Chapter 2

The sun was setting when Natasha and Maria arrived back at the Avengers compound, the quiet hum of their car engine filling the silence as they made their way up the driveway.

Bucky and Yelena were already in the common room of the compound, waiting anxiously for Natasha and Maria's return. Bucky had been pacing for the last half hour, his fingers twitching as he fidgeted with the hem of his shirt. Yelena, sitting on the couch with a bowl of popcorn in her lap, was far less anxious, but she could feel Bucky's tension radiating. She knew how much he missed Michelle, even if he didn't always express it.

Maria and Natasha finally entered the compound, and the moment the door opened, Maria headed straight for their bedroom, her posture heavy with the weight of the absence. Natasha, on the other hand, took a deep breath, masking the exhaustion from the trip, and immediately looked at Bucky and Yelena.

"Give her a few," Natasha said quietly, her eyes tired but filled with understanding. "It's hard."

Natasha sat down beside Bucky, passing her phone, with a soft smile. "You can't imagine how much she missed you both. Michelle..." Natasha hesitated, then let out a quiet sigh. "She's doing well with Elizabeth, but she misses everyone. She's still adjusting. It's hard for her, especially not having her dad around. But she's a tough kid. She'll be okay. We just need to be patient."

Bucky glanced down at the pictures, the ache in his chest intensifying. "I just... I just want to see her again. I want to hold her, Nat. I don't know how much longer I can go without seeing her."

Natasha placed a hand on his shoulder, her voice warm and reassuring. "You will, Bucky. We'll all be together again soon. Just... hang in there. It won't be much longer."

Before Bucky could respond, Natasha stood up, her face softening with concern as she glanced towards their bedroom door. "I'm going to check on Maria. It-… it was really tough this time."

Bucky nodded silently, unable to voice the gratitude he felt for Natasha's unwavering strength. He understood how hard it was for both her and Maria, and yet she still carried the burden of keeping everything together. She was always the strong one, the rock. But even rocks cracked under pressure.

As Natasha left the room, Yelena sat forward in her chair, her gaze meeting Bucky's. The silence between them stretched for a moment before Yelena spoke.

"I miss her too," Yelena admitted quietly, breaking the silence. "so pass the phone. Let me remind myself of the little terror we're missing."

Bucky looked up at her, his expression softening. He knew Yelena had a tough exterior, always poking fun and throwing jabs, but when it came to Michelle, she had a soft spot that was undeniable.

He let out a shaky breath. "She looks so grown up. I can't believe it." His voice cracked slightly. "I feel like I've missed so much."

Yelena leaned back, her arms folded. "You'll make up for it, Barnes. We all will."

Meanwhile, upstairs, Maria had retreated into the quiet darkness of their bedroom, the door closed tightly behind her. Natasha sat beside her on the bed, her hands gently rubbing Maria's back in an attempt to offer comfort.

"I can't do it, Nat," Maria whispered, her voice thick with the pain of the separation. "Every time we have to leave her, I feel like I'm breaking. I can't do this anymore."

Natasha's heart ached for her, the weight of her own sadness mirrored in Maria's pain. "I know," Natasha said softly, her hand brushing through Maria's hair. "I know. But she's safe, Maria. She's with family, your mom, and we're going to see her again. We just have to keep going, for now."

Maria turned into Natasha, burying her face against her chest. "I just want to be with her. I don't want to be apart from her. I hate that she's not here."

"I know," Natasha whispered again, pressing a kiss to the top of Maria's head. "I hate it too. But we'll get through this. We're strong, and we're doing this for her. She's going to be okay. We just have to hold on a little longer."

It was just past 1am in the safe house in Budapest. The only sounds were the faint rustling of the sheets and the soft, steady breathing of Michelle as she slept. But something stirred inside her — a sixth sense, a feeling she couldn't shake.

Michelle stirred, eyes fluttering open as a shiver crawled up her spine. Her training, her instincts, were sharper than most children's. It was one of the few things she had inherited from her parents — from the Black Widow, and from the Winter Soldier. Her heightened senses, her instincts, and her ability to read the room were ingrained in her, even when she was asleep.

She sat up in her bed, her small heart pounding as she listened intently. Her gut was telling her something was wrong. There was someone in the house. She could feel it.

Michelle's eyes scanned the room, the darkness offering no answers. But the stillness, the eerie silence that pressed against the walls like a weight, told her everything. Someone was here. Someone was inside.

