I have no excuses except being busy with adult life. So I hope you enjoy the new chapter! I'm working hard to make the "after the movie" part special. Don't forget to review!

Chapter 29

By the time winter had finally rolled around, I was getting used to the weird things my body was doing. Feeling my irregular heartbeat and becoming cold—it had been so long ago that I had forgotten what it had felt like to be human. And though it had only been a few months, there wasn't a day that went by when I hadn't thought of Elsa at least once. North and I had kept a close watch on the globe, making sure no more whiteouts happened. But everything seemed normal. But it wasn't just her magic that I thought about. It was what she had said to me. That she loved me. It still didn't feel quite real. I mean…she loved me? How was that even possible? Besides, she and I were just…she was human and well, I was…not. There's no way a relationship like that would work between us.

As I glided down to Arendelle, bringing with me the first snow of winter, I kept thinking about what I would say when I saw her. Would she be upset? I mean, after the way I just left her there. I shook my head, trying not to think about it too hard. The castle looked just as it always had, majestic and quiet. Only now the gates were wide open for all to enter. I glided down toward one of the higher windows and perched on the windowsill. Leaning over the edge, I peered in through the window, frost creeping across the glass.

I spotted Elsa in a light blue gown. It wasn't the same glittering icy dress she had created herself, but it was just as beautiful. The silk cascaded around her figure like water, and she wore her mother's gold crown. She held herself high, speaking to a dignitary I had never seen before. I certainly didn't recognize him from the group during her coronation. The man bowed deeply before excusing himself from the room, the enormous doors closing behind him. Once she was alone, she turned suddenly and gazed up at me.

"Come in, Jack," she said simply, in a commanding tone befitting a queen. "There's no need for you to stay outside."

I pushed the window open gently. "Guess I can't hide from you, huh?"

"I guess you could say I sensed your presence." She gestured to the world outside. "It's snowing, you know."

I laughed, rubbing the back of my neck nervously. "Yeah. I guess that's a dead giveaway."

She strode gracefully toward the hearth, a warm fire blazing in the fireplace. Above the hearth was the newest royal portrait. The painted Elsa stood proud in her green and black coronation gown, holding the scepter and that weird orb thingy. Her expression looked so serious in her portrait. Beside hers was a portrait of her late mother and father. Hands clasped in front of her, she turned toward me.

"I missed you." She gestured to the chairs seated around the fire. "Won't you sit down?"

I shrugged. "Yeah, I guess I could spare a minute." Despite the invitation, I didn't really feel like sitting. So instead I stood awkwardly beside the chair, my new and un-magical staff clutched in both hands.

Elsa sat in a large wing backed chair beside the crackling fire. She gazed silently at the snapping flames before looking up at me. Despite the warm smile on her face, a sadness lingered behind her blue eyes.

"I'm glad to see you. After the way you left last summer, I wondered if you would even come back to the palace."

"Yeah…sorry about that." I raked my fingers through my frosty hair. "I was just shocked and all. You know, with me almost dying and everything. Guess I just needed some time."

She nodded, staring down at her hands. She picked at a loose thread in her gown. "A lot of suitors have been coming to Arendelle recently," she said softly.

It felt as if something had slammed into my chest and the breath caught in my throat. I swallowed past the lump. "Oh." I glanced away, clearing my throat. "Is that who that guy was earlier?"

"The Earl of Pembroke." She sighed. "I'm expected to marry soon."

"Why?" The question came out before I could stop myself. Elsa looked up at me and I quickly glanced away. "I mean, you can rule without a king, right?"

Elsa shrugged. "It's tradition."

"Oh…."

There was a loud knock on the door. "Elsa?" Anna stuck her head into the room, her ginger braids falling over her shoulders. "Gerda said you were in…" her words trailed off when she spotted me. A wide grin spread across her face. "Jack! You're back!" She hurried into the room, a spring in her step. "I was wondering when you'd be back. Elsa never stops talking about you and I knew something was up. But now that you're here," she gasped in mid-sentence, "Oh, this I great! You can help Elsa with her suitor problem!"

"Anna, please," Elsa stood as she spoke, trying to calm her eccentric little sister.

Anna took Elsa's hands. "Isn't it great?! Now that he's back, you don't have to pick one of thos stuck-up snobs they've been sending! And let's be honest, most of them are wa-a-a-a-ay too old and not too easy on the eyes." She nudged her sister gently. "Am I right?"

"Anna!" Elsa glanced at me, her cheeks flaming red.

"Well, actually…." I glanced away, running my fingers through my hair. "We're not…."

The youngest looked at me in confusion. "Not what?"

"You know." I looked at Elsa, my face heating up in embarrassment.

Elsa squeezed her sister's hands. "Anna, why don't you meet me in the parlor? I want to speak with Jack a moment. Alone."

"Oh." Her sister's face fell slightly. "Okay. Just don't take too long." She gave me one last glance before hurrying out into the hall, closing the door behind her. The minutes that passed felt painfully slow, but finally Elsa looked up at me.

"I'm sorry. Anna has been very excited recently, after she and Kristoff were engaged." Her cheeks flushed when she mentioned the engagement. "But about what I said last time…. I mean it." Her beautiful blue eyes met mine. "I love you, Jack. I don't want anyone else by my side but you."

I tried to answer, but she quickly pressed her finger to my lips.

"Please, let me finish before I lose my nerve completely." She took a shaky breath. "You've always been there, as far back as I can remember. And I think I've known it for a long time now. It doesn't matter if you can never age or if you're immortal but I…I love you. Won't you at least consider it before you answer?"

She slowly drew her finger from my lips. There was no way she could know what she was asking. But I could see in her eyes that she meant it. And God! I wish it could work, I really really did. But there's no way an immortal—even a dying one—and a human could make a relationship last. I rubbed my arm absently, unable to bring myself to look her in the eyes.

"Elsa…listen. I…I can't always be by your side the way you want me to. I can't be a king and stay in Arendelle forever. I have duties…as a Guardian and as the bringer of winter. It's just not possible."

Tears welled up in her frosty blue eyes. Elsa bit her lip as she tried not to cry. Dropping my staff, I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her tightly. She stiffened against my cold embrace, her hands on my chest. I gently ran my fingers through her platinum hair, pulling strands of her braid loose as I did so.

"God, it's so unfair…" I muttered. "You don't know how badly I want to stay, Elsa. I mean, I really really want to stay here with you but I just…can't." I loosened my grip and gazed down at the tear-streaked face of a brokenhearted queen.

She covered her face with her hands, trying to hide her tears. "I-I guess I always knew but I—"

I couldn't take it anymore. Grabbing her wrists, I pulled her hands away. I pressed my lips to hers, a squeak of surprise escaping her as I did so. A swirl of frigid air and snow swirled around us as her emotions somersaulted back and forth. Slowly the tension receded and she eased into my body. She kissed me back, slowly at first, but then with more passion. A lightly flurry encircled us. And when I finally pulled away, the snowflakes hung suspended in the air, as if time itself were standing still. Taking her face in my hands, I gently brushed aside her tears with m thumbs.

"I love you, Elsa. You don't know how bad I wish I could stay here with you, but I can't."

"I know." She laid her slender hand over mine. "But despite that, would you be mine?"

"You don't know what you're asking." I averted my gaze. "I could only come to you at winter. It would be a lonely life full of waiting and longing."

"I wouldn't choose anyone else. Not for all the riches in the world."

I couldn't help but grin. "You're impossible."

"And I'm all yours."

Chapter 30 coming soon!