Steve wouldn't admit it out loud but he was very interested in Tony's Christmas activities. They had hung up stockings, homemade, and each had a handprint of each child and their age. For Alina, it was another art project and she thoroughly enjoyed it, and James soon followed suit. Pepper had swung by and brought Alina a pretty little red Christmas dress with a bow to match, and his strong little princess practically melted with joy at the feel of the soft fabric. James got his own mini Santa suit but was a little less enthused than his sister. The more activity picked up in the tower the more he was going back to being withdrawn. It was disheartening but the child psychologist they were now in contact with said it was natural. He was still adjusting to life outside of Hydra with each new experience. Alina was just thriving in her own way, but they needed to be prepared for the day she regresses.
So far that hadn't happened. They were now on the way to a tree farm, according to Tony, to find the perfect tree or two. He sat in the back with the two kids secure in their car seats, Natasha on the other side making faces at James. Tony sat in front of them by the window so that he could speak to Happy if he needed to. They had been in a whispered conversation off and on. Alina was beginning to look impatient at being strapped into the car seat, but Tony had assured them they were almost there. The children had no concept of time but neither of them was all that comfortable with throwing fits or being openly defiant. "We'll be there soon Princess," Steve cooed softly, reaching and gripping her hand gently. Giving a gentle squeeze to let the little girl know that he was aware she was uncomfortable.
"We're here!" Tony practically sang, waiting for Happy to park and sliding out of the limo. Waiting for the other two to unbuckle the toddlers and bring them out. His grin only widened when the two gasped in delight. Steve had to admit the snow made it a pretty scene. The snow stretched across acres of different types of Christmas trees. "You can pick /any/ tree."
"I don't think they quite understand Tony," Natasha stepped in, she was holding James on her hip knowing he still wasn't all that fond of the snow but his eyes were awestruck with the trees that spread as far as the eyes could see.
"Oh, they will," he said, moving forward with confidence while the little family of four moved slowly after them. The barn building was filled with more Christmas magic. There was a hanging train track above their heads, a train going around in circles. There was a giant tree in the middle of the room completely decorated with little baubles, garland, and shining pieces of thin garland. "I found this place a few Christmas' ago. You know I've been trying to invest in local companies, this is one."
Natasha glanced over around the walls, there was a wood stove surrounded by rocking chairs for people who had trudged through the snow could thaw out. Hot cider, popcorn, and hot chocolate were being served at a small counter, and it felt like... A home. It was safe and warm, and the decorations were meant to bring up fuzzy warm memories. She didn't have any warm memories, but she did understand the sentiment. "This great Tony," the kids' eyes were glittering with awe and growing joy. They didn't hide so much behind caution, which was nice to see.
"Of course, I'm a genius," Tony replied with his signature grin, turning to the two adults before focusing solely on the two kids. "Are you two ready to have the best day ever?" Alina nodded with unresolved enthusiasm. James clapped and squirmed until he was put down by Natasha. "Hey Mommy, Daddy, you two take a walk. Look at everything. I've got the kids." With that they were kicked out of the group of three, the twins completely enamored with Tony and his dramatic ways.
"Now what?" Natasha asked feeling a slight hint of annoyance and betrayal at seemingly being so easily replaced. When she looked back Tony had disappeared further into the barn, hidden by bright glittering lights, and tall nutcrackers.
"How about that walk?" Steve offered his arm, chuckling when she gave an eye-roll but took his arm anyways. He led them out of the barn shop and began to go through the trees, inhaling the deep pine smell. "Ma and I had a few trees but she didn't like the mess they made so we didn't usually have one. Not that we had that much money to celebrate with. I was just happy when she could be home."
"You must really miss her," Natasha gave his arm an extra squeeze for extra measure. Family was important, he had lost his so young and continued to lose even if they both had gained something.
"I do, and my mom would have loved you. She would have loved you and spoiled the kids," she probably would have given him an earful for going off and letting the Government experiment on him. "She would have hated that I let the Government change me so much but I think she'd be happy that I'm not... That I don't get sick so easily anymore."
"You're delusional Rogers," Natasha snorted, stopping at one particular tree. Its pines were a bluish-green, vibrant, pretty, and smelled nice. "No mother would ever approve of me for their son. Most certainly not yours." She didn't know much about his family, he didn't really talk about them. It was probably partly due to losing them young and then finding himself seventy years in the future. While it had been a long time for others it had to still be relatively fresh for him.
"Sure she was a bit religious but Ma wasn't like most back then," Steve protested knowing that there wasn't much he could say to change her mind. Natasha would most likely paint herself in the worst light for as long as she lived. He took another look around the tree farm and smiled some as he came back to the one they stood in front of. "She'd probably understand more about how our kids came to be. I am still having a hard time wrapping my head around it."
