Chapter 1
It was likely a little past 4 in the morning, the red head tossed and turned on her newly sweated through covers. A wail pierced through the thin walls of the small apartment building. Natasha shot straight up, letting out a small groan, she wasn't the only one with nightmares tonight. She ran a hand through her hair as she reached the door. Best to get the baby before Alexei or Melina woke, they would have her head. More Alexei than Melina but they needed their sleep.
Natasha opened the bedroom door where her distraught daughter stood in her crib. She had turned two a few days ago but Natasha still was not ready to move her out of her crib. The little blonde stopped wailing as loud at the sight of her mother. Once Natasha picked her up the sobs stopped completely.
Natasha still shushed her gently, “Hi babygirl, it’s a little early for you to be up,” the red head bounced her a little, patting her back as she did so. Yelena shuddered in her arms repeatedly mumbling ‘Mama’
“Mama’s here, I’m here love,” the words comforted the girl, however, it felt odd in her mouth. Calling herself ‘mama’, it just felt wrong, sometimes she downright hated it, hated herself for lying to the poor little widow. She didn’t know any better, how could she?
Natasha took Yelena back to her room, hoping to maybe get another hour of sleep in before she had to go to school. She has been on this mission for a year now, despite Melina and Alexei not informing her of their progress she knew it would be coming to an end sometime soon.
Her own mission goal was close to being completed. She was supposed to get close to a SHIELD agent's daughter that goes to the same college as her. The girl herself was a teen mom, to get closer to her the Red Room gave her Yelena as a tool. Natasha would drop Yelena off at the same daycare as the girl’s son. This helped her get closer, she used play dates as an excuse to search the families home or even would offer to watch the little boy for free if the mom needed some extra time studying.
Natasha wrapped Yelena in a blanket before laying down with her in her arms.
“Mama eat.”
Natasha shushed her gently, “In a little baby, promise. Just lay down with me.” The little blonde surprisingly listened and put her head down in the crook of her mom’s neck.
When the redhead next awoke it was Yelena nuzzling into her neck. At least this time it was at a decent hour. Natasha let Yelena sleep as she got up and ready for her day. With her bag packed and on her back she woke Yelena to get her dressed before breakfast.
Now looking back that morning felt surreal. Natasha didn't know it would be their last morning spent in that apartment, she didn’t know it would be the last time protecting Yelena from Alexei. She definitely didn't know it would be the last time she would be held captive by the Red Room, the last time she would be one of their belongings, their pawns, their precious Black Widow.
That very evening Alexei took his three girls away, Natasha was only able to bring her backpack that she stuffed full of Yelena’s things and a Glock 27. Their drive to the airstrip was nothing short of chaotic. Natasha feared not for herself but for Yelena, for what they would do to her, her sweet innocent Yelena. She was only two, still a baby, she could barely speak let alone fight for her life. She wouldn't survive.
The second the car was thrown into park Alexei and Melina were running around to prepare the plane and hold off the SHIELD agents. Natasha held Yelena on her left hip with her glock in her right hand.
“Natalia! Come now, we must return now! There is no time for delay!” Melina yelled to her. Natasha was frozen, she couldn’t go, she couldn’t go back. She couldn’t let Yelena get shot either. Ignoring Melina, and betraying all she had ever known she turned and ran. Natasha ran as far as she could, away from her family, her owners, away from the danger of the SHIELD agent. Instead she entered the supposed safety of the woods. The agents didn't seem to care and follow her, their goal was Alexei and Melina. Yelena had long been crying due to the sounds of the gunshots, the screaming and the fear radiating from her mother. Once they were far enough into the woods Natasha slowed down. She propped herself against a tree and just took a moment to hold Yelena close and calm her down.
Snap.
In an instant there was a gun pointed at the SHIELD agent that had deceived her.
“Woah there hothead, no need to attack.”
Natasha took a steadying breath before speaking, “Get the fuck away from me.”
The man took a step backwards, his hands raised in surrender, “I’m not here to kill you-”
“Well the gunshots fired at me and my daughter said otherwise,” Natasha flicked the safety off.
