(Requested by I forgot. Probably Snowyflight or me.)

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While Dawson would've liked to spend all Christmas break playing Shelter and Shelter 2 while wearing comfy cotton new fresh pjs and her new lynx toque while desperatly wanting to taste hot cocoa, on one particular evening, her brothers insisted that, "Snowy," come over.

She had no idea on earth why, probably because every time Cindy came over, her brothers tried to nudge them together or get them to be alone together, which, by the way, gross.

Dawson was apperently old enough to be in relationships and all that other crap, but decided against it because, well, sure, she was bi, but more straight and awkward around everyone.

(Disclaimer: Dawson's bi, but I myself am straight. Okay? Okay ^_^)

But, nontheless, the idea of having a sleepover with Cindy sounded fun, so in the next half an hour of eating dinner while the sky changed to a gentle lumiescent blue-violet, Cindy came over.

She came with a dark Christmas-colored sleeping bag and a smaller bright teal backpack for herself. She adjusted her circular black glasses at Dawson's little beach cabin house.

...although..in all absolute fairness, the beach was now covered in a huge thick blanket of snow, with a gentle light blue-violet sky and a big sparkling lit-up Christmas tree, surrounded by trees and presents for the people who lived near the beaches.

Cindy knew the youtubers were out of town for the next couple of days, but she was a little disapointed that she wouldn't get to see them.

Knocking on the door, one of Dawson's three (or was it four?) brothers opened the door. He had caramel terra cotta messy straight hair that was short, with a couple of sandy blonde streaks in, wearing nothing but kakhis and a teal tank-top.

(Oh, this one was Bellus, the one who Dawson described as a, 'mom who bakes for us, loves summer, rain, sea temples, and is very very effeminate...and probably gay.' which had made Cindy laugh.)

He quickly ushered her inside the house, and had to blink.

The light birch cabin was filled to the brim with Christmas decorations. A tree with multiple bright and pastel red and blue and yellow wrappings underneath, with eggshell pastel blue snowmen. Lights were strung around both the outside and the insides of the house, a light pastel red and blue, wrapping around both the windows and the railing. Hot cocoa was sat on a table in little teal snowmen mugs, and Christmas music played from a radio.

Though, surprisingly, it wasn't too over the top. The birch house was actually big enough that it wasn't all clamed together, but equally spread out.

Heh..cool.

In the living room were comfy blankets, and the TV was turned onto a movie, not a Christmas one, but Cindy couldn't identify which one it was.

Cindy followed Dawson's older brother (Bellus, she remembered his name was,) up the stairs and into a room, possibly Teddy or Ollie's. (the youngest brother and sibling of the Fishers,)

Lights and toys were strung around, as well as a plate of cookies and a telescope. Dawson stood with her back to Cindy, taking turns looking out with Ollie, who the others called Teddy.

The oldest brother (so there were onyl three other Fishers! Huh, the more you know,) Finn, she remembered, was sitting on the floor boredly. Cindy saw Bellus and Finn exchange an excited glance, and she groaned inwardly.

Weirdos.

Bellus nudged Dawson, who spun around a immediatly beamed, briskly hugging Cindy, then saying, "Hey, look, I'm just showing Teddy the constilations. Just found Orion's belt and I think we even found Gemini! But it might be Pieces, I'm indifferent..."

Cindy looked up at the wide blue-violet sky, which was swirling beautifully. Stars sparkled along the sky, each with their own place.

Heh, kinda reminded her of mapmaking, adventuring in sea temples or along long landscapes of lush vibrant teal-ocean green or light pale green forests, with nothing but their points on the map to guide them.

"That's not th-the reasons you said we were looking!" The 6 year old announced, giggling and laughing. "We were looking for Santa!"

"Oh yeah," Dawson replied genuinly, ruffling her little brother's hair.

Cindy gave the other brothers a blinking you-haven't-told-her-Santa-dosen't-exist-yet?? look, but before she could say, "She still believes in-"

the other brothers gave her an if-you-tell-either-of-them-we're-killing-you death glare, and then Bellus coughed and said, "Hey Dawson, you wanna bring the telescope downstairs?" and Dawson bounded up to him and exclaimed, "Good idea!"

As she loaded the telescope into her arms, Teddy squealed with excitement and almost slipped down the stairs. They all went down the stairs until about halfway, Bellus pulled Cindy aside.

