Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

The Witch and the Widows

By BetterInTexas

Outtake 06:

A little adventure with Yelena and one of the newest widows. Warning for strong language.

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The new girls had been shown their rooms in the newest addition of the Mansion. Cin was still having difficulty taking it all in. She had expected a dark militaristic base, not a billionaire’s mansion hidden in a beautiful French valley.

The widows defintely knew how to live in style. Gabby had spoken with Yelena and Wanda in private to give her the rundown of the going on of Red Widow central.

It was a pretty sweet deal. They took Dreykov’s hundreds of billions, they took Osborn’s billions and the separate funds A.I.M. had. They were given this Mansion with a readymade bunker by Yelena’s girlfriends rich mother, they were given weapons by Silver Sable International and advanced suits made of nanotech and the strongest metal on Earth by King T’Challa and his sister. He even gave them a shrink for the most traumatized.

Cin would have joked about that, but she knew Claudia would need it.

So while the widows had billions, it seemed they didn’t spend any of it. Instead Maria, their computer hacker expert and financial investigator had it invested all over the world growing day by day.

The residents were also a surprise. She had known about the Winter Soldier. She had never crossed his path before the recent meeting but every widow had heard about him. Captain America of all people was here. He even had his own black suit. A former C.I.A. officer named Everett had joined up. Then there were Yelena’s parents.

Cin found them the most fascinating of the non-widow residents.

Parents. Two parents who never stopped looking for their daughter. Two who doted on her. Though Yelena was out of danger they hovered around her when she had returned. Her pregnant mother was crying and her father was hugging Wanda and thanking her over and over for saving her. Apparently Yelena had saved Wanda more than a few times as well.

Then there was the famous Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff, one of Earth’s mightiest heroes before the Avengers broke up. Adoption must be a big thing here because Oksana and Wanda weren’t the only ones who were legally responsible for kids.

Cindy had always been good at reading people. It had helped her survive this far though at times she took suicidal actions like assaulting Dreykov before her mind was taken away. The relationship dynamics here were interesting and she could have spent days people watching to figure them out. She wouldn’t be here for days though. She had helped Gabby get the girls this far and now it was time to focus only on keeping her promise.

“How do you like it?” Gabby asked from the door.

Cindy smirked. “I feel like I am in the Princess Diaries. Are we sure this is the same group that busted a prisoner out of a San Fransisco police station in broad daylight or invaded an Iranian prison? They seem a little soft. I thought we were joining up with warriors, not debutantes.”

Gabby smiled and walked inside, closing the door behind her. She was well used to Cindy’s blunt and sarcastic attitude.

“These debutantes have racked up an impressive number of rescue missions and body counts. If someone they trusted offered them this place and they turned it down I would have called them idiots. They are not idiots.”

Cindy shrugged. “We haven’t been here that long but so far I’ve seen their great leader get skewered by a blade.”

“Skewered while saving thirty one babies from a cult of immortal ninjas.” Gabby reminded her. “Stop acting like you aren’t impressed. Belova is the real deal. Watch her and you can learn a lot.”

The small smirk left Cindy’s face.

“I won’t be staying. I told you I would help you all get here. We are here. They seem cool and I don’t think the Shining twins wants to kill you in your sleep. I’m fairly certain Maximoff isn’t going to drive you insane. You will be fine without me. I just need a ride to the Paris airport. You think you can talk to your new comrades about borrowing one of their vehicles? The money and documents you gave me should be good. I wish you would have given me a passport that said I’m eighteen though.”

“You are fifteen. You look fifteen. Even with the piercings and colored hair, you barely look sixteen. No one was going to believe you are eighteen. That means attention from customs and airport security and attention is the last thing you need.”

Gabby was quiet for a moment, taking in the girl who had become a leader of the others, even if three were one or two years older than her.

“I spoke to Belova and Maximoff on the flight here. Claudia is out of fighting permanently, just like Tanya, the twins and one called Sierra. Maximoff recently put a rule in place that the ones under fifteen who haven’t fought before can fight after working with the Widows for six months to prove they are ready. The feeling I got from her is none of them will be approved. Sierra is the only one who has expressed a desire to fight and she is thirteen. It will be a few years before they let her run with them.”

Cindy found that interesting. “Who makes the decision if they are ready?”

“Belova and Maximoff.”

Cindy snorted. “I’m starting to see a trend here. It’s good that Claudia is out. I hope she never picks up a weapon again. What about the rest? What do they want?”

Gabby paused for a moment. “They want to fight.” she said, not sounding thrilled with the idea but accepting. “I started training you guys to be a team so we could survive while we were trying to find them. They want me to continue to lead our girls, practice being a field team with me in charge, since the girls already trust me. I was hoping you would be my second.”

Gabby looked at Cindy hopefully but the blonde wouldn’t meet her eyes. “The girls look up to you. If I am compromised it will be you who has to get them out. They look to you, Cin. Penny, Iris, Meadow and Huan are all sixteen and seventeen years old but they look to you for leadership.”

“They should work on their judgement when it comes to people.” Cindy told her, becoming irritated. “You knew the deal. I would help you get the girls here, and then I am gone. I made a promise to her. I told her I would be back. That was five years ago. She probably thinks I abandoned her or I’m dead. I hope she thinks I’m dead because if not, that means she thinks I don’t give a shit about her like our mom. I’ve got to find her.”

Gabby sighed and began thinking of her argument though she knew it wouldn’t work. Before the fog had completely cleared her mind, Cindy had already begun saying her little sister’s name. Billie.

“We’ve researched every area we could. Sidney, Melbourne, every small city with records. We haven’t found a record of your father anywhere. He could be anywhere in Australia. What are you going to do? Begin walking the roads until you find him? They have facial recognition here, access to traffic cams all over the world, spy satellites, intelligence agents on the ground. Stay here and we can keep working on finding him.”

“Her.” Cindy stressed. “I need to find her. She may be with him but it’s possible he dumped her somewhere or… she isn’t dead, Gabby.”

