Chapter 40
Tony stood in front of the large mirror, stroking his suit over and over. He got up very early in the morning because he couldn't even sleep, and now he had so much time that he didn't know what to do with it. And so he kept marching around the room here and there, his eyes burning to the clock, but the hands didn't seem to want to move. He had asked himself several times if they weren’t stuck.
He pulled a piece of paper from his trouser pocket, where he had written his vow in small print. He read it quietly so as not to stutter at the altar, and at least he shortened the waiting. "I, Tony, take you, Pepper, for my-"
"You're nervous, aren't you?" Tony winced as the door opened and Rhodey and Peter, both in suits, entered.
Stark grinned. "You would be too if you were to get married today."
"Then you'll wait," Rhodey laughed, setting a plate of food on the table. Tony hugged his son briefly. "Did you eat?"
"A little. My stomach is contracted with fear."
"Don't worry, Mom won't run away," Peter laughed, turning to Rhodes. "You should find someone now, Uncle Rhodey," he teased him, a twinkle in his eye. Apparently, he took it as his mission to bring all his loved ones to the wedding.
Rhodey preferred to get over it. "You look good," he praised his best friend's appearance instead, wiping an invisible speck off his shoulder.
"Well, if you wanted to ask me for a hand, you should have rushed it. I'm quite a in demand if you haven't noticed. There are queues for me, buddy," Tony joked, and the three of them laughed. Then he changed the subject. "Have you seen Pepper?" he asked innocently.
"Even if we did, we wouldn't tell you anything anyway," Peter teased, and Tony grunted in annoyance. "But don't worry, just wait a minute and you'll see her. She definitely looks beautiful. Maybe I should go check on them," he suggested, and by the time one of them could stop him, he was gone.
"Shouldn't the rule that the groom can't see the bride before the altar be generalized to all men?" Tony complained.
Rhodey patted him on the back with a laugh. "Don't worry. Fortunately, he's just your son, and he certainly won't endanger you."
•••
As Pepper entered the small anteroom where Michelle, Laura, and Natasha were already sitting, the three of them gasped when they saw the bride. Even though they'd seen her in her dress — and Michelle even before had taken pictures — they still couldn't help themselves.
"You look stunning," Laura breathed, and immediately stood up to admire her closely. Natasha joked that when Tony saw her walking down the aisle, he would faint, and Michelle hugged Peter's mother lightly.
"Thank you," Pepper smiled absently, unaccustomed to this. She had barely recognized the woman when she saw herself in the mirror. She wore only fine make-up, her strawberry-blond hair curled into curls and tucked into a proper bun, and her face was deliberately lined with only a few strands of hair. The snow-white dress was, in a word, fit for a princess. They were on hangers, the corset was richly decorated, and the wider skirt and siding flowed to the ground.
"Haven't you seen Tony?"
"If you're afraid he ran away, don't worry, he wouldn't miss this for anything," Natasha assured her, winking at her. After a long time, she was wearing a dress and she felt a little uneasy about it because it wasn't her style. But when Bruce saw her, he almost didn't put together a coherent sentence, and it was definitely worth it.
There was a short but striking knock on the door, and Peter peered inside. When he saw his mother, he opened his mouth wide and just stared for a moment. All the women laughed.
"And that's what Tony will look like," Natasha said aptly, followed by another wave of laughter.
"You look beautiful, Mom," Peter breathed, stepping inside. Then he noticed Michelle and froze in place. His brunette was not wearing a dress, but black shiny pants, a white tank top, and a dark jacket over his shoulders. For a moment - just a little moment, he regretted not seeing her in a dress, but she looked perfect like that. He changed direction and instead of Pepper, he went to see his girlfriend. He hugged her and kissed her on the cheek until she blushed. "And you look perfect," he whispered.
"It suits you, too," she replied, smiling at him.
"I came to check on you," Peter reported, taking Michelle by the shoulders with one hand. "Dad's already asking for you, Mom."
"How unexpected," Nat said, winking at her best friend.
•••
"Dad's standing by the altar," Peter announced, peering out. It could be seen how nervous Pepper was, constantly adjusting her clothes and tossing a bouquet of tulips. "Almost everyone is there... we'll be there in a minute. Where is Loki?"
"Here," a familiar voice said, and Pepper turned with relief when she saw a dark-haired man in an elegant black suit coming. He looked at Pepper from head to toe and smiled a little embarrassed at her. "You look quite nice."
"Oh, Loki!" Pepper breathed and hugged him. He returned the hug, but he glanced over his shoulder at Peter, who was giggling. "I'm so glad you're here," she whispered. Loki just nodded, and he didn't have to answer anything to his relief, as the soft melody of the piano was heard. Peter stood with a wide smile on Pepper's left side, Loki on her right. They both offered her a frame, she hung up on them and they went out together.
As they approached the alley between the chairs, all the wedding guests began to rise. She saw Steve smiling among them, beside him Bucky and Sam; Bruce, who was watching the bride by force of will, not his red-haired girlfriend; the Barton family; Thor; photographing Michelle...
And Rhodey and Natasha were already standing at the altar... and finally Tony, waiting, who smiled broadly and lovingly at her until her heart fluttered.
Both of her dear boys led her to the altar. She hugged them and whispered to them that she loved them. And then they, too, went to sit down, and Tony gently took her hand and squeezed it. Pepper's heart was pounding loudly.
