Chapter 11: Ready or Not
Dear Mom and Dad,
Elle says hi! She and Bernard are doing well. I really hope that none of those cats got into my room. I don't mind them in the house, so long as I'm not sweeping up their hair. Cats shed more than I do, honestly. I'm surprised Fiera decided to help—I'm sure she meant well with her lava cake, though to be honest it's had me laughing on and off whenever I think of it. I hope the damage wasn't too hard to clean!
Sorry for the late response. Things have been…a little hectic. Detained at the Pole is a bit of an overstatement. It's more like an unexpected extended stay. It turns out things are a little more complex than originally thought, you see.
To answer both of you, yes. It is Jack. He has been Thawed. He looks like a dweeb, mostly because his powers aren't working at all. That's why I ended up sticking around! The Dome is melting because Jack's powers aren't working. It has been melting since around May, I think—the Council believes the Deliquesce is going to happen very soon if we don't fix it. Jack only came clean about his freezer burn at the meeting (that's what I've called his powers not working), which is why they (sort of) enacted the Legate Law. They hoped by summoning me and semi-enacting it, I could temporarily fix the Dome, stalling the Deliquesce enough that I have time to help Jack work through whatever the cause of his power shortage is.
I think I've narrowed it down. I think something is wrong with his core, but I don't know what. I'm at a loss for what to do, and Elle suggested I ask for your opinions. Have you ever seen anything like this? A sprite who suddenly loses their power? I could use the input, because aside from freezing the Dome over and over, I have no idea what to do. He can barely conjure any snow. His frosty breath is just a chill, his snowballs are the worst and he can shoot maybe a few snowflakes, but no big snowdrifts. It's such a strange situation and I have no idea what to do.
There's ALSO this other thing I should talk about, that's even stranger.
There's something…weird going on with me.
I don't really know what's going on, because I've forgotten what happened both times, assuming I ever remembered it. So I've been calling them blackouts, but everyone else has been calling them storms. Or attacks. Or meltdowns, or panics, I've heard it all.
Apparently, when I blackout, I've been straight up attacking the Workshop. Freezing things, throwing snowballs, that sort of thing. I don't remember these instances at all—one moment I'd be helping Jack figure out his snow problem or chatting with Elle, the next I'd be on the floor, destruction everywhere, with everyone looking at me all worried and stuff. That's why everyone's been calling them something other than blackouts. Because apparently, I am very very active when they happen. But to me, there's just...nothing. So, a blackout.
It's happened twice so far. I've spent an entire day thinking about this issue and I've come up with a solution that will hopefully help everyone. I'm going to touch up the Dome tomorrow, and then once I hear back from the both of you, I'll be coming home for a spell.
And I'll be bringing Jack.
That's why I want to wait to hear word from you. I want to make sure it's time to bring him home. If anyone isn't okay with it, we'll stay up here. I think that going home is the best option for both of us, though. I've exhausted all the resources I have up here and going home would be the best course of action. At this point, it would be easier to figure out what's happening to Jack (and myself evidently) back in Crystal Springs.
Please reply soon! Any advice would be really, really helpful.
I love you both very much! See you soon, I hope!
Yours,
Jacqueline
Blaise had read the letter countless times since it came in the mail yesterday evening. He sat in his office, rubbing his chin and staring at the letter before him.
Jacqueline needed her parents. And apparently, so did Jack.
He scanned the letter once more, leg bouncing. He sighed.
On the one hand, it had been so many years since everything had happened, that Blaise's temper had died down. At least, he liked to think so. On the other hand, seeing the letter this morning and reading the very real words that said his son would be coming home had him feeling all sorts of ways. The letter in front of him was really forcing him to take a good hard look at where he was at, and the result was a big fat I don't know.
Maybe talking to Winter would help, Blaise thought.
And then he facepalmed, because he had realized something very, very important.
He thought back to the very emotional night the family had had about a year ago, when Mother Nature came to their house asking for help. Blaise thought of his wife's words when they were in the mall, having collected the last of Jack's advertisements. If Jack did come back, Winter had asked, what do you think you would you do?
And he hadn't even thought to ask Winter!
Here he was thinking about how Winter would probably be able to help him tell where he was at, but he hadn't even asked her where she was at! And this had been a year ago! Granted, that night had been busy. The Twins had things to share, Jacqueline had many things to share...they had barely talked, the two of them! They had had the kids to worry about.
Blaise glanced at the letter again. He sighed, putting the letter back inside his pocket and pushing his chair away from the desk. He ran his hand through his extinguished hair, a few sparks following his fingers. His hair dimly lit up, a small smoulder just at the tips. He didn't have the energy to keep up his usual blaze.
