2015

The wedding reception was held at the Tower, much to everyone's surprise. The Avengers assumed the Tony Stark would want to make a huge blowout nobody would ever forget.

But Tony insisted on keeping it close to home, literally. Only the team and their closest friends and loved ones were invited. Steve did not mind at all, as being in the spotlight was very exhausting.

One by one, each person came up to the microphone from the karaoke machine to give their speech to the newly weds.

Thor's was Tony's favorite, as he was absolutely wasted. But it still touched everyone's hearts when he vowed to always protect his Midgard family as he does his own.

After the party, it was just the six of them. They were trying to see who was worthy, or who had Thor's fingerprints.

"So, I lift the hammer, I get to rule Asgard?" Tony asks. Steve rolled his eyes, laughing with Clint, whose pride hurt a little after failing to lift it.

"Yes, of course."

He failed, though.

"Come on, Cap!" Steve braced himself, trying to force it up with mere strength.

The coffee table squeaked, and Thor's eyes went wide with shock.

Tony jumped up. "He is worthy!"

"Nah, come on, he didn't lift it!" Clint retorted.

"It budged!" Tony shot back. "You can't just be partially worthy! You either are or you aren't." He turned to the Asgardian, who was still in awe at the spectacle before him. "Your dad have a cellphone?"

"No, he has two ravens...why?"

"I just wanted to confirm with him that my husband...the Captain America...America's ass and sweetheart...is worthy..."

"Honey, stop...I don't wanna be king." Steve was blushing, pretending he was the size he was pre-serum so he could sink into the couch.

Suddenly, a high-pitch rang through everyone's ears.

"And why would you be? You're not worthy...none of you are."

They all turned to see one of Tony's suits, walking slowly towards them, dripping oil and pulsing with barely enough energy to make it.

"JARVIS?" Tony looked up for an answer, but found none.

"Tony, what's going on?" Steve whispered, a little unnerved by Ultron.

"There's only one path to peace...your extinction."

Ultron proved to be more threatening than they had originally thought.

Once again, they were forced into hiding.

Once again, they were questioning everything they stood for and fought for.

Once again, they were restless through the nights.

Steve was up on top of the roof of Avengers Tower, trying to breathe in the fresh air. All he wanted was to be still.

"Steve?"

And to be alone.

He focused on the skyline, the moan of traffic moving through the night.

Tony stepped up beside him, looking out as well.

"I'm so sorry, babe...I..."

"Can you just tell me why?" Steve turned to look at him desperately. "Why? Why would you start a fight when we finally had it made?"

"I just wanted to protect us, to protect you. I wanted-"

"Tony, what did I tell you? Every time someone tries to win a war before it starts, innocent people die..." He shook his head.

"I never meant for this to happen!" Tony cried. "I wanted you to have a normal life, a happy life!"

"Do you think I'm not?"

Tony did not answer.

"You are my world!" Steve smiled through the tears. "Every day with you is a gift! I knew this marriage wasn't going to be easy. But what did I tell you?"

"We would do this together..."

"Together..." Steve took Tony's hand, caressing the ring. "Tony, this is the life we chose. I don't know if there's ever going to be a normal for us..."

"But you deserve so much more..." Tony shook his head. "I just wanted you to have everything you ever wanted because it was not fair your life was taken away from you."

Steve kissed him. "That's all I want for you, too." He sighed. "Just please, try not to invent anything that can come to life and take over the world..."

Tony laughed. "I had the right idea."

"Tony..."

"Right, right, I'm sorry...I'm sorry for ruining our wedding night..."

"No, you didn't-"

"But I'll make it up to you for the honeymoon..." Tony mischievously winked. "Wherever you want. Paris, Tokyo, Kentucky. Name the place."

Steve was about to answer, but Tony quickly interjected. "And don't say stay here, we have our entire lives together to live in this Tower. I mean, a real vacation. Just you and me."

"I honestly don't care...as long as I'm with you." Steve kissed him, and Tony accepted greedily.

After a moment shared, Tony pulled apart, staring lovingly at his husband.

"Greece, it is."

The long nights over in Europe were anything but peaceful.

"Steve?" Tony looked around the bed, frantically trying to find his husband, until he realized he was on the ground.

He heard the bed make a sound of panic.

"Tony? Are you ok?" Steve looked tired. A crack of thunder made the soldier almost jump out of his skin.

"I am now that I can see you." Tony did not want to get into his nightmare therapy session tonight. He just needed to know that Steve was right there with him.

But Steve was back in the war, and he was scared.

"Babe? Are you ok?" Tony reciprocated.

Steve stared out the window, watching the storm try to tear the palm trees out of the ground.

In a way, the storm was peaceful...as in, it was cemented into reality. They both knew it was actually happening in front of them. The flashes of light, the rumble of thunder, the rain shooting down...it was all right there, plain as day, or well, night.

Tony slowly crawled back into bed, careful not to startle Steve as he did not want any more bruises. He took Steve's hand, placing it over his arc reactor. They sat and watched the storm in silence.

When the sun finally came up, they finally laid back down.

The next morning, Steve begged Tony for them to go back home. As much as Tony had enjoyed the sunshine with his husband, he had to admit the nights were equally as terrible. And if it made Steve feel more safe at home, then by Odin they would be home before nightfall.

After all, when Tony Stark makes a promise to protect the ones he loves, then he was going to do it, no matter the cost.