A/N: This chapter has been in the making for SUCH a long time! BUT, here we are. (grins)

First, though… THANK YOU, so very much, for all your lovely reviews and support! They mean more than you know. (HUGS)

Awkay, because I've kept you waiting too long already… Let's go! I REALLY hope that you'll enjoy the ride.

TAKES PLACE DURING 'AGE OF ULTRON', BETWEEN THE BATTLE OF SOKOVIA ENDING AND BEFORE THE FINAL SCENE AT THE FACILITY.

Wanda – Sky Lanterns

Over the course of her young but… eventful life Wanda Maximoff had faced more doctors and scientists than she could count accurately. So it was ridiculous how being in the presence of one made her feel uneasy now. Especially when she knew, on a level of reason, that Dr. Sarah Harris wasn't going to do anything that'd harm her.

Just… It was the first time she faced a doctor without Pietro. The first time he wasn't there to hold her hand when her whole life was spinning around, facing the storm beside her.

It didn't help that she wasn't exactly comfortable with anything that'd been happening lately. Her home-city was nearly destroyed and a horrible amount of people lost their lives. Far more lost their homes, just like she did. The place she grew up in was gone, had been slowly self-destructing for a very long time before Ultron delivered the finishing blow. Wanda no longer had a place to belong or a family. True, she'd never had much. But this was the first time she was left with absolutely nothing.

Wanda jumped, snatched out of those gloomy thoughts by the sound of a car's breaks screeching.

Dr. Harris gave her a sympathetic smile as the woman sat and handed a mug of tea towards her. "This city can get a bit loud sometimes. Welcome to New York."

Wanda wasn't sure what to say. She murmured a quiet 'thank you' for the drink, then took a cautious sip while peering through the window. The city spread about as far as she could see. It was a confusing, ugly maze of concrete. Far too big, entirely too full of people. "I'm… not sure if I feel comfortable here", she admitted.

"I'm not surprised." Dr. Harris tasted her own drink. "New York is very different from Sokovia." The doctor tilted her head. Wanda would've sensed her wondering and seeking even without her powers. "Did you ever get the chance to travel with your parents?"

Wanda shook her head. "We never had enough money to leave home." Which was alright. She was just a little girl back then and Sokovia was all she needed. Even if the constant battles made the place terrifying. Her world became even smaller when Hydra took her and Pietro to that compound.

"This must all be a bit too much."

Wanda shivered. "You… could say that." It wasn't like New York was all she had to get used to. She was also supposed to move in to a building owned by the man whose creations killed her parents and brother. It was incredibly hard to look past that realization, even if she now knew that Tony Stark wasn't the monster she'd been led to believe he was.

Dr. Harris put away her tea-mug and leaned forward. Which was a certain sign that this conversation was going to feel even more unpleasant soon. "Wanda… I know what loss is. And… I'm so sorry that you've lost so much." And the doctor was, she could tell. "I've… heard a little bit about your brother. Sounds like he was quite the character."

Wanda couldn't help but smile as the memories flooded. She had no idea of the fresh tears filling her eyes. "Pietro was always too fast. Always rushing around. I… don't think I ever saw him still. He…" She swallowed with difficulty and wiped her eyes. "He was the most alive person I have ever met." One stubborn tear rolled. "Always far too fast for his own good."

Dr. Harris gave her a moment to compose herself before responding. "He died while doing something heroic. Because of his sacrifice someone else is alive." The doctor's tiny smile was a sad one. "Which doesn't mean that you wouldn't be allowed to be mad at him. It also doesn't make accepting his death any less painful."

The word 'painful' made Wanda's eyes water anew. It took a moment before she realized that the whimper came from her. "I… I felt him die. It was…" She clutched at her chest without even noticing it. "It felt like my own heart was being ripped out. There was his agony, for a moment, and then… Then nothing." That was the worst part. The agony she could handle, because she'd already been shouldering some of that since the death of her parents. But the emptiness… The hollowness… That was the worst. She squeezed the tea-mug so hard that it was a miracle it didn't break. "When our parents died… We made a deal. Wherever one goes, the other follows. So we wouldn't be alone. Our parents, they… They would not have wanted us to be alone. When Hydra found me he came along. Because we made a promise." She wondered if she was making any sense. She wasn't fully confident with English yet, especially when she was so emotionally overwhelmed. "How… How do I follow him now?"

