Falling for a Maximoff

Chapter 45: Nat's story

Pov Nat

Y/n seems to be in deep thoughts during lunch, so I let her be. As long as she doesn't get a panic attack, there's nothing to worry about I suppose. Besides, we have been talking very openly the past few weeks and she would tell me if something was wrong.

I am in my own thoughts and think about the meetings this morning and the upcoming missions. It's a quiet lunch but I don't mind, we don't always have to talk.

We put our plates in the dishwasher after we finished and she helps me clean the pan and stuff.
When we're done, I turn to look at my daughter.
"I'm gonna be in the living room if you want to join me." I offer and smile at her. She nods and returns my smile.
"I will join you." She answers and we walk into the living room.

I sit down on the sofa and y/n does the same and rests her one arm on the back of the sofa, facing me. I mirror her position, assuming she wants to talk about something.

"Do you know someone named Yelena?" She starts and watches me.

Flashbacks of my childhood run before my eyes and I see Yelena and me playing outside in the backyard. Other pictures come to my mind as well and I get a little lost in memories. I wonder where she is now. My mood changes a little and I feel old sadness rise in me but push it back down.

"I do actually." I answer the question and y/n nods, thinking on how to continue.

"How do you suddenly come up with this name?" I ask, interested where she heard the name. It doesn't need to be my sister Yelena, I'm sure there are others with this name out there.

"Well, when I was in the Red Room and got hurt during training, my instructor patched me up. I was confused as to why she was so nice to me because she also introduced herself the day before and said her name was Yelena. When we were alone, I asked her why she's being nice to me and she answered that I reminded her of someone. She claims to be your sister, is that true?" She asks me and searches my expression for an answer. I swallow, processing the new information.

So, Yelena is still in the Red Room...I kinda hoped she was also able to flee but apparently not. Ignoring the slight knot forming in my stomach, I look at y/n who looks at me with curious eyes. She met my sister, her aunt, in the Red Room... not exactly the time or place where you want a family reunion to happen but that's history now and not changeable.

Should I tell her the whole story? The whole truth about my childhood and her family? She deserves to know. It's just, am I ready to tell her?

My eyes meet her green ones that have exactly the same color as mine and I see how much she would like to know about her aunt. I take a deep breath and nod.

"It is true, she is my sister." I answer, my voice feeling a little raspy. It's the first time I said that out loud in over 20 years. Y/n's eyes widen at my confirmation and I decide to tell her everything.

"We're not blood related but we spent three years growing up together. We were put in the same family when she was three and I was eight. Before that I was already a few years in the Red Room and thought they finally would let me go...but they didn't. It was all made up for some kind of mission. We had a mother, Melina and a father, Alexei. Yelena and I grew really close and we played together every day. She was so full of joy and I loved her so much. It didn't matter to me that we weren't related. I always considered her my real sister. And still do."

Silence hangs between us as y/n takes in the new information and I think about old memories from my childhood. A tiny smile makes it onto my lips at the thought of the feeling of finally belonging that I felt when we lived in Ohio. It was the first and last time I felt like belonging somewhere until I got y/n and joined the Avengers.