"Birds flying high
You know how I feel
Sun in the sky
You know how I feel
Reeds driftin' on by
You know how I feel
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
For me
And I'm feeling good
I'm feeling good" Feeling Good by Michael Buble
Chapter 18
I'm so happy to be back at the compound. Bucky and Steve carry all of our things back up to our place while I go find Natasha. Friday informs me that she's in the lab with Tony and Bruce.
I'd like to say I know more about science at this point after knowing people like Tony and Bruce for years but I really don't. I enjoy listening to them speak about it and watching them work though.
Tony grants me access to the lab when I arrive and Nat is immediately pulling me into a hug.
"Welcome home Dr. Feelgood. Place hasn't been the same without you here to keep our heads on straight." Tony seems a little caught off guard when I wrap my arms around him tightly.
"Missed you too kid." I smile warmly at Bruce which he returns.
"What the hell is that on your finger!?" Leave it to Natasha to not miss a thing. All three of my friends are looking at me with shock evident on their faces.
"Um…Surprise! I'm engaged." Tony's mouth opens and closes a few times comically. Natasha glares for a minute before her face lights up in a very unNatasha type way
"That slick bastard knew I wouldn't stay mad if he proposed to you." I roll my eyes and huff out a laugh.
"I'm sure that's exactly why he did it Nat." She grins and hugs me again.
"You really going to go through with this?" I can't tell from his tone how Tony is feeling about this development.
"I love him Ton, I really really love him. He's my soulmate. I don't there's anything in this whole world I want more than to marry him." He removes his tinted glasses and wipes a hand over his face before pinching the bridge of his nose and letting out a sigh.
Tony takes a step towards me and puts his hands on my shoulders, he squeezes gently and then leans in to press a kiss to my forehead.
"I'm thrilled for you Annie. You deserve to be happy even if it's with a formerly psychotic old man with a terminator arm." I'm warmed by the acceptance he's showing even though he's being a smart ass, that's just him.
"Thanks Ton." Bruce congratulates me as well and gives me an awkward kind of side hug.
Natasha and Tony come with me when I make the way back to mine and Bucky's part of the tower. The two super soldiers look surprised to see me flanked by iron man and the black widow.
"You're officially off my shit list Barnes. Proposing was a smart move." Bucky's lips quirk up at Natasha's declaration.. I can tell he's trying to look anywhere but at Tony.
I'm more than a little shocked when said man takes a step forward so he's directly in front of my fiancé. Bucky stands a little straighter at Tony's move and makes sure to meet his eyes now. I guess he's trying to show he won't shy away from whatever is about to be said. For the second time today Stark removes his glasses. He stares blankly at Bucky for a few moments, making the tension in the room become palpable. I'm waiting for Steve to jump between the two men. Finally Tony huffs out a breath.
"I know you don't need it Barnes… but you have my blessing." Bucky's eyes widen in shock a long with the rest of us. He doesn't seem to know how to respond but Tony starts speaking again. "You also have my forgiveness. So stop torturing yourself and live your life, make my Annie happy." I can't muffle the sound of my sob. Bucky honestly isn't far behind, tears swim in his eyes. Steve is beaming and even Natasha is smiling warmly.
"Th…thank you Tony. That means a lot to me." He has to clear his throat once but Bucky says it clearly and with conviction. Tony slides his glasses back on and claps his hands together putting an end to the emotional moment.
"Clearly this calls for a celebration, we need to have a party." Yep there's the Tony Stark I know.
"Really think that's a good idea given all that's going on Tony?" Steve has a point. Tony scoffs and rolls his eyes.
"Yep! Give us and excuse to get the whole gang together and that'll make this the safest place in the world given another incident occurs. Our insane lives are constantly being disrupted by potentially world ending events, we have to celebrate the good stuff. Annie's always helping us get our bullshit in order, time to repay her kindness. Besides we all know I love any excuse to make you all uncomfortable and dress up." I laugh happily and throw my arms around Tony again.
"I'm proud of you for not being so self absorbed for once Stark. When are we having this party?" Nat hops up onto one of the desks.
"Next weekend? We'll get the whole Avengers extended famdamily out here. I'll even invite T'challa and that sister of his that got your shit straight Barnes." I have to say I'm pretty damn excited about this.
"Sounds good to me Ton." And it does sound good, too good. How did life get so good? Granted there's tons of bullshit still going on but the good outweighs the bad nowadays.
The week passes busily but surprisingly quietly. I get back to doing my actual job and Bucky spends his days in the lab with Bruce learning and observing. Tony and Steve continue to search tirelessly for our enemies and Natasha slinks in and out like usual. Life seems almost normal
Friday afternoon brings a flurry of guests. Thor, Loki, and Valkyrie are all down in Bruce's lab. T'challa, Shuri,, and Okoye all arrive on a jet together. Bucky greets them all with a huge smile on his face. They seem to be very fond of him.
"This is the woman who has captured the white wolfs heart?" Shuri looks me up and down with a playful grin on her face.
"Pretty sure it was him who captured mine. I never stood a chance once he turned on that charm of his. Doesn't hurt that you designed him such a pretty arm." She laughs and nudges Bucky in the ribs with her elbow.
"I like her. You better not let her get away." He presses a kiss to my temple.
"She's stuck with me and she knows it." That I do.
The Barton clan are the next to arrive and I almost get knocked off my feet by the embraces from the kiddos. Laura kisses me on the cheek and pulls an unsuspecting Bucky into a hug. Clint squeezes my tightly and shakes my fiancé's hand with a smile on his face.
We all have an informal dinner of pizza and sit around the giant table in the communal living area. For the first time in a long time this seems like a family again. All of us together with no hostility or awkwardness.
