A Marshmallow World

Lavi was really, really starting to regret saying anything to Lenalee about Allen and Kanda.

When he said that thing about repressed feelings and unresolved sexual tension, he'd been serious, sure, but at most, it was just some idle speculation. Then Lenalee caught onto the fixing-things bug she'd been adopting lately, at which point idle speculation had turned into torment- er, helping their two best friends. Two friends they'd known since middle school and ultimately just wanted to be happy.

But somehow, in the past twenty-four hours, his wife with the friendly smile and loving personality had turned into Komui when he was secretly plotting the creation of Komlin the 2nd, secretive giggle and silent mutterings included.

It honestly should have been freaking him out. With all the changes going on with her, he knew her behavior would start getting a little extreme, but this was passing extreme and going into primeval.

And yet, Lavi couldn't quite make himself intervene. The weird part was, it was kind of turning him on (not that he was about to tell her that – Lavi liked to think that in three years of marriage, he'd learned a thing or two).

And he was having way too much fun. Even if next stage of the plan was turning into a bit of a mystery.

"So… what are we doing out here?" he asked as the two stepped into Bookman's garage.

It was well after eleven o'clock at night. Most of the guests were asleep, the sun had set, and after spending most of the day decorating the cabin, saving Allen and Kanda from themselves, preventing any further brawls, and kicking ass in Risk, Lavi really didn't have the energy for anything besides sleep.

"Working on the next stage of the plan," was Lenalee's cryptic answer, locating the light switch.

It was a three-car garage attached to the cabin. One bay was taken up by Bookman's treasured antique vehicle while the other two were filled with boxes. Stacks of boxes containing mysteries nick-knacks from Bookman's travels across the world and back.

Lenalee's dark head briefly disappeared behind a stack of said boxes, and shortly after clanking and re-arranging could be heard.

"Do you need some help, Lena?"

But, well, if she didn't need any help... it was the first time they'd been actually alone in almost a week. That is, alone in the sense that they weren't trying to cook, present-wrap, or otherwise prepare for the biggest holiday event of the year.

Which... well, who was to fault him for wanting to take advantage of the situation?

But unfortunately, before Lavi could put the (potentially suicidal) moves on his wife, the slender woman emerged from behind the boxes carrying a smaller, notebook-sized package.

"Found it," she proclaimed, grinning. Her smile dimmed some at his expression. "Um, something wrong?"

"Uh, no, but... I guess I was hoping you had another kind of planning in mind?" He corrected with a wink.

"I think that part's covered," Lenalee rolled her eyes, gently setting the box down in the only clear spot in the garage.

Inside the package was a neon-orange case. The case was familiar, although Lavi wasn't really sure why they needed it. He recognized it from a few years ago when Panda had been restoring a 1977 Chevy. The car had been untouched for over fifteen years, so they'd had to siphon the old gas out before they could run it. Lenalee had bought several kits to do just that because they didn't know which one would work. This was one of them, only they didn't end up using it because the kit was adapted for modern cars.

But why did she…

Oh.

"…are you thinking what I think you're thinking?"

"Um, I don't know, Lavi, what am I thinking?" she answered cryptically, going out the garage man-door. He followed her into the freezing winter air, pine needles and snow crunching underfoot as they rounded to the driveway.

He didn't want to voice the alleged plan. Doing so would make it real and him a knowing accomplice. Not that he had any problems with mischief, but…

"Uh, won't that be kind of… dangerous?" he added in a happy tone, hoping to dissuade her plotting.

Lenalee, keys in hand, finally located Allen's 2008 burgundy Toyota in the sea of bluish-black snow. Her face was visible in the glow from the house, cheeks rosy and nose red in the cold. Her hair was pulled back in a pony-tail, dark eyes giving the house a cursory glance before she unlocked the car with a beep.

"They're two grown adults. Besides, it'll be the middle of the day. Absolutely nothing to worry about."

Is there really?

