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Yana, one of the ex-mercenaries, Mikhail also known as Heavy's sister. And just like the rest of her siblings, she wanted to be with one of Mikhail's friends too.
All her life she wasn't allowed to go out as much hence she didn't have any friends nor past relationships at all her whole life, not exactly to Zhanna's level to the point that she hasn't seen a man for twenty years but at this point Yana was getting close to that.
That until Mikhail was gone for his work, he had sent many letters to let his family know he was alright as well as big amounts of money to support them but also pictures if they get lucky.
It fascinated his family to see Mikhail in his uniform, few pictures of his room and their quarters.
And of course, pictures of his team. Just one picture of all of them standing together with their weapons and proudly standing to present them and themselves.
Bronislava immediately had eyes for the Sniper. The moment she saw him in that picture, she felt like it was love at first sight. She liked how tall he was, his hat and glasses reminded her of the mysterious men that she finds fascinating in her books. She could tell he is exactly like that.
Zhanna had complimented all of the men for their uniqueness as well as their weapons but the one with the rocket launcher did catch her eye seeing him hold such a weapon with pride. It was the second biggest one besides the minigun Mikhail was holding.
And Yana, almost had the same reason as Bronislava but her eyes had caught a different mysterious man. The one with the mask. The same yet different from Bronislava's view on the Sniper. Though yes, she did find the mysterious vibe of them rather dashing but there's something else. She found out from Mikhail that he was the Spy of the team.
A spy.. Like from the books. Those fancy men who are almost like assassins. Pure pride and money yet with a heart of gold.
Yana doesn't even know who this Spy is but her heart told her he might be the one. A little cliche but for a woman who has little to no interaction outside of her family, she just couldn't help herself. It was just a little crush that she and Bronislava had for a while, nothing too serious.
Until years on, when the family finally had gotten out of Siberia. They had a chance to meet the team at last.
Zhanna had already gotten her love the moment three men walked into their home to find Mikhail to bring the team back and for Zhanna it worked. She got the man she wanted and the man certainly got the woman that was right for him. It was meant to be for them. Good for them.
The other two didn't exactly go as fast as them in terms of relationships. Bronislava actually made a brave move first to interact with the Sniper when they got to America during a get together with Mikhail to introduce his family.
It started as a slow friendship for them. Mikhail had stated Sniper wasn't a people person, even himself doesn't have much interaction with Sniper during their fight here for years. But that didn't stop Bronislava from trying.
And for her, it actually went well. It was slow but none of them complained. They seem to like it like that, just getting to know each other and they have all the time in the world too with no rush. She even got the chance to go with him in Australia now. Years and years went on and they had finally announced that they are official.
How lucky. Another relationship success for her.
Oh! Did I also mention Mikhail is also in love as well?
Turns out, He and his doctor have been a thing for longer than he liked to admit! Just kept it hidden as he stated he just wanted to find the right moment to share their love.
Of course, Mikhail's family was ecstatic to hear the news! Who wouldn't? Mikhail had sacrificed everything to support his family so seeing him happy with someone he loved was the best news they had ever heard in years.
Yet another successful relationship for the family!
As for Yana.
Well.. Yana didn't get it as easy as her siblings got it. Spy was well, not available as well.
Yana took years still trying but nothing happened. Interacting with him during reunions but that's only if she's lucky. Most times Spy doesn't even show up.
Yana felt sad that her progress was going nowhere compared to her sibling.
Until Smissmas, seven years later.
Yana had found out from Mikhail Spy was not exactly the person she thinks he is. She already saw the flags waving.
First of all, Mikhail didn't mention he had a SON! It took YEARS for him to warn her about that news.
Yana was embarrassed to find out he had a son! And that son was just as old as her! So she thought the Spy must be older than she thought. Could be older than Mikhail.
When she got into Jeremy's, his son's house for a reunion. It was also the first time she saw the Spy without his mask. Though he didn't look older at all, she can still tell their age difference is over a decade or two.
