Chapter 11: Ready or Not
Hi Mom! Hi Dad!
Thank you both for the letter! It made my entire week . I miss you both a LOT! My condolences, Dad, for the devastating defeat you suffered at tic-tac-toe, not ONCE, but twice! Better luck next time! (NICE ONE MOM!)
I wish I could say that your letter found me well, but it's been a bit of a time. I haven't been detained, per se. It's more like a uh, sudden, unexpected, extended stay. Or at least, it was. It turns out things are a little more complex than I think any of us thought.
To answer you both, yes. It is Jack. He has been thawed. Overcooked, even, I'd say! He uh. He can't use his powers. Like, at all. They're like, gone. Basic magic works fine, but ANYTHING winter related? Yeah, it's not happening. You guys should SEE him! He's all snowy and can't freeze dry at all. He looks like a huge dweeb with a gnarly bedhead. Anyway, because his powers have shorted out, the Dome over the North Pole is melting. The Council believes the Deliquesce (I'm assuming you both know what that is) is going to happen very soon if Jack doesn't get back on his feet as soon as possible. Apparently, he's been powerless since MAY. He only came clean to the Council about the freezer burn (that's my lil' nickname for it :D) the other day. It's NOVEMBER.
They decided the best course of action would be to partially enact the Legate Law. The hope was that by summoning me, I could potentially stall the Deliquesce, long enough to give Jack and I ample time to figure out what's causing the power shortage, and work through it.
I think I've at the very least 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 you guys for advice! (She and Bernard say hi back, by the way. They're doing very well!)
Have either of you ever seen something like this before? Or heard any pre-call stories about it? A sprite softening their heart, and then suddenly being unable to use their powers? I could use the input, because aside from refreezing the Dome over and over and over again to keep buying time, I have no idea what to do. He can barely conjure any snow. His frosty breath is just a chill, his snowballs are just. SAD. We briefly looked at manipulating instead of conjuring, and it's pretty much the same deal. The snow barely moves! I can't believe it. It's…WEIRD. And I don't know what to do anymore. I'm stuck.
Then, on TOP of that, something weird started happening to me after I arrived. Uh. I don't really know what it is, on account of forgetting what happened both times. I just. Blacked out. And when I woke back up, I was surrounded by a whole lot of mess, and a whole lot of signs of a fight. All of them apparently done by me.
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. Ears ringing, nasty headache, that sort of thing. 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.
Nobody here seems to know what's going on. They've been called panic attacks, meltdowns, storms, attacks in general…I've heard it all. But because of the lack of memory, I've been calling them blackouts.
After the second one, I sat and thought about what was happening, and there was one thing I knew for sure: they only started once I got here. Back at home, I was fine. So, I came up with a solution that I think will benefit everyone. Tomorrow, I'll touch up the Dome again. Then, once I hear word from you both, I'll head home.
And I'll be bringing Jack with me.
That's why I'll wait until you send an okay my way before I head home. I want to make sure the time is right, you know? I don't want to cause any distress, not to either of you or to the Twins! Although, I have a feeling (given Fino's apparent growing list of questions), that they will be (literally) exploding with excitement at the prospect of Jack coming home. They've certainly been busy these past few days, haven't they? Cats? LAVA cakes? You should probably check under the deck for holes, Dad. I think that's where Fiera gets the lava from. Or maybe Aunt Summer? At any rate, I hope the cats stayed out of my room. I shed enough as is. The LAST thing I need is to pull double duty with sweeping because of a furry little creature with just as much hair as me, if not more!
Man, I miss those hotheads.
Anyway, If anyone isn't okay with Jack coming home, we'll stay up here. But if I'm being totally honest, I think that it'd be best for both of us to head home. I think I've about exhausted whatever little resources I had up here. At this point, it would be easier to figure out what's happening to Jack (and myself evidently) back in Crystal Springs, with more help and more resources at our disposal. Sorry to bring this on so suddenly! Everything's just a lot right now, and I need any help I can get.
