Small Cottage

Elroy looked at her. "You would not."

"I would. I'd smash it to pieces. With a hammer."

"Ehh, we've got plenty of quilts."

"See how warm they keep you when the entire place is below freezing."

"I've sat through the island winters before. This'd be a cakewalk."

"I'll hire someone to castrate you."

Elroy laughed.

Serenity wasn't laughing, in fact, she was dead serious.

"You'd deprive yourself?"

"Hmm..." Serenity thought on that one for a while. "I'd rather have no sex (with you, at least) than to have you go blind."

"What the hell? You're already implying you're going to cheat."

"I would only cheat if you were castrated! It's a legitimate reason. You aren't even taking this seriously, why should I?"

"Because you're not serious, right?"

"I wanted to be serious. If you don't want to be serious, than what's the point?"

"Well, I know you wouldn't."

"You know what, I will be serious about this. I want to date you. Do you want to date me?"

He shrugged. "Why not?"

"Okay, then. We're officially dating." Serenity narrowed her eyes, like it was some kind of contest, and she was trying very hard to win.

"Thought this was already established."

"Earlier I thought you were joking.'

"Nope."

"Well, swell then." Serenity dissolved into silence once more.

As did Elroy. His eyes were aching.

Serenity kept snuggling her blanket, shivering. It wouldn't make a difference to break the heater. "Go turn up the heat, will you?"

"Do it yourself."