Chapter Forty
When Natasha finally crawled into bed, she hadn't anticipated being woken up in the middle of the night to voices in the kitchen.
They were still on the run, so she needed to cover all her bases. She made sure she stayed quiet as she slipped out from underneath her warm sheets and crept down the stairs, stopping right before she got to the bottom landing to assess the situation without being seen.
To her relief, it was just Peter and Alya having a conversation. As annoyed as she felt that the two were out of bed at this hour, they seemed to be having a serious and private discussion. There was no need to interrupt them, so she slinked right back up to her room, grateful that everything was alright.
She had no idea that Peter and Alya knew one another. For the past week, they had been treating one another like strangers. She honestly was beginning to think that Alya's antagonistic behavior towards the teen was purely out of jealousy. It was nice to see she was wrong.
Now she could finally get a good night's sleep.
Not.
Just when she was finally relaxed enough to drift off again, she heard the distinct sound of someone entering the house.
Both the kids downstairs knew better than to leave at this hour, so that definitely meant that someone had come in.
Someone who was well trained.
They hadn't broken anything on the way in to reduce the noise level, so Natasha knew that it couldn't have been local law enforcement.
Before she could think about what she was doing, her feet were squishing against the soft carpeted floors, leading her into Steve's room to shake him awake.
If Ross and his men were here in an attempt to have them arrested, they needed to move fast.
"Nat?" He groaned, squinting his eyes in order to see her through the dark. "What's wrong?"
"Someone's in the house." She spoke clearly. "Wake Wanda up and make sure she's okay. I'm going downstairs."
Natasha didn't have to stay in that room a second longer to know that Steve was right behind her, doing as she asked.
The bottled blonde double checked to make sure the gun she had grabbed off of her nightstand was fully loaded and she slipped right back down the stairs, fully prepared to do what was necessary to keep everyone safe.
She could see Peter up on the ceiling, anticipating the action. But what struck her as strange, was the fact that the light in the living room was on.
No burglar or intruder would turn on the light and neither would any of Ross' agents. That meant that Alya was the one who did it.
Tucking her gun in her waistband, Natasha made her way down the rest of the steps, groaning because of the lack of sleep she was suffering from because of these kids. "What's going on down here?" She arched a brow.
Peter pointed over to where Alya was standing and Natasha followed his finger only to find a familiar face in the middle of her living room.
"Are you kidding me?" She glared. "Yelena, what're you doing here?"
Her little sister just had to be the one to break into her house, huh? She knew it was an infinitely better alternative to Task Force or Ross, but right now, she was annoyed.
Yelena clearly startled Peter and Alya as well. Given the fact that Peter was still stuck up on the ceiling and Alya was wielding one knife, while another was imbedded in the wall behind her, she'd say that her sister's surprise visit had absolutely been a shock to them.
"What are you doing here?" Yelena questioned, looking more confused than ever.
"I live here, Yelena. You're in my house." The older of the two deadpanned. "What's your excuse?"
"It's a bit of a story." Yelena ran a hand over her face.
"Nat? Is everything alright?" Steve made his way into the living room with Wanda behind him, the teenaged girl was ready to attack at any moment.
"Everything's fine." Natasha sighed. "You can stand down."
"Are you sure? I can web her up if you want." Peter suggested, still not trusting the woman, who, in his eyes, was a complete stranger.
"Ah, so this is the spider-boy from the news." Yelena marveled. "Nice pajamas."
Peter hopped down from the ceiling with a blush. He loved his Mickey Mouse pajamas. They were warm and comfortable.
"Who is she?" Wanda asked, her guard still up.
"Ah, you didn't tell them about me, Natashka?" Yelena mock pouted, growing more comfortable by the growing seconds. "What a shame."
Natasha just rolled her eyes at her antics and kept her mouth shut.
"Natasha, you know this woman?" Steve asked.
"Of course she knows me, Captain Rogers." Yelena scoffed, offended by the question. "I'm her sister."
"I thought you didn't have any siblings?"
"I have a sister." Natasha ran a hand through the hair that was peeking out from her braid. "It's a long story, but I have a sister. Her name is Yelena and all you need to know about her, is she's a real pain in my neck."
"Well, uh..." Steve stuck a hand out for Yelena to shake. "It's nice to meet you...I'm Steve."
"Captain America." Yelena returned the gesture.
"Sometimes."
"That's Peter Parker." Natasha gestured towards the boy.
"H-Hi."
"Hi."
"And she's Wanda."
"Hello." Wanda waved.
"Hi."
"You didn't say 'hi' to me!" Alya put her hands on her hips.
"That's because you threw a knife at my head."
"I didn't know it was you!"
