Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

The Witch and the Widows

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 57:

Fall leaves were falling around the Mansion, turning it into a landscape the widows had yet to see since they moved in. The past month had been unsuccessful in regard to finding widows but very successful in stopping Hand operatives.

Through Sable’s advanced interrogation techniques the reason babies were being kidnapped in multitudes.

They knew the demon named Mephisto had made a bargain with Hand. In return for souls of the heads of the Hand, he offered them immortality through new sources of the resurrection elixir that had kept them alive for so long. He gave them the old nursery locations and a means for an army using the mind control drug that had been used on the widows.

Mephisto knew who had the mind control drug still remaining on Earth. The children would be trained from their youngest years by the Hand to rebuild their army. Eventually they would grow and be given the mind control drug and the Hand would have the most loyal followers in their existence. When you were immortal, sixteen years was a small amount of time to wait for the growth of the children.

Mephisto also offered them his own brand of demonic magic. They believed him to be their patron and took his gifts as a sign that he supported their cause.

Wanda, Agatha and the widows believed he was just trying to become a thorn in Wanda’s side and was succeeding. Every lead they found on the mind control drug or resurrection elixir dried up quickly. They always seemed to be a step behind. They captured operatives, tortured them and Wanda ripped a few minds apart but it was as frustrating as chasing A.I.M. and even HYDRA during her earliest vigilante escapades before she met Yelena. The operatives were compartmentalized, no group knowing the entire plan of the others or even locations of bases.

This was not to say they were in the dark. Eleanor still had her deal with Fisk and was watching his finances closely. They knew the largest reservoir of resurrection elixir was below Midland Circle. They knew other Hand leaders were buying the land through Fisk’s shadow corporation and planned to retrieve the elixir somehow. That made Danny Rand a target once again or bait as the Widows referred to him. The wall had been partially destroyed so the Iron Fist may not have been needed.

Eventually someone would have to go to the bottom of that hole and learn what remained.

Tandy and Tyrone had joined them on many missions as well after spending a couple months with the Masters of the Mystic Arts. As Yelena had promised them, the Widows focused their early efforts on shutting down the pipeline between Houston and New Orleans. Tyrone was becoming as good at teleporting the girls to different locations around the world as Wong was. Wanda had also begun teleporting farther and farther away, something that freaked the twins out every time and gave them increased separation anxiety that had become the focus of recent therapy.

The new widows and Gabby had become acclimated to the Red Widows and strong bonds were forming.

An uneasy truce had remained between the younger widows and Nat. Nat had talked Stannic out of being involved in missions with the exception of training times for the battle with Thanos. As a result, Stannic had seemingly became happier. Since Nat had adopted her she appeared more confident and calm than ever before. She had become a mentor of sorts with Sierra and the clique of young girls including the twins, Claudia, Tanya and Billie who was currently the baby of the family and enjoying the attention.

Despite the successful missions against the Hand nurseries and captured operatives they could not track the one name they had that was most important. Junzo Muto was the name most associated with Fisk. They also wanted the names of the others. The Hand was led by five individuals through most of their history.

If Murdock survived the collapse of Midland Circle, it was possible others survived.

He didn’t like to think about it or even admit the possibility but Elektra had been standing next to him when the building collapsed. He survived. Who else at the bottom of that sinkhole could have survived?

Was Elektra alive? Did she even have a soul to bargain with Mephisto?

Was Madame Gao still alive? The old woman had tremendous power that could have saved her.

Murakami could have survived if Murdoch did.

It had to be taken into consideration that even then, Mephisto had been planning to use the Hand to his own end. It was possible he saved them and freed them from the rubble in exchange for their souls.

A name that hadn’t been involved in the Midland Circle battle but was becoming more associated with Fisk was a lawyer named Maki Matsumoto. Her role was not known but she was representing the shadow group that was being funded by Fisk in the purchase of Midland Circle. Whether she was on the take from Fisk or an actual member of the Hand was still in question. Teams of Widows along with intelligence agents from Silver Sable International followed her and other leads around the world constantly until recently.

Leads had dried up or led to little action so Silver Sable Intelligence services had taken over the reconnaissance of the possible members and the search for possible leaders in conjunction with Sharon Carter.

That meant the Widows were enjoying some much needed downtime.

Wanda walked hand in hand with Bucky through the forest, enjoying the cooling temperatures and knowing the first snow was days away.

Wanda wondered if he knew today was her birthday. Birthdays in the Mansion were usually celebrated the last weekend of the month for Widows and other occupants who lived in the Mansion. Trips were made the next to last week to Paris or Novi Grad to buy small gifts and a party followed soon after.

This time last year on the day she had turned nineteen, Wanda had been in her old cabin watching over Yelena who had yet to wake after Wanda pulled the mind control drug from her body.

So much had happened since then. So many extreme bonds, so many rescued girls, so many children who become a part of her world, and even an unexpected romance.

Yelena and Kate were still together and Kate had stopped asking Yelena or her mother about secrets the two kept. Yelena was relieved but Wanda suspected Kate was up to something. Kate was not the type who would let something like that go. She had stopped complaining about school, stopped complaining about the rare weekends Yelena couldn’t see her and how she didn’t feel she belonged anywhere. Kate was Yelena’s problem to handle so she kept a distance and focused on what she had now.

Bucky was something Wanda had never seen coming. She never imagined she would have a relationship or even be able to love a man after the orphanage, yet there she was, in love with him more every day. She fell for him while watching his life, experiencing it and seeing the man he was. However it was the memories she had made with him since that solidified their relationship. The girls still called him Papa and he never complained or corrected them. Though Wanda was the sole guardian of the twins, the two acted as a family unit, even if Bucky still wasn’t able to hold her at night. The twins did their best but at some point in the night they would almost sleepwalk to Wanda’s bed, especially after a nightmare which they still had often if they were more than a few feet away from her when they slept. He never complained. Just like her, he put the girls’ wellbeing first.

