When your dad came back from his trip to MIT, he wasn't the same somehow. He seemed really serious and was quieter than you were used to. The giant hug you usually got as the first thing when he walked through the door wasn't as energetic. He smiled when he saw you, but it was sad and didn't last long. Vision tried to reassure you and say that he was probably just tired from travelling, but you could tell that there was more going on that that. He had a bed on his private jet, so he should've slept just fine if he was that tired.

"Dad, was it a bad meeting?"

"No, sweetheart, it wasn't," he sighed as he unpacked his suitcase. "It was just boring, like I said it would be."

"You sure that's it?"

"I'm sure...why?" Tony set his clothes back down on the pile and turned to you, his eyebrow cocked up skeptically as he waited for your answer. "Did Vision say something to you? Wanda?"

"Why would there be something to say to me if nothing is going on?"

"Don't answer my question with a question, young lady."

"Then don't lie to me...older...person..."

Tony tried to hold his resolve, he really did, but dammit if you weren't the most entertaining kid he'd ever known, and he couldn't hold back his laugher. You were also the only one to see so clearly through his bullshit, and at such a young age it only meant that he still had a lifetime of this to try to survive. "I wasn't lying," he began again, wiping the smile off his face, "it really was boring."

"Dad, come on."

He turned back to his work and collected the stack of shirts he had abandoned, sighing heavily as he carried them carefully to his dresser. You stood up from the chair you had been in and went to the suitcase, grabbing the rest to help. "Thanks, honey."

"Sure," you shrugged, "if you don't tell me, it's okay. I'll just ask Viz."

"So, he's 'Viz' now? I suppose that's good progress."

"Yeah, he's alright."

"I'm sure he'd be happy to know that he's gained your approval after all this time. What did he do to make that happen?"

"Him and Wanda made a big ice cream sundae table and we ate almost all of it. There was like, ten bowls of ice cream so Viz had to help us before it all melted."

Tony's hands stopped their work and he stood straighter, his mind trying to see that scene as it likely played out, and he kept stumbling over one small detail. "Wait, Vision ate too? I didn't know he could do that."

"Yeah, he sure can," you answered emphatically. "Did you know that he doesn't even have to poop when he's done?"

With that, his laughter exploded out, the shirts dropping carelessly into the drawer so that he could hold himself up as the waves hit him and choked his air. Looking at you didn't help the situation at all, with you giving him a completely serious look that made it clear that you hadn't meant that with any humor in the least. It only made the whole thing that much funnier to him and there was no stopping it now.

"Um...well...I can't say that I've ever thought about it...honey," he stumbled over his words, "but you know what? At least now I'll never, ever, ever have to ask."

~~~

"No, darling, just a pinch of Paprika," Vision directed, "we don't want to deter from the recipe as it's written."

"Sorry, Viz, I thought that's what I had," you said. "Did I wreck it?"

"No, I'm sure that you haven't. If so, we shall simply start again."

"M'kay."

"Is that Paprikash?" Wanda asked as she entered the kitchen, her curiosity piqued. "I could smell something wonderful cooking all the way from my room. I had no idea that it was the two of you up to something, but perhaps I should have known."

Vision smiled gently as he watched her move to stand next to him. He put one hand softly against your back and the other on hers, finding himself feeling very content in the moment with you both. The feelings that he had been having of late were new to him and he wasn't sure how to process them or what they truly meant, but he was certain of one thing; he cared for each of you more than anyone else in his life. "We thought it might lift your spirits."

You handed Wanda the spoon from the large pot and left just a small amount of soup on it for her to taste. She took it readily and gave it a gentle blow of air to cool it before bringing it to her lips with a smile. "Mmm, spirits lifted."

"In my defense, I've never eaten this before," he defended, looking to you with a little worry that maybe starting over was a good idea that was too readily dismissed. When she kept the spoon and began adding more spices, he stepped back to take a seat while you watched and learned from her work. "Wanda?"

"Hmm?"

"No one dislikes you, Wanda."

You closed your eyes and groaned quietly at his lack of tact; even at this young age, you could have brought this up so much more eloquently. Tensions around the compound had been really high since the big meeting that made Steve and Sam leave, and you didn't know why. All you knew was that Wanda was sadder now, and not much was making it any better.

"Thanks."

"Oh, you're welcome," he deadpanned. "No, it's an involuntary response in their amygdala, they can't help but be afraid of you."

"Are you?" She looked to Vision first, then to you, her eyes actually carrying concern that either one of you might just say yes.

"My amygdala is synthetic, so..."

"What's an amygdala?" you asked genuinely. "I'm not afraid of you, Wanda, so maybe mine is broken. Even if it's working, I'm not afraid of you anyway."

"Thank you, love," Wanda smiled. "If you ever feel that way, please tell me. I would never want to make you afraid of me." She was satisfied with your response when you gave her a simple nod in reply, once again watching her hands as she returned to work on the soup. "I used to think of myself one way...but after this...I am something else. I'm still me, I think. That's not what everyone else sees."

"Wanda," you interrupted, "it doesn't matter what everyone else sees. My dad tells me all the time that as long as I know that I'm being a good person who helps other people, and I'm making myself smarter by working hard to learn, and I'm thankful for what I have even if it isn't everything I want, then it doesn't matter what anyone thinks. You should listen to my dad, he knows what he's talking about. Most of the time, anyway."

"Hmm, I suppose it's good that he believes that," she answered, "especially now."

"What do you mean?"

"(Y/N)," Vision broke in, exchanging a knowing glance with Wanda, "perhaps it's best if Wanda and I finish this on our own. If I remember correctly, you have homework that's due in the morning."

"Ugh, come on, I wanted to help!"

"You did help, dear, with the most difficult part. I could never have had this much done without you."

"Alright," you grumbled, hopping down from your chair, "but you'll come say goodnight later, right? Both of you?"

The two turned to you with genuine smiles, though the hint of anguish behind their expressions wasn't lost on you. After spending so much time around Tony and Steve, reading how people really felt had become something of a talent of yours. It was okay if they didn't tell you outright what was going on; you were Tony Stark's kid, and you'd figure it out on your own.

"Of course, darling," Vision answered, "both of us."

