Chapter 19, Love is the Way

Jack scoured the river outside Burgess for the longest time for the winter flower. Hovering over the rushing currents of the stream, frozen beneath solid ice, Jack scanned the riverbanks for the flower. However saw no sign of it anywhere. Jack cocked his head back, squinting his eyes, curiously.

"Where is it?" He thought to himself.

"It should be here."

This was usually where he found the flower in the past. It usually grew on the side of the river that Burgess had settled upon. So then where was it? Was he already too late? Had the flower already been lost to the early spring?

Jack turned, peering ahead down the river. He then flew ahead, determined to find the flower. His love for Elsa being what guided him. For her, he would search the ends of world itself. To show just how much he loved her.

Gliding through the currents of the chilling winter winds, his searching gaze shifting to each side of the river. But even still, the flower remained out of sight. Though it would not be long before Jack then paused mid air. He continued to scan the river side. Only to uttering a sigh of contempt as the flower was no where to be seen.

Jack then dropped down over the ice below, shaking his head. He then uttered a groan of frustration.

"This is hopeless!" He said, running his hand through his hair.

"I'm ever going to find it at this rate. What if I'm already too late?"

As Jack shifted his gaze to the sky above, he noticed the sun was already setting. He had already been gone a while now. It was already getting late. He was sure that Elsa, Jamie and the other kids must be wondering where he was. It would seem that even with the magic of Ice and Snow, the flower could not be preserved.

He didn't wish to go back without something to show her how he felt. But even still, there was still the underlining fear that she may not feel the same way.

"What are you doing, Jack?" He asked himself.

"How do you even know that she even feels the same way? Am I rushing into this too fast?"

Jack then glanced up, noticing a familiar essence. It was there he saw the Moon, hovering over him.

"Manny!" Jack said.

Jack sighed, glancing to the side as he rubbed the back of his head, sighing.

"Your probably wondering what I'm doing." Jack assumed.

"I'm asking that myself. I guess I just though I could find some flower for a girl, hoping that she might feel the same way about me."

Jack shook his head.

"Yeah, I know it's not important right now." Jack said, turning back to Manny.

"And I want to help Elsa find what her purpose is. But... I can't explain it... but she just make me feel so..."

Jack paused, unable to find the words that could describe the feelings he had for Elsa. All he knew was that he wanted noting more then to be with her.

"I don't know how to say it." he proclaimed to her.

"And I don't know if you would even understand. But...I love her. And I need to know if she feels the same way about me."

The Man in the moon just stood as silent as he had through all these years. Which only caused Jack to turn away, sighing. Hardly surprised by Manny's response.

"I thought as much." Jack said to himself.

A bright essence of the moon then shined down over the river. Jack then glanced up as he gazed back up at the moon, noticing that he was shining his line behind him.

"Manny?" Jack asked.

Jack glanced back to where shone his light. And it was there he saw the object of his affection.

The flower. Burgess's winter flower, peering out from the deep snow. Jack paused there, in awe of the Man in moons sudden gestured. He shifted his gaze up at the man in the Moon for a moment before glancing down at the flower. He then came up and pulled it from the snow covered ground.

"This is it!" Jack proclaimed.

"This is it! I can't believe I found it!"

Jack laughed, joyfully before paused. He gazed up at Manny once more.

"Manny...?" Jack said, squinting his eyes to him.

Never would Jack ever expect that Manny would ever do such a thing. To just reveal something as simply as a flower as for a reason as the one her gave Normally whatever Manny would do would be for the betterment of all children of the world. He glanced down at the flower he was holding.

Did Manny just show him where the flower was? Could it be possible that the feeling he had for Elsa have something to do with the children?

Jack's eye widened at the realization that came to him. He couldn't believe he hadn't thought of it before. Love was what helped Elsa control her powers. So could it be that... this was her purpose?

"This is it!" He said, glancing up at the Moon.

"This is her purpose! This is why you chose her, isn't it!"

Jack then turned back toward the direction of Burgess.

"I have to tell her!" Jack said, excitedly.

With the flower in hand, Jack leaped up into the air as he flew back to Elsa's castle. Excited to tell Elsa what he had discovered. Unannounced to him that he was being watched from the forest by one of Pitch's Nightmares. It then turned and disappeared into the shadows of the forest.

Pitch paced angrily around the Globe of his layer. Feeling the fear of Elsa that had given back his power, slowly becoming weaker and weaker. His attempt to once more bring fear to the children, to get revenge against Jack and the other Guardians, had again been squandered. Once more was he reduced to his layer of darkness.

"How is this happening?" Pitch said.

"The world is covered with Ice and snow and yet no one of these children are afraid. And Now I can hardly feel her fear anymore!"

