Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Third POV

Maximoff.

A name neither woman expected to ever hear again. For each of them it meant something different. For Agatha, it meant nights of fun in the search for something higher than anyone could understand. For Nat, that name brought back memories of a past life before she finally settled down—when she was still discovering herself. And for Rio… for Rio that name meant everything. It was a reminder of what life could have been if she had not run away that day. If she wasn’t a coward.

Rio closed her eyes and took a deep breath. If she paid enough attention, she could still hear Wanda’s giggles, feel the way her slender fingers fit perfectly through her own. She gathered the courage and opened the envelope, thanking whoever higher power was out there that after all this time, Wanda had finally found her—that maybe, she could turn back time and rewrite their story. With trembling hands, she took the letter out.

"You might think this is Wanda, well it’s not, I mean not entirely… I am her daughter and I have reasons to believe you might have the answers I am looking for. If my suspicions are correct, you and my mother have some complicated history that for some reason affects me today. So here I am, asking you to take a leap of faith and trust this basically stranger who is writing to you to ask you to come to my 18th birthday party which is in two weeks. The address is…"

Rio couldn’t believe her eyes.

Wanda had a daughter…

Rio’s POV

How is this possible?
Did she move on?
Of course she did—it’s been years, and I left without a word.

Rio was filled by a rage of jealousy.
She’s into men now?
No—no, focus, Vidal.
You have no right to be angry. You have no right to judge.
You left her. You.

18th birthday… Her daughter is turning 18 in two weeks…
What if…
No. No, it’s impossible. Isn’t it?
But what if she never stopped waiting for me?

Third POV

The air was thick with magic.

Deep in a cave carved in glowing runes sat Agatha Harkness, flipping lazily through the pages of an old spellbook.

“What could Maximoff possibly want from me after all these years?”

She muttered, not bothering to hide the smirk tugging at her lips. Her eyes flicked toward the unopened envelope resting on a nearby wooden table, sealed in scarlet wax.

“Maybe she finally realized how big of a mistake was leaving me and she wants another round of this piece of cake, what do you say, Señor Scratchy?”

The bunny tilted his head, gave her a look, then hopped away.

“Rude…”

Agatha said flatly as she rolled her eyes, reaching for the letter. She cracked the seal and unfolded the paper, skimming it with a raised brow.

“Oh my… Maximoff got herself a Minimoff...”

Her grin widened.

“Interesting. Señor Scratchy, we’re going on a trip!”

She smirked as she brought the letter to her lips.

When Natasha Romanoff found the letter, she had just returned from her honeymoon.

“Babe, did we forget to send all the thank-you cards?”

She called out to her wife, eyeing the unfamiliar envelope on the kitchen counter. She turned it over slowly. As she read the sender’s name, a strange warmth spread through her chest—soft and unexpected.

Unlike Rio or Agatha, Nat was actually thankful for the time she spent by Wanda’s side. In fact, she had to thank Wanda for the way her life turned out. Sure, their time together had been brief, but it had taught her something vital—about love and letting go, and more importantly, about becoming the kind of woman who could love someone fully.

She was so absorbed in the letter, she didn’t hear the soft footsteps behind her or notice the arms wrapping gently around her waist.

“Did something happen?”

Came out of Maria’s mouth as she pressed a soft kiss on Nat’s neck.

Nat smiled, blinking quickly as she folded the letter again.

“A ghost from the past,”

She said, tucking it close to her chest.

“But not the bad kind.”

She turned in Maria’s arms.

“I think we better pack our bags again.”

Two weeks later

Ever since she sent out those letters, Evie has been buzzing with excitement.

This was her chance. From what she’d gathered from her mother’s stories and journals, one of these three women might hold the answers she’d so desperately been looking for her whole life…

Wanda had noticed her daughter’s shift in mood—but had chalked it up to birthday excitement.

Little did she know that her daughter was about to turn her world upside down… again.

It wasn’t helping that she could see traces of her in Evie. She was in the little things.
The way she smirked mid-sentence. The quick, witty comebacks.
And those deadly dimples… so unmistakably… hers.

It filled Wanda with a mixture of overwhelming love… and deep, aching regret.

The preparations for Evie’s birthday were in full swing. Wanda was rummaging through an old box. What she was looking for—she wasn’t sure.