Dr. Harris sighed. "He broke his promise because he decided that someone else's life was more valuable than his own. Sometimes that kind of idiotic stuff is what people being heroes do."

Wanda snorted. "I don't believe in heroes."

"I'm not asking you to believe in heroes. I'm hoping that one day, you'll be able to believe in people. Despite everything you've been through." Seeing or sensing her surprise, Dr. Harris smiled. "Those people in ridiculous outfits you fought beside? Under their masks and disguises they're all human. They've made their own mistakes. And they know loss, too. When you feel ready to see it, you'll realize that you're still not alone in the world."

Wanda frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Didn't any of them tell you? You're an Avenger, now. Which means that you're very much a part of their family." Dr. Harris hummed. "It's an exhausting, insufferable family. But a great one nonetheless, if you give them a chance." The doctor shrugged. "Maybe Pietro dared to give his life because he knew that you wouldn't be alone in the world, even without him."

Wanda didn't know how she felt about being a part of a… family unit with Tony Stark in it. But the thought of not being alone… It was far too tempting. "I like that thought", she admitted softly.

Dr. Harris smiled. Then drank the rest of her tea and rested her hands to her lap. "We have some time left. But I think we've gotten far enough with one session. Besides, it looks like you're getting tired."

Wanda followed the direction to which the woman nodded. Her eyes widened when she saw her tea-mug floating in the air. "I'm sorry…!"

Dr. Harris shook her head with a smile. "Don't be. That's… actually really cool."

Wanda blinked once. "You… don't find it weird?"

Dr. Harris snorted. "With what I've faced while working with the Avengers… There isn't much that I'd consider weird." The therapist seemed to see something because her expression sobered. "Wanda, I'm not afraid of you. We do need to figure out ways to help you gain control over your powers. But those powers… They're all you. And if you so choose, you can do a lot of amazing things with them."

Wanda shocked herself with smiling. It clearly surprised Dr. Harris, too. The woman seemed delighted. "I'm expecting to see you again next week. Before that… I want you to figure out what you're going to do next. What you'll do now that you're starting a new life here in New York."

It sounded so deviously easy. But Wanda tensed up. Because she had absolutely no idea what she wanted and where she was headed. How to use this second chance she wasn't sure she deserved after everything she'd done.

Dr. Harris went on. "You don't have to tell me and I won't ask. But I need you to have that thinking done before we meet again." The woman got up and stretched. "You're free to go, you know? Just, do me a favor. Barton's lurking somewhere around this building. Tell him that if he misses another session I'll come and find him."

"Isn't he a former assassin?" Wanda pointed out.

"And I'm something much scarier. A determined therapist." Dr. Harris gave her a grin. "See you next week. Oh, homework number two? Learn another trick with your powers by our next session. Preferably something that won't blow up my office."

Wanda actually looked forward to that one. Because… It felt good to show her powers to someone who wasn't expecting her to do something destructive with them. Leaving the office, Wanda found herself musing that Pietro would've probably liked Dr. Harris and her sense of humor. The thought didn't hurt as much as she'd anticipated.

Just like Dr. Harris predicted, Clint was at the building's entrance floor. He shrugged nonchalantly at her questioning look. "I was in the neighborhood. Figured you might need a ride."

Wanda was surprised. Perhaps a little touched as well. "The apartment I was given is all the way across the city", she pointed out.

Clint grimaced. "I wasn't thinking about that crap-hole Fury found you. If New York's a bit too hectic, because I know that it is for me… We could try a bit more remote of a hiding place." He pushed himself up from a bench and grimaced when the motion tugged at his still healing gunshot wound. "I vote we both deserve a break."

Wanda shifted with discomfort. "You don't need to do this", she pointed out. Not because of guilt. Not because he found her a charity case.

"Tough, because I want to." Clint looked down and scratched his head. "I… lost my first family, too. And got tossed into a world I had to try and figure out. So… I get what you're going through. I want to help."

"Because it's what Avengers do?"

Clint smirked. It was an honest one, even if he was pale, tired and seemed strained. "You're a fast learner."

