I need
Somewhere close
Somewhere safe
Somewhere I know
I know I'll never live in chains
The one is now aware
So stay away from me
I'm just too young to care

~ Stone Sour

She opened the door and saw Wanda seated on her bed smiling with tears running down her cheek.

'Hey, what is the matter.' Natasha sat down as the song turned into an acoustic kind of interlude.

'It is just, this song, it just reminds me of him so much. We loved this band, used to listen to this on stolen iPods.' The song's interlude turned into a solo with a weeping guitar. 'It's called So Far Away, about death and missing someone and-.' Wanda broke down and clung to Natasha.

'I love you; you were ready. the pain is strong, and urges rise.' Natasha listened to the music and stroked Wanda's hair and back.

'But I'll see you when he lets me. Your pain is gone your hands untied.' The voice of the singer was raw filled with pain. She could feel why the trembling girl wrapped up in her arms, was affected by this song.

'So far away, and I need you to know.' Wanda was slowly calming down again and released the tension from her embrace, she looked into Natasha's blue eyes with her watery green ones, with a smile on her face.

'Thank you, sorry for being so emotional and everything'

'So far away, and I need you to need you to know.' The brunette stood up and turned off the record player, looking down and feeling quite ashamed.

'It is perfectly understandable, no need for apologies.' Natasha stood up as well and picked up the album cover, death overlooking a gravestone and a girl.

'Charming.'

'Come on, it is a great album, the first song is amazing, we will listen to it whilst cooking, here I'll make you a list.' Wanda said smiling again, she had been given a phone by Stark and he had helped her set up a Spotify account, which she absolutely loved. She had made several playlists as it were already, some for all different moods, one for Pietro's favourites, one with her own, and she had one made for Natasha's taste, she just needed to find out what it was.

'Fine, but you will have to do most of the work in the kitchen.' The redhead winked to the younger woman, who smiled.

'Oooooh, it's your Fucking Nightmare!' There were now cutting the vegetables for the enchiladas. Natasha had gotten a bit into the rhythm of the metal song but had looked disapproving to Wanda when she sang the profanities of the songs very loudly. Wanda had been singing the song in its entirety and was softly headbanging along to the rhythm of it.

'Are you joining us tonight for dinner, I heard some other potential recruits will be joining?' Natasha asked, almost screaming be louder than the song, Wanda had yet to have a meal with the group and after dinner, the Avengers would discuss Wanda's future here, so it would be beneficial to show them this side of her.

'I will, I think.' Wanda said, not that convincing, she seemed to shrink a bit. Natasha threw one arm around her and rubbed her shoulder. They only needed five more minutes and dinner was served. Wanda had carried two of the plates to the dining table, Natasha had managed to balance all the others. They put the plates down and Wanda seated herself on the end of the table, where the spysat down next to her. Only three of the Avengers were there, Captain Rogers, Stark and Natasha were present, whilst the others at the table were two men, Wanda suspected that these where the potential recruits, just like her. Both of the men looked muscular and Wanda noticed that both wore dog-tags.

'So, Wanda, Natasha has told me you've gone out today into New York, did you enjoy yourself.' Captain America asked. He was kind, but Wanda found his tone a bit patronizing, it probably had not been on purpose, the captain was just a caring man. It did make Wanda feel like she was a moody teenager.

'Seeing the bills of Natasha's credit card, they had a blast.' Stark said, Wanda was still on the fence about him, what her society had said about him wasn't true, but he was not the philanthropist the Americans saw him as.

'It was fun, we shopped a bit.' Wanda said shyly.

'A bit? Your spending was around the quadruple digits mark.' Tony Stark winked but quickly responded to Wanda's shameful look. He smiled friendly towards the girl 'It is fine, I can miss it anyway.'

'Where are my manners?' Steve said. 'These are Sam Wilson and James Rhodes, guys this is Wanda Maximoff.'

'Hello, how are you?' Both men said.

'Hi.' Wanda said with a blush, not quite knowing what to say next. Natasha saw this going wrong and entwined her left hand with Wanda's right under the table, stroking the brunette's hand with the thumb. Wanda seemed to relax.

'I have been -.' Wanda was interrupted when two caped figures came into the room, seemingly they'd flown in from the balcony.

'Hey Midgardians, any food left.' The blonde god said.

'Still some in the kitchen.' Natasha said still stroking Wanda's hand.

'Have a very pleasant evening meal, Mister Wilson, Mister Stark, Mister Rhodes, Mister Rogers, Miss Romanoff and Miss Maximoff.' The android said robotically.

'Have a seat, Viz.' Stark said. The rest of the meal was quite uneventful, Wanda did learn quickly how to eat with only her left hand, as Natasha still hadn't let go of her hand. Thor had gone for four plates full and congratulated the women for serving such a splendid meal, in the Asgardian fashion, which was only to be described as loud.

After dinner they brought the dishes to the kitchen, it was Starks turn to do them, so as Nat said, those will be dirty tomorrow. The moved a floor up towards some kind of weird room, Wanda thought that this the main part of HQ, the conference room or decision room. There were multiple screens on the walls and there was a large table with six large comfortable chairs. Four wooden chairs were placed in front of the table.

'Are you okay?' Wanda nodded to the question. Natasha had led Wanda to an empty hallway to check on her.

'It is going to be a large theatrical procedure as Tony wants to mess with this Rhodey guy. You are going to be asked some questions about your past and the Avengers will vote. The others are very likely to go into our training program, prospects for you are quite good as well, but Stark might need some convincing.'

