Chapter Text
Peggy opened her eyes and knew this morning felt different. Sun streamed through the curtains and she could still feel the warmth of Natasha’s body by her side. She looked over and saw for once, Natasha was still asleep. Peggy leaned over and kissed her softly. The Widow slowly stirred and opened her eyes.
“Merry Christmas, darling.”
Natasha smiled. “Merry Christmas, Peg.”
“Do you have any exciting plans today?”
“I’ll make breakfast, you build a fire?”
“All right.”
Natasha rolled out of bed and stretched. “On a completely unrelated note, I don’t think there’s any more firewood in the house.”
Peggy sighed and reluctantly pushed the covers off. “I suppose I’ll get dressed then.”
Natasha leaned pointedly against the doorframe.
“Alone.”
She rolled her eyes dramatically and walked away, shutting the door behind her.
Peggy put on a sweater and slacks and glanced out the window. She would definitely be needing boots to get to the woodshed.
Outside the sky was a clear blue and the sun shone brightly, glinting off the freshly fallen snow. Peggy gathered a stack of wood from the shed and carried it back inside. “We should go for a Christmas hike, it’s beautiful outside.”
“Breakfast first,” Natasha responded over her shoulder.
Peggy stacked wood and kindling into the fireplace and lit it. She kicked off her boots and hung up her coat.
They ate breakfast and cleared the table. Peggy picked up the last cup from the table and turned to take it to the sink.
Natasha was already standing in front of it with her back to Peggy. Her copper hair had grown long in the past few months and fell in waves down her back, over Peggy’s sweatshirt that she refused to give back, although admittedly Peggy wasn’t that upset about it. She walked over and put a hand on the smaller woman’s waist, as she reached around her other side to set the mug in the sink. The brunette wrapped both her arms around her girlfriend and leaned down to kiss her jaw. “I love you, Natasha Romanoff.”
Natasha turned her head to capture Peggy’s lips. “I love you too, Peggy Carter.”
“Go relax. Let me do the dishes”
“All right.” Natasha stepped away from the sink and kissed Peggy’s cheek.
When Peggy finished, Natasha was sitting on the couch, a wrapped package in her hand. “I got you a Christmas present.”
Peggy sat down next to her, taking the package. She tore off the paper and opened the small box. On a piece of white felt, lay a gold pendant in the shape of a pair of roses. Their stems were yellow gold and the flowers themselves were rose gold. She smiled. “Thank you, I love it.”
“Let me put it on you?”
Peggy nodded and handed Natasha the necklace, pulling her hair out of the way.
Natasha clasped it around her neck and smoothed her hair back over it. Peggy turned back around. “Does it look all right?”
“It looks beautiful, almost as beautiful as you.”
Peggy shook her head and leaned over to kiss her. “I got you something too.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a ring box.
“Peggy Carter, are you proposing to me?”
Peggy laughed. “No, not quite yet. Just open it.”
Natasha opened the box and pulled out a black ring with a small ruby set atop it. “Is this a poison ring?”
“Yes. I saw it in the antique shop, and I thought you would like it.”
“I love it. Thank you.” Natasha kissed her, then settled against her side, resting her head on Peggy’s shoulder.
Peggy put her arms around her girlfriend. “Would you like to go for that Christmas hike?”
Natasha didn’t move. “I was thinking, and hear me out, a Christmas movie under a blanket on this couch with you, and no going outside in the snow.”
Peggy chuckled and reached for the television remote. “All right, fine, no Christmas hike for now.”
Natasha sighed happily and settled more comfortably against her side.
When they finally picked a movie and were about to press play, a ringing began to sound for their bedroom. Natasha groaned. “It’s mine. I’ll get it. Don’t start without me.”
“I would never,” Peggy replied.
Natasha walked into the bedroom and picked up her phone. “Hello?”
“Hello, Mrs. Carter, how’s your honeymoon?”
She closed her eyes. “What do you want Tony?”
“We’ve got a lead on the scepter. Need you and Cap to come in.”
She sighed. “Merry Christmas to us.”
“I’ll send a quinjet to pick you up. Be ready in an hour.”
Natasha shoved the phone into her pocket and walked back into the living room.
Peggy looked over her shoulder. “Who was that darling?”
“It was Tony.”
“Is everything all right?”
“Everything’s fine, but um,” she smiled sadly, “it’s time to go. They need us.”
Peggy knew her expression betrayed her own feelings. “I suppose we never were going to be able to stay here forever, were we?”
Natasha shook her head. “No, I’m afraid not.”
“When are we leaving?”
“There’ll be a quinjet here in an hour.”
Peggy sighed and turned off the television. She stood up and headed for the bedroom to start packing. She knew it was foolish to hope this could be their life, but the world still needed the Avengers. Maybe one day.