"Jack, c'mon! Wake up!"

"Oh..." Jack groaned as he tossed in his bed, feeling the sunlight on his eyes. "...no! I don't wanna get up."

"Sure you do! Do you know what today is!?" Elaina asked as she stood next to his bed with her hand on his covers. She never usually woke him up, but she knew what the others had planned for him today so she couldn't help but be excited.

"No...should I?" He smirked beneath the covers.

"Of course you should! It's your birthday! It's been a hundred and thirty-eight years since Manny gave you your name!"

"Alright, alright. I'm up." He laughed out lightly as he sat up in his bed. He then heard a very audible gasp from Elaina. He looked over to her, and noticed her cheeks were red. "Elaina? Are you alright? Your cheeks are red. Do you have a fever or something?"

"N-No. I'm fine. I um...just didn't think you would get up so quickly is all." She told him, but on the inside she was practically screaming at herself for sounding so ridiculous. 'What's wrong with me!?' She asked herself in a way that Jack wouldn't hear. 'You think I would stop acting like this after all this time!'

Jack tilted his head, but then looked down at himself. "Oh...I apologize...I hadn't realized I had gone to bed shirtless."

'YEAH! YA THINK! I've never seen you shirtless before! Usually you're in nightclothes!' She shook her head, and tried to put on her best smirk. "Why ARE you shirtless anyway?"

"Well, like I said, I hadn't realized I had gone to bed this way. I would usually put on nightclothes, but Falldeen challenged the rest of the Generals to a drinking competition and that included me."

"Did you win?" She asked carefully as she let out a sigh. 'That makes sense now, but still!'

"No, I came in second. Senna came in first. However, Falldeen came in last and that was hilarious! He crashed before we did. Then he was followed by Silas. Senna had me beat by one. I'm not sure of one what...but she beat me by one, I know that much." Jack looked back at her and tilted his head, starting to genuinely feel worried about her. "Are you sure you're alright?"

'No!' She mentally screamed, because she realized she was still blushing, but she nodded her head instead. "Yes, I'm fine. Now, c'mon and get dressed. I know what's planned for you today!"

"Oh, now that's not fair!" Jack laughed as she walked out the door.

"I'll be waiting outside your room." Elaina made her way out of his room, and quietly shut the door behind her before letting out a breath of relief that she was away from that sight. 'SERIOUSLY WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME!' She screamed.

"What do you mean?" She heard Emily's voice just next to her and realized that they left the rooms at the same time.

"I well...I went to wake Jack up and..." She briefly looked at the door, and allowed the rest of the thought to form in her mind as she tried to calm herself. 'I went to wake him up and he was shirtless...I became speechless and I was BLUSHING! I don't know why, but I was!'

Emily's eyes go wide for a brief second before she starts doubling over with laughter. "Oh, how can you be as old as you are and be so innocent!?"

"What!? What are you talking about!?"

"Okay, since I can tell he's going to take a shower, how about you and I have a chat."

"Okay?" She asked as she crossed her arms.

"Good, now, I'm going to ask you some questions, and I want you to answer them as honestly as you can...even if it's embarrassing, alright?"

"Will it help me figure out what's wrong with me?"

"Hopefully. If you don't know by the end of this conversation, I don't know what to do with you." She smirked and earned a quick nod from Elaina. "Good, now, first question. Do you blush around the others?"

"No." She answered with a look of concern.

"Okay, so you only blush around Jack?"

"Y-Yeah, and usually when it involves him or when he compliments my dress or how I look."

"Alright, third question. When you're with him...does your heart start to beat really fast sometimes?"

"Yes. When we're sparring or when we're playing, but I figure that's just due to the amount of activity we're doing at the time."

"Right..." Emily nodded her head with an amused smirk. "...next question. What do you feel when you're around him? Remember, you said you would be honest."

