#Silver Screen magazine

[thursdaymurderbub]

Silver Screen magazine, April 1940

[jeanharlowshair]

Silver Screen Magazine, May 1940.

[the-myrna-loy-blog]

[peterlorrefanpage]

Peter Lorre Article: Silver Screen, August 1935

"He doubtless will be the sensation of the season."

Hear, hear!

Full article spanning 2 1/8 pages:

[End of article]

I had to excerpt this from page 2:

I can picture that rosy-cheeked shy smile and the sparkling brown eyes, but - "bulbous"? NEVER have discerned he was a brilliantly illuminated star? Fie!

[dontbestingybaby]

from Silver Screen Magazine, October 1931

original caption:

GRETA GARBO

FROM respectful fans the Garbo admirers have changed to violent partisans. So much so that Garbo moved her Hollywood residence again. She resented the sight-seeing busses. How Garbo-like and lady-like for to withdraw quietly, having no controversy with the vulgar

Photographer: Clarence Sinclair Bull

[soulmaking]

Dolores del Río in Picture Play, January 1930

[fayegonnaslay]

Movie Poster for The Unholy Wife starring Diana Dors and Rod Steiger. Photoplay Magazine, 1957.

[perfectmagazineenthusiast]

[metalandmagi]

In honor of Women's History month, I just want to remind people that some of the most influential and popular manga in the anime community are written/illustrated by women. And I'm not just talking about groundbreaking shojo like Sailor Moon, Fruits Basket, Card Captor Sakura, or Black Butler (or things like Chihayafuru, Migi to Dali, Sakamoto Desu ga?, Nana, Natsume Yuujincho, Revolutionary Girl Utena, Violet Evergarden, A Silent Voice, and a million more). To be clear, those series are also amazing, and I'm not demeaning them in any way. They deserve just as much respect as everything else.

But right now I'm talking about shōnen series or series that are usually marketed towards men specifically or have appeared in shōnen magazines. I mean things like:

Beastars, made by Paru Itagaki

Gangsta, by Kohske

Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic by Shinobu Ohtaka (which I promise isn't what my screen name is a reference to, even though I love this show).

D.Gray Man by Katsura Hoshino

Dorohedoro by Q Hayashida

To Your Eternity by Yoshitoki Ōima

Mushishi, made by Yuki Urushibara (aka Soyogo Shima).

Noragami which is written by two women, collectively named Adachitoka, similarly to romance author duo Christina Lauren.

Blue Exorcist by Kazue Kato

Inuyasha (and Ranma 1/2 and Urasai Yatsura) by Rumiko Takahashi, which I know for a fact served as a gateway anime for a shit ton of people across generations (but especially for people my age).

I have to shout out Posuka Demizu, who illustrated The Promised Neverland, which is my favorite manga series. She may have given the characters weird looking facial proportions, but damn if she ain't one of the most detail oriented (and sneakiest) artists out there.

And finally, a little story you may know called Fullmetal Alchemist, written by Hiromu Arakawa (who also wrote Silver Spoon, The Heroic Legend of Arslan and lots of other stuff but I wanted to highlight those two specifically).

There's also been speculation that a small hidden gem called...what was it again?...Oh yeah, DEMON SLAYER is written by a woman. But Koyoharu Gotouge's gender hasn't been confirmed so it's still just a theory.

idk, I just love women.

[redroomreflections]

Silver Lining

Wanda Maximoff x Fem!Reader

Summary: After Natasha dies, Wanda helps reader with raising her baby. They didn't know they would fall in love

W/c: 4.2k

Ellie needs diapers.

It’s a simple text. A message you’re used to these days. It’s straightforward and to the point. Ellie needs diapers. Though there’s no other meaning behind the simple sentence it's a bit unsettling. You stare at the message watching as the text bubble for typing appears. You wait with a finger over your cursor for the sender to say something else. Just as quick as it appeared it leaves your screen.

Are you okay?

