I made some change and edit in the previous chapter. Please re-read it again if you don't want to be confuse

27 : CHRISTMAS

They did have a very good time. Their dinner was indeed delicious as Steve bragged. Natasha and Steve were having some quality good time alone on the dance floor while Clint, Tony and Phil were creating a new silly dance and made everyone laughed.

They came home around 10 PM and separated to their own bedroom. Steve was about to go to bed when his friends burst in.

"What the hell, guys?!" Steve yelled

"Stark decided that we should sleep in the same room" Phil told

"Yeah, it's group bonding time" Clint agreed

"I should stay out of this and let you boys do this stupid sleepover together" Natasha said annoyingly and headed for the door.

"Noooo! You will not go anywhere, red. You can sleep in Rogers' bed"

"I can sleep on the floor." Steve said "You should take my bed"

Natasha sighed and sunk herself on Steve's bed. Steve frowned at Tony because he knew that Stark must have some plan but Tony didn't let anything away. Everyone found their corner to sleep. Steve began to pull extra blanket and pillow when Natasha came to him.

"You can sleep with me on the bed. It's your room anyway"

"But they…"

"It's okay."

He pulled only two pillows out and slid into the bed with his little red. Steve pulled her closer in his embrace while Nat curled herself.

"Goodnight, little red" He whispered

Nat pecked a kiss on his cheek "Night, Steve."

When Sarah came to her son's bedroom the next day, she found everyone in his room and the sight that makes she smiles. Her son held Natasha tightly in his arms.

Her son can deny all he wants but she could tell that he falling deeply for this girl.

She gently woke everyone up and Steve immediately blushed when he saw his mother and well aware that he still held Natasha in his arms.

Tony and Clint had a very large grin on their faces while Bruce and Phil just followed Sarah into the dinning room. Steve didn't move and waited for everyone to get out of his room before he gently woke Nat up.

"Hey, beautiful. It's time to wake up" He whispered. She just nodded and curled herself further into his arms. "Do you want me to carry you downstairs?"

She nodded again and Steve smiled at her cute and how she always acted like this when she doesn't want to get up. So he carried her downstairs and set her on her feet when they were about to reach the dining room.

Sarah, Bruce and Tony prepared them breakfast. After the meal, everyone was helping with the decoration the next day. It was Christmas eve. His little red was the most excited one. Steve stuck close to her because she hogged to ladder all to herself so she could climb to decorate the ceiling or above the fireplace.

While decorating the place, Clint just unveiled another skill set that nobody expected him to have. An acrobatic skill.

When he performed a jump from the top of the stair and landed perfectly on his two feet.

"What? I grew up with a circus" He said.

Everyone didn't ask anything and just let him do whatever he want. It took them all day to decorate this big house. Around 5 PM, Natasha had to prepare dinner for them which Steve and Sarah volunteered to help her.

"We Russian didn't have much fancy ingredient." She told them "We don't eat any meat or fish during the Christmas Eve meal"

"WHAT?" Steve asked "I didn't sign up for this"

"It's our tradition"

Steve didn't question anything anymore. Sarah met it halfway that at least they should add some meat into the main dish that Natasha called Sauerkraut served alongside with sausages, fishes and lambs. Steve took charge of grilling meats and fish. Sarah prepared salad. Natasha was making Solyanka which is a vegan potluck served with individual pies often made from cabbage, potato and mushroom.

Sarah also puts bread on the table. She and Natasha was baking fruit pies. The last thing Nat needed for the Russian Christmas Eve meal is Vzvar, a sweet drink made from dried fruit and honey boiled in water.

The boys groaned when they saw the table full with vegetables before Steve stepped into the room with a large platter of lamb, fishes, and sausages.

"Romanoff, I have a sinking feeling that we shouldn't let you cook our dinner" Tony noted

"Taste it first, Stark"

"Are you sure that this will satisfy my appetite?" Clint spoke up "It's all vegetables and it will not fulfilled mine"

"I gotta agree with Clint and Tony, Natasha" Brice also complained

"I second it" Phil say "It's too much vegetable for us American"
"Would you guys just eat it first before you complain?" Natasha was obviously annoyed and sat down next to Steve.

They said a prayer before Sarah gave a little speech and how she was happy to have them all to celebrate this holiday with her and her son. Everyone started to dig in and Natasha was waiting for everyone's comment about her food. Her hand grabbed tightly on Steve's hand.

"How was it?" She asked Steve who took the first bite on sausages and Sauerkraut

He smiled "It's delicious, red" Steve started to eat the vegan potluck.

