I'll never recover from the last chapter and I'm okay with that.
Chapter 150: Dr. and Dr. Stark-Banner
Upper East Side - 18:32 PM
After the ceremony, they headed to the reception which was at a private hotel in the Upper East Side. Their party is under Daniel's name so no press or sneaky hotel staff catch on. While the guests are enjoying cocktail hour, Emily and Daniel were off somewhere else with a photographer to get some wedding photos, capturing their first moments as husband and wife. They know that every shot has them smiling and being giddy with each other. Nothing is posed or exaggerated since their feelings of joy are genuine.
"You're now Dr. Stark-Banner," Daniel whispers to her.
"Dr. Stark-Banner…" Emily mutters just to hear it again. "It has a ring to it and now you have a ring on her."
Emily holds up her hand to show off her wedding rings. She watches Daniel smile at her and her cheeks heat up at the sight.
"You're making me blush," Emily tells him.
"It's our wedding," Daniel responds. "I want you to blush. I can finally call you my wife. I'm kissing my wife. You make me the happiest man alive."
"Try husband. It's unbelievable."
"I've locked this utterly beautiful moment in my memory. I could kiss you now."
Daniel leans in to kiss her but Emily holds up her hand with her rings to stop him.
"First things first," Emily says before smiling for the next photo.
-o-
Everyone applauded upon the entry of Dr. and Dr. Stark-Banner, their first appearance as husband and wife. Their smiles still as bright as when they first parted from the kiss that unified them, looking like they'll be there till death do them part. As all eyes were on them, Daniel steps to the side and opens an arm to point everyone to his beautiful wife and Emily bows her upper half as she extends her arm out for him to come back. Instead, he pulls her into his arms and scoops her onto the dance floor.
It's like they're the only two people in the room.
"First a dip and now you're sweeping me off my feet," Emily whispers in his ear. "We should've tied the knot before university if I knew it'd do that to you."
Daniel chuckles to himself. "So, was this wedding everything you wanted?"
"I planned it and married you so obviously, but there was more."
Off to the side, Sigyn smiles at the sight of Emily and Daniel being more in love with each other in their dance. She can't read their lips but she can see the crinkle of the corners of their mouths with they talk and the softness in their eyes as they look at each other. The way Emily's holding Daniel's hand or how his hand is wrapped around the back of her waist. Sigyn never thought she would get to see this moment while trapped on Asgard but now seeing their intimacy like this made the agonizing wait worth it for her.
"Being with you brings back all those feelings," Sigyn says to Xavier as he walks beside her. "You know, all those kinds of crazy, can't-stop-smiling feelings?"
"If I wasn't thinking straight in Hel, I would've asked you to marry me," Xavier admits. It wasn't something that crossed his mind when faced with Hela and debating his life's status. If it was just Sigyn's return in his life, he would've asked the big question.
"If I was thinking straight, I would've said yes. Hela would've even officiated while we were there passing time and not running from her fleet." Sigyn looks at Xavier for a reaction and he's frozen, creeped out. She isn't lying when she said Hela would officiate. Her skeletons would serve as witnesses. "I'm sorry about Hel, by the way. I don't remember apologizing so I'm doing it again if it's the first time."
Her apology takes him by surprise. She's still convinced about how he's feeling amid her chaos. He wishes that he could take her pain, fight her battles, but in the end, all he can offer are support and be a constant variable. He'll stay the same and assure her that things will be okay. The first thing he's succeeded in is bringing back a smile he's missed so much.
"I've been trying to remember what it was like before I loved you, when I could look at you and not want to kiss you," Sigyn continues. "Times have changed and there's no going back. You've seen my past, been with my present, and know my future, and you still want to love me. You've seen the weight of my heart and you still want to hold it."
"So you still love me?" Xavier asks with a small smile.
Sigyn quickly kisses him. "Who says I've stopped?"
"I want you exactly as you are."
"No, you want Britney. You're with me on a whim that I'll one day be her again."
"You're with me in hopes that I go back to throwing footballs instead of the shield."
-o-
Apollo and Freya are one of the couples dancing to the side as Emily is having her father-daughter dance. Apollo can't help but notice that he and Freya haven't danced like this since he took her to prom since she wanted to go. It isn't really dancing but more swaying side-to-side while she has her hands on his shoulders and his hands are wrapped around her waist or resting on her hips. Despite this moment not even being close to prom, he isn't sure if it's the same or different feeling. Maybe it feels different because people dance differently when they know they won't live forever.
