Can't Ask, Don't Need, Won't Acknowledge

Chapter 42: The Yalta Conference

“I always thought you were ashamed of me when you left us all behind,” stated Yelena softly. “I mean we all wanted to leave…..”

“I always regret defecting without you,” said Natasha sadly. “I didn’t mean to turn my back on you. I know it’s not your fault. I just needed space…”

“We don’t have to rehash this conversation every time Natty,” expressed Yelena. “I would have traded us in for the American model as well.”

Natasha rolled her eyes at her sibling. “It wasn’t like that and you know it.” Wanda cleared her throat awkwardly as she realised she was interrupting something. She approached the older women gingerly.

“I’m sorry… I…”

Natasha turned to look at the teenager, stripped of her make-up standing there in her nightgown. She looked so young to her. The conversation between the two women had left Natasha feeling raw. Natasha approached Wanda and wrapped her arms around the teenager tightly.

Wanda tried to turn her head in confusion, but Natasha kept her pinned to her body.
“You ok?” she asked her voice muffled by Natasha’s shoulder. In response Natasha just hoisted the girl up and onto her hip. Wanda wrapped her arms around Natasha’s neck in shock and in order to feel stable, “Mama! put me down. I’m not a little kid.”

“Say goodnight to your aunt,” was all Natasha’s reply.

“Nat, put me down. I’m 16 not 6. I’m nearly taller than you!”

Natasha just hoisted her up again, as she was slipping as she squirmed to be put down. She used her free hand to put Wanda’s face into the crook of her neck. “Come on baby it’s bedtime.”

Wanda sighed but relaxed into the hold realising the assassin wasn’t putting her down anytime soon. Natasha carried her into the room, during the walk Wanda noticed a slight dampness on her front. She was gently lowered onto the bed.

“What’s wrong?” asked Wanda in confusion.
“Nothing…..”

Wanda cocked an eyebrow at her maternal figure. Natasha wiped her face with her sleeve, “It’s fine Wanda. Sometimes memories of the past can be overwhelming.”

“I understand that,” replied Wanda earnestly. “You miss me don’t you…”

Natasha looked at her in confusion, “You are right here.”

“You miss baby me,” said Wanda. “You changed after that. You have treated me more like a child since that happened.”

Natasha sighed at the girl who was sat up in her bed. “I’m not going to lie to you. I loved having you as a baby, but I also love teenager you.”

Wanda shook her head, “you baby me too much.”

“I know I do,” stated Natasha as she tucked the duvet around her body. “Sometimes I look at you and I just see a little girl, and then I look at you again and I see the adult you will become.”

“You promised to show me the world,” said Wanda. Natasha ran her fingers through her short hair that she had recently dyed back red.

“I will,” replied Natasha.

“Stop hiding everything from me,” said Wanda.