She was standing at the balcony, gazing out across her kingdom, when he saw her. She was regal, poised, yet with an aura that indicated all the power of a blizzard in a bottle. Hair in a long braid over her shoulder, like snow under starlight. And her eyes- blue, like ice, like a winter sky, like a fleeting nuance of the Aurora. As he descended on the wind to get a better look at her, she looked up.

She could always see him. She didn't have to be told he was there.

He was a new spirit in an old world. She was a young queen with nothing standing in her way. And it had been far too long since any of them had seen one another.

"Jack," she whispered.

"Elsa?" His eyes grew wide. "You can see me again."

He sank to eye level with her, and the tears came to Elsa's eyes.

"It's been too long," she said.

"Five years," he agreed.

"But you haven't changed." And she knew that he never would, but it was still strange to her that he was exactly the way she remembered him, even after all these years. Same blue eyes, same snowstorm hair.

"And you, Elsa, you've changed so much," he said, looking her up and down. "You've grown up."

She pursed her lips. "That's what happened while you were gone for five years."

Jack settled on the rail and leaned on his staff, smiling disarmingly. "You're still not mad about that, are you?" When she didn't respond, his eyes grew wide. "Are you?"

Elsa said nothing. The memories had come rushing back to her, a confusing mix of pain and joy. How she would have been lonely and desolate behind the locked door of her bedroom, if not for the mischievous boy who had appeared at her window. How he gently smiled at her, blew snowflakes to her, took her tiny hands and showed her that her powers were nothing to be afraid of. How Jack had guided her throughout the years to control her abilities—how they'd come so close to nailing it—

How he left her one spring, confident she could handle herself, saying he'd be back after he saw the rest of the world out there. How she waved him goodbye, a young girl no more than seventeen years old. How a terrible storm took her parents away from her, orphaning her and her sister…

"I came back right after the funeral," Jack insisted now. "You just…couldn't see me anymore."

"So you left?" she said, her voice small.

"I did. I did, I left, I'm sorry Elsa—but I'm back now." Before he knew what he was doing he'd lifted off the rail and was clutching both her hands in his. "I gave up on you. I'm sorry."

She looked up at him. "I was scared after my parents died. For the longest time, the fear was all there was…" Elsa bit her lip. "I gave up on you, too. I'm sorry, Jack."

He grinned in relief. "I'm just glad you can see me again."

Elsa let out her breath in a chuckle. "So am I!"

They embraced, and the feeling of her body against his made Jack nearly jump in surprise. It had been so long that he'd forgotten that she could feel him, too.

She can feel me, he thought. And I can feel her.

"I'm glad you're back, Jack," Elsa said when they broke apart. "Would you like to come inside?"

"Oh," said Jack, thinking of large uncomfortable rooms and thick walls. "No, I …shouldn't..."

"Come on," Elsa said, laughing. "There's someone I want you to meet."

I simply must go
Baby, it's cold outside
So thanks for the show
But, baby, it's cold outside
The welcome has been
How lucky that you dropped in
So nice and warm
Look out the window at that storm