First, I want to make clear that I have NOT read The Rise of the Guardians books series, so this fic is not book-accurate. Nor have I seen the movie (YET) so I appologize if my characterization of Jack is off. This was a quick idea I had that I wanted to write down. It's an AU in which Jack Frost exists in Merida's era. It's implied that they met when Merida was young, and takes place a few years after Brave. Enjoy!

Winter. Finally winter. Merida's breath came hard and fast as she raced down the tower steps, throwing her warmest cloak around herself snugly as she ran. This time of year was beautiful at the Castle Dunbroch; the towers were capped with snow, and the trees surrounding it hung with sparkling crystal icicles. The air was crisp, and the sun was sharp, and Merida saw none of it as she headed for the woods. Winter was beautiful, yes, but it was also a promise, a guarantee. As soon as the first hints of frost had graced the courtyard, Merida had spent every morning in the woods, waiting, watching, and sometimes searching impatiently. She knew he would always be there, and resented the fact that he enjoyed making her wait, often for days until he finally appeared, wielding a sarcastic tongue, and a familiar embrace.

It was day five and she'd seen so sign of him, though the snow was strong and the wind freezing. He was here. The evidence was all around her, so why not show himself? How patient could he expect her to be?

Her patience had worn thin more quickly this year, she'd noticed, and it hadn't been half an hour before she heaved a handful of snow at a nearby tree and turned back toward the castle, only to find him lounging up against another tree smirking.

"Oh, aye," she said, gathering another handful of snow. "Hilarious!" She threw it at him with the impeccable aim that he always avoided.

"Hey, hey, I have work to do you know. I have the entire world to take care of, not just you, princess." he laughed as she missed him again.

"Don't you toy weth me, I know you could come here first if you liked," She giggled as they circled one another, the occasional snowball flying between them. "And don't call me princess. You know I don't-" His movement was swift and precise, and Merida was comfortably trapped between him and the nearest tree before her sentence had ended.

"Well then, please allow me to apologize," He leaned in and kissed her gently, pulling away after only a few brief seconds. "Princess,"

"Och, Jack!" Merida pretended to pout as Jack rose into the air laughing. She grabbed his hand and pulled him back down, throwing her arms around him.

"I've missed you," Jack whispered as he held her tightly.

"Well you've been away a year!" She retorted pulling back and pushing him playfully.

"Like I said, work to do; snow to create, water to freeze…speaking of," He wrapped an arm around Merida's waist and flew them both high into the sky, and Merida squealed. She loved to fly, and envied Jack the ability.

Jack perched them on the roof of the highest tower, and pointed to the east.

"Look there," He lowered his face close to hers so she would be sure to follow his gaze, and smiled wide when she gasped. The sun was just rising, and beneath it, off in the distance, sat a large lake, now frozen, which reflected the light just so that it sparkled and gleamed like a thousand jewels between the trees.

"It's beautiful," Merida whispered, glancing at Jack. He smiled sheepishly back at her.

"Yeah, well…It's kind of the reason I'm late. I don't usually freeze the lakes all at once like that, it takes time, but I wanted you to see it sooner. Took me two days." He put a finger to her lips as she began to speak, no doubt to scold him for spending two days on something that would have happened anyway.

"Indulge me, please; I just wanted to do something nice for you." Merida smiled, and stood on her tiptoes to kiss away his embarrassment."

"Thank you, Jack."

They spent the day practicing archery, Jack throwing snowballs and ice targets into the air, and Merida sharpening her aim. They'd gone hunting once, a year or two ago, but the blood had turned the snow a sickly red, and Jack had felt uneasy. They decided to stick to practice, and at the end of the day, they said their goodbyes, because in the end, that's all they had. One day was all that Jack could spare from his duties as the master of the winter season. Merida had asked once, even begged him to take her with him. She wanted to see the world, and to see it with him would be extraordinary. But it couldn't be that way. He traveled the way no mortal ever could, and wished her safe and warm at home.

