29.

Elsa thought she'll finally have a good night sleep after all the exhausting but worth it days she had. She really thought that, even though if it was Christmas next morning, she would wake up around 10, like every year and then she would go to open the gifts with her family.

Jack had other plans.

After his recently discovery and acceptance of his feelings towards Elsa, he found mortifying giving her his gift in front of her whole family. He found it mortifying before realizing and accepting his feelings, so now it was just even worst. He'll probably die of embarrassment if he gave her his gift in front of her parents, or in front of Nic.

So, the most brilliant idea came to his mind.

He decided to wake up Elsa at 7 a.m. on Christmas morning, to make sure no one was up, to give her his gift.

So now here he was, outside of her bedroom, trying to find the courage to just knock the damn door. It would be a easy task if he didn't feel like he was having a heart attack.

He has been in the same exact position for about five minutes.

'Goddammit Frost! You're ridiculous! Just knock the damn door!'

Inhaling deeply, and trying not to choke with just air, he finally knocked the door.

No answer.

He knocked again.

And again.

… and again.

Still no freaking answer.

He was about to open the door in desperation, because there was no way in the world he'll gave her the gift in front of everyone until the door was silently opening.

Elsa was standing in front of him, looking incredibly sleepy. Her hair was down, but tangled, her eyes were barely keeping themselves open, and she was in some fluffy peppermint patterned pajamas.

Jack really wanted to punch himself right now.

"Jack?" Elsa asked in confusion. "What time is it?" She said yawning, to then rub her eyes to keep them open.

"Uh- around 7 a.m." Jack said blushing in embarrassment. Elsa gazed at him opening her eyes well now, and her face was in the perfect mixture of concern and anger.

"Are you okay, Jack? Do you need anything?" Elsa asked, obviously believing that something was wrong since he was waking her up so early.

"Uhm… nothing, nothing's wrong" Jack quickly said, and blushed even harder. Elsa raised an eye brow.

"So why are you waking me up this early?" Elsa asked, leaning against her door frame.

"I just-" His voice came up a lot more husky than he expected so he cleared his throat. "I just… wanted to uh- give you the gift I got you for Christmas…" He said, clearly struggling to get the words out of his mouth. Elsa's face instantly softened, and she looked at him sweetly. "B-But I didn't-" He tried to say again.

"I understand, Jack" Elsa stopped him with an understanding smile. "I was actually nervous of giving you the gift I got for you in front of everyone as well" She said blushing slightly. Jack's eyes widened.

"You- You got me something?" He asked surprised. Elsa giggled.

"Of course I did silly!" Elsa said. "Why don't you wait me by the tree while I look for your gift?" Elsa asked. Jack nodded quickly and rushed downstairs, making Elsa giggle.

She really hoped he liked the gift she got him. A couple of days ago, she had no idea on what to gave him. She wanted it to be special, and it probably still wasn't much but it was the best idea she got. She didn't want to give him just an expensive gift she could easily buy. Her family always had the rule to not gift expensive stuff on Christmas, but significant and special things. After all, Christmas was a special day, a time to share and show how much you loved your family and friends, expensive stuff could be easily gifted in birthdays.

Elsa inhaled deeply, and went down with a gift with no defined shape, wrapped in navy blue gift wrap paper with a silver bow.

Jack was waiting for her seating besides the tree, with a square gift in a baby blue snowflake patterned gift wrapping paper and a white bow. His sight instantly traveled to her once she entered the large living room.

"Hey" Elsa said awkwardly, walking with the gift in hands. This was way more embarrassing than both had expected.

"Hey" He responded in an equally awkward tone.

Elsa took a seat besides him, and they stared at each other for a few moments without an idea on what to do next.

Elsa chuckled sheepishly.

"This is awkward" She just said the first thing that came up in her mind. She really wanted to face palm herself, or cover her tomato red face with her hands.

"Yeah.." Jack said, chuckling awkwardly as well. They stayed in silence a few seconds more, until Elsa had enough of it and cleared her throat.

"We should just do it" She finally said, Jack jut nodded. "Merry Christmas, Jack" Elsa said, and handed him the gift. Jack slowly took it, and handed him her gift.

"Merry Christmas, princess" Jack said. "Open yours first" Jack quickly added.

"No, open yours first!" Elsa said.

