Author's note: Thank you to KEZZ 1, NicoleR85, NotMarge, partygirl98, and Torchwhovian for the reviews! Today, something gets said that I think we've all been waiting for a while. I mean, I have at least. Anyone else think it's weird that Hank still thinks he's crap at romance? Get some self-awareness, man...

Winter Wonderland

A few weeks passed, weeks in which I spent quite a bit of time trying to find the courage to tell Zoey that I loved her. She'd said she loved both Olivia and I on her birthday, but she hadn't mentioned it since.

I was afraid to bring it up and make things awkward between us if Zoey hadn't meant it. What if it had just been a slip of the tongue? Something simply said in the heat of the moment? I'll admit that I was fragile enough to be devastated if she told me her feelings for me weren't that deep.

But today I was trying not to think about all of that. I'd been working on the surprise idea I'd had on the Fourth of July for Zoey, and now it was finally finished.

I knocked on her door early one Sunday afternoon, full of nervous excitement. I was going to show her how much I cared the best way I knew how: with science. I hoped she liked it.

Zoey answered and greeted me with a lovely smile. "Hello," she said, standing on tiptoe for the kiss I gladly gave her. "Come on in."

"Actually, I was hoping you'd come with me to the Institute," I told her.

"Ok," she agreed, eyeing me curiously. "What're we doing?"

I couldn't stop myself from grinning, feeling absolutely buoyant. "It's a surprise."

"A surprise?"

I nodded, enjoying the way her eyes flared with interest.

Ah ha. I have your attention.

"Come on," I cajoled, holding out my hand. "And please don't wear sandals."

"Um, ok," Zoey agreed, looking puzzled. "Just give me one second."

Within five minutes I'd helped her into the passenger seat of the Bentley and we were on our way.

"So, do I get a hint about this surprise?" she asked hopefully.

"I can't risk giving you a hint," I replied, only half-joking. "With your dazzling intellect you'd be sure to guess, and that would ruin it."

Zoey giggled, her cheeks turning pink. "Flattery will get you everywhere, Hank."

My ears warmed. She always made me seem so much more adroit and charming than I really was. It made me want to be the person Zoey saw me as, rather than the one I felt myself to be.

"Phew," she commented after a moment, fanning herself. "It's warm out today."

All the better for my surprise, my love.

"It is," I agreed, biting back a laugh. "Want to roll the window down?"

"No!" Zoey replied sharply. "You know what it'll do to my hair."

"Ok, I need you to close your eyes," I told Zoey once I'd helped her from the car at the Institute.

She smiled and immediately placed her hands over her eyes, to my bemusement.

"You're being surprisingly cavalier about this," I commented. I gently took one hand from her eyes and started leading her inside.

"I think the more I cooperate, the faster I'll get to my surprise," Zoey reasoned. "The suspense is already killing me."

I laughed. "Fair enough."

We got some odd looks as we passed through the halls, but thankfully no one stopped us. I led her forward by the hand until we reached the stairs leading to the basement. I would need to carry Zoey so she didn't know we were traveling down a few floors.

"I need to pick you up, ok? Keep your eyes closed still," I urged.

"You're going to pick me-?" she began, but her question cut off with a giggle as I swept her off her feet- literally- and carried her bridal-style.

Zoey turned her head to hide her eyes in my shirt, still laughing. "Am I hurting your back?" she teased.

I rolled my eyes, though she couldn't see me. "On the contrary, you're much too light. Have you not been eating enough?" I retorted playfully.

My mood was uncharacteristically frenetic and almost sublimely joyful from the excitement of this surprise. I was hopelessly inept at romantic gestures, but I was giving this one my best attempt.

"Maybe not. I'm starting to realize I can't cook," Zoey remarked sheepishly.

I snorted. "Yes, I know," I replied, before thinking it through.

Uh oh. Open mouth, insert hand-foot.

Her eyes popped open, her expression a mixture of indignation, reproach, and absolute horror.

"Hank! Why didn't you say anything?" she admonished. "I thought you liked my cooking."

Great. Now I'm going to need this surprise to keep myself out of the doghouse.

"Close your eyes, please," I begged.

Zoey squeezed her eyelids shut, but she was still pouting.

"I'm sorry," I told her earnestly. "I just didn't want to hurt your feelings."

"Well, they're hurt now," she muttered.

Damn.

"I'm sorry. I'll teach you how," I wildly promised, trying to make it up to her.

"You know how to cook? How'd you learn that?" she asked, momentarily distracted.

"Self-defense," I replied sardonically. "Before Moira came back and whipped this place into shape it was just Charles, Alex, Sean and I. Alex burns water, Sean can barely work the microwave, and Charles can't reach anything in his wheelchair. So it was learn to cook or starve to death."

Zoey was quiet for a long moment, processing that.