Gabby closed her eyes and sat on the bed. “You left her to get help because he had broken her leg. Cindy, I just want you to be prepared. You don’t know what you might find out and I don’t want you to be alone when you do, whether she is alive or not…”

“She is alive!” Cindy snapped. “She is the only fucking reason I have kept going this long! I promised her I would come back! She is waiting for me. God, I hope she is still waiting for me. If I start to think she might be… if I even entertain the possibility… that’s it for me, Gabby. That’s it… I’m done. Fuck this life.”

Cind wiped her eyes furiously and turned her back on the woman.

“I’m sorry.” Gabby said. “You aren’t going alone. I’m coming with you.”

Cindy shook her head. “The girls need you, Gabby. Claudia needs you. She is scared and you are the only adult with which she is familiar. You and the girls are the only ones she can trust right now. We both know it. Look, I just need a ride to Paris. The asshole wouldn’t stay where he could be found easily. He probably has warrants in every major and most minor cities. If he isn’t in prison and we know he isn’t, that means he is hiding in the most remote hole he can find that still has access to food, gas and drugs. That cuts my search area down.”

Gabby understood that. She would only have to search three quarters of Australia. The most remote half, the bushlands, the deserts, rainforests and outback. She may as well be searching for her little sister on Mars.

“If your heart is set, let’s find you a ride.” Gabby decided, knowing she couldn’t stop her and that Cindy was correct. The other girls needed her here, at least until they were settled. Afterward she would join Cindy whether the girl liked it or not.

The two began to walk out but Cindy stopped her at the door and looked both ways to ensure they were alone.

“Listen, I just want you to know… my mom cut out after Billie was born and my dad kept us to clean up his mess, steal for him and be his punching bags when he was drunk. You are literally the only person who has ever taken care of me in my life. I’m going dark and I don’t know what will happen. If we never see each other again after I leave, I want you to know how much I appreciate what you have done for me. I’ll never forget it. I’m not so good at saying things like this and it is probably all you are going to ever get from me so… there it is. My attempt at being an emotionally healthy, grateful girl. Now I’m going back to being a toxic bitch.”

Gabby pulled her into a hug.

“Let’s go find Belova. She can hook you up with what you need. Maybe something in their tech can give you an edge.”

The two walked out of the new addition into the main mansion.

“All the women here, they should call this place the Y Mansion.” Cindy said. “When I thought of their base I didn’t think it would be like this.”

Gabby nodded. She had been surprised too, having expected the Widows to be in some sort of hidden underground bunker with concrete cells, probably somewhere in Sokovia. When they arrived here she had been speechless at the sight.

They reached Belova’s room and they heard her raised voice inside, then what sounded like a wall being punched.

She stepped out of the room as Gabby had her hand raised to knock.

“Hello. Is everything okay? What can I get you? More blankets or food? Do you have enough towels?”

Cindy noted Yelena’s cheeks were red, she was barely holding back tears and had a defeated tone to her voice.

“You okay?” Gabby asked.

Yelena placed a false smile on her face. “Ah yes. You know how it is. You lie to girlfriend about being one place and then the media has video of you somewhere else, then she asks you why you lied and why you asked to speak to her mother alone and wants to know all the secrets you protect her from so she can live happy life and instead of her appreciating it, you get called a liar and other bad names. These things happen.”

Cindy cringed. “Damn, sounds like a fucking bit…”

Gabby clamped her hand over Cindy’s mouth.

“Sorry.” Cin told her. “None of my business. I was wondering if one of your girls could give me a ride to Paris?”

Yelena had not expected that. They had only been home for a couple hours.

“Paris? Of course. We can take a trip this weekend…”

“I kind of meant now. I need to catch a flight home. Or at least to my home country. There is a red eye flight heading to Australia tonight from Orly I can make if I leave in the next hour. If nobody can take me, could I borrow your truck and someone can pick it up later? I’ll leave it in long term parking.”

Yelena wiped her eyes again and straightened up. “You do not have to fight with us. We like people to not fight. Just hang with us for a while. I think you will like it here. We have good family and people who understand you. I know we got off to bad start and things were crazy but maybe don’t give up on us so soon. We can get you bigger room if you like. Maybe you want a kitten too?”

Cindy shook her head. “No, it’s not that. I think you guys are cool and what you do is cool. I’ve just got my own thing I need to do. I have to go.”

Yelena looked at Gabby for a moment and saw uncertainty in the older widow’s eyes. Whatever was going on, Gabby wasn’t on board but was reluctantly going along with it.

“You have to catch this flight? Maybe you stay the day and we fly you to Australia in the morning. You get food and rest. We can land you somewhere outside of a city and you can take motorcycle. No customs or security to worry about. Even with staying night we can get you to Australia faster than commercial jet can. I would ask Wong to open a portal but he spent weekend hanging with us and is needed for sorcerer things.”

Cindy paused, wanting to hurry but recognizing if they were willing to do that for her it would be the best way to get to Australia sooner without worrying about the hassle.

“Okay. Thanks, I appreciate it.”

Yelena noted Gabby visibly relax as if a knot had unwound in her. Something was wrong with this situation. Gabby did not want Cindy to leave but knew she couldn’t talk her out of it.

“I will fly you and bring you back when you do what you need to do.” Yelena decided.

Cindy shook her head. “See that’s the thing. I’m not coming back. I’ll call Gabby with the location of the bike after I am done with it. I’ll probably get a ute when I arrive. Gabby has hooked me up with enough currency to last for a long time.”

Yelena stared at the young girl for a while, then stood aside. “You think before we do all this, maybe you can tell me exactly what is going on? I have a feeling you are not leaving because you do not like us. I do not want to pry but I do want to know some.”

“Look, its personal…”

Gabby patted her on the back hard and guided her inside Yelena’s room.

“That’s a great idea. We were going to ask her if she had tech that could help, remember?”

