A/N: So, before I always had like 5k word chapters in series, but really for no reason. Almost every single chapter could be chopped in half, and I don't know why I kept doing the 5k when it wasn't needed anyway.

Last chapter was under 4k and this one is not even 2,5. What I have decided that from now on is that I'm going to write every chapter with however many words I want without forcing anything.

My other fics I've been writing lately usually contains about 2,5-3k words and I'm going to assume a lot of the new chapters here is going to be the same. But if I want to do like a 5k chapter I will. I just will not continue to constantly do 5k chapters when I should have been breaking them up anyway. This fic will probably have some longer chapters in it and not just 2,5k's just because it's a lot of information we kinda need to get through anyway, but I think that it's no need to like force a 5k. And plus, this makes me more likely to publish more often.

Red

Thankfully now that the team had gotten somewhat of an explanation the old tension completely faded. While the explanation wasn't complete it was something. And right now, that was more than enough. Bucky was more open as well now that Natasha had at least said something. And he seemed to be willing to fill some of the loose ends when they asked.

Laura was happy to see that Natasha finally seemed to let go some more. She still got defensive if anyone said something that revolved about what happened, but she didn't actively shy away from them anymore, not that Laura got to talk to her much. Natasha was almost always somewhere completely different from where Laura was herself. Still, she didn't mind as long as Natasha was happy, which it actually seemed like she was.

While the Avengers was getting back to their normal routines, Laura spend time with the kids and as well as planning the renovations with the new house. Pepper still took time to work with Laura, and it seemed like they might be able to move in sooner than they thought. If they could move into the house already mid-summer, that would be perfect.

Part of Laura wanted to ask Natasha about how she found the house and how she was able to move everything into the house like she had. She was also starting to wonder if Natasha had anything to do with the house in the first place. It didn't sound completely impossible.

She loved living in the compound, but she couldn't hide how she was looking forwards to having her own house again. She knew their new everyday life was about to change. They were moving to a new town with new people away from everything familiar, but in a way, maybe she needed it.

Maybe they needed it.

She had already found the schools she would be enrolling the kids in, and she was looking forward to giving her kids a more normal life again.

The weeks ended up flying by and soon they were already into May. May had always been Laura's favourite month. She loved spring and early summer and she was looking forward to spending some more time outside in the sun. It was also easier to bring the kids out and about when the weather wasn't so bad anymore.

Laura was sitting outside at one of the many patios with a book in her hands and the kids outside playing with Clint. They were running around on the grass with their father chasing after them.

She lifted her head when she heard the sound of a car approaching. There were always some cars driving back and forth, but usually not around the living quarters.

A black, very expensive looking car parked up a few feet's away from her and Laura watched as Natasha stepped out of the car with Wanda trailing after.

Natasha had her hair in a bun on top of her head, and Laura could see some of her red roots start to show between her blond hairs. She had a black leather jacket on and a pair of sunglasses. Wanda was dressed in Natasha's red jacket, and she too had some shades on.

"Hello, Laura." Wanda said politely, walking over to her with Natasha scouting around her before following after.

"Hi, where have you two been?" Laura said, putting down her book as they took a seat around the table.

"Driving. Natasha is trying to teach me to drive." Wanda said, not sounding too happy about it.

"Well, it's like the one thing I'm allowed to do," Natasha muttered back, still keeping a watchful eye around her as they talked. It was true. Natasha had been told very strictly, multiple times, to not push herself. Something Laura knew was driving her crazy.

"That sounds fun," Laura said with a small smile. Her tone was everything but enthusiastic, even if she didn't mean to sound as unenthusiastic as she did. But it was just something about the way Natasha was looking around her that caught Laura a bit of guard. Even with sunglasses on, she knew what kind of look she was wearing. An on-edge one.

She had seen very little of Natasha the last month, so it was a rear sight having her only an arm reach away from her. The bruises had started to fade, and the cut on her face was completely gone. She looked a lot healthier now than just 20 days ago which was a relief.

"If you're learning to drive, are you sure you should be driving that thing?" Laura said slowly, looking at the car behind Natasha.

"What's wrong with my car?" Natasha said, turning to Laura lowering her glasses, meeting her eyes with a mischievous look. Laura rolled her eyes back.

"Is that, that spider car?" She said, remembering how Natasha had mentioned a car named after a spider.

"Yes. Atrica, thanks for asking." Natasha said with a small smirk. Laura turned to Wanda and shook her head

"If you want to borrow our car to try you are more than welcome. Not that Atrica isn't nice." Laura said with a grimace, making Natasha laugh at her.

"Maybe we will," Natasha said with a small smile. "Have you seen Pepper today?" she added, and it was Laura's turn to smile.

"Why are you smiling?" Natasha said with a small suspicious look.

"It's just cute. But no, I haven't. I actually haven't seen her at all the last few days." Laura said with an innocent voice. Natasha nodded back, turning to the kids again with a small sigh. Laura watched as Natasha's eyes followed Lila closely as she ran around.

"When are you moving?" Wanda asked carefully, making Laura turn away from Natasha again.

