Jack looked at the snow queen. Almost an hour ago she had fallen asleep, thanks to some of Sandy's sand he kept in a pouch in his sweatshirt pocket. He had never seen so much pain in the eyes of someone so good. Everything in him said that he needed to be there for her. He was a guardian! They don't leave someone who needs them.

That made up his mind. With one last look at the sleeping queen, he flew out the window on the path toward Arendelle. As he approached the kingdom, he stopped. Everything was frozen. The ships in the port were locked into place, the windows were locked closed with frost. All the while, it was snowing.

"Oh Elsa…" he breathed, as he landed in the courtyard. He walked over to listen next to one of the groups huddled together against the cold, talking in hushed voices.

"The queen is a monster! We'd be better off if she stayed away."

"Did you see the fear in her eyes? She's no monster!"

"She nearly killed me!"

Jack backed away, shaking his head in disgust. Turning, he found himself looking at a man passing out blankets to those outside. "Until the Princess returns we need to make sure the people have a reason to stay hopeful." He quietly instructed one of his guards. "Otherwise I'll never be King." He added to himself under his breath.

Jack gasped and flew out of the courtyard, back toward the ice castle.

When he arrived Elsa was still asleep on her bed of snow. The sun was rising, and he had given her enough sand to sleep through the night. She would wake up soon.

Sure enough, when the sun streamed in through the windows Jack heard her get up. He had been standing on the balcony, and figured it was best if he gave her a minute to herself. After a few moments, he knocked on the door, and a moment later, the door slowly opened and Elsa looked at him.

"Jack?" she asked, "I almost thought you were a dream."

"Nope, sorry, I'm real, and you're stuck with me." He grinned. "I went down the mountain, to Arendelle." He said as he walked past her into the castle. Before he could continue, there was a knock at the door downstairs. Elsa froze, and with a flick of her wrist, the door opened. From the top of the stairs she watched and a girl with red hair came into the ballroom, with a look of awe on her face.

"Woah," she breathed. "Elsa? It's me, Anna."

"Anna?" Elsa called.

"Woah, Elsa, you look… different. It's a good different! And this place… it's amazing."

"Thank you. I never knew what I was capable of."

"I'm so sorry about what happened," Anna said hurriedly, "if I had known-"

"No," Elsa stopped her, "It's okay. You don't have to apologize. But you should probably go… please."

"But I just got here!" Anna protested.

"You belong down in Arendelle."

"So do you!"

"No. Anna, I belong here." She paused to glance into the doorway, where Jack was standing. "Alone, where I can be who I am without hurting anybody."

Jack looked down, and then walked away. He heard Anna begin to protest, but he was too far to hear her. She didn't want him there, that was all that mattered. He knew she didn't mean it, but it still hurt. After a minute he turned to glance back at the castle, and through one of the windows, he saw a storm raging inside.

He landed in time to hear Elsa cry, "I can't!" and the storm died. He looked to see Anna clutching her chest, collapsing to the floor.

"No…" Elsa gasped. A man ran in with an animated snowman, and Jack widened his eyes. That's a new one.

"Anna, are you all right?"

"Yes. I'm fine" she said as she rose to her feet.

"Who is this?" Elsa asked, "Nevermind, it doesn't matter. You need to go."

"I'm not leaving without you!" Anna protested.

"Yes," Elsa replied, raising her hands in front of her, "you are." And with that she waved her hand, and in a swirl of snow formed into a snow monster, who promptly picked up Anna and the other two. It carried them outside, and the room went silent.

"Elsa?" Jack said, landing behind her.

"I'm sorry, I didn't want you to leave." She turned to face him. "You're the closest thing I have to a friend right now. It was just seeing Anna reminded me why I left and Jack, what if I hurt her? I saw her fall and I-"

"You were scared. It's alright." He smiled at her. "I am your friend Elsa. I'll stay as long as you still want me to."