Steve felt his face getting hot and he cleared his throat, "Nat, do you—"

"Romanoff," a voice cut in from behind Steve.

"Happy," she said, giving him a nod and trying to be stern. But for some reason, she wanted to laugh.

"Come on, let's dance," he said and he pulled her away. She looked back at Steve and shrugged. She was confused because she was under the assumption that she and Happy didn't get along too well. She was also confused because she was starting to feel like she'd had too much to drink, although she didn't think one drink was enough to make her feel this way.

"I'm on it," Maria said into the comm to Sam and Wanda. She was closeby to Steve.

"Come on, Rogers, come dance with me," Maria smiled.

Steve was actually glad to see her, seeing as he was standing there all alone now. He followed her to the others dancing. He felt like his face was hot but he didn't feel nervous about dancing with Maria. He was trying to understand why he felt warm and giddy.

"Get closer to Nat," Sam said into the comm. "Make this work for us."

Maria changed direction and walked right up to Happy and Natasha. She and Steve started to dance and they felt eyes on them. Looking over, Natasha's face was looking over Happy's shoulder and she was making a face at them as if to say 'help me' with a furrowed brow. Her face was overly animated. They looked down and saw how snugly Happy was holding her. Steve stifled a laugh as Natasha pursed her lips at him, watching him try to hold back and his eyes crinkle up. He looked at her and gave her a nod, meaning he was going to save her. He just needed a plan. "I got it, Steve," Maria said, leaning close to him.

Maria tapped Happy's shoulder, "Can I cut in?"

Happy let go of Natasha and Natasha caught her breath and looked at Steve. He put his hand out to her as Happy started squeezing Maria. "You owe me," Maria mouthed to Natasha and Natasha doubled over trying not to laugh. Natasha put her hand in Steve's and gave him a smile just as a bit of a commotion sounded from the other side of the room and everyone looked. "The elevator's stuck," someone said loudly as a few people waited for the doors to open.

"Be right back," Steve said to Natasha as he went to check it out. Sam and Tony also walked over to see what was going on.

"So close," Wanda whispered.

Steve and Tony looked at the elevator which now seemed to finally be moving up to their floor. Steve was fully prepared to spread the doors open himself but everything seemed to be in order now. The doors opened and Ben and Alicia stepped off the elevator. Ben was wearing an enormous grin as he looked at Tony. Tony looked into the elevator and saw pebbles scattered all over the floor and he sighed. "Looks like the elevator's working after all. Ughhhh."

Steve laughed and patted Tony on the back, finally turning back to look towards the dancing. He looked for Natasha in the crowd and he found her, but she was already dancing with someone else.

"Johnny," Steve said to himself. He walked away so he didn't have to watch Natasha dance with him, heading for the bathroom.

The crowd stopped moving as everyone started to watch Happy dancing with Maria. He had her dipped backwards and he kissed her neck. Near the bar, Bucky was talking to Pepper, obviously flirting with her. Tony growled to Sam, "What is this? It's like pon farr around here..."

"The fuck?" Sam scrunched his face up.

Tony looked at Sam dryly. "Okay, that joke would have killed with Bruce."

"I'll get him for you," Sam said, heading towards Bucky. Sam's patience had run out about 10 minutes ago.

He walked across the room, muttering to himself. "This isn't working, ladies. And Maria, dear God, I am sorry about what you're going through right now, sweetie." He looked out at Maria being squeezed by Happy and she gritted her teeth at him. Then he saw Natasha dancing with Johnny. "Ahhhhhhh, shit," he said. "Why is she dancing with Johnny? Where's Steve?"

"Hey, Barnes," Sam said. "Can you give me a hand with something?"

Bucky excused himself from Pepper and followed Sam. "What do you need?"

"Nothing, I just needed you to get away from Tony's woman before there's a fight," Sam sighed. "I've got my hands full already tonight."

"What do you mean?" Bucky asked.

"I mean, I'm trying to get our dumbass friend, Steve, to get Natasha to dance with him... or something."

"Oooh, let me help!" Bucky laughed. Sam could tell he had definitely been hit by Wanda's spell. This was never a side of Bucky he'd seen before.

"Fine," Sam said, "but if you screw this up..."

"Relax, bird," Bucky laughed as he followed Sam. "Who's that guy she's dancing with now?"

"That's Johnny Storm. He's a little showoff," Sam quipped.

"I take it we don't like him?" Bucky asked.

"He doesn't take anything seriously," Sam told him.

"Well, we better hurry," Bucky said, "she looks like she's having a good time with Johnny jackass over there."

"Ughhhh, where the hell is Steve?" Sam groaned.

"Buddy, you are wound tight tonight," Bucky laughed. "Calm down." Bucky looked to the far end of the room which had a lower level with pool tables. "Look, he's right over there."

Sam and Bucky headed towards Steve who was sitting near the window, looking out. "Why are you sitting here all alone? You should be up there with Natasha," Sam laid into him.

Steve's head jerked up to look at them. "Geeze, Sam. Calm down. What are you talking about?" He moved his leg so they could sit down on the bench with him.

"Sam here thinks you should ask Natasha to dance," Bucky laughed.

"She's dancing with what's his face," Steve said, taking a sip of his beer. "She's fine."

"But you're not," Sam said. "We know you like her."

"Back off, Sam," Steve said casually. "I don't see you dancing with anyone."

"Yeah," Bucky laughed. "Why aren't you dancing with that cute girl you were hanging out with before?"

"Maria," Steve said, lifting his beer bottle up to gesture, suddenly feeling better with the focus being shifted onto someone else.

