north star (Jelsa)

chapter 13

After a few minutes, they finally let go of each other. "I apologize, I'm not sure what's come over me lately," Elsa said, creating some distance between herself and Jack.

"It's fine. You've been under immense pressure with renovating your grandparents' house, handling all the organization, and taking care of our children," Jack responded, his voice tinged with genuine sadness.

There was a prolonged silence between them, both unsure of what to do or what to say next. The atmosphere was tense and uncomfortable. "You know, I was thinking of dropping by my parents' place later this afternoon. How about I take the kids off your hands so they can visit their grandparents while you have some time to relax?" Jack proposed.

"I'm not sure. It's been a while since you've seen your parents, and they didn't come to the city often. Plus, I don't think the kids will remember them. The last time they visited, Winter was only 9, and Jamie was just a baby learning to crawl," Elsa expressed, her tone filled with worry and uncertainty.

"Which is why I believe it's a good idea for the kids to see them. Like you mentioned, it's been over seven years since they last saw their grandparents. You and I both know it would be beneficial for them, and I'm sure my parents would love to see them again," Jack asserted in a confident tone.

With a sigh, Elsa simply nodded in agreement with Jack's proposal. Memories washed over her of the warm embraces from either Jack or his mother, Emily, their scent reminiscent of a fresh pile of snow. Jack's father, North, would envelop her in the biggest bear hug and playfully tease Jack without mercy. "How can Elsa, a mature and respected person, be with, ah, well, a goofy ball and jokers like Jackie boy?" North would jest and laugh, provoking an embarrassed and angry retort from Jack, "Hey!"

"Alright, fine. But please ensure you bring them home at a reasonable time, and I mean my definition of reasonable, not yours. I'm serious about this, Jack. Also, give your parents a heads up and let them know you and the children are coming over. Don't just show up out of the blue like last time—we don't want to repeat that scenario," Elsa stated, the memory still fresh in her mind. Jack grimaced and made a disgusted face, accompanied by a puking sound. Elsa couldn't help but giggle at his reaction to the memory.

"Okay, I'll do that right now. Do you want me to pick up the kids once school's over?" Jack asked.

Elsa nodded as she returned her attention to the steering wheel. "I should probably head home and finish up some tasks. Then maybe I'll find something to help me unwind," she mused, lost in her thoughts.

"Well, you do have a nice tub. Maybe treat yourself to a bubble bath while enjoying some wine and snacks like cheese and grapes. Don't you have that book you've been eager to finish before the next one comes out next year? What was it called, 'Fourth Wing'? No, that was the first one. What was the second one called?" Jack asked, trying to recall.

Elsa shook her head in disbelief. She found it unbelievable that her ex-husband could remember that, especially since he wasn't around much when she was reading. Sometimes he would take the children outside, giving her moments of peace and silence to indulge in her book. She closed the door and then quickly rolled down the window. "Who knew you had actually good ideas? I'm amazed that you remembered me reading a book. Not that you're a fan of reading. But yes, I would love to finish 'Iron Flame,'" she said in an uncertain tone.

Jack chuckled at her uncertain comment about him. He turned around, his voice cheerful but tinged with a hint of mischief.Surprised you think I wouldn't notice what you're reading. I'm pretty good at paying attention to details. Anyway, catch you later tonight." With that, he hopped into his car and shut the door before Elsa could react or respond.

Elsa observed Jack as he pulled his car out of the parking space and drove off. She chuckled to herself, thinking, "Classic Jack for you." Rolling her window back up, she started her own car and began the journey home. "Maybe I'll just do that," she mused, "It's been a while since I had a good old bubble bath."

With Jack

The sound of ringing echoed through Jack's car, and the screen illuminated with the caller ID, showcasing a picture of a lovely, elderly couple under the name "Frosty Parents." As the call persisted, Jack scanned for a spot to park.

After finally finding a spot near a beautiful and welcoming garden cafe, Jack parked the car just right. He felt like zoning out until his mother's voice broke the silence. "Oh my Jackie boy, why the sudden phone call?" she exclaimed, excitement evident in her tone.

"Moom, oh god, you know what, forget it. I just wanted to call and say we might drop by to see you and dad. But now I'm having second thoughts..." Jack began, but his mom eagerly interrupted, "No no no, I wanna see my beautiful grandbabies."

"Hey, what about me, your own son? Who gave you those beautiful grandkids?" Jack retorted, feeling slighted.

"Well, if we really want to be technical," Emily replied, mischief lacing her tone. Jack always thought he inherited mischief from his father, but it seemed he got it from his mother too.

Hello everyone! 

It's been quite some time since my last update, but I'm back with a lengthy chapter for you all. I hope you enjoy it, and I'll do my best to update more regularly moving forward. However, I do want to take my time with my writing. I hope that's alright with all of you. See you in the next chapter!