The cold wind invaded the blonde's personal space as soon as her girlfriend opened the car door for her. Yelena shivered as gusts of cold air left her mouth as she breathed. She felt Kate's warm hand pulling her out of the car. The whole trip she was on automatic, and now, that she's actually at the Barton farm, she realizes that these days will be a little difficult.
On the one hand, she's really excited to get to know more about the family of the guy she tried to kill and the stories they shared with her sister.
On the other hand, she feels sad to know that they have so much more time, experiences and memories with Natasha than she did, she is slightly jealous of Clint for that. Yelena is her sister, she should have spent more time, right?
This sadness that Yelena feels, she is sure will be present every day, luckily, she has Kate by her side whenever she needs comfort, although she doesn't even need to ask the taller one for a hug.
That's how their relationship began. Hugs, touches. Yelena has always been a more closed person and, of course, she loved her sister, but having a whole life in the Red Room triggers this kind of thing, she feels good about solitude and doesn't really like kisses and hugs.
It was right after Clint Barton's near death last Christmas. Yelena didn't have enough time to get off the ice rink before the taller brunette came back.
Both physically and psychologically destroyed, Kate felt the need for a hug at that moment, she could very well hug Clint, but he was really hurt. Yelena doesn't know why Kate hugged her, but she suspects it was the pity Kate felt when she saw her green eyes filled with tears of pain and longing.
And then Kata pulled her into a hug, at first Yelena was paralyzed, until she got used to the sudden heat of the girl's body and the pounding in her chest calmed down along with Kate's. She buried herself in the brunette's arms and cried, taking away all the pain and anguish she had at that time.
Kate was no different either, after all, she had just arrested her own mother for Christmas, the woman who had been her protector and supporter throughout her life. The taller one allowed herself to collapse and leave part of her weight on Yelena while they both tried to calm down and help each other.
After that, they went to have that drink together at Kate's penthouse and Yelena didn't understand at the time, but she loved being in Kate's company. They became roommates in that penthouse.
They would go for a walk with Lucky in the morning, go sightseeing in the afternoon and at night there would be movie marathons until one of them, or both of them, most of the time, fell asleep.
Even though she didn't like affection, Yelena never forbade Kate from touching her. She welcomed the arm around her shoulders, the kisses in her hair, the arms that lifted her off the ground, the extra support during the movies.
Over time, Yelena felt the need for Kate's touches and without realizing it, or understanding it, she could no longer watch a movie sitting in her own seat on the sofa, or walk alone, or sleep alone without her huge, warm human pillow.
Kate, who noticed, began to give even more affection to the blonde, she, who had already developed a certain admiration for Yelena, found herself completely in love with the woman, who for a long time, had no idea that these were "things couples did" . The brunette never broke the magic by saying that to Yelena. She would get butterflies in her stomach when Yelena asked in a sly voice to hug her, or hold her closer to warm her up.
Yelena found out that she fell in love with Kate well, later, Kate had already given up and moved on, a little, she couldn't ignore Yelena in her life. The blonde was confused and turned to her mother, met her in Ohio and told her everything about the tall, beautiful, strong girl with blue eyes who made her heart beat loudly in her chest.
Without the proper knowledge of love, she looked angry when she heard her mother blatantly mock her for being in love, she laughed more because Yelena didn't know it was love for so long.
Yelena's sudden departure to Ohio left Kate worried and scared of losing the one person who mattered so much to her.
When Yelena returned, already deciding what to do, she kissed Kate at the first opportunity she had, that is, when she entered the penthouse and Kate went to hug her, missing her.
All of this to get us to where we both are now. A year after that beautiful Christmas, the couple will join the Bartons for the holidays.
All anxious thoughts about what they would think of Yelena disappeared when she felt a warm hand in hers.
Her gaze rose to see a comforting smile on Kate's face.
Speaking of Kate, Yelena can say that she is at her best, in terms of appearance. Kate is an inch taller, her hair is now short to chin length, and a lighter shade of brown. Ever since a certain girl from New Jersey showed up at Kate's house and invited her to join the Young Avengers, the brunette has been training harder, in Yelena's opinion, which favored Kate the most. Her body is now wider, her arm muscles are more defined, and she has a nice abdomen, Kate's favorite part of the body for the blonde.
Yelena has also changed, she has also been training harder, Kate also has her favorite part of Yelena's body, the butt. The blonde trains her squats and legs a lot. She also cut her hair and changed her hairstyle a little, now it reaches her neck and most of the strands are left behind.
"Ready?" Kate asked, smiling reassuringly.
"Yes." After taking a deep breath, Yelena responded with a faint smile.
They, Lucky and Fanny walked to the door and Kate rang the doorbell. It took seconds for the large family to open the door and hug the girls. Yelena was a little stiff with her family's hugs, she's only completely comfortable with her girlfriend's.
