Wanda did wake up during the night, but rather than ignoring that she didn't feel well or letting Natasha give her that same old pain medicine she hated, she asked if there was maybe something else she could have that wasn't as potent. Nat was so pleased that Wanda had actually been willing to wake her up to request something that it made Wanda confused. "You s-said...to?"

"Well, yes, but you are stubborn and don't listen a lot of the time. I was worried you'd refuse to ask for anything, and honestly, I'm glad you're being clear that you don't feel well at all but do feel better than a few days ago. That's good." Natasha knew quite well someone else besides Wanda probably would still need the other pain meds, but she also knew if she was in Wanda's place, she'd do the exact same thing. "We have some extra-strength Tylenol, do you want to have that instead?"

"Okay." This was something Wanda was familiar with, and it usually just made her sleepy, which was fine since she wanted to go back to sleep anyway. In a minute or two, her focus snapped to the door, sensing something outside she did not like. That same man is outside again. Feeling on edge, she tensed and sat up straight. Something is wrong. This isn't a nightmare, me being scared because I'm in pain, or my magic behaving strangely. Or even just that man. "Nat, something isn't right," Wanda murmured so quietly Natasha could hardly hear her. And I smell something odd, too.

Natasha frowned, thinking that she too thought something didn't feel right. The air had a sharp acrid tang in it and it seemed to originate from somewhere close by. On instinct she shoved the few items they had out into their bags and the non-perishable food into its box. "We're leaving. We were going to officially check out in the morning anyway, and I already paid up front. I don't like this." She put the Tylenol and a flavored water in Wanda's backpack, saying to just wait and take it once they were back in the car. If she and Wanda both thought something was wrong, it was pretty much guaranteed to be the case, and Natasha had no wish to risk waiting for something to happen and then having difficulty removing themselves from the area unidentified.

Both of them stared toward the door, hearing shouting outside. "Okay," Natasha decided, "I'm going to help you to the car so you're at least safely out of the building in case there really is danger of fire, and then I'll come back for our supplies. I don't want us to lose those, but if something must be left behind, it is not going to be either of us."

Wanda did not like this plan, some inkling that neither of them should be out there alone poking at her thoughts. I should stop worrying. Nat certainly doesn't need me. "Can I carry something so we can...just make one trip?" And I don't want to be in the car alone, I'm irrationally scared of it and-

"No, because I don't think you're strong enough yet without using your magic, and so far nobody's identified us." Natasha thought for a moment and then pulled Wanda's gun back out. "Put that in your pocket. Look at me." Wanda took a few seconds to do so, but finally did as she was told. "I don't want you to rip anyone's mind apart or give them nightmares, but if you can make someone that's after us merely forget, without leaving any trace behind or visibly doing anything-like your eyes glowing-then do it. I'd rather you be safe than continue following rules laid out previously."

"I don't know." Nat wants me to do that? Why is she saying that's okay now?

"Then just don't do it unless it's a life or death situation. Don't pull your gun either unless I can't handle it alone. I want as little unique attention on you as possible." Natasha made sure Wanda understood what they were doing. "If for any reason I don't return within a few minutes, you call Clint's burner number we saved in your phone, okay? I know you can defend yourself decently even right now, but I don't want you being seen using your magic, either. Don't try to come find me."

W-O-N-T L-E-A-V-E Y-O-U, Wanda signed stubbornly.

Natasha glared at her in frustration. "Get up and let's get out of here," she ordered, hoping that nothing would actually happen, because she knew quite well the younger girl would not listen. Even on missions, she absolutely would not leave anyone behind, and now they were not even on a mission, so Nat couldn't even cite that as a reason for her to obey. This had always been a source of contention, because while Wanda did her best to please and do what she was supposed to do otherwise...this was something she would not budge on. More than once she had lied and said she was coming back to the recon location when ordered to, and then stayed alone somewhere briefly to retrieve a member of the team that was stuck rather than withdrawing and returning with help. Once she had even done that with Tony, who all of them knew was by far her least favorite teammate, the feeling was mutual, and they could be heard bickering at each other over the malfunctioning comms. But, they did get out mostly unscathed besides some minor scrapes and such.

Mostly Nat was just mad the girl seemed to have this code hardwired into her for everyone else, but then proceeded to say repeatedly that Nat should leave her behind because she was making it hard to hide.

Wanda did see-or rather, felt-that same man that had been wanting Nat before as Natasha helped her out to their car, but he was not paying Natasha or her any mind; he was arguing with two other people. I don't want to be in here, I hate it, it's all closed in and I'm-

A loud alarm made her want to put her hands over her ears, but she couldn't with her bad arm, and she sat there curled in a ball with her good hand over one ear and her shoulder jammed against the other, ignoring that doing so creased the burns and so made her neck hurt worse. I want Nat to come back. The noise reminded her of those alarms going off back on the Raft, and she was back there all of a sudden, confused and half-conscious on the cold floor.

