Lynn still wasn't sure how she did it, given Cruella's loathing of the cold, but here they were, chasing each other around in the snow. It had taken some pleading, whining, and begging, but the older woman had eventually agreed to come out. Personally, Lynn thought it was so she'd shut up, but whatever the reason, she was having the time of her life. The fact that Cruella couldn't make a decent snowball to save her life played into that, but really she just enjoyed the snow. She was pulled out of her thoughts by a badly aimed snowball hitting her feet.

She looked up and grinned predatorily at the panting woman ten feet away. Still grinning, she reached down and made a snowball, never taking her eyes off the woman. The other woman visibly swallowed before turning and attempting to run away. She didn't make it more than a meter before a small projectile hit her in the back of the head. The force made her fall, causing her to swear and the younger woman to laugh.

Cruella was greeted by a hand as she lifted her head out of the snow. Smiling, she took it and yanked hard. It's owner tumbled down beside her with an 'oomph!'

"Geez, what are you, seven?" Lynn asked as she shook off the snow.

"I was not the one to request such a childish activity," the older woman replied as she stood up.

"But it's fun!" the younger woman protested.

"Darling, I was aware of the difference in our age years ago, but I wasn't aware you were still young enough to require a nap."

"That's a low blow."

"Perhaps, but you know I detest the cold."

"Just a few more minutes, pleeeeeaseeeee?"

Cruella knew better than to look at Lynn when she made that face, but she did anyway and her response came faster than her brain could register it.

"Oh, all right."

As the younger woman squealed in excitement, Cruella couldn't help but wonder what had just happened. Before she could think about it too long, another snowball narrowly missed her head. She whipped around to face her friend, only to see her running away. Not about to become a sitting duck, she tore after her. In the distance, she saw Lynn stop and stand still.

'I've got you now,' she thought as she grew closer. She watched as the younger woman began to slowly move forward, almost as if the ground beneath her were going to crumble away. She had almost reached her when Lynn whirled around and saw her.

"Cruella! Stop!"

Too late, Cruella realized the reason for the warning. She stopped as bid, but she felt the ground under her sink. A cracking sound filled the air and the ground dropped further.

"Cruella, don't move," Lynn whispered. Panicking, she tried to step forward, only to sink further. "No! Don't move!"

"What's going on?!"

"Do you remember the pond you told me about?"

"Yes." It dawned on her what she meant. "You're not serious."

"You're standing on it and I think it's going to give. It started cracking when I was on it. Just don't move."

"What am I supposed to do? I can't stand here until spring!"

Lynn bit her lip nervously.

"I don't know. I'm afraid if you move it give and you'll go under."

The ice creaked and slipped some more, causing Cruella to almost lose her balance.

"I'm afraid if I stay still it'll give and I'll go under!" By now, she had sunk about six inches and could just feel the water on her feet. "I can feel the water!"

"Okay, try to climb out and get to me. Slowly!"

The older woman lifted a leg to move. As soon as she did the ice completely shattered and she went under before she could react. Terrified, Lynn dropped to her knees beside the hole.

"Cruella! Kick back up! Come on, you can do it!"

Air bubbles appeared, followed quickly by a black and white head. A gloved hand shot out of the water, and the younger woman grabbed it, hauling the shaking woman out of the water. Cruella was shivering violently, teeth chattering and unable to speak. Lynn quickly took off her own coat and covered her with it. Wasting no time, she scooped her up and took off running toward the manor.

Once inside, she frantically began screaming for Alonzo. He rushed in immediately, and as soon as he saw Cruella he rushed off to call her doctor. There was a fire going in the den, and the older woman was quickly deposited in front of it. Maids and servants came forth with blankets from every room in the house. Alonzo returned long enough to hand Lynn a change of clothes for both women before returning to his conversation with the doctor.

Lynn stripped quickly, uncaring of the house staff as she changed. When she was changed, she gently unwrapped Cruella from her coat. The staff scattered instantly, none wanting to be present for the next few moments.

"Okay darling," Lynn said as she crouched in front of the woman, "I'm going to help you out of those wet things and into some dry clothes, okay?"

Without waiting for a response, she reached over and unbuttoned the large coat, tugging it off slowly. Next came the pants, followed by the sweater. Lynn paused after that, unsure whether to make her take off her bra and underwear or leave them. She looked through the pile of clothes Alonzo had brought down, pleased to find a pair of underwear. Calmly, she relayed instructions to the older woman, summoning her courage when her shaking hands couldn't manage to get the panties passed her hips.

That done, she began the task of dressing her. Underwear first of course, followed by pants she recognized as her own, and one of her shirts as well. She ended up taking the bra off too when she realized the clothes wouldn't help if something cold and wet was still pressed against her skin. Once Cruella was dressed, she was pulled onto Lynn's lap and blankets were wrapped around them. The younger woman was practically melting, but Cruella hadn't stopped shivering yet and she wanted to be sure she'd be all right.

Gradually, the older woman stopped shivering so violently, and layers of blankets were slowly removed. A maid brought in some tea, which Lynn managed to convince her friend to drink. It seemed to help a lot since she actually did stop shaking after she drank it. The doctor didn't come, so Lynn called Alonzo back in.

"Isn't the doctor coming?"

"No, h-he asked w-what had happened s-so I t-told him. He s-s-said that as l-long as she's k-kept w-warm she should b-be f-f-fine."

Her gaze went to the older woman.

"How do you feel?"

"Better now. I think the tea really helped."

"Mmkay, but I'm still a little worried."

"Darling," Cruella said as she leaned up and placed a chaste kiss on the corner of Lynn's mouth, "I'm much warmer now."

"Mmm, now that you mention it your temperature has come up."

"Of course it has," Cruella said as she leaned back against the younger woman's chest. "These clothes are quite warm."

"That's what I've been trying to tell you, but you won't listen. You said they were too, what was it? Oh yes, common."

"Okay, so I was wrong. I've learned. Can I keep these?"

"No! They're my favorite pair of pajamas!"

"But they're cute! Please?"

Lynn thought for a minute. Truly, the sight of Cruella in her owl patterned fleece fuzzy pajama pants was adorable, but still, they were her favorites. As was the shirt, over sized with the batman emblem on the front faded to look old. Sacrifice her clothes for this priceless picture, or deal with being ignored if she said no. Which did she want to put up with?

"Fine, you can have them."

A contented sigh was her reply as Cruella snuggled closer. Lynn laid back onto the floor and allowed her to stretch out on top of her. It was getting late in the afternoon and the sun was beginning to go down. Lynn yawned, the day taking its toll on her and heard the older woman yawn, too. Absentmindedly, she began to run a hand up and down her back.

"Feels nice," Cruella murmured as she drifted to sleep.

Lynn fell asleep soon after, the fear and tension leaving her body as she focused on the weight across her torso and concentrated on the fact that Cruella was alive and well.