The quinjet banked softly at the end of the runway, snow swirling and drifting as the aircraft rolled towards the discreet hangar at the end. Just inside the hangar bay, a baggage transport cart was waiting, the driver watching in awe as the sleek jet began to lower its opening, the passengers within half hidden in shadow. Though they were expected, it was still quite a sight.

"When should I swing back? Twenty-seventh or twenty-eighth?" the pilot queried, her voice a little strained. Her red hair was tucked behind her ears, a headset still in place. The other passenger shouldered a duffle bag, a disk-shaped one clutched in his left hand. Yawning, she continued, "Should everything stay stable, I mean."

The fellow shrugged, adjusting the strap of the duffle bag as he did so. "Provided the world isn't in crisis beforehand, twenty-eighth."

Natasha Romanoff pulled off her headset, turning the chair to face the captain as he prepared to go. Somehow, against the odds, their luck had held. The Avengers could afford to take time off and celebrate the holidays. With their energies turned towards tracking the scepter and waiting for it to make a blip on the radar, they could all take a chance to breathe, to get their footing. Patience would be their ally (though it certainly wasn't a virtue they all shared). The group had scattered after they confirmed that it would be okay to leave the Tower for an extended period of celebration. Clint disappearing into the unknown two days ago, Thor was somewhere in London with Bruce accompanying him, and Tony had whisked Pepper off to Paris before anyone could stop him. Herself, she would be content to keep to the Tower, to immerse herself in the quiet. And with Steve keeping his end of the bargain he'd made back in November, she would get to do so, at least for a few days.

"Good. Plenty of time, then," she responded, glancing backwards with a tiny grin. "Land of one thousand lakes…and you come right in the middle of the season where you can't see any of them."

"My timing has always been hit or miss." The captain smirked, coming back to her side and throwing his arm around her shoulders in a companionable hug. "Good-bye. Merry Christmas, Natasha."

"С Рождество́м, Steve," she murmured, patting his wrist. She hoped he'd like the present she'd stowed away in his bag: a brand new Fossil watch. She figured he could appreciate it, in multiple ways. Looking up at him, she caught the flash of nervousness in his countenance, and just as he made his way to depart she called out, "Good luck."

Steve saluted her, touching a couple fingers to his forehead and waving as he disembarked, pushing on sunglasses and a knit cap as he clambered onto the waiting baggage cart, hitching a ride incognito as it were. Giving the driver a polite nod, they exchanged very little by way of pleasantries as they moved out of the hangar into the icy air. Hugging his arms to his chest and pulling his heavy coat tighter, he did the same for Natasha's words as they sped towards the main airport. Luck was finicky, but he hoped it would be on his side.

Slipping in a back entrance, past the security points and with minimal fuss, Steve came out at the baggage corral several minutes later, keeping his head down and striding purposefully, scanning the area. Soon enough, he found what he was looking for in the pickup and drop-off area. Holly was sitting on a far bench with her legs crossed, bags on the floor and her head bowed over her phone. Her wool coat was wide open, revealing the battered sweatshirt underneath. For once, her hair was loose, the winter hat she's brought draped across her lap along with her mittens. As he'd had to fly directly from the city, she'd gotten her own ticket, her flight scheduled to come in around the same time as his. Apparently, her plane had made better time (he wasn't sure how, though considering how long Natasha had argued with Maria over who was going to fly him out might have been a factor in him being the later party).

As she shifted her gaze from her phone up, she caught sight of him, her wide smile lighting her eyes as she immediately dropped it into her pocket and got up to meet him.

The words Steve had in his heart were on the tip of his tongue, waiting to be said. When he was ready, she'd told him, she'd listen. In the days that had followed her confession, it was a little awkward here and there, but otherwise they had carried on as before. Except nothing was as it was before; she'd found her courage first, had beaten him to the punch. And well, he didn't just want to say it offhand, like it didn't mean anything. Like how so many people around him said it without feeling, without truth. The opportune moment was coming, and he knew it. He just needed to get there.

"How long were you waiting?" he asked, warming up as he gathered her into his arms. Breathing deep, the scent of her shampoo tickled his nose, settled his nerves somewhat.

She shrugged, the corner of her mouth quirking up. "It's been about an hour since I landed, but, eh, I made use of the time. I've gotten so far in Candy Crush."

"Yeah, about that...Tony texted me to tell you to stop sending requests," Steve remarked, raking a hand through his hair and sitting down with her. His other arm snaked around her shoulders, bringing her in close so he could give her a quick kiss.

