After their long and emotional conversation, Jack felt a wave of gratitude toward Gothi, but his mind was overwhelmed with a single, consuming thought...
Elsa.
He couldn't bear the thought of being separated from her even for a moment. Without hesitation, he rushed to his car, urgency in every step, and drove straight to his private plane.
As he boarded the aircraft, his heart raced, filled with a desperate need to be with her. He gently caressed her memory, her soft skin, her beauty, and allowed the thought of holding her close to envelop him. He imagined running his fingers through her platinum blonde hair, every strand telling a story, feeling the warmth of her soft lips pressed against his. A deep yearning settled in him. What if this was the last day he would ever have with her in this life?
Time passed in a blur as Jack's mind swirled with thoughts of Elsa. Once the plane landed, he wasted no time. He hopped into his car and sped toward their cottage with reckless determination. He couldn't wait to see her, even if just for a moment, to see her beauty and presence as if it might be the last time.
His pulse quickened as he arrived, stepping out of the car and hurrying to the entrance. Anxiety pressed on his chest, each step feeling both agonizingly slow and unbearably fast. Elsa. Elsa Overland. His mind repeated her name like a mantra. She was the love of his life, his constant across every lifetime.
The weight of the stories he'd heard, the tragic and eternal love they shared, made his love for her even deeper. Their connection had been so profound, across time and space, and now he faced the possibility that this might be their final chance together. He wouldn't waste a single second.
All Jack could think of was holding her, never letting go. He wanted to make her laugh, to ease her pain, to be the best version of himself just for her. He wanted to give her a happy ending, to die in her arms, knowing they had truly lived together.
He even dreamed of a future, one where their home echoed with the sounds of children's laughter. The thought of a family they had never had, all the years spent together, weighed on him. It was strange to think about building a life and future with her after only being together for less than a week, but he couldn't help it. He had never felt so certain, so consumed by love.
God, he was going crazy.
With a loud smack, Jack flung open the door, his eyes locking onto Elsa, who was sprawled on the couch in her pajamas, her hair tied up in a messy bun as she laughed at Modern Family. The warm glow of the TV lit up the room, transforming the once dark, lonely cottage into a place full of life and color.
The sight of her brought him to his knees, his legs giving way beneath him. He crashed to the floor with a sharp thud, and there he stayed, his hands pressed to the ground in desperation. His heart ached as he whispered prayers to the Gods, begging them to let him keep her forever. He prayed to her, to the goddess she was in his eyes. She ruled not just his heart, but his soul.
Hearing the commotion, Elsa turned toward him, her brow furrowing with concern. "Jack," she called, rushing over to him. "What happened? Why are you on the floor?" Her head tilted, and a soft, adorable smile tugged at her lips.
Hovering over him, she seemed to glow, a halo of love and light surrounding her. "Do you love me?" Jack whispered, his voice filled with raw need.
"You're my husband," she replied, her voice tentative. She had never been good with love, never fully allowed herself to believe it. But with Jack, something was different. She knew she loved him, even if she couldn't always express it.
Jack's heart swelled at her words, tears streaming down his face. He choked out, "Because I do. I love you so much, Elsa. More than my heart can bear."
Elsa's concern deepened as she knelt beside him, gathering him into her arms. "What's wrong, Jack?" She could sense the pain in his voice, a deep, aching sorrow that didn't match the confession of love. There was something more, something darker beneath it.
"I can't lose you, Snowflake." Jack pulled her closer, gripping her tightly, inhaling her scent as if he could anchor himself to her forever. Could this be the last time he held her?
Elsa's eyes softened, and she whispered into his neck, "I'm not going anywhere." The promise was a comforting one, but one she didn't fully understand, for she didn't know what had him so torn.
Jack couldn't bear to let her go. He pulled her in even tighter, until there was no space between them. "I love you, Elsa. There's nowhere else I want to be. In your arms is my peace."
Elsa, trying to lighten the mood, chuckled softly. "Quite the poet, aren't you today?" But then the concern returned, and she asked the question that had been plaguing her since the moment she'd seen the horror in his eyes. "What happened in Berk?"
