SPECTRA

Now in Color

The world around Wanda is bathed in warm, pastel tones, perfectly reflecting the idyllic suburban life of the 70s. Everything seems flawless. Vision, ever the concerned husband, hovered close as the doctor inspected Wanda’s belly with a thoughtful hum.

“Hmm,” the doctor said, stepping back slightly. “Yep! Definitely pregnant.”

Wanda chuckled nervously, her eyes darting to Vision. “Well, that much we figured.”

“It’s just taken us a bit by surprise,” Vision interjected, his voice quivering with uncertainty. “I mean, suddenly. Quite suddenly, wasn’t it? Practically overnight, after Alex was born." He stammered, clearly flustered by the situation. "How did this even happen?”

The doctor raised an eyebrow, half-smiling. “Well, you see, when a man and a woman love each other very much...”

Wanda, sensing Vision’s awkwardness, smiled as she held the small bundle in her arms—Alex, their newborn daughter, soundly asleep against her chest. “We’re just tickled pink. Or blue.” She laughed softly, her joy at being a mother to Alex evident despite the odd circumstances.

The doctor, oblivious to the tension bubbling just beneath the surface, continued. “So, you’re at about four months now, yes?”

Wanda nodded instinctively, but Vision looked perplexed, shaking his head before hurriedly nodding in agreement with his wife.

“I thought as much,” the doctor went on, oblivious to the contradiction. “We like to help expectant mothers keep tabs on their growing babies with fruit comparisons. Makes it simpler for them to understand. At four months, the baby’s about the size of a pear. At five months, a papaya. Six, a grapefruit...”

Wanda chuckled nervously, feeling a strange mixture of amusement and concern.

“Hypothetically speaking,” Vision interrupted, his tone serious, “what size fruit would the baby be at, say, 12 hours?”

The doctor blinked, confusion clouding his expression. “Uh, 12 hours?”

“Yes, you know, purely hypothetical,” Vision pressed on. “Should we be concerned?”

Wanda tried to diffuse the tension with a light laugh. “I think this line of questioning is fruitless.”

“Well, hypothetically speaking,” the doctor replied, brushing off the odd question, “every father gets nervous when a new bundle comes into the family. It’s perfectly normal.”

Vision straightened, puffing out his chest. “Well, I have nerves of steel, so there goes your theory, Mr. Doctor.”

Wanda cut in quickly before Vision could dig any deeper. “Vision, why don’t you see the doctor out?”

“Yes, good idea,” Vision agreed, guiding the doctor toward the door with a polite nod. “Thank you so much, Dr. Nielson.”

As Vision closed the door behind him, Wanda looked down at her daughter, Alex, who was peacefully asleep in her arms. A soft smile tugged at her lips.

Wanda gently placed Alex in her crib, the baby’s tiny fingers curling reflexively around Wanda’s as she lowered her into the soft bedding. The nursery was peaceful, bathed in soft golden light, and for a moment, all the confusion and questions faded. Wanda gazed down at her daughter, her heart swelling with love, even as the odd circumstances tugged at the edges of her mind.

With a soft sigh, she left the nursery, her movements careful not to wake the baby. She moved to the kitchen, glancing around the spotless 70s-style decor. Everything felt picture-perfect
Right now, all Wanda wanted was a moment of peace. She busied herself at the stove, trying to shake the unease from earlier.