Summer's End - Bucky and Mel Universe 1

Fresh Starts

As the holiday season progressed, James and Mel said they weren't going to get each other anything but focus more on getting the new apartments together.  Mel had still yet to go back to the studio opting to working the new space even if it meant going back to James' apartments for other things.  They had the holiday party coming up.  James wanted to take her shopping but she said she wanted to get the dress herself.  Realistically, he wanted a sneak peak at what she would be wear or not wearing really.  Mel lent support to he teams through gathering intelligence or being back up on the quinjet.  James liked that option to keep her safe.  As a pilot she proved herself very adaptive when needed.
Together they had picked things out for the bedroom and dining rooms, they had yet to find something they like for the living room.  Mel had been donating and selling items from her apartment to get rid of them but there was really no rush.  James' place had extremely few personal items and came pre-furnished so that really wasn't a concern for them.
"FRIDAY, where is Mel at?"
"Ms. Cymraeg is in workout room two.  Shall I get her for you?"
"No, that's ok.  Thank you."
James was worried, he did not like her working out by herself after the last time and he didn't remember her saying she was going to train with anyone.  When he got there, he could hear music playing.  That's a good sign, he thought.  She was sitting on the floor going through yoga poses.  He noticed she had a blindfold on which he thought was odd.  James didn't alert her to his presence and decided to watch her a bit.  The yoga poses slowly turned into tai chi forms.  Those forms turned into ballet moves matching the music.  When the crescendo in the music hit, she jumped on the spring box to the balance beam, landing perfectly without a sound.  He marveled over how cat like her movements were.  On the balance beam, she jumped, spun, flipped, twisted and twirled.  Those moves morphed into different fighting and blocking moves that she had been picking up.  She started to add a bo staff she conjured into the mix as well.  It was like a violent cirque de sole.  It was beautiful yet he could tell she would be a deadly opponent if taken out onto a mission.  She flipped off the balance beam, continuing her fight.  James went go to touch her arm and join her dance but she eluded him every time he tried.  She was able to bend out of the way that was inhuman.  As the music slowed, so did she, the movements evolving into more of a dance. The bo staff disappeared and she continued.
This time he waited to join her in the dance and was able to.  She screamed, taking off he blindfold.  Seeing it was him, she continued to dance with him until the song was over.
"That was beautiful," he said.
"Thanks, sorry, you scared the crap out of me."
"Why work blindfolded?" He asked.
"Matt taught me initially how to fight, it was easier to learn if I couldn't see either.  I added the other things over the years and it just evolved.  I find it really relaxing and it helps me focus more on the movements than anything else."  She picked up a towel and was blotting herself down.  "What can I do for you sweetheart?"
"Nothing, I was just curious as to what you were up to.  We have the party later tonight.  I wanted to make sure you had everything you needed.  I'd have thought you might be getting your hair and nails done or something like that."
"Nope. I can handle all of it myself.  I'm not that frilly fru fru type of girl you know.  I mean you clean yourself up and put on a tux, you're good to go.  Women, on the other hand..."
"Let's get something to eat before getting ourselves together then."  He hugged her but she pushed him away because she was all sweaty.
"Ew, I'm gross, get off of me."
"Ok, ok.  I kind of got roped into being Santa for Morgan, so I will need to do a wardrobe change this evening."
"I heard, that is going to be quite adorable."
"They wanted to get Thor but he wasn't getting the idea of Santa Claus."
"I think his voice would be recognized easily though."
"Any chance at getting a sneak preview of what you'll be wearing?" He asked raising his eyebrows.
"No, it's a surprise.  Trust me, Santa will like it."  She teased him.
This could go either way he thought.
"So I'll be arriving separately from you, is that ok?"
"Yes, that's fine, I'm sure I can hang out with the others until then."  He had to admit, he was a bit jealous that the others would see before he got to though.
They walked back to their rooms with an arm around each other's waist.  Mel leaned her head against his chest as they walked.
The center looked beautiful for the holiday.  She marveled at how nice everything felt.  She had spent many holidays alone and while she was nervous about it, she was excited to enjoy it with others.
