Jackson stepped through the door, his heart racing as the familiar scent of their cottage wrapped around him like a warm, tender embrace. His eyes immediately sought Elsa, still curled up on the couch, her lashes fluttering softly against her skin as she stirred from sleep. The sight of her, peaceful and unguarded, stole his breath away. He didn't want to disturb her, but everything inside him longed to be close to her, to feel her warmth once again.
"Hello, Snowflake," he whispered, his voice a caress, like a promise only meant for her. The words left his lips with such tenderness that it was as if they were carved into the air itself. And there it was, that smile, the one that made his world feel whole. The one she had fallen in love with. "How was your nap?"
Elsa's eyes fluttered open, her gaze softening when it met his. She smiled up at him, the kind of smile that made his chest tighten with affection, as though everything he ever needed in life was right in front of him. "I was dreaming" Her voice was still thick with sleep, but there was a sweetness to it, a longing. "I was happy," she murmured, as though she had just returned from a place she wished she could stay forever.
"I wish you could stay happy forever," Jackson replied, his voice thick with emotion. His heart swelled with the unspoken longing to see that joy reflected in her eyes every day, to protect her from the shadows that sometimes clouded her light.
Elsa pushed herself up from the couch, her movements slow and graceful as she crossed the room toward him, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "What's behind your back?" she asked, her voice light, but there was a playful glimmer in her eyes. She could tell he was hiding something, he never could keep a secret from her.
His hands tightened around the small object in his grip, the one thing he could give her that would speak the words he could never quite say. His heart skipped a beat as he watched her, his smile widening in spite of himself. "Nothing," he replied, but his eyes betrayed him, gleaming with something deeper than just mischief.
"Oh really?" Elsa leaned in closer, her eyes narrowing as she tried to get a better look. "Let me guess…a rose?" she teased, her voice light with excitement. She knew him too well; the hopeless romantic who always wanted to sweep her off her feet. In all their lifetimes.
"Try again, Snowflake," Jackson grinned, though his pulse raced. He couldn't help it, his love for her was almost too much to bear. She was everything to him.
"A bracelet?" she guessed, hope flickering in her eyes. She had only known him for a short time, but already, she could feel the depth of his affection. Every little thing he did for her felt like it was written in the stars.
"Pretty close, Queenie. Give it another try," Jackson teased, though there was a nervous edge to his smile now. He was ready, but still unsure of how she'd respond.
"A necklace?" she asked, her voice light and hopeful, her lips parting in anticipation.
"Nope!" he laughed, his joy evident even in the teasing. But the weight in his heart only grew stronger with every passing second. He needed her to know what this meant.
Elsa crossed her arms, an exaggerated frown on her face as she pretended to give up. "I give up, Jack," she said, but even then, her voice couldn't hide the smile tugging at her lips.
Before she could say anything more, Jackson closed the distance between them in an instant, his arm wrapping around her waist, pulling her close as if he never wanted to let go. His lips brushed her neck, lingering for a moment, before he whispered, "I love you." The words felt like a declaration, as if they were the truest thing he had ever said.
Elsa froze for a heartbeat, and though she didn't say it back, Jackson knew. Her love for him was written in the way she held him, in the way her body softened against his. She didn't have to speak it aloud for him to understand. "I know," she whispered back, her voice barely audible, like a secret shared only between them.
She pulled away, but only slightly, her fingers grazing his jaw. "Show me my gift, Jack," she said, a playful challenge in her tone. Her voice, though light, carried an undeniable intimacy, a promise of shared moments to come.
Jackson's heart swelled as he took the small, velvet box from behind his back and held it out to her, his hands trembling slightly. The object inside was far more than just a gift, it was a piece of his heart, wrapped in the most tangible form he could give her.
Elsa took the box from his hands, her touch gentle and deliberate, sending a shiver through him. Her fingers brushed against his as she opened it, and her breath caught in her throat when she saw the vintage camera nestled inside. It was perfect! A camera she had admired for so long but never thought she'd actually own.
