Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

The Witch and the Widows

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 39:

“Mom!” Kate shouted happily when Eleanor stepped out of the portal. She hugged her mother tightly.

“Wow. I wasn’t expecting this. It almost seems like you missed me.” Eleanor told her, hugging her back tightly.

Kate blushed a bit and stepped back. “I did miss you. I got used to seeing you all day, every day.”

Eleanor’s heart warmed hearing her daughter say that. She wanted to cry. Before the attack, she and Kate had a strained relationship. It had always been like that. Eleanor loved her greatly but Kate was always closer to her dad and after his death it seemed like Eleanor had a more difficult time measuring up to his memory. Their relationship had a very different dynamic now and she loved it.

In the week she had been here, Kate looked better. Her eyes were clearer as if she had been sleeping. Lucky was by her side sitting as a small furry, faithful companion and Yelena was behind her with who must have been her parents.

Eleanor had been kept abreast of the situation of the previous week and the happenings since she left. Wanda had been uncharacteristically quiet on her calls but Kate had told her of Yelena finding her parents and the training that had begun two days ago. Neither she nor Kate knew the details, only that it was very dangerous. Eleanor wondered how much more dangerous it could be considering the fight at the airport in Germany, the raids of A.I.M. bases and their killer robots, Iranian prisons and the daring escape in broad daylight from a San Francisco police station that Eleanor had watched news coverage of with a pounding heart.

“I’ve missed you too sweetheart. You have been sleeping at night.” she said approvingly.

Kate looked a bit embarrassed. “It’s easier when I’m not alone. I was thinking you could sleep with me tonight if you wanted to.”

Eleanor smiled. “Of course, sweetheart. So who has been keeping you company while you sleep?”

It was Kate’s turn to blush. “Yelena stays next to me and Lucky and Fanny share the foot of the bed. I swear nothing happens that shouldn’t be happening. Her mom stays in the room with us. She was sleeping in a chair but now we finally brought a bed in for her. Yelena had been having bad dreams too and her mother sits up with us until we are both asleep. Having her there makes Yelena sleep better. I’ve been spending a lot of time outdoors with Antonia and Yelena when she can. I have found some great paths that I hike. Did you bring hiking shoes? Let me get your bag!”

“I have her bag.” The man Eleanor had never seen before told her. “My name is Dima. I am Yelena’s father and this is her mother, Anya. We have heard great things about you Eleanor Bishop.”

Eleanor took his offered hand. “It is a pleasure to meet you both. It is a miracle. Your daughter is very important to me and I couldn’t be happier.”

Eleanor was grabbed into a fierce hug by the man and then another hug by the small woman who was stronger than she looked.

“I am cooking with the girls tonight. I am showing them how to make Pelmeni. The girls exercise so hard all day now, that they need many carbohydrates. Also Wanda does not eat enough and needs to gain more weight. We can talk about that later. Dima, take her bag to Katerina’s room. I am sure she wants to catch up with the girls and meet the new ones.”

Eleanor was taken aback by the whirlwind of energy that was Anya Belova. Yelena had always been sullen and more serious and she expected her parents to be the same.

It was amazing what having one’s child returned to you could do for a person. Having Kate brought back from the brink of death had certainly changed Eleanor’s outlook on the world.

Eleanor made the rounds, being introduced to new widows by Yelena and catching up with the widows she already knew. She even exchanged pleasantries with Agatha.

One person she did not see was Wanda.

“Where is Wanda?”

Yelena cleared her throat. “She must have lost track of time. She wanted to be here when you stepped through portal. She is… practicing magic?”

“Magic?”

“She is definitely making magic happen.” Yelena told her.

“Wanda had seizures a week ago because she did something ill advised. Is it a good idea for her to be practicing magic without Agatha?”

Kate and Yelena looked at each other, neither wanting to meet Eleanor’s eyes.

“Girls? Is she in her room? I would like to see her.”

“She is outside. Very outside. She is upset she is too loud and out of shape to fight through jungle with us. She is having discussion with Bucky and practicing more outside.” Yelena said.

Kate nodded. “She is showing him her skills.”

Eleanor didn’t like what she was hearing. “Wanda can fly into any situation when she is needed. Walking through the jungle sounds… not like something she should be doing. Why aren’t she and Mr. Barnes discussing this inside? Has she picked up a new power that makes her physically stronger that she wishes to show him? It would make more sense that she would use her astral form to scout ahead.”

Yelena raised an eyebrow. “You have a very good tactical mind, Eleanor. You should rest before dinner.”

Elanor brushed her concern off. “I slept well last night and it isn’t as if I had a long trip. I am very rested. Kate, why don’t we take a walk and find Wanda? Perhaps I could talk some sense into her head. I will get her to see reason.”

To both their relief, Wanda came in the front door.

“Eleanor!” Wanda greeted her excitedly and hugged her.

“Wanda. What is this I hear about you wanting to trek the jungle? Has Mr. Barnes talked you out of it?”

Wanda’s eyes widened. “Yes. I decided it would be best to follow his lead. He has a lot more experience than I do and probably knows best.”

Eleanor stared at her closely. Wanda was dressed in worn and torn denim jeans and a black t shirt. She wasn’t sure what band name graced the front of the t shirt because it was on inside out. She was beginning to get the idea and didn’t like the picture she was beginning to see.

“Did Mr. Barnes feel the need to spar with you? Your knees have dirt on them and there are leaves in your hair.”

At that moment, Bucky walked in and noticed Eleanor was there. His eyes widened for a split second then he waved to her and moved up the stairs quickly.

Eleanor sighed. “Your shirt is on inside out, Wanda. I need to say hello to the girls but we will talk later.”

“Uh… about what?” Wanda asked nervously.

“I just want to catch up. Talk about why you have been so quiet this week. Discuss any changes in your life you might have wanted to speak to me about in person. I am sure we will have lots to talk about. Take a shower, Wanda.”

Wanda nodded quickly and flew to the third floor.

“It is no wonder she is out of shape. She won’t even climb the stairs.” Yelena said, smiling awkwardly.

