When Jamie calmed down half-an-hour later, Jack sat him and Mary down inside the shed and left with a small, empty flask to collect water from the stream. When he brought it back to let the twins share, Jamie asked, "What if people back at the fjord come looking for us?" He knew Caleb, Claude, and Monty would all be broken to pieces when they discovered they had lost three friends in less than a week.

Jack sighed as he slipped his mantle back on, "If they do, they'll have a hard time finding us."

"What are we gonna do now?" Mary asked, hoping Jack already knew.

"We... I'm gonna try and speak to someone who might not be far from here."

"Is it your friend Elisa?" Jamie blurted.

Mary glared quizzically, "Who's Elisa?"

"Elsa." Jack sharply corrected. "And she's a good, good friend of mine..." Jack shuddered to think of explaining what had happened to a woman that was a few weeks pregnant. "I think she can help us or knows someone who can help us. I can't make you two walk that far, so I need you both to promise me you will not leave this shed." It was both that Jack didn't want to make the weary children walk a long way again, nor did he want the sight of their home triggering them right after what had happened. He surmised that this was his best option.

"You promised you wouldn't leave us!" Mary whined.

"I'm not." He reassured. "I just need you both here where I know you'll be safe. We can't carry all those things to the river and back again. Here you have blankets and matches for the lamp. I'll get there as fast as I can." Jack didn't mention he was betting on Elsa even being there at all. These were times where it was sometimes weeks before they saw one another again.

Jamie pulled on Jack's shawl to keep him from standing up, "What if someone finds us here?"

Jack hadn't thought about that. He figured no one would have any business checking an old, forgotten shed out in the woods anyway. Then there was the occasional hunter that might come by, desperate for shelter or somewhere to find supplies... He couldn't think of an answer. "No one's going to look in here." He hoped he'd done enough to mask the uncertainty in his voice and stood up to his full height. "I'll be back. That's a guarantee."

...

The Nordheim residence started their morning as they typically did, with breakfast and tea at the family table. Iduna Nordheim had prepared lingonberry pancakes along with other sliced fruits and meats. She started her morning smiling and humming to herself, trying her damndest to pretend nothing was wrong in their seemingly perfect life. Her husband, Agnarr, wasn't a breakfast person and quietly had his tea. Elsa, on the other hand, tried not to make it obvious that she'd been hungrier than usual lately, and subtly stuffed her face with whatever she could get her hands on.

Then, as soon as she was finished, she knew she'd either have to vomit or have one of her dizzy spells. This morning, it had nothing to do with the life brewing inside of her—she'd been worried about Jack ever since she knew she was letting him return home to a murderer. The food was a mere distraction from what her beloved might be going through.

Agnarr Nordheim did just the opposite—he couldn't eat when he was stressed. All of their money problems had shriveled his appetite even for his most favorite meals. Now with the new year a little over a month away, he worried about losing this beloved place he'd called home for the last twenty years. The home he'd brought his wife home to and raised their daughter in. Elsa could see the sadness in her father's eyes every time she looked at him. He was feeling like a failure for not being able to provide for his family, with no one to turn to for proper aid. Soon they might not even be able to have nice breakfasts like these.

Elsa had been inspired by Jack; secretly, she'd been selling old dresses and jewels to try and keep the money coming in, but it only helped so much. She was new to the world of 'negotiating' and could only argue with the stingy shop owners for so long. Her patience was even thinner these days. Already was her foot tapping anxiously to get out the door so she could try to see Jack.

The night before, she'd rolled and tossed sleeplessly, wondering how someone could live such a cruel life. If she could have met him years ago to save him from the infernal prison, she would turn back time without a second thought. At least they had each other now, that was all she could ask. How funny it was that she used to think only people who were lucky lived in a place as enchanting as the fjords. How could a place so beautiful belie so much woe for some?

"It's going to be a rainy one." Iduna observed. "Can you believe it snowed already last night?"

"We're in for a long winter," Agnarr noted rather bitterly. He saw a small figure pass by the window and he set his cup down. "Paper's here." He opened the door and greeted their usual newspaper boy.

Elsa anxiously tapped her foot on the wooden floor, hardly able to touch her food. They'd woken up later than they normally did, and she wondered if Jack was waiting for her at their usual spot by now. "Elsa, dear?" Her mother's voice made her startle and she worried that Iduna could now see her panic. "Would you mind running to the market and seeing if there are any apples left? I'd love to have some to make a pie."