Laughing to himself (his usual blaze, his name was Blaise…it was very funny to him), Blaise rubbed his temples and sighed again. Where to start, was the next question. Talking to Winter, that was the obvious answer.
The door slammed open, hitting the wall with a thunk that shocked Blaise right out of his chair.
"I FOUND DAD!" Fiera yelled, striking a victory pose.
Fino peered in around the door frame. "I was rooting for the sunroom, it's nice in there at night."
"Shouldn't you two be winding down for the evening?"
"Shouldn't you?" Fino countered, eyebrow raised.
"Oh, BURN! He got you good, Dad!"
"I am winding down!"
"Then why are you at your desk, doing work?" Fino asked, smacking his palms flat on the desk for emphasis.
"Why are you running around the house looking for me?"
"Oh! He got you back now! Even SICKER burn!"
"Both of you," Blaise amended.
"Look who's been sickly burnt now," Fino said with a smirk.
"GASP! I never!"
Alright, scratch that. This was where he was going to start. Then he'd talk to Winter. "Alright you two," he said, casually walking around the desk, trying very hard to not look suspicious. "I think it's time to go to bed," he said, with a sudden lunge. They barely had a moment to even attempt to run before Blaise grabbed each twin around the waist, lifting them up. The Twins were very small for their age, making carrying the two of them akin to carrying two very lanky potato sacks under each arm, if he could succeed in getting a good grip on them.
They squealed in delight, squirming to try and get out. Blaise chuckled.
"Now what's all this roughhousing here?"
"GASP! AGAIN! She found us!" Fiera yelled.
"Bedtime APPROACH-ETH!" replied Fino.
"Yes! Participate in the chaos!" Fiera yelled, her twin laughing.
Winter walked in, hands on her hips. "Shouldn't we be winding down?"
"We are," Blaise said, looking perfectly innocent.
Winter laughed. "Sure you are," she said.
"Look! I've got them trapped, they can't escape the cool down now."
"GASP! My only weakness!" Fiera said, hand on her forehead as she fell limp in Blaise's arms. Fino snorted. Blaise tightened his grip on her. He knew her tricks well enough to know a fake out when he saw one.
"Once I've hit my growth spurt, it's over for you, Dad," Fiera said, her attempt foiled before she could even attempt it!
"What if we stay small forever?"
"Fino don't even JOKE ABOUT THAT!"
"Don't add wood to the fire, Fino. I think Fiera's fiery enough as is."
"Or is she?"
"Or am I?"
The twins glanced at each other and smirked, doing their very long, very complex super-secret-twins-only-handshake, as they called it, directly in front of Blaise.
"Now that we've found you, why have you been cooped up in here all day, Blaise?" Winter asked, smoothing his rumpled collar.
"Dad is in trou-ble! Dad is in trou-ble!"
"Oh hush, you two," Blaise said. "I suppose I may as well tell all of you."
The squirming sacks of potatoes in his arms stopped moving, curious. Winter tilted her head.
"I got a letter from Jacqueline," he began.
"Woo! Jacqueline! Does she miss us?"
"Why did they call her down? Did she tell you?"
"Is she bringing toys home for us?!"
Fino physically turned in Blaise's arm to stare his twin down. "Fiera, you're being silly. That's Santa's job! Jacqueline isn't Santa."
"I was thinking like souvenirs," Fiera replied, shifting on her side to face her brother. "What other souvenirs do you get from the North Pole? All they have is basically toys, right?"
"I—hmm." Fino was effectively silenced, rubbing his chin in thought. It made him look very grown up, he liked to think. It made him look like a dork, Fiera liked to think.
"Blaise?" Winter prodded. "Did they tell her why she was sent for? How's she doing?"
"It's...a little complex," Blaise said carefully, hoping Winter would understand his meaning.
"Ah, I see. So they're coming home, then?"
"They? As in two?"
"GASP! Does that mean Jacqueline AND Jack?"
"Fiera if you keep fake gasping like that you're gonna pass out."
Fiera blew a raspberry, flipping so she was belly up, able to stare right at Blaise's face. "But seriously, are they coming back? I have WORDS for Jack!"
"Yes," Blaise said, choosing his next words carefully. "They'll be coming home. Your mother and I have to work out the details still, of course. And it's all very adult and boring..."
Fino sighed. "Bed time doth arrive,"
"No! You can't make us!" Fiera shouted, escaping Blaise's grasp and rushing for the door, only to slam into a sudden wall of snow.
