A/N. Hello :) Here's the next chapter! Hope you guys enjoy this one :D Thanks to Lokisawesome for the prompt!
Mark (Pepperony) - 38
Lindy (Pepperony) - 32
Alaina (Steve) - 26
Jim (Clintasha) - 25
Brianna (Bretty) - 23
James (Steve) - 20
Thomas (Thane) - 19
Mr. and Mrs. Steve G. Rogers
request the honour of
your presence
at the marriage of their daughter,
Miss Alaina Maggie Rogers
to
Mr. Jim Philip Barton-Romanoff
on Sunday, the twenty-fifth of June
two-thousand and forty-five
at ten o'clock
Broadway United Church of Christ
2504 Broadway
New York, New York
Reception at two p.m.
Avengers Tower
2012 Eleventh Avenue
New York, New York
Director Coulson squished past several people, clutching Audrey's hand as tightly as he could. "Excuse me, pardon me, sorry about that, excuse me, hey, watch it! Pardon me..." Finally, the two of them sat down near the other end of the row, squashed between Steve's brother-in-law on Phil's side and Erik Selvig on Audrey's.
He leaned over and whispered in her ear, trying to be heard over the buzz of chatter: "You aren't the least bit offended they didn't ask you to play?"
She rolled her eyes and nudged him in the ribs with her elbow. "I haven't played in years, Phil. You know that."
"I know. I just miss the way you made such beautiful music." He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and she sighed, leaning her head on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Phil."
"It's not your fault, Love. Arthritis could happen to anyone."
She opened her mouth to respond when exclamations of protest from behind drew their attention. They both turned around to see Fitzsimmons waving frantically from a couple rows back, stepping on several people's toes. Coulson smiled and waved back. He knew the others were here, he just didn't know where. It was pointless to search for them. There were too many people.
He could see up front near the altar perfectly clearly, though. On the left were the bridesmaids: Lindy and Brianna. Closest to the altar was one of the agents Phil had recruited a couple years ago. She and Alaina had taken to each other immediately, apparently enough to make her maid of honour.
On the right stood the groomsmen: Mark, James, and Thomas. The best man was someone Phil had never seen before but he thought his name was something along the lines of Reginald?
In the front row on the left side of the aisle, sat Tony, Pepper, Thor, Jane, Steve's wife, and on the very far left: James Barnes, looking for all the world like he was a monkey forced into a tutu. In the row on the right, sat Clint, Natasha, Bruce, Betty, Nikki, Violet, and Lukas. There were plenty other people in attendance, many of them SHIELD agents, others were super hero allies (Sam Wilson was here somewhere... and Phil knew he'd seen Lt. Col. Rhodes at one point), and some were extended family members or close friends, such as Darcy Lewis and Happy Hogan.
Everyone was here (as far as Phil knew) and all that was left to do was wait. After a little while, he spotted Jemma making her way to the front. He looked at her questioningly but she didn't see him and simply kept going until she reached the grand piano off to the right, just behind Thomas. She sat down on the bench stretched her fingers. She began to play the Bridal March.
Everyone stood up and Phil smoothed down his tie before turning to face the aisle, trying to see over everyone's heads. They couldn't start now, where was Jim? Phil swivelled forward again and was just in time to see Jim drop in from the ceiling using a grappling bow and arrow silently before retracting the boy back up before anyone could see. Coulson shook his head and chuckled. This family would never be normal.
He looked back and realized he'd missed the grand entrance (judging by all the gasps, including Audrey's, Alaina looked stunning). Mentally cursing, he stood on his tip-toes, trying to see the bride. It was only when she made it halfway down the aisle that he saw her - and wow.
Adorned in creamy satin, she walked along the carpet in white heels on her father's arm, beaming brighter than the sun. Her veil was thin and transparent and covered her face but Phil could clearly see through it to watch her expression, which was probably her intent.
Steve, still not looking a day over thirty, wore his remade military uniform decorated in several medals, flags, and pins. He looked every bit the proud father he was, not at all hesitant to give his daughter away. It probably helped that Steve had known Jim since birth but... wait... was that a tear in his eye? Maybe it was a trick of the light.
Nah.
Phil watched as Steve led Alaina up to the podium, trying hard not to cry (the both of them) and placed her hand in Jim's. Steve leaned forward and whispered in his future son-in-law's ear. Jim nodded enthusiastically, saluting the soldier. Steve bowed and took a seat next to his wife, who was blowing her nose every five minutes.
