Archive of Our Own

Courtney doesn't remember ever fantasizing about her wedding as a kid. If she did, she's pretty sure that her dream wedding didn't involve her being nearly seven months pregnant, carrying heavy enough that she won't be walking so much as waddling down the aisle.

Definitely not the kind of wedding a little girl dreams of.

The pregnancy had been a surprise, the remote chance of her birth control failing simply caught up to them. She and Robert had talked about having a family over the course of their relationship, never decisively stating it was something they wanted. They'd always figured they had plenty of time to figure it out.

Until she'd seen two lines appear on a pregnancy test, and realized once the initial shock passed that she was more excited than she was scared. And if she'd had any doubts, they had vanished the second she told Robert and saw his face light up before being swept into his arms.

For the next two months, they'd talked about marriage frequently. They had agreed that they didn't want to get married just because she was pregnant. 

Then he'd talked to Chase, who had called him a "fucking dumbass" and reminded him that people usually get married because they're in love. 

One week after that, Courtney had come home from running errands and found Robert waiting for her in the kitchen, waiting to get down on one knee with a ring that would have fit perfectly if her fingers hadn't been so swollen. They'd laughed about it, then she'd cried because her hormones were calling the shots, and then he'd carried her to their bed, where they had spent the rest of the afternoon.

She wears the ring on a chain around her neck for now.

Getting engaged was one thing. She hadn't seen any need to get married before the baby was born, and Robert was again in agreement.

Until she wakes up, somewhere near the start of her sixth month, wrapped in his arms, with his chest to her back and his breath warm on her neck.

The way they usually sleep, and yet that morning it feels different. There's a sense of peace and belonging that's always been there but is somehow much stronger now.

When Robert wakes up, she tells him that she wants to get married as soon as possible.

She's never let herself want any of this, simply because she never thought there was a chance in hell that she could have it. Now that it's all within reach, she's realized she doesn't want to wait anymore.

They briefly consider just going down to City Hall after work on a Friday. That idea is abandoned quickly. They don't want to just get it over with, even though they also don't want a big wedding.

Not that they could afford a big wedding anyway, especially now. They decide on something small, intimate, with just their closest friends.

It all comes together surprisingly fast, with no small amount of help from the Z-Team. 

Prism learns from an event planner she knows that a certain park has a small pavilion that can be rented for weddings, not too far from the same playground where Courtney sat on the swings two years earlier, listening to Robert tell her that there's no such thing as fate.

Mandy has a friend who owns a restaurant with an event room that can easily hold their small group for a reception.

When they ask Chase if he'd be willing to get licensed to officiate the ceremony, he looks like he might cry. Courtney gives him an endless amount of shit for that, despite the fact that she starts fully sobbing when he hugs them both.

Golem volunteers to walk Courtney down the aisle. Punch Up argues that as the oldest member of the Z-Team, he should do the honors. When she shuts the argument down by stating that she's going to walk down the aisle by herself, Golem calls dibs on being the flower girl. Flower construct, whatever. 

Punch Up reveals a previously unknown talent for photography and offers to take pictures, even graciously ignoring Robert jokingly asking if their wedding photographs will all be from the knees down.

Sonar is still in touch with a former Harvard classmate who left her wildly successful startup after a mental breakdown and became a baker. He can get them a discount on a wedding cake from her, and to their immense surprise and relief, her home-based bakery does not appear to be a front for anything. She even readily agrees to decorate the cake with Sour Patch Kids with no outward judgement.

Waterboy, perhaps somewhat less surprisingly, has a previously undisclosed knack for gardening. He's more than happy to provide the flowers, aided by his grandmother.

Naturally, Beef will serve as the ring bearer.

The wedding day arrives two weeks after Courtney decided she wanted to be married as soon as possible.

It feels like any other morning, for the most part. She wakes up to a flurry of kicks, right where Robert's hand is resting on her belly, waking him up as well. He leans over to kiss her, slow and sweet.

Then he moves lower, pushing her oversized t-shirt up to press his lips to her stomach, the same way he has every morning since she told him about the pregnancy. And, just as it has almost every other morning, the gesture makes her eyes fill with tears that he gently wipes away. She blames it on the hormones.

