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sycamorelibrary754 · 23 days

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Happy Easter

Summary: You are three weeks from your due date, but the thought of you and Natasha missing Easter at the Barton’s farmhouse in Iowa was simply inconceivable. What will you do if your little bundle of joy makes an early, unexpected entrance?

Genre: Fluff

Pairings: Natasha x reader, Avengers x reader (platonic).

Word Count: 5.7k

Warnings: None

A/N: Happy belated Easter! I wanted to post this fic on Easter, but there wasn't enough time. This is part 3 of Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas! I recommend reading those stories first, but it can be read as a stand-alone story as well. This was so much fun to write. I hope you enjoy it!

"Does anyone know where the purple egg dye is?" you inquired, scanning the table as you addressed the Barton kids. "I could have sworn we had two cups of every color." Cooper and Lila were fully engrossed in the Easter egg decorating contest, meticulously crafting their designs, while Nate seemed to relish in using every color available on the table. "Oh, it's on the counter.”

You were just about to rise from the kitchen table, no easy feat at this stage of your pregnancy. It felt like yesterday when you surprised Natasha with your pregnancy at Thanksgiving in front of her family and announced to the team that they would all be aunts and uncles at Tony’s annual Christmas party. Your due date was three weeks away, but missing Easter with Clint’s family in Iowa was out of the question.

“Don’t get up, Y/N. I got it!” Nat said as she jumped up to grab the paper cup of purple egg dye behind you.

"Thanks, sweetheart," you said as Nat placed the cup on the table.

"How are you feeling?" Natasha asked as she gently caressed your cheek. "Maybe you should take a break?”

“Nat, I promise I’m okay. Come sit back down and color some Easter eggs with us,” you replied, trying to put your wife at ease.

Natasha was looking forward to Easter, too, but she was more focused on you and the final weeks of your pregnancy. Dr. Cho had given you the green light to go, with the condition that you'd have daily check-ins by phone and go on bed rest as soon as you returned home.

"Auntie Nat, look at this!" Nate proudly showed off an egg with Natasha's symbol on it.

"Look, Auntie Nat," you echoed with a smile.

"This is amazing! Maybe I should have you design my next suit instead of Stark," she said.

"Shall we start the judging?" Clint asked as he entered the room with Laura.

"Yep, all set," Cooper confirmed.

"Just a sec," Lila said, focused on decorating her egg. "There, done."

"Where are Yelena and Kate?" Laura asked.

"We're coming!" came a shout from the living room.

"It's not a Fabergé egg, you two, come on!" Nat yelled.

"Tada!" Kate exclaimed, revealing a beautiful purple egg with green and orange stripes.

You whispered to your wife, "So that's where all the purple dye went.”

You placed your egg on the table with all the others. Pink and blue with red polka dots. Symbolic of your current anticipation over the impending arrival of your bundle of joy. You and Nat both agreed you wanted to be surprised.

“Hmmm, this is going to be a tough decision,” Clint said, stroking his chin. “As you all know, you will be judged on creativity, technique, and presentation.”

Walking back and forth in front of the kitchen table, you couldn’t help but giggle at his mock seriousness.

“Allow me to confer with my fellow judge,” he said. After a few moments of hushed whispers with Laura, Clint returned to the group. “We thank you all for your participation. You all decorated beautiful Easter eggs. The competition was tough this year, but one egg stands head and shoulders above the rest,” pausing for dramatic effect. “The 2024 Barton Easter Egg Decorating Champion is Nathaniel Barton!”

You shouldn't have spent so much time on the sketches!” Yelena said, slapping Kate on the arm.

“Yes!!” Nathaniel cheered.

“You are hereby awarded this Lindt Milk Chocolate Gold Bunny,” his father said, handing him the gold-wrapped chocolate as big as his head.

“That you will share with the rest of the family and not eat in one sitting,” Laura added.

“Aww!” Nathaniel whined.

*^~^*

You spent the evening on the porch, surrounded by the laughter of the kids playing on the lush green lawn as the sun set over the farm. Laura served her delicious homemade Lemonade as you shared stories and reminisced about old times. The air was filled with nostalgia so vivid that you could almost reach out and touch it. Natasha sat next to you, holding your hand gently, her calloused touch a reminder of the strength and resilience she had acquired through years of training.

You were taken by surprise as you felt the baby begin to kick.

"Wow!" You exclaimed as you gently placed your hand on your belly.

All eyes turned to you. Though unspoken, everyone shared the same nervous anticipation as your wife for the approaching due date.

"Are you alright, malyshka?" Nat asked, her eyes filled with concern as she squeezed your hand.

"I'm okay. The baby is kicking. Here, feel." You said as you took her hand and gently guided it to your stomach, trying to find the right spot.

“Oh,” Nat squeaked. “I’ll never get used to that feeling.”

“Think how I feel!” you teased.

“Move aside, sestra; I want to feel my little plemyannitsa or plemyannik.” (Niece or nephew).

Yelena playfully bumped her sister out of the way with her hip and eagerly reached to touch your stomach.

"Wow, that's amazing!" she cried out. "Hey there, little one. I'm Aunt Yelena, and I will spoil you rotten!"

"Have you two settled on a name yet?" Kate inquired.

"No," you sighed. "We just can't seem to agree. Since we both want to be surprised, it's been twice as hard to come up with two names."

"Don't worry, you'll know when you see the little bundle of joy," Laura reassured.

"This wouldn't be an issue if either of you were open to any of the names I've suggested," Yelena added with a grin.

“Yelena is not an option,” Natasha frustratedly replied.

“What about—“

“Neither is Alaska! That isn’t even a name!” Your wife is exasperated.

“It could be!” Yelena said. “What about—“

“Or Wolfgang!” Nat interrupted.

“You lack all originality, sestra,” Yelena berated.

^*~*^

The soft glow of the table lamp reflected off your glasses as you delved into the pages of your latest beloved read. You placed your bookmark between the pages at the sound of your wife closing the bathroom door and crawling into bed beside you.

"Did you get a chance to talk to Helen today?" Nat asked as she helped me fluff up my pregnancy pillow.

"Yeah, I did. She was glad to hear that the swelling in my ankles went down and suggested taking a warm bath to help with the discomfort," you replied, shifting to get comfortable against the pillow.

"Mmm, a warm bath does sound amazing," Natasha hummed as she settled down on her side, facing me.

“Oh, I didn’t realize you’d be joining me?” You said softly, with a sly grin and a raised eyebrow.

“Of course I would, detka,” leaning over and kissing your baby bump.

You gently squeezed Nat's hand, feeling a wave of anticipation as your due date drew near. Thoughts of what your baby would look like and who they would become filled your mind. Would they inherit Nat's fiery red hair, or perhaps have your Y/E/C eyes? The anticipation was almost overwhelming, but knowing that Natasha was by your side made it all feel possible.

"Are you looking forward to the Easter egg hunt tomorrow?" You asked, pulling yourself out of your daydream.

Nat giggled, "You make it sound like I'm the one participating."

"Well, you might as well be. I can never tell who's more excited, you or the kids," you replied.

Natasha glanced down at our intertwined hands and then back up at you. Her green eyes sparkled like emeralds.

"I think it's because holidays in my childhood weren’t real. We filled the photo album with fake pictures and empty boxes. But this," looking around at the small details of Clint and Laura’s farmhouse, "Is real, and I’ve always done my best to help ensure that Cooper, Lila, and Nate have everything I didn’t. A carefree childhood filled with love," Natasha explained.

"You’ve done a wonderful job with Clint’s kids, Nat. They love you so much, and I know you’ll be just as amazing with our little one," you said, doing your best to reassure her. “Goodnight, Natasha,” kissing her lips.

“I hope you're right, detka,” Nat said, kissing your lips in return and laying a hand on your stomach. “Goodnight, malen'kiy (little one).

*^~^*

The following day, you awoke to the sun shining through the window and a soft breeze that caused the curtains to dance gently on the wind. Your back was aching, and you were tired, but you were determined to make it through today. You slipped into the most comfortable maternity outfit you had. Natasha helped you with your shoes, and you both went downstairs to the kitchen.

“Happy Easter, you two!” Clint said upon seeing you two enter the kitchen.

You sat down at the kitchen table as Laura placed a plate of eggs and toast in front of you and Nat, along with two glasses of orange juice. The kids were already eating and arguing over who would find the most Easter eggs this afternoon.

Yelena and Kate walked in a few moments later, clad in bathrobes and their hair disheveled.

“Against the idea of showering and dressing before breakfast, were you?” Natasha asked.

“Kate Bishop kept me up all night with her snoring, and Lucky and Fanny woke me up by sitting on my face,” Yelena mumbled as she flopped beside you.

“Hey, that’s how dogs shows affection,” Kate interjected.

“So, I should consider your snoring a Valentine?” Yelena deadpanned.

After breakfast, the kids ran upstairs to prepare for the Easter egg hunt while Clint got a head start on hiding the eggs. Nathaniel insisted Nat accompany him to help find his Easter basket, but she hesitated to leave you.

“Go ahead, babe. I’m fine.” Motioning for her to follow her namesake.

“So, how are you really feeling?” Laura asked, now that Nat was no longer in the room.

You let out a deep sigh, “Tired and sore,” resting your head in your hands. “But this quality time with you all means so much to both of us. I can make it one more day before going on bed rest.”

Laura rubbed her hand softly on your back, “Why don’t you sit in the family room with Kate and Yelena until the fun starts.”

“Okay, that’s a good idea. Make sure Yelena and Kate haven’t snuck into the Easter candy,” you laughed.

Laura helped you to your feet and then began to clear the table. As you started to walk, you felt a minor twinging pain in your stomach. You winced but thought nothing of it. With the amount of shifting the baby was doing these days, you had every spasm and cramp in the book. Unfortunately for you, you were in a house full of spies, and Laura picked up your discomfort. She made a mental note to watch you as the day progressed.

*^~^*

"Look, there's one!" Cooper exclaimed, pointing at the leather seat of the tractor in the front yard. He dashed towards it, but Lila beat him by a step. "Ha! Slowpoke," she teased.

From your spot on the porch, you glanced over and saw my wife hoisting Nathaniel onto her shoulders to carefully grab an Easter egg from the crook of an old sycamore tree.

After about 15 minutes, everyone's baskets were full of eggs. Now came the fun of opening them all. You watched as all three kids dug into their baskets, opening the eggs to find mini Hershey bars, M&M's, jelly beans, or starbursts.

Nathaniel walked over to you and placed an Orange Starburst in your hand. "Here, Aunt Y/N. I know the Orange ones are your favorite."

"Aww, thank you, Nate," you said, kissing his forehead.

As you were about to open the soft toffy candy, a sharp contraction cut through my stomach. “Aaah!” you reached for your stomach as you bent over at the knees. Much stronger than anything you had felt before.

Natasha rushed to your side. “Y/N?! Are you okay? What’s wrong?” Reaching for your hand.

"I don’t know," you grunted.

Natasha's voice quivered with anxiety as she tried to rationalize the situation. "This—this can’t be it. We’re still three weeks out," she said, her mind racing with worry. "Maybe it’s just false labor."

That was the moment when your water broke. "Oh God—" you took a sharp breath as another contraction hit.

"Okay, not false labor," Nat conceded.

"It’s okay, Y/N," Laura reassured you calmly, gently taking your hand. "Most first births are a long labor. But we’re going to get you inside, okay?"

You felt a surge of panic. "What? No, no. I can't have the baby here. I'm not ready. We had a birth plan; I don't have my overnight bag!" you started to ramble, the anxiety rising in your voice.

"You're not boarding a Quinjet now. “I'm going to call Helen,” Clint said as he started to run inside.

"What's wrong with Aunt Y/N?” Nathaniel asked.

"Nothing, sweetheart, but the baby is coming a little bit earlier than we thought," Laura said calmly as she and your wife Nat gently guided you up the steps and into the warm and welcoming embrace of the house.

"Cooper and Lila, please grab a soft, warm blanket and clean towels from the linen closet?" Laura called out to the older children, her voice steady and reassuring.

I'l boil some water and tear up some sheets!" Kate announced frantically.

"This isn't Little House on the Prairie," Yelena quipped. She looked at you and Natasha with a warm yet nervous smile. "I’ll call Mom and Dad.”

"I thought you said this was a long process?" you managed to say between deep breaths, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness.

"Yes, but there's nothing wrong with being prepared, honey," Laura replied with a comforting smile, her hands steady as she and Nat helped you onto the bed.

Natasha gently grasped your hand and locked eyes with you. "Y/N, look at me," she said reassuringly. “You’re okay, and I'm right here with you. Let's take a deep breath together.”

You took a deep breath, trying to follow Natahsa's lead. The air came out shakily as it moved around the sharp pain of the contraction.

"Do you remember your Lamaze breathing?" Nat asked, her voice calm and reassuring.

"I think so," you replied, trying to focus on the breathing technique you had practiced during the prenatal classes.

*^~^*

Contractions came and went over the next few hours. You were thankful that childbirth was part of the first aid classes all SHIELD recruits were required to take. Otherwise, the prospect of giving birth in a farmhouse in the middle of Iowa would have been more terrifying than it already was.

You heard the front door open and the screen shut behind it as footsteps hurriedly approached the bedroom. When you saw Dr. Cho, you just about burst into tears.

Helen! Oh, thank goodness," you exclaimed just as another contraction began, your face twisted in agony.

"Y/N," Helen responded, rushing to your side and gently pushing the sweaty strands of hair away from your eyes. "Clint and Laura briefed me. They said that you're handling this wonderfully. Let me take a moment to set up, and then we'll check your dilation progress.”

Okay," you managed to say, catching your breath. "Where's Bruce?"

He's in Kamar-Taj with Wong. Something about ten rings? I'm not entirely sure, but don't worry, both of you," she reassured, meeting your and Natasha’s fatigued and apprehensive gazes. "I have a backup.”

Thor strode into the room, effortlessly carrying a collection of Helen's equipment that seemed as light as a feather in his hands.

"Thor? What are you doing here?" Natasha asked, clearly puzzled.

Thor glanced at your wife, then at you, then at Laura, and then at Helen.

"Hello, everyone," he said shyly. "I was, uh, Helen and I—Dr. Cho. She invited me for Easter, and we were enjoying a nice glass of Asgardian Mead when—"

"When Clint called," Helen finished. "Anyway, he's here to help, right?"

"Of course," Thor replied. "I've never witnessed a human birth before, but I've been present for the births of many Gods and am well-versed in many newborn blessings."

You and Natasha locked eyes, your nervousness quickly replaced with gratitude as you realized the significance of having another close friend by your side during this pivotal moment in your lives.

Natasha expressed her gratitude to Thor, finally breaking the silence. "We're both thankful that you're here," she said, her voice filled with sincerity.

You nodded in agreement, silently acknowledging the sentiment.

"It's my pleasure, ladies," Thor replied warmly.

“Thor, can you bring the rest of my equipment in from the Quinjet while I check to see how far Y/N is dilated?” Helen asked.

“Sure, and do either of you need anything? He asked.

Some ice chips would be great, you said in a tired voice. “Thank you.”

“Water,” Natasha said.

Shortly after Thor departed, Yelena entered, engaging in small talk as they crossed paths in the hallway. "What's the God of muscles doing here?" she inquired.

"It's a long story," Helen responded.

"I spoke with Melina. She and Alexi are en route and should arrive by morning. At least, I think that's what she said. It was hard to hear her over Alexi's ecstatic screams in the background."

"Okay, Y/N, you've done most of the hard work in my absence. You're just about at 10 centimeters. It’s time to start pushing. You two are going to parents soon," Helen announced with a smile.

“Oh my God,” you said, looking over at Natasha.

“Hey,” your wife said, running her hand through your hair, “I love you.”

“I love you too,” you said.

*^~^*

“Push. Push, just a little more! Come on, push for five seconds. 5…4…” Helen counted down.

Gasping for air, you exclaimed, '3-2-1 oh!!' as you fought to catch your breath.

Thor gently wiped away the sweat from your forehead with a cloth.

“You're doing great, Y/N. The next contraction should be coming in about twenty seconds," Helen encouraged, glancing at the monitor.

“I can’t,” you cried. “I can’t push anymore, I can’t.”

Natasha reassured you, "Yes, you can, Y/N. You're so close," she reached out and firmly took hold of your hand.

“Oh God, twenty seconds, my ass!” You shouted.

Natasha screamed in pain and fell to her knees beside you as you squeezed her hand. “Fuck, detka!”

"Here, Lady Y/N," Thor said, taking her hand in his, "Give my hand a good squeeze; you won't hurt me. And when you reminisce on this moment, you will remember that a God has faith in you. You can do this!" Thor's voice was solid and reassuring, his eyes filled with genuine belief in your strength.

Your eyes shone with tears as you held Thor's hand tightly, feeling the strength in his grip while Natasha enveloped you, her arm supporting your back.

I can see the baby's head. Are you ready to push one more time, honey?” Helen asked, “Here we go, on three: 1... 2... 3!”

You let out a final scream and then collapsed back onto the pillows, trying to catch your breath. As the room fell silent, the innocent cries of your and Natasha’s baby filled the air.

"It's a boy!" Helen exclaimed with joy.

Tears welled up in your eyes as you looked at Natasha, who was also crying. It was more emotion than you had ever seen Natasha show before.

Helen held up your son for both of you to admire. His little head was adorned with the beginnings of red hair.

"He's absolutely perfect," Nat exclaimed with a radiant smile as she affectionately kissed your temple.

Thor carefully cut the umbilical cord, and then Helen gently passed the newborn over to Laura, who began to clean him up.

Overwhelmed with emotion, you exclaimed, "He's so tiny! Where'd he go?"

Natasha reassured you, "It's okay. They're just wrapping him up," as she wiped away her tears. Concerned for the baby's well-being, you cautioned, "Okay, well, be careful with him. He's really tiny!”

Moments later, Laura tenderly announced, "Here he is," and placed your precious son on your bare chest, swathed in a soft blanket.

"Hi, baby boy," you whispered, tears streaming down your cheeks. "I know you."

As your voice reached his ears, his little Y/E/C irises opened, revealing a world of innocence and wonder.

At that moment, gazing at your son, you experienced a love so profound it felt as though your heart had been laid bare.

Natasha tenderly kissed his head and softly murmured, “Dobro pozhalovat' v mir, moy malen'kiy mal'chik.” (Welcome to the world, my little boy).

We’ll give you a few minutes," Helen said with a reassuring smile as she closed the door behind her. In the serene stillness that followed, the only sound was the gentle cooing of your precious newborn son.

“I can't believe he's finally here,” you said.

"I know. He’s so beautiful," Natasha said, her gaze fixed on the newborn.

"It looks like he’s going to take after his Mama," you chuckled, running your hand over the delicate red hairs sprouting from his scalp.

"Yes, but look at his eyes—sparkling Y/E/C like yours. Wow," Nat said.

You remarked, "I guess this narrows the names down, then."

Nat sighed in relief, "Thank goodness I don't have to explain to my sister why we didn't choose Yelena."

Looking into your wife's eyes, you asked, "So what do you think?"

*^~^*

A short while later, a gentle knock on the door signaled Helen's arrival as she peeked inside. "Hey, you three. I need to conduct a few routine tests, and there are some eager people outside who can't wait to meet your son."

"Please, come on in, everyone," you welcomed them.

You couldn't hold back the tears as you witnessed the heartfelt expressions on their faces as they laid eyes on your baby boy. It was as if he instantly captivated them, just as you were when you first saw him.

"Oh, my goodness," Laura exclaimed as Clint enveloped Natasha tightly. Tears glistened in his eyes as he held his best friend close.

"He's beautiful, Natasha," Yelena said, her eyes brimming with tears. "Privet, malen'kiy plemyannik," she whispered (hello, my little nephew).

"He's so cute, Y/N! Oh my gosh," Kate exclaimed as your son wrapped his tiny hand around your finger.

"He is lovely," Thor added, his voice filled with warmth. "Strong and brave, like his mothers."

Cooper, Lila, and Nathaniel gathered around you, admiring the newborn in your arms.

"Everyone," Natasha began, her hand resting lovingly on your back. "We have someone special we'd like you to meet.”

“This is Nikolai Odison Romanoff," you announced with a proud smile.

"Nikolai! What a beautiful first name," Clint exclaimed, wiping his eyes. "It suits him perfectly."

"Oh, my, Odison," Thor said wide-eyed. "Ladies, this is an honor fit for someone else. I wasn't even supposed to be here, I—"

"But you were, Thor. You were here when I needed someone the most," you said, looking at him with gratitude. "We'll never forget what you did for us."

The God of Thunder exhaled, visibly touched by your kind words. "I'm truly honored, Y/N. Thank you," he said, kissing your cheek.

Excuse me, ladies," Helen said, "May I borrow him for a moment? We'll be right back.”

Nikolai began to cry at the loss of contact with you, and the sound tugged at both your and Natasha's heartstrings. "It's okay, little one. It's okay," Helen soothed him.

Then, looking up at your wife, you added, "There is something else we wanted to ask.

“Clint and Laura, we would be honored if you would be Nikolai’s godparents,” Natasha said.

“Of course!” Clint declared.

“Nothing would make us happier,” Laura added.”

The couple hugged you both in appreciation as Helen returned with Nikolai.

“You have a healthy little boy on your hands! Born March 31st, 2024 at 7:23pm. He weighs five pounds and eight ounces and measures 16.5 inches long," she said as she gently placed your son in Natasha’s arms. "He's a bit small, but that is because he was impatient and arrived a bit early," Helen explained with a warm smile. "Nothing to worry about.”

Natasha cradled the baby in her arms, swaying gently back and forth as a soft yawn slipped from his tiny lips.

