AN: Wanda and Vision have enjoyed half a year together, but it can't all be paradise and relaxation.
Six months had gone by since the events at the compound and the Avengers breaking up. Clint kept in contact with Wanda, and Vision had been taking frequent visits back to Upstate New York to see Tony and relay updates to Wanda about the Accords that were still in operation.
It was now Spring, and Wanda was out in the apple orchard beside the cottage walking underneath the blossom singing to herself, she sang in her native tongue and stopped by a bench her father had carved out of a fallen tree. She sat down and breathed in the scent of blossom and was only snapped out of her daze at a quiet buzzing, her eyes opened and lay on Vision who had landed in the orchard.
"Welcome back," she smiled and patted the space on the bench beside her.
"Did you miss me?"
"I always do. How was it?"
"The usual, as you say. But no one has returned to the compound."
"Really?"
"It's eerily quiet."
Wanda nodded. "Vis? You've always looked out for me, but if you feel you need to be there more often, you can."
"I thought you wanted me here. But if I'm overstepping or around too much then I can leave?"
"No, that's not what I am suggesting," she laughed. "Never mind." And she cut a sprig of blossom off the tree to take into the house. "I'm going to make some coffee. Can I persuade you?"
Vision smiled. "The answer is always the same, but I can say it again to make you laugh?"
Wanda sniffed the blossom with a giggle. "Mission accomplished."
"I've just put the rest of your belongings into the house. There's nothing left at the compound now, only memories."
"Good memories?"
"All of the memories I have that include you, I consider good," he replied, almost bashfully. "I've been thinking about, well, us."
"Vision, are you stuttering?" Wanda smirked.
"I mean, we're friends, aren't we? I..." He closed his eyes. "I don't know what these feelings are, Wanda, but you've become very important to me, and I don't think I can stay away."
Wanda sat closer and held his hand in hers. "They are totally normal feelings, Vis. You mean a lot to me too."
"I don't feel as if I can be apart from you anymore. When I was at the compound, Mr Stark asked me where you were, and I couldn't tell him. I felt like that would be betraying you or compromising your safety." He shook his head. "I... I care about you, deeply."
"What?" Wanda's pitch rose. "Really?"
"I can't explain it. I've never experienced a feeling like this before. But you make me feel different when I'm with you, I don't feel like a synthetic."
Wanda looked down at the blossom in her hand then at the house. "Let's go inside."
They sat down on the sofa together after Wanda had made herself a coffee and from the seat, she used her powers to accelerate the growth of the blossom in a vase.
"Have I offended you?" Vision asked.
"No, not at all. I'm just surprised at your words, you're not usually this open about feelings. In fact, this is the first time you've ever spoken like this."
"But if you don't have the same feelings, I'll understand."
"Vis, when you were created, the first person you looked at was me, and when I read your mind it was unlike anyone I had ever explored before. Your mind was confused, but it was also pure, and I knew that you were something more than Ultron could be. You were also the only person who came back for me when the city fell, and the one who looked for me when we arrived at the compound for the first time after I had lost everything dear to me. You've always been there for me, and I can't imagine wanting to be with anyone else but you." She placed her mug down on the table and placed her hand on his cheek, "I just want you."
Vision placed his hand on hers meeting her gaze with his own and their faces moved closer ever so slowly before he felt his lips meet hers. He sat frozen to the sofa not knowing how to respond but thought about how he had seen people kiss in Wanda's favourite sitcoms he had sat and watched with her, and he pressed his lips harder against hers, he assumed he was doing it right but she pulled away with a smile.
"Did I do something wrong?" He asked.
Wanda shook her head, "no, quite the opposite. Where did you learn how to kiss?"
"Observation."
"You're quite the expert," she whispered as she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him again, smiling against his lips as he angled his head slightly allowing her more movement. She giggled again, and he let her go. "However, I do need oxygen."
"I apologise."
Wanda smiled. "Natasha always believed something was going on between us, she told me that if anything ever happened, she would keep it to herself. Now I'm wondering if everyone knew."
"Why would it matter if they did? I'm sure the saying goes, that's none of their business."
Wanda chuckled. "I want this to work, Vis, you're all I have. You're my only family now, since the team broke up and losing, Pietro."
Vision wrapped his arms around her and pressed a kiss to her head as it tucked under his chin. "As you wish. I could get used to this."
"So could I," she smiled as tenderly traced kisses atop her head.
"What do you feel?"
"Just you."
Wanda and Vision's fugitive life was perfect, it felt like nothing was ever going to change for them as they lived happily hidden away from the world. It was coming up to the end of the year together in their cottage, and all was well and good, that was until Vision began having headaches. He was cooking a meal for Wanda when a sharp twinge spread through his head and he cried out in pain, Wanda ran to his side.
"Vis, what is it?"
"I've never felt this before, it's coming from the mind stone."
"Is there anything I can do?"
Vision shook his head. "Whatever is causing it, it's not in our control I suspect."
"No, it's not, it should be under our control," a voice from behind made them jump and Wanda readied her power at the intruder. "Sorry, I should've knocked, but the backdoor was open. You know, if you're trying to hide, then you should invest in better security."
"What are you doing here? Get out of our house," Wanda's eyes glowed red.
Tony smirked. "Cosy place you have here, Wanda. But going back to what I was saying, there's an infinity stone here and now it needs to be protected."
"I can protect him."
Vision stepped around her. "Wanda, don't."
"I'm sure you can, but that's not going to happen. We don't know what these stones do, or what they even are. But your powers came from one, both of you, so think of what power the other stones have," he checked the time. "I can't really hang around, it's now or now."
Wanda shook her head. "You can't," she clutched Vision's hand. "He's all I have."
"Okay Witchy, he won't be gone forever, I just need him back at the compound for a few months, maybe not even that long. Look, I'm on a tight schedule here."
Vision placed his hands on Wanda's shoulders, "I have to go darling, but I'll come back." He wrapped his arms around her and whispered something into her ear. "Edinburgh."
Wanda frowned as he stepped back. "Promise?"
"I promise," he turned back to Tony. "After you."
Wanda finished the cooking that Vision had started and thought back to what he had said; Edinburgh. What was there that drove him to mention it on the spot and at that moment? She sat down to eat unhappily, the house felt suddenly cold at Vision's absence but amidst the silence, her head hummed with thoughts about Scotland. Vision had planned something, and she wasn't about to leave his side now.