When they'd finished, she blinked and then snickered. Tony never should have friended her back with his private Facebook page. "Oops."

To elaborate, Steve retrieved his phone from his pocket, scrolling through the most recent messages. "Ah, here's one: 'I'll give her my CC info to buy stuff if it'll make her leave me alone, for the love of God.'"

"Huh. Just that easy?" she wondered facetiously, tapping her chin in thought. "Well, damn, I should've started doing that a long time ago; I've got my eye on this really neat tablet, and if he contributed..."

He smirked, but let it slide. He looked out towards the windows facing the pickup area. People huddled in their coats darted around cars. A shiver went down his spine in anticipation of going back out again.

"So this is Minnesota," he murmured, taking in the airport's glass and standard model walls, casting another look at the swirling snow outside. "It's...cold."

Much of his cross-country tour back in the day had been a blur, one city after another, and he could honestly say that he couldn't recall ever coming there before. Certainly not in the middle of winter, he knew. Not that he wasn't able to handle it (he grew up in New York, after all), but from what he could see so far, there wouldn't be much by the way of windbreaks in the Midwestern state.

"Yep. Welcome to the frozen tundra. It gets better the further away you get from the airport," she commented wryly, tugging at the loose scarf around her neck. Reaching up to brush back her hair, he bent down for another kiss, bumping noses as an interrupting shout caused them both to jump in their seats.

"Holly!" Turning, her face lit up as an older couple made their way towards their bench. Recognizing them right away, Steve felt his stomach tie into a couple of knots. Lisa and Paul Martin, Holly's parents.

Due to the distance and the increasing demands of his job, they had yet to meet one another in person, but Holly had arranged a couple of video chats between them and her parents prior to the holidays. Given that he was, in essence, bring their daughter more and more under public scrutiny, her dad had reasoned it was the least they could all do. For the most part, they seemed like decent people, but this trip would give him the opportunity to know for sure.

Lisa immediately went for her daughter, drawing her up out of her seat with a tight hug. Her dark blonde hair swung down her back, her tired blue-green eyes brightening as she held her girl close. She was a little shorter than Holly herself, but she held herself with confidence, with pride. Paul Martin sidestepped the pair, instead going straight for Steve. He looked decent for his age, his dark hair peppered with gray along with his beard, his back straight. His eyes, only a shade darker than Holly's, looked him over appraisingly, measured him up. A contractor by profession, he was examining him well, gaze flicking as if he could pick out aberrations in Steve as well as qualities like on a building project.

"Hello there, Steven."

Steven. Oh, boy. He smiled weakly at Paul's greeting, reminding himself to make some form of polite gesture and putting his hand out.

"I-it's good to see you both," he said, unable to keep the slight stammer out of his words. See, he could handle HYDRA and rogue agents, even aliens set on Earth's destruction; it was the normal situations of life that he still found himself unprepared for. At his age, he chided himself, this shouldn't be the case. But it was bizarre all around, given how he was technically older than all of them, and he still felt like a tongue-tied teenager. Paul gave him a warm smile, shaking his hand and nodding. His wife came up then, grasping his hand in both of hers, enthusiastic in her expression and movements. Her grip was gentle, her fingers warm compared to his cold grasp.

"We're glad we get to meet you in person, finally," the older woman said, eyes creasing at the corners. "Holly mentioned that you almost weren't able to make it."

Turning his head, he saw Holly minutely shake hers in return. She didn't give anything more away, and he was glad for it. It would be better for all if he went into bare minimum in regards to work details.

"I was able to work things out," he explained, noticing the curious glances being sent their way. A few people had begun to stare at him, as if trying to place him from somewhere. It was time to get moving. Carefully he began to gather his things, with Holly following his lead and edging towards the nearest door. "Guess you could say I'm on-call for the holidays, Mrs. Martin."

"Call me Lisa," she told him, slipping her hand into the crook of her husband's elbow and keeping on the younger couple's heels. Motioning with her free hand, she directed them back to the car, its hazards flashing down a few feet from the entrance. "Well, we're glad to have you, even if you do have to run off and save the world tomorrow."

"I don't think things will get that dire that quickly," he murmured, belatedly tacking on, "Lisa."

