A/N: As promised here is the next chapter! Thank you to the few who reviewed, hopefully you got my message :). It'd be great if I got even more this time! And the alerts are great too, I just like hearing your input is all :)

This chapter was both difficult and fun to write, and I hope I did their individual personalities justice!

ENJOY

~Chels

CH. TWO SHOPPING: the purchasing of goods from stores

With Christmas around the corner, the Avengers pair up and go shopping.

Thor stood in the middle of a very busy department store somewhere in the concrete jungle. Overhead cheap looking Christmas decorations- consisting of evergreen tree branches with red and gold plastic ordainments- clung to the yellowed ceiling tiles while soft but repetitive Holiday music resonated throughout the shopping area. People of all sizes scurried around the various sections with mountains of merchandise in their carts and arms. The chaos fascinated the tall Asgardian, though by the scowls on some of the shoppers faces, it was apparent he alone shared the same enthusiasm.

"I have absolutely no idea what to buy any of them," Jane sighed looking flustered as she put down a rather dangerous looking kitchen utensil. She'd failed to find anything in the clothing and house wares department which had forced her into the kitchen ware section. "I mean, I just met most of them a few months ago." She looked defeated.

"What about this!" Thor lifted a box containing a coffee maker, smiling widely.

Jane laughed slightly, "I'm sure they all have one already."

The god's smile faded and he sat the box back on the shelf with the others. It was difficult for him to know what would be considered an acceptable gift in this realm, since he'd never seen most of the items in the department store before.

Shouting started the next aisle over which turned out to be two women fighting over the last toaster that was on sale. Their bout was drawing a small crowd along with multiple store employees. Frowning, Jane gripped Thor by his coat sleeve and drug him a few aisles away.

"I thought this Midgardian tradition was supposed to be exuberant? Thor asked looking in the direction of the squabbling women, worried.

"It is supposed to be. Some people though, have forgotten to enjoy it."

The pair walked down the main, tiled walkway of the department store. Jane's arm was looped around Thor's and she was leaning slightly against him as they walked.

"You haven't forgotten have you Jane?" He looked down at her, his blue eyes sparkling with childlike concern. She'd been upset almost the entire time they had been shopping and Thor caught on rather quickly.

She smiled up at him and squeezed his arm a little tighter, "No, I haven't forgotten. I just need to figure out gifts for everyone and so far I haven't."

Thor stopped in the middle of the busy aisle and turned toward Jane placing a hand on each of her thin shoulders.

"You mustn't burden yourself with a gift for me. I have already received mine. Returning here to be with you is far greater than any material possession I could be given."

Jane's eyes welled up with tears and she threw her arms around his large form, and buried her face in his chest. Kinder words had never been spoken to her, and she felt better instantly.

"I shall help you to find gifts for everyone. I promise," Thor added kissing the top of her head.

"Thank you," Jane beamed not wanting to let go.

"I thought you went Christmas shopping!?" Pepper probed coming through the elevator doors with her hands filled with shopping bags.

Tony was sprawled across the couch in an oil stained band t-shirt and clashing red Santa boxers. An open pizza box containing a half-eaten all meat pizza, along with two bottles of beer sat on the glass coffee table in arms reach of where he was lounging.

"Umm, I am," He gestured to the laptop, "It's the 21st century Pepper. 'Online shopping is the best way to fulfill all your holiday needs.'" He quoted the add on the computer screen as he positioned it so she could see it.

"Is that so?" she smirked and disappeared long enough to hide the gifts she'd just bought. "I assume everyone else is out shopping."

Tony reached for his beer and took a swig, "Yep. They decided it made more since to brave the loony's and the cold, instead of staying inside next to the fireplace and shopping in their underwear."

Pepper rolled her eyes and sat at the opposite end of the couch when she returned, "So what are you getting them?"

He pursed his lips, "Well the budget everyone but me decided on was forty bucks, so anything I can find in the price range. . ." He sighed and scowled at the computer screen, "It's practically impossible to achieve by the way. None of these websites have anything worth buying for under that amount."

Pepper laughed and took the laptop from him, laying herself across his chest, "You know why they set a spending limit don't you?"

"To irritate me."

"Because they knew if they didn't set a budget you'd by them all sports cars while they could only afford to get you socks and sweaters," Pepper explained.

"Ah, there is nothing wrong with buying them sports cars. Buying me socks and sweaters is different," Tony argued.

Pepper sat up and eyed him with a raised brow, "How so?"

Tony sat up as well, gabbing a slice of pizza form the box and took a bite, "Well, if I bought them all sports cars it would be logical because none of them have one, and would therefore enjoy. I on the other hand have more than enough hideous socks and sweaters and don't need anymore, which I took the liberty of explaining to all of them before they left on their little rendezvous."

Pepper shook her head, torn between wanting to smack him for his arrogance and laughing because of his logic. Instead she just sighed and leaned against his shoulder helping herself to a slice of his pizza, "I don't know why I put up with you sometimes."