Sam's eyes went wide for a second before he motioned with his hands to keep it down as if he didn't want anyone to hear them talking. But Sam already knew Maria heard them through his comm. "Maria and I are friends," Sam covered up.

"Well then I bet she wouldn't mind if you rescued her from that creepy guy trying to grind on her," Bucky said.

"I bet she wouldn't," Wanda said into Sam's ear.

Then he heard Maria laugh awkwardly. She was listening, for sure. Sam sighed and turned around quickly, headed back up to where Happy and Maria were dancing. Steve and Bucky stood up to see him walk up to Maria and cut in.

"Good man," Steve smiled.

"That was easy," Bucky nudged Steve's arm. "How come it doesn't work on you?"

"Because I already know Natasha doesn't like me." Steve was very matter of fact about it.

Bucky roared with laughter and Steve looked at him oddly. "You okay?" Steve asked.

"I don't know," Bucky smiled, "I feel a little strange tonight."

"Yeah, me too."

"Excuse me, Mr. Amer— I mean, Mr. Rogers... (sigh)... I mean Captain Rogers, I just wanted to say hello."

"Parker, right? - From Queens?" Steve asked.

"Right, right," Peter said.

"Good to see you, kid. Do you remember Bucky?" Steve asked.

Bucky shook Peter's hand.

"Can we get a picture?" Peter asked.

"Sure."

Peter held up the camera to take a selfie of the three of them.

"Peter, why don't we just ask someone to take a picture?" Steve asked.

"Oh, sure, we could do that, too," Peter said. "Excuse me, ma'am, would you take a picture for us?"

The woman took the picture for them and then Peter pulled up a chair so he could talk with them. But then there was an interesting conversation which could be overheard from everywhere in the large room... The sound of a microphone cracking and booming echoed.

"No, Tony, I'm not giving it back. You know what? - You're just going to have to deal with it."

"Give me the mic," Tony said, muffled.

"No, nope, nope, I'm not. I'm not giving it to you." It was Rhodey. "Friday, DO IT," he called out.

"Excuse me, Mr. Stark wants me to take embarrassing pictures tonight. I can't miss this," Peter said, walking upstairs with his camera.

Soft twinkling sounds played over the speakers. "Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii don't want a lottttt for Christmas.... There is just one thing I neeeeeed..." Rhodey sang slowly. "I don't care about the presents underneath the Christmas tree. I just want you for my owwwwwn, more than you could ever knoooooow. Make my wish come truuuuuuuue, baby, all I want for Christmasssssss... iiiiiiiis youuuuuuuu..."

The music picked up and Steve and Bucky stood up to see what was going on. They looked at each other and then walked back upstairs. The dancing had stopped and everyone was looking up at the bar in disbelief, where Rhodey was standing with a microphone. Steve and Bucky stopped next to Sam and Maria. "Should we stop him?" Steve asked.

"No," Maria and Sam said simultaneously.

"This is really something," Natasha said, making her way to them, holding up her phone to record the performance. "He's going to regret this one in the morning."

"Shit, he's really going for it," Sam said, making a disgusted face as Rhodey bent over to croon into the microphone. Tony stood nearby looking aggravated.

Across the room, Wanda noticed Natasha move closer to Steve and she casually moved her hands to position them above their heads. A mistletoe appeared hanging from the high ceiling above Steve and Natasha. Wanda smiled to herself and thought, I'm not taking an chances this time... As Natasha looked away, Wanda sent a little red light ball her way. Now Natasha will be forced to act on her feelings for Steve... OH NO.

Wanda watched as Natasha stepped away from the rest of the gang and her spell landed on Maria and Sam instead, and also Steve, who was following Natasha. "Oh my God," Wanda whispered, putting her head down.

"What was that, Wanda?" Maria asked over the comm.

"Oh... nothing..." Wanda sighed. Well, I might as well make the most of it, she thought. "Hey you two are standing under the mistletoe."

She watched curiously as Sam pulled Maria closer and kissed her.

Holy balls, this is getting out of hand, Wanda mused.

10 feet away, Natasha and Steve were trying to deal with another matter...

"Thor, I don't think this is the best idea," Natasha smiled nervously as she took a quick picture of his handiwork.

"Wait!" Thor exclaimed, "We need to pose." Thor put his fists up as he faced Logan. Logan raised his hands up in front of Thor's, with his claws out. Thor had made each and every one of Logan's claws into shish kabobs with the party appetizers. Logan and Thor were holding back laughs and turning red as Natasha snapped a few pictures. Steve stood right next to her, trying to hide his own laughter and knowing this was not such a hot idea. Finally, Thor and Logan started howling with laughter and Thor put his arm around Logan as Natasha took another photo of them laughing riotously.

"Logan," Steve said, stifling a laugh, "maybe it's time to put them away."

Logan nodded, coming down from his mania and retracting his claws. As the claws drew back, the appetizers quickly stacked up and then fell to the floor. Thor slapped Logan's shoulder and they both started roaring again.

Natasha turned back to Steve and her smile faded slightly as she raised her hand to rest it on his cheek. "You look warm... you feel a little warm, too. Let's get you a drink." She looped her arm through his and he followed.

"I feel great," he grinned at her. "Never better."

Natasha slipped in between a few people at the bar and reached over the top of the bar to grab a bottle of water. She turned around, "Here you go..." Natasha looked left and then right, but Steve wasn't there anymore, he'd been grabbed away by Bucky. "Where's Steve?" she asked.

The person next to her turned around from the bar. "Oh, hey, Romanoff," he said, flashing her a smile. "You looking for Mr. Uptight?"