It Started with a Cupcake

Christmas Time

December though, that was the month of walking on eggshells, Steve could go into labour any day now and everyone was preparing for the baby as well as Christmas so the entire month was a bit hectic. As well as being about ready to pop, Steve obviously looked about ready to pop at the sound of almost anything too, so every time a plate smashed or something dropped most eyes would divert to Steve, who seemed fairly calm every time with the exception of the small jump that everyone would do.

He looked so very sleep deprived and the day after his due date, which was the 17th, he was beyond ready to get her out, and murder someone at the drop of a hat. It was the 24th, Christmas Eve and Steve was a full week overdue at this point and the team was sort of expecting him to be ready to bite someone's head off at the slightest provocation.

But instead he waddled into the living room wearing a cheesy Christmas sweater and pajama bottoms, giving everyone a bright smile and a good morning as he made himself a cup of decaf. Needless to say everyone was rather taken aback.

"Are you alright?" Bruce was the first to dare to ask. "Yes, why wouldn't I be?" He asked curiously. "Well... For starters you're a week overdue..." He reminded the other slowly. "I'm aware." "Well you were ticked off yesterday." "But today is Christmas Eve Bruce! The best time of the year! Plus all of these songs I recognize are playing on the radio 24/7 and besides my mother would always tell me that, in the end, due dates are rough estimations and more often than not the baby would need more time to grow. Anyways I can't be grumpy on a day like this!" He cheered, waddling his way to the couch and taking a seat.

He sighed softly and sipped at his coffee, the rest of the team around him prepping for tonight, decorating and all of that, Tony jokingly covering Steve's belly in tinsel had almost set him off, Steve and Bucky making an ancient recipe for cookies that everyone loved. They all noticed Steve's sniffles and coughs and part way through the cookie making process he was set down on the couch, a blanket wrapped around him for the cold.

They listened to Christmas music and Steve and Bucky sang along to almost all of them while dancing around in the kitchen. It was nice for songs to play that they actually recognized, and with the old recordings you could almost hear the record player and it brought back amazing memories for the old friends. "Chestnuts for roasting, Marshmallows for toasting and caroling out in the snooow~" they sang together, chuckling a bit and laughing.

When it got a little later some of the team went out of the balcony to play in the snow, Steve and Bucky staying aside for obvious reasons, not having a good affair with colder things. And despite being called the Winter Soldier it was Bucky's most hated season.

Soon they were all cuddled around the tree and the fireplace, holding hot chocolate and blankets, talking until the music drowned out and they all fell asleep on the couch, cuddled with each other.

On Christmas Day Natasha and Sam were the first to wake up, taking the role of the children and waking everyone else up. Steve groaned softly as he woke up, looking around and blinking tiredly, smiling at the presents under the tree. "Morning children..." He joked, taking a deep breath and getting to his feet, stretching out and hearing satisfying cracks and pops. "Oi..." He mumbled, rubbing his back. "Apparently Sarah Marie is excited about the day as well... Maybe she'll never leave..." He mumbled, waddling into the kitchen and grabbing some eggnog for himself, pouring a glass.

"So you finally picked out a name." Sam commented, looking back at his friend who nodded. "Yeah... They were our mothers names. Seems right in the end." He explained, furrowing his brows at an odd feeling within. It wasn't pain... But it just sort of felt like... Shifting he supposed.

"You okay?" "Yes Sam I'm fine." He said, smirking at the other. "You want to open your presents?" Steve wondered, "...yes." He muttered, a smirk growing on his lips as he looked back at the large pile. Sam was having Christmas with a Billionaire! He was anticipating at least something good.