Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

The Witch and the Widows

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 45:

Wanda, Bucky, Ava and Yelena stepped through the portal Wong had made. For the first time, they all saw Kamar-Taj.

The Ancient One had asked Wong to invite them, wishing to speak to Wanda. Wanda had expected to meet her in the New York Sanctum as always and was quite taken aback when she exited the portal in front of hundreds of sorcerers who had stopped what they were doing to stare at her.

“You could have warned me, Wong.” Wanda whispered.

“The Ancient One thought it would be humorous to see your face when you arrived here. I am sure several photos are being taken. Keep smiling.”

The Ancient One herself walked out, an amused grin on her face.

“Welcome to Kamar-Taj.” she told the group.

Needless to say, Ava and Yelena were armed with their widow bites but dressed casually, not at all ready to be outnumbered by sorcerers and it set them both on edge. Bucky wasn’t thrilled with the manner they were looking at Wanda. Some were curious, some admiring and many fearful of her.

“Students and masters of the mystic arts. I introduce you to the Scarlet Witch, Wanda Maximoff. This is Yelena Belova, the head of the Scarlet Witch’s coven.”

Yelena snickered. “I am the head. She is very wise. I have not given her enough credit in the past.”

“This is Ava, a senior member of the coven and Wong’s love and this is James Barnes, consort of the Scarlet Witch.”

Bucky raised an eyebrow and whispered to Ava. “What is a consort?”

“I think you are her booty call.” Ava whispered back.

Bucky nodded. “Cool. Not entirely accurate or accurate at all but still cool.”

The Ancient One smiled at the still silent and unmoving sorcerers. Wanda noticed Mordo who looked extremely angry, standing next to a curious man with long shaggy hair and an unkept beard. He looked like a homeless guy who had been pulled off the streets.

“I would like to speak to you and Yelena alone. Wong, I am sure you can entertain Ava and please make Mr. Barnes feel at home.”

Wanda and Yelena followed the woman through the large and very beautiful city into a temple or miniature palace of sorts. She led them through a simple room into another smaller chamber. This room had a thin mattress covered by two sheets, an old desk and three simple armchairs, likely brought in for this visit. The only light in the room was a candle on her desk.

“Have a seat.”

Wand and Yelena sat.

“Your home is beautiful.” Wanda started. “I am afraid we can’t stay long to explore it.”

The Ancient One nodded. “I know. You have homework. You and six other girls have also begun participating in an internet substance abuse support group. You both have stopped drinking alcohol, a great relief if you don’t mind me saying so. You also have a double date tomorrow with Mr. Barnes and Kate Bishop. I believe you will be flying to Sokovia and keeping a bit of a low profile.”

Yelena’s prior good opinion of the woman was turning into the annoyance she always felt since she met her.

“You spy on us often. Too much. I do not like it.”

The Ancient One nodded. “I know. It is a habit ingrained over a very long life. I want nothing but to protect you all and I feel myself giving into temptation often. It is not dissimilar to your rule about widows traveling alone. You worry when they are not under protection. I brought you here to discuss information you need to know to protect yourself.”

“We are listening.” Yelena told her.

“First let us discuss your recent trip to Rwanda. You fought a warlock. You fought a very strong warlock and defeated him easily.”

“Yes,” Wanda concurred, “and I was struck by dark magic. He had a spell from the Darkhold.”

Rather than expressing surprise or concern, the Ancient One sighed.

“Someone has found Mount Wundagore. Mount Wundergore is a mountain that contains a chamber where Chthon first wrote the Darkhold. He carved the spells into the walls. He prepared it as a throne room of sorts for his vessel to one day rule from.”

“His vessel?” Wanda asked.

“She means you. Keep up.” Yelena told her then motioned for the woman to continue.

The Ancient One smirked and carried on. “No one who has stumbled upon this chamber has ever survived. It is protected by very dark magic. I am not sure what the inside looks like. I know that some creature copied the spells long ago in written form to write the book known as the Darkhold.”

Yelena nodded. “And some very dumb man copied one of the spells and gave it to Tetu.”

“Maybe Tetu took it.” Wanda suggested.

“If Tetu was strong enough to get past this place the Ancient One hasn’t walked inside, you wouldn’t have taken him so easily.” Yelena reasoned. “There is another out there that gave him the spell and if that other was strong enough to walk into the mountain and come out, he or she is very bad news.”

Wanda looked at the Ancient One who smiled widely. “As I said, she is the head of the coven.”

Wanda grumbled for a moment. “So who is this big bad that wants me dead?”

Yelena shook her head. “He doesn’t want you dead. If he did, he would have attacked you with spells from the Darkhold while you were distracted burning runes onto Tetu’s head. He wants something else from you. It wasn’t Chthon though. He knows what you are capable of. This is someone who wanted to observe you.”

The Ancient One laughed. “The next time I think of checking in on you I must remember you no longer need me since you have this one. There could be a number of higher demons that would wish to test you. Some want you dead but others want you under control. There is only one way for a demon to acquire chaos magic. That demon would have to own your soul. I suspect you fought an acolyte of a demon who is commonly called Mephisto.”

Neither women said anything, doubt on their faces.

“Yes, that Mephisto. However the legends and fairytales you have heard are not accurate. He likes to pretend he is a satanic figure, the lord of hell and he does reign over pocket dimensions. He enjoys bargaining for souls. When you make a bargain, your soul is his. He will be constantly watching you, Wanda. He will want your soul. He is not the only one. Many now want you dead or under their control.”

Yelena shrugged. “She has been known as the Scarlet Witch for much time. No one is brave enough to go against us.”

The Ancient One shook her head. “The mystic world was never certain. They never knew for sure. Many believed it, but after your display in Novi Grad, every mystic evil in the universe knows. You didn’t rebuild a city with telekinesis. You brought it together in minutes using magic. You grew life in the ground immediately. You cleaned the water, you restored homes exactly as they were. That was the largest display of chaos magic ever seen or heard of. You did it without a spell book or drawing on other’s powers. You are on top of the magical universe and some entity will always wish to knock you off. Some potential enemies are right outside this door despite my best efforts. You also have weaknesses. Yelena was with you when you used your magic.”

Yelena huffed. “Me, a weakness? You are not so wise after all. I am many things but a weakness is not one of them.”

The Ancient One disagreed.

“Wanda cannot be attacked head on. Only a few in the universe could challenge a nexus being. You are known as her closest friend, a sister and the Red Widows are her coven in a manner of speaking. If someone knew they could not defeat a nexus being, they would go after her loved ones.”