"Well...when I'm around him...I feel warm, happy, content, giddy almost...and when he smiles or laugh I can't help but follow. I don't like it when he's sad or angry. I want him to always be happy, and when I'm the reason that he smiles again, I feel...really warm and proud. When ever he's down, I want to lift him back up. When we're sparring, we're having fun, and it's like we're dancing when we spar. He's ahead by five points, but that's okay. I love seeing him use his Winter powers. He has so much fun with it, and it...it makes me really happy when he does that, and the way he trusts me in the air...I can't describe it, but I'm grateful...but sometimes, when he hugs me and thanks me for something, I feel my cheeks get warm like they do when he compliments me or like when I just saw him shirtless."

"Okay, and final question. Have you ever heard of the phrase 'Love at First Sight'?"

"I...o-of course, but I..."

"Extra bonus question to go along with that question...have you felt like this since the beginning? Since you met him?"

"I..." As the questions, answers, and Emily's curious gaze finally sunk in, Elaina's eyes widened and she placed a hand to her now pounding heart.

"Ah, I think you've got it, but just so we're on the same page...what did you just realize?"

"I...I'm in love with Jack...and it was love at first sight...but...how is that even possible? Wouldn't I have known? I thought it only existed in fairy tales and fiction! All this time, and I haven't noticed..."

"I have no idea how you didn't know. I thought you've known since the second day of being in the Domain and were just being quiet about it. Watching the two of you...it's a cute sight, but watching you react to him is adorable. You're so smitten with him it's ridiculous, and I thought you knew this entire time!"

"I-I didn't! I...Emily what am I going to do?"

"I guess...keep on like you have been until you get the courage to tell him. Although, since you know now, it most certainly won't be an easy ride for you. You know what I have planned for him today."

"Yeah, it was your's and Senna's idea after Jack mentioned he would love to attend a ball like in the books he's read."

"Good luck, Elaina." Emily sighed out with a slight smile.

"You're enjoying this aren't you?"

"A little. I didn't expect you to be so oblivious."

Once Emily was gone from sight after heading down the stairs, Elaina heard the door open behind her and out came Jack wearing a white dress shirt, a sapphire blue vest that had white frost patterns on it, and his pants were the same leather wrapped pants as usual, but theses were also sapphire blue. "So, how do I look for my birthday?" Jack asked and he quickly spun around.

"Good. You look good." She stated as she felt her cheeks warm again at his smile, and his appearance. 'And now that I know...it makes everything ten times that more obvious and difficult! THANKS EMILY!'

She heard a soft giggle enter her mind followed by, 'You're welcome, dear sister.'

"So, we should get downstairs, huh?" Jack asked as he made his way to the stairs.

"Yeah, we should. Oh! You're gonna love it!" She exclaimed as she found herself falling back into habit as he walks away. She falls back quicker than she thought. 'Perhaps...it really has been this way the whole time.'

"If you had anything to do with it, I'm sure I'll love it."

'Then again...' She thought to herself as her heart skipped a beat. "Oh you will."

oOoOoOoOoOo

After they had gone stairs, Jack hadn't noticed anything different. The Generals were there, and so was the Snow Queen which was rare these days, but nothing that screamed birthday, so he simply shrugged and ate his breakfast with the rest of the spirits. Then, when everyone was done and after everyone got up from their seats, he watched as the tables disappeared one by one along with the food. "Um...what's going on?" He asked as he looked at a smirking Elaina and Emily.

"Your birthday present, Jack." Elaina grinned, and watched as instruments off to the corner became enchanted to play themselves.

"Wait...a ball? Like in the books? You can't be serious?" He beamed brightly, causing a loud thump in Elaina's chest that she had to force herself to ignore for now. "I was only joking."

"Yes, well, forgive us if we took you seriously." Elaina hummed with a slight smirk.

"Well, it IS my birthday..." Jack trailed off with a wide smile as he stepped forward towards Elaina. He then bowed with one hand over his heart and the other extending out to her. "...would you like to dance, my lady?"

"I-I would." She stuttered out as she took his hand, and instantly felt warm from the always surprising warmth that accompanied his hands. She allowed herself to be led in a waltz by Jack, and marveled at how well of a dancer he was. "When did you learn how to dance?"

