Without the alarm clock set for a ridiculously early wake up, Cosima is able to sleep until a respectable 11:30am. To her surprise, Delphine is still sleeping. Cosima lays there, transfixed by the sight in front of her; of the curls splayed out all over the pillow, of the little freckle at the tip of Delphine's nose, at the smile present on her lips, at the indent of her dimple.

Cosima is pretty sure if she looked up the definition of bliss in the dictionary, this image of Delphine would appear in place of words. A warmth instantly spreads through Cosima's body at this sight, the same warmth she feels when Delphine kisses her, or when she hears the sound of Delphine's laugh, or when Delphine's hands are exploring her body. But Delphine is doing none of those things at this moment and Cosima still feels that same warmth. For someone who is always cold, this is quite enlightening. And even though Delphine is asleep, Cosima has an overwhelming urge that can't be denied.

"Hey, Delphine," Cosima whispers. She gets no response. "Delphine," she says a little louder. Nothing. "Delphine," she adds a poke to her shoulder.

Delphine jolts awake, instantly concerned, "What's the matter? Is it your head?" She reaches out and places her hand on the back of Cosima's head, feeling for the now shrunken bump.

"No, my head is fine. Actually, it's clearer than it's ever been."

"What do you mean?"

"Can we go somewhere?"

Delphine looks under the covers at their bare bodies, "Right now?"

"Well, after we get dressed, but, yeah, if you don't mind, there's someone we need to visit."

"No, of course I don't mind, whatever you want to do."

"Great," Cosima smiles, giving Delphine a kiss before hopping out of bed. Delphine eyes her curiously as she goes into the bathroom and turns on the shower. After about 30 seconds, Cosima peeks her head out, "You coming?"

Delphine smiles broadly before jumping out of bed and joining her.

—

"There she is," Cosima announces as they reach the top of the snow-covered hill. She rushes over with Delphine following closely behind.

"I'm surprised she's still standing," Delphine muses.

"I'm not, she had your scarf to protect her from the elements. Hi there, Shelly, we're back."

"Don't worry, I haven't come to take the scarf back," Delphine assures.

"Yeah, that would just be rude at this point," Cosima concurs.

"You still haven't told me exactly why we're back here."

"Because Shelly and this hill are special. That spot right there," Cosima points, "that's where you kissed me for the first time."

"I remember," Delphine grins.

"I think about it all the time," Cosima admits. "I feel like Shelly is kinda responsible for us. If we hadn't spent so much time building her, causing my lips to chap so intensely, who knows if you ever would have kissed me."

"Oh, I would have."

"You can't possibly know that. I mean, you may have wanted to, but so did I, I was just too scared to go for it. What if you never made that move? We could have both spent the next 2 weeks pretending like we weren't crazy about each other."

"I'd like to think there's no way either of us would have let that happen."

"Maybe, but we can't know for sure."

"No, I suppose not," Delphine concedes.

Cosima straightens out Shelly's scarf, then moves to the edge of the hill and stands quietly, looking out over the Chamonix landscape and up into the mountains.

Delphine comes up beside her, "What's going on?"

Cosima opens her mouth to speak, her eyes still cast in the distance,

"Mont Blanc yet gleams on high: -the power is there,
The still and solemn power of many sights,
And many sounds, and much of life and death.
In the calm darkness of the moonless nights,
In the lone glare of day, the snows descend
Upon that Mountain; none beholds them there,
Nor when the flakes burn in the sinking sun,
Or the star-beams dart through them. Winds contend
Silently there, and heap the snow with breath
Rapid and strong, but silently! Its home
The voiceless lightning in these solitudes
Keeps innocently, and like vapour broods
Over the snow. The secret Strength of things
Which governs thought, and to the infinite dome
Of Heaven is as a law, inhabits thee!
And what were thou, and earth, and stars, and sea,
If to the human mind's imaginings
Silence and solitude were vacancy?"

Cosima turns and looks Delphine in the eye, "That's my favorite passage."

"That was beautiful. When did you learn it?"

"This week, while you were out teaching your teen group. See, my afternoons weren't just for nap time?"

"Apparently not," Delphine laughs. "I can't believe you memorized that."

"Hey, you're talking to the girl who memorized the periodic table when she was six-years-old."

"I'm impressed."

