The pair strolled up to the entrance of the house, taking in a collective breath before Elsa pressed the doorbell. Standing close together, Jack watched her fingers gently run through his hair, a gesture so natural it made his heart swell. "Sometimes I feel like I've known you forever, Jack," she said softly, her voice filled with warmth.
Jack tucked a stray lock behind her ear, his eyes locked on hers. "I know what you mean. It's unreal. We've known each other for less than a week, but I swear, it feels like a lifetime. And if you asked me to, I'd die for you, Elsa Overland. I love you, Your Majesty."
They stood there, vulnerable yet together, outside the house Elsa had once called home. Despite the tension that lingered in the air, Jack's steady presence surrounded her, offering a shield against the weight of her past. She rested her head against his chest as he delicately kissed her knuckles, savoring the quiet intimacy.
But before they could fully sink into their moment, a cough echoed from behind them. Jack straightened up, immediately stepping away from Elsa as he turned to face the interruption. "I think we've met before," he said, his voice flat, as he sized up the man before him.
"Hello, Jake." Elsa's father's attempt at a friendly greeting fell flat, and Jack couldn't hide the slight sneer on his face.
"It's Jackson Overland, sir," He corrected, his voice laced with amusement. Jack raised an eyebrow and tugged Elsa closer to his side, his playful grin returning. "And her name is Elsa Overland…in case you've forgotten hers too."
Elsa buried her face in Jack's chest, a laugh escaping as she felt the tickle of his chest against her. Jack, amused, smiled despite the underlying tension, but the secondhand embarrassment she felt, knowing that both her father and husband had moments of awkwardness, was almost unbearable.
Her father, clearly trying to regain his composure, motioned for them to enter. "Ah…yes, well, come in. My precious daughter's party is about to start." His words felt like an emotional dagger, the warmth in his smile only making Elsa's heart ache.
Noticing Elsa's distress, Jack squeezed her hand. "If you want, we can skip the party. Go snowboarding or grab a drink, but maybe...just maybe...we won't get married again. Though, I'm not opposed to the idea."
Elsa's lips curved into a smile, despite herself. Jack's attempt to lighten her mood worked. "Later, we should," she replied, the thought of escaping the tension lifting her spirits.
Just then, two men approached them, and Elsa's smile faltered. Jack immediately noticed the shift in her posture. Without missing a beat, he stepped closer, his protective instincts kicking in as they waited for what was to come.
Smith Arandelle, Elsa's least favorite cousin, smirked as he sized up the couple. "Didn't know you could smile that way, Elsa."
Jack looked at Elsa, his gaze filled with nothing but affection. "And doesn't this smile brighten the world," he murmured, his voice soft and loving.
Smith's smirk only widened, his eyes flicking to Jack with a look of disdain. Jack's jaw tightened, but he forced his anger down, extending his hand. "Jackson Overland."
Smith glanced at the hand as if it were beneath him. "Name's Smith." He avoided Jack's grip, instead sneering. "So, is she forcing you to date her? Can't think of why you'd marry this cursed, depressed bitch."
Jack's blood boiled at the insult, his fists clenching at his sides. The urge to snap was there, raw and intense. But he held it in. Elsa squeezed his hand, her touch grounding him, but the fury was simmering just beneath the surface.
"Watch your mouth when you speak about my wife!" Jack said, his voice tight with barely restrained anger.
Elsa shut her eyes, her fingers tightening around his. "Jack, please."
Smith's smirk deepened, and Anthony Arandelle, who had been standing quietly until now, leaned in with a malicious grin. "Or maybe she's just after your money, huh, Jack? A cursed gold digger. Well, let me know when you two get divorced. I'd love an invite."
The words hit like a slap to the face, and Jack's grip on Elsa's hand tightened. He could feel his blood pressure rising, his heart pounding. He could feel every instinct screaming at him to retaliate, to destroy them, to make them understand how far they'd crossed the line. But Jack had learned to control that rage...until now.
"Well, you two clearly are spineless men. A man?" Jack's voice was low, but it carried enough venom to make their smirks falter. "I don't think you even deserve to be called that. I could lecture you on decency, but honestly, I don't waste words on brainless, insecure, pathetic people like you."
Smith's face reddened, his hands balling into fists. Without warning, he grabbed Jack by the collar, his face twisted in fury. "Just! Well! Do you...Just shut the fuck up! You are a perfect bastard for a bitch like Elsa! That-"
Before Smith could finish, Jack grabbed his wrist with a crushing grip, squeezing so hard that the sound of cracking bones could be heard. He leaned in close, his voice deadly calm. "Take my wife's name again, and it won't just be your hand that's broken."
Anthony's smile vanished as he took a step back, his voice shaky. "Shit, man…Don't overreact."
Jack's chest heaved, but he ignored Anthony's words. All the politeness he'd been taught, all the lessons from his mother, disappeared. Tonight, he wouldn't be the nice guy. Not with these two. He didn't care what they thought of him. He only cared about Elsa.
He could feel Elsa's breath quicken, but she stayed silent, her hand still holding his. Jack's pulse thrummed in his ears, every fiber of his being screaming to protect her, to shield her from their cruelty. He never expected to find himself here, ready to break these men for daring to hurt what was his.
And, for a brief moment, Jack couldn't care less about anything else. Tonight, he was going to show them just how far he'd go to protect his wife.
Little did he know, his mother would be proud.
Just as the tension between Jack and the cousins reached its boiling point, a savior appeared. The room fell silent in a split second, and everyone instinctively straightened up. A sense of respect filled the air as an elder entered.
"Oh, my baby." There, standing in the doorway, was Nana Sofia Owen, the one person in Iceland who had always loved Elsa unconditionally.
"Nana" The sight of her after all these years brought an immediate wave of emotion crashing down on Elsa. Her heart ached, and she could feel the tears already threatening to spill.
The grandmother's arms opened wide, glistening with love and years of history. "Come to Nana, dearie."
Without another thought, Elsa rushed into the warm embrace, letting her tears fall freely, not caring who saw. "Nana…Nana." she sobbed, her voice thick with emotion, each word escaping through hiccups.
"Shh, Nana's here." Sofia's soothing words worked their magic, comforting Elsa just as they always had. "Let's go upstairs, okay?"
As the pair began to ascend the stairs, the room seemed to breathe a collective sigh of relief. The atmosphere shifted, the space between them and the rest of the family widening. Everyone fell silent, knowing better than to speak up before The Sofia Owen, a woman of immense wealth and even greater authority. There was no mistaking that she was the matriarch, and she had always been Elsa's rock, something that rubbed many the wrong way.
Elsa nodded without a word, allowing her Nana to guide her, Jack following closely behind, his hand firmly in hers. The cousins, Smith and Anthony, muttered curses under their breath, but not a soul dared to speak openly.
As they moved through the house, Elsa's mind was flooded with memories...some bittersweet, others filled with warmth. Every corner, every hallway, seemed to echo with the screams of the past. She recalled the countless nights she had spent here as a child, in her Nana's embrace after the storms of life had passed through. The soothing words Sofia had always whispered when she was young, "It'll get better, my baby," played in her mind like a soft lullaby.
When they reached the room, Elsa felt a strange stillness wash over her, as if the weight of her past had caught up to her in full force. Jack stopped just outside the door, gently releasing her hand. It was his unspoken way of giving her the space she needed with her Nana, to allow the emotional reunion to unfold privately. Elsa nodded her thanks, though a heaviness remained in her chest.
She stepped inside, her eyes scanning the familiar surroundings, but the memories only seemed to amplify the emptiness within her. The love she once shared with her sister, the comfort of her Nana's presence, everything felt like it belonged to another time, a part of her life that felt distant now.
She sat on the edge of the bed, her thoughts swirling, and for a moment, the world outside the room seemed to fade away. Jack's absence at her side was a quiet reminder of the space that still lingered within her, a space that only time and healing could begin to fill.
It had been a long time since she had chatted with her grandmother, and she was feeling quite shy at the moment. "I'm sorry I wasn't in touch with you; there's no reason good enough to-"
The compassionate old lady beamed and cupped her cheeks with wrinkly shaking hands. "I understand, baby, don't you ever think I don't. I raised you myself and have seen you struggle. If anything, I'm proud of you for leaving this toxic family, and I am happy it only resulted in a happy ending." Nana chuckled and teased her granddaughter, ruffling her hair in tenderness. "But I still missed you. Don't worry, I wasn't angry…as if I could ever be."
Oh, how easy it was to open up to her Nana. "I missed you, Nana, but I wasn't strong enough to contact you. I didn't even talk to Anna. I am so ashamed."
"Enough of this rubbish; now tell me of the handsome man who's worriedly standing outside this room." The lady laughed and announced loud enough that he heard, "Quit eavesdropping and come inside, Jackson."
Jack hurriedly stepped inside, almost stumbling and rushed his arms in the air, acting innocent. "I promise I wasn't Mrs. Owen! I just...wanted Elsa and you to feel comfortable."
As you grow older and have more experience, you can read people, and she comprehended he spoke the truth. "Oh please, Jackson, call me Nana; that name only reminds me of that bastard that died." She sighed and shook her head. "Never a good husband he was...I tell you that."
Well, that he didn't know, and it was baffling how Elsa's grandmother said it so plainly. "I'm sorry for that...umm...Nana."
"Ah, don't be. That jerk died, and I've never been happier." She raised her hand straight-lipped and demanded, "Now, how are you treating my baby? And how dare you not ask for my blessing?!"
Pale face, the man was terrified to death. "Nana, I forced Jack not to contact my family. Please go easy on him; he is a good man." The lies had begun.
Elsa rambled in such an urgency that Nana was eventually able to stop her. "Dearie! I am talking to him; it'll be better for you if you remain quiet."
"Nana!" She was not intimidated by her grandmother, which only indicated how close they were.
Finally, the sweet Nana rolled her eyes and slapped Elsa's shoulder as softly as possible. "Quite you! Now answer me, Jackson Overland. What are your intentions with my Elsa, and do you...Do you think that you deserve her?" Her voice broke a little as sentiments overtook her.
So that's where Elsa had gotten her icy personality and soft heart; Jack finally understood. He found that adorable and, by mistake, let out a chuckle, then freaked out, "Oh God, I'm sorry! I found it adorable that Elsa gets her charm from you, my lady. I mean, I-"
Nana was finding it very hard to control her laughter, so she chose to mess with him a bit. "Are you flirting with me in front of your wife!"
"Nana, what is wrong with you? Jack didn't-"
"Elsa, didn't I say to be quiet! Now, don't speak!"
Jack would undoubtedly faint because he not only didn't answer the questions but stupidly ended up flirting with the grandmother; well, that's at least what he was told. "I'm sorry, I did not mean that."
Once again, she questioned him only to make him suffer more, but of course, jokingly, "So are you saying I'm not beautiful enough to be flirted with? What ridiculous nonsense! How dare you make fun of my age? Do you have no shame?"
"I-" Dumbfounded, and he was a little too close to passing out.
The charismatic lady hid her grin and asked, "Anyhow, answer my questions. What are your intentions with my precious granddaughter, and do you think you deserve her?"
Jack went on his knees, both begging for forgiveness and blessing. "Firstly, I'm very sorry for creating a scene downstairs and disrespecting you."
"Answer my questions!" She demanded but was secretly applauding his apology.
He swallowed and looked down, unable to meet her eyes. "I love your granddaughter and only want to give her the best. I love her so much that I would leave her in an instant if it were to make her happy, which I truly beg the gods not. So far, I've tried my hardest to make her happy and treat her as she deserves to be. I have good intentions and good only. It pierces my heart when I see her in pain and think of the misery she has gone through. I swear on my life and the gods above that I will cherish her till my last breath and treat her as a queen. Unfortunately, I can't lie and say she would never have a moment of sadness in our marriage, but I can promise that it would pass instantly and strengthen our bond. That...that is my intention to make her the happiest."
Unknown to them, Elsa was crying a few inches from them. "Oh, babe."
He humbly responded to the second question, saying, "I don't believe I am worthy of her. She embodies perfection, while I am flawed. However, I am committed to self-improvement and will strive daily to better myself for her. Elsa surpasses me in every conceivable way. I know I am undeserving of her, but I am determined to become someone who is. Nana, please grant me your blessing to be with your granddaughter."
"I won't. I'm bored. That was a speech, not an answer." Nana huffed and averted her eyes.
Brokenhearted Jack stuttered, "I...Nana...Ple-"
Then she burst out laughing and pulled him up in a hug. "I am joking, Jack! You're a good boy, and you have my blessing."
He let out a massive breath of relief and hung his head low. "Thank you very much, Nana."
"Sweetie, how could I not? Your answers were beautiful, and I can tell you adore my Elsa." She patted his head, and he looked like a puppy with a glow in his eyes.
And he was knocked down on the floor when Elsa fell on him. "You stupid and adorable old goat." Jack was covered in kisses all over his face, and Sofia was confused by the nickname.
Nana rolled her eyes and interrupted them, "So you really like him? I thought he was your fake husband that you accidentally married."
"What!" The couple screamed at the top of their lungs, "How do you know?!"
Nana smiled. "Tuffnut."
Elsa's family introduced in this chapter:
Father: Agnarr Arandelle
Maternal Grandmother: Nana Sofia Owen
Paternal Cousins: Smith Arandelle (25) and Anthony Arandelle (22)