Darcy leads everyone outside after assigning each person to carry a piece of equipment out. Freya had just rolled her eyes, initiated their glow and used her telekinesis to carry all of it by herself. Darcy had happily skipped along next to her while her high tech equipment magically floated through the air with Freya's aura swirling around it. Now that she had gotten it set up the way she wants on the bed of a truck, she begins to tap away on her laptop.
"So, you guys have seen that radio on Wanda's kitchen counter, right?" Darcy asks. Everyone silently nods in response when she glances back at them. "The next time she's washing dishes, which, by my count, happens about once an episode, barf, we'll shoot a signal to that little guy," she smiles and gestures toward the barrier. She turns back to her equipment and gives it a love tap. "This transmitter will mimic the frequency of the broadcast, and if my theory is right-"
"-It'll allow us to speak directly to her," Freya finishes before her face lights up with a smile. "Darcy, that's brilliant!"
"I know," Darcy smiles proudly. "This is totally gonna work. Don't touch that," she scolds Jimmy when he reaches toward a piece of the equipment. He raises his hands in defeat and puts them in his pockets to avoid further temptation.
"Agent Woo," a voice calls out. Everyone turns to see a female agent approach. She greets the Avengers with a polite smile before focusing on Jimmy and handing him a folder.
"Is this from the current episode?" Jimmy asks after he opens it.
"Aired about two minutes ago," the agent confirms.
"What is it?" Freya asks.
"What does it look like to you?" Jimmy asks as he faces the open folder toward them.
"Like a retro version of a S.W.O.R.D. drone?" Darcy answers in question form.
"Bingo," Jimmy nods.
"But how did it change and why?" Steve questions.
"Uh, to go with the production design?" Jimmy guesses.
"Or render it useless," Bucky inputs.
"Exactly," Sam agrees. "The barrier perceives it as a threat, so..."
"It changes whatever goes in and literally renders it useless," Freya nods. Bucky and Sam grin proudly at each other and exchange a high five.
"Why'd you colorize it?" Jimmy asks the agent.
"I didn't," she responds. The team looks around at each other with wide eyes of confusion in response.
"Let's get this show on the road," Darcy nods. She grabs her notebook and turns to Freya. "You coming inside with me?"
"No, I'm gonna stay out here and see if there's any changes with the barrier," Freya shakes her head.
"Good idea," Darcy agrees. She quickly jogs back inside while Jimmy picks up the radio headset and places it snuggly over his ears.
"Ready," Jimmy says. He turns back to the building and gives a thumbs up.
"Here we go," Freya breathes out. Steve, Sam and Bucky all step up next to her to act as extra eyes on the barrier.
"What's she saying?" Jimmy asks into the headset. He pauses while he listens to Darcy. "Is it the '60s still?" Freya glances back at Jimmy and sees him roll his eyes. "Real person."
Jimmy suddenly grabs the mic on the equipment next to him and raises it to his face. He gives Freya a nod and she faces the barrier again. Lifting her hands, she ignites her eyes and aura. She lets her powers slowly swirl outwards from her like a gentle wave. It ghosts up against the barrier and makes a low sizzling sound. Freya winces and tilts her head to the side in concentration.
"Frey, if it's too much, just back off a little," Steve tells her.
"No, I'm okay," Freya slightly strains out. "It's just fighting me. I'm trying to see if I can feel a change in the energy signature when he talks to her."
"Wanda. Wanda, can you read me, over?" Jimmy calls out into the mic. Freya perks up and studies the barrier closely. She can't feel any changes yet. Or see any either. "Can she hear me?" Jimmy asks Darcy. He sighs when he gets a response and raises the mic to his mouth again. "Wanda? Wanda? Wanda. Who's doing this to you, Wanda? Wanda? Can you hear me? I'm here to help you. Wanda?" Jimmy pauses again. "What?" he asks Darcy. He listens and shakes his head. "What was?"
Freya sighs and lowers her hands while her aura powers down and her eyes go back to normal. She looks over at the three men next to her.
"See anything?" Freya asks.
"Not a thing" Sam sighs.
"Yeah, I got nothin'," Bucky nods.
"Same," Steve frowns. "What about you?"
"No change in the physical appearance," Freya shakes her head. "There was a slight uptick in the energy signature, but that's it."
