They took Pepper off site from the Tower so when she shrieked after being told, she wouldn't alert Tony to anything. Nat wanted to have everything planned out and invite everyone to a dinner which would turn into a surprise wedding. Pepper was delirious with joy to be asked to help. Nat explained they wanted something small with just Bucky and Peggy standing up with them, preferably outside.
Pepper said the mansion grounds would be best for that and suggested that Steve and Natasha move in there with Bucky and Peggy since there was plenty of room and each couple could have their own wing. It would keep them out of the Tower and away from any interruptions well meaning friends in the Avengers' Tower or facilities might bring.
Natasha had an idea for her dress and discussed it with Pepper and Peggy. She felt it was a little phony for Black Widow to be wearing all white so she devised a plan with Pepper who called in a reputable designer to draw it up. Pepper said she and Tony would pay for everything. Natasha was dismayed.
"Pepper, thank you so much, but that is completely not necessary. Steve and I have money." Nat told her friend.
"It's our pleasure, Natasha...or it will be when I inform Tony." Pepper laughed.
"I don't know what to say," Natasha was at a loss. She was still new to this having real girlfriends thing.
"You'll say, 'I do', at the appropriate moment," Pepper hugged her.
"Thank you, Pepper. Really, thank you so much for that and all your help." Natasha was horrified to begin weeping again.
Surprised, Pepper held her and hugged her tightly. "It's all right, Natasha. Really. I'm just glad Tony and I can do something for you and Steve."
"Darling, you were going to go to the doctor and get that checked out." Peggy reminded her.
"Doctor!?" Pepper was aghast. "Are you sick?"
"No, no...Steve wants me to talk to Bruce and find out why I'm so emotional since I got back from 1945." Nat told her, drying her eyes.
"I hope it's nothing," Pepper said. "If you need me to get Tony out of the Tower again so you can see Bruce privately, I will be happy to."
"Would you? I feel like a shit asking you for yet another favor though." Nat said.
"Tony is not the most subtle person, trust me. You remember when you worked for him." Pepper grinned.
"God, yes. I do not want him any wiser about any of this if we can help it." Natasha grinned back.
"You and Peggy talk to Steve and Bucky and I'll have the moving vans ready: One for your apartment and one for Steve's. Just let me know if they agree to you all living in the mansion." Pepper said. "Now, let me get Tony out of the Tower and you can go see Bruce."
Pepper excused herself to make her phone call. Peggy asked Natasha, "Do you want me to go with you to the Doctor?"
"I don't want you to be bored while I'm getting the once over," Nat replied.
"It's no bother, darling. We are friends." Peggy's smile was genuine and she patted Nat's shoulder.
"Then I'd really appreciate it," Nat said.
Pepper came back just then, "Go, you've got the rest of the afternoon. I told Tony that I saw one of his old girlfriends in town. We're off to D.C. until tomorrow."
"You are a terrible person, Pepper," Nat snorted, "I'm so proud of you!"
Pepper laughed and held the door for them. They all went to the limo to be dropped off at their various residences. Nat grabbed her car and went back to the mansion to pick up Peggy before heading to the Tower.
At the Tower, they quickly tracked down Bruce after confirming with JARVIS that Tony had indeed left the building. Bruce kindly sequestered the three of them in a room further back from the main lab so no one could see them. To Natasha's surprise, Dr. Erskine joined the group.
"I was hoping that Dr. Erskine could provide additional insight here," Bruce explained.
"Hey, every little bit helps," Nat said.
Dr. Erskine suggested they run over Natasha's original file with her to make certain nothing had been missed. They started a laborious head to foot external exam first. Dr. Erskine would describe an injury or scar that Natasha had received and Bruce would confirm it on her body.
Bruce suddenly stopped, staring down at Nat on the table, "Repeat that last one please, Doctor?"
"A bullet wound, through and through, top of left hip. No skeletal damage, wound healed without incident – large circular keloid scar."
"Natasha, what happened to the scar?" Bruce asked.
A sharp look at him told her that he wasn't being funny. Nat looked down at her abdomen. The ugly looking scar which she used to sport on her hip had vanished.
"What the hell?" Natasha smoothed her hand over the area in disbelief. She pulled up her gown on the right side as well just to make certain she wasn't loosing her mind. Nothing there either.
Dr. Erskine came to observe as well. "How long did you have that scar, my dear?"
"Since the year before I joined the Avengers. It happened in Odessa on a mission." Natasha replied.
"So about four years ago?" Bruce asked.