And so does Jack.
I hope to see a reply from you soon! I love you both very, very much! And yes, Fino and Fiera too :)
See you soon, I hope.
Yours,
Jacqueline.
Blaise had read the letter countless times since picking it up (along with the rest of the mail) after work earlier that day. The folds were deep; the page creased. His mind was tossing all sorts of thoughts all over the place, making it very hard to concentrate.
He had gotten in, very distracted, and made his way right to his office. Taking a seat, he had read it again. And again. And again. He'd barely heard everyone else make their way home, he'd been so lost in thought.
Beside him, the fire cracked merrily, the cozy office warm and toasty. He still sat now, well into the evening, rubbing his chin in thought, staring at the letter in his hands.
Jacqueline needed her parents.
And apparently, so did Jack.
Blaise reread the letter once more, letting out a breath he hadn't even realized he'd been holding. His leg bounced. He read the line over and over and over again. I'll be bringing Jack with me.
Blaise huffed, leaning back in his chair. On the one hand, it had been centuries since everything had happened. His temper had long since died down. A lot had happened since then. Jacqueline had grown up. Two more kids had come along. He and Winter both had had time to process, and think, and come to the realization that they, too, had made mistakes. Who doesn't, after all?
On the other hand, reading the letter on the way home this afternoon and reading the very real words on the page that said his eldest 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.
He exhaled. Maybe talking to Winter would help, Blaise thought, his face immediately dropping as he realized something very important: he had yet to ask Winter about any of this! How could he even begin to see where he was at, without knowing where she was at?
He thought back to last year, when Mother Nature came to visit, asking for their help righting some wrongs Jack had done. He thought back to the task he and Winter had taken on: rounding up hundreds of cardboard standees, going from mall to mall and collecting them all. They had just about finished when everything hit the both of them all at once.
One heart-to-heart later, Winter had asked him a very simple question.
If Jack did come back, she had started. What do you think you would do?
And he had answered. But he hadn't even thought to ask her then, either!
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 then!
And they had the kids to worry about now, too.
And instead of sharing it he was once again brooding, as Winter often pointed out. And she was right, of course. He was very much brooding.
Blaise glanced at the letter one last time. He sighed, sliding it back into the inside pocket of his blazer, and stood up, pushing the chair back from the desk, hands clutching the edge of it. Running a hand through his greying orange hair, a few sparks following his fingertips, it ignited. His hair lit up, though dim; 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. Alright. No more brooding, he thought to himself, straightening his blazer. First thing's first: he needed to talk to Winter, like, five hours ago.
Before he could round the desk and head out, the door to his office slammed open, hitting the wall with a thunk that gave Blaise a little startle. Unconsciously, he had stepped back, arms half raised.
"I FOUND HIM!" Fiera yelled, her fiery hair burning down her back.
Underneath her arm, Fino peered in around the doorframe, his hair burning up in a miniature version of Blaise's usual fire. "Ah, soot. I was rooting for the sunroom," he said, ducking under Fiera's arm and popping into the office. "It's nice in there at night."
"Shouldn't you two be winding down for the evening?" Blaise asked, eyebrow raised as he folded his arms behind his back.
"Shouldn't you?" Fino countered, mirroring Blaise.
"Ha! He got you good, Dad!"
"I am winding down," Blaise said, calmly, one hand touching his chest.
"Then why are you locked up in the office doing work?" Fino asked, crossing his arms.
"Who says I'm doing work?" Blaise countered.
"Oh! He got you good now, Fins!"
"And why on Earth are the two of you running around the house this loudly at this hour? It's well past your bedtimes."
"Look who's also been got now," Fino said, smirking at his twin.
She gasped, over dramatically. "Why I NEVER!"
Alright. Scratch that. First thing's first: get these two wrangled in for the night. Then he'd talk to Winter. Who, given the Twin's aforementioned bedtime and their late evening appearance at his office door, would almost certainly not be too far behind them.
