Alex's POV

Now that I've tackled the.. situation with Yelena, I can focus on Wanda. Which is a lot easier said than done. It seems like Wanda is avoiding me, though maybe that's my paranoid ass talking.

But I haven't been able to talk to her, just her, since the talk with Yelena.

I know a lot of what Lena said was true; we've both grown as people, we're not in the same places we were when we tried last.

But does that have to be a good thing? What if it's worse? What if we crash and burn worse than before? If that's possible. What if we aren't good for each other? What if we get trapped in this never ending circle of-

What if I run myself crazy with the 'what if's'?

Ugh. Guess I won't know unless I try, right?

Right.

Except I keep going around in these circles because I haven't had the chance to talk to her.

So in between trying to talk to Wanda and her avoiding me, we have all spent the rest of the day laying around in the sun, playing some random yard games Tony brought, swimming until our hearts content.

Tony even had some food flown in for us. Literally. Well, kind of. This is his island or whatever and so he flew in a few chefs to make a shit load of food so no one had to go in to cook.

Why didn't we just bring some coolers with food like we did the drinks? Or let us cook?

It's Tony Stark. Does he do anything simple?

The food was delicious and free, so I'm not complaining.

Yes, Tony even let me eat. Very generous of him.

Turns out, once you get him drinking, he's actually.. nice? Kind of. Well, to a degree. Still don't think we're best buddies or anything.

I'll work on it.

Spencer told me he's truly a big softy. But I messed with his family (although I feel like they messed with me more). He's very protective of them, even if he tries to act like he doesn't care.

Either way, we're now sitting around a nice little bonfire I started for us, roasting marshmallows, drinking beer, cozied up together. It's the dream.

Well, for some of us.

I've finally been able to sit next to Wanda. Although Carol is on my left, so we weren't exactly alone. For some reason or another Carol isn't sitting next to her girlfriend.

"Hey, Alex. Would you like a s'more?"

"I never say no to a s'more!" I say a little too enthusiastically. But hey, I've been drinking all day. And this situation is weird.

"Yeah, you don't say no too much, apparently," I barely hear Wanda mumble. And this confuses me.

So I go to ask her, but I'm stopped by a hand on my thigh. That isn't Wandas. It's Carols. I look up to her confused. It's a common theme.

"What are you-"

"Here's your s'more."

"Uh, thanks?" How'd she have it ready so fast?

Few bites later it was gone.

And Carols arm was around me.

"Carol. What are you doing?" I whispered.

"Making Wanda jealous."

"Are you sure you aren't trying to make Valkyrie jealous?" Now that I've seen her across the fire, she does not look impressed.

I catch Carol smirking, "maybe. But hey, it's a win win. I get jealous sex with Val, which is mind blowing, and you can have it with Wanda. You're welcome."

"What, no!" I catch myself before I actually yell, remembering to keep it at a whisper. "That's not what I'm trying to do."

"Uhuh. Right. Either way, you're welcome."

I chuckle slightly, "just go back to your girl, will you?"

She stands up, leaning back to me one more time still whispering, "fine. But let me know how it goes with Red over there." She nods her head in Wandas direction, then winks.

I just roll my eyes and playfully push her along.

I zone back out on the fire, trying to come up with a way to start this conversation with Wanda.

Sure we've been busy talking and what not with other people. But still. We're literally sitting next to each other.

Maybe start with the typical, 'hey can we talk.' Cliché but effective, right?

"She's taken."

"What?" She very much catches me off guard.

"Carol. She's taken. Dating Valkyrie."

"Riiiight. I do know that. She's told me a few times. And I'm sure I've seen enough pda from the couple myself," I chuckle, unsure of why we are focusing on Carol right now. "Is everything okay?"

"Mhm."

Well, that's a no.

I turn so I can focus my attention more on her. She won't look at me, too focused on pretending to care about the fire.

"Hey. Talk to me. What's going on, sunshine?"

Her posture shifts, she finally looks at me.

"It's just.. it's hard, okay?"

"What is?"

"It's hard.. seeing you flirt with someone else. Seeing someone else's hands on you. Knowing that I can't do anything about it.." she's back to looking at the ground.

"Wait, I wasn't-"

"And I realize that I have no right to be upset about it. You aren't mine, we aren't together. I guess just after the last few weeks.. I don't know. It just felt like we were.. more. Seeing you flirting with Carol and the way you were talking with Yelena.. just reminded me that you aren't mine. We aren't.. It was hard to witness."

"Wanda, that's not.. I wasn't.."

