With the birds chirping outside and the pale sun shining through the window, to Elsa, the early morning had the makings of a rather pleasant and peaceful Sunday, but apparently, some people had different ideas in mind. As she flipped through her notes, quick footsteps echoed through the empty library, marching towards her desk.

"There you are!" her sister screeched somewhat short of breath. "I've been looking everywhere for you!"

"Hello to you too, sister of mine," Elsa mocked, eyes still focused on her essay. "What a pleasant surprise."

"You're coming with me," Anna said, snapping her fingers and then pointing to the library's entrance.

"Excuse me?"

"Yeah. Go back to your room, grab your purse and whatever else you need, and meet me by the main gates in five."

Elsa put her pen down and slowly raised her head to face her sister. "Whatever else I need for what exactly?"

"To go out," Anna explained impatiently.

"Today is not a visit day—"

"Don't worry, it's all been taken care of." Reaching the desk, she started unceremoniously collecting her sister's scattered papers. "Come on, we're late, and I can tell that dude is gonna be a major pain in my butt because of it."

"You are not making any sense, Anna," Elsa mumbled, swatting Anna's hands away from her belongings.

The younger girl sighed, exasperated. "Just do as I say, please? I promise I'll explain later."

Elsa narrowed her eyes, waiting, but Anna simply stared back at her, stubbornly tapping her finger on her crossed arm and huffing as if Elsa was somehow the one in the wrong in that situation. The platinum blonde let out a defeated sigh. "Fine. But you better tell me everything."

"I will! See you in five!"

"Would you mind filling me in on what we're doing, Anna?" Elsa mumbled as she reluctantly followed after her sister past the security booth. To her mild surprise, Sandy had let them through with a friendly wave and no further questions, almost like Anna really did have permission to step outside the campus that day, which only made the eldest sister even more concerned.

"We're visiting mom," Anna said, her voice tone mocking as if the answer was obvious.

"... What?"

Anna hummed distractedly, looking around the street, then smiled. "There."

A small distance away, stood Jack Frost with his sunglasses on and leaning with his arms crossed against a red jeep.

"I brought Elsa!" Anna announced, jogging in the silverhead's direction.

"About time," the boy grunted, pushing himself off the car just as Anna made her way around to meet him.

With her hands on her hips, she whistled, impressed. "Nice ride."

"Courtesy of our great headmaster."

"Dude. Did you steal North's car?"

Irked by her petulant tone, Jack straightened up to his full height, pulling his shades down so he could shoot a glower directly at the girl. "You know, it stops being cute and it becomes just plain rude when you keep at it, princess."

Anna batted her lashes at him, unfazed. "Aw, you think I'm cute?"

"Get in the fucking car, you gremlin."

"Shotgun!" the girl shouted and proceeded to dive into the passenger seat before either of the other two could argue.

Finally finding a moment of silence, Elsa turned to her boyfriend for clarification. "Frost, what's the meaning of all this?"

"We're going on a little road trip. Your sister didn't tell you?" he asked as he opened the rear door for her.

She stopped in front of him, with the door in the middle of them. "Her explanation was sort of lacking."

"Kids… can't trust them with any of the important stuff, am I right?" He winked but realizing that his attempt to make her laugh had failed, Jack cleared his throat, taking a more somber stance. He leaned over the door, leveling his eyes with hers. "It was your mom's birthday, wasn't it?"

She sucked in a breath, surprised. "How…?"

"I remember the important things," he answered sheepishly looking away for a second, "and I also checked with Anna just in case."

Though he smiled, there was a lingering solemnity hidden underneath his words. His voice, ever so gentle but with that unmistakable hint of mirth resonated within her so deeply she felt shivers. Melancholy mixed with gratitude; comfort, and joy, and pride—a myriad of emotions flooded her mind, making her throat burn and her head spin.

She put a hand on the arm he had over the door and closed the distance separating them. Softly, barely louder than a whisper, she said, "Thank you."

Jack placed his other hand over hers and rubbed her knuckles with his thumb. Eyes locked together, speaking of a thousand words left unspoken, the world seemed to slow down. The breeze stopped blowing; birds stopped singing; traffic stopped moving. All went silent until they were the only ones that mattered.