Cindy became irritated. “This isn’t going to get done with tech.”

Yelena stood with her arms crossed staring at the girl. Cindy stared back at Gabby and Yelena defiantly then surrendered and had a seat. She pulled out a pack of cigarettes from her back pocket and lit one up, wondering if Yelena would say something. Instead Yelena opened a window.

“Flick ashes out window. If Mama smells smoke in here she will think I smoked. I will hear no end and she will bother me till I see lung specialist.”

Cindy was surprised and looked to Gabby. “Wow, she doesn’t preach about the dangers of smoking like you, Gabby. She is becoming my favorite.”

Yelena waved it off. “In last few months I have been blown up by landmine and stabbed with cursed sword. I am last person to preach about taking care of yourself. You have your seat now and are comfortable. If you want my help, you tell me what is going on. I recognize that look.”

Cindy frowned. “What look?”

“The look of an angry widow who wants to take on the world and hasn’t figured out that she doesn’t have to do it herself. Tell me a true story, Cin, not a made up one.”

Yelena sat on the floor cross legged and leaned back on her hands waiting.

Cin sighed, realizing she wouldn’t get out of this if she wanted transport.

“I had just turned five when my mom took off. She had just given birth to my little sister, Billie. I’m not sure why she thought my dad would quit drinking or hitting her if she had another kid. See Dad was a right asshole who made a living as a small time criminal. He dealt drugs, hawked stolen items and even taught me to steal at a very young age. He loved to get drunk and beat mom and when he got tired of beating her he took it out on me. He was pretty damn furious she left him behind with two kids, but he figured a baby would make a good distraction running cons and helping me steal while he played the doting single father of a little girl.”

Cindy stopped for a moment, lost in the past.

“I loved her, fed her, clothed her, changed all her diapers helped her talk and walk. I did my best to protect her, I swear I did. I pissed him off so he would hit me instead of her. I even tried to run away with her once when she was three. We didn’t get far before the cops took us home. They didn’t believe my stories and when they were gone he packed us up, beat the hell out of me and drove us to another small town to start over. I had enough when she was five. On her fifth birthday, I made her a cake. It was a lousy cake. I was only ten and didn’t know much about cooking but I tried and she must have ate half of it to make me happy. The problem was I used his drug money to buy the ingredients, thinking it was grocery money. He got pissed and hit me and she jumped up on the table to hit him. He slapped her and when she fell she broke her leg.”

Yelena had stood and began to pace, clenching her fists and doing her best not to hit the wall for the second time tonight.

“He left and she was crying but our phone was dead and our nearest neighbor was ten miles away. I couldn’t carry her. I couldn’t pick her up without causing her more pain. I didn’t know how to make a splint.

“I promised her I would find help. I left and ran down the highway to the nearest neighbor. I was probably five miles away when a van pulled up beside me. It was a couple of guys and I didn’t trust them but I was already tired and probably hadn’t made six miles. I took a chance and then woke up in the back of a trailer with some other girls. We were taken to an airport and then I’m in this house of horrors, learning to speak Russian, getting tortured on a daily basis and learning ballet.”

Yelena grabbed her head and wanted to scream. So many stories, each different but each having so much in common.

“I gave up for a while.” Cindy said. “I really wanted to die. I thought I would give in and let one of the girls kill me in our culling matches but I never could. I always survived. Then Dreykov tried to fuck me. I nearly tore his nuts off and scratched his face with my perfectly manicured nails. I even drew blood. He got the last hit in though. I was twelve and I thought that would be it. I had done it. I had finally found a way to die.

“Then I wake up and I’m strapped to a gurney with IVs running into my arms and neck and black shit dripping into me. The twins weren’t the only ones who were awake for the process. I guess he got a kick out of giving me the most fucked up assignments. My first job was the Copenhagen Burn Unit. I was given a pink backpack full of thermite and detonators, a list of areas to plant them and then detonate.”

Yelena closed her eyes. She had read about that in the Red Room records. A target had escaped a Widow with only burns and rather than sending another Widow to finish him off, Dreykov blew up the entire building. It was a terrorist act no organization would take credit for and was still unsolved.

“One hundred and sixty two innocent men, women and children already suffering from burns, two hundred staff and ninety five family members and friends of the patients, and I killed them to take out one man. Whatever you did to Dreykov, however you killed him, it was too merciful.”

Gabby tried to touch Cindy’s cheek but Cindy brushed her hand away. She tossed her cigarette butt out the window and reached for another one.

“That fucking asshole sent me straight to hell. When my memories began returning all I could remember at first was promising Billie I would be back with help. I swore to her. It killed me to leave her there but I didn’t have a choice. Five years have gone by. Five years I have to apologize for. Five years and I have no idea what she is like or how she is but if she is dead… if she is dead, so am I. I’m fucking done. I have to find her. I have to find her alive. If I don’t… I don’t want to be in this world. I just want to go to hell where I fucking belong.”

Yelena walked over to her but rather than hugging her, took the cigarette from her and had a drag then handed it back.

“Not so good when running for your life or chasing enemies to kill. I am not one to talk though. Me and Wanda have drunk enough vodka between the two of us to kill a dozen horses. Me and you will find her and bring her home.”

“What are you talking about? I said I wasn’t coming back. I don’t want her here surrounded by… this. I don’t want her to be tarnished by this life.”

Yelena shrugged. “So where will you take her? You can’t take her to city and put her in nice normal school. No one is going to give custody to someone your age. She has been abused. I doubt it stopped when you left. We have girls who need education, we have girls who have been abused and we have a very good psychologist who likes to work with kids.”

Cindy shook her head. “No. This world, these battles, she is never going to pick up…”

“I don’t need her to fight! I don’t need you to fight!” Yelena yelled, catching Cindy by surprise.

Yelena calmed herself quickly.

“I am sorry. My Kate Bishop has me not happy. I didn’t mean to yell but you must understand something. You need to understand why we do what we do. Why this place is here. Why we built a home. A dysfunctional home at times but still a home.

