Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

The Witch and the Widows

By BetterInTexas

Outtake 01:

Welcome to the one shots I promised. If you are new and just thought you would check this out to see what it is about, it is additional scenes that didn’t have room in the main story, The Witch and the Widows. If you haven’t read the story you won’t understand the one shots. These one shots are part of that story and focus more on the individual Red Widows so individuals can be learned about. Below is a cast list to give you an idea of how the widows look in my mind.

Actresses playing roles are in italics. Most actresses here played black widows in the movie. Most are also stunt women. If you look them up for images some like Aubrey Cleveland need to have Black Widow movie in search bar first.

After this list will be the fist one shot, called the Wong family wedding in this chapter. Keep in mind all additions to story, like names, background and others that do not fit with the MCU, is because I could not find information. Wong was especially hard to find background information on so I gave him my own background in this universe. I will try to update this frequently but the main story must come first.

Enjoy and thanks to those readers who love these characters as much as I do and are interested in reading more about their lives. The same trigger warnings apply as in The Witch and the Widows.

Red Widows Cast

Wanda Maximoff – Elizabeth Olsen

Yelena Belova. – Florence Pugh

Antonia Dreykov (Taskmaster)- Olga Kurylenko

Oksana– Michelle Lee

Natasha Romanoff – Scarlett Johansson

Sasha – Georgia Curtis

Charlize – Lucy Cork

Anastasia – Yasmin Riley

Staci – Mia Talerico

Naomi – Shawarah Battles

Maria – Aubrey Cleveland

Stannic – Teenage India Eisley

Ava – Alba Baptista

Dani- Aubrey Cleland

Mika – Chiara Aurelia

Ingrid – Nanna Blondell

Bea – Kristina Tonteri-Young

Kristina – Zhane Samuels

Helena – Eniko Fulop

Lerato – Leana Samuel

Angelica – Simona Zivkovska

Sonia – Ysssmei Panganiban (Yes her first name is spelled correctly)

Aino – Emma Myers

Zarola – Shaina West

Michico – Jade Xu

Amanda – Erin Jameson

Rowan – Mackenzie Foy

Madison – Yolanda Lynes

Antha – Emma Ishta

Rachel- Joey King

Chloe- Chloe Grace Moretz

Yasmine- Elnaz Habibi

---

Wong family wedding

Ava dug in her closet giving each of her higher end outfits and dresses an appraising look then discarding it on the bed.

“I liked that dress.” Sonia told her. “The blue brings out your eyes.”

“My breasts are practically falling out of it.” Ava commented.

“And?”

Ava turned to her. “And those clothes we took from the Red Room were meant to accentuate out assets during seduction missions! I am going to a wedding and meeting his parents! Wong told me they are very traditional and I doubt they would appreciate their son bringing a woman dressed like a stripper to his brother’s wedding! I can’t believe he asked me to go to this. If they are so traditional I am sure they will love me.”

“Why wouldn’t they?” Aino asked.

Ava looked at her with disbelief wondering how she could be so clueless then remembered Aino never had many undercover missions where she had to learn what different men liked in different cultures.

“I’m white.”

“And…”

“They are Chinese.” Ava pointed out. “Traditional Chinese would probably want their son to date a Chinese girl.”

Sonia furrowed her brow. “So they are racist?”

Ava sighed. “I don’t know. I don’t know them. I’ve never been taken to meet parents before. They probably aren’t but Wong said they aren’t impressed with his life choices. His father is some big shot business tycoon who built his multimillion dollar company from scratch. I guess he isn’t thrilled with Wong forsaking the family business and joining the Masters of the Mystic Arts.”

Sonia raised an eyebrow. “They know what he does?”

Ava nodded. “He has even showed his Dad the sorcery stuff. The portals and those glowing blasts he can shoot from his hands and did you know he fought a witch not long ago over some Dark Scepter object with his friends? He didn’t even tell me until it was over! I told him he should tell his dad he stopped an evil witch from running over humanity with a mystical object but he said the man wouldn’t be impressed! What the hell does impress him?!”