Coulson and the rest of the audience sat down, leaving Jemma to return to her seat at the back. He sent her a thumbs-up which she returned. The ceremony began and he watched with rapt attention as Alaina and Jim were united in matrimony with the help of Josh Potts, the nine year old ring bearer, and Chloe Potts, two year old flower girl. And no, he did not cry. Not even at the thought that even at their ages, they were still cuter than puppies.
Audrey must never speak of this again.
"You may now kiss the bride."
Jim swept her up in his arms and kissed her. Applause roared and nearly brought the house down, but neither of them seemed to notice, too caught up in each other.
A little later, Alaina threw the bouquet into the audience; Phil didn't know who caught it but he heard a very distinctive squeal. He had a pretty good idea but he didn't say anything to Audrey or anyone else.
He watched as Alaina and Jim were driven away in the limo by Happy, who would be retiring after today, and no doubt kissed in the back seat like in Cinderella. Then of course Tony hopped up onto Thor's shoulders (luckily with the demi-god's permission this time) and yelled: "PARTY AT OUR PLACE! BE THERE OR BE LOSERS!" And then he was set down and everyone made their way to Avengers Tower for the reception.
Phil and Audrey were one of the first to arrive after the Avengers, having caught a ride with several other agents who had taken the now legal but rare hovercraft. When they entered the lobby, they saw that it been TP-ed - only with streamers. They followed the trail of sloppy decorations all the way to the twenty-sixth floor, also known as the "Disco Floor".
Coulson and his cellist made their way further inside and since there weren't many people there yet, spotted the bride and groom easily.
Jim had removed his jacket and tie while Alaina had changed into a cotton candy pink mermaid's dress and both were dancing in the middle of the high-tech, light-up floor to the abomination that was music these days. Phil whispered in Audrey's ear: "I'll catch up with you in a minute."
She looked at him quizzically but didn't ask and instead went to find them drinks at the table over to the right. Phil straightened his tie and headed for the happy couple, needing to speak to her soon, before he forgot.
He approached Alaina and touched her elbow slightly. She turned, smiling brightly. "Uncle Phil! I'm so glad you could make it!" She hugged him and he reached up (only due to her heels!) and patted her on the back.
"Me too. Listen, Mrs. Barton-Romanoff, may I please speak to you in private?"
Jaina shared a look that reminded him of the way Clintasha often spoke with stares. It was Jim who said: "Why?"
"It's important," he replied cryptically.
The two of them knew he wouldn't be interrupting their wedding if it wasn't something important. Alaina finally nodded and kissed Jim good-bye for the time being. She led Phil out onto the balcony and closed the doors. It the cheesiest spot ever for a private talk but it would have to do.
He cleared his throat. "Agent Barton-Romanoff."
She crossed her arms. This couldn't be good.
"You're being promoted."
She blinked in surprise. "What?"
"You're being promoted."
"T-to what? I'm already a handler."
"To Director, of course."
She gasped, clutching the railing for support. "You dont- You can't possibly mean that!"
He shrugged. "I'm getting old, Ally. SHIELD: Second Generation needs a new Director."
"But-b-b-but-"
"I have Alzheimers."
That shut her up.
"I'm going to start forgetting things. I'm going to start spewing secrets people oughtn't know. I can't be trusted to run SHIELD anymore."
"Phil..." She was speechless.
"I trust you, Agent. I have total confidence you are not Hydra."
She was still stammering.
"Alaina, please do this for me. I might not be that bad yet but it will get worse. I can't be trusted."
She had tears in her eyes now. "Phil..." She grabbed his hand with both of hers. "Of course. Of course I'll take over for you. I'll be the best Director I can be. I'll take wonderful care of the organization, you'll see. Oh Phil..." She surged forward and enveloped him in a hug, her salty tears ruining his jacket but he let it slide; just this once. "Thank you."
He hugged her back. "No need to thank me, Alaina. You were the obvious choice." He pulled away and smiled. "Well, after Barton and Romanoff themselves. You're the next best thing, Mrs. Barton-Romanoff."
She rolled her eyes but wiped away his tears with her arm. "I'm so flattered."
He held out his elbow to her. "Shall we head back in? Wouldn't want our spouses thinking anything suspicious."
She laughed and took his arm. "We shall, Mr. Coulson. We shall."
A/N. Next up: Tony babysits for the first time in his life. Stay tuned! :D