Drabble 25: Winter.
"If you throw a single snowball at me, I might just kill you." She crosses her arms, though it's more to warm her hands inside her coat than a condescending gesture.
"Oh, come on, Nat! You're no fun." He sticks out his tongue at her and catches a few snowflakes. He considers it killing two birds with one stone. "Loosen up!"
"Henry, it's fucking freezing; how the hell am I supposed to loosen up?" She glares at him, face flushed and nose a bright red. He smiles, cupping her cheeks and brushing his chapped lips to hers.
"Better?" He grins, swiping a snowflake off the tip of her nose.
"No." She huffs, "I'm still fucking cold, Henry."
"Hmm…" He pretend to think, tapping his chin. Henry grins, walking a few feet away and leaning down.
"Henry, what are yo-" WHAM.
The snowball hits her before she even registers what's going on.
She blinks, almost robotically wiping the snow off her cheek. "I'm. Going. To. Get you." Natalie growls, but he knows her well enough to catch the little curl of her lips, the devilish glint in her eye. So, they run. Or, well, Henry runs, Natalie chases. They run and they run until she trips and falls in the snow, a small giggle escaping her lips.
He grins, turning back to help her up, "You ready to go inside? I'll make hot chocolate."
She nods vigorously, taking his hand to get up and not letting go until they get out of the elevator and into their apartment.
"Extra whipped cream?"
"Is that even a question?"
"Touche." He comes over and hands her the mug, sitting beside her on the floor near the heater and she drapes part of her blanket over him. "Still cold?"
"Hmm? Mm, no." She sighs, leaning into him, "This is way better than a fireplace."
He smiles, wiping whipped cream off her upper lip with his thumb, "I love you."
"Mmm." She hums, letting her eyes slide shut as her head rests on his shoulder.
He smiles again, accepting the response. She'll say it, eventually. He knows she loves him.
And whether it takes 'til the snow melts or a thousand and one more winters, he's prepared to wait.