Aino shrugged. “Aunt Agatha and Wanda could have stopped another witch easily. Why did he not ask for help?”

Ava frowned. “The same reason we never ask him to fight in our battles. Two separate missions and two separate worlds. We each have our own fights. At least that’s what he told me when I asked. Truthfully, I think Wanda intimidates them all. I mean she is Wanda. Scarlet Witch, nexus being, biggest bad ass in the universe as long as we can keep her alive. Their immortal boss seems to show more interest in Wanda than she probably does in her own people. That’s got to sting.”

Antha walked in from the hall, having gone through others’ closets and finding nothing that would fit Ava’s desires.

“Sorry. The only ones who have dresses that aren’t provocative are the youngest ones and they all dress like wannabe Wandas.”

“That isn’t true!” Aino said, becoming defensive. “We each have our own style.”

Antha nodded. “You are right. Staci has ballroom princess gowns. You and Stannic have more leather pants than any girl under sixteen should ever own. You are wearing six bracelets on one arm right now and three on the other and you have six rings on. I can see how you are not trying to look like Wanda. You have a completely original vibe going on, kid.”

Chloe ran in with a light blue dress in her arms. “Check what I found. I was looking for Disney trip clothes in the excess closet that really needs to be organized but I’m not saying anything because I’m the new girl and would probably be stuck with the job. I think this is perfect for a wedding.”

Ava took a look and did like it. It was form fitting but not provocatively so. It ended just past her knees and the top was still cleavage baring but not so much that it would be distasteful. It was held up by spaghetti straps.

She undressed then tried it on, taking herself in the full mirror in her room, turning around and appraising herself from different angles.

“I’m not sure.”

Antha snorted. “Sweetie, you are always hot. Unless you want to dress like a nun, it’s going to show. You would probably look hot as a nun too. That’s the dress for tomorrow. What about tonight? Dinner with his parents and brother and the fiancée, right?”

Ava nodded. “Are you sure this isn’t too much cleavage?”

Aino shook her head. “If you are that worried, I’m sure Wanda would go with you. People would be too busy staring at chest her to notice the tops of your boobs, even if you could give her a run for her money.”

Sonia laughed. “Could you imagine Wanda at a traditional, uptight wedding? Black leather pants, old combat boots, a corset so tight I don’t understand how she breaths and a red leather jacket that is too small for her.”

“She would definitely be drinking vodka straight from the bottle.” Antha added, tickled at the image.

Ava’s eyes widened. “That Scarlet Witch dress pant half cape, whatever it is, would be great for tonight! Do you think she would let me wear it?”

The girls looked at each other, not quite sure. “I think that only comes out when she is ready to flex.” Aino pointed out.

Sonia agreed. “I believe it has something to do with the head tilt and glowing eyes and evil smile.”

Chloe was confused. “Head tilt? Changing clothes? I’m lost.”

Ava laughed and took off her dress.

“We call it the Sokovian head tilt. When she tilts her head and her eyes glow, some asshole is fucked. If she changes clothes in midair, she will either bring a sinking ship back together or evaporate a crazy Vibranium robot.” Sonia explained. “You should go with the white lace dress for tonight.” she told Ava.

“White lace? Isn’t it offensive to wear a white dress to a wedding?” Ava asked.

“This isn’t the wedding. This is the dinner the night before the wedding. If she is threatened by your beauty you should show her your knives.” Antha suggested. “Let her know what an actual threat is. It looks great on you.”

Ava nodded. “Fine. Where is Naomi? I need her straightener.”

“I’m right here.” Naomi told her walking in. “Grab a seat and let me go to work. You know you are going to go with waves tomorrow, right? I’m good with staying in a hotel while you enjoy an open bar but I am not showing up to do your hair.”

“Maybe I can talk Yelena and Kate into staying with you. Yelena does crazy braids. She is the queen of braids.” Ava admitted.

“Yelena is with parents and dog and Kate Bishop and her one eyed dog. That is where she needs to be. You can fix your own hair for wedding. I am there for armed back up if a gunfight breaks out.” Naomi reminded her.