"How are my girls?"

She smiles and runs one hand through his hair. "We're good." 

He's been collectively referring to her and the baby as his girls ever since an ultrasound confirmed that they're going to have a daughter. Hearing him say it, the way she can so easily picture him holding their little girl every time he does, makes her heart swell with something she can't quite name.

It's a feeling of warmth, comfort, security. Everything he's given her that she never had before. Everything that the baby she's carrying is already surrounded by.

She knows he's been nervous, unsure about what kind of father he'll be. She understands, obviously, still harboring some worries of her own about becoming a mother. With the upbringings they had, it would be more concerning if they didn't feel some uncertainty.

He'll be an amazing father, she's never doubted that. She tells him constantly. And even when she's seized by a sudden pang of anxiety, it doesn't last. Something about this feels right. 

She knows that she loves their daughter already. She knows that she'll love her even more when she holds her. For now, that's enough. It's enough just to know that their child will never know any of the different kinds of loneliness and insecurity that they both grew up with. 

Robert kisses her abdomen once more, chuckling softly when he feels a kick in response. "She's active this morning."

"Yeah, tell me about it," she groans, sitting up with a considerable amount of effort. His hands immediately move to support her, helping her shift to the edge of the bed. 

"Probably senses the excitement," he observes, rubbing where he just felt another kick. He looks up at her, a smile on his face. "We're getting married today."

The amazement and joy in his eyes and in his voice makes her feel downright giddy. "Fuck yeah, we are." She grips the front of his t-shirt and pulls him up for a kiss, laughing into his mouth when she feels another flutter of movement from the baby.

She finishes getting dressed shortly before Mandy arrives to pick her up. Since she lives closer to the park, getting ready at her place is the logical choice. 

Malevola, Prism and Coupe are waiting for them, descending on Courtney immediately and leading her into the house so Prism can do her hair and makeup. 

A part of her keeps waiting for the other shoe to drop, for something to go wrong. It doesn't.

There's no last-minute catastrophe in the form of an unexpected thunderstorm, the baker dropping the cake while delivering it to the restaurant where the reception is being held, or a sudden kaiju attack. 

Courtney has been prepared for a bout of cold feet that never comes. Her feet are swollen and she hasn't been able to see them in over a month, but at least they're not cold.

The worst that happens is Prism having to redo her makeup, because much to her annoyance, her hormones are once again in the driver's seat and she can't hold back the tears. 

Three times.

First, when she sees her friends, dressed up for her wedding. There's no maid of honor, no best man, she and Robert agreed they couldn't pick a 'best' among their weird, wonderful little family. She didn't bother to pick out a single bridesmaid dress, either. All four of them are in dresses of their own choosing, in complementing shades of purple. They all look beautiful.

Prism teases her for being a sappy bitch as she touches up her makeup, but there's no bite behind it.

Next, Waterboy arrives to drop off the flowers. She can't even name all of the different blooms in the bouquet he hands to her, all of them straight from his grandmother's garden and all absolutely perfect.

She launches herself at him and pulls him into a hug without thinking, her protruding stomach almost knocking the poor guy over. Thankfully, he's gotten better at controlling his powers and she doesn't end up soaked. 

The same can't be said for her eyes, and her makeup is ruined for a second time. Prism guides her to sit her down so she can fix it again, blowing Waterboy a kiss on the way.

Finally, she's standing in front of the full length mirror in Mandy's bedroom. The dress fits perfectly, by some small miracle. The most recent alteration Flambae did is holding, the ivory silk falling gently over her belly instead of clinging to it, while the draped neckline shows off her pregnancy-enhanced cleavage just enough. 

Her hair, slightly longer now because keeping up with trips to the salon just hasn't been a priority in recent months, is pulled back from her face with small, jeweled clips. Her makeup is subtle but flawless.

For months, Robert has been telling her how beautiful she is every chance he gets, telling her that she looks better every day, that he's never understood what people mean when they say that pregnant women 'glow' until now. 

Obviously, she's always brushed it off, called him a dork, and assumed he was just trying to make her feel better when she felt sick or exhausted or bloated.

