Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

The Witch and the Widows

By BetterInTexas

Outtake 09:

The first outtake to happen after the battle. High emotions being thrown around.

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Stannic walked into the bunker shocked by what she saw. The funerals for the widows who had died in the battle against Thanos were tomorrow. Since she had moved to Iowa with Nat and Steve she had not been back. She stayed connected with Mika and was aware of the going ons, the massive number of new widows but seeing the coffins lined up where the gym equipment once was shocked her.

Girls were standing next to the coffins, an honor guard of sorts. From what Yelena told Nat who passed it on to her, a widow was standing by a fallen sister twenty-four hours a day.

Looking around the place it hurt to realize how many girls she didn’t know. She had accompanied Nat and Steve to the meetings and training sessions at Sable’s compounds but had no time to talk to them.

The truth was she felt she had no right. They were polite when introduced but the tension from others that had always been there for Nat seemed to extend to her now as well.

It didn’t help when the widows conducted a highly dangerous mission taking out Thanos’s fleet and didn’t bother to tell Steve or Nat first. In her mind that simple act of non-inclusion made it clear that they were no longer part of the team. Even ingroup battlegroups, Nat and Steve fought with Sam and Clint and some of the other enhanced or mechanically enhanced like Scott Lang and Hope Van Dike.

When Nat had asked her to stay behind she felt many things. The first was to obey her mom. When Nat adopted her she promised herself she would be the best daughter. Nat was the first person who ever cared about what she did. She knew Wanda and Yelena and the rest loved her, but Nat wanted the best for her.

So, she agreed. She felt relief and that feeling made her feel worse. She felt like a coward. She never tried to argue. She didn’t insist she be involved. She just felt relief that she wouldn’t have to fight the monsters that plagued her nightmares almost as much as Dreykov and it wouldn’t go away.

Then Nat and Steve and even Clint were gone and Stannic was left in a farmhouse with Laura Barton and her kids to wait. She waited with Lila, Cooper and baby Nate wondering if the family she discovered, and her first family would survive. Who would come back and who wouldn’t. She didn’t doubt they would win. The others didn’t talk about it, but they were afraid half or more of them could disappear at any time. Stannic knew better. She knew Wanda would beat Thanos. Wanda would win. She would always have faith in her.

How many would die though. It wouldn’t be as simple as Wanda killing him in seconds. That purple bastard was supposed to be strong with those stones. Wanda would have to get them from him. She would probably have to use them. Many would die while she fought against a being as strong as she was.

The answer was in front of her. Sixteen widows dead. Sixteen. None had been stabbed. All had been crushed either by a stronger opponent, a very strong laser straight to the head, twisted necks or in Antha’s case, a grenade she fell on that crushed her insides.

Stannic took a step towards the first coffin. They were open and the widows had been prepared for burial. They were dressed beautifully and on first sight you could not tell the cause of the violent deaths that took them.

The room was eerily quiet. The scene of so many workouts, sparring sessions and dance parties was as solemn and quiet as a museum.

Stannic did not recognize the girl in the first three coffins. The widows who stood guard at the coffins nodded to her, offering some recognition, even if they had never seen her outside brief appearances at training sessions. She had trained with Nat and Steve’s group because Nat wanted to keep her close, so she didn’t get to or try to speak to most of the newer widows. The ones she had known the longest made a point to come to her and talk but it wasn’t the same. Despite what Wanda had told her when she left, Stannic did not feel like one of them.

It was at the tenth coffin that her heart truly sank, and she lost her breath.

Antha.

The one who made them laugh, the one who never seemed to take anything seriously yet the one who was the most protective in battle of the others. Stannic had been amazed at how Antha protected Aino in the battle at the airport. She was one of the tallest widows and wasn’t the best hand to hand fighter. She wasn’t the best shot or the most graceful moving in the field. She had heart though. So much heart. She had the heart of a warrior, not the assassin she had been forced to be by the Red Room.

“What are you doing here?” a familiar voice asked.

Stannic turned to see Aino marching towards Antha’s coffin.

“Hey. We came for the funerals. I wanted to say goodbye before…”

“You said goodbye a long time ago.” Aino cut her off.

Stannic cringed at the accusation in her voice.

“I didn’t…”

Aino waved her hand. “It was an amazing battle. The war to save the universe. You would not believe the things that happened. I’m still having trouble believing it. Did you know Kate Bishop snuck into battle?”

“I heard.”

“Her first real battle.” Aino said. “She shot a stone off a gauntlet with an arrow while fighting was going on around her. She took out so many of those monsters. She grabbed a spear from a fallen Wakandan and kept fighting. She stabbed one through its chin up to its brain. She jumped on one of the dogs and stabbed it in skull. She took out so many. She joined our teams and turned the tide before we were overrun. She even saved Michiko’s life. Killed a monster coming for her. Arrow was so perfect it missed Michiko’s head by less than an inch and buried itself dead center into the head of that best. Kate Bishop was a Greek goddess on that battlefield.”

Aino shook her head. “Tony Stark. I had never seen him actually fight outside of the airport but that man… he took on an army inside the ship and sabotaged the guns. Just him and Peter. Then they came into the battle. Peter joined Erin’s group and Tony protected Michiko’s team from being overran. His armor was nearly torn off. He kept fighting though. Even took a talon into his abdomen, punctured a lung. He hid it after the battle until the others were healed before he let Wanda know.

“Antonia… it happened so fast… then Antha…”

Aino paused. “You know Bucky Barnes stopped Thanos from striking Wanda by stopping his arm? No way Bucky should have been that strong. Then him and Yelena jumped on the big bastard and cut him over and over until Wanda was back up. We all saw Wanda die. She was disfigured, her beautiful face… one eye burned to near dust… she stopped breathing. We thought it was her end. Then Aunt Agatha was there. We saw Wanda come back to life, but Aunt Agatha took her disfigurement took her injuries and saved Wanda from her heart beating. See Aunt Agatha saved as many as she could, healed as many as she could while the war waged but most our sisters had died instantly. It is only luck that Wanda had a bit of spirit to hold onto.

