girlinsneakers

“Do you want to go see a movie?” Daisy asks as she scrolls through her phone. The two of you are hanging out in her apartment after you dropped Rachel off with Jean. You are laying on her bed with your eyes closed and she is sitting next to you with her back resting against the wall. 

“If that's what you want to do,” you say with your eyes still closed. 

“Or we could just stay in while you mope,” she sarcastically suggests. 

You scowl as you open your eyes, “I'm not moping. I'm just… tired.” You are much more than tired. You spent your entire week with Rachel trying to forget about what you and Wanda did. It was just a kiss and you put a stop to it but it kept playing in your mind and the guilt was eating at you. If the kiss didn't mean anything then you would feel fine with not telling Daisy about it. But it did mean something. It made you feel things you're almost certain that you've never felt before. 

How can you explain to Daisy that you do want to be with her when something inside of you wants to be with someone else? You can't. So you won't. 

“Are you sure you're not moping? Because you look a little down,” Daisy says as she starts to play with your hair. 

“Yeah, I'm fine,” you assure her. “You know me, I hate trade off days.” Daisy believes that's all it is and leans down to give you a kiss. 

“Maybe I can help take your mind off of it,” she says as she starts to crawl on top of you. As much as you don't want to, you kiss back. You hold her against your body. As she starts to deepen the kiss you start to imagine she is someone else. You don't realize that you're doing that until Daisy's roommate, Jemma, barges into the room and you are brought back to reality. The two of you spring apart as if she came at the both of you with a bucket of ice water. Daisy lays one of her pillows on your lap as she asks her friend why she interrupted them. 

“Because I got the concert tickets! I had to let you know!” She says excitedly. 

Daisy hops out of her bed matching the energy of her friend. “You're lying! No way!” She says as she grabs her friend in a tight hug. The two of them hop around the room with joy and you're trying to figure out what kind of concert could make the two of them so happy. “I thought it was sold out! I can't believe it!”

“Uh, what concert are you going to?” You ask as you sit up. 

Daisy stops celebrating with Jemma for a moment and turns to you, “Oh it's just some indie band. You don't really know them. But I can't wait to introduce them to you!” Jemma gives Daisy an odd look and opens her mouth to say something but is stopped by her friend. 

Jemma takes the hint, “Yeah they are really underground. It was only hard to get tickets because, because,” she looks at Daisy for help. 

“Because they only allow like twenty people at their venue,” she says. It's obvious that they are both lying to you but as it is, she's withholding concert information and you're imagining another woman when you kiss her. She can have her secret concert. 

“Alright, that's cool,” you stand up and make sure you have everything in order to leave. “When is the concert? So I can plan around it,” you ask as you look between the two. 

“Next Saturday,” Jemma answers with a big smile. “I was so lucky to score these tickets!” She boasts. 

“Aw, babe, I'm sorry. I don't think I can go. I get Rachel back that day,” you put your hand on Daisy's back and kiss her cheek. She looks a little disappointed but you can't read if she's being genuine or not. She must've known that you wouldn't be able to go to this concert. “I should probably go home. Maybe we can hang out tomorrow or something,” you offer and Daisy’s frown deepens letting you know that she doesn't want you gone. 

“Wait no,” she isn't able to stop you until you're in the living room. “I'm sorry about the interruption but I don't want you to go. Please, come on, I feel like we were,” she dances two fingers down your chest and stops at the top of your jeans. She bites her lips and smiles up at you. “We were finally getting somewhere, you know?” 

You take a deep breath and nod, “I don't think we should do that here. At my place we have privacy. Plus, I feel like I should at least take you on a fancy date before we cross that line.” 

This makes Daisy giggle, “You are too old fashioned sometimes. You know that you're still in your twenties right?” Her remark reminds you of kissing Wanda and you're hit with a pang of guilt. She turns around to look for any of her other roommates and then turns back to you. “I don't need a date, Y/n. We've been on plenty of those. I'll just, I'll meet you at your place. I have a few surprises that I want to bring. Okay?” She gives you a quick kiss and sends you off. 

You sigh once you're in your truck. You look at your phone to see if there are any missed calls or messages but your notifications are empty. You look through your photo album and smile at the pictures of Wanda laughing and the ones of her playing with the kids. You miss her. It's been a week and neither of you has contacted the other and you miss her. But you can't miss her. You have to go home and get ready to be with Daisy for the night. 

Meanwhile, Wanda is cleaning her house to get ready for the boy's return. Her phone won't stop going off with messages from Natasha. The woman was persistent in asking her out tonight but she wasn't in the mood. 

This entire week, all she could think about was how stupid she was for trying to convince you to sleep with her. She can't stop playing it in her head. She was embarrassed that she initiated the kiss, she was embarrassed that she begged for more, she was embarrassed that she gave you the cold shoulder the morning after. She was embarrassed by it all and she doesn't know how she can come back from this mistake. Wanda doesn't even remember much of what happened. She knows she kissed you and started to unbutton your shirt and that you put a stop to it. But she doesn't remember what you said, only partially what she said. Moreso what she was thinking when she watched you talk. 

Wanda shakes her head now to clear those thoughts that haunt her. The two of you are friends. Nothing more than friends. The more she tells herself that, the less she believes it. But for the sake of her boy's friendship with your daughter and your friendship slash professional relationship with her brother, she will force herself to accept that as the only truth. You are her friend and that's all that you will ever be. 

Her phone buzzes again and this time, instead of ignoring it, Wanda picks up the device and opens the explicit image that Natasha sent her. Wanda shrugs and sends a quick invite and the woman informs her that she will be over as soon as possible. Wanda doesn't need a relationship right now. She just needs release and time to find herself again. 

That's what she is going to do. 

“Wow, um,” Daisy clears her throat and shifts awkwardly next to you. “Is it me?” She asks with a frown. 

You shake your head, “No, no. It has nothing to do with you. I’m just in my head. I need to um,” you look around your room to find a solution. “I just have a difficult time relaxing and sometimes I need something,” you climb out of the bed and grab some shorts from the floor and frantically pull them on. “Stay right here, I will be right back,” you kiss her on the lips then leave her in the bedroom. You slide into the kitchen and pour yourself a shot. Then another. And one more for safety. The last time you drop the glass to the counter you look over at your phone and lick your lips as you consider looking through her social media page. But it’s better not to. You felt guilty enough. 

You walk back to the bedroom with a mission, to follow through and make your girlfriend feel desirable. You close your eyes and push through to make Daisy feel good. In the end, you feel better about having done it. There’s a sense of freedom from having finally had sex after so many years. It even overshadows the guilt you would have felt for having to think of someone else in order to get started. But once you did, you brought yourself back to the reality that you are with a beautiful woman and you really got to show her how much you like her. 

Although, once she is asleep in your bed you don't want to stay and snuggle with her. You begin to wish that you had done this at her place so that you could get some distance. Make an excuse to go home. Can't do that when you are home. When you've checked to see that she was truly asleep, you sneak out of the bed and pull on sweatpants before grabbing your pack of cigarettes and your lighter and going out to the balcony. You stand out there and take the time to look within yourself and really consider what you're doing with the girl in your bed. Are you just going to end up hurting her? Despite what you promised Phil, you're not sure if you can prevent that from happening. 

But maybe you won't have to hurt her. It's not like Wanda is a real option. You confessed your feelings to her and she kicked you out of her room, ignored you the next morning, and hasn't reached out to you since. It was clear she doesn't reciprocate those feelings. She's probably keeping you at a distance until you apologize and assure her that you only see her as a friend. Something that she's going to have to wait on because you don't want to have to lie to her. You will if you have to but you're confident that you can get over the crush if you just focus on what's in front of you. 

Twisting the butt of the cigarette on the old ashtray, you walk back inside the apartment and crawl into the bed. It takes you a few minutes but eventually you're able to fall asleep. 

Wanda is sitting on her deck staring out at the colors of the sunset as she smokes a cigarette from the pack she bought the day that she met you. As her lips meet the butt of the cigarette she remembers the way your lips pressed eagerly against hers. How is it that she can remember your touch so vividly, but she can't remember your words? Were you disgusted with her or yourself? Did you tell her to forget that it ever happened? She wasn't aware that she was so drunk that she could forget details of the night like that. 

Wanda clearly remembers pouring her heart out to you. She remembers making the decision to kiss you. But anything after that is all a blur of emotions. Embarrassment remains the shining star so far. As she rolls the cigarette between her fingers she thinks about how she tried to remove your shirt and she scoffs and closes her eyes, ashamed of her actions. Even if you weren't putting an official title on it, you are still seeing someone and she feels horrible that she has put you in the position to lie to that person. Or maybe you didn't lie to her. Maybe you told her right away and she gave you an ultimatum. Did you choose her over Wanda? Is that why you haven't reached out? 

She taps the ash off of the tip of her cigarette as she sighs deeply. If you don't want anything to do with her, that's fine. But she won't let her boys suffer from her mistakes. Not anymore. It's a good thing that she got Jean's number so she can make sure that her boys can keep in touch with their friend without having to always go through you. If you didn't want to be her friend then she was fine with that. Sure, part of her was going to miss you but she wasn't going to fight for the friendship if you are so willing to give it up so easily.

“I had no idea you smoked,” Natasha says from the back door as she adjusts her clothes. 

Wanda blows a cloud of smoke out of her lips, “I don't.” Her monotone reply keeps Natasha from asking anymore questions. 

“Okay, well, I guess I will see you sometime next week?” Natasha awkwardly steps closer to Wanda. It was hard for her to know where she stood with the single mother. When she pursued her, she thought it was just going to be a casual fling. The kind of relationship that she is used to having. But then she was being ignored and there is something magnetic about Wanda that made her fear losing the chance to be with her again. She hopes the feeling passes because she knows that Wanda isn't looking for anything more than what they have. But then she hopes Wanda will have a change of heart. Except when she leans in to give her a kiss, she is given Wanda’s cheek. It's enough for her to realize that this needed to end.

“Yeah, I'll um, I'll call you,” Wanda says without looking at the blonde woman. 

“Okay,” she does her best to hold the tears back until she is at the front door. Although this is what she signed up for, she knows that this isn't what she deserves. Without letting the divorcee know, she promises herself that this is the last time she comes to this house. 

Over the course of the week, you lose sleep because Daisy is knocking on your door after her shift is over. She brought an overnight bag on Sunday and practically moved in with you for the week. It was nice to have someone in your bed again. Although, opening up the relationship to a more sexual aspect has shifted the dynamic a bit. Neither of you talk to each other anymore because why have a meaningful conversation when you can be pleasuring and exploring each other in a more physical way? Most importantly, it keeps your mind off of Wanda and the pain you feel everyday when you realize that the friendship is probably over. 

It's not until Saturday when you're saying goodbye to Daisy before your daughter gets dropped off that you remember the other reason you pulled away. You didn't want to complicate things for the kids' friendship. Now you aren't sure what to say to Rachel if she asks to hang out with the boys today. You hope she wants to have a playdate with other friends or is even okay with just hanging out with you. 

You check the time when you feel like she should have been dropped off already and call Jean to find out what's taking so long. As you open your phone you notice quite a few missed notifications and check your messages. Your heart sinks when you read and find out that you are going to have to pick her up from Wanda’s house a couple of hours from now. You close your eyes and take a few breaths to prepare yourself to go over there again. 

It's been two weeks now with no contact. Was it going to be weird to pick up your daughter? Will she allow you to explain yourself? Should you stay in your car and honk for her to send Rachel out? You aren't sure what to do or how to act. You shake your head at yourself as you start to feel a little ridiculous. You needed to pull it together. You need to be an adult and try to work through this awkward phase. Is it worth it to lose this friendship over a kiss and confusing feelings? No, it is not. 

You check the time again and get in the shower to wash up. You get dressed in something a little nicer than you normally wear to her house. Then you decide to drive out to the liquor store to get her a peace offering. You find a bottle called “Enchanted Rock,” a vodka that you've only had once before. You can't remember if it was good or not but it sticks out to you because of the song your daughter would play in the car on the way to and from Wanda’s house. 

You pick up a couple of packs of cigarettes now that you're low from how much you've been smoking lately. Looking at the wall of cigarettes, you recognize the brand Wanda bought the day you met her and ask for a pack. Just in case. You stop by a pharmacy to grab a few extra things. A plain gift bag to hide the presents and a few candies to add. Then you find a card that says, “I messed up big time,” and although you don't feel like you did anything wrong, you feel as though that's the best card for this situation. When you open the card it already has the words “I'm sorry,” printed on it. As you sit in your truck you take a moment to think about what you want to say. Do you want to write a novel expressing your feelings? Or do you want to keep it simple? 

To keep things from getting complicated further, you decide to keep it simple. You write, “Let's forget it happened. Please can we go back to being friends?” You look it over a couple of times to make sure your handwriting is legible. When you're satisfied, you look at the time and realize that you're running late. 

You arrive at Wanda’s house a few minutes later and before you’re out of the car, Rachel is running and ready to go. You give her a big hug and help her to the truck. You keep looking back at the closed door to Wanda’s house and wonder if you should take this as a sign to leave it alone. She is going to keep the kids connected through your ex until it's no longer a friendship. Until there is no reason for either of you to talk to each other. Is that what you wanted? 

You look down at the gift bag in your hand and consider tossing it in the truck and driving away. Following her lead. But maybe the peace offering will prevent the long game of avoiding each other. Maybe it will restore everything to normal. “What’s that?” Rachel asks as she points to the red gift bag. 

“Uh it was a gift for miss Wanda,” you say as you look down at the bag again. “She’s kind of mad at me right now so I don’t know if it’s a good time to give it to her.” 

“Well, did you apologize to her?” She asks as she looks past you to the house her friends live in.

“This is my apology,” you admit. 

“Then you have to give it to her, Baba!” Rachel nudges you backwards. “Go!” She insists. You nod and shut the door on her side of the truck, telling her that you’ll be a moment. You nervously check your watch as you walk up to her door. You lightly knock once but she doesn’t answer the door. You look back at Rachel, who is watching from the window and gives you a thumbs up. You feel like a kid again, her mom made the same gesture when you were in high school and was asking some girl to the homecoming dance. But you aren’t that awkward kid anymore that needs their best friend to encourage them every step of the way. 

You knock again, this time with more confidence and more persistence. You feel more sure of yourself as you wait for an answer. But the door doesn’t move. So you ring the doorbell next. It’s one of those smart ones with the camera and you realize she could see you the entire time. You sigh. 

“Wanda, please, can we talk?” You ask with a solemn tone. There is no change so you try harder. “I know that I shouldn’t have told you that I have feelings for you but I couldn’t-”

The door swings open to reveal a wide eyed Wanda. “You said what?” 

You’re thrown off by her confusion. “Is that not why you’re not talking to me? Is it because I kissed you back, was it a test?”

Wanda shakes her head, “Wait, no, you’re the one not talking to me because I kissed you.”

“No, I haven’t reached out because I thought you hated me. You wouldn’t even look at me the next morning,” you admit. The two of you stand there confused and staring at each other trying to piece together each other's misunderstandings. “I brought you something as an apology for the way I acted that night and the weeks that followed,” you hold the gift out to her and Wanda is crushed with guilt as she accepts it. 

“Why are you apologizing? I’m clearly the one in the wrong here,” she says as she admires the plain bag with tissue paper sticking out. You told her once that your mom taught you how to do that when you were very young and you loved arranging gifts because of it. “You really shouldn’t have. But thank you,” she opens her arms to wrap them around you and you step into the hug. “I’m sorry that I was being childish. I don’t know why I started to assume the worst in you.” Wanda says into your shoulder. 

“Can I ask what you thought?” You ask as you step back. “I’d be happy to tell you my thoughts in exchange." Wanda fiddles with the strap of the gift bag as she nervously explains that she thought you were given an ultimatum and didn’t choose her. You shake your head with a frown. “No, um, that uh, she doesn’t know that it happened. But we are officially together now so I figured um now was a better time than any to tell you that although I meant what I said that night, I’m not expecting you to return those feelings. I have someone who I also really like and she has some strong feelings for me… I think.” She asks you what you mean by that and you go on to describe your side of the events and she starts to blush, moreso from embarrassment than from flattery. 

Wanda nods as she bites her bottom lip, “I actually didn’t remember that part of the night. I just remember thinking that you looked very attractive and I wanted to kiss you. Well, clearly I wanted to do more than kiss you but we’ve been over that.” She awkwardly laughs and you join in because it’s what feels right to do in the moment. “So the two of you made it official?”

“I, well, kind of?” You say, unsure of yourself. “We have definitely taken things further but I think we’re close to a conversation.” 

Wanda nods and does her best to hide her disappointment with a smile. “That’s really great. I’m glad things are going well.” She looks at the gift in her hand and then remembers that you have a little girl in your car that is probably anxious to get home. “Alright, well, I won’t keep eating your time with Rachel. I’m glad one of us is mature enough to want to communicate.” she jokes and you smile in acknowledgement. “I will go back to texting you and calling you. I promise and thank you again.” She goes in for one more hug and you accept it. The two of you say your goodbyes and each of you are filled with relief as you separate. Wanda slides against the front door with a grin on her face, feeling giddy from hearing that you have deeper feelings for her. She knew that with Daisy in the picture nothing was going to happen and right now, she isn’t in the best state of mind to take on a relationship. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t revel in the fact that someone likes her. 

Meanwhile you are singing word for word of the song that Rachel loves to play on the ride home from Wanda’s and Rachel sings along with you as she celebrates the idea that her plan might work after all.

Chapter 10

“Here is the master bedroom,” the real estate agent says as he leads you and Leigh through the house. It is much bigger than either of your current rooms. Even with it fully furnished. “I noticed that you are expecting so let me show you the nursery room that we have set up.” He draws the attention over to a room a little ways down the hall to show off the staged nursery. It's meant for a little girl which you and Leigh are almost positive that it's what she's carrying but the room makes you want to have a little girl someday. 

“This is so beautiful,” Leigh says with tears in her eyes as she imagines a smiling baby lying in the crib. She can see them having your eyes and her nose as they hold their little feet in the air and reach out to her with their tiny hands. She can't believe that image has the potential of being real. When Matt had told her his stance on children, she thought she would never get to experience her own children. She thought she was going to have to pretend to be a happy aunt when it happened for others. She hopes whoever he's with now doesn't want children. She hopes that he doesn't take that away from someone again. There are plenty of women that don't want to have kids, he told her in an argument once. Why are you making me out to be a villain? He'd asked when she posed the question why he waited until a year into their marriage to reveal this detail. I just want you! He had said when she told him that he could have been with anyone else. 

“Leigh,” you call softly as you wrap your body around her from behind. She melts against your chest. “What’s on your mind?” You lean down and rest your chin on her shoulder. 

“I’m just really grateful for you,” she says as she rubs your arms. You ask her why with a slight amusement, surprised about her sudden words of gratitude. “For making my dreams come true,” she admits as she leans back to catch your lips. The sweet kiss is interrupted by your phone going off to your ringtone for your father.  

“I’m sorry baby, I have to answer this,” you say as you pull away. “He probably just wants to make sure that we’re going to be there for dinner.” 

“Y/n, it’s okay to talk to your dad,” she says with a small laugh and you shake your head confused as to why you were so flustered about answering a phone call from your own father. 

“Right,” you say as you answer the call. While you walk off to talk to him privately, Leigh continues to walk around the home, imagining the two of you making it your own. At the other houses that the two of you toured throughout the week, they didn’t feel right. They were lovely homes but they didn’t feel like her home. However, this one she can see it all happening here. You chasing the kids down the hall just for fun. Her baking cookies from scratch with them in the kitchen. Catching the baby in her belly trying to sneak out of the house when he’s older and grounded. Having family movie nights in the living room. Playing board games on the dining table. She can see it all. 

“What do you think about the house?” The realtor startles her in the dining room and he apologizes. 

“It’s okay, I’m just lost in my head. I love it, but I’m going to discuss it with my partner before I say anything else,” she says, being cautious of the agent's sales tactics. He nods once and starts to give the age old speech of how it’s a popular house and that there are many offers already placed on it and Leigh nods along pretending to be concerned. She has done her research on each property and this one has been on the market for five years and has gone down in prices in the last couple of years. Standing in it she can’t imagine why it hasn’t sold, there wasn’t anything wrong with it that she could see and to her knowledge no one was murdered in it. 

You find Leigh when you’ve hung up and you listen to the real estate agent’s pitch as well. “I’ll keep that in mind and be in touch with you soon. But we have to go,” you take Leigh’s hand, “My dad wants us there a bit early for dinner. It was a pleasure to meet you and hopefully we’ll see you again soon.” You drop her off at her house to get ready so that you can grab something nice for yourself from your place. Then you return to her house to pick up Leigh and her family. Jules is coming along and you worry about what her behavior might be through the night as you warned your dad about her current condition. He swore to have all of his liquor locked up and you trust that he would but you worry that Jules might lose it without having a beverage or two. 

Arriving at your dad’s house, everyone is impressed with the size of the home and you feel a little embarrassed. “This is where you grew up?” Jules rolls down her widow to stick her head out. 

“No, I never live here. My dad got this a few years ago. The house I grew up in is closer to where I live now,” you explain as you find a spot in the large driveway to park. You look over at Leigh whose eyes are wide with fear. “You okay?” You ask as you take her hand in yours and begin to rub your thumb into her palm. 

“He is going to think I did this for money,” Leigh states. You shake your head as you try to tell her that’s not true. “How much does he know?” She looks at you alarmed. You had told her that you told your dad a version of how the two of you got together to make her feel better about meeting him. But that wasn’t true. 

You sigh as you admit, “I told him everything. Trust me, this isn’t going to go bad. He isn’t judgemental. He just wants to be included in this family.” 

Leigh nods as she starts to calm herself down. “Okay,” she says, “Okay, let's go before I lose it.” She spins in her seat to face her mom and sister, “The both of you better be on your best behavior.” 

Amy takes her daughter's hand and reassures her that everything is going to be okay. Leigh is nervous the entire walk to the door and you do your best to calm her but with the added hormonal imbalance that comes with pregnancy, it’s not an easy task. Your father greets everyone at the door with warm hugs as he invites them in. You compliment the house that you’ve only been to a handful of times since he purchased it. 

He offers to do a tour as dinner is being prepared and as you’re about to reject the offer, Leigh accepts and stays close to your father. She doesn’t know how she is going to get this man to see her as someone that loves you for you but she is certainly going to try her best. 

As your father shows everyone around the house he is certain to mention that it’s a house meant for family and that he hosts great holiday parties for all of the major holidays and that the Shaw family is welcome to join. “If you don’t mind my asking and please excuse my phrasing but do you have a father that you are in touch with?” Your dad asks Leigh who is continuously surprised by the man's politeness. As soon as she saw the house she was preparing herself for a narcissistic, judgmental, snob. But your father has so far presented himself as the exact opposite. 

“Yeah, I do,” Leigh says, “He’s been a great support in this, I can’t believe I completely forgot to invite him to this.” 

“It’s no worries, another time,” your father says with a smile. “He and whoever is important to him are welcomed here as well. My child isn’t always good at including people in their lives,” he leans close, “he gets that from his mother. But I am happy to extend the invitation.” 

You try not to think about the comment about your mother too much. You haven’t seen her since you were twelve years old. But even before that it was still just you and your dad. You haven't opened up about your mom to Leigh yet. She gives you a look of concern and you shrug it off as the tour continues. After seeing every room and amenity in the home your father is informed that dinner is ready and he ends the tour in the extravagant dining room. This house could fit the one you viewed today about fifty times and there’d still be room. You never understood the need to have a house so big. Especially for one person. 

“Oh my,” Leigh’s mouth waters at the meals displayed on the table. 

“I know how bad pregnancy can be sometimes, Y/n’s mother could hardly enjoy anything when she was pregnant so I asked Y/n about all of your trigger foods and all of your cravings. I hope they’ve been paying attention because if you have to run out of here, I’m not above grounding them,” your father jokes to Leigh.

She is shaking her head with tears in her eyes, “No, it’s perfect.” Everyone sits down to enjoy the meal together. Your father shares stories about memories the two of you shared together and Amy does the same for Leigh. Jules keeps quiet because all she can think about is embarrassing moments and how bad she wants a drink. The night goes well and when it’s over, Leigh is being sent home with more leftovers than she knows what to do with. Your dad gets the Shaw girls to promise to visit and Amy offers to host him next weekend. He enthusiastically accepts the invitation.  

On the way to the Shaw residence Amy and Leigh are asking about what meals your father likes and you assure them that you will handle the meal for them. “So why didn't you tell us that you were rich?” Jules asks. 

You laugh, “Your sister thought it was a pick up line so I didn't correct her.” Leigh rolls her eyes and tells Jules that it's not true over her shoulder. “Nah, I'm kidding. It's really not my money. It's my dad's. I don't make or have nearly as much money as he does.” You explain. “But, I do well for myself. Leigh and the baby will be taken care of,” you hold Leigh's hand in yours and she leans over and kisses you on the cheek. 

“What did you think about the house we saw today?” Leigh asks as she folds a shirt that she puts in a suitcase. She wants to trial run living together without her family around and without all of the comforts that she is used to. 

“I loved it, I think we should put in an offer,” you say as you set your phone down to give her your full attention. “It was weird, I could really see us living there,” you admit. “And it's more bedrooms than we need right now so you know what that means,” you wink at her as you bite your lip. 

Leigh shakes her head with a laugh, “Slow down. Let’s see how we are with one kid first.” You agree with her and continue to watch her pack her things. “I really liked it too by the way.” You hum in question of what she is talking about. “The house. I think we should put in an offer. Well, you should. I don’t think I can yet because Matt is dragging this divorce out.” 

“Does he know about everything?” You ask slowly just in case the question upsets her. 

“Yeah, unfortunately Estelle told him everything and so he has this lawyer trying to screw me over in the divorce,” she says with a frown. 

“If you need a better lawyer, Teddy’s brother is a pretty great one,” you suggest. 

“Teddy has a brother?” Leigh says surprised. 

You nod, “She has two brothers and a sister, all of them are a lot older than her so she wasn’t close with them when she was younger.” 

“Wow, I don’t know why but I didn’t picture her as someone with siblings,” Leigh says, still shocked by the information. “But no, I wouldn’t feel right asking for favors from a girl I’ve barely met.” 

“Well she owes me and he owes me too so it wouldn’t be wrong for me to call in some favors. Besides, she’s kind of part of my family and correct me if I'm wrong but you and I are building a family together.” You wait to see if she will correct you but she doesn’t and you smile. “Come on, we can set up a lunch and I won’t ask until after you meet them,” you try to convince Leigh to let you help her. 

“Okay, I would like to get to know Teddy better,” Leigh says, feeling a little bit jealous that you are confident in calling some other woman your family, whereas it's still a question with her. Sometimes she wishes you'd just be more direct in what you wanted from her instead of tiptoeing around the subject. Sometimes she wishes that you would stop asking her for permission for everything. Sometimes she fantasies that you storm in one day, grab her by the waist, and claim her as yours. 

But no, you continue to play it safe. “Leigh,” you call her name, causing her to look in your direction. “Something on your mind?” 

She puts on a fake smile and shakes her head, “No, I'm just um… I'm just a little nervous about spending the week with you. It's a big step for us.”

You shrug a little confused by the statement and stand from the bed, “I think we've taken bigger steps.” You walk around the furniture and stand behind her, wrapping your arms around her middle.

Leigh snorts, “We didn't take that step, we were pushed into it.” 

You smile and kiss the back of her neck, “I think there was a little bit more involved in that.” 

Shivers race down Leigh's spine as she leans into your chest. “Not here,” she whispers as her body heats up from your touch. You continue to kiss her neck and lightly trail your fingers down her stomach and slowly bunch up her dress in order to slip your fingers in her underwear. Unfortunately, a knock on Leigh’s bedroom door has you jumping away from her. You quickly sit on the bed and cover your lap with one of her decorative pillows. Leigh takes a few breaths to cool down as she opens the door. “Jules, is everything okay?” She asks full of concern for her sister with tears coming down her face. You feel even more awkward now, but a little relieved that the tears have scared away the evidence of arousal. 

“Yeah,” she sniffs and wipes her face. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to make everything about me but. Ugh, I don’t want you to have this baby,” her admission has you and Leigh looking at her with wide eyes. She is being a bit hysterical so you give her the benefit of the doubt. Plus the smell of alcohol is strong in her presence. Now neither of you has to wonder about a stash in her bedroom.

“Why’s that, Jules?” you ask with concern as you sit up more on the bed.

