A/N: Finally, we get to see Steve's perspective! Big thanks to Whitelion69 for reviewing! Don't forget to follow, favorite, and review.
This year, Christmas rolled around earlier than usual. This year, Christmas felt more like Christmas than usual. I'm not sure what was different. Maybe I was getting used to my surroundings.
Tony Stark's Christmas parties were surprisingly intimate. They usually consisted of the Avengers, their partners, and a few of his close friends. I never went. For 3 years, I had avoided them. I don't know why. It just didn't seem right to spend Christmas with anyone but Bucky.
We had lost him. He was almost home, and then I lost him. I wasn't sure if he was alive or dead at this point. He had been on the run for almost 2 years.
I was pulled out of my thoughts when I heard a knock at my door. When I looked out of the peephole, I saw the distorted figure of my neighbor.
I opened the door. Niamh stood outside, a dish in her arms. She was a beautiful girl. Long red hair, pale skin as smooth as silk, and pale blue eyes. She was tiny, a full foot shorter than me. She was wearing a pair of tight black pants, and a tank top under a sweater that must've been several sizes too big. She was stunning.
"I brought you some snickerdoodles." She said, looking up at me with a shy smile.
I couldn't help but smile back.
"Do you wanna come inside?" I asked. She stepped inside, and placed the bread on the kitchen counter.
"So how are you?" She asked, hopping up and sitting on the counter. I leaned against the counter next to her.
"I'm doin' alright. And you, ma'am?" I said with a teasing grin.
"I'm fine, sir." She replied as she looked at me with a smile.
"So I have a question." I said hesitantly. If I was going to bring anyone…
"Go for it."
"Do you want to go to a Christmas party with me?"
"Okay." The redhead replied, looking up at me with those twinkly blue-gray eyes. I smiled, and she smiled back.
Niamh looked beautiful. She was wearing a plain black dress, that fell to her knees. Her cinnamon-colored hair was curled in a way that almost reminded me of Peggy's. She was the type of beautiful that was quiet at first, but then it hit you. She had porcelain skin, with a pale dusting of freckles. Her cheeks were rosy and round. Her eyes were a beautiful, stormy blue-gray. They were surprisingly intense. When she smiled, her eyes twinkled in a way that made you wonder if she knew everything about you. When she laughed, her nose crinkled up in the cutest way. When she cried, she pressed her peach-colored lips together and tried her hardest not to. I thought she was beautiful no matter what.
This party was the first time she'd met my coworkers. It was the first time they'd met her. I don't know why it was so important to me that they liked her. She was just my friend. When we entered the room, I noticed Tony immediately looking her up and down. I would take his assessment of her with a grain of salt, considering his history. I mostly cared about what Bruce would think. He and I had grown closer lately. He was reasonable and intelligent, and I trusted him.
He was the first to stand and introduce himself.
"Hi, Bruce Banner." He said, offering a hand to her.
"I'm Niamh O'Sullivan. Nice to meet you." She replied in that lovely Irish lilt.
I took a seat on the couch, and Niamh found a spot next to me. She placed her legs in my lap, and I couldn't help but smile.
Tony raised an eyebrow at me. I knew what it looked like. I think I'm going to her ask her out. Maybe it would be my New Year's resolution. Maybe I could keep this one.