She stumbled upon a worn-out, leather journal. Faded photos peeked out of it, like secrets coming out of their hiding place between the pages.

She paused for a second. Her hand trembled as she took it out of the box. Slender fingers traced the spine of it with reverence and hesitantly opened it.

That’s when she saw her again.

Years of bottled feelings came rushing over like a tidal wave.

She took a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. She hadn’t realized how much she still cared about her—until now.

Looking at that photo felt like reopening an old wound.

How did things turn out this way?

They were so young, so happy… Anyone who looked at that photo could see it—the love flowing around them. Real. Raw.

She brushed away a tear that escaped and made her way to the bed, journal still clutched to her chest.

Unbeknownst to Wanda, three shadows from the past were already making their way back…

Chapter Text

Third POV

18 years ago.

The air was warm. The sun was just peeking over the horizon. Inside the secluded cottage on the coast, the two women were tangled in one another. It was hard to tell where one ended and the other started. The room was filled with an indescribable calmness—the kind that was so soul-soothing.

Wanda began to stir.

“Morning…”

She said. Her voice raspy. Rio was already awake. Her eyes were soft. She’s been admiring Wanda. Taking all her features in as if committing them to memory. Wanda giggled. She wasn’t used to someone looking at her with so much adoration. Warmth spread through her chest. Rio sighed. She ran her fingers through Wanda’s auburn locks. She leaned in and pressed her lips on Wanda’s forehead.

“I wish we could stay like this forever…”

Rio eventually said.

Wanda perched up on the bed. She took Rio’s hand in hers and brought it to her lips. Rio got shy at the action and hid behind the hair that fell over her eyes.

“What if we do something today? Something… memorable….”

Wanda suggested. Rio’s undivided attention was on her.

“What do you have in mind?”

She asked as she sat straighter in bed.

“I don’t know…”

Wanda looked up in thought, biting her lip.

“Something worth looking back on… Something worth telling the kids.”

Rio’s brows shot so high it made her look comical.

“Kids, huh? You really have it all figured out, don’t you...”

Wanda looked away, embarrassed. Her cheeks reddening as much as her hair.

Two hours later the pair was strolling along the cobblestone streets of an old flea market, walking hand in hand. Wanda was wearing denim shorts with a loose top that was falling off her shoulder whenever she would throw her head back when she laughed. Rio had to stop and take a breath whenever that happened. Rio was matching her. Denim shorts with a spaghetti strap black tank top accompanied by a green flannel shirt. Wanda’s auburn locks were dancing in the wind while Rio wore a simple white cap backwards.

Wanda stopped to look at a stand. In the meantime, Rio was looking around, hand in her pocket, while her other was resting on Wanda’s lower back. Rio’s gaze fell on a scooter parked a few feet away from them. An idea popped in her head. She ran her fingers along Wanda’s back to catch her attention.

“Hmm?”

Wanda turned her head.

“Have you ever ridden a scooter before?”

A boyish grin was splattered across Rio’s face. Wanda gave her a skeptical look.

“I’m taking that as a no… I’m changing that right now.”

She took Wanda’s hand and dragged her in the direction of the scooter.

“Rio, what the hell!!! We can’t take it”

She said, looking from left to right, panic settling over her. Rio smirked at her as she worked on starting the scooter without a key. She looked at Wanda over her shoulder, her hands still hard at work.

“Relax, honey, we’re not stealing it—just borrowing it for the day!”

Wanda huffed, crossing her arms.

“C’mon, Red, you said you wanted to do something memorable. This definitely counts.”

“I wasn’t talking about stealing something…”

Wanda muttered. The scooter finally roared to life. Rio got up, rubbing her hands on her shorts, and held one out to Wanda.

“Do you trust me?” She asked.

Wanda couldn’t say no. Rio was looking at her with a look that told her as long as they’re together, the whole world was theirs.

Rio hopped on the scooter. Wanda shook her head, visibly reluctant to the idea, but ultimately climbed on behind Rio. She wrapped her arms around Rio’s waist, holding on to it. A shiver ran down her spine.

“Are you going to kidnap me?” joked Wanda.

Rio snorted.

“Now that you mentioned it…” she smirked.

Wanda squeezed her tighter.

“I wouldn’t mind it, ya know.”

Rio hits the gas. Wanda shrieks, taken by surprise, earning a belly laugh from her.