Eleanor didn’t find Yelena’s attempt to deflect amusing.

“What? I am not one who is banging man eighty years older than me! I am not responsible for her.”

“Yes you are.” Kate told her. “You say all the time how you are responsible for her.”

Yelena was indignant. “That is simply not… I can’t stop her from doing stupid things! Or stupid people in this case. I am sure they were just involved in a little harmless fun. Wanda has no idea what she is doing. Maybe some shirts come off and tin soldier gets to second or third base. I lose track of American baseball but I do not think he has hit touchdown or scored goal. Maybe he hit a homerun? Is that a thing? That would probably be full on banging. She would want to be in princess bed first time probably. Not that this is first time, but her first time by… choice.”

“Yelena you are not making me feel better. I’m going to say hello to everyone. Maybe we can hike these new trails you have discovered afterward, Kate.”

Kate gave her a thumbs up and Eleanor began her walk through the mansion, not making it very far as more widows came out to happily greet her. Naomi and Ava had left the night before to go to a wedding. Wong’s brother was getting married today. That was another relationship Eleanor wasn’t crazy about but a fourteen year old age difference was very different than an eighty plus year old age difference.

There were many things that went on in this house she wasn’t crazy about but kept to herself. As long as Kate wasn’t involved and she knew Yelena wouldn’t let her be involved, Eleanor left them to their own devices. They were not typical teenagers after all. In many ways they were much older than their years.

And in many ways they were much younger than their years.

Eleanor wasn’t a fool. She knew the rage they unleashed on those they killed. She knew about the psychological and physical torture they inflicted on their enemies. She had seen them do it to the man who harmed her baby and loved every second of it.

But the more she learned, from Wanda and now Kate, she was beginning to wonder if they were getting better or worse. She had hoped working out their aggression on the Red Room remnants and then A.I.M. would give them peace.

She wished she had tortured that man herself and left the girls out of it. The trip to Boston where they skinned the slavers had been their most brutal mission yet.

Was she encouraging this and damaging the girls more by her silence? Is this all they would be? Did any of them dream of a future? Mika, Aino, Staci and Stannic were the babies of the bunch. Kate had told her of the fight between Natasha Romanoff and Yelena, the accusations being thrown around by the older widows at Romanoff that Kate believed were entirely unfounded and proven to be false.

She had hoped maybe the presence of Rogers and Romanoff would be good for them.

Instead it seemed as if things had gotten worse and Barnes had intentions on Wanda who was nineteen and never willingly had sex and had always hidden her emotional vulnerability behind a veil of sarcasm and indifference.

Oksana was brilliant but may as well have not been there in regard to the girls. Eleanor could understand her position to a point. She needed to be here to support the girls medically and produce the antidote. If she tried to take any ounce of control the girls would kick her out and they would truly be on their own. Stannic had already shot at her once and had to be talked down from killing her.

The key came down to Wanda and Yelena. They were the leaders. They had always set the tone for the group. So what tone were they setting? Anya had not been wrong. Wanda did not eat enough. The girls always said they felt better sleeping near her because she radiated a calm feeling while she was asleep.

How did Wanda do that? Was she really sleeping calmly and sharing that feeling or did she stay up all night, consciously radiating that feeling that wasn’t natural to her? It was nearly impossible to determine how much she slept due to the dark eye makeup she wore. Kate said Wanda was a calming influence during the aftermath of the fight but why had it gotten to that point in the first place?

Eleanor sighed and continued to smile at the girls, listening to them all and particularly paying attention to Staci who told her all the things she planned to do at Disney next weekend.

Eleanor tried to ignore the guilty feeling every time she interacted with Staci and Stannic. Of all of them she knew they needed the most help, yet she did and said nothing. She was like Oksana in that way. She cheered them on when they punished the guilty but never gave thought to how it could affect the girls’ mental states. As soon as Kate’s healed body was easy enough to explain away as natural, Eleanor planned to have her in therapy as much as possible. What of these girls though? What about Yelena? What about Wanda? It was a question that would stay in Eleanor’s mind the remainder of the day.

That night after dinner, Yelena stepped outside for fresh air. She snuck out the back and grabbed a bottle on the way.

Yelena had much to think about. The training had not gone as well as they had hoped for the last few days. Being silent and unseen outdoors was not easy. Widows operated in the shadows but they were the shadows of a city or similar area. They were not cut out for jungle warfare.

They had narrowed his location to an area of five hundred square miles. He had no single base. There were likely several bases all over the jungle and they would have to play hide and seek. The mission could take days just to find one outpost. They would have to camp eventually and the Congo was no place to camp if you did not know what you were doing. There were many natural dangers that could kill quickly or slowly like snakes or illnesses.

The first outpost they destroyed could alert the others that there was an enemy force in their territory. They would be fighting child soldiers and not be able to save all of them. It was a fact they were going to live with. They would eventually fight brainwashed soldiers their age. They may fight mind controlled soldiers and not be able to get the antidote to them before they have to kill them.

The only advantage they had was the amount of chemicals and equipment needed to manufacture the drug made it hard to move. Somewhere in that jungle was a lone drug manufacturing area and Yelena bet Bosco was there with his scientists.

She leaned back against a large tree trunk she loved to bring Kate to and had a long drink. She heard footsteps but didn’t bother turning around, thinking it might be Kate. The footsteps were loud meaning it wasn’t a widow and likely not Steve. Bucky was silent as a ghost.

“Hello precious one.” Dima greeted her, sitting beside her. “A beautiful moon tonight.”

Yelena’s eyes widened and she looked at the half empty bottle in her hand. Even in the dark it was obvious he would have already seen it and likely smelled it.

“A good Russian girl like you drinking a Swedish Vodka. I know you have had horrible life but my Yelena, is life that bad now that you would resort to Swedish Vodka?”

Yelena silently laughed and shook her head. “It was all they had at the general store in village. Would you like some?”

Dima shook his head. “Me and your mother have not had a drop of alcohol in ten years. We both drank heavily after you were stolen from us. Your mother and I only had one thing that kept us from losing our minds and each other. We had the goal of finding you. That goal got us through many hard times.

