Ta da! Yet another update. I hope you're enjoying this as much as I'm enjoying writing it.
They didn't tell Anya about the second kiss or their long discussion of a serious romantic relationship afterwards. She knew as if they'd told her, as if they had announced it to the world through a megaphone. The only 'witness,' if an automated system could be called such, was JARVIS, who was sworn to secrecy as soon as a relationship went beyond a single kiss. It was uncanny how the child knew despite the lack of published knowledge.
Perhaps being late had given it away. But they'd followed their nightly discussion with another one that had carried over into breakfast. Black Widow was never late. Neither was Captain America. Perhaps it was how relaxed they were, laughing and playfully slapping at each other while they cooked together. That was another first, cooking together. Normally the cooking was left to Banner, but he was gone for Christmas, secretly celebrating the holidays with his Betty. Stark was late too, though this was custom even in his own tower, so the pair quickly threw pancakes together as Anya joined in with laughter, requesting blueberries.
"Blueberries and strawberries." Steve corrected, chopping up the latter as Natasha mixed the batter. "I can't possibly include blue and not red. They're both my favorite color."
"Together they make purple. So is that your favorite color?"
"No, I like them separate. I just can't decide which I like more." He slid her several whole strawberries with a wink. "Which is your favorite?"
"Red. Like Mama's hair." It was the first time she had dropped the 'Nat' part of 'Mama Nat' and they both momentarily froze in surprise. Slowly, Natasha came around the corner and sat beside her daughter.
"Honey, are you sure you want to call me just mama?" The child nodded. "You know I'm not your first mommy. Your first mama is in Heaven. We visited where she and Papa are buried last week." Another affirmative nod. "If you want that, then you may."
"Do you want it? Can I call you Mama?"
She brushed their noses across each other with a smile. "Of course."
Breakfast was subsequently cheerful, Anya using the name 'Mama' as much as possible. They waved her goodbye on the bus, some of the other Avengers assembled to the delight of the other children. As soon as the girl was with the other students Nat could predict the conversation about parents, especially mothers, and smiled to herself. And then the talk would turn to Christmas. Nat's smile curved secretively as she turned back inside. Anya had no idea what she was getting for Christmas, had probably been too poor to celebrate the holiday in the entirety of its Western phenomenon, and Nat couldn't wait for the surprise it would be. The decorations were already up, the mistletoe and the lights and the Christmas tree and the tinsel and the thousands of miniature Santa's, dancing snow men, and breakable manger scenes. Pepper had instructed the decorating and JARVIS had gladly complied and when Anya had first seen it all she had screamed and run through every room until she got tired. After taking a nap, she explored the rest.
Wait until she sees the presents. Nat had thought at the time. Now it was time to wrap said presents.
Somehow the rest of the Avengers had managed to evaporate during wrapping time, so it was left to Nat and Steve. Steve saw to it that every Christmas song ever written was played in the background as they took out the tubes of bright colored paper and the boxes of shiny bows while Nat tenderly brought all the gifts down, except the ones they'd gotten each other. It took hours of laughing and Christmas movie breaks and hot chocolate and apple cider before everything was done, a small village of presents planted around the tree.
At the end Steve produced another sprig of mistletoe, flashed her a goofy smile, and dipped her for a kiss as the floor to ceiling windows displayed snow gently blanketing New York.
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