This is a fan made story. I don't own the rights to Captain America, any of its characters or any characters within the MCU… Much to my disappointment. This will have some violent content and possible triggers. Steve/Bucky Established Relationship. Constructive criticism is welcome but if you don't like it simply because you don't like the line of thinking, please don't attack me for it.
AN: In advance, yes, I am aware the that Roman Catholic Church still does not recognize gay marriage. Yes, I am aware that they DEFINITELY didn't recognize it in 2015. Yes, I am aware that the US now had The American Catholic Church of the U.S. (ACCUS) that split off from the Roman Catholic Church due to the controversy surrounding the molestation of children within the Catholic Priesthood. However, all of those things are a moot point because that is the Catholic Church in OUR Universe and not in the MCU and definitely not in my mind's AU MCU. Thank you for your patience while I ignore the edicts of the Catholic Church now (Mostly because I'm Nordic Pagan and don't give a flying F*** about it).
AN2: Yes, I am also aware that I haven't posted in literally six months, I apologize, I got massive writers block on the series.
Chapter 24: A Wedding Finally
Within a week of the final session with the UN, the majority of the Nations that had been backing the Accords had backed out stating that there were too many risks involved by restricting the movements of super heroes. A few more were discussing an alternative proposal on how to handle criminals with powers or robotic enhancements. The emphasis being criminals, even more were urging for serious criminal prosecution of Ross after the attempted kidnapping incident at the Tower. With a full video of his confession, it would likely be the easiest case the U.S. Attorney General would ever oversee the prosecution of.
With everything quieting down a few other topics came up. The first being that Steve and Bucky had a wedding to plan and had been ignoring the planning part. The second was that Dr. Culver and Dr. Corrin were both of the opinion that Natalia and Rebecca should at least be enrolled in a high school for a few years to give the two children the opportunity to adapt to dealing with being around older people who were either on the same academic level or lower than them. Rebecca in particular needed this as she was at a college level in terms of most of her education and really was being held back. Natalia was already at high school level, despite being only four and she would need an opportunity to adjust to the difference in age and intellect level earlier rather than later.
Steve and Bucky weren't too hard to convince as they had a ready option available in Midtown Science which Peter and Ned already attended. The STEM high school was enough that it ensured a certain level of academia for the girls while having Peter around would give a good extent of protection for their daughter. It was Tony and Natasha who needed talking around. After several meetings with the administration of Midtown Science, the parents reluctantly agreed to allow their four-year-old to start school as a high school sophomore provided that all her classes were shared with Peter. Ned would be partnered with Rebecca, a none-issue as he was eager to assist.
As for the wedding planning, Laura took over most of the work load as Tony's PA to allow Steve and Bucky the necessary time to plan a wedding before the end of summer. Fortunately, money talked, and Tony had plenty to throw at the problem along with a guilt about not noticing that his former PA was two psychopaths bent on world domination via their children. With super soldier serum working for Steve and Bucky, the cake sampling was an amusing afternoon. Tony had arranged for the three top cake makers in New York to be there at different times. In the end Steve and Bucky settled on three different flavors, a flavor for each tier of the wedding cake, the bottom and largest layer was Black Forrest, the middle was lemon crème and the top an Italian Crème.
The tuxes were Armani just because Tony was a snob who refused to even consider other designers. Still, Steve had to admit that when they were done, he and Bucky looked spectacular. What was much more amusing was the flower girls' dresses. Steve and Bucky had decided that instead of bride's maids, which was pointless as they had no 'bride', they would have Rebecca, Natalia and Sarah all be flower girls escorted down the aisle by Tony as Steve's best man and Sam for Bucky's best man before finally following up with Clint as a the 'ringbearer' to everyone's amusement. Thor might have been offended by being left out except Asgard didn't have such elaborate weddings and he would rather sit and watch with Jane. Bruce had outright refused to be in the wedding party, not wanting to draw any more unnecessary attention to himself. Rhodey and Pietro weren't close enough to Steve or Bucky to care. Finally, Peter was afraid of having to answer for why he was even at the wedding by his classmates when school started, so being in the wedding party was a no-go, even if Clint was willing to sacrifice his role as ringbearer to the teen, which he definitely wasn't.