One of the stark changes that had occurred to Wanda over the last year was her dress. She wore faded soft jeans, brown leather boots and a flannel shirt. Her hair was in a ponytail. A few of her fingers wore rings her father had given her but she wore no bracelets under the sleeves of her tan leather jacket. Gone was the dark makeup and multitude of necklaces. She had changed. She no longer looked like the streetwise, angry eighteen year old the Avengers had left in Sokovia after the battle with Ultron. She had aged only a year physically but in terms of her mentality she was much older. She was calmer, more in control of her emotions and more confident.

She was happy. Not everything was perfect. Nothing ever would be. Her parents and brother would always be dead. Nadeja and Nela would always have setbacks. Nadeja would lose her temper and lash out at others. Nela would become petrified at the smallest thing and hide under beds or behind Wanda.

But they would have the best life Wanda could give them. She would give them every opportunity to grow and if it took thirty or forty years for them to be confident to be on their own she would give that to them. They were her babies. They were her family and family was forever. She would make sure of it.

She wasn’t concerned about Mephisto. Thanos occupied many of her thoughts as she tried to sleep but she did not walk in constant worry or fear. She would be ready. They all would be.

Bucky stopped walking and squeezed Wanda’s hand. He wore a black glove over his metal hand that matched his black leather jacket but kept his flesh one holding her own. Giving him back a real arm in place of his metal one had been something Wanda had been thinking of for a long time but because of the serum in his veins and the magnitude of creating a new limb she had not devised a way or even asked him if it was something he wanted. Bucky obviously hated the limb but he was also a warrior and he enjoyed the advantage it gave him in battle.

“Halloween is next weekend. I want to take the girls to Novi Grad to trick or treat. What do you think I should dress them as?”

“The twins from the Shining.” he answered immediately.

“Try again.” Wanda told him just as quickly.

“Iron Man and his Spider Boy?”

Wanda glared at him but the charming smile he gave her broke through the annoyance.

She smiled and moved forward to kiss him. He returned the kiss but stopped it quickly and stepped back, reaching into his pocket.

“You know there is absolutely no way anyone forgot your birthday, right?”

Wanda chuckled. “No one had mentioned it so I hoped so.”

Bucky nearly rolled his eyes. “Sokovia has decreed it a national holiday. There are celebrations all over the country. Every news station in the world is covering it. Those girls don’t need news coverage to find out.”

Wanda blushed, hating the idea of her birthday being celebrated by a nation. Though Sokovia reported that Wanda had found the Rhodium mine that was making her country one of the wealthiest European countries, some governments suspected she did more than find the purest deposit of Rhodium ever discovered. They correctly believed that she created the Rhodium. Neither she nor the government ever commented on this. Several independent scientists from all over the world had tested the mineral and confirmed it was authentic. Despite suspicions, most of the world could not believe she could create such a perfect replica.

The people of Sokovia knew she could.

“We celebrate birthdays at the end of the month.” Wanda reminded him.

Bucky shrugged. “You aren’t just anyone to me so I thought I would give you a gift for your birthday today.”

Wanda almost squealed. “Did you buy me a motorcycle? Are you finally going to teach me how to ride?”

Bucky shook his head.

“I like you in one piece and your balance isn’t quite good enough yet. I was thinking something a little more old fashioned like me. I noticed… hell everyone has noticed you don’t wear as many rings as you once did.”

Wanda laughed softly. “I guess motherhood is making me old. Everytime I go into action my clothes change of their own free will and most of my jewelry disappears until the action is over and my witchy outfit is gone. I also have to take them off to brush the girls’ hair or they get snagged. You miss my old clothes, don’t you? I can model them anytime you like. It has been a while… Bucky, what are you doing?”

Bucky had taken a knee and pulled a small box from his jacket pocket.

“We haven’t talked about this really. I’m not sure what you are going to say and I’m good… okay I know what I want you to say but if you can’t or you aren’t sure that is fine. Maybe later, but I know what I want.”

He opened the box and Wanda saw a beautiful diamond ring. It wasn’t very large. The oval diamond was perhaps a half carat and it was on a simple silver setting. Wanda had never seen a more beautiful ring. She recognized it immediately. She had seen it many times in Bucky’s memories.

“Everett did me a favor and tracked down my last living niece and sent Carter on a special mission. The niece was in possession of all my mother’s things and gave it to me on the condition I visit her and get to know her kids. This was Mom’s wedding ring but I bet you know that. My sister wore it and I’d like you to wear it. I’m asking you to marry me. So… what do you think? Maybe yeah? I can get you something bigger but it didn’t seem our style.”

“Bucky,” Wanda said quietly, her voice nearly breaking and her body shaking, “put the ring on my finger please.”

She offered her trembling hand to him.

“That’s a yes, right?” he asked.

Wanda nodded. “That is a yes. It is a very big yes. Put that beautiful ring on my finger before I start hyperventilating!”

He did as she told him and stood up, taking her in his arms and lifting her off the ground. She hugged him tightly and looked at her ring, holding it up to watch it sparkle in the sunlight.

“You think your mother would be okay with you giving this to me?” Wanda asked, suddenly doubtful as she realized the history and emotional weight of the small silver band on her finger. Bucky’s parents had been married thirty seven years before his father died.

“She would have loved you, Wanda. She liked strong women who could keep men like me in line.”

Wanda kissed him again and looked around. It was a beautiful area, a small clearing she would never forget. She found the nearest large tree and a tendril of red energy flowed from the fingers on her right hand, carving a heart and Bucky and Wanda into the trunk.

