Second Chances (Steve Rogers x OC)

Presents

Sofia snuck out of bed the next morning hoping to catch Sarah before Steve woke up. She wanted to ask Sarah for help finding Steve a Christmas gift. His arm stretched across the bed, searching for her as she slipped out of the room. True to his word, Steve let her cuddle into him as they fell asleep last night and she had awoken in the exact same position that morning. He was essentially a large furnace, but Sofia didn't mind. The house was older and a bit drafty, not to mention she got cold easily. She fell into a comfortable sleep as he held her and Sofia found herself wanting to fall asleep like that every night.

The security of his arms around her and the warmth that he provided was addicting. If she wasn't careful she would come to crave not just the comforting feeling he gave her, but him as well. She had to remind herself that she was his fake girlfriend. If he wanted her there as the real thing, he would have asked her.

Just because they weren't dating though, didn't mean that Sofia wasn't going to get him a Christmas present. He was still her friend and he had helped her out more than he knew. Steve had become someone she could rely on when she was feeling lonely or down. Finn never brought a smile to her face the way Steve had. Sofia shut the bedroom door quietly behind her and walked downstairs. She found Sarah in the kitchen mixing something up in a big bowl.

"Good morning, sweetie! What are you doing awake so early? I figured you and Steve would sleep in a bit." Sarah grinned at her.

"Morning. Umm, I actually was hoping to talk to you—in private."

"Oooo, girl talk!" She sat the bowl down and rounded the island to take a seat on one of the stools. "What do you need, sweetie?"

"Well, I need some help getting a gift for Steve. Christmas is tomorrow and I don't exactly know what to get him." Sofia took a seat and looked at Sarah with a grimace. "He's special to me and I want to get him something meaningful."

"You've come to the right person then." She grinned. "Why don't you help me get these cookies in the oven and we can brainstorm some ideas."

"Gingerbread or sugar cookies?" Sofia questioned.

"Both." Sarah winked and went back to the other side of the counter to begin cutting out cookies.

~

Steve heard giggling as he reached the bottom of the stairs. He paused outside the kitchen door and listened to Sofia laugh while Sarah told her stories about Steve and his childhood. He had been up for an hour calling Thor to check on Johnny and trying to figure out a Christmas gift for Sofia. He had been racking his brain and finally settled on the perfect present for her. The only thing left for him to do was get his mom to distract her for a few hours.

"Morning ladies." Steve said rounding the corner.

"Good morning, honey." Sarah said.

"Hey Stevie." Sofia smiled at him.

There were baked cookies laid out on pans all over the counter and Sofia was pulling another one out of the oven.

"I see you started making cookies without me."

Steve snagged a gingerbread man from one of the pans and took a bite. Ever since he was a boy, one of his favorite traditions was decorating cookies with his mom. Seeing Sofia laughing and baking with his mom as if they had known each other for years, it made him even more sure that she was the woman he wanted.

"We're just getting them ready for later. After we finish, Sofia and I have some errands to run and then we can start decorating when we get back." Sarah grabbed the last pan from the oven and set them by the rest.