“We’ll spend the night here, but I want to bring Mom and Nikolai back to the compound tomorrow. I want to perform a thorough examination in my lab before sending you all home.” Helen explained.

"Of course, whatever you think is best," you agreed.

Natasha nodded in approval before a sudden realization struck her. "Oh, Mom and Dad! They're on their way here."

"They can join us if you'd like," Helen suggested.

"That would be great," you said. "Right, Nat?"

"Yeah, great," Natasha said, her mind racing as she tried to imagine the chaos of the Quinjet flight home with Alexi and Melina.

Yelena couldn't help but burst into laughter, fully aware of what her sister was thinking, until Kate elbowed her in the ribs.

"We'll leave you all to get some rest," Helen said. "I'll be outside if you need anything, and I'll be back in a little while to help you with breastfeeding him.”

"Thank you, Helen, and all of you, for everything," you said, feeling the exhaustion and emotions of the day overwhelming you as tears began to fall.

After exchanging warm embraces, everyone exited the room, leaving you and Natasha in peaceful solitude with your precious newborn son, savoring the tender moment.

Natasha gently settled Nikolai in Nathaniel's bassinet, a family heirloom lovingly retrieved from storage by Clint and Laura. As your little one drifted into a peaceful slumber, you both couldn't help but marvel at the miracle of life, watching his tiny chest rise and fall with each breath. It was a moment you never wanted to forget.

“Rest, detka. I'll take care of Nikolai," Nat offered, her voice filled with warmth and reassurance.

"I can stay up; it's fine. You should rest," you insisted, determined to take responsibility.

"Y/N, you've just brought new life into the world. You deserve to rest for the rest of your life," Nat chuckled, her eyes filled with affection and concern.

She settled beside you on the bed and enveloped you in a comforting embrace.

"Look at your face," Nat suddenly remarked, her expression softening with genuine admiration.

"I must look a mess," you replied, a tired smile tugging at your lips.

"No, Y/N, you look absolutely beautiful," Nat insisted, her words filled with sincerity. "I've never seen your face more radiant than it is right now.

Natasha's soft lips met yours in a tender kiss, and in that moment, you felt the truth of her words resonate deep within you.

*^~^*

The following day, Laura prepared a delicious breakfast and brought it to you and Natasha in bed. Both of you had barely gotten any sleep with Nikolai waking up every couple of hours. Despite feeling utterly exhausted, you didn't mind one bit. This weariness stemmed from the joy of caring for your precious newborn son on his very first night.

Twenty minutes later, the tranquil moment was interrupted by familiar voices outside. Natasha gently pulled the curtain back to glimpse her parents making their way up the front porch steps.

Yelena strode into the room with her arms folded and a mischievous smile on her lips. "Brace yourselves," she teased, "The grandparents have arrived.”

"Where's my little guy?" Alexi eagerly shouted as he entered the room.

"Shh!" Natasha hushed him with a grin, motioning to Nikolai nestled in her arms. "Oh, look at him!" Alexi whispered in awe.

"Mom, Dad, this is Nikolai,” Nat said, wiping a tear from her eye.

"He's beautiful, Natalia," Melina murmured.

"May I hold him?" Alexi asked eagerly.

"Of course," you replied, carefully passing the baby to Alexi. The sight of the mighty Red Guardian tenderly cradling your newborn son made you smile.

"Hello, Nikolai. I'm your dedushka," Alexi said affectionately. "You're so adorable; yes, you are."

As he spoke, Nikolai slowly opened his eyes, and you could have sworn you saw your father-in-law's heart swell with love.

Alexi gently placed the baby in Melina’s arms. Your mother-in-law had always been a complex and enigmatic figure. She was one of the longest-tenured widows, and her resilience made her one of the strongest women in your eyes. As she cradled your newborn son in her arms, a single tear traced its way down her cheek, revealing a depth of emotion and vulnerability that you had never seen before.

Yelena inched toward you and whispered, “He won them over faster than you did.”

*^~^*

The next morning, Thor joined in to assist with packing while Clint hurried to the store to purchase an infant car seat for Nikolai. You were a family of two when you arrived, and you were leaving a family of three.

After a swift diaper change, Natasha placed your precious bundle of joy in his carrier. "Time to head home, Nik," you said, taking his tiny hand in yours.

You bid farewell to everyone and securely placed Nikolai's carrier beside you on the Quinjet.

Nat smiled as she prepared the Quinjet for takeoff. Your first Quinjet ride," she said. "You're already an overachiever, moy sladkiy mal'chik" (my sweet little boy).

Your phone suddenly vibrates with a flurry of notifications.

"The team group chat is blowing up, sweetheart," you informed Natasha, showing her your phone.

Nick Fury: Congratulations on the arrival of your precious son, Nikolai! It's heartwarming to see the Avengers family welcoming the newest member. Everyone at SHIELD looks forward to meeting him and supporting you and Natasha.

Steve Rogers: Hey, Y/N and Nat, huge congratulations! I'm so excited to meet Nikolai, the newest addition to our Avenger family. 🎖️

Wanda Maximoff: Congratulations to you both! All those cliches, those things you hear about having a baby and motherhood—all of them are true. And all of them are the most beautiful things you will ever experience. I’ll drop off some food for you both in the morning. 🥰

Clint Barton: Hey, Y/N! Make sure Nikolai is securely fastened in his infant carrier. I hope he sleeps the whole way back. If he gets fussy, let Nat know to ask FRIDAY to turn on the cabin pressure stabilization. It's a feature I insisted Stark add to the Quinjet after SHIELD found out I had kids. You're welcome. 😏

Laura Barton: I know things didn't go as planned, but I'm grateful we could share in your special day, Y/N. Nikolai is absolutely beautiful! Please let Nat know that I'll give her a call tomorrow. 😊

Tony Stark: Rushman! Y/L/N! Congratulations on the arrival of your precious son. Nikolai will bring you endless joy and fulfillment and become your favorite reason to lose sleep for the rest of your lives. 😉

Pepper Stark: Congratulations! I'm so happy for you and Nat. I can only imagine how incredible it must feel to look into Nikolai's eyes and feel like everything is right in the world. Please don't hesitate to reach out if there's anything I can do to help. Sending lots of love! ❤️

Bruce Banner: I'm truly sorry I couldn't be there; I’m thrilled for you and Natasha. I can't wait to meet Nikolai! 💚

Maria Hill: Congratulations, Y/N and Nat, on the arrival of baby Nikolai Odison! I can't wait to meet the little bundle of joy and see those tiny fingers and toes. The name Nikolai Odison Romanoff is absolutely beautiful. I spoke with Thor this morning, and the honor deeply moved him. 🥹

Thor Odinson: I am incredibly grateful to have been present for the birth of your son, Nikolai Odison Romanoff. Your decision to include me in this momentous occasion is a great honor, and I want to assure you that I will always be there to support and care for all of you. The arrival of Nikolai is a joyous event, and I am committed to being a steadfast presence in his life. ⚡

Peter Parker: Y/N! Congratulations on the arrival of Nikolai! I'm so thrilled for you and Nat. What does he look like? Does he have your hair or Natasha’s? What color are his eyes? I'm already thinking about all the adventures we'll have with him. I'm going to text Nat right now. I can't wait to meet him! 💙

Yelena Belova: Give my little nephew a kiss and hug from me. Also, heads up - Mom and Dad are considering staying with you for eight weeks to help care for Nikolai. Happy Parenting! 😂

Kate Bishop: Yelena is sitting next to me, and she can't stop laughing, so I'm going to assume that everything is going well. Please give Nikolai a kiss and hug from me! 🩵

*^~^*

You and Natasha stood together at the front of the Quinjet, the hum of the engines surrounding you as the aircraft soared safely through the sky.

“Nikolai is sound asleep. I don't think your parents have taken their eyes off our son since they got here,” turning around to see Melina and Alexi lovingly admiring their grandson.

Nat lovingly reached for your hand. “Our son,” she repeated with a big smile.

Nat took her place in the pilot's seat and turned off the autopilot as you settled in beside her.

"Come on, Y/N. Let’s go home.”

#natasha romanoff #natasha romanoff x reader #natasha x you #avengers x reader #mcu #fluff #clint barton #Laura Barton #cooper barton #lila barton #nathaniel barton #yelena boleva #kate bishop #helen cho #thor odinson #platonic #easter

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sycamorelibrary754 · 2 months

Note

You can change any details to this if you like, this is just an idea & ofc, you don't have to write it 🥰

Yelena's had it bad for Reader since they met, she never said anything and never acted on her feelings. But when Reader and Kate go on a first date, it rattles Yelena who turns to Nat or Melina for help.

Yelena can either confess her feelings to reader or she sees how much Kate and Reader make each other happy and puts on a brave face and stays silent in hopes the feelings will go away eventually

Blondie

Summary: Yelena has harbored feelings for you since you met but never acted on them. It isn't until you start getting close to Kate that all those feelings come to the forefront.

Pairings: Yelena x reader

Genre: Fluff

Word Count: 3k

Warnings: None

A/N: Thank you for the request, it was fun! I hope you enjoy it!

"Yelena… Yelena!” Kate said firmly.

“Earth to the widow,” Clint added.

The blonde shook her head as if to clear out the fog and tore her eyes away from you. "Hmm, what?" she asked, looking at them in confusion.

"It's your move," Kate said, pointing at the Jenga tower before them.

She nodded in understanding, apologizing for her absent-mindedness, and then reached out to remove a block from the stack, trying her best not to topple the tower.

Yelena's eyes wandered over to you once again. You were seated at the kitchen island with your tablet, engrossed in reviewing the blueprints for new weapon upgrades with Tony. As always, you were Stark’s favorite engineer. Thanks to a grant from the September Foundation at MIT, you worked your way up at Stark Industries from an intern to becoming the genius’s partner in the lab.

Yelena would be lying if she said she wasn't completely enamored with you from the moment she met you. She watched Tony give you a fist bump as your impromptu meeting ended. Yelena rushed over to try and catch you before you left. She was barely able to wedge her arm in the elevator doors just as they closed.

"Hey there, blondie! How are you?" you greeted her warmly, adjusting the leather strap on your bag.

"Good… I'm good," Yelena murmured, stepping onto the elevator with you.

"I'm excited for you to see the new weapons upgrades tomorrow. I think you'll enjoy it. I wanted to do something special for you," you winked.

Before Yelena could respond, the elevator stopped, and the doors opened to reveal Tony's lab.

"Well, this is my stop. See you later, Yelena," you said with a friendly smile.

"Okay, bye," Yelena called out as the doors closed. "Ugh, what is wrong with me?!"

"From what I can detect, Ms. Belova, there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with you," FRIDAY said. "Would you like me to run a full body scan?"

"Quiet, FRIDAY," Yelena grumbled.

*^~^*

The next day, Yelena joined the rest of the team in the spacious training area to test their new weapon upgrades. You wanted to meticulously evaluate each weapon, assessing their accuracy, efficiency, and overall ease of use.

As the team familiarized themselves with their new weapons, Kate casually commented about you. "Y/N is so cute, don’t you think?" she said, nudging Yelena.

Yelena glanced at you, observing as you took notes on your tablet. You had a look of determination on your face as you playfully swatted Tony away from leaning over your shoulder.

"Yeah, if you like mini Tony Stark’s. Sure, she’s cute," she responded with a sigh.

Kate continued, "I think we’ve shared some eye contact here and there. You know Peter told me that she told him in their last lab session that she was on the archery team in high school, too."

Yelena rolled her eyes. "How riveting, Kate Bishop."

Just then, you interrupted their conversation and asked, "How are we doing over here, girls?"

"Good!" they both answered simultaneously.

You couldn't help but smile at their synchronized response, raising an eyebrow at the girls, but you decided to let it slide.

"Okay, Kate, let's start with you. I know you've been bugging Clint for labeled arrows, but I thought you deserved something more streamlined," you explained. "So, I got to work and was able to integrate a pinpoint version of Edith into your quiver."

The archer looked at you with curiosity and excitement as you placed her quiver full of arrows over her shoulder.

"Hello, Kate Bishop," Edith said, her voice clear and crisp.

"Oh, hello," Kate replied, looking slightly bewildered.

"I am Edith. Tony Stark's augmented reality security and defense system. Standby for biometric scan."

"Okie dokie," Kate mumbled, still staring at the quiver in amazement.

With a soft beep, Edith announced that the biometric scan was complete.

"All you have to do is call for the type of arrow you want. Give it a try," you explained.

"Flare arrow," Kate said, her voice firm and confident.

In response, a small metal claw emerged from the side of the container, deftly pulling a flare arrow from the quiver and placing it against the bow, ready for Kate to pull back into position.

"Whoa! This is so cool! No more fumbling for arrows. Thank you so much, Y/N. I love it!" Kate exclaimed, her eyes wide with wonder as she hugged you.

"You're more than welcome," you replied, slightly taken aback by the sudden display of affection.

Yelena tried to distract herself by fiddling with her rings, but she couldn't help but notice the way your cheeks turned red when Kate hugged you.

"Hey there, blondie!" you exclaimed, clapping your hands. "You're up next, and I can't wait for this one. I've been dying to take a stab at your knives, no pun intended," you giggled mischievously.

You brought over a case and opened it to reveal a brand new set of knives for Yelena.

She looked down, puzzled. "They look the same as my other ones.”

"To the untrained eye," you replied, picking up a knife, "but these babies are electrically charged, just like your widow bites."

With one swift motion, you sliced through the air, unleashing a burst of electrifying blue energy from the knife's blade.

Yelena's eyes sparkled with surprise and gratitude, "Wow, thank you, Y/N. These knives are so cool and exactly what I needed."

"I was hoping you’d say that," you replied, pushing your glasses back up the bridge of your nose.

“And I must say, you look pretty good holding that knife,” Yelena smirked.

"Oh, thank you,” you giggled. “Listen, do you think maybe—"

Suddenly, a loud crashing sound interrupted your conversation. You both turned your heads to find Bruce lying disheveled underneath a mesh net at the other end of the training area.

"Oh, come on,” you let out a frustrated sigh. “I’ve got to see if Banner is okay; I’ll try to catch up with you later, Yelena."

Yelena was left alone again, wishing she could muster up the courage to be honest with you.

*^~^*

Yelena struggled to keep her grip on two overflowing buckets of popcorn and a handful of candy as she walked toward the movie theater. She turned to Natasha and asked, "Remind me again why we’re responsible for all the popcorn and candy?"

"Wanda promised Billy and Tommy that we would see Dune Part 2 together and paid for our tickets. The least we can do is pay for the snacks,” Nat said.

Yelena sighed and agreed, "Fair enough, but I still say the two mini-Maximoffs could help us carry some of this stuff."

After they arrived at their seats, they passed candy and popcorn down the line to Wanda and the boys. The theater was filled with excitement, and everyone was eagerly waiting for the movie to start. Suddenly, a video on the screen reminded theater-goers to silence their phones before the feature began.

“Greetings, humble theater-goers. Captain America here," he said with a salute.

“Oh, good Lord. We’re never getting away from him, are we?” Wanda joked.

“We would like to remind you that any recording device is strictly prohibited. Please take this moment to turn off all cell phones before the movie begins."

At that moment, Yelena heard a familiar giggle a few rows down. She looked around, but it wasn’t until she stood up that she saw you. There you sat, sharing a carton of popcorn and candy with Kate Bishop, looking adorable in your olive green jumpsuit and glasses.

Yelena's heart sank, and she struggled to process the emotions. All she could muster was, “We need more candy.”

“What? We practically bought the entire candy display,” Nat said.

“Then we need Vodka,” Yelena retorted as she rushed down the steps and out of the theater.

“Yelena! What’s wrong?” Nat called out after her. She watched her sister in confusion until she noticed you and Kate. “Oh man…” she sighed.

Natasha turned to Wanda, “I’ll be right back.”

“Take your time,” Wanda reassured her.

Yelena was sitting on the carpet outside the theater with her elbows resting on her knees when Natasha found her. The redhead sat down beside her, mirroring her position.

Keeping her eyes trained forward, Nat asked gently, “Are you okay?”

“Sure, why wouldn’t I be?" Yelena replied without looking at her sister.

“Maybe because Y/N is sitting in there with Kate?”

“Was she? Good for her," Yelena fibbed.

“Yelena…”

“I don’t want to talk about this, Natasha,” she snapped as she stood up. “Tell Wanda and the boys I’m sorry, but I must get out of here.”

Natasha pulled out her phone and dialed the only number she could think of. “Hi, I think Yelena needs you right now.”

*^~^*

Yelena walked back to the compound in solitude, her thoughts and emotions churning like the sea. She walked right past Peter and MJ, who invited her to join them for a movie on the sofa, but she silently declined and continued down the hall. When she reached her bedroom, she slammed the door shut and groaned

"Rough day?" A familiar voice spoke up from behind her, full of understanding and compassion.

Yelena turned to find Melina sitting on her bed, looking at her with a comforting smile. "Mama? What are you doing here?" Yelena exclaimed, surprised to see her mother in her room and not in St. Petersburg.

"Hi, malyshka (baby)," Melina greeted her. "Natalia called me," she explained.

"How did you get here so fast?" Yelena asked, wondering how she could have made such a quick trip.

"I have my ways," Melina smirked. "Do you want to talk about what's bothering you?" she asked, patting the space beside her on the bed.

She hesitated momentarily before finally giving in and sitting beside her mother. "I'm sure Natasha already filled you in," she said softly.

"Yes, but sometimes it helps when we talk things out," Melina explained gently.

Yelena took a deep breath before finally opening up. "Mama, there's this girl, Y/N," she confessed, her voice trembling with emotion. "She's Stark's top engineer, and she's just... amazing. She's not like anyone else I've ever met. She sees me, you know? She sees me for who I am, not just as a widow or an assassin or a hero. And she's so smart and pretty, I can't stop thinking about her," Yelena explained.

Her mother listened patiently and asked, "Have you told her how you feel?"

Yelena's heart sank. "No, I haven't. Whenever I try to talk to her, I get all flustered and tongue-tied. And now it's too late anyway because she is at the movies with Kate Bishop," she replied, her voice full of disappointment.

"You can't give up so easily, sweetheart. Y/N deserves to know how you feel. You should talk to her," she encouraged.

What should I say?" Yelena asked

"I can't tell you what to say. That has to come from your heart. You will know what to say when the time is right.”

"Thank you, Mama. I don't know what I would do without you,” wrapping her arms tightly around her mother.

"You're welcome, dorogoy (sweetheart). I will always be here for you," holding her youngest daughter close.

*^~^*

Yelena had been struggling to keep her mind off you for the past few days, especially after her heart-to-heart conversation with Melina. But she was determined to stay focused and busy training the recruits. It was a challenge, but a welcome one at that.

"Keep your eyes on your target, Jack! Yes! Now, block and flip. Good, nicely done," she said between the punches and kicks.

She was so focused on the training that she didn't hear you approaching her from behind.

As you called out to Yelena, she jumped with a small gasp. You quickly apologized, "Oh, I'm sorry, blondie! It's just me," while holding your hands up in defense.

Yelena, slightly embarrassed, replied, "Oh, Y/N. Hi. I didn't see you there.”

"You're a spy. Aren't you supposed to see everything?" you teased.

“You would think so,” she said, fidgeting with her rings again. “So, what's up?” she asked, picking up her belongings.

“I wanted to ask if I did something to upset you. Maybe it's all in my mind, but I feel like you've been avoiding me for the past few days,” nervously running your hands through your hair.

Yelena dropped her water bottle on the floor, and her heart dropped with it. “Oh, no. No, no, Y/N. You didn't do anything wrong. I've just been preoccupied with mission reports and training these doofuses.”

You breathed a sigh of relief, "Oh, okay, because when I saw you leaving the movie theater the other day—"

“You saw me?” The blood drained from Yelena’s face.

“Yeah… you were with Nat, Wanda, and the twins.”

“Oh yeah, I was, but then I remembered I had a meeting, and I had to go,” Yelena rushed to answer.

“Oh, good, I thought maybe you left because of me,” you said, shifting your weight back and forth on your feet.

“Listen, Y/N, I —“ you began but were interrupted by FRIDAY.

“Ms. Y/L/N, Mr. Stark is looking for you,” FRIDAY interrupted.

Your head dropped in defeat. “Tell him I’m busy, FRIDAY,” you grumbled.

“Mr. Stark says if you don’t come right now, he will have Peter shadow you for a month,” FRIDAY warned.

“Damn it,” you muttered.

“Duty calls,” Yelena said light-heartedly.

"Yeah, I guess so," you sighed. "But I do want to talk to you. Can I see you after work? I get off at 6:30."

“Sure, I’ll meet you in the common area,” Yelena offered.

“Perfect, I’ll see you then,” you said with a thumbs up as you started to backpedal out of the gym.

You thought you had pulled off a pretty smooth move until you failed to take notice of the duffle bags on the floor and fell backward onto your butt. Yelena couldn't help but giggle at you.

“I’m okay! I’m okay,” you shouted as you got up and jogged out of the gym.

*^~^*

Yelena couldn't shake off the anxiety for the next few hours. Her mind was all over the place thinking about you. When she finally made her way down to the common area, she was annoyed, but not surprised, to find Sam and Bucky playing PS5 on the sofa.

“Hey, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, get out. I need the room,” she tossed a pillow at the two guys.

“We were here first,” Bucky said.

“That’s nice. Seriously, out,” Yelena said sternly.

“Look, just because you're Natasha’s sister doesn't mean you can just waltz in here and kick us out,” Sam retorted.

“Natasha’s sister is going to kick both your asses if you don’t get out of here now,” Yelena stood in front of the television, daring them to challenge her.