“You’re not telling me the infamous Scarlet Witch is afraid?”

She teases her, earning a slap from Wanda.

“Shut up…”

She mumbles. The engine hummed as they passed olive groves, the sea always to their left, the sun reflecting in the waves, moving with them as if it was dancing. Wanda held on tight—not out of fear. It was the kind of closeness she wanted to memorize in case one day it will be nothing but a distant memory…

At some point, Rio strayed off the path and parked the scooter under a tree. She hopped off, and before Wanda could protest, she took her hand and laced their fingers.

“C’mon, I know a place not far from here…”

Wanda said nothing. She let herself be dragged by Rio up a rocky road. Soon, they came to a stop. The view took Wanda’s breath away. She felt like they were at the edge of the world.

They were on a secluded part of the island. On one of the peaks. Below them, the waves were crashing as if carrying the secrets of the world. The sun was beginning to dip into the horizon, painting the sky. The wind was gentle. Wanda took a moment to just be. She closed her eyes and let herself feel. Rio wrapped her arms around Wanda and just held her, breathing her in.

Wanda only opened her eyes when she couldn’t feel Rio’s warmth anymore. She turned around and what she saw took her by surprise. Rio, laid down on a blanket. Where she had that all this time – Wanda couldn’t tell. Rio snapped her fingers and now, the blanket was joined by a picnic basket filled with strawberries, melted chocolate and peach iced tea – Wanda’s favorite.

“You are unbelievable…”

Wanda said through laughs, plopping down beside her.

“Unbelievably charming”

Rio corrected her, dipping a strawberry into the melted chocolate and serving it to Wanda.

“You said you wanted something memorable.”

Wanda hummed before licking the chocolate that remained on her lips. She took a sip of the iced tea, then she lay back, her head finding Rio’s lap. Rio’s hand naturally moved to her hair, combing through the windswept strands.

Everything around them stilled. They stayed like that for a few moments until Wanda broke the silence.

“I’ve never felt so at peace before… Until I met you, I was afraid, confused… I thought my powers were what defined me. But when I’m with you, I forget about them. With you… I’m just Wanda…”

Rio leaned in, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

“You’re my calm inside the chaos, Red… You see me for who I really am…”

Rio says, squeezing Wanda’s middle.

“You ever think about the future?”

Wanda asked, eyes on the sky.

“Like… what comes next? After all of this?”

“All the time,”

Rio murmured.

“But only lately. Only since you.”

That earned a small, startled breath from Wanda. She turned slightly to face her.

“So? What does your future look like?”

Rio looked down at her with a soft, almost shy smile.

“It’s a cottage by the sea. One like this. With lemon trees in the yard and laundry drying on the line. A dog. Maybe two. And someone who laughs like you do when you’re trying not to be embarrassed.”

Wanda hid her smile in Rio’s thigh.

“You’re going soft on me… Sounds nice though.”

Wanda couldn’t hide her grin.

“What about you?”

Rio asked.

“What’s your dream?”

“I never really thought I was allowed to have one,”

Wanda said. Her voice was quieter now, more raw.

“But I guess… it looks a lot like this.”

There was a pause. The kind that hums between people who are trying not to fall in love too fast – but it was already too late for that…

“What would we name them?”

Wanda asked suddenly.

“The kids, I mean.”

Rio laughed.

“Back to the kids talk… You do move fast.”

“I like Evie,”

Wanda offered. Rio said nothing for a moment. Then, softly

“Evie. That’s perfect.”

Chapter Text

Third Person POV – Present Day

Wanda sighed. The journal was now on the bed, forgotten. All she could focus on was the photo in her hands. The room felt cold – lonely. She still missed Rio no matter how much she tried not to. The truth is, she would give anything to be wrapped in her arms again, even if just for a second. A tear escaped her eye.
 
“Mom, have you seen-“
Wanda froze at the sound of her daughter’s voice. She gathered herself, and in an instant, the evidence disappeared. She’d never been more grateful for her powers. She turned, quickly wiping her cheek with the back of her sleeve.
 
