"It was a really fun party though," Jack said, leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed behind his head.

He smiled at Jamie. "Henrik had the time of his life, as did all those kids. It was fun watching little girls, that I knew were daughters of a couple of the maids, running around draped in ropes of pearls or that had huge gemmed pins on their best church dresses. And everyone had huge smiles on their faces."

"Was anything stolen?" Jamie asked, wincing a little. "Sorry, I'm just a little curious. I mean, it sounds like there was millions of dollars worth of jewels running around that night."

"Would have been speciedaler, not dollars," Jack said, smirking.

"And, the guards agreed with you. But no, nothing was stolen. There were a couple of bits of jewelry that were found under tables later that night, likely from all the running around those kids were doing but no, nothing was stolen," he continued. "And I think what was more impressive was what happened the next day."

"Oh?"

Jack nodded, smiling again.

"Yeah. Well, the nobles that came just sent the standard notes. Thank you for having us, it was a pleasure, etc, etc," he said, waving his hand in the air. "But the villagers, or the palace staff, whose children had been invited? They came to the palace the next day, with gifts to thank us, just singing our praises for the party."

"They said that their children were just thrilled at everything. I mean, poor children, for the most part, that were able to just pretend they were royalty themselves for a night with all the splendor and glamour. It meant just as much for the parents as it did for the children. And then, when we told them it was Henrik's idea, not ours," Jack grinned, leaning back in his chair. "They were just flabbergasted."

"Gifts? What do you mean by that?"

Jack leaned forward, his hands coming together..

"Okay, let me explain. Back then, we didn't have email or phones to just call if you had a complaint or if you needed something from your government, or a complaint for that matter," he said. "And paper was expensive, especially for a family that didn't make much. So, there was a day of the week where you could come and speak with the ruler. Elsa held hers every Monday, and she always set herself up in that receiving room, the one I told you about that we greeted guests for the wedding."

"Usually I would go too, just because it was usually interesting to watch, but I didn't get a say in anything. We'd sit in those thrones, which were damned uncomfortable I will tell you. Everyone that wanted to speak to Elsa would be shown into the room at the beginning of the day."

"Would she get all dressed up? Like a tiara and what not?"

Jack frowned and gave Jamie a puzzled look. "What? No, everyone knew who she was, she didn't have to go around announcing, "Hey I'm the Queen." She just wore simple attire, all of us did. All that jewelry was heavy."

Jamie grinned and continued to write in his notepad. "I was just curious, sounds like fun wearing all those gems."

Jack snorted. "It wasn't. They were heavy and uncomfortable. And hard. They don't tell you that about jewelry. Anyways. Can I continue?"

Jamie made a motion of concession with his hand, a smirk on his lips. Jack chuckled.

"Anyways. That next Monday, a couple days after Henrik's birthday and the Jewel Ball, Matias opened the doors as usual and all of these villagers came pouring into the room carrying baskets and bundles. Members of the palace staff were with them too, which is what confused us."

Jack and Elsa looked at each other as the mass of people filled the room before them; the Monday sessions for the public weren't normally this crowded. A range of people filled the room, from tradesmen to fishmonger wives to palace staff.

He reached over and grabbed her hand, squeezing it. He could tell she was getting nervous. She glanced over at him, sitting up straighter in her own chair as everyone arranged themselves in the empty space before them. He noticed her hair got a little neater and the wrinkles in her dress fell away as well.

The noise in the crowd fell away, parting slightly as a small woman stepped forward. Her hair was covered by a dark head cloth and her brown dress had more than a few patches on it, as well as a few streaks of flour; she was the baker's wife from the bakery that was a few blocks from the palace. She had basket balanced on her arm and loaves of bread were peeking out from a threadbare cloth.

Slipping the basket off her arm and set it on the floor before glancing up at them nervously. He raised an eyebrow at her, knowing how she had a quick temper and a sharp tongue but she also had a big heart. And she loved her family dearly.

