A short and sweet V-Day fic for the lovely pirateandelf! Thank you so much for being such a long time reader and supporter of mine! I hope you enjoy this fluff!

...xXx...

All was frozen and hushed. The mountains cut black shapes against the orange and violet twilight, and overhead lamp posts gently illuminated the white hillside. Many of the outdoor tourists and sportsmen had already returned to their lodges, leaving those remaining a sense of seclusion in the wide open space. All alone together as fresh snow began to fall.

Austria lifted his gloved hand towards the flakes, watching as they settled upon him and drifted aimlessly by. The simplest things always struck him as the most mesmerizing, and, though he'd seen hundreds of winters, he never tired of watching it. He blew out a breathy cloud, stirring the snowflakes near his face, and hummed to himself. This night in particular was a beautiful one.

The door creaked open behind him, and he could already feel himself smiling before he turned around.

"Ready to go?"

Switzerland walked down the steps towards him, straightening the cuffs of his black wool coat. His white scarf and hat matched the Austrian's own, though his own coat was a soft rose in color, and the blond reached up as he approached to adjust the man's hat. Austria melted inside and out, and swooped down to kiss his cheek.

"Silly fool," Switzerland grumbled, face a pretty pink in the lamplight. "We haven't even left the lodge yet. The other's might see."

The notion didn't douse his good mood, and Austria said as much. "Let them. It's their fault I haven't gotten to spend time with you all day."

"If you're going to pout now that I'm here then I'm going back inside."

"No pouting." Austria took his hand as they set off down the road. "Promise."

The two walked together under the lamps, unhurried despite the encroaching darkness. Their sore muscles and hearts thanked them for their slow pace. A day full of skiing in bouts of friendly competition with their fellow Alpine nations had been just as fun as it was taxing, and they'd barely even spoken a word to each other since the morning. It was only due to a well-timed bottle of schnapps and Liechtenstein setting up a group movie night in her room that they were able to slip away for some privacy.

Austria twined their fingers and tugged the Swiss closer to his side, slipping their joined hands into his pocket. He met Switzerland's startled look with another smile, and murmured, "What? It's cold."

Emerald eyes rolled at him, but he didn't pull away. Switzerland rested his other hand on his arm and tipped his head against his shoulder. The Austrian could have sworn he heard another grumble, and his heart happily twirled at the low sound of the blond's voice. A familiar, soothing timbre that had his bones ringing with comfort. He never tired of hearing it, feigned grousing or no.

Switzerland held his hand, and that was all he ever wanted.

Snow drifted to the ground, hardly a breeze to upset the descending flakes, making their walk as comfortable as possible. Groups and couples passed them by, laughing and chatting as they carried their boards and skis and bags. The two men gave them space, simply enjoying their stolen night.

A thumb rubbed against his own, and the warmth seeped from his fingertips to burn in his cheeks. Austria let himself hum a light, familiar tune, and slightly swayed them as they walked, the snowfall seeming to mimic them. His skin tingled as a soft voice joined his own, and the brunet had the sudden urge to waltz.

It was nice, this quiet, this peace.

The path they walked around the resort and down the hill was wide and aglow with yellow light as the evening faded into night. They passed fewer and fewer stragglers as most people had retreated inside at this point to sit by hearths and heaters, and soon the approaching brilliance of the nearby town was hard to ignore.

Their song faded as they reached the larger ring of light, and Switzerland straightened up from his shoulder. "Dinner?"

"Sounds good to me."

They hadn't had much of a plan for their walk, aside from, well, walking, and seeing where the rest of the night took them. The goal was to enjoy their time together and away from their nosy neighbors. No interruptions, no sneaking, no secrets. Just them and the snow.

The Swiss guided them into a nearby restaurant, the cozy atmosphere dotted with dozens of couples, and the two sat at a corner table by the windows overlooking the valley. Distant lights twinkled like fallen stars through the trees and snow, and their table's candlelight cast a warm orange glow against the glass.