"Merry Christmas to everyone, guys!" Kate said happily.
"Auntie Kate!" The boy named after the Avenger ran to Kate and jumped into her arms.
"What's up, buddy? Everything's ok??"
"Everything's great! Did you bring me a present??"
The older Bartons scolded the boy, Kate laughed with him in her arms, but nodded, making him hug her neck even tighter.
"Let's go inside, then you guys get your bags. It's cold, come on, I made hot chocolate for everyone." Laura pulled them inside.
Yelena bent down and unleased the two dogs so they could run around the house with the kids. She and Kate went to the kitchen along with Laura and Clint, the children grabbed their mugs and ran back to the living room to play video games and play with the dogs.
"It's good to finally meet you, Yelena." Laura spoke friendly, serving the mugs on the table.
"Thanks for the invitation. It's good to be in a place full of Natasha."
"Ah, yes. That reminds me of something. Baby, can you go get the box?" Laura addressed her husband.
"Of course. Kate, can you help me?"
"I'm coming. I'll be right back, love." Kate stood up and kissed her girlfriend's forehead before following the older man to the back.
"I know it must be hard being here, but I guarantee you'll like it. And with time, you'll feel more comfortable." Laura drinks some of the hot drink in her mug.
"I know, thank you."
Kate went up to the second floor and held the attic ladder while Clint got the appropriate box.
"Do you really think she'll like that?" She asked looking up.
"Practically her sister's entire life is in this box, she'll like it. Hold it."
Clint found himself at the top and threw the box into Kate's arms when she alerted herself.
"Wow, it's heavy."
"Yes, there are books, diaries, photos, clothes. Everything."
Clint closed the attic and the two went back downstairs.
"Yelena, here it is. Take it as your Christmas present." The man took it from Kate's arms and placed it on the table in front of the blonde.
She stood up confused, setting her mug aside and took the lid off the box. Yelena took out item by item, analyzing it calmly, she arrived at the green vest that she had given her sister, then took it and sniffed deeply.
"It still smells like her..."
"She always talked about you. How you loved him, full of pockets." Laura smiles weakly, wipes her eyes with the sleeve of her sweater.
"I love pockets."
Yelena sat back down and hugged the vest against her body as she began to cry.
"Let's leave her alone for a bit." Laura pulled Clint and Kate out of the kitchen.
Kate looked worriedly at her girlfriend, but decided to let her have her own time. The trio went to the living room and when Kate sat on the couch, little Nate warmed up on her lap while he watched Cooper and Lila playing video games.
"Is Aunt Lena okay?" He asked with a pout.
"Yes, she is. Do you know who she is?"
"Your girlfriend?"
Katw had to laugh at that. "That too. But she's Natasha's sister, the cool aunt who named you after her."
"So Aunt Lena is another Lomanoff?"
"Yes. Theoretically yes, they are not blood sisters like you and your brothers. Her last name is Belova, but you can call her Romanoff if you prefer."
"Cool! So now I have Aunt Kate, and two Lomanoff aunts."
Kate laughed and hugged him, he curled up against her.
After a while the brunette got up to go to the bathroom and when she returned, she didn't see Yelena sitting in the kitchen as she had left her. She walked a little around the house and found her girlfriend looking at the thousands of photos that the Bartons have with Nat. Kate took a deep breath and stood behind Yelena, wrapping her arms around her waist and hugging her.
"Hey." She said, leaving her chin on top of Yelena's head.
"Hey."
"You ok?"
"Yeah. I guess I just... miss her." Yelena snuggles into her girlfriend's chest and holds her forearm.
"I know. We all feel it. I wish she was here."
"Me too." Yelena took a deep breath and turned in her girlfriend's arms to face her. "I wanted to thank you for bringing me here. It was really good to see her again, even if only through photos. And smell her scent on her clothes."
"I was afraid you wouldn't be able to leave, I'm glad you liked it. I was going to take the box for you, anyway."
"Thank you, маленький ястреб. (Little hawk"
"You're welcome, my love." Kate smiled and put her hand on the back of Yelena's head and kissed her.
Yelena's hand was one on her waist and the other on her cheek. The kiss ended and then they heard Clint's voice coming from the living room.
"Kate, can you come here, please?"
"Conong. Is everything okay?" She asked the shorter girl, standing next to her and clasping their hands.
"Yes. Thank you."
Kate arrived in the room with Yelena and the man looked at both of them.
"I wanted to ask you a favor, partner."
"Talk."
"I had a bad back carrying the tree. Could you cut some firewood for us?"
"Of course. Where's the axe??" Kate never knew how to explain it, but she thinks this activity is really cool. It was difficult to hide her excitement at the request, she really couldn't do it and Yelena looked at her with a cute smile.
