If Anyone Has Any Reasons...
In the years that never were, news outlets around the globe speculated as to how grand the wedding of Tony Stark and Pepper Potts was going to be. And for a while, they had every intention of living up to the hype that the public had created.
But then there was a snap.
And half the world was gone.
Peter was gone.
Harley was gone.
And suddenly, the desire to do something extravagant was the furthest thing from Tony’s mind.
Instead, they’d gotten married in a small quiet ceremony with around a dozen witnesses. Pepper was already showing with Morgan at that point and while it wasn’t the fairy tale wedding he’d wanted to give Pepper, it had been enough for them at the time.
With this second chance, he had a second chance to give Pepper the wedding she deserved.
They were at a seaside estate on Long Island. They were going to exchange vows with the sea as their backdrop. The crowd still wasn’t overly large, and the area was beautifully decorated just the way Pepper wanted it.
Morgan was currently with her in the bridal suite as the girls got ready for the ceremony. During the rehearsal the night before, she’d been perfect in her overly frilly (but he’d let Pepper have that one) dress. Hopefully, today would go as smoothly.
Meanwhile, he had his two young terrors.
Though, they were behaving rather well at the moment. They both were partially dressed and at the moment were enjoying some snacks that were laid out on the other side of the room.
As if they felt Tonny looking their way, they turned and gave him grins bother bolting over and attaching to his legs.
“I’m glad I’m here for this, Papa.” Peter’s statement caused Tony’s heart to melt and he ran his head through the kid’s curls. It was almost time to attempt to tame them even though Tony was fairly certain that was a doomed adventure.
“He’s lucky we’re here. This party would be way more boring without us.” Harley’s comment, accented by his southern drawl, sent both him and Peter into a fit of giggles.
Shaking his head, he ruffled Harley’s wavy hair a bit harder than he had Peter’s. But inside, he agreed with their sentiments. His first wedding had been quiet, dull, and far more somber than the occasion warranted. But it was hard with half the world missing and more importantly two big holes left unfilled that day.
“Alright, you two. Let’s get you dressed and your bow ties tied. We’re due outside before too much longer.”
The two scurried off and headed for where they’d placed the shirts, jackets, and ties to go with their tuxes. Returning to Tony, they held them out and he shook his head. Turning to Harley, he helped him get it, the young fingers still working on getting the dexterity the older version of him had.
But it gave Tony an excuse to do more for the pair and enjoy them being at this younger age. Turning to Peter, he repeated the process before fixing their hair (after all, he had been the one to rumple it. He looked at the pair and smiled. “You both clean up rather nicely.”
Peter grinned while Harley puffed up his chest. Shaking his head at the boys, he grabbed his own jacket and slid it on. Nearby, Rhodey, Ben, and Happy were putting their jackets on.
Elsewhere in the building, he imagined that Pepper and the others were finishing their preparations as well. Despite the fact that they’d been married in the years that never were and had a child together in both timelines, she had still stubbornly refused to let him see her wedding dress.
Shaking those thoughts away, he’d see it soon enough, he led the small group out to the field where the ceremony would take place. Spring was showing its head and covering the field in pleasant warmth. Facing the ocean, he looked at the scene.
At the end of the aisle, there was an archway done up in hyacinths, lilacs, and forget-me-nots. The colors worked together to make it seem as if this wedding was heralding in Spring for the area. Along the aisle itself, mini-bouquets with the same flowers market each row of the aisle. A rose-gold ribbon wove between them and also wove with the flowers on the arch.
Contrary to popular belief, he’d never fought for red and gold for the wedding. Honestly, there were few things he wouldn’t have been willing to give Pepper to make this day as magical as he could.
Off to the side, a pianist and a string quartet sat warming up slightly. Guests were milling around, some having taken seats. As far as Tony was concerned, his family was in the wedding. Unfortunately, Ned and MJ weren’t present, there hadn’t been time to find a good reason (outside of revealing them as Peter’s friends and destroying the last bit of privacy he had) to invite them. But the rest of the time team was present. To his surprise, Agent Coulson of SHIELD was also present, standing inconspicuously in the back.
Part of Tony wanted to approach the man and accuse him of being the wedding crasher he was. Another part of Tony was still mad that Coulson’s death had been a cover-up to get the Avengers to work together. Ignoring the fact that it had in fact worked, they could have been told after.
Finding out in a late-night binge after Cap and Natasha had dropped everything on the internet - a nightmare he had every intention of avoiding - had not been the best.
But there was yet another part that was glad to see the Agent there. And in the end, that was the part that won out. He could deal with the past/future on a day that wasn’t his wedding.
“Mr. Stark!”
He turned to see the photographer holding his camera. “Can we get a candid shot with you and your sons?”
Tony grinned at the boys who were his in all but blood and they scurried over. Both boys placed themselves beside Tony, and all three proceeded to make faces. Some were made at each other, some at the camera. By the end of the short display, all of them were laughing.
“Mr. Stark, it’s time to get into position.” The wedding planner was suddenly beside him.