“What is so important that we have to leave?” Bucky asked.

Just then, the elevator dinged, and the doors opened to reveal you standing there. Your messenger bag was slung over your shoulder, and your glasses were picking up the glare from your phone.

“Oh, got it,” Bucky said, answering his own question. “Come on, Sam, let’s go.”

“Right behind you,” Sam said.

“Thank you,” Yelena whispered, kicking their PS5 controllers under the coffee table and straightening the pillows.

"Thanks for meeting me so late," you sighed as you settled down next to. Yelena. "I swear, that man can drive me crazy sometimes. When I got to the lab, he was in a full-on meltdown because his anniversary present for Pepper went up in flames. And then..."

Before you could finish your sentence, Yelena cut you off abruptly. "I like you," she exclaimed.

"What...what do you mean?" you stammered.

"I’m sorry. I know this is probably not the best way to say it," Yelena continued, her words tumbling out in a rush. "And I know you're probably here to tell me you're seeing Kate Bishop, but I want you to know. I like you. I like how your cute glasses slip down your nose when working. I like how you tell those funny engineering stories I don't always understand. I like that you are kind and caring to everyone in this building, no matter who they are or what they do. Most of all, I like how you see me. You see me, and that's something I've never had before."

Her brain finally catching up with her words, Yelena muttered to herself, "Oh my God, what am I doing? I should go."

But before she could step away, you grabbed her hand, stopping her in her tracks. You remained silent for a moment, staring at your hands tightly interlocked.

Then, finally, you spoke up, "Yelena, I'm glad you told me because… I like you too. That is what I wanted to talk to you about. It’s what I've been trying to tell you for the past week,” you explained. “Kate and I are just friends, I don't have any feelings for her that way. Honestly, I thought it was obvious. I like you, blondie. I always have."

Your words seemed to soothe Yelena's worries, and she slowly sat back down beside you, the tension in her body dissipating.

“Oh, wow,” Yelena sighed.

With a smirk, you finally said, "Wow, indeed… would it be okay if I kissed you?"

"Yes,” Yelena said softly.

As your bodies drew closer, your lips met in a slow, tender kiss. The intimacy between you both was palpable as the warmth of your breath mingled and your eyes locked in a gaze that spoke a thousand words. The softness of the kiss turned into a passionate embrace that ignited a spark of desire in both your hearts, a spark that would change your lives forever. At that moment, nothing else mattered but the connection you shared, a deep, unbreakable bond that would grow stronger with time.

#yelena belova #yelena boleva x reader #kate bishop #natasha romanoff #wanda maximoff #tony stark #bucky barnes #sam wilson #peter parker #melina vostokoff #mcu #the avengers #fluff

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sycamorelibrary754 · 2 months

Text

Guardian Angel

Chapter 9: When in Rome

Summary: I have no idea how to summarize this chapter besides saying buckle up. 🫣

Warnings: Danger, angst, claustrophobia.

Word Count: 6.3k

A/N: My apologies for how long it took to get this chapter posted. I wanted to take my time on it because it’s essential to the rest of the story. I hope you enjoy it!

Guardian Angel Masterlist

You walked into your room, anxiously shutting the door behind you. Your mind races as you pace back and forth. Running your fingers through your hair, you struggle to comprehend why Onyx Petroleum would be interested in Sokovian land. Your mental spiral is interrupted by a knock on your door, followed by Tony's voice asking if you're okay. You open the door, and the billionaire walks in, quickly shutting the door behind him.

"I can't believe I didn't clock it before," Tony said, holding up the newspaper. "Those con artists from Onyx Petroleum are your parents - sorry."

You force a smile and respond, "It's okay. They deserve the title, trust me."

"I know firsthand," Tony muttered.

“You know my parents?”

“Your father was a regular visitor of the Stark Expo in the old days.” You're taken aback, wondering how you never knew that. “Dear old dad rarely spoke to me growing up, but I remember he once said that Y/F/N Y/L/N was the only person who made him believe that humanity was doomed to extinction.”

“Sounds about right,” you said.

“Oh, and then," he recounted, "A few years ago at a September Foundation grant presentation at Cal Tech. Your mother, as usual, was doing her thing - schmoozing with everyone. She cornered Pepper and started rambling about how a partnership between Onyx Petroleum and Stark Industries could transform the global oil exploration and production industry. Pepper kindly reminded her that Stark Industries no longer partners with companies or individuals that harm the environment or the population. So your mother called Pepper a fraud and threw her drink in her face! Can you believe that?"

You sigh as you sit down on the edge of the bed, “Unfortunately, yes.”

"Any idea what this is about?" Tony asked, holding up the paper again.

You shake your head, saying, "No clue. They've never shown any interest in foreign oil.”

"Do you have access to anything that would give us insights into their business dealings?" Tony inquired.

You shake your head again, feeling helpless. "Not anymore. My parents removed me from all of their bank accounts and company mainframes when they kicked me out," you say with a huff, throwing yourself back onto the bed. “I don’t get it. Sokovia was destroyed. What’s left for them to find.”

“Vibranium.”

“What?” You said as you sat up. “That doesn't make sense. Sokovia was a war zone.”

“What do you think they were fighting over?” the billionaire asked rhetorically.

“How do you know this, Tony?”

“After Ultron's attack on Sokovia and the subsequent sinking of Navi Grad, FRIDAY performed an extensive deep-sea mapping of the ocean—every square centimeter. Seven hundred thousand images were captured at a depth of almost 4,000 meters,” Tony explained, tapping the screen on his watch. “The mapping exercise was aimed at locating the submerged remnants of the destroyed city and ensuring the safety of any underwater vehicles or divers exploring the area. Doing so would provide insights into the underwater topography of the region and assist in the reconstruction efforts.”

You rise to your feet as a hologram of the 3D map materializes before your eyes.

“Instead, FRIDAY found something else,” Tony explained, shifting pieces back and forth through the air. “Outside of Wakanda, Sokovia has the largest natural vein of Vibranium anywhere in the world, but no one has been able to mine it yet because…,” zooming in on the composite. “It’s underwater.”

You studied the 3D image carefully, trying to comprehend how Onyx Petroleum would go about mining the most potent substance on Earth.

“This much Vibranium in anyone’s hands is frightening,” Tony said. “In the hands of a company notorious for unethical business practices, it’s perilous.”

“Does Wanda know?” Your mind was racing with concern for your girlfriend.

“No, and I don’t think we should tell her,” closing the hologram.

“What? Why not? She has a right to know! It was her home. We can’t just—“

"Easy, Willy Wonka," Tony said. "I know she needs to know, but we need more information before we can act. I need to do some more research and figure out the next steps. In the meantime, tell the rest of the team what we know. Wanda is running point on a full-team, large-scale mission the day after tomorrow, and it benefits no one for her to be distracted, right?"

You nod hesitantly in agreement, still processing everything. "Trust me, Y/N. If we take our eyes off the ball, bad things happen. We need to be strategic and focused if we're going to keep everyone safe."

After a moment of silence, you let out a heavy sigh. "Okay, you're right," you concede, looking down at your hands. "I just don't feel good about keeping this from Wanda. We've always been honest with each other, and I don't want to ruin that."

Tony places a reassuring hand on your back. "You're not lying to her. You're just postponing the truth to protect her," he explains calmly.

You slowly nod, taking in his words. It made sense, in a way. But the guilt still lingered in your mind, gnawing at you. You knew that, eventually, you'd have to come clean.

*^~^*

You stirred from your sleep two days later, but the uneasy feeling in your stomach lingered. Your conversation with Tony was still vivid in your mind. You peered outside and saw SHIELD agents hustling and bustling around the grounds. You felt lost, unsure of what to do or where to be, so you did your best to keep a low profile and stay out of everyone's way. This was your first time seeing a mission play out before you. Sure, team members had come and gone before in the three months you had been living at the Avengers Compound, but being so focused on your recovery, you hadn’t paid that close attention.

FRIDAY interrupted your train of thought as you stood by the window. “Ms. Y/L/N,” she said, “Ms. Maximoff requests your presence in The Overwatch.”

You were confused. “The Overwatch? Where’s that, FRIDAY?”

“I’ll escort you there, Ms. Y/L/N,” FRIDAY said, opening the elevator doors.

As you stepped into the elevator, you noticed it was going down. The compartment sprang to life, and you counted at least three floors before it finally stopped. The door opened, revealing a futuristic virtual command center. Wanda stood with her back to you, looking up at a wall of monitors.

You couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow!"

Wanda turned at the sound of your voice, and her smile was enough to melt you into a puddle. "Impressive, isn't it?" she said.

You nodded, still in awe of the sight. "What is this place?"

"This is The Overwatch," Wanda explained. "It's a command center that allows Fury or other Avengers who aren't on a mission to provide support in real-time."

You walked over to where Wanda was standing. "It's only used when everyone gets called away or on big-scale operations," she added.

You looked up at the bank of monitors, each displaying a name in the corner. Your eyes quickly found Natasha's, labeled N. Romanoff. Next to her, you spotted T. Stark, S. Rogers, B. Banner, T. Odinson, C. Barton, B. Barnes, S. Wilson, K. Bishop, Y. Belova, P. Parker, and C. Danvers.

"Am I even allowed to be in here?” You asked.

"Technically, no," Wanda replied with a smirk, "but this is my first time running point on a mission, and I could use the company."

Curiosity getting the better of you, you asked, "Who are they after?"

"Unfortunately, that information is classified," Wanda replied, typing away on the keyboard and pulling up a map, "but I can tell you they are in Europe."

"Well, that narrows it down," you joked, trying to lighten the mood.

Wanda sighed and sat before the command module, motioning for you to join her. "I wish I could tell you more," she said, "it's so much more stressful sitting in here than being out in the field with the team."

You tried encouraging her, saying, "Hey, at least you're safe here."

“Yes, but I feel so helpless," Wanda admitted while monitoring the team's vital signs. "Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful to Fury for agreeing to let me ease back into the swing of things, but the loss of control scares me.”

The tense atmosphere was palpable in the comms as Steve's voice cut through, "Wanda, we're on our final approach. ETA, 30 seconds."

Natasha's raspy voice chimed in, "How are we looking?"

"The approach is clear—five guards in the courtyard outside the building.

"I got it," Tony interjected. You heard muffled groans on the other end of the comms as Tony dismantled the threat in a matter of seconds. "We're clear outside."

Everyone, turn on your body cameras," Wanda commanded as the monitors rose to life, giving you a first-person point of view of what everyone on the team was seeing.

"Nat, the security office is two doors down on your left," Wanda directed.

"Noted, I'm on my way," Natasha confirmed.

"When do I go in?" Peter's voice sounded eager on the comms.

"Hold your position, Spider-Boy," Yelena said. "Patience is key."

"Yeah, Peter. You're too eager. Just slow your roll and wait for the signal," Kate Bishop said.

"So is being quiet, Kate Bishop." Yelena cut in again.

I can't believe this is happening," you said involuntarily.

"Shh," Wanda whispers.

"Who is that?" Thor asks as he catches his hammer flying towards his monitor screen.

"Is that Y/N?" Carol asked between shots.

"No, it's not," Wanda lied to protect you.

"It is Y/N! What are you doing in The Overwatch, Willy Wonka?" Tony asked.

“Aww, they’re having a date night,” Clint joked sarcastically as you watched an arrow fly away from his camera and out of sight.

"Everyone, please be quiet. You're clogging the comms," Bucky demands irritably.

"Let's all be civil," Sam adds.

“I concur,” Bruce agreed.

"How are we doing, Nat?" Steve asked as he knocked out another security guard.

"I'm bypassing the firewall, Natahsa replied, typing away on the keyboard. “There. The Iris Detectors are down.”

"On my signal," Wanda spoke calmly. "Disabling the dome cameras in 3, 2, 1. Go.”

Sitting in front of the bank of monitors, you found yourself momentarily bewildered. You weren't sure which of the screens to focus on as the team moved in unison. Each one displayed a different angle of the action, and you didn't want to miss a single moment of what was unfolding before you. You watched with bated breath as they efficiently made their way through the building, their movements purposeful and precise. It was a sight to behold - you had never seen such determination and skill in your entire life.

Despite seeing footage of the Avengers on the news over the years, watching them firsthand was an entirely different experience. You felt incredibly fortunate to be able to call them your friends. As they worked towards the second level, you couldn't help but feel a sense of awe wash over you. These were some of the most powerful beings on the planet, and yet they were risking their lives to protect others. It was a humbling and inspiring sight to behold.

As the team entered the building, you watched Bucky effortlessly kick in a door. "I'm in the lab," he announced, his voice calm and collected.

Tony's voice crackled through the comms, "Do you see the mainframe?"

"There's two, which one is it?" Bucky replied, scanning the room.

"Open the silver panel," Tony instructed.

With a few hard pulls, Bucky managed to pry off the front of the mainframe. Suddenly, the sound of shattering glass filled the air as Carol crashed through a nearby window with a guard's arms wrapped tightly around her neck.

Without hesitation, Bucky turned to assist her. "Keep going! I got this," Carol shouted, her voice slightly strained.

Tony's voice cut through the chaos, "You should see the mainframe HiperSockets that provide high-speed TCP/IP connectivity within the central processor complex."

"For fuck's sake, in English, Tony!" Bucky shouted, his frustration palpable.

"Language,” Steve reprimanded.

An alarm began to blare as red lights flashed, signaling the imminent arrival of more guards.

"Bucky and Carol, eight more guards are heading your way," Wanda's voice sounded over the comms. "Thor, you're the closest."

"I'll be right there," Thor answered.

You watched as The God of Thunder bounded down the stairs and into the lab. In a thunderous flash, he took out all eight guards, leaving the room eerily silent.

"Cut the blue cable!" Tony finally shouted.

Bucky pulled out a pocket knife and quickly sliced through the blue cable.

The rest of the team arrived on the scene, and the lights inside the mainframe went out, plunging the room into darkness.

"How do we know for sure it's down?" Kate asked, her voice laced with concern.

Natasha fired three gunshots into the mainframe, causing the container to smoke.

"That ought to do it," she said, lowering her gun.

"Well done, everyone," Wanda praised. "I'm no longer seeing a heat signature from your location, which means the building is offline."

"Thanks, Wanda. Nice job on the point," Steve said. "We'll reconvene at 1800 hours to go over Phase Two."

Wanda looked exhausted as she removed her earpiece. The monitors had gone dark again; she leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath to calm herself down. After a few moments, she opened her eyes and looked at you.

"Wow, sweetheart. That was amazing! I've never seen anything like that in my life. You were great,” you said, touching her shoulder.

Wanda smiled weakly, feeling a sense of satisfaction mixed with exhaustion. "Thanks," she said, "it was touch and go. But I'm glad they were able to get the job done."

You nodded in agreement. "Are all the missions that intense?"

Wanda thought for a moment before answering. "Not all of them," she said, "but this is one of the most challenging ones we've had in a while. But that's what we're trained for, right?"

“Do you miss it? Being out there, I mean,” you asked hesitantly.

Wanda’s expression was pensive as she spoke, her gaze fixed on the ground. "It's a complicated situation," she began slowly. "On the one hand, I don't want to leave my boys. After we lost their father, I made a promise to Billy and Tommy that I would always be there for them, no matter what." She paused for a moment as if lost in thought. "But on the other hand," she continued, her voice growing softer, "sometimes I feel like I'm denying who I am. Like my magic knows, I’m turning away from that part of myself.”

As you sat beside Wanda, you suddenly realized something that had never occurred to you before – you had never seen her use her powers. You searched your memory for any instance where you had witnessed her abilities in action, but you drew a blank. The only thing you could recall was being in her arms after the accident before you passed out, but even then, you couldn't remember if she had used her magic to keep you safe.

You took a deep breath and reached out to hold her hand. "I know we've never talked about this, but is there a reason you've never used your magic in front of me?" you asked, your voice gentle and curious. You hoped she wouldn't take offense to your question, but you couldn't help feeling a little curious about this aspect of her life that she had kept hidden from you.

"I was wondering when you would finally ask me about this,” Wanda sighed softly. “Since Westview, I have had difficulty trusting myself to use my powers safely. I lost control in a way that I never have before, Y/N, and the thought of putting anyone through that again is unbearable." Her voice was tinged with remorse and sadness as she continued, "I don't want to be a danger to those around me or myself. I’m afraid to use my magic again, and I don't know how to overcome that fear."

As you stroked her hand, you spoke reassuringly to Wanda. "I know you're feeling guilty about what happened in Westview, but that was only one aspect of your powers. You've done so much more good in the world than bad, and the magic that courses through you is a testament to that. Remember all the times you used your abilities to save lives, protect innocent people, and bring hope to those in need. That is the true measure of who you are, Wanda. Don't let a single mistake define you or your legacy."

Wanda nodded as she looked at you. “Thank you, Y/N,” wiping the tears away that threatened to fall. “I know I can’t avoid using them forever,” she looked around the room, “I also know I can’t hide down here for the rest of my life.”

“Why don’t you show me?”

“What?”

“Show me your powers. Come on, let’s see what you got, sweetheart. It’s just us, and we’re three floors underground. Nothing can go wrong, I promise.”

She looked at you hesitantly before she finally agreed, “Okay.”

Wanda rose from her seat and walked to the middle of the room. She took a deep, cleansing breath, held out her left palm, and began slowly circling it with her right hand. You watched as an orb of red energy materialized in her palm. Pointing her hand in your direction, you felt the chair you were sitting in move underneath you as you quickly rolled across the room and stopped on a dime in front of the redhead.

“Woah,” you said in amazement.

“You haven’t seen anything yet,” she smirked.

Slowly but surely, she rose above you, her body glowing with a vibrant, otherworldly red magic that seemed to envelop you completely. Despite your shock, you felt a sense of calm wash over you as you basked in the warmth and comfort of the magic surrounding you. It was as if Wanda had wrapped you in a cocoon of pure energy, and you felt safe and protected in her presence. Her eyes were fixed on you, glowing like twin stars in the night sky. For the first time, you knew without a doubt that you were in the presence of a powerful being beyond your understanding. Yet, despite her immense power, she was your Wanda—gentle and kind.

The redhead reached down and gently touched your cheek. For a moment, you closed your eyes and basked in the warmth of her touch. You couldn't help but wonder if she felt the same sense of warmth and safety with you that you felt with her.

I do, Y/N," Wanda said with nothing but adoration in her eyes.

You were confused and asked, "Do what?"

"Feel the same warmth and safety you feel with me," she replied.

You wondered, "I, did I - I don't think I said that out loud, did I?"

"I heard your thoughts, love," she answered.

You repeated, "You heard me - you can hear my thoughts? Oh, God."

Wanda reassured you, "Oh no, no, Y/N. It's okay. This was the first time I've ever listened to your thoughts. Outside of work, I never invade anyone's privacy that way and never would with you without your permission or unless it was an emergency."

The redhead reached for you as she floated down. The red magic swirling around your joined hands.

"That was incredible, sweetheart. I know it will take some time, but don't hide this part of yourself away. It's wonderful.”

The sudden sound of the elevator whirring through the walls startled Wanda, breaking her concentration and causing her to dismiss her red magic hastily. "Shit! Quick, hide in that storage cabinet," she urgently whispered, pushing you towards the stainless steel structure.

"What?! Why?" You asked, confused and alarmed.

"I told you, you're not technically supposed to be here. The security clearance is off the charts," Wanda explained as she urged you towards the cabinet.

You sprinted towards the cabinet and quickly shut the door just as Maria exited the elevator. "Hey, Wanda. Great job on Phase One. Everything looks good on our end," she said, scrolling through her tablet.

“Thanks,” Wanda said, nervously tucking a strand of red hair behind her ear as Maria continued.

"I'm going to go brief Fury, but I'll be back for the check-in call at 6 pm to discuss Phase Two."

"Okay, see you in a bit," Wanda replied, relieved she hadn't noticed you.

As Maria stepped back into the elevator, she teasingly called, "Oh, and Wanda? If Y/N is going to be down here with you, at least give her a key card."

Wanda blushed at being caught. "I don't know what you're talking about," she fibbed.

"Of course, you don't," The Deputy Director chuckled. "Ask her to bring some Candy Bar chocolate for us later when she comes out from the storage cabinet," she added with a giggle as the doors closed.

You cautiously opened the door to the cabinet and stepped out, your cheeks reddening as you met Wanda's embarrassed gaze. She fished a blank white key card out of her pocket and handed it to you. "Here, now you can legally be down here with me."

You took the card and turned it over in your hands.

"Thanks," you said softly. “Tell Maria I'll bring some chocolate truffles later," you winked.

"Hmm, sounds good," Wanda smiled, leaning in to give you a gentle peck on the lips.

*^~^*

You arrived back at The Overwatch a few hours later, your white key card and a bag of truffles in hand. Maria was sitting next to Wanda in front of the wall of monitors. You sat down next to the redhead, passing the bag of chocolates to Maria.

"Aww, Y/N. How did you know? This is exactly what I wanted."

"Shut up,” you smirked. “So, what's happening here?" As you pointed toward the dark screens.

"We had the check-in call about forty-five minutes ago, and Steve should be reporting in any minute to confirm they've reached the target,” Wanda explained.

As if on cue, Steve's camera turned on, followed by the rest of the team. "Speak of the devil!” Maria exclaimed.

You could tell immediately that the team was in an underground passage, evidenced by the rough stone masonry surrounding them. Their footsteps echoed through the tunnel, adding an eerie quality to the tense atmosphere.

"Hey, Cap, you ready to go?" Maria asked, glancing up at the screen.

"Affirmative," Steve replied. “Although some of us are feeling a bit claustrophobic."