She shakes her head as she continues to cry. “No, I mean. I want you to have the baby. I just. I want to be sober when he or she or they get here. I don’t want to be like, like, like this!” She gestures to herself. You and Leigh are relieved to an extent. Jules wants help but you’re a little weary of the timing. You have offered her help many times before she came to your fathers home. Now she is ready for help? 

“Hey, hey,” Leigh holds her sister in her arms. “It’s okay, Jules. There’s still time to get you help. We’ll talk to mom and-” 

“No! I can’t put her through that again,” she says as she pulls out of Leigh’s arms. “She’s still paying off the last rehab. I can’t put her in more debt.” You sigh and rub your face. 

“Okay, we can look into some places,” Leigh promises. “Make some phone calls maybe, we could help you apply for one of those programs that are for people that don’t have a lot of money to get better.” 

Jules shakes her head, “No, I can’t go to one of those. That’s where my friend Mindy went. She met her heroin dealer there!” 

You sigh and stand up from the bed and pull out your wallet. You don’t carry cash often, but one of your best customers gave you a pretty hefty tip in cash. “Okay, how much do you want, Jules?” you ask with a coldness that Leigh has never seen in you before. She doesn’t want help. She wants money. You’ve dealt with this behavior before. Leigh scowls at you for accusing her sister of only asking for money when she was clearly here for help. That’s until she sees Jules' eyes dry up almost instantly. 

“Um, maybe a few hundred to a thousand. You know, for the down payment,” she says as she starts to scratch her wrist. You close your eyes, her habits have gone beyond alcohol. You clear your throat and pull the wad of cash out of your pocket and with a heavy heart, you start to count the cash. 

Leigh can’t believe what she is seeing and she puts her hand over yours to stop you. “Jules, it’s okay. You don’t need to make the arrangements yourself. I will do it for you.” You feel bad for your girlfriend because you can see that she has hope that she can save her sister from herself. Part of you hopes that she can, so that she doesn’t have to deal with the heartbreak of finding out that she can’t. 

Jules looks at her sister and then to the money in your hand. You don’t know what has gotten into Leigh's sister, and you want to help prevent her from getting worse but it was up to her. And if she needed money, you’d rather be the one to give it to her than to have her find other ways to earn the money. You follow Leigh’s lead and give her the chance to choose, the money or her sobriety. Leigh is desperately hoping her sister makes the right decision. Her hand grips yours tightly in anticipation. 

“Jules, whatever you’re going to use this money on isn’t worth it,” you say, letting her know that she has been caught. She looks at you in shock, she thought her act was working. “We’re here for you, let us help you.” Jules locks her eyes on the money in your hands and licks her lips. The craving is so much stronger than she is. You can see her losing her battle. 

“Jules,” Leigh says in a strong tone with tears filling her eyes. “If you take this money, I don’t think I could have you in my baby’s life.” She tries to bring out the sister that was promising Leigh months ago that if she kept the baby then she would help her every day and night with feedings and diaper changes and watching the baby whenever Leigh needed her to. When she was sober, she wanted it all. She can’t believe she doesn’t recognize the woman in front of her. 

“Okay,” Jules says as she steps back. She clears her throat. “I’m um I’m so embarrassed. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done this. I just. I just, I need to get out of here.” She says as she starts to leave the room. Leigh starts shouting for her mom to come to her room and Amy arrives, concerned and a little annoyed. 

“What is with all of the shouting?” She asks as she enters the room. You and Leigh waste no time in explaining to her mother the concerns the both of you have for her daughter. The both of you suggest staying at the house longer in order to help monitor Jules but Amy doesn’t agree to the idea. “No, I won’t allow it. You two need to start focusing on the baby and starting your lives together. Okay? You already have enough to worry about. Jules is my baby and it’s my job to care for her. I appreciate the offer but no. I have to take matters into my own hands here.” She states confidently. Leigh can’t believe that her mother is being so stubborn about allowing her to help her sister. But Amy has put her foot down on the situation. You try to offer to help with paying for Jules' rehab stay but Amy declines. “No, we’re not doing that again. I think I’m going to handle this differently. Besides, the two of you need to buy that house. You will have a child of your own to worry about soon enough. You don’t need debts from something like this.” 

You nod and rub Leigh’s back in comfort, “I understand. Please let us know if we can do anything if you ever find that you need help.” Leigh concurs your statement and Amy hugs both you and her daughter as she thanks you. 

“Now hurry up with that packing,” Amy says as she points to the half empty suitcase. She leaves the two of you alone to go find Jules. Leigh no longer takes her time in packing, ready to be away from the drama for a bit. When she is ready to leave, she doesn’t say bye to her mom or her sister because she doesn’t get the chance to. The door to Jules’ room is locked and Amy is on the phone making arrangements to help her struggling daughter. 

The drive to your apartment is quieter than you anticipated it being. You wanted today to end on the good note that you and Leigh were committing to a life together. Not this. Unfortunately, stuff like this is a harsh reality. And if neither of you can handle it, then it might not be the perfect match you convinced yourselves of after all. Then again, when Leigh puts her hand on your thigh at the red light to grab your attention and she gives you that look that is so full of love and appreciation as she thanks you, you know that isn’t the case. You know that this is real and this will be a lasting connection. You love her and she loves you. Together, the two of you can brave any storm.

Eight

It was mid morning in late August as you stretched your limbs breathing in the smell of freshly cut grass and morning dew. For a brief moment you were back on that old field at McKinley high. The track and cross country teams jogged. Coach Sue Sylvester calls the Cheerios practicing their pyramid sloppy babies. Coach Beist yelling at Finn for bringing donuts to practice. You were so far down memory lane that you didn’t even notice Natasha drive up on Clint and Laura’s golf cart.

“Y/N’s already running drills.” Clint chuckled, grabbing his cooler. 

The three friends walked over noticing Quinn who sat at a picnic table watching you run your old football drills she too was reminiscing of the good ole days. 

“Morning Quinn.” The three amigos grinned walking up as the blonde turned around with a smile.

“Morning.” Quinn said sweetly.

“See Laura, why didn’t you wear a shirt with my last name on it like Quinn?” Clint smirked

“Gross I threw those out years ago they all smelled.” Laura cringed, taking some contents out of her grocery bag.

“Where are the girls?” Natasha asked, looking around. 

“With my sister and niece.” Quinn responded. “Where’s Bruce?”

“Oh he’s out in Manhattan working on a new project.”

“On a Saturday morning?” Quinn furrowed her brows.

“Science never stops.” Natasha smiled back, shrugging. “Are you playing with us too?” Gesturing towards Quinn’s T-shirt.

“God No, Y/N wouldn’t let me wear my old Cheerios uniform.” She rolled her eyes.

“Gotcha.” Nat nodded before walking towards you.

“Hey.” Natasha cleared her throat seeing you in light football gear. Some Shorts over tights and an old jersey on your back. 

“Hi.” You grinned.

“You seem super psyched to get to play again.” She chuckled.

“Yeah it feels like riding a bike.”

“Sooo did you talk to Quinn about the job offer?” Natasha kinked her brow.

“Uhh not yet.” You gulped seeing her concerned expression you weren’t ready to tell people about the pregnancy it was still too early. Your wife hasn’t even gone to the doctor yet.

“Y/N-”

“Y/L/N!” Steve shouted from his jeep.

You waved seeing Bucky in the back and Peggy in the front.

“We’re finishing this later.” Natasha scolded you as the other’s walked toward you both. 

“So a few people are late but I figured when everyone gets here you and I could choose teams.” Steve grinned, giving you a brief hug.

“Coin toss on who chooses first.” You nod.

“Sup broskis!” Thor grinned holding up a beer as he stepped off of Val’s golf cart. Carol and Val grabbed a couple of bags as Thor set a cooler on the ground before rolling it over towards the picnic table.

Soon Tony was parking his golf cart when you turned to your wife who was prepping everything along with Peggy and Laura.

“Can I get a golf cart?” You ask, feeling left out.

“What? No!” Quinn huffed.

“That’s what I said.” Peggy laughed.  

“I never get fun stuff.” You grumbled.

⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗

“Alright call it.” 

“Heads.” You call out quickly.

“Tails.” Steve nodded.

You and Steve looked at Peggy who flipped the coin.

“Heads.” She announced.

Steve grimaced hoping you wouldn’t take his first pick.

You looked at the people before you before choosing your first choice. “Thor.”

“Hell yeah chosen first.” Thor fist pumped.

“Bucky.” Steve smiled in relief.

“Val.”

“That’s what’s up.” Val smirked, walking over and standing next to Thor.

Natasha internally huffed at you not choosing her.

“Sam.” Steve smirks.

“Picked second but that's okay.” Sam grumbled.

“Carol.” You nodded, you knew Carol and Val together was key. Plus you remember Carol mentioning soccer and lacrosse. Doesn’t hurt that Val and Thor played rugby.

“Tony.” Steve smirked.

“Sorry kid, too slow.” Tony chuckled, joining Steve. 

“I think you mean you’re too slow, Old man.” You smirked back. “Clint.” He actually did play football.

“Ouch.” Tony huffed.

“Well Nat, come join the team.” Steve grinned.

“The betrayal.” she glared at you.

You chuckled. “I'm sorry Nat but everyone on my team has played sports.”

“I was in ballet!” she huffed shoulder checking you.

“Save it for the field Romanoff!” Steve clapped, having them huddle up.

⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗

The score was 24 to 3 that was only because Natasha kicked their field goal.

You watched Steve snap the ball and your eyes went straight to Sam figuring he’d hand it off to his running back, but a flash of red caught your eye. You smirked; he thought he was slick. You began hauling down the field closing in on her.

“Gotcha!” You laughed, wrapping your arms around her waist, lifting her up. She yelped giggling as she held the ball. “Nice try gingersnap.” You smirked, snatching the ball from her grasp. “But you gotta be quicker than that.”

She looked at you with her jaw hanging. Thor and Carol laughed high-fiving you. 

“Damn, Rogers, you have Spam, Tony, Bucky, and Nat. I have these misfits and still whooped that ass!” You chuckled, acting like you were bending them over.

“Damn it Steve I told you they would know the ball was with Nat!” Bucky huffed.

“Y/N is calling our plays before we even do them!” Sam huffed.

“Is she reading my lips?” Steve whispered before looking over his shoulder to see you flirting with your wife.

“Look at that, they're flirting, not even paying attention or huddling.” Bucky shook his head.

Steve frowned that his team was the only one in a huddle. You were too busy saying things you want to do to your wife, Clint was acting like he was humping the ball at Steve, and Val was also flirting with her wife. Thor was the only one practicing his throws only because his wife Jane said he was throwing sloppily.

“Let's take ten.” Tony muttered before walking over to you seeing your wife walk away to help Peggy and Laura with lunch.

Tony approaches you as you grab some water.

“Hey kid.” 

“Hey Tony.” You grinned.

“So…You made a decision yet?” Tony asks for help.

“Uhh…” You look behind you to see if your wife was in earshot. “Some things came up and I haven’t-” 

“It’s okay kid the job is yours when you’re ready.” Tony left before you could say anything.

“Hey Nat, walk with me, talk with me.” Tony muttered looking back making sure no one was close enough to hear.

“What’s up weirdo?” Natasha chuckled, falling in step with her friend.

“I found something out about Y/N, and Y/N deserves to know. I just don’t think it should come from me and I don’t want it to come from her parents.”

“What do you mean?” Natasha asked, slightly surprised Tony would know anything.

He sighed looking back leaning against a tree as he watched you talking to your wife.

“Y/N, was accepted into MIT on a full ride.”

“Wait what?!” Natasha hissed her neck, nearly getting whiplash.

“My buddy down at MIT said she was accepted but that someone turned it down.”

“Well it wasn’t Y/N or her parents. So that leaves…” Natasha trailed off as she turned to look at Quinn who had her hands all over you.

“Now we don’t know if it was her-“

“It obviously was.” Natasha tried her best not to glare at her.

“Look Y/N deserves to know, but I can’t break it to the kid. It’s going to break their heart. It could ruin them Nat, and all I could think about was Y/N’s happiness. They have been together since high school. They have two little girls… I just can’t.”

“So you’re putting it on me?!” She exclaimed.

“I can’t put that on Frankie and Sophia.”

“Tony-“

“Please?”

“… Well I know now so I guess-” Natasha sighed. 

“Thanks Nat.”

“You owe me.” She mumbled.

“Deal, I’ll text you the documents.” He grinned before eating some raisins.

“Hey losers! S’go, I'm gettin’ hungry.” You shout, rubbing your tummy. “Babe, grab me a plate and a couple beers, I won’t be long. I’m having a victory feast after this.”

“You’re such an asshole when you play football.” Val snorted, giving you a light shove. “I love it.”

“Such a jock.” Carol grinned.

“You’re a dick, Y/L/N.” Steve laughed.

“Why are you so sure you’ll win.” Bucky, rolled his eyes playfully.

“You are down by 4 touchdowns!” Carol, flapped her arms.

“Romanoff, if I would have know you ran like that I would have picked you.” You taunt with a devilish smirk that makes her loins ache a little. 

“You’re an ass for having me picked last.” She flipped you off with a laugh.

“Oh thank you I’ll use this later.” You grinned, flipping her the bird before putting it in your pocket.

“Woooow, you are a different person playing this game.” Nat gasped, laughing in disbelief. 

“If you can’t take the heat, get outta the kitchen, Ginger Snap.” You smirked backwards jogging to your team.

“We have the ball losers!” Thor laughed, twerking his butt towards the other team

“Alright Revengers huddle up.” You called out. You ran through the last play before breaking the huddle and getting in line.

You all clapped before getting in line.

Thor began chanting. “Brooklyn 99! Brooklyn 99! Hut! Hut!”

Needless to say you scored one more time and won the game.

“Great game-“ you say to the other team high-fiving them. “Now move so I can eat. Big papa’s hungry.” You barked shoving past Sam and Bucky.

“I don’t think I like you this way. I’m calling your mother about this.” Tony huffed.

“Do it!” You taunt as Quinn sets your plate down with an ice cold beer next to it.

“Thanks baby.” You grin as she sits next to you.

“You’re welcome.” She smiles as you dig in.

“Wow, not even waiting for us.” Steve laughed, grabbing a plate.

“Winners don’t wait for losers.” You after taking a bite.

“I don’t know I kind of love this side of Y/N.” Carol shrugged as she and Val grabbed a plate.

“Honestly me too.” Bucky whispered to Steve. 

The blond furrowed his brow at his secret lover. “Excuse me?”

“Oh come on! Look at Y/N!” Bucky huffed. “The muscles, the bulge. Calling themselves Big papa. Y/N is-“

“If you finish that sentence I swear.” Steve glared elbowing Bucky in the gut.

“Don’t be jealous.” Bucky grinned before slapping his ass in line.

“Shut up I’m not-“

“Oh you so are.” Bucky chuckled, grabbing a beer before following him to a table.

Steve gave him another glare before digging in. 

Bucky chuckled at his jealousy before looking around making sure no one was watching. “You’re still the only thing I need.” He gently ran his hand near his inner thigh before eating.

Steve cleared his throat trying not to get a hard on. “Good.” He made a mental note to finally give that divorce lawyer a call.

“You’re right Y/N this is a victory feast.” Clint chuckled clinking his beer bottle with yours.

“Losers have to clean.” Val smirked.

“Except Nat, she's the only one who actually scored.” Carol snorted.

You were laughing when your daughter was calling your phone.

“Be right back.” You said standing up and walking away.

“So Y/N’s birthday is in a few weeks and I wanted to invite you all and let you know that its a surprise party. It’ll probably just be a glee/karaoke party Y/N had mentioned to me the other how much they miss singing and playing music.”

“That sounds great, Quinn consider us there.” Peggy smiled.

“Definitely.” Thor nodded.

“We won’t say anything to Y/N.” Val smiled.

“Oh Nat, will you please let Wanda know?” Quinn asked.

“Of course.” The redhead nodded.

“Sorry about that, our daughter just wanted the password to our Flix account.” You chuckled. “What did I miss?” 

“Just Bucky's whining.” Sam rolled his eyes playfully.

“He’s a sore loser.” Steve chuckled.

“Okay, Sam, you cried when I beat you at Uno.” Bucky huffed.

“Hey! I don't cry.” Sam punched Bucky’s arm.” 

“Now, now, boys, not at the table.” Nat smirked as Bucky placed his fist down.

“Sheesh I’m not playing cards with you guys.” You chuckled.

“Uh you’re kidding right? You moped the floor with us and boasted about it.” Bucky chuckled.

“Hey what can I say I’m a different person on the field.” You smirked.

“I kinda wanna see how you are at basketball.” Sam eyed you.

“Y/N was a point guard.” Quinn smirked.

“Baseball?”

“All star.” You grinned.

“Jeez.” Sam muttered.

“Why? Do you like getting your butt smacked?” You smirked.

“Alright Y/L/N I see how it is.” Sam cackled.

She pulls out the chair and sits down before she opens it up. The first thing that greets her is the password page. Wanda pulls out the USB that Darcy gave her and plugs it in. All she can do now is wait since Darcy said she'd text Wanda once she made it home. 

The next 15 minutes feel like a bottomless pit of hell. Wanda checks her watch every couple of minutes, tapping her foot impatiently. 

"Come on, come on, come on," Wanda huffs quietly. She's extremely paranoid about what you might be doing. It's unlikely you'd be returning home tonight, and even if you were, it'd be a couple of hours from now.

Yet, the unhinged part of Wanda wants to pull out her phone and text you, "Hey, what's up? You're still busy sexing up Raye, right? Definitely not ideal, but you're not checking your emails or on your way home, right?

Wanda wishes she made Natasha go stakeout Raye's house to alert her when you were leaving the place. Before she can think more insane thoughts, her phone vibrates in her hand, and Wanda checks it with speed. It was from Darcy confirming she'd made it home and it'd be any minute now. 

Wanda looks up at your laptop screen, pushing her finger against the mousepad to ensure the screen doesn't time out. The USB must give Darcy some kind of access because, true to her word, something does start happening. 

Wanda watches the screen with mild interest as a separate window pops up. The background is black, but it's clearly some kind of coding as random words begin running. It takes a few minutes, but then asterisks fill your password box. It only takes 3 times before the right password is entered and Wanda's gained access.

"Yes!" She celebrates before she sends Darcy a quick text. 

Wanda pulls up your email and finds the latest one sent to you is a link to a Google Drive. There are many videos and some photos, but Wanda recognizes herself in one of the thumbnails and clicks on it.

"I don't see what's so great about Raye—"

Wanda immediately stops playing it, unable to bear the embarrassment of hearing herself. She quickly deletes the clip, also going to the trash bin to make sure it's permanently deleted. Wanda checks everything several times to ensure there are no other clips and any trace of her confession is gone. 

Mission completed. 

Relief floods her system, knowing that the clip has been deleted. 

Wanda closed everything she opened, making sure she changed the status of the email to unread. Once everything is as it was, Wanda closes your laptop and unplugs the USB.  

Stuffing the USB into her pocket, she's about to send another text to Darcy when Wanda hears the front door open, and you call out her name. You must've seen her shoes at the door, but Wanda still doesn't answer. She hears you walking back down the hallway toward your room and panics. 

Oh, god, she couldn't walk back out that door without bumping into you, and she couldn't jump out the window either with them living on the 10th floor. 

Oh, fuck, what does she do? Wanda's panicking as she shakes her hands in hysteria and looks around frantically. 

Shit, shit, shit, shit!

Wanda carefully makes her way to your closet, but it's filled wall to wall with your clothes, and the floor is filled with your shoes and other boxes. There was no room to hide in there.

Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck!

Wanda's walking around your room and has no idea where to hide. She looks at your bed and internally groans. Dropping to her knees, she scoots herself until she's fully underneath, flat on her stomach, but her head is kept off the floor. She quickly opens her phone and turns it from vibration mode to silence—Wanda refuses to be caught. She would rather die than even try and explain all of this.

The door opens, and Wanda only gets a few of your slippers as you make your way back to your desk. She hears a soft clank on the desk, and Wanda can only assume it's the mug of tea you have every night. 

Wanda hears you sigh quietly as you seem to settle in for the night. This is not good. This is fucking terrible. 

Wanda can't tell how long she's been stuck under your bed. She's too worried about moving and accidentally making a noise. All she hears is the soft music playing and your mouse and keyboard clicking. 

Suddenly, her phone lights up with a notification. It's a text from you.

Wanda bites her lip, trying to decide if she should answer. Ultimately, she decides she should because it's possible you might try to call her if she doesn't, and she definitely can't answer it if you do. Wanda would also feel bad about not answering you if you're worried. 

But, god fucking dammit, she's going to have to lie. Again. 

Wanda hears a breathy chuckle from you and tries not to smile. 

Fuck. 

Wanda doesn't know if she should say yes or no. If she says yes, will you wait until she gets home? Wanda can only dread how long she might be stuck under your bed.

The chair you're sitting scrapes against the floor a little. A reply doesn't come for a few minutes, and Wanda wishes she could see what you were doing. 

Wanda stares at the text, trying to see if she can decipher your tone from just the words alone. It's something you've told her countless times when she told you she'd be staying at Vision's place. Yet, somehow, this feels different. 

You stop replying to her after that. It's both a relief that Wanda could stop digging herself into another hole and a torture she's left without much to do again. 

Wanda checks some of her other texts and replies to them, but her battery life is getting exceedingly low, and she doesn't want it to die on her accidentally if you do decide to text her again. 

The last time she opened the phone to check the time, an hour and a half had passed. There's almost a desperation to give herself up and come clean to relinquish herself from the sheer boredom, but Wanda holds strong since she reasons she'd already made it this far. 

"Hmm," Wanda hears you let out a deep hum. The mouse clicks a few times, and Wanda wishes she could see what you were staring at. 

Definitely not her confession video; that much comforts Wanda. 

God, she's bored. She's so bored that the fear has long left her body. 

It's a miracle when Wanda hears you get up and stretch, a few cricks released from your back. You leave the room, and Wanda hears the bathroom door shut. 

Wanda scrambles to get out from under the bed, nearly hitting her head 5 times. She quickly tiptoes out of your room, heading for the front door and opening it. Just as you're coming out of the bathroom, Wanda shuts the door as if she's just gotten in. 

"Wanda, is that you?" You call from the hallway.

"Yep! You're still up?" Wanda calls back, laughing nervously to herself about how stupid this all was, but relief she was clearly getting away with it. 

"Yeah, just thought I'd get a start on the editing stuff for Tony," you say as Wanda walks towards you. 

"Oh, cool," Wanda doesn't inquire further but says, "I thought you were staying at Raye's tonight?"

"Oh, uh," you seem surprised that Wanda asks. "I was having a hard time falling asleep on her bed. The mattress is too soft and gives me the worst cricks."

"Oh," Wanda nods, knowing that your mattress is memory foam but on the firmer side. 

"What about you?" You ask back. "Didn't go home with Darcy?"

"Uh, no," Wanda fumbles slightly. "Uh, it was good, but I, uh, was getting a slight stomachache from the McDonald's so I decided to go home."

You frown. "Do you want some tea? Maybe some Tums?"

"Maybe some ginger and honey tea?"

You nod. "Alright, I'll get some ready for you. Why don't you go take your makeup off and whatnot? We could watch some TV before we sleep."

"Oo," Wanda grins. "I think I saw some things come out on Disney+, let's see what they have!"

The rollercoaster of the night comes to a satisfying end for Wanda. 

⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶⊷⋆⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶⊷

The next three weeks are odd for Wanda. During the first and second weeks, she was so busy with her clients and a whole PR mess that she barely had time to see you. 

She spends more time collaborating with her team about how they will dig one of their clients out of the mess they'd made or if they should just drop the client. She's barely been able to think about her feelings for you and what to do about it. 

By the time the third week arrives, everything at work finally slows down, and she has time to herself like a regular person again. Wanda reflects back on her position and the entire video-deleting debacle. 

With the fear and adrenaline long gone, Wanda can't actually tell if she's disappointed that you haven't discovered her feelings. Would things have just been easier if you had watched the video?

At the very least, it might be better in the sense Wanda wouldn't be stuck in the same place. 

Wanda's sitting on the couch, lazily trying to focus on her book but can't with her mind continuously drifting. You haven't been home as of late—Wanda only realized you've been out a lot for a week and a half now. 

Sighing, Wanda closes her book. She was getting bored again. You wouldn't be home until later, and she already spent an hour on the phone with Natasha earlier. 

Just as Wanda was about to text you to ask if there was any possibility you'd be home earlier, the front doorknob jiggled, signaling someone was putting in their key.

Wanda smiles, hoping she'll see you walk through the door, but smiles even wider when she sees who walks through it. 

Getting up from the couch, Wanda runs and jumps, latching onto the person. 

"Oof," the voice was gruff.

"Bucky!" Wanda yells excitedly as Bucky catches her, wrapping his arm around her to ensure she doesn't fall, even though her legs are around him. 

"Hi, nutball," Bucky says, but his mouth is muffled by Wanda's shoulder and some of her hair. 

Wanda slowly slides back down onto the floor, taking a good look at Bucky. Of all the people she adores besides you, Bucky is at the top of her list, along with Natasha, which is why they both have key fobs to the apartment. 

Bucky kind of reminds her of Pietro in certain ways, if Pietro would ever grow up and get a little serious. Bucky seems to know that and has cared for Wanda in Pietro's stead now that the guy has left for Europe since they turned 18. 

"When did you get back?" Wanda asks. "Why didn't you call? I would've arranged to pick you up from the airport."

"It's fine. Steve picked me up from the airport and we relaxed a little bit before he had to leave to the station to do some kind of sketch for a case," Bucky says as he takes off his shoes.

They wander back into the living room space and take a seat. Bucky had brought her some coffee and pastries that Wanda delighted over.

"So," Wanda says after a sip of her coffee. "How was California?"

"Hot," Bucky smiles. 

"You said you were going to train an upcoming actor in a movie, right?"

Bucky nods, sipping his own coffee. "Yeah, some new superhero movie. Pretty young; I think he just turned 18. Definitely now super ripped for an 18 year old," Bucky laughs.

"Does he need a PR agent?" Wanda grins. 

Bucky rolls his eyes with mirth. "Probably not since he has his manager handling everything, but I did pass your card along."

"You're good people."

Bucky snorts, and they spend another half hour catching up before he finally comes to the topic he's been waiting to discuss. "You know, Steve brought up something interesting."

"Oh, yeah?" Wanda raises her brow.

"Steve was bringing up how Bug seems to be seeing someone," Bucky says slowly. "And she looks a lot like you...like everyone else Bug has dated."

Wanda lets out a huge groan. "Steve should eat rocks and jump into the ocean."

Bucky laughs, leaning back onto the couch, and smiles. "So? What do you think?" 

"About what?"

Bucky gives her a side-eye, and she groans quietly this time.

"Fine," she grumbles. "It was strange to realize, but like, a good strange. I don't know. I want...I want her to look at me."

Wanda's blushing at the admittance to Bucky. It makes her feel shy, but also good that someone else close to her knows and will be on her side. 

"Have you confessed?"

"Not exactly."

"Ah, so you haven't done shit except probably rope people into your weird schemes that turn out poorly."

Wanda's jaw drops. "I have not—okay, well, I mean, I wouldn't say they turned out poorly." She would never tell Bucky about the videotaping incident. She was taking that to her grave. 

Bucky eyes Wanda, taking in the small expressions on her face and the muted longing in her eyes as she picks at her nails. "You're so much like me, sometimes I'm convinced that you're actually my little sister," Bucky grins, and Wanda mirrors him. "Don't tell Pietro that, though. He's gets so jealous."

Wanda just gives him an, 'obviously,' look.

"When I started realizing my feelings for Steve, I didn't say anything for a long, long time, and I've known I've liked Steve since we were boys making mudpies," Bucky leans his head back against the couch, the coffee resting between his hands on his stomach. "I kept thinking about what if Steve didn't feel the same? And then there was the whole Peggy situation, and I didn't want to break that up."

"You're better than me," Wanda sighs. "I would break them up in a heartbeat if I knew how she felt about me."

Bucky can't hold his laugh in for that but continues on. "I think a lot of those fears I had paralyzed me. I kept thinking I'd have more time and there was a right moment, or if I did certain things, Steve would feel the same. I just had to wait it out."

"So, what happened?"

Bucky gave her a wan smile. "Steve and Peggy, even though they'd be on and off, were getting more serious. One night, Steve told me he was thinking about proposing."

