Playing In The Snow

The air outside in the Gallian town of Bruhl was exceptionally chilly during this winter. Everyone from the townsfolk to the Town Watch was wearing winter clothing to stay warm.

The local radio station had predicted earlier that morning that there might be a snowstorm by the time night arrived. With this in mind everyone was preparing for a long evening which included everything from gathering firewood for fireplaces to fresh bread.

Alicia Gunther was in the middle of getting the last orders of bread ready for the remaining customers of that day. It was only 5 minutes away from closing time and was only a matter of time before she could close shop and go home to Welkin, her husband and prepare for a long earned night of rest. "Thanks for shopping here, be sure to stay safe during the snowstorm." Alicia said as the last customer walked away with bag full of bread.

"Mama, is it almost time to close shop? I'm starting to feel really cold." Isara Gunther, Welkin's and Alicia's adorable little daughter, asked her mother. She was practically starting to shiver a little!

Alicia bent down so she could talk to her daughter at a closer height. "Yes. I just finished serving the last customer. Are you ready to go home?" Alicia gently replied to Isara.

"YES! I can't wait to try hot cocoa when I get home! Papa said it would make you feel really warm inside!" replied an excited Isara. She was practically jumping up and down.

Alicia smiled gently at her daughter's excitement as she locked up the store for the night. Afterwards, She held onto Isara's hand as they walked home together.

"Hey, Mama, is it really going to snow tonight?" Isara asked her mother curiously.

"It's supposed to, but it might not." Alicia replied. "Why do you ask?"

"Well, if it really does happen, I was really hoping we could all play together tomorrow. I've always wanted to play in snow!" Isara replied. She seemed really intent on wanting to do so.

Alicia could only respond with a warm reply, "Of course, It's a promise." She replied.

Isara looked very happy and almost energetic, "Thank you Mama!" she squealed. She then proceeded to hug her mother. "I love you." Isara said to her mother.

Alicia nearly got teary eyed when she said that. Holding in her emotions she replied gently "Mama loves you too, Isara."

—

"We're home!" Alicia said as she walked through the door.

"Hey! How was business today?" Welkin asked as he hugged his wife.

"Very busy! I'm pretty sure everyone and every family in town ordered some bread!" Alicia replied happily and with a little exhaustion in her voice.

"Papa!" squealed Isara as she embraced Welkin.

"Hey Isara! Did you help a lot at the Bakery today?" Welkin asked his daughter.

"Yep! Lots and lots but I'm really, really cold." Isara replied.

"Well, I just got the thing for that! You're want to try some hot cocoa? I'm just about finished with the first batch!" Welkin asked with excitement.

"Yes please!" Isara replied with excitement in her eyes.

"All right, let me get it ready!" Welkin stated as he went into the kitchen and prepared to pour the first cup.

"Oh yeah, that reminds me, how was your day Welkin?" Alicia asked her husband.

"It was really long and wonderful. The students we're all asking if they were really going to see snow tomorrow." Welkin responded. "But, it's still rather hard to get through winter, Nature's animals and bugs are always hibernating this time of year." Welkin went on to say.

"Oh, you and your obsession with nature." Alicia responded holding in the urge to giggle.

"It's so delicious!" Isara squealed as she sipped the Hot Cocoa for the first time.

"Is it good, Isara? I tried my hardest to make it as best as I can." Welkin asked.

"Yes, I like it a lot Papa!" Isara replied happily.

Alicia and Welkin both looked with warm and gentle smiles as they looked at their daughter enjoying the Hot Cocoa.

"Oh, that reminds me! Papa, can we play together tomorrow if it snows? I've always wanted to play in it! asked Isara energetically.

"Of course! We'll all play as a family! Right Alicia?" Welkin responded.

"Yeah, I already promised Isara, we would do so if it does snow. So a promise is a promise!" Alicia responded with a thumbs up.

"Great, I'll make sure to make some hot cocoa after we're done playing too!" said Welkin.

"Hey, Mama, how about you try some hot cocoa? It's really good! Isara asked her mother.

Alicia nodded her head in response. "Of course I'd like to try some. Welkin is there any left?"

"There's plenty left." Welkin replied gently.

"Great! I'll be sure to make dinner first. I bet my family is really hungry by now."

Guuuu~

Just then Isara's stomach started to growl. "Yes! Very hungry!" Isara replied rubbing her tummy.

"Well I guess it's time to for me to get to work then!" Alicia responded.

Soon after making and eating a very satisfying dinner with family. Alicia tried the hot cocoa and was very impressed with Welkin's ability to make it. As it tasted really good.

"This was really good Welkin! I could sell this at the Bakery!" Alicia said excitedly. "You can if you want if you want to. I bet it would sell really well during winter." Welkin replied.

"Of course it will! But you'll have to teach me first!" Alicia responded.

"Yeah, That too." Welkin replied.

The family then spent the rest of dinner bonding together.

—

That night, after a very pleasant dinner. Alicia tucked Isara into her bed. "Are you warm?" Alicia asked gently. "Yes. My bed is so warm and toasty tonight." Isara calmly responded.

"Goodnight, Isara" Alicia said. "Goodnight, Mama" Isara sleepily replied as she yawned. Alicia smiled gently as she closed the door to her daughter's bedroom.

She then walked to her own bedroom with Welkin, passing by Hans napping in the hallway. Both Alicia and Welkin prepared for a long winters rest.

