You wanted a kiss? Well, you made me write one! Happy?

Sorry for the long wait... Oh, I'm just done with my excuses! I'll just let you read.

(Please don't be mad at me for taking so long and writing so little. I have serious procrastination problems.)

XVII

She could say, that despite all odds, what she felt first was his scent. Yes, her eyes did stay open for the longest moments, all her tense and frozen in shock. But that big intake of air, the sudden gasp caused by the unexpectedness of it all, filled her nostrils with the most curious and unknown aromas. And after all this time, she had come to discover lots of wonderful things in the upper-world, but due to her limited position by the seashore, the subtle fragrance of a lot of things still remained a mystery to her. So, when the strong whiff brought the freshness of the fields and the sweetness of the flowers or the wonderful mix of pine-tree's needles and peppermint, Tooth had no way of indentifying it but as the most wonderful thing she had ever smelled. Not even the human food the boy once brought her, a long time ago, could beat the perfect balance of fresh sweetness the shepherd's natural odor had achieved. (And how the wilderness of the fields had clung to his person, even after so much time submerged in the freezing salty waters, would forever remain a mystery.)

In her shock induced paralysis, the little mermaid also took notice of a pair of huge palms clinging to her cheeks, and a strangely both soft and fierce pressure on her mouth. Through wide open irises, violet orbs flickering to understand, Toothiana could barely see his strongly shut lids, pale features contorted in something that almost resembled a pained expression.

But then, under a petit hand that she had unconsciously settled over the boy's bare chest, if only to maintain her balance after his swift gesture, Tooth felt the most erratic and wonderful rhythm she had ever experienced. Pounding loudly, clear and true under the mermaid's soft touch, Jack's heart sang a tune of the most alarmed delight. And that's when she realized, that the young shepherd was as shocked by his actions as she was.

And in her infinite innocence Toothiana had only been paying attention to the curiousness of this new form of social behavior, oblivious to its meaning. But suddenly, like a wave who hits you when you have your back turned to the sea, the amazing feeling of the human's pumping organ under her wide spread palm made her realize the intimacy of the situation. Her body immediately flashed a sudden wave of crimson, as she knew – even if she was still completely ignorant about most of the surface people's customs – that this one was certainly something more.

But Jack seemed to be way ahead of her, and just when the first shades of pink started tinging the girl's cheeks, his own embarrassment appeared to simply wash away, all the awkwardness of a first kiss after weeks of tension subduing, as he got completely lost in the moment.

And as a long held breath left his nostrils, the most marvelous thing happened.

He softened...

All the previous tenseness seemed to go away with the long exhale, what was taut and nerve-wracking dissolving into the most peaceful of blisses.

Tooth felt his head tilt just the slightest, hands that were until now an almost bruising grip transforming into a gentle hold that caressed her petit face. What seemed to be his thumb travelled leisurely across her cheek, creating a lovely trail of warmth.

And then, like she hadn't even paid attention to it before, Tooth became abruptly aware of the tickling pressure in her lips, which became more tender every heartbeat that passed. (And if the boy was icy cold from so much time in the freezing waters, his chapped lips certainly weren't.)

So without really knowing what on Earth she was doing, but strangely knowing perfectly what to do at the same time, Tooth tilted her head the opposite direction, the frozen tip of her nose tickling softly the boy's icy cheek and becoming colder still. Both palms, firmly placed over his chest kept track of the galloping organ under his pale skin, running as madly as her own.

And it was with a timid uncertainty that the mermaid dared to lean a bit into him too, slightly pressing her closed mouth to his, with a flickering rainbow exploding across her quickly morphing hues, and almost every membrane in her body humming lightly.

And apparently, her gentle response was felt, because she could clearly feel his growing smirk under her own. Oh, that naughty human boy!

It was his growing amusement that ended up breaking the spell.

She pulled away, face a mixture of bubbling happiness and pure confusion. Cerise orbs opened wide. And when her vision climbed up once again to his pale features, she verified that the shepherd's smirk was now gone, replaced by a both bashful and completely elated smile. And the mermaid had never seen the stars in his eyes twinkle as brightly as they did now.

His forehead fell gently towards hers, and they stayed like that for the longest time, both trying to keep that fizzy feeling in their chest for as long as they could, but still trying to comprehend the meaning of it all and what change would it bring to their strange relationship.

