Tony and Evangeline, either subconsciously or completely on purpose, put everything they had into being as inseparable as humanly possible. Tony wasn't about to let Ev walk away from him again. The Avengers were settling into what was slowly becoming a more domestic life. The two master assassins took the occasional mission. Steve started helping out at children centers and hospitals when they didn't have missions. Bruce had a partnership with a group of scientists that were on the verge of a great scientific breakthrough that was supposed to change the face of sustainable energy. Their lives were changing and sometimes Tony and Ev liked to hold hands, stand still and watch it all rush past the two of them.

Tony, after Pepper had more or less told him through ways of dropped hints here and there, finally took the signal for some initiative and let Pepper free herself of Stark Industries to move on with Rhodey. The two of them got married shortly after Pepper found a talent in curating and took up a position at the Guggenheim after no longer being obligated to practically run Stark Industries.

Evangeline felt like she was floating in those months after she and Tony reunited and began living together in New York. She still kept her apartment, she loved it too much to put it on the market and she just hadn't gotten around to cleaning it out. People in the scientific and diplomatic community still knew her name. So why, she asked herself one afternoon on Stark Tower's balcony, did she feel like she was sitting around doing nothing?

Tony and Ev came up with a solution together. The following day Tony sat Ev down at his desk in his lab officially hired her to help him run the company. He had complete faith in his girlfriend and they already made such a good team so Tony thought: why the hell not? She'd just end up keeping him in check as much as she did in their regular life anyway.

Six months flew by. Three missions. One emotional panic attack on Tony's part because in the middle of a dinner date in an extremely overpriced restaurant with Evangeline he realized that he wanted to marry her, and for real this time. Tony Stark actually had trouble processing the thought, and therefore breathing. Evangeline, so beautiful in the low lighting and warm glow from the candle on their table, had asked him if he was okay and Tony had managed to pass it off as the particular bite he had taken being really spicy.

Tony felt like he was in a bit of a disarray in the days after that revelation. He would sit in his lab, unable to focus on the work he was doing, and think hard about what in the world was going on with his head. A part of him kept trying to check if he was nuts while the other side was rooting for him to spring up right then and buy a ring. Tony fidgeted with his hands as he sat there, brow furrowed, and pushed himself in a circle on his revolving stool.

"What do you think, JARVIS?" Tony asked aloud, deferring to his last resort. He wasn't particularly focused on anything, but the memories that he and Ev had built in their time together were playing in his head. "If I asked Evangeline to marry me, would she say yes?"

"I'm sorry sir, I don't understand why you're asking me this question," JARVIS actually sounded hesitant.

Tony let out a sigh of frustration and rubbed his eyes. "Seriously JARVIS, just answer the question."

"I don't see why not, sir," the AI system replied.

Tony blinked, opening his eyes and let out his breath in a slow exhale. "All right," he clapped his hands together and checked the time. "JARVIS, what time does Cartier close?"


Now that their missions were slowing down in number, Fury had the Avengers strategically promoting the acceptance of superheroes by having them attend a special gala event in Paris. While it was tedious, none of them were really complaining about being in the City of Light and Love.

Evangeline confirmed the knowledge that Tony spoke fluent French, something she had read about him long ago. It was fun to say things in French, especially for Tony to tease Steve and Bruce, that is until Natasha responded back and killed his buzz with a smirk.

The gala was good fun and even Thor behaved. He didn't like champagne very much after he accidentally snorted some of the bubbly drink up his big Asgardian nose, but other than that everything went well. He had taken the four month pregnant Jane along and she was one happy camper and spent a lot of the evening talking with Evangeline. The eight of them had gone their separate ways after the gala had ended and Tony and Ev had opted to steal away to walk through Montmartre.

Tony felt good, ridiculously good, as he and Ev walked hand in hand on cobblestone. The sun had set hours ago and the streets still had people walking by, but to him it was just Evangeline and her slender fingers between his. The weight of the red Cartier box bumped against his side as it sat in his suit jacket pocket and a lump started to form in Tony's throat. He stole a glance at Ev and the sight he saw made him feel like the arc reactor was acting up and giving him palpitations.

Evangeline's neck and collarbone were exposed from the strapless deep, almost wine colored, dress she wore (that Tony had insisted on). Her dark hair was hoisted midway up her head in some elegant twist that left curls swinging between her shoulders and brushing the top of her spine. Paris just had to have equally fancy street lamps that bathed Ev in a light her skin just seemed to soak up. Her face was stuck in a permanent smile and she kept looking up, her head swivelling a few inches to the left and right to take it all in.

Tony adjusted their fingers and Evangeline's gaze shifted to his. Tony smiled back on instinct as his hand tightened around hers. Could he do it? Tony managed to swallow and was glad for the distraction of music coming from a cafe door.

"Oh," Ev breathed. She looked at Tony and then glanced back at the warm light spilling out of the doorway. "Is that?"

Tony listened carefully as their pace slowed and he heard what her smile gave away. It sounded a lot like an instrumental slow jazz version of 'I've Got You Under My Skin.'