Tony opened his mouth to speak, but she stopped him with her finger, "But I know you wouldn't last one day without me." She kissed his lips softly and handed him his laptop. "Here," she said pulling up Amazon's web page, "I'll help you."

As he waked hastily to where he'd parked- shopping bags dangling from his wrist- he fought for his car keys while he pressed his cell to his ear with his free hand.

"Starks the only one left I have to buy for," Clint said into his phone sounding annoyed. He pressed a button on the black key fob to open the back of the Stark Company SUV when he finally got a hold of them. The agent carelessly tossed his shopping bags inside and shut the door. With another press of the button he locked the polished vehicle and made his way out of the dreary parking garage and back into the hectic mall.

"I know," he grunted to his partner who was on the other end of the phone. "Look, I'm coming in, where are you? I have awful reception in this damn place."

He pushed through the glass doors leaving the corridor in the garage and into the mall. When Natasha finished telling him her location he hung up and shoved his phone back into his pocket. Clint was fed up with shopping, the people where less than pleasant, the crowds were nerve racking and if he heard 'Jingle Bell Rock' one more time on the radio someone was going to end up with an arrow in their eye socket.

The archer jostled his way through the never ending sea of people, walking swiftly and dodging the families and groups of obnoxious teens as best he could. It was when his eyes landed on Natasha's bright velvet red curls that he felt somewhat better.

"This," he spun his finger around in the air gesturing to the madness around them, "is insanity." Clint stated when he reached her.

By the look on her face he could tell she was having just as much fun as she was, "That's putting it lightly." She folded her arms and leant up against the window overlooking the New York streets. She eyed everyone passing with intense, irritated green eyes. Clint pressed his back against the cool window with his hands in his coat pockets, "Maybe we should find him something that can be from both of us."

Natasha didn't answer or look at him; she just continued eyeing everyone angrily.

"Tasha. . ." Clint elbowed her softly knocking her out of her glare.

"Yeah, that works," She stood up straighter and looked at Clint. "Where should we start?"

The archer shrugged and pursed his lips, "I'll follow you."

Natasha huffed and rolled her eyes, "God. . .you are no help Barton." She started to stomp off into the mass of moving bodies, and Clint ran to catch up.

"We'll you aren't exactly in a mood to be told what to do so. . ." He decided not to finish, being the victim of one of Nat's infamous if-looks-could-kill glares was never fun.

"Can we just get this over with?" she stopped in the mid step to glower piercingly at her partner, while he continued on.

"I'm waiting on you now," He called over his shoulder.

Natasha shook her head wanting nothing more than to punch him in the face for being an ass, and caught up with her partner in a few strides. Holiday shopping was one mission the two of them would never be able to complete.

"Department stores sure have changed since I last went Christmas shopping," Steve said idly waiting in the long line to check out his commodities.

Bruce, who was standing behind the tall solider, smirked, nodding slightly, "You mean shopping wasn't crazy in the 40s?"

It seemed there were only two cashiers for every thirty customers waiting to purchase their items. As if the stress and exhaustion from shopping wasn't enough, waiting in long, sluggish lines was the icing on the cake.

Steve shook his head, "Not like this."

The line lurched forward slightly and both the solider and the doctor took a step. Frustrated whispers were beginning to break out among the people in line, spreading like a silent disease to everyone in ear shot. Both Avengers felt the same, but did their best not to let their frustration get to them; especially the doctor.

Bruce shifted the bundle of packages to his other arm and laughed lightly, "I have to say, fighting aliens is more peaceful then this."

Steve gave Bruce a concerned glance, knowing what could happen if worst came to worse for his team mate.

"I'm fine," He assured, seeing the concern in the taller man's blue eyes.

The pair fell silent as they continued waiting, listening to the soft music playing or occasionally watching the shoppers bicker and fight over items in the store. Although the ordeal was pitiful, it served as a form of entertainment at least.

"Hello," the slender brunette uttered when Steve came up to the checkout desk. He sat the boxes and articles of clothing down while the brunette gave him a once over and blushed.

"Did ah, did you find everything alright?" she asked sheepishly.

"Yes, ma'am."

She began to scan each item, occasionally glancing at Steve through her thick eyelashes. "Your total comes to $179.89," she told him looking at her computer screen.

Steve removed his wallet and handed her two one hundred dollar bills with a kind smile. The girl blushed when his hand accidently brushed against hers as she gave him back his change.

"Thank you and Merry Christmas."

"You too," Steve grabbed his sacks and waited off to the side while Bruce paid for his gifts.

"Thank god that's over," he sighed walking to where Steve was standing when he was done. Yet another commotion broke out in line, but was resolved much faster than most the duo had witnessed on their day shopping.

"Let's get out of here before the Other Guy decides to make the next scene."

Steve grinned as they left the store and headed for Stark Tower.

A/N: There you have it! The mighty Avengers doing Christmas shopping, and getting just as frustrated as normal people! xD Any who, let me know what made you laugh!

*Also I'll give you a hint as to what the next chapter is about! The word is: Decorations