Chapter 1
Barnard College, Columbia University, New York City
Kate sat across from Alice Scott, Admissions officer, feeling a bit off kilter. She had never been intimidated by any person before, even a drunk and angry Wanda Maximoff, yet this woman had her on edge and she was glad she had worn her strongest antiperspirant.
Barnard College had a seven percent acceptance rate, and the competition was fierce. The idea of not being accepted by any college had never crossed Kate’s mind. The first time she and Yelena had walked this campus, she decided this was where she wanted to go. She had met with coaches in both fencing and archery and learned that while they wanted her on the teams very badly, Ivy League schools did not offer athletic scholarships. Not that she couldn’t afford the tuition, but no scholarship meant she would have to apply like every other student.
The top ten academically ranked girls in her school applied and were turned down. Kate had good grades but not stellar. She was graduating a year early, but this didn’t necessarily work in her favor for college admissions. She had changed schools twice before she graduated early and due to less-than-ideal events in her life, her grades were not stellar. She also missed the second half of her sophomore year “recovering” from her brutal attack in Central Park.
“Miss Bishop…”
“Please call me Kate…please?”
Alice smiled for the first time, but it wasn’t the bright enthusiastic smile she had hoped for.
“Kate then. Why do you want to attend Barnard? With your connections and pedigree, you would be accepted into any college you wish.”
“Even here?” Kate asked excitedly.
Alice sighed. “Your grades and SAT scores are nowhere near as high as many applicants that we have turned down. You have been understandably distracted these last years. You also missed a large part of your sophomore year and want to miss out on another academic year by graduating early.”
“I was beaten into a coma and had nearly every bone in my body broken saving a girl from being raped. I had to complete my schoolwork from a hospital bed. That shows strength of character.”
Alice nodded. “No one doubts your strength of character. Your letters of recommendation prove that. You have much going for you. I understand you fought in the Battle of Titan. How did you come to be on an alien planet with the eclectic group of people who fought in the battle?”
Kate began to fidget.
“I…my girlfriend was involved. I felt it was my duty. Just trying to do my part.”
“On behalf of the universe I thank you for doing your part. Your letter from King T’Challa says you picked up the vibranium spear from a fallen Wakandan warrior and killed many… space dogs…and saved many lives. You also used an enchanted arrow to knock an Infinity Stone from Thanos’s gauntlet. No wonder the archery and fencing coaches want you badly.
“Tony Stark wrote a recommendation letter saying we would be idiots, and he would pull his yearly donation to MIT if we didn’t accept you. Does Tony Stark know you are applying to Barnard and not MIT?”
Kate winced. “I’m not sure what goes on in Tony’s head. I’m not certain anyone does, even Tony.”
“Letters from Silvija Sablinova, Pepper Stark, and the President of Sokovia. I can honestly say I have never seen a more impressive collection of individuals speak out on your behalf.”
“Thank you.”
“But not one letter of recommendation from a teacher or counselor.”
Kate nervously laughed. “Like you said, I really didn’t become close to them.”
“Yes, and as I said you had significant distractions. Students at Barnard cannot afford distractions. This is the most prestigious women’s university in the world. Academics come first, even over saving the universe.
“I’ll be honest, my biggest concern is the potential controversy you may bring. There are disturbing rumors that the reason you were on Titan is that you are close, perhaps even an adjunct member of the Red Widows and in a romantic relationship with Yelena Belova.” Alice pointed out.
Kate frowned. “That is a problem? The Red Widows were named Time Magazine’s Women of the Year. Of course, they refused an interview, but they still won the award.”
Alice cleared her throat. “Of course, we all appreciate the work they have done, not only in saving the Universe but their efforts at stopping human trafficking rings and international crime rings. However, they have a reputation of being particularly… bloody in their actions. They are still wanted for questioning in brutal slayings in Boston, assaulting a San Fransico police station filled with Federal and local law enforcement to break out a suspect accused of double murder, and taking illegal military action in Rwanda and Iran.”
Kate inadvisably snorted. “You don’t know the half of the illegal things they have done… that I have no knowledge of.”
“Kate, you are no doubt one of the most fascinating individuals I have or will ever interview but we prefer our students to make their marks in the academic world and in our athletes case on the academic and athletic field. Our students are singularly focused on their future. You will no doubt be successful in life and accepted into any other college you wish to attend but you are not a candidate for early admission. May I offer some advice?”