"Anything for you—"

"Will you guys hurry up?" An impatient sister incessantly honking the horn had the privilege of bursting their little bubble. Stretched over the driver's seat, Anna glared at the couple with over-the-top indignance on her face. "Are we hitting the road or what?!"

Anna claimed that being the copilot gave her first dibs on what music they'd be listening to whilst on the road. And though Jack let out undignified groans as she tuned the radio into a generic station that played 'hip' pop tunes 24/7, he really didn't mind all that much, going as far as occasionally singing along with inaccurate and almost completely made-up lyrics as they drove. At some point, he noticed that Elsa had fallen asleep in the backseat, her head resting against the window and bangs falling over her face slightly. Checking her reflection in the mirror made him chuckle every time, and he had to refrain from diverting his eyes off the road too often not to risk an accident.

"Okay, so…don't be mad, but…"

In his peripheral vision, he saw Anna shifting nervously, fingers fumbling on her lap, and gaze intently focused out the window.

"The hell did you do now?" Jack grumbled, clicking his tongue.

"Nothing, I swear!" Anna moved her arms in a frantic outburst. "It's just… the drive is always so boring, and I don't know, the roads seem different now, and I get carsick if I keep looking out the window for too long and—"

"Anna."

"... We may be a little lost."

"A little?"

Anna laughed awkwardly. "Imma be honest with you, I have no idea where we are, buddy."

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" Jack shouted, impatiently looking for a place he could park the car for a moment. "Why the fuck did want to be copilot then?!"

"What, you wanted me to watch you and my sister making googly eyes at each other the whole way there?" Anna snapped back, crossing her arms haughtily. "Thanks but no thanks."

"You are lucky I'm too busy driving right now—"

"Whatcha gonna do? Glare at me?" She laughed, rolling her shoulders back. "You can't touch me; I have diplomatic immunity."

Through gritted teeth, the silverhead grumbled, "You keep telling yourself that, sweetheart."

"... What's going on?"

In the backseat, Elsa rubbed her eyes as she sat up.

Jack groaned. "See? You woke your sister up. Nice job, princess."

"Says the guy who's been yelling at me for the past twenty minutes!"

Giving his girlfriend a quick glance from over his shoulder, he smiled. "Sorry for all the noise, Your Majesty."

"Stop acting like you're so more mature than me, you prick!" Anna hissed, giving him an annoyed push.

"It's fine," Elsa mumbled as she smoothed her hair with her fingers. "So what are you two fighting about?"

"Your sister got us lost," Jack immediately announced.

"It wasn't my fault!"

"Then whose fault was it?!"

"It's not even like we're completely lost, I'm just not sure exactly where to make the next turn," Anna lied through her teeth, her lighthearted voice tone not wavering even once, then casually shifted on her seat to fully face her sister. "So can you give me a little hand, Elsa?"

"Just a second…" Elsa hummed, craning her neck to check their surroundings. "Alright, you can take the next right."

"Oh, yeah," Anna said, nodding. "I was thinking the same thing."

"Jesus Christ, princess. How can you lie with a straight face like that?"

Anna blinked, innocently, making him want to smash her stupid face through the windshield with his bare hands. "Whatever do you mean, Jack?"

"Your sister is a sociopathic liar, d'you know that, Your Majesty?" he said, meeting her eyes through the rearview mirror.

Elsa's eyes narrowed slowly. "Watch it, Frost."

"Diplomatic immunity," Anna sang all smug.

"You too, Anna. You can't just lie your way out of whatever problem you can't solve."

"Yes, ma'am."

Anna sank down in her seat, shoulders sagging and expression falling like a pup who'd just been reprimanded for ruining some ugly ass decorative pillows, and If he wasn't sure laughing at her would send Elsa's disapproval rays right his way once more, he would. So instead, he pressed his lips together not to utter a single sound and kept driving as casually as he could possibly manage.

"So…" He cleared his throat as his fingers tapped awkwardly against the steering wheel. "Anyone wanna play 21 questions?"