All her instincts were screaming at her to not trust. But he believed in her, made an Avenger out of her. And didn't Pietro consider him worth dying for? She wanted to try. "Where are we going?" Wanda inquired when she sat to his car.

"To a safehouse."

Not much after Wanda's departure Nick Fury materialized, much like Sarah had expected. He nodded towards a vase of flowers. "Didn't consider you the flower type."

Sarah shrugged. "I'm not. They're from a secret admirer."

Fury had no idea if she was joking. And Sarah had no idea what to make of the look on his face. In the end she took the lead of the conversation. "Since I doubt you came here to inspect my office… Her powers are dangerous, but she isn't. She's a confused kid who's lost too much." She looked at the mug Wanda had ended up placing gently to a table. "I'm glad you guys found her. Maybe we can help her."

Fury hummed and looked out the window. "If there's anyone who deserves a second chance… It's that girl."

Two nights later Clint and Wanda couldn't sleep from nightmares and in the archer's case from an aching wound. Not wanting to wake up the kids or Laura, they sneaked outside. Somehow Wanda wasn't even surprised to discover that Clint had a project in mind. By then she knew him enough to see that he was the type that wanted to keep himself busy.

She frowned at the item he handed to her. "What is this?"

"A sky lantern." Clint shrugged but it seemed tense. "When I was a kid… My mom told me that whenever someone misses a loved one who has passed away they should light one of these. Because those who are gone see the lights and know that we think about them." The man scratched his hair and shifted with discomfort. "I… had some dreams of my brother, earlier. And it looks like you're missing yours. Maybe we should let them know."

Wanda swallowed laboriously. She was glad that Clint didn't seem to expect her to say anything, nor was the usually talkative man in a chatty mood. In silence and with unsteady hands they lit their lanterns. Then let go and watched them rising towards the pitch-black night sky, on their way to the unknown.

Wanda hoped, from the bottom of her heart, that wherever Pietro was he saw it. That he saw the light she was sending him, knew that she was still thinking of him.

Wanda didn't realize that she was crying until Clint wrapped an arm around her. At first she shivered, then found herself relaxing to a point where she leaned her head against his shoulder. They stood there in silence because nothing needed to be said. And watched the sky long after their lights had disappeared.

Neither felt alone.

Four weeks later Wanda was finally ready to try staying at the Avengers Tower. The evening of her arrival Vision found her from the room that'd been given her. "I… was pleased to hear that you're finally here", he admitted. Did he blush? "It seems the time away did you good."

Wanda smiled. Her time at the Barton Farm did do her a lot of good. It wasn't a magic cure but at least she didn't feel alone and adrift anymore. "It did. So will the training we start at the Facility tomorrow." She tilted her head, feeling his nervousness and eagerness. "Is there something on your mind?"

Vision shifted. "You… haven't had the chance to see much of this city. If you'd like… I could show you my favorite part. To help you settle in."

Wanda found herself nodding before she'd processed it. "I'd like that. Where are we going?"

Not far at all, as it turned out. Wanda blinked with confusion when Vision led her to a window not very far from her room. She was about to ask until she saw.

Outside the sun was setting on New York. The colors it cast on the city, the unearthly glow it created, even if only for a moment… The sight was astonishing.

"I haven't lived long. But… This is certainly my favorite view. It's stunning."

Had Wanda not been so captivated by the view outside, she would've noticed how Vision's eyes swept towards her with his final word. She smiled as the setting sun's light caressed her face. "This is not so bad."

Hours later, unable to sleep, Wanda found her thoughts wondering to Dr. Harris' assignment. She realized that she finally knew. So she took a piece of paper and wrote.

'Dear Pietro,

I'm going to try and live enough for the two of us.'

End of session

A/N: Awww! We all miss Pietro, too, Wanda. (sighs) Poor girl! BUT, at least she now has a new life and a new family. (Shhh! Don't remind me of 'Civil War' and 'Infinity War' right now.)

SOOO… Was that ANY good, at all? PLEASE, do let me know! I'd LOVE to hear from you. AND IF YOU HAVE REQUESTS, let me know!

Until next session! I REALLY hope that you'll stop by for that one.

Take care!