Christmas Day

Steve Rogers listened to the crunch of the snow beneath his boots, as they left behind packed down imprints of his shoes, with each continued step forward he took. The snowflakes still fell heavily from the night sky above him, and dusted the icy sidewalk he strolled down with a fresh layer of pearly white snow. Twinkling like a million tiny diamonds in the shine of the street lights, that lit his way. The small flakes that fell from above, settled upon his coat and melted at the very touch of his exposed neck. It was a soft snow, one of beauty and gentleness. And showered the Earth in a whimsical nature that brought the season to life. 

Steve's eyes strayed to look at the many houses he passed on his path, unable to keep from gazing in wonder at the magical lights strung up with care. House after house, he witnessed an array of colors and patterns that twinkled wildly in the darkness of the night. Brightening up the blanket that had fallen upon the neighborhood, and somehow the sight seemed to warm through coldness that blew in with the late December wind. 

There was a softness that came with the holiday season, Steve believed. One that made the world seem less harsh and calloused around the edges. One that made the world kinder towards man-kind, and that brought hope back to humanity. Even when the holiday was nestled in the coldest of seasons and conditions, there was a warmth that spread through life like a wildfire, when Christmas drew near. There was a sense of childlike spirit and wonder that infected all of those who accepted it, and brought forth goodness in the souls that opened for it. The world needed Christmas to remember that not all was lost, and that goodness still existed out there somewhere and somehow. She always told Steve that the holidays made the world a softer place, and ever since then, he believed it too.  

Steve blew out a breath, and watched with cold pierced eyes as it froze in the air in front of him. Dissipating into a pale cloud before him, as it blew away with the chilling wind. His hands that were tightly buried in the depths of his pockets, still began to feel the cold beginning to numb the very tips of his fingers. And although a part of Steve should've been used to the cold by now, he didn't enjoy the sensations it brought with it's temperatures. 

Blowing out another frozen breath, Steve's feet come to a slow stop as he reaches the beginning of a driveway. Marked by a snow dusted mailbox, one in which he can still make out the faded writing upon, he feels himself stilled by the sight. The small house sits cozily on a bed of snowy land near the end of the street. And along the shingled roof, is a delicate strand of twinkling lights wrapping its way around the house like a gentle hug. Glistening like the shine that bounces off of the snow at Steve's feet in the moonlight, as the bulbs are nothing more than a beautiful pearl like hue. And he soon finds his lips begin to smile softly at the sight of the wreath hanging on the front door. Although a small home, and --to the common eye-- nothing exceptionally special, a warmth radiates from the structure and meets Steve all the way down at the start of the short driveway. One that fills the chest of the longing man with a familiarity that makes his heart swell with love and anticipation. 

And so Steve walks, with a small smile tugging at his cold lips and rosy turned cheeks, up to the front door of the house he had been waiting to return home to. The glow of the lights shine down upon the snow dusted path, as his footsteps are the first to march through it, on his way up the short steps. And lifting his freezing bare hand out of his pocket, he knocks gently against the front door. Listening to it rattle softly, in the silence of the still world around him. 

Steve rocks back and forth on his heels slightly, as he releases a breath through his lips as he waits patiently. There was an emotion that flowed through his body, coursing through his veins right along side his blood. One that felt like anxiety mixed with longing and something completely new. Steve wasn't able to place the feeling he had never felt before, until the door opened slowly. And it was then, that Steve Rogers knew exactly when the feeling he soared through his body was. 

Fulfillment... this was where he was meant to be. The only place that mattered on a snowy Christmas night... the only place that had ever really mattered. The place he had been trying to get to ever since that day he opened his eyes to a brand new world.

"I hope I'm not too late." Steve greeted softly, with a warm smile at his lips that grew at the sight of the person who opened the door. 