“We don’t do this to grow our ranks. I have fighters. I can call on Ava’s mama if I need an army. I have the most powerful bad ass in the Universe living in a room next to mine. I have super soldiers and witches and secret agents. I have sorcerers and Wakandans led by a super powered cat man. I have hackers, pilots, and geniuses who make us incredible tech. I have very deadly Red Widows.

“I don’t need more fighters. I need people who need us. I need kids who need a break, a break we never got and I need to give it to them. That is what we all need. We have two purposes. We save children and we punish the ones who harm them but saving always comes first. We give them what they need, so maybe they have normal life one day. Maybe they will get married or go to college and become doctors. Maybe they become artists or anything else they want to be. Some of them haven’t been sterilized. The young ones can have their own children one day if they want. The young still have a chance and that is why we do this. Maybe best plan is to reunite with parents if possible. Sometimes that isn’t possible and it falls to us to take into our family. That is what we are about. What is your plan when you have her? What is your plan to even find her?”

Cindy fought back tears. Her rational mind knew Yelena was right. It infuriated her but she had no idea how to actually find her sister. What would she do with her afterward? She had no idea.

“I don’t have a fucking clue, okay? I’m taking it a step at a time and one thing I do know is I won’t find her in Australia while sitting in a fancy mansion in France!”

Yelena shook her head. “You are hardheaded. You do not think. You are brave and have fire and I love that, but not so smart. You have much in common with Wanda. She just acts. It is why she blows up spaceships far away and then is surprised her body has a seizure when she returns. She is hardheaded. You both curse too much. She curses in Sokovian so no one realizes it but she is foul mouthed when she is angry or defensive. She can be as crude as you. Fuck this, fuck that, blah, blah, all the same.”

Yelena took a moment to think. “Come, I know how to find your sister quickly. Then we go get her and bring her back. We feed her and give her help she needs and take care of her. You can share a room or she can have her own. Apparently each new child gets two kittens. We will take care of both of you.”

Cindy listened to Yelena’s rant but one thing caught her attention. “You can find my sister quickly?”

Instead of answering Yelena walked out with Gabby and Cin following.

“Your sister loves you.” Yelena stated.

Cindy shrugged. “She did. She probably hates me now.”

“A sister’s love never goes away. We find her, we bring her back here. She never touches a weapon. Your only concern is taking care of her. No training, no worrying about missions. You let us help you get what you both need. We need kids to save and you have a kid that needs to be saved. It is win for all of us. We have deal, yes?”

Cindy nodded. “Yeah… you can really find her? How? Do you have some spy satellite… what does her loving me… I’m confused.”

“Magic can be confusing. It can also make miracles happen.

“Go back to my room and throw that cigarette out the window. Young lungs in Mansion. You smoke, you smoke outside where you are alone. We must set good example for our children. Same with drinking. You want to get drunk, do not do it in front of others. There are recovering alcoholics here, me included. Do not curse around children. That means Tanya, the twins, Sierra and Captain America. Bad language makes him blush.”

Yelena banged on Wanda’s door and shouted. “Bring Agatha outside! Magic time!”

A few minutes later they were standing under the sun in the front lawn. Cindy looked around at the majestic beauty around her. She took in the mansion for the first time from outside during the day and realized how large and beautiful it was. She also saw several Red Widows at the windows as if they were about to enjoy a show.

Wanda and Agatha made their way out. Behind Wanda were the twins.

“If she ever dresses those two in matching blue dresses and they ask if I want to play with them I am running and never coming back.” Cindy whispered to Gabby who rolled her eyes, wishing she had never let the girls watch that movie.

“What are we doing?” Wanda asked.

Yelena pointed to Cindy. “Same thing you did in New York. You used Harry Osborn to find Norman. Now we need to use her to find her little sister.”

Wanda nodded. “Little sister? How old?”

“Ten. She would just have turned ten. I have to get her. Wherever she is, it isn’t good.” Cindy told her.

Agatha rubbed her hands together. “Excellent. Now what is your real name, Sweety? I’m going to need it.”

Cindy was shocked. “My… how did you know?”

“You just told me.” Agatha said. “You have a little sister you are desperate to find. You probably grew up in a bad situation. It made you tough. It has also caused you to have coping mechanisms that includes addictive traits, meaning you probably could outdrink some of the widows here, smoke so much I can smell it from a mile away and it’s only because of Gabby that you aren’t snorting or shooting something bad for you. Trust me I have done all those things. We recognize our own. A girl like you would never give your real name to a band of kidnappers.”

Cindy had thought she always had a gift for reading people but these women were the same as her. It was reassuring and unnerving at the same time.

“Megs.”

“Short for Meggan?” Agatha asked.

“No, for fucking Fred… ow!”

Gabby had slapped her in the back of the head gently. “Cut the shit, Cindy… Megs. What is your last name?”

Cindy hated to say it. She had kept her true name to herself for so long. Cindy was the ultimate suit of armor she wore against the world.

“Gibbons. Meggan Gibbons. Billie always called me Megs.”

“Thank you.” Wanda told her softly then turned back to the twins.

“Babies, I’m going to need you to step to the porch. This is going to get windy. We don’t want to spend the afternoon untangling hair knots, do we?” Wanda asked them.

The girls shook their heads and ran back to the porch to hide behind pillars but kept close watch.

“By the way, I’ve seen that movie and I would never put them in blue dresses.” Wanda told Meggan. “It freaked me out as well. Agatha, you ready?”

Wanda stood in front of her and Agatha moved behind her. They both began chanting. As promised the wind began to howl and a cone of red and purple intermixed energy rose up around them. After a few seconds it crashed and Megs found herself standing on a red glowing map of Australia so bright it was easily clear in the daytime. It was like a hologram from a sci fi movie had just popped up.

“Does this mean she is there? Does it mean she is alive?” she asked quietly.

