Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

The Witch and the Widows

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 38:

Yelena opened the door to the cabin and was not impressed. What had looked like a quaint, pleasant cottage on the outside, showed years of vacancy on the inside. It had not been cleaned in a very long time.

“This will take some cleaning. I shall get help. Captain America is on his way to check the place over.” She said, not confident.

Dima looked it over and nodded. “I was a carpenter before I was forced to the refinery. I worked for largest construction company in Moscow. I can fix. There is only one bed. You can share room with us Yelena. I will build another for you so you can have your own.”

Yelena cringed. “I wish I could but I am needed at my home… at the base. The girls need me. It isn’t far from here. Only thirty or forty minutes by road. I need to buy you vehicles and furniture but we have plenty of cleaning supplies.”

Anya and Dima were staring at her sadly.

“Thirty or forty minutes?” Anya asked. “I thought you would be closer. Maybe we could see you in mornings and I could fix you breakfast. I have to bake you cake. Every year you were away I always baked cake on your birthday and left it on table. We never ate it. Still I baked it for my baby. Now your birthday was less than two weeks ago. My baby turned seventeen. I can bake you cake you can eat. You and your friends can all come over. I can bake biggest cake ever this year. Maybe then you could live closer? You could stay here with us. Then you could drive to your friends after breakfast.”

Yelena smiled sadly and shook her head. “You will see so much of me you will be sick but my girlfriend, she has gone through much and has trouble sleeping. I don’t sleep so well either if I am away from Wanda. We have so many people there and they look to me for leadership and I… I wish I could be your little girl and wake up every morning to breakfast and then go to school with my girlfriend but I cannot. There are many more out there like me. There are many more parents who might be looking for their daughters. I cannot leave them to their fates.”

Dima nodded. “You are a good girl. A strong girl. What if we built a cabin by you? We could build a place closer and fix you breakfast in mornings. We could see you and know where you sleep. We could cook for all your friends. I can build and repair. You must have big base to keep so many girls. You must have things that need fixing or more housing will be needed.”

Yelena was about to break it to them that they could not come to live with them when Ingrid walked in, with Natasha, Kate and Steve behind her.

“I think that is a great idea. Hey, I’m speaking Russian. Wanda’s spells is legit.” Ingrid announced.

Kate shook her head and looked at Ingrid with wide eyes. “You are speaking English. You have to speak Russian.”

“I am speaking Russian I think. If not then how did I understand them? Do you understand them?” Ingrid asked her. “I don’t speak Russian. Or I didn’t.”

Yelena sighed. “Wanda gave them rings. She gave them two of hers and reshaped them. They can be understood and understand anyone around them. It is good to know they work.”

The girl turned to her parents. “Mama, Papa, meet Natasha Romanoff, the big sister who looked after me when I was young before we were split.”

Dima smiled and Anya hugged the surprised redhead. “You are good girl for that.” Anya told her.

Natasha was speechless for a moment, not sure what to say. “Thank you. It was an… Yelena was the only thing good about my life. I…” Natasha turned away in joyful tears and sad as well, longing for something like this that she suspected she would never get. That was okay. If Yelena was the only family she ever had that would be more than enough.

“Mama, Papa, this is my girlfriend, Kate Bishop. Kate this is Anya and Dima.”

Anya kissed a surprised Kate on both cheeks then Dima hugged her. He pulled back but kept his hands on her shoulders. “How did you meet my Yelena?”

Kate’s eyes widened. “Oh… you see, this really bad guy sent some other really bad guys with guns to kidnap me from a club and Wanda and Yelena killed them before they could take me. I’ve kind of been in love with her ever since I saw her.”

Dima smiled widely. “I knew it, Anya. Yelena is strong and kept her heart. They did not take it from her. Our Yelena is a hero.”

Kate nodded. “She’s my hero. Speaking of heroes, this is Steve Rogers.”

Anya and Dima looked confused.

“Who?” Dima asked.

“Captain America?”

Anya nodded. “Yes, I think I heard the name as a girl. A man who died in the second war. Are you related?”

Steve shook his head. “No ma’am. It’s a long story but I am the same man. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Dima looked at Kate and shrugged.

“When he was in the War he crashed this plane because it was carrying some super energy thing that could destroy the world. He went down in really cold water but since he had that super soldier serum in his veins he just froze instead of died. He was found a few years ago and thawed out. Then that super energy thing was used to open a doorway into space. The aliens invaded New York and the Avengers fought them off.”

“Yes! Avengers! We have heard of them. It’s not such a long story, after all.” Dima said.

“That is true. Thank you for summarizing my life in less than thirty seconds, Kate.” Steve mumbled.

“Thank you for the explanation, Katerina. May I call you Katerina?” Anya asked.

Kate nodded quickly. “It would be so cool if you did! I see you have bags. You aren’t staying here, are you?”

“We were discussing…” Yelena started before Ingrid pulled her by the arm. They met Wanda outside.

“Where is truck?” Yelena asked.

“We knew you had jet hidden in woods and decided to take that back. Ava was having fun time with Wong in her bedroom and when she finished him off he agreed to open portal. He would have agreed to anything. Ava is talented. We had meeting when we figured out where you were going and why. Then you call Natasha and tell her to come here to meet your parents and bring Steve to look over wiring? Why?”

Yelena shrugged. “There aren’t many places to live here and I want them closer than Paris.”

“So they come with us. Rogers needs help building. Bucky is only good for heavy lifting. Your parents can stay with us and maybe your dad can supervise Captain America and give him proper motivation. As more Widows come we will need more houses. Some of us are going to need to learn to build. He could be a good teacher.”

