Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel, Disney, ABC or the Avengers. Just Sera.
"Why are you angrily cooking?" Wanda asked, as she came into the kitchen half an hour later.
"One of my husbands feels like I'm withholding sex, and it cause him to put his foot in his mouth a lot. Both are feeling neglected because I'm focused on our kids." I sighed. The girl smirked, and asked, "Would you like some help?"
"Everything's done, but if you want to help with making the salad, I'm gonna put these cookies in the oven." I said, gesturing to the giant bowl of spinach and the strawberries next to it. I explained how I wanted the strawberries sliced and then gave the recipe card for the dressing. Wanda was a quiet girl, choosing to keep her thoughts unspoken, communicating only with her brother at times. She had branched out and made a friend in Vision and myself. At least I think she likes me.
"You seem quieter than usual," I said, noting her posture.
"I'm adjusting, I think. Pietro found he wanted a bit more space from me. I'm learning to be without him for longer."
"I can't relate, but I do know what it's like to be without the one you love most in this world. I lost my mom a year before I found my Dad."
"What was her name?"
"Annalise Kalashnikov. Fury hated saying my legal name, so we shortened it to Nash for SHIELD purposes."
"You're mother was Russian." She stated, confused.
"Russian descent. I loved her Russian heritage, and threw myself into it. And I found out my father was of Greek descent, I dove into that. I didn't want to know him, but I wanted to know where I came from." I said, as I started the timer. She watched me as I set the large table, and cut up some veggies for an appetizer.
"Pietro seems to admire you." She said, as she mixed the dressing.
"There isn't much to admire," I said, panting as I continued running around the kitchen setting things up.
"You fight for normalcy, despite what you do. This is proof," She said, as I stopped to see what she was getting at.
"This is what I knew for most of my life. It was only after my mother died that I learned how strange the world had gotten, and how much I wanted to protect it."
"That's noble of you."
"It was after we found Steve that I knew how much I wanted to be an Avenger. Fury," I said covering my one eye so she would understand, "He and Phil found me at college studying politics, and pouring over all the weird stuff that had gone on in the last 80 years."
"What did they say to convince you?" She asked, not understanding how I willingly leapt into this headfirst.
"They didn't have to. I had just lost my mother to cancer, and I was searching for answers. They said that the world is strange, but even the simplest answers are hidden by emotion. They offered me a way to cope, a way to heal, and a place in the world. I wanted an escape, but what I ended up getting was a family. I thought it would be just my mom and me forever. I wasn't looking to settle down. I wanted to see people healed, rather than scarred."
"You weren't happy."
"Even with that family, I was asked to train, taught to fight, and eventually, became a skilled killer. I used my psychiatric training, along with other techniques to manipulate people into what I wanted. I used it in interrogations, placed thoughts in peoples heads that weren't their own. I found a way to use it for good, but not before I earned myself a name."
"Siren," She said, putting the salad on the table.
"I would lure men to their deaths. It wasn't a song, but twisting their minds until they broke or gave me what I needed. And after I met my father, I asked to be taken off interrogations."
"What changed your heart?"
"My grandfather had been manipulated by the same method back in the 1940's, just after World War II. He just about personally, dropped a chemical called Midnight Oil on New York. It would have made people turn on each other, destroying the city and everyone in it. I realized that I couldn't be that person. It would go to my head and now I only use it to bring people out of their heads. Bucky had been screaming away in his head for over 70 years. I figured out how to use peoples subconscious to trigger memories in the hippocampus. It's not easy to explain, but it opened a floodgate."
"And I was mighty grateful," Bucky's voice sounded from the doorway. I looked up to see him smiling at me as he leaned against the doorframe.
"We can talk more later," She smiled, before saying, "I should go get Pietro for dinner."
"Thank you for your help Wanda," I smiled as she got up. A small smirk and she left the room. Bucky sat down where she had been and pulled me into his lap.
"Steve's sitting upstairs thinking about what he said. I've been thinking it too. I saw Barton's house and their life and thought, "Man, this would be easier.""
"I know. It's just the delivery that sucked," I huffed, realizing I over reacted. Something he said triggered a thought in the back of my mind, about a farmhouse. When I realized why, I schooled my face and hoped I would remember to call later.
"I know you aren't holding out on purpose. We are all drained from the twins, and setting this up. I think his frustration just took a hold of his brain for a few seconds too long."
"If you really think about it, it's been over 4 months," I huffed.
"Steve isn't like us. We can observe and deliver what we want to say and he'll just blurt it out in the moment because he's passionate about what he feels."
"And we aren't?" I teased, "You were pretty passionate when he was trying to explain that it was his mission to take down Hydra."
"That was different. I knew what I felt towards them for what they did to me, and that I wanted to fight, but I would rather stick close to the twins in case something happened. He was always running off when we were younger. He's run head first into a fight without thinking of the odds." He sighed, as I laid my head on his shoulder.
"I was going to surprise you guys," I smirked.
