Chapter Text
“Thank you for volunteering for this, Cap. I know it can’t have been an easy decision.”
“Well, easy enough after all we’ve been through, doctor,” Peggy sighed, looking at the case of Infinity Stones in front of her.
Did they have to surgically remove them from Stark’s arm as they put him into the regen cradle? Yes. Did that partially disgust her because it was a disgusting process? Also yes. But hey, he survived the Snap Two, and he now had a pretty sweet regenerated arm that was part vibranium.
But the stones needed to be put back.
Someone had to get their hands dirty.
“You know… I-I’m sorry,” Bruce muttered. “When I had the stones, I… I tried to bring her back. I really did. But… I-I-”
“It’s okay, Doctor,” Peggy assured him, biting her lip as she looked down at the orange rock of torment. “She’s in a better place.”
Bruce nodded solemnly.
Peggy then turned to face Scott and Sam Wilson, back from the dust - two of her closest companions throughout her hardest years.
She walked over to Scott first, giving him a smile. “I know I won’t be gone for long, but until I’m back - you’re the leader of this battalion, alright?”
Scott looked around, almost scoffing. “W-Wha, m-me? Y-You mean me, Captain Carter? Me?”
“No other Tic-Tacs around here, is there?” Sam smirked.
Scott laughed out of pure disbelief, but also out of surprise and honor. Five years ago, which was two weeks ago for him, he never would have thought of even getting to meet Captain Carter. Now he was being given the title of “temporary leader of the Avengers” by her.
It was pretty awesome.
“T-Thank you, Captain,” Scott said, saluting her. “I-It’s my honor. F-For all of the ten seconds you’ll be gone.”
Peggy giggled.
The two then embraced one another tightly, making sure to let each other know they’d be staying in touch ( Scott also asked if his daughter could meet the captain at some point, to which Peggy delightfully obliged.)
Then, she turned to Sam.
“I’m so sorry,” Sam said quietly. “Shouldn’t have needed to happen…”
“I know,” Peggy nodded. “But I still have you, right pal?”
Sam smirked, pulling Peggy in for a hug. “Damn right, you always gonna have me.”
Peggy smiled right back, embracing the hug. She would be gone from all her friends for a good long while, but she was glad that they wouldn’t have to wait as long as she would to hug them again.
Peggy grabbed the case of infinity stones, and stepped onto the condensed quantum realm portal. Her white and red suit hugged itself over her form, and she took a deep breath in…
“Going quantum in five, four, three, two, one,” Bruce called out.
Peggy then disappeared into time.
“And returning in five…”
Scott wasn’t able to explain exactly why, but he almost felt nervous.
“Four…”
Sam stared at the empty portal with anticipation.
“Three…”
Bruce couldn’t lie, he was pretty nervous about this.
“Two…”
The empty portal continued to worry everyone.
“One.”
Bruce pressed the button, and Peggy reappeared…
Bawling her eyes out.
With someone else in her arms doing the very same.
Sam, Scott, and Bruce’s jaws collectively dropped at the sight before them. “Ho-Holy shit,” Scott whispered, covering his mouth. Sam and Bruce were collectively speechless.
Nat was alive.
She was right there, in front of them.
Alive.
Crying.
Smiling.
Hugging Peggy with all her energy.
“I-I’ll never let you go again,” Peggy sobbed, kissing Nat’s hair feverishly. “I-I’m so sorry-”
“B-Baby, no, no honey I’m okay,” Nat assured her, crying as hard - if not harder - than her girlfriend. “A-All I thought about w-was you…”
“N-Nat?!” Bruce finally exclaimed.
Nat turned her face away from her girlfriend’s chest (where she was very comfortably resting her head, mind you) to face the three standing at the foot of the quantum gateway.
“Oh, guys,” Nat said, smiling and biting her lip to hold back even more emotions. “I-I missed you all so much too…”
“H-How long were you gone?!” Sam exclaimed.
“I… I don’t know,” Nat admitted. “But… It was long enough.”
“Too long,” Peggy choked out a sob. “Oh, oh Natasha… I-I never wanna leave you again. I-I can’t bear the thought of you going into danger like that alone ever again, not without me by your side.”
Nat let a few more tears fall before she answered.
“So, marry me.”
Peggy’s eyes widened, and the rest of the guys present all looked at one another like excited puppies.
“Marry me,” Nat reiterated, still feeling fresh tears streaming down her cheeks. “I’ll be damned if I don’t have you by my side for the rest of my life… I want to be yours.”
Peggy gasped softly as Nat got down on one knee, and pulled a ring out of her pocket.
Nat smiled as she held out the ring, tears clouding her vision, but still able to see the beauty that stood before her. “Margaret Elizabeth Carter, will you-”
“FUCK YES I WILL!” Peggy practically yelled.
Scott and Sam collectively cheered and clapped louder than Peggy had screamed, and Bruce just let out an astonished laugh - his best friend was alive, and now she was getting married to the love of her life.
