Steel Hearts

- 32 -

It was only about three months later that we had decided we wanted it to be sooner rather than later. Natasha puts on a facade that she's not into super "girly" things, but she was over the moon when I had asked if she'd help me pick out a dress. During our time at S.H.I.E.L.D. we had never really been close, but since the Avengers we grew closer and I was grateful for it. Truthfully, she was the only true female friend that I've ever really had. I didn't need her holding that over my head for the rest of eternity though.

We had thankfully been able to plan an entire simple wedding in three months. I'm not sure how we did it, but we did. Nat donned a sleek chocolate-colored dress and she looked beautiful. She had locked the two of us in my bedroom, leaving everyone else downstairs. Allowing me to shower she had brushed, blow-dried, and styled my hair into a half-up half-down look.

After working her magic, applying makeup to my face, she then turned and put the same lipstick shade onto herself with a smirk. My dress had been hiding in her closet at the Compound for weeks now and she was excited to finally see it in action. It hung on the back of the bathroom door in a garment bag.

"If he didn't love you before, he will now because I think I do," she swoons sarcastically, earning an eye-roll from me.

"You're insufferable," I run my hands over the lacy floral tulle.

"I know. It keeps me awake at night."

"You know, I'm really glad you're here," I turn to her.

"No, no, no. Do not ruin that beautiful face. I will kill you."

I smiled and grasped her arm, pulling her into a hug. We stayed that way for several moments before deciding I should probably put my dress on. She zipped me up and I smoothed the front of the dress with my hands as I looked in the mirror. It was a V-neckline with skinny straps holding the lacy floral bodice up that fell and draped beautifully right at my waist, flowing in curtains of white to the floor. The image of myself in a wedding dress was something I wanted to see, but never thought I would. It was finally coming true.

Andrew hadn't been able to come, as much as he had expressed that he wanted to. He had something with his Colonel come up last minute. We still hadn't talked through anything that desperately needed to be spoken, but I was glad we were back on track and rekindling our relationship. I had hoped it would be Sam walking me down the aisle because he was my dearest friend, but that couldn't happen anymore. I missed him more than anything and I knew if he were here today he'd be just as insufferable, if not more so than Nat.

She had mentioned returning downstairs to wait with everyone else, but I wasn't having that. "I'm not walking down that aisle alone. Either you walk with me or we run away together and live happily ever after on a beach somewhere, your choice."

"As nice as that sounds, I don't think Steve would be too happy with that second option."

"He can come too."

"How about we get you hitched first?"

We opted out of our shoes since we were only going to the backyard. Lavender daisy bouquet in hand, I pulled her into my side and we walked slowly down the stairs. As much as we tried not to trip on my dress, we did several times. The two of us landed on our asses at the bottom of the stairs in a fit of giggles and a pile of fabric. We landed at Rhodey's feet and he just shook his head, holding back his own fit of laughter.

He had helped keep my dress from getting caught on anything in the house as we walked to the backdoor. We hadn't decorated extravagantly, only some lanterns scattered around the yard and string lights on the pergola above the patio. It was simple, but it was enough. Rhodey, with a wide smile, held the door open for Nat and me to pass through and I saw Bruce standing near Steve with a smile of his own.