Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

The Witch and the Widows

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 35:

Sanctum Sanctorum, New York City

Wanda and Agatha sat across from the Ancient One in the library. They were not alone. Ava had driven them here but was off with Wong, doing who knew what and Agatha had tagged along to say hello. There was also a man Wanda had never met before.

He was introduced as Karl Mordo. He was a former Baron who had given up all his possessions to learn under the Ancient One. Wanda wasn’t sure why he was here but did not read his mind as he didn’t appear to be a threat. She was here to ask for a favor and invading the mind of one of the Ancient One’s students did not seem a good place to start.

Wanda sipped her tea as did the Ancient One. As usual the Ancient One had a mysterious smile as if she knew something no one else did. Of course she actually knew many possible things no one else did.

“Congratulations. The spell you used to find Norman Osborn was well executed. You have grown more knowledgeable and your control is impeccable. The last I saw, you were unconscious after absorbing more energy from the Mind Stone and unlocking that which you had been holding back. Yet I sense you have placed magical barriers around yourself to protect the universe until you gain complete mastery. A wise choice.”

“Thank you.” Wanda said.

“While you were unconscious, what did you see?”

Wanda took a breath and gathered her thoughts. “I saw this universe and the threats it holds. I saw aliens. I was able to use my power in astral form. I saw the Dark Dimension and faced Dormammu. He attacked me and I countered then threatened him. I saw alternate versions of myself that frightened me. I saw one version of myself that was corrupted by the Darkhold. I saw another that had accidentally wiped out all life in the Universe. I saw demons and pure devils. I think saw the rest of the Infinity Stones. I felt their power and I believe they spoke to me. I only have hazy memories in my dreams now. I dream of the Time Stone in an amulet, worn by a sorcerer I have yet to meet. I saw a museum of sorts where one Stone calls to me the strongest. I think it is the reality stone. I sometimes dream of a dead yet sentient planet that is hiding a stone inside it. I can’t make sense of the dreams but I believe they are a result of my astral travels. I saw so much it was overwhelming. I am still having trouble separating them all in my head.”

Mordo frowned but the Ancient One smiled. “You are now a nexus being. From what I understand, every Universe has one. You can see all of the Universe when you can fully control your powers. You saw enough to know what you must do to protect us all and you saw what would happen if you lost control. You are doing wonderfully. You did not come here for compliments though. How can I help you?”

Wanda cleared her throat. “I need a favor.”

The Ancient One laughed softly. “What could I possibly do that the Scarlet Witch cannot?”

“I am sure you know the state of Kate Bishop. I have healed her physically but mentally and emotionally she is still broken. I want her to stay with us as she recovers. It is difficult to sneak her mother in and out on weekends with our jets. I would appreciate if every Saturday you or Wong could portal her to our compound. You have allowed Wong to help us before.”

The Ancient One smirked. “As if I could stop him. I recognize a man in love when I see him and he is hopelessly in love with her.”

For the first time, Karl Mordo spoke to Wanda. “Our power is a great responsibility. It is not to be used as travel for an ordinary humans to visit her daughter on weekends while she recovers from whatever her state may be. That is not our purpose or responsibility.”

Wanda nodded and locked eyes with him. He must have read something in her look because he broke eye contact quickly. Wanda hoped her eyes hadn’t turned red. “I realize this is not your purpose. That is why I am asking for a favor. I grew up on the streets and bartering was a skill I had to learn to survive. You have something I need and I have something you might need one day.”

Mordo smirked. “What do you have that we need?” he asked.

“Partnership.”

Mordo cleared his throat and smiled. “Wanda, I appreciate what you are offering and like the Ancient One, have great respect for most of your actions and the seriousness which you treat your gifts. However the Masters of the Mystic Arts are dedicated to defending this planet from mystical attacks and maintaining order.”

He paused.

“You are the opposite of everything we strive for. You are the living embodiment of chaos. You offer partnership but you are the biggest threat…”

“That is enough, Karl.” The Ancient One told him with a stern voice then met Wanda’s eyes. “Wong or I will be in Eleanor Bishop’s home every Saturday morning at 8:00 A.M. The two of us are the only one who know the location of your home and I shall prefer to keep it that way. Shall we start tomorrow?”

“I would appreciate it.” Wanda said, relieved and hiding her anger at Mordo’s words.

“Then it shall be done. I sense you have other affairs to take care of. Why don’t you say hello to Wong before you leave? You have never had a proper tour of the Sanctum. Karl, perhaps you care join them.”

Karl smiled. “Of course, Ancient One. If you will follow me, Miss Maximoff.”

Wanda reluctantly followed the man she had already decided she did not like but Agatha stayed behind.

When they were alone the Ancient One asked her a question.

“How are your fingers, Agatha?”

Agatha shook her head and rolled her eyes. “You knew this would happen. When you said she would save my life, I didn’t know it would be in this way.”

“You finally have a family you love and a purpose worth dying for. I was never able to heal all the Darkhold’s corruption from your soul. Only love could do so. I am so proud of you. Wanda is coming along beautifully.”

