Wanda smiled at the customers sitting at a table. It was a couple with their three kids. They were regulars at the small café Wanda worked at.

She walked over to a newly empty table and started cleaning it, clearing away plates and wiping off the table and seats. She looked up as the bell on the door rang. She and the girl behind the counter both greeted the elderly couple who had come in.

Wanda finished up the table, walking behind the counter and entering the kitchen, where she washed her hands. She walked back out, shooting the girl who was working the register a smile.

"Well, today's certainly busy," Wanda said sarcastically. "Don't you think, Zuzanna?"

Zuzanna laughed. "That it is, Maxi."

A comfortable silence spread between the two young women. Zuzanna was Wanda's best friend that she'd made during her time in Poland.

Wand walked over to a table a local student had evacuated. She cleaned it off, and as she finished, the bell rang again. She didn't look up until a small pair of arms encircled her waist. She looked down to see Alana Kowalski looking up at her with her huge blue eyes.

"Hi, Ms. Maxi!"

"Hi, Alana," Wanda smiled.

"Grandma and Grandpa took me here for a cupcake, cuz Pietro's at a boring doctor's appointment."

"Lucky you!"

"Not lucky Pietro," Alana said wisely.

"Yeah, he's not very lucky, is he?" Wanda asked with a small smile.

"Alana! Come pick your cupcake!" Alana's grandmother called.

"Ok! Coming!" Alana ran over to the counter.

Wanda chuckled. That girl. When Wanda had kids, she hoped that they'd be like- her heart skipped a beat as she realized what she was thinking. What did she mean, when? Wanda probably wouldn't have kids. She didn't have a husband, or a boyfriend. And she wasn't planning on ever having either of those. She wasn't over Vision, and she didn't think that she ever would be. As a matter of fact, Wanda's gut was churning with guilt at the sheer THOUGHT of having kids with someone other than Vizh. It just wasn't going to happen.

Wanda was so caught up in thought she almost didn't notice Alana run back over to her. "You're going to my birthday party on Saturday, right?" The little girl asked.

"Of course I am!" Wanda told her, forcing a smile. "I wouldn't miss it for the world!" Ok, maybe for the world. But it was just an expression.

"Good!" Alana took a closer look at Wanda's face. "Ms. Maxi, are you ok?"

"I'm fine, Alana. Don't worry about me."

"You look sad. You shouldn't be sad! You look like the queen of the world when you're happy! Right now you just look like the queen of maybe that table."

Wanda couldn't help but crack a legitimate grin. "You're a queen yourself, Alana."

"No, I'm a princess!" The four year old objected.

"Alright then, Princess Alana."

Alana smiled. "There you go, silly!"

That was definitely a term the girl had picked up from listening to Wanda.

"Wanda, it's your lunch break!" One of the guys in the kitchen called.

"Thanks!" Wanda called back. She looked down at Alana. "I've gotta go eat. See you later."

"Can't you eat with me?" Alana pouted.

Wanda smiled. "Not today, Lonnie. Sorry."

"Ok." But she was still pouting.

"I would eat with you, but it's against the rules," Wanda told her.

"Oh." Alana stopped pouting.

"I'll see you in a few hours, k?" Wanda said.

"K," Alana agreed, running back over to her grandparents.

Wanda laughed at the young girl and walked to the back to take her lunch break.