"The waiting is torture," Merida cried softly, head hung low. Jack stood sadly in front of her, trying to think of a way to make her see how he loathed the waiting as much as she did. As a sob shook Merida's frame, Jack did the only thing he could think of. Desperate to show her he shared her feelings, he took her face in both hands, wiped away her tears with his thumbs, and kissed her. It was soft, but warm and passionate, and then fiery and beautiful as she slid her arms around him, holding him closer.

It had been their first kiss, and he'd spent the rest of the year nearly jumping out of his skin to do it again.

Their were limitations, though. Rules about humans and immortals, and he knew them, but had managed to push them all to the back of his mind and forget them. He'd been in love with Merida for years now, and no matter how hard he tried to tell himself that it couldn't last, that…that she wouldn't last…his thoughts buried themselves deep and he forgot again.

Today, as always, he thought nothing of them, until he hugged her close, kissed her, and thoughtlessly unleashed the three words he'd told himself never to utter.

"I love you,"

It was for her sake. She was human; she had a limited life span. It was selfish of him to love her and wish for her love in return, and yet he did. He hated himself for forcing such a choice on her, and the weight of the moment knocked him off his feet when the words, "I love you, too," glided through the air and wound around his soul. Merida dropped down to try and meet his eyes. "Jack? Are you alright?" Her hands rested lightly on his shoulders, her touch steadying him and knocking him over at the same time.

"You can't," It was an almost inaudible whisper.

"What? Jack, I didn't-"

"You can't," He said more forcefully. He suddenly stood up straight and loomed over her. Merida rose as well, expecting him to be joking, but his expression was pained and sad.

"I…I can't? I can't? But I do! I-"

"Merida, listen to me. I do love you, but…" He had to look away as realization dawned on her and tears fell one by one onto the snow at their feet. He could feel their warmth tingling along his skin and their sadness in his heart.

You're human, and I'm-"

"Not," She finished.

"I'm selfish," he elaborated, trying to explain.

"And I'm not? You're supposed to be out turning the world to ice. That's what you do, that's what you're supposed to do, and yet you come here every year because I throw a fit if you don't! I'm a child…you've seen everything and I've seen nothing. I would never dream of keeping you from that just because I love you, but I can't help it!"

"And you're supposed to be living a normal life and marrying some lord!" Jack pulled away and began to pace in frustration.

"Aye, that's what my mother wants! My mother, not me!"

"Don't you want to be a mother some day? I don't know if I could do that for you! I have no idea if I'd be able to give you children, if that would even physically work! I can only be here in the winter…you'd be alone all the time, and I don't want that for you. I want you to be happy."

Merida stood still for a moment, then slowly approached Jack and took his hand.

"I am happy," She said quietly. They were both quiet for a long time. Finally, Merida looked up and spoke.

"If you could, would you?" her voice was soft, nervous, but her mind was made up.

"Would I what?" Jack simply stared back, confused. Merida drew a deep, shaky breath, preparing to fully spell out her question.

"If you could give me children," she paused to breathe again. "Would you?" Jack closed his eyes and pressed his forehead to hers.

"Merida…even if I could…you'd be ruined. We're not married, I'd hardly ever be around to see you and the baby, and to grow up without both your parents…It's painful. I never had either of my parents, and it's-"

"They'd have both of us. Being here sometimes is better than never being here at all. And you could see them all, Jack, every single one. Grandchildren, great grand children. You could look out for them and tell them stories about the world they've never seen. And if not…if not all that," She closed her eyes and a tear fell to the ground. "Then please, just give me one night. You're right, we can't get married, and it breaks my heart…and if it doesn't work like you said, then it doesn't matter, right?"

"It matters," By now Jack was holding her close, wanting nothing more than to give her exactly what she wanted. All of it…and at length he made a decision.

"Alright," he said softly. "One night." he pulled back and kissed her sweetly. "But I get to choose when," He winked, and then began to rise into the air.

"I'll see you next year?" Merida called as he flew away.

"Always!" He called back.

"Promise?" Merida stifled a sob.

"Promise!" and then he was gone.

I May end up writing an epilogue for this, haven't decided yet. Hope you liked it! :3