A/N: This is written for Little Fish in a Big Pond . . . Hope you enjoy, hon. Anyhow, disclaimer: I don't own Chess, or Freddie, or Florence. I just like toying with them.

Florence Vassy was generally a brave woman (or so she liked to think). Which was probably why she was so looking forward to going skiing – she'd never been before, and the experience would surely be fun. Providing she didn't fall and break her ass, that is. But seeing as neither she nor Freddie got a break like this very often (skiing in the Swiss Alps, with no tournaments or matches to play! Yes!), she was willing to take the risk.

Freddie, too, was looking forward to skiing – it was the transportation up to the slopes that had proved to be the problem.

"Freddie, come on," Florence urged, tugging on his arm. "It's just a cable car!"

"It's a death trap," he hissed. "No way. I'd rather walk."

Florence gave him a skeptical look. "You get tired walking down three flights of stairs, Freddie. You'll never make it up the mountain."

Freddie paused. "Fine. I'll stay in the lodge."

She sighed. "Please? Come on. I promise you'll be okay."

He glared. "Fine. If we die, I'm blaming you."

She laughed. "You do that."

Finally, they clambered onto the cable car and took their seats – Florence sat to Freddie's right, while Freddie sat by the window.

A little girl in a huge parka took the seat next to Florence. "Hi!" the little girl said brightly. "I'm going skiing."

"Me, too," Florence said, smiling back as the cable car slowly began to move. "Is this your first time skiing?"

"Yep," said the child. "What's wrong with your friend?"

"Oh, he's alright – ," Florence began, turning to look at Freddie. "Jesus, Freddie!"

Freddie was trembling slightly, and he had turned pale green in the face.

"We're going to die," he moaned. "I'm gonna puke and then we're gonna die."

"We are not going to die," Florence said consolingly, putting an arm around his shoulders. Just then, the cable car lurched to a halt.

The driver of the car winced and shouted back to the passengers, "Um, just technical difficulties. Relax and enjoy the view."

Florence glanced out the window, and felt a wave of nausea as well – the ground was so far away!

Freddie moaned again. "Florence, if we die, I love you."

Florence rolled her eyes. "That's really sweet, Freddie, but we're not going to die!"

The cable car lurched again, and several women squealed.

"Oh, Jesus," Freddie said. "Hail Mary, full of grace, blah-blah-blah, pray for us sinners now and – ,"

"Are you praying?" Florence said, stunned. "I thought you were anti-religion!"

"I am," Freddie groaned, "I just don't want to go to Hell!"

Florence sighed. "We're gonna be okay."

The cable car lurched for a third time, and this time Florence was one of the women who screamed.

"We still not gonna die," she chanted to herself and Freddie. "We're still not gonna die. We're still not gonna die."

"I'm gonna be sick," Freddie whined, bending down so that his head was level with his knees.

Just then, the cable car slid into motion. "All fixed!" called the operator, "We'll be down in a few minutes."

Sure enough, the cable car safely reached the ground within five minutes. Relieved, Florence was one of the first off the car, Freddie stumbling along after her.

She turned to look at him, grinning. "We're alive! See, I told – ,"

He promptly bent over and threw up all over the ground.

"Ick!" she cried, jumping back a step. "Are you alright?"

He gave her a baleful look. "Next time, we're walking."

Despite herself, Florence couldn't help but think that was a wise choice.

A/N: How was that? :D Poor Freddie, lol, I'm so mean for torturing him like this. Reviews?