"With what?" He asked, as I pulled my top up a little to show him the lingerie I was wearing. His eyes bugged and I felt what seeing it did to him.
"I love Steve, but I missed being buried inside of you," He whispered into my neck.
"Patience," I smirked, standing up and moving to take the cookies out of the oven. Putting another two sheets in, I sighed.
"Shall I ring the gong?" Buck said, gesturing to the dinner alarm. I was tired of sending out messages and trying to wrangle people out of labs and training facilities.
"Yeah, it's gonna take them a few minutes to all get here," I said, looking at the five casseroles. As he pressed the button, I heard a rumbling from down the hallway.
"On your left," Sam laughed. I heard my father and Rhodey squabbling as they ran down the hall and Thor was just barreling past them all. Vision didn't need to eat but felt the need to sit and talk with us. He wasn't anti-social; he just knew how much human interaction could shape people.
I heard gurgles and turned to find Steve handing Elijah to Natasha, before putting Callie in her highchair. Nat strapped Elijah in and I sighed. I no longer had to breastfeed them, which was like heaven for me.
"Well, who's hungry?" I laughed as Pietro zoomed to take the spot Sam was gonna sit in.
"Me! I'm sorry, this seat is taken," Pietro joked as Sam laughed.
"Yeah that's gonna get old fast," Sam smirked, as Pietro got up to sit beside Rhodey and my Dad. Wanda walked in and took a seat next to Natasha. Nat had taken Wanda down in training and called it even for messing with her brain. Now they were… close.
"Can I sit with you?" Steve asked, as I went to grab the dishes from the oven.
"Of course," I said softly. Bucky smiled at us as the twins gurgled from their highchairs.
"I would like to talk to you afterwards," He whispered in my ear as I sat down with all the food.
"Tuck in," I said, making everyone's ravenous sides come out. Food was passed and conversations started. Fury and Hill were at the other end of the table talking with Cameron who had been put here under orders from Coulson to help us. Skye was still getting used to her powers, and Phil was getting used to not having May. Or a left hand. My Dad was more than willing to design something with Dr. Cho's help. I suggested some of the leftover vibranium from Ultron and no one thought it was funny. I'd been speaking with May last week about what happened with her and Andrew on her vacation. She's gotten paranoid with her father being in a small car accident.
"How's Darcy?" I asked Jane.
"She convinced she's found her calling. Being Fitz's assistant so she can stare at him all day. It keeps Jemma on edge," Jane joked, as I noticed a Quinjet landing outside.
"We expecting company?" Rhodey said as we all looked puzzled.
"ARSENAL?" I asked aloud, and she answered, "Director Coulson, Agent's Johnson, Tripplet, Mack, Fitz, Simmons and Morse approaching. Darcy Lewis among them."
"Oh boy," I said, looking to see how much food we had left.
"Plenty. No one gets thirds until SHIELD agents have eaten, got it?" I said eyeing the super soldiers and demi god in the room. They all sheepishly smiled, as we made room for the other agents.
"Why didn't you wait?" Phil said as they all entered.
"Cause we didn't know you were coming Director," I sassed, as he went to pick up Callie.
"Phil, when are you going to call her?" I asked, looking at him. He grinned sheepishly and said, "It's been three years. I don't want to interrupt her life."
"Audrey still calls every week." I said, quirking an eyebrow. When he first introduced me to Audrey Nathan, it was not a planned meeting and she assumed I was his daughter. I laughed for a week straight at his nearly horrified look as she started asking me about my childhood, and what Phil was like as a Dad. She figured it out, that I was really a Stark, but I told her my mom and Phil had been together up until her death. I had to make up a sob story about how he was there until she took her last breath, and Phil looked uncomfortable the entire time.
It was awesome.
"It was a good cover, you as my daughter. I had nothing to give as an excuse at that time."
"She misses you like crazy, 'Dad'." I sassed, as Callie started to fuss. They both were hungry. Phil ignored my comment and went to go eat. Chuckling to myself, I started clearing dishes while Steve and Bucky fed the twins. I looked over the table, noticing the smiling faces, the laughing and the joy that was shared between my family.
"What's got you so deep in thought?" My Dad said, handing me dishes, moving to dry the ones I finished.
"This was not what I was expecting, when I first met you. To have all this, especially after losing Mom." I said, and surprisingly he stayed quiet.
"Dad, I can't walk away from this. I don't want to. But you do. You can leave now and everyone will respect that. You started this, but you don't have to end it."
"I was thinking the same thing. I've done so many things wrong, in the name of trying to protect the world. Bruce thinks the world needs to be protected from him. No, it should be protected from me."
"What are you going to do with yourself?" I asked, noting how he was gazing off into the distance. He looked back at me and smiled, "I'm going to help Pepper run SI, the way I should have to begin with. Build Rhodey and you a few suits here and there, spoil my grandbabies, and enjoy life."
"What about the next threat?" I asked, observing his posture change.
"If they need me, I'll come, but I'm not looking to be needed." He answered concisely.
