Second chapter! Or second one-shot to be more precise.

So this chapter is based on the holiday song called, "Baby, It's Cold Outside" and it's been sung by many singers. So many that I'm not sure who the original singers are, so sorry I can't give that information. It's a bit of an old song, and it's actually a duet between a man and a woman. Because it's a duet, some lines that are said in here are just the man's lines, so listening to the part where the man sings in the song may sound a little off because the woman is supposed to be singing right before each time he sings. But I managed to fit it into this story somehow.

In this chapter, Zelos uses the song as Sheena is forced to stay at his house as a snow storm hits Meltokio. It may not be as humorous because of the snow…and Zelos…if you understand his past.

Zelos singing?! Who ever knew? Well, now you'll find out.

So enough talking, going on with the story!

I do not own Tales of Symphonia or the song "Baby, It's Cold Outside."

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"Seriously? When did it get this bad?"

"Well, well, darling, snow isn't too rare in Meltokio. It does come every other year, you know."

Sheena sighed. "That's not my point. When did this blizzard hit? I just barely came…"

The Chosen chuckled. "Maybe it's a sign for you to stay awhile here…"

A loud whacking sound was soon heard after that. "Argh, I can't believe you're even the Chosen…" and she proceeded to stare out the frosted window.

"You may stay here for the night if you wish, Lady Sheena," Sebastian offered.

"Um, I couldn't possibly-"

"Aw c'mon Sheenie, I don't want you freezing to death out there. You're staying here and that's final."

Sheena sighed, causing the window to fog up the area where her breath had come from. She was currently in the "great" Zelos Wilder's house and was on a mission to pass on some news to him from the King himself. She had planned on getting back to Mizuho the same day to tend to the other people of the village since the first snowfall started the day before, but unfortunately, Martel had other plans and decided that a blizzard should hit at the very same time she was at Zelos' house. Of course, she had two options at hand: either stay in the warmth of the house and Zelos' pestering, or freezing to death in negative temperatures on the way back to Mizuho.

Neither option gave no comfort or relief to the summoner.

But, reasoning in the smartest way, she decided to stay at his house. Besides, Sebastian was there and it wouldn't be that awkward…right?

Hm. When did it become awkward between the two of them, anyway?

Sheena scratched her head in frustration and proceeded towards the front door. She had barely reached the front door, and without opening it, she felt the chill right through her bones. Her thoughts kept turning back to Mizuho…but if she froze to death, no one would be able to take care of the village anyway. As much as she didn't want to stay, the weather was too out of control to even walk through, but with Zelos here…

"Baby, it's cold outside…"

She froze. Well, not that she wasn't frozen already by standing near the front door, but she mentally froze.

Because Zelos Wilder was right behind her, and at the moment wrapping her in a warm and inviting blanket.

As he wrapped the blanket around her, his arms were also wrapping around her at the same time. All the while, his voice rang softly through her ears.

"Been hoping that you'd drop in…I'll hold your hands, they're just like ice…"

Sheena knew that everyone had a hidden talent some way or another. But this blew her by surprise. Zelos Wilder…singing? He had a voice all this time? Why was she even surprised or…or liking this feeling overall?

She shrugged away from his arms, but kept the blanket around her. "W-what the hell was that for?!"

He smiled. "Well, my beauty looked cold and worried standing by the front door, so I just came on by to help you out. The storm's not going to end sooner by you standing by the door, and you'll freeze even faster there than if you were outside."

"Liar. You exaggerate too much."

He sighed. "Just stay in here, ok? Seriously, I don't want to see you frozen out there… Think of my life long sorrow…If you caught pneumonia and died…"

He was doing it again. "Why are you so worried about me?"

"Haha, why wouldn't I be?"

Argh, why were his words getting to her?! She headed towards the stairs to head to the room that Sebastian had told her she could stay in earlier, when he grabbed her arm and started to sing again.

"Beautiful, what's your hurry…Listen to the fireplace roar…beautiful please don't hurry…"

Ugh, his voice again. It had captivated her the first two times, and it was doing the same effect the third time. She shook off his hand, but instead of continuing on, she stood there, just staring at him.

"…Since when did you sing?"

He eyed her curiously. "Is my darling finally falling for me?"

"Why do you always take everything I say so extreme?!"

"Hm, if I recall, I think it's you who's taking it a little too extreme. You burst out whenever I say little remarks like those, and…you stayed in my arms for quite awhile back at the door."

There he was again, reasoning with her. She couldn't believe him! How…how dare he easily assume such things! Fuming, she walked straight to her room, but before she could even touch the doorknob, there he was standing in front of her.

"Get out of my way you stupid Chosen!"

"Hey, hey, calm down. No need to yell, I just wanted to know if I was right, hm? And why are you so mad?"

She couldn't believe this. What a stupid, stupid situation she had gotten herself into…and her emotions as well. He was so despicable, so idiotic, so irrationally reasonable… yet she realized how much of a fool she had been this whole time.

She shifted uncomfortably before him. What an awkward situation…where was Sebastian at times like these?!

Looking down, she murmured, "So what if you were…right…"

"No need to be down, I just want to know what's eating you so much these days."