But like all things, the drowsing effect of the kiss washed away, slightly after. And as much as she loved being this close to the boy, a sore throat reminded Tooth why she was so angry with him in the first place.

The palms still flat on his chest became more useful. And before he knows it…

SPLASH!

Jackson Overland is on the water once again. But as the tide is already far, and the mermaid was kind enough to push him towards the shore, it is the less wet bath the boy had all night.

"What the…"

"Don't you ever say that again, Jack Frost!" her screeching voice lets through not only her anger at his attitude, but the absolute terror that the boy would even consider ending his life.

"I won't." he concedes, slowly rising again on both feet, approaching the mermaid with his hands before him, like she would just jump out of the water and knock him again. "I was just… angry…"

"Besides…" and his palms hold her heart-shaped face once again. "… I couldn't do it. Not anymore…"

And one would guess he was about to land a soft kiss on the half-girl's forehead, when he suddenly halted.

He stared of into the distance, face scrunching in thought for half a moment, when suddenly his eyes grew huge, a snapped back to the mermaid in front of him. And at his own unbelieving expression, Tooth's head tilted in confusion.

"Ja-"

"How did you know that word?"

And his voice was so excitedly, her cheeks practically squished by his hands, such was the enthusiasm, the Tooth almost felt sad by the prospect of not having the answers that could satisfy that eager twinkle in his irises.

"Word? What word?"

And the boy, who had seemed about to burst a moment ago, suddenly quieted down, as if nasty nagging thing called doubt had started corroding his fervor.

So when he spoke, a frown now crinkling his forehead, his voice come in an almost mute murmur, like he was afraid of her answer.

"You said… love."

And his confession seemed to catch the mermaid by surprise. Not because she didn't remember saying it, but because all the range of emotions displayed by the boy because of such simple word.

"I… I did…"

And at her answer the boy let go of the half-girl's cheeks, turning away from her, speaking, but more to himself than to the staring mermaid.

"But you don't know the meaning. You can't or you wouldn't say…" he stopped, and twirled back to her. "I've never used it, have I?"

The distressed way in which he asked that last sentence, confused Toothiana even further. Why was he reacting like this? But she answered him, nevertheless.

"Well… you said you loved the snow and the winter. And you loved your mother's roasted lamb, as much as you used to love Christmas or swimming in the ocean."

Jack seemed disappointed at her reply, the last trembling gleam of hope vanishing from his eyes, as his shoulders sagged visibly. With a force smile, the boy tried to conceal his pain after hurtfully realizing that the depths of his feelings for the bright Toothiana were much greater than the other way around.

"Oh… I see… I like you a lot too Tooth…"

What he didn't know, was that the mermaid wasn't over yet. So when a small hand landed on his shoulder, Jack turned to see the most tender and compassioned smile he had ever seen, a wise gleam in her eyes, as if she had just realized what troubled him.

"But you also said that you loved your family, and that you were sad because of your mother's own unhappiness. And part of you feels sad for breaking your father's expectations, and it hurts you to think that he doesn't love you as much as you love him."

Tooth continued, in spite of the widening eyes she received from the boy.

"And you love Em too, so deeply, that you think you won't ever love anyone as much as you did to her, if only not to have your heart ripped from you again. But above all, you love her so much, that in the end you were able of letting her go, and concede peace both to your soul and her memory."

The mermaid hand had found its way to Jack's pale cheek, softly catching with her thumb, a sparkling tear that freed itself from his shinny irises.

With a smile, Toothiana proceeded.

"And it's that love that you have inside you! I know what the word love is, because I have seen it in your eyes every time you remember your little sister and your times together! You wished nothing but her happiness… And that's exactly what I wish for you!

Her hands let go of him, and the boy had only to stare, with mouth slightly agape, eyes wide in order to absorb all her wonderful glory.

"So yes, I do love you Jackson Overland." she finished, with the most assured tone she had ever used. "And I have the perfect notion of every word I'm saying."

Needless to say, he kissed her again.

...

..

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I am an horrible, lazy person, and this SHOULD'T make a chapter for its own. But as I said, I'm awfully lazy (and it serves as no excuse), but I felt sorry for the last chapters cliffhanger, so here you go guys, one chapter solely for kissing and confessions!

Am I pushing in the feels? Sometimes I think I exaggerate... Just consider that they are emotionally drained...

I you liked this little scene, or if you want to shout at me for taking so long for this ridiculous number of words, feel free to review!