"Here," Tony said quietly, drawing Ev closer and stepping onto the sidewalk. "Let's dance."

Evangeline let out a soft laugh, putting her hand on Tony's shoulder as he placed his on her waist. They danced in a slow circle with no space between them. Ev brushed her nose against Tony's cheek, a hum echoing in her throat as she sang the song under her breath. Tony had never heard her sing before, but it didn't sound half bad.

"Da da dum," he hummed with pompous ceremony, giving Ev an impromptu twirl that he executed with a grin while she spun back, laughing into his chest.

Ev looked up at him, her whole face so happy that Tony kissed her right then and there. She just didn't stop, smiling as she kissed him back, and smiling after she pulled away.

"You're in a peppy mood," she commented when Tony matched her grin for a few seconds.

Tony made a face. "Mmm, no," he shook his head once as they continued dancing. "Never use 'peppy' to describe me."

Evangeline laughed again. "Happy, then."

"Ah," Tony smiled. "That I can deal with. Happy."

Her hands drifted up his shoulders, fingers threading themselves through his hair. "Hmm," she murmured, her eyes tracing his face as a little smile played on her lips. "Good," she said quietly, leaning a few inches forward to bring their lips together again.

Tony decided. In the moment that Ev's lips were on his and his hands were around her waist and on her back with her arm around his neck pulling them closer together, Tony Stark decided. He wanted to marry Evangeline Miller, and whole heartedly, not in some three second realization but in the way that he had fretted and thought about it for weeks. He was right, not deranged, when he had scooted his way over to Cartier one afternoon for a private consultation and bought the custom engagement ring.

"Hold that thought," he mumbled, separating their lips and looking into Ev's questioning eyes.

"What is it?" she asked.

The song still played softly in the background. Tony pulled her close to dance again. They revolved slowly, the song slowing to its end. Tony looked around, the warm summer wind blowing leaves across the cobblestone and Ev's face studying him in the light.

"I've decided something," he said slowly. Tony cursed himself for not thinking this part through. He had no idea how to even start these things.

Evangeline looked at him, waiting patiently for him to finish.

"Actually, just hold on while I think about what to say after that," Tony said hurriedly, waving it away with a shake of his head.

"Tony!" Ev whacked him on the chest with her palm, an indignant look on her face.

Tony looked at her, a smile ready to break from her open lips. They had stopped turning and as Ev stared at him she suddenly started laughing. Tony smiled as he felt the laugh vibrate through her body, something he could feel through his hands as he held her frame.

"Will you marry me?"

Evangeline's face froze mid-laugh and she stared at him, traces of a smile in her eyes as she blinked. "Wh-what?" she breathed, looking at Tony as if she had heard him wrong.

Tony just met her eyes with a look that told her yes, he had actually said what she had heard. Don't make me say it again, Tony couldn't help thinking. It was terrifying enough the first time.

Ev stared at him for what felt like an eternity, each of them holding the other, before Evangeline threw her arms around Ton's neck and kissed him deeply and repeatedly.

"Ev," Tony chuckled as she kept on kissing him. A huge wave of relief washed over him. "Is that a yes?"

"Yes," she murmured over and over again, kissing his cheeks, his nose, his lips. "God, yes," she sighed and settled on his lips after that.

"I'm going to need you to stop kissing me so I can put a ring on your finger," Tony managed to get out between kisses.

Evangeline finally relented, pulling back with a blush on her cheeks and a sheepish smile on her face. Tony smiled back, feeling like he could burst as he pulled the box from his tuxedo pocket.

Tony held the red box in his hand and Ev unwound her arms from his neck to watch as his fingers (which hopefully weren't trembling) opened the box.

"Oh," Evangeline breathed as the ring came into view. It was a beautiful platinum thing, with a diamond in the center and smaller diamonds running halfway down both sides of the band. "Are those?" she asked, her finger reaching out but not daring to touch as she realized those smaller diamonds were alternating ruby and yellow topaz stones. She gave Tony a look and he grinned back.

"Sorry, I just need to hear it one more time," Tony said, taking the ring out of its resting place. "Will you?"

Evangeline kissed Tony on the lips, grabbing the lapels of his tuxedo jacket and deepening the kiss before pulling back. "Yes," she whispered. She raised an eyebrow at him. "Aren't you supposed to get down on one knee?"

Tony raised an eyebrow back at her. "Not in this tux, honey."

"You're impossible," Ev laughed and put an excited hand over her mouth as Tony slid the ring on her left ring finger.

"But you love me anyway," Tony smiled as he gently played with her hand, his fingers twining with hers.

"Why yes, Mr. Stark, I believe I do," Ev replied with a teasing smile and placed a kiss on his cheek.

Tony smiled at her, kissing her on the lips before saying: "I thought we agreed the use of 'Mr. Stark' was punishable by sex." He raised an eyebrow at her.

Evangeline gave him a peck on the lips before winking and traipsing a few steps out of his reach.

