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Doc sighed, frowning as her breath froze in the air. A laugh made her turn around from her desk, her girlfriend walking over with a blanket, “A frown doesn’t suit you hun.”
“Chris, you’re supposed to be in bed.”
“I’m fine, you’re the one out here sitting in the cold,” Chris wrapped the blanket around Doc, turning slightly to cough, “At least go sit in the cafeteria for a minute to warm up. It’s five below freezing right now, you shouldn’t be in the back of the med tent freezing your ass off.”
“I have no choice Chris, I need to be here to take care of everyone,” Doc stood, worry shining in her brown eyes, “Let’s get you back in bed.”
“Not unless you’ll sit with me.”
“Chris-”
“You’ll still be in the med tent, but you’ll be near the heaters.”
Doc sighed, wrapping an arm around Chris, “Alright. As long as you lay down.”
“I will.”
It was only a few second walk to the cot Chris had fallen asleep on earlier, the heat from the tall propane heaters not reaching anymore than the cots.
The fallen temperatures had been hard, no other winter had been this cold since before the collapse. Doc could only remember one winter that was this cold(though Chris said there had been a couple when she was a kid), and that was the year she and Chris started dating, just two years after she moved from South Korea to America.
—---------------
Frost crept up the windows as snow fell outside, Doc was almost fascinated by it. She had never seen a winter this cold, and it made her glad her girlfriend had invited her to stay.
Docs own apartment would be cold, and she knew herself well enough to know she would forget to turn on a heater or put on an extra sweater.
It was her greatest flaw, her mother had always said, she'd always forget to take care of herself.
But now she was here, leaning against a large couch with a book in her hands, her girlfriend's son asleep on the other arm. Jason was a good kid, loud and energetic, and Doc couldn't help but smile when she remembered how he asked what South Korea was like and if she'd ever take him to visit.
Only thing missing from this moment was Doc's girlfriend herself, Chris having stepped out to the screened-in porch to smoke.
Doc stood from the couch, tucking Jason’s blanket in a little tighter before grabbing her own and walking outside.
Chris sat on a bench, looking up from her phone at the sound of the door, smiling, “Hey baby, what you doing out here?”
“Wanted to see how you were,” Doc sat down next to her, wrapping the blanket around the both of them, “Seems to cold for you to just be sitting out here.”
Chris laughed, putting out her cigarette and waving the smoke away, pulling Doc into a tight hug, “I'm used to the cold. Bit more worried about you baby.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you,” Chris kissed Doc's nose, “You ain't used to this baby.”
“Maybe, but I've got you here with me.”
“Am I your guide?” Doc nodded and Chris laughed, “Oh am I? You trust me to guide you through harsh PA winters?”
“Yes, I do trust you. I wouldn't be here if I didn't,” Doc leaned her head on Chris’ shoulder, breathing the smell of cigarette smoke and rosemary, “I'm glad it's winter break right now. Walking to school would suck.”
“I'd drive you, and you don't get to say no to that.”
“Fine.”
“Come on baby, let's go inside and cuddle on the couch. It's to cold for you to just sit out here.”
“Oh but it's fine for you?”
“I'm used to the cold remember?” Chris helped Doc up, “Now let's go sleep by the fire and be all mushy, or some shit.”
Doc laughed.
—----------------
Chris laid down on the cot, hand reaching out to grab Doc's. Her girlfriend smiled, albeit shakily, and squeezed Chris’ hand.
There were tears in her brown eyes(Chris once compared the color to a mix between chocolate and gingerbread. Doc had blushed and simply snuggled closer to fall asleep) and Chris could guess the reason behind those tears.
Although whatever treatments Chris had been able to get before the collapse had stopped it from growing so far, the growth on her lung still caused her problems. It was the reason she sat in the med tent with a terrible cough and was so weak she could barely stand most of the time.
It was also the reason her love had tears in her eyes, and Chris hated that. Doc tried to hide how it affected her, but Chris could see sometimes how scared Doc was.
“Do you remember when we planned our wedding?”
Doc laughed, “When we were drunk as shit and you’re wedding dress was this big poofy feather gown? Yeah, I remember.”
“I hadn’t even proposed yet.”
“Damn near gave me a heart attack when you first suggested planning our wedding, thought you were gonna propose right then and there.”
“I wanted to, I just didn’t have a ring yet.”
Doc blushed, shaking her head slowly, “I don’t need a ring Chris, I never have, you know that.”
“I still want to get you one at some point,” Chris shifted on the cot, patting the now empty space next to her, “Come lay down.”
“Chris-”
“You’re tired hun. Lay down with me.”
Doc sighed, laying in the empty space and drawing the blanket over both of them. Chris held her close, bringing her voice to a whisper, “You wanted to wear red to the wedding, showed me the dress you wanted. You also wanted roses.”
“Yes,” Doc whispered back, “And you wanted lilacs.”
“I’m gonna marry you.”
“How in the hell are we going to do that?”
“We’ll write it down in your journal, right next to Sharice and Walker, then have a party.”
“A party?”
“Yes.”
“Chris…”
“No one here is going to pass up a party. Sharice and Walker getting married proved that.”
Doc laughed, putting her head on Chris’ shoulder, “Go to sleep. You need to rest.”
“Oh alright,” Chris smiled, “I love you.”
“I love you to.”
—----------------
They tried to quite their laughter, as to not wake the boy sleeping upstairs, but the music playing and the way they clumsily swung around kept making them laugh.
Doc leaned against the kitchen counter, giggling as Chris spun around the kitchen. The air around them smelled of whiskey and wine, along with the carrot cake that they had baked earlier that day.
“Come dance with me,” Chris grabbed Doc’s hands, pulling her around the kitchen, “You did it.”
“I did it,” Doc grinned at the reminder of their celebration, her graduation from medical school, “Somehow, I fucking did it.”
“You did it, because you are smart as hell and determined. Now we’ve just gotta get your family over here to celebrate and we can have a big party.”
“Can’t wait to see my mothers reaction to your tattoos.”
“She can’t complain about all of them.”
“Don't test her. She'll find a way.”
Chris grinned, the same reckless grin that first drew Doc to her, and leaned to kiss Doc's neck, “Let her complain. I really don't care what she says about me.”
“I do. I want her to love you, I want both my parents to love you.”
“I'll figure it out baby, don't worry,” Doc blushed, leaning her head on Chris’ shoulder as the music changed and Chris spun them slower.
Their home was warm, pictures scattered all over, their favorite flowers scattered all over.
“I love you baby.”
Doc raised her head, chuckling and muttering against Chris’ lips, “I love you too.”