𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐄. ¹ | wanda maximoff

07 | 𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐘 𝐑𝐄𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐎𝐍

THE GROUP SPENT the next hour or so making their way to Melina's homestead. Nobody had spoken for a while, the only sounds that could be heard was the gravel crunching beneath their feet and Alexei whistling a random tune every so often. But other than that the silence wasn't particularly uncomfortable or awkward and even if it was, they were all too caught up in their own thoughts to care.

Carson noticed the small house come into view through the trees and turned his head momentarily, looking back in front of him when he noticed the figure of a woman with a sniper peeking out from a shed.

"Your mother seems to be aiming a sniper at us." Carson informed Natasha quietly, breaking the silence.

"She won't shoot." Natasha replied. "And she wasn't really my mother." The redhead shrugged and turned the corner to start walking down the pathway to Melina's house.

Natasha's response seemed to grab Yelena's attention and she let out a small sigh.

Carson looked at the girl. "She's just nervous, that's all."

Yelena stayed silent and nodded in response, but she didn't really seem convinced.

They continued walking down the path until they approached the barbed wired fence that surrounded the woman's house, coming face to face with her.

The woman didn't speak, instead she just looked at them all, her head tilting to the side a little as her gaze landed upon her two girls. Melina looked at Carson and narrowed her eyes so she could get a good look at him. She started to open her mouth to say something but decided not to.

He found it quite strange, really. She seemed surprised to see the others after not being in contact with them for over twenty years but with him, she just seemed confused that he was here, almost wary of his presence.

Maybe it's just because they'd never seen each other before.

Because they hadn't.

Right?

"Honey... we're home." Alexei smiled at the woman.

The brunette didn't reply and walked through the gate towards her house, not looking at them as she passed by.

Alexei put his hands in his pockets and started to walk after her. "Come on." He gestured for the others to follow.

Melina walked into her house and left the door open behind her to show that she wanted them to come in. They followed and walked into her house, Carson closing the door behind him.

"Make yourself at home." Melina spoke for the first time. "Let's have a drink."

Yelena and Carson walked into the dining room while Alexei made his way to the bathroom and Natasha followed Melina into the kitchen.

"No funny business." She told the older widow as she opened the door into her concealed weapons room.

Melina sighed. "I am putting away my weapon."

Natasha moved to the sink to fill up a glass of water. "Are there any booby traps around here? Anything we need to know about?"