The ballroom buzzed with soft chatter and filled with laughter and heartfelt moments. Despite the joy around her, Elsa felt the weight of unspoken complexities, especially as the towering wedding cake was brought forward.
She watched as Anna and Kristoff prepared to cut the cake, their unity in stark contrast to the quiet ache inside Elsa. Jack stood beside her, maintaining a careful distance, their unspoken tension palpable. Every glance between them felt loaded with emotions.
As Anna excitedly glanced back at Elsa, eager to start the cake-cutting, Elsa's smile felt like a mask, one she had perfected over the years. Jack's subtle touch on her elbow added to the suffocating feeling, as though something vital was slipping away.
The wedding cake, elegant in its design, took center stage, and Anna whispered to Kristoff, "Let's do it together." The blade of the knife glided smoothly through the layers as the couple shared their first moment of togetherness. Elsa couldn't help but admire their bond, even as a pang of resentment twisted inside her.
If only it was possible for her, to have this with Jack.
The room cheered, marking the moment, but Elsa only felt a heavy emptiness as she watched Anna and Kristoff share their first slice of cake, laughing and teasing each other. The love they shared filled the space, and Elsa smiled faintly at the bittersweet beauty of it all.
A swirl of emotions churned in Elsa's chest, a heavy weight pressing against her. The bright chatter and laughter faded, leaving only the deep buzz of her thoughts. Jack's gaze lingered nearby, soft but sharp, like a pull she couldn't ignore. His focus was intense, almost too deliberate, and Elsa felt a tension building. Her body held the tension, shoulders tight, jaw clenched, but she couldn't push it away.
She needed space...distance.
Feet already carrying her toward the veranda, Elsa didn't look back. The cool night air rushed to meet her, but the storm inside her only seemed to grow stronger. The refreshing scent of rain on the breeze reminded her of everything she didn't have, the joy others seemed to share while she stood outside, away from it all. She watched the couples below, their happiness like a painful reminder.
"Elsa?"
The sound of her name, soft yet familiar, sliced through the quiet air. Jack's voice had that warmth in it that pulled her even further from the peace she craved. Elsa's feet froze, an involuntary tension wrapping around her as footsteps drew closer. She knew who it was without even turning around, silent, measured footsteps only he could make.
Close.
Too close.
But not yet right beside her.
"Is everything okay?" he asked, his voice full of concern.
The hesitation lodged in Elsa's throat. She wasn't prepared for him to ask, wasn't ready for the quiet storm between them to break so suddenly. "I'm fine," she forced herself to say the words. Her hands fidgeted, clasped tightly together as though the act of holding them in place could keep her mind from wandering. "Just...catching my breath."
He didn't move, but she could feel his gaze pressing gently on her. His body language was calm, but there was something in the way he looked at her that set off a tangle of thoughts in her chest, making her want to speak. Jack's proximity made it hard to breathe, yet it felt too familiar, too easy, like they had done this a hundred times before, and here they were again.
"You know," he began, his words slow, trying to guide the conversation in a lighter direction, "they look happy, don't they?"
Elsa let out a slow breath, not quite meeting his eyes. Instead, her gaze fell on the people below, dancing and laughing, lost in each other. "Yeah...they do." The words felt like nothing, too small to capture the hollow ache inside her.
"I didn't realize how much I missed this," Jack continued, almost to himself. "Love, I mean. The ease of it. The joy." His voice softened, and the truth behind his words lodged itself in her chest.
Elsa swallowed hard, her throat tight. The words left her before she could catch them. "No matter what you say, I am not changing my mind."
Jack blinked, and his gaze softened, brows furrowed in confusion. "I-" He hesitated, trying to find the right words. "Sorry, I won't again."
Her heart flipped uncomfortably at his words, and for a brief, painful moment, Elsa wanted to fall apart and cry in his arms. But before she could respond, Jack did something so ridiculous that the tension between them, for a split second, shattered.
With exaggerated flair, he ran his hands through his hair, messing it up in ways Elsa had never seen him do before, as though he were determined to break every rule of order. "Oh, my God," Jack muttered in dramatic dismay. "I've lost all control. It's official. My hair is now a force of nature." He dramatically ran his fingers through his messy hair again, attempting to tame it.
Elsa blinked, taken aback by the spectacle. His hair was now an unruly mess, frizzed and tangled like he'd been hit by a small windstorm. For a moment, she just stood there, unsure if she should laugh or not.
