It didn't matter how warm the hot spring was making that cave -- I was still cold, and I began to shiver uncontrollably. 

Now James looked really worried. "We've got to keep you warm!" With that, he took off his jacket and wrapped that around me as well. "Here. Take mine, too." 

"W-won't you be cold?" I asked. 

"That's not important," he replied. 

I pulled our two jackets around myself and huddled into a ball while James paced about, trying to think of a way to get us out of this predicament. But no matter what I did, I just couldn't seem to get warm -- the cold had seeped into my bones, and no amount of covering was going to get rid of it. I needed something more.... 

James must have heard my teeth chattering because he suddenly stopped pacing and knealt by my side again. "Are you okay, Jess?" 

"Y-y-you w-want me to s-say yes, or do you w-want the t-truth?" I asked as another coughing-fit came on. 

He frowned and patted me on the back until I stopped coughing. My chest was starting to feel heavy, making it harder to breathe than ever before. 

"Still cold?" 

Too out of breath to reply, I simply nodded. 

James seated himself next to me and pulled me into his lap. "Then I'll keep you warm myself." 

"B-but I might be contagious, James," I protested in a faint, scratchy voice. "I don't want you getting sick, too...." 

"I'll be fine," he insisted. "Just trust me. Okay?" 

"Okay," I replied. 

"Just relax, Jess," he whispered into my ear as he held me to him and began to caress my body. "Just take it easy." 

His voice was beautiful...so smooth and calming, and his touch was every bit as gentle. As I put my arms around him and rested my head on his shoulder, he continued to whisper soothing words to me and move his hands down my back. And slowly but surely, the coldness inside of me started to go away. 

But it still wasn't quite enough. 

And somehow, James knew. I guess he could still feel me shivering. 

"Jessie," he said tentatively, "if you still need to be warmer...there's something else we can try...." 

"What is it, James?" 

But as soon as my eyes met his, he began to blush, and he quickly turned away. "N-no. It's stupid. Forget I even said anything...." 

He was really blushing now! At that moment his face was redder than when Meowth had laughed at us for undressing in front of each other...redder, even, than when he'd intimated that he wanted to have children with me some day! What could he have had in mind that was so embarrassing? 

I had to find out, so I persisted. "No! I really want to know, James -- I'm cold, and I'll try anything!" 

"Well...." he said, turning to look at me again. "I once read somewhere...that when two people want to stay warm...they can...share their body heat...." 

"Isn't that what we're doing now?" 

"Uh, yeah, but...clothes...sort of...get in the way. I mean...um...uh...." 

"So what you're saying is, we both take off all of our clothing, huddle together, and cover ourselves with the clothes like a blanket?" I said, finishing the thought that he was too shy to complete. 

He blushed again and nodded. 

"James, that sounds like a great idea," I told him. "Why are you so ashamed?" 

"Because...I didn't want you to think I was...." 

I smiled at him. "I don't think you have a dirty mind, James! I've read about stuff like that in survival guides, too!" I said. "Besides, it's not like we've never seen each other naked before -- we used to bathe together all the time!" 

"But that was when we were kids," he replied. "Things are different now...." 

"How so?" 

"....They just are!" he said, turning away from me. 

"James, our bodies may have matured, but we're still the same people on the inside...we're still the best of friends!" I told him. "I'm not embarrassed for you to see me naked...and you shouldn't be embarrassed for me to see you, either." 

He was still blushing, but he turned to face me again. "Jess, it'll be more than just seeing each other naked -- we're going to be touching, too. Are you sure you want to do this?" 

I nodded. "We touch each other all the time -- I don't have a problem with it!" 

"Not like this, we don't. Are you really sure?" 

I smiled at him again. "Yes, I'm sure, James," I said, pulling off my shirt to show him that I meant what I was saying. "Now come on. We'll keep each other warm." 

James smiled shyly at me and pulled off his own shirt. 

My heart skipped a beat as I watched him undress. He had such a nice body. 

Once all of our clothes were off, James laid down next to me. I put my arms around his waist as he covered us with our uniforms. 

"Don't worry, Jessie," he said, cuddling closer and taking me in his arms. "I won't do anything just because we're...." 

"You don't have to tell me that, James," I replied. "I know you're a gentleman. I trust you." 

A look of surprise crossed his face when I said this. Why was it so hard for James to believe that I respected him? That I had faith in him? 

And I did -- when I looked into his eyes, I could see that making sure I stayed warm was all that mattered to him. For the first time ever, I found that I could trust somebody with my very life. I'd never had to place so much faith in James before, but in all honesty, I never felt safer than I did at that moment. 

I laid my head on his chest and listened to the beating of his heart. It was racing because he was still a little nervous, but he relaxed after a few minutes. 

And those survival guides were right -- now that there was nothing between me and James, the heat our bodies were generating intensified, and the layer of clothing on top of us insulated that heat, keeping us doubly warm. 

All of my troubles seemed to disappear as we laid together in a tight embrace. The unpleasant memories of the snow, my deception, my illness...everything became meaningless. Only James and I existed. Only the two of us mattered. Never before had we been so vulnerable with each other, but it felt good. Sharing this vulnerability only made me feel closer to James, and once he'd gotten over his initial nervousness, I knew that he felt the same way about me. We weren't just surviving -- we were bonding. 

For the first time since we'd arrived on this mountain, I felt truly warm...on the inside and the outside. I felt so safe and warm, in fact, that I was finally able to do something I hadn't done in days.... 

James ran his fingers through my hair and kissed me on the forehead. "Get some sleep, Jessie," he whispered into my ear. "I won't let anything happen to you." 

I know, I said to myself as I closed my eyes and let his warmth and the gentle rhythm of his heartbeat send me into a peaceful slumber.