I'm alive! As you all well know, school has begun again and I'm swamped! I apologize profusely for the long wait. But I think that you'll think it was worth it. But I won't know for sure if you don't tell me in a review! Sorry, had to say that. :)

Supergirl318: I'm glad you're liking it! And don't worry, I won't "croak." Haha! It may take me a bit sometimes, but I won't give up this story because I know how frustrating that is. Hope you like this one! Let me know what you think!

Tigerflight: *smiles really big* Tigerflight, I always look forward to reading your reviews! I'm glad I made you laugh! That's my goal! Yeah, I had some people wondering why Jack was so shy in earlier chapters. That's because Elsa is a queen and he didn't want to be too forward…yeah, those days are over. I think—if I know you—this one should make you laugh as well. :)

Tigerflight and pancakesonragegmail: About the review reply. Pancakes…can I call you pancakes? I think first-name-basis would be okay. Pancakes said something like "perfection can't be rushed, senpai." (which was really sweet, pancakes. Thank you again). And I had always thought that senpai meant a mentor or someone you look up to. But I could be totally wrong. Pancakes, what did you mean by it? And if someone out there knows the meaning of "senpai" I would greatly appreciate a quick explanatory review, so that Tigerfight and pancakes can see it as well. Hopefully we'll clear up your question Tigerflight! :)

Anyway, without further adieu, enjoy!

Chapter 21 – Realizations

Elsa sat at her desk and looked over a paper absently. She had gone to bed much too late and gotten up much too early. Frankly, she could hardly focus on anything she was reading. It all went in one ear, and out the other.

She attributed her unfocused behavior to the upcoming ball. With her having to formally greet all the guests tonight…to say that she was nervous would be an understatement.

Elsa also couldn't help but wonder what Jack meant last night. She blushed at the thought but pushed it away. Was he joking? Is he going to just randomly show up?

As if in answer to her thought, the Queen heard a tapping sound. She looked to her balcony doors, but saw nothing. Crediting it as a bird or something, she looked back to her work. But Elsa would be lying if she said that she wasn't slightly disappointed…okay, definitely disappointed.

Then she heard the tapping again; slightly louder and sharper than before. She looked around again and saw none other than Jack Frost suspended in midair looking into her small, ordinary window.

After her surprise at his visit died away—she really was hardly surprised at all—Elsa vaguely wondered why he didn't just land on the balcony.

She crossed to the window, knelt down, and opened it. And, as expected, Elsa was greeted by an all too familiar smirk.

She frowned. "What are you—?" Then Elsa saw the reason why Jack didn't land on the balcony…there was a guard patrolling right underneath it. He started to march around the side of the wall toward the window. Elsa quickly grabbed Jack's arms and yanked him inside so he would go unseen by the guard.

Jack tumbled into the room and landed flat on his back, rubbing his head slightly. "Miss me that much, did you?" he asked with raised brow and another smirk threatening to make itself known.

Elsa frowned again. "No. There was a guard. But thanks for coming out." With that she went back to her desk and refocused on her paper.

Jack let out a low whistle. "Somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed," he quipped. "Stay up a little too late last night, Your Highness?"

Elsa sighed, and decided to ignore that last comment. Although, she couldn't help blushing slightly when remembering what transpired the night before. "Look, unlike some people, I have work to do. And you aren't even supposed to be here," she answered.

Jack put up his arms in defense. "Okay. I'll go," he said nonchalantly.

Elsa looked up, hoping he hadn't already flown away. "You don't have to leave," she said, much quicker than she would've liked. Jack stopped in midair and looked back at her with raised brow. "You—I—" Elsa huffed. "You shouldn't be here, but I suppose…I will allow you to stay," she said as queenly as possible.

Jack smirked at the fact that he could make her stammer with all but a look. "You are most kind, Your Highness."

Elsa frowned when he called her by her formal title yet again, but dropped it nonetheless. She attempted to refocus on her work—not that she had ever been focused on it anyway—but then looked up and addressed The Guardian of Fun on the question that she had wondered about the whole of last night and this morning.

"Why did you come? I tried to call after you last night, but you were already gone," she explained.

Jack smirked. Oh my…that smirk—stop it! Elsa thought.

"Ah yes, well for one, you sounded quite angry and I would rather not face The Queen of Arendelle's wrath. And second, I wanted to keep the purpose of my visit a surprise."

Ella scoffed. "Or you just don't have a reason at all."

Jack tilted his head in acknowledgment. "That's very possible as well."

Then realization hit Elsa regarding the first part of Jack's comment. "Wha—wait a minute. Are you saying that you ignored me?" she asked, a frown moving its way across her features.

Jack however, seemed undaunted by her accusation and responded, "I wouldn't exactly label it 'ignoring,' I'd probably say it was more along the lines of fearing for my life." Elsa raised an eyebrow, obviously not buying any of this. "I mean," Jack continued. "you could've had my head chopped off or something. You sounded pretty mad."

