The lake had turned a much colder temperature than Peggy considered swimmable, so here she was with her girlfriend sitting in a kiddie pool with several cans of soda and miscellaneous other snacks, pretending that they were able to actually throw a pool party. It must’ve been a strange sight; two grown women sitting in a comically small pool with their knees pulled up to their chests, like something out of a cartoon.

“I’m not ready for summer to be over,” Peggy whined, flopping backwards and nearly tipping the whole pool over before realizing what she was doing. One of the numerous free-range chickens on her farm, having gotten a little too close to the water out of curiosity, was startled back with an indignant squawk. 

Felce, Peggy’s girlfriend, shifted her weight in the pool to lessen the risk of further collateral damage caused by Peggy’s overall lack of grace. She was used to this by now, especially around the farm, where Peggy continually forgot her height and tail size and went bumping into things at least five times per day. She found it a miracle that the more outgoing Cinna never even seemed to notice all the times she hit her elbows on tables or stubbed her paws because of her own lack of spatial awareness.  “I know, baby, I know,” the jade Cinna sighed, reaching out to lovingly pat Peggy’s knee. “It sucks when it’s cold, I know.”

Peggy was notorious for hating everything about winter and autumn except for the holidays and the part where she got to harvest and sell some of her most prized crops. The girl would bundle up in as many sweaters as she could before going outside and still complained that she was too cold. Farm chores during the colder months had fallen to Felce ever since they moved in together. She actually quite liked it, though Cyzz forbid she ever said it aloud. There was something nice about being alone with the sheep while she enjoyed the chill across her fur, then coming home to a cup of hot chocolate and plenty of adoration from her lover. Plus, it meant she got to eat things her girlfriend cooked for her. Peggy’s shepherd’s pie never disappointed, nor did her cakes or fresh salads. 

She did feel bad about seeing Peggy so miserable about the weather, though. The second leaves began falling and the breeze grew crisper and colder, Peggy would flop over like a sad stuffed animal and noticeably droop throughout most of the season (except for on Cinnmas, where she rocketed down the stairs like an excited child and somehow always proudly presented the perfect gift for Felce).

“Y’know,” Peggy began after a few moments of sulking, wrinkling her snout in thought, “What if we got a bunch of houseplants so we could make it look like summer inside the house? I’m pretty sure the place where I get some of my farm supplies sells them.”

Felce flicked an ear and narrowed her eyes for a moment, but ultimately didn’t make any attempt at protesting. Peggy was good with plants, even if Felce wasn’t (ironic, considering her flavor). If she wanted houseplants to help her feel better about the winter, then Felce would wholeheartedly support that decision. Anything to see the lilac Cinna light up the world with her smile. “Sure,” she conceded after a few minutes, a smile spreading over her face. “We can shop tomorrow if you want to.”

A ball of sweet-smelling fur and absolute joy crashed into Felce, the air being filled with “Thank you thank you thankyouthankyouthankyou!!!” as Peggy just about crushed her in a bear hug, signature only to her. Her tail, though stiff, did its best to wiggle in appreciation. Faced with no other option and frankly more than happy to oblige, Felce wrapped her arms around her girlfriend and hugged back.

“I love you,” Felce whispered, planting a gentle kiss on Peggy’s forehead when she got the chance to. “I promise you I’ll make this a good winter, okay?”

Almost childishly, Peggy buried her face in her partner’s shoulder, gently squeezing her a little tighter like a loving boa constrictor. “Thank you. I know you will. I love you too.”

---

The rest of the evening devolved into Peggy (who wasn’t very good at staying still for an extended period of time) getting bored, grabbing the garden hose, and coming after Felce with it. Felce figured out that this was the plan when her girlfriend suddenly got up, left the pool, and shortly after released a war cry before spraying Felce in the back of the head with cold water. Pure chaos ensued.

The chickens had been startled in at least seven different directions while the two women took turns chasing after one another with the garden hose. Soaking wet from head to toe, they raced across the grass and laughed until their ribs were absolutely sore. When the sun finally went down and the pair found themselves freezing their tails off in the brisk night air while the crickets gave their last concert of the summer somewhere out in the field, Felce and Peggy bundled themselves up in beach towels and dried off on the back porch, counting stars together in the crystal clear sky.

“Guess now that it’s colder we’ll start seeing more geese, at least,” Peggy observed, letting Felce lean her head on her chest. “Betcha an extra hot cocoa I can catch one this year.”

Felce laughed out loud at that, a crisp and clear sound that seemed to almost light up the night for a moment. “You’re gonna get your butt kicked again, you know that?”

“Nuh-uh!” Peggy challenged in reply, lightly elbowing Felce as she did and affectionately shaking her. “I’m gonna win this time, I swear! All those times I lost were just times I was learning how to win. I’m gonna catch that goose.”

“If your goal is still to hug the goose like last year, we can just get a domesticated one,” Felce pointed out with a loving but slightly sardonic smile. “It’d require a lot fewer bandages for you, too.”

“No, no, I gotta earn it, y’know?”

A moment of peaceful silence passed, and then a soft chuckle. “I know, baby, I know.”

Just two women, deeply in love with one another, sitting on their back porch under the stars after a makeshift pool party, bidding goodbye to the warm days of summer. Somehow, deep down, Peggy knew that this was the beginning of an autumn she would actually like – maybe a winter, too. Everything was better with Felce. That girl was a keeper.

That’s my future wife one day.