Evie stood in the doorway, brows furrowed.
“Are you okay?” she asked her mom. “You look...” she waved her hands in the air “off…”
Wanda forced a smile. “I’m fine. Just tired.” She shrugged her shoulders. Her voice was soft, almost quiet.
Evie didn’t look convinced.
“You sure? You seemed deep in thought…”
Wanda got up from the bed. “Were you looking for something sweetie?” She tried to change the subject.
“Huh? Oh, yeah! Have you seen my cap? I want to go on a walk.”
Wanda shook her head and looked around the room. Her daughter has a habit of misplacing stuff.
“What will I ever do with you…”
Evie chuckled. “You’d probably struggle to get on any streaming service. And we all know how much you love those sitcoms of yours…”
There it was. That witty personality so unmistakably hers.
 
Wanda let out a breath then rolled her eyes. She threw an arm over her daughter’s shoulders. At almost 18, Evie was as tall as her mother. She had Wanda’s complexion and wore her hair above her shoulders. Evie asked her mother countless of time as a child why she didn’t have the same hair or eye color as her. It was hard for a child do understand how she was so different from her mother. But Wanda always made sure to let her daughter know that her eyes held the color of late autumn leaves and something softer, like earth after the rain.
 
Arm still wrapped around her daughter, Wanda scanned Evie’s face for a moment. She offered a smile, though her chest still ached. She always found it hard to hold Evie’s gaze for too long. There was something about her eyes—a depth that felt oddly familiar. Wanda wasn’t sure if it was the shape or the way they lit up when Evie smiled, but sometimes it felt like she was looking at her, mocking her through her daughter’s kind, innocent eyes.
 
Evie scrunched her nose making her mother laugh. This time it wasn’t forced. You could tell from the way her eyes crinkled, free from the weight of the past. Why did she laugh? – one might ask. Because… despite all the other painful reminders, that nose scrunch was a 100% Wanda’s.
 
Evie tilted her head.
“What? Do I have something on my face?”
Wanda pulled her closer, pressing a kiss on the top of her head. When she pulled away, her eyes lingered, tracing the features she knew by heart.
“I just… I love you, honey. That’s all.”
The mother-daughter duo stayed like that for a few moments until Evie couldn’t sit still anymore, buzzing with anticipation.
“Wanna join me, mom?”
Wanda grinned, nodding.

Evie rushed downstairs as if there was no tomorrow, the old wooden stairs creaking beneath each hurried step. When Wanda finally catches up, reaching the bottom of the stairs, Evie is putting her cap over her head – she’d finally found it. Wanda froze in her spot, a shiver running down her spine. She could feel the walls closing in on her. Evie’s back was turned. She didn’t know the way Wanda’s hands trembled. Adrenaline coursed through Wanda’s veins, heart beating loud.
Evie turns around.
“You seen a ghost, Red?”
Wanda flinched at the nickname. She must be hearing things. She blinks a few times, trying to make sense of her surroundings.
“I – What?” her voice cracks.
Evie raised an eyebrow.
“I said: you seen a ghost, mom?”
 
Wanda’s eyes started glowing. Her irises were replaced by a crimson red. She couldn’t control them – not anymore. The emotional turmoil that had fallen upon her kickstarted her powers. The room was flooded by a red mist, enveloping everything in its wake.
Evie looked around, startled by her mother’s magical outburst. She tried to take in her surroundings. She was confused. Everything looked familiar and yet so different.
“What the hell…” Evie muttered.
Had she been sucked into another universe?
All sorts of thoughts were swirling inside her mind until she finally saw her mom.
That’s when it struck her – it was a memory.
 
Wanda was curled up on her bed, a note clutched tightly to her chest. She was holding on to it as if her life depended on it. Her body was wrecked by sobs.
Evie was conflicted. She couldn’t just stay and watch while her mom was falling apart in front of her. She took a timid, careful step towards Wanda. She got closer.
Evie’s hand was hovering over Wanda’s back – there but not quite touching. Careful enough to not disturb the older woman. Wanda was crying so hard at this point that breathing was becoming a problem.
Evie looked over her mom’s shoulder. She was desperate to find out what caused Wanda to be in so much distress. She reached for the note.
She was about to take it out of Wanda’s death grip when –
 
Everything went back to normal.
Evie blinked, shock written all over her face.
“What – what was that? Did – did you see that?”
Wanda’s eyes returned to the same green that always seemed to calm Evie when she was a child and the world seemed scary.
Wanda cleared her throat.
“Shall we get going? It’s getting late and I hate walking down the coast in the evening. Mosquitos drive me crazy.”
Evie stared at her mom and couldn’t believe how unfazed she was by everything that just happened.
“Uhm… are we not going to talk about all” she flailed her hands “… that?”
Wanda just hummed, tilting her head. She reached for her daughter’s hand, a smile on her face.
“C’mon sweetie.”

