Chapter 32
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They’d arrived and caused chaos. Tony had given them an entire floor of the avengers tower for their stay, which they’d quickly taken over. The kids were delighted to find that they had their own rooms, leading the adults to guess they wouldn’t want to go home. They were amazed by Jarvis, kept asking questions and giggling when he answered. They loved the fact that all their aunties and uncles were staying with them and they could pop in the elevator to see them. They took great delight in going and jumping on Fury who was also staying in the tower. Skye and Ward spent their time alternatively stopping Fury killing the kids when they interrupted his work for the twentieth time that day and dodging mistletoe that seemed to have appeared all over their floor of the tower.
“Jarvis. Does somebody keep putting mistletoe up?” Ward asked after weaving down the corridor to avoid all of the mistletoe hung up.
“I’m sorry Agent Ward. I can’t answer that.”
“Tony!” He used it like a swear word.
The only thing he could say about Tony was he didn’t scrimp on the decorations. Tinsel covered the tower with every floor having it’s own Christmas tree. The outside was covered in lights with dancing Santa’s and ringing bells. He’d even tried to tie a bow on Bucky when he visited Steve but had quickly changed his mind when Bucky had glared at him. Bucky wasn’t spending Christmas with them, wanting to spend a bit more time regaining his memories but hadn’t wanted to go through the festive period without seeing Steve. To his joy Phil had taken to him immediately, happily bouncing on his knee while he cried whenever Steve tried to pick him up. It had taken Grant four hours and several bribes to stop him crying once Bucky had left. Skye was already planning on contacting him and getting him to visit in the new year.
Christmas eve was quietly spent. Leo spent the time with Tony watching him build a new iron man suit while Jemma sat on Bruce’s lap and mixed various chemicals. Mel had begun learning a new martial art with Nat while Pepper played with Bruce. Skye had taken the opportunity to have a bath while Ward swapped fighting tips with Clint and Thor. Knowing the kids would be up early they managed to get them all to bed for an early night.
As they’d guessed the kids woke early, partially helped by a reminder from Jarvis that Tony had set the night before. Gathering all together they entered Skye and Ward’s bedroom, the door banging off the wall. As they’d learned at an early stage jumping on Skye was not a good idea in the morning so they all converged on Ward.
“Daddy it’s Christmas!” Leo screamed in his ear as Skye rolled over and pulled Phil out of the way lest he get squished.
“No it’s morning.” Ward groaned uncharacteristically burying his head in his pillow.
“But presents!” Tripp argued.
“Need sleep.” Ward mumbled much to Skye’s amusement.
“Dad!” All the kids moaned.
“How about you go and get everyone else up and I’ll persuade your dad to get up? Be careful with your grandpa.”
She couldn’t help a laugh as the kids bounded from the room, discussing who would wake up whom. Turning back to the dozing specialist she began gently poking him on his side, eventually making him roll over onto his back.
“What’s with you and sleep? You never sleep in.”
“Christmas is the one day a year I do.”
“Come on Grant.” She urged.
“No.”
Climbing on top of him she sat on his chest to stop him rolling over again, knowing he could handle her weight.
“Come on Grant. They’re excited. Plus you get to see what I bought you.”
Leaning down she whispered against his skin, noticing his eyes becoming more focused. As his hand slide to her hips she brought out one of her best weapons and reached for his ear.
“OK! OK! I’ll get up!” He squirmed beneath her as she tickled him mercilessly. Seeing he’d caved she stopped, leaning down slightly as he propped himself up to look at her.
“Mum we woke Grandpa! He says he’s going to shoot us!” Mel shrieked down the corridor.
“We’d better go stop that.” He was so close Skye could feel his breath against her face.
“Oh yeah.”
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Having appeased Fury with lots of Coffee and allowing Pepper to calm him down they all gathered on the top floor where all the presents were currently sat underneath the giant Christmas tree. Steve made quick work with pulling sofas close together as Pepper and Maria made coffee for the adults. Knowing chaos would ensue if they let everyone open presents at once they agreed the kids would open the presents one at a time, then the adults would open theirs. Wedging Phil between them, Skye and Grant the kids sat on the floor while everyone else took the other free sofas.
Leo started opening presents quickly and sending paper flying everywhere. He was practically bouncing as he unwrapped a remote control helicopter (Skye and Grant), a balloon helicopter and car (Clint and Nat), build your own iron man suit (Tony) and Doctor Who outfit from Pepper. Fury announced that the kids needed to open their presents from him at the same time so he was skipped, while Leo began playing with his new tool kit (Bruce) and projecting alarm clock (Maria). Steve’s 3D puzzle was shaken and a plan was already in place to complete it.
Next it was Phil’s turn, who was drooling on Skye. With Grant helping he received: An animal torch (Nat) and a giant teddy bear (Tony), which had Pepper rolling her eyes and Skye wondering how to fit it in the house never mind the car. Maria had managed to find a soft bath book for him while Steve had managed to find a kids cooking kit so he could cook along with Grant. Bruce had found a basic computer for him to play with and the suit PJ’s from Pepper went down well with the adults much to the confusion of the kids. Phil’s favourite present was a cookie monster toy and a jar of cookies from Skye and Grant; as soon as it was opened he began munching on the cookie.
