AUTHOR'S NOTE: First off: Thank you, THANK YOU so much to everyone that reviewed! It means more than I can say. And YES, ZzZzBluestarZzZz, of COURSE I read reviews like that! Oh, my goodness, you guys are wonderful. I miss you all so much! Yep, were still technically on hiatus, but GAAAAURGH I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel with the new draft! (In this chapter, there's actually something with a maid coming and waking Elsa up at 8, which is a detail that's added in the new draft. Just accept it for now; it's NOW a thing.) ;) Meh. At least, I can promise that there's a TON of new material. Example: The current version that's up of the Jack arriving in Arendelle/first meetingscene is about 4000 words. The new version is sitting around 17000 words. Oh, man, I cannot WAIT to just finish the draft and move on! Thanks so much for bearing with me, guys, and I am SO SORRY this is taking so long! I LOVE YOU ALL, AND THANK YOU FOR STILL BEING HERE AND JUSTIFYING MY SECRET HOBBY!

CONTENT WARNING: Sexual innuendo. Because, of COURSE there is.

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48: PRACTICE SUITOR

Pff.

The snowball hit Elsa's headboard, disintegrating as it fell apart onto the mattress below. Watching through the window in the wall of ice, Jack bit his lip. She still hadn't woken up.

Taking a step back, he scooped another handful of snow out of the pile on his bed, packing it into a snowball. If it had been North, or something, he would have just aimed for the face. But Elsa was—well.

She was Elsa.

After a brief moment of contemplation, tossing the next snowball to himself, Jack looked back to the window. Pulling it back, he aimed, and—!

Pff.

As it fell apart, just like the last, he paused, watching for signs of movement.

Nope. Still nothing.

Jack stuck his hands in his pocket, taking a few steps back from the wall of ice. Glancing to the pocketwatch sitting on Elsa's desk, and then back to her bedroom, he pulled in his breath. It was almost eight o'clock. She would definitely want to be awake by now… especially before the maid came.

The maid.

The realization hit him all at once, and he jolted, looking to the icy bed and the wall. The maid. The maid was instructed to come at eight, and if Elsa didn't respond, when there was another bed suddenly in her room…!

Well. That wouldn't go over well.

Jumping up onto the edge of the icy bedframe, Jack set his feet, pressing his palms flat on the wall of ice. Oblivious to the darkness of the December morning, the golden pocketwatch on her desk was still ticking on, time marching determinately forward despite the veil of stars that still hung stretched out over the fjord. In any other circumstances, Jack would have still considered this to be—well, wrong. He'd promised that he'd leave the wall of ice in place for the night.

But for Elsa—whose life was currently somewhat ruled by the hands on the pocketwatch—it was now morning.

You will forgive me later, Snowflake.

Jack jerked his hands back from the wall, flipping off of the bed as the ice leapt into the air behind him, swirling and leaping in long, glittering spirals of frost, catching the last of the moonlight pouring in through the tall glass doors. Hardly even watching them, he swirled the ice particles into the hallway as the window widened before him. There wasn't time for more than that.

Good enough. Snatching up his staff, Jack leapt up onto the icy bedframe, diving through the window and spinning up into the air on the other side. A few rouge snowflakes dancing around him as he tumbled forward to land on the ground, lightly bouncing on the balls of his feet as he touched down, Jack ran forward across the room to—

He froze.

His heart pounding as he approached her, the Youngest Guardian slowly let out his breath, loosening his grip on the staff and allowing the end of the shepherd's crook to silently fall into the carpet. Leaning into it with a wistful sigh, Jack felt his heart swell. Quietly sleeping in her bed, her hair thrown about her face on the pillow, Elsa was somehow even more beautiful in real life than she'd been in the dream. And, oh, man, was that a great dream…

Geez—he was already dreaming about her? Was that creepy?

Jack bit his lip. Taking a hand off the staff and running his fingers through his hair, he let out a breathy, nervous laugh, shaking his head with embarrassment as he stared in awe at the brilliant young reformer sinking into her covers.

Sweet mother of snowflakes, the Snow Queen was beautiful.

"Elsa?" Jack tried softly.

No response.