You want to send it back. You quickly delete the message and tuck the phone into your pocket. Guess you’ll be going to get diapers. You start the engine of your car, glancing to the bar in front of you, before pulling out of the parking lot. Wanda’s been weird lately. Distant.Cold. a little testy. You have a bit of an inkling of what it could be but your mind won’t let you go there. You’ve just come from a pretty awesome late-night dinner with your coworker, Danny. It’s the second time she’s asked you out and you accepted. It’s about time you hang out with someone other than Ellie these days. Not that Wanda isn’t a good company but You’d be an idiot to say no. Danny is kind, sweet, smart, and so damn sexy. She’s tall, runway model tall, with legs that never seemed to end. Most of all she listened. She’s the only one in the office that understands a bit of what you’ve been through so you go to her for things. It was only a matter of time for your relationship to progress. Right?

You can’t help the deep-seated guilt at leaving Wanda in the dark. She takes care of Ellie as if she’s her own. She helps whenever you need it and despite her own grief and pain, she’s always there for you. This is why you are unsure of her recent behavior. It must be something you did. Maybe she’s not comfortable with you leaving her with Ellie to go on dates? If so you’d be happy to find a babysitter to relieve her. Was she upset that you forgot to put the laundry in the dryer? Did you forget her birthday? No, that can’t be it. Wanda was so gracious and plentiful with her forgiveness. Which is why you are so confused.

The only thing open right now is the 24 hour CVS. Simple enough. You step into the store with a purpose. You find the baby aisle with ease. You’ve been here plenty of times before. The Honest Company brand is the first you spot. You’re not too keen on being loyal to a specific brand but Wanda always insists that it’s really good. You grab a pack of diapers in Ellie’s size and tuck it under your arms. You pull out your phone again to check if Wanda has messaged about anything else. You’re the only one in the store beside the cashier so you’re not in much of a rush. You step around to the second aisle where there are trashy magazines and other assortments of books on display. You grab a crossword puzzle book for you and Wanda to finish together. Maybe then she’ll tell you what’s been on her mind. You make your way to the front where you spot her favorite candy. You’re not intentionally trying to make her feel better, you technically haven’t done anything wrong, and yet you can’t help but feel that you need to make things right with her. You grab the turtle's candy from the shelf and hand it to the cashier. She bags with boredom ready to clock out of work herself. You give her thanks before taking the items and leaving the store.

It doesn’t take long for you to get home. You sit in the driveway with the lights off for a minute. You’re looking up at the house. It’s beautiful. Two-story, brick, a white picket fence. It’s everything you’ve wanted in a home. Everything Natasha wanted. It’s been a little over a year since she’s died. A little longer than that since you’ve seen her face. Ellie never got to meet her. You were eight months pregnant when Natasha and the rest of the team decided to do the mission to reverse what Thanos messed up. Your wife, a natural leader and a true hero sacrificed her own life for the greater good. Natasha was always good. Which is why you resent her so much. In her haste to save the rest of the world she left you with a baby who would never know her name, never know her smile, and never feel her arms around them.

A life you planned together was over before you could start it. You’re here with the house that you chose together and sometimes you can’t make yourself go in. It hurts to see Ellie smile and laugh knowing Natasha would never get to see that. It’s a silhouette in the front window that breaks you from your thoughts. Wanda seems to be cleaning. She hasn’t closed the curtains which you have to remind her to do often. She moved in after you had given birth to Ellie. She was no longer Avenging. She wanted something else for herself. Wanda is your rock and you’re incredibly thankful for everything she does for you and Ellie. Suddenly, as if she senses you’re home, she turns to the window to peer out. She finds you easily and gives you a small wave. You wave back.

You unbuckle your seat belt and grab your items from CVS along with your briefcase. You take slow steps up the walkway. Wanda’s planted new flowers in the garden. They’re beautiful. She opens the front door for you and takes your briefcase just as she does every day.

You plant a kiss on her cheek in hello before stepping over to allow her to close the door. Briefly you think about how domestic the greeting is. She’s your best friend. It’s always been like this.

“Hey,” Wanda greets. She rubs her arms to warm herself. It’s the middle of August. It’s not too warm but Wanda always seems to be freezing. “How was work?”

“Work was work,” You shrug. Wanda lowers her hands to take the diapers. She places them on the front steps. “I need a long vacation. What do you say about taking Ellie to Montana or something?”

