Starting Over

Ch. 42

Natasha awakes to the early morning sunlight streaming through window, little lines of reflection appear across the other two bodies in the bed. The spy smiles at the sight of Wanda and Steve cuddled together on the bed. How she had managed to escape the teenagers grasp she didn't know. Wanda's head currently rested on Steve's shoulder as she continued to sleep. Natasha smiles again soaking in the moment, just the three of them. She's pulled from her thoughts when she feels Steve's hand move against her waist.
"Good morning, my love." He smiles at her sleepily, angling his head to get a better look at her. She blushes slightly at his words, butterflies forming in her stomach no matter how much he says the term of endearment.
"Morning." She smiles back interlacing their fingers together and bringing them up to brush a kiss to the back of his hand. Wanda's sleeping form stirs between them, the teen sitting up slowly and beginning to look around the unfamiliar room. Her eyes flash briefly with panic and shades of crimson before Natasha is opening her arms for her, the teen reaching out immediately, frantically. Her body relaxes in her mother's hold and she feels immediate relief.
"How about we go get some food in you, milaya." Natasha mumbles voice muffled by Wanda's hair. She waits for a moment not wanting to push the girl before she pulls them up from the bed.

They enter the kitchen, which is bustling with the rest of their family. Wanda's eyes scan the room her fingers still firmly laced in Natasha's hand. The chatter dies down and she's faced with several sad smiles.
"Good morning, Wands!" Sam says in his usual cheery morning tone as he scrambled eggs behind the counter.
"Hi Sam." She replies as she sticks to Natasha's side as they spy heads for the coffee pot. Natasha makes her coffee seamlessly with one hand. Wanda busies herself looking around the room, Clint, Yelena and Bucky chat at the pair as they drink their coffee. Yelena holding a babbling Luna in her lap. Laura sits at the table pulling Lia's hair into two braids on the sides of her head.
"Just another minute, Li." She hears the older woman mumble as the toddler moves around her seat.
"Hey, sweet girl, I'm gonna need my other hand." Natasha's voice brings Wanda's attention back to her, when she feels a gently squeeze on her palm.
"Sorry." Wanda mumbles as she reluctantly releases her hand.
"Wanna carry this for your Dad?" Natasha asks gesturing to the second cup of coffee Wanda hadn't seen her make.
"Sure." Wanda says. Steve accepts the coffee from the teens hands with a thank you, as Natasha comes to sit next to his side. Wanda takes a seat on the open spot at the table across from them, next to Laura. Lia instantly makes her way to Natasha, climbing into her mother's lap as she sips her coffee.
The teen goes to play with her rings only to realize it is another thing that had been taken from her. She reaches up fingers grazing her beloved coin necklace, she had refused to take it off after her shower yesterday. At least they hadn't taken it when she had been captured.

Laura noticing the girls fidgeting reaches out a hand for her to hold. Wanda takes it, it's different than holding Natasha's but seems to provide her some amount of comfort. The teen rest her head in her arms until she is startled by the sound of a plate settling on the table. Her eyes frantically dart around before landing on the source. She knows her finger tips are swirling in red. Natasha's quick to stand from her spot, depositing Lia in Steve's lap and coming to her side.
Sam apologizes as he sits a plate of eggs in front of her. Natasha assured him it's okay before he walks away. Wanda buries her face into the older woman's side as she stands next to her chair rubbing soothing circles on her back. Steve sends Natasha a concerned glance from across the table.
"baby, why don't we go get some air, hmm?" Natasha asks and she feels the girl nod against her side. Natasha guides her off the chair and grabs a blanket off the couch as they head onto the porch.

The spy sits down and Wanda waste no time in climbing into her lap, in a way that had her reminiscing on the young witch over a year ago. The chill of the morning air, leaves little puff of white air as they speak into the silence, a conversation lulling from inside the house in the background.
"Malyshka, I need you to talk to me." Natasha starts "Tell me what your feeling, what happened there, anything you want." Wanda's slightly shaking from doesn't move, the teen burrowing further into her mother's embrace. She doesn't think the girl will respond until her shaky voice interrupts the silence.
"Mama, it was horrible."
"I know, baby." Natasha frowns as she runs a hand through the girls hair.
"They wanted me to hurt people. They wanted to use me to get to you. Then they used their words.... Words to mess with my head." Wanda says in one breathe. With her words comes a gush of her powers providing a red cloud around the two of them, Natasha finds it oddly comforting.
"They can't do that anymore, sweetheart. You're safe, I promise. They're dead, they can't hurt you anymore." Natasha reassures her.  Wanda releases a sob against her.
"I want Pietro." Wanda says through tears as Natasha comforts her. The spy tenses a little at the words. The first time Wanda had been under control of Hydra she had had Pietro to comfort her, it makes sense that Wanda was missing him a little more in this moment.
"We'll go see him first thing when we get home I promise." Natasha replies
"I want to go home now, can we?" Wanda asks moving to look at the woman.
"Of course, milaya, we'll leave right now, okay?" She replies. Wanda nods and the two make their way back to the house.