"What?" Wanda's jaw drops. She's never heard of this. "But obviously he didn't because you guys are together now."

"Yeah," Bucky laughs, "because I totally freaked out. I started saying he couldn't and then kissed him, and then started crying. It was a mess."

"Oh, god," Wanda rests her hand against her mouth. She could totally see herself doing that to you if you said the same thing. Now, she's starting to freak out if you're getting serious with Raye. 

"I think you know what I'm getting at," Bucky says, turning his head to look over at Wanda, and she feels vaguely uncomfortable. "You need to say something—now. There's no perfect timing. There's nothing extra you can do to magically know, and you're not gonna always have more time."

Wanda lets her head fall back against the couch, closing her eyes. They start to sting with tears, and she feels that same fear creep into her belly. Yet, Bucky's words resonate with her, and she suppresses that fear until it settles into a muted nervousness. 

"Fuck, I swear you and Steve planned this."

⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶⊷⋆⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶⊷

Despite Wanda's talk with Bucky, she says absolutely nothing to you when you arrive home late in the evening. Wanda's eyes are glued to the TV, watching How I Met Your Mother absently. 

You seemed to have a long day yourself as you carefully sat next to her on the couch. 

The air feels weird, and there's a tension in your shoulders. It starts to make Wanda tense until you suddenly relax with a deep breath. You shuffle in your seat before scooting until you're pressed against Wanda's side, resting your head against her shoulder. 

The smell of clean laundry and leaves fills Wanda's nose, and she relaxes against you. 

"Wanna order in?" You say.

"Yeah," Wanda replies, pulling out her phone to see what she was in the mood for. The two of you quickly place an order and continue to sit in silence, watching the TV.

You seem deep in thought, but you grab Wanda's hand at some point, holding it with keen interest.

Wanda doesn't say anything. Her cheeks and the tips of her ears are warm as you stroke the back of her hand with your thumb. Her heart doesn't speed up, but it begins to thud noticeably harder in her chest. 

It continues like that until the food arrives, and it's also eaten in silence with the background noise of the TV. Yet, whenever Wanda looks up, she finds you staring at her, and you don't break eye contact. 

It's strange, and it's making Wanda feel somewhat nauseous. 

When the food is done and put away, the two of you settle back onto the couch, but Wanda doesn't think she can handle the silence anymore. 

"How was your day?"

You turn your head, staring at Wanda, and reply softly. "Okay...how was yours? Bucky told me he stopped by to see you."

Wanda tenses. "Yeah," she mumbles. "It was good seeing him again."

"It's nice that he's home," you nod. "I'm sure Steve is happy."

Steve doesn't deserve to be happy, Wanda pettily thinks. It was his fault that Wanda felt so nervous that she felt like she would puke. 

Wanda needs to say something.

She knows she needs to say something now like Bucky told her to. 

All those same fears and anxiety creep up, but frustration has also lingered in her since the day she realized her feelings for you. 

Wanda's tired, she realizes. She's also sick of saying nothing and watching you be with someone else. She's scared but would rather say something and be put out of her misery than continue saying nothing. 

Just as Wanda is about to say something else, you say something first. 

"I broke up with Raye."

Just like that, the wind is blown out of her sails, and Wanda's brain stalls. "What?"

"I," you clear your throat, "broke up with Raye."

"When?"

"A week and a half ago."

"And you're just telling me now?"

Your brow scrunches, and you turn in your seat to fully face Wanda as you cross your legs on the couch. You're fidgeting with your fingers in your lap. "Yes...I needed to think."

"Think about what?"

You wet your lips. "If...if it was worth it potentially ruining our friendship for something more."

Wanda's heart drops like an amusement park ride. Her stomach feels the same way it does when an airplane is ascending. 

She had all these things she was going to say to you just a minute ago, and now her head was empty, and all she could think about was what you were trying to say.

"I think it is...if you feel the same, which I know you do unless something's changed in the last three weeks."

"How do you know?" Wanda frowns. Then again, she wasn't trying to be sly about it the last few months. Maybe you've finally caught on. 

Wait, Wanda pauses. Three weeks? That was when—

You pull out an SD card from your pocket. Wanda's around you enough to know what that is, and her stomach sinks. 

"You know," you give her a small smile. "I was trying to edit the video together for Tony the night after the party, but as I was going through the footage, a third of the photos or videos were corrupted."

Wanda thinks back to the USB she returned to Darcy. Dammit, Darcy! That lying, sneaking, betraying—

"I didn't think much of it, but I had to meet up with the videographer to get the original files. You'd never guess what was on there," you smile wryly. "Or maybe you do since you've somehow deleted it from my Google Drive...and corrupted the other files, so I'd have to get the originals. Very conflicting motives I was getting."

"I didn't mean to corrupt the other files," Wanda mumbles. "But you should probably get your laptop professionally cleaned..."

You give her a weird look but chuckle with a shake of your head. "You're super kooky, you know."

"I do know," Wanda rolls her eyes. "I think you know as well."

"I thought I might've seen you on my first date with Raye. That rock that hit that car wouldn't happen to be something you know about, do you?"

"Not at all," Wanda replies quickly. "But if I did, I'm sure the person would want to say she wasn't aiming for the car or your head."

"So, just Raye's head?"

"Once again, not a clue what the intention was as it wasn't me."

You laugh, and Wanda joins in until it fades, and you bite your bottom lip. "I don't know how any of this works, Wanda. I've never dated anyone I consider my best friend."

"I would hope not," Wanda raises her brow at you. "That means someone else was your best friend and you've committed the ultimate betrayal."

You roll your eyes with a mirth and a smile. 

"I haven't either," Wanda says softly, slowly turning fully toward you, grabbing your hand, and lacing your fingers together. "But I want to. And no matter what happens, we're gonna be okay. I don't think I'll ever love anyone the way I love you. I think I've loved you for a really, really long time."

"Me too," you mumble, squeezing Wanda's hand, feeling shy. "I don't think I ever really thought about it. I just love you. You're my best friend and I love you."

"Now I'm your girlfriend," Wanda grins, leaning closer and closing her eyes.

"Whoa, okay, let's not get ahead of ourselves now. What if we're not even sexually compatible?" 

Wanda pulls back and looks at your face, shocked. It's stony and serious until your lip twitches and Wanda smacks you.

"Ugh, you're such a brat!"

"No, that's you. I'm stinky."

"Stinky."

"Brat."

"Bug."

"Witch."

"Oh, we're bringing back middle school nicknames, are we?" Wanda narrows her eyes at you. You're about to say something else, but Wanda's had enough.

Didn't she think something earlier about being sick of saying nothing? What was she thinking? Saying nothing sounds ideal.

Wanda launches herself across the seat into you, hearing you grunt as she topples you over onto the couch and presses her lips against yours. 

It's not a dream this time, Wanda's very sure. 

This was much, much better than any dream could give her. It feels better. 

Your lips are soft, and you taste faintly like the cookie you split with her earlier. 

Oh god, oh god, oh god, Wanda's mind is racing. She's finally kissing you.

Oh my god, she was kissing you!

You were kissing her back!

Wanda kisses you, pressing her lips over yours over and over as your fingers trail over the outside of her thighs and stroke up to her back. You're bolder than her as your fingers dip under her shirt, pressing her against bare skin. 

It's thrilling; Wanda almost can't lie still on top of you. Goosebumps are forming, and it's forming everywhere. 

You break the kiss, lips caressing her jaw, and scatter light kisses as they trail down her throat. 

Your hand moves higher up Wanda's back and pauses. 

"No bra?" You raise an eyebrow at her. 

"I didn't leave the house today," Wanda mumbles, pressing a chaste kiss to your temple. 

You hum. "No complaints here," you resume your caresses of her bare skin but pause again. "Wanna move to the bedroom?"

No, Wanda thinks. She doesn't want to detach herself from this position. She doesn't want your touch or your kisses to stop. 

You can tell that Wanda's debating the pros and cons, and you try to persuade her. "A bed will give us more room to do things...and I want to do a lot of things..." You nibble on her collarbone. 

Wanda lets out a soft moan, and her toes curl. 

"Okay, fine," Wanda acquiesces, getting up and pulling you along with her. "Move quickly, though. No dallying."

"Dallying? I would never," you smile as Wanda pulls you down the hall. "I'll mirror you perfectly."

"I think you always have," Wanda says softly, turning to look at you. "That's why it's taken us so long to get here. We're stupid."

You laugh. "Seems like one of us deviated from our mirror, mirror dance."

The two of you enter Wanda's bedroom, and she falls back onto it, pulling you on top of her. 

Your body heat spreads across hers, and Wanda thinks she's dizzy again. 

"Good," Wanda mumbles, cupping your face, her thumb stroking your cheek. "I'm tired of us being chickens."

You press a kiss to her, smiling against her lips. One arm wraps around Wanda while the other trails under the front of Wanda's shirt. 

"Speak for yourself," your fingers trail higher and higher. "Maybe I'm just stupid." You press another kiss, lingering a moment longer, and then pull away. "Chicken."

"Stupid," Wanda smiles, her lips grazing yours when she does. 

"Witch."

"Bug."

"Brat."

"Stinky."

"I love you."

"I love you more."

Wanda feels something so peaceful settle over her. The butterflies in her stomach flutter around from your touch, but she's so happy. She thinks she might cry if she thinks about it too much because this was all she ever wanted. 

Wanda focuses on the feel of your hands on her skin instead and how you're making her feel hot. She focuses on the feel of your lips against her skin, the sound of her breaths, and your soft moans. 

There's no way the two of you aren't sexually compatible, but Wanda's eager to find out exactly how compatible they are...over and over. 

Yelena

Consciousness comes accompanied by a tight grip of terror for Yelena, but she keeps her eyes closed for a few seconds before deciding to face whatever she’s up against. 

The sudden bump on her back and the sound of an old engine roaring alive tell her that she’s in the back of a moving truck, which only confuses her more than she’s comfortable with at the moment. 

How the hell did she end up in a truck? Scratch that. How the hell is she on the ground when the last thing she remembers is being twenty thousand feet up in the air with the team?

Hell! How did she end up alone?

…

Bucky

The splash of water wakes him up abruptly, and when he notices that he’s sinking fast he swims up to the surface in a frenzy, and in dire need of air. 

He comes up in the middle of a wide luxurious pool in the back of some fancy mansion, with absolutely no recollection of how he ended up there whatsoever. 

Instincts kicking in, he swims to the edge as quietly as possible, but the eerie absence of sound tells him he’s alone and this place is empty. 

Getting out of the pool, he inspects the place quickly and inaudibly, but he’s completely alone in the remote mansion. 

The last thing he remembers is flying the jet and the team, so how the hell did he end up here by himself? And where the hell did he leave the quinjet? 

…

Natasha

“Out!” An old woman’s raging yell brings Natasha out of her slumber faster than she can comprehend. 

“Out of here! Get out of my house!” The woman yells as she threatens to hit Natasha with her cane. 

Confused but agile as ever, Natasha avoids the cane and leaves the woman’s house in a rush as an old cat watches her from above the couch. Outside, the sun is at its highest peak and the neighborhood is alive with activity. 

She has no idea where she is, or how she got there. 

The woman’s still screaming inside the house, so Natasha goes down the sidewalk with measured steps and on high alert. 

The last thing she remembers is Bucky flying the jet--and then nothing. 

Where’s Yelena? Where’s Wanda, and where are you? Where’s Bucky? And most importantly, where the hell is her phone or any of her gadgets?

…

You

You’re running. You don’t know how long you’ve been running for, but all you know is that the thing following you is not giving up and damn it! Neither are you! 

The growling-green goo spitting monster is just a few feet behind you, and you--you just have to keep running and avoid being eaten by it. 

The magic ring on your fingers feels heavy and cold, and you have no idea how to control it or why it’s opening up portals for you when you’re not a wizard yourself. 

Out of breath and your heart rate going a mile per minute, you move your hands once more while simultaneously trying not to trip on your own feet, and the air sparks in front of you before another portal opens up. 

You jump through it without a second though, and the monster jumps right behind you. 

“Damn it!” You curse out loud and without being able to help it. 

“How the hell do I close these things?!”

…

Wanda

Wanda wakes up to a blue eyed little girl softly tapping her cheek, and the bright sun shining above her, blinding her for a hot second. 

“She’s up.” The child says with a smile so sincere and voice so adorably small, that for just a second Wanda forgets what’s really happening. 

The second comes and goes though, and dread washes over her as she looks for you and doesn’t see you. She’s in the backyard of a modest house, where there’s meat on the grill and a huge golden retriever sleeping on the grass just a few feet away from her. 

“Woah, careful there.” A woman says when Wanda stands up from the hammock, where she was sleeping, apparently. 

“There was someone else with me.” Wanda speaks with urgency as the woman guides her towards a nearby chair.

“You landed alone.” The woman tells her calmly. 

“Landed?”

“Right there.” The woman points to a spot on the grass. “You came through one of those Dr. Strange ring things, portals or whatever they are. But you were by yourself.”

The portals, the memories come back all at once and Wanda sighs to herself. 

“We call them portals.” She clarifies for the woman, just as the memory of you grabbing Wong’s sling ring and discovering that you can actually use it flashes through her mind. 

Sparks flew when you moved your fingers and everyone ran. 

She sighs again. It’s gonna take forever to find you and the rest of the team and---oh god, wasn’t there a green monstrosity following you the last time she saw you?

…

Yelena

“I’m gonna fucking kill them.” Yelena murmurs under her breath. 

“Bajate! Afuera!” The owner of the truck yells and even gives her a -not so gentle- push to get her off his vehicle. 

“I’m going!” Yelena snaps too, as she jumps from the back and is left standing in the middle of a relatively empty street in---well, she has no idea where the hell she is. 

“I’m going to fucking kill them good.” She promises, hands fisting angrily and patience running out. 

First a phone, and then planning your demise. 

She’s not sure who’s fault it is that she’s now stranded in this godforsaken little town, but she’s ninety percent sure that it’s your fault. You did this, she just knows it.

This has you written all over it! 

“I’m just gonna fucking strangle her first. I will.” She promises out loud, head nodding as she promises harder. “I’m gonna see her, slap her and then strangle her. In that order. If Wanda kills me after, it’ll be damn worth it.”

Just as she’s picturing your pleading face as she chokes you in her mind, the memories of what happened come back to her and she stops walking, stomping her foot on the ground. 

“I knew it!”

…

Bucky

After finding dry clothes and a working phone, the Winter Soldier sets to call Natasha but instead he takes a deep breath as he suddenly remembers exactly how he ended up falling in the pool. 

“She has magic.” He thinks out loud, dread building inside his chest against his will. “Oh, no. She has magic. God saves us all.”

In retrospect, he could have chosen his words better. 

Through one of the large windows he sees a portal opening above the pool again and just as he’s about to run outside, you come through the other side and the same monster that started all this, falls behind you. 

He runs outside to help you as the creature begins to wail and flap around in the water with it’s six long arms helplessly. 

“Bucky.” You gasp as he pulls you out of the water and both of you are caught staring at the dying creature just a few feet away from you. 

“Is it dying?” You ask, holding onto his arms, as he pulls you even closer against his chest. 

“I think so.” He says as the creature gives one last crying weak wail of pain and goes immobile. 

You both stare for a little bit longer as it floats, expecting it to come at you again, but when a minute long passes you let out a breath you’ve been holding since you first saw that thing. 

“It actually looks kind of adorable.” You say as you step away from his arms, and miss the incredulous look he’s giving you. “I mean, now that’s not trying to kill us.”

“Are you serious?!” 

Jumping back at hearing him scream, you watch as a flock of birds flies away, startled by the loud sound as well. 

“You threw everyone through different portals to heaven knows where!” He continues yelling when you turn to face him. 

“To save your lives!” You point out.

“After you read a book that clearly said ‘Do not read me’ and opened up a damn portal for this thing to come after us in the first place!”

“How was I supposed to know that the book actually meant that?” You ask him, and he opens his mouth but closes it again while obviously swallowing more yells. 

You begin to feel bad as he tries and fails to find words, time after time. If you didn’t know him well enough, you’d think he’s about to slap some sense into you. Not that you need it. 

“I’m sorry.” You apologize after a beat and he visibly deflates. Even the vein on his forehead stops palpating as he relaxes.

“Where are the girls?” He asks you, but he doesn’t need an answer from you, not when he can read the guilt clear as day in your eyes. 

“I think we might need to call Strange.”

“Ya think, huh?”

…

Wanda

Wanda stares at the burrowed phone in her hand while inwardly debating if she should divorce you after this. 

In and out. In and out. 

Breathing isn’t helping. 

She’s overreacting, or maybe she isn’t. She hates you right now, but she knows that her love for you is bigger than the current mess you made. In reality she’ll never divorce you but god, how she hates you right now!

She’s about to dial Natasha’s number when a portal opens up in the middle of this family’s backyard, again, she supposes. 

“Strange.” She sighs, and Susan yelps somewhere close. She did mention being a fan of Stephen earlier. 

“Wanda, what on earth is going on?” The Doctor asks her, the portal closing behind him as he moves towards her with urgency. 

A million thoughts run through Wanda’s mind in a millisecond then. She doesn’t want to throw you under the bus, but throwing you under is key in securing his help in solving what you did, and she needs him. 

You’ll sleep in the guest bedroom for a month, she swears it. 

Two months! 

A whole year!

“Rocket contacted Natasha earlier this morning, and told her about an object he came across on a planet called Mortuorum.”

“Planet of the Dead?” He asks for clarification, and his face morphs into something akin to despair. 

“We were just supposed to retrieve it, bring it here and---”

“Why?” He cuts her off, and rightfully so, she admits. “Why would you bring something from the Planet of the Dead here?”

“Rocket thought the Avengers could keep it safe, since a rebel space gang was after it.”

“Okay. Okay, hold on.” Taking his hands to his face, he takes a moment to breathe and Wanda’s anger towards you grows considerably. 

You just had to do it. 

“We’ll deal with that in a bit,” Stephen says. “I’m curious about how there are several sightseeings of monsters all over the world, and portals being open left and right. How did this ‘space gang’ come in touch with a sling ring?”

Wanda closes her eyes then, contemplates lying out of embarrassment, but ultimately decides to just give in.

“The sling ring was in the jet from Wong’s last visit. He was meant to retrieve it later today. The object we were supposed to keep safe was a rare book,” she says and takes a deep breath, hesitating one more time.  “Y/n took it.”

“Let me guess,” Stephen interrupts again. “She read the damn thing.”

“She read the damn thing.”

…

Natasha

What the hell did you do? Natasha’s lost count of how many times she’s asked herself the question in the past five minutes. 

Everyone’s phone is going straight to voicemail, which tells her that whatever you did caused all their tech to vanish for some reason. 

She dials Strange’s number next, guessing that’s the next logical step, but when he answers Natasha can barely hear him above the sound of people screaming somewhere close to where she is. 

Natasha sees a small crowd running in her direction, but they’re running away from something and dread washes over her one more time. 

“I’m with Wanda. Natasha, where are you?” Stephen asks her, loud enough to carry and Natasha loses her breath as she sees---zombies, actual zombies stumbling back to their feet after they continue to fall from an opened portal above them. 

She murmurs an address before taking a couple of steps backwards, still having trouble believing her eyes. 

“Oh y/h.” She murmurs under her breath, lamenting the day Fury left you in the Compound. “If you could only just stop opening portals.”

…

Yelena

“I’m gonna kill her. I’m gonna kill her.  I don’t care how hard I have to try.”

Out of breath and running for her life, Yelena still has the strength to curse your name as she escapes from two six foot tall blue aliens that crossed a portal when it suddenly opened in the middle of the street. 

“I’m so gonna kill her.” She promises, as she hides behind a dumpster to catch her breath. 

But it seems like she just can’t catch a break!

Another portal opens up just in front of her and before she has a chance to react properly, you and Bucky run through it and the arms of the giant monster that began all this get sliced as the portal closes behind the two of you. 

Yelena scrunches up her face as green gooey blood is splashed all over her, and Bucky grimaces at the scene.

“That was close.” You sigh and Yelena turns to you, blood murder in her eyes as she sees your innocent smile. “Dude, you’re covered in goo.”

When you double over about to throw up--at the sight of her, she almost breaks your neck, right then and there. And she would have if the two aliens hadn’t spotted her from down the street. 

“So that’s where they went.” Bucky says as you gag and he grabs your arm. “Get us out of here. Now!”

Tears in your eyes and on the verge of getting sick, you do the thing with your hands and another portal opens up. The three of you cross it without looking back. 

…

The first thing Yelena does when her life is no longer immediately threatened, is to go for your neck. 

You’re still trying to keep your lunch down when she slaps you and then leaps at you, throwing you into the ground, hard. Her hands are on your neck in the blink of an eye, and you’re caught off guard completely. 

Bucky grabs her by the waist though and carries her away from you, just as fast as she came at you. 

“Let me go! I’m gonna kill her! I’m gonna kill her!”

…

Wanda

“The hell you are!” Wanda screams as she runs to your side and raises her hands, ready to attack Yelena. 

“No! We’re not doing that!” Bucky yells, struggling with a feisty russian in his arms but managing to keep her in his hold. 

“She’s not touching my wife again.” Wanda tells him firmly, voice ice cold and magic swirling in her hands. 

You, on the other hand, lose the battle between being sick or not. 

Wanda hates you right now, more than she ever thought possible, but she also loves you---a little bit more than anyone should ever be allowed to love another human being. 

She grabs your hair, running a soothing hand on your back and then guides you towards the nearest bathroom where you can clean yourself up a little bit. 

God, she’s so happy you’re okay and relief washes over her with a strong wave of emotion that instantly brings tears to her eyes. Not that she lets them fall. 

“I’m sorry.” You speak, voice raw and tearfilled eyes locked on her. “I’m really sorry.”

“I know.” She nods as she runs a wet paper towel on your forehead and notices the red bruise on your left cheek. 

“I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.” You tell her, your voice cracking somewhere in the middle and she shakes her head. 

“I am so angry right now.” She admits, although she doesn’t pull away when you take her hands and throw the paper towel in the bin. 

“I’m so sorry.” You say again, meaning it. 

She looks at your hands, pleadingly squeezing hers and takes a couple of deep breaths. 

“Chain of command is important for situations exactly like this one.” She says, noticing how you flinch at the hard tone she uses. “When someone gives you an order, you listen. What part of ‘do not read that’ did you not get?”

Tears spring to your eyes so quickly that she instantly deflates. The anger that’s been bubbling in for the last couple of hours vanishes completely, even more so when your shoulders shake and she has to wrap her arms around you, however reluctantly at the moment. 

She caresses your hair and kisses your temple as you apologize, over and over again. After long minutes, you finally look up and she kisses your cheek before handing you another papel towel. 

“This is gonna bruise.” She runs a finger on your cheek and even notices a faint bruise on your neck as well. “I could kill that girl.”

“And then Natasha would kill you.” You tell her, but she just shrugs. 

“It’d be worth it. No one is allowed to hit you.”

“Even after what I did?”

“You’ll sleep in the guest bedroom for a month for this, but no. No one gets to hit you over it.”

…

You

When you emerge from the bathroom Wanda stands in front of you like a brick wall, unwilling to let anyone put their hands on you again. 

That doesn’t stop Yelena from glaring. It’s like she’s not even blinking while she chokes you in her very vivid imagination. 

In retrospect, everything that’s happened today might actually be your fault. Okay, you should have never read the book, that was on you. 

“What were you thinking?” Strange asks you, and you laugh nervously. He also takes your hand and removes Wong’s sling ring from your fingers. 

“I only read the introduction. When has an introduction ever hurt anyone?”

“The mummy.” Bucky provides for you.

“Evil dead.” Yelena ads. 

“It was the introduction!” You try to defend yourself, but the look Wanda gives you shuts you up right away. 

“It’s done.” Wanda says with finality. “We have to make things right, we can have a meeting about the events that brought us here when everything is sorted out.”

“Where’s Natasha?” You ask when you don’t see her anywhere, and Yelena goes for your neck one more time. 

…

This time Wanda catches Yelena midair, before she gets to touch you and you watch in slight terror as your wife grits her teeth before letting Yelena down with a snarl. 

“Let me go!” Yelena screams, but your wife holds her in place with her magic. “I won’t kill her! I just want to strangle her for a second!”

“I’d watch my words if I were you.” Wanda threatens her, calm and low. 

You’d forgotten how terrifying she can get, as has Yelena, judging by the new look on her face. 

“We know where Natasha is.” Strange intervenes, as you reach out and gently place your hand on Wanda’s arm. 

Wanda gives you a look and hesitantly lowers her arm, letting Yelena free of her hold. You intertwine your fingers through Wanda’s and pull her into you, pressing your lips on her clothed shoulder from behind and letting her know that you’re okay. 

This fear she harbors over losing you is something that you can’t protect her from. She’s lost so much already, a part of her is convinced that she’ll lose you too. 

…

Natasha

Natasha is not sure if the zombies feel lost, or scared, either option puzzles her anyway. 

The thing is---the thing is, the zombies haven’t moved, not an inch. They’re just there, in the street one of your portals obviously dropped them at. They look at each other, look around them, don’t recognize where they are, and they just refuse to move. 

She’s grateful for it, most definitely, but still puzzled. 

“They’re just not moving, huh?” A civilian says, striking a conversation as if he knows her. 

“They’re not.” She confirms anyway. “It’d be best if you leave though. Maybe take your friends with you.”

His friends are a bunch of teens standing a few feet away, as if they’re afraid to come any closer but with their phones in their hands, filming everything. 

“Nah, you’re kidding? I’m gonna record all this!” He exclaims excitedly. 

She’s about to tell him off, but a portal opens up behind him and she sees the team on the other side. 

“About time.” She says, moving towards everyone. “We have a situation here.” 

“Holy mother of God!” You exclaim, hand on your chest and eyes on the zombies. 

“You.” Natasha snarls, making your wife step in front of you again. “I’ll deal with you later.” Natasha says, her eyes never leaving yours. Her very angry eyes. 

You swallow. 

Strange deals with the zombies quickly while Natasha hacks into the security cameras around the area, just to make sure that no one was actually bitten or scratched. 

Natasha is tempted to slap you, she really is, but by the slight bruise on your cheek and the imprint of fingers on your neck, it looks like Yelena already bit her to it. 

She leaves you alone for now. 

…

You

Strange brings Wong along, and the stare he gives you makes you feel like the worst thing that’s ever happened to this team. 

He takes his sling ring from Strange with pursed lips and a glare sent your way. You involuntarily move behind Bucky, but his broad shoulders don’t protect you from the feeling of shame that washes over you. 

They don’t even ask you where you opened up the portals, not that you know exactly, because the sling ring takes Wong to every place you did. 

They spend the entire rest of the day, and night, fixing up the mess you made. 

…

Wanda

Wanda finds you on the roof of the highest building in the Compound, knees pulled up to your chest as you look blankly ahead. 

It doesn’t come easy to you, being part of this life, she’s always known it. 

You’re not a superpowered individual, a genius or a multimillionaire. No, you just happen to be the daughter of a God that left you in the care of Nick Fury when he left this world. 

Fury’s always referred to you as a bit of a loose cannon, saying that olympic blood running through your veins makes you careless to a fault. Wanda knows it’s something deeper than that. 

Calling you a loose cannon or a wild spirit, feels so abstract. You’re the only one left of your kind on earth, abandoned by a father who didn’t deem you worthy of Olympus. 

Careless, you are, but not because you don’t care but rather because of who you are. 

Gods are not meant to live among humans. Gods are not meant to have limitations. Gods never hear the word no. Gods don’t deal with consequences. 

You try so hard though. 

You try to fit in, you try to follow the rules, you try to be part of the team and you try to act like it’s enough. 

She knows you’re sorry, that you regret what happened today and she doesn’t need to tell you how much of a mess you made. You know---you just know. 

She can’t help but contemplate you now, sitting on the edge of the roof, surrounded by nothing but air, wind softly blowing your hair every few seconds. 

You’re the most beautiful thing she’s ever seen--she’s ever touched. 

“Hi, stranger.” She softly says, as to not startle you. You look up at her with red sad eyes, and she feels like melting. 

She carefully sits by your side and wraps her own jacket on your shoulders, before pulling you into her side. 

“How mad are they?” You ask, your cold nose rubbing the soft skin of her neck. 

“No one’s mad, darling.” She assures you, but you remain quiet. 

The air is chilly up here, but she knows this is why you like it so much. She thinks you feel closer to your family up here, your eyes always focus on the same place and she’s certain you can see it, the home you were denied so long ago. 