“We drank much though. Every time we hit a dead end, we drank to vent our frustration and then we just drank because it was second nature. Both our fathers were alcoholics. One night we are looking over a map of the park and reports of crime in area we managed to bribe from police. We are drinking as we go through the reports and pass out drunk.”

Dima paused. “We woke up the next morning and look at each other then we had to look in mirror. We knew a couple of drunks would never find their missing daughter. It was not easy but we stopped that day. When one of us wanted to give up and lose ourselves in a bottle the other would show a picture of you. You are the reason you didn’t find a couple of drunk parents when you arrived.”

“You think I should stop.”

Dima shrugged. “Yelena, you have been doing this for a long time. You lead these girls and you save others and as much as I would like to come in as your papa and tell you to stop drinking, I cannot do that. I cannot put you in a corner or ground you. I wish I could. I just know what alcohol has done to our family. What is most important to you?”

Yelena forehead furrowed. “Most important? Many things are important. Wanda, Kate, Natasha, my sisters…”

Dima raised his hand. “Not who but what? What is most important to you? What gets you out of bed every morning? Why do you train so hard?”

Yelena paused. “To save others like me, so they don’t have to go through what I did.”

Dima nodded. “I suspected so. You don’t have a picture to look at like we did. You only have the image of the ones you have saved and a general image of ones you haven’t saved yet. But you do have those images in your head to remind you of your goal. Does drinking your problems away, numbing your emotions help you accomplish your task? Does it help you with the goal you got out of bed this morning for?”

Yelena dropped her head and leaned back against the trunk.

“No, but sometimes the pain is too much, Papa.”

Dima nodded. “I know about pain, my Sunshine. Oh how I know about pain. Hearing… knowing what has happened to you, what has been done to you fills me with even more pain. I want to scream in the darkness, curse god and drink so much I don’t have to feel this pain.”

“But you don’t.” she said quietly.

“Because I get up every morning with the goal of making you and your mother happy and I cannot do that unless I feel. I want to ignore these painful feelings. In the past few years I wondered if the pain was too much or if it would kill me. The same as you felt growing up. But making you and your mother happy is what is most important to me and a bottle will not help me do so.”

Yelena wiped her eyes. “I’m scared.”

“Tell me what you are scared of. Maybe I can make it better.”

Yelena shrugged. She didn’t have one particular thing she was scared of but then it all came tumbling out.

“I’m scared Wanda is going to get hurt. I’m scared that she never tells anyone how scared she truly is. I’m scared that she doesn’t eat much and drinks more than ever. She drinks as much as I do. I’m scared Nat is never going to be accepted by the others. I’m scared I will fail them. They look to me and if I fail them then it is on me. Every death is on me. I’m scared that I am becoming a monster or maybe I already am one. I am scared that I am turning others into monsters. I’m scared of losing Kate because she will eventually realize how dark and broken I am. I am scared of losing you and Mama now that I have you.

“I am scared of being what Dreykov made me.”

Dima nodded and took her hand. “You have many fears. They haunt you when you sleep and you face them when you rise. I understand. I wish I could take the hurt away. All I can do it tell you what worked for us when we thought you were dead or we would never find you. I can also tell you what won’t work. That bottle. You think it promises you peace, a temporary escape, but it is a trap. It will drag you down into another hell. I saw what it did to my father, I saw what it did to your mother’s father and her and I lived through what it did to me. It won’t help.”

Yelena nodded. “I think I know that.”

“Of course you know. You are a brilliant girl. Your best friend and sister needs help. I recognized that look in Wanda’s eyes. A look of loss and regret. She is haunted by ghosts.”

Yelena sighed, hating to hear what she always knew. “She has lost so much.”

“You can’t pull her up from hell if you are down there with her.” Dima reminded Yelena.

She shook her head and began crying. Her father hugged her tighly and she cried into his chest.

“Shhh, it’s going to be okay, my angel. Mama and Papa are here now and you won’t lose us. We are never letting you go. Do you think you can hold on to us instead of that bottle? Would you do that for your old papa?”

Yelena nodded and tossed it away.

“Good girl. Now you have one more thing you can lead the girls in. You can help them take one more step out of hell. We can help Wanda do the same. Together we can do that, can’t we?”

Yelena fought to control her breathing and smiled.

“You are a good papa.”

“I have imagined being one for years. I put it in practice now. Do you know what I did when you were a little baby? I tickled you when you cried. You always started laughing.”

Before Yelena could move, he pulled her into his lap and began tickling her ribs. Despite her initial shock she began laughing until he stopped because she couldn’t breathe.

“Want to jump on my back and I can carry you to the house?” he asked. Yelena shook her head and took his hand, walking beside him to the house.

The next morning Wanda came down from her bedroom. She had been approached by Eleanor the night before and asked her into her room for a drink before bed. Eleanor declined the drink and rather than wasting time on small talk, she had gone straight for the kill and asked what was going on between her and Bucky.

Wanda tried to explain what had happened when she entered Bucky’s mind and how they had developed strong feelings. Before she could finish and await Eleanor’s judgement, Rowan walked in and asked Wanda if she could stay the night in her room. Chloe and Yasmine asked the same. Rowan shared Wanda’s bed, while Chloe and Yasmine shared her extra bed and Eleanor bid them all goodnight, promising Wanda they would talk more about it.

She didn’t see Bucky in the second floor hallway where he usually waited for her. The teams had decided to take time off from training on Saturday and Sunday. Ava would be back later that afternoon with Naomi so with two team leaders out there wasn’t much point. The pilots were taking mid-morning flights over remote areas of France where they wouldn’t be seen and practicing low altitude maneuvers but teams were not needed as passengers.

The rest of the widows were likely relaxing and taking up their own hobbies.

Sure enough as soon as she reached the bottom floor she looked into the large television room and saw most of the girls laid out on the floor watching some movie. Judging by the laughs it was a comedy. Wanda loved to see them smile.

