Disclaimer for the entire story: I own nothing. Not any of the HSM characters and not any of the songs.
A/N: So in honor of the holiday season, I have decided to write a few Christmas related oneshots from now until New Years Day - aiming for one a day, but we'll see what happens. Going to try to get the next chapter of Backbone up within a couple of days and LP & LN are both on a temporary hold until the new year (unless one of them ends up seriously inspiring me before then, ha). But I didn't want to let the Christmas season go by without writing some Ryelsi holiday goodness. Each oneshot will be inspired by a Christmas song and in this case, the song is Baby, It's Cold Outside, as the chapter title says. A few different people have done this song, though I was listening to Lady Antebellum's version as I was writing. Anyway, hope you all enjoy this! Wishing all of my fellow Ryelsi fans a wonderful and blessed holiday season. :)
"It's really coming down out there," Ryan Evans observed, pulling back the curtains in his apartment to peer outside. It had been snowing all day in New York City, starting off with flurries in the morning and then gradually getting more intense as the day went on.
"It's still snowing?" Kelsi Nielson frowned. She was curled up on her fiancé's couch with a blanket wrapped around her legs. Ryan had picked her up earlier that evening for a romantic dinner back at his place and it was fast approaching the time she usually went back to her apartment.
"Yep," Ryan nodded.
"I better get going then," Kelsi decided, looking up as he made his way back to the couch. "Before I get stuck here."
"That wouldn't be so bad would it?" he asked, smirking at her. "Get snowed in this nice, warm apartment with your future husband." He nudged her shoulder with his as he sat down beside her. "Could be worse."
"Yeah, okay, fine," she chuckled. "It could be worse, but even so...I should go."
"Why?" he challenged.
"Because it's getting late," she pointed out. "And this is when I usually go home."
"Have you looked outside lately? It's getting really bad...and it's probably really, really cold," he countered. "Wouldn't you rather stay here with me?" He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. "Cuddled under this blanket where it's nice and warm?"
"Very tempting," she conceded. "But I really can't stay." She brushed her lips against his. "I have a lot to do tomorrow, remember? My parents wanted a tour of the city and I promised them we'd get an early start. I need to get some sleep." It was the week of their wedding and their families and friends had begun to arrive in the city. Kelsi's parents had shown up the day before and were staying with Kelsi in her apartment.
"You could always sleep here," he pointed out, flashing her a cheeky smile. "My bed is really, really comfortable, ya know."
"Oh, I'm sure it is," she said dryly.
"Perfect for sleeping," he added. "And...other things."
"Why, Ryan Evans," she began, her voice stern even as her lip twitched. "Why do I get the impression that your intentions are less than honorable here?"
"Whatever do you mean, darling?" he asked innocently.
"Since when do you call me darling?" she wanted to know. "I was referring to your comment about your bed being good for...and I quote...'other things'." She gave him a pointed look. "What 'other things' were you talking about?"
"Kelsi Nielson," he began, a mock expression of shock appearing on his face. "I was talking about cuddling."
"Cuddling," she repeated. "You want me to stay so we can cuddle?" She lifted her eyebrow at him. "Somehow I find that hard to believe."
"Why?" he wanted to know.
"Because men never want to cuddle," she smirked. "Nice try, though." She leaned in to give him a quick kiss. "I really do have to go."
"But, baby, it's cold outside," he argued.
"Which is why I'll put on my coat," she countered.
"I don't think your coat is going to be warm enough," he shook his head. "It's really, really cold. Not to mention the fact that it's going to be really hard to track a cab down in this weather."
"There's gotta be some out," she shrugged.
"I seriously doubt it...and besides, even if there are, you'd probably have to wait out there for a really long time," he responded. "You'll probably freeze to death before one shows up."
"So I'll call one," she said lightly. "Problem solved."
"The roads are probably getting really dangerous," he began. "I'm not so sure it's safe."
"Ryan..."
"Better to stay here," he decided. "Where it is safe."
"I'm sure my parents would love that," she quipped. "My mom's probably getting worried about me as it is."
"She'd be more worried if you were riding in a cab with the streets the way they are," he shot back. "You could get into an accident."
"Oh come on, it's New York City. They're used to snow here. I'm sure the cab drivers know what they're doing," she argued.
"Even the best driver is no match for ice," he said seriously.
"Ice? What ice?" she asked. "It's just snowing."
"There could be ice," he shrugged. "How do you know there isn't?"
"I don't...but..." she began.
"Exactly. You'd better not risk it," he decided.
"Ryan...I have to go," she smiled.
"No, you don't," he shook his head. "Come on...stay here with me."
"Baby, I can't," she sighed. "I'm going home."
"What's your hurry?" he asked. "You don't really want to go and you know it."
"Ryan..."
"Come on...at least stay for a little while longer. We can make some more hot chocolate, maybe watch another movie," he began, brushing her hair away from her face with his hand.
"I have to go," she muttered.
"We could just stay out here and talk," he went on, pretending he hadn't heard her. "Maybe do a little of this too..." he added, brushing his lips against hers.
"I can picture my dad pacing my apartment as I speak," she said weakly. "He wouldn't like me staying here."
"He wouldn't like you to risk taking a cab either," Ryan countered, leaning in for another kiss. "Stay."
"It's been a wonderful evening," she began. "And I love you, but..."
"You're so beautiful," he murmured, kissing her again.
"What would the neighbors think?" she asked.
"Who cares?" he smirked. "Stay."
"I can't."
"Look out the window, Kelsi. It's getting really, really bad out there. Did I mention how cold it is?" he asked.
"A couple of times," she said softly, closing her eyes as he placed several kisses all over her face.
"You would freeze," he said between kisses.
"You could lend me your coat," she pointed out, though she kept her eyes closed.
"You have the most kissable lips..." he said quietly, kissing them to prove his point. "Did you know that?"
"You are not making this easy," she mumbled, sighing as he kissed his way along her jaw line.
"That, my dear, is the point," he whispered in her ear, smirking when she shivered. "Stay."
"Well...maybe one more kiss," she decided, grabbing his face to bring his lips back to hers.
"One more," he muttered as soon as they broke apart.
"One more," she agreed, somewhat breathlessly, as she let him kiss her again. She pulled herself closer as they kissed, attempting to get as close to him as possible. "Hmm..." she sighed when they pulled apart for some air. "It is snowing pretty hard, isn't it?"
"Extremely hard," he grinned.
"And...and you're probably right about the cold," she said seriously. "I'm not sure I want to risk freezing to death before my wedding..."
"Totally not worth it," he agreed. "You should stay here with me. I'll keep you nice and warm, I promise."
"I really should be saying no..." Kelsi chewed on her lip for a moment. "But..."
"But?" he asked.
"It's too cold out there...I'm getting cold just thinking about how cold it probably is...I mean really," she declared. "You better keep holding me nice and tight so I don't get too cold," she went on, smiling when his grip on her tightened. "And you know...my lips are getting a little cold too...maybe, maybe you should do something about that," she added, somewhat shyly.
"Maybe I should," he nodded, a mock serious expression on his face as he pressed his lips to hers again.
"At least I can say I tried," she murmured.
"You did," he nodded. "But it's just too cold outside."