She dipped down into a cautious curtsey, wobbling slightly as she struggled to maintain her balance. The rest of the crowd followed suit, bowing or curtseying with her. Elsa glanced at Jack, confusion on both of their faces before turning back to look at the gathered group. They had risen and were now looking nervously at the baker's wife as she took a few more hesitant steps towards them.

"Your majesties, I – we," she said, obviously nervous, pausing when she didn't know how to begin.

Elsa smiled at her.

"Start with your name, please, for the record," she said softly, gesturing to the clerk seated off to the side at a desk with a stack of paper, pot of ink and quill in hand.

The baker's wife swallowed and nodded.

"Of course, your majesty. Sorry, your majesty. Anna Meland."

There was another slight pause while the clerk scratched the name on the paper and Elsa nodded for her to continue.

"Very well, Anna, what brings you here today?"

Anna took a breath, and paused, obviously thinking about rehearsed lines and sighed.

"We want to thank you, thank yous both for what yous did for all our children. At the Prince's party the other night."

"Thank us?"

The group nodded in unison before Anna spoke again.

"All our little ones, well, they got something we wouldn't have been able to give them. They had the time of their little lives that night," she said. "Getting all dressed up all fancy like in your gems and jewels and getting to play with the Prince! None of them have been able to stop talking about it. When my little Alek got his invite I thought it were a joke, but then everyone here got one and just, just thank you, your majesties."

The group nodded again, more people beginning to talk.

"Adeline Brevig, your majesties, my little ones don't usually get much, coin usually being so tight. I mean, they get as much as they need but there isn't much for pretty little bobbles. This was just such a treat for them, I can't thank you enough."

They sat stunned, listening as more parents spoke up, saying how happy and grateful they were that their children had been allowed to come to the party, and how wonderful it had been to dress up in the gems and jewels for the evening; it had been a night to forget their troubles and just enjoy life.

Elsa was beaming, listening carefully to each person before finally holding up a hand, to silence the crowd. They looked around, confused, and watched silently as she beckoned Matias forward and spoke quietly to him in his ear. He nodded once, giving a curt bow before turning to hurry out of the room.

"I am honored by all your praise, and gladdened to hear that you all enjoyed yourselves so much," she said as he left, standing up from her throne and walking towards them.

The crowd looked at each other, further confused and a little nervous now.

"And, as a mother myself, I can certainly empathize, though maybe not to your extent."

Elsa stopped before Anna and took the small woman's hand, grasping it and smiling at her.

"But, I'm afraid you are giving your praise and thanks to the wrong person," Elsa told them. "I may have been the one that organized the event, and indeed I was the one who hosted the party."

She turned as the door opened again, watching as Henrik bounded in, smiling at him he paused with his eyes wide at the crowd gathered. She held out her free hand out to him and he ran over to her, shyly holding onto her skirt.

He knew this was the receiving room, and that he wasn't allowed in here on Monday mornings.

Henrik turned to look imploringly back at Jack, who smiled and came down to kneel behind him

.

"It's okay," Jack whispered to him. "You aren't in trouble. Mama will tell you in a minute."

Henrik reached one of his little hands back to Jack, wrapping it tightly around a couple of Jack's fingers while his other hand was still firmly grasped in Elsa's skirt. Jack found it amusing that the little boy that had been so confident and excited at his birthday ball a few nights prior, was now standing terrified.

Elsa smiled down at her son, running a loving hand over his curls before looking back up at Anna.

"As I was saying, it was Henrik that wanted the party the way it was," she told them. "I merely helped to facilitate it."

Anna stared at in an awed amazement Elsa for a long moment before turning her gaze down at the little boy, tears and a look of wonder in her eyes. She looked back up at Elsa.

"He was who planned the party?"

Elsa nodded and looked back down at Henrik.

"Henrik, why did you want to have everyone wear jewels at your party?"

Henrik's grasp on Jack's fingers tightening and he moved further into Elsa's skirt.