"Oh, I think we can," Winter said with a smile, hand barely outstretched in front of her.
Fiera fell down, the wall of snow swirling below her to cradle her landing, gently settling down in a soft pile of powdery snow with a Fiera on top. "Existence is a prison," she said, arms crossed and pouty as, with a gentle wave of Winter's hand, the snow dragged Fiera back into the office.
Blaise picked her back up. "Nice try, kiddo."
"Yeah, I think you almost made it out of the room this time," Fino teased.
Fiera blew a raspberry.
"Alright, that's enough out of you three," Winter said.
"Excuse me?" said Blaise, fake hurt.
"Up we go now, and no funny business," she added, the snow trailing behind her threateningly.
It took nearly another hour, and Winter did have to use the snow pile again once or twice. The twins had come close to turning it into a game before Blaise called them out. But finally, at long last, the twins were settled in bed and ready for some rest. After a brief detour to the kitchen for some nice warm cocoa, the parents found themselves back in the office, Blaise frowning as he stoked the fire.
Winter sipped her drink, watching her husband closely as he threw in a few more logs and blew on it, the flames from his breath turning the smoulder into the beginnings of a warm fire.
"You guessed fairly easily," Blaise finally said, stretching his back and throwing himself into the desk chair, legs stretched out.
"You were giving me the look," Winter said, sitting on the edge of his desk and placing her fuzzy clad feet under Blaise's thigh.
"The look?" Blaise smirked, waggling his eyebrows.
Winter laughed. "Not that look, Blaise. The Jack look."
"I have a Jack look?" Blaise asked.
Winter nodded. "Your forehead wrinkles in a very specific way, and your hair burns a tad taller. Even today your flaming tips got a bit brighter when you mentioned it was complicated," Winter said.
"Am I really that easy to read?"
Winter nodded over the rim of her cup. "How do you think I always beat you at poker?"
"Cheating?"
Winter laughed. "Oh, please. You wish it was cheating instead of natural talent and knowing my husband very, very well," she said, pecking his cheek. Blaise smiled. "Now, what's got you so conflicted, dear?"
"Where do I even begin?"
"Well, we can start with how exactly it's complex."
"I think this will explain it best," Blaise said, pulling Jacqueline's letter out of the inside pocket of his blazer.
"You've worn the page quite a bit."
"I've been puzzling over it all day."
Winter frowned, plucking the letter out of Blaise's hand. "It can't possibly be that puzzling," she said, shaking it open and beginning to read.
Blaise watched her closely. Her face lit up as she read the first few sentences, the soft smile making his heart flutter even after all these centuries. He watched her smile turn into a puzzled frown, followed by a slight widening of the eyes and a little gasp. She let out a little hmm, finishing the letter off with a thoughtful frown.
"This is quite the situation," Winter finally said.
"Right? It's complicated!" Blaise said, hopping out of his chair and walking towards the fireplace, hands behind his back. He frowned at the flames, then turned on his heel and walked right back to the desk.
Winter switched the letter for her mug, sipping as Blaise turned back towards the fireplace. "What about it has you thinking it's complicated?" she asked, crossing one leg over the other.
"I just don't know where I'm at!" Blaise began, pacing a trail in the rug. "I thought I wasn't angry anymore! I thought it had burnt out a long time ago. But then I get this letter, and instead of immediately replying or being sure of what to do next, I realize hey!" He said, stopping his pacing halfway from the fireplace to the desk and throwing his hands up. "I have no idea how I'm feeling about all of this! I thought I wasn't angry anymore, or upset, but I guess the Jack look says it all."
Winter cupped her mug, gently hopping down from the desk and stopping in front of Blaise by the fireplace. "It doesn't necessarily mean you're still mad. The Jack look, that is," she said, taking another sip. She frowned, her lips a line of distaste. Blaise smiled, grabbed the mug and held it, only pressing it back into her cold hands when steam once again wafted off the top of the drink. Winter brightened, taking a much happier, warmer sip. "It's just a look you get when you think or talk about Jack," she said.
Blaise frowned, resuming his pacing once more. "Even so, I'm still not sure where I stand! And do you know what's even worse?" he said, turning by the desk, hands once again up in the air.
"What?" Winter asked, taking another sip.
"I realized that I hadn't even asked you how you felt about all this last year!" he said, gesturing towards Winter with both of his wide open hands. "Let alone today!" he added, as his pacing led him back to the fireplace.
Winter sighed, placing her mug down on the mantle. Before Blaise had a chance to start pacing again, she grabbed his lapels and turned him around so he was facing her.
