Author's Note:

So it's been a long time since the last update. But I hope the wait has been worth it. Triggers for a super sweet sex scene near the end. As always please review and let me know what you think.

Astrid looked at herself in the mirror. Hardly believing her eyes as she played with the pearl necklace she was wearing while Shamira finished off her hair. She was also wearing Steve's necklace. Only taking off to sleep or bathe. It felt right to walk down the aisle with it on. If only to bring another part of Sarah Rogers to the wedding. Make it feel like she was actually here.

"You look like a goddess," Shamira stated doing up the last bit of hair and coming back into view. Her light blue dress bringing out her best features. "You're the most beautiful bride this city will ever see." Astrid smiled. She had to admit, she did look spectacular. The dress perfectly encapsulating her figure. "Steve is going to have a hard time standing upright when he sees you."

"You look phenomenal," Winnifred said handing Astrid her bouquet. She was helping Astrid out before taking her seat. "I'll see you in a moment, dear." She squeezed Astrid's shoulder and headed out. Joining her family in the gallery.

"You ready?" Shamira asked holding out her hand. "It's a new chapter."

Astrid stood up. "One I'll gladly walk into." Soon she heard the music start to play. It was Shamira's cue. Shamira giving her one last hug before walking down the aisle herself with Bucky. Leaving Astrid to walk down alone.

She felt a slight pain in her chest as she realized that neither of her parents would be here. Despite what happened in the end she did love her father. But she held her head high. Shamira was right. This was a new start. Her chance to walk into the future and leave her past completely behind. Before she knew it, her song began to play and she walked down the aisle. It was packed. Filled with friends of hers and Steve's. People from the hospital, patients she had treated, many members of Steve's church. Even a few nurses who used to work with his mom and a couple of guys from his Dad's platoon. But Addy wasn't paying attention to any of them. Barely hearing the music or the sounds of their guests as she looked at her beloved Steve. Who had a hand covering his face. Tears streaming down. Bucky having a firm grip on his shoulder.

Astrid took Steve's hand as soon as she reached and looked towards the officiant. Ready to finally be married to the man standing before her. Looking the happiest he had ever been. Dressed to the nines in a tux that actually fit him. Bucky standing beside him. Offering him support just as Shamira was doing for her. But the emotions hadn't reached an all-time high yet. That happened as Astrid melded their minds together. Feeling the love flowing from Steve almost made her crumble.

"Astrid and Steven," the officiant started to say. "Have you come here to enter into marriage without coercion, freely and wholeheartedly?"

"I have," they both stated. Steve's smile widening as she said that. Gripping her hand tighter. Tears were springing to her eyes. Astrid was still surprised this day was here. The day she would marry a man willingly. A fact that filled Steve with immense pride. She could feel it coming off of him. And he had a right to be prideful. Steve was no ordinary man after all.

"Are you prepared as you follow the path of marriage to love and honor each other for as long as you both shall live?"

"I am," they both stated at the same time. Astrid could feel the rush in her chest as she handed the bouquet to Shamira.

"Having heard that it is your intention to be married to each other, I now ask you to declare your marriage vows."

The smile Steve gave her was brighter than the sun. Filling her with unspeakable warmth.

"Astrid Katrin Schmidt, I promise to love and care for you and I will try in every way to be worthy of your love."

'You are already worthy of it Steve' she thought causing him to hesitate before continuing.

"I will always be honest with you, kind, patient, and forgiving. But most of all, I promise to be a true and loyal friend to you." That got Astrid teary but Steve wasn't done yet. "I Steven Grant Rogers pledge my undying love to you. To have and to hold, from this day forward. For better or worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health for as long as you shall have me." He was full-on crying. Saying his vows through watery eyes. Bucky keeping a hand on him to help Steve through.