“Yes.” Wanda told her happily. “She is alive.”

A purple needle of light shot from the red hologram as Agatha’s magic pinpointed the location.

Yelena took her phone out and typed in several numbers into some app she must have had. “I have coordinates. It is a small village outpost called Farini. The town is basically dead and only has ruins. It hasn’t been inhabited since 1967. There are about fifty five people visible to the west of the town at a place called Farina Station. The residents maintain a bush camping area.”

“You found that out on your phone? What kind of high tech app do you have?” Meg asked.

“Wikipedia.” Yelena answered. “People who live out there either like solitude or are hiding. We will land at night in the town and make our way to the station. When light comes up we can find where their exact position is and retrieve her.”

“You want me to come with you?” Wanda asked.

“No, I have this.” Yelena told her.

“The last time you said that…”

“I led us to glorious victory. That is all that needs to be said.”

“I can come with.” Agatha offered.

Yelena shook her head. “Meggan and I have this. Don’t we, Meggan?”

Meggan shrugged. “I never really liked Meggan.”

“I don’t like people smoking in my room but I put up with it to make you feel at home. Now let us go, Megs. Or is it Meg? Or Cindy or Cin? Little sister will be very confused when she arrives if you are called by several names. You can decide on flight but we must stick to no more than two.”

The two sat in silence on the jet, Yelena concentrating on flying and finding the best coordinates to land and Meg thinking about her little sister. She wished she knew what she looked like, how hurt she had been, if she hated her for not returning. Who treated her leg? Was she even with their father or had he abandoned her. Meg hoped so. It would be better than the alternative.

“You took care of her when she was a newborn?” Yelena asked. “This was big job at any age, much less five.”

Meg nodded. “The only thing dear old dad did was keep me stocked with milk and diapers so he wouldn’t hear her cry. He always had a line of women. Most ignored us but a few were nice. He always ran them off though. He would say she is the one and then a week later beat the hell out of her. I didn’t mind that he couldn’t find a replacement mom. Most girls had to do with dolls. I got a real doll. Taking care of her was the only thing I loved about my life. I saw her first smile, her first step, heard her first laugh and her first word. It was Megs. She was the only person I loved in the world. She is the reason I learned to be a good thief. It wasn’t to help Dad. If I did good, he might be in a better mood and she would get more food or more clothes. I don’t know what I am going to do if she doesn’t forgive me.”

Yelena watched the girl for a moment. “Does she know you have purple hair?”

Meg didn’t appear amused. “I like my hair. I got to choose it. Besides it is just the tips. It washes out. I’m going to grow it long again like she remembered. She loved playing with it.”

Yelena shrugged understanding the sentiment. “At least it isn’t spiky anymore. Looks better hanging loose. With hair gel you look like punk rock singer. I understand about choice. Look at my beautiful vest. It was the first thing I ever chose for myself. I used Wanda’s money to buy it but I chose it.”

Meg gave her a skeptical look. “You chose that thing?”

Yelena’s eyes widened. “Yes! It is very cool. It is perfect color for combat and has many utility pockets. Do you know all the things I have in these pockets? I have fruit roll ups, I have hot sauce packets, I have safety pins, extra shoestrings, my phone, lip stick, hair ties, fingernail clippers and two razor blades!”

Meg stared at her for a moment. “Sorry?”

Yelena huffed and stared out window.

Meg wasn’t sure what to say so she remained quiet.

“I guess your vest is kinda cool. It does have a grunge factor that gives it character I think.”

Yelena smiled widely. “Yes! I knew you would love it. Wanda was skeptical at first but she came to see its value. We were in the cargo hold of a human traffickers boat one time catching a ride to their island hideout. I gave her fruit roll up and we had hot sauce for macaroni. She has never laughed at the green vest again.”

The two flew in silence for another hour.

“You shouldn’t worry.” Yelena finally said. “She would never believe you left her on purpose. She will never hate you. I have an older sister that left me once. She left me in the Red Room. When Wanda first save me I spent many of my first days angry. I was so angry that she was the one who got away and never came to look for me. Why not? She thought it was over so she should have found me, taken care of me right? Or she knew it wasn’t over and she should have tried to get me out. She never did though. She never looked back. That was her choice. I forgave her because I knew when I was young, she was my big sister and my big sister loved me. I didn’t understand her reasons and I probably never will but I did not doubt her love. You didn’t have a choice. There is nothing to forgive. She probably thinks you are dead.”

Meg wasn’t so sure. Then she realized what Yelena had said. “You have an older sister?”

“In a manner of speaking. Is long story but yes, I had big sister when I was kid before the Red Room training. Natasha Romanoff.”

That surprised Meg. She had missed that in the widow’s history lesson at the hotel.

“I didn’t realize there was a connection. So that is why Captain America and the famous Black Widow are living in the mansion. I chalked it up to the overall weird dynamic of the house. Wanda Maximoff, the European badass who took down Thunderbolt Ross, threatened Norman Osborn and A.I.M. on live television wearing a leather corset and tight jeans, who has gone on record as hating America lives with Captain America in a big house given to her by an American billionaire. Cap is doing Nat. I thought Cap might be there because Bucky came with you all after Germany and Wanda did the deep dive in his head and started fucking him as soon as she was done. Cap doesn’t want to go on without the only friend he has his own age so he sticks around. In reality it is your connection to Nat and her fucking him that brings Cap to Red Widow HQ.”

Yelena cringed. “I suppose you were all given much information in a short time. But yes, Nat had wanted to be with us before Germany and then we all became caught up… it was big mess but they are a part of us now.”

Meg almost laughed. “If they are part of you then why does Wanda and half the widows hate her so much?”

Yelena closed her eyes.

“You noticed some tension.”

“Tension? When they got to the mansion everyone hugged Stannic, some congratulated her on being officially Romanoff junior but others just said they were glad she was back and ignored Romanoff. Wanda hugged Stannic and then gave Nat a look so cold, I swore it dropped twenty degrees in the room. Some of the others looked like they wanted to gut Romanoff where she stood. So what’s the deal? Why do a few seem nervous around her, a few were happy and a lot, including your soul sister Wanda, hate her?”

