The Only Hope | Captain America

A Merry Surprise : The Only Hope Christmas One Shot

 Christmas was Grace's favorite holiday of the year. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Easter, didn't seem to fly with Grace. She loved gathering her Christmas items and decorating the apartment with many Santas and bright colored lights as she can. This time, Christmas was different, after the long incident with Erik, she could finally settle down and enjoy the holiday she has always loved.

 The outside of the apartment was decorated with a Santa light, a snowman, and of course, brightly colored lights. Inside, the Christmas tree shined brightly filled with special ornaments. The smell of the tree filled the apartment along with tinsels and stockings. It would be Steve's first Christmas with Grace, and she wanted it to be has special as possible. He approached her as she placed the remaining gift under the tree, his smile sending a feeling of warmth through her cold body. With one hand above their heads, he held mistletoe and with his free hand, pulled her close.

 "I'm pretty sure, when you're under the mistletoe, you're supposed to kiss." Steve spoke.

 Smiling before she leaned in, their lips brushed against each other's softly. Grace grabbed the mistletoe before breaking off, she placed bow onto of his perfect slicked hair.

 "You're my Christmas present this year." She smiled.

 Down below the decorated tree, were many Christmas presents, each labeled with a specific name. For Uncle Phil, Grace and Steve got his vintage Captain America cards signed, for Addison; Grace bought her lotion and perfume from Bath and Body Works, and for the two sisters, she bought them tickets to a Taylor Swift concert.

 Her Christmas didn't feel quite right, since the day Sean left. It's been months since she had last seen him, it even involved countless Facebook searches for his name or any acquaintances. To ease her pain, she even bought him a gift, a new camera to help if he was still working at the New York Times. For now, the present will remain untouched and stored away until his return.

 She pressed the present and her fingers lightly gazed through his name. Small tears started to form, but soon wiped away. It was the holiday season, Grace's favorite holiday; this wasn't the time to cry like a baby. She pushed the present back under the tree, and joined Steve as he drank his peppermint hot chocolate.

 "Remember when I first met you? I spilled hot chocolate all over your pants." Grace chuckled at the memory.

 "I still have the pants, stains and all. I keep it to remind me the day I met and fell in love with you. Though, I'm still falling every day." Steve flashed a smile.

 "Thanks for signing those cards for Uncle Phil, I mean Agent Coulson. He'll love them, and even place them in a glass, bullet-proof storage."

 Steve laughed at her comment, and took a sip of his hot chocolate. He looked charming in his Christmas sweater Grace had given him. Though he seemed reluctant to wear it to their family's Christmas party, but seeing Grace in her sweater made him feel better. Grace's two sisters walked in, carrying many shopping bags and wrapping party. Trying their best not to be heard, they slipped into their rooms, unnoticed by Grace. Uncle Phil was coming down after a meeting with Tony Stark himself. Steve would always comment on how ugly the building looked in the city and how it ruined the atmosphere.

 Grace didn't know much about this famous Tony Stark, her Uncle was like his babysitter. Each day she would call him, he was spending his time with Mr. Stark. Didn't he have an assistant for that? Ms. Potts was a lovely woman, and Grace was able to interview her on Mr. Stark's return from the kidnapping. She praised her for her ability to take care of Mr. Stark. Later, her sisters returned with their wrapped gifts and Christmas attire then joined the two in their hot chocolate.