"Jonathan Creek" characters beloved creations and copyright of David Renwick.

Snowfall
by elfin

Sitting in the snow, flakes in his curly brown hair, Jonathan smiled wryly at Maddy as she lowered what was supposed to be the next snowball.
"Do I win?"
"You win."
"Begrudgingly spoken, but it'll do." She dropped down into the snow next to his feet., smiling at the vision of soggyness before her. Buttoned into his long winter coat, scarf of the magic circle wrapped around his neck, red nose and cheeks he looked almost boyish. She wondered how she looked to him. "Are you going to tell me how they did it the, or what?"

Jonathan leaned back, gloved hands sinking into the snow. "It's obvious."
"Tell me!"
He sighed - that annoying sigh that he knew drove her insane to hear. His reaction to her inability to see 'around corners' was usually one of two; gentle, often sexy invitations to sit and have it explained in detail around a log fire and mugs of hot chocolate, or an explanation delivered in the tones of a parent whose patience is waning.
"Why are there no footprints?"
She stared at him. "I don't know."
"Where are we?"
"Sitting in wet snow on a Pinewood studio back-lot."
"What was being filmed here yesterday?"
"Some gardening programme."
"And what's being filmed here today?"
"Winter Wonderland."
"When did it snow?"
"Yesterday lunchtime, as I told you! I was stuck on the M25...."
"No. When did it snow here?" She looked blankly at him. "This morning, when the crew moved in with the snow machine." The light came on in her eyes. "So where are the footprints?"
"Under the snow."

He fell back, clapping his hands together, a muffled sound that reached her ears a moment before she threw that last snowball at his chest.
"Smug bastard."
Lifting his head to smile at her, he beckoned her down to him. She moved back.
"Oh no, you really think I'm going to fall for that? The moment I get within arm's reach I'd have snow down my back faster than I could move."
Jonathan regarded her with the most unconvincing innocent expression she'd ever seen. He sat up, smiling as she back up further. Twisting his legs out from under him, he leaned forward, hands in the snow, blinking the melting drips out of his eyes. His intent at that moment was more than clear.

Unconsciously holding her breath, Maddy met him half way. As their previous kisses had done, this one sent a blaze of heat down her spine the lit up every nerve. Sex-god he wasn't, but the man could kiss. She hadn't been able to help wondering what other talents he had hidden away in his repertoire.

As he pulled back, Jonathan leaned all his weight onto one arm, and raised his other hand, putting one 'hushing' finger against her lips. She stared at him.
"We always get to this point and you fly off the handle about something or other. Don't speak. I'm going to ask you a question. Nod or shake your head. If you nod, you promise you won't say a word until we get home. Understand?" She nodded once. "Will you sleep with me tonight?"
He felt her smile against his finger, and he shot a warning glance as she parted her lips. But she said nothing, simply nodded.
"I've been in love with you for a very long time."
Another nod.
"I'm not Adam Claus, this isn't a one-night thing for me."
Nod.
"Good." In the next moment he was kneeling in the snow, arms wrapped around her, feeling her hugging him back with just as much meaning.

She didn't speak. Not until they reached his place, and nothing intelligent for some considerable time after that.

fin