But… well, it had been ages – ages – since he'd gotten to pull a good, honest-true, prank on his friends. And while he did pull the occasional trick candles or exploding-confetti gifts on special occasions, true mischief was rare now that the four of them only got together for holidays or Cross' hospital visit.

Purported danger and completely un-Lenalee-like idea aside, it was also kind of brilliant.

And who was he to go stomping on a good plan?

Which was why, as Lenalee popped the gas tank to Allen's car and opened up the kit, he couldn't help a small twinge of excitement. Sharing a conspirator's grin with his wife, he added, "Where're we gonna watch this from, anyway?"

Lenalee smirked. "I'm glad you asked."

Lenalee didn't end up showing him the super-secret spot for all their viewing needs.

It was almost ten in the morning and Lenalee had just asked Kanda to get more bread. Kanda, whose car was stuck behind pretty much everyone's in the driveway, of course went to go find the only one with easy access to the road – Allen.

Grinning like baboons, Lavi and Lenalee were moments away from sneaking out of the cabin to watch the trip unfold (and maybe do some other things, if Lavi had his way), when they were distracted by a more imminent disaster. Because apparently nothing said Christmas to Komui like a dangerous robot with the potential to not only decimate the cabin but introduce them all to religion a little earlier than planned.

What exactly was a Marie-sized robot doing in the middle of their Christmas holiday? Lavi had absolutely no idea, but needless to say, he was already suspicious of any Christmas gifts from his brother-in-law and the latest Komlin Bot hadn't assuaged his fears.

Two hours later, after the robot had been disabled, disaster averted, and Komui given a serious tongue lashing by Lenalee that even had Lavi wincing, everything had calmed down (marginally). At least, it was calm enough that the two could remember their original plans for the morning.

But at that point, it was too late. Kanda and Allen would be back any moment (assuming Allen's car got just as poor gas mileage as they thought).

"So, we're waiting here?" Lavi asked, taking a glance at the kitchen clock.

Lenalee nodded, pulling her flannel shirt closed. "Yeah. By the time we get up there, they'll probably be back. But... actually, they should be back by now. What do you think's taking them so long?"

"Well, they did have to walk down the mountain. Maybe they got a little lost," he suggested, leaning against the island.

"Lost? Please. There's one road in and out of here. It's not that easy to get lost."

He shrugged. "They could have stopped for a snack."

"Or some steamy roadside snow-sex."

Lavi opened his mouth, about to say he didn't think they brought those kinda supplies when a glass shattered.

Both adults turned their heads only to be met with the shocked face of Arystar Krory.

Lenalee went beet-red. It was a cute look on her, but before she could correct her crude phrasing, Krory stumbled out, "I'm just- uh- Eliade was thirsty, so- uh- I didn't mean to interrupt!" before fleeing from the kitchen.

"...Uh, okay then."

"Oh no, I didn't mean to-"

Lenalee was interrupted when the backdoor banged open, cold air blasting into the oven-warmed kitchen.

"We need a doctor!"

It was… wait, was that Johnny? That had to be him. None of the other min- er, scientists had such crazy hair, even if it so covered in snow it was hard to see anything but his glasses. Which… were crooked. And one lens was cracked.

"…Johnny? What are you-"

"It's Kanda! He's got a broken bone! We've got to-"

"I'm fine," came a snarly reply from just outside the door.

And, shortly after, Kanda stepped over the threshold, arm around Allen's shoulders.

Or, at least, he figured it was Allen and Kanda. Because if Johnny looked like he'd been rolling around out in the woods, those two looked like they'd been buried in it – twigs were stuck in their hair, bits of pine needles buried in the mushy-mud splatters on their clothes. One was missing a few buttons in their coat, and the other wasn't wearing one at all, Kanda's ponytail caked in a layer of snow and Allen only identifiable because he was the shorter of the two.

"Hang on, man, I'll call the-"

"I'm fine," Kanda snarled.

"Shut up, Bakanda," Allen sighed, carrying his sort-of enemy into the kitchen. "Just… It's probably only sprained. Lavi, can you get some ice or something? I'm going to set him down in the living room."