“We should tell the twins.” Bucky told her. “I didn’t tell them I was going to ask you. I wasn’t sure what you would say so I kept it to myself.”

“You thought I would say no?”

Bucky smirked. “Just wasn’t sure. I didn’t want to take anything for granted. I hoped. I was going to ask you at Christmas but I’ve had that ring for a month and couldn’t hold back anymore. You think we could at least get a big bed and the girls would let me sleep next to you? Maybe we can get separate beds in the same room, kinda like those sitcoms from the fifties you love so much.”

Wanda giggled, imagining them in separate beds. “We can talk to them. They want us to be married. We can keep your room for alone time. Maybe this will be the motivation they need to sleep all night in their own beds. If not they can crawl all over you instead of crawling on top of me. Nadeja has begun snoring right in my face at night. You can take the brunt for a while.”

The two walked hand in hand back to the house. Wanda continued to look at her ring the entire way. It was two P.M. when they returned. When they opened the door Wanda was for once taken by surprise. Her focus had been on Bucky and the ring. The gathered residents shouting surprise took her off guard.

Wanda placed her hand on her chest and took in the lavishly decorated inside of the Mansion. Yelena and the twins were in front of the staircase. The twins had wrapped gifts in their hands. Then the cheers died down as they all saw the diamond ring on her finger.

“You did it.” Yelena told Bucky, a smile gracing her face.

“Did what?” Nadeja asked.

Bucky knelt in front of the girls. “I asked your mama to marry me and she said yes.

Nadeja and Nela threw their arms around Bucky tightly and he couldn’t help but remember the first time he had tried to touch Wanda and Nadeja hissed at him. The three had come a long ways together.

The widows began to cheer and shout congratulations.

Except for Ana. She looked towards Imi who motioned for her to take a deep breath. Ana did so and smiled at her therapist. She had a feeling this was coming. The idea of it happening versus the reality of it happening was jarring though. Ana would deal with it. She had to pretend to be happy to continue being near Wanda.

“Congratulations. A bit young in my opinion but you deserve it.”

Wanda hadn’t noticed Eleanor was there. The whole experience was surreal. “Thank you.” Wanda told her.

“Your mother would be so proud of you. I am.” Eleanor told her, bringing her into a hug and kissing her forehead. “A mother, wife, superhero and you have completed your math and science section two exams six months ahead of schedule. I’m proud of you, Wanda. Happy birthday, darling.”

She then looked at Bucky.

“Mr. Barnes.”

“Mom.” he replied with a charming smile.

Eleanor rolled her eyes and walked away.

The party began in full swing as the occupants moved to the large living room. They all gathered around the television and watched a rolling montage of pictures and videos Mika had put together of Wanda since they had known her.

Nadeja and Nela pushed Wanda into opening her gifts from them. Inside she found a framed photo of her and the twins asleep on the couch after drifting off while watching a movie. She suspected Yelena or Bucky had taken the rather cozy and intimate moment. The other gift was a work of art that had been hand drawn by both of them with crayons. It was very childlike and cartoonish and showed Wanda wearing a red dress holding the twins hands in the middle and Bucky on the other. He was obvious by his left arm drawn in a dark blue.

Before the cake was brought out, Anya pulled Wanda with her to the downstairs library. Dima was waiting inside with a box.

“I didn’t want your fiancé to see this. It is our gift to you. We weren’t sure when you would need it but it looks like soon.” Anya told her. She opened the box and pulled a white dress from it.

Wanda almost lost her breath.

“Wanda? Sweet girl, are you okay?” Anya asked.

Wanda was staring at her mother’s wedding dress.

“How did you…” she was able to get out.

“I made it from the photo of your parents wedding you took picture of in your old apartment. Yelena showed me and I thought I would sew it or as close as possible. I wasn’t sure of the fabric but I guessed. Is it close to the original?”

“It’s perfect.” Wanda said in a broken voice. “It is so perfect. Thank you, Anya.”

Anya blushed. “You never thank me my dear. If you want another one, maybe one of your own…”

“No! No… this is perfect.”

While Wanda was having an emotional moment with the Belovas, Yelena was in the great room, watching the widows, observing their behavior and taking mental notes on everything. She did her best to listen every conversation, who was speaking to who, how the newer girls were integrating with the original widows and how the younger ones were interacting with the older widows. She watched Natasha and every conversation she had and how those around her acted.

Yelena was determined to never be caught by surprise again.

“I wasn’t expecting that.” Kate said.

“What?”

“I didn’t think he would ask so soon. I thought maybe Christmas. What were you and Wanda doing last Christmas?’

“We were on the road looking for people to kill and leads on the Red Room. Neither of us were in a festive mood last year.”

“Right.” Kate remembered. “What is on your mind? Are you upset?”

Yelena raised an eyebrow.

“Why would I be upset? I want her to be happy. Wanda wouldn’t make decision she feels forced into. They make cute family. I am not thinking of anything. Just making sure everyone is enjoying themselves. Have some cake. I need to speak to Ana about something.”

Yelena walked away from Kate and made her way to Anastasia who had been in the back near the hallway as if she were preparing to quietly leave. Yelena could tell she had been drinking by the glassiness of her eyes. She knew Ana had been seeing Imi like most of the girls and she had stopped drinking as much but she wasn’t actively trying to quit.

Dani had been speaking to her and looked relieved when Yelena approached.

“Hello ladies. Not enjoying the party?”

Dani nodded. “I was just telling Ana to come sit with me and have some cake. Everett baked the chocolate one.”

“Everett is a man of many talents. Maybe you can save us some pieces please? I know it is a party but I wanted Ana’s thoughts on Yasmine’s progress. I know you have been working with her closely.”