We reached the Danger Room's control center, and I set her down so I could open the door. I already had the simulation all set up- the display read "Zoey" in glowing red letters. I just needed to push the "apply" button and lead her inside.

"Can you teach me how to bake?" she asked suddenly. Thankfully she was still covering her eyes. "I've always wanted to learn to make cookies."

Sure. Let's just slap an apron on me and call me "Betty Crocker."

"We'll see," I reluctantly conceded. "I really do apologize for insulting you."

"It's fine," Zoey replied glumly. "I should've known better when you said you liked that pot roast last week."

Are you referring to the hockey puck you tried to feed me?

"It wasn't so bad," I fibbed.

I had no idea it was humanly possible to glare with your eyes closed. But Zoey managed, somehow.

"Right this way, please," I announced, a desperate attempt to change the subject.

I led her into the training room and held my breath as the scene took shape.

We were standing on a snow-covered, curved stone bridge spanning a frozen river that cut across a small clearing blanketed with fresh powder. On one side was a peaceful-looking pinewood forest. On the other side of the bridge was a cluster of quaint little Tudor-style cottages all lit up from within. Smoke trailed from their snowy chimneys and up into the pearly gray-blue sky, which gave forth the occasional snowflake.

Perfect. A winter wonderland in August.

Zoey shivered. "It's cold," she muttered. I could see her breath in the air.

"There's a reason for that," I told her. "You can look now."

Her eyes popped open and she let out a huge gasp.

"What-?" she questioned, giggling, as she turned around to look in all directions. "The Danger Room?"

I nodded, enjoying her delighted reaction.

Note to self: Zoey likes surprises.

"There's no robots coming, right?"

"No," I replied, grinning. "No robots. Just snow."

I offered her my jacket, which I'd brought in earlier, and helped her put it on. It practically swallowed her, she was so tiny.

"There's gloves in the pockets."

"Thank you."

Zoey had a huge smile on her face as she stepped off the bridge and into the little clearing. She scooped up a handful of snow and laughed, practically giddy from feeling the chill through her gloves.

"This is amazing," Zoey said, palming the snow. "Why'd you do this?"

I shrugged. "You just seemed to really like the simulation that one day, so I thought I'd make one for you," I explained. "Give you a little break from the heat. Do you like it?"

"Are you kidding? I love this, Hank!" she replied excitedly. "Thank you. You're such a sweetheart."

"I'm glad you like it," I said, flushing up.

Zoey cast her eyes down shyly, a blush creeping onto her cheeks. But then she met my eyes again and gave me a mischievous smile that made my heart leap into my throat.

"Catch!" she laughed.

And then she threw the snowball she'd formed at me. It hit me right in the chest.

Did that really just happen?

"Hey!" I griped, once I recovered from my surprise.

Zoey giggled, turned, and ran for the trees.

You want me to chase you? That's a race you can't win.

I followed, easily reaching her within five strides. My hand reached out to slip around her waist-

Zoey promptly vanished into the atmosphere, leaving me empty-handed but for the momentary flash of heat across the back of my fingers.

"That's cheating!" I called, turning around wildly to find her again.

I got rewarded with another snowball, this time to the back of the head. I whirled around just in time to see Zoey disappear, her laugh hanging in the air.

I scooped up a handful of snow, ignoring the prickly cold feeling my nerves gave in protest and held it in readiness.

A little patch of warmth brushed past me. I tracked it, and turned at just the right moment to catch Zoey as she re-materialized within arm's reach. My guess was she planned to grab a handful of snow and shove it down my shirt.

Too bold. I've got you in my clutches now.

I grabbed her by the waist and plopped my snowball right on her head, laughing triumphantly.

"Noooo!" Zoey shrieked, writhing and struggling to get away.

Her escape attempts made us collapse in a giggling heap on the snow-covered ground. I twisted at the last second to break her fall, so she landed on me instead.

She straddled my chest, her laughter dying away as she gazed down at me. I stopped chuckling under her scrutiny.

Zoey's eyes were sparkling and her cheeks were flushed, her hair falling around our faces like an iridescent curtain. The smile on her face took my breath away.

It was like being in the presence of an angel. My heart swelled to bursting with love for her.

Just say it. Tell her-

"I love you," Zoey whispered.

My breathing stopped.

Hearing her say those words, it felt like a supernova went off in my chest- a universe expanding inside of me, a warm glow spreading through my limbs. This beautiful woman, who I never believed could be mine, loved me. I wanted to pinch myself.

Get it together, McCoy. Say it back!

"I love you too, Zoey."

Her smile was dazzling as she leaned down and kissed me. I responded eagerly, pouring all of my joy and gratitude, all of my love into that kiss-

And tried to ignore the soft, deadly voice, the poisonous whisper in the back of my head that said Zoey only loved the mask I wore. Not the Beast I truly was.