...and then Steve and Nat were there, the logical bit of her poked at her racing thoughts, you were hurt so bad but they were getting you and the rest out. The alarm was not a bad thing. That was the beginning of the horrible things stopping finally. Something knocked loudly against the car window, making her flinch.

No red eyes, Wanda reminded herself, keeping them shut.

"Where's your friend? I just want to see her."

Wanda blinked; she had zero inclination to answer the man at all, and now there were two others near him too. One was holding a sparkler or something similar, the other had a gas can in his hand, and all three looked somewhat 'off'. Messing around with sparklers-or fireworks-and gas while drunk or high (or both) on something was very bad and explained the weird smell that had set both Natasha and herself off. Nat, please come back, I could do something, but I will reveal...me. I don't know what to do.

"Eh, there's something wrong with her. She won't answer." He looked extremely disappointed but began to wander off...and then he came back, making some comment that she was a girl, she would do just fine instead, so she should come out and he could show her a good time.

I don't think so. Trying to think how an ordinary person in her place might react, Wanda had an idea. Lina could call the police. Ana would have told her that. Keeping an eye on the man, she quickly dialed the burner number Nat had given her to reach Clint rather than actually calling the cops, hoping that even if he did not pick up, the idea that this man's target might be calling the police would chase him away before Natasha came back. But Clint answered immediately, asking what was wrong that she was calling at three in the morning. Using her Lina voice and hoping he would understand what she was doing, she explained the situation haltingly, as if she couldn't think of the correct words in English easily.

"Kid, you don't sound like you normally do. Are you acting or are you really in big trouble? What's going on? I hear shouting in the background. I can come if you need me to, but I'm hours away from you."

Wanda squeezed herself into a tighter ball, still hating being in the car by herself, though having something to do was helping her not to completely panic despite being alone. She switched to Sokovian, figuring these drunk idiots wouldn't understand her anyway. "Both, I'm scared, but I'm not hurt...no more than before. I don't know how to get rid of or stop these people without revealing me or...Ana. I think she's not...coming back immediately because she's also avoiding a confrontation." And she thinks I am safe here in the car.

"Wanda, I gather you're playing Lina, but I can't understand you. Do you want me to call the police and ditch this burner? I don't really want to send cops over there knowing you and Nat aren't gone yet." Clint hesitated, figuring Wanda and Natasha together could easily handle whatever this was under ordinary circumstances even with Wanda being injured. The problem was fixing the situation to protect others in the vicinity while also keeping them from being identified. "Call your dense red boyfriend," Clint said reluctantly. "He can get there much more quickly than I can and he's not on the run, let's be real. Act like you've just called a friend that told Lina how to call the cops. These guys'll be angry with you for it but won't suspect your identity, either. Understand?"

"Da, I understand. Call police now," Wanda said. "911."

"Call me again once you and Nat are away from there. Please. You two are like magnets for trouble," Clint grumbled. Then he hung up before either of them could say more.

The shouting outside grew louder; the one man that she had disliked from the start was angry that she was ignoring him and threatening horrible things if she didn't put the phone down. You have no idea who you are talking to, Wanda thought, finding this morbidly hysterical now. I can't run away, I can't even drive right now, but I could knock him out instantly if I wanted to. His behavior, rather than scaring her, was kind of reassuring since he would not be acting like that if he knew who she was and what she was capable of doing to him. The second she heard a worried Vision on the other end of the call, she blurted out the motel address-thank goodness it was visible on the motel's sign-and repeated her Lina-voice explanation briefly. Then she finished, in Sokovian, since she knew he would understand her, "Not in your human disguise. I'm worried the other motel guests are in danger and I can't do anything without identifying myself. Please, I don't want to bother you, but-"

"I told you to contact me if you were in trouble. I am already on the way." Vision did not ask for more information; he could understand well enough. Wanda wanted him to come as Vision the Avenger, not Vis her friend, because she could not easily contact the police herself and didn't know what else to do. He also suspected that not all of the fear in her voice was just acting. Something had genuinely frightened her and he didn't believe this creepy man after Natasha and her was what had really scared her. "You and Ms. Romanoff should get out of the vicinity. I will take care of it."

Wanda was so relieved that she began crying, and usually she would at least try to hold it in, but Lina could cry, she should be terrified. "Thank you," she whispered, and hung up. She could see Nat finally coming back now-how long had it been?! it felt like ages even though it couldn't have been more than a few minutes-and her hand flitted to the gun in her pocket. If any of them bother her...

But Natasha strode to the SUV, appearing thoroughly unbothered. "I just know you wouldn't bother my cousin," she said sweetly.

"Aw, I was just asking where you were."

