The Captain's Husband

45. July 4, 2034 (Steve)

Translations at the end.

"...you are the light of my life, a world wonder, and the man I've been ass over teakettle in love with for well over a century. I remember the first time we met, you were this scrappy little punk with scraped knees and bloody knuckles," Bucky smiles sweetly. "And, well, look at you now, baby. Not only are you a light, but you're every single star in the sky and a world all your own. You are the reason why I fight to stay alive, why I fight to keep our family safe, and why I fight pretty much everything and anything. That statement, like the others I made a moment ago, has reminded me of the vows I made to you years ago, and it will frame the vows I renew today. I vow to fight for everything we have been, everything we are, and everything we could be. I vow to fight for you, no matter the cost. I vow to stay faithfully at your side as you run into the fires of Hell whenever the devil himself comes knocking on our door. I vow to catch your shield when you drop it, throw it, lose it, or whack yourself in the face with it." I grin at the thought, knowing it's bound to happen again, and I smile as he goes on. "I vow to stitch your wounds and care for each scar with a gentle hand. I vow to sing Coldplay to you when it rains, to sing your favorite Frank Sinatra songs to you when we're snuggled up close under the covers on snowy days, to sing Panic! At The Disco to you when you're anxious, and to save Led Zeppelin and Metallica for our long drives to nowhere. With all of that said, and so much more left unsaid, I will never let you go, and I will never let you go a single moment without my love. You're the music in my soul and the air that I breathe. Without you, I'd simply fall apart. Mein Liebling, ich liebe dich so sehr. Bis zum Ende der Zeile."

Oh, Buck.

"Captain," Tony smirks.

Jesus, help me.

"Immer," I smile.

Bucky grins, "Warten Sie, bis wir nach Hause kommen."

I sigh happily as I squeeze his fingers.

Oh, where to begin?

I smile softly as I say, "I vow to keep updating our vows as we go, because one set of vows can't begin to cover more than a lifetime of growth, change, love, and passion with you." Bucky smiles, his big steel blue, stormy-ocean eyes shimmering brilliantly. "One set of vows can't express how blessed I am to have a daughter that is really, truly ours." He looks at Ana, who grins as wide as she can, and we all smile at her. "One set of vows can't explain the way my heart dances in my chest every time you look at me, every time you smile, every time I steal a kiss from you, and every time I wake up to the sound of you sleeping like a drunken sailor beside me. And, love, just a reminder, you're an army man." He laughs, holding tight to my hands as he squeezes my fingers and takes a step closer to me. "If there's anything I've learned, it's that there are a million things that one set of vows can't explain or express, and a million other things that they don't prepare you for. But, because of the love you give me, and the love that we share, I was better prepared than I ever could have been for a life with you, and I will never be able to thank you for saving my life, for giving me another shot at this battle we call life." I step closer, closing the terribly short distance between us, and press my forehead to his. "Ich liebe dich hoffnungslos und verzweifelt und ich schwöre, ich werde dich immer do lieben...gestern, heute, morgen, für immer und für immer, bis zum Ende der Zeile."

"Dammit, Stevie," Bucky sighs, sunshine dancing in his eyes. "You always have to show me up, don't you?"

I smirk playfully, "Oh, come on, love. I'm no match for you."

"There isn't a dry eye in the room now," Sam quips at Steve, wiping at his eyes with the backs of his hands. "Thanks, Steve. Really needed that today."

Our family laughs, smiling with tears in their eyes, holding on tightly to each other under a canopy of string lights, flowers, and lanterns. It's beautiful, and I can't believe I'm here.

I look at Bucky, saying, "We should wrap this up before we're chased out of here, shouldn't we?"

Bucky grins, "We're going to get chased out of here regardless." He looks at Tony. "I think we've said more than enough, so the show's all yours, Tony."

Tony smirks, "Rings, then?"

After Ana brings us the rings and we slide them into place, Tony asks her to come back up to us. She waits patiently on the step below, wondering what on earth Tony is up to now.

"Ana, now that your fathers exchanged rings and resealed their promises, they want you to join them before your friends, family, and loved ones," Tony tells her.

She smiles and nods, saying softly, "Of course."

"Today is a special one," Tony says softly as he smiles at Ana. "If it weren't for you, Ana, we wouldn't be here, and your fathers wouldn't have the opportunity to share their love with you." Ana takes our hands and squeezes. "You're their legacy, a hero coming into her own, and you have an incredible future ahead of you. Your fathers are proud of what you've accomplished, and they know that when they leave this world, they will be leaving it in the best hands possible." Bucky puts his arm around her and hugs her shoulders. "With that said, and even though it should go without saying, their vows today are a promise to you." I press a kiss to the top of her head. "They will love, support, and care for you for as long as they both shall live. And, even after death, they will be working as hard as they can to help you from the other side." Ana smiles as Tony takes a brief pause. "Thank you for joining them here. You may return to your seat now, Ana."

She goes back to her seat next to Nat.

We look to Tony as he says, "Steve, Bucky, your journey in this life has been defined by a love so strong that it has actually affected other worlds and dimensions beyond our own. You have been blessed with a beautiful daughter and a family that you can come home to. My wish for both of you is that no matter the distance, no matter the pain, no matter the uncertainty, you will always come home to each other. I've been one of the lucky ones. I've been a witness to the bond you have, the love you share. And, fortunately for you, the people here today are the lucky ones. You have stood before these witnesses and declared your intent to recommit your lives to each other in marriage. You have made promises to each other and your family. Your road to this moment has not always been smooth, but you continued to fight for one another. I hope you will never forget the fight and perseverance it has taken to get to this moment, and I hope you will never forget the love and joy you feel today, because these are the values that will keep your marriage, family, and bond to one another strong." He grins. "And so, by the power vested in me by the President of the United States and Nicholas J. Fury himself, I now pronounce you, once again, Mr. and Mr. Rogers-Barnes. You may kiss your husband."

Translations:

My darling, I love you so much. Till the end of the line.

Always.

Wait until we get home.

I love you hopelessly and desperately, and I swear, I will always love you...yesterday, today, tomorrow, forever and always, till the end of the line.