Chapter 3 – Endings and Beginnings

Steve fumbles with the tie at his neck, his fingers shaking with thoughts on what he's about to do. 'Dammit!' he curses as the material once again slips through his fingers.

'Come here,' Sam sighs, coming to stand in front of him wearing a matching black suit, 'honestly, Cap, I thought you'd done this millions of times.'

'Yeah,' Steve admits, 'but Tony would always change it anyway.' His voice catches a little on the inventor's name.

'Hey,' Sam gives him a small smile, 'you got nothing to worry about, remember?'

'Yeah I just-'

'-he just likes to fuss,' Bucky snorts as he comes into the room, accompanied by Natasha who is looking absolutely stunning in a royal blue dress.

'Honestly Steve why are you so worried?' the red head laughs, putting his button hole in his lapel. 'You look amazing.'

'So do you, Nat, you look beautiful,' he smiles at her.

'Pepper's in with him now, I imagine he's in a worse state than you are,' she laughs, straightening his jacket and tucking a strand of hair behind his ear. 'Now do you want to be out there waiting for him or be the last one out?'

'Don't give him the choice,' Bucky laughs, putting his arm around Natasha's waist and pulling her against his side. They'd been an item for a few months now and Steve has never seen the two of them happier, it's been a relief that something good has grown out of what happened with Thanos. 'Just tell him to move his ass and go stand out there. Besides,' he says to Steve, 'you can distract yourself by saying hello to all the poor sods who have come out to see you guys finally get hitched.'

'You're such a jerk,' he punches the other super soldier on the arm, 'you guys didn't even know about us until a year ago.'

'Hey I've been waiting for you to get hitched for a hundred years,' Bucky protests. 'Do you know how long I've been writing this best man speech?'

'Stop it,' Natasha nudges him, 'can't you see he's already turning green? Don't make him more nervous than he already is.' She smiles at Steve. 'Don't worry I've read the speech. You'll be fine.'

'I'm not sure if that actually makes me feel better,' he admits, Sam snickering behind him.

'Come on, Cap, let's get out there and say hi to everyone,' the shorter man says, clapping a hand on his shoulder and steering him out the door.

Steve admits this is probably the best idea. They've rented out the whole of the registry office to hold the ceremony so it's just the Avengers and a couple of additional friends that are here, all dressed in their finest. Even Nebula has changed into something less combat worthy for the event, which Steve is strangely touched by; next to her Gamora looks stunning in a skin-tight dress that he's pretty sure is the reason Quill is drooling.

'Well, Cap, I guess congratulations are in order,' Fury says stepping forwards to greet him.

'Thank you, sir, though you may have to wait until after the ceremony. At the moment I feel like I may faint half way through.' Bucky laughs behind him and Steve digs an elbow into the soldier's gut, earning himself a groan.

'You deserved it,' Natasha tells him.

'I will admit I wasn't overly surprised when I found out you two were together,' Fury shakes his head, 'I just wonder why it took you so long to get there.'

'You and me both,' Clint grins as he joins them, 'if they'd done it a couple of years sooner I would have won my bet with Nat.'

Natasha laughs. 'You had way too much faith in those two being adults.'

'Gee thanks guys,' Steve rolls his eyes.

'Steven!' Thor greets him with a one armed hug, his cape flowing out behind him. 'Congratulations on the day of your union!'

'Thor unhand him before you make him have to visit the healing rooms before the ceremony,' Loki sighs from behind his brother, offering Steve a smile when he's free. 'Congratulations Captain.'

'Thank you,' he smiles back at the trickster. When Thor had snapped Thanos' army from existence he had also returned all of Asgard to existence that had been destroyed by both the Titan and by their half-sister. Loki had apparently been waiting on the Bifrost to greet his brother when he returned. If Thor is to be believed there were many tears shed as the brothers reunited. Loki's version is a little more realistic if anyone were to ask Steve's opinion. When he isn't trying to take over the world the trickster is actually quite entertaining to be around.

'Captain,' Strange greets him as he moves further through the group, 'congratulations.'

