A/N: remember, anything in bold is spoken in Russian!

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Two weeks later, the day of the wedding

"My life is over." I was having trouble breathing. And rationalizing.

"Well, that's a bit of an exaggeration. Take a breath. And stop fussing."

"Yelena, I'm getting married today." I turned around and faced her.

"Yes, I know. Now shut up and let me finish your makeup." She spun my chair back so that I was facing the mirror again."

I smirked. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

Yelena's lips twitched into a smile. "Not even a little."

Emery ran into the room. "Ten minutes, people!"

"How come she's more bridezilla than you?" Yelena asked.

I laughed. "Because she's been planning my wedding since the day Steve walked into the diner."

Yelena wrinkled her nose. "Diner?"

"One of my covers." I waved it off.

"Anyway, you almost ready?" Emery asked despite the relevance it had to our current situation.

I nodded. "Yes, I think I am."

"And five minutes ago you thought your life was over," Yelena teased. She leaned down. "But it's only just the beginning."

Just then, someone knocked on the door to the room.

"Identify!" Emery called out.

"Clint."

"Role?"

I rolled my eyes. "Em, just let him in."

"Nope, not until I get an answer."

Clint sighed on the other side of the door. "Maid of honor."

Satisfied, Emery opened the door just wide enough that Clint could slip inside. She didn't want anyone else—namely Steve—to see me before the wedding.

Clint's gaze landed on me. "Nat...Wow."

"I clean up nice, huh?" I twirled, the skirt of my gown spinning with me.

"Incredibly." He hugged me. "So, how are you feeling? Did I succeed in my job of making sure you get out there to marry Steve?"

I paused. "I'm feeling more nervous than I was anticipating. And a little...weird."

Yelena perked up at this. "Weird? Weird how?"

"Just...nerves probably." I avoided her gaze. I didn't need her thinking I was bailing on our plan.

Emery squeezed my hand. "You're gonna be great, Nat." She checked her watch. "Ok, five minutes."

I took a deep breath, watching as Emery instructed Lila where to stand for her role as flower girl.

Yelena and Pepper stood behind her at the ready.

"To answer your second question, Clint, you absolutely succeeded." I nodded to my friends. "I'm ready."

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

I walked down the aisle next to Fury, who'd agreed to be my escort, toward Steve. His smile widened with every step.

"I'm so proud of you, Natasha," Fury whispered to me. He hugged me before letting me take my place opposite of Steve. Once we stood under the arch of flowers—created so cleverly by Tony, Sam, and Bucky just like they did on our engagement night—Sam began his spiel.

"Friends, agents...Bucky. We are gathered here today to celebrate the joining of our favorite power couple, Natasha Romanoff and Steve Rogers." Sam turned to us. "Shall we begin with the vows? Steve, you first."

Steve cleared his throat. "Nat—Natasha, you once asked me if it was down to you to save my life, would I trust you to do it. In that moment, I had no idea that you would prove to save my life in more ways than one. Natasha Romanoff, you are my forever and always. My heart and soul. My one and only. I love you. And there is no one else I would rather do life with but you." His voice cracked.

I felt tears brimming my eyes.

"Natasha, your turn." Sam nodded to me.

I wiped at my eyes with my fingers, careful not to mess up my makeup. "Steve, ever since the day I met you—before the battle of New York—I felt that we had a connection. At the time, we were just colleagues, and I was still in a mindset that I couldn't love anyone. Then there was that day on the escalator when we kissed for the first time. And the look in your eyes after when you caught my gaze...I knew. I knew I wanted to be your last first kiss. Because you, Steven Grant Rogers, are my everything. And I'll love you forever."

"Now we'll exchange the rings." Sam gestured to Bucky and Clint respectively who gave us the respective rings to give each other.

"Do you, Steve Rogers, take Natasha Romanoff to be your lawfully wedded wife?" Sam asked.

Steve smiled. "I do."

