This is my little story for the winter challenge.

Johnny lay in his bed, waiting impatiently for the small noise that would tell him she was on her way to his bed.  He shivered slightly and snuggled further under the covers, waiting for her warmth.  The weather had been cold for California, and for the third week in the row, it was well below freezing at night.  He was used to the warmer southern climate, and although his father and brother had laughed at him, he slept with blankets piled high on his bed and still hadn’t managed to stay warm.

One week ago, however, the need for some of those blankets had been lost.  On that fateful night, he had watched as the door swung slowly inward, and she had cautiously approached his bed, unsure of her welcome.  He had hesitated, knowing his father would be horrified, but in the end he had thrown back the bedding and welcomed her into his bed.  The heat from her body had warmed him during that cold night, and kept him warm until she crept out of his room as dawn neared.

Since that fateful night, the two had kept the secret.  During the day they pretended nothing was different, but both knew their nights would be warmer.  Johnny felt a moment’s apprehension; he had caught Murdoch looking at both of them with a speculative look the last day or so.  He hoped their secret hadn’t been discovered, but even as he worried about it, he heard the sound of her small feet in the hall and his door was pushed open.

She crossed the floor and hurried to his bed, sure of her welcome.  She had just settled in when a figure appeared in the open doorway.  Johnny froze as his father approached the bed.

“I KNEW IT!”

“Murdoch, let me explain,” Johnny pleaded.

“There’s nothing to explain.  I’ve obviously been replaced.”

“YOU?”

His father nodded.  “She’s been sleeping with me for the last four years.”

Johnny’s mouth dropped open and he stared at his father in disbelief.

“She’s been sleeping with YOU?”

Murdoch nodded.  “Yes.”  He looked at the two of them and sighed. “I guess I couldn’t keep the secret forever.”

“Does Scott know?”

Murdoch nodded.  “She snuck into his room last year while I was in Sacramento.  She really doesn’t care who she sleeps with, she just heads for the warmest bed.  As soon as the weather warms up, she’ll be back in my room.” 

Johnny tore his gaze away from his father and glared at her.  “Is that all I am? A bedwarmer?”

She gazed at him adoringly, and licked his nose in appeasement. He shook his head.  “I can’t believe I’m just bein’ used.”  He glared at her again, and she snuggled deeper under the covers.  Finally he snuck a look at his father.  “Here I was worried you’d be mad about her sleeping in the house.”

Murdoch chuckled.  “She’s been sneaking in the kitchen window since she was a puppy.”  He walked over and gave her neck a rub, then ruffled his son’s hair before turning and walking out the door, closing it softly behind him.