"Are you enjoying yourself?" Apollo asks Freya to distract himself from his thoughts.
"Are you?" Freya asks before glancing at him. "I can hear your joints exploding."
Apollo scoffs since his joints aren't exploding. "I hate dancing but how was the wedding?"
"It was a beautiful experience. My first moral wedding."
"I should've brought you to Iqadi's wedding."
"Did you know that I met her for the first time recently? At the wedding dress appointment?"
Wow, his return is really memorable. He's happy he has his mind back to experience it. First, Emily and Daniel got married and now he learned that Iqadi and Freya met for the first time recently. He didn't even realize they've never met before. Tears spring in his eyes and he doesn't stop them from falling as he watches the wedding happen around him. His friends and family: dancing, chatting, drinking, watching. They're here.
"Why are you crying?" Freya asks. They stop dancing and Freya focuses Apollo's face back on her as she wipes his tears with her fingers.
"Because you met Iqadi and now everyone's here and happy," he responds.
"The two events aren't related."
"Of course they are."
"That makes you sad?"
"No, I'm happy."
"But you're crying."
"I swear, I'm happy."
He isn't sure about himself. Apollo wishes things were different. The wedding is the perfect antidote to his seven, now eight-year trauma. Watching Emily and Daniel exchange their vows and rings reminded him that love and optimism still exist, even when things seem too dark. He almost feels normal again. But seeing Emily dancing with Daniel and now her father made him think about Freya. She can't have that father-daughter dance at her wedding since her father died when she was seven. She couldn't even have her mother crying about her big day since she died on the same day while giving birth to her stillborn brother.
Apollo should dance with Freya more at this wedding since he doesn't know if they'll get married. If Ragnarök were to happen before, then this is the only wedding dance he could ever get with her.
-o-
James and Angela sit off to the side, leaning against each other as they watch Daniel have a mother-son dance. Other couples are dancing with the centre couple except for them and Merida and Blake. Angela hugs James around his torso with her feet up on their bench and her heels on the floor in front of her. James has an arm over her shoulders and his head is resting on top of hers. Contrary to that, Merida and Blake are sitting straight next to each other, watching everything unfold as they whisper to each other. Angela and James might have been watching them the whole time.
"Babe, you don't mind if I snag a dance with Merida, right?" James asks her.
"As long as I can dance with her date," Angela says. Her voice sounds like she's joking but everyone knows she isn't.
"Um, no," James says without hesitation.
Angela looks up at him. "You're saying no to your future wife?"
James scoffs. "Please, we're not getting married now. I can never live up to those vows and he winged those!"
"I can't believe Daniel got married today. Emily's whatever but Daniel."
"Me neither."
"You know, they say that weddings are infectious and I could go for a fairytale wedding. What about you?"
With his free hand, James chugs another glass of champagne.
-o-
After the dancing, Emily stands in the centre holding her bouquet. Despite the majority of the guests, the parents and Iqadi and Imanu, being married, Emily wouldn't pass up this ritual. Besides, there are still some singles who could participate. Apollo encouraged Freya to go for the sake of mortal weddings and because it could be a sign for him to propose, Sigyn figured why not, and Angela couldn't be stopped by James. Blake gestured for Merida to join and she refused without giving it another thought but used cuss words. Even her parents and friends wanted her to go for it and she refused, holding the cake cutting knife ready to shank anyone who encouraged her again. Still, Blake finds himself standing with the three other women and Merida's prepared to slice him and the bouquet.
"You ready?" Emily asks rhetorically.
Emily turns around and grips the base of her bouquet. She isn't sure where to aim it based on the mind map in her head and her predictions of who will move where once the flowers go airborne. She mutters calculations, eyes moving as if she's carrying ones and lifting exponents.
Iqadi snickers to herself as she looks around. "Daniel looks really happy that he's now married."
"Marriage does that to you," Imanu responds, kissing her cheek.
Iqadi points at Emily still doing mental math. "Darling, the bouquet toss. Who's catching it? Freya, Sigyn, Angela, or Blake."
