"Thank you," he gave a small smile and held up the stocking. "This is very...cheeky."

"Well, it was meant to be sexy, but cheeky works, I suppose," Olivia laughed.

"It is sexy," he said quickly.

"Okay, well that's good," she laughed again and leaned over to kiss him.

"Is this your way of trying to tell me you want to have sex?" He blurted.

"Of course I want to have sex with you," she laughed. "Don't most women? I mean, look at you. I doubt I'd need to tell you, but, yea, I'd like to have sex with you at some point."

Steve's face turned red.

"Don't worry, Steve," she placed her hand over his. "I know you were raised in a different time and things have changed. I'm not suggesting we take our clothes off here and now - unless you wanna." She laughed again. "Just know that nowadays, you don't have to be courting or married to engage in intimacy. And no one thinks less of you for doing so. Not to mention the fact that we've only known each other for a couple months. I'm happy with where we are, and if you are too, we'll take it as it goes."

Steve smiled and kissed her.

"I'm glad you're my girl," he said.

"Me too. Now I don't know about you, but I'm hungry," Olivia smiled. "Are you down for some breakfast? I make some mean biscuits and gravy."

"That sounds really good," he smiled.

"Great. I've gotta freshen up some first, but I'll meet you downstairs?" She asked and he nodded.

Steve stepped off the elevator and into the living room where he found Clint, Tony and Pepper.

"Merry Christmas, Steve," Pepper smiled as he sat on the couch.

"Merry Christmas."

"Have you seen Olivia?" she asked.

"Yea, she's getting cleaned up." He said.

"Cleaned up? Cleaned up from what?" Tony questioned.

"Nothing, she's just washing her face and stuff."

Steve sat back on the couch, quietly thinking. He reached in the pocket of his pajama pants and pulled out the note that Olivia had given him. He read it over and over again.

"Whatcha got there, Cap?" Tony asked, nosily.

"Nothing," he said, folding the note back up.

"Likely story," Tony said, snatching the note out of his hands before he could put it away. He read it aloud. "'Hang this stocking in your suite to hold onto your Christmas treats. If you're nice, expect Saint Nick, but if you're naughty, I can do the trick. Merry Christmas, Olivia.' I thought you said she was just washing her face? Looks like Cap got an early Christmas present."

"Shut up," Steve sneered, taking the note back. "It was just a little note she attached to a stocking. Nothing happened."

"Nothing happened? Are you saying the biologist implied that she wanted to get you in bed and you turned her down? What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Okay, Tony, that's enough," Pepper said.

"Seriously, though," Tony had to have the last word, no doubt. "She's a biologist. I bet she's animalistic in the bedroom. You're a fool for turning that down." Pepper rolled her eyes and Steve shot him a glare. He didn't appreciate him talking about his girl like that.

"Tony, you shouldn't talk about her like that," Clint interjected, practically reading Steve's mind. He had been quiet up until this point.

"Talk about who like what?" Olivia asked as she stepped off the elevator.

"Don't worry about it," Steve smiled as she joined them. "I was just about to tell everyone that you offered to make biscuits and gravy for breakfast."

"Indeed," she smiled.

"Will there be bacon involved in this breakfast?" Tony inquired.

"Of course, but I could use an extra set of hands to help."

"I've had a couple ladies tell me that I'm good with me hands. I'd be happy to satisfy your needs," Tony smirked at Steve and stood to lead Olivia into the kitchen.

"Just ignore him," Clint said, clapping a hand on his shoulder. "He's just trying to get to you."

Suddenly there was a loud crack of lightening and Thor came bounding into the living area.

"Merry Christmas, Midgardians," Thor boomed. "I hope you were joyfully greeted by the Saint you worship."

"Thor, we don't worship Santa Claus. He's just a tradition of sorts," Pepper explained. "Nice of you to join us, though. Olivia and Tony are making a breakfast feast."

"That's right, biscuits and gravy with bacon and eggs," Clint elaborated.

"You call that a feast?" Thor's laugh thundered through the room. "Your feast is puny."

"So sorry our feast doesn't suit you, Asgardian Prince," Tony chided from the kitchen. "If you don't like it, don't like the Bifrost hit you on the way out." Thor rolled his eyes.


"Olivia, tell us about your Christmas traditions growing up," Clint suggested as they all sat around the large fir tree that evening.

"Well, when I was really young, I would wake up really early and open gifts from Santa Claus. My parents would make us breakfast and then we would go visit my great-grandmother and celebrate Christmas with her family," Olivia said. "After my mom died, we stopped going to see my great-grandmother. It was just me and my dad. In high school, I was in the marching band, so my school participated in the town Christmas parade every year. My dad would stand on the sidewalk and cheer for me when I marched past. Usually on Christmas Eve, my dad and I would watch A Christmas Story and I would bake."

"That sounds nice," Pepper smiled. "You're a very good baker. The apple crostata you made yesterday was divine."

"Hey!" Steve interjected. "I helped, ya know."