He slowly let out his breath, staring longingly down at the sleeping young queen. This "Fifth Spirit," who had uprooted herself from the Enchanted Forest, to come back to Arendelle and coop herself up the castle once again for her sister's sake. Long-since unbraided from the night before, Elsa's hair still had a few snowflakes stuck in it…

But that dream was so amazing. Like, the kind of dream where you're having so much fun, and everything is going so right, that you wake up and just about want to punch a wall in frustration from having it all suddenly taken away from you. Well—whatever that dream about Elsa was, one thing was for certain.

Sandy. Was never. Finding out about it.

"Elllllllsaaaaaaaaaa…"

Jack gingerly sat down on the edge of her bed, reaching forward and gently pushing a hair back from her face. A tiny moan escaping her lips, the young queen stirred slightly in the covers, the dark purple sleeve of the icy nightgown slipping from her shoulder. Jack smiled sheepishly, brushing back her hair again and watching the Ice Powers Girl as her soft lips parted for breath. Her eyes fluttering open, she shifted again, starting to turn over as the—

"EEP!"

Elsa gasped, jumping and scrambling backwards in her bed.

"Jack!" she choked, her face going pale, "What are you DOING in he—MMPH!"

His hand clapped over her mouth, Jack frantically shook his head, glancing to the door.

Knock knock.

Elsa's eyes bulged, and she abruptly sucked in her breath with the realization as Jack carefully pulled his hand away, looking to the door again.

"Your majesty?" asked the maid. "It's eight o'clock, your highness. Are you—"

"—I'm up! I mean—uh," Elsa stammered, jolting, "I—I'm awake! You don't need to come in!"

Jack relaxed slightly as she turned back to him, her jaw hanging open in shock as she clutched the blanket to her chest, reaching her other hand across to pull the sleeve of her nightgown back up onto her shoulder.

Thank you! Elsa mouthed.

"As you wish, your majesty," the maid's voice came again. "Will that be all, Queen El—"

"—Yes!" she blurted, "That—thank you. Yes! You are dismissed."

As they heard the sound of the maid's feet walking back down the hallway outside, Elsa let out her breath, clapping her hand over her heart and looking to Jack.

"Oh my word," she gasped, "That was really close!"

He shrugged. "I figured you wouldn't want anyone to see—"

"—No," Elsa choked, shaking her head and glancing to the bed in the art gallery.

Sitting down on the edge of the mattress again and resting his feet on his staff, Jack laughed softly. "Don't feel like explaining it?"

"I don't feel like explaining anything."

He grinned as the Fifth Spirit kneaded her eyebrows, collapsing back into the covers and staring at the ceiling.

"Can I just—not—get up today?" she laughed bitterly, shaking her head again. "I don't want to deal with the politics of being back here. I don't want to be the Queen today."

"Doesn't this conversation usually go in the other direction?" Jack chuckled.

"It's different when my duty involves suitors."

"Ah."

Groaning, she shook her head, cupping her hands over her eyes as she lay in the sheets, the icy sleeve of the nightgown slipping from her shoulder again. After a long moment of slack-jawed hesitation—staring at her creamy skin—Jack stood up, pulling in his breath.

"How about this," he offered, raising his eyebrows. "Your choices are the following: Get up, or scoot over."

"I'm up!"

"Ouch."

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"Elsa, it's not going to be like last time."

Jack's heart sank as he watched the young queen worriedly pace back and forth in the throne room, delicate flurries of snow materializing out of the air around her. Her long capelet billowing across the carpet, she bit her lip, turning and walking over to one of the large mirrors on the side of the room, opposite the windows.

"Are you sure this isn't too delicate?" she whimpered, flicking her fingers over the crown. The ice creaked as it thickened, the filigree swirls filling in as it settled deeper into her hair. "I—I d-don't want to look—weak."

"Snowflake, you couldn't look weak if you tried."

To this, Elsa glanced to his reflection in the mirror, smiling gratefully. Jack's heart leapt, and he stuck his hand in his pocket, walking up to her.

"It's not going to be like last time," he repeated, dropping his voice to a whisper. "You're going to be fine."

She turned around to face him, anxiously staring at the floor. "I—I just c-can't believe—!"

He raised his eyebrows slightly. Elsa shook her head, squeezing her eyes shut and shakily pulling in her breath.

"Suitors," she choked. "I am. Seeing. Suitors."

Jack let out a sharp bark of laughter. "Well, I can't do much about that."

"I should never have agreed to this!"

"It didn't sound like you were given much of a choice—"

"—What if they're all awful?" Elsa stammered desperately, whipping around to him as her eyes blurred with tears, "What if they're all like King Edvin? Or if they're all stupid? What'll I do, then? Ruling a kingdom is hard enough as it is—and, I'm not even really supposed to be doing it, anymore!"

Before he could respond, the Ice Powers Girl spun back around to the mirror, her hands flying to her head.

"I hate crowns," she choked, feeling it, "I've always hated them. And now I know why. I hate them because I'm supposed to be in the Enchanted Forest, because I'm supposed to be fulfilling my destiny up there as the Fifth Spirit, whether anybody believes me or not! I can't be getting married, right now!"

"Getting married?" Jack startled.

Her face was pained. "I promised the Council that I'd consider the suitors."

"And you promised to choose one?"

Elsa's eyes widened. Stumbling back a step, she reached out for the mantle, missing it, and then catching its edge, leaning against it and clapping her other hand to her forehead.

"You're right," she breathed, slowly looking up to him as a smile crept over her features, "I—you're right! You're a genius!"

Before Jack knew what was happening, the Snow Queen suddenly leapt forward, throwing her arms around his neck with relief. His mouth falling open with shock, Jack's heart leapt, and he gingerly wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer as her hair brushed up against his face.

It was so soft…

Stepping back from him, Elsa stumbled slightly, pulling in a shallow gasp of air. Clapping her hand to her stomach and throwing out her other arm to catch the backrest of the nearest sofa, she leaned onto it, trying to take a few deep breaths.

A look of concern swept over Jack's face.

"Uh… Snowflake?" he asked softly, "Are—are you okay?"

She nodded, her face pale. "I'm fine. Just—just feeling a little faint, that's all."

Jack watched her worriedly as she leaned against the sofa, struggling to breathe. Glancing down, it occurred to him.

Oh.

"Maybe you need to loosen—uh—that," he said carefully.

She looked to him in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

Jack felt blood rushing to his face.

Eh, heh.

"I—um—the," he stammered, trying to come up with the word. "You know. This."

As she pushed herself back from the sofa, Jack gingerly reached forward, flicking the unnaturally hard surface of her stomach.

Thock.

"My corset?" Elsa asked hesitantly.

"Yeah. Whatever it's called," Jack sighed. "It looks—really tight."

"It's supposed to be snug. I don't tightlace, though," she grimaced. "I think I made it tighter than usual this morning by accident. I was dressing quickly."

"If you're having issues breathing, that's a problem," he scoffed. "Can't you loosen it, a little?"

Elsa shifted uncomfortably, rubbing her hand over her opposite arm. "I can't do that unless I take it off," she admitted. "It's built in one piece of ice."

"So, take the stupid thing off."

Elsa bit her lip. "It's fused to the dress. I can't take off the corset unless I take off everything."

Jack paused, his eyebrows perking slightly.

Now, THERE'S an idea.

"Auuurgh," Elsa groaned.

He jolted back into focus, the dreamy grin suddenly wiped off his face. "I didn't SAY anything!"

But Elsa had already resumed pacing, nervously massaging her temples with her hands by her face, the flurries materializing out of the air around her.

Shaking his head, Jack sighed. He tossed the staff into his other hand, bouncing up off the ground and swooping across the throne room to suddenly drop back to the floor in front of her.

"Eep!"

"You're. Going. To be. FINE," Jack said sternly, glaring into Elsa's eyes. "Will you please calm down?"

"I can't be calm," she whimpered frantically, breaking eye contact and looking down, "I've tried. No calm. Not with suitors. I can't conceal it. I—"

She abruptly cut herself off, giving her head a tiny shake and biting her lip. Crossing her arms over her chest, she sharply let out her breath, whirling away from him to resume pacing.

Jack rolled his eyes, leaping into the air again.

"Oh!" Elsa startled.

