A lot of you got it right. And then there were some interesting responses.
So it is Ralph. Congrats to those who got it.
Now for the explanation; if you didn't know Jennifer Lee was the writer for Wreck-it Ralph and also a co-director for Frozen. She tweeted (probably jokingly) that Ralph and Elsa would make a cute couple. But of course, the fandoms, being the fandoms, instantly started a ship (or maybe ice breaker was around before and Jen just stirred up more support). Now, don't get all worried that Ralph going to try to win Elsa back, because that's not going to happen. I love Ralph, he's a sweetheart, and while I can see Jen's point, Elsa and Ralph do have somewhat similar personalities, and I can see them being really good friends.
But personally Ralph and Elsa, OTP...I just don't see it, not because they are so different (they are actually aren't that different if you look at the core of their characters), but because they have somewhat similar development acrs. And from my experience (all the grand experience I have from reading so much) persons who are too similar very rarely make it work romantically. Which is why Ralph is Elsa's ex boyfriend. I think, because we see so much drama happen in the romantic lives of our favorite characters (and maybe our own too) we forget sometimes that it is possible to end it with someone on good terms. And this is what happened with Ralph and Elsa. They tried it out and it didn't work.
It was fun to see you guys trying to figure it out.
And on another note, for the later part of the chapter I'd recommend Norah Jones' version, but really any cover will do (that will make sense when you get there).
"RALPH!" Elsa had to hold the phone away from her ear at Jack's exclamation. "You're joking right. This has to be a joke. You couldn't have possibly dated Wreck-it Ralph,"
"And why's that?" Elsa asked, an edge to her voice.
"Look at him, he's so…and you're so…"
"Frost, you may be my boyfriend, but Ralph is still my friend so choose what you say about him carefully,"
"I…I didn't…it's just so…I mean…I didn't mean anything."
"I thought so. And why is it so surprising that I dated that Ralph. A lot of people will be more surprised if they found out if I was dating you, moony,"
"Ralph and you…I just can't see that happening,"
"And you're judging that on appearances alone. You don't know anything about him," Anna took the phone from Elsa, "Hey," The elder girl cried.
"Elsa used to be steamed when people would talk about her and Ralph just based on appearances. You'd be wise to not make the same mistake. Ralph's a really sweet guy by the way,"
"I'd rather he be dating her than you moony," Merida said leaning closer to the phone's receiver.
"That's not true Merida," Rapunzel countered, "You didn't like Elsa and Ralph together,"
"No, that was only because she didn't like the fact that Ralph used to get so flustered at games knowing she was watching him," Anna said.
"Ralph's a true, blue Disney boy, why wouldn't I like him and my best friend together,"
"THAT HURTS DUNBROCH," Jack yelled so he could be heard over their conversation. Merida took the phone from Anna.
"What are you going to do about it Frost,"
"I thought you said you approved of me," Jack asked.
"That doesn't mean I can't approve of someone more,"
"Let me guess, you never even gave Ralph the 'don't ever hurt Elsa' speech, did you?"
"Are you daft, of course he got the speech, same and Kristoff, Flynn and you. Any boy who thinks they're good enough for my friends have to know what would happen if they screwed up. Don't think you're anything special Frost,"
"Then how if Ralph up and walking after he and Elsa broke up?"
"Well because they had a pretty good split on even terms,"
Before she could continue Elsa snatched back her phone, "Man you guys can be so childish," She said to her friends and left to talk with Jack in another room. When she left Rapunzel and Anna looked at Merida with curious glances.
"I thought you said you liked Jack," Rapunzel asked.
"I said I like Jack with Elsa, there's a difference. He makes her happy, and he's not complete idiot,"
"But that's not what it sounded like just now,"
"Yeah, well…Jack is never going to find out I do actually like him,"
"So…you and Ralph…" Jack said to Elsa.
"Is there a problem," Elsa stood in hallway, leaning against the wall.
