Much to the surprise of everyone who saw them flirting and then sneak off to Steve's room on Halloween, Sharon and Steve didn't jump head first back into a relationship. They actually didn't see each other for over a month after the party.
Bucky wenta little rogue when he somehow helped Zemo break out of prison and, while they gave the Wakandan's a head's up, Sharon wasn't afforded the same courtesy. She was pissed, but Sam reassured her he had it under control. He was able to get through to Karli and Zemo came in handy when he destroyed every single serum that the Flag Smashers had on them. Bucky then turned him over to Ayo and Sharon didn't want to know what Wakanda had in plan for Zemo - she was deeming that out of her jurisdiction.
Steve, on the other hand, continued to enjoy his retirement. Sharon would get texts from him every other day letting her know where he was. Last she heard, he was in California and was going to stay with Tony for Thanksgiving and probably through the end of the year. She missed him, but knew this time apart was still for the best.
Sharon was telling the truth when she said she wasn't angry anymore, just hurt and confused. She was still trying to sort out how the Steve she knew before the Snap and the Steve she was with now was also the same Steve who was willing to throw away everything he built for himself here in this time to go back to the 1940s. Maybe it wasn't the same Steve, maybe Natasha was right in that losing everyone for five years took its toll on him. Deep down, she knew that was what happened, but Sharon needed to make sure for herself that she wasn't just making excuses for him so she didn't have to miss him so much anymore.
It was two weeks before Christmas and things had been quiet, which made her nervous but she had been assured multiple times by Hill and Fury that quiet wasn't a bad thing these days. People were still adjusting to being back, there was a need for the bad guys to rebuild and deal with internal disputes before getting back to business.
"Tony and Pepper are hosting Christmas this year. I know how much you love seeing your family on holidays, and seeing how you spent Thanksgiving with them, I told Tony you'd be spending Christmas with the team," Natasha said as she grabbed the punching bag Sharon was going to town on. "I also told him you didn't need a room because you'd just bunk with Steve."
"Natasha," Sharon growled. "Not cool."
"We all saw you two on Halloween."
"And I told you nothing happened. We didn't even kiss," she said, continuing her work out and trying to ignore her friend. "We flirted, we fell asleep. Friendly cuddling. That's it. I haven't seen him since."
"Wait, really? I thought you at least saw him when he stopped by to pick up his warmer clothes."
"No, that was the one day I went back to Brooklyn because I thought I was going to have a mental breakdown from this place," she said with a huff. "Probably for the best, I was not well."
"I know I've always been pushing you two toward each other, and you both take great offense to my meddling," Natasha said with a smirk when she noticed Sharon punching the bag harder. "I just want you both to be happy. I've known you since you started S.H.I.E.L.D., and at the time you were my only friend other than Clint. I've become so close with Steve. You're good for each other, you're good together."
"I know," Sharon said with a sigh. "And I appreciate it. It still hurts, and I'm just trying to make sure I'm ready to really be in a relationship with him again. If what we even had before qualified as a relationship. I don't want these trust issues to be baggage I'm dealing with years later, I want to make sure I have my feelings about the situation settled. I'm getting there. I told him I wanted to try this again, to take it slow. He seemed okay with that."
"Is Cap bringing his girlfriend to Christmas," Scott asked as he walked into the gym. He was working with Bruce on some project and was in town for the week.
"Sam doesn't have a girlfriend, none that I know of," Sharon said and looked over at Natasha with a shrug. "Maybe he met someone in Wakanda?"
"The Dora Milaje are badass," Natasha said and Sharon hummed in agreement.
"No, not Sam. Sorry still forgetting he's Cap now. I meant Steve," he clarified as he held his phone out to the girls. Natasha grabbed it first and started muttering something in Russian that she couldn't understand.
"He's allowed to see whoever he wants," Sharon said, not wanting to give in and look at the TMZ article. "I had gone on a few dates."
"Have you been on any dates since Halloween?"
"Well, no."
"Then he's not allowed to either," Natasha said angrily as she handed the phone back to Scott, who looked like he was regretting ever stepping foot in the training room.
"Can I see it please," Sharon asked and Scott slowly handed her the phone as he looked at Natasha to make sure he wasn't going to get smacked or stabbed.