She quietly slipped from her bed, her feet barely making a sound against the wooden floor. Her small frame moved like a shadow through the darkness, her movements calculated and precise, just like her mother had taught her. She crept toward her grandmother's room, where Izzie lay in a peaceful, unaware slumber.

Michelle gently opened the door, careful not to make a sound. She wasn't sure why her instincts were so sharp tonight, but she trusted them.

Once inside, she approached her grandma's bed. Michelle stopped beside her, her small hand reaching out and tapping her gently on the shoulder, signaling that something was wrong.

Izzie's eyes snapped open, immediately understanding what Michelle was telling her. Without a word, she reached under her pillow, pulling out the gun she kept there. The weight of it was comforting in her hand, but her gaze never left Michelle as she motioned with a subtle nod toward the hidden escape tunnel beneath the floorboards.

"Go," she whispered as quietly as possible, her voice barely audible.

Michelle hesitated for a moment, something tugging at her senses. She didn't like it. But her grandmother's urgency brought her back to the moment. Michelle's small frame darted toward the hidden trapdoor, her mind racing as she pressed the button that revealed the tunnel below. Her heart thudded as she crawled in, hiding herself just as they had planned.

The seconds seemed to stretch into eternity.

And then, everything changed.

Michelle heard it — a scream. Her grandmother's voice, rising in pain. There was a violent crash, followed by the sickening sound of a struggle. Her body tensed as a man's voice cut through the air, calm but chilling.

"Aisha," Dreykov's voice echoed through the walls. "Come out now, or I'll hurt her."

Her blood ran cold. The memories of Hydra and the Red Room flashed in her mind, and she knew this was not just a threat. Dreykov. He was here. He was inside.

Her grandmother's voice broke through the panic in Michelle's mind, her voice strained but steady. "It's okay. Run. Don't let them get you."

Michelle's fingers dug into the dirt under her as she fought with herself, trying to stay still, trying to remain hidden. But the sounds of her grandmother being beaten — the sound of her crying out in pain — tore through Michelle's resolve.

She couldn't stay hidden. She couldn't let them hurt Izzie.

Before she could stop herself, Michelle shot out of the hiding place, her small body moving fast and fluid, the training she had received from both her mothers and her father kicking in. She was quick, strong, and agile, but she was still just a child — and Dreykov knew that.

In the dark, she threw herself into the fight, her fists flying, her legs kicking with all the strength she had. She managed to knock few of the widows down, her moves too quick for the woman to react. But there were too many of them. Michelle had no way of knowing how many were there, and the odds were stacked against her.

Then she saw him.

Dreykov, standing in the doorway, holding her grandma hostage. The sight of Izzie's face twisted in pain and fear caused Michelle to freeze, just for a moment.

"Enough," he said coldly, his voice sharp like a blade. "Look around you. You see now, don't you? You understand why I need you. You're stronger than a thousand Widows, Aisha. You are everything I need."

Michelle's fists clenched in fury, but she couldn't keep her focus. Dreykov's words shattered her concentration, and before she could react, the widows grabbed her, holding her down with ease. And as Michelle struggled, Dreykov stepped forward, throwing Izzie to the ground with a sickening thud.

Michelle screamed, but Dreykov was already too close. He bent down to her level, his cold eyes meeting hers with an eerie calm.

"You're mine now," he said softly, his voice like ice. "I promise you, no one will ever hurt you again. You'll be stronger than them all. You'll never have to hide again."

Michelle's heart raced in her chest as she fought against the hold of the Widows. But even as the words echoed in her mind, she knew what they meant. She was no longer free. She was a pawn in Dreykov's hands.

Dreykov and the Widows left with Michelle, dragging her from the house, leaving Izzie on the floor, broken but not beaten.

A few hours later, the Avengers compound was filled with urgency. Maria, Natasha, Bucky, and Yelena stood around a table, listening intently as Fury's voice came through the comms.

"I'm sorry to say it," Fury's voice echoed, rough and steady. "Dreykov got to her. Michelle is gone."

Maria's blood ran cold. Her mother, Izzie, was already in surgery, her ribs broken and her shoulder dislocated. But worse than the physical wounds was the hollow look in her eyes as she lay unconscious on the operating table. She hadn't been able to protect her granddaughter, and now Michelle was in Dreykov's hands.

Natasha's fists clenched, her jaw tight as she turned to Maria. "And my mother-in-law?."