"It was worth a try. Good effort, Doctor," Jimmy sighs. He removes the headset and places it next to the mic. "You guys get anything?" he asks.
"No, nothing," Freya sighs.
"All right, well, let's get back inside then. It's too cold out here anyway," Jimmy waves them on to follow him.
"You see anything?" Freya asks Darcy once they get inside.
"Nope," Darcy sighs. "Just that stupid watch commercial again."
"Ugh, not that one, again." Freya flops down in the chair next to her with a grumble.
"No kidding, right?" Darcy snorts.
"You two are way too much alike," Sam says seriously.
"We know," Freya and Darcy say at the same time. They grin at each other and fist bump before turning back to the television screen.
"Okay, too weird for me," Bucky jokes.
"Coffee anyone?" Steve chuckles.
"I'm in," Jimmy says excitedly.
"Bring us back some, too!" Darcy calls out to the other four as they walk away.
Her and Freya go back to watching the episode. Both laugh their heads off when the talent show takes place. Though, once that's over and the episode starts to come to an end, the two women stare at the screen in shock when they see Wanda's stomach.
"She's pregnant!" Freya gasps.
"What the fuck?!" Darcy shrieks.
"What?! What's wrong?!" Steve asks as him and the other three run over to them.
"Look!" Freya borderline yells while wildly gesturing to the screen.
"What the shit?" Sam questions.
"Okay, I may have missed a few years, but I definitely know that's not how that works," Bucky mumbles.
"She's... pregnant?" Steve asks.
"How? That fast?" Jimmy inquires.
"We don't know, it just happened," Darcy answers as the "Please Stand By" screen of death takes over the screen when the episode ends.
"How long does it usually take for new episodes to air?" Freya asks.
"Uh, I don't know. Maybe twenty minutes," Darcy shrugs.
"Give or take five or ten minutes," Jimmy adds. "It's not the same every time."
"Then we wait for the next episode," Freya nods.
It only takes just under twenty minutes of them sitting around anxiously for the television screens to flicker. Everyone, including the agents hustling around the building, all stop what they're doing to watch the now colorful intro. The show's theme song now has a '70's tune to it. Freya lets out a squeak of excitement and gets comfortable in her chair. Agent Monti quickly walks up to Jimmy and summons him away from the group. The rest of them watch curiously as he leaves before facing the T.V. again.
"I already see some Brady Bunch inspired style," Freya gushes with a smile.
"I know!" Darcy grins excitedly before shoving a handful of chips into her mouth. Jimmy walks back over to them and takes a seat. A frown is deeply set in on his face.
"What happened?" Freya asks. She can literally feel the worry radiating off of him. Which is a new development with her empath ability. She's only ever been able to feel Steve's emotions without trying. Her eyebrows furrow, knowing she needs to make sure she keeps this ability from spiraling out of control. Or things could get bad again like the other night.
"Agent Franklin is missing," Jimmy informs them.
"Who's that?" Steve questions. Jimmy sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose.
"He's another agent that Hayward sent into the anomaly through the old, abandoned sewer tunnel system," he admits.
"Waitwaitwait," Freya says quickly. "You're saying that Tyler Hayward sent another S.W.O.R.D. Agent into the anomaly even though the first one hasn't returned?"
"Yup," Darcy snorts.
"Oh, for the love of God," Freya sighs.
A phone within their vicinity begins to ring. Everyone quickly zones in on Sam as he pulls out his cellphone. When he looks at the caller ID, he sighs and frowns. He shows it to Bucky, who also frowns.
"Wilson," Sam answers the phone. He stares off into the distance while he listens. "Sergeant Barnes and I are actually in the middle of an Avengers mission at the mo-" Sam pauses as he gets cut off. "But, sir," he protests. He finally lets out a deep sigh and nods. "Understood, we're on our way." Sam hangs up the phone and looks up at Freya and Steve. "Bucky and I are being called in."
"It's okay, Sam," Steve nods.
"Yeah, we understand," Freya smiles. "You and Buck are grown ups and have your own jobs to do outside of being Avengers." She looks pointedly at Bucky, who smiles at his new title. "You guys take the jet. Have FRIDAY send it back once you get to where you need to go."
"Thanks, Frey," Bucky nods.
"Cmon, Tin Man. I'm flying," Sam pats Bucky on the shoulder. The two of them say their goodbyes to everyone before leaving.