"Speak for yourself,” Clint chimed in.

"Tony, you want to take that one?" Wanda asked, typing away on her keyboard.

"Sure thing, Red," Tony replied. "Everyone, reach inside your suit pockets. You should find an object the size of one of Morgan's Legos."

Yelena, ever the skeptic, held up the miniature object Tony had referred to. "What the fuck is this?" she asked, her voice laced with annoyance.

"Language," Steve admonished.

"Oh, tell it to someone who cares," Yelena retorted, rolling her eyes.

"Sestra," Nat scolded, her voice echoing through the tunnels.

"It's a bit of technology I borrowed from our friendly neighborhood ant, and subsequently made even better,” Tony smirked. "Press the button on the top."

As one, the team pressed the button, and a small oxygen mask grew to fit in their hands.

"And we couldn't have worn these on the walk down here because?" Sam asked, his voice heavy with sarcasm.

"Because they only have a 24-hour oxygen supply," Tony explained. "We need to conserve as much as possible."

"Do I have to wear this?" Carol asked. "I can breathe in space. I'm pretty sure I'm fine down here."

"The vacuum of space is very different from underground," Maria said. "We don't want to take any chances. Put it on, please, Danvers."

“Why doesn’t the billionaire genius have to wear an oxygen mask?” She asked.

“There’s an oxygen supply built into the suit,” Tony smirked.

With a resigned sigh, Carol donned the mask, and the rest of the team followed suit. Wanda went over the topography of the catacomb, identifying key landmarks and intricacies that could help them navigate the maze-like structure safely.

In a hushed tone, you turned to Maria and asked, "Have they ever had an underground mission before?"

Maria shook her head and replied, "No, not like this. This is completely uncharted territory for them.”

"Okay, as we discussed," Steve said, pointing to the left. "Group one with me down the left tunnel; group two with Tony down the right tunnel."

As you observed intently, you saw each group setting off towards their designated directions, down the ancient corridors. The walls were adorned with intricate archways, illuminated by sporadic pockets of light that added to the mystique of the surroundings.

“Mr. Stark, this is amazing! Have you looked at these carvings and art? Easily third century—” Peter started.

“This isn’t a history field trip,” Natasha interrupted. “Pay attention to your surroundings.”

The group had been walking through a tunnel for some time when, without warning, felt the ground beneath their feet shake. A low and ominous grumbling noise echoed through the air, and everyone was thrown into the tunnel walls.

"FRIDAY, what's happening?" Tony asked urgently.

"Accessing the wave radar and enhancing the thermogenic signature," FRIDAY responded.

“Do you feel that too, Steve?” Wanda asked

Steve grunted as he struggled to regain his balance. "Yeah, is it an earthquake?" he asked.

"It's an energy surge, Boss," FRIDAY replied to Tony. "A core reactor holds together the primary stabilization of the tunnel structure."

"That's not first-century tech," Peter mumbled, face down on the ground.

Kate helped him up. "Yeah, no kidding, Sherlock."

Just as the group was getting back on their feet, Sam's voice cut through the tense silence.

"Hey! Hold it!" he shouted.

"What is it, Wilson?" Tony asked.

"Someone is watching us at the end of this tunnel," Sam exclaimed as he ran ahead of the group.

"Sam, wait!” Steve shouted.

"Lock onto Wilson," Maria said, standing up.

Wanda quickly shifted to Sam's primary camera and enlarged the visual. The mystery figure took two quick turns to the left as if they knew exactly where they were going. A third turn to the right, and Sam lost sight of the man for a split second. Looking around quickly, but to no avail, he said, "I lost them."

"How will he get back to the rest of the group?" You asked.

"Good question, Y/N," Sam replied.

Maria glared over at you. "Sorry, I keep forgetting they can hear me too."

"Sam, you're closer to Tony than Steve," Wanda said. "I'm pinging his tracker right now. Two lefts and a right should do it. And Steve and company, follow your tunnel about a half a mile down and then take a right, and you should meet up with everyone else."

The team wandered through the catacomb tunnel in silence, only the sound of their breathing and the stone under their feet breaking the stillness. When they were finally reunited, Tony broke the silence, "Okay, new plan. We're staying together."

Peter quickly agreed, "I'm with Tony on this one."

Yelena, standing nearby, murmured to Kate, "Color me surprised."

“Oxygen masks stay on, Nat,” Maria said pointedly.

"Yes, detka,” Natasha replied.

Yelena couldn't resist mocking her sister, "Yes, detka," she repeated sarcastically. But before she could carry on, Natasha pinched her arm, causing her to yelp in pain.

Thor shouted, "Knock it off, Lady Widows!"

Wanda added, "Thor is right. The catacomb can be disorienting, but you need to keep moving. Tony, I'm reviewing the National Geophysical Data Center records to assess your declination value and sending them to FRIDAY. Keep true north."

You turned to Maria, puzzled, "What did she say?" Having no clue what your girlfriend was talking about.

"They should turn right," Maria whispered.

You watched as everyone walked in a single-file line to the right, trying their best to keep their footing on the uneven stone. Suddenly, a second energy surge echoed loudly through the comms, causing everyone to turn their cameras downwards. Your heart raced as you gasped at the sight of cracks quickly forming between everyone's legs. Before anyone could react, the ground gave way beneath them, accompanied by screams and the sound of broken gravel.

Maria gasped, and Wanda put her hands over her mouth in shock.

"Oh my God!" You exclaimed. "What the hell just happened?"

Wanda asked urgently, "Steve? Tony? Can you hear me?"

Maria followed with a shaky voice, "Natasha? Come in! Anyone?"

"Shit," she said anxiously, picking up the phone in front of her. "All SHIELD agents, Romeo, Echo, Delta."

"FRIDAY, Code Red. Initiate Emergency Protocol 3000," Wanda ordered, running back towards the elevator and flipping a red switch under a glass cover.

"Compound shutdown initiated. Director Fury and Mrs. Stark have been notified and are en route to The Overwatch," FRIDAY responded.

You stood there, frozen, not knowing what to do with yourself. The shock of what you had just witnessed was so intense that your vision started to blur, and you felt as though you were about to pass out. Suddenly, you felt someone's arms on your shoulders, and you jumped slightly.

"Y/N? Y/N, love, stay with me, okay?" Wanda said, her voice soothing.

You looked up at her and then back at the monitors, pointing at them with a shaking hand. "They... it..." you stammered, struggling to form coherent sentences.

Wanda nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I know," she said, rubbing her hands up and down your arms in a gesture of comfort.

She slowly led you back to your seat, still holding onto your shoulders, and conjured a glass of water out of thin air. Taking it in your hand, you felt the coolness of the glass against your skin, which helped ground you and bring you back to the present moment.

*^~^*

Fury furrowed his brows and asked Maria, "When was your last point of contact?"

"Five minutes ago."

"Maximoff was running point?"

You didn't appreciate the way Director Fury was speaking about Wanda as if she wasn't in the room, but as an outsider, you chose to hold your tongue.

Wanda stepped forward before Maria could respond, "Yes, sir."

"What happened?"

“Two energy surges of unknown origin, but we didn’t have time to assess the cause before-." Wanda’s voice trailed off as she struggled to continue.

“Before you lost them,” Fury finished the sentence for her. Wanda nodded silently, unable to look the Director in the eyes.

“She didn’t lose them! It was an accident,” You suddenly heard yourself shout.

Pepper placed a hand on your shoulder as Fury’s gaze shifted over to you.

“Who is this?” Fury asked, pointing at you.

“I'm Y/N Y/L/N, sir. It's a pleasure to meet you,” you said, slowly reaching out your hand to shake his, but the gesture went unreciprocated.

"The car accident victim," looking you up and down. "She looks fine, why is she still here?"

You wondered why you were still here yourself, but Maria jumped in before you could respond, "She’s still recovering, Sir."

"Do you have clearance to be down here?"

You fumbled in your pocket for the white card Wanda had given you earlier. Fury looked at the card but gave you no response before turning back to Wanda.

“Are we still picking up pings from their trackers?”

“Yes, faintly,” Wanda said.

"Do we know how deep the catacomb goes?" He continued.

“Roughly 65 feet, but the fall could have taken them another 50 feet at least," Wanda stated.

“They were wearing oxygen masks?” Fury asked.

“Yes, but they only have a 24-hour oxygen supply if they haven’t been damaged,” Wanda explained.

Fury turned back to Maria, “How fast can we have a team of agents on the ground in Rome?”

Your ears perked up at finally knowing where everyone was.

“Four hours,” Maria responded.

“Make it three,” The Director said.

“Yes, sir,” Maria replied as she started to walk away.

Wanda interrupted calmly, "No. I’m going."

“Out of the question, Maximoff. You haven’t been back in the field since your return, save for her accident," Fury pointed at you. "I’m not sending you out there by yourself in the most dire moment in the history of SHIELD. You don’t know what you’ll find down there, and you’re still too unreliable."

“Unreliable,” Wanda repeated. “With all due respect, Director Fury, no one is more reliable than me. There is no one more powerful than me, and you and I both know that it will take someone who can move heaven and Earth, literally, to bring everyone home!”

Fury looked over at Pepper, who had yet to say a word—doing her best to keep her calm.

"Wanda can do it," Pepper declared, fidgeting with her wedding ring. "I have faith in her."

"You leave in 20 minutes,” Fury said, turning to Wanda. “But you're not going alone.”

“I’ll get changed right away, sir,” Maria assumed.

“No, you’re staying here, Hill. You’re too close to the situation with Romanoff.”

“Nick, I-“

“No, you’ll run co-point from here. That is final."

“Co-point? Who is-“

“I need to make a couple of phone calls. In the meantime, Maximoff, you get suited up. We’ll meet you in the hangar,” Fury ordered.

“Yes, sir,” Wanda acknowledged.

You followed Wanda out of the elevator and into the locker room, feeling nervous and determined. Wanda suited up with a look of solemn determination on her face. You didn't want to show your nervousness; Wanda had enough on her plate. She took out her phone, frowned at the screen, and then turned to you with a serious look.

“I need you to do something for me,” the redhead said.

“Of course, anything,” you replied, trying to sound as reassuring as possible.

“I need you to pick up Billy and Tommy and stay with them at my house. I know you have only met them once, but they liked you,” she started to ramble, her voice tinged with anxiety. “Pepper offered to take them, but I just can’t let her do that while Tony is…” she paused, her voice breaking with sadness.

You nodded understandingly, realizing the gravity of the situation. “I’ll do it,” you said, grabbing both sides of her face. “The boys will be okay, I promise. You bring everyone home.”

“Thank you so much, Y/N. I I already called the school to let them know you’ll be picking them up. I know I can trust you,” she said, her voice shaking with emotion. Your lips met in a kiss—one of comfort and reassurance.

The word trust was all it took for Onyx Petroleum and Sokovia to rush back to the front of your mind. But then you remembered Tony’s words. “If we take our eyes off the ball, bad things happen.” Wanda needed to focus. But God, it was killing you to keep this from her, even under the most dire circumstances.

You walked with Wanda to the hangar, an area of the compound you had yet to visit. The mood was a stark contrast from this morning. SHIELD Agents moved about the space with the same purpose and direction, but the energy differed. It was anxious.

You caught sight of Director Fury standing next to one of the Quinjets with two women you didn’t recognize, but it was clear Wanda knew both of them. She ran a few steps ahead of you and wrapped her arms around both of them in an emotional embrace.

“Y/N, this is Dr. Darcy Lewis and Captain Monica Rambeau,” Wanda said, motioning to each woman. “This Y/N Y/L/N, she said, touching your back.

“Hi, it’s nice to meet you both,” you said as you shook their hands, trying to keep your composure.

“Hi, nice to meet you too, Y/N,” Darcy replied warmly.

“It’s a pleasure,” Monica said, giving you a small smile.

"Captain Rambeau will be accompanying Ms. Maximoff to Rome, and Dr. Lewis will be running point with Deputy Director Hill from The Overwatch," Fury explained before glancing at his watch. "It's time to go."

Wanda looked at you with a mixture of anxiety and determination in her eyes. You tried to hide your nervousness, not wanting to add to her stress.

After a deep breath, Wanda spoke, "Billy and Tommy will be off from school in a couple of hours," she said, handing you her house keys. "Let them know that I'm working with the rest of the team, but don't give them any details. I’ll try to check in if I can.”

"Okay, sweetheart," you replied, taking the keys and putting them in your pocket. "Just make sure everyone comes home safe."

"I will," Wanda said with a nod, her eyes shining with determination.

As you leaned in to kiss the beautiful redhead, you felt a rush of emotion wash over you. Her soft lips met yours, and for a moment, everything else seemed to fade away. When you pulled away, you wrapped her in a tight embrace, holding her close to your chest. You watched as she walked towards the Quinjet, accompanied by Monica. Darcy and Fury were waiting by the side of the hangar, their faces solemn. You couldn't help but feel a sense of dread as the jet's engines came to life and slowly lifted off the ground. You stood there, watching as it climbed higher and higher into the sky until it was nothing more than a speck in the distance. As it disappeared from view, you felt a pang in your chest, as if a piece of your heart was flying away with it.

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sycamorelibrary754 · 3 months

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I just wanted to say a quick thank you for the support and feedback on my Guardian Angel series! 😊❤️

I’m having so much fun writing it, and can’t wait for you all to read the next couple chapters because things are about to get exciting.

#sycamorelibrary754blogupdate #guardian angel #wanda maximoff #wanda maximoff x reader #wanda maxmoff x y/n #wanda x you #wanda x reader

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sycamorelibrary754 · 3 months

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Guardian Angel

Chapter 8: Chocolate Coins

Summary: Things are looking up now. You are finally heading back to work at The Candy Bar, and you have taken a big step forward in your relationship with Wanda by meeting Billy and Tommy. Can anything bring you down today?

Warnings: None?

Word Count: 3.2k

A/N: I’m so excited! We’re headed for some angst and suspense in the coming chapters. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Guardian Angel Masterlist

“Are you sure you're ready?” Wanda asked cautiously.

The redhead had dropped Billy and Tommy off at school and then came over to the compound to help you get ready for your first day back to work at The Candy Bar.

“Sweetheart, we've talked about this. Helen and Bruce have cleared me: no more walking boot, no more sling. I completed the required month of physical therapy, and I feel good. I’m ready for this,” pulling an outfit out of your closet.

“Ugh…you’re right, you’re right,” flopping down onto the bed and covering her face with her hands.

You crawled onto the bed and lay beside her, still in your pajamas.

“Hey,” moving her hands away from her face. “I’ll be fine. Besides, it’s not like I’m fighting fires or anything. I’m bagging candy and scooping ice cream all day.”

The redhead turned sideways to face you on the bed. “Just promise me you’ll listen to your body. Sit down if you need a break; if there’s something high on a shelf, let Harper get it.”

You cut off her rambling with a gentle peck on the lips.

“What was that for?”

“It was the only way to get you to stop,” giggling at the redhead.

After a hearty bowl of frosted flakes and a steaming cup of coffee, Wanda drove you to work. You hadn't figured out what to do about a new mode of transportation yet, as your car was totaled in the accident. Honestly, it was the last thing on your mind at this point. All you could do was take your recovery one step at a time, and the next step was to go back to work.

^*~*^

Walking into The Candy Bar after almost three months filled you with excitement and nostalgia. The familiar aroma of sweets filled your senses, and you couldn't help but tear up at the sight. You had kept in touch with Harper, your best friend and business partner, over Zoom and FaceTime, but you had promised yourself that you would return to the store only when you could walk back into it on your own.

“Harper?” you called out.

“Surprise!”

The lights flipped onto reveal Harper holding one of your mini ice cream cakes in front of a banner behind the counter that read, Welcome Back Y/N!

“Aww, this is so sweet, Harper,” walking over to hug her. “You didn’t need to do this.”

“Oh, Please! I don't want to hear another word. This is a triumphant return; of course, we will celebrate.”

“Thank you so much. This means a lot to me.” You were so engrossed in hugging your best friend you almost forgot about the redhead standing beside you. “Oh, Wanda! Where are my manners?! Harper, this is Wanda Maximoff.”

“Hi, wow. Harper Bailey,” shaking Wanda’s hand vigorously. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for, you know, the world,” still shaking her hand.

“You’re welcome,” Wanda giggled and looked over at you.

“Okay, that’s enough, Harper,” you said, separating their hands.

“Right! Um, I’ll go turn the closed sign to open.”

“It’s been a while since I’ve been here,” Wanda said, taking the space.

You put on your Candy Bar apron and adjusted your name tag. It felt so lovely to be back in your work attire. You glanced at your watch.

“Sweetheart, don’t you have a meeting with the team at 10:30?”

“Oh, don’t worry about that. They won’t start without me.”

“Wanda, it's okay. Truly, you don’t need to hang around here all day. I’ll call you on my lunch break. Go, have a good day, and I’ll see you tonight.”

Wanda sighed and walked toward you. “Okay,” placing her hands on your cheeks, “but if you need anything at all, don’t hesitate to call me,” ending her speech with a kiss.

“I won’t. Bye, sweetheart.”

“Bye.”

You watched the redhead leave. Just as you did the first time she walked into your shop. The feeling of Deja vu was mutual, as Wanda glanced back at you with one final wave as she walked out the door.

“Man, do you two got it bad,” Harper said as she joined you at your side.

“Shut up,” blushing at the thought. “I’ve waited three months to say this, Harper. Let’s go to work.”

*^~^*

Steve's voice jolted Wanda out of her daydream, and she quickly refocused her attention on him. "What do you think about running point from the compound on this upcoming mission?" he asked her. "It'll let you get your feet wet before you're out in the field again."

Wanda considered the proposal for a moment before nodding. "Sure, I'm up for it. Whatever you need."

"Great," Steve said, looking pleased. "I'll make sure to give you all the necessary details as soon as we have more information on movement from the targets."

Maria stood up from her seat at that moment, signaling the end of their meeting. "Thanks, everyone. Let's reconvene in two days to finalize the plan.”

As Wanda approached the door, Bucky stepped before her, blocking her path.

"May I help you?" she inquired, puzzled.

"Okay, Wanda. What's going on?" Bucky asked, concerned.

Wanda tried to play it cool. "What do you mean?"

"You've never zoned out in the middle of a meeting before. What's on your mind?"

"Nothing," she replied, trying to dismiss the subject.

"You're a terrible liar, you know that," Bucky remarked, seeing right through her.

Wanda knew that Bucky had a knack for cutting through the bullshit. "Is it Billy and Tommy?"

"No, no, the boys are fine," she quickly dismissed the idea.

"Is it this mission? I can understand why you might be hesitant. It's been a long time since you've been out there."

"It's not the mission," she replied, turning around and walking back to the conference table.

Bucky followed her. "Then what is it?"

"It's y/n's first day back at the Candy Bar, and I'm just worried about her, that's all," Wanda confessed, exhaling deeply.

Bucky smirked. "You realize our job is vastly more dangerous than hers, right?"

"Yes, it's just... This is a big step in her recovery, and the shop means so much to her. I want it to go well."

"She'll be fine," Bucky reassured her, wrapping his arms around her. "She'll be home before you know it. Plus, it's movie night. You know how Y/N loves a good movie."

Wanda relaxed into Bucky's embrace. The super soldier had become a trusted friend, especially since her return to the team.

"Ooh, shoot," Wanda said, glancing at the clock. "I have to go pick up the boys at school, and if I don't leave now, I'll be late."

Bucky nodded. "Thanks for listening, Buck. I'll see you later."

"Okay, see you later," watching her rush out the door. Bucky could sense that Wanda was still concerned despite his attempts to reassure her.

*^~^*

“Thanks, and please come again," you said as you handed the customer her bag of candy and homemade chocolate chip cookie. "Phew," you added, wiping your brow with the back of your forearm.

“Are you okay?" Harper asked

"Yes, I'm fine. I just forgot what the afternoon rush was like."

"Why don't you take your lunch break now? I can handle things for a bit."

"No, that's not necessary. I can do it.”

“I know you can,” Harper touched your shoulder, "I just don't want your girlfriend on my case for not making sure you're taking it easy."

You laughed and replied, "Okay, I'll take a break. But not because of my girlfriend, because I know my limits.”

“Of course you do.”

You step out of the shop onto the quiet side street, craving fresh air. After munching on the delicious peanut butter sandwich and apple slices that Nat had lovingly packed for you, you take out your phone and dial Wanda's number.

As soon as she picks up, you feel a wave of warmth washing over you. "Hey, sweetheart! I've been thinking about you all day. How's everything going down there?"

You smile to yourself, feeling grateful for having someone who cares about you so deeply. "It's going well," you reply, strolling back and forth. "I didn't realize how much I missed the shop until today. I'm on my lunch break right now. What are you up to?"

Wanda chuckles, and you can hear the sound of her kids playing in the background. "Just picked up the boys from school. They're supposed to be doing their homework, but I'm pretty sure they're playing rock, paper, scissors."

You laugh, feeling like you can picture the scene perfectly. "Why do I feel like I would be right there playing with them?"

"Because you totally would," Wanda agrees, and you can't help but grin.

"I miss you," you confess, feeling a little pang in your chest.

"I miss you too," Wanda says softly. "I can't wait to see you in four hours and eighteen minutes."

You chuckle, happy to hear she's also keeping track of time. "You watching the clock too?"

"Maybe..." Wanda giggles, and you feel your heart swelling with love for this remarkable woman.

Suddenly, you hear a commotion from inside the shop. Harper is calling you urgently. "Hang on a second, Wanda," you say, quickly moving the phone from your ear.

"What is it?" you ask Harper, feeling your heart racing.

"There's a strange man in the shop," Harper whispers, looking at you with concern.

