Jadis had visited the North Pole only once. She thought it was cute, but she preferred to be away from the noise and hustle of it all. Granted, Jack had made sure that she saw only the most…humane area, but he was relieved to hear her reaction. Somehow he suspected that if she knew the truth, she would leave. So he had the elves set up a house a few miles off from the park. She wouldn't be bothered by their guests, elves, or noises there.

Every afternoon he would go to 'work' and return to their new home in the evening. This worked for Jadis who filled the time with reading or hunting, similar things as she had done before. On the days he took off completely, they would explore the North Pole. Every day that passed was another day that Jack felt a bit warmer, a bit more for her. It was clear how she felt by the way she stared at him, smiled at him. It wasn't just the fact that he was Frost or Santa…but that he was him. After all, hadn't she been attracted to him before he told the truth?

There were a few nights throughout each year where he cleared out the North Pole at a certain time. He would ensure the building he brought Jadis to was free of any sign of the true business there. He would have the elves play some music and he'd let a handful of parents – depending on who paid the most – join the 'after eight pm adult party'.

Despite his offer, Jadis never sang a duet or even alone in public. She preferred to do such when they were alone. Still, between the variety of songs sung and played, he danced with Jadis. She had a blast. Once or twice she would dance with a single parent or another, but she always finished with a waltz with Jack.

She never took the choker off, the snowflake always proudly sitting just at the base of her neck. Even though she rarely saw anyone else save for a few elves, she never took it off. To her, it was the symbol of their relationship. It was her reassurance. It was comfort and a statement all in one, just as he had planned it.

In short, their joy would never end.

The next few years passed in a blur, however delightful as it was. Jack had fallen into a content state, a content life. He had the best of both worlds, of both identities. How had he never figured to do this before?

Alas, twelve years eventually passed in total since he had first became Santa. He hardly noticed, only faintly aware. If truth be told, he was giddy at the prospect. It would be great fun to toy with the old Santa when he came – and he would come up here for sure. Then, Jack thought, when he grew tired and cast out the old Santa, he would return to his wife and they would spend the night together before the fire.

The morning of, he dressed and was about to head out when he noticed something. Jadis was coughing. He frowned as he walked from the kitchen to the living room. "Wife?"

"Oh, are you leaving already?" She stood. From this light, she looked a bit paler than normal.

Jack frowned. "I am, but…should I send one of the elves here to look after you? You look ill."

The woman smirked despite it all. "You're supposed to say I look stunning, like a good husband does. Honestly, haven't you learned anything?" She winked.

He couldn't help but grin as well. "Right, you look stunningly ill, wife."

"Ass." She smacked his arm. Even her hit was weak.

"I'll send one of the elves over to check on you." Pause. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Of course…but don't rush on my account." She leaned forward to peck his cheek. "Really. I understand you're Santa and have all those toys to give…"

"Alright," he returned the kiss, "I'll see you soon."


Jack truly thought he would see her soon after he left. He thought that Tim would be an annoyance, a toy, but nothing more. He had no idea that he would actually succeed in tricking him, in undoing the past twelve years. When he found himself spinning back to the life before, his only thought was Jadis.

Jack Frost wasn't quite as frosty or cold as before. Not since Lucy's hug. That didn't matter though, he thought. All that matter was finding Jadis. There was no doubt in his mind that she wouldn't fall in love with him all over again.

Perhaps they would go ice skating. No, he'd make her some of his cocoaccinos. Or maybe…he smiled as his thoughts spun.

He traveled to the same spot he had first found her singing about him to a spider web. Nothing. Of course, he scolded himself, that had been several years ago. She may have packed up and left. She had to have. So where was she then?

He went into the local town and looked around. He spotted Patrick and couldn't be happier to see the old oaf! When he walked over, he paused. How odd this would look. No matter, he thought, he wanted to find out where Jadis was.

"Excuse me, I'm looking for a young lady by the name of Jadis…an uncommon name, do you know where she is?" What happened to her in this life a few years down the road?

Patrick stopped, keys held in his hand to get into his truck. He looked Jack up and down and raised a brow. "Why are you asking, city slicker?" The suit must have thrown him off…again.

"My own personal reasons," Jack said with a small smile. "Where can I find her?"

Eyes narrowed, Patrick questioned, "What's your relation to her?"

"Private, I'm afraid." Jack could feel his temper rise. "We're close, I can assure you."

A scoff left the other man, disbelief. After a moment of seeing how serious the city slicker was, Patrick shifted and looked uncomfortable. Jack raised a brow. "You really wanna see her?"

