Chapter 1

2 years later

Lizzie's P.O.V.

Breathe In, Breathe Out.

I stare at the view of the city from my garden as the breeze hits my skin. Its not that cold anymore in LA even during night time which is fine with me. I'm really not fond with the cold anyways. I'm actually in the middle of hosting a house warming party and you might probably be wondering what the hell am I doing here alone. Right, I'm still not good at staying with too many people for a long period of time. So I just need to breathe because my energy is probably at 20 percent right now, its a good thing we already finished dinner.

Well, my mom insisted that I should have a party because I just moved into my new house and I really don't know how to feel about that. I don't know if she wants a party because of my new house or she insisted of having a party in celebration of me getting out of her hair for the first time in two fucking years. Well, the pandemic didn't allow me to move out earlier so basically, its not my own choice I have to stay in longer than I should.

2 years

Has it been that long already? Well, many things happened in that two years. One of the highlight was the Covid-19. That era scared me, I never left my mom's house for months even though they said its already safe to go out. I was like nu-uh, I'm not risking anything. My projects came on one by one though after that and somehow last year was the busiest I have ever been with Wandavision and Doctor Strange lined up. I'm actually still waiting for the next schedule for reshoots of some scenes and so far I don't have news yet but Benedict is still filming some of his scenes because he wasn't able to keep up with the timeline due to fucking Covid.

What else, oh my house. It took two years to build this house, yet again because of the pandemic, but its worth it. I love every bit of it maybe because this place, where it stands is very important to me and holds a special place in my heart. My lips curve into a smile as my hearts starts beating loudly in my chest staring at the familiar view of the city and it makes me wonder.

How is she?

Hmm, I haven't heard anything from her in two years. I'm not in social media anymore due to mental health issues before so I know nothing on what's happening in the world right now or basically her. I know, I should have moved on from us and I'm stupid for still having hopes that maybe, just maybe. I'd see her again and everything follows. I wish it could be that easy, but unfortunately we don't always get what we want in a blink of an eye.

I miss her so much

Maybe that's why I bought the whole lot of our spot and decided to build a house on it. Somehow, it makes me feel closer to her. I know this is really bad and I should just move on. I tried, really. I tried to forget about her and part of that was shutting down my social media, which is a huge part of her since its her way of living, but that did nothing and it just made me miss her more. I even tried to hate her but I can't do that either. I can't hate her for doing what she thinks is good for herself that would be so selfish of me.

Work is a good distraction though, and now I realize why she does it back when we were still together. It really helps but still, its not healthy. So with all of that I just gave up and accept the fact that maybe I will never move on from us. Maybe she had moved on and found someone new and that thought still scares me every time it crosses my mind and I don't know what to feel if that's true enough.

I sighed with a heavy heart to that possibility. Its been two years and I doubt no one would fall for Shannon the way I fell for her. She's one of a kind. Maybe I should wake up to the fact that she and I are just a memory now. ———————"Then on the 20th you have a Zoom interview with SAG-AFTRA Foundation for WandaVision." Marla trails off with my schedule for the week and as she goes on and on the more her voice fades away in my ear. We're on our way to the MTV Awards for multiple nominations on our show, Wandavision , and I'm so happy about that really. Its touching to know what we do does something to the fans and that is the best and the most important bit of it.

I stare out the tinted windows as I feel my anxiety rising up. Not because of the event itself but the moment I step out from this van on my way to the studio. I haven't been in that ease moment where I could just walk through the paparazzi knowing I'm in safe hands. Since Shannon left, I feel the lack of being secure even though my security team remains to do so good at their job thanks to her still.

"We're here." I figured as I start to see flashes and hear men screaming like girls wanting me to answer random and very intrusive questions about my personal life and as much as I want to just sprint so fast to the studio that wouldn't be good for publicity according to Marla.

"Thank you Jake." I say as he helps me out of the van making sure I'm secure. He smiles at me before talking into his radio instructing the team. Because as soon as we were settled, they did their thing practically forming a barrier around me. I can feel my heart racing and try to distract myself from the questions being fired as we make our way to the studio. It was hell because I can still hear her name faintly joining with the other non sense they were saying and it makes it hard for me not to think about her at the moment.

"You alright?" I release the breath I didn't realized I was holding the moment I stepped out of the van and look up to Jake.

