"Chris, no! Don't you dare! CHRIS!" Louisa's shrieks were in vain as her brother dumped her into a snowbank. "Oh you brat! I'm gonna get you for that!"

"Yeah? Bring it on!" Chris yelled back as he stopped to gather up some snow. He was attacked from behind by his cousin, Jonathan and Louisa's boyfriend, Nathan. They tackled him to the ground and held him down while Sam and Michael pelted him with snow balls. "Tone! Steph! Help!"

"Dream on little brother." Anthony laughed as he sat down next to Stephanie on the porch and handed her a hot chocolate. She laughed as Chris managed to get free and ran off swearing. She shook her head. "I just wish I had a camera. I'd give copies of this to all the girls."

"ANTHONY!" Michael yelled suddenly. "I Wanna go sledding!"

"What do you want me to do about it?" Anthony yelled back. Louisa replied for Michael. "Go and see if the sleds are in the shed!"

"Do it yourself!"

"I can't! I'm trying to attack Nathan!"

"Oh for Gods sake!" shouted Chris. "I'll get the freakin sleds. But only if Steph and I get to ride Big Bertha"

"Big Bertha?" questioned Stephanie. Louisa grinned. "You'll see."

Big Bertha turned out to be a sled, modified by the Jericho boys to got faster. Stephanie looked at it suspiciously. "I'm not getting on that thing."

Chris stood next to Stephanie and put a comforting arm around her shoulders. "It's easy to steer, the brakes are second to none and she's never had an accident."

"Not a serious one anyway." snickered Michael. Anthony smirked. "Define serious? I remember that you thought a broken leg was serious enough at the time."

"Broken leg?" Stephanie took five large steps back. "No way am I getting on that thing."

"Steph," Chris stood facing her and put his hands on her shoulders. "Do you trust me?" he asked quietly, low enough so the others couldn't hear them.

"Of course I do!" Stephanie replied firmly and without hesitation. Chris smiled. "And do you believe me when I say that I would do everything within my power to prevent you from getting hurt in any way whatsoever?"

"Yes." Her voice was a little quieter now as she looked at the snow covered ground. Chris leaned forwards so their foreheads were touching. "So if I told you that Big Bertha was safe? And that I promise I will only push her as fast as you feel comfortable with? And that no matter how much Tony and Michael try to talk me into it, I won't do anything stupid?"

"I don't know Chris..." Steph replied hesitantly. "This hill is bloody high."

"Steph, I haven't done this run in 2 years. I couldn't do it last year because last year I had my wrist in plaster. I'm looking forward to another run on Bertha, but want I'm looking forwards to most is taking you for a run on Bertha." Chris's voice was gentle as he brought her face up so he was looking into her eyes. Stephanie sighed and smiled. "I guess it's a lot safer than running away huh? I'll do it. But on one condition."

"That's my girl." Chris smiled at her and took his gloved hand in her bare one. "And what?"

Stephanie smiled wickedly. "That I get to drive."

Louisa watched with a smile. "If those two don't get together by the new year, I'm gonna do something drastic."

"Keep out of it babe." warned Nathan. "If they get pushed, they'll just shy away from each other. Let it happen in its own time."

"Let what happen in it's own time?" asked Stephanie as she and Chris rejoined the others. Louisa blushed. "Nothing."

"Shut up Louisa." Chris glared at his sister as he settled into the back of Big Bertha. Stephanie looked at him. "Do I just sit on your lap or what?"

"You can sit on my lap or between my legs. Either way, I'm gonna have to put my arms around your waist, so I can reach the breaks if I have to." Chris told her. Steph nodded and climbed in, choosing to sit between Chris's legs. He swallowed hard at feeling of Stephanie's thigh pressing against his and wrapped his arms around her waist, sending a shiver through both of them.

"Are you ready?" Chris whispered huskily in Stephanie's ear. She nodded. "Let's rip."

"I hope they can both concentrate on Bertha." muttered Louisa, causing Michael to crack up laughing. The pair in question ignored the laughter and adjusted to the enforced closeness. Jonathan gave them a push start and they were racing down the hill.

Stephanie gasped in surprise as trees whipped past them at breakneck speed, instinctively leaning back into Chris, who tightened his grip around her waist. The ground levelled out and Bertha continued to move quickly.

"Turn her around, less distance to carry her back." Chris said loudly in Stephanie's ear. She nodded to indicate she had heard. Seconds later, they were joined at the bottom of the hill by Sam and Anthony. "That was a sweet run guys!"

"Thanks." Chris replied as Stephanie lifted herself out of the sled, her facing glowing. "That was great!"