“Watching Wanda die, then Aunt Agatha…

Aino met Stannic’s eyes.

“Where were you? Cheerleading practice or did your damn horse need to be groomed? Maybe you found a new mermaid show to watch and couldn’t be bothered?”

“I… I… Mom… Nat… didn’t want me… when she asked if she could adopt me I told myself I would do…”

“As you were told? Mommy didn’t want you to fight so you stayed away. My parents didn’t want me to fight either. I told them it didn’t matter. I was a Red Widow. Where Wanda goes, the Red Widows go! Do you remember that? Without Wanda you would still be Dreykov’s sex doll!”

Stannic began crying. “Please don’t…”

“Please don’t what?” Aino asked, beginning to laugh hysterically. “I can’t believe I used to look up to you. I was so shy but you… you said whatever you were feeling. You didn’t give a damn if others didn’t like it. You were the one who taught me how to color my hair. You were the first person I ever got drunk with! What is it you would always say? Red Widow for life. No, you said Red Widow until death. You were so convinced we would all die one day in battle. Is that why you quit?”

“I didn’t quit….” Stannic stuttered quietly.

“Coward!” Aino yelled. She stepped into striking distance and hit Stannic in the eye, causing her to fall back, not so much from the force of the blow but from the shock. Aino took advantage and jumped on her, fists raised. Before she could strike again, a streak flew over her, picking up Aino and pulling her away.

Stannic looked from the ground and saw several Red Widows had knelt by and in front of her protectively. Aino was in the arms of… Bucky Barnes.

It was an unreal sight. She had her arms around Bucky’s neck, her legs wrapped around his waist and her face buried in his chest. The wails that were coming from her were horrible. She was in so much pain and she sought comfort from Bucky Barnes of all people.

The other widows offered hands to help her up, but she didn’t move, sitting on the floor and watching Aino having an emotional breakdown, clinging onto the Winter Soldier like a lifeline.

Then Nat and Wanda were by her side.

“Stannic!” Nat shouted, checking her over.

Wanda placed her hand over Stannic’s eye and the soreness she had begun to feel as her shock wore off was gone.

“I got this.” Bucky said.

Wanda nodded and Bucky took the emotionally distraught Aino away.

Wanda and Nat helped her up.

Stannic was too shocked to speak. She felt numb. Aino was one of her closest friends. Her, Staci, Mika, and Aino were the youngest, the ones left out much of the time and it bonded them.

The bond was broken. Perhaps it started when the youngest threatened to leave and didn’t tell her because of her relationship with Nat. Maybe it was when she decided she wanted to try a normal life. Maybe when she fought by Nat and Steve’s side during training.

Wanda placed her hands on Stannic’s chin and looked into her eyes. “I’m sorry. I was taking a nap. I woke when I felt her… Bucky was closest… Are you… I know you aren’t okay. She didn’t mean it. She is in a bad place right now. We are all but Aino…”

Wanda looked at Antha who was lying peacefully as if she were just asleep and not dead.

“The grenade landed behind Aino, maybe three feet away. It would have killed her. Someone shouted grenade and when Aino turned and saw it, Antha jumped on it. She saw her die… her and Yelena took her helmet down… Aino thinks it should have been her. She thinks she should have been faster. She couldn’t have… right now she is in a very bad place. You aren’t the only one she is taking it out on. She won’t talk to Imi; she won’t stay in my room… she told her parents to go back to New Zealand and stay away from her…”

Wanda stopped.

“It isn’t your fault, Stannic. I should have stopped her… I’ve just been up for days and I feel asleep…”

Stannic wiped her eyes. “It isn’t your fault, Wanda. She was right. Everything she said was right.”

Nat gripped Stannic’s shoulder tightly. “No, it wasn’t. Wanda is right. They are all in a bad place but Aino and Antha… she always looked to Antha as an older sister and to see her… die like that, saving her life… what she said wasn’t true, Stannic. You made the right decision.”

“I need to be alone, please.” She said quietly. Stannic pulled away from both and ran for the stairs with Wanda and Nat calling after her. Steve entered as she passed him.

“What happened? Bucky is holding Aino. She won’t stop crying. I’ve never seen her wrapped around him like that.”

Wanda closed her eyes in frustration and texted Yelena to find Stannic.

Stannic didn’t stop running when she got to the first floor. She ran out the house and kept running. It had been a while since she was here, and the place had grown considerably. The baseball field threw her and the office building away from the main mansion was strange to see. She ignored it and made for the tree line, hoping to get lost in the trees or maybe to climb the mountain.

For the first time in a very long time, she wanted to drink. She wanted to become so drunk she blacked out. She wanted to be on the dark roof on a starless night with a bottle and forget she existed.

Aino’s words kept going through her head. Wanda was right, Aino was in a dark place but the things she was saying were thoughts Stannic already had herself. Aino just put them into the world.

She finally stopped running when she ran out of breath. She hadn’t realized she was shouting until she stopped, and her throat felt raw. Stannic fell to her knees and then bent over and vomited.

“You don’t look okay, Cheri. A beautiful girl like you should not be crying.” A soft French accented voice told her.

Stannic looked up from the ground and saw a beautiful woman with long dark hair, piecing blue eyes and a slim body. Her body and Beauty reminded her of Antha, even thought Antha was brighter and this woman was darker, not just in hair but in general. She wore a widow suit.

“I am Margot. Born in Paris, stolen from Paris and stationed in Paris since I was put into service. My accent is likely as strong as Wanda’s, but I am working on it. Why is such a beauty as you, making yourself sick?”