You feel a chill run down your spine. "I gotta go, honey," you tell Wanda. "Harper needs me. I'll see you in a little bit."

"Okay, bye, y/n," Wanda says, her voice filled with worry at the abrupt departure.

"Bye," you say, ending the call and rushing back inside the shop to face whatever danger might be lurking there.

As you scanned the shop, you noticed a man standing near the candy with his back to you. He wore a black leather jacket, gloves, and a black baseball cap. You felt a little uneasy and were just about to call Wanda back and ask for help when he turned toward you. Your breath caught in your throat momentarily, but you immediately recognized the familiar face and breathed a sigh of relief.

“Oh, for God’s sake! It’s okay, Harper,” you called out. “I know him. Bucky, what are you doing here?”

“Oh hey, y/n! Is this your shop? I didn’t realize...”

“Buck, what’s going on? Did Wanda send you down here? I was just on the phone with her. She sounded fine,” weaving through the rows of candy.

“Dear God, no. She has no idea I’m here. But you should’ve seen her during the team meeting this morning, y/n. So distracted with worry over you going back to work. I wanted to ease her mind a bit.”

“That’s very sweet, Bucky,” you said, patting him on the back. “As you can see, I’m fine.”

He nodded in agreement and wrapped an arm around your shoulder.

“You know, for an Avenger, I was expecting a more covert disguise,” you said with a smirk as you wiggled the bill of his hat. “Isn’t Tony in charge of ensuring you guys are badass in style?”

“I would rather take a bite out of brick than wear a superhero costume,” he chuckled.

You looked over your shoulder to see your best friend watching you with a look of confusion on her face.

“Come on, I’ll introduce you to Harper. You scared the crap out of her.”

“Oh, no. That’s okay. I should be getting back to work,” Bucky said, pointing towards the door.

“I thought this was work?”

“More like freelancing.”

“Hmm, I see… You want some ice cream?” you asked, gesturing towards the ice cream display.

Bucky peered over your shoulder at the menu on the wall. “Do you have Pistachio?”

“I think I can scare up some Pistachio,” you giggled.

*^~^*

After a long day at work, Wanda showed up to pick you up and drove you back to the compound. Despite your insistence that you could call for a ride, she was determined to take you home. As you got into her car, you expressed gratitude and apologized for the inconvenience.

"Where are Billy and Tommy?" you asked.

Wanda smiled and replied, "They're at the compound playing with Morgan. If you're up for it, I'd love to introduce you to them tonight. I know you've had a long day back, and it's a school night, so we won't stay long," she reassured you, "but I would love for them to meet the woman who's making me so happy."

As you listened to Wanda speak, you felt a lump form in your throat and had to look away for a moment to compose yourself.

You had longed for the day when Wanda would feel comfortable enough to introduce you to her sons, but you didn't want to push things too fast. You knew that they had already gone through so much pain and heartache in Westview after losing their father, and you didn't want to disrupt the new life that Wanda had worked so hard to build for them as a family of three. Despite your desires, you respected Wanda's boundaries and tried to be patient, hoping that one day, she would feel ready to take that step with you.

“Nothing would make me happier, Wanda.”

*^~^*

As you stepped out of the elevator and into the common area, you were greeted by the comforting aroma of food cooking. You spotted Maria and Natasha moving about the kitchen, preparing dinner. The sound of sizzling and chopping filled the air, making your stomach growl with hunger.

Maria noticed your arrival and greeted you, "Hey, y/n! How was your first day back at work?"

You placed your messenger bag on the counter and took a seat on the island, feeling the tiredness from the day setting in. "It was terrific," you replied, "I'm tired, but it's the good kind of tired. A successful day at the Candy Bar," you said.

Just then, Yelena walked into the kitchen with a bottle of Vodka and a shot glass. "Ah, perfect timing! The candy maker is home," she exclaimed.

Yelena explained that it was a team tradition to mark the occasion of someone recovering from an injury and returning to the field with a celebratory shot. Natasha quickly dismissed her sister's intention, saying that you didn't have to do it if you didn't want to.

But you liked the sound of it and picked up the glass, gesturing to Wanda. "To life," you said with a wink before downing the shot in one go.

Impressed, Yelena complimented you, "Congratulations, y/n. We're glad to have you here," patting you on the back as Wanda kissed you.

As you were chatting with Wanda, suddenly, you heard a commotion down the hall, and the next thing you knew, Morgan, Billy, and Tommy came running through the room.

“Careful!” Nat shouted as Tommy super-sped around the sofa.

“These must be the guests of honor,” you whispered to the redhead next to you. She just chuckled at your statement.

“Billy and Tommy, could you come here for a moment? I have someone I want you to meet.”

Billy and Tommy stopped at their mom’s voice and approached you.

“Boys, I’d like you to meet y/n. Y/N, this is Billy and Tommy,” Wanda gestured to each of her sons.

“Hi, I’ve heard so much about both of you from your mom. It’s nice to meet you!” You said, shaking both of their hands.

“Hi,” they both said, a bit shyly.

“Remember the special candy bags you two got for birthdays?” Wanda said. “It was from y/n’s shop, The Candy Bar.”

“Wow, you own a candy shop? That’s so cool! So you get to eat candy all day?” Billy asked, his eyes wide with excitement.

“I did for the first couple of weeks after I opened the shop,” you explained, “but I always had a nasty stomachache.”

“Did you bring any candy with you?” Tommy asked, looking at you with puppy dog eyes.

“Tommy,” Wanda smirked.

“No, that’s alright. Hmmm,” you rubbed your hands together. “I think I might have something,” you said, reaching behind Tommy’s ear and pulling out a chocolate gold coin.

“Woah! Cool!” Tommy exclaimed.

“I think you may have one back here as well,” you said, reaching behind Billy’s ear and pulling out another coin. “Oh, look at that, I was right!”

“Awesome!” Billy said.

“What do you say, boys?�� Wanda reminded them.

“Thank you, Y/N!”

“Yeah, thank you, Y/N!”

“You're welcome, guys.”

“Can we go back to playing now, Mom?” Billy asked.

“You may,” Wanda smiled.

“Oh, and Morgan, come here for a second,” kneeling to the little Stark’s level. “Ah, there we go!” Reaching behind the girl’s ear and pulling out another gold coin.

“Thank you, Y/N!” Morgan gasped with joy.

“You’re welcome, honey,” you said, wrapping her in a hug.

All three kids ran off happily back toward Morgan’s room.

“That was a surprise,” Wanda said. “Since when are you a magician?”

“You don’t know everything about me yet,” you smirked, repeating the exact words she said on your first date. “It’s part of the magic that is me.”

“Ah, I see,” Wanda said, wrapping her arms lovingly around your neck. “Well, I can’t wait to see what other tricks you have up your sleeve.”

“I’m just getting started,” you winked, feeling a rush of affection for the redhead.

*^~^*

The day had been long and tiring, and you were looking forward to movie night with the rest of the team. After saying goodnight to Wanda and the boys, you joined the others in the living room, where they were bickering over which movie to watch. Kate and Clint couldn't agree on the genre, but eventually, they settled on an action movie that you weren't particularly interested in. You found a comfortable spot on the end of the sofa and snuggled up in your favorite fluffy blanket.

Tony was sitting next to you, reading the newspaper, one of the many things that intrigued you about him. The entire compound was futuristic and filled with state-of-the-art technology, but Tony still enjoyed the simplicity and controversy of the printed word.

As you watched the movie, a name on the newspaper's front page caught your eye. You asked Tony if you could see the paper, and he handed it to you. The headline read,

"Onyx Petroleum Company seeks permission to drill on remnant Sokovian soil. Y/F/N Y/L/N, Y/M/N Y/L/N to meet with Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Your heart sank as you read those words. No matter how far you ran, your parents always found a way to return to your life in the most unexpected and disastrous ways. You tossed the paper aside, feeling troubled and uneasy.

"Excuse me, everyone," you said, standing up. "It's been a long day, and I'm pretty tired. I think I'll call it a night. Goodnight, all."

You walked towards your room, feeling the weight of the news on your shoulders. Tony was the only one who noticed the troubled look on your face. He picked up the newspaper and read the headline. His heart sank, and his blood boiled. Without saying a word, he got up and followed you to your room, determined to help however he could.

#guardian angel #wanda maximoff #wanda maximoff x reader #wanda x reader #wanda x you #billy maximoff #tommy maximoff #natasha romanoff #maria hill #steve rogers #bucky barnes #yelena boleva #kate bishop #mcu #the avengers #fluff #light angst

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sycamorelibrary754 · 3 months

Text

Guardian Angel

Chapter 7: Pinot's Palette

Summary: Your recovery is coming along nicely and it’s finally time for your first official date with Wanda. You go to great lengths to ensure that it is perfect.

Warnings: Mentions of injuries.

Word Count: 5k

A/N: This has been my favorite chapter to write so far. I hope you enjoy!

Guardian Angel Masterlist

Your phone emitted a small ding, pulling your attention away from the book you were reading. You glanced at the screen and saw the latest reminder in your schedule - it was time for your second follow-up appointment with Helen. Your heart sank a little as you realized that you were still unable to walk, which meant that getting to the Med Bay in your wheelchair would be a challenge, as always. To make matters worse, your left arm was still in a sling, leaving you continually reliant on your newfound friends to help you accomplish even the simplest tasks around the compound. You couldn't help but feel weary of the constant need for assistance, but you were hopeful for some good news today. It had been over a month since the accident and you were eager to get back to work soon.

Wanda had taken Billy and Tommy to soccer practice, leaving you on your own. Thankfully, Natasha kindly offered to accompany you to your appointment. Standing with her arms crossed, she watched as you tried to convince her that you didn't need her assistance. You showed her how you could use your right hand to push the wheelchair and then use gravity to move forward.

Natasha humored your demonstration for a total of ten seconds before she had enough of your stubbornness. She grabbed the handles of the wheelchair and started pushing you down the hall. Frustrated, you grumbled but let the widow take over.

“Beep, beep,” Nat called out as she rolled you rolled into the Med Bay.

“Y/N, we’re all set for you,” a nurse announced.

“Want me to come in with you?”

“Sure,” as the nurse starts to roll you away.

You were familiar with the routine by now. X-rays and an MRI were conducted to evaluate your recovery. Fortunately, test results were instantaneous in the Med Bay. A luxury you were thankful for. A few minutes later Dr. Cho knocked and entered your room.

“Hi, y/n,” sitting down in front of the hologram interface and opening your patient file. “How are you feeling today?“

“Honestly, this week has been a bit tough. I'm still experiencing some soreness on the left side of my stomach and chest, but my headaches have become less frequent.”

“The discomfort you're feeling on your left side is normal after the splenectomy and the procedure on your punctured lung. You may experience some residual and referred pain for a while. I'd also like to remind you to avoid screen time as much as possible while you're still experiencing concussion symptoms,” raising an eyebrow at you.

“Don’t worry,” Nat interrupted. We’ll make sure she stays off the screens.”

“Overall, I'm pleased with how your recovery is progressing," Helen said as she brought up the images from your MRI. "The cradle has significantly sped up the healing process following your surgery. As you can see here," she pointed at the screen, "there is very little scar tissue and no inflammation around your abdomen or chest. This is exactly what we want to see.”

You appreciated Helen's optimistic and calm demeanor. She had been with you every step of the way since you were rushed into her operating room, and you weren't sure how you could have managed this last month without her.

“So, that was the good news,” rubbing her hands together. “Do you want to hear the great news?”

“That wasn’t the great news?”

“Your fractured ankle has healed well over the last month. This means that you no longer need to use the wheelchair," showing you your X-ray image. "Instead, we will fit you with a walking boot for the next couple of weeks. You can take it off at night, and if everything goes as planned, you should be able to remove it, along with your sling, in two weeks.”

“Wow," you said, running a hand over your face in relief.

If all goes well, I foresee you being able to return to work in a few weeks,” she added.

"Thank you so much, Helen.”

*^~^*

You and Natasha stepped off the elevator and walked into the common room. You realized that it had been a long time since you had walked anywhere and you would never take the simple act of walking for granted again. You took a seat on the sofa and checked your phone to see if Wanda had called. Since you had both been honest about your feelings, you couldn't go long without speaking to the redhead.

A hand reaches out from behind and takes your phone. “Nope.”

“Hey!”

“You heard what Helen said. No screens while you’re still having concussion symptoms.”

“Come on, Nat,” you complained, reaching for your phone. “I feel fine right now. Wanda was supposed to call me after my appointment and I don’t want to miss her.”

"I’ll hang onto your phone and let you know if she calls,” holding it above her head.

Taking advantage of your newfound mobility, you stood up and tried to grab your phone with your good arm.

"Maria! Heads up," Natasha yelled to her girlfriend as she walked into the room.

The Deputy Director caught the phone in one swift motion before it hit her in the face.

"Please give me my phone,” you pleaded.

"Hey, you’re standing! That’s great.”

"Thank you, Maria. May I have my phone as a reward?"

She looked past you at Natasha, who shook her head in defiance.

"Sorry, y/n," she was just about to toss your phone back to Nat when it started ringing.

Maria smiled and showed you your phone screen lighting up with Wanda’s name.

"GIMMEE!" You shouted as Maria tossed it over your head to Nat.

Natasha answered the phone and switched over to the speakerphone.

"Hey, Wands," she said resting her head in her hand as she leaned on the counter.

"Nat? Why are you answering y/n's phone? Is she okay?"

"She’s fine. Helen just told her to stay off the screens for a bit while she’s still having some lingering concussion symptoms," Natasha said.

"She’s still having concussion symptoms?! We FaceTimed for an hour last night and she didn’t say anything. You tell her that we are going to have a long discussion about following Helen’s orders after I drop the boys off at soccer practice," Wanda said.

"Oh, don’t worry. She’ll get the message," Natasha responded with a smirk.

"Thank you, Nat. I’ll be there in about half an hour.”

"Okay, bye," Natasha ended the call and promptly put your phone in her back pocket. "You could try to come and take it, but I warn you, I’ve taken down Hydra agents in less time than it would take me to push you over."

You grumbled and walked back over to the sofa with Natasha following you closely.

"That’s more like it," Natasha said, lovingly patting the top of your head. "Now, may I interest you in a peanut butter sandwich?"

"Sure… with chocolate milk?"

"Oh my God, what are you, eight?"

"Says the superhero offering me a peanut butter sandwich.”

"She’s got you there, babe," Maria snickered, plopping down next to you on the sofa.

"Fine," Natasha said before heading back into the kitchen.

"So, you and Wanda," Maria sheepishly grinned, as you turned beet red at the mere mention of her name. "That’s wonderful," patting you on the shoulder.

"Hey, watch this," she smirked. "Nat! Y/N wants marshmallow fluff on her peanut butter sandwich."

"Hell no! Do I look like I work at the Candy Bar?" Natasha yelled from the kitchen.

You both lapsed into laughter on the sofa.

*^~^*

You were having your lunch with Natasha and Maria in the kitchen when FRIDAY interrupted.

"Ms. Y/L/N, Ms. Maximoff is on her way up."

"Thank you, FRIDAY," taking another sip of your chocolate milk.

Natasha whispered to Maria, "This should be good."

You heard the elevator doors open to the common area. "Alright, where is she?"

"In here!" you called out, standing up and taking physical inventory just before Wanda entered the kitchen.

"You better not be looking at your phone or watching television because—" Wanda stopped in her tracks at the sight of you standing.

"You're... you're standing," she said, subdued by shock.

"Yeah, two more weeks with the walking boot and the sling, and then I'm fully mobile again," you said, a small smile curling your lips.

Wanda stood silently for a moment before running toward you. "This is wonderful, y/n. I'm so happy for you," she said, wrapping her arms around you.

You grunted slightly as she inadvertently squeezed your left side.

"I'm sorry!" she said, pulling back quickly. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, still a bit sore on this side, that's all."

Wanda ran her hand softly over your side before looking into your eyes and then down at your lips. You sensed her intention as she kissed you gently.

"Well, that was anticlimactic," Maria's voice cut through your intimate moment.

"Nat, Maria, when did you get here?" Wanda asked.

"Oh my God," Natasha exasperated. She pulled your phone out of her back pocket and handed it to Wanda. Maria simply wiggled her eyebrows and gave you a knowing smile as she followed Nat out of the room.

*^~^*

You lay propped up on Wanda's bed. You didn't change any of the decor, but the simple addition of your favorite books and fluffy blanket made her room feel more like home to you. Truthfully, you relished the opportunity to learn more about Wanda as you took in the intricacies of her favorite things meticulously placed with care around the space. Wanda traced shapes on your arm as she rested her head in your lap.

"That's a beautiful painting," you said, admiring the landscape on the wall above her armoire.

"It's the Valley of Sokovia," Wanda said lifting her head to follow your eyes. "My grandmother Katerina was a gifted painter. Before the war broke out, she would paint a variety of Sokovian landscapes across the country. She used to say that painting was her soul upon the canvas, a story of colors and rising hope.”

"I've admired it every day since I've been here. It's exquisite."

"It was on my grandparents' wall forever. It felt like it spoke directly to my soul in a language I knew at my birth. I wanted so much to paint like my grandma when I was a little girl, but Pietro and I had to grow up quickly and suddenly learning to paint didn't seem so important anymore," Wanda said, fidgeting with her hands. "After they passed, my mother hung the painting in mine and Pietro's bedroom to remind us that our home was beautiful. Not just a war-torn country forgotten by the rest of the world."

Your face softened at her story. "I'm so sorry that you grew up under those circumstances."

Wanda let out a deep sigh, her mind lost in memories of the past. “Despite the tumultuous times, there were moments of pure joy and happiness that I cherish dearly. Playing with Pietro, the aroma of our mother's homemade Paprikash in the air during family dinners. The nights spent watching classic American sitcoms with our father to improve our English.”

You listened to Wanda reminisce so vividly that you could almost see the memories dancing in the reflection of her eyes.

“They were simple yet beautiful moments that instilled a sense of gratitude in me. They remind me of all the blessings I have in my life - my health, my newfound family, my adorable boys. She hesitated for a moment before adding, "And you."

You looked down at Wanda staring up at you and couldn't help but smile.

"I feel the same way. The magic is in the little things,” you said, running your hand through her hair. "I was thinking... we haven't had our first official date yet, and I would love to take you out this weekend," staring down at Wanda's head in your lap. "If that's something you would like to do, of course," you added quickly.

"You're so cute," Wanda said, reaching up and caressing your cheek. "That is something I would very much like to do."

Your stomach exploded in butterflies. "Okay! Don't worry, I'll take care of everything. Umm, Saturday. Is Saturday good?" you asked, rambling happily.

"Perfect. Billy and Tommy are having a sleepover at a friend's house, so I'm all yours. What did you have in mind?"

"Hmm, I think you'll just have to wait and see," you smirked. "I want it to be a surprise."

*^~^*

“Help me!” You shouted as you burst into Yelena’s room.

“I would be careful about shouting that particular phrase in this building,” Yelena answered calmly. The blonde didn’t even bother to look up, too occupied with polishing her widow bites. “You’re liable to turn around to a variety of weapons pointed in your direction, candy maker.”

“I need some advice.”

“Is that so?” Putting down her widow bite and raising an eyebrow at you. “Well, it just so happens that I am excellent with the advice.”

“What happened?!!” Kate bursts in bow and arrow drawn with Carol by her side, hands glowing blue.

You tried to duck a potential shot, but you still didn’t have your balance and proceeded to fall back on your butt.

“See what I mean?” Yelena smirked.

“Jesus!” Your heart pounding. “Everything is fine, I just wanted Yelena’s advice on something.”

“Oh,” Lowering her bow with an heir of disappointment.

“We’ll just go then,” Carol said.

“No, wait. You can stay too. I need all the help I can get.”

Kate circled back to Yelena’s bed and Carol helped you up onto the couch with her.

Wanda and I are going on our first official date this weekend, and I was wondering—“

“Oh my god! That is so exciting!” Kate shouted. “Where are you taking her? Well, probably somewhere amazing, right? I mean it would have to be to impress the Scarlet Witch. That’s a lot of pressure. Wow, are you nervous? What are you going to do?”

You blinked a couple of times, as everything Kate just said hit you like a ton of bricks.

“Holy shit. What was I thinking? I don’t know what I’m doing. She deserves the best, I should just tell her I have to cancel,” you rambled as the blonde widow stood and walked toward you. “What excuse do you think would work best? Maybe—Ouch!”

Yelena gave you a soft slap across the face.

“What was that for?!” Touching your cheek.

“You were spiraling. Granted, it was Kate Bishop’s fault,” glaring over at the young archer. “Trust me when I say this, y/n. Wanda's outlook on life has changed significantly in the past year. What the little witch cares most about are her boys, everything else is secondary. Which means she must care about you to bring you into her world. Trust your gut, she will love anything you plan as long as you're together.”

“Wanda is sentimental,” Carol added. “She would love a date that you put some meaningful thought into planning.

“Sentimental and meaningful,” the wheels turn slowly inside your head.

Okay, Thank you three. This was helpful,” rising slowly from the sofa. “I’ll see you later.”

*^~^*

“You’re supposed to be resting!” Nat called out between punches.

“I was!” you shouted from the side of the ring. “I need your advice!”

The widow dodged her opponent’s punch then twisted his arm behind his back and pinned him to the mat.

“Take five, Bennett,” rustling the trainee agent’s hair before standing and walking towards you.

“What’s up?” Stepping out of the ring and wiping her face with a towel.

“Wanda and I are going on our first official date this weekend and I was hoping you could give me some insight on what she would appreciate?”