"Please tell me you're not making it worse on purpose," she finally said, her tone a mix of disbelief and amusement.
Jack flashed her a wide grin, looking thoroughly pleased with himself. "Oh, absolutely! This is art, Elsa. No one appreciates a genius until it's too late." He lifted a hand, like a conductor orchestrating chaos. "Look at this...it's perfect. My hair is living its best life without my permission."
Finally, Elsa burst into laughter, genuinely caught off guard. This moment was pure absurdity, and it was just what she needed. Her laughter felt freeing, the weight lifting. "Oh, it's a disaster, Jack," she said, chuckling harder as she looked at the ridiculous mess he'd created. "A mess!"
He shrugged with mock seriousness. "A masterpiece in progress. A piece of art." He turned his head for a dramatic pose, making sure she could see the full chaos of his hair. "Behold. A work of genius!"
Elsa laughed again, stepping closer with a smile playing at her lips. "If this is art, I think I'm the one who'll need to fix it," she teased, her fingers already reaching for his hair. "This is next-level mess, Jack."
As her fingers brushed through his tangled strands, This was intimate, though entirely lighthearted. Jack watched her with a ridiculous grin, his chest rising and falling in exaggerated huffs of breath, fully enjoying the chaos.
"You can't be serious," she muttered, trying to untangle the mess of hair as best she could.
Jack made a sound of mock surprise. "Oh, I'm very serious. You should be honored to be a part of this masterpiece."
Elsa's smile widened as she gently pulled his hair into something resembling order. "I don't know if I'm honored or just completely amazed that you made it worse on purpose."
"Desperate times, Elsa," Jack said, rolling his eyes in exaggerated defeat. "Desperate measures. And well a Snowflake needed a laugh."
"Well, thank you for creating a mess, to make me laugh." As she finished smoothing down the last bit of wild hair, Jack tilted his head back to inspect the results. After a moment, he ruffled the strands, deliberately messing it up again. "Well, this is a solid improvement. I'll leave it to the pros next time."
Elsa narrowed her eyes playfully, her hand still lingering close to his head. "Only if you promise not to ruin it again. I don't need a full-time job as your hair stylist."
Jack raised an eyebrow, flashing her an utterly mischievous grin. "I'm thinking of starting my own salon. You'd be a perfect fit as my assistant."
She snorted at the thought. "Sure, that's gonna work. Just don't come crying to me when your hair is on fire."
"Wouldn't dream of it," Jack smiled, backing away to give her some space.
The last few strands of Jack's hair were finally smoothed down, and Elsa gave a small, satisfied nod, taking a step back to assess her work. Jack, still pretending to inspect his reflection in the air, flashed a grin. "Well, look at that. You might just have a hidden talent. Careful though, if you keep this up, I'll start charging for styling sessions."
Elsa snorted, rolling her eyes. "I'll take my payment in pizza and dancing."
Jack raised an eyebrow. "Pizza? I'll see what I can do. Dancing, though...that's another story."
With a playful shove, Elsa moved toward the door, ready to head back inside. She felt lighter now, the tension of the evening momentarily broken, and she was almost...content. For the first time that night, she didn't feel so out of place.
Thanks to a certain goof.
The Jackson Frost Overland.
"Ready to face the chaos?" Jack asked, following her with that same casual, easy pace.
Elsa paused at the door, glancing back at him with a small smile. "I think I can handle it. Maybe even enjoy it, for once."
They stepped back inside, the soft murmur of conversation and clinking glasses blending into the soothing hum of the wedding. Music floated through the air, light and inviting, while the warmth of the room pressed against their skin, offering a stark contrast to the cool night they'd just left. Elsa took a quiet breath, allowing the beat of the song to ground her.
For a moment, she lingered near the dance floor, watching couples spinning and gliding across it, lost in the rhythm of a world she felt disconnected from. How many times had she watched others twirl and laugh while she stood to the side? Now, standing next to Jack, there was a strange sort of courage.
Jack stepped closer, sensing her hesitation as he leaned slightly toward her, a playful sparkle lighting his eyes. He gave a mock bow, his hand extended dramatically in front of him. "Your Majesty," he said with all the seriousness he could muster, a teasing edge to his voice, "may I have this dance?"