Piling the bags into the trunk of the car (along with some groceries Lisa had grabbed on the way to the airport), all four adults got into the cab, Holly's father driving and adding a few comments here and there as his wife and daughter chatted about the events over the next couple of days. The Martins weren't ones to insist on big holiday blow-outs, but a good number of the immediate family would be there for the festivities, including her sister and nephews, coming in from Iowa. Content to watch the road drift by, Steve was secretly pleased that he wasn't rushing off to meet HYDRA along the way. He noticed that as he drove east, the hills gave way to a few bluffs, evidence of the closeness to the Mississippi River. The suburb her parents lived in fell on the other side of St. Paul, so it would take them around twenty minutes before they'd arrive.

The voices filtered around him, pulling him back in when her mother tapped on the middle console idly, her tone changing slightly.

"The downstairs room is ready to go, same with your old bedroom, Holly."

Holly looked up, her tone sharp as she breathed, "Mom."

"House rules. It was the same with Heather and Jake, and before Hank married Ashley," Paul responded quietly, negotiating a right turn. He glanced back in the rearview mirror, his eyes locking with his youngest daughter's identical gaze. "We've talked about this."

They had, a few times over the past years, but ultimately, Holly's folks had won the argument. It was one of the few hard and fast rules that her parents had set, but it still chafed. As much as she loved her mom and dad, she very much differed with them on this point; she and Steve had already been sharing a bed for some time, in between his stints in New York and around the world. Not to mention she was on course and heading towards her thirties. She was going to fight them on it.

"Yes, but I don't think the seven-year-old will appreciate having to share a room," she grumbled, her fingers lacing with Steve's suddenly. Under her breath, she muttered, "Amongst other things."

Whether or not her father caught the last part, he was unsure, but he did detect a narrowing of his gaze. Time to do damage control, and fast. Clearing his throat, Steve shook his head minutely, warning Holly off of piping up in further protest. The questioning glare she'd shot him quelled slightly, but her eyebrows still rose slightly.

"It's okay," he said, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. He didn't want to get off on the wrong foot with his girl's parents; it wasn't his place to disrespect their wishes, if what they were asking for was no real hardship. Forgoing waking up with her next to him certainly wasn't preferred, but they would make do. "That sounds fine. Though you didn't have to go to the trouble."

Lisa tutted, waving her fingers absently. "It's no trouble, Steve."

"Yeah, it could be you bunking with Hank instead," her dad said. "And wouldn't that be awkward?"

Steve chuckled feebly, more than a little wary of the idea of spending prolonged, isolated time with the brother of his girlfriend. The brother who, he gathered from the very little that Holly told him, did not care all that much for him dragging his sister around, putting her in dangerous situations and inciting the paparazzi's interest in her life. Unavoidable as it was, Hank had expressed distaste in her continued insistence to be with such a public figure, though Steve could understand he did so more out of worry for her than any actual contempt for his character.

There was a meeting he wasn't looking forward to.

Again, he drifted out of focus, blaming it on nonexistent jet lag rather than just a need to relax and not be on high alert at all times. Eventually, they rolled into a neighborhood, several prefabricated homes on one court, and different models on the opposite side of the road. To Steve's relief, they turned onto the road with differing houses; one thing he didn't like about this new century was all the similar-looking homes. They were so boring; very much lacking in creativity as far as design went. Tony called them cookie-cutter houses, and he completely agreed on that point.

As the car pulled into the driveway off the middle of a cul-de-sac, his gaze directed itself to the split level in light blue, the slate of the shingles peeking out through the snow. A front walk curved around the garage, where a Chevy truck was parked along the side. The front door flew open, a blur of red check and streaming strawberry blonde hair rushing towards them. Quickly, Paul put the car in park, and Steve caught the huge smile blooming on Holly's lips. Giving his hand one last squeeze, she pulled out of his grasp, unbuckling her belt and jumping out of the car as fast as she could while scooping up her carry-on bag. Following suit, albeit it at a slower pace, Steve watched as she hustled over the child, scooping her up and swinging her around. The little girl squealed, and Steve felt his lips pull into a tiny grin at the sight.

"Aunt Holly!" he heard her yelp over Holly's groaning laughter. Turning his attention to Lisa, he quietly inquired if he could help her carry anything as he gathered up the suitcases.

"Thank you, but I think I've got it. You have your hands full, anyway," she remarked, pleased at his polite offer. The grocery bags fit snugly in her hands, though she did give Paul a significant look. The older man went to him, prying out the duffle from his grip. Before he could protest, the fellow moved away.

"You're a guest, Steven. You don't have to fetch and carry for all of us," he muttered, following his wife into the house and patting his granddaughter on the head as he went by. Holly had crouched at eye level, listening to the kid's animated descriptions of the toy her mother had sent with her.