“But we have always said the base is only…”

Ingrid cut her off. “Yes only for Red Widows. Yelena we have a four hundred year old witch, a couple of one hundred year old soldiers, your girlfriend and your girlfriend’s mother on the weekend and Ava’s boyfriend once or twice a day depending on how long he can go without her. I am almost certain he sleeps with her every night. She must be like heroin. He is very addicted to her. The Ancient One knows where we are. Look at this place.” She finished, waving her hand at the cabin.

“I thought it looked cute form outside! I didn’t know it was shithole on inside.” Yelena defended her choice.

Steve walked outside to join them. “There is no fixing this wiring. They need to move in with us. We have room and… Yelena there is no way in hell you have just found each other after fifteen years and are going to split up now. I usually stay quiet and in the background but I have to speak up on this. After this, other girls may want to try and find their parents. If this situation occurs again do you think they…”

“Okay!” Yelena shouted, throwing up her hands. “No lecture from Captain America! No! I do want them with us but I do not speak for everyone.”

“I do.” Ingrid told her. “The discussion took less than a minute. Even Stannic is excited and she rarely gets excited since she finished all the seasons of Mako Mermaids. The girls are preparing them a room now. I’m moving into Kristina’s room and they will have mine so they can be near you. Its settled. Rogers, carry their bags back to jet and we leave.”

Yelena looked at an amused Wanda. “You have anything to say?”

Wanda shook her head. “I’m just enjoying the show. Can we please leave? I’m not sure if anyone remembers in the middle of this but I am supposed to be on bedrest. That means rest, relaxation, maybe soaking my feet in hot water and a steamed towel over my face.”

Ingrid snorted. “You lost sympathy when instead of telling us Yelena was going, you snuck out and joined her. No steamed towels for you.”

“Can I borrow that pedicure wax machine you have?”

“Nope. You are on the shit list. There is an actual list now in compound with names Yelena and Wanda under it. Stannic added, mine, Naomi and Sonia’s name. Garbage and cleaning duty are ours for next week. No magic.”

Wanda narrowed her eyes but then focused back on Yelena, giving her a meaningful look.

Yelena smiled, nodded and walked inside. She found her parents on a dusty old couch with Kate sitting next to them and Nat knelt on the other side. Anya had opened her bag and was showing baby pictures of Yelena.

“You were so adorable!” Kate said, noticing her walking back in.

Yelena nodded. “It is true. I am a thing of beauty since birth. Mama, Papa, I have told you that we live together. It had to be discussed. I could not speak for the others but they have spoken. They want you to live with us. I want you to live with us. We will have rooms in same hall.”

Anya hopped up and hugged Yelena tightly. After a moment she kissed her on the cheek and began repacking her bag and giving orders to Dima.

When they had made their way back outside, Yelena and Natasha were left alone as the others moved ahead.

Yelena cleared her throat. “This is unexpected, yes?”

“I am happy for you.” Nat told her. “I am really happy for you.”

Yelena nodded and took a deep breath, crossed her arms and looked to the sky then to the ground avoiding Nat’s eyes.

“I feel like I have known them forever and do not know them at all. I am not used to that kind of parental…”

Yelena stopped speaking, at a momentary loss of words.

“Love?”

Yelena nodded. “She baked cake for me on birthday every year. I… I uhm… I should apologize to you for what happened before I left to perform daring and very cool rescue on television. I forgot I was younger, faster and stronger than you. You have fought aliens and robots and with your old age it is obvious that your joints are damaged and your bones have been broken too many times and you just aren’t as good as me. I shouldn’t have fought you. It wasn’t fair. You had no chance against me and I am sorry if I hurt you too badly.”

Nat stared at her for a few moments while Yelena refused to meet her eyes.

“You suck at apologies.”

Yelena nodded. “That is best I can give. I won’t apologize for being prettier than you. That is not my fault. As you can see, I have good genetics.”

Nat barely kept a smile off her face.

“I probably owe you an apology. I should not have said you were a bad role model just because you are a seventeen year old borderline alcoholic with an out of control temper. I forgot how young you were, how undisciplined and honestly what a little shit you can be. I should have expected you to lose your cool, act like a mad dog and held you down until you calmed yourself and acted like a human being again. That was my fault.”

Yelena smiled. “You suck at apologies too.”

“It runs in the family, I guess.” Natasha told her. “Let us get out of here. The girls are anxiously awaiting your parents arrival and then they will give them space to settle down. Are you going to be okay? I doubt you expected them to move in a few rooms from you so soon. Will it be too much?”

Yelena grinned and shook her head. “Maybe it will be too much the first time they try to take bottle from me. I am a borderline alcoholic after all. Ingrid came with you. Has there been peace made? Kate said things were still tense.”

“What? Because they accused me of being a sexual predator? Of course. We are best friends now.”

“So that is a no then?” Yelena asked, hoping the situation would resolve itself.

“Stannic needs help, maybe more than any of you. Maybe I don’t know how to handle you all and I am not claiming to be a mother but if I can offer her comfort or direction I will. If they have a problem with it, they can go to hell.”

Yelena nodded. “I will have talk with them. Maybe we all need to sit in room, with Wanda, drink much and talk it out. We are all protective of little one. She does need the most help. You obviously give her something we can’t. Just be careful.”

Nat nodded. “I realize I wasn’t you but I was a Black Widow. I know what it is like to be unmade. I know the problems I had especially with SHIELD. I came to see Clint as a handler quickly. It took him a lot of work to break that notion. It will be okay. I will be careful. Just remind your friends if they ever accuse me of what they accused me of, they will find out how very good I still am.”

Yelena cleared her throat. “What I said about you being fake sister. You know I didn’t mean it. Maybe you don’t know. I didn’t mean it.”

“I know.” Nat said. “I told you I would never leave you again. You are stuck with me.”

Yelena snorted and walked towards the jet catching up to the others.. She found Kate animatedly talking to her parents. It was the happiest Yelena had seen her since the attack. It reminded her of her Kate Bishop that seemed to never stop talking. It had been a very long time since she had seen that and it warmed her heart.

