It was a snowy Sunday morning. The city of New York seemed to be sleeping; few people were out at five in the morning. Central Park was mostly deserted, only snow drifts and trees adorned with icicles inhabited the place. It was a wintery wonderland.
Steve and Natasha were out on their usual morning jog; both were dressed in winter running gear. Natasha's red hair was pulled back into a ponytail while Steve wore ear warmers. The couple ran through the deserted park, Natasha easily keeping stride with Steve. Halfway through the park, the couple decided to stop by a street vendor for morning coffee. Natasha sat on a bench while Steve went to get the coffee.
"I wish you would let me pay." Natasha spoke when he returned.
Steve chuckled and sat next to her, handing her a coffee.
"You know I can't do that." He replied.
"Why not?" She challenged, turning to face him.
"Because I wouldn't be a gentleman if I did."
Natasha chuckled. "Well what if I didn't want you to be a gentleman?"
Steve looked at her mischievously. "You don't want me to be a gentleman?"
"If it means I can buy my own coffee, then yes."
Steve laughed. "Ok. Ok. I won't be a gentleman anymore." He responded standing up and offering her a hand.
She gave him an annoyed look.
"What?" he asked chuckling.
Natasha sighed and stood up. "I guess you can't teach an old dog new tricks."
"So you're calling me old now?" Steve teased.
Natasha rolled her eyes at him, bumping him playfully. "Yes. I am."
"You minx!" Steve joked, dropping his coffee in a trash bin before grabbing her buy the waist and spinning her around before throwing her over his shoulder. Natasha let out a squeal of joy.
"Steve!" she squealed. "Put me down!"
"As you wish." He replied, dropping her in a pile of snow.
Natasha gasped in outrage.
"See. Not a gentleman." Steve responded, bowing slightly.
Natasha rolled her eyes and when his back was turned, forming a snowball in her hands.
"Hey Steve?"
"Yeah Tash?" he responded turning his head. His face was quickly met Natasha's snowball.
Natasha laughed before taking off across the snowy park.
"You sly fox!" he gasped, chasing after her.
The childish laughter of the soldier and the spy echoed across the snowy park. Snowballs were thrown from behind makeshift snow barricades. Steve got a few snowballs to the face as did Natasha. Soon both were wet and cold, their cheeks rosy from laughter.
"Truce?" Steve panted after pinning the small assassin in the snow.
Natasha nodded, breathless.
Steve helped her up, brushing snow off the top of her head. Natasha just laughed and brushed the snow off his large shoulders. Steve quickly glanced at his watch.
"Tash. What time are we due back at the Tower for that formal brunch?"
"Ten o'clock. Why?"
"It's around 7:30."
Natasha looked at her watch before looking up back at Steve. "We've got to go. You know how Pepper is."
Steve nodded before both took off in a mad dash towards the tower.
Both returned to the tower red cheeked and out of breath at 8:15.
"Shower?" Natasha asked.
Steve nodded. "My room?"
"Yeah. I'll meet you there, let me grab my dress."
Steve nodded, letting Natasha off at her floor before heading on up to his.
When Natasha reached Steve's room, he was already in the shower. She hung up her outfit and set her makeup bag on his vanity before undressing.
Natasha joined Steve in the shower, the warm spray burning the chill off her skin. She stretched happily, Steve's hands resting on her hips. She smiled happily as his lips brushed her cheek before nibbling on her ear.
"Steve." She giggled. "That tickles!"
Steve chuckled, placing a sweet kiss on the side of her head.
The warmth of the water helped thaw their cold bodies, the spray massaging the winter away. Natasha grabbed Steve's spicy shampoo, pouring a dab into her hand before massaging it into his short blonde tresses. Steve's body relaxed as she methodically scrubbed away the cold. Once his hair was properly sudsy with shampoo, Natasha allowed him to rinse while she lathered her body with her own floral body wash. The assassin had started keeping her own soap and shampoo in the Captain's quarters ever since they found out that Clint was indeed part blood hound.
After Steve had finished rinsing out his hair, he started on Natasha's; the floral scent of her shampoo filling his senses. He gently massaged the shampoo into her red curls as she turned in his arms to wash his large chest. The small assassin smiled up at him as he brought her into his arms, nuzzling his face into her soapy hair.
"Steve."
"Hmm."
"We are going to be late unless you let me rinse my hair."
The soldier sighed sadly, pulling back a little to look at her.
"Can we be five minutes late?"
"You know Pepper. Besides, Tony might make assumptions."
Steve groaned and released her. "Fine."
Natasha laughed and turned to rinse her hair.
"Go shave. You're getting all stubbly."
Steve saluted at her before getting out of the shower. "Yes ma'am."
Natasha laughed and finished up rinsing her hair. A few minutes later, she shut off the water.
A warm towel was waiting for her when she stepped out of the shower. Steve was at the fogged up mirror, only wearing a towel around his waist, shaving his face.
"Good boy." Natasha teased, pulling her hair up in a towel. Steve just rolled his eyes at her.
Natasha stepped out of the steamy bathroom into Steve's cooler bedroom. She quickly dried and dressed in one of Steve's button up shirts before she started drying her hair. Steve emerged a few minutes later, clean shaven and dressed in navy blue boxers.
"You should wear your grey slacks and that blue checkered button up Tony got you." Natasha spoke, pinning her curls up into a low bun.
"Thanks Tash." Steve responded, getting his slacks from his dresser. "What tie?"
"The navy one."
Steve nodded and slid on his slacks while Natasha started on her make-up. Steve approached her from behind, his shirt unbuttoned, and gently leaned over her.
"You look beautiful without it Tash." Steve murmured in her ear, kissing her cheek softly while buttoning up his shirt.
Natasha blushed and smiled up at him in response.
Both dressed quickly, Natasha, in her long sleeve navy chevron dress, leaned on Steve as she put on her heels. Steve looked at his watch while Natasha straightened his tie; it was 9:54.
"Ready?" he asked.
Natasha nodded.
Steve gently placed a hand on the small of her back as they made their way to the elevator; Natasha smiled up at him.
The couple made their way up to the formal dining room, both one of the first to arrive. Steve dropped his arm from her waist and discretely kissed her head before heading to talk to Tony. Natasha went to go see where Pepper was.
Soon brunch was served. Jokes were told by Tony while Steve told old war stories. Tony was at the head of the table; to his right was Pepper and to his left was Bruce. Thor was to Pepper's right with Clint on his right. Steve was on the other end of the table with Natasha on his right. Bruce's girlfriend, Betty, was on Natasha's right. Pepper was hiding her left hand under the table.
After the delicious meal of waffles, fruit, eggs benedict, Canadian bacon, wild blueberry muffins, and chocolate croissants, Tony tapped his glass and cleared his throat.
"I… I mean we…" Tony started, looking over at Pepper and taking her hand. "We have an announcement to make."
Natasha smiled warmly at Pepper.
"We are getting married." Tony continued, holding up Pepper's left hand; a shiny new engagement ring was glinting in the morning light. The table erupted in cheers.
"I called it!" Clint spoke up. "No one believed me, but I called it!"
The table laughed.
"Yeah yeah. Everyone knew it was coming. No big surprise. But there is one question all of us here want to know…" Tony started.
"What's that?" Bruce asked.
"When are Cap and little red going to tie the knot?"
