Don't You Worry Child

Welcome To New York

Chapter Summary: In this Taylor Swift inspired chapter, Samantha gets to spend Christmas in New York.

Soundtrack: Welcome To New York by Taylor Swift

She was in a car driving down Broadway while it snowed, Taylor Swift's Welcome To New York playing through her earphones as she stared out of the window. As cliché as it sounded, the snow looked magical, like some sort of white glittery carpet. She'd never seen snow before, not in real life anyway, she'd seen it on TV of course, and when she'd mentioned that fact to her father, he had immediately decided that Christmas should be spent in New York. Not that any of their friends who were staying with them minded. Jane had friends/colleagues in New York – some people named Darcy and Eric – while Betty was glad to be close to Bruce once again. Meanwhile, Natasha and Clint maintained that they could be anywhere and therefore, having their own rooms – which Tony had specifically positioned opposite the hall from each other – in Stark Tower worked out well.

Samantha stared out of the window marvelling at New York's white blanket like a child at a zoo. She beamed as they passed the theatres she'd only heard or read about. Maybe New York could be her city.

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When she'd thought that New York could be her city, Samantha may have jumped the gun a bit. Why? First of all, she'd forgotten that Steve seemed to have a house there for when he wasn't in Washington. Secondly, Steve Rodgers, the man who not two months before had smashed her heart into a million tiny little shards, was stood in her doorway.

He was stood there pale, almost ghostlike, his hair soaked from the mix of snow and rain. He was shivering – most likely because he was freezing. However, Samantha still had half a mind to slam the door in his face. Instead, she simply hissed "Are you insane? My father is a couple of doors down,' her voice high with anger and surprise and she folded her arms over her chest.

"It's been a long couple of months," he replied cryptically as he leant on the door frame, a coy smile playing on his lips as he glanced around the room.

"Your point being?" Her eyebrows were now raised in both apprehension and confusion. It was nearing midnight and she was tired, understandably, all she wanted was the comfort of her bed and for sleep to overcome her but it seemed like that was unlikely at this moment.

"I was an idiot," he admitted, his face feeling all the shame he felt.

"No kidding, now can we reconvene whatever this is at a more decent hour?" she requested, the annoyance she felt obvious in her voice.

"Truth it, I was so blinded by my own anger that I couldn't see it from your perspective and I definitely couldn't see that I want you for worse or better. I'll wait as long as necessary and I know that I've broken your heart but I'll do whatever it takes to put it back together," he said before walking into the room. Then he saw a picture of the two of them, he was kissing her cheek as she blushed and giggled coyly. It had been taken on Tony's couch the day Fury had asked her to join S.H.I.E.L.D. "You still have this?" he asked, picking it up from the bedside table and showing it to her.

"It's a good pictured," she argued defensively.

He moved closer to her, his steps slow and careful as he made his way towards her and her heart "You have to understand I was out of my mind with grief over Peggy and anger over what you'd told me that I couldn't see that you were in fact telling me the truth,"

There was barely an inch between them now as she asked "Who told you?" her voice soft and sweet as though all were forgiven in that instant.

"Coulson, Natasha, Clint, your dad," he answered, his tone as soft as hers. She chuckled slightly at it, she should have expected a list along those lines. Before she could even blink, he was kissing her and she was kissing back with all the fire and intensity that two people who have gone without each other for two months should have. They broke apart and all she could say was "I've missed you," She rested her head against his chest, listening to the harrumph-harumph of his heart as he nestled his head into her shoulder, each trying to make sure the other was real.

"I should probably go," he announced regretfully.

"No, stay," she begged. Samantha Stark (nee Montgomery) begging, what would her mother think? Then again, who cared what her mother would think? "Sleep here," she suggested indicating to the side of the bed she never slept in. she always slept on the left, always had and probably always would.

"Okay," he relented and they both scrambled into the bed.

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'Knock. Knock. Knock.' She heard the sound before she'd even had a chance to wake up properly. Her legs were entwined with his and her head rested on his chest. Briefly, a smile passed over her face. Quickly, she woke up Steve and told him to hide under the bed "What?" he whispered confused.

"Just do as I say," she ordered before calling out "Coming!" to whoever was at the door. She climbed out of the bed as Steve dove under it. Grabbing her silk robe and shrugging it on, she approached the door. Upon opening it, she discovered that the knocker was one Natasha Romanoff. "Natasha, what's up?"

"Your dad says breakfast is ready," the redhead replied, glancing around the room as though she knew something was afoot.

"Dad's cooking? Is this some coded signal for me to evacuate the tower?" she asked alarmed.

"Well Pepper's cooking but your dad told me to tell you. By the way Steve, you can stop hiding. I know you're here,"

"Please don't tell anyone," Samantha begged. Twice in 12 hours that was a new record for her.

"What do I get in return?"

"I won't send those pictures of you and Jane at the sleepover to Clint or my dad,"

"You wouldn't,"

"You know I would,"

"Fine," Natasha relented "But you'd better get him out of here before somebody you can't hold anything over comes in,"

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It had taken some excellent climbing skills on Steve's part but he'd managed to escape the security fortress that Stark Tower had become post-Loki. Now, with Christmas music playing throughout the living room, Samantha, Pepper, Jane and Betty were decorating the room 'Santa baby, just slip a Sable under the tree for me been an awful good girl. Santa baby so hurry down the chimney tonight,' Samantha sang along to Kylie Minogue's song, a beaming smile on her face.

"You seem awfully joyful," Pepper mentioned to the newly blonde teenager casually. It was true, ever since her half-night with Steve, Samantha had been far happier than she'd been previously.

"It's Christmas and I'm in New York and it's snowing!" she covered as she wrapped some tinsel around the top of the tree.

"And it was the same yesterday so what's changed?" Jane pointed out, a smirk appearing on her face.

"Nothing," Samantha said, feigning an innocence all her own.

"Fine then if you're not going to tell us then I suppose I'll have to save one of this year's presents for next year," Pepper taunted but Samantha wasn't about to let that threat get to her.