Dani looked relieved and rushed off without another word.

Yelena motioned with her head for the two of them to step into the hallway. Once they were hidden from plain sight, Yelena hugged the surprised woman.

“What are you doing? Since when do Russians hug, Belova?”

“When one of them is hurting very bad.”

Ana cringed. “I knew it! I said something in Wakanda to Dani. She told me I hadn’t but I knew she was lying. What did she tell you?”

Yelena shook her head. “Dani has never said a word to me or anyone as far as I knew. I had to figure this one out for myself. After the incident and near death of Naomi I promised myself I would start paying better attention to my sisters. I knew you were drinking more than normal and wanted to find out why. I know you wouldn’t tell me so I watched you and figured it out. You are good at hiding emotions but so am I. I know what to look for.”

Ana closed her eyes. “She doesn’t know, does she?”

Yelena shook her head. “I told her we talked and you had nightmares that caused you to drink but agreed to see Imi.”

“You lied to Wanda?”

“It happens.” Yelena said. “Are you going to be okay or do I need to stay with you? I will. I cannot wake up in morning to find you dead from alcohol poisoning.”

“Haha.” Ana told her.

Yelena was not amused. “I am serious. I will stay in your room. We will have sleepover tonight. There will be no argument. I swore to myself I would never lose a sister because I wasn’t paying attention to them hurting.”

“I don’t need babysitting.”

“No but you need somebody to lean on tonight and that will be me.”

Yelena kissed her on the cheek and made her way back to Kate.

“Everything alright?”

Yelena sighed. “It will be.”

At that time, the smallest girl in the house ran to Yelena with a large piece of vanilla cake in hand.

“Yelena, I save you a piece of Miss Anya’s cake! Do you like vanilla better than chocolate? I like vanilla.” Billie told her.

Before she could answer, Meggan had her hand on her little sister’s shoulder and pulled her back. She had a false smile on her face and it was obvious she was worried as she looked at Kate.

“Billie, Yelena is with her special friend. You can talk to her later. Madison has a spot saved for us across from…”

“It is okay.” Yelena said, taking the slice from the little girl. “Thank you very much, little one. Have you ever met my Kate Bishop?”

“You can get to know each other later. A lot going on today, we should go sit down.” Meggan said, turning Billie around and walking away from the two.

“I don’t understand. When I first met her I thought Meggan would be another punk kid with bad attitude. But she gets along with everybody, takes good care of little one, doesn’t even smoke as much. She only drinks a few with some of the girls after Billie goes to sleep. She is very social but when you are around she keeps her distance. I will ask her about it.”

Kate shrugged. “Don’t. Maybe she doesn’t like me. It doesn’t matter.”

“Why wouldn’t she like you?” Yelena asked. “I don’t believe I have ever seen you talk to her. Have you ever been introduced? She runs out of room when you arrive. I should introduce you properly.”

Kate didn’t seem to agree and became annoyed. “Why does it matter? Why do you watch her so much?”

Yelena turned around and met Kate’s eyes. They weren’t angry but they weren’t playful. It was a look she had become used to the past few months.

“I pay attention to all the girls. I am a leader. I need to make sure they are happy. Meg is new and comes from a long history of abuse. I’ve never seen a widow who has tremors like she does. We got Billie some ear plugs because Megs shouts in her sleep at night. She won’t see Imi either.”

“I thought Wanda was in charge of making sure they felt better when they slept.”

Yelena sighed.

“What the hell is wrong with you, Kate Bishop? You know what? This is a party. My любимая сестра is no longer teenager and is going to marry good guy. She has her own little family. A weird family but it is hers. It is a happy day. Whatever you want to yell at me can wait.”

Kate did not become angry at Yelena’s chiding. Instead she smiled and walked over to her mother, had a seat and began eating. Lucky was running around the living room playing with Fanny, Claudia and Tanya but he stopped for a moment and looked in Kate’s direction. After a second he ran towards her and sat under the table against her leg, knowing it made her feel better to have him near.

The party was a success. Cake had turned into dancing around the Mansion rather than the bunker. Wong had arrived with Strange who watched from afar sipping wine and studying the girls as he always did. Once again he saw beneath the tough exteriors, the sarcasm, the laughs and hugs, the singing and dancing were deadly, brave traumatized girls who were angry at the outside world. He was surprised to see that Rogers had changed a bit as well. He seemed more comfortable around the trained killers. He was treated like a favorite by the girls, pulled into dancing and even singing karaoke with the one named Helena. Romanoff stayed on the outside and the small teenager who he believed she had adopted was constantly trying to pull her on the dancefloor and into conversations but the redhead was reticent.

He left just after midnight as the party rolled down.

Wanda was exhausted. She had not had so much fun or felt so happy in a very long time. She was especially excited when Nela and Nadeja told her they wanted to stay the night with Tanya.

Her and Bucky made love for two hours. When they finished, just as they had dressed and gotten under the covers, Nadeja and Nela rushed in and crawled into bed with them. They had done well until Nela had a nightmare and Nadeja pulled her back to their room. Nela had an accident which happened at times when she had very bad nightmares.

By the time Wanda had her bathed and put down to a bed already filled with Nadeja and Bucky, it was four AM. Not feeling like finding a place in the crowded bed tonight, she took Nela to the bottom bunk and laid down with her.

The alarm woke the household up at nine fifteen AM. It was the emergency alarm, meaning something big had been discovered going on in the world that required the Red Widows immediate action like a confirmed sighting of a potential leader of the Hand or a newly discovered widow.

When the occupants of the house minus Anya who was due any day now, gathered in the bunker, Maria and Rachel were waiting for them. To all their concern all screens including news reports and satellite feed were on Novi Grad.

