Yelena stared at the blood on her legs, bile rising in her throat.

"Shit."

She stood in the middle of the shower, frozen with shock. She sank to the ground, letting the icy water wash over her.

"Fuck!" She swore, touching the blood with shaking hands.

So this was it. This was how she would die, bleeding out in a shower cubicle. Her back and her stomach had been hurting all day, and now this? It had to be serious.

Yelena took a shaky breath and tried to think logically. It couldn't be poison, all of the girls ate the same food, and the others all seemed fine. She had won her last fight with no significant injuries, and she had taken her usual vitamins this morning in the cafeteria. Nothing out of the ordinary had occurred, but something had to be terribly wrong. Had one of the other girls contaminated her food?

She hugged her knees to her chest and swallowed a sob.

'I'm gonna die.' She thought, her mind racing as she replayed the day's events over and over.

'I'm gonna die.'

"Yelena?"

Yelena whirled around as the door to her shower cubicle opened, panicking at the thought of being seen in such a moment of weakness. She reached for the towel next to her and wrapped it around herself, scrambling to her feet and crossing her arms over her chest protectively.

The girl standing by the door was several years older, with vibrant red hair and sharp blue eyes.

Natasha.

"What do you want?" Yelena snapped.

Natasha took a step closer.

"I didn't see you at dinner."

"Didn't feel like eating." Yelena said tersely.

Natasha frowned and reached for the shower faucet to turn it off.

"Are you feeling okay?"

"Отлично." Yelena replied, her grip tightening on the towel.

"Lena…" Natasha made a movement as if reaching for her but then thought better of it, bringing her arm back to her side.

"I'm dying, okay?" Yelena snapped. "I'm fucking dying, so feel free to gloat. I won't be competition for you anymore."

"What are you talking about?" Natasha said sharply. "What's wrong?"

"I'm bleeding, сучка!"

"What? Where?"

Yelena swallowed a sob and removed her towel, gesturing to the blood staining her thighs.

Natasha relaxed visibly, her face relieved.

"Lena, I promise you're not dying."

"How do you know?" Yelena asked, her voice trembling.

She hated herself for showing such vulnerability, but this was Natasha. This was her big sister, who had tried and failed to protect them both.

This was Natasha, who used to play Legos with her, who chased her around a sunny Ohio backyard, who always used to give Yelena her dessert when Mom and Dad weren't looking.

Yelena resented her sister for lying to her, for always needing to be the best in training, for always winning every fight, but she still needed her.

Natasha smiled gently. For a moment, it reminded Yelena so strongly of Ohio she couldn't breathe, her sister's smile bringing back memories of backyard games and backbends, blue hair and mac and cheese.

"I know because the same thing happened to me. It's completely normal, сестрёнка."

"What do you mean? What's happening to me?" Yelena asked, wrapping the towel around herself protectively.

"Come on, сиди. I'll explain it all to you." Natasha said, gesturing towards the changing room.

Reluctantly, Yelena followed and joined her sister on one of the benches. Icy water dripped down her back as she shivered, the thin towel providing little protection from the December cold.

'Not like they could bother spending a bit more money on heating so we don't all die before he can send us on missions.' Yelena thought bitterly, rubbing her hands together.

Natasha got up and opened one of the lockers, rummaging around for a moment before walking back to the bench with a pile of clothes in her hands. She handed the clothes to Yelena before setting a small box down on the bench next to her.

"Put these on."

Yelena reached for the clothes gratefully and stood, turning her back to Natasha as she dressed quickly. The clothes hung loosely on her body, Natasha's shirt slightly too big for her smaller frame. Rolling up the sleeves, Yelena turned back to her sister and took a seat.

"Tell me." She said, trying to keep her voice from trembling.

Natasha reached for Yelena's hand, squeezing it tightly.

"Okay. It happened to me too, in Ohio. Ma - Melina explained it to me, so I kind of figured she told you too. It's normal to bleed once a month, Lena. I do. All of the other Widows do, until the Graduation Ceremony. It's your body's way of telling you it's ready to have babies."

Yelena wrinkled her nose. "I don't want to have babies."

Natasha smiled sadly. "You won't. Dreykov…Dreykov makes sure we won't, when we graduate. After that, we won't have a period anymore, either."

"So…you mean this happens to all the Widows, until Graduation?"

Natasha nodded. "It happens to all women throughout their lives, except for us it stops after the Ceremony. It's completely normal, Lena. You're not dying."

Yelena exhaled in relief as Natasha squeezed her hand tightly.

"Okay. Спасибо."

They sat for a moment in silence, holding hands like no time had passed, like they were still the little girls they had been in Ohio, like they were still inseparable, two sides of one coin.

Clearing her throat, Natasha turned back to Yelena. "Now, I should tell you how to use a pad."

"A what?"

"This!" Natasha picked up the box next to Yelena and took out a small square, handing it to Yelena.

"This goes in your underwear -"

"Okay!" Yelena interrupted, blushing furiously. "I get it, thanks!"

Natasha smiled mischievously. "Are you sure? Maybe I should explain it in more detail."

"Nope, no, нет. I do not need you to explain how to wear what is basically a diaper." Yelena said, rolling her eyes. "In fact, I would like to stop talking about all of this now."

"You don't want to know all about how your uterus is shedding its lining?"

"NO!" Yelena shivered. "I've been traumatized enough for one day."

"Okay, okay." Natasha laughed. "I'll spare you the whole science speech Melina gave me."

Yelena rolled her eyes but smiled nostalgically. "Mama always liked science."

"Yeah." Natasha said softly, her eyes sad. "Lena, I -"

"I should go." Yelena stood up abruptly, still clutching the pad in one hand. "They will notice I'm gone if I don't go to training now."

Natasha cleared her throat and stood as well. "Of course."

"I'll see you around, сестра." Yelena said, turning towards the bathroom door.

"See you later, Lenochka." Natasha whispered. "I - I miss you."

Yelena swallowed the lump in her throat and opened the door forcefully.

"Yeah. Я тоже."

...

Отлично = Wonderful, great

Сучка = Bitch

Сестрёнка = Little sister

Сиди = Sit

Спасибо = Thanks

Сестра = Sister

Я тоже = Me too