“Little one!” Dima said. “Ingrid and Steve tell us there is much building to be done. Your mother has wanted to cook for so long for so many. If you need your space though, we understand. We are happy to know you are close. It is your decision. I can get to work fixing wiring. It is no problem. Just a few days’ work for me. We don’t want to push our way in your life. We understand if you need space at first.”

He said it in a carefree tone but Yelena could see the apprehension in his eyes. Her mother did not hide the worry on her face.

“I only had to make sure it was alright with the others who live there. They have agreed gladly and we all look forward to your arrival. I think we have had enough space for a lifetime. Let us continue walking. The longer our jet is in the forest the more chance of a villager stumbling upon it.”

Her parents visibly relaxed and continued moving. When they reached the jet, Yelena sat in the cockpit and piloted the ship while her father made his way to front and started at her, as he did for most of trip from Russia,

“I do not care how many times I see it, I will never get used to it. My little girl, the hero who flies such an impressive craft.”

Yelena’s grin disappeared. “I learned many things in last six years. Most of them are not good. I am no hero.”

Dima nodded. “Yet you are freed and your take those bad things and turn them good. What is a hero? Bah, you are my hero. You must deal with that. All the years of searching and it was you who found us because you were saving little girls. You have saved your mother. So many years and so much sadness she carried. We never gave up. She never gave up hope, even when I did. You get your heart from her.”

Yelena smiled and her cheeks turned red. “I got her hair and height as well.” She said, looking at her father’s dark hair. She had his eyes and while not overly large, had a stocky and muscular frame.

“I believe I got my build from you.”

Dima grinned. “Yes, you are strong. You have muscles. You are compact and built to be tough.”

“What every girl wants to hear.” Yelena mumbled. “You are built like your father.”

“What was that?”

Yelena smiled and shook her head.

Ten minutes later both her parents were in awe, looking down over the mansion the Widows resided in. They landed in the tree line next to two other identical jets.

“Widow One is home.” Yelena told Rachel over the radio.

“Welcome back from your unauthorized trip, Red 1. Did you know there is an actual shit list because of what you pulled?” Rachel asked.

When they exited, Wanda used her power to cover the plane with the tarp that had been left behind. Yelena rolled her eyes.

“That would have been nice when we left.” She told Wanda.

“And miss all the fun of you climbing and grunting.”

As they walked over the hill and caught sight of the house, Yelena was shocked to see every inhabitant on the front lawn waiting for the approaching group. The widows hugged each of the parents who seemed overwhelmed by everything but whole heartedly embraced the girls.

After the greeting hugs, the widows followed them inside. Yelena and Kate showed them to their room and they overcame their initial shock at the elegance of the place.

“How did you get all this?” her mother asked.

“You could say we have corporate sponsorship.” Yelena told her. “My room is three doors to the right. I have to take care of something but then I will be back and show you around the Mansion. It is very large and easy to get lost in. Our last base was a fortified cave in Sokovia. This is much nicer.”

Yelena began to walk out before her mother grabbed her once more and kissed her cheeks. “I love you, my baby. Don’t be gone long. We have so much more to catch up on.”

“Anya,” Dima interrupted, “did you not see how these girls look to her? She is a leader. She must ensure things are smooth. She will be back.”

Yelena smiled and promised she would.

She went to the library and called over the intercom for Stannic, Natasha, Ingrid, Naomi, Wanda and Sonia to meet her in the library.

Wanda walked in first. “Should I be here?”

“You are leader, so lead with me. Sit.”

Wanda rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out but had a seat.

The others slowly moved in, walking to chairs. Without looking up, Wanda pulled the chairs into a circle, lifting them up slightly so they wouldn’t scratch the floors.

The invitees had a seat and remained stone faced.

“Stannic, do you consider Natasha a handler?” Yelena asked.

“No!”

“How would you know?” Naomi asked.

Stannic turned to her, anger obvious. “I’m sorry, you are what, three years older than me, maybe? Just because Dreykov thought you had natural combat skills and put you in charge of a strike team that was forced to follow orders anyway, you act like you are a leader!”

Stannic looked at Ingrid. “The same goes for you.”

Then she looked at Sonia. “You weren’t even a strike team leader. You were Yelena’s second. You only took over after Wanda freed Yelena, probably because you followed Dreykov’s orders more efficiently than…”

“Stannic.” Yelena interrupted her. “I think they get it. Naomi, why did you think Stannic was being… what you thought?”

Naomi looked at Nat and then back to Stannic. “I asked you why you were leaving her room every morning. Ingrid asked you and Sonia asked you. You told us you weren’t. You lied.”

Stannic nodded. “Like you lied when I asked why you were leaving Wanda’s room one morning. Big tough Naomi doesn’t have nightmares. You told me you heard Wanda having a nightmare and checked on her. That was a lie! You slept near her because of your nightmares and lied about it! You didn’t tell me the truth. Sonia, I came into Yelena’s one night to sleep between her and Fanny because I couldn’t keep him from my head and I was so tired. You were in her bed, curled into her. What did you tell me the next morning?”

“I told you I slept well.” Sonia admitted. “In my own room.”

“I slept well that night also, on the roof!” Stannic told her. “Nat makes me feel better. I sleep better near her. I don’t smell him when I am with her! She holds me at night! The same way I saw Wanda holding big tough, Naomi! The same way you cling to Yelena, Sonia. Because after all this time, even without mind control, you need her approval!”

Wanda sighed. “Stannic, stay calm. We are here to talk. I can feel your tension in the air. It is everywhere and I am about to choke on it.”

The woman all took deep breaths and a few moments to calm themselves.

“She tells you what to do, doesn’t she?” Naomi asked.

“Yes, sometimes. Maybe I don’t mind so much. Maybe I didn’t like drinking myself to unconsciousness on the roof. Nobody else cared. Natasha does.”

“We all care about you, Stannic.” Yelena told her. “You know this.”

Stannic nodded. “I get that. But out of everyone in the house, she is the only one who said maybe I shouldn’t be drinking. She tells me maybe I shouldn’t lose my temper. Maybe Kate Bishop isn’t the only one who has someone telling her not to screw up! I could have that, but you three want to stop me! You tell Yelena and start fights because… Ava lets her fight on her team! Why can Ava accept her and you won’t?”

The three widows said nothing.

“Maybe we should all cut out behaviors.” Ingrid suggested. “Maybe we are setting bad examples by drinking and…”

Wanda raised her hand. “Let’s not go crazy here! That isn’t the point we are trying to make. Stay on topic, Ingrid. Why do none of you see Nat as one of us, even though she fought in Iran and New York?”

Naomi finally met Natasha’s eyes. “We don’t question. Yelena is our leader. We all agreed to that. We listen to her. When she decided on teams, we don’t complain. We don’t go our own way. You question. Big bad Avenger. Avengers save the world. You think you are better than us. You come in and you question Yelena. You tell Stannic what to do and she goes to you for comfort. She…”

Naomi stopped speaking.

“Maybe we are jealous.” Ingrid admitted. “You have… so much. You are half decent fighter. Most of us are better, but you are not bad. You were never mind controlled. You were given another chance and you became a hero. Why you? What makes Natasha Romanoff so special that she comes in and questions our ways? Why does our youngest cling to you?”

Sonia raised her hand slightly. “I would just like for the record to say that I went to sleep with Fanny because it was cold that night and her fur feels good but I am a natural cuddler and had on control over that. I do not cling to Yelena for approval. That is not true.”

Wanda nodded. “Let the record reflect that Sonia does not cling to Yelena for approval and has no control over her cuddling tendencies when she is asleep. I have discovered this myself.”

Nat sat forward and placed her elbows on her knees, bending forward. “I’m not special. I’m lucky. I know it and I can’t help it and I am glad I am. I won’t take back what happened to me and I won’t apologize for it. I screwed up. I thought I killed Dreykov but I never checked. I never sought to find you all. It was selfish on my part. I’m guilty of that. This is the last time I will apologize for it. If Antonia can forgive me, I won’t spend the rest of my life saying I am sorry over and over.”

Nat looked at Stannic. “If she needs me I am going to be there for her, the same as I would be there for anyone of you. But she wants direction and quite frankly, I don’t think any of you have direction outside of the next mission. I get it. You have been through something horrible but Kate Bishop came here to rebuild herself. She came here to try and find the person she used to be. Other than Antonia, what can she learn from any of you?”

Naomi nearly stood up, but remained seated and took a deep breath.

“I can’t help questioning. I am working on it. I’m working on a being a team player but when you are on a team with alpha males like Tony Stark and Steve Rogers you have to question and you have to push and that is what I am used to. I won’t change overnight. I’m sorry if it bothers you that much but I’m not going to apologize for being there for Stannic. If she needs me, I’m going to be what she needs.”

Natasha took a deep breath.

“If any of you ever accuse me of being a sexual predator again, you will find out how much damage a half decent fighter can inflict on all three of you. There are some things I won’t stand for. I’m not going anywhere. You accepted me so I am in. Get used to it.”

Yelena sat back. “Thank you for being nonthreatening, Natasha. Naomi thank you for not standing up and starting a fight. This ends here before we walk out. We all know that Sasha is outside the door listening in to what is decided here so everyone will know. Do any of you truly think Natasha is handling or sexually molesting Stannic?”

The three shook their heads.

“Stannic, do you realize you don’t have to do what she tells you to do?”

Stannic nodded.

“Natasha can you please not question me when I am choosing teams? If you have suggestions on strategy, please approach me alone.”

“That’s agreeable.” Nat told her. “Wanda, since you have so many girls relying on you at night, maybe you can stop drinking before you go to bed? It shouldn’t be hard since Yelena is going to stop drinking as well.”

Wanda had a pained expression. “Don’t go that far, Natasha. I have no problem with you. Lets not make one. In the spirit of honesty in this room, I plan to drink a bottle of vodka when this is over. I have had a stressful few days.”

“As have I. Save half the bottle for me.” Yelena said. “I don’t know where you got that idea that I would stop drinking, Natasha. Do not go so far.”

Nat smirked. “I don’t have to. I am sure your parents would love to see their darling daughter they are so proud of, drinking to the point of stumbling and unable to speak when mama comes to say goodnight.”

Yelena was quiet for a moment then glared at Nat who addressed Wanda again.

“As for you, Wanda, it isn’t my business. I understand you have been through a lot and need the stress relief. Tony Stark drinks as much as you do, maybe a bit less. The burden of being a leader I suppose. Its not like you can lose control of your magic. Of course you did have seizures because of breaking down some barriers accidentally. I’m not implying that you have the same coping mechanisms as Stark either. Just an observation.”

“Shut up already!” Wanda said. “Yelena, no more losing your temper and smashing doors, jumping off banisters like you are a profession wrestler and spitting blood on the floor. You made most of these rules. You have to live with them. No fighting other widows, no traveling alone. Also Naomi, he isn’t a widow but no more shocking Captain America!”

“It was a minor shock!”

“He fixes smashed doors and I have to listen to him complain.” Wanda pointed out. “No fighting off the mats. Now are we all good?”

The occupants of the room all looked at each other and grudgingly nodded.

Yelena left the room and found Kate, then the two gave her parents a tour of the Mansion and grounds. Fanny was particularly fond of Dima and the feeling was mutual. It wasn’t long before Anya asked to be given some time to wander around on her own and Dima asked the same to Yelena’s shock. Yelena agreed and took Kate for a walk in the woods, promising to be back before dark.

