A/N: There will be 1 more chapter after this (and maybe an epilogue but probably not). I hope you've enjoyed this ride.


Lucky – Chapter 9


He had been the only one to not see it coming.


He was hovering around the entrance to the main hall, waiting for her to finish getting ready, when a hand clapped his shoulder. Bruce was giving him a soft smile, a knowing look hanging in his eyes. "How are you doing, Clint? You ok?"

He took a shaky breath, not wanting to admit anything at his best friend's wedding. Then again, there wasn't much to admit anymore. There was no changing anything. "I… I think I will be. I love… I loved her very much. I just have to get used to really sharing my best friend."

"Natasha loves you very much. I don't think you have to worry about sharing. You'll be ok."

"Thank you, Bruce. You're a really great man."

Bruce chuckled and jerked his chin in the direction of a brunette sitting next to Pepper. "See her? She's a friend of Pepper and Maria. You should introduce yourself at the reception later."

He felt his cheeks grow warm, so he waved Bruce off to take his seat and two workers pushed the doors shut behind him, the noise from the main hall growing to a dull hum.

"Clint?"

He turned; he had imagined her in a wedding dress before, but his thoughts could not touch the sheer beauty in front of him. The lingering sadness was replaced by an overwhelming sense of love.

"Oh, Natasha…" he breathed, offering her his arm as she drew closer, "You look… wow."

She laughed, that beautiful, beautiful laugh, and hooked her elbow into his. "Thank you, Clint. That means so much to me." They both smiled watery smiles at each other.

"I am so happy for you, Nat," he murmured. And he wholly meant it. She beamed. Turning her head to face the closed doors, holding her friends and family, all waiting for her, she took a deep breath. "Are you ok?" he asked at her hesitance. She nodded slowly.

"Yeah," she breathed.

"Are you ready?"

She shot her eyes over to their wedding coordinator, who was waiting for the cue for the first walk down the isle. She gave a single nod. Muted sounds of "Here Comes the Bride" filtered through the thick doors.

"Yes. I'm ready," she whispered, tightening her hand around his bicep. The workers pulled the doors open. The room had fallen silent beside the music; everyone rose to their feet to take in the first bride to walk, eyes almost as wide as hers.

"All right, Nat," he whispered under his breath as they both took in the scene, "Let's get you to the alter."


He spotted the brunette on the edge of the dance floor during the reception. As per Bruce's suggestion, he decided to introduce himself. There was something about her – warm and inviting. He broke away from the circle of feebly-attempting break dancers, which consisted of Steve, Thor, and Natasha, and shimmied over to her, offering his hand.

"May I have this dance?" he asked, taking on his most charming tone, the one that Natasha always teased him about.

"Oh!" the woman gasped, clearly startled out of her people watching. She quickly turned pink at her surprise and uncertainly placed her hand into his. "Um. Yes?" He grinned and lead her fully onto the dance floor as the song shifted to a slower one. They swayed for a bit next to the newly weds; Maria resting her chin on Natasha's head, their eyes closed and mouths stretched into identical, blissful smiles.

"I don't mean to… seem like a crazy fan, but…" the woman started, breaking their silence up until that point, "You're really Clint Barton, aren't you? The legendary Hawkeye?"

"Legendary?" he chuckled, "Thanks for that. And yes, I really am Clint Barton." He glanced over to the couple; she gave him a cheeky grin and a wink, mouthing, "Thank you." He grinned back, tipping his head to her, before returning fully to the swaying. "May I ask your name, miss?"

She flushed a deep red. "My name? M… my name is Laura."

"Laura…" He rolled the name around his tongue. It was sweet, kind, a completely different aura. "It's beautiful."