The mother – daughter duo was walking side by side. A comfortable silence settled between them. The sun was just setting down adding to the calm atmosphere. Every now and then Evie would kick a pebble, her hands stuffed into her pockets.
“So… how do your powers work?” Evie asks all of a sudden, trying to sound casual.
Wanda, of course, sees right through her daughter’s antics. She smirks.
Evie has always been as subtle as an elephant in a store.
However, she decides to play along.
“What do you mean?”
Her attention now fully on her daughter who was picking at the ground with her shoe.
 
Evie shrugged her shoulders.
“When I was little, you used to tell me your powers came from pain… Was that what it happened back home?”
she lifted her eyes from the ground, turning her head towards Wanda.
However, she couldn’t look directly into her eyes, afraid she might trigger something.
Wanda’s heart broke seeing how small and scared her daughter looked just now. She took a deep breath.
“Not all magic comes from pain, sweetheart… Some comes from purpose. Or from…”
Wanda was trying to find her words without giving too much away.
“… connection.”
Of course, her greatest magical act was Evie, the connection that led to it…
Just thinking about it made Wanda’s hear soar, despite all the pain.
Why?
Because her daughter was living proof that whatever that was – it was real, pure, raw.
Evie hums, somehow satisfied with the answer she got for now.
“Like love?”
Wanda hesitates, a lump forming inside her throat, then nods slowly.
She couldn’t trust her voice.

They kept walking until they reached a little forest area. Evie knew that place by heart. She could find her way with her eyes closed just by the sound the wind would make dancing in the trees. She always felt at peace in the middle of nature – it was her safe space.
Wanda watches the breeze dance in her daughter’s hair—strands fluttering even though the air is still. Her lips part slightly. She quickly composed herself and joined her daughter who was studying a flower.
“There’s something about you… something balanced. My magic is chaos – it tears and rebuilds. But you, you seem to… bend things. It’s gentle… shaping. Almost like making everything come to life…”
 
Evie, still crouching in front of the flower, stands up, brushing off her pants then chuckles.
“Maybe I got it from dad?” she wiggles her eyebrows, teasing, unaware of the effect it has on her mother.
Wanda scoffs.
“Dad? Who says you have a dad?” she says, almost offended by the idea that she could have been that intimate with a man. Let alone create something this sacred.
Evie bursts into laughter, holding her stomach.
“Mom… I’m turning 18 in less then two weeks… you think I don’t know how things work?”
Wanda rolls her eyes, there it is, that infuriating sarcastic flair that makes her love her daughter even more.
“You’re a pain in my ass sometime… You know that?”
Evie just grins in response.
Oh, what would Wanda give to wipe that devilish grin off her face.
Ultimately, she decides against it. After all, she loves Evie way too much, so instead she clears her throat.
“What I meant by that was…” she paused for a second.
Evie sensed the seriousness of the conversation and focused on what Wanda was sharing with her.
“Honey, we’re witches. I am, the Scarlet Witch… Do you really think the natural laws apply to us as well?”
She tilts her head, amused by the whole idea.
“Oh!” Evie’s cheeks flush in realization.
A light turns inside the teens head.
Could this mean?
No…
Maybe?
This really changes everything…

Wanda went on to pick some flowers for the kitchen table. Her slender fingers traced every petal, her touch was soft, reverent.
A voice interrupted her ritual.
“Did anyone ever teach you how to use your powers?” her daughter asked, joining her in picking flowers.
“Some tried. One in particular…” she answered, focused on her task.
“Agatha. She wasn’t always a friend, but she taught me a lot.”
She gave Evie the flowers she picked so far, searching for some more, her daughter following her like a puppy.
“About the cost of magic and how it remembers…” she continued.
“She’d probably say you were a ‘natural-born anomaly’…” she murmured, her voice carrying a hint of bitterness towards the older woman whom she once considered a mentor, a friend – almost even more…