'I wish people would stop saying that before the ceremony. I'm still waiting for something to go wrong,' Steve groans.

Strange laughs. 'If it is any consolation I have used the Time Stone to ensure all would be well today and there would be no disruptions.'

'That….actually does make me feel better. Thank you.'

'I can't say the same for disruptions from the team though.'

'Yeah I guessed as much.'

'Alright everyone may I have your attention please!' the registrar calls over the noise. 'Please can you all enter and take your seats. All those involved in the wedding party please stay out here.'

Everyone starts filing in, only Natasha, Sam and Bucky staying outside with him. There's still no sign of the rest of the party: Pepper, Peter, Rhodey and, of course, Tony himself.

'Shall we go in, Captain Rogers?' the registrar asks him, she's got a kind smile which Steve is immensely grateful for right now. 'I believe Mr Stark shall be with us in a couple of minutes.'

'Yeah,' Steve nods and swallows. 'Yeah let's…let's go in.'

'Why don't you guys go ahead? We'll join you in a second,' Bucky tells the others, waiting for them to go through the doors before turning to Steve. 'You alright, Stevie?'

'I'm nervous as hell, Buck. What if I screw up? What if he decides I screwed up too much in the past and he decides he can't trust me anymore? What if-'

'-you know it's really annoying I can't punch you because it's your wedding day.'

'Bucky!'

'Oh come off it, Stevie. Why are you overthinking this? You are absolutely crazy about him. I knew you were crazy about him before everything with Thanos happened. You weren't the same after we left Siberia, it was like you left a part of you behind somewhere. And anyone who has seen you together in the past year knows how crazy he is over you. Look at me, Stevie,' Steve sighs and pulls his gaze up from his shoes to look into the earnest eyes of his best friend, 'you deserve this, you both do. Stop second guessing yourself and for once in your life let something good happen to you, alright?'

Steve gives him a small smile and nods. 'Yeah, thanks Bucky.'

'Well you aren't supposed to still be out here.' They turn to see a smiling Pepper Potts, hands on her hips and shaking her head as the rest of the wedding party follows her. She's in the same dress as Natasha and she looks just as stunning.

'Err…oops?' Bucky offers.

Tony laughs. 'Why don't you guys go in? Steve and I'll come in after.'

'Aren't you supposed to be coming in separately though?' Peter points out.

'Hey it's my wedding day I can do what the hell I like.'

'You say that about most days but with the excuse you're paying for it,' the teenager points out.

'Just get in there, kid,' Tony laughs, pushing him forwards. Rhodey, Bucky, Pepper and Peter all walk in, leaving Steve and Tony in the hallway.

'I thought we weren't supposed to see each other until the ceremony?' Steve says, trying to catch his breath.

'Well its close enough,' Tony smiles, taking a few steps closer so he's now close enough for Steve to reach out and touch him.

'You look…Tony you look incredible,' he says, taking in the perfect cut of Tony's suit, his perfectly styled hair, and the teasing smile on his face that makes Steve's knees go weak.

'So do you. Come here, soldier,' he replies, stepping closer yet again to undo Steve's tie and retie it.

'Sam did it for me, my fingers were shaking too badly,' he admits.

Tony laughs. 'It didn't really need doing I just like doing it. Kind of been my excuse for getting close to you for years, couldn't really let today be any different could I?'

'That's why you always redid my tie?'

Tony presses a soft kiss to his lips, Steve's hands automatically going to his waist. 'Took you long enough. Now come on, soldier, it's way past time we got hitched.'

Steve laughs. 'We're going in together then I take it?'

Tony puts his arm through Steve's. 'Wouldn't have it any other way.'

'Me neither,' he says, kissing Tony once more before leading them through the doors.

A/N: Come on guys! Did you really think I was going to kill Tony? Also: I definitely got guilt tripped into posting this early because apparently I've upset people too much.

Please let me know what you think! I'll try not to do quite so many horrible heart breaking moments in the future.

Love always,

L x

Next story:

The next special in Another Chance series featuring a poker game and a long-needed chat between Bucky, Steve and Tony about their memories of the Howling Commandos.