Archive of Our Own ^beta

"I need your help."

Natasha looked up from her phone with a raised brow. Of all the people she expected to hear that phrase from, Steve Rogers was not one of them.

"What is it exactly that you need help with?"

"Christmas shopping."

"That's not that hard to do,Steve."

"No, you don't understand," Steve said with a tinge of panic in his voice," I need help Christmas shopping....for Tony."

Oh. That was a problem. Tony Stark was the most difficult person to buy gifts for. The man had enough money to get anything he wanted at any moment, not to mention how picky he could be.

No wonder Steve needed help.

"Alright, let's see what we can do, but you owe me a full spa day as payment."

"Yes ma'am."

                               **************

They went to the mall after trying several boutique stores from New York's luxury shopping district. Steve still couldn't seem to find the perfect gift and Natasha was feeling a bit frustrated herself.

They ended up at the food court to grab lunch and regroup. Steve was so despondent that he barely touched his meal.

"Steve, it's going to be okay. I'm sure Tony will like whatever you buy him."

"Yeah but, I really wanted this present to be perfect. It's our first holiday together as a couple and I wanted to give him something that's as special as he is."

"Hmm, maybe we've been looking at this from the wrong angle," Nat said thoughtfully,"Instead of just buying a random item, why not make one? You're an artist, right? I'm sure he'd appreciate the sentiment of one of your paintings over a random trinket."

"That's not a bad idea, and I did see some really nice canvases in one of the stores here...question is what should I draw?"

"It should be a subject that is really important to him, something that will hold meaning for Tony and only Tony."

Steve racked his brain for something that would fit the criteria, then it hit him.....a memory from several months ago, when he'd visited the mansion in Malibu for the first time.

"I didn't know you could play the piano,Tony."

The genius looked up from the keys and gave Steve a sad smile.

"My mom taught me. Playing was one of her favorite things to do when she was home. Sometimes....I wish I could play one more song with her."

Steve stood up from the table with a renewed determination.

"I know exactly what I need to do."

                *************

Although Stark Christmas parties are usually wild affairs, Tony decided to make it a quieter event for just the Avengers and their guests. Clint came with his family, Natasha and Bruce came together, and Thor came with a woman who looked an awfully lot like Loki, but Tony decided it was best not to question it(aliens, what can you do?).

Pepper came with Rhodey and Happy, the trio having just entered a very interesting polyamorous relationship that they refused to dish details on, no matter how much Tony begged.

Then Steve came through the door, and all thoughts of invading people's privacy flew out the window. He was wearing a dark-blue three-piece suit that clung in all the right places, and Tony's knees nearly buckled when he walked up and kissed him.

"Merry Christmas,sweetheart."

"Merry Christmas indeed. How I managed to land a guy that's practically sex on legs, I'll never know."

Steve just chuckled and kissed him again. Their make-out session was eventually interrupted by JARVIS announcing that it was time to open gifts.

"Welp, time to face the music."

"I'm sure it's not that bad,Tony."

"Easy for you to say, you've never been prank-gifted by Platypus before."

               ****************

Clint received pillows from just about everyone for his vent nests. Nat decided to go the extra mile and get him a bag of bird seed to go with it, much to everyone's (except Clint) amusement.Tony gave out a variety of gifts, from new weapons for the resident spies to a monogrammed art bag for Steve, complete with drawing supplies. There was only one present left under the giant Christmas tree, and the supersoldier felt every one of his 94 years as he handed it to his boyfriend.

"I couldn't find anything in the stores that felt right, so I decided to make something instead...I really hope you like it."

Tony eagerly ripped open the package and pulled out the canvas. The entire room fell silent as they stared at what was painted on it.

It was the piano from the mansion. Only instead of just Tony sitting on the bench, his mother María was painted next to him. It was so realistic that one would think it was just an everyday photograph taken of the pair. On the bottom of the portrait in gorgeous calligraphy, was a portion of lyrics from the last song she ever played.

"Try to remember the kind of September

When love was an ember about to billow

Try to remember and if you remember

Then follow, follow"

Tony looked from the canvas,to Steve,to the canvas,and back again. Tears began to overflow his eyes as he carefully set the artwork onto the floor.

For a moment Steve thought he'd made a terrible mistake, but then Tony wrapped himself tightly around him, burying his face in his chest.

"Tony?"

He could feel his suit shirt getting damp from the crying, but when Tony looked up at him he was smiling.

"You...you gave me my mom back...Thank you."

"Anything for you,sweetheart."

The party slowly began to pick back up around them, but they were too wrapped up in each other to notice. Nat made sure to snap a quick picture with her phone while they were distracted.

After all, perfect moments like this only happen once in a lifetime.