"Fucking set me anywhere and you're dead, Moyashi."

"Yeah, yeah, like I haven't heard that before. Just shut up before I actually drop you."

"Tch."

Lavi did as directed. Lenalee, despite Kanda's assurances (well, barked threats), was already dialing up the Nurse living down the way.

By the time the two of them got back out into the living room, Kanda had been arranged on the love seat with Allen next to him (another piece of furniture they'd have to pay to clean). Daisya, evidently having heard the commotion, was sitting in the rocking chair opposite, wearing a shit-eating grin at his brother's predicament. Reever and Komui, who'd already been in the living room, looked torn between bolting or staying to finish their chess game.

Stay they did, although they were probably regretting it when the Nurse arrived, examining Kanda's leg and apparently setting it when Kanda swore so much even Daisya cringed. The leg, which actually was broken, had to then be put in a cast.

While the latter part was being taken care of, Lavi saw Johnny plop down in the last available chair looking half-dead and only marginally cleaner.

"Um, Johnny," he asked, trying for a friendly smile, "Any idea what happened?"

"We just went to get bread," he cried, head falling into his hands.

Lavi glanced at Lenalee, but she was too busy staring at Kanda's leg to notice. "Wait, you went with them?"

A forlorn nod.

"What happened?"

Johnny, hands cradling a cup of cocoa that had materialized from somewhere, sat forward in his chair, head bowed and looking like he was carrying the weight of the world. It was a hearty sip and another blanket before he chanced a glance at his friends. When it was clear Allen was too focused on Kanda and the latter was too busy chugging water like it was beer, he finally started to speak.

"Well, you see…"

Two hours earlier

Johnny had been spending most of his vacation in Bookman's cabin minding his own business and playing chess with Reever. The house smelled like cinnamon and bacon (not normally an appealing combination but somehow it worked), and even without hardly moving from the living room, he was glad Komui had invited him down to spend the holidays with his family. Usually Johnny was so caught-up in lab work that he was lucky to remember to buy people Christmas presents, never mind actually take the time to sit down and eat a festive meal surrounded by friends and family.

And, granted, he didn't have any of his family there, but it was close enough (and better in some ways, since no one teased him for his curly hair or bowl-sized glasses). Everyone was nice. There were kids and eggnog and ginger-bread houses and… it was fun.

Johnny, later, would realize this comfort had lulled him into a false sense of security. Under any other situations, he would have spotted the disaster a mile off (or, so he told himself). But when it came to Allen, how could he say no?

Kanda, on the other hand…

But anyway. Back to the beginning.

He'd been sitting there in the living room, in front of the mega-monster glass windows with a cozy view of the frozen lake and a steaming cup of hot chocolate. Reever was sitting across from him at the chess table, mumbling to himself as he tried to strategize. They'd only just started the game, but as usual, his coworker liked to think up moves as he went along. Much like the sweater he wore, his thoughts were jumbled and random but somehow, when all was said and done, could usually pull together a winning game.

It was when Reever was about to move his first pawn that Allen approached him.

"Hey, Johnny, I'm headed into town to get some bread. Do you want to come with me?"

"Oh, sure!" It only took him a moment to agree. While playing chess was fun, he didn't get outside much. He wasn't really an out-doorsy person, so short of carrying hot cocoa to yesterday's decorators, he hadn't really had an opportunity to be outside since he arrived.

It was his first time in a picturesque, winter-wonderland. Chess, he figured, could wait until he actually got to experience some of its glory. He did feel a little bad abandoning the game, but Reever made the decision easy. "Go on. I've got to work on my strategy anyway."

With an enthusiastic nod and a thank-you, Johnny hunted down his winter coat, boots, and gloves, with a word to meet Allen outside.

It wasn't until he was almost to Allen's car, snow crunching beneath his boots, that the reality of what he'd just agreed to finally set in.

Because… that was Allen's car, but… what was Kanda doing in it?