Kate deflated but maintained a calm and pleasant demeanor. “Of course.”
“Go back to high school, withdraw your application for early graduation and finish the four weeks until the summer break. Attend your senior year, improve your grades and retake your SATs. Focus on academics and avoid any associations, romantic or otherwise, with any controversial individuals or groups. Reapply next year for normal admissions and we can discuss your application again.”
Kate nodded and stood. “Thank you for your time, Miss Scott.”
Alice shook her head. “Thank you for what you have done, Kate. You have shown remarkable bravery and have saved countless lives. Please do not take this as a judgement on your personally. I must abide by the guidelines that have driven our student acceptance policy. I hope you take my advice and I wish you luck with any other colleges you apply to.”
Kate walked out of the office refusing to show her disappointment.
Outside the building her mother, a very pregnant Wanda and Yelena were waiting for her.
“You got in?” Yelena asked.
Kate’s smile dropped and she shook her head. “I thought when they asked me to come in for an interview they were going to give me a chance but apparently she wanted to turn me down to my face. I can still apply to the regular branch of Columbia, and thanks to Tony I know I can get into MIT.”
Wanda’s feet were swollen, she had to pee every ten minutes, and her entire body constantly ached. She had stayed outside this damn building in a city she hated to support Kate and celebrate with her when she got early admission into this women’s college that was part of Columbia but separated from Columbia, across a street or some nonsense.
“We are building a university in Novi Grad. Take a year off and learn to speak Sokovian, you can be in the first class of University of Novi Grad.” Wanda told her.
Kate grinned but her smile faded quickly.
Yelena looked at Wanda who rolled her eyes.
Wanda tried to march but more accurately waddled into the admissions building and took the elevator to the second floor.
“Can I help you?” Alice Scott’s secretary asked.
“No thank you.”
Wanda raised her hand, and the office door opened.
She walked in on a shocked Alice Scott and slowly had a seat.
“Uh… You are Wanda Maximoff.”
Wanda stared at her.
“How can I help you…Miss Maximoff? I have a meeting soon, but I would love to schedule a time…”
Wanda reached over and took a caramel candy from the bowl on her desk and continued to stared at the woman as she unwrapped the candy and placed it in her mouth.
Alice Scott began to sweat.
“I guess you were here to support Kate Bishop. I suppose by the look on your face she has told you the news. I am sure if she follows my advice and returns to school, focuses on…Miss Maximoff… I wasn’t aware your eyes were… they glow. That is…”
Terrifying was Alice Scott’s first thought.
“Beautiful… I see you are pregnant. How far along are you? It must be any day now, right? Let me congratulate…”
Wanda’s head was tilting. The eerie sight caused Alice to stop speaking once again.
Wanda finally broke the silence.
“Two years ago, I could barely read Sokovian and could not read English or any other language. I began taking online courses to receive a diploma while dealing with alcoholism, depression, and battling human traffickers, demons and space warlords. I would not have gotten though math without Kate Bishop tutoring me. I would be dead, and you likely would as well if she hadn’t made an impossible shot under extreme duress, surrounded by demons straight from nightmares, to wedge an incredibly powerful stone forged at the birth of the universe from the gauntlet of a madman. She saved my life on another alien planet the public doesn’t know about and saved the life of a telekinetic Russian dog at the same time.”
“I see.” Scott whispered nervously.
“I came here to celebrate her early acceptance into your college despite wanting to stay in a recliner with my feet in a bucket of ice while my daughters fed me ice cream. Now I find out you think she isn’t good enough to go to school at your special little college, despite two of your athletic coaches desiring her to attend.”
Alice opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She shivered and noticed the temperature in the room had dropped. She wasn’t sure what to say and was becoming terrified.
“Alice, may I call you Alice? Alice, what had you accomplished by the time you were seventeen?”
“Uh…well…you see…”
“I thought as much. I am going to politely ask you to reconsider your decision, taking into account Kate’s excellent tutoring skills.”
Wanda stared at Alice Scott. The woman did her best to meet Wanda’s red eyes, but it was becoming futile. This was a woman who had stared down Thanos.
“Kate did not mention her extracurricular work as a tutor. I think in light of that new information she would be an ideal student at our university.” Alice said.
Wanda remained quiet then nodded to Alice’s laptop.
