"I've never seen Santa," Peter said, sipping his juice box. At age eight, he was beginning to become sceptical of the existence of Santa. "How do I know he exists? For all I know, you hold be the one leaving the presents beneath the tree." 

Tony sipped his own juice box, the pair of them sitting in a cold park, eating hot chips and throwing bread at Clint, Sam and a flock of pigeons. They were all eating it happily, especially Clint, because they had bought his favourite type of bread- sour dough bread. 

"Why don't you try to catch him? He's coming tomorrow night, if you camp out you can probably glimpse him." Tony said, nibbling a chip and shooing away a stray Sam, who obviously wanted a chip. 

Peter sat up, eyes lighting up. "Really?! Can I borrow one of your cameras?" 

Tony's mind wandered over to the memory of Peter shoving the camera in a kettle to see what it looked like on the inside. "No." He replied shortly, sipping his juice once more. 

Peter deflated slightly. 

"You can check the security cameras if you need to though." 

Peter perked up again, shoving the last three chips into his mouth. 

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Peter was fast asleep in his room, and the rest of the avengers were crowded into the lab, Clint and Sam quietly fighting over a loaf of bread. 

"Okay, so here's the plan... we need to convince Peter that Santa is one hundred percent real, and to do that, I need one of you to dress up as Santa, and I need one of you to slip a sleeping pill in his drink."

"I'll do the sleeping pill!" Natasha blurted out, causing all eyes to turn to her. 

"No offence Nat, but last time you experimented with chemicals you paralysed Clint for-"

"I don't need to do the making of it, Brucie can do that I can just slip it into his drink." 

"Alright, and who's going to be Santa?" 

The room remained silent. 

"Why don't you just hire a mall Santa to do it or something?" Bucky suggested, rocking on his chair and spinning a dagger in his fingers. 

"Pfff, What mall Santa is going to want to sneak into the tower at twelve at night and deliver presents?" 

A lot, apparently.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

The auditions were held in the gym while Peter had a play date with Ned, different people dressed as Santa coming in, acting like Santa, and carrying massive sacks of presents around. They were judged mainly on appearance, for Peter was more likely to see Santa than hear him or talk to him, since Peter was going to be asleep when he came. 

They ended up hiring someone called Borris Yoghurtface, an old man with a large white beard, round glasses and a large, rounded tummy. He also had a very realistic suit, which was red and thick and had real fur lining the inside and the edges. It was a more realistic look on the traditional Santa suit. 

He was much better than some of the other people pretending, one smelling like cigarettes and wearing a very fake looking suit and beard, another obviously drunk as they stumbled out into the gym. There was also one lady who was homeless and had made a suit out of a red hoodie and some white paint, desperate to get some money so she could feed her two kids, who waited just by the door. 

Tony ended up giving her some money anyway, because she needed food desperately. Clint shared some of his bread too, but refused to give any to Sam. Sam was sad and Steve ended up needing to hug him. 

Peter came home just after lunchtime, showing everyone he saw the present Ned had given him- a Star Trek lego set, that was already used before, and missing one piece (the head of the lego man). 

Peter had also given Ned something, which was a box of homemade Christmas cookies, which were messy and distorted, but tasted delicious thanks to Wanda's great cooking skills- she had helped him bake them.

After he had assembled his lego set, Peter watched a Christmas movie called Arthur Christmas, munching on popcorn and sipping another juice box, though this one was a super healthy (and rather untasty) and Steve had bought it while it was on special. It was even caught by paparazzi and an article was written about it. 

Steve Rogers loves a good special! 

Steve Rogers, aka Captain America and hero of earth, member of the Avengers, earth's mightiest heroes, enjoys a special- Timothy's earthy juice boxes, usually on an average price of $4.50, was down to $3.95 for the holiday season earlier today. 

Steve snags the last set of juice boxes on the shelf, throwing it among the six boxes of pop tarts, and seven loaves of bread. 

Another article had a different take on the photo. 

Does Captain America have a child?

Captain America, Steve Rogers, was photographed buying juice boxes and pop tarts yesterday morning in a small grocery shop. 

Why would the grown adult, superhero, want to buy juice boxes or pop tarts- foods traditionally eaten by children? 

Because, he has a child of his own. 

We had our reporter, Samantha Wither investigate. 

"Mr Rogers, is it true you have a child?" She asks, catching up with him as he walks back from his morning run. Sam Wilson, beside him, laughs, and we feel this is because he knows Rogers has been caught. 

"No," Rogers frowns. "Why do you think so?" 

"You bought pop tarts and juice boxes yesterday. What do you have to say about that?" 