Yelena shook her head. “We keep her alive. They cannot threaten us.”

“But they can threaten Kate Bishop. Or Eleanor Bishop. Or Anya and Dima Belova. Perhaps Everett Ross. You are no longer the Red Widows, a group of sisters only beholden to each other, with no connections to the world around them. You have people you love.”

Yelena sighed, knowing she was right. “And the people we love are always our weaknesses.”

The Ancient One nodded. “This is good. Everyone should have love. Remember though, a creature like Mephisto will do anything to convince Wanda to give up her soul to him. No matter what happens, you can never agree, Wanda. Even if he asks you to do it to save a loved one, that is your burden. He will destroy life on Earth and possibly other planets who do not bow to his will if he claims your soul.”

Wanda took a deep breath. Another curse of being the Scarlet Witch. “I understand.” Wanda said.

The Ancient One watched her closely and their eyes met. She nodded, satisfied with what she saw in the girl. “I truly hope so. You have lost much in your life, and you hold on tightly to what you have. It is understandable but could also be the Universes’ downfall. You may yet lose more to the greater good.

“Now we must talk about the Infinity Stones. The Mind Stone is in Wakanda. We have the Time Stone.”

Yelena’s eyes widened, not having known of this. Agatha had explained the existence and necessity of the Infinity Stones but never mentioned the Time Stone was in the possession of the Masters of the Mystic Arts.

“Four other stones are scattered over the Universe. Do they still speak to you in your dreams, Wanda?”

Wanda nodded. “Sometimes. Not as often as they once did but yes. I do my best not to dream by not sleeping.”

The Ancient One shook her head. “You must solve that puzzle. You need rest. You will need to be ready for the battles ahead. You need to be in peak physical health and your mind must be strong. I told you that few could challenge a nexus being. If someone were to collect all six Infinity Stones they would be equal in power to a nexus being. Others have tried in the past but no one has succeeded. Someone will always try. The power to alter creation, to destroy life in the universe is not to be left in the hands of the unworthy. You know this Wanda. If the Infinity Stones are ever obtained by one creature, you are the only hope to stop it. You can save the universe but you cannot bring back the dead. Always remember this.”

“I will. If I don’t, I am sure you will remind me over and over.”

The Ancient One grinned but did not agree.

“You should know that some of our sorcerers have turned against us. They recently broke into Kamar-Taj and killed our librarian. They stole a ritual which can cause irreparable harm. I am handling the situation but I want you aware of it.”

“We can help.” Wanda said immediately.

“I’ve never killed a sorcerer.” Yelena pointed out. “It would be fun. Agatha’s enchanted bullets against those little shields made of light. Tell me where they are and we can handle the situation quickly or slowly, as you prefer of course. You seem like the merciful type.”

The Ancient One shook her head. “We each have our battles to fight. You all have many things to focus on that are just as important. Your future is hard to read Wanda but I know you will be more than just the Scarlet Witch one day. I have not seen it nor looked, I just believe in you. I believe in both of you. I will let you return to your studies and loved ones. Thank you for visiting me here. I suspect it will not be the last time you visit our city.”

Inside the library, Wong was breaking the news to Ava about his new job, the job he told her he always wanted but didn’t seem as excited about now.

“What happened to the last librarian? Did he retire?” she asked.

Wong was quiet.

“Wong?”

Bucky cleared his throat, suspecting what happened by Wong’s countenance.

“I’m going to check these other books out.”

“Don’t touch any of them!” Wong told him as Bucky walked to the back.

Ava asked again.

“He was beheaded… by my old friend Kai. Remember the guy I told you had been acting cagey. He turned on us. Him and a few others have followed him.”

Ava’s eyes widened. “Beheaded?”

Wong nodded.

“I like your head where it is. Is that why you haven’t been over at night? You have been sleeping in this library to protect it, haven’t you?”

He nodded. “The Library must be protected now more than ever.”

Ava understood. “Then I will sleep here with you at night. If they are beheading people, you need back up. I’ll ask a couple other girls to come with me. The next time they arrive, we will kill your old friend. I’ll behead him myself.”

Wong smiled. “No Ava. We fight our own battles and this one is ours.”

“This one has people getting their heads cut off. You aren’t an expert in fighting that kind of aggression, Wong. I am.”

Wong looked at her and shook his head. “No. This is our fight. I am a better fighter than you give me credit for. This is my duty. You understand. I know you do.”

Ava did understand and she hated it.

“Hello.”

Ava turned to the man she had heard walk in but hadn’t acknowledged. She knew he had been watching them.

She turned towards him with a large smile. “Hello, I’m Ava.”

The man looked homeless with his wild hair, full frazzled beard and well-worn pajamas or robes as Wong called them.

“Stephen. Dr. Stephen Strange. So… you are Wong’s…”

Ava nodded. “She didn’t have to put it like that, but yes. He’s my Snuggles.”

“Ava.” Wong whispered, maintaining a stern face while looking at the new guy who annoyed him the most.

“Sorry, Snuggles.”

Stephen grinned, seeing that something finally got through the unflappable and serious Wong.

“Could I ask, does your Snuggles ever smile?”

Ava nodded. “All the time. Why do you ask?”

“Because I have never seen him smile.”

Ava nodded. “He probably doesn’t like you.”

Stephen was taken aback by her bluntness but then smirked, deciding he liked it.

“So, The Ancient One said you are a member of the Scarlet Witch’s coven. I suppose that would make you a witch?”

Ava shook her head. “No, but I killed one a few days ago who was screwing with our emotions. Blew her head up, literally. You would have thought I beheaded her. Horror movies couldn’t make that much gore. I’m a Red Widow. Maybe you have heard of us?”

Strange’s eyes widened. “I do not know much about Wanda Maximoff but I heard rumors, only what the news reports. I saw what she did in Novi Grad. Before that I had heard she associated with the Red Widows. The Red Widows are some sort of vigilante squad that massacres human traffickers, is that correct?”

“We also fight evil witches, evil robots, evil scientists and the occasional Rwandan Warlord slash warlock. But in simple terms I suppose vigilante squad could describe us.”

Strange was fascinated now, looking at the small girl in a new light.

“So you have killed people.”

Ava nodded. “So many people. I’ve lost count. I never really counted to begin with. I was given missions and completed them but since I have been free, I have killed so many bad people, in so many different ways. It’s been a blast. You said you were a doctor. What kind of doctor?”

