Author's Note:

Hi! Can you believe it's been three years since this book was released??? Three years of Iskra and Kate <3

Anyways, Merry Christmas! My gift to you is a bonus alternate universe chapter of everyone's favorite girlfriends! I do hope you enjoy!

With love,
Via <3

Soft blonde curls fell in Iskra's face as she leaned forward, trying to perfect the wrapping on Kate's gift. She was hiding away in the room that Melina had deemed her's despite the fact that it was definitely the guest room.

Muffled chatter could be heard just beyond the sealed bedroom door. Iskra smiled softly setting the wrapped present down on the ground beneath the tiny tree.

Kate wasn't there yet, she planned to come after paying her mother a visit. That of course wouldn't be until the following morning.

The blonde couldn't help but feel slightly guilty for getting her locked away just after they had met those years ago.

Though in the end, it was Kate's decision to turn the older woman in.

A quiet knock at her door pulled Iskra out of her thoughts, "Hey sweetheart, what are you up to?"

Iskra smiled at the red-haired woman, "Just finished wrapping, what's everyone else doing?"

"Yelena wants us all to play Monopoly," Natasha rolled her eyes, "Apparently it's a 'Christmas Eve tradition' Even though we play after every family dinner, ever."

The blonde laughed, standing up from the edge of the bed, "Well this time, I'm definitely going to kick her ass."

"Whatever you say Iz," Natasha laughed, wrapping an arm around her daughter as the two left the room.

In the dining room, Iskra's family sat around the table. Yelena busy, setting up the board game and rattling off some not so great Russian phrases to her ten year old niece, which Natasha would surely be giving her a hard time about later.

Melina smiled as her eldest daughter and her eldest granddaughter joined them, "My girls, come sit!"

Iskra pulled out the chair across from Yelena, her game face already on and ready to go. She would not lose on Christmas Eve of all days.

"Ready for a re-match, Iz?" Yelena arched an eyebrow at her niece.

The blonde leaned forward, "Oh, it is so on."

Maria half rolled her eyes at their interaction, "You two are quite literally the most competitive people I've ever met."

"Hey," Natasha gently nudged her shoulder, "What about me?"

The brunette laughed, "You're on a whole other level, babes."

Natasha laughed, placing a gentle kiss on her cheek before sitting beside her.

Alexei sat down beside Iskra, uttering some joking words in her direction, though she could not quite hear them.

Iskra turned towards him, "Sorry? I couldn't really hear you..."

"Oh, I forget sometimes," the man noted, accent thick as ever.

Iskra shrugged, she didn't really mind. People forgot all the time, she stopped letting things like that bother her.

Her hearing impairment was not something that she let get under her skin. Sometimes she went without the hearing aid that had to have been repaired or replaced a hundred times.

Something Maya Lopez had said stuck with her, sometimes she did find that she was better off without it. Turning it off sometimes allowed her to connect better with her other senses, especially while fighting.

Melina pulled out a bottle of vodka, setting it on the table, "Drink anyone?"

Iskra shook her head profusely, "I can't spend Christmas with a hangover, Grandma."

Natasha laughed and Maria walked past her daughter ruffling the blonde curls, "You're definitely my daughter, aren't you?"

"Always," Iskra laughed.

After Yelena had already won Monopoly once that night, they began to set up the next round. Iskra rolled her eyes with defeat as she tried to figure out how Yelena won all the time.

A dramatic gasp could be heard from across the table, "It's snowing again! Come on Iskra! We have to build a snowman!"

"Right now?" Iskra arched an eyebrow at the ten year old.

"Yes, yes!" The girl exclaimed, and Yelena motioned for her to go.

"You can try and beat me later, enjoy the freezing cold," Yelena laughed.

Iskra rolled her eyes following her very eager little sister to the coat closet. Jessica always loved the snow, and to be fair so did Iskra.

However by this point in the day, the sun was setting and the winds was blowing making it really cold.

