Soldiers Aren't Supposed To Cry

Chapter 17

"Oh god. Oh god oh god oh god oh god." Bucky whispers, pacing back and forth in the room.

"Bucky, calm down."

"Nat, I can't calm down! I'm getting married to the love of my life today in less than an hour and I'M NOT READY! But I've been waiting for this moment all my life and ahhhh."

"Breathe! And stop running your hands through your hair, you're messing it up!" Nat scolds, standing up from the chair she was sitting in and walking over to Bucky. She stands behind him and pulls his hair back into the bun that it was originally in, now adding a few flowers for the fun of it. "See, you look great."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Steve stands at the altar, standing to the right of Tony, who agreed to officiate the wedding. The music starts playing, erupting from the piano in the corner of the tent. First, Carol and Scott walk down the aisle, pacing side by side before splitting at the altar and moving to their respective sides. Next, Maria and Fury, Nick giving Steve a solemn nod before joining Scott to the right of the groom. After them comes Pepper and Bruce, Laura and Clint, Valkyrie and Thor, Wanda and Pietro, and Shuri and T'Challa. Nat and Sam walk down the aisle as well, both attempting not to cry at seeing their best friends get married. Morgan is cued and she struts down the aisle with the rings, her face showing a determination like no other. She walks over to where Pepper is and stands in front of her, remembering what she was told to do during the rehearsal the day before. Peter steps into view and everyone tries to keep from laughing as he walks down the aisle, occasionally chucking flowers at people. Peter stops in front of the altar and throws the last handful of petals at Tony, making some of the groomsmaids and groomsmen chuckle.

And then Bucky appears, clad in a black tux with a dark gray tie.

Everyone goes silent, nothing to be heard except for the music in the background. Steve blows out a breath and smiles, causing Bucky to smile back. Sam reaches up and pats Steve on the back, giving him a small smile before removing his hand. Bucky steps slightly to the side and Loki appears, slightly surprising some while others completely expect it. The two had formed a good bond both in the Soul World and the real world. Loki smiles at Bucky before slipping his arm around Bucky's, nodding to him as they begin to walk down the aisle. Steve tries to control his breathing and his tears as Loki gives Bucky away, nodding at Steve before sitting down in the front row. Bucky moves to stand in front of Steve, both of them highly emotional. Tony, as it turns out, is also emotional as he sniffles and clears his throat before addressing everyone.

"Mawage. Mawage is what bwings us togevar today." He states, pausing to let everyone including himself laugh. "Please excuse my Princess Bride reference, this is the first actual wedding I've officiated and I needed to get it out. Welcome family, friends, loved ones and random people we invited. We are gathered today to celebrate the union of Bucky and Steve. We are all here to support this commitment of love and to share the joy of Steve and Bucky as they choose to spend their lives together. Now I have to get all official. James and Steven, your marriage will be a lifelong promise to love, respect, trust and honor each other through the good, the bad and the unexpected. This union represents your commitment to support one another as individual beings but share your joys, sorrows, and dreams as one. A strong bond works in unison not only to nurture the best parts of your personalities, but to understand each other's differences and flaws. You are committing to learn how to grow alongside one another while remembering to keep an open mind throughout your journey. Today, you gain an equal partner that will be your confidant, your defender and your motivator through all of your aspirations and goals. You will celebrate each accomplishment, provide peace through every setback and most importantly, give love in life's both big and little moments. You are creating a new home where love, trust and loyalty are the foundation. No matter what the future throws your way, rely on those foundations and you shall only see your bond grow stronger and your souls grow wiser. Marriage is not easy, but from what I've seen in the two of you, I know your relationship will be an example to follow. You show care and compassion, you trust one another and most importantly, you are each other's best friend. Now, James and Steven, please join hands and face one another. Do you, James Barnes, take Steven Rogers to be your lawfully wedded husband, through thick and thin, for rich or for poor, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?" Bucky lets out a short laugh, choked up on tears.

"I do."