Strange shook his head. “And the Scarlet Witch is a member of your organization? The same woman who rebuilt Novi Grad in minutes, is a member of a vigilante hit squad?”

“Founder actually.” A new voice whispered in his ear. He turned quickly behind him and saw no one.

“Over here.”

He turned back around and found Wanda Maximoff and Yelena Belova only a few feet from where he had been.

He took both of them in with a sharp eye for details. They were both kids. Yelena Belova looked the youngest. She wore similar bracelets as Ava so Stephen guessed she was no witch but a Red Widow as well. She was the one with Maximoff in Novi Grad.

The Ancient One had called her the head of the coven. She was dressed like a typical European teen, baggy jeans, t shirt with some trash band on it that he would rather pull his ears off than listen to.

Wanda looked like a European punk rocker with her dark makeup, numerous bracelets and rings, torn jeans and tight red, low cup top. Neither looked like anything special. Ava didn’t for that matter. They were all beautiful kids but when he looked at them he didn’t see nexus being and assassins who had killed hundreds. He just saw kids.

Appearances could be deceiving though and in this case obviously were.

“Hey Wong, can I borrow this book? Do I need a library card or what?” Barnes asked, spell book in hand.

“Put that back!”

Bucky raised his hands. “Sorry. Look, relax. I know a little about magic. I read the Hobbit when it first came out in 1937. I’m not going to say any spells. I like some of these pics though.”

Strange took in the man as a grumpy Wong took the book from him. The metal arm made him hard to not recognize. This was the Winter Soldier.”

“Bucky Barnes?”

“Yeah. I heard you say you were Stephen Strange.”

“Doctor.”

Bucky raised an eyebrow and shook his head. “I’m not a doctor.”

“I know. I meant…”

Wanda laughed. “He is screwing with you. We really have to go. It was good to meet you, Dr. Strange. I hope we can talk more in the future. Don’t believe what your friend Mordo says about me.”

“He said you are emotionally unstable, have killed hundreds of people in your short life and are the greatest threat to life in the universe.”

“Then maybe he isn’t so wrong.” Yelena said.

“I prefer to form my own opinions.” Strange told her.

Yelena was happy to hear that. Maybe he wasn’t Mordo’s tool. “She also makes a great martini and is becoming very good at braiding hair. Wong! We must return to base!” Yelena declared.

After Wong opened the portal, Strange looked through it and took in the underground bunker. It was the typical superhero secret lair he would expect from them.

“I like them.” Strange said when they had gone and the portal closed.

Wong nodded. “Your opinion is irrelevant. Now leave. I have work to do. Bucky probably touched every book.”

Later that night, Wanda sat at the long table in the library four seats away from Kate, working on her laptop while Kate typed away on her own, with a bored Lucky at her feet.

“I can’t believe the school wants me to complete this. I’ve just gotten out of full body cast and am in an exclusive physical rehabilitation center. How can they expect me to make up for missed schoolwork?”

Wanda shrugged. “Perhaps they think you need something to occupy your time while you learn to walk again.”

After a few minutes Wanda closed her laptop quickly and firmly then pushed her chair away from the desk, her fists clenched, eyes closed and frustration obvious.

“Are you okay?” Kate asked.

Wanda nodded.

“I don’t think you are. You know Mom treats you like a daughter. That kind of makes us sisters. You can talk to me.”

Wanda scowled at her. “What would you like to talk about? Would you like to talk about how I have trouble with long division while you are already studying advanced college courses even though I am three years older than you?”

“How do you know what courses I take?” Kate asked.

Wanda took a breath, forcing herself to relax. “When I first met your Mother I started calling her for some reason. I’m not sure why. She talked to me though. It was nice. It was like having my own… she talked about you mostly. She told me about the medals you won and how well you do in school. To be honest I was very jealous. Now we sit side by side and I sneak a peak at your laptop with some sort of math involving symbols and I am frustrated. I feel worse than ever and if I take your help I will feel very worthless. I don’t need anyone’s help with that. I want a drink. I want a damn bottle. I want to forget how stupid I am. I do not want to sit in front of some computer and talk to some alcohol counselor person who talks about recovery like I have a disease.”

Kate stared at her for a moment, her face giving her emotions away.

“And I don’t want to be pitied by you.” Wanda rose noticing her look but stopped when Kate called out to her.

“Please don’t leave.” the girl said. “You don’t think I know what it’s like to not want to be pitied? The girl I love watched me in the hospital with nothing but pity. My strong Red Widow who fights robots and frees slaves and steps on land mines to save others, watched me lie helplessly in a body cast, completely wrecked. I wanted to give up. I didn’t even want to wake up.”

Kate paused a moment. “Then you were there, in my head, living my trauma with me, knowing it would stay with you forever, even though you had your own problems. When I lay in the bed after waking up being pitied and having nightmares about getting beaten and didn’t even feel like I deserved to be healed, you were the one who kicked my ass and told me to grow up. When you healed me, I know you took my pain and it hurt you. I’m not sure how I know but it did, right? You and Agatha absorbed my pain while you mended my bones and put me back together like I was Novi Grad. You never pitied me when everyone else did. I won’t pity you. Just sit. We can figure this out.”

Wanda hesitated then sat back down. Kate moved closer and brought her notepad.

“Long division is easier on paper. Learn the basics and then you can use a calculator like the rest of the world. I’m almost certain some of my classmates don’t know division without a calculator. Mom made me write out my homework. She said she didn’t want me relying on machines when I had a perfectly good brain. So do you. Let’s start simple. The journey of a thousand steps starts with one, right?”

Wanda sighed. “Yes, I guess it does.”

While Kate tutored Wanda in math, Eleanor got a call she had not been looking forward to. She had been having a nice discussion with Anya whose nerves were finally starting to settle when her phone rang. It would have been too late in the States to be bothered with business.

She didn’t have many contacts stored in the phone she had been given. The number had stayed the same but this was one the widows used. Completely unhackable and untraceable. She didn’t need caller I.D. to tell her who this was.

She pardoned herself and stepped outside onto the back lawn.

“Hello.”

“Hello Eleanor.”

She cleared her throat. “Hello, Wilson. How are you?”

“I am fine. Do not worry about me. I have been concerned about you. I know your dear Kate has been taken to an overseas rehabilitation facility but can find out nothing about it. I am concerned some organization like Tolliver’s may take an undue interest in her. If you would tell me where you are, I would like to send you bodyguards. They will be discrete of course.”