With Phil happy for a while they moved onto Tripp who’d noticed several large presents with his name on. To his delight he found a guitar (Nat), DJ set (Tony), Drum kit (Bruce), Keyboard (Steve) and Speakers (Maria). Noise reduction headphones from Skye and Grant were an attempt to keep the peace in the house. Pepper had broken the trend by buying him a falcon outfit that Tony had already promised to adapt to allow Tripp to fly. Clint was in trouble from most of the room for buying him a how to get along with the ladies book.
Jemma went next, managing to keep her paper in a tidy pile. Disney movies (Skye and Grant) were met with squeals as were the beginner’s medical kit (Clint and Nat) and the chemistry set (Bruce). The first sewing kit from Steve had Grant calculating how many plasters he would need and Jemma insisted on changing into the Hermione outfit Pepper had bought her, refusing to let go of the microwavable Sheep from Maria.
Mel, who had sat patiently while the others unwrapped their presents, dove in with gusto. A swimsuit (Skye and Grant) had her dreaming of swimming again, with kick boxing pads (Clint) and a practise dummy (Nat) keeping with the fitness theme. A guide to taking out your enemies (Maria), spy pen (Bruce) and black widow outfit (Pepper) had her talking about becoming a spy. Wall bugs that let out sound and noise (Steve) completed her presents.
Thor had found charades for kids, something to keep them entertained on rainy days. From Fury the kids found they had all received scooters with a small trike for Phil. Forbidding the kids to use them in the house Skye moved on to her presents. From all the children she received a charm bracelet with phone, computer charms and room to add more. Kissing them all she then moved on to the presents from the others. Steve and Maria had colluded to get her a pamper set, a day out and for the house. Pepper had bought her a beautiful dress with a note saying it was for a date night. Tony presented her with a state of the art laptop, which Fury had promised her had access to Shield satellites. Bruce set her crying with an electronic photo frame filled with pictures of the kids. Clint received a hit around the head with his gift of a cookbook and lovers key ring, something Skye wasn’t thinking about. Shoes to match the dress from Pepper and Spider bites from Nat left Skye grinning. The present of clothes from Grant had the others jeering but there was also a note mixed in with them which she hid from them.
Skye and Grant’s presents to the others had gone down well. A nest seat for Clint and advanced targeting set for Nat had Fury groaning. Tony had a fit of giggles at his ‘I hacked Shield and got away with it’ shirt while Pepper loved the set of make up. Fury scowled at Maria’s ‘I’m really the boss mug’ but loved his Venus flytrap plant. Bruce was already discussing how to use his new tool kit with Steve planning runs with his new torch that was adapted for runners.
Laughter filled the air as Tony opened what he thought was a simple mug from Clint, not realising it had ‘I’m a twat’ on the bottom. Steve soon chased Tony around the room having received an inflatable walking stick. Fury wasn’t impressed to receive a hairbrush for baldheads from Clint and ‘The grumpy old git's guide to life’ from Nat though the best grandpa shirt and mug from the kids went down a lot better.
Grant was the last to open his presents. Skye’s gift of a new kindle and gym equipment was well received though Clint’s book had him scowling. Though it looked like an innocent book when you removed the cover you found a totally different book underneath, this one explaining how to get a woman. Nat’s body armour was a welcome present as was the dress shirt and night out with Skye (Tony and Pepper). The stress ball from Bruce had him grinning as did the porcupine toy from Maria. The kids had got him a selection of presents including a new frying pan, watch, sled but the gift of a mug with ‘anyone can be a father, it takes a special man to be a dad’ coaster had him fighting back tears. A first aid kit and shield from Steve brought back memories of their last mission. Fury’s first present of go the fuck to sleep book had him laughing but the uncovered box left him confused. There was no wrapping on it but it had several holes in the top. Gently lifting the lid he found a small chocolate Labrador puppy sleeping in the bottom of the box.
“Great. It wasn’t enough chaos with the kids.” Skye commented as he gently lifted the puppy out of the box. Watching him it was easy to see he was already besotted. Waking up the puppy gently pressed kisses against Grant’s face before sniffing Skye and nuzzling her cheek.
“Puppy!” Phil cried running his hands through the soft fur.
“He’s not sharing the bed.” Skye warned as Grant kept staring at the puppy in wonder.
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A little while later with the kids busy playing with their toys and the adults sorting the food, Skye snuck out back to their floor.
“Jarvis.”
“Yes miss Skye?”
“Did Grant leave something down here for me?”
“I believe he left something at the end of the corridor. I believe that was what he meant by his note.”
“Thank you.”
Beside a vase of flowers she found a small box. Unwrapping it she found a beautiful butterfly necklace with light blue and purple stones. A pair of hands came into view and gently lifted the necklace, placing it around her neck.
“Merry Christmas Skye.”
“Merry Christmas Grant.” She turned to smile at him as the puppy gambled around their feet.
“Mistletoe.” He muttered catching sight of something above her head.
“I swear that wasn’t there before.” She grumbled.
“Tony.”
“Oh well. Might as well take advantage.”
Before he could respond she pulled him down for a kiss.
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