They bought a bouquet of pink tulips from a small flower stand on the way to the graveyard. Anna took it upon herself to carry it, immediately hooking her other arm with her sister's and babbling on and on about whatever as Jack tagged along a couple of steps behind.

Reaching the top of a small hill, Anna let go of her sister so she could crouch down in front of their family grave. "Hey, mom, happy birthday!"

Elsa too kneeled down on the floor, keeping her hands tightly placed on her lap. "Hi, mom…"

"We've got a special surprise for you!" Anna sang, beckoning the silverhead with a wide arm circle. "This is Jack," the girl continued as Jack came to her side. Anna tugged on his arm excitedly, nearly making him drop to the ground. "He brought us here today. He's dumb and obnoxious—"

"Hey!"

"—But I guess he's also pretty sweet," Anna continued, grinning between the guy and her sister. "... And he's Elsa's boyfriend."

Elsa flinched, fingers starting to rub together nervously. "What are you doing, Anna?"

"I'm introducing your significant other to mom, duh," Anna scoffed like the know-it-all that she thought she was.

"This is kinda embarrassing…" Jack mumbled under his breath. He avoided looking at the other girls as his free hand ran sheepishly through his hair.

"I think she would really like you, you know," Anna said crossing her legs and holding her ankles.

Jack blinked, taken back, Anna's words making him sit a little straighter and a little taller. "That so?"

"Yeah. She loved goof." The girl shrugged. "And you make my sister smile, so…"

Elsa glowered at the younger girl. "Your sister is standing right here and she would appreciate you not talking on her behalf."

"Aw, are you blushing, Elsa?"

"I am not."

"I think you are. Isn't she, Jack?"

"She is."

"I cannot deal with both of you at once," Elsa grumbled, pinching the bridge of her nose and shaking her head in discontentment.

Anna crossed her arms with a pout. "You don't mean that."

"I do. I most definitely do."

Chuckling to himself, Jack leaned back on his hands and let his eyes drift to the clouds in the sky. As the faded sisterly banter continued in the background, his eyes closed, and a light breeze blew by, ruffling his hair slightly.

"It's getting late. We should get going," Elsa said, catching his attention.

"Already?" Anna whined. "Can we at least make a detour home before we go?"

Elsa let out a tired sigh. "It's a long drive back to school."

"It'll be quick, I promise! We'll just say hi to Kai and maybe grab some cookies to go…"

"I don't know, Anna…"

"Jack wants to come too, don't you, Jack?" Anna pleaded with desperate tugs on his arm.

He took a moment to glance between the girls, from Anna's big puppy eyes to her sister's thinly-pressed lips and furrowed brows. His eyes lingered on Elsa for a while longer, almost as if they could communicate without words. It looked like Anna had them both wrapped around her finger and tied with a pretty ribbon. His girlfriend was doomed to lose that battle, and they both knew it.

Jack shrugged. "I mean, I wouldn't mind seeing the place you two grew up at."

Anna jumped up, clapping excitedly. "Great! I'm gonna call Kai to let him know!"

As the younger girl jogged back toward the car to make her phone call, Jack shifted closer to Elsa and threw an arm over her shoulders. "Sorry we couldn't bake together this year."

"We can make something another time," she mumbled, snuggling her head on the crook of his neck.

"Yeah, someone has to evaluate your progress in the kitchen department."

Elsa glowered at him, button nose scrunching up like a little kid's. "You should know, I am a lot better than you're expecting."

"I'll be the judge of that," he stated sternly, placing his fingers on her jaw and inclining her head so his lips grazed hers ever so slightly.

"Mmm…" A pink blush rose to her cheeks, and Elsa took his hand, shifting to lean against him once more. She idly played with his fingers, separating them one by one, feeling every callus, carefully inspecting every ridge as if staying still was making her anxious for once.

"You okay?" His voice was soft against her ear.

She kept her head lowered so her bangs hid her eyes. "Yeah, just a lot of emotions. I-I think I just need a moment to… feel…"

"Feelings, huh?" Jack hummed, resting his chin atop her head. "Look at you learning to be an actual human being."

Huffing, she poked him with her elbow. "Shut up, you idiot."

