So, fun fact. I have a bunch of old oneshots on my tumblr that for one reason or another never made their way to FFN. For a while I'd been wanting to compile them here so that they're easier to find, so every Sunday for the next while I plan on uploading a new story. Some of these are old, so they're going to be lightly (or perhaps heavily) edited before they're allowed see the light of day. Some are long, some are short, most are fluffy. Hope you enjoy!
Original publish date: November 18th, 2014
For the first time in eleven years, there was snow in Pasadena. Well, if you counted a total accumulation of barely more than a light dusting on the ground, morning frost on all the car windshields, and temperatures actually low enough to warrant the use of hats and gloves. But spirits were high nonetheless in the city, for it seemed as though that rare but oft pined for White Christmas would be upon them this year.
Sheldon hated even the thought of it.
"Why is it so important to have snow on Christmas Day?" he complained for the umpteenth time as he shut the passenger side to Amy's car, adjusting his winter hat as he waited for his girlfriend to join him. "Between here and back in Texas I've spent thirty-four Christmases without a snowflake in sight, and I hated those ones just as much as I do this year's."
By then Amy had reached him, and together the two strolled through the city park, she with a certain skip to her step, he with his hands shoved in his pockets and metaphorically dragging his feet into the ground. "Because ever since Irving Berlin's iconic 1942 hit 'White Christmas,' made particularly famous by Bing Crosby's rendition of it in the titular movie, snow has become a mandatory staple to Christmastime tradition and cheer."
"A ridiculous reason to impose a holiday custom only capable of being achieved by certain geographical areas upon the rest of the world," Sheldon huffed, his breath visible in the evening air. "You would think the Christians would care more for historical accuracy, since even Jesus didn't have a White Christmas. He lived in Israel!"
Amy sighed. "Valid point, but I didn't ask you to come with me here to debate on the conventions of the holiday season."
"Then why? So we can both get hypothermia?"
"No," she stressed, slightly irritated. "Because I lived in southern California my whole childhood, so I never saw snow before going to Harvard. Even then I spent all my time indoors, studying by myself, so this is my first chance to… truly enjoy it." He sensed her throw a glance his way. "And to share that with someone else."
Sheldon turned to look at her, and instantly wished he hadn't. Amy had returned to staring straight ahead, a small hat adorned on her own head and a scarf wrapped around her neck, falling in front of her pea coat. Her gloved hands swayed at her sides, and what little snow there was crunched rhythmically beneath her feet as she walked.
It was just so hard to be irked with her when she was so dang cute.
"Oh, look!" Amy cried, dashing out ahead of him.
"Amy- Amy, wait!" Sheldon trudged after her, his racing heart nearly giving out in despair when he saw that she was climbing a nearby hill. It took many minutes of huffing and puffing, but he finally caught up to her on the crest, stopping just short of her. "You know how I feel about unnecessary physical exertion."
Amy barely spared him a glimpse back. "And I apologize. But… oh Sheldon, just look."
The new elevated ground level allowed them a view of the whole park, glistening in the newly fallen snow. Buildings hung over on the outskirts and car horns could be heard in the distance, but before them was a tiny sliver of beautiful peace and quiet. Even the stars could be seen overhead.
But that wasn't what Sheldon was looking at.
Amy's back was turned to him, gazing in awe at the scenery laid out before her like it was hers for the taking. The wind gently tousled the hair flowing from her hat and down her back, her hands clasped together not unlike his mother during fervent prayer. As if her own deity was the beauty in the land right in front of her.
A full-bodied shiver suddenly ran through her, and Sheldon suddenly realized that her hands were not joined in prayer, but to create warmth in the friction as she breathed hotly into her two palms. She was cold.
Sheldon felt his breath quicken. What should he do? Should he offer his jacket? Should he bring her inside and make her hot cocoa? What did social convention dictate in times like these? What did his duties as boyfriend entail? Was he ready to take the necessary step to ensure his girlfriend's wellbeing? Was he-
As he looked about helplessly for someone, anyone who could tell him the proper thing to do, he suddenly took notice of something behind him. A long line of large, lumbering footprints in the snow, and right next to them little orthopedic shoe marks that matched them step for step. They've come so far.
Surely an extra few feet couldn't hurt.
Sheldon was behind her before he could contemplate running off, his arms wrapping around her shoulders and pulling himself forward so their bodies neatly slotted together. Amy initially stiffened at his touch, but as his chin rested on her head and the strings of his hat fell on either side of her face, she relaxed somewhat, leaning back into his embrace. And yet she still seemed a little wary. "Sheldon?"
"Hmm?" He murmured, nuzzling into her hat as he focused on committing this particular winter scent of hers to eidetic memory.
"What's all this for?"
His senses on overload from all the new sights and smells and feels of this position, it took Sheldon several seconds to reply. "Because."
"Because why?"
Because I think you're beautiful.
Because I want to keep you safe.
Because I love you.
But rather than say all that, Sheldon opted to press the tiniest, most timid kiss to the crown of her clothed head. "Just because."