Stannic crawled to her feet, trying to steady herself.

“Why are you here?”

Margot shrugged her shoulders. “Training. I need to become more familiar with this suit, learn how to move more comfortably in it. I thought a run through the forest might help. Though I should have put some anti chafing lotion on. I understand what the girls were talking about now. I saw you in Switzerland but have not seen you around here. What is your name?”

Stannic dropped her head slightly.

“I’m Stannic.”

Margot’s eyebrows rose. “The daughter of the Black Widow. She adopted you, non? How wonderful to find a family. I understand her and Captain America are getting married. You live on a farm, yes?”

Stannic nodded, irritated that was all the others knew about her. The Black Widow’s daughter who left to live on a farm.

“You are quite famous around here.”

Stannic huffed. “I’m sure I am.”

“I speak the truth. The youngest Red Widow, one of the originals, a founding member of the team. You were there for many widow rescues. You were part of the team that raided the Iranian prison. You were in the airport when the Iron Legion attacked. I heard you broke your foot but kept fighting. Ingrid told me you were the toughest widow she had fought beside.”

Stannic felt momentary pride at those words.

It was short lived though. Aino’s words would not leave her head.

“I wasn’t at the battle on Titan.” Stannic said quietly.

Margot nodded. “I heard. Many widows weren’t at the battle. Those who started new lives after they were rescued kept living their new lives. Nothing wrong with that.”

Stannic shook her head. “I heard all the widows that weren’t living in the Mansion gathered for the fight.”

Margot frowned. “No… how could they? They weren’t assigned to a team during training. We operated in teams, rotating around Wanda. If they weren’t in training they would not have a clue what to do. They would have been on their own, causing as much harm as good. No Cheri, there were many who were not present. Thirty-two I believe… ah, I see. You are upset you were not there. You saw your friends’ bodies in the bunkers. Now you feel guilty. Guilt is a useless emotion.”

Stannic looked at her sharply. “How can you say that?”

“How can you not believe it? You may have made a difference in the battle. You may have saved a life. You may also have caused someone to lose a life. We will never know so what is the point in feeling guilty about a possible future you could no nothing about. Maybe we should spend all our time wallowing in guilt over what we did in the past even though it was never in our control. Should we drown in guilt over the people we kill now? No, guilt is useless. I stand by my words.

“I will leave you alone. You seem to have regained your breath and the chafing is really starting to hurt. Are you going to be all right?”

Stannic nodded.

“Good. You are too pretty to cry. Just out of curiosity, why did you go to training but not to the battle?”

“My mom… Natasha Romanoff, told me not to.”

Margot took that in. “Then you are a good daughter. Few of us have parents. You are lucky to have parents who care and look out for you.”

“My sisters… the original Red Widows… they hate me.”

Margot gasped. “They said this to you?”

“Aino did.”

Margot frowned. “Aino has been… different. She is angry at herself and doesn’t know how to deal so she takes it out on everyone else. I doubt the rest of the widows feel that way. All I have ever heard are stories of the famous Stannic, the one who killed several prison guards, the hot head who kicked a robot in the head, the one who could outdrink many of the older widows, one of the best fighters on the team. I know you have your new life, but you should visit more often. You are a legend. The others would love to meet you under more pleasant circumstances.”

Stannic thought of that for a moment and wondered if she meant what she was saying or just attempting to make her feel better.

Margot offered her hand to Stannic, and she took it. The two walked in silence back to the Mansion. To Stannic’s surprise the twins were waiting for her on the front porch.

“Stannic!” Nadeja shouted and rushed towards her. Nela and Nadeja wrapped their arms around her.”

“Hello you two.”

Nadeja pulled back and showed her the shirt she had on. It was a Mako Mermaids shirt.

“I still have the shirt you gave me when I first found Mama.”

Nela looked at Margot. “Stannic gave us her clothes to wear after Mama and Papa and Aunt Yelena rescued us, even though Nadeja bit her.”

Stannic laughed at the memory.

“That’s right, little Chomper did try to take my finger. Where is your mama or papa?” she asked. Nat had mentioned that since new widows had arrived, the twins never left Wanda or Bucky’s side.

“Since we all came back, they decided we are not all that bad, right girls?” Margot said fondly. “Nadeja plays on Naomi’s baseball team. She hasn’t even tried to gut her. I understand from Sasha’s welcome manual that is a favorite past time of hers.”

Nadeja stuck her tongue out at the French girl and grabbed Stannic’s hand, pulling them into the house where Storm waited for her.

“We have to show you our new room!” Nela shouted.

“And our dollhouse!” Nadeja added. “Nela’s cats have gotten furrier. Storm is as smart as we are.”

“You haven’t met Billie and Claudia and Tanya want to see you.” Nela told her. “Sierra is always hanging out with Amanda but the five of us have a poker game every Wednesday night in our room. Papa shows us how to play. Mama didn’t want us to learn but he told her it would help with math. We are beginning to add and subtract big numbers now. Dr. Stephen says we are really smart.”

“We grew an inch! And are five pounds heavier! We are finally getting big.” Nadeja declared proudly.

Despite her rolling emotions from the brief time she had been here, the twin’s excitement caused her to smile. She knew they were at least glad to see her.

“Romanoff Jr!” Ingrid shouted from behind her.

Stannic turned nervously but found Ingrid smiling with her arms open. She wrapped her in a big hug.

“Good to see you, kid. Don’t stay gone so long next time.”

Stannic blushed. “I… you guys have been pretty busy… saving the Universe and all.”

“We always have time for you little sis. Don’t you forget it. I’m going to make it to your farm as soon as things calm down. I have to see this horse of yours I’ve heard so much about. I don’t think I’ve ever been around a horse. You can teach us to ride.”