Eleanor had suspected something like this was coming. She was surprised it had taken him this long.

“I have Kate in a very secluded clinic in Iceland. Unfortunately they do not wish us to divulge their location but their security is top notch. I feel I must honor their wishes. I only learned of them through a friend of mine who I paid for information. They were wonderful with his son and he was persuaded by a large sum to give me the contact details.”

Fisk was silent for a moment.

“Of course I would never ask you to betray a confidence or intrude in your personal business. I am just concerned. We have known each other for many years now and I consider us family. It gave me great pleasure to kill the monster who did this to Katherine.”

Eleanor was speechless for a moment. “He… he killed himself…”

“Yes he did. When he harmed your daughter he killed himself. I threw him off the building myself. I assure you he was sufficiently punished beforehand. You see I take care of my family. Now we need to speak of business. I have recently made a new merger. A smaller outfit is coming under my business’s banner. They aren’t very profitable at this moment but I expect this to change quickly. Vancorp was my previous shell company but it was tied to me thanks to the vigilante. I need a new one. Sloan Limited. I need you to set this up. I will forward you details of a man named William Lopez. He will be the C.E.O.”

“Of course.”

“I need it set up within the month. I trust you can do this without endangering your company. I have a rather large sum of money that needs to be cleaned and you will receive your percentage as always. Let me know when it is done. Take care of yourself, Eleanor. Whatever you need, do not hesitate. Always remember we are family and I am here for you.”

Eleanor ended the call wanting to vomit.

“Why do you not ask me to just kill him? Are you worried if he dies Bishop Security would be in danger of secrets being exposed? He is in hiding. He could just… disappear.” Yelena asked.

Eleanor looked to her right and saw Yelena sitting on the ground in the dark, her back against the mansion wall.

“I… you scared me.”

“I would have said I was here but you were on the phone. It didn’t take a genius to know who you are talking to. He wants something. I can give him something. Several somethings of all calibers. Perhaps I carve him up like Melina’s pigs. He would squeal good I think.”

Eleanor shivered at the tone of her voice. If she wanted Fisk dead, Yelena would ensure his body was below room temperature within twenty four hours. Having that kind of influence over someone was frightening. Of course she knew that it would come down to it one day and she would need the widows to get past Fisk’s muscle but today was not the day.

“I can’t yet. I’ve been working on something and I need the access the fool gives me to his records. Have you ever heard of a criminal organization called the Hand?”

Yelena was surprised she hadn’t. She thought her time in the Red Room had given her a good idea about all the criminal organizations in the world.

“No, I haven’t. Are they local to New York?’

Eleanor shook her head. “From what I understand they are or were a worldwide organization with their hands in everything, including human trafficking. Fisk was once involved with them. A few years ago a building in New York City fell into a sinkhole underneath it. The entire building fell. Rumors were rampant but I was able to find out some of the facts. The Hand was a group of criminal bosses who controlled most of the organized crime in New York and the world. Fisk had worked with them before the Devil took him down. The Hand continued on though.

“They had a shell company named Midland Circle Financial. Their corporate headquarters was the building that fell.”

“It was no sinkhole.” Yelena realized.

“No. There have been wild theories ever since the event. The police closed the case without much investigation. What I learned for certain was Jessica Jones, Danny Rand, Luke Cage and Daredevil went into that building. Three of them came out before it sunk. Daredevil was missing in action for months afterward. They blew that building up and the leaders of the Hand were in it.”

Yelena was surprised. “The Devil who does not kill, dropped a building on the leaders of the Hand. They must be very powerful.”

“And assumed dead afterwards. The Hand went silent. Street crime became more rampant and turf wars started up. If Fisk had been in a better position he would have monopolized crime.”

Yelena shrugged. “What does that have to do with him now? Hand is dead.”

“If the Devil survived, others could have.”

“So what? Fisk can be dead, all these problems can be problems of the past and Yelena can skip through fields of wildflowers chasing butterflies.”

“Six months ago, I laundered twenty five million dollars on Fisk’s orders from a shell company in Tokyo. I was curious and surprised when I found the twenty five million had been used to buy the land Midland Circle once stood on. It had been declared unsafe but suddenly permits were given by the city. I think the Hand is back. If they are, the old human trafficking pipelines they used are most likely up as well. I need Fisk’s information. I need him to tell me what shell companies are spending and where they are putting it.”

Yelena whistled. “Fisk is involved with Hand you think or is Fisk starting the operation up again wanting the world to think the Hand is back.”

Eleanor nodded. “Until I can be sure, I don’t want to cut ties. They were major players in human trafficking.”

Yelena shrugged. “No matter how many slavers we terrify if there is money to be made criminals will risk our wrath. We cannot stop them all and they know it. What is special about the Hand, Eleanor?”

Eleanor paused, wondering if she should tell her considering she only had a small evidence and a large hunch.

“When I was investigating the Hand I traced their money everywhere. They had infiltrated Roxxon corporation and split into several directions. I picked one and followed it. I found continuous deliveries to a small city west of St. Petersburg. The items were what caught my attention. Diapers, baby food, children’s clothes. At first I thought the receipts had been forged but they weren’t. The purchases stopped after the Midland Circle fiasco. When I laundered five million for Fisk a few months ago I followed a hunch and traced the money through Roxxon again. Its back. Whatever daycare they are funding in a remote Russian town is possibly in business again.”

Yelena’s eyes widened. “The Nursery.” she whispered.

“If the Hand were involved with the Red Room then this location could very well be the location of the Nursery. After the Hand ended, the Red Room could have used another supplier. With the Red Room gone the Nursery could be active for other purposes but children’s items are being bought once again. Perhaps the Hand has begun their own school for foot soldiers or remnants of the Red Room are starting up once again in the shadows. have to be sure though. Once I learn everything about them and all of Fisk’s other secrets like the reason for this new shell company, I will take him out.”

Yelena smirked. “You are going to need me to take him out. Wanda could make him walk off the top of the Empire State Building. I suggest you leave him to us, Eleanor. If you want to be the one to pull the trigger, so be it but you will need us to get you there.”

Eleanor laughed quietly. Admitting to herself it was unlikely she could storm Fisk’s compound and kill him.

“Just be careful not to be caught.” Yelena warned her. “Maria can protect you, erase most connections, but if things go badly you may have to become a full time citizen of Sokovia. These others you are taking an interest in may come after you.”

Eleanor knew that. She had been treading the line for years. She was good with numbers though. That was Derek’s problems. He was never good with numbers and never knew when to quit.

