Chapter 1

Bruce is not ashamed to admit that, after hearing the stories of what happened last team Christmas, he's more than slightly scared as he walks into the common area on the first of December. He's more than a little relieved to find no Christmas music playing and no sign of Peter, Wanda or Wade anywhere.

'I was expecting some kind of Christmas goblin to have vomited everywhere,' he admits, taking a seat at the breakfast bar next to Sam, 'but this seems very subdued after the stories Natasha told me.'

'That's because Pete stayed the night at Ned's and Wanda isn't up yet. She and Vision went out for dinner last night and didn't get back until late,' Tony laughs.

'Don't tell me you're a Scrooge,' Sam points a mocking-stern finger at him, 'or you won't last long in this place over Christmas.'

'I used to love Christmas,' Bruce admits, 'but the Other Guy used to get a bit jumpy around the holidays so I started avoiding it.'

'Perhaps this event you speak of will solve your issue with the Hulk not always being willing to come out,' Thor laughs from the sofa.

'Are you telling me, all the years you've spent around us, and you don't know what Christmas is?' Tony demands.

'I have never taken part in this event,' Thor admits.

'Even I know what Christmas is, brother,' Loki rolls his eyes, 'how have you been able to avoid knowledge of it?'

'Well, what is it then?' Valkyrie grumbles. 'Not all of us have been here before you know.'

'It's the Midgard equivalent to our Yule celebrations. The reason you never took part is most likely because you'd returned to Asgard for Yule,' Loki explains, addressing the last part to his brother. 'Except there is quite a lot of differences between the reasons for the celebration, and also in the actual celebrations themselves. I for one have never quite understood the concept of a red clothed man flying through the sky in a chariot.'

Sam bursts out laughing. 'Are you talking about Santa?'

'Makes sense that he wouldn't understand about the guy that brings gifts to everyone who's been good,' Tony teases the trickster, earning himself an eyeroll.

'So how do you explain you knowing him so well?' Sam laughs, then he turns to the three Asgardians. 'So what do you do at Yule then? I mean I've heard Yule celebrations happen here on Earth, but I imagine it's not the same as yours.'

'I did attend one or two in the past,' Loki admits, 'when I was travelling the galaxy incognito, and they were not too dissimilar. I imagine they are very much like what our ancestors would have done to celebrate Yule.'

'So, what is it?' Bruce asks. 'I mean I know what is it for people here on Earth, but what is it for you? Sounds like a big thing.'

'It's the celebration of the end of the decline into winter and the start of the beginning of the year heading back towards summer and the plenty of the harvest,' Valkyrie is the one to explain, 'and it is also the time to remember and honour the dead that we have lost during the last year. Everyone stops working for the duration of the celebration and families are reunited and spend the time together preparing for the feast at the end.'

'We used to have the whole kingdom join us,' Thor says, a huge smile on his face as he remembers, 'and all the best hunters would go on a hunt to bring down enough game to feed everyone at the feast. There was more food and drink than people could eat.'

'The Queen would organise plays and entertainments,' Valkyrie adds, 'and they would last through the whole celebration, even during the preparations, and they'd all lead up to the big dance at the end which would open the feast.'

'Just how long did this thing last?' Tony asks, eyes wide.

'Twelve days,' Loki is the one to respond this time, 'we would spend eleven of the days preparing for the celebration on the twelfth.'

'And what of this Christmas you speak of?' Thor asks. 'Tell us, friends, about this celebration of yours.'

And so Tony, Bruce and Sam between them explain about Christmas, including some of the different traditions that some families have that are different to others.

'Why don't we combine it all this year?' Sam suggests. 'When is Yule supposed to be celebrated?'

'On the shortest day of the year,' Loki answers, 'to signal the end of winter.'

'So December the twenty-first,' Tony muses out loud.

'We could celebrate Yule up to the twenty-first,' Sam suggests, 'and invite others to come and celebrate it with us, and then celebrate Christmas afterwards. Might be fun to do something different and may stop Wanda and Peter becoming the terrible Christmas goblins again.'

Tony laughs. 'I imagine they'll be worse with Wade here this year.'

'When is he due back from his assignment?' Bruce asks, already nervous of the man's return. If anyone was going to make Hulk come out it would be the borderline-insane mercenary.

'Couple of days,' Tony responds, 'hence why Pete was staying with Ned last night. Meant he didn't have to do the longer journey in to school today, apparently they also had a project due in and it meant he could go on patrol after school and still have time to get it done.' He claps his hands and rubs them together. 'Alright you three what do we need to do to celebrate Yule?'

'Surely you're jesting?' Thor says, looking between the three of them in surprise. 'You really wish to celebrate our Asgardian traditions?'

'Of course, Point Break,' Tony smiles at him, 'you guys are a part of this team, so it's only right we try and celebrate as much of your traditions as we can, especially as you'll be celebrating ours.' Thor lets lose a laugh and pulls Tony into a hug that has Bruce wincing in sympathy.

'Thor stop trying to break Tony!' Loki scolds, pulling his brother from the inventor. 'Honestly! I would have thought you'd have learnt to control your strength with mortals by now.'

'Apologies, Tony,' Thor looks sheepish. 'I was so grateful I'm afraid I got a little carried away.'

'No damage done,' Tony's voice is a little strained, but as FRIDAY hasn't raised an alarm yet Bruce assumes what he's saying is true. 'Why don't you three have a think about what parts of the Yule traditions we may be able to do here and we can discuss it over dinner? I think everyone but Wade is due in tonight so it'll be a good time to talk it over, and I'm sure he won't mind us deciding a few things while he's away.'

'Agreed,' Valkyrie says with a smile, 'and thank you, Stark, it shall be good to celebrate Yule again.'

'Not that you'll remember it the next morning if you can get your hands on enough drink,' Loki smirks, flickering out of sight as a cushion is launched in his direction and reappearing, cackling, at the breakfast bar next to Sam.

'I hate it when he does that,' she grumbles.

'Don't we all,' Bruce sighs, rubbing his temples. He's not sure whether this is going to be worse or better than last team Christmas, but it's certainly going to be just as interesting.