Why did he care so much? She looked up into his eyes and noticed a strange, glazed look they had…he didn't seem very comfortable looking pass her in the direction of the door and the window.

How stupid of her! It was snowing outside…snowing. The most hated weather that he could ever experience. It brought back so many painful things for him…

And she acted like a brat the whole time he invited her to stay over. He offered hospitality and kindness to take care of her during the storm that she could have died in and she just slapped him the face by acting so ungrateful. She realized that he did everything in his might to take care of her, crack jokes, and smile – the hardest thing he could ever do during a snow storm.

By this time, her eyes were downcast and much sadder and in thought than before. Zelos, noticing this, held her by the shoulders.

"Are you alright? Hey, sorry if it was anything I said earlier, you can sma-"

"I'm sorry."

This took him by surprise. "What? Haha, why do you need to apologize-"

"I've been such a nuisance. And I acted very ungrateful to you just a second ago…"

She looked up into his eyes. "You're really trying…aren't you?"

At this remark, Zelos' face turned serious. His eyes lost the little spark it had in them since the snow started, and it clouded up with visions of his past.

"Well. I guess you can say that."

"You don't…you don't have to hide that when you're with me, you know."

He gently put his hand upon her cheek. "Is my demonic banshee worrying about me now?"

"I just don't want you to, well…" Wow, this was awkward. But she was there, might as well go further, right?

"Just, just stop looking down, ok!" Sheena blurted. At the same time, she meant to give him a reassuring pat on the shoulder, but it instead felt like a hard slap on the Chosen's part.

Stupid, stupid. "Er, sorry about that," and she turned away to look over the railing of Zelos' mansion.

With that, she heard a loud, boisterous laughter escaping the lips of the solemn Chosen. It sounded so pure, so genuine, and not at all like the light chuckles he used to cover up the darkness he still was consumed by. Sheena, turning around in confusion, faced the now red-faced man.

"W-what's so funny?"

Zelos had doubled over and was barely trying to regain his composure. One look at the confused girl, and he started to laugh all over again. At this, Sheena gave a playfully annoyed face at the Chosen. His laughter looked so innocent…if only he could stay like that forever.

Zelos inhaled a deep breath and stood up back to his normal position. He wiped the tears that had come to his eyes and smiled.

"Was that your way of trying to cheer me up?"

Eh? Cheering him up? Well…she supposed it could have been. She flushed red when she recalled what she had said and did to him earlier before he burst into laughter.

"So…so what if it is?"

"That's one heck of a way to cheer someone up."

"Whatever."

"Sheena, what do you think of me?"

"Wait, what? Where the hell did that come from?"

He came closer and lightly tapped her on the nose. "Sorry, I shouldn't have asked you that. I'm taking it too "extreme", aren't I?"

"Huh. You sure are."

"And so are you."

"And what about it? You're gonna do something about it?"

He turned her head gently with one hand, so that her eyes could stare into his own.

"Mind if I move closer? What's the sense in hurting my pride…"

"What…what are you saying, Zelos?"

"Only what your extreme mind is thinking right now, darling."

"You don't know what I'm thinki-"

"You want a hint then?"

"What? Zelos, just tel-"

He moved closer to her face, and sang in a quiet, almost whispered tone.

"Man, your lips look delicious…"

Sheena quickly moved away. She had to admit, yes, she was blushing, but just…just what was he implying?!

"Now, now, don't take it too extreme…" His eyes glinted with a familiar, sickening-thought look, "if you know what I mean."

"Ugh, you're so despicable!" Sheena began the descent down the stairs towards the fireplace.

Zelos followed her to the fireplace, where he sat down next to her. His eyes were still dull, but some life had spark into them, Sheena noticed, as they sat by the fire. He caught her staring at him and he softly smiled.

"Thanks, Sheena."

She struck a confused look again. "What for?"

He turned to face the warm fireplace. "This was probably the best time I've had during a snow storm."

"Oh…well, I didn't really do anything…"

"You really did. You know me more than anyone else, so…thanks."

Sheena wrapped herself tightly in the blanket she was in and sighed. "Glad you're feeling alright then. Just don't look so down again, it's…just not you."

"Haha, I'll keep that in mind."

With that, he unwrapped one side of Sheena's blanket and put it over his own body. Sheena, surprised again, was looking at the Chosen as he wrapped himself in the same blanket as hers and comfortably laid his head onto her lap.

"Zelos, I'm pretty sure you have another blanket."

"But baby…it's cold outside. We have to have body warmth, you know." He looked up at her and smiled. "Just this once? Please?"

Trying to hide her blushing face, she sighed. "Fine. But just once, alright?"

He gave a sigh of contentment and faced the fireplace.

"So…did you figure the hint out?"

She gave him a playful push. "My 'extreme' mind figured you out a long time ago."

He smiled. "Good."

ToSToSToSToSToSToSToSToSToSToSToSToS

Second chapter down, chapter 3 on its way!

Some parts got a little serious due to the snow storm, but it got lighter in the end. That "extreme" mind part wasn't even part of the plan for this story but it popped into my head as I wrote. It's a little off from the song, but I hope it kind of blends in.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter!