Part Three

You were handsome.
(You were pretty
Queen of New York City).
When the band finished playing
They howled out for more.
Sinatra was swinging,
All the drunks they were singing.
We kissed on a corner,
Then danced through the night.

Steve watched Wanda sitting by the log fire and smiled. The heat had given her a rosy glow and she looked so happy just sitting in solitude. Being back in New York after everything was rather tough, but amends had been made. They were going to the Tower to have dinner the next day while taking a recently cured Bucky with them. Steve knew it was risky but Tony had promised to be on his best behaviour, mostly because he was proving to Pepper that he had changed.

He quietly walked over to Wanda and wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed the side of her neck. "You looked really beautiful there Wanda."

"Thank you. It's funny, though. You see the people in the movies who have log fires and I always thought it was incredibly unrealistic. However, I can see why it is a perfect image."

"Well, that rosy glow makes you look adorable."

"You look adorable in that jumper. Let me guess, Sam's idea of a joke?" Steve looked down at the Christmas jumper he had been given. It had a reindeer face on and a bright red nose. Wanda pressed the nose and laughed as the tune to 'Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer' began to play. "This never gets old."

"Glad to see you are so amused."

Wanda giggled slightly and leant up to kiss Steve on the lips. "Can you believe it has been a whole year?"

"I know right. That first kiss was pretty spectacular. Made me want to keep coming back for more." Wanda smiled and kissed him again. Steve stroked his tongue along her lips and Wanda moaned as she lay down on the floor with Steve on top of her. Before Wanda could divest Steve of his jumper, they heard a cough and they broke apart and Steve sat up sharply. "Bucky."

"Nice to see you are in the festive spirit," he commented. Wanda tried to hold in her laughter as Steve stood up. "So what is the plan tomorrow?"

"We're eating breakfast and opening presents here, then we're expected at the Tower at four for dinner," Wanda answered. "I suppose this must be weird for you James. It's your first Christmas in seventy years."

"Feels like nothing has changed."

"Really?" Steve asked looking at the tree that had a fair few presents around the bottom.

"Well, at least the bird will actually be big, and not boiled."

Steve chuckled slightly as he helped Wanda up. "So Wanda, you fancy picking a present now?"

"What?"

"Your parents let you choose a gift to open on Christmas Eve, so pick a gift if you like." Wanda beamed and picked up a small box from under the tree. "Wait-"

Before Steve could stop her, Wanda had ripped the wrapping paper off and looked confused at the velvet box. Bucky, sensing that this was meant to be a private moment, left the room swiftly. Wanda opened the box and was presented with a white gold ring with rubies encrusted in the metal. She looked up at Steve and then back at the ring.

"Steve?"

"Wanda, I love you. I know this is the first time I have said it, but this last year has made me happier than I ever thought I could be. You mean the world to me, and I mean it. I want a future with you." Steve got down on one knee and took Wanda's hand. "Wanda Maximoff, will you marry me?"

Once the shock wore off, Wanda slowly smiled and nodded. "Yes." Steve got to his feet and pulled her in for a kiss. Wanda wrapped her arms around Steve's waist and pulled him close. He pulled the ring out of the box and slide it down her ring finger. "It's beautiful."

"Not as beautiful as the woman wearing it." Steve chuckled as he kissed her forehead. "I love you, right from the bottom of my heart."

"I love you too, right from the bottom of my heart."

They never left the fireside. Instead, they gently swayed to the croon of Bing Crosby's 'White Christmas'. Wanda's head rested under Steve's chin, indulging in the scent of sandalwood, his warmth, and feeling of his pulse. Steve could smell the apple shampoo on Wanda's hair and he smiled at this simple little thing, hoping to indulge in all the simple things about her for years to come.