"Oh, really? Because she's a minor. You don't want her, you could get into trouble," 'Ana' said in the same pleasant voice. Nat quickly shoved their things into the hatchback and closed it again.

"I think she called the cops on me." Now the man sounded like he was pouting. "How should I know she's a minor?"

Wanda did not call the police. I know she wouldn't have. Nat was quite sure Wanda had either faked the whole thing, or she'd called Clint or Vision pretending she had called 911. "Oh, probably just a misunderstanding," Natasha said breezily, "you probably scared her."

Under other circumstances, Wanda might have been annoyed that Natasha was claiming she was a kid to twist the situation to their favor, but right now she did not care. Already the man had backed off, and seemed to realize he had done something stupid. She watched, fascinated, as her friend turned the tables on him and feigned disappointment that he was leaving, and turned into a flirty person nothing like Nat's normal self. No weapons were drawn and Nat didn't even have to touch him other than scribbling something on his hand. In a minute or two the man disappeared into his hotel room and Natasha returned to the car with a bounce in her step. "You got rid of him," Wanda said quietly.

"Told you I could. Didn't even cost us anything since the phone number I wrote is fake and smeared on his drunk hand besides. Wanda, are you really okay? I-"

"Nat, the other guests here are in danger," Wanda interrupted, her shoulders still tense. "I called Vis a-and he's coming, but..."

"Then we're out of here," Natasha said firmly. "We are not staying here. There's already more people coming outside because the fire alarm went off." She did not bother trying to get Wanda's seatbelt on her this time, more concerned with getting out of the parking lot quickly. Nat just tucked a pillow beneath Wanda's broken arm like before and then drove them away from the noise behind them.

Wanda shakily called Clint back as promised. "We're out," she said the second he picked up. "I put you on speaker so Nat can hear too."

"Good."

"Clint, go back to the vacation house whenever," Nat told him, quickly explaining the information Laura had relayed to her. "It's going on 4am now...Wanda and I will be back this morning around nine, I suppose. Figure it'll be better if we don't come back at the same time though."

"You and Wanda go back ASAP, okay? I'd rather be the one to wait longer. I'll come around noon then. You two attract trouble like a dog attracts fleas." Clint sounded so frustrated. "It sounded like there was some asshole pervert shouting because Wanda wasn't paying attention to him."

"Right, because that's completely our fault," Natasha deadpanned. "I chased him off just fine. All he got from us is a smeared, fake phone number."

"Wanda, tell your robot friend about it so he'll get rid of the guy for you."

Wanda found this irrationally funny and couldn't keep the amusement out of her voice. "Vis would not kill him," she said quietly.

"Eh. Debatable. You two are okay?"

"We're fine," Natasha told him firmly. "I'm not hurt at all, and Wanda is already a little stronger than when we separated a couple days ago. She's safe, Clint, I'll protect her, I promise."


Natasha did pull into a brightly lit but empty rest stop awhile later, parking near a picnic table, knowing it would help if Wanda could get out of the car for even just a minute or two. Wanda was very sleepy since she had taken her Tylenol and sipped some water, but she willingly let Nat help her climb out of the car all the same. Natasha took her over to the wooden picnic table and simply sat there with her. Wanda closed her eyes and rested her head on Nat's shoulder. "Thank you," Wanda said now. This was nice; she still felt so tired, but not so nervous and shut in anymore. Being outside in the dark almost-dawn breeze was calming to her, and she kind of liked pretending she really was just a girl on a normal road trip with her friend. I still hate actually being in the car, but otherwise...I like pretending.

"I know you still hate being in the car right now. I figured a short break would help, especially after dealing with that nonsense before I came back with our supplies."

"Well, he clearly didn't know me," Wanda said, a hint of amusement in her tone now, "because if he did, he wouldn't have...spoken to me like that." I guess I must have been convincing enough. "Remember the amusement park last year?" Now she sounded incredibly entertained. Nat had dragged a very reluctant Wanda off for a short vacation to meet up with Clint and his family one weekend, and while she had ended up really enjoying herself, there had also been some guy near her own age that kept bugging her while standing in line. First she pretended not to understand English, which was ruined when he overheard her talking to Cooper a little later. Then she told him she had a boyfriend. Then she claimed her father was waiting at the ride exit and would kill him if he saw.

The last straw was the person touching her on the butt when they ended up in the same row because Cooper wanted to sit up front. Then she stopped playing nice, let her eyes glow red, and threatened to undo his lap bar during the ride if he didn't stop harassing her, which clearly terrified him and he screeched about it. Obviously she did not do that, but Cooper and Natasha had been laughing hysterically the entire ride afterwards. Needless to say the person did not bother her anymore...and then he apologized and appeared much chastened, and wanted pictures, once he put together that not only had he been bothering an enhanced girl, this girl was also with Black Widow, one of the Avengers. This didn't explain Cooper's presence, but still. Needless to say she would not let him have his requested selfie photo and relished telling him 'absolutely not'.