————
Mel had cleaned herself up after James so he wouldn't see her dress.  He pouted.  She just gave him a sly smile and patted his behind shushing him out to his staging area.  The dress she designed herself.  It was a red velvet certainly appropriate for the season.  It was rather draped around the bust and in the back low.  The straps were invisible and made out of spaced Austrian crystals.  There was a high slit on the side.  She wore nude colored platform shoes.  Her hair was done up in a French twist with some bangs hanging out in the front and a few lose strands throughout that were curled in loose spirals.  She wore long, matching gloves to her elbow.  On one wrist she had several loose silver bangles.  She wore the kimoyo bead James gave her that she never took off.  Her makeup was light and tastefully done. 
She did get there a few minutes late.  She entered at the top of the stairs leading to the main floor, she gazed throughout the room to read it.  She could see James at the tree already talking to the children of members that were already there.  He was also giving out small gifts to them from a sack next to him.  As she descended the stairs, he looked up and stopped paying attention to what he was doing.  She chuckled as she passed him hearing a child say, "Santa, why aren't you listening to me?"
She grabbed a champagne flute as someone with a tray passed her.  She continued to walk throughout the crowds looking to see who was hanging out with who.
"Wow, that is some dress," Bruce said from behind her.
"Oh thank you, you look marvelous." She complimented back.
"Been here long, no, but I see James has been put to work."
"Yeah, they wanted me to do that, I just don't think I have the best temperament."
"Oh, I don't know, I think the kids would have loved to have seen professor Hulk as Santa.  It would have been cute."
"You know, I can't think of who you remind me more of at times.  Natasha or Wanda."
"I don't know if that is a good thing or a bad thing."
"Let's say, you have the best qualities of both."  They walked together until they found Pepper.  "Pep, this is ..."
"Yes, this is Melinda Cymraeg, Bucky has not stopped talking about you, especially to Morgan.  I can't tell you how excited I am to meet you."
"Thank you, Mrs. Stark, and thank you for letting us use the bungalow earlier this month.  I really appreciated it."
"Call me Pepper.  Who designed your dress?"
"I did."
"Get out, it's fabulous.  Next time I need something I might come to you instead."  Pepper and Mel walked over to where James was playing Santa Claus.  Morgan was on his lap whispering something into his ear.  Mel could clearly see him smiling in the fake beard and mustache.  All that mattered to her was that he was happy and having a good time.
"So how long have you got him doing Santa duty?"
"Until 8:30 and I had to make Morgan promise to go to bed by then.  Somehow I think she will weasel her way out of it."
"He's enjoying himself, let him stay longer if he wants."
"Mommy!"  Morgan shouted.
"Hello, my love." Pepper reached down and gave Morgan a cuddle.  Morgan looked up at Mel as she whispered something into Pepper's ear.  "I'm not sure, why don't you go and ask her."
Morgan walked up to Mel and looked up at her, "Santa wants to know if you wanted anything special for Christmas and for me to ask you to come over to get you so you could tell him."
"Hello, Morgan.  What do you think I should ask him for Christmas?"  Mel asked.
"I'm not sure."
"Well how about this, you know Bucky right?"
"Yes, Uncle Bucky is really nice so you know him?"
"Yes, she is his girlfriend." Pepper volunteered.
"Well, what do you think your Uncle Bucky would want for Christmas?"  Mel asked Morgan kneeling down to look the child in the eye.
"To spend more time playing with me, of course," she said placing her hands on her hips.
"Well, why don't you introduce me to Santa and we tell him together?  How does that sound?"  Mel offered.
Pepper loved the easy way she had with Morgan.  Morgan reached out and took Mel's hand and snuggled into the side of her without the slit in the dress walking her over to Santa.
"Ho, ho, ho, what do have here.  Haven't I already seen you little girl?"  James said as Santa.
"Yes, Ms. Mel did not get a chance to tell you what she wants for Christmas and she wanted to tell you something I forgot to tell you I want for Christmas.  Is that ok, Santa?"  Mel was a cut throat with her big brown eyes looking at James.
"Can you tell her how it works, Morgan.  It's probably been a long, long time since Ms. Mel has sat on Santa's lap."
"Ok, Ms. Mel, you sit on Santa's lap, not jump into it, but sit nicely.  You tell him what you want and then he tells you if you have been a good girl or naughty girl and if you will get it or not.  Right Santa?"
"Right, Morgan, you did a great job explaining.  Ms. Mel, if you could please?"  Santa patted his laugh.  It was all she could do to keep from laughing her head off.  She walked over and gently sat down on James' lap.  Morgan came up and sat on his other knee and played with the hem of Mel's dress.  Morgan loved the feel of the velvet.  "Ms. Mel, what would you like for Christmas?"
Mel bent over and whispered into his ear, "Don't worry Santa, I've been good all year, I really want James to have a great new year."
"Ho, ho, ho, that sounds like something I can make happen, Ms. Mel."
With that, Morgan grabbed Mel's hand and off they went. Mel shrugged at James and was tugged along by the little girl.  Morgan then went around showing Mel off and introducing her to different people.  This continued until the two got to one group of grown ups.
"Hmm, I don't know you, did Mommy invite you?"  Morgan said at Foggy and Matt.
"Matt, Foggy!"  Mel shouted and was able to wrestle her hand away from Morgan to give them each a hug.  "I am so glad you were both able to come.  This is Morgan, Pepper Stark's daughter.  She has been playing hostess."
"Yes, and I introduced her to Santa."  Morgan volunteered.
"Santa really?  That's be big job."  Foggy offered.
"Morgan, there you are.  It's time for you to go to bed."
"Aww, Mommy."  Morgan began to protest.
"Morgan, I will tell you what.  How about tomorrow morning we have breakfast together and I will make cinnamon chip pancakes.  How does that sound?"  Mel offered.
"That sounds awesome."
"Well then, off you go and have sweet dreams."  Mel said and got a big hug from Morgan.
"I'll be back in a bit," Pepper said as she carried Morgan away to her bed.
"Matt, Foggy, let me introduce you to a few people."  Mel offered.
"Bruce this as you know Matt, this is a friend of ours, Foggy."  Mel began introducing the two around to others throughout the party.
"Mel, that is a terrific dress," Foggy began.
"See, I told you," Bruce offered.
"Well here is not to show for Foggy's good taste, but I believe you Dr. Banner."  Matt offered.  Matt took Mel's elbow as he was always apt to do as she guided him throughout the room.
The band struck up a slow dance that had some holiday melodies twisted into it, "Care to dance?"  Matt asked Mel.
Matt wasn't the best dancer, she allowed him to lead, at least he didn't step on her toes.  "How can someone be such a good fighter be such a poor dancer?"  Mel asked.
"What?"  Matt asked laughing a bit.
"Um, we have been waddling if anything."  She joked.
"How about I rescue you by cutting in," Bruce offered.
"Thank you," Mel said.  "I love Matt as a brother, however, like a brother he is rather annoying sometimes."
Bruce was a pretty decent dancer and used the entire floor, they even had a few claps from those watching in the crowd.
"Lady Mel, it seems you are dancing with fools, let a real dancer take you around the floor."  Thor boomed.
"Ah, ok."  Dancing wasn't really what they did together, it was more of Thor carrying her around the floor because she was so tiny compared to him.  She laughed all the same enjoying herself.
James stood now out of the Santa outfit off to the side talking with Pepper as he watched.
"You know, Tony tried to recruit her for years for the labs.  She might have been the first woman to ever turn him down for anything."
"Tony was a little over the top, too much for her, I think.  Was she on your radar for the teams then?" James asked rather curious.
"No, I think she was the best kept secret here.  No one knew who would work with Daredevil in Hell's Kitchen.  There were rumors but nothing involved her.  She wasn't even a blip on SHEILD's radar."
"I think Thor has had enough time with my girlfriend, I better save her."
"Bucky," Pepper began, "you might want to think about elevating her status higher than girlfriend.  She's a keeper."
