Chapter Text
“You miss him a lot?” Anna stayed close to her sister, trying to keep her company when she seemed most quiet.
Elsa had tried her best to be subtle every time she looked out the window, or watched the door like she was expecting someone. Without Jack there were no surprises in the castle, no one besides Anna to distract her from work, and no more snow falling. Spring was coming after all, with all the warm breezes the snow drifts were turning to slush and the ice over the ponds was thinning.
“I just wonder what he's doing sometimes, that's all.” Elsa shrugged, putting on her best political smile.
“You should find another guy, I'm sure there are plenty of handsome suitors that would be willing to dye their hair white and carry broken spears around for you.” Anna shrugged, unrepentant in her teasing.
“Very funny. Really though I'm fine, you don't have to worry about me pining over Jack Frost.” Elsa sat by the window, watching some kids throwing stones and trying to break the thinning ice on a nearby pond.
“You could throw a springtime ball or something, that would-” Anna started but was cut off.
“-I'll be right back!” Elsa muttered quickly on her way out the door, gone in a whirlwind before Anna even knew what was going on.
Elsa ran through the castle as quickly as she could, nearly knocking over a maid and her pile of bedsheets on the way past. She skidded her way through the melting snow, and down towards the pond. Jack was there, leaning on his staff as though nothing had changed, like he had never left. He was watching the kids on the other side of the pond heaving steadily larger rocks onto the cracked ice.
“Hey!” Jack turned just in time to get hit with a snowball, stumbling back in surprise.
Jack saw her and smiled, brushing slush out of his hair with practiced ease while Elsa approached.
“So where have you been all this time?” Elsa wanted to sound angry, but it just came out pleased.
“Winter's over, I didn't think Arendelle could use any extra snow.” he shrugged, leaning easily on his staff and watching her come closer.
“I never mind a little extra snow, even if it is spring.” she found herself standing in front of him, arms folded, unsure what to do now that he was actually there and she wasn't dreaming.
“Where have you been Jack?” Elsa sobered suddenly, fighting the tightness in her chest that she hadn't remembered being there before.
“Around. I had a lot to catch up on after spending so long here.” he kept his gaze on hers, lighthearted as ever.
“So you're not staying?” Elsa didn't want to ask, but needed to know.
Jack shook his head.
“Will you come back and see me sometimes?” she tried not to sound like the pining girl Anna thought she was.
He carefully kept his gaze away from hers, focusing anywhere but her, and shrugged.
“This could be your home you know. You could have a room in the castle, come back any time you wanted.”
“I can't really stay anywhere long enough for it to be home.”
“That's the thing about home, it's always there, even if you aren't.” Elsa reached out, resting her hand over his on his staff. It was cold, like holding a block of ice.
Jack hesitated.
“I've been around a long time, and never felt like I wanted to stay anywhere until now.” he'd always wanted to stay, despite the bad memories he'd already had in Arandelle.
“So why won't you?” Elsa couldn't keep all the hurt out of her voice, clinging to his hand and staff like it would keep him from going.
“Not fair to you.” he finally faced her, smiling as usual.
“I can wait-”
“No no, what I mean is... that I've been the same, like this, for 300 years. I probably will be for the next 300 too.”
Elsa didn't look as surprised as he would have thought.
“Then you should know better than anyone to just enjoy something while it lasts.” Elsa loosened her grip on him.
Jack's expression was unreadable, looking down at her. He let go of his staff, leaving it standing wedged in the snow between them, and took her hand in his.
"You're right." He smiled and twined their fingers together, letting them drop to hang between them while they bumped shoulders, leaning against her comfortably.