"I thought that since I liked getting to wear my jewels, and mama likes to wear jewels, and papa does, even though he says he doesn't, that all my friends might like to as well," he said, his voice muffled by the fabric. "But mama said that the jewels can't leave the palace, so I thought if I had my birthday party, everyone could get all dressed up, and we could have lots of fun. I thought everyone had fun."

His declaration came out in one big long sentence, he didn't pause to take a breath as he made his statement before turning shyly to look up and over at the assembled group. Anna stared at him, they all stared at him in a silent awe as they processed with he, this small four-year old prince, had said. Had done for them and for their families.

Anna turned, bending down to scoop up the basket that she had brought with her and bent down to Henrik's level, a smile on her face.

"Your Highness," she said, giving him a smile. "I'm Anna Meland."

"You're Alek's mama!" Henrik interrupted.

"Don't interrupt," Jack said, gently pulling Henrik out of Elsa's skirts a little to face Anna more.

"Sorry," Henrik mumbled, one hand still gasping Elsa's skirt and the other still holding Jack's hand.

Anna smiled at him and nodded.

"Yes, I'm Alek's mama. And we all came here to thank you for the party that you did."

Henrik scrunched up his face.

"Why are you thanking me for throwing a party?" he asked, his little face scrunching up in confusion.

A few chuckles were heard in the crowd behind them. Elsa bent down beside them as well, causing him to break his hold on her skirt.

"Henrik, this is one of those times where you might not fully understand right now, but you did a very, very good thing with your party. And you made a lot of people really happy," she told him.

"And these mamas and papas that are here this morning want to thank you because you made their children really happy because you let them come to your party and get all dressed up with our jewels."

Henrik looked at her, still confused. "But I wanted them to have fun, that's why I did it."

Elsa smiled again and kissed his forehead. "I know little love, and that is why you are a wonderful little prince. Now, you need to use this as a lesson, remember our lessons that we have?"

Henrik nodded.

"So what do you think you should do for Miss Anna here?"

Henrik turned back to Anna.

"Anna is the name of my aunt," Henrik told her. "I like that name."

Jack bit back a laugh and he saw Elsa lean her head down a little, her lip also between her teeth, also trying not to laugh.

Henrik continued.

"I am happy that Alek had so much fun at my party. I had fun with him there."

Anna smiled and held out the basket to Henrik.

"I brought you these for your table, I made them this morning, to thank you for letting Alek come to your party."

Henrik released Jack's hand to pull the cloth away from the basket, looking inside. Jack smiled as Henrik elicited a little happy gasp when he looked inside.

"Papa, look! She made pastries!"

Most everyone knew that the prince had gotten Jack's love of sweets. Jack set his hand on Henrik's little back and leaned forward.

"Yes, and they look very tasty. What do you say to her?"

"Why are they for the table?" Henrik asked, looking up at her confused. "Don't we get to eat them?"

Jack turned his head again, trying hard not to laugh aloud as chuckles went around the room.

"That's what she means honey," Elsa told him softly. "She means they are for us to eat and enjoy."

"Oh," Henrik said, comprehension coming across his features as he looked back down at the basket.

Carefully, he stepped forward, bending down and wrapping his arms around each side of the basket and taking it from Anna's grasp. Then, his face shot up towards Anna, a huge grin on his face.

"Thank you Anna! We will enjoy them later!" he told her.

Anna smiled down at him, curtseyed again and stepped back into the crowd.

One by one the whole crowd came forward, carefully bending down to talk to Henrik and presenting him with some little gift they had brought, like candies, or pastries or jams they had made. The people that had come didn't have much to spare, it was all something that could make, nothing extravagant. One farmer had even brought a basket full of carefully packed eggs for them.

Henrik took them all like they were gifts of gold, telling each person how excited he was about the gift. His favorite had been an older woman's though, who was raising her grandchildren. She had brought a crocheted shawl for Elsa, and had nervously presented the gift to the prince. Henrik's eyes had lit up and he had immediately draped it around his mother's shoulders.

