Elsa couldn't believe her luck. In such a short time, she had gone from a life of hardship to one filled with luxury, and it felt surreal. Eighteen years of struggle had led her here, in the arms of the wealthiest and kindest man she had ever known. Jackson Overland treated her like royalty, and for the first time, she felt truly cherished.
But even with everything he gave her, Elsa couldn't help but wonder, did she deserve him? He was perfect. He was everything she never thought she'd have, and yet, here he was, in her life, loving her in a way she'd never known possible.
"What's on your mind?" Jack's voice brought her out of her thoughts as he carefully drove, his eyes focused on the road.
She brushed her thumb over his knuckles, her heart full. "I can't believe this is real," she whispered. "I feel like I don't deserve someone as perfect as you."
Jack glanced at her, his voice soft but full of conviction. "Elsa, you are the epitome of perfection. You are flawless. I'm the one who doesn't deserve you. You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. This is real, and I love you."
Elsa's heart skipped. His words left her speechless. She stared at their hands, entwined in her lap, feeling the weight of his love. "How do you always know what to say to make me feel better? You're amazing."
Jack smiled, his gaze still fixed on the road. "I don't deserve any credit. It's my mom who made me who I am. You are the most important woman in my life. You make me better every day."
She chuckled. "Then I'll have to thank your mom."
Jack smiled wider. "I'll tell her about you when we get back to Berk."
Nervously, Elsa looked down at their joined hands. "Have you ever been in love before? I know you haven't dated, but…have you loved anyone?"
He laughed, a warm sound that made her heart flutter. "You. I love you, and I always will. That's it. No one else. What about you?"
Elsa's voice softened. "I've never been in love." She paused, unsure of how to say it. "Why do guys fall in love so quickly? It's only been three days, and you already love me."
Jack's smile was gentle, but there was certainty in his eyes. "It's just one of those moments. When I looked at you, I knew you were the one. It's not just guys, Elsa. It's when you know, you know. Love doesn't always take time."
She sighed, her heart heavy with unspoken feelings. "I get it. Will you wait for me to love you back?"
Jack's answer was immediate and sure. "However long it takes, I'll wait."
Before Elsa could respond, Jack pulled the car to a stop. They had arrived. "Oh, look, we're here," she said, her voice soft with wonder. "It's beautiful with all the lights."
The sparkling lights danced around the building, adding a touch of magic to the night. Jack smiled, his heart full. "It's January 2nd. We're still celebrating New Year's."
By now, Elsa knew Jack well enough to expect him to open her door, and sure enough, he did. "Your Majesty, let's go! I'm so excited to ice skate with you." His smile was so wide, it was hard not to feel his excitement.
She laughed, taking his hand as she stepped out of the car. "Okay, okay, yes, I'm excited too." Her nerves started to kick in, but she pushed them aside as they walked into the busy building.
Inside, they rented skates, and luck was on their side, the sizes were still available despite the crowd. Jack went back to the car to leave their shoes.
The atmosphere was lively with everyone still celebrating the New Year. Music played, people chatted, and the ice rink was filled with skaters gliding around, some wobbling and others skating gracefully.
"Here, sit down. I'll put these on for you," Jack said, kneeling in front of her. He carefully laced up her skates, tightening them just right. "How's that? Too tight or too loose?"
Elsa adjusted her foot. "Well, I've never ice skated before, but I've rollerbladed a lot. These feel fine. Thanks, Jack."
He grinned and kissed her lightly on the cheek. "No problem. Okay, hold my hand, and let's go. The rink's just a few steps away."
Elsa clutched his hand tightly as they walked toward the rink. "Jack, if I slip and you laugh, I swear I'll leave you," she warned, half-joking but feeling her nerves rise.
"I promise, no laughing. If you fall, I'll be there to catch you," he said, crossing his heart with a playful grin.
She shot him a side-eye, muttering, "You better not."
Taking a deep breath, Elsa stepped onto the ice and immediately felt unsteady. "Oh, God. Jack, don't you dare let go!"
Jack quickly placed his arm around her waist, steadying her. "Okay, you're good. Now, let's try something. Slide your feet into a V shape, slide to the right, and let your left foot follow in the opposite direction. Repeat that motion."
She wobbled slightly but managed to stay upright as he guided her to the rink's edge. The railing was a welcome sight, and Elsa grabbed it, her grip tight, trying to steady herself.
Jack, feeling like a pro after more than a decade of skating, demonstrated the steps slowly, making sure she was watching closely. Once he felt confident she understood, he returned to his starting position, ready to guide her further.
