It's my birthday!

24 : THANKS GIVING PROTOCOL**

The football team was now prepared for the two last games before the winter break. Coach Fury made it clear that they had to win these two games to secure their place for the play-offs. Steve learned a new play. It was a risky one but if he can throw with perfect accuracy, it will be a guaranteed touchdown.

The problem was his offensive line. The pocket wasn't containing him for long enough to find his receivers and the Captain almost got sacked every time. Simon was more than eager to tackle Steve to the ground.

"You don't need to use your full force on me, Williams. Save it for the game" Steve said as he was laid flat on the ground.

"What's the fun in that? Beside, you gotta get used to being tackled like this if your linemen don't improve themselves."

Steve frowned, obviously hating it when his friend mocked him. He wanted to retaliate with something but he didn't. He got up from the ground and prepared for the next play.

Finally, the practice was over and Steve could feel his body was sore and ached everywhere. The defensive line did a very good job today. Simon Williams had a very good time tackling him to the ground.

"Dude, you doing anything tonight?" Jack asked

"Nah, just grabbing a dinner and heading back to my room"

"Good, change of plans. You're going with us tonight. Max can get us into the newly open nightclub"

"Fine…" Steve sighed

Steve knew his friends will not let him go if he didn't go with them to night. Steve just realized that he didn't miss his football group at all. The more he spent his time with his new friends, with his little Red, the more he realized that he didn't need his football friends anymore.

They're just leeches that wanted him as a friend because of his fame and his popularity.

But Steve also knew that the only reason he still wanted his football friends around was because the king still needed to maintain his power in his own kingdom.

Steve dressed up and went to the club with his football friends.

Someone opened the door to Steve/Thor's room again. The intruder crept into Steve's bedroom before jumping on to him to wake him up.

"Wake up, Stevie" Natasha said and pulled the blanket away from him. She bent down near his ear "Come on. Wake up"

Steve groaned painfully but he didn't move or do anything. He just let Natasha sit on his waist. He seemed like he was continuing with his sleeping but then he flung Natasha down onto his bed and pinned her down.

"I'm having a terrible hangover, Red." He said "Leave me alone or stay there quietly"

He collapsed himself on her body with his head near her neck.

"Come on, Steve. Everyone is having breakfast at Tony's" She said and tried to push him off her "He just bought a brand new waffle machine"

"I don't care" He replied.

"I can't breathe"

He slowly got off her, clearly he could not move any faster than that "I'm sorry. I just need to sleep. My head is about to burst"

Natasha snuggled into his chest "I will make you a very delicious waffle with every topping you like"

Steve allowed himself to smile at her despite a very terrible headache "Okay"

He got up and put on a t-shirt and let Natasha drag him along the hallway. Every single living body in the hallway was looking at them. Everyone looked at them and knew how adorable they were together but they didn't seem to realize it at all.

When they reached Tony/Bruce's room, Steve sunk himself onto the couch and continued with his sleep. Everyone could see that the Captain was tired and hungover. Bruce handed Steve some Advil and a glass of his special mixed fruit juice that would cure the hangover.

"By the way, you guys are invited to a dinner at my house this Thursday to celebrate our first Thanksgiving together as a group"

"You are coming, right?" Nat turned to ask Steve

"Yeah, why not?"

"I don't know. Maybe you have someone special to celebrate with."

"Nah, my mom is on her trip to acquire some arts in Italy"

"I mean, your girlfriend, your one night…."

"I don't have a girlfriend, Nat, and those one night stands aren't important to me" He stated and a voice in his head sounded unexpectedly. You are

Natasha smiled at his words but didn't say anything more. Tony told everyone that they should cook the dinner together because he, Bruce and Pepper cannot prepare food for 11 people within such a short time.

They divided the list of ingredients they have to prepare. Steve and Nat will pick up a turkey and ham at supermarket. Thor said he would bring the local alcohol from his motherland to celebrate this special occasion.

Finally Natasha made Steve his breakfast, waffles with all the toppings he likes and she sat down next to him with her own plate in hand. Steve couldn't resist to steal some berries from her. Natasha didn't say anything and leaned against his arm.

Everyone clearly saw how they interact around one another and the fact that Steve Rogers is now gravitating around Natasha Romanoff was the most noticeable thing.

They all felt the same, they are too adorable together but too blind to see how they feel for one another.

Or maybe, it was the best way for them to just slowly develop this relationship.

Most of the students in Howard Hall left the University on Wednesday afternoon to travel back to their hometowns and celebrate Thanksgiving with their families. For Steve's new gang, they were a bunch of abandoned kids.

