Steve
He collapsed on top of the bed.
It was Christmas Eve, but his suite in the tower was devoid of decorations, presents, and a tree.
He hadn’t bothered.
What was the point without Bucky?
They had grown up during the depression, so Christmas had never been a grand affair. But they’d make it as special as they could.
He tried not to even think about it, but that was hard with Christmas everywhere.
The future liked to make holidays big, bigger than he'd ever seen before.
"Captain?" J.A.R.V.I.S. called overhead.
"Yes?"
"There is a package for you in the common area."
Steve sighed but forced himself to stand. He usually tried to avoid the common area.
It was too hard to see his teammates.
They were happy. They were in love. They were nothing like him.
But they were gone.
It was just him.
So, he took the elevator to the common area. Another reason, he avoided it was because Tony had, had the public areas of the tower obnoxiously decorated for Christmas.
A huge package sat in the middle of the room.
Steve frowned. Before he even approached it, the box exploded as the rest of the Avengers tumbled out shouting, "Merry Christmas!"
"W-what's this about?" He asked.
"Did you really think we'd let you spend your first Christmas back alone?" Sam asked studying him too closely.
Yes, he really did think that.
"You're our Alpha, Captain," Clint said with a grin.
He'd had a pack once with the Howling Commandos. He'd had Bucky and the rest of the Barnes. He'd had his mother. But he had the Avengers now, even if it weren't the same. "Thanks," he said softly.
"Presents!" Thor's voice boomed as he bounced around like a kid.
Steve swallowed thickly. "I, uh, didn't get anything for you guys."
"It's alright," Nat said.
"Yeah, Capsicle, we sprung this on ya," Tony said handing him a glass of eggnog.
He sat uncomfortably between Clint and Thor as Natasha and Pepper started handing out presents.
"It's 12 a.m., so it's officially Christmas!" Tony cheered. Tony used his various lasers on the wrapping paper.
Clint and Thor tore into their presents with gusto.
Nat sparkled as she carefully unwrapped hers.
Bruce smashed through his presents.
Pepper let Tony laser hers.
"Cap, aren't you gonna open yours?" Clint asked gesturing to the pile next to him.
Steve shrugged but picked one up anyway. He missed presents wrapped in newspaper... He opened it trying to forget the past if only for a moment.
It was from Tony and Pepper. A wooden box that looked too familiar.
"My dad had kept some of your things," Tony explained. "Thought you might like them back."
"Thanks." Steve found some of his old sketchbooks, Buck's worn copy of The Hobbit, and a pocket knife that had been his dad's.
Thor and Clint had gotten him t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, and PJs with his shield on them.
Bruce had gotten him several history books about what happened after World War II.
Nat's present was a thick file.
Steve's breath caught.
It was about Bucky!
"I went to Russia to find intel on our friend. That's all I could find."
Steve pulled her into a crushing hug.
"Our last gift to you is to help you find him," she promised.
***
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