"I asked first!" Jack exclaimed.

"But I gave you the gift first! So you're the one that needs to open it first" Elsa said and crossed her arms over her chest. Jack just sighed in defeat.

"Fine" He said, and he inspected the gift resting on his lap.

It was a lot more lighter than the gift he gave to her, and the fact that it had no shape was intriguing him, he slowly (but messily) started to break the gift wrapping paper, and when the whole he made was big enough to let the object that was inside out, he grabbed it. He was surprised to feel a fluffy and puffy texture.

Elsa was looking at him with a mixture of nervousness and excitement.

He got the fluffy thing out, and he was beyond shocked to find the perfect miniature copy of…

…Marshmallow.

Jack was speechless. Firstly, because he just couldn't figure how Elsa managed to get him or make a perfect (maybe cuter) mini copy of their snowman, and secondly, because he was extremely heart warmed by the gift. It was really special, and it will always make him remember about this beautiful Christmas with her. It mean a lot to him.

"Princess this is…" He started, he couldn't even find the words. "I-I love it." He said, looking at her. She smiled in relief and in happiness. "How do you even managed to build it or get it?" He asked, observing his plushie. Elsa just giggled and shrugged.

"The perks of having a sister that's a master with fabric and needles" She said smiling sweetly. "Look at his feet soles" Elsa said.

Jack did as told and his eyes widened in awe when he discovered what was embroidered in the little plushie's feet soles. In the right feet was embroidered 'Jack' in sylver threads, and in the left feet it was embroidered 'Elsa', in sylver threads as well.

"Elsa I…" He trailed on, he really didn't know what to say. "This is- I really-" Elsa just giggled.

"I'm really glad you liked it Jack" Elsa said, obviously stopping the poor boy struggle.

Jack smiled at her thankfully for a moment, but then hie eyes trailed to the gift seating on her lap.

"Your turn" Jack said, gesturing to the gift. Elsa blushed, and gazed at the gift with excited eyes. She really didn't care much of the content, just the mere fact that this was a gift from Jack made her insanely happy.

With her delicate fingers, she carefully untied the white bow, to then break the gift wrapping paper, revealing a paperboard box. She carefully opened the box. Inside it, there was a wooden frame, and a little wooden box.

She picked the frame first, and she gasped, covering her mouth with her free hand, feeling her eyes burning.

It was the photo someone took that day she forced him to work with her. That first day they actually had a conversation. The picture of them walking side by side facing backwards at the mystery photographer looked even better than it did before, and it was in a beautiful wooden frame with carved snowflakes that were filled with sylver glitter after.

Elsa really wanted to cry right now.

"Oh my gosh, Jack" She whispered, hand still covering her mouth. Jack chuckled.

"You have no idea how much it took me to find a frame I liked" Jack joked, but his face quickly flushed, and he smiled at her. "That day, when the picture was taken, I had no idea how important you were going to become to me" Elsa stared at him even more speechless, and when she attempted to open her mouth to say something Jack quickly interrupted her "Don't say anything yet, open the next one"

Elsa really wanted to say something, but since his eyes were so insisting she turned to the little wooden box, to realize the box was actually the same style as the frame, with little glittery snowflakes carved on it.

She carefully opened the box and her jaw dropped at seeing the content.

It was a beautiful and delicate sylver bracelet, that had several pendants: a tiara pendant, a snowflake pendant, a coffee mug pendant, a book pendant and a ice skate pendant. It was beyond beautiful.

"Oh my fucking god Jack" Elsa whispered. "T-This- This is too beautiful but I can't possibl-"

"If you said you can possibly accept it you're gonna make me feel terrible" Jack said, faking being sad.

"B-But-" Elsa tried again.

"Stop it, princess. Just put it on, it's perfect for you" Jack said with a smile. Elsa blushed, but smiled as well.

"Thank you, Jack. I loved it, both of them" Elsa said sincerely, and then she handed the bracelet to Jack, and lifted up her hand to him.

Jack blushed and widened his eyes at first, but after gulping, with trembling fingers, he placed the bracelet in Elsa's wrist. And just as he finished, Elsa jumped at him, and wrapped her arms in a tight and warm hug.

"This is really the best Christmas ever, Jack" She said whispering, snuggling a bit more in his neck, to then let go.