"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 finished, lunging.
The twins squealed, trying to rush out of the office. But alas, they barely had time to even attempt a mad rush to the door before Blaise grabbed each twin around the waist, hoisting them up under his arms. Small for their age, carrying the two of them was still nothing for Blaise, assuming he could get a good grip on them. They were like two little lanky potato sacks, one of which constantly had ants in her pants.
Trapped squarely in twin under the arm carries, they squealed in delight, trying to get out.
"There is no escape," Blaise said, making his voice deep and ominous.
"YOU'LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE!" Fiera shouted, jabbing her index finger in the air and squirming extra hard. Beside her, Fino laughed, a fit of giggles weakening his resolve.
"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. "Oh Blaise, darling. I believe you the least bit out of this lot," she said with a grin.
"I'm hurt that you'd even think that!" Blaise said, grandly.
"As if you haven't been cooped up in here brooding all evening," Winter taunted, her smile softening.
"I. Definitely was," he admitted. "But! I am not anymore," Blaise said. "Look! I've even caught the little miscreants just in time for bed! They can't escape the cool down now."
"Cool down?! GASP! My only weakness!" Fiera said, hand on her forehead as she fell limp in Blaise's arms, Fino snickering.
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 make it.
"Hey, Fi. What if. What if we stay small forever?"
"Fino don't even JOKE ABOUT THAT!"
"Don't add wood to the fire, Fino. I think your twin'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.
"See, here's the thing, Blaise darling," Winter said, walking right up to him until she was pressed against him. "They've actually caught you. I sent them on a little pre-bedtime mission to find you! Now that we've got you right where we want you, tell us something, dear. Why have you been cooped up in here all evening?" she asked, concern lining her delicately pointed features as she smoothed his rumpled collar.
"Dad is in trou-ble! Dad is in trou-ble!"
"Oh hush, you two," Blaise said, giving them a little squeeze. Fiera squeaked; Fino let out a little whoosh of air. "I suppose I may as well share the news with everyone, since we're all here," he said with a sigh.
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. "Well that's silly, don't you think? I mean, why would she bring us toys. From Santa's Workshop. He can do that perfectly fine himself."
"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.
"She got ours then?" Winter asked.
Blaise nodded.
"And? How is she? How are things? Blaise," Winter said, prodding gently. "Did they tell her why she was sent for?"
"It's…a little complex," Blaise said carefully, hoping Winter would catch 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, a finger barely extended 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 slid 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.
"Three?!" said Blaise, fake hurt.
"Yes, Sir broods-a-lot. Come along now! Up we go. And no funny business," she added, the snow trailing behind her threateningly, watching the Twins closely.
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, they 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 tad 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, leaning forward and 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," she said, brow furrowing.
"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. She laughed at Jacqueline's congrats-condolence on her victory, Blaise absolutely melting at the sound of her giggle. 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.
"See what I mean?"
"It certainly is a lot. Blackouts? Freezer burns? The deliquesce?! My goodness, we leave the pair of them alone for a couple of days and it's absolute chaos."
Blaise chuckled. "Seemingly nothing's changed, eh?"
"Well, almost nothing," Winter said thoughtfully. "Our poor babies," she said, a hand gently hovering on her collarbone. "Jacqueline's right. It certainly is…a lot. Though that's putting it quite mildly."
"It's so…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.
"Aside from the two very strange problems both kids seem to be experiencing, and a huge magical disaster potentially looming on the horizon? It's uh. It's me," he admitted, sheepish. "I don't know where I'm at," he said, arms waving around as he paced 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! And I start…brooding!" he said, gesturing fruitlessly in front of him, nose wrinkling. "I thought my anger had burnt out. But I guess the Jack look says it all," he finished with a heavy sigh, facing the fireplace once more.
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 open hands. "Let alone today!" he added, as his pacing led him back to the fireplace.
