As Summer woke on that beautiful December 25th—Christmas morning—both warmness and sadness spread within her.

Warmness, like a kind she had never known before; Warmness by waking up and looking out, seeing the soft, but brightly sparkling winter landscape outside her window, seeing the trees glistening with frost and the sun's gentle rays bathe everything in a golden light. The air looked cold, but the sky was a soft, yellow-bluish hue with dots of pink here and there. It was so silent, so beautiful.

And wrapped up against her, having curled up to her body in the middle of the night, she felt the warmth of Jack Frost cuddling her, his thumb gently caressing a sweet spot on her arm, letting her know he was awake as well. They watched in silence the morning before them; the gorgeous, last morning they would spent together.

And that's where the sadness stemmed. Summer felt physical pain in her chest by the thought of Jack leaving her today. It was selfish of her to want him to stay, to wish that he could be here with her all year long, yet she did. But alas, the spirit of winter moved like the seasons and the sun; He had to move on to other places, had to follow the cold and bring on the snow.

And Summer suspected that that was why he squeezed her extra tightly that morning; Because he knew that soon, he would no longer be as warm as he was now, but would be chasing the everlasting cold.

But for now... for now they kept warm.

The silence between them continued for another moment, but then, as a little bird begun chirping outside, Jack pressed a small kiss to the spot behind her ear and softly spoke; "Do you like it?"

A little smile lifted to Summer's lips, because she knew he only asked because he worked hard on it last night to make it perfect for this Christmas morning. "It's beautiful. So beautiful, Jack."

"Merry Christmas, Summer." She felt his lips against her neck again, pressing a delicate kiss to her vein.

"Merry Christmas, Jack Frost." Turning over so that she faced him, she met his sparkling, icy-blue eyes that were warm with emotions, so deep like rivers. He was looking straight back at her, a ghost of a smile on his lips. She cupped his face in her hand and then leaned in to his lips and gently, but firmly, pressed her lips against his. He responded instantly and kissed her back.

Nothing was rushed, it was simply just... lips against lips. Two lazy, but emotional lips gently caressing each other while a bird sung them a good-morning tune. Nothing would ever feel as perfect as it did then, Summer thought. Nothing.

They both pulled away after a moment and took a deep breath, as if both knowing that soon their perfect little bubble would break. In just a few minutes, they would have to get up and get on with the day; a day that to Summer would be the hardest one since her parents' death.

"We should get down to the Christmas tree," Jack softly said, looking into her eyes. A smile spread on his lips. "I know for a fact that Nick has been here, because there aren't any cookies left on the plate you put out."

A small chuckle slipped from Summer's lips. "Are you sure it wasn't 'Jackie the Snow-elf' who ate them? And I thought that Nick used that gift-distributor thingy to deliver gifts."

"He does, but he makes exceptions for friends."

Summer closed and eyes and smiled to herself; She was a friend of Santa Claus. How truly unbelievable and amazing was that? "Will he come by later?"

Jack shifted onto his back and sighed heavily. "Probably not. I reckon he's sleeping right now and will be doing so until tomorrow. Why do you ask?"

She shrugged as well as she could while lying down. "Just asking... and... because I actually made him a present."

"You made him a present?" He repeated, sounding positively surprised. "You made Santa Claus a Christmas present?"

Again, Summer gave a little shrug and smiled. "Shouldn't everyone get a present on Christmas morning? Even Santa?"

He looked at her for a moment, not blinking. Then he snapped back into motion and leaned in over her and pressed his lips firmly against hers. He kissed her deeply for about half a minute, before drawing back about an inch, hovering just above her bruised lips. "You are amazing, Summer. Just amazing."

Like always, his words seemed to strike her heart and make it flutter. Her body heated up beneath him and urged her to gently comb her fingers through his shining, silvery locks of hair, caressing him at the nape of his neck. How was she ever going to be able to say goodbye to him? "Kiss me again, Jack."

And he did. They pushed their getting-out-of-bed for another half hour, which they chose to spend lying in each other's arms, simply kissing, cuddling and keeping each other warm. Finally, though, they decided to take the march downstairs; Summer wrapping herself up in her morning robe while Jack dressed up in his clothes. She knew he did so because he was already making ready to leave, but she didn't want to comment on it. Mostly because each step he made towards it, he seemed as reluctant as she felt. Was there even the slightest chance he would stay with her?

Venturing down into her living room, Summer found her Christmas tree with just two lovely, small packages beneath. One was address to her and one was addressed to Jack. They both sat down on her couch and wrapped up in her quilt, holding each their presents.

"He got you a present as well," Summer said, actually a little surprised. She didn't know why Jack in her head didn't get a present; perhaps it had something to do with him being a part of the whole thing. She couldn't imagine the Easter bunny getting an egg either, but then again, maybe he did? There was no saying. But now, of course, Summer couldn't see why Jack shouldn't get a present either.

"Yeah," He replied and looked at the little flat, rectangular present that resembled the shape of a book. "Though I already know what it is. Why don't you open yours first."

Summer chuckled a little and held up her own rectangular present, though unlike his, hers were shorter and thicker. Almost like a box. "Do you know what mine is, too?"