Stannic smiled. “Yeah, that would be cool. I’m sorry…”

“You have nothing to apologize for.” Ingrid told her. “You live your life, Stannic. This is what we always wanted for you. Some of us are lifers. You aren’t though and that is a good thing. We are hoping Aino and Staci aren’t lifers once everything settles.”

Stannic doubted it judging by Aino’s words, but anything was possible.

“How is… how is Ava doing?”

Ingrid’s face fell.

“Not good. Everyone tries to get her to talk but she won’t. It’s like she has checked out. She eats, she responds to questions, but the life is gone from her. Her mom, Yelena, Wanda, no one can get her to open up. She is hurting but is keeping it inside. She won’t see the shrink her mom had her seeing.”

It hurt Stannic to hear that. Ava was always a rock. She was the one who remained steady. Everyone’s moods always fluctuated day to day, even Wanda and Yelena. Everyone except Ava and Antonia. They were the steady calm presences everyone could rely on.

“She will come back to us kid.” Ingrid assured her. “You need to visit more. This is still your home.”

Nadeja pulled Stannic’s hand. “Can we go to our room now?”

Stannic smirked and Ingrid winked at her. “Far be it from me to interfere in the Maximoff twins’ plans. Catch you later, hothead.”

Nadeja and Nela pulled Stannic into the room. Bucky was sitting on the bed with Wanda and Aino was still in Bucky’s arms.

“Hi Mama, Papa, Aino. We are going to show Stannic our stuff!”

Stannic avoided looking at Aino and hurried behind the twins. Storm was waiting on the bottom bunk bed with the cats next to her.

After playing with dolls for a while, Wanda called the girls into her room. The twins jumped up and left, leaving Stannic alone. She wasn’t alone long.

Aino walked into the room.

Stannic involuntarily tensed. Aino didn’t look angry. Her eyes were swollen and red, her cheeks were splotched and wet with drying tears.

“I’m sorry. For the things I said… and hitting you.”

“You were just telling the truth. I should have been there.”

Aino shrugged. “Everything that happened was because of some purple asshole deciding half the life in the universe needed to die. We had to meet him there. If the battle happened on Earth it would have been bad. We all knew that but being on that dead planet was like being in hell. I wouldn’t want anybody I love to be there.”

“But you went anyway.” Stannic pointed out.

Aino sighed and sat on the bottom bunk.

“I sleep on this bed a lot. The twins still sleep with Wanda and Bucky, me, and Staci usually sleep here. Sometimes we are still scared of the dark I guess. We hold each other at night when the memories get too bad and say we are going to be tough, but we always run to Wanda’s room. I shouldn’t have called you a coward. I’m the one who was a coward.”

Stannic was surprised to hear that.

“What are you talking about? You fought in the most important battle in history!”

Aino laid back, looking at the top bunk so she wouldn’t have to face Stannic.

“Everyone thinks I didn’t see the grenade. Antha jumped on it to save my life. But I saw it. I saw it land right by me. It was only for a second. I knew what those things could do. I remember Steve telling us how one blew him out a window even thought it was under his shield. I knew I needed to fall on it. I knew I did. I had to, or we were all dead. Even if the blast didn’t kill us we would be knocked down and tore up by those damn monsters.

“I hesitated. Antha didn’t. I should have fallen on it first. I had a second and you know a second is an eternity, but I didn’t, Stannic. I watched her fall on it like she was moving in slow motion. I stood and watched while she pulled that damn thing under her and curled around it. I saw her body lift from the ground. She didn’t hesitate. I did.”

Aino placed an arm over her eyes as she lay.

“I’m the damn coward, Stannic. I let her die for me. It should have been me on that grenade. I begged gods I’m not sure I believe in that the suit would hold up, but I knew it wouldn’t. When I retracted her helmet, those beautiful eyes of hers were just… dead. No life. She had been so full of life. She was always so full of life and her beautiful blue eyes were suddenly dull, lifeless. I see her face every night when I go to sleep. I see her in mirrors. Wanda… when Wanda died, she told us she saw them crossing over. They were happy. If that is true why has Wanda been so sad? I’m afraid she is going to start drinking again. Yelena is trying to hold it together… It should have been me, Stannic. I should have gotten on that grenade first. Antha should be alive.”

Stannic wiped her eyes, the pain in Aino’s voice was affecting her as well.

“She would have tossed you off.”

“What?”

Stannic cleared her throat. “She would have tossed you off and taken it anyway. She always looked out for you the most. She was never going to let you fall on that grenade, Aino. She loved you too much to let you do that. You didn’t hesitate and you aren’t a coward. Do you think a second is forever? A second is nothing. That isn’t on you.”

Aino sighed. “Then why does it feel like it is? Why can’t I get rid of the guilt, the hurt? I think every time someone looks at me they are seeing a coward.”

“Is that what you think Staci sees?”

“Maybe. She would never tell me the truth if she knew it would hurt me. No one here would.”

“I would.” Stannic told her. “I’ve never lied to you, Aino. You aren’t a coward. You want my opinion on what you should do?”

“If you say buy a horse, go to high school and become a cheerleader, I’m going to hit you again.”

Stannic chuckled for the first time, hearing some of the old Aino coming through. “Yelena told Mom… Nat… that you and your parents get along great. She said they really love Staci as well.”

“Yeah… of course I told them to stay away from me so I’m not sure if that door has closed.”

“It won’t, no matter what you say or do. Leave. You and Staci. Don’t buy a horse or do anything you don’t want but leave.”

“I’m a Red Widow. I can’t.”

“Then you are a coward.” Stannic told her and prepared to be hit once again.

Aino lifted herself up and looked at Stannic with dangerous eyes.

“What did you say?”

