Chapter Text
"Stevie, I don't think she's coming", Bucky, Steve's bestfriend since they were practically in diapers/his best man said. "No, Buck. Maybe her car just broke down or something", Steve replied while pacing back and forth in front of the church altar.
It's supposed to be Steve's wedding day, getting married with the soon to be ceo of Carter Industries the country's one of the biggest companies, Sharon Carter. They would be at the reception right now if the bride got to the church hours ago but unfortunately she still hasn't shown up.
Everybody started to leave when a guest saw a news article from her phone stating that Sharon is at the airport caught by some paparazzi leaving the country with her ex from years ago, Gabriel Lucas.
"I'm really sorry for what happened today Mrs. Rogers but there's a funeral scheduled an hour from now. The staff from the next event are starting to arrive, maybe we should pack everything up", the wedding organizer told Steve's mom, Sarah.
Sarah was about to tell Steve the news but when she turned around, she only found Bucky, and Steve? nowhere in sight. "I'm sorry, Sarah. Steve just ran away, I tried to stop him but he's a fast runner. Damn that exercise he takes everyday", Bucky shakes his head but the worry and concern in his eyes are noticeable.
So Steve ran. He just ran without a destination in mind, he ran wherever his feet would take him. He has no idea why Sharon would not show up on their wedding when they were just talking to each other last night on the phone. Talking about their future together, how many kids they would have, where they would live, or little things like "who would cook breakfast?".
All the years they have spent together came flashing in his mind. Every firsts, first kiss, first I love you's, first fight, the first time they made love, Steve frustatedly picked up his pace and before he can comprehend where his feet has taken him, he found himself at a rooftop with a clear view of central park. That same rooftop where he proposed to Sharon almost a year ago.
Little did he know someone, or rather a guest from their wedding (who's secretly an undercover news reporter) have seen Steve and has taken a video of him the whole time. That same guest who took photos of him at the church when the news broke out that Sharon isn't coming to the wedding because she's already at the airport on her way to another country with another man.
"So this is it. You memorized the script I gave you?", Natasha asked as she stared down and sized up the man in question.
"I mean yeah, yeah, I think so"
"You think so?! I gave you that script a week ago, what else could you have possibly done that is much more important than this?!" Natasha sneered at the man as she crossed her arms. She honestly doesn't know why she's taken this client at the first place. Proposing to someone in order to win at the next election? Don't get her wrong, it's her job to make her client look good in public, that's what her job is in the first place BUT when you mix it with love and all that cliche shit? Natasha's all gone.
"Uh- I uh- you s-see I was-" the man never got to finish his sentence because he was suddenly called by the host for his proposal.
"Whatever. Just use your charisma. Remember, YOU. NEED. THAT. YES. I'll be watching you at the back" Natasha says with finality in her tone as she walks straight into the room and to the back where the said (surprise) proposal is currently being held.
"Let's all give him a round of applause" the host enthusiastically gives the microphone to the man and the man then looks to the woman, "love, we've been through so many hardships, hardships along the way that I've lost track how many", a few chuckles are heard around the room from the guests "but right now, I can't fathom how my life is gonna be without you" the man makes an eye contact towards the woman's sister.
Natasha widens her eyes as the realization suddenly hits that this shit's about to go sideways, "no, no, no, stick to the fucking script Kurt or else I'll fucking kill you", Natasha curses under her breath.
"so Karli, here I stand in front of everyone I don't even give a damn about and of course, in front of you to declare my love for you", everyone whips their head and looks at Karli, the elder sister of the woman Kurt was supposed to be proposing to.
Cameras start clicking and flashing everywhere. This declaration that Kurt has made have caught everybody off guard, especially Natasha who was fuming at the back of the room.
"I'm sorry, Ashley. But it will never work for us. In another universe maybe, but here? I don't think so", Kurt adds as he makes an eye contact towards Karli clearly not giving a damn about what the whole country might say.
Everything else was a blur after that. Natasha suddenly doesn't know what to do as if this is the first time her client did not follow her orders. Maybe she's this deeply affected by Kurt because of a memory of hers from years ago which she's spent years trying to bury at the deepest corners of her mind.
9 years ago
"Natasha I'm really sorry but this-" Alexei gestures between him and Natasha, "this thing between us, I love it so much but I don't think that I'm ever gonna be ready to make that commitment to you", Alexei explains as he crouches down in front of Natasha and wipes her tears away from her eyes with his thumbs.
"Don't say that please. I love you, Alexei. I never felt this way about anyone before but you, please", Natasha pleads as she holds Alexei's hands and kisses them desperately as if her life depended on it.
Natasha is taken back to reality when she feels her phone buzzing in her pocket.
From: Yelena
that bad huh??
you know what would make you feel better?
Yelena sent a photo of Rose grinning at the camera with ice cream smears all over her face. Natasha can't help but let out a smile at the photo of her daughter her sister sent.
To: Yelena
if I come home and see my daughter jumping up and down from all the ice cream you've been spoiling her, you and I are gonna have a talk.
Anyway, I'm about to head home I just went to a bar on the way home. Tryna release some stress.
Seeya later
Natasha gets up from her seat and heads at the door when suddenly she's met the ground when someone accidentally walks past her.
"Oh my god! I'm so sorry! I didn't see you heading out. Here let me help you", the said man offers his hand to Natasha, she's about to yell at the man but is suddenly frozen when she looks at the man. They locked gazes at each other, both of them getting lost at each other's eyes.
Before things could get more uncomfortable, Natasha shakes her head and takes the man's hand and stands back up.
"I'm so sorry, I should have looked where I was going" the man quickly apologizes after Natasha manages to stand back up.
"No worries. I probably should have toned down with the vodka but I couldn't stop myself", Natasha shrugs and smirks at the man.
"oh let me open the door for you" the man quickly offers as some sort of apology, "see you around, ma'am".
"uh, thanks", Natasha dismisses as she heads for the door. "well that was a hell of a day" Natasha mutters under her breath as she hails a cab home.