Cassandra clenches her fists in the golden Dreamsand and ducks low. The wind whips her brown hair out behind her and she laughs. The Brooklyn Bridge whirs over her head. She has flown in airplanes before, but nothing compares to the air hitting her face, to the view she gets from hundreds of feet above.

Sandy smiles at her, piloting the magic carpet of gold. It glitters like the dust of precious metals.

"Where are you taking me?" she calls, glancing over her shoulder at the Sandman.

Sandy nods reassuringly. The ride turns to the side, warming beneath her body as it morphs into a hang glider. She hangs onto the golden grip until her knuckles turn white. Sandy deposits her on a rooftop. Cassandra peeks around, knowing where she is. She knew when they flew over the park.

"Sandy-" she begins, turning to face the small spirit again. Golden trails weave away from him, disappearing into the homes nearby and stretching out for longer distances. He winks a glittering eye before snapping. The hang glider transforms into a massive eagle. Sandy climbs on and flies off.

Cassandra shudders as snow begins to fall. She finds herself wishing for the cape North gave her. Teetering on the rooftop, she glances around. Her own house is the nearest one.

The A-frame house is completely dark except for a soft pink glow coming from the open window of the second floor. Jack Frost stands easily on a thin branch outside the window. Snow lightly falls, dusting his blue hoodie in white flakes.

Julie doesn't open her eyes. She kneels, her hands clasped on the window seal and her prone face tilted up to the sky. Pale moonlight shines upon her and it illuminates tear tracks on her rosy cheeks.

Cassandra places a hand over her heart as it thumps unevenly.

Jack crouches on the tree branch, leaning forward. Cassandra can barely hear her sister's soft words.

"Please, please bring her home," Julie pleads, her words laced with desperation. "Jack Frost please keep my sister safe."

Jack smiles sadly at the tiny girl. She looks nothing like her older sister, but her voice, in a few years, will sound exactly the same. The way she speaks is similar. Jack can see the beauty in the young girl's heart, the same that he sees in Cassandra. She will grow up to be caring like her sister. Jack glances away to where Cassandra herself crouches on the rooftop across the street. It takes his breath away. No one, not even her younger sister will ever be exactly like Cassandra. Jack taps his curved staff to Julie's window.

Cassandra gazes on in amazement as intricate ice crystals grow. Julie pays no mind, her eyes closed tightly in prayer. Jack draws a heart in the ice and kisses Julie's forehead. She pays it no mind, believing a snowflake has landed on her.

He jumps and the wind brings him to Cassandra. As the cold hits her face, she realizes she is crying. Jack sits beside her and holds his arms out. She scrambles to his side and clutches his sweatshirt tightly, letting a sob escape her mouth.

"She's okay," Jack assures, rubbing soothing circles into her back.

"I miss her," Cassandra whimpers. She really misses her sister, her family. She hadn't given much thought to them while away, but now…

She hangs onto Jack tightly as he scoops her into his arms and stands.

He murmurs, "She misses you, too."

Cassandra nods, twining her arms around his chilly neck. The cold is welcome to her over-heated skin. She presses her warm cheek to the exposed skin above his prominent collar bone. He hisses and flinches away but eases back.

"Sorry," she whispers.

Jack doesn't like heat and is hyper-sensitive to temperature. Cassandra radiates a certain warmth that he wants to curl up and bask in. It makes him nervous.

The rest of the journey is completed in silence, Cassandra clinging to Jack like a koala bear. Her tears finally cease, but she continues to clutch onto Jack.

When his feet finally land on solid ground again, Cassandra doesn't let go right away. She finally does and pulls away, but Jack yanks her back, snatching her hand in his.

"You're so warm..." he says quietly, almost to himself, as he holds her hand up. He weaves their fingers together, noticing how small her hand is compared to his own. Cassandra blushes slightly and wipes at her eyes with her other thumb.

"Comes with being mortal, I guess," she shrugs, embarrassed and not the slightest clue as to why.

His blue eyes flicker to her face. He gazes at her for a long moment from under his lashes.

"It comes with being Cassandra," Jack corrects, his voice soft.

Cassandra places her hand on Jack's chest, feeling his heart thumping solidly beneath his skin. She is a bit surprised to discover his heart beats. She assumed with being immortal he wouldn't need one. He's just as alive as she is.

They are so close, mere inches apart. His hands wrap around her waist just above the generous curves of her hips. Jack leans in a bit more. His eye lids are half-mast. The cold he radiates is soothing, not bitter and arctic.

Cassandra's lips are parted and with sudden ferocity she wants to kiss him. She wants to know if the Spirit of Winter's lips are as cold as his hands. One of those pale hands comes up to cup her face, his slender finger tracing her cheek bone.

Time seems to freeze as they lean in.

"I hate to break up the moment," a distinctly amused, Australian voice interrupts, "but we have a bit of a crisis."

Cassandra whirls around, Jack breaking away.

"What is it now, Bunny Hop?" Jack sighs, frustration clear as he grits his teeth at the other Guardian.

"North needs to see us."

The human makes a move to follow, but one massive grey paw stops her in her tracks.

"Sorry, mate," he shrugs apologetically. "You aren't on the guest list."

She nods, understanding, and says, "In that case, goodnight Bunny."

He smiles and pats her head affectionately. She turns to Jack who is leaning against his staff, his shoulders slumped forward.

Once Bunny is half-way down the hall, Cassandra rushes to Jack before she can lose her nerve. She grasps his face in her trembling hands and presses a light, quick kiss to his lips. They are soft and shockingly icy.

"Goodnight, Jack," she breathes. He blushes darkly and stumbles out the door after Bunny, glancing over his shoulder at Cassandra as she closes the door.

Cassandra leans heavily on the door and grins into the room she adores. The desk by the door, the shelves of winter-themed poetry, and the sweeping balcony- it's all so beautiful to her. She changes into red plush pajama pants and a tight white t-shirt before slipping beneath the covers of her luxuriously comfortable bed.

It's impossible for her to fall asleep and she tosses and turns most of the night. A sharp tap comes against her window. She's up in a flash, yanking on her snow boots and tying the cape around her neck. She can see the outline of Jack's staff, barely visible in the dead of night. Her heart races.

She slips outside, closing the balcony doors.

"Jack," she whispers, "where are you?"

A deep chuckle breaks the silence.

He steps forward, only barely illuminated. Cassandra glances up and is terrified to see the new moon providing no light.

"Looking for someone?" he purrs. He waves his hand and the Nightmare sand in his hand, resembling Jack's staff, dissipates.

Cassandra whirls around and jerks at the handle into her room. It's locked.

"Pleasant dreams," Pitch coos as darkness invades her vision.

Your review make my day- you guys are too sweet :) I hope you enjoyed this one... Please leave more of those lovely reviews!