Hey guys I'm back! I read through the story from the top for the first time in a while and realized it deserved a real conclusion. Thanks to LittleEnglishNerd's comment that got me thinking again! I'm hoping for several more chapters to finish this out. Enjoy!

"Steve no…."

"Nat it will be fine, trust me."

"I… No I can't do this Steve I really can't!"

"Natasha… there's nothing to be afraid of. Wanda and Laura are going to help you through it."

"Ok but is this really necessary? This is SO outside my comfort zone."

Wanda rolled her eyes impatiently. "Natasha I have never had the chance to take a friend wedding dress shopping and you are not ruining this for me! Now get your shoes and let's go!"

Natasha looked imploringly at Steve, pleading with her eyes as Wanda steered her by the shoulders and towards the door, but Steve just shrugged and smiled at her. "I love you," he said to her back.

"She loves you too!" Came Wanda's response, as Natasha' snort of derision came loudly from the hallway. Steve flinched slightly as he felt Natasha switch her shield on abruptly, shutting him out of her mind. He grimaced, Nat was not a fan of several of the more traditional aspects of getting married.

You don't have to do anything you don't want to, he thought at her, knowing she could still hear him, Just have fun.

Natasha stared at her reflection in the mirror of the dressing room in horror.

"Come show us!" Laura's voice came to her from outside the room, "We want to see!"

"I am NOT coming out."

"What's wrong?" Wanda's voice was closer.

"I look ridiculous."

"I'm sure you don't!"

"I do, I look like bridezilla."

"Natasha," Laura's voice was soft and warm, her words coming clearly through the crack in the door. "Let me see."

Natasha's eyes hadn't left her own reflection, her throat tightened and her voice pitched just slightly higher, "Laura I can't. This is ridiculous, I'm ridiculous." There was a pause before Laura spoke again, "Let me see."

After a moment, Laura heard the click of the door unlocking. She opened it cautiously to find Natasha, her cheeks blazing and eyes cast down at the floor, clad in a huge frilly white ball gown. Wanda gasped in delight, but Laura remained quiet, watching her friend struggle internally for some seconds before she spoke.

"Natasha, you're lovely. What's wrong?"

Natasha's head snapped up, a look of incredulity on her red face. She gestured widely to her appearance, "What's wrong? LOOK at me! I look like a cupcake! I can hardly move! Where am I going to keep my gun?!"

Laura bit her cheek hard to ward off the laugh that threatened to bubble up as Natasha continued, "I look...I look…"

"Beautiful?" Wanda ventured, "Like a bride?"

"Like an imposter!" Natasha sat heavily on the dressing room chair, the wide skirt puffing up around her so that her torso all but disappeared; she put her head in her hands. "Why can't we just elope? Skip all this frilly idiocy."

Laura sobered and pulled up a chair next to her friend, laying her hand on Natasha's bare shoulder, "You could Nat. If that's what you really wanted. Have you and Steve talked about it?"

Natasha sighed and sat up, her eyes meeting her own reflection again, "Yes we have, and it's tempting for both of us, but we really do want all of you there. And I know Steve wants a church wedding, though he would never push me" She sat back, exasperated, still looking at her reflection dejectedly, "This is just hypocrisy at its finest, me in white."

Laura watched Natasha's eyes flit down to her crimson widows tattoo that peeked over the low neckline of the dress. Natasha scowled at it and looked sharply away. Laura took Natasha's hand and squeezed it, "It is NOT hypocrisy for you to wear white. It's a symbol of starting over new, no matter the mistakes you have made." She glanced down at Natasha's tattoo thoughtfully and got up, "Let's try something else, this dress doesn't seem like the right fit. She pulled a dress down from the rack and handed it to Natasha, who gave her a withering look, "Just try it Nat, and if you don't like this one we will call it a day."

Natasha sighed a martyrs sigh and accepted the hangar Laura handed to her. She looked at the garment bag with suspicion and unzipped it part of the way.

"Ivory," Laura explained in response to Natasha's quizzical look. "I think you'll like it better." Natasha shrugged and closed the door. For a while only the rustling of material could be heard as Natasha removed the huge ball gown and slipped on the newest dress. Then silence. Wanda and Laura looked at each other questioningly, then Wanda ventured a soft, "Natasha?"

They heard Natasha clear her throat slightly before the door slowly opened. Wanda clapped her hands over mouth in stunned delight. Natasha was dressed in an exquisite ivory gown, with long sleeves of delicate lace and a high sweetheart neckline. The bodice clung gracefully to her curves before giving way to a full skirt that moved and flowed with Natasha's every movement.

"Spin around!" Wanda demanded. Natasha obeyed, her emotions betrayed only by the faint flush of her cheeks. As she turned she revealed a low back that swooped below her shoulder blades. Her white skin glowed in contrast to the ivory, and Wanda sighed happily. As Natasha turned to face them again her hand rubbed absently over her heart where the tattoo lay hidden.

"You look BEAUTIFUL!" Wanda hopped in place, gushing.

"How do you feel?" Laura asked quietly. Natasha's green eyes met Laura's for a moment before looking to her own reflection. She stared at herself, her brow furrowed. "I feel…" She splayed her hands over dress, noting the delicate patterns of the lace, "Like I'm actually getting married." A slow begrudging smile came over her face, and the effect it had on her appearance was immediate. Laura's eyes watered slightly as she took Natasha's hands, "You look happy Natasha. No one deserves it more than you."

"Do not cry Laura, I've been through enough today without tears," but she squeezed her hands. Looking back to her reflection she tried to take it in. She, Natasha Romanoff, was getting married in a church ceremony like any other civilian. To a man she loved with all her heart, who loved her back. No secrets, no doubts, she would be bound to him forever. Her eyes watered as she gazed at herself.

"If I can't cry you can't either!"

Natasha laughed as the tears spilled down her cheeks and her friends pulled her into a group hug.