It was still snowing.
Inwardly, Shayera cringed. She didn't know how she was talked into this. The park sparkled in the winter sun as Shayera's snow boots crunched through the fresh-fallen snow.
The snowstorms that had buffeted Detriot for three days straight had finally eased up that morning, only to start up again early in the afternoon. At least the current snowfall was significantly lighter compared to the intense blizzard that had been ravaging the city previously with howling winds. In its wake, the city was left covered with a coating of pure white snow.
Shayera's breath misted out before her in small clouds, the cold causing her to shiver and grip her coat tighter around her body. Snowflakes fell lazily from the gray sky above, clinging to her hair and wings as she stared out across the dazzling white landscape. A deep silence that could only accompany winter reached her ears, broken only by the crunching noise of a thick pile of snow falling from the barren branches of the surrounding trees. The only other noise was the high pitched laughter coming from her kids as they played in the winter landscape with her husband.
Despite her complete disdain for the weather, Shayera found herself lightly smiling. Typically, John and Shayera did not go out in public with either Emma or Rex. It was one of the most difficult sacrifices they made as parents. They both knew that they themselves were to blame for this as they chose not to have secret identities. That was why even small, simple moments like taking her kids to the park to play in the snow meant more to Shayera than it would to any other mother. Right now was one of those rare moments where they were able to.
Shayera shifted from one foot to the other, enclosing her wings around herself. She hoped that maybe, if she stood there nicely, she'd get to go in after they were done with this snowman. If there was one thing on Earth that Shayera absolutely loathed it was the cold. Ignoring this the best she could, Shayera continued to watch as John, Emma, and Rex rolled an enormous snowball around to form the base of their snowman. She shoved her hands deep in her pockets, the chill seeping through her gloves. It still amused Shayera that John was really just an overgrown child at heart. He insisted that he was, and probably never would be, too old to play in the snow.
"Mommy come help!" She suddenly heard her five-year-old son call out to her while her daughter jumped up and down and waved at her with both arms.
Shayera lightly chuckled to herself as she shook her head, "No thanks honey, Mommy's perfectly fine right over here."
Both Emma and Rex pouted, obviously not content with their mother's answer. John lightly rolled his eyes, "Don't worry guys, your Dad's got this." John jogged over to where his wife was watching from and crossed his arms over his chest, raising an eyebrow as he smirked at her. "Is the high and mighty Thanagarian warrior not allowed to have anymore fun today? Babe, come on, stop being a grump."
Biting back both a smile and chuckle, Shayera huffed, her breath visible. She continued to feign annoyance as she spoke, "John, you dragged me out of our warm apartment just to bring me out here in the cold. I'm soaking wet and freezing my ass off so of course I'm going to be, as you said, a grump. It shouldn't be a surprise."
Shayera's body involuntarily shuddered and she removed her gloved hands from her pockets so that she could wrap her arms around herself. John watched as her jaw tensed, stopping her teeth from clattering together. He then gave his wife a sympathetic look. He knew how arduous this was for the Thanagarian. She truly was trying her hardest to stay out in this weather despite her physiology being staunchly against it. John knew if it weren't for their daughter and son than Shayera would have marched herself back home a long time ago.
John quickly glanced down at the watch on his left wrist. They had been out there for little over three hours so far. They had spent the first two hours pelting each other with snowballs. Even with all of the moving around they did, Shayera eventually became sluggish and tired as the chill took hold of her body. While John was helping Emma and Rex make snowmen, Shayera was huddled off to the side trying to conserve what little body heat she had left.
With a sigh, John's lips formed a small smile, shaking his head. "Babe listen," he murmured softly, slipping his arms around his wife's waist, pulling her body against his. He took in a deep breath through his nose, breathing her in for a moment as he felt her snuggle herself against him despite keeping her arms tightly around herself. "I'll make you a deal," he whispered against her ear. It was very quiet except for the sound of the soft noise of the snow hitting the ground and the snow crunching beneath Rex and Emma's feet as they chased each other around.
Shayera's heart fluttered at the sensation of John's warm breath tickling her neck, her signature smirk settling on her lips. "Alright Lantern, I'm listening."
"You stay out here in the snow with me and the kids for just a bit longer and when we finally go inside we put on a movie for them. They've been running around like crazy and they'll be asleep before you know it." He paused to place a slow kiss on the side of Shayera's neck. "Then we can have our own fun, in bed. Where it's nice and warm."
A chill ran down Shayera's spine as she slightly shivered but this time it was not because of the ice cold snowflakes that settled on her. "John," she whispered softly, a small grin pulling at her lips as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "That's quite an enticing idea you have there."
John softly chuckled as he rested his forehead against hers. "I take it we have a deal?"
"Absolutely," Shayera pulled back slightly and moved to kiss him.