They went down on Bertha five more times, racing Michael and Jonathan, then Sam and Nathan, on the two other sleds while Louisa and Anthony cheered them on. In Bertha, Steph and Chris won every time. Stephanie was about to tell Chris that she was ready for a break from sledding, when Anthony looked at the sky. "I think we'd better get home. Looks like a storms brewing and you know what Mom's like when it comes to snow storms."

"Don't I ever." muttered Michael, shouldering one of the sleds. Anthony took the other one, while Sam and Jonathan took dual responsibility of Big Bertha. Louisa and Nathan walked separately from the others, takling quietly. Chris and Stephanie walked close together, not talking. Chris took his gloves off and stuffed them in his pocket, before taking Stephanie's cold hand in his warm one. "Wow. Your hands are so cold."

"That's because *someone* forgot to remind me to pack gloves." She teased lightly, looking up at him. His hair looked golden against the white backdrip of snow and impulsively, she reached up and brushed some snow off his shoulder. Chris stopped walking and looked down at her, slightly confused. "What was that for?"

Stephanie opened her mouth to reply, but was saved from answering by an ominous rumble of thunder. Chris swore and gripped Stephanie's hand tightly as the wind picked up. "We'd better hustle."

The eight of them made it back to the house just in time. Janelle was standing at the door waiting for them. "Where the hell have you lot been?" -looking at Sam and Jonathan- "Your mothers have been worrying themselves sick over where you could be, they both said you were to stay here, Amelia and Jacob will be staying with Alicia until the storm blows over and as for you!" She turned on Chris who cringed a little and stepped closer to Stephanie, squeezing her hand. Janelle looked at Chris, then at the amazed look on Stephanie's face. "I'll deal with you later."

She turned and stalked off, leaving Chris red faced. Anthony smiled at him sarcastically. "Seems like Mama's baby boy is in a spot of trouble."

"Shut up and leave him alone Anthony. You're all in trouble. You should've known better." Janelle came bustling back into the room with towels. "Stephanie, you look freezing, better have a hot shower before the pipes freeze over or this mob uses the all the hot water. Come on kiddo, we haven't got all night. I want you lot showered, in dry clothes and back down here - and that includes you two lovebirds too, my girl - before the blizzard hits."

"Blizzard?" Stephanie repeated stupidly. Chris looked at his mother worriedly. "Steph's got no blizzard experience. Well not like this anyway."

"Ok then, Steph, you'd better move it. Chris, she's your responsiblity, got it?"

"Got it mom." Chris nodded, grabbing Stephanie hand. "Come on Steph."

They raced up the stairs. Stephanie grabbed a change of clothes, while Chris got her a towel. Stephanie paused before going into the bathroom. "Chris?"

"Yeah?"

"Nothing's gonna go wrong is it?" She looked so scared, that Chris forced himself to smile. "Of course not. Have a shower and get changed, I'll be waiting here for you got it?"

"Got it." Stephanie smiled back and closed the door. Chris could hear the running water and sat on the floor opposite the door. Janelle stopped on her way past with an armful of candles. "Stephanie is in the shower?"

"No, I'm sitting here for spiritual value." Chris replied sarcastically. He sighed. "Mom, she's shit scared. I don't know what to do."

