The smell of paprika wafted through the air, rich and warm, but it didn't reach the closed door of Lexi Stark's room. Wanda moved quietly through the kitchen, carefully adding the final touches to the chicken paprikash, her hands steady despite the ache in her heart. She ladled a generous portion into a bowl, set it on a tray alongside a glass of water, and added a cloth napkin before heading down the hall toward Lexi's room.

"Milaya?" Darling. Wanda called softly, her accent making the endearment sound even gentler. She knocked lightly on the door, waiting for an answer. When none came, she pushed it open.

Lexi lay curled under the covers, her body turned away from the door. Wanda's heart twisted at the sight of her, small and fragile in the dim light of the room. Her brown hair spilled over the pillow, and her shoulders were tense like she was carrying the weight of the world even in her sleep.

"Dorogaya moya," My dear. Wanda murmured as she walked in, setting the tray down on the desk. Her soft voice carried no judgment, only concern. She sat down on the edge of the bed, her hand reaching out to brush a lock of hair from Lexi's face.

Lexi stirred but didn't turn to look at her. "I don't want to eat," she whispered, her voice hoarse from days of crying.

"You need to," Wanda said, her tone firm but kind. "You haven't had anything since yesterday. At least try a little, Ангел." Angel.

Lexi finally rolled onto her back, her blue eyes glassy and red-rimmed. She looked at Wanda, and for a moment, her lips trembled like she might argue. But instead, she sighed and sat up slowly, the weight of exhaustion evident in her every movement.

Wanda handed her the bowl and spoon, waiting patiently as Lexi took the first hesitant bite. She didn't say anything, letting the warmth of the food speak for itself. After a few more bites, Lexi's movements grew less sluggish, though the sadness in her eyes remained.

"It's good," Lexi admitted quietly, though her voice lacked enthusiasm.

"I know," Wanda replied with a small smile, leaning back against the headboard beside her. "I wouldn't bring you anything less than perfect."

For a while, they sat in silence, the only sound the quiet clinking of the spoon against the bowl. Wanda didn't rush her, didn't push her to talk. She simply stayed, her presence steady and grounding.

When Lexi finished half the bowl, she set it aside and leaned back against Wanda. The older woman slipped an arm around her, pulling her close. Lexi closed her eyes, letting the warmth of Wanda's embrace and the lingering comfort of the paprikash soothe her.

"Why are you so nice to me?" Lexi asked suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Wanda frowned slightly, brushing her fingers through Lexi's hair. "What kind of question is that, ангел?"

Lexi shrugged against her. "I don't know. You just... you don't have to do all this."

"I don't have to," Wanda said, tilting her head to look down at her. "I want to. Because you're my friend, and because you've been there for me more times than I can count. You took care of me when I couldn't stand on my own feet. How could I not do the same for you?"

Lexi didn't respond, but she leaned further into Wanda, her fingers curling into the fabric of her shirt. Her body trembled slightly, and Wanda realized she was crying again. She tightened her hold, pressing a kiss to the top of Lexi's head.

They stayed like that for a long time, Wanda stroking Lexi's hair and murmuring soft words in Russian to comfort her. "Moya malen'kaya dorogaya," My little darling. She said, her voice low and soothing. "Moya sladkaya devochka". My sweet girl.

Eventually, Lexi's sobs quieted, her breathing evening out. Wanda thought she had fallen asleep until she shifted slightly, her voice muffled against Wanda's shoulder.

"Do you think he hates me?" Wanda's heart ached at the vulnerability in Lexi's words. "No, ангел," she said firmly. "He doesn't hate you. He's just... lost. Like you are." Lexi's voice wavered, quieter now. "He's so angry. I think he thinks I'm a disappointment. Like nothing I do is ever enough for him. And even if something's wrong... I didn't think he'd care."

Wanda's chest tightened, and she gently cupped Lexi's cheek, her thumb brushing softly against her skin. "That's not true, Lexi. He cares about you more than anything. You're not a disappointment—you're everything to him. But you both need to stop being so stubborn and talk to each other."

Lexi sniffled, wiping at her face. "I don't know how to fix this.". "You don't have to fix it tonight," Wanda said, resting her chin on Lexi's head. "Right now, you just need to rest. Everything else can wait."

