Steve hid a grin. "Let me go move my bike, then, so it won't be in the way," he said.

"You do that," Elaine said, smiling. "I'll claim us some sleeping space."

Steve grinned and went to go move his bike out of the way, setting it in a clear spot in the driveway before making his way back inside.

Elaine managed to secure a fold-out mattress, and was subtly using a bit of magic to get it set up quicker. Because yes, she did want to snuggle in with him, and she wanted to now.

Steve noticed and grinned, but he didn't say anything. He just helped her get everything set up before he took off his shoes and jacket, getting ready to settle in for the night.

Once the bed was set up, Elaine climbed onto it and waited for him to join her. Everyone else was settling in for the night, so she was more than ready to follow suit.

Steve settled in next to her, letting her get comfortable before draping an arm over her.

Now he just had to remember that he couldn't wake up quite so early as normal the next morning.

Elaine knew what he was thinking; it wasn't hard to guess.

"You can still go on your run in the morning," she said to him softly. She snuggled closer. "Nobody will mind. The rule is there for the kids, so us adults don't get jumped on too early."

Steve grinned briefly. "I might sleep in anyway," he said quietly, pulling her closer. "It is Christmas, after all." And one day wouldn't kill him.

Elaine smiled.

"I'd like that," she said. She settled in as the lights were turned off and the family tried to get a bit of sleep before morning. A few times throughout the night, she woke up from the sound of the the little cousins trying to sneak down the hall to see if Santa had come yet. It happened four or five times over the course of the night.

Steve woke up too, but he always went back to sleep. He woke up at his normal early hour, yawned, and settled in closer to Elaine to sleep for a while longer.

Elaine stirred when Steve did, mostly out of habit. She was used to him getting up early.

"Time?" she murmured quietly, cracking one eye open to look at him.

"Just after 6," Steve said. "'m not getting up yet." He resettled his arm over her.

"Good," Elaine mumbled, snuggling in closer. She drifted back off to sleep immediately.

Steve got up when he heard children coming down the stairs, and he cracked a grin. Apparently they'd decided it was time for Christmas to start properly.

"Time to get up," he said, nudging Elaine.

"Already?" Elaine asked, sitting up and stretching. "I don't remember it being quite so early when I was six."

Steve just laughed quietly and shook his head, getting to his feet.

"When should I let the others know they can come? After the general mayhem of opening presents?"

"Now that everyone's awake, they can show up when they like," Elaine said, sliding out of bed as well. She stretched.

Steve nodded and sent the message along to Clint and Bruce, since he figured they were the two most likely to be up already.

Bruce was indeed up, having been woken by Kae, who was working on waking the others. She assured them that they would be welcome any time after seven, although Bruce was still a bit skeptical of that.

Elaine says you lot can come over whenever you want now, Steve texted Bruce. The kids are already up so everyone will be up in the next few minutes.

Bruce saw the text, and sent one back.

Kae has been saying the same thing. She's working on waking the others.

Steve snorted. Wish her luck for me. Head over whenever anyone's up, we're not going anywhere.

Will do. With that, Bruce went to help Kae get everyone up and moving.

It only took half an hour to get everyone up and dressed enough to get going over to the house. Kae was already wide awake, so she'd shoved coffee at those who needed it (like Tony and Clint). And she led the way into the house, grinning briefly.

"Ah, the mayhem, how I've missed this."