I am so sorry I kept meaning to update and then my life was taken over by Undertale. However, this chapter has definitely gotten me re-interested in this story, so I hope that the next chapter will come sooner. :)

Bear with me!

-mariahills-capsicle


Five days until Christmas. Five days. They had been walking for what seemed like years already, and they weren't even close to their destination. It was nearing evening as they were climbing over yet another hill. Clint was just ahead of where Maria was walking, trudging through the snow and making up parodies off of Christmas songs.

"Ohhhhhh Cananda! Ohhhh Canada! How great it'll be to see theeeeee!"

Caleb had fallen asleep in Maria's arms about an hour ago and now he was a dead weight. She was going to have to take a break soon, especially climbing up that terrible hill.

"Hey." Steve came up behind her, gently setting his hand on her shoulder. "I can take him if you want." She looked up at him, his blue eyes filled with an eagerness to help, and… guilt? He was still kicking himself for not having stayed with her. She wasn't sure how to reassure him. She often wished that she had gone with him to DC. Then, at least, they wouldn't have been apart. It would have been hard, especially for Caleb…. There were lots of 'what ifs'. She didn't want to dwell on them.

"Sure." She helped transfer her son into Steve's arms. The captain would be able to hold up with the sleeping boy for a little while longer than Maria could.

"Maria." He smiled down at her. "Your eyes are so beautiful." Oh yes. She had forgotten that she missed his spontaneous little comments. He was so open in his affection. She loved it. Now, it made her blush. Did it have to be so awkward between them still? Couldn't they just be over it? She wished, more than anything, she wished they could. Because looking up into his blue eyes, she just really wanted to kiss him.

"JINGLE BELLSSS! JINGLE BEELLLS! LUCKY IS A DOG!" Clint was chasing the bounding mutt through the snow with a laugh. Maria grins watching him.

"He and Nat? It seems almost impossible. Such a child at heart."

"He'll make a good father." Pepper came up behind them. "Tony's like that."

"Tony?! Childish?!" Steve grinned. "Could have fooled me."

"Where's Amelie?" Maria asked. Pepper pointed up at where Tony was walking with the little girl on his shoulders. Amelie was bundled up tightly. She looked like a little snowman. Maria grinned.

"So… I'm playing a little game. You want to join, M?" Pepper smiled.

"Umm… Sure. Anything to pass the time." Maria nodded.

"Who do you think… is going to be the next couple in our little troupe to have a baby?"

"A… baby…?" Maria paled, suddenly remembering her best friend. Nat had been so worried about being pregnant… She had said she'd get a test at the last town… how come she hadn't talked to Maria at all?

"Yeah! So, who do you think?" Pepper grinned.

"Oh… Oh… I don't know. Maybe Thor and Jane?"

"True. True. They've been together for the longest, besides me and Tony… I think..."

"Clint and Nat have been together for a while." Steve said.

"That's true too." Pepper nodded. Maria was searching for her friend, finally catching sight of the red head. She looked distracted, her arms crossed as she marched up the hill. Clint threw his arm around her shoulder, singing at the top of his lungs,

"ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME SOME ARROWS IN A PURPLE QUIVER!"

"I hope that stops soon." Jane sighed, as she walked with Thor beside them. "There's only so much you can take."

"I find that these Midgardian songs are quite entertaining." Thor replied.


STEVE

They stopped at the top of the hill. The sun was going down and they needed light to set up camp. They laid out the tarp and hung up the other, preparing their sleeping bags. Meanwhile, others in their group prepared a camp fire and heated up some food. When at last their tasks were done they all sat around the fire, happily, eating canned soup.

"Oh! Okay. Discussion starter. What's the thing you miss the most?" Bruce said.

"Augh. My lab." Tony sighed.

"Your lab?!" Pepper snorted. "I miss showers… oh and wine."

"Got plenty of that up at the bunker." Tony grinned.

"And thank god, because you'll also have your lab so I'm definitely going to need it."

