The Soldier's Goddess

The dancing lessons had started paying off; Steve was really good now. He only trod on Kari's feet two or three times per song. The mansion was booked and the girls were being taken to Pepper's mom's house for a few nights. Tony had wanted a castle, but Pepper couldn't find the right one, so they settled on a mansion which looked like a castle. On Long Island, it was an hour's drive, but no-one minded. Tony, Pepper, Clint, Natasha, Bruce Kari, and Steve would be staying from December 30th until January 2nd, in theory it was to give them a chance to clear up before leaving, but Kari was pretty sure there would be alot of sleeping and recovering from hangovers! Everyone who worked for Stark Industries was invited, along with a few important people - the Mayor for one. He loved Stark parties, so was pleasantly surprised to hear where it would be held this year.
"Have you got everything ready, Kari?" Steve asked as he came out of their en-suite bathroom, wearing just a little towel wrapped round his waist, and a billowing gust of steam following behind him.
"Mm hm, I think so," she said, distracted. Ok do I really need this? she thought, looking at the new underwear she had bought the week before. Yes, definitely, she grinned to herself, hiding it carefully in her suitcase. Just as she was opening the closet to get her dress, her phone buzzed. A text from Natasha.

He's finally asked me! ~ N

To marry you?! ~ K

Don't be daft, no he asked me out this morning. ~N

I thought you two were already dating *oops* ~K

:P ~N

"What's up?" Steve asked her, as she sat on the edge of the bed giggling.
"Oh, um Clint and Nat are finally dating," she smiled, looking up.
"I thought they were already," he said, looking confused, and drying his hair with a towel.
"Hahaha, yeah me too, just don't say that to them." Steve bent down to kiss her and his towel fell to the floor. "Mmm, as much as I would like to Steve," she grinned, "we have to leave in half an hour if we're to get there before traffic becomes a nightmare." He scowled at her.
"Fine, but I'll get you later."
"I like the sound of that," she teased. "I'll wait for you upstairs, we're going with Bruce. Tony and Pepper are going straight from Pep's mom's, and Nat and Clint, well, I'm sure they'll arrive at some point," she winked, leaving Steve stood there not completely sure of what she was on about.

When they arrived, everyone gasped. It was so beautiful. It looked just like a small castle, and the gardens were spectacular. They led down to a small rocky path, which ended at a small, private beach. The ballroom had already been mostly decorated, it was just missing the final touches; and of course the food and drinks! Tony had hired a mini orchestra for the party. It was going to be amazing.
"How are the girls?" Kari asked, as Pepper walked into the ballroom.
"Really good, yeah," she smiled. "Mom shooed us off, after an hour, saying she had done this before, stop worrying and to enjoy ourselves. Is it bad that I miss them already?"
"No, not at all. They're only three weeks old, of course you're going to miss them."
"Thanks chick." Pepper gave Kari a big hug.
"Want to go for a walk?" Steve whispered in his girlfriend's ear. "The bags are upstairs, we can unpack later, but for now, I want to go and check out the gardens." They left the room, hand in hand. Kari was having a wonderful time already. She loved it in the city, but she missed the countryside, the raw beauty of nature. Of course the added bonus here, was that Midgard had so many different birds, insects, bugs and so on, compared to the ones she was used to on Asgard.

The next night, she emerged from her room, with Nat and Pepper, dressed in her loose fitting, long red dress, with a large slit up the side. Her hair was loose, her dark wavy curls bouncing past her shoulders. Her Christmas present from Steve was around her neck; a gorgeous silver necklace with a tiny diamond heart shaped pendant. The orchestra were starting to play, she heard from upstairs. As the three women began to walk down the stairs, three mouths, stood waiting at the bottom, dropped to the floor.
"Wow, you look amazing, just like a goddess" Steve murmured to her, wrapping his arms round her waist and kissing her.
"Ahem, I hope you won't be doing that all night," said a voice from behind them. Kari stopped kissing him and looked to see who the voice belonged to. She had an idea, but she wanted to confirm it.
"Darcy!" she shrieked. "You made it."
"Yeah, Jane's over there," she grinned. "Thor arrived at our place yesterday and asked her to accompany him to the ball. Man I love the old fashioned way he speaks," Darcy laughed.
"Did you bring someone then?" Kari asked, smiling as her friend blushed.
"Um, not really," she said, lowering her voice. "Although there is a guy here, someone I've been wanting to ask out for a while now." She whispered a name in Kari's ear, and Kari grinned.
"I'm sure I can arrange that, because I know for a fact that he likes you too." She went off to find him, and came back with a large smile on her face and a very red, stammering Bruce Banner. She left them to it, and grabbed Steve's hand. "Come on, let's dance."
Steve was so nervous, but he didn't tread on Kari's toes all night. He just stared into her eyes and couldn't help but feel like they were the only two in the room. Kari looked around the room at everyone. They were all so happy, and it was though they didn't have a care in the world right now. Mingling with the other guests, Steve found Kari chatting to the Mayor. He waited for a moment to butt in and grab her.
"Let's go down to the beach," he said, smiling.
"It's quarter to midnight," she said, "won't there be the usual speech?"
"No-one will miss us," he whispered. They crept out and down to the beach. Kari had to take her shoes off at the bottom of the rocky path, in case her heels got stuck in the sand. She left them behind a rock and slipped her hand into Steve's, enjoying the feel of the sand between her toes. They could hear the laughter, the music, he party in the house behind them, and the peace of the scene in front of them, the water lapping at the sand by her toes. He stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, nuzzling into her neck. There was a gentle breeze fluttering across her face, and as she looked up, she could see the brightest star in the sky. Asgard. Her brother would probably be looking down at her right now, making sure she was ok, that Thor was alright. Thor was having a wonderful time. He and Jane hadn't moved from the dance floor all night.
"I love you," she murmured, as she felt Steve begin to nibble her neck. She lifted her arm up and curled it over his head, round his neck' then turned to face him. She looked him in his blue eyes, those eyes that she had first noticed when she first met him in 1942, when he was just that skinny guy from Brooklyn. She never forgot him, she never forgot the feeling that enveloped her the moment they first locked eyes. It was still there now, only stronger. Much, much stronger.
"I love you too," he murmured, and those sparks went flying round her body again, causing her to take a sharp breath in, and moving in closer to his body. "Kari," he said, cupping her face with his hand, and looking deep into her eyes. "Ever since I first met you, you have been like a breath of fresh air. You were so different to the other women I'd attempted to talk to back then. I was so nervous, here was a beautiful dame and here she was, talking to me as if I were a confident man. After you left, I thought you had just been a dream, but when I woke up a couple of years ago, there you were. It was like fate was telling me you were the one. Since we've been together, I've been the happiest I've ever been, my entire life. But I want you to do something for me." Kari tilted her head to one side, wiping away the tears that were beginning to fall.
"Anything," she whispered. The fireworks had started on the little island just off shore, and Steve got down on one knee, holding out a ring.
"Will you marry me?"
"Yes, yes, a million times yes," she cried, the tears flowing now as he placed the ring on her finger. She flung her arms round him and kissed him like she had never kissed him before.
"Happy New Year," he whispered, as she nuzzled into him. He wrapped his jacket around her shoulders as she was beginning to shiver now, and the pair made their way back to the party, making sure to grab Kari's shoes on the way.

Notes