“I’m so excited we are all going to be together for Christmas” Natasha's excited voice rang through the call.
Yelena had FaceTime with her sister to go over what to pack and travel arrangements. Yelena for the first time in a long time is spending Christmas back home. Normally her family would visit her since New York is the best place to visit this time of year or she was too busy with work to leave New York.
Yelena was going to head to Chicago where Natasha resides then drive to Clint's farm in Iowa. Natasha did not want to leave Iowa because she loved being an aunt to Clint's kids but the job offered her a relocation to either Chicago or New York. She chose Chicago. That decision stung for a bit.
Alexei and Melina weren’t festive in the holidays like Clint and his family were. Therefore they spent Christmas Eve and Christmas with Clint and Laura during their years growing up in Iowa which then became a tradition.
“I’m just glad you are back in town, you meeting Bucky-“
Yelena looked up from packing her suitcase because what was her sister talking about? She was the one who introduced Natasha to James on one of her visits to New York
“I met James before”
James was an ex-military man so he was used to traveling from place to place. He decided over two years ago to leave his hometown of New York to live in Chicago with Natasha.
“not as my fiancée, you haven’t” Natasha waved the ring to the camera for Yelena to roll her eyes at “and Kate in town this year too”
Its been a long time since she seen in person Clint’s adoptive daughter Kate. She came to live with Clint at the age of 6, Cooper had just turned 3 and Yelena was 11 at the time.
Kate's parents had been killed due to mobster-related issues. She was left in the care of an aunt in Iowa but she was an older woman and couldn’t take care of a kid. Clint knew Kate from her visits to her aunt and didn't want Kate to end up in the system.
Clint knew from some of the stories, Nat would share with him growing up. That the system wasn’t a great place. He asked Laura if it would be okay if they opened up their home for one more and she agreed.
“How is little Artemis? I haven’t seen her since I left for college” Yelena remembered how the little girl took to archery when Clint introduced it to her. Yelena was going over Greek mythology when the nickname was coined
“she’s not little anymore. She’s grown and in college. Actually she’ll be in your city for the summer”
Kate wanted to go to the University of Iowa like her parents and aunt Natasha to be close to her family but to get her inheritance she needed to attend a prestigious elite school. The Ivy Leagues were all so far from her family but the University of Michigan wasn’t. It was only a 6-hour car ride so she chose that.
From what Yelena heard Kate has been loving Michigan
“oh really?” Yelena looked up at her sister impressed at Kate. Getting an internship in college was no small feat
“Yeah, she’s got an internship. Clint and Laura are so proud of her but worried. I know Clint going to pull you to the side and ask you to look out for his daughter”
Clint was definitely the overprotective father type. Although he tries to blame it on Laura. He's the worry wart of the two over their 4 kids.
“Clint doesn’t need to ask me, I will always look out for little Artemis”
“she so hated when you call her little” Natasha chuckled as she settled into her bed. Yelena could see James in the view watching TV.
“I know she would get so pouty” Yelena smiled at the camera reminiscing of the little girl who would get upset at being called little
“It must be karma, she is taller than the both of us now”
Yelena raised her eyebrows at that one. Kate was now taller than her. Everyone was taller than Natasha. Thinking of Kate she can’t help but remember how she was like a shadow to Yelena. She would want to be near her or help her out.
Yelena smiled “Remember how she would always follow me around, wait on me”
“Yeah, there was a reason for that. Yelena, you’re so obtuse after all these years” Natasha huffed
“Why do you say that?” Yelena knitted her brows in confusion
Natasha raised an eyebrow “Kate had a crush on you it was obvious. What you just said plus she was very sad when you went away for college”
“no, she didn’t” Yelena balked at that notion
Yelena thought she would know when someone had a crush on her
“uh yeah she did, I’m pretty sure you’re the reason why she came out bisexual”
“Kate’s bi?” Yelena blinked stunned at that information.
“Yep she was visiting the girlfriend's family last Christmas that's why she wasn’t around”
“oh…um that’s nice. Is the girlfriend going to be here this time?” Yelena asked
Yelena wasn’t fond of meeting new people. So she wasn’t looking forward to meeting this girl.
