**Chapter 13: Training with Emma**

The sun shone brightly at the park, casting a warm glow over the playground. Yelena sat on a bench, watching Emma ride her bike in circles around her. The little girl's laughter and giggles filled the air as she played. Yelena's heart swelled with love and protectiveness. She had given up so much to give Emma a normal childhood, and she would do anything to keep it that way. As she watched Emma, Yelena's mind wandered back to her conversation with Natasha. Her sister's warning had left her with a sense of unease. The Red Room wouldn't stop until they caught or killed her. Yelena knew she had to be prepared. Determined to take proactive steps, Yelena called out to Emma, "Hey, sweetie, come here for a minute." Emma pedaled over to her, beaming with excitement. Yelena smiled and helped Emma off the bike. "Let's take a break, okay? I want to teach you something." Emma nodded, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. Yelena took her hand and led her to a quiet area of the park. "You know how to be aware of your surroundings, right?" Yelena asked, looking around cautiously. Emma nodded. "Like watching out for cars?" Yelena smiled. "Exactly. But it's more than that. It's about trusting your instincts and being prepared for anything. Can you show me what you do if someone you don't know comes up to you?" Emma thought for a moment before responding, "I run away and find Mommy!" Yelena's heart swelled with pride. "That's exactly right! And what if you can't run away? What if you need to defend yourself?" Emma's eyes widened, and she looked up at Yelena with a mixture of excitement and fear. Yelena knew she had to tread carefully. She didn't want to scare Emma, but she needed to teach her basic self-defense techniques. Yelena pulled out a small, foam sword from her bag. "Let's practice some simple moves. Can you try to hit this?" Yelena held out the sword, and Emma tentatively tried to hit it. Yelena guided her through some basic movements, teaching her how to use her body weight and balance to defend herself. As they practiced, Yelena couldn't help but think of her own training days. She had been taught to be a deadly assassin, to use her body and her skills to take down her enemies. But she didn't want that for Emma. She wanted her daughter to have a normal childhood, to grow up without the burden of her past. The training session was interrupted by the sound of children playing in the distance. Emma's eyes lit up, and she exclaimed, "I want to go play!" Yelena smiled and nodded, "Okay, sweetie. But remember what we practiced. Always be aware of your surroundings and trust your instincts." As Emma ran off to join her friends, Yelena watched her with a sense of pride and protectiveness. She would do everything in her power to keep Emma safe. The Red Room and SHIELD might think they could use her, but Yelena had other plans. She would protect Emma, no matter what it took. Yelena's gaze lingered on Emma, her mind racing with thoughts of her past and her future. She knew she couldn't stay hidden forever. Eventually, she would have to face her demons head-on. But for now, she was determined to enjoy this moment, to savor the joy and innocence of her daughter's childhood. As the sun began to set, casting a warm orange glow over the park, Yelena called out to Emma, "Time to go home, sweetie!" Emma pedaled back over to her, beaming with happiness. Yelena smiled and hugged her tightly, feeling a sense of peace wash over her. For now, she had her daughter, and that was all that mattered. But as they walked home, Yelena's instincts flared. She could feel eyes on her, watching her. She quickened her pace, her hand instinctively going to the spot where her katana, Yamato, was hidden. She knew she couldn't let her guard down, not even for a moment. The Red Room could be lurking around every corner, waiting to strike. As they approached their apartment building, Yelena's senses went on high alert. She scanned the area, her eyes searching for any signs of danger. But everything seemed quiet. Yelena's grip on Emma's hand tightened, and she led her into the building, ready to face whatever lay ahead.