Steve drew them both in for a hug, holding them close, burying his face in first one head of hair and then the other and breathing them in. "There is no place I would rather be than here with you," he told them both. "Now, no more worries and no more tears. It's Christmas, and we're all together, and we're always going to be together. Even if I have to go away sometimes, I will always come back. Promise."

Cuddled in close, Lianne sighed happily, glad that Papa was home for Christmas. A thought occurred to her, and she raised her head, glancing furtively toward the kitchen before whispering loudly, "Did you bring Mama's presents?"

Steve smiled at his daughter's question and laid a finger against her lips. "Yes, but no telling. It's a surprise," he whispered. And that wasn't the only surprise he'd brought with him - he'd brought back a sack of presents that was big enough to almost rival Santa's.

Cheering happily, Lianne squeezed Steve tightly for a moment before backing off. "You are wearing your shoes in the living room," she informed her father disapprovingly. "I made a picture and Martin helped! Where did we put the picture?" Her eyes turned inquiringly to her big brother, demanding to know the location of their handiwork silently.

Steve laughed. It was just like a woman to scold him and want to please him all in the same breath, even if that woman was a tiny one like Lianne.

"Mama put it on the refrigerator," Martin replied, pronouncing the word one syllable at a time.

"Why don't you fetch the picture while I take my shoes off?" Steve asked. There was also the question of that sack on the porch he was going to have to hide somewhere.

"Okay, Papa!" Nodding happily, Lianne grabbed her brother's hand and dragged him into the kitchen to find the picture they had heavily decorated together earlier that day. It was mostly glue and glitter, but there were discernible shapes that might have been stars and reindeer in the shining chaos. Jamie was given the honor of carrying it back out of the kitchen - Martin, on the other hand, had the distinct privilege of carrying a tray of hot cocoa, with Lianne carrying the plate of cookies behind him. Because Lucy needed a moment, caught between roiling hormones and sheer, unfettered relief on seeing Steve home and safe when she had been so worried all day.

While the children were fetching the drawing, Steve took off his shoes and his coat and made sure the Christmas surprises were well hidden on the porch for later. By the time he was finished, the children were there to present him with the drawing and with the hot cocoa and cookies. As happy as he was to be home, Steve frowned to find Lucy still hadn't joined them. "Where's your mother?" he asked, unable to hide the concern on his face, worrying she was either angry with him for not calling or that something was wrong with the babies.

"All sniffly," Jamie informed him, his mouth already full of cookie as he nestled down next to Martin, poring over the picture he hadn't seen properly yet.

Lianne looked up at Steve. "Mama said she would only be a minute."

Sniffly didn't sound good, but he didn't want to alarm the children by making a fuss, so he only nodded his head and joined the children on the couch.

"She's okay," Martin assured his father as he very carefully set the tray down on the coffee table. "She was just worried."

"I'm sorry," Steve apologized again. "I didn't mean to worry you all."

"Is Aunty Tasha all right now?" Lianne asked, dipping her finger into each of the cups to find the one that was cool enough for Jamie to drink. "Mama said that she was the one who called for you this time."

"Aunty Tasha is just fine," Steve assured her, offering no further explanation and leaning over to take a look at the picture his children had made for him. "Oh, that's very ....sparkly, isn't it?" he asked as he admired the picture and tried to discern what it was supposed to be a drawing of. Martin was making a face as he watched his sister dip her finger into each of the cups.

Lianne stuck her tongue out at Martin, finally locating the right cup and picking it up to give it to Jamie who, true to form, downed half of it before realizing that it was warm. Giggling at her little brother's chocolate mustache, she claimed her own cup and nestled in beside him, pointing out the special shapes on the glittery picture.

There was one thing about glitter - it got everywhere, and by the time Lianne was finished pointing out the various shapes and explaining what they were, all four of their hands and faces were sparkling with traces of glitter as the picture had been passed back and forth. "We'll have to hang it up in a place of honor," Steve said, knowing that place of honor would probably be the fridge again. "Why don't I go do that while you drink your cocoa" I'll be right back," he told them, touching a kiss to the top of each child's head before he moved to his feet, careful not to upset the cocoa and cookie tray.

"M'kay." It was Lianne who answered, smiling innocently up at him as she cuddled into the couch with Martin and Jamie, enjoying their cocoa and cookies together.

Lucy was still in the kitchen, obsessively wiping down surfaces as she struggled to get her emotions under control. The last thing she wanted to do was show Steve wet eyes, especially on Christmas Eve.

"It's okay, Dad. We'll keep an eye on Jamie," Martin volunteered for both himself and his sister, though as the eldest, he felt it was really his responsibility to watch out for his two younger siblings. He was also old enough to know that his mother needed a little consoling, and that their father was the only one who could do it.

"I won't be long," Steve promised, ruffling Martin's hair affectionately before making his way to the kitchen.

When he got to the kitchen, his wife was leaning on the counter, apparently looking out through the window, but on closer inspection, she was just staring into space, trying desperately to calm down. "This really isn't appropriate, Lucille," she was informing herself quietly. "It's Christmas Eve, stop being a cry-baby and go enjoy it with your family, you ridiculous woman."