Now, she actually sees it herself.

"You look...beautiful doesn't even begin to cover it," Mandy says, her eyes shining.

"Don't fucking start," she sniffs. "If you cry, I'm definitely going to ruin my makeup again."

Mandy hugs her, letting out a quiet sob. "Too late, better get Prism back in here." They both laugh, even as the tears start. "I'm so happy for you two. I've known this was coming for a long time."

"Yeah? Including the part about me being knocked up?"

"Okay, maybe not that. But when have you and Robert ever been predictable?" 

"Everyone decent?" Malevola calls, opening the door without waiting for an answer. At least it wasn't a portal this time.

Coupe gasps, a genuine smile spreading across her face.

"Girl..." Prism grins and snaps a picture on her phone. "If Boberto doesn't cry when he sees you, I'm kicking his ass."

"We all are," Malevola agrees. "You look amazing, babes."

Courtney lets out a sound that's halfway between a laugh and a sob. "Okay, chill out. We're already going to have to fix my makeup again."

In the end, everyone's makeup requires one last touch up. Combined with traffic, it almost makes them late. 

The pavilion is in a quiet corner of the park, surrounded by trees and shrubs that have been decorated with strings small paper lanterns, casting a warm glow over the shaded area. The entire Z-Team arrived at the park first thing in the morning to set it all up, she learns. 

Prism doesn't have to follow through on her threat to kick Robert's ass. He starts tearing up before Courtney is halfway down the aisle. She barely manages to hold it together until she's in front of him. 

"Courtney, two years ago you were sitting in this park when I told you that there's no such thing as fate. Now, I'm not so sure. Everything we've been through, good and bad, led us to each other, to this moment. That feels like fate to me. I don't know what else fate has in store for us, but I do know that as long as we're together, we can face anything. I love you, and I can't wait to spend the rest of our lives making you as happy as you make me."

She has to take a moment to collect herself before reciting her own vows. 

"You tell me all the time that I saved your life even before I took a bullet for you. But I don't think you realize how many ways you've saved my life, too. You believed in me even when I didn't know how to believe in myself. You helped me find strength that was in me all along but that I never knew I had. I love you, more than I ever thought I could love anyone, and I love the life and the family that we're building together."

Her wedding band joins her engagement ring on the chain that he gently fastens around her neck. Her hand is steady as she slips his ring onto his finger. 

Chase barely finishes saying I now pronounce you husband and wife before Robert pulls her in and kisses her. They both acknowledge the cheers and suggestive laughter from the team by flipping them off.

With her feet swollen and her back aching, Courtney can't do much dancing at the reception other than their first dance. That doesn't bother her. 

In fact, it gives her a chance to slow down and take it all in. She's more than content to sit with Robert and watch their friends, their family, having fun making fools of themselves after taking full advantage of the open bar. They deserve to let loose, after everything they did to make this wedding happen in such a short period of time. 

"We're lucky to have these weirdos," she sighs, leaning back against Robert.

"We really are," he agrees, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

The toasts are as heartfelt as they are inappropriate. Flambae sincerely congratulates Robert on finally locking that down, cheerfully adding bitch on his way back to his seat.

An actual honeymoon is out of the question, but they'll at least have a wedding night. The entire team, plus Mandy, Chase, and Royd, all chipped in to get them a weekend at a luxury hotel, in the honeymoon suite.

There's a price to pay, of course, in the form of non-stop jokes and innuendos until they're finally safely in the limo.

"What are you staring at?" Courtney asks, teasingly, as they relax into the comfortable seats. She knows his answer, but wants more than anything to hear him say it out loud.

Robert smiles, his eyes so full of care and love that she forgets to breathe and flickers for half a heartbeat. His reply comes between kisses to her cheeks, her forehead, the tip of her nose. 

"I'm staring at my amazing..." kiss "Brilliant..." kiss "Unbelievably sexy..." kiss "Beautiful wife."

"Careful with that kind of talk, or I might have to jump my husband right here in this limo," she laughs quietly, just before his lips finally reach hers for a long kiss, so achingly tender that she feels her eyes sting again.