Chapter 7: Welcome-Home Lights

They sat on a bench in Park Zürichhorn, watching the sun set over the lake. Wanda was resting her head on Vision's shoulder. The clouds were dark gray brushed with trailing wisps of coral and rose.

They had spent the day wandering the city, shopping, strolling through gardens. She loved feeling his simple pleasure in being among people, watching them go through their daily routines. She'd long considered herself a bit of a misanthrope, but seeing humanity through his eyes had changed that.

It had been six months since Vision had found her on that snowy rooftop. Those months had been, if not the happiest of her life, happier than she'd thought she ever could be again.

It couldn't possibly last.

That stray thought caused her to involuntarily grasp his shirt where her hand had been resting on his chest.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing."

He turned toward her. "It isn't nothing. Something upset you."

"I was just thinking...with our lives, with our missions...how long until this gets taken away from us?" Before he could reply, she added, "I know. I know there's no answer to that, and it's foolish to worry about it. I just... If I lost you, like I lost Pietro and our parents, I don't know how I would handle it. I don't know if I could bear it."

"That is not foolish. I think about the same thing. One way or another, our time together will one day come to an end." He brushed a stray strand of hair back from her face, gazing at her. "But a thing is not beautiful because it lasts. Even if I outlive you, the happiness I've had from being with you will always be part of my life. You will always be part of my universe. All we can do now is treasure the time we have together while we can."

She smiled. "You're right." Deciding to act on his advice, she placed a tender, lingering kiss on his lips, then returned her head to his shoulder and her eyes to the fading sky.