“Montana?” Wanda questions. She raises a brow.

“I know there’s nothing there but that’s the point.” You say. You follow her into the kitchen. Wanda rolls up her sleeves to get started on cleaning Ellie’s dishes. She’s sleeping by now with it being way past her bedtime. The eleven-month-old is full of energy. You find yourself missing her whenever you’re away. “How was she today?”

“She was great. She has another tooth coming in so she was a bit fussy before bedtime but a bath and a song fixed all of that.” Wanda scrubs a bottle with care and precision.

“How were you today?”

She pauses to look up at you. “I’m fine.” She drops her head back to the dishes.

“Her first birthday is soon,” Wanda begins another conversation.

“Yes, I can’t believe it,” You smile. “I think we should have a small party. Nothing too flashy. Danny thinks we should do a princess theme. I’ll probably ask her to plan it since she’s good with those things.” There it is. Wanda’s frown appears and she doesn’t try to hide it this time. “Is that not a good idea?” You lean against the counter to wait for her answer.

“No, no, it’s a great idea.” Wanda shakes her head. “I was just thinking that we would plan that together. Danny doesn’t know Ellie. I mean she’s never met her and you’re not dating.” Oh. There it is. She’s upset about you spending time with Danny.

“We can plan it together.” You placate her. “I didn’t think you would want to considering you’re already so generous with your time.”

“Are you kidding? I’d love to.” Wanda sets the last cup aside. “Ellie has been the highlight of my life for a while now. I can’t believe you’d think I wouldn’t want to help with such a milestone.”

“Okay then, we can plan it next week.” Wanda nods.

“I brought these.” You hold up the bag with the crossword puzzle and candy. Wanda eyes it before rolling her eyes.

“I’m going to have cavities because of you.” There’s no real malice in her tone. You grin before shaking the bag.

“Go change and I’ll make us tea.” Wanda takes the bag before waving you off. You plant another kiss on her cheek before running up the stairs to your bedroom. You make a pit stop at Ellie’s bedroom. Her door is cracked and the light from her night light castes the room in a light blue glow. You push it open gently. You tiptoe over to the bed where you take a second to look at her. She’s on her stomach with her hand resting near her face. Her favorite plushie, Boris the monkey, is inches away. You’re sure she fell asleep with it in her arms.

Sometimes you wonder how life with Natasha would be. How different would it be raising Ellie together? If you let yourself think too long you’ll become depressed. Natasha was the love of your life and you’d probably never be over her death. Does one ever get over that? Looking at Ellie, you’re constantly reminded of how much is being missed. You reach down to brush a hand over her head. You lean to press a kiss to her head. She twitches in her sleep before settling again.

You leave the room, closing the door behind you, before making your way to your bedroom. Deciding that a quick shower would feel amazing you step into the bathroom with that purpose. You don’t even bat an eye at Wanda’s towel resting beside yours. You take your time in the shower, allowing all of your stressors to melt away, before stepping out feeling refreshed. Wanda would be ready with the tea by now. You quickly dress and make your way downstairs to meet her in the living room. She’s already tucked under a throw blanket and she’s added a cardigan to her outfit.

“It’s amazing how you’re always so cold,” You say before joining her under the blanket. She adjusts it so that it’s covering both of your legs.

“If you kept the house at a reasonable temperature maybe I wouldn’t be.” She quips. She takes a sip of her tea before setting it on the coffee table. She grabs a pen and the crossword puzzle. She doesn’t hesitate to lean further into you so that you both can see the page. Despite her being cold, her warmth is comforting. She smells amazing. Clean. It sounds weird but it’s Wanda.

“Okay this one is literary lingo,” Wanda begins. She tucks the pen against her bottom lip as she reads across the page. “Two across says an exaggerated statement not to be taken literally.” She glances to you for help before turning back to the page.

“Hyperbole.” You answer. Piece of cake. She scribbles the answer onto the page before going to the next question. This is how much of the night goes until you finish the entire page. Wanda sets the book down in triumph. She picks up the turtle’s package and rips open the paper. She hands you one before biting into one herself. The candy is sticky and tough but delicious.