The new orphanage to be specific. The site where Wanda had given her former tormentors a horrible death and a new orphanage had been built on top of. The main building was four stories tall with dormitories on the second and third housing two children per room, and a gymnasium on the fourth floor. Police cars and SWAT vehicles were in front of the building forming a perimeter.

“What is going on?” Wanda asked fearfully.

“There was a raid on the orphanage twenty minutes ago. The President called us a minute before the alarm went out and now news outlets are all over it.” Maria explained. “A terrorist cell has taken over the orphanage. They aren’t sure how many are inside. One teacher was allowed to leave and inform the police. She said she saw at least ten but more were on the floors above her.”

“The Hand?” Yelena asked.

Rachel shook her head. “They are claiming to be the Ten Rings.”

“There is no way Wenwu is doing this.” Yelena said. “He is no saint but he does not do things like this.”

“I doubt this is the same Ten Rings.” Everett said. “I suspect this is the group that took Tony Stark years ago.”

“I thought he took them all out?” Yelena remembered.

Everett shook his head. “Organizations like this are never taken out completely. There have been rumors of a new group living in compounds between Iran and Afghanistan. I have Sharon on it but my guess is they are being funded by Iran. If Silver Sable International are the largest private army and intelligence service, the Ten Rings is the largest private terrorist group for hire. This doesn’t feel like the Hand. This feels like Iran isn’t happy with you girls taking the black widow who killed the leader of their military and then destroying their largest prison.”

“What do they want?” Yelena asked.

“Wanda.” Rachel told them. “They are speaking out of the top floor with a large bullhorn demanding the abomination known as Wanda Maximoff turn herself over to them or they start killing children, one per hour.”

“Are they out of their damn minds?!” Nat asked. “They want her to come to them?!”

Ross shook his head. “They underestimate her power. Unbelievably, most of the countries in the world believe her power is exaggerated. Only a few like the United States know for sure of what she is capable and they haven’t seen everything.”

Wanda smirked. “Okay. They want Wanda Maximoff they will get Wanda Maximoff.”

She waved a hand over her body and her pajamas were gone. She was dressed in her clothes she often wore in battle before her powers had fully manifested. She wore a blood red corset, black leather pants, combat boots and a short red leather jacket. Her wrists were adorned with bracelets, numerous necklaces hung from her neck including the locket with a photo of Pietro, and large shiny rings were on each finger except for her ring finger which held her engagement ring.

“Mama?” Nela asked, not having seen Wanda dress like this in a very long time and knowing something was up.

Wanda knelt in front of her. “There are some children being threatened by evil people and Mama has to make them pay, like I made the men who hurt you pay. I will be back soon.”

She kissed both twins on the cheek and winked at Bucky who placed a hand on each girl’s shoulder.

“You are going alone?” Yelena asked.

Wanda nodded. “I can handle this.”

“What if it is Hand trap?”

“I hope we are that lucky. I doubt it though. Iran hates women and my power is terrifying them. I am surprised they didn’t pull something like this sooner but they never had a solid target they know we care about until now. Hitting the day after my birthday is a message. They haven’t just declared war on us, but on Sokovia. We need to find where their hideouts are. We are going to crush them all today. After I am done we are hitting every site we can find. I’ll see what I can rip from their heads before I kill them. What do you say girls? Ready to go to war? Its going to be short but it will be bloody.”

The girls cheered loudly and began moving towards the weapons room where their suits were for gear inspection and ammo count.

Wanda glared at the screen and then was gone.

Ava put down her phone. “I was going to call Wong. Where is she?”

Yelena pointed to the screen where Wanda had just materialized in front of the orphanage.

“Right there.” Yelena said, holding back a laugh. Wanda was a creature of emotion no matter how much she tried not to be. She would struggle with teleporting short distances accurately but make her angry and she could travel anywhere with pinpoint precision. These men had just made her very angry and if Yelena hadn’t hated them so much she would have felt pity for them.

“Girls?” Yelena called out. They all turned to her.

“Team leads are Ava, Ingrid, Sonia, and Antonia. Gabby, you will lead your team but take flank positions until you feel comfortable with them and us. Bucky, Wanda and Agatha will be wildcards.”

Steve stepped up to her. “What about me?”

Yelena shook her head. “You do not want to be involved in this and I can’t have you trying to stop us. Natasha may not want to be involved either.”

Steve shook his head fiercely. “No, you told us… I’m not going to stop you from doing anything!”

Yelena stared at him for a moment and looked around the room. Imi, Kate, Eleanor and her father had also made their way down and were looking at her with varying degrees of curiosity and concern.

“They are threatening children. We are not just killing their bosses and fellow terrorists, we are going to send a message. Antonia, break out the toolbox, the blow torch and the skinning knives. The Red Widows are going old school on our enemies today. The world needs to reminded of who we are.”

The grim satisfied smiles of the widows told Yelena they were on board, except for those who were not original Red Widows. Gabby’s team was a bit confused judging by their faces but they had heard the stories and knew what to expect.

Steve and Natasha were not happy.

“Still want to come along?” Yelena asked them.

They both nodded. “Stannic isn’t going to be involved in that.” Nat said.

“She is your kid. That is between you two. Bucky, if Captain America tries to stop us…”

“He won’t.” Bucky assured her.

Yelena looked at the gathered older people in the room. “We shall see.”

She turned to the television and watched the English news station covering the event live and on scene.

“Wanda Maximoff appeared seemingly from thin air and is talking to the head of the security department. The President is issuing a statement to the people of Novi Grad that the incident will be over in a few moments. He seems confident. Wanda Maximoff… is walking towards the building’s front door.” The newsman on scene reported.

