Well I can bet that you weren't expecting to see this anytime soon...or ever
244 Days Before
"We're actually booking this," I said, feeling rather breathless. The man sitting on the other side of the desk chuckled whilst not tearing his eyes from the computer screen. Steve reached over, giving my hand a squeeze and offering me one of the widest smiles I'd yet seen.
"I'm so happy," he whispered, shaking his head and laughing out of sheer exuberance.
"Steve, you've still gotta wait a couple months until the wedding, you know that, right?" I asked, rather excited as well, but not quite on Steve's level just yet.
"I know. But now it's not just some hope for the future. Now I have something I can count down to. And starting today, I only have to wait 244 more days until I can call you my wife."
229 Days Before
"I don't want a big wedding. I don't want a lot of unnecessary people who will distract from the day. I want to be surrounded by the people I actually enjoy," I said, crossing out a few more names on the guest list.
Steve's face grew grim and he offered me an apologetic look. "I do, too, sweetheart. But you know, no matter what size you want this wedding, SHIELD will be there. It's too big of an event to go unprotected."
I sighed, nodding my head. That added, I don't know, probably one hundred more people…one of the sacrifices of the job—and there was also the fact that this was Captain America's wedding.
"I…if you're having second thoughts—"
"Stop right there, Steven Grant Rogers. Don't even finish that sentence," I said, putting my fingers against his lips and shaking my head. "Nothing would ever make me reconsider this. Ever."
Tension seemed to melt off Steve, and he smiled underneath my hand. "Good," he mumbled, and kissed my palm.
198 Days Before
"I think this is the one," I breathed out, smiling at myself in the mirror. Pepper jumped up onto the circular platform behind me, putting her arms around my waist and looking at the two of us in the wall of mirrors surrounding us.
"You look absolutely stunning. Steve will love it."
I smoothed my hands over the waist of the dress and saw a few teardrops on my cheek in my reflection. I reached up to wipe them away and shook my head. Pepper seemed to see where my train of thought had gone and gave me another squeeze. "Your mom would have loved it, too."
I let out a chuckle, though it came out more like a sob, and felt a couple more tears fall. She would've been proud.
"Yeah. This is the one."
153 Days Before
"So I moved the time of your fitting—it didn't work for my schedule," Tony yelled to me from across the room, not looking up from the monitor in front of him.
My head shot up, completely confused. "You what? You're coming to my fitting? Why?"
"Well, of course I am. If I'm paying for it, I need to approve of it first."
I could actually feel my mouth fall open and Tony finally looked up with a smirk as I gaped at him. "Wh—since when…how did—?"
"Kiddo, I've been planning this since before you were engaged. I'm surprised you didn't realize it sooner. I already took your deposit out and paid for it in full."
I stood up and walked across the room to stand beside the chair he was sitting in. "Why?" I nearly whispered, so incredibly touched at his sincere gesture.
"Because I like to spend money on things," he replied, not looking up at me.
"Tony."
"Because I like to spend money on things for important people. Now get back to work and be grateful that Papa Tony was so generous."
104 Days Before
"So, um…I know it's a little late, but…if it's ok with you…I think I'm gonna use my +1 for your wedding, if that's ok," Bruce said from across the lab, rubbing the back of his neck with a nervous smile on his face.
My jaw dropped and I hopped out of my chair and pulled Bruce into a bear hug, swaying us from side to side. "Who is she?!"
Bruce chuckled into my hair, wrapping one arm around me as he continued to write something down over my shoulder. "She…she's a girl."
I stepped back and gave Bruce a sarcastic look. "Well, I had figured that, unless there was something you weren't telling me. I always thought that maybe your bromance with Tony…"
Bruce rolled his eyes at me. "She's an old friend of mine. We recently got back in touch."
"An old girlfriend of yours, perhaps?" I asked, raising my eyebrows suggestively.
The corner of Bruce's mouth quirked up, and I immediately knew I was right. "What's her name?!"
Bruce glanced up from his work, meeting my eyes and giving me a soft smile. "Betty. Betty Ross."
65 Days Before
"So, I'm gonna ask you something, and you don't have to say yes, honestly, but I just wanted to put it out there."
Steve was standing semi-awkwardly in the doorway of our bedroom, hands held behind his back, eyes glued to mine, gauging my reaction. I slid my laptop off my lap and sat up with my legs crossed, putting my glasses back on. "Alright…"
Steve heaved a sigh, his eyes glancing down and pulling a white veil from behind his back. He played with it gently, keeping his eyes glued to the piece of sheer fabric. "This was my mom's," he said, finally sneaking a glance at me. "She wore it on her wedding day, and I've always kept it. You don't have to wear it, it is your day, after all, but I just wanted to at least offer—"
"Of course I'll wear it," I said, standing up and walking towards him. I grabbed the veil gently and looked it over—it was far more intricate than the one I had snagged off the rack at the bridal shop. The beautiful designs and beading showed its age, yet it looked as elegant as it must have when Steve's mother wore it. "It's beautiful."
Steve grabbed the veil from my hands and gently put it on my head, smiling down at me as he draped it around my shoulders. "Thank you," he whispered reverently, barely loud enough to be heard.
14 Days Before
"You know, kiddo, you don't look half bad." Tony had his arms crossed, one hand holding his chin. He eyed me on the platform, circling around to get a glimpse of the dress from every angle. "Didn't think you had it in you."
