Serena had spent the morning overly giddy and excited. She was wearing a pair of skinny jeans,a long sleeved banded red top, covered by a zip up deep purple coloured hoodie and that was covered by a sleeveless blue jacket. Her face was made slightlyless pale by just a little makeup.

She had decided to wear her blood red hair pins day, she had also been awake for ageeees. It was Amelia's 19th birthday, which was awesome. Serena had decided since Amelia had expressed that she didn't have any plans for her birthday.

So Serena had suggested that they do something fun. This involved meeting in the city, Serena had been up thinking of fun things and come to the conclusion that since a bunch of market type things were set up and there were other fun christmas based things about. They should go ice skating.

She hadn't told Amelia about this yet. She was so giddy and excited and full of energy. Seeing Amelia always seemed to make Serena feel like this. It was strange, seeing Serena's other friends didn't generally create this sort of a reaction.

She stood, leaning against a building which they had agreed to meet by after Serena had texted Amelia about last night. Serena had a present for Amelia. It was wrapped up in a nice little box, about the size of a small book.

She had another one too, but that was for christmas. She was still feeling very much giddy in anticipation of seeing her friend. Hopefully Amelia would enjoy Ice skating.

Doing fun winter activities with friends was something she seemed like she would enjoy, or at least that was the impression that Serena had received from the slightly older girl.

This is how Amelia's morning had gone.

"Mooooooooom, where's my black and white leather jacket?"

"Mooooooom, where are my black jeans?!"

"Where's my denim jacket!?"

"Where's my hoodie!?"

"Who the hell moved my makeup!? What the hell, dad?!"

It had been chaotic, and she'd gone through huge swathes of indecision, but eventually she'd decided on something to wear. Not settled. Decided. It hadn't been the blue heir of breath Homestuck hoodie, and it hadn't been the even darker blue Doctor Who TARDIS hoodie, nor had it been anything else Who-related. She hadn't even picked the white leather jacket with the black stripe down the middle and the black lapels that she'd received from Kate as a gift.

Uncertain of what they were going to do, she'd decided on a gray t-shirt, and some warm black winter leggings, with a black ruffled mini-skirt on top. Over the shirt, she'd worn a hooded black sweatshirt, with a navy blue denim vest. She wore a burnt orange soft knitted scarf for her neck. The last choice, shoes, had taken her a while, but eventually she'd picked her black suede trim women's Nepal boots from TOMS over the black canvas women's classics. They were cute. She figured Serena would approve. Now that the clothing porn had been sorted, it had been on to fixing up herself.

Amelia had kept her hair down, rather than pinning it up in a bun, and had used light makeup around her eyes and berry balm on her lips to keep them from getting chapped. Her hair needed cutting, but she liked it how it was, down to her shoulders (and even beyond them). It didn't look bad, and it worked well with the hooded navy blue denim jacket she'd picked. To finish off, she'd had breakfast... bacon and eggs with orange juice and toast, selected more as an after-thought than a serious meal. Her mother had insisted, and she'd certainly needed the energy after 50+ minutes of picking out clothes, and an additional 30 of personal grooming. She'd lost track of the time. It was nearing noon, and she was running late.

Getting around in New York can be easy. It can also be mind-numbingly difficult. If you have a car, you have that working against you, and unless you or your car flies, you'll have problems. For a city where most people don't own cars, it's amazing how bad traffic can be. Using a bus transit in combination with a subway can get you where you need to go, but you need to be on the ball for the schedules. If you aren't, you're going to have a bad time. Having memorized the schedules as best she could, she'd realized this very quickly. Even if she left before finishing her food, there was no way she'd make it before the bus left... which meant waiting more... then waiting more for the train. "... Mom?" She'd said weakly. "Can I get a ride...?" 30 minutes of traffic later, she was banging her forehead against the cold glass of the window. What she wouldn't give to have a flying tortilla platform like a certain Asian she knew.

Finally, they had arrived. Saying her farewells, and thanking her mother for her most-appreciated aid, Amelia had rushed up to Serena where she stood waiting. It was good she'd replaced the cellphone she'd lost to evil mangy bikers around Halloween. While in traffic, she'd been able to text Serena that she was in traffic. Thus, Serena had not gotten mad waiting and turned to storm off in disgust.

"I really should figure out how to levitate my entire body with my clothing-based telekinesis one of these days," Amelia sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Would make it easier to get places on time if I could just fly there. Sorry about the wait. A giant Bulbasaur decided to get on the news again... though I suspect Kealey will be pleased I got pics." Sheepishly, she slid through the options on her phone so she could show them. Held it up for Serena as definitive proof. Then stashed the phone away. "So. What are we doing?" She asked.

Serena recieved a text from Amelia telling her that she was running a little late. That was fine, the text just reminded Serena that Amelia was actually coming into town to meet her. She was practically bouncing with excitement.

When Amelia's mothers car pulled up and she stepped out, Serena's smile widened, she stood patiently waiting for Amelia and then grinned when she arrived.

She giggled rather audibly at Amelia's comments and photo. "It's absolutely fine! Happy Birthday!" Serena wrapped her arms around the freshly arrived Amelia in a hug.