Elsa, though her face was pale, smiled and said, "Yes, of course." She pushed herself out of her chair, "I think I'll head out now, in fact."

She was already running to her room when Iduna called after her, "Wear your shawl. And bring an umbrella with you!"

It took Elsa a mere two minutes to don her shoes and shawl, then grab an umbrella and pace out the door. At least now she had an excuse to be away from the house. She was moving quickly, but she became woozy and had to stop and rest by a tree. It was easy in the early stages for her to forget she was carrying another life inside of her and that she shouldn't overwork herself. Elsa knelt over, swiping her bangs back when she was certain she was going to vomit... Then nothing. It all went away. Elsa sighed with relief and she carried on with a slower gait.

There were still some orange leaves left up high, the rest were crunching under her boots. Even though her mother had predicted rain, there was still some sun peering from behind the clouds and they made the trees shimmer like they had their own light. Days like this made Elsa think of Jack.

From the moment she'd first looked upon him, she had seen sadness, touches of innocence lost, eyes as gray and dull as late autumn days... But there were good days also, like the sunlight sparkling through the darkness. Days he could be happy. He hadn't gotten to act like a child even when he was a child, so the times Elsa tried to goad him into having snowball fights or going sledding together, he had no interest. Elsa loved his good days... Once, she was met with an unexpected pair of brown eyes dangling upside down from the trees.

"How do you do, m'lady?" Jack greeted in an uncharacteristically chipper tone.

Elsa laughed, "How long were you waiting for me up there?"

"Who says I was waiting for you?" Jack smirked. "The little monsters are back in school, and he who shall not be named is taking care of the animals, so I told him I'd run to town and get more supplies." Elsa then noticed a small pile of tools had been set by the very tree he'd been perched on. As far as the beast knew, Jack was still in town.

Elsa poked his nose. "Very sneaky."

"Don't be jealous of my genius— WHOA!" The branch from which he'd been dangling by his knees snapped and Jack plummeted to the leaf-covered ground.

Elsa's body shook with joy as she fought hard not to laugh out loud. The sight of him totally flummoxed and the leaves tangled in his already-messy hair was too much and she cracked a grin, "Thank God your head didn't break your fall. Wouldn't want to lose any of that genius."

Jack rolled over onto his back, he sounded like the wind had been knocked out of him, "My gut wasn't a much better option."

"Aww..." Elsa sat down her basket of goodies she'd brought and descended over him. "If it helps," she started taking some of the leaves out of his hair, "you're still the cutest."

He mimicked her in an unflattering voice, "You're still the cutest." She interrupted his mockery with a kiss. That certainly shut him up. Jack, as he'd been waiting to do again for a month, took her in his arms, "C'mere, you." He returned the kiss with twice the passion. They could spend forever in each other's hold, simply resting together in silence. The mere presence of each other brought them solace from their difficult lives. They served as reminders that even individuals as troubled as they were could find love.

Elsa wanted to be in his arms now as she saw her destination just a few more steps ahead of her. How could she have let him return to that house where that thing was lurking? She should have demanded he take those two children and come with her. Anywhere was better than with the creature they called father.

When she looked over the hill, she could already see a commotion. People gathered and running about like chickens with their heads cut off. Something wasn't right—it was like that day Jack had run off to the pond when someone...

Someone had died.

Elsa's emotions were already running high – her face was shadowed with panic and guilt as she found it more difficult to stand when her mind jumped to the most devastating conclusion it could.

Not her Jack. Not—

"Elsa?"

She almost screamed when her entire body jerked as she turned towards the voice calling her. Elsa debated for a moment if her mind was playing tricks on her... It didn't get any better when she got a closer look and saw his split lip, bloodshot eyes, and horrifically bruised neck where someone's large hands had tightly grabbed him.

But it was Jack.

Elsa dropped her umbrella and ran to him, not caring to ask just where he'd come from. Having her in his arms was all Jack needed to at last let himself breathe. His face was even paler from the long walk he'd taken. She took another look at him and her face nearly crumpled with tears, but they were tears of hatred and anger, "Oh my God, what did that thing do to you? Your lip! Your neck!" If Jack had not done the deed already, Elsa would kill Edvard Overland herself for this.

