Everette pov:

I woke up with a chill on yet another frosty day. I yawned and quickly hopped out of bed and started to get dressed and ready for another day. I was going to go ice skating with Jack and his little sister Sophie and my little brother Seth.

Jack is my best friend, well more than friend. We've known eachother since we were babies and were friends ever since, but it wasn't until we were both about fifteen that we started to view each other as more than friends. I love him with all my heart and he returns the favor. I know he would do anything for me, he's always been there for me, even when my mom died, and we are already promised to each other.

Our parents decided it would be a good match and his family is of about the same stature as mine which means it is simply fate that we took to each other for we would have been forced to marry whether we wanted to or not. All matches are decided by parents and me and Jack were lucky enough to be fated together.

Our wedding is to be this summer (and my dad hopes Jack matures more by then, but honestly I'm just as bad with pranks and jokes as he is.), but I do so wish that we could have it this winter. Winter is my favorite season and this winter has been breathtaking!

I love the snow and honestly don't mind the cold. Snow brings so many possibilities for fun, imagination, and not to mention pranks with Jack. Ice skating is one of my favorite things and I'm really looking forward to teaching Seth how to do it.

As I walk into the main room of our cottage I hear a cough coming from Seth's room. I walk over to his door and slowly open it hoping that it was just a small cough and that he wasn't sick, but one look at him and I could tell I was wrong.

His nose was bright red and he kept on coughing. "Hey Seth," I say as I slowly approach his bed, "How are you feeling?" "I'm fine really! I promise it's nothing! Really I can still go!" he replies trying to get out of bed, but I over there in a flash putting him back in and wrapping his blanket around him. "Don't worry Seth, winter has just begun! There'll be plenty of time for ice skating!" I say as I kiss him on the forehead. He sighs and folds his arms, but doesn't make any more attempts to get out of bed as I make my way to the door and shoot him a sympathetic yet encouraging smile.

I head out over the snow covered ground enjoying the sound of the snow crunching underneath my feet as Jack's cottage comes into sight. I'm greeted at the door by Jack who quickly pulls me into an embrace and presses a quick kiss onto my lips and he quietly says, "Everette, aren't you a sight for sore eyes!" . Smiling I press myself deeper into his warmth and look into his kind, mischievous eyes. Just as we're about to kiss again I hear Sophie squeal my name in delight

"Hey Sophie!" I say picking her up and spinning her around as she giggles. As I set her down she looks behind me and with a slightly disappointed look asks, "Everette, Where's Seth? He promised me he was going to come and learn how to skate with me." "That's what I came to tell you little chickadee," I say, "Seth has a cold and needs to stay in bed, but I'm sure he would love a visit from both of you before you go."

Frowning ever so slightly, which is rare for Jack, he says, "We won't go if you have both have to stay home. We can always schedule it for another day and help you take care of Seth." "No, no, it's fine. I want you to go and have fun together." I object with a small smile. "Well let's go and visit Seth at least. What do you think Sophie?" Jack asks knowing she would be excited to play doctor if only for a few minutes. She ecstatically agrees as Jack looks up and winks at me with a cute, little smile, which I return with a grin as I feel myself blush.

Once we're back to my house I lead them to Seth's door and open it. When I poke my head in I see he's out of bed trying to get some clothes from the chest at the foot of his bed. "Seth, exactly what do you think you're doing? You are NOT going ice skating today! You're already sick and the last thing we need is you making it worse." I reprimand as he jumps up startled and drops his clothes back into the chest. "But...but... I'm really not that sick! Please Everette let me go skating with you guys!" He begs. Sighing I grab his shoulder and lead him back into bed.

"You're just going to make it worse for yourself you know, and I'm not going skating today either." I tell him. "What?! Why not?! You love ice skating! If I can't go I don't need you here to babysit me. I'm fine on my own!" He argues stubbornly. "You're just a kid and what if there's an emergency? You'd be home alone with nobody around to help you. Dad's going to be at work all day which means you're stuck with me. You're too young to be home alone, especially when you're sick! You should know better!" I reply hoping this conversation is over because I actually am disappointed I'll miss even a day of ice skating. Winter is far too short for my taste.

Interrupting my train of thought Seth almost yells, "I am not too young! You always treat me like a baby, but I can care for myself just you wait! I'll show you, one day I'll be the one to go out hunting and bring home food and firewood and.. and... I'll be the one taking care of you!"

Sighing I just nod and in a soothing tone whisper, "I'm sure you will. I'm sorry I treat you like a baby and I'll try to stop, but still you are too young to stay here alone." I can tell this answer doesn't fully satisfy him but it will have to do for now. "I'll show you." I hear him whisper under his breath but decide it's best to ignore it.