"We don't know for sure. But we think the house will be ready in July. You are more than welcome to see the house." Laura said, smiling at the young woman. "We are actually planning on renovating a room above the garage that we thought could be a nice fit for you." She added, watching Wanda's eyes widen.

"Really?" Wanda said, looking at her surprised. It was cute how her eyes lit up, and how even Natasha turned around again and laughed at her.

"Yeah of course. It's a big house, we need to fill it with people." Laura said with a small wink. Wanda still just looked at her with big eyes not really seeming like she believed her still.

"I mean to be fair it is a pretty big house." Natasha said with a confirmational nod. For a second Laura had forgotten Natasha had been there, but of course, she had, she had left all their things back at the new house for them.

"It's a nice house," Natasha added with a small smile.

"How did you find it?" Laura asked, trying to keep her tone as normal as possible.

"Oh, I was the old owner," Natasha said with a smile as if it was the most obvious thing ever.

"You were what?" Laura looked at her shocked, not sure if she heard correctly.

"I owned the house. It's been a safehouse for years. And when I stopped using it regularly, I gave it to a contact of mine to use as a safehouse for their clients a few years ago. They were the ones that gave Pepper the key and fixed the paperwork for me." Natasha said calmly as if that was completely normal.

"You showed it to Pepper didn't you," Laura whispered. Natasha smiled at her softly before nodding.

"We thought about selling it for a while since it got old and needed to be renovated something we didn't really have time for anyway. I moved everything to that house even before I knew you looked for a new home, but I asked my contact to keep an eye on you and try to update me if something happened. I trust them with everything I do, and I've known them for almost as long as I have known you. They are a private contractor, so I didn't have the same fears of being in contact with them like I had with you guys.

They found out Pepper was looking around at houses, so then they linked it to her with my approval." Natasha said with a crochet smile.

Laura just stared at her. She couldn't believe Natasha was the owner of her house. She hadn't been surprised if she had just linked it to Pepper or something but being the actual owner. This was crazy. Natasha had been the owner.

She had…

No….

It was not possible…

How…

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Natasha said, tilting her head with a confused look.

"I... I'm just… what… does Pepper know?" Laura answered weakly still just looking at Natasha not believing what she was hearing.

"No, why?" Natasha said still sounding so innocent in her tone.

"You know your girlfriend paid for that house, right?" Laura mumbled back, trying to process everything that was happening.

"That's money I was always planning on giving back, I still don't see the problem here." Natasha continued, still completely unfazed by this conversation they were having. How was she not seeing this? How did she think this was normal or okay in any way?

"I... you are unbelievable," Laura mumbled, shaking her head, still completely lost for words.

"I just wanted you to have a house, and when I already was sitting on one, why not?" Natasha shrugged with lightly. Laura turned to Wanda and looked at her with a partly annoyed partly pissed off face, and Wanda just shook her head. She looked just as shocked as Laura.

"I think I'm going to go and take a light jog, tell Pep I want to talk to her if you see her okay?" Natasha said, standing smiling at both of them. Laura could only nod back, not fully able to answer Natasha before she walked away from them leaving Wanda and Laura alone.

Laura wasn't sure how she was going to give the news about how Natasha had been the old owner to Clint. While she, of course, could see Natasha's side, it felt wrong in a way. Almost like she got cheated on. It had only been good intentions behind it. But with all of the secrets and hiding and stuff that had happened, it felt very weird. It was scary almost.

Laura didn't get a real chance to talk to Clint either, or not before she found Pepper wandering in the corridor alone.

"PEPPER!" Laura didn't mean to yell, but at least Pepper turned around to look at her when she hurried over to her. Pepper looked tired. Like really tired, and Laura didn't want to bother her.

"It's nothing, sorry," Laura said, stopping herself, trying to push away the thoughts in her head.

"It's okay, Laura, only been a long day, what's wrong?" Pepper said softly as they continued towards one of the common rooms. Laura thought about maybe skipping telling Pepper about Natasha, but maybe it would be better to just tell her.

She took a deep breath before saying. "Natasha was the old owner of the house." Laura watched as Pepper's mouth fell open and for a second it didn't seem like Pepper was able to say anything.

"What?" Pepper whispered, looking at her with disbelief.

"She told me today. She was the owner, she used it as a safehouse before she let a contact use it for clients. They decided to sell it because of all of the renovation work. Her contact was the one that provided the link and everything." Laura explained, still watching Pepper take in everything she was saying.

"I can't believe it." The blond still looked at her in disbelief. "I didn't know she. I mean she never told me she owned any properties and I..." Pepper looked at her one more time before turning around away from her.

"Where is Nat now." She said with her back towards Laura. Laura could understand how Pepper was feeling. It was all so confusing.

"I don't know, but she asked for you too," Laura said back, giving Pepper a smile even though she couldn't see her face.

"Thank you for telling me, I think… I'm going to go look for her." Pepper said turning to her for a second before giving her a sad smile.

Laura watched as she left, walking down the hall disappearing around a corner. Everything was so confusing, and Laura wished it didn't have to be so complicated. They had Natasha back, it should be fine…. So why did Laura feel like everything was falling apart?