"Hey, has anyone seen Sydney?" Brynn asked, the changing weather outside concerning her.

Jess stopped folding the tablecloth in his hands and responded with, "I'm pretty sure Nathan was helping her put away the tables from the silent auction. I'll go check on them." He looked back at Brynn while he was walking. "Gettin' pretty bad out, eh?"

"To say the least."

Sydney and Nathan were, indeed, putting tables away, but when they found themselves alone for a moment after such an emotional evening…things began to transpire. They were breathing shared air, when they came up for it, and their hands were certainly occupied…

"Hey, Syd," Jess called, far louder than necessary, "roads are getting really bad."

The couple broke apart, and Sydney did her best to compose herself, smoothing out the hoodie and jeans she had changed into. She exited the storage room before Nathan. "Oh no, really?" she asked, appearing normal to everyone but Jess. He didn't let on that he knew a thing.

"How bad is bad?" Nathan asked, exiting the room now, pretending that his hands needed to be wiped on a towel.

"Wouldn't be surprised if they started closing roads soon," Jess said, walking back to the main area, Sydney and Nathan following. "Really soon." He was looking out of a window now. "Any chance we can worry about this tomorrow?"

"Sounds like a plan," Sydney started, "there are just a few things in the kitchen that have to be…"

"Okay, that car just did a three sixty," Brynn said, her voice panicked. Being in a car in extreme conditions made her a little nervous.

"Jess and I can finish up," Eric offered. "Nathan, could you get the ladies home?"

"Uh, yeah," Nathan stammered a little. "I just…Syd, I can take you and Brynn home in your car, I didn't drive here."

"He could just stay at the house 'til morning, couldn't he, Syd?" Jess asked. "I can take him home then." He winked at Nathan, but nobody else saw the action.

Sydney's face felt warm. "It's…it's up to Nathan, really. Susan?"

"She's at Charlie's. His mother was having a sort of lock-in for most of his friends tonight, she won't be home until tomorrow."

"Well, it's all set then!" Jess said happily. "You get them home safely and Eric and I will do the last few things here, lock up, and use his expensive all wheel drive whatever it is to meet you at home."

"Where it just so happens I'll be needing to spend the night too," Eric said smugly.

Sydney sighed. "Plenty of room as long as everyone's civil."

So, that's how the night was supposed to go. Nathan helped Sydney and Brynn out to the car without anyone slipping on the way. He got behind the wheel and though it took quite a while, he got them home safely.

"Sorry for the inconvenience," Nathan said as convincingly as he could, walking into the living room.

"Don't be silly," Sydney answered. "Thank you for getting us home." She cleared her throat. "You can take Arlen's room tonight and…"

"Oh, are you kidding?" Brynn's phone had gone off while Sydney and Nathan were talking…and the conversation didn't sound good. "Well, you have anything there you need. The two couches in the employee lounge fold out into beds…No, he's just always planning that way, better safe than sorry. I'm sorry…yeah…see you in the morning." She hung up her phone and looked at Sydney. "They closed the roads fifteen minutes after we left. Jess and Eric are stuck there until morning." Sydney could tell that Brynn was disappointed over losing her sleepover. "Hot chocolate and a movie?"

Nathan smiled. "I'm game." He turned to Sydney. "Do you think there's anything I can change into?"

"Sure, let's go find something for you." A few hours later, Sydney was seated at her window when Nathan knocked softly on her door. "Come in," she said just loud enough for him to hear. She thought it would be Brynn…she was so glad to be wrong.

"Hey," he said, smiling, his eyes catching the dim light of the room.

"Hi." She blushed, unable to help herself. They had all showered and did, indeed, indulge in hot chocolate and a much needed comedy together before they all went to their separate rooms. Brynn drifted off to sleep rather quickly, while Sydney and Nathan remained very much awake for the next hour and a half.

Nathan quietly shut the door behind him and locked it. "Mine's shut, so is Brynn's…think she's asleep?" He was shirtless, his abdomen demanding Sydney's attention. He had on a pair of Arlen's pajama bottoms, which dipped low, accentuating his, as Sydney referred to it, "Man V."

Thank you, Sifu Wess… She cleared her throat. "If she wasn't, I have a feeling she would have visited me already."

Nathan crossed the room, his hands behind his back. "So, this is your room?" he asked innocently, careful to keep his voice hushed. "Lovely change of scenery." He found himself wondering how many conversations they'd had with her sitting at the window as she was. She had a dim lamp in the corner, more mood lighting than functional, and it was the only light in the room. It made her all the more alluring. Her hair was still slightly damp and she was wearing pink and black checkered flannel pants and a black tank top. When he reached her, he ran the back of his index finger along her bare shoulder. Sydney shivered. "Cold?"

"Huh uh…"

He smiled, the creases around his eyes once again making themselves known. Sydney could not for the life of her understand why this drove her as crazy as it did. "Slept at all yet?"

"No."

"Good, it's still Valentine's Day then."

Sydney smiled, finally able to control a few muscles. "I don't think it works that way, Nathan."

"No? Because the way I look at it, it's not the following day until you wake up. Clocks and calendars be damned." He sat beside her and brushed her hair away from her face. "Have I changed your mind at all about today?"

"I think you swayed me into a more positive direction." She pet the head of the stuffed red panda that was lounging in the corner of the window seat.

Nathan nuzzled into her neck, his lips just barely brushing her skin. "How can I completely change your mind?" His left hand finally emerged from behind his back and he produced a long, white box.

Sydney's hand went to her mouth. "We said nothing special, remember? You already went over the line with the flowers and Seymour over here…"

"You named it?" Nathan chuckled.