"Thank you," Cosima smiles. "I wanted to read the poem because you said it was your favorite. I didn't even really know why I was memorizing it until I woke up this morning and saw your face. You were sleeping so peacefully and had this impossibly beautiful smile on your face. It occurred to me that I might be responsible for that smile. I mean, I know I'm responsible for you falling asleep with a smile," Cosima laughs, "but could I really be responsible for you appearing so utterly serene and happy? And I know you've told me a millions times how happy I make you, but it was seeing you at a moment, when you couldn't reassure me, that I felt it the most. And then it hit me that I feel the exact same way. I have spent my entire life out in the cold, looking for a warm place, and I found it in one of the coldest spots imaginable. You're my warm place, Delphine, right here," she reaches out and touches Delphine's heart, "I don't know how I got in there, but I know that I never want to get out."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that I don't want this to end. I can't just go home tomorrow and be like, that's it. You're my girlfriend, Delphine, and I'm not about to let that change anytime soon. I know it won't be easy with you in Paris and me in Minnesota, but we can try to coordinate our schedules the best we can so we can Skype as much as possible. I mean, there's no freakin' way I can go very long without seeing your beautiful face. And we can commiserate about school and just talk about anything and everything, but like be a couple, an exclusive couple. I have no desire to go back there and be with anyone else. I want you, Delphine, only you, and I hope you feel the same."

"I thought you said long distance never works?"

"I think I was a bit hasty with the whole never part. I think it can work if both people really, really want it to."

"And you really, really want it to?"

"More than anything," Cosima nods. "You were the last thing I expected when I came here. I hate the snow, I hate the cold, and that's what I imagined this trip would consist of, me being miserable in the snow and cold. I know it's ironic considering I attend school in Minnesota, but I pretty much spend all day indoors, which is what I figured I'd end up doing here. But then the weirdest thing happened, I met you and suddenly the snow and cold didn't bother me quite so much anymore. In fact, I relished going outdoors, because that's where you were and I just wanted to spend time with you. I've now discovered that I kinda enjoy frolicking in the snow. It obviously helped that I got to do it with you, but you also made me appreciate the mountains, appreciate nature, and you taught me how to ski. Clumsy Cosima Niehaus can now ski downhill without landing on her ass every time. That's a freakin' miracle. But most importantly, you taught me that I can actually love something besides my parents and science."

"You love skiing?" Delphine asks with elated surprise.

"No," Cosima shakes her head. "I love you, Delphine."

"Cosima-" Delphine gasps.

"I know, I know what you're gonna say, that it's too fast, we only met a few weeks ago, but I've never felt this way before. Hell, I dated Emi for two years and never loved her like I love you. I never even said those words to her, which is why, as callous as this might sound, it wasn't that hard to end things with her. And I'm not confusing lust for love, either. Because, yeah, I'll admit, as soon as I saw you, I was crushing so hard, but you're more than just a pretty face and really great hair, you're smart and compassionate and determined and patient and strong and so incredibly warm, both your heart and your body. I would be perfectly content to spend the rest of my life snuggled up next to you. I wish I could stay here with you forever, just forget about everything else, just say screw it to all of our responsibilities, but I know I can't, I know we both need to finish school. You're going to be an incredible doctor, Delphine, and I don't want to get in the way of that. I don't want to do what Emi and René did and try to interfere with our dreams. We've got these paths that we're both on, and we should continue on them, but when I think about what I want my future to look like, I see you in it. So before you tell me I'm crazy-"

"I'm not going to tell you you're crazy."

"You're not?"

"No," Delphine shakes her head, "because I feel the same way."

"You do?"

Delphine nods and reaches out to caress Cosima's cheek, "Je t'aime, aussi."

"Okay, I may not know much French, but I do know that one."

"I love you," Delphine smiles with tears in her eyes. "I've known I loved you for a while actually"

"For real?"

"Cosima, you found me crying in the bathroom because I was upset about you leaving. That's not exactly my normal reaction to the end of winter break. I was crying because I love you and I was scared of losing you."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"Because I was unsure how you'd react. You're leaving soon and I didn't want to put any undo pressure on you."

"Pressure? Are you kidding? It's not pressure, it's a relief. I've been in love with you since the moment we met and everyday since it's only gotten stronger and deeper."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because not many people believe in love at first sight. I thought you'd freak out."

"I wouldn't have," Delphine insists. "Do you know the story of Cinderella?"

"Yeah, of course I do."