Tony's father was always working. Thor's parents needed to travel back and forth to their motherland. Steve's father never spent any holidays with his son since he was born and his mother had to travel to Italy which she already apologized to him because she knew that Steve was really looking forward to spending some time with her.

Clint had nowhere to go. Natasha made it clear that she doesn't want to set foot in Russia ever again. Phil's parents didn't have enough money for their son to travel back to his hometown of San Francisco. Jane's parents were in Indonesia while Darcy just wanted to stay away from her dad. Bruce's parents were working all the time. Pepper's mom had to travel with Tony's dad as his secretary. Hill hated to celebrate any festival but all her friends were here so she was okay with it.

Steve picked Natasha up at her room around 11 AM because they had to travel to multiple places to get the ingredients

"We can just pick it up at a supermarket" Nat said

"No, we can't because there's a farmers market especially for today. We can get our hands on some good ingredients freshly delivered from farms"

"Do I need to know how you became such an expert on grocery shopping?" Nat teased

"I usually go with my mom every chance I have and help her in the kitchen"

"Wow! Steve Rogers has one of the husband qualities"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Well, you are clearly good at housekeeping and stuff" She replied "And I'm also noticing how you can remember everyone's favorite dessert and every tiny detail of everyone"

"Not everyone. I can remember only—" He suddenly stopped and Nat turned to look at him "Yours"

Natasha smiled and her cheeks flushed a little because of the truth just being revealed to her. Steve's face flushed bright red and this was the second time he flushed in front of her.

"Well, I'm flattered" She said with a devilish smile before tiptoed to peck a kiss on his cheek making him even redder.

Steve gathered what was left of his natural bad ass self and took her hand before dragging her to one of the many vendors. Steve handpicked everything. Natasha was surprised that before they headed back to his car.

"We still need to go to supermarket to pick up the turkey" He told before headed to his usual place.

Natasha could see that it is a very luxury supermarket and sales only premium products. They took one cart which Natasha jumped in without any hesitation.

"Red, get out of the cart right now" Steve said. He easily forgot how she easily ignores his commands.

"Nah, it's more fun this way"

"You do know that we have to fill the cart with goods"

"I will get out when we have one."

As they were strolling around the supermarket to find the things on their list. Natasha picked up her favorite snacks along the way and she eventually jumped out of the cart.

"Tony wants us to buy some more honey and apples and...Three bottle of bourbon" Steve frowned at the last one on the list. "Why the hell does he need three bottle of bourbon?"

"He maybe trying to give himself alcohol poisoning" Nat replied and led them to the alcohol shelf "I will try to find his favorite bourbon. You pick the wine"

Natasha was skipping along the aisle to find the alcohol while Steve was browsing the wine shelf. He picked four bottles of Pinot Noir and two bottles of Gewurztraminer.

"Steve! Help! I cannot reach the top shelf" She called from the other end of the aisle

Steve quickly walked to her and reached out to grab the bottles of bourbon. He just realized how tiny his little Red was. She was so small compared to him. He was 6 ft 2 while Natasha was 5ft 3. His body could envelop her body within a hug.

"What else do we need?" He asked

"Uhh—Pepper told me that Tony almost set the kitchen on fire and she was counting on the rest of us to help she and Bruce in the kitchen" Natasha read the message "And now we need to buy potatoes and cauliflower"

"Remind me not to let Stark near my kitchen" Steve muttered.

But then he saw someone coming their way. He was panicking and turned to his little Red right away.

"Nat, act like we are kissing" he told "Quick!"

"No"

He sighed and pulled her in his arms, lifting her up on her toes before he placed a kissed very close to her mouth. Luckily his hood was almost fully covering their faces. Natasha felt blood rush to her cheeks and suddenly Steve felt a tap on his shoulder.

Steve pulled back from Nat but still held her in his embrace. Natasha played along because she didn't know what his plan was.

"Steve, why didn't you return my message?" The blonde woman asked

"Hey, Erica" Steve greeted before slowly revealed the redhead in his embrace.

"Who is that?"

"This is Natasha. She's my girlfriend"

"Hell no! I don't believe you. But I thought you were…we were having a connection" Erica said

"What?" Steve asked, frowned "What the hell are talking about?"

"Why didn't you tell me before that you had a girlfriend?" The blonde woman raised her voice before turning to Natasha "Your boyfriend and I slept together"

Nat frowned but coolly replied "Am I supposed to slap you or something? Open your eyes, Erica. You meant nothing to my boyfriend" Nat slowly raised up and kissed his cheek "Sorry about that but you should leave my boyfriend alone"

Erica broke down and cried before ran away. Steve sighed in relief.