"Yeah, I would have interfered if you hadn't done anything after he touched you, but I wanted you to take care of it yourself." Nat remembered the incident very clearly, and mostly she had just been delighted to see Wanda speak up for herself outside of a mission context or something, especially after the previous roof incident barely three months before.

"I could not ride anything now," Wanda said suddenly, her body tense again now.

Nat frowned, easily suspecting the reason for that; she did not think Wanda meant she couldn't because she was physically hurt right now. She would probably panic being restrained or otherwise strapped in to ride anything and I don't blame her. "We can't go to one right now anyway," Nat told her quietly. "Even if we could, you do not have to go on anything. Though, being outdoors would probably make any restraints not so bad, yes?"

Wanda didn't answer right away; she felt a bit self-conscious that Natasha knew what was bothering her even though she hadn't explicitly explained herself, but the parts of her that wanted someone to know, to understand what was wrong but still not make a fuss about it, retreated into an odd sort of contentment, like a warm soft pillow swallowing her right up. "I don't know," she answered honestly, "it might even really be fine if I wasn't in pain any more. Right now the idea just scares me." There. I have said the truth smoothly and I didn't coat it with sugar, either.

Natasha felt a wave of surprised peace flood her rather abruptly, and knew those were not really her own feelings, not entirely; they were amplified tenfold from Wanda, who had no idea her emotions were literally leaking out of her like that. Somewhere else, she might have warned Wanda she was emotion projecting again, but knowing the girl was genuinely at peace while talking about something that bothered her was much more important, and telling Wanda about it would probably make her close off into her shell again. What Wanda was doing now was harmless, anyway, and couldn't be traced to her easily, unlike projecting physical pain on someone. Instead Natasha said nothing and just gave her a hug.

"What is this for?"

"Just glad you're talking, that's all."

"I should talk more then," Wanda said in a faux serious tone, still rather confused at randomly receiving a hug even if it was not unwelcome. "We can go whenever. I am okay now," she added.

"Walk back over to the car, or carry you this time?" Nat asked, figuring letting Wanda have a choice would be best.

Wanda thought for a minute, trying to be realistic as she glanced over the short distance from where they were sitting at the picnic table over to the SUV. And honest. I should be honest. "I think I am strong enough, but my ankle is still...a bit sore."

Natasha suspected 'a bit sore' was an understatement, and it worried her that Wanda, someone who constantly claimed to be fine when it was clearly untrue, would now be saying she felt strong enough to do something but that it would hurt her. "If you don't want to be carried, then use me as a crutch. Don't put any more weight on it right now, okay? I don't like that it's not feeling better yet. That should feel somewhat better by now, even if you're still a little shaky."

"It does feel better than before. Told you I am a burden. You are literally having to drag me around," Wanda said as they went back to the car, but she did as she was told.

"Wrong. I'm making sure you don't hurt yourself further. You were willing to be honest about how you felt. Now let me provide appropriate help." Natasha made sure Wanda was settled safely back in their vehicle and went through the same 'describe where we are' process again so that she would be okay about the anxiety over the seatbelt.

Once they were back on the road, Natasha considered whether or not to try and get more details from Wanda about how she was feeling, because it was very obvious that she could be at peace emotionally, and still feel terrible physically. I'll just ask but not push her too much about it, especially not while we're driving. "We don't have access to get any x-rays or MRIs done to make sure you're healing properly. Scanner back on the quinjet only told us injury types, nothing more detailed than that. If you had to rate how you're feeling now, can you do that?"

Wanda gave Nat an irritated look. Natasha knew how much she hated trying to answer that kind of question, and now was no different. "Much better than last week?" she offered. This was true, and at this point she was not even particularly trying to hide how she felt. I don't know how to explain that I still don't feel well at all, but I'm safe and I'm not so...disoriented anymore.

"I know you do, but can you try to be a bit more specific? Please. I just don't want you continuing to be in pain or anything healing poorly if we can help it."

Wanda didn't really understand why this mattered at this point, since it was not like anyone could instantly heal her even if they did have access to a hospital. All that would happen was a doctor would tell her she needed more rest and probably would say Nat and Clint had tended to her injuries just fine. And someone might tie her down or sedate her if she tried to get up, the idea of which genuinely scared her. "A three?"

"I don't believe you," Natasha told her instantly, giving Wanda a suspicious glance.

"Well, if ten is the worst pain I can imagine..." Wanda hadn't meant to be lying this time, but trying to give how she felt a number did not process correctly for her; she could imagine much, much worse than how she felt right now.

"Think of it as zero being you feel normal, there's no pain. Ten being the worst you've already felt, not whatever nasty things your imagination might dream up. Does that help?" Natasha knew quite well Wanda probably hadn't lied if she was thinking about it that way; she knew quite well how vivid Wanda's imagination could be and so she'd probably felt that really was the truth, however untrue it sounded.