“no, they broke up about 6 months ago. Oh remember to pack your PJs” Natasha exclaimed as she viewed her sister going into the closet to grab her boots
On Christmas Day, the household will be in their pajamas to open presents, pictures, and Christmas brunch
Yelena sighed “I thought we outgrew this tradition”
“nope sleepover Christmas Eve is still ongoing and PJ Christmas morning brunch as well” Natasha caroled at her sister who looked annoyed
“you partake in this James?” Yelena asked James to get him involved
Bucky looked into the camera and smirked “Don’t you know that your sister runs this household”
“hey!” Natasha slaps his arm, making Bucky laugh
“I’m cool with it, plus Steve and Tony with their families are coming Christmas morning for brunch with their kids as well”
Steve and Tony were friends of Bucky, Natasha, and Clint.
“oh gosh, I’m surrounded by couples.” Yelena groaned about being surrounded by Steve and Peggy, Natasha and Bucky, Tony and Pepper. This always happens to her being the odd age out.
“No one told you to be single. You can escape with Kate and Coop”
Yelena's life in the fashion world had scared some of her relationships away. She was in a relationship with a model for a couple of months but that didn’t last long because for her career she needed to be seen as single..a woman to be desired…whatever dumped
“Coop is 18 now, geez where does time go? So weird. I guess I’ll introduce him to beer” She remembered when he was first born and when she first held him. He was a tiny thing but now a grown man when she saw him at Nate’s birthday party.
“too late, Bucky already did that” Natasha shaking her head while Bucky was smug
“hard liquor it is Yelena said causing Bucky to laugh and Natasha to look annoyed. Bucky proceeded to do a virtual high five with Yelena
“you two are a bad influence” Natasha said
*******
“When you said you’ll be off to college and out of this state, you really meant it kid” Clint greeted Yelena with a hug.
When Yelena got accepted to the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York that was her ticket out of Iowa and to be free to be who she wanted to be.
“yeah I did but I’m here. Better not make me regret it Barton” Yelena gave a warning but chuckled as she hugged Laura
“of course not” Clint yelled as he greeted his best friend with a hug as well
“Where are your two eldest?” Natasha said looking around the living room. The only people there to greet Nat, Bucky, and Yelena were Nate, Lila, Laura, and Clint
Clint sighed “They went into town to get last-minute gifts”
Everyone in the room chimed in “Kate”
“yep” Laura said. Her eldest at the last minute never fails
“so you and Bucky got the guest room, Yelena I have you in the barn or you could have the blow up bed in the house. I know you like your space so I made it to have a loft area pretty neat cool thing” Clint cut himself off. He has been doing some home improvements lately and the one with the loft in the barn is his proudest. There is even a fully functional bathroom in there as well.
“do it yourself home project. You were always handy. I’ll take it. Love having my own space” Yelena said agreeing to take the loft
“good I’ll let you guys get set up and settled”
Everyone went off to their perspective living quarters to get themselves together. Clint showed her where everything was in the loft area and the TV before leaving her to unpack. Yelena had taken out some clothes and shoes to hang in the closet when she heard the barn door open. She heard someone rustling downstairs
“Someone down there?” Yelena yelled
The person was startled and sounded like they nearly drop something “crap…it’s Kate. I forgot Dad said someone will be using the loft. I came in here to wrap my siblings' gifts because you know Lila and I share a room so she will totally sneak…a peak” Yelena went down the stairs on hearing it was Kate. She wanted to see how tall little Artemis had gotten. Kate heard the voice but did not correlate the voice to belong to the woman who captivated her from a young age until she was standing in front of her “Yelena”
If Yelena as a teenager was beautiful then a mature Yelena was a goddess in Kate's eye.
Yelena had cut her hair to the shaggy rockstar look, more piercing in her ears from the two she had when she left, and added a septum piercing. She was wearing a black/white plaid jacket, white-washed denim jeans, and aviator glasses. At least one thing that hasn’t changed is the amount of rings she wears.
