"I'm cold."

These were the first words to greet the poor Canadian as he arrived at the airport in Ontario. No words of gratitude or polite greetings, simply complaints. Yet he might have expected as much from her.

"Well, it is winter, Alice..." Matthew attempted to reason in his usual timid voice whenever he felt awkward or uncomfortable, which was more than he'd care to admit.

"I'm well aware of that!" She snapped in retaliation, stamping the ground with her foot like a child throwing a tantrum. "It is winter in my home as well!"

"Right, right..." He gave a nervous laugh to her spoiled behavior. It made her so difficult to deal with, yet it could be quite cute as well.

Though giving it careful thought, winter weather was much milder in her country. He could tell just from the periwinkle petticoat of a jacket that she had come nowhere near prepared for this trip. Had she packed in a hurry? Or had she innocently and foolishly assumed that the snow would cease upon hearing of her visit?

As silly as the thought might sound, he wouldn't put it past her. Alice was not as complicated and serious as she seemed. Though he had had centuries of experience to see through her stubborn facade.

"Where is the car?" She asked finally, breaking him from his thoughts. She turned her head from side to side in search of some sort of vehicle, her twintails swaying with the slightest motion.

"I-I thought we'd walk since it's not too far and all.." Oh how he regretted having to tell her that now. It had seemed like a good idea at the time! He'd thought it might even give them more of a chance to spend time together... It was rare she was able to come down to visit him like this after all, so was it wrong that he wanted to be with her?

Clearly that was a bad answer, as immediately she began fuming at even the thought of trudging through this snow in her new boots. Still, given she had no real choice in the matter, she complied with his foolish and annoying idea of walking together. Sure, she might seem shallow, but it had been a hell of a flight and all she wanted to do was relax with a warm cup of tea at this point.

Of course, just because she gave in to the idea, didn't mean she couldn't complain the whole way about it. Matthew sighed to himself as all of his romantacized visions of their reunion were completely crushed. Not even half way there and she was already threatening to turn around.

"I-It's freezing h-h-here! How can you stand this sort of weather?! Honestly why did I agree to come to such a cold place! I can't stand the cold! To hell with the snow!"

The complaints kept piling, but Matthew knew not to take it to heart. Alice simply didn't enjoy winter as much as he did. He just wished she could learn to live with it for this trip, after all they may not see each other again for a long time.

"Alice..." he began as he turned, ready to ask her as politely as he could to stop nagging about something he had no power over. He stopped himself though when he realized that she was genuinely shaking as she clutched to herself for warmth, her movements more sluggish now and the frost gathered upon her long hair turning to icicles. Was it really so cold to her?

"Are you cold?" He asked her gently instead. "Do you want my sweater?" He offered her as he slowed his pace to walk side by side with her, his arm moving to encircle the space around her protectively.

"O-of course I'm cold!" She answered with a huff and tossed her head to the side. "I don't need it!" She insisted, though her burning nose and cheeks said otherwise. Even her fingers protested against her.

He sighed, leaving it be for now. If she was sure then he wouldn't force it on her. But a few blocks later, he noticed how she hugged herself tighter, her eyes becoming more lidded to see through the frost gathered on her lashes. He didn't ask again, no instead he merely stopped to pull the sweater off, revealing the t-shirt beneath. He would be fine with just this since he was used to this sort of weather.

Before she could protest, he had slid it over her head, chuckling a bit to himself at how it hung so loosely on her petite frame. It was hard to take any muffled curses as he adjusted on her seriously when she suddenly seemed so small.

"Better?" He asked her as they began walking again, Alice now snuggly clothed in his red sweater.

"Hmph." Was all she responded with as she tossed her head to the side, looking away from him. Though she made no move to walk away from him which he took as a good sign.

"Good." He gave a warm smile to her, happy that he was able to help her in some way. She had stopped complaining as well, which made the walk that much more pleasant.

Unbeknownst to him, Alice's cheeks were flushed not merely because of the cold. She buried her face deep into the collar of the sweater, inhaling in the warm scent of maple syrup that clung to the fabric from its owner. She felt so very warm, except for the chill air that sill nipped at her fingertips.

Matthew took notice of her rubbing her hands a bit, and without much thought to it, clasped them both in his own. He rubbed them gently with his calloused thumbs and breathed on them gently.

Alice's blush deepened and she was grateful for the covering the sweater offered her to keep from embarrassing herself. "W-what are you doing? You'll catch cold..." She said through the fabric of the collar.

"I'm used to it." He told her with a knowing smile. Was it wrong to say he enjoyed it when she worried for him? Though it wasn't necessary this time. He leaned forward to just barely rest his forehead against her own before replying softly, "I'll always keep you warm."