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The day started out just before dawn with Bucky telling everyone he was going on a two-week recon mission for an as-yet-unidentified group of hostiles, and asked if anyone was interested in coming along. Ava, of course, leapt at the chance before the words had finished leaving Bucky’s mouth.
Not even a half hour later their bags were packed aboard the Quinjet. The goodbye was a casual one as they took off and cloaked up, the only noteworthy bit was to let Valentina know they’d be unavailable as they were on mission.
In truth, there was no “recon mission,” and Bucky and Ava had already packed their bags the night before; Bucky asking for volunteers had merely been a way to throw off suspicion from the rest of the team.
Of course, Yelena had known the truth from the get go. She’d been the one to take Ava out shopping for her dress in the first place. It was a rather beautiful dress Ava had picked out, all that lace and whatnot. Yelena wouldn’t be caught dead in something like that, but on Ava it looked absolutely ravishing.
Yelena smirked to herself, trying to picture what Bucky’s reaction would be.
Less than an hour in the air later, the cloaked Quinjet had touched down on an empty beach on Nantucket Island. Nearby was a private cottage that they’d rented out for the next few weeks; Valentina’s funds had paid for it, but they’d channeled it in such a way she’d never find out this is where it had gone.
Served her right, after all.
Bucky carried their bags off the Quinjet and into the cottage, followed closely by Ava who held Alpine in her arms. The feline’s bright blue eyes looked excitedly everywhere inside the cozy beach house, her excitement matching that of the couple as they took in the sights around them, thinking of all the possibilities that lay before them.
They spent the rest of the day relaxing on the sundeck, swimming in the pool, playing with Alpine until she was tuckered out, indulging in fresh seafood and expensive champagne, and lying on the beach together watching the sun set.
It was during these quiet moments of just the two of them that they began to reflect on how far they’d come together. Never in their whole lives had they been this happy before. After lifetimes of pain and regret and fighting, they had found each other in the most unexpected of ways.
They understood each other’s pain, but more than just understanding, they worked tirelessly day after day to help the other heal, and in so doing healed themselves. It gave them hope for their future, one filled with peace and love and comfort.
Bucky’s blue eyes gazed into Ava’s green ones, and vice versa.
“Tomorrow,” said Bucky.
“Tomorrow,” said Ava.
That night, neither of them could sleep, excitement making them both weak in the knees and causing their stomachs to somersault. They slept in separate rooms, too giddy with the thought that this would be the last time either of them would sleep alone.
Sam and Bill arrived early the next morning, accompanied by the priest who would be officiating things. Ava had wanted a traditional Catholic ceremony, and after some deliberation Bucky agreed to it once he’d found a suitable and trustworthy priest.
Ten minutes before noon, Bucky was standing in front of a simple arch, covered in simple white linen drapes and succulents. He held his hands in front of him. Somehow both his flesh hand and metal hand seemed to be sweating with absolute terror and joy.
Bucky himself was dressed in a fine black tuxedo with a black bow tie, and his long mane of hair was slicked back with mousse. He had spent the better part of three hours meticulously ironing out every last crease and running a lint roller over it more than was absolutely necessary, but for him, nothing was unnecessary. Not today.
“Hey,” Sam spoke up, and Bucky suddenly realized he forgot he was even here, “How you feeling, man?”
“Not sure there’s a word for it,” Bucky tried to joke, but he clammed up.
“Relax, everything’s going to be perfect,” Sam coolly reassured him, patting his shoulder, but Bucky wasn’t paying attention. He was busy trying to make sure his heart didn’t burst out of his chest.
At noon, Ava had stepped out of the cottage holding onto Bill’s arm, and Bucky would swear from that day forth that he died and went to Heaven at that very moment.
Ava’s lace dress was done up in floral arrangement, with long pointed sleeves extending down to her hands and a flowing skirt and train of silken material. The bodice was fairly conservative, but the back was bare and along the arms and neckline there were openings in the pale pattern revealing her dark skin, which not only complimented her beauty but amplified it by leaps and bounds.
Her hair was done up in the back, a long shimmering veil cascading down from it as trailed behind her, while two thick curled locks hung in front. Her lips were a deep rouge and her eyes — themselves looking like they were on the verge of tears — a brilliant emerald green.
Ava did her best to hold herself steady as she walked toward the altar, clinging onto Bill’s arm for dear life while clutching a bouquet in the other. Bill’s eyes never left her as he walked her across the beach, beaming with pride all the while.
Trailing behind them was Alpine, fitted into a miniature salmon-colored dress and holding a small basket of rose petals that fell onto the sand behind them.
The priest’s elderly hands were clutching a viola that looked older and more weathered than he himself did, but despite appearances started playing the most beautiful rendition of Here Comes The Bride that any of them had ever heard.
Ava had let go of her grip on Bill very slowly and handed him the bouquet very gingerly, but regained her confidence when Bucky took her hands in his own. The priest had set down the viola and took out a book, and began the ceremony.
