Reunited.
Washington, DC,
Somewhere in 2001.
"You're not from America?"
Wanda sat on the bed, while Pietro stood beside her, leaning against the broken concrete wall. The brown-hair man shook his head, crossing his arms, as their General asked them a question.
"No, General Fury," Pietro responded.
General Fury, a tall muscular man, with an eyepatch, that she practically had to strangle Pietro to stop him from asking about it, nodded his head, pressing his lips together.
"How long have you been here?"
Wanda scratched her neck, lowering her head. She feels a slight nudge to her shoulder, she barely stopped a sigh from escaping her lips. Pietro was the talkative one, more confident. So in every conversation, he tries to, at least, force her to say one thing. Wanda lifted her head, "Since we were ten, General Fury."
They were forced to leave Sokovia, after their parents' death. Moved to America, and planned on living with their Uncle Charles, which didn't work out in their favor. Sadly, they ended up spending half of their life in an orphanage. General Fury hummed, "Just call me sir, while we're in this room."
The Maximoff twins nodded, "Yes, sir."
A sharp gasp, caused Wanda's head to snap towards the side. "What? They just got here, and are already being allowed? It took me two years for that opportunity, is it because they're prettier than me?" Sam Wilson asked, aiming a smile at them, letting them he was joking, but his tone already helped them with that.
Pietro winked towards Wilson, causing Wanda to chuckle, and Wilson placed his hand on his chest in a playful flattering gesture, "Oh, my, those eyes. I apologize for being more interested in the misses."
The twins looked at each other, and laughed, as General Fury shook his head, "Quiet, Wilson."
Wanda shrugged off Wilson’s comment, shaking her head, with a smile, "Sorry, to burst your bubble, Wilson, but I'm a committed woman."
Wilson huffed, and the General's brows rose, looking between the twins. He turned to Pietro, "You?"
Pietro chuckled, shaking his head, "Sir, I wasn't as lucky as her to meet a woman like her girlfriend," He said, wrapping his arm around his sister's shoulder, who smiled. Wilson moved to sit down on the bed, in front of Wanda, as he bobbed his head toward her, "When did you meet?"
"Met her in 8th grade." She has known Natasha since seventh grade and didn't have the confidence to meet her until eighth.
The General cracked the lightest smile she had ever seen, "A solid relationship? He's right, you are a lucky woman, love like that is uncommon, congratulations, Maximoff."
Wanda smiled, proudly, nodding her head, "Thank you, sir."
"Where are you from?" A voice asked, suddenly, gaining her attention.
She doesn't know his name, he never attempted to tell it anyway. He was a tall, middle-aged-looking, man. From what she could gather, he was an observer and much quieter than Wanda. Never joined in a conversation, even when someone attempted to put him in. So he surprised her when he spoke. His face doesn't even look interested like he was asking just to do it or already knew the answer.
Wanda narrowed her eyes, as Pietro shrugged his shoulders, "Sokovia."
"That isn't going to be a problem, right?"
Wanda frowned, "What do you mean?"
The man shrugged his shoulders, "America and Sokovia have been at war for a decade now, honestly I don’t see how… well, I mean you could—,”
"We could, what?” Pietro snapped out before he could even think about finishing. Pietro squared his shoulders, and Wanda grabbed his wrist, stopping him from moving. The brunette shook her head, "It isn't going to be a problem, besides our blood and family history, we have no emotional connection to the place, so you don't have to be worried.” She looked towards the General, "I promise, sir."
Fury stared a moment, before saying, "I have no doubt." Wanda’s shoulders slumped, as her mind eased slightly. She could, confidently, say she felt Pietro’s doing it as well.
Fury cleared his throat, nodding, awkwardly, as silence filled in the room. "Well, welcome to the team, Maximoffs."
•
Boston, MA,
April 20th, 2018.
She shook her head as if she trying to shake the memory out of her mind. Her entire life changed when she joined S.H.I.E.L.D.
It was a recon unit. She had thought she was doing good, that she was helping, but, no.
No, she was so wrong.
She was doing more harm than good, fighting with the wrong people, or person. It's what led to her torture and Pietro's... incident. She was blindsided by what she hoped she could do, missing reality when everyone screamed it at her.
She was an idiot.
Wanda's fingers pushed through her frizzy hair, before moving down her face, rubbing against her eyes. She grunted a hopeless fool. Wanda didn't know the difference between faith and logic until it was too late.
She feels the seat beside her deepen, she doesn't even lift her head, because Agatha is the person who would dare to sit with her.