Now that they were alone together, Austria touched the Swiss at every opportunity he could. They held hands atop the table as they dined, the brunet kissing his fingers whenever he felt like it, which was often. Switzerland never pulled away. He didn't even complain about them being in public. Austria took that as a sign that he'd missed him, and the feeling was wholeheartedly mutual. He could still hardly believe the man loved him at all some days, and waking to the ring heavy around his finger every morning was a dream come true. If he had passed and gone to Heaven, he never wanted to leave.

"I love you," he said, solely because he could. Switzerland's ears reddened as he sipped his champagne, foot bumping against his own. He said it again. "I love you."

"Well," the Swiss said into his glass, clearing his throat. "You're extra sappy tonight."

"I wonder why."

"Ha." Their fingers threaded together easily. Inevitably. "I'm half expecting it to start snowing rose petals."

Austria tilted his head to look up at the sky through the window, leaving his foot leaning against the other's touch. "Would you like it to? I can have a word with the clouds."

"Oh, no. That would be such a mess to clean up."

Switzerland puffed a small laugh and the Austrian brought his hand to his lips once again, giving himself something to do instead of combusting on the spot. The Swiss took another drink of his champagne, and Austria watched as the golden liquid shimmered against the backdrop of pink lips.

Austria ached, and his husband was his only balm.

Husband. The brunet drowned himself in those radiant emerald irises. My husband. It never ceased to surprise him. Mein Lieber, mein Licht, mein Leben.

Switzerland swallowed, and his gaze was pulled towards a bobbing throat. "Hasi," he said, voice cracking on the endearment. "You're staring."

Austria hummed. "Am I not supposed to?"

The man's cheeks flamed as he took a distracting bite of broccoli. "No," he murmured, staring at his plate. "Not like that. Not here."

"Then take me somewhere where I can."

"Impatient." Switzerland bit back a smile. "We've only just slipped away."

"Along with every other couple here." Austria swirled his glass, glancing around pointedly before meeting his love's eye. "No one's looking at us, I assure you. Relax."

"I know." Switzerland sighed, but his shoulders loosened. "It's hard sometimes. I didn't think this trip would be so exhausting."

Austria agreed, yet still prodded. "You didn't think a trip with our neighbors after months of us being apart was going to be hard?" A foot tapped his own and he chuckled at the half-hearted glare he received. "If we didn't have a joint suite I'd have gone mad by now. Rampaging through the halls, serenading your window, the whole shebang."

The Swiss truly smiled then, snorting. "Thank Lilli. She's the one who switched rooms with you."

"Oh, I plan to shower her with chocolates and opera. I hope you don't mind if I wine and dine her next weekend."

"She'd love it."

"Good. And I love you."

Green eyes danced in golden light. "I love you, too."

Their dinner passed in a dreamy haze of fluttering finger kisses and tangled feet, rosy cheeks and soft murmurs, effervescent drinks and hearts. By the time they had to part long enough to pull on their coats both men were completely entranced, drawin back to one another like two celestial objects caught in a gravitational pull. Switzerland wrapped an arm around his waist, and Austria held him around the shoulders, and they walked silently back towards the resort. The snowfall had been as beautiful as it was brief, and the clouds had parted to let starlight and the near full moon shine upon the valley. The brunet brushed his thumb over the other's lapel, tracing lazy circles against the wool, cloaking the fact that his heart felt like it would float up out of his throat at any moment.

A gloved hand squeezed his hip, and the two walked a little faster.

Having to pull away in the lobby of the resort was like being ripped in two. They were hardly the only couple tiptoeing around that evening, but the motion was habitual. A precaution. Swift feet and shy eyes allowed them to pass through the halls to their room, slipping through the door without incident.

They were alone together again and could do anything; crack open a few more bottles of champagne, lay together by the flickering hearth, feed each other treats while whispering sweet words to the world between them. So they did.

Austria cupped warm cheeks in his hands and chased the taste of chocolate in Switzerland's mouth. The man sighed into him, a soft moan leaving his throat. They kissed without haste, taking their time relishing the press of lips and tongue and breath as they melded together. They bound themselves through touch and promise, and trust in the other to meet halfway. An ancient song and dance of longing souls, destined only to be whole together.

As if it was the simplest thing in the world.

...xXx...

Mein Lieber, mein Licht, mein Leben - My love, my light, my life

Hasi - Little rabbit/bunny

Happy Valentine's Day!