Steve could tell by their banter that Yelena and Alya already knew each other and had established a relationship.
This was all a little much for him to process at the moment. He had no idea Natasha had any family, much less a sister. She and Yelena seemed so different and yet, so similar that it was really throwing him off.
But he could admit that he was glad that the two were so comfortable with one another. He just wished this could've happened at a decent enough hour.
Preferably during daylight.
"Good morning, Yelena." Steve greeted the woman as she trudged down the stairs.
"Morning." She drawled, her hair splayed in all directions.
"I made some breakfast. Would you like something to eat?"
"No, thanks."
"You have to eat something." Natasha chided.
"You're such a mom."
Alya rubbed her eyes from her place at the table and rested her head on her arms. That early morning wake up call was affecting her now. She couldn't believe how sleepy she felt.
She felt Steve place a plate right in front of her, but she didn't bother to move. His hand cupped the back of her head to let her know the food was there.
All she did was hum in acknowledgment and close her eyes.
"The food's really good, Alya." Peter tapped her hand from his place in front of her. He was very surprised with himself. Yelena was sitting right next to him, but he didn't feel uncomfortable. His spidey senses weren't going off either.
Alya lifted her heavy head and picked up her fork, shoveling some eggs into her mouth in response.
"It's nice to see you two getting along." Steve winked, giving Wanda and Yelena their plates before moving back to the kitchen to get his and Natasha's.
Once everyone had their food and was sitting comfortably, Natasha decided to open up the conversation.
"What are you doing here, Yelena?"
"Well, Mama and I have been freeing the Widows all over the world since you left to go on the run again." Yelena took a bite of bacon. "They're pretty easy to find when you use the signal from their trackers. It just so happens we were following one that led us right here." She looked directly at Alya.
"Why are you looking at me?" Alya asked, waking a bit now that food was getting into her system. "I don't have a tracker."
"That you know of." Yelena countered. "When I was freed, I had to rip one out of my thigh. All Widows had them put in the right leg so that Dreykov could keep track of them without them being seen."
"So, you're saying that she has one, too?" Wanda's eyes widened.
"She does."
"Can it be deactivated?" Steve questioned.
"No, you need to rip it out and destroy it." Yelena looked directly into Alya's eyes.
"Stop scaring her." Natasha slapped the back of her head.
"Ow!" Yelena yelped. "But it's so fun!"
"Not for her."
Alya eyed the knife in front of her and then her thigh. Yelena said that she cut hers out of her leg as soon as she was freed from mind control. That meant it couldn't be too deep in her leg. She wanted to be rid of Dreykov for good. If that meant getting this thing out of her leg by herself, then so be it.
Her pain could only make her stronger, right?
Her hand shot out to grab the knife, provoking yells of protest from everyone around her. As fast as she was, Yelena was faster. The woman had anticipated her course of actions and snatched her hand just as her fingers began to curl around the knife.
"Have you lost your mind?!" She spoke in a way that Alya had never heard before. She didn't think that Yelena was even capable of raising her voice like that. "Put it down!"
Alya really wanted all traces of Dreykov gone from her life, so she really wasn't thinking about the consequences of her actions. She just wanted the stupid thing out of her leg.
"Положи нож, прежде чем я ударю тебя." (Put the knife down before I slap you) Yelena growled.
She never would've said anything if she knew that Alya was going to attempt to rip it out the moment she found out about it!
Were kids really that impressionable?
Her menacing tone of voice is what shocked Alya enough to let the item in question go. The knife dropped onto the table with a clang, long before Yelena let go of the her hand.
"кушать." (Eat).
"I wish you wouldn't threaten your niece with bodily harm." Natasha commented as if they were having a casual conversation. "But thank you."
Alya sunk low in her seat, eating her food as quietly as a mouse.
Maybe that hadn't been one of her brightest ideas.
"How else am I supposed to get her attention?" And just like that, the atmosphere in the room brightened once again.
"Speak nicely."
"You're soft." Yelena rolled her eyes with a smile.
She would have to keep a closer eye on Alya. The twelve year old had just proven how impulsive she could be.
"You said Melina was here with you?"
"Oh!" She gasped, shooting up out of her seat to run out the door.
With that action alone, Steve was beginning to see how much alike Yelena and Alya were. He greatly appreciated that little intervention, though. He had no desire to see how that one would play out.
Poor Alya looked more startled and chastised than he had ever seen her. He didn't understand a word of what the blonde had told the child, but it had been enough for her to listen.
A few minutes later, Yelena reentered the house, this time, with someone else in tow. He could only assume that it was the woman they had just been discussing.
He had no idea that being on the run could be so interesting; having all these visitors was a bit exciting and broke up the monotony of the average day.