"It's fine. I- I have no right to say anything. I have no right to be jealous, but I am." Her eyes meet mine, letting me see the hurt in them, the jealousy swirling in it. The tears pooling.

"You can flirt with whoever you want, be with whoever you want. So it just- made me realize that I was getting ahead of myself. I guess I got too in my head, let it travel to the fantasy of us being together. You and Yelena have history, too. And you seemed pretty cozy together earlier. Who am I to assume you'd want me back? Especially over her."

"Woah, Wanda.. don't.. I can't.." I hate that she feels like this, but what are the perfect words to make her feel better? "None of that with Carol was real, she was just trying to make Val jealous. For reasons I know and wish I didn't," I try to laugh a little. She only half smiles.

Okay, not the main point here. "First, I want to address the fact that you compared yourself to Yelena. You don't, okay? You are one of the most incredible people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. You are the light to my day. My happy thought. Most of the time my only thought. You- there's literally not enough words I could find to describe how amazing you are. You outshine everyone, especially to me."

I receive a small nod, though I feel as if she wants to say something, she doesn't.

I sigh, moving on, "Yelena.. we talked and it was good. But that's all we did. We have history, yes. And that's built the friendship we have." I say, thinking that would clear the air. However, I realize what Wanda and I have we've also classified as friendship at the moment.

I quickly try to recoup once I see the any hope she had slowly dim, "we opened up to each other. Even though it wasn't under the circumstances I thought it was, we trusted each other. But there are no feelings there."

She lets out a long breath, I can see her take a moment to fight back the tears, "I guess just seeing someone else do the things only I want to be able to do with you.. made me realize I can't sit and watch anyone else take you away form me. I can't let you slip through my fingers, not again. I know I messed up before and I will regret that for the rest of my days, but please give me a chance. I promise I won't mess it up."

I smile, take her hands in mine, running my thumb over her knuckles.

"You always have to beat me to it, huh?"

"What?"

"I- I've been unsure of progressing our relationship because I've been hurt. And it left scars. Ones I can't forget."

"I know, and I am so sorry-"

"I know. Trust me, I'm going some where with this."

She smiles lightly.

Okay, getting there.

"I've been afraid of getting hurt again, what it might do to me. But I can't deny that spending these last few weeks with you has been incredible. It's reminded me of why we worked so well together. I spent so long trying to push all of those feelings away and pretend I didn't have them."

Shit, not the lip quiver.

"But, I don't want to do that anymore. It's only hurting both of us. Because those feelings never went away, and I don't think they ever will. I don't want them to. Wanda, I love you. And I know it's been one crazy rollercoaster, but I would really love the chance to try this again. I would really like for you to be my girlfriend again."

And then there's tears, so many of them.

"Hey, hey, it's okay," I pull her into my arms, letting her soak my t-shirt as I try to comfort her. "We don't have to jump into anything if you don't want to. But I thought with what you were saying about how you feel and how I was feeling that it would make sense. But I don't want to push you on anything."

I feel her head shake against me.

"It's okay, take your time."

After a few minutes she seems to have calm down some as she pulls away from me.

I take the chance to wipe away the stream of tears leftover. My heart tightens, I hate seeing her upset.

"You aren't pushing me. These-" big breath "these are happy tears. I was so worried you wouldn't want to try us again. It was eating me alive. And the easy way you were flirting with everyone just had me spiraling-"

"That was Carol-"

"But, I want this, us. I've wanted it for so long and I thought you were completely gone from my life. Then I decided to walk into Spencers shop. And.. I am so glad I did."

"So.." my smile is growing, reaching my eyes and making my heart beat wildly in my chest.

"So, yes. I'd love to be your girlfriend. Again."

And my heart takes off, flying high and exploding with the abundance of happiness that those words set off.

I don't hesitate to lean forward and capture her lips with mine.

And it's everything I've been missing.

Yes, we kissed briefly before.

But this.

This is the kind of kiss that makes you buzz from your head to your toes with an energy you can't contain. The way her lips move perfectly with mine. How she swipes her tongue asking for entrance which I eagerly grant.

The moan I pull from her.

Everything just feels right.

My hands find her hair, curling themselves into her wonderful auburn locks.

I feel like I'm melting and coming to life all at the same time.

A kiss shouldn't be this perfect, but it is.

We finally need air, pulling away, both smiling like a couple of love struck teens.

And then there's loud applause and whoops and whistles heard all around us.

We both laugh as we look at everyone looking at us.

They're all smiling, happy for our happiness.

I look over to Wanda as she takes it all in, the literal spark in her eye, the smile I never will tire of seeing.

Yeah, this feels right.