Since the prologue and this are going up together, I'll keep my words short, but let me just emphasize that I have an outline of this story, but it has a lot of wiggle room. So please if you have any constructive criticism or feel I haven't developed something completely please tell me. I've added chapters on reviewer's suggestion before, so please don't hesitate. Oneshots are my specialty for a reason haha.

Onward then!

"talk" think ((scenechange/me))

Also forgot to mention that the original story was set in 2012, so this is a substantial time jump.

The Fall

Chapter One: An Accident Occurs

((In a small house at the base of Windswept Falls))

June 14, 2070

Claire Breeze stepped out of the front door of her tiny home and stretched with a slight yawn. She looked to her left, smiling at the slim waterfalls that fell into the misty river that flowed right next to her home. For such a secluded area, this place is truly beautiful. The mist rose high above the home, providing decent cover should anyone peer over the cliff high above. She lifted off the ground, slowly flying into the mid-morning air. Although it was early, the cliff top was already filled with families peering over the ledge and taking pictures. Claire smiled, stopping so that she was covered by mist should any children be able to spot her. She watched two particularly rambunctious boys race each other near the picnic tables, the elder handily outstripping his younger brother. The younger brother stopped, frustrated, then squealed in delight as the elder picked him up and spun him around.

Claire laughed softly as she watched the children play. Suddenly, she felt a pair of arms snake around her waist, pulling her tight against a male figure.

"Watching again?" a voice whispered in her ear. Claire shivered before turning around in the arms of Jack Frost, her husband of over fifty years. She smiled softly up at him, nodding.

Jack sighed, pulling her tighter against him. "Claire...I wish every day that we could have a child of our own...That I didn't deny you the chance to have your own..."

Claire quickly stifled his words with a peck on the lips. "Jack, it's okay. I have all the children in the world, and I get to spend forever with you...I feel like we've been over this," she said with a wink as she laid her forehead on his, nuzzling their noses together.

Jack chuckled, bringing his hands decidedly lower than her waist. "How about refreshing my memory..." Claire smirked before bringing her lips to his, reminding him what it's like to spend every day of forever with Claire Breeze. As the two kissed, Jack gripped her tighter before falling backwards in the air, aiming for their front door. Without a glance, Jack twisted midair and landed them safely in front of the house. Claire absently reached a hand behind her, blowing the front door open. She giggled as Jack swept her into the living room in a whirl of winter air.

"Oh Jack," Claire whispered as Jack laid her down onto the couch. "Jack!" Claire giggled again as he nibbled on her ear, slightly frosting it with his lips. Of course, Claire didn't feel any colder; a perk of sharing the same powers with her husband.

I really hope Jack Frost gives us a Snow Day tomorrow!

Yeah! I hope so!

Jack groaned as he took one last nip against his wife's neck before floating off of the couch. Claire raised an eyebrow. "Duty calls?" She questioned.

Jack nodded. "New Zealand. It's a tad too early for a Snow Day, but I've never been one to stick to a schedule," he said with a grin. "You coming?"

Although in the past fifty years Claire had become more well-known, if she was mentioned at all she was usually mentioned in the same sentence as her husband-even the world noticed they worked as team.

Claire got off the couch and took Jack's hand. "I'll meet you there," she said as they exited the house. "I want to check on the greenhouse first."

Jack chuckled, looking over to the small greenhouse next to their home. "Sometimes I wonder who you're really married to," he said with a wink.

Claire made a gesture that sent the wind whipping against his rear. "Hey-!" Jack said as he took to the sky. Claire just smiled and waved him on before turning to her garden.

Because Claire could not have children of her own, she took her plants very seriously. Every day she spent a few hours in her greenhouse, tending to the flowers and bushes, ensuring that each received proper care despite the misty atmosphere outside. Time flew by for Claire Breeze as she methodically weeded, watered, and cared for her plants. Although she shared her wintry husband's chilly abilities, because she only controlled the wind she was able to stay for long periods in the hotter climate. Conversely, Jack hated going into the greenhouse and could only stay inside for a few minutes.

You're missing all the fun, Claire, Claire heard Jack's voice inside her head. Lose track of time again?

Claire pushed her mostly-brown hair out of her face, leaving a dirt smear on her cheek. "Coming, Jack!" she said as she put away her gardening tools and stepped out of the greenhouse. However, just before she took to the sky, she noticed something peculiar near the cliffside.

What...? She flew closer, and saw an object rapidly falling down the side of the cliff. Almost like...

A child! Claire thought, panicking as she shot over to the edge of the cliff, trying to catch the child before she fell into the rushing water. Using all of her speed, Claire propelled herself at the child, catching her inches above the water. Her forward momentum carried them straight into the wall of the cliff, but she shielded the girl, back colliding with the solid rock. Winded but mostly unhurt, Claire carried the child to the side of the river to check for injuries.