“Are the Red Widows with her ?” the anchorman at the station asked.

“Not that can be seen. As I said, she literally appeared out of thin air. She has entered the building .”

The cameras stayed on the building for a few minutes while the reporter on the ground filled the station in on who police were saying the perpetrators were.

“Something is happening. The doors are open… children and teachers are walking outside… now they are running… none of them seemed harmed in anyway. From the report of hostages we were given it appears from first look that they are all accounted for. They are being brought behind police lines now… what the… the windows of the building are glowing red.”

“Red?”

“We are hearing screams from inside. Horrible screams.”

“Are the police showing any indication of entering the building?”

The reporter on scene shook his head. “On the contrary they seemed very relaxed. Many are smiling… one of the… a man was just thrown out of the third floor window… no he has been frozen in the air and is being dragged back through the window into the building.”

The reporters on both ends were silent for a moment, taking that scene in.

“Do you believe Wanda Maximoff is in danger?” the anchorman asked.

Almost in answer a screaming man rushed from the front door of the building, fell to his knees, raised his hands and seemed to be begging the police to take him. A red tendril of energy came from the door and wrapped around the man, dragging him back inside at incredible speed.

“I do not believe Wanda Maximoff is in danger .”

Yelena watched back at the compound and chuckled along with the other widows.

“It seems Wanda is receiving a late birthday gift.” Yelena told the others.

“This isn’t good.” Imi said quietly. “Yelena, you cannot let her go on a bloody rampage. None of you can. This isn’t who you are anymore.”

Yelena turned to the doctor. “All this time and you still don’t know who we really are. I would expect if anyone knew it would be you.”

“I know who you were but we both know that isn’t who you are now. You are all heroes. Heroes don’t torture. Can you hear the screams? It sounds like a horror movie.”

The blonde nodded. “It is a horror movie. That is the sound of men’s heads being ripped open, organs being twisted inside, minds torn apart… that is the sound of a Red Widow dealing with someone who threatens and harms children. There will be many more screams before the day is over. Girls go play with your kittens. You do not need to hear this.”

“Mama is punishing bad guys.” Nadeja said with grim satisfaction.

“Girls, go play with the kittens. This is grown up business. We talked about this, remember?” Imi told them again.

The girls nodded and ran off with Tanya, Billie, Claudia and Sierra joining them.

Yelena noted Meggan had walked out of the weapons room wearing one of the suits Shuri had made for the new additions.

“I thought you didn’t want to be on a field team?” Yelena asked.

“Kids got threatened. I’m ready to kill.” Meggan showed her hand.” I’m not shaking. I got this.”

Yelena patted her on the back and went to outfit herself. She didn’t see the scowl on Kate’s face when she had touched Meggan.

Novi Grad, Sokovia

Wanda stood in the gymnasium of the orphanage watching the men rolling on the ground clutching their heads and screaming in pain as she sifted through their vile thoughts.

Six had tried to open fire on her when she walked and six were unable to raise their guns. Neither were the others in the building. She gained access to their minds and had them fall unconscious. She then walked the floors and instructed the hostages to go to the first floor and as one exit the building calmly. Once they had gone and been taken behind police lines, Wanda woke the terrorists up and showed them the true meaning of terror.

Of the twenty eight, sixteen were dead, limbs torn off, some with crushed bodies, others forced to strangle or maim each other. Many had tried to run and one even jumped out of the window before she brought him back. One had sneaked out the front door while his bones were slowly being crushed. She was impressed he could move in that amount of pain but she dragged him back as well so the world and children watching would not see him turn to a flattened mass of flesh on live television.

She pulled everything from their minds. The Hand was not involved. She knew the locations of the terrorist compounds and leaders who funded this and texted Everett the coordinates. She knew every sick deed they had ever committed against women and children.

Iran wanted her dead for a very simple reason. She was a powerful woman who punched them in the face and walked away. They saw women in general as property and knowing someone like her and the Red Widows existed angered the country. The simplest way to take her out was to hire the copycat Ten Rings who were now led by Raza al-Wazar’s brother, Faran.

Despite what the Red Widows did in Iran it was obvious they greatly underestimated her power. She didn’t need witchcraft to deal with this.

Her phone rang.

“Hello.”

“Wanda, is the situation contained? Are you injured?” the voice of Sokovia’s president asked.

“I am fine. I will be out in a few moments. Body bags won’t be needed. I’ll incinerate them before I leave.”

Wanda ended the call.

It rang again and she growled, annoyed with the man already. Couldn’t he tell she was busy? She should have left her phone behind.

“Wanda, you need to stop.”

Dr. Zaru.

“Excuse me? I am just getting started.”

“Yes, the entire world can hear the screams outside the building. You can’t do this.”

“If it is an issue I can take their mouths away.”

“Look, I understand. The place there before was a location that gave you nightmares. It was supposed to be a happy place for these kids and now it has been tainted by this but you freed them. Either kill the ones you are torturing or turn them over to the security forces for questioning. You cannot be seen torturing. Yelena is in a blood lust. All of the girls are!”

“Good, because we are about to spill blood across the desert.” Wanda said, practically growling.

“Right now you are the hero of Sokovia! The world is watching everything you do and you are representing your country. Do you want your country to be known as barbaric? Stop the screams at least! You have a choice to make. You can’t be the angry young woman you have been in the past.”

“Why not?!”

“Because you are a mother now! Is this the example you want to set for your daughters? Do you want them to see their mother as the woman who rescued innocent children or the one known for torturing people so horribly their screams are heard on live television from fifty yards away?” Imi asked. “Think, Wanda! What would you do if the twins were watching you right now? That is how you have to live the rest of your life. Act like your children are always watching you. That is one of the most important parts of being a good mother!”