He paused for a moment, glancing back at the globe covered atop with ice. It didn't make sense. Without her sister, he should be be feeling so much fear from her. Giving him back the power of which he felt all those years ago. When she had frozen over her Kingdom. If it wasn't for her sister and the Guardians themselves, he would still have that power and feared by all.

Now it seemed that history was repeating itself.

"How could this be?" He asked.

"Without her dear little sister, fear should utterly consume her. It's as if..."

It was then that one of his Nightmares emerged from the shadows, galloping up to him. It then snorted to him like a horse.

"Yes, what is it?!" He asked.

The Nightmare once more snorted to him, speaking in a horses manner. Hearing the news from his Nightmare, the Boogeyman glanced back to it, glaring in anger from what he heard.

"Jack!" The Boogieman said in distain.

"In Love... with her?"

The event that Jack was once more foiling him was cause for anger and frustration. The Nightmare shuttered as he turned back to face the Globe, uttering a groan of frustration. Even now, Jack and The Guardians continue to hinder him at every turn. And if the Guardians were involved in this, it could only mean that The Man in the Moon himself had a hand in all of this.

"So this is your plan all along, old friend." Pitch said.

"Trying to stop me with... Love."

Pitch uttered a disgusted hurl at the very mention of Love. He then turned back to the Globe, where he gave a conniving smirk. Followed by that of a chuckle, earning a confused glance by his Nightmares.

"Well then, I think it time to remind them all just how powerful fear can be," Pitch insisted to them.

"Enjoy it while you all can, Jack, because this time you won't be getting in my way again."

Elsa had never felt this nervous since leaving the enchanted forest. But at the same time, a part of her was also excited. She was about to admit to Jack about how she felt about him. Besides Anna, she had never confessed her feelings to anyone. Like Jack, this was all new to her and she was also nervous. Though for a much different reason then him.

Sitting in her bedroom, the Snow Queen glanced glanced up at the mirror of Ice, staring back at her reflection. From behind, Pippa and Cupcake were helping prepare her for when Jack would return. Coming her long icy blond hair, Pippa noticed the way she was looking into the icy mirror.

"Are you okay?" Pippa asked.

Elsa glanced back to her.

"Oh, its nothing," she insisted, shaking her head.

"I'm just… very new… to all of this. I've never actually been in love before."

"Really?" Pippa asked, curiously.

"You've never had anyone you liked before?"

Elsa shook her head.

"Well, in a matter of speaking, no." Elsa insisted to them.

"At least, not like this. The only one I ever cared about was…"

Elsa then paused, thinking about her little sister from long ago. She narrowed her eyes, frowning. Pippa glanced down at her, curiously.

"Was who?" She asked, curiously.

Elsa glanced back up at her reflection.

"My… my sister." Elsa said.

"You have a sister?" Cupcake asked.

"I do… at least I did… a long time ago." Elsa said.

"What happened?" Pippa asked, curiously.

Elsa then shook her head, not wanting to remember that day long ago. When she watched as her sister grow old through the years that followed, Meanwhile, she remained the same as before. Having become immortal since becoming a spirit of the enchanted forest. She was forced to witness her passing on while she remained and witnessed the world they know change so much.

"It doesn't matter." she insisted to them.

"I never thought that I would find someone like me… someone that I would… actually want to be with."

Elsa uttered a sigh, shaking her head, hearing what she was saying. She sounded just like her sister. It had only been two days now since she and Jack had met. Yet she was about to confess to him her feelings to him and hope he feels the same. She wondered if she was rushing into things to fast.

Was she even ready for something like this? And after all these years of being alone?

"Do you think that I'm going into this too soon?" She asked, curiously.

"I mean, are you sure about this?"

Pippa nodded her head to Elsa.

"Trust me, Jack definitely feels the same way about you." Pippa insisted to her.

"You two are perfect for each other."

The mention of being perfect for each other caused Elsa to narrow her eyes. It wasn't like she didn't feel the same. But what worried her the most was having to lose another she loved.

Jamie, Monty, Caleb and Claude were standing out over the balcony of the castle. Staring out over the forest, it was the sight of Jack flying toward them that caused Jamie to gasp, joyously.

"Jack!" Jamie called.

Jack flew down and landed over the balcony of the castle.

"Sorry I took so long." Jack said.

"Where's Elsa?"

"She inside!" Jamie proclaimed, pointing back at the open doorway.

He glanced down to the flower he was holding. Jack glanced up to the open door of Elsa's room. He paused for a moment. He pondered about what he was about to do. He was about to confess his feelings to Elsa. But what if she doesn't? What if he messes up?

He the saw Jamie's hand be placed over his. He glanced down at Jamie, who looked up to him, smiling. Nodding his head, as if to try and encourage her to try. Jack smiled down back to him. He was right. He had to try. He needed to know.