"Those two are gonna kill each other, aren't they?" Steve asks as they walk out of sight.
"Oh, without a doubt," Freya laughs. She turns back to the T.V. and focuses on the show. Vision had just come back inside from escorting the Doctor out. Freya's mouth drops open when she sees Wanda's stomach. "She's... bigger."
"That's not gonna happen to you, too, right?" Steve asks hesitantly.
"I think I'm safe," Freya chuckles.
"I can't wait... to be a proud... papaya."
Vision's joke makes Freya let out a genuine laugh. She watches him with a smile while her eyes become a little misty.
"Are you okay, Doll?" Steve asks quietly.
"Uh, yeah," she nods and clears her throat. "I just miss him, is all."
"Me, too," Steve smiles sadly.
The rest of the episode continues with Wanda's stomach continuing to grow. It seems like her powers start to short out when she starts to experience even just Braxton Hicks contractions. Though, when the real one's start and her water breaks, it seems like it all just continues to get weirder. Vision leaves to fetch the doctor while Wanda is left to her own devices while her contractions get closer together. When the doorbell rings, Freya automatically assumes it's Agnes. She's pleasantly surprised to see Monica's smiling face. The four of them share anxious glances while they continue to stare at the screen.
"1950s, 1960s, and now the '70s," Darcy speaks up. "Why does it keep switching time periods? It can't be purely for my enjoyment, can it?"
"I can't believe Wanda and Vision are having a baby," Jimmy smiles while he has his chin propped up on his left hand. "I still can't believe you two are having a baby," he smiles at Freya and Steve.
"Twins, actually," Freya informs him.
"Wha-!" Darcy falls into a coughing fit when she chokes on a chip.
"Twins?" Jimmy grins excitedly.
"Yeah," Steve chuckles. "Surprised us both too." He wraps an arm around Freya's shoulders and she leans into him with a smile.
"You two are so cute," Darcy smiles when she recovers.
"I know, right?" Jimmy agrees with her. He sighs and rests his chin on his hand again while he watches the show.
"You want any?" Darcy asks him.
"Heck, I thought about it for sure," Jimmy chuckles. "A little Jimmy Woo. Get him a tiny little FBI badge." He pauses when he sees Darcy awkwardly hold her bag of Baked Lays out to him. "Oh, you... Chip? Sure." Jimmy plays it off, grabs a chip and quickly stuffs it in his mouth in embarrassment.
In typical sitcom fashion, Wanda is using whatever method she can to hide her basically full term baby bump. And the stork she had painted on the wall in the baby's room is now magically alive. But any attempt by Wanda to make it disappear is fruitless. Monica continues to talk to Wanda, completely obliviously of the wild animal trying to eat her fish pants. Though, eventually, Monica discovers the pregnancy when Wanda can no longer hide the contractions. She has her lay down, which Wanda does so in perfect sitcom fashion behind the couch.
"You're doing great. Look at me. Look at me." Geraldine breathes rhythmically to help Wanda. Who tries to mimic her while clearly in pain.
"The jig is up!" Darcy announces. She sets her chips down and puts her full attention on the screen.
Steve grabs Freya's hand while his arm around her shoulder tightens. There's not only clear worry for Wanda on her face, but also anxiety due to the similar situation she'll be in less than eight months from now. Monica, aka Geraldine, is able to help Wanda get through the birth and produces a beautiful baby boy. Freya sighs in relief and leans against Steve. He sighs as well and presses a kiss to her head. Vision finally gets back home with the doctor, but not in time to witness the birth. When he gets to hold his son for the first time as himself when Geraldine and the doctor leave the room, Freya has to hold back happy tears at the smile on his and Wanda's faces.
"Awww...aaaahhhh, what the hell?!" Freya yells when Wanda basically screams in Vision's face. "She's having another one?!"
"Twins?" Steve asks her. Freya shakes her head in confusion when she looks up at him. The similarities of theirs and now Wanda and Vision's situation uncanny.
"What a twist," Darcy sniffles. Jimmy gives her an odd look and she shrugs. "What? I'm invested."
Vision escorts the doctor outside while Monica watches the twins with Wanda. Freya tenses up when Wanda mentions that she's a twin. A pang of sadness hits her when she thinks about the young man she'd grown close to so quickly back in 2015. Only to have his promising life cut short by the psychotic AI she had helped create.