Anya made her way to the kitchen where she found Agatha waiting for her with everything she would need, having deduced what she would want. She thanked the witch and began working while Agatha assisted.

Dima made his way to the back of the Mansion and found Steve and Bucky Barnes.

“Mr. Barnes, a pleasure to meet you.”

“Честь, сэр.” Bucky responded and offered his hand.

“You will teach me English and I can teach my wife! We won’t have to wear magic rings forever. I wanted to see if I could help. You do not appear to have gotten very far.”

Dima looked at the kidney bean shaped hole in the ground and a large area staked out where a building would obviously be built farther off.

Steve sighed. “I have the plans. The girls wanted a pool built first but I think the house has to be a priority. The pool should be built as soon as Agatha decides to conjure up a cement truck. Honestly I have no idea how to build a pool but I’ve been watching YouTube videos.”

“Bah. Young girls need beds to sleep, not a pool. A swimming hole can come later. Its fun but necessity must come first. Have you made construction plans for this house?”

Steve nodded and walked to the work bench next to the staked out area of the house. He grabbed the blueprints he had spent days painstakingly drawing and gave them to Dima.

Dima nodded. “This is very good.”

“Thank you…”

“And all wrong.” he finished. “You are talented artist but have not built much in your life. That is obvious. You were a soldier then frozen and then an Avenger and now you are trying to be carpenter, right?”

Steve nodded while Bucky stood behind Dima, holding back a laugh.

“I will teach you how to be a carpenter. You were a heroic soldier so you should be good at following my orders. What is the budget?”

Steve opened his hands in question. “We don’t have a budget. The girls have done alright for themselves.”

Dima nodded. “Then close up this hole you have dug.”

“Wanda actually did that with her power.” Steve said.

“Then have Wanda undo it. She is sweet girl and so polite and well mannered. She will be glad to do so for you.”

Steve raised an eyebrow. “You are talking about Wanda Maximoff?”

“The pool is trash. It can go somewhere else when extensions are ready. Yelena told me there is an underground area. I need specifications on it so I know how deep the foundations can go and where the electrical and water lines are ran. I need to see these super batteries that power the house, the solar panels and the water filtration system from the lake. I understand it is quite a hike so we start in morning. It will be important not to lose water pressure for rest of house during construction and completion or additions.”

“Okay…”

“Then we can draw new plans together. We take advantage of all level grounds in back and extend the new buildings into the current residence. How do you plan to get lumber and supplies?”

“Aunt Agatha…” Steve winced and looked at a smirking Bucky. “The girls all call her that! It gets in your head and sticks! Anyway, Agatha is very good at conjuring. It means you tell her what you want and she can make it appear. She basically steals it and transports it here. She claims she leaves money for it, but I’m not…”

“I don’t care if she does. I’m sure the business can afford it.” Dima said. “I will get a list for her to poof over. We can work on new plans tonight after Yelena goes to sleep. I will tell you what I want and you can draw it.”

Steve nodded.

Dima slapped him on his shoulder and smiled. “We will make a good team, the three of us. Isn’t this wonderful? Two days ago I was worried about escaping Russia to search the world for my daughter and now I am with my beautiful daughter and her friends in a beautiful house and doing what I love to do. God is good. We went through trying times but finally… anyway, burn those shit plans. That house would have collapsed. Be ready for dinner, both of you. Anya is doing what she loves and I must help her. I have not seen her happy in years. She is brave and she soldiers on but now she is truly happy. It is a sight to see.”

Dima walked off. Steve sadly looked at the plans in his hand.

“I told you the house would collapse.” Bucky told him.

“No, you didn’t! You haven’t contributed one useful thing since we started this!”

Bucky shrugged and began walking away.

“Where are you going?”

Bucky smirked. “I gotta go see about a girl. If you are smart you should do the same. Sasha just sent a group text that some meeting is over in library and to come to her room for details. I’m guessing that means Wanda is free.”

“I didn’t get a text. Why am I not in the group?”

“You aren’t as cool as me.” Bucky smirked and waved goodbye.

He walked up to the third and almost knocked on Wanda’s door. Before he could, her door opened.

“Once I have been inside someone’s head I can feel where they are. I felt you coming to me.” She explained.

“I thought we could spend some time together. Just hanging out, maybe if you wanted. I caught up on a lot in your head that I have missed but maybe we could talk about some American pop culture we maybe both missed or we could even talk about our emotions…”

Wanda grabbed him by the shirt and he let himself be pulled in. He closed the door behind him and she kissed him hard.

“Maybe less talking?” Wanda asked.

Bucky nodded. “I’m good with that. I’ve never been a fan of talking.”

“Me neither. I’m supposed to be on bed rest I think. Care to join me?” she reminded him and kissed him again.

Outside Yelena and Kate sat against a tree, taking in the mountains around them.

“It’s beautiful here.” Kate said. “Much better than the stuffy downtown view I was stuck with in New York.”

“I am sorry. I am sorry I haven’t seen you as much. That will change. I will spend very night with you. I will keep the bad dreams away. You will get better. You seemed very happy today.”

“Of course I’m happy. You found your parents and they are these wonderful people who love you the way I love you. Okay, not the same but I always want more people in your life who love you. You deserve it.”

Yelena shook her head. “They think I am a hero because of who we kill. I wonder what they would think if they knew how we kill. They will find out soon. They will know what we did to those we killed.”

Kate’s face turned cold. “You gave them what they deserved. All of them deserved to be tortured. A quick death is too easy for them. They deserve as much pain as possible.”

