Author's Note: So the mods for the RP group I'm in decided to have a special event through December where all the Shepherds are spending the holidays in a ski-resort-esque cabin, and basically set us loose to start wrecking havoc. It gave me a ton of prompt ideas for a ton of characters that probably won't be RP'd out (especially since I only play one of the Shepherds, hehe), but since I can't draw or anything, I'm going to get them all out in oneshots instead.

Chapter One: Chocolate

It was Sumia's fault that Cordelia had woken up, but her own fault entirely that she couldn't get back to sleep.

The room she was sharing with Sumia in their cabin was snug and silent, muffled by the snow falling gently outside, and it felt private enough to Cordelia to curl under her blankets and slip into an equally heated dream of—of him. But a massive thud woke her from it, and she shot upright to find Sumia on the floor, holding her knee and whispering,

"So clumsy!"

She must have fallen from the top bunk. Cordelia fought to calm her heartbeat and brush away the lingering touch of Chrom's fingertips.

"Sumia? What are you doing? Are you all right?"

"Yes, well—I had a bad dream, and I thought—I'll be—I'll be right back. I'm so sorry to wake you, Cordelia."

Her heart dropped as Sumia quietly shut the door behind her, despite her almost tripping over the corner of it as she pulled it open. It wasn't a secret where she was going. And although Cordelia flopped back to her pillow and remembered the snow and tried to lose herself back in the same dream, it was no use. It hurt too much to even pretend with the top bunk's emptiness bearing down on her.

She got out of bed and padded to the living room in the thick socks she always wore to sleep, folding her arms to keep her nightgown snug around her middle. It was a modest thing; not what she usually wore to bed to make herself feel pretty. But they were all living together in that cabin for a long weekend—a company vacation, Robin had joked—and she didn't want any of the men to accidentally catch her in those pyjamas. At least, not any of them but Chrom. Besides, this nightgown was much warmer.

The fire in the hearth was only embers, now. She spent a few minutes in the kitchen putting the kettle on, hoping hot chocolate would make her feel better, and then let the shadows and the couch cushions swallow her and her mug, so she could just sip and watch the glowing of the coals fade away. It seemed unfair that Chrom's room was so available, that night—he hadn't a roommate. He had chosen Frederick but the knight had declined, saying he got restless, bunking with Stahl instead because Stahl was a much heavier sleeper. Sumia would probably want nothing more than to be held, but she could have anything, if she chose. Cordelia could have another cup of hot chocolate, perhaps, at most.

Why did she have to love him so uncontrollably. Why couldn't she love him measurably, in a way she could put into words, in a way that let her sleep at night. She was staring at the bottom of her mug, soon, and still didn't have an answer. The silence of the living room was so loud that it blanketed her thoughts. It was so loud that when a soft voice spoke, it didn't startle her:

"Cordelia? What are you doing awake, this late?"

It was easy to recognize Frederick in the doorway just by his silhouette. He was the only member of the army who looked just as tall without his armour on.

"I can't sleep," she admitted, and shifted to see him better as he walked a little closer. "I could ask you the same question."

"For the same response."

He was still dressed, she realized as he came into the low light, tie and everything. "Did you go to bed at all?"

"I at least considered it. That's closer than I get, some nights. Are you going to remain here, a while? Shall I build up the fire for you?"

"Please," she said, realizing for the first time that it was growing colder as the light left. He was on a knee right away, and worked with the poker and the stack of firewood near the hearth until it was bright and warm again. Bright and warm enough to emphasize the dark circles under his eyes and the tenseness of his jaw.

"Are you all right?" she asked when he stood. "Why can't you sleep?"

"I've just never been able to, much. I lie down and my mind starts to race until I get back up."

"There's enough hot water left for another cup of hot chocolate," she offered as she showed him her mug. A thought struck her then, though—that he might not want to stay out there with her. He might want to pace himself away. "If you want, I mean."

"That would be nice. Thank you."

He took her cup with him, when he went (she assumed to wash it, since he could never leave things for even five minutes), but he was gone longer than she thought, and when he returned, he had a mug for himself and had refilled hers. As he sat down beside her, at a respectful distance but still closer than she'd expected, she couldn't help but joke,

"Look at us, in the wee hours of the morning, drinking hot chocolate together. It's the perfect moment to have that conversation we were supposed to have about our love troubles."

His jaw twitched again, but he gave an amused snort. "Perhaps. Especially if that's the reason you're awake."

"It is," she said softly. "Sumia left and didn't come back."

