Part 2

Middle of December

Tony isn't sure what to expect when he and Rhodes land at the entrance to the address that Sam had sent them earlier. The same man is standing at the entrance looking a mixture of sheepish and pissed off.

'Do I want to know why you needed us at a Christmas tree seller?' Tony asks, stepping out of the suit and letting it close up behind him. Rhodes stays in his, the suit giving his legs and back extra support.

'I swear I tried to talk him out of it,' Sam starts, 'but you know what he's like when he gets an idea in his head.'

'What did Bucky do this time?' Rhodes sighs.

'So there was this competition on for the tallest tree for sale,' he explains, 'that said if you could lift it you got it for free. So-'

'So Bucky just had to go and prove he could,' Rhodes finishes. 'Doesn't he understand the concept of not drawing attention to yourself?'

'To be fair,' Sam tries to defend the absent soldier, 'he was going to walk by it after joking about how we could win it twice over with him and Steve. But the guy manning the stand heard and said he didn't believe him, and that he was all talk. I don't think he realised who we were until after he'd made a couple of jabs at Bucky. Steve and I tried to talk him out of it, but he just shrugged off his jacket and made a point of not using his metal arm and lifted the thing above his head.'

'And it can't fit in the truck because?' Tony asks, pointing at the truck the three men had brought specifically for taking the three back in.

'Well, you'll see,' Sam sighs. 'Plus Steve and I had already bought one.'

'So now we've got two trees to get home,' Rhodes sighs. 'Next year I'm coming to get the tree.'

'Next year you and me are getting the tree and leaving those two behind,' Sam agrees with him.

'You'd think sending the two strongest members of the team to get the tree was the sensible idea,' Tony muses, 'apparently it's the- what in the hell?!'

They turn a corner and see a very smug looking Bucky and a very apologetic looking Steve standing next to possibly the tallest Christmas tree Tony has ever seen. And he's seen some tall ones during some Stark Industries Christmas parties.

'Is that even going to fit anywhere in the facility?' Rhodes asks as they walk up. 'Now I see why it wouldn't fit in the truck.'

Tony's caught somewhere between laughing and crying at the whole situation; so he just looks between the two super-soldiers with his mouth opening and closing as he tries to find the words to express his thoughts. 'I'm not sure whether to be more pissed at the fact we have to get that thing home, or impressed that you actually managed to lift it one handed,' he settles for.

'He said I couldn't do it,' he gestures with a thumb over his shoulder to a grumpy looking teenager leaning against a wooden railing. 'Proved him wrong.'

'If I say I don't think you could breathe underwater you going to try and prove me wrong?' Tony counters.

'We did get a normal sized tree,' Steve reassures him, coming up and putting an arm around his waist.

Tony shoots him a look out the corner of his eye. 'Not helping, babe.' Then he sighs. 'Fine you two get this monstrosity out the gates, I'm not going to try and manoeuvre it in this small space, then come back and get the "normal" one onto the back of the truck,' he air-quotes the normal part of his sentence. 'Rhodey I think I got an idea of how to do this. Then you,' he points at Bucky, 'can call Nat and Wanda and explain to them that they now need to add outside tree decorations to their list of things to buy.'

'Why outside?' he asks.

'If you think I'm going to try and get that thing through the front door you've got another thing coming,' Rhodes answers for him.

'We'll work out where it's going when we actually get it home,' Tony says. 'Though personally I think it should go out the back so we can see it from the common area.'

'Not by the front to greet everyone?' Steve suggests.

'Not if you were listening to Wanda's plans for decorations for the front door,' Sam laughs as he supervises the two soldiers moving the huge tree between them.

'You know Tony, we could carry the smaller one between us even without the suits and make this quicker right?' Rhodes points out.

'Yeah,' he muses, leaning back against the railing and watching his boyfriend helping carry the larger tree. 'But then I don't get to sit back and stare at Steve using his muscles.'

'You are a bad man Tony Stark,' Rhodes says, following the other three and leaving Tony grinning against the railing.

To say that Natasha and Wanda had not been impressed to get a phone call from Bucky to add to their list of decorations was an understatement. They'd ended up going to pick up Peter from school and then dragged him around the shops for the last minute purchases.

