The Guardian's Wife

Friend for Comfort

The years went by and Jack visited Anna often. He watched her grow up and the fact that there time was so limited began dawning on him. Especially when she reached fifteen. Anna had grown up beautifully. Her hair was almost always done in two braids and she was almost close to his height now, that Jack no longer had to kneel down to meet her at eye level.
Although many people questioned Anna for believing in Jack Frost, brushing him off as a fairytale and telling her to grow up, the girl refused to give in and listen. Jack was her best friend and had always been since meeting him nine years ago.

*

The wind was blowing gently early that morning. The sky was a pinkish orange as the sun began to rise. Around this time the residents of the Arendelle estate were asleep, but not today.
Adgar and Idunn, Anna and Elsa's parents, were planning a trip for their nineteenth anniversary. Gerda, their nanny, had agreed to watch over them. The bags were already packed downstairs and the couple were just finishing up some last minute packing in their bedroom.
Anna wanted to farewell them before they left. She passed Elsa's room, thinking for a moment if she should, but then decided against it. It wouldn't work anyway. She had given up a long time ago trying to reconnect with her sister. Jack had told her that one day they would be able to reconnect again. But how long must she wait?
She came to her parents room and gave them a hug. "See you in two weeks." She said. There was a part of her that told her not to let go and keep them here. She was probably over reacting. They were going to be fine and it wasn't like they hadn't left them before.
*
"Elsa." Anna smiled as her sister walked past. Their parents had just departed. Maybe today was the day they reconnect and by the time mother and father came back they could be a real family again.
"Anna." Elsa simply nodded and then walked away as if they didn't just have a moment.
Anna frowned and didn't bother looking back. When she heard Elsa's door shut, she headed down to her own room. Curse her for getting her hopes up like that. She came to her window and sat upon the cushioning placed upon the inner window sill.
Time had passed, she wasn't sure how long though. The day was rather cloudy and only few rays of sun lit the area. From her window, she could see the fields around their house and the forest. Beyond that was the sparkling blue water. It was like a detailed painting. Yet the view didn't move her and she only sighed.
When Jack wasn't around, she realized how alone she was. Her parents were constantly busy and Elsa never gave her the time of day. Not many kids came by to their home. Once in a while her cousin, Rapunzel, would visit, but not as much as she wanted to.
Anna leaned her head against the wall. There wasn't much for her to do. If she could, she'd stay here until her parents came back. But she wasn't the type to sit still for so long and someone would drag her out eventually. There was a faint crackling sound and Anna immediately bolted up.
On her window, frost patterns began forming and immediately a smile came upon her face and she opened her window, allowing the cold air to enter. A blue blue then zoomed past her and Anna turned around to see Jack standing inside her bedroom.
"It's about time." She placed her hands on her hips. "I was starting to get bored."
"Sorry." He apologized sheepishly. "Had a run in with Bunny and got mad at me for almost breaking his boomerangs....again."
Anna rolled her eyes, but smiled. "One of these days, Bunny is going to kick you in the ass." She commented, closing her windows and then walking to him.
"Ehh...I'll be ready to freeze him to a Easter Popsicle." He joked.
Anna giggled at his joke and then took his hand. "Come on." She said eagerly and led him out of her room.
*
The pair spent the day playing in the fields a game of tag, which then turned to a game of hide and seek, which then ended up being a game of chase. They took a break when Gerda called them for lunch, but then straight after returned to their little games.
As the sun was setting, Anna finally fell down onto the grass and took a breath. She was exhausted and felt if she ran anymore she'd shut down. Still, she wanted to play more. Jack did the same and he too began breathing heavily in and out.
"Can immortals get tired?" Anna asked curiously.
"Yup." Jack confirmed. "We may not age, but it doesn't make us immune to fatigue."
"So I guess being immortal isn't as great as it seems." She said.
"Everything has its ups and downs." He pointed out.
"True." Anna nodded. She rolled off her back and looked at him. Again, she found his mesmerizing blue eyes staring into hers. The only difference between now and before was that she felt a rush in her body and her heart skip a beat. Like she wasn't just seeing him as her best friend anymore, but something much more than that.
Jack was thinking it too. He pushed a strand of her hair behind her ear, his touch was cold, but it didn't bother hair. Besides him feeling cold, it felt smooth and comforting. Not sure what was going on, a force possessed her to move closed to him. She closed her eyes as their faces moved toward each other and soon she felt icy cold lips onto her warm ones.
For a moment everything felt perfect. No worries whatsoever. When it pulled back, Anna wished to go for it again, but chose not too.
"Jack?" She asked.
He looked as if he was in thought. Serious this time. If he was like this then one did have to take him seriously.
"I was afraid this might happen." He said.
"What might happen?" She asked curiously. Although, she figured out she might now the answer.
"Falling in love with you."
"Oh." He didn't need to explain. He was immortal and she was...well...not. While she grew old, he would remain young forever. Her face would eventually gain wrinkles and sag, where he would still be youthful.
They heard thunder from the clouds above and both knew that it was time to go.
"You should probably get back inside before it starts to rain. I have a feeling it's going to be a big one." He looked at the sky and then down at her.
Anna nodded and then hugged him tightly. "I don't care if you're immortal. I love you no matter what." She told him and then kissed his cheek.
As Anna ran back to her house, Jack stood there speechless and stunned. Why did love hurt? Hurt like this. She said she didn't care, but that only made matters worse, for they could never be one.
*
Seeing as he was best at guiding him, Jack flew to the North Pole. Santoff Claussen grew in sight the closer he came. Jack flew through the gap in the roof that led to North's Globe Room.
The winter spirit landed on the ground and looked around for any sign of the jolly man. It was mid November and of course he'd be busy with Christmas only a month away. There were elves scattering throughout the floor, yetis were heard working away down the halls in the other rooms.
"North!" Jack called.
A minute later, Jack could hear North's footsteps approaching. Soon he was standing in the presence of Santa Claus, or as he called him, North.
"Jack?" He said surprised. "What brings you here?"
"It's...Anna." The boy looked down.
North stroked his beard and slowly nodded. "You admitted you loved each other?" He didn't need an answer. It was obvious. The way Jack talked about her and the way he saw how they were around each other was enough to tell him how they felt.
"I just don't know what to do. I don't want to lose her."
"Jack." North placed a hand on the boy's small shoulder. "You don't have to lose her." At that the boy looked up at him confused.
North began to pace. "It hardly happens, but when our kind falls for a mortal, we are able to have them live for us."
"How?" Jack blinked.
"By the one thing that brings two lives together."
Jack knew what that meant. But he couldn't ask her to. She was still too young for it.
"Once both say I do, your lives are forever linked."
North looked over to his globe. "I believe you should go to her now. I have feeling Anna will need you more than ever."
Besides the whole idea of marriage spinning in his head, Jack looked at North confused. "What?"
"Anna needs you, Jack." North simply said.
If Anna needed him, then he would drop anything and rush to her side. After all, what friend would he be if he wasn't there for her and she just admitted she loved him?

*

The storm was pretty strong. Anna could here the winds and rains beating against her window. Even putting her pillow over her head didn't block out the noises.

*

Their plane had just taken off. The storm wasn't charted and no one really expected it or saw it coming.

"We're going to make an immediate landing." The captain said. "Please fasten your seat belts."

Idunn looked at her husband worriedly. He placed his hand on her. "It's going to be okay." He told her.

At that moment, lightning struck one of the engines and the plane began descending.

As they held tightly onto each other and everything went dark.

*

The next afternoon, there was a knock at the door. From upstairs, Anna watched from the rails as Gerda answered the door. She couldn't make out who it was. When Gerda closed the door, Anna could see her face look sad. What news had she just heard. She walked up the stairs and the look she gave Anna told the girl everything.

*

The storm made it impossible for him to get to her. Now things were clearing up and he flew to her home. He didn't get the usual happy vibe today. The closer he got, the more pain he could feel. North was right. Something was wrong and she needed him.

Jack tapped at her window and he saw she was crouching in her bed. Her head on her knees. Immediately she looked up and saw him. Anna wiped her tears away and opened her window. He was greeted with a tight hug and her tears once again came and he could feel her tears freezing on his shirt.

"They're gone." She cried. "The plane crashed and there were no survivors."

Jack understood what she meant. Of all the things to happen, she didn't deserve this much pain. It wasn't fair. But all he could do was stroke her hair and give her a shoulder to cry on.

*

She was glad he was here. Gerda did try to comfort her, but she didn't want it and when she tried to talk to Elsa, her sister did not respond. She was sure he heard her sobbing on the other side of the door, though.

After crying on his shoulder for several minutes or so, Jack finally held her by the shoulders and looked into her eyes. She was red and puffy from all the crying.

"Hey." He started. "One day you're going to get over this. Your parents wouldn't want you to stop your life because they're gone. They'd want you to keep going." He smiled lightly.

She took in what she said and nodded. But today wasn't that day. Anna knew she'd get over it or at least not let it strongly affect her.

"Now can you smile for me?" Jack asked.

Anna sighed lowering her head. She then looked at him and forced a smile.

"That's my girl." Jack said and wiped her tears from her face. Hearing that made her smile feel a little more real.

"Thanks Jack." She finally said.