“She is a special girl. She controls and respects the darkness inside her. Few her age could have so much power and not go insane.”

The Ancient One nodded. “That is of no doubt. Her family, including you, are no small part of that. She looks to you as a parental figure. All of them do. I am happy for you.”

Agatha lifted her tea glass in a toast. “Thanks for tricking me into happiness.”

The Ancient One laughed. “You have a great destiny Agatha. The girls who belong to the Red Widows are starting something great. They will age and more will join the cause. They will always need a guiding hand. That will be you. Your immortality no longer has to be a curse. There will also be more nexus beings that need to be trained as time goes by. You are important to the universe, Agatha Harkness. I never doubted it. I hope you never doubt yourself.”

Agatha snorted. “Me, doubt myself? When has that ever happened?”

“Every time you teach Wanda something new. You are afraid of failing her. You won’t.”

Agatha sighed and the smile left her face. “How do you know I won’t fail her?”

“We still exist is one example. She could have asked Wong to do this for Ava. Instead she came to me. She asks for favors rather than demanding obedience. Despite the horror of her past, she loves and comforts others even as she grows more powerful. You are not failing any of us, Agatha. You will not. I have faith in you friend. You should find her and take her away before Karl irritates her and ceases to exist. I had hoped if he met her he would have a more positive outlook towards the Scarlet Witch. I suppose it will take time.”

After Agatha had found the girls and left, Karl Mordo rejoined the Ancient One in the library. Judging by his frown the extra time spent with Wanda had not changed his view.

“Ask your questions, Karl.” The woman told him.

Karl shook his head. “I do not understand any of this. Why do you allow Wong to carry on this relationship with a young teenage assassin? Why have you agreed to be her personal driver? Why did we not battle her before she has gained her true power and we are at her mercy?”

The Ancient One shook her head. “Why would we have battled her?”

“She is the personification of chaos! She is the antithesis of everything we stand against.”

The woman looked at him with disappointment. “After all this time, you do not understand. We protect the Earth, we do not attack those who have started no quarrel with the planet or us. She has never threatened us. She has never posed a threat to the planet. Nature cannot exist without chaos. The order of the universe was born from chaos. She is a nexus being. The Infinity Stones speak to her in her dreams. The Reality Stone calls out to her strongest through the vastness of space. The threats of this universe are visited by her. The threats of the multiverse show themselves to her.

“I will continue to encourage Wong’s relationship with Ava. Love is never wrong. We will be Wanda’s friends, because I have no doubt when this world faces a great threat of the mystical nature, order and chaos must work together to defeat it. Do you truly wish to make an enemy of the Scarlet Witch? We are intertwined now. Chaos is our ally. Do not turn people into enemies who offer friendship. That is a lesson for all of life, not just this situation, Karl. I have always admired your love and compassion. Do not let fear of the unknown take that from you.”

Mordo shook his head. “I am sorry. I do not trust her. She has a great darkness inside. She grew up an angry orphan who was easily manipulated by an evil organization then joined another bent on global destruction. She dresses like a harlot! She comes before you wearing those clothes! It is disrespectful! You at least must admit she does pose a danger!”

The Ancient One sipped her tea and leaned back, as if pondering his words.

“Yet when I offered her the Darkhold, she turned it down. She is an accomplished healer. She healed a man at the airport who hated her. You focus too much on the darkness and not enough on her light. I think better of you than that, Karl. Do you think none with darkness deserve power? Do you think I have no darkness? Do you think you have no darkness? As far as your words, I do not have to admit anything that is not true. She is not a danger. She likely will be our salvation one day. I know her power can be intimidating but if you refuse to trust her then trust me.”

Karl sighed and sat back, knowing his argument would get him nowhere.

“Of course I trust you, Ancient One.”

The woman smirked. “Besides I like the corsets. She has her own style. She means no disrespect by it. Dressing as she does was necessary as she grew. It was as much a part of her survival as bartering. It is difficult to watch a brother attack from behind when one is gazing at the beauty of an attractive woman. Let us return to Kamar-Taj. We have much training to oversee. Wong can protect the Sanctum.”

Miles from the Sanctum, Wanda was still stewing in frustration and anger. She had accomplished her goal but Karl Mordo had gotten under her skin.

“Relax, Wanda.” Ava told her. “Wong told me the man isn’t horrible, he just has a stick up his ass. I’m sure the next time we see him…”

“I will rewrite reality and turn him into a stage magician.” Wanda concluded.

Agatha cleared her throat. “We agreed there would be no rewriting reality, remember Wanda?”

“Yes.” Wanda agreed. “Chaos. I can show him chaos. He thinks I am his biggest threat. I am now! I can conjure a literal stick up his ass. His magic felt like a joke.” she continued to mumble.

Any attempt Ava planned to calm her down was cut off by an explosion. They pulled over on the freeway and traffic slowed to a stop.

Out on the bay, a ferry had just exploded. It was not a typical explosion. There was a hum, a light show and then the ferry was split down the middle.

“What the hell is that?” Agatha asked from the back.

