Author's Note: If you haven't read my other Love Thaws story—Love Thaws: Frozen—then I'd suggest you read that before trying this, but if you really want to, you can read this without having to go back and read a whole other book. After all, this story is drastically different from the last one. And, omgoodness, I already had reviews before I posted a chapter! Anyway, please review and tell me what you think! I've thought a long time about this story and I'm really nervous, but really excited ;)

Elsa stared blankly at the one-way mirror-window in front of her, her legs dangling off of the side of her cot. She was, once again, only in the hospital gown. She hated the hospital gowns. They were thin, stiff, and scratchy. And didn't provide a lot of coverage. But it made it so much more… convenient for the white-clad scientists. Elsa grimaced and tapped her bare foot impatiently. The least they could do was offer her some sort of anesthesia when they went all ballistic on her with the scalpels and needles, but, of course, they were concerned with how someone 'like her' would react with anesthetics. Elsa suppressed the urge to shudder. It wasn't too hard. Nothing she hadn't done a zillion times before. Her face was carefully smoothed into a blank, unreadable expression as she retreated inside of herself, refusing to show fear. Conceal, don't feel. It had almost become a sort of game. Not a very fun game, at that. As long as she didn't show fear, they couldn't win. One thing Elsa hated more than the needles and poking and prodding was the looks they gave her. Some looked at her with disdain, some with plain curiosity, and others looked smug, patronizing even. Whatever look they gave her, she hated all of them—the looks. It vexed her way more than it should have. The first few months, it was difficult. Difficult being an understatement. She couldn't stand how they treated her… like an object. She was so used to being recognized as a human, that anything else was… unbearable, but, over time, she'd adjusted. She learned the invaluable ability to retreat within herself, where even the scientists couldn't reach her with their long, pointed needles, glimmering in the bright laboratory light.

A slot in the wall slid open. A door, in other words. It was the only entrance to her room that she was aware of. And it was impossible for her to cross that boundary without receiving a jolting shock from her collar. She'd learned that the hard way. Elsa fingered the metal band around her neck habitually. A scientist came in. He had scruffy brown hair, a broad jawline and nose. A bushy brown mustache covered his lips. He peered down at her through wire-rimmed glasses. It was a new scientist. Elsa expertly veiled her surprise. There hadn't been a new scientist in the last year or so. She nearly forgot her self-imposed rule of 'conceal, don't feel' when she looked at his eyes. A breath-taking blue, they gave her a long once-over. Almost as if… he regarded her as a human. Elsa barely managed her passive façade as he sat down. Elsa was relieved they hadn't strapped her to a table. In general, if they bound her to a table, it meant the procedure would be rather painful and there would be thrashing involved, on her part.

"May I see your wrist?"

Elsa paused for a moment before offering him her wrist. Almost like she was a princess, offering her hand for him to kiss. He'd actually asked to see her wrist. Well, this day was full of surprises. He retrieved a packet from his pocket, tearing it open. He gently rubbed the alcohol wipe on the back of her hand before stuffing it back into his pocket. He picked up syringe, filled with liquid. Elsa absolutely loathed syringes, but none of her distaste was evident on her expression. She hated them from their shiny, barbed needles to their tick marks to the plunges on the end. The man squeezed her hand gently, almost as if in a reassuring manner.

"This'll be over in a second."

Elsa clenched her jaw, to prevent it from dropping to the floor. She inhaled deeply, restoring her mask, her emotions dissipating. He carefully inserted the needle into the slightly bulging blue vein on her hand. A little stinging prick told her the needle had pierced her skin. He pushed on the plunger, injecting its unknown contents into her blood stream. He swiftly, but just as carefully, removed the needle, replacing it with a cotton ball and bandage. Elsa felt dizzy… and sleepy. She briefly remembered the man squeezing her hand again as she fell into a deep, impenetrable slumber.

Elsa gasped, dragging air into her lungs. Darkness so thick it was palpable coated her, suffocating her. She couldn't see anything. It gave her the strange sensation of being disembodied. Had she… died? Was that a lethal injection? Perhaps she was more valuable as a corpse now. Elsa felt bereft, to say the least, but she quickly dismissed the silly assumption. Logic, she reminded herself. Logic, not emotions, was what carried her through those long years, though she wasn't sure exactly how much time had passed. And emotions certainly wouldn't help her now. They never had. The second she succumbed to emotions, she'd be weak, vulnerable. Elsa blindly felt in front of her, coming in contact with smooth wood. She dragged her hand across a little too quickly and felt wooden splinters prick her skin. She flinched, withdrawing her hand. Apparently, not smooth enough. She began pressing on her confines, trying to force it—whatever it was—open. She stopped, panting from the exertion. She pressed on the roof of the container. It didn't budge. Elsa felt panic begin to pervade her body. How much oxygen did she have left? Where was she being taken? Was she… in a coffin? Elsa resisted the urge to start thrashing frantically at the last thought. Logic, not emotions. She inhaled, her eyes fluttering close. She remained still, her body limp, as long second passed. Elsa had no idea how long she'd remained like that. For days, as far as she knew. She was acutely aware of the hum of machinery below her, the loud whirring of something mechanical.