"A warrior goddess, most powerful sorceress in all the realms, SHIELD-trained super-soldier spawn, or a mortal man." He doesn't hesitate. "Blake."
She was thinking the same. "That's why I love you."
Emily finally tosses the bouquet. Everyone not participating isn't sure whether to watch the flowers or the people below.
Blake stood to the side, not wanting to get involved in that catfight. Angela nearly leaped for it but Sigyn pounced on her, sending them both to the ground. Xavier and James cheer as Angela yells at them. Before Freya could get it, Sigyn blasts her with magic to knock her over. Apollo yells at her and Sigyn and even Freya laugh.
The bouquet flies over all their heads and lands right in Fury's arms.
Everyone's silent. Nobody is more confused than Emily who could've sworn she excluded Fury in her equations.
"Wow," Imanu states. "I love weddings."
-o-
After the bouquet, Emily and Daniel stand in front of the masterpiece wedding cake made at Emily's bachelorette party. They retrieved the knife from Merida who didn't shank anyone and held the handle together as they carved out the first piece. Once it was out, Emily holds the place as Daniel puts their piece there. As he puts down the knife. Emily takes out a small portion with her hands and smashes it in his face, as expected, and Daniel pushes their plate so the rest gets on her face. She gasps as if she didn't see that coming and Daniel laughs as he kisses her.
Eventually, everyone got their own slice.
"I never took you for a crier," Blake says to Merida.
During the ceremony, Merida maybe teared up and possibly brushed an arm by Blake, wanting to hold him so she doesn't collapse in sobs. He looked at her and that's when she stopped but it was too late. He already saw too much.
Merida looks up from her piece of cake to scowl at him. "My best friends got married."
"I know I was there. Studies show that people generally have the most fun time with their friends and partners in a shared space. Here, you have that. It's beautiful to have all that history with people."
"Of course you have a study to back up my emotions. Has Director Fury spoken to you?"
"Your pirate godfather? He smiled at me."
Merida suddenly loses her appetite for the cake. When did that conversation happen and what was spoken? It could've just been an exchange of smiles which is weird enough. "How were my parents?"
"Really normal for assassin Avengers. Your dad showed me pictures of you when you were younger. You haven't changed much."
Merida almost breaks her plate in her hands. "Of course he did. My parents are deluded enough to think they're cool parents."
"That's like my mom but she's actually cool."
"You're not making me meet her."
Blake grins. "One day."
-o-
The party changes a little as time passes: everyone seems younger again, almost as if Emily and Daniel married right after high school. The seven-now-eight years never happened. Everyone's the same yet it's all different. They've all grown apart for a bit, some in wildly different directions, but they've always known that this would be the event they would come back together to celebrate.
After the reception, Xavier's off to the side chatting with some parents. His suit jacket is thrown over his shoulder and his white sleeves are rolled up. His face and arms are animated as he tells the stories about their missions. Sigyn's staring, not even listening to the group's battle against Daniel's hulk when they were separated, and Freya notices and knows why.
"What woman wouldn't fawn over such a golden-hearted, righteousness," Freya says, nudging Sigyn. "Look at that boldness and that sheer heroism."
Sigyn glances over confused. Did Freya really say that? Is she drunk? "Who are you?"
"Oh, my bad, it's not heroics that swoon you, it's power."
"Again, who are you?"
Freya smiles a little. "We're at a mortal wedding so I'm acting like your mortal friends. I'm fitting in."
"Dear gods … so, where are you and Apollo going after this?"
"I'm going back with Thor and Jane." Then she shrugs. "I'm not sure about Apollo. What about you?"
"Staying here, wishing that Emily and Daniel will have all the happiness and hope in their honeymoon while being too busy making genius babies to be concerned about the rest of us."
"Same!" Apollo exclaims as he stands between them, putting a hand on each of their shoulders. "That's my plan too. What about you guys?"
He nods towards Iqadi, Imanu, Angela, and James.
"Back to Wakanda," Imanu responds.
"We have some business to take care of," Iqadi adds. "Imanu's sister might've overthrown my parents in our absence."
"It's been about three days," James says. "You should've left after bouquet toss."
Angela looks at Apollo. "So, I take it you're still crashing at our place."
"If you'll have me," Apollo responds.