Rogers and Wilson laugh. 

"Thor has an obsession with pop tarts, and I haven't seen any laws saying it's illegal for an adult to drink juice boxes." 

After the movie was over, Peter changed into his ironman onesie and went on a walk with his mum (Steve) his dad (Tony) his Auntie Tasha, his auntie Pepper (who was with his dad) and his grandma (Bucky, who was with his mum). They were going to get some dinner and look at the Christmas lights. 

By the time they were returning, Peter was being carried by Steve, head resting on his shoulder, though he wasn't asleep- yet. 

Once home, Peter set up a fort with blankets, cushions, snacks and a torch. He was in perfect view of the Christmas tree, the lights lighting up most of the room. 

He set out some of his homemade biscuits, as well as a glass of milk and a couple of carrots for the reindeer. 

Then he sat in his fort, excitedly waiting for Santa to turn up. It was at this point that Natasha offered him her hot chocolate special- a hot chocolate with three- yes, three marshmallows, a large amount of whipped cream, a candy cane, and flakes of chocolate on top. As well as sleeping pills, but nobody needed to know that. 

Peter promptly fell asleep after drinking half of his hot chocolate, and Natasha emptied the rest down the sink before anyone else drank it and fell asleep like last time (cough Clint cough). 

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Tony and Pepper were awoken the next morning by Peter and Thor jumping on their bed yelling that it was Christmas. 

"It's Christmas! It's Christmas wake uppppp! Come see what I got in my stocking!" 

"It is Christmas metal man and Lady Potts- we must celebrate it! Santa Claus has visited us in the night! I captured him last night!" 

That was what made Tony and Pepper shoot up in the bed, almost head butting Peter in the process. 

"What? You- I'm sorry what?!" Tony glanced at the time- 5 am. 

"I have captured what you call Father Christmas, he is in my room in the current moment." 

Suddenly Tony remembered something- Thor hadn't been there when he explained the plan, he had been having a party with Jane. 

Someone must have told him about Santa, and he obviously thought it was correct. 

Well sh*t-

"Can I see Santa now Uncle Thor? Pleaseeeeee?" 

Oh thank god- Peter hadn't seen him yet. 

"Of course young Peter! Now that your father has awakened, we may go visit the Santa Claus." 

"Yay!" 

Tony quickly pulled out his phone and messaged Natasha and Clint, telling them they needed to get 'Santa claus' out of Thor's room before Peter got there. He sincerely hoped that they were awake, but was reassured when his phone binged with a message from Natasha. 

Nat:

<already done, just waited until Thor has left. Heard the whole thing. He expects to be paid more now.

TinCan:

<no problemo

Peter was devastated when he found that Santa was no longer there, and so was Thor. Tony explained that he needed to deliver the last of the presents to all the children. 

Peter insisted on seeing the security footage, so Tony showed him the security footage of the lounge room, showing Santa walking in, setting all the presents beneath the tree, then wandering over to the table and eating a biscuit. 

"Trying to make me fat..." the man grumbled, stuffing some into his pockets. Then he spotted the milk. He poured it down the sink, grumbling to himself. 

"No consideration.... does nobody even wonder if I'm lactose intolerant? No, no they don't... honestly, I go around the world in one night to deliver all these presents to their ungrateful arses and they leave me with milk and cookies? Maybe I should start leaving notes out asking for lasagne..." 

Tony cringed at the footage; perhaps they had hired the wrong person for the job. 

"And carrots for my reindeers. Do they not realise how many houses we visit? I'd like to see them try flying while stuffed. I'd like to see them get covered in reindeer vomit- maybe that'd put them in their place..."

At that moment, a hammer came flying out of knowhere and hit 'santa' in the stomach. With a loud 'oof' santa was down, and the footage glitched and cut out. 

The room was silent for a few seconds. Tony cleared his throat.

"So, do you want to show me what Santa put in your stocking?" 

Peter's face lit up and he raced back into the lounge and grabbed it, showing Tony each and every thing he got, while Tony tried not to yawn. 

"Lady Natasha, what are you doing with the Santa Claus?" Thor boomed loudly. 

"I was-"

"Auntie Tasha I thought you said you were claustrophobic?" Peter asked, frowning. 

"I am-"

"Then why are you with Santa Claus? Aren't you scared-" 

"HO HO HO!" 'Santa' said, obviously trying to stay in character. 

"I was just escorting him out so he could finish his present delivering. You don't want anyone to miss out on presents, do you?" 

"No..."

"Good. Say bye to Santa!" 

"Bye Santa."