"First of all, I have never chopped anybody's head off. Second, if I did want to chop off yours," Which I have been tempted to do many times. "you ignoring me and leaving would not hinder me from accomplishing that task."

Jack narrowed his eyes in contemplation. "So…you are going to chop my head off?"

Elsa huffed. "No. I'm not going to chop your head off."

But I'd definitely like to! she thought while returning to her work. The nerve of him! For him to just sit there when I'm calling him! I mean, how rude is—wait how long was he there?!

She looked up at Jack. "So, just exactly how long were you listening by my balcony…exactly?"

"If you're discretely asking if I heard your adorable little giggle…then yes, I did," Jack responded.

Elsa paled and a large lump made its way to her throat. "Th-that wasn't me," she lied. "It was Anna."

Jack arched an eyebrow. "Really."

Elsa's head snapped up. She was now beat red. "Yes 'really!'"

"Okay, whatever you say! Just making sure," he said, trying not to burst out laughing at her behavior.

Elsa sighed deeply, and for what was perhaps the millionth time attempted to read what was written on the paper in front of her. She heard Jack meandering around the room and strived to stay focused.

"Nice room," he commented.

Elsa jumped slightly. Why was she so jumpy? This was ridiculous! Oh, she should probably answer him…yes, that would definitely be proper.

"Uh, thanks." She almost cringed. Could she be any lamer right now? Nope. Definitely not.

Jack however, seemed unscathed by her terse response. Elsa, on the other hand, continued to read and reread lines that should have sunk in by this time. He was just too distracting.

Why is he always so distracting?!

"What was that?" Jack questioned, suddenly right behind her.

And why am I always saying things that I'm only supposed to be thinking?!

"Nothing. It-I didn't—say anything." Elsa, you're a moron.

Elsa then looked discreetly to her left to see what he was doing, when she found him right next her, looking over her shoulder. Practically jumping out of her chair, the irate Queen pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Whatcha readin'?" he asked.

Elsa, still retaining the same position, answered in monotone, "A list of the names of the princes and their respective countries and/or provinces; and of the different formalities that need to be taken when addressing them this evening." Jack nodded slowly, then snatched up the paper. "Wha—hey!"

He slowly wandered around the room looking at it. Elsa watched impatiently from her desk. Then he began walking toward the open balcony doors and Elsa was just starting to put together his antics. However, too late. He looked up with a mischievous smirk and rolled the paper into a ball.

Elsa's eyes went wide and she held out a warning finger. "Jack. Frost. Don't you dare."

She then sprung from her chair in an attempt to snatch the paper back before he threw it, but he had expected that. Jack tossed the crumbled paper out the open doorway and Elsa watched as it made its way to ground level.

Completely ignoring Jack—for the moment—she went to the balcony and looked over the edge. And, much to the Queen's embarrassment, the guard was stooping over to pick up the paper. He then looked curiously up at her after skimming the contents.

Elsa smiled apologetically. "That was a…um…an accident! Sorry, thank you! Would you please give it to one of the servants and have them bring it to my room!" she called down to him. The guard nodded, and the Queen offered her thanks once more.

Then Elsa turned and regarded Jack with her best glare. She stalked toward him and held up her index finger. "Jack Frost! You are impossible sometimes!"

Jack raised his brow. "Sometimes? Thank you," he said, smiling sweetly.

Elsa let out a low growl, and strode back to her desk. As soon as her back was turned Jack laughed under his breath. It never got old.

She sat back down, pulled a piece of parchment out of one of the drawers, and began writing. She had no clue exactly what she was writing, but just needed some sort of distraction.

Meanwhile, Jack had another trick up his sleeve and ambled over to her desk. He rested his forearms on the back of her chair and leaned forward so he could see her face. Elsa's heart starting beating a little faster than it was supposed to…stupid heart.

"Elsa?" he whispered in her ear.

The Queen tried to swallow the lump in her throat so she could answer. Why did he have to do that? Well, it really didn't matter what he did…he could just sit there and make her nervous. She cleared her throat instead—for the swallowing didn't work—and uttered, "What?"

"You work too much."

Elsa nodded slowly. "Uh…yeah. Yeah I—wait what?" Get it together, stupid!

Jack barely refrained a smirk. He then rested his chin on her shoulder, which caused Elsa to tense even more…if that was possible. "Have you been working all morning?"

Elsa blinked. "Uh, yes." Wow. You're an idiot. These are like the easiest questions in the world, Elsa!

The Queen attempted to write some more on her paper when Jack leaned forward and began to observe.

Elsa exhaled. "Okay. You are really distracting," she stated.

