"Easy, there!"

I reeled my punch and let Steve take a step back away from the swinging punching bag that was taking a brutal beating from me. It's not it's fault that Tony decided to wake me up by screaming Happy Thanksgiving in my face.

"What's up with you?" Nat asked from the side.

"Let's just say Stark gave me a rude awakening."

I took a deep breath and rewrapped my knuckles as I planned Tony's murder and then Loki's just because I wanted to.

"What did he do this time?"  Nat rolled her eyes

"Dumped a bucket of water on your head?" Clint asked.

"Put a spider in your bed?" Steve said.

Sam looked up, mildly concerned. "Did they put gum in you hair or something?"

"What is he? Five?" I saw Steve was about to answer. "Don't answer that."

"What did Tony do this time?" Bucky asked as he walked into the training room. He wore his hair back into a pony tail today. "Did he prank you or something? I told you to punch him in the face if they did that. I do it all the time. Steve tells me not to but I do it anyway."

"No, Bucky." I huffed as I punched harder. "Anyway, it was something about me not properly celebrating the holidays and some other bullshit-"

"Language!" Clint chided.

"I've heard you curse worse than that, oldie!"

"Someone had their bitchflakes this morning," Clint muttered. "And I'm not that old."

"I heard that!"

"Wait!" Steve said. "You've never celebrated the holidays? Like at all?"

"Of course I've celebrated the holidays. It's just I never really celebrated it with anyone besides my mom. Plus being in prison for five years dampens your enthusiasm for the holiday spirit."

"You're joking." Nat said. "When was last time you had a proper Christmas?"

"I don't know. Sixteen? Seventeen? It's been a while. I don't see why this is a big deal." I shrugged. "Lots of people don't have time to celebrate the holidays."

"So?!" Clint looked over to Nat and then back at me as if I've offended his ancestors grave. "Are you seeing this?!"

"If you're gonna act like Stark about this then I'm going back to my room."

I grabbed my jacket from the bench and slipped it over my shoulders as I left the training room.

So what if I've never dressed up for Halloween?
I hated Halloween, none of the kids would let me go trick or treating with them. I never got to go to any Halloween parties because the other kids thought I was too weird. I mean I was a little but damn, they didn't need to treat me like some outcast.

So what if I've never really had a family to gather a round a table with?

In case nobody noticed, I didn't exactly have much of a family to celebrate with. It was just Mom and I on Thanksgiving and even then it was just a glorified version of dinner for us. I did't feel comfortable when mom brought her colleagues over to celebrate, I felt too awkward and small to fit in. The Gods know that mom tried to include me and encouraged me to join but it just wasn't my scene.

My life had always been about more important things.

I gave up on trying to celebrate a proper Christmas when I was sixteen. Let's just say I lost a little faith in the holiday season. Plus it didn't help that everything was Pumpkin Spice flavored.

I opened the door to my room and started to strip out of my clothes. I really needed a shower.

I just wanted to take a nap but I had some more research to do. I got a tip saying that after that whole botched trying to take over New York thing, the Anwar Clan went underground, popping up once in a while. It would be a couple of years before they made their next move.

There would be no knowing where they would strike next. That is way more important than spending the holidays properly.

-----------

While Maya was pondering about her past, The Avengers had gathered in a conference room a few floors down because Tony called an emergency meeting.

And by 'emergency meeting' it was  just Tony preaching about the holidays.

"Operation Pumpkin Spice has officially started!"

"Pumpkin spice?" Natasha said incredulously. She had a bunch of reports to write and here she was listening to one of Stark's stupid plans. If she wanted to do that, she would've stayed Peppers PA. "I'm sorry but there's a mission I need to read up on and you want me here because of one of your silly plans?"

"Yes.........?"

"That has to be the worst name I've ever heard of," Sam said. "I mean, really? Pumpkin Spice? Do we look like a bunch of white girls in Starbucks to you?"

"Do not mock Starbucks, Son of Wil. It is truly the best in the galaxy." Thor said solemnly. "Darcy has introduced me to it."

"It's Sam Wilson, Thor. Not Son of Wil, not Falcon pal, and certainly not Man of Falcons."

"Ah.....Falcon pal. I'll never get over that," Clint mused to himself.

"Okay, lovebirds! Break it up!" Tony said. "This operation ain't gonna plan itself. Chop, chop. Let's get to this."

"God, you sound like Nat." Clint said rolling his eyes.

"Enough!" Steve pinched the bridge of his nose. He loved these guys (well...most of them), don't get him wrong but sometimes they were just too much. Thank god Bucky and Nat were there. "Tony, why are we here? The sooner we get this done, the sooner we can go back to do.......whatever it is we were doing."

"I'm so glad you asked, Captain." Tony sent a glare towards Clint. "It's about Maya."

"It's not about the whole celebrating the holidays properly thing is it?" Natasha groaned. "You know jumping Maya about it in the morning isn't the most effective way of getting your point across."

"Maybe."

"Stark....."

"It is," he smirked. "But with good intent. C'mon! You guys agree that Maya has had a pretty rough time with us and don't you think that she should be able to have some fun. Enjoy the holidays. Get laid-"

"Tony!"

