The weight of expectations can be crushing.
Elsa stood outside, her gaze fixed on the horizon, waiting for the car to arrive, every passing minute amplifying the anxiety building within her. As she waited, her mind wandered to the past, each moment, each decision, that had brought her here. The weight of regret pressed heavily on her chest, especially when she thought of her fractured relationship with Anna. In her moments of weakness, Elsa had clung to the naïve hope that time could heal their rift, that their bond could somehow be repaired. She had acknowledged her mistakes, tried to make amends, and believed Anna might eventually understand. But that hope had been shattered, the reality hitting her hard...Anna didn't share her understanding.
Perhaps Anna was right to feel hurt. Maybe if Elsa had stayed, if she hadn't left when she did, things could have gradually improved between them. Could she have adapted to the family she left behind? Had her departure been an act of selfishness, driven by the pain of her own heart?
Expecting happiness, trusting that things would get better, had been her greatest mistake.
Now, as she thought of Jack, the ache in her heart only deepened. Her hopes for him, her hopes for them, had been just as fragile, as fleeting, as the ones she once had for Anna. It made her wonder, with a sinking sense of dread, if Jack, too, might someday walk away, just as her sister had.
Elsa was so lost in her whirlwind of thoughts that she didn't notice Jack's approach until his touch broke through her haze. She jumped at the sudden contact, her heart skipping a beat. "It's just me, Snowflake," he murmured, his voice warm and reassuring.
She blinked, apologizing, "Oh, I'm sorry."
Jack nudged her shoulder gently, his smile soft and patient. "What's there to apologize for?" he asked, his gaze locking with hers, searching the depths of her ocean-blue eyes. "Now, tell me, what's going on in that pretty mind of yours?"
Elsa hesitated, not wanting to share the storm of emotions swirling inside her. She changed the subject quickly, her voice softening. "It's snowing…Isn't it beautiful, Jack?"
"Indeed," he replied, his eyes briefly drifting over her enchanting face before returning to meet her gaze. "You are truly amazing."
She scoffed, her voice tinged with sarcasm. "Yeah, right. Thanks."
Jack caught the lack of sincerity in her words, and though his smile faltered, he playfully nudged her again. "Come on, don't say that! My snowflake is absolutely stunning. You're so strong."
Suddenly, Elsa threw her arms around him, pulling him close as if to steady herself against the world. She inhaled deeply, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. "Why did it take you so long?" Her voice cracked as she buried her face into his chest, her emotions finally spilling free. "Why didn't you leave with me?"
Jack felt the weight of her words, guilt sinking deep into him. He struggled with whether to tell her the truth or offer a comforting lie. "I'm sorry," he began, pausing to gather his thoughts. "Your cousins. They were disrespectful, so I stood up to them. I couldn't just let them talk about you like that. We got into a fight." He raised his hands in defense, hoping she wouldn't be upset.
"Jack!" Elsa pulled back, her eyes wide with concern as she carefully examined his face and hands. "Look at your hands! Jackson Frost Overland!" Her voice rose in disbelief.
Flinching, Jack placed a hand dramatically over his chest and grinned. "Elsa Overland, do you honestly think I'm that weak? It's not blood, just a little swollen," he teased, his face softening as he lowered it to her collarbone. "Since you used my full name, does that mean you're mad at me for hitting Smith or Anthony?"
Elsa's eyes widened as the realization hit her. "Jack," she sighed, shaking her head with a mixture of worry and exasperation. "I was so worried about you. What if you had been hurt? It hasn't even been a week, and my husband's already getting into fights."
Jack let out a relieved breath, his chest loosening as her concern settled him. "So you're not mad, then?"
Elsa gave him a pointed look, her lips curling into a scowl. "Oh no, mister, I'm definitely mad!" she said, her earlier concern now transforming into frustration. "What do you think I am? A saint?"
Jack chuckled, his mood lightening with the return of her fire. "Okay, okay. But I'm glad to see you're not too mad."
"Oh, I'm furious," she muttered, but the twinkle in her eye betrayed the affection that was now clear in her words. "You just wait until we get inside."
Jack let out a dramatic sigh. "Well, I'm sorry, but I'm not sorry for hitting him or standing up for you. I might not remember the vows or the 'I dos,' but…what I do know is that I'll protect you with everything I have. With my life…forever."
The sincerity in his words took her by surprise, and for a moment, she was speechless. "Only you could love me, Jack. Do I even deserve this?"