“Have you been back to the compound recently?” She asks you.

“Not really, I can’t bring myself to.” You shake your head. Going back there would only remind you of Natasha and Vision. She nods her head. She feels that way too. She chews before swallowing thickly.

“I think I want to start volunteering somewhere,” She says and you sit up a bit straighter in interest. Wanda adjusts herself so that she’s fully facing you. “I know I spend a lot of time with Ellie and I love her but I need some adult human interaction.”

“Wanda, if it’s too much please tell me, I can bring her to work with me some days and-”

“No,” She cuts you off. “It’s not that. I just want to do something good. I want to help other orphans maybe. Growing up in Sokovia without parents and then joined Hydra. I know it probably won’t be as dramatic here in America but I want to help them onto the right path. Whether with homework or reading.” Wanda’s hands move excitedly as she speaks. She’s passionate about this and you can’t help but smile seeing her so happy. She notices your look and smiles back. “What?”

“You’re a good person, Wanda Maximoff.” You reply. Her smile widens. It’s all she’s ever wanted to hear.

“Thank you, y/n. I think you’re pretty good too.” She grins cheekily. “So you think I should do it?”

“I think you should. I can get Steve or Peter and MJ to watch Ellie and I’ll come with you some days.” You suggest. NYC is only a train away so you figure it won’t be too bad.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.” You nod. Suddenly your arms are full of Wanda as she hugs you in gratitude. You think you're a bit touch-deprived as the feeling of Wanda in your arms is heaven-like.

“You’re the best.” Wanda smiles as she pulls back. “Are you too tired for a show?” She tilts her head towards the tv.

“No, put it on.” You watch as she grabs the remote, settling into your side again, as she finds her favorite episode of BEWITCHED.

**************************

The next few days are weekend days so you and Wanda attend a play date with another mom from the neighborhood. Her son, Tyler, is a month older than Ellie and they’re still a bit young for any real play but it’s more of a social thing. Tyler’s mom, Terry, is serving you and Wanda finger food as she talks about a new committee that’s happening in the neighborhood. They want to plan events for the coming year.

“I know things are hectic but it may be fun,” Terry shrugs as she sits across from you. “Mike probably won’t enjoy it but I’d figure us wives will.” She waves a hand dismissively. “Gives us something to do being stay-at-home moms.” This time she looks to Wanda. You don’t bother to correct her. This wouldn’t be the first time someone mistook you two for a couple since moving here.

Wanda nods, she might be considering the idea. You don’t think it sounds bad either. You’re just about to ask Terry about the type of events when Ellie crawls over to you with a toy block in one of her hands. She uses your knees to stand on her own feet. Her eyes are wide and trusting as she shows off the toy.

“It’s so nice,” You feign interest. You wonder if this is like a parent requirement. To give praise or encouragement to something your child wants to show you.

“Mama!” Ellie pushes the toy into Wanda’s lap. There’s a gasp but you can’t quite tell who it’s from. Wanda looks to you for the next step. “Mama!” Ellie is insistent as she pushes the toy further into Wanda’s lap.

“Go ahead, Mama.” You find your voice. You emphasize the title with a gesture to Ellie. Wanda swallows thickly before nodding. She looks down at Ellie before pulling her into her lap. The slipup was forgotten as she inspects the toy and puts on a voice for the toddler.

“Is this her first time saying it?” Terry asks with a smile noting your reactions.

“It’s the first time she’s directed it towards either of us.” You inform her. It’s true. Ellie has said Mama before in passing but she was never so indicative about whom she was talking to. Seeing her direct it to Wanda was startling but heartwarming. It brings tears to your eyes. Seeing the other woman respond and play with Ellie with such care. Wanda looks over to you with a smile before turning her attention back to Ellie.

Whoa. What was that you’re feeling? Butterflies. You haven't felt those in a while. Suddenly you feel as if you’re suffocating. The room feels smaller and you need space. You stand, excusing yourself from the room, to find a bathroom. You go to the one Terry directs you to. Wanda watches as you leave with a frown. Did something happen? You push the door closed leaning your head against it as you take harsh, breaths.

