Work Text:
Winter 20, Year 1
They were walking back from the saloon. He had insisted on taking her all the way to the door of her cabin, as it was getting late, and the night was dark and cold.
They entered the farm through a clearing of trees, and the small, shabby cabin came into view. As it appeared in his sight Shane couldn’t help but note the condition it was in. The door was practically falling off the hinges, gaps were forming between the wooden planks, and tiles from the room were falling, exposing the rotting framework within.
“Are you sure you’ll be warm enough in there?” Shane asked, voicing his concerns.
“I’ll be fine.” She bluntly responded. “I’ll light a small fire in the fireplace before I go to bed.”
Shane sighed to himself as she opened the door. Her stubborn attitude was infuriating at times. He silently shook his head, and followed into the cabin after her.
The inside was no better than the outside. A strong draught blew through the place, and it was no warmer than it was outside in the harsh winter air. “You can go home if you want.” She said, looking back at him. “It’s getting late and I wouldn’t want to keep you up as I know you have to wake up early for work.”
“It’s fine, I'm good at running on little sleep.” He looked around once more before continuing, “Are you sure you’ll be okay in here? It’s freezing.”
“I’ll survive.”
“It feels even worse than outside!”
“It’s really not that bad.”
He shook his head and looked at her. “I just don't want to leave you here in the cold like this.”
“Well it’s not like there’s anywhere else for me to go. Don’t worry about me.”
“You can come back to mine.”
“I wouldn’t want to bother Marnie and Jas…”
“Well then I’m staying here.”
“And how’s that going or help?”
He just shrugged and sat down on the small sofa she had against the wall. She sat down beside him. “You really should get some stuff done to this place. Robin does repairs like this, I could probably help with the finances.”
“Shane, don't bother, it's fine.”
“No, if we get her to fix the outside walls and then the roofing, maybe a better frame round the door…
She shook her head at him, before waking over to the corner where the small double bed was. “I’m going to sleep, I have to be up early at 6:00 tomorrow.” She looks at him before saying, “You can take the sofa, or head back home”
It was at that moment that she noticed the gust of strong wind and downpour of rain that had started outside. It was sudden, but certain, as the rain smacked against the windows and entered through crevices in the walls.
“Well, going home isn't an option,” he muttered. “I guess the sofa it is.”
She began to enter her bed as he called out “Any chance you have a spare blanket?”
“Nope.”
“A pillow?”
“No.”
They were silent for a few moments.
“You could sleep in my bed.”
“What?!”
“It’s a double bed! Just sleep on the other side to me.”
“I’ll take the sofa.”
“Fine but it’s freezing in here and you have no blanket.”
“So you finally admit it’s cold.”
“Shut up.”
A few more moments passed without a word.
“I’ll sleep in the same bed as you if we establish a barrier.”
“Deal.”
A system was established. They had a half each of the bed. If someone broke the barrier they were allowed to kick them back into place.
12:00 hit.
Shane awoke to her hand in his face. He promptly shoved it back into her side.
12:30.
Shane’s foot was touching her leg, she kicked him.
1:00
Her leg was rested against his, they both noticed but were too tired to care.
1:45
She was inching closer towards her. She didn’t know whether to move or to kick him or something, but he was quite warm, and the cabin was just getting colder.
2:30
Shane woke up due to a noise outside. His body was now fully pressed against hers. She was warm, and he didn’t want to move just in case he woke her up. He wondered whether he should move his arm around her, I mean they were already close so surely it would be appropriate? Right?
2:40
After 10 minutes of debating, he puts his arm around her. She shuffled slightly to readjust herself, before resting against him.
6:00
Bright and early, she wakes to her alarm. Arms wrapped around each other, they rested warm and comfortable. She didn’t want to move. Her heart fluttered. He was so close to her, she never wanted to move.
Shane woke up a few minutes later. He didn’t know what to say, but when they made eye contact they just smiled at each other.
“At least we weren’t cold.” She said.
He chuckled. “I guess we better not move them.
“That sounds like a plan.”