You mentioned it once in passing, but you don’t like to talk about it. The mount is something so sacred to you, so painful and yet, so beloved. 

“Do you think this is why he left me here?” You ask after a while, and Wanda doesn’t need you to elaborate to know what you’re hinting at. Not when she can hear the heartbreak in your voice. 

“No.” She says after a while. “He left you here because he knew I needed to find you.”

She waits, and waits, and you eventually crack. 

“You’re such a sap.” You tell her, a smile pulling at the corners of your lips. “Why did I even marry you?”

“I must have bewitched you.” She jokes, and you laugh, and she loves that laugh. 

She loves that carefree-dorky laugh that always manages to warm her up from the inside out. 

“Come here.” She pulls you in for a kiss, hand on the back of your neck and eager to have her lips on you. 

You oblige and kiss her wantonly, with a smile and familiarity. She loves you, she loves the way you kiss her with a laugh and plump lips. She loves the way you fit in with her, like a piece of a puzzle that was lost until you inevitably ran into each other. She loves, loves---loves you. 

“I love you.” You whisper against her lips, as the august wind rattles your hair and the smell of your shampoo invades her senses. 

“You’ll sleep in the guest bedroom for a week.” She finally tells you and the distraught shriek that leaves your lips is most definitely ungodly. 

“I adore you,” she tells you. “But you sent us all through unknown portals after you read a book in the Planet of the Dead.”

“A week sounds reasonable.” You nod right after, and she can’t help but to kiss you again. 

… 

She pretends she doesn’t feel you crawling in your bed in the middle of the night, but she can deal with that later. 

“Nat!” Her gaze snapped onto yours the second she heard your voice, laughter lingering amongst the sound as you called for her attention. “I… We made you some- something.” Natasha stepped further into the room, her interest piqued as you sent her a warm smile. “Wanda… She helped.”

“Y/N did most of the work,” Wanda chimed in quickly, a faint, friendly grin gracing her lips as she finally turned her gaze toward the approaching redhead. “I just played supervisor.”

When Natasha reached you, you presented a plate, its flimsy paper slightly bending under the weight of a lonely sandwich perched upon it. It was difficult to determine the contents nestled between the two slices of bread. “I wanted to… cook something for you, but… Wanda d- doesn’t trust me with the stove.”

Wanda rolled her eyes dramatically as Natasha accepted the plate from you, catching how the rookie Avenger playfully nudged your shoulder with her own. “That’s not true,” she claimed, smirking. “I simply offered to properly teach her how to cook another day, and we didn’t want to start something we couldn’t finish before you woke up.” You looked at Wanda, meeting the witch’s gentle green eyes with a soft smile. For a moment, it was as if the two of you were the only ones in the room. And, as much as Natasha enjoyed catching the two of you obliviously losing yourselves in each other, she had a sandwich to evaluate. 

The former assassin cleared her throat, gaining your attention almost instantly, yet Wanda’s gaze remained on you for a bit longer before leisurely turning her head to acknowledge Natasha. The redhead scooped the sandwich into her hands, taking a bite from one of its corners. Her jaw moved slowly, savoring each chew the bite gave her, as her eyes floated up toward the ceiling in contemplation. You waited with bated breath, bouncing on the tips of your toes, and feeling your patience wane with every passing second Natasha went without murmuring a single word, her thoughts seemingly hidden behind that thoughtful expression.

Finally, Natasha swallowed with an exaggerated gulp. Her eyes locked onto yours, recognizing the hopefulness gleaming in your irises. “That…” She drew in a deep breath, the taste of peanut butter lingering on her tongue. “That was the best peanut butter sandwich I’ve ever had, Y/N.” Your face lit up with a smile, one of the most radiant she had ever witnessed, prompting a chuckle to escape her chest. She took another bite of the sandwich as you reached for a couple more slices of bread.

“I’m… I’ll make you one.” You smirked as you looked at Wanda. “Y- You better watch out, Wanda. I… I’m going to be the n- new chef around here.”

Laughter resonated in the room as you wielded a butter knife, delving into the jar of peanut butter, but the memory gradually faded from her mind as she abruptly returned to the stark reality of the present. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she reclined in her chair, her gaze fixed on the untouched sandwich resting on a plate just inches away. Nothing felt the same. Nothing could ever be the same again. Not after…

“Am I interrupting something?” She tore her gaze away from her dinner to eye the super soldier leaning against a bookshelf. She was quick to wipe the tears away at the unexpected guest, sucking in a deep breath as she straightened her form. “I’d offer to cook you dinner, but I don’t think I could beat a peanut butter sandwich.”

“Is it laundry day already?” she questioned, watching Steve make his way into the office.

“I’m just checking in on a friend.”

“Clearly your friend is fine.” His sigh showed his dubious belief in her statement as he took a seat in the chair across from her. She turned away from him when he took a deep breath, his lips parting open as he prepared to speak, but she was quicker. “If you’re about to launch into one of your notorious pep talks right now, this sandwich might just find itself on a collision course with your head.” She smirked in an attempt to ease the tension in the space between them, yet she didn’t bother looking toward him to see if he was returning the smile.

“You know, I tell everybody they should move on. Some of them do, but we don’t.” She finally returned her gaze to the patriot, chewing the inside of her cheek as she met his exhausted eyes. 

“I’m doing this for her,” she said softly.

“I know why you’re doing it,” he assured, his voice low. He turned his attention to the sandwich, pursing his lips. “I’m sorry, Nat, but doing this isn’t going to bring her back.”

“I’m aware.”

“I just don’t want you to get your hopes up.”

“Steve,” she exhaled wearily. “Do you really think Y/N would’ve sat around and moped all day if half of the world blipped away?” Leaning in, she felt the stinging sensation in her eyes, tears desperately yearning for escape. Her stomach churned uncomfortably at the taste of your name rolling off of her tongue, a void left by your absence the moment she witnessed Thanos succeed in his mission. “She refused to join the team because she didn’t want to cause harm to others, but you can bet she’d have fought tooth and nail to bring back all those lost souls.”

“It wasn’t fair,” he expressed, noting how her shoulders slumped, almost as if she found comfort in him vocalizing what had been weighing on her. “She’s been handed nothing but heartache ever since she was a kid.” She drew in a deep breath, her gaze dropping to evade his gentle eyes. “Then, she found someone who showed her she wasn’t a monster. Someone who took care of her. Someone who revealed what real love looks like. Someone who saw beyond the years of burdens and recognized her true self.” Leaning closer, he rested his elbows on the desk as she raised her head, revealing her red eyes. “And you did the same for Y/N.”

It took everything in her power to battle the sob that was welling up in her chest, feeling it push relentlessly to break free from its confines. Refusing to part her lips, she held back, fearing it would offer an effortless escape route. Instead, she opted for deep, measured breaths in an attempt to regain composure. Breaking down in front of Steve Rogers was the least desirable outcome, but she couldn’t help but wonder if it would be so terrible if she did. Though they had their ups and downs, she had come to consider the super soldier a very close friend.

He remained patient, giving her the time she needed to regain control of her emotions before she found her voice. “I’d give anything for just one more second with her,” she admitted, the sorrow and vulnerability prominent in her voice. She felt fragile, diminished… Utterly empty. When she spoke again, it was in a hushed tone, mirroring the way she felt inside. “She was my kid, Steve.”

Steve’s mouth opened, a word on the tip of his tongue, yet he didn’t get much farther than that before camera footage materialized on the screen before them. A man appeared, waving his hands at the camera, attempting to grab their… or anybody’s attention. “Is anyone home?” His arms dropped down to his sides. “It’s Scott Lang. We met a few years ago…”

“Is this an old message?” The patriot rose from his seat, and the Russian promptly followed suit. 

Natasha, not removing her eyes from the screen, shook her head. “It’s the front gate.”

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Natasha couldn’t seem to focus on the boys’ bickering. Scott was loudly yelling at Bruce about being too Hulky. Rocket and Tony were engaged in a casual yet heated debate over who was smarter. Steve and Clint seemed engrossed in their own hushed conversation, which remained out of earshot even if she were inclined to listen. Her gaze remained fixed on the glass platform in the center of the room, arms crossed tautly over her chest with the sun heating her skin in a soothing way, chewing the inside of her cheek.

She had thought she’d seen it all, but now she found herself in the midst of planning a heist to save the universe. A heist. She should have felt happy. Optimistic. Why were those feelings eluding her?

“I- I’m not ready for this,” Scott, who was dressed in a white suit that he claimed was for the ease of time travel but was perhaps more about looking cool, stammered. Panic was evident on his face, the weight of only one test run pressing down on him. Or perhaps the thought of being the guinea pig for time travel was suddenly unappealing. Time travel…

Without hesitation, Natasha stepped forward, ignoring the pointed look Steve shot her way. “I’ll do it,” she declared with unwavering determination. “I’ll go.”

Now, she will see it all. Donned in a suit much like Scott’s, she stood poised on the platform. Bruce had warned her about the potential side effects of chronoshifts, but she couldn’t muster much concern. Her gaze remained fixed on the far wall while everyone else suddenly indulged in banter about movies involving time travel. Only Steve seemed to keep his attention solely on her, his hands resting on his hips, a faint furrow in his brow. She had one vial of Pym Particles at her disposal, and he couldn’t help but wonder if she’d use it wisely or selfishly.

Bruce cut the bickering short. “Alright, Nat. We’re going in three… two… one!”

Her vision was obscured as a helmet materialized around her head, and in an instant, she was hurtling through a realm unlike any she had ever seen before. Flying through what looked to be space, yet distinctly different. The experience was brief, and soon, she found herself back in the compound, her face released from the helmet. It appeared that the journey hadn’t taken her far, indicating some miscalculations. Instead of a time travel machine, it seemed they might have inadvertently created a teleportation device. She knew she’d have to return to the team and deliver the disappointing news. Now they only had one test run left, and the weight of their mission hung heavier in the balance. If they failed again…

She navigated the hallways easily, with the stars outside the window shimmering brightly in the night sky as she passed by. Her stomach churned with discomfort as she realized she was nearing the corner that led to your room, untouched and unvisited, exactly as it was when you were last there. It was foolish, she knew, to think as if you were coming back.

She refused to turn down that corridor, choosing the longer route instead. But as she walked, her muscles seemed to freeze, and her movements faltered when the sound of that rare laughter reached her ears. It was a sound she hadn’t heard in years, and it brought tears to the brim of her eyes as her gut twisted with excitement. She pressed her body against the wall, leaning slightly to peer around the corner just in time to see a version of herself emerging from your room.

Her heart felt like it had stopped beating as she quietly made her way toward your bedroom. Each step echoed loudly in her head, the empty hallway stretching out miles before her, and her chest constricted the closer she got.

You were seated on your bed, criss-cross applesauce style, when she approached the doorway, and her breath hitched in her throat when you lifted your head to lock eyes with her. Your expression shifted to confusion as your gaze initially settled on her hair before moving to take in her somewhat ridiculous outfit. 

“Nat?” You smiled at her, the initial bewilderment fading from your expression. However, a subtle tilt of your head suggested that you were still puzzled. You released a soft chuckle as she took another step closer to you, her mind still stuck in processing mode to be able to find words. “What happened to Germany? And your hair? What are you wearing?”

Everything fell into place with sudden clarity. She knew precisely when she was, mere moments before the disastrous battle at the airport, where her seemingly insignificant choice had cost you your freedom once again. A torrent of emotions surged within her. She could change it all, prevent your descent back into HYDRA’s grasp. She could take you away, show you the world, fulfill those pinky promises she had made. She didn’t have to leave you behind.

Her nose burned with a fierce fire as she reached you, sinking to her knees just before your bed and resting her chin on your knee. Your expression turned solemn, filled with concern, as a solitary tear finally escaped her, leaving a glistening trail on her skin. She reached up to you, her palm gently cupping your cheek, and a sob tore from her chest when you instinctively leaned into her touch. You had seen Natasha upset before, but this was more. She was in distress, and you were overwhelmed by the intuition to help her, yet you felt powerless, unsure of how to ease her pain.

She suddenly snapped back to reality with a breath, as if shaking herself free from a daze. In an abrupt motion, she pulled you off the bed, leaving you standing there, bewildered once more, as she made her way to your dresser. “Come on,” she urged, stuffing a couple of shirts into a backpack. “We’re leaving.”

You took a tentative step forward, watching her preparations with a sense of curiosity. “Where are we going?” you questioned.

“Wherever you want,” she answered. “I need you to be safe, Y/N.”

“Nat.” You reached out, your hand grasping her wrist, and the sensation of your touch made her pause. She averted her gaze, her eyes finding that soft smile that still somehow managed to illuminate your features. “We can’t go,” you gently insisted, shaking your head ever so subtly. “You have to save them.” You released her when you felt her muscles relax beneath your hand. She knew you were right. She had a whole planet to bring back. But what was so special about it if you weren’t there anymore? 

“Y/N, please…” She turned her body to face you, tears tracing their path. But as she met your gaze, she realized that there was nothing she could do to prevent what lay ahead. Overwhelmed by the countless emotions surging through her, she fell forward, her arms enveloping you in a tight embrace. It didn’t seem to matter how hard she squeezed her eyes shut, the tears continued to carve their way down her cheeks. And it only intensified the feeling when you returned the hug, drawing her even closer to you. She cherished this moment, knowing this moment, these feelings… They weren’t real. They weren’t going to last.

“You always make me fries when I’m feeling down, and it always helps,” you admitted, gently pulling back to meet her eyes. “I know what’ll make you feel better.” Your face lit up with pure joy as realization colored your eyes, but it only deepened the ache in her heart. “A peanut butter sandwich!” Your laughter should have made her smile, it should’ve released all the tension in her muscles, but it had the opposite effect, intensifying her sorrow. She etched the sound of your laughter into her memory, knowing it was the final time she’d ever hear it. “I’ll make you one!” Flashing her a wide grin, you gave her shoulder a squeeze before fully pulling away, but she swiftly grasped your wrist, not quite ready to let go just yet.

“Listen to me, Y/N,” she declared, her voice firm and resolute. “I’m not going.” Your brows knitted together in confusion once more, your head tilting slightly to the side, yet the smile on your face remained undiminished. “I’m staying right here. You…” Her words faltered, and the longer she gazed at you, bathed in the radiance of a smile brighter than a thousand suns, the more she realized what needed to be said. “You’re my sun, Y/N,” she continued, her voice softening, “and if I lose my sun, then it’s just… It’s like being trapped in an eternal midnight.”

“Nat-”

“We need the sun to survive, Y/N.”

“Nat!” You chuckled, shaking your head as you gently removed her hand from your wrist to place it over your heart. She let out a soft gasp, her voice failing her as she felt the steady beat beneath her palm. “You’re not going to lose me,” you reassured casually, offering a grin, one that was less bright, more carefree. “I’m safe in the compound. I’m always safe here.” It was at that moment she realized that you weren’t fully aware of the true circumstance. Everything that happened hadn’t yet. She had deceived herself, allowed the illusion that she was in the present, that you were alive and breathing and aware of the world’s current state. But now, reality crashed over her like a tidal wave - she was in the past.

There was nothing holding her back from staying in the past.

“You can’t stay, Nat,” you expressed, your voice low and earnest. “They’re going to need your help. Wanda… She might think she doesn’t need protection, but she does.” You pursed your lips together for a brief moment before letting go of her hand to raise your pinky. Your radiant smile returned as her throat tightened at the small gesture. “It’s a pinky promise.” You grinned. “Remember? You explained it to me a few moments ago. If broken-”

“You must suffer serious consequences.”

“You promised me something. It’s my turn to promise you something.”

The all-too-familiar burning sensation returned to her nose. “You don’t need to promise me anything.”

Yet you nodded in disagreement, and she saw that she had no other choice but to wrap her pinky around yours tightly. “I promise I’ll be right here when you come back.” Her chest constricted to the point where she started to believe she was having a heart attack. “I promise you won’t lose me.” The tears came back, too. Of course. Just the cherry on top of this emotional cake. “And I promise I’ll make you a peanut butter sandwich in every city we go!” You laughed.

How could she say goodbye to that grin? To that laughter? To you? It felt completely impossible… but it had to be done. “We can start making a list,” she offered, though the small smile on her face didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Right now. Beginning with New York.” Your eyes brightened, the way they always did when you were happy, making it all the more challenging for her to go through with this. “You head to the kitchen, I’ll get some paper.”

“You won’t find my peanut butter sandwiches in Germany,” you confidently expressed, turning your back to her, “until we go to Germany!” Your laughter echoed from the hallways as you left the room, leaving her standing there alone, feeling frozen and battling every urge in her body that wanted to crumble. “Come on, Nat!” your voice called from afar.

Her gaze landed on your notebook resting on the nightstand, and with a determined effort, she finally rallied her legs and made her way to it. Holding it tightly to her chest, she closed her eyes.

It was uncontrollable, the way her body was thrown to her knees at the sudden shift, but there was a part of her that knew she had given up the fight anyway. When she opened her eyes, the entire team was staring at her. Clint was quick to reach her, Steve was a close second. She had to muster that strength to fight again, she couldn’t fall apart in front of an audience.

“I knew it was a bad idea,” Steve whispered softly, though she heard him loud and clear.

Sucking in a deep breath, she straightened her form and presented your notebook. Yet as the room cheered in victory, she remained silent.

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“I figured you were here.” Clint leaned casually against the doorway of your bedroom, where he found Natasha perched on the edge of your bed, your notebook cradled delicately in her hands. “We’re all set to go when you are.”

“Just had to return this.” She gently closed the notebook and placed it in the drawer of your nightstand, carefully sliding it shut. “I… I saw her, Clint,” she admitted, her gaze drifting to her own hands. “And a part of me… A pretty big part of me wanted to stay. I almost did.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“We have to save them,” she replied, meeting his eyes with a small, strained smile. “They need our help.”

“Unfortunately, death is a part of life for everyone,” he stated, folding his arms across his chest as he took a step into the room. “Someday, you’ll see her again. You’ll have more time with her. But, before that day comes… we have to live our lives. And, right now, living our lives is going to the dominion of death and getting this damn stone.”

She briefly chewed the inside of her cheek, then rose from her seat, took a deep breath, and wiped away any lingering sorrow from her face. “Vormir is calling,” she said with a smirk, strutting past Clint.

The time travel journey remained consistent with her previous experience, and the trip to the desolate planet seemed to drag on endlessly before they finally arrived. When the hooded figure presented an unexpected twist - a subtext in the contract they didn’t fully examine - Natasha instinctively knew what she had to do. However, Clint wasn’t ready to accept her decision, despite everything. The two fought as hard as they could to jump off of the cliff first, but when it was all said and done, with the two of them dangling off of her grappling hook, a feeling settled in the bottom of her gut. A feeling she hadn’t felt in forever. She was so close, all she needed to do was…

She kicked against the wall, breaking free from Clint’s grip in the process. It didn’t feel like she was falling; instead, it was more akin to flying. Soaring through the air, unburdened and as free as a bird. Because, at that moment, she was truly free. And when she finally landed on the ground, darkness enveloped her almost instantly, offering her an infinite reprieve from the eternal midnight that had plagued her for five years.

Or so she thought.

There was a voice, distant and muffled, but undeniably present. It roused her from unconsciousness, and her eyes slowly fluttered open. It felt as if her heart started beating again when she found herself gazing into your eyes, a bittersweet smile tugging at the corners of your lips as you crouched beside her. “Hey, Mom,” you whispered, reaching down to gently swipe a couple of loose strands of hair away from her forehead. “I missed you so much.” Her breath caught in her throat. “Are you going to lie there, or can we hug?” You laughed when she sat up within seconds, wrapping her arms around your neck to bring her close to you. Because this was real. And this time, it was going to last.

Spending a week in the woods, camping with Rachel, has been a tradition since she could walk. Jean only participated in the first two. After the divorce you weren't sure you wanted to keep the tradition but Jean made a few good points on why you should continue it. Now, years later, it's the best way that you get to bond with Rachel beyond the distracting devices and all of her shows and music. You do your best to keep up with all of it but she is constantly changing. You encourage it, of course. But it's hard to feel connected with your daughter. Except on these trips. 

You rent the same spot every year. The two of you build the tent together and make it cozy inside. Then you set up the fire pit and she finds the best spots for the chairs. The two of you make food together over the fire. Tell jokes and scary stories. Remain completely unplugged for the entire trip. At night she snuggles close and you cherish the way she holds you tight because you know there will be a day a few years from now when she won't. She'll be upset with you because you'll be upset with her. Things will get tough, as they do with growing up, and you won't get as many hugs as you do now. And she'll continue to grow up and find her own way in life and her snuggles and these camping trips will be nothing but a distant memory. 

Between meals the two of you make up games, talk to each other, and you teach her what you can think of at the moment.  The two of you swim in the lake nearby and have fun splashing each other. A dog runs up to her when she’s eating her food and you already know that she's going to start asking for a dog. Luckily, you're able to convince her that she's still too young for one. 

All too soon, it's Friday morning and the two of you are packing up the campsite. It's sad putting away the fun week but it's what has to be done. Once your truck is packed up, you hit the road and she's finally able to use her phone again. The entire drive home she is blasting her favorite songs and singing at the top of her lungs. Once you're back in town you're reminded of your plans and at a stop light you message Wanda to see if she's still up for drinks. You don't get a reply until you're pulling up to your apartment building. 

Too nervous to check, you unload the car and get Rachel comfortable before you check your messages. I’ll see you at seven? Your shoulders drop from the relief. You call your sister, Kate, and ask if she can babysit for a couple of hours. 

“Oh… does someone finally have a date?” She inquires and it makes you roll your eyes. 

“No, I'm just grabbing drinks with some friends,” you clarify. 

“You’re so boring,” she groans. “Alright, I'll babysit. I don't mind spending some one on one with my favorite niece!”

“She’s your only niece,” you laugh at her enthusiasm. 

“Exactly,” she says. “I’d have other favorite nieces, maybe even nephews, but no. You refuse to make anymore.”

“Gross, you do realize that you're upset with me for not getting laid, right?” The line goes quiet and you wonder if she's even there anymore. “Hello? Kate?”

“I’m here, I just had to go scrub my brain with bleach to remove the last few minutes from my memory.” She says nonchalant, as if that was the most normal thing to do. “Anyway, I'll be there in a few. You better leave me some money for food.”

“Of course, I'll see you in a bit. Thank you so much,” you say your goodbyes and hang up. You walk to Rachel’s room and knock on her door and enter once she says you can. “Hey kiddo, aunt Kate is coming over to watch you for a bit. I have something… I mean I will be… uh, I have to do something.” You cringe at how you’re fumbling telling her that you’re going out. Normally, to avoid this, you would plan to do something on a night you don’t have her. But you only have yourself to blame for this. 

“Okay, have fun,” she says as she scrolls through her phone. 

“Okay,” you almost want to laugh at how easy that was. “Okay,” you repeat yourself. “I’m going to shower so can you let your aunt in if she gets her before I’m out?” 

Rachel nods, “Yeah no prob, now go! You don’t want to smell gross for your date.”

“It’s not a date,” you clarify and Rachel mutters something to herself that you can’t decipher but decide you don’t want to know anyway. “Please don't ever grow up,” you say with a smile and she looks up at you with big eyes like her mother. 

“I have to someday,” she says seriously and it crushes something in you. As a parent, that is possibly the best and worst response to ever hear. “Now go, please,” she says with a small wave of her hand. 

You finally leave her room, closing the door to the point that it's left to a crack. Just to mess with her a little. Then you head to the shower because you haven't had a proper one in several days. Your daughter is right, you do smell pretty gross. When you step out you hear your sister and Rachel laughing at something playing on the television. You finish getting dressed and when you walk out with a smile to greet the two girls they look up at you with horror. 

“What?” You ask as you look at your t-shirt and jeans. Your usual attire. 

“Is that what you're wearing?” Kate asks as she slowly eats the popcorn from the bowl between her and Rachel. 

“Yeah, why? What's wrong with it?” You laugh at their judgmental eyes. 

“Nothing, it's just so… you,” Kate replies with disgust. 

“That’s a bad thing?”

“No,” she pauses as she continues to look you up and down. “It’s just not a good thing.” 

You shake your head with a laugh, “Gee thanks, little sis. But it's nothing to get bent out of shape over. It's just drinks with some friends. I highly doubt Steve or Phil are going to have anything to say about my outfit.” You grab your jacket and put it on despite Kate's commentary about not wearing it. “What? I checked the weather.  It might rain tonight.” 

“I’m sorry, Rach. You’re not going to get another step-mom anytime soon,” Kate says. 

Rachel is hardly paying attention to the conversation anymore so when her aunt speaks to her it takes a moment for her to respond. She shrugs, “It’s okay, Ms. Wanda likes their work uniform. She won’t mind this, I guess. I just thought she deserved better from them.” 

“Oh, she has a name? And she knows Rachel?” Kate says in surprise, happy to be getting the good details now. “This must be serious.”

You pinch the bridge of your nose as you shake your head. “No, it’s not. I’m not dating anyone, Kate. Stop encouraging this kind of behavior.” You say, frustrated from having to repeat yourself constantly. You never liked this kind of teasing. It makes you uncomfortable and feel like you have something to prove. Besides, it's not fair to the other person who can't defend themselves. You grab your wallet, phone, and keys. “I don't have cash on me so I’ll send you the money for dinner. Thank you for watching her.” You say as you get a text from Wanda that she's already at the bar and sends you her location to double check that it's the right one. You send her a thumbs up. “I’ll be right around the corner so if there's any kind of emergency do not hesitate to call. Okay?”

“Of course,” Kate says. She hands Rachel the bowl of popcorn and gets off the couch. She stands in front of you and pulls you in for a hug. “I’m sorry, I know I tease you a lot but… I just want you to be happy.”

You hold your sister for a second and pull away and smile at her. “I am happy, kiddo. You don't need to be in a relationship to find happiness.” 

She pats your check with a fake expression of pity. “Oh, you are so single. It's sad.” 

You shake your head with a hearty laugh. “Whatever, weirdo.” You step away from her and go to join Rachel on the couch to give your daughter a hug. “I love you, nugget. I'll see you in the morning.”

“Morning? You’re going to be out all night?” She asks in surprise. 

“No, sweetheart. You’ll be in bed by the time I come home.” You tell her with a soft laugh. “I’ll be back here tonight and will be making your favorite breakfast in the morning. Don’t worry.” You tap your finger to her nose and she scrunches her face with a giggle. 

“Okay, have fun!” She gives you one last side hug, careful to not spill the bowl of popcorn. 

Finally, you leave the apartment building and walk a few blocks down to your favorite bar. You used to work there when you turned twenty-one and learned many skills that you don’t use anymore unless it’s to try and impress someone you’re interested in. Especially since the owner has a soft spot for some of his former employees and will let you behind the bar to let you do a trick or two. 

Walking inside The Hub you grow nervous because this will be the first time you and Wanda intentionally hang out together. You weren’t sure what you were supposed to talk about. What if there is nothing to talk about? How are you supposed to continue to go to her house and eat her food if she hates you after this? Steve is sitting at the bar talking with Phil. You met Steve when working here, he was the one who trained you in mixology. 

Steve served in the military before you met him here. His usual story is that he only enlisted because he didn’t have a direction at eighteen and needed something to help him make good money early in life. The real story is that he spent the majority of his life training to be in the military. His entire family is in the military, it was all he knew. But once he was actually in battle he realized that life wasn’t for him. When he finished his six year commitment to the Marines, he didn’t renew his contract and hasn’t spoken to his family because of it. To say they didn’t approve would be an understatement.  

“Rogers!” You greet him happily. You do a quick handshake and pull each other into a half hug. “It’s been a while, I’m glad you could make it out.” You sit next to him. 

“I’ve been good, Peggy and I just got a place together,” he says with a grin as he takes a sip from his beer. 

“That’s awesome man,” you congratulate him. 

“Wow, it’s like I don’t exist,” Phil says as he sets a glass down in front of you and pours your favorite drink for you. 

“I was going to get to you,” you laugh at his impatience. “How’s it been, Coulson? The place looks busy. I can’t even find the person I invited out.” You look around to find Wanda and her friend but have no luck from where you’re sitting. 

“Yeah, business has been good,” he says with a frown as he throws his rag over his shoulder. 

“Why does that sound like it's a bad thing for you?” Steve picks up on the bar owner's mood. 