"Yes," Natasha said. "I don't understand...what happened to the wound then?
"I have no idea," Bruce said. He produced a hand scanner and ran it all over her abdomen from hip to hip. "Nothing. There is no healed tissue, no scar tissue...nothing to indicate that you were shot at all."
Natasha was all kinds of confused. "I'm telling you I was shot. Trust me, it was several days in hospital until they determined it was healing well enough on it's own. Oh and it also chipped the upper part of my pelvis where the bullet went through."
"Yeah, see there's nothing on the bone either. It's perfect." Bruce rubbed his chin in thought.
"I don't see how this could be connected to her time travel though," Dr. Erskine said what they were all thinking.
"That's what we're trying to figure out. It doesn't make sense at all." Bruce got some vials and a syringe out and drew a lot of blood from her. "I'm going to do a full screen; test for everything. This doesn't make any sense at all. For what it's worth, Natasha, I believe you. I know you were shot. S.H.I.E.L.D. is not going to make a mistake like that in an operative's file."
"Thanks Bruce...Dr. Erskine. I really appreciate both of you trying to figure this out." Nat said solemnly as she dressed behind a screen in the room.
"I've got all your symptoms listed as well," Bruce said. We'll get to the bottom of this, don't worry. I will call you as soon as I get anything comprehensible in."
"Oh that reminds me, Steve and I are going to be moving over to the mansion to be closer to Bucky and Peggy. We'll be having a dinner party soon, you both will come won't you?"
"That sounds great, Natasha," Bruce said.
Dr. Erskine added his own confirmation: "Thank you, my dear for making me feel like I am part of this big family of yours."
"You're very welcome." Nat said as she and Peggy left.
Peggy put her arm over Nat's shoulders. Nat wrapped her own arm around the taller woman's waist. "Peggy, thank you for coming with me."
"You're welcome, darling. Now, should we make the rounds to invite the rest of our friends?" Peggy smiled and hugged Nat one-armed.
"Let's do it." They raced to Natasha's car like children, laughing and hoping that things would look brighter for Natasha soon.
After leaving a note for Tony and Pepper, talking with Clint and Thor, Nat dropped Peggy off and went home to see if Steve were around. She tried her apartment first and struck out so she went to his and used her key to get in. Picking the locks were more fun but since Steve had gone through the trouble of providing a key, she'd use it.
She heard the shower running and decided to surprise him. Stripping off her clothes, she sneaked into the bathroom and gently opened the glass door to the shower. His back was turned to her so she slithered up behind him and smacked him on his beautifully chiseled ass. Steve whirled around and would have decked her if she hadn't ducked.
"Natasha! Damn it! I could have hurt you!" Steve's commanding baritone did nothing to stop the petite spy from sliding down the tiled wall, laughing her ass off.
"That was great! Ahahahaha!" Natasha was quite beside herself with glee.
Steve glared at her and pulled her up and into a hug. He chuckled and smacked her ass right back, making her jump. "You are asking for trouble."
"Only the best kind," Natasha purred and reached up to kiss him. "Kissing trouble or trouble, trouble?"
Steve smiled against her lips, "Kissing now if you behave."
He lifted her and put her up against the tile. He was strong enough to hold her with one hand, easily but got a firm grip on her as she squirmed to get closer to him, wrapping her legs around his waist. As he lowered her onto his heavy erection, she made happy noises and bit his earlobe lightly.
Steve groaned and nibbled at her neck as he began to move slowly within her. Natasha wriggled, trying to get him to increase his speed but he held her steady and continued with slow, deliberate thrusts until she was clutching at him like a life preserver. He kissed her deeply over and over; taking his time with her, wanting to make her feel every bit of his love for her.
She reached between them to hurry things along but he caught her hands gently in one of his and pinned them above her head. "Steve, please..." she moaned against his mouth.
"I get to touch you, just relax and let me love you, sweetheart." Steve's voice had the rougher edge to it which could get her wet in a space of seconds if she hadn't already been fully lubricated. He reached down and gently stroked her sensitive flesh with the barest of touches.
"God, yes, more...more..." She was panting against his mouth. He never stopped, never slowed, just kept up his steady rhythm inside her.
Soon she was coming apart on him, the sucking caress of her orgasm pulling him in deeper. He groaned when he felt the rhythmic clenching, grabbed her ass with both hands and thrust hard and fast while she braced herself against his shoulders.
He came hard enough that he was shaking against her, pinning her body to the tiled wall with his own heavier frame as he poured into her. In his whole life he could never have imagined sex would feel and be as good as this; that he would love someone as much as he loved her.