The Avenger led Wanda to her chair and took her own position in line with the others who were standing before the recruitments. There were screens in the hall, showing maps and other data and one showing the archer who was at a non-disclosed location.

'Recruits,' the Captain started. 'Tonight, we will decide if you would be a proper extension to the Avenger initiative. All of you have decent assets and will provide a new dynamic to the team, we just have a couple of questions. We will start with the Vision.'

Vision and the others all got some basic questions, and Wanda felt that they probably all got inducted into the Avengers, her case was understandingly a bit more difficult. It did comfort her knowing she had at least Natasha in her corner, she had a feeling the archer would back her up as well, he had been kind to her on the way back from Sokovia, the same was to be said for the captain.

'Wanda Maximoff, age 20, born in Sokovia, is this correct?' Tony asked, sternly.

'Yes,' Wanda answered.

'We know everything about your past, is there anything you'd like to elaborate on?' Stark stood up and walked close to the girl.

'No'

'Alright, what do you want?' Starks question surprised Wanda, where were the harsh words for messing with his mind?

'Sorry I do not understand your question mister Stark.'

'We have multiple recourses and programs we can provide for you, you could get an education and stay with Clint, you could get an American nationality, we could set you free on your own and you can back to Sok-'

'I'd like to stay with the Avengers if that is the same to you. I wouldn't know where else to go. I want to help, to make up for my mistakes.'

'That is all we needed to hear.' Natasha said dark red lips curled into a friendly smile.

'Training will start at 0900 tomorrow morning, Natasha and myself will teach that. In the afternoon we will all join Stark for a journey upstate for his new brainchild.' Steve said. 'Gentleman, I will show you to your rooms.'

All men left the room as Wanda stood up, ran to Natasha and embraced her. Tears of joy in the corners of her eyes.

'Good job, Printsessa.' Natasha whispered in her ear.

'I really hope I'm not interrupting something, but I may have promised the kids to talk to her auntie Nat.' Wanda quickly let go of the older woman, as she realised Clint was still there.

'Welcome to the team.' He said with a wink as he walked out of shot of the camera and when he returned, he came back with two children and a pregnant woman.

'Kids, Laura, say hi to auntie Nat and this is Wanda Maximoff, a new co-worker of daddy.'

'Daddy is the best Avenger, he is invulnerable, nothing could kill him.' The boy spoke a bit incoherently as he was probably changing teeth.

'Hey, Natasha.' The woman said. 'How have you been, did our talk help.'

'It did thank you for that.' Natasha sat down, not on the chairs but on the table, directly facing Barton and what must be his family. Wanda had never thought having a family would be possible in their, now hers as well, line of business. Natasha beckoned Wanda towards her, and she sat down next to the spy. Wanda felt tired and almost immediately she put her head on Natasha's shoulder, with whom they kept talking like they were one big family.

Natasha did most of the talking but the young girl seemed interested in the brunette, the woman, Laura, kept glancing knowingly her way. Wanda felt herself slowly drifting off and fell asleep on the shoulders of the spy with a warm content feeling, she got to stay with the Avengers.

'Kids, go to bed, we will be with you soon.' The woman said and the children left the room.

'It was really nice talking to you two, but it has been a long day for me, and baby number three has already done our sleep schedule, so I'm going to head off as well, Wanda is already asleep, but goodnight Nat.'

'It is not even your bladder it is destroying.' Laura kissed her husband. 'I'll finish up here.' Clint walked out of the room and left Laura alone.

'Natasha,' The woman looked at the spy with knowing eyes. 'Do you remember our last conversation.'

'Vaguely.' Natasha said, not knowing where this one was leading to.

'Can you repeat what I said you should remind yourself daily?'

'I could.'

'Natasha?' The woman's eyes began smiling and she looked at the superspy. Natasha knew she was busted, Laura was one of the only people who could read her, Clint was usually too oblivious.

'How did you know?'

'You don't have to be a SHIELD agent trained for espionage to figure that out. First of all, you seem happy for the first time in ages, your eyes project a bit of fear as if you are afraid of getting attached and I mean the first time Clint touched your shoulder you broke his nose. This girl is sleeping on your shoulder, you even flinched at our first hug. Has she been in your room yet?'

'Yes, but what does that have to do with anything?' Natasha said defiantly, not sure whether to like or dislike the topic, it felt free to discuss this.

'You do not let anyone in your apartment, Clint has only been in there once.'

'He has?' Natasha pretended to be angry but knew she was going to have a word with Clint, it was true, though, Natasha was a very private person and liked her room to be her own room.

'Well, she came knocking last night and slept in my bed.' Laura's eyes lit up.

'And I slept on the couch. Come on Laure she is a child, I could never, it will probably fade away and-'

'Or you let her in.' Laura interrupted the mumbles of the spy. 'Natasha, you cannot stay alone forever, they messed with your head and made you do terrible things, but it is not a reason to keep everyone at arms-length. You deserve happiness in your life.'

'Yeah, I know, but-'

'But nothing, go to bed and sleep on it, and I expect to meet her properly after the birth of Nathaniel.'

'Yes, Laura. Good Night.'

'Good Night.' The screen flickered to black.

'Printsessa, wake up.' Wanda shivered and looked at Natasha sheepishly.

'What?'

'Come on let's get you to bed.'