"What does Sumia have to do with…?" He trailed off to think for a moment. "I see. It must have been her, then. Chrom prefers to keep his bedroom door cracked, but when I passed by to check on him, it was shut. I thought that unusual."

"She's been running off for a couple of weeks, now. I think they must be quite in love." She struggled to keep her voice even and tightened her grip on her mug.

"So it's Chrom, then."

"It is."

"I would not have guessed."

"I had to hide it. I didn't want Sumia to be upset. And I love him so much that it's…too much. It hurts. I want it to stop."

She also wanted to cry. She'd never admitted her love to anyone, before. Maybe Frederick would reprimand her for stepping out of line about their lord. She took a quick gulp of hot chocolate, burned her tongue, and forced the conversation back onto him before he could:

"What about you, then? I've told you my problem; it's only fair that you tell me yours."

"My dear," he said with a very tired smile, "there's nothing new to tell. We've the exact same troubles."

Sumia was her first thought, but that wasn't right. She had been clever enough to pick up on why Frederick clasped his hands behind his back, or see the glances he shot sideway through his bangs. He wouldn't have to restrain himself for Sumia.

"That's why you didn't share his room," she deducted.

The fire showed the new flush on his face. "It wouldn't have been right. I was his automatic choice because I am his oldest friend, but if he could see what thoughts his choice gave me, he would quickly change his mind."

There was such self-loathing in his voice that Cordelia scooted to fill the small space between them and snuggled up against his side. "I can't blame you. Hasn't he the nicest smile in the world?"

Frederick had a rather nice smile, too, she realized as it spread across his face. "He does. It makes you feel loved."

"And he has incredible hair."

"And such eyes."

"And his voice, Frederick."

Frederick's own voice sighed against her hair. Deciding it was high time the two of them unwound, she reached up to tug his tie loose, and then untie the knot entirely, and then undo the first button of his shirt. He let her.

"Is it easier to breathe, now?"

"It is." He hesitated, put his arm around her, hesitated again, and whispered, "It's nice that we aren't alone, Cordelia."

"Yes," she whispered back. "I feel a little better. And a little sleepier."

Their conversation murmured on until their hot chocolate was gone, about ties and snowstorms and how Cordelia's hair was just as soft as Chrom's looked, and then her head was on his chest and she could smell the laundry soap on his shirt and his cheek was on her hair where his breath had been and the fire was dying and she simply didn't care because she fell into a sleep that was dreamless.

xXx

"Careful," said Chrom as he followed Sumia out into the hall the next morning. He put a hand on the small of her back since her socks and the waxed wooden floors were not going to be a good combination. "Don't slip. You're still a little shaky."

"It was a truly awful dream," she insisted, and he frowned at the memory: her limping into his bed, nearly in tears, insisting she needed to make sure he was alive. He'd thought a good night's sleep in his arms might have made if all go away, but it seemed they'd need some early morning hot chocolate, too.

It was just after dawn. None of the other Shepherds were awake, as far as he could tell, and the cabin was cold. The fire must have died hours ago. That was odd. Frederick always had a fire going. He passed Sumia so he could walk through the living room and get to the kitchen, but stopped in the doorway.

Frederick was sprawled over the arm of the couch in a manner most unlike him, tie undone, fast asleep, one arm around Sumia's friend Cordelia. Chrom heard Sumia gasp a little, behind him.

"I never would have guessed!"

"Let's not wake them," he said. "I've never seen him look so at ease, not even in his sleep."

"And Cordelia would be so embarrassed for anyone to find her before she's all dressed and ready for the day."

"I'll get you your hot chocolate; you should go back and make sure nobody else comes out here to disturb them."

"Right, Captain."

"Sumia." He laughed a little as he pulled her close to kiss her temple. "You don't have to call me that, anymore."

She giggled a little as she scurried away, which amused him—but not as much as the sight of Frederick, passed out on the couch in his clothes.

"So that's why you wanted to bunk with Stahl," he whispered with a grin. "You sly thing. He never would've heard you sneak out here in a million years."

Quite pleased with his detective skills, Chrom snuck into the kitchen to make enough hot chocolate for three Sumias, a Frederick, a Cordelia, and then an entire army. Why not? Things felt a little lighter, that morning, for a reason he couldn't quite put his finger on.

Author's Note: Other chapters will be Firewood (Cherche and Stahl if ya know what I mean), Sledding (Lissa and Lon'qu), Snowmen (Tharja and Robin), and Santa Gaius deciding the second gen missed out on too many holidays in their young lives. I might get more ideas as I go along, but so far these five look like it. Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think!