"Ow! Hey! I'm sorry, okay?" he chuckled as he grabbed her wrists to stop her assault.

Elsa shook her head against his chest, still displeased, and he held her until her anger subsided.

"Thank you for bringing us here today," she mumbled against his jacket.

"My pleasure."

He sighed, pulling her closer and etching the sensation of her small frame pressed against his onto memory. Warmth spread through his body as if he had just drunk a gallon of hot chocolate. His legs going numb from sitting on the ground no longer bothered him. His mind relaxed, all concerns and thoughts slipping away. In a cemetery he had never been to before, in front of his girlfriend's dead mother's grave, Jack felt at peace. Puzzle pieces started fitting together inside his head, and before he knew it, there was a pristine picture, clear as day, filling every nook and cranny of his mind. And he could not remember a time when that image wasn't there anymore.

Jack exhaled slowly, careful not to disturb the girl in his arms. Surreptitiously, he glanced down at their hands, mesmerized by the difference in their sizes, shapes, textures… and how natural it was to intertwine their fingers together and keep her there with him forever.

He cursed himself for not realizing what seemed so obvious now sooner.

"Kai!"

By the time they had parked North's jeep in front of the house, Kai was already outside to welcome them, and Anna rushed to tackle him into a bear hug.

"Miss Anna!" The butler smoothed her hair fondly. "Such a wonderful surprise!"

"Hi Kai." Elsa smiled apologetically as she hugged him as well. "It's good to see you."

"It's good to see you too, Miss Elsa." Kai glanced at the guy trailing behind the blonde. "And you must be Mr. Frost. I've heard a lot about you."

Elsa's eyes widened, surprised, and, seeking some sort of explanation, she quickly glanced at her sister, who seemed to be refraining from jumping up and down in place. "Anna…"

"Uh… Jack's fine," the silverhead awkwardly mumbled as he shook the man's hand.

"Kai takes care of us since before we were born," Elsa explained.

"So he's the one to go to for embarrassing baby stories of you two."

"Well, I would certainly have some colorful memories to share," the man said with an amused chuckle.

Elsa narrowed her eyes. "We are not doing that, Kai."

"Yeah, don't let that pretty face fool you," Anna added, pointing at the silverhead. "We don't know what Jack could do with that sort of ammo."

Jack gasped with fake indignation. "What do you take me for, princess?"

"Sure you wanna know, buddy?"

"Anna," Elsa stepped in, placing a hand on her sister's arm. "Whatever you wanted to come here for, please do hurry." She made a point of checking her watch. "We're not supposed to stay long."

"Right." Anna clicked her tongue. "Think we have time for some tea, Kai?"

"Why, there is always time for tea, my dear!"

Anna squealed excitedly and rushed to the kitchen, talking the butler's ear off, suggesting an unending list of snacks they could have along with tea.

Shaking her head at her sister's antics, Elsa took a step closer to Jack and took one of his hands in hers. When he looked at her, tilting his head in question, she gave his hand a little squeeze.

"Kai makes the best tea in the world."

"Then we better get there before your sister chugs it all."

Elsa wasn't lying when she said Kai made a phenomenal tea. Jack never really got the appeal of the beverage; it always tasted like dirty water to him, but the Earl Grey Kai brewed for them was really mellow and cozy, and he could see himself growing up to be a tea lover like Elsa had he been drinking that sort of thing his whole life. Also, the mini scones and jam were a great addition to the afternoon meal. And they were apparently homemade, which made him question how on Earth Elsa could be so bad at baking when she had such a great culinary master literally living under the same roof as her since before she could walk. After tea, Kai insisted he pack them snacks for the road, and Anna eagerly followed him back to the kitchen to help. Elsa then decided to go as well, but in her case, to stop her younger sister from loading the jeep's entire backset with tiny teacakes and biscuits. Which left Jack to explore the manor on his own.