Without a word, Wanda turned her body in the seat, laying the back of her head against the window. Agatha surprised her when she didn't push Wanda's legs off her lap. The raven just leaned back against the uncomfortable leather seat, raising her chin.
"Are you excited?" Agatha asked like someone would question a child on their first day at school. She remembered Pietro asking her the same question, the first time they came back from deployment. She was shaking, a nervous wreck. He had filmed her on an old Nikon camera, Wanda wonders if she still had the recording somewhere.
She wetted her lips, then smiled, crookedly, "Not really," Agatha's brows rose, as Wanda furrowed hers, "I'm fucking nervous, Agnes..."
Wanda lets out a breath, shaking her head, "It's the first time we're seeing each other in years, and after you know."
Wanda hasn't talked about it, not even to Agatha. She just tormented herself with the thoughts and nightmares hoping they would disappear. She knows Natasha is going to ask questions, ones she can't answer.
Ones she’s afraid of.
She couldn't give her pain to Natasha, she didn't deserve that.
"She wouldn't judge you."
Wanda squinted her eyes, staring out the window, watching the trees and cars pass by. She bites her tongue, "I know." She never judged people, not even for their worst mistakes.
And that's not what she’s afraid of.
She just doesn't want Natasha to bear her struggles, to figure out her worst decisions and fears. Agatha shook her head, "You can't keep hiding things from her, she's not stupid."
Wanda nodded her head, stories always come to light somehow. Even when people think it's hidden and gone forever. Another person will always know, Wanda sighed, and Agatha was her person.
Wanda knows Agatha will never spill her secrets, well, unless she needs to.
But that time of need has yet to come.
•
Bouckaert Farm,
July, 2010.
The lights flicked on and off, as the hectic storm moved through the area. She pushed through her brown hair, nails scratching against her scalp. Humming a soft tone, as Moon River played through an old record player, that randomly laid in the cabin.
Her brows furrowed, as she flipped through the box of discs, searching for another song to play. The sound of multiple footsteps, and laughter, echoed in the den.
"Have you found something," Her wife's questioning voice hit her ears.
Wanda shook her head, "No," She stated before her fingers paused on a Michael Jackson disc. It was his Off the Wall album, which in Wanda's grateful opinion his best. The brunette chuckled, picking up the record, turning, "I didn't know Frankie was a Jackson fan?"
Natasha shook her head, "No, that's my dad's. He's as obsessed with MJ as you are," The redhead said, or well, muttered, she didn't like talking about her father. Wanda hummed, before placing the album cover on the counter.
"Mjay?! I want Mjay!" Her son, Tommy, or Thomas The Train, as he believed fits himself, exclaimed, with a wide smile. She doesn't think even he knew what he was demanding.
She flipped through the basket, finding a couple of Elvis, Marvin Gaye, Billy Joel, and Beetle's albums. Through her search, her oldest son decided to approach her, and climb onto her boot, his fingers gripping the edge of the desk, as he tried to look into the crate and see the record, as if he could read. Wanda wrapped her arm around his chest, pushing away.
Ignoring her son's huff, she opened one of the covers, sliding out the disc. "How about this," She said, placing the album on the record player. The singing of do's blasted through the player, as ABC by Jackson 5 filters through.
Tommy crossed his arms, pouting, "This isn't Mjay."
Wanda chuckled.
"Yes, it is, he's just in a band," Wanda told him, and his tiny brows creased. His mother smiled, dragging a finger between them. The oldest toddler giggled, as she glanced towards the other, who just silently tilted his head. He's only two, but with his actions, Wanda could swear he was six.
"Why are you frowning, Billy-bug?" She asked, which only caused it to deepen. He took a couple of steps towards her, he was close enough that his shoulder bumped against her thigh. Billy lowered his head to the floor, shrugging. Wanda placed her hand on the back of his neck, caressing her thumb against the area.
"How long?"
This was their going away party for her. A nice private weekend with her family, before her send-off. Wanda and Natasha had explained what this meant to them in the best they could.
Wanda opened and closed her mouth, because, honestly, she didn't know the answer. She wetted her lips, "hopefully for not too long."
He frowned, "A trip at the store long?"
She wrinkled her nose, shaking her head, "A little longer."
He narrowed his eyes, and Wanda sighed, softly, "But I won't be gone, okay? You'll be able to call or write. You just won't see me all the time," Wanda told him, his furrowed brows deepened, and Wanda tried her best to make him understand.