The child was a young girl; she had bright blond hair and a heart-shaped face. Claire noticed the little girl had a huge gash on the side of her temple, which had probably knocked her unconscious. Claire looked up at the cliff, noticing the many outcroppings on the side. She could have hit any one of those on the way down, Claire assessed as she very carefully checked that she was still breathing and for broken bones. Finding nothing major except the gash on her head, Claire gently lifted the girl into her arms and carried her into the house.

"Jack," she whispered as she laid the girl down on the couch, "you need to come home and see this. Something's wrong."

Claire gently ran her hands through the girl's hair, and she stirred slightly before falling still again. As the silence prevailed, Claire slowly began to panic.

A little girl. There must have been an accident on the cliffside; I have to return her! But how, she's unconscious and I don't know the extent of her injuries...and there is no explaining a girl suddenly returning to the top of the cliffiside alone...how-

Suddenly, the front door burst open, and Jack was at her side in an instant, checking her for injuries. "Claire, what happened? What's-" Jack fell silent as he noticed the girl unconscious on the couch. "Claire-?" he questioned, unable to take his eyes off the injured girl.

"She fell from the cliff," Claire explained, "I saw her as I was leaving the greenhouse and caught her before she hit the water."

Jack was silent for a moment, staring at Claire. "We have to return her," he finally said before moving to pick the girl up.

"Jack, wait!" Claire protested with a hand on his arm. "We can't move her; we don't know if her injuries are more extensive-"

"If we wait too long, her parents will leave-"

"But how will we be able to return her anyways? There's no way to explain a girl that fell off a cliff just miraculously reappearing at the top!"

Jack shut his mouth abruptly. "Fine. We'll wait until she wakes up, and she'll tell us where she lives so we can return her."

"But she's so young," Claire commented as she stared at the girl, "she can't be more than five years old..." Claire's eyes widened as a whole new horror dawned on her. "Jack," she whispered, "What if she can't see us? What if she wakes up and thinks she is all alone in a strange house? What can we do?"

"We'll just have to hope she's the type of girl that believes in fairy tales," Jack said grimly, staring down at her. The girl stirred once again, opening her eyes slightly. Claire held her breath, but she fell unconscious again.

"I'll get her some water," Claire said, moving to the kitchen.

Jack continued to stare at the girl as she slowly came around. Her blue eyes fluttered open as Claire returned to the room. Claire held her breath as the girl's panicked eyes moved around the room. Thankfully, they settled on Jack. However, it appeared that she could see no one else.

"W-Where am I?" the little girl said, panicked.

"Jack, she can't see me!" Claire said in a rush, "Comfort her!"

"Shh, it's alright," Jack said as he knelt down by the girl on the couch. "You just fell and hit your head is all. You're going to be alright; you're safe. What's your name?" he said with a reassuring smile.

"L-lex," the girl said, still scared.

"It's alright," Jack said, gently resting a hand on the girl's shoulder. The girl gasped at the cold, and Jack pulled his hand away. Claire glared at him. Jack looked back at her, shrugging his shoulders in an 'oops' gesture.

"W-why are you so cold?" the girl said, distracted.

Jack grinned at her. "I'm Jack Frost, Lex," he said with a wintry smile, "Have you heard of Jack Frost?" he asked although he already knew the answer.

Lex's eyes went very wide. "Jack Frost? But...why are you here in the summer?" she asked.

Jack chuckled. "You just happened to fall right near my house! Tell me Lex," Jack said as his eyes fell on a clearly-pained Claire for a moment, "Have you ever heard of Claire Breeze?"

Lex moved to shake her head no, but winced. Jack made a sympathetic sound, but refrained from touching her again as he continued, "Claire Breeze is my...partner in crime," he explained, "she controls all the wind in the world! You better watch out for her," he explained with a twinkle in his eye.

As Jack explained to Lex about Claire Breeze, she slowly appeared before Lex's eyes as she began to believe. She gasped, pointing at her. "Who-?"

"It's nice to meet you, Lex," Claire said in relief as she knelt beside the girl, "I'm Claire Breeze," she said, rubbing the girl's arm comfortingly.

"You're not cold," Lex pointed out.

"Nope!" Claire explained, "It's Jack's job to be chilly and frosty. I can be cold if I needed to be, but you need to be warm right now," she said with a smile. "Can you tell me what hurts?"

"M-my head," Lex said, near tears.

Claire continued to rub her arm comfortingly. "It's okay, we're going to help you get all better! Does anything else hurt?"

"No..." Lex said, eyes drooping again from exhaustion.

"That's good! We'll get you all better so we can take you home. Do you know where you live Lex?"

Lex thought for a moment. "No," she said, distressed.

"That's alright," Claire said comfortingly. "Do you know your Mommy or Daddy's name?"

Lex only grew more distressed. "No!" she said near tears, "I can't...remember..." she started to cry, and Claire lifted her from the couch into her arms, sitting on the couch and rocking her until she fell asleep. As she rocked, she met Jack's eyes, who grew more and more concerned as each second passed.

-((To Be Continued!))-

There you have it! Having children was the one issue I felt I didn't address with our couple. Please let me know what you think! More to come soon!

R&R!

~freaky-hanyou