She brought up another subject with Yelena now that she had her in private. “Kate isn’t going to want to go back to school in New York. Any ideas?”

Yelena leaned back against the wall. “Nope. I had the same concern.”

Eleanor was glad her and Yelena were on the same page but it seemed they were always on the same page when it came to Kate.

“Being here has been good for her. Seeing you nearly blown up and to come back in pieces was not good for her nightmares but other than that, being here has been good. She isn’t a hollow shell any longer who jumps at shadows. But this place is different. It’s a good different but going back… I was hoping to convince you to go to school with her, just to give her incentive. Now the entire world knows your face though.”

Yelena waved it off and continued looking at the stars. “It would be a crime against humanity to withhold the beauty of this face from the world. I could wear a veil of course but it would never work. Who would step on landmines when my beloved idiots activate them? Who would look out for dumb older sister? Who would calm Wanda down when she becomes extra Wanda? My place is here, as much as I would love to be there with her. I would love for Mama and Papa to have a house and they could come to football games and see me cheer in tiny skirt Papa wouldn’t like. But they love taking care of the girls as well as me. The girls love them. I am afraid school is one task Kate must complete on her own. Just as one day, you will have to go back to your office because it is your task.”

Eleanor knew she was right. She had come here to be with Kate more than the weekends. When she had arrived and seen the state many of the girls were in including Wanda, she had been determined to do something about it. Despite the heated meeting between the Widows the night before, everything was still good. The youngest were safe, there hadn’t been any alcohol as far as she could tell and Wanda hadn’t been drinking. She knew this because she had seen Wanda shaking. Wanda was in a better place and though she wasn’t happy about this attraction to the super soldier with the metal arm, she had to pick her battles when it came to the stubborn redhead.

Next week Wanda and Yelena would take Antonia, Zarola and Lerato to Wakanda where Antonia would have brain surgery but other than that, things had settled. Soon it would be time for her to return and resume her weekend trips. No matter how much she hated it, that was her task.

“Do you really think you can find if this place is the Nursery?” Yelena asked.

Eleanor wasn’t sure but knew she had to try. “All I can do is follow my gut, Yelena. Don’t get your hopes up. It may have nothing to do with the Red Room. Either way it is likely young children are being held but for what purpose I do not know. It could be a daycare in a poor area that is a charitable tax write off. I will find out.”

Yelena nodded. “Just be careful.”

Yelena walked back inside and watched Kate working with Wanda in the library. It warmed her heart to see it. Her and Kate had plans tomorrow night to go into the nearest village to the little diner for a dinner for two. Considering she bought a piece of shit shack from the owner of the diner and general store he was glad to close it to everyone else. He didn’t know Kate or Yelena’s face. The people in that village minded their own business and couldn’t care less. Yelena was just one of the weirdos from that cult of girls thirty miles away.

An hour later Wanda was done with studying. Kate wanted to be with Yelena and Wanda did not want to look at or think about numbers.

She didn’t know what to do. She had stuck to her promise and not drank any alcohol in days. Now that her hands were shaking she realized how often she had drank. Agatha offered to make her a special tea to help. She swore it worked for Bob Dylan but it did nothing for Wanda.

There was only one thing that could take her attention from alcohol.

She didn’t bother going to her room. She didn’t bother knocking. He knew she was there. The door opened and Bucky was seated by the window in his familiar spot, reading a book.

“Hey… I was hoping to see you tonight. You kind of left quickly after dinner. Did my breath stink?”

Wanda smirked. “I wanted to get my studying done for the night. At my present rate I may have the equivalent of a high school diploma by the time I am 40.”

Bucky chuckled. “So we are still on for the trip to Novi Grad this weekend before Wakanda right?”

Wanda took a breath.

“Bucky, I’m losing my mind right now. I want a drink so badly it is taking everything in me not to conjure a very large bottle of vodka. I’m shaking and agitated and… I feel like I’m going crazy. That so called online outpatient treatment is a joke. None of those breathing techniques work and talking reminds me of what I can’t have. I know what I need.”

Bucky understood.

“We are going to that date.” Wanda promised. “We are going to talk and have fun and hold hands while skipping in the park and maybe find some evil assholes to kill while we are doing it. But right now, I need you. Do you understand?”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes!”

With a snap of her fingers the door locked behind them and the lights dimmed.

Four hours later the occupants of the house woke at the same time. They stumbled out of their rooms trying to orient themselves from the weird dream they had. When they all saw each other in the hallways it became clear what happened.

“What the hell was that?” Nat asked, Stannic at her side as always.

“So we all had the same dream?” Steve asked.

“I dreamed of a bunch of idiots. One was a talking raccoon.” Ingrid noted.

“Does stuff like this happen all the time?” Sophie asked. “Do we all share dreams? I didn’t read that in the welcome manual, Sasha.”

Sasha shook her head. “It’s never happened. So we all saw the same thing? A guy in leather pants trying to have a dance off with some big blue alien before a raccoon shot the blue alien with a big gun and then they caught some glowing rock and I could see their skeletons before they blew the blue alien up?”

Agatha flew up between the floors and hovered in the air.

“Where is Wanda?” she asked. “She must have projected what she was seeing.”

“So we saw Wanda’s dream?” Yelena asked.

Agatha shook her head. “If wasn’t a dream. I was awake and saw it. She was projecting what she was watching as if she were there. The stone… where is she? I need to wake her.”

“She isn’t in her room.” Staci said, stepping out from Wanda’s room, along with Madison and Aino.

Then Bucky’s door opened and he walked to the railing. The entire house looked at him.

“I just had the weirdest dream. Hey Agatha, I was just about to wake you up. I woke up and Wanda is sitting cross legged over the bed, kind of hovering in the air. Her eyes are red and she is in that outfit she usually wears when she is doing some badass stuff. I can’t get her attention… did anyone else dream about a talking raccoon with a big gun and a moron challenging an alien to a dance off?”

Agatha flew past Bucky and the rest of the house rushed to his room to stand outside the door.

“You must have tired her out for her to fall so deeply asleep. Did you read her a bedtime story?” Agatha asked, taking Wanda in. Her glowing eyes were wide open but she wasn’t home.

Bucky ignored her comment. “She slept so deeply she was snoring. She has never slept that deeply. She probably projected herself across the universe. Think you can wake her up?”

Agatha was impressed by his calm. “You are taking this well.”

“I’ve lived through moments like these with her when I watched her life. She is seeing something across the universe. It has to do with the big blue alien and that rock. It’s an Infinity Stone, right?”

