Marvel Imagines

Steve Rogers-Yellow Ribbon Pt. 2

Three Weeks Later

Steve slid the ring onto your finger and carefully laid your hand down with a sigh. Three agonizing weeks of waiting for you to open your eyes with little progress had him on edge.
Bucky was right.

He was the world's biggest dumbass and that cost him you.
You, the first girl he had fallen in love with since Peggy. He knew he shouldn't have done it. Pulled out her picture. He knew that you didn't mind, but to catch him looking at the picture after an argument...he couldn't imagine how hurt you had been.

He hadn't pulled it out on purpose.

Peggy, besides Bucky, was the only other person who had really believed in him and understood where he was coming from. He didn't know if he was crazy for doing it, but he wondered what kind of advice Peggy would give him to sort out his relationship. Her opinion was one he had truly valued and he literally heard her demanding him to apologize for being such a stuck up "man" that night. And he was about to. But, then you walked in and got the wrong idea and he didn't know how to explain to you that he was hearing Peggy's voice in his head, telling him to say sorry.
Steve swallowed the lump in his throat before taking out his phone.

It was a routine.

The doctor had told him that comatose patients could hear things and with help from Clint, he managed to get a speaker in your room to play your song. He felt that was the only way he could possibly show how much he loved you. He hit the play button and leaned back in his chair, twining his fingers around yours. Steve dreaded the very thought of letting you go and as he looked at you, was surprised to see a little color in your face. Your chest didn't flutter in the struggle to breathe, instead moving up and down rhythmically. One of the machines began to beep frantically and Steve jumped to his feet as the doctor rushed into the room.

"What's going on?" He urged.
The doctor read the screen, his forehead wrinkling.
"Doc, you're killing me! What's going on?"
"Down, boy."

Steve froze.

"I'm happy to report your girlfriend is alive and well, Mr. Rogers."
He didn't move, too shocked to do anything else but stare as your eyes slowly opened. Steve didn't think he'd ever seen such beautiful E/C eyes before and an overwhelming feeling of giddiness blocked his throat, tears stinging his eyes.

"My song. You're playing my song." You croaked as he moved to hold your hand.

"I was...I couldn't think of anything else to do." He whispered.

You gave a shaky sigh. Your cheeks were a rosy pink and you looked a little stronger than you had a few days ago. Steve almost cried with relief as you gripped his hand tightly. Only yesterday it seemed as if he was going to lose you with how lifeless you looked and here you were, alert and regaining your strength.

"Steve?"
"Hm?"
"What's this?"
You lifted your hand.
"That's-thats uhh...a ring." He mumbled.

He didn't know how you'd react to it, but he was hoping it would be a positive one. You stared at the ring for a few seconds, moving your hand side to side. Steve lifted your hand to his lips and kissed it before setting it back down. His eyes radiated love with such intensity that you forgot how to breathe as you gazed at him.

"I love you, Y/N. I can't imagine a lifetime without you. You've stolen my heart. My soul. All of my forevers are yours as well and there's no future path in my mind that doesn't have you right by my side. I know I can be the biggest prick on the planet, but you are the person that knows me in and out, that loves me no matter my flaws and...I'm running out of things to say, so will you-will you marry me?"

You bit back a small laugh at how nervous he was and as you watched him wriggle uncomfortably, you realized that you loved him with everything in you. He was your future.
And that in itself was enough for you.

"Yes. Yes I will." You said softly, grinning up at him.

Relief flooded his chest and he leaned down to press his lips against yours, enjoying the familiar warmth of you. When he pulled away, your face lit up at the chorus of your favorite song as it played from the little speaker beside your bed.

Tie a yellow ribbon
Round the old oak tree
It's been three long years
Do you still want me

By the time the others had gotten the news and rushed to the hospital, Steve was laying beside you, one arm thrown over your waist and the other tucked underneath your head. The both of you slept soundly as they crept in, Clint and Bruce having to talk Tony out of ripping Steve away from you.

"He-and they-but she-" He stuttered furiously. Natasha crept up behind him and slammed a hand over his mouth before dragging him out the room. Bucky nudged Steve's shoulder and he rolled over, blinking away his sleepiness.
"What?" He groaned.

"How long was she up?"
Steve carefully removed his arms from you and sat up, running a hand through his hair.

"For about three hours. She fell asleep after we talked for awhile."
"And? How'd it go?" Bucky asked, crossing his arms.
Steve opened his mouth and instantly snapped it shut as Tony came storming back into the room, Natasha right behind him.

"You really think that you can just strut back in here and pretend like everything's okay?" He demanded.

Steve made a shushing motion, but you were already waking up, your eyes widening at the sight of everyone. You pushed yourself into a sitting position and Steve carefully guided you.
Tony rushed forward and crushed you to his chest, ignoring the warning of the others as you winced.

"I'm okay, Tony, really." You tried to reassure him, but he turned on Steve.

"This wouldn't have happened if Stars and Stripes over here wasn't such a douchebag." He snapped. Steve knew he'd be getting shit from Tony for a long time so he stayed quiet.

"Tony, don't call my fiancée a douchebag." 

Everyone stopped what they were doing to watch as you lifted your left hand, wiggling your fingers to show off your ring.
"He tied the yellow ribbon." You said teasingly and Natasha and Wanda began to scream in excitement, the men putting their hands over their ears in mock pain. They shoved Tony out of the way to admire your ring and Steve slowly got to his feet and walked over to the others.

"So, you finally did it, huh?" Bucky smirked as Steve's cheeks turned a faint pink.

"Sure did. Best decision of my life."
"Well, it might just be your last one if you ever, ever hurt her again." Tony said, sidling up to his shoulder.
"Aw, Tony—"

"Uh uh, don't "Tony" me, Buckaroo. Steve, you have to understand. She's all I got left. And she's happy and that's all I want for her. So, if that's with you, I'll let it be. But, I don't want her calling me in the middle of the night saying she needs a place to stay because you're being a dumbass anymore, okay?"

"I promise you on my life." Steve said. Tony nodded his head, satisfied with the response before turning back to you.

"Congratulations, Cap. I've never seen her happier." Clint said.
Steve watched, his heart bursting with love, as you raised your head to smile at him.

In that smile, he knew just how much you loved him. He knew that if you asked it of him, he'd wait for you, even if the Earth was crumbling underneath his feet. He'd do anything to make you happy, to make you his. And in that smile, he knew that sliding that yellow ribbon ring onto your finger was the best thing he could have ever done to make you both.

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edit: this two part one-shot makes me cringe so bad,
but i keep it up as a reminder of how much ive progressed and how shit i was at plots and writing three years ago 💀🖐🏽—