"Blaise. Calm down. It's going to be okay," she said, with a soft smile.
"I should be telling you that."
"You can do that in a moment, Blaise dear. I feel the same way, after all."
"You do?" Blaise asked, surprised. "But you've been taking this all so well."
"That's because the smaller picture isn't as complicated as you're making it out to be."
"The smaller picture?" Blaise asked, head still bowed forward towards Winter, who had an iron clad grip on his lapels. Not that he minded, of course.
"Yes dear, the smaller picture. You see," she said, with the slightest lift and slide of her right foot. "You're focusing on the bigger picture." A wind blew towards their sides from the desk. "Which is fair, but what we need to look at first," There was a thunk, and a long scrapping sound that was shortly muffled by the thick rug beneath their feet in front of the fireplace. "Is the smaller picture."
Blaise felt the heavy wood of his chair knock into the backs of his knees mere milliseconds before Winter shoved him right down into the seat, her palms now flat on his chest. "Which is this," Winter finished, a chilly breeze blowing the worn paper right into her now outstretched hand.
Blaise grinned, looking at his wife with a mix of pride and cockiness.
"See, now that is the look look," Winter teased.
"I mean, can you blame me?" Blaise said, gesturing to the chair and to her hand still on his chest.
She smirked, letting go of his chest and grabbing her elbow, the letter between the thumb and forefinger of her right hand. "Oh, Blaise. You make me laugh. Smaller picture, dear," she said, giving the letter a little shake.
"Right," Blaise said, settling into the chair and crossing his legs. He folded his hands together, looking at his wife expectantly.
"It's a complex situation, you're right. But I'm not sure what about this," she said, giving the letter a shake once more. "You find so perplexing. I think the answer is very straightforward."
"Oh?"
"Yes. They come home. Both of them."
"Do you really think so?" Blaise asked.
Winter nodded. "And based on what you told the Twins, I think you think so, too," she said, dropping her arms and booping Blaise's nose.
"You're taking this a lot better than I thought you would."
Winter shrugged. "It feels like it's time for him to come home Blaise, don't you think? It certainly seemed the right time for Jacqueline." She looked thoughtful for a minute, tapping her nose with the letter. "I do wonder why you were so hesitant."
"Admittedly, I wasn't sure how you'd react."
Winter stopped tapping, the letter still touching her nose. She smiled. "Well, what about now?"
"I think that if you're ready, then so am I," he said with a grin. He pushed off of the ground with his foot, steam propelling him backwards until the chair was once again at the desk. There were several squeaks as Blaise turned the chair while sitting in it, then tucked himself under the desk and grabbed a pen and paper, and started to write. Winter smiled triumphantly, grabbing her mug and making her way to Blaise's shoulder, watching over it as he wrote.
"Let's bring them home," he said. Holding the hastily scrawled note, he snapped his fingers, the note disappearing in a burst of flame, some red sparks falling down onto the desk.
She thought it would have been easy to walk to Jack's room, knock on the door and say hey, here's a hot thought, let's go home for a spell? But it was proving to be incredibly difficult. The evening was fast becoming proper nighttime and she was still pacing the corridors back and forth between her room and his. She tapped her nose, deep in thought, as she tried to figure out how to word what she wanted to say to Jack.
"Jacqueline."
The sprite jumped, startled. "Oh! Bernard. Sorry, I didn't even hear you."
"I noticed. I called your name several times. Everything okay, kid?"
"I'd be better if you didn't keep calling me kid," she teased.
Bernard shrugged. "Old habits die hard."
"I'm not a kid anymore and also, decently older than you."
"Then act like it," he shot back with a smirk.
She laughed, thought about blowing a raspberry, then thought against it. "Alright then, serious time," she said, making a very not serious, serious face. Bernard had to hold back a laugh. "What can I do for you, B-Man?"
"You sure everything is okay?"
"More or less. Why?"
Bernard raised an eyebrow, simply pointing down at the floor. Jacqueline looked down and saw that a very thick, very smooth sheet of ice now ran from one end of the hallway to the other.
"Oh. Geez, I'm sorry B-Man. Must be the Legate Law coming into play. I'm usually better at controlling thought ice."
"Legate Law specifics, huh?" Bernard asked, opening one of the nearby custodial closets and pulling out a pair of plastic signs. The signs had an image of an elf slipping, simply reading "SLIPPERY".
"Yeah," Jacqueline said, watching him roam from one end of the hallway to the other end. "When the Legate Law is enacted, there's a bit of a power boost that comes with the title. I didn't think it would happen much this time around, since they're only semi-enacting it…but I guess I was wrong."