Phil leans on the bar and sighs. “My daughter is home for the summer and she needed a job but no one was willing to hire her so I thought what’s the worst that could happen? Turns out, it’s this.” He points to the crowd of guys that keep looking over at the bar to catch a glimpse of Phil’s daughter and you laugh as you realize that the ratio of males to females is not what you’re used to at this place. 

“Where is she?” Steve asks and you nudge him as you shake your head. “What? I just want to see her. It’s been a while. Geez, I’m in a committed relationship, Y/n.” 

Phil looks at Steve, “No one is seeing my daughter tonight. She isn’t scheduled to come in. I’ve made sure to give her all Friday’s to Sunday’s off.” He says proudly. You point out the room full of customers that don’t know and he laughs. “I’m not going to tell them that. I still need to keep this business afloat.” You nod with a smile as someone comes up from behind him and you recognize her from the photos that Phil has in his office. She is much more mature now than she is in those photos and you can see why she draws in a crowd. You clear your throat to get Phil’s attention and point her out to him. He spins around. “Daisy! I gave you the day off! Why are you here?” 

“Calm down, Grant asked me to cover his shift. Besides, these are the busiest nights and I can make great tips,” she explains as she ties her apron on. Her and Phil have a quiet argument and you and Steve watch in amusement. 

As guys come to crowd the bar you and Steve step away and you are reminded why you’re there in the first place. She is across the room, sitting in a booth in the corner chatting with her friend. Wanda looks up and the two of you make eye contact and you smile as you grab Steve’s attention. A soft blush warms her cheeks and she looks away from you. “There she is,” you tell him. Steve isn’t sure who you’re looking at so he lets you lead the way. You join her and her friend in the round booth. “I’m sorry it took so long to find you. This place isn’t usually this busy. Believe me, I used to make the worst tips here.” 

Wanda laughs, “Okay, I’ll just have to take your word for it.” The two of you stare at each other for a moment. Not sure how to act around each other in this setting. She takes a drink from her cup and points to her friend. “This is my best friend, Carol Danvers. She’s in the Air Force.” You reach your hand across the table to introduce yourself, mentioning that it was an honor to meet her.

“An honor?” Steve scoffs in offense. “I served six years and you never said it was an honor to meet me.” 

“That’s because you’re a nightmare,” you retort. 

“I will have you know, I am a delight,” Steve defends himself. “I’m Steve Rogers by the way.” He offers his hand to Wanda first then Carol. “I know, it's an honor to meet me.” The girls laugh at his joke and you shake your head. 

You turn to Wanda, “I’m sorry about him. Now you can see why I'm in search of some new friends.” 

Wanda nods with her eyebrows raised, “I won't lie, I half expected you to bring Rachel's mom or my brother.” She admits in a laugh. “So, how'd the two of you meet?” 

“Here,” you state as you sip your beverage. “We used to work together here.” You tip your glass to her friend who is engrossed in a conversation with Steve about basic training and sharing war stories. “How did the two of you meet?” 

Wanda looks at Carol and then looks back at you. “We met at a party in high school,” she shrugs. “We didn't go to the same school, we just knew a few of the same people and became friends that way.”

“Oh that's cool. Which high school did you attend?” Wanda tells you about the high school she attended in another state. Then she goes into how she made her way out here. That she got into the university here and that's where she met Vision. How she got into architecture. She talks about how her parents weren’t ever married and that her father moved out here when she was in middle school. Which is part of what influenced her choice in university. Explains how Pietro followed along shortly after and worked under their father to prepare to take over the construction business for him. 

Before she can continue on with her life story, Daisy comes over to the table with a notepad and a few menus. “So my dad is having a bitch fit and now I'm your personal server tonight. Here,” she tosses the menus onto the middle of the table. “I will be back every five minutes. Go.” She walks away and you laugh. 

“The service is wonderful here,” Carol says sarcastically. 

“Oh yeah, definitely employee of the month,” Wanda chimes in and the two women share a look before laughing at each other. Steve makes a funny face to you and you shrug because you have no clue what their inside joke is. Wanda grabs a menu and turns to you. “What would you recommend?” 

“The loaded nachos and that’s it,” Steve cuts into the conversation. 

You nod, “Yeah, that’s the only thing that doesn’t go in the toaster oven.” 

“A toaster oven?” Wanda scoffs at the idea that an establishment would be allowed to get away with such a thing. But you nod, not showing any sign of the information being a joke. “Wow, okay. Loaded nachos then.” 

“My goodness! There you two are!” A woman says as she gets close to the booth. “I have been to three bars looking for you guys. What are we doing here?” She slides in next to you on the booth and she gives you a flirty smile. “Oh, hello,” she winks at you then she leans on the table to talk directly to Wanda. “Now I know why you were ignoring my texts.” She returns her attention to you, “Tell me cutie, are you single?” 

Wanda bursts out laughing at your uncomfortable expression as the strange woman strokes your arm. “Agatha, pump the brakes. This is the friend I told you about.” 

Agatha stops trying to flirt with you and her eyes widen. “Oh! You’re them! Oh, honey why didn’t you say anything,” She swats your shoulder as she lets out a boisterous laugh. Agatha holds her hand out to you, “Agatha Harkness, pleasure to make your acquaintance.” 

You accept her hand and shake it quickly before dropping it. “Nice to meet you as well, I’m Y/n.” 

“Oh honey, I know who you are.” She directs her next words to Wanda. “You told me they were cute but you didn’t say they were hot!” 

You look at Wanda with raised eyebrows and a teasing smirk. “Yeah, explain yourself, Wanda.” 

Wanda opens and closes her mouth as she blushes. She knew she shouldn’t have used any sort of compliment as a descriptor. “I never said Y/n is cute.” She says as she points her finger at Agatha. 

“Right, you didn’t say cute,” Agatha gives her a big wink. 

“If it evens the score, Y/n told me that Wanda is very pretty,” Phil chimes in as he comes over with a tray of drinks. You had told him the kind of drink you wanted Wanda to try when you texted him earlier about being here. He said that he’d have them ready once you lasted more than ten minutes at the table with her. “If you ask me, Y/n is a little smitten.”

You shake your head, “It’s a good thing no one asked you then.” Steve makes an ooh sound, Carol laughs and Wanda appears a little impressed. “Thank you, Phil. I appreciate everything you do.” You rush out with an apologetic smile. 

“You’re lucky I know you,” he says after he clears the tray. “Otherwise I’d pay Steve here to throw you out of here.” 

“Oh please, you wouldn’t have to pay me.” Steve says as he grabs his glass, “I’d gladly do it for free.” 

You nod your head, “Yup, these are the people I call my friends.” 

The two men laugh and Daisy returns to the table. “Know what you want yet?” She asks with her notepad and pen ready. 

“Two orders of loaded nachos please,” Steve says. “And a side order of your number,” he winks. Phil smacks the back of Steve’s head. “Ow! I was joking!”

“Behave, I won’t tell you twice,” Phil says unamused while the rest of you try to not laugh. 

Steve salutes him, and then looks at Daisy. “I’m sorry, we’ll just have the nachos, please.” 

The night continues like that, with humorous bits and teasing. Daisy returns every few minutes to check on the table and you order a couple rounds of shots that you want Wanda to try.  You watch her to see if she likes them and when she makes a comment about how you know good drinks Steve points out that you have a home court advantage. To which Carol suggests a change in venue for an even playing field. You pay for the nachos and some of the drinks as Wanda refuses to let you cover the entire bill. 

As you’re leaving The Hub, Daisy pulls you aside while everyone else walks out. You look at her confused and she writes her phone number on a paper in the notepad. She rips it out and slips it in your pocket with a sultry, “Call me.” You find the gesture to be a little funny but you don’t reject her right there. You figure that you’ll probably never use the number. Out of respect to her father and to her. You thank her and walk out the door to catch up with your group. 

As they’re walking Wanda thinks of something to ask you and turns around only to find you missing from the group. She looks around and sees the interaction between you and Daisy through the window. Her eyes widen when she sees the girl stick her fingers in your front pocket. She feels a pang of jealousy but she isn’t sure that’s exactly what she is feeling. Maybe she was feeling off from all of the alcohol they were mixing. Why would she be jealous of you getting some girl's number? You seemed close with her father, so you could be receiving that number for any reason. And yet, she couldn’t shake the fact that seeing that intimate interaction bothered her. When you appear in front of her asking where the five of you are headed off to next, she has to snap herself out of her head. She shrugs because she was so focused on herself that she wasn’t paying attention to the rest of them.

Steve points to a place a few buildings down that the group of five make agree to and their way over. This place was more of a nightclub and there is a crazy long line to get inside which you were completely fine with. It gave you some time to talk with Wanda while waiting. She asked you a lot of questions this time, to get to learn more about you. All you talk about is how you’re from this city and go into the details of your family. How you didn’t like being a child of a bitter divorce and that you wanted better for your daughter. Then you talk about the different types of jobs you’ve had since you were fifteen. And you reveal how you’re working towards a business degree at the community college because you’ve always wanted to start your own handmade furniture business. Steve hypes up your work when he overhears that part of the conversation. You awkwardly thank him and next thing you know, the five of you are inside the club. 

Once inside, you hate it immediately.  The music is loud making it difficult to hear. It’s hot and the air is thin. It was hard to breathe in anything other than the aroma of alcohol and the smell of other people’s sweat.  The place is full and cramped with sweaty bodies knocking into or grinding on each other which makes it hard to stick together. The flashing and rapidly moving lights are unpleasant and difficult to see through. Wanda grabs the collar of your shirt and roughly pulls you close so that you can hear her, “Can we leave?” 

You nod without hesitation and turn around to tell the rest of them that it’s time to go but Carol, Agatha, and Steve have disappeared in the crowd. Wanda grabs onto your jacket with a tight grip so she doesn’t lose you while you search for the other three. You spot Agatha first, she is grinning as she dances provocatively with some random man. Next you spot Carol smiling at a woman as she leans against the bar. Lastly, you find Steve getting excited about spotting a group of guys he recognizes. It’s as if those three were in this place for longer than a few minutes and made themselves very comfortable in the environment. 

You wrap your arm around Wanda’s waist to pull her close to talk, “I think we’re just going to have to wait outside for them.” Wanda nods and agrees telling you that she just wants to get out. You guide her through the many bodies that are colliding together as they dance to the booming music until the two of you are finally outside. “Oh my goodness I never thought I was going to breathe fresh air again!” You exaggerate once you’re free. 

Wanda laughs, “Oh man I had no idea that’s what those were like! I don’t really see the appeal of a place like that!” 

“We’re not drunk enough to enjoy it,” you shrug. 

“I guess not,” Wanda looks at you. “Were you a person that could handle a club like that?” 

You look back at the building and know that there are photos of you in that place somewhere online so there was no point in lying, it was a part of your life that you’re not proud of but a part no less. You nod, “Before my divorce, no way. I was a full-time parent and spouse. After my divorce however…” you drag out as you’re not sure how else to put it. Wanda nods in understanding but you feel like you still have to explain yourself. “Those first few weeks with no family to come home to were so lonely. I’m sure you know how it is. That quiet and isolation is so suffocating. So, yeah, I lost myself in a place like this.” You think back on that time and your reaction to going into that place back then is very different from how you reacted just now. “It’s been a while though and honestly, I cannot tell you how I did it. I don’t know how they’re doing it now!” 

Wanda laughs in agreement, “I guess it’s fun for some people. A nightmare for others. And an escape for those who need it.” 

“That’s an interesting observation,” you say. “Did you ever do stuff like this before having the boys?”

Wanda makes a face and looks back at the building then back to you, “No,” she drags the word out.“It always seemed like my worst nightmare and well… I was right.” 

You nod, “Yeah, it doesn't seem like your kind of thing. Sorry about that, I probably should have shut this idea down.”

“Don't be, I could have said something, I mean we were waiting in line for like an hour. I was curious and now I'm not.” She says with a shrug. Wanda looks around the street and spots another bar with a calmer setting that also has an outdoor option. “Want to go there?” She points it out and you look it over a bit. If you get a spot close to the railing, Steve and the girls will be able to see the two of you from the club when they exit. 

“Sure,” you offer your elbow for her to take. Wanda accepts it and makes a comment about chivalry and you laugh. The two of you cross the street and enter the establishment. It’s the type of place where you have to wait to be seated. So you tell the hostess two for outside and she grabs a couple menus and leads you to the empty corner table you had spotted from the club. You thank her and pull the chair out for Wanda, she looks at you funny. “What? You’re the one who said chivalry wasn’t dead. I have to continue to keep it alive.” 

“That’s too bad,” she pulls the other chair out, “because now it’s my turn.” She pats the back of the chair, “Have a seat, Y/n.” You look at the gesture and happily accept it. Wanda walks around to claim her seat, “There, now we’re even.” 

“Are we? I wasn’t keeping score,” you open the menu and start to look it over. You have only been here a couple of times and are still relatively unfamiliar with what they carry.

Wanda sits there and stares at you for a moment as read the menu. Not knowing the impact your words had on her. Most of her life has been an ongoing score board. If someone did something nice for her she made certain to do something even nicer, expecting them to do something in return. That’s just how relationships and friendships seemed to happen in her life. It wasn’t until halfway through her marriage with Vision that she realized that behavior wasn’t exclusive to good deeds. The amount of bad things they did to each other until the end of it when Vision won and continues to win… Cracks are starting to break through the rose colored lenses. 

“Can I get you two anything to drink to start?” A handsome waiter with a winning smile asks, breaking Wanda out of her thoughts. You tell him that you’re going to have a glass of water and one of the local IPA’s. “And for the pretty lady?” The man doesn’t hide that he is checking her out and though Wanda is flattered by the attention, she wasn’t comfortable with it being from him. 

“I’ll just have water,” she says shyly. 

“Actually, cancel the IPA, I’ll just have the water,” you change your order. You don’t want to be drinking anymore alcohol if Wanda is stopping. “And I’ll add an order of the grilled bread and good olive oil.” You notice that the waiter isn’t taking his eyes off of Wanda and you notice how she seems to shrink under his gaze. “Would you like another appetizer, honey?” you clear your throat as you ask. Not comfortable with using the term of endearment. Wanda sits up as it sounds foreign from you but she notices that the waiter has finally stopped looking at her. 

“Oh um, yeah, babe, you know what I like,” she tries her best to play along as she looks over the appetizers. “You’re so silly, you know that I like the-the… oh! White truffle garlic bread. That’s what I’ll have. For us,” she reaches across the table for your hand, “to share.” You bite your lips to keep from laughing as you nod and throw in a wink. 

“Will that be all for now?” The man’s flirty demeanor has changed to a more professional one and you know that although the both of you are horrible at pretending, you’ve been able to pull it off. 

“Yes, that’s all for now, thank you,” you say politely. He walks away and once he’s gone, you can’t help but laugh a little. “Oh I think we hurt his feelings.” 

Wanda smiles and hums, “That’s what he gets for being creepy.” She removes her hand from yours. “Thank you for that, by the way.” 

You wave her gratitude off, “It’s nothing. He should be focused on his job and not making his customers uncomfortable.” 

Wanda crosses her arms and leans on the table, “Did you ever pick anyone up when you were a bartender?” 

You laugh and shake your head, “No, I was still married when I started the job and then I was enjoying being out of a relationship when the divorce happened. I got to learn a lot about myself in that time.” 

“Have you dated since your divorce?” 

“I have been on a few dates. But I haven’t committed to a relationship since Jean,” you admit. “And it’s not because I still have feelings for her. Things between us ended for a reason and we’re still friends. That’s what we were always meant to be. But I haven’t met someone that I could introduce to her.” 

Wanda makes a face, “What do you mean by that?”

“Well, when she started dating, she kind of made up a system to weed out the people she wasn’t sure if they would work out or not. If she didn’t think she could introduce them to me without a doubt that I would be comfortable with them being around Rachel, then she wouldn’t pursue it. Now she’s happily married to the woman of her dreams,” you elaborate. 

“Huh,” Wanda says. The waiter returns with a pitcher of water to fill two glasses and the two plates of appetizers. When he disappears she continues the conversation. “I’ll probably be single forever then,” she says before she drinks her water. 

You laugh as you chew on the bread, “Oh yeah, that system is not designed for people like Vision.” 

Wanda shakes her head, “Nope. I’m sure he already has a file of every bad thing you’ve ever done prepared for drop off on Sunday.” 

“Oh gosh, so you’re saying I shouldn’t have accepted that follow request from hotgurl69?” You say with a smirk. 

Wanda stops chewing and stares at you with uncertainty, “You’re joking.”

“No, I’m not,” you grin as you pull out your phone to show her the obviously fake account that followed you during the week. It had a couple of posts of an objectively attractive woman but not someone that is your type. You hand it to Wanda and she shakes her head in disbelief as she looks it over. “I didn’t actually allow the account to follow me but oh that was something to see when I got back.” 

“He is a nutjob,” Wanda says under her breath. She blocks the account just for her sanity. “I am so sorry about that,” she returns your phone to you. “That’s ridiculous, he is such a child.” 

“There you guys are!” Carol says with a girl under her arm. “These are my friends. That’s Wanda and that’s… Wait. What’s your name again?” She points to you and you smile as you introduce yourself to the girl. 

“Hi, I’m Maria Rambeau,” she says with a grin. “It’s nice to meet you guys!” 

“Likewise,” Wanda smiles. 

“We’re about to head out, I just thought I’d tell you so you didn’t assume the worst. Also, Agatha went home with some Ralph guy. I don’t know. But have fun,” Carol waves as she walks away fast so that Wanda can’t convince her to stay. You and Wanda laugh as the group has gone their separate ways for the night. 

You look at your phone to send a message, “I should probably check on Steve and oh! His girlfriend had an emergency and he went home.” You close the phone and put it in your pocket. “I guess it’s just you and me, that is unless you’re ready to go home.” 

Wanda looks at the half eaten bread on the table, then to the busy street full of people walking by and businesses that are alive, and then at you. Smiling at her with kind eyes that make her feel special. Eyes that make her nervous in the best possible ways. “No, I’m okay to stay a little longer,” is what she wants to say. But she isn’t sure what would happen if she did stay. How would the night end with just the two of you past this point? Would the two of you go on a stroll and continue to talk? Will there be a moment where the two of you get swept up by some romantic setting and she does something stupid like kiss you? She doesn’t want to risk this growing friendship for something so silly. Besides, you and her brother will be at her house tomorrow fixing her wall. She has already looked foolish in front of you plenty of times in the few weeks that you’ve known each other. She doesn’t need to add to that list tonight. 

“Actually, I am a bit tired. Knowing Pietro, I’ll be waking up at six in the morning to let him in,” Wanda explains. “This was really nice, thank you for inviting me out. I haven’t had the courage to do something like this in a while. We should do it again sometime.”

“Yeah, and hopefully something that keeps everyone interested and engaged,” you reply. “I’ll cover the bill, we don’t want to give prince charming over there any reason to make some move on you because I can’t pay for your meal,” you say as you pull out your card.

“Ah well, it’s only appetizers,” she remarks. “If I were him, I’d probably say something about the lack of a three course meal.” 

“Oh, no worries,” you say as you wave the waiter over. “I’m two steps ahead of you.” The waiter approaches and you ask for the bill. He makes a face stating that you’ve only ordered appetizers. “Yeah, we got a call from the sitter,” you start and glance at Wanda to see her start to smile. “Six kids is a lot to handle for one person. We rarely ever get to have an uninterrupted evening like this,” you lie easily and Wanda tries to hide her amusement. 

“Yeah,” she adds with a disappointed sigh, “And can you believe we’re expecting seven and eight?” She reaches across the table again for your hand and squeezes it with excitement. 

The waiter's eyes widen, “Wow uh, congratulations! You could never tell. Since this was a celebration, you know what, the meal is on the house.” You are surprised and insist on paying but he clears the table and allows you and Wanda to leave without paying. 

The two of you walk to the end of the street where you’re headed in opposite directions. “My apartment is that way,” you point to the building you’ve called home for the past year and a half. Wanda nods as she makes a comment about the building looking nice. Then she turns and points to the parking garage where she parked her car. “I will see you tomorrow then,” you say awkwardly, not really sure how to end the night. 

“Tomorrow,” she repeats, “Goodnight, Y/n.” Wanda walks away and you head home after bidding her a goodnight as well.

When you walk in, the place is quiet other than the soft volume of the television that Kate is watching. “So? How’d it go?” she asks in a whisper. 

You shrug as you remove your jacket, “It was fun. Her friends ended up finding people to go home with and Steve had to head back to Peggy. Wanda and I got to spend some time alone and it was nice. Plus, do you remember Daisy? Phil’s daughter?” You are sitting next to your sister on the couch now. Kate nods as the name rings a bell. “Well she’s home from school and she gave me her number.” 

“Oh, she has had a crush on you forever,” Kate admits. 

You make a face, “Really?” You don’t want to believe your sister, especially not since she is constantly making comments on your lack of a love life. But it does explain why she made the move on you when you hadn’t shown any interest in her all night. “Oh well, I’m not going to call her anyway.” 

“Why not? Things go well with Wanda?” She tries to see if you’ll admit that there is anything more than friendship between you and Wanda and you roll your eyes at her attempt.

“You’re insufferable, you know?” Kate shrugs and asks again why you’re not going to use Daisy’s number. “One, it’s none of your business and two she’s Phil’s daughter. That’s weird, I consider him a friend. I can’t just date his little girl without him knowing. Then I can’t end things with her if he does. It’s way too complicated.” 

“Is it? Or are you making it complicated?” Kate challenges and not having the energy to even try to argue with her, you get off the couch. 

“I’m going to bed. You know how to use the pull out,” you walk to your room. “Goodnight,” you call out to her behind you.

Chapter 6

Summers made working from home the most difficult. Wanda could hardly concentrate on her work before one of her boys started complaining about being hungry or getting bored or asking to go to a friend's house, etc. She sometimes wishes that she could have sent them to a camp but Vision was against it because he wanted them at his house during his weeks since he had the time off as well. She knows that she would have missed them terribly as well which is why she was okay with dropping the subject then. But now that she was dangerously close to her deadline without even being close to a finished product, she thought she might go insane on her boys. 

That's when she calls her mom in for back up. Then instantly regrets it as soon as she sees the hole in the house. “Honey! What happened here?” 

“My marriage fell apart,” Wanda says simply as she rushes to her office. “Pietro is going to fix it, don't worry!” She shouts from the stairs so she can get to work before her mom can catch her in a lecture. The woman shakes her head and makes her way to the kitchen to start lunch for the boys and her daughter. She comes over consistently for the rest of the week to help with house chores, breakfast and lunch, and entertain her grandsons. 

Wanda is grateful for her mother's assistance and is able to get a decent design for pitch at the end of the month and start a few backup ideas. She likes to over prepare. She was even able to complete a budget report and the booklets for the investors by the start of the weekend. Wanda feels bad that she had to prioritize work over her kids but her mother reminds her that she was doing this work for them. That she needs to provide for them. Besides, Wanda was still cooking dinners with Tommy and Billy as well as watching movies every night before bed. Though, it was getting a little tense between the two boys with different interests. 

On Saturday morning, Pietro arrives with his sleepy daughter and Wanda tries to hold in her laughter as she helps the little girl to her bedroom so she can rest. “You’re here early,” Wanda says as she returns downstairs. 

“Mom called me last night. Told me that I should have started the minute I found out. Thank you for that by the way,” Pietro says as he drops some material on the ground. He had pushed some furniture around while she was helping his daughter. “Unfortunately for Luna, she still wanted to come with me. I told her last night we’d be here at six am sharp. She said she was fine with it until I actually had to wake her up. But,” he shakes his head in amusement, “she still wanted to come here.” 

Wanda crosses her arms and leans against the wall. “She loves her cousins,” she yawns. 

“That she does,” Pietro stares at his tools. “Can I tell you something that you can't tell anyone?” Wanda confirms that her brother can confide in her. “Crystalia and I are considering trying for another. She could use a sibling, you know?”

“Oh, Pietro, that's wonderful news!” Wanda congratulates her brother. 

“Thank you, but please, don't tell mom. She'll call about positions and give other advice that I do not need to hear again,” he says recalling the conversation he overheard his mom and sister having a few years ago. Wanda cringes at the memory herself. 

“I’ll spare you, don't worry,” she says. “I’m going to start some coffee, do you want any?”

“Yes please,” he rolls out the plans Wanda had sent to him. 

You are knocking on Jean's door as you check the time again to make sure that you aren't running late. Your friend asked you to be at the location by noon and he sent you the address this morning. From what you saw from the images online, the place looked nice enough. You wondered why it needed altering at all but remember that he said there was an accident that led to this alteration. 

The door opens and it's Anna, Jean's wife. “She’s almost ready, you're welcome to wait in the living room,” she says kindly. 

“Thank you,” you step inside. It never gets easier walking into this house even though it's been years since you've lived here. It was a gift from both your family and Jean's when the two of you got married. Because the two of you were so young, neither of you cared about a wedding. In fact, the two of you were engaged for less than a week when you drove off to a cheap chapel and eloped. Both of your families were upset because they wanted to be part of the wedding process but were still happy the two of you decided to tie the knot. And since there was some money being saved for future weddings and college funds, that at the time weren't going to be used, they pooled together that money and surprised you and Jean with this house. 

It was a fixer upper for sure and you worked on it every weekend until you were twenty-two. When you and Jean got divorced. You paid for every repair and upgrade with the tips you got bartending and any extra scraps from the job sites that your foreman approved for you to take. You still did repairs for the house here and there whenever they needed it and couldn't afford to hire someone. But, it was no longer your house and with how much time and money you put into the place, it was the hardest part of the marriage to let go of. 

You bounce your leg anxiously as you wait for your daughter to come out of her room. “Can I get you anything?” Anna asks before she enters the kitchen. “You seem a little anxious.”

“No, thank you,” you politely decline. “I’m doing a favor for my boss and I just want to do a good job and make a good impression,” you admit. “Plus, his sister is apparently some great architect and she could be a great connection but you know how I get around new people.” 

Anna nods, ignoring your words and listening to your body instead. “I’m making you some tea. It can help soothe your nerves so that you're not this loud jumbled energy. Your whole aura is a mess and it won't help you make a good impression.” She disappears in the kitchen before you can decline the beverage again. 

“Hey, babe! Who was at the- oh! It was you,” Jean says as she enters the living room space. “She’s almost ready,” she remarks about your daughter. “She’s a little nervous about all of the new friends she's going to make. I'm trying to keep a positive attitude about it but these kids are going to be nice to her right?” 

“Yeah, yeah, well,” you pause. “I hope so. But they're not all new to her. She's met Luna a few times and they get along great.  He said her cousins are sweet boys, closer to Rachel’s age. Besides, they'll have parental supervision and I'll be nearby the whole time.” You assure the mother of your child. 

“Okay,” she takes a relaxing breath as she joins you on the sofa. “That makes me feel better. Where's Anna?” 

“Making me a tea,” you say and lean in close. “Apparently my aura is a mess,” you say in a manner that lets Jean know that you find her wife's assessment of you ridiculous. Jean laughs at your silliness. 

“You’re a jerk, she's only trying to help,” Jean defends. 

You lean back with your hands up in surrender, “I never said I wasn't grateful. I am going to chug that tea, I promise. Scouts honor.” 

Jean rolls her eyes, “You were never a scout.” 

“That’s because I was corrupted by your bad influence,” you retort playfully. 

“Oh whatever, if I remember correctly, you were the one pulling all of the crazy stunts. I never did anything. I was an innocent bystander,” Jean points out. 

You laugh at the flood of childhood memories that you and Jean share. She wasn't wrong, you were constantly getting into trouble as kids. Only because you were trying to impress her and maintain her attention. No matter what the cost was. It was amazing that the two of you were still alive today. “Okay, that's fair,” you say as Anna returns with a thermos for you. “Oh cool, thank you. I'll bring this back to y'all next weekend.”

“No problem,” she sits next to Jean and throws her arm around the woman. Jean falls comfortably against her wife and the two share a sweet smile with each other. You look away from them as you feel longing for a relationship again. Not with Jean, of course. The two of you didn't have what she had found with Anna. But you want that with someone. To have the close connection these two have. It was difficult dating as a single parent at twenty-seven. Not everyone was understanding that Jean and you are better off friends and maintain a healthy relationship. Many situationships fail because your best stories involve your best friend, who happens to be your ex-wife. Another relationship killer is surprisingly that your daughter is always going to be your number one priority. Always. 

Luckily, your daughter comes into the room and hops on your lap as she happily greets you. Clearing your mind of any thought of loneliness. “Hey, pumpkin! Are you ready to go?”