Wanda and Ava got out of the SUV and stood on the edge of the highway just before the bridge began along with hundreds of others who had exited their cars.

The ferry was being torn apart and falling in two perfect slices. Above the ferry was some sort of giant bird that appeared to be flying away with another man hanging by its very human legs. Because of the distance they couldn’t see details.

Then the split stopped. Some sort of cables appeared to be holding the ship together.

“Wanda, I know you hate this city but I love New York.” Ava told her. “Where else does this kind of shit happen every day?”

Water was still spilling in the bottom though and the thin cables looked like a delaying tactic rather than a fix.

“That’s never going to hold. It’s going to sink. People are going to fall between the two pieces and not be able to swim. Wanda you need to put that boat back together now.” Ava told her.

Wanda shook her head. “This isn’t why we are here. We came to stop Osborn. We came for Kate. I did not come here to play superhero. It is bad enough I was seen battling Osborn while he wore some ridiculous villainous costume.”

Ava grabbed Wanda’s shoulder and twirled her around to face her. “We came to save girls! We came to save kids! What about those kids? Are you okay with letting them die because they weren’t kidnapped first? Are you really going to stand here and just watch?! I know you better than that, Wanda. Now go!”

Wanda practically growled in frustration, knowing Ava was right and hating it. At least she was connected to the brutal slayings of the slavers in Boston so the world didn’t think she had gone soft.

She changed in midair, her Scarlet Witch garb covering her without conscious thought now. She thought of pulling up her hood but it didn’t matter. No one would have any doubt who she was.

When she was above the ferry the first thin cable snapped followed by the others. Wanda was impressed those thin lines held it together for as long as it did.

She reached out and wrapped her magic around the ferry. With a great effort and concentration, Wanda made the ship’s halves meld together as if it had never been torn apart. The ship felt off balance and Wanda closed her eyes, feeling the inanimate object like she felt a body when she healed. Too much water had rushed in when she repaired the boat and was stuck inside.

“No water.” Wanda whispered barely cracking open a very large box just a crack in her mind then shutting it as soon as the water inside the ship was gone.

Her intentions must have been clear in her mind because the entire bay had not dried up as she feared so she considered that a win.

She closed her eyes and shook her head as she heard cheers coming from the boat and the road she had just left far behind. News helicopters were flying towards the scene.

The last thing she wanted was attention after last night. So of course Ava guilted her into saving a sinking ship.

No one appeared to be hurt at least. She turned back and thought of how she could get back in the car without everyone following her vehicle to her appointment.

Then she heard him again and groaned.

Tony Stark flew quickly to her side.

“I had that.” he told her.

“Uh huh. It looked like it was completely under control.”

“No really. I had rocket boosters on their way to hold it together and had the deck plans in my HUD to weld it back together. Good job though. For someone who doesn’t want to be a superhero, you suck at not being one.”

“Yes, I’m getting that.” Wanda said grumpily. “What caused this?”

“How did you put it back together?” he asked instead of answering.

“I wanted it back together. It came back together. What caused this?”

Tony wasn’t sure. “I believe an alien weapon. The kid has been chasing down a weapons dealer. I told him to stay out of it and sent the F.B.I. to the ship but he doesn’t listen very well. If he was on the ship and… there he is waving… I am betting he tracked them here and somehow a weapon got set off. I’m going to have a serious talk with him. A lot of people could have been killed if we hadn’t been here.”

“We?”

Tony lifted his helmet and grinned. “C’mon, Wanda. I know you said we could never be friends but admit it, I’m growing on you. We fought robots together and the Red Room together and you kept your short blonde bestie from putting a bullet in my brain. You even pulled a bullet out of my arm. You told the world you were glad I was there. We had a few laughs inside your terrifying mind. Aren’t we kind of friends?”

Wanda glared at him saying nothing.

“Not even a little?”

“You made Ultron and he went nuts. You made Vision and he went nuts. Now you give a child a colorful costume and he nearly gets killed the first time I see him and blows a boat up this time. Have you realized the common denominator is you?”

Tony nodded. “Every damn day, Kid, every day. Hey, the helicopter is swinging by. Want to take a selfie together, throw up some peace signs?”

“I hate you.” Wanda told him and flew off. She ignored Stark yelling behind her that she didn’t. She reached out to Agatha’s mind and told her to go back to Kate’s. Agatha, Yelena and Ava were the only Widows still in the city. The rest were already in the air back to France. Wanda flew around the city and into an alley where she changed back into her normal clothes and casually blended into the foot traffic.

She made her way to the 26th Steet Viewing Spur on the Highline and had a seat next to the woman who had begged Sharon Carter for a meeting with her.

Wanda waited for the woman to begin.

“Do you have her?” the woman asked.

Rather than denying it or playing games, Wanda simply said, “Yes.”

Maria Rambeau took a deep breath to stop the shaking.

“What do I have to do to get her back?”

“Where is Everett Ross?” Wanda asked.

Maria shook her head slightly. “What Carter told you is true. We don’t know. He was taken to Wakanda and we haven’t been able to get a signal into the country. All our attempts at communication have been blocked.”

