Chasing Snowflakes with my Heart

Author's note: A while ago the thought crossed my mind how nice it'd be to publish a fanfiction about Christmas right on … well, on Christmas ^^ So I wrote this story about Laura and Almanzo which will have three chapters and I'm going to publish each day one chapter as a little Christmas surprise.

I hope you'll enjoy it and wish you all a Merry Christmas (:

Could life be any better to Laura Ingalls than it was right now? The wide smile on her face made it seem doubtful.

All the children shoved their way free to get as fast as possible out of the stuffy schoolhouse, and Laura herself couldn't wait until she'd be on the fresh air. The air which would smell of freedom, of snowflakes hidden in the clouds, of secret Christmas wishes, of fir trees … and of the small faith inside her that everything could come true in these meaningful days…

Albert's shout of joy ripped the girl abruptly out of her thoughts and she laughed as her brother and their best friend Andy jumped in the air as they finally had reached the staircase.

"I can't believe it!" Albert jumped again as all three had reached the with frosty rime covered earth. "We're free!" He whooped again and Andrew joined him.

"I waited a whole year for this!" Laura - carrying her dinner-pail and books - started to walk backwards so she could look at the boys.

"Boy, ask me!" Andrew replied, a wide grin on his face.

Laura chuckled, "Why? How long did you wait?" she teased him.

Oblivious to her sarcasm, Andrew Garvey shook his head, "Definitely too long."

"Amen to that", Albert smiled, figuring all the things he planned on doing in these two weeks without school.

Laura took a deep breath of the cold winter-air, promising herself to never forget how this moment felt; magical…

…and perfect.

She had always loved Christmas. To Laura it was undoubtedly the best time of the year. But this year it was even more special, even more magical, even more important to her. For Christmas was the time when miracles happened and unspoken wishes came true…

…For Christmas was the celebration of love.

Laura stopped and cautiously risked a glance at the Feed and Seed. But she didn't see anyone - just a buckboard filled with heavy sacks, which stood in front of it as if it would belong to nobody.

Laura sighed. Slowly the voices of Albert and Andrew were reaching her ears again.

"Oh yes! Come let's go right away!" Both of them looked at Laura, as if expecting an answer.

"Huh?"

"We're gonna ice-fishing! Hurry, Laura!" Albert was barely able to contain his impatience and tugged at his sister's sleeve.

"Oh, you go ahead. I can't."

"Why not?" Andy knitted his eyebrows. They both have been sure she would come along with them. They almost always did everything together.

"I'm going to bake cookies with Mary today", Laura smiled.

"Oh…" Albert replied with slight disappointment resonating in his voice, as his eyes suddenly lit up "Enough for everyone?" he asked with an impish twinkle in his brown eyes.

"Sure", Laura laughed, "I'm gonna save enough for you two." She smiled at them, happy to have these two boys in her life.

"Great! Thanks Laura!" Andrew beamed at her, his mouth already watering.

"Great! See you at home!"

"Yeah, see you!" She looked for a few moments after them as Albert and Andy turned around and rushed into the opposite direction.

Laura now turned too and started walking again as a movement out of the corner of her eyes caught her attention. She lifted her head and her heart made a skip as she saw Almanzo standing now on the platform of the Feed and Seed, waving Mr. Miller goodbye.

She bit her lips, pondering if she should go over to him or not. She has actually promised herself to ignore Almanzo for the next time. Everybody knew that being rare makes you more interesting … But she could always start working on that plan tomorrow.

Laura made sure her braids and red dress were looking alright before walking towards the Feed and Seed. Almanzo was just about to return inside as he saw her coming. A crooked smile appeared on his face as soon as he spotted the girl. He somehow has missed seeing her these days.

"Hi Beth!"

Laura's body tingled with joy and she lifted her head, pretending not to have seen him until now.

"Oh, hi Manly", she replied smilingly, making the last few steps towards him.

"Finally vacations?" he asked with his blue eyes twinkling down at hers.

"Finally", Laura grinned "What about you?"

"Well", Almanzo turned his head for one moment around, scratching his forehead with the pencil in his hand, "I just gotta order a few more things, then I'll be free too." He met her gaze again and sat down in front of her. He wasn't in a hurry. His sister would stay in school for some time to grade papers anyway and he enjoyed talking to Laura.

"Did my sister torment you one last time before Christmas?" he asked cheekily.

"You don't think I'm stupid enough to answer you that, do you?" Laura replied smirking.

Almanzo laughed, "Come on, I can keep a secret."

"No, Miss Wilder was really nice. She didn't even give us homework for the vacations!"

"Guess she just didn't want to have more papers to grade", Almanzo chuckled.

Laura rolled her eyes, "You could be Albert talking about me. Brothers are horrible."

"Are you saying you think I'm horrible?" Almanzo asked mockingly.

The blood shot immediately into Laura's cheeks and she bent her head, staring down at her boots as if they would hold the answer.

Almanzo smirked as he saw her flustered face, exactly the reaction he had intended to get from her. He loved to tease her sometimes. Laura was sweet when she blushed.

Sweet? Where did that come from? Almanzo froze at his own thoughts.

"I hope we'll have a white Christmas this year", Laura's voice ripped him out of his confusion "It had been three years since the last time…" She sighed.

Almanzo looked at the sky before meeting her gaze, "I doubt that. It was a way too mild winter so far."

"Oh…" Laura's shoulders sagged instantly and the disappointment about his reply was clearly written on her face.

Almanzo could have smacked himself for his reply as he saw the twinkle in her eyes disappearing as soon as these words have left his mouth. Why couldn't he have been a bit more sensitive and leave her the dream of a white Christmas! The last thing he wanted to be was the reason why Laura Ingalls was sad.

"Oh, but don't listen to me! I mean, this is my first Christmas here in Walnut Grove, I have not the slightest idea of the winter weather in this area", he rushed to add.

Laura lifted her head slowly to look him into his eyes and a small smile appeared on her face again.

Almanzo returned her smile relieved.

"I forgot that this is your first Christmas here. Are you gonna miss your family?"

"Naw… Sure I'm used to have lots of folks around me to celebrate Christmas and now it's just the two of us, but it's not as if I have to do without anything. I already found people here who mean a lot to me." Almanzo winked at her as if to make clear about whom he was talking.

Laura gasped slightly, the colour of her cheeks darkened even more. Her knees were turning instantly into jelly under his gaze, while her heart pounded as hard against her chest as if it would have wanted to be heard.

So many emotions and thoughts were rushing through her mind, that Laura became dizzy trying to grasp at least one. Oh my god… He couldn't mean… Did he just? Me?

Suddenly a voice ripped her out of her daze, "Laura!" she tore her gaze off Almanzo's ocean blue eyes and turned her head towards the voice, just like him.

"I looked for you EVERYWHERE!" Carrie came hard breathing to a stop beside her elder sister. "Can we go now? Mary is waiting!" she asked impatiently.

It took a second until Laura remembered that she has been on her way over to the blind school when she's started talking to Almanzo.

"Oh, yeah, sure." She lifted her head still flustered and smiled lightly at the blond man, "Well, I gotta go. Bye, Manly!"

He returned her warm smile "Bye Beth!"