Jack however ignored that comment—he already knew it anyway—and ran a finger across her paper. "I thought you might want to know that your paper makes absolutely no sense."

Elsa's eyes shot to the paper and focused on it for the first time since she began writing. It read:

I think that the base of but it is a distraction great day to be a queen of the year of high quality material …

Elsa flushed; why did she even write anything?!

"Am I that distracting?" Jack's voice filtered in to her ears.

Elsa suddenly stood up and faced Jack; a frown clear on her face.

"Yes, you're that distracting! I am in the middle of trying to prepare for a ball! A ball! Do you have any idea what that entails?!"

Jack assumed that that was probably a hypothetical question and chose not to answer.

Meanwhile, Elsa began pacing. "You-you joke as if nothing's happened between us, when just last night I stated—clearly stated—that we can't see each other anymore. You stop on by like we're old friends, and then you—you try to…s-seduce me?!"

"Pff, that was hardly seducing," Jack cut in. Perhaps he should show her seducing…yes that would be agreeable.

Meanwhile, the Queen continued her tirade; sometimes waving her hand about when she spoke. "Well, whatever…that was, it's not happening again. I cannot handle any more stress, Jack. I've got to prepare for this ball. So, I'm afraid I'm going to have to…" she trailed off.

When Elsa had turned away from him, Jack advanced and moved his hands to her waste. His touch was electrifying, and she melted under it.

"Ask you t-to…"

She gasped quietly and shakily when she felt Jack's cold breath on her neck. Then, beginning at the base of her neck, he made his way up with gentle kisses

"To…"

Elsa hadn't moved an inch. She wanted to, but nothing was working. Her breathing most especially…stupid lungs. Why couldn't she move?! Why wouldn't she? For some reason, Elsa never wanted his hands to leave her waste…perhaps because when they did, she knew he would be gone forever. Oh my…she was getting dizzy.

He suddenly stopped. "Please continue," he said, regarding Elsa's rant.

"Um…never mind," she responded breathlessly. Breathe, Elsa! You can run a kingdom; I think you can breathe!

Jack nodded and continued his ministrations.

What is wrong with me? Why am I letting him do this?!

Jack was now at her jawline, dangerously close to her lips. He moved so slowly, too slowly for Elsa. However, just to taunt her, he pulled back just before kissing her lips. To his pleasure, the Queen had been leaning ever so slightly to the right to meet him halfway.

When Elsa's lips met air instead of Jack's lips she frowned and groaned slightly in annoyance. "Jack!" she drawled in a whisper.

By this point Jack had Elsa completely wrapped around his finger, and she was passed the point of noticing. He struggled to keep his smirk at bay.

"What?" he questioned innocently. "I thought you wanted me to not seduce you."

Elsa immediately straightened up and took a deep breath, very embarrassed. "Oh, uh…right." She stood there in complete awkwardness for a moment longer, before finally giving up.

Elsa rolled her eyes. "Forget what I said." She closed the gap between them and Jack allowed his smile to break through as she kissed him.

Elsa suddenly was struck with the thought that the ball was tonight, and that afterwards she could be engaged to a prince she didn't even know. That thought made her sick. And she finally allowed herself to admit that she wanted to be with Jack. After suppressing it for so long, she simply couldn't anymore. So, with all of her heart Elsa kissed him.

Then reality hit her again, along with a great flood of emotion. She broke the kiss and nuzzled his cheek affectionately with her own before resting her head in the crook of his neck. Elsa was trying not to show her sudden weakness, but a small, wavering sob escaped.

Jack pulled back and looked at her with concern. "Elsa, what's wrong?"

The Queen returned his gaze. "Jack, I—I can't do this," she began with tears welling up. "I thought—for a while I…but now—now it's all real. The ball's tomorrow. I—I don't want to marry any of those princes. And it isn't because they're power hungry like I said before; that was an excuse." She reached her hand up and affectionately caressed his cheek.

"Jack," she said. The love for him that was evident in the way she said his name, how she touched him…left Jack speechless. "I'm done pretending, Jack. I—"

Suddenly, the door opened.

Wow. I know…that was extremely mean. I just didn't want to make you guys wait any longer and… *cough cough* I'll admit cliffhangers are fun when you're writing them! I hope you liked it though! Again, sorry about the delay!

Please let me know what you thought about this chapter in a review! I would absolutely love to read a review from you instead of…well pretty much anything.

Also, please PM me a one-shot prompt! Like, not even joking, that would make my day…actually more like month…months. And who knows! If it's a good one, I might even make it into a short story! If you check out my bio, the list of the movies/books I will wright about is there.

I would absolutely love a prompt! It doesn't have to be big either! And I will recognize YOU as the prompt-giver, and we can even talk about what you're thinking you want the fic to be about in better detail if you want!

Please review, follow, and favorite!

Love to all,

FaithfulWarrior