Elsa blinked, taken aback by the formal gesture. She didn't expect him to approach it so theatrically, yet the sight of him bowing, a goofy grin spreading across his face as he made the request, was enough to pull her from her swirling thoughts. She couldn't help but laugh softly, her nerves loosening for a moment.
"You just have to make me feel like royalty, don't you?" Elsa quipped, her smile widening even as she tried to remain composed. She glanced at the dance floor, her heart stuttering. "Are you sure you're ready for this? Last time, in the ice rink wasn't what these people would call, a dance."
He smiled...She remembered.
Jack raised an eyebrow, giving her a confident grin. "Me? Absolutely. It's only a dance." He held out his hand, wiggling his fingers like a playful invitation.
Elsa took a slow, steady breath, and for a moment, she thought of refusing. But something in his eyes, the warmth and sincerity there, made her step closer. She placed her hand in his, the contact sparking a chill she wasn't expecting. The sound of the music faded slightly, leaving just the two of them, surrounded by the soft hum of a wedding continuing around them. The floor beneath their feet was solid; in Jack's hand, Elsa could find some measure of balance, even if everything else felt uncertain.
They took their first step onto the floor, their movements clumsy and uncoordinated, and Elsa couldn't suppress a laugh. "Well, that's one way to start a dance," she joked, feeling her nerves ease for a brief moment.
Jack let out a small laugh of his own, misstepping as he awkwardly adjusted his footing. "Definitely better then our last dance." he said laughing.
The next few steps were almost comical. Jack was as unpolished in his movements as she was, neither of them particularly skilled at following the rhythm. But somehow, their combined awkwardness made the whole moment light. Elsa chuckled softly and looked up at him. "You were nowhere near perfect."
"Oh, I thought I was perfect," Jack said with a grin, "Just wait till we get it right. You're gonna be blown away."
As they fumbled together, spinning in circles, she felt something shift, something deeper beneath the surface. The laughter, the tension, the awkwardness...none of it mattered.
With Jack there beside her, offering her his clumsy attempts to make her smile or laugh, she started to feel something unexpected.
Safe.
Just as she always had.
A slower, softer part of the song came on, its notes tender and drawn out. Their movements slowed, but the shift wasn't just in the tempo. It was in the understanding that passed between them. The space between their bodies lessened, Jack instinctively guiding her closer to him.
Elsa wasn't sure if it was the rhythm of the music or just Jack's presence, but suddenly everything felt so much slower. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against him as he held her close. She could hear his breath, feel the rise and fall of his chest, and for a moment, her mind went blank, swept away in the intimacy of it.
Her body responded without thinking, her hand slipping into the crook of his arm, both of them moving almost in perfect silence, as if they were the only two people in the world. The soft music swirled around them, but all Elsa could focus on was Jack, his warmth, his smile as he held her carefully, as if afraid to let go.
There was no chatter, no noise except for the music wrapping them up. Elsa's heart beat quietly in her chest as Jack's face softened, his eyes meeting hers with a tenderness that made her breath catch.
"I've got you," Jack whispered softly, his voice barely audible above the music.
Elsa's heart squeezed. She held onto him tighter, knowing this was the last time they would dance. The weight of her family's eyes on them, the bitterness that had poisoned her every encounter with them for so long, seemed like something that could be ignored. Jack was here with her.
And in his arms, there was no pain.
The rest of the room faded out of focus, leaving only them. The way his hands held her, steady and protective, and the ease with which she slipped into his embrace. She rested her cheek against his chest, letting the gentle pressure of his hold steady the tremors in her heart.
And as the song reached its final, softest notes, they stayed like that, in a moment of peace amidst the chaos, perfectly imperfect. Jack didn't try to hurry her, didn't break the silence with empty words. He simply held her close, and for once, the vulnerability that Elsa felt seemed almost beautiful.
The last notes of the song finished, the noise of the celebration sweeping back in. Elsa pulled away, looking up at Jack, her smile soft but real.
"Well," she murmured, her voice a little breathless, "I guess that wasn't as bad as I thought."
Jack raised an eyebrow and gave her a small smirk. "Not bad? I thought you'd be blown away by my amazing dance moves."
Elsa laughed softly, still caught in the afterglow of the dance. "Well, you definitely keep me on my toes."
The final song played, but they didn't leave the floor right away. As they danced through the last moments of the evening, it felt like a quiet promise.
No matter what happened after, they could handle it.
