-:- Chapter 8: Disaster Wedding -:-

"So basically you need a buffer between you and your entire family," laughed Bruce Banner.

Ronnie had grown desperate. Her sister's wedding was in four days and she still had not found a date. Desperation led her to call Bruce. Now, he was sitting with her at her kitchen table drinking coffee.

"If you don't come with me I'm never hear the end of it and I will lose my mind," she pleaded. "I need someone to be my date."

"You sure I'm the right person," Bruce asked hesitantly. "I mean, what if the other guy makes an appearance?"

"Can you do that," Ronnie asked eagerly.

"No, I'm not going to destroy your sister's wedding," Bruce frowned.

"Then I guess you don't really love me," sighed Veronica.

"But I'd love to be your date," relented Bruce. Ronnie squealed and hugged him.

"Thanks Bruce," Ronnie said, smiling for the first time in weeks.

A few days later Veronica and Bruce were on a plane heading to Martha's Vineyard. She and Brue were arriving a week early so that she could help her sister with the final details for the ceremony.

"So tell me what I need to know before I meet everyone," Bruce asked as the plane prepared to take off.

"Well my father is a lawyer for one of the big firms in New York; my mother is a homemaker I guess. She hosts a lot of parties for her friends and my sister just graduated and is applying to law school in the fall to follow his footsteps," said Veronica.

"You're parents must be really proud," said Bruce.

"Yeah, I guess," Ronnie, sighed. "Rebecca's always been the golden child. She knew how to do everything right and I guess I just always ended up messing up. I was the awkward child and I really never grew out of it."

"But you're brilliant," Bruce exclaimed. "You shouldn't have been working as Tony's P.A. You should have been in the labs. You graduated early from M.I.T."

"Yeah, well I guess they had other plans for me," admitted Ronnie. "And don't tell anyone else about M.I.T. You're the only one besides my family that knows."

"But why wouldn't you want people to know," asked Bruce.

"Just promise me. I have my reasons," Ronnie pleaded.

"Alright, if it's really what you want but I still think you're selling yourself too short," frowned Bruce.

Much to Ronnie's disdain her mother texted her saying she and her father were waiting for her outside the baggage claim when they landed. Preparing herself for the worst, Ronnie led Bruce out to where her parents were waiting.

She saw her mother before the woman noticed her. Elizabeth and Benet Chambers stood outside the baggage claim waiting for them. He father towered over her mother. He was wearing one of his grey business suits as usual, probably in preparation to sneak off to the office. Her mother was wearing a very conservative lavender skirt and blouse along with her grandmother's string of pearls.

"You're here," her mother exclaimed.

"Hi mom, dad," Ronnie tried to smile.

"Ronnie," a familiar, shrill voice called out.

Veronica cringed inward. She knew that voice anywhere. It had been the nightmare of her childhood. "Rebecca," Ronnie attempted to put on a smile as she greeted her sister. "Congratulations."

Her sister let out a girlish squeal and went on," It's it wonderful." She went on throughout the whole car ride about how their father had been able to book the largest reception hall they had and the wedding was going to be outside with thousands of roses lining the venue. A fabulous caterer, who her parents were having flown in from somewhere in Europe, was cooking the food. Veronica started blocking out most of the conversation as they neared the large cottage the family owned and had visited every summer until she went off to college.

That night they were eating dinner when her family and the family had invited Jerrod. So caught up in their youngest daughters happiness, her parents were oblivious to the tension at the table radiating off everyone else. Luckily, her parents were so oblivious, only talking about the wedding that they hardly asked Veronica anything, which suited her just fine because she did not want to go into details about her life in New York.

Tony had tried calling earlier when they were all sitting down to eat and she had just let it go to voicemail. Now they were finished and she was fidgeting in her restlessness to listen to it. They all headed to the living for after dinner drinks when Ronnie seized the opportunity to grab her phone and slip outside to the patio.

"I swear to God Tony Stark, if you drunk dialed me…," she trailed off talking to herself, phone poised at her ear.

"Ronnie," Jerrod called out and stepped on to the patio. "Do you have a second," he asked nervously. His hands were resting in his pockets and he was staring down towards the ground rather than at her face.

"What is it," asked Ronnie, her eyes narrowing at her sister's fiancé as she lowered her phone. It was better this way. She would have much rather listened to the message in her room.

"How have you been," Jerrod asked hesitantly.

"I've been fine but know I'm wondering why you care," Veronica scoffed.

"Look Veronica I know things ended unpleasantly between us but I'm going to be a part of your family and I want us to get along," he explained. "I'm happier with your sister and I'm sure you'll eventually find someone too."

Veronica narrowed her eyes as she stared at her ex. This was just like Jerrod. "You may be a part of this family but you're forgetting I'm the one who's not a part of it. But wait! You never really paid attention when I talked about them did you. About how much I hated family get-togethers or about they treated me. Frankly, I could care less. I just want you to leave me the hell alone."

Straightening her shoulders, Veronica walked straight for the door and left Jerrod on the porch – speechless and mouth just barely short from hitting the ground. It felt amazing to stand up to that jerk. Ronnie was finally able to stand up for herself now that she did not care whether she and Jerrod were together. She was better off without him.

Finally alone in her room Ronnie pulled out her phone to listen to Tony's message. Ronnie, I am so sorry. I know I cannot expect you to forgive me but you have to hear me out. There was a reason for everything. I need you. You have to come back to New York. Please.

I wish I could believe you Tony, Ronnie thought to herself.

Four days later Ronnie was standing in front of her mirror, wearing a dress she would never bought on her own but somehow it arrived just in time this morning…right when she was getting ready for the wedding. There was no card but she did not have to guess who sent it. The dress was short and a subtle lavender that brought out the color in her eyes. The bodice was a modern beaded strapless sweetheart neckline and ruching covered the shirt. She decided to wear her favorite black peep toe pumps, which were murder on her feet along with her grandmother's pearls she had borrowed from her mother.

Bruce knocked on her door so he could escort her. "Let's get this over with," she said, giving him a reluctant smile.