"So Stark is sending a limo to pick us up for the party. I'll be escorting you in, he'll do his thing and then we can dance and have dinner like normal," Clint was saying as Natasha took a curling iron to her hair. "Though I'm sure there'll be lots of press and cameras," he added with a chuckle.
She groaned inwardly at the thought of dealing with the media in an environment where she was at a disadvantage by default, but then reminded herself that it should be a relaxed occasion apart from Avengers business and that they'd be looking at both her and Tony in a positive light.
"Why am I not riding with him?" She asked.
"He wanted to recreate the moment at your wedding where you see each other for the first time," Wanda said from her perch on the cozy chair in Natasha's room.
Clint snorted. "I think it's a little over the top, but whatever."
"I think it's romantic," Wanda said dreamily.
"Won't Laura and the kids be joining us?" Natasha asked hopefully.
"They'll be waiting at the venue with everyone else, watching me give you away again."
"What?" She asked, her brows furrowing in confusion.
"Oh, that's right. I keep forgetting you weren't actually there," Clint said. A warm smile spread across his face as he regarded her with a tender look. "Five years ago, at your actual wedding….. it was me who walked you up the aisle to give you away to your husband. Out of all the times I've been proud to stand by your side…."
Suddenly she felt tears stinging at the backs of her eyes. "Clint, that's really…. wow."
He walked over to her, taking her face in both his hands and placing a kiss on her forehead. "You and me, we're family. No matter what."
She swallowed hard, blinking back the tears. "How…? I mean, you were just okay with me being with Tony…? Because back where I'm from…."
"Well, I'll admit I wasn't really a fan of your relationship at first. But, Nat, after awhile it just made sense, you know?" He shrugged. "It was just really clear that Stark would stop at nothing to take care of you. And honestly… you're really good for him too."
She bit her lip, unsure of what to say.
He grinned. "Why, what would your Clint do if something started up with you and your Stark?"
She let out a little laugh. "I think you would definitely have some choice words for me about it. And you would definitely threaten Tony with physical harm."
Wanda shook her head. "So basically Barton is the same everywhere?"
They were interrupted by a knock at the door.
Natasha's smile dropped from her face. "Who on earth has access to Tony's private floor in his own home?"
Clint moved forward, putting himself between Natasha and the door, his shoulders only relaxing when the short, brown haired woman who'd introduced herself to Nat as "Lisa" earlier that week peeked her head through.
"Mrs. Stark? I've been sent to help you get into your dress," she said in a tone of voice that made Natasha remember that the woman worked in courtesy.
The door opened wider and her eye's grew wider as the woman pushed in a rack that contained the biggest garment bag she'd ever seen in her life.
"I think this is our cue to leave," Barton said, embracing her briefly before motioning for Wanda. "I'll go see where the car's at."
The woman went immediately to work as soon as the two Avengers made their exit, unzipping the garment bag and smoothing out the fabric.
Natasha gasped, her hands covering her face as the dress was revealed to her.
It was a full, floor length ball gown made of the most elegant material. White fabric cascaded down to the floor, the dark red accents providing a deep contrast and thousands of round shapes catching the light and glittering brightly.
"Are- are those real diamonds?" Natasha asked breathlessly.
"Yes, ma'am." Lisa smiled. "You do know who your husband is," she said, a little teasingly as she took in Natasha's awestruck expression.
The woman waited patiently for Natasha to undress and secure the proper undergarments and then she meticulously began to arrange the gown on her frame.
The material was soft and clung to her in all the right places as Lisa zipped it up in the back. Delicate straps hung off her shoulders in sleeveless, lacy glory and she stood motionless as Lisa produced a pair of exquisite matching gloves, just as gorgeous and shiny as they spread almost to her armpits.
Natasha held her breath, almost afraid to move so she wouldn't spoil the elegance, and Lisa gently took her gloved hand, helping her to adjust to the new weight.
Another gasp escaped her lips as some of the red accents turned to gold as she moved, no doubt a testament to her beloved husband.
"Should I expect some glass slippers to magically appear on my feet?" She asked, still in disbelief.
"You are most certainly a lucky woman, Mrs. Stark," Lisa said with a bright smile. "Now come on, let's get you out to the car. You don't want to keep your man waiting for too long."
XXXXX
The lights from the party room shone under the closed double doors and she could hear the beat from the music playing inside. No doubt the crowd was already assembled in the room and she knew that all eyes would be on her as they entered.
She was grateful when Clint took her arm and tucked it into his because she actually thought she might not be able to stand if it wasn't for him holding on.
"Don't leave my side," she murmured, taking a big gulp of air as her heart pounded in her ears.
"You'll be fine," he promised, gently squeezing her hand. "You're a pro in these situations when you're working undercover. Look at this way. You're undercover as his wife. Ready?"
"As I'll ever be."
He nodded to the attendants on either side of the doors and then they opened, revealing the interior.
A thousand flashing lights blinded her as there was a deafening cheer and Clint tugged her close as he led her into the room.
The initial flashing subsided and her vision cleared as they walked slowly side by side and then she saw him.