"I'm terrified, Jack," Elsa confessed, staring down at her ice skates, anxiety bubbling up.
"Hey, it's okay," Jack said gently. "We can just try it once, and if you don't like it, we'll go back, no pressure. But I think you'll enjoy it, trust me." His smile was warm and reassuring.
That was enough to give her some courage. With Jack's help, she tried to follow his movements, but her feet slid awkwardly. "Jack…Jackson Overland, hold me tight! Jackson!" she called out, feeling her feet moving in opposite directions.
Jack stifled a laugh. "Elsa, I'm right here. Just relax and skate. I've got you."
She took a shaky breath, and with his steadying hand, she tried again. This time, her feet moved more confidently, and she exclaimed, "Oh my goodness, Jackson! This is fun!"
"Told ya!" Jack grinned. "Do you want me to let go?"
"Don't you dare!" she said quickly, tightening her grip on his arm. But in the next moment, her feet slipped, and she went down, pulling Jack with her in a smooth, unintended tumble.
Jack bit his lip to stop himself from laughing. "Well, looks like we'll have bruises tomorrow."
Elsa shot him a glare. "And whose fault is that?"
He hesitated before answering, "It was mine…but are you okay?"
Jack managed to get up first, and Elsa followed suit, wincing a little. "It hurts, but…it was fun."
"I'm glad you think so," Jack said with a mischievous grin, holding up his phone. "Because I recorded it."
Elsa's eyes went wide, and her voice was loud with surprise. "Oh! Betrayer! When did you even record this?"
Jack scratched the back of his neck, embarrassed. "With one hand, while I was holding you with the other."
Elsa, still wary of slipping, eyed the phone. "Don't give me that look. You're not forgiven, mister. But…Astrid is going to love this video, and she's definitely going to make fun of me." She rolled her eyes, missing her best friend more than she expected.
Jack's smile softened, and he nudged her playfully. "I'm sorry, but come on, Elsa. It was fun, right?"
She sighed, brushing ice off her coat. "Yes, it was. But look at us, we're covered in ice!" She crossed her arms, looking at their coats.
Jack, still holding her steady, brushed off her coat with a grin. "You're not anymore."
"And you?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm fine," he replied, brushing off her concern.
Elsa hesitated, then relented. "Hmm, okay."
Jack, sensing her distraction, suggested, "Do you want to grab something to eat?"
She paused for a moment before answering, "Sure, but what's good here?"
Jack's face lit up. "Oh, there are a bunch of things, but my favourite is the mini donuts. They're sweet with a little bitterness, and they're piping hot, so good!" His enthusiasm was infectious.
Elsa smiled, amused by how excited he was over something so small. "Okay, I'll try them. I'll wait here."
Jack nodded and smoothly skated across the rink, heading back into the building. Elsa settled onto the bench, watching him with a soft smile, feeling a little more at ease despite the ice still stuck to her coat.
As soon as Jack disappeared from view, Elsa gathered all her courage. She stood up, wobbling a little, but this time, she was determined. She had to at least try ice skating. After all, she was a rollerblader and how different could it be? Plus, she wanted to make this something special between her and Jack.
She glanced around, observing the others and recalling the movements Jack had shown her. Slowly, she mimicked their steps. After about ten minutes of trial and error, she started to get the hang of it. Maybe she had been too self-conscious before, worried about embarrassing herself in front of Jack. In front of others, she didn't care, but with him, it was different. Why did she feel so awkward around him when he seemed so comfortable?
"That was perfect," a voice said, startling her, and she almost slipped again, but Jack's reflexes were quick enough to catch her.
They both sank onto the bench, and she looked at him, slightly embarrassed. "Were you watching me?"
Jack smiled, putting his phone back into his pocket. "I saw you. And I have to say, you looked like you were doing just fine without me. Plus, I recorded it. You were adorable."
Elsa gasped, mock horror on her face. "Jackson! Again? You're sleeping on the couch tonight!"
He grinned, teasing her. "Oh, I thought I already was. But it's good to know you'd let me sleep with you."
Elsa's face turned crimson, and she stuttered, "No…I… Wait, no! Ah…I mean, I don't know. Shut up." She looked away, flustered, her blush deepening.
Jack passed her a donut with a grin. "Yes, ma'am, now try this and give me your honest opinion."
Elsa hesitated for a moment before taking a bite, and the world around them seemed to pause. Her eyes widened in surprise. "Holy moly, this is amazing!"
