Holiday Spirit

Author's Note: Here's part 2 of Holiday Spirit! In which Bucky and Emily celebrate their first Christmas together! I don't own Marvel characters just Emily; the song Emily sings is Lucy Hale's "Mistletoe".

"If the pipes they freeze, I'll open a bottle of wine… And if we can't leave, we'll need a way to pass the time… I thought, I thought of everything I'd need… Oh I, just hope we don't run out of mistletoe, oh…" Emily sings as she dances around her kitchen, checking on various pots and pans of cooking food. It is Christmas Eve – her first with Bucky – and the two of them have decided to host a small gathering with Steve, Sam, and Wanda. Given that there are two super soldiers to feed, she's decided to make some extra. Emily knew from personal experience just how much Bucky and Steve could eat on their own.

As she's checking on the turkey, the song on the iPod switches and she begins to hum along with Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree". Emily closes the oven and turns to see Bucky watching, an amused look on his face as he takes in her appearance. "As much as I appreciate the look, Doll, pyjamas and an apron for a Christmas party?" he teases, the corner of his mouth twitching up into a smirk.

"Maybe if someone was helping me out here, I could go get dressed for the party," Emily tells him, folding her arms over her chest and narrowing her eyes at him. She adores the man standing in front of who – who looks amazing in his green turtle neck and dress slacks – but there's no denying he's a pain in the ass most of the time. "Done pampering yourself yet?"

Bucky just chuckles and closes the distance between the two of them, drawing his girlfriend into his arms and kissing her soundly on the lips. "Maybe we can cancel," he whispers against her lips, his arms tightening around her.

"Not on your life, Barnes," she tells him, pulling away from him. She tugs the apron off and drop it over Bucky's head, taking a moment to run her hand through his silky brown locks. "Keep an eye on the veggies, doll," Emily teases and steps away from him. It takes everything she has not to giggle at the pout on his face.

"Do I have to wear this?" he asks, motioning to the apron – pink and frilly – with his metal hand. Emily notices his fingers twitching as though he's waiting for the go ahead to just rip the apron to pieces.

"Can't have you getting dirty, now can we?"

"You're a pain in my ass, you know that Em?"

Emily just smiles and turns to head to their bedroom to don her party dress. As she steps into the hallway, she hears one of the songs from the Frozen soundtrack start on the iPod and lets out a snort as Bucky begins to mutter. Ever since Emily forced him to watch the princess movie with her, he's hated anything related to it. The fact that she had compared him and Steve to Elsa and Anna hadn't helped his feelings on the movie, either.

By the time the doorbell rings, Emily's just putting the finishing touches on her look. "Can you get the door Buck? I'll be right out!" she calls as she fastens the clasp to herr favourite necklace.

"You want me to answer the door in a pink apron?!" Emily hears him shout through the walls of their home. She can't help chuckling at the sounds of his annoyed stomps towards the door. Emily's not far behind him, stopping once to admire her dress. It's simple but elegant, the waist tapered and the collar edged with black silk with a silk black rose just off your left shoulder. Tasteful and not too revealing, she knows Bucky is going to love it.

"Merry Christmas, Frosty! Where's Mrs. Frosty?" Emily hears as she steps up behind Bucky, brow furrowing in much the same manner as her boyfriend's. Crowded at their front door is more than just their three expected guests – the entire Avengers team stands behind a sheepish looking Steve and a shrugging Sam.

"Tony cancelled his party when he heard we were coming here for dinner," Steve explains to his two friends.

"Um… come in?" Emily says, sharing a look with Bucky. This is not how either of them expected their night to go. As the Avengers file in to their place, Emily wonder if there's going to have enough food.

"Do we have enough food?" Bucky whispers. "That looks like barely enough for me and Steve."

"I'll get creative in the kitchen if you distract the troops," Emily whispers back conspiratorially.

"Hide the power tools on your way," jokes Bucky, making you giggle.

"Hey lovebirds, it's rude to whisper in front of your guests!" calls Tony as he makes himself comfortable on the couch.

"No worse than crashing someone's Christmas dinner!" Emily calls back before disappearing into the kitchen to improvise some additions to the holiday feast while Bucky goes to play host.