Kate could see Yelena's fashion game was on another level because her casual was not the same as Yelena’s.
“Kate it’s been a long time” Yelena said as she took in Kate’s appearance as well. The girl was in a University of Michigan crew sweater, dark jeans, a beanie, and combat boots. She had grown into her features and now was a gorgeous young woman. Yelena could see that she could only reach to Kate's neck. Her blue eyes seem to be more of an ocean color to mesmerize you more.
“yeah it has, you look great…I like your hair and piercing” Kate pointed out to them
“thank you and you have grown sooo tall and no more braces” Yelena enunciated with her hands
“oh gosh don’t remind me I was awkward looking kid thank heavens puberty” Kate joked out
Yelena couldn’t agree more because…damn
Why was Yelena thinking this way? Yelena cleared her throat “Yes indeed”
The two kept staring at each other. Assessing each other's transformation over the years, certain shared memories flooded back.
Kate shook out her stupor “So um first time back in Iowa?” Kate went back to try to wrap her siblings Christmas presents that she got.
“no I was back at your brother's birthday…he begged me, but first time back for the holidays” Yelena said as she watched Kate try to wrap the presents
“oh, that’s nice of you. I had school and couldn’t come back for that but I try to make some visits like holidays” Kate said keeping her eyes on what she was doing.
Yelena snickered at Kate's attempt at wrapping. Her measurement of cutting and folding was coming out very clumpy. Yelena couldn’t sit back and watch this
“do you um need help with this?” Yelena asked trying to hold in her laughter
“Yeah please, thank you” Kate smiled back. Kate is pretty sure Yelena would do a better job than her. Her mom always made fun of her wrapping skills and told her to just put stuff in a bag.
“so what are you studying?”
Kate told Yelena what she was studying and about how college was going for her. Yelena told her about New York and what she does in the fashion world. Kate joked to Yelena she needed to dial back her fashion because she is definitely a New York casual versus everyone casual.
After the gifts were wrapped she followed Kate to the main house. Laura saw the gift wrapping and thanked Yelena for it which caused Kate to whine. Everyone started to reminisce about older times.
“Remember when Kate shot Brad in the foot” Natasha said starting to laugh thinking about it
“it was an accident and he was in the target area” Kate explained
“who’s Brad?” Bucky asked clueless as to who this Brad character was
“Yelena's boyfriend” Clint supplied to Bucky
“you had a boyfriend?” Bucky whipped his head to Yelena, eyebrows to his hairline
“Stop looking at me like that. I was young, in closet, and it’s Iowa.”
“Anyway this one was mad that Yelena was spending too much time with him than us so she “accidentally” got him with an arrow” Natasha continued the story
“It slipped” Kate tried to plead her innocence.
Brad had showed up to a family picnic. Taking away Yelena's time with the family. He had said something to make Yelena laugh which made Kate see green.
“Kate, you were bragging about not missing a target that year” Laura said joint her teasing on her daughter
“little Artemis never missed” Cooper chimed in mocking his sister sitting next to him on the floor. Kate shoved him causing him to laugh harder as well
“I lost my grip is the story I’m sticking with, time to go riding” Kate hopped up and quickly exited the room to escape the teasing. Everyone else quickly followed suit after, getting excited to be on the trail.
Another tradition was going ATV or dirt bike riding through the trails by the farm. Clint had built a mini track after seeing Cooper having a fascination with it and with Laura's permission got him in the little league circuits of motocross. Cooper wanted to go pro but his parents were adamant about him attending college to have a backup plan. Kate sometimes would be his training partner when they were kids and now when she's in town.
Clint was driving the UTV with Nate for first aid purposes their bound to be one. Bucky, Kate, Cooper, and Yelena will ride the dirt bikes while Nat who got the short stick will take the ATV. Lila decided to stay back and help her mom get prepared for brunch and dinner tomorrow.
Yelena realized she had no gear. Yelena went to knock on Kate and Lila’s door to borrow items.