"Repeat after me," he said, catching her shoulder before she could jerk away. "I can do this."

Elsa gulped, biting her lip. "I—Jack—"

"—Say it."

A few moments went by. Finally, she shook her head slightly and blinked, nervously drawing in a breath.

"I can do this," she quavered.

He grinned approvingly, giving her shoulders a slight squeeze and staring more intently into her eyes. "I am powerful."

"I am powerful."

"I am brilliant!"

"I am brilliant."

"I am amazing."

"I am amazing."

"I am madly in love with Jack Frost."

"I am madly in lo—" Elsa stopped abruptly, her face going pale.

Jack shrugged, sticking his hands into his pocket with his lips pressed together into a tight smile.

Ouch.

Raggedly pulling in her breath, her eyes watering again, she shook her head, stumbling back a step. "I'm sorry," Elsa apologized frantically, "I—I don't have much of a sense of humor right now. This isn't the time for joking around, and—"

"—Really?" Jack scoffed. "Because, I think it's exactly the time to be joking around."

"I have suitors coming," she protested, "And I—I'm nervous, and—!"

"—Elsa?"

She looked up. The tiny snowflake caught the sunlight as it slowly turned in the air, hovering above Jack's fingers.

He raised his eyebrows.

"You're hyperventilating," Jack sighed.

She gulped, staring at her feet.

"I—I am," Elsa squeaked. "I—yes. I mean, thank you, and—!"

Ting.

The Snow Queen's face relaxed, and Jack felt a wave of relief wash over him as the snowflakes falling around her slowed and disappeared. The Fifth Spirit of the Enchanted Forest then shuddered, letting out her breath as the trembling subsided.

"Snowflake?" he tried softly. "You've got suitors. It's not that big a deal. I mean, this isn't supposed to be scary."

"But I—I d-didn't want to see—"

"—I know. But you're going to be fine."

She nodded weakly, looking up to him and pulling in her breath.

"Okay—ignoring the circumstances," Jack tried again, "I think that we could have some fun with this."

"Fun?" Elsa sputtered. "How could this be fun? I don't even know what's going to happen."

"Well, let's go through what will happen, then."

Jack took a few steps back, throwing his arms outwards as he spun around, pacing to down the long carpet in the center of the room. Reaching the end of it, Elsa watching, he spun around to face her.

"You will be there, looking beautiful," he said, gesturing to the throne as she blushed, "And a given sorry sap will be there—or there—"

"They're suitors, first of all," Elsa retorted, "Not 'sorry saps—'"

"Potae-to, potah-to—"

"—And they're not assigned to stand in a specific place."

"You mean, there's no hidden trap door for you to drop them through when they get boring? What a shame."

To this, the Ice Powers Girl giggled slightly, covering her mouth with her hand. Then, drawing herself up again, she bit her lip.

"And where will you be?" she asked.

"Over here. The whole time," Jack reassured her. Her then grinned, sweeping into a deep, dramatic bow. "Offering the witty commentary."

She smiled weakly, nervously twisting her icy heel into the carpet. Quickly looking around, Jack bounded into the air, swooping to the other side of the room and snatching up a large, glass vase.

The large, glass vase.

With Elsa watching, he flew back over to her, tossing it to himself as he silently touched back on the floor.

"And, I'll have this," he added, a sly grin at the edge of his mouth.

She laughed. "By the way," she admitted, "I—when you stood up for me to King Edvin—"

"—Did it feel good? Yes."

Elsa laughed softly, shaking her head.

"Why didn't you just open the door?" she asked.

He froze.

Looking to the heavy wooden doors at the end of the hall, Jack felt blood rushing to his cheeks. Letting out a sharp bark of laughter, he grinned sheepishly, tossing the vase gently to himself and looking back to her.

"Somehow, this was more satisfying," he said.

"But you had time," Elsa reasoned, "I mean—Jack—you were there for the whole thing!"

"Yeah?"

"I—you—well, you saw what he was doing!" she stammered, "Why didn't you—I mean, you didn't actually intervene until I called the—"

Jack stared at the floor. Elsa's eyes widened.

"Until—I called. The guards," she gasped. "You weren't going to intervene unless I called the guards."

He shifted uncomfortably, shrugging and letting out a nervous laugh. "Elsa, it's—"

"—You only intervened when I called the guards," she realized, "You were letting me stand up for myself."

"I—I f-figured you'd want it that way," Jack admitted, shrugging and looking down to his feet, "I mean—and you'd just kicked me out, so if you didn't want to see me, I was going to respec—"

"—Thank you."

She walked up to him, and he stopped, his heart skipping a beat as he turned back to face her. She smiled shyly, tucking a stray hair back into her bun.

"You're a really great friend," Elsa said softly. "You know that?"

Jack gulped.

Wince.

"Uh—yeah. Friend," Jack choked, forcing a smile. "Thanks."

They stared into each other's eyes for a long, silent moment.

Fidgeting with her fingers, Elsa gave a little shrug.

"I just—I just wish there was a way to—prepare for this," Elsa admitted sheepishly. "I mean, with the councils and court and such, there's a set agenda. There's a procedure, and—you follow it. Usually You can't know exactly what to expect, but at least you have the general idea before you go in."

He raised his eyebrows. "Like—you want a way to practice?" he said, "Would that calm you down?"

"It's a shame there isn't one."

Jack Frost shifted his fingers on the staff, looking down and kicking at the carpet. Pulling in his breath, he looked up to her slowly.

"What if—there was a way to practice?" he asked carefully.

She paused, a look of confusion sweeping her face. "What do you mean?"

"Ever role-played before, Snowflake?"

Elsa let out a nervous laugh. "Role play?" she scoffed. "What, are you going to find me a practice suitor, or something?"

"How about me?"

Elsa stiffened.

"You?" she breathed.

"Aw, come on," Jack chuckled, walking away from her to the door, "It'll be fun."

Reaching the end of the long carpet, right in front of the enormous wooden doors to the throne room, Jack stopped. Drawing himself up, he spun around to face her.

"I will start off by snootily swooping into the room," he proclaimed, rolling his hand through the air, "And bowing before you… Queen Elsa."

He swept into a deep, dramatic bow, his white hair falling forward and almost touching the floor.

After a few seconds of awkward silence, Jack Frost looked up. Through the clump of white hair in his face, he saw that Elsa was standing rigidly in her place, blushing furiously and completely unsure of what to do.

He blew his hair out of his face.

"Come on, Snowflake," Jack prompted. "Play along?"

The Snow Queen looked abruptly uncomfortable.

"I'm not good at acting," she choked. "I—I never know what to do."

"Oh, relax. You can't be that bad."

"You should see me at charades."

His eyebrows lifted, and Jack stuck his thumbs into his front pocket, the end of his staff loosely dropping into the carpet. "It's just pretend, Snowflake," he offered. "I mean, if you don't want to, you don't have to, but—just pretend you're a child again."

A look of confusion swept across her face. "A child?"

"Little kids are brilliant at pretend," he added, "If you give a child a stick, he'll slay a dragon. Just channel your inner kid."

"Channel my inner kid?"

"Sure!" Whipping his staff back onto his shoulder, the Guardian of Fun grinned, turning and walking away from her. "Why don't we start over? We'll just try it again."

Pulling in his breath—now another few paces down the carpet—Jack Frost spun around.

"I am a hopeless, sorry sap, here to court you, and have now—ENTERED the room," he bellowed, flinging his free hand into the air again, "And I BOW before your royal superiorness—Queen Ella!"

He swept into a deep, dramatic bow, his hand brushing against the edge of his bare right foot. Looking up through his hair, he bit his lip.

"Okay… so," Jack prompted, giving her a tiny smile of encouragement. "Now, you would…?"

She bit her lip, fidgeting with her fingers. Taking in a deep breath, Elsa then balled her hands into fists for a moment, giving him a quick, shaky curtsy.

"I would—um, return the greeting," she retorted softly, stretching out her fingers again, "While—quietly correcting you on my name."

"At which point I would frantically fumble for my notes…"

Jack sprang up and awkwardly acted out that he was ruffling a large jacket, pulling out an invisible piece of paper and slyly checking it. Elsa laughed, and a wave of relief swept over him as he tucked the invisible notes away and threw down the shepherd's crook, sweeping up to her.