Finally, the box lid was pried open. Dim light flooded the… crate. She raised her hand, shielding her eyes from the blinding light. Had she been transported to a new laboratory?

"Come on," a deep voice urged her. Obviously belonging to a man.

Had she been captured by terrorists? Was she to be held for ransom? Used as a bargaining tool? Strong hand went underneath her armpits. She felt herself being lifted from the box. She was handled almost… tenderly. Elsa tried to force her eyes open, but they immediately sealed shut again.

"You okay?"

Elsa sucked in a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She didn't know who he was, where she was, she'd been stuck in a box for who-knows-how-long, and she was temporarily blind. Great. Elsa finally managed to pry her eyelids open, ignoring the physical pain. She knew how to deal with pain. Elsa lowered her eyelashes as she tried to observe her surroundings. Her eyes adjusted slowly. She was in… some sort of metal room. A man loomed over her. Her eyes narrowed as she focused on his features. He was breath-takingly handsome with a strong jawline, straight nose, flawless skin, perfect lips, high cheeks bones, and striking blue eyes. The blue eyes were what caught her attention. They were so familiar. So achingly familiar. She studied his face carefully before examining the rest of him. His perfect face was framed by snow-white locks. Jack! Elsa's eyes widened and she glanced up and down at his figure. When she first came to the lab, she'd given up all home of Jack ever coming to her rescue, mounted on a white steed. He was… wow. Different. His face had more sharply cut angles and he looked older. In a good way. He was taller, his shoulders broader. Elsa could see veins running up the length of his arm, along with rippling muscles. He looker leaner. And stronger. And he had a more solemn, serious aura around him. Elsa's heart did a funny little leap, surprising her. Her very first instinct was to run into his arms, but seconds later Elsa realized how foolish that was. She wasn't the naïve, insecure girl she had been a few years ago. Though the lab hadn't taught her much, it did teach her something about people. Everyone had ulterior motives. As did he. Elsa had no doubt that the handsome, young man before her was Jack. But what was he doing here? And why hadn't he come three years earlier? He offered her a hand up, which she eyed warily.

"Come on. We have to go."

Her eyes narrowed as she searched his face for any signs of deceit or malicious intent. "Where?" she asked coldly, her voice void of emotion.

"You'll see." He smiled at her, his teeth as white as ever. She'd forgotten just how dazzling and captivating that smile was. Elsa pushed the thought away.

He pulled her up and held her to his chest. Her back was pressed against his front. Her heart thudded against her ribcage. He began securing straps around her. Elsa froze before frantically trying to wriggle her way out. She couldn't believe how gullible she still was. Elsa resisted his efforts as he tried to slip her leg through a loop.

"Elsa." His deep voice had a strange calming effect on her. "It's okay. I won't hurt you."

Elsa shot him a piercing glance, communicating her doubts about his intentions. Jack seemed momentarily taken aback before he recovered. She saw him flinch as he tried to regain hold of his emotions. So, she wasn't the only one who learned emotional control in the past few years. He undid the buckle on her chest.

"Turn around, Elsa." She turned around slowly, wary of his every movement. He wore straps around his body, a backpack secured to his broad shoulders. "A parachute," he explained, enunciating the words slowly.

"A parachute?" She looked around the metal room. They were going to jump?

"We're in a helicopter."

"A… helicopter?" She was silent. "Where are we jumping?"

Jack sighed. "Wyoming."

"Where in Wyoming?"

"The middle of nowhere."

Elsa frowned. "Why?"

Jack sighed again. "Don't tell me you want to go back to the lab."

Elsa paled at the thought. "No," she whispered hoarsely, her emotions escaping before she could conceal them.

"Good. Come here."

She wasn't going to be that gullible. Again. "Who's driving the helicopter?" she questioned.

"No one. Auto-pilot. It's going to keep driving for a ways and then crash into a mountain side. They're constantly tracking the location of the helicopter. That's why we're jumping now. But we have to hurry. If I slow the helicopter down, they'll know where we jumped."

Elsa cautiously approached Jack, turning so her back was to him, though everything screamed in her not to. He secured the buckle around the top of her chest, pulling it tight. She put one leg into each loop wordlessly. She forced herself to remain rigid, especially since she was pulled flush against Jack's chest. Walking was awkward. Jack was much taller than she was. When he walked to the wall of the helicopter, he practically picked her up off of the ground. Elsa felt a cool draft and realized she was still in her hospital gown. Her body went completely rigid, suppressing the urge to blush. Jack pulled a lever, the back of the cock pit opening, revealing a forest blanketed in snow beneath them. It almost looked like a scene in a model train set.