Yelena wasn’t sure what to say. They hadn’t told the new girls about the tension or the near homicide that had occurred recently. Yelena thought that was information they could be eased into.

“I told you I forgave her. Not all are as forgiving. The nervous ones like her but are worried about tension in house around her presence. The younger ones mostly hate her and Wanda… she has her reasons but has never shared them with me completely. It is the only thing I don’t know about her.”

Meg understood. She didn’t know much about the world. She had learned a lot in a short time. She remembered the alien invasion of New York but it never seemed real to her and she only barely knew the Avengers names. Gabby was convinced if she could find Romanoff she could give her a hint to where the Red Widows were but Romanoff had disappeared and the Avengers had broken up. After the Ross affair and Stark’s involvement with Ross, Gabby suspected he would be the least likely former Avenger to know where they were. The one time they saw him and Maximoff together was in the air after Maximoff had saved that Ferry. She hadn’t stuck around to say hello then. Close ups from helicopters made it clear she was not in the mood to chat with him.

“Okay. Stay away from Romanoff topic. Got it.”

Yelena hesitated for a moment.

“What do you think?”

“About what?”

“What do you think about Natasha?”

Meg smirked. “I wish I had her ass.”

Yelena laughed. “You want your ass to look like hers?”

“More like I’d rather have my hands on it. Seriously, between Maximoff, Romanoff, Antha, Antonia, Ava… you should have a weekly mandatory beach day.”

“That is… awkward.”

Mg laughed at obviously making her more comfortable. “Look, you guys may live around each other this whole time, but take it from some new girls moving in, all of you are attractive like good black widows were designed to be but some of you are damn hot.”

“Hmph.”

Meg smirked. “You are hot too but I didn’t want to make a long flight uncomfortable. I could seriously get lost in those intense eyes of yours. So what is the deal with your girlfriend? You said she is mad you lied to her?”

Yelena thought of not answering but it was a very long flight.

“She is… she has gone through much and spent the summer with us. She is back in New York and not happy about it. There are things that happen now and secrets I know that I have kept from her so she wouldn’t have to worry about it. She does not appreciate this.”

“Most rich girls don’t appreciate not getting what they want. So did her mom give you that place because you were hooked up with her daughter or did you keep the hook up secret until after the mom gave it to you? What do you have on her anyway? A woman with that kind of money sticking her neck out for the assassin that is doing her daughter… wait, your girlfriend spent summer break at Red Widow mansion? Her mom let her. You must kiss this woman’s ass a lot.”

“I do not! I just… it is complicated. I cannot explain it in one sitting. We can speak of other things.”

Meg let it go, deciding not to push. She had absolutely zero relationship experience. Her only spark of romance was hormonal feelings that had been repressed during mind control and trauma before that. She had never even made friends with the few kids she met before she was taken because she didn’t trust anyone and was afraid of others finding out what her life was like.

“So when you started it was just you and Maximoff living together in a small cabin and then driving all over Europe together. That must have been fun. You two ever hook it up to relieve stress?”

Yelena’s mouth hung open. “We certainly did not!”

Meg smiled widely. “Okay, calm down. I’m just saying… wow. She scared the hell out of me with that outfit and what she did to Gabby but now that I know Gabby isn’t in danger the way she looked and the power and those clothes… wow. Hot. She has the hottest look when she is angry. It’s like an offended look crossed with a happy look because she knows you just gave her a reason to rip you apart and she likes it. You know what I mean? Terrifying and psychotic smile but… yeah. You think her and Buck are ever up for some inclusive fun? Three people, six legs, five arms. Could be wild.”

Yelena stared at her for a while, glad there were not ejection seats on the jet because she would surely be tempted to push Meg’s.

Then she calmed herself and looked into the girl’s eyes behind the cocky smile. Meg obviously needed something to take her mind off what was coming or she would go crazy. The flight even at their speed had another six hours.

“I am not sure. I do not think someone from Bucky’s era did three way. It would probably be too dangerous to ask. Wanda had calmed somewhat since she stopped drinking and is trying to be good mommy but you saw it. Her temper is a part of her and she can be very possessive.”

“Bucky isn’t who I am interested in. I’ve heard stories about him though. If he is possessive then she is… still worth it. She is gorgeous.”

“So you are into women?”

Meg laughed quietly. “At this point in my life, I am into anything that makes me feel good. I got a little wild when I first got free. Gabby didn’t tell us what to do but she kept us together. I think I may have pushed her too much at first. She caught me in a dance club, about to have sex with a guy and his girlfriend in the bathroom. I was drunk, maybe a little high and she dragged me out by my hair. The guy tried to stop her. You can guess how well that went.”

“How many broken bones?”

“I heard several snaps over his girlfriend’s screams of terror. I told her to leave me the hell alone when we were outside. I called her a handler, a killer, Dreykov’s bitch, every horrible thing I could think to say I called her then I stumbled away. I crashed in an alley and woke up in a dumpster curled into some homeless lady. Took me all day to work up the courage to go back to the house and face her.”

Meg quieted for a moment and her eyes became misty. “I made my way to the door and was about to knock when she spoke up behind me. She had watched me all night, kept her distance but never slept, always watching my back while I slept in that dumpster and followed me all day. I told her I was sorry and that bitch had the nerve to tell me there was nothing to apologize for. I couldn’t believe her. How the hell someone like her ever became a Black Widow… or should I say stopped being one… that was the first time I told her about my sister. I didn’t have a way to find her and neither did Gabby. I told Gabby we would get Claudia to you guys and maybe you had some tech that could help find Billie and then I would go on my way, find Billie and just take care of her.”