"I didn't. Just a talent I suppose." He hummed as he looked down at her. "When did you?"

"When I was five."

"Ah, so a long time ago." He concluded as he spun her around.

"Very." She confirmed once she was back in his arms.

"So, you don't think my joking request for a ball was too girly then?" He asked as he spun them around together to the beat of the drum that kept a steady and gentle beat.

"No. Who's ever heard of a King that didn't want a ball every now and then."

"Did you have balls from where you came from?"

"Yes, way too many to count."

"Huh..." Jack smiled down at her as they continued to dance. 'How's my dancing then?'

'It's wonderful if I'm going to be honest.'

'Can Emily read my mind if I speak to you like this?'

'She hasn't before. I've asked her. She says as long as we're directing it at each other, she can't hear it.'

'Alright, well, may I ask why you were so flushed this morning?'

'I...but you already asked.'

'No, you see, I asked if you were okay because you looked like you had a fever. Then, just as I go to reach for my door knob, I hear the most interesting thing on the other side of the door.'

'Wh-What did you hear!?'

'Nothing much...just you saying that you were in love with me. How long do you think I take my showers?' He snickered lightly as he spun a shocked and embarrassed Elaina. Once her hand was back in his he sent another gentle smile her way.

'Y-You heard!?'

'Yes, and although you may be embarrassed, I think you'll feel a bit at ease if I tell you it's not unrequited.'

'IT'S NOT!?'

'No, we can discuss it after my party if you'd like. I'll tell you everything. I'll even give you exact dates that I started to realize it...I just have to ask...um...if we do...um...get together...what are we going to do about Sandy?'

'I...that's a good question. It's still not the right time for him to know. I know that much.'

'Well, we COULD have a relationship now, and when he does find out you're alive...then I can beg for forgiveness for not only knowing your alive and not telling him, but for being with you without his permission...and then I could ask for his official permission.'

Elaina looked directly up at Jack with widened eyes and a bright smile. 'Um...are you sure? I mean...a relationship? It...it sounds like you're trying to court me...'

'And if that WERE the case?' Jack smirked as he noticed the others started to join in the dance. Senna danced with Falldeen and Kala danced with Silas while Mother Nature watched on with joy and pride in her eyes.

'I...but...my Father...'

'Now you see why I was a bit worried, but like I said, we could be in a relationship if you want, and I can beg him for forgiveness for eternity after he discovers both what I knew since the beginning and the fact that I would've been in a relationship with his daughter for who knows how long.'

Elaina started to actually giggle as they continued to dance. 'You know, it's funny...' she hummed in her mind. '...around the same thing happened with my Mother and Sandy, my Father. Mother and Father were together in secret for nearly a full year before Father gathered the courage to speak to her Father. He was a forgiving man and found it incredibly amusing. He told Father that he didn't have to worry about courting her. He could see how in love they were and gave his blessing for Father to marry Mother.'

'Wow, that's impressive.'

'Yes well...to answer you...I would like to do that. I would like to be in a relationship with you...if you um...really want that...that is...'

'I do.' Jack smiled at her. 'It'll certainly be interesting from now on, but yes, that's what I want.' He answered as he held his hand on her hip, pulling her closer to him, their breathing noticeable to one another, and they were both breathing fast. 'Is it what you want?' He asked as he noticed her blush increase.

'I...yes. I...already said that...' Her mind was slowing down as she stared into his ice blue eyes that were looking at her with a softness she's never seen or noticed in his eyes before.

'Good. That's good. Then...I'll tell you everything after the celebrations.'

'Yes, and you should know, there's going to be lunch, then more dancing and even games, and it'll be the same for Dinner.'

'Thanks for the heads up.'

'You're welcome.' She hummed with a smile as the song came to an end.

Jack slowly let go of her, but held onto her hand and gave it a gentle kiss on the back of it. 'We'll speak later then.'