"Oh Blaise," Winter said fondly, 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.
"You're always thinking of everyone but yourself," she began, thumbs rubbing his collarbone gently. "Calm down, dear. It's going to be okay," she said with a soft smile.
"I should be telling you that," he said, lightly caressing her cheek.
"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 going completely unnoticed by him. "You're focusing on the bigger picture." A wind stirred in the office, blowing into their sides from her right. "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 cold gust blowing the worn paper right between them. She caught it between her index finger and middle finger with a completely unnecessary flourish.
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 now between the thumb and forefinger of her right hand. "Oh, Blaise. You do so make me laugh. Smaller picture, dear," she said, giving the letter another 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.
"Of course. They're our kids; they need their parents. Both of them. I just…are we sure? Are we sure we're ready to have him back home again?"
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. Of course, she thought to herself. "Well, what about now?"
"Are you ready for this?"
"Yes," Winter said, earnestly. "Are you?"
"With you by my side I'm ready for anything," Blaise said, pushing off the ground with his foot. Steam propelled him backwards, the chair once again at the desk. There were several scrapes as Blaise turned the chair while sitting in it, tucking himself under the desk and searching under the pile of stuff for a fresh piece of paper and a pen. "And honestly? I think I've been ready for this for a while," he admitted.
Winter smiled triumphantly, grabbing her mug and making her way to Blaise's side. "I think I have been, too," she admitted, kissing his cheek as he hastily scribbled a couple of sentences.
"Then let's bring them home," he said. Folding the note over, he snapped his fingers. The paper disappeared in a burst of flame, orange sparks of magic drifting 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, I'm 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 bite 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 look that was somehow both knowing, and concerned.
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."
"Maybe this'll help you out, 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."
"You know, if your desk was clean and not covered in paper, it'd be less of a fire hazard."
"You want me to use my desk as an actual desk?" Bernard asked, fake aghast.
"Maybe!" the sprite said laughingly, as she unfolded the letter. The edges had been burnt in transit, and the paragraph was extra slanted—Blaise's messy and quick handwriting, Jacqueline realized. she brought the letter right up to her face, reading the reply greedily.
Jacqueline,
Your Mother and I had a chat, and we both agree. Come home. Both of you.
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 both soon.
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'll be good for you guys, and I think they're right." He shifted his weight. "Tell you what. If it helps, I'll stay here and guard the hallway so you don't chicken out last minute."
"Really?"
Bernard straightened his back, crossing his arms. "I'm already on it."
"Thanks Bernard," she said. "Off I go then," she added, trudging down the hallway. She glanced back. Bernard raised an eyebrow, shooing her forwards. "O-kay, o-kay, I'm going," she said, laughingly.
"Good. Good luck," Bernard said.
"Thanks," Jacqueline replied, waving over her shoulder as she turned the corner.
Bernard waited, making sure she didn't turn back around the corner. A few minutes passed with no sign of her. Shaking his head fondly, he relaxed his stance.
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.
How?
Bernard thought for a second, before replying.
Good.
The prospect of turning around looked mighty appealing when she finally stopped in front of Jack's door. 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, Jacqueline reached up to knock, only to nearly hit Jack's inquisitive face.
"Oh. Uh, hey," she said, gently lowering her arm.
"I've been wondering when you would stop pacing and finally get to the door. Come on in Jacqueline, and 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, then onto the bed, sitting cross legged in the centre. Jack followed her, hand on one of the bedposts, watching her carefully.
"I've been thinking."
"Ou. Sounds dangerous."
"Ha, ha." Jacqueline said, plowing forward. "Because of these blackouts 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?"
"We're doing the best we can, and that's the best anyone can do."
"That's true."
A thoughtful silence fell, until Jack finally piped up. "So you were thinking?"
"Yeah. I was thinking about the blackouts. What was common with the both of them. At this point anything would help, because this little detour I've taken us on has put the main goal on hold: figuring out your freezer burn, and keeping our positions as the Deliquesce prevention squad."