"Yes," Jack said a bit hotly, "otherwise why would I ask for her?"

A soft sigh left Patrick. "Alright, hop in. I'll drop you off." He blinked. "I'm Patrick, by the way." He held his hand out.

Jack tried not to snicker at the memory of what happened last time they shook hands. "I'm Jack." He shook it nonetheless, being kind. Then he got into his truck, not quite as nauseated as the last time since there weren't so many bumps.

They went down the main street and took a mixture of rights and lefts. He was about to ask where they were going, why she had moved, when he stopped the truck. It was then that Jack realized that the ride had been…utterly silent. Curious.

The pair got out and Jack spotted several rows of tombstones before him. His stomach dropped. His gaze shot to Patrick. No, Patrick must be mistaken. Jadis must be…living in a…cabin behind all of this. Yes. He followed the country man, his body tensing with each step. The further they went into the cemetery, the more his heart pounded. No…no, this…he…

"Here she is." Patrick whispered when they stopped at one stone.

Jack slowly walked over, legs trembling.

Jadis Writt

January 3rd 1980 – December 2nd 2005

May Her Smile Be In The Snowflakes

"She got sick with pneumonia last year…second time in a few years. Wasn't so lucky this time." Patrick took out a cigarette and lit it with shaky hands. His gaze was on something in the distance, on anything but the tomb or the man. "I was with her when she passed…talked about…fuckin' Jack Frost coming to take her and…" he gave a watery laugh as he exhaled smoke, "...turn her into a…a fuckin' sprite. Winter sprite, man…just…" He gritted his teeth. "I'll let you…have a moment alone." He walked back towards the truck, giving him the privacy, giving himself privacy.

Jack couldn't feel the warmth in his blood, of his body anymore. His heart hurt when it beat. No, he felt acutely aware of the cold and snow around him. His limbs felt numb. Dead? Dead last year? No…how…but she…she wasn't supposed to…

He reached out with a shaking hand. The stone was colder than ice. His…wife. His friend, his biggest fan…dead. Never again, never even seen him in this life. Not like before. He was alone. Left alone now, the only treasure from his failure gone just by a year.

That numbness took over his heart, his fury no longer hot but cold and bitter. As he stood tall once more, he could feel himself adjust to the cold. All that Lucy's hug had melted returned, his suit blue and frosty, his skin pale and just one blue hue too much of a corpse white. His hair returned to how it was before – Icicles, as she had called him when they met.

He was Jack Frost once more.

He clenched his fists, eyes refusing to turn from the tombstone. Gone…he would be gone as well then, give into the wind and travel. Perhaps he'd throw a few more storms around these areas in her name. Just to take out his anger. To honor her. To…

When Patrick came back a few minutes later, he called out Jack's name. He shivered at the harsh gust of wind that hit him. "Jack?!" He shouted, seeing no one before Jadis' grave. "Hey, it looks like it might snow soon. Where are you?" No one was there though.

When he got to Jadis' spot, he looked around. It wasn't like Jack could have just hid somewhere. He glanced back at the ground and saw two pairs of footsteps. His coming, going, and returning…and Jack's coming. There were no more footsteps from that man from where he had stood minutes ago. Where did he go?!

Patrick scowled. If he didn't get moving, with or without Jack, he'd get snowed in town. He glanced up at the sky with the wonder of how he hadn't heard warning of what looked to be a nasty storm coming, when he caught sight of something. Above Jadis' grave on a tree branch was a spider web...with icicles ever so slightly covering it. A spider web of icicles.

"Sorry Jadis, I've gotta go. Hope that weird city slicker is somewhere safe." Patrick kissed his hand before touching her headstone. He jumped – it was so cold that it felt like he had been burnt! What…how?! He spun around once more, panicked. Then he ran back to his truck as the snow whipped around him.

Jack stood nearby in silence, invisible to anyone who tried to find him. His eyes were bright blue, his face similar color as the storm increased. His gaze lingered on Jadis' tombstone until the snow and wind covered it. He made a fist and turned away.

A sprite…

Jadis was a winter sprite now…

He would remember her when no one else would for years to come. He would return the favor and kindness that she gave given him all these years unknowingly. Jack Frost would believe in Jadis, the winter sprite.


A/N: The end. I cried. Did you?

I'll be adding a small companion piece to this in a separate story soon. It deals with Frostmas, which I completely forgot to add to this. If I added now, it would looka and feel too rushed. So, be on the look out for that. It'll be bittersweet, of course. Same two folks.