Wanda. Wanda Maximoff. Your best friend. You’re in love with her. It’s a thought that makes you want to puke. You don’t know how it has happened or when it’s happened but suddenly all of your feelings make sense. How happy you are to see her. Even on your date with Danny, all you could think about was Wanda. Coming home to Wanda. Spending time with Wanda. Kissing Wanda. Making love to her.

You gasp. This can’t be. You shake your head hoping it will rid you of the thoughts. Wanda lost the love of her life. You lost yours. It could be nothing more than what it was. She probably didn’t even feel the same way.

Life is crazy.

The car ride home is ridden in silence. Ellie has fallen asleep after the playdate. You glance at Wanda every few minutes. You don’t realize she’s looking at you too. You park in the driveway, helping her with Ellie’s bag when your hand brushes against hers. You pull away hiding the effect it has on you as you walk into the house. You put Ellie to bed on your own while Wanda does god knows what downstairs. You take your time dressing in a t-shirt and shorts before sitting on the bottom step to tie your shoes.

Wanda steps into the foyer to ask where you’re going. You both only just got home. She didn’t know you had plans to do anything.

“For a run,” This surprises her even further. You don’t like running. You despise it and yet here you are gearing up to run.

“You hate running,” Wanda points out. “In fact, the last time Steve suggested you run you told him you would rather have crows poke your eyes out and eat them for breakfast.”

Damn. You did say that.

“I’m trying something different,” You shrug. You stand to stretch before heading for the front door.

Wanda follows after you. Before you turn the knob she calls out to you.

“I’m sorry if I overstepped,” You pause and turn back to her.

“Overstep? Why would you think that?” You question her.

“Well, Ellie called me Mama and I know that’s what she would have called Nat. I’m not her mother.” Wanda folds her arms under her chest. A nervous move. “I thought you might be uncomfortable with that.”

“No, Wanda, that’s not it at all,” You assure her. “I’m so happy that Ellie views you as her Mama. There’s no one I would rather have that title. You are her Mama.” Wanda nods with tears in her eyes. Maybe she’s wanted that without really knowing. You find yourself wanting to kiss her tears away. Again. Whoa.

“Okay,” She gives you a small smile. “Have fun on your run.” She tells you and you nod. She watches you exit the front door. You do a few final stretches before you plug your headphones into your ear. Guess it was time to run.

It’s been two hours the next time you walk through the front door. The lights off save for the foyer. You kick off your shoes, rubbing your forehead with your sweaty shirt before you make your way upstairs. Wanda must be asleep. You check on Ellie as you do every night. She’s sound asleep. You hop into the shower and allow yourself to stand under the scalding hot water. You’re going to regret running so much in the morning. Your thoughts are riddled with Wanda as you shower, when you dry off, and when you dress. You can’t stop thinking of her. You don’t know what prompts you to do it but you suddenly find yourself in front of her bedroom door. Her lights are off but you knock anyway. No answer.

You twist the knob to find the door unlocked. You open the door and call her. She’s on her side facing away from the door. Her posture is a bit stiff.

“Wanda?” You question.

“Yeah?” She whispers into the darkness. She turns over just as you climb into the bed. You’re under the covers now and briefly you think about how comfortable her bed is. You can see her through the light emanating from her window. Her cheeks are stained with dry tear tracks. She’s been crying. “Y/n?” She tries to hide the shake in her voice as you look at her. It’s now or never.

Your eyes fly down to her lips then back to her eyes. You lift a hand to caress her cheek as you lean to plant a chaste kiss against her lips. She gasps, quickly recovering, before kissing you back. You pull back keeping your eyes closed. If you open them to her being angry with you, you don’t know if you’ll forgive yourself.

“Y/n,” Wanda asks.

“Wanda,” You whimper.

“Open your eyes, Malysh.” She raises her hand to rub her thumb against your hand still caressing your face. She takes hold of it before lowering it to lie on the covers between you. She never let's go. You open your eyes slowly to find nothing that you were afraid of.

