Waking up, Sky immediately remembered the events of the previous day and knew Jack would be starting his plan soon; if he hadn't already.

Taking her time with her morning routine, Sky looked out her window cautiously a few times, making sure there wasn't a pile of snow. Her room overlooked the backyard, where it would be safest for him to do something like that. Safe but, in Sky's opinion, insane.

'He promised to take it slow. Maybe with a bit of frost on the window. It's too soon to do more than that.'

Finally thinking she'd given Lauren plenty of warning that she was awake, Sky made her way downstairs.

"Morning," she called before entering the kitchen. With no answer, she went inside. Lauren was there, but she made no attempt to acknowledge Sky.

'She's still mad. Who could blame her? She thinks I was mocking her belief in the guy she loved. Er, loves, though she doesn't know he's still in her life'

Pouring herself a glass of juice, Sky did her best not to snap at Lauren and tell her how Jack Frost really was around. That he was trying to reach out to her. Biting her lip, looking everywhere but at Lauren, it was almost easy.

The thought was still gnawing at her but they had a plan and Sky wouldn't ruin it again.

Eventually, when the silence became too much, Sky decided to take her juice into the living room. Morning TV sucks, but it distracts her. She barely heard Lauren's surprised shout over the sound of the TV, but it was enough to rouse her from her impassive state.

Waiting for any other noise, Sky just sat there. The thought that maybe Jack had done something crossed her mind and she didn't worry about it any more than that.

Hearing Lauren trudge upstairs, Sky finally moved off the couch. Going into the kitchen, she saw Jack at the window and as soon as she opened it, he grinned at her triumphantly, "She definitely noticed that"

Sky couldn't help but give an uneasy smile back, "What did you do, anyway?"

"Not telling you" he mocked, cheerfully, "It's between me, Lauren, and this window"

"Is that it for today, then?"

"Not even close. I have a schedule planned out" he floated farther away from the window, "I'm not telling you about that, either."

"Wow, Frost, you're such a tease." Sky couldn't help but joke back at him as he got farther away.

"Can't help it. It's in my nature as the Guardian of Fun."

"Well, isn't that cute"

Jack looked back at her, trying to glare but having a hard time around the grin that spread across his face. With that, he took off.

Sighing, she made her way upstairs to get dressed for work. Silence came from Lauren's room, and Sky figured she must have her headphones on. Probably set on ignoring any other signs of 'Winter'.

"Lau" she called, "I'm heading to work," as suspected, there was no answer. Sky didn't bother trying again, and left without another word.

At the café, time passed on as it always did. To just work and not worry about 'the plan' was a relief. For once she was in too good of a mood to even argue with Daniel.

She'd almost forgotten about Jack Frost when he was suddenly in the window, signalling her to let him in. "You crazy-"

"Huh?" A customer questioned, "Did you say something?"

"No, nothing. Well, just that... Isn't it a bit stuffy in here? Do you think I should open the door for a bit" She asked, trying to be sincere.

"Yeah, sure."

Smiling, Sky went over to the door and propped it open. As Jack walked in, she eyed him curiously.

"Hey, Sky. Working hard?" he smirked.

"You know I am" Skyla mumbled back. Louder, she called to Daniel, "I'm taking my break okay?" who just waved dismissively at her as she made her way to the back room.

Jack followed closely behind, being careful not to step on anything sticky. Sky closed the door behind them, sitting on a small couch and waiting for him to say something.

"So?" she asked after a while of watching him examine the room, "Any good news?"

Turning to her, he smiled, "There's news. Good or bad, you'll have to tell me," Jack sat beside her, looking her in the eyes, "I went with the plan. She freaked out a bit, Closed her curtains and whatnot. I think I'm getting to her."

Sky nodded, "She knows something is going on. Like I told you, she'll deny every sign you send her until she's forced to believe. It seems like you've nearly gotten her to that point, but I don't see how you could if you were taking it slow like I said."

"I might have amped it up a notch after the kitchen thing" he confided, "Her reaction was great"

"I heard," Sky sighed, forcing a small smile, "I'll take all that as good news. Focus on the positive. Hey, do you thi-"

"Skyla?" The door opened, and Daniel poked his head in, "Talking to yourself again, I see."

"Yeah. What's up?"

"I just realized how few breaks you take. I don't like it when you take breaks. Get out here and help me, would you."

She nodded then, noticing he wasn't leaving without her, stood up and went to the door. Holding it open enough for Jack to get through, she smiled at Daniel, "What would you ever do without me?"

"The Nephilim wouldn't be the same without its Angel," he laughed.

"What were you going to ask me? Before Daniel interrupted?" a few minutes later, Sky was cleaning up some tables and Jack was floating above her, facing the ceiling.

"I'm working, would you mind not making me look crazy"

"I thought you didn't care what people thought, Skyla"

"I don't. Shh." she was relieved when he actually dropped the subject.
Not long after, A group of guys came in, and Sky waited for them to settle down before approaching the table.