Worried he had the wrong vehicle (maybe he'd sold the old burgundy sedan), Johnny waited a few feet away in the cold, not wanting to risk impalement for presuming.

Fortunately, he didn't have to wait long. The sounds of crunching snow heralded the arrival of his friend – Allen, breath pluming in the chill air, was bundled up in his knee-length wool coat, silver hair and ashen skin practically blending into the background. The only spot of color came from the ruby scar over his eye, which wrinkled when he grinned. "Hey, Johnny, thanks for coming."

Johnny smiled involuntarily at Allen's warmth. "Of course, Allen! I'm excited. So, which car's yours?"

He gestured, and just like Johnny had feared, walked over to the 2008 burgundy Toyota. "Um, is Kanda coming?" he asked unnecessarily.

Allen's smile dimmed some, making Johnny feel guilty for asking. "Yeah. Lenalee sent him out to the store, but because his piece of sh- his car is stuck behind three others, we're taking mine." Almost under his breath, he added, "No way I'm leaving him alone with my baby."

Ok then. "Oh, well, if you don't have the room, I can-"

"No, no! You should come. Kanda… well, he's still a little cranky after what happened yesterday, so…" Then another one of those blinding smiles. "I would really appreciate the company."

How on earth was he supposed to say no to that? "Sure, Allen! Let's go."

Needless to say, if he'd known of coming events, Johnny would have turned right around and never, ever, left the safety of Bookman's living room.

Instead, naïve as he was, Johnny opened the door and slid into the back. Allen, of course, tried to kick Kanda in the backseat instead (something about not wanting to deal with his judgmental driving advice), but naturally Kanda didn't move, reiterating this was his errand and he was going to make sure it was done right. Allen muttered something about being able to see just fine from the backseat and, when Johnny could tell things were about to escalate, he promptly cut-in by producing thermoses of cocoa from his coat pockets. Allen beamed. Kanda might have been about to chuck it out the window, but right then, the Brit put the car in reverse and backed out so fast his body slammed against the seat-belt.

Naturally, bickering ensued, but Johnny was too busy focusing on the road to listen. Or more importantly, his car sickness.

The cabin sat at the base of a hill; in order to get to town, they had to take a series of switch-back roads to get up to the main highway. For someone with a fear of heights, he was already hesitant about the drive. And because of the way Allen drove, car sickness from his childhood years was coming on in full-swing, leaving Johnny with his head between his knees and his eyes closed as Allen took a switch-back turn on two wheels (with a fifty-foot snowy hillside just inches away). Either by luck or his new system of counting backward from one hundred, he managed not to divest Lenalee's home-made waffles all over the leather seats.

Allen and Kanda didn't notice, too caught up in arguing about the best way to handle the gear shift.

"Coast in first, Moyashi. I want to make it to the grocery store alive."

"Oh come on, Bakanda, it's just a little ice. Relax." Then, another turn that Johnny felt in his stomach (or his throat, really, as the breakfast remnants crawled their way up) before slowing down. "See? Already up-top. Nothing to worry about."

Kanda probably grumbled some caustic remark, but Johnny didn't quite catch it, too busy equilibrating to the sudden flat surface. And… well, he finally opened his eyes, and indeed, they'd made it to the top of the hill. Recently-plowed dirty snow marched in mounds along the roadside. Beyond the tall mounds he could see the pine trees – Out the left, they stretched snow-covered across a flat plateau, and to the right, they plummeted back down to the bottom of the valley. The roadway ahead was completely flat, glittering snow dappling their surroundings in powder.

It really was beautiful. It didn't quite make all the motion-sickness worth it, but they'd just left home. There was plenty of time left to see more.

Or so he thought.

They continued on the highway at a brisk ninety-miles-an-hour, speeding but somehow not sliding into the nearest snow-bank, before the car started slowing down.

Johnny thought they were nearing the grocery store, but all he could see were trees and snow-covered ground in every direction. His next thought was that Allen had finally heeded Kanda's driving advice, but upon tuning into the conversation, he learned that wasn't the case.