“I wasn’t mad that Ellie called you Mama,” You repeat your sentiment from earlier. “I was confused. Her calling you Mama made me realize a few things.” Wanda listens. “You’ve been here through it all and yet I’ve never seen you for you until now. My selfless, sweet, Wanda.” You don’t know what you’re saying at this point. All you know is you want Wanda to know how much she means to you.

“I feel the same,” She doesn’t need to you say the words. She knows.

“I can’t believe I didn’t realize all of this time what was right in front of me,” You frown. “I can’t believe how long I wanted to kiss you and I didn’t see it as anything other than platonic.”

“I realized a couple of weeks ago.” You lift your head to rest on your elbows. “When you went out with Danny for the first time. I couldn’t figure out why I was so angry about it. Then I knew why. I wanted it to be me.”

“Wanda, why didn’t you say something?” You ask. “If I knew I wouldn’t have gone out with her.”

“I didn’t want to stand in the way of you finding love again,” Wanda shrugs.

“I don’t love Danny,”

“But you could,” Wanda points out.

“No, I couldn’t.” You say firmly. “Not when I love you.” It’s the first time you’re verbalizing this. “Don’t be a martyr when it comes to your heart, Wanda. Even with me.” You squeeze her hand. “It took me some time but I want you.”

“How do you know that after only a couple of hours?” She asks.

“It hasn’t been a couple of hours,” You shoot back. “It’s been months. The late nights with Ellie. The dinners we have. Our crossword nights. I enjoy them. I look forward to them. We’ve been spending a life together without us even realizing it. I want more with you. If you want it too.”

Wanda surges forward pushing you onto your back as she kisses you with a passion that has you moaning against her lips. The weight of her on top of you is pure bliss. All you can think, feel, and smell is Wanda. Reluctantly she pulls back to take in a deep breath.

“I want it too.” She doesn’t wait for you to answer as she kisses you again.

Five years later

“Mama, Mama, we got ice cream.” Ellie races across the park with your golden retriever, Max, in tow. She’s hanging onto the leash very loosely as she waves around the popsicles she has in her hand. Wanda looks up from her book to inspect the items as Ellie pushes them into her hands. You’re a few feet behind watching as Wanda interacts with the little girl.

“Do you think the baby likes fudgesicles?” Ellie asks as she drops down on the picnic blanket.

“I don’t know, Kiddo, you have to ask him.” You say as you sit next to Max. You watch with pure adoration as Ellie takes it upon herself to lift Wanda’s shirt to expose her swollen belly. Wanda looks over to you with amusement in her eyes.

“Hi baby brother or sister,” Ellie begins. “Mommy told me to ask you if you like Fudgesicles. I bought some for you.” Ellie waits as if she’s truly expecting an answer. “Baby says yes.” She looks up at Wanda for confirmation. Wanda takes the Fudgesicle with gratitude as she licks into it.

“I think baby made a good choice,” Wanda grins. She runs her free hands over Ellie’s brown ringlets to smooth it down a bit.

“Me too,” Ellie says in between licks.

“I think I made a good choice,” You say and Wanda nods. Her too.

[thursdaymurderbub]

Silver Screen magazine, October 1939

[jeanharlowshair]

"Irene chats with Laurence Olivier and his wife-to-be, Vivien Leigh, who visited her on the set during filming of 'My Favorite Wife.'"

Silver Screen Magazine, May 1940.

[the-myrna-loy-blog]

[dontbestingybaby]

Photograph from Silver Screen Magazine, September 1931

original caption:

DOLORES DEL RIO

THE woman who rose above defeat. Above an unhappy marriage that cast a shadow over her girlhood. Above illness and pain. Above disappointment and heartbreak when she lost her contract with United Artists. And now she returns, happily married to Cedric Gibbons, triumphant over illness, more radiant than ever in "The Dove"

Photographer: Ernest Bachrach

Cover from Cine-Mundial, April 1933

Artist: Jose M.T.

[aquaticmercy]

Happily Ever Eventually

Summary : Sam and Yelena are helping you and Bucky plan your wedding. 

Pairing : Bucky Barnes x reader (she/her) featuring Best Man! Sam and Maid of Honour! Yelena

Warnings/tags : Some mention of food. Fluff!!!! 1 Frodo Baggins reference because Bucky reading Tolkien is canon.