And suddenly there were two strong, warm arms wrapped around her waist and two soft lips kissing her cheek. "Don't cry, Luce. I'm home. Everyone is safe. Johnny and Liv will be joining us tomorrow, and we'll all be together," he reminded her gently.

She almost jumped, startled to find him right there even as she leaned back into his arms. "I'm sorry," she apologized softly, resting her temple against his for a long moment. "It's just ....it's been a long day, and I couldn't face telling them you might not make it. And now you're here, and safe, and ....and I'm crying, this is stupid!"

"I promised I'd be home in time for Christmas," he reminded her again. "Did you really think I'd miss it?" he asked, brows furrowed, though she couldn't clearly see his expression with her back turned. "I'm sorry I'm late. I wanted to surprise you, not make you upset," he told her, feeling horribly guilty, and unable to hide it from his voice as he spoke.

"I'm not upset!" She twisted about in his arms, sliding her own about him. "I'm not upset," she promised, in a slightly calmer voice. "I'm happy, and I'm relieved, and I'm hormonal. I was like this with Jamie, remember? You caught me crying over a toilet roll advertisement because the puppy was so cute. We're in for another few months of that, I'm afraid."

"There's not much we can do about that," he said, once Lianne had scampered away. "She's always gonna be my Li-Li. They're just gonna have to learn how to share us." He knew it wasn't going to be easy on the boys either, particularly Jamie, to have to share their mother. He wasn't too worried about Martin. He seemed pretty secure with his place as the eldest son.

"I know," Lucy smiled. "And I'm not worried about it, to be honest. It'll be hardest for the first six months, but we'll have plenty of help. Liv's already offered to take the twins whenever we need them to, so we can spend time - proper time - with the others."

"God, Luce ....We're gonna have five kids!" Steve said with a chuckle, as if he was just realizing this. He moved over to the couch, still on the floor so that he could lay his head against the bump where the cat had been resting a moment before.

"I know!" she laughed, stroking her fingers through his hair. Under his cheek, gentle movement suggested that the twins were settling down for the night themselves, more content now that Steve was home and Lucy was no longer tight with worry. "We can do it. Although I might have to have my tubes tied to stop your swimmers from getting me up the duff again."

"Sorry!" he found himself apologizing again. He'd never considered the fact that his "swimmers" might inherit his enhanced constitution, not to mention Lucy's inherited tendency toward multiple births. "One more and we'll have half a dozen," he teased.

She giggled, bending down to kiss his forehead. "Five is quite enough to be going on with, thank you," she chuckled affectionately. "One more than I ever really considered having, to be honest. I never really thought of myself as ever having twins - I was more wishing that on Liv, to be honest."

"They're not far behind us," Steve reminded her, touching a kiss to the baby bump that housed their twins. "I want to be here as much as I can," he told her, feeling torn between family and duty. Both were equally important, but with twins on the way, he was leaning toward family.

"I know you do, love," she assured him. "I promise, I'm not always as shaky as I have been today. I'm so glad to have you home for Christmas, but I do understand the need for you on Earth. I know as well as you do that something is brewing, and that Hydra won't take having their S.H.I.E.L.D. funding removed lying down. But for just a couple of days, let's try to leave all that at the door" For the kids, if nothing else."

"The others can handle things without me for a while once the twins are born," he promised, turning quiet as his fingers were in gentle caress of her baby bump. He promised himself it was the last time he'd mention work, at least until after Christmas. As much as it worried him, thinking and talking about it robbed them of the peace and solace they enjoyed as a family. "Love you, Luce," he murmured quietly, glad to be home.

"Love you back, Steve," she promised him softly, bending her head to kiss his hair. "And I apologize in advance if these two kick you in the stomach in bed - I have no control over your baby girls."

He laughed at her apology. If that was the most he had to worry about, life was pretty good. "I don't mind. I've been kicked by a lot worse," he told her with a smirk. He turned his face toward hers, leaning toward her so that he could brush his lips against hers, knowing he was taking a chance at being caught in the act again, but not really caring. If their children didn't already know how much he loved her, then it was about time they found out.

She smiled against his lips, stroking her fingertips through his hair as they shared that affection in the soft light from the fire and the Christmas tree. Drawing back, she sighed happily, nuzzling to him for a long moment. "I'll go and get the bits out for Santa," she said. "They won't settle until they know everything is prepared for the visitor." And she was planning on calling Natasha and Pepper, too, just to warn the two most organized people involved with the mansion that Boxing Day was compulsory.

"I'll go see what?s taking them so long," he said, a little reluctant to part from her, but once the kids were in bed, they'd have plenty of time to snuggle. He kissed her again, just for good measure, before getting to his feet and helping her to hers.

She needed all the help she could get when it came to extracting herself from the couch these days, but Lucy didn't mind so much. It was only going to get worse before it got better, after all. "Go on, then," she told him fondly. "Mind out when you go into the boys' room - Jamie's been talking about setting up a trap to catch Santa."