By the actual wedding date in mid-August, they had barely managed to get everything arranged, even with the convenient venue of the ballroom provided by Avengers Tower for the reception. The biggest mess had been the guest list that they had been required to include notables like the British Royal family and the U.S. President and his family, the British PM, French, Australian, German and Russian Presidents. As such, security was ratcheted up beyond all belief, but the wedding of two Avengers was the equivalent of a British Royal wedding and would not be ignored by the world.
The wedding itself was being held at St. James's Basilica, where Steve and Bucky had both been baptized way back in the day. Fortunately, the Catholic Church had altered their stance on Gay Marriage or they would have had to find somewhere else to get married. One particularly awkward part of the preparations did occur in the arrangements of the church though. Steve learnt that the church had had him sainted years before and the Pope wished to attend the wedding. Bucky had found it hilarious but had no objections. Steve was extremely uncomfortable but decided that if they were already having so many major names coming anyways, they might as well add one more. The security was tight enough that it wasn't like someone would succeed in killing any of them, mainly because there were probably too many targets to choose from.
The night before the wedding, Steve found himself being kidnapped by Tony, Bruce, Sam, Rhodey and Thor for his Bachelor party. He found it extremely ridiculous but as the night consisted of beers and 'back in the day' stories, Steve sharing his and Tony sharing his father's version of events, it wasn't horrible. It also helped that Steve knew Bucky was enduring the same thing with Laura, Nat, Clint and the twins. The kids were being watched by Peter who sent several pictured of Natasha and Sarah climbing him like a tree with the twins in the background. Presumably, Rebecca was taking the pictures.
The morning of his wedding, Steve was suddenly grateful for his enhanced metabolism. Only a few of them were sporting hangovers. Tony, Thor, Nat, Bruce, Bucky and Steve were perfectly fine. Wanda and Pietro were only slightly hungover thanks to their powers. It was Clint, Laura, Rhodey and Sam who were the ones sporting massive headaches. The rest were either immune due to their metabolisms or hadn't drunk any alcohol, those being Nat, Bruce, and Tony.
Steve, however, hadn't slept well because he had become accustomed to sleeping with Bucky beside him again. His morning had started well though. May had sent him a picture of Peter in a pile of sleeping children, all of whom were sleeping on a pile of pillows in a makeshift sheet fort that looked massive. Tony snorted and commented that it must have taken them half the night to build one that big and Peter probably used webbing to keep it erect. It was still an adorable photo, though not one he was willing to share on social media.
Instead, Steve let Laura take pictures of him and the others while they were getting dressed for the wedding. She posted them on Twitter and Facebook with a #AvengersOTPStucky. It was silly but within fifteen minutes the hashtag was trending and well wishes were pouring in. There were plenty of bigots making comments on it, but they were overwhelmed by the positive posts. It was nice to see that so many people supported his marriage.
Once he was fully dressed, he double checked for his personal vows and smiled as he read through them. Clint assured him that he had the rings secure and they were off for the church. Tony teased Steve about cold feet. Steve snorted at the very suggestion if it, "Tony, I have waited more than seventy years for today. I assure you, my feet are perfect human temperature. This is the best day of my life. I just hope it isn't ruined by some nut job or Hydra attack." After he said that, Steve knocked his fist against the wooden paneling of the limo.
"Feeling a little superstitious? Don't worry, nothing will go wrong. If it does, Thor, Rhodey and I can handle it. It's not like we are looking at another alien invasion," Tony smiled. He didn't believe in jinxes. If they had existed, Natalia would definitely not be his only child.
Steve smiled at the reassurance. As they got to the church he saw the massive crowds outside. The majority consisted of things like 'Congratulations' or 'I heart Stucky'. There was also a mass of press outside. Finally, Tony snorted as he noticed a small group that was getting glares from the people their to support the marriage, "Hey! Look at that! You got the West Bourgh Baptist Church out. And the Jesus cosplayer! That's hilarious!" Tony snapped a photo and posted it on Twitter with a 'Some people are real hypocrites. If they were in danger of a villain's attack guaranteed they would be screeching for Cap to save them. #AvengersOTPStucky.'
Steve rolled his eyes at Tony before climbing out of the limo to a mass of screams. He and the others with him waved in amusement before heading into the church quickly. It had been settled that the two of them would walk down the aisle together. Everyone waited in a room off to the side, when Bucky had attempted to kiss Steve, Nat stopped him with a 'save that for the vows'.
