Jack figured what he had to do. He was so sure that Emma had seen him; he was determined to make her believe in him. He would use his center to do just that. He realized this may be hard; anytime he tried to have fun with Emma before, she seemed disinterested, brushing it off. But he would try, and try, and nothing would stop him from trying even more.

He waited for her outside, and soon enough Emma came out and retrieved her bow. She set up her target, and instead of watching her from afar, Jack stood near her, and waited for her to get set up.

Emma breathed deep, a habit of finding one's center and calming herself. She had a mindful today. Freddie was out; her mom was out running errands. Emma smirked; she hoped her mother happened to run into Freddie and his lady-friend. And, with more confidence she had in a while, she squared her shoulders, brought her flat bow up and found her sight. She released, and the arrow sailed.

Jack smiled and pointed his hand outward. The wind blew, carrying the arrow to the center of the target. As the arrow landed in the bull's eye, snow exploded from the target. Emma jumped in surprised as Jack laughed. He flipped his staff, and the snow flurried from the target and swirled all around Emma, who crinkled her nose and shook her head as the snow tickled her face.

Emma was very unsure of what just happened, she slowly pulled another arrow from her quiver, and lined it up. Jack jumped in anticipation; he was very excited to show her what he could do. Emma didn't quite square herself, not used to actually getting a bull's eye. She took a breathed and released the arrow.

Right in front of Emma's eyes the arrow became coated in ice as it sailed through the air and glided on the wind to another dead center hit. Ice exploded from the bull's eye in shards and Emma covered her face away. "What the?" she walked over to the target and brought up her finger, and touched one of the icicles with the tip of her finger. It was sharp, and she was shocked at what was happening. She looked at the ice, which was clear and sparkly. "There was no ice on this before…"

Jack smiled as he leaned over to watch her. "That's me I did that!" he laughed and bounced on his heels, "Say, we work pretty good together! Are you ready for another one?"

Emma stared at the ice, her hand gripped tightly around her flat bow. Her eyebrows furrowed together in thought. Jack leaned in and looked closely at her face. "Don't you want to shoot again?"

Emma didn't respond to him, she just stared at the ice in thought. Jack looked from her to the ice, "here, watch," he said, he tipped his staff forward, and the crook gently touched the edge of the largest icicle, and it slowly bloomed, fragments of ice spreading across and around in beautiful curves, and formed an open rose. Emma's gasp brought a gentle smile to Jack's face.

Her hands shook and her bow fell gently to the ground, sinking in the snow. "That can't be happening. This-this isn't real…"

"It is," Jack exclaimed, and stepped into her view, "It's me, it's Jack Frost! You just have to believe in me, Emma, and you could see me!" he clenched his fists in front of him, "I'm right here."

Emma's shoulder's tightened and the stood straight, looking unsure at the ice flower. Jack felt a stab of sadness. "Come on Emma I know you could see me, if you just tried."

Emma suddenly turned on her heel and walked away from Jack quickly. Jack's shoulders slumped, "You just have to believe Emma…"

Jack walked around the block, wondering what else he could possibly do. He tapped his staff along the trees he walked by, freezing them over. He pretty much just spelled it out that there was something she couldn't see going on.

Emma remained cooped up in her room for most of the day. After the third or fourth time around the block, Jack jumped up on her sill to watch her again. She was just sitting in her bed, staring at her hands. Jack sighed, he rested his head on one of the window panes; Emma jumped.

She looked up at the tapping noise and saw one of her window panes frosting over; her breath caught. Why were these things happening? What was going on with winter? She checked all the news stations and nowhere did it say strange things were happening with the weather. She clenched her hands and stared at the window.

Jack stared at her, watching her wait. Slowly, he pulled his hand up and pressed his fingers to the glass. Another window pane frosted over, and he saw Emma's eyes go to it. He pressed his lips together and brought his finger tip to the frosted glass.

Emma stared at the window pane and bit her lip. She felt her heart quicken as she saw an image being etched into the frost. It started with six spires coming out of a point in the center. Each of those spires got three more lines drawn off of it. Emma realized it was a snowflake. She cleared her throat and stood up. Jack watched her as her eyes flicked over to her bookcase.

Emma's eyes found her Christmas book. The one where Santa Claus is trying to save Christmas by delivering all the toys to the children, but the evil Jack Frost it trying to steal Christmas, using his powers over winter to cause trouble and disrupt Santa's workshop, and even tries to replace Santa.

She walked quickly over to her book case and snatched the book from the lowest shelf. She ran back to her bed and sat with her back to the window. She flipped open the pages to find what she was looking for, the introduction of Old Man Frost.

Old Man Frost a.k.a. Jack Frost, was old, and had long silver hair the color of ice. He had a beard that dripped off of him like icicles, and wore a cloak of snowflakes. Everywhere he walked he left a trail of dangerous sleet, and his eyes were the color of black ice. Emma's finger's pressed into the page, making the paper wrinkle.

Jack Frost was dangerous, and if he was really out there, and trying to contact her, Emma wanted nothing to do with it. She tossed the book on her bed and got up to walk out. She would ignore it. They were just child's fairy tales; not reality.