Jack's eyes softened, a fierce devotion in them. "You deserve the world, Elsa." He placed a gentle kiss on the tip of her nose. "And…I beg to differ." He kissed her cheek tenderly, his lips brushing against her skin. "That stubborn Hofferson loves you." Then, his lips found her other cheek, pressing a loving kiss there. "The Haddocks, Hoffersons, Nuts, the entire Berk loves you." Finally, he kissed her lips, a soft, sweet promise. "And I love you."
For a moment, Elsa was overcome with laughter, a sound so pure and joyful it seemed to light up the world around them. The wind swept through her hair, sending it flying in every direction, and in that instant, she looked even more breathtaking in Jack's eyes.
"You look radiant with joy, Your Majesty," he said, his voice filled with awe.
Time seemed to freeze. The world around them blurred, fading away, leaving just the two of them, standing there in that precious moment. Their eyes locked, and the depth of their connection was palpable, as if their hearts were speaking a language only they could understand.
It was only Jack and Elsa.
Then, without warning, a bright, almost blinding light washed over them, and Jack blinked, caught off guard. Something strange, something otherworldly, appeared before him, something that left him breathless, as if the universe itself had just opened its doors.
They lay together, entwined in the soft embrace of the earth, the verdant grass beneath them a comforting foundation. Jack gently ran his fingers through Elsa's golden hair, the love in his touch evident in every motion. A smile, tender and sincere, stretched across his face. "I look forward to the day when I see your hair turn grey," he said, his voice soft with affection.
Elsa raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk curling at the corners of her lips. "That's a strange thing to say, my love."
Jack shrugged, his mischievous grin never faltering as he gazed up at the sky. "I only mean that I can't wait to grow old with you, Your Majesty."
Elsa chuckled, understanding blooming in her heart. "Ah, now I see. That's the sentiment I've been waiting for." Her fingers found their way through his hair, gently tracing the dark strands. "I can't wait to see these beautiful brown locks turn grey. Will you still be as handsome when you're older?"
Jack's eyes twinkled with pride. "Without a doubt!" he declared, his cheeks tinged with a faint blush. He brushed the back of his hand against her cheek, his touch soft and tender. "You, my Elsa, will remain the most beautiful of them all. Even in old age, you'll outshine everyone."
Elsa snorted playfully, flicking his nose. "What a thing to say," she teased, her laughter light.
He winked, placing a soft kiss on her hand. "Only for you, my Queen."
"Exclusively for me," she whispered, her voice warm and filled with affection. As she pressed her lips to his cheek, her fingers traced the crimson ribbon that adorned the hilt of his sword, tied there by her own hand, a symbol of her love and a charm for his safety.
Suddenly, Jack's eyes widened in alarm. "Oh no! We need to hurry. If we don't, your father will exile me. I promised him I'd return you before sundown."
Elsa laughed softly, taking his hand and rising to her feet. "You've fought in countless battles, conquered enemies far and wide, and yet you're still afraid of my father?"
"He is the King," Jack replied with a grin, his voice filled with mock seriousness.
Hand in hand, the princess and the knight hurried toward his white steed, their laughter ringing through the air like a song of joy. They mounted the horse together, the sound of their carefree laughter blending with the sounds of nature around them. As they raced toward the grand palace, their hearts beat as one, bound by love and a shared future of adventures yet to come.
Jack was drenched in sweat, his chest rising and falling with each labored breath. What in the world had just happened? The vision felt so vivid, so real, but why were he and Elsa so different? Their hair and eyes were completely unlike what he knew. Countless questions flooded his mind, but one thing was clear: this wasn't just a dream or a hallucination. It was as if he'd been transported to another time, another life. He needed answers. He longed to return to Berk and speak to Gothi, the wise healer, to understand the meaning of this strange experience.
The memory of the scene began to blur as he gazed down at it, his vision distant and foggy. He could see himself and Elsa riding together, laughing joyously, their heads tilted back as if nothing in the world could bring them down. Though he couldn't hear the sound of their laughter, he could feel the bond they shared, the love, the warmth that radiated between them.
But then the present crashed back into focus, and Jack was jolted by the frantic shouts surrounding him.
"Jack! Jackson!" Elsa's voice trembled with fear as she shook him, her tears falling onto his face. "Babe, please…answer me. Please be alright."
Sebastian, who had just arrived, was on the phone with the Overland family's doctor, his voice steady but urgent. "Yes, his eyes are open, but he's not responding or moving. No, no. He doesn't. He was fine just a minute ago. Right, Mrs. Overland?"
Elsa nodded, holding Jack's head gently in her lap, her voice soft yet filled with worry. "Yes, he was perfectly fine. We were talking, and then…he just seemed to drift off for a moment. Before I knew it, he started to fall backward, and I managed to catch him just in time, so his head didn't hit the ground." She paused, glancing at the bleeding hand she'd used to shield him, but her gaze never left Jack. In that moment, her only thought was his safety.
"You heard her, right, Dr. Grey?" Sebastian spoke quickly, not waiting for confirmation. "That's exactly what happened."
Without waiting for a response, Elsa took charge, her voice firm and decisive, a calm strength radiating from her. "Sebastian, we need to get to the clinic immediately. Help me get Jack into the car."
Sebastian nodded, moving to assist, but just as his arm reached for Jack's shoulder, Jack's body jerked upright, snapping him out of the fog of his vision. His mind was still racing, but now he was back in the present, confused and disoriented. "Loki, what are you doing?" he asked, his voice hoarse.
Elsa gasped in relief, her face flooded with emotion as she gently cupped his face. "Oh, thank God, you're alright."
Jack was stunned. Why were Elsa and Sebastian looking at him with such wide-eyed concern? "I'm fine, really," Jack reassured them as he slowly got to his feet, still feeling disoriented. "What's with the worried looks, Snowflake? And, uh…why am I on the floor?"
Despite her initial shock, Elsa's relief was evident as she took in the sight of him, returned to his usual self. But her protective instincts kicked in. "We're going to the clinic," she said firmly, helping him to his feet. "Get in the car. I'll explain on the way."
"As you wish, Your Majesty." Jack's voice was light, but his mind was still reeling. The two of them climbed into the backseat, the car beginning to move, and Jack couldn't shake the nagging feeling at the back of his mind. Something was off.
Suddenly, an icy chill ran down his spine as a memory...no, a vision flashed across his mind, so vivid it made him gasp internally. It was impossible to dismiss; it had been too real. He was certain that what he had seen, the scene of him and Elsa in another time, wasn't a hallucination or a dream. It wasn't just his imagination.
It was them.
It was another version of himself, holding Elsa, and it felt so deeply familiar.
Because it was a memory.
His thoughts were interrupted as the car came to a stop at the hospital. They had arrived, but the weight of the vision lingered, casting a shadow over him. A tense silence filled the space between them as he was quickly ushered into the hospital. Tests followed one after another, each one more draining than the last. By the time three hours had passed, Jack was weary, his patience all but spent.
"I hate hospitals," he muttered under his breath, squeezing his eyes shut and resting his forehead against the cold, sterile hospital wall.
The atmosphere was oppressive, the white walls and antiseptic smell suffocating. Elsa stood nearby, her unease growing with every passing minute. She had always despised hospitals, but now, with Jack in that uncomfortable gown, it felt even worse. It felt unbearable.
"I hate seeing you like this," she confessed softly. "I hate seeing you in that gown. It's just…" She trailed off, her voice faltering. She couldn't finish the sentence. The sight of him in pain, vulnerable, hurt her more than she cared to admit.
Jack, though still physically drained, managed a tired smile. He was all too familiar with that feeling, the helplessness and discomfort of hospital rooms, having lived it as a child with his mother. "I'm sorry this is all happening because of me," he said quietly, his voice laced with guilt.
"I just…I just want you to be okay," Elsa whispered, her fingers brushing gently against his cheek. The warmth of her touch was a small comfort in the sterile, cold environment, and Jack's heart ached seeing her worry.
"I'll be fine, Snowflake," he reassured her softly, though the doubt still lingered in his mind. For now, though, all he needed was to feel her close.
Jack flashed a reassuring smile, gently nudging her shoulder. "Hey, what's the worst that could happen? I'm Jackson Frost Overland, after all."
Elsa, not in the mood for jokes, sighed in response. "Please, Jack. Can you be serious?"
He hesitated, his eyes flickering to her hand, still freshly bandaged. He'd been trying to avoid it, but he couldn't any longer. "I'm really sorry about your hand. I can only imagine how much it must hurt."
Elsa shrugged her shoulders, offering a small, pained smile. "I've endured worse in my life. This little thing doesn't faze me." She glanced around the lavish yet small clinic, a place that felt out of place to her. "It's kind of ironic, though, that I'm sitting in a place like this."
Her words struck him harder than he expected, leaving him silent for a moment. He leaned closer, his voice softer. "If this is making you uncomfortable, we can go somewhere else. Dr. Grey's been our family doctor for years, so-"
"Jack," Elsa chuckled, the sound of it light but warm, filling the otherwise tense waiting room. "You really stress about everything, don't you, babe? What I meant was…I've never been to a hospital that looks this fancy and expensive before. Usually, I'd just take care of my own wounds. If it was bad, I'd go to the run-down clinic near our house."
