We both turned to see Elle running toward us. Instantly, we snapped away from each other. I knew I was blushing, but even Berwald's face looked a little heated.

Elle stopped a few feet away, a wide grin on her face and a new jar of olives in her hand. As soon as she saw our expressions, her own turned to one of shock. Suddenly, she turned beet red and backed up a few steps. "Am I interrupting soom-sing?" she asked.

"No," I said quickly, reaching out to take the olives from her. "You're right on time." I smiled at her, popping the lid off the jar and going back to the snowman. "Now," I said, reaching into the jar and grabbing a few olives. Thank Gods they're dry, I thought vaguely. "Let's fill in this gap, huh? Wouldn't want him going around with a gap in his teeth, now, would we?" Elle laughed with me.

I quickly finished the mouth before turning around. Berwald was watching my movements carefully. I blushed—again, Good Lords—and looked down, walking over to stand by him. I could feel his eyes on me and looked up as he asked, "Ev'ryth'ng ok'y?"

"Yeah," I blurted. "Never better." I paused, looking at the snowman. It looked good; it just needed—

"You need buttons," Elle called from a few feet away. She was already making a new pile of snow, preparing to make another snowman. "Oh! Maybe you could put un hat und scarf on zat vun, since it's alvready vreally detailed."

"Great idea!" I turned to Berwald and asked, "You wanna learn how to make those buttons now?" He nodded. "Okay," I said, grabbing a few more olives from the jar by Elle. "I didn't come up with this," I told him. "Elle showed it to me. So, basically, you just take one, and you…"

I explained it exactly as I had been taught, going through the motions to making a perfect line. Berwald watched and listened, never saying a word. When it was done, we stood back to admire it. "Looks pretty good to me." I went over to the supplies, picking up a carrot. "It needs a nose, though." After I put the nose on the snowman, I went over to Elle, watching as she built her own snowman. "Need any help?"

She glanced up at me and smiled. "No, I sink I am gut." She looked over at the snowman I made with Berwald, where he was making sure the arms were sturdy. "I still sink you should put clothes yours," she said, looking back at me.

"Oh, yeah," I said. "I forgot." I hurried, taking off my hat and scarf and wrapping the snowman up in them instead. "There." I stepped back. Something was off. "Hmm." I pursed my lips, thinking. Then I took my mittens off, wiggling them onto the ends of the sticks. "Looks great!"

"Vhy don't you bend ze arms up a little," Elle said. "So zat it looks like he's holding his scarf, you know?"

"L'k' d's?" Berwald asked, carefully bending the sticks upward so that the gloves connected with the scarf.

"Yeah," I said thoughtfully as Elle nodded. "That's cool." I reached up and fixed the scarf a little, so that it wasn't covering the mouth so much. "Hey, Berwald," I asked suddenly, "did you have any other work to do today? I don't want to waste your time. You don't have to stay out here with us. You—"

"No," he said, cutting off my rant. "I v's alvr'dy f'n'shed fer da d'y." He looked at me, his face taking on a softer expression. "Und b's'des," he continued, "You'd n'ver vayste m' t'me."

I blushed a little, only turning that much redder when I heard the "Awww!" Elle threw our way.

"Oh," I mumbled. I pulled the collar of my jacket up to cover my flaming cheeks and the idiotic smile that was slowly growing on my lips. "That's…nice."

We all continued playing in the snow, finishing Elle's snowman and tossing snow at each other every now and then. We carefully moved the new snowman over by mine and Berwald's. It was taller than ours—Berwald had had to make the face, since Elle and I couldn't reach—so we put one of its stick arms around the "shoulders" of our snowman. They looked like a cute young couple. You know what that looks like, right? Guy with an arm around his girlfriend's shoulders as the girl giggles into her scarf? It's cute!

Anyway, by the time the sun went behind the trees on the other side of the property, we were making snow angels. It had grown steadily colder as the afternoon wore into evening, and I was shivering a little. I kind of regretted giving my warm mittens to that snowman. But then, I've always had a weak spot for cute things.

"Look!" Elle called.

I went over to her and looked at her angel. She'd added feet to the bottom and a halo to the top. At first, I thought that was all there was. But then I looked where she pointed and giggled a little. The way her coat had scrunched up in the back, it looked like the angel had her arms crossed. It was kind of like she was disappointed in something.

"That's hilarious!" I giggled.

Suddenly, there was a big, cold gust of wind, and I shivered hard. I might love the cold, but that doesn't mean I'm immune to it.

I sneezed. "Maybe n-next time we should m-make a snowman that looks l-like an angel!" Elle looked excited about that, and I grinned at seeing her happy.

I looked around. The sun peeking through the trees made the snow sparkle in certain spots, casting light like a disco ball. It was getting colder by the minute, but it was so beautiful I just pulled my coat in tighteraround myself.

"W-What sh-should we do n-next?" I asked, my chattering teeth making me stutter.