"Yea, thanks." I say, giving him a small smile. He nods and goes to talk to his radio again the same time a staff walks over to us giving us some instructions as well. I was half listening at the moment because my eyes starts traveling around the room hoping to see someone I could actually be comfortable being around. I smile as I see Kathryn on the red carpet and somehow my nerves had sunken down a bit.

Kathryn has been my comfort person, my best friend if you could term it out as that, since we started filming Wandavision early months of last year which is still a rock bottom moment for me and I was still recovering from the break up. What I like about her is she's very professional and is the sweetest person ever. She cheers me up when I'm in my lows, she doesn't ask why which I appreciate that much and just waits for me to just spill.

I've told her about Shannon. It took a long time though and I felt some kind of guilt that she's doing all this effort for me and the least I could do is trust her, so I did and it took some weight out of my chest and we hit it off since then.

"Lizzie!" I snap out of my thoughts and turn to Marla who has her brows raised at me and the staff looking at me. I was out again wasn't I?

"You're up for the red carpet." I turn my head and nod at the staff before following her to the red carpet for pictures to be taken. My body goes on full automatic mode when it comes to red carpets posing and giving a picture perfect smile. Well, I'm used to this kind of things and my body just knows what to do when the flashes starts.

After all of that is done I go to the other side of the way as the staff leads me to it. I smile widely as my eyes landed on Kathryn waiting for me with arms wide open a huge grin on her face and even in heels, I sprint to her falling in her arms and just let myself melt in them.

"Hey, how are you? You look absolutely stunning." She says as she pulls away

"I'm good, you look absolutely gorgeous as well." The staff suddenly calls our attention asking us to follow her to our seats. Kathryn nods as she takes my hand in her interlacing her fingers with mine and that made me feel somehow secure.

"I really missed you and I'm sorry I couldn't make it to your party the other day. I was on a flight back here."

"Oh that's alright, we can have dinner sometime at my place bring Ethan and the kids too." She looks at me and stared at me like I've grown two heads before squeezing my hand makes me wonder if I said something wrong that offended her in some way, I don't know.

"That is a wonderful idea Lizzie" I sighed in relief as we sat down to our seats. I thank the staff for keeping up with our asses and she smiles before trailing back to the red carpet leaving us alone. The studio looks pretty neat to me. Its not the usual cabaret style more like a modern arena set up where there is a center stage and just seats surrounding it. Its pretty simple but still its a beautiful set up for me.

"So how are you?" I avert my eyes from the stage and turn my head to look at her. She gives me that knowing look, the look she gives me when she wants to say 'you know what I'm talking about' Well there's not much to tell since I last talk to her and that's about 2 months ago I think, still, nothing changed since then but then I tell.

"I'm moving on." Lie. I just told her what I was suppose to be doing rather what I'm currently doing right at this moment and that is far from that. Suddenly she squints at me clearly having doubts on what she just heard but I tried my hardest to keep a straight face and be confident on what I just did, I can't do anything about it anymore its out there.

"What?"

"Okay, if you say so. Good for you then, you need to give that precious heart of yours a break honey, seriously."

"Absolutely."I nod and gave her a smile. Yea right, keep lying to yourself and to the people you love Lizzie, that is a fun thing to do. I curse myself silently for making myself look like a fool right now. I know she's going to bring her up, I've played and rehearsed this in my head and what I just said isn't on the fucking script I made up in my head since this morning.

"So how was the trip back home? How's your mom?" I say diverting the conversation to her and her trip back to her hometown in Illinois.

"Its great actually. She loves the plant you gave her last year and don't worry its thriving. We did not much but the kids were forced to help mom in cooking the whole time we were there. Mae was okay with it but I don't know with Leonard, well you know teenagers these days." I listen to every word she says as she rambles on about her trip and this is what I love about Kathryn. She knows how to tell stories and it really got my attention every time, so she really is also a part of the huge distraction and from that we became closer.

The night goes on with the awarding of the winners and out of 6 nominations we won 4 categories and being one is the Best Show for 2021 and that is just unbelievable and quite overwhelming but at the same time makes me so happy. It goes to show that we really hit our goal in portraying these characters for our fans and Marvel fans are the best really. Mackie is also here by the way, I haven't seen him in a while and I miss him maybe I'll get to talk to him later on.

After the awarding we went straight back to the red carpet for interviews and I immediately spot Mackie talking to Josh so I snuck out and talk to them for a while but I didn't really got the chance to really catch up with him because the staff were gesturing me over for our interviews as well so maybe I could talk to him later again. Its nice seeing him though. So Kathryn and I started doing our interviews as well and my all answers were basically saying the same thing which is we did Wandavision for our fans and for them to vote for us as well is just a touching. Well, I really am proud of this show and we really did enjoy making it. It was such an experience I wouldn't forget. Kathryn's answers says the same thing also except for the time she was making it all about me which is kind of awkward and at the same time very sweet of her.