"I feel like you're my Cinderella, my Cosimella, I suppose," she grins. "That first day, when I took your boots off and placed them on the correct feet, I don't know, it felt like something clicked, like when I got you into your boots, stood you up, and looked into your eyes, I found something I didn't even know I was looking for. From that moment, I was hooked. I told you I thought you were cute, but it was more than that. There is something so innately special about you that made me want to spend time with you. I knew, in here," she places her hand over her heart, "that you were meant to be in my life. And everything you just said about me, I can say the same about you. Except the warm body part, you have the absolute coldest body of anyone I've ever met, but I love that about you. I may be able to keep you warm, but you keep me from getting too overheated. We complement each other. And I don't want to let you go, either, Cosima. I want to wake up everyday and know that you're mine and I'm yours, no matter how far apart we are. I want to make this work. This is probably going to sound silly, but I never really believed in fate until you were placed in my ski group."

"That doesn't sound silly at all, I get it, I feel it, too. Although in my case fate goes by the name Scott. But I know what you mean about something clicking when we met. It's almost like when you place that last Lego piece on a set you've spent what seems like forever building, it's that sense of peace like, this is it, this is what I've been working towards this whole time. I don't mean to quote Jerry Maguire, but you complete me."

"I have no idea who that is," Delphine admits.

"Really? Wow, we'll totally need to do some movie marathoning one day. I wonder what other movies you haven't se-"

Delphine silences her with a kiss, catching Cosima off-guard, causing her to step backwards, her foot slipping on the snowy hill. As she stumbles, Cosima throws her arms around Delphine to stabilize, instead, she manages to pull her along with her as she falls to the ground. The two of them, wrapped up in one another, tumble down the hill.

"We really have to stop meeting like this," Cosima remarks with a smirk as they come to a stop, with her pinning Delphine to the ground.

"I don't know," Delphine shrugs, "it's worked out pretty well so far." She reaches out and cups Cosima's frosty cheeks, stroking them tenderly before bringing her down for a passionate kiss.

As they break for air, Cosima lifts her head several inches away from Delphine's so she can get a good look at her face, "I love you."

"I love you," Delphine responds affectionately.

"Should we seal this whole love deal with snow sex?"

"Hmm," Delphine mulls it over, "it could be fun, but we run the risk of frostbite in some very inconvenient places."

"Good point. Well, if sex is out, how about we do something almost as pleasurable?"

"What did you have in mind?"

"Do you still have our sleds in the trunk?"

"I do," Delphine smiles.

"Great!" Cosima pushes herself up, then extends her hand to Delphine, helping her to her feet.

"You didn't leave me submerged this time."

"Love changes a girl," Cosima replies.

"Apparently," Delphine chuckles. "Let's go get those sleds."

—

"That was fun," Cosima says as they get back in the car after an afternoon of sledding.

"It was," Delphine agrees, "but as enjoyable as sledding with you was, hearing you tell me you love me was even better."

"Yeah, ditto, obvs," Cosima grins as she leans across the armrest and kisses Delphine.

"Would you mind if we changed our plans for this evening?" Delphine asks.

"You want to go somewhere instead of Atmosphère?"

"Yes, but if you'd rather go there, I'd under-"

"No," Cosima insists, "I want to do whatever you want to do."

"Thank you."

"What do you want to do?"

"There's someone else I'd like to visit with you."

—

After about 40 minutes, where hand holding and cheesy sing-alongs filled their drive time, Delphine pulls in front of a familiar home.

"I can't believe how much has changed in two weeks," Cosima marvels as they look out at the house. "Last time we came here, this, you and me together, like, together together, was my wildest dream."

Delphine turns to Cosima and smiles, "Dreams do come true."

"Wait, this could totally be another dream."

"It's not."

"We can't be sure. Kiss me."

"I thought you said pinching was the required action?"

"No, kissing is a more accurate indicator of dream status," Cosima puckers her lips and Delphine honors her request. "I really love reality," Cosima grins as they break apart.

"And I really love you," Delphine rubs their noses together sweetly.

"Okay, let's do this," Cosima announces.

They get out of the car and walk up to the door. Delphine rings the bell.

"Qui est ce?"

"Trick or treat!" Cosima responds.

Delphine playfully smacks Cosima's butt before replying seriously, "C'est moi, Mémé."

"Delphine!" Adeline exclaims as soon as she opens the door and quickly ensnares her granddaughter in a tight embrace. "Quelle belle surprise!" She then notices Cosima is standing a little off to the right to give them some space, "Cosima, ça me fait plaisir de te revoir." As she lets go of Delphine, she pulls Cosima into a warm hug. "Rentrez donc," she leads them in the house and takes their coats, "vous arrivez pile à temps, le dîner est sur le feu."