Before Shayera could touch her lips to John's, she was hit square in the back of the head with a snowball. She gasped as the ball fell apart. Bits of snow sprinkled down the back of her neck and into her coat, causing her to shiver as the icy bits slowly slid down her back. A tiny gasp also came from Rex as he stopped gathering snow in his hands and looked up at his parents before turning his attention back to his sister. He couldn't believe Emma had just did that considering their mother made it clear she didn't want to be in the snow any longer.
"Emma!" Shayera's tone was scolding but the light smile on her face said otherwise. The Thanagarian turned her head to look at her daughter, a split second before the next snowball hit, stinging the side of her face. Brushing the snow from her face and hair as she fully turned around, Shayera saw Emma standing still, her expression filled with pure, unadulterated innocence as she had another snowball resting in her small hand.
Shayera wasn't fooled for a second. There was nothing innocent about the six-year-old in front of her.
Shayera in turn smirked as she knelt down, scooping up a double handful of snow, molding it into a hard-packed ball in her gloved hands. Emma had taken one look at Shayera's face and scampered for shelter behind Rex. Shayera lightly laughed as she teasingly tossed the snowball up and down in her hand, "Don't hide behind your brother. You wanted to start another snowball fight and that's what you got. Come on out and fight like a big girl."
Shayera hadn't paid attention to the fact that Rex had his hands behind his back. She was woefully unprepared for the shock that came when her son threw the snowball that he was hiding. This snowball hitting Shayera square in the chest. The Thanagarian blinked a few times before her eyes narrowed and her lips upturned into a sly smirk. "That's it, you're both gonna get it now." Emma and Rex both squealed as they ran off as Shayera chased after them, intent on revenge.
This time John was the one off to the side as he crossed his arms over his chest and watched in amusement. John couldn't help but crack a smile. Watching Shayera playing in the snow with Emma and Rex was probably one of the most endearing and adorable things he had ever seen. Not that he would say that in front of his wife, unless he wanted to get punched.
John leaned back against the couch as he felt his wife nestle against him. He looked over to see Shayera, a blanket thrown over her lower body and one of his hoodie on that she had modified for her own use. She had pressed the left side of her body against him as their son was passed out asleep on her lap. He was in a similar situation as their daughter had fallen asleep and ended up cuddled up against him.
"I swear," he heard Shayera softly begin. "If we have to watch Frozen one more time this week, I'll go nuts. I thought watching Mary Poppins multiple times was bad. I think I hate Let It Go more than any other Disney song we've heard so far."
"Could be worse. We could be watching both movies multiple times in one week." John lightly chuckled and gently leaned over, as to not to wake their daughter, to kiss the top of her head, "You've been a real champ today. I'm surprised you made it out there for so long."
"I can't imagine that nightmare," Shayera lightly rolled her eyes as she absently ran her hand up and down Rex's back. "And trust me I'm feeling it right now. I'm still freezing and can't get warm."
"Here I thought those five cups of coffee would have warmed you up," he humorously replied. John then draped an arm over Shayera's shoulder to pull her closer, his hand brushing against the cool skin of her neck. "Damn Shayera, you feel cold."
"Told you and it's your fault," she countered with a smirk. He heard her lightly inhale before sighing, "So when do you intend to hold up your end of our little deal?"
John found himself lightly chuckling, "Don't worry Shay, I'll hold my end of the bargain. Right now, it's a little hard to when we got Emma and Rex on top of us. Unless you want to wake them up."
"No, let them sleep. Knowing my luck they'll want to go right back out there." Shayera then paused for a moment as she bit back a light yawn before she spoke again, "Even with the shit weather, I'm glad you talked me into going out there. I'll admit, it was a lot of fun." Shayera then felt the brush of lips on her hair and she smiled.
"Glad you had fun," John quietly replied. "I know Emma and Rex had a blast out there."
"Yeah they did and so much for the whole they'll be asleep before you know it," Shayera sarcastically responded as she leaned up and kissed his cheek. "Here we are being their pillows instead. Though I'm not complaining. This is nice as well."
John felt a grin form on his face as he heard Shayera yawn and then felt her head rest against his shoulder, "Yeah it could be worse. If you're tired just go to sleep Shay."
"I'm not that tired," she muttered with another yawn, her arm that was wrapped around Rex slowly going limp.
John didn't need to look down to know that her eyes were closed. He knew Shayera wouldn't be awake for much longer but he didn't mind their current position either. He also knew that being out in the cold for so long had tired out the Thanagarian more than she would willingly admit. The Green Lantern simply chuckled as he kissed the top of her head once more as he soothingly rubbed his hand up and down her arm, "It's alright babe, get some sleep."
Shayera mumbled something incoherently, clearly drifting off, and John smirked. He had a feeling he knew what she said without needing to hear it, "I love you too Shay."