The house was still, the kind of stillness that only the dead of night could bring. The moonlight filtered through the cracks in the curtains, casting faint, silver beams across the room. Lexi was deep in sleep, her body curled beneath the covers, her breathing steady. But the silence didn't last long. She felt a shift, a gentle press against her back. It was a familiar sensation, but unexpected at this hour.

Before she could fully register it, the warmth of a body was beside her, and then the soft pressure of arms wrapping around her waist. Lexi stirred but didn't resist, knowing exactly who it was. Wanda's arms were weak and shaky, but her hold on Lexi was tight as if anchoring herself to the only person who could make her feel safe.

Lexi didn't say anything. She didn't need to. There were no words to offer when grief was so heavy when the pain of loss felt so suffocating. So, she simply shifted in bed, turning to face Wanda, who was burying her face into Lexi's back, her breath shallow and unsteady.

It was then that Lexi turned fully to face her, pulling her into her arms without a second thought. Wanda didn't speak, didn't ask for anything. She just sought the comfort of Lexi's embrace, and that was enough.

Without a word, Lexi kissed the top of Wanda's head, her lips pressing gently against her hair. "It's okay," she whispered, though she wasn't sure if Wanda could hear her. "I'm right here."

Wanda's grip tightened, her fingers clutching at Lexi's shirt, and for a moment, Lexi just held her. She felt the trembling of Wanda's body, the weight of her grief, and it broke Lexi's heart all over again. But there was nothing to say. There was no magic or words that could heal the pain of losing someone so close, so loved. All Lexi could do was be here.

Minutes passed, and then hours. The quiet of the night wrapped around them, but it wasn't the peaceful kind of quiet. It was the kind that made the world feel too big, too empty. Lexi could feel Wanda's tears soaking into her shoulder, silent sobs that shook her fragile frame. And Lexi just held her, her hand smoothing over Wanda's back in slow, calming motions.

"Wanda," Lexi murmured softly, pulling back just enough to meet her eyes. "Do you want to go for a walk tomorrow? Get out of here for a while?"

Wanda didn't answer right away. She only nodded, her face still buried in the crook of Lexi's neck. Lexi could feel her nodding against her, the faintest of movements, but it was enough. They could walk the compound, and find a quiet place away from the weight of the world for a little while. Maybe the fresh air would give Wanda some space to breathe, to rest her mind from all the grief.

The following day, after a few hours of quiet contemplation, they set off for a walk. Lexi helped Wanda through the halls, the two of them moving in silence. They went outside, into the woods where the trees whispered secrets to the wind and the earth felt like it could swallow up everything. It was a place far from the chaos, far from the looming presence of their pasts.

As they walked through the woods, Wanda's thoughts seemed lost in the wind. Lexi led her by the hand, guiding her along the familiar trail, giving Wanda space to let the memories and grief fall away for a while. They didn't talk much. There was no need for words. The trees did the talking for them, and Lexi's presence was enough to calm the storm in Wanda's chest.

They came to a small clearing, a place far from the compound where the chaos of the world could feel distant. It wasn't much, but it felt sacred—natural like the earth had been waiting for them to arrive. There was a small patch of wildflowers, a cluster of delicate blooms in shades of lavender and pale yellow that swayed gently with the breeze. It felt like a place where memories could be honoured.

Wanda stopped short as they reached the clearing, her eyes falling on the spot where the earth seemed to call out to her. It was empty and quiet, but in the silence, there was an understanding—this was where Pietro would rest. This was where his spirit could finally find peace.

Lexi's heart broke as she watched Wanda stand still, her hands trembling at her sides. Wanda was quiet, her gaze distant and hollow, as if she could still feel the echo of her brother's presence. She didn't speak right away. She didn't need to. The weight of her loss was clear in her eyes, in the trembling of her shoulders, in the tightness of her chest. It was a grief so raw, so heavy, that Lexi didn't know how to ease it.

But Lexi didn't step away. Instead, she reached for Wanda's hand, gently squeezing it, offering what little strength she had. "We'll do this together," she said softly, her voice a whisper against the backdrop of the wind. "He deserves this. And you do too."

Wanda's fingers curled around Lexi's, gripping tight as if Lexi was the only thing anchoring her to the world. Her lips quivered as she gazed at the ground before her, her voice trembling as she spoke. "I should've done more. I should've—"

"You couldn't have," Lexi interrupted, her voice firm yet tender. "You did everything you could, Wanda. And he knew that. You gave him everything you could. You were his constant, and will forever be his sister. He's always gonna be your brother, and you will always love him with everything you have. You were there for him when it counted."

