Okay, this is a very long chapter by my standards. I just really like writing this so I don't really have a schedule for it. Sorry. :)

Guest: You opinion is valid, I know I need to work on my writing, and I think Ariel96 is a bit busy with her fanfics. I will try to improve my writing though.

Temo: Thanks, and I should have mentioned, though this fanfiction is called Redhead, it doesn't just focus on Natasha. I also want to work on my other characters, but yes, I will try to devote more time to her. Also. thanks for sticking up for me. I appreciate it.

A few days later, when Skye went in to check on Natasha one morning, she wasn't there. Her bed was neatly made. The room was picture perfect. Skye went through the house, waking everyone in a state of panic. Pietro woke to Skye shaking him roughly.

"What happened?" he asked groggily. "Is someone dead?" Skye shook her head. "I can't find Natasha." Pietro was instantly awake. As much as the girl was afraid of him, he had grown to care about her. Everyone was up when he left his room. Then, Wanda paused.

"Is that, bacon?" Everyone stopped and sniffed. Wanda was right. Bacon was frying downstairs. They all went slowly down. When they got to the kitchen, they found Natasha standing at the stove, frying bacon. At the sound of their steps, she whipped around, burning her wrist on the frying pan.

"Did I wake you up?' she asked, sounding terrified. "I'm so sorry, I was just making breakfast and it got kind of loud and…" Lincoln cut her off.

"This is great, Natasha. Thanks." Natasha smiled as everyone sat down at the table. Natasha had made french toast, scrambled eggs, and bacon. Pietro and Wanda fought over the last slice of bacon.

"You always get more bacon!" "Last time you got the last slice!" "No I didn't, you did!". Natasha decided to settle it and grabbed the slice. She flashed them a mischievous smile.

"Those who battle for gain may risk loss of all." she said. "You could have shared, then you would both have some." Wanda and Pietro sat sullenly as they watched Natasha eat the bacon. Finally, Skye spoke up.

"We have some shopping to do today." Natasha brightened. "For me?" Skye nodded. "For you." Wanda cheered. "I'm going to come too." Skye raised an eyebrow. "Alright, but nothing for you." Wanda nodded.

When they finally got to the mall, Natasha was amazed. She had never seen so many flashing lights and moving people. She felt almost scared. She grabbed Wanda's hand, and Wanda squeezed her back. They went straight to the kids section for pajamas. Unlike when Skye first got Wanda, Natasha ran around the store, picking up whatever she liked. Skye and Wanda leaned against a shelf, debating over whether to get her winter boots or not, not watching Natasha. She had wandered off to the other side of the store, looking at dresses. She found one she liked, and looked around for Skye or Wanda. They weren't there. Keep calm, she thought to herself. They're probably just behind a display. She walked around quietly, growing more anxious with each step.

"Wanda? Skye? Where are you?" She looked around, frenzied. Then she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around, and a man was standing behind her. She screamed.

Wanda heard an ear piercing scream from the other side of the store. Everyone else in the section, mostly mothers and their kids, looked up in alarm. Wanda recognised that scream. She shook Skye's arm.

"That's Natasha!" Skye ran with her to where they heard the scream from. They found Natasha backed up into a corner, a crowd of concerned people around her. Wanda broke through the crowd and rushed to her side. "Natasha," she said calmly. "I'm here." Natasha was crying. Large tears rolled down her face.

"I l-looked for y-you," she said between sobs. "You weren't there." Wanda hugged her. She never wanted to let her go again. She and Natasha walked back through the crowd. When they got back to Skye, she had already paid for the stuff, so they could leave. The car ride home was silent, Wanda had opted to sit in the back with Natasha. Natasha sat very still, looking out the window. The belt cut into her neck, so Wanda reached over to adjust it. As soon as Natasha saw her hand, she flinched and moved further away. Wanda drew her hand back, and sighed. Would she ever be comfortable around people again? Suddenly, Wanda had a worrying thought. School started in less than two weeks. How would this shy little girl be able to cope?

Back home, Pietro was thinking of the same thing. Twintuition, or whatever. He was looking at backpacks on amazon, trying to find one for Natasha. She was going to be starting sixth grade. Middle school. He and Wanda were in high school. Natasha was going to have to fend for herself in a new environment where she knew exactly nobody. He didn't know what Natasha liked, so he settled on a black high sierra bag with red decals. It would match her room. His phone rang. He picked it up, angrily.