“You are a Red Widow, but it doesn’t have to be all you know. Antha knew what she was doing. Do you think she died so you can keep going on missions for the rest of your life? I know its scary to try something new. You have no idea how scary it can be. I’m still scared of myself in school. I wonder if today the day is I have a flashback and kill someone. I’m so scared everyday because its this life I know nothing about. I was more comfortable killing people than going to class. But I’m trying because… I wanted different. Antha wanted different for you.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I knew her.” Stannic said. “She never wanted this for any of us. Neither did Wanda or Yelena, neither did Antonia. Honor her sacrifice, Aino. Do something uncomfortable. Anything. Just do something else. She didn’t fall on that grenade so you can keep going on missions.”

“You think I can just walk away, huh?”

Stannic shrugged. “It’s not like your leaving everybody. Staci will go with you, and you can visit…”

“Like you visit?” Aino interrupted.

Stannic felt a bit of shame. “Yeah, like I should visit. Like I will more. To be honest I didn’t think anyone would want to see me. I did choose the Black Widow and Captain America over my sisters. I thought that was how everyone saw me.”

“No one ever judged you for that. A lot of people were thankful you did.”

Stannic was shocked to hear that. “They were thankful that I left my sisters to become Natasha Romanoff’s daughter?”

“No, we were thankful that you got Natasha Romanoff to move out of the Mansion. You took one for the team. That makes you a hero.”

Stannic was taken back by the playful look in Aino’s eyes. “Has shy Aino became a smartass? I’m so proud.”

“I’m trying something new.” Aino said. “Happy?”

“Are you?” Stannic asked. “Is this what you see yourself doing? You have two cool parents from what I understand. They love Staci, don’t care that you two are a package deal. That’s what I’ve heard, right? You can do anything. Maybe instead of being haunted by what Antha did you can do what she would have wanted.”

Aino sighed. “It still should have been me.”

Stannic shook her head. “I’m going to live with the guilt that I wasn’t there. I’m going to have to figure it out. You don’t have to. You can let it go. You never had a chance. You weren’t going to beat her to that grenade, Aino. Let it go and honor her sacrifice. Don’t be a damn coward.”

Aino laughed. “You suddenly sound like Wanda and Bucky only they don’t call me a coward. I deserve it after I called you one. Stannic… I’m glad you weren’t there. I don’t regret going but I wish Staci wouldn’t have been there and I am glad you weren’t. I wouldn’t have wanted you… I couldn’t cope with that. Considering you were fighting with the loser squad there was a high chance of something happening to you.”

Stannic and Aino sat in silence for a few moments.

“Kate Bishop, huh?” Stannic asked, changing the subject.

“She was amazing.” Aino confirmed. “I should get ready for the funerals. Staci is practicing singing, but I don’t think she is going to make it through the service. Go say hello, meet some others. You are kind of a legend around here. Meet them, maybe sign a few autographs. Hug Ava and Lerato. They need it.”

Aino walked out of Wanda’s room leaving Stannic alone. She wasn’t sure what to do. The only living beings were the cats who didn’t seem interested in moving at all. She looked out of the twin’s window. The view was unencumbered and looked onto a small hill covered in wildflowers and majestic mountains further away.

She missed this place. It was the first home she ever had. She didn’t consider the fortress in Sokovia a home, more of a hideout.

Now it was time to say goodbye to her sisters, both the living and the dead. She wasn’t sure if she would ever forgive herself for staying out of the battle. She had made Nat and Steve happy. She knew Wanda and Yelena were happy but what about her? Was it the right decision for herself?

That would be something she could think about over a lifetime. But now she was first, a daughter. Her mother had done what mothers were supposed to do. She made sure Stannic had a life to carry on where she could ask those questions. When she found Nat and Wanda in the hall outside Wanda’s room, she wasn’t surprised. Nat opened her arms and Stannic fell into them.

“I love you, Mom.”

“I love you, daughter. Are you going to be okay?”

Stannic nodded. “I’ll get there. Did you know I’m kind of a hero at the Mansion?”

Nat rolled her eyes. “Let me guess. You got me to move out.”

“A feat no one though possible for the longest time.” Wanda agreed.

Stannic laughed and took Nat’s hand. Together they walked outside and waited, then followed the Red Widows who were carrying the coffins of the fallen sisters to the sacred burial ground where the sisters laid to rest. She was given hugs by all the widows after the funeral, even Ava and Lerato who looked emotionally dead. No matter what, the battle of Thanos changed everything, for those who were there and those who weren’t.

Maybe some good could come out of it. Maybe Aino and Staci would have the chance Stannic got. Only time would tell.

---

Two weeks later

Three miles outside Kanazawa Japan

Michiko stepped out of the quinjet and waved to Kristina who took off quickly and silently. Since the battle, the rules about widows traveling alone had relaxed for a week or so. Many needed time off, away from everything and everyone. The funerals of their fellow widows had been emotionally brutal.

She never had the chance to know the newer widows who gave their lives as much as she would have liked. She didn’t’ know much about them at all. The loss of Agatha, Antha and Antonia was a blow to all of them. Wanda was reeling from being dead and then alive again because of Agatha. She had felt every widow’s death on the battlefield and the battle injured her greatly. She was constantly sick, and the others watched her closely.

They were all devastated over the loss of Wong. He had been one of them in a way. He had always been there for them. Whatever they needed whenever they asked, he came without hesitation, whether it involved Ava or not.

Ava had gone from being a shadow of her former self to crying uncontrollably . Only Wanda and Sable could stop her from constantly crying long enough to eat something.

Yelena hurt for them all and was constantly moving about the house keeping an eye on everyone. They all knew going in that any of them could and would die.

The reality of it was different. The widows had never lost a battle. Never. Aino had almost died once, and Yelena got taken out by a landmine once and then a cursed katana, but they always came through. They were beginning to think they were invincible, at least the ones who had been Red Widows the longest.