“I’m going to need that acceptance letter.” Wanda told her.
“Of course. I will have it sent…”
“Now.”
Alice smiled nervously and began entering Kate’s admittance in the system, then printed out the letter.
Wanda smiled as she took the letter. “Thank you for reconsidering.”
“Of course. Could you possibly give me an autograph?”
“You have a superhero who will be attending your school in the fall. Ask for her autograph.”
Wanda waved her hand, and the door opened quickly, frightening the secretary outside. Wanda continued to walk and shuffle outside before giving up and levitating herself, floating outside the building.
She handed the letter to Kate.
“Congratulations Katherine Bishop. You have been accepted for early admission into whatever this place is called.”
“Yes! Wait, you didn’t threaten her did you?”
Wanda shook her head. “I told her of your tutoring skills and asked her to reconsider. She agreed that you should be given credit for your work. You are now an American college student who thinks getting a piece of paper entitles you to anything you want. I am starving and was promised a celebratory dinner. Eleanor?”
“The car is pulling around.” Eleanor told her happily.
The foursome travelled to an expensive steakhouse. Kate was surprised when she entered and the restaurant was filled with Widows, the Belovas and Everett Ross. She was also shocked to see Steve and Nat as well as Clint and Laura.
“Wow!”
“We missed having a big birthday party for you so we thought this would be appropriate occasion to celebrate.” Yelena told her.
While Kate accepted congratulations from the guests, Wanda walked over to Natasha and drew her to the side.
“I read everything I can find, even outside the Book of Vishanti. Stephen has no way of helping. I will be on my own and can offer no guarantee.” Wanda told her.
Nat waited for a moment. “You can do it?”
Wanda frowned. “This has never been done before. The spell books talk about regenerating limbs not organs. Doing this… it’s an experiment, Natasha. Are you sure you want to be the experiment?”
“Yes.” Nat said immediately.
Wanda closed her eyes, hoping she had changed her mind.
“Have you talked to Steve?”
“It’s not his decision.”
“You are married. Bucky and me always make decisions together.”
“No, you ask him for his opinion and then do what you want.” Nat told her.
Wanda shook her head. “Not on what is important. Not when it affects our lives and the lives of our daughters. This is big, Nat. If I screw up I could kill you.”
“You won’t screw up.”
“I might.”
“You won’t. If this works, think what it would mean for all the girls.” Nat pointed out.
Wanda took a deep breath. She knew Nat was right. If she could pull this off it would change so much.
Restoring a reproductive system. Creating tissue, not artificial tissue but using magic to create organs. Nat had asked Wanda a month ago if she thought it was possible. Wanda had been able to cure the widows who had been chemically sterilized. Some had asked to be cured, including Stannic, while others had expressed no interest in it.
Wanda had thought Nat was asking just to make conversation and laughingly said almost anything was possible through magic.
“I can’t do this unless I know Steve and Stannic know the risks, Natasha. This isn’t just about you.”
“They know. Steve understands. Stannic trusts you.”
Wanda crossed her arms and wanted to growl. “Of course she does. What is she going to feel about me if I accidentally kill you? How will she feel about me then?”
“I trust you, Wanda. I’m not suicidal. I just…I want back what was taken from me. I know I am asking you a lot. You don’t owe me anything. I’m…”
“Stop.” Wanda told her. “I’ll do it. Let me deliver my child and I can tell you if it is worth it. Once I have recovered and studied more… Stephen has an idea about putting you under and opening you up like a surgery so I can see what I am doing, and he can fix any problems if things don’t go perfectly. I’m not sure I want to see your insides while doing this but it makes the most sense.”
Nat smiled brightly. “Thank you.”
“Live through it first. Then you can thank me.”
“I’d hug you if you weren’t so big I couldn’t get my arms around you.”
“Finally, my size works in my favor.” Wanda said.
The door to the steak house opened and Tony and Pepper Stark walked in.
“Merry Birthday!” Tony shouted. “Hawkette! Congrats on MIT!”
Kate rolled her eyes. “I applied to Barnard.”
Tony stopped. “Why would you do something stupid like that?”
Kate sighed and looked to Pepper.
“Please tell me he didn’t write a letter for MIT.” she whispered to Kate.
“Thank you for your letter, Pepper.” Kate told her in answer.
As the party went into full swing, the group relaxed and caught up. Tony got an alert from Friday and checked his phone.
“Anyone talked to Fury or Coulson lately?” he asked.
None of the former Avengers had.
Everett Ross and several other phone alerts were going off now.
“If the world is ending due to a magical threat, Stephen is on call today.” Wanda said, enjoying a baked potato loaded with butter and sour cream while the twins dug into bowls of sugar free ice cream.
“The United States C.I.A. just gave an information file to the media on Carol Danvers.”
That caught everyone’s attention.
“Why does the media need to know about Danvers?” Ava asked, having a sinking feeling.
Everett Ross made a call.
“Coulson has called a press conference in an hour.” Ross told the group. “Sharon believes he is going ahead with the New Avengers.”
Yelena whistled. “The United Nations is going to be thrilled. They thought the Accords were the United States’s attempt to control the Avengers. Now SHIELD is forming their own Avengers team. There is no way this can be a smart move. SHIELD doesn’t have the public’s trust. It was a big reach for the U.S. to give them a charter again. Now SHIELD wants to bring together enhanced individuals under their banner.”
The party carried on and the conversation drifted back to college including some of the widows who had stayed in the free world and were attending colleges of their own.
Everett Ross went to the bar area and turned on the television. He wanted to see this press conference but didn’t want to interfere with the party. It didn’t matter. The entire party gathered in the bar area and quieted to listen in.
SHIELD director Coulson stepped up onto a stage in the old Avengers Compound. Tony had sold it to the government for a fortune and the newly reorganized SHIELD had moved in right afterward.
The press conference opened, and Coulson began speaking of threats from the stars and announced the formation of a new team of enhanced individuals working with SHIELD under the Avengers banner.
Carol Danvers walked out and stood next to Coulson who introduced her to the press. Next, he called out other members. This caught everyone’s interest.
“Colonel James Rhodes, Iron Patriot.”
Rhodey walked out in a red and blue suit of armor.
Yelena looked at Stark. “Reverse engineered?”
Tony nodded. “They had the war machine armor long enough. It took them longer than I expected to build another. Here is hoping it doesn’t break down mid-flight.” He raised his glass of soda.
Ava asked the question they all wanted to know. “Who the hell is Jessica Drew?”
“Former SHIELD agent.” Everett answered. “I have no idea why she would be considered enhanced, mechanically or physically. I’ll get Sharon on it.”
“Sharon needs to stay on Reykov’s trail.” Yelena told him. “If he is moving weapons through the Balkans he is likely still moving girls from Russia with the same contracts.”
Thor walked out followed by Daisy Johnson, Scott Lang and Hope Van Dyne. A man named Joaquin Torres was introduced as the new Falcon.
“Sam had been training him on the Falcon EXO suit.” Steve told the group. “I thought he was under Air Force jurisdiction though. Sam would have told me if they were training him to be an Avenger.”
“The Air Force loves turning their pilots into superheroes.” Tony reminded him. “Broke their hearts when I wouldn’t build Rhodey a new suit. I’m kinda wishing I did now. Rhodey and I haven’t talked in over a year, but I really don’t want him burning up in whatever junk that is they made him.”
Then there was one other surprise.
“Banner…Hulk? What the hell have you done, Bruce?” Tony asked.
“Looks like he is under control.” Yelena said, observing the figure closely. The room listened as Phil Coulson spoke of the work Bruce Banner had put into controlling the Hulk and maintaining his own mind and control.
“Is anyone buying this?” Beatrice asked. “Suddenly the world is supposed to believe that the Hulk is under control?”
“He is green, standing up straight and smiling.” Aino pointed out.
“Then kick him in the groin and see how he reacts, Aino. Stark, is this for real?” Bea asked again.
Tony shrugged. “I haven’t spoken to him in a while. He has been MIA and didn’t leave a forwarding number. I guess SHIELD gave him what he needed. Barton, don’t you and Cap have barn dances with Coulson? Didn’t he give you a heads up about this?”
“Not a word but we haven’t spoken to him or Fury in a while. He keeps telling us he has been busy. I can see why now.” Clint answered.
