Two weeks have gone by since Peter and Carol's wedding. At the reception all of their friends had a suggestion of where they should go on their honeymoon. Clint and Bobbi said Greece. But with Christmas so close, the newlyweds decided to wait until after the holidays. Peter's Aunt May wanted her family to be together. So she offered to let Carol's parents stay with her. After his proposal, Steve and Natasha moved in together. This was their first Christmas back together, and they invited Bucky and Sharon to spend it with them. Since she was still finishing her Masters, she couldn't make the trip to England with her parents. They went to see Peggy. Steve was up first, making breakfast.

"Good morning, sleeping beauty. Merry Christmas."

Nat comes out of their bedroom, still rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Morning, love. Merry Christmas to you."

She mumbled more than said it, after all these years she still wasn't a morning person. As she started to drink the coffee Steve made, her exhaustion began to wear off.

"You were up late working on that proposal. It is for the next consultation?"

"Yeah, I'm going to be doing this one on my own. But it used to be that when I had one this big, I wouldn't sleep well. But since you moved in I've slept better than I have in a long time."

"I'm glad I could help with that. So would you like anything else with breakfast?"

"Whatever you've prepared smells fantastic. You know it was always your breakfasts that got me going in the morning."

"Yeah, that's why I still do it. Anyway, we've got Syrniki, scrambled eggs, and bacon."

"I got you addicted to Syrniki, didn't I?"

When she laughs, he smiles back at her. When he came back six months ago, he could never have dreamed they would pick up where they left off. And when she accepted his proposal, everything felt just as it should. Even though he would sometimes have nightmares from the war, she pulled him close. Whenever these happened, she always found a way to calm him down. It didn't matter if it was by taking his hand, or running her fingers through his hair. It worked every time.

"So, Bucky and Sharon will be here at noon. The ham is in the oven. We've still got some time to ourselves. What would you like to do?"

"What did you have in mind, Steve?"

"After breakfast, I thought you'd like to open your present."

"You didn't have to get me anything. I already received the greatest present ever."

When he looks at her questioningly, she smiles with her answer.

"I'm talking about you, dummy. You're here, and we're getting married. It's all I needed."

"Okay, then maybe I'll just take this gift back, if you don't want it."

He's teasing, trying to bait her into a response. A response that she happily provides.

"Not on your life, Rogers. Whatever this gift is, there's no way I'm letting you take it back."

Nat quickly snatches the gift from his hands and rips into the paper. What she sees is the back of a picture frame. When she flips it over, the painting there immediately takes her breath away.

"I hope you like it. It took me a long time to find that photo of us at my Mom's."

"You made a painting of the photo from the night of our first anniversary? Steve this is incredible. When did you do this?"

"A few years back. Bucky and I were staying with my Mom on our first leave. While he went out, I rummaged through my stuff. When I found the photo, I knew I had to replicate it. I worked on it every time I came home, with the hope I would be able to give it to you. Fourteen years was a long time to wait."

"Well, it was certainly worth it. And you left the photo in the corner of the frame. That's going on my desk at the office. The painting, I know just where to hang it. But I have a present for you too."

When she heads back into the bedroom, he remembers how skilled she is at keeping gifts hidden in plain sight. The present she got him for that first anniversary was hidden in the kitchen cabinets. It was the cookware he used to make their breakfast that day.

"Here, I hope you like this. With how much you like to paint, I thought this would be perfect."

Steve is unable to contain his excitement. He normally removes the paper gently. This time he rips into it with as much fervor as she did. The oil painting set he sees is one he has wanted for years.

"A Gamblin professional oil painters' kit? Nat this is…wow. I've always wanted to try oil painting. I love it."

"I knew you would. You're already an amazing artist. I thought maybe you could get something featured in a gallery."

After opening their presents and cleaning up, they still had a few hours before their friends arrived. With nothing else on T.V. they watched It's a Wonderful Life. As engrossed in the movie as they were, the knock at the door went unnoticed. It was the shouting that caught Steve's attention.

"Hey! Sharon and I are freezing out here! Open the door."

"Steve you'd better let them in. Bucky is only going to get more impatient."

"They're early. Can't I just make him wait a few more minutes?"

"You could, but he might bust the door down. It's Christmas. Go on, be a good boy. Let our friends in."

Silently he gets up from the couch, shaking his head. When he looks back she's got that side lip quirky smile that made him fall in love with her. When the door opens, Bucky greets him with the customary nickname.

"Punk! What's the big idea, keeping us waiting so long?"

"Come on, it was two minutes from the time you started knocking to when I opened the door. Besides you're early."

"Maybe so, but you promised. We were having Christmas lunch and then going to mass. It's tradition. I don't think I need to remind you of that."

As he and Sharon make their way inside, Natasha greets her with a hug and Bucky with a kiss on the cheek.

"Merry Christmas, guys. Make yourselves comfortable. Steve's working on lunch, and I've got to hit the shower. I'll be back with your gifts when I'm done."

When the door closes, Bucky looks at the movie, and then admonishes his best friend.

"It's a Wonderful Life? Really, Steve? When are you two going to give up on this love affair you have with black and white movies? You both act like you were born in the twenties. Embrace the 21st century."

"Bucky, there's nothing wrong with a classic. If I remember correctly, you couldn't take your eyes of the screen when we watched The Maltese Falcon together."

"Sharon, that was a crime drama. It had action."

"Yeah, but it's still a black and white movie. Admit it, you like them too."

"She's got you there, Buck. "

Natasha comes back while they're all laughing on the couch.

"What did I miss? What has the three of you giggling like school girls?"

"Buck made fun of you and me because we like old movies from the thirties. Sharon clued me in that he likes them, probably more than we do."

"Uh…Burn! Your turn for the shower babe. I'll finish getting lunch ready."

Steve goes into the bedroom, leaving Bucky and Sharon with questions for their hostess.

"So how is it working out? You two living together again?"

"It's great Bucky. We've gotten as close as we were back in college. I wouldn't change anything."

"That's great, have you decided on a date for the wedding yet?"

"Not yet Sharon, but it will probably be in the summer. After he finishes his degree. What about you, Bucky? Have you thought about finishing your degree?"

"I did. I finished it when I came back a year before Steve. I've been teaching, and I just found out I'm going to be the assistant coach for the football team."

"Teaching? I didn't know you had the patience for that. So, do you guys want to open your gifts?"

"Nah, I think we'll wait until we get back from mass. The smell of that ham is getting to me."

"Well, it's Steve's Mom's recipe. He told me she made it for you guys on your first Christmas leave."

When Steve finished his shower, they all sat down to lunch. At mass Natasha squeezed his hand, she didn't go to church a lot growing up, so this was something they did every Christmas. She missed this time with him, and they both were glad for the company of their friends.