"Thanks, Pep.  Plans are already in the works.  She just doesn't know yet.  Do me a favor and not say anything."
Pepper smiled sadly as he walked away.  It was so nice for him to find someone after so long that truly understood him and loved who he was now and not the person he had been.
"Thor, may I borrow Mel for a bit?"  James asked.
"No, she is a great dancer, I'm having fun. We should celebrate this holiday thing all the time."
He answered.  Mel mouthed, save me to James.
"Why don't you get some of that Asgaardian ale for us, I know some of the others are dying to try it."  James offered.
"Well, only if Lady Mel will try some."
"That would be delightful," she responded mouthing a thank you when Thor was not looking.
"So, I hear you are the bell of the ball."  James joked as he wrapped an arm around her waist and began to dance with her.
"Apparently so,  I think the entire team danced with me or at least asked, Thor shooed most of them off after Bruce though.  Did Santa have a good time?"  She asked as he spun her around.
"Definitely, I think Morgan is in love with you.  She is such a cute kid."
Her smile dazzled him as she looked him directly into the eyes.  His mind went blank for a moment.  Mel could tell and pecked his cheek quickly.
"Earth to James, where did you just go for a second?"
"Huh, I haven't a clue.  Seriously though, I'm just happy to be here with you right now."
"I think everyone can see that right now, the music stopped playing a few minutes ago."  She said.
It was the first and only time she notice him blush.  She trailed her hand through his beard and he relished the affectionate touch.  He stopped her hand and kissed her knuckles adoringly.
"Lady Mel, come and join us for some libations."  Thor bellowed across the room.
"Shall we," he held his arm out to her and they walked together towards the couches many on the team were sitting around.  There was no room left, Mel sat on James lap to make room for Matt and Foggy.  Everyone had a drink in their hand.
"A toast to hopefully the newest member of the team, Mel." Pepper began.  Mel was taken by surprise.  While she supported the mission and went on a couple short ones, she really didn't include herself as one of them.  James squeezed her hand.
Thor handed her a shot glass, she downed it quickly before James could warn her, "Mel, don't."  Too late.
"Why?"
"That was Asgaardian ale, it's way stronger than anything humans create.  It's the only thing that can get Bucky or Bruce drunk."  Clint explained laughing.
"Huh, I didn't feel it, does it sneak up on you or something?"  She asked.  Normally, it burned going down, even for James and Bruce as professor Hulk.  It was also something she noticed lately, all alcohol had no affect.
"Bucky, why don't you tell us how you first met," Clint asked.  Mel turned a shade of red that matched her dress.  James did edit it down for them, thank god.  He was making small circles on the base of her spin and she was loving the quiet attention he was giving her.
Thor seemed really disappointed she wasn't drunk and offered her another shot.  Nope still no change.  "Lady Mel, have you been off world, most humans couldn't take one shot, let along two."
"I don't really know for sure.  Not that I know of," she began.  "Dr. Strange says I'm an Angel, I don't remember being one or know what all that entailed.  I have no memory before being found at St. Mark's."
"That explains it then, any one with a little god in them isn't affected as much as humans are by libations."  Thor explained.  "What did you think of Dr.  Strange?"
"Different, not my cup of tea.  I prefer Wong, he's more easy going."
James was partaking the ale and had a buzz going on.  Many had left and the night was winding down.  She listened as they tried to one up each other on the different stories they shared.  Matt touched Mel's shoulder to get her attention.
"Hey, I think Foggy has had more than enough.  I'm going to get him home."  She gave her a long hug.
"No worries, be safe and please don't go out tonight.  Ok?"  She warned him and pecked his cheek. 
"Actually, I think I have something else in mind that might keep me up."  She knew he was talking to the cute blond from accounting this evening and was kind of hoping it was her he was talking about.
"I think we will call it a night as well," James started, "night Matt.  Foggy."  He waited until they both left, then threw Mel over his shoulder, carrying her fireman style.
"Put me down, I can walk, you caveman."  She playfully smacked the back of his head.
"You are going to get it when we get home."
"Ditto," she said back.  The team was laughing as he carried her away.