With Winter Comes Snow


The air has become colder, frost would layer the now hard ground and the trees have lost almost all their leaves. Dead leaves littered the forest ground like a blanket, the only remaining ones are the few evergreens that we spread out sparingly.

The forest has become more quiet as winter got closer, animals getting ready, if not already, for hibernation. Dead leaves littered the forest ground like a blanket, the only remaining ones are the few evergreens that we spread out sparingly. The sky was covered in grey clouds which only made it much colder.

Arthur hurried along the path he always took to meet Alfred, he was running a bit late than usual with helping his family and escaping his brothers teasing on how often he hung out with the other boy.

Alfred was already waiting by the tree swinging around a stick with one hand and a small parcel in the other. When he could hear Arthur's steps he hid the parcel behind his back and tapped the ground with the stick, " hehehe~, you're late this time Artie~"

Arthur was unaffected by the now common nickname. He hadn't quite given up, but it was at a point where he didn't put much effort in correcting and merely stated his own name as a form of correcting him.

"Arthur. I am only a little late, you always come late every time we meet up. My mum wanted to make sure I was dressed warm."

With the chillier mornings starting, Arthur had begun wearing long sleeved shirts more and a coat along with warm pants and boots with fur on the inside.

Alfred was dressed similar but with normal shoes and without a coat.

Sticking out his tongue he pouted, "It's not my fault I'm late, if you're going to be mean then I won't give you your present."

"A present? Why do you have a present for me? It's not close to my birthday." Arthur now noticed how Alfred had a hand behind his back.

"It's not for your birthday silly, it's for Christmas! An early Christmas present!"

Arthur frowned slightly,he remembered Alfred saying something about his family being religious, his own family wasn't as much and never really celebrated the supposed Christmas day. They have tried, but most of the time they were all busy and the closest they did was eat breakfast together for once.

"Why are you giving it to me early then?"

Alfred let his stick drop and held the small present in his hand and out to Arthur, "because I can, now open it!"

Arthur took the small gift, it didn't weigh much of anything. He carefully unwrapped it and opened it to see a pair of green mittens. They were a green that reminded him of pine trees, he could see the knitting in them was done well and it was layered to make them thick to keep in the warmth.

"Surprise and merry early Christmas!" Alfred was beaming and looking at Arthur with hopeful eyes, "do you like them? Now you can use them whenever your hands get too cold or to throw snowballs!"

Arthur slipped on the pair of Mittens, they were a bit big on him but they were soft and could feel his hands warming up.

A small blush formed on his face from sheer joy and also by thinking now why Alfred had given him a present so early.

"They are nice, thank you Alfred."

Alfred's smile seem to shine brighter, "My mom made them, she likes making small things like that. Right now she says she's making a hat for Mattie."

"Then I'll be sure to thank her when I see her."

Something cold and wet fell on his cheek, he wiped it off to see it was a bit of water, then he felt another one. Looking around he could now see the small flakes starting to fall down.

"Snow.."

Alfred looked up at the sky and cheered. "It's the first snow Artie!" Alfred stuck out his tongue and moved around trying to catch a snowflake on his tongue. Arthur watched him, laughing and held out his hand to watch the snowflakes land on his new mittens and stay there a bit before melting.


A.N : Reviews and thoughts greatly appreciated.