𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐌𝐀𝐒 𝐈𝐒 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 | ᶜᵒᵐᵖˡᵉᵗᵉᵈ

𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐬 ▸𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒕

"And please don't turn this into a woodshed for us," Clint said quite seriously, as he helped Laura into her coat in the hall and gave his final instructions, both to his children and to Wanda and Natasha, who looked a little annoyed. "I finally finished the kitchen floor, and I'd like to take a break for a while now, so please think about that before you decide to trash the whole house."

Natasha folded her arms across her chest and smiled sweetly at him. "You know, after your endless speech, I kind of want to do it. The kids would enjoy it, and with Wanda, it would be so much fun."

Clint looked down rather desperately at Laura, who was muting a laugh. "I told you we should have told Steve to babysit."

"Uncle Steve wouldn't be as much fun as the best aunts in the world," Natasha said, putting her arm around Cooper and Lila. Little Nathaniel enjoyed Wanda's arms and smiled because he was finally the same height as his parents.

"Don't worry, honey, they'll be fine here," Laura assured her husband, retrieving her purse. Then she stroked each child's hair and kissed them goodbye, while Clint gave Natasha a warning look and she grimaced in response.

"Wanda," he pointed gravely at the witch, "I'm counting on you to keep Natasha on a short leash." Wanda exchanged glances with Natasha, who muffled her laughter, and then they said goodbye at last, and Mr. and Mrs. Barton headed into town for a dinner.

"So, what's the plan?" asked Wanda as they returned to the living room.

"I've got an idea!" said Cooper enthusiastically, his eyes twinkling. "Let's fight!"

Wanda looked a little horrified. "Do you think that's a good idea?" she asked, doubtful, and Nathaniel hugged her closer.

"Of course!" said Lila. "We'll build bunkers and fight! And I'll be Hawkeye as my dad, I have my bow!" she cried quickly, and immediately ran to the room.

"No, I want to be Hawkeye!" Cooper frowned disapprovingly and ran after his sister.

Natasha laughed and went looking for blankets so the children could build a bunker. Wanda, meanwhile, sat down with Nathaniel. "What about you? You want to play with us?" she asked him with a gentle smile.

"I want to play with you," he replied. "So, yeah."

She winked at him. "They won't stand a chance against us."

"We'll see," Natasha sang, walking past with the blankets in her arms. Two were generously offered to Wanda, who made a bunker for herself and Nathaniel out of two chairs and a table, where the boy had already camped with his toys and even brought a water pistol.

Natasha, meanwhile, had made a bunker of chairs nearby, and Lila had won over the surly Cooper and captured the childhood bow that Dad had given them. Cooper had to settle for a water pistol and gave one to Natasha.

"Isn't it a little unfair that Auntie Wanda's only going to be with little Nat?" suggested Natasha as they camped out in the bunker to discuss strategy. Cooper looked at her in disbelief.

"Auntie Wanda is the most powerful Avenger," he reminded her quite seriously. "We'll have to try to beat her at all."

Natasha chuckled. "Well, don't worry, I know a few tricks."

And then they went into battle, screaming with delight, Lila shooting plastic arrows, Natasha and Cooper with water-filled pistols, and little Nathaniel proving to be a determined defender. Only Wanda had any real weapon, so Lila and Cooper flew through the air, laughing, before falling carefully into a pile of pillows.

At one such moment, Natasha sneaked up behind Wanda. Nathaniel was in a fight with his sister, and Cooper had just fallen into a soft pillow when Natasha yanked Wanda to the ground, threw her onto her back, and rose above her with a triumphant smile.

"That's not fair," said Wanda, shocked, then laughed.

Natasha chuckled. "Is it fair that you're using your powers on us?"

Wanda pretended to be thinking. "Hm, you are right. But come to think of it, I think I didn't use my magic on you," she winked, raising her hands, and before Natasha could react, she was airborne and landed beside Cooper.

He gave her an I told you look. With a grunt, Natasha pushed herself up on her elbows, her lips curling into a smile as she looked at Wanda. "I know, I know."

•••

'When our careers as superheroes are over, we should become professional nannies,' Natasha said with a grin as she returned from the children's room. She hadn't even finished telling them the story, and all three were already asleep, exhausted from the day.

Wanda, meanwhile, was cleaning up the mess in the living room. Everywhere you looked, there was something. Luckily, though, her magic was a big help, and all she had to do was wave and move her fingers and things flew into place.

The witch laughed and glanced briefly at the redhead, who was watching her with interest. "Well, I don't think it's the best idea."

"I think the kids would be thrilled."

"Kids may be, parents not so much."

Natasha shrugged. "Well, we don't live in an ideal world. Anyway, this is fascinating," she said to her abilities, glancing with some satisfaction at the tidy living room as if it were her doing. Unlike the orderly Wanda, she was more of a mess.

"We still have some time before Clint and Laura get back, so why don't we watch a sitcom? Ideally a Christmas episode?" Natasha suggested with a wink and went to sit on the sofa.

Wanda couldn't help smiling. "You're the best, you know that?"

Natasha snorted. "Of course I know. But feel free to remind me every day," she said innocently, and the witch had to laugh. Widow tapped the seat beside her, and Wanda went to sit beside her. She snuggled up to her and Natasha put her arm around her.

"This is nice," Wanda murmured contentedly, closing her eyes to enjoy Natasha's closeness.

Nat smiled and ran her fingers tenderly through her hair before resting her head gently against hers. "Let's stay like this forever."