"On ne voudrait pas abuser de ta gentilesse."

"Balivernes, tu sais bien que je cuisine toujours trop. J'adorerais avoir de la companie."

"Merci!" Delphine turns to Cosima, "Mémé has invited us to stay for dinner."

"Awesome! That was the plan anyway." Cosima takes a whiff, "Mmm, it does smell délicieux in here. What's cooking?"

"Qu'est- ce qu'i manger ce soir?"

"Navarin D'Agneau," Adeline responds.

"Lamb stew with vegetables in a white wine sauce," Delphine translates. "It's one of Mémé's specialities."

"Ooh, sounds great!"

They follow Adeline into the living room and sit down on the couch, "Qu'est-ce qui me vaut la visite de deux jolies jeunes filles comme vous?"

Cosima looks at Delphine questioningly.

"She asked what brings us here," Delphine explains before turning her attention back to her grandmother. "Cosima rentre chez elle demain et avant qu'elle ne me fasse j'ai pensé que ça serait sympa de venir ici ensemble pour te voir et te dire que," Delphine takes Cosima's hand in hers, "Cosima et moi on n'est bien plus que des amis maintenant."

"Oui, je sais. Luc m'a dit que vous étiez ensemble."

"Il te l'a dit?"

"Oui," Adeline nods.

"What was that about Luc?" Cosima asks.

"He's already told Mémé we're dating."

"Oh damn, he beat you to the punch."

"Apparently."

"Je suis très heureuse pour vous deux."

"Merci, Mémé," Delphine smiles. "She's happy for us."

"I'm very happy, too," Cosima grins at Adeline. "I love Delphine very much."

"Amour?" Adeline gasps. "Et toi, Delphine?"

Delphine bites her lips and nods, "Je suis amoureuse de Cosima."

"C'est merveilleux!" Adeline rises off her chair and pulls Delphine up into a hug, then takes Cosima's hand and brings her into the hug with them.

As they end the hug, Adeline smiles sweetly at the girls, "Est-ce que cela veut dire que Cosima fêtera encore Noël avec nous l'année prochaine?"

"Oh, je ne sais pas."

"What did she say?"

"She asked if this means you'll be back with us next Christmas."

"Oui," Cosima responds without hesitation.

"Fantastique!" Adeline clasps her hands together happily as a timer goes off in the kitchen. "Je vous en prie, excusez-moi, je dois aller jeter un coup d'oeil au dîner."

"It does?" Delphine asks Cosima with surprise once Adeline has left to check on dinner.

"Yeah, I can't let you have all that fun and great food without me, can I? Nor can I leave you without a buddy on Christmas. I mean, that is, if you want me to be there."

"Want you to? Of course I want you to be there. I just didn't know you'd want to come back to France."

"Delphine, when I said I love you, that was my unconditional RSVP to every Cormier Christmas you'll have me at. Only next time, I hope you'll kiss me under the mistletoe."

"Oh, I will definitely kiss you under the mistletoe. In fact, would you look at that," Delphine glances up at nothing.

Cosima follows her eye-line, "At what?"

"The mistletoe, don't you see it?"

Cosima takes off her glasses and rubs them on her shirt, then puts them back on. "Oh, oh yeah. Sorry, my glasses were all fogged up, now I see it," Cosima plays along as Delphine moves in for a kiss.

"Le dîner est prêt," Adeline announces as she reenters the living room, stopping in her tracks at the sight on the couch.

Delphine and Cosima quickly break apart. "Ok, merci, on arrive tout de suite," Delphine replies without turning to face her grandmother as a blush quickly blooms on her cheeks.

Cosima gives Adeline a little smile as she turns and returns to the kitchen.

"Oh mon dieu," Delphine drops her face onto Cosima's shoulder, "I just got caught making out on my Grand-Mère's couch."

"For what it's worth, she was smiling at us."

"That's good, but, still, my Grand-Mère."

"Yeah, it is kinda awkward, but not as bad as, like, if your dad walked in on us having sex."

"Cosima," Delphine swats at her arm, "why would you even say such a thing? Don't even put that out in the universe. I am double, no triple, locking the hotel room door and putting a chair under the handle from now on."

"Babe, I think one lock and a do not disturb sign are enough. Anyway, all I'm saying is there are far worse things than Adeline catching you with your tongue down my throat."