Requested by : Anon

Word count : 1.5K 

Note : Finally been able to go through requests! enjoy!

Requests are open!

The morning autumn sunlight poured through the large windows of the apartment that you and Bucky now called home. Usually a calming and grounding space for the both of you, today the living room was a battlefield. Not literally, but it looked like a wedding had thrown up all over your home and threatened to swallow everything whole. There were fabric samples all over the floor, a million tabs open on every screen with internet capabilities, and a stack of wedding magazines heavy enough to crush a mouse if it toppled over and landed on them.

You, for one, felt like you were going insane. When you excitedly agreed to marry Bucky, you never anticipated that planning a wedding would be more challenging than taking down enemy operatives. You’ve been toying with your engagement ring nervously all day, using it as a fidget toy. 

Bucky, surprisingly, was happy and calm. His usual brooding demeanour had lifted like morning fog, replaced with a lightness you’d never seen before. He was beaming. If anyone had told you a year ago that your grumpy James Buchanan Barnes would be excited about centrepiece ideas, you would have laughed. But now, there he was, smiling as he leaned back on the couch, flipping through a catalogue of tuxedos, his eyes gleaming with excitement every time he turned a page.

“So… are we still going with red and silver?” Bucky asked, invested in the process.

“I don’t even know anymore, Bucky!” You glanced up at him, fighting the growing anxiety in your chest. “What if the food is bad? What if the cake doesn't arrive? What if the flowers die before they get there?”

Bucky leaned forward, wrapping his hand on your shoulder. “Hey,” he said softly, voice soothing like a warm blanket on a cold day, “We’ve got this, okay? At the end of the day, it’ll be you and me. That’s all that counts.”

A small smile tugged at your lips despite the anxiety threatening to bubble over inside you. He had a way of doing that—calming your storm with just a few words. “How are you so calm about this?” you asked.

He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Well, after all we’ve been through, picking out wedding colors seems like a piece of cake.” His smile grew as you laughed softly, but before he could say anything else, the apartment door flew open with a crash.

“Alright, people, I’m here to save you from yourselves!” Sam Wilson announced as he walked in with a large paper bag in one hand and Yelena Belova in tow.

Yelena looked around at the chaos of wedding paraphernalia strewn across the room “Reporting for duty,” she gave a mock salute, “I’m here to make sure you don’t elope in the middle of the night because you can’t decide on appetisers.”

You groaned, sinking deeper into the pile of magazines. “Don’t tempt me.”

Yelena sat cross-legged beside you, swatting one of the magazines off the couch with a smirk. “No, no. You are not eloping. I want to stand there with you, wearing an overly expensive dress, and I want to give a maid of honour speech that will make you cry.”

Bucky chuckled, reaching over to grab a pastry from the bag Sam had brought in for breakfast. “She’s got a point. Besides, if we eloped, we’d have to break it to everyone afterwards, and that includes Steve. And if you think wedding planning is stressful, imagine giving the old man a heart attack because he wasn’t invited.”

“Good point,” you admitted with a sigh. 

Sam cleared his throat, leaning against the kitchen counter, looking much too casual. “Speaking of being there for the big day, I’ve been thinking… about the rings.”

You shot him a confused look. “What about them?”

Sam paused, clearly trying to sound cool, but you could see the nervousness behind his eyes. “I mean, as the best man, it’s kinda my job to hold onto the rings. Do you trust me with that?”

Yelena snorted. “Of course they don’t. Do you even know where your keys are half the time?”

“Hey!” Sam raised his hands defensively, though a sheepish grin was spreading across his face. “I’m a responsible guy. I can handle a couple of rings.”

“You lost your favourite sunglasses in six flags that one time,” you reminded him with a teasing grin.

“And I bought new ones.” Sam shot back, “and I haven’t lost them since!”

“Calm down, Frodo.” Bucky was stifling his laughter, trying to keep things civil. “Maybe we keep a backup plan… just in case.”

Sam rolled his eyes. “I’ll put a tracking device on them or something.”

