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  BLEEDING OUT ON HER couch was not how Rosalie wanted her reunion with Yelena to go — she didn't know if she even wanted one in the first place. "Y-Yelena!" She coughed. Her cheeks reddened and she shook her head quickly. "We meet again, Yelena Belova," She tried her best to steady her voice and keep a stoic face.

Yelena tilted her head with an amused smirk. "That we do, Rosie," There was that nickname, the one she despised coming from the mouth of Wyatt Foster, but when coming from Yelena, it could melt her in an instant. Yelena's eyes trailed down to Rosalie's bleeding leg and she sucked in a sharp breath. "Did Irina do this?" She asked.

"...yes," Rosalie sniffed. She could see Irina standing far back, behind Yelena.

"Good," Yelena said harshly. She turned on her heel and walked over to Irina, who held a bin. Yelena took it and walked back to Rosalie, dropping it at her feet. "That is everything you need to clean yourself up. Once you're done, I'll drive you out of the city and you leave. Whatever the CIA sent you here for, forget it."

Rosalie gulped, trying to ease her dry throat. She nodded slowly. "Of course. Thank you for your generosity, Yelena."

The blonde paused, looking her up and down before quickly leaving. Irina scurried off after, apologizing frantically in Russian. Rosalie was left alone in the small living room with a bin of medical supplies at her feet. Bending down was painful, but she managed to grab some disinfectant and a few cloths and began cleaning her wound. The knife didn't cut deep, but it sure as hell hurt. Placing a rag in her mouth, she poured the alcohol into the cut. She groaned, biting down hard on the rag until the pain subsided. With the other cloth, she cleaned away the dirt and dried blood, but what came next was the hard part.

Rosalie could tolerate pain to a certain extent, but one thing she was never good at was giving herself stitches. After a few minutes, she would be wailing on the floor, unable to finish. She was determined this time. Maybe it was because she knew Yelena would be listening, maybe she just wanted to prove to herself she could do it — whatever it was, she would make sure she finished the stitches. She gathered the supplies needed and slowly began. She groaned and moaned at every poke and pull of the needle, the rag in her mouth no longer helping to ease her pain. "Agh!" She exclaimed, spitting out the rag and putting her head in her hands.

Her thigh was on fire. Rosalie breathed in slowly, taking deep breaths as she tried to regain her confidence to continue. "That's pathetic," Yelena's voice cause her head to snap up.

The blonde leaned on the wall, a smirk on her face. Rosalie rolled her eyes. "You of all people should know how bad I am with stitches,"

Yelena chuckled, pushing herself off the wall and towards Rosalie. "Don't I. If I remember correctly, I had to rock you to sleep like a baby after I stitched you up."

Rosalie scoffed and rolled her eyes. "That's not how I remember it," She sighed shakily. Her thigh was beginning to throb. "Gosh, I hate to ask..."

Yelena laughed loudly, holding her belly. "You are so predictable," She took the needle from Rosalie's hand and knelt in front of her. "Take this. Put it in your mouth," She said as she pulled a wooden spoon from the bin. Rosalie did as she said, placing the stick in her mouth and biting down hard. Yelena began to finish up the stitches. Rosalie gripped the fabric of the old couch, her breaths short and quick, but Yelena was efficient, finishing in only a couple of minutes. "Put the bandage on and meet me outside." She walked away without another word.

Rosalie couldn't help but stare as she walked off. Seeing her again brought back a lot of memories, good and bad. Shaking her head, she refocused on her wound. As Yelena instructed, she wrapped bandages over her thigh and shakily, she made her way to the back door Irina had taken her through. Yelena was there waiting, her back against the brick wall and her arms crossed. "Follow me," Her demeanour was now cold as she led Rosalie to a hidden parking lot.

Rosalie brushed off the hurt she felt, there was no reason to feel it — it had been three years since she saw Yelena. The relationship they had, if you could even call it that, was a ploy, Yelena was a puppet and knowing that, Rosalie still cared for the woman — still cares. They stopped at a small black Volkswagen Beetle. "Cute car," Rosalie commented.

"Get in," Yelena answered plainly. Rosalie didn't argue. She got in the passenger's side and Yelena sat angrily in the driver, but she didn't start the engine right away. "Why are you really here?" She turned to face Rosalie.

"Irina told you, didn't she?" Rosalie tilted her head. "To track down the remaining Widows and take you to the CIA."

Yelena laughed. "Do you think I am stupid? I know you, Rosalie. I know that you would never do that to us, so I will ask you again — why are you really here?"

Rosalie groaned. This is the part she didn't miss about Yelena — how easily she could read her. "They offered a lot of money!"

"You have a lot of money, the pay doesn't matter to you!" Yelena argued, raising her voice.

Rosalie felt herself becoming defensive. "A-And? Why does that matter!" Her voice began to rise too. "Why do you think it's anything else?"

"Because!" Yelena huffed. Her shoulders moved up and down as she heaved. "I know you, Rosie," Her voice and eyes softened. "You would not do what you say you are doing. So...what is the real reason, любовь?"

Rosalie's face burned bright red. любовь. Love. She shook her head rapidly. She needed to come clean to Yelena and herself. "You're right...I'm not selling you out," She stared Yelena in the eye. "I want you all to live free and happy lives. All the CIA will do is the exact same thing the Red Room did. I'm going to help you get off their radar."

"There. Was that so hard?" Yelena smiled.

Rosalie groaned loudly, slumping in her seat and running her hands down her face. "I hate you," She huffed and stared at the car ceiling. Yelena chuckled softly. "So...what now? You got the truth." Rosalie looked at the blonde.