"What the hell, Moyashi?"

"It's not me," he snapped, eyes flicking down from the road to the screen beneath his steering wheel. "It's… I'm out of gas."

"Can't even do that right."

"It's not my fault! I filled it up in town before I got here. It shouldn't be low that fast."

Kanda snorted, obviously disbelieving, but no matter how they disagreed, facts were facts, and soon the sedan was coasting to a stop on the road. Allen turned it so they were pulled off into the shoulder. Although, they weren't really in the shoulder, mostly because the snow covered half of it, Allen's car straddling the line, plowed snow close enough to the car Johnny could reach out and touch it.

The tallest amongst them made some remark about stupid beansprouts before hopping out, slamming the door with zeal. Allen scowled and followed suit, both having evidently forgotten Johnny's presence.

Was it odd he was starting to feel like the third-wheel?

By the time he came around the back of the car, jacket pulled tighter and breath huffing out in white puffs, Kanda and Allen already had the trunk open. There was a spare gas can, but unfortunately, it was empty.

"You're supposed to keep these full, baka."

"No I'm not! What, so it can blow-up on me when the car gets too hot? Forget it. If you want to die, go ahead. I'm doing things safely."

"Okay, safety genius, what now?"

Allen, scowling, glanced around at the empty road. "You got a cell phone?"

Johnny and Kanda simultaneously reached into their pockets, one more enthusiastic than the other. And, while their cellphones were running, there wasn't any service.

"What the fuck."

Allen, unconcerned, shrugged. "We are kind of far-out. I guess that's why the cabin has a land-line." Then, he put the gas can back in the trunk, slamming the lid closed. "Come on, guys, let's go back."

"We're going back to the cabin?" Johnny asked, putting his phone away.

Kanda and Allen shared a look. Apparently coming to the same conclusion, they turned their eyes back to the road while the white-haired answered, "We're a little under halfway. It'll be easier to go back and get a ride."

All three turned and followed back the way they'd come, the occasional whistling wind and cold asphalt beneath their boots the only sounds.

Kanda, with his super-long strides, caught up to Allen quickly, the two of them walking side-by-side. Since apparently neither were content being second-to-leading, the trio's pace picked up substantially, Allen and Kanda practically stride-for-stride as Johnny huffed it behind them.

Eventually they slowed down, wordlessly deciding to share the road instead of race down it. Which was all the better for Johnny's asthma, since he'd forgotten his inhaler and the dry weather really wasn't helping.

Johnny was just about to open his mouth and say something about the nice scenery (because, well, it was, and he didn't like the tense silence), when Allen spoke.

"So," he began, flicking his grey eyes to the woods, "you didn't want to kiss me."

Um, what? Kiss who now?

Obviously they'd forgotten he was there (impressive with how much he was wheezing). Johnny was torn between saying something to announce his presence and just hanging back when Kanda tsked, hands shoved in his pockets and eyes decidedly glaring at the ground. "And catch your Christmas cooties? Fuck no."

Allen rolled his eyes. "Really? Cooties aren't seasonal, Bakanda. Either you have them or you don't."

"You admit you have them."

The white-haired adult smiled, but it looked kind of… sad. "Well, I guess you'll never find out, will you?"

What the… should he really be listening to this? Because it wasn't too late to have him wait with the car.

Kanda glanced at Allen, who was still watching nature. The look in his eyes… Johnny couldn't quite identify it, but it made his heart stop. Unlike the usual scowls and glaring, Kanda's eyes were almost… soft, or maybe, tender was a better word (or it would have been if he didn't know Kanda).

The Brit didn't notice, pale head still turned, so when Kanda scowled and looked away, he missed that as well.

What neither of them missed was when Kanda shoved Allen. Hard.

He didn't quite fall, but he did stumble, barely recovering himself in time to avoid the pavement. Looking back at his attacker with one of those what the hell faces he snapped, "Seriously? That was- I was- ugh, you know what-"

And then Allen shoved him back. Also hard.