"You're impossible. Is it too late to take back the whole love thing?" Delphine wonders.

"Yes, no backsies, remember?"

"How could I forget? That's what got you here on Christmas Eve."

"That and the promise of home-cooked meal, which, by the way, is in there waiting for us to devour it."

"You're hungry, aren't you?"

"Starving," Cosima growls.

"Let's go eat," Delphine leads Cosima to the kitchen where Adeline has already set the table.

Adeline instructs them to sit and insists on serving them. After the meal is plated, Adeline pours them each a glass of pinot noir and raises her glass, "A l'amour et au bonheur!"

"Ditto," Cosima repeats before they all clink glasses and take a sip.

Cosima takes her first bite of the lamb, "Oh, oh damn, this is so good. You did it again, Adeline." She gives Adeline the ok sign with her hand.

"Elle a un très bon appétit," Adeline remarks.

"Oui, pour en avoir un, elle l'a," Delphine chuckles.

"Tu as choisis sagement, ma princesse."

"Je suis d'accord," Delphine smiles.

"You gonna fill me in?" Cosima asks between bites.

"Mémé was just appreciating your wonderful appetite."

"You know, I'm seriously going to learn French before I come back here so I know what you're saying about me."

"It's all positive," Delphine assures.

"I hope so."

After dinner, Adeline serves religieuse for dessert.

"Are you freakin' kidding me?" Cosima comments as she dives into the sweet pastry filled with chocolate. "Adeline, can you please just send care packages of your food to me at school?"

"Elle veut que tu lui envoies tes plats à la fac," Delphine clarifies for her grandmother.

"Je le ferai peut-être," Adeline nods.

"She's considering it," Delphine tells Cosima.

"Yes!" Cosima raises her fist in celebration.

"Elle est amoureuse de ta cuisine," Delphine giggles.

"Elle est bien plus amoureuse de toi encore," Adeline replies, causing Delphine to blush.

After finishing dinner, and helping Adeline clean up, they spend some more time chatting in the living room.

Delphine glances at the clock, "It's getting late, we should probably head back to the hotel."

"Voulez-vous rester dormir là cette nuit?" Adeline asks

"Voulez-vous what?" Cosima asks.

"She asked if we'd like to stay the night." Delphine and Cosima look at each other, the same thought instantly passing through both their minds, then turn to Adeline simultaneously.

"No," they say in concert.

"Je suis désolée, Cosima doit encore faire ses bagages et ça serait mieux si on ne le faisait pas à la dernière minute," Delphine apologizes, explaining Cosima still needs to pack.

"Je comprends," Adeline winks knowingly as she stands and gets their coats.

"Cosima," Adeline says as she embraces her, "rentre bien. Je compte bien te faire tenir ta promesse de revenir à Noël prochain."

Cosima looks at Delphine over Adeline's shoulder questioningly, "She wishes you a safe flight and is holding you to your promise to return next Christmas."

"Merci, Adeline," Cosima responds.

"Delphine," Adeline cups her cheeks in her hands, "je suis là chaque fois que tu as besoin de moi.

"Merci, je reviendrai te voir avant de retourner à Paris." Delphine hugs her grandmother tightly, then gives her a kiss before heading out with Cosima.

—

When they return to their hotel room, Cosima hangs the do not disturb sign outside before locking the door. "This was the perfect day," she remarks as she approaches Delphine, who is kicking off her shoes.

"It was pretty spectacular," Delphine agrees.

"You know what would be the perfect end to such a perfect day?"

"Packing?"

Cosima shakes her head, "Nope."

"A movie?" Delphine tries again.

"Uh uh."

"I'm at a complete loss."

"Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?" Cosima chants seductively.

Laughter bursts from Delphine, "Where did you learn that?"

"Lady Marmalade. Adeline saying voulez-vous earlier reminded me of it. Why? Is it wrong?"

"No, it's just ridiculous." Cosima frowns. "But very adorable," Delphine clarifies as she wraps her arms around Cosima. "However, I cannot promise there will be much sleeping tonight."

"That's totally fine, sleep is overrated anyway," Cosima declares as she reaches her hands up and runs them through Delphine's curls with a huge grin on her face. "I love you."

"I'm never going to tire of hearing you say that," Delphine smiles back.

"I'm never going to tire of saying it," Cosima assures as she pulls herself in for a kiss full of passion and promise. A promise they both make many times throughout the night with both words and actions.