"A trap?" Steve echoed, laughing. "I'll consider myself warned." Wouldn't that be funny, especially considering the true identity of Santa. As he headed toward the stairs, he could already hear the children jockeying for spots at the sink so they could brush their teeth.

Lucy chuckled in his wake. The last he heard before he was out of earshot of his wife was her voice as she connected with Earth. "Hey, Pepper - do you and Tony have plans for Boxing Day' Well, now you do ..."

In the bathroom upstairs, Jamie was at the back of the queue, his mouth full of foamy toothpaste, waiting patiently for his turn to rinse and spit. Lianne was hogging the sink, scrubbing her face with her pink flannel and resisting all attempts to move her on.

Even the most perfect children argued sometimes, and when all three of them were excited and exhausted, there were bound to be a few conflicts. While Jamie seemed content to foam at the mouth, Martin was clearly irritated and scolding his sister in their native French.

It was right about then that Steve appeared, using that stealth of his again to sneak up on them. "How's it going? Lianne, you're going to rub your skin raw if you keep scrubbing. Let your brother rinse the toothpaste out of his mouth before he drips all over the floor, please."

"I was just going to, Papa," was his daughter's innocent reply in the face of all the evidence, neatly stepping aside to grab her towel and dry her face as Jamie bounced up to spit his mouthful into the sink and immediately jumped back down again so Martin could have his turn. The toddler turned around to show off his bright smile to his father, raising his hands to be carried back downstairs, however briefly.

Martin looked slightly annoyed as his sister sucked up to their father and Jamie flashed him a grin, but Steve only ruffled his hair again before reaching to pick up the littlest of the Rogers children. "Your mother is in the kitchen setting out a treat for Santa," he told the trio.

"I'll be there in a moment, Papa," Martin promised as he went about scrubbing his own face and teeth and combing his hair. He'd been switching lately between Papa and Dad when addressing Steve, as if he wasn't quite sure which was correct, but Steve happily answered to both.

"So will I, Papa," Lianne piped up, suddenly scurrying out of the bathroom and into her own room. Steve was treated to the sight of his daughter peeking furtively out through her own door, making sure Martin was still in the bathroom, and sneaking across the hall into her big brother's room with a small wrapped package in her hands, which was carefully tucked underneath his pillow before she snuck back out again. Jamie snickered next to his ear, resting his head on Steve's shoulder.

"But Li, they had Jamie before they had us, and they still love us just as much. Papa always says you're his girl. Are you afraid he won't love you anymore?" Martin asked, trying to understand. He had never worried about his place in the family or whether or not his parents loved him, but maybe that was because he was the eldest.

"I won't be his girl anymore, I'll be one of his girls," Lianne confessed. She was too young to feel ashamed of how selfish this sounded, but a part of her felt something, enough not to want their parents to know how worried she was about losing her place in their family.

Martin wasn't sure, but Lianne's worries seemed to have more to do with their father than their mother, for some reason, and he wasn't quite sure how to console her and assure her that nothing was going to change as far as their love was concerned. "You'll be the eldest girl. Our sisters will look to you to help them, like I help you and Jamie," Martin pointed out, hoping that might help.

"Truly?" Clearly that thought had not occurred to her, judging by the way her face lit up at the prospect. "Like ....like Fliss is with Maria and Beth' I-I could be our Fliss?"

"Fliss is a little older than us, but oui ....pourquoi pas" You are good with Jamie, too. He adores you. Anyone can see that in the way he follows you around. And you can help Mama with the babies, the way Fliss helps Tante Olivia," he pointed out further, glad she was seeing things another way now.

"And Mama is like Tante Olivia, and they did not have so much trouble when Beth was born," Lianne whispered wonderingly, a slow smile crossing her face. Pleased with this interpretation, she wriggled about to hug her big brother. "Merci, mon frere. Happy Christmas."

"De rien," Martin replied, hugging her back, glad he was able to help, though he knew there might be more touchy moments in the days and weeks to come. "Happy Christmas, ma soeur. Je t'aime," he offered further, smooching her cheek.

"Je t'aime," she whispered back to him, cuddling in and almost squawking in shock as a small hand gripped her hip. "Jamie!" She giggled at the sight of their little brother trying to scramble up onto the bed with them.

Martin laughed to find Jamie joining them, not wanting to be left out. "Get in the middle so you don't fall out," Martin instructed their younger brother. "But you have to promise to go to sleep, or Santa won't visit!" he told them both.

"Promise," Jamie insisted, kicking his way underneath the covers in between his siblings.

A quiet complaint from the end of the bed suggested that Cherie might be sleeping with Thor tonight, making Lianne giggle quietly as she cuddled down next to her brothers. "Bonne nuit, mes freres."

"Bonne nuit!" Martin replied, making sure both Jamie and Lianne were tucked in before settling down himself, a smile on his face. It was good to be part of a family again and to know they were loved. If there was anything he was wishing for Christmas, it was that it would always be this way for their little family and that nothing would ever change the love and security they shared.

Little did he know that his parents shared that wish. It was the right sort of Christmas miracle ....the kind that really happens, not because of some divine intervention, but through love and determination, and the Rogers had that in spades. No matter what the New Year threw at them, they'd stick together. All of them.