YULETIDE.
NOT ONE MEMBER of the team had expected that they would be spending Christmas Day on the Bus, but despite the fact that they were going to celebrate the holiday thousands of feet about the ground, Fitz-Simmons made an effort to take the holiday festivities up into the air.
He had expected that she would not be participating in the celebration, that would be taking the time to herself.
But she surprised everyone when she showed up in the kitchen wearing a striped red sweater to help Fitz-Simmons in preparing Christmas breakfast for the whole team.
It went on the whole day, as she helped in decorating the Christmas tree, setting up the holiday lights, and baking gingerbread cookies with Simmons.
No one seemed to mind.
In fact, they all welcomed the change the Christmas air seemed to have elicited from her.
Evening came, and she came by his office, just after she had given her gifts to the others. She thanks him for his present - a red scarf - and hands him her present to him with a smile on her face.
An unusual feeling started to rise in his chest. And in that little moment, he saw her - the Melinda he knew, the Melinda before Bahrain, the Melinda before the scars and the trauma, the Melinda he had come to -
She bids him goodnight, cutting off his train of thoughts, and leaves.
He then untied the ribbon of his gift and opened it.
Captain America boxer briefs that were just his size.
A rather late Christmas gift for everyone. I hope everyone had a great time during the holiday!