“Hmm,” taking a sip of water from her water bottle. “Wanda appreciates thoughtfulness, y/n. I know that sounds ambiguous, but it's true. Show her you're paying attention.”

*^~^*

The car arrived at Wanda's house at 7:00 pm sharp. You had wanted to pick her up yourself, but Helen and Bruce forbade it. They insisted that you needed to fully recover, with no shortcuts. This was how you found yourself in the back seat of Stark's 1959 Racing Green Aston Martin.

"Thank you so much for offering to drive tonight, Pepper," you said.

"No problem, y/n. We're happy to play a small part in your special evening," Pepper replied.

"Not to mention, your little destination is down the street from one of our favorite restaurants," Tony added from the front seat.

You grabbed the single red rose from beside you and took a deep breath.

"You got this, Willy Wonka!" Tony cheered.

You rolled your eyes at his nickname for you as you got out of the car. Walking up the embellished concrete path to her front door, you couldn't help but feel nervous. Stepping up onto the porch, you looked back at Tony and Pepper, smiling and giving you a thumbs up.

You took one final cleansing breath before ringing the doorbell. You heard footsteps on the other side of the door a few moments later, straightening your suede coat and running a hand through your hair just as Wanda opened the door.

"Hi," she said softly, blushing at you.

"Hi, wow, you look beautiful," you said, taking in her appearance.

Her red hair was styled in an updo bun. A few loose strands fell down the sides of her face. A white peasant blouse, light-wash jeans, and brown boots completed the look.

"Thank you. I wasn't sure if this was okay since you wouldn't tell me where we are going. You said casual date night..." she trailed off as she slipped on a rust-colored corduroy jacket.

"It's perfect," you said, handing her the rose.

"Oh my. Thank you, y/n. It's lovely."

"I was going to get you a whole bouquet, but I didn't want you to have to carry it or stop to put it in water," you rambled.

"It's perfect," she repeated your words.

You offered her your hand as you stepped off the porch.

She looked down at you and giggled, "I should be the one offering you a hand, sweetheart. You're down to two working limbs."

"I believe in chivalry," you said, smiling at the redhead.

You walked to the car and opened the door for Wanda. As she slid in, you followed behind her.

"Hi Wanda, good to see you," Pepper said.

"Good to see you too. Thank you so much for driving us tonight," Wanda replied.

"Okay, kids. Off we go," Tony announced. "Please keep your hands, legs, feet, and arms inside the car at all times."

*^~^*

The car slowed to a stop at the corner of Washington Street and Chester Avenue.

"Alright. Have fun, you two," Tony smirked.

"We'll pick you up in a bit," Pepper added.

“Okay, thank you again for the drive,” you said. “Enjoy your dinner!”

You watched the car drive off before reaching for Wanda's hand. She took your hand in hers and smiled at you.

"So, are you finally going to tell me where we're going?"

"You'll see," you sang as you walked hand in hand down the sidewalk a dozen or so yards before stopping in front of a shop.

Wanda looked up at the storefront lit up with fairy lights and read the sign:

Pinot's Palette

"What is this y/n?"

"You said you always wanted to learn to paint like your grandmother. I thought you might like to start tonight," you explained. "I signed us up for a 45-minute Paint and Sip class. They give you step-by-step instructions on how to paint a really beautiful picture, and there's wine and appetizers. I thought it could be fun," you trailed off shyly.

"I don't know what to say, I- this is so thoughtful, y/n. Truly."

"Shall we?" you asked, opening the door for her. You were greeted immediately by a tall brunette with glasses.

"Welcome to Pinot's Palette! I'm Sarah, your instructor for the evening. Your class starts in about 20 minutes, so you can go ahead and grab a glass of wine and some appetizers in the meantime."

"This place is so cute!" Wanda said.

"Agreed," you replied, admiring the warm and intimate space. A variety of paintings was displayed proudly on the walls from past classes.

Wanda poured both of you a glass of Pinot Noir. You swirled the glass a bit before taking a sip.

"Mhmm, delicious," you said.

"Definitely on the dryer side. Medium body with bright acidity," Wanda said, letting the wine breathe before taking another sip. "Silky tannins, with hints of raspberries, cherries, and vanilla."

You simply stared in astonishment. "Okay, that was incredibly sexy. How do you know so much about wine?"

"You don't know everything about me yet," Wanda smirked as she turned and walked toward the food spread.

You followed closely behind her like a lovesick puppy.

*^~^*

"Okay, welcome to Saturday Night Sip and Paint class, everyone. Tonight we're going to paint a simple yet beautiful full-moon lake scene. So let's get started!"

You and Wanda followed along as Sarah demonstrated each step on her canvas at the front of the class. You were thankful that it was your non-dominant arm in the sling, so you could still paint.

You started by mixing the perfect tints for your masterpieces. But, you couldn’t seem to get it right. Yours were uneven and messy, while Wanda's were solid and smooth.

Frustrated, you mutter to yourself, "This shouldn't be this difficult. I mix chocolate for a living, I should be able to mix paint." As you look up, you notice Wanda giggling at your struggles.

“You're enjoying this, aren't you?”

“Just a little bit.”

You can't resist the opportunity to make her smile. You dip your finger in the white paint on your palette and playfully boop Wanda's nose, leaving a white dot behind. She looks at you with a mix of surprise and amusement.

“Stop it, y/n. You’re going to get us in trouble,” she whispered, laughing softly.

“Okay, but honestly, you look adorable.”

*^~^*

"Your backgrounds look great!" Sarah said, walking by and admiring what you and Wanda had painted. "Ooh, Wanda! I love how you used a bit of Prussian blue in the corners. It adds depth."

Wanda beamed with pride as you smiled at her. You were having a wonderful time with her, and you didn't want it to end.

That is pretty,” you added. “Not to mention, my favorite color.”

“Is it?”

“Yes, I’ve always loved a strong blue,” washing your brush in the glass of water.

“Any particular reason?”

You sighed and shrugged your shoulders. “It’s tranquil and calm. Two things that I’ve tried to bring more of into my life over the years.”

“I know how you feel,” the redhead empathized, as she took another sip of wine. “The last year of my life was so chaotic, I vowed from now on to only surround myself with things and people who bring me a sense of serenity.”

You nodded in understanding, as Sarah grabbed the attention of the class again.

“Alright everyone, now we’re going to add the moon to our paintings. It’s really simple, everyone go ahead and pick up a spare paper plate,” holding one up. “Then trace around the edge like this to make a circle.”

You watched as Wanda traced her moon. Her tongue adorably poking out of the side of her mouth in concentration.

“There we go!”

She looked over at you, still sitting there with your paper plate in your one good hand looking down at your sling.

“Oh, I’m sorry y/n. Here, let me help you.”

“It’s okay, Wanda. I got it.”

You put down the plate, picked up your small brush, and dipped it in the off-white paint. In one fluid motion, you painted a perfect circle.

“Wow, that was smooth. How did you do that?”

“When you work in a sweet shop and you make a living scooping ice cream or frosting cupcakes all day, it bodes well if you can make a perfect circle,” you giggled.

“Hmm, I see,” lips pursed to stop herself from smiling. “I wonder what other hidden talents you’re keeping from me.”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Wiggling your eyebrows and taking a sip of your wine.

After you added the silhouette of the pine trees to your paintings and the reflections and ripples in the water, you were on to the final touch of adding stars and a comet to the sky.

You dipped your fan brush in the white paint and flicked it toward the canvas to create a random star pattern. Picking up your liner brush, you added a comet to your sky. Everyone signed and dated their paintings. You added a small heart in the corner of your canvas to serve as a reminder of your first date with Wanda. You looked over at the redhead to see that she was adding a second comet into her sky.

“Two comets? Now that is a miracle.”

“One for Billy and one for Tommy. They’re my miracles.”

“They certainly are,” kissing her cheek as she finished her painting. “I hope I get to meet them someday.”

“I think you will,” smiling at you.

After class, everyone had a photo taken with their finished painting. You both held them up proudly as Sarah used Wanda’s phone to take the picture.

“Thank you so much, Sarah. We had a wonderful time,” you said, hugging the young woman.

“Yes, I’m going to tell all my friends about this place. It was wonderful,” Wanda added.

“It was my pleasure. You two come back anytime.”

*^~^*

As you left the shop and stepped into the cold night air, you quickly sent a text to Pepper to let her know that you were finished. She responded promptly, telling you that they had just paid the bill and would be there shortly.

"Tony and Pepper will be here in a few minutes. Shall we sit?" you asked, gesturing to a green metal bench a few yards away.

"Sure. Don’t think I’ve forgotten that you still need to take it easy just because we’re out and about tonight,” leading you to the bench.

You sat down next to her and took in her profile, feeling a surge of affection. You had always felt that Wanda was different, not just because she was one of Earth’s mightiest heroes, but because she was sweet and genuine. You couldn’t wait to see where your journey together would take you. Wanda looked over at you, sensing that you were staring.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm just so happy to be here with you."

"Me too,” loose strands of her red hair blowing in the soft night wind.

Slowly, you leaned in and kissed her, feeling her warmth and love. Your stomach exploded with joy at Wanda's touch. Suddenly, the sound of a car horn broke you from your reverie as Tony pulled up beside you and rolled down the window.

"Excuse me, hi. I'm looking for a witch and a candy maker for a live-action Hansel and Gretel," Tony joked.

"You're an idiot," Wanda deadpanned, sliding into the backseat next to you.

"No funny business in the backseat, you two," Tony warned as he pulled away from the curb.

“How was your painting class?” Pepper asked

“It was wonderful,” Wanda said, holding up her painting.

"You painted that? Wanda, that is gorgeous!" Pepper exclaimed.

"She's a natural," you said, stroking her hand with your thumb.

"You flatter me.”

“It’s true. Your grandmother would be proud.”

Wanda blushed at your compliment as you leaned over and kissed her cheek.

*^~^*

Tony slowed to a stop in front of the redhead’s house. You stepped out of the car and walked the her to the front door, clutching her painting and the single red rose you gifted her. She unlocked the door and set the painting and rose down just inside the entryway.

"I had an amazing time tonight, y/n. It was so special, I couldn't ask for anything more," Wanda said, smiling at you.

"Me too, it was wonderful. I asked everyone for advice because I wanted our first date to be perfect. Then I remembered the story you told me about your grandmother’s painting, and I knew-" You were cut off by Wanda's lips on yours. The kiss was filled with passion, a million loving thoughts condensed into a moment.

As you pulled apart, her hand trailed down your cheek and she smiled, biting down on her lower lip. "I'll talk to you tomorrow, y/n."

"Okay. Goodnight, Wanda," you said, watching her walk inside and close the door behind her.

You turned around to see Tony and Pepper ducking down in their seats, pretending they weren't watching you from the car. "Subtle," you said, sliding into the backseat and shutting the car door.

“We didn’t say anything,” Tony said, holding his hands up in defense.

Once you arrived back at the compound, you immediately got into your pajamas and removed your walking boot. You were exhausted from the excitement of the night, but it was worth it. As you snuggled into your covers, your phone dinged. You opened the notification to see the picture Sarah took of you and Wanda holding up your paintings. Wanda had texted you: "I had a great time tonight. Every moment with you is a work of art."

You blushed profusely as you read her text before sending back your reply: "I have a beautiful muse.

Placing your phone on back on your nightstand, you laid back down. Adjusting your sling, you placed your good hand behind your head and stared up at the darkness of the ceiling, lost for words. You couldn't believe that Wanda Maximoff had left you speechless. It was the first of many times she would do so.

#guardian angel #wanda maximoff #wanda maxmoff x y/n #wanda maximoff x reader #wanda x you #natasha romanoff #maria hill #yelena boleva #kate bishop #carol danvers #tony stark #pepper potts #mcu #the avengers #fluff #romance #first date

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sycamorelibrary754 · 4 months

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This is so cute 🥹

Oy, with the rookies already

Summary: Training Yelena and Kate is harder than you had expected.

Natasha Romanoff x SuperSoldierFem!Reader, Yelena Belova, Kate Bishop.

A/N: This is a bit more focused on Reader, but Natasha is there to be the best girlfriend ever. There are mentions of violence and blood.

Keep reading

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sycamorelibrary754 · 4 months

Note

slightly unrelated question but, what would you say monica is up to in the guardian angel universe?

it just made me think, how darcy is involved, would you think monica is adjusting to her powers somewhere? do you think she’d be anti wanda or would you think of her as one of the people who’d kind of defend what she did?

again, not super related, it was just a thought i had and i love little details about people’s AUs, even the parts they don’t write :)

Hi Anon! 😊 Sorry it took me so long to answer this. Personally, I think that Monica is learning how to use and control her powers somewhere. Ultimately, I like to believe that she would defend what Wanda did in Westview in a similar way to how Nat and Maria do in Guardian Angel. Understanding of the pain she was in and knows that she wouldn't knowingly hurt anyone.

#guardian angel #wanda maximoff #wandavision #monica rambeau #sycamorelibrary754asks #anon ask #thanks anon!

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sycamorelibrary754 · 4 months

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Happy New Year!

Thank you! Happy New Year!! 🎊

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sycamorelibrary754 · 4 months

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A Christmas Carol

Summary: You are visited by the spirits of three of your loved ones on Christmas Eve.

Genre: Family dynamic, Comfort, Angst with a Happy Ending.

Pairings: Reader x Tony Stark, Reader x Natasha Romanoff, Reader x Vision, Reader x The Avengers (all platonic)

Word Count: 4.6k

Warnings: Mentions of past trauma, grief, and death.

A/N: This fic is based on the plot of A Christmas Carol and takes place yesterday and today in the MCU canon! Flashbacks are in italics. I really enjoyed writing this and I hope you enjoy it as well. Merry Christmas!

Every night was a futile tussle of conflicting thoughts. If you sleep, you can forget. If you forget, you feel the pain of losing them all over again in the morning. It was a tragic loop of grief that you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy.

The Battle for Earth had sent you into a spiral of despair and darkness. How could it not? You lost your father, the woman who had become a second mother to you, and one of your best friends. It had only been two months, but those closest to you were doing their best to try and keep you afloat.

As autumn turned into winter, you receded even more into yourself. The holiday season only served as a reminder of all that you had lost. Before you knew it, Christmas Eve was upon you and a knock on your door broke you out of your grief-stricken thoughts.

“Y/N?”

You grunted in response, as Pepper slowly opened the door. A stream of morning light breaks through your dark room.

“I’m taking Morgan ice skating, I know she would love it if you came with us.”

“No, thanks.”

Pepper sighed as she took a seat next to you on the edge of your bed.

“Oh sweetheart,” her voice cracking. “Your dad wouldn’t want to see you like this.”

“That’s just it,” staring at the same spot on the wall across from your bed that you had been looking at for the better part of two months. “He’s not here to see it. Dad is gone, and he’s never coming back.”

“No, he’s not, and nothing I can say is going to bring him back. I know nothing will ever fill that hole in our hearts, but life doesn’t end for us,” emotion creeping up on her. “All we can do is keep his memory alive. Live life with the same curiosity and love that he did.

You remembered the day you walked into Stark Tower for the first time. You were six, and your mother had passed away unexpectedly. She rarely ever spoke of your father, only to say that he was very smart. You were frightened, to say the least when your mother’s attorney picked you up from Child Protective Services. It had always just been you and your mom.

What felt like an endless car ride ended with you standing in front of the most intimidating building you had ever seen in your little life. You walked into a large office with full-length windows at the opposite end that overlooked New York City. A blonde woman in a skirt and matching suit sat behind the desk, while a dark-haired man with a goatee in a t-shirt and jeans stood beside her looking very nervous.

The CPO officer greeted the two, and then there was some brief legal jargon your six-year-old mind didn’t understand.

The officer leaned down to your level, “Y/N, this is Tony. Your dad.”

Tony just stared at you wide-eyed until Pepper smacked him on the arm.

“Hi kid,” snapping out of his trance and smiling at you.

“Hi,” you said shyly.

Your dad never stopped calling you kid, even when you grew up and started fighting alongside him as an Avenger. Tony was so proud of you after your first mission. He celebrated for 24 hours straight, recounting every move you made to anyone who would listen.

But now there were no more celebrations. No more, “hey kid”, and no more late-night talks with your dad in his lab eating pizza. It all ended the moment your father snapped his fingers. Saving your life, but sacrificing his own. He was your hero, and you would miss him forever.

You threw yourself into Pepper’s arms.

“Are you sure you don’t want to come ice skating? Get out for a little bit,” rubbing her hand up and down on your back.

“No, you two go have fun,” you sighed.

“Okay, we’ll be back in a bit, please try and eat something,” rising from the bed and walking towards the door. She looked back at you one last time.

You pulled the covers back over your head and prayed for unconsciousness.

*^~^*

Your phone rang an hour later. You reached your hand out from under your blanket feeling around for the rectangle. You pulled it back into your cocoon and your eyes adjusted to the light emanating from your phone. It was Yelena. You slid your finger across the screen.

“Hello?”

“Why are you not ice skating with Pepper and the little Stark?”

“Because Christmas activities are for happy people, and I don’t even know what happy is anymore,” you admitted candidly.

“I see.”

You heard shuffling on the other end of the line before a knock on your door broke through your blanket barrier. You ignored it.

“What are you doing?”

“Well, I’m trying to get a friend to have a drink with me, but she won’t answer the damn door.”

“FRIDAY, open the door,” you grumbled as you lifted the blanket off of your head.

Yelena stood in the doorway holding a bottle of Vodka.

“I’m not in the mood, Lena.”

“I don’t care, my sister is gone and we’re having a drink,” throwing the blankets off of you.

You shivered as the air hit your body. Yelena sat down on the floor with her back up against your bed. You slid out of bed and onto the floor. The blonde took in the dark circles under your eyes and the thinness of your face. She knew you barely slept or ate these days. Her room was across from yours. Truthfully, she hadn’t been sleeping or eating well either, but she was better at hiding it. Yelena poured you both a shot of vodka. You took the shot in one fluid motion. It burned all the way down.

You could almost hear Natasha’s raspy voice.

“What happened dorogoy?” Running toward you as you stumbled off the Quinjet.

You had just come home from a solo mission. A week alone in the field, limited contact. Natasha spotted the blood on your suit but relaxed when she realized it wasn’t yours.

“I couldn’t save them all, Nat,” tears welling up in your eyes. “I wasn’t fast enough.”

You started to sway as you grew weak with exhaustion. Natasha embraced you and didn’t let go. Public displays of affection were not her thing, but when it came to you normal rules never applied. She led you inside and straight to her room. She cleaned you up and poured you a shot of vodka. You weren’t much for hard liquor, but you needed it today.

“One fluid motion,” handing it to you.

You drank the shot and slammed the glass down on the floor. It burned all the way down.

From the moment you came to live with Tony, the Black Widow had a soft spot for you. You reminded her of herself a bit. A young girl who was thrown into a new and frightening reality after the only life you had ever known was tragically torn from you.

Truthfully, there wasn’t anything Natasha wouldn’t do for you. Of course, no one could replace your mom, but Nat had become like a second mother to you. helping you with your homework, staying up late when you came home from your first date, teaching you to defend yourself when you told her you wanted to join the team.

When it was decided that the Time Heist was your only chance of beating Thanos, your father forbade you from going.

“No, Y/N! No way. I’m already going out of my mind at the thought of losing Pepper and your sister. I won’t lose you too,” Tony argued.

“I should be there, Dad! I’m a part of this team too. You need me,” you yelled.

“No,” he said firmly. “I need you to survive,” looking you in the eyes before turning and leaving your room.

You turned away in anger before picking up a pillow and throwing it toward the doorway. Natasha caught it without a flinch.

“I know how you feel, Y/N.”

“No, you don’t, you’re going to Vormir!”

“You feel like you’re being sidelined because your dad thinks he can do this without you, but that’s just it, honey,” walking toward you, “He can’t do THIS without you,” holding her arms open wide. “This life. He would never forgive himself if something happened to you… and neither would I,” tears in the redhead’s eyes.

You embraced Natasha as your tears started to fall. “I love you, Nat.” You didn’t want to let her go, but you knew it was time.

“I love you, dorogoy. See you in a minute.”

Yelena’s shot glass hitting the floor snapped you out of your flashback.

“How long are you going to stay in this room?”

“It doesn’t matter,” your eyes trained downward.

“She wouldn’t want that for you,” tilting her head to try and meet your gaze, receiving only silence in return.

“How are you doing it? How are you living?” barely above a whisper. “You had so little time with her,” finally looking up at Yelena.

She sighed deeply. “One day at a time.”

“I feel like I’ve lost another mom,” you cried.

“I know,” Yelena hugged you as her tears began to fall too.

“You want to go for a walk with me? We can throw snowballs at the LARPers,” trying to regain her composure.

“No thanks, Yelena.”

“I understand,” the blonde nodded, as she grabbed the bottle of vodka and walked toward your door. “My sister loved you, Y/N. Don’t let the way she died change the way you live.”

*^~^*

After Yelena left, you climbed back in bed. Content to spend the rest of Christmas Eve in the darkness of your grief. You dozed off again and when you awoke this time it was to the faint sound of Christmas music playing down the hall. You couldn’t understand how anyone could celebrate Christmas this year. Not without all of them.

A soft knock on the door preceded a voice you knew and loved.

“Y/N, it’s Wanda. Can I come in?”

You made something of a squeaking noise which Wanda took as a yes. The door opened slowly and the redhead poked her head inside. Her eyes wandered the room before spotting the lump in the middle of your bed. Clothes scattered across the floor and your uneaten food on the side table. She couldn’t stand to see you in this squalor. A simple wave of her hand vanished the clutter from your room.

“Your thoughts are so loud, sweetheart.”

“Sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. Truthfully everyone’s thoughts are pretty loud tonight.”

