“Hello Crystal, hello Luna.” he said as he entered the room.

“Daddy , you’re back!” his little girl, Luna, shouted as she raced for her father.

Pietro Maximoff scooped up her into his arms and kissed her little nose. His beautiful wife got up off the floor where her and Luna had been playing moments before. She walked towards him and gave him a much needed hug. Pietro looked into her eyes searching for some kind of warmth or love, but not much was there.

“Daddy, your not going to leave again, are you?” his baby asked her father as she held on her father’s gray sweater tightly.

What he wanted to say was “No, baby, Daddy is going to stay with you and mommy forever and ever.” All he could do though was smile and kiss his little girl again.

Crystal smiled, it always made her happy to see Luna and her father together. She knew how much they missed each other when they were apart. She didn’t want to interrupt but, Luna was way past her bedtime.

“Well, Luna it’s time to go to bed. Let’s get you into your PJ’s and brush your teeth. Okay sweetie?” Crystal said as she took Luna way from her father’s arms and into her own.

“Okay Mommy but, I want Daddy to tuck me in tonight.”

Crystal smiled, “Of course, darling.”

Pietro tucked is daughter in and Crystal gave her, her favorite teddy bear.

“And now to give my little Princess a goodnight kiss.” Pietro said as he kissed his daughter softly on the forehead.

“Now you have to your Queen a kiss too, Daddy” Luna giggled.

“My Queen?...Oh!” Pietro finally recognized that she was referring to Crystal.

She looked at her husband almost awkwardly. How long has it been since she’s actually kissed Pietro. Far to long. She couldn’t even remember what his lips tasted like or how he kissed. She wanted to know again but, she wasn’t about to find out in front of her daughter, at least not in the extent and detail, as she’d like too. But her and Pietro were through as far as she was concerned, she wanted to move on , but she didn’t want to disappoint her daughter, so she gave Pietro a short peck on the lips.

Luna clapped her hands, “Goodnight Mommy and Daddy. And Daddy, I’ll see you in the morning.”

How much he wanted to be there in the morning but, as far as he could see no way in hell Crystal would take him back, nor let him stay the night.

The two of them exited Luna’s bedroom and walked silently down the hall. Both waiting for each other to break the silence. It was Crystal who broke it first.

“How long are we going to go on pretending?” she asked her husband.

Pietro looked confused, “ Pretending what?” he asked.

She raised her voice a bit, “Don’t play dumb! How long are we going to pretend that we love each other in front of Luna!”

“I don’t pretend that I love you , Crystal.” Pietro said quietly. “Do you pretend that you love me?”

Crystal paused. Did she love him or not. She came to a conclusion quickly. “I love you because you are the father of our baby and you treat her like a princess...when you’re around,” she had to add. “As far as other love, I think, I have lost it for you my husband. I don’t feel anything when I see you or hug you or even that little kiss I just gave you. There’s nothing. I wish it weren’t that way and I’m not completely sure how this happened but, it might have something to do with you not being there for me always on your own or with the Avengers or X-men, or ,Agon help us, Magneto. Anytime your wife and daughter? I don’t think so.” Crystal said getting madder with each word she spoke.

Pietro didn’t seem to pleased with the way she spoke to him either, getting madder with each word.

Crystal wasn’t sure how far she wanted to rage on, remembering that Pietro gets angry as hell, never has he laid a finger on her though, she knew that he’d never do that, she’d bet her life on it.

“Damn it Crystal!, can’t you see that I love you? I’ve always loved you. Yes, I know I don’t show it as much as you’d like me too, but I do love you, I thought you knew that! From the moment I first laid eyes on you!” he shouted at her and slammed his hand against the wall.

Crystal looked into her husbands eyes. She felt the anger and pain in them. She wanted to give him another chance but, how many chances has he already gotten? More than he deserved. Something snapped in side her though. She wasn’t being completely fair. How many times has she been unfaithful to him? Norm Webster, Dane Whitman, and a few more than she’d like to remember. Pietro has always come back to her. Why ? She knew why. He loved her.

“I ‘m sorry, Crystal, I shouldn’t have gotten so angry with you. I realize our marriage has not been a success, but you have to understand that what ever happens between us, a divorce or otherwise, that I will always love you and no one else.” Pietro said in his thick Transian accent, that he normally tries not to speak with.

That accent. That thick sexy accent. The one that drove Crystal crazy with passion. Oh how she loved that accent. She remembered the first time that she spoke to Pietro, and how when she first heard his accent , how it made her feel. Hearing it again made Crystal want to shower his face with kisses. She thought about how Pietro would react if she did this. She thought about it and decided that she shouldn’t. However it made her realize that she did love Pietro and she did want to give him another chance.

“Pietro, I want to start over, I want us to try again, I want to be your wife, that is if you’ll have me still.” Crystal said biting her bottom lip and waiting for her husband to reply.

Pietro said nothing, but just starred into her eyes. And then like a flash of lighting they were in each other’s arms, kissing.

“Crystal, I will be the man you deserve.” He told his wife in between kisses.

Crystal, loving every moment of it said to her husband, “I know you will.” She was sure of it this time.

“It’s getting late, darling,” Pietro said as he kissed Crystal one last time, “I should be getting back to the Avengers but, I promise you my wife, I will return to you, as soon as I tell them that I need some time off”

Crystal sighed, “Pietro, can’t you just call them and let them know your going to stay here tonight?”

“I would, but I didn’t plan on staying, I didn’t bring anything with me,” Pietro said as he walked towards the door, “I will be back, possibly this weekend.”

She blew a kiss to her husband, “Suit your self,” she said to him as she pulled off her shirt, “I’m going to bed.”

Pietro just stood there looking at his wife’s body like it was the first time. She was beautiful. Crystal gave Pietro a devilish smile and turned into her room. Pietro still starring like she was still in front of him finally snapped out of his trance. He knew what she wanted and he wanted the same thing. How could he resist. He followed her into the bed room.

“Let’s try and not wake Luna,” Crystal said to her husband from behind the closed door, “and honey, *try* and go slow.”

And so it went.

~FINIS~