Wanda snorted. “A country so small its name can barely fit on its borders on a world map and you cannot make contact. Has no one traveled to Wakanda?”

Maria shook her head. “The State Department refuses. You must receive an official invitation to visit the nation. After the recent events, the State Department will do nothing to offend any country. I can’t get Everett back. Read my mind if you need to. Please, I just want my daughter back.”

Wanda grinned, despite the woman’s broken tone. Her mind was an interesting place and she had many secrets. “A shame only Fury has a way to get in touch with Carol Danvers. I do love absorbing cosmic energy. You could ask Vision if he were still around. Do you remember what happened the first time I encountered S.W.O.R.D.?”

Maria nodded. “You saved the lives of our agents and told us the name of the mole.”

“And you dig into my past as a thank you, all so you can pass on what you found to psychiatrists hoping to learn how to manipulate me. Was the information useful? I saw the reports in your daughter’s head. Poor Wanda Maximoff was such a good child. Then her parents were killed. She was gangraped for over a year in an orphanage. Her and her twin lived on the streets, doing whatever it took to survive, even killing if necessary. She was easily manipulated and may be manipulated now by Yelena Belova. Of course not much is known about Yelena Belova but intelligence agencies seem to agree she is Wanda’s closest confidante, a replacement for her brother. Wanda listens to Captain America and Everett Ross because the early death of her father left her without a father figure.

“Another possibility is she often attempts to use her sexuality to convince men to do as she wishes. Judging by her dress, she is somewhat of an exhibitionist who likely craves sexual attention in response to sexual trauma she experienced in the past. Have I missed anything?”

Maria dropped her head. “No.” she whispered.

Wanda sighed. “So am I looking for a papa or am I seducing men to get what I want? Which is it? Does Wanda Maximoff have daddy issues or is she just a manipulative whore who likes to be lusted over because sex gives her self-worth and power over men?”

Maria didn’t answer, instead whispering she was sorry through her tears. “I didn’t realize…”

“You didn’t realize how digging into my past for others to sift through might possibly hurt me? Why would you? I’m just a threat, not a real person to you. I should drop your daughter’s mangled body in your yard. Then you could feel better about judging me. I can be the monster you need to convince yourself I am.”

Maria stiffened but said nothing. She was holding her breath and listening intently while praying in her mind that Wanda would let her daughter live.

“Your daughter is at the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. I told her not leave until you find her. She is unharmed. When you are there, after you hug your daughter and finish your teary reunion, look up at the Statue and think about what a joke organizations like yours make it. Pathetic. All of you are. You are just another Thaddeus Ross who believes you know what is best for the world and the ends justify the means. I shouldn’t have to tell you this but if the work continues I will kill her the same way those Boston human traffickers were killed. I know the names of your psychiatrists. They will be watched. Your daughter’s life depends on you suggesting they burn files on me and forget I exist,”

Wanda stood and began to leave.

“Wanda?”

She turned around.

“Thank you.”

“I truly hope you burn in hell.” Wanda told her and left.

---

The next day a portal opened in the Widow Compound’s main living area. Wanda, Agatha, Ava, Yelena, Kate, Lucky and Eleanor stepped out.

Every Resident of the Mansion with the exception of Bucky Barnes was waiting for them with large smiles. A few had dust all over them. The evening before the widows began a massive cleaning operation and learned no matter how many there were, cleaning a huge house and compound was not easy. As Yelena often said, having a large Mansion is cool but not having a cleaning staff was much less cool.

Despite owning it, Eleanor had never been inside it. Kate was taken back by the sheer number of Red Widows waiting for them.

They were all dressed casually and didn’t look like highly trained killers. They looked like kids that could have gone to school with Kate. They each walked up to Kate and Eleanor. Those that had met them both said hello and hugged them. Those that hadn’t, introduced themselves. After the initial greetings were over Yelena and Steve carried their bags to rooms that had been prepared for them. When they reached the third floor, Yelena opened the door to her room to keep Fanny from scratching her way out. She immediately became good friends with Lucky who was much smaller than the older puppy but showed no hesitation in making friends.

“I knew they would like each other. They are already sniffing butts.” Yelena happily commented. “I must go organize lunch for all of us.”

“You are cooking?” Kate asked.

“No, I am telling Natasha to cook. It is not easy being a leader. I need to meet new widows also. Settle in and over there is Wanda’s room. She may be with me though. The door next to her is Sonia who you know. She will help you both find your way around and she can show you bunker when you are settled if you want to see. Give me hour and I will be back by your side.”

Kate kissed Yelena on the cheek and took a deep breath. She smiled at her mother and both walked into their rooms.

Wanda had not gone straight to the new widows’ rooms. She wanted to get a feel for Yasmine’s emotional state and to meet Rachel but first she had something on her mind that had to be addressed.

She stopped on the second floor and made her way around the walkway to the opposite side of the staircase. She could feel him inside the room and hesitated, not sure if she were doing the right thing. Deciding it didn’t matter if it was right or wrong she knocked.

Wanda wondered for a moment if he would answer.

Then the door slowly opened and Bucky was smiling shyly at the door.

“Hi.”

“Hi.” Wanda told him awkwardly. “I… I wanted to make sure everything was okay. Ingrid told me you wanted to speak to me and she gave you a phone. I never got a call though. Was everything okay?”

Bucky nodded, at a loss for words. He had wanted to call but held off, not sure what to say. I miss looking into your eyes. I love the sound of your voice. He had absolutely nothing that would not be awkward.

“I missed the sound…” he let slip out before he stopped. “I missed the… uh everything was okay. I was just wondering how the mission was going but decided you were probably busy and didn’t need to be disturbed. Looks like I was right.”

Wanda waited, hoping he would finish what he had started to say.

“You girls made a splash in Boston. Then you and Yelena were on the news taking down Osborn and yesterday you are saving a big boat from sinking. Boston P.D. is calling the Red Widows psychopaths and New York is ready to declare a day in your honor.”

“We get that a lot.” Wanda admitted. “At least the psychopath part. I doubt anyone is going to declare a day in our honor. If they did we wouldn’t be showing up for any parades. Was there anything else?’

Bucky paused a moment. “Do you have plans tonight?”

Wanda’s face fell. “Yes, I am going to Wakanda tonight. I’m taking Sasha with me. I want to be there by daybreak tomorrow.”

“You just got back. The trip can’t wait until morning? You need rest. Rest is important for you, right?”

Wanda shrugged. “I suppose it can wait a few hours for daylight. Agatha is moving out of my room and some of the girls may need to sleep in her old bed or sleep with me. They need rest. I have to go to Wakanda though. Everett is being held there. I don’t know why but I have to make sure he is okay.”

Bucky nodded. “You are a good friend. He means a lot to you.”

Wanda nodded. “He is trustworthy, brave, not afraid to do what is right and he believed in us when no one else did. When General Ross wanted to call us terrorists he stood up for us in front of the United Nations. He is a friend. The Red Widows don’t have many friends. Why are you asking about tonight? Did you need something?”

Bucky cleared his throat. “I was wondering if you wanted to take a walk. With me? I thought we could watch the sunset. If you don’t have time that’s understandable. I just…”

“I would love to!” Wanda said quickly then calmed herself. “I should meet Rachel first. So… maybe just before sunset? The sun setting behind the mountains is amazing. Unless that is too weird. Of course it is your idea so it wouldn’t be weird to you.”

“I think it sounds great.”

Bucky and Wanda stared at each other for another moment and then Bucky slowly backed into his room and closed the door.

Wanda had told Yelena she would leave this alone. It would be too complicated. It would be easier to ignore. Wanda Maximoff did not do romantic love.

Yet she was smiling like a young schoolgirl who had just spoken to her crush.

In the kitchen Nat gave directions to Madison and Lerato, teaching them to make Monte Cristo sandwiches for the entire house while she was sprinkling sugar on the bread. The three made a perfect assembly line.

Antha interrupted Nat.

“Could we talk for just a minute?” Antha asked her.

Nat had never spoken at length with the tall blonde and was curious about her. She stepped away from the counter and walked to a corner of the room.

“What would you like to talk about?” Nat asked.

“Steve Rogers.” Antha said without hesitation, surprising Nat.

“What about Steve?”

“Are the two of you a thing?”

“A thing?”

“Are you sleeping together? Are you in a relationship with him?”

Nat slowly shook her head. A surprising bit of possessiveness sprung up in her but she hid it well.

“No, but… why do you want to know?”

Antha laughed and looked at Nat as if it should be obvious.

“Because I want him. Unfortunately Matt Murdoch is too far away for my tastes but having Steve in the Mansion is very convenient. I love his body. It has been a while. One thing that has apparently carried over from mind control is my libido. I suppose that was always me or at least won’t be going anywhere no matter how much red dust I inhale. So he is free and clear? I don’t want any tension in the house.”

Natasha kept her emotions under control but couldn’t force a smile on her face.

“I think you might be a bit young for him.”

Antha snorted. “He is close to one hundred years old. Every girl is too young for him. Leave the seduction to me. It’s what I am good at. I’ll have him in my bed in a week or less. Thanks Natasha. If you can think of any pointers to give me that would be great.”

Antha walked out of the kitchen, leaving Nat stewing in anger and her stomach rolling.

“Are we doing this or what?” Lerato asked. “We need more bread.”

Nat shook her head, promising herself she would have a talk with Steve later.

Outside the kitchen several widows followed Antha to her bedroom.

“Do you think it will work?” Charlize asked.

Antha nodded. “Of course. It won’t take much. I flirt a little, make him laugh while she is within listening distance, a subtle touch of his hand, standing a bit too close. Watch and learn girls, watch and learn.”

“How angry was she?” Michiko asked.

“Furious. She tried to hide it but one of my skills was being an expert at observing people. She will talk to him tonight and warn him about my intentions. He will be uncomfortable around me but is too nice to outright tell me to back off. It won’t go very far. All I need is to kiss him on his cheek in front of her. By the end of the week she will have told me to back off, confessed her feelings to him and they can be together.” Antha explained.

Charlize wasn’t convinced. “Are we sure this is the right way to go about this? It seems manipulative.”

“Of course it is manipulative. We are spies and assassins.” Naomi pointed out. “If we do not act they will be dancing around each other until they are old and grey. We were trained to take down governments. We destroyed the Accords and Thaddeus Ross. Getting two idiots to admit their feelings for each other cannot be that hard. They will thank us one day. Natasha may hate Antha forever but…”

“I’m impossible to hate for long.” Antha reminded them. “All right ladies, I need to prepare. Operation Romanogers begins at lunch time. Let’s make sure the chair next to him is open.”

Stanic groaned. “That has to be the dumbest ship name I have ever heard.”

“It was the best I could come up with!” Mika responded, defending her choice. “Let’s go spend time with Rachel and Yasmine. Including them in this operation may help them acclimate more quickly.”

“If it doesn’t work, at least we have Winterwitch to watch. Did anyone see that awkward door conversation?” Staci asked.

Stannic moaned. “Again with the ship names. So immature.”

Charlize laughed. “This from the girl who is obsessed with that Mermaid show on Nickelodeon.”

“It’s a great show that deals with a lot of real life issues and helps me learn more about typical teenage behavior in case I need to blend in!”

“A show about girls who get splashed with water and turn into mermaids deals with real life issues? You wish you were a mermaid. Just admit it.” Staci told her.

Stannic scowled at her. “I’m sorry but of the two of us, who dyed their hair to look like the Little Mermaid?”

“Her name is Ariel!”

“Enough!” Naomi snapped. “Break it up. We have missions. We are all immature here. We can be mature in the field. Here we have fun and this is best way to entertain ourselves. Kate cannot see us arguing. This must be a place of relaxation. We will all behave and let her choose what we watch on the big television.”

There were a few groans but no one complained.

That evening just before sunset, Kate and Yelena sat in the library with only Lucky and Fanny at their feet as they shared a love seat and read from the same book. Yelena had no idea of what types of books she would enjoy so Kate chose The Shining by Stephen King.

“This is a movie you say?” Yelena asked.

“Yes. A terrifying one. I first watched it at a friend’s house when I was in second grade. I was really too young to see it. It gave me nightmares for weeks.”

Yelena nodded. “Then you do not need to watch it but I want to see it. The girls all love horror movies for some reason. This one is particularly chilling. You can close your eyes and snuggle into me so you don’t have more nightmares.”

Kate smiled fondly at her. “Horror movies don’t give me nightmares any longer. They haven’t in years. I have real nightmares now.”

“Does Lucky not help?”

Kate nodded. “He does. I like the feel of his fur. He always seems to know when I need him close. He is just a puppy but very smart. If I didn’t know better I would think you were giving him instructions on how to take care of Kate. I could do without the licking my cheek to wake me up though.”

Yelena grinned. “You like it when I lick your neck.” she said, moving to kiss Kate’s throat and tickling her in the process.

“Stop! Okay… don’t stop. No stop! We are reading, remember?”

“This is better, no?” Yelena whispered in her ear.

Kate sighed and leaned into her. “Maybe we should hold off for a couple of days until Mom is safely back across the world and we don’t have to be worried about being walked in on. If you don’t want to read, tell me what is wrong.”

Yelena’s confusion showed. “What could be wrong? I have my beloved, I have new sisters, Osborn is taken care of and we have chance to catch our breath at home for first time in a long time. Everybody I love is under one roof, safe.”

Kate nodded. “Yeah and if I were anyone else I would think you were completely happy. I know though. Your face gives away nothing but we have spent most of our relationship only listening to each other’s voices. I pay more attention to you than I have anyone in my life. Talk to me, Yelena. Why were you and Wanda yelling at each other before you came to my room?”

Yelena sighed. “You heard that. It is nothing. We can both be stubborn sometimes. We have arguments. They pass and we work it out.”

“You hardly ever argue with her Yelena. When we were first getting to know each other I was so jealous of her. The way you talked about her I thought maybe you were… together. What caused the argument?”

Yelena sat back and leaned her head on the back of the chair looking at the ceiling. She then answered.

“We are back together and safe but Wanda wants to leave in morning to go to Wakanda. She doesn’t want me to go. She thinks I need to be here. She says she will take Sasha for back up but that is only because she needs a pilot. This has never happened. We back each other up! Sometimes we split teams but she does not go on solo missions with other widows and not me. If I do not go, she does not go! She has become too comfortable with her powers, despite being shot once and nearly shot at other times.”

“Is it because I am here that she doesn’t want you to go with her?”

Yelena shrugged. “Probably. She also wants me to get to know the new sisters. It doesn’t matter though. She is determined that Ross in in some danger. She wants to fly in like a hero to rescue him. He is a big boy who can take care of himself. If he needed her he would find a way to get in touch.”

