Natasha checked her mail after she had gotten back from running errands. Yelena was out and about, doing god knows what. But it couldn't be anything dangerous since she'd taken Fanny with her and Yelena loved that dog dearly.

Her gaze landed on the Christmas tree in the living room. It had turned out beautifully and she loved the way the lights illuminated the room. They'd asked Steve to join them to decorate, but he'd said that this was something just for her and Yelena. She loved that he was so considerate, but she would have liked if he'd stayed longer. She bit her lower lip, remembering the sexual tension between her and Steve. Would have happened something if Yelena hadn't shown up? Had Steve just been caught in the heat of the moment or did he want her? She shook her head. It was too dangerous to get up any hopes.

She put the mail away and decided to make herself some tea. She had just put the kettle on when she heard that Yelena was coming back.

"Honey, I'm home!" Yelena yelled and Fanny barked. Both came into the kitchen. Yelena put her shopping tote on the kitchen counter while Fanny trotted to her water bowl.

"Hi, Lena. You want some tea? I just put the kettle on."

"Yes, thank you." Her hand moved towards the shopping tote. "Look, what I've found! A gingerbread house kit!" She pulled it out of the bag. "We just have to put it together and then we can decorate it! Can we do that today? Or do you have plans?"

"I'm free. I've never done a gingerbread house before."

They both smiled at each other. Natasha was glad that Yelena had shown up to spend Christmas with her. It was still three weeks away and they had already made so many new memories. And there was still time for many more.

They cleared the kitchen island to have enough room for the gingerbread house, Yelena gave Fanny her favorite toy who disappeared with it into the living room, and Natasha made them tea and put on some Christmas tunes.

It was so much fun. They sang along to the music and assembled the gingerbread house before they started to decorate it. It looked great. When they ran out of the candy that had come with the kit, they used the sweets they'd already had at home. Really, it looked amazing. The evil witch from Hansel and Gretel had nothing on them.

Yelena had the idea to drape some fairy lights around the plate the gingerbread house was sitting on. They used the one from the window still in the kitchen for it. Yelena took photos of the house and looked quite happy. Natasha was glad that she got to share this with her sister. She knew she'd always think back to this moment whenever she would see a gingerbread house in the future.

Yelena came over to Natasha and gave her a big hug. "Thank you for letting me stay here. And for indulging me in my Christmas activities."

"You're welcome. I'm really glad that you're here. And I'm having so much fun." She kissed her sister's forehead.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

Yelena looked a bit nervous. "How...how long did it take for you to find friends? Real ones?"

"My first friend was Clint. And it taken months until I've remotely trusted him." Natasha tucked a strain of Yelena's blonde hair behind her ear. "It takes time. Most people can't understand what we've been through."

"I know. I lied about my background and told people I grew up normal, but I've never felt close to them. I could never be really myself around them."

Natasha thought back about what Steve had told her all those years ago on their way to New Jersey. "You'll never have something real if it's built on lies, sestra. What about the other Widows?"

Yelena shook her head. "No, we're more like colleagues. And I want friends who don't remind me constantly of what I've been through and what I've done."

Natasha nodded, she understood that. "People have changed after the Snap and then the Blip. I think they're more open to people like us. Why don't you come with me to the community center tomorrow? They offer all kinds of classes, I'm sure there's something you'll enjoy and you can meet open-minded people there."

"Okay. I...I just want some friends...That's pathetic, isn't it?" Yelena looked embarrassed.

"No, it isn't. Most humans aren't wired to be alone. I thought I was until I realized that I wasn't. You'll find your own group of friends."

Yelena rested her head on Natasha's shoulder. "Maybe I'll just steal your friends. I'm so much more charming than you are. And funnier!"

She rolled her eyes. "And so modest! You're the whole package!"

"I know!"

"I love you." She whispered into her sister's hair.

"I love you, too." Yelena said softly, snuggling against her.

A few hours later Natasha was sitting in the bathtub to relax. She loved to take baths when it was cold. She'd had lit candles and was reading a magazine. She also treated herself to a hair and face mask.

"Tasha?" Yelena knocked on the bathroom door. "Sam Wilson is on the phone. He's in town and wanted to ask if you want to join him, Steve and Barnes for dinner and drinks. I can also come!"

Natasha smiled to herself. "Yeah, sounds great!" She hadn't seen Sam in weeks. "Just ask him when and where, and we'll be there!"

"Okidoki!" She heard Yelena walking away, talking to Sam.

Natasha got out of the tub 15 minutes later and found Yelena in her bedroom going through her closet. "Can I help you?"

"I don't know what to wear! I've never gone actually out! I only went on dates where I knew that it would only end up in a hook up! I never had dinner and drinks with friends! Well, your friends." Her little sister sounded nervous.

Natasha had been the same many years ago when she hadn't been able to hide behind a cover. She walked into her closet to find something for her sister. She chose a cashmere dress in black and grabbed a leather belt that she could wrap around her waist.