“Gather everyone in the first floor living room. We need to have a meeting. I doubt this is the last time it will happen.”

Bucky hesitated.

“I get it. You had a taste and you don’t want to leave her. It’s a witch thing. We are that good. Don’t worry, you aren’t a one night stand. Gather everyone.”

Bucky left and the widows followed him. Agatha went to work on bringing Wanda back gently from her state. Her normal approach was to leave Wanda alone until she woke on her own, much like a sleepwalker but this was different. Wanda was out in the Universe likely drawn by an Infinity Stone in distress.

Kate took Yelena’s hand as she had been shaken by the dream. The Widows were not clinging to each other but staying close together. Despite the ridiculous actions in the dream including the dance off, the raccoon with the big gun and the strange looking alien, it was an intense scene.

Dima and Anya walked out of their rooms. “Yelena?” they called to her on the stairs. Yelena walked back up.

“Where is everyone going?”

“Widow meeting.”

“Another one? It is four in the morning. The strangest thing happened. I was dreaming of your mother and then some weird…”

Yelena held up a hand and looked at her mother. “You too, Mama?”

Anya nodded.

“Wanda is in middle of intense dream and projected it to the household. She may have projected to all of France for all I know. It is over now. Go back to dreaming of Mama. I don’t need the details.”

Dima smiled. “Ah, it was the night we made you, my angel.”

Anya hit him in the arm. “Have a nice meeting. Please not as much yelling as the last one. I do not feel like making emergency plate of cookies. Of course since we are up Dima…”

“I’m going to be sick.” Yelena told them and made her way back to Kate who was waiting on the stairs.

Once the widows, Cap and Bucky had gathered, they sat down in their usual meeting spots and Steve stood in the back with Bucky. No one said anything for a few minutes. They all winced when they heard Wanda cry out from her room.

A few minutes later Wanda and Agatha floated down to the parlor and made their way to the living room.

Wanda was sleepy and red in the face.

“I apologize. I will do my best not to let that happen again.”

“Maybe if you slept where you were supposed to…” Staci began before Ingrid cut her off with a look.

Wanda looked apologetically at the girl. She still had a few a night that slept in her room and the youngest often slept in her small bed with her. Despite Wanda letting herself sleep better, they still felt calmer around her. She swore some were afraid of the dark due to past experiences while they slept and felt safer with her nearby even if she didn’t exude calm like she once did.

“What was that?” Sonia asked. “It was real, wasn’t it?”

Wanda nodded and conjured a pillow in the middle of the room to sit on.

“It is time you learned about the Infinity Stones. You all know of the Mind Stone that enhanced my powers and now resides in Vision’s head somewhere in Wakanda. What I have not told you, what I hoped didn’t matter and never would, was about the other Infinity Stones, hidden throughout the Universe. Based on what I saw tonight, they are not all as hidden as I had hoped. Agatha, you know more about this than anyone. Maybe you could explain what the stones actually are.”

Agatha had a seat next to Wanda and the group quieted and listened to her every word, not asking questions. After she had explained what would happen if the stones were ever collected by one person and what that person could do, the flood of questions began.

“There is more.” Wanda said, stopping the questions. “After I absorbed more power from the Mind Stone, I passed out. While I was out, my astral form traveled the universe and the multiverse. The stones spoke to me and guided me. They showed me other versions of myself as a warning. Some of these versions were twisted, evil beyond belief. Others were heroes and some had destroyed all life in the Universe accidentally. I was also shown threats in this universe.”

Wanda raised her hand and a large image of Thanos appeared.

“I saw this man. This… creature. I believe he is searching for the other stones. He hasn’t gathered any yet. You all saw how strong one stone was when Vision had it. If he collects two, we are in for a fight we have never imagined. He will not come to Earth until he has collected four. He would be very powerful, perhaps as powerful as me, perhaps more. He would want the other two stones. The Time Stone is with the Masters of the Mystic Arts. The other of course is in the vibranium mines of Wakanda. I’m sure he realizes at least one of the stones is on Earth.”

“Could he really get past us? All of us?” Antonia asked.

Wanda shrugged. “We would all have to come together. Sorcerers, witches, and warriors. He simply cannot get the stones. Not even I can reverse death. I also believe he wouldn’t be alone. When I was on his ship I saw hundreds of aliens and I suspect their were many more. I believe they were the ones who attacked New York. Of all the cities in the world, Loki was given the Mind Stone to attack New York City, a location of three sanctums protected by the sorcerers. He may have wanted the sanctum to access Kamar-Taj to take the Time Stone or it may have been coincidence. Either way one day, he will come. It could be years from now. It could be centuries from now or it could be months from now.”

A small laugh was heard in the back. “You guys get into some really weird shit.” Sophie told the group.

“If you want out, now is the time. No one will think less of you.” Ava assured her.

Sophie shook her head. “I meant it as a compliment. I’m good here.”

“If he comes, we will all need to fight. Age doesn’t matter because if we lose we are all dead anyway.” Stannic pointed out.

No one commented, knowing she was right.

Madison looked to Rogers and Natasha.

“Natasha, this is your territory.” she told her. “You and Steve have fought these things. You are the only Red Widow who has. We need to know everything.”

Natasha raised an eyebrow. “Is this the part where you say we are not Avengers and can handle this on your own?”

Steve nodded. “Yeah, I’m not falling for that again.”

Naomi stood and looked at her. “You got your team through a mine infested landscape to join the others. You went back on your own through dangerous territory to save Yelena and stopped Sophie without hurting her. You are one of us. We need to know how they fight, what their weaknesses are, how their weapons work, how our suits can hold up to their weapons and what we can do better. If Wanda is fighting the big purple alien it will fall to us to battle this alien horde. If it comes to that, we follow your lead. You have proven yourself many times. You are one of us. Start teaching us to fight aliens if the worst ever happens. We will follow you.”

Natasha was shocked, almost speechless but kept her face neutral. Stannic didn’t bother, beaming with pride.

“If this battle happens, I would like to speak before…”

“No.” the room told Steve.

“Had to try.” he mumbled.

“So it is settled.” Yelena said. “We review footage of battle of New York with Natasha and Steve every day. These will be daily meetings for an hour after training and before all our other lessons and hobbies.”

Wanda stood. “I will do my best to not project again.”

Natasha shook her head. “No. We need to see what is going on and you need sleep. Do not worry about it. We can take it and talk about it at breakfast. Whatever you did to sleep tonight, keep doing it. You need the rest.”

