AN: Enjoy the chapter!

During the battle at the airport, Wanda and Vision avoided each other as much as it was possible for two people on opposite sides of a chaotic battle to avoid each other.

For Wanda, the reason was crippling guilt over what she had done. She'd called out Clint for pulling his punches when fighting his best friend, but she was doing the same thing. She was the only one on the battlefield with even a tiny chance at taking Vision on- everyone there knew it- but she just couldn't.

And Vision.. Well, he knew he could never bring himself to hurt Wanda. He didn't really want to hurt anyone. He just did what he was there to do, as well as he could. Tried to keep anyone from getting too badly hurt. To keep Captain Rogers from escaping.

But then he heard Wanda scream. The sound was like a dagger through his synthetic heart. He found her alone on the concrete floor, kneeling at her side, one arm slipping underneath his downed friend to gently cradle her.

"I'm sorry.."

"Me too.." Wanda replied, struggling to catch her breath.

Everything after that happened so horribly fast. Vision was just supposed to knock out Sam's engines, to force him to land.. But he was so preoccupied with looking after Wanda that he had miscalculated his shot, striking Col. Rhodes instead. The remnants of both teams watched in horror as both Sam and Stark dove to catch him. It was no use.

All around them, sirens blared. Military helicopters were beginning to circle overhead. Clint appeared beside Wanda and Vision, helping the Scarlet Witch to her feet.

"They'll be here for us soon.."

Wanda gave a sad nod. It became horribly clear to Vision what was about to happen.

"There may still be a chance to talk this through.."

"It's too late for that, Vizh" Wanda looked at him sadly. "We all went too far. We have to face the consequences.."

"But.."

Wanda pulled him into a tight hug, knowing this could be her last chance to do so. She felt a lump in her throat at the promises she made him, promises she could no longer keep.

"I've got you, Vizh. You're safe with me."

But he wasn't. Not now.

"You listen to me, Vision. Listen, because this is very important. Don't ever forget who you are. You are your own person, you can make your own choices. Stay you. Don't get too upset when you hear bad things about me, because you will. Just.. remember all the good stuff instead."

"Wanda.."

The sirens and helicopters grew closer. Wanda gently pushed him away from her, tears stinging her eyes.

"You have to go, Vizh. If they think you're with us, they'll take you too.. Go look after Rhodey.. When he's ready to hear it, tell him we're sorry.."

Vision tried to say something, but a sudden lump in his throat stopped any words from coming out. He couldn't say goodbye.. didn't want to believe that's what this was. He took to the sky, flying over to land in the clearing where Col. Rhodes had fallen. He had made his own grave mistake today, with his own consequences to face.

Medics arrived to help Rhodes, while far behind them, Soldiers and military police swarmed on Captain Roger's team.

In another blow to his heart, Vision heard Wanda cry out.. Heard Clint yelling for them to stop, that they were all going to come quietly.. and then they were gone.

That night, after spending hours at the hospital with Tony and Col. Rhodes, Vision returned to the Avengers compound. It was completely deserted. Even Natasha was gone. Something had happened during the battle.. Something to do with Captain Rogers' escape. While Vision didn't know the specifics, he assumed that Natasha may have aided in said escape.

Vision had seen her twice, briefly, in the chaos after the airport battle. Once, she had taken a look at his face and stopped to pat him sympathetically on the arm. The other, she had been speaking heatedly with Tony. Since then, she had seemingly dropped off the face of the Earth.

For the first time, Vision was completely, utterly alone.

Yet everywhere he looked, there were reminders of when he hadn't been alone. Reminders of Wanda.

The fridge contained the remnants of his almost but not quite Paprikash, the freezer packed with the meals Wanda had cooked and frozen for busy days.

Her favourite mug sat in the dish rack.

The movies she'd been collecting, mostly to watch them with him, were stacked by the television.

The Chessboard was set up with a half-played game they had forgotten to return to.

Wanda's room was just as she'd left it. Tidy, but lived in.

Her nightgown lay folded at the end of her bed, her slippers on the floor.

The closet was still filled with her clothes, including the dress that she'd worn to the Ball.

Her jewellery box was open, displaying her growing collection of rings.

If Vision hadn't known any better, he almost could have believed that she was still there. That she would appear any moment and drag him off to watch a movie, or play Dance Dance Revolution.

But Wanda wasn't here. Wanda had been taken to The Raft, a prison that had been intended for only the most dangerous of criminals. Vision had the most terrible feeling about what was happening to her there.

Wanda's few photos of Pietro, and their parents, were displayed proudly in the room. Along with, Vision now saw, a picture of he and Wanda from their trip to the farm.

Vision's eyes stung, a wetness on his cheek, and he realised with a start that they were tears. He hadn't even known he could cry.

But now, the tears came streaming out, unable to stop, and he sobbed into the silent, lonely building, crying out in grief for what he had lost.