"Back there. It doesn't have to be world. Thank you."
"I got it."
Kate kissed her girlfriend's hair and walked out towards the snow-covered lawn at the back of the house. Yelena stood there watching, not knowing what to do now alone with the Bartons.
"Why don't you go with her? Just watch. It'll be a great sight for you." Lila joked.
Yelena, not wanting to be alone, accepted the suggestion and followed where Kate went. When she arrived outside, she was surprised at how Kate easily pulled a log closer to the cutting support. Just using your hands.
"Come to enjoy the view?"
"Just...checking." Yelena pulled a chair of the deck closer to her girlfriend and sat down.
After cutting part of the trunk, Kate takes the first piece, leaving it standing on the support. Before starting the cuts, she removed her purple plaid flannel and tied it around her waist. Giving a vision of a Kate now with a black t-shirt that is a bit tight on her body.
She picked up the ax and raised it above her head to chop the wood. Her knuckles turning white with her grip around the hilt.
"You made one, now there's a lot left." The blonde smiled.
"Yeah" Kate laughed lightly, brushing her short hair out of her face.
"Do you want to tie it?"
"I would like."
"Here. Take it." Yelena raised her hand with a hair bow.
"Thanks, baby." The brunette took it and tied part of her hair into a bun behind her head. She blew the strand of bangs away and continued cutting the wood.
Truly, this was a sight that Yelena did not want to miss at all. Her super tall and hot girlfriend chopping wood. The muscles flexed, the veins running down the entire arm to the hands. Her face and chest getting sweaty, her hair perfectly framing her face. If Yelena can, she will loop these moments in her memory whenever she wants.
On the 14th wood Yelena noticed that Kate's flannel was loosening around her waist.
"Hey, give me your coat. It might get in the way."
Kate dropped the ax and walked over to her girlfriend, taking off her purple clothes and throwing them in her lap. She picked up the axe, but the sweat blocked her vision, so she pulled the hem of her shirt up to her eyes and dried them.
Maybe the sight of her girlfriend wiping her sweaty face with her already tight t-shirt, her abs showing, killed Yelena. Just maybe.
She released a breath she didn't even know was trapped. Kate looked at her and reviewed the situation. Still with her t-shirt pulled up and her green eyes fixed on her abs, she laughed.
"Just checking, uhm..." The brunette returned to her task calmly.
In the last two woods Yelena left her purple coat on the chair as she stood up and approached.
"Is ir hard?"
When the blonde was in Ohio, she saw her father chopping wood, she watched curiously, but didn't ask him to teach her, she thought it was because of Alexei's superserum. Now seeing Kate doing it, it didn't seem so difficult.
"No. It's not entirely by force, it's more about the way. Do you wanna try it?"
"I'd like to. What do I do?"
"C'mere"
Yelena stood in front of her girlfriend and let her guide her hands to the axe, now Kate's arms were around her.
"You hold it like this. This, not too close to the blade. At the very tip, it gives more strength and speed when cutting. Flex your knees a little."
Kate arranged Yelena's hands beneath hers and pulled up slowly.
"Annnnd....cut!" She moved downwards using force and cut the wood.
"Okay. Got it. Let me do the last one. Alone."
Kate laughed and walked away placing the last piece on the rack. She watched her girlfriend do it exactly like her, a little harder, but the wood was cut.
"That's right! You did it." The brunette approached for a kiss and received a hand on her chest, stopping her.
"Eww, you're all sweaty, Kate Bishop. Go take a shower first."
"What?? I didn't even sweat that much. Come on, love, just one."
"No. Shower first!"
"If you won't just let me kiss you, then I'll fight for it."
Realizing the joke, Yelena dropped the ax and started running away from her girlfriend, screaming and laughing.
"You can try to run Black Widow, but you won't escape the clutches of this Hawk here!" Kate ran after the shorter one and it soon became a running circle in the soft snow.
"No, Kate Bishop! Get away from me!" Yelena shouted as she ran, she was also starting to sweat since she is wearing more clothes than her girlfriend.
"I'm gonna get you! I got ya!" Kate hugged her from behind tightly and took her off the ground, walking and holding her like it was nothing. Yelena struggled in her arms.
"Get of me! That wasn't worth it! Ouch, how disgusting!" Yelena complained against the sweaty, disgusting chest of Kate's t-shirt. The brunette managed to turn her around and trap her in a hug.
Kate only let go when she felt like it and went to get the chopped firewood to take inside. Yelena mumbled in Russian as the brunette walked away to the deck.
"Take my coat!"
"I'm going to take him and stick him in that place!"
Yelena took it grumpily and went in with Kate.
After showering, Kate came out of the bathroom wearing sweatpants and a white tank top, her hair still wet on her face. She saw Yelena answering some messages sitting on the end of the bed in the guest room.