Wanda felt like ice water had been slowly poured on her. She raised her finger and the screams turned into moans as mouths disappeared.

“Wanda?”

“Those who did this will pay.” she said.

“So kill them. Attack their bases but just kill them. Yelena has ordered the girls to get something called the toolbox and skinning knives and a damn blowtorch out. Is this what you want to go back to? You made yourself the leader, so lead.”

Wanda shook her head. “A message must be sent.”

“Send it then but do not have these girls torturing people.”

“We have done it before.”

“Staci is humming When you wish upon a star.”

Wanda felt like she had been slapped. Staci had not hummed any Disney song or… no. Not like this.

Staci had come too far. Memories flashed in her mind of the sweet little girl singing Disney songs holding a chainsaw while she dismembered a very alive enemy in Boston. She had been impressed then. Now she never wanted to see Staci in that state again. She had come too far.

“Put Yelena on the phone please.”

She heard a relieved breath on the other end and a shuffle then Yelena’s name called out.

“We can no longer hear the screams on live television. Have you finished them?”

“I have what I need from the ones left alive. I will text you coordinates for bases and we can begin preparing attack plans. I am giving the ones still alive to Sokovian police for interrogation. Some have to stand trial for this. I will incinerate the dead bodies. I do not want body bags to be seen leaving this building.”

Yelena huffed. “Why not? Messages must be sent. I have ordered the preparations to include the toolbox. It has been a long time but the world needs to remember who they are dealing with.”

“No.” Wanda told her. “Maria and Rachel can use the unmanned drones and clear the way. We finish off the camps and enemies. We need to ensure no innocents are involved meaning I have to read minds and evacuate those caught in the crossfire if necessary. I have the four largest bases in mind and a very special target. We kill them all but we won’t torture them. Imi is right, Yelena. We can’t go back.”

Yelena sighed. “What did Imi say to you?”

“Only one thing that matters. Look at Staci. Is she humming Disney songs again? How long has it been since she did that? Look at Aino, look at the new girls. Look at Mika and Stannic. Think about the youngest who look up to us. She is right. Do we really want to take them to that darkness again?”

Yelena was silent for a few moments and Wanda knew she was looking at the Widows who were preparing for a slaughter.

“You are right.” Yelena said with a disappointed sigh. “I do not want to see the youngest… we leave the torture behind. I am thinking we leave the fighter jets behind too. It is time to use missiles on quinjets and the unmanned drones are loaded for war. Return soon. We have work to do. We are all citizens of Sokovia. They hit our home and we cannot let that stand.”

“We won’t.”

Wanda ended the call and ordered the men to stand. She unleashed her power over the whole building, burning the already dead bodies to dust.

“Walk outside with your hands behind your head. If any of you resist I shall show you hell once again.”

Wanda was nearly blinded by the thousands of flashing lights from cameras as she exited behind the men who were immediately placed in cuffs by the police. Over five thousand Novi Grad residents were outside the police line and began cheering as soon as she walked out of the building. She continued to walk towards the man she knew as the head of the intelligence services, Nikoli Zenger.

“I have taken what I need from their heads. I will send you a report but I believe you will find them very cooperative. They were hired by Iran but I doubt we can tie them to the country. I will handle it personally.” she told him in Sokovian.

“Thank you Miss Maximoff. What are you going to do now?”

“They declared war and attacked our children. It is time to counter. Perhaps your position on border security is right. Maybe we should follow Wakanda’s example and close ours.”

Nikoli grinned. “I would appreciate if you would tell our president as much. The world once wanted to conquer us for our location. Now they have many reasons and it is time we defended ourselves. Thank you Wanda. How many bodies are inside?”

“I disintegrated them all. Do not worry, they suffered greatly.”

Wanda closed her eyes and when she opened them she was back in the bunker while widows moved around her, carrying weapons.

Eleanor walked to her. “Wanda… we have talked about image…”

“I am no American, Eleanor. Public relations are for people like Tony Stark. My home was attacked. If your home were attacked I would unleash hell on those who dared. I will do no less here.”

Wanda walked away and the garb of the Scarlet Witch adorned her now. She reached Bucky who was deep in conversation with Yelena.

“Ross is pulling Silver Sable Satellites over the base location.” Yelena told her. “They are remote, hiding in canyons and seem to be entirely populated by terrorists. No citizens that we can tell. We will be ready to leave in a few minutes. Sable wants to know if we want for support. I told her no. She isn’t happy Ava is going in and may become involved anyway.”

“Tell her Wanda insists she doesn’t. Have the inquisition tools been put up?”

“Yes.”

Wanda walked over to Nat.

“Is Stannic coming?”

“Yes. I can’t talk her out of it.”

“I would like to speak to her with your permission.”

Nat raised an eyebrow. “Since when do you need my permission?”

“Since you adopted her. If you spoke to my daughters about something of importance without my permission I would tear your face off with my fingernails. I am asking yours now.”

Nat waved towards where Stannic was setting up next to Staci and Aino. Wanda made her way quickly to all three of them, having planned to approach them one by one but seeing an opportunity.

“We are ready, Wanda.” Staci told her, clipping her belt together.

“I want you to stay behind.” Wanda told them. “All three of you.”

The three girls stopped dressing in their suits and looked at her in confusion. “You said those of us who fought before could fight again.” Staci reminded her.

Wanda nodded. “I did and I meant it. If this is what you want, I will not stand in your way. I am asking you not to come along, for me. If you decide you must then I understand.”

Aino tilted her head, not sure what to say. She had never turned down Wanda for anything not that Wanda had ever asked much of her.

“I don’t understand. Why do you not want us there?” Aino asked.

