Elsa relaxed on the pew under her window, skirted legs up and hands cupped neatly on her knees. Following her encounter with the Gray Man, as she so creatively dubbed him, little had changed. That night, she slept soundly, and she awoke at the usual early hour that morning. Her breakfast was waiting for her outside the door, and she took her time eating it as she leafed her way through that morning's herald. She didn't mind being alone in her room for long periods as she used to; it was now an area all too familiar and comfortable. Nonetheless, something was troubling her.

Her bedchamber was covered in snow, and she didn't remember putting it there.

This left two options: either Jack Frost had given her a surprise last night, or she had used her powers while sleeping, and for some reason, Elsa was leaning toward the latter. The Gray Man's words must have cut deeper than she'd thought.

The queen took a profound breath and hugged her knees in closer. This was certainly a new development, and one she didn't like in the least. It's difficult enough to control when I'm awake. Now she had to worry about monitoring herself when unconscious? Another sigh escaped her, and she glanced toward the reassuring, natural whiteness of the winter outside. Better to think of other things before it started snowing on her bed again.

….but what was that growing speck in the distance? It was fast, shooting straight toward her. Could it be…? It was! Now that he was getting nearer, she could almost hear him shouting something.

Gehouwahthaay? Geh ouwah theay. Get out wah thay? Oh! Get out of the way! Elsa immediately flung herself to the side, having the good sense to swing open the window as she did so.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Jack rocketed through the air, white hair slicked back and blue eyes squinted against the tearing wind. He needed to fly faster. Either he would be on time or too late. There was no in between.

He'd really blown it. Not only had Pitch escaped him, but he had given the Nightmare King the perfect opportunity to get his filthy hands on the vulnerable snow queen of Arendelle. Jack could hardly believe that he mulled over telling the other Guardians about Pitch for an entire day without thinking once of her safety.

Gee. Great Guardian he turned out to be.

Now he could see the castle. It didn't look like much from so far away—just like any old house—but he knew it from its spires. All he had to do was angle himself into a gradual slope, in the direction of the queen's high window. It was probably a good idea to slow down, too.

Except the wind wasn't cooperating. "Hey Wind—now's really not the time!" It had done this before. The wind, though usually complacent wherever Jack's whims took them, was as mischievous as he was, and from time to time liked to remind Jack that it had been around long before he had. Jack struggled against the jetstream, but its grip was firm. His body hurtled through the air like a harpoon.

The queen sat unsuspecting in her windowsill, alone and safe. But not for long.

"Get out of the way. Get out of the way! GET OUT OF THE—"

But the wind liked Jack. As soon as he considered himself a gonner, it released him just in time for him to slow down enough not to die on impact—but still enough to hurt.

So Jack tumbled head over heels through the opening, landing in a pile of…snow?

Ow. Pulling himself free, he blinked the snow free from his eyes, and looked about the room. The queen stood near the open window, blue eyes staring wide into his, mouth parted open in shock.

The Guardian of Fun parted his own mouth in a guilty grin and gave the young woman a sheepish finger-wave.

That's when she lost it.

Jack couldn't remember hearing a laugh he liked so much. It was much louder than what he would have expected from the proper royal, and it was immediately and intensely contagious. Jack found himself gripping his sides upon the floor and laughing harder than he had in ages, while the queen leaned against the windowsill, struggling hard for control and failing repeatedly.

"Haha! I'm so—pfft!" snorted the queen. "E-excuse me. I am so sorry. Haha! A-Are you alright?" Jack laughed freely at her attempt at concern, and stood, wiping snow off his pants and freezing tears from the corners of his eyes.

"Woo! Never better," he chuckled, looking around. "Sooo. You redecorate while I was gone or…?" At the mention of the snow, the queen sobered up noticeably, though good humor persisted in her expression.

"Ah...it's not from last time, if that's what you're thinking. I did it. In my sleep." She shrugged.

"In your sleep—?" A weak knock sounded on the door. Jack raised his eyebrows, and Elsa stopped dead.

"Elsa? Elsa. I-I couldn't help but…but hear your laugh. Are you…talking to someone?"

"Don't worry," said Jack. "It's only Jack Frost." Elsa shot Jack a horrified glance and slapped her hand over his mouth, her expression ordering him into silence. "Blech!" said Jack, attempting to tear free. "Would you calm down? She can't hear me, anyhow."

"Elsa? W-Would you let me in? I know it's been awhile, but…I've met someone recently—"

"Who is that?" asked Jack, genuinely curious.

"My sister," mouthed Elsa, then, "I'm sorry to disturb you, Anna. I was reading a…funny report." A pause.

"Oh…" said the voice that was Anna's. "Can I…can I see it, maybe? Um. I-I mean. If…if that's alright." Elsa gave a heartfelt sigh.

"…I don't think that's a good idea, Anna. Maybe some other time. I have many reports to go through, and I have nasty…cold. I wouldn't want you to catch it." Silence again on the other end. Jack frowned.

"O-Okay. Um…see you later, I guess." A pat-pat of slippered feet faded into quiet.

"Why'd you do that?" Jack asked a moment later. "You could have let her in; you know she can't see me. I'm sure she's used to the mess." He nodded at a snow pile, but Elsa shook her head.

"No, I couldn't." She grimaced. "Anna doesn't know about my powers…no one does. Only my parents knew, and they're gone now." She rubbed at her arms, her calm voice resonating hidden emotion. "She can't ever know. No one can ever know. I must learn control so no one will ever find out." Jack was at a loss for words. "All I do is hurt people, Jack," she said, voice barely above a whisper. "I-I don't…" She shook her head, and then locked her steady blue gaze on his. "Will…will you still help me?"

Jack didn't understand why he did it. Then again, a lot of what he did around Elsa didn't make much sense. He reached out to her, his palms brushing against her cool arms, and drew her in fast and close. He heard her give a slight inhale of surprise. "What do you think I am—heartless?" Resting his chin against the top of her head, he squeezed her tight. Her hair smelled nice. "Of course I'll help, idiot." A pause.

"Um, ah…Th-Thank you, um, Mr. Frost," said the queen, parting and distancing herself from him. She tucked a fair lock of hair behind her ear, and the good humor resurfaced. She raised an eyebrow. "…But the idiot remark was unnecessary. I'm not the one who crash-landed through a pupil's window." She smirked. Jack took a theatrical step back, feigned a gasp.

"Your majesty. Is this how you speak to your tutor?" He tapped his foot impatiently and checked a watch that wasn't there. "I am afraid that I haven't the time for this impudence. My services are needed elsewhere—"

"Why are you talking like that? Your grammar certainly improved but your inflections—" Oops. Guess Queen Elsa of Arendelle wouldn't recognize a dramatically posh UK accent, would she? Now that he thought of it…

"Ay, queeny. Tell me. Do you know where London is?" She blinked, baffled.

"I…can't say I've heard of it—"

"Singapore? Sydney? New York? Tokyo? How about South America? Russia, even?" Her arms uncrossed and recrossed in agitation.

"Listen, I know my islands, my kingdoms, and my villages….but these names you mention are more foreign than even Berk is to me. I've never heard them." Jack smiled wide, excitement sparkling in his blue eyes. His open palms faced her, moving back and forth in a reassuring and calming gesture.

"What if I told you…Now listen, okay? What if I told you…I could show you the world?"