"And do you, Steven Rogers, take James Barnes to be your lawfully wedded husband, through thick and thin, for rich or for poor, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"

"God yes, I do."

"Bucky, it is at this time where you may share your personal vows to Steve."

"Stevie," Bucky starts, pausing to calm himself down. "Standing here, I feel like the luckiest man in the world. I remember the first day I noticed you as if it was yesterday, even though it clearly wasn't. You, being you, had picked a fight with another kid on the playground after he tried to look up a girl's skirt. You, still being you, got sent to the nurse's office with a bloody nose and a couple of bruises. I was there grabbing I don't even know what when you wobbled in, nearly collapsed already. I helped you to a bed and from that moment on I protected you. It wasn't until your mother described how she knew she loved your father that I realized I felt something more. And to quote Mrs. Sarah Rogers, 'I looked at your father like he hung the moon and all the stars in the sky. He was the only person I wanted to talk to forever and never quit. Whenever I looked at him, it felt like my heart sped up fast enough to beat right out of my chest.'" Bucky pauses again, tears now starting to fall. "And there I was, fourteen years old, worrying I was going to have a heart attack in the middle of a run down apartment in Brooklyn. The one difference was, I couldn't look at you like you hung the stars and moon in the sky, because I looked at you like you were the sun itself. I remember all those years wondering what was wrong with me, until I finally told you at Coney Island and we kissed and everything was perfect. Even now you're perfect. You still accept me after what I did. To you, and to other people. You hold me when I have nightmares, steer me away from stressful conversations, and ask Bruce to patch me up instead of taking me to a white-coat, bleach smelling hell. And for those things, and so many others, I love you. And somehow you love me. And I promise that nothing will do us part, as death has already had his hand at trying, and he failed miserably." As Bucky finishes, tears are streaming down both of their cheeks.

"And Steve." Tony whispers. A few of the groomsmen and groomsmaids are crying as well, while Steve pulls a slip of paper from his back pocket.

"Unlike you, I didn't memorize mine, cause I knew that I would forget them. And I probably would. I don't remember the time you described, because I was more focused on not bleeding and not passing out. I remember tripping on the sidewalk on a hot July day, scrapping my knee and burning my hands. I walked past an apartment complex close to ours, and you came out. You immediately noticed me and pulled me inside, patching me up. I knew from that day on, we were going to be friends. I didn't realize our relationship could ever be something more until you told me that you were taking Millie Hartford to the 7th grade dance, and I was jealous. I realized that night as I watched you swing her around the dance floor and charm her into a doozy while I sat in the corner and drank the punch that I wanted you to act that way with me. You've been through everything with me Buck, and I want to go through the rest of it with you as well." By the time he stops talking, everyone in the vicinity is crying, including Tony. Tony sniffles and wipes his eyes before turning to Morgan and smiling.

"Morgan, the rings please." Morgan walks up to Tony with her freshly pressed dress and her big girl shoes (with a one inch heel because that's how much of a big girl she is) and gives him the rings. Tony smiles at her and ruffles her hair before she walks back over to Pepper who also smiles at her. The genius turns back to the couple and places his hand out before them. "Let these rings represent your eternal love and the promises you have made here today. Let them be a symbol of your unbreakable bond and this new beginning of your life together with no end in sight. James, please take Steven's ring and place it on his finger and repeat after me. With this ring, I promise to love and cherish you to the end of my days."

"With this ring, I promise to love and cherish you to the end of my days."

"Steven, please take James' ring and place it on his finger and repeat after me. With this ring, I promise to love and cherish you to the end of my days."

"With this ring, I promise to love and cherish you to the end of my days."

"Your love has now been strengthened by the promises you have made here today and the rings you have exchanged. Steve and Bucky, we have heard the sincerity in your promise to share your lives in marriage. We recognize your love and support your decision to build a home together. By the power vested in me and also me, I pronounce you, husband and husband! You may now kiss the groom." Steve and Bucky smile at each other before Steve pulls Bucky in, giving him the kiss he's longed to give him for years.

"Everyone, give it up for Mr. and Mr. Rogers!"