Her hair resembled the snow that coated the Earth, and it sparkled just the same. The faint glow coming off of the lights that lined the roof and the light that brightened up the room behind her, making the short white locks of thinning hair shimmer as though strands of silver. Her lips curled up into a soft smile, one that hadn't changed from the one that Steve could picture in his mind when ever he closed his eyes, and opened the front door wider for him. The bones of her hands prominently standing out amongst the softly wrinkled skin. 

"You're right on time."

Her voice spoke softly as Steve stepped into the house that smelled of rich cinnamon and pine, and it made him smile. There were things about her that could never fade from his memory, from the pictures he had taken in his head. But her voice, that was the thing that had begun to fade over time. And it made him fear that one day, he would no longer be able to hear the sweet sound of her voice in his mind. But hearing her voice now, even with the age that mellowed and strained the sound, brought the memory back to life with vivid colors. 

Steve's eyes danced across the living room that stood almost exactly as he had remembered it. With slight updates to pieces of furniture and the long drapes that covered the windows, it was as though he had stepped right back to the last night he was ever in this house seventy some years ago. A Christmas tree stood tall in the far corner of the room, and Steve recognized the decorations as the ones she had always adorned the yearly tree with. And it made his heart seem to smile right alongside his growing grin. And as Steve ventured further into the living room, as he had since taken his coat off at the door, he watched the flames of a burning fire dance in the fireplace. Filling the room with a genuine warmth and soft hum of crackles that popped together. 

It felt as though he had never missed that Christmas night back in 1945, as though he had made it home to her that day just as he had promised. But looking around at the house that encompasses him with warmth and memories and emotions, he knows that this night is just as good as it would've been all the way back then. And as he looks to her, walking up to him in a flowy velvet red dress that transports him back to the last time he got to witness her young, he made it home to her. He got the chance to spend one more Christmas moment with her, and even if seventy years had to separate them, he was still thankful for that chance. 

For he should've died all those years ago as he plummeted into the ice, and yet here he is. Wrapping his arms around the love of his life, in a house he helped create, and holding her close as they sway to the Christmas melody humming from the old record player by the roaring fire. It seemed surreal, and yet as Steve gazed down upon the beautiful woman in his arms, he felt every single bit of reality tingle throughout his body.

"I'm sorry it took me so long to get back home to you," He whispered down against the wispy white hair that rested against his chest. 

Looking up at him with eyes that shimmer with the same youthful glow she had back then, although age had rounded its way across the edges and below, she smiles warmly up at him.

"You promised me you'd be home for Christmas Steve," She whispered as he stared down at her with love still beating in his heart for this woman. "and you are. It doesn't matter to me how long it took you to get here, just that we're finally here together." 

Steve smiled at her with tears beginning to well in the furthest corners of his eyes, and resting his cheek down upon her head, his eyes fluttered shut. Although age had plagued her, taking away the time he could've spent with her and the life they could've had, if he had never left that night, it felt as though he never had. For the woman in his arms, although grey and frail, was the same warm-hearted person he fell in love with. The same beautiful soul on the inside that radiated beauty on the outside. Even as her features had changed, the things that Steve Rogers had fallen in love with hadn't. 

"Merry Christmas Darling," Steve breathed out softly, with his eyes still shut tightly. "I'm glad I could finally be here to spend it with you."

And so they danced that fateful Christmas night, in each others arms, until the sun came up the next day. But the Christmas miracle that had brought them back to one another wasn't lost when the holiday faded, it stayed with them. Sprinkling a little bit of hope, love and happiness back into their lives. As though every day was Christmas. 

A/N: Merry Christmas Everyone!!❤🎄I love this second part so much!❤ I wanted it to be as perfect as it could possibly be, to go with the beautiful first part. I've had these two one shots planned for some time now, knowing that I wanted the time lapse and that painful but beautiful reunion in the end. I feel I was able to truly blend the Christmas theme and feeling into this one, while keeping the touching moments raw and honest. I wanted love and the magical feel of Christmas to be the biggest themes in this one shot. And I am so happy with what I've written! I hope you all enjoyed it! Also, I had to add that extra GIF at the end... one of my favorite moments ever!😍😭 Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!!❤🎄