"Singing simple melodies, 1 2 3 baby you and me."
She grabbed his hands, lifting him slightly off the ground. A soft giggle left his lips, causing Wanda's gaze to soften. Placing him back down, his tiny feet landing against her boots. Finally, he smiled, as he dipped his head backward, his mother waddled around in circles, rocking him slightly to the lyrics, causing his grin to grow.
He was just a child, and far too young to understand.
"Mommy, no! Please don't leave me!"
Natasha held Billy to her chest, as he shouted, his face turning crimson, as he fought to get out of her arms, tears streaming down his cheeks.
Wanda's heart sank, as she watched, wishing she could just get out of this bus, run to her son, and tell him that it was okay, that she loved him, and she would stay.
Just for him.
But she couldn't.
Wanda had turned her head, grinding her teeth so hard that it could shatter, and ignored him.
•
New York City,
11:59 am.
Wanda stretched out her arms, removing all the sores from her muscles. She stood outside of Wakanda's Memorial Hospital. She tilted her head away from the building, looking towards Agatha's red Lexus. They had left the drop off four hours, then called Sam for a ride, and help on getting the rental, before arriving here.
"You're coming?"
Wanda raised her brow towards Agatha, who sat in the car, shaking her head, "Nah, I'm going go to Wilson's." With a smile, that didn't quite reach the eye.
Agatha didn't have a family to go back to.
Her mother wasn't the best, she seemed to hate Agatha more than her daughter despised her. Beside Wanda and her family, the woman was practically alone.
Wanda opened her mouth to tell her it was okay if she came, or probably joke about how much Natasha would want to see her when the raven shook her head, "I'll be fine, honestly I'm more interested in seeing if I could still drink Sammie under the table, then you and your wife rubbing on each other."
Wanda rolled her eyes while nodding. Agatha grinned, "I'll see you tomorrow, witch."
Wanda smiled, softly, "See you."
At the sound of the engine starting, Wanda turned and made her way into the building. Rubbing her sweaty palms against her cargo trousers, the doors slid open for her, allowing her to walk through with ease.
The room wasn't as crowded as she expected, there were only a couple of patients and nurses around the area. Her eyes landed on a light-brown-skinned woman, wearing red scrubs, behind the front counter.
She offers the woman a nice smile, as she approaches the desk, "hello," she said, causing the woman to raise her head, "I'm here to see Doctor Natasha Maximoff."
The receptionist hummed, as she began to type on the computer, "And what's your name, ma'am?"
"Wanda Maximoff," The marine told her, the nurse's brows furrowed, so Wanda went to clarify, "I'm her wife."
The nurse's eyes widened, her fingers pausing on the keyboard. She looked up at her like she was seeing a fragment of her imagination. Wanda's brows furrowed, maybe, Natasha wasn't lying when she said, they thought she was feigning a wife.
She tapped her nail against the counter and chuckled. Wanda arched a brow, "Is she here?"
The woman shook her head out of the trance, and then nodded, "I'll call her down."
"No, actually, I thought I could come see her," Wanda said, quickly. She hasn't seen the woman in a while, they can't blame her for wanting to surprise her, right?
The woman narrowed her eyes, before slowly nodding, "Okay, I'll need proof of your identity."
Wanda nodded her head, reaching into her pocket to grab her wallet, but a voice caused her to stop herself, "Wanda?"
Wanda turned around at the familiar sound. She looked towards a wide-eyed blonde, who somehow had a bigger smile than Wanda's.
"Yel..."
Yelena doesn't even let Wanda get out her name, before rushing towards the woman and wrapping her arms around the marine's shoulders.
Wanda chuckled, in surprise and amusement, from the aggressive hug.
Wanda looked towards the receptionist, who seen their interaction, the woman nodded her head, waving the brunette off, with a small smile. Wanda grinned, "Where's Nat?" Wanda asked, pulling out of the embrace.
The younger woman's eyes widened.
She grabbed her hand, and Wanda could feel the excitement radiating off of her, "she's in her office, come on," The nurse said, before dragging the marine forward, forcing her to begin walking again.
Wanda shook her head and attempted to crack a smile towards a tall grayish-haired doctor, as they walked by, but it faltered watching Yelena glare, harshly, at him. Wanda's brows furrowed, she wasn't surprised to see the man cowering away. "What was that?"
Yelena waved her off, "you’ll find out later."
Wanda could barely catch up with her, the woman's steps were getting quicker, letting Wanda know that they were almost there.
"She's going to die of happiness," Yelena stated, smiling, causing Wanda to as well.