"Honestly, Yelena, if something like this ever happens again, a phone call would be greatly appreciated." The woman scolded before planting a smile on her face when she saw everyone was looking at her.
"Melina." Natasha grinned in greeting, receiving one in return. "Hi."
She'd never tell her, but she was glad Melina was here. She had missed her over the past year.
"Hello, Natashka." The brunette winked, motioning to the three kids at the table. "I see you've kept busy."
"Very funny."
"Hello, ma'am." Steve stood up and shook her hand. "I'm Steve."
"Ma'am?" Yelena laughed at his expense. "Is he always this polite?"
"Always." Natasha nodded. She thought it was endearing.
"You could learn something from him." Melina told her youngest. "It's good to meet you, Steve."
"Likewise." He smiled. "This is Wanda and Peter."
"Hello."
"Hi."
"You must be hungry, I'll get you a plate." He figured that after all those hours of waiting, she'd appreciate some food.
"And what's the matter with Alenka today?" Melina asked, looking at Alya's subdued nature.
"She's upset because I wouldn't let her cut a hole in her thigh with a breakfast knife." Yelena quipped as Alya's lip quivered.
"I am not!"
"Stop being so ridiculous."
"You're so mean!" Alya pouted.
She was genuinely upset for the way Yelena had threatened her, though she didn't know why. It wasn't the first time her aunt had gotten on her nerves. Maybe it was because it was the first time she had audience to see it unfold.
Her pride was hurt.
"Yes, I'm so mean for not allowing you to hurt yourself. Boohoo." Yelena's green eyes rolled.
"Must you fight like children?" Melina smiled at Steve in thanks before sitting down next to Alya and Wanda when they graciously made room for her.
"It's a requirement with them." Natasha commented dryly.
She was just wondering how much more of it she could take. It seemed like every time those two were in the same room, they just had to mess with each other.
"Better her than me." Wanda smirked.
After years of her and Alya having petty little squabbles and arguing, as siblings did, it was nice to see that an adult could dish just as much, if not more, of what Alya could give.
She hoped that Yelena and Melina were planning on staying for a while. Their presence was very refreshing and it made the house feel more like home. The change in pace was welcome.
"Ow!" Yelena gasped when Alya flicked a piece of pancake at her face, catching her eye. "What was that?"
Peter's jaw dropped at the girl's audacity, but didn't say anything. He didn't want to interrupt the shenanigans for fear of keeping them from playing out.
"Alya, you know better." Steve scolded, hoping this wouldn't turn into a food fight.
But luckily, Yelena had enough sense not to retaliate...at least not the way he was thinking she would.
"She started it." Was Alya's response.
It seemed like that was all Yelena needed to hear to jump out of her seat. Alya reacted quickly and slid out of hers, eliciting a chase.
The two ran around the table a few times, reminding Peter very much of 'Duck, Duck, Goose'. He wasn't really sure if Yelena was running intentionally slow, or if Alya was just that quick and slippery.
But when she got tired of running, Alya squealed and crawled onto Steve's lap, wrapping his arms around her. It surprised him, but Yelena stopped chasing her.
The poor man couldn't do a thing except look at Natasha who shrugged helplessly.
"There's a reason why she didn't come to me." She told him, taking a sip of her coffee.
"Or me." Melina added with a small chuckle. She missed being around children. Alya was such a whirlwind of energy that it was hard to keep up with her sometimes, but she was very entertaining.
"Oh? And why's that?"
"You're soft." Yelena spoke bluntly, snatching Alya from him and rubbing some whipped cream she had gotten out of the fridge, all over her face before letting her go to sit right back down and finish her breakfast.
Alya honestly couldn't say that she was upset about the mess. The whipped cream tasted good and it was pretty tame compared to what she thought Yelena was going to do.
"Are you done fooling around?" Her mother quirked a brow, though with how ridiculous Alya looked, she was trying not to laugh.
"Yes." She nodded.
"Good, go finish your food, please."
But before she could go, Peter took her arm and whispered something in her ear that made her grin so wide, she nearly split her face in half.
With a fist bump, she walked over to Yelena and tapped her on the shoulder.
"What?"
And when Yelena turned around, she wasted no time in giving her a kiss, making sure that she got as much whipped cream as possible on her aunt's face.
Everyone at the table erupted in laughter at the look the woman was giving Alya.
But, of course, Alya knew how to 'cute' her way out of anything.
"Tetushka?" It was the very first time Alya had addressed her as such and Yelena couldn't help but soften. "I love you."
"Whatever." Is what she said, but Alya knew exactly what she meant.
Yelena claimed that Natasha and Steve were too soft, but Alya believed that deep down, her aunt was the real softy.
She just didn't know it yet.