Wildfire (Steve Rogers AU)

16

"Well...ain't you just a pretty picture, don't you think Natasha?"  Mary said as Hadley emerged in her wedding dress after the final alterations had been made.

In just three days, she would become Mrs Rumlow and her new home would be on Red Skull Ranch.

She was a little nervous and ever since her conversation she'd felt a sense of unease, like things had been left unsaid.

Now as she looked at herself in the mirror, she knew she should be feeling excitement, but instead she didn't. In fact she felt quite the opposite.

"Certainly is". Natasha smiled as she checked over the hems and any seams that could be showing. She had a keen eye though and the dress itself was one of the very best that she had made. "What do you think Hadley?" She now asked her friend.

Hadley simply stared at her reflection.

"Hadley? Sweetie are you alright?"  Mary's voice now brought her around.

"Yes, I was just thinking that is all a little too real. When I married William I was so caught up with everything that I had no time to stop and think about just how long it would be until the wedding, not like I do now".

"Three days...it'll go quick". Nat smirked and followed Hadley back into the back room so as she could help her out of the dress. Once the door was closed she turned to her. "You're having second thoughts". 

"What?" 

"In your eyes, I can see it." She said as she began to unlace the back of the bodice. 

Hadley said nothing for a moment. "Just seeing myself in this dress...I should be really happy, excited, but I can't do it. It's like I'm going to be saying goodbye". 

"To Steve?" Natasha looked at her as she turned around now. "I can tell you two have something, you seem to be the only woman who he's taken interest in, and it takes a lot to actually catch his attention". 

"He'll still have Miss Carter as a candidate". Hadley sighed. 

Nat snorted. "Yeah right, he really doesn't have any interest in Peggy whatsoever. Poor girl keeps trying but he always politely tells her that she's really not for him".  She hung the dress back up while Hadley got back into her normal dress. "Thing about Steve? He's very much devoted to family, and if he feels someone ain't the right fit with them, then he won't give you the time of day - he thinks you fit, believe me he wouldn't have even given you or Flynn the amount of attention that he does if he didn't - he ain't the type to lead anyone on no matter what anyone may tell you". 

Hadley finished dressing and perched on the chair. "He's been so good with Flynn, and we have our differences still. Disagreements are heated...but I like it..." She now looked at Natasha. "He's just so guarded sometimes that it's so hard to tell how he feels". 

"Oh he feels for you, I know that for a fact". 

"How?" 

"Johnny told me" She smirked. "He said that Steve told him he wasn't going to come between you and happiness. So to sum it up? He cares a hell of a lot about you". 

Hadley put her head in her hands. "I've been an idiot. I thought that marrying Brock would secure Flynn and me for the rest of our lives. Moneywise it will, but happiness? I can't do it...I can't marry him". 

"Then I think we need to call this wedding off before it's too late". 

"I need to see Steve...have you got something I can write a note with?" She asked and Nat nodded, getting some ink and paper. "I need to get this to him".