The Witch's Shadow (Wanda Maximoff x Girl)

Twenty-Seven

The avengers tower is eerily quiet as we all gather in the medical wing. My daughter, whose name I didn't even know, had passed out on the way over and still hasn't woken up and her doctor, whose name I refuse to learn simply because I don't like doctors, keeps asking me questions that I can't answer.

"You're her mother?" He asks suspiciously when I can't even tell him my child's name or birthday.

"Yes," I tell him for the fifth time. "She's.. nine, almost ten. I don't know the exact day."

"What about her blood type?"

"I don't even know mine."

"Ok, what about a medical history for you and her father?"

"Well let's see," I say sarcastically. "I was in a secret organization that kidnapped infant girls and taught them to be killers. And then when I'd outlived my usefulness, I was sold to another secret organization that used me as a lab rat. So that's a no on my medical history. And as for her father he's a rapist pedophile who, if I'm being honest, I don't even know if he's the father considering he kept me unconscious for the entire month that she was conceived in, so who knows! Does that answer your question? Does that help at all doc?"

He sighs and puts his clipboard down, "do you know anything that can help us or not?"

The look I gave him was pure murder, "I know that if you don't back away right now and figure out what's wrong with my kid, I'm going to drop you from the top of the tower."

"Considering you won't let us examine her while she's unconscious, there's not a lot we can do," he argues back.

Stark steps in just then and puts his hand on the doctor's shoulder, "maybe we should all take a breather? Maybe get some air?"

He looks pointedly at Wanda who comes over and takes my hand, "let's go to the roof."

"No," I tell her. "I need to be here for her."

"Ray," she says gently. "She's in good hands. The entire team is here, she's safe." She stresses the word, knowing that that's what I'm most worried about. Even though we were in the literal Avengers compound, surrounded by security and 'Earths Mightiest Heroes' I was still wary about leaving her alone for too long.

"I'll guard her door while you're gone," Yelena tells me as she stands up.

"And I'll have JARVIS alert you as soon as there's any change," Natasha promises.

I look at them all, still unsure. Natasha and Yelena I trusted, and I knew they wouldn't let anything happen to my daughter, but the rest of them..

Wanda tugs my hand, bringing me back to her, "do you trust me?"

"Yes."

"Then come with me."

Reluctantly I follow her from the medical wing and up to the roof where we sit on the edge of the building. The sun was just starting to set, and we watch the colorful display in silence until the sky had turned dark and the air turned chilly.

"Thank you," I whisper, breaking the silence.

"For what?"

"Everything." There weren't words to describe how thankful I was for Wanda, and if there were, I couldn't find them in that moment. But I could let her feel them, I could let her see them. Taking her hand, I open my mind completely and pour out every ounce of my love, affection and gratefulness I have for her.

I'm not sure how or when it happened, but I ended up in her arms, sobbing.

"I don't know how to do this Wanda," I sob into her shoulder. "I've never met her before now. I don't know anything about her. I don't even know her name or if she even has one."

Her arms tighten around me, "we can figure it all out baby. We have time now that the Red Room is gone and she's safe. We have nothing but time, and you have all of us to help you."

"I can't ask that of you or anyone," I tell her. "She's my responsibility. None of you guys signed up to help me parent a child."

She pulls back slightly, looking me in the eyes, "you're not asking, we are offering. I'm offering. It's what you do for the people you love, for your family. You help them when things get hard and you work through them together."

"Natasha and Yelena," I start slowly. "They are family, I know they'll always be here. But you.. you didn't ask for this. You didn't sign up for this. I don't expect you to stay. And as for the others, I don't expect them to stick around either, or for Tony to let us stay here very long."

"I'm not going anywhere," she tells me firmly. "I didn't run when you showed me your life story and I'm not going to run now. When are you going to realize that I love you? That I'm not going to leave you just because things become a little complicated?"

"I have a child, who potentially has the same powers as me, the same trauma. I'd say it's a little more than complicated," I mutter.

She sighs heavily, "god Ray. Haven't I earned your trust by now?"

"Yes, but this isn't a matter of trust," I try and argue.

Wanda's hand on my mouth stops me, "shut up and listen, you stubborn woman. I love you, I am not going anywhere, and if you ever ditch me again I'm going to hunt you down and make you wish that that those doctors had finished you off."

Her hand grazes my bandage wrapped arm and I can't help but to admit, "actually I did that."

She blinks in shock and shakes her head while muttering, "therapy. I'm getting you all therapy for Christmas."