“She did Bucky tonight.” Helena pointed out.

Wanda turned red. She looked to Staci. “I’ll be in my room. Whoever is sleeping there come with me. We have a few hours more. Perhaps we can all sleep late.”

“Could you take a shower first?” Aino asked.

Wanda walked away quickly and flew to her room.

Three days later, Yelena, Kate, Bucky and Wanda walked around a small city in Sokovia, thirty five kilometers from Novi Grad. To Kate’s annoyance she had to wear an electrostatic veil. Yelena and Wanda were happy to stick to hoods despite the warm weather and Bucky was wearing a jacket to hide his arm.

They ate dinner at a small cafe that specialized in Sokovian food and Wanda ate well.

“Perhaps Mama should make you more Sokovian food. I shall ask her.” Yelena said.

Wanda shook her head. “No. She shouldn’t feel the need to cook for everyone in the house or take requests. She does more than necessary already.”

Yelena chuckled. “Mama likes doing it. She would not do so if she didn’t like it. Just as you would break Papa’s heart if you made a new house appear. He enjoys working.”

“I’m starting to enjoy it too, now that I know what I am doing.” Bucky admitted. “Your papa is a good teacher. It is nice to have something to focus on during the day.”

Yelena smirked. “You have been focusing on Wanda quite a bit lately.”

Neither said anything and Kate took it as an opportunity. “Speaking of focusing, as much as I am enjoying seeing my mom, has she mentioned when she might go back? We could focus on each other at night during the week. Maybe your mama wouldn’t want to sleep in the room with us and we can spend nights focusing on each other.”

Wanda cringed. “I do not need to hear this.”

“Mama is hinting that she may want another baby.” Yelena said. “She won’t say it. I asked her why they never had more children and she said they swore they would never have another child until they found me. I told her I have been found. She said nothing. She wants another baby.”

Kate wasn’t sure what to say. This was the first she had heard of it. “How do you feel about it?”

Yelena shrugged. “I want them to be happy. I found them so they would not spend their lives in misery wondering about my fate. If they want another child… I think I would like a baby brother or sister. I would be good, yes? I could teach the child how to throw knives and beat bullies to the brink of death. When they are older, maybe five or six we can start on small caliber handguns, larger calibers when they are seven or eight and sniper skills starting at age ten when they can hold rifle steady. Yes, I would be good big sister.”

The three looked at her for a moment, saying nothing.

“I joke! I would buy a brother football and learn to play catch and buy sister pony dolls and sparkly dresses. I could teach her the joys of fruit rollups and how to cook macaroni. I could introduce her to the wonders of hot sauce.”

Wanda smiled, imagining how good Yelena would be with a kid and her heart twinged a bit, knowing she would never have children nor would she have any nieces or nephews to spoil.

Bucky must have read her mind because he changed the subject.

“Kate, Wanda has been telling me about the lessons you are helping with. She said you are going to… double major in college. I’m not sure what it means but it sounds smart. What are you planning on being one day?”

Kate hesitated for a moment. “I once wanted to be an Avenger. It was all I wanted to be. I wanted to fight crime with my bow and a cool costume. Then I wanted to save kids like Yelena does. Now… its funny but my mom has always talked about me one day taking over Bishop Security and I hated the idea. I told her all the time I hated the idea. Now… I don’t hate it as much. I might even like it.”

Bucky was intrigued. “What changed your mind?

Kate looked at Yelena and smiled fondly. “Learning what my mother was doing to help the Red Widows. I guess I realized there were a lot of different ways to do good. Don’t get me wrong, I would still love to fight and save innocents, but running my family company and funding a team that does so much good in the world is important. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. I might even like it.”

Yelena snorted. “This will make your mother very happy.”

“Probably but if that is the route I go, it will be my decision, not because of her. She had just shown me other ways to be a hero. What about you, Bucky? What do you want to do?”

“Make amends.” he said immediately. “I remember. I remember every person I ever killed. I remember every innocent. I want to speak to the families, the ones still alive and ask for forgiveness. I won’t get it but I have to try and maybe I can give closure to those who need it. I can at least tell them what happened to the bodies that were never found so they can be given a proper burial.”

The idea bothered Yelena greatly, more than she would show.

“You were not given a choice.” she told him.

Bucky nodded. “I know, but I still did it. I still killed them. I still want to say I am sorry.”

“So I am responsible for the innocents I killed while under mind control?” she asked a bit sharply.

Bucky shook his head. “You were chemically subjugated. You literally didn’t have a choice.”

“You suffered so many electric shocks to the head it is a miracle you aren’t a drooling mess.” Yelena pointed out. “Do you believe Nat should make amends for the innocents she killed when she was in the Red Room?”

Bucky sighed, seeing what she was getting at. “I think everyone of us have gone through horrible things. We have all been manipulated, tortured, used and made to do horrendous things. We all have to find a way to cope with it. You and Wanda cope with it by finding monsters who want to do the same to innocents and killing them before they can hurt anyone else. You all do. As for me… I felt good in Rwanda, but that was a one off. I was needed. I’m not a Red Widow, I’m a guest. To be honest, I feel kind of useless.”

The table quieted and Wanda took his hand. “You are not useless.”

Yelena nodded. “This is true. You help Wanda go to bed relaxed and worn out every night. She sleeps better.” Yelena told him, then added on.

“The time has come to incorporate you and Steve into our ranks. It has been discussed among the team leaders. With the field numbers severely depleted and your skills, it would be foolish not to bring you along on widow retrieval missions and assaults on human traffickers. The leaders believe in you and so do I. I do not want one of my girls dying because I kept two of our best assets behind.”

Wanda and Bucky were both surprised. It had never been brought up to Wanda’s knowledge after Rwanda. Of course she had been busy fighting off the urge to drink, attending online substance abuse counseling sessions and studying both magic and educating herself in real world skills. She had been quite busy but surprisingly felt more refreshed than ever.

“It would be an honor.” he told her. “Do I get a belt buckle?”

“No.”

“Widow bites?”

“No.”

Bucky shrugged. “I had to try.”

“Can I join in?” Kate asked.

“No.”

“I did great in Paris during the car chase and building… I wasn’t supposed to bring that up.”

Bucky had been impressed. “Yeah Steve told me you blew those guys to hell with those arrows from a moving car. You got serious skill, Kate.”

Kate smiled widely. “Thanks. I really hurt them. A few fell off their motorcycles and a few probably got some serious burns after I blew up their SUVs.”

