"That was fun," Cassia grinned happily, making her eyes sparkle, as she and Aaron entered the lodge. Both of their cheeks and noses were red with cold and they looked like what they were, two people who had been enjoying themselves out on the slopes. The two of them took off their hats, gloves, and googles they had been wearing to protect their eyes. They also left their skis in a special stand made for them. Aaron's red nose and cheeks started to fade immediately back to it's normal color and Aaron was hoping Cassia didn't notice how the skin of his face immediately took on its normal appearance.

"Yes, it is more fun when you have someone with you," Aaron agreed in order to distract Cassia. "It keeps your skills sharper if you have someone to compete against. It's been awhile since anyone has challenged me."

"I know what you mean," Cassia agreed. "It's good to be challenged once in awhile."

Aaron wasn't bragging about his skills on the slope, as he could be a professional skier if he cared too, but he wasn't interested in going that route apparently or he would be quite famous. She supposed that it probably wouldn't be fun after awhile if he did it in front of thousands of fans regularly.

"So when did you learn? It is clear you have a lot of experience," Cassia asked curiously. "Did you start as young as I did?"

"It was a long time ago," Aaron said vaguely, as he wasn't about to say that he'd learned when skiing first become popular, which had been a very long time ago in the mid 1800's. "What about some hot chocolate to help us warm-up after being outside in the cold all morning?" Aaron added in order to distract Cassia from asking anymore questions

"That sounds great. I love hot chocolate," Cassia said enthusiastically forgetting about her question temporarily.

"So do I," Aaron said amused and delighted at Cassia's enthusiasm.

Cassia followed Aaron into a lounging area that had comfortable furniture all scattered about for people to relax on, to perhaps read a book or take a nap or even just to enjoy the nice warm fire that was burning in the grate with a companion or by one's self. The lodge did have a small library and also 24 hour room service.

Aaron used the phone in the room to call the kitchen and request hot chocolates for him and his companion, as well as some lunch, as it was after one in the afternoon.

"I didn't even notice how hungry I was until you just ordered lunch," Cassia said as soon as Aaron had hung up the phone.

"I figured you probably were, because I certainly am," Aaron said. "We've been skiing all morning and my breakfast wore off a long time ago."

"So has mine," Cassia admitted ruefully, even as her stomach growled. Cassia blushed in embarrassment at her rebellious stomach.

"Don't be embarrassed because your stomach is growling," Aaron told her, as he touched her arm gently. "It's natural to be hungry considering all the physical activity. It's not like you've been lounging on a couch just reading a book. Your stomach would have started grumbling in just a few minutes I'm sure."

"Probably," Cassia admitted, no longer embarrassed. "You sure do know how to boost a girl's ego."

"It was nothing really," Aaron said, with a dismissive gesture. "It's the natural reaction to what we've been doing. Both of us have been burning off numerous calories, which is why I ordered lunch in the first place."

Lunch arrived on a hovering tray just then with Dave along with it.

"Dave," Aaron said casually, with a rather bemused expression. "What are you doing here?"

"The chef was busy, so I offered to deliver your lunch," Dave said casually shooting Aaron a wink.

Aaron shot Dave an amused look then said, "Cassia, this is my good friend David Rossi. He's part owner of the resort. Dave this is Cassia Jasperson who just arrived yesterday."

"It's nice to meet you Mr. Rossi," Cassia said politely shaking Dave's hand.

"It's very nice to meet you Miss Cassia," Dave said kissing the back of her hand. It was a very old fashioned gesture in this century, but still, made the ladies blush, just as Cassia was doing now.

Cassia was super attracted to this David Rossi, just as she was to Aaron Hotchner and she wasn't sure what to do about it. While having two husbands at the same time was quite legal she had never imagined having more than one, mostly because humans were very territorial about their spouse and could fight each other like cats and dogs. She didn't need that kind of tension and discord in her life, so there had to be trust and respect on all sides and that wasn't always the easiest thing to accomplish. However, since the two were friends, maybe...

"Why don't you join us Mr. Rossi? Unless you have some business that requires your immediate attention?" Cassia suggested boldly, even as she poured herself a hot chocolate from the silver serving pot into a cute mug with a snowflake on it. Aaron's mug had an adorable cat dressed in winter gear with snow all around

"I have nothing that needs my immediate attention Miss Cassia," Dave assured the beautiful woman in front of him. "I certainly have time for lunch with a gorgeous woman."