"And?"
"Well, I've got nothing," she said with a shrug. "The only thing I do know is that they only started when I got here. Back at home, I was fine. It basically came down to this: if we stay, we're close to the Dome and can watch it while you try to get your mojo back."
Jack gasped, offended. "I have my mojo!"
"I wasn't talking about your ego, slush for brains."
"Nor was I."
Jacqueline squinted for a moment before the innuendo finally caught up with her. "Jack! Stop it," she shouted, 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 blackout. 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 I live."
"To Frost Manor?"
"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 badly burnt paper. Confused, Jack took it and shook it open, reading the small paragraph. He paled.
"They want me to come home?"
"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 that letter. I can never get his T's right. And considering when it arrived, it nearly burnt down B-Man's office?"
"Only nearly? Ah. That's too bad," Jack said.
"Be nice," Jacqueline replied. "There's only one person who uses fiery magic to 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 lightly 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 decided. "I think you're overdue for a change of scenery. Don't you?"
"Jacqueline, I'd love to leave the Pole! But like this? I mean, come one! There's got to be another place to go. Like Gstaad! Where I live! We could go to Gstaad."
"Our parents are already expecting us," Jacqueline said. "It'd be rude to backpedal on that, don't you think?"
"And what if they do it first? What if, I agree to go home with you, and we get there, and they change their minds and-and kick me out officially? 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."
"THANK you for that PLEASANT reminder! 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 a small measure of surprise. He bolted upright, Jacqueline following suit. The pair of them watched as the bedspread slowly froze solid, tendrils of frost creeping through the threads and covering the design.
"Holy frost, Jack. Are you seeing this?"
"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!"
Jack squinted down at the tendrils of frost. Sure enough, she was right: ferns, not swirls.
"Wow! That's really interesting! Is that what happened with your hair?"
"What about my hair?!"
Jacqueline blinked, dumbstruck. "You haven't looked at your hair at all today?"
"Well, no. I've been avoiding looking at myself in the mirror, Jacqueline. It's a little vain, don't you think?"
Jacqueline stared.
Jack stared back.
Jacqueline continued to stare, disbelieving.
"What?"
"That's honestly very surprising, coming from you."
"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.
"Snowy, actually," Jack corrected.
"Lady of the SPRINGS, I can't believe it! This is reassuring as frost!"
Jack had stopped paying attention to Jacqueline's little victory party. He was too busy giving in and climbing onto the counter, his nose pressed right up against the glass as he tried to see the full extent of his new doo. 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 icy tips, like he usually had. Just snowy.
"What in the blazes—when on Earth did this happen?!" Jack asked out loud.
"I don't know! I was gonna ask you!"
"Well I don't know either!" he said, hopping down from the counter. "How did I miss that?" he asked, hands in the air.
"I don't know! This is only the second time I'm seeing it today!"
"Second?"
"It was like that on your way out of Santa's office," Jacqueline said. "It was barely a brief glance, but it was noticeable."
"That makes even less sense!"
"This is great, though!" Jacqueline said, her hands now in the air excitedly too. "It means we're doing something right!"
Jack ran his hand up and down the back of his head, feeling the snowy doo up and down. "How did I miss this?!"
"Because it's the back of your head, slush for brains!" she said, still excited. "And, not to mention, you've been avoiding mirrors because they're a painful reminder of your freezer burn," she finished smugly, hands on her hips.
Jack crossed his arms. "It was rhetorical, Jacqueline," he said, stepping around her and back out into his room.
"Oh sorry," she said, overdramatic. "My mistake. Let me correct myself. You're SUPPOSEDLY trying to be less self-absorbed. Supposedly." She crossed her arms, shifting her weight.
"Your support is just, so wonderful," Jack said dryly, mid pace.
"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. They sparkled, with a fresh layer of frost. 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, really, 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," Jack admitted. "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?"