“Hmm,” she looks at you nervously and then to her mom's. They are worried about her as much as you are. She doesn’t have many friends due to her social awkwardness. You jokingly claim she inherited it from her mother but you both know it was from you. “Is Luna really there?” she asks. You shift around to grab your phone and pull up your conversation with Pietro and find the picture he sent of Luna with her cousins and show it to her. “Oh! I know those boys! They go to my school,” she says excitedly which lets you know that is a good thing. “They were in my class last year!” She hops off of you and straightens her outfit out,“Okay, I'm ready.” Jean, Anna, and you laugh as her tone has changed so fast. 

“Alright, I’ll see the two of you next Saturday,” you say as you get up and follow your daughter. The two of you jam out to whatever pop artist that has her interest at the moment. You couldn’t keep up with her and the stuff she likes. Songs were simple enough to catch on with the lyrics and it amuses her when you get them very very wrong. 

When you arrive at the house, you see that Pietro has made a lot of progress on his own and torn up most of the wall from the outside. As you park, you receive a text from Wanda asking if the two of you were still on to buy her a drink later on. Another one saying that she is looking forward to it. You regretfully message that a work thing came up and that you will have to let her know. Then, you knock on the door and are surprised to see Wanda is the one answering. 

She looks at you as confused as you are. Her expression quickly drops to one that she hopes is threatening. “What are you doing here? How do you know where I live?” Wanda starts out defensively. Whispering in a sharp tone so she doesn't alarm her kids or her brother. You gulp as you try to find the right words to explain that you're not some crazy stalker. 

But Rachel speaks before you can get a word out. “Can I go play with Luna?” She asks Wanda sweetly. 

This throws the woman off as she looks down and notices your daughter. She freezes as she connects the dots. “Um, of course, sweetheart. Go on in, she's upstairs with her cousins.” The little girl runs inside and disappears up the stairs. “You’re the person my brother asked to help with the hole?” Wanda asks, still not letting you inside. 

“I really had no idea the two of you were related.” You say as you hold up your tool box. “But, uh, yeah. You're the work thing that might prevent me from buying you a drink later,” you try to lighten the mood. 

Wanda isn't sure if she wanted you in her house. You know nothing about her and she liked it that way. She knew that eventually she would have to open up to you if the two of you kept up with the meetings. But not like this. Not with you repairing the damage she did to her home. But when Pietro comes to the door she has no choice but to let you in. “Hey, Y/n, I'm glad you could make it. This is my little sister, Wanda,” he introduces. You stand there watching Wanda. Waiting to see if she wanted the two of you to be strangers. Or if you were allowed to reveal your acquaintance. But she remains quiet. Taking her cue, you offer your hand in greeting. “Wands, this is the person I told you about. They do fantastic work. If dad were still alive, he'd have us competing to take over the company,” he boasts. 

You laugh, “You speak too highly of me, P. It's great to meet you, Wanda.” 

“Thank you for coming to help my incompetent twin brother,” she emphasizes to let you know that she isn't younger than her brother as he claimed. “I truly appreciate it.” 

“Ouch,” Pietro holds his chest, “I’m doing a nice thing for you and this is how you treat me?” He shakes his head. “Come on in,” he waves you into the house. You follow him in and Wanda walks away, announcing that she's starting lunch. You keep your eyes in her direction a little longer than you should have and Pietro notices. He snaps his fingers in your face and you look at him. “Don’t think about it,” he says sternly. 

You hold a hand up in surrender, “I wasn't. She just,” you can’t continue because he doesn’t believe you. “Nevermind, are you ready to get to work?” You ask as you set your toolbox down and remove your jacket. 

Wanda checks on you and her brother every few minutes. Seeing the two of you sharing a laugh while you work. The ease at which you remove pieces of the house. She didn’t like that she couldn’t keep her eyes off of you, but deduced it to her not trusting the stranger in her house. An hour later, she’s offering everyone lunch. The kids come running down and Pietro tries to get you to take a break. But you aren’t certain you’re allowed to. 

“Are you hungry?” She asks as she steps over the line of tape Pietro made for the kids. 

“I’ll be fine,” you assure as you pull off another piece of the wall from the inside. “Hey,” you stop her from walking away. “Are you going to block my number?” you set the piece on the pile. 

“Why would I do that?” She asks with her arms crossing over her chest. 

“I’m not sure if accidentally finding out,” you make a noise as you pull another piece out, “where you live is considered a creepy offense.” You grin at her as you look at her over your shoulder. 

Wanda smiles a little, “No, I'm not going to block you. Only as a thank you though,” she steps around and looks back when she hears the kids laughing to see Pietro being silly. She turns back to you, “For the free labor, of course.”

“Oh, I see how it is,” you grab the water bottle you had nearby. “Maybe you're the one who tracked me down,” you jokingly accuse. “Heard your brother rave about my work so you found me at a liquor store and charmed me so that I wouldn't charge you.” 

Wanda rolls her eyes, “Don’t flatter yourself.” Then she scoffs as she remembers the two of you meeting. She certainly wasn't dressed to charm anyone. 

The two of you stand there for a moment, neither certain if that's the end of the conversation. She wants to walk away to go eat but she wants to be certain that you're fine with going on without a meal. You are trying to decide whether or not it's too late to accept her offer and aren't sure if she's going to ask again or leave you to continue working. When she doesn't move you pull your gloves off as you step closer. “What’s for lunch?”

“Food that I made,” she says vaguely but still playful. 

“Am I still allowed to find out?” You shove the gloves in your back pocket. 

“I suppose I can't let you starve,” she replies. “But you didn't seem like you wanted any before.”

You shrug, “I didn't want to appear rude.”

Wanda nods once and drops her arms, “Some people might say it’s rude to decline a meal.” 

“I wasn’t raised that way,” you say, “But I do know people that have, so that’s a fair point.” 

She smiles at the floor as you stand a few inches from her now. “You are welcome to take a break and eat. Consider it another part of my payment.” She looks back up at you then quickly turns away. You follow her to the table where everyone else is eating. You pass them to wash your hands in the kitchen sink. There is more laughter and you turn to see your daughter, who you think is hilarious but is normally very shy around people she isn’t comfortable with, causing the laughter. Wanda notices a bit of food on Rachel’s chin and she instinctively wipes it with a napkin. You dry your hands and join the table. 

You sit in the empty seat next to your daughter and serve yourself a plate. You get to know Tommy and Billy as the group of you enjoy the lunch together and you feel better about letting Rachel hang out with them. Pietro was being truthful when he said that they are sweet boys. Once the kids finish up, they are racing up the stairs to resume their activities, leaving the adults to the table. “Thank you guys for helping me out. I truly appreciate it,” Wanda says as she sips her drink from her cup. 

“Thank us when the work is done, alright?” Pietro says as finishes his plate. You agree as you finish your food as well. 

“We should get back to it. Thank you, the meal was delicious,” excuse yourself from the table, grabbing as many plates as you can carry to the sink. Wanda tries to intercept but ultimately grabs what you can’t carry and follows you to the sink.

“You really didn’t have to, I could’ve taken care of it,” she says as she moves the plates. “But thank you, again.” 

You smile at her, “It’s really no big deal, Wanda.” You walk away to continue to work with her brother. 

As it gets close to dinner time, Pietro receives a call from his wife and he has to call it a day. He quickly packs his things, pulls Luna away from a serious Mario Kart competition, and bids everyone a goodnight. “I’ll see you guys in the morning before you’re off to your dad’s,” he says as he hugs his nephews goodbye. “Thank you for helping me with this,” he says to you. The two of you slap your hands together and pull into a short hug. 

“No problem, man. You know I’m always willing to help,” you reply. “Besides, I owe you.” 

Pietro nods once in acknowledgement and then moves on to his sister. “Do I need to rent a wood chipper? For tomorrow? Send the bastard a good message.” 

Wanda laughs, “No, he’ll just sue you for property damages. You don’t need to be dealing with that on top of everything else. He’s not worth it.” 

“But you are,” he says and hugs her. “Give your aunt and cousins hugs,” he tells his daughter. She does as he says sadly because she doesn’t want to go yet. Pietro promises the crying girl that they’ll be back the next morning but she is still reluctant to go. Unfortunately, he has to carry the girl crying all the way to his truck. The boys run off with Rachel to try and finish the match before it’s time for her to go too. 

You laugh as you watch them disappear. “I guess that’s my cue as well,” you say as you start to pack up your things. There’s an awkwardness to your movements as you aren’t sure if the previous plans for the two of you were still on or not. But you aren’t sure how to ask. “I’ll uh, see you tomorrow?” 

Wanda nods slowly as she watches you. “I wanted to keep our plans but, I’m sure you’re exhausted and well, keeping those kids entertained was pretty draining.” 

“Oh, yeah, no,” you wave your hands around as you play off the disappointment. “I get it. Another time then?” You toss your jacket over your shoulder. 

“Yeah,” Wanda nods, “I don’t have Tommy and Billy this week. Maybe we can figure out a time to meet up. And it doesn't have to be at the store.” 

“Um,” you look to the floor then look back up, “Rach and I have a camping trip planned this week. We're leaving Monday morning. We'll be back on Friday, though. So maybe Friday night?” Wanda begins to worry about what the meet up might be interpreted as. She isn't sure why now she was having this anxiety. She said that she was looking forward to the store. She suggested that they meet somewhere else. Almost as if you can read her mind, you include. “It’d be nice to have a friend that isn't my ex-wife or my boss.”

“Aren’t I technically your boss until this is done?” Wanda asks with a playful tone. 

“You’re not paying me,” you retort. 

“I am, in food,” she reminds you. 

You click your teeth, “You’ve got me there.” You walk to the bottom of the stairs and call out for your daughter to let her know it's time to go. “So, Friday?” 

“Will you be offended if I bring someone?” Wanda asks as she thinks about how she can solidify that it's just friends hanging out. Nothing more. 

You laugh, “No, I won't be offended. The more, the merrier.” Rachel comes running down the stairs. “Ready, pumpkin?” You ask as she stops beside you. 

“Yeah, I almost beat Tommy, but he got me,” she frowns. “I will get him tomorrow though. I'm going to kick his butt!” she says with determination. Then she looks at Wanda and freezes, not noticing her there before. 

Wanda smiles at the young girl and leans forward, “Can you keep a secret?” Rachel nods, her eyes still wide. “I hope you win,” she straightens up and follows you and Rachel to the front door. “I'll see you tomorrow,” she says to you as she leans against the front door. 

“I will see you tomorrow, Wanda,” you bid her a goodnight and climb into your car. 

“I think Tommy and Billy will be great brothers,” Rachel says as she gets her playlist ready. 

“What are you going on about over there?” You say with a laugh. 

Rachel shrugs as she finds a love song, “It's okay, you’ll catch up eventually.” You laugh at her randomness. 

Wanda calls the boys down so they can start dinner and she smiles every time she thinks of your name.

Chapter 4

Five Weeks Later

“By the power invested in me, by the State of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” The minister reads from his pamphlet without as much as a glance to the enamored audience.

Wanda hadn’t known that she was going to attend a wedding near the start of autumn; if she had, she’d have been more than ready with an ensemble that’s appropriate for both the event and the cold season. To be fair, Pietro hadn’t known either. Just a week ago, Shannon surprised him with a date, a venue, and a business card of some designer that she commissioned to provide Pietro’s suit for the ceremony. Wanda might have considered it a trap if it hadn't been for the fact that Pietro was the one on his knees with a ring a year ago. Shannon had simply grown tired of his excuses and took matters into her own hands. Wanda still thinks it’s a colossal mistake but his history with women and commitments tracks. She just wants to know how many more of these she’ll have to attend for the rest of her life. 

“You may kiss the–”  

The minister is cut off by Pietro diving in for a sloppy kiss, and the small crowd of thirty people cheer the newly weds. Wanda claps for the sake of being a good attendant. She almost feels sorry for Shannon, but if she wanted this, she probably wanted it for the wrong reasons. 

And, well, karma is a bitch.

Having been sober for exactly thirty-two days, Wanda’s been nursing the same mocktail she’s had before the start of the program, and she finds it difficult to enjoy anything that’s watered-down. A longing to light a cigarette tugs at her, but the establishment's strict no-smoking policy extends even to the outdoor gardens. Pietro asked that she stays until the party’s over, and knowing how much her presence means to him, she reluctantly agreed. 

“Stop brooding at my wedding, for god’s sake.”

It’s Shannon, dressed in her second gown, a simpler one that makes it hard to tell her apart from her bridesmaids.

"Hi, Shannon," Wanda drawls, swirling the tiny ice left in her rocks glass.

"It's Mrs. Maximoff now," Shannon mutters proudly, displaying both her wedding and engagement rings.

Wanda hides her grimace behind her drink. “Try not to get used to it though. I’m pretty sure you’re aware that there had been two other Mrs. Maximoffs in his past.”

“Don’t sass me on my wedding day, it’s just disrespectful.”

“Point taken. I’d offer to get you a drink, but I think that’s just gonna push the stick further up your ass.” 

Shannon sourly responds with one of her signature fake smiles, but Wanda can see through the facade. She takes pride in having hit a nerve.

Taking the seat next to her, much to Wanda's dismay, Shannon changes the subject. "Anyway, your ex-wife is doing exceptionally well at our company. She's managed to turn around all the bad practices that have been going on for ages."

Wanda’s brows stitch together in confusion. “Your company?”

“Stark Industries.” Shannon says, taking a sip of Wanda’s untouched water.

The revelations throw her off. You didn't appear too thrilled when Wanda saw you right after your interview, so she had assumed you either didn’t get the position or you passed up on the opportunity. But what surprised her even more was discovering that someone like Shannon held a high-ranking position at a popular tech company–which now explains where the extreme confidence comes from.

Shannon smirks. “Don’t look so surprised that I work for the number one company in the world.” 

“Number one?” Wanda scoffs, rubbing her nose with her middle finger. “Hardly. And why are you keeping tabs on her?”

“She works in my department and I interviewed her. She was a disaster, by the way,” Shannon says. “But her references were solid. I mean, Scott Lang? I hired her solely by his recommendation.”

Wanda can't help but smile at the mention of Scott, reminiscent of the old days when she used to host dinners for your boss and your co-workers. She doesn’t, however, dwell this time about the people you’ve brought with you when you walked out of her life. The reality is, people take sides, and rightfully, they have chosen yours. 

"I'm happy for her. She's brilliant and hardworking. You won't regret having her on your team," Wanda says softly, her voice a little bittersweet; she remembers a time when she used to be the first one to know every little thing about you, and it's a feeling she misses.

“Why do I get the feeling that you’re hearing this just now?” Shannon smacks her lips together and then fixes her lipstick that has stained the rim of her drink. “I thought I saw you at our lobby right after her interview.” Shannon gives her a knowing look, her eyes filled with a mix of satisfaction and malice. It's as if she's perfectly aware of the unspeakable things you did to Wanda that day.

"Y-You did?" Wanda stammers, her blood rushing to her face.

“I assumed you were seeing each other again. You looked like a lost little housewife in your little jeans and little shirt.”

“I stopped by to bring her food. I didn’t know I had to dress up for that.”

“How sweet,” Shannon says, though her tone is barely mocking. “Well, if you’re not back together, then I have a piece of information you might find useful.”

Wanda leans back on her chair and crosses her arms in front of her. “And what makes you think I’m interested?”

“Because despite my wrong assumptions earlier, it’s clear that you’re still head over heels in love with her,” Shannon says. “Or am I wrong?”

Wanda looks away and takes a sip of her watered-down mocktail and tries to hide the displeasure on her face. 

Shannon takes this as her cue to continue. “She recently changed her address in our database. I know because those things usually undergo my approval.”

You moved out? Wanda hadn't attempted to contact you, but while running errands for her cafe, she had found herself in your area a couple of times. Each time, she observed that your curtains were drawn and the lights in the living room were always turned off.

Wanda looks on quietly as Shannon reaches into her purse, retrieves an eye pencil, and grabs a napkin from the table. With deliberate movements, she begins to scribble on the napkin.

“Here,” Shannon hands Wanda the napkin with your address scrawled neatly on it. “You’re welcome.”

Wanda hesitantly accepts it, and then asks, “Why are you doing this?”

"Maybe I'm a hopeless romantic," Shannon shrugs, though the glint in her eye betrays her nonchalant demeanor. It almost penetrates Wanda’s defenses, but then she says, “Or I’m supporting your unhealthy obsession knowing it won’t lead anywhere.”

Wanda finds herself laughing. Unlike Pietro, Shannon had never treated Wanda delicately, even after her hospitalization. She finds it oddly refreshing and, in a peculiar way, endearing.

Shannon adopts a small, awkward smile herself. 

“Fair enough.” Wanda says, folding the napkin carefully before putting it inside her bag.

Shannon gets up and runs her palms over the creases on her gown. “Good luck, Wanda. I’m sure you’ll be needing a lot of it.” 

Pietro finds her in the gardens, rubbing her arms to keep herself warm. The nighttime breeze isn’t particularly chilly, but Wanda’s always been susceptible to the cold regardless of the season. He looks particularly dashing in the dark blue suit that Shannon picked for him; and with his hair back to its natural brunette color, the similarities between them have become uncanny once again.

“Sorry about that.” Pietro mutters as he approaches.

Wanda tilts her head at him, a playful smile dancing on her lips. "Sorry about what?" she quips, her voice laced with humor. "You mean this wedding?"

Pietro laughs and then shakes his head. “I saw you talking to Shannon and I could tell you weren’t having the best time.”

Wanda doesn't hold back as she speaks her mind. "She's still a bitch," she says bluntly, not mincing her words. "No offense."

“Do I hear fondness in the way you said ‘bitch’?” 

“Not a chance.”

“Between me and her, you forget I’m actually the asshole, right? I know she told you I cheated on her countless times.” Pietro says, somewhat seriously.

“You are,” Wanda says. “But I stand by what I said.”

Pietro sighs. “Anyway, I’m not here to negotiate how you feel towards my wife. I’m here to say goodbye.”

Wanda sobers at that. She’s been so used to having her brother in the same city, a call and a cab away. 

“You’re returning to LA?”

“The day after tomorrow.” Pietro confirms with a nod. 

“Doesn’t she work at Stark Industries?”

“Oh, did I tell you that?” 

“She told me a while ago.” Wanda says.

“She can work remotely,” Pietro explains. “And she prefers doing that from our home in LA.”

The wind begins to pick up, its gentle breeze evolving into a stronger gust. The air becomes alive, stirring the surroundings and causing leaves to dance and swirl in a mesmerizing display. 

Wanda sweeps her hair back from her face, and asks, “Tell me, honestly, why did you stay here for so long? Even before the–” Wanda finds herself having difficulty naming the accident she had more than a month ago. 

But if there’s something she’s learned from therapy so far, it’s that confronting her inner demons requires acknowledging their existence.

“Before my overdose.” Wanda finishes, managing to keep her tone even.

Pietro regards her with a tender look that conveys his immense pride in her recent growth and progress.

“At first, I just wanted to check in on you,” he says, fiddling with the cuffs of his suit. “And when I saw you and the cafe, I thought ‘see, she doesn’t need you’. But at the same time I also realized it was me–I needed you.”

Pietro pauses and rubs the back of his neck–something he does a lot when he’s trying not to be emotional. 

"I missed you, Wands. These past few months, I've felt more like myself than I have in years. I know I'm free to visit you anytime, even when you and Y/N were still together, but it's just not the same when–"

“–when it’s just us.” Wanda finishes for him, her voice thick with emotions that her brother is trying so hard to hold at bay.

“Yeah. I had a really great time with you here, it was good to be home after so many years.”

“LA is your home.” Wanda reminds him. 

"You're my family, Wands," Pietro says, wrapping an arm around her and giving her a warm side hug. "You're my home too."

“I love you, Piet.” 

“I love you too, sis,” Pietro says. “I’m rooting for you–your happiness. Whether it’s with Y/N or someone else or no one. You deserve to be happy. You have a big heart–I know this because you love me just as I am.”

“Then why don’t you just stay here so we can be close to each other all the time?” Wanda sniffs. So many losses. So many changes. Wanda craves normalcy and consistency–things you used to provide in her life with your steady presence.

“Shannon’s family lives in LA, and we’ve already talked about settling there once we’re married.”

Wanda shakes her head, smiling in contempt.

Pietro notices the change in her demeanor and starts rubbing her arm in comfort. “Don’t blame Shannon for this. I suggested it because she’s more comfortable living there if we’re going to start a family.”

“You’re already talking about babies? Piet, that’s a huge step.” she says.

Pietro falls into a thoughtful silence, weighing the decision of whether to share the news with Wanda now or wait a little longer. However, the anticipation and joy of becoming a father soon overpowers his doubts.

With a burst of excitement, he finally speaks up. "Actually, she's pregnant."

"Wow," Wanda exclaims, embracing him tightly, more than thrilled at the news. But as suspicion creeps in, she pulls away abruptly. "Hold on, is that why you rushed into marriage? Because she's pregnant?"

“No. She actually just told me last night, as a wedding gift.” Pietro says. 

“I’m going to be an aunt?” Wanda giggles. “I mean, congratulations! You’re going to be a dad!”

"Thank you, Wands," Pietro says, returning the hug.

Wanda pauses for a moment, a realization dawning on her. "I should stop being mean to her," she admits.

Pietro chuckles. "My advice is to take everything she says or does with a grain of salt."

Wanda's expression softens. "I'm going to miss you, you know? Your future kid, and, fuck it–even Shannon. I'll try to visit this Christmas, okay?"

"You better. I already got you plane tickets."

“Oh, and Piet?”

“Yep?”

“I’ll cut your balls off if you cheat on your wife again this time. Not because she’s having your child, but because it’s… not normal. It’s fucked up. We’re fucked up. The stakes are higher for you now, but even if it wasn’t, it just ruins everything in its wake. it's the biggest regret of my life," Wanda states firmly. Although she feels like a hypocrite as the words escape her lips, she feels compelled to express her feelings in the hope that it carries some weight.

“I know,” Pietro says, looking down at his feet. “I’ve been seeing a professional for two months now.”

“You are?”

Pietro smiles and takes Wanda’s hand, leading her back inside the reception. “Where do you think I got your therapist from?”

***

"You've really nailed it with this restaurant choice," Natasha exclaims at you, her fork stabbing into the juicy medium-rare steak. Her mouth waters as the meat releases its flavorful juices. She’s sitting to your left and Yelena’s right, and when you haven’t developed a psychic link with your partner yet, navigating a delicate situation feels like a sailor and a pilot has come together to figure out how a tractor works. 

Natasha had phoned you earlier today, informing you that her flight from Washington D.C. was scheduled to depart in a mere two hours. This left you with approximately three hours to prepare for her arrival, as well as to have a conversation with Yelena on how you’re both going to break the news to her unsuspecting sister. However, due to Yelena's demanding work schedule, it was difficult to abruptly pull her away from her assignment and so you took it upon yourself to organize this impromptu dinner. 

Your girlfriend, in a state of panic, had only just read your texts an hour ago and arrived late. Since then, there has been absolutely zero opportunity to discuss what your relationship entails for Natasha.

Delaying the inevitable, you focus on other topics.

“So, how was your flight?” you ask Natasha.

“Quick.” 

“When did you find out you’re coming home?” you inquire, eyebrows wiggling at Yelena, attempting to seek her support in engaging in the conversation

“The other day.” Natasha says.

“How do you like your steak?”

Natasha gives you a funny look.

Shifting in your seat uncomfortably, you try to think of more questions to ask, but Yelena beats you to it.

“We’ve been seeing each other.” she announces over her plate of untouched meatballs. 

Your eyes widen in alarm as you look at Yelena, but she nonchalantly shrugs at you, then whispers, "I thought that's what you were trying to tell me with your eyes."

Natasha serenely savors her steak, taking a graceful sip of wine before responding, "Yes, I'm aware."

Surprised, you murmur, "How did you...?"

With a hint of amusement, Natasha replies, "If I were to reveal my skills, I would be violating at least ten pages of a non-disclosure agreement."

"Right," Yelena huffs, a feeling of ease finally settling over her. She indulges in her own plate, eagerly digging in and savoring each bite.

“You know,” You start, shoulders dropping and feeling some of the tension leave your body. “I thought I’m used to what you do, but it’s still weird that you disappear for several weeks and then you come back like,” you snap your fingers. “And we can’t ask you questions.”

“It’s why I love my job so much. People are literally not allowed to ask questions,” Natasha says with a satisfied smirk, dabbing her lips with a napkin. “But I can. So, how did this happen?” she says, motioning between you and Yelena with her finger.

“Didn’t you already know?” you say with a teasing smile. 

Natasha fixes you with a piercing gaze, the kind she typically reserves for her job, making you retreat but not before a nervous gulp catches in your throat.

"Yelena?" she prompts, noticing the uncharacteristic silence.

“I, uh–”

"Hotdog sandwich," you blurt out abruptly, interrupting Yelena's non-existent train of thought, while your mind drifts back to the night when you and Yelena officially started dating. Two pairs of eyes fixate on you, their faces a mix of surprise and bewilderment, as if questioning your sanity. Realizing the awkwardness of your outburst, you quickly clear your throat and gather yourself to continue, "I asked her out one night, shortly after I started my new job, and we kind of just decided to give it a shot while eating a hotdog."

When you look up, Yelena’s eyes carry a fondness, effectively deepening the blush on your cheeks.

“That’s a nice story, Y/N, but I didn’t mean literally. More like… how did you arrive at the decision to be together?” Natasha says, her gaze on you unwavering. You avoid her eyes, suddenly determined to finish the remaining vegetables in your dish.

“It came to us organically, Nat. I don’t know how to explain it without sounding a bit cheesy.” Yelena says. 

“I don’t mind cheesy. Cheesy is good. Love is often cheesy, right?” Natasha says, her gaze directed at you. The mention of the word 'love' catches you off guard, and you almost choke on your peas. Although you feel it deep in your heart that you love Yelena, neither of you have actually said those words to each other.

Yelena nods, her expression serious. "Okay, then. It happened because we still have deep feelings for each other, and we felt it was necessary to give it a chance."

You smile, fully understanding and appreciating Yelena's sentiment. "I agree." 

“Can I speak to Y/N in private?” She tells Yelena, who just shrugs, and then turning to you, Natasha says, “Is that okay?”

“Sure.” you reply, rising from your seat.

You and Natasha emerge from the cozy Italian restaurant, deciding to take a leisurely walk through the neighborhood. The rain has just subsided, leaving behind glistening streets and puddles that dot the pavement, making each step a bit precarious. The dampness in the air seems to mirror the tension in your chest, and you can't shake off the feeling that this walk holds more weight than just enjoying the post-rain atmosphere. The droplets on the ground reflect the streetlights, creating a mesmerizing shimmer that momentarily distracts you from your unease. 

Yet, as you walk alongside Natasha, the silence between you only heightens your anticipation for the impending "sister talk." 

You value your friendship with Natasha deeply, and the prospect of jeopardizing that bond fills you with uncertainty. 

Just as your pulse falls into a steadier rhythm, Natasha breaks the silence, her voice filled with a sense of pride. "I'm proud of you," she declares. "Honestly, I half-expected to return and find you still unemployed, living in my apartment. But look at you now: a new job, a new place... and a new girlfriend," she adds, without a trace of animosity in her words.

“I was the crutch you had to get rid of after all.” Natasha says. 

You laugh nervously at the ‘girlfriend’ remark, appreciating the genuine support from your best friend. "I suppose I relied on you heavily after my divorce," you admit. "It was easy to succumb to self-pity and a meaningless routine because you were there to take care of me. Eventually, I knew I was rotting away no matter how indulgent these Netflix shows are,” you laugh a little. “And well, things simply worked out, you know?”

“Yeah, I can see that it worked out pretty well with my sister.” Natasha quips.

"I care about her, Nat. I always have." you say, coming to a stop to face Natasha and properly look her in the eye.

Natasha nods and takes hold of your elbow, urging you to continue walking. "I know," she acknowledges, a knowing smile touching the corners of her lips. "She may not have shown it earlier, but she’s giddy as fuck. Kind of grosses me out seeing her eyeing you like a piece of candy.”

“But kidding aside, you have my blessing.” Natasha says, and you give her a soft smile in return.

A slight pang of guilt tugs at your heart as you decide not to mention your encounters with Wanda. You understand why Natasha requested this private conversation, and you don't wish to complicate matters by bringing up the brief rupture caused by your connection with Wanda. You and Yelena had reached a mutual understanding regarding Wanda, recognizing that your current relationship should not be overshadowed by your past with your ex-wife. 