"I hope you don't mind Aaron," Cassia added remembering her original companion.

"No, I don't mind, as Dave and I have been friends for very long time, though it is rather rude to join us without even asking first," Aaron said mock glaring at Dave.

Dave just smirked at him looking rather smug and Aaron simply rolled his eyes in exasperation.

"Why are we friends again?" Aaron asked rhetorically.

"Because of my sparkling charm," Dave answered immediately.

Aaron snorted in disbelief and made a rude noise. Cassia giggled at the byplay.

"Let's just eat before the food gets cold," Cassia suggested.

"It won't, since they are under warming domes," Dave said, "But I'm sure that you are hungry my lady."

"I'm sure you and Aaron are too. Aaron and I at least have been out on the slopes all morning and used a lot of energy skiing."

The three of them began to eat after removing the warming domes.

"So are you going to join us on the slopes tomorrow? That is if you know how to ski?" Cassia asked.

"I would be happy to my lady, so long as it doesn't interfere with yours and Aaron's plans," Dave said happy to be invited along. Cassia was very accommodating and considering she had just met Aaron...

Of course, Dave was aware that Cassia's attraction to both of them had something to do with that or probably did. It could be she was just a polite young lady who had been raised right.

"Of course, Dave knows how to ski," Aaron chuckled. "It's one of the reasons he started this ski resort in the first place."

"Yeah, I do and I try to get out on the slopes as much as possible during the off season," Dave said. "Of course, I don't have anything against getting on them in the on season, just that I don't have as much time."

"That you're willing to use up some of your limited free time just to hang out with me and Aaron is very generous of you."

"Not really," Dave denied. "As I said earlier, it's hardly a hardship to spend time with a beautiful woman."

"I have to agree with Dave here," Aaron said.

"And why hasn't some woman already snatched you up and made honest men of you?" Cassia said blushing at all the compliments she was receiving.

"Because both of us are far to picky to settle for just anyone," Dave answered Cassia's question.

Aaron silently acknowledged the truth of that statement, even if it wasn't meant in the way Cassia probably thought. If both of them hadn't been Immortal, they would've settled down long sense. Of course, the truth of the matter was they would both be nothing but skeletons if not for their immortality, but explaining that to a modern woman like Cassia was going to be difficult at best, if not impossible.

"So you're just more careful then most men when it comes to women," Cassia said.

"Both Dave and I have had our share of women over the years, but as for marrying any of them..." Aaron said and shrugged.

What Aaron had said was the truth, but it had been long before they had met Sabella. Though he and Dave had never actually married Sabella.

"So what do you want to do for the rest of the day?" Aaron asked Cassia

"Well, curling up on one of these couches and reading a book sounds good," Cassia said. "I am kind of tired from all the activity so that sounds about perfect. I might even take a nap."

"Well, if you like why don't I take you for dinner after your afternoon nap. I know the perfect place in the town that's not far from here," Aaron suggested giving Cassia his best puppy dog expression.

"Surely you have duties you must get back to?" Cassia said nearly immediately caving.

"Not right now he doesn't," Dave interrupted. "He was only on the front desk, because our usual person had a family emergency, so he agreed to take over their duties for awhile, but we were talking about hiring someone temporary just last night."

"Why would you ask his opinion? Aren't you the owner?" Cassia asked confused.

"Part owner," Dave corrected. "Aaron owns the other half."

"I was going to tell you once we had known each other longer," Aaron explained to Cassia's shocked expression while glaring at Dave. "I wanted to get to know you and you me before you found out I was part owner."

"I'm sorry I said anything now," Dave acknowledged his blunder.

"So many people try to attach themselves to those that're wealthy, that it's just better to keep quiet about it and I'm afraid it's a rather ingrained habit," Aaron explained.

"Besides, those that boast about themselves are often full of hot air," Dave added.

"That's true," Cassia finally said, seeming to finally get over her shock. "I do understand why you hadn't told me yet. We've only known each other for a day, even if it seems like much longer. If Dave hadn't let the cat out of the bag I'm sure you would have told me in a few days once we'd gotten to know each other a little better."

"I was planning to," Aaron said calmly. "So what about dinner this evening?"

"Well...Okay," Cassia finally decided. "How can I resist having dinner with a gorgeous guy?"

