Part Two

So this is Christmas,
And what have you done?
Another year over,
And a new one just begun.
And so this is Christmas.
I hope you have fun.
The near and the dear ones;
The old and the young.

Steve looked out the window that overlook the Wakandan jungle. He would not have thought it was December given the country was in the middle of a massive heatwave, but then the air conditioning was making it seem colder than it actually was. They were not entirely sure how to make the base seem festive. Granted there was not much to be festive about, but Sam thought they could at least try to celebrate. When Christmas Eve arrived, he had cooked up a batch of eggnog to get Steve and Wanda into the Christmas spirit. Wanda just was not really in the mood for Christmas and if Sam made jokes about her being a Scrooge, a Grinch or any other known character who did not like Christmas, she was going to snap. Steve could not blame her. The year had just been the worst.

Wanda was sitting on the window seat in her room and looking out at the trees and animals that passed by. Steve was not a mind reader but he could sense she wanted to be free like those animals. They had been cooped up in the base for months and she had been deprived of fresh air. It was probably better than the HYDRA base but cooped up was still cooped up.

"I can hear you thinking, you know," Wanda said quietly as she looked at him. "I'm okay, I just would rather be in New York."

"Me too." Steve walked over and sat on the window seat beside her. "I suppose for you last year was the first time in years you got to celebrate Christmas, and now you are somewhat back to where you were: in a base and not knowing when you're getting out."

"I did not know you could read minds."

"I can't, but you did tell me last year that having spent the previous Christmas in a cold cell, being in New York was far better."

"Anything is better than that cell. I just thought that I had gained a sort of family and then in less than a year I almost lost everyone."

"We'll be home next year, I promise. Tony will come to his senses if he hasn't already."

"You really think that?"

"Of course I do. Now, Sam has made some eggnog, we're going to switch on It's a Wonderful Life and we are going to enjoy each other's company since that is all we have."

Wanda smiled and nodded. Steve took her hand and led her to the lounge area where Sam had set up his eggnog and held up the DVD. "So, are we ready to find the spirit of Christmas?"

Once the film had started, Wanda, out of politeness, grabbed a cup of the festive liquor. She took a sip and found she actually rather liked it. "I don't really like eggnog but yours is pretty good."

"Well, it is mostly bourbon. It's essentially an alcoholic milkshake," Sam replied.

"Amen to that," Steve commented as he raised his glass. Sam and Wanda clinked their glasses with his glass and they all drank the milk beverage.

About half way through the film, Sam had fallen asleep after one too many drinks. Wanda had stopped after two while Steve could drink as much as he wanted. Wanda could feel the alcohol take effect slightly as she looked over Steve. Even though he was not wearing anything particularly special, she did find herself looking rather lustfully at him. Given their close proximity, Wanda had caught him in just a towel and she had spent nights fantasising about that image. She knew what he felt like against her and it only added to the fantasies.

Steve looked up at her and smiled softly, "You okay there Wanda?"

"I'm fine."

"I know Christmas is not until tomorrow, but I do have something for you to open." Steve got up and returned from his room with a thinly wrapped package. "It's not much but you deserve something to open."

Wanda took the package from Steve and opened the simple wrapping paper, to reveal a framed sketch of the little picture Pietro had kept close. Wanda was in disbelief. It looked beautiful and detailed. The picture itself was of Wanda and Pietro as children, being held by their parents and while it was just a simple pencil sketch, the fact that Steve had made the effort to recreate the image made her eyes well up slightly.

"Oh my God, Steve this is beautiful. Thank you so much," she exclaimed as she leaned up to kiss him on the cheek. Steve smiled and kissed Wanda on the forehead. "I never realised how talented you are at art."

"Well, I have a lot of spare time these days. I have tons of sketches of the jungle. I even saw a tiger the other day."

Wanda chuckled but then grew serious. "I'm sorry Steve, but I don't have a gift for you."

"It's fine Wanda, you don't have to give me anything."

"Don't be ridiculous Steve. You can't give me something this special and not get anything back."

"So what do you have in mind?"

Wanda blinked as she looked at his plump pink lips. She cupped his face and leaned in to kiss him. It was just a soft one at first, but once the shock wore off, Steve began to kiss back. He quite liked the vague remnants of eggnog on her lips and the slight hint of paprika from the goulash she had cooked earlier that evening. His arm slipped around her waist and pulled her closer so her small but supple frame was pressed against his bulky firm body. There was a warmth in her belly and Wanda moaned softly as she raked her fingers through Steve's hair.

After a moment, Wanda pulled back and tried to catch her breath. Steve looked equally out of breath but managed a small smile anyway. "That was a very nice gift," he commented.

Wanda smiled and leaned in to kiss him again.