Besides, you haven’t talked to Wanda since you and Yelena entered into a relationship. Things have been going well; consequently, you see no justifiable reason to stir up any unnecessary complications or rock the boat.

But nobody reads you the way Natasha does, as she brings up the person you’ve been trying to forget all this time.

“And Wanda? Is that over?”

Lying to Natasha is akin to attempting to deceive a lie detector machine; there’s just no way out of it but the truth–or at least some of it.

“We were briefly in touch,” you admit, carefully filtering the story in your mind as you speak. "Coincidentally, she happened to be at the same club where Clint organized your going-away party."

Natasha raises an eyebrow; you read her well enough too, and it tells you that she hadn’t had an inkling that Wanda had reentered your life at one point.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Natasha asks, the level of her tone masking how she feels about that new information.

“Because you hate her?” You say, daring her to deny it but Natasha only rolls her eyes. “And, uh, I don’t know… Maybe because I knew you’d be disappointed?”

Natasha takes a deep breath, the crisp evening air filling her lungs as she gathers her thoughts. "Did I," she begins, "did I push you into making choices in the past that you weren't entirely comfortable with?"

"Why would you say that?" you inquire, puzzled by Natasha's question.

Natasha's gaze softens, and she replies with earnest sincerity, "Because I never wanted you to feel like you couldn't be completely open with me about anything. I never wanted you to fear my judgment regarding your decisions."

You wonder if Natasha would say the same thing if she knew you had fallen into Wanda’s bed post-divorce. You think about how Natasha urged you to file for it in the first place, how she helped in preparing everything from finding a suitable lawyer to ironing out the details of the agreement. Despite your emotional state during that period, you acknowledge that you made those decisions and chose to take responsibility for them.

“You’re like family to me, Nat. Of course your opinion of me will always matter.” you say.

“I’m happy you stood by your decision without me,” Natasha says. “I was worried you’d go back to her as soon as I was gone.”

A nervous smile tugs at the corner of your lips as your eyes flit to anywhere but your best friend; the weight of deliberately concealing a significant portion of the story makes you want to crawl out of your skin. Now more than ever, you regret being with Wanda that way. It had every potential to jeopardize your friendship with Natasha.

“How about you and Bruce?” you say, taking the spotlight away from yourself.

Natasha’s smile is sad as she shakes her head. “That ship has sailed. For good.”

“I’m sorry.” you say.

“Don’t be. He can finally allow himself to be happy. He’s a good man. He deserves more than I can give him.”

“What about you?”

“I’d like to believe I deserve more than he’s willing to give,” Natasha says, her voice not harboring any resentment; but it’s clear that she has accepted the fact that their desires and needs diverged, leading them down separate paths. 

“Are you happy?” you ask suddenly, widely curious.

Natasha takes a moment to reflect, her eyes scanning the surroundings. "As happy as I can be," she contemplates. "I've learned that life shouldn't solely revolve around falling in love, you know? I have my work, my sister, my friends, and well, you're not that bad either," she adds with a light-hearted chuckle.

Turning the last corner back to the restaurant, you both bump into Yelena who’s wearing a frown after being left for so long.

“You were both gone for a while already so I thought I’d settle the bill and join you guys for a walk.” Yelena says. “You guys are okay, right?”

“Of course, why wouldn’t we be?” you say, taking her hand and interlacing your fingers together.

Natasha ignores Yelena’s question and says, “How much do I owe you for the food?” 

Yelena pushes the receipt in her sister’s hand and says, “Everything.”

Settling beside Yelena on the bed, you reach for the lamp on your nightstand and switch it off. The room is cast in a soft, bluish glow, as the moon's radiance filters through the blinds. It hasn’t been too long since you and Yelena started sharing this room, and despite initially intending to take things slow, the pace of your relationship accelerated naturally. With busy careers, it felt right to embrace the opportunity to spend more time together without the added complexities of planning and scheduling dates.

“It was weird introducing you to Nat as my girlfriend,” Yelena says, turning on her side to face you as soon as your head hits the pillow.

"I think you handled that quite smoothly," you say with a quiet chortle, the sarcasm failing to come across as strongly as intended.

"You were absolutely perfect though," Yelena whispers, her hand gently cupping your cheek as she pulls you in for a kiss. It begins with a slow, tentative pace, reminiscent of the other kisses you have shared since becoming a couple. 

Tonight, however, there's an undeniable intensity in Yelena's kisses that sends a fiery sensation rippling through your body. Her touch, tracing the skin below your belly button, ignites a rush of heat that intertwines with the passion of the moment. With your hands threaded in her hair, you boldly deepen the kiss, your tongue exploring the depths of her mouth, eliciting a surprised moan that you eagerly swallow.

As Yelena's fingers venture past the waistband of your underwear, a sudden jolt of surprise shoots through your body, causing you to abruptly sit upright. In the process, Yelena loses her balance and falls back onto the bed.

“Y/N?”

"Sorry," you stammer, attempting to calm your nerves and the racing of your heart. "I just remembered I have an important work email I haven't sent yet and..."

Yelena nods understandingly. "Yeah, sure. Go ahead. I've got some editing to do anyway."

You offer a grateful smile and lean in to press a tender kiss on her forehead. Then, you trail another moist kiss just below her ear, eliciting a soft sigh from Yelena's lips. 

“I’ll wait up, okay? Hurry,” Yelena purrs against your neck. 

“I’ll be back.” you say.

At half past midnight, you return to a snoring Yelena, her arm sprawled over the empty spot where you’re supposed to be. It was one email and you got carried away. And even if Yelena’s awake, you’re too exhausted to continue earlier’s steamy exchange.

Carefully, you remove her arm from your side of the bed and mold yourself to Yelena’s sleeping form. 

You haven’t had sex with her yet. The desire is there–a hot burning coal of it–and you have entertained the thought numerous times, but each time the moment draws near, you find yourself hesitant and not quite ready to take that step. It's a decision you have consciously made, respecting your own boundaries and wanting to ensure that the timing feels right for both of you.

Kissing the back of Yelena's head, you savor the softness of her hair against your lips. With a contented sigh, you nuzzle your nose into her locks, finding comfort in her presence as sleep gradually envelops you.

***

“Ms. Maximoff? Over here.”

Wanda looks up to find Sparky’s doctor motioning for her to come inside the check-up room. She gets up and hurries to where Sparky has disappeared into for almost twenty minutes now, and sees him hooked up to an IV, dozing off on his side. 

“Is he going to be okay?” Wanda asks immediately.

“The results of Sparky’s blood test don't look good. His liver is significantly higher than the normal range, and that could be the cause of his recent vomiting. For now, we’ll keep him confined here for one or two more days, depending on his condition, and if he’s responding to medication, you can continue giving them at home.”

“And what if he doesn’t respond to his medication?”

“We will conduct further tests to see what’s going on there. Surgery could be an option, depending on the outcome. While liver diseases in dogs can be treated and managed, there is always the possibility of expiration, I’m afraid.”

Expiration. Dogs have significantly shorter lives; Wanda knows this. But hearing it spoken so soon directly shatters Wanda’s heart. “W-What could have caused this?” she asks.

This is her fault, Wanda makes the conclusion, even before the doctor is done explaining the common causes in detail. She successfully fucked up another important thing in her life. 

In the absence of a little furry baby wagging its tail to greet her, Wanda returns home to a dark and empty apartment. Seeking solace, Wanda clings to the hopeful possibility that Sparky may return home in the next few days. 

Without bothering to turn on the lights, she kicks off her shoes and curls up into a ball on the couch. Her eyes slowly adjust to the darkness, eventually focusing on the small desk where the potted chrysanthemums you gifted her rest. The faint light casts a peculiar shadow on the wall, capturing her attention. Yet, it is the piece of napkin discreetly slipped beneath the pot that her mind is apprehensively fixated to; a thin, fragile thing that would ultimately lead her to you.

It has remained tucked away in Wanda's study, for a month now, as she couldn't bear to disrupt your life once again. She imagines that you are likely doing well, leading a quieter and less tumultuous existence without her. As for Wanda, she has been diligently working on herself, taking each day as it comes. However, the passage of time hasn't diminished her feelings for you, not even in the slightest. The void in her heart, shaped by your absence, remains steadfast, but she has learned to adapt and coexist with it, allowing herself to grow while carrying its weight.

And she wouldn't—not even for a moment—consider disturbing your peace if it weren't for the dog. If your roles were reversed, and you were the one keeping him, Wanda would undoubtedly want to be informed if his brief existence was endangered by an illness.

But then again, you've made your choice. You didn’t want anything to do with her. It was evident in your absence, when you stopped your visits to her apartment, her café; when Wanda's phone could no longer detect any recent online activity from you. You had simply vanished without a trace.

It would be unjust to intrude on your decision when you clearly didn't want to be found.

…And she’s still, quite literally, debating it when she finds herself at your doorstep an hour later.

Your new building looks lavish, Wanda can only imagine how much you’ve spent on the deposit alone. It was a little intimidating when she was asked to leave an ID and the receptionist had to ring your unit to inform you that you had a visitor–dropping her name to you in the process. More interesting than that, however, is that she gave Wanda the go signal to proceed to the elevators, meaning that you gave your consent for her to see you.

There's a sense of relief in realizing that you wouldn't go to the extent of turning her away just to avoid her altogether. She sets aside the questions that her heart desperately wants to ask, knowing they would only thwart the initial intention she has of seeing you.

She is fully aware of how guarded and cautious you were the last time; memories of her well-crafted plans to lure you and get close to you for the obvious reason of winning you back are still fresh in her mind. Wanda understands that she needs to approach this meeting with sensitivity and genuine concern, keeping her intentions clear and focused on Sparky's well-being.

But as she’s about to knock, the door swings open.

“Hi, I–” Wanda’s words die on her tongue and the nervous smile on her face fades into uncertainty.

Standing there, clad in nothing but a t-shirt (which she recognizes having bought it for you) that goes past her thighs, is the woman from the club. The woman who drew the curtains for you in your living room. Her blonde hair cascades in messy beach waves, framing her face and reaching her shoulders. 

She is breathtakingly beautiful. 

But what strikes Wanda the most is how effortlessly the woman seems to blend into the space, appearing more like a tenant than a mere guest who just happened to visit you at this particular time.

Does she live with you?

“Is Y/N home? I’m Wan–” 

"Wanda. I know. I’m Yelena," Yelena interrupts, her tone firm yet not unkind, like she’s struggling as much as the brunette. "She's still at work. Is there something you need from her?"

“You’re Yelena? Natasha’s sister?” Wanda asks.

Yelena nods tentatively, her eyes studying Wanda's reaction; she was surprised to get a call from the reception that a certain Wanda Maximoff wanted to come up to her unit. Despite the nagging question of whether you've been seeing Wanda all this time behind her back, she makes a conscious effort to maintain her composure in front of your ex-wife.

Meanwhile, something in Wanda's mind clicks. It's Yelena, not you, who allowed herself to go up to your floor. It's her, not you, who wanted to meet her. Wanda's mind races with questions. Does Yelena know about her? Did Yelena feel the need to introduce herself to your ex-wife?

"Uh..." Wanda's voice trembles with the onset of a panic attack. It turns out, coming here was a mistake, and she’s just grateful you’re not around to witness it. "I'm sorry. Please forget that I came here. Don't let her know I was here, please? I'm really sorry. I'll just go."

Yelena sucks in her cheeks as she reads into Wanda’s sudden panic. "Sure," she replies before softly closing the door on Wanda.

-

The nights are longer at Stark Industries. You knew what you signed up for when you accepted the job, but now you're starting to feel the repercussions. The stress is taking its toll not only on your work-life balance but also on your relationship with Yelena. You haven’t had dinner together recently, much less a conversation that lasted longer than a few exchanges of “how are you” and “I’m fine”. There’s a lot to make up for, but no date in sight to actually start doing so.

The office is empty except for you and the maintenance worker assigned to the night shift, so when your ringtone cuts through the stillness, the sound of it reverberates off the walls of the empty room, making it too loud for you to ignore.

With your eyes concentrated on a formula on your spreadsheet, you answer your phone without looking at the caller.

“Hey, I’ll be home soon.” you say, assuming it’s Yelena on the line.

“Y/N.” A vaguely familiar voice that’s definitely not Yelena greets you. That’s when you remove your phone from your ear and notice the unknown number on the screen.

“Who’s this?”

The caller doesn’t answer right away. Instead, you can hear rain pouring heavily in the background, something you haven’t been aware of due to the thick windows of the office blocking out outside noises.

“It’s Vision,” The voice cracks over the speaker before you can decide to drop the call. “Wanda needs your help.”

The rain had been relentless throughout the day according to the weather app on your phone. You’ve just been too busy to notice, and so you find yourself without an umbrella. Thankfully, by the time you arrive at the location Vision instructed, the downpour has subsided into a gentle drizzle.

“Jesus, it’s freezing.” you mumble to yourself, wrapping your jacket tighter around your body.

You recognize this part of the city, having gone here numerous times in the past to visit your favorite dive bar where you, Natasha, Clint, and Wanda would hang out for hours just talking and having a good time. Although Natasha and Wanda don’t really talk, they engage in group shots, and Wanda would always challenge you to a game of pool, and you would win one or two matches in a best of seven, because your wife–ex-wife–is just so gifted in just about all kinds of sports. 

However, it's not the same bar where you find Wanda. Instead, it’s near a dead-end street and you stumble upon her slumped against a light post in a sorry state. It's obvious that she has consumed a significant amount of alcohol, leaving her almost blacked out. It makes you suspicious if this happens often–Wanda getting shitfaced in random places with Vision in tow. 

The sight of Vision doesn’t bother you as much as before, but it still leaves a bitter taste in your mouth to see them together in the same place. Vision, to his credit, keeps a respectful distance, yet the yearning in his face is unmistakable. It's a familiar look, one you've witnessed on Wanda's previous boyfriends when they believed you weren't paying attention.

As you draw closer, Wanda's head tilts back, and her intoxicated eyes, heavy-lidded and unfocused, widen ever so slightly in recognition as they lock with yours.

“Y/N? Is that really you?” Wanda drunkenly slurs, her struggling eyes attempting to focus on your face. “If you’re not, please tell Y/N that I’m not with him,” Wanda says, pointing her thumb in his direction, refusing to even look at Vision. “He just showed up out of nowhere and I told him to stay away. I swear, I’m telling the truth. Vision, tell her, please. Tell her to tell Y/N.” 

The street lights become too much for Wanda to bear, and she buries her head into her arms, her knees drawn to her chest. She looks so small and insignificant against the backdrop of a vibrant metropolis. 

Steeling yourself against her sorrowful pleas, you turn to Vision instead. “How did you find her?” you demand.

“I was out with my friends, and happened to pass by this area on our way back,” Vision recounts. “I saw two men trying to take her home, and we intervened. I tried asking Wanda where she lives so I can take her home myself, but she refuses to tell me. I tried calling you using her phone, but I think you blocked her number, so I tried calling you myself.”

You’re inclined to believe him, but there will always be bouts of suspicion lingering on the surface when it concerns Wanda. Though as your eyes return to Wanda’s shivering form, you can’t help but wonder if she would truly rather die in the ditches than accept help from him. For the first time, you find yourself contemplating the possibility of believing her, although a part of you wonders if it's simply your enduring soft spot for her attempting to sway your judgment.

“Thank you,” you say to Vision, surprised to find a little sincerity in your voice.

“If I find out you’re the reason why she’s this miserable, I’m putting everything on the line to make sure you stay away from her.” he declares, igniting a cigarette as you support Wanda, draping one of her arms over your shoulder and lifting her up. In that moment, she feels noticeably lighter than before, and your hand can discern the protrusion of her ribs as you secure her against your side.

“Is that a threat?” you say, clenching your jaw, your own clothes getting soaked fast, not realizing early on just how drenched Wanda is from the rain.

“It’s a warning,” Vision answers coolly. “As far as I know, you haven’t atoned for anything. And it’s not because you don’t deserve it. It’s because of her.”

He’s right–you walked out of that bloodied room unscathed from the law. All along you thought the consequences of what you’ve done to Vision just miraculously resolved on its own with the help of Natasha, but if Wanda had anything to do with how you’re not being served with at least damages for physical assault, what price did she have to pay in return?

It’s a conversation for later–you don’t need Wanda to protect you, especially if it means being coerced into complying with Vision's demands.

“I’m ready for anything,” you tell him, goading him with a smirk as you feel Wanda nestle closer to you, seeking your warmth. “Now, get your jacket off her and I’ll take it from here.”

As Vision gently takes off the garment from Wanda's shoulders, your eyes catch sight of a distinct mark on her finger, a faded indentation left by a ring that she no longer adorns.

-

Upon arriving at Wanda's place, there is no sign of Sparky. You feel a twinge of disappointment, as you had been somewhat anticipating him despite the circumstances. However, your attention swiftly turns to Wanda, who appears even worse now that you have brought her home: her lips are dry and pale, the flush all over her face down to her neck is still there, and she feels excessively warm to touch, almost as if she is–

“Shit, you’re burning up,” you mutter as you place your hand on her damp forehead.

Then all of a sudden, Wanda forcefully pushes you away, her hand covering her mouth, as she rushes towards the bathroom. In her haste, the straps of her sandals snap, breaking under the pressure. Swiftly, you trail behind her, conscientiously removing your shoes along the way to prevent leaving any dirt tracks on her pristine floor. 

When you enter the bathroom, you find Wanda hunched over the toilet, emptying her stomach. Grimacing at the sight, you kneel beside her and carefully gather her dark hair, holding it up while you wait for her to finish. Once she's done, you flush it down for her. Wanda, seemingly drained, rolls away from the toilet and crawls towards the shower where she simply sits in one corner, closing her eyes with the clear intention of settling down for the night right there.

Faced with a decision, you find yourself contemplating your next course of action. You weigh the responsibilities you had undertaken which was to get Wanda to her apartment safely. What happens to her thereafter should no longer be your concern. After all, Yelena is most likely still waiting for you back at home.

Home. A year ago, the extent to which your definition of it has changed would have been unimaginable.

“Y/N,” Wanda’s weak voice draws your attention away from your thoughts. “You should g-go.” she says hoarsely.

Your fingers close around the doorknob, silent and unmoving, as anger wells up within you; Anger at Wanda for getting herself into this mess. Anger towards Vision for asking you to come to her rescue. Anger at yourself for feeling unable to leave Wanda behind, despite everything.

"Did she tell you about me? I told her not to, Y/N. I'm so sorry..." Wanda's whisper reaches your ears, her eyes remaining shut and her head tilted back, revealing the graceful column of her neck. You instinctively avert your gaze.

“What are you talking about?” you ask.

“I-I went to see you. But she said you were still working. I didn’t mean to intrude, I just wanted you to know about Sparky…”

She? Yelena? You didn’t think Yelena would allow Wanda to go up to your apartment just like that.

"He's not well," Wanda continues, her gaze focused on your face as she takes in every detail of it, as if trying to capture the memory of you in case this is the only opportunity she gets.

Your grip on the doorknob tightens. So that explains why Sparky is nowhere to be found.

“I’m sorry to hear that. What happened? Is he okay?”

Wanda hiccups, thoughts too jumbled to put together anything coherent. "Liver–not normal," she manages to say, her voice trailing off. She had convinced herself that she wanted to see you for a legitimate reason, but as she gazes at you now, it becomes painfully clear that it was her deep longing for you that has ultimately prevailed.

"Is there anything I could-" you start to offer your help, your concern for Sparky overriding whatever tension lingers between you and Wanda.

"You should leave, Y/N," Wanda interrupts, mustering the strength to open her eyes and meet yours. The shame and despair swirling in those green orbs are hard to ignore, but you try to remain steadfast. "She's probably worried about you."

You chew on your lower lip for a moment, and then, instead of doing as she says, you close the door behind you. Silently, you begin removing your own clothes, stripping down to your underwear.

"I have to dry them anyway," you mumble after feeling the weight of Wanda's stare. "Come on, let's fix you up and get you ready for bed."

Wanda reaches for the hem of her shirt, her hesitation evident as she refrains from removing it. Sensing her struggle, you take the initiative, hoping to expedite the process so you can attend to her needs and leave soon. With gentle care, you lift her shirt up and over her head, exposing her trembling form. 

That's when you notice it–her wedding ring that Wanda used to wear on her finger, even after your divorce. But now it has taken on a new form, transformed into a pendant hanging delicately from a chain around her neck. It rests there, nestled between her breasts, a symbol of a past chapter in her life–and yours–that she carries with her, in a different way.

Wanda notices where your eyes are lingering and removes the necklace herself when you remain passive and unmoving. 

The next task is unclipping her bra, and as your fingers reach for the hooks, Wanda's hand covers yours, halting your actions.

“Is this–I mean, do you think should…?” she stammers out, and you’re unsure if the blush on her face is still from the alcohol.

"It's nothing I haven't seen before," you say, feeling your own face heat up. "I think you have a fever. I need to get you out of these wet clothes, is that okay?"

Wanda nods meekly, giving her consent.

A few seconds later, Wanda is naked except for the pink she wears on her cheeks. You help her get up and move under the shower. You twist and turn the knob of the shower until you find the desirable temperature, and then start shampooing Wanda’s hair. 

As the water cascades over her and rinses away her self-loathing, Wanda finds herself surrendering to your care, allowing her to cherish this rare, tender moment she never knew she’d get to experience again. She is grateful for the water, realizing how weary you must be of seeing her cry; it’s just not possible to restrain herself from it when you’re this gentle with her.

“Can you handle the rest?” you ask Wanda, putting your hands under the shower to get rid of the soap.

“Yes,” she answers.

“Okay. I’ll go get some towels.”

Collecting both yours and Wanda's clothes from the floor, you quickly step out of the bathroom before you can start processing what you’ve just done.

Don’t think, just do, you say to yourself as you put the clothes in the dryer. 

Don’t think, just do, you repeat as you get fresh towels from the cabinet.

Don’t think.

When you’re both dry and you’re back in your work clothes and Wanda in her pajamas, you accompany her to her bedroom. You tuck her in and touch her forehead once again to check her temperature. The heat still radiates from her body, and it becomes clear that her fever isn't letting up soon. It won’t go down unless she takes something, but with alcohol still in her system, you don’t think that’s a good idea.

Here, drink this," you offer, extending a sports drink to Wanda.

"Thank you," Wanda murmurs, taking a generous sip before returning the bottle to you.

"Try to finish it. You're likely dehydrated," you suggest. Wanda, acknowledging your advice, obediently continues to drink.

“Better?”

Wanda nods with a small smile. “Thank you, Y/N. I’m sorry you had to go through all that trouble. I didn’t think Vision would–”

“You’re welcome,” you interject as soon as she mentions his name. “We’ll talk soon.” 

Wanda's gaze remains fixed on her folded hands in her lap. "You don't have to," she whispers. "You don't have to talk to me or see me if you don't want to. I'm sorry. This doesn't happen a lot anymore—not as often as you might think. Just something happened, and... I didn't mean to involve you, Y/N. I'm really sorry."

Something? What exactly happened? Regardless, you don't think it's healthy for Wanda to subject herself to such a high level of intoxication, no matter what the circumstances may be.

"We'll talk soon," you repeat, keeping your tone firm but gentle. "Take care, Wanda. Good night."

-

Yelena is wide awake in the living room, her attention focused on a book resting on her lap as you arrive home. The soft glow of a lamp illuminates her features, casting a gentle light on her face. There's a stillness in the room, interrupted only by the turning of pages and the sound of your footsteps.

You hesitate for a moment, taking in the sight of her. 

"Hey," you greet her wearily. "You're still awake?"

“I couldn’t sleep without you,” she says, somewhat bashfully. "There's salad in the fridge if you haven't eaten." she offers.

You pause for a moment, and then meeting her gaze, you ask, "Do you have something to tell me?"

Yelena levels you with a look, putting her book down, she says, “No. Do you?” 

Taking a deep breath, you tell her you do. “I took Wanda home,” you declare, bracing yourself for Yelena’s reaction but her face remains stoic. There's a flicker of something in her eyes, almost as if she had been anticipating your words.

“Can you clarify?” Yelena finally speaks up when you make no further effort to elaborate.

"In the office, I received a call from Vision," you explain. “He said Wanda needed my help. She was in no condition to go home on her own so I took her.”

“Why didn’t he take her home himself?”

You shrug slightly. "Wanda refused to go with him.”

There's a quiet intensity in her eyes, a depth of emotions that she holds back, yet you can sense them lingering beneath the surface. And then, she asks, “And nothing happened?”

“I helped her get change and manage her fever,” you say. “Nothing else happened.”

Yelena's gaze softens, and any trace of her being bothered by your confession finally reveals itself in the form of a soft sigh that escapes her lips.

"Thank you for telling me," Yelena says, wrapping her arms around your neck. "In that case, I should have mentioned that Wanda came by, and I let her come up here."

"Why didn't you say anything?" you ask curiously.

"She told me not to let you know," Yelena reveals quite casually. "And I didn't think it was important anyway."

You hum in response, grateful for her honesty and openness at least. Although, you sense that there might be more to the story than meets the eye.

"Aren't you going to ask me if I've been in touch with her?" you inquire, unable to ignore the nagging curiosity in your mind. Yelena's seemingly mild reactions in response to her encounter with Wanda is slightly unsettling.

“I wasn’t going to,” Yelena confesses, lowering her gaze before they come back up with a vulnerability that wasn’t there before. “But have you?”

You shake your head in response, indicating the truth. Yelena’s shoulder slackens and she steps closer to you. “I don’t want to talk about her anymore. I missed you,” Yelena mumbles the words like a secret, before capturing your lips in a short, sweet kiss, effectively stealing you away from your thoughts.

Tommy and Billy run around the house. Billy is chasing his screaming brother with a ball he’s threatening to throw at him. It was a baseball that Tommy had thrown at Billy in anger. Billy was upset but he was used to his twin's outbursts and he wasn't going to do anything about it until Tommy started laughing at him for complaining that it hurt. And claimed he was a cry baby and that it wouldn't hurt if it hit him. That their dad wouldn't have started another family if he was better at catching a ball. So, Billy picked up the ball and demanded, “Apologize!” 

Tommy was screaming that his brother couldn't take a joke and Billy asked him to apologize. To take back the claim about their father. “Gosh you're so sensitive!” Tommy screams as he stops in front of a wall. Seeing red, Billy lunges the ball at his brother. He dodges it and the ball flies through the wall behind him. 

Wanda hears the loud noise from her home office. It snaps her out of her work daze. She was in the middle of measuring the model pieces to the blueprint she had drawn up. She drops everything and runs to find out what is happening in her house. She walks in to find her two boys yelling and blaming each other. She sees the gaping hole and a broken picture frame on the ground. It was a family portrait. 

The last one before everything in her family had fallen apart. It was taken two years ago. She was a naive woman in that image. Her husband was three years deep in an affair. Shortly after this photo, he revealed that he got his teaching assistant pregnant. That he was leaving to be there for his new family. He claimed that Wanda had been cold and distant with him since their daughter was stillborn. He said that he was a man and had needs that she couldn't meet anymore. 

Wanda sighs and the boys stand still, terrified of what she's going to do and how she's going to punish them. Instead, she walks away into the garage and returns with a sledge hammer. She swings it against the wall, creating a bigger problem. She remembers when he painted the wall the color she didn't like and made her feel guilty that she didn't like it. “You never appreciate when I do nice things for you,” he complained. “You should be grateful I did it at all.”

As she whacks the wall, she hears every complaint and condescending comment her ex-husband ever made. When she's exhausted, she drops the head of the hammer on the picture. Destroying the frame further. She turns to her flabbergasted boys and offers them the hammer. “What? You don't want a turn?” The boys remain silent and Wanda shrugs and drops the tool on the ground. “Go get cleaned up, we're getting take out for dinner tonight.” She walks through the living room, leaving her kids behind to grab her things. 

A few days later, Pietro is visiting his sister as well as giving his daughter time to bond with her cousins. He sips his beer and stares at the destroyed wall. He looks at his twin and asks what that is. Wanda pops open a bottle for herself. “I’m renovating,” she says and after, she takes a long drink. 

“You know that's not up to code, right?” He says, eyeing his sister with concern. Wanda shrugs without a care. She knows all about the proper ways of construction. Their father taught the two everything he knew about construction. She didn’t need her brother’s input. He knows that, but he didn’t know how to get his sister to open up to him. It seemed that since her marriage fell apart she has shut everyone out. “Do you have a plan for it? You can’t leave that wall like that for too long. It isn’t safe for you or the kids.”