Sharon looked at the article and saw the photos of Steve at coffee with some girl with brown hair, and then more pictures of him at dinner on what she assumed was a different night. She didn't recognize the brunette, but noticed that they seemed comfortable. Brunette, like Peggy. She felt her chest tighten once that thought entered her brain and she tried to wish it away, but she couldn't. She handed Scott his phone back and left the training room without a word.
"So I'm guessing neither of you know the answer to my question."
Sharon told Hill she was taking off until the end of the year, she needed a break. She went back to her apartment and immediately face planted on her couch. Sharon's phone had been buzzing non-stop and she knew it was Steve, she just couldn't deal with him yet.
She hated that a few photos made her like this. She knew how tabloids like to spin things, she knew that there had to be more to the story. She was trying to stay rational, but she couldn't stop thinking about Peggy. Maybe he was trying to replace Peggy with Sharon and when he realized the Carter name and job title only went so far, he started looking for someone who physically resembled Peggy more than Sharon did to be with. She was spiraling, she hated this. She picked up her phone and called Natasha.
"I know you drove into the city. Can you come over?" she said into the phone. "I have alcohol."
"I'm already at your door," Natasha said and let herself in. "I yelled at him."
"I figured, he's been calling and texting me," Sharon said, throwing her phone at Natasha. "I'm sure there's an explanation for the photos and I know I'll feel better hearing it from him, I'm just not in a good headspace right now to be normal."
"He did offer his side of the story, which I do believe. However, I still cursed him out and told him he needed to be smarter when he's trying to rekindle a relationship with the love of his life who's in New York while he's in L.A."
"Such a secret romantic, Romanov," Sharon muttered as she took the glass of wine from Natasha that she just poured. "The hair color was a trigger."
"I figured."
"See what I'm saying now about baggage," Sharon said and Natasha hummed. "This isn't fair to him for me to jump to such a conclusion like that."
"No, but it's human and expected after what you went through. I'd be pissed if I saw James photographed with some redhead at dinner while we're miles apart."
"James?"
"Shut up, this is about you right now," Natasha said and rolled her eyes at Sharon's smirk. "You had your boyfriend consider leaving you for your aunt who he thought he was in love with before he crash landed in an iceberg. That's a whole different level a lot of girls will never reach. I think your reaction is perfectly acceptable and, dare I say sane, when put into the context of your life."
"So I just continue to be crazy with trust issues because it's normal, all things considering?"
"No, you work it out with Steve. That's what couples do. If you're not willing to work the issues out together, why bother dating and dealing with all of that? You might as well just be fuck buddies."
"Such a drastic jump between what you just said," Sharon shook her head. "But you make a point. I should answer him, let him explain. He'll probably tell me he'll never be near another brunette again."
"That would be amusing to see his attempts," Natasha laughed, handing Sharon her phone back. "Go call him. Make it quick, we have to finish watching Bridgerton."
Sharon went into her bedroom and skimmed through the frantic texts from Steve, smiling at the last one: I'm pushing, I know. I told Sam I wouldn't do this. I'm sorry. Please call me when you're ready. I know it's late in New York, but I hope I hear from you soon.
She took a deep breath as she hit the call button and waited for him to answer.
"Sharon, hi," he said, sounding so relieve that she called.
"Hey," she said quietly. "So, um, L.A. treating you good?"
"I had no idea we were being photographed. I started to let my guard down since Sam is Captain America now and I'm just Steve Rogers. A lot of people weren't really caring about me in public places anymore."
"So you're sorry you got caught?"
"No, god no," he said quickly. "That all came out wrong. She's Pepper's assistant. Her name is Molly. The photo in the coffee shop was us waiting for the giant order Stark placed for everyone in the office. Molly had to make sure every thing was correct before the delivery driver left. The dinner photo was a dinner Tony invited me to. I didn't even want to go, but Morgan begged and I colored with her the whole night while Tony, Pepper, and Molly talked business. I walked her out to her car when Tony was settling the bill."
"Ever the gentleman," Sharon said, a small smile on her face. "I'm sorry I was ignoring you. I had to sort my head out."
