Saturday 1st January 2022

The Avengers were sat at the dinner table just talking about everything and anything when there is a buzz from downstairs. Tony gets out his phone and presses a button that allows him to speak to the person at the door "who is this?" he questions. He was shocked when rushed Russian came through the speaker "natascha, the mne nuzhnaya pojaluista otvet" (Natasha, I need you please answer) the sobs broke through the words. Natasha held her hand out to grab the phone, Tony gave her a sceptical look before passing it to her "malysh, chto sluchilos. pochemu the places?" (Little one, what's wrong. why are you crying?) she questions, her friends who didn't know she could speak Russian looked confused. She just repeats herself "natascha, the mne nuzhnaya pojaluista otvet". Natasha nods as she listens to her sisters cries. Then she looks up "I'm going to let her in, don't worry she's safe" Nat reassures, looking towards Clint with wide eyes and mouths the word 'Yelena' his eyes widen in response.

Natasha rushes down stairs, and as soon as she gets to the door and opens it, she's facing her tear stained sisters face "Yelena, little one. what's wrong?" Nat pulls the younger girl into her arms "Melina said I ruined her life and that she hates me. I just wanted a hug" the 24 year old cries. Natasha's heart breaks and her hatred towards her 'mum' grew. "Natashka, why doesn't she love me?" Yelena whimpers out. "I don't know darling, I love you" Natasha says "now are you hungry, there is spare food" Yelena nods.

They walk up the stairs and as they walk into the kitchen all eyes are on them "guys, this is my younger sister. Yelena. Could she join us for dinner?" Tony sees the tears on the fragile girls face "yeah, do you want me to grab another chair?" Tony asks Nat. Yelena's eyes look towards Natasha "Natalia. I'll sit on you knee" she whispers, the others hear but don't say anything. Nat nods and pulls the girl into her lap on the chair "What do you want eat little one?" Natasha questions and Yelena looks up in surprise "anything?" she asks looking at the different foods on the table "anything you want sweet girl" Yelena points at the mash, and then the tater tots. she also hesitates but ends up have sweetcorn and gravy with it. Natasha wished her sister ate more but she was glad she was eating.

They talked a bit over lunch like normal but Yelena just quietly ate her food, then she got to the point where she was full, Nat could tell because her eating slowed "Yelena, are you okay?" Natasha ask. She nods "I'll eat it all I promise" she mutters and starts to shovel the food in "Yelena. you can leave it if you're full" Natasha tells her, Yelena shakes her head "he'll touch me again if I don't" she states. Natasha could tell that her sister was not present in the moment mentally anymore "who Yelena?" Nat asks. she swallows the food in her mouth with a hard gulp " Dreykov " the room was unbelievable silent, the only noise is Natasha's fork hitting her plate. She grabbed Yelena's knife and fork before she could scoop any more food into her mouth.

Nat turns Yelena to look at her, her mouth empty of food now "Yelena, look at me. You're not in the red room anymore. you're safe. he isn't going to hurt you. Now tell me what you need to centre yourself?" Nat asks the blonde blinks rapidly "ballet" Nat nods and quickly pulls her sister along to the gym, going to her locker she pulls out two pairs of en point slippers, one pair more warn out then the other but still decent enough to use.

Yelena quickly slipped them on and went to the bar on the wall, something tony put there for Nat after seeing her do ballet one early morning.

Nat slipped hers on too, before walking to the bar.

"First Position!" She orders, pulling her legs together and pressing her heels against the other her arms rest in a circle like shape, Yelena was quick to follow.

"Second Position!" She orders again. Her legs move shoulder width apart and her arms stretch wide.

"Third Position!" her feet move to be positioned in front of the other, one arm stays outstretched while her other curves above her head.

"Plie" Her legs bend holding her weight while her arms go out

"And arabesque" Natasha completes the set, putting her weight onto the point of her shoe the other one pointing out and her arms mirror the position.

They do the set a couple more times before Yelena looks even remotely calmer "dorogoy?" Nat whispers, not wanting to scare the girl.

"Natashka" she whimpers out.

"do you want me to run you a bath?" Nat questions her little sister who nods, then she launches herself into Natasha's arms, burying her head into Nat's shoulder and starts sobbing.

"okay, its okay dorogoy. Yelena, let's go to my room okay" Nat asks, Yelena nods against her shoulder.

Yelena just whines and refuses to get up "do you seriously want me to carry you?" Nat jokes but she just feel her sisters embrace tighten on her. Nat sighs.

"Yel, I can't stand up with you in my arms" Nat tells her, Yelena groans and pulls herself away, only giving Nat a second to stand up before chucking herself at her sister, almost making Nat fall.

///

Natasha pulls Yelena into her room "dorogoy, tell me what happened, fully. Cause I'm a trained spy and I know you are lying to me" Nat says, she feels Yelena tense up "can- can I have my bath first?" Yelena asks. "Sure, I'll go run the bath, do you wanna stay here?" Nat asks Yelena shakes her head.

Nat picks the girl up before taking her into the bathroom and running the bath.

Once done, Nat was about to leave when she hears her sisters small voice "stay?" she questions, fresh tears brimming in her eyes, bottom lip quivering. "Oh, dorogoy, what did she do to you?" Nat whispers, mostly to herself.

She sits on the toilet but Yelena makes no move of getting in the bath" Yelena?" Nat questions.

"Get in with me please, like when we were kids" Yelena asks quietly. Nat's heart breaks and so she stands up, going to grab herself some clothes to change into before going to the bathroom where Yelena is stood in her underwear, shifting for one foot to the other.

Nat quickly strips before climbing into the bath, sitting back so Yelena could lean on her.

The blonde climbs into the bath and just silently lets Natasha wash her.

"Nat" Yelena's voice says, Nat hums, and Yelena takes a deep breath.

"Mum kicked me out because I'm a little" Yelena reveals.

Nat just strokes her hand over Yelena's head

"I'm so sorry mladenec"