"I miss… I miss my lab too." Jane smiled. "But most of all I miss electricity in general. All my equipment… coffee..."

"I miss… Well… actually..." Thor frowned. "I miss POP TARTS."

"Don't worry, blondie. We got some of them at the bunker too."

"What?! This is indeed a great day!" Thor cried.

"I miss coffee." Darcy said, without even a moment of hesitation. "And iTunes." She was sitting on Bucky's knee, legs crossed. Steve had to admit, she and his best friend were rather a cute couple.

"I miss real food. Good breakfast." Bucky sighed.

"Well. Tomorrow I think we'll have enough eggs for scrambled eggs for dinner." Clint grinned.

"Umm… Since we're all here." Steve looked over at where Nat was sitting. As she spoke she looked very nervous. She was sitting next to Clint. "I um… I have a little announcement." Maria's hand tightened on Steve's knee. She knew what it was. He looked over to see her grinning. Their son was sitting in her lap, happily eating a can of tuna.

"What's going on, Nat?" Clint asked, shoveling a spoonful of green beans in his mouth.

"Umm..." She turned to face the archer, her hands were shaking. "Clint... I uh… I just took a test and I'm pregnant..." Everyone waited in shock to see Clint's reaction. The archer dropped his can of beans, and stared at Nat in awe.

"WHAT?!" The excitement in his voice was obvious. Natasha grinned, loosening up a little.

"You're going to be a father."

"What!? No way! Oh my god! Nat!" He pulled the assassin into a tight hug. Everyone offered up congratulations. Jane grinned over at Maria.

"Guess it's Clint and Nat."

"Guess so." Maria replied.

"You knew." Steve accused her when Jane turned away.

"Natasha told me she had a suspicion. Guess it was a good one."


MARIA

The next day they were making their way down a state highway. Clint and Nat were speaking softly, walking arm-in-arm, Lucky following closely behind them. Meanwhile, Steve carried Caleb on his shoulders. They walked happily, everyone chatting amongst themselves. Bruce talking with Tony. Betty, Jane, and Pepper walking together. Maria walked with Steve. It was going to be another long day. She could already tell. They wanted to try and make it to the old SHIELD safe house. They'd be able to restock there, and sleep in an actual sheltered location. In a couple miles they'd turn off the highway and head true north. They were halfway to the point where they'd leave the highway. It was still early morning when they heard the chainsaw, and the screams. Everyone froze. Even Lucky looked up from where he stood and whined nervously.

"What's that?!" Caleb gasped. No one answered. Vision slowly rose up from the ground.

"I'll see what's going on." Everyone watched him rise into the air until he froze, staring out at the expanse of wilderness around them. He suddenly came down very fast, panicked. "A large group of people, headed this way. The look… savage."

"We need to take cover! Now!" Steve cried. They all turned to the only place that could hide them all- the forest.


REVIEWS FOR CHAPTER TEN:

Qweb: I knew those men didn't have a chance against Nat and Maria.
Guess you can't call it looting when society's so broken. Now it's foraging. I hope we get to see Christmas.

Heh For sure!

I guess that's true. Good insight. Christmas is... going to be interesting. Had some good ideas while finishing up this chapter.

candycrum: Omg love it as always

Yay! Please forgive me for this one being so late (and short). It should be better next time. :D

Thesamemistakes: I wonder what have caleb and María have for steve!
I love caleb
Waiting for the next chapter :)

Auggghhhh! So sorry! :( I hope you liked this one too. The next one is going to much longer, I think.

holsvick: Loving this story. So much.

Yay! I'm so glad!

Gummybear1178: please update I love this story, Caleb, it's amazing, what's bad is this is the apocalypse, I wonder if any other super hero survived? what would be cool, bad, and an interesting way to find out, is if Natasha got hit or injured in the stomach for her to have to say somthing abou the possibility of the baby or confirmation

Well, they still have the store bought pregnancy tests she can just loot from a store- hence her being able to find out easily.

Once again, sorry it's so late. The next chapter is going to be way longer.

-mariahills-capsicle