Chapter Ten~
I couldn't stop my pacing feet as I waited in the lobby for the double doors to open, the music to start playing and for me to take the first step towards the rest of my life. My hands tumbled over one another as I tried not to ruin the bouquet, my lip worrying between my teeth. My gown was probably getting wrinkles in it but I honestly didn't care, as long as I looked wonderful to Bruce that's all that mattered.
"Tee minus ten second and counting!" cried Pepper causing me to look up to see her and Tasha ready to walk in front of me. Tasha was holding Clint's arm, Pepper holding Steve's arm as I took Director Fury's arm, smiling up at him.
"Thank you for doing this for me sir." I said softly as the double doors opened and the music started playing.
"Thank you for asking me Sara." he replied just as softly as the flower girls started down the aisle. Both Pepper and Tasha turned to see me and gave me the thumbs up as flower girls started to go. First it was the flower girls, then Tasha and Clint, then Pepper and Steve before we waited for the signal to go. As those before us took their spots before the alter we both started to move down the same aisle. I couldn't look anywhere but forward towards my awaiting future husband; his black tuxedo pressed and cleaned the day before, his green and purple stripped tie already wrinkled. Those warm cinnamon brown eyes flecked with gold were filled with joy; pure unadulterated joy as I walked into the church. I smiled wide and couldn't hold back my tears thinking how perfect this moment was. Coming to the alter, I took his outstretched hand and he helped me up onto the alter where the priest waited patiently.
"Dearly beloved: We have come together to witness and bless the joining together of this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony. Into this holy union Doctor Bruce Banner and Sara Williams now come to be joined. If any of you can show just cause why they may not lawfully be married, speak now; or else for ever hold your peace." not a single sound is heard, not even breathing and the priest says,
"That was easy." causing everyone to laugh as he continues on, turning towards me.
"Sara Williams will you have this man to be your husband; to live together in the covenant of marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?"
"Of course I do." I said without a moment's hesitation getting my beloved to smile.
"Bruce Banner will you have this woman to be your wife; to live together in the covenant of marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?"
"Of course I will." he replies without question giving both my hands a squeeze. As he takes my right hand into his, he slips the ring given to him by Tony saying,
"I, Bruce Banner take you, Sara Williams, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until my dying day." I giggle as his shaking hands stumble to get the ring on so have to help him in the end. Getting the ring from Tasha, I take his right hand into my own and putting the ring on his finger say,
"I, Sara Williams take you, Bruce Banner, to by my husband, to have and to hold from this day forwards, for better for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until my dying day." the ring goes on smoothly as I take both of his hands back into mine, unwilling to let go. The priest looks at us both, his wrinkled face smiling with joy as his eyes are hidden behind sunglasses he says,
"By the power invested in me, and the state of New York, I pronounce thee husband and wife. You may kiss your bride." and as Bruce lifts my veil the audience cheers as loud as could be, my lips meeting his perfectly. Unable to help the taste of salt water, Bruce showers my face with kisses before the priest calls out,
"May I have the honor and pleasure to introduce to you; Doctor and Mrs. Bruce Banner!" at that we laugh and take off down the aisle, hand in hand and heart in heart. Everyone cheers us on and we don't stop until we come outside where everyone has followed us. White rose petals are tossed in the air as Bruce and I head for the waiting white limo that on the back windshield reads 'Bruce/Sara/Hulk'. Bruce opens the back door for me and I kiss him before turning to see the guests. By now my waterproof mascara has probably run wild but I don't care as I toss my bouquet into the crowd. I laugh whole heartedly as the purple and white rose bouquet lands on Tony's shoulder and can't stop laughing as he looks beyond shocked and slightly horrified. My laughter dies though as I watch him hand it to Pepper giving her a kiss as he does.