"Yes, Steve was a great helper," Olivia smiled.

Tony rolled his eyes from across the room.


Olivia fell back onto the couch in the living area, hands over her stomach.

"That was some seriously delicious food," she smiled at Steve. "It doesn't compare to a home-cooked Southern Christmas dinner but the catering was really good. I think I might fall into a food coma any minute now."

"Well, before you do that, I have something for you," Steve said, holding out a small box, which sat perfectly in his hand.

"A gift for me?" She asked, incredulously as she took the box and began unwrapping it. She lifted the lid and found a beautiful silver owl pendant hanging from a small chain necklace. "Wow, Steve. I don't know what to say. This is beautiful."

"Owls symbolize wisdom, intelligence and protection, among other things," Steve explained, but then laughed. "Although, I'm sure you know your fair share about owls."

"I love it," she smiled, turning and pulling her hair over her shoulder. "Can you put it on?"

He took the necklace from her and slowly clipped the clasp around her neck. She turned back to him and held the pendant in her hand, admiring it.

"And you said you weren't good with women," she laughed.

"Well I had a little bit of guidance," he admitted.

"Pepper?"

"No, Agent Romanoff, actually."

"Natasha?" Olivia asked and he nodded. The last time she spoke to Natasha, she called her a bitch. She couldn't imagine her being willing to help Steve pick out a gift.

"Well, you did a great job."

"Oh, one more thing," Steve reached around behind him and produced a small sprig of mistletoe, which he hastily held above their heads. Olivia laughed and leaned forward, placing a hand on his chest and she brought her lips to his.


The next morning, Olivia and Tony were on the helipad testing out the sound emulator.

"It's the day after Christmas," Tony whined. "Why are we working? And why are we doing it so early?"

"Ain't no rest for the wicked, Tony," Olivia reminded him. "Just because it's Christmas doesn't mean our work stops." She reached down and double checked the attachment before giving the emulator a love pat. "Okay, give it a go. Jarvis, please record any and all collisions and bring back a detailed flight report."

"Of course, Dr. McClain," Jarvis spoke.

"Since when do you take commands from anyone other than me?" Tony questioned.

"He knows what's good for him," Olivia smiled. "It's all to better your suit. Now go."

"How long do I have to fly around aimlessly?"

"An hour," She said, and Tony scoffed.

"Stupid birds," he muttered.

When he returned to the helipad an hour later, Olivia greeted him.

"Flight report is visible in the lab, Dr. McClain," Jarvis said.

"Great! Shall we?" She smiled at Tony.


Olivia and Tony sat in the conference room on the 12th floor. The same conference room where she met Steve for the first time.

"Director Fury," Tony spoke when his image popped up on the screen in front of them. "Olivia has finalized her sound emulator for the Iron Man suit. It works really well. She made several of them because apparently Thor wanted one too."

"Copy that," the director said. "I'll send an agent to retrieve some of them this afternoon,"

"What's next for Olivia?" Tony asked.

"Have her stay in the Tower. We might need her help again."

"Sir, with all due respect, couldn't you come and get me when you needed me again?" Olivia cut in.

"We could. But you're staying in the tower."

"What about my work at the Smithsonian?"

"What about it? Your supervisors were notified that you would be taking an extended leave of absence. You have everything you could need here in the Tower. You're free to come and go, but your residence remains here for the time being."

"Director, I didn't spend 10 plus years in school just to be locked away in some tower like Rapunzel. I would like to get back to my research."

"Unfortunately, Dr., SHIELD doesn't always take into considerations the wants of their contractors, if you will."

"So I'm basically being held here against my will?"

"I resent that," Tony butted in. Olivia ignored him.

"Dr. McClain, I do not argue, because I always win. As of right now, you are still under employment with SHIELD and you will remain at our facilities until you are instructed otherwise."

Olivia was livid. She leaned back in her chair, arms crossed over her chest, and gritted her teeth.

"Yes, Sir," she said, jaw clenched.

As she stepped off the elevator into the common area, she saw Steve on the couch.

"What's the matter?" He asked, noticing immediately that she was upset.

"It looks like Stark Tower has another permanent resident," she said.

"What do you mean?"

"I finished my work with the sound emulator but I was told by Fury that I had to stay here. I have no choice and I can't return to my research at the Smithsonian."

"Oh," Steve said, stretching his arm behind her and pulling her close. "Just look at the bright side. You get to stay here with me."

"I can't complain about that, that's for sure," she smiled.


A/N: So first, I want to say that this is not what I originally wrote for this chapter, but I changed it based on where I wanted the story to go. And that's why it's a little shorter than usual. Please forgive me. Next week, I will be out of town for work and may not be able to post until late Friday or maybe even Saturday morning, so just a head's up! Thanks to my beta, wantfanfics, as always. Also thank you to the awesome people who left reviews: alyssa300, Marmite-1, aven91, and TeamFreeWill2. Thank you! I hope you all enjoy this chapter. Any and all feedback is appreciated!

-LBD