Swapping elements

Birthstones

Snow stared in horror at his family. Everything in his life was tumbling like snow in an avalanche. Without even thinking about it, he snagged Jack's arm and tugged him behind his back, standing in front of him defensively. Heat stepped up beside him, and Snow was touched that Heat was willing to defend Jack after only knowing him for a couple of weeks. His family continued to look gobsmacked. Most of them seemed unable to speak.

Father Time finally walked over, peering intently at his son. "You really don't trust us, do you?"

"Why should I?" Snow asked coldly.

"Who is this, Snow?" Father Time asked.

Snow's heart was pounding in his chest, but he'd be damned if he didn't introduce Jack properly. He pulled Jack in front of him and placed his hands on his shoulders. He stood straight and met his father's gaze defiantly.

"Father, Mother, Elements, I present to you, Jack Frost, the Prince of Frost. My son."

Silence. Jack bowed low, but Snow could feel him trembling. "It's an honor," he managed to say in an even voice.

"You... have a son?" Thunder asked.

"You see him, don't you?" Snow asked.

"But it isn't possible," Aurora said. "We cannot have children. Procreation is beyond our gifts."

"It didn't happen like that," Snow said.

"How did it happen?" Father Time asked.

"You won't believe me."

"Why not?" Aurora asked.

"Because I don't know. He was fully human. And then he wasn't."

"Why didn't you tell us?" Father Time asked.

"Because nobody would have believed me back then either," Snow said tartly. "I was sick of constantly being in trouble even then. And then I realized you and Mother would execute him for my mistake."

Father Time frowned and looked bewildered. Mother Nature finally found her voice. "Do you really think that, Snow?" she asked faintly.

Snow looked at her. "I'm not sure."

"Neither am I," Heat said after a long pause. "Balance is important."

"So is life," Mother Nature said fiercely. "Do you really think I would killa human?"

"He's half Element," Snow said as if that explained everything.

"That changes nothing, Snow!"

"It changes everything, Mother!" Snow retorted. "He's mine! Why would you accept him if I'm not good enough for you?"

Mother Nature looked stung. "Snow..."

"Oh, don't bother," Snow growled. He turned to Father Time. "We need to get to Mother's island. We can fix this now. It's our birthstones. They got switched around."

The Elements exclaimed. "Of course!" Aurora gasped. "Our birthstones!"

"That's easy enough to remedy," Father Time said.

"Yep. Shame nobody cared until it was their problem, too," Snow said sweetly. "Then again, we're used to cleaning up after ourselves. Might as well clean up after you, too. Wouldn't want to disappoint mother. Again."

The Elements had the grace to look away. Mother Nature couldn't take her eyes off of Snow. Father Time sighed.

"Let's go then," he said.

He turned and tore open a crack in space and gestured for them to go through. Without a word, Snow grasped Jack and led him through. All eyes turned to Heat.