A/N: Sorry about the small delay on this chapter! I had to work tonight and I didn't get off until midnight when I usually post, and I still had to finish typing and editing it. So anyway thanks for the reviews as always! Alerts as well! You all are so great and I love each one of you for taking the time to read and comment on my work. I hope this chapter is as great as you deserve. I try my best.

ENJOY!

CH. 4 CHRISTMAS TREE: evergreen tree (often spruce) that people decorate with lights and ornaments

Tony sends Thor and Steve out to find a Christmas tree for Stark Tower and The Avengers decorate it.

"I can't believe you forgot about getting a tree." Clint ridiculed sitting next to Natasha at the smooth garnet bar in the kitchen wearing just his boxers and wifebeater tank. "That's like the epitome of Christmas decorations."

It was the next morning and Tony, Bruce Clint and Natasha where in the kitchen attempting to get something for breakfast. Steve and Thor had gotten up early and Tony sent them with a wad of cash to find Christmas tree that would has Tony put it "Suit my needs".

The Playboy poured himself a cup of coffee lazily and glowered at Clint's comment.

"He was too concerned about making sure Pepper didn't put out 'Satan Clause' last night." Natasha provoked, gaining a glare from Tony and a smirk from her partner.

"It was actually quite scary." Bruce mused, siding with Tony as he took a bite of his toast.

Tony sauntered over to the cabinet and with a yawn took out a box of Pop tarts only to find the package empty. His scowl deepened and his piercing eyes looked to everyone in the kitchen. "Who nicked all my Pop tarts?" his voice was low and more menacing than usual. It was obvious to them that he wasn't a morning person.

"That would be Thor." Jane said walking in with Pepper.

They were both already dressed and ready for the day, while everyone else was still lolling around in their pajamas.

"He really likes them." She laughed. "Pop tarts were the first thing he ate when he came here the first time."

Bruce and Clint both smirked imagining the God of Thunder eating the simple pastries, while Tony didn't seem quite as amused. He carelessly tossed the pastry box aside reaching for the box of Fruit Loops instead. Tony opened the box and with his fist grabbed a handful of the colorful circles and shoved them all into his mouth.

"You'll have to forgive him." Pepper said snatching the cereal box from his hands. "He often forgets he's no longer a teenager." She gave him a smug grin and properly prepared his breakfast for him.

He laughed humorlessly at her statement. "And you never fail to remind me."

She handed him the bowl and reluctantly he took it. The team continued eating their breakfast and drinking their coffee without too much more conversation. Clint and Natasha looked over a mission file Fury had sent them that was to be completed right after the New Year, while Bruce flipped through the paper. It was then with the ding of the elevator doors opening that they each moved their focus away from their current task.

No one could comprehend how Thor and Steve managed to get the enormous pine tree into the compact elevator, but somehow they'd deified all logic. The sight of the huge tee evaporated Tony's horrible mood and his wide grin returned. He quickly sat his bowl down on the counter and hurried to them.

"Good job Rogers. I was worried you'd come back with a Charlie Brown tree."

Steve gave the genius a confused look, not understanding what he meant.

"Oh, right. Never mind." He rolled his eyes.

"Just tell me where you want this thing Stark." The captain ordered in an annoyed tone.

He and Thor carried the tree on their shoulders and it was less than comfortable.

"By the window!" He pointed to the floor to ceiling window that overlooked the skyline.

Pepper brought another box- this on labeled 'Xmas tree' and sat the tree stand where Tony had instructed. The god and solider placed the tree where they were told and brushed the pine needles from their coats.

"I do not understand the reason for this." Thor said removing his coat.

"Ask the Germans." Tony shrugged. "They started it."

"Doesn't it have something to do with eternal life?" Bruce asked.

"Sure." Tony answered as he walked over to the three boxes Pepper had brought out.

He removed a box of lights and again,and began to untangle them. Like the night before one by one they began to remove the contents and the procedure of unwinding lights and sorting ornaments and ribbon.

"How do you want us to do this?" Natasha queried eyeing Tony with her arms crossed. The look on her face made it seem like she wasn't even sure what to do with all the decorations at her feet.

"Haven't you ever decorated a Christmas tree?" Steve asked with a raised brow.

"Not that I can remember." There was no hint of sadness in her tone, but her comment seemed to slightly alter everyone's mood. They all –except maybe Clint- forgot her troubling background. All the life she could remember was filled with mission after mission, there wasn't a normal memory drifting about in her mind at all. Everyone fell silent very abruptly and glanced towards the agent.