Jessica darted out the door, snow boots barely even on, let alone tied. Iskra shook her head to herself, tugging gloves over her hands.

When she stepped into the cold her eyebrows furrowed together, Jessica was no where to be seen.

"Jess?" Iskra called out, looking around the snow covered ground.

Upon spotting the tracks that looped around the back of the house, she sighed, following them. As she rounded the corner her eyes grew wide.

There was a trail of hardly lite candles, leading up to a figure that was turned away from her. A small giggle could be heard from somewhere beside her.

Iskra glanced at Jessica, who then motioned for her to keep moving forward. With slight hesitation, the blonde continued to follow the trail of candles.

"Kate?" Iskra spoke softly, "I thought you were still in New York."

The brunette smiled, "Like I would leave you alone on Christmas."

Iskra folded her arms, protecting herself from the cold, "Why so secretive, then?"

Kate shrugged, and then a slightly nervous sigh escaped her lips.

"Well, I wanted this to be...special."

Iskra still wasn't quite understanding what was going on, "Did you, now?"

"I really really love you Iskra," Kate started gently, and Iskra shrugged.

"What can I say? I'm a very lovable person."

Kate laughed dryly, tucking her hands into her pockets, "What I'm trying to say is... it's been a chaotic and fantastic four years with you. I've been maybe the happiest I have in my entire life."

A soft smile found Iskra's lips, "Me too Kate."

"I've watched you try, and sometimes fail to live a normal life...which is always at least partially my fault. I mean this superhero stuff really is crazy, and it is just part of your blood."

"Yeah, I know it is," Iskra noted, "But I do at least like to have some balance."

"And we all should," Kate noted, "That's not the point though. I want to spend every year with you...for the rest of our beautifully chaotic lives."

Realization washed over Iskra and Kate pulled a small box out of her pocket.

"Do you maybe wanna spend the rest of your life with me, too?"

"Holy shit, Kate," the Russian escaped her lips in a very rushed manner.

"Oh my god," Iskra smiled widely, "Of course, yes, yes!"

Kate beamed, pulling the ring out of the box, but before she could even slid it onto Iskra's finger, the blonde leaned forward and kissed her.

After a few moments the two pulled apart and Kate was finally able to slid the ring onto her now fiancée's finger.

"I do have one little thing to confess though," Kate noted.

Iskra arched an eyebrow at her, "And what's that?"

"Your whole family knew about this before you," Kate stated, "And Yelena threatened to kill me if I break your heart, I mean the whole Kate Bishop you will die a very painful death if you break her heart."

Iskra laughed, intertwining her fingers with Kate's, "It's freaking freezing, let's go inside."

Kate pressed a kiss to her cheek and followed her slow steps through the crunchy snow. Upon reaching the front door they pulled off their snow covered boots.

"Hey lovebirds," Maria greeted, "let me see the ring!"

The brunette woman reached for her daughter's hand with a smile, Iskra of course showed off the ring.

"Aw it's so pretty," Maria noted, and wrapped an arm around her daughter, "Congratulations, honey."

"Thanks Mom," Iskra smiled, returning the warm hug.

"Alexei could barely keep his big mouth shut," Melina rolled her eyes as the women rejoined the group in the kitchen.

"It true," his thick accented voice carried through the room.

Yelena agreed, and sent a look in Kate's direction, "Don't forget what we talked about Kate Bishop."

Kate held her hands up in mock surrender, "I didn't, I didn't!"

"Who's ready for dinner?" Melina asked.

Natasha's hand rose in the air, "I am!"

"Me too!" Yelena noted.

They all sat around the table and had a very nice Christmas Eve dinner. The conversation filled with warmth and laughter, and many competitive board games following.

For what is probably the final note of this book I just want to thank any of you who read and supported this book during its original release. I also really hope you'll continue to enjoy any stories that I put out in the future. Iskra will always be one of my favorite characters that I've ever created. Anyways Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

— Via <3