Jack was tomato red, with eyes as plates, and he really wanted to smack himself for not even being able to react in the hug.

Elsa looked at him with a bright smile, and before he could said anything she got up.

"Wanna help me with breakfast?" She asked in a sweet tone. Jack gulped and looked up to her.

"Wasnt yesterday enough prove that I'm useless at the kitchen?" He asked once he composed himself. Elsa chuckled and rolled her eyes.

"Stop being so dramatic" Elsa said with a teasing smile. "C'mon, I wont be able to sleep anymore, and there's no breakfast"

x

Once they got to the kitchen (with small Marshmallow with them) Elsa instantly went to grab lots of ingredients while Jack just stood there, with his gaze following Elsa like a stupid lost kid. He really was useless in the kitchen, he only knew how to toast bread and cook bacon, and now that he thought of it, he didn't even know why he had a freaking kitchen in his dorm. It only served to preserve pick up and delivery food.

"What are 'we' going to cook?" Jack asked, while placing little Marshmallow in the counter were he hoped he would be safe. Elsa was walking around the room, taking out stuff and food while humming 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' by Mariah Carey (like someone doesn't know that song).

"Well, it's Christmas morning so hot chocolate is a must" Elsa said, and started to boil water. Jack instantly realized that the Winters were chocoholics, since hot chocolate was a must everyday. "Nic looks like a fruit cake lover, does he like fruit cake?" Elsa asked.

"Uh- Yeah" Jack said recalling previous Christmas with his family were Nic was always stuffing his face with fruit cake. "Wait, are you going to bake one now?"

"No, of course not" Elsa said chuckling. "We got some in there" Elsa said pointing a place Jack didn't really looked. "We still have lots of cookies from yesterday, so we're placing that on the table too. I think that with some bacon and eggs we'll be done" Elsa said, while stirring her hot chocolate.

"I know how to cook bacon" Jack said immediately, he really didn't want to look useless. Elsa chuckled and turned to him, raising an eyebrow.

"Really?" She asked, continuing to stir.

"Of course really, every person on earth that eats meat knows how to" Jack said pretending to be offended. Elsa chuckled again.

"Well then Mr. Bacon Chef, your 'ingredients' are in the refrigerator" Elsa said mockingly.

"You're gonna taste the best bacon in the world" Jack said cockily, and went to take out the bacon.

After that, they cooked without talking. Elsa was still humming Mariah Carey's song, and Jack just stared at her while she fried the eggs and finished with the food. As soon as the comfortable silence between them settled, Jack instantly dived deep in thought, while he admired at how she gracefully moved in the kitchen.

She looked so beautiful, how could she look so beautiful? She was in fluffy Christmas pajamas and socks, her hair was a mess and she was cooking, humming probably the cheesiest song in the whole world, and she looked gorgeous. Anna was damn right, how could she do it? How could she be so naturally beautiful? It actually should be forbidden or something, wasn't it a bit unfair to the other girls?

He actually never saw a girl that gorgeous inside and out. He'd never been so mesmerized by a girl in his life. She was unique.

He really, really wanted to kiss her, or tell her how he felt. He was still a bit pissed at Anna because of what happened yesterday. It was just the perfect chance, the perfect scene, the perfect atmosphere. Now, he couldn't just walk to her, turn her facing to him and kiss her out of nowhere. He'll look like a fucking creep. Maybe she'll even kick him out of her house. So yeah, definitely not a good moment to attempt to kiss her, and he was uncertain of another 'perfect' moment appearing soon.

Still, maybe he could tell her how he felt. Maybe it was a good time now, they were alone, everybody was sleeping (thankfully including Anna) so there was likely to be any interruptions.

But… but if she didn't feel the same? What if she told him that they should just stay as friends? Would he be able to stay here? For lot of more days after that? Maybe it'll make things a too awkward if she didn't feel the same. Maybe even everyone else would notice it and Nic would tell him that it would be better to leave, and he'll ruin Christmas for everyone…

… Okay he was being a bit over dramatic.

He didn't have to think that way.

Sure, there was a big (enormous) chance of Elsa not returning his feelings, but Elsa was different. She would not let anything change, she wont act different around him, she'll still be with him… and she as a friend was still really amazing, she proved that to him everyday, she cared about him, and she was by his side no matter what. Even if he was probably dying for them to be something more, he could still live with Elsa as a friend, and live happily.