"Tony, shut the hell up," Pepper scolded, smacking his arm. "She looks lovely."
"Is it alright, miss? Would you like to take it home today?" the clerk asked.
I spun around in the mirror one last time, looking over my shoulders to make sure it looked all right, and nodded. "Yes, please. Just give the bill to the guy with the loud mouth."
Two weeks.
1 Day Before
"So I'll see you tomorrow?"
Steve had a small duffel bag over his shoulder as we stood in the hallway of our hotel room. His grin took up his entire face and he looked excited enough to burst.
"Not sure, I'll see if I can squeeze you in—I have a very busy day, tight schedule."
Steve laughed, harder than necessary, and it looked as if his heart was swelling. "I love you so much. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you."
I smiled softly back and grabbed his hand. "Just gotta survive one more night. Think you can handle that?"
"Honestly, I'm not really sure. Don't be surprised if I come knocking on the door at midnight."
I laughed and leaned up to give him a kiss. "I love you too. I'll see you tomorrow."
Steve beamed and kissed me again, backing up out the door. "See you tomorrow."
0 Days Before
Tony and I stood in the back of the pavilion along the shore of the Seven Seas Lagoon in Disney World. The music was playing, and I knew it was time to start walking.
"Are you ready?" Tony asked, reaching out his arm. I took a deep breath and looped my arm through his.
"Don't let me trip."
The doors opened, and all I saw was Steve.
He was dressed simply, a black tux and a bow tie, nothing too extravagant. His hair was gelled the same as it always is—but the smile was definitely different.
I have never seen someone smile the way that Steve did as I walked towards him. It took up his entire face and took my breath away. His eyes were glossy with tears, being the emotional person that he surprisingly is. I knew that I had to look the same way.
We reached the altar and Tony shook his best friend's hand, passing me off to Steve. Steve opened his mouth to speak and closed it again, shaking his head. "You are so beautiful," he whispered, so quietly I could barely hear him.
I chuckled, grabbing his hands to stop mine from shaking. "You don't look so bad yourself." He smiled, and the priest began to talk. It was nearly background noise as I stared at my future husband, never tearing my eyes from him. The ceremony went quickly, and before I knew it, we were being handed the rings, and Steve finally said the most beautiful thing I had ever heard:
"I do."
He slipped his mother's ring on my finger, and I pretended to be surprised because I wasn't supposed to know. It molded perfectly with my engagement ring and I choked back a sob as I admired the seamless pair. I watched Steve hold back tears as I whispered, "I do," back, and then there it was:
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
And before you know it, those strong arms were wrapped around me and I was no longer kissing my fiancé, I was kissing my husband. Rebecca Andrews was long gone, and Becky Rogers was born. I was beginning a new life, with my incredible husband, and a great family of friends behind us. We were no longer alone—I had Steve, and Steve had me. Forever.
I was swaying on a dance floor, my right hand on Steve's shoulder, my left holding his. I let Steve choose some cheesy song from the 40s to be played during our first dance, though I barely heard the song. All I could focus on was Steve.
"So, Mrs. Rogers, have you enjoyed your day?"
I chuckled, shaking my head. "It has been quite nice, I must say. What girl doesn't dream of getting married in Disney World?"
Steve nodded, gauging my response. "I can see how that would be a nice perk. Anything else stand out about today?"
I looked at all the people staring at us. "Well, I mean, I get to hang out with some pretty cool people…and if I do say so myself, I look pretty hot."
Steve laughed and nodded his head. "I can't deny that one."
I feigned contemplation and then gave a nod. "So yeah, that's pretty much it. Nothing much else to speak of."
"You're a real pain, you know that?"
"Steven! We just got married, you can't go saying that yet!" I scolded, faking shock.
"Oh, so you do remember that we got married?" He asked, raising his eyebrows.
"Oh right!" I yelped, nodding my head. "I forgot about that! That was a nice bonus to today."
Steve laughed, shaking his head. "This is what I have to deal with for the rest of my life?"
I nodded. "Yeah, pretty much. You'll enjoy it though, eventually."
"We'll see about that." We both laughed and continued swaying from side to side. The DJ saw us chuckling and rose up his mic.
"See that, folks?! Now that's a love for the books!" Everyone hooted, and we continued to dance as more people started to join us on the dance floor as another old song began to play.
The DJ was right—it was a love for the books. Not many people got to experience a love like this. Before I could stop myself, I started thinking out loud: "I like ours. Our love, I mean. It's the way love was meant to be. Total giving of our selves—I promise myself to you, forever, and you do the same. It's true love."
Steve smiled as we swayed and leaned down to kiss my cheek. "It's what I always hoped for, way back when. This is how love was back then, and we were able to build a love like that in the present—I am so lucky for that."
I smiled and then chuckled at my train of thought. "We're such old-timers already, dancing to an old fashioned song with our old fashioned love."
Steve chuckled and shook his head.
"It's an old fashioned notion."
If any of you are still around to read this-sorry it took so long. Don't know what overcame me, just had a strange desire to finish it up. I have to thank you guys for the wildest ride of my life-writing these stories was one of the coolest things I've ever done, and that's all thanks to you guys. Hope life's treating you well. Love you all.