The rest of the day went extremely slow for Pietro. Day pasted and night came, and it was dragging on just as slow as day did. He couldn’t stand it any longer, he decided to go to sleep; maybe tomorrow would be a better day. He was feeling a lot better, he hated to admit it, but talking about his problems had helped.

He slipped out of his uniform, threw on his pajamas, and climbed into bed. Crystal was on monitor duty and wouldn’t be done until midnight. He forgave her; she had done the right thing by telling Cap. He was slightly upset at himself for being mad at her in the first place; after all it showed she did care for him. Pietro closed his eyes and tried to clear his thoughts to focus on sleeping.

Pietro woke to the golden sunlight filtering into the room. He smiled, for the first night in weeks he had gotten a decent night sleep, no nightmares, in fact he couldn’t even remember having a dream. He sat up in bed and stretched, letting the golden warm light shine on to his face. A soft tickle at his side interrupted his stretching.

“Good morning, lover.” It was Crystal. He was amazed how she could look so perfect in the morning before even actually getting out of bed. “Did you sleep well?”

“Yes,” he said while he kissed her sweet lips. “I don’t think I have ever slept better.”

Crystal sat up, “I’m so happy to hear that. Do you want to go down stairs and get some breakfast?” She said as she got out of bed and switching on the radio, (which she did every morning as she got ready for the day). Crystal’s heart jumped when she heard what song was playing. “Ice Cream” by Sarah Mc Lachlan. It was the first song that Pietro and she had heard after the decided to work things out. They adopted it as “their song”, (which fit them so well).

Crystal walked over to the bed were her husband still laid, and kissed him on the forehead. “Honey, lets dance.” She asked him as she began to pull him out of bed.

Pietro couldn’t refuse his wife’s offer. He got out of bed and took Crystal in his arms and began to dance slowly to “their song”. He actually didn’t mind dancing; in fact he rather liked it.

“We look silly.” Crystal giggled, as she looked at how they were dressed. She still had her short, satin, light blue, nightgown on and he was only wearing his boxers.

Pietro grinned and kept on dancing. Yes today had been perfect so far. As the song ended. Pietro scooped his wife up into his arms and gave her a deep passionate kiss.

He set her down on the bed after the kiss; his body still tingled from sensation and headed for the closet to get dressed. He was about to get into his uniform, but opted for a white polo shirt and khakis, today he was going to be Pietro Maximoff, not Quicksilver.

Crystal smiled as she saw that her husband decided to dress casual, instead of his work clothes. She usually saw him in his uniform but, when he did dress down, he looked incredibly sexy. She walked over to her dresser and slipped on a pair of black pants and a fitted red t-shirt. “Do you want to go down stairs now, my love?” She asked Pietro.

He nodded his head yes and took her hand in his.

Together the married couple exited the room, hand in hand, and headed for the kitchen. They reached the bottom of the stairs, only to find Jarvis not dressed in his butler garb and heading out the door.

“Where are you going Jarvis?” Crystal smiled.

“Master Rogers kindly gave me the day off. So I’m heading into town to meet a few of my friends.”

Crystal was about to say something but was interrupted.

“Another Butlers of America meeting, Jarvis?” Cracked Hank Pym who was emerging from the kitchen. “Looks like us Avengers will have to fend for ourselves today.”

“I’m sure you’ll manage, Master Pym.” Jarvis said as he waved good-bye.

“We’re doomed.” Hank cracked once again, as soon as Jarvis was at the end of the driveway and heading out on to the main road.

“Aww c’mon, Hank, I’m sure we can get long just fine for a day with out Jarvis. Maybe Pietro hasn’t told you, but I’m a wonderful cook.” Crystal said proudly.

Pietro raised his eyebrow at his wife’s last remark. The last time Crystal cooked, the eggs were runny and the toast had a nice char to it. He never said anything about it to her; he was too polite to do that. “So who’s up for cereal?” Pietro joked.

Hank was astonished. Pietro actually made a joke. That didn’t happen often. “I take it your feeling better, Petey?”

“Much better, but starved. I haven’t been eating much lately.” Pietro said as he headed into the kitchen.

“I’m gonna get Jan up. I let her sleep until ten yesterday, but I ain’t gonna do it to day.” Hank laughed as he headed back up the stairs.

“I‘m going to get Luna and Wanda; it would be nice to eat as a family this morning; seeing that we don‘t get to do that often. Plus Wanda will be ecstatic to hear that you‘re feeling well.” Crystal kissed her husband’s cheek. “When I get back I promise I‘ll make those scrambled eggs you love so much.” She said as she headed out the door.

As soon as Crystal was out of sight, Pietro started to raid through the cabinets and cupboards looking for some breakfast. He really didn’t feel like suffering through another one of Crystals’ meals.

Pietro found where the cereal was stashed. Now all he had to do was figure out which one he wanted to eat. Maybe he’d settle for Wheaties. Just before he poured some into a bowl, he noticed a post-it attached to the side of the box:

Pietro almost had to laugh. How typical; Cap has to eat his Wheaties in order to save the world from the forces of evil. Pietro put the box back and rummaged through the cereals looking for something else to eat. *Lucky Charms, I haven’t had these in a while. * He thought as remembered how he secretly loved those little marshmallows. Of course, if someone saw him eating it, he’d never hear the end of it.

He’d have to be fast. No problem.

Pietro poured some into a bowl and started to shovel a spoon-full into his mouth. The kitchen door swung open, just as he was about to finish.

“They’re magically delicious!!!” Hank Pym sung in an Irish accent, as he came into the room and sat down at the table.

