Next part, yay! Like the last one, this deviates a bit from the story, considering the castle wasn't open until Elsa's coronation. But again, let's all just go with it X

Jack and Anna spent the afternoon wandering about the trees behind the castle. It was silent until Jack spoke, "You're quiet today." Anna nodded a little. He continued with a smirk, "That's not normal." She smiled slightly in amusement, but it didn't last. Jack frowned.

"What's wrong?" Jack asked. Anna bit her lip and finally answered.

"There's a ball tonight."

Jack furrowed his brows, "So?"

"So, this is my first ball!" Anna replied, "I mean, there's gonna be small talk, finger foods and… and dancing!"

"I'd think you'd be excited for that." Jack spoke, a small grin upon his face.

"I know, I am. But I'm kind of freaking out, too. There's going to be tons of people and…" Anna trailed off.

"Well, what are you going to do?" He looked to her. Anna shrugged.

"Act natural, I guess? But I mean, I'm so… average. Will people even notice me?"

"Sure. Look, Anna you should you go to that ball and have a good time."

"Even if I'm clumsy and, and I talk too much and I'm constantly making a fool out of myself-" Anna listed on her fingers.

Jack interrupted, "You're also fun and warm, and a great friend and you've got a good heart." Anna blinked twice, letting his words sink in. She smiled a little, looking to him. Jack returned the sentiment. "So, what are you going to do?"

That evening, Anna dressed for the royal ball in her room. She smiled contentedly; with the thin sleeves of her spring green gown draping over her shoulders and her hair in a braided bun as opposed to the usual pigtails, Anna felt a little more grown up. Settling a necklace with the kingdom symbol engraved upon it just below her collarbone, she was finally finished. The castle staff appeared at her door. It was time.

Darkness had fallen when Jack made a round past Arendelle once again. At the castle, lights shone out from the windows, catching his interest. Curious, he perched himself by a window, peering inside. The celebration was big and bustling as expected and he tried to spot his friend. Contrary to her previous belief, she stood out quite well. Jack smiled, thinking to himself that she looked really pretty. At that moment, a random stranger approached her, inviting Anna to a dance. Jack's smile faltered as she accepted, but shook bad thoughts away, "At least she dances better than she gives herself credit for…" He muttered. It was when yet another gentleman came up after the first that he finally dashed off, occupying himself with something else.

Later that night, Anna prepared for bed. As she brushed through her hair at the vanity, a dull smack sounded at her window. Shaken, she turned to it; after a moment, she saw a white snowball on the glass. Anna smiled, setting down the brush before running to the window. She unlocked and open it, calling down, "Jack!", just as another snowball sailed toward her. Anna shut her eyes, her face scrunching up as the sphere slammed right into it.

"Whoops. Sorry, Anna." Jack called back. The girl wiped bits of snow from her face with her sleeve.

"It's, uh, it's ok." She responded. "Come on up." Anna gestured back with the wave of her hand, moving back to give Jack space. He shot up, hopping into her bedroom from the windowsill.

"How did it go tonight?" Jack asked.

"Really well, to be honest." She grinned.

"See? What'd I tell you?" He gestured with his staff.

"Yeah, I enjoyed myself down there…" The smile was still present on her face. Then thought for a moment, "Hey, I wanna show you something." Jack raised an eyebrow. "Follow me." She said, heading for the door. Jack shrugged, setting down his staff and draping his cloak onto a nearby stand. Anna led Jack into the halls, peering around quietly. No one was around.

"Where are you taking me?" He asked, as they padded along.

"You'll see." She whispered, looking around the corner. Grinning almost impishly, Anna shuffled along and then came to a stop. Jack came behind her and then gasped, slightly. They were standing just above the ballroom, now dark and vacant. Anna headed down the stairs and to the floor; at the bottom, she spun a little. Jack eyed over the room, overwhelmed by its largeness as opposed to seeing it from outside. "I wish you could've been here, Jack. You would've had fun, too." She turned to look at him., "The people are gone, the food and the decorations, but… We can still dance."

"Dance?" Jack echoed.

"Sure. You wouldn't think it, but I actually didn't step on anyone's foot tonight." Jack smirked, allowing Anna to guide him to the center of the floor. "Let's see, uh, you put your hand here." She took his hand and placed it on her waist. "And I put my hand here." Anna placed her hand on his shoulder. Their eyes met as she said, "And then lock hands here." Both hands reached out, cold meeting warm as their fingers interlocked. "Now, follow my lead." She said, they began to glide across the floor- back and forth, side to side. As they danced, Anna began to mutter a tune.

Jack spoke quietly, "What are you doing?"

"Providing the music." She responded, smiling, before continuing. The melody had that familiarity that one can't quite spot; there was a hint of melancholy, reminding Jack of those years alone in the world. He frowned slightly, but it didn't last as he met Anna's gaze. She was here now and the thought of that made him smile.

It didn't take long for Jack to get the hang of things, moving along the ballroom floor with Anna as easily as he did on ice. She laughed with glee as he spun her out before catching her back, pulling her into his arms. Then, the dance slowed down, the two growing quiet. They were close, Anna thought, closer than with the men at the ball. Something stirred in her as she gazed up at Jack. Anna's humming diminished into silence. "Why'd you stop?" He spoke up.

"Huh?" Anna blinked. "Oh. I just go distracted."

"By what?" He cocked an eyebrow, looking around the empty ballroom.

"Heh. Good question, uh…" Anna stammered as he twirled her out a final time.

"Who's down there?" A voice called, abruptly. Anna and Jack stiffened, gazing up. A castle servant stood by the stair railing. "Your highness? Princess Anna is that you?"

Anna winced, "Yes."

"What on earth are you doing down there?" The servant cried.

"Um, well…" She turned to Jack who only shrugged. The castle servant sighed,

"Never mind; just please, return to your bedroom. It's the middle of the night, you know."

"Yes. Of course. Sorry." Anna replied. The servant retreated and Anna looked to Jack.

The two returned to Anna's bedroom and Jack uttered, "Grownups always ruin the fun, don't they?"

"He was right, though. I was irresponsible, I guess." Anna replied with a half-hearted shrug.

"Well, I don't like the way he was talking to you, either." Jack spoke. "I mean, you're a princess."

"Yeah, well, when you don't act like one, you don't get treated like one." Anna mused. Jack frowned. "Still that was fun, dancing with you."

"Yeah. That was actually the… first time I've danced with a girl." He scratched at his head, his voice lowering as he spoke.

"Same here, well, it's the first time with a boy, I mean… like that." Anna trailed off. Jack smiled a little, then cleared his throat.

"Yeah… Well, I'd better get going. Don't want to keep you up all night."

"Right." Anna nodded. Jack pulled on his cloak and gripped his staff. She bit her lip, "Jack, wait." Heading over to the window, he stopped, turning back. Anna, catching him by surprise, kissed his cheek. Feeling the warmth of her lips on his cold skin lit his face up red. Anna pulled back, "That's for, uh, earlier. If it weren't for you, I probably wouldn't have had such a great time at the ball. So, thank you."

Jack cooled down and now grinned. "You're welcome, Anna."

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