Lila had opened the door to her and Kate's room “Hey Lila, I need to borrow a jersey and pants for riding from you or your sister.”
The room had grown up to be more adult-looking than it was in the past. Lila had posters up of Taylor Swift and BLACKPINK. While Kate’s side had the University of Michigan flag posted up. Some pictures of her family and friends.
“Aunty Nat didn’t tell you?” Lila went through her drawer to grab her stuff to give to Yelena to choose from.
Those items were far far in her closet back in New York. Probably couldn’t fit her anymore and what function would she wear those items to. Surely not the Met Gala. She would need to be told to bring them which she wasn’t
Yelena huffed “I forgot all about it. That idiot sestra of mine forgot to remind me. She reminds me of pajamas but not this”
Lila giggled “You can take mine. I think Kate will be too big”
“Hey! I’m not that short” Yelena whine
Lila shook her head and went into Kate’s drawer to grab one of hers. She tossed one to Yelena “ok here’s one of her jerseys and you tell me”
Yelena caught the shirt and inspected it. It was going to be a bit big but she was not going to let the little munchkin know
“thank you” Yelena said as she made her way out the room to head to the barn to change. Yelena not paying attention, had run into a very chiseled body. The apology was cut short because the sight in front of her was a perfect 6 pack.
Kate had walked out of the bathroom in a sports bra and her pants. She was putting her hair in a ponytail when she ran into Yelena. She heard the muffled apology cut short and Yelena stared at her abdomen.
Kate had caught a lot of attention because of her body. She needed a hobby when she came to Michigan and the dorm was next to the gym so that became her go-to. Pull-ups or Solomon ladder was her go-to pick-up move at the gym because it showed off her back and arm muscles. She gained so much attention that she became a personal trainer for some students and faculties
Kate felt her ego grow that she got her first crush to be staring at her muscles until Yelena realized and quickly averted her gaze.
Kate smirked “Were you looking for me?”
Yelena blushed at being caught out trying to shake the cobwebs out “Uh…um your sister help me out. Needed clothes for riding”
Kate nodded along looking at the clothing “You took my jersey?”
“your sister said I couldn’t fit your clothes so I took your jersey to prove I could”
“I think it would fit you just right. You will look good in my shirt” Yelena knitted her brows, was Kate flirting with her “It’s been a while, you still remember?”
Yelena scoffed “I ride a motorcycle in the city I’ll have you know…I can still ride”
Kate threw her hands up and chuckled “Just checking if I needed to show you the ropes. I am a good teacher” Kate bit her lip before heading into her room
Yelena felt her stomach tighten as she watched Kate retreat, feeling a warm flutter in her chest.
As Yelena was walking back to the barn to change she kept on trying to remind herself that it was little Artemis. The little girl with the unruly hair, braces, and skinny frame.
She tried to picture it but it keeps on morphing to those tone arms, chiseled abs, and that gorgeous face no longer hidden by braces or unruly hair “damn it”. Little Artemis has undeniably grown up
************
“If he’s drunk it's because of you” Kate announced to Yelena
After the group had gone motocross riding with no injuries, they had come back ready to eat dinner. Cooper was going to meet a couple of friends at Bigsby bar and arcade. Laura gave him a strict curfew unless Kate went with him which he pleaded with his eyes.
Yelena could see Kate was going to hold it over him. She had experienced that same look from Natasha through the years. So Yelena proclaims she'll go with him. Little siblings union which Cooper was grateful for. Kate announced she would tag along as well. Natasha teased out just like old times
“you can’t get drunk off one shot. Plus it will grow hair on his chest” Yelena laughed it off. Yelena ordered 3 shots of vodka for them. To give Cooper liquid courage before heading over to his friends who also house a cute girl he was interested in
Now it was Kate and Yelena in a booth opposite each other
“such a bad influence” Kate chastised
“not too bad, James gave him a beer before. What’s your drink? You are 21 but I know college has taught you well” Yelena nudged Kate's foot with hers. Kate knows it was meant to be playful but that is certainly not what she feeling
Kate looked down before looking up trying to cover her blush “I’ll stick to IPA for now someone has to watch over hoping he doesn’t make a fool of himself to his crush”
“speaking of crushes. I heard when you were younger you had a crush on me?”