She decided to sneak into the kitchen for coffee if possible without Anya shoving any pastries or breakfast items into her mouth.

To her surprise the kitchen was completely empty. The girls must have been on their own for breakfast since there were toasters out and empty cereal boxes in the trash.

She poured herself coffee and began wandering around.

She found Sasha with her ear up to the library door.

“Sasha, what are you…”

She stopped speaking when Sasha raised a finger, quieting her.

“I’m going to put a listening device in the library. Listening through this door is ridiculous.” She complained. “Why aren’t you in there?”

Wanda raised an eyebrow. “Why should I be?”

“The adults are in there.”

“I am an adult so not all of them obviously.”

“Yelena is in there. Steve, Bucky, Natasha, Oksana, Aunt Agatha, Yelena and her parents and Eleanor have been there for forty five minutes. They are talking about us, I think.”

Wanda shook her head having a hard time believing that. Eleanor was likely getting to know Yelena’s parents and the others joined them. “What are they saying?”

Sasha shrugged. “I’m not sure. They speak very quietly. It’s like they think they are being listened to. How paranoid.”

Wanda grinned and Sasha got the message.

“Go inside and see what they are saying.” Sasha told her.

“Why don’t you?” Wanda asked.

Sasha rolled her eyes. “I tried. I grabbed a book and had a seat in the corner. Yelena asked what I was doing and I told her I was reading a book. She pointed out the book was upside down in my hands and in French, a language she knew I didn’t read. I tried to leave with as much dignity as I could muster. It wasn’t easy.”

Wanda opened the door and stepped inside.

Everyone who was present stopped speaking in low tones and looked at her.

“Good morning Wanda. We were going to invite you for tea but we didn’t want to wake you.” Eleanor said.

Wanda looked around the room and felt the apprehension in the air. Only Bucky would meet her eyes and shrugged. “I was going to bring you coffee but Steve grabbed me and said I had to be here.” Bucky explained.

“This seems like quite the gathering. I would have woken up to be a part of such an esteemed group of people. I would hate to push my way into the middle of a conversation. I think I’ll leave you all to it.”

Yelena chuckled. “So you can go to your room and astral project invisibly into the library and listen. We were waiting for you to talk. Please sit.”

“If you were waiting for me why are you all so nervous? Bucky?”

“I have nothing to do with this. Like I said I was just told to sit in.” he told her.

“Wanda, have a seat. We were talking about how to best use our abilities in the jungle environment.” Agatha told her uncomfortably. “And other minor, insignificant things.”

Steve looked toward Eleanor and she nodded. He pulled a chair from the corner into the half circle they were all seated in. Wanda hesitantly took a seat.

“If this is a strategy meeting why aren’t we in the bunker in the briefing room?” she asked.

“Most of the girls are using training mats for dance off.” Yelena explained. “We don’t need entire team. Just a chat.”

Wanda waited for someone to speak.

“I have been getting to know Steve and Natasha. I never have gotten the chance to speak to them.” Eleanor stated.

“Why would you? You hated the Avengers as much as me and Pietro and we wanted them literally dead.” Wanda pointed out, smiling sweetly. “We knew when we killed Stark they would come after us so killing them together was necessary.”

Eleanor smiled in return. “I have spoken to Maria this morning and she has guaranteed a way to cloak my phone. I contacted my assistant and told her Kate has been taken to an overseas recovery center and I will be working remotely from the clinic. I think I would like to stay here longer. I missed Kate terribly during the week and want to see all of you more often.”

Wanda was taken aback. She had no idea that Eleanor had thought of staying. She hadn’t mentioned it the day before. So what was different? Did she suddenly think Kate being around them was a bad idea?

“That’s great.” Wanda told her, not completely on board. She never cared what anyone else thought of her behavior or actions. Eleanor’s opinion mattered to her, though she told herself it shouldn’t. Wanda was going through much on her own and needed space without judgement. That would be complicated now.

Eleanor grinned. “I am glad you are happy. I think those of us in this room can make some positive changes.”

Wanda stiffened and looked to Yelena who looked away quickly.

“Changes?”

Eleanor raised a hand. “Not changes so much as suggestions. Behaviors we could all exhibit and encourage in others by example. They don’t take well to being told what to do unless it is from you or Yelena. I made a mistake in New York. I should have tortured and killed that man myself instead of asking you to do it for me. There are some habits that the girls could do away with. I know you are not all typical teenagers but you do have teenage bodies that require nutrition and healthy eating plans. Training all day to kill then drinking at night is not…”

Wanda raised his hand. “Wait. You call the adults in here to make decisions on what the girls should be doing and then tell me and Yelena to tell them?”

“We can all make decisions and perhaps just lead by example.” Eleanor told her softly.

Steve spoke up. “Wanda, I’ve seen every girl in this place drinking at some point. I’m not talking about beer here and there. These girls slam hard liquor at the end of the day. It isn’t just drinking. There is no sleep schedule, girls aren’t getting vaccinated before traveling to other countries. Some are treating their own injuries rather than letting Oksana take care of them. And… Wanda you have a lot of power but you still have a human body. You aren’t…”

Wanda waved it off. “Alcohol doesn’t bother me, Steve. I’ve been drinking ever since we escaped from the orphanage when I was twelve. Alcohol was easy to get and kept us warm on Sokovian streets.”

“The desks and shelves in your room have no books, no photos and no knickknacks.” Steve reminded her. “The only way I know it is your room is the assortment of bracelets and rings lying on the dresser with the bottle and two shot glasses you keep.”

Wanda shrugged. “Well you see Captain America, all my photos and knickknacks were blown up by American bombs along with my clothes and… oh yes, my parents. Is this from you Natasha? I told you to lay off my drinking.”

“It’s from me.” Eleanor said. “You are a good girl Wanda, but you of all people need to maintain control.”

“I’m maintaining control. You have no idea how much I am maintaining control. Agatha, what is your opinion? Do you think I have problems with control?”

Agatha looked slightly uncomfortable. “No, but… as you learn to control more of your power it wouldn’t hurt to maybe… take better care of yourself.”

