AUTHOR'S NOTE

the way im popping off with productivity, and my love for scott. sam is coming next for my falcon stans 💖💗💕
- b.

________

xi. YOU BREAK UP

The very last thing Maggie expected to see at her door on a Thursday evening was her ex-husband. Don't get her wrong; he came over all the time to visit Maggie, pick her up, or help with stuff like appointments - but they always always organized it beforehand. That's the kind of person she was, and keeping Scott in a schedule was the best way to keep him on track.

This time, he hadn't so much as called, and when she opened the door, she could see why. His eyes were red, and his face more solemn than what she was used to. She had seen him in that state before, but she didn't think by any means, that she'd have to deal with it again. He had his new friends, and a stable relationship for that.

Despite her irritation that he'd decided her house to come to when upset, she furrowed her eyebrows in concern at his demeanor. They'd once been together, and seeing him so distressed still made her feel bad.

"What the Hell is wrong with you?" She heard her husband ask from over her shoulder, and she couldn't help but elbow him at his emotional bluntness.

Scott characteristically rolled his eyes, yet there was so snark behind it as he couldn't meet their gaze, "I didn't know who else to come to . . . Luis has never been in a serious relationship, and-"

"Scott, what is it?" Maggie prompted, a gentle hand reaching out to comfort him by holding his shoulder. It should have been awkward, but Scott didn't look like he was trying to keep up appearances; in fact, he looked like he was about to burst into tears on her porch. She was belatedly glad that it was way passed Cassie's bedtime, and she was already fast asleep under her covers by then.

"(Y/n) and I broke up."

______

"So, why did it even happen?" Maggie asked him once they were seating in the lounge room. Paxton reached over the couch to hand her a cup of coffee that she'd practically ordered him to make before Scott even stepped foot in the parlor. She held it between her hands, looking at her ex expectantly, waiting for his reply.

He sighed exasperatedly, leaning back in his chair as he avoided her gaze, "I don't know . . . Hell-"

"Yes you do, Scott. There's always a reason when people have the break up talk," She told him decidedly. Even in their relationship, she was incredibly blunt. It was something her liked about her in the beginning, but began to resent for obvious reasons. He never knew how to say anything straight.

He couldn't help but cover his face with his hand, his brain sweltering with a headache that set in at least ten minutes after you had left. All he could do was picture your teary face; how heart broken and disappointed you were. Scott didn't want to admit his mistakes, because if he was honest, they were endless. That was always him. He was trying to be better, and you were helping him to do that; you always made him better, and it scared him. He'd never had something like this work to perfectly for him, and he was absolutely terrified he was going to mess it up. "I . . . She said she wasn't sure if I was ready to commit . . ." He told her.

"And did you give of that impression?" Maggie prompted with raised eyebrows.

" . . . I don't know," Scott watched as her face remained the same, telling him to carry on without a word. Beside her, sat her husband, staring him down with prying eyes. "Maybe, okay! Jeez. I was just so afraid I was going to mess it up. And then I did," He mumbled, his hands tugging at his hair momentarily.

Maggie sighed, leaning forward to try and get his attention, but he wouldn't budge, "Scott . . . all you ever do is sabotage yourself. You know that (Y/n) is perfect. You're the healthiest you've ever been because of her. You've got a steady job . . . Cassie loved her, and she puts in the effort. Why are you scared?"

Scott didn't know what to say. Because he didn't really know. You deserved the world, and he wasn't sure if he was enough. You were a lot younger than him, brilliant, generous, and beautiful. He didn't want to bog you down, no matter how much you expressed that he never would. You were always all in on Scott; and you'd loved him from the moment you met.

He was just scared. Terrified that he'd mess it up and lose you, because he didn't know if he was good or consistent enough to give you everything you deserved. He'd left crime behind, but there were vices that came along with it that still remained.

"I don't have a very good track record," He finally remarked, voice humorless despite the joking response, and his eyes finally meeting the other people in the room.

Paxton couldn't help but snort out of amusement, and Maggie shot him a warning look again. She didn't laugh at his joke, but her eyes twinkled with sympathy for him. He'd always deflected his emotions with humour - but everyone has coping mechanisms.

"I get it, Scott. I really do . . . but if you don't put in the effort, and get her back - someone else is going to snatch her up, and I'll never hear the end of it." His ex warned. All he could do was bite his tongue and nod.

She was right.

xii. YOU MAKE UP

When Scott was pulled out of the Quantum Realm, he could barely remember what had happened before he went in. It was years of constant time with no reference, and the only reason that he survived, was by a fluke. The only place he could think to go once he'd gotten out was back to his family; of course. He didn't know how long he'd been in there at all, and when he found out people were missing, he needed to find out who was a part of it.