"You know, when I was younger, I once burned an entire pot of paprikash. The smell was so bad Pietro wouldn't come into the apartment for hours."

Lexi sniffled, looking up at her with tired eyes. "Really?". "Oh, yes. He said it smelled like I was cooking a gym sock."

A weak laugh escaped Lexi's lips. "That's terrible. Did you make him eat it?" Wanda smirked. "Of course I did. I told him if he didn't, I'd tell Mama he broke the neighbour's window playing football."

"Evil," Lexi said, a hint of amusement in her voice.

"Maybe," Wanda admitted with a grin. "But he never complained about my cooking again." Lexi shifted slightly, her head resting against Wanda's shoulder. "You're lucky. Having a sibling sounds nice."

Wanda's smile softened. "It was. But I think you're forgetting something—you have me now." Lexi smiled faintly, her eyes closing briefly. "You're right. And you're way better than Pietro. I bet you'd never cook a gym sock for me."

"Never," Wanda said solemnly. "Only the finest meals for you, ангел." They fell into a comfortable silence, Wanda stroking Lexi's hair absentmindedly. After a while, Wanda spoke again, her tone light.

"Do you remember that time Tony tried to make pancakes for you?" Lexi's eyes opened, a small smile tugging at her lips. "How could I forget? He burned every single one, and the fire alarm went off."

Wanda chuckled. "I don't know what was worse—the smoke or his insistence that they were 'extra crispy.'" "Extra crispy pancakes," Lexi repeated, shaking her head. "He really tried to convince me it was a new culinary trend."

"Well, at least you didn't have to eat them." "I didn't," Lexi agreed. "But he ate them just to prove a point. I think he regretted it after the first bite."

Wanda laughed, the sound warm and genuine. Lexi looked up at her, the corners of her lips twitching upward.

"You're good at this," Lexi said softly. "Good at what?" "Making me feel like things aren't so bad." Wanda's smile softened. "That's what I'm here for, Dorogaya Moya. To remind you that even when things feel heavy, there's always room for laughter.

Lexi nodded weakly, her exhaustion catching up to her. Wanda helped her lie back down, tucking the covers around her securely. She smoothed Lexi's hair back, her touch gentle and rhythmic.

"Do you want me to stay?" Wanda asked softly. Lexi's hand shot out, grabbing Wanda's wrist. "Please." Wanda smiled faintly, brushing her fingers across Lexi's cheek. "I'm not going anywhere, moya khoroshaya."

Wanda shifted slightly, careful not to disturb Lexi as she reached for the remote on the nightstand. "What do you say we put something on?" she suggested, her voice soft.

Lexi blinked up at her, exhaustion still evident in her eyes. "Like what?" "A sitcom," Wanda said, a small smile playing on her lips. "Something light. Nothing too serious." Lexi gave a faint shrug, her head still resting against Wanda's shoulder. "Sure. Whatever you want."

Wanda scrolled through the options until she found an old episode of The Office. As the familiar opening music played, a tiny smirk appeared on Lexi's lips. "This was a good choice," she murmured.

"I know," Wanda teased, nudging her gently. "You think I don't have good taste?" Lexi made a mock-offended noise. "You did burn gym-sock paprikash once. That's questionable taste right there."

Wanda gasped in mock indignation, her fingers brushing lightly over Lexi's side as if to tickle her. "You are evil!" Lexi let out a weak laugh, swatting at Wanda's hand. "I regret nothing."

They fell into a comfortable quiet, the humour on the screen drawing out soft chuckles from both of them. Wanda's arm stayed draped around Lexi, her hand occasionally running through her hair in soothing strokes.

The light from the screen flickered across the room, casting soft shadows on the walls. Wanda glanced down at Lexi, who was curled against her side, her breathing slow and even. She looked peaceful for the first time in days, her face relaxed in sleep.

Wanda found herself watching her instead of the television, her green eyes tracing the curve of Lexi's face, the way her lashes brushed against her cheeks. She reached out, brushing a strand of hair from Lexi's forehead, her touch lingering.

"You deserve so much more," Wanda whispered, her voice barely audible. Sweet dreams, ангел," she whispered, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to her temple.

She adjusted herself slightly to get more comfortable, careful not to disturb Lexi. Letting the soft glow of the screen and the quiet laughter of the show fill the room, Wanda settled in, content to stay by Lexi's side as she slept peacefully.