They found out they were not invincible.

The losses affected everyone, not just the widows. Many soldiers under Sable’s command were dead. Wakandans were dead. Despite having superpowers, half the Inhumans were dead. Many sorcerers had died. Wenwu lost many warriors.

The widows would have lost even more if it weren’t for Iron Man. After sabotaging the spaceship’s guns, Tony Stark flew to the aid of Rox’s team who were surrounded and covered their flank, saving many of them from death and nearly dying himself in the process. His armor was destroyed by the end of the battle, but he kept fighting until Wanda was able to dust all those asshole monsters.

In the end the battle was a win, yet it felt like a loss.

Michiko had made this trip several times and stayed for more than a few days each time. Once she spent a week here in her small apartment under an assumed name. She always had someone with her but now that apartment was calling her, and she wanted to be alone.

She walked across the fields, taking in the beauty of the area. It was an area with much history. Geisha or Geiko as they were known here once roamed these hillsides and streets, perfecting their art.

She had been born in this town. She had been taken when she was two years old and while she had no memory of the place it felt like home the first time she stepped foot on its ground.

She wore jeans, a black shirt, and an army green oversized coat, carrying a duffle bag. She kept her hair under a plain black ballcap. She dressed to blend in and for the most part, no one gave her a second glance. Keeping her head down, no one noticed the beautiful girl walking among them.

Sliding the key into her apartment door was a liberating feeling. The Mansion would always be home. She would never leave the Widows, but this was a part of her as well, just as Wakanda was becoming part of Zarola and Sokovia would always be a major part of Wanda.

She unpacked her meager belongings and was glad to see the personal items such as furniture and the television had not been stolen in her absence.

After tidying the place, she went across the hall. Knocking on the door she called out her neighbor’s name and announced herself. The woman answered and Michiko took her spare key and entered the old woman’s apartment.

The blind woman was sitting on her porch drinking tea and smiled when she felt Michiko’s presence taking a seat next to her.

“My Akane-san.” Mai Sato greeted her by the name Michiko had given her.

“Hello Mai-sama.”

The old woman waved her hand. “You grant me too much honor.”

Michiko didn’t think so. “I am afraid you must accept my upmost respect.”

The woman sipped her tea. “Yet you are the young soldier. Translator for the Japanese Self Defense Forces. So many languages you know. So intelligent. My daughter was talented with languages as well. But I have told you so many stories of her you must tire of them.”

“No! I love hearing your stories. I talk so much translating, it is nice to listen for a while.”

“Pour yourself a cup of tea, Akane-san. You take the time to look in on your elderly blind neighbor and you haven’t been here an hour. I heard you open your door when you arrived. You had been gone a while. I had feared you might not come back. It gives me great joy to know you are all right.”

Michiko said nothing.

“Yet I sense you are not alright.”

Michiko blinked the tears from her eyes.

“I am not alright.”

The elderly woman waited.

“There was… there was a battle. A… fight… my friends were killed. Many of my friends, some of my oldest and first friends… girls like sisters, closer than sisters, died and some others almost died. The ones alive are blaming themselves and I am blaming myself because I had no idea what I was doing. I was trying to protect them but there were so many, and I watched my team members die and one I was responsible for also… I tried to stop it, but I couldn’t! I couldn’t do anything!”

Mishiko stopped speaking, realizing she had said much more than she intended and was beginning to sound hysterical. Once she began speaking it would not stop coming.

The blind woman stood and approached her. Michiko stood and fell into her arms.

“It is a dangerous world you live in my poor child. Death is something you walk with by your side every day. It will eventually claim us all, but no one courts it as much as you and your friends do. Even with a powerful witch on your side, death cannot always be beaten.”

Michiko pulled back quickly.

“Witch?” she asked quietly.

The woman smiled. “Wanda Maximoff and her Red Widows. I know you aren’t a member of the Self Defense Forces. I know who you are. I am old and blind, but I recognized the spirit of my daughter in you when we first met, and you brought me Udon you claimed to have made too much of. You cook just like your mother, granddaughter. I thought perhaps you didn’t know your true name, so I told you, but you never claimed it. You have always known though, haven’t you, Michiko?”

“How did you know I was a Red Widow?”

“No one talks about battle like you do unless they have seen battle. I knew you were my granddaughter. I knew you were not some common soldier. I figured it out. I am blind but my mind is sharp as ever.”

“I am sorry I lied.”

The woman shrugged. “It was for you to tell when you were ready. Tell me, why were you not ready?”

“Because I knew this fight was coming. I didn’t feel right about bringing myself into your life and then leaving. You would never have known what happened to me… again. I should have told you.”

“I understand your reasoning though I can handle more than you might know. I survived the loss of my children. I survived the loss of my granddaughter. I survived losing my sight. If you truly want to make it up to me there is a simple way. Call me Sobo.”

Michiko controlled her breathing before she spoke then clearly did as she asked.

“Hello, Sobo.”

The woman smiled brightly. “How I have I yearned to hear you say that little one. Sit, take my hands, and tell me what has happened. Let me take this burden from you.”

Michiko sighed. “I’m not sure anyone can. I have had many things done to me since I was taken. I have become a killer.”

“You were mind controlled. I know many things about the widows.”

Michiko squeezed her hands. “I have killed many since I have been free.”

“From what I understand the assholes deserved it. Now tell me what happened. Who took your friends’ lives?”

Michiko was quiet for a moment.

“We went to another planet to fight an alien warlord and his army of monsters to stop him from killing half the life in the universe.”

The old woman paused for a few moments, taking that in. “Wait here. I will be back.”

Mai stood and began walking away.

“Where are you going?”

“To get the sake. I suspect we will both need it. Sit brave warrior, we have much to talk about.”

The woman returned and Michiko explained the entire situation. She spoke of everything that had happened to her since Yelena and Wanda freed her, the battles they fought, the fun they had, the nightmares she suffered and the love they all shared. She talked about the rift others brought that nearly tore them apart and Wanda holding them together.

It was late when the topic of the battle with Thanos on Titan came up. Her grandmother suggested they lay down and speak of it in the morning.

Michiko slept in the same room as her grandmother for the first time since she was two years old. Her grandmother was her last living relative. Since she found out about her only living relative, Michiko had placed herself into the woman’s life but kept her at a distance. She ensured her bills were paid when she was short without the woman knowing but kept her interactions that of a young woman befriending an older neighbor.

She had never been certain why she had done so. A part of her didn’t want to break the woman’s heart, knowing she couldn’t stay. Another part feared she may want to stay and walk out on her sisters. That thought made her sick to think of.

That was gone now. Despite the horrors she had recently lived, she slept that night. Talking about her life had been cathartic. She was one of the few widows who had never seen Imi for counseling but could now see the appeal. Her grandmother knew her. She had always known her.

The two had breakfast and then returned to the porch. They sat in silence enjoying the music of birds beginning to sing, people moving about the small town and children playing in a nearby park.

“Tell me about this alien. Tell me what happened.”

Michiko told her. She told her about the battle. She told her they won.

“It didn’t feel like a win, did it?” her Sobo asked knowingly.

“I had never seen so many dead bodies on a field. People I didn’t know but also people I did. People I loved. People on my team… I saw Wanda die. I thought she was going to be okay. She glowed… she was so bright it hurt to look at her and she snapped her fingers then she burned that thing to nothing… then she died. Her beautiful face that had always looked a little sad to me, was disfigured. Her eye was burnt out of its socket. Then Agatha came and I thought it would be okay. Agatha would heal her.

“Then Agatha died. We watched Wanda come back to life and thought maybe… but it came with a price. Aunt Agatha took her place.”

Michiko took a breath. “Antha didn’t have a chance to be saved. She jumped on the grenade without a second thought. Aino was by it and when she turned, Antha was already on the ground. It crushed her.”

The old woman squeezed her hand.

“I saw Antonia… she pushed Huan out of the way of an alien weapon. The blast though… it hit her head and we heard the snap. Over the noise, the explosions, the monsters roaring… we heard her neck snap. There were no last words… she was just gone. Antha was bigger than life. Antonia was unstoppable. She always had been. Just like that… they were gone. Then…”

Michiko tried to speak but couldn’t say it.

“You lost one of yours, didn’t you?”

Michiko nodded. Her grandmother couldn’t see her nod, but it made no difference. She knew.

“Her name was Jamie. She was fifteen years old and had been free for two months. She was on my team. We were moving into the east perimeter. Thanos kept trying to get his army to Wanda while she fought him. He couldn’t take her on his own. We were circling and I saw Rox’s team being beaten back. Kate Bishop jumped in with a spear and Tony Stark landed in front of them. They were turning the tide, but they were still being cut off. I ordered my team to reenforce them. We made a line and then spread out, but I let us get too thin.

“I thought Kate was looking at me, but she was looking behind me. Her eyes were so wide… she dropped her spear, pulled one of the few arrows she had left and fired, and I could almost feel it pass my head. turned around and saw one of those dogs with an arrow between its eyes. But under it was… Jamie. She saw it coming for me and stood in its way. It shoved its head into her torso and her ribs cracked and one pierced her heart. Kate heard the crack. That’s why she looked my way. Over everything, Kate heard the sound of my girl getting crushed and saved my life. I didn’t even know Jamie was in trouble.

“I couldn’t hear anything! Yelena was giving orders over the headset, and I was thinking of positioning my team, but there were so many screams and gunfire and those damn lasers. I tried to think about the mission and overlooked my own position. I should have been crushed. Instead, a fifteen-year-old girl who never had the chance to experience life died for me and a 17-year-old archer who had never seen real battle saved my life.”

Her grandmother hurt for her. The limited descriptions of this battle made her imagine it was hell, complete with real demons.

“I don’t regret going to the battle. I regret surviving it. Is that horrible? She gave me a chance to live and all I can think of is I should have died. I didn’t have the right to live. I screwed up. I overextended us, I allowed a dog to get through and didn’t see it. In her first real battle, Kate Bishop heard bones breaking, a scream and fired an arrow with pinpoint precision to save my life while I stood there uselessly. Some leader I turned out to be.”

“You protected the Maximoff girl long enough for her to take these mystical jewels and kill the creature. You lost one of your teammates but got others through. You did your job and Jaime did hers. Was she forced to fight?”

“No! They all had the choice. We… everyone knew what was at stake. Everyone had the right to choose whether to fight. But I don’t think she understood…”

The woman raised her hand to stop her. “Do not ever do that. She was young. You are all young. Too young for this, just as my father was too young for World War Two. Do not disrespect her sacrifice by saying she did not know the implications of the choice she was making. Never disrespect her choice by saying she did not know what she was doing. For the first time in her life, she was able to fight for something she believed in, and she was able to make a choice. She chose to die for you. She gave you a gift.”

Michiko shrugged. “It doesn’t feel like a gift. I can only think about what we lost. During training she was so focused. She wasn’t one of my best, but she worked so hard. I promised I would keep her near me.”

“Then keep her near you.” Her grandmother told her. “Never let her go but never say she made the wrong choice. Respect her decision and honor her for the hero she is.”

Michiko understood. Her grandmother was right. Her guilt was not honoring Jamie’s sacrifice. She had been such a cute girl. She liked to wear her hair in pigtails and Claudia loved it. She was one of the few newer red widows who made am actual effort to get to know the youngest. It was never easy to get close to Nadeja and Nadeja made it difficult for anyone to get close to Nela, but Claudia, Tanya and Billie loved her.

