Chapter 3: Sting of Rejection

When Wanda returned to the base from her morning run, she went searching for Bucky. "Wanda," a voice called out. Wanda turned around slowly to see Vision standing there.

"Vision," she greeted with a slight nod.

"You are searching for the Winter Soldier?" Vision asked.

"His name is James, and yes. Have you seen him?" she asked.

Vision shook his head slowly. "Not today, when I see him, he is normally in the training room with Captain Rogers," Vision answered.

"Thank you," she murmured.

"Wanda," Vision called to her.

Wanda stopped and looked over at him. "I want to caution you, this man isn't exactly like any other man," he stated.

"I know, but I know he won't hurt me," she answered.

"And how can you know that?" Vision asked.

"A feeling," she replied.

With that, Wanda walked away to find Bucky.

When she finally found him, he was sitting in the gym holding his head. "That's not a good sign," Wanda stated, making him look up. She knelt down in front of him, her hands on his knees.

"What is it that you want?" he asked.

Wanda stared at him quizzically. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"What do you want, Wanda? You come visiting me every day. I am dangerous, I'm sure everyone has warned you about it," he answered.

"As am I," she told him.

Bucky closed his eyes, letting out a deep breath. Wanda held onto his hands, gripping the metal arm tighter when he tried to pull it away. "I want you to want me," she answered, "I feel something between us you can't deny it." Bucky stared at her.

"I have killed to many people," he murmured, "I'm not good for you, I am a monster."

Wanda shook her head slowly. "You are not a monster, you are a good person that horrible things happened to," she told him. Reaching up, she pressed her hand against his chest. "The good man you are is in here, you just have to find him and let me help you find him," she whispered. Bucky stared at her, standing up.

"You shouldn't count on me, Wanda, I'm no good for you," he answered.

With that, Bucky left and Wanda sat on the floor feeling her heart shatter into so many pieces it almost made her ill. Getting up off the floor, she left the training room quickly so he wouldn't see the tears in her eyes.

Reaching her quarters, Wanda started throwing her things together in a hurry. She grabbed phone, dialing a familiar number. "Hello?" Clint answered.

"Can I come by you for a few days?" Wanda asked.

Clint was silent on his end for a second. "That's a question you never have to ask, are you okay?" he asked.

"I'm fine, I just want to escape this place for a few days," she replied.

"Nat and I will get the spare room ready for you," he told her.

"I'll be on the next flight out," Wanda answered before hanging up.

Wanda grabbed her bag, leaving the room.

The next day, Wanda was sitting on the porch of the Barton home, watching as Lily and Sophia chased Clint around in the yard. "Get him!" the twelve-year-old exclaimed, jumping on Clint's back.

"Attacked from behind!" Clint exclaimed, falling to the ground.

Natasha walked out of the house with a smile, sitting beside Wanda. "Your family is so beautiful," Wanda answered.

"Thank you," Natasha murmured.

Wanda saw the woman's eyes shine with happiness as she looked at her husband and her children. "They mean so much to me," she said softly.

"Natasha," Wanda murmured.

Natasha looked over at her. "When did you know you were in love with Clint?" she asked. Natasha crossed her legs, leaning back against the swing.

"I think that would be…within the first hour of knowing him," Natasha admitted simply, "He was supposed to kill me. He had the shot all he had to do was release the arrow right between my eyes."

"But he didn't," Wanda murmured.

"I saw a scared young woman who was needing a second chance," Clint answered walking up.

Natasha smiled as Clint rested his hands on both sides of her. He pressed his lips against hers firmly, yet lovingly. Her hands reached up, resting on the sides of his neck.

That night, Wanda was sitting at the top of the stairs while Clint and Natasha were in the kitchen cleaning up their dinner dishes. "I can get used to this," Clint commented as he stood behind his wife.

"What? Me cleaning dishes?" she quipped.

Clint chuckled, moving his arms around her. He rested his forehead against her temple as she moved hands along his arms. "Something's bothering her," Natasha stated. Clint moved his thumb in circles over his wife's hip.

"It's about Barnes," he answered.

Natasha looked over at Clint as he let her go. "Bucky?" she asked surprised.

"It makes sense if you think about it, Beautiful," he answered as he grabbed a bottle off the floor.

Natasha leaned against the counter. She pushed her hair from her eyes as Clint placed the bottle in the sink. "Something's bothering you too," he answered. Natasha moved her hands over his chest as he stood in front of her. Wanda watched as Natasha pressed her forehead against his, her hands moving up and down Clint's arms.

"General Ross has been harassing all of us when we're at the base," she murmured.

"I noticed, tried to pump me for information too," Clint answered, sitting back at the table, "Searching for Bucky. Guy needs to retire when he can't find his most wanted man on the very base he's harassing my family on."

Natasha suddenly grabbed his hand, straddling his lap. "Hey," she murmured. She rested her hands on his shoulders as he looked up at her. "No matter what happens, this doesn't break us okay?" she asked. Wanda watched as Clint's hands moved up and down Natasha's back as their eyes were locked together.

"I promised you from the very first day we had met, you're stuck with me, sweetheart. Whether you like it or not," he answered.

Clint tilted Natasha's head back, kissing her neck and her throat gently. Natasha let her head fall back with a breath escaping her lips. Wanda turned her head away, going up to her room.

Lying in her bed, Wanda rested her hand over her middle as she stared out her window. Her head started to hurt again.

Wanda stood in a dark hall. A hand caressed her cheek gently. She was leaning back against a wall as her hand moved up the person's chest. She felt so safe, so loved. The person was speaking, but their voice sounded like they were underwater.

Wanda shook her head, closing her eyes tight. Letting out a shaky breath, she sat up and pulled her knees to her chest.

At the base, Bucky was sparring with Steve. Steve noticed that his friend wasn't completely with the workout. "What's going on?" he asked. Bucky pushed his hair from his face as he leaned against the wall.

"I can't get her out of my head," Bucky answered.

Steve sat across from him. "I'm not supposed to feel this way," he added.

"What? Feeling things for another person? Especially for someone who understands what you went through better than I ever can?" Steve asked.

Bucky stared at his friend. "They took everything from me," he answered, "I keep having these dreams. I don't know what they mean." Bucky let out a deep breath, leaving the training room.

Sitting in his quarters, Bucky was trying to get some sort of sleep but every time he closed his eyes the visions that had been taunting him would see flashes of images. As exhaustion started to take over him, an image thrust itself into his mind before he could try to stop it.

He was in his quarters attempting to take care of the injury on his side. The door opened and a hand rested on his shoulder. "Let me," a voice said softly. A hand reached out and started cleaning the injury on his side.

"You shouldn't be here," he answered.

The figure laughed softly. "Then I guess it will be our secret," they stated.

Bucky shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose