The newly fallen snow crunched gently under V's boots as she
made her way along the central path of the Quartermaine estate
toward the main gates. The snow had begun its idle descent just an
hour ago, but already the ground was blanketed with it, soft and
wet, almost luminous in the near-dark, and to V's practiced eye it
looked ideal for packing. She crouched down and scoooped up a
handful experimentally, and was gratified to find she was right.
Within moments she had herself a frozen spherical projectile that
she hefted with pride. "Never let it be said an Ardanowski can't
make the perfect snowball," she murmured. She stood up, aimed
for a nearby tree, and let her weapon fly.

Her grin of delight at hitting her target was short-lived. "Nice shot,"
said a deep voice from behind her.

She whirled, her heart in her throat, but let out a relieved breath
when she saw who it was. "AJ, you startled me. I didn't think
anyone else would be out in this weather."

AJ shrugged. "I like the snow," he said. Wet flakes nestled in his
dark hair and his cheeks were reddened from the cold. "It's peaceful.
Helps me think."

"Yeah, I know what you mean," V said. She brushed the snow off
of her gloves and gestured toward the main gates. "I was just heading
home. My car's in the shop, so I decided to walk today."

"Isn't that an awfully long walk?" AJ asked, furrowing his brow.

It was her turn to shrug. "It's good exercise. And it's free."

He suppressed a smile. "Can't argue with that. You...mind if I walk
you to the gate?"

"I'd -- um, I'd like that. Sure." He fell into step beside her and they
continued on their way, crunching the snow, sniffling from the cold.
"I...guess you have a lot of thinking to do these days," V ventured.

AJ stiffened, but didn't slow his pace. "You heard about Michael."

V nodded. "Ned told me."

"He told you that Michael is my son?"

V hesitated at getting further involved, but didn't see any point in lying.
"Yes. I know it's not any of my business --"

"It's okay, V," AJ said, cutting her off. "I don't mind. The sooner
people start hearing that I'm Michael's father, the better. That is,
if they even believe me," he added with a disgusted snort.

"Why wouldn't they believe you?"

AJ ran a gloved hand over his head, sending a spray of snow fluttering
to the ground. "There are a lot of people in this town who think I'd say
pretty much anything to make my brother look bad."

V stopped in her tracks. "But why would you lie about something
like that? How could anyone lie about being someone's father?"

AJ paused as well, and his dark eyes were steady as he looked at her.
"Jason did."

Silence reigned as V realized she had no response for that. She nodded,
conceding the point, and resumed walking, AJ following suit. They
walked in silence for a while, the only sounds the crush of snow beneath
their feet and the occasional call of a bird in the trees. The cold air
smelled of wet earth and burning wood. "Thick as thieves," V finally
whispered.

A surprised laugh escaped AJ's throat, and he started at the unfamiliar
sound of it. "What did you say?"

V dipped her head and the corners of her mouth quirked in a smile.
"Thick as thieves," she repeated. "That's what my mom used to say
about me and my dad. Seemed like we were always off somewhere,
fishing or working on the car or puttering in the garden. Mom had a
heck of a time tracking us down for dinner sometimes. 'The two of
you are thick as thieves, and just as mischievous,' she'd say when we
finally appeared, with grease under our fingernails or grass stains on
our jeans. Thick as thieves.

"My father died without warning, AJ. It was a horrible accident. And
all I know is that I am thankful for every single moment that I had with
him. And I know in my heart that he felt the same way about me."

They reached the imposing wrought-iron artifice of the main gates, and
came to a slow halt, looking at each other, their breath creating white
puffs between them that quickly dissipated into what was quickly turning
from dusk to darkness. "What I'm saying, AJ," V said levelly, "is that
no child should be deprived of knowing her father. And no father should
be deprived of knowing his son. Not if his intentions are good."

AJ visibly swallowed around a lump in his throat and V thought she
could detect a glistening moisture in his eyes, although it could have
been from the cold, or the snow. "My intentions are the best, V. The
best that anyone could ever have."

She searched his gaze for guile or deception, but found none, and her
instincts about him sang to her of nothing but truth. "I think I believe you,
AJ," she said softly. "I hope you find what you seek. And that with it comes
the peace you seem to need so desperately."

"I hope so too," he said, in a voice now rough with emotion.

Silence stretched out between them until V began to feel uncomfortable.
"Well, good night," she said, turning to go.

"V, wait."

She looked back, waited.

"I, uh....would it be okay if I stopped by the gatehouse sometime? Just
to escape the madness at the main house, or to...talk?"

She smiled at him. "That would be fine, AJ," she said. "In fact, it would
be more than fine."

"Thanks," he said, returning the smile.

"You're welcome." She started up the sidewalk in the direction of home,
breathing in deeply of the cold air, absently rubbing her hands together
for warmth. Around her, the snow continued to fall, casting a pure white
shadow upon the earth, covering the ground with a clean slate, awaiting
a new story to be written on its blank pages.

end.