Chloe furrowed her brow. “Do you expect that to happen?”

“Only if we are lucky.” Naomi told her, not excited about staying at a boring hotel while Ava attended a boring wedding.

While the girls talked about hair, braids and weddings, Antha made a call she had been meaning to make for days.

“Nelson, Murdoch and Page.” A female voice answered. “How may we help you?”

“I need to speak to Matthew Murdock. It’s a matter of great urgency.”

“May I ask who is calling?”

Antha laughed. “Tell him its his friend from Germany.”

The phone was picked up quickly.

“Hello?”

“Hello Matt. This is Antha. I’ve decided I can no longer live with the weight of my sins. I want to turn myself in to the law and need a lawyer to represent me. What country should I turn myself into first? I’ve killed people in fifty or so countries. I usually posed as an international bikini model. I was told who to make eye contact with on the runway, who to seduce and then cut their throats. At least they died with a smile. Since I have been free from mind control I just can’t seem to stop myself from killing. I should be punished before I cause any more harm.”

Matt cleared his throat. “Antha…”

“Would you like to punish me, Matthew?”

“I’m a defense attorney.”

“So you want to protect me. I knew we had something special. Are there any justice systems I could turn myself into that require a defense attorney giving me a firm spanking as punishment?”

“I’m going to hang up.”

“If you were, you wouldn’t have told me. I have a fun challenge for you. I will be back in New York soon. I want us to meet in more peaceful surroundings than we have in the past.”

Matt cleared his throat. “Yeah, that’s not going to happen.”

Antha smirked. “I will call you when I arrive. I will choose a registered sex offender from Hell’s Kitchen. You have to figure out who it is before I kill him. When I kill him, you lose and I get to have my way with you. If you stop me from killing him, I lose and you get to have your way with me. Doesn’t that sound like a fair deal? How hard is the devil costume to get off? I’ll wear my top that unzips in the back but I can’t help the pants. Tight is necessary in my job. Less for my victims to grab. I’m sure we can get them off together. Teamwork makes the dream work, right?”

Matt began to speak and stuttered a few times before being able to make a sentence.

“If… if you come into my city and kill someone I’ll…”

Antha waited.

“Tough, isn’t it? You saw what a few of us did to a San Francisco police station. You saw what all of us did to an army of robots. You know that if I’m arrested, Wanda is going to rip the roof off the police department to get me out. It’s a sisterhood thing. So what are you going to do, Matthew? You can’t turn me over to the police because they might get hurt. If you want to stop me from hurting anyone you will have to place me in your personal custody. You are going to have to keep me busy all night long so I don’t hurt anyone. I do mean all night long. Can you do that, Matt? Can you keep me pleased all night long? I think you can.”

“Antha, I don’t know what game you are playing…”

“Of course you don’t because this isn’t a game. I want to experience those super senses for myself. Enhanced hearing. You can hear every flutter of my heartbeat when you touch me and know exactly what I want. You can feel the heat from my body, smell the moisture on my skin mixed with my perfume before I even feel it. You can feel and hear the blood pumping through me as I become more excited. You will know when I need more. You will hear and feel every hitch of my breath, every moan no matter how much I try to hide it. My body is going to set every one of your senses on fire. I will give you more pleasure than you have experienced in your life. Your thinking about me now, aren’t you? I swear no one will ever make you feel the way I can…”

Antha stopped speaking and stared at her phone.. “That son of a bitch hung up on me! He is going to pay for that. He is defiantly getting tied up. Bad devils get put in time out.” she told the girls.

The other widows in the room were staring at her.

“Wanda and Yelena can do some cool things but I swear you are my hero, Antha.” Sonia told her.

“That was so cool.” Chloe admitted.

“Can you teach me to do that? Aino asked.

“No!” every widow answered her.

Naomi shook her head. “You are too much, girl. He is too Catholic to give you a night. He would feel so guilty about feeling so good, he would stop halfway to go to confession.”

Antha was impressed. “You know a lot about Catholics?”

“I killed many Mafia members in Italy.” Naomi told her.