Yelena stood and began pacing. “Thor, Banner, Danvers, they are very powerful. We have no idea what this Drew woman can do.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Wanda said from the back of the room still sitting at a table with the twins. “All it means is the next time the Universe is threatened someone else can risk their lives to defend it instead of us. They can do what they are paid to do. We can focus on what we do, mainly taking out the Balkan pipeline, helping with the freed children’s foster care system in Sokovia, shutting down the weapon suppliers selling stolen vibranium and continuing searching Venezuela for the suspected sex slaves held by the Chavez clan.”
The sprinkler system went off.
“What is on fire?” Steve asked. The room looked up and realized it wasn’t the sprinkler system. It was raining inside.
“Oh right, my water just broke.” Wanda told him. She blinked her eyes and the water was gone. “Bucky call Stephen and get me to Kamar Taj. Becca is coming.”
The room quieted and then chaos ensued.
Five minutes later a dozen portals opened into Kamar Taj and the mountain top home of the Masters of the Mystic Arts was invaded by over sixty people, everyone who had been at Kate’s party was now present. Bucky helped Wanda walk out of a portal and followed Stephen into a temple.
“Everybody has to stay out of the birthing building.” Strange ordered. “Congratulations on being accepted into Barnard, Kate. Sorry I couldn’t make it to the party. I was stuck in a budget meeting for the London Sanctum.”
Eleanor stopped him. “I need to be with her.”
“Nobody needs to be in there.” Stephen countered. “The entire reason we have set up this building is to nullify her powers and lessen the chance of her warping reality during delivery. I doubt any drugs are going to work and a Scarlet Witch in pain without a Thanos to unleash on can be a dangerous and unpredictable force of nature. If everything goes well you can be present at the next one I’m sure she will have.”
Eleanor grabbed his arm.
“I’m going inside.”
“So am I.” Yelena said. “This isn’t a discussion.”
Bucky shrugged and Stephen rolled his eyes.
“Oksana, Charlize scrub in. Dad, you stay at her side and you two stay in the corner. I have no idea what is going to happen there. Our focus was on protecting the outside world from unleashed chaos magic. We don’t know what to expect from a newborn who was exposed to energy of all six infinity stones as a fetus.” Stephen stressed.
“Can we come inside Papa?” Nadeja asked.
Bucky shook his head. “Trust me girls, you do not want to see what is going to happen in there. We will bring you in as soon as it’s over and your little sister is here.”
Bucky walked Wanda into the recently constructed building. Dozens of sorcerers surrounded the building and cast spells over the structure, joining their energy to make a dome.
Kate stood with her arms crossed and looked around the gathered area. Everyone was standing and no one looked as if they were going anywhere. She wondered if she should say something until Tony spoke up.
“Can someone get us some tables and chairs, drinks, maybe some yurts? You sir, with the antlers, you look distinguished. Any chance we can get some accommodation? I’d be willing to make a donation to the London Sanctum and help out with those budget problems.”
A female sorcerer approached. “Perhaps it would be safer for you all to return to your homes?”
No one moved and she realized no one had any intention of leaving. She began giving instructions to clear out dining halls for the many guests.
Inside the birthing room, Wanda had changed into a hospital gown. A midwife sorcerer was present, and the room was large but seemingly crowded with Yelena and Eleanor present. Despite Stephen’s instructions Eleanor and Yelena had worked their way to her bedside.
“I have good news.” The midwife told the group.
Wanda screamed and her eyes glowed. Every burst of magic caused the ancient runes carved into the walls to glow and the shield the sorcerers held outside the building to shake but nothing physically changed. The room was performing as it should.
Wanda was doing her best as well. Despite only recently arriving the contractions were coming quickly.
“The labor is progressing quickly.” she continued. “You will have your daughter in your arms very soon. Stay strong.”
Wanda screamed once again and the floor shook.
Outside hundreds of sorcerers watched the building anxiously.
Kate stepped out of the dining hall to see if the entire mountain were about to collapse.
“Kate.”
“Hi Meg.” Kate greeted her.
Meg stood with her hand on her little sister’s shoulder and moved them away from Kate. Kate had apologized for their first encounter when Kate had been a bitch to the girl and though Meg had insisted there was nothing to apologize for she still tended to keep her distance from Kate.
“Billie, you are getting so tall. Going to be eleven soon, right?”
To Kate’s disappointment, Billie, who was talkative to everyone, looked at Meg before speaking. Meg winked at her.
“Yes, in two weeks! A lot of us are going to Disney Land in Paris. Bucky is going to bring Nadeja and the twins and Tanya and Claudia and a bunch of widows who aren’t on mission are coming. We are spending two days and nights at the park. Are you going to come along?”
Kate looked at Meg who was smiling nervously, not meeting her eyes.
“I’d like to. Would that be all right?”
“Of course ya can. You’re one of us ain’t ya? Everybody is invited. I guess Wanda isn’t gonna make it but maybe if someone can help with the baby she can do her spooky ghost projection thing since she won’t be pregnant anymore. Congrats on getting into the college. I think I’m gonna be a doctor one day. Might have to check out this Columbia myself. Meg… why is the sky getting dark? Is it nighttime wherever we are… look at those clouds…wait the sky is turning red. It’s kind of spooky. The guy with the moose head in pajamas looking might nervous.”
Kate’s eyes widened as she took in the approaching black clouds rolling over a suddenly red sky.
“Go inside, Billie. Let everyone know that if they don’t have to be here, maybe they shouldn’t be.” Meg said. “I’m gonna get one of these fellas to open a sparkle circle and get you and the other kids back home.”
“But I want…”
“Do as I say now, Luv. Be quick with you.”
Billie rushed inside.
“You are never going to like me are you?” Kate asked.
Meg paused and pointed to the sky as if reminding her of the real problem. “I like you fine, Kate. I need to find a magic guy to get the kids out of here. Wanda trusts me to take care of the kids. Not sure if you didn’t feel it but a whole mountain is shaking under our feet, and the weather is reacting to Wanda’s contractions.”
Kate could understand her concern. This was why it had been decided to have the birth in Kamar Taj instead of at the Mansion.
“Meg, I am sorry. The first time…”
“Look Kate, it’s cool. You were going through some bad things, so you kinda went off on me when we first met. That’s fine. I’ve had worse and I can rub people the wrong way. I don’t hold it against you, I really don’t. I can just be jumpy around people. You know how I shake. It’s nothing personal. Seriously though, the sky looks like the world is ending. Maybe we can talk another time.”
Another scream was heard from the birthing building and lightning flashed across the sky.
“Is it too late to give her a magical epidural?” Tony asked, walking out with Nat to take in the sky.
Inside, Yelena held onto Wanda’s hand. Wanda was in serious pain as contractions came on more swiftly as the minutes went by. Despite the runes inside the building, and the sorcerers outside doing their best to suppress the magic inside the ground was still shaking and Yelena heard thunder outside.
“Stephen?” Yelena called out. The man appeared relaxed, but Stephen Strange always appeared relaxed.
Stephen didn’t answer, instead choosing to focus on the unseen wards protecting the earth from Wanda’s powers.
“Yelena, remember the time I got shot in the gut in the Red Room?” Wanda asked.
“Hard to forget.”
“This hurts worse. Thanos hitting me with the Power Stone, breaking my leg, this hurts worse. Absorbing the pain from Kate’s crushed body felt better than this. Absorbing your wound through the gut from a cursed sword? That was a cakewalk.”
Yelena cringed.
“You will be alright Wanda.” Eleanor told her. “I went through this myself.”
“Yes but you were old then! I’m too young for my body to split apart like this!” Wanda snapped.
Bucky groaned.
“I was twenty-four, Wanda. How old do you think I am now?”
Wanda looked at Yelena who had no idea and wasn’t about to touch it.
“Let’s talk about something pleasant.” Yelena suggested.
Wanda’s eyes lit up and sparks flew. The lights flickered on and off. Instruments started to float.
“Wanda, I know it hurts but control yourself! You’ve never lost control of your powers even in pain!” Yelena told her sharply, hoping tough talk might force her to focus.
“Do you want me to describe what is going on and we can talk about pain?”
“Okay!” Bucky interrupted. “No need for details, Doll. Concentrate on breathing. Remember our breathing exercises?”
Wanda growled. “Why the hell do you have to be such a perfectly calm and supportive husband? Can’t you freak out like me?!”
Yelena agreed. “You are very good at this considering you have spent decades being frozen, thawed out and refrozen, having your brain wiped over and over while committing incredibly violent acts.”
Bucky shrugged. “My girls, all three of them keep me sane. My fourth one is about to be here and my wife needs me calm so that is what I am going to be.”
“You are so perfect…. damn it!” Wanda screamed as another contraction hit.
“The baby is crowning.” The midwife told her.
Yelena stepped to the end of the bed and looked…
“Oh my God!” she shouted.
“What? Please tell me there aren’t horns!”
Yelena’s eyes widened.
“No horns. No sex for the rest of your life but no horns. Is that really a head?”
“Push Wanda.” Stephen told her. “Oksana, she is close. Charlize stay near the sutures.”
“Sutures? Why do I need sutures?!” Wanda asked.
“How do you imagine you won’t need sutures?” Yelena asked. “I’m understanding the pain now.”
Stephen cleared his throat. “Yelena, Eleanor, please stand back. Bucky stay by her head. We need room to work.”
Eleanor let go of Wanda’s hand. “You got this Wanda.”
Outside a storm was raging across the sky. The ground was shaking and every sorcerer in the order was adding their magic to the dome covering the birthing room.
Then the wind died, the shaking stop and the clouds cleared.
Everyone who had been inside stood outside the building now. There was no sound, not even a bird chirping.
Then a baby cried.
Widows hugged each other and a torrent of emotions rushed out. The twins rushed to the room and began banging on the doors with Kate chasing behind them.
Inside Wanda held her tiny six-pound daughter in her arms. She had Bucky’s hazel eyes and Wanda’s dark red hair. Her eyes were wide open.
“Welcome to the world, Rebecca Antonia Barnes.” Wanda told her with a smile. “We did good, didn’t we Bucky?”
Bucky couldn’t speak, choked up, having difficulty breathing, tears filling his eyes.
His daughter had her name sake’s nose. She had Wanda’s perfect features and her fierce gaze.
“She is perfect.” He said quietly.
“Mama! Papa!” Nadeja hollered out.
Bucky smiled and rushed to the door, picking up his two daughters.
“Come meet your little sister, angels.”
Wanda smiled at the twins who taught her how to be a mother. Their eyes widened as they took her in.
“She is really ours. We have a little sister!” Nela shouted. “Nadeja we only had each other and now we have names and parents and a sister and dogs and cats and friends!”
Nadeja smiled brightly, not touching the little baby but looking at her closely. “Hi little Becca. I’m Nadeja, your big sister. I can tell you are going to be a good sister.”
Yelena stood back and met Wanda’s eyes. They had a silent conversation with their eyes in only a few seconds. It was something only they could do. In those seconds they spoke of pain and joy of their journey since they first met in that abandoned apartment building in a small village in Germany. Grief, rage, violence and tenderness, loss and gain, death and life, all culminating in this moment. The hopes of a future the two could only pretend to have when it was just the two of them all leading to this moment where they were surrounded by so many who loved them.
It seemed impossible.
“Thank you.” Wanda whispered to Yelena.
“You are responsible for this.” She said.
“There is no you or I in Wanda and Yelena, remember? Wanda would never have gotten here without Yelena.”
Yelena swallowed thickly and kissed Wanda on the head. “You did good my witch. Let me hold this red headed ball of magic.”
“Stephen are you picking up any magic?” Wanda asked.
Stephen wasn’t certain. The wards in the room and surrounding the building had taken a battering and still failed to manage all the chaos magic flowing from the birth. Yet he sensed no uncontrollable magic in the child alone.
“Too soon to tell but I’m not sensing any. What about you?”
“I’m too exhausted to feel anything. Bucky, aren’t you going to hold her.”
Bucky stiffened and looked at his vibranium arm. “I could break her. She is so tiny.”
“You never hurt us, and you hold us all night Papa.” Nela told him.
Bucky grinned and reached down, holding his daughter up with wonder in his eyes and hope in his heart. Hope that everything will be okay. Hope that they never have to risk themselves or any other widow in war again. Hope that this girl would never know the horrors others had known, not like the widows, not like Wanda had, not like the twins had, not like Billie had. This girl would know only love. She would never be abused, or hungry, or assaulted or afraid. He would make sure of that just as he made sure his twins would never be harmed again.
Rebecca Barnes would grow up in peace, surrounded by warriors who would fight so she didn’t have to.
Kate stepped outside and delivered the news of a healthy birth, and the line formed, even the members of the order allowing themselves a smile.
When Clint Barton stepped inside, the stoic man looked at Wanda and the child in her arms. He remembered the way Wanda looked as he stood by her while she buried her brother.
Clint Barton cried.