CHAPTER ELEVEN:
THEODORA BARTON

THE THREE DROVE TOWARDS THE Barton household, Liliya being the driver, Wanda in the passengers seat, and Avery sitting in the back. The brunette poked her head in between the two front seats, glancing between the two women before pursing her lips.

"How do we even know my mom is going to help?" Avery questioned. "She just had another kid."

"She did? Why wasn't I informed?" Liliya frowned, glancing towards the teenager before quickly looking back towards the road.

"Well, it was a few months ago." Avery answered, shrugging. "You forget things easily, Lils."

"I do not." The woman scoffed.

"You do forget some things." Wanda butted in, nodding her head. Liliya glanced between them in disbelief.

"I'm an ex-assassin, I was trained to know everything." Liliya told the both of them.

"Notice how you said 'ex-assassin'? Ever since you stopped being trained, you've been slacking." Avery told her.

"I can't believe what I'm hearing right now." Liliya huffed, frowning. "Thank you, for making me doubtful and insecure, Avery, I really appreciate it."

"You're welcome." Avery smiled, making Liliya roll her eyes in response. They pulled up at the Barton house hold, getting out and walking up to the door. Avery pulled the door open, not at all surprised that it wasn't locked, and entered. She looked around the house, before nodding for Wanda and Liliya to follow her inside.

"Mom?" Avery called.

"In here!" Theodora called. The trio looked at each other before following the mother's voice, finding her in the kitchen with her other two children inside. Avery could help but frown slightly, wishing that she could be here with them at all times, helping her mom to take care of her two younger siblings. A brother and a sister. Theodora turned with Natalia in her arms, offering her oldest child a small smile before noticing the other two. She looked between them before sighing, nodding her head.

"Ollie, will you take your sister upstairs?" Theodora requested, looking at her son as he jumped down from the table, nodding his head. He carefully took the baby from his mothers arm before looking at his older sister and smiling.

"Hey, sis."

"Hey, bud." Avery smiled, ruffling his hair and giving him a kiss on the top of the head along with her little sister. He walked past, and when he was up the steps, the four all looked at one another.

"Coffee?" Theodora asked them.

"Yes, please." Liliya spoke, entering the kitchen and sitting down at the table, Avery following her lead whilst Wanda opted to stand against the door frame. "Your daughter insulted me on our way here."

"Oh?" Theodora mused, turning to look at the blonde with a raised eyebrow.

"She said I forget everything."

"You do." Theodora nodded. Liliya's mouth fell open.

"I do not!"

"Ask Steve, he'll tell you."

"Or Natasha." Avery butted in.

"Or Willow." Theodora continued.

"Or―︎"

"Alright! I get it!" The girl groaned making the mother daughter duo share amused smiles with one another before Theodora handed Liliya the cup of coffee before leaning against the kitchen counter, glancing between them.

"What's up?" The woman asked with a sigh.

"We need your help." Wanda told her.

"With what?"

"Well, Wanda claims she saw this woman in her dreams and that she was captured by HYDRA and now we're trying to find her." Avery answered.

"I don't claim it, I know what I saw." Wanda defended herself. Avery just waved her off making the witch cross her arms over her chest in slight annoyance.

"Anyways," Liliya spoke, "one of Avery's friends managed to locate this woman's last location, and we think that maybe she might've left something behind before being taken. We thought maybe you could use your gift and figure out what happened to her."

"I can't leave." Theodora shook her head. "Clint isn't home to watch the kids."

"I can stay and watch them." Avery volunteered. "I haven't seen them since school started again, so I've been meaning to come and stay anyways."

Theodora pursed her lips, looking at her daughter for a moment before glancing at the other two. Wanda, noticing the hesitancy in her eyes, took a step forward with begging eyes. "Please, we have to do something."

The woman looked at her for a moment before sighing and nodding her head. "Alright, I'll come. But I don't know how much help I'll truly be."

"Anything is helpful." Liliya assured, nodding her head. "This woman is off the grid. We found very little information about her. We need as much help as we can get."

"I can't stand here and do nothing when I know there's someone out there being tortured by those monsters." Wanda told her, shaking her head.

"Alright." Theodora nodded. Liliya finished her coffee before standing up and placing the cup in the sink. Avery stood up as well, looking at her mother. Theodora walked over and gave her a hug, giving Avery a kiss on the top of the head as well. "We'll be back soon. Make sure to lay Natalia down for her nap."

Avery pulled away from the hug, offering her mother a small smile, as well as a salute. "Yes ma'am." Theodora offered her one last smile before walking out of the home with Liliya and Wanda, the three of them hoping that they would be able to find Bethany, and soon.