Alex was not expecting to wake up to a freezing-cold apartment the week before Thanksgiving.

It was equally uncommon for her to wake up alone. It was actually the first time she had in weeks; Steph had elected to stay at her place the previous night, for a marathon packing session. Alex’s apartment already had a stack of boxes piled next to the desk, which Ryan had been helping bring over with his truck.

She wasn’t thrilled to not have her girlfriend spend the night. Waking up to an apartment so cold that she could see her breath didn’t make her feel better.

Alex gathered the blanket around herself as she sat up, looking around and trying to put a finger on what else was off. It took a few minutes to hit her; there was no residual light from the neon sign. Or the Mine Haunt arcade machine. And a quick check of her plugged-in phone showed that it wasn’t charging.

The power’s out.

Why is the power out?

She looked out the window and finally noticed that it was white. Very, incredibly, stark white. Slipping out of bed and shivering against the cold, she opened the blinds and saw fat flakes of snow falling from the sky. The ground was covered with what looked like an easy foot or two of powder. And the snow was so thick that she couldn’t see the edge of the lake.

Oh.

I suppose that’s a good reason.

Alex snatched the blanket, wrapping it around herself as she walked through the kitchen and looked through the other windows. A check of the thermometer hanging outside showed that it was well below freezing. And even through the glass, she could hear the wind howling. It looked like Haven Springs was well and truly wrapped in a blizzard, one that she hadn’t known was coming.

Then again, it’s not like I check the weather that often.

Still, I’m surprised nobody mentioned it.

She shivered again. Alright, I need to get dressed. Shorts and a t-shirt aren’t cutting it.

Alex quickly pulled on jeans, thick socks, boots, and a hoodie. Then she unlocked her phone, trying to call Ryan, but it refused to connect. The storm had apparently killed cell service in addition to the electricity.

Okay. I’m fine, apartment is fine. Need to check the bar.

The Black Lantern was just as cold as her apartment. She held both hands in her armpits as she walked downstairs and looked around, trying to ignore the creepy sound of the blizzard howling against the windows. A check of the doors showed that they were both still locked, and everything else looked intact.

Well, shit. Now what? I’m technically supposed to open in an hour… though I doubt anyone’s going to come in. She peeked out the door, noting that none of the streets were plowed. Yea, I’m gonna go ahead and say we’re not getting any customers.

Fuck it. I’m going back upstairs. It’s too goddamn cold down here.

She retreated back to her apartment, thankful that she’d taken Duckie’s advice earlier that month and purchased several packages of firewood from the grocery store. It was stacked in a neat pile beside the fireplace, which she quickly opened and began placing logs inside. Some crumpled newspaper, a couple of matches, a few creative curse words, and Alex had the beginnings of a fire going.

Breakfast was the more complicated issue. Most of her food was either in the fridge, which she didn’t want to open, or needed to be microwaved. She settled for a peanut butter sandwich, making one quickly and taking the plate back to the fireplace.

The warmth was slowly beginning to seep through the apartment. She sighed as she sat on the floor, relaxing against the arm of the couch as she munched on her sandwich.

… now what do I do?

Going anywhere is out. I’m pretty much stuck in here. No TV, no cell service, no music, and nobody but myself for company.

I really wish that sounded less pathetic.

Alex looked at the bookshelf beside the kitchen table. None of them looked particularly interesting. A couple she knew were art books, left over from her brother. Others were books about how to draw. The rest were on subjects she had no interest in.

Her eyes wandered over the rest of the apartment behind her, finally settling on the guitar case against the wall.

Man, it’s been a while since I practiced.

Guess I don’t have an excuse. Not like I have anything pressing to do.

Strumming on the guitar was fun. For a few minutes.

After half an hour or so, Alex was just getting bored. The guitar was put away, and she dropped back onto the couch, kicking her feet up on the coffee table with a sigh. A quick check of her phone showed that cell service was still out.

I bet Ethan’s happy, she figured. Got to wake up to a snow day. Charlotte’s probably letting him play outside, making a kick-ass snowman that looks like Thaynor.

She eventually returned to the kitchen and started rifling through the cabinets, searching for anything else to eat. A pop-tart fell victim to her hunger, and she munched on it while continuing to look around.

… is that hot chocolate mix?

Alex pulled the brown box off the shelf and checked. It was indeed, though it needed hot water.

Bummer. I could totally go for some…

Wait. The stove is gas!

She turned the first knob and her stove clicked, before flames came to life with a whoosh. Alex grinned as she found a metal pot, filled it with water, and set it to boil. After a few minutes, she had a mug of hot chocolate in her hands.

Mm… she sipped the drink, her eyes closed as she savored the taste. Not as good as they serve at the Brown Bear. But good enough.