"How about this with tights and your Doc Martens?"

Yelena looked at the dress that Natasha was holding up. "Yeah, okay. That works." She took the dress. "Thank you! Can I do your hair and make up?"

"Um, sure." She was surprised that Yelena wanted to do that, but why not? This was something that sisters did, right?

She sat down in front of her vanity and Yelena blow dried her hair and Natasha had to admit that it looked like a professional blow out. Her sister unconsciously stuck her tongue while she did Natasha's make up. She looked really cute, concentrating so hard on her task. But a cat-eye wasn't easy.

"What do you think?"

"It looks great. Thank you!" She said sincerely and Yelena beamed. She liked the look. "You want me to do yours?"

"Yes, please!"

They switched places and Natasha braided Yelena's hair into a crown around her head before she did a smokey eye in grey. Her sister was happy with how she looked and disappeared into the guestroom to change her outfit. Natasha chose for herself a charcoal colored blouse and black high-waist jeans that she wanted to pair with her favorite knee-high boots. She quickly changed into her outfit and ordered an Uber for them.

Yelena kissed Fanny's head who looked sleepily at them before she closed her eyes again and then they left to have dinner with the boys.

Sam was already there waiting in front of the Chinese restaurant.

"Natasha!" He beamed at her and Natasha smiled back. She'd missed him, but he was understandably very busy since he'd become Cap. "It's great to see you. Come here!"

She walked into his open arms and hugged him back. "Hi, Sam! How are you?"

"Good! Great, actually!" He gave her another squeeze before he let go of her. "You must be little Natasha?"

"I'm Yelena! You must be little Steve?" Yelena shot back and Sam laughed.

"Touché, Yelena!" He offered her his hand. "It's nice to finally meet you."

"Likewise!" She shook his hand. "I like to meet new people to embarrass Tasha in front of."

Natasha rolled her eyes and Sam grinned. "I think we'll get along nicely. Do you want to wait outside for Steve and Bucky or go inside?"

"Let's wait-"

"Hey, guys!" Steve crossed the street with James in tow. "Sorry, we're late!"

Natasha's heart fluttered in her chest. Oh, he looked great. He wore a dress shirt, jeans and his favorite black leather jacket. Right, he didn't need to wear warm clothes.

"Hi!"

Steve smiled at her and James gave her a nod.

"Hi, I'm Bucky." He told Yelena. "I'm Steve's best friend." He looked at Sam when he said that. "We haven't met yet. You're Yelena, right?"

"We've met before." Everyone looked at her. "In the early 2000s."

James' face darkened. "I'm sorry."

"What are you sorry for?"

"If we met before 2014, then it couldn't have been good. I'm sorry."

Yelena shook her head and Natasha was curious about how they'd met before.

"You accompanied me during a mission. I was ten or eleven. We were sent to take out a family. I was supposed to befriend the daughter of the politician." She took a deep breath. "I cried after I killed the girl, and I thought that you were going to punish me or report me, but you wrapped me in a blanket after everything was done and carried me back to the safe house. You stroked my hair until I fell asleep. You kept calling me Rebecca and said it wasn't my fault and that I would be free one day. You were kind to me when no one else was. Thank you."

Natasha could see that Bucky gulped. "Becca was my little sister... I wasn't sure if that actually happened... I'm glad you got out."

"Me, too." Yelena smiled a little. "I'm hungry and cold." She abruptly changed the subject. "I'm going inside."

Yelena walked into the restaurant, the rest of them watching her. Natasha looked at James who seemed lost for words. She didn't know what came over her, but she went over to him to hug him.

"Thank you." She whispered quietly. "Thank you. I owe you."

James stood still for a second before he hugged her back. "You don't owe me anything. You've looked after Steve when I couldn't."

"God knows that's a full time job!" She joked and James grinned back.

"Hey, I'm right here!" Steve tried to look offended, but failed miserably.

"I've been keeping Nat and Steve alive since 2014!" Sam objected.

Natasha shook her head at them and went inside to find Yelena. She was hungry as well. And a little cold.

Dinner was great. The food was good and they had great conversations. They talked about all kinds of things and Natasha could see that Yelena felt comfortable around her friends. That made her happy. She hoped Yelena could see that it was possible to find people to share her life with.

"Okay, where to next?" Sam asked after they'd paid and were standing in front of the restaurant.

"There's a bar not that far from here." Yelena was looking at her phone. "They have drinks, finger food and music."

"Do they have mozzarella sticks?" Steve perked up.

"Are you seriously hungry again?" Sam stared at him. "You just ate an entire family menu on your own!"

"You know I need to eat a lot!"

Natasha exchanged a look wit her sister. Men. "The bar sounds good. Let's go before Steve faints."

He narrowed his eyes at her and she grinned at him.