Yelena listened and was fascinated. Every new thing she learned about Gabrielle rose her opinion of the woman. Not for the first time, she was glad Wanda hadn’t blown her head up. She understood the loyalty these girls had to Gabby.

“Who gave her baths after I was taken? Who washed her hair? Who told her stories or held her when she woke up and thought there were monsters under the bed? Who protected her when the real monster was drinking and angry? Who is protecting her now? Who feeds her? Who makes sure she gets new clothes and shoes? I need to know, Yelena. I have to know. I have waited so long and now I am so close and I have never been more scared.”

Yelena reached over and squeezed her hand.

“I’m scared too. I’ve been scared many times. Aino almost died because of a bad decision I made. I stood by helplessly and could do nothing as I watched her die. I could only pray that Wanda could make it to her in time. Every second raced by and yet felt as if it lasted forever. But it was okay because I had Wanda. I watched Wanda nearly die on a floor in the Red Room and was so scared. Yet I had Oksana there. You must understand how this works. This is what it means to be a part of our family. Everyone takes turns being scared and we all take turns making sure there is nothing to fear. That is what being a Red Widow is about. It isn’t about fighting, killing, battling aliens, wizards, and demons. Being a Red Widow is about saving. Sometimes we save others and sometimes we save ourselves. Despite the arguments and emotions and hurt feelings we are still together. Right now you are scared but I will be brave for both of us. One day I may be scared and you will be brave for me. We will get this done, Meggan. We have not known each other long at all and trust is hard to earn but you must take a leap of faith. Trust me. We are getting Billie back and we will ensure the rest of her life is wonderful. All of us will.”

Meg sniffed and smiled gratefully. “Thanks. You are pretty cool, Belova.”

“You are not so bad yourself even if you do curse too much and smoke too much and probably drink a lot and have weird earrings and your eyebrow looks like it got hit by fishing hook. Take my phone and open Amazon app. I want to show you movie about golf.”

“Golf? The game old white guys play?”

“Yes, but not just white guys. Mostly white guys yes but many others. This one is about the greatest golfer who ever lived. Find the movie Happy Gilmore. It will pass some time until we land. If we finish and have time, we will watch the Waterboy, another great work of art by Adam Sandler that was snubbed by the Oscars.”

It was four A.M. local time when they arrived in Australia outside of Farina. Yelena landed them in the middle of the ruins of the old ghost town. True to Wikipedia’s word they could see the Station to the west, lit up by few dim light poles.

Neither said anything as they walked comfortably in the darkness. Yelena had brought along Dani’s suit and had Meg dressed in it. Meg wasn’t crazy about wearing anything that might scare Billie but Yelena wouldn’t hear of her turning it down. She didn’t take chances with her girls and right now, no matter what she may have considered herself to be, Meg was her girl.

“This is wrong.” Yelena said as they exited the ruins of the town and took in the camping station. “This is revitalization organization or run tours. A few take care of the RV hook ups in this god forsaken desert. Someone like your Dad would not be next to these people. He is farther out in an RV. We find the oldest RV farthest away from people and he will be there.”

“Why would he live out here?” Meg asked, shuddering at the lonely landscape.

“You tell me.”

Meg thought about it.

“He doesn’t. We always lived in old RVs that were barely running. Town to town, stealing, working cons… he is here to rob this place. He probably just got in. No police, tourist money. It’s an easy target.”

Yelena nodded. “It just became harder.”

They found an old, rusted small RV on the outskirts by an old railroad that hadn’t been used in decades. Meg knew it was the one when she saw it.

When the door opened, Mick Gibbons, walked out in boxer shorts, a white t shirt and a bottle in his hands, squinting at the sun.

He made it two steps before walking into Yelena’s gun that she planted in his mouth.

“G’day, Mick. I always wanted to say G’day. Your looking a bit crook. You wouldn’t happen to have seen a little ankle biter by the name of Billie, would ya?”

Meg didn’t have time to appreciate Yelena’s false accent. She was staring at the man she had lived in fear of before she met Dreykov. A man that costarred in her nightmares with the Russian general.

He had terrified her as a little girl. He was larger than life, a big monster who was unstoppable. She would never be strong enough or brave enough to defeat him.

Now she saw a pathetic, scrawny drunk who could barely stand.

Yelena backed away but kept her gun inches from his head.

“Where is she?”

His eyes widened. He recognized her. Of course he did. It had only been five years and she hadn’t exactly grown that tall. Her facial features hadn’t change. She still had the same angry look in her eyes, that hatred towards the world for being born.

“Meggan? I figured you dead girl. What the hell are you doing here after all this time? How did you even find me? What the hell are you… wearing… oh fuck.”

“That is a reaction we get a lot when the red buckles are seen. Never been to Oz before. Hot desolate place.” Yelena told him. “Where is Billie?”

Mick slightly nodded behind him.

Yelena swung her gun, hitting him in the side of the head. He hit the ground with a grunt, blood pouring from the fresh wound on the side of his head.

“Stay down.”

Meg rushed into the RV. There was a ratty bed in the back but on the worn out couch was a young girl of ten, curled up under a single blanket.

Meg knelt beside her sleeping form. She couldn’t see her face buried in the pillow.

With a shaking hand, she reached out to her, stopping just before touching her hair.

“Billie?” she said quietly. Meg touched her cheek and Billie flinched. She rolled over with her eyes still closed and Meg saw the right side of her cheek was purple.

“Billie, its your Megs. Can you wake up for me?”

The little girl barely opened her eyes then yawned. “I’m dreaming.” she mumbled.

Meggan touched the unbruised side of her face and caressed her cheek.

“You aren’t dreaming.”

Billie sat up and squinted then rubbed her eyes. She looked at Meg and began taking her in. She was confused but as it became clear that she wasn’t going away, excitement took over.

“Am I dead? Dad said you were dead. He said two men killed you.”

Meg’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m not… I was taken by some bad people. I… I couldn’t get away. It took me a long time and I have been trying to track you when I got away but I didn’t know where to look and I should have just walked this country to find you but I hoped some people might help when I found them and I am so sorry! Please don’t hate me!”