The man introduced himself, “My name is Barney Barton, I am an agent of SHIELD, I see you have a child you need to protect. We can help you. You know the Red Room will find you the instant you don’t show up, you can’t keep her safe from them without our help.”
“You don’t know what I'm capable of.” Natasha held Yelena a little tighter causing her to whimper out a soft ‘Mama’
“We will keep you safe, you have my word. We won't let them take you. You just need to turn yourself in.”
Natasha continued to eye him skeptically, “How I know you won't just return me to them. Do you know what they do to traitors? I do, I’ve seen it. You don’t know the risk.”
Barney signed a little, “I’m going to reach into my pocket, I have a photo in there I want to show you.” Barney reached for it very slowly and showed it to her, “this is my brother, he's older now, back when we were younger I got in with some bad people to keep us alive, SHIELD saved me, saved us. Your skills are useful, they won’t turn you back to the Room. You have my word.”
Natasha now realized how close Barney had gotten. Before she had a chance to move, Barney was removing her firearm. Instead of fighting she just let it happen.
“It’s okay, You're safe now, you’re safe. Come with me.” Natasha began to follow, she only then noticed her shaking hands and constant tears. By the time they reached the airstrip again Natasha had composed herself again. This was short lived, once they were spotted agents were on them in a second. One ripped Yelena away from her, They both screamed as if a physical limb had been ripped off each of them. Natasha was quickly cuffed and shoved to the ground. Barney began yelling at the agents. He quickly took Yelena into his own arms and demanded that Natasha be allowed to stand. Yelena was in hysterics and Natasha was still screaming.
“Give me my daughter! Yelena!”
At all the commotion Nick Fury found himself demanding Agents step away. He lifted the redhead back to her feet and turned her to look at him. She spit in his face in an instant. The hit she was anticipating never came. Instead Nick wiped his face and opened the van.
“Take a seat Natalia. We have a lot to talk about.”
Natasha stuck out her chin, “My daughter.”
“Barton with me.”
Barney climbed into the van with Yelena and took a seat with her next to him. Natasha followed this time, Fury right behind her.
--
Natasha was restrained further when she was cuffed to the wall of the van, her feet were also shackled. Yelena cried for her Mama, after a few minutes of debating they allowed the little girl to be placed in her mother’s lap. Within minutes the blonde was calm once again. They spent the ride in silence, Natasha was unwilling to talk and neither of the men wanted to ask questions at the time.
Upon arrival Yelena was removed from her mother yet again. Natasha lost it and began screaming yet again, “ Don't you fucking touch her! Я вас всех убью, Верните ее! (I will kill you all, Give her back) Don’t do this! Fuck you, Don’t you dare hurt her!” Yelena was carried away despite Natasha’s screams.
Barney spoke to her with a calm and even tone, “She is not going to be hurt, Natalia. She is being taken to SHIELD’s daycare while you go through interrogation and evaluations.” The redhead only glared in response.
Once Natasha gave Barney and Fury the intel they needed they put her through psych eval. After being determined mostly mentally stable Fury put her in the care of Barney, “She will be your responsibility Barton. You will take her through training and evaluations, so she will be ready in the fall when the new group of recruits start up.”
Barney was confused on why she would need to train, she had been training all her life, “Sir, I don’t think she's going to need much training, she’s a widow.”
“Widows are trained to fight since birth most of the time. There is no question she will be good, however, I need you to get her through deprogramming and then you will need to get her used to civilian living.”
“Deprogramming?”
“It will take several weeks, we need to get rid of the triggers the Red Room left behind. You will need to find someone to care for the little girl during that time. This deprogramming will be tough on her, It will strip her of her entire identity. She may not be in the right mindset to care for a child after that.”
“Yes sir. I understand.”
“Good, Now take her to get her daughter and then both of them need to go to Medical.”
Barney nodded and entered the room they had Natasha waiting in, the redhead stood quickly upon the door opening and bowed her head to Barney.
