EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND
ONE WEEK LATER

CARSON MADE his way up the steps to the small clearing, running a hand through his wet hair due to the rain. He hated coming back to this spot. But still, every year on the exact same day, he turned up without fail.

There had been many times over the years that he'd considered not showing up. To forget about it. To forget about her. But no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't. It's not like it hated the place, or the memories that it brought. Because they were the moments that brought him the most happiness after all.

It was more of what it meant, the fact that he was walking up the steps alone and not with the woman he loves.. loved.

He made it to the top and walked down the pathway, a small smile appearing on his face as he took in his surroundings. The first thing that caught his eye was the tree. The same exact tree that he'd spent hours wrapping in lights, just for her.

"Am I allowed to see yet?" Wanda asked while covering her eyes with her hand.

Carson shook his head. "Nope, not yet witchy."

Wanda groaned dramatically. "Okay, okay... what about now?"

He chuckled at how impatient she was. "Still no. Now behave or else there's gonna be no surprise at all."

Then the spot where their powers entwined together to make the fireworks.

"Carson this is... no one has ever done something like this for me before." Wanda bit down on her bottom lip to stifle the tears she could feel building up. "I love you so much."

"I love you too, more than anything."

And then to where he was about to propose to her, before they got interrupted by the news broadcast.

"It's always going to be you Wands. You are the only person I will ever want. You're my home."

"You're my home too."

However, that small sliver of happiness that was brought to him suddenly disappeared when he came to the end of the path, now being met with the gravestone at his feet. And once again, he was reminded as to why he was here in the first place.

Carson exhaled shakily as he looked down at her engraved name, trying his best to stay calm. Every time he came here he thought that he'd be able to handle it, be able to keep his emotions in check. But seeing her name on the stone was just a reminder to him that he'd failed. Time and time again. That she wasn't back in his arms, safe and sound.

Because at the end of the day, the outcome was still the same and it always would be. Wanda was gone. And no matter how hard he tried, despite the lengths that he'd gone to... she wasn't coming back.

So much for an anniversary huh?

"Hi Wands... I uh know it's been a while, I said I'd come and visit more often and I'm sorry... hell I wasn't even sure if I could face coming today, it's just..."

Carson sighed and shook his head.

"I don't— I don't know what I'm supposed to do anymore Wanda." He admitted. "I've tried everything, I really have but nothing works. I just keep failing you and I'm sorry... god I'm so sorry. I should've done something back in Wakanda to stop it. If I could take your place then I would, without question. It shouldn't of ended this way... it shouldn't of been you. Because it's like I always said... you deserve the world Wanda Maximoff, you do. And I— I'm so sorry that I couldn't give it to you."

He paused for a moment, as if he was waiting for her to respond, to say something back. But the only reply he got was the swaying of the trees as the wind hit them, along with the more rain droplets colliding with the puddles that had been formed.

The batch of flowers he had brought with him, Wanda's favourite flowers, fell from his hand and hit the ground just as he too dropped to his knees in front of the gave.

His eyes started to fill up and he clenched his jaw, looking up at the sky with a huff. Carson closed his eyes as the rain started to drop onto his face, allowing himself a moment to take a few deep breaths.

"I miss you..." Carson whispered shakily. "More than you could ever know."

The sound of footsteps coming from behind grabbed Carson's attention. He opened his eyes and moved his gaze back down towards the grave, not bothering to turn around.

Because he already knew who it was.

He'd know the sound of that heartbeat anywhere.

Natasha.

Carson ran a hand over his face, wiping away the tears that were mixed with the rain. "You shouldn't be here."

Natasha didn't reply. Instead she continued to walk closer.

He sighed. "I'm leaving soon Nat. I have a job to do."

This time, she decided to speak up.

"Oh, is that what you're calling it?" Natasha asked, sarcasm lacing her tone. "Killing all these people isn't going to bring Wanda back. You know that."