"Jack… this is-" Her words faltered as she traced the delicate lines of the camera, the sheer beauty of the gift overwhelming her. "You didn't have to." She whispered, her voice trembling, filled with emotion.
"I wanted to," Jackson replied softly, his heart thundering in his chest. "You deserve everything, Elsa. I wanted to give you something that would let you capture all the moments we'll share. So you never forget how beautiful this life is…how beautiful you are."
Elsa's eyes welled with tears as she reached up on her tiptoes, pressing a few gentle kisses to his cheek. "Thank you, Jack. I love it," she murmured, her lips lingering against his skin, and for a moment, everything else disappeared. There was nothing but the soft brush of her lips and the quiet certainty in his chest that this was where he was meant to be.
"Anytime, Queenie," Jackson whispered, his voice full of love and devotion. He couldn't contain himself anymore. He pulled her back toward him, his lips capturing hers in a kiss. So slow, deep, and full of promise. His hands tangled in her hair, and he kissed her as if his very soul depended on it.
Elsa, caught off guard at first, pulled away, laughing softly. "I still have to open the gift, Jackson!" Her voice was exasperated, but there was no mistaking the affection in her eyes.
"Fine," he sighed dramatically, dropping his head to her collarbone in mock despair. "But I need you back, Elsa. Don't take too long."
She smacked his chest gently, laughing in a way that made his heart soar. "You're something else."
Elsa sat back down on the couch, carefully opening the camera and turning it on. She began to take pictures of the room around them, of the little details that had always been home to her. Jackson watched her, entranced by the way the light caught her face, the way her eyes sparkled with life. She was radiant, and he couldn't take his eyes off her. She was everything he had ever wanted.
She smiled at the camera, then held it up to her face, her eyes peeking over the lens. "Smile!" she called out, and Jackson didn't need any encouragement. His lips lifted in a wide, genuine smile as he watched her, as he always would.
"You like it?" he asked, his voice low and playful.
"I do," Elsa replied, her voice soft, a warmth in her eyes. "Now I can capture all the moments. The ones that matter."
Jackson chuckled, but the sound was swallowed by Elsa's laughter, her joy filling the space around them. It was a sound that was as beautiful as music, as pure as sunlight. He couldn't get enough of it. "Is it that funny?" he asked, his smile never faltering.
"Oh no," Elsa said between giggles. "It's just that you've got my lip balm smeared all over your face." She threw her head back again, her laughter ringing through the room, and it was so infectious that Jackson couldn't help but join in.
He walked over and knelt in front of her, his gaze fixed on her with unspoken adoration. "You are breathtaking," he said softly, his words sincere, like a prayer he never wanted to stop speaking.
Taken aback, Elsa blinked, her cheeks flushing slightly. She touched his cheek gently, her smile tender. "Thanks, babe," she whispered, before leaning down to kiss him again, a soft, sweet kiss that lingered.
Jackson's heart raced. This was what love was. For the first time in his life, he felt it. The deep, aching love he had always longed for but never truly allowed himself to believe he deserved. He had always given love, had always been the one to care, but this? This was different. Elsa's love wasn't just something he could hold…it was something he could finally accept.
His mother had loved him, of course. So had his stepfather, and his sister. But their love felt different, maybe because of the way it had been forced on him, or because of the circumstances surrounding it. Elsa's love, though, it was pure. And for the first time, Jackson knew he didn't have to be afraid of it.
After their kiss, they pulled back slowly, both of them grinning. Elsa reached for the vintage camera Jack had gifted her, her eyes twinkling with an idea. "Alright, now it's your turn to be the model," she said with a teasing smile, raising the camera to her face.
Jackson raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Oh, I see," he teased, leaning back slightly, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. "You want to capture my good side, huh?"
Elsa chuckled, adjusting the lens. "I'm capturing more than that, trust me." She snapped a picture, the soft click of the camera echoing in the room.