"Okay," I smiled.
"Has anyone ever told you how annoying that is? Your 'shrink talk' that is. It makes me feel… I can't even describe it."
"Okay Tin Man, go put the cookies on the table." I giggled as he dramatically held his heart.
"A heart? That's cruel," He scoffed sarcastically, before smiling and taking the large plate over.
"Where's the milk?" Darcy said, making everyone look at me.
"How about beer?" I chuckled, taking out a few cases from the large fridge. They all cheered, and I saw Pietro eyeing Jemma. She blushed at his small smirk and I had to hide my smile behind my hand.
"Okay, no over doing it. We've all got training tomorrow first thing," Steve said with his Captain voice.
"Says the super soldier with the insane metabolism," Sam said, making everyone laugh.
"I plan on spending my day tomorrow productively; making more cookies," I said, noticing the empty plate.
"Yes!" All the guys cheered said at the same time. Darcy giggled and kissed Fitz's cheek while Bucky just waggled his eyebrows at me when no one was looking.
"Hey, where did Jane and Thor go-OH," Sam said, before we all laughed at him.
"They can't be nearly as bad as those three," Bobby said, gesturing to Steve, Bucky and I.
"We soundproofed the room and moved to a different floor." I defended.
"Well, Turbo and Darcy seem to have a knack for surfaces that shouldn't be used for that." Mack joked, making Darcy smirk and Fitz blush.
"What about you and Hunter?" I asked Bobby.
"We are at least discreet about it," She said, giving me a look.
"Anyways," Steve said, getting everyone's attention.
"Coulson and I have agreed that while it's important to be looking for Inhumans after what happened to the Terrigen crystals being lost to the ocean, we also need to prepare for the next threat. That is why Daisy, Trip, Mack and Bobby will be transferred here until such a time as we can spread out our resources." Steve said standing.
"Does that mean-" Daisy started asking.
"You are Agents of SHIELD and Avengers," I finished. Her eyes went wide, and I smirked.
"This also means you have another superior officer, and I won't tolerate secrets, and information kept behind my back." He said looking at Mack and Bobby. Surprisingly he turned to Coulson and said, "And you I'm still not convinced have told me everything that happened on Gonzales's Helicarrier."
"It was all in the report."
"Then how come Bobby is missing half a lung, and has a knee brace?" Bucky asked, raising a brow.
"Ward," Bobby said, "tortured me for SHIELD Intel. He's still a little ticked. May and Hunter came to save me."
"We'll work on physio," I said, nodding to her.
"Now, I expect everyone in the gym tomorrow at 9am. We're training all day."
"Why 9am?" Sam asked, quirking an eyebrow.
"Cause between 6 and 9am, I'll be out running circle around you," Steve said, making everyone everyone's jaws drop in awe.
"Does anyone else smell something burning?" Trip said, as Sam gave Steve a look.
"Sam, do you need some cool water?" Bucky asked, making Sam stand up and tried to move him to the sink.
"A moment of silence for our wounded brother," Dad said seriously making Sam push Bucky away slightly as everyone laughed.
"Okay, okay. No teasing Sam. He and Steve were planning on running away together tomorrow," I said, making Steve's smile drop, as the whole table started laughing.
"That's not funny," Sam and Steve said in unison, making everyone howl even louder.
"This is insanity. I LOVE it!" Daisy smiled as I picked up more dishes.
"Okay, I need your attention this time. I'm making a chore chart, and it won't just be me that's cooking around here," I announced and they all groaned.
"If you're part of this team that means being a team player and helping out," I said sternly.
"But we love your cooking!" Bucky pouted.
"Even if you make breakfast for dinner, I swear on all that I hold dear, you will be cooking. Team means pulling your weight, working together. Wanda and I can't be expected to do everything."
"Wanda helped tonight?" Pietro said in surprise.
"I needed girl time," She responded calmly, and added jokingly, "Away from you."
"What I'm trying to say is, I will keep the kitchen stocked, but I expect that you clean up after yourselves, put things away. I will keep a recipe book handy in here so even if it's not me personally cooking the meal, it's still food you all enjoy. I could set up a meal plan but that gets old real fast. It was like Groundhog day whenever my Mom made meatloaf," I shuddered.
"Recipes would be helpful," Bobby said as Mack looked worried.
"What's with the face?" Trip asked.
"I was on a mission with her one time, and we nearly starved because she burns everything. She managed to melt the pot with one meal." Mack said as Bobby smacked his arm.
"Oooooh, literal burn." Fitz said, as Darcy snickered.
"Jane can't cook either, so maybe there are a few that should be monitored," Eric said.
"I wasn't putting it all on one person anyways. Two people will be making each dinner. I'll have someone making sandwiches and preparing breakfast for us, but dinner is family time. Everyone is here if you aren't on a mission or gathering Intel." I said, and everyone nodded in agreement.
"Now," I said, picking up Elijah from the highchair, "I need to get my munchkins to bed."