Chapter Text

Third POV

Back home now, Wanda was busy in their tiny kitchen making dinner. Evie was perched on a stool by the island, mindlessly scrolling on her phone while her mom moved around her like a hurricane. This was their routine. Wanda would be cooking, stirring, and chopping all at once—god knows how, though Evie suspected that Wanda secretly used a bit of her powers—while she would just keep her company. She tried to help her mom in the kitchen once, but that turned into a fiasco—fire extinguishers were needed, and they ended up ordering takeout. Evie turned making pasta into an indoor fire pit. How was that even possible? She simply miscalculated the amount of water needed to be in the pot, and while it was boiling, it ended up evaporating – therefore, the pasta caught on fire. Wanda has banned her from cooking ever since—remodeling the kitchen was the last thing on her list—besides, she loved cooking.

The house was starting to fill with the sweet aroma of herbs and garlic – the perfect blend, Evie might add. She’s always been a fan of her mom’s homemade garlic sauce pasta. She hopped off the stool only to hop back up onto the counter next to where Wanda was chopping some parsley. She leaned in closer to her.
“So… how did you and this Agatha meet?” Evie asked, dipping her finger in the sauce boiling on the stove, then licking it.
Wanda turned around, her back to the sink.
“It’s a little complicated…”

18 years ago

Wanda found herself standing in front of an eerie-looking shop tucked away in one of the passageways of one of the least known markets on the outskirts of the island. From the outside, it looked abandoned. She thought about walking away, but she was desperate – tired of being afraid of herself. All she wanted was to live a normal life, one where she could use her powers for her own benefit without fearing what she might become.

She took a deep breath and stepped forward, her hand itching to touch the doorknob, but she still hesitated.
C’mon, Wanda… You can do this, she told herself.
She shook off her nerves, finally gathering up enough courage to open the door and step into the shop. Once she entered, she wasn’t surprised to notice how the place was even spookier from the inside than it looked from the outside. Wanda scrunched her nose. The air was extremely damp, with a hint of sage – maybe – or something else? She couldn’t quite tell. The walls were lined with dusty shelves, filled with old, worn-out books and jars whose contents made her uneasy. She moved further in. The room grew colder and colder, goosebumps forming on her skin. All the windows were covered, and the only light came from the purplish lamps on the ceiling – Wanda felt as if the lights were guiding her way.

At the end of the hallway, Wanda faced a dead end. She turned around, only to find that the door she had entered through had vanished. Suddenly, the lights flickered frantically before darkness swallowed everything.

“You know, darling, most people knock. They don’t just barge in… but you do you, I guess…” a voice whispered from the shadows.

Wanda tensed, fear sinking deep into her bones. Her eyes darted toward the source of the voice.
“Who… who are you…” her voice trembling.

A figure stepped out of the shadows—a woman with dark curls, dressed in black slacks and a purple dress shirt tucked into them.
“You’re late…” she said, stepping into the light.
Wanda blinked.
“I don’t even know you,” she replied cautiously, trying to read her.
Agatha chuckled.
“Oh, but I know you, Miss Maximoff. Chaos like yours leaves quite the scent.”
Wanda swallowed, her throat dry.
“I just want to understand how to… live with this,” she said, looking down at her trembling hands, “without causing anyone any harm.”

Agatha tilted her head, amused.
“How noble. But let's not waste time pretending this is about morality. You're not here because you're dangerous—you're here because you're afraid of what else you could be. Of the things you are destined to create. You’re one for the books, Wanda.”
A pause.
“Lucky for you,” Agatha added with a grin, “I collect lost causes.”

She turned on her heel and started walking away.
“Hurry up, toots, there’s a long road ahead…”
Her voice drifted further the further she got. Wanda blinked rapidly, then hurried after her.
She was a strange woman, Wanda thought, but she was her only hope.

Agatha led Wanda into her study. She figured there was no point in wasting time, so she got right to work. Wanda looked around the room, surprised by the simmering cauldron sitting in the middle of the room. Agatha was focused on the task at hand – gathering ingredients and throwing them into the steaming cauldron. Wanda’s eyes stayed on Agatha. She couldn’t help but study the older woman’s face. She was deeply intrigued by her eyes. Beneath that cold look she had given Wanda before, they were holding something deeper – a secret. Something was telling Wanda that she couldn’t trust her, not yet, at least, but something was telling her to wait and see. Agatha threw something into the fire, a purple mist floating out of it as she started reciting an incantation.
Wanda frowned.
“What’s… what’s with all this?”