And if he has a son, he must have a wife, or a partner if that was the case. That theory was proved correct because it wasn't long for her to spot Spy to stare longingly at a picture by the hall. Though Yana couldn't keep staring at him fearing she might get caught. She had asked Bronislava to take the chance to take a picture without him knowing instead.
The picture caught seemed to be Jeremy and his mother when they were both younger. It was not rocket science to realize he was still in love with her for him to be gazing lovingly at a portrait of his wife and son.
All of those were enough to make Yana sad and her heart ache but yet she respected it. Yana still had a happy life with or without Spy or any other lover and this was supposed to be a fun evening so mind as well make it worth it.
Maybe she'll get lucky next time.
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Smissmas never disappoints, especially not this year.
The season of giving and god damn they did give it their all. A big reunion in Boston with all of the chaos unleashed. Yana had almost forgotten what she was sad about just now because she didn't wanted it to bring her down.
Not everyone was just as lucky as her siblings and not the one man you see if going to be your true love forever.
Yana had learned a valuable lesson that day that she hasn't learned before. And she accepted it, she was just disappointed that she didn't found out the truth earlier. And she was raised better than to go for a married man.
But the past is the past, no use to dwelling about it now. Like she thought, maybe next time, the next man who will come to her life will be the one for her.
Though her heart yearned for that same feeling her siblings get with their partners. She will have to learn to deal with it in the meantime.
Lucky for her, that ache will not last long.
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It was past midnight, most of the men were drunk and passed out while some remained tipsy but not enough to make them pass out.
Mikhail and Tavish's mother were already asleep early on.
The children were also fast asleep in a pile together in a pillow fort they built in their room.
The women chatted and made fun of the men passed out. Giggling to themselves as they went on.
"So when Jane was finally let inside room to meet first baby, he cried. I have never seen him cry like that." Zhanna smiled, telling her memory of when she had her first child. Chuckling as he did so.
"I remember that! He makes weird noises, did not sound like crying at all." Bronislava added, the three sisters laughed together.
Bronislava and Zhanna went on and on and on about their weird partners while Yana just smiled, not having a partner and all she can't really do much in the conversation. Hearing such fun stories come out of them, Yana still wondered.
Spy clearly doesn't love her and she already accepted that. But sometimes she still wondered, what does it like? To be married, to be loved in ways only a partner can do, having children. Would she even like children? Sure she enjoys the presence of children, like her niece and nephew she cared and loved for them deeply but what did it feel like to have your own?
Yana was curious on how hers will go. Hopefully not alone forever.
God, that aching in her poor heart is back. She frowned, suddenly her sister's bickering was a little muffled now.
She needed a drink and fast.
She sighed and stood up.
"Where are you going?" Bronislava asked.
"Just going to get a drink, you guys can keep talking." She excused herself and avoided some of the men passed out on the floor while she went on her way to the kitchen.
A bottle of red wine that was almost empty was almost shining and calling for her to finish it by the countertop.
She went on to grab a glass and didn't wait another second before filling it up half and took a long sip. Sighing as she did so, the smooth warming feeling of it helped calm her a little.
May God take it easy on her because her poor heart cannot handle another feeling of hurt and yearn for a partner. She decided to stay in the kitchen a little bit longer, decided that she might not handle the envy she feels whenever her sisters would start talking about their partners all over again.
She just needed a few more minutes of alone time to compose herself, and maybe a few more glass of wine.
She sighed and looked around the empty kitchen, she couldn't help but imagine her life like Zhanna's. Chaotic with her husband and children, she can imagine them as a family just being so fun and crazy with each other. She heavily envied Zhanna for that.
While also.. Despite Yana's want for a family, she also appreciated how Bronislava is taking her relationship differently. She could imagine her and Mick being soft, peaceful, and loving with each other. With no children, she could bet they are also having as much fun ever as well.
Don't get her wrong, Yana's life is far from miserable, it's just her want and need for someone to love and love her back was just getting stronger and she had worked so hard yet she doesn't get the ending her siblings got.
She knows that it's unfair.
Yana looked up, preventing herself from crying, sipping more from her glass of wine as she did so.
"Are you crying?"
Yana almost chocked on her drink, coughing softly before sharply turning to who just caught her.
