Rose placed her forehead against her window and heavy a weary sigh. Seven days. A whole week since she last saw Jack. 168 hours, 10, 080 minutes and 604,800 seconds. Not that she was counting. Why hadn't he come to see her? He said he was going to. Well, he didn't actually say it, but Rose assumed he would. Why wouldn't he? He'd seen her twice already. What was wrong that he couldn't come now? Maybe he didn't like her. What if he'd just ditched her, and went on to live without her? He wouldn't do that, would he? They'd just met, but she knew she had a connection with him. She thought so. What if she was wrong? Was she being clingy? Maybe she should play hard to get, like in the movies. Rose groaned and rubbed her head; why did she over think everything? Jack never took anything seriously, he was probably in Antarctica or something sticking kids' tongues to lampposts. He would come though. He'd be here. She hoped he would anyway. Her brother had noticed how strange she was acting, always at her window, never coming down for dinner or to watch television. "Why do you stay up there all day?" He'd ask her. Rose would never properly answer him- how would he react if she told him the truth? Oh, you know. I'm just waiting on an immortal seventeen year old winter spirit. As you do. The sky outside was turning dark already, the slight glint of stars beginning to glow. Soon to be eight days, then. Rose turned away from the window disdainfully and stood up, making her way towards the bathroom. She turned the shower on, took her glasses off and dropped her clothes, glad to feel the hot water against her sore muscles. It covered her, soaking her hair so it fell long and straight down her back. She ran the shampoo and conditioner through her hair, before washing it out carefully. After a few more minutes under the hot water, she turned it off and stepped out, wrapping a soft towel around her body. She hastily grabbed her glasses and walked out back into her bedroom to change. She dried herself and, dropping the towel, rooted around to find underwear and pyjamas. She pulled out a turquoise bra and pants and quickly put them on, then just as quickly pulled on a tank top and shorts. Her hair was still wet and tangled, so she grabbed her brush and pulled it through a few times until her hair lay soft against her back, dripping onto the floor.

"Now...hair dryer or towel? Towel makes it frizzy, hair dryer makes it straighter...Hair dryer it is then."

"Shame, I like the curls." Jack's cool voice came from behind her, and she could almost hear the smile in it.

"Jack!" Rose exclaimed, clutching a hand to her heart. It was beating like mad, he gave her quite the fright.

Jack sat propped against her window ledge, one leg dangling carelessly into her room. "That would be me."

"Hey!" Rose bounded up and awkwardly wrapped an arm around him before blushing and pulling away. "Oh, sorry."

Jack smiled and tapped his fingers against his staff. "It's fine, Hi. You're very excited to see me, I assume?"

"Well, yeah!" Rose blushed further. "I mean, it's been a week."

Jack eyebrows raised in shock. "Really? A week? I thought it'd been about two days. My mistake, sorry."

"How couldn't you tell it'd been a week? I've been waiting and waiting, I nearly gave myself a haemorrhage trying to decide whether to wait here or at the park." Rose cracked a smile and crossed her arms.

Jack tilted his head and smiled briefly. "It doesn't matter where you go, I'll always be able to find you."

"Jack Frost power?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.

Boy with a crush, more like. Jack shook his head and grinned. "Yeah, Jack Frost power."

Rose nodded thoughtfully before pinning him with her eyes. "Hey, wait. What about the time thing? Does time go really slow for you? Am I in slow motion? Or does it go really quickly?"

Jack chuckled and shook his head, making her cheeks tinge pink. "No, it goes the same for me as it does for you. It's just because I'm always stuck in the season of winter. It gets a bit hard trying to judge time after a while when your surroundings always look the same."

"Oh. Cool." Rose smiled and stepped back. "Wanna come inside?"

Jack gave her a devilish grin. "Nah, you like me too much. You'd just end up trying to kiss me if we were in the same room for long enough."

Rose rolled her eyes and poked him square in the chest. "Of course," she said, making her eyes wide with feigned devotion. "How will I ever manage to control myself around you?"

Jack laughed heartily and rested his chin on the cure of his staff. "It takes skill, we'll take it slow. Don't want you fainting on me."

Rose shot Jack a grin and winked. She walked towards him, then stopped, putting a hand on her head. She let out a cry and fell back, her eyes closed. Jack shot from the window behind her, his strong arms catching her before she hit the floor.