"No…Of course not. It's just a little surprising that's all. When I imagine you with a guy from Disney…Ralph's not the first one to come to mind,"
"Hey," She said softly, "Why are you imagining me with a guy from Disney? I'm with you, aren't I? You shouldn't worry over stuff that happened in the past. It's gone and over,"
"Yeah, I know. I know. Can I just ask how the two of you got together?"
"Ralph, despite first impressions is actually a really sweet guy. His step brother, Felix and best friend Vanellope can testify to that. And our personalities really meshed. He's still a good friend to me,"
"What happened? Why didn't it work out?"
"I said our personalities meshed, but that was about it. There wasn't…how do I put this…there wasn't any spark. I knew I could never love Ralph and he felt the same way so we ended it."
"Not any epic ballad is it,"
"No, it wasn't it. But it was nice, and I don't regret. But like I said, Ralph and I won't meant to be anything another than friends,"
"So what about me?"
"What about you?"
"Is there any spark with me?"
A small smile appeared on Elsa's lips, "Wouldn't you like to know," She teased. She could see his pout in her mind as he spoke.
"Aww, Winters, that's not fair. Why won't you tell me?"
"Maybe I'll tell you tomorrow,"
"Tomorrow?"
"Our date?"
"Oh right. I'd almost forgotten with everything that happened today. Oh no! I didn't get the stuff. Elsa I got to go,"
She could background noise, probably caused by Jack as he set off in a mad rush to leave the house.
"I'll call you tonight,"
"I can't wait Princess,"
"So what do think?" Elsa walked into the living room where her family, giving a twirl. Anna shot her thumbs up, while her mother smiled brightly. Both those reactions could be considered the opposite of her father's reaction. His frown caused deep creases in this forehead.
"You're not wearing that," He indicated to Elsa's dress. The black and white material fell just past her knees, but there was a slit on the right, that strayed up into territory that her father thought should be illegal. The v-neck, was cut low and the whole thing hugged her in a way that left little to the imagination.
"Dad," Elsa sighed, "I showed you the dress yesterday, didn't I?"
"Yes, but you won't wearing it it at the time."
"I have other outfits like this, you let me leave the house in those,"
"But, you don't…" he trialed off.
"She doesn't go to boys house alone in those?" Anna supplied for her father. Elsa's and Adgar's eyes turned on her as Idun tried to hide her laughter.
"Adgar, she looks perfectly acceptable to me," Idun said.
"Yeah, you don't know what she planning to wear before I talked her out of it," Anna said.
"WHAT!"
"ANNA! Don't make stuff up!"
"I'm joking," Anna held up her hands to pacify them. "Man, tough room,"
"Dad, come on I'm going to be late,"
"Aren't you going to be cold?"
"I'm going from here to my car to his house, then back to the car and right back home. I won't actually be outside for very long,"
Adgar closed his eyes for a moment, and he sighed, "Come back before curfew,"
"Don't I always," Elsa smiled.
"No, I'm serious Elsa. It's snowing heavily and the reports say it's only to get worst as the night goes on. A storm is expected tomorrow. I don't want you out on the roads to late with the snow like this,"
"I'll come back early, okay. And I promise I'll be careful on the roads. Bye, love you guys,"
"We love you sweetheart," Idun replied.
Elsa left after putting on her overcoat. As she stepped outside she realised it was snowing heavily, more than she expected. The wind was howling faintly and the white wall made it difficult to see. She drew her coat a bit tighter around herself and dashed to her car. Even for her the air held an icy sting. She was happy to take shelter in the warmth of her car, putting the heater on full blast. She drove slowly to Jack's place, not wanting to take any chances in a snowfall this thick. Finally she did arrive and made another dash, from car to door.
Jack was scrutinizing his appearance in the hall mirror just before Elsa arrived. He was wearing a long sleeved dark blue shirt and white tie. That along with his black pants and dress shoes was much more formal than he would normally wear for a night in. But of course this wasn't just any usual night in. He'd spent most of the afternoon in the kitchen. He, in the kitchen, cooking, and the house was still standing. So far things were looking good. His mom and Ellie left half an hour ago to give him and Elsa privacy, but not before his mother made the mortally embarrassing warning for him and Elsa to behave. His cheeks were still faintly pink from blushing. He checked the time, again, because Elsa was running late, which was not like her. As he adjusted his tie for the tenth time that minute the bell rang. He ran down the hall, but then stopped, taking a breath to calm himself. He opened the door and felt that usual flip of his stomach as he saw Elsa's smile.