But Wanda only shook her head, her tears falling freely now, streaking down her pale cheeks. "I didn't save him. I couldn't protect him. I couldn't stop—"

Lexi reached out, pulling Wanda into a gentle embrace. She didn't say anything else; she didn't need to. Sometimes, words were just too small for moments like these. So, she simply held Wanda, letting her cry into her shoulder, letting her feel the weight of the world slip away, even if just for a moment.

After a while, Wanda pulled away slightly, wiping at her tears. She took a deep breath, struggling to regain some semblance of control. "I... I don't know how to do this without him. I don't know how to move on."

"You don't have to move on right now," Lexi whispered, her fingers gently brushing Wanda's tear-streaked face. "You can come back here anytime, talk to him whenever you need. This place, it's for you both. You can always come back and say what's in your heart. He'll hear you. And if you want me to so will I."

Wanda's gaze softened, her eyes meeting Lexi's with a mixture of gratitude and sorrow. She nodded, though the weight of her grief was far from gone. It was still there, heavy in her chest, but the thought of coming back to this place—of having a spot for Pietro—gave her a sense of quiet peace she hadn't known she needed.

Lexi knelt down beside her, helping her place the flowers in the small clearing they'd chosen, arranging them gently as if they were a final act of love. It was simple and humble, but it felt right. Together, they built Pietro's resting place, setting the stones with care, and arranging the flowers, the whole while Lexi offered a comforting presence that Wanda couldn't have asked for, but appreciated beyond words.

When they were finished, Lexi stood beside Wanda, her arm gently around her shoulders. Wanda placed one last kiss on the flowers before turning away, and for a long moment, they stood in silence. The air felt still, the kind of stillness that only death could bring, but it wasn't suffocating. It wasn't filled with regret. There was something almost healing about it, something quiet and unspoken.

"Whenever you need to talk to him," Lexi murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, "I'll be here. And so will this place. You're never alone, Wanda."

Wanda's eyes lingered on the grave one last time, her breath shaky. And then she looked up at Lexi, her hand squeezing hers as if in silent thanks. "Thank you," she said, her voice a broken whisper. "For everything. He would've liked this," Lexi murmured softly, as she placed the last stone in place. "It's simple, but it's from the heart."

The day passed with little conversation. It was just them, nature, and the peace that seemed to slowly settle around them. They hiked through the woods, following paths Lexi had grown familiar with until they were both exhausted, tired not only from the physical exertion but from the emotional toll of the day.

By the time they returned to the compound, the sun had already begun to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of pink and gold. Lexi didn't say much as they made their way back to the room, only that she would be there for Wanda, no matter what. And Wanda, though quiet, didn't pull away from her.

When they reached Lexi's room, Wanda collapsed into bed, curling into Lexi's side, her face once again resting against Lexi's shoulder. The room was dim, the only light coming from the soft glow of the moon outside, casting a gentle light over everything.

Wanda was asleep almost immediately, her breath evening out as she finally found some semblance of peace. Lexi, on the other hand, couldn't sleep. Her eyes wandered over Wanda's sleeping form, studying her face as the moonlight illuminated the curve of her cheek and the soft fall of her hair.

She couldn't stop looking at Wanda. There was something about her, the way she lay there so vulnerable and yet so strong at the same time. The way the moonlight made her skin glow. Lexi's fingers twitched, aching to reach out, but she stayed still, not wanting to disturb Wanda's sleep.

Her hand found its way into Wanda's hair instead, brushing through it gently. She hadn't realized she was doing it until she felt the soft strands slipping through her fingers. A quiet, almost imperceptible smile tugged at Lexi's lips as she continued to run her fingers through Wanda's hair, her movements slow and tender. It wasn't a conscious effort, just something Lexi found herself doing, something that felt natural.

She could feel her heart hammering a little faster in her chest, but it wasn't fear. It was something else, something warm and uncertain. She felt protective of Wanda in a way she didn't understand, something that made her feel both connected and fragile. It was a feeling she had no words for.

As she continued to run her fingers through Wanda's hair, Lexi leaned down to kiss the top of Wanda's head, her lips lingering there just a moment longer than necessary. The soft, comforting kiss was a silent promise: I'm here, Maxi. Always.

Her thoughts drifted as she watched Wanda sleep, unable to stop herself from gently tracing the lines of her face with her eyes. The way her features softened in sleep. The way she seemed to trust Lexi without question, even when everything else in her world felt broken.

And in that moment, in the stillness of the night, Lexi realized that she'd do anything for Wanda. Anything to see her smile again, to see her at peace. Anything to take the weight off her shoulders.

But she couldn't bring herself to fully understand why her heart felt like it was about to burst as she stared at Wanda. It was a feeling that had been growing in the background of her mind, something she couldn't quite put into words.

And so, Lexi sat there, softly caressing Wanda's hair, allowing herself to simply be, to be present, and to let the moments stretch on into the quiet of the night.