“Me too.” Ava added. “Always with the crosses. Any of them ever act like they were trying to warn you off like you are a vampire? I’m surprised I never had garlic thrown at me.”

“Don’t laugh. A bible almost saved one of my victims.” Chloe told them. “It stopped a bullet right over his heart. Unfortunately for him I always double tapped like a good little black widow. Pretty sure he was organized crime too.”

Aino sat next to Ava and began taking selfies with her.

“Just think, Ava,” Aino told her, “one day we might be getting you dressed for your wedding.”

“That won’t happen.” Stannic said, stepping into the room. “Girls like us don’t get happy endings. We get bullets. You should know Aino. You have already been clinically dead. In Iran, I shot a guy that had a line on Kristina. When I shot him his body jerked to the right and his finger pulled the trigger. A round went into the wall by Charlize’s head. Missed her by two inches. Two inches and she is dead. If he doesn’t die, Kristina is dead. That’s the life we live. No weddings, no babies, just violence and death.”

Stannic walked out and closed the door behind her, leaving the widows silent.

“She doesn’t have an accent but she seems much more Russian than Yelena and Anastasia combined.” Chloe observed.

“I suppose she might still be angry at Naomi and me.” Sonia said. “She isn’t thrilled with Ingrid either. We worked it out but she holds a grudge.”

“This is true.” Naomi admitted. “I sparred with her yesterday, thinking she may unleash some of that aggression in her. I put her in a chokehold thinking she would try one of the escape moves I taught her. The little brat bit me! She actually bit me! Drew blood and left her little fang imprints in my skin. I almost asked Oksana to have her checked for rabies.”

“Somebody needs to talk to her. She obviously has a lot going on in her mind.” Ava told them.

Sonia sighed and nodded. “Yes, you are right. Someone does need to talk to her. Wanda or Yelena?”

“Wanda.” Naomi told her. “Getting Yelena involved when Stannic is acting extra Russian is like having triple the Russian in the same conversation. Stannic is probably upset Romanoff left with Steve to buy camo gear from a black market dealer and left her behind for a couple hours. You know Wanda can put her in a good mood.”

Sonia sent a text to Wanda who replied back immediately.

“Wanda is on it.”

“Okay, cosmetic time!” Sonia called out when Naomi stepped back from her hair.

An hour later, Ava called Wong and waited for the portal to open up. Her eyes opened wide as she took him in. He was wearing a suit with a tie. She knew he told her he would be wearing a tuxedo tomorrow but had a hard time picturing it. He looked good in a suit. She couldn’t wait till tomorrow.

“Wow.”

Wong nodded. “Yeah, same here. Wow. Not that you aren’t always. I remember the first date in France when you walked out in the bikini and then there was the black… but this is a different wow. Very, very good wow. You are gorgeous.”

Ava grinned and felt her cheeks warm. Despite everything that had happened in her life, a compliment from him could make her blush.

“Naomi is downstairs. We can portal her to outside the hotel and then we can go to your parents’ home?”

Wong nodded.

The two walked down and found the entire house waiting for them. Yelena had a camera out and every cell phone was pointing towards them taking video and photos as they walked down the staircase.

“Looking good Wong!” Mika yelled.

“Thank you Mika.” he said a bit uncomfortably.

Yelena’s parents also began taking dozens of photos. Wong did his best to smile but he had never been comfortable with photos. His brother was the handsome one in his mind.

Once it was over he stepped outside with Ava and Naomi and opened a portal to the back of a hotel room. Naomi walked with her overnight bag towards the hotel and Wong opened another portal that led to a beautiful garden in front of a gorgeous two story dwelling. It wasn’t as large as the Mansion but was very impressive. Ava knew the garden was the sight of the wedding tomorrow and thought it was lovely.

“I needed this. It seems if not for breakfast, lunch or dinner we have been living in the woods this week and it won’t be changing anytime soon. Disney is next weekend at least so that will be another break. I have never been so sick of the great outdoors.”

Wong cringed. It was true she had been spending much more time training and when he asked, she told him she as preparing for a mission that required skills they weren’t trained in. He didn’t push for details and she didn’t offer any.