"Son, trust me on this. A woman will always feel safest in the arms of the man she loves."

~~~~

"Chris, Stephanie." Louisa poked her head around the door. "There's a phone call for you."

"Who is it?" asked Stephanie, wondering who the hell would be calling her. Chris rolled his eyes. "I can guess. C'mon Princess, we have a phone call. And 20 bucks says that Lydia is drunk."

"That's a bet." Stephanie laughed for the first time in the 90 minutes since she'd heard the word 'blizzard' Edge, Integra, Christian and Lydia. She rolled her eyes as she picked up the phone. "Hello?"

"Steph? How are ya gorgeous?" A cheerful female voice replied. Stephanie grinned. "Hey Lydia. You lot having a party back there?"

"Not technically. The boys mother has gone out of town to visit someone, so the booze made an appearance." Lydia explained. "Integra's toasted. Somewhere she's managed to get her hands on a mistletoe headband, and she's spent most of the night pinning Edge against the wall and leaving the rest of us wondering if their gonna come up for air."

"You sound fairly sober." Stephanie grinned at Chris, who raised an eyebrow at her. Lydia laughed. "Well someone has to keep an eye on the rabbits over here, plus there's a couple of others coming over and I'm going shot for shot with one of the guys. Or so Christain tells me."

Stephanie mouthed "You owe me twenty dollars." to Chris who had stepped in close to hear what was being said. Stephanie instinctively leaned in against him, remembering with a smile the closeness of their bodies when they'd been sledding earlier that night. Chris noticed the smile and asked "What's so funny?"

She shook her head as Lydia said goodbye, and said that Christain wanted to talk to Chris. Passing the phone to Chris, she remained where she was, partly so she could hear the conversation, but mainly because she was unwilling to leave behind the warmth of Chris's body against hers and the feeling of safety that being close to him gave her.

The guys talked for a while, mainly planning the New Years Eve Party that was being hosted by the brothers. Just as the guys were wrapping it up because Integra wanted to talk to Chris and Stephanie, there was a loud crash. "Edge? EDGE!"

"What's happened?" Stephanie asked, the fear rising up in her again. Chris slammed the phone back onto the hook and yelled "MOM! The phone's out!"

"Wonderful." muttered Janelle, coming into the room. "I suppose the next thing to go will be-" The room went black. "The power."

"Nice one Mom." Chris pulled Stephanie close. "It's ok Princess. Just stay with me and you'll be ok."

Slowly they moved into the lounge room where the rest of the family were. Louisa and Nathan were curled up together in an armchair, Sam and Jonathan made room for Janelle on the couch and Michael and Anthony were telling bad jokes in front of the fire. Chris surveyed the situation by the light of the fire for a minute. "Um, where's Dad?"

"Oh so *now* you notice his absence." Janelle rolled her eyes. "He drove your aunts back to Alicia's place. He said he would stay there until the storm blew over. Take a seat and get comfy kids, cause we're in for a long night. And no fornicating in front of the family thank you Louisa."

Louisa and Nathan had been taking advantage of their dark corner in order to make out a little. Steph grinned at their daring and wondered what would happen if she suggested the same thing to Chris. ~Whoa, where did that come from?~ Chris, who still had an arm around Stephanie's waist, guided her over to the only remaining armchair, sitting into it and pulling Stephanie onto his lap, whispering "Are you ok?"

"Not really." she whispered back, wrapping her arms around herself. Chris stroked her hair and put his arms around her waist. "Remember what I said earlier tonight? I won't let anything hurt you. You'll be ok."

"What are you two whispering about?" said Anthony loudly, smirking at Michael. Chris glared at him across the room. "If we wanted everyone to hear it, we wouldn't have been whispering."

"oooOOOooo." teased Michael. Janelle looked at him sternly. "Leave them alone."

"Thank you Janelle." Stephanie replied gratefully. Janelle smiled in the general direction of her son and his guest. "No problem sweetie. Would you kids like a blanket?"

"That would be great thanks mom." Chris smiled gratefully at his mother, as Janelle draped a blanket over the pair. Louisa made an exclaimation iof annoyance. "Why don't we get offered a blanket?"

"Because I want you two to keep all four hands where I can see them."

"You comfortable?" Chris asked softly. Stephanie smiled and nodded before resting her head against Chris's shoulder and placing her hands over his. Chris smiled and twined his fingers around Stephanie's. She blushed furiously, glad for the darkness. "I'm good."

"Good stuff. Like Mom said earlier it's gonna be a long night." Chris warned Stephanie as another gust of wind shook the house. Stephanie flinched and buried her head in Chris's neck. For some reason she had always hated snow storms, not that she'd ever had much experience of them. She assumed it had something to do with some childhood close encounter that either she or Shane had once had.

With a sigh, she closed her eyes, exhaling softly and squeezing Chris's fingers. She felt so safe, so content snuggled up to Chris. With a grin, she remembered her thoughts the first time she'd met him. <I> I wonder what it would be like to spend a night with those arms wrapped tightly around me? </I> Well a few months later she was getting the chance to find out and so far, it was feeling damned good. Stephanie thought about it and couldn't ever remember feeling so... right with Joey.

Stephanie listened to the steady pulse of Chris's heartbeat. She had to admit it, if only to herself, that she cared for him a lot more than had thought she ever would. She'd found him physically attractive from the beginning - what woman wouldn't? But since then, she'd cared about him more and more and now.. what exactly? Stephanie mentally shook her head. Admitting it to herself would not make any difference to her feelings and would probably make her feel a lot better. ~Admit it Stephanie... you're in love.~

Chris bit back a sigh of contentment as Stephanie's breathing deepened and he realized she'd fallen asleep. This was something he'd day dreamed about before, but this was special and different. For starters it was reality, secondly, Stephanie had been shaking with fear when the lights went out, now she had relaxed enough to fall asleep. He grinned widely - feeling Steph curled up against him, trusting that he would keep her safe, despite her out right terror of the blizzard. His insides contracted as she snuggled closer. At least he could admit it, if only while everyone within earshot was asleep.

"I love you Stephanie."