Today…
Today was a good day.
-0-
“Are you ready, Captain?” T’Challa asked with a smile.
“Oh, I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready,” Peggy muttered, tugging at her dress hem. “Thank God I wore water-proof mascara today.”
“It will all be fine,” T’Challa said happily. “You will both do great.”
The crowd was fairly small. Avengers, Guardians, a few Asgardians, and some close friends were all that were in attendance at the small church.
Behind Peggy stood Wanda Maximoff as her maid of honor, and then Scott Lang and Sam Wilson as her best men.
On the opposite side of the altar stood a freshened-up Clint Barton as Nat’s best man, just recently revived Laura Barton, and a very emotional Yelena Belova as the maids of honor.
In the crowd were the newer Avengers, the Starks (recent additions included Nebula, who wished to stay on earth for a quieter life), May Parker, Hank Pym and Janet van Dyne, the royal family of Wakanda, the Guardians of the Galaxy (thank God that Drax bloke had a shirt on, bless his heart), and Thor’s somehow ever expanding family.
Then, Hope van Dyne began to play a familiar tune on the organ.
Cassie Lang and Morgan Stark walked down the aisle together, with Cassie leading the younger girl as they spread out flower petals along the aisle.
“Her technique could use a little work,” Tony muttered. “I mean, the whole spreadage isn’t covering the full square feet of-”
“Tony,” Pepper chided.
“She criticizes me so much, what do you mean?” Tony asked incredulously.
Of course, that was all playful banter. Morgan waved to her parents, and they both excitedly waved back. (Rhodey tried to act like he wasn’t revelling in the cuteness his goddaughter was. He was failing miserably)
Then, Peter Parker came walking in.
He was no longer the young sweetheart, pseudo-adopted Stark heir - the only difference now is that he was a bit older. His best friend and girlfriend were also in the crowd, still in disbelief that they were at a freaking Avengers wedding.
Peter got to the front, and stood behind the captain as he began to present the rings to each side of the aisle. “I’m so happy for you two,” he giggled excitedly.
“Thank you, sweetheart,” Peggy whispered.
After Peter had presented the rings to both Scott and Yelena, he quickly sat back down in the front row.
“Bonke bavuka!” T’Challa called out in Xhosa.
The entire crowd rose to their feet, and Hope began to play an even more familiar song.
Nick Fury was entering the room, but he wasn’t the center of attention.
For once.
It was the bride linked to his arm.
Peggy already felt the tears coming at Nat’s radiant appearance - she looked so good in jet black, but somehow even better in pure white… she just loved her so much.
When they reached the altar, Nat whispered something in Nat’s ear, which almost made her tear up. (as if she wasn’t close to that already.)
He sat down next to Peter - as if that kid needed any more reasons to want to jump out of his seat and run away in pure happiness.
“Thank you all,” T’Challa said. “You may be seated.”
Everyone took their seats, and Peggy and Nat held hands before the Wakandan King.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to celebrate the union of these two lovely people - Natalia Alianovna Romanoff, and Margaret Elizabeth Carter - in holy matrimony,” he proudly proclaimed. “If anyone objects to these two being wed together, speak now - or forever hold your peace.”
No one objected.
“Thank God, that would have been a beatdown and a half,” T’Challa muttered, causing a laugh to cascade across the church aisles. “You have both said your vows at the rehearsal dinner. I understand you are eager to join together for the rest of your life, so let us get on with that, shall we?”
Both of the brides smiled eagerly and nodded.
“Very good,” T’Challa beamed. “Will the best man present the ring?”
Scott gave Peggy her ring, and kissed her cheek, and she returned the gesture. “Good luck to you two,” Scott smiled.
“Thank you, darling,” Peggy beamed.
“And the maid of honor?”
Yelena then presented the ring to her sister.
“Screw you for making me cry this much,” Yelena muttered, hugging Nat as tightly as she could.
“I love you so much, Yels,” Nat whispered, kissing her sister’s forehead. The tears in her eyes and the quiver in her lip did nothing to detract from Yelena’s radiant smile as she handed her sister her ring.
T’Challa gestured to Peggy.
It was time.
“With this ring, I vow to love, protect, and defend you in love, tribulation, marriage, sickness, health, and forevermore,” Peggy said, slipping her ring onto Nat’s finger. “Till death do us part.”
“With this ring, I vow to love, protect, and defend you in love, tribulation, marriage, sickness, health, and forevermore,” Nat repeated, slipping her ring onto Peggy’s finger. “Till death… till death do us part.”
Nat hated that she had to struggle to say that.
But death was a very scary thing to face without her beloved… not to disregard Clint, but all she could think of as she had fallen was that she never got to kiss Peggy goodbye.
Now, though, she would never be without her love again.
“Then, by the power vested in me, by the country of Wakanda and before you all,” T’Challa proclaimed, raising his arms in joy, “I pronounce these two joined in marriage!”
