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"My father...?" There was a decidedly uncomfortable look at that -- or maybe more uncertain was the better word for it.

He might have thought she meant his adoptive parents, but... it didn't add up exactly.

Fuck.

This? This was why one did not talk to teenagers while distracted; for it only lead to awkward moments that one then had to figure out how to back out of.

Was there a way to back out of this?

Closing the book she had been reading, she laid it in her lap before turning to face her son. "Sorry. Uncle. I...go ask your Uncle."

And please don't ask any follow-up questions.

"Right..." But Billy didn't look entirely convinced by that. "But you said father."

Which was weird, even just a slip up. But--

"He said he was busy anyway."

"I did, didn't I?" Well there went all hope of no follow up questions. "I was..." She motioned to the book on her lap. "There's a reason you should always devote your full attention to the person you're talking to and not try to do two things at...hold on. Busy? Busy doing what?"

Because glowering in the corner and eternally hating their father did not exactly count as busy. Now, if he wanted to change the light in the garage like she asked him to do a million years ago, that she would accept.

And wow they had gotten domestic. It was nice. Weird, but nice.

Now if the world could just stay out of trouble.

"He was reading." So, no, not just glowering and hating, but he'd be busy for at least a little bit longer judging by the stack of books he'd gathered, he figured.

And now he could either go on prodding about what he came to ask originally... or keep prodding about the other thing and maybe find out something he--

Well, he wasn't entirely sure what to do about.

"... So was that really just a slip of the tongue?"

She'd accept reading. She'd prefer fixing the light in the garage, but she'd accept reading.

Actually, no. Scratch that. She'd prefer him fielding this question. But since that wasn't an option...

She had two choices here. Lie. Or open a can of worms that she...she wasn't really sure where it would take them.

Unfortunately, she swore to never lie to her children.

"Only in that you weren't ever supposed to hear it."

"So he really is...?"

If he understood her right -- and he was pretty sure he understood. But... wow. He's quiet for a long while, expression drawn thoughtfully.

It wasn't like it was hard notice how close they were. Everybody noticed that. And now there are a billion questions he wants to ask. If it was something that was still going on, if he'd known all along too, if anyone else knew--

He wished for a moment that he'd just... went back to asking about Teddy staying over for the week instead.

"How?" Wait, no. He knew how and-- "Do both of you know?"

How? Really, Billy? Do you really want to add that awkward conversation on top of the one they are currently having? Cause you can.

Though for the moment your mother is going to focus on the second option.

"He does. How could he not? One look at the two of you was all he needed."

No, he really doesn't want anymore awkwardness on top of what he's already trying to process... or details at all about that.

And Billy isn't sure what to say. He was just getting comfortable with the idea of having his mom in his life, of living with her and his uncle-- who's now suddenly his father and he has no idea what to feel about that.

"Oh. I guess you do have a point." It's really obvious, isn't it? There's no way he and Tommy could be any more like The Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver really. Well, maybe one way, apparently.

"I have no idea what to say... I really had no clue he was--" Well, more than an uncle. He also had no idea how he was going to face him today.

She figured; though she wasn't planning on sharing the exact details. There was only so much sharing she could handle.

"This is why we didn't tell you." She reached out for Billy, shifting ever so slightly to make room for him on the couch. "We knew this was going to be an adjustment and we figured there was no need to put more...otherness on the two of you."

Otherness. Not weirdness, for Wanda refused to call it weird. They may be a bit different from most families, but there was nothing wrong with them.

And he would face Pietro the same way he always did. Pietro had always known and had always loved Billy and Tommy as his sons.

"Otherness..." When she moved over, he moved to take a seat next to her. His brows were still furrowed thoughtfully. It was going to be even more of an adjustment, seeing the man you thought was your uncle as your father.

But now there was kind of no going back.

"Does anyone else know?"

"I would assume my father does. I've never told him, but he has his ways." It was almost impossible to keep a secret from Magneto, no matter how much one might want to.

"And Charles." Because telepath. "Possibly Stephen." But again, she had never outrightly asked the sorcerer. Overall, it was a small contingent comparatively.

"It's not really something Pietro and I were keen on sharing. We didn't want to risk it getting back to the two of you." If the boys were going to find out, then they would find out from them. Not anyone else.

[Family dinners just got more awkward.]

Just a bit.

"So if I was to ask about the garage light...?"

"Are you two still... you know?" Together-together or whatever you called it when it was a situation like this.

There were at on of really unflattering names for it, actually.

Oh. She had to ask about that.

Dammit.

"I need to get a new bulb. We're all out."

"Reenacting Game of Thrones?" She couldn't help the amused look that appeared as she addressed her son. Somehow, despite the awkwardness, she found the uncertain look on his face utterly adorable.

"We are." The amused look, however, faded as she became thoughtful. "Does that bother you?"

Of course she did. Did you really think she was going to let that slide? It would ruin the whole nagging wife thing she has going.

"If you're going out, would you mind getting ice cream? I have a feeling we're going to need it. Hot fudge too."

"Yeah..." Okay, the fact that his mother named one of his favorite TV shows and books does make him give something of a smile.

"I don't... know. I'm still trying to get over the fact that my real father has been here the entire time."

It's one of her favorites too -- all Lannister jokes aside. She has almost every season on Blu Ray. In fact, the only one she's missing is last season and that she has on DVR.

She feels a bit guilty...for not telling him sooner, but he has to understand. Right?

"Is there anything I can do to...help? Any other questions you want answered?"

He doesn't mind the whole nagging wife thing. He wouldn't have anyone else nagging at him.

"Ice cream emergency? What's the emergency?"

That's good, cause there is no one else she would rather be nagging.

Though it seems the nagging will temporarily be put on hold while they deal with another issue.

"Billy knows."

He doesn't need to ask what she means by that. There can only be one meaning. Pietro mutters a curse under his breath and runs a hand through his hair.

"He was going to find out eventually. We should probably tell Tommy as well. One of them shouldn't be left in the dark while the other knows."

"True. We both knew we couldn't keep this secret forever." She just, you know, thought she had more time. And that when they did tell them, it wouldn't be because she slipped up.

"Getting Tommy to sit still long enough to tell him is gonna be the hardest part." That was a lie; the whole thing was going to be hard. Even after telling Billy, she still...she was nervous. What if he didn't take it well? What if he hated them for it?

"What about Tommy? I mean, he may be annoying and kind of an ass... but I don't know if I can lie to him." He was still his friend and teammate... and on top of it, his brother even if they hadn't grown up together.