Turning around I look at Jack and Sophie standing awkwardly in the doorway looking uncomfortable and I quickly switch my face to a fake smile and invite them in. Jack comes over and talks to Seth ruffling his hair, but I tune them out and turn to Sophie and say, "Sophie do you think you could do me a big favor? This is very important and you're the only person I trust to do it." With wide eyes she eagerly nods her head. "I need you to keep Seth company for a few minutes and distract him from his cold and make him feel better, can do that for me?" "Yes! I'll be just like his doctor and make him all better!" Sophie says delighted at her new job.

I grab Jacks hand as he finishes up his conversation with Seth and squeeze it gently. We both walk out together leaving Seth and Sophie alone.

Once we get to the kitchen I begin putting ingredients into a small cauldron and grab a bucket out from under the table. Turning to Jack I grab his hand again with a small smile and start to pull him towards the door. Laughing he teasingly says, "You know if you get cold going to the well I'm not going to give you my cloak!" "Oh you know you will Jack! You practically kiss the ground I walk on!" I reply in the same teasing tone winking at him.

Chuckling he wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me close to him, and putting his lips right next to my ear he teases, "Don't say I didn't warn you, my dear little Everette!" His warm breath on my ear causes me to shiver happily and his closeness makes me blush. Smiling I turn in his arms so we're face to face. We are so close that our noses are almost touching, "Even If I do this?" I say as I close the distance and our lips meet. Closing my eyes I get lost in his kiss, but quickly snap back to reality and pull back. "Okay," Jack says slightly breathless, "Maybe if you do that I'll consider it." I flash him a mischievous smile and he returns it with a wink.

It doesn't take long to get to the town's well and fetch some water. In no time we are back at my cottage and the soup is over the fire just starting to get warm. Sighing I let Jack pull me down to sit on his lap as he calmly plays with my hair and strokes my cheek. I've been so busy lately that I haven't had time to have fun or even think! My dad has been getting up early and going to work and when he gets home he eats and goes to bed. I've had no help, besides Jack, lately with Seth and I feel so old and tired which isn't right. I'm only seventeen and I should be having fun and celebrating considering I'm to be married this summer!

Jacks voice interrupts my thoughts saying, "You know, me and Sophie really wouldn't mind staying here and helping out. Sophie loves being Seth's doctor and I really don't care at all. I love spending time with you and I'm sure we could play some tricks on the kids." his eyes twinkling with mischief at the end.

"That does sound good," I say tilting my head so I can look at him, "but I know Sophie is still dying to go ice skating. I can't steal that away from her. We'll have the rest of our lives to go ice skating together, Jack." I smile up at him but looking into my eyes I know he sees my disappointment at having to stay home, he knows me far too well. "No, she won't mind, I promise this is just as fun for her and she's been looking forward to learn with Seth. Ever, you know it won't be as fun for her without Seth."

"You two are going! What's an extra lesson going to hurt? She'll be one step ahead of Seth and will be skating like a pro in no time. She'll have fun and you are going to take her!" I say stubbornly. Jack puts his hands up defensively and says laughingly, "Alright, alright I'll take her! I just don't like leaving you here alone." "I'll be fine! and you'll have fun!" I laugh as he pulls me closer to him, hugging me tight he leans down and kisses my cheeks. I giggle softly as he starts to kiss my neck repeatedly and slowly make his way to my lips.

The soup almost boiled over before we noticed but we got it off in time and poured out a bowl for Seth. When we went into the room Sophie was interrogating Seth trying to find out all of his symptoms. When they heard us come in Sophie came up to us and reported that he had a cold and should stay in bed for the rest of the day.

Ruffling Sophie's hair I thanked her for her diagnosis and asked if I could return the favor somehow. She stopped for a moment and turned to me decidedly replying, "How about to pay for my diagnosis you'll owe me six ice skating lessons!" Laughing I agree that that seems like perfect payment.

I practically had to shove Jack out the door to get him to leave me at home with Seth. As they were heading out the door Sophie turned around and asked, "This lesson with Jack doesn't count as one of yours right?" "Of course not! I would never cheat a doctor out of their pay!" I reply laughing. Satisfied with my answer she skipped out the door happily. I gave Jack one more kiss goodbye and watched them until they were out of sight.

Sighing I close the door and shuffle over to my brother room. Right when I walk in I'm greeted by Seth shoving his empty bowl in my face. Rolling my eyes I take the bowl and bow dramatically at his door and ask sarcastically, "Will that be all your highness?" Giggling he says, "No that will be all, thank you." and with that I slip out to do the dishes.

When I check back in on him he's asleep so I decide to mend some of our old clothes and patch up some holes. I fall asleep on the chair and next thing I know Sophie is in the room sobbing and screaming for help. I jump up alert and ready and ask, "What happened?! Where's Jack?!" She tells me to follow her and between sobs tells me what happened. There was thin ice and he saved her, but fell through the ice in the process.

