Disclaimer: This work of fan fiction uses characters from Rise of the Guardians, The Guardians of Childhood, and Frozen which are trademarked by DreamWorks Animation, William Joyce, and the Walt Disney Company respectively. The author of this story claims no ownership over them. The story the author is telling is of her own invention and it is not purported or believed to be part of the canon storyline. This story is made for entertainment purposes only. The author is not profiting financially from the creation and publication of this story.

Here, listen: the sound of the ocean, captured in a shell.

Like a memory.

Imagine if it held something different.

Something more than just a sound, but just as real.

What if we had a chance to remember something that we never experienced?

Tell me what happens, or what happened.

In this memory that never existed until now.

What would you want to remember?

– Wesley Chan of WongFu Productions, Shell

Chapter Soundtrack:

Dreaming Out Loud – One Republic

A Single Memory – George Shaw

Ballade

A cacophony of phone rings rang throughout the house. Jingle Bells ringing in the Great room, Swan Lake playing in the main hall, the standard ringtone playing in the kitchen, and Happy Birthday playing on the upstairs phone.

Anna flew into the Great room from the hallway, sliding on the mahogany wood in her socks before grabbing the phone off of its charger.

"Hello?" she asked, crashing into the ivory leather couch and plopping backwards on it, "Arendelle residence."

A deep chuckle resounded from the phone, "Hey Anna."

"Oh Jack!" Anna cried.

"Lovely weather we are having today." He commented.

She looked out the large windows, staring at the Wintery Wonderland outside where snow blanketed everything in sight and was still falling in delicate puffs. It was beautiful – looking at it from the inside – but she knew that it was freezing cold out there. She rolled her eyes.

"It's like -22 degrees Fahrenheit (1) out there! Only you and Elsa would think that this weather is 'lovely,' Jack."

He chuckled, "Speaking of your sister, what is she doing?"

"She's walled up in her room again, studying madly for her MCAT (2) exam."

"Gosh, for someone who is barely in her 20's, she acts like she's 40."

Anna laughed. "You are right, there, Jack. I'll give you that much."

He chuckled. "Anyway, can I talk to your sister?"

"Sure, just a second – be warned though, she's a beast when she's trying to study."

"Don't I know it," He replied.

She flipped backwards off the couch then, landing on the plush purple rug with a thud before running towards, then up the stairs and slamming into Elsa's room. Elsa jumped from her chair, the lead in her pencil snapping off with the force of her surprise.

"Anna!" Elsa cried, "I told you not to –"

"Jack's on the phone," Anna interrupted, handing Elsa the phone, dashing out the door, and slammed it before Elsa could get another word out. Elsa stared blankly at the closed door before putting the phone, tiredly, to her ear.

"Hello?"

"Why hello there, Elsa," Jack said sweetly. "Hope I'm not bothering you while you are doing something important."

"I was studying, Jack."

"Then I am definitely not bothering you. Good. I'll be at your front door in 30 minutes, be ready then, 'cause we are going out!"

She gave an exasperated sigh. "Jack, my exam is in –"

"Three months, Elsa." Jack interrupted, "You can spare an afternoon with me. Come on, you're stressing out too much, you'll end up getting ulcers at this rate."

"Jack, you can't get ulcers from being stressed."

"Really? Huh…. I thought that you can…" he murmured, his tone genuinely surprised and curious.

Elsa smiled at his antics.

"Well, anyway. It doesn't matter if stress causes ulcers or not. Cause of one thing I am certain its stress is bad and you are terribly stressed. Come on, one afternoon with me? I haven't seen you all month." He said, nearly begging, and Elsa could just imagine the puppy-dog eyes that Jack would be pulling. She sighed. Jack knew he won her over.

"Alright, Jack."

"Yes!"

"You said 30 minutes right?"

"Yep! See you then!"

Elsa rolled her eyes before clicking the off button on the phone and tossing it onto her bed. She stood from her desk chair and stretched her arms over her head – not realizing how stiff her shoulders were.

She walked over to her closet then and began to pull out a couple pieces of clothes.

"Anna!" she called, as she walked over to her mirror and began to weave her platinum blonde hair into a side-braid. Anna slowly and cautiously opened the door before poking her head inside.

"Yes… Elsa?" she asked, scared that her older sibling might scold her for barging into her room.