"Does... Does it bother you?" Natasha asked a bit cautiously. They had never really broached the subject about the day they found out. Steve merely took to the twins right away and claimed them while she struggled. It had occurred to her that he may struggle with certain aspects of it but it was more comfortable to avoid it.
"How they were... Conceived?" Steve waited for confirmation before looking at her and shook his head. "I just don't quite understand how any of that works. They're ours, though. I love them and you're all giving me a life I thought was impossible." That was the truth, he remembered telling Tony he didn't think it was in the cards. Tony had told him he'd get there, but who knew those words would come back to them both?
Natasha was quiet for a moment as she mulled over his words. "Would you have wanted to be with me even if we didn't have Alina and James?" It was something that had been on her mind. Natasha had tried to convince herself it didn't matter, but it turned out it did.
"Nat," Steve spoke softly, turning his body to face her rather than just his head. "I've wanted to be with you for a long while now. I can't tell you when it happened, exactly, but you're the only one I truly wanted to be with. That's why I kept pushing off the people you tried setting me up with." He brought his hand up and cupped her cheek before leaning over and kissing her softly before deepening it. Natasha melted against him while taking her arm from his to wrap around his waist.
She could feel him tilt her head back a bit more so he had easier access, and Natasha wasn't going to complain. His strong arms wrapped around her waist, pulling him flush against his chest. The sound of throat clearing caused her to pull back and peer over at the sound to find Tony with the twins looking at them with raised eyebrows. "Hi Stark," she spoke weakly, a small smile on her face as she blushed. "I see you found us."
"It wasn't hard, you guys didn't go very far and Capsicle is noticeable," Tony pointed out, and Natasha realized they hadn't gotten very far and Steve towered over the younger trees. "The twins had fun in the shop, you'll be pleased with their purchases, I think."
Steve looked wary at that statement, Tony liked to go big even if it was well-meaning. The twins certainly had no concept of what money was. They did know what it was like to go without, though. "So now are we on to looking at trees?" He looked down at the tree that Natasha and himself had stopped to look at. He jolted when Tony walked up and tied an orange ribbon around it.
"Yep, but we're going to tag this one. It looks like you two like this one," Tony said before walking away with the twins again who were looking around rather excitedly.
Steve turned to look at the tagged tree and grinned. "He's right, it's a good tree," he told Natasha before taking her hand and following after the trio. He watched as James stumbled through the snow but was thoroughly dazzled by the different trees. He wasn't sure what the plan was. How many trees did one person need?
The answer to that was four. Four pine trees later, all the bags loaded they were leaving with two very exhausted toddlers. It was far from over, according to Tony, but choosing the trees was done with. Not to mention all of the bags that had been loaded into the limousine from their trip. "They're so tired," Natasha spoke softly, gently brushing aside Alina's hair from her drooping eyes.
"They did a lot of walking, even for super soldier babies," of course there was no evidence of their endurance just that they seemed to just continue to go. Steve grabbed one of the blankets he brought along and tucked it around James who yawned hugely and cuddled with it. Once they were home Steve helped Natasha hold the two before beginning to unload the limo. Tony had instructed that they take it all to the common room and just place it there. Four trees, and too many bags later they were gathered to look over it all. "Tony this is..."
"You're welcome," Tony replied as he began to unbag the lights, tree baubles, and some Nutcracker figurines. Natasha had taken the twins to bed but they had popped up as soon as their heads hit the pillow. Steve mourned the chance that they would have to face extra tired kids later. Natasha helped prep the trees and put them in their stands, but it was the decision of where to put them that made them pause.
"I want this one to go in our room," Steve claimed, touching the tree they had stood in front of talking. There was slight sentimentality with it all, the intimacy of speaking about his past with Nat. Their first Christmas tree together. He easily reached between the branches and picked it up, taking it to the room, and placing it neatly in the corner. He stood back to make sure it would look all right, and suddenly, he was overwhelmingly excited. Steve wanted to do all those silly crafts he'd read about with the twins. He wanted to see the bottom built up with colorful packages for both the twins and Nat. Gods, Natasha deserved the world, and Steve was determined to get it for her.
Natasha came in to see Steve standing in front of a tree that matched him foot for foot. There was a glint of determination in his blue eyes, and she could only hope that it wasn't anything impulsive. She wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her cheek against his warm back enjoying the feeling of his soft cotton shirt against his skin. "What are you thinking so hard about?" Her voice was soft because there was a spell being weaved around the tree.
Steve stood in silence a bit longer, his hands going down to her arms to hold her to him. He took in the tree, the one they stood in front of to talk. "I think we found the perfect tree," he would just have to get the lights, and baubles, and look at what they could do to make it extra special.