“Everyone?”

“We’re having a little Christmas Eve gathering in the common area. No one’s in the mood, but Pepper and I agreed it was important for the kids to have some semblance of a normal Christmas. As best as we could give them, anyway… Please come watch the kids open a Christmas Eve gift. Billy and Tommy have been asking for you,” Wanda implored.

“I can’t go out there, Wanda. I can’t look at the kids without crying,” your words muffled by the pillow.

“Welcome to my world,” Wanda muttered.

You lowered the blankets and were met with Wanda’s green eyes. Emeralds that cut through you with ease. The same bags that graced your under eyes had found a home under hers as well.

“What is grief, if not love persevering?" Wanda said softly.

“Get that from a Hallmark card did you?” Rolling your eyes.

“No,” her eyes dropped to her lap. “Vis said that to me.”

“Oh, Wanda. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to-“

“It’s okay,” caressing your cheek. “I know you’re hurting too.”

“He was my best friend.”

You sat quietly in the compound library as the sun warmed your face. You came up here now and again for some much-needed alone time. Your eyes chasing the words across the pages of Little Women, your favorite book.

The door opened, interrupting Jo’s conversation with Laurie.

“Oh, excuse me, Ms. Stark. I didn’t realize anyone was in here.”

“No, Vis. That’s okay, come on in.”

“Why, thank you. You’re too kind,” shutting the door behind him.

“What brings you to the only quiet corner of the compound?”

“I’ve come to read my daily book,” Vis stated matter-of-factly.

“You read a book every day?” Surprised by the admission.

“Yes, it only takes me a few moments, but I’ve made it a goal to read every book in this library.”

“The Mind Stone is in your forehead, aren’t you already omnipotent?” you giggled.

Yes, but I’ve found humans equal parts fascinating and odd. They think order and chaos are somehow opposites and try to control what won't be. But there is grace in their failings and elegance in their knowledge. Better still, they have taken to writing it all down,” holding up a book in excitement. “What better way to understand them than to read the words they have left behind.”

“You have a beautiful soul, Vision.”

He smirked. “I’m a synthezoid, Ms. Stark. I was not blessed with a soul.”

“Not to my eyes.”

“I remember that day,” Wanda smiled, wiping a tear from her eye as she left your thoughts. “Vis floated through my wall rambling on about how you were going to introduce him to your favorite writers, and trade books.”

You nodded silently, afraid if you said anything else that you would break down.

“I can’t imagine how you feel Wanda. You’ve lost so much already,” unable to look at the witch.

“I should know enough about loss to realize that you never really stop missing someone – you just learn to live around the huge gaping hole of their absence,” staring at the same spot in the wall that you were.

“I’ll tell the boys you aren’t feeling well,” snapping out of it.

The guilt wracking your mind as Wanda walked away.

“I love you, Y/N. Vision did too,” gently closing her door behind you.

*^~^*

It wasn’t long before the distant melody of Christmas music faded away and silence greeted you once more. You prayed for a restful sleep. One that would carry you through the next twenty-four hours so that you could forget Christmas and all that you were grieving.

Darkness fell upon your mind slowly but surely. As your clock struck 1 am, a breeze broke through the crack in your window. Small and cold, yet strong enough to bring your curtains to life. Golden light followed, illuminating your bed in a strong glow. Your eyes opened just as the light hit your cheeks. You stirred slightly as a voice emanated from the light.

“Kid… Come on, Y/N. Time to wake up.”

You sat up in a blaze of confusion and fear. The glow softened, revealing the familiar figure standing before you.

“Dad?” Your eyes were wide.

No, Santa Claus,” he scoffed. “Who else would it be?” Smiling at you like he had never left.

“This—this can’t be happening. I’m still asleep. You’re not here,” frantically trying to wake yourself up from this nightmare.

Come on, kid. After everything you’ve seen in your life, you’re going to tell me that ghosts are where your suspension of disbelief rests. I don’t buy it for a second.”

“Why are you here?” Gripping your blanket tightly.

“I’ve been watching you, Y/N. I have to admit I’m worried,” arms crossed over his chest. “My daughter doesn’t just give up when the world gets cold, that’s not how I raised you.”

“I’m not who I used to be… not without you,” bringing your knees up to your chin.

He held out his hand in front of you. “Come with me, Y/N.”

“No, Dad. I can’t,” choking up at the sight of your father reaching out for you.

“Rise, and walk with me.”

You hesitantly stood and took his hand. A surge of adrenaline coursed through your body at the feeling of his hand in yours again.

“Close your eyes, kid.”

You felt his hand resting over your heart as a warmth surrounded you.

When you opened your eyes, your bedroom was gone. You were standing on a snowbank. The fragile snowflakes were swirling around you and crunching under your feet.

“I know this place, you used to bring me here to go snowboarding when I was little,” taking in the winter scenery.

Hmm, until your broken wrist convinced Pepper that snowboarding wasn’t an appropriate activity for my little girl.”

“Hey, you were a great teacher. I felt like I could do anything,” looking around at the snow that blanketed every inch of your surroundings. “That’s how it always felt with you.”

A moment later, a child giggling broke through the muffleness of the snow.

“Come on, daddy! Faster!” You turned to see a much younger Tony Stark sliding down the small hillside on his snowboard with you in his arms.

He slowly came to a stop at the bottom of the slope and placed you down in front of him.

“Oh my God,” you whispered under your breath.

“This was our first Christmas vacation together. Right after you came to live with me, you remember? It was when you got your first—“

“My very own snowboard!!” Your younger self squealed as Tony pulled it out of a bag at the bottom of the hill. It was purple with pink polka dots. “Thank you, Daddy!”

You giggled at your innocent excitement. You watched as your dad helped you with your helmet and strapped your little feet onto the binding. “Now the key to snowboarding is bending your knees and keeping your shoulders square.”

“Woah!” Slipping slightly as you tried to gain your balance.

Tony then walked across the snow, leaving about a twenty-foot gap between father and daughter. “Okay, kid. Now bend your knees and turn your shoulders towards me.”

You looked up at your father. It may have only been twenty feet but to your six-year-old eyes, it looked like two hundred feet.

“I can’t do it,” you shouted. “It’s too far!”

“Yes, you can. Your dad is here to catch you.” Opening his arms out wide. “Every chance you take in life isn't going to be easy. But it will be worth it, I promise. You’re a Stark, Y/N, and we never give up when things get tough,” smiling at you with love in his eyes.

You hesitate slightly before bending your knees and turning your little shoulders towards Tony. Before you knew it, you were sliding down the little slope and into your dad’s loving arms.

“I did it, daddy! I did it!” You giggled with joy.

You sure did, Y/N,” lifting you over his head. “Her very first time on a snowboard ladies and gentlemen, we have a true natural here!” Your father exclaimed. Earning strange looks from the people around you.

You were overwhelmed by the cherished memory unfold before your eyes. Your father put a hand on your shoulder.

“You’re a Stark, Y/N. You don’t give up when things get tough. Pepper and Morgan need you, kid. They need you to remember who you are.”

You threw your hands around your father and sobbed. Even if this was only a dream, you thanked God for the opportunity to hug your dad again.

“I’ll always be with you, kid.”

You woke up with a shiver in your bed. Your eyes searched the room for Tony, but the room was empty. Of course, your dad wasn’t here. You rolled back over onto your side regaining your bearings.

*^~^*

As you finally began to doze off once more, you could just barely make out the blurry outline of your clock. 2 am. The light illuminating the crack below your door knocked the sleep from your eyes and the cobwebs from your brain. The door creaked opened slowly as yet another glow greeted you. This one was not as harsh, but softer and warmer. As the light gently dimmed, you recognized the silhouette immediately. Natasha.

“Nat?” Your voice cracked as your throat started to close.

“It’s okay, Y/N. I’m here,” the redhead reassured you.

“No, no you’re still on Vormir,” squeezing your eyes shut tight hoping that when you opened them again she would be gone.

“My body, yes. My soul, no,” sitting down beside you on the bed.

“I miss you so much, Nat, I don’t know how to do life without you,” words broken apart by tears as you hid your face in your hands.

“I miss you too, malyshka. Please look at me.”

You wiped your eyes and looked up at the ghost staring back at you.

“You’re more capable than you know, Y/N. From the moment that little girl walked into the tower, I knew you had something inside you that wasn’t so easily distinguished. Even if it feels dimmed now by all that you have lost, it will never truly go out. I hope it brings you some comfort to know that you’re not the only one who feels this way,” reaching for your hand.

As you felt her calloused hand wrap around yours, darkness overtook your senses, and the bed disappeared beneath you. When the darkness faded, you were no longer in your room, but in the hallway. Afternoon light still casts shadows on the walls.

“What are we doing out here?”

Natasha gestured toward your bedroom door just as it opened. Yelena emerged holding a bottle of Vodka, just as she had done a few hours prior. You watched as she closed your door behind her and walked back across the hall to her room. You followed Nat into her sister’s room. Yelena tossed the almost-empty bottle of Vodka on her bed before sitting down on the floor. Her lip trembled as tears began to slide down her cheeks. She reached inside her pocket and pulled out a strip of old photos from a Photo Booth. You recognized it immediately, both Yelena and Natasha had told you of their brief time together in Ohio. The mission that made them sisters.

“She seemed to be handling it so well,” you said to yourself.

“Oh, detka. You must know by now that Yelena buries everything until she self-destructs.”

I’ve been watching her. She has become more and more reckless on missions lately, Natasha explained. “It’s almost as if she doesn’t care whether she lives or dies…”

“That’s not true, that can’t be true is it?” You pleaded with Natasha.

“I fear if someone doesn’t notice the pain she is in soon, it may be too late.”

You called out for Yelena, but she couldn’t hear you.

“She needs you, Y/N. Don’t let what happened to me take your heart.”

“My heart left when Clint came back without you,” your eyes welling up again. “I should have been there, I should have stopped you!”

“I made a choice, detka. It wasn’t your responsibility,” wiping the tears that rolled down your face with the pad of her thumb.

“I love you, Natasha,” wrapping your arms around her.

“I love you too, Y/N. I’m always watching,” squeezing you tight.

All at once, the scene around you faded away. Your eyes shot open as you sat up in bed. She was gone.

*^~^*

You sat there in shock, unable to cope with what you had just seen. You had already lost so many, you couldn’t lose Yelena too. It was unbareable to ponder. All at once a soft whooshing sound suddenly hit your ear. You slowly backed up onto your bed until you bumped into the headboard. A hooded figure slowly floated through the wall and stopped in front of your bed.

“Who are you? What do you want?” Your voice trembling.

The hooded figure reached up and carefully removed its hood.

“Vision?” The name softly escapes your lips.

“Hello, Ms. Stark.”

“What is going on? Why is this happening to me?” Shouting in frustration.

We’re worried about you Y/N. You can’t continue down this path, you have so much more to do. So much more love to give.”

“I can’t do it, Vis. I’m so tired.” A mix of exhaustion and desperation poured out of you.

“Yes, you can, Y/N. Do you think we would have made the trip if we didn’t think you could?”

“I feel so lost,” your voice barely above a whisper.

“The ones you love are lost without you, Y/N. Every day that you spend in this room, the ties that bind this family together wither away. And once they are gone, they are gone forever.”

“What do you mean?”

“Come with me,” the synthezoid ordered.

You stood as Vision grabbed your hand. Your room melted away once more and you found yourself floating down onto an empty street.

“Where are we Vis?”

He pointed toward an entrance gate that you recognized instantly. You were on the street in front of the entrance to the compound. Snow falling softly all around you. As you walked towards the gate, a sign plastered across the metal came into view.

Avengers Compound closed indefinitely. Property sold by order of Pepper Stark, Stark Industries CEO.

“What is this Vision? Where is everyone?”

They’re gone, Ms. Stark. The Avengers are no more.“

“But, but…,” you stuttered. “I don’t understand?” Starting to panic.

A wave of his hand produced a newspaper that he somberly handed to you. The color drained from your face as you read the headline.

Avengers Are No More: The loss of the late Tony Stark’s eldest daughter proves to be the final straw for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.

“What is this Vis?” You could barely get the words out.

Fury begged you to go back out into the field. Despite Mrs. Stark’s protests, you are your father’s daughter; stubborn to a fault. You insisted on going alone, but you weren’t ready. Your focus was tattered and your reflexes were dulled. They couldn’t cope with losing you, Y/N. They blamed one another for what happened. It tore them apart.”

You reached for the gate in front of you, your knees going weak.

“Why are you showing me this, Vision,” tears streaming down your face as you sunk into the snow.

“Because there is still time, Y/N. Time for you to save your family and to save yourself, but you need to let your loved ones in. Find comfort in their embrace, and let them find comfort in yours.

“I will, Vis.” You sobbed “I won’t let it wither away. Please, just let me go back!”

Vision took your hands in his. You’re going to be okay, Y/N. You’re never alone. We’re always with you.”

Everything slowly faded away into nothing. You woke with a cry. You struggled to catch your breath as you touched your face and pinched your arms.

“I’m alive!” Sitting up in bed. “There’s still time.” You reassured yourself. “FRIDAY, what day is it?”

“It’s Christmas Day 2023, Ms. Stark.”

“Thank God!”

You jumped out of bed and ran out of your room.

“It’s Christmas! Wake up, you guys!” You shouted happily as you banged on Yelena and Wanda’s doors.

Pepper appeared at the end of the hall. Still in her pajamas with Morgan in her arms.

“Y/N? Are you okay? What’s going on?”

“I'm more than okay. It's Christmas and we're together! Hey, little sis! Come here,” grabbing Morgan from Pepper’s arms and kissing her cheek. “Should we go see what Santa brought you?”

“Yeah!”

You ran towards the living room with Morgan in your arms.

“What is going on?” Yelena mumbled emerging from her room with an impressive bed head.

“I was just about to ask the same question,” Wanda added. She wiped her eyes as Billy and Tommy ran past her towards the Christmas tree.

“A Christmas miracle,” Pepper whispered.

#mcu #the avengers #comfort #angst with a happy ending #tony stark #pepper potts #morgan stark #natasha romanoff #wanda maximoff #vision #a christmas carol

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sycamorelibrary754 · 4 months

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Hi guardian angel is beautiful. Wanda deserves happiness and if Kevin feige can't give her a happy screw him. I believe you can do it for us.

Thank you for the compliment! 🥰 I think Guardian Angel is beautiful as well. Oh boy 🫣 I will certainly do my best to give Wanda the happy ending she deserves. ☺️🥹

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sycamorelibrary754 · 4 months

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So thrilled you were my first customer! 😊

Got myself an early Christmas gift from the very talented @sycamorelibrary754. Love this Black Widow print

#black widow #artists on tumblr

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sycamorelibrary754 · 4 months

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Guardian Angel

Chapter 6: Compound Living

Summary: Your recovery continues in the Avengers Compound. You open up to Wanda about your past and have a heart-to-heart that may lead to something more for the both of you.

Warnings: None

Word Count: 2.5k

A/N: Sorry for the delay! The next chapter of Guardian Angel will most likely be posted after the holidays. I hope you enjoy!

Guardian Angel Masterlist

If you had to stare at another cup of jello, you might just scream. After being stuck in the Med Bay for two weeks, you were craving something sweet from the shop. You were surprised that the food wasn't better given that Stark could have brought up filet mignon if he wanted to. You were extremely grateful that you were finally leaving the Med Bay today, even though you weren't going far.

Wanda would be here shortly to help you move into her old room in the compound. The redhead had been coming to visit you almost every day when she wasn’t out on a mission or at home with the boys. It was the highlight of your day when she walked through your door and brought some much-needed color and personality to your plain old Med Bay room.

Every moment spent with Wanda you learned something new. Her childhood and the happy memories she had of Pietro, despite the struggles they faced growing up in war-torn Sokovia. She waxed poetically about her parents. How her father would bring home American sitcoms that she fell in love with while simultaneously learning English. The Chicken Paprakish her mother lovingly prepared.

Despite all the information you had learned about her and everything she knew about you, you still felt like you were holding back. You couldn’t miss the look she gave you when Dr. Cho said she couldn’t reach your parents, but you were too scared to mention the kiss you had shared when you first woke up after the accident. You feared that Wanda would dismiss it as a mistake caused by your shared vulnerability. However, you knew you couldn't avoid it forever.

Dr. Cho and Banner entered your room, interrupting your thoughts. "You're all set," said Dr. Cho, handing you your discharge papers and aftercare instructions. "Remember, your first follow-up appointment is on Friday."

“Thank you both so much. I'm really grateful,” you said, choking up.

“Okay, who’s ready to bust out of this joint?” Wanda announced pushing in a wheelchair.

Oh great, my driver is here," you joked, wiping your eyes before Wanda could see. "Will you ever stop treating me like a baby? I've made significant progress in my recovery thanks to the cradle.”

“Not a chance,” helping you shift from the bed into the wheelchair.

*^~^*

“Steve, Bucky, and Sam are at your apartment getting your stuff and Natasha should be back from the Candy Bar any minute with an update from Harper on the shop,” rolling you down the hall and into the elevator. “Because you can’t just rest and let yourself heal, you have to be a workaholic,” Wanda mumbled.

"I have never missed a day of work, not even when I had a fever of 102," you proudly declared.

Wanda sighed and said, "I'm sorry Y/N, but I don't think that's the kind of flex you think it is.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Maximoff," said FRIDAY.

“Oh, my God!” You exclaimed. “Who is that person?” If you could stand up from the wheelchair, you would have.

"Relax, it's only FRIDAY," Wanda said as she laid a hand on your shoulder.

“What?”

“Tony's AI interface is integrated into every function in the compound and can provide assistance with any needs.”

“I notice that you have a guest, Ms. Maximoff.”

“Yes, FRIDAY. This is Y/F/N Y/L/N. She’s going to be staying with us for a bit in my old room.”

Welcome Ms. Y/L/N. Please let me know if you need assistance.

“Hi FRIDAY, it’s nice to meet you too.”

“She’ll be your new best friend,” Wanda joked.

“Stark really can do anything,” you said.

The elevator stopped as FRIDAY announced your arrival in the living quarters. Doors opened to a stunning common area, leaving you speechless. Needless to say, it was much nicer than your apartment.

"Welcome to the common room and the kitchen," Wanda said, as she led you through the room. "We usually keep some late-night snacks in the fridge, and if you ever need something sweet, I can show you where Clint keeps his stash of chocolate," she giggled.

"This is amazing," you say, your eyes wandering around the room.

“What did you expect?”

“I don’t know. I mean, you hear rumors about the Avengers Compound, but you don’t know if it’s true. Oh my god! Look at that plasma screen TV! A Ps5!” Squealing like a little kid.

“Yes, when they're not working, you'll find the boys and some of the younger ones gathered around that ridiculous thing.

“I want to play!”

“Y/N, you only have one good arm.”

“So, I could still play! Call out moves,” you pleaded as Wanda rolled her eyes.

“Tony’s lab is down that corridor to the left. He’s usually in there tinkering away at all hours of the night until Pepper comes and gets him.” Wanda continues to roll you down a separate hallway, “Team bedrooms are down this way.”

You passed a few doors before coming to a stop. “This is my room,” gently opening the door and pushing you inside.

“Wow, Wanda, this is awesome.”

If you walked in a forest at first light, if you let the awakening green hues into your soul, that would be the sense that was her bedroom. There was a calmness, a serenity, a feeling of optimism. The same feelings you felt whenever she was in your presence.

“Thank you. It’s not as fancy as some of my teammates' rooms, but I loved it,” helping you out of the wheelchair and onto the bed. “I did my best to make it my safe space. So no matter what was going on outside, no matter what happened out in the field, I could come home and find my peace of mind again.”

“That’s beautiful, Wanda.”

As you looked up, Natasha called out "Knock knock" from the doorway.

“Reporting back from the Candy Bar, boss,” Nat said walking towards you.

“Oh God, I’m almost afraid to ask.”

“Relax, everything is fine,” Nat said as she sat down on the edge of the bed. “That Harper girl has the shop running like a well-oiled machine.”

Thank goodness, you exclaimed. "Do we need anything? I could place an order from here," you said, reaching for your phone.

"Y/N, you shouldn't be working. Your number one priority should be your recovery," Wanda interrupted.

You simply grumbled at her response before turning back to the Black Widow.

“I called Harper and let her know you were coming. Is there any chance she didn’t fangirl over you when you arrived?”

“If you consider knocking over a jar of jelly beans and dropping some kid’s ice cream on the floor keeping her composure, then sure. She was very composed,” Natasha said.

You ran a hand down your face, imagining your best friend's clumsiness. You said, "Thank you, Natasha. I owe you one. I have been going crazy not being there. It was a relief to have someone in there to keep an eye on the place.

“No problem, Y/N,” patting your leg. “Oh, and one more thing,” bringing her other hand out from behind your back. “I brought you back a little something.” Holding up a bag from your shop. “Harper told me what you liked. The first rule of compound living - guard your snacks or they will be eaten by one of the boys,” handing you the bag.

“You’re the best! I’ve been craving some sweets from the shop,” taking the bag.

“I know,” Natasha smirked. “Second rule of compound living - I know everything.”

“It’s true,” Wanda confirmed.

“Delivery!” Sam called out as he walked into the room carrying a couple of boxes with Steve and Bucky trailing behind with boxes of their own.

“Wow, did you pack up the entire apartment?” Nat teased.

“We wanted to be prepared for every eventuality,” Bucky said. “We weren’t sure what Y/N would need.”

“Wow, thank you so much, you guys,” you said.

Steve said, "We'll be happy to help you unpack after our meeting with Hill," placing down the boxes.

I'll come with you guys," Nat said. "See you in a bit, Y/N.