Walking up to Maggie's porch only to find out that his daughter had practically fully grown up, was what broke his heart the most. His emotional whiplash barely made it through the explanation of the snap, and how they thought he had been dead, along with the other half of the population.

It took him fully crying over Cassie for a few hours before he could even think straight. His head was thumping and he swore his ears were ringing as he finally thought of you. He felt panic immediately set in, his lips parting breathlessly, "What about (Y/n)?"

The day he'd left to meet up with Hank and Hope, he was leaving your apartment on bad terms. It wasn't serious, and there was no way in Hell that Scott would have ever left you like that if he'd ever had the choice. His heart was in his throat at the thought that you'd disappeared with the last interaction you'd being a bad one.

Maggie offered him a sorry looking smile, "She's one of the survivors. She thought you were dead, too, you know?" She told him, honestly glad to see that he wasn't completely gone. She didn't understand how or why, but she was thankful that Cassie had her dad back, even if he had missed a portion of her growth.

"She still visits! . . . sometimes," Cassie remarked, still holding onto her dad's arm comfortingly. Processing the fact that her father was here, exactly the same as he had been when she was eight - it was like seeing a ghost. Except she could thankfully keep him around.

Scott, still in shock that his daughter could even be speaking in the voice she was, took a moment to even be able to think of a reply. Of course you'd still kept a connection with them - you were practically Cassie's step mom by the time you and Scott were properly together, and he was planning on asking you to be his wife just before you'd had your fight.

_______

Once Cassie had convinced Scott that it was okay to leave ("No, seriously, I won't age any more until you get back" - which almost made him cry), they gave him your address as the first place to visit next. Paxton had given Scott some clean clothes, seemingly having dropped any grudge he'd ever held toward Scott for the sake of the good news, and his family.

Knocking on your door was the second hardest thing he had to do. He didn't know how much you'd changed in the years since he'd gone. His family told him that you'd never officially moved on, but that didn't mean you hadn't grown in that time. Maybe grown passed the person that still wanted to be with him. His heart was thumping out of his chest, and he swore he didn't even hear the wood sound of the wood under his knuckles when he finally gathered the courage to knock.

The women that greeted him was seemingly different that the one he'd met before. You lived somewhere completely different, your hair had changed - and none of that really mattered to Scott. God, you were just as beautiful as the moment he had met you, and the moment he had left your apartment those years ago. His concept of time was messed up, and it felt like minutes being in there; but when he saw you, it all came crashing to a halt. His body seemed to feel all the missing years in between, because he was suddenly craving the need to touch you.

In reply, you stood dumbfounded, holding back tears because you weren't sure what was happening at all.

"Hi," Scott remarked simply, and you seemed to realize for the first time that the figure in front of you was real. You hadn't heard his voice (except in all the home videos you'd had on repeat since his disappearance) in what felt like forever, and it immediately struck you to your core. In a matter of seconds, you were crashing into him - arms wrapped around him as tightly as you could in fear that he would disappear again.

You were sobbing into his shoulder, and when he pulled away so that he could see your face, he saw how exhausted you were. He'd seen you like that before; because of work, because of the court system, because of him. And he wanted nothing more to wipe your tears away, and all the worry lines.

"H-how-"

"In the snap . . . I wasn't one of the people that disappeared," He explained, your eyes meeting his with confusion and something akin to betrayal. Your grip on him loosened. "No, no. It's not like that. We were in the middle of an experiment, when Hope and Hank got . . ." He paused, looking away slightly at the thought of his missing friends, "I was still in the quantum realm. I got out on a fluke just today, and I rushed to see Cassie, and Oh my-"

"She's all grown now," You finished, finally understanding what had happened to him. Your mind was reeling with confusion, everything you'd known for four years wasn't true. You'd grieved for years. But none of that seemed to matter to you anymore; Scott was still alive, and he was in your arms.

"She's huge!" Scott retaliated, and you couldn't help but let a laugh slip out in reply.

There was a moment of silence, where Scott just watched your reaction, his gaze filled with wonder - and you were taken aback by his adour. You hadn't felt so loved since the last time you saw him.

"I missed you so much," You told him, eyes twinkling with fresh tears.

"You don't have to anymore."

xiii. WHERE HE KISSES YOU

( your hands, and head )

Scott was very absent-minded when it came to his affection for you. He'd often hold your hand subconsciously, rubbing along your skin comfortingly with his thumb. He'd kissed your interlocked hands, smiling at you like he was the luckiest guy on Earth. Sometimes, he liked to bring your hands to his lips, and kiss your knuckles gently as a form of endearment, particularly when you were in bed, or were sitting close.