"This time?" Bernard asked. "Almost sounds like you've experienced this before," Bernard said, serving Jacqueline with a knowing and somehow also concerned look.
Jacqueline tensed, hand moving down from her nose to her chin. "How come the floor sign only says slippery and not slippery when wet?" she asked, changing the subject.
Bernard raised an eyebrow, but didn't press. "You'd be surprised at how many times it's ice instead of water. It's warm in here, course, but sometimes ice still appears. Case in point, winter sprites who frequent the Pole."
"Ah. Sorry."
"S'okay. Still haven't talked to Jack?"
She shook her head, glad Bernard hadn't pressed the Legate Law thing. "I can't really bring myself to do it. I don't know why. It should be super easy, but I'm having the hardest time."
"This should help you a bit then," Bernard said, pulling a small, folded piece of paper out of his satchel and passing it to her. "It nearly set my desk on fire."
"Get rid of all the papers?" Jacqueline suggested, taking the still warm piece of paper.
"And what, use my desk as an actual desk?"
Jacqueline laughed, unfolding the letter. The edges were burnt, and the paragraph messy.
Dearest Jacqueline,
Your Mother and I had a chat and both agree that you should come home…with Jack. Your Mother thinks it's about time. Quite frankly, I agree! We'll start looking into the freezer burn, see if there's anything similar that we've seen or experienced. Same goes for your blackouts. We'll talk more once you're home.
See you soon. Both of you. Stay safe.
Love,
Blaise and Winter
"Looks like you've got the go ahead," Bernard said, smiling.
Jacqueline smiled. "That's…that's great!" her smile dropped. "That's. Um. Hmm. They were faster than I expected with this reply."
"Considering Blaise sent it himself and nearly gave me second degree burns? I'd say so."
Jacqueline let out a small laugh. "Ah. I guess I really have to go talk to Jack now, huh?"
Bernard smiled, squeezing Jacqueline's shoulder briefly. "It'll be fine. Everyone says this is what you need, and I agree." He shifted his weight. "Tell you what, I'll even stay here and guard the hallway so you don't walk back to your room."
"Thanks Bernard," she laughed. "Off I go then," she finished, trudging down the hallway. She glanced back, Bernard raising an eyebrow and shooing her forwards. "Okay, okay, I'm going," she said, with a hint of a smile.
Bernard watched the sprite turn the corner, crossing his arms. Things would go alright for her; Elle was probably right.
Emphasis on the probably, he heard mentally.
Bernard laughed. You're definitely onto something, I think, he thought back.
I don't know how to feel about that.
I do.
You do?
Yeah, Bernard thought for a minute, before replying. Good.
Now in front of the door, Jacqueline was very much considering turning around. But, if she did that, Bernard would march her butt right back here and probably watch until she knocked, if not knock for her. So, sighing, she reached up to knock only to nearly knock on Jack's inquisitive face.
"Oh. Uh, hey."
"I've been wondering when you would stop pacing and finally get to the door. Come in Jacqueline, tell me what's got you all a flurry," he said, opening the door and stepping to the side, gesturing her in.
"I need to talk to you. It's important. Extremely important," she said, glancing once more at his hair.
"Make yourself comfortable," he said, waiting for Jacqueline to pick a spot. She hopped onto the raised platform, sitting cross legged on the centre of the bed. Jack followed her, hand on one of the bedposts, watching his sister carefully.
"I've been thinking."
"Ou. Sounds dangerous."
"Ha, ha." Jacqueline said, plowing forward. "Because of these meltdowns I've been having we've barely had time deal with your freezer burn."
"It's only a slight drawback," Jack said, sitting beside Jacqueline. "Don't think that it's all your fault that these meltdowns are happening, stopping our heroic efforts!"
"Quite the heroes we make," Jacqueline said, laughingly. "Two not-quite-functioning winter sprites."
"Well, all things considered, I think we're doing alright."
"Do you?"
"Well, we're trying our best, and that's the best anyone can do, really."
"That's true."
A thoughtful silence fell, until Jack finally piped up. "So you were thinking?"
"I was trying to figure out if there was a way to find out more about these meltdowns, while still taking care of your freezer burn and keeping our positions as the Deliquesce prevention squad. It basically came down to this: if I stay, we're close to the Dome and can watch it while you try to get your mojo back."
"I have my mojo," Jack said, slightly annoyed.
"I wasn't talking about your ego, slush for brains."
"Nor was I."
"Oh my gods Jack, stop it!" Jacqueline shouted, catching on to the innuendo and trying very hard to remain indignant while masking laughter (it wasn't working well).