Readings were read. Psalms were sung. The priest said some fine words that neither Bucky or Ava could fully comprehend because they were so unbelievably lost in each other’s eyes. When it came time for the intentions and consent, the priest cleared his throat and repeated himself more than once to make sure they were paying attention.
The vows they had made were short and simple, but no less sincere.
Among other things, Bucky said it was not enough to say that he couldn’t live without Ava, but that he looked forward to spending every day with her from this day on.
Among other things, Ava said that being with Bucky made her realize she still had a soul, that it was not beyond saving and that she could be free and happy if she truly wanted it.
The priest gave his blessing. Sam opened a box containing two wedding bands — not of gold, but of vibranium. A gift from Shuri. A symbol of an unbreakable and everlasting love.
Bucky put one of the rings on Ava’s hand, right alongside her engagement ring. Ava had a unique reaction with vibranium; it helped quiet the quantum chaos that was her body.
Ava followed suit and slid the ring on Bucky’s vibranium hand. The material was so versatile there was no reaction when the metal pieces came together.
More words, more prayers, more blessings, until finally the vital question was asked.
“James Buchanan Barnes, do you take this woman…”
“Ava Dawn Starr… do you take this man…”
And they both had the same answer.
“I do.”
Bucky wrapped an arm around the small of her back and cupped her face. Ava draped her arms over his shoulders and clung to the back of his neck.
And then they kissed.
Sam had pulled out a camera and started taking photos of the bride and groom as they embraced. Bill stood watching, still beaming and with tears streaming down his face.
Bucky and Ava pulled away from their kiss, eyes shut, foreheads touching, soft smiles capturing the absolute bliss they were in.
The reception afterwards was a nice and light one. They ate lobster thermidor with chilled Chardonnay, laughing, joking, celebrating. Alpine meanwhile was chowing down on fresh salmon prepped just for her, acting like she was the most important person there.
By the early evening, Sam, Bill, and the priest took their leave. Sam and Bill weren’t leaving the island, but did want to give the newly married couple their privacy for their first night as husband and wife.
That’s also why they bribed Alpine with salmon treats so that she could give Bucky and Ava the space they needed.
Bucky and Ava took a nice long walk along the beach, standing hand in hand as the sun slowly sank into the sea. It was hard to put into words just how incandescent with joy they both were, now that they were married with the rest of their lives ahead of them.
To think, they’d spent their whole lives as weapons. Unknown. Unloved. Something other than human.
But now? They were as human as one could ever hope to be. And with all the time in the world.
Before the sun fully set, Ava stopped her pace and kicked off her sandals, taking a moment to feel the sand between her toes, then turned to face her husband with the widest smile on her face.
“What?” Bucky asked, his own face failing to suppress his euphoria knowing that this was his wife.
“There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you…” Ava began cryptically, the smile not leaving her face as she edged up closer to him.
“Which is?” Bucky asked, playing along.
Ava got up on her tiptoes and whispered into Bucky’s ear. She spoke so low she was practically silent. But even to a man with super soldier hearing, what she said was as loud as a cannon, and his eyes grew round, partly in shock, mostly in excitement.
Ava stepped back down, still smiling like she had been, but now she was blushing uncontrollably.
“Mrs. Barnes…” Bucky began, trying to familiarize himself so he could ground himself once again, “… you really mean that?”
“With every fiber of my being, Mr. Barnes,” Ava answered him, her voice trembling slightly, but only just, “That is… if that’s what you want too.”
“Oh I do. God above I do. As long as it’s with you,” Bucky emphatically told her.
“The feeling’s mutual,” Ava wrapped her arms around his neck again and gave him a quick peck on the lips. Bucky placed his hands on the small of her back and returned the kiss, starting chaste enough before becoming more passionate with every second.
Bucky removed the veil from Ava’s head and let her dark hair cascade down her shoulders. Ava undid Bucky’s bowtie and tossed it over her shoulder.
Bucky kicked off his own shoes and socks. Ava pulled off his jacket.
Bucky undid her silhouette and let it fall. Ava loosened his belt and snaked it right off, his dress pants following suit.
Bucky’s shirt was slowly unbuttoned by his wife. The straps of Ava’s lace dress were gently and slowly tugged at until the rest fell away.
They paused their kissing and took a step back just to drink in the sight of each other, just as they were.
They were here. They were in love. They were one. Husband and wife.
The moon was out and the stars began to shine in the night sky.
Mr. and Mrs. Barnes pressed their bare bodies into each other and lowered onto the beach, darkness being no obstacle to their love. Their consummation.
Their future.
The next few weeks passed by in a blur of pure bliss.
Sun, sand, and surf.
Gormet food and drink.
An adorable white fluffball digging for “buried treasure” (toys) everywhere she went.
Rest and relaxation without any bother from the outside world — and if there was anything going on, the others could and would handle it; this time was theirs.