Hands shoved in his jeans pockets and everyday sneakers squeaking on the wooden floor, he roamed the spacious rooms of the Arendelle residence, intimidated by their overall grandeur. Nineteenth-century architecture; classic paintings that would make any museum jealous; long velvet curtains that looked more exquisite than anything he had ever laid his fingers on; house staff bustling around, bowing at him and asking how they could be of service at every corner… Jack had always had an inkling, but now he was certain: Elsa's family came from old money. Hell, it wouldn't be a surprise if the Arendelles had been royalty at some point in history…

In the next room, there was a grand piano lined with the window, and he had zero knowledge about pianos, but even in all his ignorant glory, Jack knew that it was a majestic instrument. He pulled the fallboard up and stared at the impeccably polished black and white keys. When he randomly pressed down one of those keys, a sad, lonely note echoed in the empty room.

"It was my mother's."

At the sound of her voice, Jack immediately pulled his hand back, feeling as if he was somehow intruding on something he should not have. "Sorry, I didn't mean to pry."

"It's okay." Elsa smiled, arms wrapped around herself as if to keep off a chill. She sat on the wooden stool, taking some time to make herself comfortable. "She used to play when we were little." Her nose scrunched up. "Anna would fall asleep under the piano and then would always bump her head when she woke up."

Jack chuckled, sitting on the stool with his back to the piano and his legs stretched out. "Sounds like Anna alright."

"Mmhmm." Elsa smiled as her fingers slid over the keyboard fondly.

"You know how to play?"

"My mom taught me the very basics, but I haven't played since…" A pause, then she rolled her shoulders back, composing herself. "Since I was a kid…"

"Play something for me." He encouraged her with a bump on the side.

She rested her folded hands on her lap. "I don't have much confidence in my skills."

When he took her hands, her fingers were cold, clammy, trembling with that myriad of emotions she had mentioned back at the cemetery — the ones she wasn't able to hold within and that were slowly but surely slipping through the cracks all day long. He ran his thumb over her knuckles, comforting, and understanding, and present.

"Good thing that I do for both of us, then," Jack said with a wink.

Elsa laughed, but her laugh was mixed with a melancholic, teary sigh. With her lips tightly pressed together, still not totally convinced, her fingers carefully made their way back to the keys. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she went into focus mode, muscles rehearsing in the air the lessons from some old memory before the first note was played.

Instinctively, his hands went to her lower back, warm and solid, reminding her of his support.

With a quick nod, Elsa started playing, unpracticed fingers clumsily moving from one chord to the other, but nevertheless, it was easy to recognize the lullaby she was trying to play. He relaxed, listening carefully to the song as he watched the furrow in her eyebrows deepen with her efforts. By the time she had reached her final note, a deep crimson had reached her cheeks, and she sheepishly inspected her nails. "That's the best I can do."

"Hey, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star never sounded so melodious if you ask me."

Jack was glad to see some normalcy returning to her expression as Elsa rolled her eyes.

"You're such an idiot," she mumbled, still avoiding his gaze.

"Thank you."

"It wasn't a compliment."

He smiled, spinning around and hitting one random key, then another. "Seriously, though. Is there anything you can't do? Besides cooking, that is."

"Of course, there is," she scoffed.

"Like what?"

"Like… I don't know how to whistle."

"Really?"

Elsa nodded shyly.

"Not even with your fingers?"

"Is that supposed to be easier?"

He gestured to her hands. "Try it."

"I would rather not."

"Come on, Your Highness." He placed both his hands on her hips. "Or I'll believe you're just trying to pull my leg."

"You are free to believe whatever you want, Frost," she said, turning her back towards him.

He leaned forward, chest against her back, chin on her shoulder, and lips brushing over the shell of her ear. "Please, Elsa. I promise I won't think any less of you just because you don't—"

"I see the money I spend on you and your sister's education is paying off."

The rest of Jack's words died in his mouth. Disentangling himself from his girlfriend, he hurriedly turned to the blond man coldly staring at them with crossed arms. The similarities with the girl beside him were uncanny. Genetics.

"Father…" Elsa mumbled, getting up.

"Should you not be at the Academy, Elsa?"

"I—" she choked, failing to find the words.

"Hello, sir." In a panic, Jack quickly jumped to action, holding out a stretched hand in the man's direction. "It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Jack. Jack Frost, and I'm actually the one who took your daughter out of school today."