Jack mumbled into her neck, his voice barely audible. "The distance made me realize how much I love you." It was only half the truth.
Elsa sighed as she sank to the floor beside him, clearly seeing through his words. "But what happened in Berk?" Her voice was gentle but insistent, her intuition telling her that something more had occurred there.
"I'll tell you later," Jack replied, his voice strained.
"Can't I know now?" she pressed, her voice soft but full of concern.
Jack slowly pulled away from Elsa, just enough to steady himself, his emotions swirling within him like a storm. "Do you think you can listen? What if it's too much for you?" His voice cracked, the weight of all his thoughts and fears pressing down on him.
Elsa didn't pull back. Instead, she leaned closer, pressing a soft kiss to his neck. After a deep breath, she nodded gently. "I'm not going anywhere." It wasn't the answer he needed, but somehow, it comforted him, grounding him in her presence.
With a shaky exhale, Jack began to speak. He told her everything...every detail Gothi had shared, from their past lives to their painful rebirths. He left out only the part about Elsa's death, unwilling to burden her with that knowledge, worried she'd carry guilt she didn't deserve. But everything else, every word Gothi had spoken, every thread of their intertwined fate, he shared.
They sat on the floor, cross-legged, their hands clasped tightly together. Jack tried to read Elsa's every expression, every shift in her gaze as he spoke, but there was nothing. Her face remained calm, almost unreadable.
Did she not trust him? Did she find it all ridiculous? Did she not believe a word he was saying?
A nervous laugh, filled with pain and doubt, escaped Jack's lips, and he closed his eyes. "You find this unbelievable, right?"
"I do," Elsa whispered, her voice gentle. Seeing the hurt on his face, she quickly added, "This sounds ridiculous, but I trust you."
Jack's heart clenched, but relief flooded through him as all his fears were swept away in an instant. He let out a loud laugh, the sound echoing in the empty cottage. "Thank God."
Elsa's face remained composed, but Jack could see the struggle in her eyes as she tried to process everything. She didn't say anything more, just looked at him.
"Yeah," she muttered softly, still lost in thought.
"I thought you wouldn't believe me," Jack admitted, his voice cracking. "I thought you'd leave me. I can't lose you again, Elsa. Not when I finally have you." His tears flowed freely now, his vulnerability exposed. "This is why we fell in love so quickly, we've loved each other before, in another life, centuries ago."
Elsa reached up to gently wipe away his tears with her sleeve, her touch warm and tender. "I never knew what love was," she whispered, her voice soothing. "You taught me what it is. So don't cry alone." She opened her arms to him, a silent invitation to seek comfort in her embrace. "Feel free in my arms."
Jack didn't hesitate. He moved into her embrace, pressing his face to her shoulder, inhaling the scent of her hair, letting her warmth wash over him. "I beg the Gods to let me have you in this life. I want to be with you forever, Elsa. At least once, can we have a happy ending?"
Elsa held him tighter, though she knew the weight of their situation. "I hope we do. I'm sure we will."
Jack pulled back slightly, lifting his head to meet her gaze. "How can you be so sure? We must've had dreams and hopes for our future in our past lives, too," he murmured, his heart aching.
Elsa thought for a moment, and her voice was soft when she replied, "I guess we did, but…can't we hope again? Maybe this time we might have one."
Jack looked at her, his eyes full of sadness and hope. "You're right. Let's hope again."
Both Elsa and Jack were deeply curious about the identity of the mysterious soul, especially Elsa in that moment. "You mentioned another soul. Did you ask Gothi? Have you thought about who it might be? Do you know?" she asked, her voice laced with uncertainty, trying to trust him even though a significant part of her still held doubts.
Jack sighed, scratching his chin in frustration, and groaned. "I don't. That arrogant woman wouldn't tell me."
Harshly, Elsa smacked him lightly on the chest. "Jackson, show some respect! She's older than you. If she knows what she claims, I wouldn't be shocked if she's a thousand years old!"
