I did some research on the web on snow machines and there is actually one that looks like this. :)

Title: Snow
author: Cindy Ryan
notes and summary: see part one

Meredith reached the ice rink and turned around to watch for Loretta. The person she saw instead holding two pairs of ice skates made her heart leap. A wide smile crossed Meredith's face. She closed the space between her and Chris and launched herself at her boyfriend. Chris easily caught her in an embrace and kissed her.

"You're home early!"Meredith exclaimed as she looped her arms around Chris's neck and he held her waist one handed still balancing the skates.

"Surprise, hon."Chris replied with a grin as he kissed her once more. "Don't be too mad at Loretta I coaxed her into the plan."

Meredith shook her head. "I'm not mad just happy to see you. I missed you things have been crazy around here."

"So I've heard."Chris replied as he handed Meredith a pair of skates. "Thought you'd enjoy this break. The VP of operations so we have the place to ourselves for at least an hour."

Meredith's eyes widened. "The whole rink?"

Chris laughed. "Yep the whole rink. You can skate loopdee-loops from one end to the other."

"This is wonderful!"Meredith commented as she gave Chris one more quick kiss before she sat on a nearby bench to put on her skates.

Chris sat down next to her and put on his skates and began to lace them up. When she finished Meredith glanced at her boyfriend.

"I just realized you've never skated before."Meredith said as she stood.

Chris stood wobbling and reached for the rink wall for support.

"Can't be that different than water skiing. All about balance."Chris responded as Meredith stepped away offering her right hand.

After a few minutes Chris was walking on his own and Meredith stepped out onto the ice first. She held her right hand to Chris once more and he took it before gingerly following her onto the ice. Meredith moved them away from the wall and Chris's feet nearly went out from under him almost instantly. Meredith quickly grabbed Chris's left hand and pulled him up right stifling a laugh.

"You okay?"Meredith asked.

"Yep and you can let go I've got this."Chris stated firmly.

Meredith let go of his left hand but still held on to Chris' s right. She waited for him to take a few more tentative but more solid steps before she let go. With a grin Chris moved to his left and skated a few feet before turning back to face Meredith. He wobbled only once.

"See?"Chris commented.

Meredith skated over to him and kissed him. "Good job."

Chris let the kiss linger before Meredith pushed away and skated the length of the rink. When she reached Chris once more he pulled her into an embrace once more. Then he took Meredith's hand and skated them toward the other end of the rink.

"You're getting better by the minute."Meredith said with a smile.

"Guess I"m a natural."Chris responded. "Got one more surprise for you."

Meredith gently cupped Chris's face with her hands. "You don't have to..."

"You'll love this."Chris stated as he took a small black plastic object out of his front right jeans's pocket.

"What is that?"Meredith asked as she realized it looked like a small remote.

"Watch."Chris replied as he pointed the remote at a snowman she hadn't seen before.

The snowman was positioned at the side of the bleachers nearest to them and it was facing the rink. It was dressed as a normal snowman but it was holding a black horn raised to it's lips like a musical instrument. When Chris clicked the remote a machine hum began. A few minutes later a blast of snow came out of the horn the snowman was holding. She let go of Chris's hand and moved closer to the snowman. Meredith held out her hand expecting the snow to be warm and fake. It hit her hand and melted just like the real thing.

"It's real!"Meredith exclaimed excitedly. "Real snow in New Orleans."

Chris laughed as he joined Meredith by the snowman. The expression of joy on his girlfriend's face was priceless. He knew she loved New Orleans but also knew that sometimes she got a bit homesick. He was glad he could bring her a bit of home.

"It's an indoor version of what ski resorts use."Chris explained. "The ice arena got two of those to use at certain points of the game."

Meredith nodded as she held her face up to the falling snow. After a few minutes Meredith met Chris's gaze and leaned in to kiss him. When they broke apart Chris brushed a snow flake away from Meredith's right cheek.

"Did you like your surprise?"Chris asked huskily.

"It was amazing and wonderful, thank you."Meredith replied as she kissed him once more. "I love you and I'm glad you're home."

"I love you too, Mere."Chris said softly as he rested his head on top of hers. "And I'm glad to be home."

end