"Alright, I'll stop," he said, grinning and catching a throw pillow that had been launched his way. "What's the catch to the stay option?"
"I could have another meltdown. It could be worse, last longer. There's a lot of unknown things to consider with it."
"And the other options?"
"Option. The other option is that we go home."
"Home?"
"Yes, home."
"To Crystal Springs?"
"Yes, that is where we live."
"To Frost Mansion?"
"Yes, that is one of the common fancy names for our house."
"Both of us?!"
"Well, yeah."
"Jacqueline, I…I don't know, I mean, reuniting with you was simple enough…but reuniting with Blaise? With Winter? What will they think? What will they say? What if they don't want me home?"
Silently, Jacqueline handed him a piece of singed paper. Confused, Jack took it and shook it open, reading the small paragraph. He paled.
"They want me back?"
"Yes."
"Really?"
She nodded.
Jack slouched back in surprise, running a hand through his hair. "That's. Well, surprising to say the least. Are you sure?"
"Well I didn't write the letter. And considering when it arrived, it nearly burnt down B-Man's office?"
"Nearly? Ah. Too bad," Jack said.
"Be nice," Jacqueline replied. "There's only one person who uses fiery magic and can insta-send mail, you and I both know that."
"It just. It seems too good to be true! Of all the people to be the first to say, hey Jack, come on home! It's Blaise?!"
"This nicely charred letter is very tangible. I mean, you're holding it, are you not?"
"Oh, don't start with the seeing isn't believing sleet," Jack said.
"The what now?"
"Thank goodness."
"You've been up here way too long," Jacqueline began. "I think it's time for a scenery change. Don't you?"
"That sounds great! But what if when I get there, they change their minds and kick me out? What if they don't even let me get past the door? Or worse, the gate?!"
"Well the gate has a mind of its own really, so I wouldn't worry about that."
"How can I not be worried about a sentient gate?"
"Look, Jack. I know that seeing someone you haven't seen in a very long time, especially after leaving them in the worst possible way, can be scary. But trust me when I say this. They do want you back! And you don't need to be so afraid, you know."
"Who said anything about being afraid?"
"I'm here with you! I can protect you from the big, bad, scary sentient gate," she teased.
Jack smiled at the thought. "I do have you," he said, a sudden chill in his hands causing him to sit upright out of his slouch and shake out his hands.
Jacqueline jumped right off the bed. "Jack, holy frost, look!"
He stopped shaking his hands and followed Jacqueline's gaze to the bedspread. What he saw made him shoot right up off the bed.
The comforter was frozen solid.
"Did you do that?"
"No," Jacqueline replied, hands above her head in a show of innocence. "You did!"
"I…really?"
"Yes! Look, that's your pattern, not mine. Wow! That's really interesting! Is that what happened with your hair?"
"What about my hair?!"
"You haven't seen your hair yet today?"
"Well, no. I've been avoiding looking at myself in the mirror."
Jacqueline stared.
Jack stared back.
"That's honestly very surprising."
"I'm trying to be less self-absorbed Jacqueline," he lied. "But, if you insist," he got up from the bed, trying to stay cool. He walked into the washroom and gazed at his reflection. Still messy brown-ish at the top, still powerless. He sighed, tilting his head forward a bit.
A flash of white startled him.
"What in the name of winter?!" He had to restrain himself from hopping up onto the counter to get as close of a look as possible. "My hair! It's…"
"Frosty!" Jacqueline said, victorious in the bathroom door frame. "Oh my goddess, I can't believe it! This is reassuring as frost!"
Jack was not paying attention to Jacqueline's little victory party. He was once again trying to stop himself from climbing the counter, his nose pressed right up against the glass as he tried in vain to see the full extent of his new do. While the very front of his hair wasn't frosty, the back and edge of the top of his head were. In fact, they were as white as Jacqueline's hair—no darker icy tips, like he usually had.
"What in the blazes—when on Earth did this happen?!" Jack asked out loud.
"I don't know, it's not my hair. This is great though! We're doing something right!"
"How did I not notice it?!"
"Because it's mostly the back and you've been avoiding mirrors because they're painful reminders of your freezer burn."
"Those were rhetorical questions, Jacqueline," Jack said, stepping around her and back out into his room.
"Sorry, let me correct myself. You're trying to be less self-absorbed, supposedly." She crossed her arms, shifting her weight. "One thing's for certain," she began, heading towards the bed. "While talking about home," she said, pushing down on the comforter, the ice crunching beneath her palms. "This happened. So maybe this is the right thing to do."
