A Deleted Scene, Ch 5

Thought we'd have an "Almost adorable" moment...
~~~

~Thirteen years later, Jack still Santa~


It had been a month or so since she had gotten sick, since Jack had been kind. It was still something on her mind because there were random moments throughout the past month where he...he wasn't as cruel. It was confusing. Almost as much to where she actually wondered if Jack was doing it on purpose to mess with her; however, she knew he wasn't. If he wanted to toy with her in this manner, he would have done it years ago.

So what was with him?

The "not so cruel" moments were small things, but spoke in large volumes. He didn't snarl as much, he let her have a bit more "me-time", he restrained his annoyance and rage around her, and he...well, the last one wasn't small...it was huge. When he thought she was asleep, he would stroke her arm gently. Still, she wasn't quite sure if it was in possession or...well, what else would it be with this demon? But oddly enough, when she would pretend to stir awake, he would act as if he were fast asleep; it was as though he didn't want her to know he had caressed her. So if it were possession, why hide?

It was all quite mind boggling.

So just shy of a month and a half after her sick day, she was waiting in bed only to realize...she was waiting. A quick glance at the clock told her that Jack was about an hour late to his usual retirement time. Again, how odd! She decided to risk it, but perhaps it meant he was busy and wouldn't need her immediately so long as she was in his arms when he woke.

The girl slipped out of the room in her skimpy nightgown and plush robe to combat the cold, roaming down the halls. Still, no sign of Frost. It was worrisome, but she pushed it outside of her mind for now. Again, she reasoned so long as she was in his arms when he woke, it didn't matter if she was there when he retired so late.

Somehow her feet led her to the stage...that damn, cursed stage. Part of her wanted to vomit from it, from being humiliated on it. But the other part of her saw the piano and felt the strangest urge to play. When she sat down, she wondered what might come of it. There was nothing terribly happy in her life, so happy music seemed inappropriate. But...maybe...there was hope?

Her hands took over, her fingers glided over the keys to produce a soothing noise. The girl closed her eyes, trying to block out the stage around her, the reality around her. The reality that shouldn't exist, wouldn't possibly if she had somehow told the real Santa about Jack. It was enough to make her grimace and strike the wrong key.


Just as she opened her eyes to correct herself, a hand brushed against hers. She gasped and turned to see just who had struck the correct key, who had their palm on the back of her hand. "Jack..." she whispered, startled into using his first name.


Instead of snarling, instead of punishing, instead of even speaking...Jack merely stared at the piano. When he finally turned his eyes to hers, she was once again shocked; his eyes were gentle, soft, even...perhaps a little sad? His hand remained where it was as he sat on the edge of the bench.


The two stared at each other, lost in time, before he finally hit another key. And then another. She picked up his meaning and started on the song using her free hand, as he used his; their hands remained combined in the middle. The song continued, a mixture of hope and sadness in both the song and between the two beings.


It was astonishing, if not a bit frightening, at how well they were able to play their separate parts...together. Two parts of the piano used by two people to produce one song. The intimacy made her shiver. His look...Jack's body language and his look, his silence...it made her forget to breathe.
When the song ended at last, they remained like a statue for a beat longer. There were no words to say, nothing to do to undo it all. She was confused.Jack wasn't acting like himself for the first time in thirteen years. No...this was the second time he had been odd...but definitely the first he had been so...

Loving.


The girl didn't pull her hand away, but brushed her pinky against his. Their shoulders were pressed against one another as they faced the piano but looked at each other. Jack let go and pulled away, turning to face her. The young lady did the same, as though hypnotized. His hand that had been playing the piano remained on the keys, as hers did.


Almost in sync, their hands drifted up each other's arms, up to one another's cheeks. He parted his lips, as though to say her name...but she leaned forward and pressed them into silence with her own.


A true...honest...kiss.
~~
When everything goes back to normal...they're gonna blame the girl along with Jack. Just...prepare yourself.
Why? Because no one but Scott and Jack were able to remember what happened (yes?). But she does...so how curious!