Okay, so here is my first ever Milo Murphy's Law fanfic! It contains contain dark themes, such as near drowning and house fire, so don't read it if that upsets you. It will also contain plenty of heart-breaking and heart -warming moments, plus some humour as well. You guys like that, right? I've not got any pairings in mind for this story- it largely focuses on family and friendship throughout.

So, with that in mind, I hope you guys choose to read on- and enjoy! Reviews, constructive criticism, favourites and follows are not essential, but would be much appreciated, and I hope these guys aren't OCC. Thank you.

Monday 18th December, 2017

...

Snow had inconvenienced both teachers' cars and the school bus in Swamp City, and, as a result-much to the delight of the kids- school was cancelled, which meant they got a few extra days of holiday.

For new kid Zack Underwood, this was an unexpected treat. He and his parents had moved to Swamp City fairly recently, and he'd quickly assimilated into his new home- but even so, it was just so hard to believe that his first Christmas in a new home was here already.

"So, has the snow been this bad in your memory, guys?" He asked his two companions, walking on either side of him, as they stepped over some nails, and sidestepped a runaway bicycle tyre on fire- courtesy of Murphy's Law.

"Nope- it hasn't been this bad since before we were born!" Melissa Chase, one of his best friends, replied, grinning wickedly. "This is great! We get an extended holiday!" She punched the air triumphantly.

Milo Murphy, their other best friend, adjusted his backpack filled with immeasurable items needed for various unlucky situations the trio would undoubtedly find themselves into.

"You know- my grandfather, my grandmother and my father ended up in a snowstorm once." He said thoughtfully. "They got stranded in the middle of nowhere by a snowstorm that was 34 7/8 inches- and my grandfather got ambushed by snow geese whilst trying to dig their car out- and he got hypothermia and chilblains in the process."

"You don't say," Zack deadpanned- though he was secretly intrigued by how his new friend's family could have such strange adventures. He had been on several with Milo and Melissa himself- in fact; he even managed to face his 'claustro-avoidance' after they were buried in a rock slide following an encounter of underground construction workers.

"So, my family doesn't do winter vacations," Milo finished. "Summer ones suit us better. But a Christmas at home with family, food and the Dr. Zone Christmas special- that suits my family just fine! Are you doing anything for Christmas, Zack?" He asked excitedly.

"I'll just be at home, celebrating Christmas with my parents like we usually do." Zack replied. "What about you, Melissa?"

At once, the red head's face soured. "My Aunt Lauren and some cousins will be coming over to spend Christmas with me and my dad." She said in disgust. "I get along alright with my cousins sometimes, but..." she trailed off, clearly unwilling to continue further.

"She doesn't like her aunt very much," Milo whispered to their friend as means of explanation.

"Well, I think we should plan something to do since we have no school." Zack suggested, changing the subject in an attempt to distract Melissa's mind from thoughts of her dreaded aunt. At once, the two brightened up at the idea.

"We could go ice skating," Milo suggested, as he skidded across an icy puddle on the pavement- right into a lamppost.

"Are you sure that's safe?" Zack asked uncertainly, as he and Melissa swarmed round their friend to help him- but he merely gave a goofy grin to show he was unharmed, making Zack sigh and Melissa chuckle.

"Well, it's worth a shot," Melissa said with a shrug. "And hey, what's the worst that could happen?"

"'Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong,'" Zack quoted defensively. But on realising that Melissa would annihilate his argument quickly and ruthlessly, he sighed. "Okay, fine-we'll do that." He relented.

"We really don't have to if"- Milo started uncertainly, but Melissa cut him off.

"Hey, don't worry about it. If the worst comes to the worst, we've got our brains and your backpack." She reminded him with a smile.

"Yeah..." Zack agreed reluctantly, adjusting his brown woollen scarf. He just missed Melissa secretly winking at Milo- and he didn't realise she stopped either.

Waving Milo ahead to join Zack, she crouched onto the ground and scooped up a handful of snow into her palm, compressing many drops of crystallised rain into a little white sphere. Aiming it carefully, she waited for the opportune moment- and fired.

Suddenly, Zack felt a cold missile hit his neck, and droplets of melted snow ran down the back of his neck, beneath his scarf. He barely registered what happened when he heard;

"I've got you, Underwood!"

The cold burning his neck, Zack immediately swung round to see Melissa- hip cocked, snowball in her right hand- and a huge smirk on her face. He felt his own lips curl into a challenging, mischievous smile.

"You're on, Melissa!" He shouted back, and he stooped to craft a snowball quickly, before she launched another attack.

Instead, he heard a loud 'oof!' and some giggling from the enemy. Risking a glance to his left, he saw that Milo had been felled by Melissa. The African – American teen was alarmed by this- how could the unluckiest kid he knew, who was prepared for any disaster heading his way, fail to avoid a snowball?

"C'mon, Milo, join me- and we'll win!" Zack shouted, throwing a snowball in Melissa's direction- but she merely dodged it like a gazelle and hurled another snowball at him. This time, Zach avoided it with a dive- and promptly started on another snowball- but not before cold white powder fell out of his black hair-from a cold tingling area on his forehead.

Milo, unable to resist the temptation, decided to join in the fun- and started to make a snowball.

"Be careful, Milo! We don't want a repeat of the polar bear incident!" Melissa shouted, and that concerned Zack- even more than Melissa's lethal aim. What could have possibly happened?

"Oh, Melissa and I were having a snowball fight a few years ago- and a female polar bear escaped from a lorry headed for the zoo." Milo explained casually, just as if he was explaining the working of a maths sum.

"Okay...what happened?" Zack asked nervously, wondering if he wanted to know what happened.

"We ended up running from her and then we climbed up a tree to escape!" Melissa continued excitedly. "She went in the river, and then the branch we were on broke and Milo"-

"-landed on her back." Milo cut in. "just as she was coming out of the river again. Did you know that a polar bear's coat actually consists of hollow, air filled tubes?"

Zack shook his head in bafflement, and Milo grinned. "So, to end the story, I did end up with a couple of scratches- and as an epilogue, when the zoo staff caught the polar bear, they took her back to be checked over, and then they found she was pregnant!"

"Yep- they named the polar bear cub after him," Said Melissa, smiling broadly as she jerked a thumb towards her old friend. "They send him and his family a card every Christmas with little Milo and his mom, Chrissie."

"Yep- I've got this year's card with me!" Milo said, and he fished it out from his pocket before showing it to his two friends. On it was a picture of two polar bears- one large female polar bear was lying on the ground, and her cub was cuddled up to her. It read in beautiful red and green letters trimmed in gold across the top 'Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to the Murphy family!'

"Aww, that's so cute!" Melissa said excitedly, gazing at the polar bears looking so content and calm. Zack chuckled.

Milo Danger Murphy was definitely one of the coolest people he knew. How many people could have encounters with polar bears and walk away unaffected, with only a few scars and a polar bear cub named after them?

He shivered as the already cold air somehow grew even colder, and he pulled his coat closer to his body to try and keep warmer- it was then that he realised to his shock that it was now starting to get dark. If they headed home now, they would make it well before nightfall.

"Come on, you guys- we'll warm up at mine with some hot chocolate." He decided. Grateful, his friends gathered up their belongings and the trio left the park, feeling both freezing cold and warm and cosy at the same time.