'Why is it my fault they dragged you shopping?' Bucky demands from his spot on the wall that Peter's webbed him to, one hand trying to prise off the webs from his metal arm and chest.

'You were the one who bought the giant tree,' he grumbles, heading back downstairs to collect even more bags from the car. 'Have you seriously not got any decorations?'

'Technically I won it, I didn't buy it,' he shouts after the boy's retreating form. 'Tony can you control your kid please?'

'He's not my kid, and you deserved it,' Tony responds from where he's leaning against Steve's side on the sofa, fiddling with a project on the tablet. 'If you're nice maybe he'll take the webs off before they dissolve.'

'Not your kid yet,' Bucky mumbles. Steve chuckles behind him and Tony shoots him a look.

'If you had your way,' Steve reminds him in a murmur, a fond smile on his lips.

'You promised you wouldn't say anything,' Tony reminds him. 'Now why don't you go be a gentleman and help bring the things up from the car? I'll find a way to torment Bucky and then come help.'

'Tony,' Steve says warningly, but at his innocent expression just laughs, pressing a kiss to his forehead before leaving the room.

'Steve don't leave me! Your boyfriend is evil!' Bucky shouts after his retreating friend.

'Not yet I'm not,' Tony says, stretching and putting the tablet on the table. 'But just about to be. Hey FRIDAY? Play Let It Go for Bucky will ya? I'm going to go get Christmas decorations.'

'Tony! Don't you dare leave me! TONY!'

As Tony passes Peter on his way back up he ruffles the teenager's hair. 'Hey kid? I think he's learned his lesson. How about you get him out of the webs before he starts ripping down the wall?'

The confusion on Peter's face turns to glee as the beginning bars of the trademark Frozen song echo down the corridor. 'Sure thing Mr Stark,' his tone is cheery as he whistles along with the melody down the corridor. Tony gives himself enough time to listen to him starting to sing purposely off-key along with Elsa, much to Bucky's voiced horror, before heading down to the garage.

Steve wakes up the next morning to a pair of arms tightening around his stomach. He smiles and looks down at the mop of dark hair resting on his chest. 'I'm still getting used to the fact that Tony Stark loves to cuddle,' he laughs softly, running fingers through the inventor's hair. He knows Tony's awake; the man barely sleeps, but at least he's been staying in bed longer since Steve moved in to his room.

'Well you better get used to it, my dear Captain, because you're not going anywhere until I say so,' Tony's beard tickles at his chest as he mumbles a reply.

'Fine by me,' he replies, pulling Tony closer against him.

The two of them stay like that for a while, dozing in the warmth of the morning. Steve has found the ice invading his dreams less and less since he's started sharing Tony's bed. Eventually Tony sighs. 'We should probably get up and face the day. What time is it?'

'A little before eight,' he replies, glancing at the bedside clock. 'I wonder if Wanda and Peter are up yet after the movie marathon they made us have last night.'

Tony chuckles, and Steve can't help the answering smile. 'I've never known two people get so excited about Christmas. I also didn't realise how many Christmas films there actually were now, and not all of them are good.'

'They seemed to go through what most people agreed were the classics though.'

'Except they didn't let me put on Die Hard,' he sulks.

'I'm still not sure how that classes as a Christmas film from the description you gave'.

'Peter agreed with me!' Tony counters. 'Besides it's not Christmas until you've seen Hans Gruber fall from a building.'

'If you say so Tony,' Steve chuckles. 'Come on we better get a move on or else one of them will be coming down so we can all start decorating. The look on Wanda's face when we agreed we wouldn't do the Christmas tree last night! I thought she was going to murder someone.'

'I wouldn't be surprised if she still doesn't,' Tony laughs, 'plus we need to work out how we're going to decorate that monstrosity Bucky won.'

'I'm sure with a fully-fledged and a baby genius around we'll work something out.'

'Don't let Pete catch you calling him a baby genius,' Tony laughs. 'Steve?' his voice sounds a little tentative.

'What is it, Tony?'

