"Woah there, partner!" Tony crouched down beside the young boy. "I don't remember ever agreeing to participate in this play of yours. I don't care whether or not it's "important". There is no way you are going to get me into that thing." Tony pointed at the fluffy costume that lay beside the wall. Huge tufts of white wool stuck out everywhere and there were four tiny black dots to symbolize hooves.

"But Dad!" The little back haired boy whined, "We need animals for the Christmas play! We can't have a manger scene without there being animals in the stable! You only need to be a sheep for an hour. Please? Pretty pleaseee?" Anthony Jr. pulled on his father's sleeve and looked up at his father with big doe eyes. Tony gulped. Those were the same eyes that Pepper used on him to get him to do paperwork. He just couldn't resist.

Tony rubbed his face in his palm and sighed. "Fine. I'll do it. Only for you though, Junior." Tony tousled his son's hair as the younger boy giggled happily.

"Yes! That was easier than I thought. Now I need to check and see how the others did!" Tony blanched. Others? What was he talking about? Anthony Jr. squirmed out of the reach of his father and ran backstage and into one of the side doors.

"It looks like you got wrangled into this too, didn't you?" Tony looked over his shoulder to see Steve leaning against the wall. His arms were crossed and his face was set into a glower. "I'm glad I'm not the only one suffering then."

"Pfft. I'm sure you're better off than I am." Tony pointed at his costume. "I'm supposed to be a sheep!" Steve snorted.

"A sheep? That's not bad at all! I have to be the donkey!" Steve gritted his teeth as Tony broke out into laughter in front of him. "It isn't funny, Stark! I'm only doing it because Riley begged me, but don't you dare try to take pictures." Under his breath, Steve mumbled, "I'm going to destroy all copies of this play when it is over..."

"You'll make a wonderful donkey, Rogers," Tony giggled, tears at the corners of his eyes. "You have just the right personality for it." At that, Tony began laughing again. Steve marched over to Tony and kicked him soundly in the side, causing the billionaire to hunch up in a ball. "That hurt, Rogers!"

"You deserved it," Steve said monotonously. The door that Anthony Jr. had run into a few minutes ago opened up again to reveal a very happy Anthony Jr. and a giggling red headed girl. The red head skipped towards Steve and Tony with a pleased smile on her face.

"Uncle Steve and Uncle Tony! Junior told me about how you'll be helping out in the play! Good news! Mama and Papa will be participating too!" Steve and Tony shared a glance before breaking out into giggles. "Mama is going to be the front half of the camel and Papa is going to be the back half!"

"No need to tell them, Mariya. Though I'm sure they would have figured it out anyways." From the doorway, Natasha looked utterly defeated. She was hunched forward with her head hanging low. She had to play the part of one of the camels. She couldn't believe it. Natasha was a SHIELD agent for goodness sakes! Why did she have to play a camel?

Clint came up behind her and dropped his head onto hers. He sighed and said, "You don't have it so bad, Nat. I'm stuck playing the rear end of a camel. At least you have the head." Children were absolutely terrifying to Clint. At first, he had thought Mariya was just an adorable sweetheart. Then he figured out she had the wits of her mother. What Mariya wanted, Mariya got. It was that simple. It really sucked.

Steve wiped a tear from his eye. "I'm sorry about that, you two. It looks like you're going to be stuck with us, huh?"

"Unfortunately." Natasha walked out from under Clint, causing him to stumble a bit. Natasha walked over to where her two teammates were and crouched down beside them. Her eyes drifted over to the white ball of fuzz and back to Tony. "So that is the fabled sheep costume that I have heard all about." Tony's face turned into abject horror. "Junior told me all about it. You have quite the fun role, I heard. You even get to "baa" a few times." Natasha smirked. "Won't that be fun to see."

Tony's head whipped around towards Anthony Jr. who was rocking back and forth on his heels. "What does she mean by that? I have to "baa" like a sheep too?!" Tony exclaimed.

"Did I forget to mention that, Dad? Sorry about that. Don't ask, don't tell!" Anthony Jr. chirped innocently. Tony groaned. The kid was way too much like his mother. Pepper always told him to read the fine print, and now Anthony Jr. was telling him to ask more questions. This was awful.

At the end of the stage, a door swung up. All heads turned towards it as Bruce, Betty, and his daughter came walking into the room. "But Bailey, I don't think I'm right for the role? Don't you think your mother would be a better choice?" Bruce pleaded, pointing towards Betty.

"No! I want you to be the cow! Please, father! You know how much I want this play to be a success..." The black haired girl lowered her head and gave a few sniffles, causing Betty to glare at her husband. Bruce jolted as he felt a flood of killing intent come at him from his wife.

"I-I can do it if you really want me to, Bailey..." Bruce said hesitantly.

Bailey looked up towards her father and asked, "Really?"

"Really," Bruce said with a sigh. Bailey cheered and hugged her father.

"This is going to be the best play ever!" Bailey turned around and waved to the other kids. "Did you guys get them to sign on?"

Anthony Jr. snigged, "You betcha, Bailey! Dad was really easy to dupe, and Riley got Uncle Steve to join in as well!"

"And Mama and Papa are going to play the camel!" Mariya said with a smile. She didn't know why people were so afraid of her parents. They weren't all that hard to manipulate. Maybe that was the wrong way to think about it actually... She'd worry about it later.

"Then let's get to practicing!" Bailey cheered.

Tony groaned, "This is going to be the worst Christmas ever."

Author's Note: I watched Charlie Brown Christmas a few days ago, and I was thinking about the Christmas play. This idea popped into my head, and I just had to write it. I also just realized something this morning... I evidently can't count my days right, so there is a slight change of plans. There will be 13 oneshots instead of 12 because I belatedly realized that 12 oneshots only takes me to the 24th... Oops.

Thank you for all of the encouragement you guys! I really appreciate it. ^^