"Natasha used some very colorful language when she called me. I didn't even know about the pictures. Pepper was working on it immediately to have them taken down. Tony was about to crack a joke about them until he heard Natasha over the phone. I'm sorry, Sharon."
"No, you have nothing to apologize for. It's not your fault. I'm just still dealing with the whole time travel thing and I thought I was getting it under control but it still rears it's ugly head every once in a while."
"But why," he started to asked but then stopped. "You thought because she had brown hair I was still thinking of Peggy."
"I'm fucked up, Cap," she said and heard her voice break as a tear slipped down her cheek. "I know it doesn't make sense, and you haven't done a thing to make me think you're still thinking about her. I just couldn't stop the thought and then it stung."
"I hate that you're crying and I'm not there," he said sadly. "I hate that I made you cry."
"I think I made myself cry," she tried to lighten the mood. "We'll be able to look back at this and laugh one day, but it just took me by surprise."
"You're my girl, Sharon. You're it. I hope one day you'll believe me."
"I do," she said. "I'm sorry I was crazy."
"You weren't. Now, your friend on the other hand," Steve said and Sharon started to laugh. "I'm assuming she's there with you?"
"I think she's starting Bridgerton without me."
"I am," Natasha yelled.
"Did you know she calls Bucky 'James' now?"
"I've heard," he said with a laugh. "I'll let you go. Will I still see you at Christmas?"
"Yeah," she said. "You'll sadly have to share your room with me once again."
"Best Christmas gift ever," he said sincerely. "I'll talk to you tomorrow?"
"Definitely. Good night, Steve."
"Sharon, please tell this man The Nightmare Before Christmas is a Christmas movie. The name Christmas is in the title," Sam said, trying to pull her into the conversation and away from her thoughts.
"He's a skeleton who lives in Halloween Town and is referred to as the Pumpkin King. He kidnaps Santa. That doesn't make it a Christmas movie, makes it traumatic."
"He didn't kidnap Santa."
"You're both right, it's a Christmas and Halloween movie, now will you shut up? You argue like an old married couple. This is the reason why I tell strangers the Avengers are annoying."
"You love us," Sam said with a smile. "A week out in L.A. in Stark's mansion with all of us. Dream come true."
"I'm going to throw myself off a cliff," Sharon grumbled as she elbowed Sam in the ribs. "Maybe just jump from the plane now and see if I can swim to shore."
"You know if you did that, Steve would force everyone to do a search and rescue and then be the cranky old man that he is, thus ruining Christmas for all of us," Bucky said. "For selfish reasons, your ass isn't escaping."
"He makes a point," Sam said with a shrug before lowering his voice. "Are you and Steve good or do you want to swap room arrangements?"
"We're good, I appreciate it though," she smiled. "We've been talking like every other day. I think I'm just nervous to see him in person again, it's been a while and I'm still anxious after my crazy moment."
"Which you were more than entitled to, but I don't need rehash that conversation with you. Offer still stands, at any point you want to swap, just say the word."
"Thank you," she said, resting her head on his shoulder.
"If it helps, he's freaking out about seeing you too. Rhodes has been keeping a tally of how many times he's changed today and we're up to five shirts and two pants. I think he'll make at least two more changes before he has to leave to pick us up at the airport."
"Oh, minimum three more," she laughed.
Steve was anxiously waiting on the runway for the plane doors to open. Molly had offered to accompany him, but he didn't think that was a good idea at all and before he even had to say anything to her, Pepper quickly found something for her to do. He was excited to see everyone, especially Sharon. He heard Stark and Rhodes laughing every time he came out wearing something different. He was nervous, he didn't want to mess anything up, something he had the tendency of doing - whether he meant to or not.
He smiled when he saw his friends make their way off the plane. He hugged Natasha when she ran over to him and then she turned away to yell at Bucky for dragging her luggage on the ground.
"You're a super soldier, what good are you if you can't carry it," she said and Steve saw Bucky roll his eyes.
"They're a fun couple," Sam said with a grimace. "Very loud, in many aspects of their relationship. There's a reason I asked to be put on the opposite side of the house as them."
"I'm sorry," Steve said and couldn't contain his laugh. "I think you're near the room I've been staying. Should be quiet."
"Should be," Sam rolled his eyes. "You look good."
"So do you. Good to see you."