Yelena shivered at the tone of Kate’s voice. She had never criticized what Yelena did before her assault but she never talked about it. Now she spoke with a cold passion. It broke Yelena a bit. She had always wanted Kate to remain as innocent as possible for as long as possible. That bastard took that from her. He gave Kate a new perspective of the world and the monsters in it.

“You have not picked up your bow in days. Shouldn’t you continue your practice? After dinner we can go to firing range and you can show off your skills to my parents. Put on a show for the girls.”

Kate shook her head. “I’m not using that bow. It’s the one Clint gave me. I won’t use it until I feel I’m worthy of it. Right now, I don’t feel worthy. I’m not sure I ever will. That makes me so angry. He took something from me. I survived and he died but he broke me, Yelena. I’m not sure how to fix myself. I thought maybe if Wanda wouldn’t heal me, maybe I could fix my mind while I fixed my body but I would have never succeeded. I would have been a burden to everyone and every time my hands would have shook from nerve damage or the limp became so much I hated to walk I would remember. Every time my back ached from being shattered and held together by pins, every time you had to help me walk down a street he would be there.

“How do I get rid of him? How do you do it? How did you get Dreykov out of your head?”

Yelena shrugged. “Who says I have?”

“Its obvious. You aren’t what he tried to make you.” Kate pointed out.

Yelena smiled and picked a blade of grass. “Is that what you thought when I nearly killed Natasha? At that moment, I was exactly what he made me. I was nothing more than a killer with a target and I did what I always do to targets. If not for you I might have killed her.”

Kate shook her head. “I don’t believe that. I know what I said but I was scared. You would have stopped. I know you would have.”

A tear dropped down Yelena’s cheek. “Sometimes you have too much faith in me. I wish you could see yourself the way I see you, my Kate. You will again. If it takes the rest of my life, that is fine. I will spend it making sure you see yourself the way I see you.”

The two were quiet. Yelena curled into Kate who placed an arm around her shoulders and held her tight. As the sun was beginning to set, Yelena called for Fanny who bounded out of the woods towards her. The three walked back to the Mansion. Inside, Anastasia told them to come to the dining room.

Inside the dining room the occupants of the house stood around the large table. Across the tables were three very large chocolate cakes. The one in the middle had seventeen candles. Anya and Dima stood at the head of the table with their arms around each other.

“Happy birthday, Daughter.” Anya told her. “You have many candles to blow out.”

Yelena felt her a deep pain in her stomach, shocked at the token. After the last couple days her mother had found the time and energy to do this.

Anya walked to her. “Don’t cry my baby girl. That is for me to do. You blow out candles. Natasha and I have made many Vareniki for dinner and then we eat cake.”

After dinner and the cutting of cake, Yelena moved to Wanda.

“Did you have fun afternoon?” Yelena asked quietly. “He is standing on the other side of dining room staring at you. He looks like puppy hoping table scraps fall to floor.”

“We spent some time together. We have been through and intense experience together. Talking is key when working through something like what we experienced.”

Yelena nodded. “Talking. That must be why your lips are bruised and you brushed you hair over your right side to attempt to hide your throat. I am glad you are communicating. Does Eleanor know you are communicating with the World War II veteran?”

“It isn’t Eleanor’s business who I communicate with.”

“So if I told her…”

“Don’t tell her!” Wanda snapped a bit too loudly. “We didn’t do much… we just want to take it slow and not make a big thing out of it in front of the others. Not yet.”

“Not yet? You haven’t given him a ride then.”

“Not yet… wait, I didn’t say that. You tricked me.”

Yelena shrugged. “I am just happy you have gotten the bed rest you so desperately needed.”

That night Yelena asked Kate to sleep in her bed. For once, Kate had no trouble falling asleep. Yelena had more difficulty. Her mind was racing. She had a birthday party. Her Mama baked her a cake.

She was happy but sad as well. She had looked around at her sisters she risked her life with multiple times and wished they could all have that. She knew some never would. She wasn’t sure what she had specifically done to deserve this but she didn’t want to question it. If she questioned it, then it might go away.

Sleep eventually overtook her.

It was still dark when she woke. Kate was gone. Perhaps she had gone to the bathroom.

Yelena sat up and reached for the bed side lamp. When it was lit she froze, unable to scream for help or even move.

Dreykov was sitting by her bed.

“Hello, pet. You have been a very bad girl, haven’t you?”

Yelena said nothing, her heart racing.

“I sent you to kill Maximoff and what have you done? You have tried to take what is mine. You think you belong to yourself? You think these girls love you? Did you really think I would let anybody between me and my favorite toy? Get off the bed and kneel before me.”

To her horror, Yelena did as he asked. She knew he was dead. She had seen his head. She knew this was a dream but she couldn’t stop herself despite that knowledge.

“Take the gun from your bed stand.”

Yelena did as asked.

“Kill those people who think they are your parents. You belong to me. Only to me. You don’t have parents. I shaped you. I made you into marble! I taught you that love is for children and you have forgotten it all!”

He slapped her and she could tasted the blood in her mouth.

“You were made for two things. Pleasing me and killing who I told you to kill. Now look at you. You thought you would destroy what I created. Kill them. Kill your parents and then kill the witch, and the girl you sleep with and then that traitor Romanoff. Then you return to me and I might let you live through your punishment if you can prove you are still my good little girl.”

Yelena tried to fight but couldn’t. She stood and walked out of the room. When she opened her parents room, she panicked. They were up and the lights were on. They looked at the gun in her hand. She raised it then found the strength to place it against her own head and pull the trigger.

Yelena screamed as the gun went off and she sat up in bed, drenched in sweat and cold all over. She screamed until her throat was hoarse. Kate was touching her, whispering, saying something.

The door slammed open and Wanda was in the room, holding her tightly and warming her with red light. The bitter frozen feeling was melting away. She smelt Kate’s hair on her cheek and recognized the warmth of her lips near her ear while she whispered soothingly to her.

