Chapter 52
As soon as he saw Melina let go of Ali, Alexei dived out of the jet after her since he knew that Melina would be able to sort her foot out herself.
He pressed his arms and legs together in order to become more streamline.
Ali was still falling. Her arms and legs were up and she was falling on her back and her hair was being whipped into her face.
Alexei managed to spot her quite quickly since she wasn't that far below him. It was a miracle that Ali hadn't been hit by any of the falling debris yet.
It took Alexei five seconds before he managed to reach Ali who clutched onto him in a death grip as soon as he had grabbed her.
Five seconds may have not felt that long to the two of them but the ground was becoming dangerously close.
Alexei pulled the string on the parachute and it opened above them.
The parachute opened just before they hit the floor. This meant that although it slowed them down a little it didn't soften the impact that much.
Alexei curled himself around Ali so that when they connected with the ground he took all of the impact.
He landed on his side but he knew he hadn't break anything. If he hadn't of had a version of the super soldier serum though then he would have shattered his shoulder.
They stayed lying on the floor for a few seconds as both tried to catch their breaths. Ali was crying and hugging herself tightly to Alexei.
Alexei sat up. Ali had her arms tightly around his neck in a hug and he could feel her tears on his neck.
He smiled slightly at this show of affection and hugged her back before patting the back of her head.
"Shhhh… we are okay, yes?"
Ali pulled her head back to look at Alexei and nodded her head. She was now standing up.
Alexei wiped the tears off of her face and smiled at her.
"Good, now we need to find Melina."
Ali nodded her head again and took Alexei's outstretched hand. Alexei then stood up and looked around.
Debris covered everything but they both spotted a white parachute about 100ft away.
They walked over to it and spotted Melina sat on the ground. She smiled when she saw Ali and opened her arms for a hug.
Ali ran into her arms and hugged her tightly before letting go.
"My foot is injured."
Alexei helped Melina to stand and put his arm around her waist while Melina put one of hers around his shoulder in order to use him as a crutch.
While this was happening Ali was looking around at the scene before her. Debris covered the massive field that they had fallen onto but she could still make out certain things.
Her worry began to increase with every passing second when she could see neither her mum nor Yelena.
It was only once Melina was standing that Ali saw Natasha lying over someone in a white tactical suit on the ground.
She ran as fast as she could over to her.
"Mamma!"
Yelena and Natasha were both on their knees hugging each other tightly with tears rolling down their faces when Ali reached them.
She literally barrelled into them pushing them all back onto the floor. Natasha was still hugging Yelena but Ali edged her way between them.
Only when Ali looked up at Natasha did Natasha realise that she was there. Almost immediately Natasha hugged her tighter. She felt Yelena pull back slightly from the hug but the arm that was still around Yelena tightened and Natasha smirked at her. Yelena smiled back before also tightening her grip on the two.
They pulled away a minute later and Natasha quickly started checking Ali for injuries. She could see the tears on her little girls face and carefully wiped them away with her hand before looking at her in the eyes.
"Are you hurt?"
Natasha sat up with Ali on her lap and Yelena did the same. She watched Ali as the girl shook her head.
"Alexei caught me before I hit the ground."
Natasha looked puzzled at that as Ali's words did nothing to rid Natasha of her worry but she didn't ask Ali what she meant as the girl clearly wanted to talk about something else.
They sat their together for a minute just soaking in the relief that none of them were dead before Ali spoke again. Her face was buried in Natasha's chest and she was holding Yelena's hand but both heard what she said.
"Is Alexei my Дедушка (Grandpa) and Melina my Бабушк? (Grandma)"
She looked up at Natasha and Natasha smiled down at her.
"Do you want them too be?"
Ali nodded her head but kept her face blank.
"Then they are."
Everybody smiled at that before Natasha spotted Melina and Alexei walked towards them.
Immediately she stood up with Ali in her arms. Yelena stood beside her as the two adults came towards them. Ali curled into Natasha and just enjoyed the feeling of her mum being their alive and safe.
Melina was leaning heavily on Alexei as she limped through the debris towards them. They stopped walking when they were about 5ft away from the sisters and Ali.
"Everybody good?"
Melina rolled her eyes at Natasha's comment.
"I am clearly injured."
Natasha's smile widened slightly and so did Yelena's. She looked over at Alexei who looked like he wanted to speak.