Wanda’s mouth opened and she stared at her mentor in disbelief. “Please tell me the woman who used a time displacement spell to have a threesome with fat Elvis and young Elvis and made them think it was bad drugs that caused a strange dream is not talking to me about responsibility.”

Agatha raised her hands defensively. “I didn’t say responsibility. I’m just thinking of your physical health… but I’m the fun aunt. They expect that from me. The girls look to you and if they see you not eating and…”

Wanda stood up. “I’m not listening to this. Yelena can we talk, somewhere else?!”

“Sit down!” Eleanor snapped.

Wanda looked at the woman in challenge then smiled sweetly and had a seat.

Her eyes glowed.

“Don’t glow your eyes at me young lady…” Eleanor started until the glow was gone and Wanda’s head titled back and she lost consciousness.

“What just happened?” Eleanor asked.

Agatha snickered. “Most teens leave the room and slam the door on their way out. Wanda astral projects away from a room. She is out for now. We may as well talk as if she isn’t here because she isn’t.”

Eleanor closed her eyes and forced herself to relax. “Fine. I’ll stay in here and watch over her. Bucky, could you stay with me? I would like us to talk, get to know each other better and understand why you are seducing an emotionally vulnerable nineteen year old girl when your own life is a mess. Perhaps when Wanda wakes, we can all speak about it because I am having a hard time understanding this.”

Bucky pointed toward Dima. “I have lumber to carry and things to nail. Right Dima? We need to make progress on these days we aren’t constantly training…”

Dima stood and patted him on the knee. “We will be fine. I think when Wanda wakes up we can gather and continue this conversation about setting examples. Agreed?”

The room said nothing but they began to rise and move out of the room. When they opened the door, over twenty girls spread out in different directions and walked quickly away from the library door.

“I need to feed these girls. Can Wanda chew while she is like this?”

Yelena sadly shook her head.

Wanda herself was furious. She felt attacked and didn’t like it. She had given everything she had in her to the Red Widows. It wasn’t anyone’s business how much she drank, slept or ate. The house was full of people who weren’t widows and even Agatha was caving to the pressure of so called responsible adults.

First Wanda visited her brother’s grave.

She was happy to see fresh flowers. She never doubted the couple she had given her house to would keep fresh flowers on his grave but it made her feel better to see them. It seemed like yesterday that she carved this stone with her power. She stared at the gravestone next to his with her name and birthdate on it. Her parents took them to church every Sunday before the churches were all destroyed. Perhaps she should ask a priest to consecrate this ground. He didn’t have a proper coffin, just a hardshell SHIELD body bag.

So much had happened since then. She knew her life path did not belong with the Avengers but she never expected where the path she had taken would lead her. She had more than she ever thought. She had sisters she loved, mother figures she looked to and even a man she had suddenly fallen in live with after they experienced every second of each other’s live together. It was new and awkward but felt good.

She stayed up so many nights conveying her love to those who slept in her room just to give them a night of peace from their nightmares. She could feel the terror and despair of all the girls in the mansion at night. Who wouldn’t drink? Agatha never cared. Bucky didn’t care. Eleanor sent Kate to them to help her and now she was moving in in some bid to help Wanda when Wanda never asked for help. It was ridiculous.

“They will never understand us, Brother. These people who have everything think they know best. What has Eleanor Bishop ever suffered through that she should tell me what is best? She lost a husband. She kept her daughter and her pretty building and her big business. She doesn’t know true loss.”

Like a whisper in her ear, she could almost hear Pietro ask why she tells Eleanor her problems and asks her so much for advice.

“She never judged me before. She was judging me.”

Or trying to be the mother figure that you desperately need, she could hear him responding, his usual sarcasm that lived in her memory gone.

Wanda shook her head and visited her friend in Washington. She had only spoken to him once after she woke up, assuring him that she was alright after saving him in Wakanda. She checked his apartment first and was surprised to actually find him there watching baseball on television.

“Hi Everett.” Wanda spoke up.

Everett closed his eyes and smiled. “I didn’t jump this time.”

“You are getting better.”

“I would ask you to have a seat but something tells me you aren’t here?”

Wanda shrugged. “Technically everything that makes me who I am is here. Only my body has been left behind. It makes traveling easier. I have a problem.”

Everett opened his arms. “Anything I can help you with I’m here for you.”

“A Rwandan rebel leader named Bosco is hiding in the jungle between the DRC and Rwanda. We have reason to believe he is making the same mind control drug that the Red Room had in large quantities to control child soldiers. We are going in but we need help. Our tech isn’t made for jungle warfare and it will be a lengthy mission. He is difficult to find and the jungle is crawling with his militia.”

Everett’s surprise was obvious. “That’s… unexpected. Getting involved in that area of the world is dangerous and he is the biggest danger out there. Take him out and the intelligence world will throw you girls a party. Most of us are already having a good laugh at the F.B.I.’s expense. Tell me how many widows went into that police station with Yelena and took out twenty seven cops and eight F.B.I. agents. Woo swears it must have been a dozen.”

Wanda smirked. “Yelena took Bea in with her. One of us played sniper and one was back up outside.”

Everett’s eyes widened. “So two? I won! We had a pool going at the office and I put money on two including Yelena.”

“Your faith in us has been rewarded.”

“Woo is taking hell from his colleagues. Everyone watched the video where Yelena asked if he was wearing a vest before the sniper shot him. Not his best moment. The poor guy was furious. He has been petitioning the F.B.I. Director to put you all on the most wanted list. He has refused.”

Wanda smirked. “They are scared of us.”

Everett smirked. “The Red Widows have been particularly brutal and you haven’t been incognito lately. Seeing you pull two pieces of a large ferry out of the water and put them back together again, catching grenades in the air with your power and holding the explosion in, you haven’t been subtle in displays of power. I heard you had some trouble with S.W.O.R.D. while I was away. Now Director Rambeau is terrified of you and refuses to conduct any more investigations into your life. Do I want to know what you did to her?”