"I th'nk d't is enoof fer da d'y," Berwald said next to me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "Yoo look a beat c'ld."

"Yes, Lillian, I sink Master Bervald is corvect," Elle said with concern. "You look like a block uv ice."

"Gee, th-thanks," I said sarcastically, shivering again as a blush crept up my cheeks and made the air feel even colder. "Y-You're ri-ight, though. I-It might be t-time to go insi-ide."

Berwald nodded, slowly turning me towards the house. Elle followed behind us after collecting the crate of supplies. She even took my scarf, hat, and gloves from the snowman. I would have put them back on, but they were probably frozen solid by then. I just don't think that would help my mild hypothermia.

When we got inside, Elle offered to get hot chocolate and departed to the kitchen. Berwald led me to the sitting room and sat me on the couch in front of the fire place. I stuck my hands out, trying to get some feeling back into them before taking my coat and boots off to dry. I should have gone to change; my clothes were soaked through—my jeans dark and clingy, my light green shirt sticking to my stomach. It gave me the feeling of being frozen to the bone.

But finally being able to sit down and warm up made me realize just how tired I was. I could hardly think about moving, let alone actually move. I just leaned back on the couch and closed my eyes.

Berwald's arm curled around my shoulders, and I blushed a little as my head lolled on his chest. Calm down, I thought, chastising myself. It's just for warmth.

"Ve probably should huv come inside sooner, but…" I heard Elle say. A tinkling noise grew closer as she trailed off, and I sat up and looked over to see her with a tray. It had a picture and several mugs on it, and it made a small clang as she set it down on a table by the couch. She carefully poured a dark brown liquid into each mug before dropping a few marshmallows into them. "Ve vur huvving fun, verrent ve?" she asked, handing a mug to Berwald as he nodded.

"Of course," I replied as I accepted a mug for myself. The smell of chocolate wafted across my face, and I inhaled it deeply. The mug was burning hot, but it felt almost pleasant against my frozen hands. "Aahh," I sighed. "Thank you, Elle."

"You are velcome," she said. She smiled, grabbing her own mug before sitting in one of the armchairs.

I took a sip of my drink, nearly burning my tongue in the process. "Mm!" I grunted, my face scrunching up. Swallowing, I grimaced. "It's…bitter."

"Huh?" Elle asked, confused. Then she giggled. "Oh! I forgot! Amevricans add sugary milk chocolate to zares." She grinned. "Doon't vurry—you vill get used to it."

"I'm sure," I grumbled, taking another gulp. I heard Berwald clear his throat as if to disguise a chuckle, and I smiled.

We sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, just warming up and drinking our hot chocolates. As I finished my drink, I could feel my eyelids drooping. I tried to shake it off, putting my mug back on the tray and settling back down. I felt warm on the inside, though my wet clothes made me shiver. I wrapped my arms around myself, my eyes drooping again.

"Lillian?"

"Hmmm?"

"You alvright zare?" There was laughter in her voice.

"Mmhmmm."

"Are you shore? You aren't tired at all?"

"Mmm…Maybe a little," I replied lazily. My voice sounded odd—different, somehow. I brushed it off as tiredness.

I cracked my eyes open just in time to see Berwald and Elle share a look—and I promptly brushed that off as my companions trying to translate my no doubt slurred speech.

"Are you sure you feel alright, L'll'an?" Berwald's voice sounded weird, too. I couldn't quite put my finger on it—maybe it was because his words actually had vowels?

"I'm fine, Berwald." I rolled my eyes, though they were still droopy with fatigue. "I'm just tired…and cold. I should go change." I frowned, feeling my eyebrows scrunch up a little. "In a minute, though."

Elle giggled, but the sound was nervous. "Yes, vell…perhaps you shoold get soom sleep. You vurked pretty hard today."

"You're right," I replied. I stretched, standing a bit unsteadily. I grabbed my coat and boots before looking back at the two still sitting. "I'll see you guys tomorrow, yeah?"

"Shoore…" Elle said slowly. "Tomorrow."

Berwald offered to walk with me, but I insisted I was fine. Even so, he stood and put his mug down, following me to the doorway. He didn't follow any further, just watched as I walked upstairs. I waved goodnight before rounding a corner and stumbling my way to my room.

Opening the door, I set my boots just inside before tossing my still-soaked coat into a hamper.

I leaned against the door, listening to it click closed. I sighed. Today was good, I thought. Then I grimaced. Aside from that one thing…I need to get myself under control.

Straightening, I went over to the closet and pulled out a pair of sleep shorts and a t-shirt with long sleeves. I took a quick shower before dressing and slipping under the covers. As I settled in, I ran a comb through my hair. Turning out the light, I set my glasses on the table.

I wonder how long this will last. Days? Months? Years? If it lasts that long, I wonder if I'll ever get to travel. That would be fun.

Funny…I haven't had any nightmares since I got here.

Of course, me being me and having just the same amount of luck as always, I spoke too soon.