It was a child's voice. She saw it was one of Jeremy's kids.. The girl one..
Tanya was her name if Yana wasn't wrong. How had she managed to sneak up on her?
"O-Oh! Little Tanya, Nyet nyet, just something burned eyes."
Tanya just continued to stand by the doorway and titled her head. "How did you burn you eyes?"
Yana cleared her throat and wiped the tears that didn't even had the chance to leave her eyes. "I accidentally.. Got make up in eyes.. Yes." She lied. "Why are you here, I thought all children were asleep?"
Tanya then yawned and wiped her eyes. "I was looking for daddy.. I had a nightmare and Tommy keeps kicking me because I was noisy.."
Yana frowned and set down her glass. "That is mean for Tommy to do, nightmares are already bad, he shouldn't hurt you more."
Tanya shrugged. "I sometimes sleep besides daddy.. The others don't like it either when I get noisy at night."
"Do you have nightmares often?" Yana asked.
Tanya was quiet for a moment before shrugging again. "Sometimes.. Most of it I don't remember anymore. Do you get nightmares too?"
Yana nodded. "Da, sometimes too. Nothing too bad."
Tanya went in and closer to Yana, now interested in talking more. "One time, I remember this nightmare. My favourite sugar pink cookie became bigger, and I thought I would get a big cookie until it became alive and ate me!" Tanya told, her arms opened to emphasize how big the cookie was.
Yana gasp. "That is a bad nightmare, cookies shouldn't be doing that."
"It scared me so bad, I couldn't eat that cookie for a week!"
Yana giggled. "I would do the same if my favourite food ate me as well."
Tanya smiled up at her. "You remind me of my mom."
Yana's smiled disappeared. She was no stranger on knowing that Jeremy was an single parent, so having one of his children remind her as their mom seemed to have shocked her. Yana didn't knew what to do now.
"Daddy told me mom went away.. She's been gone for forever and I don't think she's ever coming back but you kinda remind me of her, but she had a different hair colour, she had hair like mine." Tanya continued.
Yana shifted and leaned back against the counter, trying not to look too uncomfortable in front of a child. "Do you miss your mama?" Yana asked, hoping it's not too much for her, she seemed smart enough to realize that her mother is gone so it just seemed right to ask that.
Tanya hummed but shrugged. "I don't know.. I don't remember much of her, most of it was all Daddy. But its probably nice to have a mom, all my friends have one."
Yana frowned at her story and sighed. Looking up once again. "I lost my papa too, I was very young, no older than you as well." Yana almost couldn't believe it, venting to a child.
Tanya frowned. "You lost your papa? That sounds sad."
Yana sighed and turned to her. "It was." She tried not to go into further details or show the child how sad she was. She didn't expect anymore from her but instead she felt a small pair of arms hug around her leg.
Yana's eyes widened and looked down to see Tanya had hugged her leg. "Losing your papa sounds sad and it made me think if I lost my daddy I would be sad as well." Tanya said, her little voice cracking as she did.
Yana's heart's ached hearing her tone before going down to her level. "I am okay now.. I am very happy. As for your papa, he loves you so and I don't think he's going anywhere." Yana comforted her and brushed her messy bed hair.
Tanya smiled softly. "You're really nice."
Yana giggled. "I try my best."
"Tanya?" A familiar voice came in the kitchen.
Tanya's eyes widened and turned. "Daddy!" She immediately ran to him, hugging him.
Jeremy huffed and easily picked her up. "I thought all of you were asleep? What are you doing up, princess?"
"I had a nightmare again, but I'm okay now! Auntie Yana helped me." She smiled and pointed to Yana who blushed and waved at them.
Jeremy gasped. "Oh I'm sorry I wasn't here, Tanya.. Hey, thanks for checking up on her, really."
Yana smiled and waved her hand. "It is nothing. She is a delight to talk to."
Tanya giggled and wrapped her arms around her father. "Can she be our new mommy? She's really nice and pretty!"
Both Jeremy and Yana's face fell and turned red.
"Tanya we can't say that! So sorry about her, looks like someone needs to be tucked back in bed." Jeremy tried not to make her uncomfortable.