"There's your girl," Sam said, nudging him toward Sharon as Sam grabbed her luggage to load them in the car.
"Hey," he said, smiling down at her.
"Hi," she smiled, stepping closer to hug him. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tight. "I missed you."
"I missed you too," he said, kissing the top of her head. "Tony's place is about an hour from here."
"So like three hours with traffic?" Natasha said and Steve shrugged.
"I'll find the nearest In-N-Out to stop in, I know everyone is hungry," Sharon said as she walked over to the front passenger's seat. "Uh, anyone calling shotgun?"
"All yours," Bucky said as he opened the door for Natasha. "You and Steve can argue over directions."
Once everyone was settled in, Steve put the car in drive and rested his hand on the gear shift. Sharon grabbed his hand to hold, and she couldn't stop her smile when she saw how happy he looked. She didn't know why she was so worried, everything was better when they got to spend time together.
"Auntie Sharon, will you play on the trampoline with me?" Morgan asked when she spotted Sharon in the kitchen with Pepper. "Daddy is busy putting more lights on the tree and Uncle Steve is a scaredy cat."
"Is he now," Sharon laughed as she looked at Pepper for a reason.
"Steve is nervous of his own strength ever since he pushed Morgan a little too high on swings."
"That was so much fun," Morgan yelled excitedly.
"I told him not to worry about it, Tony put in every child safety precaution he could create, but you know Steve."
"I do," Sharon nodded. "Let's go see who can jump the highest."
Morgan quickly got tired of the trampoline and they moved over to the swings. Sharon was gently pushing her on the swing when she noticed Steve come outside, followed closely behind by a woman who she assumed was Molly. She saw how Molly looked at Steve, how she gently tapped his shoulder to get his attention. She also saw how Steve was so unaware of what was happening, that he clearly had no idea he was being flirted with. Steve smiled politely at whatever Molly was saying before turning away to walk over to Sharon. Sharon noticed Molly was staring at them, so she reached up to kiss Steve on his cheek. Steve looked surprised, but wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pressed a kiss to her forehead. Sharon heard the door slam as Molly went back in the house.
"You know she likes you, right?" Sharon told Steve as they watched Morgan play on the jungle gym.
"Who?"
"Molly."
"No, she doesn't. She works for Pepper."
"So? I work for Fury and I like you," Sharon rolled her eyes. "She has a crush on you."
"You like me," he said with a smirk.
"You're stupid," she said as she punched him in the side and walked over to the lounge chairs by the pool. He sat down on the one next to her.
"Tomorrow's Christmas Eve. Does your family have any traditions?"
"We used to stay up until midnight and then my dad or one of my uncle's would dress up like Santa and give us some gifts. Christmas Eve was when all the Carter's would get together. My mom's family wasn't as big, so Christmas Day was a little quieter," she said, knocking her knee against his. "What did you do with your family?"
"We didn't have much. It was just me and my mom growing up, and I was sick almost every Christmas. We'd spend the day painting these little wooden ornaments she would make on her breaks at the hospital."
"That sounds really special," Sharon said. She made a mental note that she had to run out to find paint and wooden ornaments tonight.
"Auntie Sharon," Morgan said as she ran over to the two of them. "I'm tired."
"You ready to go back inside?" she asked and Morgan nodded.
"Let's go, munchkin," Steve said, scooping her up in his arms with ease. "Movie night after a nap?"
"Movie night," Morgan said excitedly.
"You coming," Steve asked, looking at Sharon as he held his hand out to her. Sharon smiled as she took his hand and they walked into the house together. She briefly thought about her future, and maybe instead of Steve holding Morgan, he was holding a little girl with blonde hair.
"Tony really knows how to throw a party," Steve said as he and Sharon entered his bedroom. Sharon nodded in agreement as she sat on the bed to take her heels off. "You think tomorrow will be as insane?"
"I mean, all of us are here so it's totally possible. I think he's trying to convince Thor to dress up as Santa and show up in the morning, but I'm not sure how successful he was," she said as she flopped down on his bed. He sat down next to her and shifted so he was leaning over her, his arm blocking her body in. "Hi."
"Hi," he said.