“Bye,” you waved.

Wanda fluffed the pillow behind your back before sitting down on the bed next to you.

“Comfortable?”

“Yes, very much so.”

“Is there anything I can get you?”

“No, I’m alright for now,” a small yawn escaping your lips.

“I should let you get some rest,” rising from the bed.

“Wanda, wait,” placing a hand on her arm.

She turned back toward you, her face curious.

There's something I need to share with you. It's the reason why I'm here, recovering away from my family," you say, your gaze fixated on the soft comforter. "You see, my parents and I are not on good terms. We're estranged.”

Wanda’s face softened at the admission.

“My parents founded Onyx Petroleum in California in 1978. They're not exactly Tony Stark rich, but pretty close. Growing up, I always felt resentful towards them - they were never the kindest people in the world, and their wealth and status just made it worse. But once I started researching climate change and the impact of fossil fuels on our planet, everything changed. It was disgusting to see the sheer amount of pollution that Onyx Petroleum, one of the world's top five most polluting companies, was responsible for. And yet, despite all of this, they still don't seem to care even an iota. It's just not right.”

Wanda's calming hand on your thigh pulls you back into the present moment as you take a deep breath.

“Throughout my entire childhood, my parents never failed to remind me that one day I would inherit and run the family business. When I turned 18, they presented me with a legal document that would bind me to take over the company as the Chief Executive Officer after completing my college education. The mere thought of it was enough to make me feel physically ill,” you look down at your lap as you recount the painful memory. "I remember the day I told them that I would rather live on the street than work for their business," you said softly. "I had always dreamt of doing something that aligned with my values and passions, and I knew that working for them would compromise that. But they didn't take it well. The very next day, they cut me off and kicked me out of their lives. It was as if I had never existed to them." Your voice cracks a little as you finish your sentence, and you take a deep breath to steady yourself.

"Oh Y/N," she said, gently placing a hand under your chin and tilting your head up. Your eyes glistened with tears that threatened to spill over.

“I moved in with Harper,” wiping at your eyes. “I funded my college education using the savings I had accumulated over the years and pursued a degree in entrepreneurship. Upon graduation, I took a leap of faith and established the Candy Bar with Harper. It has been the saving grace of my life," you breathed out, feeling a sense of release from the burden that had been weighing you down.

Wanda didn't respond immediately. As you looked up, you saw tears shining in her eyes. "I am grateful that you trusted me enough to share all of this with me. I am so sorry that this was your reality."

“It was a long time ago. I’ve built a life and a business that I love, and I don’t think about it for the most part. But, when I heard Helen say that she couldn’t get a hold of my parents after the accident… I don’t know,” you trailed off.

“I understand that the accident must have brought up some painful memories for you. Trust me, I know firsthand how much courage it takes to face such buried trauma," she said, placing her hands gently on top of yours. "You're an incredible woman, and it's a shame that your parents aren't here to witness the amazing person you've become.

You nodded silently before meeting the gaze of the redhead. Those beautiful green eyes caught your attention once again.

“If you ever want to talk about this I’m always here, or I can talk to Bucky about introducing you to Dr. Raynor. She’s a terrific therapist.”

After thanking Wanda, you thought the conversation was over, but you could see her contemplating something. "What's wrong?" you asked her.

Oh, nothing. Nothing’s wrong. I just… I’ve felt so guilty about what happened between us after you woke up in the Med Bay,” struggling to get the words out. “I felt like I took advantage of you and how vulnerable we both were in that moment.”

"Oh, thank God you finally said something!" you exclaimed, relief washing over your voice.

“What do you mean?” A look of confusion on her face.

"I felt the same way, but I was too scared to say anything. I've been wanting to bring it up for two weeks, but I was afraid you would dismiss it as a mistake in the heat of the moment," you rambled. "Then I thought maybe the reason you weren't bringing it up is because you did think it was a mistake, and I didn't know--" Wanda cut you off by placing a finger over your lips.

“Shhh…”

You didn’t realize that you were out of breath.

"I like you, Y/N. It's the first time I've felt this way about anyone since Vision, and it scares me. From the moment I saw you in that cafe, I haven't been able to get you out of my mind, and then when I saw you in that car..." She started to choke up.

I know," you reassured her. "I haven't stopped thinking about you either. When I woke in the Med Bay and you were there," reaching up and stroking Wanda's cheek, "I knew I was going to be okay.

Wanda leaned into your palm as her eyes met yours.

“It wasn’t a mistake, Wanda.”

“No, it wasn’t.”

As she leaned forward, you could feel your heart racing with anticipation. Suddenly, her lips met yours again for the second time. It was a soft and tender kiss at first, but then you felt Wanda's hands gently cup your face, pulling you closer to her. You could sense a deepening urgency in her touch as her lips moved against yours with a newfound passion. In that moment, you forgot about everything else - your worries, fears, past, and future. All that mattered was the intimate moment you were sharing with Wanda. When you finally broke the kiss, your eyes met and you both knew that you had found something special in each other.

*^~^*

After their meeting, Steve, Bucky, and Sam kept their promise and returned to help you unpack. When Steve knocked on your door, there was no answer. Upon slowly opening the door, he discovered that you were sound asleep on the bed. Your good arm was wrapped around Wanda, who was peacefully dozing while snuggling up against your chest.

“Should we wake them?” Sam asked.

"No, let them sleep. We can start unpacking the boxes," suggested Steve.

You woke up a couple of hours later with the afternoon sun shining on your face. Wanda stirs slightly next to you.

"Hi," you muttered wearily.

"Hey," Wanda said while stretching and looking up at you.

“I guess we fell asleep.”

“It’s lunchtime. You should eat something. Let me grab you some food,” she said, looking at her watch.

“I'll come with you. I'm tired of being cooped up in rooms.”

As the two of you sat up in bed, your eyes widened in surprise as you took in the state of the room around you. You couldn't help but notice that all your belongings had been carefully unpacked and placed in their proper places, giving the space a neat and organized feel. The room was adorned with delicate fairy lights that cast a warm, inviting glow around the space, while a beautiful bouquet of flowers sat proudly on the coffee table, adding a touch of elegance and charm to the overall decor. It was evident that someone had taken great care and effort in decorating the room, and you couldn't help but feel grateful and touched by the thoughtful gesture.

“Um, can FRIDAY unpack boxes?” you asked

Wanda smirked and said, "I don't think she can." Then she added, "In case it isn't clear, I think the team likes you too, Y/N."

“Wow,” you were completely amazed.

#guardian angel #wanda maximoff #wanda maximoff x reader #wanda maxmoff x y/n #wanda x reader #natasha romanoff #steve rogers #bucky barnes #sam wilson #avengers compound #avengers x reader #mcu #comfort

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sycamorelibrary754 · 4 months

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Thinking about making holiday treats with Florence Pugh 🥺

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sycamorelibrary754 · 5 months

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Merry Christmas

Summary: It’s the most wonderful time of the year. You and Natasha are off to the annual Stark Christmas Party. Little does the team know that a special surprise awaits them.

Genre: Fluff

Pairings: Natasha x reader, Avengers x reader (platonic).

Word Count: 2.7k

Warnings: None

A/N: This is part 2 to Happy Thanksgiving! I recommend reading it first, but it can be read as a stand-alone story as well. I hope you enjoy!

“Be down in a minute, malyshka!” Natasha called from your bedroom.

You were standing in the kitchen eating peanut butter out of the jar topped with chocolate sauce. A “homemade Reese’s” you dubbed it. Your first pregnancy craving that had Nat popping down to the corner grocery store at 2 am for the dynamic duo of ingredients.

“No worries, love!” Already dressed for Tony’s annual Christmas party at the compound. Clad in a green Sequin-Lace Halter Twist-Neck Jumpsuit, your baby bump beginning to show.

The click of Natasha’s high heels signaled her arrival a few moments later in a sleek long-sleeved red scoop-back midi dress that hugged her in all the right places.

“Wow, Nat. You look beautiful. Red is most definitely your color.”

“So you prefer it over the black,” she smirked as she put on her earrings.

“I didn’t say that now, did I,” with a wink.

“The baby enjoying its homemade Reese’s?” grabbing her clutch.

“Very much! I was thinking,” Putting away the chocolate and peanut butter. “Tomorrow we could make fudge!”

“Ah, because the baby has such a sweet tooth?”

“Yes,” you giggled.

“Well, whatever the baby wants, I suppose,” wrapping her arms around you in a loving embrace before leaning down and kissing your stomach.

“You ready to drop the baby bombshell tonight?” Patting the top of Nat’s head.

“Yes, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous,” sighing as she stood up. These are the same people who freaked out when they found out Clint had a family. How are they going to handle this?”

“Like the amazing aunts and uncles they were meant to be,” grabbing Natasha’s hand. “Plus, I think announcing it with the Christmas crackers is a cute idea.”

“I hope so,” placing a soft kiss against your lips.

“Frankly, I’m more surprised Yelena hasn’t blabbed yet.”

“Oh, that’s because I warned her if she told anyone I would make her run with me every morning at 5 am until the baby is born.”

“Well played,” high-fiving your wife.

“Thank you,” she smiled. “Now come on, let’s go get our holiday cheer on.”

*^~^*

The drive to the compound was even more beautiful during the holidays. A light snow fell as you passed house after house dressed in beautiful Christmas lights. Natasha placed her right hand on the center console. You softly intertwined your fingers with hers and placed a soft kiss to the back of her hand.

You are greeted by a rush of warm air upon entering the compound lobby. Natasha shook the delicate snowflakes out of your hair and off your coat. You both step onto the elevator and are welcomed by the soothing voice of FRIDAY.

“Merry Christmas, ladies. Welcome to the annual Stark Christmas party.”

“Merry Christmas, FRIDAY. How’s the party so far?” You asked as the hum the elevator carried you up to living quarters.

“The party is in full swing. Mr. Stark is currently treating guests to a medley of Christmas carols.

“Of course he is,” you giggled.

“You know, he only plays that baby grand piano when he gets a bit tipsy,” Nat said. “When we got home from our month-long undercover mission in Romania, he celebrated on the jet and then made us all listen to his rendition of Dancing Queen.”

“Aww, and I missed it!” Feigning disappointment.

The elevator dinged and the doors opened to joyous noise and laughter. An abundance of greens, reds, gold, and silver flashing here and there, adding opulence and brightness. Classic poinsettias tied in tradition, and shiny bows and foiled paper glistened under the 12-foot tall Noble Fir Christmas tree, inviting their recipients to sneak one open before the actual day.

“Hey, the Romanoff’s are finally here!” Clint exclaimed as his kids rushed over to both of you.

Nate jumped into your wife’s arms as you hugged Lila and Cooper. It seemed like every time you saw the Barton kids they had grown a bit more. It was thanks to Banner and Cho that you were carrying a child that would be half yours and half Natasha’s. Looking at Clint and Laura’s kids and how they resembled their parents, you couldn’t wait to see what features your little plum would inherit from each of you.

“How’s my little namesake?” Kissing Nathaniel’s cheek. Have you been practicing the punch and kick combinations I taught you?”

“Practicing the what?” Laura asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Oh, nothing,” Natasha smirked as Nate giggled.

“You two look great, I love the green and red thing you’ve got going on,” Clint said.

“Thank you. Lovely Christmas sweater by the way. I especially love Rudolph’s glowing nose.” you pointed.

“Hey, the Barton’s are the cream of the crop when it comes to ugly Christmas sweaters.”

“Clearly,” Nat teased.

“I’ll take your coats,” Cooper offered.

“Why, thank you. What a gentleman,” you winked at Laura as you handed him yours and Natasha’s pea coats.

You scanned the room and noticed Wanda putting the finishing touches on trays of Christmas cookies. You put a hand on Nat’s shoulder and motioned toward the kitchen. She gave you a quick nod as you meandered over to the counter.

“Wanda, Wanda, Wanda… what do we have here?”

“Y/N! It’s so good to see you,” wrapping you in one of her signature hugs that you loved so much. “This is my parents’ Christmas cookie recipe,” she proudly declared. “I convinced Tony and Pepper to let me handle the desserts this year. So, we’ve got cookies, the Viennese torte is in the fridge and the pumpkin pie is cooling.”

“Wow, you have been busy,” you smiled. “Anything I can do to help?”

“Yes, you can take a cookie and go mingle. I’ll be done in a few minutes,” handing you a charming little cookie decorated like Santa. You took a bite and couldn’t believe it. It was the best cookie you had ever tasted.

“Mhmm, Wanda! This is amazing.”

“That is why I will always vouch for homemade over store bought goodies. Now seriously, go mingle,” shooing you away.

You turned back around to see your wife sitting by the fireplace talking to Steve, champagne in hand. As you started to across the room you were intercepted by a festively-dressed Kate and Lucky.

“Y/N! Hey, oh my gosh, I haven’t seen you in so long! How are you?”

“I’m good! I see you and Lucky are enjoying the party,” petting the Golden Retriever.

“Absolutely, say hello to Santa Paws and Mrs. Claus!” Kate exclaimed. Unfortunately, we’ve lost Yelena. She’s our elf,” glancing around the room.

“Wait, Yelena’s dressed as an elf?” Eyes wide. “Oh, that’s fantastic.”

“Yeah, if you see her will you send her our way? We’re supposed to be taking the photo for our holiday card tonight.”

“Nothing would make me happier,” you smirked with a hand on Kate’s shoulder.

You bid the young archer and pooch farewell and rejoined your wife.

“Hey, deka,” Wrapping her arm around your waste.

“Y/N, I was just telling your wife that she needs to find her holiday spirit and come Christmas caroling with us next week,” Steve said.

“Natasha singing? I’m not sure that would be good for community morale,” you joked

“Says the woman who performs one woman tributes to Harry Styles in the shower?” Nat giggled.

“Hey, my rendition of Sign of the Times is highly praised, I’ll have you know.”

Tony and Pepper join your little huddle with Morgan in tow.

“Romanoffs! You have to try this Hot Buttered Rum,” Tony remarked.

“Oh, I love Hot Buttered Rum, but I think I’ll stick with sparkling cider tonight,” you said “Nat would probably love some though, right, love?”

“Sure,” grabbing the glass from Tony’s hand as Steve looked back at you curiously.

You peered down at Morgan who was sitting on the ottoman next to the fireplace. Ever since you found out you were pregnant you were drawn to children like never before.

“Hi, sweetheart! You look so pretty tonight,” kneeling down to the little girl’s level.

“Thank you, Aunt Y/N,” she grinned.

“Are you excited for Christmas? You are clearly at the top of Santa’s nice list this year.”

“Really?!” Morgan squealed.

“Oh, absolutely, I have a feeling the man in red is going to be very good to you this year,” you winked.

“Did you hear that Daddy? Aunt Y/N said that I’m on the top of the nice list!”

“I sure did, squirt. I didn’t realize Aunt Y/N was so tight with St. Nick,” eyeing you coyly.

“Oh yeah, we’re on a first name basis. I’m surprised you’re not?” Smirking at the billionaire. You loved Tony like a brother, but you enjoyed giving him crap.

“Trust me, Mrs. Romanoff, I’m much closer to Santa than you are.”

“Really, do you have a direct line to the North Pole?”

“Are you having milk and cookies flown in from Holland? Because you know those are his favorite,” raising an eyebrow at you.

“Ooookay, that’s enough,” your wife placing hands on your shoulders from behind. “You both know Santa. You both have giant egos. Merry Christmas,” Nat mocked. Come on Tony, let’s go grab some hors d'oeuvrs for our better halves. I’ll be right back, detka,” leading the billionaire toward the kitchen.

You couldn’t help but admire Natasha as she walked away. Looking back over her shoulder, she smiled at you with all the love in the world. You just about melted right there in front of the fireplace. Snapping out of your love daze, you noticed Pepper grinning at you.

“What?”

“Oh, nothing. I just can’t help but notice how glowing you look tonight,” as Morgan pulled her away towards Clint’s kids and Steve strolled away to join Bucky in conversation with Rhodes.

“Pssst… Pssst!”

You turned around just as a styrofoam snowball was about to hit you in face. You caught it in one swift motion.

“Nice catch,” a Russian voice said.

“Yelena, where are you?” Glancing around not seeing your sister-in-law.

“Over here,” poking her head out from the behind the seven-foot snowman next to the pool table.

“Oh, now don’t you look adorable as an elf,” you giggled.

“If you weren’t pregnant with my niece or nephew you would be hanging upside down from the rafters right now.”

“You know Kate and Lucky are looking for you, right?”

“Why do you think I’m hiding behind the giant snowman? Kate Bishop forced me to dress in this saccharin American Christmas costume and now she wants photographic evidence of it.”

“Because she loves you, silly,” your arms crossed over your chest.

“Detka, it’s time for dinner. Let’s go—“Natasha stopped dead in her tracks at the sight of her sister. “Oh my God,” she burst into laughter.

“Tred carefully, sestra,” Yelena threatened.

“No, I love it. I think this qualifies as new mission suit attire,” poking the bell dangling from her elf hat. “Maybe you can get Stark to upgrade this outfit with Widow Bites.”

“Do you have a death wish?” Yelena sneered.

“Come on you adorable elf, it’s time for dinner,” placing an arm around your best friend’s shoulder.

*^~^*

You took your seat next to your wife at the Astoria Grand Giovani dining table. Natasha quietly squeezed your hand. You looked over with a shy smile and a festive blush on your cheeks.

Pepper stood up from her seat next to Tony at the head of the table. “Before we enjoy this lovely holiday feast, I just wanted to take a moment to tell you how grateful we are that you’re all here,” grasping Tony’s hand. “Everyone in this room knows how precious life is and we don’t take a moment of it for granted. We love you and Merry Christmas.”

“Here, here!” Thor declared a couple seats down from you as glasses clinked around the table.

A traditional Christmas dinner soon filled your plate. Roasted turkey with all the trimmings. Home baked bread, mashed potatoes and garden veggies gently roasted, drizzled in balsamic vinegar. The group drank, were merry, and told the most terrible of jokes.

Pregnancy mood swings were becoming commonplace and as the dinner wore on, you suddenly found yourself overwhelmed with emotion at the sight of your extended family enjoying the holiday season together.

“Y/N, are you okay?” Carol looked at you with concern in her eyes from across the table.

“Oh, yeah” dabbing at the corner of your eyes with your napkin. “I’m fine.”

“The holidays always make her a bit emotional,” Natasha offered laying her head comfortingly on your shoulder.

After dinner you helped Wanda serve the desserts. The Christmas cookies took their place in the center of the table, flanked by the Viennese torte and the pumpkin pie. Coffee and dessert wine circulated around the table.

The group of full bellies and ever so slightly sleepy eyes then made their way to the living room to relax. Christmas music softly enveloped the room as the kids were discussing what they hoped Santa was going to bring them this year.

“Okay, Kate Bishop. Let’s get this picture over with. I want to put on my pajamas,” Yelena announced as she stood from the sofa.

“Yay!! Okay, don’t move. Lucky! Here boy,” calling the dog who promptly romped over. “Vision, can you take the picture?”

“Of course Ms. Bishop.” Taking the Canon EOS R-50 from the archer.

“It is customary to say cheese before a picture, but since it is Christmas time perhaps you should say mistletoe?”

“Just take the picture,” Yelena deadpanned

“Mistletoe!” Kate yelled.

“We’re going to get one of these cards right?” Looking at your wife.

“I had Kate put us down for two,” she smirked.

*^~^*

As night fell, you rested your weary head on Nat’s lap as she ran her fingers through your hair.

Natasha looked at her watch. “You ready to drop the baby bomb?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be. I’ll get the Christmas crackers,” rising from the sofa.

“Umm, everyone. Y/N and I have a special gift for you all,” your wife announced nervously as you passed out the gold and silver novelties to the team.

“Christmas crackers? I have to be honest, I was hoping for something a bit more extravagant… Oww!” Tony whined, as Pepper pinching him on the arm.

You smiled with nervous anticipation as you reached for Natasha. The snap of the festive crackers echoed across the room. Clint was the first to reach inside and remove the tiny gift. A small round ceramic white ornament tied to a red ribbon appeared in his hand. Lila, Cooper, and Nate huddled around their dad to get a glimpse as Clint read the inscription.

“Uncle Clint?” Looking up at Natasha in shock.

“No way!” Sam shouted.

Wanda, Carol, and Kate all screamed at the sight of their own ornaments. Their names adorned with the title of Aunt.

“This is joyous news!” Thor crowed.

Pepper got up immediately and embraced you in a warm hug as Laura did the same with Natasha.

“How far along are you?” Wanda asked.

“Almost three months,” Yelena cut in.

“You knew?! Why didn’t you tell me?” Kate shouted; slapping her girlfriend on the arm.

“Because I want to sleep in!”

“I’m so happy for you, Nat,” Steve kissing her on the cheek.

Bucky wrapped his arms around you with a soft kiss to the top of your head.

“You ready to be Uncle Bucky?” Your eyes meeting his gaze.

“Oh God,” his face like a deer in the headlights.

“You’ll be great, Buck,” you giggled.

Bruce and Helen embraced Natasha in a tandem hug.

“I’m so relieved everyone knows,” Helen said turning to you. “Now we can openly discuss your pregnancy. Have you been continuing with your prenatal vitamins?”

And remember, you have an appointment on Friday,” Bruce interjected.

“Yes and yes,” you said as Natasha placed a soft kiss to your cheek and then another to your belly.

Tony walked up to you with that signature smirk on his face. You mentally prepared yourself for a signature Stark one-liner or some stupid joke. Instead, he took you by surprise when he wrapped you in a warm embrace.

“Congratulations, Romanoff. Looks like you do know Santa best.”

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