The man didn't even seem to register Jack's existence, ice-cold glare still directed at his daughter. "I will remind you, Elsa, that as an heir to the Arendelle name, you are expected to behave in a way befitting your status. Partaking in this tomfoolery with some lowly boy is not how a young lady in your position should act."

"Father!"

Jack put a hand on Elsa's shoulder, stopping her. "With all due respect, sir, your daughter is far too smart and self-disciplined to let a lowly idiot like me get in her way. We've known each other for years, but not even at my worst could I ever outshine her greatness. And if you can't see the talented, generous, and intelligent person that she is, then I feel sorry for you."

Mr. Arendelle's mustache twitched, but his expression remained otherwise even. It reminded him of Elsa's unbreakable ice wall but worse, and if the urge to defend his girlfriend wasn't greater than the man's intimidating aura, Jack would probably shudder in fear.

"Have I not told you to choose your company wisely?"

Before he could retort, Jack watched as Elsa took a step forth, hands clenched into fists, jaw set, and posture straight. "You haven't told me much of anything, father. In fact, this must be the longest conversation we've had in over a decade."

"Are you talking back to your parent?"

"I am if it means defending the people I care about against your unfair judgments!"

The man took a step forward as well. "It seems I have been far too lenient with your upbringing."

Elsa laughed humorlessly. "I am grateful to you in many ways but raising Anna and me is a claim you do not get to make. And I demand that you apologize—"

"You demand?"

She crossed her arms, defiant. "Are you saying that a man of your stature lacks so much courtesy as to offend a guest in his own house?"

Elsa's father began to seethe, fists shaking and face reddening quickly, and starting a family altercation was the last thing he wanted to do, so Jack hurriedly jumped between father and daughter with both arms in the air. "You know, that's really not necessary," he said, glancing nervously between the two. "Sorry for barging into your house like that, sir. If you don't mind, we'll excuse ourselves now."

"Jack—"

He tugged on her elbow, giving her a pointed, and also pleading, look. "We're going, Your Majesty." With a two-fingers salute to Elsa's father, he added, " Lovely to meet you, sir."

"Likewise."

Not taking any chances, Jack dragged a still semi-willing Elsa through the archway, out the room, and out the house before the ticking bomb could go off and cause irreparable damage to their father-daughter relationship.

When they reached the jeep, Jack finally allowed himself to let go of her arm. Spinning on his heels, he sheepishly smiled.

"... That went well, don't you think?"

Anna had heard everything. She and Kai had finished packing a basket full of snacks and were on their way to meet Elsa and Jack when her father's voice surprised her. Kai had immediately excused himself, muttering something about being improper to eavesdrop on his master, but Anna had no such qualms. So she stood there, glued to the wall, listening in on everything. And the longer the conversation in the other room continued, the sicker she felt.

After Jack and Elsa left, she heard her father making his way upstairs, but unable to hold back her own frustrations any longer, Anna rushed after him.

"You can't just parent us only when it's convenient to you, dad. That's not how it works."

Taken back, her father stopped mid-step, slowly turning his head to face her. "What is the point of enrolling my daughters in the best boarding school in the country if they can apparently sneak out without my consent as they please?"

Anna shrugged, ignoring his question. "Did you know last week was mom's birthday?" She pointed with her thumb to the entrance. "Because that guy you kicked out of your house did."

"What—"

"Do you remember loving her? You know, your dead wife?"

His father's anger levels seemed to be rising but Anna didn't care, and so her tirade continued, "Why don't you try to remember what it felt like, huh? To care for another human being?" A short, unamused laugh. "God knows you haven't done that since she died."

"Now if you'll excuse me, we should be getting back to school. That's what you're paying them for, after all, right? To get us out of your hair?"

And with that, Anna left her fuming father to process her resentful words. Resentful, sure, but the truth nonetheless…

Elsa wanted to scream. Her shoulders were shaking, and her throat burned, and she felt tears threatening to scorch her skin. She lost sight of her surroundings, overwhelmed by her inner turmoil, the only thing grounding her being his hand wrapped decidedly around her arm.