Pietro scowled at him. “Your accent was horrible.” He said rinsing his bowl and putting it into the sink.

Hank continued to speak with the horrible accent. “Ye know boyo, I’m not no Sean Cassidy but I’d say I’d make a pretty good Irish lad.” Hank poured himself some coffee.

Pietro shook his head. “So... what are you doing today?” He asked just to change the subject and hopefully from preventing Hank from speaking with the accent.

“Umm...I have some stuff to do in the lab and hopefully that’s it.” Returning to his normal voice Hank answered. “What about y...”

‘You’ he was about to say, if he wasn’t cut off by Crystal’s screaming.

“Sweet Agon!!!, PIETRO!!!!!!” She screamed. “She’s gone.”

Like lightning Quicksilver sprang out of his chair, through the kitchen doors, and up the stairs. He almost skidded past the room, which his wife was standing in.

“Crystal, what is it?” He asked impatiently.

Tears streamed down Crystal’s cheek. “She’s gone. Luna is gone.”

Pietro glanced around. “Perhaps, she is in another room?”

“No, No she isn’t. I told her to stay in here while I got Wanda and when I came back she was gone. I already asked the security system to locate here bio signature and it said she isn’t anywhere on the mansion grounds!”

Pietro left the room, to check down the hallway, just in case.

By now other Avengers were coming into the room, to find out what the screaming was about. The Scarlet Witch came up to Crystal and put her hand on her shoulder to calm her down. “What is the matter, Crystal?” She asked.

“Lu..Luna..is...is...” She tried to calm herself down, but her breathing was making herself hyperventilating.

“Shhh, calm yourself, Crystal.” Wanda said in a very soothing voice.

Crystal took a couple of deep breaths. “Luna...is missing. I can’t find...find her anywhere. The security system can’t even pi...pick up her bio signature. It’s like she disappeared. I don’t know where she is.”

Captain America and Pietro came back into the room. “We checked the system. It’s not malfunctioning. Luna is definitely not anywhere on the grounds.” Steve said in his Captain America tone.

Wanda shot him an angry look, knowing that how he put it would just upset Crystal even more. She was right.

Crystal cried hysterically and ran into her husband’s arms. Pietro wrapped his arms around her, trying to calm her down. “I don’t know where she is. Where is my Luna?” She cried into her husband’s chest.

“Ummm guys?” Jan said as she picked up an envelope off of Luna’s bed. “I think you over looked this.”

“Who is it from?” Captain America demanded.

Pietro who still had his wife buried into his chest knew exactly whom it was from. “Magneto.” He growled.

He didn’t even need to have the letter read. He knew exactly what it said.

“What’s it say, Wasp?” Captain America demanded.

Jan opened the perfectly sealed envelope and pulled the letter gently out. She was afraid to read it. She knew it would upset Crystal and anger Pietro. Yet she had to because Captain America had asked her. *Why, pray tell, couldn’t someone else find this. * She asked herself looking down at the paper, dreading what she was about to read out loud. She cleared her throat:

Son of Magneto,

We (the Genoshan Army) have taken your daughter to Genosha. The only way you will see her alive again is if you trade your life for hers. Be prepared to never return to your wife and the Avengers again. Be prepared to never breathe again. You will be used as an offering. You must come alone or Luna will suffer. You must come within twelve hours. Your daughters life will not be spared a moment after.

Commander Ransom

Jan finished reading. She looked around the room and saw concern and fear on everyone’s faces. “That’s all it says. It sounds like this Commander Ransom was in a hurry while he wrote this. The letter is very...unorganized and not very professional.”

“Well, he got his point across.” Hank said looking at Pietro and Crystal, who were holding on tightly to each other.

Wanda’s eyes widened. “You must not go!” She said

“I don’t see I have much choice Wanda!” Pietro growled.

“Pietro, your dream. Your ‘visit’. The things you saw. You told us that you could not step on to the soil of Genosha or the prophecies that you were told may come true.” His sister said with alacrity in her voice.

“Wanda, our father is behind this. He has taken my daughter, your niece and, will not give her up to anyone unless I show.” He snarled, at his sister.

Captain America decided to break up the family feud. “Pietro. Wanda.” He said in his ‘I’m the leader’ voice. “Luna will not be hurt. The Avengers will not allow it but Pietro, as a safe guard I will not let you go to Genosha. There is too much that may be at stake here. We have to take all the precautions necessary. You will stay here. That’s an order.” Steve finished, looking directly into Quicksilver’s eyes.

The blood in Pietro’s body began to boil. One thing that he did not take well to was being told that he could not do something. As far as he was concerned this had nothing to do with the Avengers, Wanda, or even his wife. This was strictly between him and his father. And nothing was going to stop him from getting to his daughter. Not prophecies not his sister, and definitely not Captain America.

“Pietro, I assure you we will get Luna back to you and Crystal. I’ll send every Avenger here to get her. You must stay at the mansion, though.” Cap said trying to sound not so ‘professional’ but, more like a friend.

Pietro vacillated for a moment to think if he really wanted to say the words he was thinking. “You can not tell me what to do Captain America,” He said as he threw his Avengers IdentiCard on to Luna’s nightstand.

The room went silent. Dead silent. Everyone knew exactly what Pietro meant by throwing his card onto the table. That he was quitting the Avengers.

“Pietro...honey.” Crystal started to say but she stopped when her husband gave her the coldest glare she had ever seen.

“Pietro, even if you quit the team I will still not allow you to leave the grounds.” Cap said this time speaking ’professional’ and not as a friend.

“I’m going to Genosha” He growled in an unearthly tone, and then like a flash of a camera he was gone.

So much for that perfect day.