A.N: Enjoy some multiple-pairing fluff! ^.^ Your reviews will always be welcomed.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto!

A Winter in Konoha

-Snow-

Temari pulled her coat tighter around her chest as she trudged along the white carpeted ground in her thick boots. She groaned, the cold settling into her bones, snow dusting her shoulders like icing sugar- seemingly pleasant but she detested it. Snowflakes landed on her nose, her hair, her sleeves. She watched his back leading the way, his shoulders slouched but didn't seem at all bothered by the weather.

"Stop walking so fast", she snapped, her breath turning to an icy mist in front of her. Shikamaru looked over at her from his shoulder.

"What's wrong?" he asked innocently. Imbecile.

"I hate this snow", she muttered through chattering teeth and dug her hands underneath her armpits to keep warm. Why had she forgotten to wear gloves?

"Oh you don't have snow in Suna, do you?" he inquired with a lopsided grin.

"I belong under the sun! I need the sun!" she started walking again, right past him so she wouldn't have to see that ridiculous smirk of his. The one she had a love-hate relationship with.

"Don't worry", he caught up to her. "The cafe is just a little distance away. You should get used to the snow you know. It's harmless."

"I know that! But it's annoying." She brought out her hands and rubbed them together, blowing hot breath between them. She hated being out of her element, being in a situation she wasn't all too familiar with. It made her feel almost vulnerable. Damn the snow!

"Here", he brought out a pair of gloves from his coat pocket and offered them to her. "I don't wear them since I'm used to it. Just keep them in my pocket."

Temari blinked at the black woollen pair, how warm they looked, how inviting. Without any further thought, she took them from him and slid her numb fingers into them. His hands were much bigger than hers and she only realised it then. Still, there was a comfort in them and she brought her hands against her cold cheeks, letting the warmth spread through. She glanced over at him, his face was beginning to turn a shade of pink. She smirked to herself. A small shop with a wooden exterior neared in sight. Temari thought about the hot drinks it would serve, the plush chairs, the light conversation she would have with him where they would lose track of time and realise they've been in the shop for hours. Suddenly, she didn't mind the snow all that much.

-Gingerbread-

As she flattened the freshly kneaded dough and brought out the cookie cutters from a drawer, Hinata recalled the first time she had baked something in the spirit of the cold season. A tray of chocolate and caramel turtle brownies. She had worked in the kitchen all day but in the end, the brownies had burnt around the edges. Devastated, she had dumped the whole tray into the trash bin and cried.

Half the cookies were cut in the shape of gingerbread men- Hanabi's favourite. The other half in the shape of hearts. She placed them in the oven, setting the timer, and then watched the snow slowly descend outside from the window in her living room. The whole village was blanketed, the rooftops, the tree branches, the lampposts. Hinata usually preferred spring over winter, with everything in full bloom, as if the earth was coming back to life after a long spell of slumber. She rearranged the cushions on the sofas, brought out her own quilt that she had finished making a week ago, and some floor pillows. The doorbell rang and she gave herself one last look in the mirror, fixing her fringe, before answering it. A tall, tan boy with a blond crew cut stood in the doorway, huddled in a black coat and a red scarf wrapped around his neck, covering his mouth and nose. There was snow dust on his shoulders but his eyes still twinkled with their usual warmth.

"Hey Hinata!" he greeted. "I brought you ramen!" he handed her the two cups as she ushered him in.

Once the gingerbread cookies were baked to perfection, she decorated them with pink and blue frosting and, upon his request, used orange frosting on a gingerbread man that he insisted on having. They sat down on the floor with two steaming cups of hot chocolate. Naruto bit off the head of the gingerbread man.

"These are so good", he said in a daze, looking up at nothing in particular. She smiled in gratification. "When we get married, will you make these for me at least once a week?"

Hinata choked on the hot liquid she was sipping.

-Scarf-

At the general store, Sakura was having a hard time deciding on which spool of yarn to buy. The choice had to be either crimson or indigo.

"Since when did you take up knitting?" came Ino's voice from across the aisle as she strutted in her heels to where Sakura was standing.

"What are you doing here?" asked the pink-haired kunoichi.

"Shopping for night cream of course", she said with a flip of her platinum blonde bangs. "So, since when have you kept this hobby of yours from me?" Sakura's eyebrows furrowed, her mouth forming a downward curve.

"Well it's not like it concerns you in any way. But if you must know, I'm going to knit a scarf for Sasuke as a gift for when he returns to Konoha." She finally decided on the indigo one and placed it in the basket she was carrying. Ino let out a hearty laugh.

"Do you even know how to knit?' she said between her chuckles.

"Of course I do!" retorted Sakura with a stomp of her foot, turning to face her friend. "I've been taking lessons from Hinata!"

"Is that so? Well why don't we all just start knitting scarves for our beloved boyfriends?"

"Shut up Ino-pig", Sakura muttered.

After buying their own necessities, the two stepped out of the store and were at once sprinkled with falling snow.

"We've been exchanging letters you know", Sakura said in a low voice. "He doesn't reply to all of them but he keeps me informed, tells me everything that he's doing." She stretched her arms, loosening her muscles that the cold had made stiff.

"It's nice to see you two patching things up rather well", Ino commented, looking up at the pale blue sky dotted with white clouds. "You're brave Sakura. You stuck to it all till the end and didn't give up". The pink-haired looked at her friend in surprise.

"Neither did you", she breathed. "You just chose a different path. I mean, to get a guy like Sai with the emotional capacity of a grain of sand to fall madly in love with you is no small feat."

"I know!" Ino said, giddy. They passed a group of children playing in the snow, and a young couple walking hand in hand.

"Good luck with the scarf. You'll need it", Ino added causing Sakura to roll her eyes at her.

"By the way, what do you have planned for the snow day?"

"Oh you know, just a lot of 'snuggling'", Ino wiggled her eyebrows teasingly at her friend. The latter then shoved her playfully by the shoulder.