“Did Wanda agree not to go without you?”

Yelena sighed. “We came to a compromise. She will try to astral project into Wakanda and search for Everett. I do not think she can find his mind but it buys me time to knock some sense into her.”

Kate nodded. “So what is really bothering you?”

Yelena smiled sadly. “Is that not enough?”

Kate shook her head. “Not for me.”

Yelena was quiet for a moment and leaned into Kate’s arms.

“The woman I killed in Boston… she was the woman who stole me from my parents when I was two years old. She took me from playground when Mama was talking to a friend of hers. She knew their names and told me she watched them when she came back to Russia, for fun. She said they never stopped looking for me and were miserable.”

Kate’s eyes widened and filled with tears. “Baby, I am so sorry. I know you didn’t want to… that bitch!”

Kate was quiet for a moment then asked “What are you going to do? Did she know their names?”

Yelena nodded. “Yes. Wanda read the names from her mind and told me when I asked. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what I should do. Part of me wants to meet them. They are hurting and probably think I have been dead all these years. I see these girls we rescue and I think what would these girls’ parents go through if we had not rescued them. How much pain would they feel. I think I can make them hurt less maybe. But what would they think of me? What would they think of all I have become? I do not want to meet them, only to have to lie to about myself. What do you think?”

Kate honestly had no idea. It was a messed up situation. “Let’s give it some time. I’m here now. We have time to talk. For now, take me out to your balcony and show me this sunset you have been raving about.”

Wanda had walked outside with Bucky to the end of the clearing and had a seat on a bench she conjured. They sat quietly, neither knowing what to say and intent on not being awkward. Neither seemed to want to break the silence.

“This is beautiful.” Bucky finally said. “I haven’t seen one since you left. I’ve been staying inside mostly. Steve has been drawing plans for houses and pools but I have had my mind on other things. I mostly kept to myself.”

Wanda nodded. “You have been through a lot recently. You went through an intense experience.”

Bucky nodded. “I’m free, but something funny happened along the way to that freedom.”

Wanda said nothing. She could feel her heart pounding and held her breath.

“What is that?”

“I saw this amazing woman’s life and I… I fell…”

“Don’t say it.” Wanda cut him off. “You don’t know if its true. It could just be an effect of me being in your mind. I’ve never dived that deep before. You may think you feel a certain way but it could be just me unknowingly manipulating you. Doctors apparently think I do that.”

Bucky shook his head. “I’ve had people dance around my head for years. I know what manipulation feels like. This isn’t that. I know everything about you, Wanda.”

“Then you know I am bad news. I am the last thing you need, Bucky.”

Bucky shook his head. “See, I think you are the only thing I need and I think you feel the same. Normally I would stay away from this. I’m a wreck but you know I’m a wreck and you don’t care. I don’t want to be Steve. I don’t want to isolate myself and ignore or deny my feelings. We spent both our lifetimes together and we fell in love. If I am wrong tell me.”

Wanda took a deep breath. “You are…” she stopped speaking.

“I can’t. I want to lie but I can’t. I want to tell you that you are wrong but… this could be so complicated.”

Bucky nodded. “Yeah, I know. Just give us a chance, maybe? I’m free and I have this new life. It’s like I have my life back and the way I feel about you isn’t because you manipulated me. You took my breath away the first time I saw you and you hadn’t been in my head then.”

Wanda smiled, remembering his thoughts from the first time he saw her. She had never thought anybody could look at the provocative Sokovian street girl like he looked at her. It wasn’t her power. He was focused on her eyes. He looked into her soul.

“You were quite the lady’s man before the war. It carried over.”

Bucky raised an eyebrow and grinned. “So I haven’t lost it?”

Wanda shook her head. “No, you haven’t lost it.”

“You think maybe I could walk you home, or at least to your room. No funny business. Unless of course you are in the mood to laugh.”

Wanda did laugh at his blatant attempt to be funny. After her argument with Yelena a few hours ago, she needed a laugh. Bucky reached over and gently took her hand and they both sat back in comfort to watch the sun set.

He did walk her to the door of her room. Thankfully no other girls were there to make uncomfortable comments as widows were known to do.

“Thanks for the sunset.” he told her.

“You too. I should probably get some sleep. I’m sure Rachel might be coming by and I felt some anxiety from Aino and Yasmine today. They will need attention.”

“Do you sleep at all?” he asked.

Wanda nodded. “I don’t do anything when I take care of them. I just subconsciously know when they are there and kind of… hold them… but not actually. It is hard to explain. I sleep though. Sometimes they like to cuddle and they keep my bad dreams away too.”

Bucky leaned down and gave her a soft and quick kiss. “They are lucky to have you. This whole world is. Night, Doll.”

Wanda giggled. “Are you going to always call me, Doll?”

“Perfect skin like yours, hair so beautiful it almost can’t be real and clear green eyes that look like jewels, yeah probably. You remind me of those porcelain dolls my sister and Mom liked to look at in the toy shop but could never afford. They were so expensive because they were perfect.”

“Some people find those dolls creepy.” Wanda reminded him.