Agatha’s fingers stopped their dance, a floating purple energy string floating between her fingertips. She narrowed her eyes, barely acknowledging Wanda.
“Magic… isn’t child’s play…” Agatha says, walking around the study, her hands toying with the energy swirl.
“It’s precise. It needs to be studied. Mastered.”
She pauses and throws the energy string at Wanda, forcing her to hold out her hands, ready to block whatever the older woman might throw at her.

Agatha tsked, intrigued by the power brewing inside her. She turned on her heel, rummaging through dusty shelves for something.
“However…” she adds, not really minding if Wanda’s listening or not, “magic seems to come naturally to you.”
She keeps skimming through worn-out books, occasionally stopping to draw them just a little bit out, only to put them quickly back in their place.
“Aha! There it is.” she says, throwing the book at Wanda.

Startled by the action, she barely catches it, flailing her arms.
“What is it with you and throwing things at me?” she huffs, moving a strand of red hair that has fallen out of place.

Despite her protests, curiosity gets the best of her. Her fingers run along the spine of the book. With a flick of Agatha’s wrist, the book in Wanda’s hands opens, dust flying everywhere, making the redhead cough. She tried to read it, but instead of words, she was met with a bunch of weird symbols.

Agatha smirked, a smug grin plastered on her face.
“Runes.” She broke the silence, catching Wanda off guard.

She tilted her head, focusing her attention on the older woman.
“What am I supposed to do with this?”
Agatha leaned against the wall.
“Any respectable witch needs to know how to wield those,” she said as she began strutting around the room. “In any given space, only the witch who cast them can use her magic.”

Wanda was beginning to get frustrated. It seemed that all Agatha was doing was make fun of her, without any real intention of teaching her anything. She dropped the book onto the nearest surface and ran her hand through her hair.
“How’s any of this supposed to teach me anything?!” she said, her voice rising.

Agatha, fueled by the young girl’s frustration, chuckled.
“You got fire, hun. It’s such a shame you don’t have the brains for that power you have.”

That was it. Wanda gritted her teeth, fists clenching at her sides with such force that her knuckles were turning white. That’s what it took for her to finally unleash everything she was holding back. Without warning, she narrowed her eyes at Agatha.
Time seemed to stand still. The tension in the room was so thick you could hardly breathe.

Both women found themselves in a forest. Wanda looked around until she finally saw a person leaning against a tree. Cautiously, she started walking in that direction. Every step was careful, trying not to draw too much attention to herself as the leaves crunched beneath her feet.

When she finally reached the person, she saw they were in distress, heavily panting and grunting. She took a closer look, her hand hovered above the person’s shoulder.
That’s when she saw who it was. A much younger Agatha.
Wanda gasped.
Agatha was pregnant.

Before she could react, she suddenly found herself in Agatha’s study.

“DON’T YOU EVER GET INTO MY HEAD!” she snarled, venom laced in her voice.

“I… I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to intrude,” Wanda stuttered.

Agatha was fuming. But she couldn’t deny it – Wanda had a lot of potential. No one had ever outpowered her before.
Not even R—
No.
She had sworn never to speak that name again.
So, she had no choice.

Agatha cleared her throat, forcing herself to appear unbothered.
”If you want to learn, we meet twice a week.”
Wanda opened her mouth to respond, but Agatha cut her off.
“Pull a stunt like that again and you’ll wish you never met me!”

With a sharp turn, she left Wanda standing there, speechless.

Present day – back in the kitchen

Evie dug into her food.
“So, what did you do?” she asked while chewing, making it hard for Wanda to understand her.

“Evie... what have I said about talking with your mouth full?” she warned, with a stern look on her face.

The teenager looked up, fork in the air, then swallowed before continuing her questions.
“Did you end up meeting with her twice a week?”

Wanda wiped her mouth.
“I did,” she said, setting the tissue down.
“Why?”

Wanda hummed, tilting her head. She was trying to find her words.
“I guess I had no choice. Or that’s what I thought at the time...”

Evie blinked, silent for a moment. Something about the way her mom said it…
It didn’t seem like the whole story.

Wanda stared down at her empty plate, fingers tightening slightly around the edge.
Agatha’s voice still echoed in her mind, sharp as ever.
If only Agatha had been a mentor and nothing more…