"And do you, Natasha Romanoff, take America's A—I mean, Steve Rogers, to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

I took a deep breath. "I do."

"By the power invested in me by the state of California—and the internet—I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Steve pulled me close, dipping me slightly and hooking an arm under my leg. Then he kissed me as everyone around us cheered. But for me? We were the only two people left in the world.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

After the ceremony, Steve and I managed to slip away for a few minutes before we had to head out to the reception.

"Nat—don't you think—we should—save this for—the honeymoon?" Steve asked between heated kisses.

I laughed. "Think of this as the pre-honeymoon."

"Mm, in that case..." Steve smirked and pulled me closer. He kissed me again, his tongue dancing around my mouth.

I smiled into the kiss, tangling my hands in his hair. "I love you."

"I love you, too." His fingers fumbled with the zipper on the back of my dress.

I was planning on changing before the reception, so I just saw this as helping things along. But then I realized that as much as I was enjoying this, the moment wouldn't last forever. So I did the only thing I thought was logical.

"Steve, I have to tell you something." I broke our liplock and lightly pressed my hand against his chest.

His eyes scanned my face. "Nat, what's wrong?"

I shook my head. "Nothing's wrong. But, you should know I—"

"Hey, lovebirds!" Emery knocked on the door. "Save it for the honeymoon. Limo leaves in ten."

"We'll be there in a minute!" I called out to her. I quickly slipped out of my wedding dress and into a simpler white dress for the reception. Steve smoothed out his tux.

As I started for the door, Steve caught my hand. "Nat, you didn't finish what you were gonna tell me." He brushed his fingers over my face.

"Oh, right. It was just that I'm excited for the honeymoon." I kissed him and we headed to the limo. Even so, something had changed between us in that moment and I hated it.

"Nat, are you sure everything is alright?" Steve asked.

"Mm hm." I smiled at him.

We rode the rest of the way to the reception in silence. Steve kept sneaking glances at me but never said anything. When we got to the venue, Yelena stole me away.

"You're not drinking tonight."

"What?" I whipped my head to the side to face her.

Yelena rolled her eyes. "The plan. No drinking on the job."

I cleared my throat. "Right." I nodded, signaling to the bartender to make sure my champagne was really just sparkling apple cider.

"Lena." I stopped her as she started to walk away.

"I know." She squeezed my hand, giving me a slight nod of understanding. "Now, go be with your husband."

"Thanks." I hugged her before walking over to Steve.

He laced our fingers together. "Whatever is on your mind—and I know something is—it'll all work out, I promise."

"Thank you." I kissed him. "Let's enjoy tonight."

If only you knew...

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

After the speeches and several clinking glass kisses, Steve and I had our first dance. As he held me close, I realized I was about to make a terrible mistake.

"Natasha, this is our wedding day. Why are you looking at me like that?" Steve asked as we danced. He twirled me and then pulled me close again.

"Steve, there's something—"

CRASH

Screams broke out, and Steve pulled me to the ground, cursing about not having his shield.

"Are you ok?" he asked.

No. "Yeah. I'm ok." I got up, pulling out one of the hidden weapons in my dress. "I love you, never forget that, ok?" I kissed him and then ran toward our party crashers.

Sam, Bucky, and Clint tried to get everyone back somewhere safe, and Tony had powered up his Iron Hand—the only part of the suit he'd brought with him to the wedding. Yelena and I fought together, like a structured dance, flipping our weapons against the men who'd shown up out of nowhere. 

Then Yelena did the one thing I wasn't expecting: She got in my way.

"Take me." Yelena stood in front of one of our attackers. "Leave her. I'm your problem now."

"Lena, what are you doing?" I asked her. Emery held me back, struggling to do so as I resisted.

"Protecting you. You need to go. Now!"

"No! Not without you!" I screamed, curling my hands into fists.

"I love you, Natasha. I love you." Her voice broke as she spoke her last words: "You're going to make a wonderful mother."