Steve wasn't the only one on the verge of breaking down. "I Astrid Katrin Schmidt take you Steven Grant Rogers to be my friend, my lover, the father of my children." That hit Steve hard. Fresh tears springing to his eyes. "And my husband. I will be yours in times of plenty and in times of want. In times of sickness and in times of health. In times of joy and in times of sorrow. In times of failure and in times of triumph. I promise to cherish and respect you, to care and protect you, to comfort and encourage you, and stay with you, for all eternity."

Her hands were shaking when it came time for the rings. Steve holding her hand gently as he slipped the ring on her finger.

"This ring is a token of my love. I marry you with this ring, with all that I have and all that I am."

Astrid smiled as she looked at it. A beautiful gold band. "I will forever wear this ring as a sign of my commitment and the desire of my heart."

She held onto his hand and slipped on a matching gold band. "Let this ring be a symbol of my promise to you and a reminder of my devotion to you. I am honored to call you my husband." The rest of the ceremony flew by. Ending beautifully with their first kiss as a married couple. It sent flutters through her entire body that she was actually married to his wonderful man.

After cake and punch surrounded by their friends and family Astrid and Steve were pushed towards a car. Ready to take their journey to the Barnes's beach house for their honeymoon. The water may be too cold but that would only give them time to focus on each other. Just soaking each other in.

It was dark by the time Astrid drove up and the opened up the door. Winnifred making sure that the cabin was completely stocked for the two weeks that they would be there. Though they ignored it all in favor of heading into one of the bedrooms.

Astrid felt nervous as Steve softly closed the door before turning towards her. Nervous but excited as well. All they had done was over clothes. Building up Steve's endurance for this exact moment. This would be a whole new experience. Anticipation filling her blood as he walked closer. Pressing his lips into hers. As their lips danced with each other their hands moved. Undoing buttons and the like. Before Astrid knew it her wedding dress was pooled at her feet. Leaving her in a slip. She could hear Steve's breath stutter as he broke off the kiss and took a long look at her. Running his hands up and down her body. She pulled off his tux and dress shirt as well. Leaving him in nothing but pants.

Slowly they made their way to the bed. Steve getting in first. Astrid let the slip fall off her body. Leaving her with nothing on. Steve's mouth dropped open and it seemed like he had forgotten how the breath.

Yet despite the warm feelings that he gave her she still felt a shudder. It continued as she joined him in bed. His pants joining her clothes on the floor. Now it was Astrid's turn to gape. Despite his small frame, he wasn't small in that department. He was hard and waiting for her. She could feel herself getting wet from anticipation. Yet she was still troubled. As she looked at her wondrous amazing husband who was staring at her as if she came down from heaven she knew what the problem was.

"I'm sorry," she choked causing him to look at her sharply. "You deserve someone whose not been… whose a virgin."

"Aren't you?" Steve asked clearly confused.

"Steve…" She brought a hand to his face. "You know what my ex-fiancé did to me. He-"

"I think a more appropriate title would be royal bastard," Steve growled before turning soft again. "What he did to you. That's..that's not sex, that's…" He couldn't bring himself to say the word. "It's only sex when both people want it." Astrid felt her heart stop in her chest. "And I thought that I was the only person you've ever wanted to actually be with. So-"

She flipped herself so that she was on top of him and started getting to work. Taking him in her mouth. Feeling how heavy he was on her tongue. She heard him gasp in surprise. His hand automatically moving to the back of her head. She was just as surprised as he was. She never thought she would actually want to do this. But with Steve, it was an entirely different experience. Connecting their two minds so figure out how to best please him. Soon she had him moaning out her name. Yet despite his intense desire, he was so gentle with her. Letting her make all the decisions. Deciding their pace. When she started to feel him get close she pulled off and looked at him. Licking her lips. He was a blushing red mess. Breathing hard and blinking. As if he can't believe that just happened. Though he gave her a slight glare for not finishing him off. She let out a smirk. It really was his first time.

At that moment she knew. She knew he wouldn't hurt her. It was like a dam had opened up. Sex could actually be enjoyed. Perhaps even fun. Guiding her body on top of him. Slowly taking him in. Filling her up perfectly.