"The Twins have a LIST of questions for you, Jack," Jacqueline said, hands in the air. "A LIST! I promise you," she said, her voice heavy and earnest, now. "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.
"This is my chance to fix things," Jack began, shooting up with a sudden intensity. "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," Jacqueline said, stepping down thoughtfully. "How about after breakfast?"
"I was thinking more like lunchtime? Have a good sleep in and then a nice meal, you know, some cocoa in the kitchen with the other elves, then some dessert…say some heartfelt goodbyes…"
"Brunch?" Jacqueline suggested.
"Ou, I love brunch," Jack said, chipper.
"Literally the best meal," Jacqueline agreed, excited. "Right then! After a good night's rest, a good brunch, and a quick cup of cocoa," she began anew, throwing her foot back on the ottoman and puffing up her chest. "Sometime in the early afternoon, we ride!"
She stepped down after a brief moment, blinking at Jack. "I'll see you in the morning then?" she asked, head tilted.
"Hmm? Oh! Yes, sounds good. I'll see you then."
Jacqueline nodded. "Night, Jack," she said with a soft wave, heading to the door. She stopped just outside the doorway, glancing back at him one last time.
His hand was glued to his chin, brow furrowed in thought.
Deciding to leave him to his contemplative silence, she gently clicked the door shut. Lifting a glowing hand, she quietly headed back down the hall, the thought ice cracking and lifting off of the floor behind her.
Blaise lay in bed, gazing at the ceiling, lost in thought. He had thought that sending the letter would have made it easier to sleep, since he wouldn't have to think about it once it was answered. But it seemed his mind had other ideas. And they were loud. Blaise sighed, squeezing his eyes tight in an attempt 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 quite a mess, the white streaks bright in the moonlight trickling in through the loosely tied curtains, framing her face in a way that made Blaise smile very, very big and roll onto his side.
"You are. Absolutely beautiful, Winter. Drop dead gorgeous, completely stunning—"
Snaking a hand underneath her torso, he pulled her up 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 bare 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.
"As am I," Winter replied, scooting 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 you'd do 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 her ice instantly. Freeze and thaw. Freeze and thaw. Freeze...and thaw. She sighed.
"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 stopped, laying 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. Reaching out for his hand, she threaded 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's there," 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 than 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 hijinks 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 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.
Though similar to the Legend/Legate connection, there are some differences. It isn't as robust as the connection Jack and Jacqueline have, for instance. It had two main uses: sending a quick little message right to one another's minds, and being able to feel where they are or how they were doing. But that was it. And of course, each parent and kid could pick what to share, and what not to share. They could block it entirely, even, should the need arise.
And in the worst circumstances, 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 perhaps on some level, Jack (she had no idea, of course, how it looked on the other end of things; she could only assume).
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. But it does happen. Both ways. 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 upon waking up, and seeing the damage done that day, seeing her little baby girl…motionless. And knowing how that had happened…
Her heart had pounded once in her chest.
Her end of the connection was no more.
"Thinking of how, how all of this 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 evaporating the tear tracks right up. She took her time, crying as she needed, warm and cozy in her husband's comforting embrace. Gradually, the shaking slowed to a stop. Several deep breaths later, she gazed into Blaise's eyes, rubbing his cheek with her thumb.
"I have to fix this," Winter said. "I need to—I want to make things right. Can it even be fixed?! And then the hard part! Would Jack even want to fix it?!"
"I don't know if it can be. But I'm sure you'll find out," Blaise said, gently cupping her face, staring back into her blue eyes. "Because if Jacqueline's letter is anything to go by, he'll agree to come home with her. And if that's the case, then I think it's safe to say he does want to fix things. And the two of you will find a way! You're resilient, and Jack has always been incredibly stubborn," Blaise said, with the air only a very exhausted parent could have.
"He takes after you there," Winter said.
Blaise laughed. "And if he's still 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, too, 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 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!