro smiled and nodded.

He had decided.

"Now finish your coffee and go sleep. Or play games till you fall asleep."

His boss chuckled.

And Pietro smiled back, downing the coffee in one gulp, full of energy as he rushed back out.

.

Star tossed and turned in his bed, but couldn't sleep.

"Umu!" He cried, throwing off the blanket.

He didn't want to sleep!

It was eight o'clock.

Why was he being forced to sleep now?!

He wanted to play games. With Papa and uncle Pitru!

"Uhun!" He nodded decisively.

Jumping off his bed, he ran outside making his way to Papa's room.

But it was empty.

Maybe the workshop?

No.

It was empty too.

Hmm... Where's Papa?

Star thought hard, poking his head with his little hands, nodding side to side, using the force and felt a nudge leading him on.

Following it he came to the oprashun room.

Was Papa cutting monsters open?

If so, he didn't want to go in.

It was always stinky when he did that!

As he neared it though he saw three figures huddled up by the door, peeking in.

His three sisters. The two big sisters, Riley, and Ace and the shiny little one, Saraswati.

She had the same name as the ship, which was weird.

He remembered Papa saying something big and weird too.

Ship soul and mind transfer and stuff.

Big words he didn't understand.

But Papa knew best. As long as Papa is there, he didn't need to think too hard.

Except on how to get into the microverse.

Star frowned. Papa had blocked him from it after he had eaten too much ice cream in the miniversh and gotten a tummy ache.

And even after he promised that he wouldn't do it again Papa didn't allow him to go there anymore.

He pouted.

He was still mad about it.

He looked back up at his sisters and floated over silently trying to scare them.

But big sis Ace found him first.

"Star, shh....come here." She said in his mind.

He still didn't understand how she did it. He couldn't copy it either!

He only gave big sis Ace a head ache when he tried it, and she rolled around on the ground crying.

It was weird! And funny!

"What are you looking at?" He asked innocently, curious, peeking in as well.

In the room, he saw Papa, and immediately, jumped up rushing in.

But big sis Riley stopped him.

He frowned.

"Why?" He asked.

"Wait and watch. Papa doesn't know we are here."

"Then I will go tell him!" Star offered a solution, chirping happily.

But big sis Riley covered gis mouth, pulling him into a hug.

Star liked hugs.

He turned to his sister and hugged her back, nuzzling into her chest.

She made a happy noise.

Star knew that one.

He smiled.

He was happy too.

"Papa doesn't want us to know he comes here. I want to know why!" Big sis Riley said, and Star was hooked.

He wanted to know too!

He leaned out, peeking into the room and saw Papa sitting in the corner by a bed with a fat person on it.

They were a very weird fat person.

Their belly was poking out like an anthill, but their body was so thin!

He reached out with his power and felt for the person, recognizing them instantly.

"Mama!" He cried out, but big sis Riley covered his mouth again, "She's back!"

"Mama is back!" He turned to his sister and pointed out.

"Yes. Mama is back. But you have to stay here first and watch." She shushed him.

"Why?" He asked quietly, "I wanna meet Mama! I miss Mama!"

"Please Star. For me?" His sister asked.

And Star gave in.

"Okay....but later can I meet Mama?" "Of course." Big sis Riley promised.

"Saraswati?" She asked.

"Yes. Here." Small sister Saraswati nodded, handing them an earpiece.

Star put it on absentmindedly as Papa's voice came through it.

He could hear him sniffle.

"...and Star.... he's growing up so fast. He's gotten so much taller." He heard Papa's voice break, "I just wish you were here. The kids....they need a mother. Last week, Star...he ate so much ice cream it gave him diabetes! If he wasn't a demigod, he'd have fainted, maybe even died. And I got scared. I was so scared, Offee. I cured him immediately of course, don't you worry. But.... I don't know .....

You were always the disciplinarian of the family. He always listened to you. How did you do it? How do I do it?"

Papa is....crying?

"No! Papa, don't cry!" Star whispered.

"They need you, baby." He heard Papa say, "The kids.....and I need you too. Offee. Please wake up....please. Don't keep me waiting. It hurts to see you like this. I know you're in there, somewhere. Come back to me.... please."

Star couldn't watch anymore.

He didn't want Papa to cry.

He pushed against big sis Riley, breaking out of her hug and she reached out to catch him. But she was too slow.

Star knew it too.

He was fast.

And he could go faster!

"Star wai-" she cried out and Papa turned to him.

He was crying!

No.

Star knew just how to stop it.

"Papa!" He jumped into his Papa's arms.

"Star?!"

"Don't cry! You promised!" Star reminded.

Papa wiped his tears as Star hugged him and Star felt his Papa's heartbeat slow down.

He smiled happily. He knew it would work.

It always works!

It's the magical power of hugs!

He felt his Papa's arms wrap around him.

"I'm sorry, Star... I'm sorry." His felt his Papa's head rest on his.

And Star nodded.

"Uhun!"

Star to the rescue again!

____________________

An extra large interlude, coming right up!

3.8k words!

I tried to make some character growth parts here, and some examples for how they behave and feel.

MC is obviously not over his wife. And when no one is watching he visits her and tells her their day to day life, and listens to his baby daughter kick in his wife's womb.

MC isn't an emotionless monster he just keeps everything private. Very private.

Tell me what you think!

I have been losing viewers recently so I was wondering if there was something wrong or anything.

Anyways.

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