Wanda shook her head. “I didn’t do anything to her. I just made her understand what I could do to her. Tech. The girls’ widows suits were made from Red Room tech. Practically soundless. The same is true with Bucky’s HYDRA suit. Their suits are black, great for the night but horrible for the day. We have no small drones to fly ahead and we need silent camouflage suits to move during daylight. Do you know of any government tech or maybe Stark tech we can steal?”

Everett’s eyes lit up and he smiled, giving Wanda hope. “Nope. Neither the Government nor Stark has what you need as far as I know. I do know of a place where you can get what you need. When it comes to fighting in nature, no one does it better than Wakanda. I’m not sure how much you saw when you traveled there but you know they have tech.”

“I know they have advanced gunships and fighter jets. I didn’t have a chance to look at much else. I only saw enough to know Wakanda is not what the world believes it to be. Of course T’Challa announced that yesterday. Vibranium. Impressive. Ultron showed me what it could do and how dangerous it is. You think they would help us?”

Everett nodded. “T’Challa wants to properly thank you for helping to bring his father’s true killer to justice. He also knows you saved my life while I was taking out those jets. He asked me to set up a meeting with all of you as his guests in Wakanda but I know you aren’t exactly sociable. If you are willing to take a chance, I am betting his sister could give you what you need. He may have intel you could use as well.”

Wanda thought of that for a moment. Taking the Red Widows as a group to Wakanda was a risk. They would be outnumbered immediately. She didn’t know T’Challa well but Steve spoke highly of him from what little he knew. She knew there was a recent war for his throne meaning she wasn’t sure of the political situation or what kind of advanced tech the girls would be facing if they were suddenly seen as the enemy.

“What do they know about me?”

Everett sighed. “Only that ‘ghost you’ crushed a large gunship like an aluminum can with your ghost fist. T’Challa saw you fight, rip apart and disintegrate a vibranium robot. He knows you are probably unstoppable and wants to meet with you anyway. He knows you are a good person. I told him so and he saw it for himself. He saw how you calmed the situation between Stark, Cap and Barnes in Siberia. He will help you.”

Wanda nodded. “How soon can you set up a meet?”

Everett grinned. “How soon can you get to Wakanda?”

Wanda thought about it. “Everyday he is making more of the drug and infecting more kids. Tomorrow morning?”

Everett grinned. “I’ve got an open invitation. I’ll call him and catch a flight tonight. I’ll text you coordinates. The shield will open at a certain place once you have been given the all clear. Your jets will have to fly through that opening.”

“Shield?” Wanda asked.

Everett nodded. “Wait till you see the real Wakanda. It’s going to blow your mind.”

“I’ve traveled the universe, met aliens and creatures from other dimensions.”

“It is still going to blow your mind.”

Wanda woke back up in her body and jerked her head up. She was on her back on the library floor with a pillow under her head.

She sat up stiffly and saw Eleanor in the same chair watching her.

“Welcome back. Are you ready to continue our conversation or do you want to act like a child and leave again?”

She looked around and saw only Bucky and Eleanor were in the room.

“James had told me essentially the same version of events you told me last night though in greater detail. I would like to know this is mutual and not some mental manipulation that happened accidentally.”

Wanda groaned as she sat up. “Why do you care?”

Eleanor closed her eyes. “Because you need someone who cares and I happen to. I know I’m not your mother. But I’m the closest you have to one and I take that responsibility seriously and right now I see you falling more and more. I’m watching one daughter stopping herself from hitting rock bottom and that is in no small part thanks to you. I’m not going to stand by and watch you hit the ground. You have been taking too many chances with your health, you aren’t taking care of yourself and it is going to stop. You can of course send me away. You can fly away or make me forget all about my concerns. I can’t stop you but you won’t.”

“Why won’t I?”

“Because you love me and you know I love you. You tell me things at night that you would tell your mother. I’m not your mother but I love you and if she could talk to me, she would tell me to help you and we both know it. Now, lets talk. Then we can bring the others in and talk about how we can help all the girls find some balance between rage and serenity. Because I see a lot of rage in this house just beneath the surface but not much serenity. It needs to stop before a fight breaks out and someone is killed.”

Wanda sighed. “Can we hold the talk off for a while? I found someone who can help us in our mission and give us the tech we need. Everett is setting up the meeting now. We leave for Wakanda early. All the Widows are going. Kate needs to stay behind. They don’t need to know she is connected to us. We may be there for a few days to pick up pointers if that is okay with you, Bucky.”

Bucky nodded. “I can’t think of a better group of people to learn some tricks from.”

Eleanor was silent for a moment. “You promise we will have this discussion when you return?”

Wanda nodded. “I promise.”

Eleanor nodded and Wanda called the others into the briefing room and explained what was going on.

“What tech can they possibly have to offer us?” Amanda asked.

Wanda wasn’t surprised by the question. “When I was there, I saw things. I don’t know the extent but judging by T’Challa’ s announcement to the United Nations and what I saw when I was with Everett they are much more than the world believes them to be. Everett texted me coordinates on my way down and is on his way there. He will meet us when we arrive. I think it is worth a few days to see what they can offer us. If they aren’t willing to provide us with tech, maybe they will let us use their environment to run exercises. The decision belongs to all of us. All in favor?”

The entire room raised their hands.

“Done. I’ll confirm. We leave at six A.M. We should get to bed early or stay up all night and sleep on the jet. Do whatever you want.” Wanda finished and walked out. Before she got to the elevator Yelena’s hand was on her arm.

“You are angry with me.” The blonde told her.

“About you being a part of a discussion where I was talked about without me being there? Yes, I am vey angry with you. Somehow we go from you beating Natasha to death to me needing help in the course of a few days. How does that happen, Yelena?”

“I didn’t know that was going to happen. Eleanor asked me to come to the library. My papa and I had been talking…”

Wanda jerked her arm from Yelena. “I’m happy for you, sister. I am so happy for you. But I don’t need a mother. I’ve been without one for a very long time and can take care of myself. You should know that. You should have walked out when you realized what was going on. She brings Steve, Natasha, Agatha and Oksana in. Is there some sort of adult committee setting rules that I didn’t know about? We let these others into our house and they make rules? This isn’t the Red Room. I won’t allow these girls to be controlled by anyone.”

