The Deadly Nightshade | { BOOK 1 of The Flower series }

[62] First Impressions

Clint called for the girls, who got lost in time as they talked about whatever came to their minds. Wanda had suggested that they sit on the barn's roof, and Jade agreed as the Sokovian held Jade in between her legs, her arms wrapped firmly around her waist.

Clint had seen the two of them lost in their own world and couldn't help but grin at the happiness Wanda was radiating. He told them that there were Ice Pops and Jade instantly remembered that Mrs. Barton offered her one thirty minutes ago.

When Clint guided them back to the front porch, Lila ran excitedly to Wanda. "Look, Sissy! I have a blue one just for you!"

Wanda grinned, kneeling to the little girl's level. She glanced over her shoulder, her eyes falling onto Jade, who talked to Sam and Steve. "Do me a favour and give it to Kitkat."

Lila's dark eyes widened, and she nodded vigorously. "Okay!" Her tiny stomps from the wooden porch earned Jade's attention. The ombré haired girl turned around, spotting the girl rushing at her with a huge grin. "I have a present, Kitkat! It's from Sissy Wanda!" She held out the blue Ice Pop that was beginning to be melted due to being in Lila's warm grip.

Jade chuckled, grasping the Ice Pop from Lila's hand. "Thank you."

Lila wobbled off towards Copper and Laura to receive another Ice Pop. Sam smiled, his arms folded across his chest. "It's nice seeing Wanda this open. For the past weeks, since you broke us out of the Raft Prison, she was nothing but reserved."

"She never spoke once," Steve added with a sad look in his blue eyes. "Majority of it was probably because of the trauma that collar gave her."

Jade flashed the two a guilty expression, sighing to herself. She remembered seeing the state Wanda was in when she got to her prison cell. The aftermath of releasing Wanda from the shocker collar and the pain that both girls had felt. The only difference in the pain was that one of them deserved it, the other didn't.

Wanda came up behind Jade, giving her a back hug as her chin gently laid on her shoulder. Her eyes fell on the unopened Ice Pop that Lila had given her moments ago. "Ooh, I didn't realise how melted that was. I'm sorry, Kitkat."

Jade smiled, giving her a side look. "It's okay."

Natasha coughed, getting the four's attention. Jade looked over at her, seeing her holding little Nathaniel in her arms as Laura helped the other two with their Ice Pops. "So, how is Tony doing? You guys running the compound all right?"

"Dad is actually remodelling it," Jade informed the Avengers. "Not that he needed to, but with the money he got from selling the Tower, he decided why not."

"Is that Spider kid being trained to be an Avenger?" Sam questioned with a raised eyebrow. "He mentioned you a lot at the airport."

Wanda's hold on Jade had tightened just a tad, remembering how much Peter kept talking about Jade and how he wanted to impress her. She knew that the boy had a crush on Jade, but who wouldn't? To everyone, Jade was beyond beautiful and had such a caring personality.

Jade's smile faded away as she shook her head. "Not exactly. He caused a catastrophe on a ferry, and well, I pulled the plug."

Natasha held up a device in her unoccupied hand, a frown evident on her face. "The Milan police force spotted us and called into Secretary Ross," Natasha informed the group before her hazel eyes locked on Steve. "I can intercept the call."