"Rose! You okay?" Jack's ice blue eyes were filled with worry, checking her over.

Rose opened her eyes and giggled, soon turning into loud laughter. She was shaking and she found herself wrapping an arm around Jack's neck. "My my, Mr Frost. You do make me swoon."

Jack smile grew as he realised he was tricked. "Oh, you clever girl. That was good. I never thought you had that side to you."

Rose tilted her head up and smirked. "I have many sides to me. Stick around and you might just see them all."

"Tempting offer. I might just have to start making nightly visits." Jack laughed and set her down gently, keeping a strong grip on his staff. He could see the goosebumps on her arms and legs where he had touched her, and felt his smile fade for a second. Why was everything about him just so...cold?

"That doesn't sound desperate at all." Rose's voice was laced with amusement, she always found herself becoming playful and happy when she was around Jack. His hands ignited a trail of fire on her skin, and she wished she could be in his arms again.

"Weekly then. Feel lucky, I don't visit anyone else, you know." Jack nodded matter-of-factly. Ice had started to spread across Rose's dark blue carpet, and it was beginning to look like Jack's jumper.

"That's because nobody else can see you." She shot back, sitting on the edge of her bed. In all honesty, she did feel special that only she could see him.

Jack waved his hand and a snowball appeared in it, glowing white. "Oh, harsh. That calls for punishment."

Rose saw the snowball and backed up, pulling her covers up like a shield. "Jack! Don't you dare! I'm serious! Don't throw- AH!"

Jack pelted her in the face with the snowball and floated into the air, laughing so hard he had to clutch his stomach. His staff was leaning against the wall, frost spreading out like ivy on a house.

Rose wiped the snow off her face and giggled, flicking it towards him. "I hate you."

Jack gave her a huge smile and turned upside down, so his hair was flopping in all directions. Rose desperately wanted to touch it, to see if it was as smooth as it looked. Everything about Jack was smooth, smooth and cool. His skin was as white as the snow that covered the ground, and was free of blemishes. His eyes were huge and ice blue, and they seemed to swirl and sparkle like pools reflecting the moonlight. Rose felt her cheeks blush as she realised she was staring.

"You are such a child." She tutted, giving him a dimpled smile.

Without warning, scooped her up and flew to the top of her room, making Rose squeal in delight. He felt her hands wrap around his neck and his lips stretch into a smile of their own accord. He couldn't deny it; being with Rose made him happy. Truly happy. "What's the point in being 300 if I can't be childish sometimes? Besides, I'm the Guardian on fun."

"What exactly is a Guardian?" She asked, smiling up at him. His jawline was smooth and he had a content look upon his face.

"A Guardian, in the simplest explanation, is someone who protects and looks after children. We all have a centre: wonder, dreams, fun, hope, etcetera... And it's these things we protect in children. Without their beliefs, we'd all lose our powers. Change back into what we were before we became a Guardian."

"How are you still here? You said not a lot of people believe in you." Rose looked at him worriedly, biting her lip.

Jack gave her a sad smile. "I guess you could say I sponge a bit off the other Guardian's. I use their power as well as my own. Besides, as long as I keep icing things and doing my job as Jack Frost, I'll be fine. Honest."

Rose lay her head against Jack's chest and pulled at his jumper absent-mindedly. "I'll always believe in you. Will I ever meet the other Guardians?"

Jack smiled fondly at Rose, lying happily in his arms. "Thankyou. And maybe one day. Not right now. It's not the right time just now."

"You're not sure if I'm important enough yet."

"No, it's-"

"It's alright." Rose gave a chuckle and yawned. "I don't mind. If I get to meet them then that's great, if I don't then at least I still have you."

Jack floated back down and sat rose on her bed, pulling the covers over her body. "Yeah. Not many people can say that."

Rose grinned and snuggled into her pillow, closing her eyes sleepily. Her words were slow and detached, and the darkness of sleep was overcoming her. "Stay with me."

Jack sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Rose, you know I can't." But God do I want to.

"Please?"

Jack's resolve nearly crumbled at her plead, but he managed to keep himself steady. "No, Rose. Not tonight."

Not exactly a no. Good. Rose hugged her owl teddy to her chest and gave a tiny smile, almost invisible. "I thought you'd say that. Goodnight, Jack."

"Goodnight."

Jack's cool lips on her cheek were the last thing she felt before sleep took over.