Christmas

All of Elizabeth's Aunts, female cousins, her grandma and mom, and herself were in the kitchen finishing Christmas dinner.

"So Liza, anyone special in your life?" Elizabeth's aunt asked her.

"Yeah, Elizabeth what's this I hear about this man you have been stringing along?" My mother asked.

"Wait, you have a boy toy? I'm insulted I didn't know about this!" Elizabeth's cousin Darla, who is only a year younger than she was, exclaimed.

"Sorry to disappoint, but there's nothing going on between us, not because I don't want it to, but because of special circumstances." Elizabeth's grandmother gave her a knowing look.

"Honey, the way that man looks at you, one would think you were the only thing left on Earth." Elizabeth started to think about what she had said, while Darla was going on a tangent about how she didn't know and it wasn't fair that their Gram has met him, but she hasn't.

Elizabeth felt a hand on her back and turned to see her grandmother standing there holding two covered plates.

"Go get 'em honey, don't let a man like that go without a fight." Elizabeth smiled and grabbed her coat, kissing her grandmother and mom on the cheeks and left to go get her man. Her reasoning was that no one deserves to be alone on Christmas after all.

Elizabeth drove all the way to Bruce's apartment bearing gifts. She knocked on his door and waited with a growing smile on her face once he answered the door with a surprised expression.

"No one should be alone on Christmas if they don't have to be, Brue."

"But, what about your family?" Bruce asked Elizabeth while leading her to his kitchen, even though she had been there countless times.

"Well, I saw them, cooked dinner and knew you could use some company and a nice Christmas meal, plus this way the whole family won't be watching as you try our traditional sweet potato croquettes for the first time." Bruce smiled and shook his head in wonderment.

"What would I ever do without you?"
"Wither away into nothing, but a cold hearted hermit, that's what." Elizabeth playfully jibbed back. They sat down and chatted over their dinner, until it came time for the sweet potatoes.

"Oh, come on, they're great, just think of it as mashed potatoes, come on!" Elizabeth then knew Bruce was just messing with her by the look of horror and disgust he had before plugging his nose and taking a bite. He then pretended to convulse when swallowing and gasping for air.

"They're…..actually pretty good."
"Ah-ha! See I told you so!" Dinner carried on in that manner, playfully teasing each other and light conversation. Elizabeth's grandmother had thankfully sent with her a big slice of pumpkin pie, one that was meant to be shared. Bruce and Elizabeth sat on the sofa while they shared the pie; he had gotten some on the corner of his mouth. Automatically Elizabeth leaned over to brush it off with her finger and ate it.

"Hmm tastes better this way." Bruce's eyes became clouded as he stared at her. They both sat the plate down and both started to lean forward, before their lips could touch Bruce pulled away and began to pinch his nose and sighed.

"Lizzy, I can't, we can't do this. You know why."

"Bruce, Bruce look at me," Elizabeth said putting her hand on his cheek to turn him to look at her. "I want this; I want you, all of you, including Hulk. I know you want this too, so why hold back? If you're worried about Hulk, we both know he would never hurt me, please why fight it?" Elizabeth whispered the last part while leaning in the whole time and pressed her lips to his.

Elizabeth could feel Bruce Hesitating, but once she started running her fingers through his black curly hair, she knew he was done for. Bruce began to kiss Elizabeth with as much zest as she was giving him. It seemed as if they had been kissing for hours, but really it was only a couple of minutes before they had to separate for air. Both Bruce and Elizabeth were breathing heavily, while their foreheads leaned against each other and their eyes were locked.

Suddenly Elizabeth had the urge to laugh, she couldn't help it, and apparently her laughter was contagious because Bruce started laughing along with her. Bruce was finally able to ask, "What is so funny?" It only made Elizabeth laugh harder because she honestly had no clue.

"I really don't know, probably the situation. You have no idea how long I've wanted to kiss you Bruce." That just made Bruce smile with his carefree smile that only Elizabeth gets to see. Bruce then leaned over to Elizabeth and pecks her lips once more.

"No, you dear Lizzy have no idea how long I have been wanting to do this, how long I have wanted to lean over and just do this." After each word Bruce would peck her lips, it made Elizabeth giggle.

"Bruce you have no idea how long I've loved you." Elizabeth felt she should have opened her mouth and inserted her foot, why did she have to bring up the L-word? Once Bruce froze Elizabeth knew it was over, she knew she was moving too fast, but she couldn't help herself, she loved the man, Hulk and all, hell she loved Hulk before she truly knew Bruce.
"Elizabeth, I don't know what to say-"She cut him off there.

"Oh, Bruce I'm sorry, it just slipped out. I know I probably ruined everything before it could even start, but I just couldn't help myself. I've loved you since before I truly knew you, if that makes any sense. I fell in love with you through Hulk, I mean I loved Hulk before I met you, I ugh. What I mean to say is-"Bruce was the one to cut Elizabeth off by pressing his finger to her lips as if to keep her quite.

"Oh Elizabeth, Lizzy, you haven't ruined anything, I was just stunned. I haven't had someone one love me and the other guy before is all. I know it may seem too fast, but I've loved you since that morning we officially met and you defended the other guy, you defended Hulk with a passion I have never seen from anyone else and knowing even though I will always fear it, that the other guy will never hurt, I know he wouldn't because you mean everything to me, to us."

By the end of his speech, Elizabeth had tears rolling down her cheeks; there were no words for what she felt for Bruce at this present moment.

"You really love me Bruce?" He just chuckled at this.

"That's what I said. I love you Elizabeth. I know I was stupid to try and fight it, but you made me realize that I don't need to fight it, not if it means you love me, all of me." This time Elizabeth pressed her lips to his feverishly.

"I love you Bruce Banner, every last bit of you, whether it's green of not, I love you." After they stopped their make out session, they both curled up on his couch watching cheesy Christmas movies until they both eventually fell asleep.

AN: I know they said their I love you's rather fast, but remember she fell in love with Hulk before she fell for Bruce and they're technically the same person.