don't care about the presents underneath the Christmas tree.

[manwithaplan]

Much like Thanksgiving, Christmas was not a day that Steve particularly looked forward to back in D.C., with so little living family to call his own. There was Peggy, but the holidays were when her family visited, and he didn't want to intrude. Which is not to say that he spent Christmas completely alone -- he always found something to do with himself. For the most part, he volunteered. This year, he knows, is not the first that he has celebrated with friends since he was found in the ice. But it feels that way, the recent memory of those two years back home so strong and fresh in his mind. It makes him appreciate this year's holiday that much more.

He and Lucy have been out since morning, visiting friends and family all over the city. The novelty of going places as a couple has yet to wear off for him, and he is beginning to suspect that it never will. He's very much alright with that. He has, however, been especially anxious to return to Ocean View. Her gift, he tells Lucy, is waiting back at his place.

He had hoped to at least make it through the door before the surprise was ruined, but that was wishful thinking. He barely has the key through the lock when the barking begins. He turns back to Lucy, trying not to grin, trying to look innocent even though the jig is up. "There's someone I want you to meet," Steve says, and he pushes the door open.

Comments

[radicalize]

For a Christmas that has, so far, kept them pretty busy, it's also been a quiet one, and Lucy likes that. There have been too many in the last few years of her life where too many things were wrong to really enjoy it, or where there was something heavy hanging overhead, making it impossible to really relax and enjoy it. Eventually, she knows, this relative peace is bound to give way; something will happen to disrupt it. That's just the nature of life in a place like this. She thinks that's all the more reason to make the most of it, to enjoy it while she can, and there's no one she'd rather be doing so with.

After a few hours out, she's looking forward to her and Steve having a little time to themselves, too. She's already grinning by the time they make it to his door, an expression that turns a little confused when she hears barking coming from the other side of it, though it's not like it isn't difficult to tell what that means. "You got a dog?" she asks, nose wrinkling a little through her smile. "When did that happen?"