Wandas POV

I walk back into the movie room to find that they haven't started a movie and they're all just talking, which is good.

It means I can bring up Alex.

I don't think this is going to go entirely well.. but I've got to talk to her. I don't want her to go through anything alone.

And maybe she's talked to Nat and Spencer, but I want her to know she can talk to me, too.

I sit down and clear my throat to get their attention, which I do.

"Um, Yelena, I don't know if.. I guess I've just noticed.." and now I'm all tongue tied. I should have thought about how to talk about this beforehand.

"Yes, Wanda?" She isn't mad, more confused, curious.

I let out a breath, "I guess I just wanted to make sure you were okay." There, a simple question, nothing directly about Alex yet.

"Oh, yeah. I'm fine. Why?" She is confused.

"Well, I couldn't help but notice you seemed a little.. off today. And I don't know if it's about Alex or.."

"Why would it be about Alex?" A little defensive, no?

"I put my hands up in surrender, "I don't know. I just noticed you weren't entirely yourself and wanted to make sure you're okay. I know you have Nat and Spencer but I'm here for you, too. Whatever it may be about."

The tension in her shoulders eases slightly. But her jaw is still working out the right answer.

"Thank you, Wanda. But I'm fine."

"Are you sure Lena? You did seem off. You can totally talk to us if you want. We're always here for you," Spencer encourages.

"Yeah, Lena. If something is bothering you, don't be afraid to tell us. We're here for everything," Nat also steps up.

I can't tell if Yelena is about to explode with tears or anger or laughter.

She is a black widow.. I guess she can be pretty good at hiding her feelings.

Must be she just lets her guard down a little more with us? Which I'm happy about.

"I am fine. Okay? Everything with Alex is.. fine. She just had to work," she says it in monotone and it's almost believable if you didn't know her.

"But we do.

"Lena.. what is it? Did Alex do something? Because I will kick her ass into tomor.." Spencer is quick to jump to her defense.

"No. No. Nothing like that.." Yelena starts.

"But there is something?" Nat asks gently.

I don't even have to try to direct this conversation. Luckily Yelena has a lot of people that care about her. We all want to make sure she's okay and in a good place.

"Not.. technically."

Well, that's totally vague.

"Not technically? What does that mean? How am I suppose to take that?" Now Nat is a very worried sister. Hell, I'm worried too.

"Nothing! There's nothing wrong. We're fine. I can't.. I can't say anything else," Yelena blurts out.

"What do you mean you can't? What is Alex doing that.."

"Nothing! Why can't you just trust me and believe me when I say nothing is wrong?"

Nat softens, "we do believe you, Lena. And we trust you. But we don't know Alex, have yet to meet her. So we're a bit skeptical. And we don't want you to be hurt. You can tell us what's going on."

"That's the thing. You aren't listening. I can't tell you!"

"Why not? What can't you tell us?"

Now they're really getting into it and I'm afraid I broke this wide open.

"If I say what it is I can't tell you about, that would be telling you! Which I can't!"

"Well that's clearly not helping anything, especially you!"

"Well that doesn't really matter because it's a part of the job!" Yelena shouts finally ceasing the yelling.

"What do you mean?" Spencer asks softly.

Yelena drags her hands down her face. "I'm really not suppose to talk to you about it. That was already more than I should have said."

"Are you safe? Do you need help? You know it doesn't matter what it is, we can.." Nat is worried.

"No. I don't need help. And yes, I'm fine. I think. I know you would help and I love you guys for that but.. this is something I have to do on my own."

"That's the thing, Lena. You don't have to do anything on your own. We're your family," Spencer places a hand on her shoulder.

And there's tears falling down Lenas cheeks, sparking all of us into action. We're around her at once in attempts to comfort her.

"I don't know why I'm crying. The mission isn't even hard. But just.. you guys care so much and it's so hard to hide things from you.."

"Hey, it's okay Lena. Take your time. We're here. Let out whatever you need to and then talk," Spencer reassured her.

She just nods her head and takes a few minutes before she tries to talk again.

"I'm not suppose to talk about it."

"Your mission? I know you probably didn't mean to say that.. but again, if you're in danger..."

"I'm not. It's just.. I know Alex wants to meet you all. And in a normal relationship, I would gladly introduce her. I wish I could."

Okay, this.. is interesting. What is she talking about?

"What do you mean in a 'normal relationship?"' Nat asks.

She takes another big breath and looks down at her hands.

She doesn't say anything for awhile.

"Lena.. she isn't.. making you do anything.."

"No! No. Oh my go.. no. Just. Ugh." Her hands are covering her face again. "Alex is.. amazing. She's a great girlfriend. And a seemingly great person. That's.. not it."

"Okay. I'm glad to hear that, at least. I had to be sure. I'm glad she's treating you right. But.. why did you say seemingly?" Nat continues to try to console her as Yelena lets out her story.

It's clearly one she's had bottled up for awhile. One she has wanted to talk to us about before but in fear of.. something.

This whole situation is still very confusing and I think we're all trying to put together all of the pieces Yelena has given us this far.

Which is not making a very clear picture at all.

But we have to let her tell it in her own time, at her own pace.

So if we sit her for the rest of the night like this, that's fine.

Whatever she needs.

And so help me if I do find out Alex has done something to her.. she'll have an actual reason to hate me. An actual reason to hate the avengers.

We'd all stand up for her.

"Fury will be pissed if he finds out I said anything," Yelena mumbles.

Okay.. did I hear that right? Did she just mention Fury? What the hell does he have to do with anything?

I know she's trying to give us answers but I just have more questions and at this point my head is spinning. And I'm not even trying to read anyone's mind.

"Fury? Yelena, what does Fury have to do with you and Alex?" Nat voices mine and Spencers thoughts. I know she's just as confused. At least if she does know, she's doing a very good job of acting like she doesn't.

"I was suppose to keep it a secret. But.. I didn't expect to go this far into it, to be this far into the relationship. I didn't think I'd like her and I didn't think we'd be in the place where I have to make up excuses to leave her and see you all.

"And I really hate that I've had to lie to you guys. You've just been worried about me and I've had to lie."

Yelena looks up at us then, almost like she's decided something.

"But at this point, Fury can be mad. I mean, if anything, telling you guys will just help me not hinder it. Because he still wants answers and I don't have any."

"What the hell is Fury having you do, Lena? Whatever it is I will personally go into his office and make sure he needs a peg leg to match his eye patch," Spencer seethes.

Nat places a hand on Spencer's thigh and you can tell it calms her slightly, if even for just a moment.

"We aren't angry with you Lena, we just want to know so we can help," Nat says trying to encourage Yelena once again.

"Fine. But you can't tell Fury you know. You have to act like you don't. I'm telling you so this whole thing here" she gestures around us "with the triple dates and shit will make more sense. And so you can pretend not to exists," she says to Nat.

"Okay, I will try to pretend like that didn't hurt. But go on," Nat says.

"Fury asked me into his office awhile ago with a new, possibly longer, term mission."

"Okay." Nat says to let her know we're listening. I mean, who wouldn't be? I feel like I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for that jump scare moment.

"That mission is... Alex."