'They are so loud!' glancing at Jack, she noticed he was watching them, 'he must think so, too'

Waiting for a short break in conversation as they sat around the table, Sky tried not to stare; Looking this way and that, occasionally peeking at the noisy group. Eventually, she decided to speak up, "Excuse me? Can I get you anything?"

"Your number, if you don't mind" she fought to roll her eyes as his friends laughed.

'I guess he's the ring leader' "Not on the menu, anything else?"

They oohed, and made exaggerated gestures at their friend, as he just grinned. Sky could hear Jack chuckling somewhere behind her.

"That's real funny. Don't feel embarrassed asking for mine later," he winked, "And I'll take a coffee. black."

She took the rest of the orders and ignored any further comments.

Walking back to the counter to begin readying the items they'd ordered, Sky decided not to mention to Daniel how rude the customers were being. She could handle them. 'They're just jerks. Nothing I haven't put up with before.'

Apparently, Jack didn't feel the same way, "Ask Daniel to take their drinks over. Those guys are trouble"

Sighing, Sky argued, "It's part of the job. This is nothing, you should have seen last week when-"

"I don't care what happened last week. These guys- Look! They're staring at your back side right now!"

Not looking, she turned to Daniel, "Hey. I've handled jerks before right?" he nodded, "Would you say I can hold my own against them?" he nodded again and she smirked at Jack.

"Okay, Skyla." he rubbed the back of his neck and floated over above where the group was.

A couple of minutes later, Sky took the tray of coffees and stepped out from behind the counter. Looking where she was headed to, the guys were shooting glances between her and their leader, laughing all the while.

The Winter Spirit above them looked absolutely furious. Noticing Sky, he quickly went to her side, brow furrowed and hand tightly gripping his staff, "I'm serious. Don't go over there."

Ignoring him and putting on a smile she hoped looked fake enough, Sky went to the table. Their talking and laughing halted for a moment while she put the drinks down.

As she moved away, the one who'd ask for her number commented on something else about her, but again she ignored it.

Getting away as fast as she could, Sky placed the tray down on the counter and turned around, looking for Jack.

'why is he holding his staff like that' Her eyebrows furrowed together, trying to think of what he could be doing.

Jack touched the end of his staff to the cup just as the leader of the group was about to take a drink. It froze instantly, and came out in a clump on the guys face. He freaked and dropped the cup, letting it shatter on the floor right over top of where the frozen coffee had landed.

It happened too fast, Sky barely blinked and almost missed it

The next five minutes passed by in a blur. The guy had a bruise forming over his eye already. His friends were hanging back as he fumed at Daniel and Sky yelling how he wasn't paying for his order, and neither were his other friends. Daniel agreed, and tried to calm him down. Sky just stood there, taking every comment the guy threw at her.

Sky would feel even worse if someone had to come to her rescue, and Daniel knew that. He just kept his voice down and handled the situation like a true businessman.

"And we are NEVER coming back! You should fire her! What kind of prank was that, anyway?! Do you do this to every guy who tries to talk to you? You know what, just whatever! Let's go, guys" and they left; shooting a couple glares back at her.

As soon as they were out the door, Sky set to cleaning; finally having the chance to after getting scolded for something she couldn't have even possibly done.

She could barely think. She'd always been a hard worker and hadn't gotten in trouble for much of anything. She was afraid she would lose her job.

"Sky, let me clean that. Go take a break"

Sky looked up at Daniel, taking note of how angry he was. Doing as he said, she moved to the back room, shutting the door before Jack could follow.

Sitting on the couch and hugging her knees to her chest, the thoughts she'd been keeping back flooded her mind 'he's going to fire me! What will I do?! I'm so sorry I didn't mean for that to happen! Ugh, those jerks. Did they really have to make such a scene?'

It went on and on. A headache growing, she stretched out on the couch, covering her head with her arms. 'maybe if I lay here, I'll fall asleep and wake up to it being a dream'

Eyes closed, Sky could only hear when someone opened the door and walked in. 'This is it! I'm so screwed!' she panicked, thinking it had to be Daniel.

The door shut, and the person walked over to the couch. A cold hand touched her arm, "I'm sorry"

She didn't say anything. Didn't move. 'Should I be mad? Come on, Sky. You're going crazy. Get fired first, then place the blame. On yourself. You idiot.'

Jack sighed, rubbing his thumb in circles on her arm, "I was mad. They were being rude and... I was trying to protect you. If that's not a good excuse, then just know I had fun. That's what matters, right?" he forced out a small laugh, "Take a joke, Skyla"

"Not this time, Frost" she finally answered, and heard him breathe out slightly 'It's not like I would never talk to him again', "I'm getting fired for this joke."

"...You are mad at me" it wasn't a question. More of a statement that he let out sadly, "You're talking to me, that's a start"

Jack brought his hand back from Sky's arm as she moved it away from her face. She opened her eyes and just looked at him. He was crouched and looking straight into her eyes with a concerned expression.

'That face of his. Just like I could never refuse him, I'll never be able to hold a grudge against him. What would it take now to make him smile again?'

"Sky?"

She sat up, finally, "I'm not mad," she brought her legs up and tucked them under her, hugging her arms, "I'm just worried. That I'll lose my job. Thank you for doing something, but please! Don't ever do that again. They weren't really bothering me, and I'm not the 'damsel-in-distress' type."