Man, I hope they get the power back on soon. I’d love to listen to that Kings of–

A thumping sound distracted her. She froze, her heart jumping into her throat as she waited to hear it again. It took several seconds, but it did repeat itself, the odd sounds coming from below her feet.

What the fuck was that?

She headed for the door, pausing to grab the broom she kept by the TV. The stick felt worthless in her hands, but it was better than nothing as she slowly crept down the stairs, peeking around the corner.

A dark shape stood outside the front of the bar, looking like it was pawing at the handle. Alex frowned as she stepped onto the ground floor, lowering the broom. It took a few seconds to realize that it was a person in a dark coat and beanie, with a scarf wrapped around their face, hugging themselves as they tried to open the door.

Right. The bar’s supposed to be open.

She sighed as she set the broom aside and walked towards the door, knocking to get the person’s attention before pointing at the sign. “We’re closed!” she yelled through the glass. “Go drink at home!”

Her visitor looked up. Their brows and exposed hair were covered in snow, so it took her a few seconds to recognize the green eyes.

“What the f-” She quickly fumbled with the latch, finally throwing it and opening the door. “Steph?!”

Her girlfriend shoved her way inside, hugging herself as Alex closed the door behind her. “Are y-y-you o-okay?” she stammered out, her voice shaking as she shivered.

“Am I okay?!” Alex looked at her incredulously. “There’s a blizzard outside! What the hell do you think you’re- wait, you don’t have a car! How the fuck did you get here?!”

“W-w-w-walk-ked.”

“Are you kidding me?! Your apartment’s two miles away!”

“W-was w-w-worried ab-about y-y-y-you.” Steph’s chattering teeth made it almost impossible to understand her. “Your f-f-f-f-first snowf-f-fall.”

“I grew up in Portland! This isn’t my first-” she stopped herself, realizing that they had bigger problems before grabbing Steph’s arm. “Let’s go. Upstairs. You need to warm up, like, right now.”

“Ok-k-kay.”

Steph let herself get dragged into the apartment. Alex pushed her in front of the fireplace, then helped peel off her snow-soaked jacket to reveal an equally soaked sweater, pair of jeans, and boots. “What the hell happened to you?!”

“I f-f-fell in a d-drainage d-d-ditch-ch f-full of sl-sl-slush.”

“You are so… ARGH!!” Alex growled in frustration as she grabbed her blanket, making sure it was nearby before she began pulling off Steph’s shirt. “Kick off your boots, quickly. Before you catch hypothermia.”

“M-might be a l-l-little late f-f-f-for th-that,” the brunette stuttered, doing as instructed.

Alex stripped Steph’s jeans and socks as well. All of her clothing landed with wet splat in the corner of the room, leaving the brunette in her underwear as Alex wrapped her tightly in the blanket. Steph was still shivering as Alex sat her in front of the fireplace, before grabbing one of her kitchen towels and the hot chocolate.

“Drink this,” she ordered, holding the mug to Steph’s lips.

Her girlfriend obeyed, sipping the warm beverage as Alex held it for her. Then she put it down and pulled off Steph’s beanie, quickly drying her wet hair.

Steph’s shivering slowed as she warmed up, Alex finally draping the towel on the nearby chair to dry. Her girlfriend’s cheek was still cold when she felt it, though. She picked the hot chocolate back up and held it to Steph’s lips, making her finish the whole thing.

“Thanks,” her girlfriend breathed as she clutched the blanket tighter.

“You’re welcome. You feeling warmer?”

“A little.”

“Good!” Alex leaned back and slapped the back of Steph’s head with a resounding WHACK.

“Ow!”

“What the HELL were you thinking?!” she demanded angrily. “Walking two miles in a blizzard?! Are you insane?! You could’ve frozen! Or been hit by a truck! There’s, like, six inches of visibility out there!”

“I wanted to make sure you were okay!”

“I was fine! This is not my first snowfall! And I would’ve been a hell of a lot worse if they found your body buried in a snowbank when everything thawed!”

Steph still had a worried expression on her face, as she took a deep breath. “It’s your first winter in Colorado,” she countered. “They don’t compare to winters in Portland. We’re higher in elevation, it gets way colder, and it snows more. The power and cell service are out, for fuck’s sake, and it’s only five degrees outside. I wanted to make sure you were doing okay, and not freezing to death or starving.”

“YOU almost froze to death on the way here!”

The brunette sighed. “… yea, I wasn’t expecting to slip on a patch of ice and fall into a drainage ditch.”

Alex let out a slow breath, trying to keep her temper even. “That was still stupid. I know how to handle myself during a snowstorm.”

Steph glanced behind her. “How are your pipes?”

“My what?”

“Your pipes. Have you run any water yet?”

“Yes. I filled a pot to boil for the hot chocolate.”