Wanda takes another swig as she stares at the broken wall. “I’m drawing something up. Don’t worry about me, brother.” 

“I am worried about you, Wands. What’s gotten into you?” Pietro asks, desperate to connect with her. 

She looks at him with empty eyes as she shrugs again. “I wanted a change so I’m making one. It’s no big deal.” She finishes her bottle and gets up to retrieve another. There aren’t any left. She sighs as she grabs her keys. “I’m going to go pick up some more drinks, do you mind watching the kids?” 

“Wanda, I don’t think–” he stops as soon as he looks at her and sighs. “Okay, yeah, I’ll wait here. Just,” he starts and fails to come up with the right words that won’t set her off. “Be careful,” he finishes and Wanda nods once as she leaves. 

She drives around a bit longer than she needed to. There is a supermarket around the corner from where she lives. But she didn’t want to be recognized by her neighbors. She didn’t want the questions of the hole in the side of her house. She didn’t want the threats of the complaints to the HOA. She just wanted to get her beer and head home. 

Wanda finds a little liquor store at the corner of some street she isn’t familiar with. She pulls into one of the parking spaces in front of the small business. She grabs her purse and keys and locks the car on her way in. She browses the market for more than she was on a mission for. She finds a few brands she used to have handy for her ex-husband and she wants to smash them on the ground. She can see herself, dropping every bottle on the ground. The glass splattering around the store. The liquid pooling around her feet and seeping through the cracks under the shelves, making it almost impossible to clean up. She would keep going until the cops are called and she has to run away. 

“Oh, please don’t tell me you’re actually going to buy that,” you break her thoughts with a disgusted look. 

Wanda looks between you and the bottle, “What’s wrong with this?” 

“Well, if you like a very bitter taste, then by all means. I just think your tastebuds deserve better.” You pick up a brand that Wanda actually enjoyed but hardly ever got to have since Vision usually made her feel bad about ever spending money on herself. “Here, try this. I’ll buy it for you and if you hate it, you can meet me back here in a week and tell me off.”

Wanda takes the bottle in her hand, “And if I love it?”

“Hmm,” you look around the store for an idea and snap your fingers when one finally comes to mind. “You can buy me a drink,” you state in a friendly manner. There didn’t seem to be some ulterior motive or red flag about you that was alarming her at the moment. But why were you being so kind to her when she looked like a mess? Did you think she needed your help? Like she was some helpless damsel? Her thoughts start to upset her as they continue to run down a very negative path. “Your choice too,” you offer, getting a little concerned by her silence. Almost wanting to take back the offer. 

All of the loud angry thoughts come to a full stop and Wanda is left with an empty head. “Um, okay, deal. This time next week?” She asks and you nod as you reach for the bottle back. She releases it to you. Knowing that she will be buying you a drink next week.

“Yes, if that works for you,” you tiptoe a bit now. She looked like she could use a friend, you weren’t sure what she was going through at the moment but it didn’t look like she was in a good place. 

“It should be fine,” she states a little softer now. You smile at her and offer your hand to shake on the deal and she hesitates before accepting. “I still need to pick up a few things to take home. So,” she looks around the store awkwardly. “I guess I’ll get that from you outside?” 

You nod, “Yeah, for sure. I have to get a few things too. But I’ll uh, yeah, I’ll see you outside.” You walk away to allow her the privacy she was clearly asking for and you grab the beverages you came here for. Your ex-wife Jean had called you in a hurry. She was making dinner for her new in-laws tonight and she didn’t have time to pick up the wine that they liked. You told her not to worry about it and offered to bring it by when you came to retrieve your daughter. She even invited you to stay for the meal so that the older couple could spend some time bonding a bit more with the little girl. It was going to be somewhat awkward but you figured that the better connected you were with this family, the better it was for your daughter in the future. 

They were very involved parents when it came to their daughter, Jean’s new wife, so that meant they wanted to be very involved step-grandparents. You were going to have to encounter them at birthdays and special events. Is what you keep telling yourself to make you feel less awkward about going. You pay for the bottles of wine and the extra purchase and grab a pack of cigarettes while you’re at it. You light one as you wait for the stranger inside. Hoping the nicotine calms your nerves even though you know Jean is going to be upset as soon as she smells you. 

“You know those things will kill you,” Wanda says as she exits the store. She doesn’t know why she said it. There is a pack sitting in her bag as well. It had been years since she had touched a cigarette but lately, she was feeling as reckless as she was in college. Why not complete the behavior with a terrible habit? She had negotiated with herself when she saw the wall of smokes behind the counter. 

You drop the cigarette and put it out with your foot and look at her. You notice a familiar label poking out of her bag and smirk. “I’ll quit when you do,” you say as you point to the box poking out. Wanda shuffles to hide it. 

“I wasn’t going to,” she says defensively, “I have kids.” 

You tilt your head to the side as you look at her. “Then why get them?” 

“Not that it’s any of your business,” she starts and you put up your hands before she can continue as the words have snapped you in your place. 

“You’re right, my apologies. It’s not any of my business.” You hold out the bag with her bottle inside. “Here you go,” you say with a smile. “I’ll see you in a week.”

Wanda is taken aback. That line has never stopped anyone from imploring more information out of her before. How is it that you have shown her more respect in the last five minutes than her husband ever showed her in their nine years together? “Uh, yeah,” she takes the bag. “I’ll see you then.” 

“Take care…” you laugh as you realize you have no idea what her name is. “I am so sorry for my terrible manners. I'm Y/n. I guess it just felt like we'd met before."

"Oh!" Wanda hadn't even realized that she hadn't introduced herself yet either. "I'm Wanda."

“Wanda,” you repeat with a kind smile. “Well, it was enchanting to meet you, Wanda.” You offer your hand for her to shake again and she does. Feeling a little flattered by your choice of words. The two of you part ways. She blushes all the way back home to her brother and the kids. You drive to a house that was once yours to your ex-wife, daughter, and the extra family you didn’t ever think you would ever have.

Chapter 2

“Y/N?” He asked when the door was fully open, causing you to turn around and face him. “What the hell is going on? It’s freezing and it’s raining. How did you even get here?”

“I… I think someone-'' you just stood there mumbling to yourself as rain rolled down your face and off of you chin in swollen rivulets. “I was out with…”

You weren’t even looking at him when you spoke. Sure you were looking in his direction, but your stare was hollow, misplaced. You weren’t looking at him at all, you were looking through him.

“Are you high?”

A small nod was his response, and before he even thought about it he pulled you inside by the scrap of material you called a dress. Then shutting the door behind you as quietly as he could in hope of not waking up the sleeping form upstairs.

“Well, what was it this time? I don’t see tracks so that’s progress I guess”

He was met with silence from you. The only sound was the rain outside and the quiet chattering of your teeth as you shivered in the hallway. You looked so small, so frail. Now swamped by the sagging material and the high ceiling of his foyer.

“Jesus Christ Y/N. This needs to stop. Seriously. One day you’re going to get yourself killed”

“I just wanted to have a good time”

“People like you can’t afford to have a good time. Not with the those assholes you insist on involving yourself with”

He was trying not to get mad at you, but it was damn hard when you didn’t understand the severity of your situation. He was also angry at himself. For sounding like a broken record. The same things being shouted at you over and over again. Words that weren’t helping you, but pushing you away even more.

“But, it’s my birthday”

“I don’t care. Turning twenty one isn’t an excuse to ruin your life. Again”

“I’m sorry”

“I don’t want to hear it. Go upstairs and shower. They’ll be clean clothes and water waiting for you in the guest room when you’re done. We’ll talk about this in the morning”

On wobbly feet you walked towards the stairs he descended only minutes ago. It was ironic really. The person in this transaction who deserved rest the least, on their way to sober up in his guest room. While he had to stay up and make sure you didn’t die in your sleep.

It was times like this when he was jealous of Pepper and her ability to sleep through even the loudest of storms.

-

“Tony, Tony, wake up”

His eyes peeled open to find Natasha hovering over him whilst holding a tray of inconspicuous hospital food. In any other circumstance he’d turn his nose up at whatever the canteen in this place had to offer, but he was starving and he would happily consume whatever slop was on the menu.

“You do know there’s a family room with a real bed waiting to be slept in, right?”

“What, and leave this extremely comfortable chair unoccupied? I call blasphemy”

Natasha breathed a laugh through her nose as she placed the tray on the table at the end of your bed. Her eyes glanced over at your body. Tiny in the large bed they had placed you in. It was weird seeing something with a presence as big as yours shrunken down to a hospital patient, silent beside her.

Tony just watched as she took you in. The expression on her face told him she was just as worried about you as he was.

“The doctors say she’s stable. Apparently it can sometimes take time for the body to recover from things like this. Shock, exhaustion. Knowing Y/N she’s awake and just trying to avoid conversation”

“The way you talk about it. About all this” she started as she waved a hand in your direction, “you sound like you’re pretty well versed in the routine”

“I am-, I was. Y/N she, she didn’t have a great start in life. So I took on the role as parent, brother, whatever was needed most. But I’m sure Wanda has told you all about that. Being best friends and all”. He didn’t want to talk about it too much. Even after all these years it still hurts him.

“She’s said a few things. Where she was pulled from as a kid, adopted, the drugs. But nothing in detail. It’s not her story to tell and I respect her for it. Wanda’s a good person, so I trust her judgment in marrying Y/N. Most of the time anyway. This has made me doubt her decision slightly”

There was a pregnant pause. Natasha waiting for Tony to perhaps fill in the gaps Wanda left out. Tony waiting to see if Natasha would carry on. Neither happened and their company was interrupted by a doctor coming in to check your vitals.

“Does Wanda know?”

A shake of her head confirmed his suspicions. “I haven’t been able to find the time to tell her”

“Well, someone’s got to. She’ll be worried sick if she thinks her wife has gone awol”

“I just don’t know what to say. This whole thing is so fucked up”

“I’m sorry to interrupt” a third voice startled the pair of them as they locked eyes with the doctor. For a moment they both seemed to forget they weren’t alone . “I just wanted to let you know things are looking the same. Which is good news so don’t panic. If there are any changes, ring the bell and someone will come and assist you”

“Thank you, doctor,” Tony replied. Partly out of impatience to get them to leave, partly out of politeness. Either way, the doctor left and he exhaled a breath he didn’t know he was holding. “You need to tell her. She’d rather know the truth and be able to see her than be kept in the dark”

Natasha hated that he was right.

-

“Hey, babe”

“Y/N, are you alright?”

“Yeah, yeah I’m fine. Did I wake you up?”

“No you’re good” a statement that seemed like a lie, but was in fact truthful. Even though it was just past one in the morning, she had been watching a movie in bed in anticipation of your ‘I’m home safe’ call she insisted you give her.

“Oh okay, well sorry if I did”

“Are you home now? I don’t hear any music so I presume you are?”

“Yeah about that. I uh, you can say no, but I was wondering if you’d come and get me?”

Wanda started moving instantaneously. The sheets revealing her bare legs to the cool air of the room. Shirt falling over her thighs as she stood feeling for the switch of her bedside lamp.

“I can get you. Can you tell me where you are?”

“I’m not sure. We were at O’Nel’s and then we went to that place with the urm, arcade stuff, Hotel?”

“Motel, yeah I know the place”

“Now I’m not sure where I am”

“You’re not at Motel anymore? Right, can you deccribe what’s around you?” At this point Wanda was struggling to get her jeans on while her phone was pinned between her ear and shoulder. She prayed she didn’t accidentally hang up on you.

“Like some, warehouses? I don’t know. I can hear bass. Somewhere close but far. I see a tower, or a chimney, on the building opposite”

She had to think. There were no warehouses in the area you told her you were going to. You wouldn’t have taken a car to get out of the city, so it had to be walking distance.

“People keep coming up to me and asking if I want to buy drugs. I- I’m scared, Wanda”

“Fuck okay, I know where you are” she didn’t, not exactly. The industrial side of the city was large and confusing to navigate. Though she didn’t want to worry you by saying that. “Stay there and don’t talk to anyone. I mean it, just stay away from them. I'm going to stay on the phone. I’ll be fifteen minutes. Just, don’t move baby, please”

-

Wanda didn’t know if she should be angry or upset. But the more she thought about it, the more she realised she was allowed to be both.

She had given birth without you. You’d gone off with whoever in replace of being by her side to welcome your children into the world. There was a lot she has forgiven you for, but this, this was something she will find it very difficult to excuse.

Her boys, your boys, we’re sleeping soundly in a bassinet at the side of the bed. Tiny fingers intertwined with the others as their chests rose and fell with synchronicity. At less than a day old she knew they would be inseparable.

She only wished she could say the same about you and her.

“Where’s your mama, hm?” She asked her sons. They both snuffled in response, from the disturbance of the quiet no doubt, but she answered nonetheless. “I don’t know either my sweet angels”

The twins seemed to settle at her voice. It was comforting to know that the time in her womb was spent learning and getting used to the people they had around them. It made her think of the way they might react to you. In months to come when you enter a room, would their eyes light up to welcome you with gummy smiles. Will it be you that they seek out in the night when they had bad dreams? You who they will cry for when they bumped their head or scrape their knees?

Only time will tell. But time waits for no one.

A click of the door caused Wanda to pull her eyes away from where they were watching birds fly around outside in the early afternoon sun. Maybe she would take the boys for a walk around the hospital gardens if she was allowed.

“How are you feeling?”

“Tired, but the boys keep wanting to be fed”

“And so it begins”, Natasha's attempt to lighten the mood was met with a small, obviously exhausted chuckle. “I brought you some food. They didn’t have many options, but they did have a frowsy banana and some sort of pasta bake. You did have a jello cup but Tony stole that I’m afraid”

Wanda’s ears perked up at the name. “Tony? Why is he here? Is he alright?”

Shit.

“Tony’s fine, he uh, he’s here to visit someone”. Natasha cleared her throat in attempts to come across as casual.

“Is Pepper okay? Please don’t tell me Morgan’s hurt”. Wanda clutched at the neckline of her hospital gown as she spoke. Worry evident in her eyes.

“No it’s not Pepper, or Morgan” she emphasized. “I’m going to tell you something and I want you to promise not to worry. Please can you do that for me”

Wanda narrowed her eyes slightly at her friend's request. The cogs in her brain almost working overtime in order to figure out what was going on.

Sitting on the edge of bed, Natasha glanced at the boys, and then at Wanda. “You’re a smart woman, Wanda. And being smart means you’re also a very understanding person”

“Okay? Is there something you’ve done that I need to forgive you for? And what has that got to do with Tony being here?”

“Me? No, I’ve done nothing! Well maybe something but, it’s definitely not as bad as what Y/N’s done that’s for sure” that last part of the sentence was topped off with an incredulous snort, and Natasha’s eyes widening at the realisation of what she had just said.

“I’m sorry? Are you trying to tell me that my wife has done something stupid enough to land her in hospital?”

“Maybe, perhaps if that’s what it sounds like. Then, that could be the case, yes”

Wanda felt her stomach drop. Worry flooded her body as she processed the news Natasha had just broken. Thoughts of the past took over any reasonable explanation of events. You didn’t have a good track record with hospitals. And she didn’t have to ask many questions to understand why you could be here.

“How long? How long has she been here? And don’t you dare lie to me Natasha or I swear to god”

“I saw the paramedics bring her in before you gave birth” her response was almost a whisper. She was ashamed.

“Help me up”

“What? Now?”

“Yes, now, help me the fuck up” despite her request, Wanda was already swinging her legs from under the covers herself. Wincing at the pain when she moved too fast.

“Wanda, I don't think that’s a good idea. The midwives said-”

“Do I look like I give a fuck about what the midwives said? Tell me where my fucking wife is”

-

“Wanda, will you just calm down”

”Calm down? Tell me how I’m supposed to do that when my wife is high in your pool, James, hm? And you,” she turned to his wife and pointed a stern finger in her direction, “did you know about this? Did you know he had that here?”

“I don’t know, maybe.” Her green eyes searched Wanda’s frantically. Hoping her friend could see the honesty in her answer. “You know we host parties for work friends. There’s always a chance there’s some in the house”

“Jesus Christ. I’m going to kill you both”. Aggressive fingers ran through Wanda’s hair, stopping each time they came to a knot. She let out a frustrated sigh and closed her eyes. Eyes closing and brows knitting together. Heart rate quickenting as she heard another loud splash behind her.

“How many times do I have to say I’m sorry? Wanda, don’t be like that, come on”

His shouted words fell on deaf ears as Wanda barged past him. Even his large frame wobbled as their shoulder touched harshly on her way outside. Attempting to get your attention the only important thing to her right now.

“Y/N, can you get out of the pool for me baby? Swim to the ladder and I can help you up”

“But I’m having fun. You should get in! Just jump, I’ll catch you”

“No, Y/N, it’s time to go home”

“That’s no fun”

Wanda rubbed her face in annoyance. God, she was angry. Angry at Bucky, angry at Natasha, angry at you. She just wanted a quiet night out with her friend with perhaps a loud, unapologetic evening with you when you both got home. But no. Now she has to look after you and make sure you don’t slip back into old habits after you come down. So much for a girls night.

“Why don’t we get drive-through on the way home?”

That seemed to interest you. You stopped doing laps and decided on treading water in the middle of the pool. This gave you optimum listening abilities for the conversation about fast food.

“Taco Bell?”

“Anything you want, baby, it’s up to you. But you have to get out of the pool in the next ten seconds”

It was like talking to a child. At least this was tame. Sometimes you got aggressive on coke, but luckily for her you didn’t seem to do much just judging by your demeanor.

The next moment you flailed your arms and legs to reach the stairs of the pool, clumsily clambering up them with wet, shoe covered feet and soaked clothes trying to drag you down. Droplets of water splashed onto Wanda’s jeans as you fell to the ground in front of her.

“Was that less than ten seconds?” You asked, gasping for breath in between words. “I could be an Olympic swimmer Wands”

“You sure could, now let's get you up and in the car. Bucky, make yourself useful and help get her in the car”

It was funny really, how scared he looked as he ran through the patio doors towards you both. He knew he had fucked up big time. Whether it was intentional or not that didn’t matter, he had and Wanda had the right mind to cut them off, the pair of them. But that was a decision for another time. Right now she needed to get you home.

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The slight panic you felt when seeing her again disappears the second you hear Leigh laughing in the kitchen. When you see her, your heart swells in your chest and you grin at her. “Hey beautiful, I'm so happy to see you,” you greet her with a kiss on her cheek. She smiles down to the vegetables she was chopping and blushes slightly. Leigh sets the knife and the carrot down on the kitchen island and she wipes her hands on her apron as she stands next to you. 

Leigh takes a breath as she straightens up and locks her arm around yours, “Mom, Jules, this is my partner,” she gestures to you and you smile at them. You would wave but you haven't had a chance to set down the three bouquets yet. “Y/n, this is my family.” 

“It's nice to meet you, Jules and…” you give her mom an opportunity to reveal her name and she does so with a tight smile. You can see it in her eyes that she doesn't like any of this. Her daughter, pregnant, in the middle of a divorce, and already in a relationship with someone new. You quickly began to feel nervous. You clear your throat as you set the flowers on an empty space on the counter and you hand them out accordingly. You shove your hands in your pockets as you begin to feel a little sheepish about bringing flowers instead of something better. But without knowing much about either of them, it would have been hard to get them a gift that would win them over. “I apologize for not bringing some flowers for you, I didn't see the text about your presence until I got to the door,” you avoid looking in Jules' girlfriend's direction as you make the apology. 

“That’s okay,” Jules says. “She can have mine,” she hands your one-night-stand the flowers and you begin to feel guilty and uncomfortable. 

The woman lovingly smiles at her girlfriend. It almost makes you sick. If she cared about her so much, how could she have cheated with you? You ask if Leigh can show you around the house a bit and though she finds the request odd, she removes her apron and pulls you out of the kitchen by hand. You half listen to the stories she tells as you enter each room on the first floor, too anxious to really listen. When you get upstairs, she shows you to her room with a seductive look on her face. You are too panicked to notice until she shuts the door behind her and pushes you onto the bed. 

“Woah, hold on,” you say as you try to stand up. Leigh pushes you back down and straddles your lap making it difficult to move from the bed. “Wait, I’m–” she cuts you off with your lips and you lean into the kiss for a moment. But then you put your hands on her shoulders and gently push her back. “Leigh, please, I need to tell you something.” 

“Oh, I thought this was why you wanted a tour,” she says as she begins to shy away, removing herself from your lap completely and sitting next to you. 

“No, I really wish that was the case. Especially with what I have to say,” you nervously play with your ear. Leigh frowns as she watches you and learns more about you from your subtle actions. She tells you that you can tell her anything and you hope that is true. Because this is a big thing and you hadn’t even known it at the time. 

“Y/n, can you please say something? You’re starting to scare me,” Leigh says as she puts her hand on your bicep. 

“Remember how I told you that I had slept with someone?” You start and instead of looking at her, you look at her overflowing closet in front of you.

“Oh no,” Leigh says and you assume she has it figured out. “You didn’t.”

“Yeah, I know, I know. How was I–”

“I can’t believe you got another girl pregnant!” She exclaims, rising from her bed. 

“What?! No! That’s not–No! Leigh, listen,” you stand up and grab her by her shoulders to have her face you. “I didn’t get her pregnant, but she is here tonight.” You watch her expression to see if she understands what you are saying and when it looks like she has it, she starts to get red. 

“I cannot believe you thought it would be okay to bring that whore to my childhood home! You go out to your car and you get rid of her!” Surprisingly, through all of the irrational thoughts and anger, Leigh keeps her voice low. Which you are grateful for. 

“No, Leigh, you don't understand. She was here before I got here. I had no idea that she would be here,” you continue to dance around the subject. Hoping she would get it without you having to blatantly admit that you slept with her sister's girlfriend. 

Her expression changes again, this time to one of concern and you know that she still doesn't get it. “Oh my goodness, are you being stalked? Was she hiding in the bushes or did you see her car parked outside or something?”

“No, no, that's not what I meant,” you massage your eyebrows. 

“Just spit out what you mean then, damnit!” Leigh says. 

“The girl from that night at the bar is Jules’ girlfriend,” you rush out in a panic. “Please don't be mad at me. I wish I could take it back. I can’t believe that it happened at all! A-and please don't make a scene downstairs. I don’t think it would be fair to your sister.” 

Leigh has her hand over her chest and dramatically falls to her bed. “I can't believe it.” She looks around her room. “I know that they've been going through some tough times lately, with Jules' sobriety and everything that comes with that but, never did I think Estelle would do that to her.” 

“Oh shit, I forgot about that! Gosh, I’m such an asshole. I’m at a loss for words. I feel terrible,” you stammer out as you pace the room. 

“Honey, it's not your fault. You couldn't have known,” Leigh tries to comfort you but you can’t stop pacing. “Besides, you weren't the one in a committed relationship at the time. You were allowed to be with someone that night. She wasn't.”

You don't feel better from her words. In fact, they only hurt you further. It was like she was confirming having broken up with you during that time. At the time, you weren’t sure what was happening between the two of you. It’s one of the original reasons you felt awful for sleeping with that girl in the first place. Now that you know you weren’t cheating on Leigh, it made you feel somewhat better, but still somehow worse. You have never been more confused by your emotions in your life. 

“I guess we have to go down there, pretend nothing has happened. Because you're right, it's not our place to tell Jules.” Leigh dusts her pants off as she stands. She stops you in your tracks and places her hand on the nape of your neck. Her touch is calming and the softness in her eyes is heartwarming. “Listen, I know I'm not exactly in a position to tell you this, but if you ever cheat on me I will kill you.”

You can't help but crack a smile, “Oh, so your ex gets to cheat and live?” 

She lets out a small laugh, “My ex led me to you so, I'm not that upset with him.”

“I must say, you are smooth, Miss Shaw,” you pull her closer by her waist and just as you're about to kiss, Estelle walks into the room. 

“Hi, uh, sorry to interrupt,” she smiles nervously. Leigh doesn't even glance in the girl's direction as she continues to get what she wants. You are happy to have her lips on yours for the moment and when she pulls away, she whispers that she loves you. You watch her walk out of the room after Estelle explains that Leigh is needed downstairs. Your girlfriend tries her best to hide how upset she is with the woman and thankfully it goes unnoticed by her since Estelle was keeping her gaze to a photo on the wall behind you. 

“We should probably—”

“I need you to keep what happened between us a secret. From all of them, please, you cannot tell Leigh. She'll kill me and then she'll tell Jules and she'll kill me.” Estelle interrupts you with her pleas. “It was a stupid thing to do. I know. And I really do love Jules, it was just… it was a mistake. I shouldn't have to lose the love of my life over a foolish mistake. Right?” 

For a moment you regret telling Leigh, because she's right. She shouldn't have to lose everything over one stupid mistake. But that wasn't a fair ask of you, to keep it a secret for her. You figured you could get Leigh to hold off a little longer when it came to telling Jules so you felt okay about lying to Estelle. At least for a little bit. “I can hold off on telling Leigh as long as you talk to Jules—”

“I can't do that! She'll relapse and they will all blame me! Please,” she grabs you by your shirt as she desperately begs. “We have to keep what happened between us.”

You aren't quite sure what to tell her in order to calm her down so you agree to keep it between the two of you. She thanks you with a tight hug that you don't return. And then she runs out of the room filled with relief. You just hoped that Leigh would keep her promise to you. At least until you can figure out why Estelle had cheated with you. 

What upsets you the most is that you asked her a handful of times if she was single and every time, she said yes. Something like this is exactly what you were avoiding. You shake your head and step out of Leigh's bedroom to head downstairs. Dinner runs smoothly, although you find it difficult to enjoy your food when Jules and Estelle are being mushy and you know what is being hidden. Leigh makes it somewhat bearable when she looks at you to roll her eyes at them. 

Amy warms up to you a little bit but you're sure that it will take a long time before she accepts you. But at least she feels comfortable enough to tell you that she hasn't seen Leigh so happy in years. You try not to be cocky about it, but it does make you feel a sense of pride. That you've been able to accomplish something in a few months that her husband couldn't in years. 

By the end of the night, you're not ready to go home alone but you have to. The goodbye kiss that you share with Leigh only leaves the both of you craving more and you invite her to come back with you. She almost accepts. But then she remembers how gross she is in the middle of the night. How she had hardly been getting any sleep and you get up so early, she'd rather you have your rest. Leigh frowns as she lightly swings your combined fingers and promises another time. You kiss her hand before letting go.

The next day, you wake up to a dozen notifications. A few messages from Leigh and a few from your social media. The ones from Leigh are sweet “I miss you's” and I love you's. They make you grin and you respond to her first thing before getting out of bed.

As you're getting ready for work, you check the rest of your notifications. All which turned out to be from Estelle. A follow notification and lots of dms from her. Some were voice memos which let you know she was wasted. A couple of lewd texts. Then four pictures, each in a different state of undress with the last text inviting you to her apartment. You sigh and shake your head. She has everyone fooled.

The next time your eyes opened you were weightless. Floating high above, everything shimmered before your eyes, it was like watching through a screen. You found that you could move, somehow gliding through the air without the need for any effort or motion, just a thought. It felt different as well, nothing resisted your movement.

A cloaked figure appeared, pausing your exploration of your new powers. It didn’t frighten you though. Logically, you knew it should, you knew it would have just an hour before, yet you were serene. It spoke.

“Y/N Y/L/N, I’m sorry to say you have died”

“Yeah, I kind of worked that one out” you mocked, but it had no effect on the spectre.

Death, or whoever they were, began to float towards the scene you were watching. You followed. As you neared, it became clear to you what the scene was, the immediate aftermath of your death. Doctors were just arriving at the scene, but your gaze locked on Natasha sobbing over your body. “You have a choice, move on now and see all you have lost before, or remain in the midpoint.”

“I don’t want to move on,” you said firmly. “Not until she can come with me”

“You understand she may live many years more.” Death warned, you nodded. “She may start a new life with another, go further with them than with you.”

“And I hope she gets that, but I’d still like to see it.”

The figure nodded, sighing resignedly as if it was an answer they expected but didn’t want. “Very well. When her life is over I will return, and see then where you stand”

“Thank you” you smiled, because manners are important. Even when you are dead and talking to some other ghostly immortal being. 

It simply nodded in return, then faded, presumably going elsewhere too.

“Alright Natty” you muttered to yourself, “hope you have an interesting life cos it’s going to be the only thing I see”