"And it's so cool, it lights up and flies around the house, with spinning wings! You gotta see it! I wanted to launch it in the yard but Daddy…" she trailed off, her eyes darting to the big man standing directly behind her Aunt Holly. Glancing over her shoulder, Holly smiled and rose out of her crouch.

"It sounds really cool, kiddo," she said, clearing her throat. Off of the little girl's inquisitive stare, she went on, "Jodie, this is my, uh, friend, Steve."

"Your boyfriend," the little girl stressed in a teasing tone, giggling as she gave her aunt a poke on the arm. Turning her attention to him, she craned her neck back to examine Steve for a moment, just like her grandpa had done. Seemingly deciding on something, she strode right up to him, extending a hand. "Hiya, Steve."

"Hello, Jodie," he replied, bending slightly at the waist and shaking her hand. He shot an amused look at Holly. "Forthrightness runs in the family, I see."

"Like you wouldn't believe," came a new voice, in a deep, rich tone. Straightening up, Steve found himself eye to eye with a young man, scruff covering his jaw and a few strands of his dark hair falling over his forehead as he regarded the newcomers. Holly's brother Hank looked a little careworn, but he managed a polite smile and incline of his head for his sister's partner. Shrugging hard against a breeze in his thin flannel shirt and jeans, he looked down at the little girl with a softened expression. "Okay, honey, back in the house."

"But, Daddy..."

"Later. Come on, now. You'll turn into an icicle out here. You can show your aunt that spinning fairy thing."

"Yeah. And Nana made cookies, so we can have some now that you're here!" Jodie said, grabbing Holly's hand and towing her towards the door. Casting a glance over her shoulder, Holly tried to pause long enough to reassure him or even greet her brother, but both men shook their heads and grinned, letting the seven-year-old have her way. Steve could manage the luggage on his own, and Hank could wait a bit to officially say hello to his sister. Once the pair was safely indoors, the two men faced one another, blue and hazel eyes sizing one another up.

"Captain," Hank said, nodding by way of greeting. His tone was cool, but not frigid; that was a good sign, he thought. Steve returned the gesture.

"Hank. Nice to meet you."

He watched as the other man's eyes shifted around him. "Well, doesn't look like you were followed. That's good."

Steve wasn't sure what to say to that, so he kept his mouth shut. Maybe this wasn't going to go as smoothly as he hoped. Hank shrugged his shoulders again, heaving out a sigh.

"Look, I'm too old to do the 'big brother' thing, and you are definitely too old to be hearing it," he started, ignoring the Captain's frown, "and more to the point, Holly's not going to like it if I do. So this is all I'm gonna say: for some reason, you make her happy. You better damn well keep it that way. We clear?"

Steve almost glared, an eyebrow inclining. Not a bully, he reminded himself, just a concerned brother. "Crystal."

"Great. Because if you break her heart, I'm not sure I'd survive coming after you," Hank replied, tilting his head to the left, mimicking his sister unconsciously. "Much better to do a preemptive strike."

"Depends on the situation," the captain muttered, smirking at the younger man's bluntness and self-deprecation. It ran in the family, all right. Chuckling under his breath, Hank jerked a shoulder towards the door, waiting for Steve to follow him in.

"Sounds like a story is behind that. Which I will definitely be glad to hear after getting some cookies."

"Uh…okay," Steve remarked, hot on his heels. Breaking even as far as meeting the family thus far, he breathed a slow sigh as he ventured into the house. Not bad, not good…but things could change. It was going to be an interesting six days here.

A/N: I know, I'm late. Late again. September, as it turns out, is a surprisingly busy month for me, with nearly all of my weekends spoken for. And weekends have been, often enough, the time I post new chapters. So the next few will be midweek chapters. And I was on the struggle bus in regards to this chapter. I hope you guys like it; I really, really tried to do okay with it.

Also, yes. Christmas fluff will be happen, for a couple chapters. For those seeking adventure and non-stop action, I'll have to direct you back to the main page. Not every moment in life is filled to the brim with explosions and high stakes car chases, not even in the life of a superhero. I'm saying this because sometimes people read a story and expect tons of things to happen that the author did not plan, and then they wonder why it's not showing up. But if you enjoy the fluff...sink in the marshmallowy goodness of it all!

Had to use an online translator for Nat's one sentence, because I definitely don't know any Russian. С Рождество́м-Merry Christmas.

Also, concerning something that hasn't happened yet...but just be patient. ;)

Thanks for reading, please review, and I'll see you all for the next one!