He was quick to cut her off. "I'm fine. But I need you to come with me. Please."

Elsa didn't ask any questions. Whatever he needed, anything. As long as no one would hurt him or his siblings... Which Elsa had a gut feeling she was about to meet.

...

"Kids?" Jack gave the children a small warning call to make sure they were right where he left them. They'd both been sharing a blanket, lying close together for comfort. But as soon as they heard Jack, they both leapt up.

"We're in here!" Mary called back. Just how long had they waited? An hour? Maybe longer. The shed door opened and the twins hadn't expected there to be so much light pouring in.

When their squinting eyes adjusted to the shift, they saw their dear brother and someone else. Someone Jamie recognized but not Mary... Someone who had no idea that Jamie even recognized her.

Elsa had no idea how she should greet them; she felt like she knew them so well, but they looked like cornered animals that were afraid to upset their master. It took their scared faces for her to remember she was a stranger to two children she cared so deeply about.

"Guys, it's okay." Jack said, "This is Elsa. She's my friend."

Jamie found it hard to maintain eye-contact with her—the last time he saw her, his brother had his lips around her nipple, her hands had been on parts of his brother that he thought girls weren't even allowed to touch.

Elsa wasn't used to the company of children as Jack was; she didn't know how mature they were nor how to approach them. She was as intimidated as they were, but she nodded and gently said, "I've heard so much about you both. How wonderful you two are."

The presence of another girl gave Mary a sense of security she didn't realize she'd needed. She stood up and asked, "Do you know our names?"

"Mhm. James and Mary. Er—You go by Jamie, right?"

Jamie's voice didn't go past a murmur, "Jamie's fine."

Elsa could see it in both of their eyes. They were all so tired. Jack gave Jamie's shoulder a comforting stroke, "Listen. Us adults are gonna go outside and have a talk. But we're not going anywhere. If you need me, just come get me, okay?" Jamie nodded, but Mary looked reluctant. "It's just to figure out what we're going to do."

"Okay." She grumbled. Her legs were cramped and her belly hadn't stopped growling all morning. She supposed her moping wasn't going to get her fed any faster, so she let them go without arguing.

...

Elsa's eyes sparkled at the sight of the money inside Jack's satchel; everything he'd been saving up was right there in their hands. "So..." She couldn't help but begin in a fit of hypnosis, "This is what forty-three hundred speciedalers looks like."

"I don't know what this could possibly get us..." Jack dropped the bag on the ground between them, "It wasn't supposed to happen this way."

"It doesn't matter now. You got those kids away from him."

"But I don't have anywhere to take them. Elsa, I made our lives ten times worse because of what I did." His voice was choked with guilt. "I wasn't going to, but—It—All that anger—"

"You don't have to explain." Elsa insisted. "I would've done the same thing if I saw him put his hands on you." She opened the satchel back up. "I know it's not what you hoped... But maybe it's still enough."

"I need to find work so I can keep the money coming." Jack sucked on his lip; every time he spoke, he could taste the dried blood and feel the split skin. It wasn't a pleasant feeling on his tongue. He was grateful it was still easy to breathe—had the twins not acted as hastily as they did, Jack may have been looking at life with a crushed larynx. Or worse.

He felt even more guilt swell inside of him. "They've been so brave. Those kids saved my life last night... This can't be how I repay them."

How could Jack look at himself so cruelly? Elsa had watched him beat himself up for over a year about everything he supposedly did wrong. There was one thing Elsa was certain about, and her mind would never be changed. "You already did. You saved them."

Jack couldn't look over at her—he didn't believe her words to be true. He could have saved them without being a murderer. That word made his body jolt and he had to shudder to get the picture of the beast out of his head again.

Unbeknownst to the two lovers, Jamie and Mary were curiously observing from behind the shed door. They watched as Elsa laid Jack's head onto her shoulder, both ignoring the satchel they'd been so fixated on moments ago. "Do you think they like each other?" Mary asked. Jamie had forgotten she was completely naive to their relationship.

"Maybe."

"You think she's going to help us?"

He remembered that Jack had said he loved her, so that must mean Elsa loved him too. Such a small fact gave Jamie some hope. "Yeah, I think so."