“I need to take a walk. You need groceries. I will check your cabinet and bring back what you need. I want to try your favorite recipes.”

“Then go shopping. We will cook together and then pray for Jamie and all your other sisters you lost. We will pray for your mother and father. You will understand that death is not the end, my little samurai.”

“Thank you Sobo. I love you.”

“I love you. Take your time. I will be here.”

Michiko did not head directly to the market. She walked to the edge of the small village and into the tree line. He took her phone, called Yelena. Yelena told her to wait where she was so Michiko did as she was told.

She didn’t wait long. Wanda’s magic door opened up and Yelena stepped from it.

“I just wanted to talk. I didn’t want Wanda using magic. Has she been feeling any better?”

Yelena grinned. “She will.”

Michiko wondered. “Shuri checked her out, right? No remaining weird radiation from the stones?”

Yelena shook her head. “She is pregnant.”

Michiko was shocked. “The Infinity Stones got her pregnant?!”

Yelena laughed. “No, that was Bucky Barnes doing. No one is sure how she was able to get pregnant or how the baby survived her near death, but the little one did. Shuri confirmed it. We will have another young one running the mansion. Erik will have a tiny friend.”

Michiko grinned, happy that some good news had come from this. The widows needed something good.

“What is wrong?”

“Wrong?”

“You called me. You did not call to ask about the weather in France. Talk to me.”

Michiko sighed and began to walk.

“I want to… I want to stay… for a while.”

“This is good. Finally, we are getting good news. Why is this a problem?”

Michiko wasn’t sure why she felt it was a problem. No, she did know why she just didn’t want to admit it to herself. Admitting it to Wanda or Yelena was easier.

“I don’t want to stop being a widow. I don’t want to lose my family.”

Yelena took her hand. “Why would you think you would lose us? You can never lose us.”

Michiko didn’t feel that way. “I feel like I am choosing my grandmother, my own selfish desires over the mission, over all of you.”

Yelena nodded. “Michiko, since we have been free we have done nothing but fight. We fight traffickers, AIM, robots and the Hand. We have done nothing but fight. It is time we took a break. Some of you need a break. Those of you with family need to see your family, be with them, maybe stay with them. You have done enough. We all have.”

Michiko knew better. “You won’t stop.”

Yelena shrugged. “I am lucky. I have my parents at the only home I ever had. I have nowhere else to go. We are talking about taking a vacation together. Mama and Papa have never been to a beach. They have never been to an amusement park. There are so many things they have never done, and we are going to take some time to do them. We have earned that. Many of us are taking off for a while. Many of the new ones do not want time off. There are over one hundred and fifty of us now. We have many teams. We have intelligence sources; we have Sable back up if we need it. We will be okay.”

Michiko was surprised by her statement. “Many of us are taking off for a while. Who?”

Yelena grinned. “Aino and Staci are going to give the school thing a try. They are moving with her parents to New Zealand. Despite her violent greeting towards Stannic, I think Stannic talked some sense into her. Zarola is going to spend much time in Wakanda with her family. Ava is spending much time at her home with her mother.

“Wanda is cooking a baby. She does not want to use much magic while pregnant. No battles for her while she is getting big. Her and Bucky will be taking the twins on several trips. She also plans to stay with them in her old apartment in Sokovia for a couple of weeks.

“Helena opened her file and found she had a living older sister in Chicago. She is going to meet her and if all goes well stay a while.”

Yelena went on. “Kristina and Ingrid are taking a deserved, long honeymoon. Angelica wants an apartment in London for a few months to see what it is like to live without constantly being ready for violence.”

Yelena was silent for a moment. “In a year, I want to go to college with my Kate. Not full time but I want to see what the life is like. I will stay in the Mansion, but Wanda will give me a door that opens up to our apartment. I will not be on constant duty. Maybe if you want she can give you a door to your little apartment here.”

Yelena smiled at the thought. “We all need a break. The Red Widow’s home will always be there. Our families may not. You may have two decades with your grandmother or not much time. The recent battle showed us that none of us know when our time has passed. We are free but what good is it if we feel like we are beholden to the Red Widows and there is no leaving? Take care of your grandmother, sister. Take care of you.”

Michiko felt better, knowing that she wasn’t the only one. The knowledge was liberating. Yelena was right. What was the point of being free if they enslaved themselves to something else.

“Thank you, Yelena.”

“Of course, sister. You should go back home. You might have a surprise.”

“A surprise?”

“I told you Wanda did not want to use much magic. That doesn’t mean she has quit using magic. Go home.”

Yelena hugged her and kissed her cheek. Michiko ran towards her grandmother’s apartment and Yelena watched her go with a huge smile.

These moments made the pain worth it.

Mai thought Michiko might have left the key to her apartment behind, so she wasn’t surprised by the knock.

When she opened the door she knew it wasn’t Michiko. She just knew.

“Who are you?”

“I am Wanda Maximoff.”

Mai panicked for a moment. Wanda had freed her granddaughter but was she here to take her back to fight more battles.

“Have you come to take her back?” she asked, shocked that Wanda was speaking Japanese, not knowing about Wanda’s translation spell.

“I have come to you because I thought you might like to see your granddaughter’s face and the world around you once again. Would you like that?”

Mai nodded. “Very much so.”

Mai felt warm hands cover her eyes. Then the hands were gone. No one was in front of her. She knew this because she could see.

Then her granddaughter was in front of her. She looked so much like her mother that Mai thought she was seeing into the past.

“Sobo? Wanda healed you, didn’t she?! Can you see me?!”

Mai lifted her hand and touched Michiko’s cheek.

“You are more beautiful than I dreamed.”

The two embraced each other.

Outside the apartment, Wanda and Yelena walked away, happy that another one of their sisters was getting what they deserved.