"Astrid," Steve gargled not expecting that move either. His back hitting the bed

"Hmm? What is it, my love? She leaned down to kiss him. Shuffling their position slightly. She was still getting used to him inside her. It had been so damn long. However, her body was quick to adjust. The tension building up. Her body craving for her to start moving. And so she did.

This…this was something else entirely. Feeling both her pleasure and his. It was indescribable. The feelings flowing through her body. Steve couldn't even think. Gripping onto her breasts as she rode him. Unable to even think a complete sentence. Chanting her name over and over in his mind. Astrid thought she could do this forever. Be with him. Locked together. As waves of pleasure rode through them. But it had to come to an end. As she felt Steve come undone inside her. She rolled off of him and curled up next to him in bed. Both of them panting heavily.

"Well we're definitely going to be doing that again," she huffed giving him a grin "Probably many many many times." She looked at him. Still trying to recover from the experience. "I was too forward wasn't I?"

He propped himself up on one elbow and looked at her. "Astrid the fact that you couldn't hold yourself back. That you wanted me that badly." He held a hand to his chest. "Was thrilling."

"Then there's no harm in me saying I want to do it again. As soon as you recover." She glanced down at him. Steve was going to have a long refractory period. He put his hand underneath her chin and lifted her head up. Kissing her. Slow and soft. Savoring her. His hand moving down every inch of her body. Now that the mad rush was over they could take their time. Soon Astrid found herself going over Steve's body. Tracing each of his limbs with her fingertips while he went over her. His touch both soothing and electrifying.

"So how does it feel to be Dr. Rogers?" Steve murmured his hands move over her spine. Memorizing every detail of her body.

"Better than you can possibly imagine," she replied fingers dancing along his shoulders and arms. Her eyes starting to water as she looked down at him. Admiring the sparkle in his eyes. The smile lines on his face. "I honestly thought I was going to spend the rest of my life single. Helping to raise Shamira's kids." She scoffed. "I mean who would want to marry an ex-child prostitute and former Nazi torturer." She felt Steve's breath hitch. Finally putting into words what he had long known. "I didn't think that out of the two of us I would possibly be the one to marry first."

He cupped her face in his hands. "I married the strongest person I know. The first person to run in the moment someone is in trouble." Astrid snorted. She had canceled many dates for a last-minute patient. "Whatever else you were. Whatever else you are it doesn't matter to me. Because I know you'll always do what is right." He let out a laugh. "What other doctor would chew a colleague out for mistakes regardless of circumstances? Who treats all patients equally no matter where you find them? Who finds ways to do the impossible when everyone else says it can't be done? Who stands up and says no regardless of the consequences?" Astrid felt her heartbeat a million times a minute. "I knew that I wanted to get to know you the second I saw you yell at that doctor for almost killing a patient. I fell in love with you the moment you started helping out that stabbing victim. You didn't even hesitate." Astrid closed her eyes. Remembering that day vividly. "And I knew I wanted to marry you the moment you cut down the maître d for insulting Shamira." He ran a hand through her hair. "Everything you have done, everything you have said since then has only reaffirmed this."

Astrid moved on top of him. Moving her knees to either side of his hips. Kissing him deeply.

'I wanted to get to know you the moment I saw you,' Astrid replied with her mind. 'I fell in love with you when you took me on a picnic in the museum. I wanted to marry you after our 4th of July trip.' She ran a hand through his hair. Giving him a mischievous smile. 'I've wanted to feel you inside me since my birthday. To be bonded with you in that way.'

'How did it feel?'

Astrid chuckled. 'Let's just say I want to do it again real soon.'

'What are you waiting for then?' She looked and saw that Steve was once again hard.

Astrid flipped them over so that Steve was on top. His eyes going wide. Out of everything that had happened tonight this was the most surprising of all. 'I trust you to take care of me,'

'I'll make you forget every man who has ever forcible tried to touch you.' Steve set off to do exactly that. Astrid closed her eyes. Steve may not succeed but he damn well was going to try.