Winter Wonderland

Disclaimer:  The usual.  I own nothing.  Marvel does. 

Chapter 7

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Jean sat in the snow, at the edge of  the dock, lacing up her skates.  Scott stood apprehensively a bit further back, holding the pair he'd found in the attic.  It had stopped snowing, but there was so much snow already on the ground.  The area had been walloped.  Jean's red hair hung out from under her green knit hat.  She was wearing a thick grey sweater of Scott's, with a blue fleece vest over it.  She had tights on under her pants, making it a little harder to maneuver her feet, covered in three layers of socks, into her skates.  Scott watched her, amused. 

"Come on!"

"Are you sure the ice is safe?"

"Yes, for the millionth time. I took samples this morning, and it's a good nine inches thick.  Plenty thick enough for skating.  The Professor agreed."

"I know."
"Then what are you waiting for?  I want to have some time out there before everyone else comes out."

Scott trudged through the snow, and plopped down beside her.  He was also dressed in layers.

"Where's your hat?"

"In my pocket."

"You should put it on. I don't want you to catch cold."

"Okay."  Scott made a big show of pulling his black fleece out and putting it on.  Jean laughed.  Her skates were ready.  She looked expectantly at him. 

"Oh, uh, you can start."

Jean shook her head, but stood up, and propelled herself away from the dock.  Scott just sat and watched her for a while.  She moved so gracefully out there.  He was struck by how beautiful she looked with the sun streaming down on her.

"Scott!  Scott!  Earth to Scott!"

He looked up.

"You all right?"

He nodded, smiling.  "Just thinking."

"Of what?"

She glided back over to the dock.  Scott shoved his foot into the first skate and began to tie it.

"You."

"Me?"

"Yep."

'What about me?"

Scott shoved his second foot into a skate, and yanked the laces tight.

"About how beautiful you are."

Jean's cheeks flushed with heat.  She looked down at him reverently.  "Thank you."

"Just telling the truth."  Scott extended his arms, for Jean to help him up. 

Once standing, Scott moved hesitantly.  He was unsteady on his feet.  Jean grabbed his hand.

"You have to try to move smoothly.  The more choppy you are, the harder it is to stay up."

"Okay."

They skating around for a while, and Scott seemed to be getting the hang of it.  Jean released his hand, and glided ahead.  She spun, and twirled, as he puttered along. 

"Did you skate a lot when you were young?"

Jean nodded.  "We always went skating on a pond near our house."

"Your mom went skating?"

Jean laughed as his question.  "No, definitely not.  Sometimes she'd take Sara and I, but usually a babysitter would take us."

"Ah ha."

"This is your first time on skates?"

Scott nodded.  "I'm not a fan of winter anything."

"You're getting it."

"Sort of."

Scott tried to move a little faster, over to where Jean was.  Suddenly, he fell flat on his face.  Jean quickly skated over, concerned.  Scott lay prostrate on the ice. 

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"That was a nasty spill."

"Yeah.  A few bruises, the largest of which to my ego."

Scott continued to lay on the ice.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Uh huh."

Jean knelt down beside him, and stroked his back.

Scott looked up, pouting.  "I can barely feel your hand through my sweaters."

"Awww…"

He scooted his head up onto her lap.  She ran her hands through his hair.

"Now you wish I hadn't put on the hat."

Jean scowled.  "No.  I can stick my hand under the hat."

"Glove doesn't feel very nice."

"Neither does freezing hand."

"I suppose not."

Jean continued to pet him for a little while.  He curled over onto his side, and snuggled close to her. 

"You ready to skate again?"

"No."

"Scott."

"I like this better."

He sat up, and leaned in to kiss her.  He wrapped his arms around her tightly, and pulled her in. She melted into her embrace.  Around them the ice glistened in the morning sun.  The world was vibrant and bright, as the whiteness around them reflected every beam the sun had to offer.  They didn't notice the other students who had begun skating on the pond,  glancing their way.  They didn't notice anything, but each other.  The world continued all around, but for now in their little winter wonderland there was only Scott and Jean.

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FIN

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