Her heart was hammering and she began hyperventilating.

Wanda and Kate continued to calm her. She matched Wanda’s breathing and settled. Yelena leaned back into Kate and her heart stopped racing.

“Mama and Papa, are they okay? I didn’t shoot them. I shot myself, right? I’m dead? Tell me I didn’t shoot them.”

“You didn’t do that. You wouldn’t do that.” Wanda told her. “They are just outside your room. That was quite a scream. I haven’t heard one like that since we shared a bed in my Sokovian cabin just after you were freed from his control. He wasn’t dead then. He is now.”

“Yelena, its okay.” Kate said. “I got you.”

“Dreykov was real to me. He felt so real. Can I see them?”

Wanda motioned to the hall and Anya and Dima hurried in. Anya placed her hands on Yelena’s cheeks. “My baby… so much hurt. Its my fault. I took my eye off you…”

Yelena shook her head. “It is not your fault. I would have been taken regardless. She would have killed you. You are here now. I am sorry I woke you.”

“You wake me every time you have a bad dream. Do not apologize.” Anya let her go and moved to the corner of the room, taking a seat in the corner chair. “Go to sleep Dima. We have a few hours before daylight. We have much to do. I will stay up and watch her.”

“You don’t have to do that, Mama.” Yelena said.

“I know, but I am. You and Katerina must sleep. I will watch and keep the bad things away. Sleep.”

Wanda winked at Kate as Yelena laid back on the bed, exhausted and fell asleep almost at once.

Wanda stayed outside for a moment, feeling Yelena’s emotions. Satisfied she was sleeping well for now, Wanda moved back into her own bed.

“is she okay?” Mika asked from the extra bed. “Yelena hardly ever screams.”

“She is fine. Many changes in a short time can make anyone on edge. Go to sleep, angel.”

Wanda laid back down next to Staci in her own bed, hoping she hadn’t woken but it wasn’t to be. Staci turned around and leaned up on her elbows.

“Please?”

“We already did this tonight. Its almost time to get up. Sleep for a few more hours. Then you can do all that running and sparring you girls love so much.”

“Just a short one?”

“Just do it, Wanda.” Mika told her. “I’m staying asleep in the palace. Be sure to keep me on a fluffy body pillow.”

Wanda shook her head but gave in as always. Her eyes glowed and her hands raised, tendrils of light filling her room.

They were on the balcony of a luxurious palace. Mika was asleep on a large fluffy pillow. The magic carpet rose to the level of the balcony and Staci and Wanda jumped onto it. Of course Staci was in her Princess Jasmine outfit.

As they flew over the city Wanda had created from the small space in her room, Staci shouted with joy, letting go of the carpet several times causing Wanda to grab her. Staci began singing A Whole New World as they soared over the ocean and watched dolphins swim under them, almost close enough to touch.

When they landed back onto the balcony Wanda released the hex and they were back in her bedroom.

“That was amazing.” Staci said. “I wish Estella could experience this. Do you think she is in heaven?” Staci asked, thinking of her friend she had traveled to Disney land with not so many years ago.

Wanda nodded. “She is with my brother.”

“Do you think she would be angry with me? You said it wasn’t my fault. Do you think she would know that?”

Wanda held her close. “Yes, she would.”

“Do you think I will go to heaven? Do they let people into heaven who have done the bad things we have done?”

Wanda nodded. “All of you girls are. If I have to go full Scarlet Witch and knock down the doors of Heaven myself, you will be there. But that is a very long time from now. We have so much life to live and so much to do. Worry about having fun and being happy here. Estella will be there forever waiting for you.”

“Wanda, I don’t want to meet my parents. I don’t think they would like having a crazy daughter.”

Wanda cringed, hating to heart the resignation in her voice. “That is not true. If you parents are alive they would be glad to have you. You are not crazy.”

Staci huffed. “Everyone thinks I am insane. I know how they look at me. They humor me but I am not an idiot. Maybe I am insane. I just want to be happy and everyone else to be happy. Is that so wrong?”

Wanda shook her head. “Of course not. Sometimes I think you are the only sane one of us all. Everyone loves you, Staci. Don’t ever change. Please don’t ever change. Now go to sleep, okay?”

In answer, Staci moved closer to Wanda and stayed still, eventually drifting off to sleep.

Despite having quiet, Wanda was unable to sleep.

She was exhausted and unfortunately slept through training while the other girls started their day. She made sure her hair and makeup were perfect. She had promised Bucky she would sit next to him at breakfast.

She found the girls gathering around the table and sitting cross legged on the floor eating pastries of some sort.

Anya came out with another tray filled with more of the pastries. “We have fresh Syrnikis.” she said, placing another plate on the table. “I love the large ovens in the kitchen so much. I can cook so much!”

“What is going on?” Wanda whispered to Agatha.

“Natasha finished training earlier than the others. Her and Stannic came up to make breakfast but Mama Belova was already in the kitchen. She is a morning person. I didn’t think Russians were allowed to be this cheerful. Those things she has made are Russian cheese pancakes. Very delicious. She is watching everything Yelena eats and is making her drink orange tea. This is very entertaining.”

Wanda bumped Agatha’s shoulder with her own and moved over to Bucky who was eating a Syrniki.

“You should try one.”

“I’m good. I’m not a big breakfast person.”

“I know. Coffee, stronger the better.” Bucky said, reminding her of how well he knew her. It still surprised her that anyone could know that much about her and still want to be around her.

“Wanda! You must try these.” Anya said, approaching her with a plate.

“I’m not really a breakfast…”

She stopped speaking and began chewing to avoid choking when Anya stuffed a pastry in her mouth.

“You do not exercise like these girls yet you are too small. Sasha tells me you do not eat enough and drink too much vodka. You are too young to drink and not eat. You must stay healthy. You need to gain weight. Eat, eat. We need to feed you often.”