“Time to get your daughter.” Natasha didn't speak in fear of upsetting Barney, she couldn't risk it when she was this close to getting back to her daughter. Barney continued the conversation making it clear that Natasha was allowed to respond, "SHIELD has a daycare unit for agents' children, my brother is there right now. Your daughter is young enough that she will enjoy it. Clint, my brother, he's 17. He usually just helps with the younger kids."
"I need to see her."
"You will, How old is she?"
"She just turned two a week ago."
"How old were you when you had her?"
“Eighteen.”
"You may have fooled some, but I don't believe you are 20. If you tell me the truth it will stay between us."
Natasha in all honesty she didn't know her age, however, she wouldn't be letting Barney know that, "I have already told you the truth."
"Okay, let's get your daughter then."
Natasha's many restraints were exchanged for a single pair of cuffs. Barney cuffed Natasha's hands in front of her despite her dislike. As they walked, Barney continued to say, "you will not be a prisoner here, however, you must pass several psychological exams before you will be granted basic access. They call it deprogramming. You are not allowed in the daycare room so I will have someone bring Yelena out.”
“Where will we stay?”
“You will be staying in a standard shield room except this one will lock from the outside. That is only until you pass the physiological exams. Once you pass the exams we will discuss your options here at SHIELD." Natasha simply took in his words, it all seemed too good to be true.
They reached the door to the daycare and Barney pulled out his phone to make a call, Natasha prayed Yelena was safe, that she was not harmed.
"Clint, I’m outside the daycare. Can you bring Yelena Romanov out? Little blonde girl probably came in an hour ago. Yes.... Yes you can come too... okay well then have her bring her out with you." Barney hung up the phone.
"My brother and another older kid with bring her out." Just as he spoke the doors opened up.
To Natasha’s surprise and relief she heard no cries. Her daughter was curled up in the arms of a tall brunette. The girl holding her could have only been about Natasha's true age. Yelena was completely content in her arms. The girl turned so Yelena could see her Mama. The second she saw her she launched herself into Natasha’s arms.
Natasha wrapped her cuffed arms around Yelena, maneuvering to hoist her up. It was a little difficult and Natasha could feel her wrists begin bleeding from the cuffs but Yelena was back in her arms once again. Yelena's arm wrapped around her and her legs around her waist.
"Did they hurt you?"
Yelena babbled out something that wasn't really comprehensible in English or Russian.
Natasha shushed her gently and rubbed her back in comfort.
"Natalia, this is my brother, Clint, and this is his friend Maria. Maria, Clint, this is Natalia, she will likely be training with you two when Fall session begins."
"Why is she in cuffs?" Clint blunt as ever asked the question Maria and him had both been wondering.
"It's... complicated, they are temporary for now." Barney explained to his brother.
Barney then slapped his leg on his thigh, "I completely forgot I need to take you both to Medical before we do anything else."
Natasha, who had been murmuring to Yelena, snapped her head up.
"What the fuck did you just say?" She took a step backwards, fuck she knew this was too good to be true.
"We need to go to Medical, it's like a hospital pretty much, we just call it Medical here. You haven't had an evaluation yet and we need to get that done as soon as possible." Barney furrowed his brow in confusion at why this was upsetting the redhead so much.
"No," Natasha shook her head.
"What do you mean? Why?”
"You said- You didn't. черт возьми, нет, я не вернусь (Damnit, I'm not going back)” She took a shaky breath, “Я не вернусь. Я не вернусь”(I won't go back. I won't go back.)
"I don't speak Russian, Natalia.” Barney couldn’t think of what triggered this to happen, "Okay why don't you both sit down for a second and we will figure something out. Maria, I heard your brother will be down soon to get you so why don't you head back inside."
Maria nods and heads back. Clint hangs out near the doors to the daycare and Barney approaches Natasha. "Natalia, I can assure you our doctors are nothing but doctors, they are only here to help. They just need to make sure you are healthy and not hurt."
"I've heard that before." Natasha look are Barney with such hate it was almost impressive.
"Have I lied to you? I am not lying now. There is no need to be frightened."
That struck Natasha, she realized how weak she was acting,"I am not frightened."
Barney smiled, “Good, Shall we go then?”