Winter Dance

"Hello, my darling."
Touko craned her neck around to look at her husband. She began to hear music suddenly playing on the stereo as the snow fell more thickly outside.
N placed one foot behind the other, one hand behind his back, and bowed slightly, extending his right hand towards Touko.
"May I have this dance?"

Touko giggled and hopped over the couch.
"Of course, good sir, but I should warn you that I am not the best dancer."
"Nonsense, my fair lady," N chided, taking her hand, and walking to the middle of the living room with her.
I've dance with you plenty a time, and you're simply marvelous."
With these words, he rested a hand on the waist of her soft sweater, and the two of them began to dance across the carpet, rising up and down on the balls of their feet in time with the music.

Touko let out a laugh as N twirled her around before pulling her back against him.
"The lightness of your feet never ceases to amaze me," she said.
N blushed at the compliment.
"Well, when you had two older sisters growing up, dancing was something that was done quite often."

The snow fell thicker and thicker outside, but inside the warm, cozy house, the chill of the night was quite forgotten as the song came to a close.
The two people inside were leaning gently against each other, rocking back and forth to the slow rhythm of the next song. Touko leaned her head against N's chest, the fresh smell of pine wafting around her.
"I love you..." she whispered.
"I love you, too."

--------------------------

Nemises stared gloomily out the window, watching the fat, fluffy snowflakes fall. While she always loved to watch snow fall- she thought it so pretty- she recently had been finding that nothing could lift her mood.
The most likely reason for her change in mood was her bulging stomach, carrying a little life inside. While Nemises was overjoyed to be having her first child, the depressed mood she could definitely do without.
Her gloomy thoughts were interrupted by the sound of music drifting through the air. Someone had turned on the stereo.

"Hello, fair lady," came a voice.
Nemises turned her head to see her husband, bowing and holding his hand out to her.
May I have this dance?"
As if it were magic, Nemises felt many of the clouds inside her head fade away almost immediately at his request.
Panting slightly, she heaved herself off the couch and made her way to him.
"Of course, my dear," she smiled as he gently took her hand.
Niko held her close as they danced slowly around the room, rocking back and forth in time with the music.

Nemises could feel her glumness evaporating with every step, every twirl, every sneaky kiss on her cheek.
"You look lovely tonight, my darling," Niko commented.
Nemises' cheeks flushed a lovely pink at the compliment.
"Oh, thanks dear..."
"Though, to be fair..." Niko twirled her around. "You look beautiful every day."
Nemises leaned her head against his soft sweater, the fabric of her own brushing against his.
"The snow is falling thick, tonight..." she murmured.
Can we watch it fall later?"
Niko smiled and kissed her forehead as they continued to dance.
"Of course, my queen," he murmured.
"Can we have hot cocoa?"
"Oh! Yes, I'd enjoy that immensely."

"Mmmm....ouch!" Nemises squeaked.
She'd misplaced her foot, managing to land it right under Niko's, resulting in him stepping on her toes.
"A-Ah! I'm sorry Nem-Nem!" Niko yelped.
Nemises let out a soft laugh.
"It's okay Niko. I just had two left feet for a moment. It can't be helped sometimes."
"But feel better kisses can," Niko replied.