Bucky snorted. “I checked the net before Maria blocked everything so Eleanor wouldn’t see it. You slaughtered those guys. The Ten Rings recovered most of the bodies but there were some body parts left behind after that explosion…”

He stopped speaking when he saw Kate’s face turning pale and Yelena glaring at him.

“But they were small parts. Only fingers, a few toes, nothing they couldn’t live without. I am sure they were all fine.”

Kate let out a breath. “That’s a relief. I just wanted them to stop. I even pinned one to the wall through his shoulder but of course Yelena shot him in the head anyway. So what are we doing next?”

“We were going to take a walk.” Wanda told her. “Bucky loves to talk. If I talk about my feelings, he feels like he is courting me. They did that in the eighteen hundreds from what I understand. I think he was alive then.”

Bucky rolled his eyes. “Wanda wants to see if she can improve some parks here without anyone noticing she is here. Not likely. What about you two?”

“Hotel!” they both said.

Bucky left money on the table and they stood. Before they could leave, Yelena and Wanda’s phone rang. It was Ava.

“Hello Ava.” Wanda greeted her.

Cool, calm and always slightly humored Ava was panicking.

“Wanda! Something is happening. There was some attack in New York City! It happened at the Sanctum! The building is a wreck. I have tried calling Wong but he won’t answer! Mika checked satellites and the London Sanctum looks to be destroyed as well. That leaves Hong Kong, right? Why won’t he answer the phone? What happens if the Sanctums fall? He told me the Sanctums protected the world from… I can’t remember! Why won’t he answer?!”

If two Sanctums had fallen, that meant the third was in danger. The next attack would be in Hong Kong. Her mind went to the zealots the Ancient One had spoken of. She sat back down and prepared to astral project when she felt it.

A dark magic was threatening to overtake the Earth. Something was very, very wrong.

Time had just been reversed. None of the others knew it but she had felt it.

She was standing again. Where she had been before she sat.

“I need to get to Hong Kong. A dark energy is overtaking the Earth. I have felt it before. I think it is… Dormammu. Watch my body.”

“Do not use your powers in astral form!” Yelena scolded her quietly. “That is an order I never thought I would give. My life is so weird.”

“I’ll be fine. I just need to see what is going on. Bucky, carry me to the jet. Yelena, take off for Hong Kong.”

Wanda sat back down and closed her eyes. She searched for the Ancient One but felt nothing. She searched for Wong.

When she appeared in Hong Kong the one she had met not long ago called Stephen Strange was levitating down from the sky. Wong was standing next to Mordo looking up at the man.

The dark pit in the sky that blocked out the stars was closing.

“Wong?”

Wong turned to Wanda, surprised to see her.

“Ava isn’t here, is she?”

Wanda shook her head. “I am here in astral form. Bucky and Yelena are carrying my body here but the jet was hidden and quite far away from us. It will take some time. Are you okay?”

“I am fine.” he said.

Stephen Strange took a brief look at Wanda then back to the sky.

“They should put the warning before the spells.” he said.

Wong laughed loudly and a bit hysterically, surprising Wanda and Strange.

The streets around Hong Kong seemed calm. There was no evidence of damage and the people did not act as if they had been in the middle of a potential world ending event.

She caught the medallion hanging around Strange’s neck. She heard him arguing with Mordo but paid no mind. Her attention was on the Infinity Stone inside the medallion.

The Time Stone.

Mordo left, saying something about the world having too many sorcerers and witches. She gave him a brief glance and saw him giving her a look of utter hatred but ignored it, focusing on Strange.

“What happened?” she asked Strange and Wong after Wong had calmed down.

“The Hong Kong Sanctum was destroyed with the other two. The Dark Dimension began absorbing the Earth. I flew into and struck a bargain with Dormammu. I placed the two of us in a time loop and wouldn’t allow him out until he agreed to leave and never return.”

Wanda nodded. “That was brilliant.” She said, her admiration for his quick thinking obvious.

“I am a surgeon. At least I was.”

Wanda smiled and looked around. “The Sanctum seems whole. I felt you reverse time. Why did you do it?”

Stephen took a relieved breath. “I need the Sanctum whole to give me time to come up with a plan. It was the last line of defense. Also Wong was…”

“Dead.” The man said.

Wanda was too shocked to say anything. The idea of Wong being dead petrified her. Having to break that news to Ava…

“You saved him.”

Strange shrugged. “I like him. Unfortunately Mordo did not agree with my actions and has left us.”

Wanda said nothing but wasn’t surprised. He struck her as a rigid rule follower. What Stephen had done was against natural law. He had tampered with time, changed events and done exactly what Wanda would have done if she had thought of it.

A feeling of dread began to sink in as she took in the magnitude of what had happened.

“Where… where is the Ancient One?” she asked.

Wong and Strange looked at each other sadly.

“If she is injured, I can heal her. Just tell me where she is.”

Wong shook his head.

“Wong?”

“She is gone, Wanda. I know you were close. I am sorry.” Strange told her.

Wanda searched his face for any sign of a lie. It couldn’t be. She was immortal. She was wise and a great fighter. She had beaten Agatha who had been under the influence of the Darkhold. She was never afraid of Wanda. She was the reason Wanda knew so much about herself. She gave Wanda choices, believing she would make the right one.

But she knew he was telling the truth.

“H… how? Who?” she asked in a broken voice.

Wong answered. “Kaecilious and his followers.”

“Where are they?!”

Strange looked into the sky. “Gone. Slaves to Dormammu for eternity if they still exist.”

Wanda realized she couldn’t avenge the woman. Strange had already done so.

Wanda woke in the jet, lying in Bucky’s arms, his flesh one wrapped around her abdomen and his metal one supporting her back.

There were tears streaming down her cheeks. Yelena was close to her and wiped a tear off.

“What is happening, сестра?” she asked.

Wanda sat up, feeling empty and met Yelena’s worried eyes.

“The threat is over. Stephen Strange stopped it. Yelena… the Ancient One is dead.”

Yelena pulled her out of Bucky’s arms and they hugged each other tightly, letting their tears fall freely.

The Ancient One was gone. A woman who had played such an important role in their lives was gone forever.

Yelena felt horrible and a bit ashamed that the tactical part of her mind that was always working concentrated on one irrefutable fact.

Thanos was out there and one of the strongest weapons in the fight against him was dead.

Worst of all, their friend was dead.

Wanda had lost someone else.