Yelena and Sam were leading the way while Natasha, Steve and James followed them. It was a nice night. Cold, but dry. The windows looked so pretty with the Christmas lights.

"Cake pops!" Sam suddenly yelled and took of.

"Are you seriously hungry again?!" Steve yelled after him, but Sam was already in the bakery.

Yelena turned around. "Americans and their sugar!"

"I've watched you eat Cheerios with marshmallows in chocolate milk this morning!" Natasha reminded her sister.

Sam came back with a bag. "Guess who's not getting any cake pops?! That's right- Steve Rogers!"

Steve rolled his eyes and ignored him. He took over and led them to the bar. They found a table in the back. James went to order them drinks while Yelena looked around. Her gaze landed on the little dance floor on the other side of the bar.

"We can go dancing later." Natasha promised and Yelena nodded with a smile.

Sam showed Yelena how to make a house of cards out of beer coasters and gave her a cake pop underneath the table. He tried to do it inconspicuously, but Yelena shoved it into her mouth while looking straight at Steve.

He shook his head in amusement and leaned closer to Natasha. "You look great."

She turned her head to face him. "Thank you. So do you."

His eyes lingered on her lips and her cheeks flushed. Was he attracted to her? Was she not imaging things? Steve looked away because James came back with their drinks.

She acted like she didn't notice it, but Steve inched closer and closer to her on the bench until their thighs touched. Steve couldn't get drunk, so it couldn't be the alcohol doing it. He was doing it on purpose. She could feel his strength and warmth through the fabric of their pants. She wanted to lay her hand on his thigh so badly, but she was afraid that he would push it away.

The five of them played a few innocent drinking games with Sam being the only one who was slowly getting buzzed, and shared stories about their lives. James didn't hold back and told quite a few funny stories about Steve when he had been a teenager.

While Natasha was mostly focused on Steve's leg touching her own, she also saw that Yelena kept looking at the dance floor. She stood up and held her hand out for Yelena.

"Let's go dancing! Excuse us, boys."

Yelena took her hand and she led her sister to the dance floor. The music was a mix of different genres of the last fifty decades or so and Natasha had to say that it was good playlist.

They moved to the music and Yelena looked very happy. Natasha didn't know how long they had been dancing, but when she looked to their table she saw that Sam was sitting at a different one and talking to a pretty woman, and James and Steve seemed to be arguing about something. James rolled his eyes and said something to his friend. Determination took over Steve's features and he gulped down his drink before he put the glass down. He stood up and...He was walking straight towards her.

"I have to pee!" Yelena announced and left Natasha's side.

Steve was now standing in front of her. "Are you gonna take pity on me and dance with me?"

"We both now that you can dance. I taught you myself." She smirked at him.

"Still wanna dance with me?"

"Yes." She said softly and his face lit up. God, he was so beautiful.

His hands landed on her waist to pull her closer to him. Oh-kay. The music was still upbeat, but changed to more sensual tunes that had them both moving closer to each other. Steve turned her around so her back was touching his chest. His hand was on her stomach and Natasha decided to just go with the flow. She didn't want to think about what this could mean or she would talk herself out of it. She was just going to be in the moment. For once in her life, she wasn't going to over-analyze everything. She was going to enjoy this, especially if it was never going to happen again.

Steve was confident, he knew how to move to the music and he had no problem to move her body along with his. She followed his movements, completely shutting out everything beside him. There was only Steve now. The song changed to something slower and she turned in his arms so they were facing each other again.

Steve's eyes were dark and he smiled when she wrapped her arms around his neck. His hands were on her waist again and he pulled her against him until their bodies touched again. She could feel his hard muscles and smell his scent. The way he smelt drove her wild. She had never been so attracted to a man before. Natasha felt bold and brushed her nose against Steve's. His hold on her waist tightened and he ran his nose across her cheek until he reached her hairline. He pressed a kiss to her temple and let his lips rest there. Oh, this was really nice.

They were still swaying to the music, but Natasha couldn't name the song if her life depended on it. All she could see, hear, smell and feel was Steve. Her whole body was on fire. She wanted to get out of here. She wanted to get him into her bed and to not leave it for weeks. She buried her face in the crook of his neck and she couldn't stop herself, she had to press a kiss to his pulse point. His pulse was racing as fast as her own. A quiet and soft moan left his mouth and Natasha had to press her thighs together in response. Steve's hand moved on her lower back until his fingers were resting on her ass. She could start to feel against her belly that Steve was not unbothered by her presence. She gasped against his neck and Steve chuckled darkly.

Oh God.

She let her hands roam across his strong shoulders and back when Steve suddenly pulled back. The music had changed to something more upbeat.

"Thanks for the dance, Nat."

"Uh, yeah sure." She managed to reply, her hunger for Steve still clouding her brain.

Steve ran a hand through his hair. "I...I'm so sorry. That... that was out of line. I don't know what came over me."

"It's...It's okay." She answered, trying her best to hide her disappointment.