"Well, well, don't you cut a smooth figure," She glanced over his outfit.
"Your late," Jack replied.
"Hello to you too. I'm sorry, but have you not seen this snow," She indicated behind her.
"Yes, I have. But you could have called. "
Elsa glanced at her watch, "I'm only fifteen minutes late."
"Only fifteen? Winters, do you have any idea what those fifteen minutes were to me?"
Elsa's gaze soften, "You were worried about me,"
"No…yes…just get in before you freeze," He stepped aside blushing. Giggling Elsa walked in and Jack closed the door. He put one hand on the small of her back and kissed her. When they broke part Elsa said, smiling, "Now that's how you greet someone,"
"I'll make sure to remember that in the future." Jack smiled and helped her out of her coat. Elsa sniffed the air, "Mmh, what is that smell?"
Jack's answer was a choking sound. Elsa looked at him and found his gaze wide eyed and slightly slack jawed. She smirked.
"Something wrong Jack?" She asked in a low voice.
"Ah…your…you look…in that dress…is…oh,"
"I'll take that as a complement," She laughed lightly, leaning closer to him tugging playfully on his blue tie to shift his gaze from her legs to her face. "Eyes up here,"
"Elsa, you are going to be the death of me,"
She laughed again and this time when she leaned forward she kissed him.
"Now, about that dinner I was promised," Elsa said a few minutes later. Jack shook his head to clear it and bowed, "Right this way Princess,"
He lead her to the dining room where the table had been set for two and there was cover over each setting.
"I made it myself," Jack said making Elsa look at him with incredulous look. "Okay, maybe mom helped a bit…or more than a bit. But the important thing is that I did actively participate in the preparation of the meal."
Elsa laughed at this. Jack pulled her seat back for her before removing the cover to reveal the meal. Two plates of spaghetti and meatballs, their aroma drifting into the air.
"Sorry it's not anything fancy, I really wanted to help so it couldn't be anything to complicated."
"Jack, you don't need to apologise," Elsa touched his arm gently; "It looks and smells great. I don't need a fancy dinner anyway."
"But you deserve one. Any other time I would be taking you to a restaurant,"
"Where we won't be able laugh as loudly as we wanted, or have any prolonged displays of affection. Jack, stop fussing and sit,"
He gave a low chuckle, "Alright. But you know, we would be able to do those things. We would get odd stares, but we could still do it,"
"And here, there aren't any prying eyes, so isn't better?"
"I suppose so,"
Elsa smiled at him gently before taking up her fork.
"Wait!" Jack suddenly yelled almost making Elsa drop her utensils.
"What? What's wrong?"
"I almost forgot," He got up grabbing some matches. He lit two candles on the table and then dimmed the lights in the room.
"Romantic," Elsa mused.
"Only for you Princess," Jack teased retaking his seat.
"Can I eat now?" Jack gestured for her to go ahead. He took some spaghetti on his fork but didn't lift it to his lips right away. Instead he watched Elsa carefully, a tight knot in his chest. The pleased hum she made as she took her first bite made the knot loosen.
"Is it good?" He asked carefully.
"Remind me to thank your mom for cooking,"
"Ouch, that hurt," He whined. She scrunched up her nose playfully.
"But teasing aside, this is really good considering you didn't know it was possible to make cocoa from scratch,"
"I knew that…just didn't know you could do it at home without any fancy equipment," He mumbled the latter part.
"So, was your phone as busy mine in the wake of events at Litwak's?" Jack asked.
"Depends, could the traffic your phone got put an airport tower to shame?"
"Just about,"
"Then yes, and not just mine, all the girls. Alice actually called Rapunzel and then Merida as though hearing it once wasn't enough."
