Outside Work We... •[TNN One-shots]•

Snack Run •|| WINTUMN ||•

Prompt: Autumn is craving something in the middle of the night.

The clock on the bedside table blinked 2:14 AM in glowing red numbers when Winter felt a nudge on his shoulder. He groaned softly, half-asleep, but the nudging persisted, followed by a familiar voice.

"My sweet," Autumn whispered, shaking him gently. "My sweet, wake up."

His eyes cracked open, and he blinked at her in the dim light of their bedroom. "My love? What's wrong?" he asked groggily, propping himself up on one elbow.

"I need sausage rolls."

It took him a moment to process her words. "You... what?"

"Sausage rolls," she repeated, more emphatically this time. "I'm craving sausage rolls."

Winter stared at her, his sleep-addled brain trying to catch up. "My sweet, it's two in the morning. We don't have sausage rolls."

"Well, then we need to get some," she replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. He knew better than to argue—pregnant Autumn was both adorably insistent and impossible to refuse. Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, he muttered, "Alright, I'll see what I can do."

Bundling up against the chilly night air, Winter grabbed his keys and headed out, the cold biting at his face as he climbed into the car. The streets were deserted, and most shops were either closed or didn't have what he needed. After driving around fruitlessly for nearly twenty minutes, he finally pulled over and rubbed his temples.

"Think, Winter," he muttered to himself. Then it hit him: Reece.

He quickly dialed his brother-in-law, who picked up after a few rings, his voice groggy and confused. "Winter? It's the middle of the night. What's going on?"

"Autumn's craving sausage rolls," Winter explained. "Do you know any place that's open?"

There was a long pause before Reece sighed. "You woke me up for this?"

"Reece, please. You're my only hope."

Another pause. Then, begrudgingly, "I've got the ingredients. Come over, and I'll make them."

Relief washed over Winter. "You're a lifesaver, man."

By the time he arrived at Reece's house, his brother-in-law was already in the kitchen, the smell of pastry and sausage filling the air. True to his word, Reece worked quickly, and within half an hour, a fresh batch of golden-brown sausage rolls was ready to go.

"You owe me," Reece said as he handed over the container.

Winter grinned. "Trust me, I do. Thanks again."

When Winter returned home, the house was quiet. He tiptoed into the bedroom, holding the still-warm sausage rolls, only to find Autumn fast asleep, her hands tucked under her cheek as she snored softly.

Shaking his head with a fond smile, he carefully placed the container in the fridge, just in case she woke up again. As he climbed back into bed, pulling the covers over himself, he glanced at his wife and whispered, "You're lucky I love you."

And with that, he drifted off to sleep, ready for whatever cravings—or adventures—the next night might bring.

[A/N: Can you tell I'm bored yet? I still have to make 2 comic strips and a brochure to be passed tomorrow... That can wait. T-T]