Love Thaws: Melting

Captive

Elsa whimpered and hid her face into her hands. William Wallace lay limply on the table, his bright blue eyes staring at the sky above. Elsa spread her fingers apart and peered through them. With a forceful jab, the man forced a hook into Wallace's stomach, though it was hidden from view. He groaned, wincing, as he arched his back in pain. Her eyes stung with unshed tears and she realigned her fingers so she couldn't see the television. She heard more grunts and groans of pain. Elsa flinched.

"FREEDOM!"

Elsa dared to stare back at the television. The faces of multiple characters were shown, each with sorrowful expressions. A figure emerged from the crowds of peasants. The axe raised as the executioner prepared to end William Wallace's life. The screen alternated between the woman weaving through the crowd, Wallace's beloved, dead wife, and the axe swinging towards his bare neck. The axe was an inch from his neck before the image was changed back to his wife, smiling serenely. He smiled back. His hand, encrusted with blood, went limp, releasing the wad of dirty cloth from his grip. The cloth slowly floated to the ground. The tears that Elsa had been desperately trying to hold back spilled over her cheeks. She sniffed and buried her face into a couch cushion.

Jack pulled her into his lap, shushing her gently. "No more sad movies for you, Mrs. Frost," he murmured.

Elsa sniffled and buried her head into Jack's chest as her body trembled with tiny sobs. The sobs became quieter as she calmed. She wiped her cheeks and stared up at Jack, her eyes glistening. "I cry so easily now." Elsa sniffled again.

Jack's strong hands rubbed her back in a familiar, comforting manner. "Well, I'm glad you're crying."

Elsa glanced up at him, confusion clouding her face.

Jack looked sheepish and rubbed the back of his neck. "I didn't mean I liked you crying. I'm just glad you're so... open with me. That you trust me enough to let yourself be vulnerable. It's much better than you isolating yourself." He looked down at her. "Did that make sense?"

Elsa nodded and let herself relax against Jack's chest. 

Jack absentmindedly caressed her or stroked her hair. 

Elsa began to fiddle with the hem of Jack's shirt. "Jack?"

"Hmm?"

"Can we take a walk?"

He smiled gently. "Of course."

Elsa stood with him. He pulled on Elsa's wrist, leading her outside. Once outside, Jack held her hand, lacing his fingers with hers. Elsa felt a surprising burst of warmth. She smiled broadly at Jack, her heart feeling lighter. He smiled back and before walking into the forest, weaving through the trees. The dried leaves and brittle twigs crunched underneath their feet. Elsa heard the warbling call of a bird resonate through the forest. The air felt cool and refreshing against her skin. She partially leaned on Jack, savoring the serenity the forest seemed to emanate. Elsa heard a string of soft peeps. It sounded like it was on the ground.

"Jack, do you hear it?"

He nodded. "Sounds like a baby bird."

Elsa's eyes widened. "Do you think it fell from its nest?"

"Let's find out."

He steered them in a different direction and the helpless peeps gradually became louder. Jack bent down near the base of a tree, brushing away a few leaves. There was a little bird nestled against the tree. It would easily fit into Elsa's palm. The bird was tiny and had soft gray feathers with black eyes and an over-sized yellow mouth.

"Aww," Elsa breathed.

It opened its wide yellow mouth and chirped. Jack gently scooped the bird into its hands.

"It's so tiny!"

Jack smiled and nodded before holding it towards Elsa. She gently stroked its back with one finger. It squeaked unhappily.

"Do you think it's hungry?"

"Probably." He held the bird in front of his chest, his hands cupped. He began to walk back.

"What should we feed it?" Elsa eagerly matched Jack's pace.

Jack glanced Elsa's way, his eyes twinkling. "You'd make a good mother."

Elsa briefly stopped walking, surprised. She quickly caught up the Jack, a light pink dusting her cheeks. "Thank you," she murmured.

Jack smiled in reply. "I was thinking we should give it hard-boiled eggs."

Elsa furrowed her brow. "Isn't that kind of... cannibalistic?"

He shrugged. "It's what Abitha and I fed the baby bird we found."

The thought sobered Elsa. Her thoughts turned to Anna. Had she married Kristoff yet?

Jack's voice disturbed her thoughts. "We looked it up online," he added.

Elsa smiled slightly. "And that makes it credible."

"But of course."

Elsa rolled her eyes, though the smile never left her lips. Jack stuck a heating pad in the microwave. When it was heated sufficiently, Jack wrapped the baby bird in a towel and placed it on top of the pad. It still squeaked, opening its mouth wide. 

Elsa watched as Jack began to boil an egg. Eventually, he turned the stove off and drained the water. He peeled the egg shell and the egg white away, revealing the dry yellow egg yolk, hardened into a small ball. He crumbled it and mixed it with some water into yellow mush. He carefully put the mixture into a dropper and patiently fed the bird. 

Elsa had no doubt he'd make a phenomenal father. Jack was hunched over the bird, his brows slightly furrowed with concentration. Elsa walked next to him, her heart already racing from the close proximity. Jack finally straightened and tossed the dropped into the sink. He placed the bird into a small box before washing his hands. Elsa watched as the bird nestled deeper into the soft towel. She felt Jack walk up beside her.

"It's so cute," she whispered.

Jack chuckled and kissed her cheek. "Not as cute as you."

Elsa smiled and blushed.

He turned his gaze back to the baby bird and then back to Elsa. "You know, I could use a nap too."

"I bet you could."

Jack led Elsa upstairs. He tugged her shoes off and settled beside her before tucking the covers around them. He gently nudged her nose with his, rubbing them together.

Elsa giggled. "What are you doing?"

"My mom called this an Eskimo kiss." He leaned towards her so their lashes barely touched. He blinked several times, letting his eye lashes flutter. "This is a butterfly kiss. And this... is a kiss kiss."

He softly captured her lips. As warmth infused into her body, her heart fluttering inside of her, her skin flushing with heat, she was only too happy to be his captive.