'Well, I was thinking,' he traces patterns with his finger over Steve's chest, 'when it's time to drop Peter back tomorrow after we've done all the decorations, maybe we could go into the city as a team and do something. I was thinking of taking everyone ice skating, renting the rink out after hours so we don't have to worry about super strength hurting anyone, or us getting carried away. But obviously if you don't want to we can think of something else, there's plenty to do in New York after all. Maybe we could-'

Steve cuts off Tony's rambling with a kiss, not breaking away fully until the genius is relaxed once more in his arms. It also gives him the opportunity to think.

Tony blinks up at him a couple of times when he pulls away. 'Needed to stop talking right?'

Steve chuckles and nods, brushing back a loose strand of hair from Tony's eyes. 'I'll be fine, Tony, thank you for asking me first.'

'Anytime, babe,' he responds with a kiss.

'You warm me up from the ice and I'll pull you out of the water, right?' Steve reminds him, it's become something of a catchphrase for them that they say after they've pulled each other from nightmares. Tony's only response is another kiss. 'We should go have a shower.'

'I'm more than happy to watch,' Tony quips with a suggestive eyebrow. Steve just rolls his eyes and gets out of bed, throwing the inventor over his shoulder and marching to the bathroom. Tony laughing the whole way. 'I take it I'm not allowed to watch then?'

By the time they'd emerged from their room the couple had discovered everyone else at various stages of eating breakfast, and Wanda and Peter had taken it upon themselves to be the leaders in the decorating 'mission'. FRIDAY had been instructed to play every Christmas song ever written and there were already separate piles for which rooms the decorations were going in to.

'Ever feel like you're surplus to requirement, Spangles?' Tony quips as Wanda starts outlining the basic plan for the day.

'Maybe we should hang up the shield and suit and let these two take over,' Steve laughs, catching the apple that Wanda throws at his head. At the smile Steve sends him Tony can tell he's as happy at this turn of events as he is.

By the time they all settle down for a late lunch the main entrance, most used hallways, common area and dining room are all decorated; Vision had interceded when decorations started making their way to the kitchen and pointed out the fire hazard, and then Steve had put his foot down Captain-style and Wanda has begrudgingly agreed.

There hadn't even been that many incidents yet. Well apart from Bucky being chased around the majority of one floor after he'd tried to shove a wreath around the top of Sam's head; Natasha having to break up a good natured argument between Peter and Steve about the best lights to use in the garlands in the hallway; Rhodes getting tangled up in some of the said lights whilst trying to help Natasha resolve the argument and nearly falling over; and Wanda and Tony arguing for the best place to put the mistletoe. Vision was sensibly phasing through walls as soon as any energy stared getting a little too high.

Despite all of that, though, the whole group were happy and chatting together as they finished up their lunch of sandwiches, which Vision had grabbed Rhodes to help him make.

'So,' Tony draws the word out as lunch comes to an end, 'anyone got any ideas on how we're decorating the tree outside?' As one every head turns to look at the tree in question.

'I've got an idea,' Peter says slowly.

'I'm not sure whether I'm scared or intrigued,' Sam says.

'Well we've got enough people that can fly,' Peter says, 'why don't we have Wanda, Vision, me, Sam, Colonel Rhodes and Mr Stark all decorate the tree and Miss Natasha, Captain Rogers and Sergeant Barnes can all do the other outside decorations?'

'No arguments,' Tony cuts off whatever Sam is about to say. 'Let's get moving people, we've not got that much daylight left and we've still got the inside tree to decorate.'

Really things could have gone a lot worse. As it was Sam only got tangled in the lights and nearly pulled the tree down once, whereas Peter crashed into it about three times, and it was only Wanda's quick reflexes that saved it on the last time. Tony had had to pull the teenager out of the branches and sent him to be checked over by Natasha, which by the time she'd given him the all clear they'd managed to finish decorating it.

'Next time don't rely on Rhodey to fly you with the webs,' Wanda suggests as they all gather around the tree they'd set up in the common area. Sam, Steve and Bucky are finishing up the lights, with Sam perching on Steve's shoulders to get the lights around the very top of the tree. Vision is already starting on putting the tinsel on, and is doing a rather artful job of it.