"He was killed by Ultron, wasn't he?"
Freya almost falls out of her chair when she hears that name.
"Did she just say the name Ultron?" Jimmy asks.
"Yep," Freya quietly responds. Steve just stares at the T.V. with wide eyes. Not sure what to make of the situation.
"Has that happened before? A reference to our reality?" Jimmy asks.
"No. Never," Darcy insists.
Freya quietly watches the exchange between Wanda and Monica. Wanda is now clearly on edge after hearing the name Ultron and is trying to kick Monica out of the house.
"I'll take a shift rocking the babies," Geraldine offers with a smile.
"No, I think you should leave," Wanda demands.
"Oh, Wanda, don't be like that," Geraldine scolds. Her face now completely serious.
"Who are you?" Wanda asks.
"Wanda..." Geraldine hesitates.
"Wow, this is different," Darcy says.
Wanda's face becomes stone cold. Much like the expression she wore when she almost attacked Freya. Her head tilts as she begins to approach Monica.
"Oh, no..." Freya mutters. "I know that look."
The feed skips and suddenly the credits are rolling with Wanda and Vision on the couch with their twins. Wanda's smiling, while Vision looks slightly uneasy. And there's no Monica.
"What happened? Where'd she go?" Jimmy asks.
"Oh, God, not again," Darcy whines as she starts to press different buttons.
"What do you mean 'not again'?" Freya asks. "A skip in the feed has happened before?"
"Yeah, when we tried to talk to Wanda earlier. It skipped and everything seemed fine," Darcy tells her as she continues to mess with the equipment on the desk in front of her.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Steve sighs in frustration while Freya pinches the bridge of her nose.
"I don't know, I guess it just didn't seem like a big deal," Darcy shrugs before cringing. "Sorry." She reaches past Jimmy and types on the laptop in front of him. Rewinding the recording, she goes back to the skip again and presses play.
"Who are you?" Wanda asks.
"Wanda..." Geraldine hesitates.
Wanda's face goes stone cold again. She tilts her head and approaches Monica just before the feed skips again to the credits. Darcy shakes her head and rewinds it again.
"There's nothing here," Darcy says in shock as she pauses the recording. "One second, Monica is standing right there, and the next, she isn't."
"Someone's censoring the broadcast," Freya realizes out loud.
"But where's Rambeau?" Jimmy asks them.
Suddenly, alarms around the camp begin to blare.
"Alert! Boundary has been breached! Alert! Boundary has been breached!"
Freya's first thought is Monica. She leaps from her chair and sprints outside with the others on her heels. When they make it into the chilly open air, they watch something get hurled out of the anomaly. It's surrounded in Wanda's scarlet energy. When it hits the ground, it tumbles and rolls to a stop.
"Monica!" Freya cries out. Her aura and eyes ignite and she blasts into the air. She's next to Monica in seconds while everyone else is still running over to her. Freya can hear her mumbling something.
"Wanda... It's all... Wanda," Monica mumbles.
"Monica? Are you okay? Can you hear me?" Freya asks. Monica blinks a few times and turns to face Freya. Her eyes squint against the bright glow of her aura.
"Auntie Carol?" Monica asks. Freya powers down her aura while her eyes fade back to normal.
"Not quite," Freya smiles sadly.
"I like you better anyway," Monica smiles tiredly.
Freya chuckles tearfully and brushes a tuft of her afro out of her eyes. When the medics finally arrive, she backs away to let them assess her. Steve puts a comforting arm around Freya and pulls her into his side. Jimmy and Darcy finally make it over to them.
"Is she okay?" Jimmy asks.
"I think she will be, yeah," Freya nods with a frown. She watches Monica closely. Something feels off with her. Her energy signature feels stronger even though she looks exhausted.
"What's wrong?" Steve asks when he feels her confusion and unease.
"I'm not sure yet," she glances at him.
The sound of an approaching SUV makes them look over their shoulders. The four of them groan in annoyance when they see Director Hayward get out on the passenger side and run over to them. There's a brief pause in his step when his eyes land on the Avengers, but he ignores them and pushes past to see Monica.
"Rambeau!" Hayward calls out.
Freya glares at the back of his head before sighing. She yanks her phone out of the back pocket of her uniform and starts to text someone. She quickly types up a message, hits send and stuffs it back in her pocket with another sigh.
"And the fun begins."