Winter Date Collab

	You blow against your hands in the feeble hope of returning some heat to them. Looking around at the passers-by bundled in their coats you could hardly tell Fall had just ended. A gentle breeze blew chilling your freshly shaven face; the thought only now crossing your mind that maybe you should have picked somewhere warmer to meet for your date as you tuck pull yourself further into your coat like scared turtle. As you warm your cheeks in your shell you notice the lovely woman you had been waiting for out of the corner of your eye. Even bundled in her coat and scarf her radiant beauty seemed to warm not only your heart but the world around you. You watched her protect her face as the cold wind blew, her hair blown to the side like something out of a painting. As the wind calmed down she waved to you and started running over. She was full of spirit as she jumped into your arms, an unusual greeting for her. As she let you go she grabbed your chilled hands in hers. The first thing you felt as she touched you was a great sense of warmth spread, not just from your hands, but throughout your body. The second thing you noticed was the velvet like softness of her hands against yours. She pulled your hands together between hers and rubbed them while apologizing for being late. Not wanting to miss this chance you grab her hand in yours and the two of you walk hand in hand through the park.

	The two of you walk hand in hand, huddled so close that with every step your sides come within inches of touching. You notice several other couples around you, happily chatting about the chilling weather and the coming of the winter season. But these affairs only hold your attention for the briefest moment before your eyes are drawn inexorably back to her. With every breath she takes you see a small cloud of mist form in front of her rosy cheeks, their crimson colour standing in stark contrast to her fair features. You see a look of absolute contentment in the depths of her beautiful eyes and you can't help but smile. You become almost intoxicated by the beautiful creature beside you, although that might perhaps be the oh so gentle whiff of her aromatic perfume wafting lazily in the wind. Your eyes are finally drawn to the point where your bodies meet: her hand grasped firmly in yours. You can't help but feel like in your hand you're holding the greatest treasure that this earth can provide, and that you in no way deserve to be this blessed. A sudden gust gives you pause and cuts straight through your jacket, sending shivers down your spine. Before you can even recover, you feel something warm on both sides of your face. You open your eyes to see your vision filled with her smiling face, her soft hands placed on both of your cheeks, sending untold warmth throughout your features and down to your heart.

	As the heat spreads throughout your body you feel her hands shake. You look down only to notice that her shivering all over. She reaches down, unties her scarf, and wraps it around the two of you. Even though she is standing there shivering she tries to share what little warmth she has with you. You pull your hands up to your chest and unzip your coat. She looks at you completely confused as you wrap your coat around her body. Her face already red from the cold turns ever brighter as the gallery of couples standing around stop talking to watch the two of you. You can feel a blush spreading across your own face. You turn your face away from her unable to maintain your gaze. You feel as though meeting her eyes in this moment would make your heart stop. As you stand there feeling like a fool you feel a pair of arms wrap around your back. Her body comes closer as she squeezes you. The two of you sharing not only the warmth of your bodies, but the warmth of your hearts. Her chest presses against you. You can feel her heart racing, each beat in pace with your own. She lays her head against you and you suddenly feel all the embarrassment fade away. With your arms wrapped around her all you can think to say is, "Why don't we find somewhere warm to spend the rest of this date?" She looks up at you and sheepishly nods.

	You're not walking for very long before you spot a squat cafe on the edge of the park. A small hand-scrawled sign displays the shop name and you can see light from two round windows on either side of the door. It doesn't exactly appear to be the most high-class of places, but it most certainly looks cozy. The words are barely out of your mouth before she gives her enthusiastic appraisal and the two of you move quickly into the small cafe. Inside it's rather small, but nowhere near busy, perhaps due to the colder weather. You're seated near one of the windows and you order something to warm the two of you while you relax. You can just now get a proper look at the place; the walls are aged plaster, but still in excellent condition. There is a lovely fire burning on the far side of the room, filling the entire place with a warm light. The light from the fire lands upon her face and gives her an even softer appearance than before, if that was even thought possible. You find yourself staring, and are only able to break your gaze when you notice her staring back at you. You quickly look away, a blush creeping across your face as you hear a soft giggle. You aren't waiting long before a well-dressed man brings you both your drinks, and you slowly sip at it sheepishly to help offset your nervousness. You feel something brush against your leg, and you can tell immediately what the cause was thanks to the playful look in her eyes. Before you allow yourself to once again fall into her spell, you ask her if there's anywhere else in particular that she would like to go.

	At the question that "something" brushes up against your leg again this time much slower, you can only assume that is her way of telling you to decide. You grab your drink and her hand, and pull her towards the fireplace. The two of you sit close together in front of it sipping at your drinks. Soft music plays in the background setting a romantic mood for the two of you. At a quick glance you notice the cafe is empty except for the staff. Not a single patron other than the hapless pair who found themselves out in this frigid cold on a date. She lays her head against your shoulder and begins to hum in tune with the music. Her heavenly voice playing a soothing lullaby as hypnotic as the flame you had been staring into. You wrapped your arm around her and pulled her close. Beyond the fireplace there is a small window. You watch out as the first signs of winter begin to land against it. A few flakes of snow press on the foggy pane. Her hand touches yours and she wraps your arm around herself. You reach your other hand up to her chin, gently raise her head, and kiss her lips. Her eyes stay closed as the kiss ends and her head falls against you. She nuzzled her head against you and you catch the faintest glimpse of a smile peek out behind the shadow shrouding your love's face as the flickering light of the fire illuminates her figure.