Disclaimer: I do not own the Santa Clause trilogy whatsoever. The characters, places, and events do not belong to me. Neither does Jack Frost. I only own my OCs.

A/N: Happy New Year, everyone! This chapter is kind of short, but it features Crys and Jack! Enjoy!

Chapter Ten: Connection

The first thing Crys did after confronting Carma was search for Jack. That was assuming, of course, that he would be alone. Crys did not care where Carma went so long as she stayed away from Jack. If I catch her hanging anywhere around him, I'll kill her, Crys swore, her anger pumping again.

Allowing her instincts to lead her, Crys entered the factory where dozens of elves were hard at work, preparing the remaining gifts for Christmas. A bustle of never-ending activity clung to the air, but Crys lingered by the entrance as she scanned the busy hall.

"Excuse me," a timid voice squeaked. A small elf with curly golden hair and baby doll blue eyes was trying to squeeze past Crys. The elf girl placed an assortment of china dolls on the windowsill, allowing them to soak up the rays of the sunlight. "The dollies need to dry."

Out of curiosity, Crys moved closer to examine the delicate dolls and realized that their faces had recently been painted with a fine hand. Each doll had soft, rosy cheeks, deep black eyes, and a pink-lipped smile. The elf stared dreamily at them, as if wanting to reach out and embrace one.

"Which one is your favorite?" Crys inwardly cringed as her voice made her sound like she was speaking to an ordinary five year old girl. Still, the elf did not seem to mind—she grinned and sheepishly pointed one out.

It was a gorgeous doll with light, long braided hair, a pure white dress, and a gold-patterned mirror in her right hand. It looked like it belonged in the window of a marvelous toy shop for every young girl to yearn for.

"That's my favorite, too," Crys told the elf, who beamed from ear to ear with pride. The elf's fingers traced the edge of the doll's lacy dress and Crys wondered if she was secretly fantasizing about being that delicate or beautiful.

"I liked another one, but Jack Frost broke it," she whispered, glancing shyly over her shoulder to a crowd in the middle of the hall. Blushing, the girl shifted her weight uneasily and then hurried off to return to her work.

A shade of brilliant blue in the center of the crowd caught Crys' eye and she recognized Jack, towering over a handful of elves. Most of them practically had their mouths watering over a steaming cup of cocoa in his hands.

Wordlessly, Crys loomed towards the group in time to hear Jack's sensational claims about the rich cocoa that held just a hint of vanilla. Within seconds, the elves were exchanging pleasurable glances and rocketing up the stairs for some hot cocoa of their own. Works every time, Crys mused guiltily, knowing full well it was something she would have done.

"That cocoa would sure hit the spot. If there were any cocoa upstairs," Crys innocently stated, catching Jack's attention. Raising an icy eyebrow, he glided closer to her, his eyes boring into hers.

"Who might you be, besides Carma's acquaintance?" Instantly, Crys had the urge to blurt out: I'm your wife and I love you! It froze her to the bone, the realization that Carma was in control of everything that took place here, even Jack. How could he not remember all those moments? Why is Carma doing this?

"I'm…Crys," she choked out as he lightly accepted her hand. A deep chill shot through her as their skin touched, the kind of chill she always got before she had managed to warm Jack Frost's heart.

"Cold?" Jack had noticed the shiver that jolted through her body, his blue eyes glinting with amusement. Jack dropped her hand and brought the cup of cocoa to his lips. A memory floated to the surface of Crys' mind, of Jack proving his power to her by freezing a whole cup of cocoa before her eyes. At least I still have some of my memories left, she thought.

"Not at all. I actually like the cold," she responded, earning a pleased expression from him. An idea hit her while she casually leaned towards him. "I especially love snowflakes. Each one so beautiful and unique," she breathed with amazement.

Jack's eyes were locked on her and it made Crys feel as if there were no else that existed; at that moment, it was just the two of them. One of Jack's cool hands reached out to graze the side of her face, particularly a free strand of red hair that had fallen loose.

"Is that so?" Their bodies were only an inch or so apart, but it was an inch that was unbearable to Crys. An inch might as well have been one thousand miles. Carma isn't the only one who can catch his attention, Crys thought with satisfaction as she reeled Jack in.

"Perhaps you can show them to me sometime," Crys suggested, recalling that wonderful moment when Jack had done just that. Jack's hand drew away from her face and—just like that—the connection was broken.

"I appreciate the admiration, darling," Jack said to her as he moved past her, leaving her confused and empty. Passing beside her, he dipped his head close to her ear, his breath cooling the skin there. "But you're not exactly my type."

With that, Jack departed from her and Crys could not move for fear of crumbling to the floor. What had just happened? There had been that same old connection and it had vanished like smoke through her fingers.

You're not exactly my type, the words echoed round and round her head. Then perhaps I'll need to return to my old ways. Two can play at that game, Carma.

...

Crys was restless, her mind working on overdrive as she paced along her bedroom floor. The moment with Jack had fazed her, but she was determined to do as she vowed, to play the game. But how?

It irked her—the way he had simply brushed her off like she was nobody special…it dug under her skin to no end. There has to be a way to break this deal, Crys strived for an answer. She kneaded her knuckles against her forehead, as if she could urge the answer forward.

Crys paused and endured the silence around her. For a place filled with unbridled joy and heartfelt laughter, it sure could get unnervingly still. Think, Crys, think…the answer has to be there…

In her mind, Crys reviewed everything she knew about Carma's deal. She had been given three days or else Jack Frost would be lost to her forever. Jack, whom she had unwillingly sworn over to Carma. Jack, who did not seem to remember a single moment with her, let alone love her.

Something clicked in Crys' head and she absently lowered herself onto her bed to consider the newfound speculation. Carma had taken Jack from her, for whatever purposes were brewing beneath that girl's twisted façade. To Crys, it stood to reason that Jack would also be the key to breaking the deal, by winning him back from Carma's clutches.

"That's it," Crys whispered, excitement pumping through her body. Crys had three days to make Jack love her again; it had to be the answer.

With sudden, fresh energy, Crys rose from the bed and strode through the doors of her bedroom, allowing her intuition to lead her to Jack. Time to test that theory…

….

That's all for now. It took longer than I wanted to update because I was stuck on figuring out how to end the chapter. /= I hope you guys liked it, anyway!