A little smirk spread on his lips. "Yeah, I do. I was the one who brought Nick the message for you, remember?"

Summer frowned a little. A message for him? She couldn't remember telling him to bring him a message, besides— "No my God, you didn't."

"Oh, yes I did," Jack chuckled as she tore the gift wrapping paper off the little box and saw to her biggest and most incredible surprise that Nick had made sure she got what she wished for. "You got me the new iPhone 7. Oh my actual God."

"iPhone 7s," Jack corrected and chuckled a little. "You're welcome."

"I can't believe you remembered." She shook her head and smiled. "Thank you."

He shook his head as well. "Don't thank me yet." He now held up his own present, waving it in the air. "Not before you've read this..."

She now frowned again. What did he mean by that? "What is it?"

Jack sighed and then finally unwrapped his present to reveal a small silver book that almost looked exactly like ice. The cover was frosted and glinted with glitter, but it also looked old. "It's the same present I get each year."

All Summer could do was frown deeper. She didn't understand any of it. "Explain it to me. Don't let me wait any longer, I can't stand it."

He sighed for the last time and ran his hand over the icy book. "Alright. Are you sure you're ready?"

She nodded. It was time.

Jack nodded once back, then turned his eyes to the book. "To understand why I chose you, you first have to understand how it works—how I work. It's a lot more complicated than you'd think."

Summer shifted a little, but stayed calm. "I'm sure I can handle it." No she wasn't.

Jack pressed his lips tightly together, looking at her for a long moment, but then he continued. "The night I was created... the night I became Jack Frost..."

"Became?"

"Yeah. Like everything in this world, I was born from something, too. The night I became Jack Frost, the moon spoke to me. He told me what my mission in this world was."

Summer had to take a moment to consume that. "The moon spoke to you... alright..."

"I know it sounds strange," He granted. "But it's how it is. The moon told me I had a mission in life, and every hundredth year, on the first day of Christmas, I had to succeed in that mission to keep doing what I'm doing. If I didn't, winter would die. I would die."

She dropped her jaw. For a long moment, she sat there and just tried to absorb what he just told her. It was hard to contain. "Okay, I think. So this mission... what was it?"

"The impossible," He said and shook his head. "All the missions were to ensure than I was still worthy of my work. That I'm still Jack Frost and not anyone else. Every hundredth year, I've faced a challenge, the second more difficult than the first. This year, the moon asked me to do the impossible."

"Which was?"

Jack looked at her. "To find a cold, broken individual and mend him or her before the end of Christmas," He told. "But that wasn't it. Mending you wasn't enough. I had to also... keep you warm."

Now the picture started to form in Summer's head; Jack had gotten a mission to find someone like her and make her happy again, and at the same time also keep her warm, whatever that truly meant. If he hadn't succeeded, he would've died and winter would have died along with him.

Processing this, Summer first felt used. He had used her to save himself, save winter—the very thing she hated. But that only lasted one second before she realized that was exactly why the moon had told him to do that; He had to get someone like Summer who hated winter to love it again, all the while keeping her warm; two opposite things. And by the end of it, she had to still feel warm, yet love winter. It was impossible.

And yet now, as she realized, not impossible at all; Jack was winter and she didn't want him to leave. Even if it meant winter all year long in Whitefish, she didn't want him to go. She felt warm with him, even when he was the cold.

She loved him; She loved winter.

"Say something," Jack pleaded. Summer then realized she hadn't spoken a word since he had finished telling. Truth was, she didn't know what to say. At all.

"I... I'm speechless."

He exhaled heavily. "There's more..."

"What?" She prompted. "More how?"

Jack watched her for a long moment, but then looked away. "I wasn't supposed to sleep with you. That wasn't part of the mission."

Summer didn't know if that was supposed to make her feel less used or if it made her feel worse. Honestly, she couldn't figure anything out anymore. It was all so impossible. "Is that what you meant when you said... you were in trouble?"

Jack nodded. "Nick has been helping me, or 'guiding' me if you will, through my missions all these years. With this one being the hardest so far, he's been a great help, but he told me sleeping with you would make things harder," He explained. "You see, every time we... slept together," He said and shot a look towards Summer, "You melted my snow. Your hatred for winter melted my snow which I had to use to convince you to like it. See my problem?"

She frowned a little. "My hatred melted the snow? So that finally explains your panic every morning, why you had to get to your cane so quickly..."

"You woke up to almost summery days whenever I'd spent the night with you," Jack said and smiled a little. "So every morning I had to rush out to quickly make it snow again before Nick noticed. I was trying to hide my mistake from him."

"Sleeping with me was a mistake?"

"Yes—no!" He quickly corrected himself and looked firmly at her. "It wasn't a mistake, but as my mission went, then yes, it was. But I don't regret it. It sounds hella cliché, but sleeping with you was the best mistake I've ever made."

Summer pursed a lips a little, but then couldn't help but crack a smile. "I know I should probably scold you or something, but I'm not mad about any of this. It's hard to be mad at you when you've given me the best gift anyone could ask for."

"An iPhone 7s?"

