A/N: Written for the 5,10,20,50,70,100 fandoms challenge, fandom 64 (Clannad After Story), for the OTP bootcamp challenge on AMF (Tomoya/Nagisa) with prompt #008 – blizzard, and for the A-Maze-Ing Race Challenge on the AMF with prompt: mission.

Take Me Home from this Snow

Silence roared louder than the blizzard in his ears. The body in his arms was barely tangible, wrapped up in that warm red coat and yellow gloves. Brown hair and a dark blue dress were fleeing elsewhere, and he struggled to raise himself from the snow to call after her.

But the sweet tantalising laughter struck him down, and he could only feel his heart throb in pain as he watched. The hazy form of his daughter – bright, cheerful and nothing like the cold dead bundled-up mass he held – had met another even more bright and gentle light.

They made a washed out image in the falling slow, blurred even more by the tears that had frozen on his face and partially parted lips.

'Na – Nagi…sa…'

But the name faded as soon as it escaped, the burning feeling trapped in the dying embers of his heart as the snow froze all else. Ushio was no longer in his arms; it was just a mound of snow he lay upon now, alone. Nagisa and Ushio where there, in that warm place the snow could not touch, laughing and shining brightly…

And then they turned towards him. Came closer, banishing the blizzard as they came until it was gone entirely, and it was upon her bosom he lay upon. Her, Nagisa, who he hadn't seen and touched in so long, and his now unfrozen tears flowed again with relief at her larger than life form, Ushio on one arm.

Ushio looked brighter too, holding her mother's hand with one of her own while tugging her father, him, with the other. Gone were the layers of clothing and snow and sickness that had covered her; she was now in her dark blue dress and alive, alive, once again.

Ushio beamed. Nagisa smiled.

Tomoyo felt the corners of his slowly melting lips tug into a smile as well.

'I'm home.'

Nagisa's smile widened, her free hand caressing the other's cheek and removing the tears that clung there. 'Welcome home,' she replied softly, and the light spread with her voice, banishing the remains of that dark snow storm. 'Welcome home.'

And they stood, together, and went into the light as, far away and beyond their sight, two more bodies were surrendered to the earth.