Bucky shrugged. “You are a witch. I like creepy and beautiful. You got it all, Doll.”

Wanda closed the door behind her and smiled like a little girl and smiled like the little girl she had never gotten to be.

The next morning after Aino and Rachel had left her room after wandering in around one A.M. Wanda prepared herself for her journey.

Kate was also beginning hers. Antonia knocked on her door at seven A.M.

A sleepy but ready Kate opened immediately. She wore shorts and a tank top.

“Are you ready to begin?” Taskmaster asked.

Kate was surprised Antonia wasn’t in her armor but then realized she would probably only wear it on missions. She nodded and followed Antonia outside.

Kate shivered, remembering the last time she had ran. She also realized she had not been outside in a very long time.

Rather than running, Antonia walked into the forest to a blanket that had already been set up. There was a cooler with water bottles and granola snacks and two pillows.

“What is this?”

“The beginning.” The taller woman told her.

“I thought we would start by running.”

Antonia shook her head. “You know how to run. You know how to fight. We could teach you to be a better fighter. We could train you all day until you are exhausted. We could throw you to the mat over and over and encourage you to get up. It would do no good. We train to help others. But when we were given our freedom, this was the hardest task.”

“Sitting in a forest?”

“No, remembering, or in our case, learning how to live. Lay down and relax. Listen to the sounds of the forest. Enjoy the breeze, listen to the soothing sounds of the leaves blowing above us. Just be.”

“Just be? I grew up in the city. I’m not sure if I know how to just be.”

Antonia nodded. “That is why you are here. To learn. You are not here to be with your girlfriend so she can hold you through the nightmares. She will not always be with you. You will go back to school and live the life we all live through you. First you must relearn how to live. Lay back and relax. We won’t talk. Just be.”

Kate laid back and did as she was told. After thirty minutes she found this was not as easy as she thought it would be. She forced herself to relax though. She fought her way through it. She tried to just be. It wasn’t the workout she expected, but it was harder than being thrown to a mat over and over.

Inside the mansion, Wanda was inside her locked bedroom, laid out on her bed. Her mind was reaching out across the world. She did this once to contact Vision when they first met Kate. She had been in Everett’s mind before. Everett’s mind wasn’t as bright as the Mind Stone, but the Mind Stone was in Wakanda. She just had to follow the light to the source of her power and hope Everett was near.

Then she arrived.

Wakanda.

Wakanda was not what the world thought it was.

It was also at war. Planes were chasing each other in the sky, destroying one another in an air battle. She felt T’Challa fighting somewhere underground. She saw the women fighting the men then another tribe joining the women to help turn the battle. Despite being in astral form, her telepathy was present to the point she could feel minds but not read them. This was a first.

She felt Everett’s mind. His thoughts were racing and he was in danger.

Wanda dove underground and found him in some sort of lab in a machine that looked like a spaceship cockpit.

Another flying ship was outside the lab and firing on his pod.

Wanda looked inside.

“Everett, what the hell is going on!?” she asked, looking inside.

“Oh thank god.” He said, not taking his eyes off the holographic screen. “I’m trying to shoot down these fighters outside, it’s a long story. I haven’t been able to get a signal out of Wakanda in days. Could you take care of that guy trying to kill me while I handle these jets before they cross the border?”

Wanda looked up and saw the pilot’s eyes widen at her appearance. His hands moved to fire again and Wanda knew the next shot would crush the glass and kill Everett. She panicked. On instinct Wanda reached out with an open palm and then closed her fist.

The aircraft crushed like tin foil and dropped far below.

She heard Everett yell with joy and then hopped out of the flight cockpit. “Got the last one!”

He tried to hug her and nearly fell through her body.

“Wanda, I thought you couldn’t use your power in your astral form. How did you beat that… Wanda?”

Wanda was glimmering in and out and her face was distressed. She looked at Everett. “I just wanted you safe. I wasn’t supposed to use that much… I didn’t know I could. I could only sort of feel minds but I crushed it and… I don’t… I don’t feel so good…”

Wanda disappeared, leaving a shouting and concerned Everett Ross. Everett raced to the surface. He needed to make sure she was all right and to do that he needed to make sure Killmonger to be dead, Shuri was back in control and his cell phone with the belongings that were taken from him when he arrived near death.

Back at the Mansion, Sonia was walking to her room to change from her training clothes to something less sweaty. Eleanor had a list of movies she said they simply had to see so she planned for a relaxing and fun morning and afternoon.

When she passed by Wanda’s room she heard a crash. It sounded as if her nightstand had been knocked over.

She called out Wanda’s name but received no answer.

“Open the door or I am coming in!” Sonia shouted.

When Wanda didn’t answer in ten seconds, Sonia kicked her door in and found her on the floor next to her bed. She had knocked over her nightstand when she fell from the bed. Her eyes were rolled up in her head and her body was seizing. She was also turning blue around the lips.

Sonia hit picked up her phone and called the intercom.

“Oksana, Agatha, Yelena! I need you in Wanda’s room! She is having a seizure!”