I'm frantic and take off running as fast as I can and tell Sophie to get more help. It seems like it takes an eternity, but I finally reach the lake. I see the spot where Jack must have fallen through but it's quickly starting to freeze back over.

I don't know what else to do so I start to go on the ice. I test the spot before trusting my full weight on it and start to make my way to the hole, but before I can reach it a strong hand grabs my shoulder and yanks me back onto solid ground. Sophie was standing behind a group of villagers with tears streaming down her face. They attempt to find Jack but it's too late. Jack is gone.

I hold Sophie and take her home. She is sobbing and sniffling and I tried to stay strong but failed. Tears are silently streaming down my face when I run into Jack and Sophie's mother. She had been told of what had happened and is crying as well. I hand her Sophie and tell her how sorry I was and she tells me I have nothing to be sorry.

I make my way home in silence and can't believe Jack is gone. He was my childhood, my whole life, and my whole future, but now it's all gone. Everything had seemed so perfect only a few moments ago.

I went into Seth's room not sure how to tell him the news. His eyes were wide with concern when he say my tear stained face. "What happened Everette?! Are you alright?! What's wrong?!" He yelled in worry and hopped out of bed and came rushing over to me. Taking in a shaky, uneven breath I start crying as I begin talking, "Seth, I... There's just... I'm sorry let me start over. There was an accident at th-" "Is Dad alright?!" he cried out worriedly. "Yes, Dad is alright, it's Jack." My voice cracked when I said his name, "When he was skating they didn't know how thin the ice was in the center and it cracked. He saved Sophie though and she's fine, but I'm afraid Jack is... He's... gone."

Tears started rolling down Seth's face and he clutched me holding me tighter and curling closer into me hiding his face. "Hey, it's alright, baby. It's going to be okay." I say rubbing his back. Suddenly he snapped back and looked me in the eye and practically growled, "I am not a baby! And I'll prove it! I'm going to take care of you and help Dad provide for us. Just you wait! I'll prove it to you!" I was taken aback and stared at him in shock. What had happened to my sweet boy? He's acting like a totally different person and I can't stand losing both of my boys in one day so I just whispered, "I know, Seth, I know you will."

It was late at night and freezing cold when I was woken up by the soft noise of the front door closing. The events of the day crashed on me like a tidal wave. I was alone. I layed in bed for a few more minutes before I decided it was hopeless. I wasn't going back to sleep so I might as well check out what that noise was.

I slowly get out of bed and slip on my shoes and cloak. I peek in my dad's room and find him fast asleep, and am filled with a feeling of dread as I approach Seth's room. I slowly open the door and find the room empty.

My breath gets short and shallow as I run to the front door and look outside and see his footprints heading towards the woods and see one of our lanterns gone.

I quickly grab another lantern and light it and follow the footprints. There is no way I can lose both of my boys in one day! I start running even faster and spot a weird print in the snow. I examine it closer and realize it's a spear print. He must have dropped it while he was walking.

A sudden realization dawned on me and I take off running as fast as I can. He's trying to hunt something and judging my the size of his spear he's going for something big. He's going to try and prove to me that he isn't a baby. I hadn't meant to provoke him I was just trying to comfort him.

I stop when I hear a scream and take off quickly in that direction, my feet going so fast that they barely touch the ground. I follow the footprints and hear Seth call my name. I'm at the end of the trail of footprints and look up into a tree. He's hanging on a branch that hangs over the rushing river and on the other side of the river his spear is laying on the ground.

"Seth! Seth hang on I'm coming! Please hang on Seth!" I cry out frantically as I set down my lantern and start climbing the tree looking for hand hold on the icy bark. I finally get to the branch he's on and start to crawl over to him.

"Everette I'm so sorry I just wanted to prove that I'm not a baby and I can take care of you too and.. and I was trying to get my spear and slipped and I... I..." Seth said between sobs. " Shhh, Shhh, hey you're alright it's alright just hold on!" I call to him.

I'm almost to him when the branch starts to crack and moves closer to the rushing river. Seth hand slips off the icy bark, but I manage to grab his hand before he fell. The splintering sound of tearing wood is getting louder and I know it's not going to hold for long. I'm holding the branch with one hand and have Seth's hand in the other. "Seth, I want you to know that I love you and tha-" I begin to say before he interrupts me, "Stop it, Everette, Stop it! We are both gonna live alright! You can't die! This is all my fault!" "No Seth promise me you won't ever blame this on yourself! promise me!" "I... I promise!" Seth says.

"You better keep that promise. And remember that I love you no matter what!" I yell. "No, don't! Everette!" Seth yells as I swing him with all my strength to the side of the river. The extra movement is all it takes to snap the branch. There's a loud snap and the last thing I hear is Seth crying out my name before I become immersed in the icy, cold water and ripped underneath by the current.