Wanda closed her eyes and scooted a little further down in her seat, trying to concentrate on the soft hoodie against her skin, not the seatbelt or that she might be back there in the Raft again. "Like...six or seven, maybe?" I don't know. I don't know at all, because the hurt is...was...all twisted up in my head and I can't explain that part. When I'm happier, I don't feel nearly as bad somehow, even if it is literally the same pain. "I am not counting whatever is...wrong with my head," she added reluctantly, because if she tried to remotely explain that then nothing made sense at all.

Natasha didn't answer right away, partially wishing she had not asked, because it sounded like Wanda still felt awful and was just...ignoring it a lot fairly easily, and could be happy as long as she recognized she was safe and not alone. To be fair, Nat herself would do the same, but she did not want Wanda doing so, either. "Okay, then we'll try to fix that."

"But it is much better, really." I'm trying to be honest. I don't think we even can do anything else. Wanda looked down at her bad arm now, then at her friend, and then out the window again. A small smile flitted across her face. "I broke my wrist when we were eight. There was this...shell of a bombed building kids liked to dare each other to climb in. Pietro and I weren't supposed to...go in there."

"And you went in anyway."

Wanda nodded, her expression a little bittersweet now, though the story wasn't even something she disliked remembering now and was actually something she genuinely loved thinking about. "I told him we shouldn't, but I followed him anyway...like most of the time. We both fell when a beam broke, and Pietro landed right on top of me. He was okay other than skinned knees and elbows, so he thought I was being a baby for bawling." She giggled at the memory now, because her little eight-year-old self was kind of a baby. "We went home, and I think Pietro was more scared than me. He kept hugging me and calling me a crybaby, because he really, really wanted me to...be okay and not hurt, and we knew our parents didn't have money to deal with...anything serious."

Natasha initially thought this was a kind of strange memory to make Wanda happy, but it was very obvious this incident wasn't a bad memory for her now and she liked remembering it. Because she still had her whole family intact then, that's why. "And then..." Nat prompted quietly.

"Pietro and I tried to hide what happened, which obviously didn't work. He tore his jeans, my wrist was all swollen, and...yeah. We were stupid. I don't know what Papa did, but he...pulled money together somehow for a doctor. I had a red cast and Papa made Pietro stay in bed when I had to. He was pinging off the walls. Mama gave us tea, and I...I can remember Pietro hugging me constantly. He pretended he didn't, but he felt really bad, for convincing me to climb in that building." Wanda closed her eyes, trying to retreat back to that happy place in her head. My family was hungry for weeks after that, but we were together and I...don't remember Pietro or me really being that distraught over it. I had them with me, and the little food we did have, Mama always made stretch and be delicious. "I suppose that sounds like a...weird happy memory," she murmured now.

"Maybe at first, but I can understand why you'd like thinking about it now. It's normal kid mischief you got into, even if you and Pietro shouldn't have had to consider a bombed-out building normal, and you still had your whole family together then." Natasha hated knowing something like this was a cherished memory of Wanda's, because objectively there was a lot to unpack there: the neighborhood wrecked by bombs, two eight-year-olds trying to hide their shenanigans not so much because they didn't want to get in trouble but because they knew their parents didn't have money, the fact that an incident where she'd hurt herself and cried over it was a good memory to her.

"...Yeah. It's like a warm hug for my head," Wanda said, realizing how odd that must sound but not caring at the moment. I wish I could go back and be that silly little girl again, who bawled over a broken wrist and caused trouble with her twin. I miss Pietro, I still miss our parents, even now. "Anyway. At eight, I thought that was the worst pain I had ever felt. Little did I know."

Now Natasha was angry, realizing why Wanda had shared her precious memory now. Hurting her arm and being injured in general now had reminded her of it, and she was comparing her innocent little kid self crying then to her current self, someone far too used to being in pain at this point. "I'm sorry for everything that's happened to you since," she said quietly.

"It is not your fault. I...don't want you to be sorry," Wanda answered as quickly as she could. She slowly turned her gaze toward her friend again rather than out the window, resting her tired head against the seat. "I like that memory now. You all t-taking care of me now...reminds me of having a home again. That maybe I am still...me. So...thank you." Then she closed her eyes again and didn't say anything more. Wanda felt her phone vibrate and quickly checked her messages.

'No one was hurt at the motel, though the building caught fire. The culprits for the explosion have been apprehended and taken to the nearest police station. I am sorry I could not message you confirmation sooner. I hope you are safe. I will return to visit you as soon as I can.'


"Mom! They're back!" Cooper called around nine a.m., peeking out a window. "Well. Just Wanda and Auntie Nat I think. I don't see Dad and the truck yet."