Nat and Thor kept an eye on the guests arriving while they waited. Once the seats were full, and it was time, those not in the wedding party went to take their seats. Nat signaled the music to start just after she took her seat. Tony started with escorting Rebecca down the aisle. Next came Sam with Natalia. Finally, Clint came down the aisle with his pillow holding the rings and Sarah. Each of the girls spreading different types of flower petals.
The music changed, and Bucky and Steve walked down the aisle with arms linked. At the alter the Arch Bishop of the district waited to marry them while the Pope stood off to the side to give his blessing after the ceremony. The ceremony proceeded, with the Bishop reading out the passages and prayers required before they gave the standard 'I Dos'. After that, he paused, "I understand you also wrote your own vows."
"Yes," Bucky replied in unison.
"Please, proceed," The Bishop suggested.
Steve pulled out his paper with the vows on it, "Bucky, James. We met in an alleyway not far from here, eighty-three years ago. I was being beaten for coming to some old lady's defense because of some reason I can't even remember. You saved me that day and my whole world changed. My whole perception of reality changed. We had each other's backs no matter what and with you in my life, my mother wasn't the only one who cared. Then, you became more to me.
"You became everything. But the times didn't allow it. When you first kissed me, it was illegal, but I didn't care, because how could something so perfect, so pure, be wrong? You didn't care either. It was amazing, and then you went to war and I couldn't even go with you. So, I did something completely insane. It almost got you killed in the long run, but it also kept us both alive. Now hear we stand, men in our nineties who look like we are still in our mid-twenties. We have four kids, and what we are getting something we never though possible once upon a time. In all that time, one thing has never changed, my love for you," Steve smiled as he folded up the paper and let Bucky speak.
"Well, I don't have anything that elaborate. All I can say that when my mind was being wiped over and over again, the first thing that always came back was you. It was what saved me in the end and a testament to how much you have always meant to me. Now, we don't have to worry about that anymore," Bucky smirked.
"Now, you shall exchange rings," The Bishop stated and looked to Clint who held them out to Bucky and Steve.
Steve took Bucky's metal hand and slide the ring onto it. They had make sure that it would fit perfectly on the metal. Bucky took the second ring and slid it onto Steve's hand. Then the pope came forward, gave the prayer and then they were presented as spouses. There was a bit of a murmur when they were announced as Captain and Mr. Barnes, but Steve just laughed. He had made no notice to anyone about the plans. Still, their reception would be interesting. They rode back to the tower with their kids. The others had promised to watch them closely while the pair where on their Honeymoon, on a private property in Hawaii.
The reception required Bucky and Steve to mingle with the masses of guests. The German president apologized for the continuance of Hydra all these years despite their country's best efforts. The Pope went on a long spiel about how God must have truly agreed that Homosexuality was okay if he went to such lengths to keep Steve and Bucky alive and together and that they were excellent examples of what God could do when the soul is filled good intentions and faith strong. He even made a hint of the idea of Sainting Bucky as well which Bucky barely held back his amusement at.
"Well, from the Catholic Church's perspective, we must genuinely seem like walking miracles. Erskine's research or not. Besides, from a normal person's perspective, we must look like we fought one of the Devil's worst demons in defeating Schmitt," Steve reiterated Bucky's own statement back to him from when he found out about the Pope attending the wedding.
Bucky just pointed out that it was hilarious that they thought making him a saint was a good idea considering the length of time he was the Winter Soldier and what he had done. Steve argued that he had had little to no control during that time, and any time he had had control, he'd made an effort to resist. Bucky shrugged it off with dinner and the cake cutting. He made a point of smashing the cake firmly into Steve's mouth, making a mess. Steve was less messy, being Steve, but eager to participate in the tradition. A few select news outlets had been allowed to attend the wedding ceremony but hadn't been invited to the reception. Instead, Steve and Bucky had hired Peter to photograph everything, to justify his being there, it also kept him out of the pictures.
Eventually, it was time for Steve and Bucky to leave, and they both made a point of giving the kids big hugs before handing them off to Clint and Laura, who were nominally watching them, though it would really be a team effort. The limo took them to a private airport, Steve and Bucky taking a private plane. The two curled into each other as the flight took off.
"You know, I think this is the first time we have been genuinely alone in this century without any risks or dangers hanging immediately overhead," Steve pointed out. "No need to go for immediate rescues or people potentially interrupting us, or kids around."
"It's too quiet…" Bucky stated almost immediately, causing Steve to burst into laughter.
"It really is, isn't it. I never thought I'd see the day with four kids, you, me, one big family if six. I know most parents would have quailed under the sudden weight of it, to young girls and twin baby boys, but I wouldn't trade them for anything. Up side is that once we settle this mess with Jenkins and Hydra, the six of us can get a nice house in Brooklyn and remind the world that we are just a couple guys from Brooklyn," Steve kissed Bucky's cheek.
"We were never just kids from Brooklyn, Steve. You were noble enough to act to save every person you ever saw in danger, despite not having the height or stature for it until you suddenly did. Then you went after bigger, more massively dangerous bullies. I know you think that it's ridiculous that you were sainted, but let's be honest, if you hadn't, it would have been ignoring the blatant miracle you always have been," Bucky stated, the private stewardess, curtesy of Tony, offered them some small amount of food, as it would be a bit of a time difference in Hawaii.
They ate it willingly and spent the remainder of the flight making out. It was still late when the flight landed, time difference or no, because of the length of the flight. There was a car waiting and the pair were taken to a massive house with way too much space, overlooking a massive private beach, the sand was white, the view stunning. Steve suddenly burst into laughter at the ridiculousness of the situation.
Bucky looked at him in shock, "What's so funny?"
"Th-think about it, Buck. We are both simultaneously the luckiest and unluckiest bastards to have ever lived. On the one hand, we were born during the first world war, clearly poor. My dad dead before I was even born and your dad struggling with Shell Shock. I was born with the kind of conditions that made me super susceptible to things like the Spanish Flu and Polio, both of which were rampant at the time, yet we survived all that. We survived it all, only to fall into the best, most enviable love imaginable, only to have keep it carefully concealed because it was banned by the Church and just straight up illegal at the time.
"Then you went to war, were in the unluckiest platoon, that got taken and experimented on by Hydra. Meanwhile, I didn't even qualify to join the military, only then Erskine happened, not caring about my physical issues, only my personality. Somehow, I got selected to be the first super soldier, but just as the procedure is finishing, Erskine is killed. I was a super soldier that had to be a dancing monkey for USO tours for bonds. Then, when I finally get over to where your fighting, you are already captured. I have to mount a one man rescue mission that was essentially a suicide mission, but despite everything going perfectly sideways, we got most of the prisoners out safely. Though we didn't know that Zola had recreated the serum and injected you with it.
"Then, after all that, we fight Hydra, we do what no one else seemed able to, but just as we are about to finish the task of wiping them out, you fall off a train. I'm convinced you didn't survive because, who could? But you some how do survive, get taken prisoner again and spend the next seventy odd years being tormented by Hydra, all the while, I took out Schmitt, think I succeeded, but have to down the plane in the arctic circle to keep it from wiping out a massive population, end up frozen, again something that no human should have survived but I did.
"When I finally wake up in this time, everything is topsy-turvy and then New York occurs. Then D.C. occurs, only I find out the Hydra and you are both alive at the same time and if that didn't blow my mind, I can't say what will. Still, we somehow survived that as well. Then Sokovia occurred, and I face a near world ending cataclysm that I have to stop with the Avengers, but it brings us Wanda. You start to remember properly, but have weird commands, we get Wanda to remove them, find out that Hydra created four kids with our DNA. But now, we can get married and be a family sure, we're still fighting Hydra seventy years later, but look at the damned view, Buck. We went from legitimately huddling together in a miserable, tiny bed to stay warm because we couldn't afford the cost of heating and food at the time, to standing in a mansion, in Hawaii, looking out at a private beach that is owned by a close friend. We have no health risks, no starvation risks, none of it," Steve finished his rant, long after Bucky had tucked him tight within his arms.
"That just means the Pope is right, God put us through the worst trials and tribulations to test us, and we proved we were worthy of all the miracles we've received in response. We've been tested, persevered, and now we are rewarded. Sure, we still have to fight the evil that persists in this world, but we would have done that anyways. You always lead me into the craziest, most dangerous situations, but we've always come out on top in the end. We'll deal with Jenkins, then, we will have our happily ever after fighting evil robots, or aliens, or zombies, or just plan bad guys," Bucky stated before stripping Steve where they were. "Let's enjoy the moment of peace though and go skinny dipping."
Steve burst into laughter, but didn't argue, allowing Bucky to finish stripping them both and pull him out of the house and down the beach to swim in the warm Pacific waters.