He was standing patiently on the other side of the room in front of a stained glass door, his head held high as he regarded her.
His white tuxedo was trimmed in gold to match her dress, the jacket fastened by two buttons over a deep red shirt and gold bow tie. His hair was gelled to perfection, the tips catching the light that was seeping through the stained glass in what was no doubt an intentional symbolism.
He raised his hand to hold off the clicking cameras as she and Clint grew closer and Clint paused their steps as he shook his hand in both of his before lightly squeezing her elbow.
Then Tony was smiling at her, his cheeks taking on a rosy glow as his teeth emerged from between his parted lips, dimples showing and sparkling eyes crinkling at the corners. "Hi," he said softly.
"Hi," she said, still feeling breathless as he bent slightly to place a tender kiss on her cheek.
The crowd cheered loudly again and he offered his arm, to which she gladly accepted.
"You look absolutely beautiful," He said.
"You're gorgeous," she breathed, her cheeks reddening when she realized that she'd said the words she'd been thinking in her head out loud.
His smile widened even further and he gently kissed her temple as the cameras resumed their clicking, only she barely noticed this time as he led her to join the party.
Once they'd greeted their friends, teammates and other guests, she started to take in her surroundings, seeing for the first time that the walls and practically every available flat surface was covered in digital images and videos of their life as a couple.
The colored lights from the track on the ceiling caused the pictures to change colors and each image morphed into another one periodically, but she could make out everything from newspaper clippings, to personal photos, professional engagement photos and even pictures from their wedding.
"You like?" He asked in a low voice, studying her carefully as she studied the wall surrounding them.
"It's amazing," she said softly.
"I know you're anxious to get home, but maybe we could relax and have fun for a couple of hours?"
She nodded, smiling to show him that she meant it.
"Congratulations, you two," Steve said as he came up behind Tony, placing both hands on his shoulders.
The other Avengers joined them, each offering their sentiments as well and Natasha thought that maybe it didn't sound as strange as she thought it would, making it easier for her to accept well-wishes from the other guests.
Then an overwhelming tinkling sounded over the music as the seated guests clinked their forks against their glasses.
For a second, Tony's eyes widened in panic as he was clearly wondering if he should kiss her as the tradition suggested and the people undoubtedly expected.
Natasha met his gaze, squeezed his arm and decided to make this easy for him as she stood up on her toes and kissed him lightly on his lips.
Tony smiled gratefully and the clinking subsided.
"Happy Anniversary, husband," she said, running a thumb along his cheek affectionately.
"Happy Anniversary, my dear wife," he murmured, eyes still shining.
It suddenly dawned on Natasha that she hadn't seen him sporting a pair of glasses at all the whole time she'd been in this reality, but the dj started speaking into a microphone and the notion slipped her mind as she strained to hear.
The crowd that had been partying on the dance floor parted eagerly, clapping as the dj invited Natasha and Tony to dance for their wedding song.
He looked to her holding out his hand and she placed her gloved hand in his, letting him lead her to the center of the dance floor while every pair of eyes looked on.
She wasn't sure what she was expecting but as the opening chords of a familiar song started to play and the singer's recorded voice started to croon she was genuinely surprised.
Then Tony was taking her waist with one hand while the other laced its fingers through hers and she gently held onto his shoulder as they began to dance slow, the skirts of her dress glittering between red and gold as they moved.
He hummed softly, holding her close as they danced and soon he started to sing the words into her ear.
"Lifted me up when I couldn't reach, you give me strength cause you believe," he sang in a dramatic falsetto that made her laugh as she clung to him. "I'm everything I am because you loved me."
"Celine Dion?" She asked, raising an eyebrow and looking up at him as she wrapped both arms around his neck.
"Don't look at me, it wasn't my choice," he said, grinning as he hooked his hands behind her back. "Although I couldn't really argue seeing as how fitting it was."
"Hmmmm," she murmured thoughtfully, resting her head against his shoulder and taking in the words of the song as they swayed to the slow beat.
She could feel his goatee against her forehead as he continued to lead them, humming softly again.
His grip tightened as he drew her in close and she tilted her head to look up at him, not enough to disturb his relaxed embrace but just so that she could observe him, eyes closed as he was content to be holding her close while Celine crooned loving words to them under dimmed lighting.
"I feel like royalty," she said suddenly into his shoulder.
"Of course, darling," he murmured against her temple. "You're my queen."
She swallowed hard, glimpsing the soft pink, blue, orange, and yellow lights as the photo projections changed, creating romantic shadows across his jacket as they danced and he hummed.
She looked up and he opened his eyes, his thick eyelashes parting to reveal deep brown shades that were filled with emotion as they reflected the changing lights. He sighed contentedly, his breath releasing the slightest hint of mint and she tilted her head back as she raised her face up to his, pressing her lips against his.
He kissed her back, his mouth soft and supple over hers as he closed his eyes again and she let her eyelids slowly flutter closed, his body pressed against hers close enough that she could feel the rise of fall of his stomach and chest with each breath he took.
Then the song ended and the dj called for everyone to go back to their seats as the waiters were serving dinner.