Several hours and one feast later, everyone is sitting around the living room, talking and laughing. Despite crashing dinner, Tony managed to surprise everyone with presents – even Emily, the unofficial member of their team. She sits there, chatting with Wanda and Natasha, while Bucky is animatedly discussing something with Dr. Banner and Tony. The scene makes Emily smile; Bucky was becoming more open to large groups, more at ease with himself. His progress since she met him had astounded Emily. She didn't know if he would be mission ready like Steve hoped and she wasn't so sure she would mind if Bucky was never a full-fledged Avenger but if it made him happy, Emily would support him.

Bucky glances away from his conversation with Bruce and Tony and sees his girlfriend watching him, a smile lighting up her face. "I'll be right back," he says to the two men as he rises and motions for her to follow him before he slips down the hall towards their shared bedroom.

"I need a minute," Emily tells Wanda and Natasha, both of the women nodding and resuming conversation as Emily quickly dashes down the hall. Bucky's disappearing act has her curious. He'd mentioned a few days earlier that he had a surprise for her for Christmas and you wonder if he's decided now is the perfect time to give you your surprise. "Bucky?" Emily says softly as she enters the bedroom and finds him with his back to the door. He turns, smirking devilishly at her; his blue eyes sparkle with mischief as he beckons the young woman closer. "What's up?"

"Ready for your surprise, doll?" he asks you, the smirk never leaving his face.

"Of course I am, but why'd you have to pull me all the way into our bedroom?"

"For your eyes only," he tells her. "Now close'em and don't peak until I tell you it's okay!" Emily raises an eyebrow at him but do as she's told. She shifts her weight from foot to foot while waiting for Bucky to tell her it's okay to open her eyes. She wishes he wasn't so silent. It makes the wait that much more unbearable. "All right, open them," he tells her and she can hear the slight discomfort in his voice. Emily's eyes flutter open and her hands fly to her mouth as she lets out a gasp. Standing in front of her, with his hair pulled into a ponytail, is her favourite super soldier dressed in none other than the Captain America costume Emily had tried to get him to put on this past Hallowe'en. "Don't laugh Emily!" he warns, fidgeting slightly as he stands before her.

"Oh Bucky!" she breathes, eyes brimming with tears at the gesture. It may have been late, but the thought was there.

"Damn it, don't get all soft on me doll. I expected some teasin' from you, not tears!" he almost groans as he catches the watery sheen to her eyes.

"You're so handsome!" Emily tells him instead, stepping closer to him. "My very own super soldier."

Bucky's cheeks turn pink and instinctively he goes to run a hand through his hair. "You know what would make this even better?"

"What's that?"

A sly smile slides into place as he pulls Emily close. "If you put on that sexy little number from Hallowe'en," he tells you before leaning down slightly and kissing her.

Emily splays her hands across his broad chest, loving the familiar feel of his muscles beneath her delicate hands. "Aren't you naughty, wanting the Black Widow," she murmur as his lips move along her jaw and down her neck.

"This is definitely some kinky fetish stuff you guys got going on."

Tony's voice from the doorway sends you and Bucky flying apart. Emily's cheeks are a brilliant red while Bucky looks positively murderous. "Oh… hey guys…" she breathes when she notices Tony isn't alone in the doorway.

"I knew shooting me was some weird foreplay, Barnes," Natasha says from beside Tony, making the dark haired billionaire chuckle. "Guess lending you that old suit was a good thing. You're quite welcome Emily," the red haired spy adds, winking at her friend. Emily didn't think it was possibly, but she could feel her face grow redder.

"We'll leave you two to your freaky roleplay," Tony adds, winking at Emily as well.

"I told you I didn't want to wear this stupid outfit," Bucky mutters darkly.

"Don't worry baby, I'll make it up to you after I've finished dying from embarrassment," Emily replies, covering her face with her hands. She's not sure whether she wants to laugh or cry at the situation. She takes a few deeps breaths and turn back to face Bucky, her hands lowering from her face. Before she can say another word, a black body suit hits her in the face. "You are incorrigible, Mr. Barnes," Emily huffs, shaking the costume at him.

"Send the lot of them on their way and I'll show you how incorrigible I really am, doll," Bucky tells Emily, his charmingly devilish smile on his face once more.

Emily shakes her head before walking out of the room to send their friends home for the evening. She stops halfway there and calls back at Bucky, "I see someone's found his holiday spirit!"