The sunshine outside beckoned to them and both decided it would be a shame to ignore the spot of nice weather around this slippery place. A walk would follow their drink nicely but it was still chilled outside and Buffy had only a sweater to warm her.

Buffy let go of a rather disappointed Spike's hand to root around in her purse for her room key. When she found it she pulled the shiny metal out and beckoned for him to follow. He complied and they made the journey up to her room still chatting idly about themselves and their lives. Each interesting genuinely in what the other had to say.

They reached Buffy's room and he insisted on waiting outside while she went in to search out her coat. i Wow what a gentleman...or maybe he's afraid someone he knows will see him come in...you think too much Buffy i .

She found her warm, beige coat and changed her shoes quickly from her formals to her snow boots and came back out into the hall to a waiting Spike.

"All set and ready to go."

"Great luv, just need a quick stop off at my room, these blasted polished things are useless for ice walking. Could do with a quick change of clothes too"

He gestured to his feet where a pair of shiny formal shoes poked out from under his black jeans. They looked very odd amongst his other casual clothes but Buffy steered clear of the subject of asking. She didn't need to, he was already explaining why.

"My boots got soaked when I arrived two days ago. I've been stuck in these bloody things since then. Should be dry by now though, we'll pop to my room and see."

Another floor down and he quickly shuffled around his room and came out sporting a pair of big, black, heavy looking boots. They certainly matched his other attire better than the other shoes did. Buffy smiled when she felt his warm hand take her small one as they walked back to the elevator. They had only known each other for a few hours and already it felt like they were life long friends.

"So luv, what's a sunny thing like you doing in all this snow eh? Can't say as you suit all the slush and black ice around. Must be you who's brought the sun with her, been soddin' awful for the last couple of days since I got here. Then Goldilocks comes a long and all is well."

Buffy blushed slightly at his charming words at her mind idly wondered if this was the way he talked to every girl he saw. She answered him politely.

"I'm on my way to my sister, Dawn's house for the holidays. She lives further up in Alaska and I'm just staying here for a while to get over travelling and give them a chance to prepare and stuff. What about you? What brings a guy like you here, no offence but you don't come across as a nature and weather lover."

He gave a laugh and shook his head lightly.

"I know enough about the land to get buy. My good old dad owned a farm back home until a year before I left for here. Officially I'm here for a business meetin' in three days but I decided to come early, make the most of staying here. It's warm and quiet and quite beautiful...just like you."

A lovely smile graced his lips and he looked down slightly as if embarrassed at letting out his thoughts. Buffy thought looked at him with such surprise and happiness, she thought her heart might melt. No man had ever said anything like that. Usually it was just the quick compliment before trying to win her over with lust. Not at all what Buffy was in to.

By now they had reached the big main doors, Spike opened them for Buffy and bend low as if in a bow for the good lady, who curtsied gratefully, and followed her out into the chilly air. Although it was sunny and bright as the light reflected off the snow, the air was still chilled and fresh. They wandered around the huge lodge and down a small path leading to the massive forest that grew and surrounded the entire place as far as they could see.

Spike kept a weary eye over how far they travelled but soon he was engrossed in a deep and interesting conversation with the golden girl walking at his side. He was completely enchanted with her like he had never been with any of the other women he had taken an interest in. She was beautiful, intelligent and bright. A warm little sun to brighten the day.

Buffy lost any sensible thought as they strolled on through the snow covered branches and the frozen leaves and twigs. They talked of life, death, their loved ones, their jobs, their likes and dislikes and of each other. How strange it was to feel so right with an almost stranger.

They talked and walked until their feet hurt and their voices might have gotten croaky. After about two hours of walking around, in what Spike thought was a small semi circle around the lodge, they both took rest on a large fallen tree and tried to get their bearings.

Spike stood up and looked right, before turning left and scratching the back of his bleached head. He sighed and went back to where Buffy was now sitting on the tree trunk resting her aching feet.

"If I'm right then we should be about half a mile away from the lodge. If we go east we should end up right out in front of the social windows alright pet?"

He tried to give her peace of mind as best he could although he struggled to get some himself. He really did think that was the case but he was starting to get a nagging worry in the back of his mind. They had strayed further that he thought they would and were much further away than he planned to go. It had also started to come down with large flakes of snow in the past half hour since they had began walking, in what they thought, was the direction towards the lodge.

He held out his hand and she took it gratefully, her hands shaking slightly from the cold. They had both reasoned that the good weather would last until they got back and there would be no need for extra insulating clothes like gloves, hats and scarves. He rubbed her hands vigorously with his trying to keep the circulation going and warm them up.

"No worries luv, we'll be back in no time."

He offered a reassuring smile which she accepted as they started off walking the way they thought was right.

The snow came down and still they walked, trees trees and more green, snowy trees. After another hour of walking through the now thickening snow and their bones were beginning to ache from the extra work and the cold that chilled their skin.

Spike looked back at Buffy who was a good few paces behind him and leaning against a tree. He suddenly wished they had never taken this walk, that they had never gone outside and that they had listened to the weather forecast.

There they were. In the middle of an unfamiliar forest.

Lost.