"They were bothering you. And they were bothering me!" he stressed, "If you had heard the things they were saying you would have done worse and poured the hot coffee over him! At least I cooled it down."

Sky nodded, smiling for a moment but staying quiet.

"There's nothing wrong with having a hero around and you don't need to be in distress for one to protect you."

"...Are you calling yourself a hero?" she chuckled lightly, and he smiled back.

A knock sounded at the door and Jack stood up, taking his staff and moving away from the couch. Sky stood, too, but didn't move more than that, "Come on in"

Opening the door slowly, Daniel stepped inside. He moved into the room a little ways and held his palms up, "Sky, I don't know what happened, and I'm not going to ask. Just tell me this one thing; did he deserve it?"

Jack mumbled his affirmation as Sky wondered if the guy really had deserved it. Figuring it wouldn't matter anyway she started, "Well... I didn't mean for him to get hurt."

Jack looked at her and shook his head, "Don't take the blame, Sky."

But she continued, "I thought he would just get a cold nose or that he would get a chill. I'm sorry, I really didn't mean for it to happen like that".

Looking at Daniel sincerely, she hoped it wouldn't be as bad as she thought. His expression became unreadable; something he always did when he was thinking. Jack was waiting silently, holding his staff beside him with one hand, the other at his side in a fist. His lips were turned in a thin smile as he watched for any changes in the café owners' expression.

"Sky," Daniel said at last, "That's not exactly what I was asking."

"Oh..." he kept looking at her expectantly, waiting for a different answer. 'What do I tell him? If I complain, not only will he fire me; he'll think I'm weak', "...They... I should have handled them differently." was all she said.

"I know that look, Sky," he sighed and gave up trying to get her to talk, "So what if they never come back? I don't want them here anyway, if they're going to bother my Angel."

Hearing him call her that, she relaxed considerably. A smile grew on her face and she took an excited step towards Daniel, "So, I'm not fired?"

"What!" he laughed, "I would never fire you! You're crazy"

Sky couldn't help herself and moved forward, wrapping her arms around his neck in a hug, "I was so worried" she laughed softly.

"You're crazy and an idiot. Now calm down," he patted her head, "It's been a long day; just go home."

"You sure?" she pulled away and he nodded. smiling, Daniel said his goodbye and made his way back to the front of the café.

"He must have a soft spot for me," she said, staring at the door he'd just left through, "but what do I know?"

Finally looking over to Jack, she saw he hadn't moved. He stood there, looking at Sky, 'What is he thinking?'

Noticing her look he snapped out of it and a wide grin spread across his face, "You still have a job! I didn't get you fired!"

"I know!" she laughed, moving some stray hair out of her face, "I was so scared!"

"That's a relief. Now that that's settled; we can go back and see if I've gotten you kicked out of Lauren's house!"

"ooh," she joked, "I don't have luck THAT good"

Walking over to untie the ribbon in her hair, Jack kept grinning, "Then borrow some of mine. I don't need it right now, with you here to help me."

Gesturing for her to turn around, he took her hair in his cold hands. Surprised, Sky mused at him, "Do you even know what you're doing? Ribbons are very complicated"

He laughed and cold air brushed against the back of her head, "I've done it a couple of times. For some kids, I mean".

She felt his hands work the ribbon around the bulk of her hair, and it seemed to her like he'd probably done it more than a few times. 'Maybe he likes ribbons and long hair? Haha, Lauren's going to have to grow her hair out, then'

When he was finished, she looked in the mirror. The backroom was stuffed full of random stuff like that.

"Hmm..." Sky mocked examining her hair thoroughly, "You pass. But just barely," she waved a finger at him, "You'll have to practice some more though"

Pulling on her ribbon to untie it again, Jack jested, "If you don't like it, don't wear it like that"

Watching as he put the ribbon into his sweater pouch, Sky frowned, "Are you serious? Come on, give it back!" she reached for it, but he pulled away, "Jack Frost, you give me my ribbon right NOW!"

He just laughed, "No way. Why would you wear a red ribbon anyway? Blue is a lot better"

"...I'm not telling you. I'd rather play your game of keep away."

"So be it" Jack smirked and waved the ribbon in front of her face. Sky reached for it, and he dodged around her, dashing out the door, "See you later"

"Jack!" she grabbed her purse off a nearby table and ran after him, "Dammit"

He was too fast and by the time she made it through the front doors of the Nephilim, ignoring the stares she got, he was already up in the air and leaving her behind, "Get back here!" she yelled up at him, pouting.

He looked back at her but was too far away for her to read his expression, 'that's not fair at all'


NOTES:
Okay, this is longer than the other chapters. I don't know, I had an idea and went for it. I'm sure I'm not the only one who loves it when Jack get's protective.
Lauren will have a bigger part after the next chapter, I'm hoping. I've worried about the pacing but now it's like, 'Jeez, get on with it'.

My knee is itchy :/
So with that...

Thanks for reading!
Review, review, review!
Love y'all *hearts*