Lovemaking in the moonlight on the beach (and other places besides).
The planned two week honeymoon had extended into a whole month.
Bucky and Ava would have stayed forever if they could. But they knew they had to go back.
They would have had to anyway.
The second wedding ceremony occurred two weeks after their arrival back. This one was for everyone else and was decisively less formal.
It had all been arranged to happen on Clint Barton’s farm. Everyone came, including Sam and Bill who once again performed their roles dutifully. Even Olivia had come, her son in tow, and she looked to be captivated in conversation with Walker, Scott Lang, and Lang’s daughter Cassie.
Ava watched the group from the head table where she and Bucky were sat at, taking a sip from her flute. It was a curious thing to ponder, being a hero and being a parent. The balancing act, the responsibility.
Bucky took hold of her hand gently in his own, and she turned to face him. His expression was that of earnestness, but also joy.
“How are you feeling?” Bucky was sincere in asking her. If Ava were a more vain person she would’ve found Bucky overbearing, but she knew and loved Bucky inside and out to know that his care for her was genuine, and Ava was grateful for it.
Ava set down her flute of sparkling white grape juice, took his hands in hers, and said, “Never better. Just you and me and… our wedding present.”
She tore her gaze away from Bucky and stared down at the front of her lace dress, the same one she wore on her wedding night in Nantucket.
Ava really had to thank Yelena for helping her choose this dress. You couldn’t even see the bump even if you were looking for it.
Two days ago they had had their first ultrasound. They had found out while they were still on their honeymoon, but it didn’t really set in for them until they saw the little blob on the screen and heard the rapid, fluttering heartbeat.
To think of it, after a lifetime surrounded by chaos and death… from the two of them comes life. They still couldn’t believe it.
Ava took smug satisfaction knowing they conceived on their wedding night, and the romantic part of her said it was most likely on their first time, just as they planned.
Oh, Ava was absolutely terrified. As was Bucky. But their terror was overcome a hundred times over by their pure joy. They were both learning on the go, but they knew that together they could take anything the world threw at them.
They looked around at the crowd before them, each of them doing their own thing just like they planned.
Alexei and Thor were engaged in a heavy drinking contest (Ava pouted knowing she couldn’t have anything for the next several months).
Yelena and Bob were doing a slow dance nearby. Kamala and Bruno kept trying to imitate them but Bruno kept stepping on Kamala’s feet.
Kate Bishop was showing the Barton kids, Sam, and his nephews how to properly tie a bowstring, though in Sam’s case his ended up looking like a fisherman’s line. Sarah laughed at this.
Bill, Janet, Hank, Hope, and Shuri were all huddled together in some secret cabal likely talking about the fabric of space time or whatever.
It was a mutual feeling between Bucky and Ava not to share their secret with them all just yet. It was kind of exhilarating actually, something this big kept just between the two of them. It made it all the more precious.
Of course, Bill and Sam knew, but they were the only ones that had to. Ava suspected Yelena knew, but if she did she hadn’t said anything yet. And Walker had been giving her strange looks lately, like he knew something was up.
Alpine had sauntered up to the table, weaving between her parents’ legs, meowing for attention. Bucky scooped up his fluffy child in his arms and began giving her gentle pets. Ava had to add Alpine to that list because she was being increasingly affectionate and cuddly with her, even moreso than before if it were possible.
Both Bucky and Ava smirked, knowing that soon enough Alpine would be promoted to “big sister” and compete with her younger sister for attention.
Neither of them knew the sex this early in the game. Ava expected she was carrying a girl, but would be happy either way. Bucky said he’d be happy either way too, but secretly he really wanted a girl, not that he’d love a boy any less.
(They would later find out they got exactly what they wanted. They would call her Catherine Rebecca after her maternal grandmother and her paternal aunt, respectively. “Catie” for short.)
In time they would announce the happy news to everyone, once they had reached safe territory and Ava could no longer fit into her suit nevermind this lace dress of hers.
She found herself really looking forward to that day, because when they did they would be back on Nantucket Island for their babymoon. Bucky won’t be able to keep his hands off her then.
Not like he could anyway, hence Ava’s current “condition.”
Alpine had slunk off in search of more salmon bites. Meanwhile Bucky had discreetly placed his vibranium hand on the front of Ava’s lace dress, tears of joy in his eyes.
The two of them had been lost for so long, caught up in an endless sea of destruction. But fate had a funny way of working out. It brought them together. It made them both take a chance on love and each other. It made them happier than they ever believed possible. For not only did they love each other, but they had friends and family that loved them and could depend on them.
And now, they would have a family of their own.
Not long after the second wedding ceremony had ended, Yelena had hacked into Valentina’s bank accounts and withdrew a considerable amount of cash.
Coincidentally, the very next day, Mr. and Mrs. Barnes had put a down payment equal to the amount withdrawn for a house on Nantucket Island.