"It's so pretty on you mama!" he had declared, before hopping over and giving the older woman a big hug and thanked her.

Then the crowd had left, waving at the prince who was still gleefully bouncing on the floor and waving his little hands as he sent them off before he bounded around the room, looking at the carefully arranged gifts that had been given to them.

Jack leaned back on the floor and looked over at Elsa, a huge smile on his face.

"Well that was unexpected," he said, chuckling.

Elsa grinned, nodding her agreement.

"Indeed," she said, standing from the floor and wincing as she got a cramp in her leg.

"Ow," she muttered, rubbing her sore leg.

Jack leaped up, sweeping her up into his arms and spinning her around while smiling down at her. She laughed, leaning her head back.

"I'm forever sweeping you off your feet it seems," he commented, smirking at her.

She laughed again, swatting at his chest. Henrik bounded over to them and looked up, smile still wide on his face.

"I want to do the same birthday party next year," he said. "I want everyone to be able to come and have fun again!"

Jack shifted, allowing them to both look down at him.

"Again?" she asked.

Henrik nodded. "It made everyone so happy! And it was fun," he said. "And fun is good, so, let's do it again next year!"

Jack looked at Elsa and they both smiled.

"Well, I know where he got that fun," Jack commented, smirking at her. She snorted, turning her attention back to Henrik.

"I don't see why not, it went well this year," she said. "If that's what's you still want to do around this time next year, that is what we will do."

"Yay!" replied Henrik, jumping up and down before he ran out of the room.

Jack chuckled. "At least next time you'll have more time to plan."

Elsa nodded. "True," she said, watching him jump around in the main foyer outside and talk animatedly with one of the maids. "At least I'll have that much."

"So did he?" Jamie asked. "Did he want that for his party? The, the Jewel Ball thing I mean."

Jack grinned and chuckled. "Oh yeah. It became a big tradition in Arendelle. Every year on Henrik's birthday, we'd open up the palace and everyone from the village and outlying areas was invited to come, dressed up in their best for a night of fun, with dancing and music and tons of food."

"I bet you loved the food," Jamie said snidely, grinning at him.

"I loved it all."

"So, how long did the tradition go on?"

"It was still happening when I left Arendelle, when Henrik was fully grown. And, by that time we had invested in a whole room of glass jewels, replicas of the real ones," Jack told him, smiling proudly of the memory. "Henrik was so excited to tell his friends that they could keep the replica jewels."

"And you had replicas made every year?"

"Yep! Some people took them as souvenirs, others brought them back year after year. We would take one of the rooms the day before, the smallest of the ballrooms, and we'd all set out all these jewels and fancy hats, and dresses even at one point. Then, when the party started, the crowd would come in and get all dressed up for the evening. The children were always so much fun to watch, seeing as they just draped themselves in everything, and then chose out things for their parents. It was lots of fun."

"That is, amazing."

"Yeah. Yeah, it was."

"So, what happened as Henrik grew up? Did Elsa train him to take over for her, he would be king after she died, right? Did she give him lessons on how to rule?"

Jack sighed heavily.

"Yeah. Yeah she did. I always tried not to give that too much thought though."

"Why?"

"Because of what the end result of those lessons meant. You said it yourself," he said, slumping back in his chair. "Life was just so, so perfect for all those years."

"I mean, yeah, we had our ups and downs, together and as a family. Everyone does. But it was just such a wonderful life. I thought it would just last forever. I WANTED it to last forever."

Jack pulled himself up from his chair, and walked over to the window. He looked out at the heavy snow falling just outside the cozy apartment building.

"But," he said on a sigh. "I learned the hard way that all good things must come to an end."

Jamie looked up curiously. "What do you mean?"

Jack leaned his head against the glass, eyes closing. "Just, give me a minute, would you?" he said. "This-this is where it gets hard."

Jamie stared at Jack for a moment, slowly nodding.

"Alright, take your time Jack."