“Will you allow them to be protected?”

“That is what we do!” Wanda hissed. “Me and you! We protect them! I am glad you have your parents back, Yelena, but mine are gone and I don’t need a group of so called adults telling me how to live my life. I’d also be careful of how much input you take from your Natasha and Steve.”

Wanda turned to look at them, having known they were listening along with most of the girls. “How are the Avengers doing, Steve? You won’t destroy this family when neither of you can keep your own together. I won’t let you. I won’t let either of you.”

Wanda stormed off and took the stairs. Rather than going to her room, she went outside and took off into the sky, taking a leisurely flight over the grounds to clear her head.

She stayed in the sky, lying on air and looking up at the stars. She said nothing when Agatha floated beside her and relaxed.

“I may have made a mistake with the Elvis thing. Don’t judge me though. I couldn’t decide which version I liked better. Immortal witches have to do something to pass the time and on the list of messed up shit I have done that doesn’t make the top five hundred.”

Wanda said nothing.

“Talk to me, kid. Yell at me, do something. Tell me a secret or read my mind and see what Elvis looked like naked. Just talk.”

“I miss Sokovia. Right now, I wish we still lived in the base. I wish it was still just us.”

Agatha winced. “That cut deep but I did ask you to talk. Give me more pain. I can take it.”

“Its not like Eleanor isn’t getting something out of our arrangement either. I open up to her and she does this? She judges me. To hell with her. Now Yelena is turning on me too. She has her family. Soon she won’t need me anymore. It was supposed to be us. Instead she sits there while these former Avengers and you meet! What were you thinking Agatha?!”

Instead of replying Agatha placed her hands behind her head, continuing to float on air.

“Keep going, Sabrina. Don’t stop now.”

“I’m never going to get my family back. I’m never getting Pietro back. I’m glad she has Natasha and her parents. But… she shouldn’t have been in there. Not without me.”

“Fair enough. It was the first time she broke away from you.”

“If I have one more pierogi stuffed in my mouth…”

“I can see how that would be annoying.”

“I sleep fine. I’m a small person. I always have been. Pietro got all the size. Small works. It makes people underestimate you. Now I have… these new feelings about Bucky and she questions it. I suppose I should stop drinking, eat more even when I am not hungry and not have any happiness. It is too much to ask. Let these adults lead them. How many times have I saved their lives? Rogers and Romanoff would be on the Raft if not for me. Stannic would have killed Oksana. I stood in front of her and protected her. Yelena would be dead without me. She wouldn’t be free without me. Now they think they will change me. I should justify my actions to them. I expected better of you. If not Yelena, I expected you would have my back. I never judge you.”

Agatha chuckled. “Maybe you should. You think you aren’t a role model? I’m everything you shouldn’t be. I’m a cautionary tale, Wanda. I’m more than a teacher. I’m a bright neon sign showing you what could happen if you lose it. I’m not judging you. I’m loving you. There is a difference and I think you are smart enough to see it. Maybe we all need to change.”

“Why? Ask Chloe, or Madison, Yasmine, Rachel, and Antha. Ask them if we should change.”

Agatha sighed.

“Natasha told us she had been up all night with Stannic and just got her to sleep before she came down.”

“Nat decided to be her Mom. Stannic gets upset. I’ve sat up with her many nights too. It comes with taking responsibility for her. Nat made that decision.”

“Stannic opened her file last night.”

Wanda stood up in the air and Agatha did the same.

“What happened? Why wasn’t I told?”

“Nat said Stannic wanted to be alone. She showed Nat the file after Nat heard her screaming and ran in. She was sold for drug money to a Red Room recruiter when she was a newborn by her prostitute mother. Wanda… she doesn’t turn fourteen for another month.”

Wanda stood still, not sure what to say or do.

Then she vomited.

Agatha patted her on the back.

“We had her… now a year shouldn’t make a difference but she… oh god.”

“Yeah. Maybe it’s time we reevaluated some things. I love these girls like you do. I have always thought that they have already killed, so what if they do it now? But we had a baby in an Iranian prison firing weapons. We had her skinning people alive. We can’t keep doing this, Wanda. Something has to change. We have to change. Oksana, me, you and Yelena. They should be looking up to Oksana but they don’t. They look to me and I tell them stories about the evil fun I have had. They look to you and Yelena and see you both drinking all the time and not giving a damn if they do. I’m just saying, maybe it’s time we re-revaluate things. See things from other perspectives who haven’t gotten used to the status quo. What do you think?”

Wanda began to cry and Agatha held her.

“She was thirteen. I know thirteen and fourteen… I shouldn’t have let her at fourteen… what was I thinking? No wonder she prefers Nat. Nat is the only one… she must think I only see her as a weapon. Oh god.”

“I’ve done some very bad things to very innocent people. I’ve wiped villages of every living creatures, men, women and children. I’ve driven people insane and I have done so many drugs if you held me upside down and shook me cocaine would probably fall out of my ears. I don’t want to be evil anymore Wanda. You changed me. You all changed me. Maybe its time we made some changes for the better.”

Wanda shrugged. “If we don’t do the job who will?”

“We do the job. Some of us. We set some guidelines, set some age limits maybe. I don’t have the answers but I know that girls who are thirteen and those who sing Disney songs while skinning people, need more help than the average traumatized Widow and letting them continue to go into the field is not helping. Maybe, while we are saving others, we can work on those we have as well. I think that starts with you and Yelena. If you can’t take care of each other and yourselves, then what are the others going to think? You are their hero, Wanda. Yelena is their leader, but to them you are the only superhero in the world. They are going to act like you, like it or not. The kids dress like you already.”

Wanda asked for time to be alone. Agatha reluctantly left her.

