How to Dream

The 'old' Mother

"...and always check her offerings for poison, in the unlikely event we've made Babushka angry enough to drug us then turn us in. Because you can forgive, but you never forget," Rebecca verbally rounds off her precaution checklist as they step through the scrappy wooden fence and up a path toward the three-story home.

"That's my girl," Natasha reaches to ring the bell and spares a glance toward the elaborate koi pond to her left.

"Babushka really makes money with her research?"

"Counterfeit. She's made a killing off the old copy-and-paste trick. Ask her about S.H.I.E.L.D passwords," the door swings open, and Natasha addresses her sister, "You don't look like the maid."

"Mom fired her," Yelena glares, "Why you take so long?"

"Mom had to stop and see her boyfriend," Rebecca steps in, tiptoes to kiss Yelena's cheek, and pets the dog at her side, "Hi, Fanny."

"Don't do that to me," Natasha throws her scarf at Yelena and addresses her daughter, "We JUST agreed to present a united front."

"Boyfriend?" Melina meets them in the hall in her oversized button-down and white pants, her hair neatly combed and hanging down to her waist. She hugs Rebecca, who greets her sweetly.

Natasha waves her left hand to flaunt the ring she put on, especially for today, "I'm married, Mom."

Melina lifts an eyebrow, "Still?"

"You're still with YOUR ex-inmate."

Melina looks elsewhere.

"Vodka?" Yelena offers.

"Yes, please," Natasha takes the uncapped bottle from Yelena's hand.

"My girls!" Alexei reveals himself in the hallway, looking far different from a sophisticated Melina.

He is wearing sweatpants and a T-shirt that looks a size too small.

"Preevet Dedushka," Rebecca hugs him.

He kisses her forehead and makes her spin, "So beautiful. So grown up...Malyshka! My Natasha."

"Hi, Dad," she smiles, steps closer, and returns his warm and firm grip in their embrace.

"It is rozhdestvo?" Melina swirls her glass.

"We can't drop by outside of Christmas?" Natasha hands Yelena the vodka.

The blonde chugs from it, once, then twice, coughing and pointing to the couch in the den to the side, "Sit."

Natasha heads for the fireplace and crouches, extending her hands before the open flame and its elegant brick chimney. They certainly aren't hurting for money—not when they can afford to cover the walls with expensive portraits and paintings of floral rolling hills.

Melina sits on the large sofa with Alexei while Yelena and Rebecca choose the loveseat across from them.

"Tell me, my smart Rebecca,' Melina's voice echoes off the walls, 'you were accepted to fancy school."

"Yes," Rebecca timidly answers, "I'm excited about it."

Natasha continues to stare into the crackling bright orange flame, her knees apart, as she sits on her haunches.

"I am so proud," Melina adds.

"So proud," Alexei mimics her enthusiasm.

"Natasha raise you well."

"Yes! Very well."

"What will you study after graduation? What career path?"

Natasha rubs her cheek and rolls over her hip to face them, elbow on her knee as she continues to sit on the floor, "She's twelve, Mom. She's got time to decide."