═══*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*═══

Lexi's eyelids fluttered open, though her vision remained hazy and unfocused. The world around her felt distant, like a dream. Her head, though still a little heavy, was much clearer than before, the sharpness of the headache that had plagued her now reduced to a dull thrum in the back of her mind. But it wasn't the physical relief she noticed first—it was the comfort, the sense of security that enveloped her as she slowly became aware of her surroundings.

She was still in Wanda's arms, her face pressed against Wanda's chest, the steady rhythm of her heartbeats grounding Lexi in a way that made the world seem less overwhelming. The softness of Wanda's sweater beneath her cheek and the warmth radiating from her made it feel like they were the only two people in the world. Lexi couldn't bring herself to move, to pull away. Instead, she let herself settle deeper into the embrace, letting Wanda's presence fill her senses.

The room around them was quiet, the flickering glow from the TV the only sound aside from the gentle hum of the air. Everything felt so peaceful. So still. It was as if time had slowed down, or maybe stopped entirely. The thought that she had been asleep for hours didn't seem real, and yet, the soft, familiar scent of Wanda's perfume and the warmth of her skin beneath the blanket told her she was exactly where she needed to be.

As Lexi shifted slightly, her hand brushed against Wanda's, the soft touch of her fingers sending a twinge of warmth through her chest. She felt a wave of affection for the woman holding her. Wanda, with her unwavering strength, her quiet kindness, and the way she always seemed to know what Lexi needed without words. It was a feeling Lexi hadn't realized she craved until now. The feeling of being taken care of. Of being safe.

Her body felt like it was melting into Wanda's, the softness of the blanket around them cocooning her further. But even in her half-asleep state, Lexi could tell that Wanda was still awake. Her breathing was steady and calm, though her fingers gently brushed through Lexi's hair every so often as if reassuring her that she was there.

Lexi allowed herself to sink back into that rhythm, the familiar comfort of Wanda's presence making her eyelids heavy once more. She let out a small sigh, her head resting against Wanda's chest, and at that moment, she felt like she could stay here forever.

Wanda's warmth was like a blanket all on its own, soothing the last of the lingering tension in Lexi's body. It wasn't just physical warmth. It was the way Wanda's presence filled the space around them, making everything feel safe. Protected. Lexi knew there was nothing in the world that could hurt her while Wanda was here.

She could feel Wanda's fingers move again, this time lightly tracing patterns on the back of her neck, soothing and rhythmic. The sensation made Lexi's muscles relax even further as if each touch was a lullaby. Her eyes half-closed again, the heaviness of sleep pressing down on her, and she let herself drift further into the peaceful haze.

Everything felt so simple. She didn't need to think about the world outside, about anything that had happened or was going to happen. At this moment, nothing mattered except the warmth of Wanda's arms and the gentle lull of her voice. Her voice? Lexi blinked, wondering if she had heard something, but when she opened her eyes, she realized it was just the sound of Wanda's breathing, steady and calm.

The TV hummed quietly in the background, but the words of whatever show it was had faded into a distant murmur. Lexi didn't mind. The flicker of the screen was a comfort, and Wanda's presence was everything. It was all Lexi needed right now.

As Lexi relaxed even further, she felt the soft press of Wanda's lips against the top of her head, a quiet kiss that spoke of tenderness and care. Lexi's heart gave a soft thump in her chest, and she let out another small sigh, snuggling even deeper into Wanda's embrace. The sensation of being kissed, of being held so closely, made her feel like she could finally exhale. For once, she didn't have to carry the weight of everything on her shoulders.

Wanda's arms were the safest place in the world. And as Lexi's thoughts grew more distant, her eyelids fluttering shut, she felt a deep sense of gratitude.

She didn't know what the future held, what she would face when she woke up, but in this moment—half asleep and cradled in Wanda's arms—Lexi knew that everything was okay. For now, she was safe. She was loved. And that was all that mattered.

Her breathing slowed as she drifted further into sleep, her mind still half-fuzzy but comforted by the steady presence of Wanda, the woman who always knew how to make everything feel better.

And with that thought, Lexi let herself fall back into slumber, her body curled into Wanda's, secure and content in a way she hadn't realized she needed until now.