"Better?"
"Much better." Yelena didn't even look up as she said.
"You didn't even look it."
"I guarantee you look phenomenal, Kate Bishop." Still not looking.
"That's enough!" Kate took the cell phone out of her hand and held it up high.
"Hey, I need this." Yelena tried to jump to catch the device. Unsuccessfully.
"Not anymore. You said you were going to kiss me only after I took a shower. Now kiss me." Kate pouted.
"No!"
"Cука!" The brunette frowned.
"What did you say???" Yelena raised her eyebrows.
"Nothing...!" Fear was on Kate's face at that moment.
"Ah, now you really won't get your kiss! Give it back to me!"
"ONLY after the kiss. I just responded, you called me Cука like 100 times!"
"It was ONE time and you were getting in my way!"
"You wanted to kill Clint!"
"Yeah. But I gave up, and now give me my phone, Kate Bishop!" Yelena jumped more.
Kate pretended to think with her hand on her chin and smiled naughty saying a simple "No."
Yelena lost her patience and pulled her girlfriend by her tank top, pushed her on the bed and straddled her waist giving her an intense, breathtaking kiss. Kate forgot all the phone drama and hugged the blonde's waist tightly with her fingers. They broke apart with a smack of lips and Kate was panting and in shock.
"Now can I get my phone back?"
"Huh...what...?"
"Thank you, I love you, baby." Yelena easily took the device, gave Kate a peck and stood up.
Kate lay there, static, trying to understand what happened in those seconds. She doesn't know, but she was excited by that kiss.
[...]
It was time to exchange gifts and they decided to start with the children, since Nate was too excited to see his gifts. Clint and Laura gave him a skateboard and protective gear, he talked the whole year about wanting a skateboard. Yelena and Kate together gave him nerf guns, more than he already has. Kate took a bow, of course, and Yelena found a silenced pistol from Fortnite. He loved it and can't wait to play with his brothers. For Cooper, two new games for his PS5. And ever since Lila became interested in literature and drawing, she's been craving a tablet, that's what Kate gave her, and with a purple protective cover.
The change of adults was quicker, Clint received a new case for his arrows from Laura and as a joke from Kate, he received Christmas pajamas with Avengers designs. He laughed, and then cursed her.
Laura received a pair of beautiful earrings from Clint and to top it off, a Jade necklace given by Kate. The woman accepted the gift as one from Kate and Yelena together.
Kate received the long-awaited new retractable bow with a holographic Stark shield from Clint and Laura. Yelena gave her a new set of arrowheads. The brunette loved it so much that she almost went to install them right away. And they all laughed about it.
Since Clint and Laura already gave Nat's box as a gift to Yelena, Kate's gift was left for her. The blonde looked hopefully at her girlfriend, but before that, Nate approached her carrying a sheet of paper.
"I made it when I found out you were Aunt Nat's sister. I hope you like it."
It was a drawing, Nate's way, he drew Nat and Yelena holding hands, the boy gave details by putting a green vest on the blonde doll and the redhead wore an all black outfit from neck to toe. He tried to draw a stick in each of their free hands. It was cute.
It was just a children's drawing by Nathaniel Barton, but it meant everything to Yelena. She wished she could have made these drawings when she was younger. She once made a drawing of her entire family, the Nat in her drawing had short blue hair, the little Yelena couldn't make the gradient from brown to blue, so her sister looked like a Smurf. This drawing hung on the refrigerator at her home in Ohio.
"Thanks, Nat." Calling the boy by the nickname she used for her sister, she hugged him and wiped her eyes.
"You're welcome, auntie."
He walked away and then she looked back at Kate. Who had a little blue velvet box in his hand.
"I don't think I'm ready to get married, Kate."
"Silly, it's not a ring. Yet. Open it."
Yelena placed the drawing on the table and took the box, opened it and saw an arrow pendant in a bright shade of purple. She smiled and pulled it out, it was a necklace.
"Arrow, hm?"
"Yes!" Kate smiled excitedly.
"Put it on me."
Yelena turned around and brushed the few hairs off her neck. Kate opened the chain on the necklace and fastened it around her girlfriend. She caressed her shoulder announcing the breakup.
"What do you think?"
"I loved it, now the Bartons..." Yelena and Kate looked at Clint and Laura, who were sniffling like children.
Everyone laughed at the older ones.
"That's good, because..." Kate pulled a chain out of her ugly Christmas sweater and showed it to Yelena.
A necklace with a Black Widow symbol pendant in red with a thin silver outline.
"You...!"
"That's worth more than a ring, right?"
"Yes!" Yelena placed her hands on Kate's face and pulled her into a passionate kiss.
That shot Kate didn't take was so worth it!