Natasha spotted Cooper and waved at him with a smile before turning her attention back to Wanda. Like when they'd left, the gravel driveway had scared her, and she had curled herself into a ball, little bits of scarlet crackling at her fingertips. "We can go inside now, no more car for now," Nat told her, making no comment about the magic since it was harmless and it did not matter if Wanda did that here. And, she has already dispelled it anyway, Natasha observed now.

O-K, Wanda signed, very, very relieved they were back, and so much sooner than she expected, too. Lila and Cooper came galloping out the door, and she smiled, happy to see the children again. Natasha gently carried her back inside and set her down at the little kitchen table near where Laura was making breakfast. "Thank you," she whispered yet again.

"Of course. I'm just going to grab our stuff. If you want to go somewhere else in the house before I'm done unloading, you ask Laura for help, okay?" Natasha knew Wanda really did feel at least a little bit better than a few days ago, but she still didn't want her trying to walk anywhere without help.

"Okay." Wanda knew she was not going to ask Laura for help, but she could be agreeable. Besides, it was nice to actually be sitting at the table and not feel completely miserable and shaky because she wasn't in bed. She did not feel fine, either, but it was fine to her when compared with a week ago, or even just days ago.

"Glad you two are back safe! Now we just have to wait on Clint. I see you and Nat did your hair," Laura commented. "It looks very nice. Much different but still suits you."

Wanda smiled and said a quiet thank-you. "I really like how it turned out too." And it feels so good to have something about me that I can actually...like the appearance of right now. That is probably ridiculous, but it's true. Somehow dyeing her hair had also made her feel like she had done something Pietro would be happy she'd done too, even if he would certainly tease her for it, and that also was a pleasant thought.

"Any breakfast requests?" Laura asked. "I'm making pancakes, but you don't have to have that."

Wanda shook her head. "That sounds good." I think I can eat pancakes okay now. The idea doesn't make me feel...sick any more, at least.

"Make smiley face ones, Mama," Lila requested. "Please."

"You and Auntie Nat were at that motel that got exploded, weren't you?" Cooper asked suddenly.

Wanda froze and glanced at Laura. Laura slapped a spatula on the counter. "Cooper, you were told not to watch the news," Laura said sharply.

"I wasn't!" Cooper protested. "I was looking to see if there were any good shows on and it was just on a channel as I went through them. It said The Vision was there and got a tip. I think Wanda's the secret tip. He has a great big crush on her."

Lila looked at Wanda curiously.

"That's what streaming and DVDs are for. Do not turn the regular TV on again. You're old enough to know better."

"Why does it matter since Lila and me know Dad, Auntie Nat, and Wanda have been here anyway? Those dumb guys that came by with Iron Man didn't even pay any attention to us. They just stomped around and left when they didn't find them." Cooper puffed out his chest and went on, "And if I did get asked about them I would say no I haven't seen them. We know how to keep secrets."

"It matters because the news isn't reporting fairly," Laura said simply. "It has nothing to do with you and Lila being able to keep a secret. But regardless, the fewer details you two have, the safer you will be. You know their job is dangerous anyway, and right now it has become ten times worse."

"But we want to help. If we don't know anything, how can we help?" Lila asked in her innocent little-girl manner.

"If you want to be Avengers when you are adults, that's one thing. Right now you help by being ordinary children. You are helping maintain a cover of sorts simply by being here."

The children still seemed mildly suspicious, but didn't protest further. When Nat returned, Lila pounced on her with a hug again, and Cooper did not exactly pounce, but still hopped up and gave her a hug. Wanda liked watching them, and she smiled a bit, feeling mostly relaxed. "Can I help fix breakfast?" she asked now.

"Wanda, you do not need to do that. Let me help Laura finish making it today," Natasha said firmly. "You can make us a meal another time. Right now I want you to sit there and rest, especially after the mess during the night and this morning." She took Laura outside the kitchen for a minute to give her a quick rundown of the night before without the children hearing it.

They returned to find Wanda still sitting at the table, but little Lila had climbed on her lap now and was eating a cheese stick. Both girls were clearly happy. "I told Lila not to," Cooper said in his best grown-up voice, "but they wouldn't listen."

Wanda knew Lila was sitting directly on some of the still-healing bruises on her legs, but she did not care one bit. If the little girl started bouncing on her or squishing her, she would have to tell Lila to get off, but this was okay. "I'm fine," Wanda said pointedly, "Lila isn't hurting me."

"She's sitting directly on bruises, Wanda. I've seen them, remember? They've faded quite a bit, but not healed yet," Nat said gently. "Lila, why don't you sit next to her, okay?"

"Okay," Lila agreed.

Wanda winced when Lila hopped off of her, but she didn't say anything. Lila sitting nearby was okay, and she was not being pushed away or excluded; Laura was not telling her kids to get away from the dangerous enhanced person. Natasha was tempted to make Wanda go back upstairs and lie down, but figured that would do more harm than good. She seemed content at the moment, and Nat knew if she took Wanda upstairs, then she would probably be upset again, which would not help her rest. "Can I...have some milk?" Wanda asked hesitantly, thinking it was silly that asking for that made her stomach jumpy. I'm safe. I can ask for something if I want to. Then she thought, the refrigerator is right there, I should get it myself, and she stood up slowly, keeping her good hand on the table for balance. "Never mind. I...I can get it."

Natasha gently pushed her back into her chair. "Not yet you can't. How are you planning to carry the drink if you have to hold on to something to stand?"

"I don't know. My magic?"

"Show me you can manipulate a cup and get some water right there from your chair then. If you are going to use your powers to get a drink, then you do not have to stand or walk to the refrigerator," Natasha pointed out. She took the cup of milk Laura handed her and slid that across the kitchen table to Wanda. "And you are not pouring or cooking anything until I see you have a drink without using a straw or a water bottle without spilling."

I am not a toddler, Wanda wanted to scream, but she didn't even feel angry with Natasha for ordering her like that; she was just frustrated with herself for still being shaky. She could sign easily enough, and picking up small things was mostly okay, but open drinks still felt a bit beyond her. Even when she and Nat had been counting that stupid money, she had knocked over a pile of bills a couple times, which annoyed her even though Natasha didn't even mention it, and let her fix it herself.

Wanda couldn't help wondering if the frustrating weakness and intermittent tremors were from all of the repeated shocks every single day, or being kept restrained for weeks. Probably both, she thought now, but I am here, I am safe, it's not happening anymore. It will go away. I hope. Pushing those thoughts aside, she slowly picked up the milk cup and took a sip. If the cup had been full, she would have spilled it, but it was only about half full and so it was fine. Two sips. Three. Wanda thought this was taking far too much concentration, because it was just a drink, but other than Nat giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze, no one was paying any attention that it was more difficult for her than it should be. She was grateful that nobody said a word about it, not even Cooper or Lila.

The pancakes (with smiley faces of banana eyes and bacon mouths) were delicious, and Wanda was delighted to realize she could swallow this food fine except for the bacon, which she gave to Cooper and Lila instead. She stayed quiet, watching the others and slowly nibbling at her own breakfast.

"You don't have to finish that," Laura told her after everyone else was done and Wanda still had about half her plate left. "If you still want it, take as long as you like, but you do not have to eat all of it. We can put it away for later, or I'm sure Cooper the bottomless pit will eat it. Don't make yourself sick trying to clear your plate."

Wanda looked down at the half-eaten breakfast, unsure how to explain that she was kind of full but still wanted the food because then later there might not be any, which was illogical because she knew darn well the vacation house's kitchen was full of food, there was still some in the stash of nonperishable supplies for later, and even if all of that somehow vanished, she had that stupid envelope of money to go buy more if necessary. Besides, not clearing one's plate was rude. Thinking about this now reminded her of last year when the others realized she had a bunch of nonperishable snacks hoarded in her room at the Compound. Tony had jokingly called her a hamster, which had pissed her off even though she knew he didn't mean any harm whatsoever, and called all of the Avengers dumb nicknames sometimes. Steve had immediately understood why she had done that in the first place and came to talk to her about himself growing up during the Great Depression, which had made her feel better. I should be honest. It's just Laura and Nat. They won't care. "I want to have a little bit more, and save the rest," she said finally. "I like it, I promise, I just-"

"Wanda, you are not offending Nat or me by not finishing your food," Laura interrupted. "No one minds. Even if you weren't hurt, it doesn't matter at all. I know you hate wasting food. Saving for later isn't wasting it."

Natasha knew that right now it had less to do with worrying not finishing was rude and more to do with Wanda feeling like she had to eat all of whatever she was given because there might not be any more later. "Laura, we can clean up the kitchen," she offered.

Laura scooped little Nate out of his high chair and nodded. "Okay. If you two do want anything else, I'll be upstairs with the kids. Call me if you need me."

The second Laura was gone, Nat looked straight at Wanda and just said, "I know you know there is plenty of food in this house. Open the refrigerator."

Wanda frowned but moved to stand.

"No. Stay there and open the refrigerator door. I don't want you being on that ankle right now."

Wanda hesitated but did as she was told, a little tendril of red pulling the refrigerator door open smoothly. The refrigerator was, indeed, well stocked. She looked at Natasha questioningly and took another couple nibbles of pancake. "I...I'm done now, I think."

Natasha closed the fridge herself and then began clearing the table, rinsing the dishes and then putting them in the dishwasher. "Bring your empty cup over here to the sink. With your magic, not by getting up."

"I might drop it."