She blushed. "Uh…no?"

He kissed her chastely. "Just another reason I adore you."

"And the song…Nathan, there's nothing in the world that can ever compare to something like that. It was beyond beautiful…"

"Probably should have held off on the for a while then, hm? I won't ever be able to top myself." He continued to hold the box out until she took it.

She beamed like a child and opened the box. "Oh, Nathan Gardner…" Before she even examined the item, she got up and walked to her dresser, confusing Nathan. She opened the top drawer, pulled out a square black box, and handed it to him. "I didn't listen either," she said, winking. She then looked back into the box she had been given and gazed at the item inside, her bottom lip quivering. Inside was a sterling silver bracelet, Pandora style, with three charms on it: a pink crystal sphere in the middle, a slice of pizza to the left…and a history book to the right. She started to cry again, wishing she hadn't been such an emotional wreck lately. "Favorite color, proper first date…and you."

"Too presumptive?"

"Oh, God, no…" She kissed him full on the lips, her tears falling onto his cheeks rather than hers. When she pulled back, she all but whimpered. "It's so perfect…you…you have no idea how much...What I got you…it just doesn't compare."

His forehead resting against hers, he replied, "It's not supposed to. Nothing special remember?" He smiled again. He leaned back just a little and opened the box Sydney had given to him. Inside was…a bracelet, which was why Sydney had shot up from her seat when she had first opened her gift. It was made of titanium and carbon fiber…and was sharp. It completely meshed with the new wardrobe he'd acquired. He raised an eyebrow and smiled widely.

"You…" She sniffled. "You changed yourself up so much and…and you started taking your body more seriously an…" Her breath hitched. "It's, I don't know if I buy into it, but it's s…supposed to help energy flow with magnets in the ends and…it's really big in Asia…"

"It's absolutely perfect." He stood up and took her hands into his, silently asking her to join him. She did. He pulled her close and she reveled in the heat of his skin. "Screw questions, I'm wearing this every day."

Sydney giggled through her tears. "Me too."

The mood then changed slightly. "I'm not quite done with this day."

"Neither am I."

Without warning, Nathan scooped her up into his arms the way Sydney had seen in countless romantic movies…and placed her on her bed. He gracefully positioned himself on top of her and began to lavish her neck and chest with slow, erotic kisses. Sydney mewed, something she didn't expect to do, and Nathan stopped to smile at her…she loved his smile. She loved him…

As she blinked back fresh tears Nathan slid her tank top up over her head and ran his hands over her breasts, every touch gentle. He lowered his body, pressing his chest to hers, their hearts both beating rapidly. He stayed that way for a few moments, silent.

When he finally did decide to speak, his voice was soft and the most soothing sound she'd ever heard. "I'm pretty sure a lot of things happened tonight, but…we don't have to verbalize any of it…"

"I love you," Sydney said, the words sounding like a sacred confession. She swallowed hard. "I…we've had one real date…how…"

His own tears fell onto her chest. "How isn't important." He kissed her, joy in the action. "I love you, Sydney…God, I love you." He kissed her again and seemed like he wanted to say more, but didn't.

"Nathan, please…"

He closed his eyes and placed his lips by her ear. "I'm scared too," he confessed. "Please don't feel you're ever alone in your fears. We've both been hurt, we're both scarred…but I think that's the 'how'…I think it's the 'why'…and I think it couldn't be more perfect." His words were honest and heartfelt and somehow Sydney just knew that they were right. After all of her promises to herself after John about never losing herself to someone again, never falling in love…she was convinced that pain was meant to bring her to where she was right now.

"I need you," she breathed. He didn't need to hear anything else. With skilled hands, he slid her pajama bottoms and panties down her legs, then discarded his own clothing. He kissed her everywhere he could, loving that her flesh rose when he did so. His fingers barley brushed body, but set her nerves on fire. He slid his tongue from just above her sex, all the way up to her chin before she begged him in a quivering voice. "Oh, please…just you…I need to feel you…"

"Syd, I have…"

She shook her head. "Nothing between us…don't make me beg."

"No begging tonight, sweetheart." He stroked her cheek. "We'll save that for another time." Sydney laughed. "I want to hear that sound all the time." She smiled at him and he entered her, gentle and loving. Sydney knew the thought was cliché, but she couldn't help herself…she felt complete. He didn't move at first and neither of them minded. "I will never hurt you, I promise. Your heart is safe with me…"

"Nathan, you can't promise…"

"I can," he said, then he kissed her, "and I do. I love you." He moved inside of her, causing her to gasp.

Not able to stop the words, Sydney cried out, "Thank you." She ran her hands along his strong back. "Oh…" She started to giggle again. "Thank you…"

"You said that already," Nathan said with a slight moan.

"Yeah…meant two different…oh, dear God…things…" Nathan moaned, trying to remember there was someone else sleeping across the hall. "And I love that sound," Sydney purred, taking his earlobe between her teeth. He pumped into her just a little harder, causing her sounds to match his.

"Sounds like a lot of loving, hm?" He pulled her body closer to his, his pace picking up. "You're all I ever want, Syd…" That was it…Sydney surrendered herself to him and cried for the last time that night as she released everything. "Oh…" Nathan followed suit, too emotional to keep himself in check.

They kissed and cuddled for the rest of the night. Each blissfully happy, despite the fact that they were both terrified. They had decided it best to keep their relationship as it had been for the time being, mainly for their careers. School would end in a few months and everything would be easier then…besides, they both found something invigorating in their secret rendezvous.

Before succumbing to sleep, Sydney ran her fingers through Nathan's hair and let herself become lost in his eyes. "It goes both ways," she whispered. "I will never hurt you."