Everyone else had the same reaction as Steve. The food was way better than anyone expected even Tony had two more slices of the pies.

Everyone was waking up early on Christmas day like a little child who was overly excited. Every single one of them dressed up in the clothes they brought yesterday. They ran down from the second floor and saw that the presents were under the Christmas tree.

"Mom! Did you buy everyone a present?" Steve asked, a bit curious with the amount of presents.

"Yes, dear"

"Nice! When can we open it?"

"After the breakfast"

Every single one of them finished their breakfast in record time and gathered in the living room, around the Christmas tree.

"Mrs. Rogers, this is totally not necessary to give us a present too" Bruce said

"Of course. It is important. You guys must be really important to him because he never ever let anyone celebrate this holiday with him since Bucky and Peggy."

"Really?" Tony asked, mocking a very appreciation gesture

"Not you." Steve replied "Only little red"

Natasha slightly blushed and then Sarah began to call the name on the box. Everyone unwrapped their gift excitingly and was really grateful for the gift from Sarah because single items for them was very expensive but it was what everyone need and matched their preferences.

The last one was Steve who his mom handed him a small box. The Captain slowly unwrapped and open the leather box to find a key.

"Mom? Is it what I think it is?" Steve got up and ran out of the room to the front of his house. Everyone followed him and they found an orange Lamborghini Aventador parked in front of them.

"Mom, I don't know what to say" Steve told "Thank you"

"Don't tell your dad I brought this for you"

"I won't"

Steve found his little red was in the garden which covering with white snow. She was wearing a red coat and black leather boots. Her long curly read hair flow with the wind and well, she looked absolutely beautiful as always.

"Hey, red" He called. "What are you doing out here? It's freezing"

"I'm Russian, remember? Besides, your house is absolutely beautiful in winter"

"You should see it during spring and summer" He said "Mom will grow roses here and importing some very beautiful orchid which is now taking refuge in the greenhouse"

She let out a small chuckle. Steve looked at her directly.

"Why don't you go back to Russia and celebrate with your family?"

"I don't want to" She replied shortly, obviously avoiding to answer.

"I don't believe you, Romanoff" He said "Why exactly did you choose to stay here?"

"I don't have a family!" She blurted out

Steve was shocked at what he just heard. He just stared at her dumbfound and for the first time, he didn't know what to say.

"What?" that is all he could get it out of his mouth.

"My parents died when I was four so I grew up with my foster parents. They were not the best people but they were kind enough to raise me as one of their own and send me to school, supporting everything I wanted to do"

"There must be something more than just 'not the best people', Natasha"

"Ivan, my foster dad, he can be very abusive when he was drunk. He sometimes hit me and my foster mom but he's getting better now after going through some rehab. That's the reason why my foster mom sends me to a Martial Academy so I can defend myself if things get out of hand."

Steve was speechless by this new found truth about her.

"And you know about Alexi and how he was doing everything in his power to get me back home or force me to stay with him. Now I'm grown up so I decided to live my own life" She sighed but he could notice that her eyes were a bit watery "I came here to start a new life, to find my own way in this world"

"Nat, I'm sorry. I didn't know" He tried to apologize and hugged her.

Natasha buried her face into his chest, seeking out the comfort of his warm body. The warm and safe embrace of Steve Rogers.

"It's okay" She replied "It's not like I'm telling everyone about this"

"But I should be sensitive enough to know that you must have some reason for not wanting to go back there"

"It's fine, Steve, really. It's better for me now that you know this"

He sighed in relief and kissed the top of her head. Natasha hugged him tightly and nuzzled her head to his chest.

She loved the feeling of his arms wrapping around her, fully protected her from everything.

"Now you know my deep dark secret, Rogers. I have to kill you now" She murmured

"Totally worth it" He said

She looked up at his face and found that he was staring at her. His thumb running along her jawline. His blue eyes were like the calmest ocean in the summer. She closed her eyes as he slowly put his lips on her.

They kissed again and this time Steve knew something really up in his heart and Natasha felt it too. She leaned up on her toes while Steve pulled her close, one hand tilted her head up to deepen the kiss.

"Totally worth it" He murmured against her lips.

They finally broke off and panted a little. Steve held her hand as he pressed his forehead against hers in a very intimated manner.

"I have a little gift for you" He said and reached into the pocket of his coat before pulling a tiffany blue box from Tiffany & Co out and put it in her hands.

She slowly opened the box and found a golden bracelet with a platinum snowflake charm. He put it on her wrist.