"I'm going out for the afternoon with Jack; there should be some leftovers from yesterday if I don't get home early enough to make dinner. But text me if you want me to get anything before I come home, alright?"

"Woah, you are actually not going to study, Elsa?" Anna asked, opening the door fully now with her mouth gaping open. Elsa glanced at her sister as she secured her hair with a tie and decorated her plait with snowflake pins.

"I know that I should but Jack would not relent! I mean –"

But the white-blonde haired girl never finished her sentence, for Anna had tackled her onto the bed, squealing happily as she squeezed Elsa in a hug.

"I don't remember the last time that you went out for something other than errands! This is a truly memorable day!"

"Anna, I went out for your birthday last month."

"But that was last month." Anna emphasized. Elsa laughed at her younger sister's antics.

"Alright, alright. I understand that it's been a while. But you need to get off of me, Jack's coming soon and I need to get ready."

Jack slowly pulled up on the driveway to the Arendelle residence, taking in the beauty of the manor. It was one of the oldest buildings in Burgess – but that doesn't really explain its castle-like structure... However it doesn't matter; it was beautiful, with its grey stone walls and large glass windows framed with dark-coloured wood. And on the inside, the main hall was decorated as if it was made of ice. Jack loved coming over to the Arendelle's.

In the midst of his musing, Elsa stepped out from the front door wearing a pale-blue, wool sweater; black jeans; and a pair of beige-coloured, fur boots. She wore her hair in her signature side-plait, decorated with the sparkling snowflake pins. And to top it all off, Elsa had on her classic purple eye-shadow and a dark pink stain on her lips.

She locked the door quickly behind her before slipping the keys into her black purse and making her way, calmly, to the Jack's silver SUV. It wasn't Jack's car to be exact, for he had a dark blue sedan, but rather it was his family's vehicle. She wondering why Jack didn't take his own car, but she shoved it aside as no big deal. When she opened the passenger door and slipped in the car, Elsa didn't even bother to brush the fallen snow from her hair or clothes.

"Alright!" Jack cried, pulling the car into gear just as Elsa pulled the seatbelt over, "to the lake!"

Elsa laughed. Of course Jack's idea of a date is to go to his favourite place in Burgess. Elsa glanced over at her boyfriend, noticing that all Jack wore was the blue and white varsity jacket of their university, a white t-shirt, dark jeans, and a pair of black Converse. Neither of them looked as though they were dressed to spend the afternoon outside in such freezing weather. But it didn't matter. Elsa smiled, Jack's love for the ice and snow was one of the few things that were similar between the two of them. He was all fun and games while she was a lot more responsible and diligent. But then again, opposites do attract.

She leaned back into her seat and crossed her legs over each other, preparing to enjoy the short journey to Jack's favourite lake.

"So, how was your morning?" she asked.

"You would know how my morning was if you turned on your cellphone." Jack said, rolling his eyes teasingly. Elsa sighed; the blonde-haired girl hated the tiny little piece of technology because she never quite understood how it worked.

Elsa grumbled before pulling the small touch screen device from her pocket, turning it on to realize that Jack had sent her seven messages today. She sighed before scrolling through each of the texts.

Good morning, Snowflake! How are you today? 8:54 A.M.

I'm so bored, Elsa. There is nothing to do. 9:36 A.M.

You turned your phone off again, didn't you? 10:12 A.M.

You're so mean to me. 10:45 A.M.

Honestly, Elsa, I could be dying and you wouldn't know because you have your phone off. 12:41P.M.

That's it, if you don't text me back in half an hour I am going to call your house. 2:03 P.M.

I'm calling. 2:33 P.M.

Elsa smiled at the texts, imagining Jack mope around the house as the day went by. His lips sinking into a deeper pout each time he reached for his phone to check for a message from her.

"I'm sorry." Elsa said, placing her hand on his shoulder softly. Jack huffed, glancing at her while trying to keep his eyes on the road.

"I never meant to shut you out. I just kind of forgot that my phone existed." Elsa said, mumbling the last part. The car pulled to a slow stop at a red-light and Jack took the opportunity to lean over from his car seat. He planted a soft and sweet kiss on her temple, breathing in the muted floral perfume with a subtle hint of cocoa that she was wearing – her favourite, he remembered.

