honestly, this can be read as platonic with blink-and-you-miss-it unrequited feelings.
shauna blew on her hands, desperately trying to warm them up. her fingers weren't the only body part beginning to feel numb. shauna was bundled up in jackets, jumpers, and sweaters—if it was comfortable and warm, she was wearing it. she'd even snuck into your backpack to wear your red sweater. she figured that the jacket she wore would cover it up, and even if you did see it, she was pregnant for crying out loud—she deserves a break.
you were climbing up the ladder, practically drowning in warm clothing. you look her up and down and smirk, before making eye contact. "is that my red sweater?" you teased. shauna blushes, an excuse forming when you giggle, "keep it. looks better on you than me," she snorts.
"you sure? you look pretty chilly," she replies. you were barely even shivering, she was just so shocked about being caught, that she wanted to give you the sweater back.
"i'm helping mari cook belt soup tonight," you joke, rolling your eyes, "tasty, i know. but you're always trapped up here, or the meat house with. . . you must get cold more than me, that's all I'm saying," you wince, hoping she didn't catch on to you referencing jackie. it was a tough subject for shauna, and you couldn't help but want to pull her in tightly and squeeze the baby out of her.
shauna shook her head, "i'm nice and toasty," she laughs, she subconsciously rubs her belly, causing you to force a smile. you feared for her baby—in the beginning, you were pissed because the last thing you guys needed right now was a baby, but as her pregnancy progressed, you realised that the team could use some source of light. you just had no confidence the baby was going to make it. it was too cold and it's mother was starving.
"i'll be downstairs if you need me, just up here to check up on you," you begin your descent down the ladder when shauna calls out for you. you turn around, smiling softly as she bit her lip and looks at the ground, avoiding your gaze.
"can you stay?" she asks, you nod, walking over to her. she sits on her makeshift bed, staring out the window; you take a seat next to her, watching her watch the white forest outside.
she shakes her head, finally looking at you instead of the window. tears were springing to her eyes as she confessed, "i can't stop thinking about jackie. about how i should have gone outside and gotten her," tears slowly streamed down her pretty face. you pulled her into your arms, rubbing her back soothingly to calm her down.
"it's not your fault, no one knew it would snow," you reassure her, pressing your head against hers.
she shakes her head again, pulling away. "it is my fault, she's my best friend, i should have gone out there. i shouldn't have argued with her in the first place. i shouldn't have slept with her boyfriend!" she cried.
you wipe away her tears with your thumb, cradling her cheeks in your hand. "look at me, shauna. jackie loved you; she'd hate to see you beating yourself up like this," you whisper.
shauna nodded, looking deeply into your eyes, "i'll never be able to forgive myself," she mutters.
"i'm sure jackie already has," you respond. you didn't realise how true you were. "come 'ere," you embrace her again, letting her head rest against your chest. she smiles softly, listening to the sound of your heartbeat. "dinner's gonna be ready soon, it's not much, but it's better than nothing."
"okay," she whispers. you stand up, offering her your hand—which she gladly takes. you help her get down the ladder, before walking into the living room hand in hand. you both greet the other girls, with tai sitting next to shauna and mari sitting next to you.
your dinner was no feast by any stretch of the imagination. natalie and travis hadn't successfully found any game in months. but you still enjoyed it, as you felt closer to shauna—you even offered her the rest of your bowl, not that it added much nutrients.
that night, shauna fell asleep in your arms. you'd moved your stuff upstairs but ended up sharing the sleeping bed with shauna. she rested her ear against your chest again, soothed by the comforting sound your heart made, before sighing.
you watched, as she snored lightly. tai sent you a knowing look, before turning over and pulling her covers up to her neck.
it was a freezing cold night, but in shauna's embrace, you were nice and warm.