Kate raised her eyebrows because she did not expect to be called out on it. The first thing to pop into Kate's head was to abort and run.
“No…no…no I di..yes…yeah I did” Kate tried her best to deny but it just coming off fake. Especially with Yelena raising her eyebrow at Kate
“you did?”
“I did how can I not? You are beautiful, funny, and you protect your family. You have this magnetizing personality that when you walk into the room we just…gravitate towards you”
Yelena heart heartstrings were pulled at those words being spoken to her. The level of conviction in Kate's eyes was drawing her in with every word
Yelena's gaze softened, and a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips “Kate”
“It's the truth, that crush helped me realize some things about myself and I’m happy about it” Kate smiled finishing her argument
“How did your family take it?” Yelena asked. She started to play with her glass, focusing on twirling it. Yelena was remembering her own coming out and hoped Kate's one wasn’t as painful as hers.
Kate saw this but didn't know if this would help or make Yelena bitter. Kate leaned over and covered Yelena's hand with hers rubbing soothing circles before proceeding to answer the question.
“Better than you can imagine. Dad and Mom wanted to take me to a parade when I came out. They were accepting. The town it’s better than when you went to high school but it was still rocky my senior year. I’ve been out to my family since sophomore year but senior year I decided to be brave and live in my truth.”
Yelena gave a small smile “You are braver than me. I knew I had to get out of state to be free. Clint was there to pick me up when Alexei couldn’t look at me. I’m glad that when it was on the same foot, he was still the same person.”
“Has that dynamic changed?” Kate asked
Yelena sat back which led Kate to remove her hands. Yelena was missing the warmth and comfort of them
“He can look at me now, stomach being in the same room. Our relationship is strained so to speak. It will never be what it once was”
Yelena was a daddy girl’s through and through. They were as thicks as thieves
“I’m sorry”
Yelena shrugged it off not wanting to talk about it anymore. Yelena decided to ask a question she was curious about on
“Soooo they told me you were at your girlfriend’s last year. What happened with that?”
“Ugh we just run its course I guess” Kate said.
Yelena frowned at the noncommittal answer. She wanted to know if Kate sees herself getting back with her ex. Yelena figured out a way to draw Kate out
“the sex was sub-par”
Kate coughed on her beer “What…no not that. It was just I didn’t see a future with us. There was nothing there. I loved her, I wasn’t in love with her”
“ah, I see. You want someone who keeps your flames burning every time. That every time your significant other walks into the room, your heart flutters”
Like the way, Kate's heart is now.
Kate's eyes were locked onto Yelena when she answered “Yes”
“good luck finding it. I’ve been around and I’m starting to feel like this will miss me or doesn’t exist” Yelena said as she drank
“I think it does. Maybe you just haven’t been looking in the right places” Kate shrugged playing with the label of her beer
“maybe” staring at Kate who glanced back up to catch Yelena’s
The air was getting very thick around them. Kate needed to break the tension before she pounces on Yelena like a horny teenager. Kate looked around to see the arcade was packed, the pool table was occupied but darts were a free game.
Kate cleared her throat “Do you want to play darts?”
“let’s go” Yelena agreed quickly because she too was feeling the tension and needed to get away
*************
As they made their way out of the bar. Hanging out under the covering to the side of the bar entrance. Waiting for Cooper to finish up with his friends. “Bigsby decorated the bar quite nicely for the holidays”
“I know I think he took my complaint very seriously” Kate chuckled as they walked. She remembered she told Bigsby how unfestive his place was and where his Christmas spirit
“The festive police” Yelena joked back and laughed
“it brings out so much Christmas cheer doesn’t it” they laugh together outside in the cold air.