“Good,” Yelena interjected, snatching a piece of the pastry from Sam’s hand. “If you lose them, you’re dead.”

You watched your friends bicker back and forth, feeling a strange wave of calm wash over you. Maybe it was knowing that no matter what, these people—the ones sitting in your living room right now—would have your back. 

Yelena, more an enforcer than a traditional maid of honour, would make sure nothing went wrong, and Sam would try his best to act cool while nervously guarding the rings like they were the Infinity Stones. And Bucky… was still admiring you like you hung the stars personally, just for him.

“Okay,” you said after a beat, “I think we need to make some decisions before I lose my mind.”

“Agreed,” Yelena said, grabbing one of the wedding catalogues from the floor and flipping through it lazily. “What’s next on the list?”

Bucky reached over to grab his tablet from the coffee table, pulling up your shared wedding planning app. “Seating arrangements. We need to figure out where to put Peter Quill and Thor without causing any intergalactic incidents.”

Sam snorted. “Thor will sit anywhere as long as there’s mead in front of him.”

You chuckled, knowing it was probably true. But the thought of getting all these powerful people in one room was enough to make you break out in a cold sweat.

Yelena noticed your tension and nudged you gently. “You’re overthinking it. Put Thor next to Steve, and Peter can sit with Alexei. Done.”

Bucky raised an eyebrow. “That’s actually a pretty good idea.”

Yelena shrugged. “I’m a gift to humankind.”

For a while, the four of you worked together to finalise some of the major decisions—centrepieces, seating, floral arrangements, and cake flavours. You had to admit that, despite the occasional pang of anxiety, having your friends there to share the load made it all feel a little more manageable. Even if Sam kept making jokes and Yelena kept suggesting you use “advanced pyrotechnics” as part of the entertainment.

After a while, the pile of wedding materials had shrunk considerably, and you felt lighter than you had in days. Bucky was sitting behind you now on the couch, his strong arms wrapped around your waist as you leaned back against him, the steady rhythm of his breathing a comforting background to the chaos of the day.

Yelena stretched her arms above her head, putting the binder on the coffee table, and yawning dramatically. “Well, I think that’s enough planning for one day. Let’s leave some things for the next crisis.”

“Good idea,” you said with a smile, snuggling deeper into Bucky’s embrace.

Sam packed up the remnants of the pastries and gave Bucky a nod. “You know, you’re handling this wedding stuff better than I expected. I thought you’d be all panicky.”

Bucky chuckled softly. “I’m marrying the love of my life, Sam. I’d go through worse to make sure it’s perfect.”

You felt a warm blush creep up your cheeks at his words, and Yelena made a joking gagging noise. 

The former red room widow stood and stretched once more, but before she left, she shot you a grin. “Remember, no eloping. I want that speech.”

“We wouldn’t dream of it,” Bucky said, kissing the top of your head.

After Sam and Yelena left, the apartment felt quieter, but not in a lonely way. It was peaceful. The two of you sat there in silence for a while, just enjoying each other’s presence.

Finally, Bucky broke the quiet, his voice affectionate. “You doing okay, doll?”

You sighed, feeling content despite the lingering stress of the wedding planning. “Yeah. This whole thing is just… overwhelming.”

He kissed your temple, his arms tightening around you. “We’re in this together. Besides, we’ve got Yelena and Sam. We’re in good hands.”

You chuckled softly, tilting your head up to look at him and nodded.

Bucky’s smile was tender, and for a moment, you forgot about the chaos you were in—no seating charts, no colour schemes, no pressure. Just the two of you, together. He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to your lips, making your heart flutter.

When he pulled away, he gave you a mischievous grin. “If it gets too crazy, we could always just elope, not tell anyone, and move to a different continent before Yelena could kill us.”

You laughed, swatting his arm playfully. “Don’t you dare.”

Bucky chuckled, holding you close.

With a sigh of contentment, you relaxed into his arms, knowing that no matter how stressful things got, as long as you had him by your side, everything would be just fine.

-end

[fayegonnaslay]

Hollywood Says: Benvenuto Sophia! by Ed Wilkes. Photoplay Magazine, 1957.