Yelena's smiled faltered. "I am still taking you outside of the city. You being here...it puts us in danger."

Rosalie sighed, her head hanging slightly. "I know..." She pulled herself back up and stared at her lap. "Wyatt won't be happy."

"That man never is," Yelena chuckled bitterly. "But I know you can handle him,"

Rosalie nodded, laughing softly. They sat in silence for a few seconds, the car didn't start up, Yelena didn't move — Rosalie knew what she was doing was hard for her. "I missed you," Rosalie spoke up. Yelena's head snapped to her, eyes widened slightly. "It's nice seeing you free from Dreykov's control."

"It's nice to be free," Yelena breathed. "And...I guess I missed you too..." The women chuckled, but trailed off.

Rosalie leaned forward. "What is it?" She tilted her head.

Yelena's eyes were intense as they connected with Rosalie. "Rosie..." She began. "What do you feel for me?"

"What do you mean?" Rosalie ignored the pit in her stomach. Slowly, she reached for Yelena's hand. The blonde tensed, but allowed the contact.

She could see Yelena's eyes watering as she struggled to find the right words. She took a shaky breath in. "Do you...love me?"

"Of course I do!" Rosalie squeezed her hand tighter. "What a silly question, Yelena."

Yelena swallowed the large lump in her throat. "No. Not like that. Love love," Immediately, Rosalie's heart plummeted. "Tell me, Rosie," She shuddered as a few tears trailed down her face.

"Oh, Yelena," Rosalie quickly cupped the girls cheeks and wiped away the tears. "I did- do, love you. I know how it started for us...a set up for both sides to gather intel..." She trailed off — Yelena stared sadly.

"Was it real for you?," Yelena interjected, tearing her head out of Rosalie's hands.

Rosalie paused. "Yelena..." She felt like vomiting. "Do you not...feel the same way?" She felt her hands begin to shake nervously. "I get it's been three years but-"

Yelena turned to her, trying her best to smile. "I do!," She said hastily, but she stopped herself quickly. "But...not in the way you feel. I do not...love, like that. But I do love you, like I love Natasha or Irina," Rosalie shuddered, her guilt building up in tears. Yelena understood that this must be hard for her. Yelena sighed and frowned. "Stop it." She told her softly.

"I'm sorry!" Rosalie sniffled. "I just feel kinda stupid," She laughed awkwardly. "I can't believe I didn't see it."

Yelena was quick to take her hands and force her to look. "Look at me...am I crying?" Rosalie sniffled and shook her head. "Then stop. You are big girl,"

"But what happened between us...it was forced on you that's...that's horrible!" Rosalie countered, doing her best to slow her breathing and stop the tears.

"And you didn't know!" She exclaimed. "You had no idea and Dreykov made sure you didn't," She squeezed Rosalie's hands tightly. "I need you to understand that. Tell me you understand," Rosalie stayed silent for a moment. "Tell me," Yelena insisted, this time in Russian.

Rosalie sighed deeply and shakily. "I...understand," She dropped her head.

"Good," Yelena dropped her hands and placed hers on the steering wheel. There was another small pause before she started the car and began to drive.

The car ride was tense, to say the least. Neither Yelena nor Rosalie knew what to say after their heavy conversation. Both their heads swirled with ideas, yet nothing seemed right. Rosalie had the urge to keep apologizing, but there was no point in it. It was like Yelena said — it wasn't her fault, it wasn't either of theirs — it was Dreykov, and now he was dead.

It was dark outside and Yelena pulled into another small parking lot on the edge of town. "Here you go," She kept the car running as she turned to Rosalie. Rosalie, on the other hand, couldn't stop staring forward. "Rose?" Yelena tapped her shoulder. Still nothing. Yelena sighed. "Rosalie!" She clapped her hands and Rosalie jumped.

"What?" She looked around frantically but calmed as her eyes landed on Yelena's. "Oh...sorry," She smiled sheepishly.

Yelena tilted her head. "Are you okay? I know what we talked about earlier was...a lot."

"Yeah..." Rosalie sighed. "But, I'm okay. It's you who I'm worried about."

Yelena laughed. "Always so concerned with others, you are," She patted Rosalie's shoulder lightly. "Get some rest and head home. We never have to see each other again," Yelena chuckled.

Rosalie's face fell. "Never?"

"Oh!" Yelena immediately felt bad. "I didn't mean that! It was only a joke, I promise. A bad one,"

"No, no. It's okay. I overreacted," Rosalie shook her head and unbuckled her seatbelt. "Like you said, I should get some rest," She paused as she was just about to exit the vehicle. "Could I at least see you tomorrow? Before I go get fired for failing my mission?" She chuckled half-heartedly.

Yelena smiled softly. "Of cour-"

BOOM! Pain shot through every part of Rosalie and Yelena's bodies as their car flipped and went flying. The last thing Rosalie as the blood began rushing to her head was a pair of very recognizable leather-toed boots heading their way and then, everything went black.

AUTHORS NOTE
can I just say how shocked I am by the amount of reads this is getting so quickly? thank you so much? anyway, I wanted to make things clear here — THIS STORY WILL BE PLATONIC. Thanks to the help of the lovely Jackieshalom I have come up with a great way to change the relationship to be platonic and still fit with the original storyline I wanted! I really wanted to respect Yelena's asexuality, which I always planned on doing, but as I did more research about her and her possibly being aromantic, I felt that platonic was the right way to go. I know it may not look like that's what I'm doing, but Rosalie DOES have feelings for Yelena but that does NOT mean Yelena will reciprocate them and she won't. I hope I can make this a story that everybody can enjoy and thank you for sticking with me!