"I'm not the one who yelled at her," Bruce pointed out, settling back on the couch. He pointed towards the kitchen. "Go."

Tony looked rebellious for a few moments before he sighed and got to his feet. Then he suddenly perked up.

"Hey, you didn't deny it!"

"There's nothing to deny," Bruce said evenly. "You know it's impossible, Tony. Now go."

Tony sighed but trudged into the kitchen and over to Kae. "So I may have been too harsh with you earlier," he admitted grudgingly.

"You might have been." Kae watched him, pushing a few more veggies off the cutting board and into a pan.

"So... we're cool now right?"

"Nope."

Tony made a face. "You're going to make me actually say it aren't you?"

"Yes. Yes I am."

He sighed. "I'm sorry, Kae. I was being a dick. Happy?"

"Yes." Kae grinned. "Now we're cool. And stop bugging Bruce and reading into things you think you see."

Tony looked at her for a moment before he grinned and walked away. Somehow Kae was not reassured.

Bruce listened to the exchange for a moment before nodding once he was sure Tony had apologized.

Elaine also listened, and went to settle in next to Steve once she was sure things were clear between Tony and Kae again.

Steve pulled her closer as soon as she sat down, keeping his arm around her. Hey, Tony could tease him all he wanted, but until Elaine protested he'd keep this up.

Things go fairly easily after that, right up until Christmas Eve. The day itself is unusually calm and quiet in the tower, and it doesn't take Elaine long at all to realize it.

"Has anyone seen Steve?" she asked to the group at large.

"He said he had to go out to do something," Bruce volunteered. "Not sure what, though, sorry."

"Nope, no idea where he vanished to," Tony said without looking up from the chess game. He was currently thrashing Clint, taking his time to draw out the torture.

"I'm sure he'll be back soon," Kae said from where she was sitting next to Bruce, her legs tucked under her with her feet just touching his thigh as she read.

Elaine gave a small, dejected nod and settled in with her ipod to listen to an audiobook for a while. She hadn't realized just how much she missed Steve when he wasn't there.

Steve didn't get back for another hour and a half, and then he went straight to a chair and sat down, even quieter than normal. Tony took one look at him and decided that now probably wasn't the best time to be teasing the super soldier.

But he did so anyway.

"Looking kinda tired there, Cap, go for a long run? Or did you find some aliens to beat the crap out of without us?"

Steve gave him a Look. "Nothing like that, Tony." But he didn't offer any details, and Kae hit Tony before he could ask.

Elaine paused her book when she heard the door open, and took out one of her earbuds.

"Is everything alright?" she asked softly after listening to the exchange.

"Yeah," Steve said quietly. "It's just been a long day." He stretched a little, looking at Tony. He knew the next day was going to be a big day, in more way than one, and he wasn't quite sure entirely how he felt about that. Not right then.

Elaine gave an uncertain nod, but hesitated in going to sit with him. Judging by how he sounded at the moment, she wasn't entirely sure she would be welcome.

Steve gave up after an hour of sitting around watching the others relax. "I think I'm going to turn in early. See you all in the morning." He got up and walked past Elaine, touching her shoulder briefly to let her know that he wasn't mad at her. He just needed a bit of time.

"Sleep well," Elaine said softly as he walked by. She was still worried about him, but she wasn't going to stop him. However, after another fifteen minutes or so, she got up as well. "I'm going to head to bed. Anyone wakes me up earlier than seven gets hit with my cane." She paused for a moment. "That's not a threat, it's a long-standing rule."

Kae snickered. "It is. She's done it before," she said with a grin. "I wouldn't recommend testing it, either. She's got great aim for coming straight out of sleep."

"I've even done it to Kae," Elaine said, nodding. "Anyways. I'm gone." With that, she turned and headed into her room.

Which is why Tony went into her room at 7:02 the next morning, poking her awake. From a safe distance. Using one of Kae's old crutches.

"Rise and shine!" he said, far too cheerfully, grinning. Then he paused. "You know, I never understood that saying."

Elaine groaned and burrowed further into her bed, pulling the covers up all the way over her head.

"Too early," she mumbled.

"It's after 7," Tony said. "And if you don't get up now I'll just carry you out. Come on. We've got an appointment to keep."

That got Elaine's attention, and she poked her head out of the covers again.

"What?"

"Appointment. In an hour. You'll be late." Tony grinned. "Come on, up. Or I'll carry you out and I won't be as nice as Capsicle about it."

"Tony, what are you talking about?" Elaine asked, sitting up. She ran a hand through her hair briefly before preemptively giving up on brushing it.

"I'm talking about your Christmas present. Trust me, you'll like it. Now get moving!" Tony poked her once more in the hopes that she'd get up.

Elaine habitually grabbed her cane and poked back, before reluctantly getting up.

"What on earth was I given for Christmas that requires getting up and dressed?" she asked.