"That game, it's going to be something,"
"Definitely something," Elsa nodded. "Are you going to start training again?"
"Possibly," Jack took a bite, chewing thoughtfully, "It's only two weeks but still I want to be in top form. That way when we crush you mice it will be oh so gratifying."
Elsa, who'd been taking a sip of water jerked slightly. Her eyes flickered to meet his and she slowly lowered her glass.
"When you crush us?"
"DreamWorks is going to win of course,"
"I'm sure you'll…in your dreams. But as for the actual game, I'd think you'll find the results might not be favour of the moonies," Her smirk was almost evil, "And by might I mean will,"
"Au contraire mademoiselle, I do believe the Hooligan tribe will be more than the mice can handle,"
"You can throw around all the French you want mon bien-aimé, but it doesn't make you right,"
Jack chuckled, "Unless you've forgotten we almost defeated blue sky,"
"The operative word being almost," Elsa pointed out.
"Hiccup and his friends are the perfect team. They each have their own strengthens, but no one is defined by one role, they cover each others' weaknesses and are such a close nit group they know each others' moves before the person them themselves know."
"I notice you haven't mentioned yourself,"
"Well, I'm just and all round example of perfection," Jack puffed out his chest and Elsa broke into giggles.
"You?" She snorted, "Yeah right,"
"Didn't you watch my game? I helped us surpass Blue's score. They did catch up again, but if not for me we wouldn't have caught up at all,"
"What about all that talk about being a team that covers each others' weaknesses,"
"Not that I have any weakness,"
"Sure, that's why you were knocked around by the mammoth," Elsa teased.
"Did you have to bring that up?" He groaned.
"Hey, you were the one who started this."
"I only stated the most likely scenario,"
"The most likely scenario is you winning?"
"Well, the other option is Disney winning and that just isn't going to happen,"
"What makes you so sure?"
"Other than the fact our team is amazing?"
"Yes, other than that,"
"Well…there isn't any other reason because every reasons just proves how amazing we are," Jack wiggled his eyebrows teasingly.
"That would be a good point, if not for the fact our team is astonishing."
"Amazing is better than astonishing,"
"Not it's not,"
"Sure it is,"
"They're synonyms," Elsa said.
"Maybe, but if you put them in alphabetical order amazing comes first, ergo, its better,"
"That makes no scene, ergo, you're crazy,"
"Say what you want, but no matter how go…" Jack's argument was cut short when he felt a tingle against his leg. He's heart leapt into his throat when he realised that the tingling was caused by Elsa's foot tauntingly moving against his calf. "…ah…"
"I'm listening," Elsa said smiling seductively. Jack tried to clear his head enough to speak…but he just couldn't. Between the chills he got from Elsa's foot brushing his, and the way she was smiling at him, he might very well have a heart attack, or a stroke…or both.
"Stop that," He hissed,
"Stop what?" Her voice was full of innocence. He took a gulp of air, trying (and failing) to ignore that oh so pleasurable movement against his leg.
"Stop what you're doing,"
"But what am I doing?"
"You know very well what you're doing,"
"And I must say it is having the most entertain effect on you," Her grin only grew.
"Please stop," He almost croaked, "I can't think straight when you're…" He mind once again became to fogy for words as her foot slid a bit higher. "Elsa," He pleaded. She laughed and moved her foot away.
"Happy now?" She asked. No, he wasn't happy, because the second she stopped he started wishing that she hadn't, even though he'd pleaded with her to. But he didn't say this, and continued to eat, avoiding looking at that knowing smirk playing on her lips. He'd get her back before the night was over.
They finished dinner and Jack surprised her with hot chocolate.
"Made from scratch, just like you showed me," He said proudly, "Mom didn't even help with it,"
"Then I'm sure I want any," Elsa mocked.
"Haha," Jack deadpanned, "Ellie and I already taste tested. It's good, I promise. Not as good as yours, but good,"
"Alright," She smiled, taking the proffered mug. Her fingers curled around the warmth and she drank deeply.
"Well?"