"You look beautiful," he told her, and she smiled at him, and the bridegroom began his wedding speech.
"Dear wedding guests, dear fiancés," he addressed them. "Let me welcome you here on this day that is important not only for you but for everyone involved. Today is one of the most important days in your life. There is a great responsibility with it because from today you want to live life together, faithfully, for better or for worse. You have the happiness of the other in your hands, and he expects a life of love, tolerance, and support.
Peter sat in the front row, holding Michelle's hand and watching his parents, with tears in their eyes, looking at each other with infinite love. He was so happy, especially for them, that this day had finally come and they would be really theirs because they simply belonged together.
"Living together is made up of many nice and unpleasant events. But you should always live in respect for the other and solve all unpleasant events together or try to avoid them. Only when you stand together in all circumstances and support each other can your marriage be happy. Therefore, strive to keep the spice of your life of pure and self-sacrificing love and concern for the other. Respect and protect that.
Dear fiancés, I am glad to be a part of your wedding day and I firmly believe that you will be happy and satisfied in your marriage. I believe that your common journey through life will be happy and exactly as you dreamed of. And now let's move on to the vows. Miss Potts?" He turned to Pepper first. Natasha handed her a piece of paper with her promise, and when she felt someone's gaze on her, she lost her eyes to Bruce and smiled at him. He shone like the sun.
Pepper's hands trembled and her throat tightened, she was afraid she wouldn't get a sound. Butterflies flew in her stomach, and she still couldn't believe that this day had come, and she was standing in front of a man who was her whole world.
“Could you watch him for a while? I promise it will be just a moment. Thank you!"
"Don't be mad at me, but that's a horrible name. I've got it! We'll call you Pepper.”
„Our. He is our son.“
These were the best years of my life with you by my side. I can't just forget about you, Pepper. I need you, and so does Peter.“
"You're the most amazing woman I know, and that will never change."
"You'll never lose me, Pepper. Even if I was thousands of miles away from you, even if I was lost somewhere unknown in space, the two of us would find a way to each other.“
"Do you believe in fate, Pepper? In a soulmate?"
“Pepper, you know we’re gonna be together forever right?”
"I'm grateful, Pepper. So much.“
"Tony," she began, and she just said his name, peace sets in. Suddenly there were only the two of them. "Years ago, I spent a long time wondering if I would ever find my prince. My love. My soulmate. I thought... I convinced myself that I would never find anyone who wanted me and loved me. And when I stopped looking... you showed up.“
There was a quiet sob of emotion from the wedding guests, and Pepper was on the edge. Tony watched her so devotedly, so tenderly, she could barely bear the sight.
"When I joined Stark Industries years ago, I never thought that in addition to a great career, I would find my family, wonderful friends, and the best, craziest and bravest man I have ever met. Instead of just a career, I found everything I had been looking for subconsciously all my life, even though I said I didn't need anything like that. And now we are here and our common future is ahead of us. And I just want to spend it with you. My prince. My love. My soulmate."
Pepper was already crying. There were tears in Tony's eyes, too, and when Rhodey handed him his promised note, he refused and looked Pepper deep into his eyes.
“Potts. Virginia Potts.“
"Tears of joy. I hate job hunting."
"You won't lose what belongs to you.“
“I love you.”
"I made a lot of mistakes, Tony. I don't want to lose you, even though I almost lost you with my stupidity.”
"When you're with me, everything seems fine again.”
"I didn't believe in anything like that until I met you, Tony."
“But you know I love you because of who you are and not because of your name, do you?”
"You were and you are everything I have. You and Peter are my whole world.”
"No, that's good," he said to Rhodey. "I used to think that a day like this wouldn't happen in my life. I never thought I'd be able to... settle down. But still, I thought, even if there was a woman who loved me in spite of all my character flaws, I thought this would be the hardest thing in my life. But when I saw you walking down that alley, Pepper," he told her lovingly, "I realized how easy it is. I love you. Whatever happens to us in life, it doesn't matter, because I'll still love you. And I hope you will too. Because, let's be honest, life with me is not easy. And you have so much patience with me and you prove to me every day how much you love me. Whenever I was miserable, you were the reason I got up. Why I kept going. Every day you show me how beautiful life is when you have the right person by your side. I remember what you told me years ago: you don't lose what belongs to you. You are a woman with whom I am destined to spend the rest of my life. And I'm grateful."
"Oh, Tony," Pepper breathed, touched, tears streaming down her cheeks. Tony stepped closer to her and gently wiped them with his thumbs.
"I think it's clear to all of us how much love these two people have for each other," the devotee said again. "Still, I have to ask you: Miss Potts, are you taking Tony Stark here as your rightful husband?"
"I do," Pepper replied, smiling among her tears.
"I'm asking you, Mr. Stark, to consider Virginia Potts here as your rightful wife?"
"I do," Tony replied, grabbing Pepper by the waist.
"I hereby declare you Mr. and Mrs. Stark. Change your rings and then you can kiss the bride," he urged them with a smile. Natasha handed them the rings. Pepper put it on Tony and he gave it to her again. Then he blinked at her, pulled his wife close, and gave her a long and loving kiss. When he tilted her and she ran her fingers through his hair, everyone present burst into loud cheers. The loudest and happiest of them was, of course, Peter.