“Can I ask you what this mission you are getting ready for is? Why are you girls suddenly following Barnes like he is Yelena?”

Ava shrugged. “Jungle mission. We are going after a genocidal rebel leader and his band of soldiers on their home turf. None of us were trained to fight in that environment. Barnes is. It’s a very important mission.”

Wong wished he hadn’t asked. He hated when Ava fought in battles on ground she was familiar with. He at least knew she was the best wherever and whoever she fought. For her to admit they were at a disadvantage made him sick.

“Relax. Red Widows never lose. So I told you mine, now you tell me yours.” she said, taking his hand and walking with him towards the house.

“I told you, I’m not exactly on good terms with my father, or brother… my mom still loves me I think. If it wouldn’t be a controversy for me not to be invited I probably wouldn’t have been.”

Ava nodded. “Yeah, I got that. Something else is bothering you. I ask about work and you cringe. You usually love to talk about work.”

Wong sighed. “One of my friends has been distant lately. He has always been kind of an arrogant asshole but lately…”

“Is it that asshole, Mordo?” Ava asked.

Wong shook his head. “No, its Kaecilious. I didn’t tell you but I went after the witch myself and tracked her to London. I failed to take the Dark Scepter from her. Kae gave me a bunch of crap about it. He joined me, Daniel and Tina and we retrieved the weapon but he was still off. He hasn’t had the easiest life and has always made Mordo seem like a party animal in comparison to his behavior but lately he seems… different. Much darker.”

Ava sighed. So much went on there and Wong told her so little. Most of what she knew came from the Ancient One’s discussions with Wanda and Yelena and Wong telling her vague details. She had no idea who this Daniel, Tina or Kaecilious was.

“You know you can talk to me about these things.”

Wong shrugged. “You have enough on your mind. I don’t want to burden you.”

“You aren’t a burden.”

Wong didn’t respond. They reached the door and Wong rang the actual bell that hung on the side.

An actual butler answered the door. He nodded and Wong led Ava inside.

His father and mother were waiting for him only a few feet inside and Ava wondered why they couldn’t open the door themselves.

Both his parents were smiling, which was a good sign.

The father smiled at her though the mother’s smile seemed more forced. His father’s eyes didn’t stay on her face long before they started to roam over the rest of her. She managed not to roll her eyes and smiled as well.

“Welcome home, Wei.” His father greeted him, using the given name Wong had forsaken when he joined the Masters of the Mystic Arts.

Wong cringed and his father noticed. “Ah yes, you gave up the name your mother and I gave you for magic. Who is this lovely woman you have brought with you?”

“Father, this is my girlfriend, Ava.”

The man took her hand with both his. She noted Wong had more of his mother’s facial features but was built similarly to his father.

“And does Ava have a family name or is she a sorcerer who goes by one name as well?”

“I am not a sorcerer. My name is Ava Bourne. It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Wong. You as well, Mrs. Wong.”

The woman stepped forward and slightly bowed her head toward Ava and she returned the gesture.

“Please, you must call me Shi.” Wong’s father told her. “My other son Kai will be here shortly with his bride to be, Li. This is my wife Sara. It is a pleasure to meet you. Wong shares so little of his life we didn’t know he had a romantic partner until he told us he would be bringing you. Follow us to the dining area. We can have drinks before dinner.”

As the two followed the parents to another part of the house, Ava whispered, “I don’t think your mother likes me.”

“She doesn’t like anyone.” Wong whispered back. “My father appears to like you.”

Ava knew that was true.

They sat at a large round wooden table of a similar wood to what was used in the Mansion. Above them were three Chinese lanterns that gave beautiful light to the room. The walls were painted in murals depicting mountains and rivers in neutral colors, including different shades of white.

Kai paused when he entered the room with his arm around his fiancée. He took Ava in then looked back and forth between her and Wong. His fiancée noticed and was not impressed. She cleared her throat and he hurriedly pulled out a seat for her.

Wong’s father made introductions. Ava had decided that the women in the room did not like her and the men liked her too much.

