It was cold, it was really really cold. It was night time and it was freezing cold. And Root was amazed that she came all the way out here with Shaw, a woman she barely knew yet was so drawn towards. They tracked through a lot of snow to get here, to this frozen lake. Stepping out onto the ice with her skinny legs Root gave a nervous laugh.

"I don't know about this."

Amusement written all over Shaw's face she reached a hand out to steady Root, "Come on, it's really solid this time of year."

The pair wobbled across the frozen lake, Root more so than Shaw, like Shaw came here all the time. But once Root really got her bearings she marveled at how white everything was, the car lights in the far off driving by like little winter fireflies. It was so quiet and calm and beautiful.

"Wow. This is really beautiful."

Taking that as her cue Shaw did a little run and slide as Root hollered at her to not go too far. Shaw gave a laugh of enjoyment when she landed hard on the ice, Root running after her.

"Are you okay!?"

"Ouch, fuck it! My ass, that one hurt."

Helping her to her feet Shaw winced at her cold backside a still shocked Root staring at her.

"Maybe we should go back?"

"No, no, come on, I want to show you something."

Shaw grabbed Root's hand and led her further out, finally laying down on the ice and looking up at the sky, Root peering down at her with apprehension.

"Come on, get down here idiot."

Root hesitated as she looked around and joined Shaw on the ice just sitting there a moment, "I think I heard a crack."

Shaw laughed at Root's ridiculousness, "It's not going to crack or break, it's so thick."

Finally grabbing Root's arm and pulling her the rest of the way down so they can both look up at the sky. They were almost in the middle of nowhere, laying on a frozen lake that could break at any minute, stargazing after only meeting each other yesterday.

"So, tell me which constellations you know, Root?"

"I uh, don't really know any."

"Bullshit, tell me what constellations you know."

Clearing her throat Root thought about it for a moment and smiled as she pointed up, "Okay, that's Osidius the Empathetic."

"What, where?"

"Right there, it's like a swoop and a cross."

Shaw just laughed and hit Root's shoulder, "You are so full of shit!"

Root giggled back, "No really it's right there."

Shaw again swat at Root and laughed, "Shut the fuck up!"

They settled down for awhile after that just looking up at the sky, drenched in the quiet except for their breathing. Root snuck a glance at Shaw and marveled at how comfortable she was beginning to feel around this crazy woman that she had only just met. But it felt like maybe they had known each other in a past life or something. Like something was tugging at her towards this woman like magnets.

When the ice began to numb their backsides they made their way back to Root's car and Root drove them back home on the scenic route. The sun had set and Shaw had fallen asleep covered in an extra jacket Root had managed to throw over her at some point. Pulling up in front of Shaw's apartment she looked over at the sleeping soundly Shaw and marveled at how peaceful she was asleep. Reaching out Root wanted to put a fallen strand of hair behind Shaw's ear but thought better of it. Instead lightly tapped her on the cheek, "Sameen. Hey, wake up."

Startling awake Shaw grabbed Root's hand and quickly let it go, "Hey."

"Hey. Sorry to wake you."

Looking around and realizing where she was Shaw yawned, "Can I come to your house...to sleep? I'm so tired."

Root knew she should feel like that was rushing things but sure yeah what the hell, "Uh, sure, yeah."

"Let me get my toothbrush."

Leaning over Root opened the door for her, Shaw slammed the door and just looked back at her before running off to her apartment. Sitting back Root tried to rest her eyes for a minute but quickly threw her them open at the sound of someone knocking on her window. A tall man looked down at her through the window, rolling it down she squinted up at him, "Uh, yeah?"

"Can I help you with something? What are you doing here?"

The man had a spanish accent, lean build, but not entirely intimidating. Root looked at him questioningly, "Uh, what do you mean, I'm not really sure what you're asking me?"

The guy muttered something and walked off leaving Root incredibly confused, she rolled up her window and just stared out the window.

Root had no idea that things were just about to get confusing.

Imagine if you will that this is the part where you don't know whether it's in the future or in the past, because it'll all become clear soon.

It's nighttime and it's raining hard, the city lights are blurred through Root's car window as she drives they remind her of christmas lights. Beck's "Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime" plays on a cassette tape in Root's radio and she's crying. She wasn't sure how they had ended up like this. Her hands shook as they gripped at the steering wheel. Finally parking outside of her apartment building she wiped away her tears and grabbed the case of alcohol she had just gone to buy. Slamming her car door she walked along the sidewalk towards her apartment building a white van pulling up to follow her, she could hear mumbling going on as a man waved at her.

But it didn't quite catch her attention.

"Is that her?"

"Yeah, she's the one."

The one driving the van pulled up to the sidewalk and parked watching Root walk into her apartment building.

Root set her bag down and reached for her keys to check for her mail, a fellow tenant sliding up to her to do the same, "Geez, the only times I get Valentine's Day cards are from my mother. Pathetic huh? You're lucky you have Shaw, she's so cool. You make any special plans?"

Trying to hide her immediate need to be left alone and hoping her burning eyes didn't give away she had been crying prior Root just shook her head, "Nope, not really."

Root looked down at an envelope marked from Lacuna Inc. she'd been waiting for this to arrive.

"Really nothing?"

Walking away down the hall towards her apartment door, "I have to go to bed now."

"It's only 8:30!"

"Goodnight!"

Slamming her front door Root threw her mail on the table and went to change for bed, coming back to her pile of mail Root ripped open the Lacuna Inc. envelope. Finding a bottle of pills Root took two as she read all the directions. Standing Root went over to the window and looked out at the van parked across the street, eyeing it cautiously she shut her blinds. The pills must be kicking in because as she walks into the kitchen to turn the light off she nearly crashes into the wall.

"Oh, okay, okay."

Root reached over and shut the light off and made her way to her bed. Which signaled to the guys outside, "Alright, showtime at the Apollo."

Hopping out of the van the two men rushed to open the back doors to pull out a bunch of equipment. Which they tried to quietly but failingly drag into Root's apartment building and into her apartment which she had indeed kept unlocked for the two men.

After tonight, there wouldn't be a need for her to cry anymore. After tonight all memories of one Sameen Shaw would be erased from her mind.