"You are every wish come true for me, Natasha." He panted, resting their foreheads together.
"I dreamed about you too, Steve. Before we ever met." She held him tightly with her arms and clamped down on him to keep him inside her.
"Then we both are blessed beyond imagining." Steve gently lifted her and set her on her feet. Together they soaped each other up and rinsed off. Once they were sparkling clean, they ran into the bedroom for a further romp.
Afterward, Natasha lay in his arms and told him about the events of the day. Steve thought the surprise wedding was a great idea, if Natasha truly didn't have a prior idea of what she wanted. She pointed out that she'd never thought of marriage and family before so this was perfect for her. He really perked up at the idea of sharing the Avengers Mansion with Peggy and Bucky. Natasha told him how excited their friends were about the idea so they called Pepper and let her know that the moving trucks could roll.
"Please tell me you also took the time to see Bruce," Steve looked at her suddenly as he remembered.
"I did. Peggy went with me. There's something really weird though, I used to have a scar here from a gunshot wound and since I went back in time, it's vanished with no trace of the wound or the damage." She indicated the place on her hip.
Steve thought about it, "Now that you mention it, I did notice before you left. I had my mind on other things when you returned so I wasn't examining you that closely."
"Yeah, Banner and Erskine both have no explanation for it. They're running every test known to man, they know my heightened emotional state and now they've got this vanishing scar to deal with. Bruce said he'd call me if they found anything." Nat snuggled down into his arms for a quick nap before dinner. Moving day was right around the corner.
When the last moving truck left, the four friends stood in the front yard of their home. It felt right having Bucky and Peggy here with them, Natasha decided. Steve was so happy having his best friend, his first best girl and his fiancee' in the same place at the same time. Bucky and Peggy were pretty stoked as well. Natasha had made all of it possible with her grit and her resolve, all because of her love for Steve, the man they all loved with all their hearts.
A week later with Pepper's underhanded help, they were ready for their dinner party. They'd labeled it a housewarming party and stressed that everyone just dress casually and no gifts. Steve and Natasha discussed wedding attire at length. She assured him that she had gotten the perfect dress with Pepper's help and that she planned to change in to something more casual after the ceremony.
Steve was torn. Part of him wanted to dress in his dress uniform from World War II, he was still an active duty service member and had even received a promotion to full bird Colonel. He was entitled to a military wedding if he chose. Another part of him wanted to wear his Captain America uniform since the Avengers had been how they met but wasn't sure since Natasha wanted to marry Steve Rogers. The other problem then was, did Steve Rogers want to wear a tuxedo or did he want to wear what he would normally wear on a date, a nice sport coat, slacks and a tie?
"Peggy?" Steve beckoned her over from one of her dashes down the hall to help Natasha get ready. She stopped and raised her eyebrows at him.
"Steve, what is it? I'm trying to get your bride ready for you."
"I need some advice on what I'm wearing." Steve frowned.
"Steve, you could come out in your boxers and Natasha will be just as delighted as if you were in full dress. Wear what you feel comfortable in. She will love you in whatever it is, I assure you." Peggy turned on her heel and hustled back to where Natasha waited with Pepper.
Peggy ducked into the room and slammed the door. "Men. Jesus. They are all incredibly dense sometimes."
"What happened?" Natasha's eyes were wide.
"Nothing, darling. Your man is having wardrobe issues. Can't decide what you'll be most happy with him wearing." Peggy grinned at her.
"As long as he's there, he could be in his boxers." Natasha laughed.
"That is exactly what I told him, funny enough," Peggy joined her laughter.
"I think it would be great if he wore his Captain American uniform," Pepper said. "It would go perfectly with this dress."
Natasha stood and turned around to look in the full length mirror. Pepper had finished with her hair; it was up in a beautiful chignon with a few of her red curls scattered about framing her face. The dress itself was silver and flowed like water around Nat's curves.
On her bodice was Steve's shield all in crystal, and it sparkled like gems, bouncing off the silvery fabric and the walls of the bedroom. The red and blue beads in concentric circles were a softer pastel version of the real thing and the star was pure white crystal, sparkling like one in the heavens. The dress hit her above the knee in front and flowed behind her to the floor. Her boots were silver and came up to her thigh.
"I'm going to go tell him to wear his Cap uniform," Pepper said, and took off to find Steve.
"Do I look all right?" Natasha asked Peggy, suddenly unsure if she'd made the right choice.
Peggy handed her the bouquet, red roses, blue forget-me-nots and white lily of the valley; a red white and blue display of beauty that was completely outshone by the woman holding them.
"Darling, you will take his breath away." Peggy's smile was all the mirror Natasha needed.
"Well all right then." Nat said, steeling herself for being part of the center of attention. She would have just gone to the courthouse with Steve but he, Peggy, Bucky and Pepper insisted on a real wedding.
Bucky knocked on the door, "Everyone's here, Nat. You ready?"
"Yes, thank you, Bucky."
Immediately after there was another knock. Peggy opened it and stepped back to reveal Tony Stark with Pepper trying to pull him away.
"Little Red? Pepper had to spill the beans since we're all waiting with someone who is obviously a minister. Would you be willing to allow me to give you away?" Tony held out his hand to her, with a smile and not a smirk.
Natasha looked dubious for a moment, then relented. If Tony were acting like a real person, she'd take it.
"Thanks, Tony." She put her hand in his and allowed him to draw her into the hallway.
"You look beautiful, Natasha. I mean it. You're going to make Spangles faint in that dress." Tony patted her hand as he tucked it into his elbow.
"Thank you. I hope so." Nat blushed.
Pepper and Peggy hurried past them to get in position. Tony walked slowly, letting Natasha set the pace. She looked up at him and stopped before they got to the door. "Tony...I was going to thank you after the ceremony but thank you...for everything you and Pepper have done for Steve and I and for Bucky and Peggy. I mean it. We both appreciate your and Pepper's friendship."
Tony looked surprised, "Hey, Little Red, we're all family, remember? But you're quite welcome."
He waited a moment longer, "Ready?"
She nodded and took a deep breath. "Well all right then."
Tony led her out the door and into the evening autumn sunlight. Peggy, Bucky were at the front, next to the minister; all their colleagues and friends were spread out to make an aisle. And there was Steve, looking breathtakingly handsome waiting for her with the biggest smile she'd ever seen on his face, in his Captain America uniform sans helmet.
When Natasha stepped out of their home on Tony's arm, Steve thought he would burst with joy and pride. His Natasha, dressed in a stunningly beautiful feminine rendition of his own uniform, with his shield on her chest. The crystals sparkled in the sunlight and turned the pathway in front of her to fairy lights. Her hair was done up in a way he'd never seen before, framing her delicate features and big green eyes. He'd never seen anyone so lovely. No one else could have pulled off that dress but her. She was breathtaking.
Tony handed her off to Steve with tears in his eyes. Their Little Red and Captain America were tying the knot. Watching the man he'd admired his entire life marrying a woman he considered his deadliest friend was very moving. Pepper took his arm and pulled him back among the rest of the friends.
Steve took Nat's hand from Tony, his eyes almost glowing blue. She looked up at him and all he could see was love in her face. All she could see was the most amazing man in the world holding her hand and making sure everyone knew what they had was sacred and permanent.
Steve leaned down just a little and whispered, "I've never seen anyone look as beautiful as you do every day, but today, you put the stars to shame, Natasha."
The sudden sting of tears bit her eyes and Nat bit her lip to keep her rioting emotions under control. She'd heard him clearly and it touched her heart just as everything else he did.
"Do you, Steven Grant Rodgers take this woman for your lawfully wedded wife?" The minister was asking.
"I do." Steve answered in his beautiful, strong baritone.
"Do you, Natalia Allianova Romanoff take this man for your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I do." Natasha's voice was just as strong but a lot more sultry.
"Do you have the rings?" The minister continued. Peggy and Bucky stepped forward and handed their respective rings to Nat and Steve.
"With this ring, I thee wed," Steve took Nat's left hand and slid a beautiful ring onto it. It was a band of diamonds and sapphires. Right after it, he slid a plain gold band on then her engagement ring. He kissed all three and winked at her.
"With this ring, I thee wed," Natasha said, taking Steve's left hand and sliding a band of diamonds and emeralds on, then a twin to the plain gold band Steve had placed on her finger. They'd both wanted something a little different so they opted for stones that reminded them of each other's eye color. The gold bands were what they planned to wear most of the time."
"By the power vested in me by the District of Columbia, I pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride." The minister finished with a smile.
Steve swept her up into a kiss that rocked her world, spun her mind and melted her down to her toes. There was a rousing cheer from the assembled company but Natasha barely heard them. What she did hear is Steve saying, "I love you, Natasha Rogers," as he broke the kiss and looked into her eyes.