So this one is a little more sad, and I'll probably post another one up in a few hours too, because I've got some of my writing mojo back.

Also, I have a new poll on my profile, so could you check it out pretty please :3

Enjoy!

Ardent, adj.
- Full of enthusiasm and passion

"Jack! Come on, wake up!"

The brown haired teenage boy mumbled and shoved his head a little further under his pillow, trying to block out the sound of his little sister shouting him to get up. It would only work for so long, he knew that. Soon enough she'd run in and simply jump on hi-

"Jack!" came a cry as something heavy landing on his back, and the eighteen year old groaned and rolled over, effectively knocking his sister onto the floor again as he sat up and looked at her groggily. She didn't seem to mind though, she just beamed up at him with that toothy smile that was just like his, her brown eyes twinkling. "You promised," she reminded him, and he nodded, managing a small smile himself.

"I did, didn't I?" he yawned, stretching and pushing his blanket off him, grimacing at the sudden cold that nipped his skin.

"Come on Jack, you need to get up now," Emma demanded, rushing from the room so her brother could change, leaving him to roll his eyes and drag a hand through his messed up bed hair. The brown locks slid through his fingers as he yanked the tangles out, squeezing his brown eyes shut as he summoned up the energy to actually go about his day.

He was teaching Emma to ice skate today.

And normally he'd have jumped at the chance, but today felt different somehow. It seemed more... important.

So he stripped down and washed himself in the basin in the corner of the room, then dragged on some warmer clothing. Brown cotton pants, a white shirt, a brown cloak to keep the heat in.

At breakfast he noticed how his mother had cooked up something larger than normal, bacon and eggs – which on their income was a treat and a half. He thanked her and placed a kiss on her cheek, taking a small pleasure in how she smiled slightly. Their father had died a year ago on the docks a few miles away, working for pittance. He'd been crushed by freight, which had been traumatic for them all. Making his mother smile was the best thing he could do. And he noticed as he ate that she kept looking at him curiously, worry flickering in her eyes.

It seemed only Emma that didn't seem different this morning, her eyes shining with excitement, and he had to admire that in her, because she'd told him before Winter set in that she was scared of ice. Scared she'd fall through and he wouldn't be there to save her.

"Jack, will you hurry up?" she snapped, and he looked up at her across the table, head resting in her hands, elbows propped on the table, her ice-skates pointedly placed on the table in front of her as if serving as a reminder of what he was meant to be doing today.

"Give me five minutes," he chuckled, but wolfed down his breakfast and stood, taking his plate to his mother who smiled a little at him.

"It's the most excited she's been since your father passed," she said quietly, taking his plate and putting it in the sink with the other dishes.

"Well, I'll take care of her," he chuckled, hugging her slightly before stepping away. "Best be going before she gets angry."

"I will not get angry!" Emma interjected angrily, too young to understand the irony of it all.

"Alright, alright, come on then," Jack chuckled, and Emma ran to him and grabbed his hand before pulling him out of the house.

"Take care!" their mother shouted after them, her green eyes shining with worry, brown hair falling in wisps in front of her face as she watched her two children set out into the snow.

"We will!" Jack cried, looking back once, then again. Something told him to look again and capture an image of that small smile she gave him, and not forget it.

Nerves were bundling in his stomach as they reached the lake, where Emma was practically dancing she was so impatient to get on the ice and learn. Then she stopped, and looked up at him.

"You won't let me fall through will you?" she asked, her eyes clouding with worry.

"Course not, I won't let that happen," the older boy said soothingly, patting her on the head with a small smile. "Anyway, don't jinx it!"

"Oh quiet Jack," Emma laughed, stepping onto the ice shakily and moving forward slowly, shooting an ecstatic look back at him as he followed her barefooted onto the ice, swinging his own skates around in his hands. Just as she got to the middle he watched with a small smile as she whooped and raised her arms in victory, her smile wide and proud, until a crack resounded around the clearing.