Jacks POV

The great hall was a complete danger zone. In celebration of our 'apparent survival', North ordered a banquet. Something you should know about North is that he is physically incapable of doing anything small. "It must be as big as my belly!" he says.

Elves ran from room to room carrying every assortment of food under the moon. A team of them with a ten pound turkey ran straight between my legs and nearly sent me flying. I stumbled off to my right and ran into an intricately carved beam, forever embedding the image of my face into it.

Since we got back to the workshop, everything has been in bits and pieces. I clearly remember somethings, like seeing the snow turn red around Hiccups limp body, or kissing Rapunzel, the latter being much more pleasant. Other things were very blurry, like how I didn't remember putting on the tuxedo Tooth had insisted I wear to dinner.

You never fully appreciate how big a place is until you have to find something in it. I had spent the last hour checking doors and rooms looking for North because Rapunzel had asked me to find him for her. Eventually I found him in the kitchen, stirring a bowl big enough for me to bathe in full of cookie dough. It is practically illegal for anyone to mess with North's cookies.

His face was covered in snowy flour to match his beard, along with his 'Kiss the Claus' apron wrapped around his large belly.

"North" I called to him across the loud kitchen.

"Jack my boy!" he exclaimed upon seeing me, "What are you wearing?"

"Ask Tooth." I mumbled. He laughed out loud and I couldn't help but laugh too.

"What is it that you need Jack?" he asked.

"Um, Rapunzel wants to talk to you."

Rapunzel's POV

My head spun and I could feel my pulse in my chest. Bright blood red roses sprouted up immediately through the carpet of my room where ever I stepped. Left alone to my thoughts, all I could think about was Pitch's cold hands and my Mother. She stood there and watched. She watched him take advantage of me with a filthy smirk on her face. As I paced the room, my pant legs catching and tearing on rose thorns, I let go of any hope that she might still love me and decided that she was not my parent.

I was an orphan.

Before I could delve deeper into my thoughts, there was a gentle knock at my door. North stepped inside, but Jack didn't move. He caught my eye and smiled reassuringly before turning and walking back down the hall.

North stood awkwardly by the door and said "What is it you wished to discuss my dear?"

"Um, you can come in." I said, sitting down on my bed. He sat next to me, sinking several inches into the mattress. "Well I…it's just that, I wanted to…" The words just would not come out. Every single one stuck in my throat and stung my lips when they came out. I could feel tears welling up in my eyes and I struggled to blink them back.

North took a firm hold of my shoulder and looked me in the eye. "You can trust me Rapunzel."

At that, I fell apart. The tears rolled down my cheeks making a miniature lake in my lap. North took out a handkerchief and handed it to me. He didn't pry. He just patiently waited until I felt comfortable enough to talk. That's when I knew he meant what he said. I could trust him.

The words finally spilled out of my mouth and into the air, between occasional sobs. His eyes got more fierce as I talked, but it was like a tiger protecting its cub. It was a die-hard-protective kind of feirce.

When I was done, he pulled me into the warmest and most tender hug I had ever received. "Oh baby, oh my sweet Rapunzel." He mumbled repeatedly into my hair. I held his neck and just let the tears flow, soaking him to the bone. Finally, we pulled apart to find two mugs of steaming hot chocolate on the table with a note that said "We love you." in very crooked and broken handwriting that could only belong to an elf.

"It's true, you know." North said after a few sips, picking up the note. "We are all a family. A family that I wish very much for you to be in."

"Thank you North but-"

"No, I mean, I want you in my family Rapunzel. I have always wanted a daughter."

The look on my face must have been pretty blank.

"I want to adopt you Rapunzel. What Gothel did was not the act of a mother. It was an act of selfishness and greed. If it's alright and if you let me, I promise I will be the best father in the world. I'll protect you and love you forever, more than I already do. I can teach you how to-"he didn't get the chance to finish before I tackled him in a hug, fresh tears flowing down my face. But tears of joy this time. "Thank you…Dad."

When we pulled apart again, he looked up through the skylight, where we could see the moon. "Manny," he yelled, "What do you think?"

It was probably just a shadow, but I could swear that the Man in the Moon winked.

;ots of feels in this one. so sorry for the wait, just life and stuff. review review review!