Yana just bashfully giggled and looked away. "It is fine, it is no bother to me."
Jeremy sighed in relief before turning ti his daughter. "As for you little lady, it is very very late. Let's get you back to sleep." He turned back out and saw Tanya was still smiling and waved to Yana before having to be carried away.
Yana waved back as she breathed in. She can still feel the redness on her face. It can be an honor to have a child trust you so much they see you as their parent.
She smiled at herself at what just happened. Tanya was such a sweet girl and her father was just as sweet with her along with one of her siblings.
Yana may not know much about the other ex-mercenaries but Jeremy was Spy's son right? She can almost see it, they had similar features especially in the face.
Jeremy was far different from Spy, in ways maybe simple words cannot explain it but somehow Yana saw the appeal of Jeremy, and the women who had left him and his children were a fool to do so.
Yana's heart began to pace at the thought of Jeremy. The same feeling when she laid eyes on Spy.. Oh no..
She was NOT falling for the son of the man she used to have feelings.... Right?
Before Yana knew it, Jeremy was suddenly back in the kitchen.
"Hey! Yana, right? Sorry about that, Tanya is just sayin stuff."
Yana's face turned red once again seeing him back. She gulped.
Oh she's falling.. And falling hard.
"It is fine.. She is a sweet girl."
Jeremy smiled and fixed his hair. "She is.. Hey do you want something? More to drink? A snack? It's the least I could do for helpin her." He then started to pace around the kitchen to find something.
"I already had a drink, some water to wash it down would be okay." Yana smiled softly.
Jeremy nodded and was quick to grab a glass and filled it with water for her. "I'm assuming Tanya already told you about her nightmares?" He went closer and handed the glass to her.
Yana nodded and accepted the glass and took a sip. Sighing softly on drinking the fresh water. "Da, she told me she has frequent of it."
Jeremy sighed. "Yeah, she's going through exactly what I was going through. I had nightmares a lot when I was young too, according to my Ma even younger than I remember. There's no explanation to it, she just has it and I can't help but feel bad because what if it's me? Just because I went through it doesn't mean she should either."
Yana frowned and turned to him. "It is not your fault.. It just means you two have something in common and this time, she has you to get her through it. We may have not known each other long but you are a good father Jeremy."
Jeremy turned to her, shocked but chocked out a laugh. "Heh yea I suppose. Still I wanna thank you again for bein there for her.."
"You have good children Jeremy. They're all very much like you."
Jeremy chuckled. "I try to be, I don't want the situation with their mothers to bother them."
Yana nodded. "Is it hard, raising children alone?" She asked, curiously.
Jeremy perked his lips into a line, humming before answering. "It can be hard.. It can turn me into a wreck after one bad day but it's worth it. I'd do everything for them. They are my world. I'm raisin them just like my Ma raised me and all my brothers."
Yana smiled, she admired him for that. Such a dedicated father.
"Does it get lonely?" Yana asked.
Jeremy looked at her. "Sometimes.. When the divorce happened, yeah, I had to get used to raising four of them all by myself from now on."
"Maybe you won't have to.." Yana asked, her heart had taken over than her head to say that as she turned red as she did so.
In a span of a few seconds, Yana had thought of a million what ifs in her head. Sure it's just a small attempt at flirting but what if Jeremy hated her for that? What if Jeremy banned her from his home? Told Mikhail about it and told hik how weird she was? What if he doesn't like it? So many to the point that she was almost shaking.
But all that nervousness faded away when she heard a soft chuckle beside her.
A toothy grin turned to her and smiled.
"At least let me take you out first before raising my kids."
Yana almost screamed as her face had become as red as it already was, she could almost crush the glass of water in her palms. A giggle managed to sneak out of her like a highschooler.
"I am free in two days." Yana said softly.
Jeremy chuckled, finding it cute how sweet and soft she was.
"Two days.. Sure, I can probably get Spy to watch the kids then. It's a date then, Yana."
Yana smiled. "See you then, Jeremy."
For once.. Finally the ache in Yana's heart was gone as she had finally found the one.