“Ava, are you an American? Did you and Wong meet in New York?” Shi asked.

Ava nodded. “We met in New York. I was there on business. I am not an American.”

“So are you Canadian? Perhaps Spanish?”

Ava nodded. “I believe I was born in Spain.”

“You believe?”

“I am an orphan. I basically raised myself and traveled the world far too much to call any one country home.”

Shi nodded, impressed. “And what is it you do for work?”

“I’m an efficiency consultant. Companies hire me to evaluate their business operations and cut out the dead weight. Usually many people have been terminated when I am done with a job.”

Shi raised an eyebrow. “Impressive. Perhaps I should hire you to evaluate some of my departments. What company are you working with now?”

“I just finished with a scientific research branch of Oscorp. I’m now looking at a pharmaceutical company that has branches in North Africa. I will be evaluating them soon. I am sure the employees won’t be excited when I arrive. No one likes the efficiency consultant.”

“She doesn’t look old enough to have graduated high school, much less college .” Li said to Mrs. Wong in Chinese.

“Perhaps she found out who his family is and does not believe he has truly forsaken the family fortune. A young gold digger no doubt. Her body is her best asset, not her mind .” Mrs. Wong responded with a small grin.

“That is enough!” Wong shouted and began to rise but Ava place a hand on his shoulder and addressed his mother.

“I am older than I look. As far as money I have all the money I could possibly need. I’m the kind of girl that likes magic in her life and your son is full of magic, Mrs. Wong.” Ava told her with a delighted smile. “Also thank you for the compliment. I work hard every day to make sure my body is at peak performance level. I am glad you approve of my asset.”

Sara and Li looked at each other, shocked and embarrassed.

Mr. Wong loved it and slapped the table. “You speak Chinese! How wonderful!”

Ava shrugged and smiled. “As I said, I grew up an orphan and traveled the world. I know many languages.”

“Speaking of gold diggers, what was it you did before you met Kai, Li?” Wong asked.

Li reddened. “I worked in the hospitality industry.”

“You managed a resort or a hotel?” Ava asked. “How exciting.”

“No, I remember what she did.” Wong told Ava. “She was the check in girl at a hotel Kai stayed in. I understand the uniforms came with very short skirts. Love at first sight I guess, right brother?”

“Don’t start, Wei.” Kai warned him.

Shi clapped his hands. “Enough talk. We shall eat now. Ava, as our guest you must be served first. Forgive us all. We seem to have forgotten manners. I am embarrassed.”

Ava waved it off and smiled. “On the contrary, I haven’t had this much fun in a long time.”

Wong shook his head and smiled, loving how Ava could remain so unaffected by everything. Of course when a person goes through what she had in her life things like petty people’s rudeness was nothing.

He was still angry but he shouldn’t have been surprised. He had warned Ava and really did not want to come. He had little to do with his family. He had nothing in common with them. Both his father and brother were womanizers and his mother only cared about status. He hd only met hie soon to be sister in law twice and was not impressed with her either time. She was a true gold digger, needing someone to take care of her.

He couldn’t help but think of Ava at that airport in Germany, blood on her face, her uniform torn, walking with a limp, yet she still held a gun in her hand, a determined look on her face, ready to go into another battle against super soldiers. That was a real woman. He never told her he had traveled to Siberia and was ready to step in if she needed him to fight beside her. She never would of course but he couldn’t help himself.

The next morning they watched the traditional wedding ceremony take place. Ava had never known or bothered to learn about the Chinese traditional marriage ceremony. It was complex and beautiful and though she was fairly certain the bride was a gold digger who kissed her mother in law’s ass, Wong’s brother seemed happy.

She also noted a distinct lack of photos of Wong in the house. She knew they had a major falling out when he moved to Nepal and she was surprised he showed up to this wedding. He barely spoke to his mother and father and they did not make much of an effort to speak to him.

“Why did you agree to stand by him?” Ava asked, after the ceremony. “Your family doesn’t deserve you.”