Jack threw himself down in the nearest chair, conflicted. He opened up his fist (trying to remember when he had crushed the note in it) and reread the words on the page. He rubbed his chin, deep in thought.
"I won't force you to make a decision now," Jacqueline said, stepping down from the bedroom portion. "I know that this is really hard for you. For…all of us Frosts, when you think about it."
"Even the twins? Pinto and Piera?"
"Fino and Fiera."
"I don't even know their names."
"It's just another reason why a homecoming is going to be good for you, Jack. And for Mom and Dad."
"I miss them all, so terribly. Even the Twins, and I've never properly met them! I'm excited to, though. From what you've said and not said, they seem like an absolute riot! But what if…what if they don't want to meet me? What if none of them miss me? What if Mom and Dad don't want to make things right?"
"I promise you Jack," Jacqueline began, voice heavy and earnest. "They do want to make things right. This is their chance, and it's your chance. Isn't this what you've wanted since you thawed, all timeline hijinks included?"
"It is."
"Then I think the answer is easy. What do you think?"
She was right. She was right, and Jack knew it, and after all, third time's the charm, or so he had heard.
"Eh, what the frost," Jack said, standing up. "I'll do it! We'll do it! This is my chance to fix things. And I won't waste another chance. Not ever," he said, with a dramatic swoop of his hand.
"Then at dawn," Jacqueline declared loudly, throwing her foot up on an ottoman, "We ride!"
"Ah, maybe not dawn."
"Alright. How about after breakfast?"
"I was thinking more like lunchtime? Have a good meal, some cocoa in the kitchen with the other elves, then some dessert…"
"Okay, fine. A good night's rest, a good brunch, and a quick cup of cocoa. Then sometime in the early afternoon, we ride!"
"Sounds good to me."
"I'll see you in the morning then," Jacqueline said, stepping down from the ottoman and heading out with a cheery little wave. She shut the door behind her, leaving Jack to his own contemplative silence.
He was really going to do it. He was really, for real, going to go back to his family and finally make things right.
He was going home!
Oh, gods. He was going home.
Blaise lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought. He had thought he would be able to sleep well after sending the letter, but now…Blaise sighed, trying to shut off his brain for a brief moment.
"Can't sleep?" Winter asked. She turned over and looked at him, also very awake. Her dark hair was already a mess, framing her face in a way that made Blaise smile very, very big.
"You are. Absolutely beautiful, Winter. Drop dead gorgeous, completely stunning—" He pulled her against him and kissed her head.
"That's not why you can't sleep," Winter replied, snuggling into him.
"Au contraire," Blaise replied, pulling her even closer and kissing her again.
"Blaise," Winter said, through quiet laughter. "Stop that! You're making me blush," she finished, and Blaise could hear the smile in her voice. She tilted her head up and kissed the underside of his chin. "What's really got you laying awake at night, staring at the ceiling? And don't say me," she teased, poking his chest.
Blaise laughed, the laughter trailing off into a sigh. "Are we doing the right thing?"
"We're doing the best we can, and that's the best anyone can do," Winter replied.
"I'm thinking of the bigger picture," he replied, flipping onto his back, one arm behind his head now with the other one still tucked underneath his wife's back.
"As am I," Winter replied, scotching upwards to lay on his shoulder.
"You remember that night at the mall," Blaise said once again. "And how you asked me what I'd do if Jack came home?"
"Yes. You said, whatever makes me happy," Winter replied, playing with his hair.
"Right," Blaise replied. "But what would you do? You never answered earlier."
Winter sighed, looking thoughtful as she froze the tips of Blaise's hair, his natural body temperature melting them instantly. It was oddly calming, for the both of them.
"I was deflecting," she finally admitted. "Both then and now," she added, for good measure.
"Now that we're faced with this actually happening, what will you do?" Blaise asked.
Winter lay her hand flat on Blaise's chest. She pushed herself up on her elbow, head on her hand. She looked very troubled.
"When you showed me the letter, and began trying to parse out how you felt, I thought I was taking it well," Winter said. She began to thread her fingers through his, trying to collect her thoughts. "It seemed fairly obvious to me what needed to be done. And I'm still certain about that," she added, feeling Blaise tense underneath her.
"I'm glad," Blaise said, tension leaving.
"But the truth is, the more I thought about it, the more unsure I grew. Same as that night at the mall. I was afraid you'd ask me what I would do, when the truth was and still is, that I don't know. I don't know what I would do because it…it doesn't feel like he exists to me," Winter finally admitted, dropping her arm and landing on Blaise's side with a soft thunk.
There was a sizzle. Winter's body was shaking. "Oh, Winter love," Blaise said, throwing his free arm around her and wrapping her up in a warm hug. "There, there, darling. It's going to be okay. It's the connection, isn't it?"
Winter's nod against his chest was yes enough.
Mental connections among magibeans are a lot more common then you'd think, you see. We know that the Legends and Legates have theirs. Elle has her telepathy based connections with the people she's closest to. Twin telepathy was not unheard of; in fact, it was quite common! (There was no other way Fino and Fiera could get away with as many silent high jinks as they did, after all). Even magibean parents have magical mental connections amongst their children! And though each magi-parent has their own special connection perks, there was one basic principle that those familial connections had, before all else: your basic magical mental connection, often visualized amongst magibeans as strands. Those same strands that connect the Legends and their Legates, that connect Elle to Bernard, also connected parents to their kids. They connected Winter to Fiera, Fino, Jacqueline, and once long ago, Jack. Just like Legends and Legates, both parents and kids could choose to share or not to share. And perhaps, when they wanted to or if they needed to, cut the connection entirely.
When Jack left, everyone assumed this was the case. That Jack had immediately severed those mental ties with his Mother. The truth, however, was this: Winter had been the one to cut the tie first. Blaise was the only person she ever told, and as a result, the only person who ever knew, aside from herself and on some level, Jack.
Severing connections was somewhat of an urban legend amongst magibeans. It wasn't unheard of, but it wasn't heard of all that much, either. Especially not from a parent's perspective. So when Winter realized she could do it, she was somewhat shocked.
And then, she had done it.
It had helped the pain of her firstborn leaving, if only a little. And at the time, anything to help her feel less was good. The aftermath of Jack's departure had been a very hard, very overwhelming time. And if it made the pain go away, Winter would do it in a heartbeat (and had done so).
"Thinking of how, how all of this has happened. I never, ever, in my wildest dreams, thought that he'd come back," Winter said, warbly and interrupted by a small sniffle. "Let alone thawed and ready to, to—" she choked back a sob and hid herself in Blaise's side once more.
Blaise rubbed her back, warming himself up a bit. "Go on Winter, I'm right here for you."
"What have I done?" Winter finally said, pulling herself up to Blaise's face.
"You did what you thought was best at the time," Blaise replied, his warmer-than-usual caress of her face drying the wet tear tracks up. She took several deep breaths, her little shakes slowly stopping.
"I have to fix this," Winter decided. "I need to—no, I want to make things right. But do you think he'll want to fix the connection, too? Can it even be fixed?!"
"I don't know if it can be. But I'm sure you'll find out," Blaise said, gently holding her face, staring into her blue eyes. "Because if Jacqueline's letter is anything to go by, he'll agree to come home with her. And if he has and does, then I think he does want to fix things. And the two of you will find a way! You're resilient and Jack is incredibly stubborn."
"He takes after you there," Winter said.
Blaise laughed. "And if he's half as stubborn as I am, I know he'll do whatever it takes to find a way to fix things with you. And I think you knew that, and that's why you knew right away that it was time for him to come home."
"Mother's instinct?" Winter pondered.
"So it would seem," Blaise said, tilting her chin up and giving her a big old smooch.
"Apparently even subconsciously, I always have an ace up my sleeve."
"I knew it," Blaise said.
Winter laughed, settling herself comfortably in the crook of his elbow. It didn't take long for her to find that one comfortable spot on his chest and curl up alongside him, eyes beginning to drift shut.
"Blaise?"
"Mhmm?"
"Thank you for asking."
"You're welcome, Winter."
"I love you," she said, kissing the nearest bit of him as she finally drifted off to sleep.
"And I love you," Blaise replied, kissing the nearest bit of her before tightening his embrace and finally falling asleep.
A/N-Edited YET AGAIN July 8th, 2020. Would have been up sooner, but my C key took a dive so I had to get a new keyboard because when your main characters are named Jack and Jacqueline and your C key refuses to work? Yeah.
I will NEVER top the Blinter that I wrote in this chapter, oh my goodness. Anyway, here we are! Meet the Frosts 2: Electric Bugaloo :). I hope you enjoy the Frosty family feels! I certainly enjoyed writing them, especially the Blinter. Oh man. And Jacqueline's sass too, unexpected but I dig it! AND SOME FROSTY TIP EXPLANATION! Anyone else on the edge of their proverbial seat? Hehe.
Do read and review, tell me what you think! Favourite parts! ESPECIALLY the lines that made you laugh-those are my favourite parts of reviews, tbh. Stay safe, everyone!