After a moment or two, she released Amelia from her grasp. And grinned slightly mischievously. "Let's just say knowing you, You'll be excellent at it, me not so much." she giggled some more, her eyes seeming to sparkle, more full of life than they had been in quite some time.

She gestured in the direction which would take them to the market, and the ice rink. She then quickly pulled Amelia's present out from behind her back. And held it forwards. "Thiiis is for you!" she grinned.

If Amelia were to choose to unwrap the gift, which was in a neatly wrapped box. She would find a pretty charm bracelet inside, 3 charms already attached. One of them was a certain police box, one was a coat hanger with a pretty coat and scarf charm hanging off of it.

The final charm, was a little blood drop. She smiled nervously.

Her shoulders found themselves loosening as she talked with Serena. The stress was just fading away. She'd worried the girl would have been angry she'd been late, that she'd have been frustrated with her, maybe even reprimanded... but that really wasn't Serena. Serena was so much nicer than that. The girl had just been happy Amelia had made it at all. Amelia found herself smiling at Serena's giggles over the Bulbasaur picture and her comments, and everything was right with the world. "Thanks," she beamed, returning the hug. With the air as cold as it was, it was warm and nice, and just long enough.

Serena broke the hug, and smiled at her playfully. Amelia laughed at her comment. She'd been joking, mostly, when she'd said she should learn how to fly, but hey. Who can say what the future will bring?

She followed Serena's gaze towards their destination. When her eyes fell back on Serena's, she had the package out that had been her hands during the hug. Amelia took it carefully from her outstretched hands.

Her fingers traced over the paper, pondering the contents. It was nice paper, very cheerful and cute. "Thank you," she said, looking up at Serena. "Let's see what this is..." Her focus dropped back down to the paper, fingers working dutifully, if a bit hastily, at unwrapping it. She found herself a little excited. As the paper fell away, and she saw what it was, butterflies took that time to dance in her stomach. She opened the box, saw the little charm bracelet, and her smile shone on Serena like the sun. The bracelet slid around her wrist, and she gave Serena a quick snug hug.

"Thank you! I love it," she said.

She had been so giddy and excited that Amelia was arriving earlier, that she hadn't taken time to examine what her friend was wearing. She was wearing an attractive skirt, and her hair and make up looked absolutely stunning. Serena had to admit she often felt a little inadequate when around Amelia, she was just so pretty.

Serena smiled warmly at Amelia, she could tell that she loved the present, Amelia seemed to fill her with so much life, especially when she was happy. Serena could remember physically feeling this happy.

She felt completely warm even in the cold when Amelia hugged her. She then felt a tint of red reach her face. "Well I'm really glad you like it." she replied warmly.

Serena's eyes seemed to sparkle as she looked at Amelia, it was a warm look. The kind of smile which showed in a person's entire face. "You look amazing today by the way."

Oh god, what had she just said... It just slipped out! Serena panicked. She didn't know how that would sound, she just meant that Amelia looked particularly pretty today. Or did she? She didn't know anymore. Everything was so confusing.

"Thanks!" Amelia said. She hadn't caught any of the inner panic on Serena's face. "You look really cute, too."

Funnily, she realized, they had both opted for a similar look. Hooded sweatshirt under sleeveless something or other. Vest, jacket, similar either way. The red and purple were an analogous color harmony scheme, rather than complementary, and it worked with the blue vest-jacket she'd picked. Not to get too into color theory or anything, but Amelia had decided Serena had good taste. Amelia also detected that Serena might have been wearing a bit of makeup. Her usually pale skin seemed less-so. Not that she minded the paleness at all.

"So, where to first?" Her hair moved with her as she tilted her head. Casually, she slid the charm bracelet box into a vest pocket.

Serena's panic hit a wall almost as soon as it had started. Amelia thanked her. And then called her cute.

Serena felt her level of anxiety fall like a ton of bricks off a cliff, and her level of happiness, and indeed embarrassment rise like a hot air balloon. The pale girl's face became tinted red. "Th-Thank you."

Serena shook it off and smiled. The red fading. "Uh.. Ah, this way!" she nodded in the direction they needed to go, past the stalls, towards the ice rink.

She smiled at Amelia as they walked, completely happy and content that she was out here with her today.

Hm. Had she just stuttered and momentarily turned into a beet, or had that been Amelia's imagination? Ah well. She tossed the balled up wrapping paper into a trash can as she happily followed Serena. Her eyes strayed as she walked.

"I haven't been around here before," Amelia said thoughtfully, looking at one of the buildings. "No idea what to expect. So this will be a fun surprise. What do you have in store for me?" She eyed the back of Serena's head speculatively.

There were people coming and going. As one couple passed them, she noticed a pair of ice skates slung over their shoulder, dangling from a hand. A brow arched curiously. She was enough of a detective to hazard a guess, but she left the surprise to Serena.

Serena smiled at Amelia. She had been around here a few times before, 2 years running with her brother, the area was very pleasant around Christmas. Everything was all cheerful and there were stalls with good food and some awesome deals on clothing like scarfs and gloves.