Her hand moved to her forearm, bringing them to a pause in front of a cerulean door. Which Wanda doesn't immediately try to enter.
Wanda took a breath, before knocking on the door twice. Yelena rolled her eyes, twisting the knob, and opening the door. Before she could think about turning to the blonde and letting out a snarky comment, Yelena pushed her into the office.
The first thing she sees of Natasha, after years away, is her back. Wanda almost laughed at the situation, before watching the woman struggle with pushing papers into some folders, her muscles tensing, as she did it.
Natasha sighed, slamming the papers against the table, she didn't even look up to see who entered. "Like I told you before, Doctor Banner, I'm not going—,"
"Who is Banner?" Wanda queried before she could finish.
Natasha had turned around so quickly, that Wanda was surprised that she didn't get whiplash.
Then Wanda, finally, sees her face, and despite her wide eyes, and agape mouth, she looks breathtaking. Her hair wasn't in her natural red state, but a dirty blonde color, resting in a low bun. Wanda smiled, softly, opening her arms.
But Natasha doesn't move, doesn't speak. She just stands there, staring. Wanda would've thought she was frozen, if it wasn't for the slightest twitches delivered from her hands.
Wanda walked towards her.
Her steps were slow and cautious, and not like an explorer approaching a dangerous lion, but rather a nurturer coming to a frightened animal. Her movements were gentle and welcoming as if she was more hesitant about her actions than the others.
Wanda lifted her hand towards the woman's cheek, resting it against the line of her jaw, she felt it quiver.
Natasha's eyes darted between hers.
Wanda caresses her thumb against her soft skin, causing Natasha's eyes to flutter close. She felt the clench of the blonde's jaw, as she swallowed, a warm drop touched the tip of her skin. Wanda gently wiped her cheek, as a tear laid on her finger.
"Wanda..." Is all she cried out, before Wanda pressed her lips against hers, tasting her salty tears. She lowered her chin, deepening the kiss, not letting her sobs reach the air surface. She closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of her tears streaming down her cheeks.
She doesn't register the sound of a door shutting behind them, as her hand slides down from her cheek, to grip the hem of Natasha's shirt.
The kiss was as soft as cotton, gentle as the tear that fell from her eyes. The taste of her lips was sweet, impossibly sweet. Too sweet to describe, but sweet enough to cloud the marine's mind to a haze, and leave the woman breathless.
Wanda pulled away from the kiss, and oh god, she whimpered as she let go, laying her forehead against the blonde. She had thought that Natasha would be a mess, and she'd have to hold up her through her tears.
Ironically, she was the one who needed to be held.
"Oh, Wanda..."
She shook her head, slightly, as the doctor pulled her closer. Wanda bit her lip, attempting to muffle out her cries. She wasn't strong enough, because as soon as she felt Natasha's lips gently press against her chin, she broke.
She wailed, and god, it was embarrassing how strong it was.
Her nails were marking her wife's skin, as she held onto her like she was afraid the woman was going to disappear. Throughout her tears, without a word, Natasha continued to press the softest kisses to her jaw and cheek, while her fingers caressed through the brunette's hair.
"I'm... sorry," Wanda said, a hiccup breaking out between the apology. Natasha shook her head, pulling out of the embrace, her fingers leaving her hair, to rest against the woman's cheeks.
Through her puffy red eyes, Wanda looked at her, like she was a fragment of her imagination. Touched her like she wasn't there, she tilted her head, pressing her lips against her wrist, against her pulse.
Wanda closed her eyes, and the slowest blow of air breeze against her skin, letting Natasha feel that she was alive. "you're real."
"I'm real."
•
35 minutes later.
Wanda stood in the hall, outside of Natasha’s office, waiting for the doctor to come out.
Natasha has called out early.
It was 12:37, her shift was originally scheduled to end in three hours, but, thankfully, one of her friends, Bill, Hill? She doesn’t remember, had, without a question,taken the rest of her shift for her.
She squeezed her hand into a fist, she was practically high off of her emotions. All the sadness has disappeared, at least for the moment, and turned into happiness. She isn’t going to lie, she’s still nervous about whatever’s ahead, but she could face the reality of that later.
For now, she just wants to thrive off of her happiness, and excitement. She smiled, softly, she has to at least give herself that, even for a small moment.
A light breeze of wind touches her skin, her head turns, as Natasha opens her office door. The blonde looked at her, with a gorgeous smile, which the brunette couldn’t believe she had lived without it for so long.