"Frost, there may be hope for you yet," She winked at him. He let out bark of laughter and hit her playfully.
"I'm glad you like it,"
They sat in the living room, just talking and drinking their hot chocolate (with a few scattered kisses here and there).
When Elsa finished her drink she said, "I should head home,"
Jack glanced but at the clock, "It's only quarter to nine, you still have time,"
"I don't want to get caught in the snow,"
"You're not going to able to avoid it," Jack said. They looked out a window together and were greeted but swirling walls of white, "It's gotten heavier since you got here,"
"Which is why I should leave now before it gets worst,"
"Or it may ease up soon, so you should wait a bit,"
"Jack,"
"Don't make me sing 'Baby it's cold outside'," He said. Elsa was going to respond but his words took a moment to sink in fully and when they did she paused, blinking in thought.
"You'll seriously sing?" The corners of her lips were already twitching upwards with the notion. Jack smiled and moved to the stereo. After scanning though a rack of CD's he took out one and placing it in the player. Another couple seconds of silence passed and then…
I really can't stay
(But baby, it's cold outside)
Jack sang along with the male voice. Elsa laughed a little.
"Jack, I sho-" Jack cut her off with the second line.
Jack pushed the coffee table to the corner of the room, leaving an empty space in the room.
Jack moved closer taking her hands in his. "Dance with me?"
Elsa bit her lips.
"Please?"
"Okay," She whispered.
They danced in slow circles, holding each other close.
Jack continued to sing along in a low voice, his lips close to Elsa's ear. She shivered as his warm breath flitted over her skin. About half way thought the song he stopped, and brushed their noses together. Elsa closed her eyes, allowing the music to swell over her. It could have been an eternity they danced. Elsa wondered if Jack put the song on repeat, because they couldn't have danced to this one song for this long. She opened her eyes, looking up at Jack.
"I wish we didn't have to stop," He said, his voice subdued.
"I don't have to leave yet," She replied, her response so different from before that Jack chuckled. He nodded in agreement, pulling her closer. Their dancing stopped being dancing, and became little more than rocking back and forth in time with the music.
As the song started to come to an end (for the…um…he'd lost count) he wove his fingers into her hair and tilted her chin up carefully. He leaned closer, kissing her lightly. It wasn't intense, or eventful, but was filled with abiding contentment. Unknowingly they stopped moving, unless you counted their lips.
The bang of the door and the sound of "Jack! We're home!" broke the spell making them stumble apart. Ellie ran into the room and squealed when she saw Elsa.
"I'd hoped you still be here," She hugged the older girl.
"Hi Ellie, how was your evening?"
"We got burgers for dinner and then we went to the mall, I got my Christmas gift for Jack,"
"What'd you get?" jack asked.
"I'm not going to tell you," She teased him. Jack teased back. Their mother walked in, looking surprised when she saw Elsa.
"Elsa, you're still here?"
"I should have left a while ago," She looked at the clock and saw it was almost half past nine, "And I really need to leave now,"
"Oh, sweetheart, it's terrible out there," Jack's mom said, "The news report on the radio said the storm came in earlier than expected. Some of the roads are closed."
"What? Do you know which ones?" Elsa asked, worry slipping into her voice. Before the woman could reply the lights went off and the music cut off. Ellie screamed but both Jack and Elsa took one of her hands, squeezing comfortingly.
"The weather must have knocked out the power," jack said, "It's okay El, I'm right here,"
"I'll get the flashlights," His mother said walking to the kitchen. Elsa moved to a window. Looking out it was pitch black, the streetlights were out too. A beam entered into the room, followed by Jack's mom.
"Elsa, I don't think you should drive by yourself in this weather,"
"Then how am I going to get home?"
"Do you have service on your cell?"
Elsa checked and with relief she saw she did, "Yep, a few bars,"
"Call your parents, and I'll talk to them. You should spend the night here,"
"W-WHAT!" Elsa and Jack exclaimed.
"Yea! Sleepover!" Ellie cried.
Am I evil leaving the chapter hanging there?
Nardragon~ until the next page.