Peggy and Nat tenderly embraced each other with their unifying kiss, and the entire congregation stood up and cheered as loudly as they all could.
Laura was consoling both Clint and Yelena, wondering why she chose to wear a shoulderless dress to stand between the two most emotional people in the sermon, God bless their hearts.
Drax had yelled out, “The two strong, beautiful women are married! Huzzah!” and then had ripped off his shirt, tossing it onto Quill’s head (much to the Guardians leader’s chagrin, and to Rocket’s delight).
Peggy and Nat had so much more to observe as they walked down the aisle arm in arm, but all they were thinking about was what bliss and harmony came after this ceremony…
The food.
Hey, a super soldier and an assassin gotta eat.
-0-
Five Years Later
Nat contently let out a sigh as she flipped through the TV, trying to find something good for her evening special time with her forever girl.
Today was a good day. Her students in Science 008 had clearly studied for their test from what she had seen so far, she had stopped by the Barton farm on her way home to say hello again to the little toddler Natasha (no offense to Nathaniel, but revenge, oh how sweet the sound! Seriously though, she loved all those little stinkers), and finally, her love had made her dinner that night…
She really didn’t see how tonight could get any more special.
Then, she felt two hands that smelled like lavender gently press themselves onto her shoulders. “Good evening, love…”
“Hi there, precious,” Nat smiled, kissing the back of her wife’s hand. “Thank you for that pasta… you sure know how to please a girl.”
“Well, I would certainly hope that’s not the only reason you married me,” Peggy smiled, making her way around the couch and taking a seat on the cushion next to Nat. Nat then crawled onto her lap, finding it much more comfortable and enticing than that boring cushion she was on.
“Ehh… I don’t know, you cook really good pasta,” she shrugged.
Peggy smiled, kissing Nat’s forehead.
She then gently took the remote from her hands, and placed it on the stand beside the couch.
“I’m not really in the mood for TV tonight…” Peggy muttered.
“Oh?” Nat asked. “Well, what are you in the mood for?”
Peggy smirked, just barely brushing her lips against her wife’s - the contact was almost like a shock, sparking so much love in barely any touch.
“I’ll be right back,” Peggy smiled.
As Peggy strutted off, Nat smiled at the view she had given her - but then, as her thoughts became her only company for the moment, she just… pondered about life.
And how precious it was.
All of her trials, all of her turmoils, every ounce of pain she had ever been through… when it was all gone and over with, she had this.
A wife to come home to. A house to come back to find the wife in. A job where she got to educate the future. A loving sister, a best friend who she would gladly call her brother, and friends that loved her unconditionally…
If that’s what she had to look forward to, well then… every ounce of pain, loss, and suffering had just been made worth it.
Just like that.
All she had to do was hold on and persevere.
And then, Peggy came back into the room.
She picked up the coffee table in front of the couch with one hand, and placed it back towards the fireplace. Then, she rolled up the rug, exposing the hardwood flooring underneath.
As the captain faced her wife once more, a blush rose to her cheeks. “I don’t know if I’ve ever fulfilled my promise, love…”
Nat then looked down at her feet, and saw the captain sporting the very black dancing shoes which she loved not nearly as much as her wife, but still adored. She eagerly looked up at her, smiling brightly.
“Are you…” Nat started.
Peggy knelt down to place her lips right next to Nat’s ear, whispering as softly as could still be audible, “I’m going to dance for you.”
Five years ago, she had promised her love that she would dance for her.
She had danced many times since with Nat, but never could she recall dancing for her.
Tonight, that changed.
Peggy’s metal taps echoed through the living room as she walked over, picking out a record - yes, they were old fashioned and they knew it - and placing it on the player. The needle crackled as Ben E. King’s voice began to emit from its small speakers, and Peggy stretched out her arms as she took her spot in the centre floor.
She tapped once. Then twice.
Then, she began to move in a syncopated rhythm, making sure her grace and elegance rivaled that of Nat’s in battle (she knew how it drove her mad in love when she attempted to one-up her), with every beat making her presence known.
Peggy had her eyes closed, so she didn’t see anything as she danced. Only felt the rhythms of her feet, and the music in her heart…
But about a minute in, someone wrapped her arms around the captain.
Peggy stopped tapping, and looked down to find Nat’s face pressed against her chest, hugging her as tightly as she could. “Oh, love, what’s wrong?” Peggy asked.
Nat looked up at her wife, and her eyes were filled with tears - but a bright, beautiful smile was on her lips.
“I… I could’ve lost all of this…” she whispered.
Peggy couldn’t imagine how tender Nat’s heart was on the subject of that bastard planet that nearly ripped them from each other forever - but more than that, she couldn’t imagine life without Nat.
“Darling… Darling… stand… stand by me,” Peggy whispered, with a faint hint of song in her voice.
“O-Oh stand… stand by me,” Nat whispered back to her.
And they would stand by each other.
They would dance, by each other.
They would love, by each other.
They would…
By each other.
“Just as long… as you stand by me…” the two women echoed one another.