Author's Note: Some of the dialogue here is directly from the 1979 Jack Frost movie.
"North!" Jack shouted, barging into the workshop bustling with elves and yetis. The North Pole was busy all year round, but at this time of year it was at a point near hysteria. Yetis hurried in every direction at once, preparing last-minute batches of toys and frantically painting and re-painting. The elves were trying to transport toys to the sleigh, but mostly tripping over each other and rolling across the floor. Jack spotted North shouting orders at some yetis. He hurried over in North's direction, hopping over an elf as he went.
"North!" he shouted again, trying to be heard over the bustling roar of the workshop. North jumped in surprise and turned toward Jack.
"Jack!" he said in surprise. "This had better be important. Christmas is only two weeks away! You know what it's like at this time of year. Busy, busy, busy!" North gestured his hand around the workshop with each "busy," referring to the general pandemonium around them.
"I need your help," Jack insisted.
That caught North's attention. "Walk with me." He placed a hand on Jack's shoulder and guided him to an empty room where they could talk in private. North shut the door behind them. "What is it, Jack? Are there children in trouble?" he asked seriously.
"No," Jack said hurriedly. "It's nothing like that. I just, um, wondered if you could deliver a special gift to someone for me."
North stroked his white beard thoughtfully. "Who? Jamie? I have already made everything on his list."
"No, it's… a girl," Jack said.
"Oh, I see…" North said with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "What girl? Is she on nice list or naughty?"
"Nice, I would think."
"Then you stay away from her," North said threateningly, pointing a finger at Jack.
"Come on, North! Help me out!" Jack pleaded. "Her name is Elisa; she lives in Burgess."
"Ah yes, Elisa," Santa said thoughtfully, smiling at Jack. "She is on nice list. Every year. Good girl."
"So, can you give her something special for me?"
"I have already made everything she asked for," North said smugly. "New camera, new snow boots, new mittens. All in the sleigh already."
"But I want to give her something special, something that will remind her of me," Jack said.
"She knows you?" North asked with a raised eyebrow.
"She used to, but she doesn't remember."
"What did you have in mind?"
Jack thought for a moment. "Ice skates," he said. "She was ice-skating the first time we met."
"Ice skates were not on her list," Santa said with a shrug.
"She loves ice-skating, trust me. She just doesn't remember."
"Very well, Jack," North said. "I will get the yetis on it straight away. But if you think that these ice skates will make her believe in you, I am afraid you are mistaken."
"What do you mean?" Jack asked in surprise.
"No object alone will make someone believe," North said. "You do not believe with your eyes. You believe with your heart."
Jack lowered his eyes. "Just give them to her, for me, okay?"
"Of course, Jack. But if you drag this girl down onto naughty list with you, you have me to deal with." He slapped Jack on the back and shoved him out the door. "Now get out of my hair. You have work to do. I want a white Christmas this year, understand?"
"Yeah, yeah," Jack said, rolling his eyes.
"Do not let girl distract you from your work," North said, wagging a finger at Jack threateningly. "Lots of snow this year, or else. And one more thing, Jack." His tone changed. "Do not let the children suffer from this either."
"What?" Jack asked in surprise.
"You are Guardian. We have responsibilities to others before ourselves. Do not let girl distract you from protecting children. That is even more important than snow."
Jack nodded in understanding.
"Good, now go. Fly. I am busiest man in world right now." North waved him away, and Jack navigated his way out of the chaotic, bustling workshop.
...
Jack took North's words to heart. He had responsibilities to the children of the world, and he couldn't let them down. He spent the next few weeks away from Burgess, spreading snow across the upper half of the northern hemisphere in preparation for a white Christmas. He was sure to instigate snowball fights and winter fun whenever possible. Still, his thoughts were haunted by the girl he wanted so desperately to believe in him. He knew she believed in him at least a little, but it took whole-hearted belief without a trace of doubt to be able to see him.
On Christmas Day his work was compete, and he decided to take a well-deserved break. He returned to Burgess and the first thing he did, of course, was look in through Jamie's window. Jamie was unwrapping presents with his mother and sister, all gathered around the Christmas tree. Jack smiled, and, not wanting to disturb the scene, left a message on Jamie's bedroom window instead. He frosted the windowpane with his staff and drew a little Christmas tree. Jamie would know it was him. Then he flew down a few streets over to Elisa's house and tentatively peered in the window.