"Then I guess it will be Thor's and Romanoff's first Christmas!" Tony cheered lightly to ease the tension in the room. "Which gives us even more reason to celebrate this year."

The billionaire caught the outline of a genuine smile on Natasha's face that was meant for him as he handed a set of lights to Pepper. Despite not seeing eye to eye with one another, it was nice to have him pull her out of the spot light.

With Jane's assistance the pair began to string set after set of lights onto the spiky branches. Thor idly stood by, never too far from Janes side, watching them apply the light set. The more strands that were added, the wider the gods grin became.

"Most magnificent!"

Steve grinned at his excitement. "It's not even done yet."

Thor looked at his slightly shorter team mate with confusion.

"There's more than just lights that go on it." He explained. Steve walked over to one of the boxes and removed a small container of red and gold Christmas balls. Clint and Natasha removed another set of glass ornaments, beginning to latch hooks on ones missing string, while Thor still marveled at the only half-completed Christmas tree.

"That's good don't you think?" Pepper asked standing back to see her work. Each strand was perfectly spaced and even.

"Looks great." Tony praised.

The team stood back aways holding ornaments and bows in their hands waiting for Tony to give them the go ahead.

"Have at it." Tony swung his arm towards the tree and they swarmed the large evergreen. "Jarvis. Music please?" he added grabbing is own things to hang on the branches.

The familiar Christmas rock tunes filled the Penthouse as they all took turns hanging and watching, with Pepper every now and then moving something to balance out the tree.

"Stop." Tony said hugging her from behind, keeping her hands at her sides. "Just let it happen. This group is anything but organized."

Pepper sighed. "You're right."

Tony spun her around. "I know I'm right." He kissed her quickly and pranced over to wrap his arm around Natasha's shoulder.

"Having fun Agent Romanoff?"

Her eyes narrowed menacingly at Tony's proximity, but she smirked and nodded.

"How bout you Thunderguns?" he asked dancing over to Thor wistfully.

"I am enjoying myself with these festivities." He bellowed with a grin.

Tony went back to hanging ornaments humming along to the instrumental music that was booming from the speakers throughout the house.

"You know," Steve mused hanging a glittering angelic ordiment. "I can remember as a kid, times where rough but my pops always managed to get the biggest tree he could find."

"That's sweet." Pepper commented lightly.

"My old man was always too wasted to remember what time of year it was." Clint noted with a shrug. "I had better Christmases as an orphan than I did before my folks died."

Tony scowled at the archer. "Hey Cupid. You mind not killing the mood?"

Clint gave Tony a glare and a mumbled apology as he continued hanging the ornaments he held in his hand.

"I think that was the last of all of 'em." Bruce announced looking into the now empty boxes. He bent over and picked up the large star that was meant for the top. "Should we let Thor do it? He's tallest."

Everyone began to nod.

"Wait! I have a surprise!" Tony ran off and returned with four other noticeably smaller boxes. He threw one to Thor, one to Bruce, one to Steve and kept the last one in his hand.

"I was originally just going to buy four of myself and give to you guys, but I had some ya. . .help." he looked at Pepper. "Remembering that I'm trying not to be a dick. So I got you each yourself." Tony explained as they opened the packages that contained model versions of their super selves.

Tony held up the small Iron Man with a grin. "Cool huh?" he paused. "Oh and for some reason the company didn't make any of you two." He pointed to Clint and Natasha. "So long story short; I bought the company and your ornaments should be here next week."

Both assassins looked at each other, unsure about how Tony's statement made them feel.

"Thank you? I guess." Clint said.

Steve and Bruce held theirs out in their hand just staring at the smaller version of themselves. Thor was the only one that didn't seem the slightest upset about being a marketed Christmas collectable.

"Yeah, Thanks." Bruce finally said with a shrug. He hung his closer to the back of the tree, as did Steve. Thor placed his at the top, and Tony positioned his directly in eyesight.

"Now it's perfect." Tony grinned. "Well almost. When Robin Hood's and Wonder Woman's get here it will be."

Natasha rolled her eyes and went back over to her mug of coffee on the counter. Pepper took the boxes back to the storage closet and slowly everyone drifted back to their previous tasks with the glow of the tree glittering against the New York City morning back drop.

A/N: Your thoughts feed my muses! Let me know your favorite parts or whatever!

Hint for next chapter: Christmas Cards