Kanda normally had a great center of gravity, but thanks to the ice and his already off-kilter posture from the recent shoving attack, he fell right back into the snowbank.

He really, really should have stayed with the car.

Johnny was looking around for some fated stranger to step in and save him from the inevitable disaster when he spotted it.

Just over the plowed snow, through the lodgepole pines, and down the glistening slope…

Bookman's cabin.

It sat at the very base of the practically-vertical hillside, just visible through the low-hanging tree branches. He could see the smoke coming out of the chimney and the glowing kitchen lights.

It was far down, over a hundred feet below, but… it was there.

"Hey, guys, look!" Johnny exclaimed, shoving the dirty road snow aside to see better. "There's the cabin!"

Allen and Kanda (temporarily) stopped their flying fists long enough to take a look. The Brit, thanks to his height, shared Johnny's peep hole while Kanda, towering over both, had a clear view across the wall of plowed snow.

"Hey, wouldn't it be cool if we had some sort of ski lift to take us down?" Johnny suggested, because… well, he'd never been skiing before, and that sounded kind of awesome. "Then we wouldn't have to walk all the way. And we could see the trees and everything from up-high!"

"That would be cool," Allen agreed, flashing one of his happy smiles. "If you want to ride one, they've got one at the ski lodge in town. Do you wanna go this weekend?"

Johnny, eyes probably sparkling, nodded. "Yeah! That would be amazing."

"What do you think, Bakanda? Can I leave you home this time?" Allen turned, expecting some kind of jab, only…

Kanda was gone.

"Um, Kanda?" Johnny called, worried the only tall person in the group had just ditched them.

He was answered by the sounds of crunching snow. They looked straight ahead to see Kanda's dark figure prowling amongst the pines. He'd apparently crossed the snow drift, tromping through three-plus feet of snow. And… yep, he was headed down the hill. Because apparently he'd decided to cross-country walk to the cabin instead of continuing on the perfectly plowed road.

"Bakanda!" Allen snapped, scowling, "What the hell are you doing? You're going to get yourself killed."

That wasn't exactly an exaggeration. The hill was steep. Like, seriously steep, enough that even the half-frozen snow slid down from where Kanda's boots had disrupted it. The trees were all bent downhill from whatever winds plagued this place in the fall, everything descending towards the cabin at the bottom.

Kanda, however, didn't answer, deciding to keep walking instead of acknowledging him. And, contrary to Johnny's hopes, Allen jumped the bank and marched after him.

Oh joy.

But… well, he'd wanted to get out of the cabin, right? This was nature at its best.

Or so Johnny tried to tell himself when he followed after the duo, navigating the snowbank with much less grace and more dirt. Shortest amongst the three, once on the outer side, his pace was even slower in the deep snow, forcing him to take exaggerated, over-large steps when he sank into his knees each time. And then he had to keep from tripping (not just because of the snow – the hill was so steep that gravity was working against him two-fold).

"Hey, Johnny, are you okay?"

Oh, God bless Allen. Things weren't that bad, right? It was just a little hike. He'd be fine.

With those words in mind, he nodded, returning that friendly smile. "Sure, Allen. It's just kind of deep, is all. But we'll be there in no time."

"Kanda, wait up!" Allen hollered. "Some of us aren't as pigheaded as you."

At first, he thought Kanda heeded Allen's wishes when the Japanese man stopped. But instead of waiting, he veered off to the right, disappearing behind a cluster of trees. Allen rolled his eyes, muttering something about a stubborn git.

The two shorter men took a few more steps before Kanda re-emerged from the trees. His dark figure started coming closer, ponytail illuminated in the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees.

Of course, that wasn't the only thing it illuminated. There was a splash of color on his chest. Almost like Kanda was carrying something.

Was that…

"Is he carrying a toboggan?" Johnny asked, a hint of excitement in his voice. He'd never really seen one in real-life before! It was like a throw-back to the winter-wonderland stories his siblings used to tell. He'd always, always wanted to ride one!