"So when's this dinner going to happen Lizzie?" Kathryn says as soon as we were out of the red carpet.

"Oh, are you free on Friday night?"

"Yea, I think I don't have schedules planned on that day"

"Then its settled. Friday it is. I'll have to talk to Marla to clear my schedule for you."

"Lizzie" She warns as she crosses her arms against her chest, but I shake my head in determination and rest a hand on her arm.

"I insist really." She gives me a smile and suddenly pulls me into a tight hug which took me by surprise. It made me confuse but then I remember Kathryn is a hugger and her hugs are nice though so I really don't mind melting in them.

"Hey Lizzie!" I look up at the sound of my name at the same time Kathryn pulls away from and stood on my right side giving me a clear view of Mackie smiling at me.

"Hi Mackie." I say giving him a hug. "Oh Kathryn this is Anthony Mackie the greatest hero of 2021 as you know." Mackie acts up as if he is the greatest hero of all time with that smug look on his face. He hasn't change a bit since I last saw him.

"Okay, that's enough." I chuckled giving him a soft slap on the arm." Mackie this is Kathryn Hahn. She's Agatha and as she is the Best Villain in real life, she is the most sweetest human being I have ever met." Kathryn giggles at that which makes me smile at her. Mackie greets her with a hug and my smile just grew at my view.

"How are you Mackie? I haven't seen you like in forever." He laughs at my exaggeration.

"Yea, its been like what, two years? Last time we were together and talked is on the interview with James." Yea, that interview. Here we go again. She's going to be brought up again and I can feel it. You just have to play it cool Lizzie just act like you've moved on.

"Oh I saw that interview, I think" My head snaps at Kathryn but she doesn't seem to notice the look I'm giving her because she's too busy remembering if she already watched the interview. "I don't know, maybe I'll just check it out later when I get home."

"Why were you watching my interviews?" I ask Kathryn trying to change the fucking subject. She looks at me with guilty eyes and say,

"I need to stalk you for a bit when we first met. I'm sorry." She says in a guilty tone so I just smile and shake my head on her antics before turning to Mackie.

"Right Lizzie, I really am glad that I saw you here because I've been meaning to ask you something-"

"Are you going to ask her out?"

"Kathryn!" I say and she looks at confused.

"What? You need a fucking lover Lizzie. Your looks and your heart are not for waste." Oh God, why. This is so embarrassing. Bless her she doesn't know

"Can you stop, he has a wife. He's like my brother, Jesus!" and that shuts her up hiding behind me like a small little girl reprimanded for being naughty in a grocery store. Mackie laughs and say, "I like her".

"So what is it you're going to ask me?" His smile suddenly fades and suddenly, I got this gut wrenching feeling inside of me as my heart starts to beat loudly in my chest. I don't know why but something tells me that this is a serious matter.

"Did you know that Shannon's back?" It took a long time for that to sunk in me. I hear Kathryn whistles softly on my side placing a hand on my back, I don't know maybe to calm me down I guess. Did I heard him right or am I hearing things again.

"What?" I asked not quite sure of anything right now.

"We had the photoshoot earlier this year maybe January I think, for the posters of the show and we were surprised to see her there. She's currently on probation and Kevin had put her on photoshoot duties until the end of this year." I try to let every word Mackie was saying register in me. My heart starts to race at the thought that she's just here in LA all this time and my house is just a few miles away from hers. I had hope sparked in me but something tells me that there's more to Mackie's story. So much for thinking I would have a break from thinking about her tonight but fate just doesn't seem to like that idea does it?

"I know this is not the time and the right place to say this and I kind of know what happened to you guys but its been bothering since-"

"What is it?" I mutter under my breath as I start to feel heavy on my chest. I can feel Kathryn's eyes giving me the looks but I ignored her and that just proves that I'm far from moving on and I think she got the message.

"Yea, So when we saw her at the studio, we were so hyped to see her since it has been years so we hugged her tight but-" He paused and looks at the envelope he was holding before looking at me and the suspense he's giving me is killing me at the moment.

"What is it Anthony?" I asked again with an urgent tone this time. He sighs in defeat and looks at me.

"She can't seem to remember us"