If he had known her sooner, Jack would've moved mountains to protect her. The thought of her enduring all of that alone twisted in his chest. "Your family never took you to a hospital? Not even once?"
Elsa sighed, her gaze softening. "Why would they? They were the ones who caused most of my injuries. It was just easier to handle things on my own." She paused, studying him, her expression shifting. "Are you feeling any better now?"
Jack took her bandaged hand with the utmost care, his voice filled with both concern and guilt. "I promised you I'd always keep you safe. And I've failed. I'm so sorry you're going through this because of me. I'll make sure you get the best care possible for this. You're not in pain, are you?"
The tenderness in his touch was rare, but not unfamiliar to her. She met his gaze, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, but her smile remained steady. "It doesn't hurt," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "I'm fine, really."
Dr. Grey walked into the waiting room, her calm presence a stark contrast to the tension in the air. She gestured for them to follow her into the office. "So, how are you feeling, Jackson?"
Jack, still visibly on edge, gave a quick smile. "Oh, I'm perfectly fine. But please, Dr. Grey, recheck Elsa's hand." His voice, though light, carried an edge of worry that he couldn't shake.
The doctor, used to Jack's anxious tendencies, nodded with a patient smile. "Alright, let's have a look." She inspected Elsa's hand for the sixth time, as Jack had insisted, his concern bordering on obsessive. "It's just a scratch, Jackson. In a few days, it should heal perfectly."
Before Jack could respond, his mouth full of frantic thoughts, Elsa interjected, her own worry taking center stage. "But what about his reports, Doctor? Is there something serious going on?"
Dr. Grey turned her attention to the computer, pulling up Jack's MRI scans and medical files. "As you can see here," she said, her cursor moving methodically over the files, "everything looks normal. There's no cause for concern. Jackson's health is stable, and the reports show no changes." She looked up at Jack with a gentle smile. "Now, I'd like you to walk me through everything, from the start. The more details you give me, the clearer my diagnosis will be, and I can ensure you're in perfect health when you leave."
Jack, feeling lost and still slightly disoriented, glanced at Elsa, silently asking for her permission to continue. "Tell her what happened. Dr. Grey already knows my side of the story," she said, her voice soft but firm.
Dr. Grey held back a smile, finding the situation a bit amusing. It reminded her of those times when twenty-somethings came to her office with their mothers, who insisted on doing all the talking and even scheduling the appointments.
Jack, still looking like he'd rather be anywhere else, took a deep breath and began, pushing the memory of the vivid vision from earlier aside. "Well, I got into a bit of a fight with this guy, and after that, I went over to where Elsa was waiting for me. Then, my heart started racing, and I felt like it was skipping beats. The next thing I know, I'm waking up in Elsa's arms. Pretty heroic, huh?" His attempt to lighten the mood fell flat, but it was classic Jack, he couldn't help but joke, even in a hospital gown.
Dr. Grey jotted down a few notes, her face serious. "Irregular heartbeat and fainting," she murmured, her pen scratching across her notepad. "Could it be related to panic attacks? You've had them before, haven't you, Jackson?"
Jack shook his head. "No, my anxiety's under control. I stopped the meds years ago. This wasn't a panic attack." His voice was firm, and Dr. Grey nodded, making a few more notes.
After a moment of silence, Dr. Grey looked up, her expression thoughtful. "It seems to me that it was likely a sudden drop in blood pressure, maybe triggered by the stress of the situation. Everything else looks fine, and considering the circumstances, I'd say it was just a brief episode of unconsciousness." She gave a reassuring smile to Elsa. "There's nothing to worry about."
Elsa, who had been holding her breath, exhaled in relief. "So, no need to be concerned?"
"None at all," Dr. Grey assured, her tone warm. "But Jackson, you should keep up with your regular check-ups. You're rather forgetful when it comes to that."
Elsa shot Jack a pointed look. "I'll make sure he does, trust me," she said, her voice laced with affection and determination.
Jack, ever the protector, turned to Dr. Grey with a concerned frown. "Can you please have Elsa undergo the same tests I did? I'm worried about her."
Elsa smacked her forehead in exasperation. "For God's sake, Jack."
Dr. Grey couldn't help but chuckle, finding herself caught in the middle of a playful, yet fierce, exchange between the couple. It was a dynamic she'd seen many times before, one built on love, concern, and the occasional dose of stubbornness.
And here comes the reincarnation part of the story. It's a HUGE part of the story. I'm so excited to see what you guys think of this.
Also, please excuse the overuse of pardon, sorry and thank you. I'm a Canadian, so I can't not use them.