Doe's POV:

I lifted one leg straight out into the light, soft falling snow, keeping my other one down against the outside wall.

And leaning back against the hands that were placed down behind me as a safety precaution, watching the small flakes stick to the fabric of my pants and socks.

The light from the inside illuminated the snow against the darkened night sky.

Usually, on nights like this, you could see the stars, but the snow will have to do for now.

I took in a deep breath, welcoming the sensation of the cold air in my lungs.

Now that I actually had a place to warm up once needed it...

I rolled my eyes at my own stupidity from a few days back, switching my legs positions.

I'm just glad that experience didn't completely shatter my overall liking of the cold.

"Remind me again why you enjoy this?" Xander spoke from behind me.

I turned my head to face him.

He was laying on the couch facing the window, one hand holding a book open from the top, while he propped his head up with the other one.

"It's relaxing," was all I answered.

Mostly because that was the only answer that I had.

It went deeper than just that, but I didn't know how to entirely explain it.

It just appealed to me in a way.

"It's like fourteen degrees out there," he spoke as if trying to disagree with me.

I just blinked at him with raised brows and a blank expression on my lips.

"Okay? And it's like seventy degrees in here. Don't tell me you're getting cold all the way over there."

"A little, but that's not the point. I'm just curious is all," he shrugged, shutting the book and setting it down on his chest, "Though watching you sit like that stresses me out."

I almost retorted with the fact that I wasn't a five-year-old in need of constant supervision, but came up with something more devious instead.

"What? Like this?" I questioned innocently sliding the hands that were supporting me back, and following through with my back until I was laying down completely, head hanging off of it to look at him from my now upside-down position.

I even idly kicked the legs that were outside and crossed my arms behind my dangling head for added effect.

Half in and half out.

Well, I'm fairly sure my legs were longer than the rest of me, so maybe not.

"Yes like that!" He spoke, scrambling into an attentive sitting position.

The book ended up somewhere on the side of the couch.

I snickered at his dramatic reaction.

"I already told you that I was serious about giving me a heart attack," he lectured.

"Vampire's don't get heart attacks," I responded with an obnoxious cheeky smile.

One that I had learned from him.

He huffed, disgruntled by my factual reply.

"Probably because none of them-" He paused and turned, the sound of the ringing phone turning his attention.

He didn't pay it any more mind than just that single glance, turning back to me and continuing his sentence.

"-have had a reason to worry."

My lips pursed as I stared in the direction of the ringing, not being able to spot the phone itself from my current position.

Xander stood, luring my gaze back to him.

I assumed he was going to answer the phone, but he began walking towards me instead.

"Arent you gonna get that?" I urged.

He didn't answer right away, instead approached till he was about a foot away, my position making it so that I was basically just staring at his knees.

"I wanna get this first," he responded, "I never get calls so it's probably a miss-dial"

That's... very true.

He reached his hand down towards me.

"It could be Nico," I added as more of a chaff than anything.

"Nico is the type who would much rather come and yell at me in person," he explained, bending his fingers in a gesture for me to grab his hand.

After a few moments of consideration, I did.

I took his hand with both of mine, my fingers intertwining with themselves on top of his palm.

It was odd. Since I had been sitting in the cold for a bit now, his skin felt warmer than mine.

His fingers closed over top of mine before he took a step back and pulled me up.

An embarrassing little squeak left me in my surprise at his action.

I was expecting him just to pull me up into a sitting position, but no.

He heedfully pulled me up and back, dragging my legs back inside and holding me high enough to where my feet dangled a few inches over the floor for a short second.

This dude was just hoisting me around with one arm like it was nothing.

Stupid vampires with their dumb strength.

Then, he lowered me down enough to where I was on my tippy-toes, allowing me to lower myself the rest of the way.

The phone stopped ringing.

"There. Much better."

I rolled my eyes at him this time.

"You're insufferable," I huffed

"All I'm asking is that you don't make me worry about your life past 8 pm," He whined like a child, reaching over to close the window, "Any time before then and you can do what you want,"

"So specific," I commented with a drawl.

The click of the window lock sounded before he closed the blinds.

At least he remembered this time.

"Y'know, doves typically wind down when the sun sets," He began, starting towards his bed.

"And leaches don't talk so much." I groaned.

His laugh was silent, but I could still see it in the way his back moved.

I guess I was absent-mindedly following him.

"Touche."

Oh no, I wasn't done yet.

"And deer are often active until well into the night," I began.

If he wanted to use that logic, then I can play along.

"And only really sleep for around four hours, so if anything, I'm just living up to my name." I let guile coat my voice.

He turned once he reached his bed, the look on his face showing that he was more than willing if not excited to play along.

"And I'm simply living up to mine," he replied, leaning the back of his thighs against the bed.

I quirked up a brow, doubtably.

"Oh really?" My voice mirrored my expression.

"Mhm," he hummed with a nod, "Alexander means 'defender'. So I'm just doing my job."

Alexander...

Sometimes I forget that Xander is just a nickname.

"So you're defending me... from a window?"

"Aswell as defending our room's heat by not letting it escape after a certain time so we can sleep comfortably."

I thought that over for a moment.

Okay, so maybe he had a point.

I'm not gonna say that out loud though.

His mouth opened to start spewing some other nonsense, but his entire disposition shattered within a split second.

I draw back at the sight, my first thought being that the feral part of him was acting up again.

His stance promptly straightened, head whipping towards the door with wide eyed fear.

I didn't have to wait much longer to realize what was going on.

Not when the sound of the lock turning shredded through the silence.

My breath stopped dead in my throat as I just watched the handle turn and the door creak open.

"Alex?"

My blood ran cold, my body acting on its own as every single prior emotion fled from me, bringing up the one I knew the best.

One hand shot up to cover my mouth.

The other to cover my throat.

No... No no no no!

Why was she here?! Why did she still have access to this room?!

My heart pumped hard in fast in my ears as she stepped in, blonde hair coming into view.

"I tried calling, but you didn't pick up so I-" Her words stopped, golden eyes locked onto mine.

No... This had to be a nightmare right?! Right?!

Her eyes narrowed before they slowly drifted over to Xander.

I wanted to follow her gaze but I couldn't.

I was frozen

I was trapped.

My body jolted against my will as she threw the door closed, a deep growl radiating in her throat as she spoke low and angry.

"What the fuck is this?"