Wanda reached out, removing the purse from the doctor’s hand. She moved the bag to her right hand, before using her left to intertwine their fingers. She didn’t know whose smile was bigger, hers or Natasha’s, but what she knew, was they looked like the two lovesick idiots, they always have been.
“Are you ready?”
She begins to nod and respond when the feeling of a body bumping into her shoulder catches her attention. “Sorry!” The person apologized, and almost immediately Wanda recognized the masculine voice.
Wanda turned to him, her eyes widened, at the sight of one of her fellow soldiers. A tall pale skinned male, with boarded shoulders. His formerly long hair, was now short, laying in a frizzy style on the top of his head. Her eyes glanced to his left shoulder, he had lost his arm in a bombing.
She doesn't remember what exactly happened, but she knows after a mission, Agatha had rushed into her room, with a bruised and bleeding Barnes. It was during the time she was healing, that she had to decapitate his arm.
"Bucky!"
His head snapped back, his brows furrowed for a second before shock filled his face. His eyes grew so wide, that she thought they would fall out of his socket.
"Lieutenant Maximoff? Nice to see you!" He exclaimed, with a forced smile, Wanda narrowed her eyes, as she heard the slight tremble in his voice. The marine frowns, at the use of her title. Her brows furrowed, as she glanced towards her wife, who shrugged her shoulders, before covering her mouth, while lowering her head, what's so funny?
She turned towards the fellow marine, "You as well," Wanda smiled, shaking his hand, before trying to force away a grimace, his palm was sweaty.
Wanda, discreetly, wiped her hand against her thigh, when she pulled away. She goes to open her mouth and ask him how he's been, when he, suddenly, exclaimed.
"Well, see ya!"
Her eyes widened, in both shock and confusion. Then he turned and ran like his depended on it. The brunette frowned, what the hell just happened?
As soon as he disappeared around the corner, the sound of Natasha's laughter touched her ears. Wanda's brows furrowed, she didn't quite understand what was funny, but despite her confusion, Wanda laughed as well.
"What the hell was that?"
Wanda couldn’t tell if she was shrugging her shoulders, or if it was just shaking too much because of her laughter. "Like I said you put fear in them," The redhead spoke, Wanda glanced towards the hall Bucky ran down, her brows raising, she didn't know she put that much.
Natasha’s head leaned against her forearm, as her laughter shimmered down. Wanda’s hand, gently, caressing against her back.
"You have seen the children?"
"No, I was waiting for you."
•
Rogers’ Elementary,
1:26 pm.
Wanda stood outside of their door, wetting her chapped lips. She doesn't know if it was Faith's day, or week, but the twins' classes were having a joint lesson, so it gave them the perfect chance to come.
She looked towards their principal, and Tommy's teacher? she believed, the oldest of the pair nodded their head, letting Wanda know she could come in.
Mentally she wiggled her toes, her fingers, her shoulders, and she shook her entire body, just like she had told the boys to do when they were nervous.
Shake off the bad energy, she would say.
She took a breath, before twisting the knob. The door opened with a small squeak, and almost immediately Billy’s teacher stopped talking. Her head rose, towards Wanda, her brows furrowed, before a small smile crept on her lips when she noticed the brunette’s uniform.
The woman looked turned to her students, who had also quieted down. Wanda’s eyes searched through the crowd of children before the sound of gasping caught her attention.
She couldn't help but smile, as their eyes connected.
Wanda watched as her auburn son, Tommy, hit the other’s shoulder, rapidly. Trying to force his eyes upward from whatever he’s writing on the paper. Wanda chuckled, softly, it took him a moment but eventually Billy looked up.
And the look on his, their faces, gave Wanda so much.
"Mom!"
Her boys screamed, quickly standing up. The brunette crouched towards the ground, opening her arms. The twins almost tripped over their own two feet, as they bumped into each other, trying to get to her the fastest.
Wanda laughed, happily, as they fell into her, nearly knocking her over. Her hands went to the back of their heads, cradling them just like she did when they were younger. Their fingers tightly gripping her clothes.
Tommy was shaking in her arms, she could hear his whimpering against her ear. But not her Billy, he wasn't crying, he was calm, their calming point. Wanda closed her eyes, pressing her lips against her boy's head repeatedly, as Billy whispered, "I knew it, Mom, I felt you."
And that breaks her, her tears begin streaming down her face. She choked out a sob, burying her nose into his hair, they smelt like cinnamon and honey.
She smiled, joyfully, because god, they also smelt like home.