Yelena glanced up to see that they were under a mistletoe “he put a lot of cheer. We are under the mistletoe” Kate looked up then wide-eyed that they were under a mistletoe and started to have a mini freak out “Kate, we don’t have to do anything. I was just pointin-“
Kate was not missing her chance to kiss the girl she had been dreaming about forever. Kate leaned down her lips brushing lightly over Yelena’s. Kate wanted to make sure Yelena would never forget about this.
Yelena gasps into the kiss. Before she realizes she's doing it, she parts her lips for Kate and kisses her back. Yelena's instinct took over as she buried her hands in Kate’s dark mane. The kiss became more erratic as Kate pushed Yelena towards the beam.
They sprung apart when they heard footsteps approaching them “Hey there you two are.”
Kate cleared her throat “Everything went well with Ally”
“yeah…yeah” Cooper started to launch in a whole diatribe about Ally oblivious to his sister and Yelena not paying attention to any word they said. They had been in their own world replaying the kiss.
They got back to the house and everyone piled out of the car. Cooper and Kate were headed to the house when Yelena pulled on Kate’s arm stopping her in her tracks “Kate can we talk for a minute”
Kate nodded and Cooper said his good nights to them as he made his way to the house. Yelena and Kate made their way into the barn
Kate starts to panic and does what she does best ramble “Is this about the kiss? I’m sorry I made it awkward now. I thought you were into it because you were kissing me back but it could be my imagination. I mean I did have a crush on you when I was little so it could be me-“
Yelena put a finger to Kate's lip which silenced her “You talk a lot” then lifted up to kiss Kate. Swallowing Kate’s moan of appreciation. Hands were everywhere, tongues continued to move against each other, and moans filled the barn.
Kate needed to catch her breath and Yelena took advantage and placed kisses on Kate’s neck. Kate’s hand dwindle to Yelena’s butt and gave a squeeze. Yelena's moan vibrated into her neck rocking Kate’s core. A dirty thought crossed her mind that Kate had to vocalize
“It is Christmas, can I give you your present?”
Yelena stopped to look at Kate whose pupils were dilated in want just like hers. For some reason Yelena picked up from Kate's tone some mischief “ok but I rather continue this”
Yelena leaned in but Kate pulled back smirking at Yelena causing Yelena to groan.
“I need your consent for this present” Kate said in a playful tone
“What is this present?”
“Me on my knees” Yelena eyes bulged out as Kate leaned in to whisper “I want to taste you”
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
Next year all our troubles, will be out of sight
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Make the Yuletide gay
Next year all our troubles, will be miles away
Once again, as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Will be near to us once more
Someday soon we all will be together
If the fates allow
Until then, we'll have to muddle through somehow
So have yourself a merry little Christmas now
Christmas morning everyone was in the pajamas or onesies. They unwrapped presents and took pictures posing with Kate’s new camera. With the help of Peter Parker Kate’s friend from high school, Clint and Laura were able to pick the perfect camera for Kate to post amazing content of her workout to expand her clientele. It was Kate turn to blush and nearly drops her new camera when Yelena says she can teach her the best angles for the shot.
Laura, Nat, and Yelena were in the kitchen preparing for brunch. Tony and Steve's family arrived in time for their kids to join Nate and the rest outside while the adults were inside.
Kate had come in from target practice with the rest of the kids. She saw her dad having a conversation with Yelena which she had a hunch what it was about. Kate had come back into the main house last night after giving Yelena her present. Kate didn’t want her intuitive mother to get ideas before Kate and Yelena could figure things out.
When her father exited the kitchen leaving only Yelena she entered taking a dish from Yelena’s hands “What you and my dad were talking about?”
Yelena's heart had skipped a beat when Kate walked into the kitchen. She couldn’t wipe the grin off her face
“Oh just wanted me to make sure I take care of you when you arrive at the big city” Yelena grabs another pot to take to the table
Kate rolled her eyes at her dad's overprotective nature “he forgets I’m from there. What did you say?”
Yelena turned to Kate and smirked “I’ll make sure to take good care of you while you’re there. It’ll be like you never want to leave” as she sauntered past Kate out of the kitchen leaving Kate's heart to flutter.