Chapter Text
“Are you grounded?"
Wanda turned over in her bed, looking to see the two-and-a-half year old, Anya, standing in the doorway. “Huh?”
“You’ve been in here all day, are you in trouble?”
Wanda sat up, letting her feet hang off the side of the bed. She sniffled before saying, “Maybe. Where’s your mama and papa?”
Anya walked into the room, heading towards Wanda. “They’re fighting. Some man is coming over soon to yell at everyone, I think? I wasn’t really listening.”
“Oh,” Wanda said. It must be about Lagos.
The little girl placed her hands on Wanda’s lap, “Were you crying?”
Wanda smiled at Anya, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear, “A little.”
Anya reached her arms up towards Wanda, who picked her up and placed her on her lap, “Why?”
Wanda swallowed the lump in her throat. Because I murdered a bunch of people. Because I failed. Because I can’t control my powers. She looked at little Anya, though, sweet and innocent Anya, and told her, “I did a bad thing.”
Anya grabbed a piece of Wanda’s long brown hair, twirling it in her tiny fingers, “What did you do?”
Wanda looked down, “I hurt some people, by accident.”
“But you didn’t mean to, right?” Anya asked.
She shook her head, “No. No, I was trying to save them.”
“And you didn’t?”
Wanda felt her eyes begin to water, “No, no I didn’t.”
“Do you want a hug?” Anya asked, letting go of Wanda’s hair and reaching her arms out.
“Sure.” Wanda let Anya crawl over her, wrapping her tiny arms around her neck and squeezing her close. Wanda placed her hands on the little girls back, before relaxing into the hug. Anya rested her head on the older girl’s shoulder, and a tear rolled down Wanda’s cheek.
With her face still resting on Wanda, little Anya spoke up, “You know, chocolate always makes me feel better.”
Wanda chuckled through her tears, wiping the wetness away from her face, “Oh yeah?”
“Mhmm, and snuggles.” Anya lifted her head, shifting so she sat on Wanda’s lap, facing her, with the brunette’s arms wrapped around her. “Wanda, I still love you, even though you hurt some people.”
Damn.
“You do?”
Anya smiled, showing off some of her baby teeth, “Yeah, you’re family! Well, not really, but the Avengers family! And family always loves each other, no matter what.”
Wanda smiled, cupping Anya’s face in her hands, “Well, thank you.”
Anya giggled, and Wanda placed a kiss on the little girl’s nose.
“Do you want me to stay with you?”
“That would be nice.”
“We could color!” Anya offered, excitingly.
Wanda laughed, “Haha, okay.”
Anya placed her hands on Wanda’s face, mimicking Wanda’s movements, her small hands cupping the older girl’s face. She looked at her, with her face serious. She looked so much like Natasha. “But for now, we cuddle until you feel better, okay?”
Wanda nodded, letting a small grin form across her face, “Okay.”
Anya crawled off her lap, and towards the empty part of the bed. Wanda followed suit, laying back down like she had been the entire day (and week if we’re being honest). Little Anya scooted towards Wanda, tucking herself under her arm so she laid against her chest.
Wanda wanted to cry, still thinking about all the people she hurt, but the little girl snuggled in her arms pushed the thoughts away. And, for the first time since Lagos, Wanda closed her eyes and fell asleep, without any nightmares.