She didn’t sleep the rest of the night. She entered her bedroom before the sun rose to change clothes and pack a bag. She dressed as she normally did in leather and tight, low cut clothes figuring it probably wasn’t appropriate attire to meet a king and his queen mother but she wanted to be the real Wanda Maximoff and the orphan from the Sokovian streets was the real Wanda.

The Red Widows, Steve, Bucky and Yelena’s parents who didn’t want her to leave without them were transported in three jets. They followed the coordinates, asked for passage according to the instructions Everett gave them and for the first time showed signs of life. The trip had been quiet. No music or dancing and no one seemed in the mood to talk. When the true Wakanda opened before their eyes as they passed the shield, there were gasps and awed expressions from everyone but Wanda and Yelena who sat quietly next to each other, not speaking but staying near each other regardless with their shoulders touching. There was no anger but they were both deep in their own thoughts.

When they landed, they were near the palace on a landing pad that seemed straight out of Star Wars.

T’Challa was waiting for them. Everett was standing on one side of him and a very thin teenage girl was on his other side. Next to her was a bald headed woman wearing some sort of armor and carrying a very large metal spear.

As soon as Wanda and Yelena stepped out, Everett moved towards them and wrapped Wanda in a tight hug.

“Its good to be able to hug you finally.” He told her. “Don’t bow. They don’t do that here.”

He looked at Yelena and opened his arms. She raised an eyebrow, not impressed. He nodded resignedly and stepped back.

“Not a hugger. Hey Rogers, Romanoff. Oh look… it’s Bucky Barnes. Hello Helena and Michiko. Its been a while since you shocked me unconscious. Good to see you.”

“We saved you from Barnes breaking you in half. You are welcome.” Helena told him.

“Allow me to introduce to you all King T’Challa, Princess Shuri and Okoye, General of the Dora Milaje.” Everett continued.

T’Challa stepped up and offered both his hands to Yelena and Wanda and waved to the rest.

“It is so good to see you all again in a less violent situation. A pleasure to meet you all. I hope to learn much about each of you. Thank you for agreeing to visit us.”

“Thank you for seeing us, King T’Challa.” Yelena greeted in return. “I suppose Ross told you our visit is not entirely of a social nature.”

T’Challa nodded. “You have chosen a difficult task ahead of you. He has told me briefly of this drug and your history with it. A difficult but noble task. Let us go to the throne room. You can all meet my mother and then we can all dine together. We have arranged the largest table in the palace.” The group followed the King up to the gates of the palace where they were stopped by more bald headed guards dressed similarly to Okoye.

“No weapons in the palace. Please remove all weapons. My soldiers will keep them safe for you.” Okoye said.

The widows stepped back. Many said they would wait in the jet.

Yelena wasn’t crazy about it either.

T’Challa understood. “I know your weapons provide you safety but it is my mother’s rule. Only the Dora Milaje spears are allowed inside the palace. I promise you all, you will be completely safe. It isn’t as if you are defenseless.” T’Challa said with a grin, nodding toward Wanda. Wanda smiled in return.

“It is okay, sisters.” Wanda said.

They reluctantly agreed. Yelena began disarming. She took off two electric batons, an expandable staff, six knives, four guns, another small gun holstered to her ankle and two widow bracelets, placing them in a box held by one of the guard.

The guard looked at her with raised eyebrows. Yelena rolled her eyes and unzipped the front of her suit halfway, pulling our two blades stashed inside her suit.

“Is that all?”

“I wish I had more.” Yelena told her. “I left my grenades at home. I expect receipt for this, yes?”

The guard walked off with the multitude of other large boxes filled to the brim.

When they began walking inside, Wanda and Natasha stayed close and Wanda slipped a blade she had turned invisible on her belt to Yelena who stashed it quickly in her sleeve before it became visible again.

They entered the throne room and saw the Queen sitting high atop her throne, smiling down on the guests. T’Challa introduced those whose names he knew and those he didn’t he called the warriors for justice, the Red Widows.

“Hello, Queen! I am Anya and this is my husband, Dima. We are Yelena’s parents. We are very proud. Can we get picture of you with her?”

“We need to leave.” Zarola said suddenly, moving beside Wanda. “Get us out of here, now!”

Yelena and Wanda looked at her in confusion.

“I’m not kidding, we need to leave now!” Zarola said insistently once again, taking in the room as if they were surrounded by threats.

T’Challa approached her slowly. “I assure you, that you are safe here. You have my word.”

“Then what are those doing here!”

Zarola pointed to the wall behind the Queen.

“The writing on the wall? It is an ancient prayer for peace and wisdom written in our language.”

She shook her head. “Everyone who grew up in the nursery knows better. Those are the symbols they placed on us. Is this where the nursery was? Is it still here?”

Yelena and the other’s were shocked. The nursery was a rumor. It wasn’t in the Red Room records as one place but a series of places Widows bought as newborns were raised before they were taken to basic training at five. Those like Yelena who were taken on a mission and then sent directly to Red Room training had never been. Some like Zarola and Stannic had been raised in a sort of daycare designed to grow perfect killers.

“Zarola, what symbols?” Yelena asked.

“Everyone who grew up in the nursery has one. Madame B told me. They marked us as property. All of us have one who were taken as babies. Right sisters?”

The widows looked at each other, confused as to what she was talking about.

Yelena took her hand. “Zarola, what mark are you referring to?”

“The tattoo we receive as babies. This one!”

Zarola pulled her lower lip down. Tattooed on her in glowing blue ink was a group of symbols, some resembling the markings on the palace wall.

T’Challa, Shuri and Queen Ramonda were shocked. Everett was as well.

“You know what these symbols mean.” Wanda told them, judging by the looks on their faces.

T’Challa nodded and moved closer to see the tattoo more clearly. “Your name, is it Zarola?”

The girl nodded.

“So that bastard kept your name.” T’Challa whispered, his anger barely concealed. “This changes things.”

“Why?” Yelena asked tensely.

“Your mission has now become our mission.”

T’Challa placed his hands on Zarola’s shoulders.

“You are home now, child. Okoye?”

“Yes?” she asked, walking closer, shocked at the new development.

“Your niece lives.”