dear reader, hello! i'm kinda new to this publishing thing, so this is my first published story EVER! hope you enjoy it as much as i did :)
Natasha knew this day would come. She basically pushed Steve into it. She insisted over and over again for him to go on dates. She wanted him to find a nice woman who could make him happy and give him the life he deserved.
She was even determined to get closer to Bruce to prove, mostly to herself, it was the right choice. Natasha and Steve were friends and nothing should ever change that.
Because that's what Steve told her when she asked what he wanted her to be: "How about a friend?"
It didn't matter they had spent a night together. A night she'd remember for the rest of her existence. A night that showed her she'd never forget him, no matter how hard she tried or wanted.
It didn't matter that day in the graveyard he asked her to stay. She told him to call the nurse. She rejected him.
Back when the team was searching for Loki's scepter, Steve questioned her about their situation. She laughed at his face. She told him 'it was just sex, Rogers, didn't mean anything'. After seeing the disappointment and sadness on his face she wanted to take it back. She really did. But she couldn't.
How were they supposed to work together if anything between them became more complicated, more intimate?
A few nights after Ultron showed up, Natasha insisted and told him once again to call Sharon.
"I'm not interested in her, Natasha". Steve said, his voice firm.
"Well, you haven't even given her a chance yet. You should call her, even if it's as a rebound, you know. Besides… I'm with Bruce now". She said. Her voice impassive, as if she was talking about the fucking weather.
Her revelation certainly took Steve by surprise. He surely had seen Natasha and Bruce laughing and smiling to each other, but he refused to see what was right in front of his eyes. Hence, a week later, he called Sharon.
A now, a year later, there they were.
Natasha knew Sharon didn't want to invite her. She heard their whispers in the kitchen of the Avengers Tower one day after coming back from the gym late at night. She waited only to see Steve's reaction. She was hiding in the corner and could see Steve's shoulders moving up and down. He was taking a deep breath thinking about his answer, obviously not wanting to disappoint his fiancé.
He said it wouldn't be right to not invite his work colleague since the team lived together, it'd make things awkward.
Colleague.
She should've seen that one coming. Natasha should not be surprised by that. They weren't close anymore. They'd see each other a few times a week just to discuss the progress of their new team. There were no more movie nights, dinners together late at night. Steve was not around as much since he started dating Sharon and after six months, when he proposed to her, Natasha knew seeing him would be even rarer.
Natasha should not feel jealous or resentful. Steve had found his true love. He was getting married to a woman he wanted to spend his life with and Natasha always knew it could not or should not be her to fill in that role.
But she hated it.
She hated she pushed him away and it made him fall in love with someone else.
She hated it wasn't her name on that stupid wedding invitation.
But now there was nothing else for her to do. Just sit and watch the man she loved be with another woman.
The month since she received his wedding invitation went by in a blink of an eye.
And now Natasha was waiting outside the church, debating in her mind if she should go talk to him, whether she should really play the nice friend at his wedding. She wanted to tell him how she felt. How sorry she was for giving him away so easily. She should've fought for him. She should've worked hard on herself to be deserving of his heart, his love.
As she put her mini vodka bottle, now empty, back into her purse, Natasha laughed at herself. She was going insane. She could not mess with Steve's life like that. It'd be just too fucked up.
Well, she was fucked up. But at that moment, she decided to leave that screwed up, selfish part of herself behind. She'd be happy for her friend. If Steve considered her a colleague, fine!, she still thought of him as her friend despite whatever had happened. And how undeserving of that tittle she was for even considering spoiling his special moment. So, she was going to be a good friend and give him her support. Even if it broke her heart.
She walked into the church and took a deep breath. It was a small church. She always knew somehow Steve would not want a big wedding. Their friends were already there. She noticed Sharon's family as well, all dressed in pastel.
Besides that, though, there was no else.
Natasha found a spot next to Clint, who was already sitting with Wanda and Sam. Tony was sitting in front of them, along with Pepper, Happy and Rhodes.
Clint gave her a small smile. In some way, he had figure out how she felt about their Captain. She guessed Laura had a part in his discovery.
Squeezing his hand lightly, Natasha tried to tell him she was fine. She'd be fine.
Minutes later, a song that sounded like a death march to her ears started to play and everybody stood up. Steve walked in, smiling. Natasha had a feeling his smile was not completely genuine and she avoided his gaze as he walked to the altar.
Then, Sharon stepped in. She looked beautiful, obviously. Like a pageant's queen. When she reached the altar, Steve took her hand in his and kissed her cheek. The priest told everyone to sit down as he began the ceremony.
Natasha was nervous. She kept fidgeting her fingers and her heart was beating fast inside her chest. But, before she realized what she was doing, and before she had any chance to think it over, she stood up.
All eyes on her. Including Steve's.
"Don't say yes, please". Natasha murmured. Clearing her throat, she spoke up again, louder and steadier. "Don't say yes".
Natasha was not the kind of girl who should be barging in such occasion. Yet, there she was. Interrupting the wedding. Asking Steve not to marry the woman standing in front of him.
"Natasha". Steve said, unsure, perhaps shocked by her attitude and rudeness, looking troubled.
It was his turn to reject her, of course! How stupid could Natasha be? If he asked Sharon to marry him it was because he wanted to be with her.
Natasha twirled around on her feet and ran out of the church, stopping only when she found her car. With shaky hands she tried to get her keys before someone came to find and talk to her.
Dropping her keys on the ground, she cursed herself. What the hell was that? She had no right to act so insane! What had she done? She jeopardized Steve's shot at happiness and for what?
Falling to her knees, she reached for her keys again as she felt her eyes tear up. However, before she could do anything, a pair of hands took her keys away and helped her stand up.
Looking into his eyes, Natasha muttered her apologies.
"I'm sorry, Steve, I'm so sorry. I ruined everything, I'm sorry". Natasha repeated as she sobbed. Her cry was interrupted by Steve's lips on hers.
It took a few seconds before she realized what was happening. Steve was kissing her. She had just ruined his wedding and he was kissing her!
Taking a step back, Natasha looked at him, eyes full of questions, certainly showing the confusion in her mind.
"I didn't say my vows". Steve gasped out.
"What?"
"I didn't say yes. I didn't say my vows… Natasha, I didn't marry her".
"Why not? Steve, this is all my fault. I'll talk to Sharon and you'll get back inside to get married!"
"Natasha, I love you".
"Steve…"
"I'm not getting married". He cut her off. "I never loved Sharon and I'm sorry it took this mess to stop me from making a huge mistake. It's always been you, Nat, I've always loved you.".
Without thinking twice about the mess that was happening, or the one that was about to come, Natasha stood on her tiptoes and claimed his lips. She kissed him hard, letting go only when she needed air. Steve placed his hands on her waistline as he rested his forehead on hers, breathing in her scent.