"Do we really have to have some fancy party tomorrow Ton? Look we're all together right now, isn't that good enough?" Tony looks unimpressed and tosses a breadstick at my head, lucky for me Bucky has fast reflexes and catches it.
"I like a party Angelov, we all deserve a party. I've got a couple reporters coming by too, I want the world to know the Avengers are back in business and in one whole happy piece." Bucky visibly tenses beside me and I shoot a glare at Stark.
"You're using our engagement party for some positive press?" Steve doesn't look very impressed either.
"This party is all about you two lovebirds, don't worry. They won't be here the whole time I promise. This gives us a good opportunity to show everyone that Barnes is a normal guy besides being part cyborg and broodier than the average Joe. Trust me we gotta eradicate that whole Winter Soldier persona and show everyone he's one of us." I get what he's saying. Bucky shrugs his consent. Maybe this will help us, I just hate the thought of Bucky getting scrutinized in any way.
Clint clears his throat beside me to get my afternoon. "Laura and I were talking and we think you two should get married at the farm." Laura smiles warmly beside Clint. I can feel myself getting teary at the thought. The Barton homestead has been more of a home to me than most anywhere in my life. "I could build an arch and really pretty the place up for you. I'll do the ceremony obviously, I mean who else would you want to be your officiant?" Not gonna lie, a few tears definitely escape my eyes. I drop my head on Clint's shoulder and wrap my arms around one of his.
"I love you Clinton! Thank you so much." He presses a kiss to the top of my head and I sit back up straight in my chair. Bucky squeezes my hand and smiles happily.
"Is it ok with you if we get married there?" Bucky nods his head.
"Whatever ya want doll. I want everything to be perfect for ya." He's so damn sweet to me.
"I'll be your maid of honor naturally." Natasha sounds so sure of herself as she grins playfully.
"Well duh Nat. I'm assuming Stevie will be the best man." Steve smiles sheepishly when Bucky mockingly says duh.
"You're making this sound much more quaint than the wedding Pepper and I are going to have . As a matter of fact I'd go so far as to say I'm an expert at wedding planning at this point and you're completely stealing my thunder by not allowing me any input." Pepper smacks Tony in the chest and rolls her eyes.
"I actually have a very important roll for you Tony." He arches his eyebrow for me to continue."I'd like you to walk me down the aisle." I can tell he wasn't expecting it when his eyes widen considerably. Pepper is positively beaming. I think this is the closest I've ever seen Tony come to choked up. He clears his throat and scratches the back of his head.
"You sure you want me to give you away Annie? I haven't exactly been the most supportive of your relationship and I know that's hurt you." Tony Stark sounds unsure of himself! My mind is blown.
"Ton, you gave Bucky your blessing and that means so much to me. We haven't always agreed on things and God knows you're more than a handful but you're the closest thing I've got to a brother figure in my life besides Clint. I love your eccentric ass Stark. It would mean the world to me if you'd walk me down the aisle." He chuckles in a way that makes it seem like he's covering up a cry.
"Yea, of course. Anything for you Annie." It's a strange thing hearing Tony be so sincere.
"So when is this wedding happening anyway?" I look at Bucky when Natasha asks this. He shrugs his shoulders
"The sooner the better. I'd marry ya right now if you would let me doll." I grin and press a kiss to his stubbled cheek.
"You two are so cute it's kinda disgusting." I roll my eyes at Sams comment.
"I'll get you a dress appointment next week. Then we'll go from there as far as dates go. If you find something on the rack you could get married as soon as you'd like." Pepper Potts is a national treasure.
"Thank you Pep!" I'm actually excited about more than just getting to marry my soul mate now, maybe this quick wedding planning won't be so bad.
After dinner everyone splits off to do their own things. We end up back in the labs with Tony, Bruce, Shuri, T'challa, and Peter Parker. They're all discussing the many properties and uses of vibranium while I cuddle up against Bucky's side.
Peter sits down across from us and keeps shooting us nervous glances. I smile warmly at him which he returns with though he looks a little flustered.
"Hey Pete, whats up?" Bucky tears his attention away from his conversation and looks at the teenager too.
"Uh…hi Ms. Angelov. I just wanted to say congrats on your guys's engagement." He sounds like a nervous wreck.
"Thanks, that's sweet! There something else on your mind?" He shifts nervously in his seat before making eye contact with Bucky.
"Um yea actually….I wanted to apologize Mr. Barnes, for attacking you back in Germany. I've learned a lot about you in school and I just want you to know that I really respect you and think you're awesome." Oh my God he's so adorable! I want to adopt him.
Bucky just blinks and stares blankly at the teen in what I'm guessing is confusion. I elbow my fiancé to get him talking. He really still kind of sucks at communicating sometimes.
"Thanks, I really don't remember fightin ya but ya don't have to be sorry. We all had our reasons." Peter honestly looks surprised that Bucky spoke to him at all and visibly relaxes.
"Peter is Spider-Man Buck." Bucky's eyes widen comically and I can't help but laugh.
"That was you!? Holy shit, I wanted to beat the hell outta ya. You're just a kid!" I just laugh harder and Peter turns a little red.
"It's a long story Mr Barnes, but yea that was me." Bucky shakes his head but smiles in that crooked way of his.
"It's just Bucky, none of that Mr. Barnes crap. You kinda kick ass kid, good for you." Peter is beaming now but still red.
"Bucky just has resting bitch face all the time Pete, really he's a big ol marshmallow. Don't ever be too intimidated to talk to him." Bucky glares down at me and pinches my side but smiles nonetheless.
Today has been a much needed day of happiness and normalcy that's for sure.