"By all means, Mr. Stark," she said, her warm voice being carried by the breeze. It made Tony shiver with want. She held her hands out like she was waiting for shackles and smirked at him. Tony caught her hands in his and tugged her to his chest. "I'll take my punishment willingly."

"That's two on your rap sheet for tonight," Tony warned as he hooked his arm around her waist, joining them at the hip as they walked back the way they had come. "You're turning out to be quite naughty."

Ev shrugged. "I don't think I'm very sorry about that," she said with a sigh.

Tony looked at her out of the corner of his eye, daring her to say it.

Ev met his eyes with a mischievous glint in her eyes and a sassy tilt to her mouth. "Mr. Stark," she drawled.

Tony shook his head, pulling her off her feet to spin them as he placed nibbles and kisses along her bare neck and collarbone while Evangeline held onto his shoulders, laughing into the cold night air.

Oh yes, Tony thought as he brought her down, their foreheads touching as she stole kisses from his smiling lips. He was marrying the right woman.


Paris turned out to be Evangeline's favorite city. So it was only natural and fitting that they have the wedding there. For Tony's standards it was small, but it was what Ev wanted. He had been a ball of terrified happiness when he realized he could call Ev his fiancée. There was a fact that Tony was okay with dealing with, that and the number of women who greatly mourned his engagement. It made him feel a bit better and more secure that this was the right decision, that he wasn't going crazy, even if Evangeline had glared at him when he laughed with a little too much delight at the news report.

They made sure to invite the people that mattered and keep the party small enough. That is, only so many people could fit beneath the four pillars of the Eiffel Tower, but of course they made it work. Yes, that's right, the Eiffel Tower. Tony couldn't believe it either, when Evangeline had made two requests of him: the first that the wedding be unforgettable and the second that it be in Paris. Tony Stark really couldn't think of anything more unforgettable or more Parisian than that.

It was a high security and highly fenced event, but the huge white canopy-like curtains that were strung from the metal pillars of each side of the tower's base hid the wedding party extremely well. Evangeline walked down the aisle with a Parisian sunset making all of the white canopies go gold as they parted to let the bride through.

Thor, who loved weddings because they meant feasts, was the first to volunteer to accompany Evangeline down the aisle in place of a father that neither Ev or Tony had. Tony had convinced their Asgardian friend to stand among the groomsmen because Tony absolutely needed his support. Bruce was more than happy to hand Evangeline to Tony and then take his place behind Rhodey, who was the best man.

Evangeline and Tony said their vows and "I do's" as the sun dipped away. They grinned at each other, Ev in a flowing Vera Wang wedding dress and Tony looking absolutely dashing in his wedding tux. Tony felt Rhodey give him a pat on the back after he finished kissing his newly wedded wife and faced the crowd with a grin and her hand in his. He gave a wink to his best friend, smiled at Bruce, Steve, Thor and Happy standing next to him and got ready for their next wedding surprise.

Ev took her bouquet back from Natasha, who had acted as maid of honor, and kissed each of her bridesmaids: Pepper, Agent Maria Hill, and Jane on the cheek before following Tony to the yellow car that waited to begin their journey to the third landing on the Eiffel Tower and from there they would go to the top.

They stopped on the first landing where Ev did her bouquet toss. Natasha, ever the acrobat, caught the bouquet and when she landed, grinning on the ground as she held it over her head to let Ev know she caught it, Clint swooped by and took it from her outstretched hand.

"Payback!" the archer grinned as Nat tackled him to the ground in her bridesmaid's dress.

They ended up with Clint piggybacking Nat who held the bouquet in her hand.

"I tried to catch it," Clint insisted. "But Nat beat me to it."

The fiery haired master assassin whacked Clint upside the head, albeit lightly, and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

They shared a round of laughs, on the ground and from above, before Ev and Tony continued to the highest observation deck, from which they had to climb to the third landing and shared their second kiss as a married couple.

Tony watched, his arm around Ev's waist, as the city lit up beneath them. Evangeline placed a soft kiss on Tony's cheek and leaned into his side.

"You know that really is something," Tony murmured.

"Mmm," Ev breathed. Her nose brushed his cheek and Tony looked down at his wife (!) with an inquisitive smile. "I love you," she whispered.

Tony kissed her soundly, pressing their chests together. "And I love you," he answered smoothly.

Almost a year ago that phrase would have scared him stiff. But above the lights of Paris and in the warmth of Evangeline's arms and smile, it was the easiest thing for him to say.


Author's Notes:

You and I from Michael Bublé

Here we are
On earth together
It's you and I
God has made us fall in love
It's true
I've really found
Someone like you
Will it stay
The love you feel for me
Will you say
That you will be by my side
To see me through
Until my life is through
Well in my mind
We can conquer the world
In love you and I

I'm glad
At least in my life
I've found someone
That may not be here forever
To see me through
But I found strength in you
Cause in my mind
You will stay here always
In love you and I

In my mind
We can conquer the world
In love you and I
You and I..."

You should all prep yourselves for the arrival of someone very special in the coming (two) chapters. Time to say hello to one Peter Stark!