Wanda sighed. “Because of all of us, you three are the best. You are the ones closest to living without violence in your lives. You are the ones closest to making breakthroughs, to discovering joy in the world without this. I know you want to be a part of this. I can feel it. We are all sisters and always will be. But you three are my hope. You three are my hope that some of us can put this aside and focus on the future. If you can succeed at this, then I have hope that my twins and the other young girls can escape this violence too someday. For most of us, it is too late. It isn’t too late for you three. I am asking you to stay behind as a favor to me. I need the hope you three give me.”

The three looked at each other, not sure what to say.

“You never want us to fight again?” Stannic asked.

“That is your choice. I am just asking if today, for me, you would stay behind. Take care of the kids, ensure they are okay and keep that light in your eyes. I need to see it when I return. I desperately need to see it.”

The three girls looked at each other. They all wanted to fight. That much was obvious. They also didn’t want to turn Wanda down. She had done so much for them.

“We still get to fight Thanos?” Stannic asked.

Wanda internally cringed but kept her face calm and nodded. “Yes.”

“I’ll stay if it makes you feel better Wanda.” Stannic told her.

“Us too.” Aino said. “We have sessions with Imi today anyway. It would probably be rude to miss.”

“Someone has to look after Anya. She is due any day and can hardly move.” Staci added.

Wanda closed her eyes and felt a weight off her chest she hadn’t realized was there.

“Thank you.” she whispered and pulled all three into a hug. She then walked off to Yelena.

“Stannic, Staci and Aino are staying to help the kids and Aino.” Wanda said. “You might want to adjust the teams.”

Nat walked up quickly, holding back a smile. “You told them they couldn’t go?”

“No, I asked them not to and they agreed to stay as a favor to me.” Wanda said. She looked over toward Meggan who was stepping into Reaper 4 behind Gabby.

“Does Megs know there is no smoking allowed in the jets?” Wanda asked, surprised to see her prepared to fight.

Yelena laughed. “She will be fine. She is still in better shape than you.”

Yelena patted Wanda on the shoulder and moved towards Kate.

“We will be back my love. I promise no landlines or cursed swords this time.”

“I have school tomorrow. Wong is on his way to take me home. Be careful. I’ll be watching on the news.”

Kate kissed her on the cheek and walked off, leaving Yelena standing still and surprised at the flippant and dismissive attitude Kate had shown. Rather than saying anything, she turned and joined her team in Reaper 1.

“Everything alright?” Wanda asked her, noting the slight hurt on her face.

“Of course. It is good to be going back into battle together. Target one has over one hundred enemy combatants. Maria and Rachel are operating the drones. They should be mostly burned when we arrive but there will be those that need to be dealt with personally.”

Yelena paused for a moment. “You made good decision, leaving fun tools behind. I am also glad you talked the youngest three into staying behind. You are a good leader.”

“So are you.”

Yelena smiled but did not agree. She had been doing her best but was missing something. She knew she couldn’t be all things to all people but she was doing her best.

She wouldn’t admit what her subconsciousness already knew. The secrets she kept from Kate were pulling Kate away from her. If Kate found out one day, then it would be disastrous and she may lose her for good. If she told Kate, the girl would lose her belief in her father’s goodness and his memory would be tainted.

Despite Kate not asking her about secrets anymore, Yelena knew the conversation wasn’t over. On the contrary it felt like it was coming to a head.

The jet lifted off and Yelena put it out of her mind. For now she could forget everything and be what she was trained to be and what she chose to be. The Red Widows were flying into battle and it would be a massacre.

480 Park Avenue, New York City

Kate stepped out of the portal with a goal in mind. Her mother had been surprised she wanted to leave but Kate had explained it away as nerves. Her mother understood. Why wouldn’t she? Kate had pretended to take her therapy seriously. She said the right things, faked the right breakthroughs and put up a good act around her mother and Yelena. She stopped asking about secrets because they would never tell her.

So instead of asking she had slowly begun to find out for herself.

Kate had picked up a little bit of hacking from Rachel and Maria over the summer and on the weekends she visited Yelena. She had watched her mother closely, reviewed security footage in the house and learned her mother’s passwords. She knew her Bishop Security laptop was in the library right now. She had gotten into it many times and studied her mother’s projects and the company’s financials but had very brief windows to do it in before her mother could catch her.

Today was her best opportunity to follow the strange trails she had encountered.

Her first task was finding out more about Sloan Limited, a company that seemed to only exist on paper. Kate thought at first it could be a way to launder money her mother was supplying to the Widows, but that wasn’t possible. Except for the house, Eleanor provide no financial support to the girls. They had taken billions from their enemies. The house ownership was buried under massive real estate holdings and only someone who knew of Eleanor’s work with the Widows would know where to find that needle in a very large haystack.

She continued to search, surprised at the large amount of money being funneled into and out of Sloan Limited.

Then she found the one physical location attached to Sloan.

Fat Man Auto Repair.

So Sloan didn’t exist as a physical company but did have one business under its umbrella, a cheap mechanics shop of all places.

In her search for answers in the last couple months, this trail told Kate her mother was laundering money and it wasn’t for the Widows. Now she had a tangible place but was even more confused.

What illegal income did Bishop Security have that needed to be laundered and why?

Kate typed the address in her phone and went to her room. She pulled out the suit that the Widows had made for her over the summer, filled her quiver with very sharp arrows and put on a mask that covered her lower face designed after the one Bucky Barnes wore into battle.

The sun was going down and it was time for Kate to take a field trip. She wouldn’t get any more answers from the computer tonight. She would search Fat Man Auto Repair from top to bottom until she got the answers to the questions she had. Why was her mother laundering money and how much involvement did her girlfriend have in it?

Though she suspected the answer would change everything she had to know, no matter the cost.