'Yeah tell me about it,' Peter groans, stretching his shoulder back. 'I'm still not sure what that tree is made of, but it certainly isn't wood.'

Wanda laughs. 'Maybe web slinging is not the best way to decorate a tree. Or maybe next year you should try climbing it.'

'Next year we need to make sure Sergeant Barnes isn't sent to get a tree,' he grumbles.

'Alright all clear for the decorations,' Sam says, jumping down from Steve's shoulders.

Peter notices Wanda setting aside the angel for the top of the tree. 'Why are you putting that to one side?'

She smiles a little sadly. 'Our tradition as a family was that whatever went on the top of the tree went on last. My brother and I would take it in turns to be the one to put it on. It was always the last decoration we put up, sort of like saying the decorating is over and the rest of Christmas can start.'

Peter smiles and hands her a box of baubles. 'I think I like that tradition.'

'I think we're going to have a bigger argument over who puts it on this year,' she laughs, gesturing to the noisy crowd of superheroes in the room.

'Yeah but we wouldn't have it any other way,' he grins as they start hanging the baubles on.

Wanda makes sure everyone puts at least one decoration on the tree: she and Natasha had found Avengers themed baubles which resulted in a lot of laughter when they were revealed, they'd even found a Spider-Man one for Peter. Everyone had a lucky dip to choose someone else's bauble to hang on the tree. Towards the end though there were three left: one for Thor, one for Hawkeye, and one for Hulk. Peter notices Tony hand Hulk's one to Natasha, and she gives him a small, watery smile as she hangs it not far from where Wanda had hung the Black Widow one. Steve hangs Thor's up near the top, and Wanda hangs Hawkeye's next to it.

Eventually only the angel is left.

'Why don't you put it up, Peter?' Rhodes suggests, handing him the angel.

Peter turns the beautiful ornament in his hands, all silver and gold across the clothing, and a serene smile on her porcelain face. The girls must have spent the most on this decoration. He looks up as the two girls come back over from the kitchenette where they'd just gotten a mug of hot chocolate each.

'What you waiting for? Next Christmas?' Wanda teases him.

Peter gives a little laugh then walks over to her, taking the mug of hot chocolate from her hand he gives her the angel. 'It's your turn this year.'

Red light as bright as the smile she gives him wraps around the ornament and it steadily glides to the top of the tree, resting firmly on the top.

'Now the rest of Christmas can get started,' Wanda says quietly to him.

'Another movie marathon?'

'Definitely.'

Steve has to admit, that the expressions on everyone's faces when they realise Tony has hired them out an ice rink for the Avengers' private use after hours makes his discomfort about being around the ice worth it. There's a bar attached to it, and Vision and Rhodes decide they're not going to risk it on the ice and will watch from there: Rhodes because of his legs and Vision because he doesn't trust the ice. Not that Steve can blame him. He promises to join them soon.

'Go enjoy yourself, Captain,' Vision says. 'Myself and the Colonel will be more than happy to make comments on everyone's skating technique.'

'And keep a tally of who's won the most races,' Rhodes laughs.

When Steve rejoins the group Wanda and Natasha are already challenging each other to races and taking bets on who was going to win. He notices Tony sitting a little apart with Bucky as the two of them tie their skates.

'You alright, Buck?' Steve asks his friend, who's looking a little tense.

'He's probably about the same as you,' Tony tells him, giving the dark haired man's hand a squeeze. 'Come on, Elsa, I thought you were supposed to control the ice.'

'Oh shut it, Stark,' Bucky huffs a laugh, and Steve notices him squeeze back. He sits opposite the two of them as he ties his own skates, trying to block out the cold he can already feel seeping from the rink only a couple of feet away.

'Come on you lot!' Wanda calls from where the others are waiting at the entrance to the rink.

'You go ahead,' Tony waves at them. 'I've got to make sure these two know how to tie skates from this century.' He laughs and ducks a swipe from Bucky and the others push off onto the ice.

Steve watches, laces still untied on his second skate, as Natasha glides around the ice like a ballerina, Wanda not far behind her, though a little less graceful than the older woman. Peter is being kind and helping Sam get his balance, the teenager skating backwards like a pro; once the older man is more comfortable, he skates off attempting to catch Wanda and the two end up spinning in ever faster circles, hands clasped in front of them.

