Heero Yuy wasn't human. There was just no way in hell. Who the fuck goes out into freezing weather, twelve inches of snow on the ground, to chop firewood with just a tank top and jeans on?

"You're fucking nuts, Yuy!" Duo shouted, shivering and teeth clattering even as he was bundled in two layers of snow clothes. His own braid wrapped about his neck like a scarf.

Quatre was at the door, mother henning as usual. "Heero! Honestly, you're going to catch your death!" He scolded and held a thick sweater out to him. "Put this on."

Heero stopped and eyed the sweater. "Does that deer have a red nose?"

Quatre blinked. "What? Yes. It's Rudolf. The red nose reindeer."

"Reindeer?"

"Where the hell did you grow up, Yuy?" Wufei grumbled from his place on the porch. A blanket was down under him and he was happy to sit in his own winter Chinese styled clothing. He was meditating.. Well more he was trying but he was being constantly interrupted. "Even people that do not celebrate Christmas know of the story of Rudolf."

Duo rolled his eyes. "Not his fault he's such a Grinch."

"A what?" Heero asked and as Trowa explained, Heero could only shake his head. "I'm not a hairy green present stealing beast, Maxwell."

"I didn't mean literally, Scrooge!" Duo snapped.

Heero opened his mouth again to ask who Scrooge was but Quatre raised a hand to interrupt him. "Not everyone celebrates Christmas, nor are they familiar with it. Heero just happens to be one of those that isn't. Now.. Heero. Sweater on."

"Well, I for one think we should all get into the Christmas spirit!" Duo said. "We're out here at a safe house, freezing off our balls-"

"Language, Duo." Quatre interrupted but Duo continued as if he hadn't.

"-off on Christmas Eve. We may all come from different backgrounds but that doesn't mean we can't have our own winter fun."

"And what do you propose, Maxwell?" Heero grunted, swinging his axe yet again to send another log flying into two pieces.

Duo blinked. Well, he honestly hadn't thought about it. No one said anything else about it as Duo stewed. They all went back to doing their own thing.

Ten minutes later and an idea sparked for the violet eyed prankster. What better way to have some winter fun than a snowball fight? And what better way to start a snowball fight..? He smirked and walking.. Well more waddling outside, he gathered snow and packed into into a ball. Turning, he eyed Heero.. Always so stoic and never willing to have fun. He had his target and raising his arm back.. He flung and released.

Eyes all around snapped to Heero as a snowball meet his face. Heero stood there, frozen in place, axe in the stump and hands still gripping the handle. Did Duo really.. Just throw snow at him?!

Curses and shouts of injustice reached his ears and looking up, Trowa, Quatre and Wufei were all covered in snow. Four pairs of eyes landed on their attacker. "You.. Are so dead.." Quatre gasped, arms out and shaking.

"Maxwell!"

Trowa didn't speak but he didn't look happy and then there was Heero.

"I'm going to kill you!"

Duo yelped and turned to run but soon he was being pelted by snowballs. His layers restricted his movement and he had nowhere to go. He face planted into the snow and the next thing he knew.. He was being dog piled, snow shoved into his clothes and he wiggled and fought, screaming under them to let him up.

It was all out war after that and they all came in.. Hours later soaked to the bone and laughing. Their winter had been fun. It was great to just let go and be a kid sometimes. Neither one could say they regretted it, even after waking up the next morning miserable and feverish.

It was the first and best Christmas any of them had ever had.