"You got something to say?"
"I'd just mess it up."
Ali and Melina shared a knowing glance at each other and both their smiles widened at his words.
Instead of using words Alexei held out his hand to Natasha who took it with a smile on her face.
Melina looked over at Ali concerned and spoke just as Natasha let go of Alexei's hand.
"I hope you are okay little one for that was quite a fall."
At that Natasha quickly spun her head around to Melina and looked between her and Ali as she spoke quickly with worry clear in her voice.
"What fall? What are you talking about?"
Melina sighed before smiling slightly at Ali.
"The jet we took… the tail fin became damaged and we started spinning out of control. There were only two parachutes so Alexei and I grabbed them. I held tight to the little one but my foot became stuck as I tried to jump from the plane. She slipped out of my hands but…"
Before she could continue Ali reached out her arms to Melina. Melina took Ali and placed her on her hip before Ali started speaking.
"Mamma it isn't Бабушкины (Grandma's) fault."
Natasha smirked at the obvious love and proudness that was all over Melina's face as she looked down at Ali who was in her arms. She hugged the little girl slightly closer to her.
Ali reached out a hand to Alexei who took it and the two smiled at each other.
"And Дедушка (Grandpa) saved me."
Alexei had literal tears in his eyes at how happy he was to hear Ali call him that.
Ali spent a few more seconds in Melina's arms before reaching out to Yelena who took her before pressing a kiss to her cheek and hugging her close.
They could hear police sirens approaching and Natasha knew that the Avengers would not be far behind them.
She sighs before turning to Melina and Alexei.
"When I get back I will make sure that you two are no longer wanted in America but until then, I do not want you both to get arrested."
Melina and Alexei both nodded their heads at her but didn't move.
They all heard the sound of a jet landing not 5 seconds later and looked over at where the noise was coming from.
The door of the jet was open and the five of them watched as about twenty windows stepped out of it and onto the ground. They all wore their hair back in a French braid and all wore black tactical suits which were very similar to the one that Natasha was wearing.
Natasha and Yelena both walk forward towards the Widows. They pause in front of them before Yelena speaks.
"You came back for us?"
"Мы бы не оставили тебя позади. (We wouldn't leave you behind.)"
They all nod at her and Natasha and both of the sisters grab the hands of the two Widows closest to them to show how much their words meant.
"Thank you."
It wasn't long before the Widows stopped looking at Natasha and Yelena and instead focused their smiles and attention onto Ali. Most had been in the Red Room their whole lives and so had never been able to see children as any more than a hindrance before now.
A Widow with black hair that was cut just below her shoulder moved slightly closer to Ali who was till in Yelena's arms before speaking.
"Who are you?"
"I'm Ali. Who are you?"
"I am Irina. You have such bravery at such a young age. We all want to thank you for helping us."
Once again all the Windows nodded their heads and smiled gently at Ali who smiled happily back.
The sirens started to get closer and Natasha ushered the Widows back onto the jet before both her and Yelena walked back over to were Melina and Alexei were standing with proud grins on their faces.
Melina looked at the three of them and spoke before she started walking towards the jet with the help of Alexei.
"Hey, hey you three… you three take care of yourself, okay?"
"Don't worry. We will be fine."
"I know. Also take care of my granddaughter as I wish to see her again."
Everyone grinned at that.
"We will come and visit you and once I have cleared your names you can come and visit us any time you want."
"We will hold you too that."
Alexei spoke for Melina and he turned to look down at her to make sure that he had said the right thing. Her smile was confirmation enough for him and he grinned as he helped her walk over to Taskmaster who was lying on the ground slightly to the side of the jet.
A Widow was leaning over her and Melina put her hand on the Widow's shoulder as she spoke with a small smile on her face.
"Don't worry we are bringing her with us. Come. Come with us."
Just before the jet flew off Yelena whistled at Natasha even though they were standing right next to one another. It was the whistle from their childhood. The whistle that always allowed them to find each other.
Her smile widened when Natasha returned the whistle in her own notes that took Yelena back to when she was little and her life was a lot less complicated.
The jet carrying the Widows, Melina and Alexei took off then and within 10 seconds was replaced by another.
Ali squirmed out of Yelena's arms and ran over too it just as the door slid open and Clint stepped out followed by the rest of the Avengers including Thor.