Allen's face was contorted in a rare show of bewilderment, mouth twisted and eyes unevenly pinched. "What the hell are you doing?" he asked, sounding half-curious and half apprehensive.

He had a right to be. Soon, Kanda was had stomped over to the two of them, dark gaze fixed straight ahead as the snow collapsed beneath his boots. "Getting us out of here," was his curt answer, which explained absolutely nothing.

What did explain things was when Kanda finally arrived abreast of their short group, slamming the toboggan down in the snow. The sled was parallel to where they were standing, curved end pointed down the hill. Almost in a straight shot towards…

"What the hell are you doing."

Johnny thought it looked kind of obvious. And, well, he was starting to rethink actually wanting to ride one of these, because this didn't look very safe. Did people usually sled down 12% grade?

"Um, guys, I don't think this is all that safe," Johnny decided to point out, trying to be supportive. It was a hundred feet down, after all, with trees, branches, and rocks for the next hundred-plus feet of straight-down mountainside. But apparently that wasn't enough to deter Kanda – hearty stock that didn't hesitate to throw a leg over and straddle his new vehicle, butt scooched forward and feet braced on either side to keep him from sliding.

Kanda's eyes were suspiciously smug as they met Allen's. "What? Scared?"

Allen glowered. Honestly glowered. Johnny had never seen him look like that before. The smiling angel of minutes-past was gone, replaced with a cold (literally cold – his breath was fogging with each exhale), irate man. One who had never, in the history of their friendship, backed down from a Kanda-sized challenge.

"You're an idiot."

"You're an old man."

"Whatever, Bakanda."

"Tch. Then stay. Your stupidity's contagious anyway."

Apparently so was Kanda's, because with an eye-roll, Allen was planting himself on the toboggan behind him.

Well… if Allen thought it was fine, it couldn't be bad, right? It was probably safe. He'd never gone tobogganing, after all. What did he know?

So, trying to stifle any lingering sense of fear, Johnny settled onto the back, butt just shy of the flat edging. Their driver didn't even check to make sure all passengers were aboard before lifting his legs, gripping the wood, and kicking off.

Silence reigned in the living room.

Half-way through the story, Kanda's foot had been properly booted and the three travelers had managed to dry themselves off so they no longer looked like they'd literally rolled down the hillside. Of course, the couch would still have to be shampooed and Lavi saw a lot of mopping in his future, but at the moment, none of the mattered.

He was too busy internally laughing at the mental image of what his two best friends had been doing for the past hour, half impressed they'd be daring enough to load three men on a toboggan and ride it down the mountain and half disappointed they didn't invite him (although given the state of Kanda's leg that was probably a good thing).

Daisya gave into the impulse and actually burst out laughing. Lavi had to literally bite his tongue to the point of drawing blood to keep from following along.

Hell, it was hilarious. He should have done that to Allen's car years ago. If his wife wasn't currently shocked-speechless, he'd be laughing his ass off. As it was, Lavi was already going to petition to hold Christmas at the cabin again next year. And maybe they could invite that weird family… what was their name, Nora? Mickey? One of them had a name that kinda had something to do with a beach party.

He was about to say some of this out-loud until he saw the look on Lenalee's face.

"…you did what."

It had been a while since he'd seen that level of what-fuckery-is-this expression. Of course, it didn't take long before that look melted into something like remorse, and then…

She was frowning. And… were those tears?

Shit.

Lavi didn't get a chance to confirm if his wife was actually crying before she turned around and bolted out of the living room.

Yes, a tiny part of this chapter is reminiscent of canonical events. That's not a coincidence O_o

Additionally, you guys might be thinking I'm reusing material with the whole car-thing but that wasn't even my idea. I was going to have an innocent darts game until my sister suggested this and I love it because it's so much more devious. And, yeah, the two of us get along great, thank god XD

The next chapter is sort-of done, so hopefully it'll be out sooner. Thanks for the feedback so far, guys, you've been the best :D