"Don't tell him that, his ego is big enough already," Dave chuckled obviously teasing his friend.

"And yours isn't?" Aaron shot back in the same tone.

"This is great hot chocolate by the way. I don't think I've ever had hot chocolate this good," Cassia interrupted before they're teasing could go any farther and possibly get out of hand.

"You have to be willing to use real chocolate and not just a mix," Dave explained.

"Well, I think I'll order a myself another cup before I start reading the book I brought. I doubt I'll ever have hot chocolate this good again."

"You can have it as often as you want," Dave said.

"At least as long as you're here," Aaron added

"Now there's an offer that's going to be hard to resist, but if I take you up on it I'll gain so much weight, that it will be very hard to get it off again."

"I don't think you really need to worry about that. Skiing burns a ton of calories, so unless you plan to drink a gallon of it every day of your stay you should be fine," Dave said. "Personally, I think you look spectacular."

"Thank you, for the compliment," Cassia said blushing.

"I didn't say anything that wasn't true," Dave said.

Aaron made his own comment that had Cassia blushing again at all this positive attention she was getting from two gorgeous guys.

~~~Dave, Sabella, Aaron, Cassia~~~

"This is just great!" Cassia said, as she relaxed by the fire. She and Aaron had spent the morning on the slopes, but now, again, it was around lunchtime and she had already given her order for what she wanted including a cup of hot chocolate, as she just couldn't get enough of the rich flavor. It was one of the things she was really going to miss when she went home in a few days. Normally, she didn't worry about her weight, but if she started drinking hot chocolate on a regular basis she would soon be extremely overweight, as she had learned that a square of real Swiss chocolate went into the mixture, which was what made it so rich and good, but also fattening. Besides, real chocolate nowadays was practically worth it's weight in gold, particularly a good brand name. A lot of people could not afford it on a regular basis.

She was also going to miss Aaron and Dave to. The three of them had become inseparable over the last week, but she knew she needed to get back to her life. She still had another week to enjoy their company and she was going to spend all her time with them if at all possible, but when she went home she was going to miss them. She wasn't going to worry about it, Cassia decided. She was just going to enjoy herself as much as possible until she left.

"Yeah, there's nothing like sitting in front of a warm fire with a cup of something beside you," Aaron agreed.

"Whether that's wine or hot chocolate or even just a soda," Cassia agreed, half asleep with her head on Aaron's shoulder. "There is just something so relaxing..."

Cassia's voice drifted off and Aaron realized that she had fallen asleep.

Well, it looked like Cassia was more tired than she had believed, Aaron thought with a gentle smile, even as he kissed her hair. Of course, Cassia taking of a short nap could be because of the warmth of the room they were in, as being warm and comfortable could lure you into sleep quite easily, something Aaron knew from experience.

Aaron simply sat there quietly, quite comfortable with Cassia's head on his shoulder, her shining red hair spread out around her. Really, her hair was more of a red gold then completely red and it was also nice, thick and lustrous. It was unlikely that Cassia would ever develop a bald spot like so many people did, but those people usually had thinner hair then Cassia did.

Aaron got lost in his thoughts when the food arrived on a hovering serving tray with the waiter guiding it. Aaron waved the waiter away and put a finger to his lips indicating that the woman who was sleeping on his shoulder.

The waiter nodded in understanding and left quietly.

A few minutes later Cassia started to wake up as the smells emanating from the food tray penetrated her subconscious. Cassia blinked open her eyes and seemed confused for a few seconds before she remembered where she was.

"I must've been more tired than I thought. I'm sorry I fell asleep on you," Cassia apologized, not admitting that she had been very comfortable leaning against Aaron's broad shoulder. The sweater Aaron was wearing was a warm golden brown that reminded her of leaves in autumn and was made of some kind of soft material. It was like laying her head on a cloud it was so soft.

"It's quite alright," Aaron assured her. "Sometimes when your warm and comfortable you can drift off to sleep. I didn't mind you sleeping on my shoulder. If I had, I would have readjusted my position without waking you. Now let's eat."

"Sounds good," Cassia said, as she took off the lid of one of the warming domes to see what was underneath and passed the food over to Aaron without a word before taking off another lid.

Soon the two of them wore sharing a private lunch together talking quietly.

~~~Dave, Sabella, Aaron, Cassia~~~