Wrapping paper and empty boxes littered the floor, so apparently Elisa's family had finished opening presents already. He saw her mother and father sitting at the table sipping coffee, chatting happily. He spotted Elisa coming down the stairs with her coat, hat, and mittens, and carrying in one hand a new pair of ice skates from the old man himself. Jack smiled; North never let anyone down.
"Elisa, where are you going?" Jack heard her father ask her.
"I'm going outside," Elisa said excitedly, pulling on her new snow boots. "The ice skating pond is frozen solid, so I can try out my new skates!" she said brightly.
"Did you get those skates for her?" her father asked her mother with a confused glance.
"I thought you did," her mother answered, equally puzzled. "Anyways, Elisa, you can go skating anytime. There must be another reason."
Elisa laughed as she pulled on her mittens. "Maybe I just want to see Jack Frost's work before anyone spoils it."
That caught Jack's attention; he pressed himself up to the window to listen better.
"You're so romantic, Elisa," her mother said with a weary smile. "Find yourself a nice solid boy, and settle down."
"Oh, Mom," Elisa laughed.
"Aren't you in love with anybody yet?" her father asked with a smirk.
"Only Jack Frost," Elisa answered with a laugh.
Jack blushed a light shade of blue, pressing his face up to the window. Did she mean it?
Elisa came out the front door, carrying her ice skates. Jack smiled and followed her as she hurried down the street. He threw snowballs at several children on the way, and helped one get a little acceleration on his new sled.
He followed Elisa down to the town ice-skating rink, a pond that was used for swimming in the summer and skating in the winter. Usually it was a busy place, but being still early on Christmas Day, Elisa was the only one there. Jack watched as she sat on the ground, lacing up her new pair of ice skates, and then stood up carefully, flailing her arms for balance.
"You'll get the hang of it fast," Jack said, though he knew she couldn't hear him. "Trust me, you're a natural-born ice-skater."
Elisa glided out onto the ice, still waving her arms unsteadily. "I wonder who got me these," she said to herself.
"That would be me," Jack answered, gliding easily out onto the ice next to her. "Come on, you can go faster than that," he chuckled. He blew a gust of wind at her back, and Elisa gasped in surprise as she glided quickly forward across the ice.
"What was that?" she laughed. Jack blew another breath at her and she went faster and steadier. She spread out her arms like a bird flying. She laughed happily as Jack blew her around the entire the entire pond, as lightly and easily as a leaf on the wind. At last she was going so fast that she skated straight off the ice and into a pile of snow.
"Oof!" she said, landing flat on the snow. Jack landed beside her in concern, but smiled to see she was perfectly alright and laughing it off.
"Whoops," Jack said, leaning on his staff. "Sorry about that."
"Really, I wish I knew who got these for me," Elisa said to herself. "I don't even know who to thank."
"Me," Jack said, plopping down on the snow beside her. "That would be me."
"Was it Aunt Gertrude, maybe?" Elisa said thoughtfully.
"It wasn't your auntie, kiddo," Jack protested. "It was me. I mean, it was Santa, but I'm the one who told him you would like them." He watched as Elisa unlaced her ice skates and put her boots back on. "I knew you would like them," he added lamely.
"Well, at least I know who to thank for the snow," Elisa continued talking to herself, or so she thought. "Jack Frost," she said with a laugh.
"You're welcome," Jack said smugly.
Elisa looked lost in thought for a moment, sitting in the snow. "That's funny," she said. "I had a dream about ice-skating a while ago. I just now remembered. But I think there was somebody else there in the dream... yes, there was definitely someone else. Somebody I knew." She bit her lip thoughtfully, trying to remember, but sighed and gave up. "Oh well."
As Elisa stood up, ice skates in hand, Jack got an impulse and acted on it. He leaned in quickly toward Elisa and kissed her cheek. Elisa shivered as his cold lips brushed her warm pink skin. "What was that?" Elisa breathed. Jack pulled back quickly. He dared not touch her for long or she might get frostbite. "I felt a chill," she whispered with a smile. Jack stared at her; the warmth of her cheek had felt so good. He had forgotten what it felt like. Then Jack watched as the girl gathered her things, turned and headed for home.