Carson scoffed and got to his feet, but still looked down at the grave instead of turning around. "Is that why you came all this way, hm? To give me another lecture?"

"No." Natasha shook her head. "I came to give you this."

Carson turned around slowly, his eyes instantly meeting hers. This was the first time they had seen each other in years. Natasha watched him intently with a small frown on her face, not daring to take her eyes off him for a second.

A small tear escaped her eye as she looked at him, taking in his appearance. He was completely soaked due to the rain, but it wasn't seeming to bother him.

Everything about him seemed familiar yet so different at the same time. Whether it was how he'd let his hair grow out a little, or how his eyes didn't hold the same warm, welcoming feeling behind them anymore, how he seemed so distant when he spoke to her. God, she missed that damn smirk of his.

It was almost as if what everyone had been saying about him over the past few years, the way Rhodey described him, the way the news described him, was only now just hitting her. That it was actually true. All she could see now was the torment, the pain, the anger that he was carrying with him.

He just looked so tired.

Carson didn't say anything to her, he just gave her a nod to continue. Natasha reached into her pocket and Carson watched her every move, not sure if she was going to try anything.

But once he saw what she pulled out he instantly froze.

She held out her hand with a chain dangling at the end of her fingers, a certain ring attached.

The ring.

Wanda's ring.

Carson walked forwards and took it from her hand, narrowing his eyes at her. "Why do you have this? It doesn't belong to you."

"I believe the word you're actually looking for is thank you." Natasha matched his tone.

She wasn't going to let him push her away.

"Rhodey was going to have it locked up in evidence because it was found at one of your crime scenes. So you're welcome."

She was right. He knew she was right. Honestly, he wasn't even sure why he reacted so harshly towards her. Natasha didn't deserve it and he knew that. Carson softened his stare on the redhead and looked down towards the necklace, instantly letting out a relieved breath.

He thought that it was gone. That he'd lost the only piece of Wanda he had left forever. And if it wasn't here with him now and he never did find it, then he'd never of been able to forgive himself.

"Sorry, I uh." Carson said quietly. "Thank you. Really."

Natasha shuffled her position nervously, not knowing how he'd react to what she was about to say next. "There's something else too."

Carson looked up at her, his brows coming together at her words. "Nat... you know I can't—"

"We found something." Natasha cut in.

She didn't want to her him say he wasn't going to come home once again. Every time he said that, it just hurt her. And she wasn't going to give up on him. Not this time. Never again.

She took a deep breath. "It could be a chance, maybe. A real chance."

"Don't." Carson stopped her from saying anything else.

"Don't what?"

"Don't give me hope." Carson swallowed thickly as he took a few steps back, shaking his head. "I can't do that again Nat, I can't. I don't know what I'll do if we— I can't fail her... not again."

Natasha started to walk towards him to close the gap. Carson seemed to tense up at her movements and she'd be lying if she said it didn't upset her a little. But she quickly brushed it off and slowed down as she shuffled closer, carefully reaching out for his arm.

She looked up at him, her vision starting to get cloudy due to her eyes filling up once more. "I'm sorry I couldn't give it to you sooner."

Carson sighed, looking around for a moment as he thought. He looked back at Natasha. "If this is some sort of plot or ploy..."

"It's not." Natasha shook her head. "I swear to you it's not. You need to trust me, okay?"

Natasha slid her arm down and slotted her hand into his. He seemed hesitant at first but as she gave his hand a reassuring squeeze he relaxed ever so slightly, allowing the contact between them which made Natasha internally smile.

Carson took a step closer and looked down at their hands, letting out a shaky breath. "A real chance?"

Natasha gave him a nod along with a small smile.

He tightened his grip on her hand, now completely giving into her touch. With a smile, he looked up at her, watching as her smile seemed to grow even brighter.

"I trust you Nat."

~~ ᗢ ~~

does someone wanna tell me... why i am up at 5 in the damn morning writing a wattpad chapter🧍🏻‍♀️

someone fix my sleeping schedule thanks

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