He also love to give you forehead kisses just before he left for the day; a simply routine that made you feel at home when he came and went. When he was busy on the phone with someone, he'd plant a kiss to the top of your where you sat, and then continuing to pace around like he always did when on call. He especially loved to kiss your head when he held you in his arms at night, thankful that it was the last things he got to do before drifting to sleep every evening.

xiv. HOW YOU MET

You heard a little girl squealing with joy, and you couldn't help but look up from the shelf of food you were examining, and over to the sound.

A few meters away was a man, with his daughter on top of his shoulders. He was holding her hands to keep her steady as she perused the top shelf of sugary cereals, giggling as she looked for the perfect box.

You couldn't help but let a smile drift onto your lips at how wholesome it was, trying to mind your own business despite the ruckus.

"Alright, pumpkin. Which one?" He asked her, and in turn, her face lit up. Of course, she narrowed her eyes at the ones with marshmallows, a thoughtful look on her little face.

She untangled her hands from his, and he held her by the knees as she reached up to grab a pink box with rainbow embossment. As she brought it back down, two other boxes fell from their place, clattering to the floor.

Before you knew what you were doing, you had already rushed over to help pick up the boxes. The little girl, who was now planted softly on the floor, also picked one up.

"Thanks, miss, but you didn't have to," The father looked flustered as he watched you place the one box where it belonged, and then took the other from his daughter with a gracious smile, before putting that down, too.

"It's no problem, really," You remarked nonchalantly, for the first time turning to see what he looked like. He was handsome, with pretty blue eyes and a charming smile that he offered you generously. He seemed pleasantly surprised that you were a kind stranger, because he didn't think he was ready for anyone angry that afternoon.

"Thank you!" You heard his daughter exclaim, and you looked down at her again, head tilted slightly.

"It's no problem, honey," You said again, "I'm (Y/n)," You told them both, leaning back up so that her dad knew you were addressing him too.

"Oh," He seemed to snap himself out of his momentary daze, flustering to place the cereal that his daughter had originally picked up into his cart, before offering his hand out to you, which you shook in kind, "I'm Scott, this is my daughter, Cassie." Once he'd said her name, he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"That's a lovely name," You complimented her, and she beamed in reply. "Well . . . I better get going, but it was nice to meet the two of you. I'll see you around," Your gaze returned to Scott, who held a tender look as his eyes flickered between you and his daughter.

"Yeah, sure," A smile tugged at the corner of his lips as you said one last goodbye, before leaving as quickly as you'd come, seemingly forgetting to get your own breakfast at all.

xv. WHAT HE THOUGHT WHEN HE MET YOU

' oh, jeez, cassie. i don't have enough cash to pay for three ruined boxes right now. . . wow, this stranger is nice. and pretty. and really kind to cassie. they get along pretty well. oh? she's talking? her names (y/n)? i should probably speak now. i look like an idiot. . . she's already going. . . did i mess that up? how do i find her again? '

xvi. YOUR RELATIONSHIP WOULD INCLUDE

- Helping him stay clean of crime, and use his specialists for clients in the security business.

- Hanging out with Cassie all the time; baking, watching cartoons, and building pillow forts together as a family.

- Making sure he remembers when he has something important to do, because he's especially forgetful when stressed.

- Laughing; so much. You found each other hilarious, and there wasn't a day where you weren't smiling and giggling giddily at each other.

- Many, many lazy days with each other. You'd barely get out of bed, and were attached in some way at almost all times. His arms would wrap around your waist, or he'd hold your hand, or pull you into an embrace where you could cuddle into him. He was very tactile.

- Making fun of Paxton together, despite how nice you tried to be. You'd also teach Cassie that not all criminals were bad, and that not all cops were good (her step-dad was a begrudging acceptance).

- Staying up with him when his schedule was still messed up from odd jobs and assignments. He could barely close his eyes before midnight, and no matter how sleepy, you'd always try and stay up for him. He'd inevitably have to tuck you in at some point, but he didn't mind one bit.

- Him loving that you and Cassie get along. The first time she mentioned one of her special interests (this month was dinosaurs), you spent the whole night researching it, and dug out one of your old stuffed dino toys to give to her. He swore he knew you were perfect from that moment on.

xvii. HE PROPOSES

It had been roughly a month since Scott had finished his parole time in his home.

He had an ankle monitor, which meant you were constantly having to go to him to spend any time together. By the half way mark in his parole, you had half your clothes at his place, and spent most nights with him. Once his time served was coming to an end, he had asked you to move in with him.

