Frida was a pretty good nurse, she made sure Manny's wound was cleaned properly everyday and rebandaged it with new strong gazeses. Within a week Manny's arm was completely healed. By that time the harsh winter storms had finally calmed down leaving behind light and cool snow days. One morning Frida decided to go outside and explore the winter wonderland. Rosa had laid out a long sleeved, satin blue dress with a matching blue winter cloak for her to wear outside along with some comfortable and warm winter boots. She slipped on her outfit, tied her hair up with a blue ribbon, and went outside.

The castle gardens were beautiful covered in crystal white snow. It reminded her of the paintings of snow castles and winter kingdoms that she had seen in the village. This however was much better than all the paintings combined. The snowflakes that fell on to her were cold but soft and she couldn't help but start dancing in the falling snow. Unknown to her Manny was watching her from the castle and found himself admiring the young girl dancing in the snowflakes. She looked like a little snow fairy to him with the snowflakes in her hair and the cold turning her cheeks rosy.

He then watched her pull half of loaf of bread from her dress pocket and began feeding bread crumbs to a group of red cardinals and bluebirds on the snowy ground looking for seeds or berries to eat. They gratefully thanked her for the snack she gave them by singing her a little melody. She smiled and hummed along with their song. All too soon the birds were scared away by a footstool that came running toward them braying like a donkey. In his haste he accidentally slipped on some ice and fell into a big snow pile

"Hey you!" She giggled helping him out of the pile. "Calm down you're scaring the birds not to mention you might hurt yourself on the ice."

The footstool brayed cheerfully and licked her face making her laugh. Manny smiled at hearing Frida's laughter, it sounded like the chimes of silver bells to him. She was so cheerful and happy not to mention very kind to him. He couldn't believe how she tended to his wounds all week, she had touched him without showing any kind of fear. That made him feel...different.

"She is beautiful no?" T.J said noticing Manny's never breaking gaze on Frida.

"Yes." He agreed. "And I'm hideous."

"Not to mention ill tempered."

"Hey! I'm working on that!" He groaned. He looked back at Frida and smiled. "I've never felt this way about anyone. I wanna do something for her, to make up for how I treated her when we first met and to thank her for what she did for me."

"Brilliant idea."

"Thanks but there's just one problem."

"What's that?"

"I don't know what to do for her."

"Don't worry." Jorge said. "Just do what I do when I have trouble with women."

"Which is?"

"Oh you know the usual, flowers, chocolates, promises you don't intend to keep."

"No! Nononono." T.J disagreed. "Ignore him Manny, he hasn't had a date since your grandmother and that was fifty years ago."

"Hey!"

"Look Manny you think this girl is special right?"

"Yes."

"Really special? More special than any other girl you've met."

"Yes."

"Then you'll have to do something very special."

"Like what?"

"Something that sparks her intrests. Wait a minute! I have just the idea!"

T.J then whispered something into Manny's ear. When Frida came in from being in the snow Manny came to greet her.

"Good morning." He said politely.

"Good morning." She said.

"Did you have a good time in the snow?"

"Yes."

"Listen I...I wanted to say thank you for helping me get better especially after I've been so mean to you and I decided to...To..."

"To what?"

"Well it's a surprise."

"Okay where is it?"

"You'll have to close your eyes first."

"Alright." She closed her eyes.

"Good now follow me." He said walking away.

"Um...Manny?"

"Oh right! Sorry!"

He took her hands in his which made him silently nervous and led her upstairs and down the hall way til they reached a room. He opened the doors and led her inside.

"Can I open them now?" She asked.

"Alright now."

When she opened her eyes she found herself standing in a huge library with shelves filled with hundreds and hundreds of books. She was so amazed that she could hardly speak.

"I...I can't believe this." She said. "Where did you get these?"

"Um...My mother was a bit of a bookworm. Do you like it?"

"It's wonderful."

"Then it's yours."

"Seriously?"

"Yes."

"Thank you. Thank you so much I love it."

"I'm glad. It's the least I could do."

Frida was surprised by how Manny was suddenly acting. One minute he was the mean, coarse, and unrefined and the next thing she knew he was dear, sweet, and somewhat unsure. But she didn't complain in fact she enjoyed his new behavior. At lunch they sat together at the table and a meal was served but Manny had a difficult time eating properly. In fact he ate like a dog, when he saw Frida's slightly weirded out face he stopped and blushed.

"Uh...Excuse me?" He said.

Frida burst out laughing, he joined in her laughter. After lunch she asked him to come out in the snow with her at first he didn't want to but her big blue eyes begged him to. When he his back was turned Frida mischievously gathered some snow into a ball and threw it at him.

"Cold! Cold! Cold!" He cried shaking while Frida laughed uncontrollably. "Oh you think that's funny do you?"

He made a snow ball and threw it at her. Soon the two of them were caught in a snow ball fight that lasted for hours. When it got dark the two went inside with cold bodies, wet hair/fur, and rosy cheeks and noses. They decided to warm up in the library where a fire had been started in the fireplace and Mrs. Chiquita had prepared some hot tea and cookies for them to enjoy.

"I haven't played in the snow in forever." Manny said. "I forgot how much fun it could be."

"Then you've been missing out on a lot. If you don't mind I'd like to read something."

"I don't mind."

"Would you like me to read to you?"

"Sure."

Frida pulled a book off the shelf, sat next to Manny, and began reading to him. Manny listened with the utmost attention and he enjoyed hearing her voice say such exciting things that the books had written in them.

"The end." She said closing the book as she finished it.

"Wow, that was good. Could you read it again?"

"Well why don't you read it to me?"

"Um...I can't."

"Wait are you saying you can't read?"

"I can read! It's just been awhile and I'm a little rusty with my literature."

"Oh!" Frida fought the urge to giggle.

"Don't laugh! It's embarrassing!"

"You're right, I'm sorry, then we'll read it together."

"Okay."