Nodding, he placed a kiss on the heads of both boys. Peter leaned into the affection, he was even more hungry for the attention than he’d been as a teenager. Harley, the little shit that he was, made a face and tried to pull away. “I’ll see you guys down there. Go easy on the wagon.”
“We know, Mechanic.”
“We’ll be careful, Dad.”
Satisfied that the two wouldn’t get into much trouble, he watched the wedding planner shepherd them inside to where the bridal party was waiting. Alongside Rhodey and his two groomsmen, he took his place at the end of the aisle.
The orchestra was already planning a selection of pieces, only some he’d recognized. This had been another area he’d let Pepper have control.
One of the few things he’d insisted on (not that he had to fight for it) was the frame that sat on the aisle seat on the front row on his side. There sat a picture of his mother. Knowing he had a moment, he walked over, kissed his fingers, and laid them on the frame. “You would have loved this, Mom.”
Going back to his location, he settled down. Surprisingly, despite having done this already, nerves flew. Maybe it was the fact that it was a big, proper wedding.
Looking out over the crowd, he saw the entire Stark Industries Board of Directors and their significant others. In the front row on the opposite side sat Pepper’s mother, the empty seat next to her awaiting Pepper’s father after he walked her down the aisle. He was well aware that he’d be lucky if the younger flower girl made it all the way down the aisle before she found herself in her grandmother’s arms. It was for the best instead of making her sit in that wagon for the ceremony.
While the Board had split themselves on both sides of the aisle, Pepper’s side was filled with her friends and family. Tony’s was filled with friends who he hadn’t known in the timeline. The X-Men sat about halfway back, a special place had been made for Charles’ wheelchair. The Ancient One, like Coulson, was trying to be as unobtrusive as possible. Tony was honored that she had been willing to come to the event.
The music switched to Pacabel’s Cannon. The doors to the Bed and Breakfast opened and out stepped May, grinning in a blue dress that beautifully matched the Forget-Me-Nots. Rose was next, mouthing "be ready" to Tony as her dress- matching May's- fluttered around her ankles. After her was Pepper's maid of honor, Katie.
Awwws and coos rippled through the audience next as Peter, Harley, and Abby appeared. Both boys had a hand on the wagon handle and they carefully made their way down the aisle. And as pretty as she could be, sat Morgan. Her dress matched the lilacs as she slept soundly, she made her ride down the aisle. A sign that said “here comes the Bride” was acting as a rear license plate. And behind her was little Abby, giggling as her own lilac dress bounced around her along with the flowers she tossed around.
Sure enough, the boys made it to the end of the aisle, and Pepper’s mother scooped up Morgan, who stirred for half a second before settling again. Rose kneeled down to grab Abby and whisper something to Harley that made him stand straighter. May winked at Peter, who grinned back at his aunt.
And then it was time.
The music shifted to the traditional wedding march.
Pepper stepped out, her father next to her, and all Tony could do was stare.
The dress itself was a mermaid style, covered in a lace overlay. Lace daintily decorated her neck and covered her shoulders, creating small cap sleeves. It continued down the dress before flowing to the bottom and creating a small train around her. With her hair up, the veil being supported by a tiara, she looked simply amazing.
As she walked down the aisle, Tony could not believe that she’d agreed to marry him for a second time.
She arrived and her father pushed back her veil and gently kissed her cheek.
Before them, stood a friend of Pepper’s family who was also a Reverend. He had been delighted to perform the ceremony for them. Seeing them ready, he looked at the crowd.
“Who gives this woman to be married to this man?” He asked.
Pepper’s father smiled at the couple. “Her mother and I so do.”
Carefully, he placed her hand in Tony’s, and Tony nodded at the man. He turned now fully facing Pepper. “You look… gorgeous.”
She smiled.
The pastor cleared his throat and the couple turned to him.
“Today Tony and Pepper take the first steps on a new journey. A journey that brings adventures, challenges, and moments of courage. Marriage brings two people together like nothing else, uniting two people who love each other unconditionally, and with endless strength.
Tony and Pepper’s relationship has blossomed into a love that brings out the best in each other, care that knows no boundaries, and a dedication to taking on the world together. Marriage brings a new commitment, and it is one built on a strong foundation. It’s a promise that has existed in the way that you support, appreciate, and encourage each other, long before today.
Today marks the beginning of a new stage in your lives together, a moment that we are all honored to share with you. Should anyone present know of any reason that this couple should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace.”
There was a hush on the ground and then suddenly, someone cleared their throat. Tony turned to see a man he recognized instantly. The makeshift (not as good as his) arc reactor glowed behind his shirt and Tony could see he had the handles of the whips he’d used in the previous timeline.
Around the man, guests began to shift uncomfortably. Without thinking about it, without hesitating, Tony stepped in between Pepper and the man.
He knew they would have to face each other, he just hadn’t planned it to be at his wedding.
But standing in front of him was Ivan Vanko. He grinned as he spoke, his accent thick. “I have a few reasons. One of which is that Tony Stark will be dead very soon.”