Kamchatka Peninsula, North Eastern Siberia

"It was too sloppy, Steve. She nearly got herself killed. She's not ready," Natasha sighed as she plopped down on the seat beside Steve. They had managed to complete the mission, but things certainly hadn't gone well. "If Sam hadn't taken a dive when he did and covered her-"

"I know. She's out of practice and her control wasn't what it needed to be even before," Steve replied. There was no reason to say before the Accords, before the airport, before the raft, before their little family crumbled. They'd both come to view life as before Accords and after Accords. "It's not like we can just go back to the compound and train. And, if we send her back to Wakanda, she'd be alone. She didn't do very well there, Nat. She just stayed in her room."

"I would never suggest sending Wanda away," Natasha replied quietly, "but we can't take her back in the field like this."

Steve nodded. "I have a feeling you already have a plan. Let's hear it."

"We don't have information about our next cell just yet," Natasha began, "and Siberia is certainly remote."

"You want to stay here?"

"We could get a cabin away from prying eyes-"

"And warmth," Steve finished. "You know I don't exactly do well with cold since the ice."

"I know, but neither of us would be able to live with ourselves if something happened because we didn't do everything in our power to make sure Wanda was ready." Steve nodded, so Natasha continued, "besides, I've seen you chop firewood. I think you could keep us warm. She needs time, Steve."

"You're right," Steve relented. "Besides, we are the ones who horned in on your op. It's only right you call the shots."

Natasha laughed. "Oh, Steve, I'm not angling for your job. You're still the captain. We just need to train."

Steve looked out the window. Klyuchevskaya Sopka was smoking in the distance. "Only you would think the base of an active volcano in the tundra would be a good place to train." He smiled softly. "But, it is secluded and there's not much danger of civilians getting caught in the crossfire. Let's tell Sam and Wanda the plan."

Sam and Wanda were less than impressed with the idea of staying in Siberia, but they agreed they needed a place to train. It didn't take long to find a little cabin volcanologists had built athat would suit their needs. Little was almost too generous of a word for the cabin. It was only about 600 square feet of living space. The main living area was also the kitchen, and the main heat source was a wood stove that set in the center of the room. To one side of the main living space, there was a set of bunk beds. There was only one bedroom, which the guys insisted the ladies should take, and off the bedroom was a tiny bathroom. Privacy was a bit of an issue, but the quinjet was parked outside under a makeshift awning so they did have a place to go if one of them needed a little privacy. They were definitely roughing it, but Natasha told them it was part of the training.

Natasha spent most of her days working with Wanda. Sam found himself being used for target practice in their sessions, and Steve chopped firewood and spent a lot of time running. By the time the little group of secret Avengers had been there a month, they were all beginning to get stir crazy.

Wanda was making significant progress and had almost gotten back up to the level she'd been at before the Raft when she pulled Steve out to the quinjet for a talk.

"I know we're here because of me," she began.

"We're here because we had some time and needed to train," Steve replied.

"No, I'm the one who nearly got us killed on the last mission. I'm the reason the U.N. stopped trusting us."

"We all made mistakes leading to that decision-"

"But, it was my mistake that was the last straw," she paused, "I wish I could say I'm ready now, but I know I'm not. There's something I need to do before we go back out there."

"What do you need? We'll do everything in our power to make it happen. Nat, Sam, and I just want you to be okay."

Wanda took a deep breath in, "I need to see Vision."

"Wanda, I don't think that's such a good idea. He's with Tony. He-"

"He won't hurt me. He sent you the coordinates to get us out of the raft. He cares about me."

"We all care about you."

"I know, but his feelings for me are different. We have a connection. Think about your connection to Natasha. You weren't you until we found her, until you made things right with her. I can't be me and do what I need to do until I make things right with Vision. I think I love him, Steve."

"I don't know how to even go about making it happen, Wanda."

"Leave that to me. Just tell me you understand and let me go."

"I understand, but Nat isn't going to like it. She's pretty protective of you in case you haven't noticed. Letting you go off alone-"

"I was thinking Sam could take me in the quinjet. We could arrange to meet somewhere neutral, and he would be there in case I'm wrong."

"I'd feel a lot better if we were all there if things went wrong."

Wanda smiled. "But, who would be left to rescue us if you were in trouble, too? Besides, you and Natasha would have some time alone."

"We're not, I mean, we've never-" Steve paused, "It's not like that between Nat and I."

Wanda's eyes twinkled and she laughed. "It could be if you both weren't so busy taking care of everyone else."

"She's my partner. She loves Banner. She doesn't see me like that."

"You seem awfully certain of her feelings, but I'm the one who can read minds. Not that I need my powers to see how you feel about each other. Don't miss your chance, Steve."

Four days later, Steve and Natasha stood on the porch of the cabin watching the quinjet fly away. "I still don't like it," Natasha sighed.

"Me either, but she needs this. Sam will take good care of her."

"But, who's going to take care of Sam?" Natasha replied raising an eyebrow.

Steve laughed. "You got me there. She's going to talk to Vision about our little problem of what to do with the terrorists we apprehend. Maybe he can find us an option."

"You trust him?"

"He did pick up Thor's hammer. He's a good man. He will understand our dilemma. And, after Tony and Peter took out the cell in the states, I'd say Vision understands the need for what we are doing."

"I hope you're right. Now, what exactly are we supposed to do while we wait for them to come back. You just let the trainees leave. I guess that makes you my sparring partner until they return, Rogers."

"Bring it on, Romanoff," Steve grinned.