It's been such a long time since I've written something for Big Wolf.

I suppose my interest is waning as the show dies away. I wrote this little

piece of fluff as a present for my sister. So, enjoy it Sis, this is the last of a

kind. Usual disclaimers apply. Please read and review! Au revoir! ~*~Tael



It all started as a snowball fight. It really did.

The first snowfall of the year, in Pleasantville, fell the same day that

schools let out for winter break. The record breaking twelve inches were

white, fluffy, and dry, the best kind of snow for all kinds of things. With the

usual snowfall came the usual transformation from adults into children, and

the resulting snow play. As soon as high school let out, brightly clad figures

turned out to delight in the wonder of snow.

Among them were high school seniors Tommy Dawkins and Merton

Dingle, best friends since the beginning of senior year. They were among the

first out, partially because they were the first ones let out of school, and

partly because they both enjoyed snow so much.

It wasn't hard to believe with Tommy. His enjoyment for the simple

things and lust for life was unrivaled amongst his schoolmates. It was

becoming Pleasantville tradition to see him out in the snow, wreaking havoc

on the unfortunate soul who decided to have a snowball fight with the

athletic youth.

It was much more surprising to see the usually reclusive Merton out in

the daylight. The Goth usually avoided any kind of outside, athletic activity.

Perhaps he came out to play because Tommy pulled him along. Such

unwilling participation occurred often enough, Merton being forced to play

some sport, or Tommy being forced to listen to some ancient text.

But to those who knew him, it was an obvious fact that Merton J.

Dingle loved snow. Although he was often the first to point out the

dangerous driving conditions, or the likelihood of frostbite, he was also often

the first to tug on his mittens and scarf. The first snow angel of the season

almost always had his name scribbled beside it in clumsy yellow type

(although he had refrained from that scribbling for many years now). He'd

even been know to participate in some monstrous snowball fights in his

time, usually from behind the walls of a well constructed snow-fort.

Knowing this, it was no surprise to Tommy that when he arrived at the

Dingle backyard after school that afternoon, there was already a large

mound of snow placed strategically at the top of a little hill. As if he needed

further confirmation as to whose fort it was, a red and black flag flew from

the top of the mound.

With lightning skill, Tommy grabbed up a handful of flaky white to

start the assault. He never had a chance. As soon as he looked down, a

barrage of perfectly spherical circles began flying at him. As he looked up

quickly to take aim, he briefly caught sight of the pink-flushed cheeks and

light blue hat atop the snow-fortress. Merton quickly dropped down to avoid

getting hit. With as much precision as he could muster, Tommy arched his

snowball up, into the fort right down to where Merton should've been sitting.

"Nice try Tommy!" He heard his friend shout, triumphantly. He

looked up from his next scoop of snow to see his raven-haired friend proudly

bearing a purple glider sled. " Perfect snowball shield!" Of course, when the

snowball fired itself quickly, Merton's shield did him little good. With a

mouthful of snow, Merton muttered, "No fair!"

And so the battle continued. Both boys were rosy faced and

cheerful, despite the war cries that echoed from both sides. Tommy lost his

red and olive hat with one deft throw from Merton. The carefully prepared

front wall of his fort began to show signs of battle fatigue, with more than a

dozen snowballs stuck into it already.

Merton began to run low on snowballs, and Tommy began to slowly

advance up the hill. Finally, the Goth had to resort to making them by hand

again, his stores used up, and the quicker, more efficient snowball-making-

machine Tommy really began his assent.

" Aha! I claim this Tommy-erica!" The jock said as he toppled

Merton's flag into the snow.

"Oh, that's original! " Merton told him, managing to hit him in the

chest from his sitting position on the ground.

"Oh yeah?!" Tommy tackled him with slightly less force than he

would use with another football player. A quickly grabbed handful of snow

was wrestled down Merton's shirt, although not before both boys had

managed to shove quite a bit onto each other's faces and throats.

With the snow down his shirt, Merton wiggled around, trying to get

up and get revenge. Tommy held him down on the snow-packed earth, both

arms by his sides and shoulders held to the ground. Mert's black hair and

eyelashes contrasted greatly against the alabaster down that was scattered

against the earth. His huffing breaths blew great clouds of steam into

Tommy's face and into the sky.

"Come on, Tommy! I'm cold---let's go get some hot chocolate!" The

boy suggested, deciding that reasoning was his best way out. He couldn't

help but notice that Tommy must be freezing, what with the cold melted

snow on his face and in his now icy hair. His cheeks were very red as well,

almost too red to be caused by the cold alone.

Tommy's voice caught in his throat, as he replied, "No let's just stay

out here. You look wonderful against the snow."

Mert couldn't help but wonder about that statement, especially

because of how close Tommy was to him. " Do you---"

His statement was left unfinished as the feeling in his friend's eyes

entranced him as well. A drop of water slid from the edge of the auburn

fringe surrounding his face, and landed with a drip on Merton's pinkened

cheek. Both of them stared in surprise as Tommy, ever so slowly, reached

down and kissed the drop away.

His lips felt steaming hot on Merton's cold cheek. and Merton

couldn't help the slight shiver and look of fear in his eyes at that moment.

Not that he minded Tommy kissing his cheek, or his anything for that

matter, but what if Tommy minded? What if he was acting on impulse, and

would any second wake up, stand up, and leave Merton alone?

When Tommy noted the fear in his best friend's eyes, his reaction

was exactly the opposite. He wrapped his arms around his friend, pulling

him slightly off the ground into his warm embrace. This moment was just

too perfect, too good of an opportunity to waste with words. Merton pulled

back to see his friend's expression, to see if Tommy felt as mixed up as he

did, and was greeted instead with his friend's lips on his own.

The heat of the kiss was overpowering. With Tommy's arms

wrapped firmly around him, and his lips pressed firmly against his, how

could Merton help but kiss back? Soft lips slid against soft lips, steaming

literally rising up into the frosty air. Feelings of exhilaration and warmth

passed trough each boy, and Merton pushed himself more upright, and closer

to Tommy.

The kiss lasted for seemingly forever. By the time the two reluctantly

pulled away, their fingers were numb and noses red. They stared at each

other in almost identical expressions of surprise and wonder. Was this

spectacular new discovery a one-time deal?

The two pulled into a quick hug, before back off to their separate

sides of the fort. If anything, their relationship needed time.

Tommy looked up hesitantly. "Hey Mert?"

"Yes?" His friend replied quickly.

"How about that cup of hot chocolate?" He asked, looking at his out-

of-breath friend with a growing smile.

"That would be great!" Merton agreed.

After gathering up their lost or discarded mittens and hats, the two

boys walked merrily inside, holding hands.