Back To Me // WandaNat AU

The Rehearsal Dinner

"Wanda, do not throw me in! Wanda, I swear to God-"

Laughing, Wanda faked as if she was going to shove the other woman into the picturesque pond, causing Natasha to squeal.

"Wanda!"

Wanda conceded, pulling Natasha back safely onto the dock. The momentum caused the pair to tumble over, Natasha landing on top of Wanda, both laughing loudly.

"Hey there," Wanda looked up with a smirk.

"Hey, yourself." Natasha leaned down to kiss Wanda, though the task was difficult through her gleeful giggles.

"Can you get off of me now? The wine is gonna get warm soon."

"Sorry," Natasha said, pulling Wanda to her feet easily. "Though I do love having you pinned down."

Wanda swatted Natasha playfully. "I know you do."

The pair made their way back to their soft green picnic blanket, wine and cheese waiting in their woven basket. For hours, the two would sip wine, feed each other fine cheese, lay back and cloud watch.

"That one looks like... a poodle," Wanda decided, pointing lazily to a huge cumulonimbus.

"To me, it just looks like a cloud."

"You have no imagination."

"I'm a realist." Natasha rolled over, examining Wanda's dreamy expression. "And I know this is real."

Wanda glanced over. "Yeah? You and me?"

Natasha took the other woman's hand. "You and me."

Natasha shook her head to clear the bittersweet memory. It was brought upon by the scenic pond adjacent to the banquet hall, lily pads and frog croaks abound. Now, in the passenger seat of Steve's truck, the memory felt more like a dream. Not a figment of the past, but an unattainable future.

"You actually think she'll be here?" Steve asked, pulling into the gravel parking lot.

"I hope so."

"Do you, though?"

Natasha shook off her nerves, nodding resolutely. "Yeah."

The pair strode confidently into the banquet hall. Inside, Pepper directed planners frantically, somehow pointing in six directions at once, red hair flying as she zipped around.

"Miss Potts," Natasha called, halting Pepper's movements. "Don't tell me you're planning your own wedding."

"She wasn't supposed to be," Tony answered as he rounded a corner, buttoning his cuff links. "But it's Pepper. This was bound to happen."

"Sorry, but I don't do it, nobody will," Pepper responded with a pointed look at Tony, who kissed her cheek.

"I'm gonna go find the alcohol. Steve? You want a beer?" Tony said, beginning to walk off.

Steve nodded. "Yeah, I figure you need a babysitter."

After the two men were out of earshot, Pepper fixed Natasha with a skeptical look.

"I have to admit, Natasha, I almost didn't think you'd come."

"I wouldn't miss this for anything."

"I know, it's just..."

"Wanda?"

"Yeah."

Natasha hooked her arm with Pepper's, strolling toward the opulent front door of the hall. "Pepper, how would you feel about being my wing woman?"

"You're not thinking of trying to get her back, are you?"

"I'm not just thinking of it, Pepper."

"Natasha..."

"I know what you're thinking. It'll be different this time."

"No, it's not that..."

"Then what is it?"

"Wanda has a girlfriend."

Natasha was dumbfounded. She hadn't even factored that possibility into her plans. Of course Wanda had a girlfriend; she was too gorgeous, too charming, too kind not to.

"But I'll help you," Pepper continued.

"You will?"

"I don't like her girlfriend very much. I'll make sure to put you two next to each other for dinner tonight."

Natasha smiled widely, bringing Pepper into a forceful embrace. "You're the best! Oh, and, congrats."

In the meantime before dinner, Natasha and Steve were enlisted by Pepper for manual labor since they weren't actually in the wedding party. So they watched from a distance, setting tables, hanging decorations, keeping squirrels out of the alcohol stash (which was surprisingly hard). The wedding party practiced their walk to the altar, which Natasha thought should be simple enough, but proved difficult as Rhodey continually moved too fast or too slow.

Finally, dinner came, and Natasha took an anxious seat by Steve at their table, reading the place cards. Steve, Natasha, Wanda, and someone named Carol. Natasha assumed that was the girlfriend, and steeled herself for the pair's entrance. By the time the main course was served and Wanda still had not shown up, Natasha was half convinced she wasn't coming at all.

And then she saw her. Absolutely radiant. Wanda waltzed in, clad in sunglasses, a simple blue flannel and khaki pants. She looked as gorgeous as Natasha remembered; brunette hair half up and half down, a small backpack slung over her shoulder. However, Natasha's bliss was short lived, as another woman sauntered in immediately following Wanda; tall and blonde and everything Natasha wasn't.

Natasha leaned over to whisper to Steve. "What's your bet on the new girl?"

"Water polo player, maybe," Steve muttered. "Remember to play nice."

Upon entrance, Wanda's eyes searched for her assigned table, and she froze when she realized who she was seated by. She muttered something to Carol, then begrudgingly sat beside Natasha as there were no other seats open. Awkward silence hung over the table for several minutes.

"So," Carol finally ventured. "You must be Natasha."

"Oh, so you've heard of me?" Natasha asked confidently. This weekend, there was little time for pleasantries. She had two days to make an impression on Wanda, so small talk and awkward smiles weren't going to cut it. May as well go full force.

Carol puffed her chest out slightly, placing her hand on Wanda's thigh, who hadn't looked up. "Heard a few stories."

Natasha ignored the other woman, asking Wanda a question directly. "How have you been?"

"Good," Wanda answered, surprising Natasha. She turned to Carol with a sweet smile. "Babe, would you mind getting us some drinks?"

Carol narrowed her eyes before agreeing, heading off to the coolers in the corner.

"Trying to get me alone already, Maximoff?"

"Natasha, I don't know what you're trying to pull here, but it won't work. I'm happy."

"You'd be happier with me."

To Natasha's surprise, Wanda didn't protest. She stared almost longingly at the redhead, lips parting like she wished to speak, though nothing came out. In the end, Wanda just shook her head. Some things were left unsaid.