As Emma left her room, the wind blew the window open, and Jack climbed slowly inside. He walked over to the book and peered at the page. "Old Man Frost?" he asked, offended, "I'm not the bad guy, who say's I'm the bad guy? And I'm not old!" Jack clenched his staff and looked up to the doorway Emma had left though. "She thinks I'm evil?"

Jack sighed and bent over the book, staring at the sinister picture. He ran a hand through his hair, this was going to be harder then he thought.

Later that Evening, Emma was sitting with her mother at the dining table. Freddie was still out; her mother had not been able to get ahold of him. Emma knew where the bastard was, it wasn't a hard guess, but she knew her mother wouldn't agree.

"How have you been Emma?"

Emma blinked and looked up at her mother. She wasn't looking back. It was the most personal question she had asked her daughter in a long time. "You've been spending an awful lot of time in your room today."

Emma shrugged. She didn't want to talk about it. Her mother would think she was crazy. Hell, she thought she was going crazy. What was there to say? I think the snow is trying to talk to me?

"You seem to spend more time outside with that bow of yours. I wish you wouldn't have that thing."

Emma raised an eyebrow. Ever since she came home from summer camp with the intent of keeping up with archery her mother had been against it. At first, she was glad because they would never be able to afford things like that. But Emma was crafty. She made a bow, arrows, and a target of the firewood they kept in the backyard, and the tools in the work shed. She had even lovingly made a quiver out of a wine tube someone had given her mother for Christmas, and an old sheer scarf. Her mom was distraught when she saw Emma outside with a "dangerous weapon" and got the idea Emma was going to try and hurt Freddie.

"I like that thing. There's nothing to do around here over the weekends." Emma said.

"You could watch the television."

Emma snorted, "Yeah right. Even if we had cable I wouldn't. I'd rather be outside."

"Don't you hate the snow and cold? I wish it would go away. I feel like every day I wake up there is more snow." Her mom had a look of disgust, "You shouldn't want to be out in that ick."

"I like that ick." Emma said, thinking of the way the cold air made her lungs feel crisp, how her skin stung, making it feel new.

"Why can't you be more like normal kids Emma?"

Emma set her utensils firmly on the table. "Because I am me; I wouldn't be anyone else." However, she thought, I wouldn't mind not being in this family. "I think I will be going now."

"Emma wait," Her mother said to her as Emma stood and began to walk away. Emma turned to look at her. Her mother stared at her; she couldn't find words to say to her daughter. Emma turned and walked away from her. She looked down at her food and fought the urge to weep over her broken life.

When Emma finally grabbed her jacket and left her room, Jack leapt up in excitement and rushed to the window. Luckily, Emma left it open when she discovered it. This was the time, Jack thought, we are going to the park, and I'm going to be sure to get her to have fun and let go. "I'll see you at the bottom." He smirked and nodded to Emma before jumping out the window; Emma was already heading out her door and down the hall.

Emma pulled her jacket on while she walked down the stairs. I'm not going to let whatever is going on stop me, she thought, I'm stronger than that, and I'm not going to be afraid. If something magical was happening here, then maybe she could use it as a catalyst to escape her family.

Jack was waiting at the door for her when she opened it and came through. He jumped up into the air and flew alongside her. "Ready to go?" he asked, anticipation building up inside of him. He knew the moment was right, and he started to realize just how drawn he was to this human girl. As they made their way up the street, his fingers itched to touch her hand, which hung so close to his. But he didn't; Jack knew he had to wait for the right moment to use his magic on her.

As Emma walked alone down the quiet street, she kept looking around to see if anything was going to happen. As she thought, the snow started to lift up and swirl around her in a playful way. She smiled slightly as she crossed the street to her park. She made her way to the swings, and sat down. She stared out into the night sky. The clouds were starting to part, and the stars shone through like diamonds. Sometimes you could see the moon poke through, looking down upon her with a smile. The snow glistened, but she didn't look at it, she stared at the sky and started to pump her legs.

Jack floated up as Emma got higher and higher he smiled letting her get to the highest point, and then, to his surprise, Emma reached out her hand towards the sky, reaching for the moon, reaching for him. Jack reached out to her and grasped her hand.

Too soon Emma's hand slid from his as she descended, taking with her the blue shine of his center. Jack felt the loss for a second, before a surprising and lovely sound reached him. Emma was laughing.

Emma felt free then. She pushed with all her might as swung up, feeling the wind carry her. She felt the weight of her life lift from her, and Emma smiled.

Jack would remember that moment just as well as he would remember the day he met her. Emma's smile wasn't really white, and her teeth weren't perfectly straight, but the sight of it filled his heart to the brim. He heard a joyous sound, and realized Emma was humming.

The free feeling she had made her want to sing, to let go of everything that had been holding her down and be herself, free and true. Jack could feel the joy radiating off her, as she sailed upwards, back to him.

Suddenly Emma let go of the chains, and leapt forward. Jack, caught off guard, dropped to the ground. Emma landed in front of him in a puff of snow. She was laughing, kneeling in the snow, her hair falling out of its bun. He shoulders moved up and down with her laughter. Jack leaned on his staff and smiled down at her.

Suddenly Emma stopped. Her eyes were obscured by her hair, and she clenched her fists on her pants. Jack thought his fun had worn off, that she'd turn and go home now, like normal. Maybe, he could get her to have fun again. He leaned down; reaching towards her, but her voice froze him.

"Who are you?"