"... That went well, don't you think?" she heard him saying, but his voice was muffled and far.

"Jack—I'm so sorry," she choked out in a strangled, hoarse screech.

He tilted his head, legitimately confused. One of his hands cupped her neck, thumb gently caressing her jaw. His eyes were sad. "For what?"

Elsa exhaled, tired. "The way my father treated you?" Her tone was insecure, like a question. "After all you've done for me—and for Anna, he had no right—"

"Don't worry about it." His free hand took her wrist, fingers pressing against her pulse point. "I think deep inside, he was trying to protect you."

"Right."

"I'm serious." He leaned his forehead against hers, and her eyes closed, soothed by the contact. "I mean, would it have been better if your dad didn't want my head on a thoroughly polished silver plate? Yeah, but you don't have to apologize for it."

"I just feel so mad at myself!" she groaned, pulling back and already missing the warmth of his skin on hers.

"You're overreacting."

"I am not." She took a step back and tugged on her hair desperately. "You—this isn't fair, and you deserve so much better—"

Jack leaned against the car, crossing his arms and smirking at her. "I appreciate you speaking on my behalf, Elsa, but it's really fine."

"It is not fine!" Her frustration was growing, and at that point, she no longer knew whether she was more frustrated at her father, or at Jack. Which in turn frustrated her even more.

"... I love you, you know that?"

Her head jerked back, braid swishing around with the movement. Eyes wide, ringing ears, she stammered, "W-what?"

He shrugged. "I said I love you."

"I heard you the first time," she grumbled.

"Want me to say it one more time?"

"No!" She pointed a warning finger toward him at the same time as she took a wary step back. "Why would you say that?!"

"Because it's the truth. Does that really surprise you?"

"... Yes?" Elsa shook her head. She started pacing back and forth, hoping that the blood pumping would help clear her mind. It didn't, but she continued walking anyway. "I mean, sure, we've known each other for ages but it has been a little over a month since we started dating. But when I think about it, I suppose I could love you too, but really? There's a time and a place, and—and why would you say that when I'm all distressed, and mad, and cry-ey?!... And what the hell are you smiling at now?"

The grin on his face made Elsa very wary. "You just said you love me back."

"No, I didn't."

"You kinda did." He pushed himself off the car, taking a step in her direction.

She stepped back in reflex. "Do not."

"Would it help if I told you that I love you too?"

"Shut up!" Elsa clutched her head, shutting her eyes and trying to wake up from that terrible nightmare. "This…" she hissed, "is a disaster."

"You know, keep talking and you're eventually gonna hurt my feelings, Your Majesty."

Without her noticing, Jack had shortened the distance between them, and he wrapped her in a tight hug.

"I can't think straight right now."

"Because of how much you love me?"

"Stop saying that!"

"Why? It's kinda nice." He angled his neck so he could see her. "Try saying it to my face."

"I will not."

"Come on, Elsa." He raised an eyebrow, breath hot and heavy against her cheek.

"Let go of me!"

"I love you," he chuckled in her ear.

She tried to wiggle out of his embrace, but he was stronger than her, and all her fighting did was make his hold tighten. "Stop."

"I love you, Your Majesty." He kissed her jaw.

Finally freeing one arm, he grabbed him by the cheeks, nails fiercely planted on his skin.

"I told you to stop."

Puckered lips, he battered his eyelashes at her. "Make me."

Her cheeks burst into flames, or at least that was what it felt like. From the corner of her eyes, she saw the front door opening, and she shouted, grateful, "Anna!"

"Aren't you guys in a better mood than expected?" Anna teased as she walked down the steps, snacks basket heavily swishing against her side. "Ready to go?"

"Of course. We were just waiting for you." Now that they weren't alone anymore, Elsa took the first chance she got to separate herself from her boyfriend. Making her way around the car, she snuck into the backseat without another word and silently stared blankly out the window as she waited for her travel companions to join her.

"... Did I interrupt something? she heard Anna asking.

"Kinda." The driver's side door opened, and Elsa sucked in an apprehensive breath. His eyes met hers. "But don't worry. We'll have plenty of time for that when we get back."