'No trips to the hospital you two!' Tony shouts, and the youngest members of the team slow their spin. Wanda's a little wobbly as she waits for the world to right itself, but Peter manages to recover quicker and is soon trying to urge Sam to make faster laps.

'You know, I think I might head to the bar,' Bucky says, face tense again and a little green at the two youngest members' antics.

'You'll be fine, Bucky. Come on we'll help you get your feet,' Tony encourages, voice soft. 'Come on, let's head towards the ice. You ready Steve?'

'I'll finish with this skate then meet you out there,' he replies, waving the two dark haired men on. He figures Tony needs a bit of time to get Bucky comfortable before dealing with another person who has a fear of ice.

'I'll be back for you after two laps tops,' he promises him, giving Steve a quick kiss before leading Bucky out onto the ice. It takes a bit of coaxing but eventually the dark haired assassin steps out onto the ice, metal hand gripping the side in a death grip.

It seems Bucky's discomfort is similar to his own, and not due to his lack of skill, as by the time Tony coaxes him halfway around the man is gliding fairly smoothly along the ice. Though he sees he keeps shooting glances at the exit near where Steve is sitting. As they come around to complete the lap Peter skates up alongside them.

'You alright Sergeant Barnes?' he asks, his face glowing from the cold wind and the grin on his face.

'Yeah, just not so used to the ice as I should be,' is the dark reply.

'Hey why don't I show you a few tricks?' the teenager suggests, skating backwards in front of them.

'How are you so good at this?' Bucky demands. 'Don't tell me ice skating is one of your superpowers.'

Peter smiles and shakes his head. 'No. Uncle Ben used to bring me and Aunt May every week when the rink went up until he….well when he was alive. We haven't been since. Come on I'll show you how to skate backwards.'

And just like that Bucky was released from Tony's care into Peter's and the billionaire glides over to where Steve has made his way to the entrance of the rink. 'Ready to give it a go Captain?'

The cold is stronger here, and all Steve can see is endless white.

'Steve? Babe look at me,' Tony puts gloved hands to Steve's face and forces him to look at him. 'You don't have to do this. You can go sit with Rhodey and Vision if you want.'

Steve takes a deep breath, focussing on the dark of Tony's eyes rather than the white of the ice. 'I'm fine. I want to give it a go.'

'You sure?' At Tony's question Steve nods. Tony takes hold of Steve's hand in his and gives it a squeeze. 'I'll warm you from the ice, and you drag me from the water,' he murmurs, pressing a kiss to Steve's lips.

The soldier smiles and nods, stepping out onto the ice before he can second guess himself. Tony gently leads him around the rink, giving his hand a squeeze every so often, and never once letting go. Even when the other start to race up and down the centre, the two of them stay in their own little world.

Steve finds the cold doesn't bother him as much as it used to.

A/N: Hello everyone! This is the Christmas special that people said they all wanted, so I hope I haven't disappointed with the first two chapters.

This story is for all of my wonderful readers of 'Restoration' because the fact that you take the time out to read my ramblings really does mean a lot to me. However I want to gift this especially to rmiser1994 and to seireidoragon for being my most faithful reviewers on all the recent chapters. The fact that you two take the time to comment on basically every chapter I post is just incredible and I can't thank you enough. It really makes my week to read your comments, and I hope you enjoy the first part of this story that is my Christmas gift to you.

Next week will be the next two parts which are both set on Christmas Eve. Then on Christmas Eve I'm aiming to post the rest of the story. It shouldn't be more than 6/7 chapters at most (but best laid plans and all that).

I hope you're all getting in the festive spirit and are more prepared present-wise than I currently am!

L x

And of course here's your sneak peek at the next chapter:

Deciding not to take any risks, he grabs the handgun from down the side of the sofa cushion, slips his mask over his head and heads to the door. 'Who is it?'

'It's the man in the big red suit,' comes an irritated voice from the other side. 'I'm here about our mutual friend, Deadpool.'

'Wait, Iron Man? What the fuck do you want on Christmas Eve?'