Chapter 11-Invitations

Everyone heard the scream that Natasha produced when he said those words, and everyone was immediately at Steve's room. Once again, Wanda was the first one to react, running towards Natasha and enveloping her in a hug. Steve saw tears in both of their eyes, and grinned. Wanda eventually let go of Natasha, letting her go to Steve. She pushed everyone else out of the room, muttering something like "just let them celebrate privately". Steve smiled at her, nodded, and closed and locked the door. Steve turned to look at Natasha, who still had tears in her eyes. She looked up at him.

"Steve, I-," She stopped talking as Steve walked towards her, ring in hand.

"Nat. I love you. And I have no idea how long it's going to be until someone ends up killing all of us. So let's make the most of what's left in our lives." He slipped the ring onto her ring finger, and smiled up at her. She looked down at the ring as if wondering if it was really there. She finally looked up at him.

"I love you too, Steve," She said. Steve kissed her softly, in a more gentle way.

"And, with James on the way…" We can maybe retire. Have a normal life. He didn't say it, but he hoped she understood.

"Thinking of retiring?" She asked, smiling slightly. Steve chuckled.

"It's like you read my mind…"

"So I guess it really is Mr. and Mrs. Rogers." Sam said, grinning. Steve laughed.

"I guess so," He replied.

"So, when's the wedding?" Sam asked.

"We're thinking soon. Within the month, definitely," Steve answered. "Speaking of the wedding, I want you to be my best man." Sam looked shocked.

"Really? Me? Not Barnes?" He asked in disbelief.

"Yep," He said simply. Sam looked at Steve for a second, and grinned.

"Thanks. I'll be there."

Steve knocked on the front door of Clint's house, and looked back at Natasha, smiling sort of grimly. Clint opened the door, a smile on his face. It immediately fell when he saw them.

"Hey…" He said slowly, looking past Steve and at Natasha. She flipped him off, revealing the ring she had moved to her middle finger, just for this. Clint smiled despite this.

"Well… can we come in?" Steve asked. Clint nodded, and opened the door wider, watching Natasha, as if making sure she wouldn't kick him again.

"Can you get Laura? And…" He looked around, before turning back to Clint. "Is Stark still here?" He asked. Clint simply nodded, and rushed upstairs. Steve and Natasha sat down at the table. He grimaced at her, and she shrugged back.

"I just hope they want to come…" He said, to no one in particular.

"I'm Clint's best friend, and you're Tony's. They'll come," She said, smiling. "I mean, if Pepper and Tony got married, we would go." She continued. "So there's no way both of them wouldn't go. If we knew Clint got married, we would go." She finished, just as Clint walked downstairs, alone. He cleared his throat.

"Laura's in the first room to the right after you go upstairs. Tony's in the room directly ahead of the stairs." He said, and disappeared into the kitchen. Steve nodded.

"Thanks, Clint," He started, before remembering. "Clint, wait!" He turned around, looking slightly worried.

"Yeah?"

"We want you to come to the wedding," He said. Clint smiled slightly.

"When?"

"End of the month," He answered simply. He then turned, took Natasha by the hand, and walked upstairs.

"Where?!" Clint asked, running out of the kitchen to see him. Steve turned.

"New HQ." Steve said, and continued upstairs. Clint nodded, and returned to the kitchen, turning on the stove. Steve and Natasha opened the door to Laura's room. She was sitting on the bed, silent.

"Steve, Natasha." She said solemnly.

"Laura." Steve replied.

"We want you to attend the wedding." Natasha said, showing her the ring on her finger. Laura immediately smiled.

"When and where?" She asked, obviously ecstatic. Steve smiled.

"End of the month, Avengers HQ." He answered. She nodded.

"I'll be there." She said, the solemnness completely gone. Steve nodded, and walked out with Natasha, closing the door softly behind him. Once it was closed, he sighed. Natasha looked up at him.

"What?" She asked, concerned slightly.

"Time to ask Tony." He replied. She laughed a little.

"It'll be fine. Besides, I'm pretty sure Captain America can destroy Iron Man in a heartbeat." She said. He smiled, and kissed her softly.

"I know," He walked towards the door, and took a deep breath. "Let's go." She nodded, and he opened the door. Tony was sitting on the floor, fiddling with a gauntlet. He looked up, saw Steve, and took a deep breath through his nose. He stood up, cracked his knuckles, and punched Steve in the jaw, sending him sprawling to the floor. Natasha drew her Glock, cocked it, and pointed it at Tony's head. Tony smiled at Natasha, and sat back down.

"Afternoon, Rogers." He said, still smiling. Steve wiped the blood from his chin, and grimaced at him.

"Hi Tony," He spit blood onto the carpet. "Just the welcome I thought I'd get from you." He said. Tony laughed, though it was a hollow laugh.

"You deserve it." He said darkly. It was time for Steve to laugh.

"What for? Saving your life multiple times? Helping win World War II? Or, getting angry at you for being a cocky bastard?" He said, through gritted teeth. Tony stood up. Natasha gripped the Glock tighter, making her knuckles white.

"Don't do anything." She said. Steve stood up, his fists clenched.

"So, tell me why I deserved that punch." He said, his voice louder than it usually was. Tony walked towards Steve, pure anger in his eyes.

"Why did I punch you? Because you're a self-loving, egotistical bastard. And you want to be the leader of our little group of "superheroes" that constantly destroy, kill, and maim. Whether you know it or not, we've killed innocent people. I've seen it. That's why I retired. Yet, you think we're perfect people, who help the world and everyone who lives in it. No. We're worse than Loki. And Ultron. And HYDRA. We're the true villains. Face it, Rogers." He said, through gritted teeth. Steve looked at him, fury rising in the pit of his stomach. He turned his back on Tony, and walked out the door without a sound. Natasha followed, putting her Glock back in its holster. Steve pushed past Clint, who was waiting at the bottom of the stairs. Clint looked at Natasha for an explanation. She simply mouthed "Tony" and followed Steve to the Quinjet.