Sharon was acutely aware in that moment that they haven't had a real kiss in months. All she wanted to do was pull him down on top of her and kiss him senseless, but she had plans she didn't want to derail. She gently pushed him back so she could sit up and she walked over to the corner where she kept her gifts for him.
"I thought maybe we could have our own little Christmas tradition tonight while it's just the two of us," she said as she handed him the wrapped gift she had planned for months, and the last minute gift bag.
"You got me a present?"
"Of course, it's Christmas," she said, sitting back down on the bed with him. He opened the gift bag first and he felt his breath catch when he saw what was inside - two wooden stocking ornaments and a paint set. He looked up at her and saw she looked a little unsure of herself. "Maybe we can paint them in the morning before breakfast?"
"I'd like that," he said, setting the bag aside. "Can I open this?"
"It is for you," she teased.
He carefully unwrapped the gift, because of course he did. It was a large leather-bound book that he started to flip through the pages of and realize it was half-filled with pictures.
"It's a scrapbook, I kind of stole your phone last time we were hanging out and ordered a bunch of photos you took on your road trip. There's a ton of blank pages to add from your more recent trip, if you want," Sharon said, still clearly self-conscious. She wasn't sure if he'd like it and his silence was kind of freaking her out. He paused on the few photos there were of the two of them. Sharon knew Natasha would secretly take pictures of them together, so she printed out some for the book.
"These are the nicest gifts anyone has given me in a long time," he finally said and Sharon felt herself relax. He went to say more, but stopped himself. He stood up quickly, startling Sharon a bit, and went to the dresser to pull out a small bag. He handed to her and she quickly opened it, surprised to see a jewelry box.
"Steve, this isn't," she said warily.
"It's not a ring. Just open it," he reassured her. She opened the box and saw his dog tags from when he was enlisted, before he ever became Captain America, were in the box. "It might be a little corny, but a lot of the guys would give these to their girl when they'd return home back in the day. They might not be the prettiest or most practical to wear, but I wanted you to have them. I was still just Steve Rogers when I got those, a scrawny kid from Brooklyn who wanted to do good. I wonder sometimes if anyone here would have really liked that kid, but I try not get lost down that rabbit hole."
"I would like him. I do like him," Sharon reassured him, resting her hand on his cheek. "You're still him, just not as scrawny anymore."
"Clearly I'm only good with words when I'm giving a rousing speech right before battle," he laughed and grabbed her wrist to press a kiss on the inside of it. "I wanted you to have them because I want you to know how important you are to me, all of me - 1940s Steve Rogers and the Steve Rogers here today. I will spend every day of my life making sure you know how much all of me loves all of you, and maybe when you feel a little unsure you can look at these and remember that I do."
"I love you too," she said, feeling a tear slip down her cheek.
Steve reached up to brush it away and she took the opportunity to kiss him like she's been wanting to since she first saw him at the party all those months ago. He kissed her back eagerly, unable to get enough of her as he gently pushed her back onto the bed. Sharon wrapped her arms around his shoulder and pulled him closer to her.
"I might have one more gift," Steve said when they finally pulled away from each other. He got off the bed and Sharon immediately missed his warmth.
She sat up slightly and adjusted her dress that was now hiked up to her thighs. Sharon laughed as she saw the mental conversation Steve was having with himself to go through with whatever the gift was and not climbing back on top of her. He handed her the gift bag and she pulled out a pair of flannel pajamas.
"Are these matching pajamas?"
"They are," he said solemnly.
"There's like enough pajamas in here for a family of five," she said as she dumped the bag out on the bed.
"I may have gone a little overboard," he said sheepishly. "I saw the pants and long-sleeved set and I know how cold it gets upstate, but then I saw the tank top and shorts and my mind might have wandered when I thought about your legs."
"You're a dork," she laughed as she grabbed the shorts and tank top set to change into. She almost changed in front of him, but didn't want to push either of them past their limits. She wasn't ready for that yet. She changed quickly and walked back into the bedroom to find him shirtless in his matching flannel pants. "So, do my legs look better in person?"
"So much better," he almost growled as he pulled her into bed. He pulled her so her back was resting against his chest and his arms were wrapped possessively around her waist. He gently kissed up her shoulder and neck and smirked a little when he felt her get goosebumps. "Merry Christmas, darling."