Billie smiled widely and threw her arms around Meg.

“You are real! You aren’t dead! I knew you couldn’t be. Dad wouldn’t look for you but I knew you couldn’t be! You came back! Dad’s here! Dad isn’t going far! We are supposed to rob the people. You have to go before he finds you! Can you sneak us out?”

Meg shook her head. “Dad is outside. I told you I would come back with help. He isn’t going to rob anybody ever again. He isn’t going to hurt you or anyone else, ever again. You are coming with me. I am going to take you to a big house to live and you are going to have your own room and a big bed and food and no one will ever hurt you again! Do you understand? Is there anything you want to take? We have to leave now. I have a cool plane ready for us.”

Billie looked her up and down. “What are you wearing? You have a gun!”

Meg nodded. “Pack some clothes but not many. I will get you all new things. Just pack enough for tonight.”

Billie stood up quickly and began walking towards a trunk under the table. She opened it and pulled out some clothes.

Meg was furious. She was thinner and smaller than the twins which was saying a lot. She also walked with a slight limp, probably because her leg had never healed properly. She wondered how many other broken bones she had.

“Are you okay? Did he hurt you anywhere beside your face?”

Billie was pulling clothes out and letting them land on the floor. “Nothing I can’t handle. Look! I still have her!”

Billie pulled out an old ragged brown stuffed puppy. Meg recognized it immediately. Her father had beaten the hell out of her because she had almost gotten arrested going back into the house they were burglarizing to take it. It was one of many in the room and she had been determined that Billie needed one.

“Joey! You still have him?!”

“I keep him away so Dad won’t hurt him. He used to sleep with me though. He can come, right?”

“Let’s go. You have enough clothes. I want to get you out of here. You will never have to see Dad again. I promise! Hurry now!”

Billie put a few shirts and shorts in a plastic shopping bag and grabbed her shoes and a pair of ragged socks. Meg picked her up in her arms and carried her outside.

Yelena was over her dad with a boot on his throat and her gun aimed at his head.

She stepped away when she saw Meg and the little girl.

“You are as pretty as your big sister told me! My name is Yelena! I was just talking to your Dad. He tripped and fell down! Isn’t he clumsy?”

Billie scowled at her dad.

“You are big now.” She told Meg. “He won’t hurt me?”

Meg held her tighter.

“Never again, little Roo. Never again.”

Billie glared at the man. “I told you she would come back.”

Yelena reached out for her. “Billie, I am a good friend of Megs. Maybe you come with me and we get you seat belted into plane while Megs says goodbye to Dad?”

Billie looked at Megs. “What if he comes after us?”

Megs shook her head. “He won’t.”

“He is going to keep hurting people.” the little girl whispered.

“I’ll make sure he doesn’t. Go with Yelena and don’t look back. I will be right with you. You are safe with her. She is my friend.”

Meg reluctantly reached out for Yelena who grabbed her and placed the smaller girl on her hip, having a hard time believing this girl was ten.

She walked away with the little girl, leaving Megs alone with her father for the first time in five years.

“How did you fix her leg?”

“Popped it back in and made a splint.”

“It didn’t heal right.”

“I don’t have medical insurance.”

Meg nodded.

“So you are one of them. Those crazy bitches going around the world killing people. You think you are some kind of hero?”

Megs didn’t answer him.

“You told her I was killed by a couple of guys. How did you know two guys took me?”

The man saw Yelena was out of sight and slowly stood up. Meggan didn’t have a gun in her hand but he kept his distance.

“Guys told me they found you trying to turn me in again, walking down the road. Said they knew a guy who took little girls like you who nobody would miss. We split the profit. Billie was the same age when I started training you. She wasn’t the thief you were but she worked. She was housebroken and less likely to cause trouble. That’s the way of the world, kid. I figured whoever bought you would have killed you by now. You must be a tougher bitch than I gave you credit for.”

Meggan shrugged.

“You got what you want now.” he told her. “She was getting to that trouble age anyway. Get out of here. Your little commie friend caught me by surprise but we both know you ain’t no match for me. Take that little bitch and go. One less mouth to feed.”

Meg shook her head. “I can’t do that, Mick. If I leave you here, you are going to hurt these nice people trying to make a buck in the middle of nowhere. I’m thinkin you have hurt enough people in your life, wouldn’t you say?”

The man smiled. “Way of the world kid. Get out of here before I beat the hell out of you. I don’t give a damn what you are wearing, we both know you are still the same scared little girl you always have been.”

Meg nodded. “Your right. I am scared. I’m not scared of you though. I won’t have the blood of everyone you kill from here on out on my hands. I have to end this now.”

The man raised his arm and brought down his fist. He found air.

Then he felt it. Her blade had gone in him just below his navel.

He met her eyes that were filled with hatred.

Meg pulled the knife up, cutting him to his sternum.

He stepped back, trying to hold himself together, looking at her in disbelief.

“You…”

“Did what had to be done. Way of the world, Mick.”

He dropped to his knees and she knelt next to him, her eyes locked onto his as the life sparked out of them. The last thing he saw was her satisfied smile.

Meg dragged him back into the RV, found a cigarette lighter and some cooking grease. She poured the grease on the floor and counters and lit the fire. She then walked out and closed the door behind her.

She reached the quinjet just as the RV exploded into a raging inferno.

When she entered the Quinjet, Billie was waiting for her at the door and jumped into her arms again.

“Is the monster gone?”

Meg nodded. “Yeah, the monster is gone.”

Yelena knelt by the little girl. “Ava is bringing many clothes for her. Her mom bought clothes for her every birthday and Christmas she was gone and kept them all year after year. She will have many new things to wear and we can go to Paris or Sokovia soon. Do you want to have a room prepared for her?”

Meg held her little sister tightly and nodded. “Yeah, but she is staying with me for a while. Let’s go home.”