She was far from comfortable, her body pressed against Jack. Elsa began squirming. She had one more objection. "Why can't I have my own parachute?"

"You know how to parachute? Great," he replied sarcastically.

Elsa tried not to scowl, keeping her face blank. Jack took her silence for a negative answer and walked towards the brink of the cockpit, Elsa still suspended, bound to Jack's body. The wind buffeted Elsa, whipping her hospital gown around her thighs.

"Close your eyes," he whispered, his lips moving against her ear.

"Why—" Elsa was cut off as Jack abruptly stepped over the edge. She could feel herself plummeting towards the earth, far too terrified to scream. Then their sharp descent stopped and they seemed to almost float. The ground didn't seem to be getting any closer. Her eyes dried out immediately and they flooded with tears. She quickly closed them, protecting them from the stinging wind. Elsa inhaled the sharp, frigid air. The wind was blowing against her, she was falling towards the ground face down. The wind blew against Elsa, blowing her hospital gown against her body and preserving her modesty. She could feel her cheeks being pushed upward. Her hair flew back, flying into Jack's face. There was a sudden jerk and their descent slowed immediately. Elsa dared to open her eyes, casting her gaze upwards. He'd released the parachute. She quickly closed her eyes again. They slowly drifted downward. Elsa wasn't sure for how long. She felt Jack behind her, pulling on something, and they slowed even more. Her eyes fluttered open when she felt Jack touch the ground. She exhaled, relieved they weren't falling anymore.

"See, not too bad."

Jack unbuckled her. Elsa glanced around. They were, indeed, in the middle of nowhere. Her feet sunk into the cold, powdery snow, the ice crunching beneath her bare feet. Once again, she was acutely aware of her hospital gown. She whirled around to face Jack. He was busy unstrapping himself from the parachute. Now was her chance. Elsa took off sprinting through the forest, her feet leaving prints in the fresh snow. Tall pine trees loomed overhead, an occasional branch scratching her. She stumbled, but got back up. She continued running. Something barreled into her from behind. In the next instant, she was lying on the cold ground.

"Where're you going?" Jack felt a twinge of hurt that she didn't trust him, but, then again, he wouldn't trust him either. He shouldn't be so surprised Elsa didn't trust him after what had happened. She squirmed in his grip, briefly distracting Jack. She felt nice in his arms, her body brushing against his as she moved. His heart began racing. He was brought out of his observations by Elsa's voice.

"Let me go!"

"Elsa, I asked where you're going."

"I heard you the first time."

"Well then, answer me," Jack demanded.

Elsa continued to struggled, but Jack's grip was unrelenting.

"Think about it, Elsa. You don't even have a ride to civilization. You don't even know where the nearest town is." He waited while Elsa contemplated his words. "You know, it's been a while since you've been… out. The world's changed, Elsa."

Elsa was silent for a while. "Well, what are you proposing?"

Jack was tempted to blush. "Exactly that… I'm proposing."

He felt Elsa's petite frame stiffen in his arms. "You—"

Jack exhaled. "I've got a marriage license for both of us." Elsa's soft hair tickled his face. He inhaled, taking in her scent, making him slightly dizzy. She smelled slightly of the lab, but she still smelled… like Elsa. Jack swallowed. He could feel electric tingles running up and down his body, an effect from having her so close. "We can have it nullified after this is over… if you want," he added, trying not to flinch.

"We're… married."

"Legally, yes."

"But how did you—"

"I have connections."

Elsa grew silent. She was silent for so long, Jack thought she'd refuse. "Fine." Her voice had grown cold. Frigid.

Jack reluctantly released her, offering her a hand. She promptly ignored his hand, standing up by herself. Jack could scarcely breathe as he watched her brush snow from her silky hair, which cascaded in lustrous waves down to her waist. Her skin was soft and pale, flawless. Her eyes seemed to have gotten brighter, more brilliant. They sparkled in the sunlight like a pair of luminescent diamonds, radiant and beautiful. Her cheeks were slightly pink. Jack assumed it was from the cold. She brushed a stray tendril of hair behind her ear, gently brushing her high cheekbones as she did so. Her perfectly-shaped lips were a beautiful rose bud pink. Jack saw tiny flecks on snow on her long dark lashes, framing her pretty forget-me-not blue eyes. She arched a slender brow on him and put her petite hands on her cute hips. She'd matured… nicely. She was beautiful before, but… wow. She looked ethereal, like some angel fallen from the celestial heavens. She looked far too beautiful to be gracing this world of mortals with her presence. She was staring at him and Jack realized it was because he was staring at her. A faint pink dusted his cheeks. He ducked his head and turned away, hiding his burning cheeks. He thought he'd grown out of his blushing faze. Jack waited for his cheeks to cool off. After all, men didn't blush.