Disclaimer: I don't own Bloodlines.

Chapter Four: Zeil (Zoe/Neil) ~ The Snowmen.

It was Christmas Eve in Palm Springs, and everyone was staying in a house over the Christmas holidays as organised by the Alchemists. Neil and Zoe were sitting out in the kitchen, feeling excluded as the rest of the gang were best friends and they were the two newcomers.

"It feels weird," Neil started. "That's it is Christmas, yet it isn't snowing."

Zoe shook her head. "It doesn't snow here, so not even a Christmas wish will get you anywhere."

"I just wish that I could make a snowman," Neil muttered. "It's a tradition for me. I used to do it every single year. But I guess I'll be breaking the tradition this year."

There was silence for a moment, before Zoe came up with a brilliant idea.

"You don't have to break your tradition." Zoe said quietly.

Neil looked up at her. "And how do you propose that I make a snowman?"

"Well... maybe not a snowman exactly..." Zoe answered, getting up off her chair and walking over to the freezer and pulling it open. "But I think that an ice-cream man snowman might substitute - I mean, it's like the same, except you can get him afterwards."

Zoe put the big carton of vanilla ice-cream in front of Neil. "What do you say? Break the tradition or stretch it." Neil grinned at her.

. . .

Zoe and Neil were sitting at the kitchen table with an ice-cream scoop, a big plate and plenty of toppings. Zoe scooped out two scoops of ice-cream for both of them and then they got to work.

Neil used chocolate chips in the place of coal, chocolate fingers instead of branches and coated his snowman in rainbow sprinkles.

Zoe used chocolate chips in the place of coal, a piece of liquorish for a scarf and she gave the snowman (and Neil's) a big chocolate sauce smile.

"Okay, this was an awesome idea," Neil laughed as he handed Zoe a spoon. "I think that this should be the tradition from now on."

"Yeah," Zoe laughed. "Definitely." She tapped the spoon off the ice-cream. She hadn't planned on actually eating the thing. Her father had drilled not eating anything but healthy food into her.

"Are you going to eat it?" Neil asked, eyeing Zoe empty spoon.

"Umm... I don't, uh, really like ice-cream."

Neil looked into her eyes. "Liar."

"I just don't want to okay," Zoe said, getting all defensive.

"And I suppose you won't be hungry tomorrow when we have dinner, will you? You'll stick with a salad and maybe a slice of turkey if you feel obliged to." Neil's eyes softened when he saw that Zoe's eyes were welling up with years. "I'm sorry, I just can't bear to see you not eat. Your just so... thin."

Zoe looked up at Neil. "I'm not."

Neil blinked in surprise. "Not what?"

"Thin."

Neil smirked. "Really? Is that what you think? Let me tell you Zoe, you are thin. Too thin. So thin that I can't even hug you because I'm scared that I'll snap you in half." He shook his head. "Eat your ice-cream."

And Zoe found herself obeying.

. . .

The door opened and a woman shuffled in with a plastic bag. She set it on a table and emptied out the contents. A carton of vanilla ice-cream and ice-cream toppings. She reached up into the cupboard above her head and grabbed a plate, while her other hand opened the drawer beside her with an ice-cream scoop and spoons.

"It's time!" She called out.

A man entered the room and started dishing out the ice-cream, while making conversation. "How was it?" He asked. "Did you get any strange looks for buying ice-cream?"

"No," she shook her head. "The cashier was too taken by my ring," she grinned, as the diamond ring glittered on her ring finger.

The man kissed her. "Merry Christmas Zoe."

"Merry Christmas Neil."