Wanda chewed and smiled gracefully then swallowed it with a glass of orange tea Anya handed her. As soon as Anya’s back was turned, Wanda shot the finger at Sasha.

During clean up, the call went out. Maria’s voice called for all widows to assemble in the complex and asked for Captain America and Barnes to join as well. It was the first time they were ever specifically asked down so they knew it must be serious.

Rather than Maria in front of the screen in the briefing room, it was Oksana.

“Thank you all for coming. I’ll pass on what I have found and then it is in your hands.”

Oksana pointed to the screen. A list of drugs was on it along with chemical equations.

“Maria has had crawlers all over the web searching for any combination of these market drugs. Each of them has ingredients that when extracted, can be used to make a single drug. The one Melina made for the Red Room. We have found a source that is buying all of these drugs on the black market. It wasn’t easy to trace but Maria found evidence on the dark web of one buyer working to obtain this combination in bulk. It wasn’t easy but we tracked the buyer to a Rwanda warlord name Bosco. He uses several last names but he is known and feared under that name.

“Bosco runs the largest rebel outfit in the country His men are well trained and vicious. He is known for raiding villages bordering the jungles and even refugee camps, taking children. The boys are brainwashed and turned into child soldiers. The girls are trained in other duties, such as cooking, cleaning and other things I do not have to spell out. “

“His base of operations is an area of jungle between the DRC and Rwanda. Both militaries hate him and fear him. He owns the jungle. No one will go into his territory.”

Oksana stopped speaking. She waited for questions but heard none so continued. “Brainwashing boys to become soldiers and breaking them takes time. UNICEF often finds those who escape. Some are captured by what passes for legitimate military or U.N. Peace keeping forces and sent to deprogramming centers. Bosco has money and the equipment needed for the mass production of a drug that is surprisingly easy to make. Getting the formula is the challenge. A deeper look at his past activity on the dark web shows he has been buying parts needed to control the victims from great distances, just like the black widows were controlled. He would no longer need to brainwash kids. He would just control him. He must be put down and all the drug destroyed as well as his formulas.”

Oksana had a seat.

Yelena walked to the front of the room, obviously disturbed and for once not sure what to say. Wanda stepped beside her.

“He has surface to air missiles?” Wanda asked Maria.

Maria nodded. “I can’t get a clear satellite image of his base, just a general area of his attacks and troop sightings. It is unlikely he has one giant command site. He is well hidden in the jungle and has claimed credit for taking helicopters down. You cannot just fly over the area and burn the forest. He has many child soldiers already patrolling for him. To get to him we will need to fight our way into the jungle, capture the kids and conduct seek and destroy operations on the adult soldiers.”

Yelena sighed. “Why couldn’t it be a nice big U.S. military base? That would be easier. Widows were not trained for jungle warfare. Does anyone have any experience with jungle warfare?”

No one said anything until Bucky surprisingly cleared his throat. “I was given many skills. I conducted missions in the Vietnam War and underwent the basics. I became very good at navigating a jungle battlefield. It is very tricky but not impossible.”

Yelena nodded. “You can train us?”

Bucky nodded. “It will take time. You will all have to follow my directions and my lead in the field. I can get this mission accomplished but I need you to trust me to lead it.”

Yelena pulled a seat out. Before she could sit Wanda took it. She cursed under their breath and pulled another seat to sit in front of the room.

“Do we all agree if this Bosco is making the drug we must destroy it and any formulas he has for it?” Yelena asked.

The widows all nodded.

“We must take this man and interrogate him before killing him. It is likely he has or had a mind controlled black widow from the Red Room and took her blood to analyze and make the drug himself. This is not our expertise. For once, we will not be the superior fighting force in this environment. We will go in as one but need to be in separate units with little line of sight to each other.”

They all nodded in agreement.

“We cannot hold back any resources. Captain America, do you feel like getting dirty?”

Steve smiled. “I was beginning to think you would never ask.”

Yelena nodded. “You can’t wear that ridiculous costume. We will see if we can find you something in green. We will all need camouflage. Anyone have a problem with Barnes leading the mission?”

The girls were quiet for a moment then they turned to him in the back of the room. The seconds dragged on forever.

“He knows what it is like to be us.” Ava said. “We will follow you into battle, Bucky. I’ll follow you.”

The others in the room echoed their agreement.

Bucky was surprised they agreed but didn’t let it show.

“Good. We start training in the morning. Everything you think you know, forget it. Long range sniping is out. High ground is out. Being stealthy in the darkness of a city is out of the question. You will have to learn how to be a whisper on the wind. You will need to recognize the sounds of animals, tell distances from sounds in the jungle. Everything is different than an urban setting. All combat training including morning sparring will now happen in the forest. Runs will go up the mountains. We will grapple into trees. Steve will have to remember how to fire a gun. Shields don’t work that well in the jungle. If everyone is on board together, we will hunt this bastard down and wipe him off the face of the Earth.”

“I feel like we should yell hooyah or something but that isn’t happening.” Antha said.

Staci raised her hand. “This won’t interfere with the Disney trip, will it?”

Bucky shook his head. “No way, kid. I already got a date for the trip. I’m going to get a haircut and everything.”

Chloe raised her hand. “Aren’t there snakes in the jungle? Is there a snake repellant? I really hate snakes. I killed this guy in an Herpetarium once. We got in a shootout and he shattered a dozen snake tanks. One fell on my shoulders. If I hadn’t been mind controlled I would have ran. I have had a very real fear of snakes since then.”

“You are probably screwed then.” Bucky admitted.

“Spiders?” Dani asked.

“Huge.” Bucky told her.

Yelena stood up. “Its decided then. Get rest. Tomorrow we become jungle warriors.”