"Hello?" From the other side, a female voice spoke. "Yeesh, Pietro, calm down." He relaxed. It was one of his friends, Jemma. "Oh, it's you." "Well you don't have to be so rude about it." Pietro smiled. His British friend was hilarious when she was angry, because she could never bring herself to actually insult someone.

"So, is your new little sister here yet?" she asked, excitedly. "Yup, except she's terrified of me." He could feel Jemma frown on the other side. "It's an issue with all guys, not just me." he cleared up. "So where's Wanda?" Pietro heard the front door open. "Actually, she just got home." He heard someone running up the stairs, and a flash of red hair and black sweater went past his door. He heard a door slam.

"Hey Jemma?" he asked. "I kind of have to go." He hung up before she could say anything. Wanda also rushed past his door, but her's didn't close. Good. When Wanda was upset, the whole house was upset. Still, a house with an upset girl was not ideal for a guy like him. He had to do something. He already knew what Wanda was like when she was upset. She would barricade herself in her room and blast loud music. Natasha, on the other hand, he knew nothing about. This made her unpredictable, and unpredictable was scary. So he grabbed his paint set and quietly walked through the hallway, and knocked on Natasha's door. An angry cry of "Come in!" was returned, and he slowly opened the door.

"What's up Nat?" he said, quietly. Natasha turned and looked at him. "What are you doing here?" she asked. "You said you wanted to paint, so here I am," he said, holding up his set. Natasha motioned for him to come in, and he slowly came in. The room was still impeccably clean, the bed made, floors spotless, bookshelf arranged. Frankly, he wondered if she actually slept here or not. Natasha sat down on the hardwood, and motioned for him to sit. She took the paint set and spread the materials out in front of them.

"So what do I do now?" Pietro smiled. "Now," he said, picking up a paintbrush, "you paint." He took a light grey and began painting a background, while Natasha watched. After a few minutes of watching him paint a mountain scene, she moved to pick up a paintbrush. As she reached for it, her sleeve rode up a little, revealing a burn mark. "Where did you get that?" he asked, pointing to it. "The frying pan, this morning." she said calmly, and started painting a light blue butterfly on her paper. Pietro put his paintbrush down and stood up.

"Come on, we have to get Mom or Dad to take a look at that." Natasha just shrugged and followed him. They came down the stairs. Skye had left for a late shift at the law firm where she worked, so they approached Lincoln. "Hey dad?" Pietro called out. Lincoln came from the kitchen. "What's wrong sport?" he said. Natasha pulled her sleeve up and showed him the burn. Lincoln's eyes widened. "That looks really bad. Why didn't you tell us?" She shrugged.

"This is nothing. I've gotten wayy worse." Lincoln took her to the kitchen where he put cream and a wrap over it. "Don't touch it," he warned her. "Yeah yeah, I know." As they went up the stairs, Pietro looked at her. It had only been a few days since she arrived, but she had already turned from a shy little girl who wouldn't shake his hand to a feisty little girl full of as much fire and life as her bright red hair. He decided to leave Natasha to paint, and knocked on his twin's door. When he didn't get a reply, he opened the door. He saw Wanda at her desk, scribbling away on a piece of paper.

"What's that? He asked. She looked up at him. "It's an apology for Natasha." Pietro looked confused for a moment. Wanda looked exasperated. "I lost her in Aeropostale and she had a panic attack or something and now I have to go give this to her so get out of my way!" she said, standing up. Pietro was a bit taken aback, but he moved anyway. He watched Wanda walk down the hallway, and knock on Natasha's door. Then, deciding his services weren't needed anymore, he went downstairs to make himself nachos.

Wanda knocked on Natasha's door. Natasha opened the door. She was looking at the painting in her hand.

"Hey Pietro, I was having some trouble with layering the background…" She looked up, and stopped. Wanda smiled warmly, but Natasha turned away. "Go away, I don't want you here." She then closed the door in Wanda's face.

"Wait but…" Wanda's plea was left unanswered. She slid the letter under the door, and walked away.