Alex's POV

"Yeah, let me just grab another round!"

I jog away from the small group, making my way over to the coolers to grab us all another beer.

The small group had about everyone in it, so balancing all of these in my arms is a little precarious. Maybe I should have had-

"Hey."

The soft voice has me looking up to see-

"Uh-um.. Yelena. Hi."

I'm just squatting awkwardly with beer bottles barely balancing in my hands.

She notices, furrowing her brows, "Do you need help?"

"Uh, I want to say no, but I think you could tell I'd be lying.." I laugh lightly.

She takes the initiative, grabbing a few bottles from me.

"Thanks."

"Welcome. Should we," she nods her head over to the group.

"Yeah." We start walking, and maybe I should be trying to talk to her, but I can't. Not because it's Yelena's -okay maybe a little bit - but mostly because Wanda is staring me down.

Not a glare with her head tilt.

More like with those puppy dog eyes that are about to lose it if you you tell them they can't go outside with you.

I swallow thickly, my throat suddenly becoming dry.

Everyone takes a beer, leaving me empty handed. I'm still focused on Wanda who only looked away when someone handed her a drink.

"Alex."

Again that voice, "yeah?"

"Can we um.. can we talk? Please?"

Fuck. I should tell her no.. but I can't. I think we both deserve this conversation.

"Yeah, okay," I turn back to Wanda, hoping to convey to her that I'll be back. But now she won't look at me. Or at least isn't. Maybe that's in my head. Hopefully.

We walked a ways off from the group, no one really noticing. Well, okay. Nat did. But she seems to notice everything. She just raised and eyebrow at me and I smiled.

"So.."

"Alex.."

Cue awkward smile.

I nod for her to go on.

"I know you said you forgave me.. and I believe you. Because you have such a big heart, especially for the people you care about. Which- which is what made me care for you so deeply."

Big deep breaths.

"But I never got to apologize officially. And I can't keep going with this, knowing I hurt you. It's- you didn't deserve it."

"I mean, technically I think I was the droid you were looking for.." I don't expect her to know the Star Wars reference, but she laughs. Then I remember she has Spencer in her life.

"Yeah, and I totally missed it. Guess you do have some crazy Jedi powers."

"I wish. That would be so cool."

She scrunches her eyebrows, "you can control fire and teleport. That's pretty bad ass if you ask me."

"I guess.."

She shakes her head, "it is."

I don't know quite what to say. This convo jumped pretty quickly.

She clears her throat, "anyway.. my point is, I'm sorry. So deeply sorry. I hated having to put you through that, but I still did it. And I can't lie that part of me liked being in the relationship with you. You are an incredible girlfriend. An incredible person."

"Uh, thanks.. I." Oo. This is harder than I thought it would be. "Um.. fuck." I laugh out the tears. "I loved being in a relationship with you. I loved you, I- I thought you were the one."

She lets out a sob, "I'm so sorry, I-"

I shake my head, "no. I'm not trying to make you feel worse. We weren't meant to be together. I- I think I found the one that I want to spend forever with." I look over at Wanda who is laughing with Nat. Seems Nats distracting her. "The one I need to spend forever with.

"So yes, it sucked. A lot. I drank, a lot. I- I cried far more than I thought I could. But.. I'm okay. We are okay."

"Thank you.."

"Hold on, please?" She nods, I continue. "And you are also a very amazing person. You are brave, and strong, and kind and talented. Your laugh can light up a room. When you're happy it's hard not to be happy. You are wonderful and caring. Yes, you are," I negate her trying to say no. "When you let people in, they are the lucky ones. You have this spark and curiosity for life, you want to continuously grow and learn and.. and it made me want to join you in that discovery.

"So, you were also an incredible girlfriend and it wasn't even real," I laugh a bit, "And whoever is lucky enough to get your love, the real love that you've kept hidden away, they will be the luckiest person. And you'll have that someday.

"It wasn't us, and that's okay. It hurt and it sucked and we tore each other apart a bit. But we're okay."

By now I had unknowingly grabbed her hands in mine as I gave my little impromptu speech.

"We're both crying." She says trying to wipe the tears away.

"Yeah. Guess we both let our walls down for the other."

"Yeah. I like it, though. I'm really only close with Spencer and Nat, Wanda a little bit, but-"

"But we should keep this openness with each other? As friends?"

"Yes! Please? It won't be weird?"

"Probably. But that's okay. It's all a little weird. We are at the beach with superheroes and some gods from Asgard. So us being friends, not as weird."

She laughs, a laugh my heart use to take off to. And it does still, because I care about her and want her to be happy. But as a friend.

Next thing I know, I'm wrapped in a hug. A tight one. With someone I had found a lot of comfort in at one point, someone whose arms made me feel safe.

This was different. Not in a bad way. I liked it.

"We should probably go back.." she mumbles against my shoulder.

"You are probably right." We finally pull apart, smiling.

"So.. you and Wanda?" She smirks.

"Maybe? I don't really know where we stand. And I just don't know if I can let myself be open with her again after everything.."

"Woah, wait." She stops our walk. "You're willing to be open and friends with me, but not her?"

"That's different."

"How?"

"Because.. you're my friend. She'd be my girlfriend. I'd have to like.. let myself be completely me with her. Let myself be that vulnerable again. And.. yeah, our relationship wasn't completely real. But with her it was. Yours was because of a job. Hers was just.. her choice."

"Hey, she never wanted to hurt you either. She was protecting me. Fury wouldn't let me talk about it and I did. She was trying to do what was best. But she isn't perfect. None of us are. She loves you, she never stopped. I've never seen her like this, how she's been since you left. And weren't you the one that said you need to have forever with her?"

"Well, yeah. But, sometimes you can want something and it not be good for you. You can need something that destroys you."

"Please. You are amazing together. And now everything is out there, right? She knows about your powers, your story, she understands why you were after hydra. You know the whole story with myself and Fury and her. You've both grown and you're in different places now, maybe it wouldn't hurt to try. To talk, that is. I think you should. Go from there. You both deserve it."

"Okay.. maybe you're right." Cause damn, she does have a good point. A few of them.

"You know I am."

"I do. You're insanely smart, Lena. Just another incredible thing about you," I smile, winking.

A light blush forms, "you should stop flirting with me and focus that energy on your girl over there."

I look over to Wanda who is trying to not make it obvious that she's watching us.

It's obvious. Obviously.

Her drinking her beer is not blocking the fact that her eyes are locked on us.

"Again, you're right. But I won't stop telling you how awesome you are, Lena. Those are the terms and conditions to this friendship."

"I talk, you listen and vice versa?"

"Yes."

"I can live with that."

"Good. You better. Now shall we?" I open my arm out in front of us, indicating that we should finally join the rest of the group.

"Yes. But I think we need another drink."

"I do like the way you think, Belova."

"I know you do. Now, take two."

"Oh, I've had plenty, I don't really need.."

"The second one isn't for you. Although if you want, take a third. But I had meant for you to give it to Wanda."

"Oooh..."

She rolls her eyes, "how you manage to actually date anyone is beyond me."

"Hey! We both know it's my amazing charm and good looks," I give my best smile. "And you can't forget that killer personality."

She just laughs.

"Hurtful, truly," I deadpan.

"Sorry.. it's just.. you're such a softy!" She playfully punches me.

"Ow!"

"See," she snickers. "You forgot to add funny to that list."

"I'll make sure I list it in the reasons Wanda should take me back."

"You should. It's your selling point."

"Wow. I didn't realize you thought so highly of me."

"Yup, now don't go getting a big head on me." She starts walking backwards towards the group.

"Wouldn't dream of it."