A/N: I borrowed the female lead from my other fic It Could Happen to You to pair with Danny here, partly because I love the way they interact together and partly because after writing them for so long now, I can't imagine Danny with anyone else ;) You don't, however, have to have read any part of the story to understand this little snipit. Also, this one was inspired by my students here in Maryland who have not had the pleasure (wink, wink) of the Midwestern winters I grew up with. Enjoy!

"Danny, will you relax?"

Maddie sat on the couch in the darkened living room, surrounded by candles, trying to smother a mirthful smirk at Danny standing anxiously at the window.

"I am relaxed," he replied quickly.

She felt her mouth still trying to curve into a smile, but continued to fight it out of consideration for Danny's feelings. "Honey, it's just a little snow."

"It's more than a little snow," he shot back. "It's piling up everywhere…"

She couldn't hold back any longer and her lips twitch into a broad grin. "Come on, Danny, you're from here—I know you've been through snow storms before."

He turned from the window and frowned unhappily. "Yeah I've been through snow storms before, but they don't happen that often in the city. 'Specially not this bad. We might even lose power…"

"That's why we have the candles," she reminded him, chuckling. "It'll be okay."

He went back to the window, unable to take his eyes off the falling flakes. "Of course it'll be okay. I just didn't think I'd need a shovel to get out of my fifteenth-floor apartment, that's all."

"Amateur."

He turned toward her again. "Just because you're used to snow-shoeing to you car in the morning doesn't mean I want to."

She laughed out loud at him this time. "I never snow-shoed," she corrected. "I have snow-skied, snowmobiled, played football in the snow, and had snowball fights, but I have never snow-shoed."

"Come on, you know what I mean. This is your kind of weather. You told me yourself that you got this much snow on a regular basis when you were a kid."

"I know," she smiled. "You're just so easy to tease right now…"

He huffed an unintelligible reply and crossed his arms as he returned his gaze to the window, making her laugh again as she rose from the couch to join him.

"Hey, look on the bright side," she said with a playful note in her voice, sliding a hand up his muscular arm. "If the power goes out, you'll have to spend the whole night keeping me warm."

He looked down at her out of the corner of his eye without uncrossing his arms. "Keeping you warm, huh?" he responded uncertainly.

"Yeah, and I might have grown up with harsh winters, but I hate being cold," she told him with all the seriousness she could muster.

The features of his face began to soften despite his efforts to stay mad at her. "You know, I never liked being cold either."

Her hand slid down his back and found its way around his waist while his arm automatically wrapped itself around her shoulders. "And you gotta admit, it's kinda pretty…the snow falling and the city all lit up…"

"Not as pretty as you," he smiled, kissing her hair and squeezing her affectionately.

She giggled. "Quick on the draw tonight."

He smiled crookedly. "The thought of keeping you warm tonight is beginning to cheer me up."

"Y'know babe, I'm kinda cold now," she winked.

He turned toward her and slid his free arm around her, drawing her tightly against him as he leaned in. "Well, let's just see what we can do about that," he mumbled against her lips.

She laughed again and ran her fingers through his hair as he kissed her slowly, enjoying the feeling of her body in his arms, her mouth against his.

When they broke apart, her eyes were shining. "I'm feeling warmer already."

"And there's more where that came from," he promised, kissing her neck and nibbling gently on her ear.

"Good," she grinned, "because the snow's really comin' down now…"

"Snow?" he grinned back, his lips finding hers once again. "What snow?"