Wong shrugged. “We weren’t always at odds. He wasn’t a bad little brother. Maybe I wasn’t a great big brother. I don’t know. He asked me because it was expected and I didn’t want to turn him down and embarrass him. I am sorry you have had to sit through this. I’m glad you are with me. You are the only reason I can get through this without getting very drunk.”

Ava laughed quietly and drank wine from her glass. “It takes more than a jealous fiancée and disapproving mother to scare me, Wong.”

He laughed and offered his hand for a dance. The two glided around the dance floor enjoying themselves and ignoring the stares they got. Most were from either women jealous of Ava’s looks or men envious of Wong’s girlfriend.

“I suspect we are reminding people of Beauty and the Beast. Staci would approve.” Wong told her.

“Are you calling me a beast? I know I’m an animal in bed but I thought you liked it.”

Wong laughed and spun her around. The two danced the night away. He told his parents goodbye, congratulated his brother and then opened a portal to Naomi’s hotel room. From there they returned to the Mansion foyer.

“Are you staying?” Ava asked him.

Wong looked around and saw only a few widows were still up. He nodded and followed her into the living room. Rowan shrieked and they saw she was watching Jaws.

“First time seeing the movie for her?”

“Jaws? No. I saw it for the first time the other night but it has been replayed several times on television. Rowan has watched it a dozen times and it still freaks her out. Let’s go to bed.”

Lying in bed, exhausted from the past two days, Ava was still in no mood to sleep.

“The wedding ceremony was beautiful.”

Wong nodded. “Yes, it was.”

Ava raised her head from his chest and looked at him closely.

“A lot of girls would dream of something like that one day.”

Wong smirked. “Yeah, I guess a lot of girls would. Women love that kind of thing. Some girls love all the frilly stuff and… I’m missing something here, aren’t I?”

Ava laid her head back on his chest. “You usually are. Let’s go to sleep. I need to be up in a few hours and study more intel. Rwandan death squads don’t kill themselves.”

The two lay in silence for a while after Wong turned off the lamp.

“Hey Ava?”

“Yeah?”

“Is that… is that something you would want… some day? I mean is that kind of thing…”

“What kind of thing?”

“A wedding. Are you into that stuff?”

“That stuff?”

“Do you want me to propose?”

“No!” Ava told him. “Not today. Besides when you propose to someone you shouldn’t ask them if they want a proposal. That’s not how it works. I have heard that’s not how it works. I’m saying maybe someday if you did, I wouldn’t be opposed to it. That’s all. It probably won’t happen. Our jobs keep us in two different worlds.”

“Yeah.” Wong agreed. “I love you. You know that, right?”

“Of course. I love you, too.”

“I would leave it behind for you.”

Ava lifted her head and looked at him.

“Leave what?”

“Leave it all. Kamar-Taj, sorcery, all of it. You are the most important person in my life. Nothing else in my life comes close.”

“Seriously I was so tired but now I really want to make you scream in ecstasy.”

Wong grinned. “You are so romantic. You should probably sleep. Jungle warfare and all. I kind of hate your job. I think one day Wanda is going to show up in the Sanctum or call me and say I won’t be seeing you again.”

Ava shook her head. “Not going to happen. I’m a superhero, babe. I’m bulletproof.”

She paused then sighed.

“I know you worry and I can’t promise to always come back. If it were for thrills or kicks or to satisfy some thirst for violence I wouldn’t put you through this. But there are kids out there who are just like I was. Slaves in their own bodies, childhoods stolen and used and discarded. As long as they are out there, I can’t stop. I know that makes it hard to be with me. I wish I could walk away from it too, but I just can’t. It isn’t more important to me than you. It is just necessary and I have to do it. I do have a choice and if I make the choice to quit, I will probably live a long life always knowing that I was a coward. What kind of life is that?”

Wong rubbed her back gently. “I know. I get it. I can handle the worry. You are worth it.”

“Let’s go to sleep.” Ava told him.

Wong lay back and closed his eyes, thinking of nothing but the woman in his arms and the ring in his desk room at the New York Sanctum, waiting in its box for the right time, whenever that would be.