~~~

Vision didn't make promises that he couldn't keep, so when bedtime had come and gone, you worried that something happened to him. FRIDAY had reassured you that he was downstairs with Wanda, and that nothing out of the ordinary was happening, so you waited for her to send them both a reminder about what time it was. You were just about to fall into sleep when a commotion downstairs caught your attention; FRIDAY tried to convince you to stay in your room with locking the door, but your dad had made the mistake of saying the override commands to his system a little too loudly once, and you committed them to memory for times just like this.

You rushed down the long hallway and towards the elevator, agonizing each second that ticked by like a minute each while you were waiting for the door to open. The commotion had grown louder, and a bright blue flash filled the lower level enough to catch your attention. When the lift still wouldn't appear, you realized that FRIDAY had likely locked it down so you ran to the nearest stairwell in the spirit of saving time, bounding down each step and rushing through the door only to halt cold at the sight before you. Vision had his arm around your Uncle Clint's throat, while Wanda was watching with a terrified look on her face.

"Clint, you cannot overpower me."

"I know I can't," he struggled, "but she can."

Whatever it was that you were watching, it couldn't be right. Why would Vision be trying to hurt Clint? What was Clint trying to do? Why would they be fighting at all? You hadn't seen your Uncle Clint in a long time, but the last time he was here everything was okay.

"Vision, that's enough, let him go. I'm leaving."

"I can't let you."

"Wanda!" you cried out to her, but with so much happening she didn't hear you. Her focus was on only one thing; only one person, and she was being so careful to not hurt him. If she hurt Vision, you would never forgive her.

"If you do this..." Vision strained, his body crumbling, "they will never stop...being afraid of you."

"Vision, no!"

You saw his eyes dart to you for a split second and time stopped. You could hear Wanda's voice, but your focus was completely on Vision and the sense of loss that was beginning to wash over you again. In that second of joined gaze, he tried to reassure you with a look, to let you know that he would be okay, but all you could see was a future without him, just as you had faced without JARVIS. It was a terrible history repeating itself, and you were once again helpless to stop it.

~~~

You sat at the precipice of where Vision had disappeared, looking down into the vastness with eager eyes to see so much as a flash of movement; anything to let you know that he had survived what Wanda had done. It was hard to get a clear line of sight through your tears, and your sleeves were fully soaked and useless to catch any more.

"Viz?" you whispered, once your voice had gone nearly mute from screaming his name too many times. He had yet to answer, but you had no idea how long it had been that you had been trying to reach him. "FRIDAY?"

"Yes, miss?"

"Is he alive? You can be honest with me if he's not. I'll be okay."

"Scanning for life signs," she answered quietly. The wait was excruciating, even though it was a mere matter of seconds before she had her reply. "He's alive, but his systems have taken a significant shock. His body is in a repair mode."

"So...you mean he'll wake up when it's done?"

"I believe so, yes."

From that moment, you waited...and waited. You began to worry that maybe FRIDAY was wrong, and that what she thought was Vision was something else down there trying to reboot, like one of your dad's computers or something. FRIDAY was no JARVIS, but she was still smarter than that, so you had to take her word for it. If Vision was alive down there, then there was no way that he would give up trying to get back to you to show you that he was okay. Vision promised over and over that he was your protector over all else, even if that meant protecting you from your own fears.

Which is why you couldn't understand when he finally emerged, shooting up and through the ceiling in a deafening crash, leaving you behind to fend for yourself without any explanation. It wasn't until Happy showed up at the door that you understood that it was happening all over again; you had no idea where your dad was, and you didn't know if you'd ever see Vision again.