"Right! So I was thinking we should have an awesome Thanksgiving dinner, then an even more great Christmas party, and to finish it all off an epic New Years Party. What do you guys think?" He asked. "And I'm serious about the whole getting laid thing. Maybe that's the reason she's so-"

"Tony!" Steve snapped.

"What?"

"You just don't want to spend the holidays alone." Bucky smirked. "Admit it."

"Maybe, Tincan."

"Tony," Steve said warily.

"Fine. Yes but I want Maya to also enjoy herself and see what she's been missing all this time."

"It's me or the great Tony Stark is being nice." Pietro smirked. "And here I thought that his heart was made of metal."

"Okay. First of all, it technically is and second of all, it's the holidays."

"I think he has a point," Thor said. "My brother and I haven't experienced these holidays so I think that it would be most entertaining if we could also teach Lady Maya about them."

"As if I wanted to, Thor. I'd rather be in Hel than partake-----"

Loki was cut off by Tony who already had the perfect costume for him for Christmas. And boy, those antlers would not go to waste. He secretly thanked Maya for the Prancer idea.

"Atta boy, Thoreo! Operation Pumpkin Spics is a go."

"Dear god, what have we done?" Steve groaned.

"Looks like I'll go and awaken the beast." Nat said.

-------------

"Hey, Maya?" Natasha popped her head into the elusive girls room. It was dimly lit except for the desk lamp that crossed shadows with the light from the hallway. "You still alive?"

"Barely," Maya groaned as she stretched. She winced as an audible pop car from her arm. "I need some food."

"What you really need to take a break from all of this," Nat said as she looked at the world map that Maya had started over again. It was practically bare accept for three pictures.

"What I need is to start all over."

"You need to sleep." Natasha pushed Mays's hair back into a mini pony tail.

Maya didn't even flinch as Nat tied her hair back. A year ago she would have tried to stab Nat if she ever touched her without her permission but here she was, still as a statue as she read her files. Nat understood where Maya was coming from, always watching your back and always afraid to trust someone.

It would make anyone scared.

"I just wish I could go back to that night. I wished that I could kill them. I wish that I went back and made sure they were dead." 

"And where is wishing going to get you?" She asked as she used a hair tie to keep Maya's ponytail in place.

"Preferably in a six foot hole in the ground as I wallow in self pity and booze."

"It's too early to deal with your depressive moods."

She grabbed Maya's arm and pulled her up, away from the desk and the map that confined her. Down the hall was a large window that took up the entire wall spilling light into the darkened hallway. Maya's eyes looked over the skyline of Manhattan with mild interest. She didn't see Ellis Island anymore, just the rest of Manhattan nobody gave a shit about.

"It's the city," she stated.

"I know."

"Why is that so important?"

"It isn't."

"So why am I here."

"You needed a change of scenery."

"It's boring."

"So are you."

To her surprise, Maya chuckled at that. There was a small hint of a smile on her face. Some light in her eyes had returned and Natasha wished that she could always be like this.

She turned her own eyes to the city.

How many times had she watched over a city like this? St. Petersburg, Budapest, New York. She'd seen so much for just one life time.

Maya had a lifetime of hell, she saw too much atrocity and destruction in a small amount of time. There were days that even she felt like she should just end it all but there was just a string of sanity that kept her from tumbling into that abyss.

"So," Maya said. "What are the holidays usually like? Is it like in the movies?"

"The fact that you actually asked me that makes it even more important that you celebrate with us."

"I've only celebrated with my mom. Besides," Maya smiled, letting some emotion bleed into her eyes. "I think it's time I try new things. Don't you agree?"

---------

Somewhere in the bowels of Stark Tower was a certain dark haired Prince who sat in his room too distracted to even concentrate on his book properly. A certain women in his thoughts and not in the romantic way, more of the 'planning-a-murder' type of way.

He snapped his book closed and slammed it down on the desk. Looks like Harry Potter would have to wait while he got over his murderous attitude.

"Brother?"

Speaking of murder........

"What?" Loki hissed. "I'm busy."

"I have a proposition."

"Congrats, Thor. You've used a big word," Loki drawled as he looked up. "What do you want now?"

"I'm not in the mood to deal with your moods today, Loki."

"Then leave."

"I would but I have something to ask of you."

"Then ask."

There were times that Thor really wanted to strangle his brother when he was being an arrogant little prick. This was one of those times but he didn't let his brother's mood affect him. He was much too excited.

"The Avengers request your presence for their holiday parties," Thor said. "Technically you are an Avenger so you have to be there."

"I humbly decline."

"That wasn't a request. Lady Maya will be coming," Thor said, hoping Loki would show some interest. "Stark has dispatched Natasha to convince her to come to the parties."

Loki rolled his eyes, unimpressed.

"The mortal who won't use her powers? No, thank you."

Last ditch effort then.....

"I'll tell Father."

"You can't be serious. What are you, Thor? A child?" Loki raised his eyebrow, calling Thor's bluff only to realize that he was completely serious. "Oh, for the love of----Fine! I'll participate in these festivities."

"I knew you would see it my way, brother."

"Now get out."

"But, Loki?!"

"I am trying to read, Thor!"

A/N: sorry, this is like a day late.
do you guys think that Loki would be a Harry Potter fan? I have a feeling he would be. Anyway.......I hope you enjoyed this. I hope that you vote or comment, it's up to you but it would be most appreciated.