"I used to come here often with my older brother during this time of year. It's nice." she replied peacefully.

She giggled as they turned the corner and then nodded to a large set up in front of them, it had an area for payment, and then a small building inside, where they handed out skates and held your usual shoes for you.

As they approached she smiled at Amelia. "This is what I have in store for you." She giggled.

Serena had been ice skating once or twice when she was little, and remembered getting pretty decent at it, but she hadn't been in so long. She might have trouble.

Load of stuff was going on. Food vendors and clothing stalls and shopping, oh my. She made quick mental notes of some of the better deals, eyes darting between the clothes and Serena as she did. Christmas wasn't far off. Gifts, they were fun. And Serena certainly deserved something.

"Chocolate!" A matronly vendor called through cupped hands. "Delicious fudge. Great bargain. We make it, you buy it!" It reminded Amelia of the fishmonger in Aladdin. On a whim, she scanned the area for sugar dates and pistachios. Serena's talking pulled her attention away from the task.

Apparently, Serena and her brother had spent many a good time at this location. She smiled at Serena. "It is nice," she agreed. "Loads of stuff going on."

Serena seemed to really like it. Amelia realized this was kind of her showing Amelia an important part of herself. A teeny bit of soul-baring, as it were. She enjoyed that thought.

When they arrived, she arched an eyebrow. Ice skating? This was what she had in store for her. Oh. "I see," Amelia said. Locking eyes with Serena, she smiled weakly. "You might have to teach me. I've never ice skated in my life."

Serena smiled warmly at Amelia and then let out a hearty giggle. "Well, It's been a little while. But I thought this could be a ton of fun and I'll do my best to teach you." She smiled happily. It was obvious that Serena was extremely happy today.

She was practically radiating warmth, she could not remember feeling this happy in such a long time.

She locked eyes with Amelia for a moment. And then giggled and went and payed for their skates, in the correct sizes, she then walked across to Amelia with the skates for her, and gestured to a bench to put the skates on.

She was in such a giddy mood. This would be fun.

Her not knowing wasn't a problem. Good. If she had been more nefarious and more aware of the whole subtle situation going on beneath both of their noses, she might have used this opportunity to lie, and score a free close-proximity lesson in ice skating. But she wasn't. She really didn't know. Sure, her brother had skated a few times, but more often than not, that had been with girls, not family. Not her. Not Amelia. Just other cute girls. He'd taught her soccer... and she'd figured out track and field, herself. That was the extent of Aurum's training. Actually... that entire last paragraph had been a series of lies.

"Good," Amelia smiled, and if her smile seemed a tad crooked, like she was smirking over something, that was imagination, not fact! "Hopefully, I won't fall all over and make myself look bad." She said. Falling all over in the Mellitus family had the tendency to end in interesting ways.

For a moment, her friend vanished. When Serena returned, she had skates. Amelia followed her to the benches and sat down. Off came the boots she'd chosen for the day, and on came the skates. She was glad she'd worn leggings with the skirt, and hadn't chosen something clunky, like a dress. As she pulled her skates on, she snuck a smile Serena's way. "So, what's the first thing I should know?" Amelia asked, playing up the 'serious and focused' act.

Serena smiled gently as she took off her shoes and handed them to the ice skate-people to look after, She then unclipped the ice skates and made sure that they were securely fastened.

She turned to Amelia and gave her a rather warm smile. "The first thing is, if you fall over, which you quite possibly might. Make sure you fall backwards, you do not want your hands on the ice, much better your backside than something which could be stood on."

Serena grinned. She felt it all coming back to her. She was sure she could do this. And she was fairly certain Amelia would get the hang of it fairly quickly. At least, she hoped she would.

If not, Serena would give her more of a hand. It should be fun.

As they both finished attaching the skates thoroughly, Serena stood, precariously balancing on the skates. It would probably take Amelia a while to get used to the ice. And Serena, for that matter.

But now that it had been paid for, they had all the time in the world.

The workers took Amelia's shoes when they took Serena's. She listened carefully to Serena's commentary.

"Alright, noted." She bobbed her head. "No hands on ice. Butt on ice. Cold butt. Gotcha." It was good advice. She recalled similar advice her brother had given her the first time they'd went skating during a family getaway.

Skates firmly in place, she followed Serena up onto her feet. For a moment, Amelia faked a wobble, arms on either side of her body to steady herself. "Whoa," she said, voice rocking with the movements. Then, she caught herself and kept her balance. At least, for the moment. She looked to Serena. "Is it bad form if you help catch me if I'm going down?"

Serena smiled as she watched Amelia stand up. She seemed to be having a bit of trouble. Serena gave the girl a sympathetic smile. She then giggled at her friend's question.

Serena pondered her answer for a moment, she wasn't sure. She was sure it must happen all the time, people helping each other out. She then responded with "Honestly I have absolutely no idea."

She chuckled. "I'd probably catch you even if it was bad form." she added warmly with a smile.

Serena gestured towards the ice, walking slowly towards it, making sure that Amelia didn't fall over. It would be a bad sign if she fell before they had even stood on the ice.