Jackson, determined to make her laugh, straightened up dramatically, striking a ridiculous pose. He crossed his arms, puffed out his chest, and tilted his head in a way that made him look like he was trying way too hard. "Is this good? A model's pose for you, Your Majesty?"
Elsa's laughter bubbled up, and she snapped another picture. "You look absolutely ridiculous," she teased, her voice full of affection.
"Ridiculous? I'll have you know, this is peak modeling." He winked, throwing a leg up on the couch as if he were some sort of runway star. The exaggerated movement sent him stumbling a little, and he caught himself on the back of the couch, laughing at his own misstep.
Elsa couldn't hold it in anymore. She laughed so hard that she had to quickly snap a picture of him mid-laugh, capturing the way his eyes crinkled with joy. The camera clicked in rapid succession as she caught more moments of his playful antics: him pretending to juggle invisible objects, making silly faces, and even dramatically posing like a king, his arms outstretched as if he were greeting a crowd.
"Okay, okay," Jackson said between fits of laughter, his hands raised in surrender as he dramatically bowed to her. "You've got your pictures. But I think I need a serious one now. You know, the 'I'm so incredibly handsome that you can't even handle it' kind of shot."
Elsa laughed again, snapping a quick photo of him with an exaggerated pout. "You mean like this?" she teased.
Jackson grinned and rolled his eyes. "Exactly like that, Snowflake. You're really capturing my best angles."
With a playful huff, he leaned back against the couch, resting his head against the cushion with a dramatic sigh. "Now, this is me, being mysterious. A true enigma."
Elsa's laughter filled the room again as she captured the moment. She loved how effortlessly he could make her laugh, how he could go from ridiculous to endearing in an instant. His ability to not take himself too seriously, to let down his guard and simply enjoy the moment, was one of the things she loved most about him.
She lowered the camera, her heart full as she gazed at him, her smile softening. "You're perfect, you know that?" she whispered, not needing to capture this moment because it was already etched in her heart.
Jackson caught her gaze, his expression softening in response. He moved closer, his hands brushing hers as he sat beside her on the couch, the camera still in her lap. "Because of you," he replied, his voice full of sincerity. "You make everything perfect, Elsa."
He leaned in, kissing her, this time slow and tender. The world outside their cottage, outside this moment, didn't matter. All that existed was the love between them, the laughter, the photos of their life together, and the simple joy of being in each other's presence.
The camera was a symbol of the memories they would create, of the moments that would fill the spaces between them for years to come. And in that moment, Elsa knew that every single picture, every laugh, every kiss, was worth capturing.
Because this was their story, and it was beautiful.
As Elsa placed the camera back down on the couch, Jackson's eyes twinkled with playful mischief. He watched her carefully, waiting for the perfect moment.
Before she could react, he lunged toward her, fingers dancing across her sides, a sudden burst of laughter escaping her lips. "Jack!" she squealed, squirming in surprise, but the sound of her laughter was music to his ears. He grinned, his hands relentless as he tickled her, moving quickly to her ribs.
"Stop! Stop! Jack!'" Elsa gasped between giggles, her face lighting up with joy, her eyes sparkling. She tried to push him away, but it only made him laugh harder, leaning over her with a teasing smirk.
"Not until you admit I'm the funniest person ever!" he teased, his voice full of warmth. But Elsa wasn't about to give him the satisfaction.
"Jackson!" she managed, still laughing uncontrollably, her hands now trying to grab hold of his to stop his ticklish assault. The more he tickled her, the more she seemed to melt into the moment, her body softening in his arms as she couldn't help but laugh.
Jackson paused for a split second, watching her, entranced by how her laughter filled the room. Her hair was a little messy, her cheeks flushed from the laughter, and her eyes glowed with something deeper, something unspoken but clear. The playful atmosphere had shifted into something warmer, more intimate.
Slowly, he leaned in, his hands resting on her sides as he stopped tickling her. Elsa's breath came in soft bursts, her body still vibrating from laughter, but now there was a tenderness in the air that hadn't been there before. He hovered just inches from her face, his eyes searching hers.