"What?" James asks. This is a conversation he should've been a part of.
Angela smiles at him. "It's our place now."
James groans. "Goddammit, I should go grocery shopping again. You two and Freya eat so much."
James stops complaining when the glowing bride walks over to them. Emily smiles brightly and contagiously, prompting them to smile back.
"Thank you guys for coming," she says, folding her hands at her chest.
"Why wouldn't we have?" Apollo asks.
"I'm doing a customary thanks, Apollo."
"Well, now I'm giving a customary, you're welcome, Emily."
"That's now Dr. Stark-Banner to you."
Apollo is offended as everyone around them acknowledges that burn. Emily grins at him but isn't kidding. Still, Apollo might call her only that from now on and she won't stop him.
"Wow, okay then," Apollo says.
Emily's smile softens towards him. "I'm glad you came back."
"Me too. I'm glad you finally got married."
"Me too."
Meanwhile, across the room, Merida and Blake watch the party calm down. She isn't sure if she's tired. She isn't sleepy but she also isn't in the mood to do anything else. She wants to go back home and fall asleep for another week. People could always tell when Merida was faking a smile because she doesn't look friendly. She would look like she wanted to throw up. Today? Today was great. Today was a big day and she'll need a while to rest from it.
"So, your place?" Blake asks her.
"Are you going to pack?" Merida asks, knowing that Blake had to head back to San Francisco first.
"Not right away. I texted my editor and said I was working on something in town. Why? Are you kicking me out? Shooting my brains out? You almost shanked me earlier."
"Give me your phone."
"Why?"
"Just trust me."
Blake hands it over, unlocked. Merida types something in it. Blake gets it back and has to put on his glasses to see. (Earlier, he did the same thing when Clint wanted to show him photos of Merida when she was younger. The moment the glasses came out, all the girls swooned while Merida rolled her eyes. Merida should've forced him to wear his contacts.) Blake scrolls through his phone and when he sees it, he looks at her in disbelief and she hides her grin behind her champagne glass. Blake sees her smiling, knowing that she hates him so, so much. He's someone she'd want to have all this emotional crap with.
"Is this what I think it is?" Blake asks to be sure.
"My number," Merida responds.
Blake isn't sure what to say. He never thought he'd get it and now he has it.
"Thank you both for coming, especially you Blake," Daniel says as he approaches them, saving Blake from a stunned silence. "It was great meeting you. I hope you stick around."
"Yeah, I hope so too but she just gave me her number so I think I'm fine," Blake responds.
Shocked, Daniel looks at Merida who's pointing the cake knife at him in case he comments. He clears his throat. "Anyways, my wife - I still can't believe I can say that now."
Merida snorts a laugh. "You're such a dork."
"So sue me, my wife can afford lawyers. Anyways, Blake, Emily and I aren't leaving for our honeymoon right away so she said you can drop by anytime soon with your article."
"Of course."
"Merida could take you there."
"Thanks for planning our fourth date." He glances at Merida. "Your friends are so cool."
Merida points the cake knife at herself and that's when Daniel excuses himself from this conversation. He walks over to Emily who's talking with her parents and his. Once he arrives, he hugs his parents before Emily's, now his in-laws, knowing that Emily did the same while he was talking to Merida and Blake. Before the newlyweds embark, their parents give them a final blessing with tears of joy in all their eyes. Final cheek kisses and hugs are shared before Emily and Daniel hold hands and wave at everyone who cheers them on as they head out.
"Have I told you how beautiful you look?" Daniel whispers to Emily.
"Yes, but I could hear it again," Emily responds, poking his cheek to tease him.
"You, my wife, are beautiful." He kisses her cheek. When he first uttered the words my wife, a smile follows without thought. No one was happier for Daniel than Daniel. He had been looking forward to saying that as much as Emily enjoyed hearing it. "You managed to put together the wedding in a week."
"You mean, we got married in a week."
She keeps her eyes locked with his as she kisses their joined hands.
Again, I'm not crying. You are.
And now that my babies are married, I'm going on hiatus again. I have the next few arcs to plan, school to function in, other stories to write by self-given due dates, and other real-life things. Meanwhile, SA is having biweekly updates again (Wednesdays and Sundays).
This story will return on July 2, 2021. (Wow, that's uncanny to think.)