"Come on, Mrs. Banner." Bruce says wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me into the back of the limo. He shuts the door with a firm hand and kisses me soundly as we drive off and away to Stark Tower where the reception will be held. When the kiss has ended I lean my forehead against his and breath out,
"I love you Bruce, I love you Hulk." Bruce pushes some of my hair out of my eyes as he replies simply,
"I know." I laugh as he takes my right hand were my wedding band sits and says strongly,
"You're not just mine, you're his too you know." I watch as he kisses the ring before I say,
"I love you, both of you, so you have nothing to worry about." the limo stops at last and we exit to go into Stark Tower where were greeted by a thunderous roar from the crowd. The lobby of the building has been transformed into a reception space; dance floor, stage for the band, tables and chairs for everyone and a long table for the wedding party. It's during our toast that Bruce pulls me onto the dance floor and says into his microphone,
"Sara, Mrs. Banner, when I first met you-you were a loud rambunctious twenty five year old. I knew something would happen after meeting you, I just never thought it would lead to this. Never in a million years did I think someone would come along and not only steal my heart, but mend it with more love and devotion than I can explain. I never imagined myself with a white picket fence future, kids, a porch swing where we could grow old together. That morning when I found you had been taken, I had just realized myself that I had fallen in love with you and so when you were gone for two years I thought I would never see you again. Would never feel the love and compassion you showed me. I don't think I will ever, never ever be able to put into words how much I utterly love you. And Hulk says hi." I laughed at that and watched as his eyes for the briefs of moments changed from cinnamon brown to icy blue. Hulk was in there, somewhere and he wasn't angry. For the first time I think ever, the Hulk wasn't angry. Leaning into him I whispered only loud enough that he'd hear me,
"Maybe later he can tell me himself?" he shuddered at the thought as I playfully took the microphone and skipped a ways away from him before saying,
"I never thought I'd fall in love, honestly it never crossed my mind. I never imagine d I would selflessly give my body, mind and soul away to someone who I can only say was made for me. And maybe that's a bit too much but I don't give a damn. But I love you Doctor Bruce Banner, I love you with more than I can say and everything else I can give." the crowd cheered as I tossed the microphone aside and our first dance music came on, 'Beauty and the Beast'. After our first dance, the dinner, the cutting of the green and purple cake and getting cake up my nose we disappeared into a corner of the lobby though I really wanted to go up to our apartment. Tony had all but forced us into taking one of the entire remolded floors of the Tower saying that it would allow us privacy and let us be close to the gang. But all I wanted to right now I wanted to be alone with him.
"Bruce," I said as we stopped around a corner far from everyone else and I took his hands in mine.
"I need to tell you something."
"Can't it wait?" he asked playfully as he nipped at my ear but I gently pushed him back and put one of his hands on my lower stomach hoping he'd get the message. His eyes exploded in his head as he asked,
"Sara, what—"
"We're having a baby Bruce." I said softly not knowing how he'd take it but when he fell to his knees I got worried. The hand on my lower stomach moved to my hip and as the other joined he put one ear to my stomach, just listening.
"I can feel it." and as he stood he said so softly I barely heard him,
"I can feel it!" already emotional, I felt fresh tears as I kissed him and we headed back to the party hopefully unnoticed but, of course, it was Tony who said into the microphone,
"Guess who went missing everyone!?" as the crowd roared with hoots and hollers I rolled my eyes and rose one hand to blast Tony in the head, with only a small fireball.
"Hey! She shot me! She shot me!" Tony cried as he tried to pat out the black flames burning a hole into one of his best tuxedos. Pepper walked over to Tony and helped him before silencing him with a kiss saying,
"Don't ruin this Tony."
"What? Me? Never in a million years would I ruin my science boyfriends wedding!" Tony cried grabbing a glass of champagne and toasting us drank it down in one gulp. It was Bruce who decided to tell everyone the news, but I begged that we only tell the others and not the whole fricking wedding party. He agreed realizing that it would make us look a tad unprofessional so we rounded up the gang and once huddled I said,
"We're having a baby!" Pepper screamed loud enough to break the windows, Tasha smiled so wide I thought it would get plastered on her face forever, Clint nearly fell over, Steve stood frozen in time, Thor was clapping so fast his hands were a blur and it was, of course, Tony who said,
"You guys don't mess around do you?!"
"TONY!" every screamed at him, our combined anger sending him flying to the ground. I was the one to help him upright saying,
"Would you and Pep be the godparents?"
"Wait, you want to put Tony in charge of a baby?!" asked Steve having now shaken out of his stupor. Giggling, I patted Tony's cheek saying,
"If I can trust the Hulk, King of Mean, then I can trust Tony."
"That's only because he's your husband, sort of." Tony replied trying to figure out mentally how exactly I was now related to Hulk, if it was through marriage then did I marry Bruce or the Hulk or…..brain shutting down. He grabbed his head as if in pain muttering,
"I need a drink."
"That's what you get for trying to be a smarty pants." I chuckled as he went off in search of one. As everyone went back to do their own thing; Thor destroying the buffet table, Tasha and Clint dancing, Steve flirting with one of the guests, Tony and Pepper trying to micromanage everything else I couldn't help my shed a single tear, not out of sadness, but because for the first time I was certain beyond a shadow of a doubt that I had a family. And that I was now having a family of my own. Everything couldn't be better, no matter what happened next. Even when I caught Director Fury's eye as he was leaving, I knew the Avengers had all been given maternity leave. But something in his eye worried me, something dark and sad but only for moment, if only for a second.