"She only half-believes in him. If she dosen't grow out of it soon, we'll tell her, but for now, just please let them enjoy it. It is Christmas, after all," The effeminate tall boy acclaimed gently, then almost seeming to skipping down the small birch steps.

Cindy sighed and followed him, feeling her fingers along the Christmas lights twined around the stairs.

Dawson by now had already set up the telescope, along with a red and green blanket on the carpet, some bobbing warm swirling caramel foamy hot cocoa, small marshmallows in it, the telescope centered around a window, showing the dark blue night sky.

On the TV, a mermaid movie was playing.

Well that wasn't really appropriate.

"We were baking cookies and pouring milk for Santa!" Teddy exclaimed excitedly to Cindy, his eyes shining with pure child-like enthusiasm and innocence, his one front tooth missing and his sandy blonde hair messy.

Cindy smiled warmly and ruffled his hair. Teddy giggled.

Eventually, after much star-gazing and watching movies, Bellus and Dawson had assembled a fort. Which, didn't look too bad to Dawson's eyes. It was a minty green blanket, with an iPad underneath, some snacks curtesy of Teddy, a couple entrances and even a non-secret secret space to get onto the couch, with a couple of Christmas lights strung around.

"Wow..you guys have a lot of lights," Cindy mumbled.

"Eh, what can I say, whenever had them before, so our parents kinda just splurged this year," Dawson admitted, ducking into the tent.

Cindy squeezed herself into the tent and ooed, being quite a bit bigger on the inside, surprisingly. "I know, right?" Dawson beamed.

After a couple seconds of silence and Dawson saw the usual oh-look-Cindy-and-Dawson-are-in-the-same-proximity-they-must-be-in-love look that made Dawson groan inwardly. Sure, Cindy was an awesome friend, but really?

Jeez. Brothers.

"Hey," Finn eventually suggested. "How about we go skating?"

"Skating?" Cindy asked in alarm, checking her watch. "It's pretty late. Would the skating rink even let us inside?"

Bellus shook his head.

"No, we have one outside. A little slippery but icy wonderland in our own backyard," He explained, and the tan-skinned girl adjusted her glasses in wonder, her eyes wide.

"Oh, really? That sounds cool.."

"Well, let's go then!" Dawson exclaimed, pulling Cindy by the arm to their backyard.

The backyard was simple. A pool that was usually a crisp bright aquamarine, now filled to the brim with snow, overflowing in a soft frothy blanket. A couple of snow-hills,, a couple of toys scattered about, and a bigger ice lake and a red bucket. A couple of red and blue Christmas lights lined the backyard. A radio sat on a broken white lawn chair.

Bellus tossed the bucket onto the snow after filling it up with water from the hose outside. Instantly, the ice glimmered in an almost violet haze, misty and clean and clear. Cindy gave a low whistle.

"Common, let's skate!"

"On our shoes??"

"Yep!"

Dawson led the taller girl onto the ice, and she almost stumbled and saw that Cindy had almost stumbled, too. The girl laughed and sprinted over to her, which resulted in her falling. She caught herself with her hands, mere inches from the ice. She saw in her own reflection alarm and relief flooded into her own light blue-grey eyes, as well as coral beginning to spread on her nose and ears.

She got back up.

"Wow." Cindy mumbled.

"Uh-" But Cindy had already twirled a full circle, then looked back and stated, "You suck!" while smiling. Dawson mockingly gasped and playfully shoved Cindy.

"You know, I think I have some skating facts."

"You have skating facts about everything, Cindy." The Christmas lights gave a beautifully soft and luminous glow, making her feel like she was truly ready for Christmas. The two managed to begin to glide their feet so smoothly that they were moving in a circle.

"Skating was first invented in the 1950s when skaters began experimenting jumps and tricks on the ice. When skating was new the music was limited to instrumental so the vocals wouldn't take away from the performance. By the mid-1800s, skating had become- what?"

Dawson was giving the tan girl a blank stare. Cindy laughed.

"Sorry."

And the two continued to skate, (in their boots,) and the smaller girl let herself enjoy the christmas lights gently stirring the snow around the tiny periwinkle lake, placid and clear, and the two spun in circles, smiling and saying nothing at all as snow continued to fall...

COUNTDOWN: 8 DAYS