"Thank you" He said

"What was all of that about?"

"Well, she is obviously one of my many one night stands and she is an intern at my mother's art gallery. She told me she is in love with me after we had sex so yeah, she is super scary so I kinda avoided her the whole time. But thanks to you, my little Red. You scared her away"

"If I have to pretend to be your girlfriend one more time, I better kill myself"

Steve smiled devilishly "Or you want to be my real girlfriend? I know you wan—OUCH!" Steve yelped and rubbed his arms where, Nat pinched him really hard.

Natasha laughed so hard before slipping away from the grip of Steve Rogers who wanted to take some revenge. Steve actually smiled when he saw how happy she was. Steve followed her along the aisle. He managed to trap his little Red between his body and the cart and tickled her waist. Natasha giggled, hugged him and grabbed on to his shirt. She giggled some more when he whispered some jokes in her ear.

After they grabbed everything they wanted, Natasha grabbed his hand and led them to the cashier.

The elevator to the living area of Stark Tower rang and Natasha and Steve walked out of it with a box of goods in their hands. Pepper greeted them and led them into the kitchen where everyone was already there.

They put the boxes down and Tony frowned when he saw what's in it.

"What is all of this? I told you pick it all at the supermarket" The rich boy said

"It's the same, Stark. And these ingredients I bought are more organic than yours"

"Don't tell me you went to that stupid farmers market"

"It's not stupid" Natasha helped Steve which earned a quizzical look from everyone.

"You took Tasha to a farmers market?" Clint asked

"You took her to one of the places that only couples go?" Darcy chimed in

Steve blushed but he didn't retaliate because the gentle touch of her hand. She lightly squeezed his hand to tell him not to do anything and let their friends tease all they wanted until they decided to stop.

They did stop and get to cooking. This time, Tony was benched because he almost destroyed the kitchen. Bruce and Pepper handled the turkey. Thor, Jane and Darcy prepared the dessert.

Roasted honey glazed ham was Steve and Natasha's duty which the redhead just watched Steve prepare everything. He finally put it in the oven and Natasha was there to yank a brush in his ear.

"Stop it, Red" He scolded but she didn't listen and brushed the brush at his neck "Stop it"

He turned to grab the brush from her who sit on the counter top but Natasha shirked away and giggled happily as she seemed to enjoy him trying to take it from her. Everyone was looking at them. Steve fired the first shot of the food fight with a hand full of flour at her head. Steve laughed but Natasha retaliated with an egg at his forehead.

"Steve! Nat! Stop it!" Pepper yelled but didn't try to get between them.

Tony watched from a far and record video of the whole thing. Finally, Nat tackled Steve to the floor and Bruce came in to stop them.

"You two go up stairs and clean yourselves up! You two are banned from the kitchen"

Tony took them to one of his guest rooms and waited for them to change into bath rich boy took the dirty clothes to the maid for a quick cleaning. Steve and Natasha had to stay in the guestroom until their clothes were clean.

"That was fun! We should totally do it again" Natasha exclaimed

"Yeah, I agree."

And they went on to discuss when they should initiate food fight again. Natasha really wanted the gang to participate but there's a likelihood that only Clint, Darcy and Tony will join them.

They talked about a lot of things for about half an hour when the maid delivered their clothes. Nat walked into the bathroom and Steve was dressing outside. They finally came down and found that everything was set on the table.

They sat down next to one another as the gang took their seats. Tony as the host sat at the seat at the head of the table.

"We should start with a little speech" Tony said "Captain Quarterback and Little Red should do the honor."

"Ladies first" Steve told

Natasha sighed and spoke up, "I want to thank all of you for warmly welcome to this group. I just moved here from Russia and I totally had zero friend but now I have all of you. You guys are, by far, the best friends I ever have."

Steve smiled and it was his turned to say something. The Captain tried to find the right word. He inhaled sharply before said,

"Uh—I would like to say that I am surprised that all of you accepting me to be a part of this group. Especially Tony, Clint, and Bruce whom I treated badly in the past. I want to thank you guys for forgiving me. Thanks to you guys that accept me as your friend considering I never treated you guys with respect before. And the most important of them all, I would like to thank Natasha. You are the one who made me realize it's time to change and it's time to move on from the past that is holding me back"

They all raised their glasses of wine and enjoyed their delicious meal.

AN:

- Special thanks to my dearest friends, sleeplessinbudapest

- Thank you to my proofreader, RushmanNatalie

- Today is my birthday. Can I get a review from all of my readers? Pretty please.