Meanwhile outside, snow started to gently fall from the grayish sky one by one.

—

The next morning, Isara woke up. She yawned and stretched a bit before getting out of bed to look outside her bedroom window. She gasped when she looked outside, the ground was all white. The sky was a beautiful blue with gray clouds here and there.

Isara couldn't hold her excitement anymore. She quickly ran to her parents room to tell them all about it.

"Papa! Mama! It snowed! It snowed! It's looks so beautiful outside!" squealed Isara as she entered her parents room. Welkin and Alicia simply moaned in their sleep. Apparently, they had what could only be described as a good night's rest.

Isara simply frowned a bit and she jumped on the bed and started to shake their bodies.

"Mama! Papa! Wake up! You promised!" Isara said quite loudly.

The two parents quickly woke up and embraced their daughter.

"Good morning Isara." Alicia said hugging her daughter.

"You're awfully cheerful today. Did it snow?" Welkin asked Isara half awake and rubbing one of his eyes.

"Yes it did Papa!" Isara squealed in a very joyful matter. "It's looks so pretty! Can I show you please?" Isara asked.

"Of course." Alicia said gently to Isara.

Alicia and Welkin got up from bed and their daughter lead them to her bedroom window.

"W-wow…She wasn't kidding." Alicia said looking out her daughter's window.

"Amazing! The town of Bruhl hasn't seen snow like this since I was a child!" Welkin responded with an almost childlike enthusiasm.

Alicia herself started feeling pretty nostalgic about it when she heard what Welkin had to say. She just remembered that the orphanage she grew up in had a snow day like this once. She recalled it as one of the more happier moments in her childhood.

"Isara, once we're done having breakfast we'll go play in the snow. Okay?" Alicia said gently to her daughter.

"Okay, Mama." Isara said smiling.

Alicia quickly went to work making breakfast for her family.

"Papa, How do you make snow angels?" Isara asked her father curiously.

"I'll teach you once we get outside." Welkin said patting her daughters head gently.

"Alright, you two, breakfast is ready!" Alicia said.

The family ate their meals. Isara, despite enjoying her mama's bread couldn't hide her excitement about playing in the snow. Alicia looked gently at her daughter. She had a feeling today was going to be very memorable.

Afterwards, Alicia quickly got to bundling up her daughter in some rather cute winter clothes. She wore a thick light blue jacket and boots with a matching pink winter hat, scarf and ear muffs.

"You ready to have fun Isara?" Alicia asked her daughter confidently.

"Yes Mama!" Isara responded with a lot of energy

Alicia and Welkin opened the door and a rather chill cold breeze greeted them as soon as they did.

Isara quickly ran out the door and jumped into the snow rolling all around in it.

"It's cold yet it's so soft!" Isara squealed.

Alicia could only look with the most cheeriest expression. Seeing her daughter this happy and enjoying life this much made her feel very good.

Welkin quickly got on the snow covered ground and showed Isara how to make a snow angel. Soon she was making one herself.

"It's so much fun to do!" Isara squealed as she made countless snow angels all around the yard near their home.

"Hey Isara, Do you wanna make a snowman?" Alicia asked her daughter.

Isara practically squealed in delight upon being asked.

"Yes please Mama! Teach me!" Isara replied.

Alicia quickly got to work rolling up the snow to build the body. She then got two sticks from a nearby tree and stuck them on as arms.

"How do we make a face?" Isara asked.

"Just a moment." Alicia said gently.

She quickly got a bunch of spare buttons from inside and made a happy face with them on the Snowman's head.

Isara looked at it with amazement and soon asked "What about a hat for Mr. Snowman?"

"I know just the thing!" Welkin said as he ran inside and got something he hadn't used in ages.

He came out with his old hat from his military uniform during the war with the Empire.

"There, that should do it!" Welkin said proudly.

Alicia looked at it and had to giggle a little bit. It was cute seeing Welkin use part of his old military uniform for the snowman.

"A-a-a-Achoo!" Isara sneezed. It was clear the cold was getting to her a bit.

"How about you go inside for now Isara, We'll make you some hot cocoa when we come in. We wouldn't want you catching a cold." Alicia said kindly to her daughter.

"Okay Mama." Isara said and went inside.

"It really brings back memories doesn't it?" Welkin said standing next to Alicia.

"It does. Making that Snowman with Isara was really something else. When I was kid growing up in that orphanage, It snowed like this once. Even though I was all alone there, one of the few times I really felt truly happy there was when I got to make a snowman. For once, at that point in my life I truly felt at peace. Now I got to do it again after all these years but this time it was with our family." Alicia said almost on the verge of tears.

Welkin smiled and embraced Alicia, hugging her. "Yeah, Isara looked so happy when we were playing with her. I think you truly gave her a memory that she will look back on with fondness." Welkin gently said to Alicia.

"Oh Welkin…I love you."

"I love you too, Alicia."

Welkin and Alicia then shared a kiss.

"Mama, Papa, can we make some hot cocoa now?" asked Isara innocently interrupting the kiss between her parents.

"Sure. Be right there Isara." Alicia replied.

"Don't forget your promise Welkin. You're going to teach me how to make hot cocoa." Alicia said to her husband.

"Yeah. Don't worry, I'll guide you through the whole process." Welkin said happily.

The two then went back inside their home and prepared a wonderful batch of hot cocoa they would all share together.