"It's plastic. It doesn't matter. You keep wanting to help clean up, so start with that." Natasha kept her voice nonchalant; she still wanted to just take Wanda upstairs and put her to bed, but she knew doing something first would probably help Wanda much more than trying to force her to rest whilst knowing there were things to clean up. It was no secret that Wanda hated feeling useless and not being able to do much, and Nat was hoping doing some small things might help her feel better.

Wanda looked at the cup, the sink, her friend, down at herself, and then back at the cup. I can do that just fine. I know I can. In a few seconds the plastic cup floated over to the sink and dropped into it lightly. Feeling strangely satisfied, she leaned back in her chair and glanced at Nat again.

"Okay, now see if you can rinse it off and stick it in the dishwasher while I put your leftovers away. Stop if any of this is hurting you, though. Please."

Somehow all of this made Wanda feel comfortable enough to just be a hundred percent honest, because again Natasha was very obviously concerned but not fussing over her, nor was she stuffing her aside back in the comfy bedroom upstairs. Wanda genuinely liked chilling there, but being allowed and included to help do something was better. "I think I need to lie down after this, but it isn't hurting my magic. I don't feel too awful right now, though."

Nat could tell this, again, was truthful on Wanda's part: Wanda was happy again for right now, but she didn't feel well, either. "We'll go straight upstairs then in a bit. Is doing that with your powers causing you any pain at all?"

Wanda was focused on manipulating the water now, her expression serious but not unhappy. She knew her hand was shaking again, but she realized it was not really affecting her control over her telekinesis much, either. The cup slowly tilted, pouring the water out, and she set it down inside the dishwasher with a small jerk. It doesn't hurt, exactly. It just feels...hesitant, like it doesn't want to let me yank any more than this free at once. "My arm aches, but I do not think it's because I'm using my power," she whispered, still trying to be honest but having no idea how to explain, either.

Natasha nodded. "All right, then that means you've just done too much this morning. Don't do anything else, please." She quickly wiped the table and counter before putting the last few dishes into the dishwasher and starting its cycle. "Ready to go upstairs?"

Wanda wanted to say no, because she was tired of making Nat take care of her, but she knew her friend did not mind doing so, and she really did want to go upstairs. "Okay." She reluctantly let herself be carried upstairs, but asked for Nat to put her down once they were just down the hall from the bedroom.

"Not now. Wait until later today so you can rest awhile first." Natasha knew if Wanda really, really wanted to, she could easily push her away, but she hoped Wanda would not do that, and she didn't, though she did look displeased about it. "I also called Clint while I was unloading our things and told him to stop at a Walgreens to find a crutch or something for you before he comes back. I know you really hate needing someone to help you go anywhere right now, and that was one thing we didn't have on the quinjet or in my Norway safe house."

Wanda frowned as Nat gently set her down on the edge of her bed. "Won't that be dangerous for us? Buying a thing like that in public?"

"If our group of rogue Avengers was together, then absolutely, but Clint alone will be fine. He doesn't stand out anyway, and he's driving that tired old truck Vision let him take that lends itself well to one man driving alone. He'll say he twisted an ankle hiking or fishing or something if asked, but I don't think anyone will."

"I don't want to put him or any of the rest of you in danger," Wanda said the same thing that was constantly concerning her yet again. I know Nat is right. Clint never gets recognized in public anyway, even before all of this. He is probably the one that's badmouthed on the news the least, even now. Good for him.

"Wanda, you need to just let us take care of you. You've done enough. It's okay to think of yourself once in awhile," Natasha told her.

"I'm even preventing you from seeing your sister." Wanda curled up on her side again, already feeling a little better now that she was lying down again. "You could just...leave me here and go visit Yelena y-yourself." I-M S-A-F-E.

Natasha put Wanda's bad ankle on a pillow and shook her head, sitting next to her. "No. At least not until you can take care of yourself without help. You barely want me to help you tend to those burns and everything else. Besides, I really do want you to meet her. We'll wait. Yelena will understand." Well, I hope she understands. Nat knew Yelena would not be all that sympathetic if she knew they were on the run...but currently relaxing hidden away in a large vacation house. She would probably assume Wanda would be safe there without Nat's presence, and that Natasha should come visit without Wanda now and come back later with her.

"You are staying because I have emotional problems," Wanda said flatly, "not because I am unsafe here without you."

"Yes. But that is not your fault. Also, yes, you will be unsafe if I leave and it causes you to have more panic attacks."

"I don't want any more of those...things," Wanda mumbled, her cheeks slightly pink. "I'm sorry. I feel like...like my head is betraying me." Nat understands. She has even told me she's had them before. I shouldn't be embarrassed about it.

Natasha looked her straight in the eyes. "I know what they feel like. They are horrible. I'm not leaving you knowing not having me here will make it more likely for things to trigger you. Not an option. We'll wait a bit longer."