"Jack," Elsa whispered, her voice breathless but full of affection. Her fingers gently traced his nose, and he felt the soft brush of her touch like a spark against his skin.
He closed the distance, his lips capturing hers in a kiss, slow and sweet at first. But then, as he deepened the kiss, everything else seemed to fade away, the sound of her giggles, the playfulness, the world outside. It was just the two of them, entwined in a kiss that spoke volumes, each press of their lips conveying more than words ever could.
Elsa's arms slipped around his neck, pulling him closer, as if she couldn't get enough of him. Jackson's heart raced, not just from the passion but from the certainty that this moment, this kiss, was the culmination of everything he had ever wanted. He had never been more sure of anything in his life.
When they finally pulled away, both of them breathless, Jackson rested his forehead against hers, his hand gently brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I love you Elsa," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion, his hand still on her cheek, holding her as if she was the most precious thing in his world.
Elsa smiled, her lips still tingling from the kiss. "I know," she whispered back, her eyes searching his. There was no need for more words; the connection between them was more than enough.
Jackson leaned in again, pressing his lips to her forehead, a soft, lingering kiss that spoke of promises, of love, of a future shared. In that moment, with her in his arms, he knew that no matter what happened, they would always have this. Forever.
And that was all he needed.
As the laughter from their playful photo session began to settle, Elsa rested her head on his shoulder, the warmth of her touch grounding him. The camera lay forgotten in her lap, the room filled with the comfortable silence that followed their laughter. Jackson's heart, still racing from their earlier moments of teasing and affection, slowed to a steady rhythm as he gazed at her.
For a long time, he had carried a sense of emptiness, a feeling that he was incomplete. He had given so much of himself to others, his family and his friends, but somehow, there had always been something missing. A part of him that never felt truly at home, always reaching for something he couldn't quite grasp.
But now, as he sat next to Elsa, the soft glow of their cottage surrounding them, he realized that something had changed. He wasn't just pretending to be happy. He wasn't just getting by. He was whole.
He had found the missing piece, and her name was Elsa.
Someone made and written, just for him.
As he was for her.
Jackson's hand found hers, his fingers intertwining with hers in a quiet declaration of everything they shared. He took a deep breath, the kind of breath that felt like finally letting go of something he'd been holding onto for far too long. He had been afraid of fully letting someone in, afraid of giving his heart away and having it shattered. But in this moment, with Elsa by his side, he knew he had nothing to fear anymore.
For the first time, Jackson felt like he was exactly where he was meant to be.
"Elsa" His voice came out soft, almost a whisper, like he didn't want to break the spell they were under. She looked up at him with those blue eyes, her expression tender, and he couldn't help but smile. "I've never felt more whole," he murmured, his words filled with an emotion so raw, so real, that it took him by surprise.
Elsa's gaze softened, her fingers gently brushing his cheek. "You are whole, Jack. You always were," she replied, her voice steady and reassuring. "You just know now."
Jackson swallowed hard, his heart swelling in his chest. It wasn't just the words that moved him. It was the way she believed them. The way she saw him, not as a broken piece, but as someone worthy of love. Worthy of happiness.
"You make me believe that," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I never thought I deserved this…but now…with you." His words trailed off as he pressed his forehead to hers, his heart finally at peace.
Elsa smiled softly, her eyes closing for a moment as if to savor the quiet intimacy of the moment. "You deserve everything, Jack."
In that moment, with Elsa's warmth beside him and her love surrounding him, Jackson realized that he was no longer searching for something to fill the void. He was whole because she had made him that way. And as he kissed her, a slow, tender kiss full of promises and the certainty of their future, he knew that no matter what life had in store, he would always be home, as long as he was with her.
He finally understood: he wasn't just loved. He was loved for who he truly was. And for the first time in his life, that was enough.
I'm not a psychologist so let's not judge, please. But I think not having a parent and going through so much at such a young age definitely causes trauma and abandonment issues. Because I can relate to it.