"Warmth," She chuckled. She then looked into her lap nervously and took a deep breath. "And love."

There was a short silence, but then she felt Jack move closer to her, felt his hand cup her cheek. "Love?"

She carefully looked up again and glanced at him. His beautiful icy eyes looked warmer than she had ever seen them before. They shone and sparkled at her, almost looked like crystals. "Yes. Love. I love you, Jack. I tried really hard not to, but it just happened."

"Like an accident," Jack murmured.

Summer blinked perplexed and realized what he referring to.

Her parents accident. It wasn't like they tried to die that night. Things happened, and just like love, nothing and nobody had any control of it. It just happened.

"Summer, I want you to know," Jack whispered as he stared into her eyes. "My time with you has been the best I've had in all the time I've existed. And that's a long time. I've enjoyed every morning I woke up with you, cold or warm, and every adventure we've had together. I'll always remember it. Always."

Tears welled up in her eyes. He was saying goodbye now. The moment she had been fearing was now here. It was time for them to part. "Will I ever see you again?"

"Where there is snow, there's me," He smiled and brushed a fallen tear away from her cheek. "I'll always come around during winter, but... you won't see me again."

Because he was just a spirit after all, Summer thought and cried silently to herself. Jack pulled her in to his embrace and she clutched him back, not wanting to let him go. Not ever. This couldn't be the end. Fairytales didn't end like this. She needed her hero, her prince, her miracle. Why did he have to go?

"I'll get cold without you," She whispered and closed her eyes as more tears came. "Who will warm me when you're gone, Jack Frost?"

"You will," He whispered back. "You are summer, and I love you."

"I love you, too, winter," Summer cried back. She buried her head in the crook of his neck and sobbed, just as he continued to stroke her back and whisper softly to her that it would all be okay, that he would miss her and always be with her.

Finally, he leaned back, but only to find her lips and press his own against them. Summer kissed him back and ran her fingers through his silvery, soft locks for the last time. She caressed his cold skin once more and felt how it burned her with warmth, much stronger than ever before. Then finally, Jack pulled back for good.

"It's time for me to go," He whispered and took his little icy book. "My job here is done and I've gotta move on. I'll miss you, Summer. More than you can possibly imagine."

She wiped her eyes and looked down at his book, the one she never really understood what was. "So what is that exactly?"

He looked down at his little book and sighed. "It's... it's my diploma, I guess you can say. For accomplishing my mission and for staying as Jack Frost for another hundred years."

"Oh." She nodded weakly. He would live well beyond her time, probably until time itself died. She couldn't even manage to think about that. "In that case, congratulations. And thank you."

Jack shook his head. "No, thank you, Summer," He smiled. He then looked down at his book before glancing towards his cane that rested against the coffee table, waiting for him. "I can't believe I have to go. For the first time, I think I love summer more than winter."

Summer chuckled a little and wiped another tear away from her eye that now escaped. "I could say the opposite."

Jack dryly chuckled back, but there was no humor in his voice. "Mission truly is accomplished." He looked into the air for a moment, but then shook his head and looked back at Summer. He gave her a final smile, but then stood up. "Goodbye, Summer. It's been a pleasure knowing you. Literally."

She smiled a little again, but the tears just kept falling from her eyes. "Right back at ya, Frost. Give Nick my best."

"Will do."

They were running out of things to stall with. Summer kept crying and it looked like Jack was holding back something as well. Finally, he sighed and began walking towards the door. Summer followed.

Jack stepped out through her front door and into the morning sun that glinted on the white snow. Everything was quiet and the air was cold and fresh. As Jack stepped onto the first layer of snow, a light around him begun shining. He glanced up at the sun and smiled.

"I'll never get used to this feeling."

Summer then watched as he closed his eyes, the smile remaining in his lip, and then levitated off the ground in a glowing ball of silver light. Small sparks here and there erupted in the air and had Summer looking with equally sparkling tears in her eyes. He was vanishing.

"Goodbye, Jack," She whispered one final time. He opened his eyes, just as his shape became translucent and faded into nothingness.

"Merry Christmas, Summer," He replied. She saw him give her one last breathtaking smile before he finally vanished completely, and all that was left was the cold, white air.

Summer instantly closed her eyes and let the tears fall. She let herself fall onto her knees on the snow and cried quietly on the frozen pavement.

She already missed him. The burning ache in her chest was eating her up, but she knew this was for the better. Jack was a spirit and winter wouldn't be winter without his magical touch. He was meant to spread joy and happiness, cheer and laughter. And that was exactly what he had done.

And he had also succeeded, despite all logic, in keeping her warm.

Slowly, Summer arose from the ground and looked up at the sky.

I won't forget you, she silently thought and managed to pull a small, albeit sad smile onto her lips. "Ever."

And so she ventured back into her house and closed the door, to enjoy the rest of Christmas morning and prepare for a new year that unlike the many last, wouldn't be cold like before.

Because Jack Frost may have left her, but his warmth remained in her heart.

• • •

Aaand that's about as corny as I get.
Merry Christmas and happy Hanukkah, guys. Blessings to you all.
Lots of love,
- Oli.