“Go back to your kitchen and turn on your sink.” Steph sniffed, wiping her nose before continuing. “Running water keeps the pipes from freezing and bursting. It doesn’t have to be much, just a trickle.”

Alex gave her an irritated look, but complied, heading back to the kitchen and turning the faucet so that a small stream of water came out.

“Put a dish towel in the sink,” Steph added. “It makes it quieter. And turn on the one in the bathroom, too.”

“Fine.” Alex dropped a towel under the water flow, then repeating the process in the bathroom. “You didn’t need to risk killing yourself for that.”

“Sorry.” Steph stuck her hands out of the blanket, breathing into them. “Like I said, I just wanted to make sure you were doing okay.”

Alex sighed as she knelt beside her girlfriend, feeling her face and hair. “You’re still way too cold. Get up.”

Steph slowly clambered to her feet as Alex went over to her coffee table, lifting one side and moving it. Then she grabbed the far corner of her couch, dragging it towards the fireplace until it was facing the heat head on.

“Sit,” she ordered her girlfriend, grabbing another blanket. She draped it over Steph as she brunette complied with her instructions. “Don’t move. I’m making you another hot chocolate.”

“With marshmallows?” Steph asked hopefully, looking over her shoulder as Alex went to the kitchen.

Alex rolled her eyes. “I will put marshmallows in it for you.”

“How about some rum?”

“You were practically hypothermic ten minutes ago. And you’ve made enough bad decisions today. I’m not giving you booze.”

Steph pouted but didn’t argue as Alex put on a new pot of water to boil. She had a new mug put together in a few minutes, and was just dropping a pair of marshmallows in it when she heard a door open and close downstairs.

“What was that?”

Alex looked at the door to her apartment. “… well, only two people in town have keys to this building,” she reasoned as she placed the mug in Steph’s hands. “And I’m already here, so my guess is Ryan.”

“What’s he doing here?”

“Good question. Keep drinking, I’m going to check.”

She grabbed her hoodie before leaving, zipping it up as she walked down the stairs. Voices reached her ears as she turned the corner. “… colder here than my apartment,” Jessie was complaining.

“Yea, looks like the bar lost power too.” Ryan walked into view, perking up as he saw Alex. The park ranger was in a thick jacket with heavy gloves and a black beanie pulled tight on his head. “Hey!”

“Hi!” She looked behind him and saw Jessie in a red puffy jacket, breathing heavily into a pair of white knit mittens. The engineer also wore a white scarf with a matching beanie, complete with a fluffy pom on top. “What are you guys doing here?”

“Checking on the bar. And the rest of town.” Ryan stepped behind the bar, turning the faucet and watching water flow out. “Pipes are still good. Don’t turn this off.”

“Steph made me turn on the ones upstairs, too,” Alex mentioned.

Ryan frowned. “I thought she was spending the night at her apartment?”

“She did. And then walked here to check on me.”

Jessie looked at her incredulously. “She walked? In THIS?!”

“Trust me, I already yelled at her.” Alex shook her head. “She fell in a drainage ditch on the way here. She was practically hypothermic when I got her upstairs.”

An electronic burp from Ryan’s hip interrupted her. “Ryan, you there?”

The park ranger unclipped the radio and held it to his lips. “Yea, Pike, I’m here.”

“What’s your twenty?”

“Checking on Alex and the Black Lantern. How about you?”

“I just swung by the Johnsons’ house, gonna head north and drop in on the Lethe’s and the Hendricks’ next. Can you check the rest of main street?”

“Sure thing. Hey, you hear back from Water and Power yet?”

“A few minutes ago. There’s three fallen pine trees on Central, and they all hit power lines.”

Ryan sighed, throwing his head back and closing his eyes. “Great,” he muttered, before turning back to the radio. “Copy. They give an ETA on when it’ll be fixed?”

“Not anytime soon. They can’t get their bucket trucks out until the roads are clear, and the plows won’t be through until the snow stops.”

“That’s not gonna be until tonight!”

“Hey, I don’t control the weather, buddy. Be making a lot more money if I did.”

“Wonderful.” Ryan glanced between Alex and Jessie. “Well, it’s gonna be at least twenty-four hours until we get the power back on.”

Jessie’s shoulders slumped. “… I really don’t want to go back to a freezing apartment,” she groaned. “Especially one without WiFi.”

“I’ve got the fireplace going upstairs,” Alex offered. “I’ll put you up while your boyfriend runs around and plays hero.”

“If you do, I’ll write the Pope myself to nominate you for sainthood.”

“Sounds good to me.” Ryan handed Alex the radio. “Just in case.”

Alex frowned as she accepted it. “Don’t you need this?”

“I’ve got two more in my truck. Let me know if you guys need anything, okay?”

“Yea, sure.”