"A gift from me to remind you of this winter we spend together and…"

"Our first kiss" She continued and gave him a shy smile.

"Yes…" He agreed "Do you like it?"

"I love it, Steve. Thank you"

"Anything for you, little red"

Natasha leaned up again and kissed him gently on the lips. He held her tightly in his arms as they shared a very passionate kiss in the winter snow.

Unbeknownst to Steve and Natasha, Sarah heard the entire conversation as she came out to get them inside the house before they got sick by the cold. What Natasha had said made she thinks about it and some idea just came up in her mind.

Sarah got in her office and to dial a phone number.

Natasha said that she grew up with foster parents so there was a chance that she might be what Sarah think of. She just needed a confirmation.

Thirty minutes later, a man appeared in her office.

"Cornelius, hope I'm not interrupting your holiday"

"Not at all, Mrs. Rogers, how can I help you?"

"I do believe you still have some connection in Russia"

"Yes, ma'am"

Sarah pushed a small file in front of Cornelius and he skimmed through the information quickly.

"I want you to track down and run some background check on this girl and her family" Sarah told

"Romanov?"
"Yes, I want to know more about her real parents and I want to know who she is really is"

"I will see what I can do, ma'am. But it will be really hard to track the Romanov down"

"That's why I hired you, Cornelius"

Steve and his mom cooked for Christmas dinner with a little of Natasha's help. She and Steve was making a roast beef with roast potato and gravy together. Sarah was preparing white chocolate raspberry cheesecake. The two young chefs were bickering at one another as usual.

Sarah could see how they reacted to one another and she could see that her son was not the same when Natasha was around. Nothing could escape her observant eyes, especially, when it came to her only son.

Since Steve brought Natasha to spend winter break with him, he barely stayed away from her. It was like someone sewed them together. They gravitated around one another.

She's okay with it as long as her son was happy about it.

Finally, the dinner was ready and everyone gathered in the dining to feast together. Natasha could see that Tony and Clint were practically drooling when they saw and smelled the roasted beef and roasted turkey.

The table was full of food while everyone sat in their seats and prayed and spread their love to one another.

Natasha can fully say that she is really happy to spend her Christmas with Steve and his mom along with her closest friends. Clint was now telling the story about his journey with the traveling circus he grew up with. She also noticed how ridiculous Phil looks in that red reindeer sweater which she knew that Bruce and Tony picked for him. Steve was very cute in his red plain sweater which is matched with hers.

Tony and Bruce were leaning against each other and laughed so hard when Clint and Steve were trying to get the last slice of beef. Phil and Sarah were trying to settle them down.

It's the first time in Natasha's life that she actually felt like having Christmas with family.

And the guy next to her, who held her hand gently before placing a light kiss at her knuckle when he sure that no one was watching them. He smiled happily at her. His blue eyes twinkled. His finger gently ran at the lucky charm bracelet he gave her.

Natasha found herself returning him a smile and thought to herself, he's the one that makes all of this happen and how he always makes her happy.

She likes the feeling of having this man in her life.

The remaining day of the winter break went by slowly. The gang spent a quality time with Steve's mom who turned out to be a very generous host, take a very good care of them. Natasha realized that Steve got his generous trait from his mother.

Actually, he got his charming self from his mother.

She also realized how Steve resembled his mother. Both of the Rogers had stunning blue eyes, golden blonde hair and a very beautiful feature.

It made her wonder that how much will Steve got from his father.

She spent a very good time dragged Steve to do stupid little things with her.

"Hey, sleepy head wakes up!" She snuck into his room and jumped onto him.

"Red, it's warm and cozy in here. Can i just have another hour of peaceful sleep?"

"Nooooooo" She replied "Come on! It's snowing outside"

"It's winter"

"I wanna build a snowman"

Steve opened his eyes and saw how excited she was. He had no choice but to get up and let Natasha dragged him outside. He had to help her with the snowman.

Everyone noticed how close Steve and Natasha had become. Some of them were totally happy with it. Some of them (Phil and Clint) were concerned about this. The two of them still kept in mind that Steve was a womanizer before he changed into this gentle self.

Even Steve had proven himself how much he cares about Natasha, they didn't completely trust Steve because of his reputation and his history in relationship.

They all watched the happy Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff from the living room. They saw her hugged him and kissed him on the cheek and he always followed her everywhere.

All they can hope is that Steve will not break Nat's heart.

AN:

- Special thanks to my dearest friends, sleeplessinbudapest & internetangie!

- I use grammar checker so if there is any mistake, I'm sorry.

- Please kindly leave a review :)