Plus, there was a chance of her returning his feelings. How Anna acted around them, and how her friends and family also did and everything they said gave him hope. If he told her how he felt, and if she returned his feelings, he'll probably become the happiest man on the world, and this days would probably be the best days ever (even if they were already). After all, like he said, this was a pretty good chance to do so. Maybe he should tell her now.

Yes.

He decided.

He will.

Now or never right?

You never know what could happen tomorrow… right?

"Princess?" He called, and Elsa stopped humming to turn to him. Nervousness filled his body at her cerulean eyes on him.

"Yes, Jack? I'm almost finished" Elsa said, and placed a bowl filled with scrambled eggs in the counter.

"Uhm… its not that" Jack said and bit his lip. Fuck why everything seemed so damn difficult with her?

Oh right, maybe because she was the most beautiful girl he ever saw, same girl that rejected a million of boys.

'Don't think about that, idiot' He mentally scolded himself.

"What is it, Jack?" Elsa asked frowning in curiosity. Jack really tried to calm his breathing and the beating of his heart without making it so obvious.

"I-Uh. I want to tell you something" He said in the most stupid way possible. "Is just.. I…" He said, but he was just unable to formulate sentences.

"Jack, you can tell me anything, you know that right?" Elsa said in a supportive way after noting Jack's struggle.

"Yes, I know" Jack said without stuttering. He knew that. Of course he knew. "Look… What I want to tell you is that I really-"

"Merry Christmas to you both!" North said, entering to the kitchen practically dancing.

Perfect.

"Good morning, sis. Good morning, Jack. Good morning, Mr. North" Anna said after entering to the kitchen. "Merry Christma- OH HELL NAH YOU DID NOT!" Anna screamed.

Fucking perfect. Goodbye 'good' chance.

"What is it, Anna?" Elsa asked at her sister while Jack mentally screamed in frustration.

"What is it? WHAT IS IT?!" Anna said in disbelief, and then she pointed Marshmallow. "You already exchanged your gifts! I really wanted to see that! You're cheaters! This is so unfair!" Anna whined. Elsa just chuckled.

Jack sighted at the second missed opportunity, but began chuckling after as well.

Theres still lot of days left, right? If another 'perfect chance' didn't show up, he was going to make one.

He was going to tell her, no matter what.

A.N.: Hey guys! Me again hehe :) first of all I KNOW, I KNOW I'M TERRIBLE FOR NOT GIVING YOU A KISS YET, I KNOW, I'M CRUEL. But, I already have the perfect kiss scene set, and even tho I'm dying for the to kiss and finally be something else as well, I cant just ruin such a perfect scene! Plus… next chapter is number 30, isn't it? Thats a big deal… hmmm ;)

Second of all: 400 REVIEWS OH MY FREAKING GOD I CAN'T BELIEVE IT HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?! THIS WAS SUCH A LITTLE FIC A FEW MONTH AGO! I'M SO HAPPY! THANK YOU FOR ALL!

Third: I figured that I had problems yesterday and the day before with reviews… they didn't show up I don't know why! I couldn't read any of them two days ago! Thats why I thought you didn't like the chapters. Thankfully, it seems solved now, so THANK YOU FOR THE AMAZING REVIEWS!

I really hope you liked Jack's and Elsa's gift, I really wanted to make it special! Thats why I added the framed photo to Jack, because in almost every fic his gift is a snowflake necklace, bracelet, or ice skates… plus, I added every little important part of their relationship and what Elsa represented to Jack to the bracelet… I wanted to add a bobby pin pendant but, I'm pretty sure that doesn't exist anywhere.

Tell me your opinions about the gifts!

AGAIN… Next chapter is chapter 30 ;) I know this chapter has been a bit short (but fluffy) but is just because ext chapter is BIG. B.I.G.! (I hope you can understand)

We've come so far oh god I'm really in tears, thank you guys, Thank you so freaking much. I love you, You've been the best readers/reviewers of all!

REVIEWS ARE DEEPLY APPRECIATED AND WELCOMED, IF THIS CHAPTER MADE YOU SMILE I HOPE YOU CAN MAKE ME SMILE AS WELL BY TELLING ME YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT IT! THANK YOU!

Till tomorrow!

Silvana.