"I'm just playing with you, Snowflake." he whispered softly in her ear, he heard a half-sigh-half-laugh fall through her lips.

"Keep your eyes on the road."

When they arrived at the lake, it would seem that Jack planned for them to spend the afternoon relaxing in the back of the SUV, for he had piled a bunch of pillows and blankets in the back, creating soft and comfortable nook. He even brought a picnic basket of sandwiches, juice, fresh fruits, and of course ice-cream: a small single serving of chocolate for her and one of mint-chocolate for him.

Elsa sighed happily as the taste of creamy, sweet, and decedent chocolate ice-cream hit her tongue. Beside her, Jack chuckled, scooping a mouthful of mint-chocolate ice-cream and shoving it into his mouth.

They sat together in the back of Jack's SUV, lounging with the pillows propped behind their backs and blankets scattered around, discarded for its warmth was not needed. The trunk door was opened, allowing fresh and cool wintery air to circulate inside the car.

Jack suddenly sighed, having finished his ice-cream and tossed the container carelessly into the picnic basket. He stretched and then placed an arm over Elsa's shoulder, pulling her closer to him. She laughed as he kissed her hair tenderly. She set down her half eaten ice-cream, shifting closer to the white-haired boy as they lay. Elsa rested her legs on Jack's, her back propped against his chest as they watched the snow drift down onto the serene frozen lake.

"Will you go to Norway?" he asked suddenly. Elsa suddenly stiffened.

He was in graduate school now. She was just about finished with her undergraduate, as she applied for several schools, one which was in Norway... It was difficult to them to find the time to go on dates anymore, and if she actually goes to school in Norway… will she ever be able to see Jack as often? Elsa sat up, crossing her legs as she turned to face Jack. She stared at him, watching him as he shifted when she moved.

"Maybe," She said, "I'm not sure yet."

He kept his face low, his beautiful eyes frowning at a forgotten blanket.

"I don't want you to go." He murmured, "But I want you to chase your dreams. I'm torn, Elsa."

Elsa's soft smile slowly fell as her heart also twitched with sudden yearning. She reached up to touch his face, caressing his cheeks with her fingers. He looked up the moment her fingers touched his face. She leaned closer, pulling him to her as she pressed her forehead softly against his. Their noses touched. She could smell and feel his cool and minty breath. Jack's eyes fluttered close the moment her forehead touched his, his dark eyelashes brushing against her face. She closed her eyes as well, savouring this sweet and delicate moment.

"I know." She whispered, "But that doesn't matter now. Think about the present, Jack. Remember this moment where there is just you and I, together on this wintery day."

He slowly pressed forward, before softly catching her lips with his.

She pushed against his lips, trying to express her affection and love with a single, intimate touch. He pulled away, only for a second to whisper a few words.

"I love you."

"I love you too, Jack."

(1) – 22 degrees Fahrenheit: Roughly equals – 30 degrees Celsius

(2) MCAT: Medical College Admission Test

Author's Note: … This isn't Nocturne, I know. But I kind of hit a writer's block with the Nocturne story arc thus far. I mean, I know exactly where I want to go, I know what I want to do and everything! I just… don't know how to get there yet… So I decided to write another one-shot to, maybe, satisfy your guise's desire for some Elsa and Jack interaction while I try to figure out my thoughts.

So, I hope you enjoyed Ballade! In this verse, Elsa's 21, she is almost finished her undergraduate degree and is applying to med school. Jack is 23 years old, in his 2nd year of his Master's Degree in Physiotherapy.

Thank you to:

vkfreako, DeniseArgon, DarkbladerX666, , Guest, Hawky, Shark Queen 2014, rokusan23, Hao2BreakCandlesPart12, WritersElemental, yumiayumu02, JoPoGirlsKickAss, Guest, X-menQueen, Musical2day, BlueStar'sFire, AyameKitsune, and LilliannaStone

for reviewing! Your guys' reviews, support, and praise brighten my day and make me feel so much better and more confident about my writing skills, especially when university is trying to beat me down and keep me there.

rokusan23: Ahaha, glad to help you get the attention of a hot dude.

WritersElemental: I am not too sure as to how I am going to have this so-called "fight" you are just going to have to wait to find out. But I assure you, it's going to be fun. Thank you so much for your curiosity and engagement in the plot!

Until next time!

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Cordially,

EireneHarmonia