"You too." Steve smiled. "Looks like everything's a little quieter than last time I was here." He grinned, a wicked little gleam in his eyes.

Kae snickered and elbowed Tony, making him help her carry food into the kitchen. She had promised, after all.

"Don't be fooled," Kenny said wisely, still grinning. "There's a reason the Clan has a standing rule that Christmas morning doesn't start before seven a.m." He was about to say something else when there was a tug on his jeans. Alexis peeked out from behind him, wearing a slightly bigger version of her Thor costume from last time, although the black-and-red tutu was the same. She was staring at Thor himself in awe.

Thor noticed her and grinned, moving over and kneeling down to get a better look at her. "You must be the little warrior who sent me a letter last year," he said, his voice at surprisingly closer to normal decibel levels.

Alexis nodded, still mostly hiding behind her dad. Kenny smiled indulgently at her and nudged her forward a bit. Jane just watched, not entirely sure what was going on.

"I am honored to finally meet you in person," Thor said with a smile. "I see you are still garbed as a warrior! But you seem to be missing something..." He tilted his head, surveying her for a few moments. "A hammer."

Alexis blinked, and then her eyes widened a bit when she realized what he was talking about.

"Really?" she ventured.

"Of course. Any little warrior needs a hammer," Thor said. "Perhaps Mjolnir for this Yuletide."

Alexis gasped softly and grinned brightly. It was practically the best day of her life!

Thor unhooked the hammer from his belt and placed it on the ground in front of them, beckoning her closer so she could stand in front of him.

Kae grinned and moved over to Jane, nudging her. "He's interacting with a small child," she murmured. "Pay attention and see how well he does."

Alexis stepped closer hesitantly, her fluffy tutu bouncing a bit. She looked at him hopefully.

"I'm completely impressed," Jane murmured back. "I had no idea he was so good with kids."

Thor smiled encouragingly, wrapping her hand around the hammer before putting his hand over hers and lifting it.

Kae nodded. "Most of the time it's hard to tell until they're around kids," she said, grinning briefly. "He's definitely a keeper."

Alexis's eyes lit up as she gasped because everyone knew that nobody but Thor could lift the hammer unless they were worthy and she was lifting the hammer.

Kenny just watched, grinning a bit. He knew what was really happening, and he appreciated what Thor was doing for Alexis.

Thor let her hold the hammer up for a few more moments (and he knew there were pictures being taken because he could hear it) before he gently lowered the hammer back to the floor.

"I knew you were a little warrior," he said, beaming down at Alexis.

Alexis bounced on the balls of her feet and hugged him.

"Thank you!" she chirped.

"It was truly my pleasure," Thor replied, hugging her back gently before releasing her. Well, now he knew he'd made someone's Yuletide.

Alexis grinned and bounced off to brag to the other cousins about what had just happened.

Thor chuckled and stood, reattaching Mjolnir to his belt and going to rejoin Jane.

Kae looked at Elaine and 'awww'ed silently, grinning. That was just too cute.

Jane looked at Thor.

"I had no idea you were so good with kids," she said, tucking herself against his side.

"I have dealt with children on Asgard," Thor said, looping his arm around her gently. "Although I will admit I do not usually do so well with them."

"I'm impressed," Jane replied, cuddling a bit.

Elsewhere in the house, Elaine had already been handed her little nephew Landon to look after for a few minutes. She had the thirteen-month-old propped on one hip as she chatted with one of her uncles. Her cousins that were obsessed with Stark-tech were scrambling for any bit of technology they could find for Tony to sign and make priceless.

Tony, of course, was loving every minute of it, signing anything and everything they brought him.

"Hey, Peps, we still have those cells with us? The ones we haven't put into production yet?"

Kae was keeping near Bruce to make sure he was fine, even as she chatted with some of the family easily.

Steve had found a few of Elaine's uncles to talk war and tactics with.

Pepper sighed. Even when she wasn't at work, she was at work.

"A few of them," she said, nodding. She knew exactly where his line of thought was going.

"Great." Tony grinned, already planning to give them to the cousins. For beta-testing. Of course.

Pepper rolled her eyes, but made a mental note to have the phones written off.

Meanwhile, Elaine (still with Landon) made her way over to Steve.

"Having fun?" she asked.

"Yeah." Steve grinned. "Your uncles are as entertaining as I remember." He blinked at the little one but didn't ask.