Jack chuckled. "Told ya." He handed her the whole box. "Take all you want."
The donuts were tiny, about a quarter of the size of a regular donut, but Elsa wasted no time. She polished off the entire box in less than a minute, and Jack couldn't help but watch her in awe, like a lovesick puppy, which, of course, he was.
Elsa wiped her hands and smiled at him. "Thanks, babe."
His heartbeat sped up again, but this time, it was in a much warmer, more familiar way. "No problem. Do you want more?" he asked, a little too eagerly. "I can grab another box for you."
She shook her head with a laugh. "I'm good, I'm good. Thank you." Leaning over, she gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
Jack froze, his face lighting up. "Shall we leave now, Your Majesty?" He stood up so quickly that he almost slipped. He quickly recovered, flashing her a goofy smile.
Elsa raised an eyebrow, amusement dancing in her eyes. "You really are in a hurry, aren't you?"
"Absolutely!" he said, his grin widening. "I just need to get you out of here before you eat all the donuts, and kill me for recording."
She rolled her eyes, but there was a softness in her gaze as she stood up. "You know, I think I could get used to this."
"To me?" he teased, winking.
"To donuts," she replied, her smile playful.
Banter. It was moments like this that made Elsa feel like she was finally starting to let go of her walls. With Jack, everything felt lighter, easier.
She took his hand, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Yes, we ca-" But her words were cut off as snowflakes began to fall around them. "It's snowing, babe!" she exclaimed, her eyes lighting up.
Jack grinned, his gaze softening as he watched her react. "You like snow?" he asked, his voice teasing but full of warmth.
"I love it when it snows! Whenever it does, I step out and admire the snowflakes," she said, her voice full of wonder.
Jack watched her, captivated by the way she found beauty in the simple things. "Mesmerizing," he whispered, as if in awe of both the snow and her. "Give me a minute."
Before she could even ask what he was doing, Jack disappeared into the air like a phantom, leaving Elsa standing there in a daze. "Where did he go?" she muttered, looking around.
For a moment, she wished it was just her on the ice rink, free to glide and spin beneath the falling snow. The snow was her rain, her peaceful escape. But then, as she looked around, she noticed people quickly leaving the rink, rushing toward the exits. Her heart skipped a beat. Was there an emergency? What was going on?
Just as her thoughts began to race, she heard a whisper in her ear. "Boo!" Jack's voice, low and teasing, made her jump out of her skin.
Horrified, Elsa shot up from the bench, her hand over her heart. "Jackson Overland, you're going to be the death of me!" she exclaimed, her voice shaking with laughter.
Jack's smile only grew wider as he kneeled in front of her, carefully beginning to remove her ice skates and replace them with her snow boots. "Elsa-"
"What are you doing, Jack?" She raised an eyebrow, confused, and when he didn't respond, she pushed his face up to meet hers. "Why did everyone leave?"
Jack shrugged nonchalantly, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "It's snowing, and I think we should dance here."
For a moment, Elsa froze, her heart skipping a beat. He'd read her mind. Was this what soulmates were like? She felt like she could see her future in his eyes, and it was beautiful.
"Wait, what do you mean? I mean, I know what you mean…but why did everyone leave?" she asked, her voice quiet but full of wonder.
He smiled, that signature smile that melted her insides, and took her hand gently. "Dance freely, without worrying about anyone else." He handed her the snow boots with a tenderness that made her heart flutter. "No distractions, no judgment."
Elsa was speechless as Jack carefully slid her skates off, replacing them with her snow boots. The moment felt surreal, as if time itself had slowed down. She was lost in the way he looked at her, as if she was the only person in the world.
Jack, as if reading her thoughts, gave her a wicked grin. "A dance, Your Majesty?"
Elsa's breath caught in her throat. She silently took his hand, her heart racing. "Jack, you didn't have to do this for me."
"I love you," he whispered, his voice full of sincerity. "And there's nothing in this world I wouldn't do for you." He brushed a gentle kiss against her cheek. "Now, none of this. Let's dance, okay?"
She nodded, pressing her face against his hand in a gesture of complete trust. She could feel the warmth of his love surrounding her, filling her with something new, something exciting.
Then, with a mischievous glint in his eye, Jack pulled a small radio from his bag and flicked it on. "Play it," he said with a smirk.
Elsa raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "What are you doing now?"
Before she could say more, soft music began to play, the sound of it drifting through the air like a dream.
Jack extended his hand toward her, his smile full of affection. "Dancing with you under the snow."