Hello Guys and Dolls a quick note before we get started I apologize for my spelling in the last chapter and also this one. And for those who are wondering why everyone is so attached to Mary, I guess I didn't describe her well enough. She is Darcy's twin so they look similar but Mary has a problem she has a ton of medical issues so shes as frail as spun sugar and looks it too. Think very breakable, so most people get protective of her. Okay i'll shut up now hope that cleared some things up enjoy.

Chapter Thirty- seven: Ho-Ho-Oh?

It had been four months since Beth's almost wedding debacle. In that time Darcy had gone back to England to set things straight with Jane and surprised to find her working well with Ian. Then had gone back to D.C. to work on her paleontology degree again. And spending her free time helping take care of Edith and living with Steve , much to his chagrin. He still felt it was a sin because they weren't married, Darcy giggled when he grumbled about it. And now they were packing to spend Christmas at the tower. Mary was being flown in because tony was panicky about putting her in a car, and he was quite excited to have her at the tower for Christmas. Darcy knew it was hard for Mary to come to New York, after her accident her relationship thingy what ever it was. Had been rocky if not hostile, Darcy shook her head she and Steve decided to stay well out of it. Darcy held up two cocktail dresses

" What should I wear to Tony's Christmas party?" she asked Steve as she was finishing packing up.

" Honestly doll you could wear warping paper and a bow and still wow people." He said with a wink Darcy huffed out a laugh.

" Watch it Steve i just might show up in bows and ribbons." He cleared his throat a bit.

" Better not doll face." He said on a slight growl rounding the bed to scoop her up, which he did effortlessly. She squealed as he swung her around, he was about to drop her on the bed when the doorbell chimed. He blew out a sigh and set her on the edge of the bed, and headed back to open the door. Darcy sighed, they had been dancing around there sexual attraction. They practically mauled each other every night. But they never actually had sex or even got close to it. He got skiddish anytime she got to close to the little commander. Steve brought her out of her thoughts coming into them room. He had Edith in his arms her diaper bag slung over his shoulder.

" Beth just dropped her off." he said shaking his head " said something about a big day and to watch her for a week or two." Darcy snorted taking the baby

" They are probably having a Christmas booty call vacay." Steve raised an eyebrow

" I didn't understand half that sentence." he said as he zipped up his bag, she shook her head.

" Out for a sexy trip." he nodded

" I had Jarvis text Sam to ask if he was okay with us taking Edith to the tower." he said, Darcy laughed.

" How do you think Tony will take that?" she asked setting Edith onto the bed arranging a little c shaped pillow under the baby.

" It'll give him some humility, Tony needs it Sam has no problem with us taking her." Steve said Darcy tickled the baby's tummy

" Are we going to visit mean Uncle Tony?" she asked to the baby, Steve groaned.

" Lets not call him Uncle Tony." He grumbled , picking up the keys to the 1955 Chevy pickup he somehow acquired. Darcy guessed Tony gave it to him, even though they hid it Darcy knew they were pretty close, in a love hate fr-enemy way.

" Should we call him and give him some warning?" She asked, Steve snorted

" He'll be fine." He said as he picked the luggage to take to the truck. Maybe, she was sure Tony would have a gigantic meltdown.

They arrived at the tower four hours later with a crabby baby. To find Tony and Mary wrapping two huge eight foot plus Christmas trees, in gaudy gold tinsel garlands. Both sporting Santa hats and Tony seemed to be more liquored up than usual. They were singing very off key, Deck the halls until Mary caught sight of Darcy and rushed forward hugging them both. Then she took Edith, the baby calmed instantly Darcy rolled her eyes.

" I don't know what kind of hold you have over her." Mary laughed

" I'm her favorite auntie, aren't I pumpkin." She asked Edith, who cooed, Darcy grumbled and turned to see Tony eyeing Edith like she was a bomb.

" Do you want to hold her Tony?" Mary asked, Tony vehemently shook his head.

" Kiddo I told you I don't like being handed things, that includes cute squishy breakable things." he said, causing both women to laugh

" At least touch her little hand it wont kill you." He made a face but did as Mary asked and gently touched Edith's chubby hand.

" Okay I'm done, I think its time for eggnog." And he scurried off to the kitchen. Darcy took Edith back so Mary and Tony could finish decorating or in Tony's case boozing. Twenty minutes later a 'Christmas Story' was put on, Darcy insisted Steve watch it. She, Steve and Edith were on the middle couch. Tony was asleep on a club chair, Mary sitting on the floor stringing cranberries. An obnoxious howling interrupted them, Darcy grinned. Beth's ringtone was a werewolf howl, she paused the movie and answered

" Whats up? Lose your money or something?" She asked Beth started to laugh

" No I didn't lose any money I got married!" she shrieked excitedly Darcy started to laugh.

" You brat! couldn't do it unless you guys were alone?" she asked excitedly very happy for her sister

" No interference, were going to honeymoon in Vegas." Beth sounded so happy, thank goodness.

" congratulations Bethy." her sister chirped thank you and hung up. Steve was smiling, Mary raised an eyebrow

" Bethy and Sam eloped" Darcy said and Mary shrieked happily clapping her hands.

" Good for her." she said going back to stringing cranberries " Now you and Steve need to." She said Darcy wacked Mary with a throw pillow.

" Says you there is a certain someone you've been ignoring like the plague." Darcy teased, Mary lobbed some cranberries at her.

" Oh shut up." Mary growled " I don't want to talk about them." she grabbed the remote and pressed play

" Your going to have to one day." Darcy mumbled but her sister had ended up hearing her Mary glared

" Leave it." She hissed as she viciously stabbed a cranberry with her needle.

The next morning Darcy and Mary were cooking a big Christmas breakfast it being the twenty fourth. Darcy had Edith strapped to her back in a baby sling apparatus that took twenty minutes to get on.

" So are you going to talk to you know who?" Darcy asked Mary viciously shook the skillet full of home fries.

" Cut it out Darce!" she said adding some paprika to the pan of fires " I'll talk to them when I'm good and ready. If were playing the twenty questions game, are you ever going to sleep with Steve?" she asked and Darcy blew out a long sigh

" We will once Steve is comfortable enough, He's been through a lot of crap in the past three years. He's old school, I'm lucky we mac almost every night." She said flipping a few pancakes and managing to catch them.

" The way you two look at each other it's just a matter of time. You know I got a set of sexy red lace lingerie. The whole shebang bra, undies, graters , hose." Mary said pouring the fries onto a serving plate. "You can have them so you can tempt him. Do you have a pair of sexy red pumps?" She asked, Darcy chewed on her cheek, did she want to try seduction? What harm could it do ? She wondered other than Steve swallowing his tongue.

" No, but I have some black velvet ones." She said , Mary nodded

" Okay, that'll work we can do a sexy pin up look, hair make up the whole tamale."Mary said whisking up some waffle batter.

" When? I mean we have Edith with us." She'd feel weird trying to be sexy when Edith was not that far away asleep, somehow that just seemed wrong.

" I'll take of her, tonight's the party you have to get dolled up anyway. So after give him a peep show Mulan Rouge style." Darcy snorted then shook her head, she was getting seduction advice from her lingerie, romance novel expert sister who as far as Darcy knew was a virgin.

" Okay, if not at least I can make him swallow his tongue." Darcy chirped suddenly feeling very hopeful.


I hope you enjoyed this chapter, many thanks to all who reviewed. And also helped with my horrible spelling, Next time Darcy trys to seduce Steve. Please review it makes me sooooo happy and it really dose help me. Love you all so much- Dizzy