In a rare moment of complete silence, the sound of a single pin could almost be heard dropping. Then, they both erupted into laughter. "She really might be. I wouldn't be surprised," Jack said, his laughter making him fall back onto the ground. "But I did ask her. She claims she can see everyone's past. She knew who the soul was, but she refused to tell me. All that talk about keeping a soul's secret."
Elsa lowered herself down beside him, settling into his arms. "Well, whoever they are, I hope they live a life full of joy and surrounded by people who love them. Because, thanks to them, I met you again."
Jack smiled warmly at her, his heart swelling with affection. "So you believe me now?" he asked, sensing a shift in her words.
She tightened her embrace, hesitating for a moment before speaking. "I'll be completely honest," she said, her voice soft but sincere, "I find it hard to believe. It feels like something out of a movie or a dream. It's almost unbelievable." Elsa looked into his crystal blue eyes, her gaze filled with affection. "But I have faith in you. If you say it's true, then I'll trust you. Who knows, maybe I'll experience one of those dreams myself."
Jack's smile deepened as he gently stroked her hair. "I love you, Elsa."
She didn't reply at once but nodded, her heart full of the same affection. In the quiet of the moment, it seemed their bond was stronger than any doubts that had lingered between them.
Something about Elsa's mention of dreams didn't sit right with Jack. The dreams he had were filled with warmth, love, and their happiness, but what if Elsa's dreams were different? What if she saw only the tragic parts...her death, her pain, their separation? What if those dreams shattered her? What if she blamed herself for their pasts? The thought horrified him, leaving a cold chill in his chest.
So Jack prayed, desperately wishing that if Elsa saw their past lives, it would be only the joyous moments, the ones where they loved each other fully. He would take the tormenting memories, the pain, the loss, if it meant she could smile and only remember the good.
"Did you eat dinner?" Elsa's sweet voice cut through his racing thoughts, grounding him in the present.
"I wanted to eat with you," Jack replied, his voice a little distant but warm as he looked at her.
Without warning, he stood, scooping her up in his arms. "Jackson!" Elsa squealed in surprise, laughing as he effortlessly lifted her. It was always like this, he never failed to catch her off guard.
With her in his arms, Jack dashed toward their bedroom. "Pizza night!" he declared, pressing little kisses to her face as he ran up the stairs, his heart light, his spirits lifted by her laughter.
"You're the only guy I know who runs while carrying his wife," Elsa said, her voice filled with mirth.
Jack smiled, his grin widening as he glanced down at her. "Guess that makes this moment more precious."
As they reached the top of the stairs, Elsa pulled herself up slightly, leaning in to kiss his cheek. "You are precious."
Her unexpected affection caused his entire body to stiffen, and he paused mid-step, frozen for a moment as Elsa's hair swept across his face. "I swear, my heart skipped a beat," he muttered, still stunned by her simple gesture.
Elsa chuckled but then twisted his ear playfully, snapping him out of his daze. "Come on, stop freezing up," she teased.
With a groan, Jack resumed walking, this time at a more normal pace, though still a bit dazed. "Wow, so this is what it feels like," Elsa mused, amused by his sudden awkwardness. For the first time, she wasn't the one with her heart racing.
Jack carefully placed her on the bed in a seated position, grinning at her. "Since we can't get this pizza place delivered here, let's ask Loki to bring it."
Elsa raised an eyebrow and slapped his arm. "He's sleeping."
Jack rolled his eyes, half-exasperated, half-amused. "He can sleep again."
"No, he can't!" Elsa protested, poking his chest with every word.
"Yes, he can!" Jack groaned, their playful banter taking on the familiar, easy rhythm of their relationship.
Far away, deep in the basement, Sebastian was FaceTiming his wife when he suddenly heard a loud thud. "Darling, I think Jack is back."
His wife chuckled. "Why do you think so?"
"It sounds like Elsa just smacked him," Sebastian sighed, his voice filled with fond exasperation. He returned to the conversation with his wife, asking, "So, how is your scarf coming along?"
After a long day and a silly fight about food, Jack and Elsa finally settled down together in each other's arms. They fell asleep with ease, a comforting silence between them.
What would tomorrow bring? The question lingered, but for now, all that mattered was being together.