He took a deep breath before glancing up at the doorway with a look of determination. He then walked forward as he entered into the room.

"Elsa?"

The sound of Jack's voice caused a small gasp of anticipation to lip from her lips. Glancing back, she saw the man who had managed to capture her heart. Jack was standing in the door way with what looked to be a small blue flower in hand.

"Jack." She said.

"Uh, hey." Jack said smiling.

Elsa stood up from her stool, turning to face the winter spirit. For a moment, their gazes were locked upon each other. Him entranced by the beauty of the Snow Queen. Her long icy blond hair, perfect skin, beautiful white dress and crystal blue eyes. Her memorized at just how handsome this Guardian of winter was. His snow white hair, muscular frame and stunning cheekbones.

Jack received a nudge from the side from Jamie.

"Go on!" He encourage him.

Jack shook his head, snapping himself out of it. To which he approached the Snow queen, who received some encouragement from both Pippa and Cupcake. As the two came faced with one another, they once more paused, looking into each others icy blue eyes. Elsa's cheeks turned red.

Jack was the first to break the silence between them.

"I... uh... got this... for you." Jack said, handing her the flower.

"It's Burgess's winter flower. It's the only the grows during the winter. Good thing it's still... uh."

Jack then stopped himself from continuing, knowing it was a dad joke. Elsa took the flower from Jack. The flower itself resembled that of a blue rose with a snow white center. She went to smell it and was met with sweetest scent. More so then any flower she had smelled before.

"It's beautiful." Elsa said.

"Thank you, Jack."

Jack smiled as he nodded his head to her.

"Your welcome." He said.

"Elsa, I..."

"Jack, I..." She said at the same time.

The two the paused, glancing to the side. Jamie and the other kids watched in anticipation as to who would be the first to confess their feelings. Elsa then turned to him.

"You first." She said.

Jack turned to her. Just as he was about to speak, he then stopped himself. Realizing something was not quite right. A castle made entirely of ice was indeed something to behold. However it didn't seem like to right place to confess his feelings. He needed someplace else. But where?

He thought to the couple he saw back in Russia, skating together. Jack then gasped in realization, knowing the perfect place to go.

"Jack?" Elsa asked, curiously.

Jack turned back to her.

"What do you say we go someplace special." Jack asked, curiously.

Jack and Elsa came up over the the banks of the frozen pond. He came up over the ice, where he turned to Elsa and extended her hand to her. Much like he did the day before when he asked for her to let him show her how. And just as she did before, she would do so now. She would let him show her how.

Elsa smiled as she took hold of his hand. To which, Jack then pulled her onto the ice with him.

"Wait!" Elsa said, noticing something was missing.

"What?" Jack asked, curiously.

Elsa glanced down at their feet, where she sent a surge of her magic down to them. In a sudden flash, the two found themselves each wearing a pair of skates. The then glanced up to each other, where Jack offered her his arm.

"May I?" He asked.

Elsa came up, wrapping her arms around his before casting off over the frozen pond. From the forest, Jamie and his friends watched as they skated together. The six of them chuckling in excitement. As the two came out over the center of the pond, Jack came around to face her, her arms wrapped around her body. The sudden gesture caused Elsa's heart to skip a beat at his touch. She glanced down and saw his hand placed over her waist.

"Sorry, I'm still new to this." Jack said, noticing her reaction to be touched.

Elsa glanced up to him, smiling as she shook her head.

"No, it's fine, Jack." she insisted to him.

"Please, hold me. I like it."

Jack of which smiled as he wrapped her arms around her.

"Of course, snowflake." Jack sad.

Hearing call her snowflake caused her to blush. Taking the lead, Jack skated them both around the pond. The two then spun around over the ice as if they were dancing together. Under the light of the moon itself, which shone down over them. Elsa continued to let herself be held in Jack's embrace, glancing up to meet his gaze. Her heart beating so fast in her chest. Her cheeks blushing a bright red.

Was this how Anna felt with Kristoff long ago? Was this what it like to be in love with someone?

"You alright, El?" Jack whispered to her.

Elsa glanced up to him.

"Yes." She insisted to him

The came up to the center of the bond, under the light of the moon itself. The two glanced up to the moon, which shined it's light brightly down upon the two. Jack knew this was the time to tell her.

He turned to look at Elsa.

"El, there's something I have to tell you?" Jack said.

Elsa glanced up to him. Jamie and his friends watched in awe and anticipation. As well as Bruni and Nokk from the other side of the pond.

"El, you the most beautiful girl I've ever met." Jack insisted to her.

"And I know it hasn't been that long. But, all I know is that, I want nothing more then to be with you."

Elsa heart leaped at the words of the winter spirit. Reaching up his hand, he brushed away the strands of hair from her forehead. And the next words he uttered were the ones she longed for him to say.

"El... I love you." He said.