'Y-Yeah...' She blushed once again, but this time she didn't mind. However, when she turned around to see Emily's reaction she saw a very satisfied and proud smirk while she drank whatever was in her cup.

oOoOoOoOoOo

"So!" Jack breathed as he walked into his room. It was nearing one in the morning after his celebration finally ended. He had danced with everyone more often than he cared to count. "Now, we talk."

"Yes, you have a lot to explain."

"Oh, I do? Well, I'm sorry, Elaina, but so do you."

"I do?"

"Yes, because for about ninety-five years, I thought that my feelings were unrequited, and then I hear you tell Emily that you're in love with me. Do you have any idea the amount of self control it took not to open the door right then? I nearly collapsed from it. So, how about we do this..." Jack trailed off with a sigh as he went to sit on his bed criss cross. "...come and sit, and you can ask a question, I'll answer, then I'll ask, and we'll go back and forth like that."

She nodded her head as she sat on his bed in front of him. "Alright. My first question is...when did you realize you were in love with me?"

"It was a sparring match. Something had upset you that day, and I offered to let you take your anger out on me, and that you did. It was October 11th, 1755. It was a sparring match you won, by the way. We were practically dancing, you and I, and I felt my heart pounding faster and harder the closer you got, and the fierceness you attacked me with was amazing and astounding. I then took a moment to look back on how we've been around each other in the years before, and if possible, my heart pounded even faster, because I realized that not only had I loved you all this time...since the beginning, but that I was very much so IN LOVE with you. Then, you got your ultimate point in, by using your winter and dark magic together, pinning me to the ground. You sat on my stomach and held an ice dagger to my throat, and your eyes, they were like starlight they were so beautiful. I surrendered the match, but I also surrendered much more than that...I surrendered my heart, because the second I saw your eyes looking at me with the pure pride, mirth, joy, and victory that they held, I couldn't do anything BUT surrender. However, every day and every year after that, I never thought you would return my feelings."

"I...wow...that...that's amazing."

"I'm glad you think so. So, my turn. How long have you loved me?"

"Since I met you." She answered without hesitation and a proud loving grin on her face. "However, I didn't realize it until Emily and I spoke. it seems I've been oblivious for the past one hundred and thirty-eight years, but yes, I've apparently been in love with you since I met you."

"Wow..." Jack blinked a few times before his eyes softened a bit. "We're both a couple of fools aren't we?"

"Seems so."

"Well, the adventures after today will certainly be interesting and fun."

"I'd have to agree. Now, my turn to ask a question. If you've been in love with me for ninety-five years...that means you were in love with me when we met with my Father for the first time. How nervous were you?"

"Extremely, but I meant it. He's my friend, and we've had great fun with him, haven't we."

"We have, but he still thinks I'm basically dead. Although, the time you beat him a sparring match was hilarious."

"It's not my fault he tried to challenge me in the middle of a blizzard."

"Oh!" Elaina laughed out joyously with pure amusement in her eyes. "And all of that snow piled on him! His face! It was price-" She was quickly cut off as she suddenly felt a hand on the side of her face and warm lips against her's. As surprised as she was, she found herself quickly melting into the kiss as she wrapped her arms around him. She then threaded his white hair through her fingers, gripping it gently and deepening the kiss. When it ended, they were both breathing heavily, and their foreheads met one another. "That was um..."

"I...I'm sorry...I couldn't help it...you...after knowing that you know, and you feel the same, and then hearing your beautiful laugh...I couldn't...I'm sorry."

"Do. Not. Be. Sorry." She told him in between kisses on his cheek.

He looked up at her, his breath still trying to come back to him, only for it to hitch in his throat. "Elaina, I...I love you."

"I love you too, Jack." She replied with a gentle and chaste kiss on his lips, causing him to lose his breath again.

"Oh, I'm not gonna be able to get used to that."

"You might...someday. At least now I know how to beat you in sparring matches."

"We'll see about that." He chuckled low and mischievously. "Now, we both need some sleep. We're going to Antarctica tomorrow...today...whatever."

Elaina hummed in agreement as she got off his bed. "Goodnight, Jack." She told him as she made it to her door.

"Goodnight, Elaina." He sighed out with a content grin on his face.