A/N: Thank you for reading and reviewing. Here's the next one-shot, this time revolving around Zoe and Max. There will be more Zoe/Max one shots in the future but I'm going to try and use a variety of characters to mix it up. Hope you like it! :)

Also I don't really watch Holby so I can't do a cross over one shot, sorry!

~Mini Peacelet~

Wintry Advent

3. Mulled Wine

Perched on the spacious window seat, propped around large fluffy and comfortable cushions, Zoe gazed tranquilly out of the glass pane, fixating her attention to each of the tiny, individual snowflakes that fluttered gracefully from the heavens, spiralling down to the crisp ground that was already coated with a thick layer of the white substance.

The glass was faintly crystallised with a frosted effect, from the snowflakes that had landed and then consequently frozen there from the bitter temperatures. A subtle, steamy mist was also accumulating from the brunette's breath as she tenderly exhaled repeatedly.

The trees had been stripped of their leaves, dotted along the edge of the wide roads of New York at regular intervals. Their exposed branches arced beneath the wait of the heavy snow that had innocently settled upon them, groaning and grouching silently. The sun was just emerging from behind the dense snow clouds - although it was a cold sun - and chased away the remaining dusky shadows as dawn finally arrived and swallowed the darkness.

Colossal christmas trees had been decked with luminous lights in diverse colours and an array of shimmering tinsel and gigantic baubles, towering high and nearing the height of the skyscraper buildings. Strings of fairy lights and attractive holly suspended from opposite buildings, glowing proudly. The ambience was buzzing as everybody prepared for the festive season.

"Are you ready for breakfast?" Zoe jerked with a start, rotating her head to peer at her boyfriend who had just appeared from the bathroom as she escaped her harmless daze. She nodded and rose to her feet, padding across the polished wooden floor which was thankfully heated with underground pipes.

"It's snowed heavy during the night!" she exclaimed excitedly. The weightless, frozen precipitation just made the scenery even more pretty. Stunning.

"Great! This means I can throw snowballs at people." The porter beamed contently as he shrugged his jacket over his shoulders and quickly added a sentence subsequently to the ominous gaze Zoe casted disapprovingly, "At other people, definitely not you...I wouldn't dream of it..."

"Good. Let's go," Zoe announced after she had wrapped her fluffy coat around her slender frame, handbag slung effortlessly over her arm. She couldn't wait to explore the city for the very first time.

~\~\~\~\~

"I thought we just came to New York for the Christmas shopping..." A faint frown succumbed Max's previously jolly features, the apprehension tickling his tone, "Not to go ice skating on a frozen lake."

The consultant shrugged, "We did, but I'm hardly going to decline the chance to skate on a frozen lake in such beautiful scenery. I mean, where can you do this in Holby? No where!" She laughed with a joyous grin as she exchanged her designer heels for the ice skates.

Max reluctantly copied her actions and followed his girlfriend to a vacant bench where they slipped their feet into the skates and fastened the laces, "Zoe...I've never been ice skating, like how am I supposed to balance in these stupid things?" He muttered shyly, only audible to the female. He wobbled dangerously when he attempted to stand up, retreating to the wooden seat promptly.

Zoe chuckled in a amusement, "Oh relax, you'll be fine! I thought Max was daring for anything?"

"Yeah, but it's gonna hurt if I fall on me arse isn't it?!" He muttered, bubbling with disdain.

She nodded, there was no point in telling him that it wouldn't because it sure would, "I promise I won't laugh if you do. Come on, just hold my hand." Holding out her hand, the porter clasped his fingers around her palm and at a leisurely rate they stepped onto the thick ice that had evolved over the vast lake. "Now carefully glide one foot in front of the other."

"Zo! This is so not cool, I swear I'm going to fall over." He complained with a grumble as he faltered in several directions, clutching the doctor's hand as if it was a life or death matter, "Everybody's staring at me...us!" He hoped that by embarrassing the older woman she would agree to return to land.

"Be positive, you'll get the hang of it soon."

Hands interlaced they drifted adroitly across the natural ice and Max finally discovered his balance and felt confident enough to skate alone. Releasing himself from Zoe's grasp was his greatest error. He skidded to a halt, the rhythm that allowed him to retain his equilibrium had vanished and he tumbled onto the floor. But Zoe instantly learnt that he was absolutely fine - excluding his pride - as he murmured expletives under his breath. And all she could do was erupt into innocent laughter.

"Zoe, it is not funny!" Max hissed as he scrambled to his feet with a lack of coordination, pulling himself up on an old willow tree that had arched and contorted over the glistening lake.

"You're right." The brunette giggled as she skated elegantly over to her lover, "It's hilarious." She corrected with a mischievous smirk.

"You promised you wouldn't laugh." He was sulking. Really stroppy. "We are so going now before I gain any more injuries. And before my backside gets any wetter." He huffed as he practically dragged his spirited girlfriend off the ice.

"What injuries? You are completely fine!" She rolled her rich, chocolate orbs dramatically and stifled a laugh. His current behaviour was such a hyperbole.

"My pride is severely bruised."

Zoe removed her dainty feet from the ice skates and placed them back into her trademark stilettos, "You'll live." She lacked the compassion he desired, "I'll buy you a mulled wine - alcohol makes everything better!" His face was refined with a contented grin at the mention of booze.

The warming wintry spices suffocated her nose pleasantly - it had tainted the atmosphere for a while now - the rising steam resulting in a faint rosy colour flushing her cheeks and she cupped her hands around the disposable cup gratefully to heat her numb, perfectly manicured fingertips.

"Okay so maybe that ice skating was worth it since you bought me a mug of this delicious concoction." Max stated sincerely as he ingested another mouthful of the crimson-red liquid. He soon devoured the beverage, crumpling the cup and depositing it in the litter bin. The porter subsequently enveloped his muscular arms around the petite frame of his cherished girlfriend, "Merry Christmas babe." He pressed his lips against her lipsticked ones, kissing her passionately, the flavours of the mulled wine still dominant.

"You are so so not having anymore mulled wine if this is what it does to you...in public at least." Dr Hanna wasn't accustomed to the public displays of affection - they always attended to conceal their relationship around Holby. But she grinned with a smirk and brushed her lips against his once again.