Ordinarily, someone would think your life was a little bit crazy if you told them you were moving in with your felon boyfriend, but you were hardly one to let those kinds of people dictate you. In fact, Scott's home was a lot nicer than your apartment, and the fact that he wanted to share it with you made you feel even more love sick than usual.

Scott decided to commemorate his first month anniversary of being able to go out, by doing just that. You'd spent the day with Cassie, playing mini-golf, and visiting the zoo. In the evening, you met up with Maggie and Paxton at the fair, and meandered around.

You were helping Cassie win her favourite prize at the milk bottle booth. She'd convinced everyone to make a stop, because she'd spotted a perfect, big unicorn for her growing collection. You were crouched down next to her, hyping her up as she tossed the rings.

Slightly further away, the other three adults were standing together, watching the scene unfold in a somewhat awkward silence. Paxton still hated Scott mostly, and he returned the sentiment - but you and his ex managed to keep it friendly most of the time.

"You know, you should really put a ring on her," Maggie remarked off-handedly, and Scott basically choked on the popcorn he was eating. She rolled her eyes at him, and Paxton didn't seem to attempt to hide his reactionary laugh. " . . . Just think about it, okay? She's the best thing that ever happened to you, and you're not getting anyone better," She told him truthfully, and despite the insult, all Scott could do was clear his throat and nod.

She had a point.

_____

By the end of the night, it was all he could think of. The two of you headed back to his home together, and you were enjoying the music playing as he drove. You always loved car rides at night, and he was more than willing to do whatever you wanted. Sometimes you'd drive to nowhere in particular; ending up in a 24hr restaurant, or a tiny park. He'd go anywhere as long as you were with him for it.

And that really got him thinking. He really did want to spend the rest of his life with you. He couldn't think of a future without you, at all.

As soon as you got home, you both collapsed on the couch, wrapped in your throw blankets with your legs tangled together. The room's lights were dim, and Scott couldn't help but admire the way you looked in the hue. His mind flashed back to seeing the fair lights reflecting against your eyes. To how you encourage his daughter. How you managed to win him a prize that was sitting right next to him on the floor (a giant panda), and beamed when he agreed to keep it, and carry it around.

"Do you ever think about getting married?" He finally slipped from his mouth, and watched as your cheeks filled with a pink blush. He smiled at your reaction, happy that he could still flatter you so many years in.

You paused, eyes flickering up to look at him through your lashes, "Of course . . ." You told him truthfully, hands reaching out to take his in your grasp. He obliged, his thumb running steadily against your skin in a comforting way, making sure that you knew he'd love you no matter what the answer was. "I love you . . . and Cassie. I'd love to be with you forever," You spoke softly, lips tilting up to match his small smile.

For some reason, both of you were filled with butterflies, just like you were when you first met. You weren't expecting anything from Scott, and you were happy with how your relationship functioned; but if he was ready, so were you. God, you were beyond ready.

"Do you want to do it? Get married?" He asked, and your eyes widened slightly at his words, "I'd marry the Hell out of you right now if I could."

You couldn't help but laugh at his words, your cheeks still warm as you leaned in to give him a tender kiss. He seemed to catch up after a moment, his hands moving to hold the sides of your face gently. When you pulled away, you still stayed close, "Yes."

"Yes, what?" He chuckled, not seeming to understand what you meant. Who could blame him when you were kissing him like that. He barely knew how he functioned around you.

"Yes, I'll marry you." You reiterated, and his eyes filled with a kind glow in reply.

He was absolutely beaming, and you swore he had enough energy to bottle up some for later. It took until 3am for him to finally fall asleep against your chest, exhausted from his day, and the emotions - your hand tangled in his hair as he held you close.

xviii. FAQ'S IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP

- "Where am I supposed to be right now?" / "You didn't forget, right?" / "I totally forgot what's happening, can you tell me?"

- "You know I love you, right?"

- "Wanna stay up?"

- "Want me to help? I've got you"

xix. PICK-UP LINES

" i knew you were a good thief, when you stole my heart from across the room "

You said it to him after he told you about his past in burglary. He was really scared that you were going to think badly about him because of it, but when he heard you say that, he couldn't help but smile. It was cheesy by all accounts, and totally something that he himself would say. He cherished how understanding you were, and that you were able to find at least some humour in it.

"But Pym Industries? That's pretty impressive," You added, and he couldn't help but laugh.

xx. YOUR BREAK-UP SONG

Begging | Frankie Valli

'I need you to understand
That I tried so hard to be a man
The kind of man you'd want in the end
Only then can I begin to live again'

'An empty shell I used to be
Shadow of my life is hangin' over me
Broken man that I don't know
Will leave it standing, devil's dancing with my soul'

'Beggin' you, won't you give your hand out, baby'