The Soldier's Goddess

The night of December 30th was the most nerve wracking Kari had ever experienced. Steve had gone to the Plaza, ready for the wedding there the following day. He was with Tony, Bruce, Thor, Phil, and Clint. Kari was still in Stark Tower with Pepper, Nat, Darcy, and Jane. They were spending Kari's last night as a free woman with a girl's night in. Pampering, chocolate, pizza, wine...... they were having fun! (Though only soft drinks for Kari). Amilie and Astrid had gone to Pepper's mom's again for a few nights, so Pepper was truly enjoying herself.

Steve and the boys were having a pizza and beer night. Tony had wanted strippers, but Steve managed to talk him out of it. It resulted in a sulking Iron Man, that was until Bruce reminded him that he could have as many strippers as he wanted when he got married and to suck it up, or 'the other guy' would have to try and convince him.

"Do we have anymore wine?" Darcy said, her feet on the table, toe nails drying.
"Yeah in the kitchen over there," said Pepper, a large, half eaten slice of a meatlovers with extra cheese hanging out of her mouth. Jane and Kari couldn't help but giggle as Darcy made her way over to the fridge, on her heels, her toes up in the air, waddling like a penguin.
"Shut it you two," she grinned, looking round at them, and walking into the breakfast bar in the middle of the room.
"Ooh see if there are any Pop Tarts in there, Darce," called Kari. "That's if Thor hasn't eaten them all again."
"Pop Tarts and pizza?"
"Don't knock it till you've tried it," Kari grinned. Sure enough there was a cupboard full of them, so they sat there eating Pop Tarts and pizza, drinking wine, slouched on the sofas and a ream of random movies playing in the background on the screen behind them.
"You know, it's like fish fingers and custard - sounds so wrong, tastes so good!" Nat grinned.

"How on earth did you manage to drink Tony under the table?" Clint was impressed. "You must have had about 20 of those beers, and I don't know how many shots."
"Super soldier serum," grinned Steve. "Metabolism burns four times faster, so I can't get drunk, no matter how much I drink."
"I like your style, Captain," Thor laughed. Not many people had the staying power of an Asgardian god, so it was a rare joy for Thor to find himself in the company of one such person on Midgard.

No-one in Stark Tower even attempted to stir out of their beds the next morning until noon. The wedding wasn't until 7 o'clock that evening, so they weren't too worried about sleeping in.
"Anyone want breakfast?" Jane called out.
"Yeah go on, throw me some pizza," Kari mumbled, rubbing her eyes.
"You know you aren't meant to have that, Steve said not until baby is born."
"Yeah I know," Kari sighed, but smiling at the same time. She loved how he still looked after her, without being too over bearing. It was their first child after all, anyone would be nervous. "Alright, I'll cook up some Pop Tarts if there are any left over."
"Ok, we have to be at the Plaza by 2 o'clock if we are to get everything done on time," said Pepper, walking in looking very awake.

"I'm getting married today."
"Steve are you ok?" Bruce asked, looked at the super soldier, who was very pale right now.
"Um, y-yeah, it's just I - I never thought, in my wildest dreams I would arrive at this day, especially in the old days, but now I'm here, I'm - I couldn't ask for a more perfect woman, a more perfect day."
"Urgh cut out the soppy crap, Capsicle," grinned Tony, messing Steve's hair up.

A few weeks ago, Kari had spoken to Heimdall. She hoped her could hear her still, even though she was no longer an Asgard resident. She took herself off to the roof of Stark Tower and sat down in a quiet corner, the winter sun warming her through a little, and she began talking.
"Heimdall, I hope you can hear me. I - I'm getting married in a couple of months and I'd really like it if you could come. You are still my brother after all. I can't post out invites to you all up there, so this is my invitation now. I would really like it if you could come, aswell as mom, dad, Thor, Sif, Hogan, Volstagg, and Fandrall. If Frigga and the All Father like to join us, I would be honoured. Heimdall, there's something else I want to ask you." She stopped her, tears starting to form in her eyes. "Heimdall, I'd like you to give me away please. You're the most important man in my life, after Steve now of course," she grinned. "You have always been there for me growing up, and I would love it if this honour would be given to you. I understand if you can't make it, we do have someone else, who understands that you are my first choice. If you do, it's - it;s at the Plaza Hotel, here in New York. It starts at 7 o'clock. Okay," she said, with a wobbly sigh, trying not to get too emotional, which was a bit hard these days, seeing as her pregnancy hormones had well and truly kicked in! She went back inside, into the warmth, wondering if he had even heard her. What she didn't know was that, yes, he had heard every word, and a single tear was rolling down his cheek, a huge smile on his face. He would speak to everyone that evening.

By the time the women arrived at the Plaza, and booked into their rooms, Kari was really nervous. The hotel was full of guests getting ready to party for the New Year, and here she was getting married. Everyone who spoke to her wished her congratulations, they were all so pleased. Her bump had started to show just a little, but nowhere near enough for anyone to guess she was carrying her first child.
Kari sat on one of the soft chairs in the room, while Jane did her hair, then Pepper did her make up. Just as she was admiring herself in the mirror, awestruck at how beautiful she looked, there was a knock on the door.
"I'll get it," said Darcy, in case that's the groom trying to sneak a peek." She opened the door and squealed, causing everyone in the room to look around. Sif, Frigga and Kari's mom walked into the room, arms wide open hugging Kari.
"Oh my god, I can't believe you made it," she said, trying not to cry, and mess up her makeup, hugging her mom. It had been a few years since she had seen her and she still couldn't believe she was here.
"I wasn't going to miss my daughter's wedding now was I?" her mom said, grinning from ear to ear.
"I'll order more glasses and champagne," Jane said, reaching for the room service phone.
"Ooh ask them to send up some Pop Tarts," Kari asked. Got a sudden craving for them again."
"And how is my niece or nephew?" grinned Sif, rubbing her little sister's belly.
"Absolutely fine," Kari smiled. The champagne (and Pop Tarts) arrived, and the women sat down talking, laughing, catching up and more importantly, getting ready for Kari's wedding.
"Mom, there's something I need to know before we go down there; who is giving me away?"
"You'll see when you get down there, love," her mom smiled, as she zipped up the back of her daughter's dress. Kari slipped her bronze shoes on, decorated in tiny little leaves and diamantes.
"Ready?" she asked everyone else. They all nodded. Darcy and Natasha were in their bridesmaid dresses, Pepper was wearing the same, but in red, because she was Kari's Maid of Honour. Their silver heels clicking the floor as they walked. Kari picked up her flowers, and opened the door. This was it, she was getting married. She had never been so nervous, yet excited at the same time.

Notes