Disclaimer: I do not own the Santa Clause trilogy or anything related to it. I only own Crys, Carma, and my other OCs.

A/N: Those reviews were really nice to read! I especially want to thank chrissy—your review somewhat inspired part of this chapter. (= Thank you, everyone, for appreciating my story!

Enjoy the chapter!

Chapter Fourteen: Memories

For the first time that he could recall, Jack Frost's mask of collective serenity lay shattered at his feet. Never had he been more bothered than when he walked away from Crys. Puzzling thoughts circled his head and the girl would not leave his mind. What was wrong with him?

Something odd had occurred when Crys kissed him. The moment their lips touched, Jack was no longer standing outside the factory, with his wonderful masterpieces of snowflakes drizzling down. Memories—ones he'd sworn he'd never experienced—had overwhelmed him.

Memories…the word was a little too strong. They were more like bits and pieces, glimpses of another world. With the intensity of Crys' kiss wrapping around him, his mind had shown him these images. Perhaps being around Crys was making his mind slip a tiny bit; she was far from a normal girl, he was certain of that.

A dull throb had started at the back of his head, similar to the kind he'd felt before—

Instantly, the searing pain increased and it felt like someone was mentally ripping his mind apart, searching for a specific memory. The sight of the factory drifted away, replaced with a time that he could not place.

Crys, move. The decision has already been made…In his head, Jack recalled Crys throwing her body in front of him and Mother Nature's firm glare. When had that happened? Another burst of discomfort swept over him as more words whispered to him on the wind.

…..

"Please…can't you set some other punishment? Anything but this…."

Jack Frost watched as Crys spread her arms wide, defending him…from what? Mother Nature? The supreme legendary figure herself stared Crys down, prepared to unleash her power over him.

"The vote is unanimous. Now I'm going to ask you again. Please, move," Mother Nature requested her, deadly serious and nothing but business. That was when it started to come back to him. Mother Nature…was going to strip him of his powers. Because…that part he could not bring forward yet.

"I already told you. I'm not moving aside," Crys insisted. Her back was facing him, but he was sure there would be an expression of determination on her delicate face. Why was a simple girl like Crys doing this for someone as troubling as him? No one defied Mother Nature—no one but him, that was.

Jack had the urge to place a hand on her shoulder, to make her look at him, but he could only witness the scene before him. Even his lips would not obey his command.

"Crys…why are you doing this?" Mother Nature's face was pinched and worried. Clearly, she'd rather not force the girl out of her way. Crys slightly lowered her arms. Was she giving up? What did he matter to someone like her anyway?

"Because…" Her voice was so soft, but he could still hear it. "Because I love him!" The truth came pouring out of her, rooting Jack Frost where he stood. What had she just said? This girl…loved him?

Familiarity curled around him; he desperately clung to it, wanting so much to remember something…Crys, he tried to say her name. If he could only say her name, if she could only hear it…

Mother Nature would not be beaten. Making her decision, she raised her staff and he could almost feel the chill of his marvelous power draining from him…

"No!" Crys finally turned around, her arms embracing him, her face burying into his shoulder. Everything became veiled by a screen of white—

…..

The memory faded away and Jack Frost returned to the North Pole. The world around him came into sharp focus. He was kneeling on the ground, gasping for breath as the memory consumed him.

That memory…surely that moment had never happened. He would have certainly been able to recall something like that. Wouldn't he?

That dull throbbing was still there and it irritated him. What was happening to him? Was Crys somehow playing a trick on him? That girl…it has something to do with her, he thought.

A slower memory eclipsed him, this one gentler than the last had been. Instead of fighting it, Jack succumbed t it. Part of him was suspicious to see what this one would hold for him.

It was short, but triggered a strange emotion deep inside him. Could it possibly be…love? It was impossible for someone like him…wasn't it? After all the mischief he willingly caused, he had stopped expecting the emotion to turn up in the cards for him.

A medium-sized Christmas tree, glowing with colorful lights and sparkling ornaments. The balcony doors were wide open, allowing inside a thin breeze and a view of the night stars above.

Crys was decorating the tree, a warm smile lighting up her face. He was approaching her and watching her as she danced around the tree gracefully. Soft music filled his ears and he realized it was her singing. Some part of him responded to it, wanting to close the distance between them.

So this is Christmas…and what have you done….Jack's feet carried him until he was directly behind her. A musical laugh escaped her as he easily wrapped his arms around her a laid a soft kiss on her cheek. Another year over…and a new one just begun…

This memory, though startling, did not hassle him as much. This one was possibly the happiest time he had ever felt, even if it was not a time he could ever hope to live.

…

Just a quick chapter to satisfy the readers! I will have more soon, don't worry. (= I simply wanted to change it up by showing Jack's insight on this troubling situation.

I hope everyone liked it!