"Queen Elsie—"

"—Elsa."

"Elsita!"

"Elsa."

"Elphaba!"

"ELSA."

"Queen Elsa," he said dramatically, taking her hand and falling onto his left knee as she restrained from laughing again, "I know that this is fast and we just met, but I just want you to know that: I love you."

Her eyes widened. "Um—is that so?"

"Oh, yes! And it has absolutely NOTHING to do with the fact that your kingdom is very wealthy."

Elsa laughed again, her face relaxing, and Jack's heart leapt. Her anxious expression melting into a smile, the Snow Queen's deep blue eyes went soft as they gazed into his own, the frosty ice crystals on her crown sparkling in the morning sunlight through a few stands of thick blonde hair.

Jack's jaw slackened.

"So—your majesty," Elsa tried again hesitantly, taking a tiny step towards him, "We're to be forming an alliance, then?"

He jolted, snapping back into focus and letting out a nervous laugh. "Oh, yes!"

"So this is this a proposal, my king?"

Elsa looked back down at him, teasingly gazing into his eyes, waiting for his response. Sucking in his breath, Jack took her hand a little firmer, grinning and playfully pulling her closer. "Why not?"

"Why, we just met!" she exclaimed, starting to relax into the game, "We know nothing about each other!"

"Oh, but I know it's true," Jack said, the words beginning to tumble out of his mouth faster and faster as he spoke, "I—I know. I know, Queen Elsa."

"Oh, you do?"

"I know that it's going to be hard to believe," Jack blurted, his smile fading as he gripped her hand harder, "Because it's been a really short amount of time. But Elsa, I just want you to know that I've never felt this way about anyone, ever!"

"Uh—"

"—And if I could have anything, any wish, in this world," he stammered frantically, growing more and more intense as he spoke, "It's that I'd want to have you by my side for the rest of my existence, because you're the most amazing and brilliant and wonderful andaltogether impossibly PERFECT woman for me that I've EVER HAD THE INSANE LUCK OF MEETING!"

The last of the words tumbling helplessly out of his mouth before he could stop them, Jack was suddenly gasping for breath, staring at the floor. Now gripping her hand so tightly that his knuckles were turning white, as he slowly looked up, he saw that Elsa—frozen in her place—was staring at him in shock.

He gulped.

"Says… the suitor," Jack squeaked.

They stared at each other in silence.

"I feel—like that wouldn't happen," Elsa whispered.

Looking to her hand again in his own, Jack shakily pulled in his breath, feeling blood rushing to his face. Relaxing his grip, he pulled his top hand back off of hers.

"But, then—uh," Jack choked, awkwardly patting her hand as he got onto his feet, "And then—the suitor—would probably add something about duty to his kingdom, and desperately needing to locate a Royal Babymaker."

Elsa jolted, abruptly pulling her hand back and letting out a sharp giggle. "Jack!"

"If they got to the point, that's what they'd say!"

"I'm the Fifth Spirit of the Enchanted Forest," she scoffed, raising her eyebrows. "If a man actually dared say that to me, I'd tell him to get out of my sight before I ice-blasted him in the face. Or asked the Nokk to trample him to death."

"YES! Good! GOOD response!" Jack laughed nervously, looking for any excuse to change the subject. He leapt forward, grasping the Snow Queen's hands again. "In fact, you know what? DON'T even wait until they say something. Just tell them that, as soon as they walk in!"

"Goodness. How subtle."

"I am a MASTER of subtlety."

She blushed slightly, letting out a breathy laugh. Then, after a few moments, the Fifth Spirit looked down again, fidgeting with her fingers as her face fell.

"What?" Jack prodded. "What's wrong now?"

She shrugged, biting her lip. "I'm sorry," Elsa breathed, "I'm just—I—!"

Her voice trailed off. As he stepped up in front of her, the Ice Powers Girl nervously looked up into his eyes.

"Jack…" she choked, "I'm scared."

A look of confusion swept over his face.

"Scared of what?" Jack sighed. "I'll be here the whole time."

"How can I talk to an actual suitor if I can't even talk to you?"

Wince.

