Wandas POV

It's been a few weeks since Yelena and Alex's home party or whatever it's called.

And everyday that I have to work with the firefighters I'm on edge, just holding my breath for that moment.

The moment I see Alex's face and just know that Yelena called it off.

I don't want to. I'm dreading it. I wish it didn't have to happen.

But it will.

It's all just a ticking time bomb and everyday that goes by is another second closer.

Yelena never told me when she was going to end it, she didn't really know. She wasn't even sure how she was going to, just dreading every moment.

I know she wanted to do it in a way that was as amicable as possible. In a way that would make sure Alex would leave her alone for good, but does the least damage.

And having to worry about that all the time.. well, it has to suck.

And meanwhile I'm just waiting to see the inescapable reality. Waiting for Alex's well put together pieces to shatter. Hoping I can help her put them back together.

I'm not trying to be anything other than a friend.

I'm sure she'll need some.

I know she has others, but I want to be there for her, too.

And don't worry.

Yelena comes first.

——————

I think it happened.

I'm working with Alex's firehouse today and she's absent.

Max told me that she stayed home sick.

But I had a feeling it wasn't quite a cough or fever keeping her home. And Max's expression only confirmed it.

I don't think Max knows everything, but she knows enough.

My heart broke for her.

But then I also had to worry about Yelena. I knew as soon as I was done here that I would call Yelena, if she wasn't already at the compound with Nat, and have her come over for a girls night.

I can't help Alex.

But I can certainly help Yelena. And she deserves it. She wasn't doing this out of malice. She hated this mission more than anything.

And now that it's over, it's not necessarily better.

Once I made the resolve that I would be there for Yelena as much as humanly possible, other thoughts flooded in.

How did she break up with her? What did they say? Was it a bad fight? Did she tell her the truth? Or part of the truth?

I have all of these questions, but I can't ask for answers. I'm sure I'll find out in due time, along with why Fury changed his mind seemingly on a dime.

So, I guess that means I have to finish this job up as quickly as possible.

—————

Yelena was already at the compound. I've never seen her so broken.

We sat there, watching movies, eating junk food, drinking, being there for whenever she wanted to let her feelings out.

Spencer was there too, of course.

She actually moved in with Nat a few weeks before Yelena had moved in with Alex. It's been nice having her around, and I know Yelena appreciates having her here, now.

And we did all we could do to comfort her.

We just had to be there.

She didn't really want to talk about it.

Spencer was, of course, pretty good at getting Yelena to come out of her shell a little bit. She wouldn't let her go off by herself, knowing how much Yelena would just beat herself up more.

We weren't going to let that happen.

Spencer also threatened to give Fury a piece of her mind. No, those aren't quite the words she used, but you get the just of it.

Spencer also told Nat that it was missions like this that made it so she didn't want to work for Fury.

Which actually made Yelena laugh.

By the end of the night, Yelena was passed out on Spencers lap, legs on top of Nat.

Nat offered to move her, but Spencer insisted on staying just like that; she didn't want to wake her. She had a rough enough day, she didn't want to mess with her sleep.

So after Nat kissed Spencers cheek, her and I went up to our respective rooms to grab some blankets, all of us agreeing to spend the night in the common room with them.

"Hey, Wanda?" Nat stops me from going into my room.

"Yeah?" I turn to her.

"Thank you. For being there for Yelena. I know she has Spencer and I, but she was grateful you were there, too. And I know you're pretty close to Alex and this is kind of a weird situation, so thanks," Nat leans against her door frame.

"Of course. Yelena is family, I'm always going to be here for her. I hate that she had to go through it. The whole mission was shitty. I still can't believe Fury put her in that position especially to take her out of it how he did." I let my anger rise a little.

Nat furrows her brows, "Yelena didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"The reason Fury pulled her?"

I shake my head, "no."

She pushes herself off of the door. "I'm not sure why she didn't. But I don't see why it would hurt to tell you," she walks closer to me, leaning against the wall.

"Okay.."

She takes a deep breath, "I guess that secret organization they were so sure Alex had something to do with was caught. The night before Fury's call to Yelena he sent a group on a mission to a hide out they thought the organization ran out of. Which, it turns out, was their main base. Alex wasn't there. And there's no evidence Alex was ever a part of them. Their leader gave up a lot of information."

Wow.

"Damn.. and he didn't even tell Yelena they thought they found them? What if she was compromised? What if Alex was apart of it and Yelena had no warning or.." the rage is back.

"I know.. it hurt Yelena even more. She doesn't get why Fury would do any of it. It was just the twist of the knife he already put in her back. Made having to break it off with Alex that much worse, even though she was relieved to find out Alex wasn't apart of it."

I let out a long breath, "that's just.. so fucked up. I know how much she liked Alex and how much this was torturing her. To know it was all for nothing.. well I hope she never has to do it again. And I'll be here with her as much as I can."

Nat reaches out and grabs my hand giving it a squeeze. "Thanks again, Wanda. It's going to be a sucky few weeks, I'm sure. This really broke Yelena. But I know she'll be alright."

"Yeah, she's one of the strongest people I know. But even the tough ones can only take so much before they break. I know it must have hurt Alex.."

Nat pulls her hand away immediately, "what? You already talked to Alex about it?" She's defensive.

"No! No, it's not like that. I just know she wasn't at work today. One of her firefighters, Max, told me she stayed home sick. I kind of put the pieces together and figured it must be because of the break up. That's why I rushed home."

Nat looks at me for a moment and I feel nervous. Why? Not sure.

"Okay. Not that you can't talk to Alex. I just thought you had talked to her first instead of Yelena."

"The only way that would have happened is if Alex showed up to work and told me first herself."

Nat nods her head once, "okay. Well, I'm going to get some stuff for Spencer and I. I'll see you down there."

"Okay," then I turned into my own room as Nat disappeared into hers.

I let out a long breath, relaxing my head against my door.

This is such a weird situation. But I know my priorities. And just because Blue and I have gotten on better terms, it doesn't mean I neglect those with my family.

Besides, I don't know if she'd want to talk to me about it anyway. Seems as though she hasn't talked to anybody about it.

If she does want to talk to me, I'll be there.

Right now I need to get some stuff to sleep downstairs so Yelena knows we're there for her.

I know she would so the same for me. And even if she isn't an official avenger, she sure as hell is a big part of this family. And I know if everyone else knew, they'd also be here camping out in the living room.

Because that's what you do in a family; you stick by them through everything.

I have no doubt Alex's firehouse will be there for her as soon as they can.

And soon enough all of this will be behind us. Whatever that will mean.

I know we'll keep up the volunteering; we won't stop that.

And at least we know that there's no crazy group trying to take out the avengers.

That would be devastating.