A yawn split Jamie's face as he groggily sat up in the bed, rubbing at his encrusted eyes as he blearily blinked away the lingering sleep. He smacked his lips a few times as he watched the sunbeams play across the surface of the plush comforter that was currently staving of the winter chill of the cabin. For Christmas vacation, his parents had decided to travel south to spend the holiday in the Appalachians and rent a cabin. It was an impressive structure with a great many amenities, but due to its construction, sometimes the winter cold would seep in during the early hours of the morning before they got the fireplace going. Jamie threw the covers off himself and jumped down to shove his feet into his slippers, scratching at his stomach as he approached the window. It was fogged up with icy chill, which he rubbed away with the sleeve of his pajamas. Through the ice-encrusted pane, he could see a thin layer of snow covering the yard, accented by the dark green of the pine trees stretched the circumference around the secluded cabin. Distantly, he wondered if Jack was around.
"Jamie!" he heard his parents calling for him for breakfast. The little boy tottered out of his bedroom to the kitchen, where he was greeted with the buttery aroma of pancakes. Still sleepy, he clumsily slid himself into his chair and took a big gulp of his milk, the robust flavor waking him up a little. As he was drowning his pancakes in syrup, he noticed his mother stop by the window with a surprised gasp.
"It's the dead of winter, but look at the way the flowers on the bush are blooming," she remarked, waving the family over. Jamie boosted himself up on the windowsill; sure enough, the dark jade leaves were contrasted by bright pink flowers stubbornly blooming despite the chill. A knowing smile split Jamie's face and he jumped down from the window to run to the front door, throwing it open with no regard for how eagerly the cold wind would jump inside. "Jamie!" His mother scolded but he ignored her, running out in the porch to find her dancing.
No matter how many times he heard it, the Earthsong was always as beautiful as the first time. Mother Nature's voice rose and fell in melodious waves as she traveled across the snow-covered yard, arms waving and her dress flowing around her like water. Where her feet touched, the snow melted away to be soaked up by new shoots of green grass springing up. Her blonde hair caught the sunlight to alight like golden fire behind her. Jamie was vaguely aware of his family joining him on the porch, though the only other who could see the gorgeous woman's performance was his little sister. Spellbound and enthralled, she tugged wordlessly on Jamie's sleeve and pointed; in response, he just nodded, not wishing to speak as it would ruin Nathalie's spellbinding dance.
"It's warm," clucked his father in surprise. "I guess it's just a freak warm spell."
"No, that's not it," Jamie smiled. "When winter and spring meet, it's because Jack Frost and Mother Nature are dancing together." Nathalie turned and smiled as Jack came down from the sky to sweep her up by her hips, spinning her around and around with joyful laughter. Nathalie giggled as she held on to his shoulders until he finally set her down after a few rotations.
"Jack Frost and Mother Nature?"
"Uh-huh. They're in love, even though they control two different seasons. Most of the year they have to spend apart, but sometimes they come together, and it's winter and spring at the same time."
"Is that so?" his mother mused in amusement, watching as winter and spring fought for dominance in the yard but unable to see the two teenagers now waltzing with one another as they stared lovingly into each other's eyes. "That's a beautiful love story."
"Mhmm," Jamie agreed. "I gotta finish my pancakes real fast so I can go play with them!" he cried and ran back into the kitchen.
"With who?"
"Jack Frost and Mother Nature, duh!"
"Don't eat too fast or you'll choke!" Jack hollered as Jamie dashed back into the cabin. Nathalie giggled at his concern, lazily winding her arms around his neck. "What? You know he will," he snorted as he looked back at her. He reached up to draw one of her hands out with his, playing with her fingers a moment before bringing them to his lips to kiss each of her fingertips.
"You'd better get that all out of your system. Jamie will think it's gross," she laughed lightly. Jack snorted again and continued to plant tiny little kisses over her skin, kissing her palm before dotting them up her knuckles, up her arm and over her shoulder, rising over her neck before he finally claimed her awaiting lips in a fervid, sweet smooch. Nathalie couldn't help but chuckle at how eagerly he was lavishing attention on her. He always got like this when they met; he was a very clingy lover, she had found. "It's only been two months."
"Too long," he whined against her mouth.
"Relax," she crooned, her emerald eyes opening to behold his icy-blue ones. "After all… we have an eternity."
"That we do," he purred and kissed her again, "but might as well make the most of it, yeah?" Nathalie smiled into the kiss, threading her fingers through his tufty white hair.
And they did make the most of it, every day for all of eternity.