Trying to ignore her use of the word "actual," Jack's stomach twisted as he saw the fear creeping back over her features, and he helplessly glanced around the room for ideas. The carpet, the chairs, the countless little end tables lining the hall all provided possibilities, but nothing stuck out. Finally, looking to the windows, he realized that a long, braided gold rope with a tassel on the end was hanging down from the curtain closest to a large, velvet chair.

Ah-ha!

"Okay," Jack told her, picking up the capelet and yanking it to the side, "New idea. Come 'ere."

"Whoop!"

The Snow Queen was whirled around as the capelet caught, stumbling helplessly behind Jack as he leapt up onto the chair, reaching for the tassel. Spinning around in the glistening fabric, he dramatically swept himself up, pulling the thick, braided gold cord over his shoulder like it was his hair and clearing his throat.

"I am Elsa, Reinstated Acting Queen of Arendelle!" Jack squeaked, sweeping the fabric to the side as his voice cracked in the shrill falsetto, "And I am here to see my many suitors… oh, kiss my regal hands, you hopeless oafs!"

He flung his wrist out resolutely, throwing his head back as Elsa buckled over with laughter, holding her stomach and leaning onto the armrest of the chair as blood rushed to her face.

His heart leapt.

"What was that?" Jack squealed, dramatically sweeping his hand up to his ear, and then jolting to catch the falling capelet and yank it back up around his body, "Why—why yes! You may bow before my superior everything!"

Throwing his head back again, he kicked out his leg, falling off the edge of the chair to land beside Elsa, who was now giggling even harder.

"Why, Jack Frost!" she exclaimed, her hand over her heart as he paraded around her in the capelet, "I—I had no idea that you were such a perfect body double for me!"

"Jack Frost?" he shrieked, his voice cracking again as he whirled around and batted his eyelashes in the Elsa impression, "Did you say, Jack Frost? You know him?"

She grinned, drawing herself up. "Why, as a matter of fact, I do!" she laughed. "I find him to be quite charming. And obnoxious."

"Jack Frost? That dreamboat?" Jack squeaked dramatically, fanning himself with his hand and sweeping the capelet to the side again, "That shining pillar of masculinity? That untainted, glistening paragon of pure manliness, to whom none of these suitors could ever compare?"

"Okay," Elsa chuckled with discomfort, blushing and stepping back, "Maybe you're a slightly less than perfect body double for me."

Jack stopped, laughing and sticking out his lip as he looked to her. "You don't think so?" he whimpered, dropping his voice back the three octaves down to its normal register, "You don't think I'm a completely convincing Queen Elsa?"

"No, I can't say I do…"

Reaching behind his back and gathering the fabric into his fist, Jack grinned mischievously, dropping his voice to a whisper and flirtatiously gazing into Elsa's eyes.

"Oh. I'm so sorry," he chuckled.

YANK.

He pulled the capelet and hoodie back tight at his waist, the glistening fabric poufing out into an enormous bubble over his hips.

Elsa's face turned beet red.

"How about now?" Jack laughed, swishing the pouf of fabric as he walked forward, "A little more convincing, maybe? I—"

Knock knock.

Elsa jolted, spinning around and sucking in her breath. Her face going pale, she looked back to Jack, who abruptly dropped the capelet, letting the fabric softly float to the ground.

"They're here!" she choked. "It's starting! I—"

"—Will be fine."

She gulped, biting her lip. Kicking the edge of her capelet aside, Jack leaned in close to her face, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Snowflake, I'll be right here."

Jack grinned reassuringly, and the Ice Powers Girl shyly looked up, meeting his gaze again. Smiling weakly herself, she then nodded, turning to walk to the throne and the platform. Picking up his staff and leaping up onto the back of one of the chairs, Jack silently sat down, laying his shepherd's crook across his lap and looking to the door.

Showtime.

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(ANOTHER)AUTHOR'S NOTE: I can't promise that the draft/hiatus will be done in a week-in fact, I can pretty well promise that it WON'T be-but, if you like, I'd be MORE than happy to start posting sneak peeks of it about once a week, until it is done. Would anybody like/want that? Please let me know in the reviews. Thanks for reading, and I hope you have a fantabulous day! :)